Alumni Award Honorees
The Alumni Association is honored to recognize our 2026 Alumni Award honorees for their commitment to the University and to their communities.
Award honorees will be recognized at a special, private event, the Alumni Recognition Ceremony, on September 18, 2026, during Butler’s annual Homecoming festivities.
| 2026 Honorees: Butler Medal — Jane E. Magnus-Stinson ’79 Butler Service Medal — Dr. Kenneth C. Creech Robert Todd Duncan Alumni Achievement Award — Adam W. McKinney ’98 Katharine Merrill Graydon Alumni Service Award — Stephen Key ’77 Hilton Ultimus Brown Alumni Achievement Award — Umayr (Umy) R. Shaikh, MPH ‘21 Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award — Brent Sever ’11 Mortar Award — Midge (Dadd) Decker ’66 Foundation Award – Jace ’13 and Linnea Tennant MBA ’15, PharmD ’15 |  |
Thursday, September 17
| Time & Location | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM Old Oakland Golf Club 11611 East 75th Street, Indianapolis, IN | Butler Golf Classic The Butler Golf Classic presented by NFP is a University-wide effort with all proceeds benefiting Butler Athletics. Registration will begin at 9:00 AM. The shotgun start is scheduled for 11:00 AM. Single golfer entry fee is $300 per person, and foursome entry fee is $1,200 per foursome. All entry fees include greens fees, cart, lunch, drinks on the course, contests, and participant gifts. Tournament format is Bulldog Scramble. Register here or learn about sponsorship opportunities. |
| 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Dugan Hall 234 and Dugan Hall Fourth Floor Balcony | Inaugural Butler University Capital Partners (BUCP) Pitch Day More details coming soon! |
Friday, September 18
| Time & Location | Event |
|---|---|
| 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Health and Recreation Complex | Health and Recreation Complex (HRC) 20th Anniversary Celebration More details coming soon! |
| 7:00 PM Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium | Holcomb Planetarium Show and Telescope Viewing Doors open at 7:00 PM. Planetarium shows are at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. There will be telescope viewing after the planetarium show, weather permitting. Admission for the planetarium programming is $5 for children and students under 18 yrs, and $8 for adults (Butler faculty, staff, & students are free with Butler University ID). We accept cash or credit. |
| 7:00 PM Clowes Memorial Hall | Derek Stroup Running Hot Tour Learn more and purchase tickets. |
| 7:00 PM Hinkle Fieldhouse | Butler Volleyball vs. Duke All tickets are $10 and General Admission. Reserve your seats today. Youth and group tickets are available upon request. |
Saturday, September 19
| Time & Location | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM Hinkle Fieldhouse | Tailgating Opens Tailgate Packages Tailgate parking packages must be purchased in advance. Packages are $250 for cars or $550 for RVs and include two tailgate spots (1 vehicle parking + 1 additional spot for tailgating activities) and four general admission football tickets. Only 1 vehicle per tailgate pass is allowed. Parking passes and the 4 general admission tickets will be loaded to your Butler Sports App. The tailgate lot will open at 8:00 AM. Upon arrival, tailgaters will be placed in either the West or East Hinkle lot. Limit of two passes per account. No spots will be sold on game day, and packages will likely sell out. Reserve yours today. Please review the Gameday Parking and Tailgate Policy. Also Available – Sellick Bowl Cabanas Watch the game from your own 9×10 covered cabana inside the Sellick Bowl. Your cabana will include 12 General Admission game tickets, 2 parking passes, a 9×10 covered cabana with a three-sided enclosure, 5 chairs (guests can bring additional lawn chairs), a patio/classroom table, and access to a cabana-only cash bar. Packages are $395. Reserve yours today. |
| 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Hinkle Fieldhouse West Parking Lot | Bulldog Boulevard – Butler’s Biggest Tailgate! presented by Elements Financial, Butler’s Credit Union Join the fun at Butler’s Biggest Tailgate! All tailgates are open to the Butler community to join and mingle. Bring food, drinks, chairs, friends, and come and go as you please to this exciting atmosphere. The area also includes easy access to the Food Truck Festival and Family Fun Fest. Individual Tailgate parking packages will be available in the Hinkle Lot via TicketMaster. The East Lot opens at 8:00 AM. Please see Athletics’ complete tailgating policy. Bulldog Boulevard Tailgates from different campus areas and communities, including: College of Communication (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) College of Education and Human Development (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) College of Health Professions (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) Founder’s College (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) Greek Life (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM) Lacy School of Business and MBA Alumni Community (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) Jordan College of the Arts (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) Athletics (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM) Family Reunion Tailgate (open to everyone, see below) Elements Financial (10:00 AM-1:00 PM) |
| 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Bulldog Boulevard, Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot FREE | Alumni Association Tailgate Stop by the Alumni Association Tent as you enter Bulldog Boulevard! Get all the details for the weekend and some Butler swag! |
| 9:00 AM Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot | Butler Family Reunion Tailgate Butler grads and current students are welcome to stop by to make connections at this annual gathering hosted by Kent ’94 and Brittney ’94 Greer. Enjoy some Butler hospitality at one of the biggest tailgates at Homecoming! |
| 9:30 AM West End, Hinkle Fieldhouse lot | Hink’s VIP Huddle FREE for Members of Butler Giving Societies at President’s Club level and above Butler donors of the President’s Club, Starlight Society, Fairview Heritage Society, Butler Way Society, and Carillon Society are invited to join us for a VIP Experience at the Bulldog Beauty Contest. We invite you to stop by for complimentary food and refreshments and enjoy the Bulldog Beauty Contest (10:00 AM) from our reserved seating area. Eligible members of participating societies will receive an email with registration instructions. |
| 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Health and Recreation Complex (HRC) Atrium FREE – Greek Alumni | Greek Alumni Tailgate & Celebration Join the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, student leaders, and alumni as we celebrate our community’s growth through the Lori Ziemba and Ken Massaroni Greek Life Leadership Institute. After checking in, enjoy free food, vote for your favorite Lawn Deck, and reconnect with fellow Greek Bulldogs while sharing cherished memories. Whether you’re exchanging stories from your chapter or meeting new friends, this is the perfect chance to celebrate Butler’s fraternity and sorority community and learn about our bright future. Let’s connect, eat, laugh, and celebrate life-long connections! |
| 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Bus Turn- Around at 49th and Sunset | Food Truck Festival Returning to Homecoming, alumni and fans can visit food truck vendors throughout the morning. Enjoy offerings from Stadium on Wheels, Byrne’s Grilled Pizza, and Kona Ice. |
| 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot FREE | Family Fun Fest Bring the entire family to Family Fun Fest. Activities for all ages will be offered for families to enjoy campus. |
| 10:00 AM Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot FREE | 25th Annual Butler Bulldog Beauty Contest, Presented by Build Ford Tough Trucks A Homecoming favorite. This is a must-attend event for all Bulldog fans! Registration is now open. |
| 10:50 AM From Robertson Hall to The Sellick Bowl | Dawg Walk |
| 1:00 PM Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl | Butler Bulldogs vs. Chicago State Football General Admission tickets are $15, and reserved seats are $20. Reserve your seats today. |
| 2:00 PM Varsity Field | Women’s Soccer vs. Western Illinois |
| 7:00 PM Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium | Holcomb Planetarium Show and Telescope Viewing Doors open at 7:00 PM. Planetarium shows are at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. There will be telescope viewing after the planetarium show, weather permitting. Admission for the planetarium programming is $5 for children and students under 18 yrs, and $8 for adults (Butler faculty, staff, & students are free with Butler University ID). We accept cash or credit. |
Sunday, September 20
| Time & Location | Event |
|---|---|
| 2:00 PM Hinkle Fieldhouse | Butler Volleyball vs. Long Island All tickets are $10 and General Admission. Reserve your seats today. Youth and group tickets are available by request. |
Reunion and Milestone Celebrations
If you are a member of a class or an organization celebrating a milestone, we would be happy to help promote your event or gathering. Please contact alumni@butler.edu with the details for your celebration to be included in the Homecoming schedule.