Hundreds returned to Brenau University on April 3-5 for the annual Alumni Reunion Weekend and May Day to reconnect with classmates and faculty, recognize milestone reunions, and honor alumni award winners.
On Saturday morning, Brenau President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., gave his address to the Brenau community during the champagne brunch.
“As a community dedicated to knowledge, Brenau’s core function is fostering teaching and learning that leads to meaningful work. We have a responsibility to defend this core function and communicate the value of our central activities,” Barnett said. “It is an outcome that can only be achieved if we all commit to actively engaging with our time, talent and treasure in the practices that move us from being known for being good at things to modeling being good for things.”
Hundreds of alumni, faculty, staff and students also came together on Saturday to celebrate Class Day and the May Court, followed by the traditional wrapping of the May Pole. India Williams was crowned as the May Queen, with Sydney Jones as the May Prince and Erin Delaney as the May Princess. Other events included a sip and paint, a silent auction and sorority open houses.
The annual Alumni Association Awards ceremony concluded the reunion weekend on Saturday evening. Michelle Gray Haywood, WC ’75, was inducted into Brenau’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Haywood was one of the first Black students admitted to Brenau and returned to the historic campus for her 50th reunion.
Other alumni recognized were:
- Natalie Jacobson, BU ’20, Community Service Award
- Jordan Bryant Wallace, WC ’14, Young Alumna Award
- Gabrielle Angle, WC ’07, Professional Achievement Award
- Carl Blackburn, BU ’94, Academy Alumna of the Year Service to Brenau Award
- Jennifer Bryant, A ’83, Academy Alumna of the Year
Friday evening, the 2025 class of the Athletics Hall of Fame was presented by the Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Department. This year’s inductees included Dana Chapman, WC ’06, Ayana Daniels WC ’19, Courtney Hayward, WC ’17, and Brittany Norris, WC ’15, BU ’24.
During the Hall of Fame ceremony, Kayla Stafford was also recognized with the Michael D. Clanton Excellence in Athletics Award. Stafford is a senior who played for the varsity basketball team.
On Thursday, Investor Endowed Speaker Erik Qualman kicked off reunion weekend.
Friday, alums and the community also attended the annual Research Symposium to engage in multiple sessions and presentations regarding research projects conducted by students and faculty. This weekend also celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Brenau’s Physical Therapy Department.
