6 ways to celebrate your next school anniversary or milestone event that will engage your alumni

School anniversaries and milestone events are a wonderful way to recognise and honour the achievements, progress, and legacy of your institution. These celebrations not only unite current students, staff, and parents, but also create a shared sense of community with alumni by showcasing the history and evolution of your school.

Beyond their sentimental value, such events can serve as powerful marketing opportunities for prospective families while offering an ideal occasion to re-engage with your alumni network. (For more insights, check out our article on How to Engage Alumni Before Your School Anniversary).

School milestones and anniversaries can be celebrated in a variety of ways, depending on the significance of the event and the resources your institution has available.

Here are just a few of our top ideas:

1. Alumni Reunion Events

   Reunions are a classic and highly effective way to celebrate milestone years, particularly for significant anniversaries like the 5th, 10th, 25th, or 50th year since a cohort graduated. These events allow alumni to reconnect with former classmates and reminisce about their school days.

   Given that alumni often live far and wide, consider incorporating a virtual/digital component. This ensures that everyone, regardless of location, can participate in the celebration.
   

2. Events and performances

   Schools and universities can mark anniversaries by organising a series of special events, such as musical performances, plays, art exhibitions, or sports tournaments. Not only do these events allow current students to showcase their talents, but they also provide an opportunity for alumni who have gone on to have successful careers in these fields to return and perform. This highlights the impact of your institution on their professional journeys.
   

3. Fundraising Campaigns

   Significant milestones can be a great opportunity to launch fundraising campaigns to support bursary places, new buildings, or improving facilities at your school. Alumni may be more inclined to donate during a key school anniversary or milestone event, as during these events they are reminded of their time with you which conjures up feelings of nostalgia.
   
   Attempt to personalise any fundraising campaigns. Understand the interests of your alumni and what campaigns they may be more interested in. For example, an ex-student that attended a cricket tour to South Africa in 1995, may be more likely to help support a fundraising campaign for a new cricket pavilion or a bursary place on the current cricket tour – than a new performing arts centre. (If you’re unsure of the best ways to collect and gather this type of data on your alumni, speak to our friendly team. We have lots of ideas on how to optimise and personalise your fundraising efforts 😉)
   

4. Commemorative Items

   Consider creating commemorative items, such as mugs, t-shirts, books, or other merchandise, that alumni can purchase or receive as gifts to mark the occasion. It doesn’t have to be a physical item, something like a personalised online gallery of their time with you including photos and mentions of themselves, can also be highly effective.

   These gestures show appreciation for your alumni’s ongoing connection to your school and provide them with something tangible (or shareable!) to celebrate the occasion.
   

5. Historical Exhibits/Digital Archives

   A digital archive is an ideal way to commemorate your school’s history while celebrating its legacy in an accessible and engaging format. By including multimedia elements like photos, videos, and audio, it offers alumni a dynamic way to reconnect with their memories and explore the school’s broader history.

   Your digital archive also provides the perfect platform for online exhibits, where alumni can revisit key moments from anywhere in the world. These exhibits can highlight milestones, achievements, or notable events, and the digital format allows for continuous updates to keep the content fresh and relevant.

   Beyond preserving the past, a digital archive invites alumni to contribute their own memories, enriching the collection and fostering a stronger emotional connection.

   Additionally, you could create physical historical exhibits as part of your celebrations, providing a tangible way for alumni and visitors to experience your school’s history firsthand. Combining digital and physical elements ensures all alumni can engage, whether online or in person.
   

6. Volunteer Opportunities

   Not all alumni are in a position to donate financially, but they may be eager to give back in other ways. Offering volunteer opportunities—such as mentoring current students, helping organise events, or even digitising old materials—can provide them with meaningful ways to contribute.

   These activities strengthen their connection to the school while supporting initiatives that benefit future generations.

There are countless ways to celebrate your school’s achievements and engage your alumni in the process. The key is to create events and activities that are memorable, meaningful, and inclusive, helping to reinforce your alumni's bond with your school.

Do you have unique ideas for your upcoming school anniversary? Or are you curious about how SocialArchive® can help engage your alumni before the big day?

We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us today to discuss how we can work together to make your celebration a standout success and create a celebration that truly showcases your school’s achievements whilst strengthening your alumni community.