Skip to main content
Office of the Chancellor

Belltower Celebrations

The famous NC State belltower lit red by night in celebration.

Since its completion in 1937, the Memorial Belltower has stood as a symbol of identity for NC State University, a timekeeper for tradition and a perpetual memorial to NC State students who gave their lives in defense of their country. As well as a memorial, the tower is a rallying point for students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the university community.

The Belltower is lighted for holidays that honor our veterans, such as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day, and to celebrate NC State’s proudest occasions and achievements.

Academic Year 2023 – 2024

10/6: Recognition of Kelsey Mills, Governor’s Award for Excellence Winner

9/22: Football: NC State (24) v. University of Virginia (21)

8/26: Packapalooza

8/14: Recognition of Bill Carlson, Governor’s Award for Excellence Winner

The tower will also be lighted for events celebrated by the campus community:

  • Spring and winter commencements
  • Welcome Week finale — Packapalooza
  • Celebration of faculty excellence
  • Founders Day, NC State Remembers: An annual day of remembrance honoring our founders and members of the NC State University community who have passed away
  • Induction of a member of the NC State faculty into the National Academies
  • The awarding of a Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, National Medal or Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering.
  • The awarding of a North Carolina Award or Governor’s Award for Excellence
  • The awarding of the O. Max Gardner Award
  • The awarding of the Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • The awarding of the James E. Holhauser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service
  • The awarding of a Churchill, Clarendon-Oxford, Gates-Cambridge, Goldwater, Knight-Hennessy, Madison, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Truman or Udall scholarship
  • The inauguration of the president of the University of North Carolina System or installation of the chancellor of NC State University
  • Atlantic Coast Conference victories at home or away for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball or baseball (series win)
  • Select postseason victories for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball or baseball (e.g., football bowl win, basketball Sweet 16, baseball super regional)
  • ACC championships for any team sport
  • National championships for any team or individual sport
  • Other celebrations at the discretion of the chancellor
Previous celebrations

Requests for additional events will be considered by the chancellor and the university’s executive officers. Send requests via email to Chief of Staff and Secretary of the University Paula Gentius at Paula_Gentius@ncsu.edu.