by Kevin A. Brown, Director of Alumni Relations

Over 300 alumni and guests returned to campus June 7 and 8 to celebrate their Reunions, with classmates Madeline (Maddy) Johnson Stein ’68 coming from as far west as Atherton, CA and Kathleen (Kay) York ’68 traveling more than 3500 miles from London, England.

Members of the Classes of 1963 and 1968 gathered with other alumni on Friday for a downtown excursion to the Barnes Museum and, despite some heavy rain, a full weekend of laughter and reminiscing could be heard across the campus long into the night. The Class of 1963 was also the winner of the Cornell Cup for the class with the largest attendance at Reunion with 37 members returning to celebrate 50 years of memories.

We were honored to greet Mary Berlin Benjamin ’43, who proudly carried her class banner from the Wishing Well to the Great Room in the Commons for the Parade of Classes, and we were delighted to welcome more than 100 alumni, families and friends to the young alumni picnic on the Haber Green. The sun shone brightly on Saturday and allowed us to stay outdoors for the dedication ceremony of the Outdoor Café Terrace with members of the Dr. M. Fredric Rieders ’80 family, Betty Jean and Karl Rieders in attendance.

Six classes were recognized for their expanded fundraising goals that allowed for Reunion Class Naming Opportunities. The Class of 1948 dedicated its class gift to Annual Fund Scholarships while the Class of 1953 dedicated its class gift to the Annual Fund. The Class of 1958 decided to focus their fundraising efforts to name four faculty offices and the Class of 1963 chose to name a Smart Classroom. Last but certainly not least was the Class of 1968 choosing naming of the Black Box Theater for their contribution and the Class of 1973 dedicating its class gift to Annual Fund scholarships.

Alumni Association Awards were presented at Saturday’s lunch by Vice President Andrew Brooks ’09, Past President Faye Senneca ’59, and Board members Natalie Harris ’08 & Dr. Anna Miller Buinewicz  ’81. Class Officer and Mary Louise Armstrong Wolf Awards were presented to deserving alumni and the coveted Golden Disc Awards were presented to the following: Tanesha Waid ’13 (Senior Golden Disc);  Babette (Babs) Senker Krug ’68 (Golden Disc for Meritorious Service); and Carol Rogoff Hallstrom ’63 (Golden Disc for Distinguished Achievement). A detailed report listing and honoring alumni award recipients and Annual Fund Reunion Class Awards will be listed in Arcadia Magazine and the Annual Report.

Many classmates talked about creating mini-reunions on their own to fill the time between this past weekend and their next Reunion in five years. Clearly there was a power and passion that occupied the Arcadia campus at the 2013 Reunion weekend. In the meantime, Class Officers whose class years end in 4s and 9s are already planning for their Reunion in 2014 that will capture the same spirit as the one that was just celebrated.