Alumni weekend starts off with a BANG

Members+JCs+first+football+team+return+to+the+field+to+walk+across+the+field+one+last+time.+The+past+teammates+walked+side+by+side+with+the+teams+current+captains+Paul+Lorrick+and+Gus+Lane.+

Justin Hawkins

Members JCs first football team return to the field to walk across the field one last time. The past teammates walked side by side with the teams current captains Paul Lorrick and Gus Lane.

What was supposed to kick off with a “BANG!” ended with a “DANG!” for the classes of 2003, 1973, 1978, and 1998.

After months of planning, JC held its third annual Alumni Weekend October 4-6. The weekend-long event started with an Alumni Social in the lower gym followed by a football game against St. Paul’s. After the social and football game, there was a Firework Extravaganza. Saturday evening, classes of 1968, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 2008 had reunions, and on Sunday, there was a luncheon and mass for alumni.

Director of Marketing & Constituent Relations Laura Lang said that “it was a great weekend of events, from Friday night football and fireworks, to Saturday reunions, to Sunday’s memorial mass and luncheon. It brings so many alumni back to campus.  It takes a lot of planning and work by lots of staff and volunteers, but in the end it is all worth it.”

However, it was not as pleasant as planned. The class of 2003 reunion was postponed due to a 10 percent projected attendance. The class was scheduled to have a “Back to School Dance” style reunion in the “new gymnasium” on Oct. 5 from 7-10 p.m. with a DJ and a late 90’s, early 2000’s playlist.

“Many of our classmates are scattered around the country, some would rather not revisit JC and there were three other class weddings and a bachelorette party that weekend,” Tom Scilipoti, class of ‘03 and coordinator of the reunion, said.

Unfortunately, not all of the members of the class who were planning on attending got the message saying that the reunion was canceled which caused some confusion, according to member of the class who replied later on Sunday to this message on the class Facebook group. The reunions for the classes of 1973, 1978, and 1998 were also cancelled due to low response.

However on Saturday, the classes of 1968 and 1983 still held their reunions from 7:00–10:00 p.m. at school. Also, the class of 1988 held their Twenty-Five Year Reunion at MaGerk’s in Bel Air, and the class of 1993 reunion held their reunion at McFaul’s Iron Horse Tavern from 8:30–11:30 p.m. Finally, the class of 2008 held their Five Year Reunion from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at Looney’s in Bel Air.

Emily Cassidy is Promotions Chief and News Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.