Calling all alumni!

Reunion weekend is April 24-26

Columbia College is calling alumni from all campuses from Charleston, S.C., to Coast Guard Island, Calif., and Salt Lake to St. Louis, to come home to the main campus in Columbia, Mo., for reunion weekend Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26.
The reunion will honor the Classes of ’39, ’49, ’59, ’69, ’79, ’84, ’89 and ’99.
Socials begin Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on campus and at the Stoney Creek Inn, just three miles south of campus; and continue with a brunch Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in Dulany Hall.
Along the way you’ll meet and greet beloved classmates and become reacquainted with ones you have lost touch with; hear Columbia College: 150 Years of Courage, Commitment and Change presented by Paulina (“Polly”) Batterson, professor emerita of history; pore over memorabilia and share your oral histories of Christian and Columbia College; listen to performances by the Double Sextet, Jane Froman Singers and the Bonnie Lay Bourne ’59 Cabaret; and play in an alumni softball game.
Capping the weekend is a Saturday night alumni dinner and awards presentation in Dulany Hall and an Ivy Chain Ceremony in the Dorsey Gymnasium Sunday at 10 a.m.
This year’s Alumni Award recipients are:

Distinguished Alumni Award

• Clinton ("Clint") Herbert Jr. ’88, retired Deputy Assistant Administrator, NASA Office of Security and Program Protection
• Professional Achievement Awards
  Ruth Purschwitz Meissen ’79, 2007-08 Illinois State Board of Education Teacher of the Year
• Sgt. Major Michael David ’91 (retired), who served 30 years in the United States Army as a leader, trainer and role model; his emphasis was in human resources

Community Service Awards

• Penny Pitman ’65, who has made a life-long commitment to the historic district project restoration of 416 South Main St. Charles, Mo. She also is involved with the restoration and heritage commission of Saint Charles Riverfront Arts and the Historic Downtown Association.
• Ronald Monnig ’77, who has been instrumental in local and state government and served on numerous city, county and state clubs, organizations and councils.

Here are some testimonials from last year’s event:

It would be hard to improve on perfection! It’s the first time I have been back since graduation in 1948. It was wonderful. Thank you so much!
— Billy Jayne (Deaton) Granger ’48, Springdale, Ark.

I only attended the awards dinner, and I don’t know any way it could possibly be improved! I like being there even though not many from my years can be present anymore... The two of us present, Jayne Deaton (with her daughter) were able to become reacquainted at the table.
— Virginia Lee Haux ’49, Sturgeon, Mo.

We can’t say enough about Step into My Parlor [the 2008 Caryl Wood Bryan ’65 musical]! Caryl and Desmond Peters ’97 were great and the set was lovely — wonderful talent! The fashion show [by Larry Wooten ’82] was wonderful as well.
— Peggy Roda’51, Columbia, Mo.

Your efforts to make our 50th reunion a memorable experience were successful. I enjoyed everything from seeing classmates I haven’t seen in 50 years to the tour, the food, the musical and especially the Ivy Chain Ceremony. The college looks spectacular!
— Sue Austene Wright ’58, Houston, Texas

Live far enough away you need to fly? The Columbia regional airport (airport code COU) offers Northwest Airline flights through Memphis. Both Kansas City (MCI) and St. Louis (STL) are major hubs and airport shuttle service Mo-X provides door-to-door service from both airports to anywhere in Columbia.
Special group rates are available at the Stoney Creek Inn, 2601 S. Providence Rd., Columbia, Mo. 65203 (phone 573-442-6400), just three miles from campus; please ask for the Columbia College block of rooms. There are numerous other hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfasts in Columbia and in its beautiful surrounding rural areas; visit the Columbia Convention and Visitors Web site.
For more detail and to register for this unforgettable weekend, visit the Alumni Reunion Web site.