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Alumni Weekend 2022 is in the books! More than 1,000 �԰����� alumni came together from more than 35 states to enjoy the 45 events that made up the largest alumni engagement event of the year. 

On Friday, attendees enjoyed a cooking demonstration, “Classes Without Quizzes,” moments of reconnection with former professors, and celebrations of alumni award winners. Saturday offered an array of affinity brunches and gatherings, a tailgate party, a big win for Tiger Football over Berry College, class reunions, and a chance to meet Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., �԰�����'s 20th president.

from Alumni Weekend 2022. 

Alumni College

“Classes Without Quizzes” returned for TED Talk-style, quick-moving sessions centered around the theme of “Transformational Changes in American Society.” Communication professor Zhaoxi Liu, Ph.D., kicked things off with an intriguing look at American journalism in the age of social media. Betsy Palsey ’77, author of the upcoming book The Legacy of Women’s Sports at �԰�����: From Sidelines to the Headlines, led an overflowing room through a look at how Title IX forever changed the nature of sports. To round out the intellectually stimulating afternoon, computer science professor Matthew Hibbs, Ph.D., challenged attendees to think about utopian promises and dystopian warnings related to artificial intelligence.

Fiesta with the Faculty

Who doesn’t love a fiesta? The annual Fiesta with the Faculty hosted more than 50 faculty and 15 artists and authors at the Magic Stones on Friday afternoon for faculty and alumni to reconnect and reminisce on days past. The air was buzzing with laughter, fond memories, and maybe a question or two from alumni about their final grades. 

Alumni Awards Ceremony

The 2022 Alumni Awards ceremony brought together Tigers and their friends and families to celebrate six alumni award recipients. This ceremony showcased the deep and meaningful connections �԰����� alumni have with each other, the University, and their communities. Nominations are now open to nominate yourself or a fellow Tiger for next year’s alumni awards. 

Young Alumni Brunch

Graduates of the last 10 years enjoyed a laid-back brunch reception to kick start their Saturday. With the iconic Miller Fountain as their backdrop, young alumni and guests enjoyed a morning of reconnection, a millennial-inspired menu and mimosas, and the opportunity to meet Vanessa Beasley, Ph.D., �԰����� president. 

Tailgating

Tiger Pride was seen all throughout Prassel Lawn and the Multi-Sport Stadium at the Football Tailgate & Affinity Picnic, sponsored by the Bengal Lancer Alumni Foundation. The tailgate included food, drinks, lawn games, and a DJ. Student organizations, alumni, parents, and friends were decked out in their best maroon shirts and had a great time with sunny fall weather. The vibrant energy continued on and ended with a celebratory win against Berry College in a 21-14 game and Southern Athletic Association victory for Tiger Football.

Athletic Alumni Events

Tiger Athletics had so much to cheer for this weekend, on and off the field. This year �԰����� welcomed nine Tigers into the �԰����� Athletic Hall of Fame, remembered the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, and celebrated the 20th anniversary of �԰����� Football’s visit to the Division III national championship.  

Alumni events included an alumni swim meet and breakfast for swimmers and divers, an alumni softball game and picnic, a volleyball alumni lunch, a football alumni dinner, a cross country alumni run, and the Pioneers in Women's Sports brunch. The smiles were huge as teammates reunited all across the campus, cheering �԰�����’s volleyball and football teams to hard-fought victories.

President’s Reception

Eager to get to know �԰�����’s 20th president, a couple hundred alumni gathered into the Cube of the Center for the Sciences and Innovation to meet and mingle with and hear from Vanessa Beasley, Ph.D. Michelle Collette ’06, �԰����� Alumni Association president, presented Beasley with a check on behalf of the reunion classes for the amount of $1,288,002.24. The Class of 2002 was recognized for having the greatest class giving total, and the Class of 1992 had both the greatest number of attendees at Alumni Weekend and greatest percentage of class who gave a gift.

Block Party

With the theme of “Illuminate” �԰����� in full effect, the annual Block Party was truly lit. Oakmont Court was buzzing with 500 alumni who enjoyed the sounds of DJ Reggis Flores and the SoundCream Airstream under the warm glow of lights strung about in the live oaks. Seats radiated brightness from within, bars splashed light emblazoned with the �԰����� logo into the darkness, and cotton candy with pulsating light sticks put a smile on everyone’s face. As the sun faded into the night, stilt walkers draped in lights danced the night away. In the midst of it all, 10 classes celebrated their reunions with toasts from Vanessa Beasley, Ph.D., �԰����� president, who spent time laughing and connecting with alumni from the 1960s on through the 2020s.

Save the Date! Alumni Weekend 2023 will be Oct. 26-29, 2023!