The University of Northern Iowa began a historic academic year Monday as students returned to classrooms for the first day of classes.

The occasion was celebrated during the lunch hour with cupcakes and a giant birthday card outside Maucker Union, giving students, faculty and staff an opportunity to commemorate the start of the year.

Although the first day of classes offered an early opportunity to celebrate, UNI’s official 150th anniversary will arrive over Labor Day weekend. The institution was founded on Sept. 6, 1876, as the Iowa State Normal School.

There is no shortage of activities to keep the energy high during the first days of the semester. Several locations across campus feature “First Day of School” photo opportunities, while new Panthers are encouraged to ring the Sesquicentennial Bell to symbolically “ring in” their time as UNI students.

Welcome Week activities continue through Saturday, helping students connect with campus, meet classmates and settle into life in the community as the fall semester gets underway.