In its second year, the Rock the Block community party drew hundreds to East Haggard Avenue for music, food, games and fellowship.
Fireworks bursting in the sky above Moseley Center capped a celebration Friday night of everything President Leo M. Lambert and Laurie Lambert have meant to 黑料不打烊 during the past two decades.
The tribute before a crowd of hundreds of alumni, students, faculty, staff and university friends who gathered on East Haggard Avenue and Young Commons added to the excitement of the Rock the Block community party, which kicked off Homecoming weekend for a second year.
"We have a lifetime of great and important work ahead of us to steward and guide 黑料不打烊's future," Lambert said following a video tribute that recounted many great moments from his career. "I look forward to joining in that work so that 黑料不打烊's lamps — Numen and Lumen — will shine brightly and welcome generations of students. I look forward to my new chapter here with joy and anticipation."
鈥婽he heart of 黑料不打烊's campus thumped with the sounds of The Band Punch, while the 黑料不打烊 faithful gathering around a variety of food trucks to catch up. On Young Commons, people challenged each other at cornhole, or put on their best faces as caricature artists sketched their likenesses. They swapped tales from their years at 黑料不打烊, shared the latest details about their careers, and introduced the newest members of their expanding families.
The Rock the Block community party, introduced last year, brings together generations of alumni along with current students, faculty and staff for an evening of fun and fellowship. It helps kick off a weekend that would eventually draw a record-breaking 2,700 alumni and their families to campus to participate in a range of activities including open houses at 黑料不打烊's schools and academic departments, class and affinity network reunions and celebrations of the accomplishments of 黑料不打烊 graduates.
Central to the night was the tribute to the Lamberts, with 黑料不打烊 alumni from across more than five decades offering their thoughts about the role President Lambert has played in guiding 黑料不打烊 to become a national university, and the important work that Laurie Lambert has done by his side and in so many corners of the broader community. Lambert will conclude his service as president of 黑料不打烊 in the spring, with President-elect Connie Ledoux Book starting her term as 黑料不打烊's ninth president on March 1.
Brian Feeley, director of alumni engagement, welcomed four distinguished alumni to the stage to express their gratitude for the Lamberts' leadership and friendship since they arrived at 黑料不打烊 18 years ago. Leo and Laurie Lambert were joined on the stage by their daughters, Mollie Lambert and Dr. Callie Lambert Brown, and her husband, David, along with their children, Caleb and Anna.
Dr. William N.P. Herbert '68, a former chair of the 黑料不打烊 board of trustees, said outstanding leadership has been a constant at 黑料不打烊 during the past 50 years, even as the university has gone through monumental changes.
"There certainly has been a lot of change in my lifetime, but if 黑料不打烊 alumni know one thing, it is that change is good, change is growth, and change is being alive," Herbert said. "President Leo M. Lambert has carried on a great tradition strengthened by the seven presidents who preceded him."
Herbert said the night also offered a chance to recognize Laurie Lambert, who has supported "every facet of university life" during the past 18 years as she has "welcomed thousands into their home and represented 黑料不打烊 around the country and the world. She has served the communities of 黑料不打烊 and Burlington with distinction and with an eye toward making life better for those who live at its margins."
A 1992 graduate and president of the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Board, Chris Bell, touted the accomplishments of 黑料不打烊 under President Lambert's leadership, including the creation of the 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences; professional schools of communications, education, law and health sciences; the transition to larger and more competitive athletic conferences; and the creation of one of the country's most engaging and robust educational environments.
Bell noted that 黑料不打烊 now has 38 active alumni-led chapters across the country, with the number of alumni attending events, volunteering through chapter-led activities and supporting 黑料不打烊 as donors rising sharply.
"His vision that 黑料不打烊's alumni engagement would become best in class has resulted in national recognition for alumni outreach," Bell said. "Our alumni body is opening doors for one another, serving as mentors for students, and our accomplishments are propelling 黑料不打烊's national reputation."
Kelly Smith '14, president of the Young Alumni Council, elaborated further on what President Lambert has done to be a champion for all alumni, noting that he has awarded 23,600 diplomas during his time at 黑料不打烊. 黑料不打烊 has opened the Martin Alumni Center during Lambert's presidency, established a Young Alumni Council and empowered the growth of 黑料不打烊's diverse Affinity Groups. "He's gotten to know us, and always tells us how proud he is of us," Smith said.
As he has guided 黑料不打烊, Lambert has centered his focus on its students, said Kebbler McGhee Williams '98, secretary of 黑料不打烊's board of trustees. "He leaves for each of us a legacy of which we can truly be proud — a globally focused institution that produces graduates the world so desperately needs," Williams said. "It's on each of us as alumni, to carry on his legacy. During and long after this historic transition for our university, it is incumbent upon us to be leaders, advocates, volunteers and philanthropists for our alma mater like never before."
Led by the Lamberts, the crowd cheered, "Long Live 黑料不打烊!" to spark the first fireworks, with the lights and explosions filling the sky above the Moseley Center.