“Nice seeing you again.”

This common phrase was repeated during the Golden Grads Luncheon on Sept. 28. The event, gives golden grads ?” alumni who graduated fifty or more years ago ?” a chance to reunite and be honored for the foundation they had set for Sacramento State.

Joseph Sheley, executive vice president of the university, said the luncheon is a tradition that has taken place for the last five years. This year the luncheon celebrated the graduating classes of the years 1949-1955. Sheley mentioned that it is important to remember and honor this particular generation for their contribution to the university’s establishment.

“They helped launch Sac State,” he said.

The event was held in conjunction with homecoming week at Sac State for a reason, Sheley said. “We try to time this along with homecoming, because, in a sense, that’s exactly what it is. It’s 50 to 60 people coming home.”

The Alumni Center was full of smiles as the event began. Many laughed and looked through the yearbooks of their graduating classes.

Pictures of the establishment of the campus were displayed in front of the room. They noticed that the campus has undergone various changes throughout the years.

Bruce Swinehart, class of 1951, realized how much the university had developed. He mentioned that when he attended Sac State a lot of the classes were held at Sacramento City College.

“It’s interesting. As we drive around and see how much the area has changed,” Swinehart said.

Many enjoyed the company of their former classmates, including Swinehart. Ferole Corbet, who received her B.A. in 1952 and her M.A. in 1969 in education, also enjoyed the luncheon.

Corbet has been an attendee of the event since its start to stay updated with the university and to see old friends.

“Seeing some of my old classmates is the best part,” Corbet said. “It also gives me a chance to reconnect with the campus and the university.”

Dave Morse, one of the first students from the university to graduate in 1949 and the first president of the Alumni Association, explained that the intent of the association is to do just that.

“The Alumni Association keeps a tab of everybody. Everybody that has gone out into the world and it keeps a track of what they’ve done. It gives them a chance to get back together and see each other,” Morse said.

“This is wonderful; to come back together again.”

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Nika Megino can be reached at [email protected]