Around the SUNY Oswego campus

More than 550 alumni and friends came back to campus for Reunion Weekend held June 8 to 11 -- in addition to hundreds more who were in town to celebrate their affinity group reunions. In addition to a full slate of activities. The popular annual Reunion Welcome Back BBQ features a chance to catch up with friends, tasty food and a bonfire outside of Fallbrook.

For returning alumni and guests, the traditional sunset watching remains a popular activity, here during the All-Alumni Spirits and Sunsets Party on June 10. 

Of the many events organized and hosted by the University Advancement team, the Friday evening Welcome Back BBQ at Fallbrook where hundreds of visiting alumni meet up with classmates is one of the most popular. This year, the barbecue took place on June 9.

Tucker Sholtes, 2015 graduate and Alumni Association Board of Directors member, and then-fiancee Hope Wearing -- who celebrated their wedding over this past weekend -- enjoy the Welcome Back BBQ at Fallbrook.

Members of the class of 1983's 40th anniversary group pose for a photo at the Welcome Back BBQ.

More wonderful Reunion photos to come after a look at some exciting student research and study abroad trips ...

Biological sciences faculty members Karen Sime and Susan Hammerly brought students to Tanzania for their two week “Biodiversity and Conservation" course. The class traveled across northern Tanzania and learned about wildlife conservation from local biologists.

Hightlights for students taking part in the “Biodiversity and Conservation" class that traveled to and around Tanzania, included seeing wildlife in their native habitat, including these massive hippos.

The "Oswego Chasers" storm-studying class gathers under a stormy sky in Stratford, Texas, during a cross-country trip in search of extreme weather to study. Students spent most of their time in the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico as part of this annual project led by meteorology professor Scott Steiger. (Photo courtesy of Scott Steiger) Read full story.

Student researchers among the "Oswego Chasers" team observed plenty of extreme weather, including this twister, during travels that concentrated on the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico. The team would calculate a forecast each day and travel to where the possibility of extreme weather seemed most likely, while taking all necessary safety precautions. (Photo by Daniel Kelly) Read full story.

Creative writing professor Juliet Giglio and her class traveled to Norway as part of a “Norse Mythology” course, which included a week-long trip to Oslo and Bergen. (Photo courtesy of Juliet Giglio)

Students in Juliet Giglio's “Norse Mythology” course traversed Norway and took in these kinds of majestic sites while learning. (Photo courtesy of Juliet Giglio)

Public relations professor Lindsay McCluskey and her class took a trip to Florence, Italy, for their “Travel and Tourism” course. Students learned about how tourism is impacting the local economy, the effects of overtourism and ways Italians and Americans respond differently to media communications. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay McCluskey)

Students in Lindsay McCluskey's “Travel and Tourism” course traversed Italy to see stunning sights in addition to learning many angles about the tourism industry. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay McCluskey)

Thomas Spaulding '94, a State Farm Insurance agent in Lewis County, was presented with the Community Service Award, which honors alumni for their outstanding achievement in service to their local, national and global community. Presenting at the cluster reception at Shady Shore is Mary Gibbons Canale '81, vice president of university advancement. and Alumni Board of Directors president Phil Grome '89, retired OCM BOCES Administration in Syracuse.

Alumni gather for a group photo during the 25th and 30th Cluster Anniversary Reception held at Shady Shore welcomed the Classes of '92, '93, '94 and '98.

The All-Alumni Spirits and Sunsets Party June 10 featured dancing along to the tunes of Nik Lite while watching a famous Oswego sunset during an outdoor concert behind Penfield Library and Lanigan Hall.

The Remembrance Ceremony was held at Shady Shore during the class of 1973 reception, honoring alumni lost in previous years. Officiating the event was Laura Pavlus Kelly ’09, executive director of the Oswego Alumni Association and director of alumni engagement, and Michael Huynh M'03, director of campus ministry for the Hall Newman Center at SUNY Oswego.

Members of the Class of 1973 gather to mark their Golden Anniversary at a reception in their honor at Shady Shore. 

The Reunion Weekend's reception and luncheon for alumni from the Class of 1973 and prior, held in Sheldon Hall ballroom, provided classmates with the chance to catch up. Pictured are 1973 classmates Ed Balaban and Diane Lansing.

The special reception and luncheon for alumni from the Class of 1973 and prior, held during Alumni Reunion Weekend in Sheldon Hall ballroom, featured a special presentation of a 2023 Oswego Alumni Association Lifetime Award of Merit to Randall A. Pellow '65, an award-winning author and professor emeritus at Shippensburg University. Presenting the award is Mary Gibbons Canale '81, vice president of university advancement, and Alumni Board of Directors president Phil Grome '89, retired from OCM BOCES Administration in Syracuse.

Mary C. Toale, SUNY Oswego's Officer in Charge, provided alumni with an in-depth look at recent developments in the University Update, part of reunion weekend, in Waterbury Hall Lounge.

2023 Oswego Alumni Association Awards were presented during the University Update event held in Waterbury Hall Lounge for Reunion Weekend. Presenting the awards are Alumni Board of Directors president Phil Grome '89 (at far left), retired OCM BOCES Administration in Syracuse; and Mary Gibbons Canale '81 (right), vice president of university advancement, with the honored recipients, from left: Paul Austin ’89, senior manager for IBM WebSphere Development who also serves on the Oswego Alumni Association Board of Directors and Business Analytics Advisory Board, recipient of the Alumni Impact Award; William F. Precht ’79, environmental consultant, educator and environmental and marine scientist, recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award; Cheryl Bird ’77, executive director of Seneca Street Community Development Corporation in Buffalo, recipient of the Lifetime Award of Merit; and Suzanne Selkowitz Reek ’84, president of the Autism Society of America’s Nassau Suffolk chapter, recipient of the Community Service Award. Two other winners — Gary Baker ’95, Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Justin Dobrow ’17, Graduates Of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award — will be recognized at a later date.

Don Little '91 M'94 M'15, a Syracuse City school district teacher, presented the history of SUNY Oswego's founder, Edward Austin Sheldon, and the legacy he left on the world of education. The presentation, an annual part of Alumni Reunion, took place in the Sheldon Hall Historic Classroom.

Alumni had a special picnic at Reunion Weekend overlooking the lake with special seating included for milestone classes and mini-reunion groups on the lawn behind Lakeside Dining Center.

Alumni had a special picnic at Reunion Weekend overlooking the lake with special seating included for milestone classes and mini-reunion groups on the lawn behind Lakeside Dining Center.