Welcome to the Winter 2026 issue of Your Connection - and our second issue in this new digital format!



Read on for a look back at the moments that defined the fall and a preview of the experiences that await, including Reunion Weekend 2026.

Dearest Alumni,

I hope this message finds you and yours well and thriving! As I reflect on these past months, I have great gratitude for all the ways our community has supported one another and our alma mater.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported the Converse Fund in 2025! Your collective generosity helped us exceed our $1.5 million goal by December 31! A standout moment was Rock the Tower, our most successful day of giving to date, with record participation and new donors.

We’re also excited to share that the Future Alumni Council was founded this past fall by Alumni Relations intern, Madison Davis ’26. This new SGA organization boasts 11 confirmed members including students from all class years, legacies, diverse majors, and leaders in varied co-curriculars. During planning, 69 students were surveyed to help guide the council’s focus, and its mission is anchored in a desire to connect with alumni, revive and adapt traditions, and educate peers about philanthropy culture.

As you look back on memories from fall alumni events, remember that Reunion Weekend 2026 is just around the corner. The schedule is live and registration is open! Visit our FAQs webpage for details and planning resources, including local accommodations.

Thank you for your continued engagement and love for one another and our alma mater!

Warmly,

Andrea Weatherman Kikkert, PhD ’05

Director of Alumni Relations

It's that time of year again! Reunion Weekend at Converse is a time for all alumni to return home to our beloved 580 East Main and celebrate the vibrant spirit that defined their days on campus.

REGISTER TODAY to join us April 24-25, 2026! You can view the full schedule of events online. Don't miss out on these signature events and more!

• Life After Converse Panel
• Let's Get Back to Class - with Associate Professor of Economics and Anne Morrison Chapman Distinguished Professor of International Study, Dr. Madelyn Young
• Hopkins Happy Hour
• All Class BBQ
• Class Parade & Alumni Achievement Awards
• Sip & Paint
• Mix & Mentor
• The Great Comeback Games

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 1976 as they join the Golden Club!

*Please note that events for the Class of 1976 will begin on Thursday, April 23.

In addition to the Class of 1976, we're thrilled to celebrate the Class of 2025 for their first Reunion and the Class of 2001 for their Silver Reunion!

Come back home to Converse! Register to attend Reunion Weekend and make your gift for the annual "It's a Class Act" competition! Winners will be announced at the All Class BBQ.

2025 was a record year for the Converse Fund!

This year’s Rock the Tower raised $239,028, exceeding the goal of $225,000. We celebrated a 70% increase in donor participation! Special congratulations go to the Class of 1968 for the largest gift total, and to the Class of 1987 for having the most donors. You can read a full recap of Rock the Tower and view the list of our gracious supporters who provided matches and challenges here.

The Institutional Advancement Team is also delighted to share that the Converse Fund exceeded its $1.5 million goal, raising $1,537,349 by December 31!! This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our Converse community, friends, and especially our enthusiastic and dedicated alumni! Many of you went the extra mile this year, making phone calls, reconnecting with classmates, and championing Converse in meaningful ways. Thank you for the generosity of your time, your advocacy, and your belief in this institution! 

“I came to Converse because of the School of Music, and had not even written my first poem. The faculty members of the English department ignited that spark.”

-Ellen Bryant Voigt ’64

Converse mourns the loss of award-winning poet and literary great, Ellen Bryant Voigt ’64, who passed away on October 23, 2025, at the age of 82.

After receiving a scholarship to study music, Ellen came to Converse in 1960 with aspirations to become a high school band director. But the trajectory of her life changed with the help of Converse's English department.

Previously described as "one of the most significant poets of our time," Ellen went on to become nationally known as the "poet with the musical ear." The author of nine collections of poetry and the recipient of numerous awards, including the coveted MacArthur Fellowship, Ellen leaves a legacy that will be remembered not only for its brilliance but for lasting contributions to the literary landscape and the generations inspired by her work.

Fall 2025 was a season of gratitude and community! We are so grateful to all those who hosted and attended these events. You can view photo highlights from all of our fall alumni gatherings here.

A very special thank you to all of our gracious hosts:

HIGHLANDS, NC - August 2025

Hosted at the home of Cathy Sloss Jones ’75

SPARTANBURG, SC - September 2025

Pi Kappa Lambda Faculty Showcase hosted by the Petrie School of Music

SPARTANBURG, SC - September 2025

Unsheltered in Hub City: a Public Reading & Discussion hosted at Converse with Susie Beckham Zurenda ’77, Retired Educator and Author | Colin Bauer, Well Being Coordinator, Spartanburg District 7 Schools | Jessica Case Holland, '03, Attorney | Marilyn Nguyen, Strategic Partners and Opportunities Manager, City of Spartanburg | Hannah Jarrett, Director, A Place to Call Home

GREENVILLE, SC - October 2025

Hosted by Katherine Russell Selvy ’93 and Sally Thomason Russell ’66

RALEIGH, NC - October 2025

Hosted by Libby Long Richards ’05 and Sandy Kopp Roberts ’75

COLUMBIA, SC - October 2025

Hosted by Cathy McAllister Watson '86, Becky Airheart '76, Marion McNair Coleman '87, Becky DuBard Grantland '88, Lawson Edwards Hough '90, Mary Kenyon Robards Jones '90, Jennie Player Lambe '86, Vandy Major McFaddin '85, Courtenay Brailsford Mims '04, and Sarah Shealy Smith '86. 

CLASS NOTES ARE ONLINE!

Class Notes are an important part of the Converse connection, and we want to make it even easier to stay engaged with your classmates! Share your news with us! You may be featured on our social media pages or in the next issue of Your Connection!

Read more Class Notes where your fellow classmates share awards and recognitions, significant events, and career changes. Class Notes is password-protected for the privacy of our alumni. Please email alumni@converse.edu for the password.

Stay connected with your fellow alumni by following the Converse Alumni Association social media pages:

And, be sure to follow the official Converse University social media pages: