Jump to GalleryIn a traditional showcase for spring millinery, more than 300 Brenau Women’s College and Brenau Academy alumnae plus families and friends converged on the Brenau University campus Friday through Sunday, April 12-14, the annual day of class reunions and the “May Day” celebration for current students.
The weekend marked the return to inductions for the Brenau Alumni Association Hall of Fame, which recognizes career and community service accomplishments of men and women who earned diplomas and degrees from the preparatory academy, the Women’s College and all other programs of the university.
The weekend also featured two major milestones for two sororities on campus: Alpha Gamma Delta’s “Century of Sisterhood” celebrated the national sorority’s 100th year on campus – the third Brenau sorority to pass the centennial milestone – and Chi Omega celebrated its 50th year.
“We are always glad to welcome our alumnae back to the Brenau campus,” said Jenny Dell, alumni director at the university. “But the reunion weekend, coupled with the ‘May Day’ activities for students, provides a unique opportunity for members of the Brenau family to connect across generations. One of the great advantages of the Women’s College is that women thrown together here as students form lifetime bonds and this each a chance to nurture old friendships and form new ones.”
To strengthen the connections, Dell said the alumni association added several new features to the program: “Back to Class” seminars for alumnae showcasing things that are on campus now, an outdoor gift shop, and a service of remembrance for alumni who have passed away to close the weekend in historic Pearce Auditorium on Sunday morning. Alumnae also had an opportunity to participate in a video history project – telling their favorites stories about their student days at Brenau on camera.
In the past, activities for the annual reunion weekend primarily were confined to the picturesque Victorian-era main campus. However, recognizing the university’s most significant physical expansion in recent years, some of the activities took place at the Brenau Downtown center, just off the town square in Gainesville. The university leased the former Georgia Mountains Center convention and events venue – where most Brenau graduates received their diplomas in the last quarter century – for renovation as a home for major expansions in health care professions graduate studies, including physical therapy.
Otherwise, most events remained true to tradition. Most visible was the annual champagne brunch starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday for returning alumnae. It was a chance for graduates of all ages to swap stories, share family photos and, in some cases, show off their new spring fashion, including hats and bonnets of every description.
That was followed immediately by the “May Day” celebration – another tradition from bygone eras that remains alive and well at Brenau, very much the same as it has been since at least the early 1900s with young women representing each class and from all walks of life wrapping the May Pole and cheering on their sisters who are members of the May Court.
The link between the past and present for the 134-year-old institution also included special activities on Friday for the members of the Class of 1963, the university’s 24 Karat Club – for alumnae who graduated at least 50 years ago, and reunions for other class years at different locations around Gainesville.
Saturday afternoon festivities also included open houses for various sororities on campus. Public programs featured a runway-style fashion show featuring work by students in the university’s fashion design and fashion merchandising departments, an opening reception in Brenau art galleries for exhibitions of students in various arts and design disciplines, and an evening dance program that features performances by student dancers and visiting professionals as well as choreography by a graduating senior dance major.
Candice Plunkett, center, reads the sophomore class tribute song to the seniors, their sister class, during Class Day at this year’s Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
Jasmyn Farmer, left, laughs with her fellow Women’s College seniors
Women’s College senior Alyson Shields, center, smiles as the sophomore class presents their sister class with yellow Gerber daisies. The senior and sophomore sister class colors are yellow and blue.
Sophomore Precious West, right, hands her sister class member senior Ashley Campbella a yellow gerber daisy. The sophomore class color is yellow and the seniors color is blue.
Mycharia Spurling is revealed as H.J. the tiger to the Women’s College to students in Pearce Auditorium during the Class Day at Brenau University’s Alumnae Reunion Weekend. During the program the student who was secretly portraying H.J. for the year is unmasked.
Mycharia Spurling is revealed as H.J. the tiger to the Women’s College to student sin Pearce Auditorium during the Class Day at Brenau University’s Alumnae Reunion Weekend. During the program the student who was secretly portraying H.J. for the year is unmasked.
Jasmyn Farmer, left, holds hands with other members of the class of 2013 as they walk to the Crow’s Nest on the front lawn of Brenau University’s historic Gainesville campus during the Class Day event of the Alumnae Reunion Weekend Saturday, April 13, 2013.
Brenau University’s Women College Senior Class President Chloe Golden, left, leads other memders of the class of 2013 to the Crow’s Nest on the front lawn of Brenau University’s historic Gainesville campus during the Class Day event of the Alumnae Reunion Weekend Saturday, April 13, 2013.
Brenau University’s Women College Brenau University Senior Class President Chloe Golden comforts her friend Diamond Als as she tears up during the Class Day portion of Alumnae Reunion Weekend on Brenau University’s historic Gainesville campus.
From left Kat Mize, Kassidy Locke, Morgan Davis place a vine along the fountain on the front lawn of Brenau University’s historic Gainesville campus before the start of Alumnae Reunion Weekend Saturday, April 13, 2013.
From left Women’s College juniors Jessica Anderson, Hannah Scheel, Anna Claire Dover, Amber Durden, Amber Boyd, Katey Kibler and Jackie Willis carry the ivy chain from Brenau’s fountain to the Crow’s Nest during the Class Day portion of Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
The Women’s College juniors make their way to the Crows Nest for the changing of the guard where the graduating seniors robe the rising juniors in black gowns.
The Women’s College juniors make their way to the Crows Nest for the changing of the guard where the graduating seniors robe the rising juniors in black gowns.
Members of the the 2013 class, the Senior Class, look down from the crows nest onto the juniors, sophomores and freshman during the Class Day event of the Alumnae Reunion Weekend Saturday, April 13, 2013.
Stephanie Moniz, center right, looks to her friend Kenzey Haynes as they and the rest of the Brenau University Women’s College juniors sing to the seniors in the Crow’s Nest during the Class Day portion of Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
Juniors in the Brenau University Women’s College sing to the seniors in the Crow’s Nest
Alumnae meet and greet on the WIlkes Lawn before Brenau University President Ed Schrader gives his champagne toast.
Purple and white colors decked the tables for the brunch during Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
Mona Hoffman White looks over an old copy of the Alchemist with Matt Thomas, the Brenau University vice president of external relations.
Brooke Bridges, right, speaks with Alicia Harris after brunch at this years Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
Mona Hoffman White looks over an old copy of the Alchemist with Matt Thomas, the Brenau University vice president of external relations.
Kelley McHam Carlisle, right, receives a hug from her friend Renee Loggins during the brunch and champagne toast portion of the Alumnae Reunion Weekend Saturday, April 13 on Brenau University’s historic Gainesville campus.
Brenau University President Ed Schrader gives a speech before the Champagne toast during Alumnae Reunion Weekend on Brenau’s Gainesville campus.
Mary Kathryn Wells, WC 2000, laughs with friends after Brenau University President Ed Schrader gave his toast during brunch at this year’s Alumnae Reunion Weekend on Brenau’s Gainesville campus.
Brenau alumna Emmie Henderson Howard, right, smiles as Brenau University President Ed Schrader mentions her business apparel business, Southern Proper, during his champagne toast.
From left Anna Sowell, Sarah Taylor and Katy Sulhoff chat during the brunch and champagne toast portion of Alumnae Reunion Weekend on Brenau University’s Gainesville campus.
Alumnae, family and friends gather on the front lawn in front of the May Court during the May Day celebration of Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
Daniella Patterson, left, stands with her friend and May Court member Mycharia Spurling as she is introduced while other May Court members, from left, Bianca Pointdexter, Jasmyn Farmer, Diamond Als and Devony Hemingway listen on.
Eleanor Kahn poses for photos with her mother Mary Tuggle before she is crowned May Queen by Brenau University President Ed Schrader during the May Day Celebration of Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
Brenau University President Ed Schrader crowns Eleanor Kahn the 2013 May Queen during the May Day celebration for this years Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
May Queen Eleanor Kahn, center, sits with Princess Christina Evans, at her right, and Prince Ty Parker, at her left, as well as the rest of the May Court during the May Day Celebration of Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
May Queen Eleanor Kahn, center, laughs as she sits inbetween Princess Christina Evans, left, and Prince Ty Parker, right, during the May Queen ceremony on the front lawn of Brenau’s historic Gainesville campus during the May Day festivities of Alumnae Reunion Weekend Saturday, April 13, 2013.
Mycharia Spurling, center, works her way around the May Pole on the front lawn of Brenau’s historic Gainesville campus during the May Day festivities of Alumnae Reunion Weekend Saturday, April 13, 2013.
Devony Hemingway wraps streamers around the May Poll with the rest of the May Court on the front lawn of Brenau University’s Gainesville campus.
Tami Lee, Brenau University’s director of special events, poses for a picture with her Alpha Chi Omega sorority sister and the 2013 May Queen Eleanor Kahn under the May Pole on the front lawn of the Gainesville campus. Lee offered her wedding dress to Kahn to use in the ceremony after Kahn expressed a concern about affording a wedding dress to use in the ceremony when Lee was encourageing her to run for May Queen. “Once she was elected we tried it on and it just fit perfectly,” Lee said.
Paris Hawkins walks from the Gazebo to the May Court stage with her father, Irvin Hawkins Sr., during the May Day celebration of this year’s Alumnae Reunion Weekend.
Eleanor Kahn, right, poses for a photo with her mother Mary Tuggle as the walk from the Gazebo to the stage where Kahn was crowned May Queen by Brenau University President Ed Schrader during the May Day Celebration of Alumnae Reunion Weekend.