BIG SPRING, Texas — Howard College is celebrating 80 years of making dreams real with a series of events and activities honoring the college’s history, alumni, students, faculty, staff and the communities it has served. Although the college was created in 1945, we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of its first day of classes in 1946.
The college’s 80th Anniversary Celebration is taking place throughout September, with the centerpiece being 8 Days of 80th Anniversary festivities from September 21–30. Each day features a new opportunity to celebrate Howard College, including historical fun facts, an 80th Anniversary Rock Hunt, alumni activities and other events across the college.
The 80th Anniversary Rock Hunt has brought the celebration into the communities surrounding Howard College, with rocks hidden throughout Big Spring, Lamesa and San Angelo. Participants who find a rock can take a photo and share it on social media while tagging Howard College and the participating business. Each qualifying rock find serves as an entry into a September 30 drawing for a free Howard College T-shirt.
The college is also celebrating 80 years of making a difference through 80 Acts of Kindness, encouraging members of the Howard College family and surrounding communities to perform acts of kindness and share their stories. The initiative recognizes the many people whose everyday actions have helped make Howard College and its communities stronger and more connected.
Celebrating Eight Decades
Alumni are being invited to reconnect with Howard College through daily drop-in Zoom gatherings organized by decade. The series began with alumni from the most recent decade and will continue moving backward through Howard College’s history, culminating with alumni from 1946–1956, the decade in which the college began (Sep 21: 2016-2026, Sep 22: 2006-2016, Sep 23: 1996-2006, Sep 24: 1986-1996, Sep 25: 1976-1986, Sep 28: 1966-1976, Sep 29: 1956-1966, Sep 30: 1946-1956).
Current faculty and staff are also joining the celebration with decade-themed dress-up days and food and snacks inspired by each era at Howard College campuses.
The final days of the celebration will feature several special events.
On September 28 at 6:30 p.m., Howard College will host Meet the Hawks at the Dorothy Garrett Coliseum, providing an opportunity for the community to meet and celebrate Howard College’s men's and women's basketball teams.
On September 29 at 1:30 p.m., the college will hold a ribbon cutting for the new softball fieldhouse, marking another milestone for Howard College athletics.
The 80th Anniversary Celebration will conclude on September 30 at 1 p.m. with a First Class Day Remembrance and ribbon cutting in front of the Dora Roberts Student Union Building. The event will honor Howard College’s beginnings while celebrating the growth and progress of the college over the past eight decades.
From the students who attended Howard College’s first classes in 1946 to the generations of Hawks who have followed, the college’s 80-year story is one of opportunity, community and people making a difference.
As Howard College celebrates this milestone, the college honors its past, celebrates its present and looks forward to continuing to make dreams real for generations of Hawks to come.