Campus News

Juniata College Launches Sesquicentennial Celebration Honoring 150 Years of Impact

(Posted August 15, 2025)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa.–Juniata College launches a yearlong celebration of 150 years of education, integrity, and service as it commemorates its sesquicentennial throughout the 2025–2026 academic year.  

“This milestone moment in Juniata’s history is an occasion to celebrate the visionary legacy that is as present today as it was in 1876,” said President James A. Troha. “Our founders set out to establish a learning community rooted in values of academic excellence and preparation for lives of leadership and service. That same spirit endures today as we prepare our students to lead lives of purpose and meaning in a complex and changing world.”  

Then named Huntingdon Normal School (and later Brethren Normal School), Juniata College was founded by a young physician from Huntingdon, Andrew B. Brumbaugh, and his two cousins, Henry and John Brumbaugh. Founder’s Day, observed annually on April 17, marks the anniversary of the opening day of classes in 1876, which brought three students together in a modest classroom situated above the Brumbaughs’ printshop on Washington Street. Three years later, classes relocated to the institution’s first permanent building, the iconic Founders Hall, located on the present-day campus.   

The sesquicentennial celebration will officially launch as Juniata welcomes the Class of 2029 to campus for the fall 2025 semester. The opening convocation ceremony, held on Monday, August 25, 2025, the first day of classes, will kick off a year-long calendar of events designed to bring the Juniata campus and Huntingdon communities together. Highlight events include guest speakers, TEDx, art exhibits, concerts, and more. The 116th Bailey Oratorical, scheduled for February 2026, will bring students together to explore 150 years of Juniata. A culminating event is planned for April 2026. A commemorative logo has been designed to mark the College’s sesquicentennial and will be featured on limited-edition merchandise and campus signage, available at select events.   

The sesquicentennial year is not only a time to honor a history of impact and innovation, but it is also a year that marks the launch of initiatives designed to carry Juniata’s purpose forward into the future, including the College’s new nursing program.   

For more information about Juniata College’s sesquicentennial events and updates throughout the 2025–2026 academic year, visit juniata.edu.  

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.