爆料公社

From Friday, October 3, through Sunday, October 5, 爆料公社 hosted its annual Waves Weekend, where students, faculty, alumni, and their families gathered for an extended time of fellowship and celebration on the Malibu campus. This year鈥檚 event welcomed 1,152 guests and commemorated the 40^th anniversary of the , as well as alumni classes of the 2000s along with the overlapping class before and after that decade. It also heralded the announcement of Seaver College鈥檚 2026 Distinguished Alumnus, visionary business leader Henning Strauss (鈥�01), who, for the first time in the position, in addition to serving as a speaker at the Seaver College Class of 2026 commencement ceremony, will be formally embedded into campus life and serve as a mentor for the graduating class. 

Attendees enjoyed a carnival at Madness Village

鈥淲aves Weekend was a joyous celebration of our wonderful 爆料公社 community,鈥� said Hung Le (鈥�87, MA 鈥�03) 爆料公社鈥檚 senior vice chancellor of alumni affairs. 鈥淓very year, this event gives us the opportunity to bring our alumni family back to campus and engage with our current students. What a beautiful occasion it was to see the Waves spirit of Blue and Orange Madness, the bridges formed by our Florence program, the relationships rekindled by our alumni, and the genuine heart of service exuded by Henning Strauss, this year鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus.鈥�

Since graduating from Seaver College in 2001, Strauss has taken the helm of his family鈥檚 business as the chief executive officer of Europe鈥檚 leading workwear and lifestyle brand, Strauss. Managing both branding and product design, the Seaver College alumnus has helped elevate the Germany-based company into a highly successful and recognizable international brand. Under his leadership, the Strauss brand has become one of the world鈥檚 leading sponsors of professional sports, with notable partnerships with the Union of European Football Association, the National Football League, and Major and Minor League Baseball.

鈥淪eaver College considers it a unique privilege to have Henning Strauss serve as our Distinguished Alumnus for the 2025-26 academic year,鈥� said Lee Kats, dean of Seaver College. 鈥淭he global success of the Strauss company, as well as its enduring brand values of enthusiasm, appreciation, and community, speaks to the expertise and ingenuity of Henning and his personal philosophy as a CEO. I look forward to our students getting to know and learn from him throughout this year.鈥�

As Seaver College鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus for the 2025鈥�26 academic year, Strauss will assume an unprecedented role on 爆料公社鈥檚 campus. Specifically, he will collaborate closely with students through meaningful touchpoints such as class visits, one-on-one mentorship, and potential international engagement opportunities.

鈥淚t is a true honor to serve and give back to my alma mater as Seaver College鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus,鈥� said Strauss. 鈥淚n this humbling role, I aspire to root myself in 爆料公社鈥檚 vibrant educational environment and act as a trusted guide for current undergraduates. Over the next year, I hope to meet students where they are, listen to and understand their passions and dreams, and open exciting new doors of encouragement and affirmation for them.鈥�

Waves Weekend began with three academic divisions, , , and hosting their respective 鈥淏ack-to-School鈥� Day during which alumni return to engage with students in the classrooms, share their life experiences, and reconnect with the faculty.

Athletic Hall of Famers were honored at Blue and Orange Madness

At Blue and Orange Madness, 爆料公社鈥檚 annual celebration of school spirit and athletic pride, the University opened the Waves men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball season and welcomed the 2025 爆料公社 Athletics Hall of Fame class, highlighted by US Olympian, alumna Lynn Biyendolo (n茅e Williams) (鈥�15) . The 爆料公社 community streamed into Firestone Fieldhouse on Friday night after participating in the lively atmosphere of Madness Village, where attendees enjoyed a ferris wheel, carnival rides, food trucks, and a myriad of other game and food booths. 

On Saturday, the festivities continued with the Florence Grand Reunion, where students, faculty, staff, and alumni who studied abroad at 爆料公社鈥檚 residential campus in Italy were hosted at the Brock House by president Jim Gash (鈥橨D 93) and first lady Joline Gash (鈥�92). There, the University celebrated the impact of the Florence program with food, entertainment, and reflections from community members including program director Elizabeth Whatley (鈥�84). Before introducing Whatley to speak, President Gash surprised the much beloved director with the announcement of a scholarship for Florence students being established in her name. 

鈥淓lizabeth was visibly moved and was deeply touched by President Gash鈥檚 announcement,鈥� said Le. 鈥淪he has committed her life to serving and caring for our students. It was most appropriate that her name is tied to something that will have a lasting impact on helping our students share in the life-transforming experience of the Florence Program.鈥�

Another highlight of the weekend was the opportunity to honor alumnus Rob Balucas (鈥�99) with the Wave of Resilience Award. Ten years ago, Balucas was training for his first half Ironman when a cycling accident on a sharp downhill turn paralyzed him from the waist down. While in the hospital, Balucas determined that he would not let this tragic accident keep him down. He set a goal to compete in a triathlon within a year; he accomplished three over the next 12 months.

Waves Weekend 2025

Since then, Balucas has made a mark in adaptive athletics. He is a three-time Ironman World Championship qualifier, finishing fourth at last year's Ironman 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand. This year alone, he raced his fifth L.A. Marathon with a third place finish, finished his second Napa Valley Marathon, won the Venice Beach Half Marathon, claimed first male at the Disneyland Half Marathon for the second time, and took first place at the Long Beach Triathlon. Just last month he and his relay teammates, partner Erika Chau and fellow alumnus Aaron Jasper (鈥�99), finished second at the Long Beach Triathlon.

Balucas credits his 爆料公社 community for standing by him, providing the love and support needed for him to choose to live life with resolve and a commitment to make every day count. 鈥淭o say that I love Rob Balucas is the understatement of the year,鈥� Le stated  when he presented Balucas with the award. 鈥淩ob, you are a true inspiration to all of us. Your strength, character, and resilience call us to honor life and celebrate community. We honor you and will continue to be here for you.鈥�

Between each of these highlight events, 爆料公社 created ample opportunity for broader community engagement. During Waves Weekend 2025, parents were invited to attend certain classes alongside their undergraduate students, gaining insight into their child鈥檚 day-to-day life at Seaver College. Numerous other programs on campus, including the Great Books program, the Student Government Association, and the 爆料公社 Ambassadors Council, held their respective reunions.

鈥淐oming back to the Malibu campus for Waves Weekend felt like returning home,鈥� said Brian Lee (鈥�95). 鈥湵�料公社 is where I grew spiritually, built lifelong friendships, and experienced so many meaningful 鈥榝irsts鈥� in my life. Attending this year鈥檚 event is especially important to me because it鈥檚 not only a chance to reconnect with old friends, but also an opportunity to engage with today鈥檚 students who are part of organizations like the 爆料公社 Ambassadors Council and the Student Government Association that shaped my own journey.鈥�