Grand Reunion News Blog

The fervor over today’s IPO of Facebook stock is just the latest indication of the social media platform’s influence. While the company is currently valued at $104 billion, the ability to connect and network with family, friends, and colleagues via this medium is priceless to many. Facebook makes it easy to know what people are up to, whether they have expressly told you or not; you get to peek (and sometimes even stare) into your Facebook friends' lives in a way that you could not just a few years ago.

Being privy to the minutiae of your Facebook friends’ lives has led some to believe that reunions are no longer relevant. They ask, “Why spend the time travelling back to campus to talk to John when I know what he eats for dinner every night via his Instagram photos? What’s the point in going to my reunion party when I already know that Sally’s little boy potty trained himself, Sue dominates every Words with Friends game she plays, and Beth is obsessed with pinning cute pictures of dogs on Pinterest?”

While such skepticism is understandable, it misses a couple of important points: First, contrary to how it may seem, not everyone is on Facebook. Second, as great as it is to interact with people from the comfort of your home or using your smartphone, there truly is no substitute for seeing the smiles or hearing the laughter of your classmates in person. Finally, the best part about coming to a reunion is the fact that you get to reconnect with classmates and friends back where it all began, on the campus that was the site of four of the most memorable years of your life. You can spend time sharing the memories that bind you all together while making new ones to add to the collection. You can step outside of the safe space of your core group of friends and catch up with other classmates who have lived interesting lives in the years since graduation. You’ll be surprised to find out who remembers you.

So return to campus for Grand Reunion, which offers the chance to reunite not only with friends and classmates, but also your alma mater that has managed to change over the years while staying the same at its core. Come see what’s new and leave with some memories and photos you can share on Facebook.

It is important to note that many of the reunion classes do, in fact, have Facebook groups or pages; classmates have gathered there to share photos and memories, receive important information about the weekend, and most importantly, get excited about the reunion! If you are celebrating a milestone this year, check your class website to see if a group or page exists for your class, and if one doesn’t, perhaps you’ll be inspired to create one (Make sure to let the Alumni Office know if you do!).

Go Broncos!
 

During the month of February, the SCU Alumni Association unveiled a new and improved website designed to better connect all alumni with its events, programs, and services. A first glance reveals the use of beautiful images, conscientious messaging, and a clear layout that puts all of the information you need right at your fingertips. Take a closer look and you’ll see strategic connections not only with the Santa Clara Magazine (via the spotlight on the main page), but also with various schools, departments, and Centers of Distinction on campus (by clicking on any of the six tabs at the top of the page). We hope that you will utilize the Alumni website as your portal into the University and encourage you to visit often, as this dynamic new incarnation will always have something new to offer.

We also hope that will make your class website an online destination (if you haven’t already), as it is your one-stop-shop for information about your upcoming reunion. Take a moment to look through the list of “Lost Classmates” and let us know how we can get in touch with your classmates who have drifted away from us. View your class slide show, and if there isn’t one there yet, send in some photos so we can get one started. And if you are interested in serving on your reunion committee, it’s not too late! We can definitely use your helping hands when it comes to making this year’s Grand Reunion the best one yet; let us know via this interest form and we’ll take it from there.

Go Broncos!

Mark your calendars for one of Santa Clara’s biggest events: Grand Reunion Weekend! From October 11 – 14, we will welcome all alumni back to campus with 4 days of programming designed to show you the best of Santa Clara and reinforce your Bronco pride. 

The full schedule of events will not be released until the spring, but the weekend includes everything from academic showcases featuring beloved SCU professors to receptions hosted by the various schools to a family friendly picnic on Saturday afternoon. There is even a 5k run! Watch the 2011 Grand Reunion slide show to get an idea of how fun last year’s festivities were.

The reunion classes of 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007 can look forward to their class parties, which will give them the special opportunity to celebrate their milestones. And let us not forget about the members of the class of 2012 who, as the newest additions to the alumni family, will be able to celebrate their good fortune of joining the ranks of SCU’s capable and accomplished graduates.

Reunion committees are currently being formed; if you are interested in sharing your ideas and helping to get classmates to the reunion, fill out this interest form and we will get in touch with you. Also, a save the date magnet was mailed to the reunion classes in December; if you did not receive one, please update your contact information to avoid missing out on future reunion news. 

We are excited for this year’s Grand Reunion and hope you are too! Make sure to come back and visit this blog periodically for updates on the weekend’s events.

Go Broncos!

“So much fun!”  “The best ever.”  “Top tier.”  “Big time.”  “Enjoyable and special.”  “Not only grand, it was great.”

While the above words describing Grand Reunion could certainly have been uttered by Alumni Office staff (as previously stated in this blog, we are a bit biased), we are extremely proud and grateful to have received this feedback via phone, email, and in-person comments from alumni, faculty, and staff. The Grand Reunion was truly an extraordinary weekend; from the moment the first attendee entered the Donohoe Alumni House to pick up his name tag, there was a palpable energy on campus that was invigorating. And that energy was necessary – with 60+ events going on, there was so much to see and do that being tired was simply not in anyone’s best interest.  

Our alumni eagerly pinned buttons to their shirts and name tags that proclaimed, “I met my spouse at SCU”, “I met my best friend at SCU”, and “My child is a Bronco too”, displaying the Bronco pride which has managed to infuse some of their most important relationships. They walked around campus, soaking up the sun and marveling at Santa Clara’s enduring beauty. They filled a classroom to capacity to listen to Fred Parella’s “So You Think You’re Spiritual, but Not Religious” talk. They enthusiastically sampled the quality wines offered by 10 Santa Clara affiliated vintners at the Wine Tasting Reception, comparing notes and directing classmates to their choice picks. They jammed along with the Bent Peter Band at the Homecoming Picnic, enjoying the wonderful sounds produced by members of the Classes of 1986 and 1987 who comprise the musical ensemble. They held their children on their laps and watched in silent awe as the newest and yet to be released Pixar short played on screens in the Benson Memorial Center and de Saisset Museum during its Family Day celebration. They came together across all reunion classes to worship in the Mission Church during Saturday evening Mass. And they cemented the bonds shared with their classmates and friends with tasty food, hearty laughter, warm embraces, and killer moves on the dance floor during their class parties on Saturday night. 

What is written above is just a glimpse into the experiences of our alumni during Grand Reunion weekend; we can only imagine the number of memories that were created as classmates and old friends reconnected on campus, remembered the good times, and renewed their commitment to each other and the University. To see the thousands of photos taken by our dedicated photographers during the weekend, visit us on Flickr. And for those of you who stopped by the photo booth during the Friday night Wine Tasting Reception, you can view those shots here. 

We consider ourselves quite fortunate to be able to serve an alumni population as proud and dedicated as Santa Clara’s Broncos. We not only look forward to welcoming back the 2011 reunion classes in five years, but we hope to see everyone who attended the reunion weekend again next year, as the Grand Reunion is truly open to all. 

Please help us to fully understand the impact of this year’s Grand Reunion and arm us with the tools to continue providing a fulfilling reunion experience for our alumni by filling out the attendee survey. If you were unable to join us (but are now wishing you did), there is a survey for you, too. All respondents will be entered into a drawing for a $75 Visa gift card and a limited edition Grand Reunion baseball cap. We appreciate your feedback, as it only helps us to serve you better.  

Thanks for the energy; thanks for the love; thanks for being Broncos! 

After the rain comes the sunshine...and the promise of a wonderful Grand Reunion!  The welcome banners are all hung, balloons are swaying gracefully in the wind outside of Donohoe Alumni House, and the entire campus stands ready to welcome all of the alumni who are coming home to Santa Clara for the weekend.

Make sure to stop by Donohoe Alumni House to check-in and receive your name tag before proceeding to the events of the weekend.  We are open from 9 AM to 7 PM today, and from 8 AM to 6 PM tomorrow, Saturday, October 8.  If you're planning to head straight to your class dinner Saturday night, do not worry; you can check-in on site.

Want to stay abreast of the events of the weekend?  With 60+ events, it's hard to keep track of everything in your head.  That's why we have printed schedules available in Donohoe, but why walk around with a piece of paper in your hand when you can access all of the necessary information on your smart phone?  Visit m.scu.edu/reunions on your mobile device to view the event and shuttle schedules, campus map, and information about parking.  There's even a weather page.

For those of you who need to stay connected via your laptops or other web-ready devices, we are pleased to offer wireless access to all Grand Reunion attendees.  To connect to the University's network, log-in using SSID "SCUGrandReunion", and enter the password "Welcome2011".

Also, for a fun way to explore campus, we are offering something new this year: a SCVNGR trek!  SCVNGR is an online game that takes you places and gives you fun challenges to complete.  Rediscover Santa Clara and come away with a prize! 

We are very excited to welcome the thousands of alumni, family, and friends who will be lighting up the campus with their collective presence this weekend.  We hope this will truly be a Grand Reunion to remember!

Go Broncos!

As part of the Grand Reunion Weekend, two entities on campus will be having special celebrations to commemorate their many years of educating Santa Clara students: The School of Engineering and ROTC.  Since Grand Reunion is all about honoring the many parts of Santa Clara that, combined, create the unique fabric of this community, we would be remiss if we did not call attention to these wonderful milestones.

The School of Engineering extends a heartfelt invitation for all to come back to campus in October to celebrate its centennial with special three opportunities for alumni and guests.  As previously mentioned in this blog, Professor Terry Shoup will guide a trip through the history of Engineering at Santa Clara with his talk titled “A Century of Engineering Excellence.”  Prof. Shoup’s talk will be followed by “Coffee and Conversation with Godfrey Mungal, dean of the School of Engineering”; not only will you have a chance to discuss the previous session with fellow alumni, but you will also be able to greet and chat with Dean Mungal, all over a hot cup of joe.

If you are unable to make it to the morning event, you will have another chance to see Dean Mungal at the “School of Engineering Biggest Bash Ever!”, which will be held at the award-winning 2009 Solar Decathlon House.  Sip champagne and sample tasty hors d’oeuvres while you mix and mingle with Engineering alumni, faculty members, and the dean at this extra special incarnation of the school’s annual “Big Bash”.  Since a celebration like this one only comes around once in 100 years, we hope you will make it a point to pay your respects to the School of Engineering during this exciting event.

Now, if you think one hundred years is a big deal (It is!), hold onto your hats, because Santa Clara’s ROTC program is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.  ROTC has a long and storied history which will be discussed on Saturday morning during reunion weekend during the session “Celebrating Santa Clara ROTC’s Tradition of Excellence”.  This talk will feature ROTC alumni, staff and cadets, all of whom are uniquely qualified to share how their experience at Santa Clara and beyond has been affected by their affiliation with the program.  With 150 years of significance to draw upon, this session will be a special opportunity to chart Santa Clara history through the lens of Military Science.

One last thing – It is important to mention that the Alumni Association is currently in its 130th year of service to graduates of Santa Clara University.  Although our milestone celebration was held earlier this year during our Alumni Anniversary Awards, Grand Reunion, with its message of honoring the bonds we all have to this fine institution, serves as an opportunity for us to keep the party going, this time with thousands of alumni and friends!  We sincerely hope you’ll join us in the festivities; it won’t be the same without you.

Go Broncos!
 

We might be biased, but we at the Alumni Association think that the Grand Reunion Weekend is pretty special.  One of the reasons we think so is the fact that there truly is something for everyone: With the wide array of activities offered, no one should feel left out of the excitement…including our future Broncos, your children.

Saturday is filled with lots of family fun!  The 5K Run/Walk kicks things off with an opportunity for your family to be fit together.  The course winds its way around campus, taking you on a scenic route that allows you to show your family the places that were/are special to you while also letting you see what’s new around here.  University President Fr. Engh will ring the bell to signal the start of the race, and our beloved Bucky the Bronco will be on hand to help you stretch and give you the motivation you need to power through that last mile.

We all know that children are filled with boundless energy, so after that 5K, they’ll most likely be asking, “What’s next?”  Well, how about the Homecoming Picnic?  Featuring an assortment of attractions that is sure to put a smile on any kid’s face, you should definitely make this event a destination for your family during the reunion weekend: There will be face painting, balloon twisting, bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, and even a reptile zoo for your children’s enjoyment.

But wait…there’s more:  the de Saisset Museum will open its doors to alumni and their families during its Family Arts Open House.  Professional artists will be on hand to help your budding Rembrandt create a work of art worthy of a prominent spot on your refrigerator, you can take tours of the current collection, and you can even take part in a scavenger hunt.  Since the museum is not too far from the Homecoming Picnic location, you can easily go back and forth between the two events.

Now, if you thought that was it, you are sorely mistaken, because we saved the best for last: Thanks to Santa Clara alumnus A.J. Riebli ’91, we are extremely proud to announce that your family will have the opportunity to view the newest Pixar short film before it is released to the general public next year, right here on campus during Grand Reunion!  With two showings, one at 1:00 p.m. in the Benson Center and the other at 3:30 p.m. at the de Saisset Museum, you can choose the one that works best for you.  Don’t miss out on this chance to help your children become the envy of their friends…although we’re sure that you’ll brag a little to your buddies, too.

So, when making your plans to come back to campus to celebrate your milestone, don’t think that you have to leave the kids at home; everyone is welcome, and we look forward to welcoming you and your family in October.

Go Broncos!  
 

When you think about what made your time here at Santa Clara so memorable, what comes to mind?  Probably the friendships that you made, the sport you may have played, the residences you called home over the years, the student groups you were a member of, or perhaps that one time when you and your friends…well, you’ll just keep that story to yourself, won’t you? 

Now, how about that one particular class you took that completely cemented your decision to select your major?  Or the professor who taught you so much that you still find yourself referring to his/her lectures?  As much as your time in college was about spreading your wings and enjoying the company of your peers, you were, no doubt, aware that a large part of what made Santa Clara such a great place for you to be was the quality of the instruction you received from an excellent corps of faculty who were dedicated to your education.

Santa Clara is still all about quality and Grand Reunion presents you with the opportunity to come and see for yourself during one of the four "back to the classroom" presentations being offered by current faculty.  Professor Fred Parrella asks the provocative question, “So You Think You’re Spiritual, but Not Religious?” as the basis for his Friday afternoon talk; considering the generations of Santa Clara alumni who cite his “Theology of Marriage” course as a favorite of their academic careers, you may want to mark Prof. Parrella’s talk as one of your “can’t miss” events of the weekend.

Professor Margaret McLean’s “Genetic Testing: What’s in it for You?” promises to be a another stimulating discussion; as the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics’ director of bioethics, Prof. McLean’s background in science and ethics serves her well as one of the region's top commentators and consultants on the ethical aspect of advances in medicine and biotechnology.  Her presentation, which has been moved from 3:30 PM on Friday afternoon to 10:30 that morning, is one that will have you talking long after it is over.

On Friday afternoon, Business professor Mario Belotti will offer his "Economic Forecast" for the coming year.  Similar to the annual forecast he delivers in San Francisco, to the delight of those alumni, this will be a great opportunity to benefit from the insight and expertise of one of Santa Clara's most capable and beloved educators.  Considering the twists and turns the economy has taken in just the last couple of months, Dr. Belotti's talk should prove to be quite interesting and informative.  Make sure to bring a pad and pen; you will want to take notes.

Finally, you can join Professor Terry Shoup for his Saturday morning talk on “A Century of Engineering Excellence”.  As Santa Clara’s School of Engineering celebrates 100 years of turning out highly educated and influential graduates, Prof. Shoup, a former Dean of Engineering, will take a moment to reflect on the journey that has brought the school to this pivotal point in its history.  Engineers and non-engineers alike stand to benefit from this presentation, so come lend an ear and learn about an important part of the Santa Clara, not to mention larger Silicon Valley, community.

Go Broncos!
 

A piece of advice that is often shared by people who have been in the working world for a long time is, “You should always be looking.”  Opportunities for employment and advancement may be missed if you are not poised to take advantage of them.  Perhaps you are not sure of which channels to use in conducting your search, your resume is in dire need of some polishing, or you’re nervous about interviewing; all of these are potential roadblocks standing between you and the position or career of your dreams.

The staff at SCU’s Career Center would like to help you overcome those obstacles, and they have stepped up to provide valuable assistance to all interested alumni during Grand Reunion Weekend.  On Friday morning, Anne Oja M.A. '01, assistant director and liaison to alumni and education & counseling psychology students, will lead a workshop titled, “Focusing Your Career Search.”  This session promises to not only help attendees focus their job searches, but also assist them with evaluating their current strategies for maximum effectiveness.  This workshop is being offered at no cost; we hope that it will pay off for those who are able to benefit from the useful information Anne will share.

Perhaps a workshop isn’t quite what you’re looking for, or you would like to augment the morning’s session with some specific, one-on-one coaching; the Career Center has got you covered there as well.   From 1 to 4:30 p.m., 15-minute coaching sessions will be offered on a drop-in basis, also at no cost.  Come armed with your resume, questions, or career goals and receive feedback from one of the capable counselors on staff.  They are here to help, and they look forward to playing a part in making your Grand Reunion weekend an informative and fulfilling experience. 

Go Broncos!

One of the best things about Grand Reunion is the way in which it brings together many different parts of Santa Clara to show alumni exactly why they made the right decision in choosing to come here all those years ago.  No longer centered around class parties on Saturday night, Grand Reunion is a weekend full of opportunities for Broncos to engage not only with classmates and fellow alumni, but also with the schools and departments that were such an instrumental part of their educational experience.

Since the Grand Reunion’s inception in 2009, the Saturday evening school receptions have emerged as some of the most enjoyed events of the weekend.  These receptions serve not only as a great start to the evening for the reunion classes who will head off to their parties afterwards, but also as a wonderful celebration of the relationships forged between hardworking students and the faculty and staff who supported them in their scholastic endeavors.  The College of Arts and Sciences, the Leavey School of Business, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, and the School of Engineering will all welcome their former students for drinks and appetizers, whether they are celebrating a class reunion or not.  So, don’t miss out!  Make these receptions a destination during the reunion weekend and enjoy this opportunity to mix and mingle with fellow majors and graduates of your school.

Some departments have decided to take things a bit further and open their doors to former students at various times during the reunion weekend: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Political Science, Theatre and Dance, and Communication will host Open Houses, and more departments will be added to the list as Grand Reunion approaches.  Take advantage of this chance to reconnect with these departments in a more intimate setting and stop by to say hi! 

Go Broncos!