�鶹��Ƶ

Members of the Class of 1969 reunite to mark their 55th anniversary, congratulate classmate

Due to rain's reign, Alvernia's 2023's Homecoming & Family Weekend was a soggy affair, though that didn't deter Golden Wolves past, present and future from making the most of the day.

But this year's iteration of the annual event could not have been more picture-perfect. And the Alvernia family showed up in force.

"We had a fantastic Homecoming & Family Weekend, bringing alumni, students and families together on a perfect fall weekend," said Dan Hartzman, director of external engagement. "Save the date for Homecoming 2025: October 10 through 12."

Popular events returned, including Virtual Bingo, the Young Alumni and Alvernia Student Happy Hour, athletic alumni games, a Golden Wolves football game and hours of tailgating leading up to it, the Family Fun Zone on the QUAD, sunset tours of Francis Hall, and the weekend-closing Puppy Yoga and Playtime.

And a few events debuted, including a Silent Disco in the Student Center and s'mores over a campfire in the QUAD.

The weekend also included a Golden Wolf Birthday Bash. It capped off a busy 24 hours for the mascot, whose new name - Bernie - was unveiled to attendees at an energetic Maroon and Gold Night the night before. 

On Friday evening, as the Golden Wolf party and Young Alumni and Alvernia Student Happy Hour commenced just outside its doors, the Student Center hosted a special group of alumni for a reunion meal. The group requested dinner there, even though the building didn’t exist when they were students.

Back then, their meals were prepared and served by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters on the first floor of Francis Hall, the relatively new school was known as Alvernia College and men had yet to join the student body. 

“When we were here, everything was in Francis Hall,” said Carol Killian ’69. “Living, eating, classes, library.”

Roughly a dozen members of the classes of 1967, 1968 and 1969 returned to campus to reconnect and reminisce.

“Even though it's 55 years, we still stay in touch, you know?” said Joanne Haag ’69. “We're not just here today. We talk on the phone a lot. So I think that makes a difference as to the camaraderie when it's not just that one event you're working toward. It’s a family and you care about each other.”

Most still live in the vicinity, though Haag lives in Cincinnati and Killian lives in Delaware.

Haag said she makes the trip to celebrate important anniversaries like this year’s 55th, though the 2024 return featured an notable bonus: She received Alvernia’s Distinguished Alumni Award for her achievements with engineering firm H.P. Thompson at the university’s annual President’s Dinner.

“We were going to be here anyway because it’s Homecoming and it’s our 55th,” said Mary Ann D'Alonzo ’69. “And Joanne was icing on the cake.”

The alumna continue to marvel at the expansion occurring at their once-quaint alma mater. Kathy DePoister ’67 had fewer than 20 total students in her graduating class, only four of them lay students. The Class of 1969 totaled 45, with 33 of them lay students, according to Haag, who researched the class for her Distinguished Award speech.

The group members’ weekend schedule was packed, featuring buildings and experiences that didn’t exist a decade ago let alone when they were students. They toured the Flynn PLEX and John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, took in Francis Hall by candlelight, attended a Mass of Thanksgiving & Tree Blessing with the Bernardine Sisters and watched the football game in the President’s Box.

“That's why I come back,” DePoister said. “I can't believe the campus.”

DePoister brought with her a small photo book documenting a co-ed dance that occurred in April 1967, quite the big deal back then.

“Victoria Hall wasn't built yet,” she said while paging through the yellowed book. “There was a barn around here someplace. And they had a busload of guys come in from St. Joe's in Philly. That was our first dance.”

Though their experience was significantly different than that of current Golden Wolves, they all agreed that the unique benefits of an Alvernia education already existed in the early years.

“Education majors were sought after,” said Mary Murphy ’69. “We had a job during student teaching. That's how well-trained we were. The whole class.”

In her acceptance speech, Haag remarked that the university didn't just provide her with a degree, it gave her the structure, confidence and resilience to take on life's challenges head-on.

Killian couldn’t have agreed more.

“I've had several jobs — pharma, quality control laboratories — and I once said to an interviewer that I've never been qualified for any job I've ever had,” she said. “You know, I went after it. Because somehow coming out of here, this supportive environment, I felt like I could. They really did a beautiful job.”

View the photo gallery here: