Skip to Content

Alumni connection

Celebrating Tech Reunions 2016

4,444 alumni and friends converge on campus.

TR Staffarchive page

August 23, 2016

A dazzling Toast to Tech gathering in Killian Court, including live music, lights on the Great Dome, dancing, and fireworks, provided a climax for both Tech Reunions and the MIT2016 celebration that honored the centennial of the Institute’s 1916 campus move from Boston to Cambridge. Reunion attendance shattered previous records, with 4,444 MIT alumni and friends, hailing from 30 countries, returning to campus for more than 160 events held June 2–5.

At the 119th Tech Night at Pops, 50th-reunion chair Ralph Schmitt ’66, SM ’67 (left), greeted President L. Rafael Reif and his wife, Christine.

Wearing their new red jackets to celebrate their 50th reunion, some 213 members of the Class of 1966 prepared to lead the commencement procession into Killian Court.

Members of the Class of 1976, including Geoff Garner ’76, SM ’78, PhD ’86 (right), were named co-champions (with 1991) of the Tech Challenge Games. The ’76 class is the only one to win three times.

At the Technology Day luncheon, John Chisholm ’75, SM ’76 (right), passed the Alumni Association president’s gavel to his successor, Nicolas Chammas, SM ’87. Reunion giving, announced at the luncheon, reached nearly $75 million; a record-setting 88 percent of the senior class contributed.

Julia Cha ’18, pictured here with Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, performed a piano concerto as a centerpiece of the Tech Night concert.

Winnette McIntosh Ambrose ’98, a winner of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, served treats from her Sweet Lobby Bakery—including red jacket cookies—at Toast to Tech.

Undergraduate alumni who earned degrees in the past 10 years enjoyed exhibits at the MIT Museum during the MIT10 reception.

Twenty-fifth-reunion festivities for the Class of 1991 included a dinner—and photo ops—in the Media Lab.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build

“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”

Will Douglas Heavenarchive page

ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it

The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.

Will Douglas Heavenarchive page

Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives

The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.

Rhiannon Williamsarchive page

Learning to code isn’t enough

Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.

Joy Lisi Rankinarchive page

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.