Visionaries, Innovators and
Overachievers – 50 Years of Achieving the Extraordinary
Judy Piercey | Sept. 27, 2010
Fifty years ago, the founders of the University of California, San Diego had one criterion for the campus: It must be distinctive. Since then, UC San Diego has accomplished the extraordinary in education, research and innovation.
As the university approaches its 50th birthday, UC San Diego continues to gain prestigious recognitions including named 7th best public university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, ranked among the nation’s top 50 “Best Value” public universities by The Princeton Review’s annual college guide and recognized as 1st in the nation by the Washington Monthly, based on the positive impact the university has had on the country.
Muir College Provost John Stewart discusses UCSD's construction plans for the La Jolla Playhouse with actor Gregory Peck.
In honor of this landmark anniversary, from September 2010 through June 2011, UC San Diego will celebrate 50 years of historic milestones, remarkable achievements and innovative firsts with a variety of special events, activities and programs.
“Our many 50th Anniversary events and activities honor our founders and the people who shaped this university, as well as our historic achievements,” said Chancellor Marye Anne
Fox. “This will also be a time to share the positive impact of our campus on our community and world — now and in the future. As we celebrate the past, our sights are set on the next half century.”
The campus and the community are invited to join in celebrating the university’s landmark anniversary at these signature events:
- November 13, 2010—Celebrate50
Expect an evening of the unexpected. More than 700 UC San Diego community supporters and leaders will attend a reception and dinner to experience—through music, environment and images—the historic events and people that marked the university’s transformation from ship to shore. Tickets are $250 per person.
- November 18, 2010—Founders’ Day
Celebrating 50 extraordinary years! Founders’ Day will celebrate and commemorate the date—November 18, 1960—on which documents were signed to establish officially the University of California, San Diego. This free public event, which will honor the history and traditions of UC San Diego, will take place in the heart of campus at Town Square. KFMB-TV News 8 anchor Dan Cohen will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
- February 22-25, 2011—IDEaS (Innovation Day Expo and Symposia)
Engage and network with leading innovators. IDEaS features a week of free high-profile events for the campus and community highlighting the exciting innovation happening at UC San Diego. The Innovation Symposia takes place Feb. 22 to 24; on Feb. 25, UC San Diego will host an engaging expo featuring live demonstrations, hands-on exhibits and face-to-face interaction with the innovators themselves.
- April 16, 2011—Green Open House
UC San Diego celebrates “Healthy People, Healthy Planet.” The university will reach out to the San Diego community by opening national Earth Week with a “Green” Open House, showcasing the campus as a living laboratory of green innovation. Attendees will enjoy a day of free activities including interactive demonstrations of environmentally friendly cars, healthy living and sustainable cooking.
Left: UCSD's first chancellor Herbert York and General Bruno Hochmuth of the U.S. Marine Corp at the Camp Matthews transfer ceremony. Right: In 1964, a ceremony was held on campus to mark the transfer of the Camp Matthews military base property to the University of California.
As part of its 50th Anniversary activities, the university is launching Volunteer50: Chancellor’s Call to Service (http://volunteer50.ucsd.edu), encouraging all members of the UC San Diego community to perform at least 50 hours of volunteer service during the anniversary celebration. In addition to supporting the university’s mission of service, Volunteer50 will showcase the widespread and diverse contributions of the university’s faculty, staff, students and alumni.
“Invent the Future” (www.inventthefuture.ucsd.edu) will be the fundraising beneficiary of 50th Anniversary events including the Celebrate50 reception and dinner. The goal of the university’s student support campaign is to raise $50 million to help fund scholarships and fellowships, ensuring that talented students of all backgrounds have access to a world-class education at UC San Diego. Through this student support campaign, the campus will continue to sustain and educate the leaders of tomorrow — students who will become the next generation of innovators, trained to lead the region and nation in extraordinary achievement.
The Visionary Sponsors for UC San Diego’s 50th Anniversary celebration, which are also helping to support Invent the Future, include Cubic Corporation and Sempra Energy. Additional sponsors are Clark Construction, Steelcase/BKM, Swinerton Builders, Time Warner Cable San Diego, Turner Construction and Webcor Builders. Media sponsors include the San Diego Union-Tribune and KFMB-TV/CBS 8 San Diego.
Also, UC San Diego alumni and Chuao Chocolatier founders, the Antonorsi brothers, will join in the celebration of their alma mater by hosting a “winning wrapper” contest. From September 2010 to May 2011, 20 winning tickets will be hidden in Chuao chocolate bars. Each finder of a winning wrapper and their guest will be invited to tour the Chuao Chocolatier facility; after the tour, they will participate in a chocolate and wine pairing party. A portion of proceeds from the sales of Chuao chocolate bars will benefit “Invent the Future,” UC San Diego’s student support campaign.
Vintage 50th Anniversary gear is available at the UC San Diego Bookstore on campus and at http://bookstore.ucsd.edu/ucsd50th.htm. The Bookstore will donate 10 percent of all 50th Anniversary merchandise sales to Invent the Future, the fundraising initiative associated with UC San Diego’s milestone celebration.
UCSD-TV will be broadcasting six installments of “UCSD@50” a magazine-style program that will also air nationally on University of California Television (UCTV) and be available on channel’s websites, as well as UCTV’s iTunesU and YouTube channels. To view the series premiere, guest hosted by Chancellor Fox, and find broadcast dates for future episodes, please visit www.ucsd.tv/50th.
Join in the celebration of UC San Diego. Visit www.50th.ucsd.edu.
Current UC San Diego students enjoy the campus and its 50-year history.
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