As the freshman class of 2030 unpacked their cars and settled into their residence halls last week, another special group of Eagles returned to campus. 

They came from across the country to see old friends, revisit familiar traditions, discover what had changed, and, perhaps most importantly, remember what had not. 

The Golden Eagles, AU alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago, gathered August 28–29 for the university’s annual Golden Eagles Reunion Weekend. This year’s celebration welcomed the Class of 1976 into the Golden Eagles community, while bringing together nearly 100 alumni from classes dating back decades. 

For many, it was a return to a campus that had changed considerably since their college years. But the connections they formed here, and the affection they continue to hold for AU, have endured. 

The weekend began Friday morning at Opening Convocation, where Golden Eagles from the Class of 1976 joined more than 2,000 students, faculty, and staff to welcome the newest Eagles to campus. 

“You’re an Eagle for life, and you’re now part of the most beautiful campus and the most nurturing university community in the world,” said Interim President David Marchick during his remarks. 

The moment offered a fitting reminder of the connection that links generations of AU students. As members of the Class of 1976 watched the Class of 2030 begin its own AU journey, they could see echoes of their younger selves in the students gathered around them. 

And President Marchick made sure the ceremony incorporated a little fun, too. Just days after the world lost legendary singer and songwriter Dolly Parton, he closed his remarks with a nod to her enduring legacy, saying, “You gotta be smart as a whip and fly like an Eagle,” before leading the crowd in a celebration set to Parton’s iconic “Jolene.” 

That evening, Golden Eagles gathered for a reception to celebrate the Class of 1976 and reflect on the many ways AU has shaped their lives. 

Among those reflecting was the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, SOC/BA ’73, WCL/JD ’76, SJD ’03, whose own connection to AU spans generations. 

“What I learned here was that education is transformative,” Lee said. “It means so much to me and my family to have had the opportunity to attend American University, which is why we support in every way we can. My wife and I show up, we engage students, we give, we help with internships. We do that because to whom much is given, much is required.”

For the Class of 1976, the journey to their 50th reunion began during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American history. 

As students in Washington, DC, they were studying just miles from the center of national events that would define their generation, like the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the Watergate scandal.  

The District itself was often the classroom. 

Yet, amid the uncertainty of the era, students continued to learn, debate, attend concerts, and build relationships that would follow them long after graduation. The memories are not defined solely by the history unfolding around them, but by the people, traditions, and moments that made AU feel like home.  

Five decades later, those memories still have the power to bring Eagles together. 

At Saturday’s Golden Eagles brunch in Constitution Hall, alumni thumbed through old yearbooks, reminisced with former roommates and classmates, and traded stories about the years they spent on the quad. Some had not seen one another in decades. Others had maintained friendships across the years. But all shared a common starting point: American University. 

Keynote speaker Amy Dacey, SPA/MA ’95, executive director of the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics and the Democracy Innovation Lab, congratulated the Class of 1976 on reaching the milestone. 

“Fifty years is an incredible and extraordinary milestone,” Dacey said. “It represents not only the passage of time, but a lifetime of accomplishments, of service, friendship, and memories that began right here at American University.” 

For some alumni, returning to campus meant seeing how much had changed. For others, it was an opportunity to reconnect with a version of themselves that first emerged here decades ago. And for everyone, it was a chance to be reminded that an AU education does not end at commencement. 

“You are the legacy of this institution,” said Josh Hiscock, assistant vice president of alumni relations. “By coming back to campus today to gather for this really special occasion, you continue to build community and legacy to which we are so incredibly impressed.” 

Golden Eagles are among the university’s most generous supporters, with their philanthropy ensuring that future generations of Eagles can experience the education, relationships, and community that have meant so much to them. 

For those who came home this weekend, their return was more than a reunion. It was a reminder that some of the most enduring parts of an AU experience are the ones that cannot be measured in years: instead, they’re measured in the friendships formed, the lessons carried forward, the community that remains, and the feeling of still being an Eagle, no matter how much time has passed. 

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Alumni celebrating a milestone reunion can honor their enduring legacy with a gift to the AU Scholarship Fund, which provides crucial and immediate financial support to help more students to say “yes” to AU. Supporting the AU Scholarship Fund is a powerful way to stay connected to American University—today and for years to come. 

 Visit https://go.american.edu/Give-Golden to make your gift today.