Reunion numbers to top 1,000
In this scene from Reunion 2013, classmates add a splash
of color to their headgear.
Skidmore is preparing to welcome more than 700 alumni for Reunion Weekend 2015, scheduled Thursday through Sunday, May 28-31, on campus.
Well over 1,000 alumni and guests representing class years ending in five and zero will be celebrated throughout the weekend. Mike Sposili, executive director of alumni affairs and college events, said that attendance “is up significantly from 2010, the last time this group of alumni was on campus.” Of particular note is the Class of 1975, which will celebrate its 40th reunion. “A total of 112 alumni from this class are coming back to campus,” said Sposili, noting, “this is a record for a 40th-reunion class.” He attributes the strong showing to “a really great group of alumni volunteers. This signals the importance of personal relationships to the success of a reunion gathering. The power of alumni volunteers and class connections make all the difference in the world,” said Sposili.
The Class of 2010, returning for its fifth reunion, also has strong attendance, with 153 alumni registered. The Class of 1965 is celebrating a milestone reunion, with 82 alumni attending their 50th reunion. Other milestone reunions include the Class of 1990, marking its 25th. A member of the Class of 1965 who lives in Israel will be traveling the farthest to attend – a total of 5,632 miles.
Highlights of Reunion 2015 include a Thursday-evening welcome reception at Falstaff’s and, new this year, a Sustainability Tour that demonstrates Skidmore’s commitment to green initiatives and renewable energy. Sustainability is increasingly a point of interest for incoming students and a program that Skidmore has become more deeply engaged in over the years. The College has earned recognition for its efforts in renewable energy (solar, geothermal, and hydro) and for its emphasis on using locally sourced food (some produced in the on-campus garden) in the College dining hall.
The Parade of Classes at Reunion 2013, led by Gail Dudack
’70, then-president of the Alumni Association, and
President Philip A. Glotzbach.
Traditional activities sure to please alumni of all ages include the Saturday Parade of Classes that precedes the Alumni Awards and Recognition Ceremony. Neil Kaye ’80, a distinguished forensic psychiatrist, will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award; I. Elaine Allen ’70, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of San Francisco, is the recipient of the Creative Thought Matters Award of Distinction. Claire A. Solomon ’10, program associate with the Covenant Foundation in New York City, is the recipient of the David H. Porter Award for Young Alumni, and Rachael Beard ’05, director of global user services for the International Rescue Committee, will receive the Joseph C. Palamountain Award for Young Alumni Achievement. The 50th Reunion Outstanding Service Award will go to Sue Steele Isbell ’65, who has been a tireless volunteer for Skidmore, following her career as a public health nurse and raising a family. Outstanding Service Awards will go to Judy Farmer Fulton ’65, Toby Weisberg Rubenstein ’65, Jane Roberts Alpert ’70 and Kim Roy ’80, who is also the parent of two young alumni.
Other activities will include the popular series of mini-college classes taught by Skidmore faculty on subjects ranging from the chemistry of jewelry making to politics in a post-Obama America, a golf outing at McGregor Links Country Club, class dinners, and a Saturday-night fireworks display.
Sposili said, “We hope that our returning alumni will see first-hand how much the College and the City of Saratoga Springs continue to grow and flourish, and that their visit to Skidmore will help deepen their sense of connection to classmates and the College.”
