On Mar. 8, 1888, The Utah Agricultural College (UAC), now known as Utah State University, was founded as the state’s land-grant institution. Two years later, 14-year-old Vendla Berntson enrolled as the College’s first student. In 1929, UAC was renamed Utah State Agricultural College, and in 1957 the college was renamed Utah State University.

In 1959, the Space Dynamics Laboratory and the Utah Water Research Laboratory were founded. In 1975, The university initiated its Undergraduate Research Program, making it the second oldest program in the nation, behind MIT. Today, USU is a thriving research university with more than $200 million in external annual funding, and is a source of numerous Utah life science companies.