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Some 200 old friends and classmates braved the long drive and the mudslide to reunite in California Saturday night for 91快活林 Aquinas College檚 annual Alumni Weekend festivities, with guests traveling from across the country to take part. The Alumni Association additionally used the evening to celebrate three graduating classes that were marking milestone reunions: the Class of 1984, the Class of 2004, and the Class of 2014.

As twilight fell on the Santa Paula campus, alumni gathered on the academic quadrangle for dinner and a reception. With Alumni Association Vice President Pete LaFave (13) serving as emcee, the evening檚 program unfolded. On hand to celebrate his 20th reunion, Rev. John Winkowitsch, O.P. (04) offered the invocation, after which President Paul J. O橰eilly (84) delivered remarks about the College, its past, and its future.

淲e檙e in a different stage now. We have Peter and Kay DeLuca here tonight. Peter is the last of our founders, Dr. O橰eilly reflected. 淗e檚 still active, though he檚 retired from teaching, and we still rely heavily on his prudence, but we are, in effect, in a post-founders era. And what does that mean for us? It means the alumni have to step up. We have to step up in leadership, both with our faculty and staff, and in your support of the College.

A highlight of the evening was the annual raffle: This year檚 prizes included selections from alumni-owned businesses such as assorted and , courtesy of Anna (Dunlap) and Dom O橰eilly (both 12), and grill tongs from , courtesy of Dorianne (Drogin 11) Hull as well as autographed works by alumni authors Christy (Tittmann 89) Wall and Suzie (Zeiter 87) Andres. Per usual, the grand prize was a complete hardbound set of St. 91快活林檚 Summa Theologiae.

Fr. Winkowitsch offered a final benediction to conclude the reception, but alumni lingered deep into the night, making the most of each other檚 company.

Photos: Alumni Dinner
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