Dear Owls,
Last month, Rice celebrated its largest graduating class ever during its 113th commencement ceremonies, conferring degrees upon 3,066 graduates. We are thrilled to welcome these Owls into the alumni community, now more than 68,000 strong around the world.
To the Class of 2026, welcome to the alumni family! Wherever your journey beyond the hedges takes you, your alma mater will always be here for you. Stay connected by engaging with regional and affinity groups, exploring lifelong learning opportunities, and taking advantage of the many benefits available to you as alumni. Be sure to subscribe to regional communications so you never miss what’s happening in your Rice community.
This year has been one of incredible momentum across our global network, with more than 20,000 program attendees and over 2,000 first-time alumni participants joining events and experiences around the world. From professional development to social gatherings, our Office of Alumni Relations is creating meaningful ways for Owls to connect, wherever they are. I encourage you to explore upcoming events and find your next way to get connected.
We also had the privilege of celebrating milestones that reflect the strength and depth of our community, including the inaugural ARUBA Weekend, an inspiring celebration honoring more than 60 years of Black student life at Rice and the extraordinary contributions of Black students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome Alicia Wright-Burns ’08 as the incoming ARA president at the end of this month. I look forward to working with her and the ARA Board in the year ahead. I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to David Leal ’03 for his outstanding leadership and service as ARA Board president.
And finally, if you’re looking to reconnect and find your place in the Rice network, our regional event series Welcome to the NeighborHOOT is a great place to start. This is your opportunity to build community, discover what makes your city or region unique, and hear directly from engaged alumni volunteers about the impact of getting involved locally. Especially for recent graduates, it’s a powerful way to plug in, meet fellow Owls and help welcome new members into your community.
Go Owls!
James Hurley
Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations
Executive Director of the Association of Rice Alumni
