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November 2007
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ALUMNI NEWS |
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Philanthropists Recognized at Annual President’s Circle Dinner
More than 450 friends of AU donned their favorite evening wear to attend the President’s Circle dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Washington on October 25. The 26th annual event, which recognizes AU’s most loyal and generous donors in the previous fiscal year (May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007), celebrates the philanthropic spirit that underscores AU’s mission of giving back to the community. Following an hour of mingling over cocktails, conversation, and music played by AU students, guests were welcomed to the evening’s dinner festivities by well-known host of her self-titled NPR radio talk show, Diane Rehm, who introduced President Neil Kerwin, SPA/BA ’71, as AU’s recently appointed 14th permanent president. Kerwin, who received a standing ovation from the AU donors and guests upon taking the stage, thanked the crowd for their many contributions to AU. “Today, we are a strong, confident, and influential university with national and international reach,” he said. “Few private institutions in the U.S. have come as far, as fast, and as well as American University,” said Kerwin. “Everyone in this room has helped us to get to this point.”
Two AU alumni donors were given kudos for their dedication to AU’s philanthropic efforts with special awards. Robert Pence, WCL/JD ’71, CAS/MA ’77, a former AU trustee, and his wife, Susan, were presented with the President’s Award for their exemplary service and outstanding leadership to AU. “This is the President’s Circle, a circle that has no beginning and no end. It is everlasting,” Pence reminded the audience as he accepted the award. It is not someone’s name that matters in the end, Pence said, but “what one does, and who one inspires,” said the naming donor of the Pence Law Library and the Robert and Susan Pence Endowed Fund at WCL. Former pro basketball player and coach, Kermit Washington, CAS/BA ’73, who has made more than 40 visits to Africa since his first trip in 1995, was honored with the Cyrus Ansary Award for his extensive humanitarian work in Kenya. The organization Washington founded, Project Contact Africa, now involves SIS students participating in the aid efforts as well. Alan Meltzer ’73, last year’s recipient of the Cyrus Ansary medal and Washington’s former roommate at AU, presented him with the award.
“The four years at American University were the greatest time of my life,” said Washington, noting he was offered $400,000 from one NBA team to leave school his junior year, but chose to stay at AU and graduate. -Melissa Reichley | |||||||
