With the backdrop of the 170th anniversary of University of the Pacific's founding, the university will celebrate “Pacific Roars Back,” a spectacular weekend October 8-10 featuring Homecoming, a special commencement for the classes of 2020 and 2021 and a host of events for alumni, families and friends.

The line-up includes the signature Orange & Black Ball, the Pacific Athletic Foundation’s major fundraiser that  supports student athletes in Pacific’s 17 intercollegiate sports programs, along with craft beer tasting, the Prism Concert, pancakes with the president, Taste of Pacific, and many other activities and events.

“We are delighted for the opportunity to welcome the Pacific community to our Stockton campus this October,” said Kelli Page `87, associate vice president of alumni relations. “This year more than ever, it’s time to celebrate our history and look to our future. All members of the Pacific Tiger family are invited to campus to reconnect and enjoy some fantastic events.”

Kicking off the weekend on Friday, the annual Orange & Black Ball will be in the Janssen-Lagorio Gymnasium and feature a gourmet dinner, dancing, wine and beer tasting and fundraising for athletics’ operations and academic achievement programs.

“The Orange and Black Ball is an important fundraising event for us, but there is so much more to it. So many people from the community attend and so many connections are made there,” said Janet Lucas, Pacific athletic director. “Last year we had a virtual ball and people did their best to make the most of it, but it will be great to return to in-person.”

Saturday morning’s activities will begin with Sunrise Yoga on the Don & Karen DeRosa University Center Lawn, the traditional 5K Tiger Dash through Pacific's beautiful campus and pancakes with President Callahan where he will share his vision for the university.

Later that day, the popular Taste of Pacific will showcase alumni vintners, paired with gourmet food. The Conservatory of Music will host Pacific Prism, a breathlessly fast-paced concert featuring the range and imagination of Conservatory students.

“Pacific Roars Back weekend is a treasured time for our community to come together to reconnect, reminisce and make new memories,” said LaNor Smith ‘86, ‘87, president of Pacific's Alumni Association Board of Directors. “And this year we are particularly looking forward to celebrating our newest graduates and welcoming them as alumni.”

To close the weekend festivities, Pacific will celebrate the achievements of the remarkable graduates of the class of 2020 and the class of 2021. Students will have the opportunity to be in full regalia during a special milestone celebration.

“Commencement is a time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our graduates,” said Pacific President Christopher Callahan. “While the COVID-19 pandemic required us to hold our 2020 and 2021 Commencement ceremonies in a virtual format, we are thrilled to now have this opportunity to honor our graduates in a manner befitting their accomplishments.”

The ceremony on Pacific’s Stockton campus will follow the university’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

“Having an in-person commencement ceremony means celebrating both the already amazing achievement of graduating and the strength that my fellow class of 2020 and 2021 graduates showed in being able to do so in a global pandemic,” said Benny Huynh '21. “As a first-generation college student, graduating from college is an accomplishment that I want to celebrate with my family and I want them to be able to see me walk across that stage in my regalia.”

Registration for Pacific Roars Back is open here.