Communication Associate: Public Relations | Lori Melton | lmelton@d.umn.edu | (218) 726-8830
July 13, 2012 Cheryl Reitan | Associate Director of External Affairs | 218 726-8996 | creitan@d.umn.edu
Christiana Kapsner | UMD Public Relations Associate | 218 726-8830 | ckapsner@d.umn.edu
150th Anniversary of the Morrill Act
Campus-wide BBQ to commemorate land-grant university history
Abraham Lincoln signed numerous documents in 1862, one of which included a law for land-grant provision: the Morrill Act. This law would enable anyone from any social class to secure a higher education.
On Wednesday, July 18 from 11:30 am-1pm, celebrate the commemoration of UMD's Land-Grant heritage with a theatrical appearance of Abraham Lincoln and organized events including games, prizes, and food with a $2 entrance fee. UMD Chancellor Lendley C. Black will speak on the land-grant history during the event.
This event is made possible by UMD Dining Services, Facilities Management, and Recreational Sports Outdoor Program, with TCF Bank as the barbecue sponsor.
UMD Chancellor Black in attendance at Washington D.C. ceremony
Chancellor Black joined nearly 70 members of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) during a celebration in Washington D.C. on June 25, 2012. The ceremony honored the 150th anniversary of the passage of the Morrill Act, which established land-grant colleges by providing all eligible states with 30,000 acres of federal land to be used toward establishing and funding educational institutions.
"UMD has fulfilled the land grant university mission," said Black. "Faculty-led research is conducted locally and nationally; students are educated in preparation for the world; and, as a whole, the campus serves the public through numerous programs and initiatives. I was honored to attend the commemoration in Washington D.C. and represent the campus community."
The members in attendance included presidents and chancellors, dressed in academic attire. They joined leaders from the Library of Congress, National Academy of Sciences, and Carnegie Corporation of New York to lay a wreath at the Lincoln Memorial to honor President Abraham Lincoln and the 37th Congress for the bipartisan establishment of land-grant colleges in 1862 that led to the state college system.
Joining the presidents and chancellors were former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, Librarian of Congress James Billington, and National Academy of Sciences President Ralph Cicerone.
This ceremony followed a day-long event held at the Library of Congress, Creating a Dynamic, Knowledge-based Democracy: The passage of the Morrill Act and the establishment of the National Academy of Sciences and the Carnegie libraries.
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