Aloha, Alumni: Snapshots from Reunion 2015

More than 1,000 alumni and friends returned to Oswego June 4-7 for a “hula-day,” our luau-themed Reunion 2015. This year, President Deborah F. and Michael Stanley welcomed alumni from 29 states and as far away as Australia and from class years ranging from 1942 to 2015.

Reunion 2015 offered a wide array of activities. The sporting folks played in a golf outing at the Oswego Country Club (and witnessed a foursome sink an eagle shot 130 yards away from the green!), ran in a 5K on campus or started their morning with group yoga.

Others took the opportunity to learn about the campus during a college update by Executive Assistant to the President Howard Gordon ’74 M’78, about the stars during a planetarium show, about new resources and equipment, including a 3D printer at Penfield Library or about how hat fashions have evolved over the past 100 years in a presentation by Marlene Gilbert Miner ’55.

Reunion_2016_logo All Reunion attendees saw firsthand how their beautiful lakeside campus continues to grow and improve. Some opted to take the “hard hat” tour of Tyler Hall as well as tours of many new and renovated campus spaces, including Romney Field House, Rice Creek Field Station, Village Townhouses and Shineman Center for Science, Engineering and Innovation.

We made time to remember our deceased classmates during special gatherings, including the Class of 1965 Remembrance Ceremony hosted by President Deborah F. Stanley and Michael Stanley at Shady Shore and the dedication of a new campus memorial, Peace—Free and Easy, in memory of four alumni lost on 9/11 and Pan Am Flight 103: Colleen Brunner ’90, Richard Caproni ’89, Michael Hannan ’89 and Lynne Hartunian ’89.

A total of 892 people made gifts in honor of Reunion, raising $154,676 for their alma mater. The Class of 1965 had the largest percentage of classmates participate in the giving challenge with 20 percent and won the 2015 Participation Cup. While the Class of 1975 had 11 percent participation, it raised the most money, giving $41,155. But not to be outdone, Sonya Buecken Lorrain ’94 made a last-minute cash gift of $90 at the luau picnic on Saturday to ensure her gift was reflective of her graduation year—increasing the total amount from $19,004 to $19,094.

With 16 mini-reunion groups and 13 milestone anniversary classes celebrating, the whole campus and Oswego community were hopping with activities. The Friday night BBQ at Fallbrook brought together more than 600 people and 258 alumni opted to relive their college days, staying in on-campus housing in Hart and Sheldon halls.

Don’t miss out on next year’s festivities! Mark your calendars now for Reunion 2016, June 9-12.