Social clubs have been a staple of University life for many years. One of the oldest, women’s social club Regina, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this weekend. Regina alumna Susan Pryor Hodges organized much of the celebration, with an alumni reunion occurring Saturday, Oct. 29. Pryor said her goal for the event was to encourage people to see the history and quality of Regina and her members.
“There is great value in knowing our shared history,” Pryor said. “It’s important to remember the past, to see the continued service to others and view the accomplishments of many Reginas that have gone before us. It helps us dream of our own future. The reunion is a testament to the lifelong friendships that are formed every year in Regina.”
Current club members will help host the reunion, which is expected to have around 100 attendees. Senior Meredith Williams said she has been amazed by the community of alumni Regina has.
“Relationships that we make here really can be lifelong,” Williams said. “We’re putting in the work to keep those connections and keep those relationships.”
Several Regina alumni have contributed to the event, designing T-shirts, making decorated cookies and creating gift bags filled with products from alumni businesses. Any proceeds from the event will be going to the club.
Club sponsor Hailey Pruitt said while social clubs can be both a positive and negative experience for different people, she is glad for an opportunity to celebrate something positive.
“I am really thankful for an opportunity to get to celebrate a club that for me has been an important part of my life for a really long time,” Pruitt said. “At times [the club] has been a source of heartache but also a source of joy.”
Pruitt has been a sponsor since 2013 and said she was drawn to Regina because of its legacy.
“The longevity of a club like Regina gets to continue because we realize that we’re a part of something that’s bigger than we are,” Pruitt said. “It’s really easy for all of us to get sort of focused on what’s going on right now, and what sorts of things we need to be handling and forget how many people have come before us.”
Pryor said this alumni reunion is not just for graduated members; current and new members of Regina also will benefit.
“We want them to be able to be proud of the club and what it represents,” Pryor said. “I just want them to see what a great sisterhood that they share with a lot of people that they may not have met before.”
