Knox Alumni, Families, and Friends from around the World Attend Homecoming 2025

Knox College pride filled the air as the campus welcomed over 900 alumni, families, and friends for the 2025 Homecoming and Family and Friends Weekend, October 9-12.

The celebration of all things Knox drew guests from around the globe to Galesburg from as far as Nepal to as close as Academy Street. “It’s so good to see you all here this morning,” Knox President C. Andrew McGadney told the crowd gathered at Saturday’s Homecoming Convocation. “Welcome home to all of you.” 

An abundance of warm weather and sunshine made the weekend even better, with several events taking place under the Prairie Pavilion tent on Seymour Union Lawn. The weather allowed many alumni and friends of Knox to explore campus and see all that has changed and reignite memories of what remains the same. One of the new additions to the schedule this year was the Academic Showcase held on Friday afternoon. Knox faculty from across academic disciplines were gathered to reconnect with alumni, meet families and friends of current students, and learn about all the exciting classes, research, scholarship, and experiences happening both in and out of the classroom. 

Additional activities, ranging from reunions, campus tours, classroom visits, sporting events, art displays, and performances from the music department, kept visitors busy throughout the weekend as guests reconnected with, or visited campus for the first time.

“We’re doing the Knox thing,” said Diane Trout-Oertel ’65, who arrived from St. Paul, Minnesota. “We’ve been here; we’ve been there. We get together with our group; it’s about seeing people.” 

Meeting new people proved just as meaningful as reconnecting with familiar faces, with alumni and current students making the most of campus-wide events to engage with one another. 

“We had lunch with students,” said Gary Moses ’65 from Castle Rock, Colorado. “We had a great exchange; they asked great questions of us. Students are always interactive with us, but it seemed even more so this year.”

“It feels like I was here yesterday. It’s always so refreshing to be back because it feels so familiar, but at the same time, so much has changed on campus for the better,” said Young Alumni Award Winner Max Potthoff ’14 of Chicago. “It’s making me feel hopeful and optimistic for the future in general, but also specifically for Knox; it gives me more energy.”

The Class of 1975 celebrated their 50th Reunion this year. “Your accomplishments, enthusiasm, and dedication to your alma mater are an inspiration to all of us,” President McGadney said. Leading up to their reunion year, the Class of 1975 raised $2,611,032 for the College, with 70 percent of the class making a gift, and 65 members attending Homecoming.

During the Homecoming Convocation President McGadney recognized the class of 1975 and reflected on the recent launch of the $175-million Venture Boldly comprehensive campaign. “It was a pleasure to meet so many alumni, parents, and friends on the road last winter and spring, and I see more than a few familiar faces in the audience here today,” McGadney said. “Thanks to that dedication, pride, and passion, Venture Boldly recently surpassed the $128 million mark—that’s more than 70% of the way towards its goal.”

President McGadney also shared a number of exciting highlights from the start of the academic year. “We also welcomed 332 new students to the Knox community this fall, along with seven new tenure track faculty, and our new provost and dean of the faculty. We recently launched a new website, student information system, and learning management system, and the first men’s and women’s soccer night games were played at Jorge Prats Field thanks to the installation of new lights this past week.”

Following Convocation on Saturday morning alumni, friends and family of Knox students, faculty, and staff enjoyed food trucks on Knox Street, a tailgate, and trunk or treat event at the football game, which resulted in a 20-17 Knox win over Grinnell. The Prairie Fire went two for two with a volleyball win in front of the home crowd on Homecoming Saturday, topping Beloit College, 3-1.

“A team is great, but if they don’t look up in the stands and see that there are supporters and backers who love them, it makes it a lot harder,” said Rachel Warning, whose son Daniel Warning ’27 is on the football team. “The community, the College here, everything is built through teamwork and support. Coming out for these kids who come from California, Denver, everywhere, when they may not have supporters from home, it means everything to them.”

ALUMNI AWARDS

Alumni were recognized and honored throughout the weekend, including Knox-Lombard Hall of Fame inductees Becky Mowers Nelson ’04 (volleyball, softball), Jason Macklin ’07 (men’s basketball), Vernie Mendrek (coach and administrator), and the members of the 1975-76 men’s swimming and diving team, who were honored at a ceremony on Friday night.

The Ralph Walter Prize, which recognizes the Reunion class with the highest giving participation in the last fiscal year, went to the Class of 1965, celebrating their 60th Reunion, which had 75 percent participation.

The Alumni Achievement Awards were presented at Saturday’s Convocation. Chair of the Alumni Council Kathryn Mahaffey ’78 presented the honorees as Kathy St. Cyr ’68 earned the Knox Service Award, Martin Reichel ’71 was named the Alumni Achievement Award winner, and Max Potthoff ’14 earned the Young Alumni Achievement Award. 

“Our award winners have carried the Knox spirit into the world, influencing industries, communities, and lives in ways that make Knox proud,” said Mahaffey.

Homecoming and Family and Friends Weekend was filled with honors, awards, and activities, but for many the important aspect of the weekend was connecting with familiar faces and places.

“I credit Knox as being the second-most important decision I ever made in my life,” St. Cyr said. “It started me on many, many paths; the education was wonderful, and the education outside of the classroom was also meaningful.”

From socials and meals to presentations and athletic competitions, to a performance from comedian and advocate Pamela Schuller ’09, much like a Knox education, a Knox Homecoming offers a little of something for everyone and keeps people returning to the school they love.

To view more photos from Homecoming and Family and Friends Weekend, please visit our Knox College Flickr page. 

Published on October 15, 2025

- Scott Holland, Knox College Office of Communications