Reunited

A picture is worth a thousand words, but is it better than a live conversation—a hug, a handshake, or a pat on the back? With social media keeping people—friends, family, and classmates more connected and up to date on life happenings is a trip to the old alma mater necessary?

Friday, October 22 between 6 and 8 pm, the class of 2000 reunited in the Spolehof Fieldhouse Complex.

“I knew there were not going to be any surprises [because of Facebook], but I still wanted to reconnect—there is something about seeing people face to face,” said Heather Buck from the class of 2000.

Around the time that Homecoming ended last year, the Alumni Board started planning for this year’s combined weekend. The Alumni Board seeks out 6-8 class agents from the graduating class to network with old classmates and plan the reunion.

“Social networking has been such a help. Young alumni don’t want a postcard 6 months in advance, they want an event reminder two weeks in advance on Facebook,” says Emily Dock, Associate Director of Alumni Relations.

This past weekend Calvin had four reunions: 10, 25, 40, and 45 year. There has been an upward trend in attendance since the alumni weekend was moved from the spring to the fall.

Homecoming weekend was in February because basketball was the lure. Most colleges have homecomings in the fall because of football. The Association discovered that Calvin Alumni were just as interested in sports as education. This is the second year that homecoming weekend is in the fall and for the first time intertwined with family weekend, which tied in nicely with the 25 reunion because their children are more likely to currently attend Calvin.

For the 25 year, the River City Improv had a 80s themed show. During the 40 year reunion, the editors from the first issue of the Bananer, a spoof on the Banner, spoke about the issue. Then at the 45 reunion, 2 professors came to talk about their days at Calvin with an open mic session following.

While the other reunions were more formal, the 10 year reunion did not have an over arching program, just a simple message at the end and an opportunity to attend events such as the River City Improv at the Prince Conference Center or a speech by Joel Holtrop, head of State and Private forestry.

Dock said the idea for the 10 year reunion “was a time to eat well and connect with people you haven’t seen.”

A decade after graduation people were married, had or are having kids, and are relocating for jobs.

President Byker’s daughter, Gayle, was in attendance. Although she didn’t know anyone at the reunion she thought, “This was one of life’s events,” adding that her husband said, “If it stinks, we’ll leave.”

Byker mentioned the sense of identity she had with Calvin and the expectations to do good things noting that she is a physician and her husband is a lawyer.

As more people signed up for reunions on the day of the event one of the planners said, “icing on the cake!”