ICView Magazine

Officially welcoming summer to the Ithaca College campus, alumni came home to South Hill June 21–23 for Alumni Weekend 2024.

The summertime vibes were apparent from the start, drawing hundreds of alumni and their family members. With representation ranging from the classes of 1960 to 2023, connections were forged across decades and disciplines as attendees took part in events and activities on campus and around Ithaca. 

The weekend officially started on Friday, with a chance for classmates to reunite and reminisce over live music and food— and the evening concluded with a fireworks display, evoking “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd gathered around the fountains at Dillingham Center. Many alumni arrived early to take in an iconic sunset view over Cayuga Lake, including Steven Schopp ’66 and his wife, Rae. “There’s nothing like sitting here and seeing the lake in the distance,” Schopp said. “It’s always beautiful.” 

Schopp, who returned to campus to be recognized as an Alumni Award winner, was a music major who spent his first two years at IC in the college’s downtown classrooms and witnessed the development of the South Hill campus. Ithaca College has been a constant throughout Schopp’s life—not only did his daughter, Laurie Schopp, MM ’96, follow in his footsteps, but he’s also supervised dozens of IC’s music education students as a longtime music teacher on Long Island. “They were very wellqualified, always the best students,” he said. 

Prior to the fireworks display, IC’s president, La Jerne Terry Cornish, led the attendees in a toast, celebrating their passion for Ithaca College and the bridges that bring the community together. “Your commitment to visit your alma mater and each other is a testament to what makes this place special. Your love and passion for the college inspires me and moves me. I celebrate the bridges that bring us together—past, present, and always,” Cornish said. “Bridges require a firm foundation, like the ones you received at Ithaca College, where you laid the foundational stones that helped you start your journey. Bridges must also be designed for flexibility. Across the generations they must adapt to new conditions, and they require constant care and upkeep, much like our campus, our community, and our programs. Most importantly, the bridges got you where you were going and also brought you back home to South Hill.”

Throughout the weekend, alumni were encouraged to get out into the community and reconnect with all that Ithaca has to offer, including historical walking tours of downtown, free shuttles to and from the Ithaca Farmers Market, and boat tours of Cayuga Lake, which provided an experience not typically available during fall reunions. 

Despite the summer setting, academic and professional programming was available to attendees in abundance, including town halls with school deans, tours of academic buildings, a professional development mini-conference, and a women’s leadership panel. 

Melanie Pritchard ’89, a communications alumna, fondly remembered her relationship with Betty George, a long-time Ithaca College employee who recently passed away. “I was a student worker for the Instructional Resource Center out of the fifth floor of the library, where Betty was a department assistant,” Pritchard said. “She became a dear friend, like a mother to me, and we stayed in touch over the years. She loved Ithaca College, and her heart was here. I just consider it in my mind to be the greatest college,” she added. “You can’t beat the town, and I love coming back here. It was a lot of fun as a student, especially in the School of Communications, doing hands-on work on the TV shows right from day one.” 

For Camille Doherty ’93, a newly elected member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Ithaca College has a newfound special meaning now that her daughter, Mureen Doherty ’26, also calls South Hill home. “I didn’t realize how important it was to me until she made up her mind to come to IC,” Doherty said. “Ithaca College is where I found my tribe.” 

Doherty’s college roommate, Robbie Black ’93, was also in attendance. “My time here at IC was wonderful,” Black said. “It was a beautiful place to come of age. I had the best experiences, and I made a group of lifelong friends.” A lasting theme throughout the weekend was the sense that Ithaca College shaped these alumni to become the people they are today. “Ithaca, for me, has become a home,” Donette Samuel ’14 said. “It’s a place I return to when I need to recenter and remember how far I’ve come, and I’m excited to be here to introduce my son to the college and reunite with other graduates to celebrate the school.” 

Jim Wolan ’03 attended Alumni Weekend 2024 with his wife, Manisha Wolan ’04, and their two sons. The couple met on campus, which Jim credits as his favorite memory from his time at IC: “Ithaca was absolutely the crucible that turned me into who I am.”

Saturday evening’s Alumni Awards Celebration, a marquee event of the weekend—and a favorite of recurring attendees—honored standout members of the Ithaca College community whose exceptional professional accomplishments and volunteer services have contributed to the success and reputation of the college. “Our alumni remind us that their time in college was more than just climbing the hills between classes, meeting friends downtown, studying on the quad, or getting a diploma,” said President Cornish at the ceremony. “It was a transformative experience that helped mold them into the individuals that they are today.” 

The IC Alumni Association Board of Directors recognized nine outstanding members of the college’s community. You can read more about each winner here.