Alumni Reception

The Alumni Reception was held on Thursday April 7th 2005 at the art gallery in the Arnold Bernhard Center. Guests gazed at drawings and paintings from our past and present students before the reception started.
There were about 40 attendees and 5 speakers. The first speaker of the night was Sonia Kelepezz , the Director of Development. She thanked everyone for coming and introduced her next speaker. Dr. Kristine M. DeMarco, a professor at our Chiropractic School as well as the President of the Alumni Board of Directors. Dr. DeMarco also sent her regards to all the attendees.
President Neil Albert Salonen spoke addressing the topic of keeping in touch with more Alumni for these events. In recent years, the number of alumni has increased to 40,000. There are between 7,000 and 15,000 more Alumni who have yet to be contacted. Mr. Salonen encouraged the Alumni who were present to try to contact long lost friends. He also mentioned two more receptions that will be taking place on May 12th in New York and May 19th in Massachusetts.
Dr. Robert Todd, the President of the Faculty Council and a professor in the Business School is also an Alumnus receiving his MBA in 1979. Dr. Todd was really a joy to meet. He spoke about starting the “CEO” and Levine Lecture Series.
The Special Guest of the night was E. Cortright Phillips, the grandson of the founder of the University. He graduated from the University in 1949 accepting his Degree in Business. Mr. Cortright was a top public body of the Connecticut Bank and Trust and served as a chairperson for the State Bond Commission.
I had a chance to meet some of other alumni one of whom was Tommy Valuckas. He graduated about 30 years ago. Mr. Valuckas has been writing for newspapers around Connecticut. For the last 3 years, he has been reporting for the Republican-American Newspaper in Southbury, Connecticut.
All in all, the reception went off smoothly and there were many interesting alumni in attendance.