With Golden Rams at the heart and spirit of WCU, there’s a lot to be excited about this spring. A weeklong series of events will celebrate everything WCU — its heart, its spirit, its research excellence, its support, its future, and its neighboring community.
The following are dates, times, and locations for some super fun ways to celebrate WCU all week long:
Rammy’s Suit-up & Stock-up Professional Clothing Drive, Resource Pantry Drop-off, and Art & Teacher Supply Donations
Date: Apr. 13, 2026.
Times: 11:00 AM-2:00 PM.
Location: Twardowski Career Development Center, 705 South New Street, West Chester (Campus Map).
Golden Rams will celebrate the heart of WCU by giving back to students as they:
- Donate new or gently-used professional clothing to the Career Closet, where students can shop for free professional clothing (business casual to suits) that can be used for interviews, internships, award ceremonies, etc.
- Bring three personal-care items for the on-campus Resource Pantry, which supports student success by minimizing food & basic need insecurity.
- Bring art supplies for the College of Arts and Humanities’ “Succeed with Ease” Closet, which provides art students with access to high-cost art supplies.
- Bring new and gently used teacher and classroom supplies for student teachers in the College of Education and Social Work.
University departments and organizations will even engage in a friendly campus-wide competition to earn points for the total number of items donated. Top donors will win lunch with President Laurie Bernotsky!
Celebrating Little Rams
(Free event for alumni families, students, faculty, staff, neighbors, and community members.)
Date: Apr. 14, 2026.
Times: 5-7:00 PM.
Location: WCU Alumni and Foundation Center, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester.
Young Rams and their families will be treated to a free evening of purple and gold fun featuring face painting, t-shirts, tote bag coloring, kid-friendly food, and delicious desserts. There will even be a special appearance from our favorite mascot, Rammy, and our super student athletes. Neighbors and community members are welcome! Registration is required. To register, visit the Little Rams registration page.
30th Annual Banana Day
Date: Apr. 15, 2026.
Times: 11:00 AM-3:00 PM.
Location: All around the north campus! WCU’s north campus is bound by 700 South High Street, Sharpless Street, South New Street, and West Rosedale Avenue. (Campus Map.)
As WCU’s best day of the year, Banana Day will be absolutely bananas on April 15 as it celebrates its 30th birthday! There will be tons of Banana Day fun for everyone, from zany banana games to face painting to Ram Cab trivia to treat trucks to photo ops, and everything in between. The Banana Day t-shirt will be the ultimate prize that everyone will try to win.
14th Annual WCU Business Pitch Competition
Date: Apr. 15, 2026.
Times: 4:30-7:30 PM.
Location: WCU Alumni & Foundation Center, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester.
As the final phase of the WCU Business Idea Competition, this highly anticipated event brings together top entrepreneurial minds as they present their innovative ideas live to a panel of business angels, entrepreneurs, and industry advisors. The event culminates in the announcement of winners and an exciting awards presentation. For more information and to register, visit the Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center event page.
WCU Alumni: Banana Night!
Date: Apr. 15, 2026.
Times: 5:30-7:30 PM.
Location: Levante Brewing Co., 208 Carter Drive, West Chester.
WCU Alumni Association’s Banana Night will be an appealing treat for all alumni ready to relive WCU’s beloved Banana Day tradition. There will be the classic Banana Whip from The Chilly Banana food truck, a limited-edition Banana Night t-shirt, and fun with friends. For WCU alumni, “walk-ups” are welcome for Banana Night.
Research and Creative Activity Day
Date: Apr. 16, 2026.
Times: 9:00 AM-2:30 PM.
Location: Sykes Student Union, 110 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester.
Hailing from all academic disciplines, WCU students and faculty will feature their innovative research and creative projects, present their findings, and engage in discussions with the campus community. Research and Creative Activity Day celebrates the intellectual curiosity that motivates students and teacher-scholars at WCU, which is classified as an R2 (“Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity”) by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
43rd Annual Presidential Gala
Date: Apr. 17, 2026.
Time: 6:30-10:30 PM.
Location: Longwood Gardens Conservatory, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square.
The 43rd Annual Presidential Gala will raise funds to help WCU students experience life-changing opportunities that would otherwise not be possible due to financial constraints — internship stipends for unpaid internships, study abroad programs, clinical placements, research opportunities, service-learning experiences, and more. Proceeds from the Gala will ensure that opportunity is defined by a student’s potential, not circumstance.
Accepted Student Day
Date: Apr. 18, 2026.
Time: Check-in begins at 9:00 AM and Accepted Student Day concludes at 1:00 PM.
Location: West Chester University, 700 South High Street, West Chester. (Campus Map.)
Parking: Complimentary parking is available in New Street Parking Garage, Commons Parking Garage, and Sharpless Parking Garage for Accepted Student Day guests.
The future of WCU is celebrated during Accepted Student Day as accepted students and their guests learn more about life as a Golden Ram. A detailed agenda will be provided upon arrival.
Highlights of Accepted Student Day include the following:
- Tour campus, including Residence Halls.
- Meet with professors and hear more about your area of study.
- Explore student resources, supports, and opportunities on campus in the Golden Arena.
- Walk-ins welcome at the Financial Aid Office, Dub-C Autism Program, and Campus Bookstore.
- Learn about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Connect with the Undergraduate Admissions team.
- Free WCU swag, fun, and more!
For more information, visit the Accepted Students Day website.
Community Cleanup
Date: Apr. 19, 2026.
Time: 12-2:00 PM.
Location: Rustin Park, 740 S. Walnut Street, West Chester.
WCU students, faculty, and staff will celebrate their community and partnership with the Borough of West Chester in a day dedicated to cleaning their shared neighborhood. All are welcome to meet at Rustin Park at noon to secure materials and receive cleanup assignments! For more information and to register, visit the Student Registration and Community Sign Up.
Learn more at West Chester University (WCU), the largest member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, which is comprised of 10 state-owned universities within the Commonwealth of PA. Founded in 1871, West Chester University is a comprehensive public institution offering more than 180 academic opportunities in 40 fields of study at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. In addition to the main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, Philadelphia location, and online. Six colleges and two schools comprise the University: University College, Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the Wells School of Music, and the Graduate School. The University is classified as an R2 (“Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity”) by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; R2 universities have “high research activity” in academic settings where teaching is the priority.
