In mid-February 2008, two members of the class of 1960 quietly entered Dickinson at night. They held flashlights and black trash bags full of treats, and were in search for the then-sophomores inhabiting the dorm. This adventure was part of an “elfing” project to show love and support for all members of the class of 2010.
Two years later, on Feb. 11, the two alums returned to Dickinson to elf the class of 2010 one last time before graduation.
As part of the 1960/2010 connection project, the Mount Holyoke alums have been engaging with their so-called “granddaughters” through a wide range of activities, including volunteer work and networking events. Their most recent undertaking was to surprise the seniors with red bags full of goodies, just on time for Valentine’s Day. Members of the graduating class each received a Chef Jeff cookie, a colorful fish-shaped keychain, a printed poem by former Mount Holyoke professor Mary Jo Salter and other words of wisdom and support.
“It was such a surprise to wake up to a red bag of goodies,” said May Yang ’10, president of the Student Government Association (SGA). “We have received various gifts (usually edible) from our grandma class throughout our four years here, but this is my favorite of them all.” The alums wished their granddaughters a happy Valentine’s Day and encouraged them for a successful completion of their last year in college.
“Shells and sandtoys to help you imagine yourselves on a warm beach instead of in wintery South Hadley cranking out papers and exams,” read one of the humorous wishes the grandmother class shared with the seniors. “You are almost there and we are proud of you,” the note in red continued.
In each bag, the alums also enclosed a pamphlet with racial and citizenship statistics about the graduating class. Out of a total of 533 members, the class of 2010 includes an impressive 19.3 percent of international students. In 1960, according to the alums, their class might have included only one Asian student and certainly no women of color. “Even though racial/ethnic diversity is no longer the only diversity we encounter and embrace at Mount Holyoke, the pamphlet with ‘race/citizenship’ statistics reminded me of how far we have come in the past 50 years, leaving me hopeful of the changes Mount Holyoke will undergo in the next 50 years,” said Yang.
In addition to elfing the entire class of 2010, the alums wanted to show their appreciation for President Joanne Creighton who will be also “graduating” in May. As the very last part of their secret project, they left a bag of goodies in front of President Creighton’s door.
Related posts:
- All dorms to have access to wireless by end of school year
- Mount Holyoke’s commencement history
- New org draws students with entrepreneurial streak
- Seniors lead Lyons to 3rd Place at Westfield State meet
- What We Learned this Week:
