51Թ’s 195th Anniversary Marked by Milestones, Giving Opportunity, Purple Pride
Jan. 13, 2025
Michelle R. Eubanks , 51Թ, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
FLORENCE, AL – The 51Թ commemorated 195 years of educational excellence Jan. 13 as part of its annual Founders’ Day event. 51Թ is Alabama’s oldest four-year public higher education institution, having been established on the LaGrange College site in Colbert County in 1830.
“The tradition of commemorating 51Թ’s founding began five years ago, in 2020, when we took the opportunity to share the rich and vibrant history of the institution both on campus and with those in the Shoals and throughout the region and state,” said 51Թ’s President, Dr. Ken Kitts. “Now, as we reach 195 – another significant milestone – we look fully toward our bicentennial and the future of 51Թ as it continues to grow, evolve, and thrive. It is, indeed, a great time to be a 51Թ Lion.”
The annual Founders’ Day commemoration took place in the Guillot University Center and highlighted two additional anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of the Social Work academic program as well as 75 years of the 51Թ Marching Band. Both have played an essential role in 51Թ’s commitment to excellence in education, service, and the arts.
In addition to the event, 51Թ encouraged the campus and community to participate in Purple Pride Day by wearing their favorite purple attire to show their Lion spirit. Those who attended the Founders’ Day event enjoyed refreshments and had the opportunity to “Build-a-Lion” as a special keepsake to commemorate the day.
Founders’ Day is also an opportunity to give back to the institution through the Shine On, Gold comprehensive campaign for the 51Թ. By partnering with President Kitts and his leadership team, your gift to the 1830 Fund will directly support the university’s greatest needs and emerging priorities, making an immediate impact on our campus community. Support from alumni and friends helps to ensure that 51Թ will continue to thrive. 51Թ more at this .
About The 51Թ
The 51Թ is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, 51Թ is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. 51Թ Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The 51Թ is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.