Ohio University to celebrate Founders Day with birthday bash, special exhibit on Feb. 18

Ohio University will celebrate its past and look toward the future on Founders Day 2023, Saturday, Feb. 18.

Founded on Feb. 18, 1804, Ohio University is the oldest public university in the state of Ohio. On Feb. 18, OHIO will celebrate its 219th birthday with a series of events including a Birthday Bash, a Bobcat competition, the playing of the Cutler Hall Chimes and a special exhibit.

The Birthday Bash will be held in the Baker University Center Ballroom from 1-4 p.m. All members of the University community are invited to the birthday celebration, which will include food, activities, and family-friendly performances. The event is being hosted by the Ohio University Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Board.

The 219th Birthday Competition invites all Bobcats to get creative and share birthday messages through the Bobcat Network. Submissions can include poems, video messages, birthday cakes, photos and much more. Winners will have their work featured on the Founders Day website.

Each year on Founders Day, the Cutler Hall Chimes play “Alma Mater, Ohio” at the time that corresponds with OHIO’s birthday. This year, the chimes will play at 2:19 p.m. on Feb. 18.

The special Founders Day exhibit by University Libraries this year is featuring Margaret “Maggie” Boyd, who was the first woman to graduate from Ohio University. Boyd earned her bachelor’s degree in June 1873. The exhibit can be seen at this University Libraries website.

For more information on all the Founders Day events and activities, please see the Founders Day website. Read more about the history of Ohio University on our History and Traditions website.