Registration opens on February 17th.
Signature reunion events are highlighted in green.
Saturday, May 10
8 A.m.-3 p.m.
Reunion Hospitality Lounge
Orchid Room, Danforth University Center
Take a break from the weekend festivities in our Reunion Hospitality Lounge. Relax in the air conditioning, and enjoy light refreshments. If you are hoping to catch up with classmates, use the hospitality lounge as your meeting spot! Reunion staff will be on hand to provide general event details, and answer any questions you may have.
9-10:30 a.m.
Danforth Campus Tour
Tour starts and ends outside the Danforth University Center in front of Mudd Field
From the new construction on the east end to renovations in Mallinckrodt, you and your classmates will explore the next chapter of your beloved WashU community during this tour led by a WashU staff member. Relive a bit of your college experience while celebrating the milestones of the next generation.
Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.
11 A.m.-1 p.m.
Chancellor’s Luncheon
Knight and Bauer Halls, 3rd Floor
Enjoy a luncheon hosted by Andrew D. Martin, WashU’s 15th chancellor. The chancellor will share an exclusive university update and offer a toast to all reunion celebrants and emeritus alumni. Bear Necessities will be on-site selling WashU apparel and swag.
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
Cost: $30 per person
1:30-2:30 P.m.
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum Tour
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Tour the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum with a student-educator and enjoy an in-depth exploration of several works from the museum’s renowned permanent collection. Participants will engage with one another in group discussions throughout the tour and are encouraged to explore the special exhibitions before or after the tour.
Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.
1:30-3:30 P.m.
Athletics and Recreation Welcome
Athletics Complex, Hall of Champions
Visit the Department of Athletics and Recreation and meet some of our current scholar-champions and coaches as you tour our new state-of-the-art facilities, embedded in the heart of the spaces you remember from your time at WashU.
1:30-3:30 P.m.
ResLife Reunion
Ursa’s Fireside on the South 40
Welcome home! Return to the South 40 to visit some of our new spaces, as well as those you remember from your time as a student. Meet the ResLife team, and some of our current resident advisers and Congress of the South 40 leaders.
1:30-3:30 P.m.
Student Union, Campus Life, and Sorority and Fraternity Life Reception
Danforth University Center, room 160
Meet with current students and Campus Life staff members to hear about social life on campus, and share your memories with the Campus Life team.
3-4 P.m.
Art on Campus Tour
Tour starts at the Florence Steinberg Weil Sculpture Garden in front of the north entrance to Weil Hall.
View artwork installed throughout the Danforth Campus on this 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. Enjoy works by acclaimed contemporary artists Jaume Plensa, Katharina Grosse, Ann Hamilton, Ayşe Erkmen, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, and Dan Graham.
Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.
4–9 p.m.
50th Reunion Medallion Ceremony and Reception
Knight and Bauer Halls and Graham Chapel
The Class of 1975 will don caps and gowns for this momentous event led by Chancellor Martin. Celebrants will meet at Knight and Bauer Halls for robing and then proceed into Graham Chapel, participate in a meaningful ceremony, and receive a keepsake 50th reunion medallion. Family members and guests are welcome to join in this special, not-to-be-missed occasion.
4-5:15 p.m. | Registration and robing for 50th reunion celebrants in Knight and Bauer Halls
4:30 p.m. | Graham Chapel doors open for guest seating
5:15 p.m. | Procession to Graham Chapel begins
5:30 p.m. | Medallion ceremony
6:30-9 p.m. | Cocktails and dinner reception in Knight and Bauer Halls
Business casual attire is recommended.
5-7 P.m.
Baccalaureate Mass and Open House at the Catholic Student Center
Catholic Student Center, 6352 Forsyth Blvd.
Alumni are invited to celebrate graduates at the baccalaureate mass and open house. Food, drinks, and good company are guaranteed.
6-8 P.m.
Continuing & Professional Studies (formerly University College) Reunion
Venue to be determined
Don’t miss this opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni and learn about the re-envisioned mission of the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS, formerly University College). Alumni will have the opportunity to network with old friends and learn about current CAPS programs, initiatives, and engagement opportunities.
Sunday, May 11
9 A.m.-3 p.m.
Reunion Hospitality Lounge
Orchid Room, Danforth University Center
Take a break from the weekend festivities in our Reunion Hospitality Lounge. Relax in the air conditioning, and enjoy light refreshments. If you are hoping to catch up with classmates, use the hospitality lounge as your meeting spot! Reunion staff will be on hand to provide general event details, and answer any questions you may have.
9-11 A.m.
See STL | St. Louis City Tour
Shuttle will pick up and drop off at the roundabout at the Brookings Loop on the East End of the Danforth Campus
A whirlwind but surprisingly in-depth trip through St. Louis’ history and evolution. The route includes historical highlights and landmarks, as well as hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path sites throughout the city.
Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.
Cost: $17 per adult, $10 per child
(Children 5 and under are free)
9-11:30 A.M.
See STL | The Hill Neighborhood Walking Tour
Shuttle will pick up and drop off at the roundabout at the Brookings Loop on the East End of the Danforth Campus
In many ways, St. Louis’ famous Hill neighborhood exemplifies the immigrant experience of the early 20th century. Learn about the people who called the area home before Northern Italians arrived, find hidden pieces of history, and experience the entrepreneurial energy that is fueling The Hill’s success today. Like so many other St. Louis neighborhoods, The Hill’s history is a complicated mix of tradition and larger social forces at play.
Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.
Cost: $17 per adult, $10 per child
(Children 5 and under are free)
11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.m.
Mother’s Day Blues Luncheon Presented by the Black Alumni Council
Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall
Join WashU alumni and friends for a Mother’s Day blues luncheon featuring live music by a St. Louis artist, presented by the Black Alumni Council (BAC). 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. All reunion celebrants and their guests are invited.
Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.
1:30-2:30 P.M.
Sustainability and Arboretum Tour
Tour begins at Brookings Hall Arch at the top of the stairs on the east end of campus.
Join Michael Barash, WashU Climate Corps member, for a campus tour highlighting the WashU Arboretum, which recently received Level III accreditation from ArbNet, an online, interactive community of arboreta that supports the common purposes and interests of tree-focused public gardens.
Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.
5-9 p.m.
Class of 1975 Party
Third Degree Glass Factory
Spend your evening reminiscing with your classmates at the Class of 1975 Party at Third Degree Glass Factory, where you will enjoy cocktails, a seated dinner, and live music. The evening will also feature an exciting glass blowing demonstration, with the artwork comissioned during the demonstration to be raffled off to a member of the Class of 1975!
Established in 2002, Third Degree Glass Factory founders Doug Auer and WashU alum Jim McKelvey Jr., AB ’87, BS ’87, opened its doors as the only publicly accessible glass art studio and education center in St. Louis. What started simply as a passion for glass art has blossomed into a multifaceted venue for education, retail, studio rental, private events, and exhibitions. Third Degree is the anchor of the Delmar Maker District, leading the neighborhood’s mission to support and promote creatives of all kinds.
Business casual attire is recommended.
Complimentary valet parking will be available.
Cost: $70 per person
Monday, May 12
7 A.m.-12:30 P.M.
50th Reunion Breakfast, Robing, and Commencement March and Post-Event Reception
Umrath Lounge, Umrath Hall and Francis Olympic Field
Experience Commencement once again as you participate in the procession into Francis Olympic Field. Commencement is an important and moving event in the lives of students, faculty, parents, and alumni. Many past 50th reunion attendees look back fondly on this event as one of their favorite experiences during reunion. Family members and guests are welcome to attend and will have special seating during the ceremony.
7 a.m. | Breakfast for reunion celebrants (50th and Golden Bear) and guests
8 a.m. | 50th reunion celebrant robing
8 a.m. | 50th reunion guests and Golden Bears proceed to reserved seating on Francis Olympic Field
8:30 a.m. | 50th reunion celebrants line up for Commencement procession
9 a.m. | WashU Commencement at Francis Olympic Field
11:30 a.m. | Post-Commencement reception
Additional Happenings
all events below are open to the public.
FRIDAY, MAY 9
Forging a Nation: The Founding of the U.S. Mint, 1792 – WashU Libraries
Friday, May 9 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Declaration of Independence Chamber (Level 1)
The Forging a Nation: The Founding of the U.S. Mint, 1792 exhibition includes the United States Mint’s founding documents, including a Thomas Jefferson-signed copy of the 1792 Mint Act.
SATURDAY, MAY 10
Live Music Memories – WashU Libraries
Saturday, May 10 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Collect O’Rama Case in Risa’s Landing (Level 2)
Andy Meyer, PhD ’97, has supported local live music and saved concert tickets since the 1980s. This two-part collection illustrates a lifelong passion for live music and performance, capturing a catalog of musical memories through ticket stubs and autographed CDs.
Stanley and Joan Elkin’s Artistic Kingdom – WashU Libraries
Saturday, May 10 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Thomas Gallery (Level 1)
The Stanley and Joan Elkin’s Artistic Kingdom exhibition, mainly drawn from the recently completed Stanley Elkin Papers, celebrates their artistic talents and inspiring life together. Stanley was a prolific fiction and essay writer and a professor of creative writing at WashU for 35 years, and his wife Joan (Jacobson) Elkin, was just as prolific a visual artist.
The Legacy of Irv Docktor: From Canvas to Classroom – WashU Libraries
Saturday, May 10 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Newman Tower of Collections and Exploration (Level 1)
Irv Docktor was a prolific illustrator and lifelong teacher. The exhibition offers snapshots of artwork from different stages of his life as both a commercial illustrator and fine artist.
Special Exhibits at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Saturday, May 10 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Visit the Kemper Art Museum to see several special exhibits currently on display. We are featuring Seeds: Containers of a World to Come. This exhibition brings into dialogue work by ten contemporary artists whose research-based practices are defined by sustained inquiry into plant–human–land relations. For the artists, the seed is the kernel, literally and metaphorically, of their investigations into issues of fragility, preservation, and possibility in the face of the global climate crisis. “Don’t Be Angry!”, is an installation of artworks from the Museum’s collection that expands a transatlantic program of opera songs that the baritone Justin Austin has precisely curated to create aesthetic dialogues and thematic connections across music, poetry, performance, and the visual arts. Also on view, Reframing the 19th Century, examines two major themes: Native and settler histories in the Americas and the influence of the French Barbizon school on American art.
Admission is free.
SUNDAY, MAY 11
Live Music Memories – WashU Libraries
Sunday, May 11 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Collect O’Rama Case in Risa’s Landing (Level 2)
Andy Meyer, PhD ’97, has supported local live music and saved concert tickets since the 1980s. This two-part collection illustrates a lifelong passion for live music and performance, capturing a catalog of musical memories through ticket stubs and autographed CDs.
Stanley and Joan Elkin’s Artistic Kingdom – WashU Libraries
Sunday, May 11 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Thomas Gallery (Level 1)
The Stanley and Joan Elkin’s Artistic Kingdom exhibition, mainly drawn from the recently completed Stanley Elkin Papers, celebrates their artistic talents and inspiring life together. Stanley was a prolific fiction and essay writer and a professor of creative writing at WashU for 35 years, and his wife Joan (Jacobson) Elkin, was just as prolific a visual artist.
The Legacy of Irv Docktor: From Canvas to Classroom – WashU Libraries
Sunday, May 11 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Newman Tower of Collections and Exploration (Level 1)
Irv Docktor was a prolific illustrator and lifelong teacher. The exhibition offers snapshots of artwork from different stages of his life as both a commercial illustrator and fine artist.
Special Exhibits at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Sunday, May 11 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Visit the Kemper Art Museum to see several special exhibits currently on display. We are featuring Seeds: Containers of a World to Come. This exhibition brings into dialogue work by ten contemporary artists whose research-based practices are defined by sustained inquiry into plant–human–land relations. For the artists, the seed is the kernel, literally and metaphorically, of their investigations into issues of fragility, preservation, and possibility in the face of the global climate crisis. “Don’t Be Angry!”, is an installation of artworks from the Museum’s collection that expands a transatlantic program of opera songs that the baritone Justin Austin has precisely curated to create aesthetic dialogues and thematic connections across music, poetry, performance, and the visual arts. Also on view, Reframing the 19th Century, examines two major themes: Native and settler histories in the Americas and the influence of the French Barbizon school on American art.
Admission is free.
MONDAY, MAY 12
WashU Commencement Information
Monday, May 12
Information about WashU Commencement 2025 including the calendar of events, school ceremonies, and the Commencement Festival following the Commencement Ceremony.
Live Music Memories – WashU Libraries
Monday, May 12 | 8 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Collect O’Rama Case in Risa’s Landing (Level 2)
Andy Meyer, PhD ’97, has supported local live music and saved concert tickets since the 1980s. This two-part collection illustrates a lifelong passion for live music and performance, capturing a catalog of musical memories through ticket stubs and autographed CDs.
Stanley and Joan Elkin’s Artistic Kingdom – WashU Libraries
Monday, May 12 | 8 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Thomas Gallery (Level 1)
The Stanley and Joan Elkin’s Artistic Kingdom exhibition, mainly drawn from the recently completed Stanley Elkin Papers, celebrates their artistic talents and inspiring life together. Stanley was a prolific fiction and essay writer and a professor of creative writing at WashU for 35 years, and his wife Joan (Jacobson) Elkin, was just as prolific a visual artist.
The Legacy of Irv Docktor: From Canvas to Classroom – WashU Libraries
Monday, May 12 | 8 a.m.-8 p.m. | John M. Olin Library, Newman Tower of Collections and Exploration (Level 1)
Irv Docktor was a prolific illustrator and lifelong teacher. The exhibition offers snapshots of artwork from different stages of his life as both a commercial illustrator and fine artist.
Special Exhibits at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Monday, May 12 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Visit the Kemper Art Museum to see several special exhibits currently on display. We are featuring Seeds: Containers of a World to Come. This exhibition brings into dialogue work by ten contemporary artists whose research-based practices are defined by sustained inquiry into plant–human–land relations. For the artists, the seed is the kernel, literally and metaphorically, of their investigations into issues of fragility, preservation, and possibility in the face of the global climate crisis. “Don’t Be Angry!”, is an installation of artworks from the Museum’s collection that expands a transatlantic program of opera songs that the baritone Justin Austin has precisely curated to create aesthetic dialogues and thematic connections across music, poetry, performance, and the visual arts. Also on view, Reframing the 19th Century, examines two major themes: Native and settler histories in the Americas and the influence of the French Barbizon school on American art.
Admission is free.