Reuniting, the Duke Way

Alumni and friends reconnected during Duke Reunion Weekend, March 28-30, on campus.

Two duke alumni stand behind large Duke lettering near Duke Chapel
Fun and engagement: Alumni reconnected with each other and with the university during Reunion Weekend. Photo by Sean Rowe

There are connections that happen in just a few moments but last a lifetime.

That certainly is true for Katherine Hochstetler and Robyn Sorid, two alumnae who graduated from Duke in 1995 and were on campus for Duke鈥檚 annual reunion weekend March 28-30.  

The two friends met on their first day on Duke鈥檚 campus and say they have a friendship that has withstood the test of time, despite living across the country from one another and only talking intermittently. Duke Reunion Weekend, which celebrates undergraduate classes during milestone years, is always the place Hochstetler and Sorid reconnect.

鈥淒uke connections have a way of staying very strong despite the years,鈥 said Sorid, who traveled from New York City. 鈥淲hen we do meet up, it transports you right back to when you were on campus. It feels like no time has passed.鈥

Sorid and Hochstetler were among the 4,701 alumni and friends attending the Duke Reunion Weekend, spending time on campus catching up with each other and the ever-changing campus. Alumni and friends attended class parties and open houses across schools and units, took tours of Duke and Durham, learned at educational events designed to showcase the very best of Duke and more.

In addition, classes committed nearly $19 million to date through a special class gift campaign to mark milestone reunions. The collective gift will benefit 15 annual funds that provide flexible support to schools and units and expand the Duke student experience. 

The Class of 1995 raised more than $4 million, and won The Benchmark Challenge, a friendly competition between reunion classes to drive the highest number of classmates who make a class gift and the highest number of class attendees. As the winner, 1995 classmates won a party on Abele Quad, complete with food, party favors, a bench painted Duke Blue and of course, bragging rights.

Members of the Class of 1995 celebrate their victory in the Benchmark Challenge. Photos by Brian Mullins.
Members of the Class of 1995 celebrate their victory in the Benchmark Challenge. Photos by Brian Mullins Photography.

For classmates Rekha Vij 鈥00, who traveled from Chicago, and Mahiuddin Ahmed 鈥00, who arrived from Verona, N.J., attending Reunion Weekend with their families was important.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thinking about the next generation, now,鈥 said Ahmed, who gave his pre-teen children a tour of Duke. 鈥淲e want them to know what an excellent college campus looks like, so they can glimpse the possibilities and see the amazing students and faculty.鈥

For other attendees, the weekend was a time to reflect on what Duke gave to them long before they knew they needed it.

It was community for Becca Gil 鈥15, who was a member of Sabrosura, Duke鈥檚 Latin dance group, and Kimberly Dixon 鈥10, who was a member of United in Praise, Duke鈥檚 Gospel choir.

Gil called Sabrosura her 鈥渇amily鈥 at Duke, while Dixon said the choir members she 鈥渢ented鈥 with in Krzyzewskiville to attend the Duke-UNC basketball game are still her best friends.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 know we were going to be lifelong friends,鈥 Dixon said. 鈥淏ut something about being in 30 degree weather and being frustrated that you鈥檙e in 30 degree weather and that you chose to be in 30 degree weather will really bond you and connect you.鈥

Christina Holder, Adriana DiFranco and Leslie Gray-Baker contributed to this story.

John Tolsma (right), an alumnus from the class of 1995, interviews Dave Kennedy (left), vice president for alumni engagement and development, and Laura Heilenday (center), associate vice president and chief engagement officer, ahead of the presentation of reunion class gifts. Led by class co-chairs like Tolsma, Reunion attendees committed nearly $19 million to date in honor of their milestone reunion years.
John Tolsma (right), an alumnus from the class of 1995, interviews Dave Kennedy (left), vice president for alumni engagement and development, and Laura Heilenday, associate vice president and chief engagement officer, ahead of the presentation of reunion class gifts. Photo by Brian Mullins Photography
This weekend, Duke welcomed 4,701 alumni and friends for Duke Reunion Weekend, an event celebrating milestone years for undergraduate alumni. This year, classes ending in "0s" and "5s" were reconnected with each other and campus through a variety of class parties, open houses, tours of campus and Durham鈥攁nd much more. Photo credit: Brian Mullins Photography
This weekend, Duke welcomed 4,701 alumni and friends for Duke Reunion Weekend, an event celebrating milestone years for undergraduate alumni. This year, classes ending in "0s" and "5s" were reconnected with each other and campus through a variety of class parties, open houses, tours of campus and Durham鈥攁nd much more. Photo by Brian Mullins Photography