Plans for the BYU 150th anniversary celebration have been in the works for more than four years with numerous people involved.
This year will be packed with celebrations including a new BYU creamery ice cream flavor, 150 swag and a whole lot of service.
BYU’s goal this year is to focus on what makes a BYU education unique.
“This ‘enter to learn, go forth to serve’ is really our rallying cause,” BYU sesquicentennial spokesperson Natalie Ipson said. “That we come to BYU to gain an education to go better and bless God’s children.”
Everyone in the BYU community is invited to do 150 hours of service this year.
“BYU just gives so much to each of the students,” BYUSA executive vice president Ella Paligo said. “I feel like it’s poured so much into me with just my learning and the opportunities it's given me, and so if I can pay that forward any way just one hour at a time, I think it makes all the difference in students' lives.”
BYU is also doing a “Beacon of Light” initiative where each college and department on campus has come up with a unique way to serve others using their specific expertise.
“Use the talents and knowledge that you have to go bless the lives of others,” Ipson said.
There are more than 100 service projects happening for the initiative. Examples include the law school donating 50 hours of legal advising and the environmental office helping the community learn how to make their homes more friendly to the environment.
“If one person holds up a lantern in the dark it doesn’t just benefit that person it benefits everybody,” Ipson said.
To give everyone more opportunities to serve, there will be a service week in both fall and winter semesters.
“If you just carve out a little bit of time to serve each week, I think you’ll find that it makes such a difference in your life,” Paligo said. “Also that you’ll have more time because you're giving back, you’re being fulfilled.”
There will also be an ongoing scavenger hunt called BYU 150 Passport that can be accessed on the Goose Chase app.
After opening the app, just search “BYU 150” to complete challenges for BYU 150 swag. Challenges will be added throughout the year.
“We’re excited to get this thing going,” Ipson said.
This is just a sneak peek into all of the celebrations that will be happening this year, so to stay updated on all events and information, visit 150.byu.edu.