Community invited to share memories as university celebrates century of graduates during Colorado’s America 250-Colorado 150 celebration
Submit Story: Adams State 100 Years of Commencement
Adams State University invites the campus and community to help celebrate 100 years of commencement by sharing stories as part of a 100-day countdown to the 2026 graduation ceremony on May 16.
The “Adams State 100 Years, 100 Stories, 100 Days” campaign kicks off February 5, 2026 and will feature daily posts on social media highlighting memories, milestones, and moments from a century of graduates. The first commencement ceremony took place in 1926, making 2026 a perfect time to honor the university’s collective story.
“This campaign allows us to focus on what matters most, our students who have crossed our commencement stage,” said Vice President of Advancement Jake Rissler. “Every graduate has a story, and we want to hear them all, from our first class in 1926 to the graduates we’ll celebrate this May.”
The celebration also connects to Colorado’s historic America 250-Colorado 150 commemoration, which marks the 250th anniversary of American independence and the 150th anniversary of Colorado statehood. As one of Colorado’s public universities, Adams State has educated students for two-thirds of the state’s history, many of whom were first-generation college students from rural Colorado communities.
How to Participate:
Community members can submit stories, photos, and memories through the simple online form, Adams State 100 Years of Commencement.
Submissions can include:
- Graduation memories and campus traditions
- Stories about professors, mentors, or classmates who made a difference
- Photos from any era
- Multi-generational family legacies at Adams State
- How Adams State shaped careers, lives, and communities
Stories can be submitted anonymously or with attribution. Selected submissions will be featured daily across Adams State’s social media channels throughout the 100-day campaign.
“This is about more than nostalgia,” added Rissler. “It’s about recognizing the impact of public higher education on Colorado and celebrating the students, past, present, and future, who define Adams State.”
The campaign will culminate on May 16, 2026, when Adams State hosts its Spring Commencement Ceremony, welcoming the newest class of graduates into a century-long legacy.
About America 250-Colorado 150
In 2026, Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood while America marks 250 years of independence. The America 250-Colorado 150 Commission is coordinating commemorative events, programs, and initiatives across the state. Learn more at historycolorado.org/colorado-150.
