Wayne State University will officially launch its yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration Friday, Jan. 26, in the Community Arts Auditorium in Reuther Mall. The event begins at 2 p.m.

President M. Roy Wilson will help kick off the festivities, which will culminate in a showcase of WSU’s history through inspired student performances. The event will also include the debut of a commemorative video and the unveiling of “Wayne State University at 150” at the Walter P. Reuther Library. A special birthday cake will be served to all attendees.

“This will be an opportunity for the university community to celebrate the scholarship, research, innovation and creativity that Wayne State is known for,” Wilson said. “I look forward to seeing students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends at this watershed event celebrating our first 150 years.”

A predecessor of Wayne State University, the Detroit Medical College was founded by five Civil War physicians in 1868, marking the first milestone in WSU’s 150 years. Other significant moments in Wayne State’s history are shared on the university’s Sesquicentennial website, which also includes details about the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

“I look forward to imagining together what the next 150 years will look like for Wayne State, and how we can build on our academic and research excellence to continue to transform Detroit and surrounding communities as we move into the future,” Wilson said.