Ringing in 2011 with alumni support

After a calendar year-end push that yielded more than 6,000 calls to Macalester alumni and friends, the Annual Fund ended the year strong, with 2,187 gifts in December alone. Of these gifts, 1,494 were from alumni, bringing the college closer to its 42 percent alumni participation goal for this fiscal year, which ends on May 31.
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Macalester receives Carnegie Community Engagement Classification

These students worked on rehabilitating a home in St. Paul through Macalester's chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has selected Macalester College for its 2010 Community Engagement Classification. The classification was awarded after an extensive review of the college's community engagement locally, nationally, and globally. Macalester is one of only 27 baccalaureate colleges nationally to have achieved the classification since the foundation began granting it in 2006. Since that time, 311 colleges and universities have received the classification.
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Alum helps student land Atlantic Records internship

Zeid Habayeb '11, left, with music artist Bruno Mars

A Macalester alum connected Zeid Habayeb '11 to an internship at Atlantic Records that may have changed his life. This month he is working for the company's sublabel, Big Beat Records.

He says his experiences at Atlantic have helped him realize he could turn his love for music into a viable career. He hopes to continue working for Atlantic Records after he graduates in May.
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Scots Watch: Two students named All-American

Kicker Auburn Jimenez ’14 from football and defender Nate Juergens '11 from men’s soccer capped off their standout seasons by receiving All-America honors.

Jimenez picked up honorable mention All-America status from D3football.com, a national website that covers NCAA Division III football. He is the second Scot to make the All-America squad since D3football.com began awarding All-America honors in 1999, joining defensive end Andrew Porter '03.

Juergens was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association / Performance Subaru Men's NCAA Division III All-America team. Juergens becomes the ninth All-American in the history of the Macalester Men's Soccer program and first since Nathan Knox '04 was recognized with the honor. Juergens is a third-team selection.
More about Jimenez
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Reunion 2011 planning begins

Reunion 2011 is June 3-5 and alumni serving on Reunion committees will meet on Saturday, Jan. 22, to begin making plans for the big event.

Macalester classes of 2006; 2001; 1991, '92 & '93; 1986; 1981, '82 & '83; 1966; 1961; 1956; 1951; 1946; and 1941 and earlier celebrate Reunion this year. If you'd like to help plan your class's Reunion, please email the alumni office.
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Macalester Today preview

The Winter 2011 edition of Macalester Today will hit your mailbox later this month. Look for profiles of a young alum who designs hats for Lady Gaga, two former Mac roommates who write the TV show Haven, and the man behind Disney show magic, along with a peek at some fun dorm rooms and an update on how our four first-years survived, and even thrived, during their first semester.
Read previous issue online

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Michael Curry '91 elected Boston NAACP president

Michael Curry '91 was elected president of the Boston NAACP, the oldest charted branch of the historic civil rights organization. It was the branch's first contested election in more than 10 years. As leader of the historically powerful organization, Curry intends to recruit a new generation of leaders, increase membership, and more deeply engage the branch in the Boston region's policy discussions and decision making processes.

While at Macalester, he majored in speech communications and was president of the student organization BLAC. Curry said he is proud of his Macalester education and fondly remembers professors Mahmoud El-Kati and W. Scott Nobles. In sharing his news with the alumni office, he wrote "My passion as an advocate and development as a lawyer and businessman were born right there on that campus."
Review media stories about Curry's election

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Meet Minnesota's Macalester caucus

Many Macalester alumni are called to public service. This month we noticed that several Macalester alumni started terms in Minnesota's state government. Governor Mark Dayton appointed Susan Haigh '73 as head of the Metropolitan Council and Jim Schowalter '85 as Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget. In the Minnesota legislature, Julianne Ortman '86 (R), Bobby Joe Champion '87 (DFL), Frank Hornstein '81 (DFL), Carlos Mariani '79 (DFL), and Sandra Peterson '67 (DFL) are all serving. (As far as we are aware, they haven't formed a Macalester caucus. But, by their numbers, they sure could!)

What other Macites are serving in public office? Email the alumni office to let us know.

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Alumni Relations staff changes

Two alumni have been hired by Alumni Relations recently: Anne Hoyt Taff '04 (left) and Daymond Dean '91 (middle). Associate director Carol Polk (right) is retiring this month after 22 years coordinating Reunion, developing the alumni travel program, managing the department's budget, planning faculty lectures for alumni, and more.

Both Taff and Dean join the team as associate directors, Taff fills the position formerly held by Stephen Sporer and Dean fills the position held by Polk. Taff will develop programs for students and young alumni, serve as liaison for the Scots Pride network, manage alumni chapters in New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Dean will serve as liaison to the M Club, develop programming for the alumni of color network, and direct the one-year-old Macbassador program. In addition to their other responsibilities, both Taff and Dean will support the Alumni Board and work with Reunion committees.

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Macbassador of the Month: Alex James '09

Alex James '09 is January's Macbassador of the month. As a recent grad, he has generously shared his time and experience with current students through initiatives of the Career Development Center and Department of Multicultural Life.

“I feel indebted to Macalester for the opportunities the college has given me and the person Mac has helped me to become,” Alex said. “I wouldn't be the same person that I am today if I had gone to any other college, and for that I try to support Macalester as best I can.”

Because he has given to the Annual Fund consistently since he graduated, he is a member of the Summit Society. He also volunteers for Annual Fund Phonathons and serves as a class agent, a role in which he and two classmates encourage the Class of 2009 to support Macalester.
Sign up as a Macbassador

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Events

6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17
Alumni Welcome Students to New Orleans
Maison du Parc, 2203 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans

6-9 p.m. Tues.-Thurs.
Jan. 18-20
Twin Cities Alumni Annual Fund Phonathon
Annual Fund Call Center, Lampert Building
Email Maggie Patrick to sign up as a caller!

9:30 a.m. Sat., Jan. 22
Men's Basketball Alumni Weekend
Gymnasium, Leonard Center athletic & wellness complex

2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22
3rd Annual Alumni Track and Field Meet
Field House, Leonard Center athletic & wellness complex

11:30 a.m. Tues., Jan. 25
Karine S. Moe Inaugural Lecture as F. R. Bigelow Professor of Economics
John B Davis Lecture Hall, Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center
Open to the Public

7 p.m. Thurs., Jan. 27
Discuss Day After Night with Portland-area Alumni
Hosted by Judy Friedman '71

5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8
Twin Cities Young Alumni Happy Hour
The Bulldog N.E., 401 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis

Thursday-Sunday
Feb. 17-20
Macalester Presents Antigone
Main Stage Theatre, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center

8 p.m. Saturday Feb. 26
Songs of the Earth: Music of China
St. Catherine University, O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul

Thursday, April 7
Civic Forum

Saturday, May 14
Commencement

 

 

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