October 30, 2024

Lafayette spirit shines bright at Fall Weekend

Alumni, families, and students enjoyed a festive weekend of fall traditions and celebrations at Homecoming, Family Weekend, and Fall Fest

By Jill Spotz

A group of alumni are standing outside. They are smiling at the camera. More than 2,100 alumni and families arrived to beautiful weather and stunning fall foliage for Fall Weekend Oct. 25-27. New this year, Homecoming, Family Weekend, and Fall Fest, sponsored by the Lafayette Activities Forum, took place simultaneously. The Quad was transformed with festive pumpkins and autumn decorations for Fall Fest and the Fall Harvest picnic, where students and families enjoyed hayrides, a petting zoo, live music, and savored delicious food from food trucks before the Saturday football game against Holy Cross. Highlights from the weekend included a Fall Harvest Tailgate, Gateway Career Center Volunteer Awards, Marquis Founders Dinner, the dedication of the Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center, a retirement celebration for Rosie Bukics, Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Professor of Economics, Sustainability’s LaFarm-to-Table Luncheon, fraternity and sorority gatherings, and more. Take a look at some moments from this action-packed weekend.

Gateway Career Center Volunteer Awards

The Gateway Career Center’s annual Volunteer Awards honor alumni and parents who consistently share their expertise and knowledge to ensure Lafayette students receive exceptional career experiences such as internships, externships, and professional development. The recipients of this year’s awards included:

Danielle Bero ’07: Lois and Neil Gagnon Award for Distinguished Service

David Hammer ’92, Mark Suffredini ’93, and Josh Werner ’79: 25-year Distinguished Externship Service Commitment Award

Jeff Cantafio ’99, Susan C. Pannulo P’14, Christina Seckar ’96, and Brian Sliwinski ’08: 10-year Externship Commitment Award

Mike Summers Associate Vice President, Gateway Career Center is standing with Danielle Bero '07. Danielle is holding a glass award. — Mike Summers, associate vice president, Gateway Career Center and Danielle Bero ’07. Danielle received the Lois and Neil Gagnon Award for Distinguished Service.

Mark Suffredini ’93 is standing with Alexis Leon. Mark is holding a glass award. — Mark Suffredini ’93 is pictured with Alexis Leon, assistant director experiential learning. Mark received the 25-year Distinguished Externship Service Commitment Award.

Joshua Werner ’79, is standing with his wife, Nancy. Nancy is wearing a pink shirt and Josh is wearing a dark jacket. — Joshua Werner ’79, pictured with his wife, Nancy, received the 25-year Distinguished Externship Service Commitment Award.

A group of students are standing and talking to each other. — Matteo Fong '28 was among several students who attended the event and spoke about the impact of early career experiences.

Wanos is behind a podium. She is wearing a blue shirt. — Wanos Bahiru '25

Kashif Chopra '25 is speaking behind a podium. — Kashif Chopra '25

Marquis Founders Dinner

Members of Lafayette’s Marquis Society gathered in Marquis Hall Oct. 25 for the annual Marquis Founders Dinner. Marquis Society members contributed more than $22.6 million to elevate the student experience last fiscal year. Collectively, Marquis Society members are the most generous benefactors of the College. Their support impacts many initiatives and programs including the Lafayette College Fund, which supports the College’s highest priorities, financial aid, academic programs, athletics, and more.

During the evening, President Nicole Farmer Hurd led a panel discussion with Laura McGrane, provost, and Ernest Jeffries, vice president for inclusion, focused on the College’s new strategic plan. Together, they discussed the concept of “And” in academics and connected topics such as creating environments for learning, building critical thinking skills, promoting civil dialogue, and leaning into Easton and the Lehigh Valley for educational opportunities.

“With more than 2,200 members in the Marquis Society, your support has a tremendous impact across campus,” said President Nicole Hurd during her remarks. “When I look around this room, I see so many who help us unlock the immense potential of our students.”

The program for the Marquis Society dinner is displayed on a table.

President Nicole Hurd speaks — “With more than 2,200 members in the Marquis Society, your support has a tremendous impact across campus. When I look around this room, I see so many who help us unlock the immense potential of our students," said President Nicole Hurd during her remarks.

Two alumni are standing next to each other at the Marquis Founders Dinner. They are smiling at the camera and holding drinks. — Matthew and Pam Heller

Two parents are standing with their daughter at the Marquis Founders Dinner. They are smiling at the camera. — Michael and Giovanna Acquilano P'26 with their daughter, Katherine '26.

Bill and Barbara Tucker '81 P'08 '11 are standing next to each other and smiling at the camera. Barbara is holding a glass. — Bill and Barbara Tucker '81 P'08 '11

Caillin Burke '26, Madden Murray '28, and Rachel Lange '28 are standing arm in arm and smiling at the camera. — Caillin Burke '26, Madden Murray '28, and Rachel Lange '28

Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center Groundbreaking and Beam Signing

Alumni, parents, coaches, and student-athletes from the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams gathered on Oct. 26 for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center at Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex. Construction began in July 2024 on the two-story building, which will feature a weight room, men’s and women’s locker rooms, film room, sports medicine area with hydrotherapy tubs, and coaches’ offices. A new turf field will also be installed with lighting. The project is on target to be completed by fall 2025.

“This is a moment to celebrate, but for me, it is also a moment of reflection,” said Sherryta Freeman, director of athletics, during her remarks. “I remember when we first started to discuss a new facility for our lacrosse programs, evaluating the needs and dreaming about what we could build for our student-athletes to support them in the best way possible. Today, we can see that the dream is becoming a reality. We will be in a facility that represents the pride we have in our athletic programs and one that puts our league on notice we are here to compete. This is a game changer.”

Following the groundbreaking, alumni, parents, coaches, and student-athletes signed a beam installed in the center.

Support the center

Named spaces are available. For additional information, contact Joe Samaritano ’91, senior associate athletic director for advancement at (610) 330-5047 or via email at samaritj@lafayette.edu.

The Wallach Center was made possible by the generosity of many alumni, parents, and friends, including Andrew ’95 and Dina Opici-Wallach ’95, the F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc., and the Linville family.

Five shovels are in the ground with white hard hats on the top of each handle

Wide shot of the men's and women's lacrosse teams with hard hats and shovels in the foreground. — Men's and women's lacrosse teams at the dedication.

Coat Myers is standing at a podium. — “This is an absolute game changer for Lafayette lacrosse. The Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center is going to change the landscape forever as one of the premier lacrosse facilities in the country. When people talk about a facility being one of the nicest in the Patriot League, this is going to be one of the nicest in the country, and one that we will call home," said Coach Pat Myers during the groundbreaking.

Coach McConnell is standing at a podium — “The Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center is the perfect example of Lafayette's commitment to our student-athletes. The state-of-the-art facility not only enhances their training, but also reflects the College's dedication to providing the best resources for their success. It's a space where hard work meets opportunity, and I am excited to see how it will help elevate our programs even further," said Coach Katie McConnell during the groundbreaking.

Sherryta Freeman is standing at a podium. — Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman spoke about the future impact of the new Center on Lafayette Athletics.

Andrew Wallach '95 is standing at a podium. — Andrew Wallach '95 emphasized the tradition and passion of lacrosse at Lafayette and the potential for future success during his remarks.

Members of the men's lacrosse team are standing in a line at the groundbreaking. — Members of the men's lacrosse team at the groundbreaking and beam signing ceremony.

A group of female student athletes are in line to sign a beam — Members of the women's lacrosse team sign a beam in the Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center.

Members of the men's lacrosse team sign a beam in the Wallach Sports Performance and Lacrosse Center.

Retirement Celebration for Rosie Bukics

A retirement celebration was held Oct. 26 to honor Rosie Bukics, Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Professor of Economics.

On Saturday, more than 160 alumni and members of the on-campus community gathered together in Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center to honor Rosie Bukics, Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Professor of Economics. Since arriving at Lafayette in 1980, Prof. Bukics has impacted generations of Lafayette students. Bukics retired earlier this year and is the longest-serving female faculty member in the history of Lafayette College. An author of eight books in accounting and finance, Bukics has given selflessly to students. Her teaching has received accolades from the College with many awards, including the Omicron Delta Epsilon Award nine times. In 2018, she established the Bukics Family Scholarship Fund to provide financial aid to deserving students. Among the members of the Lafayette community who shared sentiments during the celebration were three former students representing decades of impact: Tracie Lozowski Snyder ’91, Bruce Wayne ’04, Coral Maizler Weston ’08, and Andrew Chuma ’19.

Wendy Hill and Rosie Bukics are standing arm in arm. — Wendy Hill, director, Hanson Center for Inclusive STEM Education and Rosie Bukics

President Hurd is standing with Rosie Bukics and Audra Kahr. Audra and Rosie are wearing leopard print. — Audra Kahr, executive vice president, Finance and Business; Rosie Bukics; and Nicole Hurd, Lafayette President

Andrew Chuma ’19 is standing at the podium — Andrew Chuma ’19

Bruce Wayne ’04 is standing at the podium — Bruce Wayne ’04

Coral Maizler Weston ’08 is standing at a podium. — Coral Maizler Weston ’08

Rosie is standing at the podium speaking to the crowd.

Rosie Bukics is pictured with two women.

Rosie is with her two daughters and grandaughter.

Audience members listen to remarks by Wendy Hill who is staning at a podium.

A large group of people are posing for the camera — Nearly 170 alumni, family members, and friends attended the retirement celebration.

Legacy Celebration

Legacy families participated in an official pinning ceremony for the newest members of the Lafayette family. For some families, their Lafayette legacy spans multiple generations. Lafayette President Nicole Farmer Hurd and John Mulcahy ’87, P’27 vice chair, Southeast Advisory Council welcomed families at the event. Lafayette’s “legacy tradition” dates back to the first graduating class. Although the Class of 1836 had only 47 members, two members of the class had sons who followed in their footsteps. Below are photos of some special moments captured during the ceremony.