Letter FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
TO: All Alumni
FROM: Monecia Helton Taylor ’81
As I complete my term as President of the Alumni Association, I wanted to share some thoughts on the many accomplishments of the past two years. We have witnessed incredible change since July of 2004; in 2006, Mary Washington continues its role as a leading public institution, with outstanding students and faculty, and strong alumni participation.
During my tenure, we became the University of Mary Washington. While the new name initially felt unfamiliar, most alumni recognized that their alma mater has not changed, and that its reputation has only strengthened each year.
Our stunning new Jepson Alumni Executive Center opened in the summer of 2004, and since then has attracted hundreds of visitors and overnight guests. The facility has hosted major alumni events such as Homecoming, Reunion Weekend and meetings of the alumni board, as well as elegant special events for donors and members of the community. Alumni take great pride in this new symbol of their relationship to Mary Washington that has already become a significant campus landmark.
The Washington Scholars program, founded by the Alumni Association in 1997, now provides full-ride merit scholarships for seven outstanding in-state students. In addition to contributions from the Alumni Association, individual donors have witnessed the success and excitement of this program and have funded additional scholarships.
Our efforts to communicate effectively with alumni are best illustrated by the success of electronic communications, and notably our online community for alumni. We now reach nearly 60 percent of our alumni by e-mail, a statistic that is unparalleled among our peers. Alumni can view upcoming events, register for them online, and search for classmates in the online directory.
We have welcomed to our ranks a new segment of alumni – graduates of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Next year’s alumni board will include alumni, faculty and student representatives of both campuses, and we will develop programs tailored to this new constituent group.
On a beautiful Saturday in May, it was my pleasure to welcome the Class of 2006 as our newest alumni. It was, as many noted, a bittersweet occasion, as it also marked Dr. Anderson’s final commencement as president. We are indebted to Dr. Anderson for his leadership and vision over the past 23 years. We congratulate him and extend our best wishes in his retirement.
Finally, I would like to thank the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors for their participation and support over these past two years. We have accomplished much as a group and have vastly enjoyed our interaction. I hope you will continue to contribute to Mary Washington’s success by participating in events both on and off campus, staying in touch through the online community, supporting the Fund for Mary Washington, and reconnecting through Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.
Stay in touch!
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