Homecoming 2009

Pittsburgh was alive with the sights and sounds of dancing, dining, discussions, celebrations, football, and fireworks during the Oct. 22-25 Pitt Homecoming 2009. 1. The Pitt Program Council’s Oct. 23 fireworks and laser show lit up the skies of Oakland.

The University’s African American Alumni Council (AAAC) celebrated its Sankofa Homecoming Weekend, marking the many strides in diversity that Pitt has made over the past four decades. Honored during an Oct. 24 AAAC Banquet Gala in Alumni Hall’s Connelly Ballroom were seven Pitt graduates who were named Distinguished African American Alumni. Standing with Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg (back row, far right) are, from left, Robert Agbede (ENGR ’79, ’81G), Bernard Mack (A&S ’88), Pitt Trustee William E. Strickland Jr. (A&S ’70), and Gregory Randall Spencer (CGS ’80). Front row, from left, are Rachel Poole (NURS ’47, ’52G, EDUC ’77G), Linda Wharton-Boyd (A&S ’72, ‘75G, ‘79G), Noma Bennett Anderson (SHRS ’79G), and Nadine Frye (NURS ’47, ’51’G; EDUC ’87G).

Pitt’s School of Nursing held its 50+ Luncheon on Oct. 23 in the Victoria Building. Pictured are members of the nursing school’s class of 1959, from left: Evelyn Ramming, Beverly Benz Hogan, Janet Uplinger, Monretta Davis Aarons, Vail Watson Jackson, Jane Way, Megan Lewis McDonald, Shirley Powe Smith, Elizabeth Nicholson Ivey, and Margaret Park Tait.

Dan Thomas and Dalya Akyuz were chosen as Homecoming King and Queen.

Pitt’s Joe Thomas, No. 56, lifts teammate Dion Lewis following another Pitt touchdown during the Oct. 24 Homecoming game against South Florida University at Heinz Field. The Panthers won 41-14.

Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg and Linda Wharton-Boyd, president of Pitt’s African American Alumni Council, view the Historical Exhibition of African American Progress at Pitt, located in Hillman Library.

Alumni reconnected with one another during the Oct. 23 Welcome Back Reception in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room. The Pitt Men’s Glee Club, directed by Richard Teaster, entertained the guests.

Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg presented Pitt’s 2009 Legacy Laureates with their awards during an Oct. 22 dinner and reception. From left, Nordenberg; Legacy Laureate Wen-Ta Chiu; Juan Chiu, his wife; and Chingche Jason Chiu, their son, who is a student in Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health. There was also a panel discussion among Legacy Laureates prior to the dinner. Pitt’s other 2009 Legacy Laureates are Charles I. Berlin, Christine L. Borgman, Anthony N. Civello, Frank B. Fuhrer Jr., Margaret Grey, Theresa A. Guise, John A. Jurenko, Richard B. Kelson, H. Lee Noble, James H. McCormick, and Hal K. Wrigley.

A group of AAAC members and supporters participated in the AAAC’s annual community service effort, The Appleseed Project, and made a visit to Reizenstein Middle School in East Liberty. Among the adults who participated were Maurita Bryant (center with white tag), assistant chief of the Pittsburgh City Police; to the right of her, Deborah Walker, assistant to the dean in Pitt’s Office of Student Affairs; and to the right of Walker, Tina Spivey Randell (EDUC ‘79, ‘80G). In the back row, second from left, Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Amanda Alridge; center back, retired Pittsburgh Police Detective Tyrone Dickey; and to the right of him, Tim Blackshear (A&S ‘82).

Members of Pitt’s Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity as well as other Black Greek organizations participated in the Oct. 23 Steppin’ Back in Time … Moving in the Future event in Alumni Hall.