Beaver Train Welcomes 300-plus Alumni and Friends
‘Tour’ features 10 stops, from Minneapolis to Kansas City to Des Moines
More than 300 alumni and friends of Buena Vista University hopped on the Beaver Train the past few weeks as it made stops from Minneapolis to Kansas City and places in between. Ten cities hosted Beavers as they gathered to socialize and make connections in their efforts to keep BVU’s momentum moving full speed ahead.
“We had a great time this summer welcoming alumni and friends throughout the Midwest,” said Sarah Johnson, Senior Director of Alumni & Donor Relations. “It was so rewarding to see Beavers of all ages come together to reminisce, make new friends, and to share their excitement about BVU.”
Alumni from across seven decades attended Beaver Train events as did several current students and their families. The Beaver Train began with a reception at the renovated Cobblestone Ballroom along the eastern shores of Storm Lake. It would continue in the next couple of weeks while making stops in Minneapolis, Emmetsburg, Clear Lake, Kansas City, Omaha, Cedar Rapids, Earling, Carroll and Des Moines, where nearly 100 turned out for the finale at Smash Park.
The first 25 guests at each stop received a free Beaver Train t-shirt. BVU staff members handed out Beaver koozies, luggage tags, and more along the way as Johnson provided updates on upcoming opportunities for friends and alumni to connect with BVU, including the Iowa State Fair in which BVU has a booth in the Varied Industries Building from Aug. 7-17. Other upcoming dates to note include Homecoming on Sept. 26-27, the Beaver Ball on Feb. 21, 2026, and International Beaver Day on April 7, 2026.
To stay up to date on BVU events and for photos from the Beaver Train, click here.