UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL \ ALUMNI
\ ALUMNI WEEKEND
ALUMNI WEEKEND 2024
Knights come from far and wide to celebrate!
We welcomed many alumni, friends, and current and former faculty and staff to campus this past weekend for Alumni Weekend 2024. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and to celebrate our 2024 Distinguished Alumna, Nona Yehia '89. Thanks to everyone who attended and made Alumni Weekend special.
Friday, May 17 Events
Pen Pal "Meet and Greet" for 50th Reunion: During the school year, the alumni from the 50th reunion class of 1974 became pen pals with the 5th graders. Students and alumni exchange old-fashioned letters via snail mail throughout the year. During Alumni Weekend, the students met their pen pals at a classroom meet and greet and took the alumni on tours throughout the school. Alumni could be overheard telling the students how to sneak extra desserts from the dining room.
Nona Yehia '89 speaks at Upper School Community Time: Nona Yehia '89 spoke to Upper School students and shared some wisdom about her life, career path and her time at ULS. Nona said the ULS community taught her about the art of possibility, the power of optimism and gave her a strong foundation for her life and career success. "It is here, that I was given the skills to become a relentless optimist."
"Golden Knights" Cocktail Party hosted by Head of School Tom Sheppard: The Alumni Weekend Golden Knights Cocktail Party is for all Alumni Celebrating 50th or higher reunions. This year’s event, held at Head of School Tom Sheppard’s house, was attended by almost 50 alums, many of whom planned off-site class dinners afterward.
"The foundation that was built at Liggett enabled me to follow a path of innovation that aligns with my strengths, passion, and the needs of the world. This foundation was built with the values of integrity, empathy and inclusion."
— Nona Yehia '89, 2024 Distinguished Alumna
Saturday, May 18 Events
Annual Detroit Bus Tour with David Backhurst: The seventh-annual Detroit bus tour was an eye-opening adventure for almost 20 alumni. The almost four-hour guided walking and bus tour — a spin-off of the Urban Studies class taught by David Backhurst, faculty emeritus — featured stops at Burns Avenue in Indian Village, an urban prairie, the riverfront, and Midtown. Throughout the tour, Backhurst gives history lessons about each area and how each has changed. “We see the good, the bad and the ugly,” said Backhurst.
2024 Distinguished Alumni Induction Ceremony of Nona Yehia Sullivan '89: Nona Yehia '89 was recognized as our 2024 Distinguished Alumna during Alumni Weekend.
Head of School Tom Sheppard introduced Yehia to alums, friends and family, including members of the Class of 1989 who were celebrating their 35th reunion that were in attendance, saying Yehia perfectly represents our mission — inspiring lives of purpose through education grounded in a spirit of discovery.
When accepting the award, Yehia said she was deeply humbled and honored to be in the company of previous Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, adding that she remembers her time on Cook Road solid foundation and taught her about the art of possibility. “It is here that I was given the skills to become a relentless optimist,” she said.
Learn more about Nona Yehia '89 >
All-Alumni Cocktail Reception: We welcomed many alumni, friends, and current and former faculty and staff to campus this past weekend for Alumni Weekend 2024. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and to celebrate our 2024 Distinguished Alumna, Nona Yehia '89. Thanks to everyone who attended and made Alumni Weekend special.
Class Dinners! Alumni celebrating milestone reunions had a great time and enjoyed a chef-curated three course dinner in the dining room.
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