The 75th annual Alumni Achievement Awards, musical performances by Chuck Brown and Robert Randolph and the Family Band, breakfast with the deans, a political brunch featuring former White House press secretaries Dana Perino and Mike McCurry, and many more events are planned for a four-day-long celebration for Colonials alumni.
“With more than 50 events, Alumni Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for the entire GW community—faculty, students, alumni and friends—to come together, have fun, and explore all the special things that GW has to offer,” said Karen White, senior director of Alumni Relations.
The first events of the weekend, on Thursday night, Sept. 15, include a multicultural alumni networking event and the 75th annual Alumni Achievement Awards. The Alumni Achievement Award is the highest award given annually to alumni by the university and the GW Alumni Association to celebrate the professional achievements of distinguished graduates.
The 2011 winners include Roslyn Brock, M.S. '89, chairman of the National Board of Directors for the NAACP and vice president of advocacy and government relations for Bon Secours Health System, Inc.; Bruce Sewell, J.D. '86, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Apple, Inc.; Leonard Wartofsky, B.S. '59, M.S. '61, M.D. '64, M.P.H. '95, chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Washington Hospital Center; Mary Margaret Whipple, M.A. '69, Virginia state senator, representing the 31st District; and Sherri Rose, B.S. '05, National Science Foundation mathematical sciences postdoctoral research fellow and author. Dr. Rose is the Recent Alumni Achievement Award winner.
Friday night’s main event will be a concert in University Yard by D.C.’s own Chuck Brown, as well as Robert Randolph and the Family Band. The concert is free to Alumni Weekend ticket holders.
Saturday events include a breakfast with deans from schools across GW, tours of campus and Thurston Hall, an alumni soccer scrimmage and the Taste of GW, which features food from a variety restaurants owned and operated by alumni.
Saturday will also feature “Class without Quizzes,” a set of lectures by GW faculty members and deans on topics like population growth and how it will affect the world, and how technology and engineering can help improve the nation’s economy.
A variety of affinity groups—including athletic alumni, multicultural alumni, LGBT alumni and fraternities/sororities—will also hold events during the weekend. Also scheduled are the University Honors Program’s 20th anniversary celebration, the Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary luncheon for former volunteers, an all-athletic reunion for former varsity letter-winners and coaches and class reunion events for the classes of 1961, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006.
A special 80s-themed party on Saturday evening is planned for all alumni who graduated from GW during the 1980s. Also on Saturday evening, the Black Alumni Association will host a celebration and give Impact Awards to three GW alumni for their professional and personal achievements.
A highlight of Sunday morning’s activities will be “A Discussion on Partisan Civility,” a brunch and discussion with Dana Perino, White House press secretary for President George W. Bush, and Mike McCurry, White House press secretary for Bill Clinton. Ms. Perino and Mr. McCurry will discuss how the United States can move beyond rhetoric and stalemate to address national challenges. The event will be moderated by Frank Fahrenkopf, former RNC chairman and current Graduate School of Political Management council member.
The Columbian Women, one of the university’s oldest alumni groups, will also host a scholarship lunch on Sunday. All alumni, faculty and current students are invited to the lunch to honor 2011-12 scholarship recipients.
“Alumni Weekend is a growing tradition for many of our alumni who take part in this annual event as a way to stay connected with the university and each other. So we always encourage all Colonials to return, reconnect, and reminisce, since that's an important part of the Alumni Weekend experience,” Ms. White said.