By Trevor Anderson
A rooftop overlooking the White House was a high point of this year’s Summer City Tour, which connected Wofford alumni, staff, current and incoming students and their families in seven cities, May through August.
At breweries, stadiums and alumni homes, Terriers shared laughter, formed new bonds, strengthened their ties to the college and welcomed incoming first-year students to Wofford’s community — building on the success of the tour’s first season in 2023.
“There was a lot of buzz and excitement this year,” says Lindsey Graham, director of alumni engagement and the tour’s co-founder. “We had more incoming students in attendance Overall, we’re very pleased. I think it’s becoming a signature event series.”
In June, participants took in a minor league baseball game in Columbia, South Carolina, and bonded at SweetWater Brewing Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Terriers also gathered on the roof of Nucor Corporation's public affairs office in Washington, D.C., an event co-hosted by Ashleigh Wilson '08, who serves as the company’s federal government affairs manager and counsel.
The tour continued in August with a visit to the home of Morgan and Catherine Brawley Templeton ’93 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Then, it rolled into Winston-Salem, North Carolina, stopping at Foothills Brewing, a craft brewery owned by Matt ’96 and Meredith Bergen Masten ’97. The season finale was at the home of Elliott ’00 and Emily Whitt Goldsmith ’01 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Graham and Curt McPhail ’96, executive director of the Career Center at Wofford, say the tour grew out of their collaborative efforts to promote interactions between Wofford students and alumni. These connections often lead to internships, mentorships and other opportunities.
“One of Wofford’s value propositions for students is its alumni network,” McPhail says. “We’re also seeing a trend that soon-to-be graduates are focused more on their geography — where they plan to move — than on their profession. Campus events are important, but making the effort to meet alumni and students where they are extends these important connections.”
Graham and McPhail are looking forward to continuing the tour’s growth. They are considering additional Terrier hot spots for future events.