We look forward to welcoming our incoming students at Menlo College’s New Student Orientation, from August 15-17.
In order to fully prepare for your time at Menlo College, all new students are required to attend our New Student Orientation program on campus. Orientation is designed to introduce incoming students to the academic and co-curricular services and programs vital to their successful transition to the Menlo community. Orientation is an important beginning step for students that provides opportunities for personal growth, meaningful connections and future academic success. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us as we celebrate academic excellence and outstanding student achievements at the 2025 Menlo College Honors Convocation Awards! This annual event recognizes students for their hard work, leadership, and dedication to their academic pursuits. We look forward to celebrating the exceptional achievements of our students together!
Menlo College Lūʻau: A Celebration of Culture, Community, and Aloha Spirit
Join us for one of Menlo College’s most cherished traditions—the 35th annual Menlo Lūʻau! Hosted by the Pacific Islander Club, this special event brings together the Menlo community and the public to celebrate the spirit and traditions of the Pacific Islands.
Whether you call the islands home or simply want to experience the warmth, hospitality, and joy of Polynesian culture, this lūʻau is for you. This event is FREE to attend and open to Menlo students, families, alumni, and the public.
Enjoy:
Live Student Performances & Music
Traditional Polynesian Food
Polynesian Vendor Market
Raffle Prizes & Games
Since welcoming our first student from Hawai‘i in 1941, Menlo College has maintained a strong connection to the islands. Today, nearly 10% of our domestic student body hails from Hawai‘i, and we proudly hold the designation of an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
The Menlo College Lūʻau is believed to be the longest-running lūʻau on the continent, a point of pride for our community and a lasting tribute to the cultural heritage of our Pacific Islander students.
Participate in engaging workshops and group activities, and then wrap up the day with our annual Lūʻau, hosted by the Pacific Islander Club. There will be free food, live music and entertainment, raffles, games, and more!
We welcome students and families year-round for information sessions, tours, and special events. Explore campus life as an Oak, there are a variety of visit options that you can combine to suit your needs. Learn more about scheduling an individual in-person or online campus tour, here.
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the Menlo soccer community will come together to take part in the annual Señor Carlos López Soccer Alumni Day. Current and past Oaks will play face-to-face on 7-on-7 games.
SCHEDULE
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Check-in
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM Opening Remarks
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Small Sided Games
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Food & Drinks
Carlos López took the reins of the men’s soccer team in 1961, and remained the program’s head coach until 1988. One of the winningest coaches in Menlo history, he accumulated 215 victories in his time here. All told, he led the team to 12 conference championships, and coached six All-Americans. At last year’s event, Larry López, the son of Carlos, opened the event by saying that his father “would be absolutely pleased to see so many older players” on the field and that it was “the most [the event] had ever had.”
One alumnus in attendance, Karl Buder ’66, was named an All-American while playing at Menlo. Buder, who came to Menlo in 1961, spoke of the early days under Carlos López: “We played major schools like Stanford, Cal, San Francisco State, and USF. We lost every game, but we never gave up. That built [the program] into what it is today, thanks to those who, in the early years, kept it up.” Another alumnus, Kris Whitten ’68, recalled that “Señor López was a mentor for a lot of us. He was also the dorm supervisor in Michaels Hall, where I lived. He used to come around and check on us.” Whitten was a team manager but was still given an athletic letter and jacket by Carlos López. Regarding that gesture, he said, “I sure did appreciate it, and 55 years later, I still appreciate it.”
