What a great fall semester this has been! The 2023-2024 West Chester University school year is off to a great start! For example, the combined Homecoming & Family Weekend was a tremendous success. Not only was the weather perfect, but the Golden Rams also defeated Bloomsburg University on the football field in overtime! 
      During Homecoming Weekend, I was fortunate enough to meet some members of the Classes of 1963 and 1973 who were back on campus for their reunions that weekend. It was evident how much pride they had in graduating from WCU (or West Chester State College, as it was known when they graduated). 
      Speaking to these fellow Rams made me wonder, “What would make someone want to come back to campus 50 or 60 years after graduating?” The answer, I believe, is connections. As members of the WCU Alumni Association, I urge you to seek out, build, and strengthen these connections. It can be with people you spent time with as a student, former roommates, band or sports team members, Greek organizations, ROTC, interest groups, or you could make some new connections by participating in WCU alumni events. Connections will make you feel even better about being one of the over 128,000+ of us who are fortunate enough to be members of the WCU Alumni Association. 
      If you do not know where to go to start building new connections, the WCU Alumni Association and the West Chester University Foundation are busy planning numerous events for the remainder of the school academic year. I encourage you to plan on attending a sporting event, The President’s Speaker Series, a play, the Fall or Spring Dance Concerts, a faculty recital, the 102nd Annual Holiday Program, and especially Alumni Weekend from April 19 through 21, 2024. I would also refer you to the volunteer opportunities webpage to find even more ways you can be involved. I hope to see you on campus soon!

Rams Up!

Patrick O’Connor M’93
President, WCU Alumni Association