W&L Welcomes Five-Star Generals to Campus Alumni from the classes of 1976 and earlier enjoyed reconnecting with each other as well as a variety of weekend programming.

Office of Alumni Engagement
October 13, 2026

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Washington and Lee University welcomed 87 alumni and guests from the classes of 1976 and earlier to campus Sept. 18-19 for the 2026 Five-Star Festival. The classes of 1971, 1966 and 1961 were honored in recognition of their 55th, 60th and 65th reunions, respectively. And special recognition was given to Keith Barney Jr. ’58, who celebrated 68 years post-graduation. Barney has attended every milestone W&L reunion since his 40th in 1998.

The weekend officially kicked off on Friday, Sept. 18, with Paul Youngman ’87, P’21, P’27, dean of the College and professor of German who served in the U.S. Army from 1987-94, hosting a highly successful veterans gathering at the Simpson House lawn. At the Five-Star Festival Opening Assembly, John Jensen ’01, P’30, executive director of Alumni and Career Services, presented commemorative reunion pins for those in attendance from the classes of 1971, 1966 and 1961. In a keynote conversation, Class of 1971 Steering Committee member and trustee emeritus John McCardell ’71, P’09 and Youngman discussed the state and promise of the liberal arts. The activities ended with Interim President Ken Ruscio ’76 hosting a reception for alumni and guests at Hotchkiss Alumni House. The next day, Marcus E. “Marc” Bromley ’71 and William Henry “Bill” Oast ’71, ’74L were presented with the Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Awards. Following that, John “Dee” Copenhaver ’71, accompanied by Class of 1966 Steering Committee member Neeley Young ’66, P’99, P’03 and Carl Adams III ’71, P’99, led a Celebration of Life service. The festival concluded with the Grand Finale, which featured a special performance by Grace Rustay ’27, Colin Soukup ’28 and John Paul Hammond ’27, along with closing remarks by W&L class agent and Class of 1971 Steering Committee member Buddy LeTourneau ’71, P’00.

The Five-Star Festival offered many chances for alumni to reconnect with each other and also interact with current students and faculty members. Highlights included:

• LeTourneau leading two days of pre-reunion activities for his classmates, with sessions on Washington Term, Williams Investment Society, the Mudd Center for Ethics, Career and Professional Development, the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship and the science of climate change and sustainability on W&L campus, in addition to a service project with Campus Kitchen.
• James Lambert, director of Lifelong Learning, tackling what it means to be a lifelong learner and introducing educational programs offered by his office.
• Sybil Prince Nelson ’01, P’28, P’30, associate professor of math, and JT Torres, director of the Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning, demonstrating how AI is altering the way we think about learning, creativity and freedom.
• The Dynamic Student Experience Panel Discussion, moderated by Alumni and Career Services, which brought in student leaders who shared their campus experience and insight on W&L in 2026.
• The Lunch and Learn Session, which gave alumni the chance to have conversations with Jan Hathorn, athletic director, Terlynn Olds, associate athletic director, coaches, team faculty advisers and student-athletes.
• A virtual campus tour followed by President Ruscio’s university update.
• Mark Rush, director of International Education and Stanley D. and Nikki Waxberg Professor of Politics, discussing the world’s hotspots and U.S. interests.
• Matt Davis, director of the Institutional History Museum and Galleries, leading the “Progress in Progress: The Renovation of the University Chapel” session. Davis provided an overview of the recent work and led a tour of the new gallery exhibitions, which focused on the history of the Chapel and its uses over the generations as a gathering space for the university community.
• An afternoon gathering at the Hotchkiss House for the classes of 1971, 1966 and 1961.

Recordings of select Five-Star Festival events, along with a virtual campus tour, are available online.

The collective impact of the Five-Star classes continues to be both significant and inspiring. Vice President for University Advancement Susan Wood recognized the efforts of W&L Fund class agents and provided updates on awards for the reunion classes. One of the many highlights of the record-breaking 2025-26 fiscal year was raising $11.7 million for the W&L Fund, the largest total in university history, and the first time the W&L Fund has surpassed $11 million. The Five-Star alumni contributed more than $1.8 million to that total this year alone, and 92% of Five-Star donors gave consecutively over three years.

• The 65th reunion Class of 1961 contributed $42,500 to the W&L Fund (in fiscal year 2025-26) and $774,106 contributed to the Leading Lives of Consequence campaign since its launch.
• The 60th reunion Class of 1966, led by class agent Steve Yancey ’66, P’07, P’09, contributed $36,885 to the W&L Fund (in fiscal year 2025-26) and $2,554,329 to the capital campaign.
• The 55th reunion Class of 1971, led by Chris Lee ’71, P’07, LeTourneau and Cliff Walters ’71, ’76L, P’01, contributed $94,184 to the W&L Fund (in fiscal year 2025-26) and $3,605,832 to the capital campaign.
• The Class of 1957, led by Bill Kauffman ’57, earned the Richmond Trophy, which is awarded to the highest percentage of members participating in the W&L Fund.
• The Class of 1975, led by Ben Bailey ’75, Burr Datz ’75 and Gene Perry ’75, ’78L, won the Washington Trophy, which is awarded to the class with the largest amount of money contributed to the W&L Fund.
• The Class of 1974, led by Bill Wallace ’74, ’77L, P’02, P’06, P’09, Jim Farrar ’74, P’11, Joe Leary ’74, P’01, P’04 and Matt Towns ’74, was awarded the Bierer Trophy, which goes to the class with the highest percentage of members in the President’s Society.
• The Class of 1967, led by Ned Bates ’67, P’00, Pete Heumann ’67, Stephen McElhaney ’67, P’96, P’99, Bob Priddy ’67, P’00, P’02, P’05 and Chuck Staples ’67, received the McCutcheon Trophy, which acknowledges consecutive giving and goes to the class with the highest percentage of members in the 1749 Circle.

“What stands out about our Five-Star alumni is how invested they remain in the life of this university more than 50 years after graduation,” said Jensen. “They come back eager to hear from today’s students and explore what’s new on campus. That continued curiosity and willingness to contribute give real meaning to a lifelong relationship with W&L.”

Steering committee members who dedicated time and hard work to make this weekend special were: John McCardell ’71, P’09, Matt Cole ’71, John Duckworth ’71, P’06, P’09, Drew Kumpuris ’71, P’98, Chris Lee ’71, P’07, Buddy LeTourneau ’71, P’00, Bob Woodward ’71, P’06, Cliff Walters ’71, ’76L, P’01, Jack Baber ’66, Charlie Jones ’66, P’92, Shuff Shufflebarger ’66 and Neely Young ’66, P’99, P’03.