Santa Clara University

Types of Alumni Event Offerings

Each year the Alumni Association hosts unique events that set Santa Clara University apart from the rest. The following details the type of events the Association offers. All alumni event offerings may be found on our online alumni calendar which lists events by month and by area/chapter.

Alumni for Others (AFO) Community Service Events

The Alumni for Others (AFO) program at Santa Clara University gives alumni and friends an opportunity to work with other SCU alumni on various community service projects. These projects are usually only a one day or even a half day commitment. We work with low income schools, churches, and/or social service agencies in need. Read the AFO Mission Statement to learn a little bit more about this special program.

Chapter Events

The Alumni Association has over 40 chapters throughout the country and world.  Chapters are based on geography, ethnicity, and academics.  While the majority of our chapters are in the state of California (as that's where the majority of our alumni live), we have vibrant chapters in the Pacific Northwest and the East Coast. Chapter events include but are not limited to post-work receptions, alumni family mass and brunches, professional/local athletic games, academic speakers, community service projects, and theatre/concert performances. Visit the chapter involvement page to learn more about our chapter event offerings.

Graduation Picnic

This is a wonderful opportunity for seniors and their families to celebrate their graduation. The picnic takes place on Stanton Field, right next to Buck Shaw Stadium where graduation occurs. Visit the graduation picnic page for more info.

Reunions & Homecoming

Reunion and homecoming weekends feature a host of activities, including individual class reunion dinners, a joint-class reception, the Homecoming picnic with family-friendly entertainment in the Spring and the homecoming brunch and State of the University Address in the fall, alumni games (rugby, lacrosse, etc.), campus tours, SCU Showcase "Back-to-the-Classroom" programs, the homecoming golf tournament, and other campus related activities.

Reunion & Homecoming Weekends take place three times a year:

• in the early fall (50, 55, and 60-year reunion class and Gianera Society)
• in the mid fall (30, 35, 40, 45-year classes)
• in the spring (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25-year classes)

Vintage Santa Clara Wine and Food Festival

Each year nearly 2,000 alumni and friends gather for wonderful wine and food tastings, live music, and great camaraderie in early September in the Mission Gardens. Vintage Santa Clara always takes place the first sunday after Labor Day.  Tickets go on sale August 1 at 8 a.m. The 2008 event will take place Sunday, September 7, 2008.

Spiritual Programs

Incorporated within our chapter program is our "Santa Clara Sunday" event, which is an alumni family mass and brunch celebrated by an SCU Jesuit or a priest from the local chapter area.  This event provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate mass with other alumni.

The Association also offers the ever-popular Annual Alumni Retreat on March 6-8, 2009 at Villa Maria del Mar on the beach in Santa Cruz. In addition, we offer periodic afternoons/evenings of reflection on campus. 

Student Events

The Alumni Association welcomes students into the Santa Clara family through our New Student Reception Program, which features send-off receptions for incoming freshmen/transfers in 30 different alumni homes throughout the country each summer. In addition, we host our Annual Legacy Barbecue over Welcome Weekend for those new students who have alumni parents, grandparents, or siblings.  Finally, we offer SCU seniors our "Life After Santa Clara" program, which helps seniors prepare for life after college. 

Other University Events

• Campus Events Calendar
  The campus events calendar displays a variety of events offered by a number of departments on campus.
  
• Golden Circle Theatre Party
  The University's biggest fundraiser of the year! World-class entertainers, fine dining, and a variety of dance venues complete this gala evening. The 2008 event will take place on January 25, 2009.
  
• Parent Weekends
  Parents come back to campus to spend time with their sons and daughters and learn more about the Santa Clara family.