Black Hills State University to celebrate 131st anniversary

            The Main Hall in 1904.
            The Black Hills State University campus today.

Black Hills State University will celebrate its 131st anniversary with a Founders&rsquo Day gathering Thursday, Feb. 27, at 12:15 p.m. in the Hive Dining area located in the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union.

In celebration of Founders&rsquo Day, former BHSU President Tom Flickema and his wife Judy, and former vice president of academic affairs Dean Myers and his wife Mary Ann will assist BHSU President Kay Schallenkamp in the ceremonial cutting of the cake.  For those who wish, lunch will be available at a cost of $8.23 per person and no RSVP is needed.

BHSU was founded on Feb. 27, 1883, as Dakota Territorial Normal School, before South Dakota had even gained statehood and before the city of Spearfish was officially established.  Four-year degrees were added in the 1920s and in 1941 the school was renamed Black Hills Teachers College.  Graduate courses followed in 1953 and by 1964 there was a new designation - Black Hills State College.  Over the next several decades, the college continued to grow in strength and stature.  In 1989, the name was changed to Black Hills State University to reflect the depth and breadth of the academic offerings. BHSU now has more than 4,400 students and offers 72 academic programs.

This event is open to the public.  For more information contact Tom Wheaton at Tom.Wheaton@BHSU.edu or call 642-6385.