Randolph-Macon College Yellow Jackets returned to their alma mater October 11-13, 2019 for Homecoming weekend. 

Alumni and guests enjoyed three days filled with camaraderie, fun, and lemon-and-black celebrations, including an Open House in Dalton Alumni House; a display in the McGraw-Page Library, “Exhibit: 50 Years of the Frank E. Brown Fountain”; informal lectures by Mark Malin, retired professor of Spanish, and William Franz, retired professor of physics and provost & vice president of academic affairs; stargazing in Keeble Observatory; tailgating; and “Rock’n the Brock,” an evening filled with music and dancing. Fans of all ages showed their Yellow Jacket pride as they cheered on the football team, which trounced the Shenandoah University Hornets 35-14. 

SOA Awards Banquet 
Newly elected Society of Alumni (SOA) President Dee A. Raubenstine ’80 welcomed guests to the SOA Awards Banquet, which was held in Birdsong Hall’s Dalton Room. RMC President Robert R. Lindgren offered remarks, and Paulo Garcia ’06 was the featured speaker. Garcia, CEO and Co-Founder of Kytopen, a biomedical company that is transforming cell and gene therapy to treat incurable diseases, presented “My Ongoing Journey to Impact Patients’ Lives.” 

During Homecoming Weekend, the SOA honored several members of the RMC family. 

Paulo Garcia ’06 was presented the Distinguished Alumnus award; Charles P. Moncure Jr. ’82 and Whitney (Kazmerowski) Forstner ’98 were each presented the Distinguished Service Award; and Jacai Colson ’09 was posthumously honored with the Young Alumnus Achievement Award. 

The Noë-Kilgore Award, established several years ago by an anonymous alumnus of the college, honors faculty emeriti and is named in honor of retired Randolph-Macon professors Bill Noë and Pete Kilgore. The 2019 Noë-Kilgore Award was presented to Biology Professor Emeritus Wallace Martin. 

Retired Physics Professor William Franz and Retired Spanish Professor Mark Malin were each presented the SOA Faculty Appreciation Award. The Susan Donavant Award, which recognizes the SOA’s outstanding volunteer for the past year, was presented to Marty Wilson ’85. 

The Tom Powers Award
In 2003 the Society of Alumni Board created the Tom Powers Award to recognize classes that reach the highest giving participation rate within their decade. Dubbed “Mr. RMC” by his peers, Tom Powers ’31 was a tireless volunteer, inspiring alumni to both volunteer for and financially support Randolph-Macon. As chairman of the college’s $15 million capital campaign, “Our Heritage, Our Future: The Campaign for Randolph-Macon College,” which ran from 1984 to 1987, Powers donated more than 1,000 hours of his time.

The following class years received the Tom Powers award:
• For the 1940s decade, the Class of 1943 won with 100 percent participation.
• For the 1950s decade, the Class of 1957 won with 61 percent participation. 
• For the 1960s decade, the Class of 1963 won with 56 percent participation. 
• For the 1970s decade, the Class of 1975 won with 57 percent participation.  
• For the 1980s decade, the Class of 1984 won with 48 percent participation. 
• For the 1990s decade, the Class of 1993 won with 33 percent participation.  
• For the 2000s decade, the Class of 2009 won with 33 percent participation. 
• For the 2010s decade, the Class of 2012 won with 27 percent participation.  

A Special Homecoming Message
The weekend concluded with a Sunday worship service at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church where Rev. Dorothy McNeer O’Quinn and Rev. Joshua McCauley offered a special Homecoming message.