Attendees this year will share special new experiences — a rare look inside Drexel’s costume collection for one — as well as old favorites.
The Drexel University Alumni Association isn’t the only group celebrating a 50-year anniversary in 2015!
All members of the Class of 1965 are invited to come back to campus on Friday, May 1, for a special celebration of their 50-year reunion at Alumni Weekend.
The day will be filled with special events and opportunities for Golden Dragons to reconnect with old classmates, make new friends, and visit Drexel’s ever-changing campus.
“I’ve had such a great time helping to plan our class reunion,” says Fred Crotchfelt, BS ’65, MBA ’66, co-chair of the Golden Dragon Reunion Committee. “I can’t wait to see it all come together in May. We’re expecting a great group back on campus.”
Alumni will start the day with a welcome breakfast in a familiar campus spot, the Main Building Great Court, where they’ll see familiar faces and catch up on the past 50 years over a continental breakfast featuring mimosas and a bloody mary bar.
The Class of 1965 will be officially inducted into the Golden Dragon Society as class members are presented with society pins at a special ceremony. No need to bring a camera, photos of the induction ceremony, along with a group class photo on the Main Building stair- case, will be sent to everyone in the weeks following Alumni Weekend.
Following the induction, the Class of 1965 will join other members of the Golden Dragon Society (graduates from the classes of 1964 and prior), for a three-course Golden Dragon Society Luncheon. Graduates will spend the afternoon visiting with old friends and reminiscing about their days as students.
The Alumni Association will finish the afternoon with a trolley tour of campus, led by current students, which will take alumni to some of the campus hotspots of yesterday and today. For some Golden Dragons, Drexel will be almost unrecognizable as it’s been more than 50 years since they’ve been to campus.
Several new events are planned for Friday afternoon and evening, including an open house at the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, an ROTC demonstration, a reception at the Gershon Benjamin exhibit in the A.J. Drexel Picture Gallery, and a LeBow Hall of Fame event honoring former faculty.
Guests can look forward to one of the most popular annual events, the Alumni Wine Pairing Dinner in the Academic Bistro on Friday evening. This multi-course dinner, prepared by Drexel culinary students, will sell out fast.
“This year we wanted to do something special just for our young alumni on Friday night,” says Cindy Leesman, BS ’83, assistant vice president of alumni relations. “So we’ll be hosting a Young Alumni Night Festival in the new Raymond G. Perelman Plaza, complete with music, great food, craft beers, and lots of space to hang out and have a great time.”
Saturday will be packed with events for alumni and their families such as brunches, tours and open houses hosted by some of Drexel’s colleges and schools.
On Saturday afternoon, the Alumni Association will continue to celebrate reunions with a reception and Silver Dragon Society Induction Ceremony for the Class of 1990. Campus will be buzzing with other reunions on Saturday as well for fraternity and sorority alumni, Drexel couples, the Drexel Veterans Alumni Network and the Drexel University Black Alumni Council, just to name a few.
The weekend will close in the same place it began, with the Alumni Association’s signature event, Drexel After Dark, in the Main Building Great Court.
“Last year we held Drexel After Dark for the first time and we were amazed by how much positive feedback we received,” says Ira Taffer, BS ’79, PhD ’83, chair of the Alumni Association Board of Governors. “We’re already looking forward to an even bigger crowd in 2015 as we celebrate both Alumni Weekend and the 50th anniversary of the Alumni Association.”
This year, Drexel After Dark will celebrate Drexel through the decades with themed floors and areas throughout the Main Building. From vintage candies and desserts, to ’70s lava lamps, black-and-white films and ’80s music — the entire evening will celebrate the evolving landscape of the University that we all know and love.
For more information about Alumni Weekend, and to register, visit drexel.edu/alumni.
Alumni Weekend Events
Friday, May 1
Class of 1965 Golden Dragon Breakfast and Induction Ceremony
Great Court, Main Building
9 a.m.
Golden Dragon Society Luncheon
Behrakis Grand Hall, Creese Student Center
12:30 p.m.
Young Alumni Night Festival
Raymond G. Perelman Plaza
6 p.m.
Alumni Wine Pairing Dinner
Academic Bistro, Peck Problem Solving and Research Building
6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 2
College and School Open Houses, Brunches and Tours
Various Campus Locations,
beginning at 11 a.m.
Class of 1990 Silver Dragon Reception and Induction Ceremony
Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building
4 p.m.
Alumni Association Awards Ceremony
Peck Alumni Center
5 p.m.
Drexel After Dark
Main Building
6 p.m.