Come One, Come All

From the Class of 1944 to the Class of 2040, and points in between and adjacent, UC Santa Barbara’s 13^th Annual All Gaucho Reunion has something for everyone. Emphasis on everyone: campus neighbors, friends and supporters from near and far are welcome at the many festivities planned for Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28 in venues across campus.

“As the name implies, this weekend is designed for all Gauchos, including alumni, students, faculty, staff and the Santa Barbara community,” said John Lofthus, associate director of alumni affairs. “We have a diverse set of events starting on Thursday, April 25, including social receptions, student performances, athletic games and career panels. Our hope is that all of our alumni and community members will find programming that speaks to them.”

This UCSB signature event, which brings together alumni from across the United States and around the world, is produced by UC Santa Barbara Alumni with Nationwide as the presenting sponsor.

Special to the 2019 All Gaucho Reunion is a 50^th anniversary reunion for the Class of 1969, featuring special tours, social gatherings, a dedicated luncheon and a panel discussion exploring the evolution of student activism from then until now.

Among the other highlights:

• An ongoing exhibition at the UCSB Library examines the connections between the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill — frequently cited as a catalyst for the birth of the modern environmental movement — and environmental activism in the area today.

• The Gaucho Gallop 5K and Kids 1-Mile Dash will be held Saturday, April 27, starting at 9 a.m., with proceeds from the race going toward the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Scholarship Fund. The route takes runners past iconic campus landmarks, including Storke Tower, the Thunderdome, the University Center and the UCSB Library.

• The Gaucho Professionals Showcase, Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is a professional development and networking opportunity for alumni, students, local community members and business professionals, and features industry breakout sessions on technology, entrepreneurship, finance and education, plus a keynote talk with Eric Lauterbach ’89, president of the consumer division at Peet’s Coffee.

• The ever-popular Taste of UCSB, Saturday, April 27, from 2-5 p.m., brings more than 50 Gaucho chefs, brewers, caterers and vintners to campus for the beer, food and wine festival that is the reunion’s premier event, and also benefits the UCSB Alumni Scholarship Fund.

The All Gaucho Reunion is a major component in UC Santa Barbara Alumni’s mission of building strong, mutually beneficial lifelong relationships with the campus community at large and, especially, UCSB’s 210,000-plus alumni, Lofthus noted.

“Some of our returning alumni have not been back to campus for more than 50 years,” he said. “This weekend allows them to become better acquainted with what UC Santa Barbara has become and where it is going.”