08/20/2026
The second annual Wyoming Happy Hour brought Juniata alumni, family, and friends together at Wind Rock Ranch in Clark, Wyoming, hosted by Nicole C. Close ’92 and Chris Albrecht.
Attendees, including Olivia Foley ’26, Vinnie Francischetti ’73, Nori (Kocum) Lewis ’90, Erick Lewis ’89, Nikki Mastrangelo ’92, Brian Smith ’78, Charles Strasser ’14, and Susan Pelaggi, represented five decades of Juniata connections.
After an afternoon of conversation, laughter, food, and friendship, the group decided the fun shouldn’t end at happy hour and turned the gathering into an overnight Juniata slumber party. The Wyoming weekend came to a fitting end when two grizzly bears made an appearance in the field across from the ranch the following day.
But the weekend was about much more than geography or even grizzly bears. It captured something Juniatians recognize immediately: friendships that pick up where they left off, new connections that quickly feel like old ones, generations of alumni finding common ground, and a willingness to travel a very long way simply for the opportunity to spend time together.
Nicole and Chris are already looking forward to welcoming alumni, families, friends — and hopefully some first-time Wyoming adventurers — for the Third Annual Wyoming Happy Hour in 2027.