POTSDAM -- Preparations for SUNY Potsdam's annual Reunion Weekend, from Thursday, July 14 to Sunday, July 17 are in high gear.

Although registration is required for all events, this year there will be no general registration fee. All SUNY Potsdam alumni and friends are invited to join in the festivities.

The weekend will kick off Thursday, July 14, with a 4 p.m. Early Bird gathering at Becky's Place in Pratt Commons.

Highlights for Friday, July 15, include the Welcome Reception in Knowles MPR Lobby at 4:30 p.m., during which the 25th and 30th Anniversaries of the men's basketball team's NCAA Championships will be celebrated. Former Bear's Basketball Coach, Jerry Welsh, will be in attendance.

Friday will also include the family BBQ and Ice Cream Social held in the Townhouse courtyard at 6 p.m. and a special Crane School of Music Faculty & Alumni Concert celebrating Crane's 125th Anniversary in Hosmer Hall at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, July 16, reunion attendees will not want to miss the Bear Walk/Run at 8:30 a.m. Later that morning guests can enjoy kayaking, canoeing and other family-friendly activities at Lehman Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also on July 16, alumni and friends will be on hand for the Sports Hall of Fame Inductions at 11:30 a.m. in the Knowles Hall Multi-Purpose Room. This year's inductees are Renée Hatter Hook '86 (swimming), Jodie Schoppmann '06 (cross country) and Kregg Bruno (wrestling).

A gala reception and award presentations will be held in the Student Union Multi-Purpose Room beginning at 5 p.m. This year's award recipients are Gary Hind '77 and F. Richard Ferraro '82, Minerva Awards; Joseph Sarnoff - posthumously, Honorary Lifetime Membership Award; Ruth Bennett '02, Rising Star Award; Kim Dadson O'Neil '77, St. Lawrence Academy Medal; Richard Regan '91, Helen M. Hosmer Excellence in Music Teaching Award; and Dorothy Albrecht Gregory '61, Distinguished Service Award.

The public is invited to attend Reunion Weekend events. For more information or to register for the weekend, call Laura Stevenson at 267-2120 or visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni. Registration Headquarters will be located in Becky's Place, at Pratt Common's throughout the weekend for walk-ins.