[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Alumni_Hall08.jpg” caption=”Alumni Weekend 2008 runs from Thursday, May 29 to Sunday, June 1. Photo by Chris Martin.”]McMaster University will welcome home its graduates during Alumni Weekend 2008 from Thursday, May 29 to Sunday, June 1. An annual event, this year's festivities feature a new and exciting start, with the Alumni Gallery and Alumni Association Awards ceremony being held on Thursday evening.

For the first time, five new Gallery members will be inducted, and award winners will receive their recognition at a dinner event to be held at the Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club.

“In the past, the ceremony has been held on Saturday afternoon of Alumni Weekend,” says Karen McQuigge, director of Alumni Advancement. “This year, we made it a stand-alone event to raise the profile of the Alumni Gallery and our awards ceremony, and bring it out into the wider-community. Our inductees and award winners represent the accomplishments of McMaster alumni across the world, and we are always proud to recognize those successes.”

The weekend events will kick off on Saturday morning, as President Peter George hosts the President's Luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Half Century Club Luncheon, an alumni weekend favourite, will take place between 12 and 2 p.m., and campus tours will run from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Along with these events, several class and faculty reunions and a gathering of the Campaign Cabinet, led by Ron Joyce for The Campaign for McMaster University, will take place on campus. Rounding out Saturday's festivities is the President's Club Reception, an event to recognize and thank McMaster's President Club level donors for their support of the University.

“Alumni Weekend is always exciting,” continues McQuigge. “Welcoming McMaster graduates back to campus provides a sense of history, as well as a connection between McMaster graduates of all grad years and faculties. It is also a chance for us to meet many of McMaster's graduates, and acknowledge the accomplishments and contributions of McMaster's alumni, donors and volunteers.”

The weekend's events will conclude on Sunday with the Volunteer Recognition Family BBQ for alumni association volunteers, followed by the Annual General Meeting of the McMaster Alumni Association at 1 p.m.

Schedule of events:

Class Reunions:

Faculty Reunions:

For more information about Alumni Weekend events, please click here, e-mail alumni@mcmaster.ca or call 905-525-9140, ext. 23900.