Celebrating Rice University’s 60th Anniversary of Black Life.
ARUBA presents “The Weekend”
ARUBA presents “The Weekend” on 4/16 - 4/18.
Help us shape a powerful and inspiring agenda. We want to hear from you! The Steering Committee is gathering input to make “The Weekend” and our 60th Anniversary Celebration a truly historic success.
Your voice matters. This milestone is about honoring our past and celebrating our present. By completing this short survey, you’ll help ensure the events, programs, and moments we create reflect what’s most meaningful to you and our entire community. Together, we can make this anniversary year unforgettable.
We can’t wait to see you during alumni weekend. Save the date, and help us spread the word. Let’s make this the biggest ARUBA reunion Rice has ever seen.
The upcoming 60th celebration of Black life at Rice promises to be both historic and deeply meaningful. Built around the themes of Reconnect, Re-engage, and Re-commit, the weekend has been carefully designed to honor six decades of Black student life, alumni leadership, and community impact at the university. More than just a reunion, it is an intentional effort to strengthen ties among alumni, highlight shared legacies, and reaffirm commitments to the future of Rice.
The celebration spans several days and offers a balance of reflection, fellowship, and forward-looking dialogue. Alumni and guests will gather for cornerstone events such as the President’s Reception and Legacy Luncheon, creating opportunities to honor trailblazers and celebrate achievements across generations. Panels and forums will provide space to engage with pressing issues, showcase alumni contributions, and spark conversations about shaping the next 60 years. Equally important, cultural and social events like the Throwback Party, Gospel Breakfast, and Celebrating 60 Years Gala will weave together music, food, and storytelling that capture the vibrancy of Black life at Rice.
The weekend also emphasizes service and giving back. With activities like community service projects and campus tours, attendees will not only reconnect with Rice but also with the broader Houston community. Ultimately, the 60th anniversary celebration is about more than memory—it is about momentum. It affirms the resilience, excellence, and creativity of Black alumni and students while inviting all to re-engage in shaping Rice’s path forward. This milestone year stands as a reminder that Black life at Rice is not just a legacy to honor, but a future to build together.
Join us on April 16-18!
Reconnect. Re-engage. Re-commit
Rice University is proudly commemorating the 60th anniversary of Black life on campus, a milestone that honors the achievements and lasting contributions of Black students, alumni, faculty, and staff. This celebration reflects both the progress made since the first Black students were admitted in the 1960s and the continued commitment to equity, inclusion, and community. It is a moment to recognize the pioneers who broke barriers, uplift the generations that followed, and look ahead to building an even stronger, more inclusive legacy for future Owls.