FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2015 Media Contact: Jessica Walden, 478.621.4420 or jessica@collegehillmacon.com College Hill Partners with Mercer University, Middle Georgia State College and Wesleyan College to Celebrate the Class of 2015 Reunion Zero Event Invites Recent Grads to Live and Work in Macon MACON – The College Hill Alliance has partnered with Mercer University, Middle Georgia State College and Wesleyan College to host a series of events over 10 days celebrating recent graduates and their transition from college students to alumni. Reunion Zero takes place from May 6-16 with events on all three campuses and throughout the city, with a special focus on downtown businesses that target young professionals. Each of the colleges worked with the College Hill Alliance to create a unique schedule combining school traditions, restaurant specials, concerts and networking mingles. Over 200 alumni and local business leaders are expected to participate in the events and 20 local businesses are offering specials in honor of graduation. There are over 20,000 college students who attend schools in Central Georgia. At Mercer, Middle Georgia and Wesleyan – traditional undergraduate universities located within MaconBibb –around 2,000 students are graduating from the Class of 2015. The goal of Reunion Zero is to directly connect these recent grads with local alumni, business leaders and community assets to make the case for Macon, post-graduation. Joshua Lovett is a program coordinator at the College Hill Alliance, who worked with the local colleges to create the concept for Reunion Zero as part of the Alliance’s talent retention strategy. “If we want to retain these students, we have to make them feel welcomed, connect them to social offerings and create jobs they need to make Macon their home,” he said. “Reunion Zero strengthens the connections between the Higher Ed and business communities helping to create a pipeline for talent retention in Macon-Bibb.” The full calendar of Reunion Zero events are below. Multiple events are open to the public and noted in the schedule. Wednesday, May 6, 6-9 p.m. Glorious Golden Heart Grub Ingleside Village Pizza *Open to the Public Join Wesleyannes for food and games at this iconic Macon restaurant. A 10 percent portion of the night’s sales will be donated to the Wesleyan Class of 2015 Senior Gift. Shuttles will be provided from the Wesleyan campus.
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Thursday, May 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wesleyan Mingle Wesleyan College Corn Garden (Media Opportunities Available) All Wesleyan students are invited to mingle with business and community leaders and alumnae with a concert featuring Me and Molly (Stevens) and hors-d’oeuvres by Wesleyan alumni-owned Grow. Friday, May 8 Maker Ceremony and Baccalaureate, 6:15 p.m. Woodruff House Reception, 8-10 p.m. Wesleyan’s Class of 2015 is invited to celebrate with music, food and drinks overlooking Downtown Macon. Tickets are available for graduating seniors and their families. Saturday, May 9 Wesleyan College Graduation Congrats to the Wesleyan College Class of 2015! Go Golden Hearts! Sunday, May 10, 6-8 p.m. Second Sunday Coleman Hill *Open to the Public Second Sunday welcomes the Mercer Bears and the Middle Georgia Knights to the free community concert featuring Margo and the Pricetags. Pack a picnic! Monday, May 11, 6-9 p.m. Mercer Hearts Margs Margarita’s in Mercer Village *Open to the Public Enjoy margaritas and trivia with your fellow Bears with 10 percent of the sales donated to the Mercer Alumni Association on behalf of the Class of 2015. Don’t forget to ask for the “The Jesse” margarita special. Monday, May 11, 6-9 p.m. Middle Georgia Mingle Doughboy Pizza *Open to the Public Enjoy craft beer and hand-tossed pizza in Downtown Macon with your fellow Knights with 10 percent of the sales donated to the Knight Alumni Association on behalf of the Class of 2015.
--more-Tuesday, May 12 Tower Tours (Admin Building, noon-2 p.m.) & Plunkett Pool Party (2 p.m.-until) Mercer University Climb the Tower one last time as an undergraduate and enjoy Bear’s Den brownies and sweet teas at Plunkett pool. Tuesday, May 12, 5-7 p.m. MGA Mingle & Lake Concert Fish N’ Pig (Media Opportunities Available) Middle Georgia State’s Class of 2015 are invited to connect with local alumni and community and business leaders with an evening overlooking Lake Tobesofkee at the Fish N’ Pig with live music and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Wednesday, May 13, 7:30-10 p.m. #BeersforBears Just Tap’d *Open to the Public Enjoy craft beer and fine wines from Just Tap’d with 10 percent of the night’s sales donated to the Mercer University senior gift. Wednesday, May 13, 7:30-10 p.m. Movie Knight Middle Georgia State College Macon Campus *Open to the Public Have a picnic under the stars with friends, family, faculty, students and staff for a screening of “Unbroken” on the big outdoor screen. Thursday, May 14 Middle Georgia State College Commencement Congrats to the graduating Middle Georgia State’s Class of 2015! Go Knights! Thursday, May 14, 6-8 p.m. Mercer Meet-Up & MacTown Throwndown Woodruff House & Downtown Macon (Media Opportunities Available) Mercer University’s Class of 2015 is invited to connect with local alumni and community and business leaders with an evening overlooking Downtown Macon and live music from Me and Molly (Stevens), Satterfield’s BBQ and craft beer provided by Just Tap’d. Afterward, head downtown to enjoy Reunion Zero specials at local restaurants, bars and performance venues.
--more-Thursday, May 14, All Night Knight Out Downtown Macon Downtown Macon will be congratulating all MGA graduates with Reunion Zero discounts and specials at local bars, restaurants and performance venues. Friday, May 15 Mercer University Baccalaureate Willingham Hall Graduating seniors participate in the Mercer tradition and then are invited afterwards for live jazz, snacks and punch on behalf of Student Affairs. Saturday, May 16 Mercer University Graduation Congrats to Mercer University’s Class of 2015! Go Bears! Enjoy “The Graduate Burger” Reunion Zero special at the Rookery for dinner, post-graduation! About the College Hill Alliance Initially established with a grant to Mercer University from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in 2009, the College Hill Alliance assists the community in creating positive change to the physical, social and economic fabric of the College Hill Corridor, a two-square mile area between Mercer’s campus and Macon, Georgia’s downtown business district. Today, the internationally recognized economic development project has leveraged over $100 million in urban renewal, entrepreneurship, arts, neighborhood growth and entertainment, with another $100 million in projects to get underway within the next year. Visit collegehillmacon.com for more information. For more information on all Reunion Zero events, please contact College Hill Alliance Program Coordinator Josh Lovett: josh@collegehillmacon.com / 229.546.5588. For more information about the College Hill Alliance, contact Director of Communications Jessica Walden: Jessica@collegehillmacon.com / 478.621.4420. ###