Welcome Home Class of 2026
Lafayette’s newest Leopards were spotted across the U.S. this summer at the homes of alumni and parents who hosted events to welcome members of the Class of 2026. More than 350 students and their family members attended the events. The Class of 2026 has the special recognition of graduating four years from now during Lafayette’s bicentennial year.
Class of 2026 students from the Philadelphia Area
The benefits of connecting alumni with new families are twofold: Families have the opportunity to learn why Lafayette is a terrific choice, and alumni are able to share their positive experiences with families.
“Our time at Lafayette was incredibly important and meaningful to both of us, and every year we look forward to being able to share a small part of that experience with incoming students from the Lehigh Valley,” explains Amanda Grey ’13, who has hosted Lehigh Valley welcome events with her husband, Adam Grey ’14, for several years. “As young alumni, we understand both the student and the parent perspective, and while we know the students will have an amazing time, it is also important to reassure the parents that they made the right choice. We feel these Welcome Events have resulted in some really impactful conversations.”
Longtime welcome event hosts Michael ’82 and Jenny ’82 Weisburger couldn’t agree more. “Jenny and I have hosted receptions for incoming first-year students for close to 20 years. We have yet to be disappointed in terms of the enthusiasm, optimism, and great anticipation that the incoming students and their parents bring to our home. The event always reminds us of the friendships, opportunities, and happiness that our time at Lafayette created for us.”
Members of the Class of 2026 at the New Jersey (shore area) Welcome Event
Annual welcome events provide students with the opportunity to form bonds before they arrive on College Hill. Class of 2026 parent Melissa Wells P’26 was grateful for the opportunity that the event provided for her daughter. “I just wanted to take a moment to tell you what an incredibly amazing welcome to the school last night was. My daughter, Emily, spoke the entire ride home about the meet and greet in such a positive way it made us so happy. Thank you for pulling such a lovely event together and please tell the family that it’s truly appreciated that they opened their doors to incoming freshmen.”
Special thanks to the following families for hosting:
Adam ’14 and Amanda ’13 Grey – Lehigh Valley, Pa.
Matt ’97 and Megan ’98 Rutt – Philadelphia, Pa.
Alex ’04 and Leslie Karapetian – Central New Jersey
Robert Young ’77 P’13, Helen Young P’13, and Megan Young ’13 – New Jersey Shore
Paul Doherty ’90, Christine Doherty P’19, and Hannah Doherty ’19 – Northern New Jersey
David Tesher ’84,Anita Tesher P’16, ’19, Taylor ’16, and Haley Tesher ’19 – Long Island, N.Y.
Michael ’82 and Jenny ’82 Weisburger – Westchester, N.Y.
David ’67 and Ginni Spencer – Massachusetts
Jim Benjamin ’84 – Atlanta, Ga.
Andrea Palmer P’22, Mark Orttung P’22, and Sarah Orttung ’22 – San Francisco/Bay Area, Calif.
John Willams P’23, Michelle Williams, and Finn Williams ’23 – Orange County, Calif.
Susan Fox ’88 and Jeffrey Markowitz – Washington, D.C.
View additional photos from the events below:
