Oprah Daily (Patti Labelle)

Norfolk State University will celebrate a historic milestone this fall, its 90th Founders Day, with an evening featuring Patti LaBelle. 

The Grammy-winning singer, actress, and entrepreneur will headline “An Evening with Patti LaBelle” on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. inside the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center on campus. 

LaBelle, whose voice and career have made her one of America’s most beloved performers, embodies Black excellence that NSU seeks to honor during this anniversary. 

The concert is part of a week-long series of Founders Day programs highlighting Norfolk State’s history as a historically Black institution. 

This year’s anniversary builds on the momentum of recent milestones, including ESPN’s ‘First Take’ visiting campus, growing excitement around the Spartan football program under new head coach Michael Vick, and the university’s most ambitious fundraising effort to date: the “Now Is Our Time” campaign. 

Launched to coincide with the 90th anniversary, the “Now Is Our Time” campaign aims to raise $90 million to support research, innovation, and expanded opportunities for students. 

The initiative represents a step in positioning NSU as a national leader in education and impact, reinforcing the idea that this moment is not only a celebration of the past but also a call to shape the future for the next generation of students. 

The festivities begin on Monday, September 15, 2025, with a Scholarship Dinner (invitation only) in the Student Center. On Tuesday, September 16, the spotlight shines on the highly anticipated concert “An Evening with Patti LaBelle” at 7 p.m. in the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center.

The celebration continues on Wednesday, September 17, with the Founders Day Breakfast featuring keynote speaker Martin Luther King III at 7:30 a.m. in Joseph G. Echols Hall. On Thursday, September 18, the official Founders Day Ceremony and Freshman Convocation will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Wilder Center, followed that evening by the NSU Theatre Company’s production of Topdog/Underdog at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Memorial Hall. 

The week concludes on Friday, September 19, with the President’s Gala honoring the university’s 90th anniversary, hosted by guest emcee Jawn Murray. 

This Founders Week is expected to bring together students, alumni, faculty, and the broader community in recognition of Norfolk State’s legacy.

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