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Thousands to Celebrate SLU's Homecoming 2017 and Family Weekend

09/15/2017

As Saint Louis University prepares to celebrate its 200th birthday, Homecoming 2017 and Family Weekend, Sept. 21 to 24, promise to be part of a "landmark celebration" of all that it means to be a Billiken.

Over 4,000 alumni, SLU families, faculty, staff, students and friends of the University have signed up for this year's events and this year's celebrations feature new parties and festivities. The fun, from the new Progressive Patio Party to the Golf Cart Parade, leads up to the Bicentennial Mass under the Gateway Arch on Saturday, Sept. 23.

University President Fred. P. Pestello, Ph.D. during 2016 Homecoming and Family Weekend

University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., celebrates last year's Homecoming with SLU families, alumni, staff, faculty and students during the traditional Golf Cart Parade. SLU photo

The 2017 Homecoming events get underway with the Alumni Merit Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 21. This year, the University will honor a slate of notable Billikens who have lived lives for others through their professional, personal and philanthropic pursuits. 

The Student Performance Showcase is also set for Thursday.

Both the School of Nursing and Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology will celebrate their 90th anniversaries on Friday, Sept. 22. The School of Nursing will also hold its White Coat Ceremony and Reception.

The Micah Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The Garden to Table Dinner, Black Alumni Association Happy Hour and Networking Event and Golden Billiken Dinner for the Class of 1967 are also some of Friday's highlights. The volleyball Billikens will play at 7 p.m. at Chaifetz Arena.

In honor of the University's 200th anniversary, the Bicentennial Plaza in front of SLU's newest dormitory, Grand Hall, will be officially dedicated on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Homecoming weekend will be packed with open house tours, luncheons, campus trolley tours and the Doisy College of Health Science's Hustle for Your Health as the campus counts down to the Billiken Tailgate and Pep Rally, Golf Cart Parade and the men's soccer game on Saturday. The Billikens take on Stanford at 2 p.m. at Hermann Stadium. This year's Tailgate features a new format including face painting, the bubble bus, food trucks and inflatables as well as a pep rally to inspire the Billikens.

Following the game, thousands are expected to head downtown to the Gateway Arch grounds for the first-ever Mass under the Arch honoring SLU's bicentennial. Bicentennial Mass starts at 5:30 p.m. The shuttles will be running to transport guests to the celebration. For more details about the Bicentennial Mass, visit the Mass page.

Fireworks, food trucks and family activities will follow on the Arch grounds immediately after Mass.

Several classes will hold reunions and happy hours at locations throughout the city following the end of the Bicentennial Mass celebrations.

"Homecoming and Family Weekend are such a special tradition for the SLU community as a whole because all groups - current students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the University - have the opportunity to celebrate SLU," Annelise Pivin, director of Alumni Engagement said.

Events will conclude on Sept. 24 with Mass at St. Francis Xavier College Church, the Black Alumni Association's Sunday Worship Service and several brunches including the Golden Billiken Brunch, Occupational Therapy Program's 25th Anniversary Brunch and Brunch with a Billiken.


For full details about all of the festivities celebrating SLU's returning Billikens this year or to register for specific events, visit SLU Homecoming and Family Weekend