PAU Night at the Ballpark Brings Community Together During 50th Anniversary Celebration Week
As part of PAU's 50th Anniversary Celebration Week, the Alumni Association hosted its annual Night at the Ballpark, drawing a record-breaking crowd of more than 120 alumni, students, faculty, staff, family members, and friends. On a beautiful Tuesday evening at Oracle Park in San Francisco, the Giants took on the Washington Nationals, though the game itself was secondary to the connection, community, fun, and...food!
This tradition has quickly become one that the PAU community looks forward to each year. As always, the game itself was secondary to the opportunity to reconnect, meet new people, enjoy great food, and simply spend time together. Those who have studied or taught at PAU would likely remind us of the importance of taking time to recharge, and the ballpark provided the perfect setting to do just that. Colleagues became friends, students connected with alumni, and conversations across programs and generations sparked new relationships, professional connections, and fresh ideas.
This year also marked the first opportunity for PAU President Farouk Dey to take part in the tradition. He attended with members of his family and friends and stayed through the final inning, where they were rewarded with a Giants ninth-inning home run.
For Dr. Chloe Corcoran, Director of Alumni Relations, the evening reflected the lasting impact of alumni engagement and the important role graduates continue to play in the life of the university.
"I love this event because it reminds me of how amazing the people of PAU are. Alumni engagement is vital to the continued success of the university, and seeing alumni interact with the rest of the PAU community is a great reminder of how much we need each other and how much we help each other. I think that's the essence of the university," Corcoran said.
PAU Night at the Ballpark is more than a single event. It reflects the university's ongoing commitment to bringing people together, giving back to those who have helped shape PAU, and creating opportunities for meaningful connection across the community. As we celebrate our first 50 years and look ahead to the next 50, we're reminded that a university isn't defined by its campus—it's defined by the people who are connected to it and to one another.
If you'd like to host a PAU event in your area or learn more about ways to get involved, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Chloe Corcoran at ccorcoran@paloaltou.edu.
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