2023 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend attendees

Alumni

As an alum of Lake Forest College, you're a Forester forever!

No matter where you are now or what you're doing, you'll always be welcome in the Forest and part of a community of 15,000 alumni. Take a look around at what your fellow alumni are up to, what exciting things are happening on campus, and how to get involved. We hope to see you soon.

Gary Van Ness '64 unveiling new name of house

Van Ness House dedication honors $5M gift from alumni family

Lake Forest College recently named the home of the Office of Campus Life, located on the intersection of Sheridan and Rosemary roads, the Van Ness House in recognition of a transformational gift of $5 million from distinguished alumni Gardiner "Gary" Van Ness III '64 and Jessie (Steiner) Van Ness '69.

Gary Van Ness grew up in Lake Forest and met Jessie at the College, a fellow student who would later become his wife. The two built their lives in "The Forest," raising their family just minutes from campus. Their deep connection to the College, and their desire to strengthen its future for generations to come, inspired their generous endowment gift.

Register Now for 2025 Homecoming

The best weekend of the year will be here before you know it! We can't wait for all of the excitement and celebration the weekend will hold, and we hope you can join us on campus October 10 to 11, 2025. Check out the full schedule and register now.

2024 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend was packed with fun

We may be a bit biased, but we think our 2024 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend was a huge success! A big thank you to the nearly 1,000 people who registered and made it an unforgettable weekend. We soaked up the warmth and light of the traditional bonfire, cheered on our Forester football team’s 42-0 victory, indulged in Fan Fest’s food truck treats, celebrated the achievements of our newly inducted Athletic Hall of Fame members, and honored the 2024 Golden Whistle Award recipient.

View photos from Homecoming

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Every person I have met through Lake Forest College has been welcoming. The community aspect tied with small class sizes and professors, staff, and fellow students who wanted to see you succeed is something I will forever be grateful for.

Jacqueline Rogers '20

Rob Mermin ’71 uses mime training to find Parkinson’s symptom relief

When most college students decide to backpack around Europe, many bring a camera and a comfortable pair of sneakers. But when Rob Mermin ’71 left for Paris with $50 in his pocket during the summer of ’69, he packed a red clown nose, a pair of baggy pants, and ran away to join the circus—literally. During his junior year, Mermin studied with iconic French mime Marcel Marceau, and joined the European circus circuit after graduating, building a successful career and now using his mime training to find relief from Parkinson's Disease relief.

New rankings are out!

U.S. News & World Report ranked Lake Forest College #1 for Social Mobility.

Wall Street Journal ranked Lake Forest College the best liberal arts college in the Midwest and #27 on its list of the Top 100 Colleges.

The New York Times recognized Lake Forest College as #13 of the Top Colleges with the Greatest Economic Diversity.

Reputation, Rankings, and Facts

Give to Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College alumni know the power of a Forester education. To maintain the high-quality curriculum and transformative experiential learning opportunities we are so proud of, we need the support of generous donors. No matter the size of your donation, you are positively impacting students.

Support Lake Forest College

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Lake Forest College let me do everything I dreamed of. I've carried that into my life after Lake Forest College as well, maintaining my drive to pursue everything I want. I never feel stuck or handcuffed to one thing — I feel confident I can go after whatever goals I want, whether they're personal or professional.

Alex Hemmer '16

We're here for you

The College aims to be a resource for our alumni even beyond graduation. The Gorter Family Career Advancement Center provides resources for alumni through Handshake, newsletters with open job opportunities and upcoming webinars, access to virtual or in-person appointments with a career advisor, and more.

Career Resources

Get involved

We love connecting with our Forester alumni. Whether you visit campus, mentor a student, support a student scholarship, or let us know what news you want to see, engaging with your Forester community is as easy as clicking a button.