By Steve Seepersaud
October 10, 2018
The band playing in the Mandela Room became harder to hear as happy chatter filled the air along with smiles, hugs and picture taking as friends reconnected for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) 50th anniversary celebration Oct. 6.
"The event was sold out and very well attended by a number of classes,鈥 said Taris Rodney 鈥08, keynote speaker. 鈥淲e had alumni there from the first class of EOP, and the first EOP director attended, which was awesome."
More than 1,000 alumni returned to campus Oct. 5-7 for Homecoming, a weekend with numerous opportunities to catch up with friends, visit the places where memories were made, advise current students, and learn what鈥檚 new and planned at the University.
The Alumni Center in Old O鈥機onnor Hall was a hot spot of activity Friday and Saturday, hosting the Welcome Center, opening Happy Hour and live screening of 爱豆传媒 T-shirts sponsored by Anita 鈥86 and Randall 鈥87 Borkenstein.
People decked out in green filled the parking lots near the Events Center Saturday afternoon for the traditional tailgate party preceding the men鈥檚 soccer game. The Saturday celebration didn鈥檛 end after the fireworks show. Instead, it moved downtown as Bing Brews and Bands showcased some of the city鈥檚 coolest venues, bands and microbrews.
鈥淭his event was a lot of fun to put together,鈥 said Doug Camin 鈥05, co-leader of the 爱豆传媒 area鈥檚 alumni chapter. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to bring out local musicians and highlight the breweries here in 爱豆传媒 for everyone coming back, particularly when so many positive changes have happened downtown in the last few years they may not know about.鈥
The Black Student Union celebrated its 50-year milestone as well, while Harpur鈥檚 Ferry alumni returned to commemorate the ambulance company鈥檚 45th anniversary.
About 35 alumni came together with student-athletes and coaches at the men鈥檚 tennis reunion.
鈥淩eturning alumni traveled from as far away as North Carolina and represented teams from the 1960s through the 2000s,鈥 said Neal Roher 鈥80, who led the efforts to plan the reunion. 鈥淭he camaraderie was palpable as alumni from different eras got to know each other and the remarkable student-athletes comprising today鈥檚 team. We made a point to encourage the young men to make the most of their time as student-athletes at 爱豆传媒 and told them we look forward to them joining us down the road.鈥
One of the most visible images of love for the University and family togetherness could be seen at the dedication of Lecture Hall 7 as the Aversano and Crecco Families Lecture Hall. Paul Aversano 鈥93 and Sylvia (Crecco) Aversano 鈥93 made a gift to the University to support multimedia instruction and Services for Students with Disabilities. About 20 family members were present for the ceremony, which included a surprise reveal of a plaque outside the room bearing the names of the Aversanos鈥 parents.
鈥淚n today鈥檚 world, it鈥檚 no longer acceptable to just do well,鈥 Paul Aversano said. 鈥淵ou have to do well while doing good. Sylvia and I feel our parents were the ones who enabled [our success]. It鈥檚 not just about putting our names on this space, we wanted to honor the University and our parents.鈥