50th Reunion for the Class of 1974

Reynolda Hall, Homecoming & Reunion Weekend

Welcome Back!

The Class 1974 will celebrate our 50th Reunion September 13-15. Mark your calendars and make plans to come back and celebrate where it all began! We can’t wait to see you there!

Event Overview

Homecoming Weekend is going to be bigger and better than ever before, so be sure to make plans to be in town by late morning on Friday for the the Golden Deacs Luncheon where we will receive our 50 year pins and hear from alumnus and former Wake Forest Provost, Rogan Kersh ’86 on “What I Learned At Wake Forest”. That afternoon join the fun on Mag Quad at Party So Dear from 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., our class celebration and dinner will begin to celebrate 50 years. This will be a special time together, just for our class.

On Saturday, enjoy the Festival on the Quad and Campus Open House, the Alumni Tailgate and the WFU vs. Ole Miss football game which will kick-off at 6:30 p.m. to name a few highlights. Check the Schedule of Events for a complete listing.

Game tickets are available directly through the ticket office by calling (336)758-3322 or online at godeacs.com . More exciting plans for the weekend are being finalized, so check back for updates. 

We have BIG NEWS! Our class has established the Golden Deacs Scholarship in honor of our 50th Reunion. All the details are below, but we would love to grow this into a significant scholarship for Wake Forest students and need your help to do this. Please consider giving to the scholarship above and beyond what you normally give to Wake Forest.

We have surpassed our dollar goal for reunion-year gifts to The Wake Forest Fund but would love to have a few more classmates to join the campaign. If you haven’t made your gift yet, please do soon! The campaign started July 1, 2023 and will continue through Homecoming Weekend. Check out our progress below!

We hope you’ll make plans to join us for a memorable weekend! Contact your friends, make your hotel reservations, and keep checking this website and WFU Class of 1974 Facebook page for more information as the weekend gets closer.  We’ll see you September 13-15!

Go Deacs!
Minta Aycock McNally and Bill Wells
Class of 1974 Reunion Committee Co-Chairs

Class Hotel

DoubleTree

5790 University Parkway
(336) 767-9595
Room Rate: $219
Book By: August 29
When calling ask for the Class of 1974 50th Reunion Block or book online.

Class of 1974 Reunion Campaign of the Wake Forest Fund

111

$201,638 of $174,000

Learn about the Reunion Campaign »

Golden Deacs Scholarship

As we celebrate 50 years as a class, the reunion committee wants to mark this milestone in a significant way by creating an endowed scholarship to help deserving students attend Wake Forest. In fact, through the generosity of a class member the endowed fund through a planned future gift. The class needs to now raise $100,000 is cash so the scholarship can be awarded. We are over halfway there with gifts from committee members. Please join with these class members at your most generous level above and beyond your other support of Wake Forest. Collectively, the Class of 1974 can make a difference in the lives of current students.

Details for the Golden Deacs Scholarship:

  • The class is creating an endowment that future 50th Reunion Classes can join together with the Class of 1974 to create an endowed academic scholarship which means that the it is invested and awards are made from the interest earned.
  • By joining with other classes, past and future, we hope to create a much larger endowment than separate class scholarships could.
  • It is not only a great way to recognize the significance of a 50th Reunion, it can also provide the opportunity to be part of an endowed fund through memorial gifts, bequests, IRA distributions or other appreciated assets that individuals may not be able to achieve on their own.
  • Once the fund reaches the $100,000 cash funded level, the scholarship will begin to be awarded.
  • The goal is to reach this level by March 31, 2025 so in can be awarded to an incoming freshman in the fall of 2025.

Types of gifts: 

  • Cash gifts (check, credit card, Donor Advised Funds, family foundations)
  • Multi-year pledges (up to five years)
  • Planned estate gifts
  • Distributions from IRAs – 73 years old is the magic age to take advantage of this
  • Gifts of securities
  • Other structured estate gifts
  • Memorial/honorarium gifts

Scholarship structure:

  • Based on financial need
  • Renewable for four years; with minimum GPA being maintained
  • Awarded by the WFU Financial Aid Office

If you prefer, you can mail a check payable to Wake Forest University to the following address:

Wake Forest University
Attn:  Emily Cockerham/Golden Deacs Scholarship
PO Box 7227
Winston-Salem, NC 27109

For questions please contact Emily Cockerham (’90, P ’24) in the Alumni Engagement Office at cockeres@wfu.edu or 336-758-5819.

Reunion Events

Friday, September 13
Golden Deac Event
11:00 a.m. Welcome Center
11:45 a.m. Lunch Buffet
Benson University Center, Suite 401 – AT CAPACITY
The Class of 1974 will be inducted into the ranks of the prestigious Golden Deacs and receive your 50-year pin on Friday of Homecoming Weekend. Rogan Kersh ’86, Alumnus and former Provost will share “What I Learned At Wake Forest.” Members of the Class of 1974 and one guest are complimentary for lunch. Additional guests are $25.
Attire: Black & Gold, Fun & Festive

Menu:
House Salad
Shrimp and Grits
Herbed Chicken Breasts
Roasted Potatoes
Green Beans
Rolls with Butter
Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
Lemon Bars
Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Tea and Water

50th Reunion Celebration
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Drinks & Nibbles
7:30 p.m. Dinner
Benson University Center, Suite 401 – A few spots remain. To attend please email cockeres@wfu.edu or call 336-7585819.

Join class members for our reunion dinner and celebration.  Enjoy drinks & grazing table followed by a surf & turf dinner. This event will take place immediately following Party So Dear.
Attire: Black & Gold, Fun & Festive
Cost: $60 per person

Menu:
Charcuterie Grazing Table
Spinach Dip with Fresh Vegetables & Pitas
Spinach Salad with Apples, Gorgonzola and Bacon with a Citrus Vinaigrette
6oz Beef Tenderloin Filet with a Mushroom Cabernet Sauce
Grilled Salmon Filet topped with Beurre Blanc
Asparagus with Red Pepper Slivers
Gourmet Smashed Potatoes
Rolls and Butter
Cheese Cake with Berries, Flourless Chocolate Cake with Berries, or just berries (upon request)
Wine, Beer, Sodas, Iced Water, Tea, Coffee

If you have dietary restrictions, please contact Emily Cockerham cockeres@wfu.edu for assistance.

1974 Reunion Committee Chairs
Minta Aycock McNally
Bill Wells

1974 Reunion Committee
Steve Ashworth
Bennie Clanton Breece
Stephen Bryant
Sallie Martin Cross
Wendy Clark Eavenson
Lynne Eickholt
Susan Gamble Ellis
Libba Clark Evans
Marcia Pregnall Farrar
Tim Fincher
Marylou Cooper Green
Jim Gregory
Jim Harton
David Hughes
Frank McNally
Dell Parker Paschal
Pat Paschal
Sandy Lastowka Pugh
Amy Huffman Ringwood
Allen Rogers
Dave Shouvlin
Gail Doyle Smith
Patty Hughes Stone
Paula Pfeiffer Tignall
Ed Weller
Margaret Williams-DeCelles
Jay Yingling

For Questions?
reunion@wfu.edu or call 800.752.8568


Class of 1974 Howler

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