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The UMass Boston Office of Alumni Engagement is set to launch a milestone initiative this fall that will honor alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago.

The inaugural Golden Reunion Society Celebration, set for September 21, will pay tribute to graduates from both Boston State College and UMass Boston. The evening will include a reception, dinner, and a special induction ceremony to welcome alumni from the classes of 1974 and earlier into the Golden Reunion Society.

Courtney Ready, Director of Alumni Programs, said the society was designed to bring together alumni who have already celebrated their milestone 50th reunion.

“The Golden Reunion Society Celebration is more than just a celebratory event,” said Ready. “It’s a bridge that connects the past with the present. We hope this event will offer alumni the opportunity to reconnect with their alma mater and with each other.”

The Golden Reunion Society Planning Committee, which comprises alumni from the class of 1973 and 1974, began brainstorming outreach and promotion initiatives in January 2024.

Penny Brett-Vadla ’74 is traveling all the way from Alaska to reunite with her fellow alumni at the September celebration.

"One of the reasons I'm excited about the Golden Reunion Society is because I got a wonderful education at UMass Boston," said Brett-Vadla. She adds that she has visited the campus a handful of times and is amazed by the transformation that the university has undergone since she graduated 50 years ago. "I love what UMass Boston is doing for our students and for our community in the Boston area and beyond."

Brian Day-Lewis ’74 sees the upcoming celebration as a chance to connect with former classmates—something he rarely had the chance to do as a student. Like many of his peers, Day-Lewis balanced multiple jobs while attending UMass Boston, which was then located in Park Square.

“We never really had a chance to network and develop a sense of community,” he said. “To me, these events and other volunteer initiatives can now give us a chance to develop that sense of community.”

In the past, the Office of Alumni Engagement hosted separate 50th reunion events for each graduating class. By establishing the Golden Reunion Society, the university aims to honor both those who have previously celebrated their 50th reunion and those marking this milestone for the first time, making the event a more inclusive and significant annual celebration.

Sylvia Whiting ’74 was a single parent with two toddlers when she enrolled at UMass Boston on a full scholarship. She has since returned to the university a handful of times: once to participate on the Harbor Clean-Up Committee in the late 1980s and again to discuss the impact of her degree in anthropology. Now she’s looking forward to returning to the campus once again to be inducted into the Golden Reunion Society alongside her fellow classmates

“This school served as my career foundation, support, and social network. UMass Boston offers the connection needed for a foundation in life as a benefit to others like myself,” she said.

"I feel very connected to UMass Boston," said George MacLeod '74, who was the first in his family to earn a 天美传媒 degree. "College for me seemed an unattainable goal at that time, [but] I persisted. I will always be grateful and supportive of UMass Boston."

The Golden Reunion Society Celebration will be a highlight of the university’s third annual Beacon Bash, a two-day event that brings together alumni from all class years. Beacon Bash kicks off on September 20 with an all-alumni reunion dinner and a special screening of Hocus Pocus on the Campus Center Front Lawn. On September 21, the festivities continue with the Beacon 5K, a BBQ party, and a range of family-friendly activities, including boat cruises, campus tours, face painting, lawn games, and more.

Alumni from the Class of 1974 and earlier can learn more about the Golden Reunion Society by visiting .

The Office of Alumni Engagement would like to extend a special thanks to the Golden Reunion Society committee members: Penny Brett-Vadla ’74; James Collins, III ’74; Brian Day-Lewis ’74; Lorraine Downey ’74; Marcella Flaherty ’73; Mary Hurley ’74; Natalie Leva ’73; George MacLeod ’74; Karl Schlemmer ’74; Michael Taylor ’73; and Sylvia Whiting ’74.