To me, fall is always a time of optimism and fresh starts, a time to buckle down and get things done. Wilson has entered this fall season with many reasons to feel optimistic – excellent enrollment results, great philanthropy, inspired (and inspiring) leadership, a new entering class, new faces. There is much to be excited about at Wilson College right now.
If you have already supported the We Rise campaign, thank you. The news is good, there is reason to hope, but we cannot take our collective foot off the accelerator. The challenges that Wilson faces are serious and substantial. We all need to work together and pitch in to keep the momentum going. Wilson alums have stepped forward before and made a huge difference, and we can, and must, do it again.
The AAWC Board traditionally holds its Fall meeting on campus in September. However, with the tremendous enthusiasm and activity that now surround Wilson Weekend (formerly known as Homecoming and Family Weekend), we moved our meeting to October this year so our board members could be part of it all. I do hope that those of you who are in the area stopped by.
Reunion 2023 is in the books, and it was a great success. It was a “normal” reunion, rather than three-reunions-in-one as the Grand Reunion had been. We’ve tweaked some traditions and added some new events, and we are always open to suggestions and feedback. Planning is under way for a memorable Reunion 2024, which will be held May 31 to June 2, 2024. If that is “your” reunion, please make an effort to return to Chambersburg for a visit. Even if your class isn’t having a reunion, you are most welcome to attend. There is lots going on, and you certainly won’t be alone.
While we happily welcome new faces and celebrate their arrival, sometimes we have to say goodbye to familiar faces. Katie Shank ’19, ’21M, and ’22M has been a fixture in Alumni House since her student days, most recently serving as director of alumni engagement and the annual fund. She just started a new position at another institution. We are grateful for her service and very sad to see her go. The College is now searching for a new director.
I hope that all alums will make an effort to maintain a connection to Wilson. There is so much going on, and so many ways you can get involved. The links you have with your classmates are precious and forged over many years. And if it appeals to you, you can also connect directly or through social media with the AAWC and the College. We’d love to see you get involved in all the ways you’d like!
Sincerely,
Lynne E. DiStasio ’74
President, AAWC
