Football vs. Georgia State, Founders Fest, the kickoff for Giving Green, #NinerNationGives and regional alumni events are among the activities planned for the 2017 Founders Celebration, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, through Friday, Sept. 29.
UNC Charlotte’s transformation into a research university has been exponential since its founding 71 years ago. The University’s establishment as the Charlotte Center, a night school primarily serving World War II veterans, dates back to Sept. 23, 1946. Today, UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s urban research university with a student enrollment of 29,000-plus.
Students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of UNC Charlotte are encouraged to participate in the events planned for the 2017 Founders Celebration.
Recent graduates from fall 2016 and spring 2017 are invited to return for Reunion Zero to reconnect with the University as a member of the Alumni Association at the Alumni Tailgate Village on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Hauser Alumni Pavilion. At 6 p.m. the Charlotte 49ers take on Georgia State at Jerry Richardson Stadium. A special Founders Celebration will take place between the first and second quarter break.
The campus community can join in the celebration of UNC Charlotte’s establishment at Founders Fest from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 25, at various locations on campus including the Popp Martin Student Union, Friday/Cato, Prospector, Atkins/Reese/Colvard, Grigg/EPIC and UNC Charlotte Center City. There will be cupcakes, UNC Charlotte trivia and giveaways.
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, #NinerNationGives, a 49-hour social media-driven fundraising campaign, launches. As part of the celebration of UNC Charlotte, #NinerNationGives will help build community and better connect alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the University. The #NinerNationGives student picnic will be 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 28, on the plaza between the Cato College of Education and the College of Health and Human Services.
Faculty and staff members can attend a free luncheon for the kickoff of the annual Giving Green Campaign. This event, set for 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.., Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Popp Martin Student Union, Multipurpose Room, is the start of the University’s unified, campus-wide fundraising effort to benefit the Arts & Science Council, the nearly 1,000 nonprofit organizations of the State Employees Combined Campaign and the UNC Charlotte Foundation.
Alumni are invited to a host of regional alumni events on Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the following locations: Atlanta (The Bucket Shop Café), Charleston (Frothy Beard Brewing Company), Dallas (Flying Saucer Draught Emporium), New York City (Public House), Triad (JuggHeads Growlers & Pints), Triangle (Clouds Brewing – Raleigh), and Washington, D.C. (The Lucky Bar). Meet and network with fellow 49er alumni to celebrate the founding of UNC Charlotte. Each regional location will have free appetizers, UNC Charlotte swag and a chance to win prizes.
A #NinerNationGives Charlotte Alumni Event will be held at the Broken Spoke from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 28, Charlotte area alumni can meet fellow alumni to celebrate the founding of UNC Charlotte with free appetizers, UNC Charlotte swag and a chance to win prizes.