Alumni come back to campus for
Alumni Weekend 2023

University Liggett School welcomed back hundreds of alumni, friends, and current and former faculty/staff on campus May 19-20 for 2023 Alumni Weekend events. Alumni gathered at and around their alma mater to enjoy the two days with dear friends.

A variety of events marked the weekend. Activities and gatherings included the following:

  • The weekend started with Friday morning's in-person meeting of 5th-grade students and their Class of 1973 Pen Pals. During the school year, these students and alumni exchanged old-fashioned letters via snail mail. On Friday, they finally connected at a classroom meet-and-greet, and the students took the alumni on tours throughout the school. 
  • The “Golden Knights” (alumni celebrating class reunions of 50 years and above) gathered at Head of School Bart Bronk’s home for a cocktail party on Friday evening. A group of about 50 alumni were there to reconnect and reminisce. 
  • Saturday morning set the scene for Alumni Weekend’s sixth-annual Detroit bus tour. The two-hour guided walking and bus tour featured stops at Burns Avenue in Indian Village, an urban prairie, the riverfront, and Midtown. Throughout the tour, University Liggett School Faculty Emeritus David Backhurst gave history lessons about each area and how each has changed.
  • On Saturday evening were class reunions for classes from graduating years ending in “3” and “8,” as well as the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Ceremony. ULS’s 2023 Distinguished Alumni is Adam Levinson ‘88, who was in attendance for the honor. 

Meet our 2023 Distinguished Alumnus

 Adam Levinson ‘88 was honored as our 2023 Distinguished Alumni at Alumni Weekend, held May 19 & 20th. 

Head of School Bart Bronk introduced Levinson to the more than 150 alums, including members of the Class of 1988 who were celebrating their 35th reunion that were in attendance, saying Levinson has had a remarkable path since graduating in 1988 — one that has taken him around the world, living in Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York and Los Angeles — all the while supporting academic initiatives. 

“Through his professional successes, Adam has shown an incredible commitment to civic and philanthropic endeavors, especially those that support educational initiatives in communities he has called home, including Los Angeles, Ithaca and Detroit,” Bronk said. 

When accepting his award, Levinson said he was deeply humbled and honored to be in the company of previous Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

“It’s strange to be up here, but I’m truly humbled by this whole experience,” he said. I want to thank the faculty and staff for putting together this recognition and for putting together an unbelievable program over the last two days.

While on campus Levinson spoke to the Upper School during community time and also to a smaller group of seniors. 

“This has given me a chance to spend meaningful time with Upper School students who are at Liggett today,” he said. “I can’t tell you how appreciative I am just to have had the opportunity to share what little insight I might be able to give the future classes emerging from Liggett.

“I hadn’t been here in 35 years, so first being on campus triggered very fond memories of my experiences here, and there’s no doubt that a very substantial part of the reason I’m standing here today is a function of the education and values I received while at Liggett.”