Alumni connect with each other, and Yale, at first reunion weekend

Yale President Peter Salovey ’86 Ph.D. saluted all the generations of Yale graduates as “an alumni community that, in its strength and its dedication and commitment to this institution, is second to none,” speaking on May 23 to a large assembly of alumni and their families in Woolsey Hall.

Salovey’s remarks were made on the first of two weekends of Yale College reunions, as alumni of the Classes of 1950, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000 gathered on campus for May 21-24. The Classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 2005, and 2010 will hold their quinquennial reunions on May 28-31. The reunions are organized through the Association of Yale Alumni by alumni volunteers.

The weekend featured scores of talks, social events, meals, open houses, and informal get-togethers — both events for specific classes and university-wide activities for all alumni back on campus. These include now-longstanding reunion traditions such as a welcome reception on the Cross Campus and “Morning at Yale,” a program of faculty lectures and university tours, as well as new features, including an open house at the president’s residence at 43 Hillhouse Avenue.

For the second year, alumni showed their spirit and pride at a photo booth set up by the social media team from Yale’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications. Click here to see the images from the first weekend’s alumni reunion photo booth.

Salovey conveyed his enthusiastic thanks to all the alumni who returned for reunions, and their classmates who engage with Yale throughout the year. “By coming back and cementing the social ties that keep the Yale community together, you are helping this university create a strong community,” he said. “When you come back and help us by giving us advice, sharing your experience, and providing your wisdom, you help Yale University.”

As someone who had taught many of the more recent alumni himself, Salovey noted, “When you come back and attend the lectures of our faculty and tell them you enjoyed their teaching, you reinforce our teaching and help Yale.” And Yale’s president said, “Those of you who are in a position to share your treasure, you help Yale University. We are grateful to all of you.”

Watch YaleNews for further coverage on reunions in the next few weeks and follow the conversation about reunions on social media through the hashtags #YaleReunion and #YaleAlumni. You can read a recap of Tweets and Instagram posts about the first reunion weekend via the Yale Alumni Storify page here: https://storify.com/YaleAlumni/yale-college-reunions-2015-first-weekend-may-21-24.