Oct. 7: Founders Day 2021 Celebration
Thursday, October 7, 2021
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Campus Mall (or Hearth Lounge in the event of inclement weather)
Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato will hold its annual Founders Day at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, celebrating the 153rd year of the University’s founding in 1868.
The celebration, free and open to students, faculty, staff and the public, will be held in the campus mall area outside Centennial Student Union. If weather conditions prevent the celebration from being held outside, it will be moved inside to the Hearth Lounge, located on the lower level of Centennial Student Union.
During the event, the Maverick Machine band will play the University fight song, and free cupcakes will be available for all attendees.
Minnesota State Mankato President Edward Inch will begin a short program with comments on the importance of the University to Mankato and Minnesota.
Inch will then introduce Interim Provost and Senior Vice President Brian Martensen, who will discuss new University academic programs added this year.
After Martensen’s remarks, Student Government President Reauna Stiff will discuss the impact and importance of the University to students.
Minnesota State Mankato was founded in 1868 as Mankato Normal School, serving 27 students, with a purpose of instructing students in the science and art of teaching. The first class graduated in June 1870 with 10 students.
In 1921, the school became Mankato State Teachers College and began offering two- and three-year degrees. In 1939, the first four-year degrees were awarded. The first master’s degrees were awarded in 1954, and the first doctorates were awarded in 2009.
The school became Mankato State College in 1957, with an enrollment of 7,000. It became Mankato State University in 1975, with enrollment of 14,000, and Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1998. Enrollment is currently more than 14,000 students, and Minnesota State Mankato now offers more than 130 undergraduate programs in six undergraduate colleges. The University’s College of Graduate Studies and Research offers over 85 master’s, advanced certificate and doctoral programs.
Inch became the 13th president of the University on July 1.
More information on the history of the institution is available here.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,604 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.
