With the kick-off to Texas Tech’s Centennial coming in less than 100 days away, the university this week announced its plans for celebrating the milestone in a 2023 packed with events around Lubbock, across the state and nation.
The celebrations will officially kick off on Dec. 2 at the Carol of Lights holiday lighting celebration on the Tech campus in Lubbock. However, a day before the kick-off, the Texas Tech Museum will open its Centennial Exhibit at 10 am in Lubbock, with free admission.
Texas Tech was officially established on Feb. 10, 1923, and in the past 100 years Tech has grown and evolved into a system with more than 40,000 students across the state and around the world.
“In our first century, we have become a world-class, internationally recognized university,” Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said in a centennial article from the university. “Our second century is an opportunity for us to elevate our thinking even further; to serve all who choose to pursue a college degree at Texas Tech, no matter where they come from; and to find creative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. We have the capacity to do all these things, and we will.”
As classes resume for the spring 2023 semester, the celebrations will continue on Jan. 16, with the MLK Day; Centennial Service Event in Lubbock.
This event serves as the first service event that is intertwined throughout the celebration’s events. The university has had a long legacy of service to the community, which will continue into the next chapter of its history.
Texas Tech Goin’ Band marching in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Over the course of the celebrations, Texas Tech set a goal for the Red Raider community to complete at least 1 million hours of volunteerism and service.
“The message is clear: service has always been part of who we are at Texas Tech. And today, as we launch our centennial celebration, service to our many communities is still at the forefront of our identity,” reads a statement from Tech’s Office of the President.
The next event after MLK Day will be another nationwide service event on Feb. 10. The Founders Day – Texas Tech Alumni Association National Volunteer Day coincides with the founding of the university in 1923 and also goes along with the Founders Day Centennial Illumination event in Lubbock.
Later in February, the celebrations will go down to Austin on Feb. 28 for Capitol Tech: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration and on March 1 for Texas Tech Day at the State Capitol.
Celebrations will move to Houston for Boots & Bowties: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration and Texas Tech Day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 10 and 11.
All events from Feb. 28 to March 11 require tickets or an RSVP to participate.
The celebration will briefly return to Lubbock on April 14 for Tech’s annual service event, Tech to Town.
Celebrations will head east again for the Stars at Night: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration in Dallas. Tickets are required.
On Nov. 23, celebrations are headed to the Big Apple for Broadway to Broadway: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration in New York City. On Nov. 24, tune in to see the Goin’ Band perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time.
Finally, the celebrations will wrap up back in Lubbock on Dec. 1 for the annual Carol of Lights.
More information about the centennial can be found at 100.ttu.edu.