Temple alumni lit up the city from North Philly to the stadiums during Alumni Weekend 2015. The Office of Alumni Relations counted more than 14,000 participants at the activities offered to Owls during an action-packed weekend—nearly 1000 more attendees than last year.

On Thursday, April 23, alumni converged on the Science Education and Research Center for a panel discussion on the current state of news media in the age of citizen journalism. Moderated by School of Media and Communication Dean David Boardman, the panel featured several Owls in the media, including Steve Capus, SMC ’86, executive editor of CBS News, and Kurtis Lee, SMC ’09, reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

Friday, April 24, featured a “Temple Takeover” of Citizens Bank Park. Temple President Neil D. Theobald threw out the first pitch and more than 900 Temple alumni and friends watched the Phillies defeat the Atlanta Braves 1-0.

Runners got an early start on Saturday, April 25, with the second annual Capt. Eileen Bradley 5K Run and Fun Walk, leading participants on three laps of Temple’s Main Campus. More than 300 members of the Temple community came out to complete the circuit and enjoy a street fair on Polett Walk.

A highlight of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon when 3,000 spectators filled the stands at Edberg-Olson Hall’s Chodoff Field for the annual Cherry and White spring football game. The first touchdown was scored by the youngest player on the field, Leah Still, the 4-year-old daughter of Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still. Leah was declared cancer-free last month in Philadelphia after a nine-month battle with pediatric neuroblastoma. As the game’s guest of honor, she ran 45 yards into the endzone after a handoff from her father. The Owls players accompanied Leah down the field and joined her in a celebratory dance.

Saturday ended in style with Temple’s first Dîner en Cherry, a pop-up dinner party for all alumni. More than 250 guests dressed in cherry and white converged on a mystery location from rendezvous points around Main Campus to share memories and pay tribute to their alma mater.

“This is a great alternative to the school and department reunions of the past,” said Lisa Vaccarelli, executive director of alumni programming. “Now all alumni have a chance to connect the way they want to.”

Sunday, April 26, was TUCares Day, when students and alumni joined together to beautify neighborhood gardens and stock a local food pantry. The morning concluded with the unveiling of Temple’s first sponsored mural in Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program.

Visit alumni.temple.edu/alumniweekend for videos, photo albums and more.

- Michael Mastroianni