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Think 'green,' enjoy the campus and see your friends

Just announced! Dana Hartman Freyer '65, the founder of Global Partnership for Afghanistan, <br>will deliver the keynote address Friday night at Reunion 2010.
Just announced! Dana Hartman Freyer '65, the founder of Global Partnership for Afghanistan,
will deliver the keynote address Friday night at Reunion 2010.

Reunion gives alumni a chance to reconnect and catch up with old friends, but it’s not every year that a professor can use the weekend as an opportunity to thank the alumni who made his education possible.

During this year’s Reunion, Mohamed Diagne ’97, the Oakes Ames Associate Professor of Physics, will catch up with the Class of 1945, whose alumnae supported the Dean Burdick Scholarship. Diagne, a recipient, said he would not have attended the College without it.

“I have to be really thankful to them because they made it feasible for me to be here,” he said.

Pat Whitestone ’45 said that the scholarship was established not only to honor E. Alverna Burdick, former dean of students, but also to support deserving students like Diagne, who she met previously at a scholarship luncheon on campus.

“Seeing Mohamed again will be great,” she said. “His is such an amazing story.”

The Class of 1945 isn’t the only group with class-exclusive events planned for Reunion 2010. See the preliminary schedule of events to find out what else is in the works and keep checking back for updates. The panels, tours and demonstrations themed to environmental sustainability are also popular.

Sarah Fournier, assistant director of Reunions, said attendance may well set a record this year.

Almost every class is planning special events and making an extra effort to get alumni to return to campus, she said. The Class of 1980 has even organized its own art show and trip to Ocean Beach -- and raised the bar for its class gift after blowing through the original goal. Their Class of 1980 Scholars campaign is driving enthusiasm and response, Fournier said.

Highlights for all classes include:

• Just announced! Dana Hartman Freyer ’65, the founder of Global Partnership for Afghanistan, will deliver the keynote address Friday night, titled “Crossing Boundaries, Moving Mountains: You Can Change the World.”
• New England lobster bake
• Alumni Parade
• Convocation with alumni awards and an address by President Higdon
• Class receptions and dinners
• Panels with faculty, staff and alumni, including The History of Environmental Sustainability at Connecticut College with young alumni speakers and campus environmentalists Glenn Dreyer MA'83, Charles and Sarah P. Becker '27 Director of the Arboretum, and Amy Cabaniss, campus environmental coordinator.
“Green” is the theme of Reunion this year, with lots of special events and programming. Look for them on the schedule, marked with a green leaf.

Don’t miss out. Reunion registration numbers are more than double where they were last year at this time. Register today.

-Rachel Harrington

 



April 14, 2010