September 2006

ALUMNI NEWS

Relive the Good Ol’ Days: Celebrate Your Reunion at Alumni Weekend 2006

Andrew Campanella '01

When was the last time you saw your college roommate, your favorite study partners, or your regular lunch crowd from your AU days? Alumni Weekend, Oct. 20-22, is less than two months away, and the reason for coming is simple: You’re never too old (or young) to see college friends and laugh about the good old days.

In preparation for the weekend’s festivities, Alumni Programs staff and groups of alumni volunteers are working hard to ensure that class reunions will be fun-filled, memorable, and well worth a visit back to campus. This year, the classes of 1981, 1996, and 2001 celebrate their milestone 25-, 10-, and 5-year reunions, respectively. While Alumni Weekend is an opportunity for alumni of all class years to reconvene on campus, it is also ideal for class reunions, as alumni can spend time with others from their own class and take advantage of myriad events offered for all alums. As an added bonus, this year, special discounted ticket packages have been designed to entice reunion-year alumni to join in the weekend’s celebrations.

In an effort to create events each class will enjoy, Alumni Programs staff have recruited the help of alumni volunteers from each reunion class. Two cochairs for each class helped plan their specific class party and assembled a committee of fellow classmates to make phone calls encouraging attendance. This year’s cochairs include Don Knapp, SPA/BA, and Susan Kearns Tusing, SOC/BS, for the Class of 1981, Mark Sylvia, SPA/BA, and Julie Safer, SOC/BA, for the Class of 1996, and Andrew Campanella, SOC/BA, and Anne Caprara, SPA/BA, for the Class of 2001.

Julie Safer '96

“After 10 years, I am so excited to reconnect with old friends and catch up with my classmates,” says Safer. “Attending this reunion will be a blast as we gather back on campus to reminisce about old times and enjoy a weekend full of laughs, memories, good food, and entertainment!"

As intended, each reunion party, held on Friday, Oct. 20, will be very different, tailored to the tastes and memories of its respective alumni. The 25-year reunion will be celebrated at the President’s house near campus, the 10-year reunion at the Front Page in Dupont Circle, and the 5-year reunion at the Four Fields (formerly known as the 4Ps) in Cleveland Park. “If the 5-year reunion was any indication, our 10-year reunion will be as memorable and full of activities," adds Sylvia, who also chaired his reunion five years ago. All of the parties will feature food and drink.

While the reunion parties promise plenty of time to catch up with classmates, other Alumni Weekend activities will also include class-specific features. At Saturday afternoon’s AU picnic, areas of the amphitheatre will be designated for the reunion classes to meet while they enjoy a barbecue lunch. Class reunion group photos will be taken Saturday night at the “Movers and Shakers” cocktail reception at the Ronald Reagan Building downtown.

Alumni Weekend 2006 promises to be a special celebration for all alumni, but for the milestone 25-, 10-, and 5-year reunion alumni, the weekend will be even more meaningful. “As someone who looks back fondly with my memories at AU, this would be a great opportunity to get to see classmates who have moved away from Washington over the years to reminisce about how our AU experiences have shaped our lives,” notes Caprara, class of 2001 cochair.

Take advantage of the new discount ticket packages for reunion-year alumni and attend all three events--the class reunion party, AU picnic, and “Movers and Shakers” - for one price. Visit the Alumni Weekend Web site for ticket prices and more information.

-Tara Sherwin

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