Ethan Smith ’10 gives a keynote address at the 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit.
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| Undergrads are off enjoying Spring Break, celebrating the end of Winter Term and gearing up for an exciting Spring Term. Law students are deep in exam prep, counting down the days until finals and graduation. All of this signals one thing: Alumni Weekend is almost here! We can't wait to welcome the '0s and '5s back to campus May 1–4. There's still time to join your classmates and celebrate all things W&L. |
| This edition of Generally Speaking is packed with updates. Don't miss the announcement of our five new Distinguished Alumni Award winners. Beau Dudley '74, '79L once told me that calling the award recipients would be one of the best parts of my job — and he was absolutely right. Each honoree speaks with deep humility and gratitude, sharing how much W&L has given them. You will also find the recap of our inaugural Energy Forum, which was a powerful example of how we're creating meaningful connections and delivering value to our community. If you have ideas for future topics or forums, I'd love to hear them! |
| Finally, I am excited to share the proposed slate of directors for the Alumni Board. Per our by-laws, the slate came out of the Director Nominating Committee and to the full Alumni Board who voted yay. The official vote will be at the Alumni Association's annual meeting during Alumni Weekend next month. |
Gerry Barousse '80, New Orleans, Louisiana
Moe Cole '94, Lakewood, Ohio
Katy Gragg '13, Houston, Texas
Jeff Hamill '81, Darien, Connecticut
Liz Koteles '09, Atlanta, Georgia
Carlos Spaht '05, Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
John Jensen '01
Executive Director
Alumni and Career Services |
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| Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign For Washington and Lee |
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Preserving the Future
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Robert Balentine '79 and his wife, Betty, are recipients of the 2025 Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal from the Garden Club of America for their preservation work at the Southern Highlands Reserve. |
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| Join Washington and Lee University President Will Dudley and the Campaign Council as they host special receptions and programming celebrating Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee across the country. Boston is the last stop for the spring on April 29, and events will kick back in gear again in the fall, starting on Sept. 10 in Denver. See photos from our recent events in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. |
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| Register for Alumni Weekend |
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| There's still time! Registration for the 2025 Alumni Weekend ends this Friday, April 25. The May 1-4 weekend will celebrate the '0s and '5s, and all are cordially invited to kick off the festivities at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, for the Opening Assembly in University Chapel where Lizanne Thomas '82L, emerita trustee, will deliver the keynote address. Ahead of the weekend, read about the incredible gifts from the Class of 1975 and Class of 2000. |
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Summer Explorations
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Join the Office of Lifelong Learning on campus for the Summer Explorations series. The program launches on July 6-11 with Summer Explorations I, "Discover the Middle Ages: A Week of Exploration, Connection and Insight." The following week, on July 13-16, we embark on Summer Explorations II, "Questions of Ownership: Ethical and Legal Concerns Related to the Treatment of Cultural Heritage Objects." |
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Young Alumni Weekend
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Join your classmates, meet new friends and enjoy the fall splendor of campus Sept. 19-21. We will celebrate the fifth and 10th reunions for classes of 2015 and 2020. All alumni from 2015-2025 are invited! Registration will open in May. |
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| Do you and your fellow W&L alumni friends still get together? What traditions have you all created in the years since graduation? Send us your stories and photos to magazine@wlu.edu for possible publication in a future article. |
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‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Beth Staples
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In this month’s episode, Staples speaks of the power of imagination and storytelling and the continuous, and evolving, legacy of the Shenandoah literary magazine. |
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Class Giving
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Classes ending in 0 and 5: Celebrate your reunion year by supporting the W&L Fund today. Your milestone class gift ensures current W&L students have access to exceptional educational opportunities. |
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Alumni Weekend |
Calling all Washington and Lee alumni from the classes ending in 0 and 5! Get ready to reconnect and relive your cherished moments at Alumni Weekend 2025.
Learn more
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Admissions MAZE |
Offered every other summer, the program, held June 14-15, is available to any child or grandchild of a W&L graduate entering the 10th, 11th or 12th grade, with priority given to rising juniors and seniors. Sessions are led by highly experienced college admissions professionals who will encourage you to think carefully about the college selection process in a structured yet relaxed and informal environment. Participants will also learn about the other side of the coin: how university admissions offices evaluate applications, especially in a test-optional landscape.
Learn more
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Summer Explorations I "Discover the Middle Ages: A Week of Exploration, Connection and Insight" |
This program, held on campus July 6-11, invites you to journey through the vibrant heart of the Middle Ages, where city-states in Italy flourished, national monarchies consolidated power and the Caliphates emerged in the Muslim world. Explore the dynamics of religious and cultural exchange between Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists and learn how these interactions, often contentious, fueled lasting conflicts — and enduring legacies.
Register now
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Summer Explorations II "Questions of Ownership: Ethical and Legal Concerns Related to the Treatment of Cultural Heritage Objects" |
Cultural heritage objects are powerful artifacts to own, display and even destroy. The three-day seminar on campus, held July 13-16, will examine recent cases of repatriation and ongoing demands that will allow participants to think about the layered and complex realities these objects represent.
Register now
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Summer Explorations III "Digging into History: A W&L Family Adventure in Archaeology" |
Join us on July 20-23 to enjoy the Washington and Lee college experience as a family. Families are invited to discover the methods, technologies and sources archaeologists use to “see” things that are no longer visible.
Register now
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