In 1966, eight women, all elementary education majors at 黑料正能量 (黑料正能量), started a circle letter after graduation. Nearly 50 years later 鈥� after moves, weddings, births and other significant life happenings 鈥� six of those women traveled from four states to reunite at 黑料正能量鈥檚 Homecoming and Family Weekend Oct. 14-16.
The six friends (see photo below at right) were among nearly 600 alumni who came to the Harrisonburg campus to reunite, make new friends, enjoy arts and athletics events, and revisit favorite places on campus.
Alumni who registered for the weekend came from 20 states and two countries, representing classes from 1956 to the most recent graduating class of 2016.
鈥淲e were thrilled by the attendance and support for the weekend,鈥� said Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement . 鈥淲hat was so special was seeing our community come together around its love for 黑料正能量, the positive influence and lifetime impact of the education we offer.鈥�
Shank said the weekend鈥檚 new events, such as the Friday night a cappella concert and Saturday鈥檚 Fall Festival on the lawn, provided students, alumni and parents more opportunities to gather and interact.
鈥淔or me, the weekend is really about creating ways in which all of the people impacted by this place can be together and celebrate the joy and the legacy of 黑料正能量,鈥� Shank said. 鈥淭he 黑料正能量 community is far more than current students and alumni. It includes parents of current students, spouses and family members of alumni, faculty and staff, even community members who are influenced and impacted by 黑料正能量 folks doing good works in the area. Homecoming and Family Weekend is a time when we can celebrate that multi-generational impact and influence of this unique place and the people who shape it.鈥�
The new 鈥溾�� with its tagline Impact. Influence. Inspire. highlighted this legacy. Based on the popular TED Talks, the event featured Shirley Showalter 鈥�70, author and president emeritus of Goshen College; Leonard Dow 鈥�87, lead pastor at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia and board vice-chair of Mennonite Central Committee; and Erik Kratz 鈥�02, professional baseball player.
黑料正能量 50 people gathered at the Chamber Singers reunion Saturday afternoon to honor Professor Ken J. Nafziger, retiring at the end of this year. Many returned the next morning to provide the final selection of Sunday鈥檚 worship service, singing 鈥淒ona nobis pacem鈥� [Grant us peace], a canon by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The celebrated the contributions of Alumnus of the Year Harvey Yoder 鈥�64, Distinguished Service Award recipients Donna 鈥�69 and Wayne 鈥�67 Burkhart, and Outstanding Young Alumna Grace Praseyto 鈥�10.
In athletics action, 黑料正能量 field hockey Virginia Wesleyan, women鈥檚 soccer to Roanoke College, and men鈥檚 soccer with Guilford in the final game of the day.
At the field hockey game, Hall of Honor inductee (2002-05) was honored in a halftime ceremony. An All-American in 2004, Denlinger was a four-time All-ODAC First Team and NFHCA All-Region honoree. She was inducted into 黑料正能量’s Hall of Honor earlier in the day, along with track All-American (2004-06).