UHCL celebrates 50th anniversary with interactive kick-off event
University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) proudly announces the commencement of its 50th anniversary celebrations with the theme, “Launched in 1974. Still Soaring.” This September marks half a century of educational excellence, community engagement, and innovative growth for the university. UH-Clear Lake invites faculty, staff, students, and the community to honor the past, celebrate the present, and embrace the future together by participating in the festivities planned throughout the year.
“This milestone offers a unique opportunity for our entire UHCL community — alumni, faculty, staff, students, and local partners — to celebrate their enduring connection to our university,” said UHCL President Richard Walker. “I’m excited to celebrate this remarkable journey with everyone through the many events we have planned for this year.”
The first of these events is scheduled for Thursday, February 15, from 10-11:30 a.m. at UHCL, 2700 Bay Area Boulevard in Houston, TX, 77058. Participants will meet in front of the Bayou Building at the west entrance, near the Spiritus Mundi sculpture, where Dr. Walker will deliver a few words. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the university’s accomplishments over the past five decades and its aspirations for continued development.
The event will also include the artwork of local artist Jacob (Jake) Mesa. A native Houstonian and self-taught artist, Mesa has painted several murals on the UH-Clear Lake campus and will paint the scene where Dr. Walker will give his remarks.
UHCL welcomed its first 1,069 students in September of 1974 in the Arbor Building and an off-site location under the leadership of Alfred R. Neumann, the university’s founding chancellor. Classes expanded to the Bayou Building, the first phase of the permanent campus, in 1975.
Today, our enrollment continues to grow, and the campus now includes five classroom buildings, a recreation and wellness center, on-campus housing, programs and courses at our Pearland location, and programs housed on the 14th floor in the Fannin Tower at the Texas Medical Center. Additional festivities will take place throughout the year to celebrate these and other accomplishments as well as the achievements of its 78,000+ alumni over the last 50 years.
To learn more about UHCL’s history and the 50th anniversary celebrations, go to https://50.uhcl.edu/.