Celebrating the classes of: 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018
Losing our beloved Bonaventure Reunion in back-to-back years was heartbreaking, but we were rejuvenated last year when we were able to welcome so many alumni back to campus on three separate occasions: in late May for our pre-1973 classes, in early June for 1973 through 2017, and finally in mid-June, when alumni robbed of their 2020 Commencement ceremony were able to return to campus for GradUnion.
With so many more people here than usual, those events provided the opportunity to gain extensive and valuable feedback on what our alumni want most out of Reunion Weekend. We're grateful for the input to help us reshape Reunion Weekend.
What we heard more than anything was a collective wish for slightly less programmed activity and slightly more time to socialize casually with your classmates. Therefore, we've made a few changes:
- On-campus class dinners will be held for alumni celebrating silver and golden anniversary reunions (1998 and 1973).
- For all other classes celebrating a reunion, happy hours with cash bars and appetizers will be held on campus instead of off-campus venues. We hope to invite some food trucks to campus for additional dining options after the happy hour events.
- The Saturday evening reception in the Reilly Center for all alumni will continue - this time with an open bar - but will be shortened to two hours, from 6 to 8 p.m. Immediately following the reception, we'll gather near the townhouses to enjoy performances by live bands from 8 p.m. to midnight.
- The Rathskeller is back online after a remarkable facelift this fall and will be open throughout the weekend, as well as some new spaces for gathering, such as the Doyle Conference Center, Marchiori Pavilion by Dev, Fairway View Pavilion (former golf clubhouse), and the Foster Memorial Courtyard at Doyle Hall.
- Online registration (no registration by mail) for reunion and on-campus housing will open by February 28. Alumni need to be sure we have a preferred email address on file; those with email will be the first to know about registration.
Why is Alumni Reunion 2023 during Father's Day Weekend?
We understand that this is later than normal and that it's also Father's Day weekend. The move was unavoidable, but it was for an important reason.
St. Bonaventure was selected last fall to host the 2023 conference of the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling June 6 - 9, 2023. Hosting the event is a major coup for the university and will show close to 700 high school and college counselors across the state all this remarkable place has to offer.
At an extremely challenging time for higher education in the Northeast, hosting this event could significantly impact enrollment in the coming years as we get the chance to show key decision-makers in the college search process all we have to offer.
Registration opens by February 28, 2023
Information will be available here as it becomes available.
In the meantime, here are three things alumni can do:
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Mark your calendar to return for your reunion.
- Get in touch with friends to spread the word. Visit Bona's Online to search the alumni directory and connect with classmates.
- Book your accommodations. Visit the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce website to review local accommodations and make a reservation. NOTE: Information and registration for on-campus housing will be available in February 2023.
- Support the Reunion Class Challenge. Make a celebratory gift in honor of your upcoming reunion at www.sbu.edu/donate.