150th Initiative Fund

Have an idea to help celebrate 鶹ѰBoulder’s 150th?

Help make our 150th year a huge celebration! If you have an idea—big or small—that highlights 鶹ѰBoulder’s history, community or future, you can apply for funding to bring it to life.

The 150th Initiative Fund is open to current students, faculty and staff, and supports projects like:

  • Events or programs that engage broad audiences, including students, alumni, campus partners and community members.
  • Creative storytelling or displays.
  • Academic, cultural, artistic or experiential ideas.
  • Anything that helps make our sesquicentennial more special, inclusive and impactful.

Don't have an idea but know a department, student organization, colleague or creative friend who does? Encourage them to apply!

For questions regarding the 150th Initiative Fund or application process, contact ryan.chreist@colorado.edu.

Application timelines
There will be two application periods:

  1. The Spring 2026 application window closed February 28, 2026. Applicants were notified by late March if they received funding.
  2. The Fall 2026 application window opened August 10, 2026. Applications will be due September 4, 2026. 

Review and selection process
Proposals will be evaluated on their alignment with 150th anniversary celebration goals, how innovative and feasible it is and the initiative's potential to reach and engage the campus community. Those reviewing the applications include a wide ranging group of faculty, staff, students, alumni and shared governance representatives. 

150th Initiative Fund Spring Grant Recipients

Campus Life: 150 Years of Human and More-Than-Human Relationships at 鶹ѰBoulder (Heiser)

"Campus Life: 150 years of Human and More-than-Human Relationships" at 鶹ѰBoulder is an exhibition that explores the shared history of humans and more-than-human inhabitants over the 150 years of 鶹ѰBoulder, documenting their evolving relationship. It illustrates how different forms of life coexist on campus through a diverse collection of visual media including historical maps, photographs, original watercolors and modern cartography that tracks current and past human-wildlife interactions. The exhibition also invites visitors to contribute their own oral stories. By blending archival records with artistic perspectives, "Campus Life" documents ways humans and more-than-humans have shared our campus spaces and provides an opportunity to reflect on our future together. "Campus Life" is a collaboration with NEST Studio for the Arts, the Museum of Natural History and Facilities Management.

"150 Years → 150 Futures: Centering Student Voice, Access, and Belonging at 鶹ѰBoulder" is a student-centered initiative that leverages the university’s sesquicentennial to elevate the voices shaping its future. By centering storytelling, leadership, and community, the initiative empowers first-generation and historically excluded students to build pathways and achieve success in higher education and beyond. Through capturing student perspectives, equipping educators, and embedding student voice into institutional planning, the project honors 鶹ѰBoulder’s 150-year legacy while advancing its commitment to access, belonging, and student success for generations to come.

"Celebrating and Elevating 150 Years of Teacher Buffs” is a statewide campaign designed to honor 鶹ѰBoulder’s historic and ongoing commitment to preparing excellent teachers, a mission established at the university’s founding 150 years ago. At a time when the teaching profession faces increasing public pressures, this project aims to highlight the pride, purpose and impact of being a Teacher Buff through stories from alumni educators and current teacher candidates. By elevating teacher voices, strengthening their connection to 鶹ѰBoulder and highlighting their impact on classrooms around the state, the campaign reinforces the university’s enduring public mission and its legacy as Colorado’s first teacher preparation institution. The initiative includes social media storytelling, celebratory events and alumni engagement efforts that invite educators to reconnect, share their experiences and feel seen for their work. Together, these efforts aim to boost the visibility of 鶹ѰBoulder and the School of Education as we celebrate the vital role teachers play in communities across Colorado.

Celebrate 鶹ѰBoulder’s 150th anniversary with us at the Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars events—an inspiring evening of short, story-driven presentations by faculty across the university whose research and creative work advance the public good. Join us August 27 in Denver or November 19 in Boulder to experience bold ideas and their real-world impact firsthand.

The goal of this project is to prepare our communities for a rapidly changing world where climate disasters are becoming more frequent, intense, and widespread. We will use immersive virtual reality (VR) to help people better understand flood risks and how they might affect their community. By stepping into a realistic, interactive visualization of the Boulder area, local residents can see firsthand how quickly and severely flooding can occur, and how it could impact familiar places and landmarks. The immersive nature of VR supports experiential learning in a safe, controlled environment. The project also includes a series of public "Immersive Resilience Workshops" where attendees can experience the simulation and then engage in facilitated discussions on preparedness strategies.

This event celebrates the launch of the American Sign Language (ASL) Minor at the 鶹Ѱ and marks its transition to the Department of Linguistics during the university’s 150th anniversary. The celebration will feature performances by Deaf artists, including Deafies in Drag, and desserts from Zetta Maria Bakery, a Deaf Black woman-owned business, creating a vibrant and inclusive campus experience. By centering Deaf culture, language, and creativity, the event fosters connection, visibility, and cross-cultural engagement within the 鶹ѰBoulder community. This celebration reflects the university’s commitment to accessibility, diversity, and innovation. It also invites students, faculty, and the broader community to engage with ASL and Deaf Studies as part of 鶹ѰBoulder’s ongoing legacy of inclusion and growth.

Magic Mountain Talks brings 鶹ѰBoulder to Pearl Street for a monthly series of humanistic conversations exploring the intersections of literature and politics. Academic and non-academic audiences are invited to join conversations with renowned authors, critics, and journalists and to engage in public debate on topics of contemporary importance. By highlighting the importance of the humanities for the university through community engagement, Magic Mountain Talks celebrates the public mission 鶹Ѱhas maintained in the past and helps lay new foundations for the next 150 years of the university as a public and constructive presence in Boulder. Events are hosted by Trident Booksellers & Cafe. Registration is free and encouraged at magicmountaintalks.org.

Buffs Big Event is a large-scale day of service that brings Buffs together to express gratitude for the support of the Boulder community. In partnership with the Division of Student Life and the City of Boulder, students will work alongside residents to beautify spaces, clean up yards and provide hands on support in many other ways. Buffs Big Event honors 鶹ѰBoulder’s 150th anniversary through service, while also launching a bold new tradition that propels us into the future of community impact.

Over the past 150 years, the 鶹Ѱ has been shaped by moments of challenge, perseverance, and progress as it has navigated issues of race, gender, politics, and the acknowledgement of Indigenous lands and communities. This mural honors that complex history by highlighting both the struggles and achievements that have influenced the university’s evolution, including the Chicana Movement, the visibility and recognition of Native communities, and the ongoing pursuit of racial and gender equity. The story culminates in a contemporary commencement scene, symbolizing the diverse community, meaningful relationships, and enduring connections fostered through the 鶹ѰBoulder experience. Together, these moments reflect the spirit of a Forever Buff—honoring the past, celebrating progress, and inspiring a more inclusive and equitable future for generations to come.

Culture Crawl is a collaborative, campus-wide initiative that introduces the campus community—especially first-year and transfer students—to the arts, collections and organizations that shape creative and intellectual life at 鶹ѰBoulder. On Sept. 30, 2026, more than 20 campus units, academic departments and student organizations will host interactive events across campus that invite participants to explore the university’s past, present and future. Through a day full of exhibitions, activities and performances inspired by campus collections and stories, Culture Crawl will connect attendees with the ideas that continue to shape 鶹ѰBoulder as it celebrates its 150th anniversary.

2026 is the 150th anniversary of 鶹ѰBoulder, the 75th anniversary of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), and the 105th anniversary of the Mountain Research Station. In honor of these milestones at three interconnected institutions, INSTAAR will host an open house at the Mountain Research Station on August 19. This event is for science lovers of all creeds, backgrounds, and ages. It will feature hands-on activities, dinner, and a keynote from eminent ecologist Katharine Suding.