Rain No Deterrent to Festive Fall Weekend

Organizers made the best of a soggy Homecoming and Parents Weekend, forging ahead with activities despite relentless rain.

Parents and alumni enjoyed their reunions with children and former classmates, and took part in a wide range of weekend events.

The Lobster Bake took place as scheduled in the Hawk's Nest as alumni gathered to eat great food and talk about their time at the University of Hartford.

“It’s nice to be back and reminisce with alumni,” said Dave Pula a 2005 graduate of the Barney School of Business. “Smelling the lobster coming from the Hawk's Nest is a dream come true. I wish that it happened every day when I lived here!”

At the Equinox Madness tent behind the Hartford Art School, about two dozen people braved the rain in puppet costumes and wings. They marched to Gengras Student Union, where they paraded through a packed cafeteria filled with parents and students. The parade was a lively celebration complete with mystical and winged creatures, including a centaur and unicorn, as well as an elephant, horse, and bat. Young children marched to the beat banging pots and pans.

Prior to the performance, titled “Wings of Fire, Wings of Fate,” students from The Hartt School performed and a giant flower entertained the crowd. Community artist Anne Cubberly, founder and director of Equinox Madness, participated in the performance as a fairy. Children, ages 3 and up, also performed as fairies, butterflies, and other winged creatures.

Alumni of the Occupational Therapy Department held a reunion in the University of Hartford Magnet School. The event featured many photo albums from the students’ time at the university. Many stories were shared, including the good news that two former students became engaged to each other.

“We had a really great experience here in the Occupational Therapy program at the university and we are really sad the program is coming to an end,” said Anna Pyskaty ’03.

Among the highlights of the weekend was the 44th Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony, held at the 1877 Club on Saturday evening. This year, for the first time, the Alumni Association also presented Anchor Awards to outstanding graduates of each of the university’s schools and colleges, spanning many generations. Each winner received a print of a painting, by Brennan Sousa ’05, of the anchor in front of Bates House.

Read about the award recipients.

“To all the people who said to me today that they have not been here in 25 or 30 years, I hope you get to dance through the rain drops and enjoy what you see,” President Walter Harrison said at the awards ceremony.