Celebrate
Reunion at Thurtene Carnival will be packed with events on campus and around St. Louis, but there are a few signature Reunion experiences you won’t want to miss, like the Welcome Back Party, the Alumni BBQ on the East End of Danforth Campus, and your Class of 1985 Party! We’re busy working on a full schedule, so check back in early 2025 to read about all of the receptions, tours, and events we have planned.
Class of 1985 Party
Welcome home, Class of 1985! Enjoy an unforgettable evening of celebration at the exquisite Anheuser-Busch Dining Room at Knight Center. Catch up over cocktails, dinner, music, and dancing. Toast to four fabulous decades and reminisce with old friends while making wonderful new memories.
Featured Events
Reunion at Thurtene weekend will be packed with events on campus and around St. Louis, but there are a few signature reunion experiences you won’t want to miss.
Welcome back party
Friday, april 4
6-9 p.m.
Kick off the weekend at the Welcome Back Party. If being back on WashU’s campus isn’t exciting enough, get ready for an evening event lit with glowing lights, a live band, and fun photo opportunities! Your classmates cannot wait to see you! Enjoy heavy appetizers, beer, wine, and soda while catching up with old friends.
Alumni bbq
Saturday, april 5
11:30 A.M.-1:30 p.m.
Join classmates and their families at the new Tisch Park for a fun-filled afternoon of great BBQ catered by the award-winning Pappy’s Smokehouse. Complimentary beer, wine, and soda will be provided. Enjoy children’s activities and entertainment throughout the event.
sunday good bye brunch
sunday, april 6
9 – 11 A.m.
Reminisce on your reunion weekend, bid “until we meet again” to your classmates, and enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat brunch.
Get involved
Reunion class gift
At WashU, we believe in the power of tradition, community, and the transformative impact of education. Your reunion year is not only an opportunity to reconnect with old friends but also a chance to make a meaningful contribution to the institution that played a significant role in shaping your journey.
Be a part of the time-honored tradition of giving back through your reunion class gift. Regardless of the size of your contribution, every gift makes an impact on the university, its students, and the larger community.
Class of 1985 reunion committee
Want to help plan Reunion and make sure it’s a huge success? Join your Reunion Committee! Check out this list of classmates who have already signed up:
Stephen Alpart
BSBA ’85
Janice Mac Avoy
AB ’85
John Williford
AB ’85
Lisa Rosenberger Balbes
AB ’85
Daniel Smith
AB ’85
Nancy Teichman Bauer
AB ’85
Lori Sulvan
AB ’85
Class memories
Class notes
Nancy K. Peterson, AB ’85, was honored with the 2022 Don Fiedler Excellence in Criminal Defense Award, bestowed annually to a member of the Nebraska Criminal Defense Bar by the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association.
Bryan Ewbank, BS ’85, MS ’85, is a software-language developer at Nvidia, focusing on programming the behavior of autonomous vehicles.
Sanford J. Boxerman, BSBA ’85, a Capes Sokol shareholder, was selected to the Missouri Lawyers Weekly 2020 POWER 30 List for White Collar Defense.
Ann Davis Shields, AB ’85, JD ’93, joined the mediator panel of United States Arbitration & Mediation, the leading provider of mediation and arbitration services.
Looking back at 1985
Retired foreign service officer Philip Habib to give commencement address
Some 2,184 students are degree candidates for WU’s 124th Commencement ceremony Friday, May 17. An approximate total of 1,081 graduate and 1,103 undergraduate degrees will be conferred at the exercises.
Kresge challenge grant
The trustees of The Kresge Foundation, Troy, Mich., have approved a $650,000 challenge grant to WU toward construction and renovation of its athletic facilities. Payment of the $650,000 grant is conditional upon WU’s ability to raise new, restricted gifts totaling $3,822,000 by June 15, 1985, to complete the funding of the project.
On an animated journey
During his long career at Pixar Animation Studios, Chris Bernardi, AB ’85, has attended premieres for hit movies like Finding Nemo, Cars and Inside Out. But he was especially thrilled — and more than a bit nervous — to walk the red carpet Oct. 24, 2017, for the Mexico City premiere of Coco.
W.I.L.D. performer
Spring 1985 – Chuck Berry
Planning to attend
Search for classmates who are planning to come back for WashU Reunion at Thurtene Carnival, April 4-6, 2025.