By Kathryn Kopchik

LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell University will host Reunion Weekend May 30 to June 2, with thousands of alumni and their families planning to return to the campus.

Bucknellians who come back to campus may participate in a variety of activities, including a faculty reception, an open house at the Environmental Center and tours of the Greenhouse and the Weis Center as well as walking tours of the Arboretum, Academic West and the Poetry Path.

In addition, Reunion will feature class year events, career workshops, children's activities, including a Family Fun Festival and soccer clinics; Alumni University classes; an alumni golf tournament; canoe trips on the Susquehanna River; and gatherings for fraternities, sororities, athletics and other affinity groups.

Dinosaurs and fireworks
Events of note that are open to the public include a Dinosaur Petting Zoo, a free kid-friendly interactive event, on Saturday, June 1, at 2 p.m. on the lawn across from the Weis Center.

There will be a free fireworks display Saturday, June 1, at 10:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Spectators may view the fireworks from the Academic Quad in front of Bertrand Library. Parking will be available on the farm lot off Seventh Street via South Campus Drive or above the stadium. Dent Drive between Seventh Street and the stadium will be closed from 9 to 11:30 p.m.

Alumni University
Reunion participants will have an opportunity to return to class through a variety of presentations by alumni, faculty and administrators. The schedule includes:

• May 30, 2 p.m.: "Healthcare Reform: Where are we now? What are future issues?" with Amy Wolaver, associate professor of economics and co-director of the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy;
• May 30, 3:15 p.m.: "Collecting Art for 160 Years (Backward and Forward)" with Richard Rinehart, director of the Samek Art Gallery;
• May 31, 11 a.m.: "Campus Master Planning" with Dennis Hawley '72, M'73, associate vice president for facilities;
• May 31, 1:30 p.m.: "Business in the Dark: The art of management in uncertain times" with Michael Johnson-Cramer, director of the School of Management;
• May 31, 1:30 p.m.: "Is it Time to Pay Attention to Twitter?" with Julee Bertsch, program director with Alumni Career Services;
• May 31, 3 p.m.: "Discovering Your Ancestry in the Electronic Age" with author Frank Davis;
• May 31, 3 p.m.: "Your Brain and Music" with Lois Svard, professor emerita of music;
• May 31, 3 p.m.: "MOOCS, Online Programs, Flipped Classrooms: What's all the fuss about?" with Param Bedi, vice president for Library & Information Technology;
• June 1, 9:30 a.m.: "Arboretum Walking Tour" with Duane Griffin, associate professor of geography, and Mark Spiro, associate professor of biology;
• June 1, 1:30 p.m.: "Diamonds from Peanut Butter: A brief history of airplanes, computers, golf clubs and just about everything else" with President John Bravman;
• June 1, 3 p.m.: "The Poetry Path" with a student guide;
• June 1, 3 p.m.: "If You had to Compete Against Yourself, How Would You Win?" with Ken Jones '78, director of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Houston;
• June 1, 3 p.m.: "That Old House: Lewisburg historic architecture" with Tom Greaves, professor emeritus of anthropology.
• June 1, 3 p.m.: "Walking Tour of Academic West and South Campus Development" with Dennis Hawley.

Reunion Rally
A returning highlight of the annual Reunion Rally in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts will be a theatrical, musical and multimedia production featuring Bucknell students and celebrating alumni.

The rally will feature actor John Bolger, a 1977 Bucknell graduate who has starred as Garrett Prescott Floyd on the ABC daytime drama "General Hospital" since 2006.

Previous roles include Gabe McNamara on "Another World" and Phillip Spaulding on "Guiding Light." He also starred in the primetime series "Everything's Relative" with Jason Alexander, and guest starred on shows such as "NYPD Blue" and "New York Undercover," as well as the Lifetime television movie, "Almost Golden: The Jessica Savich Story."

Alumni awardees
In addition to the theatrical performance, the Alumni Association will honor its four 2013 award recipients through a combination video and in-person celebration.

William Durland, a 1953 graduate, will be honored for Service to Humanity. An educator, lawyer, author and activist, Durland is a recognized humanitarian who has traveled the world to volunteer and advocate for human rights and civil liberties.

Richard Fidler, a 1963 graduate, will receive the award for Loyalty to Bucknell for his 50 years of service. He has served as an Admissions alumni interview, an annual fund office volunteer, and co-chair of his 45th Reunion Gift Committee and is serving as Reunion Committee Co-Chair for his 50th reunion.

William Woods, a 1968 graduate, will be honored for Outstanding Achievement in a Chosen Profession. An internationally known leader in the field of childhood cancer, Woods has been the director of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University.

J.R. Holden, a 1998 graduate, will receive the Young Alumni Award. A two-time Euroleague basketball champion and gold medalist in the 2007 European Championships, he was top five in scoring while playing for the Russian National Basketball Team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.