Alumni weekend a success

Celebrating 150 years of alumni reunions, Norwich welcomed more than 2,000 alumni and their families for Alumni Weekend Oct. 8-10, Alumni Weekend and Homecoming, the largest number since 2000.

The alumni relived their personal Norwich experience through social gatherings, donations and visiting the campus grounds, according to the director of alumni relations.

 "The biggest part of this weekend is, we're celebrating the 150^th anniversary of our first Alumni reunion," said William Passalacqua, director of alumni and family relations. "First held in 1860, this year is a reunion milestone for our university."

A large portion of the class of 1960 showed up this year, according to Harry Taylor, class of '60, an English major from Worcester Mass. "We had the largest participation, I think, the largest I've ever heard of. It was over 90 percent!"

Most of the parties held during alumni weekend are held off-campus. "We have a huge party up in Sugarbush, for many of our alums who stay out in that area," Passalacqua said. "We've been doing this for over five years now, open to all of our alumni who want to have a good time."

Many events were held specifically for alumni.

"Another huge part of our weekend is the Alumni Parade, which is a great mix of fun, pomp and ceremony, recognition, reflection, and honor," Passalacqua said. "That's also when we do the roll of honor, where we recognize those alumni who have died since last year's reunion."

"Many of our alums absolutely love when the corps marches down. They love seeing the integration between the corps and the civilian students, and many people haven't been back here in 20, 30 years," said Paul Bova, senior gift officer for Norwich.

Another event, the Old Guard ceremony, is when one class enters into the ranks of the Old Guard.

"The Old Guard includes those alumni who are in the 50^th reunion and beyond," said Bova. "In the last 10 years, the number of members in the Old Guard has increased, due to the increased longevity in their lifetimes."

Along with events for the weekend, alumni return to see the changes in the campus.

"I tell you what, they've put in a lot of great improvements in the campus," said Michael Nolan, class of '89, a mechanical engineering major from New Haven, Vt. "New dorms, new buildings, but I hear they're going to put in a new field in Sabine, I'm a little disappointed, I liked the mud we used to have."

"They're in awe with the students, they're in awe with the physical plant of the school, they're just completely in awe from what's happened here," Bova said. "I mean some guys focus on the trees on the UP. They say, ‘We didn't have trees on the UP when we were seniors.'"

Alumni who come see many improvements to the grounds.

"During Richard Schneider's presidency, we've seen many changes, we built the math and science complex, then the museum to tell our story, and then the Wise Campus Center," said Brig. Gen. Kelley, commandant of cadets and vice president for student affairs.

All of these projects were made possible by the alumni efforts in fundraising and financial support.

"Last year we were celebrating the culmination of the Norwich Forever campaign, which ran from 2003 through 2009, and our goal then was to raise $55 million, and we ended up raising over $82 million," Bova said.

The alumni association is now beginning the "Bearing the Torch" campaign. "This campaign is a $21 million campaign, our goal is to raise $7 million every year for three years," Passalacqua said. "Just these reunion classes combined have raised over $3 million."

"Part of that campaign includes student life enhancement, academic programs, and also some overseas study. There are not only the physical pieces of the campus, but also the academic portions as well," Passalacqua said.

"Our reunion gift program is a huge part of what we do for fundraising," Bova said. "A majority of the money we get is from alums, some commit to a gift over five years, some people give a one-time gift, and some people leave Norwich in their will in a state plan."

Along with funds raised from each class, class members are notified of alumni events even years after they graduate.

"Each class has a class agent, and they have a reunion committee, and there's two pieces to that, they have the social aspect, planning parties and such, and the fundraising aspect, for gifts and donations," Passalacqua said.

"At the end of it all, I always want our students to take an opportunity to talk to our alums, to engage with them, to hear stories and see what they've done in their profession," Passalacqua said. "It's a busy weekend to meet those alums; we want our students to embrace that, and to have a good time."