Canceled for 2020
Fellow Alumni,
We hope this message finds you well under the circumstances we are all facing. We’re writing to let you know that we have made the difficult decision to cancel this summer’s Alumni Weekend (June 11-14) out of concern for the health and safety of our extended community. The College has already postponed the Class of 2020’s Commencement ceremony in May, in addition to a number of other events.
The Alumni Council Executive Committee met virtually to discuss the situation and options with Vice President Carolyn Curry, who in turn shared their views with President Tuajuanda Jordan and the College’s Executive Council. All agreed that no one can predict the outcome of the pandemic this summer, so the prudent and safe choice is to cancel.
If you were one of our VIP alums (donors of $100+) who took advantage of early registration, we will refund the entirety of your event registration fee to the credit card with which you submitted your payment. It may take some time to process all of the refunds, so we ask that you please be patient with us as we work to return your payments. Additional donations that were made through the event registration are non-refundable, as a tax receipt was provided to you with your registration receipt. We very much appreciate your donations on behalf of our students, especially in these uncertain times. Should you have any questions about refunds, email dmsushinsky@smcm.edu.
Although we are disappointed we won’t be able to welcome you back to campus this June, the Alumni Council, in addition to our Alumni Relations staff and other terrific units in Institutional Advancement, are exploring a number of virtual initiatives to keep the momentum going. Stay tuned! In the meantime, mark Hawktoberfest on your calendars (September 25-26), and hopefully the Governor’s Cup Yacht Race (July 31-August 1). And for those celebrating a milestone anniversary this year, we will be sure to include you in a joint celebration with the classes ending in 1 and 6 at next year’s Alumni Weekend (June 10-13, 2021).
These are unprecedented times that will eventually tap into our strong sense of renewal. For now, take care of each other and be safe.
Dave Sushinsky ’02
Director of Alumni Relations
Allan Wagaman ’06
Alumni Association President
SMCM has taken a number of steps to keep our community safe, including online learning for students through the end of the semester and updated teleworking policies for faculty and staff. We urge you to follow the College’s communiques regarding COVID-19 to students, families, and the internal campus community at smcm.edu/covid-19. This website is updated regularly by our Institutional Advancement team.