Letter from the President

Dear Fellow Alumni:

Celebration is the theme of this issue of the Mason Spirit. From Homecoming to awards to the association’s 100,000th member, we have much to cheer.

In February, we celebrated our biggest Homecoming yet. Mason families enjoyed expanded activities that culminated with the men’s basketball team’s victory over Manhattan College, followed by a spectacular fireworks show over Mason Pond.

Our celebrations continued in April with the Alumni Association’s annual Celebration of Distinction to honor outstanding alumni, students, and faculty. See the story on page 10 for more on this year’s winners. Congratulations to each of them.

On September 24, the Mason community will celebrate the culmination of The Campaign for George Mason University, the university’s first comprehensive fund-raising initiative, which brought in more than $126 million in support. I hope you can join us as we mark this milestone in Mason’s history. More information about the event will be sent in the MasonWire, our monthly e-newsletter. I want to thank the many alumni who showed their support for the campaign. You can still help in this historic effort to secure private support for the university by making a contribution by June 30. For more information, go to www.gmu.edu/development.

Finally, please join me in celebrating the Class of 2005. With this graduating class, the Alumni Association is now 100,000 members strong! Congratulations graduates, and good luck with your future endeavors.

I hope all of you will keep in touch with the association and the university through the MasonWire. If you don’t currently receive the newsletter, please go to www.gmu.edu/alumni and update your contact information in the online directory.

All the best for a wonderful summer,

Catherine A. Lemmon, BA ’86, MA ’93