Reunion Weekend 2023 schedule of events
REGISTRATION is now OPEN for Reunion Weekend 2023!
Deadline to register is May 22.
Schedule is subject to change. Please check back for updates.
Events with asterisks (*) require registration.
Thursday, June 1
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Library Open Musselman Library Library Curated Exhibits: Graces & Repose – Apse, Main Level Light and Shadow: American Women Behind the Lens, 1850-2020 – Cases adjacent to Browsing Room, Main Level Take a Closer Look: Small Works from the Collection of Mary Margaret Stewart – Main Stair Tower |
| 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Schmucker Art Gallery Open Schmucker Art Gallery, Schmucker Hall Main Floor |
| 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. | Registration & Welcome Center Lobby, College Union Building (SUB) |
| Noon | Lunch on your Own Visit the new Bullet Hole in the Janet Morgan Riggs Student Center |
| 1:00–4:00 p.m. | Special Collections Open Fourth Floor, Musselman Library Featured Exhibit: Educating Women at Gettysburg College: Progress and Pushback |
| *Alumni College Classes: Session 1 | |
| 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | Creativity, Innovation, and Robots Creativity and Innovation Lab, West Building Discover the innovative technology being used to enrich the education of students at Gettysburg College. This class will highlight the tools and methodology of the Creativity and Innovation lab. At the end of the class attendees will create a light up paper robot using a copper circuit. Instructor: Josh Wagner, Manager, Innovation and Creativity Lab |
| 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | Schmucker Art Gallery Tour Schmucker Art Gallery A tour through the Adams County Arts Council Annual Juried Art Exhibition. This highly competitive exhibition features outstanding paintings, photographs, drawings, prints, sculpture, and mixed-media works from artists throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Egan will talk about ways of looking at and understanding contemporary art. Additionally, she will discuss highlights from Gettysburg College’s Fine Arts Collection and offer a preview of upcoming exhibitions in Schmucker Art Gallery. Instructor: Dr. Shannon Egan, Director, Schmucker Art Gallery |
| *Alumni College Classes: Session 2 | |
| 3:00–4:30 p.m. | Psst! Conspiracy Theories, Clandestine Clubs and Secret Societies Conspiracy theories have been around as long as humans have been telling stories. In the last years, though, these narratives have gained significant political traction with the rise of Anti-Vaxxers and Q Anon. Our course will point out some of the conceptual psychological, cultural and political basics and discuss the following questions: Why do reasonable people subscribe to conspiracy theories? How do they become viral? Why must we engage conspiracy theorists in discussion? Yet why is that truly challenging? Instructor: Henning Wrage, Associate Professor of German |
| 3:00–4:30 p.m. | “The Battlefield Belongs to the Nation:” Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Gettysburg This class will focus on the diverse ways in which Americans commemorated the centennial anniversary of Gettysburg: from monument dedications and preservation campaigns to pageants, battlefield vignettes, and downtown revitalization campaigns. Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which claims on the battlefield landscape were used to both support and obstruct the escalating Black Freedom Struggle, both locally and nationally, and fight the nation’s Cold War battles abroad. To purchase a copy of Dr. Titus's book, please visit the College Bookstore and take advantage of our alumni discount. Instructor: Dr. Jill Ogline Titus, Associate Director, Civil War Institute |
| *Alumni College Classes: Session 3 | |
| 5:00–6:30 p.m. | The Oscars – What are They Good For? Have you ever looked at the Oscars and said, “I cannot believe they picked this over that?” Have you ever further wondered, “Why do we even have the Oscars to begin with?” We will be exploring both questions in this class where everybody will be asked to give what they think is the greatest oversight in Oscar history. Instructor: Jim Udden, Chair & Professor of Cinema & Media Studies |
| 5:00–6:30 p.m. | A Tour of the Human Body: How Digital Dissections Have Enhanced our View Room 153, Science Center A common late night activity among aspiring medical students in the 19th century, was “grave robbing” or “body snatching.” This was a secret removal of corpses from burial sites for the purpose of learning human anatomy through dissection. While the human body still serves as a tremendous textbook, our means of accessing bodies have drastically evolved. In this class you’ll learn how to dissect a human body by using just the tips of your fingers. Two sessions will be offered during this time slot (5:00 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.). Instructor: Josef Brandauer, Associate Professor of Health Sciences and Hannalyn Schwarzer '24, Psychology Health Major |
| 5:00–6:30 p.m. | Bourbon, Bacon, and Vaccines Room 200, Science Center Perhaps an odd pairing, but fats are the common through line that link flavor profiles, gastronomic excitement, and immune persistence. Fats are an ideal platform to stimulate our taste buds and our immune cells. In this bourbon and bacon pairing, we will explore the molecular link that gives bourbon its flavor and vaccines their effect. Come for the bourbon, stay for the vaccines! Instructor: Vincent J. Venditto ’03, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky College of |
| 5:00–7:00 p.m. | *Class of 1983 Gathering Home of Bill and Susan (Eicholtz) Pyron '83, 425 College Ave. If you’re getting into town early, start the weekend with a casual gathering at the home of Bill & Susan (Eicholtz) Pyron '83, who live adjacent to campus. Appetizers, beverages, and fun provided free of charge by our hosts. |
| 6:00–7:00 p.m. | *Class of 1973 Tour of the Majestic Theater Meet in the Lobby of the Majestic Theater |
| 7:00–8:30 p.m. | *Class of 1973 Welcome Reception Patron’s Lounge, second floor of the Majestic Theater |
Friday, June 2
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 6:30 a.m. | * Orange and Blue Golf Tournament Hanover Country Club Shotgun starts are at 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Come tee it up with our Orange & Blue faithful in support of Gettysburg College Athletics. Reserve your spot now in this year's 31st Annual Gettysburg College Orange & Blue Golf Classic, Presented by The Cly-Del Manufacturing Co. Visit www.gettysburgsports.com (Orange & Blue) for more information or contact OandB@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6398. |
| 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. | Registration & Welcome Center Lobby, College Union Building (SUB) |
| 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Library Open Musselman Library Library Curated Exhibits: Graces & Repose – Apse, Main Level Light and Shadow: American Women Behind the Lens, 1850-2020 – Cases adjacent to Browsing Room, Main Level Take a Closer Look: Small Works from the Collection of Mary Margaret Stewart – Main Stair Tower |
| *Alumni College Classes: Session 4 | |
| 9:00–10:30 a.m. | Land Acknowledgement and the Wisdom of Plants Painted Turtle Farm Learn how and why Gettysburg College developed our first Land Acknowledgement Statement (approved in 2021), as well as what our campus is doing to live the promise of the statement. Join us at Painted Turtle Farm, where we will discuss the statement as well as portions of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Before you return to campus, be sure to do your homework! The entire book is wonderful, but we will focus our discussion on “Allegiance to Gratitude” (pages 105-120) and “The Honorable Harvest” (pages 175-201). Instructors: Musselman Library staffers Janelle Wertzberger, Assistant Dean and Director of Scholarly Communications and Kerri Odess-Harnish, Director of User Services |
| 9:00–10:30 a.m. | Fifty Years of Making Sausage and Defending Tribal Sovereignty The legislative process has been aptly described as "making sausage." Jana McKeag, '73, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma has served on Capitol Hill, in Federal agencies as both a career and political appointee, as a consultant to political campaigns and as president of her bipartisan government affairs consulting firm, Lowry Strategies. Her career has been dedicated to the increasingly challenging defense of tribal sovereignty at all levels of government. The class will focus on the history of tribes, their unique relationship to the Federal government and the multi layered "sausage making" process involved in defending their rights. Instructor: Jana McKeag '73, President, Lowry Strategies |
| 10:00 a.m. | Campus Walking Tour Depart from the Lobby, College Union Building (SUB) |
| 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Schmucker Art Gallery Open Schmucker Art Gallery, Schmucker Hall Main Floor |
| *Alumni College Classes: Session 5 | |
| 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | "Going to the Dogs" How a suburban Philadelphia attorney/mom discovered sled dogs on a summer vacation trip to Alaska, moved to Alaska, and began training and racing Alaskan huskies in Iditarod and other wilderness races in Alaska and the Yukon. Culminating with an 850 mile expedition in 2020 across the wilds of Alaska tracing the steps of the 1925 Serum Run from Nenana to Nome. In this presentation, you’ll learn about dog mushing in Alaska, the amazing Alaskan huskies, and what it takes to train and run sled dogs and camp out in -50 to -60 F temperatures. Instructor: Kathleen Frederick ’73, Chief Administrative Law Judge for the State of Alaska |
| 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Does James Madison Still Matter? I will discuss Madison's education, his preparation for the Constitutional Convention, and the reasons why he is considered the Father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Along the way I will talk about his major concerns, e.g. the dangerous vice called faction, the evil art of oratory, and the problems posed by mal-distribution of wealth. Then, in light of the many changes made in our system over the years and the problems we are encountering today, I will address whether Madison's concerns are still valid and whether the system he did so much to create is still adequate to addressing his concerns and governing our nation. Instructor: James S. Todd ’65, J.D., Ph. D., Assistant Professor (Retired), Department of Politics, University of Virginia |
| 12:00–2:00 p.m. | *Alumni Lunch Atrium Dining All alumni are welcome, especially those who are participating in Alumni College. |
| 1:00–4:00 p.m. | Special Collections Open Fourth Floor, Musselman Library Featured Exhibit: Educating Women at Gettysburg College: Progress and Pushback |
| *Alumni College Classes: Session 6 | |
| 2:00–3:30 p.m. | Signs of the Times: The Knoxville Exchange Between 1965 and 1969, the historically Black Knoxville College and the predominantly white Gettysburg College engaged in a student exchange program, the stated purpose of which was “to obtain a deeper understanding of individuals of another race and background through a spontaneous and beneficial meeting.” The program exemplified many tendencies of its time, starting with the idealistic desire of Black and white students alike to reach across the racial divide. But the Knoxville Exchange (as it was called at Gettysburg) struggled to remain meaningful, and then to survive, in an America increasingly given to racist violence and white terrorism, with Black activism pivoting from an ethics of non-violence to a politics of militancy. This presentation will give an account of the exchange program—its beginnings, its ending, and the historical context in which it so tenuously existed. Instructor: Devin McKinney, Archives Assistant, Musselman Library |
| 2:00–3:30 p.m. | The Long and Winding Road from Drug Discovery to Approval (and beyond!): Understanding the Intricacies of Getting a New Drug to Market This class will focus on how new therapeutics are discovered, the pathway from early preclinical studies and through to first in human clinical trials, including drug safety assessments and measures of efficacy in patients. The class will be taught by a group of ’88 alumni whose careers span the crossroads between academic research, cutting edge biotech and pharmaceutical companies, to give an insider perspective on what it takes to bring a new therapeutic to market and the steps that are taken to ensure that a drug is both safe and efficacious before it ends up in your local pharmacy. Instructors: Sharon Hilgen Willis '88, PhD, Integral Molecular; Betsy Rohland Mosmiller '88, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Amy Pikalow Marren '88, MD, Pfizer; and Rob Pomponio '88, PhD, Sanofi, all of whom will be celebrating their 35th reunion this year! |
| 4:00 p.m. | Campus Walking Tour Depart from the Lobby, College Union Building (SUB) |
| *Alumni College Classes: Session 7 | |
| 4:00–5:30 p.m. |
How Gettysburg College Played a Significant Role in Our Life’s Journey! |
| 4:00–5:30 p.m. | The Science of Cocktails Learn how to make drinks turn colors, the science behind bubble formation, how to make a tiny cloud with a bottle of champagne, and other interesting science in this interactive mixology experience. Instructor: Kurt Andresen, Professor of Physics and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Affiliate |
| 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Cupola Reception (by invitation) President’s House Lawn |
| *Class Socials | |
| 6:00–9:00 p.m. | *Class of 1978 Social The Attic, West Building |
| 6:30–8:30 p.m. | *Class of 1958 and 1963 Social The Lyceum, 3rd Floor, Pennsylvania Hall |
| 6:30–8:30 p.m. | *Class of 1968 Social Adams County Historical Society, 625 Biglerville Road |
| 6:30–9:00 p.m. | *Class of 1993 Social Mason Dixon Distillery, 331 E. Water Street |
| 7:00–9:30 p.m. | *Class of 1973 Social The Junction, Janet Morgan Riggs Student Center (New section of the CUB/SUB.) |
| 7:00–9:30 p.m. | *Class of 1998 Social 15/19 York Street |
| 7:00–9:30 p.m. | *Class of 2003 Social Chamberlin Room, Eisenhower Admissions House |
| 7:30–10:00 p.m. | *Class of 1983 Social 15/19 York Street |
| 7:30–9:30 p.m. | *Class of 1988 Social Lobby, 1st Floor, Majestic Theater |
| 7:30–9:30 p.m. | *Class of 2008 Social Patron's Lounge, 2nd floor, Majestic Theater |
Saturday, June 3
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. | Registration & Welcome Center Lobby, College Union Building (SUB) |
| 8:00 a.m. | Morning on the Battlefield Meet in the Jaeger Center Lobby Enjoy a casual run or walk with fellow alumni on the Gettysburg battlefield. Maps will be provided. Don’t forget your water bottle! |
| 9:00 a.m. | *50th Reunion Breakfast for the Class of 1973 Dining Hall |
| 9:30–10:30 a.m. | All Class Continental Breakfast Ballroom, College Union Building (SUB) Complimentary continental breakfast before the President’s remarks. |
| 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | Special Collections Open Fourth Floor, Musselman Library Featured Exhibit: Educating Women at Gettysburg College: Progress and Pushback |
| 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Library Open Musselman Library Library Curated Exhibits: Graces & Repose – Apse, Main Level Light and Shadow: American Women Behind the Lens, 1850-2020 – Cases adjacent to Browsing Room, Main Level Take a Closer Look: Small Works from the Collection of Mary Margaret Stewart – Main Stair Tower |
| 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Schmucker Art Gallery Open Schmucker Art Gallery, Schmucker Hall Main Floor |
| 10:30–11:30 a.m. |
President’s Address and Awards Ceremony MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD (for a lifetime of service to Gettysburg College) YOUNG ALUMNI - CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD (for professional achievement) |
| 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | Alumni Book Signing Lobby, College Union Building Greg Davis '81 will be signing copies of his new book Checkmate: Tips & Lessons to help you Make the Right Moves to Achieve Happiness. |
| 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Gettysburg Pride Gettysburg College Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, 1st floor, Apple Hall Join alumni, faculty, staff and students as we all get ready for Gettysburg's Pride Fest. All identities welcome. Glitter, stickers and flags provided. |
| 11:30–5:00 p.m. | Phi Kappa Psi Open House 102 W. Water Street, First Floor - Living Room (formerly known as Weiser Hall) |
| Beginning at Noon |
Class Reunion Photos 12:00 p.m. Class of 1998 |
| Noon | *Heritage Society Luncheon for Classes Prior to 1973 Atrium Dining Class of 1958, 1963 and 1968 will have class photos taken at Heritage Lunch. |
| Noon | Class of 1963 Reunion Lunch The Grille on Lincoln, Dining Center |
| 12:00–2:30 p.m. | Alumni Lunch Bullet Hole and Patio, Janet Morgan Riggs Student Center Have lunch in the College’s beautiful new space and catch up with classmates. |
| 12:00–2:30 p.m. | Class of 2008 Picnic Lunch North Lawn, Pennsylvania Hall |
| 1:00–3:00 p.m. | Live Music on the Alumni House Lawn: Enjoy classic acoustic rock & roll favorites Norris-Wachob Alumni House Come by the house for a variety of ice-cold refreshments; with fellow alums, the Pennington Station Band (aka Prime Time), performing live. Chairs are provided, or bring your favorite chair or blanket! |
| 1:30–3:00 p.m. | Sorority Suites Open House Sorority Suites, Ice House Complex, 30 North Washington Street Please feel free to stop by your sorority suite. Suites that will be open include: Alpha Delta Pi (Room 202), Chi Omega (Room 301), Sigma Sigma Sigma (Room 201), Delta Gamma (Room 302), Gamma Phi Beta (Room 101). Please note that the current sisters are not on campus during Reunion Weekend. The Alpha Omicron Pi suite is closed due to renovations. |
| 2:00–3:00 p.m. | A Collector’s Eye: An Exhibition of Art from Mary Margaret Stewart Majestic Theater Art Gallery Join us for a cookie reception and exhibition of artwork donated by the late Mary Margaret Stewart, beloved Professor of English, 1959-1996. |
| 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Gettysburg College Civil War Tour Meet in front of the Admissions House Join John Rudy ’07 on a walking tour of the campus that reveals the College’s Civil War history. This tour was developed by John, a history major and Civil War Era Studies minor, as an independent project when he was a Gettysburg College student. |
| 2:30–3:30 p.m. | Phi Beta Kappa Reunion Reception Library Apse Area An informal reception for Phi Beta Kappa alumni and their guests to reconnect with each other and learn more about the Iota of Pennsylvania chapter’s work on campus as it celebrates its 100th anniversary at Gettysburg. |
| 3:00 p.m. | Class of 1978 Campus Tour Meet in front of the Norris-Wachob Alumni House Join us for a student guided tour just for our class. |
| 3:00–4:00 p.m. |
Phi Kappa Psi Alumni Corporation Meeting |
| 3:00–4:00 p.m. | The History of Stand-up Comedy: America’s Reflection in the Fun House Mirror Joseph Theater, Breidenbaugh Hall A funny and insightful multimedia presentation about the roots and flowering of an original American art form. The stories of lost legends, martyred iconoclasts and familiar stars show how the simple act of one joker taking on a crowd became a cultural phenomenon, and big box office draw. Presented by Ritchie Shydner ’74, writer and comedian. |
| 3:30 p.m. | Class of 1993 Casual Meet-up The Upper Crust, 19 York Street Join classmates after the Civil War Tour of campus for a casual meet-up at one of Gettysburg's newest restaurants. |
|
4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. |
Catholic Mass and Reception Christ Chapel and Chapel Lawn Come gather with classmates and Newman Association Alumni for Mass and a reception. Meet Rev. Aaron Lynch, Director of Catholic Ministry and Marie Hopkins, Associate Director of CCM and find out what is new with CCM at Gettysburg College. Share your stories of your fun and involvement as a student in Newman as together we celebrate more than 70 years of history at Gettysburg College! Please join Catholic Campus Ministry as we celebrate Mass at 4:00 p.m. followed by a reception. Please RSVP for the reception to Marie at mahopkin@gettysburg.edu. |
| Evening | *Class Receptions and Dinners Various locations on and off campus. |
| 9:30–11:30 p.m. | All Class Party The Ballroom, Junction and Bullet Hole, Janet Morgan Riggs Student Center Party for all classes! |
Sunday, June 4
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00–11:00 a.m. | Dorm Check-Out Lobby, College Union Building (SUB) |