Homecoming and Family Weekend
Save the Date: Illinois Tech’s Homecoming and Family Weekend October 17–19!
New this year, we are combining Homecoming and Family Weekend! Celebrate with the entire Scarlet Hawk community and join us on campus this fall for a special lineup of events and activities taking place Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19, 2025. Online registration is now closed. If you have any questions, please email us at alumni@illinoistech.edu.
NEW! Due to the weather forecast, we’re bringing the fun of the Reunion Tent indoors to Hermann Hall. Different location, same time, and much fun to be had. See you there!
Check out photos from Homecoming Weekend 2025!
Photography will be taking place at these events and may be used for promotional purposes. By attending Homecoming and Family Weekend, you will be granting permission for your likeness to be photographed.
Friday, October 17
Illinois Tech is home to nearly 1,800 trees representing almost 70 species—including a strong collection of native tree species with pinnate and bipinnate leaves that exhibit yellow fall foliage. The creation of The Alphawood Arboretum at Illinois Institute of Technology enhances Mies Campus’s dendrological resources and protects an important cultural landscape while providing opportunities to extend the university’s educational and community outreach missions. Join us at our annual tree planting ceremony!
Location: Along 33rd Street, between Galvin Library and Hermann Hall
Illinois Tech’s 2025 Alumni Award recipients will be recognized for their accomplishments at this annual ceremony. This event is invitation-only.
Location: Hermann Hall Ballroom
All are invited to check out students showcasing their amazing talents! Past performances have included singing, dancing, poetry, beatboxing, sketch comedy, and more. Stop by to show your support and vote for the prestigious “Crowd Favorite” grand prize. Free snacks provided!
Location: The Bog
Former women’s volleyball players are invited to go head-to-head against this year’s team. Spectators are encouraged to come out and witness the fun!
Location: Keating Sports Center
Saturday, October 18
Men’s Basketball alumni are invited back to the court for a special alumni game. Spectators are welcome.
Location: Keating Sports Center
Men’s volleyball alumni can join current team members in a rotating‑pairs tournament. The final schedule will be adjusted based on participation.
Location: Keating Sports Center
Join fellow alumni and students at the reunion tent for a fun-filled gathering! Bring your family and enjoy music, lawn games, balloon artists, and a variety of family-friendly activities sponsored by campus partners Office of Student Life, Kappa Phi Delta, and Pi Kappa Phi. Treat yourself to a Chicago-style hot dog bar, beer, wine, and other refreshments—available while supplies last.
1 p.m. - Student-Led Campus Trolley Tours
See Mies Campus through the eyes of a Hawk Ambassador! Both tours will leave from Hermann Hall and offer a glimpse into campus life from the student perspective.
Don’t miss your milestone reunion meetup!
Does your class year end in a 0 or 5? Plan to stop by the reunion tent between 1–2 p.m. for a class photo and to connect with fellow classmates!
Celebrations and group photos for the following will begin at 1 p.m.:
- Fraternity and Sorority Life Organizations
- Class of 2025
- Class of 2020
- Class of 2015
- Class of 2010
- Class of 2005
- Class of 2000
- Class of 1995
- Class of 1990
- Class of 1985
- Class of 1980
- Golden Society (Class of 1975 and prior)
If you are interested in sponsoring an activity, scheduling a meetup, or a photo opportunity for your class year or affinity group, please email Caroline Bozell at cbozell@illinoistech.edu to be added to the schedule.
Location: Hermann Hall
Director, Mies van der Rohe Society Cynthia Vranas Olsen (M.A.S. ARCH. ʼ01, Ph.D. ʼ17) will lead a trolley tour of Illinois Tech’s Mies Campus and highlight the architectural significance of the buildings at the university. Join us for one or both tours!
The tour will begin at the Michael Paul Galvin Tower and will cover the academic buildings including the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship, S. R. Crown Hall, Jeanne and John Rowe Village, and The McCormick Tribune Campus Center (MTCC), ending at Hermann Hall.
Location: Michael Paul Galvin Tower
Bring the noise and cheer on our women’s soccer team as they take on Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in an action-packed showdown—don’t miss a minute of the excitement!
Location: Stuart Field
Join us for the university’s annual Homecoming carnival with food trucks, games, and giveaways!
Attractions are available from 2–6 p.m. with food trucks onsite from 4–8 p.m. Limited meal tickets available for students only. Food trucks will accept cash or credit cards for alumni, faculty, and staff.
This event is hosted by Illinois Tech’s Union Board and the Office of Student Life.
Location: Gunsaulus Field
Enjoy a mixer for alumni and friends to reconnect! Meet us at the reunion tent at 2 p.m., followed by a group photo at the Nate Thomas Memorial Meadow at 3 p.m., and a special program in the MTCC Ballroom from 3:30–5 p.m.
Location: Quad followed by MTCC Ballroom
Root for the men’s soccer team as they take on Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)! Former NCAA tournament-advancing teams across all competitions will also be honored at halftime. Please join us in celebrating the following Scarlet Hawk athletes, teams, and coaches:
Men’s Cross Country
- 1977 – Brad Krygier (MGT ’80)
Men's Tennis
- 2019 - 1st Round, Coach Erik Scanlan
- 2021 - 2nd Round, Coach Erik Scanlan
- 2022 - 2nd Round, Coach Kris Powell
- 2024 - 2nd Round, Coach Kris Powell
- 2025 - 1st Round, Coach Kris Powell
Women's Tennis
- 2022 - 1st Round, Coach Kris Powell
Women's Swimming & Diving
- 2020 - Anna Slominski (CE, M.Eng, ’24) - women’s swimming & diving, Coach Billy Bafia
- 2022 - Megan Burill (MSE, M.Eng. ’22) - 200-yard butterfly, Coach Billy Bafia
- 2023 - Anna Slominski (CE, M.Eng, ’24) - 100-yard breaststroke, Coach Billy Bafia
Women’s Track & Field
- 2023 - Olivia Jameson, (ARCH 4th Year) - outdoor high jump, Coach Tyler McQuality
- 2024 - Olivia Jameson, (ARCH 4th Year) - indoor & outdoor high jump, Coach Tyler McQuality
- 2025 - Olivia Jameson, (ARCH 4th Year) - indoor & outdoor high jump, Coach Tyler McQuality
Location: Stuart Field
Sunday, October 19
Together with the College of Architecture, Mies van der Rohe Society will once again host the Chicago Architecture Center's Open House Chicago on Mies Campus that boasts 20 Mies designed buildings! Activities include:
10 a.m. -5 p.m. S. R. Crown Hall Open House
Historically-significant S. R. Crown Hall is open to visitors for self-guided walk-throughs.
11 a.m. Campus Walking Tour
A walking tour from S. R. Crown Hall to the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship will be given by Cynthia Vranas Olsen (M.A.S. ARCH. ʼ01, Ph.D. ʼ17) and Rowe Family College of Architecture Dean Endowed Chair Reed Kroloff. The tour will begin at S. R. Crown Hall and is expected to last 90 minutes.
Illinois Tech's annual Pumpkin Launch sees up to 10 different teams compete to see whose custom-built trebuchet can launch their pumpkin the furthest. You won't want to miss it!
This event is hosted by the Office of Student Life.
Location: Ed Glancy Field
Join our student organizations for a day of pumpkin decorating and fall-themed activities at this annual tradition! Attractions are open to students, alumni, and families.
Location: Ed Glancy Field
Other Activities
The east lobby of Michael Paul Galvin Tower is home to Illinois Tech’s first physical-digital interactive experience. As an institution that cares deeply about advancing innovation through the power of our collective difference, we invite you to explore the Illinois Tech difference—and add your own—through experiential touchpoints designed just for you.
Location: Galvin Tower, East Lobby
This new exhibition features the work of acclaimed artistic duo Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallerlo, otherwise known as Luftwerk. Mies Society and the InterProfessional Projects (IPRO) Program students from Mindful Modern Buildings have underpinned this exhibition by exploring body-image theory, aesthetics, and movement as guided through sight, sound, touch, and haptic (feeling and doing at the same time) senses.
Location: Michael Paul Galvin Tower, West Lobby
Support Illinois Tech students by donating gently used or new professional attire. The Career Clothing Closet (CCC), provides free business clothing for interviews, presentations, and networking events with the mission of empowering students to make confident, lasting impressions as they transition into their careers. Donations can be dropped off at marked locations in Hermann Hall from October 17-19. For more information about the CCC, contact Lisa Montgomery at lisa.montgomery@illinoistech.edu or visit our webpage.
Getting to Campus
Complimentary parking will be available in all visitor lots. Please call the parking administrator at 312.567.8968 if you need assistance in finding parking.
Directions
Automobile
From the North
Dan Ryan Expressway east to 31st Street exit, continue south to 33rd Street, turn left (east). Metered parking is located along Federal Street north and south of 33rd Street, and in the Visitor's Parking Lot (Lot A4) at 32nd Street and State Street.
From the South
Dan Ryan Expressway west to 35th Street exit, continue north to 33rd Street, turn right (east). Metered parking is located along Federal Street north and south of 33rd Street, and in the Visitor's Parking Lot (Lot A4) located at 32nd Street and State Street, on the east side of State Street.
From Lake Shore Drive
Exit at 31st Street, go inland (west) to State Street, turn left (south). Metered parking is available in the Visitor's Parking Lot (Lot A4) located at 32nd Street and State Street, on the east side of State Street.
Parking
Complimentary parking will be available in all visitor lots. Please call the parking administrator at 312.567.8968 if you need assistance in finding parking.
Airport
Illinois Tech and Chicago are served by O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. Public transportation is available from O'Hare and Midway airports, and limousine or taxi will take you from all airports to Illinois Tech's campus. View the City of Chicago's Airport System Home Page for more information.
Train
Amtrak and Metra commuter rail trains run to Union Station, with additional Metra commuter trains running to Ogilvie Transportation Center. From these stations, take the Rock Island Metra train from LaSalle Street station to 35th Street / "Lou" Jones station, CTA's public transportation, or a taxi to Mies Campus.
Bus
Travel to the Greyhound or Continental Trailways terminals, then take a taxi or public transportation to Mies Campus.
Public Transportation
- CTA Red Line (Howard-95th/Dan Ryan) to Sox-35th station
- CTA Green Line (Ashland-63rd or 63rd-Cottage Grove) to 35th-Bronzeville-IIT station
- CTA bus lines with stops on Mies Campus (#29-State, #35-35th, #24-Wentworth, #4-Cottage Grove)
Visit the CTA website for schedules and bus routes.
Are you planning to visit Illinois Tech from out of town? If so, take advantage of our preferred hotel rates at the Hiltons at McCormick Place.