One gate,
132,000 stories.

In 1891, twelve faculty and ninety-four students opened a single brick building. They could not have imagined the world their graduates would go on to build.

The old lecture block where the first classes met

Since 1891

The society that never graduated.

The Alumni Association held its first homecoming in 1935, when four hundred graduates came back to a campus most of them barely recognised. That weekend became a tradition: every October, the gates open, the bells ring, and the years collapse.

Independent alumni association since 1935, run by graduates.

142 active chapters across 87 countries on five continents.

Every ticket and gift funds scholarships — $1B endowment and growing.

“We don’t plan reunions. We keep a promise the campus made in 1891 — that no one who studied here ever really leaves.”
— Eleanor Vance, Society President, Class of ’79

Careers

Work for the society.

A small team, mostly alumni, keeping 132,000 people connected. Open roles for the 2026 season:

Chapter Coordinator

Part-time · Remote · Start August 2026

Support twelve European chapters and their volunteers.
Plan two regional gatherings a year.
Alumni status welcome, not required.

Apply by email

Homecoming Producer

Contract · On campus · Sept–Oct 2026

Run show-calling for the gala and mixer stages.
Coordinate 200+ volunteers across three days.
Event experience essential; calm essential-er.

Apply by email

Press

In the papers.

The 2025 homecoming drew a record 11,000 graduates

Alumni Weekly covered the bell-tower singalong, the largest in the society’s history. For reprints, contact press@hawthornalumni.org.

“A mentorship model other universities now copy”

The Chronicle of Philanthropy profiled our structured-coffee programme and its 19-day average from introduction to offer.

Endowment passes $1B, every department covered

University Magazine reported the 2008 milestone and the fourteen named scholarships added since. Media kit available on request.

One gate,132,000 stories.