What Lasts: Stories from Norwich Homecoming

It was a cold, windy, rainy morning on Sabine Field. But as Gene Ward ’49 began walking onto the field carrying the Class of 1949 flag, the rain stopped and the sun broke through. Behind him, Norwich cadets stood in formation as alumni gathered for Homecoming 2026, marking reunions and reconnecting with classmates and friends.

Members of the Class of 1976 marked another milestone, entering Norwich’s Old Guard 50 years after graduation. Women from that class became the first women to receive the Old Guard’s maroon-and-gold medallions.

During the ceremony, LtGen John J. Broadmeadow '83, USMC (Ret.), 25th President of Norwich University, invited returning graduates to look at today’s Rooks and remember when they stood in their place. The young cadets, he suggested, were not so different from those who came before them, with hopes and questions about the future.

While the Class of 1976 celebrated 50 years since graduation, members of the Class of 2026 were experiencing homecoming from a different vantage point. 

Among them was Brett Carlson ’26, a Norwich alumnus now pursuing his master’s degree at Norwich. As a civilian student, Carlson remembers his first year as challenging, but his experience improved as he became more involved. Through Residence Life, new student orientation, and student organizations, he built friendships, found his place on campus, and grew more confident over his years. 

Now, as a recent graduate, Carlson is beginning to experience that community as an alumnus. “It felt easy to talk to others in the alumni parade even if I did not know them,” Carlson said. 
During Homecoming, he joined fellow members of the class of 2026 in inducting the Class of 1979 into Norwich’s Old Guard. He reflected on how happy the returning graduates seemed to be, how familiar they were with one another, and how they took time to greet the president after receiving their medallions. 

The ceremony brought together graduates at very different points in their lives, including those returning to celebrate milestone reunions.

Sixty Years After Graduation

For Kurt Schlotterbeck ’66, whose class celebrated its 60th reunion this year, the decision to come to Norwich began on family trips to a summer house in New Hampshire.

Each time his family passed through Northfield, he noticed cadets walking around campus. He liked what he saw and wanted to attend Norwich.

He also remembers arriving at Norwich as a new student. The incoming cadets were directed through a side door, while their parents went out the main entrance. Then they met their cadre. In that moment, the familiar world of family gave way to the beginning of an entirely different experience.

Sixty years after graduation, he’s still coming back.

At Friday’s Volunteer Impact Luncheon, Schlotterbeck and his wife, Sandra, shared memories of his student years, the career that followed, and the classmates he’s remained connected with along the way.

Schlotterbeck’s student years unfolded during the Vietnam War era, when military service shaped many of the decisions facing young graduates.

After Norwich, Schlotterbeck worked testing rocket motors for communications satellites. He served 10 years on active duty with the Army Corps of Engineers, followed by 18 years in the reserves, for 28 years of military service. He also worked for the Corps of Engineers as a surveyor and in construction management. “And it all served me well,” he says.

He remembers studying vacuum tubes at Norwich and hearing about a relatively new technology called the transistor. Reflecting on military service more broadly, he valued the continued training and skills that could open doors professionally. Just as important were the relationships: “You have community, and you have people,” he says.

His first return for a Norwich reunion wasn’t until his 25th. Military assignments, moves, and family life had made earlier visits difficult.

Schlotterbeck, known as “Buddha,” continues to organize alumni gatherings in Savannah and Charleston. “I’m still that social guy, and arranging parties comes very easy to me,” he says.

He makes it sound simple. Find a place, let people know, and see who shows up. Some people who say they’re coming don’t. Others arrive unexpectedly.

Talking with Schlotterbeck, it’s easy to see why he’s taken on that role. There’s a warmth and openness about him, a natural ease with people that helps explain why he keeps bringing them together.

Sandra has been part of that continuing connection, too. When asked what makes Homecoming special from her perspective, she answers simply: “Because it’s special to my husband.”

It’s a reminder that the relationships surrounding Norwich often extend beyond those who attended the University. Spouses and families become part of those connections, helping sustain the friendships, traditions, and sense of community that bring alumni back.

Staying Involved with Norwich

Those relationships have also created opportunities to help Norwich in practical ways.

When Schlotterbeck learned about flooding challenges involving the University’s rugby pitch, he thought of former classmate John Stewart, an engineer in Vermont with experience in flood-related work and state requirements.
Schlotterbeck helped connect Stewart with people at Norwich. Stewart became involved in developing an approach suited to the pitch’s location in a floodplain.

For Schlotterbeck, it was a matter of recognizing a problem and knowing someone with the experience to help solve it.

Sandra also described Kurt’s continued involvement with Norwich. “He loves the school,” she says.

That spirit of involvement was evident at Friday’s Volunteer Impact Luncheon, where Norwich recognized alumni and friends whose contributions range from preserving traditions and organizing gatherings to mentoring students and supporting new initiatives.

Among the honorees was Caroline McCollough, recognized for her work with Dressing for Success, an initiative providing students with professional clothing, headshots, and career-development resources.

COL Bill Passalacqua ’88, VSM, was recognized for decades of mentorship and his continued relationships with students and graduates. Other volunteers were honored for preserving Norwich traditions and creating opportunities for alumni to remain connected.

During the luncheon, LtGen Broadmeadow reflected on the people whose time, experience, and commitment continue to shape the University. He emphasized that the strength of Norwich has always been its people, and that the Norwich experience doesn’t end at graduation.

Before leaving the luncheon, I asked Schlotterbeck what advice he would give today’s Norwich graduates.
“I would tell them, do not be afraid to venture out into something new. Because at that point in your life, almost everything’s gonna be new. So, if you go outside your comfort zone, give it the old Norwich try, and you’ll be fine.”