Alumni, families, friends, and community members returned to Niagara College’s Welland Campus on November 15 for ReuKnighted ’25, an annual tradition that continues to bring the NC alumni community together for a day of connection, celebration, and Knights pride.
Hosted by Alumni Relations in partnership with Athletics and Student Engagement, this year’s event combined varsity athletics, an indoor tailgate experience, and opportunities for graduates to revisit the campus where their NC stories began. Around 100 attendees participated throughout the afternoon and evening, including alumni from a range of programs and decades.
“ReuKnighted is always a special day on campus,” said Jana Boniferro, Director, Alumni Relations. “Whether our alumni graduated last year or many years ago, the sense of belonging is the same. Seeing them reconnect with friends, meet fellow grads, and share their NC stories is a reminder of the lifelong community that exists at here at the College.”
Guests got to cheer on NC Knights varsity athletes at back-to-back men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games at the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre.
The event began at the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre, where guests filled the stands to cheer on the NC Knights varsity athletes during a lineup of basketball and volleyball games. The Knights women’s basketball team secured their second win of the season, kicking off ReuKnighted on a strong note. The winning momentum continued as the Knights men’s basketball team followed with another win in their final home game of the season.
Between games, guests headed to The Core for a tailgate party featuring live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and delicious food prepared by NC’s Culinary Arts students.
Director of Athletics and Student Engagement, Michele O’Keefe welcomed guests during the tailgate, offering a warm greeting and acknowledging the excitement of bringing alumni back to campus. She then invited Niagara College President Sean Kennedy to the podium, where he spoke about the strength of NC’s vast alumni community and the importance of events like ReuKnighted in bringing the NC family together.
President Sean Kennedy took to the podium to welcome guests at The Core.
“It was great to see our alumni back in the stands supporting our NC Knights,” said O’Keefe. “Athletics has always played a huge role in the student experience at NC, and events like ReuKnighted show how that sense of community and college pride continues long after graduation.”
Throughout the afternoon, guests shared stories and reminisced about their time at NC, reflecting on the friendships and experiences that shaped their student days, while taking in the evolution of the Welland Campus and witnessing where NC is today.
“What really hits home is how much the College has grown since I graduated in 1972, and how it continues to grow with additions like the new Health Sciences building,” said NC alumnus Douglas Willford (Library Technician program, 1972). “I truly enjoyed connecting with fellow alumni in The Core, especially those from the ’70s era. We reminisced about pub nights in the old cafeteria and the days when most of our classes were held in a single building that was once Hennepin Hall.”
The ongoing success of ReuKnighted reflects how deeply connected graduates remain to NC. As the College’s alumni network continues to grow, now more than 125,000 strong globally, Alumni Relations looks forward to welcoming even more Knights back to campus in the years ahead.
