Over four days chock-full of music, food and camaraderie, Lehigh alumni from 42 class years—beginning with the Class of 1950—were able to celebrate their reunions on campus for the first time in three years. The pandemic had led to the postponement of Reunion 2020, and again, Reunion 2021, resulting in an unprecedented number of classes returning in June.
Reunion 2022: Together Again
For the first time in three years, alumni from an unprecedented number of classes return to campus to celebrate their reunions.
Christa Neu
“It’s wonderful. It really brings back the memories,” said Terry Prince ’71 ’99P as he lined up with his classmates preparing to march in the historic Parade of Classes on Saturday morning.
Prince fondly recalled studying in Linderman Library among the stacks of books, the peace and quiet occasionally interrupted by the clinking radiators.
Hundreds of alumni participated in the parade across Memorial Walk on the Asa Packer Campus. Each class put on a performance for a panel of judges who determined which group took home the coveted Petty Flag.
Some classes were backed by the Marching 97, while others chose pre-recorded songs, like the Class of 1987, which gave a lively performance singing along to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
Because of the previous years’ postponed reunions, there were three winners: the Class of 1965, Class of 1971 and Class of 1987. The parade was followed by a picnic on the University Center lawn.
Other highlights included class dinners; a Hawktoberfest, an Oktoberfest-themed event that featured brews, food pairings and a German brass band; campus walking tours; City of Bethlehem bus tours; an ROTC open house; meetings with the deans of Lehigh’s five colleges; tours of the new Jewish Student Center; ReunionFest that featured music by the Lehigh Alumni Big Band Swing and DJ Karl Brisseaux ’11 and more.
Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82, who also celebrated his reunion with the Class of 1982, gave a state-of-the-university address that included updates about the campus and the strategic planning process for Lehigh’s future.
Alumni also renewed wedding vows inside Packer Memorial Church (shown above) during a ceremony officiated by Rev. Timothy Shotmeyer ’00, attended the open houses at fraternities and sororities, and ran with President Helble on a four-mile loop as part of his “Pace the Prez” events.
To see more Reunion photos visit alumni.lehigh.edu/reunion.
Christa Neu