Alumni and Parents Flock to Campus for Homecoming & Family Weekend
Photo by Carl Socolow '77.
Video by Joe O'Neill
Weekend unites Dickinson alumni, students, families, faculty and staff
Some came to Homecoming & Family Weekend to reconnect with family and share in their on-campus experiences; others came to rekindle old friendships and see what has changed at their alma mater. All enjoyed the chance to join in time-honored traditions and learn something new while learning about the resources available to alumni and students at Dickinson today, during a three-day celebration featuring large- and small-group gatherings, informative lectures and hands-on learning opportunities.
The weekend's highlights included an all-campus tailgate, the Poitras-Gleim Lecture featuring Orange is the New Black author Piper Kerman and the induction of the 2018 Dickinson Athletics Hall of Fame members:
- Lizzie Cone ’07—women’s lacrosse
- Caitlin “Cait” Bradley ’08—cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field
- Lisa Nichols Cialino ’08—women’s soccer
- Chris McInerney ’08—football & baseball
- 2006 Women’s Lacrosse Team
The 2018 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees pose with their families and guests. Photo by Carl Socolow '77.
Alumni, parents and students also took a hands-on lesson about local geology during a hike to Pole Steeple; dug into sustainable agriculture during a College Farm festival; and got their arts on at the Goodyear Gallery and Trout Gallery. The learning continued during lectures by Ingrid Rowland, professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, who delivered the annual Roberts Lecture; and Mary Rosenbaum ’75, the fifth-annual Stanley Ned Rosenbaum Judaic Studies honoree.
Small-group gatherings invited those with like interests to meet and catch up. Former student-athletes relived their days on the field, and a cappella singers took back the stage. Alumni craft beer, wine and cider enthusiasts checked out local hotspots during a progressive Saturday-evening tour, showing off downtown Carlisle's burgeoning scene. Dickinsonians from several generations attended a dedication ceremony and barbecue hosted by the X House. A cocktail reception and dinner at the College Farm brought together members of the Parents Leadership Council and John Dickinson Society; and an Alumnae of Color reception provided a space for Dickinsonians to meet current students and brainstorm ideas for next spring’s Women of Color Summit.
The Alumnae of Color Reception gives alumnae the chance to discuss ideas for Dickinson's women of color summit scheduled this spring. Photo by Carl Socolow '77.
To introduce alumni and parents to life at Dickinson today, President Margee Ensign hosted a Saturday-morning breakfast. There, she and members of her leadership team outlined resources available to current students, invited parents to meet with their students’ deans during a special Saturday event and updated the greater Dickinson community on the college’s plans and goals. All who wanted a closer look at on-campus life were invited to sit in on Friday classes, sample food in the Caf and stop by the Campus Expo, where they met representatives from academic departments and from the Career Center, Center for Sustainability Education and Center for Global Study & Engagement.
President Margee Ensign shares updates on the college along with (from left) Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students George Stroud, Provost Neil Weissman, Associate Dean of Academic Advising and Director of the Internship Program Amity Fox, Dean of Career Development Phil Jones and Dean of Academic Advising Damon Yarnell. Photo by Carl Socolow '77.
The weekend was capped off with the Run for Steph, a 5K run/two-mile walk in memory of Stephanie Kreiner ’03, who was killed by a drunk driver in October 2004. In addition to celebrating Kreiner's life and raising awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, the event raised funds for Dickinson's McAndrews Fund for Athletics.
Dickinson community members participate in the Run for Steph. Photo by Carl Socolow '77.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published September 23, 2018