News
Hadity ’83 to give Class & Charter address
By Ben Fields ’15
April 24, 2015
The film world comes to Hamilton this year for Hamilton’s 65th Class and Charter Day. The annual celebration recognizing student and faculty excellent will feature John Hadity ’83 as its speaker. Hadity is a film financing expert and executive vice president for EP Financial Solutions. He will bring his signature wit and wisdom to the College in talk titled “The Underrated Element of Surprise.”
Hadity has more than 20 years of studio experience, including a stint as the executive vice president of Motion Picture and Television Production Finance for Miramax Films. During his time there his films achieved over 250 Academy Award Nominations and 52 wins. His films Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient and Chicago each received Best Picture Oscars. He also is an executive producer on the recent films Master Harold and the Boys and Burning Blue.
During his time at Hamilton, Hadity majored in sociology, was a member of the Buffers, Rainbow Alliance, the Wag and Alpha Delta Phi. He began his involvement as an alum very quickly following his graduation, as he was recruited to serve as a co-chair of the then-fledgling young alumni association for alumni currently known as the GOLD Group. During his tenure as co-chair, he expanded the group and led a committee of representatives from each of the 10 preceding class years. These alumni organized events that were specifically targeted toward young alumni and encompassed both fundraising and social events in major metropolitan areas. As a result of his success in this endeavor, Hadity was featured in a front-page story in the Chronicle of Higher Education discussing how his forward-thinking is now the model for programs at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Hadity has remained very active with Hamilton and its alumni community throughout the last 32 years. He has served as a class agent, chair of the Performing Arts Advisory Committee, capital campaign committee member, reunion volunteer and is a dedicated and energetic volunteer for the Career and Life Outcomes Center. He participated in the recent 2011 Career Center Task Force, which helped with the reorganization of the center. He has also been deeply involved as a volunteer for the Alumni Council, working on both the Executive Committee and the Class Leadership Committee. He served as president of the Alumni Association until his term ended at the most recent Alumni Association meeting earlier this month.
During his time as president, Hadity was dedicated to making Hamilton excel in career services. This included hiring Hamilton students as interns, participating in HamiltonExplore and career shadowing. He also encouraged other Hamilton alums to follow this example.
The tradition of Class and Charter Day extends back to 1950, when then President Robert Ward McEwen combined the traditional Class Day with a commemoration of the College’s Charter on May 26, 1812. Class Day had traditionally been held on the last Wednesday of classes and students held games, athletic and singing contests and various other activities. Class and Charter Day was held on the final Friday of classes until 2012, when it was moved to the last Monday as a part of reorganizing the academic calendar.
McEwen noted that Class Day was close the College’s so-called “birthday” and decided that warranted a convocation in the Chapel to hear an address related to Hamilton’s history and traditions. These addresses are typically presented by an alumnus, faculty member, historian or trustee, recent speakers have included Julie Ross ’84, then president of the Alumni Association and Thomas Schwartz ’66, former acting President of Hamilton and current President of Purchase College.
Hamilton’s annual Class and Charter Day will be held on Monday, May 11. The convocation will take place in Wellin Hall at 4:15 p.m.