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On Friday and Saturday, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumni from all over the world will return to campus for the Class of 1965 Golden Titan Reunion.

As the alumni visit their alma mater, memories of what “WSU-O” was like during their senior year are sure to resurface. The Golden Titans may see Reeve Memorial Union and notice the big renovations that took place in 2000.

They may tour Horizon Village and reminisce about the good times in Nelson, Breese and Clemans halls. Donnor and Webster Hall have remained the same, while new buildings like Sage Hall and the Alumni Welcome and Conference Center have redefined campus.

Class of 1965 alumni are primarily education majors and some College of Letters and Science grads. Other highlights from 1965 included the big April Fool’s Day snowball fight that took place right outside Webster and Donnor halls. Homecoming festivities included a dance and a parade in downtown Oshkosh. Greek Life dominated campus as a way for students to meet and make lifelong friends.

The Golden Titans may notice that the Pollock and Oviatt houses still stand strong to this day, even if they no longer serve the same purpose as they did 50 years ago. They may even see some of the same clubs and activities on campus, such as Model United Nations and The Advance (Titan), although the campus has bid farewell to The Pursuit, the Golden Tridents and some Greek life organizations, like Alethean.

Alumnus Dean Moede, of Menasha,  who is helping organize the reunion, never left UWO after graduation as he worked for 20 years as the student activities director in Reeve Union. He also met his wife, Judy (Marks) Moede ’65, here while in college. Alumna Janis (Marzinzik) Mwosa will travel all the way from Nairobi, Kenya, to be with her classmates.

Other Golden Titans, such as James Benson. of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Jean (Berg) Van Dixhorn, of Sheboygan, had family who loved UWO as much as they did. Benson played golf with his brother on the golf team, and Van Dixhorn’s daughter and son-in-law both attended UWO.

Numerous members of the Class of 1965 went on to further higher education pursuits, earning master’s degrees and other graduate degrees. Alumna Karen (Rosek) Dohnal, of Green Bay, taught for a total of 32 years, before she decided to trave throughout the nation and Europe.

Members of the graduating Class of 1965 have gone far in their lives as educators, leaders and innovators. As they return to campus, it is clear they have lived up to a quote in their 1965 Quiver yearbook: “Never before have so few done so much for so many for so little.”

Besides reminiscing and touring campus, the Golden Titans will take part in an Alumni College at the Alumni Welcome and Conference Center on Friday. They also will have the opportunity to don golden caps and gowns and lead in the Class of 2015, during the afternoon commencement ceremony on Saturday.

In addition, contributions from members of the class of 1965 will help grow the Golden Titan Endowed Scholarship, which was launched by the class of 1959. For more information about the scholarship or the reunion, contact Alumni Relations by calling (920) 424-3449 or sending an email to alumni@uwosh.edu

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