Black Alumni Reunion: 2010 Recap
2010 Black Alumni Reunion
"A Time to Reconnect"
The 2010 Black Alumni Reunion was one to remember as more than 500 alumni, students, faculty, and staff participated in events over the weekend!
Black alumni traveled from near and far to spend time with former classmates, current students, and the local community. This historical event offered a unique experience for the campus community to see a valuable constituency group return and give back. Our reunion goals were to reconnect black alumni to the university, engaging black alumni with each other, and educating them on university changes, involvement opportunities, and giving. We succeeded in our goal!
Thursday, March 18
- Participants and guests enjoyed a welcome reception located at the Holtzman Alumni Center. Everyone got a chance to meet with friends and network with students, other Black alumni, and university faculty and staff.
Friday, March 19
- Career and professional development workshops were held at the Holtzman Alumni Center Assembly Hall. The sessions were conducted by Christina Brogdon '93 and Robert Holloman '86 and provided an opportunity for alumni to address other alumni, faculty, and staff interested in taking their career to the next level, building wealth in tough economic times, and/or entrepreneurial endeavors. The sessions benefited individuals from entry- to senior levels.
- An alumni and student lunch was held at Dietrick dining hall followed by a career resource fair in the Commonwealth Ballroom of Squires Student Center. Alumni volunteered to set up company displays and speak about career strategies. This event was a wonderful networking and mentoring opportunity for current students.
- In the evening, alumni attended the Overton R. Johnson Stepshow in Burruss Hall, which showcased Black Fraternities and Sororities and honored the alumni who have paved the way. After the stepshow, a reception for former athletes took place at West Side Stadium Club and athletes from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s attended.
Saturday, March 20
- An educational component was built into the reunion schedule and an open forum with university administrators took place. The session was designed to focus on solutions and maximizing available resources to increase enrollment numbers of African-Americans students. Karen Sanders, interim VP for Diversity and Inclusion; Daniel Wubah, Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education; Ed Spencer, Vice President for Student Affairs; Barry Simmons, Director, University Scholarships and Financial Aid; and Mildred Johnson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, served as panelists.
- Jim Watkins '71, provided the keynote address at the Black Pioneers lunch. Black alumni who were pioneers in various academic and social areas talked about their many accomplishments.
- Small group reunions were held and provided the opportunity for alumni to interact with their affinity groups. Fraternities, sororities, student organizations, and others also attended.
- The highlight of the reunion was the Influential Black Alumni banquet, which celebrated successful Black alumni in Virginia Tech’s history who have worked diligently through service activities and programs both on- and off-campus. The Influential Black Alumni Award was introduced and will become a standing tradition where a new class of inductees will be nominated for each reunion. This year the inaugural group of twelve was honored. Their commitment and dedication to serving the university has impacted generations of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The award recipients were:
- Jerri Gaines '71
- Adriane James '81
- Calvin Jamison '77, ’81, '88
- Irving Peddrew '57
- Kimble Reynolds '88, '95
- Wayne Robinson '80
- Marguerite Harper Scott '70
- Bruce Smith '85
- Glen Valentine ' 77
- Bevlee Watford '81, ’83, '86
- Jim Watkins '71
- Charles Yates '58
Sunday, March 21
- Students, faculty, staff, administration, and community members joined alumni in a farewell program. Wayne Robinson presided. A special highlight of the program included alumni members of the Enlightened Gospel Choir, which provided inspirational musical selections. The names of Black alumni who have passed away were read and honored.
One of the biggest accomplishments of the 2010 Black Alumni Reunion was the creation of the Black Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund. This endeavor is evidence of Black alumni commitment to achieving a diverse and inclusive campus community. Under the leadership of Benjamin Stallings, nearly one hundred dedicated Virginia Tech alumni, faculty, staff, and friends came together to establish a scholarship that will help make a Virginia Tech education accessible to students from all walks of life. Both president Charles Steger and Vice President Tom Tillar made gifts to it at the banquet. Please visit online for additional information on the scholarship.
The Alumni Association looks forward to building mutually beneficial relationships with all Black alumni. Please stay involved with the university by participating in Multicultural Alumni Programs, college events, and local alumni chapter programs. Visit www.alumni.vt.edu/multicultural for information on future events. Contact Laurie Brogdon, Director of Multicultural Alumni Programs, at lbrogdon@vt.edu for additional information.