Homecoming Weekend on the Hilltop welcomed back over 750 alumni and guests unveiling aesthetic changes on campus.  Alumni, family, and friends celebrated Homecoming in all the usual ways: Trolley rides, around campus tailgating followed by Hawks football, the Alumni Awards Dinner, and a trip down memory lane leading right to Davison Hall for a visit to the grill or a beer in the Pub. However, this weekend marked not only the return of alumni, but also the ushering of a new chapter in the College’s history.

Alumni Weekend began with the installation of the 10th president of Saint Anselm College, Dr. Steven R. DiSalvo. Joining trustees and friends of the college, the alumni welcomed Dr. DiSalvo with Anselmian hospitality on Friday.  Among the alumni returning for Homecoming Weekend and the Inauguration ceremonies was Ashley Pratte ’11, politics major.

“The inauguration ceremony of Dr. DiSalvo was very well done, and the ceremony on the quad was beautiful especially with the new changes,” said Pratte.

Those new changes on campus include a new quad on the lower part of campus, additions to the new quad, the groundbreaking of a new residence hall, and curriculum changes. The replacement of the parking lot in front of Davison by a 100,000 square-foot quad occurred this past summer and alumni were able to support the undertaking by purchasing a tree or bench. Groundbreaking on a new residence hall behind Brady Hall also began this past summer.  Expected to be finished for the 2014 academic year, the 43,000- square foot hall will house over 150 students.

Some alumni were skeptical upon hearing of the construction to the beloved campus. Pratte admits she was once among the doubting, but is now “pleasantly surprised with the changes.”

Another returning alumna, Jillian Tonnelli ’12, remarked her favorite aesthetic addition is the new platform in front of Alumni Hall.

“It is much bigger, but still beautiful. It looks like it will allow more students to enjoy that area in between classes just like I did!”

Not far from their days on the Hilltop, both alumnas enjoyed coming back only a year later to such major improvements.

“I think that Saint Anselm is headed in a good direction, Dr. DiSalvo seems to have a deep passion for the mission and students of the college. I look forward to see new enhancements that the college makes,” said Pratte.