Alumni Association

Alumni Board action assists during budget cuts
At its April meeting, the Alumni Board approved several actions, including the transfer of Alumni Association annual endowment fund earnings to the university for a humanities studies center being created with several other regional universities. According to the National Endowment for the Humanities, this and similar regional centers will broaden awareness of the humanities and provide "new resources for Americans to take stock of their heritage, and hold enormous potential for reinvigorating a shared sense of community and civic life The regional humanities centers will serve as reservoirs for a region's cultural heritage, gathering places for shared learning and springboards for new research." President Charles Steger says, "This is an extremely generous gesture on the part of our Alumni Association during a period of severe statewide reductions in funding for academic programs."

In other actions, the board approved a new strategic plan for the next five years. Under the plan, much of the business of the association will be conducted through seven committees: executive, chapters, constituencies, communications, legislative advocacy, awards/nominations, and student programs. Vice President for Alumni Relations Tom Tillar commended the board for its "creative approach to assisting the university during budget reductions and crafting a more efficient committee structure." Also approved was a new award for excellence in outreach to add to the association's existing 13 annual monetary awards for faculty.

Clarice Slusher Pritchard (business '27), for whom Slusher Hall is named, celebrated her 75th class anniversary at the Old Guard reunion in May. She is pictured here with Harold Showalter (agricultural engineering '29).

2002 merit and chapter scholars
Major scholarships for the following nine freshmen were awarded from the Alumni Association's scholarship endowment. In addition, 44 alumni chapters throughout the nation awarded 132 merit-based scholarships totaling $128,000.

'06 Alumni Presidential Scholars:
Jesse G. Hurdus, McLean, Va., engineering
Christopher R. Luck, Greer, S.C., physics
Katie B. Paul, Annandale, Va., biochemistry
Molly R. Tinius, Hartsville, S.C., engineering

'06 Alumni Honors Scholars:
David E. Gagnon, Orlando, Fla., engineering
Samuel W. Hammack, Red Oak, N.C., architecture
William C. Holman, Towson, Md., architecture
Robert D. Stephens, Summerville, S.C., architecture
Jennie S. Young, Fort Mill, S.C., interior design

2003 alumni travel tours
The Alumni Association offers these educational tour opportunities: Amazon River Cruise (Feb. 1-9); Young Alumni Caribbean Cruise (Feb. 2-9); St. Petersburg Escape (Mar. 6-13); Australia/New Zealand (Mar. 26-Apr. 19); Mississippi Steamboat Cruise (Mar. 31-Apr. 7); Big East Waterways of Holland - Belgium (Apr. 25-May 3); Alumni College in the Swiss Alps (May 25-June 2); Alumni College in Scotland (May 28-June 5); Rome/Riviera Cruise (June 20-July 1); Essential Europe for Young Alumni (June 9-July 3); Iceland - Legends and Landscapes (June 13-23); Alumni College in the Loire Valley (July 8-16); Alumni College in Veneto (July 14-22); Scandinavia Capitals and St. Petersburg Cruise (Aug. 1-14); China (Oct./Nov.).

Fall 2002 alumni events
For complete schedules and registration information, please go to www.VaTechAlumni.com or call the Alumni Association at 540/231-6285.

  • Oct. 10 Pre-game party at Boston College: $30 per person (includes transportation), $20 per person (party only); 4:30 pm; Pizzeria Uno, Newton Corner.
  • Oct. 18-9 (Rutgers game and traditional parade)
    Class of '52 Reunion (Old Guard induction)
    College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Homecoming
    College of Human Resources and Education Homecoming
    Highty Tighties Alumni Homecoming
    Marching Virginians Homecoming
  • Oct. 25-26 (Temple game)
    Class of '77 Reunion
    College of Architecture and Urban Studies Homecoming
    College of Engineering Homecoming
    Corps of Cadets Homecoming
  • Nov. 1-2 (Pittsburgh game)
    Classes of '62 and '67 Reunions
    College of Arts and Sciences Homecoming for Social Science Departments
    Pamplin College--Accounting and Information Systems Homecoming
  • Nov. 9 Pre-game party at Syracuse: $10 per person, $5 per child 17 and under; 2 hours prior to kickoff; Heroy Lobby, Syracuse Geology Building.
  • Nov. 20 (West Virginia game)
  • Nov. 29-30 (Univ. of Virginia game)
    Classes of '82, '83, & '84 Joint Reunion
    Classes of '92, '93, & '94 Joint Reunion
  • Dec. 7 Pre-game party at Miami: $14.25 per person (if breakfast); $15.25 per person (if lunch); 4 hours prior to kickoff; Venetia Lounge, Marriott Biscayne Bay