Fifty years of grit and gratitude: The unstoppable Class of 1975 returns to the Mount
By Cynthia S. White McVey, Class of 1975
Photos provided by Cynthia S. White McVey ‘75
When the Mount’s annual class reunion weekend was moved from Fall of 2025 to Spring of 2026, Cynthia S. White McVey and her friends from the Class of 1975 decided to host their own reunion – right here on campus!
For more information about the upcoming reunion in June, click here.
We were told that the Class of 1975 was a small group, but as we proved 50 years ago—and again one weekend in September of 2025 —we are a mighty one.
When the calendar turned to mark our golden anniversary, a few of my classmates and I decided that half a century of friendship and shared history required a celebration. So, with the same determination that got us through our degrees, we created our own version of a 50th reunion. We may be few, but we are still here, and we are still Mount Saint Mary College proud.
Returning to campus was a surreal experience. We were amazed to see how the curriculum has grown from the 1970s. When I arrived at the Mount, I was a girl from a farming family in Chester, N.Y. My parents believed the family legacy belonged to a son, and that my future should be marriage, not matriculation. I had to fight long and hard to persuade them that I was going to college. We struck a deal: I could have a car and commute, or I could live in the dorms. I chose the car because I knew it gave me freedom.
Those commuting years were a lesson in survival. I remember living on a jug of Hawaiian Punch – a glass every evening was often my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was too proud to ask for help, determined to prove to my skeptics that I would succeed. But God provides. I found a Good Samaritan librarian who rented me a room for $15 a week, and I had a standing invitation every Tuesday night at a classmate’s house in Newburgh for a real, homemade Italian pasta dinner.
That Tuesday night savior was Patricia Bragg Scott. And the most beautiful part of this reunion weekend was that Patricia, my lifeline 50 years ago, was our hostess and the creator of this anniversary gathering. She never knew how hungry I was back then until I told her my story recently. It was a powerful reminder that the ties we formed in those classrooms and hallways truly last a lifetime.
Our DIY reunion kicked off with a campus tour led by a student. She gets an A-plus from the Class of ’75! Her enthusiasm was infectious. She showed us the Care Closet, established by Fr. Greg [Fluet], where students can take what they need. It brought back memories of my own lean years, and I was moved to make a donation. It’s a comfort to know that the Mount spirit of taking care of one another is alive and well.
That spirit is what I carried into my career. I spent 41 years as a special education teacher, a job I loved so much I would have done it forever if I could. The education I received at the Mount didn’t just change my life; it allowed me to change others. I had the privilege of inspiring two of my paraprofessionals, Linda Noto and Tara Carr, to attend the Mount and become teachers themselves. I remember driving Tara to campus for a tour when she insisted she “didn't belong in college.” I told her, “You are a strong woman. You can do this.” And she did.
To celebrate our own journey, our group – including my husband Jim (who attended the Business school), Rosemarie Martini Butler, and her husband Samuel – enjoyed a weekend that highlighted the beauty of the Hudson Valley. We took a boat tour on the Rip Van Winkle, visited local apple farms, and gathered for a wine tasting at the home of a classmate. We even made a special stop at Magnanini Winery, owned by fellow Mount alumni. We wrapped up our celebration with a farewell luncheon at the Mountain Brauhaus, surrounded by fall foliage and old friends.
We left the Mount 50 years ago with the hope of creating a good life. Looking back, we realize that the foundation we built here allowed us to do exactly that. To the Mount community: We are thankful, we are proud, and we are living proof of the power of this education. Here’s to the Class of ’75!