Share Tweet Share Email

NIU’s inaugural Celebrating Excellence event coming April 14 to 28, keynote planned April 24

April 5, 2013

Celebrating Excellence logoNorthern Illinois University is hosting its first-ever Celebrating Excellence event.

Sixteen different functions – including honor society inductions, lectures and guest speakers, research presentations, recognition ceremonies and conferences – will take place between Sunday, April 14, and Sunday, April 28.

Celebrating Excellence highlights the accomplishments and contributions of NIU students, faculty and staff to the university’s mission of promoting excellence and engagement in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, creativity and artistry, and outreach and service during the academic year.

“We have celebrated those important aspects of our mission in years past, but never as part of a cohesive, branded event,” says Julia Spears, director of the NIU Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning. “We believe that by integrating all of these previously unrelated events under one umbrella, we can enhance the recognition of those honored.”

Montage of “You Are Not a Gadget” book cover and Jaron Lanier portraitThe schedule of events will be highlighted by an appearance by Jaron Lanier, who will keynote the celebration at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. An author, scientist, composer and musician known as the “father of virtual reality” and one of the most influential thinkers of our time, Lanier is the best-selling author of “You Are Not a Gadget.”

The two-week celebration concludes with the Graduate Student Research Association Conference, which includes a seminar by National Public Radio’s Ira Flatow at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27.

“It is important to recognize the achievements of NIU’s students, faculty and staff, and generating greater awareness for the wonderful things happening here at NIU,” said Bradley Bond, dean of the NIU Graduate School and associate vice president for Graduate Studies.

A complete schedule of events is available online.