50-Year Reunion

Join the Drake community and your fellow classmates for the 50-Year Reunion on April 24-25, 2026. It’s a weekend of reconnecting with classmates, celebrating Drake, recalling college days, and making new memories. You'll rediscover Drake and strengthen your connections to the Drake community as you attend a host of events, including the the 50-Year Club Induction Luncheon, the All-Alumni Painted Street Party, the 50-Year Club Reception and more. To top it all off: the reunion takes place during Relays, so you know the Drake spirit will be all around.

Event Details

When: April 24-25, 2026
Where: Drake University
Tickets: $75/person before March 2, $100/person after

Reunion Schedule

Friday, April 24, 2026
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM: Induction Lunch - Attend the Induction Luncheon to celebrate your induction into the 50-Year Club and hear more about what your classmates have been up to since graduation. Your Class of 1976 photo will be taken at this event.

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: All-Alumni Painted Street Party - Celebrate the Drake Relays with alumni from all classes.

Saturday, April 25, 2026
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Back to Class presented by OLLI - Hear from a current faculty member about their area of expertise.

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Virtual Campus Tour - Learn how the campus and the surrounding community has changed over the years.

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM: 50-Year Club Reception - Join your fellow classmates and other members of the 50-Year Club to hear about campus updates from President Martin and to celebrate the closing of your reunion weekend.

Hotel Information

We have secured room blocks with discounted pricing at a variety of area hotels. Click below to view the options and contact the hotel of your choice by March 23, 2026, to secure your room. The blocks are listed under Drake University 50th Reunion.

View Hotel Block Information

Relays Tickets

While your registration cost for the 50-Year Reunion includes all reunion events, it does not include tickets for the Drake Relays, which are sold separately. We highly encourage alumni to purchase tickets to attend Drake Relays track & field events throughout the weekend.

All-Session and Single Session tickets will be available in the Spring. Check back here for details and a link to purchase once they are available.

Digital Memory Book

Take part in your Digital Memory Book! It’s a fun way to re-connect with classmates and learn more about what they have been up to since you left Drake fifty years ago. You don't need to attend to make a submission, so please share your story!

Create Memory Book Page

Tips & FAQs

Class Gift

Your 50th reunion provides a special opportunity to support Drake with a gift towards the class gift. The Class of 1976 Reunion Committee will establish a class goal to celebrate the milestone anniversary. Your gift of any amount to any area of Drake will count toward this goal.

Give Now

OLLI Partnership

We are pleased to partner with The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Drake University on this year's 50th Reunion. In addition to presenting the Back to Class session during the reunion, OLLI has a special gift for all reunion attendees!

In honor of this milestone celebration, all attendees of the 50th Anniversary Class at the 2026 Drake Relays will receive a complimentary annual membership to OLLI at Drake University. It’s our way of celebrating your connection to Drake while inviting you to continue learning, growing, and engaging with fellow Bulldogs. And with a majority of classs offered in hybrid format, you can join regardless of where you live.

OLLI at Drake University is a vibrant community of lifelong learners—primarily age 50+—who share a passion for discovery and connection. With more than 975 members, OLLI offers an exceptional range of non-credit courses, lectures, and special events led by Drake faculty and community experts. Membership is open to all and includes fall and spring sessions, exclusive events, and university benefits like Cowles Library access, creating a welcoming space to stay intellectually active and socially engaged.

Click Here to Learn more about OLLI

Committee Members

Class of 1976 Committee:
Co-Chairs: Holly (Morrison) Dierks & Jeff Fox
Committee Members: Julia (Fellers) Hook, Greg Johansen, Peggy (Behrens) Person, Richard Place, Marjorie (Levi) Rowland, Daniel Zarazan, Kathleen (Berry) Zimpleman

Past Event

Every year, Drake welcomes back alumni celebrating their 50th Reunion. During the weekend, the newest class is inducted into the 50-Year Club, which includes all alumni out of school 50 years or more. Enjoy a look at our reunion in 2025 to get a sense of what you can look forward to in April 2026!

2025 50th Reunion — Class of 1975
Photos: 50-Year Induction Lunch | 50-Year Club Reception

Registration

The registration fee for 50th Reunion Weekend is $75/person before March 2, $100/person after, regardless of how many events you attend. Your ticket cost includes event registration and all subsequent events, however this does not include tickets for the Drake Relays, which are sold separately.

See Who Is Registered

Questions? Contact Drake's Office of Alumni Relations, at alumni@drake.edu or (515) 271-3152.