"one of the best decisions I ever made."

Note: This message was originally sent on April 15, 2023

Less than an hour to go... Today, Gonzaga is at its best, buzzing with excitement to warmly greet and receive the hundreds of families whose students will spend the weekend experiencing our campus, community, and care, as part of their process of discernment. For some, this will be the make-or-break moment that so many alumni remember and tell us about, saying, “when I first set foot on campus, I knew Gonzaga was where I was meant to be.”  

565 prospective students have registered for this weekend’s Gonzaga Experience Live (GEL), with over 1,332 total guests expected.   

As you can imagine, preparation to welcome these prospective Zags has been intentional and campus wide. Faculty, staff, and current students are eager to share all that makes Gonzaga distinctive, memorable, and life-changing.  I saw this post from a colleague who articulated the excitement we’re all feeling right now—the Gonzaga culture is one where belonging matters  and opening the eyes of new Zags to that experience is a blessing in and of itself.  

Whether you’re near or far, I hope you realize the vital role you play in this special weekend, too. The experiences these prospective students and their families will have are only possible because of the hard work, generosity, care, and legacies of the Zag Network. Anyone who has a relationship to the University and connects with it or each other has laid the foundation for these new Zags to build their paths and begin their journeys toward fulfillment and success.

So, here’s to a weekend of memory-making, discernment, friendship-building, sharing, caring, and Igniting the Zag Network. GEL sparks something bright and beautiful every time—I can’t wait for these 565 students to experience its 2023 light.

A few other reflections from alumni who, in the build up to today, have shared about their GEL weekend:

"I was a host back in 1992. Gonzaga is still one of the best decisions I ever made."

"20 years later and I’m still friends with people I met at GEL weekend.  Such a fun experience."

"Great to see GEL is still going strong!  I loved my GEL experience."