Autumn is a special time at The Catholic University of America. D.C. is cooling down, a new academic year is in full swing, and hundreds of Catholic University alumni return to campus for our annual homecoming and reunion.
Cardinal Weekend 2024 was a resounding success, with over 1,400 alumni attending over 30 events!
The celebrations kicked off on Friday, with walking tours and receptions in many of the University’s 12 schools including the School of Arts and Sciences, the National Catholic School of Social Service, the School of Architecture and Planning, the School of Engineering, the School of Philosophy, the Conway School of Nursing, and the Columbus School of Law. Alumni were able to reminisce with classmates and faculty while taking a look at the range of new buildings and campus updates that have happened in recent years.
The Catholic University Alumni Association and the Department of Athletics hosted the Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reception, a highlight of Friday night. The University honored seven exceptional Catholic University alumni athletes, as well as Joseph Carlini, B.M.E. 1984, for his generous support of the athletics program. "This class represents seven sports, adding new representation for men’s and women’s soccer, adding to a long list of football and basketball athletes, while also welcoming our first two women’s lacrosse athletes into the Hall of Fame. And we also have a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Catholic University," Kevin Robinson, director of athletics, remarked. "Beyond that, we have high-achieving, humble, magnanimous individuals who gave everything they had to see their teams achieve greatness, while striving for their own greatness."
The next day, alumni spent the afternoon at the DuFour Center for the annual Pre-Game Tent Party. Cardinals and their families reconnected with friends over delicious food, drinks, and gelato before packing the stands and cheering for the Cardinal football team as they took on (and beat!) the SUNY-Morrisville Mustangs.
The Black Alumni Networking Mixer, another highlight, saw nearly 50 current students and alumni attending. Justin Pulley, Class of 2025, described opportunities to engage with and support the University’s National Society of Black Engineers chapter. William Ellis, B.E.E. 2002, M.S.E. 2004, M.E.E. 2005, and Michele Joseph, B.S. 1984, discussed their experiences on campus and how they prepared them for the challenges they would face in their professional lives.
The festivities continued into Saturday evening, when the Class of 1974 observed their 50th reunion and was officially welcomed into the Golden Cardinals. While they celebrated in Heritage Hall, other reunion classes with graduation years ending in fours and nines gathered at Dirty Habit in Penn Quarter to reconnect and to make new memories with their classmates and friends.
The weekend came to a close with Mass and Farewell Coffee and Donuts, as well as the annual Aubry-LeBuffe Scholarship Reception. Derrick Aikens, Class of 2024, Chilowe Osai and Ronnie White, both Class of 2025, and Aliea (Frankie) Mansaray and Dakhiya (Khiya) Kelly, both Class of 2026, were honored during the ceremony. Ronny Lancaster, B.A. 1973, congratulated these talented students alongside current Black Student Alliance president Austin Mosely, Class of 2025.
“What’s no longer out of reach for me is completion of my senior year,” scholarship recipient Ronnie White, a criminology major, shared. “I’m very excited and hopeful.”
If you missed Cardinal Weekend 2024, don’t fret–plans are already underway for next year’s Cardinal Weekend, which is set for September 26-28, 2025. We hope to see you then!
Published on: Monday, September 30, 2024