Eastern Connecticut State University alumni had the opportunity to reconnect with their classmates, meet current students and explore the campus during Eastern Celebrates on Sept. 30. The premier alumni reunion event of the year brought back memories of time spent in college, bringing an abundance of smiles and laughs.

More than 100 alumni visited campus, taking part in many activities throughout the day, including reunions, tours and arts, academic and athletics events. Happening concurrently with Eastern Celebrates was Family Day, which brought to campus hundreds of parents and family members to mingle with current students.

“It was great seeing so many alumni back on campus, not only reconnecting with old friends, but interacting with our faculty and current students as well," said Alumni Affairs Director Michael Stenko. "Combining Eastern Celebrates with Family Day gives alumni more opportunities, not just to see campus, but to experience campus through special activities led by faculty and students."

In her welcoming speech to alumni, Eastern President Elsa Núñez emphasized the University's liberal arts education. “Reflecting the University’s mission statement, an Eastern education empowers students through a transformative, liberal arts learning experience that provides knowledge and skills to lead enriching and purposeful lives,” said Núñez. “It teaches skills that are central to the ways that thoughtful, well-educated people approach the world. All Eastern students develop these skills across the curriculum and through experiential learning, regardless of their major.”

Núñez also commented on Eastern’s retention rate -- the percentage of students who return after their first year -- which is 84%. This is much better than the state average for public universities, she said, which sits around 70%. Núñez said, “We have watched this number climb steadily over the past 15 years; it is the result of hard work of every person working on this campus. It is a legacy of which I am very proud.”

The agenda also included the Memories of Shaboo tour, where alumni were able to go to Shaboo Productions and reminisce about the Shaboo Inn, the legendary concert venue in town that burned down in 1982. While there, they got to speak with David Foster, owner of Shaboo Productions and a benefactor to Eastern and Willimantic.

They recalled performances they saw, including Aerosmith, who played "Dream On" onstage for the first time at Shaboo, Montgomery, and Southside Johnny.

“If only these instruments could talk,” David Smith, a friend of Foster’s, said to the group. “Oh, the stories they’d tell.”

Recent alumni also came to the school to speak to students of color, offering encouragement and advice to them.

Among them was Mark Bradley '90, who graduated with a degree in business and marketing. He is currently the director of operations in general industries, life sciences and technology at The Hartford.

Also present was Mark’s sister, Shanda Hinton ’96. She said that while she initially came to Eastern as a communication major and interned at Fox News and WTNH, she realized she had a passion for human resources and has been working in the field for 23 years. Today, she is the chief diversity officer at RTX.

“Administrators on campus really helped me,” Hinton said. “Take advantage of every opportunity, maximize connections. And leadership opportunities ... take every one.”

Jeniel Edmonds ’22, M ’23 was also available for students to speak with students. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in business and graduated this May with her master’s. She currently works as a preschool teacher.

Edmonds encourages current students to reach out to their professors and to develop strong relationships with them. “Keep making connections because you might need them one day," she said, "so take advantage of that.”