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John Hyun '86 Fostering Connections The warm feelings alumni and current students have for Homecoming & Reunion are in no small part due to changes that have occurred during the last 15 years. "It has been our goal in recent years to make Homecoming a communitywide celebration of Latin that brings everyone associated with the school together," said Anne Hobbs, director of Development and Alumni Relations. Previously alumni reunion gatherings had been independent of the school. They happened in the late spring, off-campus, often when school was already closed for the summer, and focused mainly on connections to the past. As it is today, Homecoming was celebrated in the fall. By bringing the events together as Homecoming & Reunion, generations of alumni are being reintroduced to Latin. "One of the most fun parts about planning this weekend is to find ways for people to come back and get to know the school all over again," Hobbs said. "We are all so proud of where the school is today, and this is a good time to show off how far Latin has come." So milestone dinners have moved on campus and into classrooms, alumni are invited to a Scholars Salon in the library with current faculty and administrators and are encouraged join in tours and Homecoming events like Romans Run. At the same time, for parents and students who are part of today's Latin community, the weekend is an opportunity to see many generations of Romans on campus and to get a taste of Latin's rich history and traditions. To Hobbs, the weekend is all about connections: connections to community, connections to history and connections to the school. "There is a special energy throughout the school during spirit week and Homecoming & Reunion," Hobbs said. "You can see those connections being made." And, even if to many the weekend is mostly an excuse to get decked out in orange and blue and have fun, it is those connections that make Latin home. l – Evelyne Girardet "We are all so proud of where the school is today, and this is a good time to show off how far Latin has come." – Anne Hobbs Varsity field hockey. Alumni Board President Lara Shipp Shiffman '85 with her family: Marc, Brandon '23 and Ryder '25. Latin School of Chicago 29