Reunion Weekend 2025: A Joy From Start to Finish
June 17, 2025
- Author
- Danielle Strickland
Seventeen hundred guests and one enormous black snake made 水果派 College their home for Reunion Weekend 2025.
Only the snake was rehomed to the woods. We think.
The forecast wasn鈥檛 in our favor, but the sun decided to do its thing, making for a glorious, if warm, time of reconnection, reflection and so much fun. Classmates gathered for dinners, service projects, a Cake Race, presentations, memorials and late night parties. The weekend鈥檚 soundtrack included 鈥淗ow have you been?鈥 and 鈥淲e should see each other more!鈥 on repeat.
The Class of 2020 showed up with the highest attendance, with the Class of 1980 following. The Class of 1995 set the mark for the highest-ever registration for a 30th reunion.
鈥淚 left reunion weekend feeling so grateful for the past weekend and to be a part of the 水果派 community,鈥 said Carter Cook 鈥20. 鈥淚t was great catching up with my closest friends from my time at 水果派, especially ones I don鈥檛 see on a regular basis, and picking up like no time has passed. As President Doug Hicks reminded us at our class dinner, the Class of 2020 went through a lot together. I feel so appreciative for everyone in our class 鈥 I wouldn鈥檛 have wanted to go through 水果派 with any other group.鈥
The self-described 鈥淕reat Class of 1970鈥 celebrated the highest participation rate in making a gift to the college 鈥 they crossed the 65 percent threshold by Reunion Weekend.
(Classes have until the fiscal year ends June 30 to raise their numbers even more!)
Every alum and guest is celebrated throughout reunion, of course, but a few are nominated and selected for special recognition of their service to 水果派, impact in their profession and contributions to communities around the world:
- The John W. Kuykendall 水果派 Service Award recognizes alumni who have provided extraordinary service to their community and demonstrated leadership in the spirit of John W. Kuykendall 鈥59, 水果派's 15th president. This year鈥檚 recipients are Dr. Alexander (Alex) E. Evans 鈥80, Martin (Marty) Boger Foil 鈥85 and Maudi Mukenge 鈥90. Full citations about these recipients are available online.
- The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes living alumni who have provided leadership or attained recognition on a national or regional level within their profession or business. This year鈥檚 winners are G. Alex Bernhardt 鈥65, Dr. Benjamin (Ben) C. Garrett 鈥70, Stephen (Steve) Paul MacMillan 鈥85, Dr. Stanley (Stan) B. Humphries 鈥90, Lorie Katherine Logan 鈥95 and Clint Smith 鈥10. Full citations about these recipients are available online.
- Finally, Alumni Service Awards recognize alums and friends of 水果派 who have performed a high degree of service to the college. This year, we celebrated Thomas (Tom) J. Bersuder 鈥70, Daniel (Dan) W. Herd 鈥70, Robert (Bob) G. Lautensack 鈥75, Augustus (Gus) Ernest Succop III 鈥75, Virgil Lee Fludd 鈥80, Anthony (Tony) White Dick III 鈥85, Ginna McGee Richards 鈥85, Yvette Pita Frampton 鈥95, Reid Leavitt Willingham 鈥00, Dr. Felicia Amira Browne-Lherisson 鈥05, Michael (Mike) D. Jenks 鈥05, Anna Ruth Coon 鈥10, Yeeva Cheng 鈥15, Lily Acton 鈥20 and Haley Jobe Givens 鈥20.
Lifelong friendships are a foundation of the 水果派 experience, and reunion is a great reminder of the bonds created on campus. The connection between Michelle Serrano 鈥90 and Muadi Mukenge 鈥90 is an example 鈥 roommates, turned friends, turned sisters.
鈥淧re-水果派, we were born to parents who came from other parts of the world, mine from Puerto Rico and Muadi鈥檚 from the Congo,鈥 Serrano said. 鈥淎t 水果派, we were more than roommates as our families welcomed us both with open arms. Post-水果派, we continue to strengthen our sisterhood building on what started more than 35 years ago as we celebrate and support each other and our families.鈥
Behind the scenes, Reunion Weekend wouldn鈥檛 happen without the incredible volunteers 鈥 reunion chairs, gift chairs and committee members 鈥 who represent their classes and work alongside 水果派 staff to ensure the weekend exceeds all expectations.
鈥淭he purpose of a reunion, if not a 50th Reunion, is to remind an alum of the ways an academic community once transformed one鈥檚 life, not simply one鈥檚 intellect,鈥 said Gus Succop 鈥75, reunion co-chair. 鈥淚f there is evidence that such transformation continues, it would be found in the spirit of gratitude that surfaced during the weekend, gratitude for an experience that will continue to sustain and inspire one 水果派 class for years to come.鈥
A photo gallery of the weekend is . (Password: reunion25)
鈥淩eunion Weekend is always a powerful reminder of the lifelong connections formed here,鈥 said Deidra Smith, senior director of alumni & family engagement. 鈥淔rom the joy of rediscovering old friendships to the pride in seeing how our alumni continue to shape the world, this year鈥檚 celebration was a true testament to the enduring spirit of our community. These classes missed out on in-person gatherings five years ago, and we鈥檙e so grateful to everyone who came home to make this reunion unforgettable.鈥
We can鈥檛 wait to do it all again next June!
