Hey to the young alumni of the class of 1994! I’ve been wondering when a group shifts from a young-alumni cohort to the “seasoned” variety. Is there a middle step or do we just fall from a cliff from young to—something else? According to my quick Google search, young alumni definitions vary widely from institution to institution. Some schools are really stingy with their grace period; after five years, you’re no longer a young alum at Trinity College in Connecticut.
Others are more generous; University of Illinois says young alumni are under 40.
Some are so specific that you almost wonder why this is a thing; Swarthmore College draws the line at 14 years.
Dartmouth seems to be a little more vague than other schools. The College website refers to young alumni at five, 10, and even 15 years out. In that case, we’ll take the squishy ambiguity and continue calling ourselves the young alumni of the class of 1994 until the first classmate says, “back in my day” at our 30th reunion.
Mark your calendar for our 30th reunion: June 13-16. You will not want to miss it! Jen Suhie Hagelston and Samantha Stoddard are heading the reunion planning committee. Jen promises “a rocking time with great food, drinks, nice swag, live entertainment from our very own ’94 bands, and surprise guests.”
To build the hype, your class officers have been connecting classmates throughout the year. After a fall packed with mini-reunions planned by Rebecca Wahl Scott, we’re using Evergreen Connections to collect fun facts about each other. Have you seen the new series of interviews featuring fellow classmates? Pete Moore interviews Tim Wetherill in a fabulous first installment. If you haven’t submitted your Evergreen Connection survey or seen the interview, now is the time to plug into the action. Submit your survey (or let me know if you need a new link) and follow “Dartmouth Class of 1994” on Facebook and Instagram.
Are you still on the fence about reunion? Maybe you would enjoy taking in all the campus changes and updates since the last time you visited. Come see renovated Dartmouth Hall and get a peek at the new Hop under construction. Alternatively, cast a wider net and combine Hanover with a broader New England family vacation (Acadia National Park, anyone?). Boston is always a wonderful stop in summer. There are some pretty perfect college campuses to tour in the Northeast if you have high schoolers in tow.
I truly hope to see you in June. I’ll have my D’94 L.L.Bean tote from a reunion ages ago slung over my shoulder. Remember to bring your vintage Dartmouth gear for the photo ops.
Did you notice that there is no new news in this column? That’s because you haven’t sent me any. Please drop me a line with your update.
—Laura Hardegree Davis, 520 Meadowlark Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027; lauradavis723@mac.com