January 28, 2025 —A historic milestone is just hours away! Tomorrow, Marist College will officially become Marist University, and we’re inviting the entire Marist community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends—to join us in celebrating Marist University Day on campus or online.

The festivities kick off at 11 a.m. in the Dyson Center and a livestream is available for people to tune in around the world.

The day will feature a full schedule of activities, inspiring speakers, unveiling of the new Marist University logo, free merchandise, great prizes to win, and opportunities to connect with the Marist community.

“In December when we announced becoming Marist University, we promised an epic celebration to mark the historic day,” said Daryl Richard, Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Marist. “Tomorrow will truly be a day to remember as our community comes out in full force to demonstrate their pride and show off what makes Marist so special.”

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni have all been part of the planning and events that will be held throughout the day. Here’s everything you need to know to be part of the celebration.

Use the Marist University Passport to be Eligible for Prizes!

Marist U Passport. Image by Carlo de Jesus/Marist. 

Don’t miss out on exclusive Marist University-branded giveaways and prizes. To be eligible to win, look for the official Marist University Passport found on the back of the program handed out at the Dyson Center. Then, visit the three labeled stamp stations (found on the Dyson second and third floors and in the McCann main entrance lobby) and turn in your fully stamped program by the end of the block party in McCann for your chance to win!

• You can choose which prize to enter to win:
  • iPad Air 11-inch (256GB memory) and an Apple Pencil Pro
  • $250 gift card to Grubhub
  • Semester of FREE books from the Marist Bookstore
  • Marist swag, including:
    • Marist University branded sweatshirt, hat, water bottle, car decal, pennant, blanket, backpack, and smart touch gloves.

Free giveaways for attendees include: t-shirts, belt bags, laptop stickers, notepads, and more. 

New Beginnings Unveiled Kickoff Celebration and Speaker Program

The day kicks off at 11 a.m. in the Dyson Center Atrium, featuring:

• The unveiling of the new Marist University logo.
• Remarks from President Kevin Weinman and special guest speakers, including Genine McCormick '88/P'16, Chair of the Marist Board of Trustees and student speaker Valincia Hill '26.
• A live feed featuring Marist students studying in Dublin and Florence, bringing the global Marist community together for this historic moment.

A bustling Dyson Center in September. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist.

Experiential Learning Expo
11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Discover Marist’s distinctive hands-on learning opportunities, including:

• Observing real-time reactions to marketing messages in the world of virtual reality.
• Engaging with the AI-powered medical manikin used in healthcare simulations.
• Shopping at Marist’s student-run retail lab, MPorium.
• Sharing student and community stories on the Community Chalkboard Art Installation and Philanthropy Station.

Learn all about the Experiential Learning Expo here! 

Block Party in McCann
4–7 p.m.

Join the Marist community for an evening of fun, food, and celebration:

• Lawn game tournaments and open-play sports.
• Food trucks and fire pits with s’mores.
• Prizes, games, and activities.
• Stuff-a-plush foxes, 360-degree selfies, and board games.
• Wellness zone and fitness classes.

Learn more about the Block Party here!

Visit storesoo.com/university-day for more and here for livestream details, if you can’t be on campus!