Lawrence alumni to gather for regional HoLUdays celebrations across country

Are you ready to get into the HoLUdays spirit?

Lawrence University alumni in regional communities across the country are hosting festive gatherings of Lawrentians now through January. Dubbed “HoLUdays” celebrations, the regional gatherings are meant to connect Lawrence alumni during the holiday season.

"When I miss Lawrence, I remember I have LU family here in Colorado,” said Breanna Skeets ’12, who will join Emily Hoeft ’21 and Nilmni Hecox ’98 to host a January HoLUdays get-together. “I'm grateful to have a place we can gather, create warmth, and have an LU hug this holiday season."

Irene Strohbeen ’78, a member of the Board of Trustees, is organizing a gathering in the Fox Cities along with John O’Boyle ‘68, Ken Melchert ‘73, Mike Wysocki ‘88, and Chuck Erickson ’02.

“Here in the Fox Cities, I'm looking forward to gathering together with local alumni to share the warmth of fellowship, especially as the weather turns cold and we all prepare for winter,” Strohbeen said. “Our HoLUdays will be a special event because it's been so long since we've connected, plus we will have the extra excitement of including any students and alumni faculty who will be in town. A real ‘hullabaLU’ to be sure.”

HoLUdays is an idea first launched by members of the Connecting Alumni Committee of the Lawrence University Alumni Association (LUAA) during the winter seasons of 2012, 2013, and 2014. These events were opportunities for Lawrentians across the country to enjoy a relaxing moment and reconnect with or meet new alumni during the busy holiday season. The events ranged from happy hours to gatherings in a fellow Lawrentian’s home.

Lawrence is now taking a holistic approach to reengage with our Regional Communities by working collaboratively to build alumni advocacy, engagement, and philanthropy, according to Matt Baumler, associate vice president of Alumni and Constituency Engagement.

“One of those strategies is hosting events, and what better way than bringing back HoLUdays to spread cheer during winter,” Baumler said. “HoLUdays are more than gatherings—they are opportunities to build connections between alumni and Lawrence; and between each other.”

Alumni volunteers in seven Regional Communities will be hosting events. The events include ice skating, happy hours, attending a holiday concert, and holiday cookie decorating. Here is the list of events planned:

Fox Cities Regional Community 
Hosts: John O’Boyle ‘68, Ken Melchert ‘73, Irene Strohbeen ‘78, Mike Wysocki ‘88, Chuck Erickson ‘02 
Date: December 12; 6-8 p.m.
Location: Fox River Mills Community Room 
Activity: Gathering and fellowship
Register here

Chicago Regional Community 
Host: Peter Gillette ‘05 and Keegan White ’06
Date: December 15; 6:30 p.m. pre-show gathering, performance at 7:30 p.m. 
Location: Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago
Activity: Chicago Sinfonietta Holidays of Light performance 
Tickets: Purchase your concert tickets using the code HOLUDAYS here

Twin Cities Regional Community 
Host: Sam Driver ’22  
Date: January 12, 2024; 6-8 p.m. 
Location: Memory Lanes Bowling Alley, 2520 26th Ave. S, Minneapolis
Activity: Bowling  
Register here

Madison Regional Community 
Host: Christine Seeley ’12  
Date: January 17, 2024; 6-8 p.m.
Location: Prost! MSN, 401 E. Washington Ave, Madison
Activity: Happy hour
Register here

San Francisco Regional Community 
Hosts: David Eddy ’81, Ryan Sun ’10, Chiao-Yu Tuan ‘14
Date: January 18, 2024; 5:30-7 p.m.  
Location: Novela, 662 Mission St., San Francisco 
Activity: Happy hour
Register here

Milwaukee Regional Community 
Hosts: Alison Guthrie ’86 and Emily Niles ’09  
Date: January 27, 2024; 12:30-2 p.m.  
Location: Eble Park Ice Arena, 19400 W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield
Activity: HoLUdays Ice Skating
Register here

Colorado Regional Community 
Hosts: Mike ’97 and Jen Schuster Tryggestad ’97
Date: January 27, 2024; 2-4 p.m.
Location: More details to come
Activity: Decorating cookies and enjoying hot chocolate
Register here

Questions? Contact Nora Robinson '21 at nora.e.robinson@lawrence.edu