You're Invited! Join BYU's Celebration of 150 Years

As BYU kicks off its sesquicentennial anniversary, here are ways you can bask in the glow of 150 years and share some light of your own.

In the Summer 2025 issue

Ever since its October 1875 founding, BYU has been igniting sparks in the ready tinder of young minds and hearts. Set ablaze with knowledge, faith, and dreams, hundreds of thousands of graduates have gone forth to share light and benefit the world. Collectively, it’s a light that “groweth brighter and brighter” (D&C 50:24) with each added generation.

During its sesquicentennial commemoration (running from August 2025 to June 2026), BYU is celebrating on campus and beyond. Departments across campus are engaging in Beacons of Light projects—creating written, visual, and aural works of art; planting trees; offering service at home and abroad; and adding light to the world through research. Students will crowd quads and galleries for monthly Nights of Light celebrations of art, dance, and music. And landmark addresses—including a worldwide alumni fireside (date to come)—will bring the BYU community together. If you’re in town, we hope you’ll join in the festivities. But the party will extend well beyond Provo, so look for opportunities to get involved from anywhere. Here are four ways you can participate wherever you live.

BYU grads already lead the way with high rates of volunteering, and the BYU 150 celebration invites students, employees, alumni, and friends to commit to rendering 150 hours of service during the sesquicentennial year.

BYU will provide service fairs and organized service projects—including opportunities away from campus, such as the BYU’s Cougs Care Tailgates and in-person service projects through the Traveling BYU 150 Experience. Participants can also count hours of service rendered in church callings and ministering, through community organizations like their PTA, through opportunities found on JustServe, or in simple kindnesses offered to neighbors or family members. During the celebration, participants can use the BYU 150 Passport to log hours and share service experiences.

Learn more at 150.byu.edu/service.

Drawing of two hands offering a plate of cookies

2: Homecoming from Home

In an event-filled week (Oct. 14–18), the BYU family will come together for BYU’s Homecoming celebration. With the theme Lighting the Way Forward, BYU will remember Spencer W. Kimball and celebrate his prophetic message for the university, “The Second Century of Brigham Young University,” delivered 50 years ago at BYU’s centennial celebration. On campus the week will include lectures, a 5K race, and opportunities to cheer on the Cougs—including a Homecoming rivalry football game against the University of Utah.

But you can rise and shout wherever you are through Homecoming from Home activities. Opportunities include hosting a football game watch party, hiking or biking the same distance as the Y Trail (2.2 miles), joining a virtual Cougar Run 5K, or making mint brownies. Participants in at least one activity will be entered into a drawing for one of five BYU 150 swag boxes, and a grand-prize winner will receive a trip to Provo to stay in the BYU Guest House and attend a BYU basketball game.

Find more ways to participate in BYU Homecoming week wherever you live.

3: Traveling BYU 150 Experience

Throughout the sesquicentennial celebration, a roaming BYU interactive experience will bring the fun to BYU-sanctioned gatherings all over the country, including sporting events, performances, and alumni chapter events. The experience will feature service opportunities that help alumni and friends spread light in their own communities. Attendees who have earned rewards through the BYU 150 Passport can pick them up at the traveling experience.

View the schedule of dates and locations for the Traveling BYU 150 Experience.

4: BYU 150 Passport

How can you immerse yourself in the spirit of the Y during the BYU 150 celebration? Join the BYU 150 Passport scavenger hunt. On the Goosechase mobile app (search for “BYU 150”), participants will find 150 different BYU-themed activities meant to educate, inspire, and entertain. It is also a place to log hours for the Share Your Light service challenge.

For each activity and service benchmark achieved, participants will earn points that can be redeemed for different BYU 150 mementos (while supplies last). The BYU 150 Passport is open to all.

Download the Goosechase mobile app.