The weather is warm and the campus looks gorgeous – it’s the perfect time to come home to Union. And that’s just what 2,000 visitors plan to do May 18-20.
“ReUnion is that special weekend when alumni return to campus and celebrate the college experiences and people – the friends, the professors – that helped make them who they are today,” said Damond Heath, associate director of Alumni and Parent Engagement. “Reconnecting and remembering, and making new memories, is what ReUnion is all about.”
Highlights of ReUnion 2018 include all the perennial favorites, like the Alumni Parade (10:30 a.m., Saturday), the family picnic and kids carnival (noon, Saturday), and the fireworks display (9 p.m., Saturday). In addition, this year’s schedule offers some special events featuring alumni.
Among these are:
Watson Fellowship 50th Anniversary Panel Discussion (Friday, 2 p.m.): Hear about the incredible journeys Union’s Watson Fellows have taken around the world and the lessons learned from these expeditions. Panelists include Arnold Drogen ’70, Eugene Kokot ’70, Steven David ’72, Michele Beaulieu ’81, Anastasie Prokhorova ’01, Nori Pepe ’03, Adam Grode ’05 and Shilpa Darivemula ’13. A reception celebrating the anniversary follows.
Reimagining Science & Engineering: A Hard Hat Tour (Saturday, 2 p.m.): Join us as we showcase a milestone in the making – the $100 million Integrated Science & Engineering Complex. This complex is critical to attracting and retaining the caliber of students and faculty that will take our programs, and the College, to the next level. Once completed, this building will rank among the finest undergraduate science and engineering facilities in the nation. Scott Kirkton, associate professor of biology, and Loren Rucinski, director of Facilities and Planning, will lead the tour.
Alumni Diversity and Inclusion Panel/Reception (Saturday, 3 p.m.): Everyone is invited to attend this panel discussion, moderated by Gretchel Hathaway, chief diversity officer and dean of diversity and inclusion. Panelists include Kyrie Kristopher York ’03, Ackeem Hill ’13, Alvaro Peters ’14 and Quisqueya Witbeck ’16. Light refreshments will be provided.
Data Analytics and Data Science Round Table (Saturday, 3 p.m.): Alumni from different industries will discuss the latest trends and applications in data analytics and data science. Come share your perspective with round table hosts Professors Tomas Dvorak (Economics), Nicholas Webb (Computer Science) and Roger Hoerl (Mathematics), who are designing a new Data Analytics minor at Union. The panel tentatively includes Harrison Kim ’13, Matt Wahl ’13, Andrew McCabe ’03, Jon Hill ’08, Peter Ziegler ’98, Matt Lippman ’13 and Matt Vieldkind ’08.
Also at ReUnion, the Alumni Council will present Alumni Gold Medals to Donald Foley ’73, Timothy McCabe ’73 and Mark Webster ’88. The Faculty Meritorious Service Award will be presented to President Stephen C. Ainlay and Judith Gardner Ainlay.