Spring 2011

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Northwestern is the quarterly alumni magazine for Northwestern University.
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Photo by Stephen Anzaldi (GC10)

A Record-Breaking Weekend

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See more photos from all of the Reunion and Homecoming 2010 events.

Slideshow photography by Stephen Anzaldi (GC10), Andrew Campbell, Frank Monkiewitz, Bruce Powell, Lisa Winn and Eric Young.

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Wildcats came home in droves for Reunion and Homecoming Weekend 2010, setting a new attendance record. In all, more than 5,800 alumni and friends attended the celebration, which featured the first graduating class of the 1960s entering the Half Century Club.

The enthusiasm was evident from the very start. More than 1,100 -people gathered at Friday night’s Welcome Reception on Deering Meadow, which was followed by a boisterous pep rally. The crowd then spilled out onto Sheridan Road as newly minted Nobel Prize–winning professor Dale Mortensen and actress Stephanie March (C96) — along with her celebrity chef husband, Bobby Flay — led the Homecoming parade.

Reunion revelers showed up in full force to watch the Wildcats battle Michigan State in the Homecoming game on Saturday. More than 1,000 attended the reunion tailgate, and more than 1,500 packed the special reunion section at Ryan Field. At halftime, co-chairs of the 10 reunion classes presented Northwestern with a combined gift of $29 million. The class of 1985 led the way with 629 donors, while the class of 1960 boasted an impressive 43 percent giving rate.

Saturday night’s class parties were also well attended, as the class of 2005 gathering at Chicago’s Landmark Grill and Lounge and the class of 2000 festivities at LaSalle Power Co. both attracted more than 400 people.

The classes of 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006 will celebrate Reunion 2011 Oct. 21–23. The Wildcat football team will face Penn State in the Homecoming game.