September 2004

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RECORD YEAR
Cornell alumni and friends wrapped up a “sesquisensational” year meeting the Sesquicentennial Challenge. Trustees funded the $150,000 match of new or increased gifts to the Annual Fund—which reached a record $1.75 million. There were 1,033 new donors, total gift income was $8.5 million, and alumni participation was up 4 percent to 36 percent.

STAYING FIT IN STYLE
It's easier than ever for Cornell students to stay fit, now that the Roe Howard Fitness Center has opened in The Commons. Created with the leadership and support of Trustee Dean Riesen '79, the center was dedicated Sept. 2 following Riesen's speech at Opening Convocation. C. Roe Howard, Class of 1917, was Cornell’s greatest hero from World War I and a founder of Beta Omicron.

NEW RESIDENCE HALL FOR 2005
Cornell plans to build a suite-style residence hall for 46 upperclass students that will be ready in fall 2005, relieving an on-campus housing crunch as enrollment continues to climb.

QUALITY INCOMING CLASS
Cornell this year enrolled 300 first-year students and 40 transfer students. The new students come from 39 states and six foreign countries. The top 10 states represented in the class are IA, IL, CO, MN, WI, KS, TX, MO, CA, and NE. Academically, this incoming class is among the strongest. The middle 50% had a cumulative GPA from 3.15 to 3.87, an ACT composite score from 24 to 29, and an SAT score from 1150 to 1350. 30% ranked in the top 10% of their class. There are 23 valedictorians and salutatorians, and 38 students who earned a 4.0 or better GPA in high school.

RECORD TURNOUT FOR IOWA PRIVATE COLLEGE WEEK
A record 328 high school students from across Iowa and neighboring states visited Cornell during the sixth annual Iowa Private College Week Aug. 2-6, when college-bound students were given access to and information on 30 campuses in Iowa. Cornell’s event featured guided tours of the campus, information about academic programs, student life, and how to pay for college, and grape snow cones. The number of visitors topped the 304 in August 2002, which came just prior to the outstanding recruiting year of 2002-03, the best Cornell has seen in numbers, quality, and diversity.

ATHLETES EXCEL
The women’s tennis team and six individuals were named to an All-Academic team by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. It is the third consecutive year the Cornell team has been named. The volleyball team was one of 48 NCAA Division III schools to receive the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. The award honors college teams that maintain at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA.

HONORS OPEN YEAR
Longtime faculty and staff were recognized at the annual Opening Dinner. Celebrating service milestones were (pictured, from left) Paul Garvin, geology, 35 years; Robert Givens, history, 25 years; Carol Lacy-Salazar, Spanish, 20 years; Kay Clouse, business office, 30 years; Karla Moreland, information technology, 25 years; Diane Harrington, education, 20 years.

FALL PLAY UPDATE
The fall Homecoming play is now Lanford Wilson’s “Book of Days,” which won the Best Play Award from the American Theater Critics Association. You can order tickets online to see it Friday night of Homecoming (Oct. 8) in the new Kimmel Theatre.

SIGN OF THE TIMES
The New York Times touted Iowa City in a travel feature this summer, and then suggested an evening road trip to the “pretty town of Mt. Vernon” for dinner at the Lincoln Café followed by a “stroll up the hill to Cornell College, where students take just one course at a time for three and a half weeks.” Find the complete article on the Times Web site, where you can register free.

CORNELL G.O.L.D. WRAP-UP
The young alumni event blitz held this summer was as good as GOLD! Over 100 young Cornellians met in seven locations throughout the country during the week of August 16. See the GOLD web page for a photo recap, to learn more about the Happy Hours or to volunteer for a 2005 event.

PROUD PAST. BRIGHT FUTURE.
The Hilltop will be home again for hundreds of alumni Oct. 8-10 during Homecoming 2004. Special festivities are planned for the Kappa Theta 50th and the reunion classes of 1954, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994 and 1999. Register now…online!

NOMINATE AN ALUM
Cornell continually seeks nominations for alumni awards. The categories — Distinguished Achievement Award, Leadership and Service Award, and Young Alumni Achievement Award — are outlined online. Take a moment to fill out an online recommendation form!

MATCHING GIFTS SEARCH
Not sure if your company will match your gift to Cornell? Finding out is simple with our new online matching gifts company search. Just type in your employer’s name and find out.

MUSIC MONDAYS OPENS 7th SEASON
The Tom Harrell Trio, led by an award-winning jazz trumpeter and pianist, opens the 2004-2005 Music Mondays concert series Oct. 11.

'04 ELECTIONS LAUNCH CHAUTAUQUA
Cornell’s highly successful Chautauqua program for lifelong learners opens this year with a timely topic: the 2004 elections, taught by politics professor David Loebsack. The Term 1 course is the first of six monthlong courses led by faculty and guest lecturers. Registration is ongoing.