Relive the Moments: 2024 Crown Family School Alumni Weekend & Reunion
By Crown Family School
The Crown Family School hosted its Annual Alumni Weekend, welcoming all alums back to Edith Abbott Hall on the University of Chicago’s campus on May 17-18. The weekend coincided with the all-university Alumni Weekend, presenting many opportunities for alumni to socialize and network. Nearly 200 alums returned to reconnect with The Crown Family School through an event-packed weekend.
The festive weekend started on Friday evening with an Alumni Retro Hooding Ceremony and champagne toast in the Edith Abbott Hall Library. The intimate ceremony provided an opportunity for alums to receive a hood, an item of academic regalia designating the attainment of a master’s degree. The event honors those who did not receive hoods during their convocation ceremonies.
Following the hooding ceremony, the Edith Abbott Hall Lobby filled with attendees anticipating the Social Justice Address given by Adrian Perkins, the former mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana.
After the Social Justice Address, the Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony honored distinguished alums and a community organization:
- Elaine Waxman, AM ‘86, PhD ‘09
- Marisa Novara, AM ‘00
- Loretta Maestranzi, AM ‘14/GPHAP, LSW
- Carlos Hernandez, AM ‘99, DSW, LCSW, CPHQ
- Laura Zumdahl, AM ‘04, PhD, LSW
- Communities Partnering 4 Peace, Metropolitan Family Services
During the Alumni Awards Ceremony, each honoree spoke and reflected fondly on their time at the Crown Family School. Most brought their family, friends, and colleagues to celebrate their awards.
Saturday commenced with the Crown Family School Alumni and Students Engage (CASE) networking brunch. This program provided alumni and students an opportunity to gather and chat with each other about potential career paths.
Heidi Allen, associate professor of Social Work at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, was the keynote speaker for the Rhoda G. Sarnat Lecture on Saturday. As Allen presented to alums and their guests in the near-capacity Edith Abbott Hall lobby, some alumni jotted down notes and quickly snapped pictures of her slides as she discussed Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT). Allen is developing a curriculum for PAT, and she spoke about the successes and challenges of administering this type of therapy. Even when she lightheartedly acknowledged that she had accidentally gone past her allotted time, her presentation was not finished, and the engaged audience members gave her the green light to continue. There was so much more to learn and share.
The final event of the weekend included the All-Class Reunion parties, where Alumni connected from the classes of 1974, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2014, and 2019 were all recognized with reunion year parties.
Check out Photo Highlights from Alumni Weekend & Reunion 2024