Congratulations, Class of 2029
- arishaashraf
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
On August 16th, the Brown Club of Orange County gathered to celebrate the rising Class of 2029 before they head east to College Hill. The send-off was generously hosted by alumna, Shawna Schaffner, at her beautiful home in San Juan Capistrano.
A lively group of twenty incoming Brunonians came together—some traveling from Los Angeles and San Diego. Most students were from different high schools but already united by their journey to Providence (which many were taking later in the same week). Alumni joined in as well, including a member of the Class of 2025 who authored a one-page “survival guide” for navigating freshman year.
Send-Off parties are a long-standing Brown tradition, recently revived after a pause during the pandemic. They give new students the chance to connect, find familiar faces, and feel the strength of the Brown community even before attending their first freshman lecture.
The afternoon was filled with tacos, fresh watermelon juice, and a little friendly competition at ladder ball and cornhole. Even a trampoline tempted a few brave jumpers, and yes, there was a pool—but we agreed that diving in fully clothed is a tradition better suited to campus life.
Our heartfelt thanks to Shawna and her family for their warmth and generosity for creating such a welcoming space. And, to the Class of 2029—we send you off with our very best wishes as you begin one of the most rewarding adventures of your lives <3
Brunonians near and far are cheering you on!
It was a privilege to attend the Send-Off party 2 weeks ago, and meet both new freshmen and their families. Is that what I and my folks looked like a few decades ago?
54 years ago, a young man stood on the Capitol steps in Washington and said, "Let the word go forth from this time and place that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century ..." These young people were born, now, in THIS century! And they are picking up the torch.
Thanks again, Chris and Shawna, for hosting!