It is finally time for the annual Great Gustie Gathering. Many Gusties will be returning back home to St. Peter with their fellow alumni, families, current students, and Gustavus community for Homecoming.

This Saturday will be jam-packed with exciting events from start to finish.

“We’re thrilled to roll out a new structure for homecoming that gives alumni opportunities to connect with students, one another, and the College.” — Angela Erickson

It will begin with a breakfast in the dining room so everybody is fueled up for a busy day, full of excitement to be enjoyed by both current and former students.

“I am so excited for Homecoming. I get to play in my first rugby game and then attend the football game. I’m hoping it gets cooler so it will really feel fall-like.

“I also love when all the alumni come back and the campus is buzzing with a love for Gustavus,” Sophomore Ella Napton said.

After breakfast you can head on on over to Christ Chapel at 9:45 am for the Homecoming Worship Service.

This is a great way to get together with fellow Gusties and honor members of the Gustavus family who have passed away in the last year, with beautiful music from the Alumni Choir.

Another event you can attend is The Saint John’s Bible Open House in the library. Here you will be able to check out the beautiful calligraphy and illumination of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition.

The first completely handwritten and illuminated Biblr since the invention of the printing press. This event is on-going from 9am-1pm.

At both 9:00 and 10:00am there will be campus tours, so feel free to hop in and see the new additions to Gustavus. Both tours depart from the lower level of the Jackson Campus Center.

One of the best parts about Homecoming is having all of the Gustie alumni back on the hill.

The Gustavus Alumni and Parent Engagement office works hard to make Homecoming weekend a fun time for the alumni that decide to return.

“I’m particularly excited for the affinity reunions for departments of Communication Studies, Education, Nursing, Center for International and Cultural Education, and more.

“These gatherings will give departments a chance to showcase the fantastic work students are engaged [in] while inviting alumni to be involved in new initiatives,” Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, Angela Erickson said.

Of course there will be something fun for every Gustie. You do not want to miss out on the Homecoming and Family Fun Zone which is located in the Homecoming Tent hear Hollingsworth Field.

“I can’t wait to see all of the Gustie spirit this weekend.” — Linsey Wolf

It is another on-going event from 11:00am-4:00pm. There will be a petting zoo, craft zone, inflatables, a photo booth, a Gustie pub beer garden, and a Gustie Fair which is a marketplace featuring Gustie-owned businesses.

There will be luncheons occurring in the banquet rooms at 11:00am in the Jackson Campus Center. These are for the 1967 MIAC Championship football team and Football 50 Year Club as well as the 1987 MIAC Championship football team.

No worries, every other Gustie will be able to eat too. From 11:00am-1:00pm in the dining room will be the All-Gustie Lunch.

At noon there will be a Kubb Tournament hosted by Gustavus Nursing in the Homecoming Tent. If you are not interested in Kubb, that is just fine.

There is also a baseball Alumni game and social at the Gustavus field west of Lund.

At 1:00pm, you will have many events to choose from. You can attend a dance company class in the Kresge Dance Studio, watch Men’s soccer take on St. Thomas at the soccer and track complex, or attend the football game where Gusties will take on Hamline.

As we get further into the afternoon, at 2:30pm there will be an alumni dance celebration in the Bjorling Recital Hall.

At 3:00pm head over to Lund and watch Gustavus volleyball go against Northwestern or watch women’s soccer take their turn at St. Thomas.

At 3:30pm the nursing department is hosting a nursing reception and simulation demo in Mattson Hall.

Finally, to close out the jammed-packed day, at 5:00pm, up in Alumni Hall there will be an Athletics Hall of Fame banquet.
“I can’t wait to see all of the Gustie spirit this weekend.” Sophomore Linsey Wolf said.

Let’s make this another Gustie Homecoming for the books and show our Gustie spirit.