In 1981, as part of the association's 100th anniversary celebration, Jerry Kerr ’61, Bud Rowland ’31, and Louis Bannan, S.J. proposed a special group be created to officially recognize alumni celebrating their Golden Reunion. The recommendation was unanimously approved by the Santa Clara University Alumni Association and, in honor of William Gianera, S.J., Santa Clara alumnus (Class of 1907) and University president from 1945–1951, the Gianera Society was formed.
The Gianera Society is an honorary designation with membership limited to those undergraduate alumni whose class graduated from Santa Clara 50 or more years ago. The society’s sole purpose is to pay tribute to the legacy provided by our “Golden Broncos” and acknowledge their long-standing loyalty to the University, their classmates, and the Alumni Association. Gianera Society members meet every year for a luncheon during the Grand Reunion Weekend in October to induct their newest members (those attending their 50th Reunion) and renew the camaraderie and lifelong friendships that developed and flourished at Santa Clara.
Did You Know?
We induct new members into the Gianera Society each year during Grand Reunion in October.
