This year’s reunion classes
Reunions happen at Millrace Week every five years for each class. This year three classes have organized committees and a full program:
- Class of 1976, 50th reunion. Co-chair Hilde Sorum ’76. Members receive the Golden Ironclad medallion, cast at the Thursday foundry pour.
- Class of 2001, 25th reunion. Co-chair Desmond Pike ’01. This class remembers the Ironclads name as new, and still argues about it.
- Class of 2016, 10th reunion. Hosted with the Young Alumni Council as the Ten-Year Toast.
As of October 8, 701 alumni and guests had registered, up from about 640 when the Millrace Week schedule was announced. Other classes ending in 1 and 6 are welcome at every event below and can join the tents on Saturday.
Schedule for alumni
| When | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m. | Foundry pour; reunion seating on the mezzanine. Watch the Golden Ironclad medallions being poured. | Founders Hall high bay |
| Fri., Oct. 16, 9:30 a.m. | “Then and now” tour for the class of 1976: the machine shop, the simulation hospital and the University Farm, by bus | From the Welcome Center |
| Fri., 11:45 a.m. | Class of 1976 50th-reunion luncheon and medallion presentation | Founders Commons |
| Fri., 1 p.m. | Alumni Association board meeting, open to all | Welcome Center, second floor |
| Fri., 2:30 p.m. | “Back to Class”: three 30-minute faculty talks | Halvorsen Library, Level 1 |
| Fri., 4:30 p.m. | All-class welcome reception | Welcome Center |
| Fri., about 6:15 p.m. | Ring of Iron: seniors at the cornerstone at dusk. Alumni watch from the lawn, quietly. | Founders Hall |
| Fri., 6:45 p.m. | Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner | Founders Union ballroom |
| Fri., 7:30 p.m. | Class of 2001 25th-reunion dinner | Porter Falls Inn ballroom |
| Fri., 8 p.m. | Class of 2016 Ten-Year Toast | The Coupler Room, Depot District |
| Sat., Oct. 17, 8 a.m. | Alumni 5K | Riverfront Trail, from Millwright Stadium |
| Sat., 9:15 a.m. | Class of 1976 remembrance: the names of classmates who have died, read at the cornerstone | Founders Hall |
| Sat., 10:30 a.m. | Homecoming parade; the class of 1976 rides a University Farm hay wagon | Founders Drive |
| Sat., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Reunion tents with lunch, class photos at 11:45 a.m. | Millwright Stadium concourse |
| Sat., 1 p.m. | Forge Bowl vs. Chippewa Valley State | Millwright Stadium |
| Sat., 7:30 p.m. | Fireworks over the quad | The quad |
| Sun., Oct. 18, 9 a.m. | Farewell brunch; stay for the 1 p.m. women’s soccer game against Chippewa Valley State | Founders Commons |
Registration and prices
Register in MyPorter or by phone until noon on Tuesday, October 13. After that, come to the Saturday tents as a walk-up; the meal events cannot take walk-ups.
| Package | Includes | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Class of 1976 Golden Reunion | Friday tour and luncheon, medallion, Saturday tent lunch, Forge Bowl ticket in the reunion section, Sunday brunch | $110 |
| Class of 2001 | Friday dinner, Saturday tent lunch, Forge Bowl ticket | $85 |
| Class of 2016 Ten-Year Toast | Friday party with two drink tickets, Saturday tent lunch, Forge Bowl ticket | $55 |
| Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner | Dinner and program | $45 |
| Saturday tent only | Lunch and the tent; no game ticket | $20; under 12 free |
| Alumni 5K | Race shirt and timing | $25 ($15 for the classes of 2016–2026) |
Guests pay the same price as the alum they come with. If cost is what is keeping you home, call Alumni Relations; reunion committees keep a small fund for classmates who ask, and they do not tell anyone who asked.
Class gifts
Each reunion class picks a fund and announces its total at the Saturday tents. Classmates can give through the give page by naming their class.
| Class | Fund | Goal | So far (Oct. 8) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Founders Hall Preservation | $76,000 | $61,400 |
| 2001 | Student Emergency Fund | $25,001 | $18,750 |
| 2016 | Baja and Formula Solar teams | 160 donors | 104 donors |
Getting here and staying over
- Hotels. The Porter Falls Inn and Northgate Suites released their reunion room blocks on October 1. Both keep a cancellation list, so call anyway.
- Saturday traffic. Founders Drive is closed to cars from 9:30 a.m. to noon for the parade. The Porter Loop adds a stadium stop and runs every eight minutes from 10 a.m. Parking, bag rules and accessible seating are in the game day guide and on transportation and parking.
- Accessibility. Every reunion venue is step-free. The 1976 tour bus has a lift. Golf carts run between the Welcome Center and the stadium tents on Saturday; ask at any tent.
Did you miss your year? The spring Golden Ironclads luncheon on April 23, 2027, is on the alumni events calendar. For help organizing a future reunion, see class reunion planning.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. Millrace Week, these reunions, classes, packages, class gifts and hotels are invented; there is no hay wagon, no medallion and no reunion tent to find on any real stadium concourse.