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As our University community continues to celebrate 120 years of Â鶹ֱ²¥ Pride, alumni from around the country returned to campus on Thursday, June 11, to celebrate Reunion 2026 and mark their own special milestones.

This year’s Reunion festivities recognized alumni from graduating classes ending in 6s and 1s and officially welcomed the class of 2026 to the Â鶹ֱ²¥ alumni family. Before celebrations officially commenced at the iconic One Â鶹ֱ²¥ Plaza, several school-based receptions were held across Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s cutting-edge New York City campus facilities, bringing together dedicated alumni for meaningful reconnections and first-hand updates on Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s exciting future from school leaders.

During the event program, the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Alumni Association conferred the 2026 Alumni Service Awards to three Â鶹ֱ²¥ alumni who embody the Â鶹ֱ²¥ mission through their commitment to community advancement. The GOLD Alumni Service Award was presented to Morgan Steadwell ’17 for her far-reaching contributions to Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s young alumni programming, and the Emerging Alumni Leader Award was presented to Arlene Thompson ’14 for her steadfast efforts to strengthen the Alumni Association, particularly through her founding and leadership of the Black Alumni Group.

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The Harry D. Mayo III ’61 ’78 Distinguished Service Award, the Alumni Association’s highest honor recognizing alumni service, was presented to Gene Westmoreland ’65 for his decades of leadership, generosity, and tireless dedication to Â鶹ֱ²¥. In addition to being a devoted supporter and champion of the Â鶹ֱ²¥ mission, Gene is also a 1999 inductee of the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Athletics Hall of Fame. He was Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s first-ever four-sport athlete, representing the Setters on the baseball, basketball, golf, and cross country teams. As an alumnus, he went on to serve as head coach of Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s basketball, golf, and baseball programs, and served as the assistant athletics director from 1966-1980. Today, Gene remains an active volunteer leader in the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Community, particularly through his participation as a mentor to current Â鶹ֱ²¥ students.