Winter 2024

Student Alumni Society Celebrates 40th Anniversary

If you noticed a stunning vista of red-and-white striped rugby shirts spread across campus on Homecoming Weekend, you can thank the Student Alumni Society (SAS) and its 40^th anniversary celebration. Easily recognized by their striking “rugbies,” members of SAS are the university’s beloved tradition keepers who encourage participation from alumni, students, faculty, and staff in WPI’s rich and historic traditions.

The well-attended Homecoming event, held in the Rubin Campus Center Odeum, found SAS members enthusiastically enjoying each other’s company, as well as a delicious spread of sweet and savory fare. President Grace Wang offered a congratulatory message to the attendees, and as the microphone was passed, current and former SAS members shared heartfelt memories of SAS joys and uproarious tales of SAS shenanigans.

When asked how SAS began, event attendee and founding SAS member Kathy Vignaly ’84 shared, “As an undergraduate student, my friends and I would help the Alumni Association with Homecoming and Reunion events. During those times, alumni often talked about long-forgotten WPI traditions, such as beanies, the Tech Bible, and the Goat’s Head Rivalry. After hearing how much alumni enjoyed those traditions and lamented their disappearance, my friends and I began work to revive those traditions for students to enjoy.” In 1983, with the support of the Alumni Office, the Student Alumni Society was officially established on campus.

SAS member Daniel Shea ‘24 says he had an amazing experience at the event. “It was nice connecting and reminiscing with friends I haven’t seen in a little bit and to get a glimpse of how their college lives shaped their current life paths. Also, it was a great opportunity to connect my recent graduate friends to current members for networking opportunities, and current members could have a glimpse of what has shaped SAS over the past few years.”

Reminiscing on her SAS experience, Rachel Delisle ’96 says, “I earned my rugby as an alumna when I served as Alumni Association president. It is one of my most prized possessions. I still participate in as many Bridge Crossings as I can to help welcome the first-year class into the WPI family.”

On behalf of the entire WPI community, we congratulate SAS on its 40^th anniversary, and thank the members for all they do to keep WPI’s traditions alive.