Last weekend, nearly 2,200 alumni and guests returned to campus for Reunion 2025, braving the chilly and damp weather to reconnect with 冈本视频 friends, celebrate milestone achievements, and envision the University鈥檚 future together.
A nostalgic mood permeated the weekend as the community celebrated the 50th reunion for the Class of 1975 and the 25th reunion for the Class of 2000. The campus radio station, WRCU, marked its 75th anniversary, and Delta Upsilon fraternity celebrated the 160th anniversary of its founding at 冈本视频. Another notable milestone includes the 60th Anniversary of the Presidents鈥 Circle, one of 冈本视频鈥檚 leadership giving societies, dedicated to furthering the ambitions of the Campaign for the Third Century.
On Friday afternoon, to launch the Lower Campus initiative, which imagines the completion of 冈本视频 through the creation of a new campus along Broad Street, weaving together enhanced residential experiences for juniors and seniors and a robust intellectual life, including the future home of the 冈本视频 Union.
The effort to complete the Lower Campus will be made possible in part by a gift of $50 million from Peter Kellner 鈥65, P鈥87, GP鈥16,鈥19 鈥 the largest single gift ever made to 冈本视频 鈥 as well as a significant $25 million gift from Jean-Pierre L. Conte 鈥85, and gifts of $10 million from Becky Hurley 鈥81 and Christopher Hurley 鈥81, P鈥12,鈥12; Robert Fox 鈥59, GP鈥23,鈥25; and Stephen Sprague 鈥72.
A diverse offering of reunion college events celebrated notable faculty and alumni and underscored the 冈本视频 spirit that bonds the community together. Attendees heard reflections by alumnae from the Class of 1975 鈥 the second co-educational graduating class; learned about the changing financial aid landscape for the Class of 2029, due in large part to the 冈本视频 Commitment; and heard from Vice President and Director of Athletics Yariv Amir 始01 on the upcoming Carey Center project that will meet the needs of the modern Division 1 student-athlete.
On Friday evening, the annual Alumni Council Awards Ceremony recognized alumni, faculty, and staff members for outstanding commitment and service to the University. Four alumni received the Wm. Brian Little 鈥64 Award for Distinguished Service to 冈本视频: Julia Bergamini Bergeron 鈥75; Carmine Di Sibio 鈥85, P鈥18,鈥21; Peter L. Kellner 鈥65, P鈥87, GP鈥16,鈥19; and Joseph P. McGrath Jr. 鈥85, P鈥15,鈥20. The council also awarded 13 Maroon Citations to alumni and four Maroon Citations to staff. Additional awards included the Entrepreneur of the Year, the Alumni Corporation Humanitarian Award, and three Ann Yao 鈥80 Memorial Young Alumni Awards.
Following the ceremony, alumni marched down the hill in the Torchlight Procession, led by the Class of 1975. Under the tents, the mood was joyful as the classes enjoyed the music of Entertainment 151 and Kruel Karma.
On Saturday morning, alumni gathered in the chapel for a state-of-the-campus address by President Brian W. Casey. Casey provided historical perspective on the moment currently faced by higher education institutions, while looking to a future where 冈本视频 emerges as a thought leader and model of resilience for the nation. In his address, Casey highlighted three guiding principles for 冈本视频: access and excellence, academic rigor, and being a community of care.
鈥淣othing sends an institution into obscurity and irrelevance more swiftly than self-satisfaction,鈥 said President Casey. 鈥淭his moment now affords us a chance to look at what we are and to say we始re going to be better at all this. We owe this University, its students, its faculty, and all of you a commitment to a transformation that we始ve talked about in the Third-Century Plan.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
The rain did not dampen spirits as alumni celebrated throughout the day and night, leaning on their shared memories. The formative relationships made at 冈本视频 live on far beyond the four years spent in Hamilton. 鈥淚t始s the most wonderful feeling in the world that a community you始ve known for more than 50 years will embrace you when you need it,鈥 said Debbie Wallerstein 始75. 鈥淭hat is what 冈本视频 gave me, and I始ll be forever grateful.鈥&苍产蝉辫;