This 125th anniversary year has been one in which we’ve honored our heritage, celebrated important milestones and looked to the future. On Friday, Oct. 22, the university community will come together to celebrate its 125th birthday.

President George E. Martin, Father Richard Wilkinson, Brent Johnson, student Master of Ceremonies, and special guest Rep. Lloyd Doggett will begin the campus celebration at 4 p.m. The winner of the 125x125 Hilltop Film Quest, a short film competition that allowed students, faculty and staff members to produce a film on their “journey” of St. Edward’s University, will be announced.

Members of the campus community will enjoy free food from Cabo Bob’s and Roppolo’s Pizza, hot air balloon rides at the soccer field, live music from the St. Edward's University Jazz Band and OMNI singers, and Mates of State.

And, it wouldn’t be a birthday party without cake. We’ll have a big birthday cake, cake competitions and a giant cake sculpture. A two-dimensional cake of Main Building that spans over six feet long and four feet high will awe and inspire students as they take part in the first ever Cake Off competition sponsored by Coca-Cola and Bon Appétit Management Company. Enjoy watching teams of 3–5 students competing to create the best birthday cake for St. Edward’s. When the decorating ends, judging begins by members of the Bon Appétit staff. The student teams with the top 3 cake designs will be awarded prize money for their student organization.

The students in the Art in Public Places class taught by Professor Hollis Hammonds designed and constructed a multi-tiered birthday cake for the 125th anniversary. Take a stroll down memory lane inside the giant birthday cake sculpture filled with 100 images of members of the St. Edward’s community spanning the last 125 years. Inside the cake, you will also hear the sound recordings of stories told by St. Edward's students, faculty and staff members.

Enjoy your cake and videos too! Guests will be able to view all entries from the 125x125 Hilltop Film Quest at a video screening booth located near the giant Main Building birthday cake.

The 125 Birthday Celebration is not only packed with fun, but also service. Get involved in Operation T, a project developed by St. Edward’s University Brown Scholar Irma Fernandez. Guests are asked to bring and donate gently used T-shirts at the party. The shirts will be donated to children in underprivileged communities around the world. Donate a T-shirt and receive a 125th Birthday koozie.

The St. Edward's University community will continue to celebrate the university’s birthday for the entire weekend though various on-campus events:

Saturday, Oct. 23: Founders Day Service Project, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Here’s your chance to help St. Edward’s achieve 75,000 hours of community service as part of the university’s anniversary commitment to the 125 Service Challenge.

Sunday, Oct. 24: Miles for Mission 5K, 8:30 a.m.
The Campus Ministry Miles for a Mission 5K fun run/walk gives you just one more way to have fun and give back to important causes.

Outdoor Mass, 10:30 a.m.
After your morning run head to Ragsdale Plaza for a special outdoor Mass to recognize this landmark occasion in the university’s history.

Founders Fest, 11:30 a.m.
Don’t go home after Mass. Stay for lunch! Join members of the university community for a picnic. RSVP for lunch.

Learn more about the 125 Birthday Party.