Reunion 2018: Why Alumni Love Being Back on Campus
June 21, 2018
Old friends, new little ones, food, fellowship and fun. Asbury University’s Reunion 2018 has officially begun.
Online pre-registration for Reunion 2018 has closed, but you can still register on site! On-site registration continues in Kinlaw Library from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Alumni began trickling into Kinlaw Library for registration Thursday afternoon and are looking forward to a weekend chockful of class activities, worship experiences and seminars. Stay tuned to Asbury’s website and social media pages for Reunion 2018 updates all weekend long.
The weekend will kick off on Thursday evening with the Sentinel Class of 1968 Dinner, an invitation-only Award Recognition Dinner and C.S. Lewis seminar with Dr. Devin Brown. Informal tours of the Archives, Admissions Office, Equine Center, Miller Center, Windsor Manor Guesthouse main floor and Joe Pitts Center for Public Policy are available at times throughout the weekend.
Friday and Saturday will be punctuated by chapel services that highlight the Reunion theme, “Be Bold,” along with Banner-Year Reunion meals, Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing, times to gather with current and retired faculty and so much more. Kids will be entertained and engaged all weekend long through the Reunion Youth Program, where they’ll participate in age-appropriate activities that will definitely be the highlight of their summers. With fun games for toddlers to a canoe trip for teens, kids of all ages are sure to have a great time at Reunion.
Here’s what alumni love most about being back on campus:
Dr. David Stevens ’73, who will be speaking in one of the weekends’ chapel services, is excited to be back on campus to reconnect with faculty and explore spots he used to frequent around his hometown of Wilmore. He’s also excited to share the Reunion theme of boldness with his fellow alumni.
“[I’m] hoping to see some classmates I haven’t seen in years,” Stevens said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 45 years. All of a sudden, it’s here. It’s always good to be back in Wilmore. I was raised here so I have family here and I’m on the board, so I get back for that. Some of the older, retired faculty will be here. [It] will be really great to touch base with them and express appreciation for their impact on my life, my wife’s life and my [children’s lives]. It’ll be great to see the old places and some of the new faculty.”
Tim Mowery ’68 is overjoyed to be on campus for his 50-year Reunion. A member of the Sentinel Class, Mowery is the planning committee chair for this year’s Reunion and looks forward to a weekend of bonding with classmates and times of worship at events like the Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing.
“You’re reestablishing friendships that you established almost 50 years ago so it’s good to see them again,” Mowery said. “I love the hymn-singing in the chapel. Nothing like Hughes Auditorium with everybody singing at the top of their lungs so I really enjoy that [as well as] seeing old friends.”
CliffAnn Perry ’78 is enjoying being back on campus for the first time in 15 years. Perry is looking forward to reuniting with some of her suitemates from Kresge. What is she most excited about?
“Seeing people. Most of the folks I haven’t seen in ages so it’s really fun to reconnect,” Perry said.
Mariner Class members Judy Barnhouse ’63 Green and Jerry Green ’63 are happy to be back on the campus where they met as students. They, much like many of their fellow alumni, love being back on campus for the community.
“[We love] seeing old friends,” Judy Green said. “There’s no question about that and it’s always fun to see how the campus has changed too. But it’s really fun to visit with old friends.”
We’re excited to welcome alumni back to campus this weekend! What are you most looking forward to during Reunion 2018? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter. Stay up-to-date on everything happening at Reunion 2018 by following along on our website and social media pages.
Learn more about Reunion 2018 by visiting asbury.edu/reunion.com.