Friday Morning: Duke Volunteer Summit
Homecoming Weekend kicked off with the Duke Volunteer Summit, a biennial event hosted by the Duke Alumni Association that brings alumni volunteers together to hear from university stakeholders, to meet with their boards and to cast a vision for their volunteer service in the year ahead. Participants heard from President Vincent E. Price, listened to a Q&A with vice provosts Gary Bennett and Mary Pat McMahon moderated by former Chronicle reporter Bre Bradham ’20, set goals for personal and professional development with La Tondra Murray, director of online and distance education at the Pratt School of Engineering -- and more!
Friday Afternoon: Forever Duke Reception for Volunteers and Graduate School Alumni
Volunteer Summit attendees were invited to a special reception to conclude the day's events and to celebrate the induction of three alumni into the Graduate School's Few-Glasson Alumni Society, which was established in 2016 to recognize alumni of the Graduate School for their career accomplishments, the potential of their current endeavors and their support of graduate education at Duke. Inductees were Maria Bezaitis PhD'94, senior principal engineer at Intel; Vamsee Pamula PhD'01, cofounder of lab-on-a-chip company Advanced Liquid Logic and Kafui Dzirasa PhD'07, MD'09, Duke professor and the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in neurobiology at Duke.
Friday Evening: Party on the Plaza
At the newest Homecoming tradition, attendees enjoyed student performances, surprise pop-up performances, snacks and beverages on the Bryan Center Plaza. Alumni continued the party close by at The Loop and the Devil’s Krafthouse, the latter where members of the four most recent graduating classes reunited.
Saturday Morning: 2019 DAA Awards Ceremony
On Saturday morning, the Duke Alumni Association's Charles A. Dukes and Forever Duke award winners -- honored every year at Homecoming -- were celebrated at the DAA Awards Ceremony. These awards honor Duke alumni and parents who demonstrate long-term volunteer service to Duke (Charles A. Dukes) and extraordinary service in the last year (Forever Duke).
Saturday: DAA Pre-Game Celebration
Alumni and friends gathered ahead of the football game in Wilson Gym for the Duke Alumni Association's Pre-Game Celebration. Then it was on to the Homecoming game against Georgia Tech. Duke won 41-23. Go Blue Devils!
Sunday: Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center Open House & Brunch
Alumni and friends stopped by the open house at the new Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center, where they enjoyed jazz, refreshments and tours of the Duke's new home on campus for Blue Devils.
