Reflecting on our past and future
Campus was buzzing for Reunion Weekend 2023, when more than 780 alumni from classes ending in 3 and 8 as well as alumni of Skidmore’s Opportunity Program returned to catch up with friends, learn about exciting new developments, including the under-construction McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center, and honor classmates and fellow alumni.
Whether it has been decades since alumni were on campus or it feels like they were a student just yesterday, Skidmore remains a place where all alumni can feel at home.
The June 1-4 celebration featured tours of Saratoga Springs and campus, including the new Billie Tisch ’48 Center for Integrated Sciences; cherished Skidmore traditions, such as the Parade of Classes and Alumni Awards and Recognition Ceremony; opportunities to return to the classroom and learn about timely topics from Skidmore faculty; and a Tang Teaching Museum exhibition dedicated to talented alumni artists. These were just a few of the ways in which alumni were able to enjoy being back on campus, connecting with one another and their Skidmore roots.
Celebrating 50 years of the Opportunity Program
The College also welcomed back 60 alumni, faculty, and staff of the Opportunity Program (OP) to celebrate 50 years since the first class graduated in 1973. The OP50 reunion included special programming to highlight the achievements of the Opportunity Program and its alumni, allow alumni to catch up with the current OP office and its dedicated staff, and explore ways to further engage and celebrate our diverse alumni population.
“Fifty years ago, I graduated from this incredible college, and the Opportunity Program is what made it all possible for me,” said Linda Jackson-Chalmers ’73 who received the 50th Reunion Service Award. “My experiences on campus were not always easy, but they were always enlightening. So much so that I left knowing I had a life-changing experience here at Skidmore College.”
In reflecting on the strength, determination, and bond of this important Skidmore community over the past half-century, Skidmore introduced two OP alumnae: Barbara Lucas-Roberts ’73, who was celebrating her 50th reunion, and recent graduate Issy Mejia ’23. Their connection was immediate, illustrating the powerful relationship created through their shared experiences as first-generation college students, women of color, OP students, and Skidmore alumnae.
Our next century
Reunion 2023 also marked the conclusion of a yearlong celebration of Skidmore’s Centennial. Throughout the past year, our community honored all that Skidmore has accomplished over the past 100 years. There could be no better finale to this milestone than to celebrate with the Skidmore reunion traditions of live music, dancing, and a spectacular firework display in honor of renewed connections and excitement and hope for Skidmore’s next 100 years.
Alumni awards
On Saturday, June 3, the Skidmore College Alumni Association bestowed honors upon 10 exceptional alumni who have given back to the College and demonstrated achievement in their careers after graduation.
“Like any great institution, we are more than the sum of our parts. This ‘something more’ – call it the soul of Skidmore – is what so many are dedicated to preserving and sustaining,” said President Marc C. Conner. “We could not do our work without the support of the thousands of alumni, parents, family, and friends who have dedicated themselves to this effort.”
Congratulations to the 2023 Alumni Association Award recipients!
Pictured (clockwise from top left): Jennifer Aborn Hart ’82, P’16, Chair of Reunions; Deborah Peavey Graves ’83, Outstanding Service Award recipient; Julianne Cartwright Traylor ’68, Outstanding Service Award recipient; Robert F. Resnick ’88, president of Skidmore’s Alumni Association; Skidmore College President Marc C. Conner; Debora Freedman Clower ’83, Outstanding Service Award recipient; Scott Jacoby ’93, Distinguished Achievement Award recipient; Rachael Thomeer ’18, David H. Porter Award for Young Alumni Service recipient; Dana R. Metes ’90, chair, Alumni Awards Committee; Linda Jackson-Chalmers ’73, 50th Reunion Service Award recipient; Fred Guttenberg ‘88, Creative Thought Matters Award of Distinction; Joan Layng Dayton ’63, P’93, P’91, Jacqueline M. Jung ’61 Lifetime Service Award recipient; Angel B. Pérez ’98, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award recipient; and Kim Wachenheim Wagman ’88, P’15, Outstanding Service Award recipient.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS HERE
Watch the awards ceremony livestream
An incredible year for Reunion class giving
There was much to celebrate this year, including 14 new class records and 10 new records for Reunion giving, which totaled an impressive $14,857,454 and included $1,723,516 toward the Skidmore Fund, thanks to 1,351 alumni spanning Reunion classes from 1948 to 2018.
This year’s total Reunion giving was the second highest in the College’s history – and the largest collective Reunion Gift since 2009. Donors included 481 members of the Loyalty Circle, recognizing three or more years of consecutive giving; 136 members of the President’s Society; and 183 Legacy Society members. This outstanding display of generosity was made possible through the support of the Skidmore community and the efforts of nearly 200 fundraising and Reunion volunteers.
On behalf of the College, President Conner offered his sincere thanks to all who participated, and attendees viewed a message of gratitude from members of the campus community. Alumni Association President Rob Resnick ’88, a longtime College and class volunteer and member of the Board of Trustees, noted the important role each class plays in Skidmore’s ability to offer scholarships and financial aid and support a creative community that pursues innovation, inclusion, and growth.
A complete listing of Reunion class giving can be viewed here.
Photo Gallery
