One of the highlights of Homecoming weekend is the number of class reunions taking place all around Abilene. This year, the classes of 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 will make their way back to ACU from all over the country to mingle with classmates and reminisce about old times.

Samantha Adkins, assistant director of Alumni Relations, and the Alumni Office staff has been planning the nine reunion dinners over the course of the weekend for about a year.

“We begin planning reunions for the next year a week after Homecoming ends,” said Adkins. “We make reservations for locations right away. In fact, for next year I already have plans to meet next week with members of the class of 1976 to discuss their 40-year reunion.”

The Alumni Office stays in contact with members of each class to get an idea of what each class wants from their reunions.

“We look for key classmates that can help encourage their fellow classmates to attend their reunion. They share ideas also as to how they’d like the program to flow at their dinner,” said Adkins.

The Alumni Office welcomes back about 600 alumni each year for their respective class reunion dinners, Adkins said.

Five of the reunion dinners will take place on campus, and four will happen off campus at locations in downtown Abilene.