The Best Years of Our Lives – Revisit

Every summer the University’s All-Alumni Reunion calls alumni back to the Bluff. Paused in 2020 and 2021, this annual event draws alumni for a 4-day “homecoming” event each June to reconnect, reminisce, and renew. Maintaining and networking alumni connections began in 1908 with the establishment of an Alumni Association. (Which would have comprised a modest 40 people, joining the 17 graduates of June 1908 with all previous degree recipients from 1902-1907.)  In 1924 records announce the first “homecoming” dinner for alumni athletes– returning alumni to campus during the school year — which expanded in 1933 to feature football games.  By the mid-1930s, Homecoming events include a dinner, dance, alumni meeting, rally, Mass, breakfast, and weekend football game.   

In 1938, the first alumni chapter was formed in Salt Lake City. The Hooyboer brothers, Fr. John and Fr. Cornelius, served as admissions recruiters visiting high schools up and down the coast and across mountain states in the mid-1940s and 50s.  Their travels (and over-nights) included visits to alumni, thereby helping to strengthen the relationship between graduates and the University.  The first annual Alumni Reunion Weekend occurred in 1955.

Currently, the Office of Alumni & Parent Relations coordinates with the Alumni Association to connect alumni, family and friends to the life of the University of Portland. Alumni chapters exist in 15 Regions across the country providing opportunities for alumni to gather and connect outside of the annual reunion. There are also Academic chapters based on area of study and Affinity chapters for shared interests ranging from professional to social and cultural.

Both the University and the Reunion have grown from a century ago; in fact, during the last twenty-five years the undergraduate enrollment grew from 2700 in 1997, to nearly 4000 today. Pilot alumni strong!