Mount St. Mary’s alumni experienced reunion weekend between Oct. 1 and 3 after its cancellation from the summer of 2021. Class years ranging from the 1950s to the class of 2020 attended. The weekend was filled with activities and events that they could enjoy.
Many of the alumni arrived on Friday and got settled. They explored the campus and Emmitsburg; seeing the many changes made since their graduation year. Some pointed out that the Mount Café used to serve alcohol as it was an on-campus bar. Other alumni pointed out how lucky the current students were to have air conditioning because they did not.
A Reunion Festival was held on Saturday at the Palmieri Activities Center with live entertainment, a cornhole tournament, a wine tasting and a live band. Maggie Deegan, an alumnus enjoyed being back on Mary’s Mountain, and described the Mount as a “beautiful community that is always there for you.”
The Mount provided a great reunion to its alumni, even with COVID-19 as an obstacle. Most events were held outside, allowing alumni and guests to remove their masks if they chose to. The alumni were happy to see each other’s faces after not being able to for almost two years. Reunion weekend brought back many great memories for many of the attendees. It was also used to purchase items from the bookstore, to buy Christmas presents as some alumni said.
As the night went on, there was another party held outside of Terrace. This event had dueling pianos as well as a food truck. Alumni laughed as they shared their memories with former roommates, best friends and professors.
The Alumni Engagement and Development Office worked tirelessly to create an unforgettable reunion weekend. Student workers helped as well throughout the weekend by checking into the alumni, helping to run the wine tasting and directing people where they needed to go.
As it ended and everyone said their goodbyes, there was the feeling of being a part of a family once again. The Mount strives to create communities that continue even after its students have graduated, alumni stay in contact with each other and they become a part of each other’s family.
Walt Morris, a graduate of 1971, wanted to leave this thought with current Mount students, “Going forward in the future, if you have any doubts about whether you can do it or whether you should, know that you have all you need from having been a Mountie.”