St. Thomas University alumni are flocking back to campus on Oct. 3 to 5 as the university celebrates its 50th anniversary in Fredericton this year. The Alumni Weekend will host graduates from STU’s past in order to celebrate and honour STU’s future.
“Alumni Weekends and events like this help us uphold and maintain the traditions upon which the university was founded,” said Jeff Wright, vice-president of alumni relations at STU. “A school that has such a tight knit and loyal alumni community should have an Alumni Weekend every year or every other year as a way to get alumni back to campus.”
The weekend has a full slate of events such as a book launch, a campus courtyard party, a gala dinner and many more. Several grad classes are also celebrating milestone reunion years. Alumni are the guests of honour on campus that weekend, but current students are also welcome to the weekend’s activities.
“It’s an opportunity for students, alumni and professors to stand shoulder to shoulder and celebrate all things STU,” said Wright.
All events take place on campus except for Saturday night’s gala dinner at the Fredericton Convention Centre. The gala is a black tie affair which also serves as the platform for the inaugural presentation Carolyn Layden-Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Award. The gala is sold out with 400 guests expected and at $100 or $150 per ticket. Wright is hoping they’ll raise $50,000.
“The gala is our flagship fundraising event of the year. It raises money for students with financial need,” said Wright.
The Alumni Weekend is a collaboration between the university and the St. Thomas University Alumni Association. Wright said the 50th anniversary will be an undercurrent throughout the weekend as a way to keep alumni connected between themselves and to the current university community.
“I hope that both the university and the alumni association see the Alumni Weekend as something that we can hold on a regular basis going forward,” said Wright.
