WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary recently announced the William & Mary Alumni Association will honor philanthropist and honorary William & Mary alumna Jane Batten as this year’s Homecoming & Reunion Weekend grand marshal.
William & Mary’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is Oct. 16-19. Batten will lead the Homecoming Parade on Richmond Road Friday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m.
Batten’s recent $100 million gift launched the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences, the largest in W&M’s history and the largest ever for a school of coastal and marine sciences. According to the university, the gift “establishes W&M’s Batten School & VIMS as the global leader for coastal resilience — delivering solutions to the effects of global change impacting billions of people living on coastlines and beyond, as well as industries, economies and national security.”
The university launched its “Year of the Environment” in January, focusing on its “commitment to safeguarding the environment and the communities that depend on its health and resilience.”
Her late husband, Frank Batten, served on William & Mary’s Board of Visitors in the 1990s. The Batten family has provided support to William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business that includes establishing a scholarship and creating the Center for Online Learning.
“Jane Batten’s commitment to William & Mary is inspiring and we are proud she is part of our alumni family,” said Matthew L. “Matt” Brandon, associate vice president for alumni engagement and the CEO of the W&M Alumni Association. “Even before her transformational gift for coastal and marine sciences, Jane Batten’s generosity was preparing our students to make a difference in the world as alumni.”
Homecoming highlights
This year’s Presidential Conversation, hosted by President Katherine A. Rowe, will feature alumni working in conservation and sustainability around the globe. The conversation, which is free and open to the public, will “highlight how the W&M community is helping to meet the world’s most pressing issues and preparing the next generation to do the same,” according to the university. Seating priority will be given to those who preregister.
Other signature events during the weekend will include the Friday Night Foodie Fest, the Saturday Night Bash, and reunion receptions for classes celebrating their 5th-45th, 55th and 60th reunions. Registration is required for these events, and on-site registration will be available, the university said.
On Saturday morning, the Author Breakfast, sponsored by W&M Libraries, will feature Korena Di Roma Howley, author of the picture book “Sarang Saves the School,” and Lamar Giles, the author of “Star Wars: Sanctuary” and “Ruin Road,” among other books. On Saturday afternoon, the Homecoming Tailgate & Family Carnival will feature music from alumni bands, food trucks, carnival games, special snacks, a face painter, balloon artist, lawn games and more. Both family-friendly events are free. Registration is encouraged but not required.
View the full schedule and register to attend at homecoming.wm.edu. Online registration closes on Oct. 10.
