Class of '78 40 Year Reunion

Printable Registration Form

October 11-14, 2018
College Station, TX

HOWDY
The Class of ’78 40 Year Reunion has been finalized!  

Please make plans to join us Oct. 11-14, 2018, for an unforgettable weekend.

Take the following three actions ASAP to ensure your spot in the Hospitality Suite!

1.    Register for the Reunion 

2.    Make lodging arrangements 

3.    Coordinate with your Classmates to attend (Find an Aggie)

Registration is now open! Our 40 Year Reunion weekend officially begins on Friday, Oct. 12, and continues until Sunday, Oct. 14. Check out our Reunion schedule below, which outlines exciting events you will not want to miss! These include a Golf Outing, and a Friday Night Dinner & DJ Dance featuring your favorite songs and music from Lakeview, Sparky’s, Dixie Chicken, and other popular venues from back in the day. Make sure you sign up for memorable tours to Messina Hof Winery, Kyle Field, the Quad and the new Zachry Engineering Education Complex. Revisit your favorite campus and College Station hangouts, rediscover A&M (a lot has changed in the past five years – not to mention the last 40 years), catch up with old friends, and make some new friends, too. And of course, there will be the Class business meeting on Saturday, followed by a Game Watch Party to see the Fightin' Texas Aggies BTHO South Carolina! 

For those of you who want to spend more time in Aggieland and get an early jump on the festivities, come join your Class Agents as we rendezvous Thursday night at the Dixie Chicken beginning at 5:30 p.m. for some libations, food, and 42, followed by an evening walking tour of central campus and then a bull session around the Cavalry Court hotel fire pit. This will be a great warm-up to the official Reunion start. 

Your Class Agents and The Association of Former Students have planned a fantastic weekend of reunion activities. Don't forget to bookmark and visit this page often for updates about this milestone event.  Please note this schedule is subject to change and will be updated periodically. The final schedule of events will be published one week prior to our Reunion.

Things you can do leading up to our reunion:
UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION     
Don’t miss out on important communications about our Reunion! The majority of Reunion information is sent via email, so please make sure we have your correct email address. To receive the latest news please click here to update your contact information.

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP          
If you are on Facebook, join the private/closed Class of 1978 Facebook group to start connecting with Classmates. Please visit, use, and enjoy the group. Use it to contact your Class Agents, friends, or just to stay in the know. 

VISIT THE CLASS OF ’78 CLASS PAGE        
Another avenue to receive information on the Class of ’78 is through The Association of Former Students Class Pages. Please take some time to visit the page, post updates, and update your profile.

SEE WHO'S COMING
For better or worse, they’re the ones who knew you back when. Laugh at the awkward memories, see vaguely familiar faces, reminiscing and reconnecting with friends about times to remember and the times to forget, and make new connections during our Reunion events. We will continue to update the list of Classmates and their guests who have registered for our 40 Year Reunion Weekend so check back often.

FIND AN AGGIE         
Do you want to get back in touch with your freshman dorm pals, unit, band, club, teammates, lettermen, College or Department classmates, but don’t know how? You can do all of this through the Find an Aggie Online Directory, which allows you to find classmates and sort by Major, Year, Hometown, Club, etc. If you have not used this site lately, check your profile and bring it up to date (this will also help your friends locate you more easily). If it is your first time, establish a log in via AggieNetwork.com and create your profile. The directory is a fantastic resource for locating and contacting former classmates and friends.

INVITE 3 FRIENDS   
With the help of technology, and as a Class of accomplished old farts, we are hoping we can reach our Reunion attendance goal of 400 (40 x 10). If you don’t see any familiar names on the list of those registered you can use the Find an Aggie tool on The Association website and then invite and challenge your buddies to attend. If everyone that is deciding to attend attempted to connect with 3 other Classmates, we believe the effects will be phenomenal and we might double our goal. The Class of ’78 has continuously set the standard and broken attendance records for reunion participation and we want to have the largest 40 Year Reunion attendance – another one for the record books at The Association of Former Students.

HOSPITALITY SUITE
Our reunion wouldn’t be the same without our famous hospitality suite – often imitated but never duplicated! You know, the reason we have such a good time at our Reunions! Please take a moment and donate to the Reunion Fund by contact one of the Class Agents. This helps keep the hospitality suite supplied for your enjoyment! The hospitality suite is located at the Cavalry Court, Rooms 107 & 108. We hope to see you there!

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS
Be sure to send us photos from your life – time at Aggieland, work, family, kids, grandkids, etc. to us to us by Sept. 1, 2018.

If you still have questions after reading the information listed on the Reunion website, contact the Class Programs Office at (979) 845-7514 or email them at Class@AggieNetwork.com. 

We look forward to seeing you in October for the Class of ’78 40 Year Reunion! Thanks and gig ’em!

Andy Duffie                            duffie78@aggienetwork.com
Red Dvorak                             red78@aggienetwork.com
Troby Hoffacker-Parrish        troby78great@aggienetwork.com
Joan Marshall                         jmarshall78@att.net
Scott Weaver                          tamu1978@aol.com

ACCOMMODATIONS
*** The Cavalry Court Class of ’78 room block is full. Please see information below on how to find accommodations elsewhere. ***

While our 40 Year Reunion is only a couple of months away, we have exceeded our expectations on early room reservations for our Class of ’78 40 Year Reunion, and all blocked rooms have been booked.  However, there are still rooms available at the Cavalry Court and there are plenty of hotels in the area (we recommend The George – which is next door to the Cavalry Court), so please call the Bryan-College Station Accommodations Hotline at 979-260-9898 to check on hotel availability during our reunion weekend. A full list of area hotels is available at the Bryan-College Station Accommodations website.

REUNION REGISTRATION
After securing your room reservation, you can register for the Reunion online. If you have any questions about the events or registration, please contact the Class Programs office at The Association of Former Students at 800-633-7514. Registration deadline is Sept. 27, 2018 so don’t delay. All registrations received after the Sept. 27 deadline will incur a $20 late fee. Registration will close after Oct. 4. Walk-up registration be accepted based on availability at each event. 

REUNION CHECK-IN
Your nametags, an updated schedule of events and a list of pre-registered participants will be waiting for you at the Reunion check-in desk at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, listed on the schedule of events. Walk-up registration will be accepted based on availability. 

Registration fees help cover expenses that include facility rental, event gratuity, audio/visual equipment needs, Reunion gift, and other administrative costs.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is on your own. Please check with your respective hotel regarding their shuttle service. Uber offers services in Bryan/College Station and is available for those that do not wish to have to coordinate parking or driving. Information will be provided at the Reunion registration desk.

CAMPUS MAP
While the campus of Texas A&M may have changed a lot from when you were a student here, the Spirit of Aggieland remains the same. Click here for a current map of the Texas A&M campus. The map displays all current buildings on campus, and has a search bar where you can find where any particular building is located.

PARKING INSTRUCTIONS
The Cavalry Court Hotel will provide parking at Century Square for guests of the hotel. Ask about complimentary parking at the front desk when checking in to your room. Guest staying at other hotels may pay to park in the surrounding spaces or at the parking garage next to Star Cinema Grill.

Friday Day Events: You may park for free in the visitor lot of the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center based on availability, or you can pay to park at the West Campus Garage (WCG), Koldus Parking Garage (UCG), or CAIN. UCG is approximately 0.5 miles, Cain Garage is approximately 0.7 miles and WCG is approximately 0.9 miles from the Alumni Center.

Friday Class Dinner and Dance: Parking for our Friday night dinner/dance at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex, 3240 F&B Road, College Station, TX  77843, Lot 126 is FREE starting at 5 p.m.

Saturday: For the Class Meeting and Game Watch Party, free parking is available at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center based on availability, or you can pay to park in Cain garage, West campus garage, or Koldus garage.

ATTIRE
The Reunion is going to be a fun, casual affair. Feel free to dress comfortably, as you may be walking around campus, taking part in the tours, or making the trek up to Northgate (Dixie Chicken). Dress for the Class Meeting and Game Watch Party is preferably Aggie attire, though the Class Agents cordially invite you wear your custom 40 Year Reunion Shirt that were available for purchase in the summer for the Class group photo. Be sure to check the weather forecast before making your way to College Station and pack accordingly.

KYLE FIELD TOUR
Don't miss this special tour! This unique behind-the-scenes experience gives you access to explore restricted areas of the one-of-a-kind Kyle Field stadium. Highlights include: the Cool Zones, All American Club, selected club suites, and you might be able to set foot on the sidelines of Kyle Field. This is a moderate walking tour. Keep in mind there is a lot of walking, standing and stairs, however, Kyle Field is ADA accessible.  Cost: $12. Parking is available at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr Alumni Center, Cain garage or Koldus garage (UCG).

ZACHRY ENGINEERING EDUCATION COMPLEX (ZEEC) TOUR
The newest and largest academic building on campus and unlike any other facility in the nation. The 525,000 square foot complex completely modernizes the original Zachry Engineering Center and expands the facility to include a state-of-the-art Engineering Design Center. There are no lecture halls, but instead there are active learning studios that foster teamwork and furniture that fully integrates technology. This is an easy indoor walking tour with stairs.  ADA accessible. Cost: Free. Parking is available at North Side Parking Garage (NSG), 104 Ireland St., College Station, TX or Lot 51 between Bizzell St. and Polo Rd close to the Bonfire Memorial.

MESSINA HOF WINERY: PRIVATE TOUR & TASTING
Come and join us as we learn the history of this award-winning winery. Experience a behind-the-scenes look of the property as well as the wine production facilities. Following the tour, you will be treated to a unique tasting where your guide will take you through each category of wine: dry white, semi-dry, dry red, and dessert wine. You will be educated on wine techniques such as sipping, swirling and food pairing. You also get to take your wine tasting glass home with you! Following the tour and wine tasting you can enjoy a relaxing lunch (at your own expense) at The Vintage House Restaurant. This is an easy walking tour over varying terrain - indoors/outdoors.  ADA accessible. Cost: $15. Transportation is on your own or grab a friend and car pool. Please allow for a 25 minute drive time to Messina Hof.

COPRS OF CADETS QUAD TOUR
The arches serve as the entry point to the Corps of Cadets Quadrangle or “Quad.” The Quad is the home of the Corps, and you will have the opportunity to visit one of the Leadership Learning Centers, and the new dorm rooms. This is a moderate walking tour with stairs – indoors/outdoors. ADA accessible. Cost: Free. Parking is available at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr Alumni Center, Cain garage or Koldus garage (UCG).

FRIDAY NIGHT DJ & DANCE         
Do you remember Lakeview, Sparky’s, Dixie Chicken, Peanut Gallery, Sports Club or the Quonset Hut? The ’78 Class Agents have planned a dance night bringing all of the favorite tunes for your listening and dancing pleasure. So bring your boogie shoes, boots, or whatever you want to wear as we are going to be dancing the night away!

MENU
-Friday Dinner: J Cody’s Mesquite smoked brisket, sausage and turkey. Includes creamed corn, pinto beans, potato salad, fixin's, and peach cobbler. A cash bar is also available.

-Saturday Game Watch: J Cody’s Mesquite grilled cilantro lime beef and chicken fajitas with sautéed bell peppers and onions. Served with creamed corn, Spanish rice, pinto beans, fixin's, and apple cobbler. A cash Bar is also available.

CLASS AGENT ELECTIONS
Class Agents serve as a liaison between their Class and The Association. This is the perfect opportunity to get involved as a former student, stay connected to the university and help lead your Class supporting A&M. Elections are held in conjunction with your Reunions, so now is your chance!

Teams consist of two to five members of your Class and serve a five-year term. As a Class Agent you will serve on The Association of Former Students' Leadership Council, which meets twice a year. The Association of Former Students provides orientation and resources to aid you in this role. Class Agents are responsible for keeping the Class informed through newsletters, websites and emails, planning Class events and providing annual fund information to former students.

Your current Class Agents (Andy, Red, Troby, Joan, and Scott) have agreed to serve another term if elected.

Class Agent elections will be held at the Class Business Meeting during your Reunion. For more information go to tx.ag/ClassAgent, email Class@AggieNetwork.com or call (800) 633-7514 at least 7 days prior to your Reunion to get your name on the ballot!

CANCELLATION POLICY
The Association of Former Students has a fairly flexible cancellation policy. If you cannot attend your Reunion, or an event for which you have registered, please contact the Class Programs office (800) 633-7514 no later than Oct. 5. Your payment will be refunded with the exception of the registration fee. Registration changes after the Oct. 5 deadline cannot be refunded as food orders will have been guaranteed.

CENTURY CLUB DONATION
Take the Reunion Giving Challenge. As we celebrate our 40 Year Reunion, please consider a new, continued, or increased gift in honor of this special year.

Aggies' annual support of The Association of Former Students provides not only planning and resources for Reunions like this but also for Texas A&M Clubs and other former student programs, as well as funding for student services, organizations and traditions. We appreciate that you choose to participate and support Aggies and Texas A&M. Make a difference by donating now.

Levels of annual giving include:
Active - $50-$99
Bronze - $100-$249
Silver - $250-$499
Gold - $500-$999 
Diamond - $1,000+
Endowed - $25,000+