The signature fall event welcomed thousands of University community members to campus for a weekend of joyous celebrations and meaningful conversations.
Meliora Weekend 2024 hosted more than 10,000 registered attendees—including students and families, alumni, community members, faculty and staff, and distinguished guests—on the University of Rochester’s campuses. The traditional fall event, which took place September 26–29 this year, combines homecoming, reunion, and parents and family weekend into a unique opportunity for members of the Yellowjacket family to celebrate, reunite, reminisce, socialize, and learn together.
Enjoy this look back at the festivities!
A YELLOWJACKET’S-EYE VIEW: Wilson Quadrangle, transformed into Meliora Village, is where much of the Meliora Weekend magic happened.
RIDING IN STYLE: Attendees enjoyed ferris wheel rides on the Wilson Quad.
MAKING MOVES: Performers and student groups, including Free Flow, performed on one of several stages set up in Meliora Village on the Wilson Quad.
STREET EATS AND BEATS: Revelers gathered outside of the Eastman School of Music for a block party—complete with food trucks and performances by Eastman School student musicians.
NORAH THE EXPLORER: Veteran newscaster and Emmy Award–winning journalist Norah O’Donnell, who is one of only three women in history to solo anchor a network evening news broadcast, delivered the weekend’s keynote address in the Palestra.
“Fear and self-doubt is your constant companion. And that may sound daunting, but the key is to turn that fear into fuel and that doubt into determination,” she told a rapt audience. “I wouldn’t be sitting in Walter Cronkite’s chair today,” O’Donnell recalled, if she had let others’ doubts about her determine her future.
DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY: A panel of experts on politics and international relations discussed democracy and elections worldwide during the University Symposium in Strong Auditorium. Among the speakers was City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans ’02 (second from left), who noted that “Most of the folks in our country, not even just in the city of Rochester or Monroe County, they want solutions to their problems, but they’re turned off from the far right and far left. And that’s dangerous because then they won’t participate in the democratic process.”
THREE’S (GOOD) COMPANY: Valeria Lopez Aldaco ’14, Conor McNamara ’13, and Zamantha Lopez ’13 made the most of their reunion.
CHECK IT OUT NOW: Oversized lawn games could be found throughout Meliora Village.
INSIDE OUT: Shankar Vedantam, the host and executive editor of the Hidden Brain podcast and radio show, talked about the psychological keys to success during his presentation in Strong Auditorium. “Part of the reason for our endurance and resilience is that we’ve had a number of people looking out for us … helping other people transforms the way we think about ourselves. The act of helping other people makes us feel better about ourselves,” he said. “If you want to make your life better, spend more time looking outward instead of inward.”
BIG WEEKEND WIN: The Yellowjackets triumphed over the visiting University of New England by a 42–21 score during the homecoming game on Saturday afternoon. Rochester’s 4–0 start to the season is the first for the program since 2000. Go, Jackets!
PROUD PARENTS: Lily and Prince Nuamah cheered on the Yellowjackets during the big game, including their son Samuel Nuamah, #8.
GEARLY BELOVED: Meliora Weekend is the only time and place for undergraduates in the College to pick up their limited-edition Rochester Traditions™️ giveaway item. This year’s seniors (not to mention a skateboard) snagged—and showed off—their vintage “R” sweatshirts.
DO OR DONUT. THERE IS NO TRY: University of Rochester–themed baked goods? We’ll take a dozen.
BRINGING THE LOLZ: Actor, comedian, and television host Joel McHale brought his signature brand of comedy to the guests at the Palestra on Saturday night.
WHEN WE SAY ‘EVER’, YOU SAY ‘BETTER’: It wouldn’t be a proper Meliora Weekend without performances by the Yellowjackets and other student a cappella groups.
I LIVE FOR THE APPLAUSE: You could say the a cappella jam in the Meliora Village was in tents.
LIGHT MY FIRE: Intermittent rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the Strong Jugglers during the group’s 11th annual fire show.
DO IT FOR THE GRAM: Gretchen Friedhaber Badami ’99 and Ashirwaad Badami ’99 were among the many guests who posed for a selfie together on the Eastman Quad.
THERE AND BACK AGAIN: Alumni were taken on guided tours of the School of Medicine and Dentistry.
OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: And that’s a wrap on Meliora Weekend 2024. Can’t wait to see you next year, Yellowjackets!
