Brenau alumni, students, faculty and staff, and friends of Brenau University are invited to visit the historic Gainesville campus April 14-15 for Alumni Reunion Weekend.
“Our alumni are an integral part of what makes Brenau an extraordinary university, and we value each of them and their support and dedication to Brenau,” President Anne Skleder said. “I am delighted to share in the Alumni Reunion Weekend traditions with the Brenau community each year.”
A full schedule and how to register can be found online here. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance to guarantee this year’s gift, packet and name badge, but day-of registration will be available.
Events include the reunion dinner celebrating classes that end with a 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 at 6:30 p.m. Friday, the champagne brunch at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and the annual May Day celebration and May Court presentation at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Sororities in The Women’s College will host open houses Saturday afternoon following May Court and the wrapping of the may pole.
“I am so excited to return for my first May Day and Alumni Reunion Weekend since graduating,” Lindsay Head, WC ’15, said. “I’m extra excited because I get to share Brenau with my 4-year-old daughter. She just knows me as mommy the teacher. I’ll get to show her mommy the Phi Mu, the volleyball player and the student I once was. Plus, I’ll get to share with her all of Brenau’s amazing traditions.”
The Athletics Department will host the Hall of Fame dinner Saturday at the Downtown Center to honor the 2023 class of inductees. Elizabeth Campbell, WC ’15, Linda Chukwuji Ezekiel, WC ’14, Autumn Dodson, WC ’18, BU ’21, and Gabby Harvey, WC ’13, will be recognized this year for their contributions to Brenau athletics. The dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and registration is required.
The 50-year reunion lunch for the classes of 1972-1974 will take place Friday at the Downtown Center. Ahead of the event, members of each class are collecting memories for a memory book and are taking submissions online.
“Reunions are a wonderful time to reflect on fond memories and traditions, and it’s also the time to pay it forward so that future generations can have the same transformative experience at Brenau,” Alumni Director Emily Reid said. “We will continue the tradition of holding a friendly fundraising competition, and the class with the highest donation amount will be placed on our gorgeous trophy in the alumni house.”
Skleder will deliver a State of the University address to alumni at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and all Brenau faculty, staff and students are invited to attend as well.
Those craving a special treat can enjoy a brownie and a Coca-Cola in the Tea Room on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The brownie recipe is from the Martin family, who ran the Tea Room for many years.
Patrons of the arts also can enjoy several other events taking place on Friday and Saturday:
- Brenau Collaborative fashion show, Identity, 5:30 p.m. Friday in Pearce Auditorium.
- Senior Thesis and Faculty Spring Dance Concert, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Burd Center. General admission tickets are $10.
- Gainesville Theatre Alliance’s production of 1984, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Ed Cabell Theatre on the University of North Georgia-Gainesville campus. Tickets may be purchased here.
- Judith Surowiec: Moments in Time in the Leo Castelli gallery in the John S. Burd Center for Performing Arts.
Alumni can also show their Brenau pride by ordering a Fountain logo or Academy logo t-shirt. The shirts are available for pre-order using the registration form.
