Following the first commencement in 1858, alumni would gather on the Pacific campus in Santa Clara and San Jose every year in June to celebrate the achievements of that year's graduates. Returning alumni looked forward to gleaning words of wisdom from the commencement speaker (often the University president), talking with faculty and administrators, and generally celebrating everything Pacific.
In June 1873, alumni organized themselves into a formal organization known as the Pacific Alumni Association and elected Annis Merrill, Class of 1861, as the Association Secretary. Alumni carried the Pacific tradition of holding reunions in June into the 1900s. Today, we hold most reunions during Homecoming & Family Weekend every October.
Now, more than 150 years after the founding of the Association, the tradition of alumni gathering to celebrate Pacific continues stronger than ever.
