By Nathan Sturgis | Echo
Graduates from last May were invited to return to campus Saturday, Oct. 12, for the "0 Year Reunion" cookout at Homecoming.
Though recent graduates have been coming to Homecoming unofficially for years, this will be the first time they will have an official reunion set aside for them."It was something the Alumni Office considered last year when focusing on young alumni and what we do to connect and engage them those first few years out," said Jessica Cuthbert, the Interim Director of Alumni Relations, and organizer for the 0 Year Reunion. Cuthbert defined "young alumni" as graduates from any time less than 10 to 12 years out.
During those considerations, they noticed a trend of recent graduates returning for Homecoming just three or four months after they graduated.
"A lot of that is because they are still connected to Taylor's community due to the emphasis on class integration," Cuthbert said. "They are especially well-connected to the senior and the junior classes."
Alumni Relations decided to give them their own space at Homecoming as a way for them to reconnect and fellowship with each other.
"Homecoming (provides a) great space for alumni to reconnect with what's happening on Taylor's campus," Cuthbert said.
Alumni Relations asked alumni D'Andre Coats ('13) and Hailey Novak ('13) to be the alumni hosts for the cookout.
"I love the idea that Taylor celebrates graduates, even the ones who literally left this community mere months ago," Coats said. "I'm also excited to see friends and reconnect with the community in which I've made over the last four years. It will be great to come together at Breuninger, which many of the recent graduates haven't seen in its completion."
He's not the only one who's excited to reconnect with friends. Drew Neuenschwander, who also graduated in May, can't wait to meet up with old friends who are returning for Homecoming.
"The idea of a zero-year reunion may seem a little silly at first, but when it's for a school like Taylor, you really can't say no . . . Even though I've only known these friends for four years, they've shaped me more than most of the people who've known me my whole life. Though we've only been apart for a short time, I'm extremely eager to see everyone on Saturday," Neuenschwander said.
The reunion for recent graduates will test what might draw young alumni to Homecoming. Cuthbert is optimistic for the reunion's attendance, but acknowledges not all of the returning graduates will attend.
"We recognize that during your time at Taylor, you make many different connections. You have certain faculty and staff, group of friends or activity that you identify with, so we want to encourage that as well," Cuthbert said.
The 0 Year Reunion will take place Saturday, Oct. 12 on the Breuninger Hall patio at 12 p.m.
