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October-November 2005
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ALUMNI NEWS |
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"Golden Eagle" Alumni Celebrate Reunion at New Katzen Arts Center Class of 1955 Kogod alumnus Jonah Gitlitz, who had sent a letter to his classmates earlier in the year encouraging them to attend the luncheon, told the group, "some of us are members of the bald eagles club. We're all members of the Survival of the Fittest Club," he joked. Gitlitz shared that as one of nearly 850 guests at the Katzen Arts Center's grand opening gala during the annual President's Circle dinner the night before, he was reminded how much satisfaction he got by being involved with the university. "AU has meant a lot to me," he said warmly.
"The university's future is built on the shoulders of men and women like yourselves," summed Kerwin. He shared the university's vision that the new building will transform the arts and listed a number of campus improvement projects in various stages of development slated for years to come, including renovating the McKinley Building for the School of Communication, and building an entirely new School of International Service. This year's luncheon also featured entertainment by three student performers, all due to graduate next year: Emily Formica and Ryan Neely each sang a piece from Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, accompanied on piano by Kent Peacock. Following the catered lunch and a slideshow of AU building interiors from before 1955, the Golden Eagles and their guests were treated to a tour of the new building, visiting artist studios and chatting with several student artists perfecting their crafts, as well as the print-making studio, classrooms, and the black box Studio Theatre. Perhaps the best treat of the afternoon came when Audrey Ricketts Schinkel, who got her AU degree in piano performance in 1955 and her MA in teaching in '59, set her sights on an upright piano in one room, playing a wonderful rendition of Scott Joplin's ragtime classic, "The Entertainer" to roaring appreciative applause. Schinkel's impromptu piano playing brought the afternoon to a perfect close when the tour ended in the Katzen Museum gallery, and she sat at the Steinway baby grand in the lobby, serenading her peers with Bach as they browsed through the colorful art collection. -Melissa Reichley |
Nearly
70 alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago hugged and exchanged stories
old and new as they reunited on stage of the 200+ seat Abramson Family
Recital Hall in the new Katzen Arts Center last Friday for the annual
Golden Eagles Luncheon. University Relations Vice President Al Checcio
welcomed the lively group back to campus - the first time back in 50 years
for several attendees - and to the new arts building with which they were
all quite impressed.
Acting
President Neil Kerwin held the honor of inducting each of the dozen 1955
alumni attending the luncheon into the Golden Eagles Club, presenting
them with a gift as they crossed the podium and had their photo taken
with him. "I'm only 15 years from being a Golden Eagle myself,"
said Kerwin, also an AU alum (SPA/BA '71), former faculty member and provost.