Golden Reunion: Class of 1974

Class of 1974

Your Class of 1974 Golden Reunion is scheduled for September 20-21, 2024, starting with a welcome reception at The Point (60 Collegeview Road, Westerville) that Friday morning. Check out the full schedule below! 

During your reunion, you can expect plenty of time to reconnect with classmates, campus tours, an update from President Comerford, and more. And don’t forget that as your reunion winds down on Friday evening, Homecoming & Family Weekend is just getting started! So book your room (see below), plan to arrive Friday morning, and leave… well, that’s up to you!

Registration opens soon!

Don’t forget: One of the most important things you can do is make sure Otterbein has your current email and mail addresses. Much of the material about your reunion is distributed primarily by email, so it’s very important to provide an accurate email address. You can update your information in just a few quick moments by clicking the button below!

Click or tap here to Update your Information

What do I need to know for my reunion?

Class of 1974 Reunion Schedule

Your Golden Reunion will take place September 20-21, 2024.

Friday, September 20, 2024

  • 10:00 a.m. | Coffee and Welcome (The Point)
  • 11:15 a.m. | Class Photo (The Point)
  • 11:45 a.m. | Golden Reunion Celebration Luncheon (The Point) 
  • 2 p.m. | Reunion Activities

    • Tour of the Point and Otterbein Makerspace (The Point)

    • Uptown Westerville Tour (Meet at Graeters Ice Cream, 1 N. State St)

    • Campus Van Tours (Guided van tour, departing from The Point at 2 and 3 p.m.)

    • Record your Otterbein memories for the video archives. Hosted by Stephen Grinch ’98,
      University Archivist.

  • 4-6:30 p.m. | Cardy Hour With Faculty & Staff (Towers Lawn)
    • Families, Students, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff are invited to this casual gathering featuring appetizers, beer and seltzer (for purchase), and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • 6:15-7 p.m. | Celebration of Otterbein Awards Reception (The Point at Otterbein)
    • Awardees include two Class of 1974 members:
      • Dee Hoty ’74
      • Marsha Rice Scanlin ’74
    • Hosted by the Otterbein Board of Trustees
    • Complimentary refreshments prior to the award ceremony at 7 p.m.
    • Required advanced registration will open soon.
  • 6:30-9 p.m. | Homecoming Kickoff Concert (Towers Lawn)
  • 7-8 p.m. | Celebration of Otterbein Awards (The Point at Otterbein)
    • Visit our Alumni Awards page to see this year’s award recipients!
    • Alumni Awards Presentation and Celebration
    • Private reception to follow (Invitation Only)
  • 7-9 p.m. | Alumni Choir Rehearsal (Battelle Fine Arts Center)
    • Register here
    • Plan to arrive between 6:45 and 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

  • 9-10 a.m. | State of the University & Conversation with President Comerford (Riley Auditorium)
    • All alumni, students, families, faculty, and staff are welcome
  • 10-11 a.m. | Emeriti Faculty & Staff Open House (Fisher Gallery Second Floor, Roush Hall)
    • Stop by and visit with your favorite emeriti faculty and staff!
  • 11 a.m. | Homecoming Parade (Campus)
    • View this annual tradition from the Towers Lawn without even leaving Cardy Zone and OtterFest!
  • 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | OtterFest (Towers Lawn)
  • 11:45 a.m. | OSJAxBSU Alumni Tailgate (The House of Black Culture, 154 W. Home Street)
    • Come celebrate our connection through music and culture. All are welcome.
    • Register for the cookout will open soon.
  • 12-1 p.m. | Tour of the Frank Museum of Art (39 S. Vine St) 
    • Space limited. Free ticket required through the Homecoming & Family Weekend registration process.
  • 2 p.m. | Football vs. Marietta College (Memorial Stadium)
  • 7 p.m. | Alumni Choir Concert (Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State St., Westerville)

Class of 1974 Reunion Committee

Your Class Reunion committee is hard at work planning your reunion this fall. Here are the current members:

Debbie Hall Bennati
Dick Fetter
Barbara Hoffman
Jay Hone
Dee Hoty
Marsha Rice Scanlin
Greg Shaw
Judy Tardell Thomas
Pam Wright Toorock
Gar Vance
Mike Wasylik

Have a question for the committee? Send an email to goldenreunion@otterbein.edu and we’ll get it to the right committee member! 

Memory Book

Your class, like Golden Reunion Classes before it, is creating a special 50th Reunion Memory Book. Every member of the class is invited to share their memories of their time on campus – pictures included!

Your entry can take a narrative form or simply be a bulleted list of memories – you decide. Whichever style you choose, please limit your entry to 750 words or about 2 pages. The deadline has been extended through Friday, July 12, but it’s never too early to get started telling your story. Plus, you may want to dig through those old shoeboxes for photos to send in!

Need a little inspiration? Take a look at a few sample entries from your reunion committee, or the Memory Books from the classes of 1972 and 1973.

Start your entry by clicking here!

Need a little more inspiration? Take a stroll down memory lane with the yearbooks from your years on campus! 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974

Reading this book, made up of submissions from your Otterbein classmates, is a joy no class member will want to miss out on. You’ll be reminded of friends you might have lost touch with and get to know more about classmates that you didn’t have time to get to know on campus. 

Even if you can’t make it to your reunion in the fall, your classmates will still want to hear your story in your own words.

You’re also invited you to submit a page in memory of any friends or relatives from the Class of 1974 who have passed. Simply use the same form linked above.

Start writing your entry today! It’s never to early to get started!

Membook Sample ImageClick the image to view sample entries from the committee!

Legacy Gift

Like most classes celebrating their Golden Reunion at Otterbein, your class is raising funds to mark the occasion. All gifts received through December 31, 2024 – regardless of their designation or purpose – count towards your total Class Gift. 

Your class is also creating a special fund to commemorate your 50th reunion, details of which will be shared in early 2024. In the meantime, there several ways to contribute to the Class of 1974 Gift:

  • Return the enclosed reply card in any fundraising mailing
  • Visit www.otterbein.edu/give. 
  • Individuals who have reached age 72 can make a gift from their IRAs and in doing so may reduce their taxable income. Contact your IRA administrator for more information or to request a transfer. Contact Kathleen Bonte (614-823-1400; kbonte@otterbein.edu), to alert her to any forthcoming stock transfers or IRA distributions.
  • Let the University know of any intentions to remember Otterbein in your estate plan.

If you have any questions about donating or would like to donate over the phone, please contact the Advancement Office at (614) 823-1400.

Book your stay!

Traveling to Westerville for the Homecoming & Family Weekend or your Reunion?

Hotels with special Otterbein rates

Aloft Westerville Hotel (1.7 miles)
32 Heatherdown Drive, Westerville, OH 43081
We have a limited number of rooms available for a special Otterbein rate of $115/night. Book before 9/4/24 to take advantage of this great deal while rooms last!
To book: Click here or call 614-899-656 (mention you’re with Otterbein to get the special rate)

Additional area hotels

Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris (1.5 miles)
409 Altair Parkway, Westerville, OH 43082
To book: Click here or call 833-427-0292

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Columbus/Polaris (2.6 miles)
8411 Pulsar Place, Columbus, OH 43240
To book: Click here or call 614-885-8400

Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbus (2.7 miles)
2700 Corporate Exchange Drive, Columbus, OH 43231
To book: Click here or call 614-890-8600

Holiday Inn Express Columbus-Worthington (5 miles)
55 Hutchinson Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43235
To book: Click here or call 614-977-0520 

Courtyard Columbus Worthington (5.1 miles)
7411 Vantage Drive, Columbus, OH 43235
To book: Click here or call 888-236-2427

Visit WestervillePlan your weekend with Visit Westerville!

Complimentary LLC Membership

All members of Otterbein’s Class of 1974 are invited to redeem a complimentary Spring 2024 semester membership to our Lifelong Learning Community (LLC). Programming for the LLC begins on February 29 and continues through May 2. For more details about the LLC, including the programming lineup for the Spring 2024 semester, click here. 

To claim your free semester membership, visit the LLC registration page and use one of the two codes provided in the email and postcard you should have received. You’ll have a choice of an in-person membership which will allow you to attend the live event each week at the Point here in Westerville, or a virtual membership, which will allow you to view the event live via Zoom from anywhere in the world.

Didn’t get a code? Need help navigating the LLC registration process? No problem! Just call our office at 614-823-1650 or email us at alumni@otterbein.edu.