Your Guide to Founders’ Celebration 2012

UC San Diego’s Founders’ Celebration hits campus today, Nov. 16, with a slate of free activities to recognize the university’s accomplishments and discoveries over the past half century. This is an opportunity for the campus community—students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends—to connect with each other and take pride in their university. Here’s what you need to know:

Investiture and Founders’ Day

Video Contest Announces Winner

In honor of Founders’ Celebration and its 2012 theme, “We Inspire,” the campus asked students, staff, faculty and alumni to create a video showing what inspires them at UC San Diego or what they do on campus to inspire others.

Watch the winning video on the Founders’ Celebration website.

Where: Town Square

When: 11:30 a.m.

What: A digital history of the campus presented through the eyes of its chancellors, the investiture of UC San Diego’s eighth chancellor, Pradeep K. Khosla, and the traditional Founders’ Day fair.

Why you should go: Like U.S. presidents have an inauguration, UC San Diego chancellors have an investiture formally recognizing their place in office. This is history in the making. Plus, the traditional Founders’ Day festivities follow: affinity booths representing various academic departments and campus organizations, live entertainment and gourmet food trucks.

Founders’ Symposium—sold out

Where: Rady School of Management Beyster Auditorium

When: 5 to 7 p.m.

What: Six short dynamic presentations showcasing the relevant research happening in each division at UC San Diego and how it will make a difference in our world.

Why you should go: Unfortunately, this event is sold out, but overflow seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. This is a chance to hear from leading UC San Diego researchers, why they do what they do and how it will impact real lives. The casual format of the program makes this a truly inviting experience—not your typical academic talk. Look for it in 2013 if you don’t get to go this year.

Hullabaloo, presented by AS Concerts & Events – UC San Diego undergraduates only

Where: Town Square and Matthews Quad          

When:  8 p.m. to midnight

What: Student festival with live music, a dance stage, carnival rides, food trucks and activity booths. Featured artists include The M Machine, XV and DJ Chris Cutz. 

Why you should go: This is one of UC San Diego’s biggest student festivals of the year. The music ranges from hip-hop artists to electronic musicians, amusement rides include the “Kamikaze” and “Human Bowling” and student organizations are hosting games and activities including fortune telling and mini basketball. There’s something for every UC San Diego student here. Watch the trailer at hullabaloo.ucsd.edu.   

For more information about Founders’ Celebration, visit founders.ucsd.edu.