November 2006

ALUMNI NEWS

Interim President Kerwin '71, Professor Said, Stuart Bernstein '60, and Gary Abramson '68   photo by Jeff Watts

Loyal Alumni Donors Honored at 25th Annual President's Circle Dinner

Nearly 400 stunning tuxedo- or evening gown-wearing AU donors and friends mingled at the Fairmont Hotel’s Ballroom on October 19 to celebrate the university’s 25th annual President's Circle Dinner. The prestigious event, a veritable “Who’s Who at AU,” is held each autumn to thank those donors who made gifts of $1,000 or more to the university in the previous fiscal year. This year, the focus was on paying tribute to alumni who have shown their alma mater tremendous generosity consistently for many years.

Robyn Rafferty Mathias '64, '92   photo by Jeff Watts

Interim President Neil Kerwin, SPA/BA ’71, and Board of Trustees Chair Gary Abramson, SPA/BA ’68, proudly presented awards to several dedicated donors.

Longtime elementary school principal Robyn Rafferty Mathias, CAS/BA ’64, WCL/JD ’92, was bestowed with the 2006 President’s Circle Award in honor of her longstanding service, financial support, and leadership to AU.

Cyrus Ansary Award winner Alan Meltzer '73    photo by Jeff Watts

Businessman Alan Meltzer, who attended the School of Public Affairs in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was awarded the Cyrus Ansary Award for his professional accomplishments, community service, and unwavering support of AU Athletics, particularly wrestling and crew.

Former Ambassador to Denmark, Stuart Bernstein, Kogod/BS ’60, was honored as one of the President’s Circle founding members. Bernstein and his wife Wilma Estrin Bernstein, CAS/BA ’60, were among of 19 loyal AU donors to be honored for giving $1,000 or more to the university consecutively for 25 years, since 1981. Other silver anniversary awardees on hand who stood to applause included:

• Kogod Faculty Emeritus Don Brenner and his wife, Gail;
• Bob Cowdrey, SPA/BA '71, and his wife, Elizabeth;
• Milton Goldman, CAS/BA ’61;
• SPA faculty emeritus and former AU provost and VP for academic affairs from 1980 to 1993, Milton Greenberg, and his wife Sonia;
• Longtime AU VP of Finance Don Myers;
• Susan and Robert Pence, WCL/JD ’71, CAS/MA ’97, for whom the Washington College of Law’s Pence Library is named; and
• George Whitehouse, KSB/BS '69, and his wife Kathy

SIS Professor Abdul Aziz Said, received a standing ovation for teaching at AU for a whopping 50 years.

In addition to the awards and people-watching, there was no shortage of entertainment. Following a delicious dinner underscored by AU’s student Jazz Ensemble, guests were treated later in the evening to a few songs from, On a Sensual Note, AU’s only all-male a cappella group.

More than $125.5 million has been raised toward the $200 million goal of the AnewAU campaign, whose priorities include new scholarships, endowments, campus life initiatives, and new homes for SIS and SOC - and an expansion for Kogod.

To learn more or join the President’s Circle in 2007, visit www.giving.american.edu or contact the Office of Development at 202-885-5900 or anewau@american.edu.

-Melissa Reichley

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