A great weekend to be a Denisonian

ReMix: Adapt brought new perspectives

Change was on everyone’s mind as ReMix: Adapt kicked off two days of conversations about navigating life’s personal and professional transitions.

Organized around four themes — Adapt at Work, Adapt in Life, Adapt in Well-Being, and Adapt Together — the event encouraged attendees to look at change from new perspectives. Former classmates reflected on life since graduation, while Denisonians meeting for the first time found common ground in their experiences.

Award-winning journalist Allison Aubrey ’90 returned to Denison to discuss her new book, Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife You Love. In a conversation facilitated by Anne Weinberg, Aubrey drew on decades of reporting to explore the idea of the “third turn,” a stage of life when people can rediscover their interests and pursue new possibilities.

Young alums make their mark

Eight outstanding young alums returned to The Hill to be recognized in front of friends, family and former classmates for their achievements.

The Young Alumni Impact Awards honored Aidan Bracken ’20, Niyah Gonzalez ’16, Conor Loy ’19, Elizabeth Monroe ’21, Gabrielle Nottage ’17, Meghan Pearce ’16, Quenton Richards ’16, and Julia Miller Wright ’19.

From biotechnology and aerospace to journalism, public policy, and marketing, the honorees are making their mark across a wide range of industries.

Meet the 2026 Young Alumni Impact Award recipients.

Lessons in leadership

What does it take to be a leader? Three generations of former student government leaders returned to campus to answer that question for a packed auditorium of students.

Timothy Boyle ’83, Jeryl Hayes ’04, and Sara Abou Rashed ’21 joined us for a conversation about how their experiences in the Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA) influenced their careers in law, public service, and advocacy.

Despite graduating decades apart, the panelists found common ground in navigating setbacks, finding their voices, and learning when to take initiative.

Their discussion with students offered a reminder that leadership isn’t always about having the answers. Sometimes, it’s about being willing to ask questions, listen, and advocate for others.

Acclaimed authors in Swasey Chapel

Three celebrated writers were together on one stage.

The Beck Literary Festival brought novelists Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven, and Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here, together with poet Maggie Smith for a conversation in Swasey Chapel.

The authors shared perspectives on writing, creativity, and the stories behind their work, giving attendees a chance to hear directly from some of today’s celebrated literary voices.

Honoring Big Red legends

The Varsity D Association Hall of Fame celebrated 10 former student-athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on Denison athletics.

This year’s inductees were David Beaver ’99, Aedin Brennan Rajput ’16, Kimberly Cochran ’08, Joseph Dunham ’01, Sam Fioroni ’13, Carly Tschantz Grandfield ’12, Dimonde Hale ’13, Stephen Julka ’08, Natalie Lugg ’14, and Carolyn Simpson Molzahn ’09.

From national champions and All-Americans to record-setting athletes, the honorees represented decades of Big Red athletic excellence. Meet the 2026 Varsity D Hall of Fame inductees.

Students performances and snagels

Outside on Reese~Shackelford Common, students shared their talents with returning alums through performances ranging from folk music to hip-hop, even inviting former members onstage for a chance to relive their performing days on The Hill.

From there, young alums made their way to The Bandersnatch for free snagels and milkshakes. The familiar late-night hangout welcomed young alums and current students to catch up, grab a bite, and relive a favorite Denison tradition.

Thirty years of La Fuerza Latina

La Fuerza Latina marked its 30th anniversary during Big Red Weekend. The celebration began with Friday’s welcome mixer, followed by a special luncheon and program on Saturday.

Saturday’s lunch program represented the layers of culture and community that have shaped La Fuerza Latina over the past three decades. The program featured a montage of alumni videos, student performances, and remarks from alums Al Araque ’98 and Juan Jose Bernabe Perez ’17.

Araque, the first president of La Fuerza Latina, was proud to return to The Hill as one of the weekend’s featured alum speakers.

Field hockey brings home the championship

Denison field hockey defeated Ohio Wesleyan 4-1 to capture the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) tournament championship. Emma Gebhart ’27 scored three goals and earned tournament MVP honors, helping Denison secure its third conference tournament title in four seasons and a spot in the NCAA tournament.

And the winning didn’t stop there. Women’s soccer defeated John Carroll 2-0 to claim another NCAC tournament title, adding a second championship trophy to the weekend.

Tailgates and more wins!

The Denison gear was out, the tailgate was underway, and Big Red pride was everywhere.

Alums, students, and families gathered for the football pep rally and tailgate celebration ahead of Denison’s matchup with longtime rival Wittenberg University.

The Big Red defeated Wittenberg 38-13 at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium, giving fans plenty to cheer about during one of the weekend’s biggest gatherings.

With packed stands and generations of Denisonians cheering together, it was a fitting way to spend a fall Saturday on The Hill.

Bringing The Bulldogs home

What began as a group of Denison friends with a shared interest in filmmaking has grown into more than a decade of creative collaboration.

On Saturday evening, that journey came full circle as Noah Dixon ’14, Ori Segev ’14, and Drew Johnson ’14 returned to The Hill for a screening of The Bulldogs, the latest documentary from their Columbus-based production company, Loose Films.

Following the screening, the filmmakers answered audience questions about the documentary, their creative process, and the experience of bringing their work to the screen.

One more championship for the Big Red

Just when you thought the weekend couldn’t get any better, it did.

Denison men’s soccer defeated Kenyon 1-0 Sunday to claim the NCAC tournament championship, giving the Big Red its third conference title of the weekend.

Three conference championships, a football victory, and countless reasons to celebrate being a Denisonian.

From familiar faces and favorite campus traditions to new friendships and memorable victories, Big Red Weekend offered plenty of reminders of what makes The Hill feel like home.