Greetings,
With the new millennium upon us (at least I’ve bought into it, I want to begin by sharing some of the campus news from Gustavus:
Campus News:
The 1999-2000 academic year opened with a record enrollment of 2,492 full-time students (compared with the previous record of 2,474 set last year), including 660 first-year students. Students returned to the new Campus Center housing the Evelyn Young Dining Room, the new BookMark, post office, health service, and printing service. Renovation of the old dining service building will continue with expected completion in February. The renovation project will provide office space for student organizations, Office of Admission, specialty dining areas, Dean of Students office, and a faculty and staff center. Summer construction also included the landscaping of parking lots on the north end of campus. The landscaping provides a welcoming appearance to the College and helps breakup the "frozen tundra" between Norelius Hall and the Campus Center.
Gustavus Adolphus College Ranked Among the Best Liberal Arts Colleges
Gustavus Adolphus College is once again ranked among the best of all national liberal arts colleges in U.S. News and World Report's 13th annual "America's Best Colleges" rankings. Gustavus is again in the top 80 of the overall quality listings for national liberal arts colleges. Ranked again in the second tier in the national liberal arts college category, Gustavus is one of only two Minnesota colleges included in the 38-college tier two listing and one of four Minnesota colleges ranked in the top 80. Gustavus is also included in the Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine list of "100 great values" among the nation's 1,600 private schools. The "Private Colleges Worth the Price" article appears in the September 1999 magazine. Gustavus is one of only four Minnesota colleges named a Top 100 Value in Private Colleges. The list is based on academic and financial measures.
Some exciting changes are in store for class reunions. Starting next year, all class reunions, except for the 50-Year Club and the 50th Anniversary Class will be held in the fall at Homecoming, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September 29 & 30, 2000. Classes celebrating reunions at Homecoming will include ’55, ’60, ’65, ’70, ’75, ’80, ’85, ’90 & ’95. Reunion dates for the 50-Year Club and the Class of 1950 are May 26 & 27, 2000, Commencement Weekend.
Alumni Chapters will be meeting again this year so mark your calendars today: Washington, DC, November 5; Boston, November 6; Chicago, December 11; Atlanta, January 31; Marco Island, February 5; Tucson, February 7; Phoenix, February 8; Sun City, February 9; Seattle, March 3; Bay Area, March 4; Los Angeles, March 5; San Diego, March 6; Denver, March 7.
ALUMNILLENNIUM 2000 - The Gustavus Artist Series -- For 30 years, the Artist Series has brought world-class artists to campus for performances, exhibitions and residencies. This year the tables turn as the Series features and celebrates the accomplishments of our alumni artists as they enter the new millennium, ALUMNILLENNIUM 2000. In February; a concert by Neal Hagberg ’81 and Leandra Peak ’83 on February 19; pianist Stephen Carlson ’92 on March 4; and Peter Krause ’87, better known as Casey McCall on ABC's SPORTS NIGHT, will be in residency in April. Other events may be scheduled through the fall of 2000 as well. Ticket information and complete schedule will be posted to the Fine Arts Calendar on the Gustavus website.
SMARTERsource is a new Web-based resume service exclusively for the students and alumni of Minnesota Private Colleges. The site is a job-searching tool for current students seeking internships or part-time employment, new or recent graduates launching a career, or alumni seeking new positions or career changes. The service lists resumes in more than a dozen categories. Check out this site at www.mn-colleges.org.
As we look forward to the New Year, century, and millennium, it is exciting to ponder the future…what it might bring to you, friends, and family. However, I think it is also fun to take a look back. The following info might jog some memories from our senior year of 1978-79 at Gustavus:
Top 10 Albums
The Gustavus Alumni Office would appreciate our assistance in locating the following fellow classmates. Feel free to contact the Alumni Office (addresses below) with any information…
William C. Allen
William Babcock
Sara Barnes
Felipe Bernstein
Nancy Borchard
Paul R. Brown
Blanche Skar Cathcart
Thabo Chipane
Nancy Corcoran
Robert Dehnke
Stephen Dingler
Jane Dosser
Steve Ellingson
Laurenbrook Swanson Ellingson
Marcia Friedrick
Daniel Graham
Mark Halvorson
Kevin Johansen
Dave Kunz
Steven M. Larson
Thomas Michael Leirdahl
Barb Engel Lueck
Fred Meine
Kwame Mends
Ruth D. Nelson
Fjaere Nilssen
Bob Pellikka
Diane Gummeson Roth
Susan Carroll Saunders
Randy Schmalz
Jim A. Schmidt
David Schubert
Peter Sebald
Laura Skauge
Harry Van Gelder
Candis Rosenbrook Kapsner
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has financially supported Gustavus Adolphus College in the past year. In the 1998-99 year, 36 percent of our class (171 of 431 graduates) donated money to the College, with a total of $25,359 given (an average of $148 per gift.).
I am setting the following goals for the coming year and encourage you to seriously consider either continuing your present support, increasing your current support, or make that first donation to Gustavus:
-a better scenario is to consider the goal of 215 participants with an annual giving needing to be $139 per donor (that’s less than $12/month)
Hope your New Year is a great one!
Reid Katzung
1361 LaSalle Street
Wayzata, MN 55391
(612) 475-3322
email: katzung@aol.com