Founders Day,
Campus Pond
3:23 PM
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Founders Day,
On April 29, 2024, the university hosted the annual Founders Day, this year celebrating its 161st birthday. With more than 30 activities open to the public—including concerts, glassblowing demonstrations, natural history collection open houses, and lunch on the lawn—there was something for everyone. With over 12,000 people in attendance, that is saying something! Perhaps the most popular event of the day was the free hot-air balloon rides that took place next to the Campus Pond. Groups of four to six riders got a once-in-a-lifetime view of the campus below as they floated 75 feet above the ground. Balloon owner and chief pilot Jim Regan says, “The enthusiasm and gratitude made it one of our most enjoyable tether jobs.”
From left: Maritza Reyes, Chancellor Javier Reyes, UMass President Marty Meehan
This year, Founders Day also served as the culminating event after a week full of milestones. On the Friday before, Chancellor Javier Reyes was inaugurated as the 31st leader of the university.
Though his duties officially began in July 2023, Chancellor Javier Reyes was formally inaugurated as the university’s 31st leader on April 26, 2024, before hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and community members. Reyes is the first Hispanic chancellor to serve at UMass Amherst.
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