What: Wayne State University will conclude a yearlong observation of its 150th anniversary and the completion of its $750 million Pivotal Moments fundraising campaign with a campus celebration. The event will feature a stage program hosted by award-winning actress and Wayne State alumna S. Epatha Merkerson, in addition to remarks from President M. Roy Wilson, City of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and State Budget Director and alumnus John Walsh.
When: Friday, Oct. 26 from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
- 4:30 p.m. – Campus Festival, which will include exhibits, games, food and music and dance performances by current students.
- 6 p.m. — Stage Program, hosted by S. Epatha Merkerson with official remarks from President M. Roy Wilson, City of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and State Budget Director John Walsh. The program will include the presentation of the Sesquicentennial time capsule and a closing performance.
- 7 p.m. — Student Block Party, led by current students complete with music and food.
Where: Wayne State University, Gullen Mall
Opportunities: There will be brief remarks and a time capsule presentation, in addition to music and dance performances. Media will have the opportunity for interviews.
Background: Wayne State University launched a yearlong celebration of its 150th anniversary in January 2018. To commemorate its Sesquicentennial, the WSU hosted a series of symposia and events reflecting on its 150 years of continued excellence in Detroit and the university’s future.
When it was launched in Oct. 2014, Pivotal Moments: Our Campaign for Wayne State University was the university’s most ambitious fundraising campaign to date. With generous support from nearly 84,000 donors, Wayne State successfully reached its $750 million goal three months early in July 2018. The campaign focused on the key priorities of student success, research and faculty support, facilities and spaces, and community outreach.