Reunion Schedule

REUNION 2023
FRIDAY, JUNE 2 – SUNDAY, JUNE 4

Save the Date as we celebrate classes ending in 3 and 8 in 2023! Details will be available soon. Take a look at our Reunion 2022 schedule of events below for an idea of what to expect.

Tentative Reunion Schedule

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Reunion Registration Center Open
Scandling Campus Center

7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Robert A. Bristol ’31 Field House Open
Caird Center for Sports and Recreation

8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
HWS Golf Classic: 18-Hole Scramble
Geneva Country Club. Includes lunch and prizes. Registration required.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Campus Store Open

9 – 11:15 a.m.
Hanley Preserve “Walk on the Wild Side”
8:45 a.m. departure from Medbery Parking Lot

Join Professor of Biology Mark Deutschlander, Director of Introductory Biology Labs Susan Cushman, and Associate Professor of Geoscience David Finkelstein for a tour of the Colleges’ 108-acre wildlife refuge close to nearby Cayuga Lake. The area has been developed and preserved as a wildlife sanctuary. The preserve, located about 20 miles from campus, has more than 40 ponds, a deciduous forest, cultivated fields, old fields, swamps, a stream and numerous other habitats. It is inhabited by waterfowl, a deer herd, beaver, muskrats, coyotes, foxes, and many birds, reptiles and amphibians. The Richard Ryan Field Laboratory building was opened on the preserve in 1994, and provides a location for lecture and laboratory activities. Please wear appropriate layers and closed-toed footwear for the current weather and walking. Space is limited. Registration required.

9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Davis Gallery Exhibit
The Davis Art Gallery at Houghton House, Kings Lane, Geneva, N.Y.

This exhibition is drawn from the HWS Art Collection and Historical Collection, and will examine the artistic genre of portraiture. Images of humans are never just about replicating features: these images are about controlling a narrative, unequal systems of power, questions of immortality and a marker of admiration. Coinciding with the Hobart Bicentennial, we will have portraits of HWS’ own—presidents and students alike—in dialogue with works by artists including Alice Neel, Mary Cassatt, Arthur Dove, Arthur Rothstein and Alison Saar.

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Climb St. Mark’s Tower
Adjacent to St. John’s Chapel

Whether you’ve ascended the tower before or not, we’re sure you’ll want to make time to take in the spectacular views of the campus and the lake. Don’t forget to bring along your camera. Beware—the view could take your breath away and so could the ascent! We’ll take your picture to prove that you made it to the top. Appropriate footwear is recommended.

10 – 11 a.m.
Excursion I: William Scandling Research Vessel
9:45 a.m. departure from Medbery Parking Lot

Professor of Geoscience John Halfman and Finger Lakes Institute Director Lisa Cleckner will lead a working session aboard the William Scandling assessing the environmental well-being of Seneca Lake. Prepare to collect sediment dredges, look for zebra and quagga mussels, and discuss their ecological impact on aquatic ecosystems, nutrient loading problems in the Finger Lakes, and local economies. Event limited to 18 people—ages 13 and older—no infants or small children, please. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for working on a boat. Registration required.

10 – 11:30 a.m.
Admissions Info Session and Campus Tour
The Thomas Poole Family Admissions Center, 629 S. Main St.

The Office of Admissions invites students and their families to sign up for an information session followed by a campus tour. Registration required.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education
Trinity Hall, 1st Floor

Update your resume, review job opportunities post-grad, hear about providing an internship, or about visiting campus to talk with students.

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Light Luncheon Buffet featuring Annie in the Water Acoustic Duo with Alumnus Brad Hester ’09 and Matt Lashomb
The Quad. Registration required.

Noon – 5 p.m.
Open Houses

Intercultural Affairs Center
288 Pulteney St.
WEOS and WHWS
Visit “Public Radio for the Finger Lakes” – WEOS and WHWS, the Colleges’ radio stations
Fraternities and Sorority
LGBTQ+ Resource Center

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Excursion II: William Scandling Research Vessel
1 p.m. departure from the Medbery Parking Lot. See the description above. Registration required.

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Reunion College: Fibers, Fibers Everywhere: From Your Clothes to Seneca Lake
Geneva Room, Warren Hunting Smith Library
Students in Action with Professor of Geoscience Nan Crystal Arens and Summer Science Research Students

Beginning in the 1950s, the world shifted to a material culture dominated by plastic. Today, the world produces approximately 380 million tons of new plastic every year. A blessing of plastic is its durability. This is also its curse. Unlike wood, leather, cotton and metal, plastic does not decompose in the environment. Instead, plastic breaks into ever smaller pieces over time. These so-called microplastics are ubiquitous—it’s in the air you breathe and the water you drink. Student-faculty collaborative research has documented microplastic pollution in the Seneca Lake watershed. Come learn what we have discovered.

1:30 – 3 p.m.
Tour de Finger Lakes Bike Ride
Scandling Campus Center start

A mecca for cycling enthusiasts, the Finger Lakes region is renowned for its scenic and cycle-friendly roadways. This 17.2-mile trek will be led by Ken DeBolt, Sports Information Director. Bring your own bike or rent an electric bike from Finger Lakes Electric Bikes, (315) 374-4199. Registration required.

2 – 3:30 p.m.
Admissions Info Session and Campus Tour
The Thomas Poole Family Admissions Center, 629 S. Main St.

The Office of Admissions invites students and their families to sign up for an information session followed by a campus tour. Registration required.

3:30 – 5 p.m.
Reunion College: Finger Lakes Wines: Introducing the Magic

Finger Lakes wines are an outstanding combination of craft and place. Given the state of the art of winemaking today, there is very little bad wine available. But there is a large amount of wine that is dull and uninteresting. What makes Finger Lakes wine interesting? The lakes of course, the wine culture of the area (all the skilled people who provide us with the wine), and the culinary aspects of our region that when combined create the magic! Join Professor of Economics William “Bill” Waller P’99, P’04, P’09, P’13 in a discussion of all these elements leading to outstanding Finger Lakes wines. And of course, we will try some samples, of what Professor Waller calls outstanding wines. The qualification of “what he thinks” is very important, everyone’s taste experience is different. So, the first lesson to learn and the one you should always remember is: The best wine is the wine you like. Space is limited. Registration required.

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat
Wasserman Garden, 764 S. Main St., Geneva, N.Y.

When the sky is streaked with fading Friday sunlight, in Jewish homes around the world, candles are lit, blessings are said and Shabbat is welcomed. Our blessings will be hosted by Director of the Abbe Center for Jewish Life and Hillel adviser Julianne Miller in the Wasserman Garden next to the Abbe Center for Jewish Life.

5 – 5:30 p.m.
Virtual Toast in Tribute of Cadence Joy Whittier

Join the Dance Department faculty as they lead a virtual tribute to celebrate the extraordinary life of Cadence Joy Whittier. Professor of Dance from 2000 – 2021.

5:30 – 8 p.m.
BBQ and Mug Night with live music by Annie in the Water
The Quad

Annie in the Water’s music is a groovy combination of Reggae, Funk, Rock, Blues and Jamstyle. Listen to them HERE. Comprised of members Brad Hester ’09 (Lead Vocals/Rhythm), Michael Lashomb (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Ryan Trumbull (Drums/Vocals), Chris Meier (Bass/Vocals), Matt Richards (Keys/Vocals) and Brock Kuca (Percussion/Vocals), each performance is another adventure; exhilarating and everlasting. The first 200 registrants will receive a free beer mug with their first purchase. Registration required.

7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Geneva Music Festival – “La Voix Francaise”
Smith Opera House, Downtown Geneva.

Eliot Heaton, Geoffrey Herd, violin; Eric Wong, viola; Clive Greensmith, Max Geissler, cello; Esther Park, piano.

Say “bon voyage,” and join GMF artists for a trip to France as we explore the birth of a distinct French musical voice at the turn of the century. From the shimmering, languid modulations of Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 to Ravel’s incorporation of Basque dance rhythms in his Piano Trio, new approaches to harmony, timbre and other musical elements give this performance’s music an entirely unique sensibility.

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides
Stern Lawn; weather permitting

9 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Look Skyward
Richard S. Perkin Observatory near the Katherine D. Elliott ‘66 Studio Arts Center

Stop by the Richard S. Perkin Observatory, a teaching and outreach facility located adjacent to the Katherine D. Elliott Studio Arts Center, to observe objects trillions of miles away from Earth with Professors of Geoscience Nan Crystal Arens and David Kendrick. Maximum of 15 ppl every 15 minutes. Not handicapped accessible. Weather permitting. Space is limited. Registration required.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Reunion Registration Center Open
Scandling Campus Center

7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
Sunrise Fitness with Leigh Pitifer ’84
Bozzuto Boathouse

William Smith alumna, Heron Leigh Pitifer ’84, has taught health and wellness classes and varied training programs throughout a 20-year career in the field. She holds several certifications and teaches group fitness classes at Bristol Field House. Pitifer is also an instructor in the Health Science and Human Performance Department at Finger Lakes Community College. (Rain location: Group Fitness Room, Bristol Field House)

7:30 – 9 a.m.
Full Breakfast
Scandling Campus Center, Great Hall of Saga. Registration required.

8 a.m. – Noon
Robert A. Bristol ’31 Field House Open
Caird Center for Sports and Recreation

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Excursion III: William Scandling Research Vessel
9 a.m. departure from the Medbery Parking Lot. See the description above. Registration required.

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Reunion College: Town & Gown – 200 Years of Hobart College and Geneva
Stern Hall, Room 103

Hobart College and Geneva have been intertwined for 200 years, from residents paying for Geneva Hall to Hobart’s community service in the 21st century. Come learn about all the events in between from John Marks, Curator of Collections at Historic Geneva and Adjunct Instructor in the History Department.

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Reunion College: Plants, Politics and Cuba’s Changing Tide
Rosenberg Hall, Room 9

The Cuban Revolution and the subsequent U.S.-sponsored economic blockade are preeminent global geopolitical events that define Cuba’s modern socio-economic character. Has Cuba’s distinctive economy also impacted its modern ecology? Join Professor of Biology Meghan Brown in this session to find out! She will share results from her work leading a U.S.-Cuban team of scientists who documented patterns in non-native plant diversity among dozens of Caribbean islands. You will also learn about a once-in-a-lifetime, week-long program to Cuba open to HWS alums and parents that Professors Brown and May Farnsworth will lead in December 2022.

10 – 10:50 a.m.
Reunion College: Movement Choir in Tribute of Cadence Joy Whittier
Gearan Center for the Performing Arts, Studio 104

Participate in a lively, co-creative movement experience as a tribute to Cadence Joy Whittier, Professor of Dance (2000-2021). Studio 104 in the Gearan Center.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Climb St. Mark’s Tower
Adjacent to St. John’s Chapel

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Campus Store Open

11 a.m. – Noon
State of the Colleges Address with President Joyce P. Jacobsen and Reunion Forum
Vandervort Room, Scandling Campus Center.

Noon – 12:15 p.m.
All Classes Reunion Parade
Gather in front of the Scandling Campus Center at 11:50 a.m.
The Reunion Parade will be led by the Savannah CellarSavers Marching Band. Alums will march to the Quad with classmates and the Savannah CellarSavers Marching Band.

Noon – 3 p.m.
Twin Oaks Tent Open
The Quad. Cash bar.

12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
All Classes Luncheon
The Quad

Enjoy lunch on the Quad and congratulate fellow alums as the Hobart Alumni Association and William Smith Alumnae Associations present their annual awards, as well as a check presentation of the Reunion classes fundraising achievements. Registration required.

12:15 – 5 p.m.
Reunion Open Houses

Intercultural Affairs Center
288 Pulteney St.
WEOS And WHWS Open House
Visit “Public Radio for the Finger Lakes” – WEOS and WHWS, the Colleges’ radio stations
Fraternities and Sorority
LGBTQ+ Resource Center

12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
All Classes Ultimate Frisbee Pick Up Game with Ken Harootunian ‘82
Stern Lawn

1 – 3 p.m.
Alum and Faculty Authors Book Signing
Barnes & Noble Campus Store

1 – 4 p.m.
HWS Athletics Surplus Sale
The Quad
T-shirts, polos, footwear and more! Prices ranging from $5 – $20.

1 – 4 p.m.
All Classes Memorial Reflections
St. John’s Chapel
Stop by the Chapel and light a memorial candle in memory of a classmate or loved one.

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Reunion College: Freeing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Gulick Hall, Room 100

Assistant Professor of History Janette Gayle will offer a richer portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. than his “I Have a Dream Speech” speech provides. Though King’s message and delivery are precious moments in this nation’s history, and excerpts are familiar to virtually all-American school children, King’s opinion of society and its remedy have been frozen in time and reduced to a few moments of his famous speech. This lecture frees King from his magnificent yet soothing speech in order to appreciate the real world political and social battles that defined his life and the lives of those who fought beside him in the struggle for freedom and equality. By shedding light on moments that have been dropped out of the “master narrative” of the Civil Rights Movement, the lecture demonstrates that the movement was far from reaching a moment of transcendence at the 1963 March on Washington.

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Raise the Orange and Purple High
First Floor, Warren Hunting Smith Library

Join Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Tricia McEldowney for a talk and tour of the “Raise the Orange and Purple High” bicentennial exhibit. After a brief presentation on some of the archival artifacts and documents on display—and the stories they tell—wander through the exhibit and see what other stories you discover. Registration required.

1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Art Exhibit and Gallery Talk
The Davis Gallery at Houghton House, 1 Kings Lane

Join Visual Arts Curator Anna Wager ’09 at 2 p.m. for the gallery talk and a look at the current exhibit drawn from the HWS Art Collection and Historical Collection that examines the artistic genre of portraiture. Images of humans are never just about replicating features: these images are about controlling a narrative, unequal systems of power, questions of immortality and a marker of admiration. Coinciding with the Hobart Bicentennial, we will have portraits of HWS’ own—presidents and students alike—in dialogue with works by artists including Alice Neel, Mary Cassatt, Arthur Dove, Arthur Rothstein and Alison Saar. Registration required for Gallery Talk at 2 p.m.

2 – 4 p.m.
Taste of the Finger Lakes
The Quad

Join more than a dozen local wineries, breweries and distilleries as they offer a taste of the Finger Lakes. Goods will also be for sale by the bottle or the case. Registration required.

2 – 4 p.m.
Family Festival
The Quad

2:30 – 6 p.m.
Kappa Alpha (KA) Bicentennial Backyard BBQ and Blues Bash featuring The Diana Jacobs Band
On the lawn at KA, 600 South Main St. Co-sponsored by Kappa Alpha alumni. Open to all alumni, alumnae and friends.

Diana Jacobs will hit you with a powerful punch of funk… and soothe you with a sweet soul groove. This 2018 AND 2020 SAMMY (Syracuse Area Music) Award winner is a versatile vocalist, pianist, percussionist, songwriter and producer. Jacob explores her love of many genres through a variety of collaborations. Along with her husband, Mettis Jacobs (bassist/guitarist), they founded the Diana Jacobs Band, a high-energy funk, soul, R&B horn band comprised of stellar players from all over CNY. Registration required.

3 – 4 p.m.
Campus Walking Tour
This tour will follow our Admissions Guide Tour route with stops along the way. Tours leave from in front of Scandling Campus Center.

3 – 4 p.m.
Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Delancey House, Room 2

4 – 5 p.m.
Veterans and ROTC Reception
Gilman Room, Bristol Gymnasium. Sponsored by the HWS Veterans Committee. Registration required.

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
All Classes Pictures
Steps of Coxe Hall

6 – 7 p.m.
All Classes Reception
The Quad

Join fellow alums for a champagne toast and hors d’oeuvres in recognition of Hobart College’s Bicentennial. Registration required.

7 – 9 p.m.
All Classes Dinner and Entertainment with The Silver Arrow Band
Tent on Quad

Dance the night away with the Silver Arrow Band playing your favorites from the decades! Silver Arrow Band has performed regularly and toured with recording artists including Beyoncé, Camila Cabello, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Lenny Kravitz, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Taylor Swift and Tony Bennett, as well as working and touring with numerous Broadway shows. Registration required.

9 p.m. – Midnight
Reunion 2022 Celebration
The Quad

Enjoy decadent desserts, spectacular fireworks and evening entertainment by the Silver Arrow Band. Fireworks begin at approx. 9:30 p.m. Twin Oaks Tent open. Cash bar.

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Reunion Headquarters Open
Lobby, Scandling Campus Center

9 – 10 a.m.
Worship Service
St. John’s Chapel, 630 S. Main St.

Pentecost Service led by Chaplain Rev. Nita Byrd.

10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Sunday Farewell Brunch
The Café Patio, Scandling Campus Center. Registration required.

9 a.m. – Noon
Barnes & Noble Campus Store Open

11 a.m.
Check-out of campus housing.
See you at the next Reunion!

Hobart and William Smith Colleges