7 unique ideas for your college’s next alumni event
Whether it’s been one, ten, or even fifty years since graduation, staying connected with alumni is a rewarding experience that’s beneficial for universities and former students alike—and one of the best ways to drive alumni engagement is through hosting enticing, enjoyable alumni events. Well-planned alumni events give graduates of a college or university the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, maintain long-standing relationships, and even make new contacts through networking opportunities. Alumni events also benefit the institution, as an engaged and passionate alumni network leads to increased support and consistent donations.
If you’re looking for unique alumni event ideas to bring college or university graduates together, read on for ideas for themes, venues, activities, and more. From reminiscing about the good old days to unlocking future professional endeavors, these alumni events will have everyone chanting your school’s fight song again in no time.
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1. Game watch party
Memories of cheering on the home team at the big game hold a special place in many alumni’s hearts. Whether your university has a top-tier football team, dominates on the basketball court, or slides into victory on the hockey rink—invite alumni to come together to watch a rousing college sports game for old-time’s sake.
You may decide to host a large group of alumni at a sporting event on campus, potentially in a designated stadium box or suite for the VIP treatment. Include food and drink options, and provide a post-game reception for everyone to mingle and (fingers crossed!) celebrate the team’s victory. Let everyone know the kickoff time and after-party details in a Schedule Block on your Paperless Post invitations. Add your school’s logo or seal to your invitation design for a professional look, and select a Custom Color using specific hex codes to make your event page and invitation email branded with official school colors.
Alternatively, hosting a game watch party at a bar or someone’s home fosters a more intimate environment, whether you and your fellow classmates have remained close all these years or you’re looking to get back in touch over a shared platter of nachos and beers. Encourage everyone to show school spirit with their attire, and send a Photo Gallery Block along with your invitation to highlight memories from game days past.
2. Family fun picnic
Graduates from any year will enjoy bringing their families to a day full of fun in the sun at an alumni picnic. Send invitations to the graduating class from a specific year, or make it an open event for any alumni from the university to join. Encourage guests to bring the whole family, provide kid-friendly activities like bounce houses and face-painting, and set up field day activities such as relay races and tug-of-war.
Set out picnic tables for casual dining and mingling, and fire up the barbecue for crowd-pleasing refreshments that both kids and adults will enjoy, such as hot dogs, burgers, and skewers. Don’t forget to provide plenty of beverage options to keep everyone cool, like waters, seltzers, sodas, and perhaps a pre-batched cocktail.
When you send Paperless Post alumni event invitations, choose whether you want to invite guests via email, text message, or a shareable link that you can post on any website, social media page, or alumni message board. Create a Custom URL with optional password protection, and choose to collect adult and child headcounts to help plan everything accordingly.
3. Career networking event
Networking events are an enticing way to gather a group of alumni in a specific field or industry, such as graduates of the school’s business program, former mathematics majors, or fine arts-focused students. Hosting an alumni networking event allows like-minded graduates to discuss their careers, mingle with others in their field, and make important business contacts for future career opportunities. You can also invite current students within the specific major or school as well and host an informative Q&A session for them as an educational bonus.
As an added incentive, invite a notable alumni or celebrity to attend your networking event as a guest lecturer. Let everyone know about the guest of honor ahead of time when you include a Speakers Block on your invitation. You’ll also be able to set a maximum capacity to ensure you have proper space for everyone to enjoy themselves and create lasting connections.
4. Charity fundraiser
Hosting a gala or fundraiser is an elegant alumni event idea that will be sure to draw a crowd and directly impact your institution. Invite alumni to attend a formal banquet or gala, and let them know that the ticket costs will go toward funding university endeavors like renovations, a new building on campus, or important equipment for the classroom. Send a Links Block with your invitation to provide a link to purchase tickets, and allow alumni to make additional donations if they choose to purchase a table or simply give to the cause.
A silent auction is another fundraising event idea that will build excitement and provide a unique activity for the evening. An auction also gives guests the chance to take home prizes—like VIP tickets to a school football game, dinner with the dean, or gift baskets stuffed with university-branded goodies.
5. Themed reunion
Get the class of any year back together to relive the glory days with a themed reunion. Make the party a nostalgic throwback theme, based on the year of graduation. For the class of ’77, throw a ’70s disco-themed reunion party with plenty of dancing, shimmering disco balls, and outrageous outfits encouraged. For the class of ’95, tell guests to dress in their best grunge looks or most eye-catching neon attire, break out those Macarena moves, and get ready to travel back in time for a totally rad ’90s night.
Another reunion theme idea that will encourage alumni to turn out in spades is a casino night. Host a class reunion party at an event space or banquet hall decorated to feel like a bustling casino. Set up roulette wheels, blackjack and poker tables, and provide plenty of wine and handheld appetizers at a buffet or served on passed trays. Earnings from the night can go toward raffle tickets for fun prizes, charitable donations to a cause, or school fundraising.
6. Cocktails and conversation
For an alumni event that encourages flowing conversation and relaxed mingling, consider hosting a cocktail party or casual happy hour for any university alumni who live in the same city or area. An alumni drinks event can cover all the bases—networking, catching up, forming new connections, and maintaining involvement with alumni relations and university happenings.
Let guests know the dress code—whether you’re planning for it to be an elevated, cocktail-attire gathering, or more of a low-key hangout at a neighborhood bar—in a Details Block on your invitation. Designate whether guests can bring additional guests, and set an RSVP deadline so you can get an accurate headcount to provide your venue with in advance.
If the alumni in attendance haven’t seen each other in a while, or graduates from various years are included on the guest list, prepare some icebreaker games and questions to get the conversations going. Pass out sheets of paper with questions and topics such as, “What campus dorm did you live in freshman year?” or “Who was your favorite professor and why?”.
You can also send guests these questions in advance—if you’d like them to have time to consider their answers—with open-ended Guest Questions you can include on your invitations.
7. Campus scavenger hunt
Encourage bonding and friendly competition with a thrilling scavenger hunt for your next alumni event. Bring graduates back to where it all began by hosting the event right on campus, and create a fun day of team-building and nostalgia by preparing a timed scavenger hunt and subsequent reception.
Set clues that guide designated teams of alumni to revisit all the notable campus landmarks and areas that are sure to bring up fond memories everyone can exchange while racing to the finish line. Offer prizes for scavenger hunt winners like gift certificates to the school store or tickets to an upcoming game. Provide pizza and drinks, or a full catered meal, for all participants to enjoy after the hunt. This will give ample time for everyone to mingle and exchange stories from their days on campus. Follow up with guests to thank them for taking part in the day with a broadcast message sent directly through Paperless Post.
Create connections and memories with Paperless Post
Whether you’re reliving memories from years past at a class reunion or creating new ones at a cocktail soirée, VIP event, or launch party, Paperless Post has you covered. Send sleek invitations with easy-to-use customization tools and helpful management features to impress your guests and plan everything with ease. Track RSVPs in real-time and communicate with guests in direct or broadcast messages with any event updates or reminders. Bring classmates, clients, coworkers, and more together, all with the help of Paperless Post.
Bring graduates together to mingle and reminisce with invitations sent via email, text, or link.
