Golden and Diamond Graduates Reunion

A lot has changed in 60 years. Six decades ago, Washington State University was still called the State College of Washington. Todd Hall, Holland Library, and the Compton Union Building were newly built. Legendary coach Jack Friel helmed the men’s basketball team, and the college belonged to the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.

Today, campus landmarks include a new Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health and a freshly remodeled Martin Stadium. One thing remains unchanged: the Cougar homing instinct. No matter when they graduated, Cougars love returning “home” to Pullman. This April, hundreds of WSU graduates from 1953 and 1963 will do just that, celebrating their fiftieth and sixtieth college reunion at the 64th annual Golden and Diamond Graduates Reunion.

In 1949, the Washington State University Alumni Association held the first Golden Graduates Reunion, welcoming back four of the seven students from the first graduating class of 1899. The reunion grew steadily over the years, drawing over 270 graduates and guests in 2012. It is still hosted annually by the WSUAA.

“We’ve carried on this tradition to honor the alumni who are such a rich part of the university’s history,” says WSUAA executive director Tim Pavish. “Some travel to Pullman often, and some haven’t been back in decades.”

At the two-day reunion, graduates explore a modernized campus that retains every ounce of its brick-ensconced, hilly, collegiate charm. They meet former classmates, tour buildings both familiar and new, take part in college luncheons, and choose from a menu of activities including a Veterans Memorial Presentation, Classes Without Quizzes sessions, small group reunions, and a social hour and banquet. The reunion is open to Golden (50-year), Diamond (60-year), and Platinum (70-year) graduates and their families, as well as former WSU students and those who graduated with other classes.

“Our sixtieth reunion certainly embodied the WSU motto of ‘World Class, Face to Face,’” says Laurel Morgan of Quincy, Washington, who attended the 2011 reunion with her husband Rex. “We heard so many favorable comments from our fellow grads—everything from the attention to detail, the efficient service, the excellent food, and the many over-the-top ways that WSU catered to our comfort and enjoyment.”

That type of response is music to Pavish’s ears. “So much has changed, and the university has many new reasons to celebrate, but our Cougar spirit remains the same,” he says. “It’s an honor to reintroduce our graduates to the university and see them get excited about the amazing work taking place here today.” This year’s reunion takes place April 24 and 25, 2013. For more information, please contact reunions@wsu.edu or call 1-800-258-6978.

For more information about WSUAA and alumni chapters visit www.alumni.wsu.edu or call 1-800-258-6978.