Features
Ever Better!A record 9,000 alumni, parents, students, faculty, and friends filled campus for the 10th anniversary Meliora Weekend, Oct. 21–23, celebrating Rochester’s history of achievement and looking forward to making the University “ever better.”
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THE MELIORA CHALLENGE: “[T]he history of our University is the history of Ever Better,” President Joel Seligman said in announcing the University’s $1.2 billion fundraising initiative. “We accept The Meliora Challenge because our University, our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and friends have never settled for good enough.”
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LEARN: Chemistry major Emily Hart ’12, whose remarks focused on the University’s mission statement component of “Learn,” described her life as a student at Rochester as “never feeling comfortable, always learning . . . I now know what a Meliora Moment is all about.” “I literally walk around campus thinking ‘how did I ever get to be this lucky?’”
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CELEBRATION! The University’s weekend of celebration was capped with fireworks over the River Campus.
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KEYNOTE: Americans have rid themselves of many prejudices, but there’s “one last remaining prejudice: We don’t want to be around people who disagree with us,” said keynote speaker Bill Clinton, the founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States. “Cooperation works in the real world, not conflict.” Clinton addressed a packed Kodak Hall for a 90-minute session that was also streamed to standing-room-only simulcast venues and a University-only webcast.
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GREETINGS: Keynote speaker President Bill Clinton is greeted by Meliora Weekend–goers as he makes his way to Eastman Theatre.
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50TH REUNION: Trustee Hugo Sonnenschein ’61 presents a 50th Reunion Medallion to his classmate and wife, Beth Gunn Sonnenschein ’61, ’62N, during the annual ceremony to celebrate members of the 50th reunion class.
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HITTING THE CEILING: Marlene Puffer ’93S (PhD), managing editor for global fixed income strategy at BCA Research, was one of four panelists for the Simon School panel discussion “Hitting the Ceiling: An Examination of America’s Debt Crisis” in Hutchison Hall.
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A CAPPELLA JAM: Vocal Point invited their alumni to join them on stage during the A Cappella Jam, which also featured performances by student groups—and their alumni—the YellowJackets, Midnight Ramblers, and After Hours.
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STANDING O: The YellowJackets receive a standing ovation after their performance at the A Cappella Jam. The group has been featured prominently on this fall’s NBC reality show, The Sing-Off, where they have advanced to the round of seven groups going into the Oct. 31 episode of the show.
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FAMILY WEEKEND: The Scotto children—Jacob, 7, Lucas, 5, and Kathryn, 9—ham it up while visiting campus with their parents, Jamison ’96 and Sara DeLamater Scotto ’96 of Granby, Conn.
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ROCHESTER SINGS! The University of Rochester/Eastman School of Music Women’s Choir, under the direction of Philip Silvey and with accompanist Abigail Rockwood, perform during a concert showcasing the choral groups at the University. The Women’s Choir celebrated its 100th anniversary this weekend.
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GOERGEN AWARDS: Trustee Robert Goergen ’60 (second from left) was on hand to congratulate the recipients of this year’s Goergen Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Dan-Andrei Geba, an associate professor of mathematics (left); Joanna Scott, the Roswell Smith Burrows Professor of English; and John Givens, an associate professor of Russian.
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NETWORKING: Yvonne Porter Tolliver ’52E listens during the Office of Minority Student Affairs (OMSA) Networking Reception, where students, alumni, and parents met one-on-one and in small groups to talk about careers, education, and other topics.
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WELCOME: Board of Trustees Chairman Ed Hajim ’58 welcomes attendees to A Celebration of Meliora, Saturday night’s gala event to celebrate the University’s achievements and its plans for the future.
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CELEBRATION: Fana Bangoura of Rochester (via Guinea) performs with the West African Drumming Ensemble during Saturday night’s A Celebration of Meliora at the Robert B. Goergen Athletic Center.
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CELEBRATION: Rochester Raas performs during Saturday night’s A Celebration of Meliora at the Robert B. Goergen Athletic Center.
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THE GENESEE: Paul Burgett, vice president, senior advisor to the president, and University dean, prepares to lead President Joel Seligman, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Jim Thompson and 700 guests, including trustees, volunteer leaders, and leadership donors in the University alma mater, “The Genesee,” during the program announcing The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester.
