For the past several weeks, the Alumni Relations team has been jet-setting with the mission of uniting Catamounts across the country.

So far, this year's NextGen Mixers have hosted alumni and friends in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City, and San Francisco. These preceded some of our Admitted Student Receptions, which also included: Armonk, NY; Evanston, IL; Greater Minneapolis, MN; and Seattle, WA.

Chances are, if you attended one, you had the pleasure of meeting some of the Alumni Relations crew, including Sydney Rybicki, Associate Director of Alumni Relations; Claire Kohler '22, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for the College of Engineering and Mathematics and the Patrick Leahy Honors College; or Maddie Ritter '15, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for the College of Arts & Sciences.

Sarah Lenes G'10, Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations, reflects that partnering with the UVM Enrollment Managements team "to help welcome the newest Catamounts to the UVM family" is thrilling. "Alumni are proud to be alumni and are eager to share their Catamount experiences."

FINDING COMMUNITY

The events were well attended, which indicated to Rybicki a strong need to come together as a community amidst uncertainty.

"People want community," Rybicki shares, "and that became clearest at our DC event," which she mentions was their best attended. The DC event was held at Le Meridian Hotel on February 3rd.

​The Admitted Student Receptions, which followed the Young Alumni Socials in certain cities, are always a highlight. The Hickory & Tweed event in Armonk, NY event, was held on March 24th in a beloved venue.

The backdrop for this event went outside the usual restaurant or lounge, adding to its charm: Hickory & Tweed, a Westchester skip shop owned by UVM Alum and UVM Foundation Board Member, Skip Beitzel '76.

 

However unusual, it was familiar to some. This was the 35th year Hickory & Tweed graciously hosted UVM's Armonk Admitted Student Reception. 

Beitzel started working at Hickory & Tweed as a high school freshman and continued his work throughout his college years at UVM. He left his advertising career in 1985 and bought the shop. 

"Hickory & Tweed has been in my DNA from the time I first walked in the door back in '61," Beitzel writes.

The family-run, customer-first shop has been named the #1 Ski Shop in America. It becomes clear you can't spell Skip without Ski.

Beitzel's over four decades of robust engagement with UVM began in the 1980s, when he and classmate Annalee Ash brought the New York City Alumni Club back to life. This culminated in his becoming President of the UVM Alumni Council and increasing engagement with the UVM Fund.

Pleased to have hosted a cozy cohort of admitted students, parents, and young alumni for the 35th year in a row, Beitzel lovingly calls his shop "UVM South."

Another favorite venue included Philadelphia's Young Alumni Social, held at the Midtown Continental, with a playful display of multicolored orbs dangling in the lobby. There, alumni connected over UVM memories while sharing in each other's company.

The most rewarding aspect of hosting these socials, Rybicki shares, is watching these connections happen in real time with the hope that they'll continue to deepen long after the night is over.

LOOKING TO CONNECT? 

If you missed a Social this year, stay tuned for those planned in early 2026.

Looking for other ways to connect with your fellow Catamount community? There are so many ways to do so. Please reach out to Sarah Lenes at Sarah.Lenes@uvm.edu