The ���ϲ����� Marching Band performs on the steps of Hendricks Chapel during Orange Central Weekend. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

The University welcomed about 1,300 alumni, friends and their families back to campus over the weekend to celebrate our community, our incredible spirit and Orange pride during Orange Central Homecoming Weekend 2024.

The campus came alive with excitement, memories and plenty of good times, including watching the football team pull out a thrilling 38-31 win in overtime against Virginia Tech.

Check out some of the photos below from the weekend’s activities. For more fun photos, browse the Orange Central photo album on the��.

Members of the Orange community pose for a photo with Otto at the Homecoming Alumni Breakfast. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Attendees enjoying a home-cooked meal during the Homecoming Alumni Breakfast. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

During the SU Arts Fair and Brunch, participants demonstrated their rhythm on the drums. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

(From left to right): Alpha Chi Omega sisters Suzanne Hewett ’94, Rhonda Bergeron ’94, P’26, Shannon Von Vassel ’94 and Kim Tromba ’94 are all smiles as they reunite at Orange Central! (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Orange alumni and student entrepreneurs listen to a panel discussion during the Orange Tank Business Pitch Competition. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

An attendee participates in a flight simulation during the Be a Pilot and Test Out the Flight Simulator with the SU ROTC Air Force Cadets program. (Photo by Liam Kennedy ’26)

Orange Central attendees show off their school spirit in front of the Hall of Languages. (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� Facebook page)

During the “Destroy All Monsters” Exhibit Tour, attendees learned how fandom and participatory culture developed from the pre-Internet era to present day. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Participants in the SU Arts Fair and Brunch. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Forever Orange Friday was a fun and family-friendly evening on the Quad. Check out the JMA Wireless Dome lit up in Orange! (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Head coach Fran Brown (center) leading the Orange football team onto the field for Saturday’s Orange Central game vs. Virginia Tech. ���ϲ����� would rally from down 21-3 to earn a 38-31 win inside the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo courtesy of the )

The University welcomes alumni back to campus at the tailgate during Orange Central 2023 (Photo by Ross Knight)

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend as ���ϲ����� gears up for Orange Central Homecoming 2024. This year’s celebration, set for Nov. 1-3, will be a vibrant and family-friendly weekend, bringing the campus community together in a spirit of camaraderie and Orange pride.

While there is a , be sure not to miss these signature programs from the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving:

Friday, Nov. 1: Kick off the weekend with Forever Orange Friday from 6-9 p.m. on the Shaw Quad. Enjoy delicious cookout food, lawn games, a photo booth and time with Otto the Orange while mingling with student organizations participating in our Student Organization Challenge.

Saturday, Nov. 2: Start your day with our Homecoming Alumni Breakfast from 9-10:30 a.m. inside Schine’s Goldstein Auditorium. Connect with alumni, students, faculty and staff from various schools and colleges—all in one place. Pick up your exclusive game day clear tote, then head to the Quad for our tailgate.

Sunday, Nov. 3: Wrap up the weekend with our *NEW* SU Arts Fair and Brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Shaffer Art Building lobby. Stop by as your schedule allows to enjoy hands-on art activities, an Instagram photo station, balloon artist, drumming performances and guided tours of the ���ϲ����� Art Museum—plus a delicious brunch.

Orange Central Homecoming 2024 is more than just a weekend of events; it’s a celebration of the ���ϲ����� community and our incredible spirit. Whether you’re a graduate, a current student, or a member of ���ϲ�����’s faculty or staff, we hope you’ll join us for a weekend filled with fun, food and festivities. Sign-up is .

is ���ϲ�����’s Black and Latino alumni reunion. Highlights of the weekend, set for Sept. 12-15, include a celebrity basketball game, comedy show, cookout on the Quad, fundraising gala, worship service and brunch. CBT provides alumni an opportunity to engage with current students, share exciting experiences with fellow graduates and learn about ways to give back.

Family Weekend, coordinated by , will be held Sept. 27-29. The weekend provides a great opportunity for students to show off the campus to their families and features a variety of programs that showcase the unsurpassed ���ϲ����� student experience. This year, the Orange football team will host Holy Cross during Family Weekend.

The Orange Central Homecoming Weekend, including Law alumni, is set for Nov. 1-3, when the Orange host Virginia Tech in the JMA Wireless Dome. Additional details will be released in the coming weeks.

���ϲ����� is also planning on-the-road programs and/or ticket blocks as the ���ϲ����� Orange head to away games at UNLV, NC State, Pitt, Boston College and Cal. There’s no better time to be Orange!

���ϲ����� welcomes alumni back to campus at the tailgate event during Orange Central 2023. (Photo by Ross Knight)

The University welcomed about 2,000 alumni and friends back to campus to celebrate Orange Central and Law Alumni Weekend.

From tailgating to special reunion events and open houses, the campus was alive with excitement, memories and good times.

Check out some of the photos below from the weekend’s activities. For more fun photos, browse the Orange Central photo album on the .

Orange Central 2023 (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Orange Central 2023 (Photo by Addy Szczerba)

Orange Central 2023

Student entrepreneurs pitch their products at the Blackstone Launchpad event during Orange Central. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Orange Central 2023

Orange Central 2023

Orange Central 2023 (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Alumni visit Information Technology Services’ MakerSpace Open House during Orange Central 2023. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

College of Law alumni gathered as part of Orange Central and Law Alumni Weekend. (Photo by Adrienne Lutz)

Bob Costas ’74, third from left, and Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73, former men’s head basketball coach, fourth from left, take a photo with alumni at the the Forever Orange brunch and conversation between Costas and Boeheim. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

College of Law Dean Craig Boise addresses the audience during the 2023 College of Law Awards Celebration. (Photo by Andrea Parisi)

Alumni visit the 119 Euclid Open House during Orange Central. (Photo by Addy Szczerba)

Alumni view the “In Pursuit of Justice: Pan Am Flight 103” exhibition at ���ϲ����� Libraries during Orange Central.

Armando Martinez, director of inclusion and belonging in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, speaks to alumni on the state of diversity and inclusion in a presentation during Orange Central. (Photo by Ross Knight)

Alumni mingle on the Quad during the tailgate event during Orange Central. (Photo by Ross Knight)

Orange Central 2023 (Photo by Addy Szczerba)

Orange Central 2023 (Photo by Addy Szczerba)

Orange Central 2023

Orange Central 2023 (Photo by Addy Szczerba)

Orange Central 2023

will be held Sept. 21-23 and will include engaging and informative panel discussions and opportunities to reminisce with classmates, faculty and friends. Plus, attendees can celebrate this year’s Law Honors Award and Alumni of Color Award recipients, meet with current students and earn CLE credits. The weekend will also feature a football game against Army.

The Office of Alumni Engagement’s Orange Central celebration is set for the following weekend, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, when the Orange host defending ACC champion Clemson in the JMA Wireless Dome. The annual homecoming and reunion weekend features opportunities for alumni to reconnect with classmates, get an inside look at the exciting things happening at the University today and revisit their favorite spots around campus. for the most updated information—including hotel options and registration details when they become available—and enjoy a look back at 2022’s celebration.

, coordinated by New Student and Family Programs, will be Nov. 3-5. The weekend provides a great opportunity for students to show off the campus to their families and features a variety of programs that showcase the unsurpassed ���ϲ����� student experience. This year, the Orange will host Boston College during Family Weekend.

The weekend featured reunion gatherings, the much-anticipated Alumni Awards Celebration, “Back to the Classroom” academic programs, a cookout on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, a family-friendly and spirited tailgate before the football game versus Wagner, and of course a 59-0 victory by the undefeated football team.

Check out some of the best photos from Orange Central.

���ϲ����� fans gather on the Shaw Quad while a cheerleader fires up the crowd during the Orange Central tailgate (photo by Jeremy Brinn).

���ϲ����� Marching Band members play for the Orange Central tailgate crowd in front of the steps of Hendricks Chapel (photo by Jeremy Brinn).

Alumni in the Classes of 1962 and 1972 gather at Drumlins Country Club for a celebration during Orange Central (photo by the Office of Alumni Engagement).

The giant white flag with an Orange “S” waves on the field at the JMA Wireless Dome during ���ϲ�����’s Orange Central football game versus Wagner (photo by Jeremy Brinn).

Otto greeting folks who came to campus for Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Robb Armstrong ’85 delivers remarks after receiving an Arents Award during Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Former ���ϲ����� quarterback Don McPherson ’87 emcees the Alumni Awards during Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Enagement).

Melvin Stith G’73,G’78 (center), the Military-Veteran Award Winner during Orange Central, poses with Chancellor Kent Syverud (left) and Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation (photo by Jeremy Brinn).

���ϲ����� alumni and their guests, as well as staff members, gather during the Alumni Awards Celebration during Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Members of the cheerleading team perform during the Orange Central football game versus Wagner (photo by Jeremy Brinn).

���ϲ����� Alumni Association leaders pose with Chancellor Kent Syverud (far right) during the Orange Central tailgate (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Orange Central guests pose with the statue of legendary former ���ϲ����� football player Ernie Davis ’62 (photo by Estheralice Lopez).

Alumni who attended the Senior Alumni Brunch pose with Otto during Orange Central (photo by Marilyn Hesler).

Members of the military on the field at the JMA Wireless Dome before the Orange Central football game versus Wagner (photo by Jeremy Brinn).

Members of the ���ϲ����� Marching Band play on the steps of Hendricks Chapel during the Orange Central tailgate (photo by Estheralice Lopez).

Crouse College illuminated at night (photo by Tracy Barash ’89)

The JMA Wireless Dome and Hendricks Chapel illuminated during Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Back in the Classroom: The Museum as a Classroom, a conversation around artist Mickalene Thomas’ Portrait of Qusuquzah #5 (2011) (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Broadway Bound with Ben Holtzman and Sammy Lopez, producers of “How to Dance in Ohio,” a musical making its world premiere at ���ϲ����� Stage, spoke during an Orange Central Back in the Classroom program (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Broadway Bound with Ben Holtzman and Sammy Lopez, producers of “How to Dance in Ohio,” a musical making its world premiere at ���ϲ����� Stage, spoke during an Orange Central Back in the Classroom program (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Arents Award Winner Stacey Mindich ’86 speaks during an Orange Central event at the Newhouse School (photo by Marilyn Hesler).

Alumni in the Class of 1972 pose during an Orange Central program (photo by Marilyn Hesler).

Alumni and their guests listen during an Orange Central Back in the Classroom program (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Alumni in the Class of 1962 pose with their class banner during the Senior Alumni Brunch at Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Alumni in the Class of 1972 pose with their class banner during the Senior Alumni Brunch at Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration award winners and esteemed guests pose on stage during Orange Central (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

A young ���ϲ����� fan poses during the Orange Central tailgate (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Alumni pose on the Quad during the Orange Central tailgate (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Alumni pose during the Orange Central ’80s and ’90s night celebrations (photo by Estheralice Lopez).

���ϲ����� cheerleaders perform during the Orange Central tailgate (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Students pose on the Quad with Otto during the Orange Central tailgate (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Cheerleaders perform on the JMA Wireless Dome field, spelling out ���ϲ����� with their flags (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Otto poses with students during the Orange Central football game (photo from the Office of Alumni Engagement).

At top, from left, are Robb Armstrong, Joanna Geraghty, Stacey Mindich and Robert J. Miron. In the bottom row, from left, are Carole A. Leland, Jamal Salmon and Melvin Stith.

Seven outstanding alumni will be honored by ���ϲ����� as part of the 2022 Alumni Awards Celebration on Friday, Sept. 30. The celebration is one of the signature events of , the University’s annual homecoming and reunion weekend. Find out more about the events and register on the . Registration closes on Sept. 25 at 11:59 p.m.

This year’s honorees for the 2022 George Arents Award, the University’s highest alumni award, are cartoonist Robb Armstrong ’85, JetBlue President and COO Joanna Geraghty G’97, L’97, theatrical producer Stacey Mindich ’86 and retired cable executive Robert Miron ’59. Carole A. Leland ’56 will receive the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award, recognizing alumni who have graduated more than 50 years ago and have demonstrated loyalty and service to the University. The 2022 Generation Orange Award, which recognizes graduates of the last 10 years, will be given to Jamal Salmon ’12. Melvin Stith G’73, Ph.D.’78 will be the recipient of the 2022 Military-Veteran Alumni Award.

For more information about the recipients, visit the .

With the 2022 Orange football schedule released on Monday, dates are now finalized for these three weekend highlights of the fall semester.

As long as public health guidelines allow for visitors, the University is excited to welcome visitors back to campus for these gatherings:

occurs Sept. 22-24 and includes exciting and informative panel discussions and opportunities to reminisce with classmates, faculty and friends. Plus, celebrate this year’s Law Honors Award and Alumni of Color Award recipients, meet with current students, earn CLE credits and share your Orange pride.

The Office of Alumni Engagement’s Orange Central celebration is set for Sept. 29-Oct. 2. The weekend features reunion gatherings, academic lectures and the much-anticipated Alumni Awards Celebration. for the most updated information—including registration details when they become available—and enjoy a look back at 2021’s celebration.

Family Weekend, coordinated by��, runs Oct. 14-16. Registration and schedule information will be shared this summer. Loved ones are encouraged to participate in a host of programs that showcase the ���ϲ����� student experience.

For interested fans, for the 2022 football season. Information on purchasing single-game tickets will be shared in the coming weeks. ���ϲ����� football will face Virginia during Law Weekend, Wagner during Orange Central and NC State during Family Weekend.

The weekend featured something for everyone, including special milestone reunion gatherings, the Alumni Awards Celebration and the always-popular ‘Cuse Cookout on the Quad and pre-game tailgate.

Learn how two alumni from the Class of 1960 formed an inseparable bond, how a ground-breaking local newscaster bleeds Orange, and how a former men’s basketball standout and a Miss America contestant took strolls down memory lane.

Visit the for all the details.

The ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards are the highlight of Orange Central. Don McPherson ’87 will emcee the program, which is set for Friday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the new Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, home to the National Veterans Resource Center. Awardees include former astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen M. Collins ’78, H’01; diversity and inclusion trailblazer María D. Meléndez ’89, and Pixar President Jim Morris ’77, G’78. . All awardees will join the event in person to accept their honors.

A new addition to the weekend: the ���ϲ����� Campus Store will host Military/Veteran Award Winner Eileen Collins for a book signing on Friday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 2 p.m. Collins’ new book “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission” was released on Oct. 19.

The ���ϲ����� community is invited to participate in the dozens of programs planned for the weekend, including a full array of and several . For those planning to cheer on ���ϲ����� vs. Boston College, you can purchase football tickets via Orange Central registration and join in a spirited pregame tailgate on the Quad on Saturday, Oct. 30.

The Office of Alumni Engagement looks forward to celebrating all things Orange with you next weekend!

Two of the original Jabberwocky murals, located in the lower level of Bird Library.

“The Jab,” as it was fondly called, was a student-run musical venue that operated in the Kimmel Hall basement from 1969-85. The Oct. 30 event will feature live music performed by , local musicians who performed at the original Jab. It will also include a panel discussion from people involved in operations of the Jab, including:

• (Newhouse School), former program director at WAER.
• Desi Day, former Jabberwocky manager.
• (College of Arts and Sciences and Newhouse School), former program director at WAER.
• (College of Visual and Performing Arts), artist who painted which will be on display during the event.
• , former College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty member, founding director of the and a key booking agent for Jabberwocky.

Jabberwocky mural by Mitchel Resnick ’76

The Jab was a beloved student-run musical campus and community venue, which showcased emerging and well-known local, regional and national musicians such as Charles Mingus, The Talking Heads, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Bonnie Raitt and Cyndi Lauper. During the same time period, WAER was completely student-operated with a focus on local programming. Many of the Jab shows were broadcast live on WAER.

“The Jabberwocky was clearly an iconic institution that defined a significant part of the student experience of the time,” said David Seaman, dean of ���ϲ����� Libraries and University librarian. “In collaboration with our campus partners, we are pleased to host this event, which I’m sure will bring back fond memories for alumni of the 70s and 80s.”

Reconnect with classmates, discover what’s new on campus and focus on fitness with your Orange family through in-person workouts at the Barnes Center at The Arch, a virtual 5K and on-demand classes that fit your schedule.

Visit the for all the details on the special events to recreate.

Morris will be joined by Keith Cartwright ’97, Maria D. Melendez ’89, Dan Mezzalingua ’60, Russ King ’52, Eileen Collins ’78, H’01, Katie Hoole ’13, Nicole Osborne ’14, G’20, Ivan Robles ’15 and Leo Wong ’14 as the alumni honorees during the celebration on Oct. 29.

Visit the for more information.

Coming Back Together, which celebrates African American and Latinx alumni, is slated for Sept. 9-12, 2021. Hosted every three years by the (formerly the Office of Program Development), and postponed in 2020, the reunion weekend offers students an opportunity to network with successful alumni of color by participating in a variety of events and cultural activities. Alumni support the University by giving to the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholarship Fund.

Family Weekend, coordinated by , will be held Oct. 8-10, and registration information will be shared this summer. Loved ones are encouraged to participate in a host of programs that showcase daily life for ���ϲ����� students.

The Office of Alumni Engagement’s Orange Central celebration is set for Oct. 28-31. The weekend features reunion gatherings, fascinating academic lectures and the much-anticipated Alumni Awards Show. Visit the for the most current information, including registration details as they are available, and enjoy a look back at 2020’s virtual celebration.

For interested fans, ticket information for the 2021 football season will be shared in the coming weeks. ���ϲ����� Football will face Rutgers during Coming Back Together, Wake Forest during Family Weekend and Boston College during Orange Central.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors close the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

Featuring dozens of complimentary conversations, interactive demonstrations and lively gatherings, including the University’s first virtual 5k to support student scholarships, virtual Orange Central will bring our Orange family together. Visit the .

The full CBT celebration will be postponed until 2021 (with a smaller virtual CBT event planned for October), and Family Weekend and Orange Central will be transformed into virtual events. Moving the events online takes into account Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations on social distancing and New York State mandates on large gatherings, and is in accordance with recommendations by the Public Health and Emergency Management Subcommittee of the University’s Fall 2020 Open Working Group to limit in-person gatherings and large events, especially those that require travel to ���ϲ����� from other parts of the country.

Coming Back Together (CBT) 2020��

The Office of Multicultural Advancement is postponing CBT 2020 until Sept. 9-12, 2021. A May survey of alumni found that 65 percent of respondents had been personally impacted by COVID-19, and this feedback influenced the decision to reschedule.

In the meantime, alumni can participate in the CBT Virtual Connection Series this summer, and a mini “virtual” CBT will be held on Friday, Oct. 16. This daylong event will include a career session, a book talk, a panel discussion, and a 150th anniversary celebration and Our Time Has Come fundraiser. The virtual CBT event is free of charge, and registration will open in August.

Family Weekend 2020

The University’s annual Family Weekend 2020 will continue virtually and remain scheduled for Oct. 16-18. Parents, family members and students will be able to participate in online presentations and discussions centered on facets of the student experience, as well as virtual community-building opportunities. Additional information, including the full schedule, will be posted on the ��and shared via the Parent and Family Services newsletter later this summer.

Orange Central 2020

Orange Central, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, will offer a series of complimentary virtual reunions, school/college programs and pre-recorded content. An email announcing these plans will be distributed to all alumni soon, and registration will open in mid-August. Planning for an on-campus, in-person reunion for the milestone reunion classes is underway, with the hope that it can occur in spring 2021.

The campus will be a sea of Orange with three big weekends of activities this fall: Coming Back Together, Family Weekend and Orange Central.

Alumni, family and friends are invited to campus this fall for three exciting, event-filled weekends celebrating what it means to be Orange and highlighting all that we are proud of at ���ϲ�����.

Registration will open soon for Coming Back Together 2020, which welcomes African American and Latinx alumni back to campus. Hosted every three years by the Office of Multicultural Advancement (formerly the Office of Program Development), the reunion weekend offers students an opportunity to network with successful alumni of color by participating in a variety of events and cultural activities. Alumni support the University by giving to the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholarship Fund.

CBT 2020 will be held Sept. 10-13. The will be updated with additional information about the weekend in the coming weeks.

Coordinated by Parent and Family Services, Family Weekend offers loved ones the chance to meet faculty and staff in their student’s school or college, attend campus events, enjoy meals together in the dining centers, explore campus buildings and get to know the City of ���ϲ�����.

Family Weekend will be held Oct. 16-18. Registration and event information will be available this summer on the .

The Office of Alumni Engagement’s Orange Central is an annual celebration that brings the entire Orange community together for an amazing fall weekend on campus. It features dozens of exciting activities and programs—from the homecoming football game vs. Georgia Tech to milestone reunion gatherings, interesting lectures, exclusive campus tours and the Alumni Awards Show.

Orange Central is slated for Oct. 29-Nov. 1. Visit the for the most current information. Registration details will be announced in the coming months.

For interested fans, season tickets for the 2020 football season are available online (), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office located at the Ensley Athletic Center. Individual game tickets will go on sale in April; keep an eye out for additional information about ticket sales for the Liberty and Georgia Tech games via Family Weekend and Orange Central registration.

���ϲ����� alumnus Josh Aviv ’15, G‘17 is the founder and CEO of , a startup that manufactures portable high-speed chargers for electric vehicles. Aviv began working on his startup during his time as a student at ���ϲ����� by utilizing several innovation hubs on campus, particularly the located in the Kimmel Computer Lab.

“The MakerSpace was crucial to our company,” he said in an interview with Information Technology Services. “I just have a lot of fond memories of going in there and getting jump-started in our business.”

As part of the 2019 Orange Central celebration, Aviv returned to his alma mater to host two Fireside Chats at the Blackstone LaunchPad, a campus-based entrepreneurship program based in Bird Library. During these chats, Aviv discussed how he built SparkCharge from the ground up and provided the audience with insight into how to develop their own entrepreneurial ideas.

The MakerSpace’s 3D printers were a huge help to Aviv as he began to construct the portable charging units that formed the basis of his company. The printers enabled him to design prototypes and intricate parts for the devices. Aviv said he found the printers so useful that he later purchased the same model of 3D printer for his company after he graduated.

Beyond 3D printers, the MakerSpace houses a wide range of technological resources for students to utilize, including textile machines, a laser engraver and other machines. Through the MakerSpace, Aviv found an outlet for his entrepreneurial spirit and received the opportunity to make significant progress toward achieving his dream of starting his own company.

Aviv also used the MakerSpace’s laser engraving machine and t-shirt maker to create marketing materials that would become essential in his startup’s efforts to get off the ground.

“Some of our first business cards, we made on the laser machine there,” he says. “Those were some of the first business cards we handed to investors that actually got us funding for our startup.”

The MakerSpace is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from noon to 6 p.m. on weekends. All ���ϲ����� students are welcome to use the center, whether they are interested in computer science, design, engineering or any other field. The MakerSpace has several staff members—including lead technologist John Mangicaro—who can show students how to use the center’s various machines and help them realize their visions for a particular product or design.

“We practically lived in the MakerSpace,” Aviv said. “We’ve been working with (Mangicaro) pretty much since day one. He’s so knowledgeable about the tools you have at your disposal as a student that it makes getting things done a lot easier.”

Aviv encourages ���ϲ����� students to explore the MakerSpace and utilize its technologies and bounce ideas off of its staff. With the help of the MakerSpace, Aviv was able to turn his dream of starting an innovative and successful technology company into a reality. To students who hope to achieve the same entrepreneurial success as Aviv, he offered this advice:

“Be patient, but move fast at the same time. If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self, ‘Hey, it’s going to take a long time to take something that doesn’t exist in the market and the world and bring it to fruition and actually make it happen. That doesn’t happen overnight. So be patient.’”

For more stories of students and faculty taking their research and creativity to the next level, follow Information Technology Services (ITS) on , and .

Story by ITS student-worker Gillian Follett ’22.

Members of the class of ’69 celebrate their 50th class reunion on the field at the Dome.

Tim Green ’86, L’94, second from right, celebrates with family and friends as his No. 72 jersey is retired.

A group of friends pose on the Orange carpet at the ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration.

Dr. Alicia Carroll ’88, recipient of the 2019 George Arents Award, the University’s highest alumni honor.

Mary Cotter ’69, recipient of the George Arents Award, delivers her remarks.

Sean McDonough ’84, recipient of the George Arents Award, takes to the podium.

Otto poses with Judy Leibensperger O’Rourke ’75, G’10. Her class celebrated its 44th reunion this year.

’Cuse fans at the Orange Central Tailgate on the Shaw Quad.

A sweet snapshot from the class of ’84 35th reunion celebration.

A huge thank you to the volunteers and staff—like Assata Cradle-Morgan ’20 and Cindy Barry—who made Orange Central 2019 a success!

Students cheer on the Orange in the Dome.

A first look at the newly unveiled entrance for the Barnes Center at The Arch.

Terry ’09, G’11 and Shelagh Marshall ’14 pose in their namesake examination room in the Barnes Center at The Arch.

Perhaps one of the smallest ’Cuse fans takes a snooze at the Barnes Center at The Arch opening celebration.

Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven W. Barnes ’82 addresses the crowd at the Barnes Center at The Arch opening ceremony.

Chancellor Kent Syverud and Dr. Ruth Chen pose with the Barnes family inside the Barnes Center at The Arch.

Voting for Homecoming king and queen is now live. Campus community members with a valid Net I.D. may vote via the until Friday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Homecoming Court royalty will be crowned at the Traditions Commission and University Union Performing Arts show on Friday, Sept.�� 13, at 8 p.m. in the Goldstein Auditorium.

Meet the 2019 Homecoming Court members:

Shawn DePaz

Major: Advertising

Hometown: Buffalo, New York

Bio: “Spending most of my life in Upstate New York, a product of Buffalo, I have been a ���ϲ����� fan my whole life. Now as a student, I’ve given back to the University and ���ϲ����� community as much as possible. On Saturdays, you can find me feeding the homeless with my fraternity before heading to the Dome to cheer on the Orange. I also work for the Men’s Basketball team. I’m Orange through and through.”

Campaign slogan: “A crazy, energetic kid with a passion for the Orange like no other!”

Oladeji Awe

Major: Industrial and Interaction Design

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Bio: First generation, Nigerian and English, from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in industrial and interaction design, minoring in information technology, design and startups. His involvement on campus includes as a Resident Advisor participating in fashion shows and work-study positions, along with founding and establishing a Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated Chapter. He also is a musician by the name of P.K. Rez.

Campaign slogan: “Student by day, musician by night, @preacher_kid_forlife.”

Tyler Youngman

Majors: Information Management and Technology and Music History and Cultures

Hometown: Oswego, New York

Bio: “Devoted ’Cuse fan, Central New Yorker and aspiring librarian! Member of the Athletic Bands, Daily Orange, iSchool Peer Advisors, NEXIS Lab, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and a Remembrance Scholar. I love working with communities and making our campus a better place for everyone! I’m a pop-culture fanatic and self-declared band nerd, seeking your vote for Homecoming king! Go Orange!”

Campaign slogan: “9/10 Librarians recommend Tyler Youngman for Homecoming King! Satisfaction guaranteed!”

Scott Bingle

Majors: Advertising and Marketing Management

Hometown: Lowville, New York

Bio: A senior, Bingle serves as the president for TNH, the nation’s largest student-run advertising agency, a member of Delta Sigma Pi’s executive board and a member of the senior fraternity Phi Kappa Alpha. He has spread his Orange Pride across the globe, spending a semester in Hong Kong and a summer in London with ���ϲ����� Abroad.

Campaign slogan: “Small town kid using the power of the Orange Nation to chase big city dreams!”

Andrew Regalado

Majors: Political Science and Policy Studies

Hometown: Chino Hills, California

Bio: “At ���ϲ�����, my journey through service organizations, Greek life, research opportunities and internships have allowed me to discover more about the world and myself. Without ���ϲ�����, I would not be who I am today, and my hope is for students to be proud of where they come from, who they are and everywhere they are going—all while being Orange!”

Campaign slogan: “Proud to be Orange and you should be too! Vote Drew Reg for Homecoming King!”

Alyssa Pizzi

Majors: Civil Engineering and Art History

Hometown: Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Bio: “On campus, I work at the Shaw Center for public and community service and I am involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers, Tau Beta Sigma (a music sorority) and the marching and pep bands. You’ll catch me beaming with Orange pride at every home football and basketball game. I love being a part of such an important ���ϲ����� tradition!”

Campaign slogan: “Band nerd and lover of all things ’Cuse! The choice is easy, vote for Pizzi!”

Sarah Crawford

Majors: Writing and Rhetoric and Public Relations

Hometown: York, Pennsylvania

Bio: Crawford is from a small town in Pennsylvania where the number of cornfields and cows out-populates the number of actual people. She’s a 2019-2020 Remembrance Scholar, and she plays trumpet for the ���ϲ����� Marching Band! If you elect her as queen, there’s a 100 percent chance the Orange will defeat Clemson.

Campaign slogan: “If I could choose someone to be stranded on an island with, it’d be Otto.”

Allie Westbrook

Major: Sound Recording Technology

Hometown: Binghamton, New York

Bio: “As a Student Advocating for Mental Health Empowerment (SAMHE), College of Visual and Performing Arts peer advisor, member of Kappa Alpha Theta, a Remembrance Scholar, a hopeless romantic and recording artist, my favorite thing in the world is making people smile. My strengths include making fire Spotify playlists, daydreaming and exuding love. I spend my days making music, watching videos of golden retrievers, fighting the patriarchy and making friends out of strangers.”

Campaign slogan: “I’m just a golden retriever in human form, trying to be everybody’s hype woman.”

Marielle Gomez

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Gilroy, California

Bio: “Growing-up, my dad, Class of ’85, and I would scream at the television during ���ϲ����� sports games. Now, I’m here as captain of the Club Volleyball Team, an engineering and computer science ambassador scholar, a peer leader, an Excelerator and a female in tech with a job at Microsoft; now screaming in the student section during games. I’ll bleed Orange forever.”

Campaign slogan: “Just a brown girl showing you how to be Orange without going to Zoom Tan.”

Andrea Roque

Major: Information Management and Technology

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Bio: “To me, being involved on campus has always been a passion of mine. I have always been someone who enjoys being involved and most importantly giving back to the community. Since my first year, I have been a part of LA LUCHA, AKPsi and Literacy Corps, and I have become a sister of the Omega Phi Beta (OPB) Sorority Inc. For my senior year, I’m proud to say that I am the president of LA LUCHA and National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Council Leadership (NALFO), as well as the vice president of membership for AKPsi and Public Relations and Alumni Liaison for OPB. As the year continues, I have a lot of things planned for my organizations and hope to continue to make a positive impact for the ���ϲ����� community.”

Campaign slogan: “Carpe Diem! As an involved student, everything that I am today is due to ���ϲ�����. As Homecoming queen, I want to help students feel inspired!”

Alexandra Jennerjahn

Major: Broadcast and Digital Journalism

Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Bio: “Throughout my time at ���ϲ�����, I’ve been a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Citrus TV, Outlaws Dance Troupe, Dance Works, Student Section Sports Magazine, the ACC Network, Mornings on the Hill, Goon Squad and much more. Because of my involvement with this school and community, I believe I would make a wonderful, trusting and hardworking advocate and Homecoming queen. I am who I am today because of ���ϲ�����.”

Campaign slogan: “I am a dreamer, doer, believer and thinker.”

Free student events such as Slice of Orange Days, Trivia Night and Tie Dye Night are hosted by the Traditions Committee, led by Samantha Walters ’20. As president of the Traditions Committee, Walters is responsible for assisting with the organization and management of a student team that sponsors undergraduate events throughout the week leading up to Orange Central.

“I am most excited for the sold-out football game against Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dome. I think it’s going to be such a good game,” says Walters. “Plus, it will be the grand finale after a week’s worth of activities, events and yummy food.”

Explore the complete list of to see more opportunities for fun.��For additional information or questions, please contact Matt Shaler, program coordinator for the Office of Student Activities, at mjshaler@syr.edu or by calling 315.443.2718.

Story by Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience communications intern Abigail J. Covington ’19 G ’20.

Josh Aviv

Alumnus Josh Aviv��’15 (B.A., economics, College of Arts and Sciences/Maxwell School), G’17 (M.S., information management, School of Information Studies), founder and CEO of , will be hosting two Fireside Chats on Friday, Sept. 13, as part of ���ϲ�����’s alumni weekend activities. The chats will be at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the (LaunchPad) on the first floor of Bird Library. Both chats are free and open to the public. Aviv will share his journey, from starting to selling and scaling, and offer insight into how to mobilize resources to take an idea from concept to commercialization.

Aviv launched SparkCharge as a student startup at the University and since graduation has become a dynamic figure in the clean-tech community. SparkCharge makes portable and ultrafast charging units for electric vehicles and is creating a more efficient and connected world of transportation by providing solutions for electric vehicles to be charged anytime and anywhere.�� The company has been featured in major technology and clean energy publications and won numerous awards.

As a student, Aviv won the grand prize in the New York Business Plan Competition, as well as top honors in more than seven business competitions while earning his degrees from ���ϲ�����. While at the University, he worked closely with the LaunchPad on his product and business roadmap, and then he incubated his company to continue research and development prototyping at the (CoE).

After graduation, he won the top prize of $1 million at 43North, a Buffalo-based startup competition, receiving his trophy from New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul ’80 at the 43North awards ceremony. He was also the recipient of a NYS FuzeHub Commercialization Competition award. He has since gone on to win the California Climate Cup, Startup Fest’s global pitch competition, and Plug and Play’s clean energy innovation award. TechCrunch most recently named Spark Charge as a top tech disruptor.

Aviv has raised millions in funding rounds from investors and has launched sales and early manufacturing. He credits the initial idea for his company, in part, to his undergraduate experience at ���ϲ�����. His original business idea centered on stationary charging units for electric vehicles, and he donated a set of his early prototype chargers to the University in 2017.�� He then refined his concept through graduate course work at the School of Information Studies, intensive entrepreneurship support and coaching from the LaunchPad, and technical assistance from the CoE.

After graduation, he was accepted into the prestigious Techstars accelerator program in Boston, where he received industry attention as well as significant seed investments from capital firms in the Boston area.�� He is now launching his company out of 43North in Buffalo and starting full manufacturing operations in western New York. The company’s engineering division is at Greentown Labs in Somerville, Massachusetts, a Boston-based facility that is the world’s largest clean-tech incubator. SparkCharge also has a residency at the Plug and Play Tech Center, a renowned industry-focused accelerator program in Silicon Valley.

Working with ���ϲ�����’s innovation ecosystem and with industry and economic development partners, SparkCharge launched its first charging unit this year. The unit is small enough to fit in the trunk of a car and charges electric vehicle batteries at level 3 speed, giving drivers one mile for every 60 seconds. SparkCharge officially unveiled its product release at a June 2019 Demo Day at Greentown Labs, attended by government and industry leaders and investors.

Since graduation, Aviv has continued to work with the LaunchPad on closing significant investments in the company and has dominated clean-tech pitch competitions on the national stage.

Aviv is a member of the LaunchPad’s Founders Circle and a mentor for current ���ϲ����� student startups. He is also on ���ϲ����� Libraries’ Advisory Board. He will be recognized on Friday, Sept. 13, at the Orange Central Alumni Awards Celebration, where he will receive the Generation Orange Award. This award is presented to young alumni who have made significant contributions to their community and to the University.

To learn more or reserve a spot to attend the Fireside Chat, e-mail LaunchPad@syr.edu.

About the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at ���ϲ����� Libraries:

The Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars in Bird Library is ���ϲ�����’s innovation hub, connecting the entire University’s resource-rich ecosystem with a global network that provides support for aspiring entrepreneurs, inventors and creators.��The program serves faculty, staff, students and alumni across disciplines who are interested in innovation, invention, entrepreneurship, venture creation and taking ideas from concept to commercialization. The program supports a key pillar of ���ϲ�����’s Academic Strategic Plan to create an innovation ecosystem across the institution that prepares participants to be trailblazers in an entrepreneurial world.

Please take a moment to . Duties include greeting alumni, distributing registration packets, handing out T-shirts, answering questions, checking guests in, registering walk-in attendees and more.

Mandatory trainings for Orange Central volunteers will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 27,�� from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (choose one session).

Food and refreshments will be provided for all volunteers on the third floor of the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center. Each volunteer will also receive an Orange Central T-shirt.

Here are just a few of the stories that highlight what makes Orange Central so special.

Long lost friends

When Mike Carchia ’68 and Fred Boecher ’68, G’70 reconnected this weekend, they hadn’t seen each other since the day their graduation 50 years ago. The two engineering majors were roommates in their fraternity. When they ran into each other in their hotel lobby as they prepared to celebrate their 50th Reunion, the memories came rushing back as they quickly made up for five decades of lost time.

“Being engineering students there was a lot of studying involved, but those aren’t the memories that stick out in my mind,” said Carchia, an electrical engineering major who was impressed by what he saw on campus. “The University has just expanded so much, and what that does is it brings you closer to ���ϲ�����. Coming back to this campus and seeing all of the improvements, I feel closer and more connected. I’m so glad I came back!”

As students, Carchia and Boecher cheered on the SU football team in Archbold Stadium, the outdoor venue that preceded the Carrier Dome. They braved the elements to watch standouts like Floyd Little ’67 and Larry Csonka ’68 lead ���ϲ�����. While the nostalgia is nice, both agree watching a game from inside the climate-controlled Dome is far more comfortable.

“We froze our butts off in the seats at Archbold Stadium, so it was great to watch the game from the Dome. It was on my bucket list to get back here and see how much the campus has changed, and I’m so glad I came back,” said Boecher, a civil engineering major. “It was fun to be reunited with Mike. We’ve spent a lot of time together back on campus this weekend. I have so many fond memories of this place.”

All in the family

Orange Central was the scene for a special family reunion, as three generations—Patricia Bilotta Button ’58, Sally Mitchell ’82, G’83, and Elizabeth Mitchell ’02—attended several events together, including the SU football game.

Sally Mitchell grew up in ���ϲ����� and fondly recalled trips to campus with her parents, Patricia and Robert Button ’57, and her sister, Maxine Button Babcock G’85. The chance to bring together three generations of Orange alumnae was important to Mitchell.

“SU means home. My family is there, my university is there, and even my home is close to campus,” said Sally Mitchell, who attended the ���ϲ����� Ambulance reunion after the football game.

“���ϲ����� played a huge role in our lives, and it was a great weekend celebrating being an Orange legacy family. It was a proud moment having the three of us back on campus and I’m just so glad we could make this happen.”

Getting the band back together

Edward O’Rourke ’73, G’89 and Sherye Sedlak ’72 were among a group of 15 former marching band members who came back to campus for Orange Central, enjoying the marching band alumni reunion and pre-game processional through the Shaw Quad.

“Homecoming means we get to meet up with our friends and visit with each other on campus, “said O’Rourke, who played the clarinet and used to perform with the alumni band. “Reliving our college memories helps all of us feel young and connected to ���ϲ�����,”

“���ϲ����� is special to both of us. Even though we keep in touch, we don’t see each other every year like we would prefer, so when we do get together, it’s a special occasion,” said Sedlak.

The Orange runs deep in Sedlak’s family. Her mother, Mildred Spath ’46, is an alumna, and she met her husband, Stephen Sedlak ’74, in marching band.

Celebrating 44

When it came time to plan their friends’ vacation, Joan Schaeffer ’74, Jennifer Bone ’74, Cindy Demnitz ’74 and Christine Gibbons ’74 originally targeted Cuba. Instead, the lifelong friends chose to return to ���ϲ����� to celebrate their 44th Reunion (Class of 1974), the first year SU celebrated that milestone reunion.

“We get together every couple of years, but this year we came back to campus for our reunion. We hadn’t been on campus in quite some time, since our 10th- or 15th-year reunion. None of us have changed a bit,” Schaeffer said with a wink.

“Being back on campus is special. Just seeing friends made us all excited for the weekend. I never went to a football game the entire time we were students, so we were looking forward to the homecoming football game,” added Bone, whose daughter Rachel graduated in 2004 from SU.

Relive the weekend with our , check out our , and visit the .

Campus community members with a valid NetID can cast their vote for the Orange Central Homecoming king and queen via the�� until Friday, Oct. 19 at 11:59 p.m. Homecoming Court Royalty will be crowned at the University Union and Traditions Commission Homecoming show on Saturday, Oct. 20, in Goldstein Auditorium.

Meet the 2018 Homecoming Court members:

Jazzi-Blue Baker

Majors: Policy Studies
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
“RA, TA, mentor, Greek life member, numerous E-board position holder, and advocator. These are the roles I’ve held along with some of my fellow Orangemen. I believe I would make a good Homecoming Queen because I understand that these roles make SU pride what it is, and I am an exemplification of that pride.”

Abigail Covington

Majors: Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Hometown: Bowie, Maryland
“I’ve leveraged my time at ���ϲ����� to network across communities and unite people across shared experiences. I’ve used my voice to highlight marginalized experiences and I’ve taken the time to build genuine connections with my peers and classmates. I would make a great Queen because I’m dedicated to keeping the connections between our Orange family viable, strong, and healthy.”

Katie Dills

Majors: ��Television, Radio, and Film
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio
“I would make a great Homecoming Queen because I am ���ϲ�����’s biggest fan and have been extremely involved in the student organization scene for three years. As an active member of First Year Players, CHAARG, OttoTHON, Danceworks, Orientation Leaders, and Phi Sigma Sigma, I can bring the spirit of Orange Central to my organizations and encourage celebrating being Orange all together!”

Danny Higgins

Major: Television, Radio & Film
Hometown: Holliston, Massachusetts
“At SU, I’ve strived to foster environments where everyone can be their most authentic selves, discover confidence and dance their heart away. I’ve loved helping students find their home as an orientation leader and U100 tour guide. My involvement in OttoThon, Zamboni Revolution and Delta Kappa Alpha has empowered me to create fun and uplifting content that brings people together.”

Evan Lewis

Major: Physics, Applied Mathematics
Hometown: ��Freehold, New Jersey
“I’m a physics and applied math major, and in my spare time, I’m involved in a variety of groups including the marching band, FYP and even the mathematics honor society. I work tirelessly to make this school a home for everyone that attends; my philosophy is that I want to leave ���ϲ����� better than I found it.”

Audra Linsner

Majors: Advertising, Citizenship and Civic Engagement
Hometown: Clifton Springs, New York
“Hi! I’m Audra, a 315 native who grew up bleeding orange. ���ϲ����� was and is my dream school and I’d love to convey this passion through Homecoming Court. My enthusiasm for all things ’Cuse translates to roles on campus like Otto’s Army President (the student section), the Daily Orange, OrangeSeeds and being a Remembrance Scholar.”

Quincy Nolan

Major: Communication, Rhetorical Studies/English and Textual Studies
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“Fun, flirty and approachable. Not looking for anything serious, just want to be crowned your Homecoming monarch. Big fan of Lady Gaga, sunsets and intersectional feminism. I am the president of Pride Union, EIC of The OutCrowd, SMC of the Kumquat and the chair of Diversity Affairs for SA. Here for a good time, not a long time.”

Ryan Patel

Majors: Public Health, Biology
Hometown: ��Manhattan Beach, California
“Hailing from Los Angeles, I set out to have the most fulfilling time at ’Cuse. I emceed Own the Dome, studied public health in South Africa, became an Orientation Leader, conducted research in biology and made incredible friends along the way. I want to encourage others to pursue their dreams here and make the most out of that tuition money!”

Shazif Shaikh

Major: ��Aerospace Engineering
Hometown: New York City, New York
“A true New Yorker who won’t sleep unless he sees everyone flourishing. Over the past three years, I have had 144-plus residents and pseudo-residents with whom I’ve tried to create a culture of caring and understanding. I’ve interacted with hundreds of people through my multiple jobs on campus and just wandering around seeing who needs help. I’m here for you.”

Elizabeth Tarangelo

Major: bioengineering
Hometown: Encinitas, California
“When I give campus tours, people say I’m crazy leaving San Diego for ���ϲ�����; I may be crazy but it’s all worth it. I’ve been able to thrive on this vibrant campus by making music with FYP and SU Bands, starting a company (#In-Spire), volunteering with the Shaw Center, spreading passion for STEM, and much more. ���ϲ����� has given me the opportunity to make a difference by sharing my energy (and puns), and to be a part of something bigger than myself—the Orange family.”

Saunders will engage in an on-stage conversation with fellow author Jonathan Dee, assistant professor of English in A&S. The ���ϲ����� Bookstore will have Saunders’ and Dee’s books available for purchase in the Hendricks narthex, and Saunders will be available after the lecture for signings.

The University Lectures event is co-sponsored by the University’s as part of . Media sponsor for the University Lectures is . American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided.

George Saunders (photo by Chloe Aftel)

George Saunders

Saunders has taught since 1996 in the University’s M.F.A. program in creative writing, the same program in which he was a student, studying with literary mentors Tobias Wolff and Douglas Unger. He graduated in 1988.

His path to ���ϲ����� was winding and adventurous. Saunders was born in Amarillo, Texas, and grew up in Chicago. His college undergraduate studies had little to do with literature and everything to do with science: he majored in exploration geophysics, earning a degree in the discipline from the Colorado School of Mines. After college, Saunders was off to Sumatra, working as a field geophysicist. To pass the long weeks in camp, he stocked up on books and read vociferously. But about a year and half into the job, he became very ill after swimming in contaminated river water. It was then that Saunders decided to head home and “try and be Kerouac II.”

He worked as a doorman, a roofer, a convenience store clerk and a slaughterhouse worker. In 1986, his life path took a new and important turn. One night in 1986, at a party in Amarillo, Saunders happened upon a copy of People magazine. In it was a profile about renowned short-story writer, poet and ���ϲ����� English professor Raymond Carver and an accomplished young author and student of Carver’s, Jay McInerney G’86. Saunders was unfamiliar with ���ϲ����� and had never heard of an M.F.A. program, but he was intrigued. He applied to ���ϲ����� and was accepted.

While pursuing his graduate degree in the creative writing program, Saunders met, became engaged to and married Paula Redick. In 1988, their first daughter, Caitlin, was born. In 1990, second daughter Alena followed. Upon graduating from the University, Saunders worked as a tech writer, first for a pharmaceutical company and then for an environmental engineering company. And he also wrote fiction.

Saunders’ first significant success with his fiction came with the publication of his short story “Offloading for Mrs. Schwartz,” which appeared in The New Yorker in 1992 (and was one of the pieces in his first published book, “CivilWarLand in Bad Decline,” Random House, 1996) and for Saunders launched a long and very successful relationship with the magazine that continues to this day.

When ���ϲ����� extended to Saunders an offer to teach in the creative writing program, it gave him the security of a regular paycheck with benefits and the opportunity to continue to advance his writing. He produced more short stories for The New Yorker, as well as for Harper’s, McSweeney’s and GQ. He contributed a weekly column, “American Psyche,” to the weekend magazine of The Guardian (2006-08). And he wrote and had published several collections of short stories, including “Pastoralia” (Penguin, 2000), named a New York Times Notable Book, and “In Persuasion Nation” (Penguin, 2006), a finalist for the Story Prize.

His short-story collection “Tenth of December” was published by Random House in 2013. It was a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the inaugural Folio Prize (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short story collection).

Also in 2013, the transcript of a memorable convocation address by Saunders to College of Arts and Sciences graduates, a moving essay on kindness, was picked up by The New York Times website and went viral—within days, it was viewed more than one million times. It inspired an voiced by Saunders. And the following spring, it was published in book form— (Random House, 2014)—and became a bestseller.

Random House published Saunders’ first full-length novel, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” in 2017. It was a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller and won the prestigious Man Booker Prize. It also became a hit audiobook (seven hours, 25 minutes), with an impressive voice cast of actors, authors and comedians, including Don Cheadle, Lena Dunham, Bill Hader, Mary Karr, Megan Mullally, Julianne Moore, Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Susan Sarandon, Ben Stiller, Jeffrey Tambor, Bradley Whitford and Rainn Wilson.

Among Saunders’ other notable honors, he was named to Time magazine’s TIME 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. That same year, he was awarded the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction. He has also won four National Magazine Awards (from seven nominations), a PEN/Malamud Award and a World Fantasy Award. He has received fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Guggenheim Foundation. This past spring, Saunders was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

In all, Saunders has written nine books; his a hardcover short story with illustrations, becomes available Nov. 13. And he recently completed the for Jeff Tweedy’s new album, “Warm,” which comes out Nov. 30.

Jonathan Dee

Dee is author of seven novels, including “A Thousand Pardons” (Random House, 2013), “Palladio” (Doubleday, 2002) and “The Privileges” (Random House, 2010), which was a runner-up for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize and winner of the 2011 Prix Fitzgerald and the St. Francis College Literary Prize.

His most recent novel, “The Locals” (Random House, 2017), was longlisted for the inaugural Aspen Institute Literary Prize for “a work of fiction with social impact.” It was named a Best Book of 2017 by, among others, The Washington Post, the Guardian, Vox, Kirkus and the Seattle Times.

Dee is a National Magazine Award-nominated literary critic for Harper’s and The New Yorker,��a former contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, a former senior editor of The Paris Review and the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation.

About the University Lectures

The University Lectures was created through, and is supported by, the generosity of alumnus Robert B. Menschel ’51. The cross-disciplinary series brings to ���ϲ����� notable guest speakers of exceptional accomplishment who share their diverse global experiences and perspectives.

The University Lectures welcomes suggestions for future speakers. To recommend a speaker, or to obtain additional information about the series, write to��lectures@syr.edu. For up-to-date information on the series, visit the University Lectures and follow on .

Registration has grown by nearly 90 percent since 2016, with more than 2,300 alumni and friends pre-registered for this weekend’s festivities.

The celebration kicks into high gear Thursday afternoon and continues through Sunday. Featuring more than 50 exciting and engaging programs planned, Orange Central truly features something for everyone.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome our passionate alumni and their families back to campus for Orange Central, our once-a-year celebration of all things ORANGE,” says Sue Ballard, vice president for alumni engagement. “Orange Central is truly a special time. Our alumni look forward to returning to campus to reconnect with friends old and new, and to rediscover what makes ���ϲ����� so special—including all of the exciting changes happening on campus.”

In addition to a number of milestone class reunions, there will be special affinity reunions for the following groups: Remembrance Scholars, past student-athletes, former Ottos, Marching Band, CitrusTV, ���ϲ����� Ambulance, ���ϲ����� Abroad, University 100, and fraternity and sorority alumni.

���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration: For the first time, ���ϲ����� has a spectacular awards show to call its own. The University will roll out the Orange carpet on Friday, Oct. 19, for the inaugural ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration, honoring SU’s talented and accomplished alumni across generations. The event—recognizing the 2018 winners of the George Arents Award, the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award and the Generation Orange Award—kicks off with a cocktail party and wraps up with an after-party.

’Cuse Cookout on the Quad: This fun evening for the whole family Friday on the Shaw Quad features fall-themed food and beverages, a photo booth, games, a DJ, and caricature and balloon artists.

Orange Central Tailgate:��Get ready for the big ���ϲ����� vs. North Carolina homecoming football game by enjoying delicious food and drinks on the Shaw Quad. The family-friendly event will feature great ���ϲ����� giveaways, a photo booth, a visit from Otto, and a performance by the SU Marching Band. The festivities begin at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

���ϲ����� vs. North Carolina football game:��The ���ϲ����� Alumni Association sold out of its allotment of tickets in��the Orange Central Cheer Section, but are still available for purchase.

Milestone Reunion Celebrations:��The Classes of 1958, 1968, 1974, 1993 and 2008, along with the Generation Orange (graduates of 2009 through 2018) Reunion Crew and Senior Citrus (graduates between 1938 and 1957) will celebrate milestone reunions at Orange Central. This is the first year celebrating a 44th Milestone Reunion (Class of 1974), paying tribute to the most significant number on campus: 44. Besides being worn by famous football legends like Jim Brown ’57, Ernie Davis ’62 and Floyd Little ’67, and basketball greats Danny Schayes ’81, Derrick Coleman ’15 and John Wallace ’12, 44 is intertwined in the ���ϲ����� fabric: all campus phone numbers begin with 44, and the zip code ends in 44.

Online registration for the weekend is now closed. In-person registration will take place in the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center Thursday from 2-8 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Questions? Call the Office of Alumni Engagement at 315.443.3258 or email��orangecentral@syr.edu.

To see the entire list of events, visit .

The annual Slice of Orange Days return on Tuesday, Oct. 16, and Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Schine Student Center Atrium. Students are invited to swing by the atrium to enjoy the games, prizes, food and photobooth. If they answer a trivia question, students will win a free Orange Central t-shirt and other giveaways while supplies last. Homecoming Court will be announced during Slice of Orange Days on Tuesday.

From Fright Night at the Fair to a free tie dye night, students have many opportunities to celebrate their Orange pride throughout the week. Below are events students can look forward to:

• Wednesday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m.,��Traditions Commission’s Trivia Night, Schine 304s
• Thursday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m., DanceWorks Presents: Art is Invincible, Goldstein Auditorium
• Friday, Oct. 19, 8 p.m.,��Traditions Commission’s second annual Tie Dye Night Free tie-dye night sponsored by the Traditions Commission, Schine Underground
• Friday, Oct. 19, 10:30 p.m., Fright Night at the Fair, Presented by .

The celebrations conclude on Saturday with the ���ϲ����� football game versus North Carolina, as well as the University Union and Traditions Commission presentation of “Queer Eye’s” Antoni Porowski.

Details on the events, including ticketing information, are available on the . Questions should be emailed to sutraditions@gmail.com.

Robinson and Santanta are co-founders of New York on Tech (NYOT), an organization that creates and improves pathways for impoverished students and those from underrepresented populations to gain exposure to and proficiency in technology and innovation fields.

Jessica Santana ’11, G’13

Through immersive programs for high school students that include internship opportunities and mentoring, as well as after-school educational programming, Robinson and Santana help a forgotten segment of the population receive access to this valuable training.

Their work has been featured by AlleyWatch, BET, Black Enterprise, CNN, Forbes, Huffington Post, The Network Journal, Sirius XM Radio, TechCrunch and Wells Fargo, .

For their contributions, Robinson and Santana will receive the Generation Orange Award during��, SU’s annual homecoming and reunion weekend, Oct. 18-21.

The Generation Orange Award is presented to young alumni who have made significant contributions to their communities and to the University.

Evin Floyd Robinson ’12, G’14

New this year, the winners of the Eggers Award, the George Arents Award and the Generation Orange Award will be honored during the inaugural ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration on Friday, Oct. 19.

Honoring SU’s talented and accomplished alumni across generations, the SU Alumni Awards Celebration is sure to be Orange Central’s premier event. The festivities begin with a cocktail party featuring drinks and food stations from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the awards celebration in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The evening will culminate in an after-party with live music, drinks, food and desserts in Schine’s Panasci Lounge.

Tickets for the cocktail party and awards celebration cost $30. Generation Orange alumni pricing for graduates of the last 10 years is $20. Tickets for the cocktail party, awards celebration and special after-party cost $75 (and $50 for Generation Orange alumni).

To register for any of the nearly 50 Orange Central programs—including the SU Alumni Awards Celebration—visit the��. Online registration closes Monday, Oct. 15.

This year’s Eggers honorees are��Larry Bashe ’66, G’68,��Helen Lefkowitz ’60 and��Fred Silverman ’58.�� The Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award honors alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago and demonstrate outstanding leadership and service to society, along with loyalty and service to ���ϲ�����.

Larry Bashe

New this year, the winners of the Eggers Award, the George Arents Award and the Generation Orange Award will be honored during the inaugural ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration on Friday, Oct. 19, during��, SU’s annual homecoming and reunion weekend.

Bashe served on the ���ϲ����� Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2004-12, including two years as president. He was also a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and the advisory boards of the Maxwell School and the Burton Blatt Institute. Bashe was chair of his 50th reunion committee during Orange Central 2016.

Helen Lefkowitz

Lefkowitz, a founding partner of the law firm of Lefkowitz and Poulos in New York City, focused her career on issues of domestic violence, child abuse and juvenile delinquency. Lefkowitz and her late husband, Joel ’58, founded the SU Alumni Club in Suffolk County.

Silverman is the only person to direct programming at the NBC, ABC and CBS television networks and��was executive producer of “Matlock,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “Diagnosis Murder.” He is president of The Fred Silverman Company, a production and consulting business, and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.

Orange Central 2018 will bring together the entire University community Oct. 18-21.

Fred Silverman

Honoring SU’s talented and accomplished alumni across generations, the SU Alumni Awards Celebration is sure to be Orange Central’s premier event. The festivities begin with a cocktail party featuring drinks and food stations from 5-6 p.m., followed by the awards celebration in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The evening will culminate in an after-party with live music, drinks, food, and desserts in Schine’s Panasci Lounge.

Tickets for the cocktail party and awards celebration cost $30. Generation Orange alumni pricing for graduates of the last 10 years is $20. Tickets for the cocktail party, awards celebration, and special after-party cost $75, and $50 (Generation Orange).

To register for any of the nearly 50 Orange Central programs—including the SU Alumni Awards Celebration—visit the��. Online registration closes Monday, Oct. 15.

The George Arents Award is ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor

A visionary leader in zoology. A decorated doctor and professor. An iconic supermodel. A lifelong public servant. An accomplished civil engineer. The 2018 class of Arents Award winners.

The George Arents Award is ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor, and this year during , SU’s annual homecoming and reunion weekend, the University will recognize five outstanding alumni who have carved careers as pioneers and leaders in their fields.

New this year, the 2018 winners of the Arents Award, the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award and the Generation Orange Award will be honored during the inaugural ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration on Friday, Oct. 19.

The Arents Award honors the legacy of George Arents, a successful manufacturer who served on the SU Board of Trustees from 1930 until his death in 1960.

This year’s Arents honorees are��Kevin Bell ’74, H’16;��Dr. Sharon Brangman ’77;��Emme ’85;��Joseph Strasser ’53, G’58; and��Abdallah Yabroudi ’78, G’79.

Kevin Bell

Bell has worked at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo for more than 40 years, including serving as president and CEO of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society, which manages and operates the zoo. Bell has served on the Wildlife Conservation Management Committee and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Sharon Brangman

Dr. Brangman, a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, recently was honored as the inaugural chair of the Department of Geriatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University. She is also director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Nappi Longevity Institute.

Emme

Emme is an iconic, world-renowned supermodel and a leader in the fashion industry. A TV personality, brand spokesperson, consultant and author, Emme has been a strong advocate for positive body image and self-esteem.

Joseph Strasser

Strasser is a lifelong public servant who dedicated his career to improving public finance in municipal governments. A past Eggers Award winner, he recently made a $3 million philanthropic commitment to create a permanently endowed and named professorship in public administration at the Maxwell School.

Abdallah Yabroudi

Yabroudi is the CEO of Dubai Contracting Co., where he also served as a site engineer, a project manager, and deputy managing partner. A member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he has spearheaded multiple charitable activities and endowment funds, and helped fund the renovation of Link Hall at SU.

Orange Central 2018 will bring together the entire University community Oct. 18-21.

Honoring SU’s talented and accomplished alumni across generations, the SU Alumni Awards Celebration is sure to be Orange Central’s premier event. The festivities begin with a cocktail party from 5-6 p.m., followed by the awards celebration at 6 p.m. in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The evening will culminate in an after-party with live music, drinks, food and desserts in Schine’s Panasci Lounge.

Tickets for the cocktail party and awards celebration cost $30. Generation Orange alumni pricing for graduates of the last 10 years is $20. The celebration will include cocktails and food stations.

Tickets for the cocktail party, awards celebration and special after-party cost $75, and $50 (Generation Orange). The after-party will feature cocktails, food stations, heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

To register for any of the nearly 50 Orange Central programs—including the SU Alumni Awards Celebration—visit the��.

2017 Homecoming Court’s king and queen, Brandyn Munford and LaNia Roberts. Photo courtesy of Wayne Smith

Applications for the 2018 Homecoming Court are due Sunday, Sept. 30, by 11:59 p.m. The applications are open to undergraduate students graduating this academic year who��are on campus this fall.

The Homecoming Court is a longstanding tradition at ���ϲ����� and plays an important role during Orange Central. The court is a prestigious group of seniors who embody Orange Pride with their academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and consistent display of school spirit.

Students can be nominated by a member of the campus community or can self-nominate. Then, applicants are interviewed and selected by the Homecoming Court Selection Committee. The king and queen are chosen by an online vote and crowned during Orange Central.

After the packed schedule of events during Orange Central, the Homecoming Court then assists with the planning of Senior Celebration.

Applications are available on the��. Questions should be emailed to Matt Shaler, program coordinator in the Office of Student Activities, at��mjshaler@syr.edu.

Television has the Emmys, music has the Grammys, film has the Oscars, and theatre has the Tonys … now ���ϲ����� has a spectacular awards show to call its own! The University will roll out the Orange carpet on Friday, Oct. 19, for the inaugural ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration during .

The celebration to honor SU’s talented and accomplished alumni across generations will feature all the glitz and glamour one has come to expect from awards shows in the world of entertainment, but with a unique Orange twist.

The event—recognizing the 2018 winners of the George Arents Award, the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award and the Generation Orange Award—kicks off with a classy cocktail party and wraps up with an amazing after-party.

“Our alumni award winners deserve a memorable evening worthy of their accomplishments,” says Sue Ballard, vice president for alumni engagement. “We’re so excited to bring the SU community together, unite generations of ���ϲ����� alumni, and celebrate the best of what it means to be Orange!”

The Alumni Awards Celebration promises to be the premier event of Orange Central, the University’s annual homecoming and reunion weekend. Orange Central is a special time when alumni and their families “come home to ’Cuse” to celebrate school spirit, catch up with old friends and professors, and honor SU’s outstanding alumni.

Guests will literally walk the Orange carpet to the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium, which will be elegantly transformed into a chic venue to host both the cocktail party and awards celebration. The cocktail party from 5-6 p.m. will include specialty cocktails and food stations. The awards program will follow at 6 p.m.

The celebration culminates with a fancy after-party featuring live music from The Swooners, along with drinks, food and desserts, upstairs in Schine’s Panasci Lounge.

Tickets for the cocktail party and awards celebration cost $25 via Early Orange pricing (register by Sept. 25), or $30 after Sept. 25. Generation Orange alumni pricing for graduates of the last 10 years is $20.

Tickets for the cocktail party, awards celebration and special after-party cost $65 (Early Orange pricing), $75 (after Sept. 25) and $50 (Generation Orange).

About the ���ϲ����� Alumni Award Winners

The George Arents Award, SU’s highest alumni honor, recognizes those who are pioneers and leaders in their fields. The Arents Award honors the legacy of George Arents, a successful manufacturer who served on the SU Board of Trustees from 1930 until his death in 1960. This year’s Arents honorees are��Kevin Bell ’74, H’16;��Dr. Sharon Brangman ’77;��Emme ’85;��Joseph Strasser ’53, G’58; and��Abdallah Yabroudi ’78, G’79.

The Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award was established out of deep respect and admiration for Chancellor Eggers to honor senior alumni who have coupled their leadership and service to society with loyalty and service to ���ϲ�����. The award recognizes alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago.��This year’s honorees are��Larry Bashe ’66, G’68,��Helen Lefkowitz ’60 and��Fred Silverman ’58.

The Generation Orange Award is presented to young alumni who have made significant contributions to their communities and to the University.��This year’s honorees are��Evin Floyd Robinson ’12, G’14��and��Jessica Santana ’11, G’13.

Visit the to sign up for the SU Alumni Awards Celebration and the nearly 50 other Orange Central events and programs.

This fall, when thousands of alumni and their families return to campus, the alumni awards festivities will have an exciting new look.

The ���ϲ����� Alumni Association is proud to announce the inaugural ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration, honoring the 2018 winners of the George Arents Award, the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award and the Generation Orange Award.

Celebrating talented and accomplished ���ϲ����� alumni across generations, Orange Central’s premier event occurs on Friday, Oct. 19, featuring a cocktail party from 5-6 p.m., followed by the awards celebration at 6 p.m. in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The evening will culminate in an after-party with live music, drinks, food and desserts in Schine’s Panasci Lounge.

Tickets for the cocktail party and awards celebration are $25 via Early Orange pricing (register by Sept. 18) or $30 after Sept. 18. Generation Orange alumni pricing for graduates of the last 10 years is $20. The celebration will include cocktails and food stations.

Tickets for the cocktail party, awards celebration and special after-party are $65 (Early Orange pricing), $75 (after Sept. 18), and $50 (Generation Orange). The after-party will feature cocktails, food stations, heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

The George Arents Award is ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor, created to recognize those who are pioneers and leaders in their fields. The Arents Award honors the legacy of George Arents, a successful manufacturer who served on the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees from 1930 until his death in 1960.

This year’s honorees are��Kevin Bell ’74, H’16; Dr. Sharon Brangman ’77; Emme ’85; Joseph Strasser ’53, G’58; and Abdallah Yabroudi ’78, G’79.

Bell has worked at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo for more than 40 years, including serving as president and CEO of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society, which manages and operates the zoo. Bell has served on the Wildlife Conservation Management Committee and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Dr. Brangman, a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, recently was honored as the inaugural chair of the Department of Geriatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University. She is also director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Nappi Longevity Institute.

Emme is an iconic, world-renowned supermodel and a leader in the fashion industry. A TV personality, brand spokesperson, consultant and author, Emme has been a strong advocate for positive body image and self-esteem.

Strasser is a lifelong public servant who dedicated his career to improving public finance in municipal governments. A past Eggers Award winner, he recently made a $3 million philanthropic commitment to create a permanently endowed and named professorship in public administration at the Maxwell School.

Yabroudi is the CEO of Dubai Contracting Co., where he also served as a site engineer, a project manager and deputy managing partner. A member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he has spearheaded multiple charitable activities and endowment funds, and helped fund the renovation of the University’s Link Hall.

The Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award was established out of deep respect and admiration for Chancellor Eggers to honor senior alumni who have coupled their leadership and service to society with loyalty and service to ���ϲ�����. The award recognizes alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago

This year’s honorees are Larry Bashe ’66, G’68, Helen Lefkowitz ’60 and Fred Silverman ’58.

Bashe served on the ���ϲ����� Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2004-12, including two years as president. He was also a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and the advisory boards of the Maxwell School and the Burton Blatt Institute. Bashe was chair of his 50th reunion committee during Orange Central 2016.

Lefkowitz, a founding partner of the law firm of Lefkowitz and Poulos in New York City, focused her career on issues of domestic violence, child abuse and juvenile delinquency. Lefkowitz and her late husband, Joel ’58, founded the SU Alumni Club in Suffolk County.

Silverman is the only person to direct programming at the NBC, ABC and CBS television networks and was executive producer of “Matlock,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “Diagnosis Murder.” He is president of The Fred Silverman Co., a production and consulting business, and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.

The Generation Orange Award is presented to young alumni who have made significant contributions to their communities and to the University.

This year’s honorees are��Evin Floyd Robinson ’12, G’14��and��Jessica Santana ’11, G’13.

Robinson and Santana are the cofounders of New York On Tech (NYOT), a nonprofit organization that provides greater access to technology and innovation to low-income and underrepresented students. NYOT offers immersive programs for high school students that include internship opportunities, mentoring and after-school educational programming.

Orange Central 2018 will bring together the entire ���ϲ����� community for a celebration of our alma mater Oct. 18-21. To register for any of the nearly 50 Orange Central programs—including the ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards Celebration—visit .

Join in the fun this fall when alumni and families are welcomed back to campus for two very special programs. Save the dates for Orange Central Weekend, Oct. 18-21, and Family Weekend, Oct. 26-28.

Orange Central is the once-a-year homecoming and reunion celebration for members of the Orange community everywhere. ���ϲ����� alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends come together to enjoy dozens of activities, from lectures and panel discussions to campus tours, performances, and social and athletic events.

Visitors can get their tickets to watch the men’s football team go head-to-head with North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 20, in the Carrier Dome. Tickets will be available for purchase through Orange Central registration, which opens later this year. Buy them when you register for Orange Central to secure your spot in our special Orange Central Cheer Section.

For alumni, Orange Central is a way to reminisce and reconnect, to explore SU’s newest places and programs and to get to know today’s campus community. For students, it’s the perfect time to show their Orange pride and enjoy a week filled with SU traditions hosted by the Traditions Commission. Check out regularly to view updates.

Also in October, family members are invited to campus to see a sampling of life at ���ϲ�����. Coordinated by the Parents Office, Family Weekend gives loved ones an opportunity to meet their student’s dean and faculty members, attend campus lectures and events, eat together in the dining halls, explore campus buildings and visit community establishments.

Guests can also purchase tickets for the men’s football game vs. North Carolina State on Saturday, Oct. 27. Family Weekend football tickets, individual tickets and student 2018-19 season passes will all go on sale in mid-March.

Visit to check out information about the events and activities as the information is updated regularly. For information on lodging and hotels visit the ���ϲ����� Visitors Bureau website at .

About ���ϲ�����

Founded��in 1870, ���ϲ����� is a private international research university��dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching��excellence,��rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11��academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence��in the liberal arts, sciences and��professional disciplines that prepares��students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly��changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main��campus and��extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three��continents. ���ϲ�����’s student body is among the most diverse for an��institution of its��kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent��all 50 states and more than 100 countries. ���ϲ����� also has a long legacy of��supporting veterans and is home to��the nationally recognized Institute for��Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the��U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their��families.

Alumni at ���ϲ����� vs. Pittsburgh Football Game (Photos by Steve Sartori)

Alumni Marching Band members during Orange Central 2017

Marching Band members and Marching Band alumni during Orange Central 2017

Orange Central 2017 Arents Awards Celebration Dinner. From left are Diane Nelson, Daniel A. D’Aniello, Mary Spio and Tom Coughlin.

Homecoming Court

Tailgating at Orange Central

Alumni at ���ϲ����� vs. Pittsburgh football game

Alumni marching band members take to the field with the current marching band at the ���ϲ����� vs. Pittsburgh game.

The Einhorn Family Walk was dedicated during Orange Central.

Alumni and students gathered for the Orange Central 2017 Multicultural Breakfast.

The Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award was presented to Warren “Cookie” Kimble ’57. He was joined here by Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly.

Alumni and fans take in the ���ϲ����� vs. Pittsburgh game.

Alumni enjoy the Orange Central tailgate event.

With a record-setting number of registrants, excitement is growing for Orange Central, ���ϲ�����’s annual homecoming and reunion celebration.

The week started with several student-focused programs hosted by the Traditions Commission and will kick into high gear Thursday afternoon through Sunday with more than 2,200 alumni and friends signed up for the weekend’s festivities.

More than 50 exciting and engaging programs are planned, and there truly is something for everyone.

“We are thrilled to welcome our outstanding alumni and their families back to campus for Orange Central, our once-a-year celebration of all things ORANGE,” says Sue Ballard, associate vice president for alumni engagement. “Orange Central is truly a special time when alumni return to catch up with classmates, reconnect with friends new and old, and rediscover what makes ���ϲ����� so special—including all of the exciting changes happening on campus.”

In addition to class reunions, special affinity reunions are planned for members of University 100, University Union, Remembrance Scholars, past student-athletes, former Ottos, and fraternity and sorority alumni.

Here are some of the programs happening during the weekend:

Arents Awards Celebration: The George Arents Award is ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor. The 2017 recipients are: Tom Coughlin ’68, G’69, a decorated National Football League coach; Daniel A. D’Aniello ’68, co-founder of a successful global asset management company and a committed philanthropist; Diane Nelson ’89, president of DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Consumer Products; and Mary Spio ’98, a pioneer in digital cinema and virtual reality.

’Cuse Cookout on the Quad: A fun evening for the whole family on the Quad, featuring fall-themed food and beverages, a photo booth, games and a DJ.

Orange Central Tailgate: Get ready for the ���ϲ����� vs. Pittsburgh football game by enjoying delicious food and drinks on the Quad. The family-friendly event will feature great ���ϲ����� giveaways, a photo booth, a visit from Otto and a performance by the SU Marching Band.

���ϲ����� vs. Pittsburgh football game: The ���ϲ����� Alumni Association sold out of its allotment of tickets in��the Orange Central Cheer Section, but tickets are still available for purchase through and the .

Milestone Reunion Celebrations: Milestone reunion celebrations are planned for the Classes of 1957, 1967, 1992, 2007 and 2016.

Online registration for the weekend is now closed. In-person registration will take place in the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center Thursday, 2-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Questions? Call the Office of Alumni Engagement at 315.443.3258 or email��orangecentral@syr.edu.

To see the entire list of events, visit��.

T.J. Miller

Miller is one of the most sought-after comedians in the comedy world, but not in the drama world, or the finance world. He was named one of Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch,” and EW’s “Next Big Things in Comedy.” Miller’s voice stars in Disney’s Academy Award-­winning animated feature “Big Hero 6.” You may recognize his non-­animated face and body from his roles in Fox’s big-screen comic book adaptation of “Deadpool,” 2014’s surprise indie hit “Transformers 4” and Mike Judge’s HBO comedy series “Silicon Valley,” for which he received the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy.

He hosted Comedy Central’s MASH-­UP, a mashup of standup, sketches and visualizations, and has appeared on “Chelsea Lately.” Miller has been in a number of major studio films, including “Cloverfield,” “She’s Out of My League,” “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” “Rock of Ages,” “Our Idiot Brother,” “Yogi Bear 3D,” “Unstoppable” and “Get Him to the Greek.” Miller voiced the character Tuffnut in the Oscar-­nominated animated films “How to Train Your Dragon” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”

Comedians, actors and writers, The Lucas Bros (Keith and Kenny), continue their rise as two of the freshest, most dynamic new faces on the comedy scene. “In a short time … the Lucas Brothers have made a big impact on comedy,” lauds Vulture, and in April, their first hour standup special, “The Lucas Bros: On Drugs” premiered on Netflix. They were also recently seen as recurring characters on Season 1 of the hit Netflix series “Lady Dynamite,” starring fellow comic Maria Bamford. They are the creators of the animation series Lucas Bros. Moving Co., which aired for one season on Fox’s Animation Domination Hi-­Def block in 2014 and for a second season on FXX. They also appeared in the blockbuster summer comedy feature film “22 Jump Street” alongside Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube.

Tickets are available to all ���ϲ����� and SUNY ESF students, staff and faculty with a limit of two per person. The price for student tickets is $5, $15 for faculty and SU staff and $20 for the public. A valid student, staff or faculty I.D. is required to purchase tickets. Doors for the event will open at 7:15 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m.

The Lucas Brothers

Additionally, the fall comedy show will be a part of University Union’s 55th Anniversary Alumni Reunion. For more details regarding this event and to purchase tickets, please register before Monday, Oct. 2, at noon. Registration can also be completed in Registration Headquarters located in Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center during Orange Central Weekend. SU alumni can purchase up to two tickets at a discounted price of $15 per person with registration for the University Union Reunion.

As a part of Orange Central Homecoming Weekend, the 2017 Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned prior to the show starting at 7:30 p.m. For more information regarding Homecoming Week and its programming, please contact the Traditions Commission at sutraditions@gmail.com and be sure to check out for more updates on their events.

New SUAA board members, clockwise from upper left: Jennifer Dandrea ’05, Karen (Au) Frank ’03,�� Melissa Richards-Person ’89 and Jason Yaley ’05 G’06

The SUAA Board of Directors guides the ���ϲ����� Alumni Association in establishing priorities for alumni engagement consistent with University goals. Board members have distinguished themselves as leaders within the alumni community while demonstrating a personal commitment to the University. They are ambassadors who have great knowledge of SU’s history, traditions and activities.

The board’s mission is to create an environment in which alumni, former students, parents, students and friends become and stay connected to the University and support it with their work, wisdom and wealth. The term of service is two years, and board members can serve two terms. Committees within the board structure include: Awards, Clubs, Nominating, Philanthropy, Diversity and Inclusion, Generation Orange, and Veterans and Military Engagement.

Dandrea, an engineering manager with Boeing, has been president of the ���ϲ����� Alumni Club of Seattle since 2010. A resident of Seattle, she enjoys representing ���ϲ����� on the West Coast. Dandrea is a triathlete, and she volunteers in her community to support STEM initiatives.

Frank has been with PricewaterhouseCoopers for more than a decade, currently in the role of global change management director. She has been a member of Big Apple Orange (the ���ϲ����� Alumni Club of New York City) and the ���ϲ����� Alumni Club of Northern New Jersey since 2008, including serving as president of the New York City club. Frank, who lives in Hoboken, New Jersey,��is on the advisory board for the Friends of Leadership & Public Service High School.

Richards-Person is vice president of international marketing at Papa John’s International. A member of the Newhouse Advisory Board, she was a Newhouse 50 Forward honoree and has served on the Class of 1989 reunion committee for the 10-, 20- and 25-year reunions. A resident of Louisville, Kentucky, Richards-Person is particularly interested in using her work experience to grow SU’s international alumni clubs and international presence in general.

Yaley is assistant vice president at Aerospace Industries Association. He created the Orange Around the World service project at ���ϲ����� in 2006, sending care packages to alumni serving in the armed services. Yaley was also involved with the Office of Alumni Engagement as a student and was a member of Sour Sitrus Society. In 2016, Yaley, who lives in Washington, D.C., received the Generation Orange Award from ���ϲ�����.

The SUAA Board of Directors will hold��its fall meeting Friday, Oct. 6, during Orange Central. Tracy Barash ’89, president of the SUAA Board, will emcee the Arents Awards Celebration. Andrew Laver ’01, vice president of the SUAA Board, will emcee the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Luncheon.

The 2016 Homecoming Court at the Arents Awards during Orange Central

Applications for the 2017 Homecoming Court are due Sunday, Sept. 17, by 11:59 p.m. The applications are open to undergraduate students graduating this academic year who��are on campus this fall.

The Homecoming Court is a longstanding tradition at ���ϲ����� and plays an important role during Orange Central. The court is a prestigious group of seniors who embody Orange Pride with their academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and consistent display of school spirit.

Many members of the court in years past reflect on this opportunity as a unique experience they will never forget in ways they didn’t expect.

“Getting a chance to represent the Class of 2017 throughout the week of Orange Central was a blast,” says Liam Sullivan ’17, 2016 Homecoming Court member. “I was genuinely surprised by the opportunity to meet people from different parts of campus. As a senior, you tend to think that you know everyone or that you don’t have room for new friends. The Homecoming Court experience showed me that wasn’t the case.”

Students can be nominated by a member of the campus community or can self-nominate. Then, applicants are interviewed and selected by the Homecoming Court Selection Committee. The king and queen are chosen by an online vote and crowned during Orange Central.

After the packed schedule of events during Orange Central, the Homecoming Court then assists with the planning of Senior Celebration.

“It’s easy for senior year to fly by with so many memorable experiences happening so often and quickly, but having��the honor of being on the Homecoming Court was something I’ll never forget,” says Sullivan.

Applications are available on the . For questions, email Sarah Ross Cappella, associate director in the Office of Student Activities, at cappella@syr.edu.

The Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award will be presented to Warren “Cookie” Kimble ’57, a nationally renowned folk artist, entrepreneur, community leader and passionate ���ϲ����� alumnus.

The award will be presented at a for senior alumni Friday, Oct. 6, from noon-2 p.m. at the Persian Terrace, Marriott ���ϲ����� Downtown—the newly restored former Hotel ���ϲ�����. The cost is $25 per person and includes a three-course luncheon and beverages.

Jenny Sacks ’08, current president of the ���ϲ����� Alumni Club of Philadelphia, is this year’s recipient of the Generation Orange Award, to be presented at the ��for graduates between 2007 and 2017.

The event is set for Friday, Oct. 6, from 9-11 p.m. inside Club 44 at the Carrier Dome. There will be food, drinks, a chance to take photos with Otto and more. The cost is $5 per person and includes appetizers and two drink tickets.

For more information about the Eggers Luncheon, the Generation Orange Celebration or any of the more than 50 Orange Central programs,��go��.

Melvin Eggers Senior Alumni Award

Warren Kimble

Established in 1988 by Chancellor Emeritus William P. Tolley, the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award is presented to those alumni who have graduated more than 50 years ago and have demonstrated loyalty and service to ���ϲ�����.

Kimble ’57 earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the before embarking on an advertising career. He��also taught in public schools and served as a member of the art faculty at Castleton State College in Vermont.

Kimble pursued his passion for painting in 1983, and enjoyed immense success during a decorated career. Art enthusiasts across the world have enjoyed Kimble’s original paintings, which include both fine art and folk art works, and the Society of Illustrators Museum in New York City tabbed selected his work for “The Original Art 2001.”

His one-man shows have been held at the Frank J. Miele Gallery (New York City), Chase Gallery (Boston) and Gallery on the Green (Woodstock, Vermont), among others. Kimble’s work has garnered media coverage across the country, with profiles and appearances in House & Garden TV, Country Home, Country Living, The Boston Globe, QVC, and Yankee, as well as in regional publications such as Vermont Magazine and Vermont Life. Considered one of today’s top home furnishings designers, Kimble has designed images that have been transformed into dinnerware, rugs, furniture, textiles and more. His more than 40 licensing partners include de Sakura, Springs Industries, Manual Woodworkers and Weavers, Kamenstein, Yankee Candle and NCE.

Kimble lives and works in Brandon, Vermont, with Lorraine, his wife and business partner. Together, they have been deeply involved in civic life and philanthropy for more than 30 years. The Kimbles continue to enhance their community, working collaboratively with other artists and community leaders to establish an artist’s guild, renovate Brandon’s historic town hall and rehabilitate a now-thriving downtown.

Kimble’s honors and awards include ���ϲ�����’s 2002 George Arents Pioneer Medal, the University’s highest alumni honor; and an honorary doctor of fine arts degree from Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont

Generation Orange Award

Jenny Sacks

Introduced in fall 2013, the Generation Orange Award recognizes alumni who have made an impact on campus and in their communities through volunteer work and philanthropy on behalf of ���ϲ�����.

Sacks graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the and the . She later earned a master’s degree in family therapy from Drexel University before beginning her career as a counselor.

Sacks assisted individuals and groups of patients as a counselor at the Thomas Jefferson University Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Program, specializing in the treatment of adult patients with mental health and substance use disorders. She also practiced pre-marital counseling at a local synagogue and provided therapeutic support to men undergoing cancer treatment at the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2015, Sacks made the transition to the world of sports as a player development and rehabilitation consultant for the Philadelphia 76ers. Working in conjunction with Creative Artists Agency, Sacks currently leads the management team for Joel Embiid, a Philadelphia 76er, who earned a spot on the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) All-Rookie First Team following the 2016-17 season.

A devoted and passionate SU alumna, Sacks has served as club president of the ���ϲ����� Alumni Club of Philadelphia since 2012, and was also the club’s treasurer. She formerly held an ex-officio position for the SU Alumni Association Clubs Committee, and frequently participates in prospective student interviews for the Office of Admissions.

Sacks lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Jonathan Sacks ’08. The two met during their freshman year at SU. Three years ago, Sacks took her love of SU abroad by starting a partnership with Arawjo Tours to coordinate alumni trips around the world to places like Krakow, Poland, and Madrid and Barcelona, Spain. The next alumni trip is to Ireland in May and will be aptly named “The Luck of the Orange.”

This fall during Orange Central, the ���ϲ����� Alumni Association will recognize four exceptional alumni for excellence and innovation in their fields during the Arents Awards Celebration. The Arents Award is ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor.

The��2017 Arents Award recipients boast diverse and successful backgrounds. They are: Tom Coughlin ’68, G’69, a decorated National Football League coach; Daniel A. D’Aniello ’68, co-founder of a successful global asset management company and a committed philanthropist; Diane Nelson ’89, president of DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Consumer Products; and Mary Spio ’98, a pioneer in digital cinema and virtual reality.

The Arents Award honors the legacy of George Arents, a successful manufacturer who served on the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees from 1930 until his death in 1960.

The Arents Awards Celebration on Friday, Oct. 6, will begin with a cocktail party from 5-6 p.m. in the Panasci Lounge, Schine Student Center, followed by a dinner and awards presentation from 6-8:30 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center.

For more information about the Arents event or any of the more than 50 Orange Central programs,��go .

Tom Coughlin ’68, G’69

Tom Coughlin

Coughlin is the executive vice president of football operations for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL), overseeing the Jaguars’ day-to-day football operations. His decorated NFL career spans 29 years, including 20 seasons as a head coach.

Coughlin coached the New York Giants to Super Bowl championships in 2008 and 2012. His overall coaching record of 182-157 (a .537 winning percentage) is 12th on the NFL’s all-time coaching wins list, and his 12 playoff wins rank seventh in league history. Coughlin, who recently earned a spot in the Giants’ Ring of Honor, also served as the NFL’s senior advisor to football operations before the Jaguars hired him in January 2017.

Coughlin was a three-year letter winner on the SU football team for Hall of Fame head coach Ben Schwartzwalder. He was part of the feared Orange backfield alongside future college and pro football Hall of Famers Larry Csonka ’68 and Floyd Little ’67. During his senior season (1967), Coughlin led ���ϲ����� in both receptions and receiving yards as the Orange compiled an 8-2 record and the No. 12 ranking in the final United Press International (UPI) poll. He graduated from ���ϲ����� with a B.A. from the and an M.A. from the .

Coughlin was appointed ���ϲ�����’s assistant freshman coach in 1968, and after serving as head coach at Rochester Institute of Technology, he��came back to SU as the offensive backs coach in 1974 and spent seven years as an Orange assistant. He also served as an NFL assistant coach for seven years, and was Boston College’s head coach for three seasons before landing the Jaguars’ head coaching position for their inaugural season in 1995.

Coughlin led the expansion Jaguars to 72 wins and four playoff appearances, including two American Football Conference (AFC) championship games, from 1995-2002. UPI honored Coughlin as its 1996 NFL Coach of the Year after he led Jacksonville to the AFC championship game in the team’s second season.

Off the football field, Coughlin and his wife, Judy, founded the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, which helps families tackle childhood cancer by providing financial, emotional and practical support. The fund honors the memory of Jay McGillis, one of Coughlin’s student-athletes on the Boston College football team. McGillis passed away from leukemia in 1992.

The Coughlins reside in Atlantic Beach, Florida. They have two daughters, Keli and Kate, as well as two sons, Brian and Tim, and 12 grandchildren.

Daniel A. D’Aniello ’68

Daniel D’Aniello

D’Aniello, a ���ϲ����� Life Trustee, serves as chairman and co-founder of the Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset management company based in Washington, D.C.. The Carlyle Group boasts 35 offices across six continents, with over $160 billion in assets under management.

Prior to forming Carlyle in 1987, D’Aniello served as vice president for finance and development at Marriott Corp., where he assessed the worth of major corporate mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, debt and equity offerings, and project financings. Before joining Marriott, he served as a financial officer at PepsiCo Inc. and Trans World Airlines.

D’Aniello earned a bachelor’s degree in transportation economics from the , graduating magna cum laude. He was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society for undergraduate and graduate scholars in business programs, the highest recognition a business student can receive in an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business program. He earned an M.B.A. as a Teagle Foundation Fellow from the Harvard Business School in 1974.

In addition to his service to the University’s Board of Trustees, D’Aniello is a member of the Chancellor’s Council and the Whitman School’s Corporate Advisory Council. He is co-chairman and a strong supporter of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

D’Aniello served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971, during which he was a supply officer aboard the USS Wasp (CVS 18). In 2016, he received the prestigious Lone Sailor Award from the United States Navy Memorial Foundation. The award honors sea service veterans who have distinguished themselves in their subsequent careers and lives, while exemplifying the core values of honor, courage and commitment.

D’Aniello is co-chairman of the American Enterprise Institute for Policy Research; a member of the U.S.–China CEO and Former Senior Government Officials’ Dialogue of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Council for United States and Italy; an advisor to the John Templeton Foundation; chairman of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts; and a founding trustee of the Lumen Institute.

D’Aniello and his wife, Gayle, reside in Vienna, Virginia. They have two daughters, Dana F. Ziegler ’04 and Bethany D’Aniello.

Diane Nelson ’89

Diane Nelson

Nelson is president of DC Entertainment (DCE) and Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP). Nelson oversees a vast portfolio of stories and characters for DCE, including such cultural icons as “Batman,” “Superman,” and “Wonder Woman,” across all media and platforms. Nelson also strategically integrates the DC, Vertigo and MAD brands throughout Warner Bros. Entertainment and all its content and distribution businesses.

Nelson took over leadership of DCE in 2009, and under her watch, the comic book publisher has collaborated with studio colleagues on the development of television projects, feature films, blockbuster video games and a host of other headline-making initiatives. During Nelson’s time as president, Advertising Age named DCE one of America’s hottest brands. In collaboration with Warner Bros. Television, Nelson has brought more DC TV shows on the air than ever before. DC’s 2017 film slate, in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures, has featured��“The LEGO Batman Movie,” “Wonder Woman” and “Justice League.” In partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, DC is home to the most successful super hero game franchise in the industry—”Batman: Arkham.”

At Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Nelson works with divisional management on the group’s global business strategies and execution to optimize Warner Bros.’ portfolio of film, television and animation properties. WBCP represents some of the world’s most highly regarded entertainment franchises, including DC and J.K. Rowling’s Wizard World (“Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts”). WBCP also manages a successful global-themed entertainment business, featuring the groundbreaking “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”

Nelson previously served as president and chief content officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, where she guided the development of a slate of top-tier digitally powered console and mobile games, including those based on DC characters. In addition, Nelson served as president of Warner Premiere; executive vice president, global brand management, for Warner Bros. Entertainment; and executive vice president of domestic marketing for Warner Bros. Pictures.

A graduate of the (advertising) and the College of Arts and Sciences (English), Nelson joined the company in 1996 as director of worldwide corporate promotions��and held several other positions with the studio.

Active in philanthropy, Nelson serves on the board of There with Care, a Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofit organization that supports families with children affected by critical illnesses.

Mary Spio ’98

Mary Spio

Spio is the CEO and president of CEEK VR Inc., a developer of innovative virtual and augmented reality content solutions and experiences. Her companies have created content and technologies used by such global titans as Lucas Films, Universal Music Group, Miami Children’s Hospital, Microsoft XBOX, Tribune News, Clear Channel and Boeing.

Under Spio’s leadership, CEEK has created virtual reality experiences for entertainment, health care and education. CEEK VR’s recent virtual reality experience produced for Universal Music Group won the prestigious Silver CLIO award, edging out Disney’s Star Wars and Intel’s Lady Gaga Experience in the same award category. The Universal Music virtual reality experience also captured a 2017 Grammy Award for Best Performance.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Spio holds several patents in real-time streaming and virtual reality technologies. Spio is an accomplished novelist and screenwriter (“A Song for Carmine”) and bestselling author (“It’s Not Rocket Science: 7 Game-Changing Traits for Achieving Uncommon Success”), in which she shares inspirational stories meant to spur readers to move beyond their comfort zones to create impact and significance.

Spio earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the , and a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Georgia Institute of Technology.

An innovation and entrepreneurship evangelist, Spio works with the U.S. Department of State in a global innovation and entrepreneurship outreach program. Born in ���ϲ����� and raised in Ghana, Spio has traveled extensively, giving presentations in dozens of countries, including China, Mexico, Russia, Pakistan, Ukraine and South Africa.

Spio’s visionary work has earned her the Yueh-Ying Hu Memorial National Award for Innovation, the Boeing Outstanding Achievement in Electrical Engineering Award and Essence magazine’s New Power Generation Award. Along with Oprah Winfrey, Spio landed on NBC News’s 100 History Makers in the Making. Spio currently serves on the advisory boards of Amazon Launchpad and Oculus VR for Good.

Campus will be abuzz this fall during CBT XII Sept. 14-17, Orange Central Oct. 5-8 and Family Weekend Oct. 13-15.

Alumni, family and friends are invited to spend time on campus this fall during three exciting, event-filled weekends that celebrate what it means to be Orange and highlight all that we are proud of at ���ϲ�����.

Registration is now open for Coming Back Together XII (CBTXII), which brings African American and Latino alumni back to campus. Hosted every three years by the Office of Program Development, the reunion weekend offers students an opportunity to meet��prominent��alumni of color. ��With a reunion theme of “Celebrate, Inspire, Empower”, African American and Latino alumni enjoy CBT weekend by reconnecting with one another, sharing their secrets to success, supporting SU scholarship funds, and promoting their vision of how to keep the University moving forward.

CBT XII will be held Sept. 14-17. For more information, visit

Orange Central 2017 is the once-a-year homecoming and reunion celebration for everyone who loves the Orange. ���ϲ����� alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends enjoy dozens of activities, and the connections made between students and alumni are always a highlight of the weekend.

Orange Central is slated for Oct. 5-8. Check�� for the most current information on events. Registration details will be announced in the coming months.

The following weekend, Oct. 13-15, family members are invited to experience life on the ���ϲ����� campus during Family Weekend.

Coordinated by the Parents Office, Family Weekend offers loved ones the chance to meet their student’s dean and faculty members, attend campus lectures and events, eat together in the dining halls, explore campus buildings and get to know the City of ���ϲ�����.

Registration and events information will be available starting July 17. Visit��.

Interested in catching a football game while you’re here? CBTXII weekend features ���ϲ����� vs. Central Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 16. Orange Central weekend features ���ϲ����� vs. University of Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 7. Family Weekend features ���ϲ����� vs. Clemson on Friday, Oct. 13. Visitors can purchase tickets to these games and others at .

We look forward to seeing you on campus this fall!

Alumni from across generations gathered to celebrate milestone reunions, check out how the campus has changed since their last visit and cheer on the football team while making new memories at their alma mater.

Among the alumni who returned to campus were Lawrence Nusbaum Jr. ’51 and David Koplowitz ’51. Their story of lifelong friendship and school pride stood out as a great example of the impact that ���ϲ����� has had on its more than 250,000 alumni across the globe.

Nusbaum and Koplowitz were close friends, political science majors and fraternity brothers in Zeta Beta Tau who graduated from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1951. The day they earned their diplomas was also the last time the duo stood on campus. That is, until Orange Central. For the first time in 65 years, the lifelong friends made it back to the university where their friendship formed.

When Nusbaum and Koplowitz were students, gasoline cost $0.19 per gallon, “I Love Lucy” debuted on television sets across the country and Harry Truman occupied the White House.

“Now that we’re back, I wish we’d come back to campus sooner!” Nusbaum says. “The campus is absolutely beautiful. ���ϲ����� means a lot to me. I got a wonderful education at the Maxwell School and it served me well all these years later. I was successful in life because of what I learned here.”

Nusbaum and Koplowitz meet with other New York City-area SU friends once a month to catch up and stay in touch.

“This campus, all of the new buildings and the Schine Student Center, it is all brand new to us and it looks absolutely magnificent,” adds Koplowitz. “���ϲ����� was the best four years of my life. I don’t know whether I realized that back when I was a student, but I do now and I am proud of that bond with my fellow SU alums. We never want to lose touch with each other or with ���ϲ�����.”

For Bernadette and Sam Penceal ’66, Orange Central marked two special milestones: their 50th reunion and the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple used Orange Central as the official kickoff to a year-long wedding anniversary celebration. Both Penceals decided there was no better place to honor the start of their golden anniversary year than on the campus where their love story started.

The Penceals even timed out their reunion and wedding anniversary celebrations to coincide with the first time they met: Sept. 17, 1962, on the SU campus.

“It was an easy decision for us to celebrate our special day being back on campus at Orange Central,” says Sam Penceal, an English major who played three seasons for SU’s basketball team. “We thought it would be great to start this party at ‘Cuse since this was our class’s 50-year reunion. We didn’t do anything else special, just surrounded ourselves with our friends, laughing, joking and having a good time together. It was great catching up with old friends and marching into the football game with the marching band was truly special. The whole weekend was special and rewarding for us.”

Barry Gipstein ’56 graduated with a business/marketing degree. He and his fellow ZBT friends Dr. Milt Friedlander, Ted Krawitz and Dr. Herb Portnoff make it back to campus with their wives for homecoming/reunion weekend every five years.

It is a tradition that Gipstein looks forward to, as some of his best friends stem from his days at ���ϲ�����. “I look forward to coming back for this. It is such a trip and we’ve always had such a good time at every reunion,” Gipstein says. “I stay in touch with other SU alumni and the chance to reconnect with old classmates is always a highlight of my year. Every time we get together it is like nothing has changed at all and we pick up right where we left off.”

Story by John Boccacino Jr.

Orange Central banners. (Photo by Joe Librandi-Cowan)

The campus welcomed back alumni for Orange Central 2016, which was filled with good times, good friends and lots of memories.

Take a look at some of the best moments from the weekend.

The Class of 1966 took to the field during the football game to lead the alma mater. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

Chimemasters students demonstrate the work of the Crouse College chimes during an event that included a breakfast with the College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Michael Tick. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

The recipients of the Arents Award take the stage with Chancellor Kent Syverud. From left are Jim Brown ’57, All-American athlete and social activist; Arielle Tepper Madover ’94, a Tony Award-winning producer; Dr. Robert Jarvik ’68, H’83, inventor of the first successful artificial heart; James Cunningham ’74, former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and Israel; and Chancellor Syverud.

Ambassador James Cunningham spoke on “Afghanistan, Violent Islamic Extremism and America” at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

Alumni enjoy their time during the Generation Orange Celebration. (Photo by Joe Librandi-Cowan)

Students prepare a meal during the dedication of the Susan R. Klenk Learning Café and Kitchens in White Hall as part of the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

Alumni enjoy a tailgate event on the Shaw Quad before the football game. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

Alumni gather for the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Luncheon in the Persian Terrace Room of the Marriot ���ϲ����� Downtown. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

The Class of 1966 celebratess its 50th Reunion Golden Anniversary Dinner in the Life Sciences Complex. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

Alumni visit the SU Libraries exhibition, “Our Doors Opened Wide: ���ϲ����� and the GI Bill 1945 -1950 at Bird Library. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

Alumni are welcomed back at the registration and hospitality center in the Schine Student Center. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

The event will take place from 8-10 a.m. outside Crouse College.

Meet Chimemasters from across the decades, share your memories of the chimes and celebrate the recent addition of four new bells, a project made possible thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends and supporters.

The event will feature remarks by Joseph Downing, associate professor in the ’ Setnor School of Music and chimes advisor.

Interested in learning more about the new bells? . To learn more about the many Orange Central events, visit .

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Life Sciences Complex, Auditorium 001, during Orange Central weekend.

Learn about near-term priorities, such as the Classroom Technology Upgrades Project; the National Veterans Resource Complex; and the West Campus Project, including the Carrier Dome renovations.

For more information, visit

A longstanding University tradition, the Homecoming Court is comprised of seniors who represent Orange spirit in their academic, co-curricular and community involvement. Campus community members with a valid NetID can cast their vote for the Orange Central Homecoming King and Queen via the Homecoming Court Royalty will be crowned at the ‘An Evening with James Franco’ event on Saturday, Sept. 17, in Goldstein Auditorium.

Meet the 2016 Homecoming Court members:

Khianna Calica
Major: Television, Radio and Film
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
“Traveled 3,000 miles from home to attend SU, trained by the United States Marine Corps, worked in the Latin American film industry, and interned with an Emmy-winning writer, all while gaining clarity of my purpose and the type of woman I aspire to be.�� These experiences have given me humility, self-discipline and relatability—traits any quality queen should possess.”

Jonathan Gordon
Majors: Broadcast and Digital Journalism, Political Science and Spanish
Hometown: White Plains, New York
“Jonathan is a broadcast and digital journalism major that is most proud to be a three-year resident advisor. He is the assistant sports director at Z89 and the director of broadcasting for the SU Men’s Hockey team. In his free time, he loves to cook and watch the New York Mets. Jonathan makes a great candidate for homecoming king because of his dedication to helping others before himself.”

Andrew Martini
Major: Public Relations
Hometown: High Bridge, New Jersey
“Through organizations like First Year players and Orange Appeal, SU has given Andrew Martini the roots to grow and the wings to fly. His time on campus has been marked by making people get up and dance and laugh, some of his favorite pastimes. During his time here, Andrew has added his own special flair to ���ϲ����� Pride.”

Jennie May
Majors: Public Relations, Marketing, Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
“Why would anyone leave Florida for ���ϲ�����? For Jennie May, it was to meet new people and become involved on a vibrant campus. Since 2013, Jennie has bled Orange on campus and around the world. You can always count on Jennie to be in orange and blue while leading campus tours, editing in Newhouse and working in Whitman.”

Andrew Ramos
Major: Bioengineering
Hometown: San Diego, California
“Through my involvement in Professor Soman’s and Professor Bilousova’s research labs, Engineering World Health, Ernie Davis and Haven residence halls, the Academic Excellence Workshop facilitators, LitePack Filtration and the 2016-2017 Remembrance Scholars, I have formed relationships with amazing individuals. It’s these profound connections that lead to my excellent fit for king—I seek to connect and foster SU’s unique, orange community—and the relationship and experiences I’ve had have prepared me to do so.”

Miracle Rogers
Majors: Health and Exercise Science and Bioengineering
Hometown: Miami, Florida
“Miracle aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon. She spent the summer working with the Olympic Medical team in Rio. She is a Gates Scholar, McNair Scholar and Remembrance Scholar. She motivates youth, women and minorities to succeed in STEM.�� She served as president of the Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society and NSBE. As homecoming queen she will thrive to inspire others.”

Nedda Sarshar
Majors: Writing and Rhetoric, Citizenship and Civic Engagement, and Policy Studies
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
“In four years, I found a home as the 2017 Class Marshal, a Remembrance Scholar, an intern for the Women’s Leadership Initiative, an RA, president of the Residence Hall Association, Board of Trustees Student Representative and brother of Alpha Phi Omega. I have a major in Orange Spirit, and homecoming court is my capstone.”

Beth-Elle Schussler
Majors: Nutrition and Psychology
Hometown: Walnut Creek, California
“I am a California, Bay Area native who found her home at ���ϲ�����. Be it through a volunteer spring break trip, a college campus tour, or a home-cooked meal, it is my mission to spread that same sense of belonging through every opportunity given to me here. As part of homecoming court, we all can represent ���ϲ����� together!”

Liam Sullivan
Major: Newspaper and Online Journalism
Hometown: Chester, New Hampshire
“I believe I make a strong candidate for homecoming king because of my well-rounded experiences and passion for leaving SU better than I found it. I’ve been an Orientation Leader, president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, wrote for The Daily Orange and more, but I’m most proud of simply being part of something bigger than myself—the Orange family.”

Bilal Vaughn
Major: Systems and Information Science
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
“Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, I believe that I am no ordinary Orangeman. I have helped create a dynamic mentorship organization encouraging ���ϲ����� students to follow their dreams, as well as supporting my team on to victory as a senior cheerleader this year. In my time at SU, I have discovered we are a family, no matter how different we each may be.”

Alumni will be back at ���ϲ����� to share good times, meet up with friends and experience all the traditions—and changes—on campus. This year, the theme for Orange Central is “Welcome Back to Your Happy Place.”

Orange Central is a once-a-year celebration for the entire ���ϲ����� community. Homecoming and reunion all rolled into one, it brings ���ϲ����� students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends together to enjoy dozens of activities, from lectures and panel discussions to campus tours, performances, and social and athletic events.

Orange Central will also include a football game on Saturday vs. University of South Florida.

Online registration for the weekend is now closed. In-person registration will take place in Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center on Thursday from 2-8 p.m. and in Schine Student Center on Friday from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

For questions, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 315-443-3258 or email sualumni@syr.edu.

To see the entire list of events and join in the fun, visit .

The Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award will be presented to the Class of 1956 Reunion Committee and David Coffman ’38 (posthumous).

The award will be presented at a for senior alumni Friday, Sept. 16, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Persian Terrace, Marriott ���ϲ����� Downtown—the newly restored former Hotel ���ϲ�����. The cost is $25 per person.

The Generation Orange Award will be presented to Jason Yaley ’05, G’06 at the —for graduates between 2006 and 2016.

The event will be held Friday, Sept. 16, from 9-11 p.m. at the Flaum Grand Hall, Whitman School of Management. There will be food, drinks, photo opps with Otto and more. The cost is $5 per person.

Melvin Eggers Senior Alumni Award

Established in 1988 by Chancellor Emeritus William P. Tolley, the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award is presented to those alumni who have graduated more than 50 years ago and have demonstrated loyalty and service to ���ϲ�����.

Class of 1956 Reunion Committee

The Class of 1956 Reunion Committee has been working together as a dedicated group to plan their reunions for 60 years.

The class’s 60th Reunion, being held during this year’s Orange Central celebration, marks the 12th time this committee has served together and provided its own musical entertainment during a reunion weekend.

Members of the committee are the following:

• Ted Krawitz is serving as reunion chair for the 12th time. As a student, he was president of the Traditions Commission and a proud member of Zeta Beta Tau. He was nominated by Chancellor William P. Tolley to become a member of Tau Theta Upsilon senior men’s honorary society. A graduate of what is now the , Krawitz pursued a career in the financial industry, serving as first vice president of investments at Wells Fargo Securities, retiring after 47 years. He is very proud that both of his daughters are ���ϲ����� alumnae.
• Judy Richardson Beers is a partner in a company that markets wood accessories for needlework and crafts. She earned a bachelor’s degree from what is now .
• Patricia Cain Beyle is a retired choral director who was a member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir and the Traditions Commission while studying for a bachelor’s degree from the . She was chair of Spring Weekend 1956.
• Ray Caldiero is chairman of Aerospace Technologies Group Inc. and The Sequoia Groups Inc. He was a member of the marching band and WAER staff, and earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and dramatic arts.
• Bobby Browne Cramer is passionate about music and ���ϲ�����. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the . She is proud that two of her children are also ���ϲ����� alumni; her daughter Lauren Cramer L’94 is on the University’s Board of Trustees.
• Andra Tompkins Frank is a retired teacher of the gifted and talented. She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and dramatic arts, and was a member of the WAER staff during her time at ���ϲ�����.
• Polly Reed Hollis is a retired marketing manager who was editor-in-chief of The Daily Orange. She earned bachelor’s degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences and the .
• Ken Halaby Sr.is past president of International Scientific Communications and most recently served as first selectman in the town of Trumbull, Connecticut. He was a member of the WAER staff while studying for a bachelor’s degree in speech and dramatic arts.
• Janet Rigdon Jackson is a retired music teacher who earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
• Haden Patten is a retired teacher who served in the U.S. Naval Academy Information Program for four decades. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and a master’s degree from the .
• Milton Shefter is president of Miljoy Enterprises, an award-winning international media asset preservation company. While earning a bachelor’s degree in American studies from the and the College of Arts and Sciences, he was class orator, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, and involved in WAER and The Daily Orange.
• Ken Sparks is president of Ken Sparks Associates LLC. He received the Arents Award in 2004 and the Eggers Award in 2011. His wife, Suzanne ’65, is a ���ϲ����� alumna.

David Coffman

David Coffman ’38 (posthumous)

David Coffman met Barbara Dudley ’38, the woman who would become his wife, during freshman orientation. “Everything that I have had in this world began at ���ϲ�����,” Coffman often told family members. Coffman earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from ���ϲ����� and was a firm believer in the value of a liberal arts education.

A three-year member of the varsity baseball team, Coffman was elected manager of the freshman basketball team for the 1937-38 season. One of ���ϲ�����’s most passionate supporters and a lifetime member of the Varsity Club, he was honored as a ���ϲ����� LetterWinner of Distinction in 2005.

Coffman was in the Navy during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. In 1959, he formed his own business, the Pepsi-Cola franchise of northeastern Massachusetts, serving as president and treasurer for five decades. A respected member of his community, he held a variety of positions with the South Church, United Church of Christ in Andover, Massachusetts. In his later years, he was a loyal member of the Deerfield Community Church in Deerfield, New Hampshire. He passed away in June 2016.

Generation Orange Award

Introduced in fall 2013, the Generation Orange Award recognizes alumni who have made an impact on campus and in their communities through their volunteer work and philanthropy on behalf of ���ϲ�����.

Jason Yaley

Jason Yaley ’05, G’06

Jason Yaley is the special assistant to the Air Force chief of staff. As principal advisor to a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Yaley leads the development, integration and implementation of key service programs and represents the senior leadership with international, interagency, legislative and corporate partners. He also oversees many of the service’s strategic partnership efforts, developing alliances and strategies for advocacy and engagement across an array of public, private and international stakeholders.

Yaley previously served as strategy and policy advisor to the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he directed the strategic communication efforts of the vice chairman; as a speechwriter to the Air Force vice chief of staff; as a counselor to the commander of Air Combat Command and as a member of the air staff at the Pentagon. He is also a lecturer at military leadership forums across the country, sharing his expertise on generational leadership and effective measures for managing a millennial workforce.

In 2006, Yaley created the Orange Around the World service project at ���ϲ����� to send care packages to alumni who were active duty service members. His purpose was to remind people that ���ϲ����� is proud of all alumni, including those in the military. In celebration of National Orange Day 2016, Yaley returned to campus to again lead the Orange Around the World effort. Using items donated by members of the University community, Yaley and a team of volunteers sent care packages to 325 alumni actively serving around the world.

Yaley holds a master’s degree in public administration and a certificate of advanced study in security studies from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and bachelor’s degrees in international relations and political science from the College of Arts and Sciences. He has completed additional studies in crisis leadership, information warfare and public affairs, and is a member of the Emerging Leaders Program at National Defense University’s Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Join the fun this fall during Orange Central to be held Sept. 15-18 and Family Weekend to be held Oct. 28-30.

Save the dates for all the fun this fall as ���ϲ����� welcomes alumni and family to campus.

Orange Central is slated for Sept. 15-18, and Family Weekend is Oct. 28-30.

Orange Central 2016 is the once-a-year homecoming and reunion celebration for everyone who loves the Orange. ���ϲ����� alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends come together to enjoy dozens of activities, from lectures and panel discussions to campus tours, performances, and social and athletic events.

Visitors can get their tickets to watch the men’s football team go head-to-head with the University of South Florida on Saturday, Sept. 17, with new head coach Dino Babers.

For alumni, Orange Central is a way to reminisce and reconnect, to explore SU’s newest places and programs, and to get to know today’s campus community. For students, it’s the perfect time to show their Orange pride and enjoy a week filled with SU traditions hosted by the Traditions Commission.

Check frequently as information is updated on events.

In October, family members are invited to get a sense of life on the ���ϲ����� campus.

Coordinated by the Parents Office, Family Weekend gives loved ones an opportunity to meet their student’s dean and faculty members, attend campus lectures and events, eat together in the dining halls, explore campus buildings and visit community establishments.

Registration and events information will be available starting July 20. Visit . For information on lodging and hotels visit the .

from on .

The marching band will entertain during the Orange Central Homecoming Tailgate on the Quad.

���ϲ����� welcomes hundreds of alumni and family members back to campus during the annual Orange Central homecoming, Oct. 22-25. The events calendar is rich with activity, including a roster of student events beginning Oct. 19.

Scheduled activities feature tours, informative lectures and the chance to reconnect with former classmates. Some of the highlights for the week include the annual sports matchups, tours of new university buildings, a Crouse Chimes tour and Holtkamp organ presentation, stargazing at Holden Observatory, a presentation about the Tree of 40 Fruit and the talk by Donna Shalala, G’70, H’87, president and CEO of the Clinton Foundation and former Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Several outstanding alumni will be honored during Orange Central. The will be presented during a gala dinner from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The honorees are Emmy Award-winning media executive ; advertising agency principal ; scholar, teacher and administrator ; and sports marketing guru .

Additionally, the will be presented to higher education advocate and the world’s oldest female marathon finisher, during a luncheon on Friday, Oct. 23, from noon to 2 p.m. at Drumlins Country Club.

The will be presented to during the Generation Orange Celebration on Friday, Oct. 23, from 9-11 p.m. in the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center. The award honors alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years and have made an impact on campus and in their communities through their volunteer work and philanthropy on behalf of the University.

“Orange Central is such a special time, because it brings our whole ���ϲ����� family together. Alumni can reconnect, reminisce about their student years and take in all the beauty and energy of our campus, which constantly changes but stays rooted in tradition,” says Mark Verone, University Alumni Association president. “Many of the events and activities are also open to our current students, and alumni love to meet them, hear about what they’re studying and share stories.”

Classes celebrating special reunions this year include the and the . Special groups of alumni are also reconvening for Orange Central, including the , CitrusTV, , , and the .

When alumni arrive on campus, they are encouraged to visit the in the Panasci Lounge, Schine Student Center. Alumni can pick up name badges, alumni buttons,��weekend program guides and last-minute schedule updates before heading out across campus. University volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions. Also, alumni can sign up for . Tours will take place at various times during the weekend.

The week-long celebration will feature a special in the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center honoring the ���ϲ����� 8, the African American football players who protested racial discrimination within the football program. There will also be a of the newly published book “Leveling the Playing Field: The Story of the ���ϲ����� 8” from 3-4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, at Huntington Hall Commons.

In the world of sports, the women’s soccer team will play at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, and then at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25. The men’s soccer team will play at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22. All soccer games will be played the SU Soccer Stadium. The homecoming football game pits on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Carrier Dome.

Several scheduled student events sponsored by the Traditions Commission give students a chance to celebrate SU traditions and show their Orange pride with free food, T-shirts, prizes and more.

Among the student Orange Central activities are Slice of Orange Days Monday and Tuesday in the Schine Student Center. A Traditions Commission Trivia Night will be held Wednesday. ���ϲ����� Homecoming Showcase, featuring student performance groups, will be held Thursday, and a “Lip Sync Battle” on Friday. On Saturday, University Union and the Traditions Commission will present Broad City, featuring Comedy Central stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer (tickets available at Schine Box Office). The Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at this event.

More information on Orange Central events can be found at .

In addition to special alumni reunions, highlights of Orange Central include:

11 a.m.-noon and 1-2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
727 E. Washington St.
Join the staff of the ���ϲ�����CoE for a tour of their state-of-the-art research facility. ���ϲ�����CoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems. Tours will be led by Ed Bogucz, executive director of the Center of Excellence. To register, contact��Stacy Bunce at��sbunce@syr.edu.

4-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22
Dr. Paul & Natalie Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall
Join the Department of Anthropology for “New ‘Bad Girls’ of Sudan: Women Singers in the Sudanese Diaspora,” featuring��Anita Fábos, associate professor of international development and social change in the Department of International Development, Community and Environment at Clark University.

Sports, SIDEARM, and the iSchool: A Perfect Partnership
5-6:30 pm., Thursday, Oct. 22
335 Hinds Hall
How do 823 NCAA, D1, D11 and other teams interface with thousands of fans through mobile, websites, social media and live streaming? Learn how one company, SIDEARM Sports, and its founder/president/CEO, Jeff Rubin ’95, ’98, bring IT, sports and students together in a unique partnership with the iSchool.

5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22
Bird Library, Lower Level
Join the ���ϲ����� Libraries for the dedication of the Spector Seminar Room in the lower level of Bird Library.

8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22
Schine Student Center, Goldstein Auditorium
See performances from talented student groups at this��annual showcase sponsored by the Traditions Commission.

9-10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23
307 University College
Learn how ���ϲ����� is responding to the national demand for online education. Join experts from the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the iSchool, Newhouse School, University College, and the Whitman School of Management as they address the current status of online course and program offerings and their plans to compete in a global market.

9-10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Shaw Quad
Imagine 40 different fruit varieties growing on a single tree.�� Stephanie James, director of the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Art, will stand in for Sam Van Aken, sculptor and VPA professor, and the man behind the��Tree of Forty Fruit. James will discuss Van Aken’s work,��from its conceptual underpinnings through the fascinating grafting science that makes it possible.

9-11:30 a.m. and 2-4:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23
After more than three years of planning, Falk College’s five academic departments and its administrative offices have been combined in the new site of the Falk Complex at MacNaughton and White halls, formerly the College of Law. Tours will be led by students, faculty and staff of Falk College and will depart on the half-hour from the main lobby

10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23
SUArt Galleries, Shaffer Art Building
Join David Prince, associate director��of the ���ϲ����� Art Galleries, for a fascinating look at the many art treasures on the SU campus. Tour will begin and end at the SUArt Galleries in the Shaffer Art Building.

Tours depart at 10, 10:45 and 11:30 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 23
Refreshments will be available for alumni throughout the afternoon. Reservations are not required.�� For more information, contact Norma Shannon at 315.443.5504 or nshannon@syr.edu.

Noon-2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Drumlins Country Club
A special luncheon for all alumni who have already celebrated their 50th reunion, especially those from the classes of 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955 and 1950, and to recognize the recipient of the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award. This year’s recipients are American Council on Education President and concert pianist and marathon runner��

2-5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
100 Dineen Hall
A decade in the planning, Dineen Hall is truly a game changer for the College of Law. The 200,000-square-foot, five-story, state-of-the-art Dineen Hall brings the entire college into one inviting space, creating a real community for legal education in the 21st century and beyond. Tour the building that opened in 2014 and is already listed among the 50 most impressive law school buildings in the world.��Meet student tour guides outside of the Cole Admissions and Financial Aid Suite, Room 100.

2-5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC Courtroom, Ground Floor, Dineen Hall
All are welcome to attend the Mock Trial hosted by the Moot Court Honor Society.

2-4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Institute of Veterans and Military Families, 150 Crouse Drive
This open house at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families will highlight the late Sergeant William Shemin ’24, the first ���ϲ�������graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor. For more information, contact the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at 315-443-0141.

3-6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Grand Hall, Whitman School
Ten pre-selected teams of Whitman students and alumni will compete before a panel of judges and the alumni audience. Awards will be presented to winning teams. Register to attend at

3:30-5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Sharon H. Jacquet Education Commons, Huntington Hall
To coincide with the publication of the SU Press book “Leveling the Playing Field: The Story of the ���ϲ����� 8,” the School of Education presents a book talk and discussion, followed by a book signing. Written by David Marc, the book is a compelling human drama that touches not only on race and sports, but on generational conflict, American cultural history, the ability of institutions to cope with change and the struggle of individuals for personal dignity. Books for purchase will be available at the event and at the University bookstore or at

3-5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
795 Ostrom Ave.
Visit with the staff and learn about the latest news and updates.

3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Maxwell Auditorium
This year’s Tanner Lecture on Ethics, Citizenship, and Public Responsibility features Donna Shalala ’70 M.S.Sc./’70 Ph.D. (S.Sc.), former president of the University of Miami and president and chief executive officer for the Clinton Foundation, who will present “Ethical Leadership in Higher Education: Who Wants This Job Anymore?” Reservations for the lecture are not required. For more information, contact Bethany Walawender at 315-443-5850 or��bdwalawe@syr.edu.

4-5:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium, Newhouse 3
Join us for a reception celebrating the Newhouse School’s 50th anniversary. To RSVP, please contact Amanda Griffin at algri100@syr.edu.

4-5:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Manley Field House Lobby
Join ���ϲ����� Athletics for the second annual Athletics alumni homecoming reception. Come visit your former teammates, as well as Athletics coaches and staff. This event is complimentary, but limited to only former athletes and their families. Contact the Orange Club at 315-443-1419 or oclub@syr.edu��for more information.

6-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom, first floor, Dineen Hall
College of Law alumni are invited to attend the ���ϲ����� Law Honors Community Award Ceremony in Dineen Hall’s Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom. is required. For additional information, contact Kristin Pardee at 315-443-1339.

6-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center
This event celebrates all alumni and honors recipients of the George Arents Award.
Established in 1939, the George Arents Award is the University’s highest alumni award. It is presented annually to recognize the extraordinary achievements of alumni who are pioneers and leaders in their fields. This year, Emmy Award-winning transmedia executive advertising agency principal �� and sports marketing guru will be honored for their professional accomplishments at a gala dinner at Goldstein Auditorium.�� Business dress. Cost is $50 per person.

7:30-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Holden Observatory
Join physics faculty and graduate students for a rare opportunity to climb the winding staircase and gaze at the stars through the historic 1887 telescope found in the Holden Observatory.

9-11 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23
Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center
Party with Otto, stock up on Orange swag and enjoy delicious food and drinks at this free event. We’re celebrating Generation Orange, our graduates of the last 10 years, and honoring Muss Akram ’10 with the

8, 8:15, 8:30, 8:45, 9 and 9:15 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24
Tours depart from 301 Crouse
Join the VPA and the Setnor School of Music for an exclusive tour of the Crouse College Chimes. Your Chimemaster tour guide will take you to the highest heights of Crouse College to see and hear the 10 bells that compose the “Chimes of Crouse.” Sign-up is required and limited to 12 guest for each time slot. Tours will be 10-15 minutes each, and guests can also visit Setnor Auditorium to hear the Holtkamp Organ while in Crouse College. Please note that this tour requires steep staircase climbing and walking. Check-in for your time slots will be in 301 Crouse.

8:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24
Grand Hall, Whitman School
All Whitman alumni are invited to gather in the Grand Hall from 8:30-10:30 a.m. for food, beverages and assorted activities, including a Whitman School update, building tours and a presentation by members of the ENACTUS team. Register at

9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24
Sandra & Avi Nash G’77 Classroom for Collaboration, 369 Link Hall
Dean Teresa Dahlberg hosts a breakfast gathering for College of Engineering and Computer Science alumni and friends. Come visit, chat with students and catch up with the college while reuniting with faculty, staff and fellow alumni.

9-9:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24
Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College
Join VPA and the Setnor School of Music for an exclusive tour of Crouse College’s historic Holtkamp Organ. ���ϲ����� Organist Annie Laver will take visitors on a historical trip featuring an up-close and personal visit with the Holtkamp Organ housed in Setnor Auditorium. The presentation will be from 9-9:30 am, and the organist will be available from 8:30-10 am for questions and conversation about the organ.

Two hours before kickoff
Saturday, Oct. 24
Orange Central Homecoming Tailgate Tent, Shaw Quad
Catch all the excitement��before kickoff and the ���ϲ����� spirit on the Quad at the Orange��Central Homecoming Tailgate. Enjoy delicious food, beverages, giveaways and a fun photo booth, as well as the marching band, spirit team and Otto.

Saturday, Oct. 24
Carrier Dome
Come cheer on the Orange football team in Saturday’s big ACC matchup with the Pittsburgh Panthers. In addition to the game, you can watch as members of the alumni cheerleaders join today’s cheer squad on the field for the festivities.

8:30 a.m.-noon, Sunday, Oct. 25
Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center, Second Floor
A last chance to visit with old friends and new acquaintances. Cost is $15 per person; reservations required.

10:30 a.m.-noon, Sunday, Oct. 25
Sharon H. Jacquet Education Commons, Huntington Hall
University alumni and School of Education experts share tools and resources to support inclusion for children and students with disabilities of any age.

For last year’s competition, Falk College’s food studies program built its own Archbold Stadium.

“The office decorating competition is a great way to get in the spirit of Orange Central and show your Orange Pride,” says Sarah Ross Cappella, an associate director in Student Activities. “It is amazing to see all of the creativity and effort that goes into each office’s decorating. We can’t wait to see what this year’s theme will bring!”

Judging will take place on Monday, Oct. 19, from 2-4 p.m., and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 12:15 p.m. in the Schine Atrium.�� The decorating competition is open to all campus offices.

To register your office, visit the Offices can contact��Cappella with questions.

Homecoming Court 2014

All seniors present on campus during the fall semester are eligible to apply. As court members are asked to be present at a number of Orange Central homecoming events Oct. 19-24, any seniors who are abroad for the semester or away from campus during this time period are ineligible.

Online voting will take place from Monday, Oct. 19, until Friday, Oct. 23, through a link on the Orange Central website. The Homecoming Court members who receive the highest overall scores will then be named as the official 2015 ���ϲ����� Homecoming King and Queen.

As an added bonus, those selected for the 2015 Homecoming Court will participate in the planning of Winter Carnival and Senior Celebration.

The deadline to apply is midnight on Friday, Oct. 2, via the online .

More information about the week’s events can be found on the Orange Central . Any questions can be directed via email to Sarah Ross Cappella.