Home : Alumnae : REUNION : Reunion 2009 Recap
Reunion 2009 Recap: May 29-31, 2009
Women Who Are Going Places Start At Hollins. And Returned for Reunion 2009!
Highlights
- More than 500 alumnae and friends in attendance!
- Photo Gallery
- Largest class in attendance: 1959 with 54 attendees
- 25th Reunion remarks given by Allison Stanton McDuffie '84
- 50th Reunion remarks given by Florence Fowler Peacock '59
- Sunday Worship Service Sermon, "The Surprise of Your Life," by the Rev. Dr. Jan Fuller '78
Exhibit and Gallery Talk
Mary Page Evans '59 gave a talk and slideshow of her artwork. Her paintings are on display in the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum. Evans was presented with the Betsy Green Grubbs Award at reunion, for significant achievement in the arts.
The 50th Anniversary of the Riding Program in the Guy Burkholder Era
Alumnae riders enjoyed dinner in the riding ring, cocktails, and time to visit riding program staff and the award-winning horses. Burkholder was posthumously inducted into the Hollins Athletic Hall of Fame (see below for other inductees).
Behind the Doors: A Backstage Look at the Arts at Hollins and in Roanoke
Amy Moorefield, director of the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, led a VIP tour of the arts in Roanoke. The journey began at Hollins' Wilson Museum in the Wetherill Visual Arts Center and continued into downtown Roanoke with stops at:
- Downtown Roanoke's new Taubman Museum of Art with greeting and tour by Deputy Director of Exhibitions David Brown and incoming Board Chair Dr. Paul Franz
- Virginia Museum of Transportation with Executive Director Bev Fitzpatrick
- Roanoke Times printing press with Publisher Debbie Meade
- Betty Branch '79, sculptor, studio tour and reception with the artist
Women Who’ve Gone Places
Eight alumnae from a variety of backgrounds shared their stories of how Hollins shaped their success. The panelists were:
- Mildred Persinger '39, co-founder of the International Women's Tribune Center, a communication and training center for women in developing countries, and World YWCA representative to the United Nations for 30 years
- Agnes Reid Jones Jenny '44, physical therapist and lifetime volunteer, including helping orphans escape Saigon
- Gene Gill '54, retired director of general services for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Ellen Malcolm '69, founder of EMILY's List
- Linda Koch Lorimer '74, former president of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and current vice president and secretary of Yale University
- Judy Morrill '84, managing director of Highmount Capital LLC in New York
- Melissa Hidrobo '99, leather goods manager for Louis Vuitton;
- Elizabeth Burgin '04, an attorney with Woods Rogers PLC in Roanoke
The 35th Anniversary of Hollins Abroad-London
Alumnae enjoyed a British high tea on Saturday afternoon and updates on the program today from President Gray.
Distinguished Alumnae Award
Mildred Emory Persinger '39, Florence Fowler Peacock '59, Elizabeth Fentress Goodwin '69, Ellen Reighley Malcolm '69, Charlotte Conant Fox '79
- The Distinguished Alumnae Award honors individual alumnae who have brought distinction to themselves and to Hollins through broad and inspiring personal or career achievements; local, national or international volunteer service; or significant contributions to society.
Distinguished Young Alumna Award – Inaugural Recipient
Veronica Votypka '99
- This brand new honor was established in 2009 by the Board of Trustees. The Distinguished Young Alumna Award recognizes a member of the 5th, 10th, or 15th Reunion Year Class whose accomplishments since graduation have been extraordinary.
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
- Ann Davant Crehore '84 – soccer and lacrosse
- Nancy Novak Curran '79 – field hockey
- Sandra Garrison Hodges '79 – basketball and lacrosse
- Alice-Cole Moss Reynolds '04, tennis and field hockey
- Margaret Grill Tickner '79 – field hockey and lacrosse
- Guy Burkholder – director of the riding program, 1959-1985 (posthumous)
- Previous inductees
Pat Thomas Bain '49 Award
Suzy Mink '74
- The Bain Award is presented at reunion to the individual or group whose efforts have achieved a significant increase in Hollins Fund participation.
Betsy Green Grubbs '72 Award
Mary Page Evans '59
- Named in honor of former Alumnae Relations Director and member of the class of 1972, Betsy Green Grubbs, the award is presented to a Hollins alumna or Hollins community member who has made a significant contribution in the arts.
The Rath Award
Polly Barksdale Garbee '59
Linda Koch Lorimer '74
- The Rath Award is given annually to an alumna or alumnae whose participation in the life of Hollins has been extraordinary and whose personal investment of time and effort in the institution over the years represents the very best of the Hollins spirit.
Class Award Winners
The Tinker Mountain Award
- Class of 1974 with $201,075
- Given to the class that raises the largest total gift for the Hollins Fund.
The Catherine Orgill West ’51 Award
- Class of 1959 with 60%
- Honors the class with the highest participation in giving to the Hollins Fund.
- The Class of '59 also raised $74,252 in gifts and pledges for the Class of 1959 Memorial Scholarship Fund. The impetus for this fund came from the bequest of a classmate, Desha Graves Rosborough. Reunion Gift Chair Polly Barksdale Garbee and Phyllis Brooks worked hard with their class on behalf of the fund.
The Hollins Rock Award
- Class of 1999 with 17%
- Awarded to the class among the ten most recent classes with the highest Hollins Fund participation.