Trinity College’s Reunion Weekend June 9–12 was marked with multiple milestones. Among the highlights, members of the Class of 2020 returned for their long-awaited, in-person Commencement ceremony, which had been delayed due to the pandemic. Additionally, due in part to the collective generosity and efforts of returning alumni, Trinity surpassed the halfway mark of an overall $500 million fundraising campaign goal.
“It was incredibly heartening to see so many alumni return to campus both to celebrate Reunion with their classmates and to witness the Class of 2020’s long-delayed but deeply moving graduation ceremony,” said Vice President for Advancement Michael Casey.
“Seeing all of those generations of alumni, parents, and friends on campus together made it even more gratifying to know that we had just passed the halfway mark in our campaign, with $252 million in hand toward our $500 million goal,” said Casey. “It demonstrates our community’s deep pride and belief in Trinity as we prepare for next year’s bicentennial celebration.”
The Reunion Weekend festivities brought alumni representing 26 classes across seven decades of Trinity history to campus to spend time ’neath the elms. Staff, class alumni volunteers, and a tremendous number of campus partners transformed Trinity into a center of activity for alumni from classes ending in 1s, 2s, 6s, and 7s—from 1956 to 2017—and their families.
Among the weekend’s highlights was Academy Award-winning director and actor Will McCormack ’96, who delivered remarks during the Class of 2020 Commencement, speaking with alumni and guests following a private screening of his animated short, If Anything Happens I Love You, a poignant piece that explores the tragic loss of a child through a school shooting. The film won the 2021 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. The keynote program on Saturday, “Liberal Arts in an Urban Setting: A Conversation with Trinity College President Joanne Berger-Sweeney and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin,” was moderated by Paul H. Mounds Jr. ’07, chief of staff at the State of Connecticut Office of the Governor.
Collectively, the Reunion classes raised more than $56.5 million in gifts to support the college. Leading the way were the members of the Class of 1971, who contributed more than $7.5 million in celebration of their 50th Reunion.
“We are so grateful for these contributions,” said Peter Duncan ’81 P’13, ’14, who serves as co-chair of Trinity’s comprehensive campaign with Kathryn George Tyree ’86. “It has given us an incredible boost as we begin to broaden our fundraising efforts. Trinity has such tremendous, positive momentum, and we want to position the college for continued success as we prepare to enter our third century.”
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR REUNION AWARD RECIPIENTS
THE EIGENBRODT CUP
Tom DiBenedetto ’71, P’08, ’12, ’13, ’15, ’17
Peter Blum ’72, P’12
PAUL E. RAETHER ’68 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Claudia Baio-Downes ’86
Richard Palmer ’72
ALUMNI MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE
Whitney Gulden ’16
Justin Maccarone Jr. ’81, P’19
Yarel Silverio Marshall ’96
Jorge Rodriguez ’91
Ann Newman Selvitelli ’91
Ellin Carpenter Smith ’82, P’19
Matt Smith ’82, P’19
THE GARY MCQUAID AWARD
Shakira Ramos Crespo ’02
Peter Duncan ’81, P’13, ’14
THE KATHLEEN O’CONNOR BOELHOUWER ’85 ALUMNI INITIATIVE AWARD
Liz Elting ’87
Julie Gionfriddo ’96, M’05
OUTSTANDING CLASS SECRETARY AWARD
David Sample ’71, P’06, ’09, ’15
John “Jack” Nelson ’72
For more on Reunion, visit https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/reunion/ondemand/