2015 SUNY Potsdam Reunion Weekend Set to be Fun for All

Alumni, Family and Friends Invited to Return for SUNY Potsdam Reunion from July 9 to 12

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SUNY Potsdam’s Reunion Weekend 2015 is just around the corner, from Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12. Here, last year’s 50th reunion class waves in front of Minerva Plaza.

POTSDAM, NY (06/16/2015)(readMedia)-- Preparations for SUNY Potsdam's annual Reunion Weekend are in high gear, with the gathering drawing hundreds of alumni, families and friends back to campus from July 9 to 12. All alumni and friends are invited to join in the festivities.

Mini-reunions this year include:

  • Second Quinquennial Crane Alumni TromboneS (CATS) Ensemble Reunion, which will be featured at Saturday night's concert
  • Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority's 86th Reunion
  • Omega Delta Phi Sorority Annual Reunion
  • Sigma Tau Psi Fraternity's 50th anniversary of its charter year

With a complete daily line-up of events, concerts, faculty-led seminars and delicious dining opportunities, the 2015 Reunion Weekend has something for everyone.

All are welcome to relive the student experience, through the second annual Potsdam Academy. The daylong session kicks off Reunion Weekend with interactive art and science classes led by SUNY Potsdam faculty, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. For the full line-up of classes and registration information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (315) 267-2120, or visit www.potsdam.edu/academy.

The Potsdam Academy concludes with a "graduation" ceremony at the Early Bird Gathering, which officially opens Reunion Weekend 2015 at SUNY Potsdam. The gathering will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in Becky's Place at Pratt Commons, adjacent to the Raymond Hall lobby, with entertainment provided by Alex Vangellow, Hon. '14.

The highlights for Friday, July 10 include the annual Cupid Breakfast for all SUNY Potsdam-Clarkson University couples at 9 a.m. There will be walking tours of campus, the new Performing Arts Center, Maxcy Hall and The Crane School of Music throughout the day. Alumni will lead a hike up Mount Arab, leaving from campus at 8:45 a.m. There will be a planetarium show at 11:30 a.m.

Throughout the day, SUNY Potsdam faculty will offer presentations on music applications, photograms, archaeology, the Blueline magazine, "voices of the past," fun science crafts for kids of all ages, earthquakes in New York State and much more.

A Southern-style barbecue picnic will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Townhouse Courtyard, which will feature beer tasting hosted by the St. Lawrence Brewery and local wines from High Peaks Winery. Enjoy an ice cream float with either St. Lawrence Brewery Maple Porter or Saranac Root Beer for dessert. Live music will be provided by Andy VanDuyne '75 and Michael Welch. The entertainment is sponsored by PACES Dining Services. The rain location for this event is the Knowles Conference Center. This is one barbecue you will not want to miss!

On Saturday, July 11, reunion attendees will not want to miss starting off their day at the Bear Walk/Run with SUNY Potsdam President Kristen Esterberg, which begins at 8:30 a.m. There will be a walking tour of Bayside Cemetery from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Alumni and staff will present sessions throughout the day on historic recordings by the Class of 1965, Nadia Boulanger, the art of relationships, estate planning and the Start-Up NY program. Guests can also enjoy kayaking, canoeing and other family-friendly activities at Lehman Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual choral reading for Crane alumni will feature the Brahms "Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52," and Poulenc's "Gloria," beginning at 1:15 p.m. A chocolate dessert demonstration will take place at 2 p.m.

Later in the afternoon, a gala reception and silent auction will be held in Thatcher Hall, beginning at 4 p.m. A sample of auction items include: Yankees vs. Blue Jays tickets; a six-piece Vera Bradley travel bag set; a framed Robert Plumb print, titled "Whiteface"; an Adirondack breakfast basket, and a round of golf at the Skaneateles Country Club.The class dinner will follow the reception at 6 p.m. in the Barrington Student Union.

This year's Alumni Association award recipients will all be honored and recognized as follows:

  • Minerva Award: Jonathan Ring '80
  • Distinguished Service Award: Lance '83 and Cheryl (Cummings) Evans '83, Jane Morale '80 and Glen Zagorski '87
  • Honorary Lifetime Membership: Rebekah Covell and Robert Badger
  • Rising Star Awards: Justin John Moniz '11 and Jamie Szafran '08
  • Helen M. Hosmer Excellence in Music Teaching Award: Marion L. Gordon Akpata '61
  • St. Lawrence Academy Medal: Duane Richards '90

Following the class dinner and award ceremony, The Crane School of Music will host a once-in-a-lifetime concert featuring the Second Quinquennial Crane Alumni TromboneS (CATS) Ensemble, under the direction of Crane School of Music Professor Dr. Mark Hartman. The performance will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the Sara M. Snell Music Theater. This event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

The College will offer a farewell breakfast on Sunday, July 12 from 8:30 to 11 a.m., followed by the annual Alumni Association meeting.

There will also be many other receptions, book signings, seminars and walking tours throughout reunion that will easily fill up the weekend. Maxcy Hall will be open periodically for free use by registered guests. Check the registration table for details.

SUNY Potsdam's Reunion Weekend is held in conjunction with Clarkson University's Reunion Weekend and the Village of Potsdam's Summer Festival.

The public is invited to attend Reunion Weekend events. For more information or to register for the weekend, please call (315) 267-2120 or visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.

Registration headquarters will be located in the Raymond Hall lobby throughout the weekend for walk-in guests.

For more information about the fun-filled events in store for SUNY Potsdam's 2015 Reunion Weekend, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni/reunion.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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