TALLADEGA – Talladega College is expecting a large number of alumni and soon-to-be alumni to be on campus this weekend for the college’s 91st Alumni Reunion Weekend and the 133rd Commencement Exercises.Graduating classes celebrating five and 10 year anniversaries dating back to 1933 are invited to attend the weekend’s full schedule of activities.
President Dr. Billy Hawkins said he is looking forward to meeting alumni and discussing the future of Talladega College with them over the weekend.
The weekend’s events begin on Friday with the National Alumni Association Board meeting at 8:30 a.m. followed by alumni registration from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the coffee bar in Swayne Hall.
The Talladega Boutique and Gallery, which is the only official Talladega College authorized sales point, opens at 9 a.m. The Talladega Crimson Ambassadors will lead alumni on a Taste and Tour excursion down Battle Street from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Alumni class caucuses will be held from 2 to 3:15 p.m. in Swayne Hall. Golden and silver anniversary classes will sit down to tea, crumpets and reflections at 3:30 p.m. in Savery Library. Hawkins will host a reception at his home from 5 to 6:30 p.m. before the President’s Concert begins at 7:30 at DeForest Chapel.
This year’s concert features a performance by seven-time Grammy nominated jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum. Whalum has collaborated with stars such as Whitney Houston and Babyface.
Comedian Jonathan Slocumb, who has appeared in the movie “Meet the Browns” and made several appearances on “The Steve Harvey Show,” will perform, as well. Additionally, the Talladega College Choir will perform. Tickets for the concert are $40 and can be purchased by calling 256-761-6112.
On Saturday, Talladega College first lady Lauri Hawkins will host a “Girlfriends Coffee Talk” on the lawn of the president’s home from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The event is for women only.
A National Alumni Meeting and question and answer session will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the first floor auditorium of Swayne Hall. The meeting will be led by Hawkins and National Alumni President Jesse Henderson. A reunion group photograph will be taken immediately after the alumni meeting.
The President’s Picnic and Gathering at Foster Hall will be from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and will be hosted by the college president and first lady.
The college’s Annual Reception Banquet will occur at 7 p.m. and will feature actor Hill Harper as guest speaker. Harper is probably best known for his role as crime scene investigator Sheldon Hawkes on “CSI: New York.”
“A lot of people probably don’t know that his mother is a Talladega College graduate,” Hawkins said.
The banquet will be followed by an alumni dance and wine tasting at 9 p.m.
The weekend will wrap up with commencement exercises on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on the quad of the Talladega College campus. The featured speaker at commencement will be nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner.
