Reunion count approaches 1000 as alums reconnect

Nearly 1,000 Skidmore alumni and their guests from as far away as France returned to campus for a sun-splashed Reunion 2011 weekend. 

Two members of the Class of 1941 made it back for their 70th reunion, while more than 150 members of the Class of 2006 observed their fifth. Seventy-six members of the Class of 1961 returned to celebrate their 50 ^th reunion and the Class of 1986 celebrated its 25 reunion with 106 alumni on hand.

"We Skidmore graduates constitute a thriving, diverse community," said Victoria Tisch '94 in her welcoming remarks at the Alumni Association Recognition Ceremony, held in Helen Filene Ladd Hall in the Arthur Zankel Music Center. "We each had our own unique Skidmore experience, but there's a commonality that connects us all, a sense of kinship that spans the years, the presidents, the campuses. Making connections is what a Skidmore education is all about, and that's what reunion is about as well."

Recognized during the ceremony were the following:

• Distinguished Achievement Award: Terry Thomas Fulmer '76 , Erline Perkins McGriff Professor and dean of the College of Nursing at New York University and chair of the Skidmore Trustees Advancement Committee;
  
  
• Creative Thought Matters Award: David Luks '96 , founder and CEO of Honeydrop Beverages, the only line of ready-to-drink teas and juices sweetened exclusively with honey;
  
  
• 50 ^th Reunion Service Award: Jacqueline Jung '61, volunteer appreciated for her service in such roles as class FOP chair, chair of the alumni board Leadership Committee, chair of the alumni board Nominating Committee, a member of the National FOP Committee and its executive committee, and other volunteer positions;
  
  
• Joseph C. Palamountain Award for Young Alumni Achievement: Jessa Blades '01, founder of Blades Natural Beauty and pioneer in the eco-beauty movement;
  
  
• Outstanding Service Award: Steven Cornell '81 , leader of a singular effort in the late 1970s to transform men's ice hockey from a club sport into a varsity team; named Most Dedicated Player in 1979, 1980, and 1981; and coach in 1982;
  
  
• Outstanding Service Award: Ellen Rein Goldin '61 , volunteer appreciated for her service in such roles as class agent, member of the National Friends of the Presidents Committee, member of the National Leadership Gifts Committee, admissions correspondents chair, member of the Parents Council, and alumna trustee;
  
  
• Outstanding Service Award: Alexandra "Sandy" Linen Halsey '56 , volunteer appreciated for her service in such roles as a class agent and former co-chair of the Parents Council, president of the Central New Jersey Alumni Club, class president, reunion chair, class fund chair, class FOP chair, and reunion fund chair;
  
  
• Outstanding Service Award: Sandra Lipson '71 , volunteer appreciated for her service in such roles as chair of career and professional development on the Alumni Association board, member of the Tang Museum National Advisory Council, and organizer of networking events for Boston-area alumni artists and gallery owners, class agent, and reunion volunteer;
  
  
• Outstanding Service Award: Joan Agisim Odes '66 , volunteer appreciated for her service in such roles as class agent, class fund chair, FOP chair for her 25 ^th reunion, class president, and membership on the Reunion Giving Program Advisory Council;
  
  
• Outstanding Service Award: Mike Sposili , director of the Office of Alumni Affairs and College Events, who is credited with helping to develop and launch innovative initiatives to re-engage alumni with the College and changing the nature of alumni experience, both on and off campus.

In addition, the Alumni Association showed its appreciation for extraordinary service rendered to the College to two non-alumni by inducting them as honorary members. They are:

• Robert Ladd, trustee emeritus. Son of the late George and Helen Filene Ladd '22, he has made many contributions toward strengthening Skidmore's music program and has helped to advance the College through his work over many years on several trustee committees;
  
  
• Jim Ricker, parent of three sons who attended Skidmore and a volunteer for many year in athletics. Ricker helped to raise the funds necessary to save the men's ice hockey program in 2002, revive the Friends of Skidmore Athletics (FOSA), establish the Skidmore Athletics Hall of Fame, and develop an athletic facilities master plan.

Other highlights of the weekend included a dinner cruise on Lake George for the Class of 1961; the annual Alumni Reunion Art Exhibition at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery; the traditional array of mini-college classes taught by members of the Skidmore faculty; the annual alumni golf tournament play at Saratoga Spa State Park; and dancing to music by Soul Session, featuring Garland Nelson, a 1996 graduate who celebrated his 15 ^th reunion.