In September of 1958, law student George Starke Jr. made history by becoming the first black student admitted to UF.
Almost half a century later, the university has begun planning to honor the landmark event as part of its celebration of 50 years of integration on campus.
The celebration will begin in September but is scheduled to be promoted during Black History Month this spring, promoters said.
Members of the UF administration, the UF Alumni Association, the Institute of Black Culture, the Black Student Union and other groups will cooperate for the celebration.
Organizers do not know what festivities the celebration will include or how much it will cost.
"It's kind of a landmark event on campus, and it needs to be celebrated," said Virginia Horton, the Alumni Association's assistant director of club relations, young alumni & special interest groups.
The celebration is also a way to teach students to learn from the mistakes of the era of segregation and prevent them from repeating those errors, said Steve Orlando, UF spokesman.
