Alumni Events
Pack the House Blue! EIU vs. Western Illinois Basketball
Tuesday, January 13, 20265 to 9 p.m. | Groniger Arena, Charleston, IL
Join fellow Panthers for an exciting night of Eastern pride as we Pack the House Blue! Cheer on EIU as the Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams take on Western Illinois in a thrilling doubleheader at Groniger Arena.
The action begins with the women’s game at 5 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m. Between games, enjoy a special alumni reception featuring complimentary food and drinks — a great chance to reconnect with classmates, meet fellow alumni, and celebrate Panther spirit.
Registration includes:
- Admission to both games
- Access to the alumni reception between games
- Food and beverages during the reception
Wear your blue, bring your Panther pride, and help us create an unforgettable game-day atmosphere. We’ll see you in Groniger Arena!
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
McHenry County Regional Network Social
Thursday, January 22, 20266 to 9 p.m. | Rookies Sports Bar & Grill, Crystal Lake, IL
Calling all local Panthers — come connect with fellow EIU alumni in McHenry County! This gathering is all about socializing, building your professional network, and supporting each other as a strong community of graduates. The McHenry County Regional Network also aims to be a resource for the university by helping current and soon-to-be EIU grads as they begin their career search.
Join us at Rookies Sports Bar & Grill, 72 N. Williams St, Crystal Lake, for an energizing evening of connection and Panther camaraderie. The event is free to attend and includes drinks, apps, and small plates — bring yourself and your Panther pride.
If you’re looking to meet other local alumni, expand your network, and give back to the next generation of Panthers, we’d love to have you join us! This program is made possible through the generous support of Greg Imhoff ’97.
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
Viewpoints: 25 Years of Art + Design at The Tarble
Friday, January 23, 20264:30 to 6:30 p.m. | Tarble Arts Center, Charleston, IL
Join us for Viewpoints: 25 Years of Art + Design at the Tarble, a special gathering celebrating a quarter-century of creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence within Eastern Illinois University’s Department of Art + Design.
Hosted at the Tarble Arts Center located at 2010 9th St, Charleston, the evening will feature a warm welcome from Chris Kahler, department chair of art + design and interim director of the Tarble Arts Center. Guests will also enjoy plenary remarks by Justin Henry Miller, an accomplished artist, professor, and proud EIU alumnus. The program will also include food, drinks, and time to connect with fellow alumni, artists, faculty, and friends of the arts.
Miller holds a bachelor’s in art education and a master’s in studio art from Eastern Illinois University, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from the University of Notre Dame. He has taught at the collegiate level for 18 years and currently serves as professor and area head of painting at Southeast Missouri State University. His artwork has been exhibited internationally, and he is represented by Zg Gallery in Chicago and Bruno David Gallery in St. Louis.
The Viewpoints series aims to immerse the EIU alumni network in storytelling, current issues, trending research, and shared campus history. The series is designed to showcase the EIU community’s intellectual capital and offer opportunities for reflection and reconnect with campus life.
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
EIU Night Out in LA
Wednesday, January 28, 20267 to 9 p.m. | Broxton Brewery & Public House, Los Angeles, CA
Panthers in Los Angeles, this one’s for you! Join us for EIU Night Out in LA, a vibrant evening designed to bring together Eastern alumni who live, work, and create across Southern California. We’ll gather at the welcoming and stylish Broxton Brewery & Public House at 1099 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, located in the heart of Westwood Village.
Enjoy a lively atmosphere complete with complimentary food and drinks, plenty of time to mix, mingle, and build your network, and the chance to connect with fellow Panthers who share your EIU roots — no matter when you graduated.
Whether you're new to LA, exploring opportunities in the region, or simply looking to reconnect with your Eastern community, we’d love to see you there. Come make new friends, strengthen your professional circle, and celebrate Panther pride on the West Coast.
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
Viewpoints: The Urban Historian
Thursday, February 5, 2026Held Virtually | 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT
Shermann "Dilla" Thomas is a Chicago historian, cultural worker, and public employee who has gained recognition as a social media influencer, particularly on TikTok, for his engaging short videos about Chicago history. A lifelong resident of Chicago's South Side, he has been recognized with awards such as the 2022 Tourism Ambassador of the Year by Choose Chicago and the Chicago Public Library Foundation's 21st Century Award. He also co-founded the Chicago Mahogany Foundation, dedicated to preserving and sharing the city's history and culture.
Viewpoints aims to immerse the EIU alumni network in storytelling, current issues, trending research, and shared campus history. The series is designed to showcase the EIU community’s intellectual capital and offer opportunities for reflection and reconnect with campus life.
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
EIU Night Out in Scottsdale
Thursday, February 12, 20265 to 7 p.m. | Fiesta Bowl Museum, Scottsdale, AZ
Panthers in the Scottsdale and Greater Phoenix area, join us for a memorable evening at EIU Night Out in Scottsdale, hosted at the iconic Fiesta Bowl Museum located at 7135 E Camelback Rd #190, Scottsdale. Enjoy a unique backdrop filled with college football history as you reconnect with fellow alumni, strengthen your Panther network, and celebrate Eastern pride in the desert.
The evening will feature special remarks from Donald H. Holly Jr., chair of the department of sociology, anthropology, and criminology and professor of anthropology at Eastern Illinois University. Professor Holly will share insights from one of his newest and most fascinating endeavors — the discovery of a time capsule on EIU’s campus — along with reflections from his distinguished career as an archaeologist and scholar.
Professor Holly earned his bachelor's in anthropology from Penn State University and his master’s and doctorate in anthropology from Brown University. Since joining EIU’s faculty in 2005, he has become a leading voice in the study of hunter-gatherer societies. His current book project seeks to dispel common misconceptions about people who rely on this food economy. Since 1995, Holly has conducted archaeological research on Newfoundland, Canada, with a special focus on the Beothuk peoples and the broader Indigenous Eastern Subarctic region of North America. He has served on the editorial board for Northeast Anthropology and was the associate editor for book reviews and notes for American Antiquity from 2013 to 2015. He currently serves as department chair.
This program is made possible through the generous support of John Zatarski ’73.
Guests will enjoy a relaxed evening featuring food, drinks, and time to connect with EIU alumni across Arizona. We look forward to seeing you for an evening of learning, conversation, and Panther camaraderie in the Valley of the Sun.
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
EIU Night Out in Champaign
Friday, February 20, 20265 to 7 p.m. | The Brass Rail, Champaign, IL
Panthers in the Champaign–Urbana area, we’re bringing Eastern to you! Join us for EIU Night Out in Champaign at the historic Brass Rail, located at 15 E. University Ave., Champaign, one of the community’s favorite gathering spots and owned by fellow alum, Mike Madigan, ’87.
Enjoy a relaxed evening of great food, drinks, and networking with fellow alumni while reconnecting with the EIU community close to home. Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network, reunite with old friends, or simply enjoy a fun night out with Panthers, this event is the perfect way to celebrate your EIU pride.
We’re also excited to welcome special guest Tom Michael, Eastern Illinois University’s athletic director. Before leading EIU athletics, Michael was a standout forward for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, where he competed in two NCAA Tournaments. Come hear updates on Panther athletics, connect with a campus leader, and enjoy conversation with fellow alumni.
We look forward to seeing you for an evening of camaraderie, community, and Panther spirit in Champaign!
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
Housing Affinity Network Social
Saturday, February 28, 20261 to 3 p.m. | Two Brothers Roundhouse – Zephyr Room, Aurora, IL
Calling all former RAs, desk assistants, hall directors, dining staff, and everyone who made on-campus living at EIU feel like home! Join us for the Housing Affinity Network Social at Two Brothers Roundhouse, located at 205 N. Broadway, Aurora, in the Zephyr Room — a warm, welcoming space perfect for reconnecting with your housing and dining community.
Enjoy an afternoon of conversation, camaraderie, and shared memories as you reconnect with fellow alumni who helped shape the residential experience at Eastern. Whether you worked in housing or dining, this gathering is a wonderful opportunity to revive old friendships, build new connections, and celebrate the impact these teams had on generations of Panthers.
This event also serves as a kickoff toward the Housing & Dining Reunion, scheduled for June 2026 in Charleston. Come meet fellow alumni, help build excitement, and share ideas as we begin shaping a memorable reunion weekend.
Light refreshments will be provided. We look forward to bringing our housing and dining community back together — see you in Aurora!
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
EIU Night Out in Valpo
Thursday, March 26, 20265 to 7 p.m. | Journeyman at American Factory, Valparaiso, IN
Panthers in Northwest Indiana—this one’s for you! Join us for EIU Night Out in Valpo at Journeyman at American Factory, 258 S Campbell St, Valparaiso, IN, a vibrant space known for its warm atmosphere, craft spirits, and community feel.
Enjoy an evening of delicious food, refreshing drinks, and relaxed networking as we bring together Eastern Illinois University alumni and friends from across the region. Whether you're hoping to reconnect with fellow Panthers, meet new faces, or build your professional network close to home, this gathering offers the perfect blend of camaraderie and conversation.
Come share stories, celebrate your EIU pride, and strengthen the Panther community in Valpo. We look forward to seeing you there!
Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing an accessible experience for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.
Housing Legacy Courtyard
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | Register NowLeave your mark on campus. Alums who had memorable experiences on campus are taking the opportunity to buy a brick or paver as a permanent way to recognize those special times in the Memorial Courtyard located between Lawson and Andrews Hall.
- 4"x8" Imprinted brick: $100
- 16"x16" Imprinted paver: $250
- 16"x72" Bench Paver: $2,500
A representative from the EIU Alumni Services Office will reach out to you for your brick or paver message.