Celebrating 150: CU Buffs through time, museum exhibit, Ceal Barry Plaza dedication, Community Engagement Week, more

In 2026, CU �Ǹ�Թ� celebrates 150 years. This anniversary provides our communities a rare chance to reflect on where we’ve been, examine where we are today and imagine the next big ideas that will shape our future. Stay tuned for more news and events throughout the year.

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Buffs through time—based on your submissions

As we begin to reflect upon the eras of CU �Ǹ�Թ� history this year, here’s our next list of important CU Buffs from our past, based on your submitted ideas—including some lesser-known folks who might surprise you.

With hundreds of thousands of Colorado Buffaloes in our university’s history, we’re excited to share regular lists of Buffs through time during our 150th anniversary in 2026.

We hope these lists will inspire your continuing ideas for more Buffs we can celebrate in 2026.

Meet the Buffs

Blazing trail for 150 years at CU �Ǹ�Թ�

��Jan. 16–March 1��Museum of �Ǹ�Թ�
Visit the Museum of �Ǹ�Թ�’s CU �Ǹ�Թ� exhibit, celebrating a century and a half of innovation, advocacy and discovery on our campus, opening on Jan. 16.

Colorado Athletics to dedicate Ceal Barry Plaza on Jan. 25

��Jan. 25��Noon����CU Events Center plaza
As our 150th anniversary begins, CU �Ǹ�Թ� will rename the plaza on the west side of the CU Events Center in honor of one of the university's greatest luminaries, longtime women's basketball coach and CU Athletics administrator Ceal Barry. The plaza will be dedicated in a special ceremony at noon on Sunday, Jan. 25, before the CU women's basketball team faces Oklahoma State.

Join us for Community Engagement Week

��Jan. 27–29
For 150 years, CU �Ǹ�Թ� faculty members, students and staff members have partnered with Colorado communities to pursue public and community-engaged scholarship that responds to local priorities, co-creates knowledge and drives positive impact. Today, that tradition continues—across the nation and around the world—through partnerships grounded in commitment, curiosity and respect.

The Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (PACES) is bringing that energy together for CU �Ǹ�Թ�’s first-ever Community Engagement Week.

Please join us for three days of sharing engaged-teaching, learning, creative work and research; making connections; and building skills with many of CU �Ǹ�Թ�'s community partners and featuring national experts Diane Doberneck and Patti Clayton.

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��Submit a story

CU �Ǹ�Թ� Today will feature regular "Celebrating 150" articles throughout the year, and we encourage colleagues to submit your own news and events that commemorate CU �Ǹ�Թ� history. Submit or submit . Also, tag related events on the with "celebrating150."

CAAAS 5th year anniversary

��Feb. 2����5–7 p.m.����UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom
Join the Center for African & African American Studies for a celebration of their fifth anniversary. The 150th anniversary of CU �Ǹ�Թ� also will be celebrated at this event at the Glenn Miller Ballroom!

Join the celebration at CWA

��April 13–16
CU �Ǹ�Թ�'s official 150th celebration kicks off at the Conference on World Affairs. Since 1948, CWA has brought together global leaders, innovators and experts to spark timely, thought-provoking conversations on the issues shaping our world.

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