Carleton Expects Record-Setting Attendance at This Year’s Reunion

Nearly 2,000 Carleton College alumni from around the country are expected to gather at their alma mater June 18-20, to reconnect with friends and celebrate the four years they spent as students in Northfield. This year, all Carleton alumni whose graduation year ends with a four or a nine are invited back to campus for a weekend of reunion festivities.

“It’s a liberal arts weekend of classes and camaraderie,” said Becky Zrimsek, Carleton’s associate director of alumni affairs who will be attending her 10-year reunion as a member of the class of 1989.

Nine days before the official opening of reunion, 1,556 people had registered and college staff anticipated another 500 people would sign up once the weekend is underway. Last year, 1,951 alumni returned to campus.

Traditional highlights of the weekend include tours of the Carleton Arboretum and the “Parade of Classes.” Alumni line up according to class year and form a parade around the campus commons, leading into Skinner Memorial Chapel for the Alumni Convocation, where several distinguished
alumni will be honored for their achievements.

Sadly, the popular bus tour of historic Northfield led by Marston Headley, class of 1938, will not take place this year due to Headley’s death
earlier this spring. In its place is a new event, led by Professor of History Clifford Clark, who will lead an architectural and social history of
Northfield titled “Reading Houses.”

This year’s “Common Reading” focuses on Jamaica Kincaid’s book, “My Brother.” Based on a similar program that is part of new student week at
Carleton, alumni are invited to read the novel prior to reunion and then participate in small group discussions during the weekend.

Offered for the first time this year is a special folk-dance reunion, complete with lessons and refresher courses, and culminating in an exhibition of
dances on Saturday evening. In addition, four alumni will be inducted into Carleton’s “C” Club Hall of Fame, in honor of their athletic achievements. The induction ceremony is a new event at reunion-it has traditionally been held in the fall in conjunction with homecoming. This year’s inductees are all members of the class of 1989: Daniel Casper, track and field; Anna Prineas Catanese, track and field; Tim Nielson, football and baseball; and Shelley Scherer, track and field.

The reunion also offers a vast array of alumni panel discussions, faculty presentations, live musical offerings, archival and art exhibits, sporting
events and a children’s program.