In 1883, Stetson University emerged from the DeLand Academy as a university on Central Florida's frontier. As Florida grew, so did Stetson - standing strong in character and steadfast in its purpose to educate a growing American student population. Then, as now, students come to Stetson to become business and social leaders, artists, innovators, guides, and catalysts. Today, the university prepares students for existing and new challenges with broad knowledge and the unflagging fortitude necessary to serve future generations with compassion, significance, and respect. Students come to Stetson to gather the courage to declare, "I will build a better world!"