THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND
Guest Services & Registration
Center for Career & Professional Development, Lower Level Pickard Commons
Open Thursday 1 – 6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Common Grounds Cafe
Lower Level, Pickard Commons
Open Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Events marked with a * are included in the Alumni Weekend $25 registration fee, required for all guests.
Alumni Weekend 2026 Schedule |
|
|---|---|
Thursday, June 25 |
|
| 2 - 4 p.m. | *Admission Office Open House - Evans Center at Hughes House Meet the Admission staff, learn about alumni volunteer opportunities, and take a student-led campus tour. |
| 3 - 5 p.m. | *Level Up: E-Sports Showcase - 1st Floor, Bovay Hall Meet E-Sports Coach Andy Sotter and learn about the inaugural year of competition and plans for next season. Plus, test your skills! |
| 5 - 7 p.m. | *Sideline Stories: A Social with Coach Gillespie - 2nd Floor of Roadhouse Pizza, Downtown Ripon Hosted by the Men's Basketball Program, open to all basketball alumni and fans, this social will honor Hall of Fame Coach Bob Gillespie, and feature a pizza buffet, beverages, and memory sharing. |
| 5 - 7 p.m. | Beta Sigma Pi Gathering - President's Home, One Merriman Lane An annual tradition for Beta Sigma Pi alumni and friends. |
| 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Welcome Home: Alumni Weekend Kickoff - 2nd Floor, Knuth Brewing Company, Downtown Ripon Includes unlimited pizza, appetizers, and soda. Cash bar. |
Friday, June 26 |
|
| 8 - 10 a.m. | *Flora, Fauna & Friends: Ceresco Prairie Walk - Meet the the west trailhead behind Willmore Center An Alumni Weekend tradition, join Professors Skip Wittler, Memuna Khan and Ben Grady on the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy. |
| 8:15 a.m. | Shotgun Start Doc Weiske '50 Memorial Golf Scramble -The Golf Courses of Lawsonia, Green Lake One of the most special traditions associated with Ripon College Athletics, the generous support of the Weiske family and additional sponsors and supporters continues to provide funds to bolster the student–athlete experience. Sponsorship opportunities are available. *Rate is $150 per player or $550 per foursome before April 30 ($160, $600 after) and includes breakfast, lunch, and some refreshments. |
| 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. | *SOAR Spotlight: Student Stories - Room 100, Franzen Science Center Alumni are invited to learn about SOAR (Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research) with current student researchers and faculty advisors. |
| 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Lunch and Wine Tasting - Vines and Rushes Winery, County Hwy E, Ripon Enjoy a woodfired pizza and salad buffet and optional wine tasting with alumni and faculty. Bus departs from Pickard Commons at 11:30 a.m. |
| 1:30 - 3 p.m. | *That Was Then Memory Sharing - B12, Lower Level, Pickard Commons An Alumni Weekend tradition, all Alumni are welcome to share stories and embellishments together during this lively discussion hosted by Alumni Association President MaryJo MacSwain '77. |
| 2 - 4 p.m. | *Admission Office Open House - Evans Center at Hughes House Meet the Admission staff, learn about alumni volunteer opportunities, and take a student-led campus tour. |
| 5:30 - 8 p.m. | 1851 Awards Dinner Program - Great Hall, Harwood Memorial Union 2026 Honorees:
|
| 6 - 8 p.m. | Reunite: Class Connection Hours Reunion classes will host informal gatherings for classmates in various locations. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
|
| 7 - 9 p.m. | *1976 50th Anniversary Social - President's Home, One Merriman Lane Host by Mr. Folse, the Class of 1976 will be celebrated at the President's Home with this dessert and wine reception. |
| 8 - 11 p.m. | *Brainiacs and Beverages - The Spot, Harwood Memorial Union This annual social for alumni, faculty and staff will include complimentary beverages. Gather your team, Trivia begins at 9 p.m. |
Saturday, June 27 |
|
| 7:30 - 10 a.m. | *Continental Breakfast - Lower Level, Pickard Commons |
| 8 a.m. | *Rally Run/Walk - Meet outside The Spot (weather permitting) Enjoy a casual 5K run or walk through the beautiful city of Ripon. The route starts and ends on campus. |
| 8 - 9:30 a.m. | *The Alumni Open: Tennis and Pickleball Mixer - Fieldhouse, Willmore Center The Willmore Courts will be open for casual play. Please provide your own tennis equipment. Pickleball is hosted by the Class of 1982 with equipment provided. |
| 10:30 a.m. | *Class March and All Alumni Photo - Line Up by Class Year in Front of Todd Wehr An Alumni Weekend tradition, all alumni are invited to march down the Commencement hill by class year and gather at the Union porch for an all-alumni photo. |
| 10:45 - 11:30 a.m. | *Ripon Today & Tomorrow: A Leadership Update – Great Hall, Harwood Memorial Union Join President Folse and members of the administration for the State of the College in this the 175th year of Ripon College. Questions welcomed. |
| 12 - 2:30 p.m. | *Alumni Fest- The Spot and Memorial Lawn Enjoy complimentary beverages at The Spot, food for purchase at The Cerescos Food Truck, plus, a corn hole tournament and Greek socials on Memorial Lawn. |
| 1 - 3 p.m. | *Theta Chi Frisbee Golf – Tee off from The Commons Hosted by current members of Theta Chi, play a round on upper campus and support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Donations welcome. |
| 4 - 5 p.m. | *Champions of Ripon: A Leadership Reception & Rodman Center Grand Reopening - Lobby, Rodman Center Celebrate the generosity of benefactors, Board of Trustees, Alumni Board, 1851 Club members, and impact of the 2026 Reunion gifts, plus the loyalty of Partners in the Legacy, Class Agents, and 2026 Reunion Volunteers. A champagne toast will be given by President Folse at 4:30 p.m.to honor the Rodman Center for the Arts Atrium Grand Re-Opening. |
| 5:30 p.m. | Golden R Reunion, 1961, 1966, 1971 Reunions – Pickard Commons Celebrating all class years prior to 1976, this celebration includes your choice of plated meal, plus option to include beer and wine. Cash bar available.
|
| 5:30 - 9 p.m. | Class of 1976 50th Reunion - Pickard Commons Celebrating the Class of 1976, this celebration includes your choice of plated meal, plus option to include beer and wine. Cash bar available. Includes memory book.
|
| 6 - 8 p.m. | 5th through 45th Reunion Celebrations All parties feature a buffet, plus an option to include beer, wine, and drink tickets.
|
| 7:30 - 11 p.m. | *Embers & Neon: The All-Alumni After Glow - Memorial Lawn Tent, Fire Pit & The Spot Following the class reunions, complimentary beverages and desserts for all alumni will be available at the Spot. Send off Alumni Weekend in style with a glow party featuring a DJ under the Tent. |
Sunday, June 28 |
|
| 8:15 - 8:45 a.m. | *Service of Remembrance - Pickard Dining Room, Pickard Commons All alumni are welcome to this non–denominational service reflecting on those lost in the past year and since the past reunion. |
| 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Farewell Brunch - Main Dining Room, Pickard Commons Enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet with friends and classmates before Alumni Weekend ends. |