W&L Welcomes Young Alumni Back to Campus With Record-Breaking Attendance From Newest Graduates

Office of Alumni Engagement
September 23, 2024

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Washington and Lee University welcomed nearly 500 alumni and guests from the classes of 2014-2024 back to campus Sept. 13-15 for its annual Young Alumni Weekend. Reunion participants traveled from 36 states and four countries to reconnect with one another and their alma mater. In addition to the weekend festivities, W&L also celebrated the QuestBridge 10th anniversary and reunion.

This year's Young Alumni Weekend showcased elevated programming, entertainment and activities that resulted in strong attendance and participation and provided opportunities for young alumni to connect with one another and reengage with W&L. The Class of 2024 set a new Young Alumni Weekend attendance record. With 128 registering for the weekend, their class toppled the previous record set by the Class of 2009 in 2015 for the most attendees from a recently graduated class. The Alumni Association welcomed them with a special reception on Saturday afternoon in the Webster Family Plaza. Strengthening its ties with the young alumni cohort, W&L's senior class also participated in the fun, with 150 members of the Class of 2025 attending the Grand Finale.

The QuestBridge Program is perhaps the best-known and largest community-based organization for high-achieving, low-income students in the country. W&L's partnership with the program, which began in 2009, represents the university's commitment to enrolling the top students regardless of their ability to pay. Since 2010, the university has enrolled 326 students through QuestBridge's match program. The QuestBridge 10th anniversary reunion kicked off with a luncheon in the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning, where alumni and students reconnected with one another, faculty and staff, which was followed by the Spheres of Influence panel, moderated by Senior Associate Dean of Admissions Courtney Penn '92. The panel featured current students and alumni sharing their impactful experiences on campus and post-graduation. The day concluded with an evening mixer on the Lee House front lawn, where attendees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and drinks while building new connections and celebrating the QuestBridge community's achievements.

Other highlights of the weekend schedule included:

• Young Alumni Lunch and Lawn Party on Cannan Green;
• Professional headshots sponsored by Career and Professional Development;
• W&L Pride Alumni Network and Allies social at Heliotrope Brewery;
• Shepherd open house in the Mattingly Living Room;
• Cognitive and Behavioral Science Young Alumni panel;
• Presentation of the 2024 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards to Anna Thomas '14 and Alvin Thomas '14 and recognition of this year's inaugural Road Warrior Award, given to alumni who have traveled the farthest to attend the weekend. This year's recipients were Taylor Cottingham '14 from Spain, Teresa Aires '19 from Portugal and Laura Wang '14 from Singapore;
• Cocktails on the Colonnade reception celebrating the 10th and 5th reunion classes of 2014 and 2019;
• Sunrise Celebration breakfast on Cannan Green sponsored by the Office of Annual Giving;
• Alumni vs. Generals lacrosse game on Fuge Field;
• Alumni Sing with the University Singers; and
• Welcome Back Bash on Friday night and the Grand Finale on Saturday evening.

The weekend was a success thanks to the efforts of 52 young alumni reunion volunteers, who worked to encourage classmates to register and raise money for class gifts. Steering committee members Nate Hayes, Nathan Kelly, L.B. Ellis Telep, Anna Thomas and Victoria Van Natten Waddail led the way for the Class of 2014, while Hannah Dewing, Jackson Ellis, Stephen McCaffrey, Elizabeth Mugo and Heeth Varnedoe coordinated efforts for the Class of 2019.

The reunion classes were incredibly successful in their fundraising efforts. The Class of 2014 raised $246,544 for the W&L Fund and welcomed 103 classmates back to campus to celebrate their 10th reunion. The Class of 2019 raised $80,737 in honor of their fifth reunion while also leading the way in attendance, with 151 classmates returning to campus to celebrate. In addition, the fifth and 10th reunion classes made history by becoming the first to establish W&L Fund scholarships, which will support a collective seven students throughout their time at W&L. This innovative initiative marks a significant milestone in young alumni giving, as these classes are pioneering a new model of support, ensuring that current students benefit from their generosity for the entirety of their W&L experience.

At the Sunrise Celebration breakfast, reunion attendees had the opportunity to meet their scholars, creating a special connection between alumni and the students they are supporting. President Will Dudley expressed his gratitude for the reunion classes' remarkable success - surpassing their initial fundraising goals - and praised their leadership in this groundbreaking initiative, which exemplifies the power of collective action and a deep commitment to the university's mission.

While both reunion classes are to be celebrated, young alumni as a whole are responsible for a tremendous part of the W&L Fund's success. Last year, more than 1,800 young alumni made a gift to the W&L Fund, collectively raising more than $200,000 in single-year gifts that immediately went to work to support current students. These gifts, averaging $209 per young alum, provide vital support across all areas of campus every year. Notably, 297 young alumni are counted as members of The President's Society, reflecting their commitment to W&L's approach to education. The cumulative impact of young alumni giving is facilitated by the efforts of more than 150 young alumni class agents and reunion volunteers.

"We were thrilled to welcome young alumni back to campus to celebrate together over a beautiful weekend in Lexington," said John Jensen, executive director of Alumni and Career Services. "We continue to adjust the weekend programming to generate meaningful engagement for our alumni while they're back for this gathering, and it was wonderful to see the refreshed programming in action at this year's event. It was also an honor to present the 2024 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards to two outstanding people who truly represent the best of W&L, and we enjoyed celebrating the fifth and 10th reunion classes throughout the weekend."

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