What does Spring Reunion mean to you?
Spring Reunion is an opportunity to come out and enjoy time with the friends and colleagues that you went to school with. It brings back a lot of old memories. This particular reunion is my 40th. I was a member of the Engineering Society in 1975, so when they asked for class leaders to help out with this year’s reunion, I thought it was time to step up again. I was able to successfully get about a quarter of my class to come out this year.
Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Skule™?
Put it this way: we did a few things we probably shouldn’t have been doing. This one time, in particular, a group of us lifted a Mini Cooper onto the steps of Hart House.
Why should alumni, who have never been to Spring Reunion, come out and get involved?
It’s a great time to see how much things have changed since you’ve been gone. It’s also a chance to give back and get involved with some of the alumni programs and to volunteer your time with the University.
What does Spring Reunion mean to you?
Even though I moved to the U.S. about 20 years ago, I’ve always stayed connected. The University is part of my family and Spring Reunion is a great time to come back and see the other part of your family — the people you spent four years getting your degree with.
Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Skule™?
I was in Skule™ Nite during my first year (1976–77) — the same year the Sandford Fleming Building caught fire. It burned down the week that Skule™ Nite was on. I remember feeling like, in addition to the usual Skule™ Nite festivities, we were helping to gain back the morale of our classmates after the fire. It was a great, fun group of people and we really felt like we were pulling the Faculty back together.
Why should alumni, who have never been to Spring Reunion, come out and get involved?
When you come out to Spring Reunion, you get a chance to reconnect with the ways the University helped to launch your career. Many of us met our spouses and significant others here. There are so many great memories connected to Skule™, and when you walk the hallways they come flooding back. It was really hard work while we were here, but when you come back for Spring Reunion you only remember the fun parts.
Elaine currently sits on the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry’s Board of Advisors.