Founders Day 2010 Events

Illinois State University will mark 153 years of academic excellence during its annual Founders Day observance on Thursday, Feb. 18.  Founders Day events will celebrate Illinois State's heritage and traditions and honor the accomplishments of faculty, staff and students.

Events will begin at 10 a.m. with the Founders Day bell ringing ceremony in the Bone Student Center Prairie Room.  The event will include the unveiling of a replica Old Main Bell created by Randy Reid, an instructor and bronze casting specialist in Illinois State's School of Art.  The creation of the replica bell was made possible by a gift from College of Business faculty members Carson and Iris Varner.  Selected faculty, staff, students, alumni and others will ring the bell 153 times to mark the University's years of existence. 

The entire campus community is invited to stop by and ring the original Old Main Bell on the Quad beginning at 11 a.m.  Displays highlighting Illinois State's history and academic mission will be part of the STATE Showcase in the Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

The Founders Day Convocation will take place at 2 p.m. in the Brown Ballroom. The traditional event will include the presentation of some of the University's highest awards, including the Honorary Degree, University Professor, Distinguished Professor, Outstanding Teacher and Researcher and A/P and Civil Service Distinguished Service honors. Other awards will recognize excellence in teaching, research, service and commitment to diversity. A reception will follow the Convocation at 3:30 p.m.                       

Illinois State alumnus Thomas R. Lamont '69 will be the Honorary Degree recipient during the Convocation ceremony.  Lamont is the assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs for the United States Department of the Army.  Lamont has served as a colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard, Office of the Judge Advocate General.  He retired in 2007, after 25 years of service.  He holds a bachelor's degree from Illinois State, where he majored in social science education, and a law degree from the University of Illinois' College of Law.  As a Springfield attorney, his focus has been government law and legislative affairs.  He has served as executive director of the Office of State Attorney Appellate Prosecutor and director of civil litigation in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.  Lamont was also the executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, a trustee of the State University Retirement System and a member of the United States Senate Judicial Nomination Commission.

The Alumni Awards Dinner will be held that evening at 6 p.m. at the Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main in Normal. The cost for the dinner is $25 per person. For registration information contact Alumni Relations at (309) 438-2586.