Homecoming 2017: Oct. 26-29

At Homecoming 1978 Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids, still basking in fame from their appearance in George Lucas’ film American Graffiti, played for about 10,000 people in Balch Fieldhouse. Nearly everyone wore a toga.

“The movie Animal House had just been released,” said James Barry (Econ’79), who planned the event as the head of the Interfraternity Council. “It was the wildest party I remember at CU.”

Barry, a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity while at CU, is eager to reminisce about the event and others during this year’s Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 26-29. He’s hosting a reunion for all classes of Delta Upsilon, the first in more than 20 years.

“Delta Upsilon was at CU for over 35 years, and in that time over 2,500 members graduated from CU,” said Barry, CEO of marketing consultancy Duly Inc.

Barry hopes reunion attendees can “kindle the old spirit,” catch up with each other and discuss whether Delta Upsilon should reactivate a chapter in Boulder. (CU announced the launch of a new interfraternity council in July. Two fraternities, Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Tau Gamma, agreed formally to affiliate with the university.)

Also reuniting among nearly 20 other groups are American Indian Alumni, the President’s Leadership Class, Black Alumni, Veterans and Latino Alumni. All groups will celebrate at an exclusive reunions tailgate before the Buffs take on the Cal Bears at Folsom Field, Saturday, Oct. 28.

The weekend kicks off Oct. 26 with the annual Alumni Awards ceremony in the University Memorial Center. Eleven individuals will be honored, including Uncharted (formerly Unreasonable Institute) CEO Teju Ravilochan (IntlAf’09), education dean emerita Lorrie Shepard (MEdu’70; PhD’72) and student leader Alexander Martin (�ұ�Dz�’18).

During the BuffTalks micro lecture series Friday, Oct. 27, CU experts will succinctly discuss intriguing topics — space and brain injuries, for example — and alumni brewers will showcase their best libations during the Buffs on Tap beer tasting event. From there, the annual Homecoming parade and pep rally will commence on Pearl Street. On gameday, all are encouraged to attend the free, family-friendly Ralphie’s Corral tailgate on Duane Field before Ralphie takes the field in her 50th anniversary run. .

Photo courtesy James Barry

A Growing Class of Scholars

In 2012, Benoit Gorgemans (Bus’21) was the first student to represent Colorado in the National History Bee Finals in Washington, D.C. During a televised broadcast, moderator Al Roker quizzed competitors on topics such as apartheid and the fall of Communism. Gorgemans, who placed eighth, realized the payoff for hard work.

He’s not stopping now. Gorgemans joins CU’s class of 2021 this fall intending to pursue international business and finance. The Alumni Association is helping him get started: Gorgemans is one of nearly 90 standout students to receive a Forever Buffs scholarship.

Funds for the scholarships come from the sales of CU license plates, personal donations and alumni chapter and club events. This year, 86 students received $158,264, up from 67 and $151,950 a year earlier.

Some scholarships, 32 this year, are allocated for legacy students — Buffs whose parents or grandparents attended CU Boulder — as part of an endowment left by George (Bus’33) and Helen Lesser (�ʲ��⳦��’31).

Since elementary school, Gorgemans has watched the Golden Buffalo Marching Band perform in Friday-night pep rallies on Pearl Street. Now he's eager to attend as many athletic games as he can.

“CU represents everything that I desire in my college experience,” he said.

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Alumni Association Tidbits

The CU Heritage Center’s approximately 1-million-piece depiction of CU Boulder’s campus is getting a makeover. Beginning Oct. 26, visit the expanded exhibit in a larger room. New additions include the business school, the Ralphie-shaped pool and the Champions Center.

There are two new alumni chapters, in Honolulu and Santa Barbara. David Markle (Soc’12) leads the Honolulu chapter and Ryan Connery (PolSci’08), a former Phoenix chapter leader, heads the Santa Barbara chapter.

Tailgate with the Alumni Association this fall at Ralphie’s Corral, a free, family-friendly pregame on Duane Field starting three hours before each home football game. Ralphie and her handlers will make an appearance for photo opportunities. For away games, check out our equally festive Buffs Bash tailgates.

The Alumni Association welcomes its newest advisory board members: M. Susan Harvey (�ұ��’76), Mark Lambert (Econ, Engl’88), David Knox (�پ����ٳ���’82), Theresa Szczurek (MBA’84; PhD’89), Meghan Martelon Evans (�ʴDZ�������’89), Chris Allieri (EnvSt, LatAmerSt’96), Amanda Freeberg Donovan (Mktg’03) and Jennifer Gray Graves (��dz���’06).

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CU As You’ve Never Seen It

“Hit the Bricks,” a 12-by-17-foot LEGO® model of campus, opened Dec. 6 at the Heritage Center in Old Main. Designed and built by the Colorado and Wyoming LEGO® User Group, the display takes up most of a room. This is a model with a sense of humor, reflecting CU in reality and hyper-reality — Ralphie and Ralphie’s handlers, cyclists, slackliners, trees by the hundred, plus spacecraft and a dinosaur dig on Norlin quad. Mind the shark in Varsity Lake.Fast Facts

Photography by Patrick Campbell

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The has cleared space for a detailed LEGO model of campus replete with iconic campus buildings, the Flatirons and University Hill. Located on the third floor of Old Main, the model, in progress at press time, will include a near-perfect representation of a Folsom Field football game with charging buffaloes, and students ambling across Norlin Quad.

Hand-assembled, the exhibit is scheduled to open by New Year’s.

Photography by Jessica Rigney

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