Message from Klotylda Hartshorn Phillippi ‘64, Homecoming Chair
Dear Alma Alumni!
You may have heard that our Alma College Homecoming theme for 2009 is Happy Days! What a great idea when our country and especially our state continues to go through some truly rough financial times. As I think back to that wonderfully hooky TV program Iam reminded of my own Happy Days at Alma. Are any of you old enough to remember the great sandwiches Jimmy would create at our own “Arnold’s” — the Tyler Union? A favorite was fried egg and cheese — perhaps the original breakfast sandwich! Even though we had our carefree moments — much like Richie, Joanie, Potsie, Chachi and the Fonz — the sixty’s, like today, were a time of turmoil and some very difficult changes for our country. We lived through tragic assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. We worried about the Cold War and endured the Cuban Missile Crisis. The big battles then were over social justice and equity. Some of us marched in Washington with MLK and some us went off to Africa, the Philippines and the Dominican Republic as the first Peace Corps Volunteers. And we grew in our convictions and our sense of responsibility at Alma College.
I am sure that each of you has your own happy memories of Alma as well as the challenges you incurred. It is terrific to come back to the beautiful campus, stroll around and recall those “Happy Days.”
Alma College today is a place teaming with activity. The college has enjoyed two consecutive years of record enrollments for new students and it looks like we will have another year of 400 or more freshmen — certainly a happy time given the economy. You will also notice new construction on the campus with the $18.75 million improvement plan that includes renovations to the Hogan Center and a new LEED-certified gymnasium/convocation center. (Ya, and our “gym” was in what is now the Clack Art Center!) Our fundraising has been very successful as we near the completion of the $35.25 million Open Windows Campaign, the largest fund raising effort in the college’s history.
Alma College also continues its commitment to social justice. The Center for Responsible Leadership provides great opportunities for Alma students to develop leadership skills. Speakers sponsored by the Center have included former Mexico President Vicente Fox, Pulitzer Prize author Jared Diamond and Madeline Albright. For the second straight year, the Corporation for National and Community service has honored Alma College for its exemplary community service efforts. There is a new agreement between Alma and Equatorialis University in Quito, Ecuador that provides easy transfer of South American students who want to earn their degree here. And so much more…
So, gather your Alma friends and your family and head back to the campus for a “Happy Days” Reunion. Contact them and tell them you’ll meet them on the chapel steps or on the Alumni House porch, but do come. I hope to see you in October.
Sincerely;
Klotylda (Hartshorn) Phillippi, honored to be a member of the Alma College class of 1964.
