Alumni Association Councilors, 2003-04

Banana Slug Spring Fair 2004 on April 17

From lectures to reunions, last year's Banana Spring Fair offered 35 events that attracted 1,600 alumni attendees and friends. Left: After delivering the BSSF Distinguished Faculty Lecture, anthropology professor Adrienne Zihlman shares a laugh with John Leopold (Merrill '88), UCSC's social sciences development director. Right: Adilah Barnes (Cowell '72), left, enjoys the company of Joyce Justus, special assistant to the chancellor, at the Black Escargot reception for African American alumni and friends. Photo: Shmuel Thaler

Celebrate spring with a visit to your alma mater during Banana Slug Spring Fair on Saturday, April 17. This year, BSSF offers lectures, receptions, reunions, and panel discussions exclusively for alumni and friends. Highlights are listed below. Go to alumni.ucsc.edu for up-to-the-minute event details, to see who is coming, and to RSVP, or contact the Alumni Association at (800) 933-SLUG.

All-Alumni Reunion Luncheon. Reconnect with old friends at BSSF's largest event. Classes of '69, '74, '79, '84, '89, '94, and '99 will receive special recognition. Memorabilia will be displayed—bring your photos to share.

The multimedia BSSF Distinguished Faculty Lecture will be presented by renowned astronomy professor Sandra Faber, who has been involved with two of the major optical astronomy ventures of recent years: the Hubble Space Telescope and the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii.

College Provosts' Receptions. Colleges will hold afternoon receptions for alumni, faculty, and staff.

Alumni Panel Discussion. Thirty years ago, UCSC shaped them; now they're shaping the world. The panel will feature distinguished grads from the Class of '74 making connections between their education at UCSC and their work today.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, Intersex (GLBTI) Resource Center will hold a reception/book signing for Out in the Redwoods, documenting UCSC's GLBT history; a Slug Social at Club Dakota downtown; and an on-campus Sunday brunch.

30-Year Reunion of the Class of '74 includes a wine-and-hors d'oeuvres reception, dinner, and a multimedia presentation about UCSC in the '70s. Send your vintage photos (scanned) to Lynn Zachreson at lynnz@ucsc.edu and see them on screen.

35-Year Reunion of the Class of '69. Events begin Friday evening with a downtown happy hour, and continue on Saturday with a wine-and-cheese reception and off-campus no-host dinner. On Sunday, "Stewarding College Traditions," a brunch with early-era faculty— including founding Oakes College provost J. Herman Blake— concludes the weekend.

Other Events

• The Departments of American Studies, Film and Digital Media, History, Literature, Philosophy, and Women's Studies; the Language Program; and the Jack Baskin School of Engineering will each hold receptions for their alumni, faculty, and guests.
• Chicano and Latino alumni, faculty, and guests will gather at the Oakes Provost's House.
• A tea at the Women's Center will welcome alumni, past Women's Center directors, and former staff.
• On Sunday, Hillel will hold a free brunch at its headquarters just below campus to celebrate "A Jewish Renaissance at UC Santa Cruz."

Alumni give back, support scholarships

Kathryn Sullivan (Cowell '73), Kenneth Feingold (Cowell '71) (center), and Ken Doctor (Merrill '71) at last fall's Scholarships Benefit Dinner Ucsc Photo Services

In these difficult economic times, scholarships provide access that can literally make a life-changing difference for UCSC students and their families," said Ken Doctor (Merrill '71).

Doctor, a vice president at Knight Ridder Digital and the current president of the UCSC Alumni Association Council, was among the 310 guests who attended the October 2003 Scholarships Benefit Dinner fundraiser for undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships. Proceeds from the dinner and associated activities raised more than $500,000.

Kathryn Sullivan (Cowell '73), who in 1984 was the first American woman to walk in space, was the dinner's master of ceremonies. In one of the evening's more dramatic moments, she pledged $25,000 over a five-year period for a scholarship endowment.

Comedian and TV star Howie Mandel; Alumni Association Los Angeles chapter president Roz Helfand (Porter '97) (center); Mandel's daughter, Jackelyn (right), an incoming UCSC student; and 250 other guests enjoyed the Los Angeles sun at a welcome celebration for new UCSC students, held in September. Alumni Association events like this one offer alumni the chance to interact meaningfully with students. Programs of all kinds are held across the nation throughout the year. For more information, check the events calendar at alumni.ucsc.edu. Photo: Doreen Schack

"I'm very proud so many alumni are supporting educational excellence, so today's students can benefit as we did," said Los Angeles attorney Kenneth Feingold (Cowell '71). "We believe strongly in the university's power to make a difference." Feingold attended the dinner as president of the UC Santa Cruz Foundation; he is the first campus graduate to hold that post.

Alumni support for scholarships was evident throughout the event. Over half of the 31 table sponsors at the dinner were alumni. All 23 elected members of the Alumni Association Council made contributions in support of the event. Dinner guests enjoyed fine wines generously donated by alumni vintners and friends.

At the dinner, UC President Emeritus Richard C. Atkinson was presented with the first UCSC Foundation Medal in recognition of his leadership. The medal was designed and created by sculptor Sean Monaghan (Kresge '83).

Among the speakers was Aurotaranti Maiolini, a senior anthropology student. Maiolini is the recipient of two alumni-funded awards. "I am living proof that education has the power to transform lives," she said. "As the first in my family who will graduate from college, I am grateful every day for the opportunity and for the financial assistance from people like you that have made it possible."

All alumni are invited to make a donation toward scholarships, fellowships, and other campus programs of their choice. Donations may be made online at giving.ucsc.edu or by contacting Jennifer Wood, director of development for the Annual Fund and Colleges, at (800) 933-SLUG.

Free career advice that works

Looking for a job or a new career? Alumni mentors—more than 400 of them— can help.

Sherry Xu (Graduate Studies '03) recently connected with mentor and Wells Fargo Bank financial analyst Aaron Cole (College Eight '91), whose résumé advice helped her get a job in the Bay Area financial industry. "I like to help people, and I might need this help myself some day," Cole said. "You never know." UCSC alumni mentors are friendly, knowledgeable, and searchable by city, career field, and other factors. Most mentoring takes place via e-mail, and it's free for all UCSC graduates to use. Check the career services area of the Alumni Association's web site, alumni.ucsc.edu.