The Beaver Beat

08/28/2026

⛽🎶 THE TANK IS FULL. THE PLAYLIST IS LOADED. AND EVERYONE’S INVITED! 🚗🛣️

The Full Tank Finale is making its final stop at Blackburn on Saturday, September 26 from 5:00–9:00 p.m., and we’re opening the doors to students, alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and the entire Carlinville community!

🍔 STUDENTS — PUT THAT MEAL PLAN TO WORK!
Use your meal swipe and choose your dinner:

🔥 Kapptin of the Sun BBQ
Smoked pork or smoked bologna sandwich + mac & cheese + drink

🍔 Fresh Ideas
The Smooth Burger + chips + drink

💵 No meal plan? No problem!
Anyone can purchase a $10 cash meal.

🍻 CASH BAR
Grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy the evening.

📸 PHOTO BUS STL
Step aboard the vintage VW Photo Bus, strike a pose, and leave with a printed memory from the night!

🎸 MILES STATION
Then turn up the music and dance under the stars with local favorite Miles Station!

Bring your classmates. Bring your family. Bring your neighbors. Bring the whole crew.

This isn't just the final stop of Homecoming—it's a celebration of the Blackburn and Carlinville community and everyone who helps make this place home.

📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 5:00–9:00 p.m.
📍 Blackburn College

🚗 The tank is full. The playlist is loaded. Come make one more stop before the road trip ends!

See everything happening during Homecoming & Family Weekend at blackburn.edu/homecoming.

08/27/2026

🚨👀 THE SECOND HOMEcoming ROLL CALL IS HERE! 👀🚨

We’ve checked the passenger list, and Beavers are officially hitting the road back to Blackburn! 🚗🗺️

Take a look at our latest list of registered alumni and see who you’ll be seeing at Homecoming & Family Weekend, September 25–27!

And let's be honest...there are two kinds of people looking at this list:

👀 "OMG! I haven't seen them in YEARS!"

and

👀 "WAIT...THEY'RE COMING?! I HAVE TO REGISTER NOW." 😂

Maybe you'll spot your old roommate.
Maybe your Work Program crew is coming back.
Maybe your entire friend group is on the list...except you. 😬

Don't let your classmates have all the fun!

🚗 Check the list.
📱 Find your people.
🗺️ Pick your route.
🎟️ Register for Homecoming & Family Weekend!

There is SO much happening September 25–27—from reunions and athletic events to the Roadside Finds Marketplace, Scenic Route Crawl, Full Tank Finale with Miles Station, and everything in between.

👉 See who's coming and register at blackburn.edu/homecoming

Your classmates are waiting. Your old stories are waiting. Blackburn is waiting.

Don't make us put "You should've been here" on your name tag. 😂

08/26/2026

🚨🚗 SIX DAYS LEFT TO MAKE YOUR HOMEcoming ROAD TRIP RESERVATIONS! 🚗🚨

September 1 is coming at us faster than a GPS recalculating after you miss the exit. 😂

You have ONLY 6 DAYS LEFT to take care of these Homecoming & Family Weekend must-dos:

📦 Order your 2026 Homecoming Box
Once they're gone, they're gone. And yes—the commemorative tee is inside!

👕 Order your Commemorative Homecoming Tee
Want the shirt without the box? September 1 is your deadline to guarantee yours.

🏃 Register for the Blackburn 5K
Get signed up for the Route 66 Road Race and order your limited-edition race shirt before the deadline! Proceeds support Blackburn Cross Country. Current students run FREE.

🍻 Register for the Scenic Route Crawl
Take the Scenic Route through Carlinville, enjoy the shuttle, and register by September 1 to GUARANTEE your limited-edition tee! This one supports the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

🗺️ And then... START PLANNING YOUR WEEKEND!

September 25–27 is packed with reunions, athletic competitions, the Beaver Nation Fan Zone, Roadside Finds Marketplace, Spirit Stop, McKinley House's 100th celebration, Full Tank Finale featuring Miles Station, and SO much more.

🚨 September 1 is the deadline for several of these items. Don't wait until September 2 and say, "I meant to do that." 😂

👉 Head to blackburn.edu/homecoming to get registered and get your road trip ready!

⛽ Six days.
🗺️ One destination.
🖤 All roads lead back to Blackburn.

08/26/2026

⛳🚨 LAST CALL FROM THE FAIRWAY! 🚨⛳

The B-Club Golf Tournament is almost at capacity—and we're down to JUST 2 TEAM SPOTS REMAINING!

Join us Friday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m. at Carlinville Country Club for a great morning on the course while supporting Blackburn Athletics.

The B-Club is Blackburn's athletic booster organization, and proceeds from the tournament help support our student-athletes and athletic programs.

🏌️‍♂️ 2 teams. That's it.
📅 Friday, September 25
⏰ 9:00 a.m. tee time
📍 Carlinville Country Club

🎟️ Grab one of the final two team spots through the Homecoming registration page:
blackburn.edu/homecoming

08/25/2026

🚗🗺️ ONE MONTH TO GO! 🗺️🚗

The countdown is officially ON! In just ONE MONTH, Beavers from near and far will be hitting the road for Blackburn College’s 2026 Homecoming & Family Weekend — September 25–27!

So...let's make sure you're Road Trip ready:

👯 Do you have a travel buddy?
⛽ Is your car gassed up?
🧳 Is your overnight bag packed?
🗺️ Where is my atlas?

You know...that actual BOOK OF MAPS we used before our phones started telling us where to turn. 😂

📍 Do you remember how to get to Blackburn without Siri? Asking for a friend...

🚨 Haven't registered yet? It's time to get your road trip on the books!

Check out the full itinerary and make your plans at https://blackburn.edu/alumni/homecoming.

ONE MONTH. ONE ROAD TRIP. ONE DESTINATION.

🛣️ Where every road lead back to Blackburn.

08/24/2026

🛠️ WORK COMMITTEE ALUMNI: IT’S TIME TO CLOCK BACK IN! 🛠️

Once a Beaver works in the Work Program, those memories—and those Work Committee stories—never really leave you!

Join fellow Work Committee alumni for a special Work Committee Reunion during Homecoming & Family Weekend 2026.

📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 2:00 p.m.
📍 Work Office

Come reconnect with the people who understand the unique experience of being part of Blackburn’s student-managed Work Program. Swap stories, reminisce about your Work days, and see what’s happening in the Work Office today.

Register today: https://blackburn.edu/alumni/homecoming

08/24/2026

🎉 First Day of Class — We’re Back! 🎉

A little morning power outage wasn’t going to stop us from celebrating the first day of the fall semester! ⚡️🦫

On behalf of the Blackburn College Alumni Association Board, we were excited to welcome students back to campus with a little sweet treat — Barney Brittle! 🍿❤️

Because nothing says Welcome Back, Beavers! quite like a little crunch to start the semester. 😉

Here’s to a great fall semester filled with new memories, new friendships, hard work, and plenty of reasons to Beaver Proud!

Welcome back, Blackburn! 🦫❤️

08/20/2026

🚨🛣️ 12 DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT EXIT! 🛣️🚨

The countdown is on! September 1 is just 12 days away, and if you’re planning to make the road trip back to Blackburn for Homecoming & Family Weekend, there are a few important deadlines you don’t want to miss.

🎁 Homecoming Box OR Commemorative Tee — September 1
Only 9 boxes remain! Get yours while supplies last and receive this year’s commemorative Homecoming T-shirt plus a few road-trip surprises we’re keeping under wraps. 🤫

🍻 SCENIC ROUTE CRAWL — September 1
Want to guarantee your Scenic Route Crawl T-shirt? Register by September 1! Your registration also gets you on the Blackburn shuttle as you make your way along the Scenic Route.

⛳ B-CLUB GOLF TOURNAMENT — ONLY 3 TEAM SPOTS REMAIN!
Get your foursome together and tee off Homecoming Weekend on Friday, September 25, at Carlinville Country Club. Once those three spots are gone, the road is closed!

🚗 COMING HOME? REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE!
Even if you’re still deciding which events you’ll attend, let us know you’re making the trip. We want to be ready to welcome you home!

📅 Homecoming & Family Weekend
September 25–27, 2026
🛣️ A Blackburn Road Trip: Where All Roads Lead Back to Blackburn

12 days. Three important deadlines. One road home.

👉 Get registered and check out all the details at
www.blackburn.edu/homecoming

08/20/2026

Remember your first Christmas season at Blackburn? Snow on campus. Sledding down McKinley and Stoddard Hills. A trip to the Christmas Market. The square and courthouse dressed up with holiday lights.

Carlinville at Christmas has always had a little Hallmark movie magic. And this year, it could actually become one.

Carlinville has been selected as a top-25 finalist in Hallmark Channel’s search for the country’s merriest town. Carlinville Mayor Doug Downey has asked the Blackburn College community to help get Carlinville to the top!

The winning town will receive the ultimate Hallmark Christmas experience, including having a Hallmark movie filmed in the community.

You can vote for Carlinville once a day through September 4 at HallmarkChannel.com/merriest.

LINK: https://merriestchristmastownscontest.hallmarkchannel.com/vote/06

📣We have some VERY exciting news to share, Carlinville!
Carlinville was nominated for Hallmark's Merriest Christmas Towns Contest, a nationwide search for communities that bring the heart, wonder and joy of the holiday season to life.
‼ AND CARLINVILLE WAS OFFICIALLY SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 FINALISTS!!! ‼
Now, we need your help to win the whole thing!!!
Beginning TODAY through September 4, anyone 18+ in the U.S. can vote for Carlinville as the winner once per day, every day.
Besides the elite title as Hallmark's Merriest Christmas Town, the winning town will have the opportunity to serve as the filming location for a future Hallmark holiday movie! 🎬🎄
People have been saying for years that Carlinville feels like something straight out of a Hallmark movie. Now we have the chance to show the world why!
Let’s show Hallmark just how much Christmas spirit can fit into one little town. ❤️
🎄 Select Carlinville today
🎄 Come back and do it again tomorrow
🎄 Keep going every day through September 4
🎄 Share this and help us spread the word!
VOTE NOW: https://merriestchristmastownscontest.hallmarkchannel.com/vote/06
City of Carlinville Hallmark Channel WSMI KMOV KSDK News WICS ABC Newschannel 20

08/19/2026

🚗🛣️ WHO’S COMING HOME TO BLACKBURN? ❤️🖤

The list is growing, and we’re starting to see Beavers from near and far making plans to come home for Homecoming & Family Weekend 2026!

Take a look at our current list of registrants 👀⬇️ — and then ask yourself:

Is YOUR name on the list yet?

If you’ve been thinking about coming back to Blackburn, this is your sign to make it official! Even if you haven’t decided which events you’ll attend, registering your attendance helps us know you’re making the trip.

🚨 A FEW IMPORTANT DEADLINES ARE COMING UP:

🎁 September 1 — Homecoming Box
Only 12 boxes remain! Order by September 1 to get your limited-edition box, including this year’s commemorative Homecoming T-shirt.

🎁September 1 - Commemorative Homecoming Tee
Don't want the Homecoming Box, but still want something to remember this weekend by, order your own commemorative Homecoming & Family Weekend T-shirt.

🍻 September 1 — Scenic Route Crawl
Register by September 1 to guarantee your Scenic Route Crawl T-shirt and reserve your spot on the shuttle.

⛳ ONLY 5TEAM SPOTS REMAIN — B-Club Golf Tournament
Get your foursome together for Friday’s tournament at Carlinville Country Club before the final spots are gone!

🏃 September 1 — Blackburn 5K Registration

🛍️ September 14 — Roadside Finds Vendor Registration

🏠 September 14 — Mile 100: McKinley Celebration Dinner Registration

📅 September 25–27, 2026
A Blackburn Road Trip: Where All Roads Lead Back to Blackburn

Whether you’re coming from down the road or across the country, there’s still time to get your name on the list.

👉 Register, see the full schedule, and get all the Homecoming details at:
www.blackburn.edu/homecoming

Your classmates are coming. Your campus is waiting. Are you in?