The ninth annual Alumni Weekend Feb. 18-20 features reunions and traditions as well as new activities, all aimed at strengthening graduates’ connections with Florida Gulf Coast University.
Among the highlights of the weekend are the Annual Alumni Awards, a walking wine tour of campus featuring the FGCU Alumni Association’s exclusive brands and a group tailgate celebration centered on the Eagles basketball double-header.
“With more than 22,000 graduates, our annual celebration of Eagle pride grows bigger and more exciting each year,” says Assistant Director of Alumni Programs Angela Kunkle, who graduated in 2004. “We are always developing new ways to keep them engaged with the university and fellow classmates, and to recognize their professional achievements, which reflect well on alumni as well as the university.”
Winners of the Annual Alumni Awards will be announced during a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. Each year, the Alumni Association Board of Directors selects one accomplished graduate to join the Alumni of Distinction, the association’s most prestigious award, recognizing exceptional personal and professional achievements as well as outstanding community service. Last year, Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman, a 2004 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, was recognized as the Alumnus of Distinction. Additionally, the Soaring Eagle Award recognizes recent graduates – typically one from each of the five colleges – who have earned degrees from FGCU within the last decade and have excelled in their professions.
Following is a complete list of Alumni Weekend activities. Find admission fees and registration information online.
Thursday, Feb. 18
- Walking Wine Tour, 6 p.m. at Sugden Hall
See new campus features while enjoying appetizers and drinks. - Lab Spa, All day at Sugden Hall, 30% off all services
Friday, Feb. 19
- The Classroom Experience (times to be determined)
See what life is like as a current student as you observe a class in session at the College of Health Professions and Social Work or the College of Arts and Sciences. - Alumni Awards Celebration, 6 p.m. in Cohen Center Ballroom
Celebrate at the cocktail reception as the winners of the Alumni of Distinction and Soaring Eagle awards are announced.
Saturday, Feb. 20
- Yoga on the Beach, 9 a.m. at North Lake Village
Start your day at the FGCU waterfront as you enjoy a beginner’s course in yoga. - Eagle Expo Open House, 9 a.m.
Come back to campus to recapture the FGCU experience. Enjoy academic presentations, displays from clubs and organizations, and talk with professors and students. - Alumni Basketball Scrimmage 12:30 p.m. at Alico Arena
Watch former FGCU basketball players and cheerleaders as they reunite for an exhibition game. - Women’s Basketball Game, 4 p.m.
Catch all the excitement as the Eagles take on Kennesaw State. - Alumni Avenue Tailgate, 5 p.m.
Celebrate in style while enjoying barbecue, a beer garden, music and more. - Men’s Basketball vs. Kennesaw State, 7 p.m. BLUEOUT
Forever an Eagle members and graduates celebrating their class reunions (2001, 2006 and 2011) are invited for cocktails and dessert in Alico Arena’s Hospitality Suite.
The Alumni Association is dedicated to engaging graduates in a lifelong allegiance with FGCU and fellow alumni, cultivating opportunities for personal and professional growth after graduation, celebrating pride in the principles and achievements of FGCU and its graduates and inspiring individual investment in the university’s future.
For more information, contact Assistant Director of Alumni Programs Angela Kunkle at (239) 745-4343 or [email protected]. Meanwhile, watch this video from last year’s Alumni Weekend.