An association that began with the 26 members of the first class to graduate from Iowa State College will celebrate its 125 years of existence with events this year.

The big kick-off for the year-long celebration of the Alumni Association’s 125th anniversary will happen at the 2003 ISU Homecoming, said Carole Gieseke, director of communications for the association.

Edgar Stanton was the first person to graduate from Iowa State College in 1872.

Six years after his graduation, Stanton began the Alumni Association.

The association he started would grow from the 26 members of the first graduating class to over 45,000 members.

There will be a special honors and awards ceremony held on Friday, Oct. 17, Gieseke said.

One of the most anticipated events is the homecoming tailgate with “lots of hoopla,” she said.

The tailgate is scheduled to start three hours before kick-off in lot A-4 and will feature food, alumni band and spirit squad performances and prizes for attendees.

Around 1,000 alumni and friends are anticipated to attend the tailgate, said Julie Larson, director of outreach and events for the Alumni Association.

There will be a variety of special groups in attendance “rolled into one big happy weekend,” Gieseke said.

At halftime, she said the alumni band will play “Happy Birthday” and alumni at the game will be recognized for their support.

A reunion is also scheduled for alumni who were active in the leadership council, formerly called the Student Alumni Association and currently called the Student Alumni Leadership Council, Gieseke said.

The people found in these leadership groups are “great supporters of the university,” she said.

ISU Alumni Association clubs throughout 12 states also offer alumni and fans a chance to gather and cheer on the Cyclones at official “Gamewatcher” locations.

Throughout 12 states, Iowa State alumni and fans can gather together and cheer for their beloved Cyclones.

The culmination for the year-long celebration will be at next year’s homecoming, Gieseke said.