Alfred University welcomes alumni back to campus for Reunion 2024
Alfred University alumni will return to campus this weekend, June 6-9, for the 2024 Reunion. A full slate of activities—including a community celebration of the 50th anniversary of the installation of the Village of Alfred’s lone traffic light—are on the reunion schedule.
The traffic light celebration is community-oriented, organized jointly by the village and Alfred’s two institutions of higher educations, Alfred University and Alfred State College, both of which are holding their alumni reunions this coming weekend. The traffic light, first installed on June 4, 1974, at the intersection of Pine and Main streets, was replaced last fall, as was the bridge on Pine Street spanning Kanakadea Creek. Previous Traffic Light Festivals were also held for both the 30th anniversary of the light in 2004 and for the 40th in 2014.
The 2024 Alfred Traffic Light Festival will be held on Saturday, June 8. It will include a parade, which will begin at 6 p.m. behind Jordan Hall on the Alfred University campus and proceed down Main Street to the traffic light, where a ceremony will be held.
The festival celebration will continue with a street party, which will include games, such as Twister and Red Light-Green Light; and live music by the band “Sweet Degenerates” from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Commemorative T-shirts ($10), and "Traffic Jam”—an edible souvenir in two flavors, strawberry and apricot ($5)—will be available for purchase, with all proceeds to be used by the village for new equipment in the children’s park.
Reunion Weekend kicks off Thursday, June 6, with the early arrivals of alumni, who will be able to view an exhibition, “Jack Earl: Recent Acquisitions,” at the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Turner Gallery in Harder Hall will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Among the Alfred University Reunion events Friday are the Saxon Golf Classic at Wellsville Country Club; the noon arrival of the Saxon Bikers, a group of alumni who each year bicycle from various locations onto campus; and a welcome back dinner for alumni followed by musical entertainment in the evening.
The “Makers on Main” art and craft show, a popular attraction during Alfred University’s Alumni Reunion, will be held at the Village Bandstand lawn on Saturday, June 8.
Saturday’s highlights include the “Makers on Main” art and craft show at the Village Bandstand lawn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; an alumni speaker presentation, titled “The Power of Mentorship,” from 11 a.m. to noon in Nevins Theater, Powell Campus Center; gatherings for honored classes and groups, including the 2004 B.F.A. and M.F.A. alumni, who are celebrating their 20th reunions; the alumni class processions to the alumni luncheon at Joyce Walton Center; a “New Spaces Tour” of Harder Hall, 2 p.m.; dinners for honored classes; and an alumni dessert reception and evening musical entertainment.
Alfred University alumni will gather on campus this weekend for Reunion 2024. Shown above is an image from the alumni procession at a previous reunion.
Sunday’s events include a Student Ambassador Farewell Breakfast. “Day of Service” donation drives supporting the AU Food Pantry and Cheryl’s Closet, a program which provides students with professional apparel they can use to make their best first impression, will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday and 8-11 a.m. Sunday at the Community Table on Powell Campus Center’s second floor.
Alumni will have a chance to tour several University facilities, including the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at Maris Cuneo Park, at 3 p.m.. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and take in an open house at the new CREATE Center, in the School of Engineering’s McMahon Building, from 2-3:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Events on tap throughout the weekend include campus walking tours; an exhibition, “Jack Earl: Recent Acquisitions,” at the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; an art exhibition for first-year graduate students, titled “Rounding the Corner,” at the Cohen Gallery, 12-4 p.m. Friday and 1-3 p.m. Saturday; demonstrations of the Biology Department’s Virtual Cadaver instructional equipment (2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday) and the Renewable Energy Engineering program’s Tiny House solar harvesting project (2-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday).
Alumni members of the Sigma Chi Nu sorority are marking the 100th anniversary of the organization’s founding. Sigma Chi Nu members will hold a celebration Friday at Barrelhouse 6 Distillery in Hammondsport, of which Alfred University alumna and Sigma Chi Nu sister Kara Mackey ’88 is co-founder and managing director. The group will hold its annual meeting on Saturday at the sorority’s former house on Sayles Street.