The Institute of Technology Alumni Society
(ITAS) capped off a record-setting year by earning the University
of Minnesota Alumni
Association's (UMAA) highest honor, the Society of the Year Award,
for 1998-99.
The award was presented to ITAS during a ceremony
held
at the Radisson Hotel Metrodome in September.Each year UMAA
recognizes a handful of outstanding events, volunteers, and groups
with
national awards. ITAS was honored for building a
visible and vibrant organization, enhancing the student experience,
and involving alumni in programs that make a difference.
We owe our success to the hard work done by our alumni.
The Science and Technology Banquet ranks at the top of last year's
achievements, raising a record $18,000 for IT undergraduate scholarships.
Attended by over 700 participants, the banquet featured guest speaker
Nicholas Donofrio, IBM' s senior vice president of technology and
manufacturing.
Now in its ninth year, the IT Mentor Program has become the model
for college programs throughout the University. Co-sponsored by
ITAS and IT Student Affairs, the program matched more than 165 students
with mentors last year, aided by on-line sign-up and supportive
alumni. During 1999-2000, the mentor program will also complete
the development of a computerized system used to match students
and mentors.
ITAS also launched a K-12 education initiative designed to encourage
young students to develop an interest in science and engineering.
Using resources from business, education, the University, and ITAS,
the new program will match alumni with schools—through visits,
field trips, and Web links.
A highly popular outreach
effort, the IT Public Lecture Series brought three events to
campus last
year, with “The Art and Science
of Motorcycles” earning significant press coverage and attracting
more than 600 visitors.
In October 1998, members of the IT Class of 1948 enjoyed a very
successful reunion organized and sponsored by ITAS as part of its
mission to creating lifelong connections among alumni.
ITAS also increased its membership
to 5,800 last year, and we hope to fund expansion of
our programs by increasing membership to 6,000 by the
end of next year. If you're not a member, I encourage
you to become one. You can find out more about membership
and its benefits on the UMAA web site (www.alumni.umn.edu).
It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your alumni president
during the past year. I am confident that the organization will
continue to achieve great success under the capable leadership of
my successor, John Borowicz (Computer Science '80).
Ski-U-Mah!
Richard Hedger
Electrical Engineering '62, M.S. '68
1998-99 ITAS President
