Alumni Events and Activities
Alumni Lend a Hand
Cameron MacKenzie, MA ’03, is the quintessential
volunteer, active in multiple areas of the University.
He served on the GW Alumni Association’s
Board of Directors in 2004 and recently became
vice president for student alumni initiatives.
He also participates in the “Dinner with
Alumni” program, which matches alumni hosts
with student guests for dinner and conversation.
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John Moran, co-founder
of the GWAA South Florida Regional Alumni
Chapter, spends time with incoming freshmen
at the Florida Send-Off Reception.
Courtesy of John Moran
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Along with Nicole Speulda, BA ’99, and
Sarah Ladislaw, BA ’01, MA ’03, MacKenzie
hosted 15 students at an Italian restaurant in
Washington, sharing GW experiences and discussing
current occupations. “I was really impressed
with the students and I hope they found it beneficial—at
the very least, they got a free dinner out of
it,” MacKenzie smiles.
He also remains active with the Elliott School
of International Affairs as a career mentor and
a panelist, sharing knowledge gained on the job
as a consultant for The Cohen Group as well as
memories of international travels. Interested
in helping students answer the sometimes difficult
questions about life after college, MacKenzie
also serves as an informal mentor, meeting students
for a cup of coffee to discuss concerns. “I
try to offer sound advice based on my own experiences
and help connect them to other alumni who are
working in fields in which they are interested,” he
says. “Volunteering is a way for me to
say ‘thank you’ to the University.”
Volunteering on campus is just one way to stay
in touch with GW: Volunteers around the world
in cities such as Paris and San Francisco recently
sponsored networking happy hours and other events
through regional alumni chapters. For example,
Jennifer Aronson, BA ’02, wanted a more
close-knit relationship with fellow alumni in
California, so she co-founded the GWAA San Francisco
Regional Alumni Chapter. “I have made some
great contacts and enjoy helping others in the
same way,” she says. This summer, Aronson
planned an outing to a San Francisco Giants game.
About 20 alumni participated and had a lot of
fun, she reports.
In South Florida, Bryan Miller, BA ’97,
JD ’00, and John Moran, JD ’01, both
attorneys with Gunster Yoakley in West Palm Beach,
contacted the Office of Alumni Programs in 2003
to begin a regional chapter. “With GW’s
help, we did some research, and it turns out
that there are about 3,000 GW alumni here,” Moran
says. “We thought it was time that we all
benefit from a ready-made community.” GWAA’s
South Florida Regional Alumni Chapter was born,
and a reception attended by GW President Stephen
Joel Trachtenberg and more than 100 alumni kicked
off its activities.
“I feel a commitment to GW because of
the educational foundation it provided me,” Miller
says. “I benefit from volunteering at GW
by staying connected with the University and
fellow alumni, and by guiding current students;
both are great sources of knowledge and friendship.”
Getting
Involved
GW Alumni Association: Want to participate
on the board or become a member of a
committee? To learn more, please contact
Jason Miller, director of benefits and
outreach, at miller12@gwu.edu.
Regional Alumni Programs: Find out how
you can get involved in your area—for
more information, please contact Stacey
Martin, senior director of alumni programs,
at staclee@gwu.edu.
Student-Alumni Initiatives: Help the
Office of Undergraduate Admissions conduct
interviews with prospective students
through the Alumni Admissions Program.
Host a “Dinner with Alumni” event
or lecture about your career expertise.
To learn more, please contact Joe Bondi,
director of alumni constituency initiatives,
at joebondi@gwu.edu.
School-Based Volunteer Opportunities:
Find out how you can get involved with
your school. For more information, visit
the GW Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.gwu.edu and click on the link for School Alumni
Programs.
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David Bruce Smith Named Chairman
of GW Annual Fund
Julie
Woodford
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David Bruce Smith, BA ’79,
a long-time GW supporter, was named chairman
of the GW Annual Fund. Smith is a member of
the GW Board of Trustees and also serves on the
Academic Affairs Committee. In his new role,
he assists the Division of Advancement in developing
strategies to promote the GW Annual Fund to alumni,
parents, and friends.
In 2002, Smith pledged to
establish the David Bruce Smith Scholarship Fund,
which awards tuition each year to an undergraduate
student who demonstrates financial need. “GW has long been important to my family, and we are proud of its
rise to prominence,” Smith says. “The annual support of alumni, parents,
and friends makes all of GW’s many achievements possible.”
See
the World
with GW
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Last
year the
Office of
Alumni Programs
re-introduced
the Alumni
Travel Program
with great
success.
Alumni took
advantage
of exciting
and educational
trips featuring
a cruise
of the Panama
Canal, the
Tuscan region
of Chianti,
a cruise
through the
British Isles,
and a campus
abroad program
to the sunflower-carpeted
region of
Provence.
We are
again offering
travel and
education
programs at
competitive
rates. This
year’s
calendar includes:
Sicily
May
2006—9
days
Sicily is
renowned
for its natural
beauty, marvelous
architecture,
Greek and
Roman influences,
delicious
cuisine,
and friendly
people.
Ireland
June
2006—12
days
Experience
the hospitality
and traditions
of Ireland
while enjoying
sightseeing
opportunities
in two distinct
regions of
the country,
Ennis and
Kilkenny.
Portugal
July
2006—9
days
Experience
one of the
oldest nations
in Europe
through an
Alumni Campus
Abroad trip
to
Sintra, Portugal.
Russian
River Cruise
August
2006—13
days
Cruise the
Volga, Svir,
and Neva
rivers, follow
in the footsteps
of Peter
the Great,
and spend
two full
days in both
Moscow and
St. Petersburg.
Normandy
September
2006—9
days
Hear the
echoes of
great battles,
marvel at
historic
landmarks,
and absorb
the tranquility
of beautiful
villages
and landscape.
Visit Omaha
Beach, Monet’s
home in Giverny,
and Rouen,
city of a
hundred spires.
Passage
of Lewis
and Clark
October
2006—9
days
Cruise in
luxury and
leisure through
the scenic
grandeur
of Oregon
and Washington
on three
historic
rivers: the
Willamette,
Columbia,
and Snake.
Follow the
path of explorers
Lewis and
Clark on
their 1805
expedition
to reach
the Pacific.
For more
information
and pricing
of the
GW Alumni
Abroad Excursions,
please
visit www.alumni@gwu.edu or call
1-800-ALUMNI-7. |
Active
Alumni
In
2005, the
University and
the GW Alumni
Association connected
with thousands
of alumni across
the country and
around the globe
at a variety
of events, from
celebrations
of philanthropy
to presentations
of alumni honors.
Take a look on
these pages and
see the ways
alumni have reconnected
with the GW community.
A good time was had by all who attended the July 4th Celebration
on campus for 1821 Benefactors and GW Society members. Pictured
on the rooftop terrace of 1957 E Street (from left) are: Camille
Kendall, Norma Lee Funger, Lydia Funger McLain, Bill McLain, and
trustees Mort Funger, BA ’63, and Cliff Kendall, MBA ’65. |
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At the spring luncheon at the Cosmos Club, new Heritage Society members
were recognized for their planned gifts to the University. From
left to right: Charles A. Moore Jr.; Dr. Dorothy Moore, professor
emeritus; Edward Felegy, BA ’58; Ruth Perlin; and Dr. Seymour
Perlin, professor emeritus. |
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Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards gather
at The Madison Hotel: (left to right) Former GWAA President Kristen
Betts, EdD ’98; Diana B. Henriques, BA ’69; Floyd D.
Loop, MD ’62, GME ’64; Robert Ames Alden, BA ’65,
MA ’68; Charles Manatt, JD ’62, chairman board of trustees;
GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg; George W. Wellde Jr., MBA ’76;
James F. Humphreys, JD ’78; Pradman Kaul, BS ’67; Walter
M. Bortz III, EdD ’98; and Christine E. Seidman, MD ’78. |
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Members of the Class of 1955 pose for a group photo during their
50th Reunion luncheon in May at the Madison Hotel in Washington. |
Photos
by
Dave
Scavone
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Arthur
Mintz,
BBA ’66;
Bruce
J. Ammerman,
MD ’72;
Jeffrey
S. Akman,
MD ’81;
and Gary
Granoff,
BBA ’70,
JD ’73,
receive
2005
Alumni
Service
Awards
for outstanding
contributions
to the
the University. |
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Passing
the
Gavel
At
the
GW
Alumni
Association
annual
meeting
in
June,
Kristen
Betts,
EdD ’98,
passed
the
gavel
to
Chris
Young,
BBA ’80,
MA ’83,
marking
the
end
of
her
year
of
service
as
GWAA
president
and
welcoming
Young
to
the
office.
One
of
Betts’ proudest
accomplishments
during
her
tenure
was
achieving
100
percent
annual
fund
participation
by
the
Board
of
Directors.
Young
(left)
and
Betts
celebrated
the
event
with
Executive
Director
of
Alumni
Programs
Scott
Mory
(center). |
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Dave
Scavone |
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