The Class of 1959: Setting the Standard
During this year’s reunion, the Class of 1959 presented a historic class gift. The Class of 1959 Distinguished Scholar Chair will benefi t all of Willamette’s academic programs and students, and the incredible $1.8 million raised toward an ambitious $2.5 million goal is part of the largest contribution from a 50th-reunion class in Willamette’s history.
Each year, members of the 50th reunionclass give back to the university with a charitable project of their own design. Last year’s class funded the Class of 1958 Learning Suite now in service at Ford Hall.
For more information, visit willamette.edu/alumni/reunion_giving.
Celebrating the 2009 Alumni Citation Recipients
Each year, with the assistance of the Willamette University Alumni Association board, the university recognizes several alumni whose accomplishments and service have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Many have been pathfinders intheir industry or field; others have become renowned educators or public service innovators.
We celebrate these alumni through a series of citations at Reunion Weekend. This year’s citation winners comprise quite a remarkable group.
To learn more about our 2009 citation winners and watch biographical videos that were shown at Reunion Weekend, visit willamette.edu/alumni/reunion.
2009 Citation Award Winners
Bill Long ’59 Distinguished Alumni Citation Area: Business
Gary L. Beck ’64 Distinguished Alumni Citation Area: Science
Laurie Monnes Anderson ’68 Distinguished Alumni Citation Area: Public Service
Jim Booth ’64 Lestle J. Sparks Medallion Area: Lifetime Service
Joan McNamara ‘59 Lestle J. Sparks Medallion Area: Lifetime Service
Julie (Trott) Kennedy ’99 Young Alumni Leadership Award Areas: Education and Service
We Need Your Input
Alumni citations begin as nominations submitted by alumni. If you know of someone who deserves recognition, please let us know. Submissions are open until Feb. 15. To learn more about the program and download a nomination form, visit willamette.edu/alumni/recognition.
Distinguished Alumni CitationThe Distinguished Alumni Citation honors graduates who, in professional achievement and service to their communities, reflect the highest ideals of Willamette University.
Lestle J. Sparks MedallionThe Lestle J. Sparks Medallion honors graduates whose lifetime loyalty and service to Willamette University reflects the ideals of one of Willamette’s most devoted alumni, Lestle J. Sparks ’19.
Young Alumni Leadership AwardThe Young Alumni Leadership Award is given to recent graduates who have already made noteworthy contributions to their communities, their industries or their causes.
With Special Thanks: Jim Booth '64
Everyone knows Jim Booth.
He’s regarded as Mr. Willamette for the current generation, just as “Buzz” Yocom was before him. He’s a humble icon who shows us that the values we cherish at this university — integrity, openness and honesty, among others — don’t reside in the buildings, the yearbooks or the grass of the Quad.
They reside in the people.
As of the printing of this edition of The Scene, Jim has retired from his day to day duties in the Office of Alumni Relations (don’t jump out of the seatquite yet — he’s still with us part-time).
He is still the man at the helm of the alumni travel program, and we’re trying desperately to get him to upload his enormous mental logbook of facts, people and useful knowledge so that the rest of us can use it.
As we take a moment to acknowledge Jim and his many contributions to the university over the years, let us take another lesson or two from his career. A lot is changing here at Willamette — in remarkable and energizing ways — but Jim goes to show that many things are also worth holding onto.
Here’s to Jim Booth ’64. Thanks for what you’ve done for us.
— The Office of Alumni Relations and Friends at Willamette University
Travel Program 2010: Your Global Access
Jim Booth ‘64 continues to manage the travel program, which includes a full, eight-trip schedule for the coming year. The first trip to Costa Rica begins in mid-February and is filling up — if you’ve thought about seeing the world, now is the time.
For more information, visit the travel program website at willamette.edu/alumni/travel. You can also reach Jim at jbooth@willamette.edu.
Career Network Fall Developments
September was a crucial month for the Career Network. At the same time that many of our career volunteers fi nished the largest new-graduate outreach effort we’ve ever put together, an important new resource, JobCat, came online. Add to that a series of webinars for graduates and regional receptions across the country, and you’re looking at a full semester.
Volunteer Outreach
We were thrilled that 42 career advisors and volunteers contributed this summer by reaching out to 392 recent graduates from the class of 2009. Their goal was to make personal contacts via phone or written note and to offer resources and reassurance to those alumni who might need the Career Network the most. Our volunteers performed fabulously, and we are grateful for the assistance they provided (and continue to provide) to recent alumni and their parents.
JobCat
A collaborative effort between undergraduate Career Services (whose staff works with current students) and the alumni relations Career Network (whose staff and volunteers work with alumni), JobCat is a new posting system that manages the most useful job opportunities available to students and alumni.
JobCat is also the place where alumni can post job openings. It is now accessible through The Compass (willamettealumni.com) — just log in and navigate to the Career Network page. Based on your role (student or alumnus), you’ll have different options available when you log in.
Regional Receptions
Regional alumni receptions took place Oct. 5 in six locations around the western U.S. Our alumni in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Berkeley and Denver came together to network, swap college stories and make connections with those members of the Willamette community who live close to them. The casual receptions were organizedto facilitate several benefits, including new professional contacts, shared working knowledge and support. Alumni hosts or alumni relations staff members were present at all events to answer questions, and attendees received specifics on how the Career Network functions. Another reception took place in late September in Washington, D.C. Atkinson Graduate School of Management Dean Debra Ringold, holder of the JELD-WEN Chair in Free Enterprise, attended the event alongside alumni and other staff. The reception was open to alumni of all of Willamette’s schools.
Job Search 2.0 Webinars
The webinars continued this September as the Career Network offered live sessions to aid in the job search/advancement process. Topics included tapping into the hidden job market and ways to market a liberal arts degree.
Keep Up on the Web
To stay updated on Career Network events, news and online tools, bookmark willamette.edu/alumni/career_network.
Reunion in Pictures
One might have expected that the economy would impact reunion this year, but nobody could tell by looking at the guest list. More than 450 alumni attended Reunion Weekend 2009, and all of the classes that were celebrated — 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989 and 1999 — took part in an expanded schedule with new activities, increased current student involvement and extensive class committee initiatives and planning.
Unusually for Reunion Weekend, there was no home football game this year — but attendees used the time as an opportunity to celebrate alumni vintners at the inaugural Cheers to Willamette event and to view the first ever class art show, courtesy of the Class of 1959.
We are grateful for the good work of each reunion class committee and the many alumni who came back to celebrate with us. You helped make this a very special event.
