The College welcomed a record crowd of more than 2,500 for Homecoming and Family Weekend, which featured spectacular fall weather, recognition of distinguished alumni and volunteers, and a 35-14 football win over St. Lawrence.
The College honored six alumni through the UNITAS Alumni Diversity and Service Awards.
Recipients were: Emma Ester Bendaña ’04, a surgical resident at the University of Rochester Medical Center; Joan Gould ’76, community activist and volunteer; Robert Holland Jr. ’62, management executive and general partner with Williams Capital Partners; Bac X Nguyen ’94, family physician and community volunteer; Roberto Rodriguez ’98, college access counselor for at-risk youth in Brooklyn; and Estelle Cooke-Sampson ’74, chief physician in radiology at St. Mary’s Hospital in Maryland.
At the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, Richard “Ted” Vinick ’43 received the Special Appreciation Award for service and loyalty to the College and Alumni Council. Cooke-Sampson received the Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of commitment and contributions to the College.
The weekend also included the UNITAS Alumni Career Panel; a 125th anniversary reception for Phi Delta Theta; a lecture by Dr. Barry DiBernardo ’80, a leading practitioner of laser and light-based techniques in cosmetic surgery; and a walking tour of Greek life with Timothy Dunn, director of fraternity and sorority life.
On Sunday morning, some 300 parents, students and guests gathered at the Nott Memorial for the popular Hillel lecture and discussion by Stephen Berk. Berk, the Henry and Sally Schaffer Professor of Holocaust & Jewish Studies, spoke on “Jews, Blacks and Obama.” A festive brunch followed on the Reamer patio.
“When we finished up our Sunday activities,” said Nick Famulare, director of Alumni Relations, “the positive feedback was overflowing.”