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WELCOME WEEK EVENT

Claim Your Anteater Sweatshirt

Courtesy of the Office of the Chancellor, incoming students are invited to receive a free embroidered UC Irvine sweatshirt and show their Anteater pride.

Two people standing outdoors in front of dense green foliage, wearing dark gray UC Irvine hooded sweatshirts with the text “UC Irvine Established 1965” and making hand gestures toward the camera.

JOIN THE TRADITION

A beloved UC Irvine tradition – welcoming every incoming Anteater into our community, one sweatshirt at a time.

What started as one chancellor’s mission to build Anteater pride has become one of UC Irvine’s most beloved campus traditions. In 2011, Chancellor Michael Drake – noticing that the campus was filled with sweatshirts from other universities – partnered with then-Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Michael R. Gottfredson to change the narrative. Their idea was simple: give every new UC Irvine student a sweatshirt of their own. From that moment, a tradition was born.

Each year, all incoming Anteaters enrolled in a degree program – including transfer students – receive a complimentary, limited-edition UC Irvine sweatshirt. Every design is unique to its year, featuring special colors, slogans, and artwork that reflect the spirit of the UC Irvine community. Past designs have showcased Peter the Anteater, celebrated ‘Eater Nation, and even commemorated the university’s 60th anniversary. With an estimated retail value of $90, these premium cotton-polyester blend hoodies are made exclusively as a gift for new students and are not available for purchase anywhere.

"Whenever I walk around campus, I'm delighted to see so many of our students proudly displaying that they attend this great university. And now many of our alumni are also sporting UC Irvine's name and proclaiming their membership in our Anteater community."

Howard GillmanChancellor of the University of California, Irvine

Sweatshirt pickup takes place primarily during Welcome Week at the Newkirk Alumni Center, where hundreds of UC Irvine alums volunteer each year to hand out thousands of sweatshirts to incoming students. It is more than just a giveaway – it is a moment of connection between new Anteaters and the alums who came before them, a living reminder that the UC Irvine community extends well beyond graduation.

Are you a UC Irvine alum who wants to be part of welcoming the next generation of Anteaters? We invite you to volunteer at New Student Sweatshirt Pickup and help pass this cherished tradition forward.

Save the date

New Student Sweatshirt Pickup

Sept. 22 to 25, 2026
Newkirk Alumni Center

Kick off your UC Irvine experience with a new Anteater tradition! Courtesy of the Office of the Chancellor, all incoming first-year students, transfer students, and first-year graduate students will receive a free embroidered UC Irvine sweatshirt to celebrate the start of their UC Irvine journey and show their Anteater pride.

Join us at the Newkirk Alumni Center, Sept. 22-25, to pick up your sweatshirt and connect with the UC Irvine community.

Appointments are required, and sweatshirts will be distributed while supplies last. Registration opens in mid-September. Please monitor your UC Irvine email address for further details. Walk-ins will not be permitted.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Welcome Our Newest Anteaters

Join us in launching one of UC Irvine’s newest traditions: New Student Sweatshirt Pickup.

Each year during Welcome Week, more than 11,000 incoming students visit the Newkirk Alumni Center to receive a complimentary embroidered UC Irvine sweatshirt, a symbol of Anteater pride and belonging as they begin their journey at UC Irvine.

We invite alumni, donors, parents, faculty, staff and friends to help make this experience memorable by volunteering to distribute sweatshirts and welcome our newest Anteaters to the UC Irvine community. Whether you can give an hour or a full day, your support helps create a warm and inspiring first impression while fostering a lasting connection to their new alma mater.

Be part of this special tradition and help instill Anteater pride from day one.

Volunteer registration closes Friday, Sept. 11.

Volunteer for Sweatshirt Pickup

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about eligibility, availability or how the tradition works? We’ve got you covered.

New Student Sweatshirt Pickup is open to all incoming UC Irvine students enrolled in a degree program – including first-year and transfer students. This tradition is specifically for students who are new to UC Irvine in the current academic year. Continuing students, graduate-only re-enrollments or those not enrolled in a degree program are not eligible. Please note: this is not available to the general UC Irvine student body at large.

Each eligible incoming student may receive one (1) sweatshirt. Sweatshirts are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, so we encourage students to participate during Welcome Week when pickup is in full swing.

No. These limited-edition sweatshirts are not for sale – anywhere. They are produced exclusively as a complimentary gift for incoming students and are not available through the UC Irvine Bookstore, the Alumni Association or any other retailer. Their exclusivity is part of what makes them so special!

We love your enthusiasm, but unfortunately we are unable to fulfill requests for past or current sweatshirts. This tradition began in 2011, and each year’s design is produced in limited quantities solely for that year’s incoming class. Please do not contact the Alumni Association to request a sweatshirt – we aren’t able to accommodate these requests. We do encourage you to check out UC Irvine’s official merchandise at the campus bookstore for other great Anteater gear!

Sweatshirt pickup takes place primarily during Welcome Week at the Newkirk Alumni Center. Exact dates, times and any additional pickup opportunities will be announced by the UC Irvine Alumni Association ahead of the fall quarter. Keep an eye on the Alumni Association website and your UC Irvine email for updates.

The New Student Sweatshirt Pickup tradition began in 2011, launched under the leadership of Chancellor Michael Drake. What started as an effort to build Anteater pride on campus has grown into one of UC Irvine’s most cherished annual traditions, with thousands of sweatshirts distributed each year and hundreds of alumni volunteers participating.

UC Irvine alumni are invited to volunteer each fall during Welcome Week to help distribute sweatshirts at the Newkirk Alumni Center. It’s a wonderful way to give back and connect with the newest members of the Anteater community. Volunteer sign-ups open in the summer – use the “Volunteer for Sweatshirt Pickup” link above.