News Detail

SUNY Potsdam's 2009 Reunion Weekend set to be fun for all

06.25.09

Preparations for SUNY Potsdam’s annual Reunion Weekend are in high gear and the event, scheduled from Thursday, July 9, to Sunday, July 12, promises to be the best, most well attended yet. All SUNY Potsdam alumni and friends are invited to join in the festivities. This year marks two milestones for the College. The Department of Athletics will celebrate the 50th anniversary of SUNYAC and has invited all former athletes to return for the weekend. Also, the School of Education is commemorating 175 years of publicly funded state education at Potsdam.   With a complete daily line-up of events, concerts, faculty-led seminars and delicious dining opportunities, the 2009 Reunion Weekend has something for everyone’s tastes.   The weekend will kick off on July 9 with an Early Bird gathering at 6 p.m. in the Barrington Student Union. Directly following at 7:30 p.m. will be a Wine Tasting presented by Alumni Board President and Director of Dining Services, George Arnold ’92 and his wife, Michele. The highlights of July 10 include a presentation by alumna Judith Liscum ’62, “North Country School Tales” at 10:30 a.m. in the Sheard Literacy Center, Satterlee Hall. Later that day, Dr. Eileen Raymond from the School of Education and Professional Studies will present “What’s New in Teacher Preparation” at 3:30 p.m., also in the Sheard Literacy Center. The Welcome Reception kicks off at 4:30 p.m. in Knowles Hall, followed by the Family Barbecue and Ice Cream Social at 6:30 p.m. at Maxcy Hall. On Saturday, July 11, reunion attendees will not want to miss activities such as the Bear Walk/Run at 8:30 a.m. or the Bear Pride Challenge for alumni and families scheduled for 9:30 a.m. That afternoon guests may enjoy kayaking and canoeing at Lehman Park at 1:15 p.m. For those who remember Potsdam “beer blasts,” you won’t want to miss the Blast from the Past from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. including live music from Alter Ego! Also on July 11, alumni and friends will be on hand for the Sports Hall of Fame Inductions at noon in the Knowles Hall Multi-Purpose Room. This year’s inductees are Brian Austin ’01 (lacrosse), Jack Bissetta ’79 (basketball), Tom Carvotta ’77 (swimming) and Mike Spencer ’79 (swimming). Later in the evening, the Class Dinner and Award Presentations will be held in the Student Union Multi-Purpose Room beginning at 5 p.m. This year’s award recipients are David Dik ’82 and Haden Land ’84, Minerva Award; Lawrence “Larry” LeaShomb, Galen Pletcher and Jane Russell, Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards; Owen Herne ’99, Rising Star Award; Elizabeth “Betty” Briggs ’75, St. Lawrence Academy Medal; and Toni Grieco Zygadlo ’73, Helen M. Hosmer Excellence in Music Teaching Award. To wrap up Saturday evening, Wally Siebel’s All-Star Big Band will once again perform. This year, Wally’s band will play in downtown Potsdam at LaCasbah. Attendees can dance the night away to the music of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and many more. There will also be many other receptions, seminars, walking tours and Gibson Art Gallery visits that will easily fill up the weekend. SUNY Potsdam’s Reunion is held in conjunction with Clarkson University’s Reunion Weekend and the village of Potsdam’s Summer Festival. The public is invited to attend Reunion Weekend events. For more information or to register for the weekend, please call Laura Stevenson at (315) 267-2120 or visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni. Registration will be available in the Barrington Student Union throughout the weekend for walk-ins.