Campus News

Juniata's Class of 1975 Makes History with Largest 50th Reunion Gift

(Posted June 12, 2025)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa. — A 45th reunion thwarted by a global pandemic made the members of Juniata College’s Class of 1975 more determined than ever to make their 50th one to remember. During the All Class Dinner at Alumni Weekend, the class presented their 50th Class Reunion legacy gift–the single highest 50th reunion class gift in Juniata’s history.   

The Class of 1975 raised $8,305,719.75 over five years to support many areas across the College now and in the future. Each 50th Class Reunion legacy gift reflects a longstanding commitment over time, which includes planned annual and estate gifts rather than a one-time lump sum.   

A portion of the overall gift, $660,000, is directed to renovations to South Hall (which will be renamed Gibbel Hall in honor of Henry Gibbel ’57 and his wife, Joanie), with the remainder directed to endowments, capital projects, annual scholarships, and academic and athletic programs.    

Class of 1975’s Legacy Gift committee co-chairs Geoff Clark ’75, Keith Jones ’75, Jeff Longenecker ’75, and committee members Bruce Jones ’75 and Fred Wulczyn ’75 rallied their classmates to support the cause.    

The work began in earnest in the spring of 2020 when it became apparent that an in-person 45th class reunion would not be feasible. A phone call during a period of social distancing kicked off a spirited fundraising competition.    

“Geoff Clarke called me one night in April and said, we have never been so close to our goal of having our class on the steps,” Longenecker said, explaining that classes with outstanding giving participation are recognized annually with a plaque affixed to the steps of Founders Hall. “We’ve got to figure out a way to make it happen. We hit it hard, got on the steps, and never looked back.”  

With the committee originally formed to plan the 45th class reunion forming the nucleus of what would become a driving force behind the record-breaking gift, the momentum and enthusiasm just kept mounting.   

“We had five years to put together our gift, and it all culminated tonight,” said Clarke, who was encouraged to attend Juniata when he met the Gibbels as a high school student over 50 years ago. “This is a fantastic place where people care very much about what they do–and it shows. The exceptional education students receive inspires them to give something back in recognition.”  

The committee co-chairs observed that the bonds formed during their days as students at Juniata College remained evident as classmates united to support the alma mater they hold dear.   

“This was all done, boots on the ground, through the work of our committees. It’s how we raised the money and ended up on the steps for the last five years,” said Keith Jones. “These are the greatest people in the world. I love them.”  

Planning for a class’s 50th reunion begins five years before the 50th reunion, and part of that planning is leaving a lasting legacy in the form of a significant gift to Juniata College.    

“Our class giving participation has been about 30 percent overall. The last few years, as people got older and were retiring, we started to see that increase to over 50 percent,” said committee member Bruce Jones ’75. “Obviously, enthusiasm has increased, and the turnout was very high for the 50th reunion. We all want to support Juniata.” 

Outside of the class projects, alumni celebrating their 50th reunion often support areas at Juniata that were most meaningful to them, including the Juniata Scholarship Fund, summer student research initiatives, specific academic programs, facility enhancements across campus, Juniata Athletics, and much more. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.