Alumni and friends of Brenau University are welcomed to the historic Gainesville campus April 11-13 for the annual Alumni Reunion Weekend as the school celebrates 145 years in operation.
This year, Brenau will celebrate 145 years of The Women’s College and the 95th anniversary of Brenau Academy, as well as alumni from the graduate programs and the university as a whole.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of our alumni,” Alumni Director Emily Reid said. “The value our Women’s College, university and Academy alumni bring to our present-day institution is immeasurable. We are thrilled to invite everyone to the historic and Downtown campuses and celebrate their involvement in Brenau’s future, while honoring the memorable experiences they had as students.”
The weekend is jam-packed with exciting events, including the Innovation, Inquiry and Creativity Symposium on Friday. The professional development presentation offers continuing education credit, led by Lawrence E. Henderson, Jr., CPC, PCC, and is open to the greater community. This interactive workshop offers a deep dive into the critical elements of employee engagement, revealing how they serve as catalysts for organizational excellence and productivity.
The symposium features undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff presentations that span disciplines as diverse as fine arts and humanities, education, health, science, business and communication.
“The 2024 Symposium marks the second year that the event expanded the definition of research to include Innovation, Inquiry, and Creativity to better reflect the range and diversity of scholarly work that is conducted within the many disciplines represented at Brenau,” Billi Bromer, Ed.D., education professor and committee member, said.
Registration for the symposium and the continuing education presentation is required, sign up for the presentation here and for the symposium here.
The 145th Celebration on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Brenau Downtown Center Ballroom will highlight class years ending in a 4 or a 9, and the presentation of the annual alumni award winners. Each reunion class member will receive their pin during a special ceremony. This event is open to all alumni.
The art and design department will host the Brenau Collaborative art and fashion show on Thursday. The art show in Sellars Gallery will be open from 3-5 p.m., and the fashion show will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Pearce Auditorium. A reception will follow in Sellars and Presidents galleries. Additionally, the Brenau Dance Senior Thesis and Guest Artist concert will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday in the John S. Burd Performing Arts Center. These events are open to the public.
Brenau Academy alumnae will be celebrated at the 95th Celebration on Saturday, April 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Northeast Georgia History Center.
The Golden Decades Class Giving Competition has returned this year, which encourages alumni to raise funds for student scholarships. Recognition will be given to the decade with the highest participation rate with the greatest number of alumni donors, and to the decade with the most dollars donated between July 1, 2023 and April 12, 2024. A silver trophy engraved with the winning class decades will be displayed in Walters Alumni House. Make a donation here.
All of Brenau’s sororities will host alumnae on Saturday, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which will celebrate 30 years at Brenau’s campus.
A full list of events can be found here. Registration is required to attend Alumni Reunion Weekend, and all who register will receive a swag bag filled with Brenau goodies and access to the champagne brunch on Saturday morning.
