November 18, 2017, members of BALANCE and other Lehigh alumni groups enjoyed an eventful day in Bethlehem, celebrating the 153rd meeting of “The Rivalry”. For photos from Lehigh’s first-ever Lehigh-Lafayette Tailgate, click here.
The day began with an early “meet the alumni” mixer and breakfast at the Umoja House on Lower Saucon Road, where about 10 alumni met with students and staff before this year’s big game and held an impromptu Q&A panel discussion with the students. Also at this event, members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., presented founding brother Wayne Bethea ’89 ’91 ’01G with a recognition plaque for 30 years of service.
Before the game at Goodman Stadium, BALANCE members joined other alumni affinity groups, including the Lehigh Alumni Pride Association (LAPA), various athletics alumni organizations, and more, for an amazing tailgate party under a heated tent (good call for the cold and dreary weather that day!) that included a catered brunch, DJ, and cornhole tourney. We ate our fill and warmed up with some “adult beverages” before braving the weather to watch the 153rd meeting of the Lehigh-Lafayette Rivalry.
It was a rough first half, but Lehigh rallied to win 38-31, was crowned Patriot League Champions, and earned a berth in the FCS Playoffs.
After the game, alumni, as well as some faculty and staff, met at Dr. Donald Outing’s home for a BBQ and bourbon tasting. This intimate event allowed for alumni to sample great BBQ from The Bayou (courtesy of Morris Taylor ’02) and a large variety of bourbons, while sharing stories of our college days. The evening sparked intense conversations and creative ideas for future BALANCE endeavors.
All in all, the day was a great success! Alumni that met that morning with a handshake and introduction left that evening with hugs and plans to meet at the next event. We hope to see you there next time, as well!
— Jessica Huertas ’94
We are looking to have more BALANCE events throughout the year! If you have an idea for an event (educational or social in nature), please reach out to Miguel Rivera at mar517@lehigh.edu or complete this survey.