Homecoming & Alumni Weekend

OCTOBER 2021

Homecoming & Alumni Weekend

In October 2021, St. Mark’s combined its two largest community events into a weekend full of Lion Pride. As the nature of the global pandemic evolved throughout 2021, the Alumni Association remained committed to bringing graduates back to campus safely to reengage with one another and the School. The result was Homecoming & Alumni Weekend 2021, a three-day celebration for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and the entire community.

ALUMNI HIT THE LINKS on October 21 at the

Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington for the Alumni Golf Tournament. After a shotgun start, teams fanned out for the scramble before returning for a dinner and awards reception. This year’s Ivan Irwin Jr., ’50 Cup was won by the foursome of Joe Hay ’68, Austin Heape, Scott Heape ’68, and Tim Weymouth ’68, who earned both the lowest net and gross scores.

The following morning, alumni gathered on campus for a day in the life of a Marksman. Recently retired English teacher Curtis Smith returned for one more lesson, addressing a room filled with former students spanning five decades. Director of Environmental Studies, Dan Northcut ’81 taught his fellow graduates about the history of mass extinctions, while history teacher Dr. Jerusha Westbury shared the surprising history of pranks by colonial Spaniards. As the student body prepared for the weekend’s festivities, alumni were invited to attend the Homecoming Pep Rally before the big games. As the sun set, the Friday night lights lit up Norma & Lamar Hunt Family Stadium and Morris G. Spencer Gym for Homecoming 2021. Hundreds of parents and alumni began the evening at the Kickoff Party in the Great Hall before heading out to cheer on the football and volleyball teams.

At the Saturday Family Cookout, alumni and their families enjoyed lunch on the Perot Family Quadrangle while the Blues Club provided musical entertainment. In the Winn Science Center, visitors experienced stellar planetarium shows, toured the Addy Family Makerspace, and even took home a freshly laser-cut wooden souvenir.

As another memorable Alumni Weekend came to a close, Marksmen did not have to wait long to celebrate the next one. Alumni Weekend 2022 welcomed hundreds of Marksmen and visitors to campus in late April, complete with the Spring Alumni Dinner and reunions for Classes ending in 2 and 7, as well as the parents of the Classes of 2007, 2012, and 2017, and even a few postponed reunions from the previous year. Check the next issue of The Pride for complete coverage of this hallmark weekend.