'90s and '00s Graduates Return to Campus

Central Michigan University welcomed 400+ alumni to campus for a weekend of fun and nostalgia. Alumni Relations, alongside a dedicated planning committee, introduced the Alumni Reunion Weekend. Eager alumni returned to Mt. Pleasant August 4-7 to reinvent CMU from the ‘90s and ‘00s.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, alumni took it upon themselves to create “Decade” Facebook groups, to reconnect and share their best memories. The ‘90s Alumni and ‘00s Alumni groups quickly gained popularity, as these online spaces became a place of commonality, nostalgia, and friendship for over 26,000+ CMU Chippewas. Photos from their time on campus, memes, and polls quickly took over the feeds of these groups. Soon after, the suggestion of an Alumni Reunion Weekend, featuring the ‘90s and ‘00s, came to the attention of the Alumni office.

The '90s and ‘00s graduates eagerly anticipated “move-in day” for the weekend. More than 100 alumni spent the night in Residence Halls, truly reliving the college experience. Fabiano Hall hit a time machine, as it became filled with VHS tapes, Nintendo's, and door decorations. Friday afternoon, alumni filled the lot in front of Kelly/Shorts Stadium for a Parking Lot Party, including DJs, yard games, and a food truck. Saturday, many alumni floated down the Chippewa River before visiting their favorite spots downtown. The weekend ended with a strolling brunch, complete with a bloody mary and mimosa bar, in the University Center Rotunda. Alumnae Committee Leads, Mary Hutter ‘98 and Rebecca Kuchar ‘01, created the Facebook groups and formed a planning committee. “This place made us what we all became,” Hutter said as the crowd cheered at the Parking Lot Party.  Alumni Relations was thrilled to assist in creating such a memorable event. “The reunion weekend was so special. The unique experience of coming back to campus, staying in the residence hall, and reliving college life created a feeling of nostalgia,” said Summer Sharrard-Neering, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement. “Seeing the alumni connect with their friends and relive such a special moment in their lives was heartwarming to witness,” said Sharrard-Neering.  

View more than 200 photos from the '90s/'00s Alumni Reunion Weekend on the CMU Alumni Association Facebook page.

A special thank you to our campus and community partners for their support in making this weekend possible.