Fifth anniversary of Alumni Weekend celebrated in record-setting fashion

5:21 p.m., June 3, 2013--More than 5,000 attendees, staff, faculty and volunteers were on campus to celebrate the University of Delaware’s Alumni Weekend 2013, a remarkable increase from the previous year’s attendance.

“This year marks our five-year anniversary and people have responded favorably with record setting attendance,” said Cindy Campanella, director of alumni relations. “More than a dozen events completely sold out, including Mug Night.”

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

• Doctoral hooding
• Old Swedes
• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

Other sold out events included tours of the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Laboratory (ISE Lab) and the UDairy Creamery. 

Many returning alumni chose to forego lodging in a hotel in favor of a weekend in the residence halls. 

Alumni Relations sold out all rooms on Laird Campus — a total of 1,577 beds — within four days, and sold out Russell Complex as well.

The fifth anniversary of Alumni Weekend consisted of many firsts — the first time registrants could make gifts online, the first time more than one band performed and the first time Mug Night completely sold out. 

By May 23, both Mug Night tents had been registered to capacity. Despite the sweltering heat on Friday night, thousands of attendees assembled in the two tents on The Green to reminisce with friends, dance and enjoy food and drinks. 

The band Speaker City, made up of millennial graduates, regaled the audience in the Blue Tent on the North Green. On the South Green, the popular UD ’90s band Love Seed Mama Jump provided a soundtrack for the Mug Night Dela-bration. 

The first annual Blue Hen R&B Lounge hosted 175 guests to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and music.

On Saturday, alumni circulated around campus to attend a variety of events. Several campus groups and members of the classes of 1963, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008 held reunions. Attendees participated in events including walking tours of campus, a Zumba class on the Independence Turf, a wine tasting and Career Service’s new career advice video series. 

Popular events on Saturday included the Lunch with UD Mascots and a tour of UD’s historic architecture with David Ames, director of UD's Center for Historic Architectural and Design. 

On Sunday, approximately 400 participants ran the annual Blue Hen 5K on Laird Campus.  

“We wish to thank all our guests for returning to campus to connect with each other and the University in such a memorable fashion,” said Campanella. “We also wish to thank our many campus partners for their incredible efforts in collaborating with our office.”

Using the hash tag #UDAW, attendees shared their excitement on a variety of social media throughout the weekend. To see the Alumni Weekend Storify page, click here. 

Other Alumni Weekend resources

For an article about President Patrick Harker's State of the University address, click here.

For an article about the Alumni Wall of Fame, click here.

Article by Kelley Bregenzer

Photos by Ambre Alexander, Doug Baker and Evan Krape