Alumni Reunion

The Sorensen Institute's first annual Family Reunion this past weekend in North Garden was a tremendous success. About 150 alumni, family and friends turned out at Bundoran Farm a few miles south of Charlottesville to see old friends and make new ones.

In the photo above, members of the College Leaders Program Class of 2009 enjoy the third hayride of the day through the Virginia countryside (photo by April Auger). The CLP 09 class was recognized as the Most Enthusiastic Sorensen Class of this year for their turnout at the Reunion! We also recognized the Political Leaders Program Class of 2001 as the Most Philanthropic and the Political Leaders Program Class of 2007 as the Most Generous. Look for a complete slideshow of photos from the big event to be posted here in the Newsroom very soon!

We would like to extend our thanks to the Hedges family which entertained us all with their talents, the volunteer alumni who helped us to plan and coordinate the event (especially Chris Fairchild, Hunter Fairchild, and Nancy Finch); and we'd also like to extend a special thanks to board member Fred Scott who so generously hosted the event at his lovely farm.

If you missed the Reunion this year, we hope you'll be able to join us next year!

The Sorensen Institute's first annual Family Reunion (our next-generation Alumni Reunion) will be held at Bundoran Farm in North Garden, just south of Charlottesville, on Saturday September 19 from 11am-4:30pm. Invitations were sent out this morning to our board members, alumni, and supporters. We'll have a full day of food, music, and fun for the kids!

Click here to see the full invitation with all the details!

To get your discount advance tickets to the big event, please contact Tracy Tanner Bond by phone at (434) 982-4943.

This has been an unforgettable year for the Sorensen Institute—the 15th anniversary of our founding. We hope you enjoy this collection of photos from throughout this special year. (Press the arrow to play the slideshow and click here to see a larger version of the photos)

On Saturday October 4 in Richmond the Sorensen Institute celebrated the continued achievements of our graduates at the 2008 Alumni Reunion. Podcasts of the event have already been posted. Here's a slideshow of the memorable evening. Enjoy! (To see the photos in full, please click on the title of this post)

At the 2008 Alumni Reunion, the Sorensen Institute was proud to bestow its Expression of Ideals Award to two graduates, both of whom currently serve in the Virginia General Assembly: Delegate Chris Peace (PLP 2004) and Delegate Jennifer McClellan (PLP 2001, CTP 2005).

This year's winner of the Service to Sorensen Award was graduate Teresa Gregson, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of Spring 1995.

The 2008 Alumni Reunion Award for the Most Generous Class was shared this year by the Political Leaders Program Classes of 2005 and 2007.  (Above: Vickie Williams accepts the award for PLP 05. Below: Angelia Yancey and Dan Carey accept the award for PLP 07)

This year's Most Philanthropic Class Award was given to the Political Leaders Program Class of 2001. Class Chairperson Jennifer McClellan accepted the award.

Two graduates from Sorensen's first year shared some of their memories at the 2008 Alumni Reunion: Nancy Finch (above), a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of Fall 1994, and Roy McAfee (below), a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of Spring 1994.