1896 Tour brings alums together to socialize and hear about Wingate’s future

By Luanne Williams

Bulldog alumni living all over North Carolina will have a couple of opportunities this month and next to share their memories of times past and get a sneak peek at Wingate's future. University President Dr. Rhett Brown '89, '01 (MBA) will meet up with fellow graduates of all generations during the 1896 Tour - a three-stop journey that kicked off on April 9 in Durham.

Upcoming tour stops are in Winston-Salem on April 30 and in Charlotte on May 29. Each event, for which tickets are appropriately priced at $18.96, will include a presentation of new initiatives from Dr. Brown and a chance to ask questions.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for alumni to network, learn about our history and hear more about how they can connect with the University moving forward," says Sarah Colón, director of alumni engagement.

Fifty people attended the Durham event, held at Croasdaile Country Club. "We had a good turnout," Colón says. "It was literally seven different decades of class years, all the way from '68 to 2021. It was a really broad range, a very diverse group."

Colón said the idea for the 1896 Tour was sparked during a conversation with members of the Alumni Advisory Board's programming and events committee.

"We wanted to celebrate our history by highlighting our founding year and also to share our excitement over the future and give people the opportunity to meet Dr. Brown and vice versa," she says. "Since coming on board in January 2023, I've learned that we have a lot of proud alumni who want to connect with each other and get involved but just may not know how. So, this tour is a great starting point to re-engage with the University."

Alumni who have already registered for the events include those from recent years as well as some from as early as the 1960s. Colón says she is glad to see the range of responses. The majority of Wingate's alumni base lives in North Carolina.

"The pandemic slowed our in-person events, so this is an opportunity for us to hit the road and get reacquainted with Bulldogs around the state," Brown says.

At the tour events, which will include hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, he will outline the University's efforts, alongside the town of Wingate, to create a "new American college town" and share his vision for well-known landmarks such as the University lake and the triangle.

Dress code for the mixer is school spirited/business casual. For details and to register for either of the two remaining 1896 Tour stops, visit the alumni page of the website. You may also email [email protected] or call 704-233-6141 with questions.

April 19, 2024

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