One thing Xavier Gators are known for is coming together for a good cause. This past weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 26, Xavier hosted its annual Reunion Weekend bringing Xavier alumnae back together.
This weekend is typically filled with activities, tours, raffles and most importantly, opportunities to support a meaningful cause.
One activity that took place this past weekend was pickleball. Xavier alums played rounds of pickleball on the Stark Tennis Courts while reconnecting with old classmates and strengthening friendships they made at Xavier.
Pickleball was a great event for the weekend because it gave the women a chance to return to campus and view the school in a new way by seeing Xavier’s more recent improvements.
Having pickleball as part of the weekend’s agenda presented alumnae with a relaxed and enjoyable chance to reminisce about their times at Xavier.
Xavier alumna Katie O’Melia ‘86 explained that pickleball is such a great event because it allowed alumnae of all ages and classes to come out and have fun rebuilding friendships, with a competitive aspect.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are. It just matters that you want to come out and have fun and do something competitive,” O’Melia said.
Fellow alumna Susan Klemmer McCann ‘91 stated that pickleball allowed players of all levels to truly enjoy the game while connecting and relating with alumnae from different classes.
“I think pickleball is a great sport because you can pull lots of different people from different levels and still have a fun game … there is a lot of social aspect to it, which allowed us to catch up and recognize that we all have mutual friends even,” McCann said.
Along with activities, Xavier alumnae had the chance to give back and make a difference during this year’s service project. On Saturday, the women assembled care and hygiene kits for St. Vincent De Paul and diaper bags for the Sisters of Life.
The Sisters of Life, located at the St. Agnes convent, is a religious organization whose mission in Phoenix centers upon supporting women facing crisis pregnancies. The organization offers mothers support and reminds them they are not alone. It also connects with college students through their outreach at Arizona State University.
This year’s service project gave Xavier alumnae the opportunity to give back to the women and families in their alma mater’s community and to see the positive impact Xavier continues to make.
Xavier alumnae advisory board member Maria Murphy-Fontes ’80 explained that contributing to a good cause is something Xavier students learn the first time they step foot on campus.
“It’s something you learn at Xavier from day one. It’s a giving-back feeling,” said Fontes. “It’s another opportunity to help organizations that are very near and dear to us.”
Giving back is a major effect of Xavier’s motto, “Women of faith pursuing excellence.” For Xavier, women coming together to support other women and families creates an impactful connection to the cause being supported. This commitment to service goes beyond the required 50 hours the alums had in high school and remains important to women who return to campus years after graduation.
Through events like pickleball and service projects, Xavier alumnae strengthen the community and make impacts far beyond the Xavier campus. Reunion Weekend was not just an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, but to continue Xavier’s traditions and strengthen the community for future generations.
