Members of the Class of 1990 at the CUA Law Reunion Weekend Picnic
Jetting in from all over the country, hundreds of Catholic University Law School graduates, friends, and family attended Reunion 2015, held Oct. 23-25 at the Law School and other locations around Washington, D.C.
The jam-packed weekend offered more than two-dozen events, designed to help old friends and classmates reconnect, keep up with Law School developments, and engage with new opportunities to support their law alma mater in the future.
The carefully planned out event offered alumni and their guests a little bit of everything, and reunited a record number of alumni.
"We welcomed more than 400 guests in total to all events," noted Katherine Gamelin Crowley, (Class of 2010), Director of Alumni Relations for the Columbus School of Law. "We've heard nothing but rave reviews from our alumni and we believe this to be our most successful reunion ever."
Ten class years were invited to participate in Reunion 2015: 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010.
The weekend kicked off with a Friday VIP Reception with Dean Daniel F. Attridge at the Sidecar at P.J. Clarke's in downtown Washington. The reception honored Reunion Class Committee members and donors to the 2015 reunion class gifts.
Also honored was Jeffrey R. Moreland, Class of 1970, who was presented with the Alumni Council's Alumni Distinguished Service Award for his service on the Law School's Board of Visitors and to the entire CUA Law community. (Pictured at left with Dean Attridge and the Alumni Council's current president, Jim Anagnos, Class of 1996).
An All-Alumni Party and Reunion Kickoff followed, at which awards were given to the reunion classes with highest class giving participation rate (1965), and highest classmate attendance at reunion (1990). The Class of 1990 also won an award for the highest dollars raised having raised more than $113,000 for the newly endowed Class of 1990 Memorial Scholarship Fund in the honor of the following classmates.
LOUIS R. BLOODWORTH
CANDACE J. BRICE
JEFFRY M. BUCK
FERRELL D. CARMINE
ROBERT L. CARTER, JR.
JODI P. DOTTORI
MARGARET M. LYONS
GAIANA SWANSON
ERIC T. WERNER
JAY K. WILK
Saturday morning offered alumni visitors a relaxing mix of social time and informational events. After the Law Alumni Association Annual Meeting, all class members with any questions about the Law School were invited to ask them directly of Dean Attridge, who covered such subjects as enrollment, scholarships, job placement, changes to the curriculum, and marketing plans for the future.
Reunion guests also heard Professor Mary Leary discuss her research on human trafficking and the exploitation of children and women and how she integrates her research into the classroom.
Two current CUA Law students stepped up in a big way to assist with Reunion 2015. Megan Chester and Jackie Haughom led alumni and guests in a First Amendment Tour of the Newseum, one of the more popular interesting experiences in Washington, D.C.
The afternoon gave rise to the most popular reunion event, a three-hour picnic and crab feast on the Law School lawn. The catered cookout recreated an alumni version of the favorite law student event, CrabFest, and featured live music by the all-CUA law-student band, Tortious Tones, a beer tasting from local brewery, D.C. Brau, and children's activities such as a moon bounce, face painting, and more.
Saturday evening featured ten class reunion parties held at three different locations. The parties ran the gamut from an elegant multi-class reception at the Willard Hotel, to smaller, intimate dinners broken out by class year to a gathering at a local pub. For alumni, it was a wonderful chance to relax, enjoy the company of old friends and favorite faculty, and plug back in to the CUA Law community. Moving quickly, the dean paid a visit to each of the events.
"An event with so many components is a tremendous undertaking that requires many months of planning and collaboration between several offices. Thank you to our committee members, faculty and staff. It was a great success," said Dean Attridge.
Reunion 2015 concluded with two events on Sunday, Oct. 25. First, a Sunday Mass celebrated with special intentions for the 50-year reunion Class of 1965.
Mass was followed at noon with the William Callyhan Robinson Society Luncheon and Induction Ceremony at the Law School. This special luncheon and ceremony celebrates CUA Law alumni who graduated 40 or more years ago, with special recognition to the Class of 1965. Five new members were inducted this year.
View all the photos from CUA Law 2015 Reunion Weekend on Facebook.