Coming Home: Alumni Weekend 2005

President Tony Collins and his wife, Karen,
visit with alumni guests at the Golden
Years' Class Dinner.

Hundreds of alumni, staff, faculty, current students, and new and old friends got together for Clarkson's annual reunion.

There is a unique closeness among the alumni, faculty, students and administrators," explained Peter Gordon '81, a former president of the Clarkson Alumni Council. "I've been back for 22 out of 25 reunions and I always look forward to meeting up with old friends and getting up-to-date on the new and exciting things that are happening on the campus."

Peter, who traveled from Morristown, N.J., was among several hundred alumni who returned to Potsdam the second weekend in July for Clarkson's 2005 Reunion. Activities featured everything from mini-reunions and special anniversary parties to sold-out wine- and beer-tasting soirées, behind-the-scene tours of research laboratories, and family friendly activities like ice skating and swimming.

Alumni enjoying the "Wine Tasting
101" event.

Many former resident directors and resident assistants returned to celebrate 50 Years of Residence Life and more than 20 alums from the Class of '55 returned for a special 50th anniversary party. Mini reunions included Women's Hockey and Men's Hockey.

Throughout the meals, get-togethers, and walking tours, alumni attendees reminisced, renewed friendships, met current Clarkson students, and visited with current and former faculty members.

"Enhancing our image and visibility"

At the Awards Brunch on July 10, Clarkson President Tony Collins praised the alumni for their commitment to their alma mater but also their "impact across America and the world."

"As [my wife] Karen and I begin our 24th year at Clarkson, it is staggering to recognize that almost 20,000 alumni — or about two-thirds of all Clarkson graduates — have earned their degrees during the time we have been here," President Collins said. "While this number underscores the relative youth of our alumni body, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are an institution of tremendous history and that our older alumni, while fewer in number, provide much of the foundation upon which this institution is built. It is their accomplishments, successes and spirit that propels Clarkson into the 21st century."

"Coming back to Clarkson for alumni reunion is like coming home. This University was founded by a family and our community continues to function like one."
— Peter Gordon '81

Collins also returned to the theme of his presidency that he introduced in his annual address, "Evolution to Excellence," expanding on the building blocks he has identified as critical to the future of Clarkson: increasing quality and reputation; enhancing financial resources; and engaging alumni. In support of these goals, Collins also announced expanded recruitment efforts in targeted areas.

"This fall will see 21 alumni/admission events focused on recruiting students with renewed emphasis on northern New Jersey, northeastern Pennsylvania, Long Island, and the lower Hudson River Valley."

Awards

The Awards brunch recognized the winners of Clarkson's Woodstock Award and its highest alumni honor the Golden Knight Award. The Golden Knight winners were Elmer D. Gates '50 of Bethlehem, Penn.; Bennett L. Rechler '70 of Great Neck, N.Y.; Karen M. St. Hilaire '75, '98 of Massena, N.Y.; and Maria A. Davison '80 of Lone Tree, Colo. The Woodstock winners were: Anthony B. Bouchard '85 of Wilmette, Ill.; Dianna M. Jones Herrmann '85 of Burlingame, Calif.; Craig Conroy '95 of Henderson Harbor, N.Y.; and Heather E. Young Preuss '00 of Milton, Vt.

Clarkson alumni enjoying the
Reunion Golf Classic.

Jill L. Thiemann '90, of Tom's River, N.J., was the recipient of Clarkson's 2005 Charles S. Ehrlich '56 Alumni Admission Award. Jill was honored with the award for her dedication and outstanding effort in assisting Clarkson's Office of Admission and Alumni & Parent Relations with the recruitment of highly qualified prospective students.

"My brother was my first recruit," Jill recalled. "He attended The Clarkson School for the 1989-90 academic year."

Over the years Jill has volunteered as an admission representative, chairing the activities committee for the Class of 1990 reunion in 2010, and serving as a member-at-large on the alumni admission committee for the Clarkson Alumni Council. She also works as an alumni volunteer at college fairs in New Jersey.

Clarkson alumni and their families
enjoying the activities at Alumni
Reunion 2005.

Jill holds a doctor of law degree from Widener University School of Law. She is an associate for the law offices of O'Malley, Surman & Michelini located in Brick, N.J. Jill is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Ocean County Bar Association (OCBA), as well as an active member of the OCBA Family Law Committee.

Golden Years Club

Members of the Class of '55 celebrated their 50th anniversary with a dinner held in their honor and induction into the Golden Years Club.

"This is the first time I've been back," said Gordon Lambert '55 (CE) of Chambersburg, Penn. "A 50-year anniversary is significant, a milestone in your life. It is important to celebrate it."

Gordon is a semi-retired engineer in private practice. "My best memory of Clarkson was graduating and getting a degree! Seriously, looking back I appreciate the high-caliber professors who taught me and the challenges of getting an engineering degree. I enjoyed the friends I made and the hockey games – though, of course, the ice was natural then so the arena was freezing!"

Clarkson alumni and their families
enjoying the activities at Alumni
Reunion 2005.

"I also had the good fortune to meet my wife, Nancy Casler Lambert, who was a student at Potsdam State," he adds.

Bob Jones '55 (EE) of Los Gatos, Calif., also appreciated "the professionalism of the teaching and the friendships formed." Bob is retired from IBM after 32 years of service. He has returned to Clarkson every five years and was chair for the class's 40th reunion.

"I am also proud to have been the second president of Omega Epsilon fraternity," Bob added. "We were a pioneering fraternity for inclusiveness. It formed the way I view people even today and my feelings about the importance of diversity. It was a great experience for me and why I am a great supporter of the fraternity system."