W&L Celebrates Return of Young Alumni to Campus Alumni enjoyed one another's company and a variety of reunion festivities.
Washington and Lee University welcomed more than 450 alumni and guests from the classes of 2012-2022 back to campus Oct. 28-29 for its annual Young Alumni Weekend. Reunion participants traveled from 24 states to reconnect with one another and their alma mater.
The delightful fall weather experienced in Lexington on Friday and Saturday made for a terrific backdrop to the festivities. Young Alumni Weekend featured significant changes in programming, entertainment and activities that resulted in increased attendance, participation and opportunities for attendees to connect with one another and reconnect with the university. Strengthening its ties with the young alumni cohort, W&L’s senior class also took part in the fun with 115 members of the Class of 2023 attending the Grand Finale party.
Highlights of the weekend schedule included:
- Young Alumni Lunch on Cannan Green;
- Outing Club back campus hike;
- Campus history update from Lynn Rainville, executive director of institutional history;
- Academic and organizational open houses, networking receptions and art exhibits;
- Presentation of the 2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards to Shiri Yadlin ’12 and John Grigsby ’12;
- Cocktails on the Colonnade reception celebrating the 10th and 5th reunion classes of 2012 and 2017;
- Inaugural Pack the Pantry service project in Elrod Commons;
- State of the University remarks from President Will Dudley;
- W&L sports events, including the football game vs. Randolph-Macon, women’s soccer match vs. Ferrum and the men’s rugby match vs. Emory and Henry;
- Alumni Sing with the University Singers; and
- Young Alumni Celebration on Friday night and the Grand Finale band party Saturday evening.
Check out this video footage for a taste of the Young Alumni Weekend experience.
The weekend was a success thanks to the efforts of 44 young alumni reunion volunteers, who worked to encourage classmates to register and raise money for class gifts. Reunion chairs Christina Lawrence and Bobby Rutherford led the way for the Class of 2012, while Carley Sambrook and Kade Kenlon coordinated efforts for the Class of 2017.
The reunion classes were also incredibly generous with their reunion gifts to W&L. The Class of 2012 welcomed 109 classmates for their reunion celebration and broke the single-year giving record for a 10th reunion, contributing $246,049 to the Annual Fund. The Class of 2017 raised the second highest amount given by a 5th reunion class, contributing $89,902 to the Annual Fund. The 5th reunion class also led the way with 140 classmates returning to campus to celebrate.
“Campus was electric as alumni returned to celebrate Young Alumni Weekend,” said John Jensen, executive director of Alumni and Career Services. “The weather was perfect, spirits were high and campus was as beautiful as ever. The loyalty and dedication of our alumni are second to none, and their love for W&L was evident throughout the reunion festivities. It was wonderful to welcome these classes back for this special weekend, and planning is already underway for next year’s gathering.“
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