Students and alumni joined faculty and staff to cheer on the Spartans in their first Homecoming on Nov. 1, 1930. The largest crowd ever saw the Spartans earn a 7-6 victory over Morton Junior College and celebrated with a campus bonfire.

President Orrin Roe Jenks proudly led the Aurora College parade from the Aurora train station to the new campus on April 3, 1912. The institution was originally founded in Mendota in 1893.

President Alan J. Stone installs the new sign after Aurora College was renamed Aurora University in 1985 to better reflect the institution's growing academic programs.

Aurora University senior Khiry Davis (left) jogs alongside Cowherd Middle School student Julio Rios on Monday, April 2, 2012, as part of AU's Institute for Collaboration, an after-school program that partners AU students, the Fox Valley Park District and the Robert Crown Center with kids to get them exercising and to improve their body images. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Husain Abdulaziz (center) of the Fox Valley Park District leads Cowherd Middle School and Aurora University students through a set of jumping jacks on Monday, April 2, 2012. The afternoon activities were part of AU's Institute for Collaboration, an after-school program that partners AU students, the Fox Valley Park District and the Robert Crown Center with kids to get them exercising and to improve their body images. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Aurora University student Abigail Ebel tosses a plastic piece of food to a student as they work on a communication game on Monday, April 2, 2012, at Cowherd Middle School. Ebel was at the middle school as part of AU's Institute for Collaboration, an after-school program that partners AU students, the Fox Valley Park District and the Robert Crown Center with kids to get them exercising and to educate them about self esteem. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Aurora College in the winter of 1912.

Simmons Middle School teacher Lisa Pena, an Aurora University alum, checks the work of a group of students organizing the energy flow of the food chain during an after school science activity on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Pena will be developing the curriculum for AU's summer program for kids from all over Aurora. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Simmons Middle School teacher Lisa Pena, an Aurora University alum, describes the energy transfer through the food chain to a group of students during an after school science activity on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Pena will be developing the curriculum for AU's summer program for students from all over Aurora. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Simmons Middle School teacher Lisa Pena, an Aurora University alum, helps a group of students organize a flow chart showing the path of the food chain during an after school science activity on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Aurora University juniors Johnny Simmons (left) and Ray Brenner play catch in the quad on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Aurora University sophomore Shelby Zane works on schoolwork in the quad on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Aurora University students make their way through campus on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Aurora University students (from left) Tatiana Morales, Glenna Bridegan and Alyssa Manzari chat before class near Eckhart Hall on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Aurora University student Casey Beck

Aurora University student Amanda Smith

Aurora University student Gwendolyn Tsugi

Aurora University student Sy Grahf

Aurora University student Ashley Kellenberger

Aurora University student Shawn Jacobson