That’s a wrap on Alumni Weekend 2023! 1,167 alumni from 35 states pre-registered for a total of 1,521 registrations, with a final attendance count of 1,133 alumni returning home to Trinity University to enjoy the largest alumni engagement event of the year. Alumni donated the most amount of money ever received through the Alumni Weekend registration website, and total class reunion giving was at the highest it's ever been.
On Friday, attendees learned from panels of experts in the fields of health care administration, entrepreneurship, and the humanities, explored what’s new during a campus tour, reconnected with former professors, cheered on the soccer teams, and celebrated this year’s alumni award recipients.
Music was in the air on Saturday with the choir and handbell and the symphony and wind ensemble concerts, the Tiger Tailgate and football game, and the Block Party on Oakmont.
Watch the recap video, or view photos from Alumni Weekend 2023.
Academic Panels
The Health Care Administration Alumni Association hosted breakfast and a discussion with panelists who answered questions and shared the latest insights from their field. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship brought together a dynamic group of Trinity entrepreneurs for a panel titled “The Modern Entrepreneur.” They discussed some of the common pitfalls of entrepreneurship and what entrepreneurs need to be mindful of in today’s environment. As part of Humanities Day, the Humanities Collective assembled a panel with Mike Bacon '89, Elizabeth Fauerso '96, and Kayla Padilla '21, who discussed how they’ve used their humanities experience in diverse career settings.
Mike Bacon '89 and Elizabeth Fauerso '96 discussed how they’ve used the humanities in their careers on the Humanities Day Panel on October 27. (Photo by Cade Bradshaw '14)
Fiesta with the Faculty and Authors and Artisans Fair
The annual Fiesta with the Faculty welcomed 29 faculty and 16 authors and artisans inside the Laurie Art Gallery on Friday afternoon. Joyful laughter filled the space as hundreds of alumni shared fond memories with their former professors.
Alumni visit with Courtney Crim '93, M’94, Ed.D., and David Ribble '82, Ph.D., at Fiesta with the Faculty on October 27.
Alumni Awards Ceremony
The 2023 Alumni Awards Ceremony celebrated seven alumni award recipients. This ceremony showcased the deep, meaningful connections Trinity alumni have with each other, the University, and their communities. Nominations for the 2024 alumni awards are open. Nominate yourself or a fellow Tiger now!
Jaskirat Singh Batra '12, Ph.D., gives an acceptance speech for the 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award on October 27. (Photo by Cade Bradshaw '14)
50-Year and 51+ Reunion Brunch
Reunion classes of 1973 and earlier enjoyed brunch together as they began their Saturday in the newly renovated Skyline, where President Vanessa Beasley distributed special medals to each attendee from the Class of 1973.
Lark Doley '73 (left) enjoys brunch with a classmate at the 50-Year and 51+ Reunion Brunch on October 28. (Photo by Cade Bradshaw '14)
Tiger Football Tailgate & Affinity Picnic
There was an abundance of Tiger Pride across Prassel Lawn and the Multi-Sport Stadium at the Tiger Football Tailgate & Affinity Picnic, sponsored by the Bengal Lancer Alumni Foundation. The tailgate included food, drinks, lawn games, and music. Student organizations and academic departments like the Department of Education reconnected with alumni and welcomed them back to campus. The party continued on the field as the Trinity Tigers defeated the Millsaps Majors with a resounding 63-0 victory.
Alumni and their families enjoyed the tailgate festivities and were treated to a 63-0 shutout victory by the Trinity Tigers football team over Millsaps on October 28.
Athletics Alumni Events
In addition to the weekend’s football and soccer games, alumni athletics events included a volleyball intrasquad scrimmage and alumni happy hour, the soccer soiree, a kick around with the women’s soccer team, a men’s tennis meetup, and a swimming and diving meet and social.
Trinity’s swimming and diving team invited alumni back to Hixon Natatorium for a meet and social on October 28. (Photo by Cade Bradshaw '14)
Alumni Music Concerts
New to Alumni Weekend 2023, alumni had the option to add the music upgrade to their registration package. This upgrade allowed music alumni to practice at rehearsals and perform at the piano studio event, choir alumni and handbell ensemble concert, and the symphony and wind ensemble alumni concert. The Trinity community was delighted as these alumni took the stage again in Ruth Taylor Recital Hall and Laurie Auditorium to share their beautiful music.
Music alumni had the opportunity to rehearse and perform in music concerts alongside current students during Alumni Weekend 2023. (Photo by Cade Bradshaw '14)
President’s All-Alumni Reception
President Beasley welcomed alumni into the Cube of the Center for the Sciences and Innovation for a special toast to this year’s reunion classes. Nadia Islam ‘12, Trinity Alumni Association president, presented President Beasley with a check on behalf of the reunion classes for the record amount of $4,516,801.17. The Class of 1973 was recognized for having the greatest class giving total, the Class of 1988 had the greatest number of attendees at Alumni Weekend, and the Class of 2003 had the greatest percentage of class members who gave a gift.
Nadia Islam '12 presents President Beasley with a check for a record amount of total class reunion giving at the President’s All-Alumni Reception on October 28. (Photo by Cade Bradshaw '14)
Block Party
Under the light of a full moon and the warm glow of lights strung about in the live oaks, the annual Block Party transformed Oakmont Court into a rocking party as alumni enjoyed great food, drinks, dueling DJs, a flashmob by the Prowlers Dance Team, and fire dancers. It was the perfect celebratory conclusion to another amazing Alumni Weekend.
Alumni pose with props for a picture at the photo booth at the Block Party on October 28. (Photo by Cade Bradshaw '14)
Save the date: Alumni Weekend 2024 will be October 24-27!
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