Relive the memories
The biggest Engineering and Computer Science alumni event of the year, the Reunion Cocktail sees more than 100 graduates from across North America and as far as Europe and Africa gather at Concordia. The event takes place during Homecoming, an annual celebration that brings alumni home to Concordia for dozens of activities, from reunions to football games to family events.
Engineering and Computer Science alumni who graduated in years ending in two or seven – 1972 or 1997, for example – are invited to celebrate their special anniversaries at the cocktail. Now in its fifth year, the event is organized by Concordia’s Advancement and Alumni Relations, the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science and its alumni chapter.
Alumni Denis Kefallinos, BEng 91, and his wife Giulia Paliotti, BSc 87, BEng 91, travelled from Boston to attend last year’s event.
“It was the biggest reunion I’ve experienced,” he said. “We coordinated with classmates from our graduating year to make sure a lot of us were there. It’s a great excuse to get together.”
Returning to Concordia was doubly special for the couple since it’s where they met more than 20 years ago!
“I enjoyed being there with my wife, reconnecting with classmates, seeing some of our old professors, particularly Dr. George Vatistas, and meeting the faculty’s dean, Dr. Robin Drew. Bringing in a few folks from the first graduating class was a nice touch.”
One of the earliest graduates in attendance was holocaust survivor Fred Fiksel. He earned a BSc in engineering in 1961, three years before Engineering became a separate faculty. Speaking at the reunion, Fiksel called the university a beacon of hope. After immigrating to Canada, he appreciated the golden opportunity to get an education, which has served him well in his professional life.
This year’s event promises a live jazz band and a spectacular view of the city from the 11th floor terrace of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex.
The Engineering and Computer Science Reunion Cocktail is part of a bigger reunion for graduates of all faculties celebrating milestone anniversaries. It includes campus tours and the President’s Reunion Gala.
Kefallinos highly recommends the Engineering and Computer Science campus tour. “As an alumnus, I liked seeing how things have changed. There were a number of new laboratories in the engineering building.”
The tour’s itinerary included Dr. Suong Van Hoa’s new structures lab as well as the vibrations lab and the ever-popular flight simulator.
Alumna Shun-Hui Yang from the class of 1991 said after the tour, “The school facilities have changed so much that it makes me want to go back to school all over again!”
The faculty’s current home, the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex, opened its doors in 2005.
“I was happy to see continued investment and growth at Concordia,” says Kefallinos. It makes me feel proud about being a Concordia graduate. I continue to refer the school to anyone I meet even at home in the US.”
The 2012 event takes place Saturday, September 29.
Engineering and Computer Science alumni whose graduation year ends in two or seven, help us make your reunion special! Email shannon.gilead@concordia.ca:
- Photos of your Concordia days for a slide presentation
- Names of professors you’d like to see at the reunion
- Messages to pass along to classmates in attendance, if you can’t make it yourself
Related links:
• Engineering and Computer Science Reunion Cocktail registration
• Homecoming 2012
• Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science