Grand Reunion News Blog

“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! 

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!
 

There is a noticeable spark in the air this week as Santa Clara University’s class of 2011 prepares to leave the campus they have called home for the past four years and enter into what those of us in the know call “the real world”.  The Alumni Association is proud to welcome the newest members of the alumni family and congratulates all graduates on a job well done.

There will, no doubt, be a few Bronco parents among the well-wishers in the stands this weekend gazing proudly at their sons and daughters while reminiscing about their own graduation from SCU.  This intergenerational relationship with SCU is an excellent expression of the institution’s impact on its alumni: Their love for Santa Clara is so deep that they wanted their children to experience it for themselves.  And so, on graduation day, these moms, dads, and grads celebrate the impact of Santa Clara’s legacy on their lives.

These families will have another opportunity to rejoice in October during the Grand Reunion Weekend, a celebration of the enduring bonds that exist between classmates and the university.  These links were created by a common experience that is also dynamic and unique to each class, and the graduating class is the newest testament to the value and importance of a Santa Clara education.  We hope to see these families back on campus in the fall, blessing us with their presence and honoring the university with their commitment to its legacy of competence, conscience, and compassion.

Go Broncos!
 

Does your class year end in a 1 or a 6?  If so, the date for your reunion weekend has been set.  The Alumni Association will welcome the classes of 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976,1981,1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011 back to the Mission campus on October 6-9, 2011.  We look forward to seeing you there.