What’s the takeaway from a Principia Reunion? Ask any attendee, and they’ll all say the same thing: connection. But connection isn’t just felt, it’s also seen. And at last month’s Upper School Reunion, there were glimpses of it everywhere—laughing together at the Aron House bonfire, walking arm in arm around campus, pulling pranks with old friends, and cheering on the Panthers from the stands. It’s impossible to not get swept up in all the love.
The road to reunion looks different for everyone. For 50th reunioner, Cheryl (Symonds) Tanner (US’75, C’79), the journey was unexpected. “I’m not sure I planned on attending reunion,” she says. “I hadn’t been back in years and wasn’t really keeping up with Prin. But then I was asked to be a part of the 50th steering committee, which made it a bit more personal.”
Denise Leigh (US’06), on the other hand, had anticipated her return since tossing her cap nearly two decades ago. “Immediately following graduation, I created a Facebook group called the ‘10-year reunion,’” she says. “Ten years came and went, and I wasn't able to get back. And then I saw that my year was included for the 20th reunion group and thought, ‘Okay, I really need to make something happen.’”
And still, for Scott Siewert (US’80, C’84), what drew him back to campus after almost 20 years was attending a previous reunion. “I went to the College Reunion last summer and had such a wonderful time. I knew this reunion would be similar. The good times I had with friends and the rekindling of friendships made me not want to miss this one!”
And while it’s true that the journey to reunion may look different for everyone, the results are unarguably the same. For Tanner, the experience was almost overwhelming. “There aren't even words,” she said. “It's almost like nobody would understand, as much as you try to explain to them. It was a spa day for my soul. It felt like coming home to myself and who I wanted to be. It was maybe one of the best weekends I’ve ever had.”
Leigh echoed Tanner’s sentiment. “You get a piece of yourself back, being back at the beginning with people who care about you. Seeing old classmates, doing things we used to do in Upper School, pulling pranks, cold calling our other classmates, all of it was a highlight. It allowed me to be a kid again.”
For Leigh in particular, the experience was made all the more special by sharing it with her family. "We all loved it. I got to show them exactly where all of my stories took place and they felt welcome right away! At Bill Marston’s (US’75, C’80) chapel, my husband, who isn’t a Christian Scientist, got a little teary and said he wished he had gone to Prin. He said he felt like he was part of the school and community just by being there. And my daughter is counting down the days until she can be a student!”
“The first time I attended a Principia College reunion, there wasn’t a single person there
who was in my so-called ‘Prin clique,’” says Siewert. “I decided not to worry about it and attended anyway. I made a point of being open, and I had the best time. No one cared who you hung out with 40 years ago, because we all had Principia in common. And that’s the beautiful thing about every Principia reunion . . . you always have a friend, even if you don’t realize it.”
Tanner, who was excited about attending her first Upper School Reunion, echoed Seiwert’s sentiment. “All the people I didn't have much in common with back then, I truly feel connected with now. I feel like we're all equal because we all share that Principia experience.” She continued, “I was blown away by the Principia of today. It seems so purposeful, like everything was intended. It felt like invention was in the air.”
When taking a moment to reflect on his own Principia experience, Seiwert says, “Principia allowed me to be a unique individual. It provided me with confidence to go forth into the world, to be myself, and not to apologize for who or what I am. It gave me an outlet to be myself.”
For Leigh, reflection came with enlightenment. “Principia has always heavily impacted me,” she says. “It’s something I’ve always taken with me. The world we live in right now is hard. And having a community of good people to come back to is so important and special. It reminds you that there are good people in the world.”
“Coming back to Principia brought me back to my roots,” says Tanner. “I'm proud to be a part of this community, and to call Principia my alma mater.”
With another Upper School Reunion in the books, it’s important to take stock of the love, the gratitude, and yes, the joy that define a weekend with Principia alumni. But if there's one thing to take away from this celebration, it’s this: once a Principian, always a Principian.
“It doesn't matter where you are in your life,” says Seiwert. “You have Principia welcoming you back with open arms. Whether you are a Christian Scientist or not does not matter. You are a Principian, and that's the most important reason to come back. See how your alma mater is doing and partake in the friendships and the fun that define this fabulous weekend. Don't miss it.”
Check out the weekend photos to see many of the special moments and perhaps some familiar faces. And if you’re a College alum from a class year ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7, get ready to celebrate your reunion June 24–28, 2026!