In mid-May, three reunion classes returned to campus for the first in-person Alumni Weekend since 2019. With record-breaking attendance and more events than ever before, Alumni Weekend 2022 was a celebration that won’t soon be forgotten. Scroll through the galleries below to view a selection of photos from the festivities.
Worth the Wait
Alumni from three reunion classes returned to campus for Alumni Weekend 2022
Published: May 26, 2022
Alumni Parade and Picnic
A longstanding Alumni Weekend tradition, the parade of classes is always a well-attended event. This year was no exception, as thousands of guests and their families lined up to march down Locust Walk. A steady rain didn’t dampen their spirits as alumni donned ponchos and pompoms and celebrated their Penn pride. Tents were set up across campus—from Penn Park to College Green—where alumni congregated and enjoyed a picnic lunch with friends, families, and classmates following the parade.
Social Events
A two-year hiatus didn’t subdue the enthusiasm alumni had to reconnect with one another at more than a dozen social events on and off campus throughout the weekend. From Drinks with the Sphinx at the Penn Museum, to Franklin Fest on College Green, and individual reunion year dinners at locations throughout Philadelphia, alumni had plenty of opportunities to catch up with each other and relive their time at Penn whether they graduated 5 or 65 years ago.
Arts & Culture
Alumni were inspired during several creative tours that spotlighted a range of arts and culture at Penn. The annual Gallery Hop had alumni and their families “hopping” to and from four of Penn’s galleries and engaging with art that spanned the globe from Asia to Latin America to 20th century United States. Others joined Lynn Marsden-Atlass, Executive Director of the Arthur Ross Gallery and University Curator, for a walk around campus to discover the diversity of Penn’s renowned outdoor sculpture collection.
Programming
A wide assortment of events kept alumni busy all weekend long. For many, taking a student-led tour was an opportunity to reconnect with old classmates, feel nostalgia for college years, and see the transformation of Penn’s campus. The weekend featured other events that emphasized Penn’s commitment to sustainability and the environment including a panel on the evolution of climate science and activism and a guided tour of Penn’s urban farm, The Penn Park Orchard. Wrapping up Saturday’s programming was a State of the University address, given by Interim President Wendell Pritchett.
