Alumni Days 2005



View photos from this reunion in our Event Photo Galleries!

Alumni Days was a huge success and enjoyed by 250 alumni and friends on May 19 and 20. Alumni came from all over the U.S. and beyond, including Costa Rica, California, Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Tennessee. Alumni gathered the evening of May 18 to get reacquainted with their classmates before all the festivities began the next day. Thursday morning began with breakfast, a campus art and architecture walking tour, and a bus tour which ended at Reiman Gardens. Guests enjoyed boxed lunches, touring the butterfly house, visiting the gift store and conservatory, and a guided tour of the gardens.

The afternoon was filled with many tour and open house options including the Library, Brunnier Gallery, Iowa State Center, Indoor Football Practice Facility, and the Tornado Simulator. The highlight of the day was the “Story of George Washington Carver” performance by Paxton Williams. The 1955 class had their own Class Banquet, which included a memory filled PowerPoint presentation by Bruce Johnson, 1955 Class President. The other classes had their own banquet, which included trivia and gold medals for those who didn’t make it to their 50-year reunion.

After an exhausting day, the energetic participants were up early, socializing, eating, and touring on Friday morning. After a delicious breakfast alumni were off to visit their colleges. At noon , everyone experienced “dining in the 2000’s” at the Union Drive Marketplace. Choices included everything from pasta to Chinese to meat and potatoes, and as much ice cream as you could eat! After lunch alumni had the option to tour the new residential suites at Eaton Hall.

The afternoon was filled with more tours and open houses, including Farm House Museum, Campanile tours, virtual reality tours, and a special reunion for Mortar Board and Cardinal Key members. After the 50-year class made it through their class photo, 300 people joined together for dinner and the Gold Medal presentation. More than 110 medals and diplomas were given to members of the 1955 class by current ISU president Gregory Geoffroy. The Class of 1955 was officially inducted into the Gold Medal Club.

Saturday morning, alumni enjoyed a lovely brunch at The Knoll hosted by President and Kathy Geoffroy and sponsored by the ISU Foundation. It was exciting for so many alumni to finally be able to tour The Knoll.

Next year everyone who is a member of the Gold Medal Club (graduated 1955 or before), and graduates from the 1956 Class are invited to celebrate during Alumni Days 2006, May 11 and 12.

A special thanks to Bruce Johnson and Marjorie Joslin and their reunion planning committee for their hard work in putting together a fun and memorable event for 250 alumni and friends to enjoy.