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| November 2006
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ALUMNI NEWS |
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Eagles Enjoy Events, Reminiscing at Alumni Weekend 2006 More than 500 alumni and their families returned to campus for Alumni Weekend 2006, held October 20-22. With beautiful fall weather and activities for alumni of all ages, schools, and majors, the weekend was the perfect time for loyal Eagles to reconnect with old friends and relive good memories. For the second year in a row, Alumni Weekend and Family Weekend were held concurrently, allowing alumni, parents, and current students to share in some of the fun together. Friday featured class reunions, including the annual Golden Eagle luncheon, which honored members of the class of 1956 celebrating their 50-year reunion. All other alumni who graduated prior to 1956 were also invited. The luncheon was held on the stage of the Abramson Family Recital Hall in the Katzen Arts Center and attracted more than 70 attendees, many offering their memories about what campus was like when they were students. The Golden Eagles enjoyed a brief performance from current students in the Department of Performing Arts, as well as remarks from Interim President Neil Kerwin, SPA/BA ’71, and Class of 1956 reunion cochairs, Alex Sneddon, CAS/BA ’56, and Judith Boucher Sneddon, CAS/BA ’56. All attendees received a special Golden Eagle medallion, which they wore throughout the luncheon and the subsequent tour of the AU Museum at the Katzen Arts Center.
The Classes of 1981, 1996, and 2001 celebrated milestone reunions on Friday night. Led by reunion cochairs Don Knapp, SPA/BA, SPA/MPA '83, WCL/JD '87, and Susan Kearns Tusing, SOC/BA, more than 40 members of the Class of 1981 commemorated their 25-year reunion with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception at the President’s House. Across town in Dupont Circle, 65 members of the Class of 1996 gathered at the Front Page to toast their 10-year reunion with reunion cochairs Mark Sylvia, SPA/BA, and Julie Safer, SOC/BA. A little closer to campus, at Ireland’s Four Fields (formerly the 4Ps), the Class of 2001 met up with reunion cochairs Andrew Campanella, SOC/BA, and Anne Caprara, SPA/BA, and celebrated their five-year reunion. Joined by more than 75 young alumni and members of the Young Alumni Chapter, the Four Fields was bustling with AU spirit.
Saturday morning and afternoon provided time for more relaxed family fun. All of the schools and colleges offered Breakfasts with the Deans, a great time for alumni to visit with their favorite professors. Mock classes called “Classes without Quizzes” were offered both before and after lunch, and AU Archivist Susan McElrath led a historical walking tour of campus. The annual AU Picnic in the Woods-Brown Amphitheater served as the feature event of the afternoon. More than 115 alumni attended and enjoyed delicious barbecue, live music, and kids’ games under the canopy of multicolored fall trees on the brisk fall day. Interim President Kerwin and his wife, Ann, hosted nearly 70 alumni, faculty, staff, and their families for AU's first Legacy Reception at the President's House on Saturday afternoon. The reception celebrated families for whom an AU education is a tradition, including alumni whose children currently attend AU, and faculty and staff whose children are current students.
“Movers and Shakers,” the premiere event of Alumni Weekend, was held Saturday evening at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. 200 alumni and guests turned out in cocktail attire for a dinner buffet, live jazz, and a silent auction featuring dozens of prizes collected by (and whose proceeds will benefit) the Student Alumni Association. Brian Keane, SPA/BA ’89 , president of the AU Alumni Board, and Interim President Kerwin presented the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award to Tony Perkins, SOC/BA ’81, of WTTG-TV’s Fox 5 Morning News and ABC’s Good Morning America. Neal Sharma, SPA/BA ’98, former student government president in 1997-98 and CEO of Digital Evolution Group in Kansas City, received the inaugural Rising Star Award. Both Perkins and Sharma spoke of the impact AU has had and continues to have on their lives, as well as the importance of giving back to the university in any way possible. “Movers and Shakers was really a special evening,” noted Tara Sherwin, assistant director of Alumni Programs. “Between the beautiful setting, great food and music, and the presence of some true movers and shakers with our alumni award winners Neal Sharma and Tony Perkins, it was definitely a night to remember!" With strong attendance and positive reports from happy alumni, the Alumni Programs is pleased with the success of this year’s Alumni Weekend. Sherwin comments, “ We're delighted with the outcome of Alumni Weekend 2006. With such a wide range of activities, there really was something for everyone, whether their interest was academic, family fun, or hobnobbing with friends and alumni award winners. Combining Alumni Weekend with Family Weekend added an even more festive feel, as it did last year. I think both the families and alumni enjoyed sharing the experience together."
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