Reunion Weekend Schedule

Reunion Weekend 2024 schedule of events

Schedule is subject to change. Please check back for updates.

Events with asterisks (*) require registration. 

Thursday, May 30

TimeEvent
9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Library Open
Musselman Library
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 
Alumni College Classes: Session 1
1:00–2:30 p.m. Creativity, Innovation, and Robots
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. During the class attendees will participate in hands on experiential learning activities.
Instructor: Josh Wagner, Manager, Innovation and Creativity Lab
1:00–2:30 p.m.

From the Piano Bench: Making Music at Musselman Library
Musselman Library Apse, Main Floor 
Join us for an interactive exploration of American popular song in the home at the start of the twentieth century.  Pump the pedals on our 1901 player piano, spin a shellac record or a wax cylinder on our Victrola or Amberola, and feast your eyes on historic sheet music from our collection.  Betsy Bein and Carolyn Sautter will highlight our variety of songs and music technology and will share some of the ways we engage students with these musical marvels for recreation and education. 
Instructors: Betsy Bein, User Services Librarian and liaison to the Sunderman Conservatory, and Carolyn Sautter, Director of Special Collections and College Archives and liaison to Civil War Era Studies and Theatre Arts

Alumni College Classes: Session 2
3:00–4:30 p.m.

Understanding Happiness
This session will explore happiness from an interdisciplinary perspective. We will discuss how researchers from different fields define and measure happiness, how and why levels of happiness vary across people and the globe, how we experience happiness, how levels of happiness can be increased, and why people become happier as they get older. We will cover works of experts who study happiness in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, economics, and public policy.
Instructor: Jamila Bookwala, Provost, Professor of Psychology

3:00–4:30 p.m.

Hot Topics in Criminal Justice Reform
This class will cover three areas of evolving criminal law that have been in the news lately, followed by a discussion of topics suggested by the group. Dr. Douds will cover nondisclosure agreements related to sexual assault; balancing victims' rights and the Confrontation Clause; and emerging issues in correctional health care. Please join us and bring your own "hot topics" to discuss!
Instructor: Anne Douds, Chairperson and Associate Professor of Public Policy

Alumni College Classes: Session 3
5:00–6:30 p.m.

Israel & Palestine: the sacred, profane, and war
Religious orientations spend a great deal of time warding off the profane, the irreverent. What arrives when the profane threatens a nation’s revered orientation? In the Middle East, war hits. To help you make sense of the warring sides, Stern will showcase the sacred vs. the profane in this conflict, a frame often eclipsed by our bias when evaluating Israel & Palestine. You will walk away from this lecture with a more nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Instructor: Stephen Stern, Chairperson of Jewish Studies and is tenured Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies

5:00–6:30 p.m.

Planetarium Show
Hatter Planetarium
Join planetarium Director Ian Clarke under our own Hatter Planetarium dome for a program covering the current night sky, Gettysburg College astronomy history, and a student-created planetarium show. No food or drinks allowed in Planetarium.
Instructor: Ian Clarke, Director of the Hatter Planetarium

6:00–7:00 p.m. Class of 1974 Tour of the Majestic Theater
Majestic Theater
6:30–8:00 p.m. Alumni Wine and Cheese Reception
Science Center Lobby and Patio
All alumni are invited to wrap up the day with conversation and a cocktail!
7:00–8:30 p.m. Class of 1974 Welcome Reception
Patron's Lounge, Majestic Theater

Friday, May 31

TimeEvent
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. Save the date for the 32nd 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
Alumni College Classes: Session 4
9:00–10:30 a.m. Book Talk with the Experts!
Browsing Area, 1st Floor Musselman Library, Room 101
Have you read a great book recently and just need to tell someone about it? What’s on your summer to-read list? Which authors are you following on social media? Join Musselman Library staff for a discussion all things books and reading! No pre-reading is required – just come ready to share book recommendations and grow your own to-read list. Refreshments will be served.
Instructors: Musselman Library staffers Janelle Wertzberger, Assistant Dean and Director of Scholarly Communications and Kerri Odess-Harnish, Director of User Services
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Philosophy of Sport: A Deep Dive into the Big Questions Raised by Athletics
The hyphen in "student-athlete" seems to distinguish between different types of activity, one of the mind and one of the body. But there are profoundly philosophical questions raised by competitive play. Steve Gimbel (a former collegiate lacrosse goalie who now suits up as a philosophy professor) will lead a discussion of some of these questions raised in the metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics of sport. For example, what makes something a sport and not a mere game? Why is instant replay irrelevant in making some calls? When is breaking a rule a part of playing the game and when does it destroy the game? What makes the beautiful game so beautiful? All participants are asked to stretch their minds before attending so they don't pull a cognitive muscle.
Instructor: Steve Gimbel, Philosophy Professor
Throughout the Day *Alumni College Classes
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. 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.
Instructor: Ritchie Shydner ’74, Writer and Comedian.
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Remembering Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O’Connor, who died last December, was a truly historic woman. I will talk about her early life on an Arizona ranch, her extraordinary career, and her approach to judicial decision making. I had the very good fortune to spend a lot of time with her after she retired from the Supreme Court, and I will include some stories of time we spent together, e.g., out birdwatching in Arizona, Virginia, Jamaica, Panama and Columbia (the last three on a cruise that ended up in Peru with a side trip to Machu Picchu. I will try to add something that I think is missing in many of the tributes to her: an account of what delightful company she was and an appreciation for how she lived life to the fullest, achieving great success (as a wife, mother to three sons, first woman majority leader of a state senate, state judge and first woman on the Supreme Court of the United States), doing great things (e.g., founding icivics) but also having great fun along the way.
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 
Alumni College Classes: Session 6
2:00–3:30 p.m.

Puppies!: An Investigation of Dogs in Literature and Film
From films to novels to social media, dogs are everywhere. And as the multi-billion dollar petcare industry reveals, pet parenthood has become a lifestyle in its own right. This course examines our cultural fascination with dogs and explores our motivations for representing them in media and for welcoming them into our homes as companions. Together, we will discuss what our depictions of dogs in art reveal about our own systems of values, morals, and identity, and how the study of canine cultural objects can make us better intraspecies partners for our four-legged friends.
Instructor: Tres Lambert, Assistant Professor of German

2:00–3:30 p.m. Bridging Divides: Learn the Language and Skills to Dialogue Across Difference
There’s a lot of talk these days about a polarized America – and a massive community of bridge-builders determined to teach us how to listen to each other, learn from each other, and move our country forward, together. In this session you’ll meet some of those uniters and practice the ABCs of constructive dialogue. You’ll leave with the tools and motivation to go home to your families, communities, organizations and businesses prepared to build bridges, use difference as a strength, seek common ground, and make our world a better place to live. 
Instructor: Tracie Potts, Executive Director, Eisenhower Institute
3:00–4:30 p.m. Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) Open House
1st Floor, Apple Hall
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. Music of the 60's: How Rock, Jazz, and Classical Music Defined a Decade
From The Grateful Dead to Shostakovich, the 60's was shaped by the music we heard on a daily basis. This course will explore rock, jazz, and classical music, and the influence each had on our everyday lives, and music going forward.
Instructor: Mark A. Stickney ’95, DMA, Founder, Historic Music of Newport, Artistic Director, Seacoast Wind Ensemble
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

5:00–7:30 p.m. LGBTQ+ Meet and Greet
Waldo's & Company, 17 Lincoln Square Basement
6:00–7:30 p.m. Cupola and 1832 Society Reception (by invitation)
President’s House Lawn
Reunion Class Socials
5:00–9:00 p.m. 1959 Class Social
Home of Pat Ness Smith '61 and Bob Smith '59, 13 Fox Trail
6:30–8:30 p.m. 1964 Class Social
Chamberlin Room, Fourjay Welcome Center, Admissions Building
6:00–8:00 p.m. 1969 Class Social
Science Center Lobby and Patio
7:00–9:30 p.m. 1974 Class Social
The Attic, West Building
7:00–9:30 p.m. 1979 Class Social
Glatfelter Lodge
7:30–9:30 p.m. 1984 Class Social
The Upper Crust, 19 York Street
7:00–9:00 p.m. 1989 Class Social
First Floor, Majestic Theater
6:00–8:00 p.m. 1994 Class Social
Weidensall Lobby
Join us for a special Campus Civil War Tour at 6:00 p.m., followed by a reception. Meet in Weidensall Lobby.
7:00–9:00 p.m. 1999 Class Social
Mason Dixon Distillery, 331 East Water Street
7:30–9:30 p.m. 2004 Class Social
Garryowen Irish Pub, 126 Chambersburg Street
7:30–9:30 p.m. 2009 Class Social
Sign of the Buck, 29 Chambersburg Street

Saturday, June 1

TimeEvent
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 1974
Smart Eats, Dining Center
Please join class mates for breakfast and a visit from President Iuliano
9:00 – 10:15 a.m. Buffet breakfast open
9:30 a.m. President Iuliano addresses class
10:15 a.m. Class gets ready to march over together for the President's Address and Awards Ceremony in the CUB/SUB
9:30–10:30 a.m. All Reunion Class Breakfast
Ballroom, College Union Building (SUB)
Complimentary light breakfast before the President’s remarks.
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Special Collections Open
Fourth Floor, Musselman Library 
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Library Open
Musselman Library
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
Ballroom, College Union Building (SUB)
Remarks from President Iuliano, class reunion gift presentations, and awards.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD (for a lifetime of service to Gettysburg College)
Helen Hohman ’75 
Fred Schumacher ’69

YOUNG ALUMNI - SERVICE AWARD (for service to Gettysburg College)
Sara Harenchar Levinson ’09
Lauren Meehan Keefe ’09

YOUNG ALUMNI - CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD (for professional achievement)
Aimee George ’09
Kate Anderson Reynolds ’09 

11:30–5:00 p.m. Phi Kappa Psi Open House
102 W. Water Street, 1st Floor Living Room (formerly known as Weiser Hall)
12:00–6:15 p.m.

Class Reunion Photos

Class of 1959
- 1:30 p.m. - Heritage Society Lunch
Class of 19641:45 p.m. - Heritage Society Lunch
Class of 1969 - 2:00 p.m. - Heritage Society Lunch
Class of 1974 - 12:00 p.m. - North Steps, Pennsylvania Hall
Class of 1979 - 12:15 p.m. - North Steps, Pennsylvania Hall
Class of 1984 - 1:45 p.m. - North Steps, Pennsylvania Hall
Class of 1989 - 1:30 p.m. - North Steps, Pennsylvania Hall
Class of 1994 - 6:15 p.m. - Servo Steps, Dining Hall
Class of 1999 - 5:45 p.m. - North Steps, Pennsylvania Hall
Class of 2004 - 1:15 p.m. - North Steps, Pennsylvania Hall
Class of 2009 - 1:30 p.m. - North Steps, Pennsylvania Hall

12:00–2:00 p.m. *Heritage Society Luncheon for Classes Prior to 1974
Atrium Dining
Class of 1954, 1959, 1964 and 1969 will have class photos taken at Heritage Lunch.
12:00–2:30 p.m. Class of 2004 and 2009 Picnic Lunch
North Lawn, Pennsylvania Hall
12:00–2:30 p.m. *All Alumni Lunch
Bullet Hole and Patio
Live music at 1:00 p.m. by Pennington Station Band (aka Primetime)
1:00–3:00 p.m. Live Music by Pennington Station Band (aka Primetime)
Bullet Hole Patio
1:30–3:30 p.m. Sorority Suites Open House
Sorority Suites, Ice House Complex, 30 North Washington Street
Please feel free to stop by your sorority suite. Please note that the current sisters are not on campus during Reunion Weekend. 
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), and Alpha Omicron Pi (Room 102)
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.
2:00–4:00 p.m. Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi) Alumnae Social
Norris-Wachob Alumni House
All class-year ADPi sisters are invited to join us for a gathering to reminisce and meet new friends. Hosted by the Class of 1989 ADPi Alumnae. 
3:00–4:00 p.m. Phi Kappa Psi Alumni Corporation Meeting
Miller Hall
Casual attire.
Reunion Class Receptions and Dinners


5:30 p.m. 1964 Reunion Class Reception and Dinner
Inn at Herr Ridge, 900 Chambersburg Road

6:00 p.m. 1969 Reunion Class Reception and Dinner
Lyceum, Pennsylvania Hall

6:00 p.m. 1974 Reunion Class Reception and Dinner
Atrium Dining

6:00 p.m. 1979 Reunion Class Reception and Dinner
Jaeger Center Lobby

6:00 p.m. 1984 Reunion Class Reception and Dinner
The Attic, West Building

6:00 p.m. 1989 Reunion Class Reception and Dinner
Bullet Hole and Patio

6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. 1994 Reunion Class BBQ
Servo, Dining Center

6:00–8:00 p.m. 1999 Reunion Class Reception
Jaeger Center Pool Patio

4:00–5:30 p.m. 2004 Reunion Class Happy Hour
Science Center Lobby and Patio

4:00–5:30 p.m. 2009 Reunion Class Happy Hour
Chamberlin Room, Fourjay Welcome Center, Admissions Building

9:15–11:30 p.m. All Class Party
The Ballroom, CUB/SUB
Party for all classes!

Sunday, June 2

TimeEvent
8:00–11:00 a.m. Dorm Check-Out
Lobby, College Union Building (SUB)