SRU to host Alumni Weekend, June 21-23
Slippery Rock University’s Alumni Weekend returns for a second year, June 21-23. The Office of Alumni Engagement is hosting classes, tours and other activities exclusively designed for alumni throughout the three days.
June 6, 2019
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University will host its 2nd Annual Alumni Weekend, June 21-23. Last year's inaugural event attracted more than 225 alumni to campus for an opportunity to visit favorite hangouts, learn about campus improvements and reconnect with former classmates, faculty and staff. Organized by SRU's Office of Alumni Engagement, the gathering also offers classes, food-tasting events and other exclusive programs designed for alumni.
"Alumni Weekend is a great opportunity for people to come back, experience campus, take some fun classes and reconnect with their friends," said Kelly Bailey, director of alumni engagement. "The summer is a great time for people to come back without the busyness and distractions of Homecoming weekend because Alumni Weekend is more low-key and they can have the campus to themselves in a way."
Because students are away on summer break, the University can provide overnight accommodations in the residence halls. Another benefit to Alumni Weekend is the OAE's ability to consolidate resources to serve alumni groups who are already interested in returning to campus. Several affinity group reunions will take place during Alumni Weekend, including safety management, soccer, gymnastics and Green and White Society alumni. There will be focused celebrations for alumni celebrating 10th, 25th, 40th and 45th anniversaries. There will also be a combined Golden Grad Club Luncheon for alumni celebrating 50th, 55th, 60th, 65th, 70th and 75th anniversaries.
"It's cool to see people interact by being back where they met and where their stories together started," Bailey said. "It's just nice to hear how these friendships developed. We've seen people who have been friends for almost 80 years and we've seen people make new friends as well."
Among the programs on the schedule are a "Your Slippery Rock: Then and Now" tour, 10 a.m., June 22, and a "Ghost Walk and Talk tour, 10 p.m., June 21, both led by Bob Watson, '70, a retired SRU administrator who also authored "Slippery Rock University: The Legend Behind The Name."
"At its core, it's the same University, but physically, it looks a lot different than it used to, so that's why people love the 'Then and Now' walking tour," Bailey said. "Overall, we made some changes to the program based on popularity. We threw a lot of events out there last year because we just didn't know what was going to stick, so this year we are coming in with a tighter, more focused, program."
Two events that are returning this year are Rock and Paint, a canvas painting class with an SRU theme, at 2 p.m., June 22, and A Taste of Slippery Rock, which will be one of the culminating events of the weekend, 4:30-7:30 p.m., June 22, at the North Country Brewing Company canning facility, at 111 Arrowhead Drive. That event will feature live music and food vendors from popular Slippery Rock eateries like North Country Brewery, Bob's Subs and Camelot. A new event this year will be a show at the student-run planetarium, 2 p.m., June 21, in Vincent Science Center.
Although the programming is geared toward alumni, Bailey said faculty and staff are welcome to attend. The SRU Admissions Department is hosting a campus visitation day June 22 so alumni can learn about enrolling their high school-aged children at SRU and becoming a legacy family.
Because registration for events is "a la carte," attendees only have to pay for those programs that interest them or can choose to just attend the free events. For a complete schedule of Alumni Weekend events, as well as registration information, click here. To learn more, contact Bailey at 724.738.4223 or kelly.bailey@sru.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu