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Celebration of Chemistry

Celebration of Chemistry

Davidson Hall, after several years of renovation, will be opening in late summer 2018. The department would like to take the reopening as an opportunity to bring alumni and friends together for a unique weekend celebrating its achievements thus far and the future accomplishments to come.

The Celebration of Chemistry will be held over the course of a weekend in late October, and will include a variety of family-friendly activities including tours of the new Davidson Hall and a Chemical Illusions show, hosted by the Virginia Tech chapter of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliates.

All chemistry alumni, from Bachelor's graduates to Doctoral recipients and former postdocs, and their families are invited to attend.

Dates

October 19–20th, 2018

Registration

Online registration closed on Tuesday, October 16th. Questions about registration can be directed to Katie Lafon (kapatter@vt.edu)

Early Bird Rate (until August 31st) $40/person
Regular Rate (after September 1st) $50/person
Children under age 18 Free
Graduate Students* Free

*Graduate Students includes both current Department of Chemistry graduate students as well as those who received their bachelor's degree from the department and are now enrolled in a graduate/professional degree program at another institution. 

The department has reserved 3 lodging blocks for the Celebration. Rooms are available on a first come-first serve basis.

Inn at Virginia Tech, 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA, 540-231-8000, $145/night 
Please access this link to book your room - Chemistry Alumni Reunion - IAVT

Hilton Garden Inn, 900 Plantation Road, Blacksburg, VA, 540-552-5005 $119/night
Please access this link to book your room - Chemistry Alumni Reunion - HGI

Hyatt Place, 650 University City Boulevard, Blacksburg, VA 540-739-3598, $108/night
Please access this link to book your room - Chemistry Alumni Reunion - Hyatt

*Schedule subject to change

Friday, October 19th

Friday Night Social
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm • Sinkland Farms
Join us for an evening of fun and dancing at a social event on Friday evening. Local food trucks and Sinkland Farms Brewery beer will be available for purchase and live music from 3 Minute Lovin will be playing all night long. An emeritus faculty panel featuring Drs. Mike Ogliaruso, John Dillard, J.P. Wightman, and Jim Wolfe will be sure to delight with stories of department adventures. Shuttles between Sinkland Farms and The Inn at Virginia Tech will be available in 30 minute intervals. Current VT Graduate Students are invited to attend.

Saturday, October 20th

Morning Session
8:30–9:00am • Davidson Hall Lobby
Carol Lee donuts and coffee

9:00–10:45am • Davidson Hall 281
Welcome and Hokie Talks, featuring current research faculty presenting research from each area of chemistry. (For those with children, there will be a kid-friendly Chemical Illusions show presented after the welcome address from 9:30–10:45am in Hahn Hall North 140. At least one parent/guardian must be present with each child.)

11:00am–12:30pm • Davidson Hall
Self-guided tour and scavenger hunt of the renovated Davidson Hall. Maps with points of interest will be available for the self-guided tours. Student and faculty research posters will be presented around the building.

11:00am–11:30am • Hahn Hall South
Glassblowing Session 1. (Registration now full)

11:45am–12:15pm • Hahn Hall South
Glassblowing Session 2. (Registration now full)

Lunch
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm • Davidson Hall 281
Boxed lunch will be provided

Afternoon Session
The afternoon is yours for the taking! Optional afternoon activities are offered and include an admissions session for prospective students, an in-depth tour of Moss Arts Center (registration now full), walking tours of campus, and a hike at Pandapas Pond*. Hokie BugFest will also be held concurrently in Squires Student Center on Saturday until 5pm.

*For those who would like to hike at Pandapas, meet at the upper parking lot at 2pm. Additionally, both short and longer routes are planned.

Dinner
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm • The Inn at Virginia Tech
A formal reception and dinner celebrating the past, present and future of the department. Keynote speaker is College of Science Dean Sally Morton.

Below is a list of group alumni reunions occuring during the weekend. If your group is planning an event and would like to be listed, please email Corrin Lundquist at clund5@vt.edu

  • Gibson Group: A group dinner celebrating Harry's retirement to be held at The Inn on Friday, Oct. 19. Social hour and meal beginning at 4pm. Contact Mike Berg (bergm@vt.edu) for more information.
  • Ward Group: A group breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 8:00–9:00am will be held in Davidson Hall 413, with Dr. Ward planning to be in attendance. Contact Ann Norris (anorris11@comcast.net) for more information.
  • Kingston Group: A "mini symposium" of Kingston alumni will be held on Satuday, Oct. 20 from 1:30–4:30pm in Davidson Hall 413. Please RSVP to David Kingston (dkingsto@vt.edu).
  • Dr. Harold McNair will be in attendance on Saturday, Oct. 20 and will be available for breakfast on Sunday, Oct. 21. If you'd like to arrange breakfast plans with him, please email him at hmcnair@vt.edu.

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