"We knew that the majority of students were not going to be in East Lansing," director of the MSU Union Cathy Fitzpatrick said. "So, we wanted to add a family friendly element to the kickoff event, and we wanted to honor the date."

The event will include face painting, caricature drawings, a photo booth, cupcakes from the MSU Bakery and ice cream from the MSU Dairy Store. There will also be a logo-themed step-and-repeat photo area, giveaways and coloring pages for kids and students.

A large part of the celebration is dedicated to honoring the history of the Union, including guided historical tours and displays of archived MSU Union artifacts and photographs.

“We’ve created these amazing historical displays,” Fitzpatrick said. “We are going to fill those spaces with all this amazing history that we’ve collected, sharing photographs and newspaper articles, china that was used in the Heritage Café, the table wheels that were used in the Union Grill.”

Molly Chrome, retail manager at the Spartan Spirit Shop and a member of the planning committee, helped design the centennial’s branded merchandise, including stickers, magnets and buttons that will be handed out at the kickoff event and throughout the year. She worked closely with vendors and MSU’s licensing team to create items that feel specific to the Union’s history and milestones.

In addition to the giveaways, a custom-designed tartan pattern — based on the Union’s geographic coordinates and traditional MSU colors — will appear on scarves, socks and other items available in the Spartan Spirit Shop by fall. The commemorative fabric design was created in collaboration with one of MSU’s licensing vendors and serves as another creative nod to the building’s legacy.

Beyond the planned celebrations, the centennial is a chance to reflect on the MSU Union’s place in campus history. Originally built as a gathering space for students and alumni, the building has continually transformed to meet the changing needs of the campus community — from dances and dining halls to advising centers and basic needs support.

Over the decades, the Union has undergone numerous expansions and renovations to keep pace with MSU’s growing campus and evolving student body.

One of the most significant early additions was the east wing, which once housed student organizations including The State News, the yearbook and both Fraternity and Sorority Life before many of them outgrew the space and relocated elsewhere on campus.

In 1949, the lounge area was added, creating what became known as the “women’s lounge”— a space reserved for female students for many years. Fitzpatrick noted that the lounge eventually became open to all genders following Title IX reforms.

“There's so many folks that I've talked to and alumni that have such great memories of being able to use that space for what they needed,” Fitzpatrick said. “Whether it was just to completely study, some would take a nap. You know that space was here where they felt safe and secure.”

Other updates included the addition of a handicap-accessible ramp in 1980 and the 1997 renovation of the food court, which replaced the Union Grill with a more contemporary dining concept modeled after other institutions and public venues.

In recent years, efforts have shifted toward refreshing and repurposing interior spaces. A former dining area known as the Heritage Café, once popular for Sunday brunch, later became a short-lived media center before closing entirely.

Fitzpatrick said the space sat unused for several years until she returned as director and helped reimagine it. It’s now being transformed into a student-centered game room, featuring games from Pinball Pete's, and a food pantry.

That new pantry, called “Spartan Shelf–Union,” is modeled after a program at the University of Iowa and aims to normalize access to basic needs services by placing them in highly trafficked spaces. It will provide food, hygiene items, school supplies and more.

“There’s this element of basic needs that needs to be added so that students can get what they need at the food bank, but they also may need other things like pencils and paper, notebooks, feminine products, soap, laundry soap,” Fitzpatrick said.

The project is part of a broader effort to ensure the Union continues to serve students in ways that reflect their daily realities.

“We will have in the Union what the students need,” Fitzpatrick said. “And that is definitely something that will add a lot to our campus.”

For both Fitzpatrick and Chrome, the MSU Union is more than just a building — it’s where personal and professional milestones have unfolded.

“Because of my involvement with the University Activities Board, I met my husband. I had my wedding reception in this building, and then my baby shower in this building,” Fitzpatrick said. “To then come back to this building in 2002 and become the director has been just a highlight of my career here. I just have many, many memories with the thousands of students that I have worked with over the years.”

Chrome, who has worked in the building for 22 years, said she’s found a sense of purpose and community in the Union that continues to shape her life.

“I’ve found my niche and what I like to do. I like the management, I like the merchandise and the buying, and I love watching people’s expressions — especially when students get to help with that,” she said. “It means I’ve been part of something bigger, that I’ve contributed to its success, and that’s very important to me. I’ve met friends I’ll have forever, and hundreds of students I still keep in touch with.”