The dark and cold of winter solstice has long given people cause to reflect – and to celebrate community. And that’s just what happened on December 9 when alumni from around the world joined a very special online meetup, CEU Lights: Global Alumni End-of-Year Gathering.
More than 100 alumni, students and staff joined this university’s first-ever online alumni holiday event, to reconnect with one another, to share stories – and to look forward to a better new year. Traditional in-person end of year meetups were cancelled due to Covid.
“This is our holiday fire we’re gathering around for some light, some warmth and some hope,” Alumni Relations Head Nena Grceva (GENS ’05, North Macedonia) told attendees.
Alumni shared memories of holiday celebrations from home and during their CEU student days – from burning letters to Santa in Poland or boiling milk in Sri Lanka, to dining and drinking with classmates in Budapest.
Others shared personal items linked to their CEU days, including candles, paintings, and stuffed animals. One alumna held up a music box, a gift received during her time at the Department of International Relations and European Studies.
“I think of CEU every time I look at it,” she said.
At the onset, attendees were asked what they hoped the new year would bring. “End of pandemic,” “meet family,” “more travel”, “breathe freely” and “no more lockdowns” were among the answers.
The event also featured a musical performance by students Izzy Grace Tomas and Ricardo Ross, plus breakout rooms for individual alumni chapters from around the world.
Serge Sych (IRES ’97, LEGS ’99, Ukraine), CEU Vice President for Alumni Relations, thanked attendees for reconnecting and sharing their stories.
“These memories, and our CEU family, is all part of our lives,” he said.