University News

WIU’s 125th anniversary campaign honored the people and progress that define the University, building lasting energy and connection for the future.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU marked its milestone year with a campaign showcasing 125+ Leathernecks, drawing nearly 7,000 website visits and thousands more on social media.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU Concludes 125th Anniversary with Year of Celebration and Impact

September 15, 2025

Printer friendly version

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Western Illinois University has successfully concluded its 125th Anniversary Celebration campaign, marking a year filled with pride, reflection and forward momentum.

The celebration kicked off with a lively Founders Day event that brought the WIU community together with inflatables, free t-shirts, commemorative giveaways and birthday cake to honor the University's legacy.

The events continued in October with Homecoming 2024. The theme "125 Years of Purple and Gold" honored the University's milestone anniversary and featured alumna and longtime friend Lorraine Epperson as the parade's grand marshal.

October also featured a celebration of the University at the Leslie F. Malpass Library, with photos and artifacts on display to show the history of WIU and celebrate the legacy of Col. Ray "Rock" Hanson.

This past year also saw the unveiling of 23 new Rocky on Parade bulldogs. These marked the sixth and final set of statues as part of the 134 sculptures made for various sponsor locations around the community of Macomb.

Leatherneck Nation showed up for WIU multiple times throughout the year, with donations exceeding $500,000 between Giving Tuesday in December and the Western Challenge in April. That money provides support to the entire campus community, particularly for academics, campus improvements, student life enhancements and scholarship opportunities.

"The 125th anniversary celebration highlighted our history of success and demonstrated the life-transforming opportunities available at Western," WIU President Kristi Mindrup said. "I want to thank the entire WIU community for making Western's anniversary so memorable. The future is bright for WIU because of our strong foundation, history and traditions and also our future-focused faculty, staff and students. Together, we will write the next chapter for WIU."

To extend the impact of this milestone year, the Office of University Communications and Marketing launched a year-long campaign highlighting over 125 alumni, students and community members who exemplify the Leatherneck spirit. These stories were shared on the anniversary website at wiu.edu/125 and across WIU's social media channels, including Facebook, LinkedIn and X. The campaign saw strong engagement, with nearly 7,000 visits to the website and thousands more reached through social platforms.

Faculty and staff also supported the campaign by incorporating the 125th anniversary logo into their email signatures, helping maintain a visible and unified message throughout the year. As WIU looks to the future, all members of the community are encouraged to continue using the original branded email signature, which can be found at wiu.edu/brand.

The 125th anniversary campaign served as more than just a celebration—it was a tribute to the people and progress that define Western Illinois University. As the University enters its next chapter, the energy and connection built during this campaign will continue to inspire the Leatherneck community for years to come.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing