Alumni Weekend 2025: A Celebration of Community and Connection

Alumni Weekend 2025 was a remarkable celebration of the dynamic Stevens alumni community. The campus was filled with energy and excitement as more than 1,100 alumni and friends came together on June 6-7 and showcased their strong community bond. Stevens pride was on full display as alumni reconnected, reminisced and engaged with all that inspired them as students.

Red and Gray Days offered events for everyone – from more seasoned alumni and our newest graduates to alumni with families and, new this year, those across the country. Alumni celebrated on campus with reunion receptions, alumni awards, affinity gatherings, Greek open houses, a meet-and-greet with academic deans, campus tours, family activities, Ducks’ Night Out and more. New additions this year featured regional celebrations and virtual programming to expand the festivities across our network.

Amid a backdrop of gorgeous skyline views, festive red and gray balloons, a few rain showers and even a double rainbow, the celebratory spirit spread throughout Castle Point and beyond.

Making History with Class of 1975

This year marked the 50th reunion for the Class of ’75. Class members participated in a special pinning ceremony as they were inducted into the Old Guard during a luncheon on Friday. The class made history in 1975 as the first class to graduate multiple women, 12 in total, from Stevens.

Martha J. Connolly ’75 M.S. ’75, one of the first women graduates, said her 50th celebration was “very special.” Connolly, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Stevens, also became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She has stayed connected with her fellow women graduates. “We’ve had interesting reunions over the years. We talk about everything from workplace issues and work-life balance to raising kids. It’s fun to get together with them.”

Connolly, who led a pioneering career in biomedical engineering and biosciences in academia, government and industry, remains very engaged with Stevens. She gave the keynote address at the 2024 Stevens Biomedical Engineering Day and serves as a class leader and mentor. Connolly and classmate Harry MacArthur ’75 developed a mentoring plan, which became part of StevensConnects, and she also mentors a recipient of the Class of ’75 scholarship. For Connolly, the weekend was meaningful: “It’s wonderful seeing people and realizing we are part of a legacy. It’s so great coming back.”

Alumni from classes ending in 0’s and 5’s celebrated their milestone reunions with special receptions. The Class of 2015 had the highest number of alumni attendees, while the Class of 1960 was the oldest class celebrating their reunion.

Engaging in Meaningful Ways

Alumni had many opportunities to connect with what inspired them as students at affinity gatherings and Greek open houses.

At the reunion for the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP), ShaQuill (ShaQ) Thomas ’15 M.S. ’21 spoke of his close bond with STEP. “From day one, I fell in love with STEP and Stevens because they gave me a family,” he said.

STEP provides services and programs to support students’ success and encourage their academic, professional, cultural and personal development. Thomas, a Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award recipient this year, said that after he graduated, he felt it was important to stay connected to STEP and give back. “I know how much STEP has given me and I always want to do the same for future STEP students and Stevens students,” he said. “That has been the fuel for my involvement.”

Thomas returns to campus for STEP events, including the STEP senior dinner and mock career fair, and helps raise funds for the STEP endowed scholarship. “We are this loving, fun, supportive community that is always there for one another at any time in our lives.”

Connecting From Far and Near

Regional celebrations, new this year, were hosted on Saturday in Houston, DC and Central Florida, giving alumni opportunities to connect and celebrate Alumni Weekend closer to home.

Houston-area Ducks got together at Puttery Houston for some good company and mini golf. “It’s always great fun to reconnect with other alumni, especially those we’ve gotten to know well over the years,” said Frank Roberto ’76, co-leader of the Houston Alumni Network. “With the occasional ‘first-timers’ attending, it is rewarding to make new friends as well as introduce them to the strong and broad alumni network we have here in Houston.”

Also, as part of Alumni Weekend, the Industry Torchbearers in IT and Healthcare hosted virtual events earlier in the week.

“The IT Torchbearers’ webinar on cybersecurity was a great way to reach out to folks and kick off Stevens Alumni Weekend,” said Michael Andreano ’96, co-leader of the group. “We curated a top-notch panel of alumni from different graduation years, 1989 to 2024, with a vast array of backgrounds, experience and knowledge. We discussed the cybersecurity industry, careers, skills, trends, risks and its future. We are always looking for alumni to contribute, speak and take part in our group.”

Honoring Impactful Alumni

An inspiring highlight of the weekend was the Flock Party and Alumni Awards Presentation. The Stevens Alumni Award was presented to Edward C. Eichhorn, Jr. ’69, who was honored for his decades-long service and enduring commitment to Stevens. Among his many supportive roles, Eichhorn has served as a Stevens trustee, SAA president, chair of the Old Guard and is currently a member of the SAA Board of Directors and an Industry Torchbearers in Healthcare volunteer leader.

In accepting the award, Eichhorn said, “I believe it is a gift to find a place you really care about that you are able and willing to help. We are all linked together by our time at Stevens and the alumni community we are all part of.” He gave special thanks to his wife Paula for spending 50 years attending campus events and traveling around the country for Stevens with him.

The Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to five well-deserving alumni: Aimee Fries Alonso ’00; Moushmi Patel Culver ’00; Jorge Alberto Smith ’15; ShaQuill Thomas ’15 M.Eng. ’21; and Luke Langner ’20 M.Eng. ’21.

Building Strength in Community

The Stevens Alumni Association (SAA) held its annual meeting, followed by President Nariman Farvardin’s campus update, which was also live-streamed. At the Dean’s List, another new event this year, alumni had the opportunity to speak with the academic deans and sample their chosen brunch selections, like Dean Jean Zu’s chicken and lemongrass dumplings and Dean GJ de Vreede’s toasted bagels with chive cream cheese and smoked salmon.

The Canavan Arena was lively with family fun activities like mini golf, inflatable bowling and basketball, chess games and even a custom hat station. Other featured events included the volunteer breakfast and Rho Delt Wall of Achievement reception, as well as the Lollipop Run and Athletics Clinic, pickleball and the always popular beer and wine tastings. Our most recent alumni kicked off the weekend at Hudson Golf, celebrated the one-year reunion of the Class of 2024 and enjoyed Ducks’ Night Out. Many alumni had the chance to experience a part of current student life by staying in the dorms at the University Center Complex Towers.

On the “Quack Back in Time” memory board, alumni shared their favorite memories of Stevens:

• Midnight Breakfast for finals week!

• The ship (long live the S.S. Stevens)!

• Senior Ball 2008

• Connecting with lifelong friends.

• Learning so much from my professors and my fellow students!

• The amazing Ducks community!

• Meeting my people.

“Thank you to everyone who joined us for Alumni Weekend 2025 and helped to make it memorable and special,” said Michael F. Cahill ’15 M.Eng. ’15, president of the SAA. “It was truly inspiring to see our community come together to celebrate one another and Stevens.”

He encouraged alumni to build on the strong momentum of the weekend by engaging with the Stevens community throughout the year. “We’d like you to get involved in a way that resonates with you,” he said.

Next year’s Alumni Weekend is already set for June 5-6, 2026! Be sure to save the date and join us for our upcoming alumni events.