More than 500 alumni and friends gathered at Budapest's Marriott Hotel on Saturday, May 7 for CEU's 25th Anniversary Alumni Reception & Party - more than twice the number that attended last year's reunion gala, making it the largest alumni reunion in CEU history.
The event featured a new standing-reception format (which proved popular with the majority of polled guests), with fine food and drink, live entertainment and stunning views of Buda Castle. (See photos here and here, and video. )
Event highlights included a special video message from CEU Founder George Soros, recognition of this year's Alumni Impact Award winners, plus the final annual alumni reunion appearance by outgoing President and Rector John Shattuck.
The reception was preceded by the first-ever President's Dinner, hosted by President Shattuck, and attended by heads of CEU schools and departments, members of the Alumni Donor Societies and winners of this year's special 25th Anniversary Alumni Impact Awards. The awards were created to salute exceptional alumni for their outstanding career achievement and / or support of the CEU community. (Learn more, and meet the award winners.)
A BUSY WEEKEND
Beyond its main event, this year's Alumni Reunion Weekend, commemorating CEU's silver anniversary, proved a big draw.
Starting Thursday, May 5 the two-day Alumni Leadership Forum drew approximately 30 alumni chapter leaders and representatives from around the world for special sessions on building strong alumni chapters, campaign sponsorship and more.
Later that night, more than 60 alumni and friends kickstarted the weekend’s festivities at a fun, informal Welcome Evening Party.
The Department of Environmental Studies also hosted its two-day Alumni Conference which drew more than 120 participants.
Friday, May 6 featured a number of School and Departmental Coffeehouses, with high turnouts reported by the Department of Legal Studies, the School of Public Policy and others.
Saturday, May 7 started with several guided tours of the new campus building at Nador u. 13. Alumni were also invited to cheer for CEU’s first team in the Duna Regatta dragon boat race before the President’s Dinner and Alumni Reception.
Thanks to everyone who made this year’s reunion weekend the biggest and best one yet!