The Class of 1979's 25th Reunion

 A Look Back at the Weekend from Co-Chairs
Ava Youngblood (McC79) and Tony Wilkins

Ava writes:

The Class of 1979 showed their true colors and school spirit celebrating our 25th Reunion Halloween Weekend. We learned that our campus has expanded with many new buildings, Evanston is no longer DRY and attending an NU Football game is really exciting as we watched the Wildcats win over Purdue in a breathtaking finish! We remember that our Wildcats rarely ever won when we were in school!

The Reunion weekend offered something for everybody. Some of us started our weekend on Friday, with campus tours, hearing presentations from the Admissions office—this was especially useful for those of us with college bound children, or for those of us who began our families later—we stopped by the Kids Tent in Deering Meadow for face painting and Trick-or-Treat bags. Larry Irving (WCAS76), Leslie Wiley’s (McC79) husband, delivered an excellent keynote address on the impact that technology has had and will have on our lives. After that, we headed off to “Classes Without Quizzes” to hear enlightening lectures from some of NU’s best professors. We came together on Friday evening with a rousing tent party in Deering Meadow for great food and great fun! How exciting to ride on the Alumni Float in the Homecoming Parade down Sheridan Road in 70 degree weather!

After a thrilling football game, we took a moment to regroup and prepare for our Class Party. We connected at Wolfgang Puck’s jazzy new restaurant in Evanston and were amazed to see some of our classmates for the first time after 25 years. Kyle Hefner (C79) entertained us and quizzed us on our knowledge of NU History. Although the official class party ending time was 10 pm, classmates were not ready to leave. It felt great to be back together again as a class after so long. Sunday’s rousing Gospel Brunch at The House of Blues followed by Chicago Architectural River Cruise was a great way to cap off our 25th Reunion. Kudos to our excellent Reunion Committee and my awesome co-chairs Tony Wilkins (McC79) and Roger Adams(C79 ) for a job well done! It was a great weekend and we all agreed that we are looking forward to our 30th!

Tony writes:

"I wouldn't be here if you hadn't called!" How many times did we hear that phrase at the party at Wolfgang Puck's? It is so true. In the same way that some candle lighting ceremonies proceed with one person lighting another person's candle till the whole room is filled with light, our reunion committee's efforts brought together over a hundred alumni from the class of 1979 and over $350,000 to the University.

Fun. Just roll back your head and let it out kind of fun marked the whole weekend. O'Hare, The Football Team, Mother Nature and Northwestern's reunion staff helped pull together a memorable event. After attending the 5th, 10th and now the 25th, I am looking forward to helping plan and organize the 30th and beyond.

No special reason. It's just fun...and isn't that enough?

Keep an eye for the photos that will be on the website in the coming days and see if you can recognize some of your classmates and keep your calendar open for 2009!

Many thanks to all who helped...whether you were able to make it or not.