Silver and gold are the gifts of choice for 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries, respectively, because of their beauty, value and strength. That’s a great model for DMU’s new reunion tradition: In May, reunion and commencement activities will be united in a special weekend celebration, with milestone 25- and 50-year alumni and members of earlier classes receiving silver and gold medallions.
Members of the classes of 1963 and 1988, in honor of their 50-year and 25-year reunions, and graduates of 1962 and earlier years will be invited to lead the Class of 2013 in the commencement procession on Saturday, May 25. They will receive gold and silver medallions and be recognized during the ceremony. “This will be a powerful symbol of the connection of all alumni to each other and to the University,” says Marcia Grassman Hammers, B.H.A.’88, president of the DMU Alumni Association Board of Directors. “It also will be a wonderful opportunity for graduates across the years, including the Class of 2013, to interact and share in the celebration.”
Other reunion activities tentatively planned on Friday, May 24, include a campus panel discussion featuring current students; a campus picnic for alumni, graduates and their families, current students and DMU faculty and staff; campus tours; a medallion ceremony for milestone alumni; and an all-DMU commencement reception for alumni, new graduates, their families and DMU faculty.
Ronnette Vondrak, DMU’s director of alumni relations, notes that while special activities are planned for members of the classes of 1963 and 1988, other alumni are encouraged to contact the alumni office if they want to arrange reunion events for their class.
“What we’ve found over the years is that members of the 25- and 50-year classes are especially interested in marking those milestone years by reconnecting with each other and with the University. The new medallion ceremony is intended to enhance their celebration,” she says. “That said, our alumni office will work with graduates who want to reach out to classmates and plan their own special reunion activities at a time that works best for their class.”
Inviting alumni to campus during a momentous occasion for new graduates, Hammers says, will add to the festivities.
“We hope hosting these significant milestone reunions during commencement weekend will let alumni rekindle special memories of their own graduation as they share their bond with the graduating class and reconnect with each other and the DMU community,” she adds.
You can get more information on reunions and other events by visiting the DMU alumni website, www.dmu.edu/alumni/ visiting the reunion website, www.dmu.edu/reunion/; calling 515-271-1463; or emailing alumni@dmu.edu. You can also use these contacts to plan additional class reunion activities.
