2017
ALUMNI
Weekend September 15–17 #wuaw17
Join Us Bearcat
It's Your Alumni Weekend!
Dear Bearcat,
I hope you will take this opportunity to register and join us for Alumni Weekend 2017! These joyous events are an opportunity to connect with Willamette friends, relive college memories and get a firsthand look at what is happening on campus today. The weekend is a celebration of your Willamette connections and your rich life experiences since you walked across the commencement stage. The weekend kicks off Friday with a VIP Willamette Valley wine tour, an update about Greek life, a Waller Hall 150th birthday archival exhibit and more. Friday evening concludes with the Bearcat Happy Hour, followed by the Alumni Awards dinner and presentation. Saturday is filled with various events showcasing Willamette’s amazing programs and people. Start the day with an update about the university by President Steve Thorsett. By midday, head to McCulloch Stadium for a tailgate and BBQ before cheering on the Bearcat Football team as it takes on Cal Lutheran. Saturday night rolls forward with an all-class reception and the late night Winning Hand Casino celebration and dance. This is certain to become a long standing tradition! Sunday celebrates the Class of 1967 in their 50th year and the members of the Half Century Club. All alumni are welcome to attend the Half Century Club Brunch and Class of 1967 Welcome. Stick around campus for Mariachi Vargas with Ballet Folklórico Tlanese presented by the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem. I look forward to seeing you this September! Go Bearcats!
Adam DuVander ‘01 President, Alumni Board of Directors
#wuaw17
ALUMNI WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 15–17, 2017
3
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FRIDAY SEPT. 15 *Schedule subject to change. Complete list of locations will be provided in final program available at check-in. #wuaw17
Noon – 4:30 p.m. VIP Willamette Valley Wine Tour
11 a.m. – Noon Martha Springer Garden Tour
All Day Student for a Day This exciting opportunity to attend class alongside current students gives you a snapshot of Willamette’s academic life today. A complete schedule of class offerings and locations will be available at check-in.
4
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
Tour Willamette’s “secret” garden! The one-acre site is divided into 12 smaller gardens, an alpine rock garden and various theme borders.
Noon – 2 p.m. Rediscover Salem Lunch Take a leisurely stroll downtown, where the food scene has blossomed in recent years, for lunch at one of Salem’s many outstanding eateries.
Enjoy wine tasting at three alumniowned wineries — Coelho Winery, Samuel Robert Winery and August Cellars — in the beautiful Eola Amity Hills wine country. Chartered bus transportation is provided from campus. Space is limited — register today!
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Residence Life Alumni Reception
Visit familiar spots and see the many new and exciting spaces on campus. The tour is led by an Office of Admission student tour guide.
Oregon’s third largest art museum celebrates the creativity of the human spirit as it is reflected in the art of different cultures, places and times. Join us for the Crow’s Shadow exhibition, organized by the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in partnership with the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts. The exhibition chronicles the history of Crow’s Shadow over the past 25 years and its emergence as an important indigenous printmaking atelier in Pendleton, Oregon. Some 60 prints drawn from the Crow’s Shadow Print Archive highlight themes of landscape, abstraction, narrative, portraiture, social critique and humor.
Join current and former student staff of Residence Life at an open house event. Share memories of being a resident assistant or community mentor, and learn about updates in the residential experience and recent residence hall renovations.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Greek Meet and Greet Members of Willamette’s Greek organizations invite their alumni to stop in for informal tours and conversation about Greek life. All nine current Greek organizations will be represented: ∙∙ Alpha Phi ∙∙ Alpha Chi Omega ∙∙ Delta Gamma ∙∙ Pi Beta Phi ∙∙ Beta Theta Pi ∙∙ Kappa Sigma ∙∙ Phi Delta Theta ∙∙ Sigma Alpha Epsilon ∙∙ Sigma Chi
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Greek Life Reception Join alumni, current students and staff in a celebration of Willamette’s renewed commitment to Greek life. This casual gathering will provide an update on how Willamette is supporting Greek life on campus, and give you a chance to reconnect with Greek brothers and sisters, classmates and friends.
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Waller Hall’s 150th Birthday Celebration and Archival Exhibit Enjoy birthday cake in the president’s office while you view historical photos of Waller Hall.
150 Years!
a lu m ni.w illa m e t te.e d u /aw17
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Hallie Ford Museum of Art Tour
R EG I S TER NOW!
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Campus Walking Tour
5
4 p.m. Chemistry Department Celebrates More Than a Century
Join current and emeriti faculty, Dave Goodney, Norm Hudak, Kiki Brink and Frances Chapple, as well as Mary Payton (widow of Professor Art Payton), to celebrate chemistry then and now. Featured alumni will speak about their careers in a panel discussion followed by a reception, tour of the Olin Science Center and an opportunity to meet current chemistry students. A special dinner for Chemistry alumni, emeriti and current faculty will complete the evening. ∙∙ Panel: 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ∙∙ Tour/Reception: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ∙∙ Dinner: 6:30 p.m.
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Bearcat Happy Hour Kick off your first night back on campus by connecting with your classmates and other alumni at the Bearcat Happy Hour, an event filled with fabulous fare, beer and wine. Also meet members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
6
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Alumni Awards Presentation and Dinner Join the Willamette University Alumni Association Board of Directors for dinner and to honor alumni receiving the Sparks Medallion, Distinguished Alumni Citation and the Young Alumni Leadership Award for 2017. See Award Recipients on page 12.
9 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Class of ‘67
Hospitality Suite
Members of the Class of 1967 are invited to join an exclusive hospitality suite at The Grand Hotel.
*Schedule subject to change. Complete list of locations will be provided in final program available at check-in. #wuaw17
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Conversation and Reception with President Steve Thorsett
9 a.m. Alumni Swim Meet Are you a former swim team athlete? Come show off your stuff and compete against current students with former teammates. Warm-up starts at 8:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. All-Class Memorial Service Gather with Willamette’s Chaplains Karen Wood and Gary Ellison for a time of remembrance to pay respects
11 a.m. – Noon Campus Walking Tour Visit familiar spots and see the many new and exciting spaces on campus. Tour led by an Office of Admission student tour guide.
11 a.m. – Noon Hallie Ford Museum of Art Tour Oregon’s third largest art museum celebrates the creativity of the human spirit as it is reflected in the art of different cultures, places and times. Join us for the Crow’s Shadow exhibition organized by the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in partnership with the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts. The
exhibition chronicles the history of Crow’s Shadow over the past 25 years and its emergence as an important indigenous printmaking atelier in Pendleton, Oregon. Some 60 prints drawn from the Crow’s Shadow Print Archive highlight themes of landscape, abstraction, narrative, portraiture, social critique and humor.
11 a.m. – Noon Buzz ‘49 and Libby Yocom Memorial Bench Dedication Join alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends for the official dedication of a memorial bench named for Richard “Buzz” Yocom ‘49 and Elizabeth “Libby” Yocom in recognition of their commitment and loyal service to Willamette University.
ALUMNI WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 15–17, 2017
a lu m ni.w illa m e t te.e d u /aw17
Join Willamette’s 25th president, Steve Thorsett, for a conversation about the current and future state of the university. The conversation will be followed by a reception.
to members of our community who have passed on, with a special tribute to those in a reunion year.
R EG I S TER NOW!
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES SATURDAY SEPT. 16
7
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Zena Forest Tour Take a guided tour of 305 acres of ecologically diverse and historically significant land owned by Willamette and managed by WU’s Sustainability Institute. Space is limited — register today!
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Immersive Internships
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bearcat Tailgate and BBQ Join your fellow Bearcat fans and get pumped up for the big game with a BBQ in the end zone at McCulloch Stadium.
1 p.m. Alumni Homecoming Game: Bearcat Football v. Cal Lutheran Show off your best Willamette gear and cheer on the Bearcats as they take on the Kingsmen.
8
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
Willamette students increasingly benefit from an array of experiential learning opportunities available through specially crafted internship programs. The Mark O. Hatfield Library’s Digital Production Lab and Archives and Special Collections partner to provide distinctive experiences whereby students extend classroom learning into professional spaces. This session explores the ways in which students work with unique materials from the Archives and with current technology from the Digital Production Lab to transform archival research, while learning valuable skills that transfer after graduation. Come learn about student accomplishments, from preparing collections for researchers to creating podcasts to curating traditional and virtual exhibits!
2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. The Evolution of Willamette’s Architectural and Natural Landscape Curious to know how Willamette’s campus evolved from a single building in a field to the beautiful setting we appreciate today? Come hear public historian Dr. William F. Willingham ’66 as he shares information gathered while researching Willamette’s architectural and natural landscape for his forthcoming book on the subject.
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Walking Tour: Willamette’s Architectural History Enjoy a campus tour highlighting Willamette architecture by Dr. William F. Willingham ‘66.
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. All-Class Social and Class Photo
8:30 p.m. – Midnight Winning Hand Casino Night Celebration & Dance
Keep the good times rolling under the Bearcat tent! Continue to catch up with friends and enjoy music, dancing, fun photo opportunities, gaming tables, vintage arcade games and prizes. Beer, wine, soft drinks and late-night snacks will be served.
a lu m ni.w illa m e t te.e d u /aw17
The evening’s celebration begins with a cocktail, great hors d’oeuvres and time to mingle with fellow Bearcats. Entertainment will be provided by student musicians led by Professor Wallace Long. Individual reunion class photos will be taken — be on time so not to miss your photo!
R EG I S TER NOW!
Saturday Night Experience* 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Reunion Dinners
Catch up with classmates and enjoy great food and special programs that highlight your class stories and achievements, all planned by your reunion committee.
*Advance registration required
Class of ‘67
50th Reunion Events
Join your classmates in capturing this special milestone! Class Photo
5:30 p.m.
Reunion Reception
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Dinner and program
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
ALUMNI WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 15–17, 2017
9
While the faces have changed over the years, the spirit of tradition and fun continues for the Half Century Club. 10
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
CELEBRATING THE 50TH REUNION AND HALF CENTURY CLUB #wuaw17
*Schedule subject to change. Complete list of locations will be provided in final program available at check-in.
2 – 4 p.m. Mariachi Vargas with Ballet Folklórico Tlanese
Celebrate members of the Half Century Club and honor the Class of 1967 during a served brunch. Club members will welcome the Class of 1967 as they present themselves for induction into Club ranks. Then, visit with President Steve Thorsett and Carol Long, senior vice president for academic and student affairs, to learn how Willamette operates today. This is an event you don’t want to miss.
For over half a century, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán has been considered the finest mariachi in the world. The group never fails to engage its audience to the maximum, eliciting spontaneous gritos, sing-alongs, and one ovation after another with its heart-wrenching vocals and virtuosic instrumentals. Combined with traditional Mexican dance by Salem-founded Ballet Folklórico Tlanese it’s sure to be a truly special cultural experience of traditional Mexican music and dance!
Noon – 1 p.m. Bus Tour of Campus Relax and receive a bus tour of campus led by Mike Bennett ‘70, tour guide extraordinaire!
a lu m ni.w illa m e t te.e d u /aw17
10:00 a.m. – Noon Half Century Club Brunch and Class of 1967 Welcome
R EG I S TER NOW!
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES SUNDAY SEPT. 17
Special pricing for Willamette alumni $20 per person. presented by the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem
Space is limited — register today!
ALUMNI WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 15–17, 2017
11
2017 ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES The 2017 Alumni Award honorees will be presented on Friday evening of Alumni Reunion Weekend.
LESTLE J. SPARKS MEDALLION The Sparks Medallion recognizes graduates whose lifetime loyalty and service to Willamette reflect the ideals of one of the university’s most devoted alumni, Lestle J. Sparks, Class of 1919.
Mark Hoyt JD’92 Mark Hoyt combines service to the legal profession with a commitment to the community of Salem and Willamette University. A partner in the Salem law
12
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
firm of Sherman, Sherman, Johnnie & Hoyt, LLP., he represents businesses and individuals in all aspects of complex civil litigation, land development and construction. Beyond his law office, Hoyt is an active volunteer including as a member of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Leadership Council, as past-president of the Marion County Bar Association, the Abiqua School Foundation and Illahe Hills Country Club, and as chair-elect of the MidWillamette Valley Strategic Economic Development Corporation. Hoyt has served on the Willamette University Law Board of Visitors since 2003 and is a member of the college’s Leadership Cabinet. An engaged student while at Willamette Law — he served on Law Review, participated in Moot Court and graduated cum laude — Hoyt continues
to be an active and dedicated alumnus. He participates in campus events, frequently speaks with students about career opportunities and served as an adjunct professor for the Business Law Clinic.
Colonel John Rogers ’63 Colonel John Rogers is president of the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, established by his mother in 1985. Under his leadership, the foundation has made many impactful gifts to Willamette, most notably the endowment of the Science Collaborative Research
In 1998 Willamette honored Col. Rogers with an Alumni Citation for his philanthropic and community work.
Jan Bennetts JD’92 Jan Bennetts is a tireless advocate for the people of Ada County, Idaho, and for crime victims.
In 2014, after 20 years of service as a deputy prosecuting attorney, Bennetts became the first woman to hold the post of prosecuting attorney in the 150 years since Ada County’s establishment. Throughout her career, she has handled a wide variety of cases in Ada County courtrooms, including homicide, sexual assault and domestic violence. As a result, her interest in victim services crystallized into a passion. Bennetts was an instrumental leader in the creation of Ada County’s FACES of Hope Victim Center, the Domestic Violence Unit in the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ada County Domestic Violence Court. She has been recognized for her service by organizations as varied as the National District Attorneys Association, the Idaho Victim
Witness Association and the Idaho Business Review.
Jay Desai MBA’89 Jay P. Desai completed his Willamette MBA in 1989 and returned home to India to work with Arthur Andersen & Co (Andersen Consulting) in Mumbai. In 1994, as India’s economy started liberalising, Desai founded Universal Consulting, where he is currently managing director, with capital of just $1,500. Twenty-three years later, UC is a well-established Indian strategy consulting firm, ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND 2017
a lu m ni.w illa m e t te.e d u /aw17
During his 26-year career as a U.S. Air Force pilot, Col. Rogers received several honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. Retired from the military since 1989, Col. Rogers now owns and is an active pilot with Sky Trek Aviation, which facilitates corporate aircraft management, charter flights and aircraft sales.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI CITATION The Distinguished Alumni Citation recognizes Willamette graduates who, in professional achievement and service to their communities, represent the university in an exemplary manner by embodying its highest ideals as exemplified in its motto “Not Unto Ourselves Alone Are We Born.”
R EG I S TER NOW!
Program (now called the Mary Stuart Rogers Fellow Program), major support for the Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center and the creation of the Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship program.
13
2017 ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES
Business School, a Master of Science in biology from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in life sciences from the University of Mumbai.
Continued from p.12
having completed 900-plus projects for 350 clients. Triggered by the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, Desai authored a book titled “Accountability: Angst, Awareness, Action” on India’s complex governance systems. As a result, Harvard University’s South Asia Initiative organized a “Best of Harvard in India” roundtable series on “Accountability & Governance.” Desai also recently spoke about accountability at a TEDx conference in Mumbai. Desai has completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard 14
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
Trina Roy ’88 Trina Roy is a senior software engineer at Pixar Animation Studios in Seattle. Throughout her career, she has helped bring to life characters and special effects in major films such as “Shrek,” the “Harry Potter” series, “The Dark Knight” and “Inception.”
After earning her degree at Willamette, Roy studied virtual reality and scientific visualization at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned a Master of Science in computer science. Roy has made exemplary contributions to the film industry, particularly as a woman in a historically maledominated industry. She was one of only a few women serving on the committee for the 2016 Scientific and Technical Awards of the Oscars. She mentors students through Skype in the Classroom and, at the GeekGirlCon conference in Seattle in 2016, Roy served on a five-member panel called “The Women of Pixar” to encourage young women to pursue careers in gaming, engineering and animation.
Robert “Rob” Sassor ’02 Rob Sassor is passionate about the environment, social justice and creative expression, and where those fields interconnect. After earning his English degree at Willamette, Sassor moved to Washington, D.C., where he conducted research and was a ghostwriter for social and environmental causes, contributing to more than 150 published works and two books. Sassor went on to assess the efficacy of positive versus negative messages in communicating and fundraising for nature conservation, which culminated in a Master’s in
Sassor also worked with the Jane Goodall Institute in western Tanzania, where he led a team of eight to develop and later implement parts of the conservation plan for the greater Gombe ecosystem and its famous chimpanzees.
Reyna Lopez ’09 Reyna Lopez works to advance and empower the Latino community in Oregon’s political process. Currently federal campaigns director at Family Forward
Oregon, this politics graduate focuses on federal budget threats to safety net programs such as Medicaid, CHIP and SNAP. Previously, she was interim director of Fair Shot for All Oregon, a coalition of groups tackling economic, racial and gender injustice through political action, and civic engagement director for the Causa Oregon immigrant rights organization. At Causa Oregon, she helped secure victories in the legislature with measures ensuring tuition equity and access to driver’s cards for undocumented workers. For this latter project, she was director of the field effort for Oregon’s first bilingual and bicultural ballot measure.
from the American Association of Immigration Lawyers.
a lu m ni.w illa m e t te.e d u /aw17
Now a senior director in the Washington, D.C., office of Metropolitan Group — the Portland-based strategic and creative social change agency — Sassor helps clients such as NASA Earth Science Division, the American Public Health Association and the national Creating Connection initiative deepen their impact through direct support and capacity-building efforts.
YOUNG ALUMNI LEADERSHIP AWARD The Young Alumni Leadership Award recognizes graduates from the past 10 years for outstanding leadership in their vocation, community service and service to the university.
R EG I S TER NOW!
Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge.
Lopez has studied at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, France, and in 2016 she received the Immigrant Advocacy Award ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND 2017
15
REUNITING WHILE GIVING BACK As you join your classmates to mark a post-collegiate milestone, we hope you will be inspired to support the Willamette Annual Fund. Your gift to the Annual Fund will support the areas of greatest need, including scholarship support. While a student, you enjoyed an experience provided, in part, by those who came before you. Now, we ask you, as an alum, to continue the tradition of giving back by providing today’s scholars access to an exceptional Willamette education. Another wonderful way to honor your reunion milestone and form a lasting legacy is through the creation of a bequest, annuity or trust. If you have already included Willamette in your estate plans, please let us know so that we may welcome you as a member of the R.A. Booth Society.
Invest in Willamette students by making your gift today! willamette.edu/go/give 503-370-6965 16
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
R EG I S TER NOW!
seeing you! ALUMNI WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 15–17, 2017
a lu m ni.w illa m e t te.e d u /aw17
Lforwoaordkitong
17
ACCOMMODATIONS A limited block of special-rate rooms have been reserved at the following hotels. Contact hotels directly for further information and reservations. Note that these special rates are for Alumni Reunion Weekend only.
LOCAL HOTELS
18
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
The Grand Hotel Downtown Salem
Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn
201 Liberty Street SE Salem, OR 97301 503-540-7800 Special Alumni Reunion Weekend rate: $149/night, plus tax
3125 Ryan Drive SE Salem, OR 97301 1-800-780-7234 Special Alumni Reunion Weekend rate: $130/night, plus tax
Rate includes breakfast, wi-fi access and free parking.
Rate includes breakfast, wi-fi access and free parking.
Group code: Willamette Reunion
Group code: Willamette Alumni
Rate offered through August 15, 2017
Rate offered through July 20, 2017
GREAT! HOW DO I SIGN UP? ONLINE REGISTRATION:
TO REGISTER BY MAIL:
DEADLINE: AUGUST 25
Willamette University Office of Alumni Engagement 900 State Street Salem, Oregon 97301
Register online by visiting: alumni.willamette.edu/aw17 Registrations received after August 25 will incur an additional charge of $30.
Complete the enclosed form and mail to:
We cannot guarantee Friday or Saturday evening event reservations received after August 25.
CCHECK-IN HOURS AND LOCATION Friday, Sept. 15
Saturday, Sept. 16
Sunday, Sept. 17
8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Jackson Plaza (outside Hatfield Library)
8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Jackson Plaza (outside Hatfield Library)
9 a.m. – Noon Jackson Plaza (outside Hatfield Library)
8:30 p.m. – Midnight Bearcat Tent, Quad
DISCLAIMERS: Please keep in mind that there are no activities specifically planned for children and no childcare will be available on campus. Children under 18 must be escorted and supervised at all times by a parent, legal guardian or other authorized adult. It is the responsibility of the parents, legal guardians or other authorized adult to make appropriate off-campus arrangements if children cannot be accompanied at all times while on campus. We strongly encourage parents to consider making this your adult weekend away and bringing children in October for Willamette’s Family Weekend and Homecoming. This Willamette University event is being photographed, video recorded or both. By attending, you consent to this recording and authorize Willamette University and its employees and agents to use your name, photograph, voice or other likeness for purposes related to the university’s mission, including but not limited to marketing, publicity, website and other social, print, electronic and broadcast media. For questions or concerns, please contact: alumni@willamette.edu. REFUND POLICY: Cancellations will be accepted with full refunds, minus a $15 nonrefundable cancellation fee, until Sept. 5. No refunds will be offered after Sept. 5.
ALUMNI WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 15–17, 2017
19
Alumni Engagement 900 State Street Salem, Oregon 97301 Return Service Requested
Join your classmates for a memorable
Alumni
Reunekieonnd We