Signature reunion events are highlighted in green.

Saturday, 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.


9-10:30 A.m.

Danforth Campus Walking 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 experience and 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.

Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire is recommended.

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

Casual attire is recommended.

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 for 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 afterwards.

Casual attire is recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.


1:30-3:30 P.m.

Student Union, Campus Life, and Sorority & Fraternity Life Reception

Danforth University Center, room 160

Share your memories, meet current students, and learn about social life on campus from Campus Life staff.

Casual attire is recommended.


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 our team and some of our current resident advisers and Congress of the South 40 leaders.

Casual attire is 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.

Casual attire is recommended.


3-4 p.m.

Art on Campus Tour

Tour will start at the Florence Steinberg Weil Sculpture Garden in front of the north entrance to Weil Hall.

View artwork 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.

Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire is recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.


4:30-7:30 p.m.

Golden Bear Gathering

Forest Park Tour and then Guido’s restaurant on the Hill

Enjoy reconnecting with classmates while reacquainting yourself with one of the nation’s greatest urban public parks before heading on to enjoy an authentic food experience on The Hill. Learn the history and stories surrounding some of Forest Park’s famous sites while aboard a shuttle guided by the Missouri Historical Society. The shuttle tour ends in the famous Hill neighborhood, where attendees will enjoy cocktails, delicious food, and great conversation at Guido’s restaurant. This casual evening is open to all Golden Bears, alumni who previously have celebrated their 50th Reunion.

4:30-5:30 p.m. | Forest Park shuttle tour guided by Missouri Historical Society
5:30 p.m. | Arrival at Guido’s
5:30-6 p.m. | Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
6 p.m. | Dinner
7:15 p.m. | First shuttle departs for return to campus
7:45 p.m. | Second shuttle departs for return to campus

For those who do not wish to stay for dinner, a shuttle will be provided and will leave Guido’s promptly at 5:45 p.m.

Business casual attire is recommended.

Cost: $35 per person


5-6 P.m.

Baccalaureate Mass at the Catholic Student Center

Catholic Student Center, 6352 Forsyth Boulevard

Join us for our tradition of celebrating Baccalaureate Mass with WashU graduates, family, and friends!

Sunday, May 12


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 | More Than the Arch Bus Tour

Tour starts and ends at the roundabout at the Brookings Loop on the east end of the Danforth Campus

From historical highlights (the Gateway Arch!) to hidden gems throughout north and south St. Louis, this tour explores distinctive St. Louis neighborhoods such as Carondelet and Dutchtown, in partnership with the Missouri Historical Society. Your tour guide will lead you in a unique look at our architecture, history, and thriving communities, all from the comfort of a shuttle.

Casual attire is recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.

Cost: $15 per adult, $10 per child
(Children 5 and under are free)


9-11:30 A.m.

See STL | Central West End Neighborhood Walking Tour

Tour starts and ends at the roundabout at the Brookings Loop on the east end of the Danforth Campus

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 neighborhood 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 monumental Cathedral Basilica! This private guided tour will be one to remember.

Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire is recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.

Cost: $15 per adult, $10 per child
(Children 5 and under are free)


10-11 A.m.

The Science of Cats and the Future of Nature With Jonathan Losos

Whitaker Hall, room 218

Learn why Jonathan Losos, the William H. Danforth Distinguished University 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 his presentation, Losos offers key revelations from his recent book, The Cat’s Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa, and explores how scientists are using all the cutting-edge tools of biodiversity science (GPS tracking, genomics, forensic archaeology) to understand where cats came from, why they do what they do, and what the future may hold.

Casual attire is recommended.


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 lunch 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.

Business casual attire is recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration recommended.


3-4:30 p.m.

Exploring Danforth Campus | A Presentation and Golf Cart Tour

Jubel Hall, room 120

From the most historic buildings on campus to new construction on the east end, attendees will first hear a presentation led by a WashU staff member before hopping on golf carts to take a tour of Danforth Campus. You and your classmates will get to relive a bit of your college experience while celebrating the milestones of the next generation.

Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire is recommended.

Capacity is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.


6-9:30 p.m.

Golden Bear Gala

Spink Pavilion, Missouri Botanical Gardens

Join fellow Golden Bear reunion celebrants for a gala at the beautiful Spink Pavilion. The majestic stone gatehouse was built in 1859 to serve as the main entrance to Missouri Botanical Garden. It has since been restored into a beautiful event space that sits on the main plaza overlooking large reflection pools surrounded by the garden. You will spend the evening enjoying cocktails, dinner, and dancing, while mingling and catching up with old friends.

6:00 p.m. | Shuttle boards at Brookings Loop
6:30 p.m. | Event begins at Spink Pavilion

Cocktail attire is recommended.

Complimentary valet or self-park options are available at Missouri Botanical Garden. Shuttle transportation is available from WashU to Missouri Botanical Garden leaving promptly at 6:00 p.m.

$70 per person

Monday, May 13


7 A.M-12:30 P.m.

Golden Bear Breakfast and Commencement Ceremony

Dains Dining Hall, Danforth University Center and Francis Olympic Field

Join the 50th reunion celebrants and families for a light breakfast, available beginning at 7 a.m. in Dains Dining Hall (1st floor Danforth University Center). 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
11:30 a.m. | Post-Commencement reception

Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate casual attire is recommended.


11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Baccalaureate Open House at the Catholic Student Center

Catholic Student Center, 6352 Forsyth Blvd.

Alumni are invited to celebrate graduates at the Baccalaureate Open House. Food, drinks, and good company are guaranteed.

Additional Happenings


all events below are open to the public.

WashU Commencement Information

Monday, May 13

Information about WashU Commencement 2024 including the calendar of events, school ceremonies, and the Commencement Festival following the Commencement Ceremony.

SATURDAY, MAY 11

Special Exhibits at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Saturday, May 11 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Visit the Kemper Art Museum to see several special exhibits on display. One by St. Louis-based artic Kahlil Robert Irving. Irving “critically engages with the history of the medium and challenges constructs around identity and culture in the Western world.” When viewing the exhibit you are able to step onto and walk around the art, engaging with it from different perspectives. Another exhibit by Santiago Sierra presents 52 Canvases Exposed to Mexico City’s Air, which refers to the pollution in Mexico City as well as the increase of airborne contaminants in parts of the world. The third exhibit, Tragic Depictions: Negative Emotions in the Visual Arts, explores why we find and enjoy negative emotions when engaging with certain pieces of art.

Admission is free.

MFA Artist Talks

Saturday, May 11 | 4-5:30 p.m. |

Join the MFA in Visual Art candidates in the 2024 graduating class of the Sam Fox School’s Graduate School of Art to hear about the methods and meanings behind their thesis works.

Admission is free.

SUNDAY, MAY 12

Special Exhibits at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Sunday, May 12 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Visit the Kemper Art Museum to see several special exhibits on display. One by St. Louis-based artic Kahlil Robert Irving. Irving “critically engages with the history of the medium and challenges constructs around identity and culture in the Western world.” When viewing the exhibit you are able to step onto and walk around the art, engaging with it from different perspectives. Another exhibit by Santiago Sierra presents 52 Canvases Exposed to Mexico City’s Air, which refers to the pollution in Mexico City as well as the increase of airborne contaminants in parts of the world. The third exhibit, Tragic Depictions: Negative Emotions in the Visual Arts, explores why we find and enjoy negative emotions when engaging with certain pieces of art.

Admission is free.

MONDAY, MAY 13

Special Collections Open House

Monday, May 13 | 1-3 p.m. | John M. Olin Library

Visit Olin Library and view firsthand some of the university’s special collections, including exhibits on China, the 1904 World’s Fair, numismatics, punk, and more; along with the Declaration of Independence “Southwick Broadside,” and university memorabilia from the 1970s to the present.

Admission is free.

Special Exhibits at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Monday, May 13 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Visit the Kemper Art Museum to see several special exhibits on display. One by St. Louis-based artic Kahlil Robert Irving. Irving “critically engages with the history of the medium and challenges constructs around identity and culture in the Western world.” When viewing the exhibit you are able to step onto and walk around the art, engaging with it from different perspectives. Another exhibit by Santiago Sierra presents 52 Canvases Exposed to Mexico City’s Air, which refers to the pollution in Mexico City as well as the increase of airborne contaminants in parts of the world. The third exhibit, Tragic Depictions: Negative Emotions in the Visual Arts, explores why we find and enjoy negative emotions when engaging with certain pieces of art.

Admission is free.