Convocation and Family Weekend, Oct. 20-22

Dominican University of California will celebrate Convocation and Family Weekend 2023 with a weekend-long series of events for students, family members, and alumni, October 20-22.
 
The weekend begins with Convocation ceremony. President Nicola Pitchford will welcome Dominican’s first-year Trustee Scholars and recognize sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have been named to the Dean’s List in consecutive semesters. 

Salvador (Sal) Chávez, who graduated in 2016 with a BS in Health Science and in 2017 with a
MS in Occupational Therapy, will deliver the Convocation speech. As a first-generation college student, Chavez decided to attend Dominican due to its abundant opportunities for involvement and leadership roles. He began his Occupational therapy career in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at El Camino Health in the summer of 2018 and has been there for the last five years. In 2022, he was promoted to Senior Occupational Therapist, in the same department and now specializes in inpatient mental health for adults. 

Convocation check in opens at 3 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 4 p.m. in Angelico Hall. The ceremony will be followed by a 5-6 p.m. President’s Reception on Angelico Plaza. Meet students, families, faculty, and staff, and enjoy light refreshments. The reception will take place completely outdoors, rain or shine. 
 

Following the President’s Reception, all Dominican fans are invited to the volleyball match in the Conlan Recreation Center. Dominican will play Point Loma at 7 p.m.
 
On Saturday, check in is from 10-10:30 a.m. on Anne Hathaway Lawn. Join the Alumni Board of Directors for coffee and check in. A student panel discussion begins at 10:30 a.m. on the lawn.
 
All are invited to “Chilly’s Fall Fest and Carnival” from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Meadowlands Lawn. This is Homecoming, Dominican-style! Enjoy rides, music, games, food trucks, and a beer & wine garden as alumni, parents, students, and families come together to celebrate what it means to be a Penguin. The carnival is free for Dominican students and families and $10 for alumni.

The Italian Film Festival will offer a 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. showing of Natural Lefty (“Mancino Naturale”).
Tickets and more information

Athletics events at the John F. Allen Athletics Complex on Saturday include:

• Tennis Invite (day two), 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Castellucci Family Tennis Center.
• Men’s soccer vs. Academy of Art, noon. Kennelly Field.
• Women’s soccer vs. Biola University, 3 p.m. Kennelly Field

Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, October 22, in the St. Catherine Benincasa Chapel (Edgehill Mansion) at 11 a.m. Later in the day, the volleyball team will play Concordia University Irvine at 2 p.m. in Conlan.
 
The campus bookstore (Fanjeaux Hall) will be open on October 20 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and on October 21 from 10 a.m. –2 p.m.
Please RSVP for Fall Fest and Family Weekend

An RSVP is required for each member of your party, and guests will be asked to check in upon arrival on campus.
 
For questions about Convocation and Family Weekend, email familyweekend@dominican.edu.