Where do you live? Rochester, NY
What's keeping you busy these days?
Raising my 10 month old twin sons with my amazing husband and starting a new family medicine practice.
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
...I'd be planning out a vegetable garden, walking into town wearing a baby and taking care of patients.
Are you coming to Reunion?
Yes
What's are you looking forward to?
Lots of hugs and taking the pvta into Northampton for a burrito at la veracruzana.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Count down to 10 year reunion: Joanna Pushee
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| Joanna with friends at Strawberries and Champagne in 2006 |
Where do you live? Boston, MA
What's keeping you busy these days?
Working in the writing center at a community college, teaching English to adult learners, baking, and taking a watercolor class
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
...I'd be watching American football and enjoying it; that I'd have a Master of Arts in TESOL and that I'd have designed a curriculum for English Language Learners in a Medical Assistant program in California
Are you coming to Reunion?
Yes
What's are you looking forward to?
Taking a walk around Upper Lake, sitting on a blanket outside under the trees, catching up with good friends, and stopping by the Thirsty Min.
I've been listening to 50 Cent, Outkast, The Strokes, The Bravery, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, as a means of preparing for my return to campus. #MeadBasement #IronHorseMusicHall #NoHo
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Count down to 10 year Reunion: Sara Marruffo
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| Rosa Marruffo (2011) in the middle, Sara Marruffo (2006) on the right. |
What's keeping you busy these days?
Teaching middle school Spanish and taking ballet for adult beginners.
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
...that I would rupture my right Achilles tendon and not be able to walk or drive for 6 weeks. After that experience, I have a better understanding of what accessibility really means.
Are you coming to Reunion?
No, but I wish I could.
What's a favorite memory of Mount Holyoke?
Laying on the lawn at the Delles on a warm, spring day.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Count down to 10 year Reunion: Maureen Deming
Where do you live?
Plainville, CT
What's keeping you busy these days?
School! Between teaching and finishing my Masters degree, it feels like I'm constantly in school. Otherwise, I love performing with the handbell choir at my church and community theaters in the area. I was just cast in "1776" - as a man!
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
That I would feel this confident in my abilities in a field I never imagined entering. Mount Holyoke prepared me well, but anyone will tell you that being in the field is the best training. MHC gave me the ability to think, speak, and write in ways that have helped me grow tremendously.
Are you coming to Reunion?
Yes
What are you looking forward to at Reunion?
Alumnae Glee Club - it was such a huge part of my life, and I can't wait to see my Glee Clubbers!
What's a favorite memory?
Each memory that comes to mind, whether it's singing, in the classroom, or around campus, centers around the people. So I guess my favorite memory is the friends I made (cheesy, but true).
I can't wait to see everyone!
Plainville, CT
What's keeping you busy these days?
School! Between teaching and finishing my Masters degree, it feels like I'm constantly in school. Otherwise, I love performing with the handbell choir at my church and community theaters in the area. I was just cast in "1776" - as a man!
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
That I would feel this confident in my abilities in a field I never imagined entering. Mount Holyoke prepared me well, but anyone will tell you that being in the field is the best training. MHC gave me the ability to think, speak, and write in ways that have helped me grow tremendously.
Are you coming to Reunion?
Yes
What are you looking forward to at Reunion?
Alumnae Glee Club - it was such a huge part of my life, and I can't wait to see my Glee Clubbers!
What's a favorite memory?
Each memory that comes to mind, whether it's singing, in the classroom, or around campus, centers around the people. So I guess my favorite memory is the friends I made (cheesy, but true).
I can't wait to see everyone!
Monday, April 18, 2016
Count down to 10 year Reunion: Alyson Bull
Where do you live?
Whately, MA
What's keeping you busy these days?
My one month old daughter, Aliya
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
I would have a 10 year old son (former foster son) that my wife and I fought to reunite with his family and now we coparent with his mom.
Are you coming to Reunion?
Yes
What are you looking forward to at Reunion?
Catching up with everyone!
Whately, MA
What's keeping you busy these days?
My one month old daughter, Aliya
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
I would have a 10 year old son (former foster son) that my wife and I fought to reunite with his family and now we coparent with his mom.
Are you coming to Reunion?
Yes
What are you looking forward to at Reunion?
Catching up with everyone!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
10 year Reunion: A profile of Laura Campbell
To start off a series of profiles of '06 class members leading up to the 10th Reunion, today there is a profile of Laura Campbell
Where do you live?
Toulouse, France
What's keeping you busy these days?
Work and trying to pass the civil servant recruitment process, learning to sew, playing in a community band with my husband, tap classes, participating in a local French-American Club.
Do you volunteer for the AA in any way?
Way back in 2010 I volunteered to help edit the newsletter for the European Council, which groups together the various country clubs in Europe and organizes events. Then at the 5 year reunion I became co-web coordinator for the class, and a couple months ago I ended up becoming the moderator for the Facebook group Mount Holyoke Club of France. So yes, a bit more volunteering than I initially intended.
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
that long distance walking would have become a passion of mine. I walked the Dales Way in Yorkshire two summers ago and I'm preparing to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland this summer.
Are you coming to Reunion?
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to Reunion this year. But I will be in New York for a few days about two weeks after Reunion if anyone wants to meet up.
What's a favorite memory of Mount Holyoke?
So many, but in the spring time I loved seeing the daffodils come up around campus and eating outside at Prospect by the lake. It was so lovely to open dorm windows at the Mandelles to listen to the lower falls when it was nice outside.
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| At the top of Miyajima island in Japan with my husband in April 2015 |
Where do you live?
Toulouse, France
What's keeping you busy these days?
Work and trying to pass the civil servant recruitment process, learning to sew, playing in a community band with my husband, tap classes, participating in a local French-American Club.
Do you volunteer for the AA in any way?
Way back in 2010 I volunteered to help edit the newsletter for the European Council, which groups together the various country clubs in Europe and organizes events. Then at the 5 year reunion I became co-web coordinator for the class, and a couple months ago I ended up becoming the moderator for the Facebook group Mount Holyoke Club of France. So yes, a bit more volunteering than I initially intended.
10 years ago I never would have imagined....
that long distance walking would have become a passion of mine. I walked the Dales Way in Yorkshire two summers ago and I'm preparing to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland this summer.
Are you coming to Reunion?
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to Reunion this year. But I will be in New York for a few days about two weeks after Reunion if anyone wants to meet up.
What's a favorite memory of Mount Holyoke?
So many, but in the spring time I loved seeing the daffodils come up around campus and eating outside at Prospect by the lake. It was so lovely to open dorm windows at the Mandelles to listen to the lower falls when it was nice outside.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Reunion Committee Members Needed!
Hey '06:
It's time to start thinking about our 10th reunion! We know many of you have started receiving save the date postcards for reunion next May and we'll be sending out an official "Reunion Letter" in the next few weeks with many details about our upcoming reunion.
In the meantime, we're looking for volunteers to help us plan, organize, and host reunion events. Whether you have time to chair a committee or participate as a member, we'd be happy to have you join us!
We're looking to fill the following committees:
-Laurel Parade Costume Committee
-Laurel Parade Sign Committee
-Welcome Committee
-Decorating Committee
-Taste of the Valley Committee (Friday Dinner & Social Hour)
Please fill out the PDF application form and return it to our reunion email address at: reunionchairsmhc2006@gmail.com
A list of the committees and committee responsibilities are included with the application.
We'd like to have all committees finalized by October 15th, so please return your application as soon as you can.
Reunion Application
*NOTE: In order for the application to be fillable - download it from Google Drive and save it to your desktop. The PDF can then be edited and sent by email to the Reunion Chairs.
It's time to start thinking about our 10th reunion! We know many of you have started receiving save the date postcards for reunion next May and we'll be sending out an official "Reunion Letter" in the next few weeks with many details about our upcoming reunion.
In the meantime, we're looking for volunteers to help us plan, organize, and host reunion events. Whether you have time to chair a committee or participate as a member, we'd be happy to have you join us!
We're looking to fill the following committees:
-Laurel Parade Costume Committee
-Laurel Parade Sign Committee
-Welcome Committee
-Decorating Committee
-Taste of the Valley Committee (Friday Dinner & Social Hour)
Please fill out the PDF application form and return it to our reunion email address at: reunionchairsmhc2006@gmail.com
A list of the committees and committee responsibilities are included with the application.
We'd like to have all committees finalized by October 15th, so please return your application as soon as you can.
Reunion Application
*NOTE: In order for the application to be fillable - download it from Google Drive and save it to your desktop. The PDF can then be edited and sent by email to the Reunion Chairs.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Find your people contest
Everyone loves MHC gear, and if you log into the Alumnae Directory before September 30th you can help the class of '06 win baseball caps!
With the Find your people contest, there are two ways the class of '06 can win:
What do you have to do? Just login. That's it. While you're there you can make sure your info is up to date, check out if there are any alumnae in your area, or see where your first year hall buddies are living now.
Then tell a friend! Let's show how great the '06 network is.
With the Find your people contest, there are two ways the class of '06 can win:
Register the largest percentage of our class in the Alumnae Directory between July 1 and September 30, 2015.
Have the largest percentage of our class log in to the Alumnae Directory between July 1 and September 30, 2015.Most of our class is already online, so the second option is more likely for us.
What do you have to do? Just login. That's it. While you're there you can make sure your info is up to date, check out if there are any alumnae in your area, or see where your first year hall buddies are living now.
Then tell a friend! Let's show how great the '06 network is.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Spring Class Notes
While it doesn't feel remotely like spring yet, the spring Alumnae Quarterly has updates on what your classmates have been up to. Have a note to share? Email scribe06@mtholyoke.edu. Have photos for the website? Email amy.cavanaugh@gmail.com.
After spending the last 5 years in graduate school, Elissa Barratt is excited to announce that she’s a lawyer! She’s currently practicing bankruptcy law in Los Angeles until Aug. when she will move to Atlanta to become a federal judicial clerk for 2 years. Right now she is trying to complete her California bucket list with the help of Rosalba Gonzalez.
Christine Leonard writes, “I just got back from the amazing wedding of Eva Visscher-Simon in Nosara, Costa Rica. She married Dustin Bryant on Dec. 13 in a beautiful ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Laura Valente, Elisa Aigamaua, Sulaiha Schwartz Olatunji and Rhea Ghosh were in attendance. I have to say, it was one of the best weddings I've ever attended... full of love, new and old friends, and great times.” Congrats, Eva!
Congrats also go to Melissa Masoom, who was married in Houston in Nov. Jessica Dupont and Lauren Richetti Chaplin '05 were bridesmaids.
Congrats also go to Melissa Masoom, who was married in Houston in Nov. Jessica Dupont and Lauren Richetti Chaplin '05 were bridesmaids.
Drew (Silver) Joseph recently moved to Wisconsin to begin a Ph.D. program for science education in curriculum and instruction at the U. of Wisconsin-Madison. She writes, “I also became active in local and national babywearing organizations, and am a volunteer babywearing educator with Babywearing International of Madison.”
Elliot Ruggles accepted a position as gender and sexuality resource center director at SUNY Oneonta and writes, “Since the move, I completed my Ph.D in human sexuality from Widener U. I've been living in upstate NY with my partner, who just started a nurse practitioner graduate program and have been spending time with Zanna McKay '13, who is also currently living in Oneonta.” This fall, they celebrated their first joint Mt. Day.
Erin Alexandria Rocchio earned a doctor of osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is doing her residency training in Internal Medicine at The Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.
In Oct. 2014 Kate Minette married Jon Chapman in Rockport, MA. Fellow class of 2006 alumnae Elisabeth Sterling, Molly Catchen and Helen Dailey-Fallat were beautiful bridesmaids, while Allison Doran Benenson, Ije Okpokwasili '05, Anne Sterling '09 and Julia Worcester '17 were in attendance.
In Aug. Dani Ryan uprooted herself after spending three years as an English teacher in South Korea and spent the rest of 2014 traveling across America visiting a bunch of mohos. She walked across the Golden Gate bridge with Molly Aplet; went to Glacier National Park and Mount Rushmore with Marjorie Hakala; unsuccessfully searched for ghosts in Saint Augustine, Florida with Lane Wallett; staged a mini-reunion in the Pioneer Valley with Molly Aplet, Marjorie Hakala, Liz O'Grady and Katie Sullivan; and wandered around mid-town Manhattan with Dory Charlesworth and Laura Blaguszewski. Now she has a temporary job in Northampton for the first half of 2015 and is looking forward to figuring out what comes next.
Eva Visscher-Simon was lucky enough to see several MoHo's recently at her wedding. She writes “My partner, Dustin, and I exchanged vows in Costa Rica so that our guests could enjoy some margaritas on the beach. The MoHo's who got a tan included: Sulaiha Olatunji (Schwartz), Laura Valente, Christine Leonard, Esa Aigamaua, Rhea Ghosh '05, Rebecca Frank '96. They even elfed me on the day of the wedding! It was unreal how incredible and fun it was to gather our friends and families together. We had such an amazing time that there's even talk of an "Anniversary party" in two years time (MHC reunion style). Since our return to Amsterdam I'm busy finishing my LLM in Public International Law from Utrecht University and we're busy packing up our apartment. In Feb. we're moving to San Francisco. I'm really looking forward to (re)connecting with MoHo's out on the west coast. However, I will definitely miss the MoHo crowd in The Netherlands (especially Mary Tressider, Katya Ivanova ‘05, Evelyn Kapusta ‘05, Silvia Maulini ‘80, and Claire Brouwer ‘57). Looking forward to my last NL MHC Alumnae group cooking class in January.”
Carly Pulver writes in “I had an exciting year! In July, I had a mini-reunion trip with fellow Junior Year in Montpellier alumnae Wakana Nikai, Layne Raczkowski, Joanna Pushee and Simar Singh in Northampton, Amherst, MHC and Boston. We greatly missed the rest of the Montpellier group but met up with Diva Dhar in Boston for a quick brunch, too. Boston soon became my new home. In August I started a web development bootcamp and was hired by a healthcare IT company in December as a QA Engineer. Thanks to Simar, Lauren Mulcahy and Emily Colgan '05 for the support and couches during the job search! I'm excited to be in Boston near so many other Mohos and look forward to reconnecting with more '06ers.”
After spending the Summer in New York City running a mobile letterpress project, The Press Cycle, Erin Fae is back in Auckland. Erin published two new zines this year, including Mess of a Dreamer, a Taylor Swift fanzine. Erin will be completing her MFA at ELAM next year and just accepted a job as the Digital Marketing Coordinator at Vector Arena. While in the States, she was thrilled to visit with Molly Aplet and Diana Pho ‘07.
Elliot Ruggles accepted a position as gender and sexuality resource center director at SUNY Oneonta and writes, “Since the move, I completed my Ph.D in human sexuality from Widener U. I've been living in upstate NY with my partner, who just started a nurse practitioner graduate program and have been spending time with Zanna McKay '13, who is also currently living in Oneonta.” This fall, they celebrated their first joint Mt. Day.
Erin Alexandria Rocchio earned a doctor of osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is doing her residency training in Internal Medicine at The Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.
In Oct. 2014 Kate Minette married Jon Chapman in Rockport, MA. Fellow class of 2006 alumnae Elisabeth Sterling, Molly Catchen and Helen Dailey-Fallat were beautiful bridesmaids, while Allison Doran Benenson, Ije Okpokwasili '05, Anne Sterling '09 and Julia Worcester '17 were in attendance.
In Aug. Dani Ryan uprooted herself after spending three years as an English teacher in South Korea and spent the rest of 2014 traveling across America visiting a bunch of mohos. She walked across the Golden Gate bridge with Molly Aplet; went to Glacier National Park and Mount Rushmore with Marjorie Hakala; unsuccessfully searched for ghosts in Saint Augustine, Florida with Lane Wallett; staged a mini-reunion in the Pioneer Valley with Molly Aplet, Marjorie Hakala, Liz O'Grady and Katie Sullivan; and wandered around mid-town Manhattan with Dory Charlesworth and Laura Blaguszewski. Now she has a temporary job in Northampton for the first half of 2015 and is looking forward to figuring out what comes next.
Eva Visscher-Simon was lucky enough to see several MoHo's recently at her wedding. She writes “My partner, Dustin, and I exchanged vows in Costa Rica so that our guests could enjoy some margaritas on the beach. The MoHo's who got a tan included: Sulaiha Olatunji (Schwartz), Laura Valente, Christine Leonard, Esa Aigamaua, Rhea Ghosh '05, Rebecca Frank '96. They even elfed me on the day of the wedding! It was unreal how incredible and fun it was to gather our friends and families together. We had such an amazing time that there's even talk of an "Anniversary party" in two years time (MHC reunion style). Since our return to Amsterdam I'm busy finishing my LLM in Public International Law from Utrecht University and we're busy packing up our apartment. In Feb. we're moving to San Francisco. I'm really looking forward to (re)connecting with MoHo's out on the west coast. However, I will definitely miss the MoHo crowd in The Netherlands (especially Mary Tressider, Katya Ivanova ‘05, Evelyn Kapusta ‘05, Silvia Maulini ‘80, and Claire Brouwer ‘57). Looking forward to my last NL MHC Alumnae group cooking class in January.”
Carly Pulver writes in “I had an exciting year! In July, I had a mini-reunion trip with fellow Junior Year in Montpellier alumnae Wakana Nikai, Layne Raczkowski, Joanna Pushee and Simar Singh in Northampton, Amherst, MHC and Boston. We greatly missed the rest of the Montpellier group but met up with Diva Dhar in Boston for a quick brunch, too. Boston soon became my new home. In August I started a web development bootcamp and was hired by a healthcare IT company in December as a QA Engineer. Thanks to Simar, Lauren Mulcahy and Emily Colgan '05 for the support and couches during the job search! I'm excited to be in Boston near so many other Mohos and look forward to reconnecting with more '06ers.”
After spending the Summer in New York City running a mobile letterpress project, The Press Cycle, Erin Fae is back in Auckland. Erin published two new zines this year, including Mess of a Dreamer, a Taylor Swift fanzine. Erin will be completing her MFA at ELAM next year and just accepted a job as the Digital Marketing Coordinator at Vector Arena. While in the States, she was thrilled to visit with Molly Aplet and Diana Pho ‘07.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Donate in the 2015 FebruMary Challenge on February 6
FebruMary is here and as defending champions, it's time and rally and donate to the $10 Million for Mount Holyoke campaign. Alumnae from 1970–2015 are competing to see who has the most people donate, and each class has a 24-hour period to donate in. Ours is February 6, so head here to donate and participate in other contests and special things happening over the month. Let's go, 2006!
Friday, January 16, 2015
Congrats to Eva Visscher-Simon!
Eva Visscher-Simon wrote in to say that she "was lucky enough to see several MoHo's recently at my wedding. My partner, Dustin, and I exchanged our vows in Costa Rica so that our guests could enjoy some margaritas on the beach. The MoHo's who got a tan included: Sulaiha Olatunji (Schwartz) '06, Laura Valente '06, Christine Leonard '06, Esa Aigamaua '06, Rhea Ghosh '05, Rebecca Frank '96. They even elfed me on the day of the wedding! It was unreal how incredible and fun it was to gather our friends and families together. We had such an amazing time that there's even talk of an "Anniversary party" in two years time (MHC reunion style).
Since our return to Amsterdam I'm busy finishing my LLM in Public International Law from Utrecht University and we're busy packing up our apartment. In February we're moving to San Francisco. I'm really looking forward to (re)connecting with MoHo's out on the west coast. However, I will definitely miss the MoHo crowd in The Netherlands (especially Mary Tressider, Katya Ivanova, Evelyn Kapusta, Silvia Maulini, and Claire Brouwer). Looking forward to my last NL MHC Alumnae group cooking class in January."
Congrats to Eva! Have an update or photo you'd like to share on the blog? Email amy.cavanaugh@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Class Notes—now with pictures!
Since we can't include class notes with photos in the magazine, we're always happy to run photos here! Have pics to send? Email scribe06@mtholyoke.edu.
In 2013, Anna Goltz married Mike Lockaby and she sent along this photo. Left to right, Sabina Yesmin, Katie Kloss, Kristy Matero, Biz Wells, Anna Goltz, Emily Giglierano (best bridesmaid ever!), Emily Lamia, and Christine Leonard. Becca Vernon was in attendance as well. She writes, "We couldn't have asked for better weather, better company, or a better time."
In September 2012, Helen Fallat married Aimee Molinaro on Guemes Island, WA. Left to right: Bec Chapin (Gavagan), Sarah Shattuck, Allison Doran, Bryn Oakleaf, Molly Catchen, Kate Minette, Skye Peebles, Jeannie Curry, and Kim Guilbault.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Spring updates for Alumnae Quarterly
Spring is finally here—a time for renewal and rejuvenation. What is new in your life?
Contact your class scribe soon to be included in a future issue of the Alumnae Quarterly.
Scribe Contacts:
Amy Cavanaugh & Lindsay Nystrom
scribe06@mtholyoke.edu
Do you have a longer story or a picture you would like to share? Make a comment or email your '06 Web coordinators (ldcampbe at mtholyoke.edu or amy.cavanaugh at gmail.com)
We'd love to share a picture of your new house, grad school graduation, vacation, baby, wedding, drinks with '06 friends, or anything else!
Contact your class scribe soon to be included in a future issue of the Alumnae Quarterly.
Scribe Contacts:
Amy Cavanaugh & Lindsay Nystrom
scribe06@mtholyoke.edu
Do you have a longer story or a picture you would like to share? Make a comment or email your '06 Web coordinators (ldcampbe at mtholyoke.edu or amy.cavanaugh at gmail.com)
We'd love to share a picture of your new house, grad school graduation, vacation, baby, wedding, drinks with '06 friends, or anything else!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Send us your news for the Winter Quarterly
Hi 2006!
We hope you all had a lovely Mountain Day last week and managed to find some time to take a break from your daily life. It's time to submit notes for the winter Quarterly, so please drop us a line by November 5th and let us know what you've been up to!
Send your updates to scribe06@mtholyoke.edu
Have a picture (or 10) you would like to share? We can post it here or on the Facebook page
www.facebook.com/pages/Mount-Holyoke-Class-of-2006/
We hope you all had a lovely Mountain Day last week and managed to find some time to take a break from your daily life. It's time to submit notes for the winter Quarterly, so please drop us a line by November 5th and let us know what you've been up to!
Send your updates to scribe06@mtholyoke.edu
Have a picture (or 10) you would like to share? We can post it here or on the Facebook page
www.facebook.com/pages/Mount-Holyoke-Class-of-2006/
Friday, August 17, 2012
Class notes for Fall Quaterly
It's that time of the year again!
Send us your news and pictures to scribe06@mtholyoke.edu
The MHC Quaterly can only publish text of course, but your wedding, vacation, baby, group, or whatever pictures can go up here on the blog.
Send us your news and pictures to scribe06@mtholyoke.edu
The MHC Quaterly can only publish text of course, but your wedding, vacation, baby, group, or whatever pictures can go up here on the blog.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Alumnae Association Response to Reunion Changes
You've heard by now that starting with Reunion 2013, which reunion each class attends is changing. This is the new schedule:
Reunion I: 2nd, 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th
Reunion II: 5th, 15th, 35th, 45th, 55th, 65th, 75th
There are a lot of alumnae unhappy about this change, and the Alumnae Association sent class officers the following email. We're pasting it here to share with you, and would love to hear your feedback. Please comment on the post with your name, or email your thoughts to mtholyoke2006@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you!
The 2006 Class Board
Dear Alumnae Class Officers:
You may have heard recently from a group of young alums calling themselves the “Reunion Redo Ad Hoc Committee.” These alumnae are organizing a petition in opposition to the separation of the 2nd and 5th reunion classes, starting in 2013.
We would like to provide you with some of the facts behind this part of the recent changes to reunion class distribution, so that you can evaluate the petition and its call to action.
The Ad Hoc Committee notes that the 2nd and 5th reunion classes are the only two at reunion who were on campus together at Mount Holyoke and cite the opportunity for people at their fifth-year reunion to reconnect with the alumnae who were first years when they were seniors.
While we appreciate that some young alumnae enjoyed the opportunity to attend reunion with classes that they were on campus with as students, it should be noted that the 2nd and 5th classes have only been grouped together for their reunions since 2008, when a pilot program began.
Attendance rates at reunion during that period indicate that the regrouping did little to encourage young alums to attend. Less than 20 percent of the 2nd and 5th year reunion classes attended reunion each year during the 2008-2010 pilot program years, down from higher attendance rates in the years immediately preceding the pilot’s initiation. As such, it is difficult to justify maintaining the grouping of these classes, since the intended effect – increasing the number of young alumnae who attend reunion – was not achieved.
The Ad Hoc Committee also notes that the two youngest classes comprise the majority of alumnae who cite “Laurel Parade as their most important reason for attending reunion,” and thus are hurt more than other classes by ending the 5th reunion class’s participation in Reunion I.
The Alumnae Association’s August 24 announcement about reunion class distribution cited, though apparently inartfully, data from a 2005 survey of alumnae views of reunion. Those citing the findings, however, should know more about the survey results.
Young alumnae (defined as alumnae out of college 15 years or less) were indeed more likely to choose the Laurel Parade as “very important” – but only in comparison to other groupings of alumnae also citing the Parade as very important. Most young alumnae actually had more qualified views than that individual statistic suggests. The majority of young alumnae in the survey listed Laurel Parade as only “somewhat important” – 36%. Those identifying it as “very important” made up only 20% of the responses – tied with the number who identified it as “very unimportant” and less than those who viewed it as “somewhat unimportant” (24%).
Of course, the purpose of the new distribution of classes at reunion is not to implement survey data. It is instead to more equitably distribute classes between the two weekends so that all alumnae can alternate the years that they participate in the Laurel Parade and other Reunion I traditions, and the years that they take part in the new Reunion II traditions.
Starting in 2013, the first year of the return to the former distribution of classes at reunion, non-class year alumnae groups will be organizing reunions for their members as well, such as alumnae athletes. Having these groups on campus will provide alumnae with multiple reasons to attend reunion – and we believe it will encourage more alumnae to attend reunion across the board. That is, we know, everyone’s goal.
While the Alumnae Association board of directors believe that these changes will result in stronger alumnae ties to Mount Holyoke across class year – and now, affinity group – alumnae who feel strongly that they want to attend a reunion on the same weekend as a younger (or older) class in which they have friends are welcome to register for reunion with that class. This is an option open to all alumnae, regardless of class year.
We hope that this provides you with the information you may need to evaluate the Reunion Redo Ad Hoc Committee’s petition proposal. Please feel free to share this with your classmates as you feel appropriate. And as always, if you have any questions about the changes to class distribution at reunion or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Erin Ennis ‘92
Chair, Classes and Reunion Committee
Chair, Reunion Review Task Force, 2010-2011
Cynthia Reed ‘80
President, Alumnae Association
Jane Zachary
Executive Director, Alumnae Association
Reunion I: 2nd, 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th
Reunion II: 5th, 15th, 35th, 45th, 55th, 65th, 75th
There are a lot of alumnae unhappy about this change, and the Alumnae Association sent class officers the following email. We're pasting it here to share with you, and would love to hear your feedback. Please comment on the post with your name, or email your thoughts to mtholyoke2006@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you!
The 2006 Class Board
Dear Alumnae Class Officers:
You may have heard recently from a group of young alums calling themselves the “Reunion Redo Ad Hoc Committee.” These alumnae are organizing a petition in opposition to the separation of the 2nd and 5th reunion classes, starting in 2013.
We would like to provide you with some of the facts behind this part of the recent changes to reunion class distribution, so that you can evaluate the petition and its call to action.
The Ad Hoc Committee notes that the 2nd and 5th reunion classes are the only two at reunion who were on campus together at Mount Holyoke and cite the opportunity for people at their fifth-year reunion to reconnect with the alumnae who were first years when they were seniors.
While we appreciate that some young alumnae enjoyed the opportunity to attend reunion with classes that they were on campus with as students, it should be noted that the 2nd and 5th classes have only been grouped together for their reunions since 2008, when a pilot program began.
Attendance rates at reunion during that period indicate that the regrouping did little to encourage young alums to attend. Less than 20 percent of the 2nd and 5th year reunion classes attended reunion each year during the 2008-2010 pilot program years, down from higher attendance rates in the years immediately preceding the pilot’s initiation. As such, it is difficult to justify maintaining the grouping of these classes, since the intended effect – increasing the number of young alumnae who attend reunion – was not achieved.
The Ad Hoc Committee also notes that the two youngest classes comprise the majority of alumnae who cite “Laurel Parade as their most important reason for attending reunion,” and thus are hurt more than other classes by ending the 5th reunion class’s participation in Reunion I.
The Alumnae Association’s August 24 announcement about reunion class distribution cited, though apparently inartfully, data from a 2005 survey of alumnae views of reunion. Those citing the findings, however, should know more about the survey results.
Young alumnae (defined as alumnae out of college 15 years or less) were indeed more likely to choose the Laurel Parade as “very important” – but only in comparison to other groupings of alumnae also citing the Parade as very important. Most young alumnae actually had more qualified views than that individual statistic suggests. The majority of young alumnae in the survey listed Laurel Parade as only “somewhat important” – 36%. Those identifying it as “very important” made up only 20% of the responses – tied with the number who identified it as “very unimportant” and less than those who viewed it as “somewhat unimportant” (24%).
Of course, the purpose of the new distribution of classes at reunion is not to implement survey data. It is instead to more equitably distribute classes between the two weekends so that all alumnae can alternate the years that they participate in the Laurel Parade and other Reunion I traditions, and the years that they take part in the new Reunion II traditions.
Starting in 2013, the first year of the return to the former distribution of classes at reunion, non-class year alumnae groups will be organizing reunions for their members as well, such as alumnae athletes. Having these groups on campus will provide alumnae with multiple reasons to attend reunion – and we believe it will encourage more alumnae to attend reunion across the board. That is, we know, everyone’s goal.
While the Alumnae Association board of directors believe that these changes will result in stronger alumnae ties to Mount Holyoke across class year – and now, affinity group – alumnae who feel strongly that they want to attend a reunion on the same weekend as a younger (or older) class in which they have friends are welcome to register for reunion with that class. This is an option open to all alumnae, regardless of class year.
We hope that this provides you with the information you may need to evaluate the Reunion Redo Ad Hoc Committee’s petition proposal. Please feel free to share this with your classmates as you feel appropriate. And as always, if you have any questions about the changes to class distribution at reunion or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Erin Ennis ‘92
Chair, Classes and Reunion Committee
Chair, Reunion Review Task Force, 2010-2011
Cynthia Reed ‘80
President, Alumnae Association
Jane Zachary
Executive Director, Alumnae Association
Friday, July 22, 2011
Pictures from Reunion
Our five-year reunion was a fabulous time, filled with catching up with old friends, getting to stay in the new dorm, and, of course, eating M&Cs. Here are some photos of the weekend. Have some you'd like to share with the class? Email them to amy.cavanaugh@gmail.com.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
New Facebook Page
Keep in touch with classmates and in-the-know about all the latest class news by following our Facebook page!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Update Your Contact Info!
To keep up on the latest news from the Class of 2006 and the Alumnae Association, make sure we have your correct address! If you've moved recently (or at all) and haven't updated your address, be sure to send your new contact info to AIS@mtholyoke.edu.
How Was Reunion?
If you went to reunion this year, take a minute and fill out this survey. We'd love feedback so we can make our next reunion better than ever!
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