By Anelia K. Dimitrova
A 150 years of history is hard to squeeze into a sentence, let alone in a word.
But a bell chime could tell a story elegantly and ephemerally.
Three bell rings on the University of Northern Iowa campus on Monday morning, Sept. 29, 2025, summed up a century and a half of history eloquently kicking off the year-long celebration of the university’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.
“The bell will be rung three times, each representing a part of our story,” said Randy Pilkington, who, along with Cary Darrah, co-chaired the committee planning the 150th anniversary events. “Once to celebrate the future, once to honor our past and once to embrace our present.”
The bell ringing ceremony was a moment in time to be remembered, recorded and relived. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members gathered for the special occasion in front of the Commons building to be a part of this history-in-the-making ceremony. (Among them were many of my students, whose first big journalism assignment was to witness and report on the memorable event.)
The ceremony unfolded against the backdrop of the UNI Campanile, where a big banner announced the 150th anniversary. Built in 1926, under UNI’s second president, Homer Horatio Seerley, the iconic campanile will be marking its 100th anniversary in just a few months.
The Sesquicentennial Bell will eventually be permanently placed next to the campanile.
It was created from brass ingots that were passed around from person to person standing around the grassy area next to the campanile in a ceremony on Oct. 6, 2022. The ingots were melted on campus that evening in the mobile foundry on wheels of the Verdin Company, which had partnered with UNI to upgrade the campanile’s carillon.
This bell, and seven others, which have since been installed in the campanile, are part of UNI’s Our Tomorrow campaign.
“We dedicate this bell as the Sesquicentennial Bell, a symbol of the enduring values and mission of the University of Northern Iowa,” UNI President Mark Nook said in brief remarks. “This bell will ring to mark the beginning of each semester, the joy of commencement and moments of reflection and celebration on our campus. It will stand as a lasting tribute to our proud past, our vibrant present and our bold future.”
First Ringing of the Sesquicentennial Bell
Pulling the cord on the Sesquicentennial Bell for the first time and on this historic occasion, belonged to three individuals, symbolically representing the future, the past and the present of the university, in that order.
First to ring the bell was Alli Webster, the student body president, and a senior public relations major from Urbandale, whose presence stood for the incoming generations of students. Representing the dedication of those whose legacy laid the foundation of the university and whose enduring commitment to its mission kept it growing, was Noreen Hermansen, a 1971 graduate of the university and now the VP for Principal Gifts at the UNI Alumni Association. Then, Mark Nook, UNI’s 11th president, rang the bell, representing the students, faculty and staff that, as Cary Darrah, one of the co-chairs for the celebration put it, make the university a “dynamic force in education and service.”
“From this day forward, the Sesquicentennial Bell will ring to mark the beginning of classes and the joy of graduation,” Nook said.
The first ceremonial ringing will take place at this fall’s commencement, Nook added.
As the official part of the ceremony drew to a close, Grow Cedar Valley Ambassadors, the local organization dedicated to promoting area businesses, lined up in front of the seating area. The group’s president, Katy Susong, Cedar Falls Mayor Danny Laudick and Nook, then cut the purple ribbon.
In recounting UNI’s priorities earlier, Nook emphasized the interdependence between the city and the university.
“We can’t imagine what the University of Northern Iowa would be without this community supporting us, serving us and being here for us throughout our entire history,” he said.
Nook then invited the audience to take part in a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to ring the bell.
Among those pulling the bell rope was Merlin Taylor, who graduated from UNI in 1965, with a degree in business and education. He then worked at the university for 30 years.
A long line of bell ringers waited their turn filled with joy, in its various expressions, and exhilaration. Some walked gingerly to the bell and pulled the rope hastily, and stood there just enough for their friends to snap a picture. Others gave the rope a strong pull and took in the moment. At least one person took a selfie right before he pulled the rope, sealing up the present and the past with a big smile.
Laudick, the town’s mayor and a 2013 UNI grad, also rang the bell. He said he was “looking forward to plenty of excuses” to wear his purple and gold this week as the 150th celebration picks up speed.
“As a UNI grad and someone who grew up in Cedar Falls, it’s a proud moment to be a part of recognizing and celebrating 150 years of UNI legacy,” he told me. “Cedar Falls would not be the incredible community we are today if it wasn’t for UNI; the diversity of people, the art and music and entertainment, the sports, the college town energy. So many of us have roots here because of UNI.”
Darrah, the co-chair of the Sesquicentennial Celebration committee, said the bell ringing ceremony will hold a special place in local history.
“It was an awesome expression of community and campus support to see all of the students that were there and the lines of students and faculty that wanted to ring the bell. It really demonstrated the commitment of all involved to make this celebration noteworthy.”
