SUNY New Paltz welcomed more than 350 alumni and their families back to campus for Alumni Reunion 2024.
With a backdrop of peak fall foliage in the Gunks, friends who hadn’t seen each other in months, years or even decades, reminisced and enjoyed the many special event offerings between Oct. 17 and Oct. 20. Folks traveled as far as California, Georgia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey for the special weekend.
The festivities featured a blend of cherished traditions, like the annual Heritage and Alumni Awards, and exciting new additions, including unique alumni-led lectures, catering to the diverse generations of alumni. Former roommates hugged each other, longtime friends brought old film photos of their time on campus, and others had the opportunity to catch up for the first time in years.
Alumni and their families had opportunities to participate in campus tours, the Alumni Hike, department-specific talks and workshops, sorority and fraternity gatherings, and a Welcome Address from President Darrell P. Wheeler.
"Keeping us focused on why we exist as an institution for academic excellence and the values of citizens of New York is something you should be proud of as an alumni base,” said President Wheeler. “We as an institution should be able to declare every day this is why we exist and this is how our claim to fame goes. Each and every one of you alone are a physical representation of that.”
This year, the Class of 1974 was honored during its 50th Anniversary Celebration & Lantern Society Induction, where 30 alumni from the class were inducted into the society. All inductees received a Lantern Society Medallion.
“We lost touch, but I knew for this 50th anniversary that I was hoping to connect with Lynne [Masters-Lee ’74 (English)],” said Marcia Slackman ’74 (Elementary Education Pre K-6; Psychology). “We were roommates since we were sophomores here and we wrote to each other. And here we are, 50 years later. We’re picking up exactly where we left off 50 years ago.”
On Friday, alumni gathered in the Science Hall for a kickoff dinner, where folks had an opportunity to see old and new faces from a large mix of graduation years. During the dinner, attendees enjoyed a performance by Absolut A Cappella, music from student radio DJs and a meal.
It was one of the first times alumni reconnected during the weekend and set the scene for an exciting reunion.
View more photos from Alumni Reunion 2024 here.
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