Organizers Describe How the Academy Prepares for May Alumni Weekends
Photo Courtesy of @pea.stars
By CARLY CANSECO, WILLIAM INOUE, and LAUREN LEE
During the weekend of May 4, 11, 18, and 25, more than 1,000 alumni and their guests from the classes of 2019, 2014, 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1974, 1964, 1959, and even 1954 graced PEA’s campus with their presence. They attended classes, assemblies, and other social events. Members of the Alumni Relations Office supported by the Student Alumni Relations Council (STARSs Council) started planning the event in June of 2023.
Associate Director of Alumni Relations Alicia Pernaw described the planning process. “Reunion planning begins almost a year in advance, so many of the 2024 reunion classes started planning as early as June or July 2023. The president of each reunion class appoints volunteers to serve as chairs for committees: fundraising, programming, and attendance.”
Pernaw added: “The alumni office works with partners and departments across campus to plan a core reunion program available to all alumni. Each class then plans class-specific programming such as Harkness discussions, Ignite/TED Talks, fitness and recreation, musical performances, memorial services, book swaps, etc.”
Much preparation was taken by several members of the community for the alumni. “Alumni are important to Exeter in many ways. First, they provide an incredible amount of support for the school by donating their time, money, and talent to help ensure Exeter maintains its standard of excellence,” Pernaw said. “Alumni donations support financial aid, athletics, the arts, sustainability, global initiatives, health and wellness, equity and inclusion, overall academic excellence, and so much more.”
Members of the STARs Council who worked alongside Alumni Relations through Alumni Weekend reflected on their time on the team. “STARs Council works to ensure that alumni can continue to feel connected to Exeter after graduating,” said upper Lucy Previn. “Exeter’s impact on its alumni is clear — the learning, life lessons, friendships, and connections intrinsic to this school can last a lifetime.”
Upper Bella Carmen added, “Events like this past weekend really allow alumni to see how the school has changed and grown.” She continued, “The goal of raising alumni donations is met best when students show alumni how their Exeter experience has improved from previous years.”
The STARS Council participated in numerous events over Alumni Weekend. “I was asked to help out with the alumni row that took place this past Sunday. It was a great experience to connect with alumni that shared a common interest in rowing and coxing their morning row,” said Previn. “It was also great to see many rowers rekindle their relationships with their former coaches.”
Previn continued: “Alumni Weekend is special in bringing together Exonians of all ages, allowing them to connect with their former peers and meet Exeter graduates from other years. This has presented challenges these past few years with COVID, so it is really exciting for us to be able to hold an event of this magnitude this year.”
“It was really nice to get to speak with alumni one on one after the panels. They have a lot to share not only about their time at Exeter and what they’ve done since, but also a lot of questions about what’s changed since their time at Exeter,” Carmen said.
