This year, the 10.4 percent alumni participation rate makes Colorado State University’s 2015 Homecoming Week even more special.

Homecoming week is a great time to show the pride alumnae have for their alma mater, said Kristi Bohlender, director of the CSU Alumni Association. Bohlender and her staff at the Alumni Association have been working hard to plan events that show the CSU community’s gratitude to alumni and donors. 

The first event, a Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner, is Thursday in the Lory Student Center Main Ballroom at 5:30 p.m. Many distinguished alumni will be at this dinner, and several of them will be receiving awards. Among the guests will be a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet from the College of Liberal Arts.

“Alumni can really really enhance the experience of our current students when they act as mentors or when they hire our graduated students,” Bohlender said. “Right now, we have the highest alumni participation rate that Colorado State has ever had.”

Also happening this weekend is the 50 Year Club Luncheon, scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the Hilton Fort Collins.

To be invited to this event, an alumni must have graduated at least 50 years ago, or longer. At that time, the University was much smaller, therefore many of the alumnae know each other well, Bohlender said. 

Two alumni are being honored by CSU for their work after graduation, as voted on by the 50 Year Club committee.

In addition to these two events, there is an Alumni Tailgate Saturday at Hughes Stadium, at which over 1,000 people are expected to attend. 

There are over 200 events happening this week in every college here at CSU. Several clubs and organizations are hosting events, including an Associated Students of Colorado State University reunion, a Student Leadership Involvement and Community Engagement reunion. There will even be a band reunion, among other events.

It is crucial to keep alumni involved in life here at CSU, Bohlender said. 

“It is a fantastic celebration of all of the really great things going on at Colorado State.”

 Collegian Reporter Caroline Kozak can be reached online at news@collegian.com or on Twitter at @carolineee_00.