At Grad Bash, graduates celebrated their accomplishment with games, prizes, food, a drone show, and more.
On the last Friday of classes in April, almost 4,000 of this year’s 7,000-plus BYU grads descended on LaVell Edwards Stadium for the annual Grad Bash, sponsored by BYU Alumni. “We do it to celebrate the grads, welcome them as alumni, and throw them a fun party,” says event organizer Curtis C. Isaak (BA ’92, MA ’98, MPA ’16).
The free carnival-like celebration features field games, swag booths from BYU colleges and other entities, free concessions, a BYU themed drone show, Cosmo, and thousands of dollars in prizes. At the end is a big send-off celebration. “We have wonderful Wasatch Front alumni and many students who volunteer and help us with the send-off line,” says alumni and student relations manager Kathleen McFarland Taylor (BA ’94, MPA ’23).
Begun by the Student Alumni Association in the mid-’80s as the Senior Celebration, it started in the stadium and later moved to the Wilkinson Student Center under the aegis of BYUSA. When Alumni took it back, it got the Grad Bash moniker and had stints in the Hinckley Center and Marriott Center before heading home to the stadium. It was canceled in 2020 on account of the pandemic but returned in 2021, when grads donned masks and celebrated together—socially distanced.
Graduating students have been enthusiastic. “Getting to walk the LaVell Edwards field one last time was a real treat,” one student commented in a survey. “I had a moment to revel in what I accomplished,” said another. “I felt celebrated.”
BYU Alumni hopes to involve many more alumni as volunteers in future years as they develop new local alumni chapters. “Our alumni are extraordinary, and they love mentoring and encouraging our students and new grads,” says Isaak. “This is a fun way for them to be involved.”
