After 25 years, the most important lessons from Case Western Reserve that Swaminathan Thangaraj (CWR ’01) remembers aren’t all from the classrooms he studied in or books he read.
Many come from the people who helped him find what he needed most in his 20s—hope.
“You need a village when you’re trying to find your way,” he said. And the friends who helped him create that village, many from CWRU Club Hockey, still remain in his life today, where his focus has been finding ways to pay it forward to the next generation of Spartans while keeping the relationships from the Class of 2001.
“It’s a big year, the 25th. And we’ve all grown, but the inner child is still there. When I hang out with these friends that I’ve known for nearly 30 years, we still have that passion for staying young,” Thangaraj said.
Those friendships also helped him find his way in life, from providing support on the harder days as a student to marking major life moments and now reflecting on how they can contribute in a lasting way to society.
Thangaraj, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and adjunct assistant professor at Drexel University College of Medicine, began mentoring students last year, but hasn’t been back to campus since 2016.
“What better reason to come back after a decade—or two—than our 25th reunion?” He asked.
Denisha Shah (CWR ’01) is happy to answer that question: none.
When she visited last spring, the experience was more than just nostalgic.
“Seeing the momentum that Case Western Reserve has right now—oh my,” she said. “I felt it just walking around.”
And sharing that experience with the rest of the Class of 2001 is what inspired Shah to join the reunion planning committee this year—which is also the bicentennial celebration for Case Western Reserve.
Shah completed a pre-medical psychology degree—with minors in chemistry and theater—from CWRU, and went on to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Master of Public Health and a PhD in Conflict Resolution. As a higher-education board director and the cinematic alchemist behind the proprietary Global Cinematic Alchemy Frameworks, her work triangulates Hollywood and Bollywood film analysis with real-world executive data to decode the science of self-realization and resolve organizational disputes.
Shah’s career exemplifies what she took away from her CWRU experience.
“Case Western Reserve is a global incubator of non-linear excellence,” she said. “Campus culture didn’t force me into a rigid single academic track. It actively encouraged me to explore intersections of pre-medicine, psychology, chemistry and theatre. And that unique academic environment gave me a very strong baseline confidence to reject traditional, isolated professional borders.”
The unique CWRU experience is one worth celebrating. In addition to the robust schedule for homecoming, including the Alumni Awards and football game, the Alumni Association will host the Silver Spartans Class of 2001 25th Reunion on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m.
The event will include activities for all ages, and bring together classmates to connect, reminisce and celebrate at the Linsalata Alumni Center. Silver Spartans will also receive a special ribbon and commemorative gift. Explore the full schedule and register to attend Homecoming and Reunion Weekend at case.edu/homecoming.
“Because of the scale of this bicentennial, we have an extraordinary opportunity to maximize our footprint,” Shah said. “I want to see hundreds of classmates come.”
For more information about Silver Spartans Celebrating the CWRU Class of '01, contact Angela Carpenter, assistant director of reunions, at angela.carpenter@case.edu.
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