Alvernia Reunion Excites
Published:Tuesday | August 7, 2018 | 12:00 AMJanet Silvera
White Plains, Rochester, New York, will never be the same, after the invasion by hundreds of former Mount Alvernia students and their spouses, celebrating from the Central Florida Alumni Association.
The annual event, now in its ninth year, attracted over 400 persons, who flew from Jamaica, the UK, Canada, and several US states for four fun-filled days of fellowshipping at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The celebration closed with a gala and Jamaican-themed brunch, which served up local favourites: savoury and scrumptious ackee and salt fish and mouth-watering mackerel rundown.
Organised by Dawn Chin-Jones, Angela Seales, Karen Chang, Sheronne Walker-Burke, Dawn Dewar, Denise Zollicoffer, Lisa Chin, June Flowers, Karen Flash, and a group of illustrious and dedicated women who graduated from the Montego Bay-based all-girls institution over 30 years ago, the hard working team embodied their school's motto 'Ad Astra Per Aspera' (To the stars through difficulties), by making this year's charitable initiative focus on purchasing a school bus valued at US$100,000.
Cementing their appeal for help, the Central Florida team received endorsement from the school's principal, Stacey Reynolds, who, along with several educators who have served at the institution, used the weekend to connect with like-minded individuals.
Hailed as the best reunion since its inception, the icing on the 2018 event was the 'Night of Elegance Dinner and Dance' at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle, New York.
Opened officially by a talented MC by the name of Jacqueline Jarrett-Nicholson, a master of her game, she took the audience through an enchanting evening of less talking and lots of dancing, which was concretised by the sweet sounds of DJ Waggy T.
Next year, the celebration moves to Tampa, Florida, for its 10th anniversary.