- November 2024 Update:
Willamette Heritage Club at Portland Baroque Orchestra:
The Willamette Heritage Club, a group of alums 50+ years out from graduation, met in Portland on November 16th to see the Portland Baroque Orchestra performance of The Royal Trumpeter: Kris’ Podium.
Members gathered for a pre-concert talk before heading into Sanctuary Hall at First Congregational Church for the performance. Afterward, they enjoyed a happy hour at The Tavern at Heathman.
WU Stream: A Willamette Update with President Thorsett:
On November 14th, President Steve Thorsett addressed over 50 alums about the University’s many accomplishments of the past seven years and previewed its bright future.
The talk was part of WU Stream’s Willamette Updates series, which virtually brings university leadership to the community to share essential information and answer questions.
WUSN Career Networking Discussion:
On November 13th, the Willamette University Sustainability Network (WUSN) held a panel for current students to hear from alumni about their career experiences, answer student questions, and offer advice.
WUSN is a group dedicated to building community, increasing engagement, and deepening professional networking among Willamette University students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supportive community members who work in sustainability-oriented industries.
Atkinson Dean’s Football Outing:
Atkinson alumni and their families gathered with Interim Dean Romana Autrey and Willamette University President Steve Thorsett on November 9th for the traditional Dean’s Football Outing.
The group gathered for lunch before making their way to the stands to cheer on the Bearcats as they took on Pacific University in their last home game of the 2024 season.
Willamette RE/VISION:
Alums from the School of Computing and Information Sciences gathered at the new Ecotrust building in the Pearl District at the end of October.
The group heard a great keynote address by John Horton about the Power of Data and engaged in a lively Q&A. They also heard inspiring talks by Professor Fred Agbo about human-computer interaction and by Professor Rachel Brown about computer vision. After the formal presentations, the group socialized and enjoyed food and drinks.
- October 2024 Update:
Seven cities, one night:
Willamette alumni across the United States came together on October 16th for this annual celebration, during which they reconnected with old friends and made new ones.
A special thank you to our hosts, who allowed over 100 alumni to gather across events in Boise, Minneapolis, Portland, Salem, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.!
Willamette alums in France:
From September 8th to September 16th, 12 alums toured France as part of our Willamette Explorers Travel Program.
The Program offers thoughtfully designed journeys, plus the security and ease of group travel with your fellow alums.
While in France, the group strolled along romantic canals, hanging out in bustling squares and sipping locally made prestigious wines.
Matriculation:
Willamette University alumni gathered on August 24th on the Salem campus to meet the new students joining the Willamette family and welcome them with candles to float down the Mill Stream during a tradition called Matriculation.
During the Matriculation ceremony, students float candles down the Mill Stream, symbolizing the start of their unique journeys at Willamette. The glow from the candles reminds the new students that every journey is personal but that they will always be connected within the Willamette community.
Heritage Club in sunriver:
The Heritage Club, a group of alums who are 50+ years out from graduation, held a splendid retreat in Sunriver, Oregon, on August 28 and 29.
Twenty alums enjoyed a tour of the High Desert Museum, a nice dinner, sharing stories, and making new friends.
Thank you to Jim Vidal, BA’67, and the Willamette Alumni Heritage Club for organizing and sponsoring the event!