Homecoming 2007: Alumni Celebrate the Past, Present and Future of St. Edward’s

Feb. 9–11, 2007, marked the St. Edward’s University annual Homecoming Weekend where more than 800 alumni, parents and their families gathered with students, faculty and staff to reconnect, reminisce and forge new friendships. In addition to a full schedule of events hosted especially for alumni, the weekend’s highlights included:

• The opening dinner and Alumni Awards ceremony
• A tailgate party with back-to-back men’s and women’s basketball games, where generations of Hilltoppers came together to show their school spirit
• The Golden Guard Luncheon honoring the Class of ’57
• A Salsa Spectacular for New College alumni, students, faculty and friends
• An Open House for the new John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center, where visitors were dazzled by a range of faculty and student demonstrations

Opening Dinner and Alumni Awards

On Friday evening, alumni gathered with friends, faculty and the Holy Cross Brothers at the opening welcome dinner where Joseph A. Lucci, III, ’80, and Betty A. Reichel, ’88, were recognized with Alumni Achievement Awards, while Wayne F. Henning, ’63, and Raymond Smilor, ’69, received Distinguished Alumnus Awards.

Basketball Doubleheader and Tailgate

Whether their preference was for hamburgers or hot dogs, all those gathered beneath the Hilltopper Homecoming tent were on the same side as the men’s and women’s basketball teams prepared to square off against Oklahoma
State–Panhandle in the Recreation and Convocation Center.

Several generations of alumni and their families, along with parents, students, faculty and staff, crowded the tent with school spirit as they came together to support the Hilltoppers. Revelers shared food, conversation and a lot of pre-game entertainment as they geared up for a win, when the women defeated the Aggies, 60-47, and a narrow loss as the men fell to Oklahoma State–Panhandle, 63-62.

Dancing with the Stars of New College

New College Alumni and their families also had a chance to mix it up — Latin style — at the New College Salsa Spectacular, a special event hosted for graduates of the university’s premier program for working adults.

In addition to salsa lessons courtesy of Footworks Dance Center, this family-friendly event offered something for everyone:

• “Make-your-own sombreros” for the kids
• A salsa sampling from Central Market
• Ice cold beverages to cool down the dancers after perfecting their “signature moves”

Sciences Open House Dazzles

At Catalyst for the Future — an open house for the new John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–North Building — alumni, parents and current students witnessed firsthand innovative science projects conducted by faculty and students. From Professor Bill Quinn’s overview of the "Diversity in the World of Plants" to Professor Allan Hook’s presentation on the "Nesting and Mating Behaviors of the Sand Wasp", attendees received a crash course in biology. Other demonstrations included Professor Henry Altmiller’s exploration of the fun side of chemistry through fireballs, exploding compounds and shrinking balloons.

Following the open house,
Michael Raiford delivered a keynote address to alumni,
parents and students at Jones Auditorium. Raiford, who is the director of systems and innovation at Samsung Austin Semiconductor Inc., and the vice chair of the university’s School of Natural Sciences Advisory Board, spoke about the future of science, its integration with technology and the impact of a global environment.

© Copyright 2007, St. Edward’s University