By Steve Seepersaud
July 12, 2018
The longer days and more abundant sunshine help make summer the most enjoyable time of year for many of us. Over the past few weeks, the Alumni Association has been bringing people together to enjoy the outdoors and welcome new graduates into the fold. With a few more weeks left in the summer, there’s certainly more fun in the works.
The aromas of food grilling and freshly cut grass filled the air when alumni in the Boston area ushered in the summer season with a picnic at Newton Centre Playground. About 40 alumni, friends and family members enjoyed the ample greenery in the park, a picnic lunch and outdoor games. Hannah Sachs ’14, MS ’16, who has been involved in the Boston area as an admissions volunteer, said she attended the picnic for networking and to learn more about what the chapter has planned in the future.
“The chapter leaders were very welcoming and introduced me to a lot of people,” she said. “We were blessed with beautiful weather, so it was enjoyable to spend time outdoors connecting with fellow Bearcats! I think alumni should attend these events to learn about the history of Binghamton, as well as recent changes. There were alumni at this picnic from the Harpur and SUNY-Binghamton days, and it was fun to tell them how the University and the city have evolved.”
The Metro New York Chapter had its third annual Cruise into Summer Celebration June 21, on the waterways around Manhattan. Since it was introduced in 2016, the cruise has been immensely popular and this year was no different with about 300 alumni and friends getting on board. The chapter welcomed new graduates into the Alumni Association and encouraged them to make the most of what the region's network has to offer.
“I thought the cruise would be a great place to see people I haven’t seen in a while, to network and have fun!” said Sarin Grey ’18. “I’m proud to be a Binghamton alum and proud to be [in the MBA program], so I think it’s great to show support for the Binghamton community and stay involved. All alumni should come out to events like these because not only are they fun, but they also allow you to make connections and foster growth. I’m already looking forward to next year’s cruise!”
The Buffalo Chapter’s June 21 event at Hydraulic Hearth in the city’s Larkinville neighborhood offered a two-in-one as Binghamton University alumni held a mixer with graduates from Buffalo State College. About 25 alumni from both schools enjoyed some of the area’s best pizza and a chance to widen their professional circles.
“Our chapter is ramping up opportunities for young alumni to network in Western New York, and connecting with graduates from a fellow SUNY institution helped to expand our event’s reach,” said Natalie Murphy '14, the chapter's leader, who would like to hear from other Binghamton grads in the region. “Most attendees were from Buffalo, however many of them were meeting fellow alumni for the first time. We want to keep making connections like this.”
Want to enjoy summer with other alumni? Check out these upcoming events!
