Saturday, May 13, 2023

Some events have limited capacity and the event may sell out. We encourage you to register early.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 9-10 a.m. | Make Way for Your Legacy

Make way for your legacy. Join the Office of Planned Giving for a reception including morning refreshments and a brief presentation on how planned gifts can help you create a legacy at WashU, perhaps one that is even greater than you may have imagined. Members of the planned giving team will also be available to answer your specific questions. 

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 9-10:30 a.m. | Danforth Campus Tour

From the new construction on the east end to renovations in Mallinckrodt Center, previously known as SUPAC, you and your classmates will get to experience and explore the next chapter of your beloved WashU community. Led by either a current student or a WashU staff member, you will get to relive a bit of your college experience while celebrating the milestones of the next generation.  

Please wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.
Please note the revised time from the printed invitation.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Chancellor's Luncheon

Enjoy a luncheon hosted by Andrew D. Martin, WashU’s 15th chancellor. During the lunch, the chancellor will share a university update, including overviews of the new Here and Next strategic plan and the Make Way fundraising initiative. He also will offer a toast to all reunion celebrants. 

11 a.m. |  Cocktails and connections
11:30 a.m. | Luncheon begins
12 p.m. | University update and toast with Chancellor Martin
1 p.m. | Luncheon concludes

Business casual attire is recommended.

Cost: $30 per person

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 1-2 p.m. | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Tour the Kemper Art Museum with a student educator for an in-depth exploration of several works from the museum’s renowned permanent collection. View highlights in 20th century abstraction in a range of mediums and recent acquisitions by contemporary artists. Participants will engage in group discussions throughout the tour. Stick around afterward to explore the special exhibitions on your own. 

Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Athletics and Recreation Welcome

Visit the Department of Athletics and Recreation. Meet some of our current scholar champions and coaches, see our new state-of-the-art facilities embedded in the heart of the spaces you remember from your time at WashU.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | ResLife Reunion

Welcome home! Return to the South 40 to see some of our new spaces as well as those you remember from your time as a student. Meet our team and some of our current resident advisers and Congress of the South 40 leaders. 

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Student Union, Campus Life, and Sorority/Fraternity Life Reception

Meet current students and Campus Life staff and hear about social life on campus! Share your memories together with the Campus Life team.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 3-4 p.m. | Art on Campus Tour

See artworks installed throughout the Danforth Campus as part of the Art on Campus Tour, led by Leslie Markle, curator for public art. The tour begins at the Florence Steinberg Weil Sculpture Garden in front of the north entrance to Weil Hall and includes stops at Bauer Hall, Sumers Recreation Center, and Hillman Hall to see works by acclaimed contemporary artists Jaume Plensa, Katharina Grosse, Ann Hamilton, Ayşe Erkmen, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, and Dan Graham. 

 Please wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire. 

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Welcome Back Bears Reception

Enjoy an evening reconnecting with classmates at the beautiful Whittemore House. This casual reception is open to alumni celebrating their 55th to 75th reunions and includes cocktails, gourmet food stations, and music.

Business casual attire is recommended. Complimentary valet parking will be available.
Please note the revised time from the printed invitation.

Cost: $35 per person

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Some events have limited capacity and the event may sell out. We encourage you to register early.

Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 9:30-11 a.m. | Mothers Day Jazz Brunch Presented by the Black Alumni Council

Help commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Black Alumni Council (BAC) at our Mother’s Day jazz brunch featuring live jazz music. Founded in 1983, the BAC seeks to connect Black alumni with one another and the university. Today there are more than 8,000 Black WashU alumni worldwide. Come celebrate this milestone anniversary with us. All reunion celebrants and their guests are invited.  

Business casual attire is recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.

Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | More than the Arch: Downtown St. Louis Shuttle Bus Tour

From historical highlights (the Arch!) to hidden gems throughout north and south St. Louis, explore St. Louis and neighborhoods such as Carondelet and Dutchtown. In partnership with the Missouri Historical Society, your tour guide will take you out for a unique look at our architecture, history, and thriving communities, all in the comfort of a shuttle.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.

Cost: $15 per adult, $10 per child (ages 17 and under) 

Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Central West End Neighborhood Walking Tour

Cross paths with literary giants like T. S. Eliot and Kate Chopin and marvel at opulent Gilded Age mansions while learning about the significant changes the area has seen over the years. And of course, a visit to the Central West End wouldn't be complete without a quick stroll through the enormous Cathedral Basilica! This private guided tour will be one to remember. 

Please wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.

Cost: $15 per adult, $10 per child (ages 17 and under) 

Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | The Science of Cats and the Future of Nature with Jonathan Losos

Learn why Jonathan Losos, the William H. Danforth Distinguished Professor and director of the Living Earth Collaborative, is teaching a course on cats and how it relates to the university’s efforts to conserve biodiversity and sustain life on earth. In January 2018, the Living Earth Collaborative formed as a unique partnership between Washington University, the St. Louis Zoo, and Missouri Botanical Garden in an effort to advance research, conservation, and education about the animals, plants, and microbes that populate our shared planet. At the same time Losos was working to create the collaborative, he also was beginning to study and teach about cats. In this presentation, Losos will explain how these two ventures are related. 

Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 2-3 p.m. | The Maid of McMillan Film Showing Presented by John M. Olin Library

Come enjoy a film screening of The Maid of McMillan, a 15-minute silent film written and produced by WashU students in the Thyrsus Dramatic Club in 1916. Hear about grant-funded work to preserve and digitize the film, more about the film itself and WashU at the time, along with an update about activities of the still active Thyrsus Club.

Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 2:30-4 p.m. | Golden Bear Afternoon Tea

Engage with our special guest and award-winning author, Edward McPherson, as you relish an elegant tea and afternoon conversation. We will toast to your impressive reunion milestone as you enjoy a variety of finger sandwiches, savory delights, a bit of WashU charm, and St. Louis hospitality prior to your evening party. 

 About Our Author:
Edward McPherson, associate professor of English and director of English undergraduate studies, is the author of three nonfiction books: Buster Keaton: Tempest in a Flat Hat, The Backwash Squeeze and Other Improbable Feats, and The History of the Future: American Essays.

Sunday, May 14, 2023 | 6-9 p.m. | Golden Bear Class Party

Join your fellow Golden Bear reunion celebrants as we close out your reunion weekend at the Solarium at the Ritz-Carlton. This unique indoor/outdoor space features a beautiful view of the city. Reminisce one last time with classmates over cocktails and dinner while enjoying live jazz music. This will be a night to remember with friends you will never forget. 

Cocktail attire is recommended. Complimentary valet parking will be available.

Cost: $70 per person

Monday, May 15, 2023

Some events have limited capacity and the event may sell out. We encourage you to register early.

Monday, May 15, 2023 | 7-11 a.m. | Golden Bear Breakfast and Commencement Ceremony

Join the 50th reunion celebrants and families for a light breakfast, available beginning at 7 a.m. at the Reunion Tent on Mudd Field. Please be sure to arrive by 8 a.m. to be ushered to the reserved Golden Bear seating area at Commencement. 

7 a.m. | Breakfast
8 a.m. | Proceed to Reserved Seating
9 a.m. | Commencement Ceremony

Weather-appropriate business casual attire and comfortable shoes are suggested.

Reunion Giving

Many reunion celebrants give in appreciation of their WashU experience. Others give in the spirit of friendly competition with other celebrating classes. Each and every gift supports a best-in-class educational experience for today's WashU students.

Tuition revenue covers only 60% of the cost of providing a WashU education. Reunion class gifts and other annual fund gifts help cover the remainder in the form of scholarships, research funding, faculty support, facilities improvements, and much more.