Alumni Weekend: Stars, Sports, and Service
Actress Uzo Aduba, Nickerson Field centennial among this year’s draws
Alumni Weekend 2015, September 24–27, drew alums from around the world and featured more than 100 events. Photo by Cydney Scott
Sandra Burke (CAS’65) (left) and Ruth Albert (SED’65,’69) take a closer look at their yearbooks at the Class of 1965 & Golden Terriers Luncheon at Kilachand Hall. Photo by Cydney Scott
George Viglirolo (SED’65) (from left), Lucilia Record (SED’65), and Vincent Trunfio (CFA’50, GRS’51) catch up at the Class of 1965 & Golden Terriers Luncheon at Kilachand Hall. Photo by Cydney Scott
President Robert A. Brown speaks at the Best of BU Luncheon & University Alumni Awards. Three alums were honored at the event, held at the George Sherman Union Metcalf Hall. Photo by Cydney Scott
Each year, Alumni Weekend celebrates Golden Terriers, alums who graduated from BU 50 or more years ago. Photo by Cydney Scott
Lisa A. Wong (CAS’00, GRS’00), who is serving her fourth term as mayor of Fitchburg, Mass., received the 2015 Young Alumni Award. Wong was first elected mayor at age 28. Photo by Cydney Scott
Robert K. Jackler (MED’79) (second from left), an otologist-neurotologist, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Wayne Positan (CAS’70), president of the BU Alumni Council. Looking on are Karen Antman, dean of the School of Medicine and provost of the Medical Campus, and President Robert A. Brown. Photo by Cydney Scott
Sarah Degnan Kambou (SPH’84, UNI’94), president of the International Center for Research on Women, speaks after receiving a Distinguished Alumni Award, the University’s highest honor. Photo by Cydney Scott
Tracy Tillett (ENG’90) (from left), Igor Pereira DePaula (ENG’16), Terry Anthony (ENG’86), and Fritz Jolivain (ENG’17) capture the moment at a College of Engineering reception for past and present members of the Minority Engineers Society and the National Society of Black Engineers. Photo by Cydney Scott
Alums helped mark 100 years of Braves/Nickerson Field by taking a tour of the field, listening to a panel discussion, and enjoying a barbecue. Photo by Michael D. Spencer
CFA 2015 Inspiring Young Alumni Award winners: actor Greg Hildreth (CFA’05) (from left), Emmy-winning actor Uzo Aduba (CFA’05), and designer David Delmar (CFA’06), flanked by Lynne Allen, CFA dean ad interim, and event emcee James Demler, a CFA assistant professor. Photo by Kim Hedegaard von Holstein-Rathl
Ita Kane (ENG'12) (left) and Kristely Bastien (SAR'12) at the Menino Scholars Alumni Reception, held at the home of Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore (SED’87). Photo by Cydney Scott
The opening of Champion for Human Rights: The Life and Work of Elie Wiesel, an exhibition at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center honoring the life and work of author, activist, and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel (Hon.’74), the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and a CAS professor of philosophy and religion. Photo by Cydney Scott
Ed Baker (Questrom’49) attended Champion for Human Rights: The Life and Work of Elie Wiesel, the new exhibition at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center honoring the life and work of author, activist, and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel (Hon.’74), the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and a CAS professor of philosophy and religion. Photo by Cydney Scott
A crowd gathered for the opening Champion For Human Rights: The Life and Work of Elie Wiesel, an exhibition at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center honoring the life and work of author, activist, and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel (Hon.’74), the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and a CAS professor of philosophy and religion. Photo by Cydney Scott
Television Academy, eat your heart out. This month, the academy gave actress Uzo Aduba a second consecutive Emmy Award for her performance as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in the hit Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. And yet, when Aduba (CFA’05) received an Inspiring Young Alumni Award last weekend from the College of Fine Arts, it was clear where her heart lay. “I can say without question that this is easily the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Aduba said.
The former School of Music voice major and track star was one of three graduates honored by CFA during Alumni Weekend. Broadway actor Greg Hildreth (CFA’05) and David Delmar (CFA’06), a designer and founder of volunteer-based Resilient Coders, also were given the award on Saturday.
It was a weekend of celebrations. At the Best of BU Luncheon & University Alumni Awards, two alums received the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor the University presents its graduates: Robert K. Jackler (MED’79), an otologist-neurotologist who specializes in complex ear diseases and who founded the group Stanford Research into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising, and Sarah Degnan Kambou (SPH’84, UNI’94), president of the International Center for Research on Women and a recipient of the Perdita Huston Human Rights Award from the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. Lisa A. Wong (CAS’00, GRS’00), who is serving her fourth term as mayor of Fitchburg, Mass., was presented with the 2015 Young Alumni Award. “I try to honor the BU alumni every day in the work that I do,” said Wong, who was first elected to the office at age 28.
The weekend, which featured more than 100 events, gave alums the opportunity not only to celebrate fellow Terriers, but also to reminisce and reconnect with one another. At 100 Years of Braves/Nickerson Field, Fred Rapoport (CAS’71), Arnold Baker (SED’72), and Gary Capehart (SED’71) met to catch up and remember their days on the BU football team. They toured the field with fellow alums, imagining the cheers when the Boston Braves played baseball here decades ago. The Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953 and to Atlanta in 1966.
Back at CFA’s Inspiring Young Alumni Awards, harpist Amelia Cook (CFA’18, CAS’18) played Bach as a crowd of elegantly attired guests mingled in the 808 Gallery. Eager fans flocked to Aduba. Jade’ Davis (CFA’16) said that as an African American and an aspiring actress, she was especially excited about hearing Aduba speak: “She’s someone for me to look up to.”
But it’s more than celebrity, or even classmates, that keeps the BU community coming back for the festivities. For some, it’s tradition. Joanna Couto said she attends almost every time. “It just makes the year complete,” said Couto (Questrom’81), an SAP developer at BU. “It’s almost like another holiday. You wouldn’t skip Thanksgiving, right?”
Julie Butters can be reached at jbutters@bu.edu.
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