Homecoming/Reunions
Homecoming 2010
Homecoming 2010 will be held on October 1 and 2. Classes ending in 0s and 5s will celebrate their reunions.
VIew Schedule (PDF)
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Homecoming 2009
The all-day Friday downpour that left western Pennsylvania nice and soggy could not dampen the spirit of thousands of alumni, faculty, students and parents who made their way back to campus for Homecoming 2009. Alumni began to arrive on campus early Friday morning. Some took campus tours, ate lunch in McCune Dining Hall and even sat in on classes at the Junior School. Simultaneously, a small, but ambitious group was teeing off at the Pittsburgh Field Club at the annual golf outing on the most brisk morning the season had seen so far.
As the evening events began, alumni and faculty gathered in Memorial Hall to remember those who we have lost in the past year. The presider of the ceremony, Reverend Dr. Arch Woodruff '59, delivered a beautiful message and also added fond reflections on his time at Shady Side. From Memorial Hall, the wet trek across the quad ended at the Benedum Visual Arts Center where a gathering was already underway for the opening reception for Alumni Artist, Andrew Seguin '99. Andrew's photography will be on display in the Gailliot Gallery and in the Hillman Center for Performing Arts on the Senior School Campus. If you missed his work, visit www.andrewseguin.com.
The main event of the evening commenced on the tented (luckily) Mary Hillman Jennings Plaza, where alumni and faculty had their first formal chance to reconnect. Despite the rain outside, the tent was filled with the warmth of reuniting and reminiscing over cocktails, carving stations and hors d'oeuvres. Guests were then escorted into the Richard E. Rauh Theater in the Hillman Center for Performing Arts for a program of musical performances and alumni awards. The Senior School Jazz Combo and Chamber Choir displayed what great things can be accomplished when learning in a world class facility like the Hillman. The Robert E. Walker Award for alumni service to the Academy was given to John Duff '59 and Fred Parkin '59, and the Paul R. Pigman Prize for alumni service to the community was awarded to Sloane Berrent '97. The audience was also entertained by Bruce Hill '59 and his reflections on his time at Shady Side on this his 50th reunion.
Saturday morning came very quickly for some alumni who had been celebrating into the wee hours of Friday night. The good news was that the rain had stopped in time to kick off the morning with a jog in the Al Stewart Memorial Shady Stride. With a bang, Mrs. Stewart sent the runners on their way. Matt Hall '99 was the first to cross the finish with the rest of the pack not far behind. The race finished on the far side of the newly constructed Robert J. Grandizio Athletic Complex. On the opposite side of the complex, alumni, trustees, parents and students were gathering for the formal dedication of the new complex and the Jones Family Entrance Plaza. The man of the hour Bob Grandizio, Sr. was humbled and gave a typical Grandizio speech filled with sarcasm, stories and laughs, but also gratitude. It turned out to be a beautiful fall day. Alums continued to arrive on campus and their children and SSA junior school students enjoyed the Homecoming Play and the Kids' Karnival, which raised money for student council. As the afternoon continued, Boys' and Girls' Varsity Soccer were victorious in their Homecoming matchups. The Varsity Football team fell to Burrell in a nail biter, 17-14. Athletic captains from reunion classes were recognized during the half-time of the football game.
By 5 p.m. the traffic on Fox Chapel Road was backed up onto campus with alumni eager to get to their reunion class gatherings, which were held in Fox Chapel and throughout the city at several venues. There were record numbers in turnout for class reunion gatherings this year. Please come back for photos from events throughout the weekend.
