Homecoming is a wonderful time to catch up with your classmates, reconnect with your alma mater and broaden our perspectives—and this year’s At-Home (Virtual) Homecoming celebrations did not disappoint! Â
Alumni from Australia, India, Estonia, England, and Uruguay—and not to mention from across the US and Canada—gathered around their tablets, laptops, and desktops to connect with friends from the past. Our Desautels family of alumni and friends enthusiastically tuned in from the comfort of their homes for a variety of special events. Â
Our first Desautini Virtual Reception started with a toast to Desautels with our signature cocktail, the Desautini. And to mark 100 years of the undergraduate management program, BCom’20 Elizabeth Chima, Class Valedictorian, wowed the homecoming crowd with her inspiring remarks. Â
“This year, the Faculty celebrated its 100th anniversary of its BCom program. As a member of the 100th graduating class, I found this to be especially significant,” Chima commented. “For 100 years, Desautels has been producing some of the world’s greatest leaders, whether in business, politics, or even the arts."
“It's neat to think that as Desautels graduates we all share a special bond. From the members of the first ever graduating class, to those who have just graduated like myself, we are forever connected by our time spent at this great school, and, more importantly, in this amazing Faculty.”Â
During her remarks, Chima reflected on her time at Â鶹AV: “From the many clubs, groups and events in which I participated, I truly began to understand the value of connections and relationships and what can really be accomplished when we all work together. Of course, the significance of relationships has been especially highlighted given everything that’s going on in the world right now. This year has not looked or gone as planned for anyone. In one way or another, we have all been impacted by the pandemic that has overwhelmed our world.”Â
“As daunting as everything may seem, our time at Desautels gave us several years of crash courses to prepare us for the challenges that we are currently facing, as well as the ones that still lie ahead,” continued Chima. “Our time at Desautels entailed countless hours at the library and many sleepless nights from which we gained perseverance and grit that helped us push past many difficult circumstances."Â
Â鶹AV’s masterclasses featured speakers from across the University and alumni experts, addressing concerns and answering burning questions of today. Desautels hosted the fascinating discussion between Professor Lisa CohenĚý˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚýScott McDonald (BCom’89), CEO of Olivier Wyman, on The Future of Work and Business Post COVID-19 and how COVID-19 is shaping work across organizations.Â
Save the date for Homecoming 2021Â
If you graduated in a year ending with “1” or “6,” it is time to mark your calendar for Homecoming 2021. The Faculty looks forward to welcoming you on September 30 to October 2, 2021. We know that you have exciting developments to share with us, and we look forward to sharing our news, too.Â
