Students waiting in line at the Joey’s food truck. The Xavierite
Saint Xavier University (SXU) hosted a 180 Anniversary Community Fest on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. Students, staff, families, alumni and members of the community came together to celebrate 180 years of SXU.
The event offered a variety of activities for people of all ages. Guests participated in rock painting, card making, board games, darts, and a bean bag toss.
There were also bouncy houses, spray-paint tattoos, a train ride and a piñata featuring SXU’s mascot, Champ, for guests to enjoy. The event featured a live band performance from Fish N’ Chips, a Joey’s food truck and appearances from the SXU cheer team and Champ.
SXU Cheer and Champ The Xavierite
For many attendees, the event was more than just a day for activities.
President Keith Elder, Ph.D., explained, “I think what makes it so important for the community is that we are potentially reaching out to show that we want to be better members of the community,” he said. “It’s all about community engagement.”
Provost Caress Dean, Ph.D., also emphasized the importance of bringing everyone together. She said that the event gave people a chance to have conversations, learn about one another and better understand the needs of the community.
The event also included tables that focused on safety resources in the community. One table made chapsticks with domestic violence resources inside, giving survivors a discreet way to carry information with them. Another table made whistles with information attached about ICE as a safety tool to draw attention.
Lemuel Kamp (second from left), Fernando Tamoya (second from right), Sister Carol Mucha (right) The Xavierite
Students and other members of the SXU community said the university itself has created a strong sense of community.
Samantha Alcala, junior, also described SXU as a place where she found a sense of belonging. “I would say to me Saint Xavier University means community,” she said, “I feel like SXU is a tight-knit community, and I think that’s what the school is all about. There’s a lot of love..”
Marco Gonzalez, a senior at SXU, explained how the university fosters an environment that allows students to grow.
The event also highlighted the university’s history and connection to the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Carol Mucha, former Campus Ministry employee, explained that SXU has had a strong connection to the Sisters of Mercy since its founding in 1846.
She shared “because it was one of the first institutions of higher learning, and we have had and continue to have great influence on our students, faculty, and president, all those in administration. And I know that they value us as we value them because they’re carrying on the legacy of Catherine McAuley,” Mucha noted.
Students who attended the event also saw it as an opportunity to build relationships. Fernando Tamoya, student, stated that it was “a great event to bring the whole community together and just have a fun time together.”
Lemuel Kemp, student, agreed, explaining how the event helped foster a sense of community and gave people a place to enjoy each other’s company.
The evening concluded with a drone show, with lights spelling out ‘SXU’ in the night sky.
With activities for students, families and children, the event brought different parts of the SXU community together by providing opportunities for conversation and connection while also highlighting the university’s history.
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