Deep Roots
Our story is a powerful one. For 140 years, Trine University has produced graduates who have literally gone out and changed the world for the better through their knowledge, innovation and work. And it's a story that continues to evolve each day.
1884
Trine founded as Tri-State Normal College by the residents of Angola, Ind., and the Commerce Building — now known as Taylor Hall — is constructed as the College’s first facility.
1887
The Administration Building, later known as the Sniff Administration Building and now the recently renovated C.W. Sponsel Administration Center, is completed at a cost of $15,000.
1902
The School of Engineering, recognized today as one of the finest undergraduate schools of engineering in the country, is established.
1906
The school reorganized from Tri-State Normal College and revised the name to Tri-State College, which it was known as for more than 100 years. Two years later, the College completed its third facility, the Recitation Building, now Shambaugh Hall.
1922
The “Father of Tri-State,” Littleton M. Sniff, who had served as the College’s president since 1885, died in office.
1930
Fire gutted the Administration Building; it was later rebuilt with the third floor removed.
1934
Tri-State celebrated its 50th anniversary at the 1934 World's Fair in Chicago with daily demonstrations of its miniature wind tunnel.
1946
After enrollment sank to 170 in 1945, more than 1,300 students— mostly GIs— swelled the campus in 1946.
1947
Tri-State College reorganized as a nonprofit educational corporation.
1959
Professor emeritus Alice Parrot, Ph.D., authored and published "The History of Tri-State College 1884-1956."
1960s
The college’s campus experienced massive expansion, with the addition of seven residence halls, the Perry T. Ford Library, Best Hall and Hershey Hall. In 1967, the college changed its athletic nickname from the Tri-State Engineers to the Trojans.
1971
Zollner Golf Course opened on the Tri-State campus, and is one of the most beautiful and popular college golf courses in the country.
1975
Tri-State College gained university status and was renamed Tri-State University.
1984
A century after the College’s founding, professor Elizabeth Orlosky authored and published "From Carriage to Computer, the First 100 Years of Tri-State University."
1990
The University changed the nickname of its athletic teams from the Tri-State Trojans to the Thunder.
1995
For the first time since the early 1900s, Tri-State fielded a football team for intercollegiate play.
1997
The University completed a $5 million renovation of Fawick Hall, offering engineering students state-of-the-art classrooms, labs and computer centers.
1999
Shive Field, Tri-State’s new football field named in honor of trustee Dr. Wayne Shive, was dedicated. Today, the field is arguably the finest Division III artificial turf field in the country.
2000
Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., inaugurated as Tri-State’s 16th president.
2001
Centennial Hall renovated and renamed Forman Hall, with the building’s grand entrance named the Trine Welcome Center.
2002
Tri-State accepted as a new member in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA); the University celebrated its 100th anniversary of excellence in engineering; Witmer Clubhouse renovated and expanded; and the University approved as a graduate degree-granting institution.
2004
Tri-State attained NCAA Division III provisional membership; opened the $650,000 Ketner Sports Complex; expanded the University bookstore; and opened Trine Villas, some of the finest student residence facilities of their kind.
2005
The University graduated its first class of Master of Science in Engineering Technology students, opened Ingledue Villas, and broke ground on the $15.5 million Rick L. and Vicki L. James University Center and Center for Technology and Online Resources.
2007
In the most successful homecoming weekend in its history, the University unveiled the Rick L. and Vicki L. James University Center and Center for Technology and Online Resources, the renovated C.W. Sponsel Administration Center, and Moss Street and Kinney Street student apartments.
2008
Tri-State renamed Trine University, in honor of trustees Drs. Ralph and Sheri Trine, to better define its mission and direction; construction began on Golf Course Village, four student apartment buildings on Zollner Golf Course.
2009
Trine opened the Athletic and Recreation Center (ARC); began the transformation of Shive Field into the Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium; and began renovations on the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts.
2010
Trine opened Fred Zollner Stadium.
2013
Trine completed the Jim and Joan Bock Center for Innovation and Biomedical Engineering. The building features state-of-the-art cast metals laboratories, materials science and metallurgy laboratories, alternative energy studies center and bioprocess laboratories. It is also the home of Innovation One. Commencement was in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium, the first outside ceremony since 1967.
2014
Hundreds joined Trine University the morning of May 2, 2014, to dedicate the new T. Furth Center for Performing Arts. Later that day, the Furth Center officially opened with a performance in Ryan Concert Hall by award-winning writer and country singer Lee Greenwood. That spring, renovation began on Ford Hall, with completion set for August 2015. Also in August, Trine University opened the new Health Sciences Education Center at 1819 Carew St. in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Education Center is home to Trine's first doctoral program, the Doctor of Physical Therapy, and the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (launched fall 2018). Trine continued to experience record fundraising and growth under the leadership of Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., who marked his 15th year as president.
2015
In spring, SportONE/Parkview Softball Field and Ben Davis Memorial Press Box were put into service.In the fall, the completely renovated Ford Hall, home of the Ketner School of Business, reopened and was dedicated during homecoming weekend. Also dedicated were the new Larry and Judy Reiners Residence Hall, which opened inthe fall,and the Judy A. Morrill Garden Wall and Ryan Tennis Center, both completed in fall.
2017
Trine's first Doctor of Physical Therapy class graduated with the Class of 2017, which set a record by graduating nearly 1,000 students. Fall enrollment topped 5,000 students for the first time, the fourth straight year of record enrollment. The Thunder Ice Arena opened in fall 2017, bringing collegiate ice hockey as well as youth and community skating and ice hockey programs to Trine University,
2018
The MTI Center opened on Jan. 3, becoming the new home for Trine University men's and women's basketball as well as bowling and esports.
2019
Trine expands its Fort Wayne education center to 1818 Carew Street and launches the associate of applied science in surgical technology program.
2020
Indiana’s first Montessori Teacher Education degree program is launched within the Franks School of Education.
2021
New Fabiani Hall residence hall opens to accommodate record enrollment on the Angola campus.
2022
The 40,000-square-foot Steel Dynamics Inc. Center for Engineering and Computing opens, featuring state-of-the-art technology, flexible labs and classrooms, an active learning lab with a maker space to foster creativity, and bright, open spaces for collaboration and conversation, including a new gathering point and cafe available to the entire campus. Enrollment tops 8,000 students in the fall.
2023
John Shannon becomes the 17th president of Trine University. Enrollment tops 9,500 students in the spring and 12,000 in the fall. The women’s softball team wins Trine University’s first NCAA Division III national championship. A 36,000-square-foot addition to Best Hall opens, adding offices, classrooms, six specialized laboratories and collaborative learning space.
2024
Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., returns as university president. Enrollment tops 13,000. The men's basketball team wins the NCAA Division III national championship.
