Join Your Fellow Golden Huskies At A 50+ Year Reunion
Mark your calendar for Oct. 17-19, and join your fellow Golden Huskies during NIU's 117th Homecoming weekend! For those that don't know, a Golden Huskie is anyone who graduated from NIU at least 50-years ago. Each reunion weekend, we feature those who are celebrating their 50th. This year, we are featuring the class of 1974.
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Join our Golden Huskies 50+ Year Reunion Facebook Group to chat with your classmates.
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Check out last year's photo album or reminisce as you look through the Class of 1974 Yearbook.
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Let your friends know you’re coming, or share a little bit about what you have been up to since graduation by completing this form. Check out your classmates in our virtual gallery at the bottom of this page!
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Join the Class of 1974 in leaving a legacy for future students by making a donation to the Golden Huskie Scholarship Fund, or any other area of interest at NIU!
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Show off your 50+ years of Huskie Pride and pre-order your Golden Huskies t-shirt before Oct. 7 to wear your Huskie Pride throughout Homecoming weekend.
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If you need travel accommodations to get around on Friday, Oct. 18 - we are offering free shuttle buses. Times and locations can be found here.
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Golden Huskie hotel blocks are full. Please visit the DeKalb County Visitors Bureau for potential options.
If you have any questions about any of the events or the reunion in general, please email alumnievents@niu.edu.
Expand the tabs below for more information about the various aspects of the weekend.
Reunion Weekend Schedule of Events
(Click bars for more information. Please note events with a * are reunion-specific events.)
Thursday, Oct. 17 - 4-7:30 p.m. Huskie Homecoming Block Party - FREE
Cost: Free
Time: 4-7:30 p.m.; 6 p.m. (March of the Huskies w/Golden Huskies)
Location: Downtown DeKalb 100 - 400 Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
Local fans, students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to join the Huskies for a down-home celebration in downtown DeKalb. The Huskie Homecoming Block Party has something for everyone—kidzone, classic car show, March of the Huskies, pep rally, food trucks, discounts at local businesses and much more!
Friday, Oct. 18 - 1 p.m. NIU Campus Bus Tour - FREE; Register below
Cost: Free
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center
The tour of campus will depart from the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center (BAVC), drive past a variety of academic buildings, including a residence hall, and end back at BAVC. Please register for the bus tour here.
2:30-4:30 p.m. Huskie Hour with DeKalb County Bold Spirits - $; Register below
Cost: $35
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Location: Jonamac Orchard - 19412 Shabbona Rd., Malta, IL 60150
Get into the Homecoming weekend spirit when you join your fellow Huskies and fans for an afternoon of local beverages and fall-inspired appetizers at Jonamac Orchard. Enjoy special cocktails, brews and wine from DeKalb County Bold Spirit partners, live music and a festive atmosphere. You can also take home a keepsake Bold Spirit glass! Learn more here.
6-9 p.m. Golden Huskie 50+ Year Reunion Reception and Group Photo * - $; Register below
Cost: $30
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Location: Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center
Have a blast from the past at the Golden Huskies 50+ Year Reunion Reception at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center, featuring the class of 1974. Take a walk down memory lane that’s been five decades in the making, with heavy hors d’oeuvres. Don't miss out on the reunion photo which will be taken during the reception.
Saturday, Oct. 19 - 9-11 a.m. Fourth Annual Brunch with Mission and Victor E. - $; Register below
Cost: $25 ($30 at the door); Children (4-17) $15 ($20 at the door)
Time: 9-11 a.m.
Location: Altgeld Hall Auditorium
There will be plenty of opportunities to take pictures with our favorite mascot, Mission III!
Each registration includes a full buffet of scrambled eggs, hashbrown casserole, bacon, fresh fruit, biscuits and gravy, assorted pastries, coffee and juice. With their tickets, guests who are over 21 years old will receive one ticket for a Dawgma beer from Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling or a bloody mary featuring Blue Ice Handcrafted Vodka with their tickets. Additional beverage tickets will be available for purchase.
Parking is available in the lot on the north side of the lagoon, as well as in the art building parking lot, which are both located off of College Ave.
Learn more here.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mission's Grove Pregame with Golden Huskies Tent *
Cost: Free
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location: Mission's Grove is located in the Oderkirk Field, adjacent to the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center
Gather at a special 50+ year reunion tent at Mission’s Grove. There is no cost to attend Mission's Grove. You will be able to purchase food and drink from the various food and beverage trucks that will be on the grounds.
2:30 p.m. NIU vs. University of Toledo Homecoming Football Game Information/Tickets; Buy your tickets below
Cost: Starting at $18
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Huskie Stadium
Please check back later this summer for information about group tickets for the football game.
Dominic Nessi
Kath Conver
Graduation Year: 1974, B.S.
Major: Journalism-Broadcast Sequence
Email: Kathconver1@att.net
My Journey Since NIU:
I retired from Bradley University as the Senior Director of Public Relations. I currently serve as the President of the Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation.
Gerald Reinert
Susan Trump
Graduation Year: 1974, B.S. in Education
Email: superjecki@aol.com
My Journey Since NIU:
Most of my career ended up being at a hospital in Cardiac Rehabilitation. I used my teaching degree to educate patients about diet, exercise and risk factors for heart disease.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
During my junior block for education our professor encouraged us to think outside the box when planning field trips. We went to the South Water Market in Chicago and Starved Rock in January. Both were great experiences.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
I have stayed in contact with sorority sisters since graduation. It will be nice to spend the Homecoming weekend with them.
Shelley Epstein
Graduation Year: 1974
Major: Journalism
Email: shelleyrepstein@yahoo.com
My Journey Since NIU:
After graduating in 1974 I went to work for the Peoria Journal Star. During a 33 year career I covered government and politics, interviewing mayors, governors and presidents to be. After retiring I worked as a VP/Communications at Bradley University until retiring in 2013.
My Favorite Memory at NIU:
Days and nights at the Star. Learning a profession and making lifelong friends.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
Rick Rock 74. Scott Stevens 75 and 77. Gary Benson 73. Bob McLeese 73.
Glenn Hollister
Graduation Year: 1973
Email: Ghollist1@gmail.com
My Journey Since NIU:
After graduating went to work as an Assistant Product Manager at a privately held company in Sycamore, IDEAL INDUSTRIES INC. Retired after 41 years with the company in 2015. Held various, Marleting, Sales, Management and General Management positions. Travelled the world for business. As I typically had an NIU hat or shirt on during my off days when traveling, I met so many people who called out "Go Huskies!". Made me proud to be a Huskie! My wife got her Masters in Speech Pathology from NIU, and we have two grown sons, one of whom got his undergraduate degree along with his wife from NIU.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
Hope to reconnect with some fellow golfers
Thomas Erekson
Graduation Year: 1974, B.S.Ed.
Major: Industrial Education
Residence Hall: Commuted from Aurora, my home town, first 2 years, rented a house in Sycamore the last year.
Email: tl-erekson@wiu.edu
My Journey Since NIU:
Earned my grad degrees at the U of Illnois, started my 45 year career in higher ed at NIU in 1977. I left NIU in 1984 to pursue administrative positions, eventlually serving as a dept chair for 12 years and a college dean for 22 years.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Homecoming floats sponsored by the Industry & Technology Dept always took 1st place honors.
Mark Lamb
Graduation Year: 1973
Major: Journalism/Speech Communications
Residence Hall: Grant North, University Heights, College Square
Email: marklamb@ameritech.net
My Journey Since NIU:
I married by girlfriend from Senior Year. We're coming up on 50 years of wedded bliss. Our two kids are doing well. We have 3 grandchildren who reside in Austin, Texas. I'm still working and plan to never retire.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Concerts, riots, protests, working my NIU media jobs.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
Would love to see old Norther and TV-8 News vets. And old Grant North dorm mates.
Robert Zivin
35 years in medical / pharmaceutical research, inventor of FDA approved drug inventor.
Michael Sawicki
Graduation year: 1973
Major: Marketing
Residence Hall: Douglas
Email: m.sawicki.ga@gmail.com
My journey since NIU: N/A
My favorite NIU memory: N/A
Who I would like to see at the reunion: N/A
Nancy Warchol
Nancy Decho-Laures
Graduation Year: 1974, B.S.
Major: Accountancy
Residence Hall: Lincoln, Alpha Omicron Pi House
Email: ndlaures@yahoo.com
Michael Korcek
Graduation Year: 1970, B.S.
Major: Journalism
Residence Hall: Gilbert (1966-67) and Lincoln (1967-70) halls
Email: mkorcek@niu.edu
My Journey Since NIU:
Coming to NIU was one of the best decisions of my life.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Working in Intercollegiate Athletics with great student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
Student-athletes, fellow journalism majors or Northern Star types.
Robert Edwards
Graduation Year: 1972; B.S.
Major: Journalism; Speech Minor - TV Production
Residence Hall: Freshman/Sophomore Yr. - Grant South / Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity House (230 Augusta) / Cardinelli Apartments.
Email: robertped@hotmail.com
My Journey Since NIU:
After Graduation I worked for WBBM-TV as a writer/producer, then worked at AT&T's management training center writing and producing audio visual training materials. That's was my Journalism career. Had various career changes after that.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Shooting photographs of students for University Relations that were then sent to the students home town. Interviewing President Rhoten Smith for a TV Production Speech Class.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
Would love to see former room-mate Richard Vyborny / 1973 Alumni
Robert Odelson
Graduation Year: 1972
Major: Philosophy
Residence Hall: Grant South
My Journey Since NIU:
I have had quite the journey through life. Since Philosophy wasn't practical I became a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist. This enabled me to move to San Diego. CA and become an Administrator, Clinical Systems Engineer and a Project Manager.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Seeing Elton John in concert at the Field House with my younger brother.
Who I?d Like to See at the Reunion:
Greg Zachwieja. I have not stayed in touch with any classmates.
Darlene Hutchens
Ted Bacino
I'm 90-years old and I still write a monthly newsletter for banks and credit unions. My novel, The Shakespeare Conspiracy" has been made into a play that's had Off-Broadway and multi-major-city productions.
Formerly executive assistant Secretary of State (Illinois) and vice-president of the United Bank chain.
Nancy Zingrone
My career started after I obtained my master's at NIU in 1977, specializing in community college education and teaching psychology. My first teaching job was at Northeastern Illiinois University in 1979, got my first teaching/research job in 1982 at a private research foundation in Durham, NC, gained candidacy in history of science at Duke in 1990, a PhD in psychology at University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 2006, spent 10 years at the University of Edinburgh, and 10 years doing research at survey and history of psychology at University of Virginia, ran a small online graduate school (Atlantic University in Virginia Beach) for nearly 3 years. And NIU kicked off this life that I'm still living.
Michael Garfield
Graduation Year: 1973
Major: Meteorology
Email: mbgarfield@aol.com
My Journey Since NIU:
Plans to be a TV weatherman ended when I lost a job to Tom Skilling. Found a great career in the EAP industry that shaped my family and lifepath.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Cheerleading trip to Madison Square Garden for basketball game.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
I would like to see Dave Dion. I am very close with Lou Schoenburg.
Denise Jacob
Graduation Year: 1974, B.S.
Major: Journalism
Residence Hall: Neptune Hall
My Journey Since NIU:
My degree did prepare me for my career, most of which was spent in advertising. We have two sons and three grandsons. Sorry I didn't take up kayaking sooner.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Being blown across campus with my art portfolio on the way to class. Also, any time at the pond/lagoon. Also, getting a chance to peek through the telescope and astronomy class.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
Can't make the reunion, sorry!
Donald Shearer
Graduation Year: 1974, BSN Education General Science
Residence Hall: Gilbert Hall
Email: d23shearer@aol.com
My Journey Since NIU:
I taught two years of high school chemistry and physics after earning my degree in education, but was not prepared for the interference of parents and administration. So I left to purchase and operate a hardware store.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Learning glass blowing and shooting rockets out of my dorm window.
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
Clyde Leigh.
Steve Klein
Graduation Year: 1974, B.A.
Major: Speech Communication-Radio & TV, Journalism-News Broadcasting
Residence Hall: Stevenson South, Apartment on Kimberly on Greek Row
Email: Steve@SteveAKlein.com
My Journey Since NIU:
Moved from Chicago to Hastings NE, south central Nebraska (population 20,000 - a culture shock), then to the middle of Kansas, Salina on the Dallas TX. Been here for46 years.
My Favorite NIU Memory:
Meeting Elton John & George Carlin backstage
Who I Would Like to See at the Reunion:
All of the students from Steven South 8th floor - "Scurge"