The iconic UT Tower is more than just one of the most recognizable landmarks in Texas — it’s also a symbol of academic excellence and personal opportunity.
While the standard lighting configuration illuminates the Tower in Austin’s skyline most nights, a handful of other lighting configurations convey signals of celebration, accomplishment or, sometimes, sorrow.
From the orange top best known for celebrating football victories to the windows lit in different formations bidding farewell to a graduating class and welcoming incoming freshmen, the Tower had plenty of special lighting configurations in 2018.
We’re proud of all the reasons we turned the Tower orange this year.
What will you do in 2019 to light the Tower?
WINTER
- In February, the Tower turned orange in honor of Mr. Bob Rowling as the university celebrated the opening of Rowling Hall, the new graduate business facility housing the Texas McCombs MBA and M.S. in Technology Commercialization programs.
- Burnt orange lights covered the Tower in February as the Texas men’s and women’s swimming and diving team both claimed Big 12 Conference Championship titles.
- The Towed shined with orange lights in recognition of Texas Independence Day on March 2.
- The Tower darkened on March 15 in honor of legendary Texas Baseball Coach Augie Garrido.
- In late March, the Tower turned orange in honor of UT community members who were elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering.
- To honor the recipients of the 2018 Faculty and Staff awards, the Tower turning orange on March 23.
- At the end of March, the Tower was drenched in orange with a “1” on all four sides to commemorate the Texas men’s swimming and diving program’s 14th NCAA team title.
SPRING
- At the start of April, the Tower glowed burnt orange with “16” in the windows in honor of legendary Texas Baseball Coach Augie Garrido. The numeral “16” reflects Garrido’s jersey number, and the Tower lighting took place after a celebration of his life at the Frank Erwin Center earlier in the day.
- The Tower turned orange as part of Honors Day, an annual celebration of the university’s highest achieving students.
- To highlight the campus commitment to energy conservation and as part of UT’s Earth Month celebrations, the Tower was dark from dusk to dawn on April 18.
- In April, the Tower was orange to recognize more than 900 staff members who were honored as part of the Staff Service Awards Program.
- The Tower turned entirely orange on April 25 to celebrate the women’s golf team’s Big 12 Championship title.
- At the end of April, an orange Tower celebrated four individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the university. President Gregory L. Fenves awarded these four leaders from public affairs, education and philanthropy with Presidential Citations.
- On the last day of the spring semester, the Tower darkened in memory of Longhorns who died during the past year as part of UT Remembers.
- The Texas Speech Team turned the Tower orange in May after winning their third national championship in a row.
- The Tower turned orange on May 7 to celebrate Big 12 titles won by the men’s and women’s tennis teams.
- The Tower turned orange on May 8 to celebrate four Sports Clubs that won national championships: Longhorn Powerlifting, UT Fencing Club, UT Women’s Volleyball Club and Texas TaeKwonDo.
- To celebrate Commencement and the Class of 2018, the Tower shined with burnt orange lights and “18” on its sides two nights in late May.
Want to know when and why the Tower is orange?
Sign up for our email alerts, and you’ll be the first to know.
SUMMER
- The Tower darkened on July 31 to honor Frank Denius, one of the university’s most loyal alums and “the ultimate Longhorn.”
- On the night before the fall semester began, the Tower turned orange and displayed “22” on its sides to welcome new students and the Class of 2022 to the Forty Acres.
- On September 13, the Tower shined with entirely burnt orange lights in honor of Bobby and Sherri Patton on the occasion of renaming the Liberal Arts Building as Patton Hall and in honor of the university’s birthday that same week.
- In September, the Tower shined turned orange in honor of the new inductees into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
FALL
- The Texas Football team turned the Tower orange nine times during the 2018 season, once for each of the team’s wins. As part of UT tradition, the top of the Tower turns orange to celebrate regular-season football victories.
- At the start of November, the Tower was orange in honor of this year’s distinguished alumni.
- The Texas Volleyball team turned the Tower orange in late November after winning the 2018 Big 12 Championship.
- At the end of November, an orange the Tower turned orange in honor of the Canfields’ generosity. Phil Canfield, a successful private equity investor, made a generous multimillion-dollar gift to advance the Business Honors Program at the McCombs School of Business.
- On December 5, the Tower darkened with the number “41” shining from the windows to celebrate the life and legacy of the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
- At the end of the fall semester, the Tower was orange with “18” displayed on its sides for two nights in a row to honor the Class of 2018 and this year’s graduates.
Share your pictures of the #UTTower on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
