Alumni from last year’s 50th anniversary class gathered for a group photo during last year’s Reunion Weekend at SUNY Potsdam.
SUNY Potsdam is preparing for another Reunion Weekend filled with milestones and memories. Alumni from all class years are invited to return for this year’s festivities, which will be held from Thursday, July 12 to Sunday, July 15.
Reunion Weekend 2018 will feature several special celebrations, including the 50th anniversary for summer Orientation Leaders, a gathering of tuba and euphonium performance alumni from The Crane School of Music, and several special reunions for Greek organizations.
This year, four SUNY Potsdam sororities and four fraternities will mark milestone years during Reunion, including: Agonian Sorority (90 years), Delta Kappa Theta Fraternity (72 years), Delta Lamba Nu Sorority (48 years), Omega Delta Phi Sorority (57 years), Phi Kappa Pi Sorority (112 years), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity (60 years), Prometheus Fraternity (50 years) and Psi Phi Delta Fraternity (70 years).
With a jam-packed schedule of events, plenty of opportunities to catch up with classmates and meet alumni from all class years, plus an array of family-friendly activities, Reunion Weekend at SUNY Potsdam has something for everyone. It’s not too late to register to join in the fun. All alumni and friends are invited to join in the festivities. To find out more, call (315) 267-2120 or visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni/reunion.
Reunion Weekend will kick off with the Early Bird Gathering on Thursday, July 12, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., in Becky’s Place at Pratt Commons, located adjacent to the Raymond Hall lobby. Entertainment will be provided by Alex Vangellow (Hon. ’14), sponsored by the Omega Delta Phi and Sigma Tau Psi alumni. Immediately following, there will be a gathering for all Greek alumni and friends in the Townhouse courtyard.
The highlights for Friday, July 13 include yoga and drumming classes, and walking tours of campus, the Gibson Gallery, Maxcy Hall, The Crane School of Music, the WISER Greenhouse and the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning. There will also be presentations on historic photos of the Thousand Islands and St. Lawrence River by Alan Goldstein ’68, on historic Crane performances by Audio Engineer Emeritus Gary Galo ’73 and on the two “booklifts” in campus history by Archivist Emerita Jane Gatta Subramanian ’72.
Alumni are invited to visit with some of their favorite retired professors at the annual Emeriti Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Orientation Leaders will gather for a reunion celebration in the Student Success Center at 1:30 p.m., hosted by Louise Tyo ’00. At 2 p.m., the College will dedicate its Planetarium in honor of SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. Frank Revetta (Hon. ’05), recognizing him for his more than 50 years of service to SUNY Potsdam.
On Friday night, there will be a welcome reception in the Flagg Hall lobby for all alumni and friends from 4:30 to 6 p.m., followed by a food truck-style backyard barbecue dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Live music will be provided by Andy VanDuyne ’75 and Michael Welch, sponsored by PACES Dining Services.
On Saturday, July 14, attendees can start off their day at the annual Bear Walk/Run, or join in a walking tour of Bayside Cemetery. Crane tuba and euphonium alumni will gather for coffee with faculty and a special luncheon.
Guests won’t want to miss the Campus Block Party, returning again this year from 12:30 to 2 p.m., behind the Barrington Student Union. All alumni and friends are invited to attend this celebration, which will include a lunch buffet, a photo booth and live music by Wells and the Gathering, sponsored by Jane Morale ’80 and Glen Zagorski ’87.
The annual choral reading for Crane alumni will pay tribute to past conductors of the Crane Chorus, and will mark the 120th birthday of Helen Hosmer (Class of 1918), led by Dale Zurbrick ’68. The choral reading will be held from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. in the Ralph Wakefield Recital Hall.
Later in the afternoon, a gala reception, donor recognition ceremony and silent auction will be held in Thatcher Hall from 4 to 6 p.m. The class dinner and alumni award presentations will be held immediately following, in the Barrington Student Union Multi-Purpose Room.
This year’s Alumni Association award recipients will all be honored and recognized as follows:
- Minerva Award: Jason M. Patchen ’90
- Distinguished Service Award: Bonita L. Betters-Reed ’73
- Rising Star Award: Rebecca Kraft Benjamin ’08
- Honorary Lifetime Membership: Richard C. Dorf, Maureen E. Taylor and Carolyn Zwaga
- St. Lawrence Academy Medal: Robert L. Arnold ’53 and Richard Wiesenthal ’77
- Helen M. Hosmer Excellence in Music Teaching Award: Susan M. Vroman Cavanaugh ’77, Brenda Wheatley Vredenburg ’73 and Jeffrey Vredenburg ’72
Following the class dinner and award ceremony, The Crane School of Music will host the Crane Alumni Tuba-Euphonium concert, hosted by Professor Dr. Charles Guy and Professor Emeritus Dr. Peter Popiel. The performance will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall. This event is free, and the public is invited to attend.
The College will offer a farewell breakfast on Sunday, July 15, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. in Thatcher Hall.
This year, Reunion attendees will be encouraged to donate non-perishable goods or make cash donations to support the Campus Food Pantry, which is open to all SUNY Potsdam students who may be experiencing food insecurity. The Order of Prometheus (Theta Omega Phi) is sponsoring this year’s food drive to benefit the pantry, which is run by the College’s Department of Public Health and Human Performance.
SUNY Potsdam’s Reunion Weekend is held in conjunction with Clarkson University’s Reunion Weekend and the Village of Potsdam’s Summer Festival. To view the full schedule of events for SUNY Potsdam’s Reunion Weekend 2018, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni/reunion/schedule.
Registration headquarters will be located in the Raymond Hall lobby throughout the weekend for walk-in guests. The public is invited to attend Reunion Weekend events, but must register. For more information or to register for the weekend, please call (315) 267-2120 or visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,600 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.