Pioneer Reunion event

Thank you for joining us for our celebration of the original students of UC Santa Cruz. The weekend was a wonderful return to the magical UC Santa Cruz campus; the activities started by looking out over the iconic Santa Cruz beach, then we came together and hunkered down in the Field House once again, and finished the weekend honoring pioneer faculty and mingling on the Cowell Provost House Lawn. This was truly a weekend to remember, we hope that you stay a while and explore the photo galleries and resources for pioneer students.

Look Back

Keep Exploring



As part of the 2015 Founders Celebration we held reunion gatherings and activities stretching from Friday, September 25, through Sunday, September 27, 2015, with special reunion program on Saturday from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm

Schedule of Events:

  • Friday, September 25: Pioneer Welcome Reception, 6-9 p.m., Santa Cruz Dream Inn
    We will welcome back the Pioneer Class in style with appetizers and a no-host bar. This will be a time to mix and mingle with other students who were on campus in 1965.

  • Saturday, September 26: Pioneer Reunion, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., East Field House
    Saturday will feature a full day of events from lectures to mingling to lunches, all under the one roof there was in 1965—in other words, the pioneers will once again be taking over the East Field House! The continental breakfast will be served at 9 a.m., and the lunch will start at noon.

  • Sunday, September 27: Pioneer Brunch, Service of Remembrance & Faculty Reflections 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Cowell Provost House
    Join us for our closing activities. We will start with a Brunch overlooking the beautiful view from the Provost House Lawn, then take time to remember those who have passed, and end the evening with a stroll up to Cowell College to hear reflections from Pioneer Faculty.

Full Schedule of Events

Photo Gallery

Unidentified student in daffodil patch outside the Cowell College dining hall, with the housing trailers in the backgroundStudents on the East Field, with the housing trailers in the backgroundPioneer Class: residents of Bitter End trailerPioneer Class: residents of unidentified trailerPioneer Class: residents of Parnassus trailer: Maxine Kaye, Flinn Moore, Kathy Murphy, Suzanne Shellaby, Lynne Barber, Carole Sandillo, unidentifiedPioneer Class: residents of the Fighting Cocks trailer

There is an all inclusive event fee of $50 to help subsidize the event cost (meals, event rentals, materials etc) throughout the entire weekend. If the cost is prohibitive to your attendance, please email klinder@ucsc.edu to ask about sponsorship.

Please email Katie Linder at klinder@ucsc.edu with questions.