Reunion 2009 scheduled May 28-31

Nearly 1,000 alumni, guests to travel from Lebanon and Saratoga for celebration

Parade of alumni from Reunion past

From Saratoga Springs and as far away as the Middle East, more than 700 Skidmore College alumni and their guests will travel to campus this weekend to celebrate Reunion 2009, scheduled May 28-31.

Michael Sposili, director of alumni affairs and college events, says that the number of alumni and their guests will exceed 1,000 over the four days—a strong response, particularly in light of the current economy.  “We’ve urged alumni to think of this as an affordable vacation,” Sposili explained.  “We have tried to make reunion an affordable opportunity for our alumni. We’re hoping that people will see it as a low-cost vacation option and a great way to connect with their friends,” he added.

The event will recognize alumni whose class years end in 4 and 9.  Five members of the Class of 1944 will be on hand for their 65th reunion, while more than 100 members of the Class of 2004 will observe their fifth.  Twenty-one alumni who live in Saratoga Springs will make the short trip to campus for the celebration while one graduate, Arwa Damon of the Class of 1999, is traveling 5,500 miles from Lebanon for the event.  Damon is the Jakarta-based correspondent for CNN.

High points of the weekend will be Saturday’s Alumni Awards Recognition Ceremony, which will honor a select group of alumni from various classes for career and volunteer achievements, including service to Skidmore; and the “parade of classes” that precedes the ceremony. Class gifts also will be presented following the ceremony.

Other highlights of the weekend include a dinner cruise on Lake George for the Class of 1959, celebrating its golden reunion; 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; and tours of the Zankel Music Center now under construction and scheduled to open in early 2010. James Kettlewell, professor emeritus of art history, will lead a bus tour of Skidmore’s “old” downtown campus.  In addition, a walking tour of the old campus will be led by Robert Jones, associate professor and chair of the Economics Department, and Heather Moore, a 2008 graduate. The two collaborated on the recently published book The Architect of Necessity: Skidmore’s First Home in Downtown Saratoga.

The annual alumni golf tournament will take place at the Saratoga Spa State Park, and guided tours of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame also are scheduled. Fireworks are scheduled at 10 p.m. Saturday night, followed by dancing to music by Soul Session, a band featuring alumnus Garland Nelson, a 1996 graduate.

In addition, Skidmore’s Office of Career Services will provide an overview of services available to alumni who may be in transition as a result of the economic downturn. In recognition of another current event, the Office of Alumni Affairs and College Events will follow recommended precautions to address H1N1 flu concerns and large crowds by installing portable hand-washing stations at the biggest events:  the awards ceremony and Saturday’s all-class picnic on Case Green.

For details about reunion, including a complete schedule, please click here.



 

Tags: reunion 2009, arwa damon, michael sposili