IUPUI

Tradition : Annual Events

Numerous annual events engage students, honor outstanding work, and contribute to campus life. A brief sample of these events:

Commencement

The nearly 30,000 students on campus have one goal in common: graduating. Commencement is a celebration of the successful completion of a degree program, and the ultimate campus tradition. IUPUI's ceremony is rather unique, with the presidents and trustees of both Indiana University and Purdue University present to confer degrees. The first IUPUI commencement was held in May 1970, but individual school commencement ceremonies in Indianapolis have been held for nearly a century.

» More

A student presents her speech at Speech Night '08.

Speech Night

Speech Night is a tradition that's been going on for more than 35 years. Occurring at the end of both fall and spring semesters, the best speakers from each section of the R110 (Public Speaking) class present their persuasive speeches in front of an audience of more than 900 R110 students and faculty members.

Students selected as a 2005 Top 100 student pose at the recognition dinner.

Top 100 Dinner

IUPUI's commitment to honoring excellence is illustrated each spring at the IUPUI Top 100 student recognition dinner. The top 100 undergraduate students (juniors and seniors) are honored at the event; from that pool, the top 10 men and top 10 women are selected. Nominations for the annual honor roll are judged by a review committee of faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the top male and top female student.

» More information

Steven C. Beering, 1977

Beering Award and Lecture

World leaders in biomedical and clinical research are honored each year by the IU School of Medicine with the Steven C. Beering Award. The award is named for the former dean of the School of Medicine (1974-83), who later served as president of Purdue University (West Lafayette). Among the past recipients of the award are Noble Laueate Harold E. Varmus, past director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Spirit of Philanthropy Luncheon

For nearly two decades, IUPUI has honored the men, women, families and organizations whose contributions to the campus have helped make IUPUI an important part of the Indianapolis community and infrastructure.

Each of IUPUI's schools and centers is eligible to honor one or two worthy individuals, corporations, foundations or other contributors whose generosity has made a difference in campus life.

The contributions take many forms, including donations of money or other resources, as well as time and participation in campus life and activities.

The luncheon is a collaboration between the IUPUI campus, the IU Foundation-Indianapolis and the Center on Philanthropy, a part of the IU School of Liberal Arts and based at IUPUI.

Edward C. Moore Symposium

The annual Edward C. Moore Symposium on Teaching Excellence is named for one of IUPUI's most influential academic leaders, former dean of the faculties Edward C. Moore. The annual event, IUPUI's oldest public event, delves into issues of effective teaching and learning. The Moore Symposium is a cornerstone of IUPUI's ongoing efforts to constantly improve the academic support we provide our students.

In addition to his faculty responsibilities, Moore was the founding director of the Peirce Edition Project, now a core part of the Institute for American Thought in the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

» Event website
» Edward Moore Collection information

Joseph T. Taylor

Joseph T. Taylor Symposium

The 19-year-old Joseph T. Taylor Symposium is named for the first dean of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI and one of the most revered figures in campus history. Taylor was a pivotal figure in IUPUI's early years, building ties with the community in large part due to his ability to communicate with many constituencies and interest groups.

The event focuses attention on issues of urban life, including education, environment, health, diversity, criminal justice, arts and culture, and more. The Taylor Symposium also has become the celebration of Taylor's commitment to diversity in all walks of life with the presentation of the annual Joseph T. Taylor Excellence in Diversity Awards.

Spirit & Place Festival

The annual Spirit & Place Civic Festival, originated and managed by The Polis Center in the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, has become a fixture on the fall arts & culture events calendar for the city of Indianapolis.

The festival brings together the Indianapolis community's diverse arts, humanities, civic and religious organizations and focuses their combined talents, interests and constituencies' attention on issues of community concern. The event has featured such notable participants as authors John Updike, Cornel West and Jane Smiley, plus Indianapolis natives Dan Wakefield and Kurt Vonnegut.

» Spirit & Place website

Dr. Mae Jemison, first African American woman in space, was the keynote speaker at the 2006 dinner

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

For nearly four decades, the IUPUI Black Student Union has honored the memory of the late humanitarian Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a dinner and celebration. The event, born in 1971 as a campus event, has become the Indianapolis community's longest-running and most historic celebrations honoring Dr. King. The event has featured such dynamic speakers as Maya Angelou, Shirley Chisholm, Tavis Smiley and Dr. Benjamin Carter.

The gala has become a mainstay of the city's MLK Holiday celebration, but IUPUI has extended the day's events to honor another of King's passions: community service. On each of the last eight years, IUPUI students, staff and faculty gather together to serve area agencies and organizations that need volunteer support to accomplish such basic tasks as maintenance, grounds keeping and more through a "Day-On of Service" rather than a day off for a holiday.

Among the recent featured speakers at the MLK Gala:

IUPUI Alumni Leadership Dinner

Each February, IUPUI honors outstanding alumni for their service to the campus and its alumni program during the IUPUI Alumni Leadership Dinner. The event includes the presentation of the prestigious Maynard K. Hine Medals, an honor named for the first chancellor of IUPUI and former dean of the School of Dentistry. Hine Medals have been awarded to outstanding alumni every year since 1974.

Among the 58 past Hine Medal recipients: