On May 8 and 9, ETSU is welcoming East Tennessee State University’s graduating class of 1976 back to campus, as well as older members of the Golden Fifties Club for a Golden 50s Reunion. Fifty years ago, 1976 alumni members graduated and are now able to join the Golden Fifties Club.
Beginning on Friday, May 8, attendees will be able to register for the club at the Brinkley Center ballroom at 10:30 a.m. Vetted members of the club will be acknowledged and honored with a special reunion brunch at this time. Additionally, 1976 graduates will be inducted into the Golden 50s Club.
On Friday afternoon, a Golden Happy Hour will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Ramsey Tower in the William B. Greene Jr. Football Stadium. Will Healy is hosting this event and, as head football coach, will give attendees an overview of the upcoming football season.
Saturday, May 9, is the class of 2026 spring commencement. All Golden 50s Club members are invited and encouraged to participate actively in the ceremony, where they will be recognized in golden caps and gowns. Before commencement, a Golden 50s breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. at the Alumni office located at the Model Mill in Johnson City. After breakfast, participants will be escorted to the Minidome for the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony.
Lee Ann Davis, senior director of alumni operations at ETSU, plays a key part in planning this event.
“This is the most meaningful event I do all year. The graduates from 50 years or more are so happy to be back on campus. We have some graduates returning as far back as the class of 1959,” Davis said. “They can’t believe how beautiful the campus is and how much progress has been made to buildings that were new when they were students. These alumni are so excited to be a part of a commencement again and love to tell the students sitting near them, ‘This will be you one day.'”
