Boston, MA – November 8, 2005 – Despite a fall weekend dominated by cold rain and little foliage, the enthusiasm and excitement of Wentworth’s alumni kept the party afloat during Homecoming/Alumni Weekend, October 14-15.

The weekend was kicked off with a buffet of traditional New England flavors for alumni on Friday evening, followed by activities that included the Boston Ghosts and Legends tour and the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. Saturday offered a guided tour of Boston’s Big Dig and an alumni soccer match-up on Sweeney Field.

The highlight of the weekend was the Odyssey Dinner Cruise the evening of October 15. President Zorica Pantic joined 150 alumni and guests for an evening of wonderful conversation, delicious cuisine, live music, and dancing while Boston Harbor and the beautiful city skyline served as a backdrop.

During her speech aboard the ship, President Pantic singled out two alumni whom she had just met, Lewis “Bud" Hamelin, MC&TD ’48, and his son, Tom Hamelin, ME ’78. A third Hamelin, Tom’s son Travis, a senior electromechanical engineering major, was unable to attend the cruise.

The President cited how impressed she was to learn about the three generations of Hamelin men who have benefited, and are benefiting still, from Wentworth’s hands-on, experiential learning model.

“I was coming out of the Navy in 1946," the elder Hamelin says. “I hadn’t thought about college until the GI bill came along. Wentworth caught my eye. I immediately took to the hands-on bit and engineering was right up my alley."

The same story holds true for Tom: “I looked at different schools, and I just liked Wentworth. I took to the hands-on learning very well."

The three Hamelin men have each experienced a different Wentworth. Since Bud’s enrollment in 1946, Wentworth has evolved from a commuter school offering two-year programs, to a four-year, fully accredited residential Institute.

“It’s great," says Tom. “All the new dorms are amazing. When I was enrolled, I couldn’t imagine the school would someday be like this. The value of the Wentworth education is amazing; I have heard and seen a lot of good things."

“I like the centennial campaign," says Bud. “I’d like to see the school raise a lot more than $30 million."

With a large-scale physical transformation and an on-going multimillion-dollar campaign, it is comforting to notice that some things never change.

Tom, who works for Tokyo Electron, a semiconductor company in Beverly, Mass., recognizes the Wentworth curriculum as pivotal to his success as a professional. “It’s a demanding job," Tom says. “A lot like the Wentworth education, I get in very early and leave late."

Tom says that his son Travis, who is graduating in May, has experienced a different Wentworth. “When I enrolled at Wentworth," says Tom, “we had quite a large class, and upon graduation that class had shrunk down to about a dozen because the program was so intense."

“His curriculum is equally demanding," Tom adds. “However, he has the luxury of living on campus. That commute was tough for me."

Would the family consider sending another child to Wentworth?

“Absolutely," says Bud. “Wentworth is the tops! We had a nice set-up at Wentworth, and I have been interested in the school since graduation. Wentworth will always have a great background; everything about the school is great."