On June 14-16, Lakeland College will welcome back generations of alumni for the annual Alumni Weekend celebration.
"Alumni Weekend is an amazing opportunity to reconnect with old friends or make new ones," says Kayleigh Schmid, Lakeland's alumni engagement and career services specialist. "It's a highlight of the summer for some of our alumni family. They gather on Vermilion campus for a day of reminiscing about the good old days, connecting with their classmates, and checking out the ways our campuses have evolved over the years. To cap it off, they dance the night away on Saturday at the Rose Ball, a tradition that goes back generations."
Alumni Weekend began in the 1920s and was first known as Homecoming. The event continued through the Great Depression as a way to celebrate even when times were tough. Alumnus and instructor Laurie Blades conceived and organized the first Rose Ball in 1947, with roses being presented as a way to brighten things up after WWII. The traditional Rose Ball is still an important part of Alumni Weekend, and this year, the presentation of roses will return.
This year's event features a social at the Copper Cork Distillery on Friday, June 14. On Saturday, June 15, there will be a breakfast followed by the Alumni Association Annual General Meeting and then a walking tour of the Trades Centre. After lunch, there will be a tour of the farm and Emergency Training Centre and an afternoon tea. The Rose Ball begins at 5 p.m. with class photos followed by the banquet, program and dance in Alumni Hall.
All alumni are invited to attend Alumni Weekend, and each year, classes marking significant anniversaries are celebrated. In 2024, the following grad years will be celebrated: 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999. The Class of 1974 will be celebrating their 50th anniversary as well.
The registration deadline to attend Alumni Weekend is June 6. Please see lakelandcollege.ca/weekend for more information.
