We kicked off our Alumni in Residence program this year on October 28 as we welcomed John Hinman ’92 and members of the class of 1969 to campus for a day of fun and connection in Husky Nation.
A Celebration of Homecoming and Pie
John is the owner of Hinman Pie in Denver, CO, and co-founder of the non-profit CHOW, an organization of individuals employed in the hospitality industry who support each other’s mental wellness through shared stories, learned skills, and available resources. John himself went through a period in his life where he struggled with his mental wellness and found he could overcome his struggles by “learning to come home to himself.” This message of homecoming and being true to who you are is a message that he shared with our school community in McEvoy Theatre for an evening presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session over Hinman Pies. A real hit with our students and faculty alike!
John, who had not returned to campus in a few decades, his father Dave Hinman ’69, and some other members of the class of 1969, spent the day integrating with our community. They started with a tour led by four-year student Kareena ’22. They explored Academic Row, visited the former site of Randall Hall, where John lived, and admired newly renovated spaces on campus, including the Academic Research Center and the new Health and Wellness Center.
Partaking in Community and Classes
The day continued over lunch, where they had the opportunity to meet with some of our current students to learn more about the student experience today followed by a conversation with members of the administrative team, where they discussed mental health issues our students face today. Lastly, John was able to visit a pottery class taught by Charlie Smith. Pottery was a passion of Johns in his earlier years, and he enjoyed admiring our student work and hopping on the wheel to create his work of art!
All our alumni speakers are remarkable; however, this one struck close to home to members of the class of 1969, who established the endowed fund in honor of their 50th reunion to sponsor this speaker series. John is the son of Class of 1969 Committee Member Dave Hinman. To honor the occasion, Class of 1969 committee members were invited to join us for community dinner and the evening program.
Congratulations!
John has developed a strong affinity for giving back to his community. After his campus visit, John traveled back to Colorado with his father, where John was honored as the Philanthropist of the Year by the Colorado Restaurant Association.
Congratulations to John, and thank you for sharing your story with all of us here in Husky Nation!
If you’re interested in bringing your talents to campus as part of the Alumni in Residence program, please reach out to the Alumni Office, alumni@newhampton.org.
