Despite a few rain showers, approximately 1,500 alumni and their families had a wonderful time celebrating their reunions during Alumni Weekend, June 3 to 5. Highlights included the annual Parade of Classes; Alumni Collection featuring speaker Maurice Eldridge ’61; a combined alumni and Chester Children’s Chorus reading of Faure’s "Requiem," directed by John Alston H’15; and President Valerie Smith's first Alumni Weekend.

During Collection, Janet Erlick ’88, Alumni Council president, presented the Alumni Awards to recognize alumni for their service to the College, their communities, and their fields. This year’s honorees were Bill Belanger '66, winner of the Joseph B. Shane Alumni Service Award; Dare Rust Thompson '66, who received the Arabella Carter Community Service Award; and David Clark '66 and Don Mizell '71, both receiving the Eugene Lang ’38 Impact Award.

Throughout the weekend, alumni attended live performances, engaged in discussions, and took part in fun activities. On Friday night, Freebo and his Fabulous Friends – Roger North ’66 on drums and Chad Watson on bass – performed a folk, rock, and blues concert. Lesley Tsina ’96 packed the Frear Theater for “Lord of the Files,” her one-woman office comedy. Other highlights included the annual SwatTalk faculty lectures, Keith Reeves' '88 discussion on experiential learning among matriculated and incarcerated students, and Evan Gregory's '01 talk on YouTube and digital media.