MICHAEL BARNES

News Reporter

Hundreds of former Bluejays descended on Creighton’s campus last weekend to reunite with old friends and explore the changes and expansions the University has undergone in recent years.

In its third year, the reunion event, titled Destination Creighton, was open to all alumni from the different colleges at Creighton.

The festivities coincided with the Homecoming soccer game. In addition to a meeting of the classes, the event also encouraged reunions of clubs, including those members who were involved in resident advising.

“It’s about reconnecting with old friends from all areas of school, not just classes,” Caroline Moore Alumni Relations Office representative said.

Moore said the reunion events help the school keep in touch with its alumni just as much as they help keep the alumni in touch with each other.

When asked what seemed different about campus, most of the comments landed on the eastern end of campus: Morrison Stadium, the Ryan Center and the Harper Center.

The alumni have a very important role in how it functions from day to day. The university has boards that frequently seek the input of alumni in order to make sure their goals line up with what the alumni will support. In addition, Moore said “many of the offices around campus rely on alumni volunteers to help run and organize events.”

The Office of Alumni Relations is not just for the alumni, Moore said.

“Our office is becoming more involved with networking for students with the alumni in order to help get a foot in the door,” she said.

Also, the Office of Alumni Relations hopes to build relationships with the students as they conduct their studies so they have a solid bond by the time the student graduates.

The Student Alumni Association is an example of an organization that builds the relationship between students and alumni and gives students a chance to meet Creighton graduates in their field of study.

The event wrapped up with a reception by the alumni who attended. The decision to change the timing of the reunion event to the fall, as opposed to the summer, has been one that has drawn an especially large amount of praise.

The Office of Alumni Relations plans on moving forward with the changes made to the reunion event and is already excited for next year, Moore said.

Moore said one of the goals for next year is “to try to get all of the colleges together for one reunion event, one weekend and one Destination Creighton.”