Reunion Classes

Reunion Co-Chairs

The Reunion Co-Chairs play an important role in the success of your class’s Reunion. Communication with classmates, committee members, and your Reunion Staff Liaisons are critical. The Co-Chairs are the chief strategists for class reunion planning and giving efforts.

Primary responsibilities of the Reunion Co-Chairs include:

• Serve as primary liaison between your Reunion Staff Liaisons and the committee;
• Manage participation and engagement of the committee members;
• Partner with Reunion Staff Liaisons to recruit a diverse and enthusiastic Reunion Committee;
• Work with the committee to offer ideas and feedback for class-specific events;
• Attend 2-3 committee Zooms for Reunion Weekend and class gift updates;
• Set revenue and participation goals for your Reunion Class Gift with your Reunion Staff Liaisons;
• Personalize or write 2-3 class communications signed by the Co-Chairs;
• Select 5-15 classmates to reach out to by email or phone, to remind them to encourage them to attend Reunion Weekend, and to make a reunion gift.
• Encourage fellow committee members to engage with their classmates;
• Make a meaningful reunion gift;
• Attend Reunion Weekend, if possible.

Anticipated time commitment: 1-2 hours monthly

Opportunities to personalize the structure of Committee leadership:

• Communications/social media chair
• Programming chair
• Participation chair
• 1794/Major gift chair

Reunion Committee Members

Committee Members play a critical role in assisting with encouraging classmates to attend Reunion Weekend and class gift participation. 

Responsibilities of Committee Members include:

• Attend 2-3 committee Zooms for Reunion Weekend and class gift updates;
• Offer ideas and feedback to your Reunion Staff Liaisons for class-specific events;
• Select 5-15 classmates to reach out to by email or phone, to remind them to encourage them to attend Reunion Weekend, and to make a reunion gift;
• Encourage fellow committee members to engage with their classmates;
• Make a meaningful reunion gift;
• Attend Reunion Weekend, if possible.

Anticipated time commitment: 5-10 hours in total time prior to Reunion Weekend.

Additional Class Support

Reunion Staff Liaisons

Each Reunion Committee will have designated staff members from the Alumni Relations and Annual Giving teams at Bowdoin. Reunion Staff Liaisons guide your work and provide context for the campus-wide Reunion Weekend programming. Reunion Staff Liaisons are available to answer any questions you may have.

• 2019 | 5th Reunion: Dominique Lozzi ’12 & Norah Schlax
• 2014 | 10th Reunion: Dominique Lozzi ’12 & Norah Schlax
• 2009 | 15th Reunion: Dominique Lozzi ’12 & Isabel Thomas ‘20
• 2004 | 20th Reunion: Lindsey Lessard & Devin Clark
• 1999 | 25th Reunion: Lindsey Lessard & Jane Camp
• 1994 | 30th Reunion: Lindsey Lessard & Sarah Daniels
• 1989 | 35th Reunion: Gillian Ford & Sarah Daniels
• 1984 | 40th Reunion: Gillian Ford & Jordan Drolet
• 1979 | 45th Reunion: Carmen Garcia Sutyak & Jordan Drolet
• 1974 | 50th Reunion: Francie Tolan & Carmen Garcia Sutyak 
• 1969 | 55th Reunion: Gillian Ford & Devin Clark
• 1964 | 60th Reunion: Carmen Garcia Sutyak & Isabel Thomas ‘20
• 1959 | 65th Reunion: Gillian Ford & Isabel Thomas ‘20

Reunion Student Ambassadors

Reunion Student Ambassadors are Bowdoin students who play an important role in the implementation of Reunion Weekend. Reunion Student Ambassadors are assigned to Reunion classes to take photos, shepherd the class to and from programming, answer questions, and share their experience as a current student. Reunion Student Ambassadors are hired and trained to take their jobs seriously, and to follow the rules and regulations of Reunion and Bowdoin’s campus. We appreciate the role that Reunion Chairs and Committee Members play in welcoming and supporting these students in their important work.

There will be 2-3 Reunion Committee meetings hosted prior to Reunion Weekend. These meetings are hosted on Zoom, to offer flexibility to attendees.

The purpose of these meetings is to:

• Catch up with your fellow Reunion Committee members and get excited about returning to Bowdoin for Reunion Weekend;
• Learn about campus-wide Reunion Weekend programming and discuss class-specific plans.
• Hear updates on class progress to alumni participation and fundraising goals;
• Strategize on reunion class outreach;
• Ask questions!

Reunion Weekend has many components – lectures and panel discussions with faculty and alumni, campus-wide performances and gatherings, Convocation, activities for children, receptions, and dinners – intended to provide returning alumni with a look at the Bowdoin of today as well as the opportunity to remember their own time here. 

Class-Specific Events

While the College organizes the majority of Reunion Weekend programming, we encourage each class to think about what may add something special to their experience. Reunion staff liaisons advise Reunion Committees on special class programming opportunities and help navigate space, schedule availability, and costs.

Meaningful class-specific events from previous years include:

• Class pick-up games (such softball, tennis, etc.)

• Class specific talk

• (e.g. life storytelling 4.5 in 45 – a program where multiple alumni share their life journey since Bowdoin in 4.5 minutes. In this case, the 45th Reunion covered 45 minutes in 4.5 minute installments as a class activity)

• Class tour of college museums or buildings (such as Bowdoin College Museum of Art, John and Lile Gibbons Center for Arctic Studies, or Roux Center for the Environment)

Packages and Fees

Reunion registration packages are all-inclusive—no additional fees are charged for participation in Reunion events once arriving on campus. Packages help cover costs associated with all Reunion activities like meals, beverages, entertainment, and much more. Bowdoin strives to make participation in Reunion as affordable as possible, and the College substantially subsidizes the cost of the Weekend. Children ages 17 and younger can attend Reunion for free.

Reunion Packages

Bowdoin is dedicated to making Reunion financially feasible for all classmates. Registration offers Full Weekend, Partial Weekend, and Saturday Day package pricing options. While the College substantially subsidizes the cost of Reunion, Bowdoin recognizes that for some classmates the cost of attending Reunion may be a hardship. In those situations, financial assistance is available, and requests should be sent to Holly Rogers and Kelly Fike in the Office of Alumni Relations at reunion@bowdoin.edu once registration opens. Please note, assistance is not available for transportation, off-campus lodging, or other non-Reunion fee related expenses. All requests will be considered and will remain confidential.

Class-Specific 

• Class programming which has significant costs beyond the general weekend offerings will need to have funding identified by the committee members – this should be done in coordination with Reunion staff liaisons.
• The College will provide a Bluetooth speaker to be used (with a classmate’s device) at the class headquarters throughout the weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Receptions and Meals: A trip back to campus wouldn’t be complete without a meal from our award-winning Bowdoin Dining. Arrangements for campus-wide and class meals are coordinated with Bowdoin Dining through the Office of Alumni Relations. Reunion Weekend events adhere to Maine State liquor laws. Questions about meals or alcohol should be directed to your Reunion staff liaisons. 

• Class Headquarters: Each Reunion class is assigned to a headquarters location, which serves as the home base for the class throughout the weekend.

Where to Stay

On-campus housing is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of Reunion and available according to registration package. Housing is provided primarily in residence halls and College Houses. A limited number of apartments are available on a first come, first served basis, and can be requested when registering. If alumni choose to stay off-campus, reservations should be made as early as possible as venues book quickly!

Accessibility

Bowdoin is committed to making all of its resources available to each one of its community members. While not all areas of campus are fully accessible, we are committed to helping identify and eliminate barriers—including disabilities, impairments, health conditions, or other access needs—so you can enjoy your time back on campus.

Questions? Contact reunion@bowdoin.edu.

What makes a successful reunion is the personalization that Committee Members bring to the process—people like hearing from their classmates! 

Reunion class outreach is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and classmates you may not have seen or connected with in a while. The goal of this outreach is to encourage your classmates to come back to Bowdoin for Reunion Weekend and to invite them to join you in making a gift to Bowdoin, in honor and celebration of this milestone year.

What makes a successful reunion is the personalization that Committee Members bring to the process—people like hearing from their classmates! 

Reunion class outreach is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and classmates you may not have seen or connected with in a while. The goal of this outreach is to encourage your classmates to come back to Bowdoin for Reunion Weekend and to invite them to join you in making a gift to Bowdoin, in honor and celebration of this milestone year.

Classmate Assignment Selection & Outreach

Shortly after your first Reunion Committee meeting, you will be offered the chance to review a list of your classmates and select 5-15 (or however many you’d like) that you commit to reach out to this year prior to Reunion, to encourage them to attend Reunion Weekend, and invite them to join in making a contribution to your class gift.

Alumni who are contacted by their classmates are two times more likely to make a gift to Bowdoin. But we know it can feel uncomfortable asking classmates to make a gift to the College, so we have plenty of resources to make it easy for you. 

Bowdoin’s Volunteer Resources page offers outreach templates for email and text messages, news from campus, facts and figures about the College to share, responses to typical questions and/or concerns you may field, among many other resources. Your staff liaisons can answer any questions you have and provide whatever else you may need for your outreach.

Bowdoin Volunteer Resources Hub:

https://www.bowdoin.edu/alumni-families/volunteer/volunteer-training/index.html