Student Experience
Return to the Redwoods welcomes hundreds back for third year and first-ever ABC alumni reunion
Return to the Redwoods 2025 saw hundreds of alumni return to UC Santa Cruz for a weekend filled with celebration.
Hundreds of alumni returned to UC Santa Cruz for Return to the Redwoods on August 15–17. The weekend commenced with a kick-off party in the Porter Quad.
Hundreds of alumni returned to UC Santa Cruz for Return to the Redwoods on August 15–17, a weekend filled with more than two dozen programs and events that captured the spirit of UC Santa Cruz. Since its launch in 2023, Return to the Redwoods has quickly become a favorite among alumni for its unique way of bringing the community together. Above all, alumni feel deeply connected to the beauty of campus—and this immersive event taps directly into that.
Throughout the weekend, alumni are invited back to campus to move into dorms or apartments, reunite with college friends, make new connections, or bring their families to experience their old stomping grounds.
“Return to the Redwoods has become such a powerful way to bring our alumni community together,” said UC Santa Cruz Assistant Vice Chancellor of Alumni Engagement John D. Pine. “Each year, we see more Slugs returning to campus, sharing their stories, and creating new memories alongside old friends. It’s inspiring to witness the deep connection our alumni have to UC Santa Cruz.”
The event is led and organized by alumna Kayla Judd (Cowell ’14, cognitive science), associate director of alumni initiatives at UC Santa Cruz, highlighting the personal nature of Return to the Redwoods: an event created by alumni, for alumni.
“As an alumna, it means so much to me to welcome fellow Slugs back to campus,” Judd said. “Seeing friends and families make new memories, and relive some old ones, reminds me why Return to the Redwoods is so special. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who came out this year and to those who helped make this event possible.”
The weekend kicked off Friday evening with a lively party in the Porter College quad. Alumni, along with their friends and families, checked in, settled into dorms and apartments, and then gathered in the quad for live music, delicious food, and plenty of fun. Tents were set up offering fish tacos, tri-tip with polenta, and rotisserie chicken bowls, while a staff member made the rounds passing out baked brie on a stick. Alumni spent the evening catching up with old friends, meeting new ones, and picking up exclusive Return to the Redwoods merchandise.
This year, alumni were invited to ‘fill the forest’ by giving to campus programs and organizations that mean the most to them—making a gift where they feel most connected and where their support can have the greatest impact. Donors wrote their names on tree-shaped cards, which were then displayed across campus as a colorful reminder of the community’s support.
The weekend featured more than two dozen events and programs, from sunrise yoga and tie-dye workshops to pool parties, campus tours, and hikes. A highlight of this year’s gathering was the inaugural African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) Alumni Reunion, which welcomed Black alumni from across graduating years to return to campus, reconnect, and build new connections.
“Hosting this year’s ABC Alumni Reunion was such a meaningful moment for our community,” Pine said. “It created space for alumni to reconnect with UC Santa Cruz and with each other in ways that were powerful, joyful, and inspiring.
Save the date for Return to the Redwoods next year: August 14-16, 2026