Homecoming and Reunions
Save the Date for Homecoming 2013!
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend will take place on Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28. Classes ending in 3s and 8s will be celebrating reunions. All are welcome to attend. Stay tuned for more details. If you have changed mailing addresses or email addresses, please let the Alumni and Development Office know so you can be sure to receive information leading up to the weekend.
Homecoming 2012 Recap
View the Homecoming 2012 slideshow.
On a picture-perfect Western Pennsylvania fall weekend, hundreds of alumni, faculty, students and parents made their way back to campus for Homecoming on Oct. 12-13, 2012.
Alumni began to arrive on campus early Friday morning. Some took campus tours, ate lunch in McCune Dining Hall and even participated in classes at the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. Simultaneously, a small, but dedicated group of golfers was teeing off in early morning, frosty conditions at the Fox Chapel Golf Club annual golf outing.
As the evening events began, alumni and faculty gathered in Memorial Hall to remember those who passed away in the past year. The presider of the ceremony, Rev. Christopher Bender ’72, delivered a powerful message honoring those who were being celebrated. From Memorial Hall, alums processed to the Benedum Visual Arts Center, where a gathering was already underway for the opening reception of alumni artist Monica Kapoor ’97. Kapoor’s show “The Shape of Things” remained on display in the Gailliot Gallery and in the Hillman Center for Performing Arts on the Senior School Campus through December 2012.
McCune Dining Hall was festively decorated for the president’s reception, which offered alumni and faculty their first formal chance to reconnect. The inviting and familiar atmosphere was ideal for reminiscing over cocktails, carving stations and hors d’oeuvres. The program began with a brief address from Academy President Tom Cangiano, who then presented the Robert E. Walker Award for alumni service to current parent and Board of Trustees member Kara (Salvitti) Conomikes ’87. Conomikes gave a perfectly polished and heartfelt acceptance speech reminding all present of the importance of staying connected with the SSA community. Tom Cangiano then presented the Paul R. Pigman ’52 Prize for alumni service to the community to Angela DiGioia ’02. DiGioia serves communities near and far with her work with Operation Walk, Hope Funds for Cancer Research and Salud Para Niños Clinic at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Saturday morning came very quickly for some alumni who had been celebrating into the wee hours of Friday night. Another cold and frosty morning had runners wide-eyed for the Al Stewart Memorial Shady Stride, as Holly Stewart ’13, granddaughter of Al Stewart, sent the runners off with a bang. Current student Joe McMahon ’14 was the first runner across the finish line, with current parent Maggie Lally and the rest of the pack not far behind.
As the day of activities continued, the fall weather could not have been more cooperative. Children of alums and Junior School students enjoyed a theater performance by Opera Ignite, Opera? No Way! in the Richard E. Rauh Theater. The Kids Karnival, run by the SSA Cheerleaders, was a huge hit for all ages. Face painting, bouncy obstacle course, balloon artist, candy and carnival games provided something for everyone to do between the student athletic contests.
In varsity athletic action, boys’ soccer won 4-0 over Deer Lakes and girls’ soccer beat Avonworth, 6-0. Also, girls’ field hockey defeated Aquinas Academy, 5-0. In the most heated contest of the day, the varsity football team, who went into the game as huge underdogs, battled to the end and lost 31-26 to Jeannette. In keeping with tradition, athletic team captains from reunion classes were recognized during the halftime of the football game.
At the conclusion of what was a beautiful fall afternoon, alumni quickly made their way back their cars eager to get to their class reunion gatherings, which were held on campus and throughout the city at various venues.
Be sure to mark your calendars for Homecoming 2013, which will take place Sept. 27-28, 2013. Classes ending in 3s and 8s will be celebrating their reunions.
Homecoming 2011
View the Homecoming 2011 slideshow.
