Defender Days

7:30 p.m.

Fall Theatre Production: "Antigone", Te Paske Theatre

• Join Dordt Theatre Arts for an unforgettable modern retelling of Antigone. Written by Sophocles in 441 B.C., Antigone stands as one of the foundational works of Western drama.

  
  “Antigone’s two brothers have just murdered each other in a brutal civil war. Her victorious brother is posthumously exalted; her treasonous brother is declared a terrorist. And new king Creon orders that his body be left to rot, making a law forbidding his burial. But Antigone refuses to obey.”

  • Get your tickets here: https://www.ticketleap.events/events/dordttheatre

9:30 p.m.

• Join us for worship at Dordt’s student-led praise and worship night, held weekly throughout the academic year.

6:45 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Registration, Campus Center Lobby

• Pick up your nametags, receive the latest information for the weekend, and get your questions answered. Your nametag is used as your complimentary pass into many events, such as athletics.

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Visit classes, Locations Vary

• Join your student in class to see firsthand what they're learning and meet their professor. Please visit the registration table to see the list of available classes and their locations.

• Dordt offers several master’s degrees that are 100% online. Stop by the Graduate Studies Info Booth to learn more about the programs.

11:10 a.m.

Chapel, B.J. Haan Auditorium

• Join the Dordt community for worship at chapel, held weekly throughout the academic year.

Game Room Open Hours, Campus Center Basement

• Fun for the whole family! The Game Room includes four bowling lanes, pool tables, foosball tables, and a ping pong table.

3:10 p.m.

• Dordt professors will share innovative ways scholarship is shared beyond traditional academic channels through art, media, public events, partnerships, and other creative formats - and projects that actively involve and benefit communities outside the university.

Mentoring Mingle, Hester Hollaar Room (Library 264), Hulst Library

• This is an opportunity for our spring mentoring pairings from 2024-2025 and the current pairings for fall 2025 to meet in person. This is primarily a casual social activity for alumni and current students that have been or are currently involved in the career mentoring program.

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Meet the senior engineering students and hear about the early stages of this year’s design projects.

• This year the art gallery will host alumnus and local photographer Chad Postma (’05). His exhibit, “Steady,” will feature landscape photography of the places Chad has lived over the past 20+ years. Artist talk will be at 4:45 p.m.

5:00 p.m. first pitch

• (3 p.m. warm-up and batting practice)
• Defender Baseball invites all baseball alumni back to campus for a fun and competitive Alumni Game! Reconnect with former teammates, meet the current team, and enjoy and great day at the ballpark.
• RSVP is required. Please register using the primary Defender Days registration link.
  

5:30 p.m.

Defender Nation Dinner, The Overlook *Registration required

• At this semi-formal dinner, we will recognize this year’s Distinguished Alumni, Horizon, and Ambassador award recipients, presented by Dordt’s alumni office.

• Tickets are available for purchase with online RSVP and will not be available at the door. Tickets are limited and the recommended dress is business casual. This dinner is not recommended for young children.

7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Fall Music Festival: Instrumental Ensembles, B.J. Haan Auditorium

• Enjoy an evening of music, featuring Dordt’s Wind Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, and Campus-Community Band.

• Tickets are not required. A freewill offering opportunity will be provided.

• This event is free with your Defender Days nametag.

8:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.

Fall Music Festival: Choral Ensembles, B.J. Haan Auditorium

• Enjoy an evening of music, featuring Concert Choir, Chorale, Canons of Dordt, and Bella Voce.
• Tickets are not required. A freewill offering opportunity will be provided.

10:00 p.m.

Late Night with the Defenders, De Witt Gymnasium

• Back by popular demand! Join us as both the women’s and men’s basketball teams tip off the season and we reveal the 2025 National Championship banner for our women’s basketball team.

• This event is free with your Defender Days nametag.

• Doors open at 9:30 and warmups begin at 9:40.

7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Registration, Campus Center Lobby

• Pick up your nametags, receive the latest information for the weekend, and get your questions answered. Your nametag is used as your complimentary pass into many events, such as athletics.
  

8:00 a.m.

• This event is free with your Defender Days nametag.

8:30 a.m.

President’s Breakfast, Recreation Center *Registration required

• Hosted by President Erik and Dr. Barb Hoekstra, this meal is a great opportunity to meet or reconnect with other Dordt families and friends. The program includes a welcome and campus update from the Hoekstras. This is not a come-and-go event.

• Complimentary tickets are available with online RSVP and will not be available at the door. Tickets are limited. The recommended dress is casual. This breakfast is not recommended for young children.

• A popular family event with activities for all ages, including bounce houses, games, and facepainting.

• Come celebrate with us as we dedicate Dordt's new spaces, including the Atrium and Recital Hall. After the celebration, tours will be available for other recently built facilities: the Townhomes, the Campus Cottages, and the Spronk Animal Science Education Center.

• Coffee and donuts provided
• 11:30 a.m. Alumni Queens and Serve and Pass

11:15 a.m.

Hymn Festival, B.J. Haan Auditorium

• Featuring Dordt’s Casavant organ, brass, and other instruments. All are welcome to come and sing beloved hymns of our faith!

12:00 p.m.

Football vs. Mount Marty, Football Field

• Dance & Cheer will also be performing

• This event is free with your Defender Days nametag.

2:00 p.m.

Fall Theatre Production: "Antigone", Te Paske Theatre

• Join Dordt Theatre Arts for an unforgettable modern retelling of Antigone. Written by Sophocles in 441 B.C., Antigone stands as one of the foundational works of Western drama.

  “Antigone’s two brothers have just murdered each other in a brutal civil war. Her victorious brother is posthumously exalted; her treasonous brother is declared a terrorist. And new king Creon orders that his body be left to rot, making a law forbidding his burial. But Antigone refuses to obey.”

  • Get your tickets here: https://www.ticketleap.events/events/dordttheatre

• This event is free with your Defender Days nametag

Game Room Open Hours, Campus Center Basement

• Fun for the whole family! The Game Room includes four bowling lanes, pool tables, foosball tables, and a ping pong table.

3:30 p.m.

JV Women's Volleyball vs. Midland, De Witt Gymnasium

• This event is free with your Defender Days nametag.
  

5:00 p.m.

• This event is free with your Defender Days nametag.

5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

25th Reunion (from 1998 to 2001), Founder’s Room (located in the President’s Home) *Registration required

• Enjoy a light meal and reconnect with old friends at a standing reception hosted by President Erik and Dr. Barb Hoekstra.
• Complimentary tickets are available with online RSVP to Dordt graduates from 1998 through 2001 plus one guest. Tickets are not available at the door and are limited.

7:30 p.m.

Fall Theatre Production: "Antigone", Te Paske Theatre

• Join Dordt Theatre Arts for an unforgettable modern retelling of Antigone. Written by Sophocles in 441 B.C., Antigone stands as one of the foundational works of Western drama.

  “Antigone’s two brothers have just murdered each other in a brutal civil war. Her victorious brother is posthumously exalted; her treasonous brother is declared a terrorist. And new king Creon orders that his body be left to rot, making a law forbidding his burial. But Antigone refuses to obey.”

  • Get your tickets here: https://www.ticketleap.events/events/dordttheatre