St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) welcomed approximately 60 to 70 alumni back to Long Island on Oct. 23 and 24 for Golden Eagles Spirit Fest, a two-day celebration that brought together former and current student-athletes to reconnect, reminisce and celebrate their shared experiences as members of the SJNY community.
The annual event provided alumni with opportunities to reunite with former teammates, revisit cherished memories and celebrate the friendships and traditions that continue long after graduation.
“The main goal of Golden Eagles Spirit Fest is to bring our SJNY community together and celebrate what makes this University so special,” said Melody Cope, Director of Athletics and Recreation on the Long Island Campus. “This event is an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with their alma mater, reconnect with one another, and experience the energy and pride of our current student-athletes.”
Cope added that the event serves as a reminder that the connections formed at SJNY extend well beyond a student’s college years.
“Ultimately, it’s about celebrating our Golden Eagle spirit and reminding everyone that being part of SJNY is a lifelong connection,” she said.
Celebrating SJNY’s Athletic Traditions
The festivities kicked off Friday evening, Oct. 23, with the annual Gregg Alfano Memorial Alumni Baseball Game at the Outdoor Field Complex in Patchogue. The game gave former Golden Eagles baseball players an opportunity to return to the field and reconnect with teammates. That evening, the University also presented its Gregg Alfano award to Marco Gullo ’26.
This year’s celebration also recognized two important milestones in the University’s baseball history: the 10th anniversary of the 2016 team’s first Skyline Conference Championship and the 25th anniversary celebration of the 2002 baseball team.
Throughout the weekend, alumni had opportunities to reconnect with former classmates and teammates while celebrating the University’s athletic traditions.
For Brooke Bove ’26, a former Golden Eagles softball player, returning to campus and reconnecting with friends was among the highlights of the weekend.
“It’s really nice coming back and being able to see my friends,” she said, adding that playing alongside and against former teammates made the experience particularly enjoyable.
Reflecting on her years as a student-athlete, Bove said some of her favorite memories involved traveling with the softball team and balancing the demands of academics and athletics.
“Some of my favorite memories are definitely going away with the team,” she said. “Even though, in the moment, we’re all pretty stressed, because we all have schoolwork, and there are a lot of games,” those experiences became lasting memories.
She also credited her involvement in athletics with helping her develop friendships and important life skills.
“Being on a team helped me make friends in college,” she said, explaining that athletics helped her make connections with fellow students.
Brooke added that balancing schoolwork and athletics taught her valuable time-management skills that have continued to benefit her since graduation.
Strengthening the Golden Eagles Community
For Cope, one of the most meaningful aspects of Golden Eagles Spirit Fest was witnessing the connections among alumni and between former and current student-athletes.
“Having 60 to 70 alumni join us was exciting because it demonstrated that the connection to SJNY extends beyond graduation,” she said.
Cope hopes the weekend reminded alumni of the lasting relationships they developed at the University while showing current student-athletes how meaningful those connections can become.
“For our alumni, I hope the weekend brought back great memories and reminded them that they will always have a home here,” she said. “For our current student athletes, especially those experiencing the event for the first time, I hope they saw that the relationships and traditions they are building now can last a lifetime.”
As SJNY looks ahead to future Golden Eagles Spirit Fest celebrations, Cope encouraged students and alumni to remain connected to the University.
“Show up, get involved, wear your navy and gold, and be proud to be a Golden Eagle!”
All photos taken by Daniella DiBenedetto ’27
