In 2024, members of the Class of 1974 will celebrate their Golden Anniversary. In addition, the WCAA will host the organization’s final Alumnae/i Weekend on the Western Campus, Forever Western! Your Reunion Committee is planning a grand celebration full of fun surprises, traditions, and more free time to catch up with friends and explore. The campus is just as beautiful as you remember! YOU have supported the WCAA for 50 years and now it is time to celebrate YOU! Mark your calendar, contact your classmates, and join us on campus, June 6-9.
Check-in on Thursday and have the afternoon and evening to explore on your own. Pack your bags and make your way to Oxford. You will be so happy you did! Walk the campus — just as beautiful as you remember — and reminisce with fellow alums. Come home to Western! You owe it to yourself to be here …
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Please review the schedule prior to registering. There are a few events specifically for **Western College Program and Western Program alumni, 1978-2024. Western College alumnae/i, 1940-1977, are welcome to participate, but there may be concurrent WCAA events.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
3:00 p.m. Check-in begins, Young Hall. Arrive before the official events begin and spend the day catching up with friends, explore the campus and uptown, stroll the stone bridges, or visit the Western College Memorial Archives, Art Museum, or McGuffey Museum.
6:00 p.m. Dinner, Young Hall
7:00 p.m. Training for Freedom documentary followed by informal discussion, Young Hall
Friday, June 7, 2024
8:00 a.m. Breakfast Buffet, Young Hall great room
11:00 a.m. Registration opens, Young Hall lobby. Pick up your registration materials, visit the gift shop, drop off your raffle entries, and check out the items on the “free” table.
12:00 p.m. Luncheon Buffet, Young Hall, great room and patio
1:00-2:00 p.m. Western College Memorial Archives Tour, meeting at the registration desk in Young Hall
1:00-3:00 p.m. Western Reflections, Peabody Hall. Individual video recording sessions for the Archives digital collection. Share memories of your days on campus and the impact Western had on your life. Please keep remarks at 500 words, 5-7 minutes per alum.
1:00-4:00 p.m. Western Lodge Open House, Enjoy a toasted roll, coffee or tea, and tap your toes to some lively bluegrass music from Judy and Warren Waldron.
1:00-5:00 p.m. All Western buildings open, shuttles available, Visit Boyd, Clawson, McKee, Patterson Place, Peabody, Presser, Thomson Halls
1:30-2:30 p.m. Geothermal Energy Plant Tour, 341 Western College Drive. Led by Larry Davidson, Hydronics Operations Systems Manager. One of Miami’s initiatives on the path to carbon neutrality ⎯ learn about the geothermal heat exchange facility and see a portion of its roof up close. Limited capacity, advance registration required
2:00-3:00 p.m. Western Center for Social Impact and Innovation Open House, Peabody Hall, room 22. Host Billy Simms, Coordinator, will share about the work of the Center, which serves as an interdisciplinary hub for campus wide student and faculty engagement with social justice issues within the context of global change. This event is hosted by Western College Alumnae/i Weekend.
4:00-5:00 p.m. Freedom Summer Program, Freedom Summer Memorial. In recognition of the 60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer ’64, join Dr. Stephanie Danker, Dr. Rick Momeyer, Assistant Professor Zack Tucker, and Dr. Allen Winkler to focus on the past, with a first-hand account of the training and the music of the era. Look to the future and learn how students are taught about the historic event through art and design. Isabella Obradovich ’26 will share her artwork and the Finding Freedom Summer Traveling Exhibit will be displayed.
5:30 p.m. Welcome Reception and Dinner, Western Dining Commons. President Greg and Ambassador Renate Crawford will welcome Westerners back to campus and into the Miami University Alumni Association as an affinity group, Western College Spirit, 1853-1977.
Following Dinner WCAA Sip, Sweets, and Social, Clawson Hall
**Following Dinner: WAAMU Open Mic, Western Lodge
Singing by candlelight on the Mary Lyon bridge as we return to Young Hall
Saturday, June 8, 2024
8:00 –9:00 a.m. Breakfast Buffet, Young Hall great room
8:30-9:00 a.m. Let’s Get Moving, Young Hall patio, Silver Sneakers-type program led by the Miami University Rec Center staff
9:30 a.m. Western Parade of Classes, from Young Hall to Peabody Hall, led by the Miami University Marching Band Alumni, golf carts available
10:00 a.m. All-Reunion Photo, Peabody Hall front steps
10:15 a.m. Annual Meeting, Peabody Hall, Leonard Theatre. Learn about the affinity group, Western College Spirit, 1853-1977, and the accomplishments and closing of the WCAA organization.
11:30 a.m. WCAA Class Meetings, Peabody Hall
**11:30 a.m. WAAMU Board Meeting, Peabody Hall
12:00 p.m. Boxed Lunch, Peabody Hall. Grab a lunch and dine anywhere you wish on campus.
1:00 p.m. Graeter’s Ice Cream Bar, Ernst Nature Theatre
**1:00 p.m. Hike with Hays Cummins, former faculty, meeting at Peabody Hall front steps
1:30 p.m. Ernst Nature Theatre Rededication Program. Learn about the theatre’s history and recent facility upgrades.
2:00-5:00 p.m. All Western buildings open, Visit Boyd, Clawson, McKee, Patterson Place, Peabody, Presser, Thomson Halls
**3:00-4:00 p.m. Western College Program Faculty Panel Discussion, Peabody Hall, Leonard Theatre
4:00 p.m. Miami Parade of Classes, Miami Campus, shuttles provided. WCAA Board members serving as parade grand marshals. ALL Western alumnae are invited to participate.
5:30 p.m. Class and All-Reunion Photos, Western College Legacy Circle
6:00 p.m. WCAA Blue Carpet Gala Reception and Banquet, Western Dining Commons. Don your dressy casual attire for professional photos and cocktails. Service awards presented to Barbara Williamson Wentz ‘68, Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins ’74, and Nicholas Toth ’74, the classes of 1974-77 will be inducted into the Meily Society, and champagne class toasts will be given.
**6:00 p.m. WAAMU on the (up) town, dinner at one of the Oxford restaurants, location TBD
Following Dinner Western Piano Lounge, Young Hall great room, enjoy a glass of wine and special music from Greta Pope Wimp ’74 accompanied by Leah McCain MU ‘24
Sunday, June 9
8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast, Young Hall great room
9:00 a.m. Choir Practice, Kumler Chapel. We need all vocalists for this special event.
10:00 a.m. Closing Program, Kumler Chapel. Special music and keynote speakers from ‘50s-’70s will share their experiences at Western and how Western influenced their lives.
11:00 a.m. Farewell Brunch, Western Dining Commons, delicious brunch with mimosas and fond farewells.
1:00 p.m. Check Out, Young Hall
Planning to Attend
Catherine Ross Loveland ’52
Lucy Ann Liggett ’54
Mieke Van Waveren Smit ’54
Ann Ellison ’57
Susan Mayer Falter ’57
Dorothy Poeschl Hawkes ’57
Polly Smith Venable ’58
Mary Baumer Baker ’59
Mary Jo Porter Brown ’59
Margaret Mayer Hill ’59
Sara White Arn ’60
Cathy Bauer Cooper ’60
Sharry Patterson Addison ’61
Ann Bronaugh Kyle ’61
Mary DeJong Obuchowski ’61
Anne Adkins Weissenborn ’61
Judy Dudman Henderson ’62
Donna Shalala ’62
Loretta Ryder ’63
Nia Jones Terry ’63
Lynne Drucker Albukerk ’64
Mimi Burstein ’64
Carol Shuler Butcher ’64
Linda Roscoe Felicetti ’64
Evie Small Hohler ’64
Marcia Randlett Oder ’64
Gay Nellis Walker ’64
Janet Smith Dickerson-Stephens ’65
Frances Hoffman ’65
Elizabeth Jacobs-Harrison ’65
Sylvia Stanfield ’65
Charla Coatoam ’66
Hazel Williams Drew ’66
Suzanne Lutz May ’66
Jane Graham Murphy ’66
Ann Walton ’66
Elisa Kessler Caporale ’67
Gail Chatham Clifford ’67
Cheryl Christian Kugler ’67
Carol Stone Lehman ’67
Rauni Marjatta Pellikka ’67
Susan Jennings Wilson ’67
Jo Ann Brombaugh Wittmann ’67
Susan Blake ’68
Sandra Chanis ’68
Hayat Imam ’68
Patricia Jayson ’68
Susan Oblinger ’68
Cecelia Peabody ’68
Anne Galbraith Rothrock ’68
Jennifer Sponsler ’68
Francine Toss ’68
Reynelda Ware ’68
Barbara Willison Wentz ’68
B.J. Gibbons Bramlett ’69
Sally Fliess ’69
Annette Bevan Gallagher ’69
Jan Hunkel ’69
Betsy Philipson Kensinger ’69
Nancy Wilson Kobayashi ’69
Ann Noble ’69
Nancy Hale Priest ’69
Stevie Bentzen Snook ’69
Lynette Jones Turner ’69
Pam Watts Coates ’70
Sherry Glickman ’70
Pamela Knowles ’70
Maria Maldonado ’70
Mary Melison McDonald ’70
Patricia Pinkowski ’70
Catherine Smith Strate ’70
Ameerah Haq ’71
Pamela Waldron-Moore ’71
Laurie W. Hildebrandt ’72
Linda Tuxen ’72
Connie Wong ’72
Renee Harris Yates ’72
Susan Adland ’73
Joan Campbell ’73
Rita Ellen Greene ’73
Kristin Elizabeth Kirkhoff ’73
Maryllyn Neely ’73
Gita Wijesinghe Pitter ’73
Janie Rossitto ’73
Linda Watts ’73
Christine Wintes ’73
C. Susan Anderson ’74
Nancy Anderson ’74
Laura Dupuy ’74
Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins ’74
Susan McBride ’74
Chris Moranda ’74
Ann Crowley Pagano ’74
Elizabeth Salt ’74
Nicholas Toth ’74
Greta Pope Wimp ’74
Anne Curley Bowen ’75
Christine Cowden ’75
Faith Crook Perrizo ’75
Susan Beardsley Preslar ’75
E. Maria Janavicius Vasys ’75
Pheetta Wilkinson ’76
Kent Ernsting ’78
Carolyn Johns McConnell ’80
Jean Fudge ’81
Alan Kalish ’81
Irene Dvoraczky Bell ’82
Madeline Iseli ’85
Laura Dobbins ’86
Beth McNellie ’86
Marcy Shultz ’86
Diane Wright ’86
Dana Bango ’90
Michael Conaway ’90
Paula Taschler ’90
Jessie Rezabek Holland ’92
Ryan Donmoyer ’93
Ben Gibbons ’94
Rachel Weidinger ’97
Samuel Ackerman ’98
Kat Cochrane-Yamaguchi ’01
Mark Mussman ’01
Eric Johnson ’03
Michael Loeffelman ’03
Paula Moran ’04
Randy (Fraggle) Wilson ’04
Sarah Arnason ’05
Katie Gibson ’05
Jason Harnish ’05
Kristen Maser ’05
Maggie Perrino ’05
Jess Strange ’05
Joshua Catone ’06
Kyle Gibson ’06
Rachel Goldsmith ’07
Jessica Ruff ’07
Kristen Phelps Winkler ’07
Karen Gotter ’09
Ann Petlow ’09
Audree Riddle Boggs ’10
Katherine Hayes ’10
Hannah Mills ’13
Kim Ernsting FS
Judy Waldron FS
Kaye Wolke FS
Bill Gracie FF
Sally Harrison-Pepper FF
Registration Deadline: May 31
Secure online registration is provided by Miami University. The registration brochure will also be mailed soon.
CAMPUS HOUSING
Housing will be provided in air-conditioned Young Hall with assignment by classes.
Young Hall is located near the Western Dining Commons and is nicely furnished with an elevator and ample restrooms including facilities for persons with mobility impairment. If you have special accommodation needs, please specify on your Registration Form. Pillows, towels, linens and blankets are provided.
TRANSPORTATION
For transportation to and from Oxford, please make reservations no later than 48 hours in advance. If you or any member of your party is mobility impaired, please inform the shuttle service.
Oxford Transportation
765-993-4407
Ox@oxfordtransportation.com
Hands of Agape Airport Transportation Text requests for service and quote: 513-418-3737
Golf cart shuttles will be available on campus, Friday-Sunday.
CLASS GIFTS
2024 class gifts may support the Western Directorship endowment which will provide funding to recruit and hire an individualized studies expert to direct and expand the Western Program. The new director will also oversee the Western Center for Social Impact and Innovation. This position will further the legacy of Western and ensure a long-term and successful future for the program and center.