Highlights from Converse University Reunion 2024
Converse alumni gathered on campus April 19-20 for Reunion Weekend 2024. This year’s reunion attendees also had the opportunity to join the Converse community for Founder’s Day activities.
Each year, Converse alumni are invited to reunite with old friends, walk down memory lane, and see how our campus has revitalized over the years.
This year, we honored the Class of 1974, who were inducted into the Golden Club to mark their 50th reunion. The entire campus recognized the newest Golden Club members as they processed into Twichell Auditorium for Founder’s Day alongside Converse faculty and students.
Immediately following the annual Founder’s Day presentation in Twichell, guests headed to the front lawn to enjoy Dexter Edgar Converse’s favorite dessert – strawberries and cream.
This year Converse also celebrated the Class of 1999, which was inducted into the Silver Club to mark their 25th reunion. Class years ending in 4 and 9 and the Class of 2023 were also highlighted.
Friday afternoon, reunion guests enjoyed a class with Charles A. Dana Professor of History and Politics, Dr. Joe Dunn. Immediately following, a panel of outstanding alumni shared their life experiences and advice following their time at Converse. Many current students were in attendence and had the opportunity to network with alumni after the panel.
Evening events included the Sip and Stroll, a leisurely guided tour of our campus, which is in full spring bloom. Alumni enjoyed a relaxing walk across campus as they toured recent renovations, including Cudd Hall, and reminisced about their time at Converse. Cudd Hall recently reopened as a living/learning community for Converse Nisbet Honors students.
Afterward, alumni had the opportunity to socialize with some of their favorite professors, President Hopkins, and Converse staff.
Saturday was a flurry of events, including the Black Alumni Celebration, the Awards Brunch, the Parade of Classes, Lavender Tea: LGBTQIA+ Alumni Celebration, and the alumni favorite, Sip and Paint. This event fills up every year as alumni artists of all levels create their own Converse masterpieces. This year, artist Carlon Steller Grey ’10 & ’16 led the painting class.
In the afternoon, former Valkyries played a spirited Alumni Soccer Game, showing their enduring athletic prowess. Theatre and Dance graduates made their way to the dance studio in Montgomery to meet Allison Roux, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and Dance, and catch up with Janis Dengler, beloved Associate Professor Emerita of Health and Physical Education.
Many alumni visited the Alumni Art Exhibition in Milliken Art Gallery, toured and donated to Converse’s Valkyrie Supply, while others spent time in the Chapel to honor alumni we’ve lost.
Congratulations to our 2024 Alumni Achievement Award recipients, who were honored during the Awards Brunch.
We also celebrate all who participated in this year’s Class Act Awards, a friendly competition among classes and a reunion tradition. Two awards are given each year — one for the total amount raised by a class, and the other is awarded to the class with the largest number of gifts made.
This year’s Class Act Gift award winners are the Class of 1968, raising a whopping $116,575 for the Converse Annual Fund. This year’s Participation Award Winners are our newest Silver Club inductees, the Class of 1999, with the new Golden Club, the Class of 1974, coming in a very close second. You can always make a difference for your alma mater and support Converse by making a gift to Converse University.
