Donald Keough & Katey Woodruff, Editor-in-Chief & News Editor

A dominant football win, student ensemble jams and lively cook-outs were among the highlights this past Big Red Weekend on Nov. 6-8, as alumni gathered at their alma mater. 

Hundreds of alums participated in the weekend’s festivities, of which included more than 50 events across many different areas of campus life. 

For young graduates, many returned excited to see their classmates. Maaike Snider ‘26 was one alum who enjoyed reconnecting with other alums.  

“The immediate spark in their eyes and then you run up to each other and give each other a hug,” Maaike Snider ‘26 said. “It’s like wow, it feels like no time has passed.” 

For Snider, the young alumni events were some of her favorite gatherings during the weekend, because they helped facilitate these moments. 

“The young alumni events are good because… having those social gatherings as a way to bring people together is such a good and important way to see everyone,” Snider said. 

Even with the events, she said she spent most of her time reconnecting with fellow Denisonians on her own. 

One of the other memorable moments over the weekend for her was leading her own spin class at Hoaglin, classes she had led throughout her time as a student. 

“It was really good because a bunch of alumni and underclassmen came,” Snider said. “That was really nice to be able to do again.” 

Overall, Snider greatly enjoyed her time, but did critique the lack of food provided, saying “it would have been nice if they could have given us a little more food options.” 

Still, she’s eager to return next year. 

Many clubs and organizations also held events for the visiting alumni that were involved with them during their time at Denison. These events are great for the current students to attend as well and network with the former students.

The Denison equestrian team hosted a barn open house to show alumni what their current riders are able to do with the horses. The event was attended by the equestrian team, the high school team who rides at the barn, alumni, parents of students, and prospective students. 

While at the event, Evangeline Winkler ‘28, the vice president of the equestrian team, spoke with alum Olivia Brenner ‘24. Brenner remembered the horses from her time on the equestrian team and reconnected with them during the event.

“I think there is like a special bond that comes with horse riding just because they’re, I mean, they are animals and they are often very animated,” said Winkler.

This was the team’s first time hosting an event for alumni and was one of only a few events throughout the semester where the whole team can come together. They primarily take lessons on their own or with small groups in the same level as them.

“I think it’s always great when the barn comes together because the one thing about our team sport specifically is that while it is a team sport, you basically just see the people you lessen with,” Winkler said. “So I think it was a great event for just, like, kind of bringing the barn together. And then also like just showing us putting our best foot forward.”