[The schedule highlights from our 40th reunion for reminiscence purposes.]
These are only highlights of the full college reunion schedule, which you can find here.
Thursday, May 12
4 p.m. Reunion registration opens
Check-in at Seelye Hall first, then at our headquarters in Franklin King.
5:30-8:30 p.m. Food Truck Fest on Chapin Lawn, all classes
For alums and guests who have pre-registered for this meal.
8 p.m. Celebrations Dance Company’s Commencement Concert
in Scott Dance Studio
Friday, May 13
7–9 a.m. Breakfast in college houses
For alums and guests who have purchased housing.
9-10 a.m. Water Aerobics Class
Join classmate Ellen Slote Bernardeau at Dalton Pool for some fitness fun! No experience required beyond comfort with the water. Limited to 25 participants. Sign-up at our headquarters in Franklin King.
9-10 a.m. College Presentation: Maya Lin: Mappings
with Aprile Gallant, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs and Senior Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Smith College Museum and introduced by Dean of Libraries Susan Fliss. Stoddard Auditorium
College Presentation: The Growing Value of College Botanical Gardens
with Tim Johnson, Director of the Botanic Garden, and John Berryhill Landscape Curator. Ford 240
10:30-11:30 a.m. Smith Today: A Conversation with President Kathleen McCartney
President McCartney will reflect on the year at Smith and review several big initiatives currently underway. Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The Grécourt Society Ice Cream Stand
Campus Center, main level
Noon–1:30 p.m. Love for Local Luncheon in Chapin Tent
For alums and guests who have pre-registered for this meal.
1:30–3 p.m. Class Programming: Screening of Where I Became, a documentary film by Jane Dawson Shang
Join us at Franklin King for a special screening and Q&A session with our classmate Jane! Where I Became tells the compelling story of 14 South African Women who seized the opportunity of an academic scholarship at Smith.
3:15-4:15 p.m. Alum of Color Gathering
Join other alums of color for informal social connection in the Ruth Simmons Wing of the Neilson Library. Compass Cafe, Neilson Library
Study-Abroad Students and Alums Gathering
Lewis Global Studies Center, Wright Upper Lobby, Wright Hall
4–5 p.m. The Grécourt Society Reception
4:15-5:15 p.m. College Program: The Smith Student Experience
Vice President for Enrollment Joanna May and Dean of the College and Vice President for Campus Life Baishakhi Taylor will speak with three Smith students about who Smith students are today and how they are experiencing the college. Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall
4:30 p.m. Chamber Music Recital – Sweeney Concert Hall in Sage
5:30-8:30 p.m. Social Hour & Dinner in Chapin Tent
For alums and guests who have pre-registered for this meal.
8 p.m. Celebrations Dance Company’s Commencement Concert
Smith’s student-run dance company performs. Donations accepted. Scott Dance Studio
8:30-10 p.m. Commencement Orchestra Concert – Sweeney Concert Hall in Sage
Saturday, May 14
7–9 a.m. Breakfast in college houses
For alums and guests who have purchased housing.
9:15 a.m. (8:45 line up) Alum Parade and Ivy Day
Don’t forget your whites! Join this moving, time-honored Reunion tradition that reminds alumnae and graduating seniors of the continuing global, generational movement that is Smith College.
Alumnae Parade Assembly (8:45 a.m. line up)
Chapin Drive, between the Campus Center and College Lane
Alumnae participating in Ivy Day activities are asked to wear white with white or light shoes. In the event of rain, the Alumnae Parade, Alumnae Awards Presentation and Ivy Day Awards Convocation will be held in the Indoor Track and Tennis Facility (ITT). The signal for such a change in venue will be the ringing of the college bells at 8 a.m.
Ivy Day Awards Convocation
Quadrangle
Noon–1:00 p.m. Mountain Day Picnic Lunch at Chapin Tent
For alums and guests who have pre-registered for this meal.
1–2 p.m. Class Programming – Pages from Your Past
Join us in Stoddard Hall Auditorium for an Open Mic style sharing of scribblings from our college years – your best, worst, funniest, or most mortifying! 125 word limit, please, to allow time for everyone to share.
3–4 p.m. College Program: Becoming Carbon Neutral: Smith’s Geothermal Energy Project with Dano Weisbord, Associate Vice President for Campus Planning and Sustainability, Beth Hooker, Director of Sustainability, and Denise McKahn, Associate Professor of Engineering and Chair of the Environmental Concentration. Stoddard Auditorium
College Program: Tap Into the Power of the Smith Network
It’s a long tradition at Smith to nurture other Smithies, and to find what you need in life and work from within the Smith network. 53,000 alums makes for a powerful asset. Join this special program to learn more about opportunities to engage the network. Conway Center, Neilson Library
College Program: Conversation and Q&A with Honorary Degree Recipients
President Kathleen McCartney will moderate.
Theater 14, Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts
4:15-5:15 p.m. Service of Remembrance
5 p.m. Choral Concert – Sweeney Concert Hall in Sage
5:30-8:30 p.m. Social Hour & Dinner at Tyler House
For alums and guests who have pre-registered for this meal. The Smiffenpoofs will perform at 7:00.
8 p.m. Senior Class Candle-Lighting Ceremony
Upper College Lane (across from Lyman Conservatory)
8:30 p.m. Sophomore Push/Senior Step Sing
Seelye Hall steps
8:30–10 p.m. Illumination
Stroll the campus as music fills the air and the grounds come alive with the glow of delicate Japanese paper lanterns.
10:00 p.m–midnight Dance Party
For all Reunion classes in the Chapin Lawn Tent.
Sunday May 15
7–10 a.m. Breakfast in college houses
For alums and guests who have purchased housing.
10 a.m. Commencement Exercises
The outdoor Commencement Ceremony will live stream from Weinstein Auditorium (open seating).
The indoor Commencement Ceremony will be held in the ITT and simulcast live to Sweeney Concert Hall in Sage Hall.
1 p.m. Residence houses close