A Spring Full of WAKECommunities Events
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through March and the “new year” isn’t so new anymore, but the occasionally warmer weather and the flowers starting to bloom in Winston-Salem are quick to assure me that spring is here, and with it, a full calendar of WAKECommunities events.
Take a look below for snapshots of recent and upcoming events across the country, or jump straight to the ones that excite you most, whether you’re interested in Wake Forest Athletics, networking and career development, service projects or just any chance to meet fellow Deacs. And if any of it inspires you to plan something similar in your own area, please reach out. We’d love to help you get started!
Football, Basketball & Baseball, Oh My
Wake Forest’s football team kickstarted the excitement this year with a resounding 43–29 victory against Mississippi State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on January 2. Not only did we see an incredible win and a (slightly nauseating) mayo drop over head coach Jake Dickert and his family, we also had an amazing show of Demon Deacon pride at Wake’s pregame party, bringing together alumni, families, friends and students from all over the map.
More than 1,000 Wake Foresters from 189 cities across the U.S. packed into Bank of America Stadium’s club level for the party. The award for the farthest-traveled guests goes to our Washington state alums, who journeyed approximately 2,300 miles either way to attend! Bowl game festivities extended well beyond Charlotte, too, with local game watch parties from Los Angeles to Atlanta connecting Demon Deacon fans far and wide.
And the fun hasn’t ended with football. Instead, we leapt headfirst into basketball, most recently with the men’s basketball team’s ACC Tournament run and a great turnout of Wake Forest fans welcoming them to Charlotte at Ink N Ivy before the first game. Next, onto soccer and baseball!
Wilmington Deacs, we hope to see you for our pregame gathering at Blue Surf Cafe, owned by alumna Colleen Kochanek (JD ’92), ahead of the Wake Forest men’s soccer game against UNC Wilmington on March 22. Then we are back in Charlotte for a special “home away from home” baseball game against Clemson on April 1. If you’re coming out to cheer on the Diamond Deacs, be sure to join us ahead of the game for rooftop hospitality and early access to the ballpark on Truist Field’s rooftop party deck.
Building a Network of Deacs
Our focus isn’t only on fun and games but also offering opportunities for our alumni to develop professionally, build leadership skills and network. Just last week, WAKELosAngeles-OrangeCounty alumni in the entertainment industry enjoyed a networking reception at The Hollywood Reporter, featuring Professor Mary Dalton (’83) and a panel of distinguished alumni leaders across film, television and media.
Alumni in the entertainment industry heard from a fantastic lineup of distinguished panelists, then mixed and mingled at a cocktail reception.
The School of Business is also bringing Wake Foresters together across the country, with networking happy hours from Raleigh to Denver and everywhere in between. They are also piloting Biz Deac Table for 10, a new event series where nine alumni and a host engage in intentionally small-group conversations over dinner. Check it out starting in Charlotte on March 31, with Dr. Sherry Moss, and Winston-Salem on April 21, with Acting Dean of the School of Business Stacie Petter.
Last but certainly not least, the Alumni Personal & Career Development office is knocking it out of the park this year, starting with their inaugural Get Unstuck: Alumni Career Development Conference on January 31. After the original plan to hold the event in Charlotte was derailed by nearly a foot of snow, the team skillfully pivoted everything to virtual. Despite the blustery weather and last-minute shift, more than 60 Deacs showed up over Zoom to learn job search strategies and connect with one another.
The event was such a success that the APCD has lined up a second Get Unstuck workshop for New York alumni on April 23. For those outside of Charlotte or New York, never fear: they also offers monthly virtual Coffee Chats for College of Arts & Sciences alumni to build their networks (sign up for the next one by April 3) and a great lineup of virtual webinars and workshops.
Record-Setting Pro Humanitate Spirit
If sports and career development aren’t enough, we’re also a week out from Pro Humanitate Days 2026 (March 21–29), Wake Forest’s annual days of service. This year, we have a record number of projects and cities represented, with a remarkable 35 service opportunities in 20 areas across the country.
Some of the projects on our participating cities list are familiar sights to those who have joined us before. Wake Foresters in D.C., St. Louis and Winston-Salem are getting their hands dirty for another year in a row in the interest of keeping local green spaces beautiful. Phoenix is going on its fourth year of helping care for the horses at Hunkapi Farms, which offers equine-assisted therapy services for children and adults, and Orlando has been preparing meals for families with sick children through the Ronald McDonald House for just as long.
Others are new to the project roster, thanks to the continued efforts of our alumni, families and friends to build meaningful partnerships with organizations in their communities. In Greensboro, volunteers will join Peacehaven Farm’s first Garden Workday of the season, supporting their mission to create a community of belonging for people of all abilities. We even have projects that directly support organizations run by Wake Foresters, like the Forsyth Backpack Program, led by alumna Heather Mikeal (’10), and Open Goal Project in D.C., founded by alumnus and former professional soccer player Amir Lowery (’04).
Whatever the project in your area, we hope you’ll join us in serving meals, assembling toiletry kits, pulling weeds and generally doing good in your community in the spirit of Pro Humanitate!
And Everything Else!
If you’re simply looking to meet local Deacs, we have no shortage of engagement opportunities for you, too, from classic WAKECommunities events to brand-new experiences.
In a continuation of a now 12-year tradition, WAKESouthFlorida gathered at the National Polo Center for their annual polo reception last month, enjoying cocktails by the pool before heading to the field to watch the final match of the Ylvisaker Cup. WAKEAtlanta is carrying on an equally beloved tradition with the return of the All-Society & Sorority Brunch on April 25. The brunch, started in 2011 and revived last year, brings together Wake Forest alumnae in a shared bond of sisterhood to reminisce and make new memories together.
We’re bringing University leaders to you as well. In January, Dean Lauren Pressley of the ZSR Library made an introductory visit to Atlanta and led a conversation about the future of academic libraries. Next month she heads to D.C., where she and author L.M. Elliott (’79) will host a book discussion about Elliott’s latest novel. Coming up, WAKEChicago and WAKELosAngeles-OrangeCounty have the chance to hear updates directly from Mark Petersen, Senior Vice President of University Advancement (this Thursday in Chicago and April 1 in Santa Monica). Meanwhile, the Law School and Dean Andy Klein have hosted five Law alumni receptions and counting across North Carolina and D.C. since the start of the year.
To close on an exciting new note, this week we debut the &Deacs Roadshow, a traveling series that brings the Wake Forest experience to your door. First up is an evening centered on Principled Journalism in WAKEWashington-Baltimore this Wednesday, featuring a lineup of acclaimed journalists. Then on April 16, we head to Raleigh to talk about The Ripple Effect of Pro Humanitate with Dr. Nate French, Executive Director of First in the Forest.
We hope you’ll join us when we hit the road to a city near you. Keep an eye on the Upcoming WAKECommunities Events page, and double-check your contact information in WakeNetwork so you’re sure to hear about local opportunities. We can’t wait to see you out there!