Each year, a very special cohort of American University alumni returns to where their Eagle days first began. The campus has changed dramatically since they were students, but the spirit of the place is undeniable. 

To honor these Golden Eagles—alumni who are celebrating 50 years or more since their AU graduation—the university hosts an annual weekend of programming. Intentional scheduling coincides with All-American Welcome to help foster intergenerational connection between AU’s newest class and those in whose footsteps they follow. 

Golden Memories 

This year’s festivities for the Class of 1975 kicked off on Friday, August 22. Members of the class had a place of honor at the Opening Convocation ceremony in the morning. A reception at AU House later that evening officially welcomed them as Golden Eagles.  

Remarks from President Jonathan Alger and Vice President of University Advancement Matthew Eynon underscored AU’s role as a forever home for all alumni. They recognized the remarkable philanthropic legacy of the Class of 1975 and invited them to stay involved as career mentors to current students. 

Guest speaker Ambassador Clyde Taylor, SIS/MA ’61, touched on his own Eagle experience. 

He credited his education at the School of International Service with launching his 34-year diplomatic career, citing the caliber of its faculty, practical curriculum, and mock Foreign Service exam. 

“I finished school here in June; by September, I was a Foreign Service Officer,” said Ambassador Taylor.  

He described joining the Golden Eagles family as a cherished honor. His advice to the Class of 1975: “Get in there with both feet” to ensure AU remains strong.  

This theme of AU pride threaded throughout the Golden Eagles Brunch the following day.

The Saturday event was open to all graduates from 1975 and prior. Guests leafed through yearbooks, chatted with former roommates and classmates, enjoyed photos from the University Archives, and took a guided tour of new campus buildings. 

At top of mind for many was a profound sense of history witnessed. 

From seeing an up-and-coming Bruce Springsteen play live on campus, to experiencing the Vietnam War and Watergate unfold in real time, AU graduates of the 50s, 60s, and 70s watched history play out from front-row seats—much like today’s AU students. 

In their opening welcome, Tyrone “Ty” Harris, SOC/BA ’72, WCL/JD ’75, and Pamela “Pam” Higgins Harris, SOC/BA ’73, SOE/EdD ’25, recalled parallels between their own student days and the university’s historic role as a beacon amidst decisive moments in higher education. 

Kogod School of Business professor H. Kent Baker, CAS/MS ’79, SOE/PhD ’83, MA ’84, PhD ’89, similarly referenced AU’s hallmarks of pragmatic rigor and student curiosity. Professor Baker—whose extraordinary gift to name the Linda A. and H. Kent Baker School of Education in honor of his late wife and double Kogod alumna, Linda—playfully put on his faculty hat with a quiz of AU 1970s trivia.  

Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle 

At the heart of the weekend was forward-looking legacy.  

Golden Eagles are among the university’s most generous supporters. From endowed scholarships and estate plans, to in-kind gifts and donations to the Golden Eagles Fund, the scope of philanthropy is profound. And its impact is felt and seen by today’s Eagles. 

Of the nearly $195 million in lifetime giving by alumni from the Class of 1975 and prior, $44 million—or over 20 percent—has gone toward student scholarships. It’s a palpable testament to the empathy and future focus that characterize AU’s golden cohorts.  

“AU's Golden Eagles demonstrate the power of an AU degree and the reach of our alumni network,” shared Eynon at Saturday’s brunch. 

“You embody this legacy of lifelong learning, leadership, and service. You are the most powerful ambassadors and examples of American University.”

Golden Eagles can honor their enduring legacy at AU with a gift to the Golden Eagles Fund which provides need-based scholarship support to help students pursue their academic goals. Your support is a powerful way to stay connected to American University—today and for years to come.