A year of milestones

The January-February 2004 issue of Minnesota was mailed to 250,000 and featured Nobel Peace Prize recipient Norman Borlaug (B.S. '37, M.S. '39, Ph.D. '42).

From M, summer 2004

Throughout 2003-04, the alumni association marked its 100th anniversary in many ways. In addition to its regular service to the University, the UMAA carried off several signature events and initiatives.

• Harvey Mackay (B.A. '54) headlined the kickoff event on May 29, 2003. Mackay declined a speaker fee, so the alumni association donated $25,000 to scholarships in his name.

• A homecoming auction, held the Friday night before the football game, raised more than $27,000 for scholarships.

• The Birthday Party of the Century was held January 30, 2004, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the association's founding. About 1,500 attended a noon public event, while more than 400 invited guests attended an evening reception. While the party marked the anniversary, a series of donations and initiatives will leave a lasting legacy. (See related story.)

• The January-February 2004 issue of Minnesota, the members-only alumni association magazine, was distributed to 250,000 alumni. In addition, each issue through July-August 2004 is recounting moments in UMAA history, including a 1920s fight to defend academic freedom, the association's unique work keeping records of alumni serving in World War II, and the trips to the 1961 and 1962 Rose Bowls.
• Best-selling contemporary instrumental composer Yanni Chryssomallis (B.A. '76) was the keynote speaker at the May 6 grand finale. Yanni also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the event, which concluded the centennial year by looking to the future and celebrating great U students.

• An alumni directory with online and CD-ROM components was compiled and is being used as a basis for a new online career networking system, expected to be launched over the summer.

For more on the alumni association of the Twin Cities campus, visit www.alumni.umn.edu.