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April 26, 2004
Banana Slug Spring Fair draws record crowd
By Louise Donahue
Banana Slug Spring Fair drew a record number of alumni to a weekend
packed with 42 scheduled events and plenty of chances to get reacquainted.
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Four members of the Class of '74 were panelists in a discussion
at the University Center. Photo by Don
Harris
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“It was by far our most successful reunion weekend ever, with
the largest number of events and the largest number of alumni returning
to campus,” said Alumni Association Executive Director Carolyn
Christopherson.
A new event this year was an alumni panel discussion featuring graduates
from the Class of ’74.
The panel represented a range of professions, from the arts to business
to journalism. Featured speakers were Julie Packard, founder and executive
director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium; Katherine ("Katy")
Roberts, editor of the New York Times Week in Review; Don Wallace,
award-winning journalist, novelist, and editor; and Nion McEvoy, chairman
and CEO of Chronicle Books.
In addition to the strong alumni turnout, the April 16-18 alumni weekend
benefited greatly from having more faculty and staff members involved
in the programs, planning, and coordination than ever, said Christopherson.
“We are grateful to have such strong support.”
Alumni generosity at the event was heartening in a time of tight state
budgets, she noted. Several alumni donated money for their colleges
that could be matched by contributions from others, helping raise approximately
$80,000 for the colleges. Overall, alumni celebrating reunions this
year donated almost $245,000 for programs throughout the campus.
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