Since its inception in 1916, 91直播鈥檚 Alumni Association has had a rich and colorful history that has fostered an ongoing relationship between the University and its alumni. Today, the Association continues to cultivate and foster good will and camaraderie among its members, promotes the interest and general welfare of 91直播, and maintains and advances the causes of higher education.
The Alumni Association achieves its objectives by developing and contributing to programs and services that provide direct benefit to alumni and the University. Of particular impact is the financial support that the Association generates for La 91直播, raising and contributing thousands of dollars each year to the Brother Patrick Ellis Alumni Scholarship Fund. The Association also helps in the recruitment of alumni volunteers who can offer important assistance to both the Association and to the University.
Tom Hickey, 鈥48, becomes 鈥渁ll-purpose鈥 alumni secretary, planning class reunions, chapter meetings, fundraising, and student placement.
John L. McCloskey, 鈥48, is appointed to Assistant to the President, taking over alumni programming under the leadership of Brother E. Stanislaus, President of La 91直播 University.
Brother Daniel Bernian, President of La 91直播 University, names McCloskey Vice President for Public Relations. Reporting to him, among other areas of the University, is the Alumni Relations Office.
Joseph Hanley, 鈥59, is named Director of Alumni.
Jim McDonald, 鈥58, is named Director of Alumni.
The quantity of alumni mailing addresses is less than 5,000.
The Hall of Athletes induction and program is established.
The annual Signum Fidei presentation, established in 1936, is awarded for the first time at a Communion dinner held on All Saints Day, Nov. 1.
Highlighting the Centennial Commencement, the Alumni Association presents its first memorial award, named in honor of John J. Finley, 鈥24. The first presentation is to the family of Mr. Finley, accepted by his son, Peter Finley, 鈥53.
Dan McGonigle, 鈥57, becomes the first Evening Division graduate to be elected President of the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association approves a 鈥淗omecoming Weekend鈥 for the fall of 1964.
The 鈥淎lumni Trustees,鈥 consisting of the five past presidents of the Association, discuss the future direction of alumni. The group becomes the 鈥淟ong Range Policy Committee.鈥
The Alumni Relations Office, along with the Annual Fund Office, moves to a house at 5521 Wister St., where it will be located for 19 years.
Francis J. McGovern, 鈥66, is hired as the first full-time Assistant Director of Alumni Relations.
Anne C. Hughes joins the staff as Office Manager. Mrs. Hughes remains an indispensable part of the operation for 14 years.
The first basketball dinners are held to celebrate the 1969 season coached by Tom Gola. The team finishes 23-1 and ranked second in the nation.
Harry J. White, Ph.D., 鈥54, is elected President of the Alumni Association. White is the last President to be elected by the alumni body and the first to be elected by the Board.
Bob Schaefer, 鈥54, becomes President of the Alumni Association and welcomes the first female member, Catherine (Callahan) Devlin, 鈥71.
The Alumni Association is granted a seat on the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees. Harry J. White, Ph.D., 鈥54, is seated.
The Alumni Association holds its first Book Fair.
The Alumni Association supports La 91直播鈥檚 administration in the pursuit of University status.
The Golden Explorers Club begins for alumni graduating 50 years and before.
The Alumni Association honors La 91直播鈥檚 Olympians.
The Alumni Office relocates to Benilde Hall, formerly located in between McShain Hall and Olney Hall. Benilde Hall was demolished in 2007 to make way for a renovated and expanded Holroyd Hall, featuring the Hugh and Nancy Devlin Center for Science and Technology, expected to be completed in fall 2009.
The Warren E. Smith, Ph.D., 鈥54, Award is established to honor prominent African American alumni.
Marianne S. Gauss, 鈥75, is elected the first woman President of the Alumni Association.
The Dr. Eugene Gallagher Club becomes the Explorer Club under the direction of the Athletic Department.
George J. 鈥淏ud鈥 Dotsey, 鈥69, becomes Alumni Director, succeeding Jim McDonald, who had directed the office for 34 years.
Intercollegiate football returns to La 91直播 with the support of the Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association reorganizes to a central body of leaders made up of 21 elected directors and four appointed officers.
New bylaws are adopted for the Association.
Jim Gulick, 鈥89, is hired as Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations.
Nearly 1,000 alumni vote in the first Alumni Association election for seven Board of Director positions. The elections are held each year to fill seven director positions.
Approximately 35,600 alumni have active addresses in La 91直播鈥檚 alumni database, and approximately 7,500 alumni have updated their e-mail addresses with the University.
On Sept. 12, 2004, the Alumni Association is recognized for its continued financial support of the University. The Association is inducted into the De La 91直播 Society, which recognizes lifetime giving to the University in excess of $100,000.
The mylasalle Alumni Portal is launched.
The alumni e-mail database reaches nearly 14,000.
The Alumni Association participates in the successful completion of the Shoulder to Shoulder: Securing the Future, a major gift initiative to strengthen the endowment and raise money for a new science and technology center.
The Board of Directors introduces a new strategic plan prioritizing the Alumni Association鈥檚 initiatives for the next five years.
With the help of the Alumni Association鈥檚 partnership and participation, the Annual Fund exceeds its goal, raising a record of more than $2.2 million for scholarships and financial aid.
The newest Alumni Directory is completed and active addresses in La 91直播鈥檚 alumni database reaches more than 45,000 and more than 20,000 alumni have updated e-mail addresses with the University.
The Alumni Association launched a comprehensive Web site, 鈥淟a 91直播 Alumni Online: Where Explorers Connect.鈥
The Alumni Board election has a record number of voters both online and mailed ballots with a 25 percent increase from the previous year.
The Alumni Association successfully negotiated a five-year contract with Liberty Mutual that will generate $80,000 in revenue and $20,000 in sponsorship money per year, totaling more than $500,000.
The Alumni Association completed a $44,000 renovation of the Lourdes Grotto on the Main Quad, featuring a new boulder wall, brick pointing, landscaping, and benches. Funding was also secured from the Arboretum Project for $4,000 and benches with engraved plaques were funded by Jerry Lezynksi, 鈥82; Marie, 鈥06, M.A. 鈥11, and Fran Cantwell, 鈥88; Charles Reynolds, 鈥70; Alpha Theta Alpha sorority in memory of Kaitlyn Wilson, 鈥14; and the Alumni Association in honor of Br. Michael McGinniss, Ph.D. ,鈥70.
The Alumni Association wrote an updated version of the 2002 Strategic Plan focusing on four key initiatives:
Alumni Association President AmyLynn Flood, 鈥95 collaborated with Dr. Colleen Hanycz to have the Peale House become the official alumni house on campus. Funding was secured by the Alumni Association to complete renovations and to have a dedicated space to recognize La 91直播鈥檚 Fulbright Scholars.
The Alumni House at Peale House was officially dedicated on April 23, 2018.