Office of Alumni Relations is dedicated to providing opportunities to alumni from all eras to reunite on campus.

Connie Little Organizes Reunion of the Metropolitan Club

A unique idea was presented by Alumna Connie Little ’61, who had an interest in getting together with former Metropolitan Club members and friends. Mrs. Little earned a BA degree in French from UST.

Carla E. Alsandor, Ph.D., senior director of alumni relations, suggested an idea of a Homecoming reunion.

Mrs. Little recruited classmate Sally Luna ‘61 to help track down and reach out to members and friends.

Metropolitan Club Founding Purpose

The Metropolitan Club, a student social organization, existed from 1956-1967 under the leadership of two Deans of Women Evelyn Peters and Wilma Goetz.

Dean Peters founded the Metropolitan Club in 1956 with the purpose of broadening the social life of local women students (aka “town girls”) through a closer association while enriching their spiritual lives through various charitable projects. The active membership was composed of the women day students from the Houston area, while other women students could be associate members. According to the 1957 Yearbook, the activities for the academic year 1956-57 were a Christmas benefit tea, a Christmas Charity party for underprivileged children and the annual Primavera Ball.

Luna remembers other activities too. “Metropolitan or Town Girls lived at home so they didn’t have the natural camaraderie like the dorm girls,” Luna said. “They would meet in member’s houses and ‘cookies and cokes’ were the standard fare,” said Luna. “We met at the Linbeck’s, Anderson’s, Brown’s, Coates, Tarrant’s, Green’s and Neilon’s houses to name a few,” she said. “Once we had a style show during orientation week.”

Reconnecting and Reminiscing

The response to an invitation for an afternoon of reconnecting and reminiscing over lunch was very positive with nearly 40 attendees. UST President Dr. Richard Ludwick and First Lady Melynda Ludwick attended the fete. Guests included Garland Debner Pohl ‘60, Blanca Azios ’61, Blake Anderson ‘63, Patricia Kelly Holy ’62, Carolyn Denen Lidiak ’67 and Vivian Greff Horrocks ‘69.

Ladies enjoyed Prosecco and canapes and dined on a light lunch. Some alumnae had not been on campus in many years and to reunite in the building that meant so much to them as students was exciting.

Golden Celt Annual Scholarship

“I wanted Dr. Ludwick to meet and get to know these alumnae from my era,” Little, who underwrote the luncheon, said. At the luncheon, Mrs. Little mentioned the recently established Golden Celt Annual Scholarship as a way to continue their charitable giving legacy.

The scholarship is presented to a student(s) with need on an annual basis. The Metropolitan Club luncheon raised more than $2,000 toward this year’s scholarship. Alumni and friends of UST may donate online to the scholarship at any time. (After you click the link, next to the Schools, Centers and Programs option, you can select "click here to choose" the Golden Celt Annual Scholarship Award.)

During the luncheon, Dr. Ludwick presented Golden Celt Society pins commemorating their 50+ years as alumnae of the University of St. Thomas.

Reconnecting in the Future

Dr. Alsandor commented, “It was a wonderful afternoon meeting and visiting with this impressive group of alumnae. Their love of UST came through in their enthusiasm and genuine interest in their alma mater. We hope to see them on campus more often. Like all our alumni, they are always welcome.”

Before the luncheon ended, Mrs. Luna asked the group if they were interested in “continuing friendships and staying connected with a Dutch-treat lunch gathering every six months.” Those interested should reach out to Mrs. Little at connielittle7@sbcglobal.net or Mrs. Luna at sallylunarealtor@gmail.com.