With the sun shining and virtually perfect weather conditions, hundreds of Rider alumni celebrated Reunion Weekend on the Lawrenceville Campus June 15 – 17. With events ranging from cooking demonstrations and a wine tasting to a Taste of Italy dinner and reunion class dinners, the weekend had something for everyone.

Van Cleve House Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Olde Guarde Luncheon began the festivities on Friday. There was a ribbon cutting to reopen of the recently renovated Van Cleve Alumni House and a Taste of Italy dinner later in the day. Kicking off the Saturday portion of the Weekend was the 5K Run/Walk for Women’s Athletics. The event drew more than 145 participants, many spectators and raised in excess of $4,100 to support Rider’s 10 Division I women’s teams. There was also a barbecue on the main mall, several affinity reunions, fun activities for the kids, a reunion dinner and an alumni of color dinner. A Sunday morning farewell breakfast wrapped up the weekend activities.

5K Run/Walk for Women’s Athletics

“While June reunions represent a new tradition for Rider, I was very pleased by the energetic participation of a variety of our alumni constituencies,” said Jonathan Meer, vice president for university advancement. “Great weather, a beautiful campus, fun events and enthusiastic alumni all combined to make Reunion Weekend 2007 a significant success for Rider.”

This was the second year of Rider’s new tradition of celebrating reunions in June. Much of last year’s celebration fell victim to torrential rains. But the spirit of celebration carried over into this year’s events and, with the hard work of alumni volunteers and Rider staff, the widely varied programming attracted alumni from across the country and around the world – including 91-year-old Hazel Mitzenius Sharpe who drove to Rider by herself from Fort Myers, Fla., and Martin Lombardo ’66 and his wife, Catherine, from Rome, Italy. A graduate of the Class of 1936, Sharpe was the oldest member of the Olde Guarde at the luncheon on Friday.

Also in attendance were more than 130 brothers of the ZBT fraternity. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the fraternity, the brothers made their presence known by proudly sporting royal blue baseball caps.

“I was very proud of the work of our alumni relations team, under Natalie Pollard’s direction,” said Meer. “Our committed alumni volunteers, working in concert with our capable alumni staff, helped ensure a healthy turnout at the more than 30 separate events that comprised the busy weekend schedule”

“With another successful Reunion Weekend under our collective belts, we look forward to working with our many alumni affinity groups to plan an even better Reunion Weekend for 2008.”

Terry Rogers (left) and Steve Cooper (center) present Judge Lawson McElroy with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Recognition Award for 39 years of dedication to Rider University and commitment to Rider University.

 

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