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Tradition, heartbeat, spirit and pride

Every member of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band knows the band’s motto by heart: tradition, heartbeat, spirit and pride. What every member of the band may not know, though, is where those four words came from.

Campus, creatures and community: 3 events explore 150 years of life at CU Boulder

The “Campus Life: 150 Years of Human and More-Than-Human Relationships at CU Boulder” exhibition, the BioBlitz! iNaturalist Workshop and Creature Crawl each highlight the unique connections between people and nature that have developed on campus over the past century and a half. 

Text reads: Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 Homecoming 2026. 150 years of traditions and togetherness.
Two CU Boulder students pose with their fingers forming Buff horns at convocation

How Alumni Keep Their CU Boulder Bonds Strong as Forever Buffs

For 150 years, CU Boulder has fostered a strong sense of community, on campus and beyond. The university is more than just a location on a map for many alumni—it’s a part of their lives today. Once a Buff, forever a Buff.

This Homecoming season, we're celebrating 150 years of traditions and togetherness. Learn more about how our Forever Buffs network of alumni stay connected, involved and invested. Sko Buffs!

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Spotlighting Our Notable Buffs

Ceal Barry returns to Denver International Airport. Photo by Cliff Grassmick, Daily Camera. CU Boulder Heritage Center.

Ceal Barry

Ceal Barry had a 37-year career with CU Boulder, bringing years of success overseeing CU athletics and coaching the women’s basketball team. She joined CU in 1983 and remained the head coach until 2005. During her tenure, the women’s basketball team advanced to 12 NCAA tournaments, six Sweet Sixteens and three Elite Eights. Her success also led to the creation of several female sports programs at CU, including soccer, volleyball and golf. Following her retirement from coaching in 2005, she became the associate athletic director. Barry officially retired in July 2020 after spending 43 years in college sports.

Read About More Notable Buffs

Share your 150th Anniversary Story Ideas & Feedback
All submissions will be routed for review via the CU Boulder 150th steering committee.

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150th Anniversary Events

Be Part of Something Big: America 250 - Colorado 150

150th Project Team

Executive Sponsors
  • Ann Schmiesing, Senior Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives
  • Ryan Chreist, Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives
  • Katherine Eggert, Vice Chancellor, Academic Planning and Assessment
  • Katy Herbert Kotlarczyk, Vice Chancellor, Advancement
  • Jon Leslie, Vice Chancellor, Strategic Relations and Communication
  • D’Andra Mull, Vice Chancellor, Student Life
Steering Committee
  • Sarah Adderholt, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Events, Protocol and Outreach
  • Lori Call, Associate Vice Chancellor Local Government and Community Relations
  • Theresa Hernandez, Professor and Director, Crawford Family WHOLE student athlete program
  • David Humphrey, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Leadership Support and Programming
  • Hon. Gary Jackson, Alumnus
  • Taylor Jarvis, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Engagement and Executive Director, Marketing and Communications
  • Polly McLean, Assoc. Professor, Media Studies
  • Carolyn Moreau, Assistant Dean, Communications and External Relations
  • Hope Saska, Acting Director, Chief Curator and Director of Academic Engagement
  • Jennifer Schufer, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Marketing and Content Strategy
  • Stein Sture, Vice Chancellor for Research Emeritus and Professor Emeritus, Engineering
  • William Wei, Professor, History