2016 Tech Reunions Shatters Attendance Records

An attendance record-breaking 4,401 MIT alumni and friends returned to campus during the 2016 Tech Reunions, held June 2–5. The community enjoyed more than 150 events including the 119^th Tech Night at Pops, Technology Day, and the festive Toast to Tech, the final event of the months-long MIT2016 celebration that honored the Institute’s 1916 campus move from Boston to Cambridge. View of photo gallery of Tech Reunions 2016.

Commencement

Alumni Association President John Chisholm ’75, SM ’76 and the 50th reunion Class of 1966 continued the long-standing tradition of leading the MIT Commencement procession into Killian Court. The ceremony was highlighted by guest speaker Matt Damon—a filmmaker, social activist, and Cambridge native who rose to prominence with his portrayal of an MIT janitor with genius-level intellect in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. Watch Damon’s Commencement address and read the transcript of his speech.

Technology Day

Tech Day 2016, Research Spotlights: Education and Environment, explored MIT research on education and the environment. The two-part program first considered how MIT shapes what, where, and how the world learns, from K–12 through higher education and lifelong learning; the second panel discussed new research and initiatives aimed at mobilizing the MIT community to forge a people-centric, planet-positive future. Watch the Technology Day 2016 webcast.

The panelists included Associate Dean of Digital Learning Vijay Kumar; Professor Angela Belcher; Professor John Gabrieli PhD ’87; research scientist Scot Osterweil; Professor Karen Willcox SM ’96, PhD ’00; John Fernández ’85, director of MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative; Professor David McGee; Assistant Professor Elsa Olivetti PhD ’07; and Assistant Professor Jessika Trancik.

At the Technology Day luncheon, the Alumni Association announced total reunion giving from all classes at nearly $75 million, including record participation from the graduating Class of 2016 (88 percent) and highlighted by record numbers: $4.4 million from the Class of 1991, $4.7 million from the Class of 1986, $6.2 million from the Class of 1981, $24.6 million from the Class of 1976, and nearly $660,000 from the Class of 1941. Gifts received by June 30 will be counted toward final reunion and annual totals.

Tech Night at Pops

For the 119^th year, MIT alumni and friends gathered for Tech Night at Pops—the official kickoff of Tech Reunions Weekend. This year’s Pops event featured a piano concerto from Julia Chan ’18 and performances centered around the Olympic Games and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and an original piece, the mobile phone-inspired Ringtone Cycle.

Toast to Tech

Saturday evening’s Toast to Tech culminated the Institute’s season-long campus centennial celebration. Held in Killian Court, more than 2,300 alumni and friends enjoyed a barbecue dinner on Kresge lawn, live music, fireworks over the Charles River, dessert from Winnette McIntosh Amrose ’98, a first-place winner on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, and complimentary beverages from Mystic Brewery, owned by Emily Havens Greenhagen ’05.

Class Events

The Cardinal and Gray Society’s newest members, the Class of 1966, enjoyed a post-Commencement luncheon, a Saturday evening President's Reception at Gray House, a gala dinner, and a Sunday-morning farewell brunch. View of photo gallery of the Class of 1966 at Tech Reunions.

The 40th reunion group, the Class of 1976, enjoyed a Friday-evening reception with President Reif and his wife, Christine, at the Media Lab. The 25th reunion group, the Class of 1991, took part in Friday night dinner at Walker Memorial, dinner on the top floor of the Media Lab, and a Sunday morning farewell brunch at the Grey House. View a photo gallery of the Class of 1991 at Tech Reunions.

The 60-year reunion Class of 1956 attendees recreated a photo of the class that appeared in Life Magazine in 1956. And groups that did not celebrate a specific reunion also returned to campus. The MIT10 community—alumni who graduated in 2006–2015—gathered for a reception at the MIT Museum.

Tech Challenge Games

Competition during the Tech Challenge Games—celebrating its 25^th anniversary—was fierce. The Classes of 1991 and 1976 were co-champions of the Tech Challenge Games, followed closely by the Class of 1996. The Class of 1976’s co-victory marked their third time as Tech Challenge Champions—the only three-time winners in Tech Reunions history.

Reunion Row

The Reunion Row featured the always spirited and competitive Sunday morning race the Charles River. This year’s winners, the Class of 1976, received a special trophy in memory of Jack Frailey ’44, a longtime advocated of rowing at MIT. The Class of 1991 finished in second placed followed by the Class of 1966 and the Class of 1986.