September 2017
Meliora! A Message From Our Chair
Welcome to the September edition of our George Eastman Circle newsletter. This summer, I started my new role as National Chair, and my first order of business is to thank Nathan Moser ’75 for his six years of tremendous service leading our program. Thanks to your leadership, we are now nearly 3,500 members strong.
In this issue, you will read about one of our youngest members, Koji Muto, who joined the George Eastman Circle before he even graduated from the University of Rochester in 2015. Koji embodies what it means to be a leader, and we are fortunate he serves as an ambassador for us.
Koji lives in Houston, Texas. Thankfully, he remained safe throughout the duration of Hurricane Harvey. In all, 15,000 alumni, parents, and friends of the University live in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean—where Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria recently left a path of destruction. Our hearts go out to everyone affected there, and in Mexico where two catastrophic earthquakes recently occurred.
Thank you for all you do for the people who your dollars impact at the University of Rochester and its Medical Center. The collective power of what our George Eastman Circle membership can achieve is incredible. I hope you enjoy this issue, and I look forward to the work ahead of us. Hope to see you October 12-15 at Meliora Weekend.
Evans Y. Lam ’83 ’84S (MBA)
Member, Board of Trustees
National Chair, George Eastman Circle
Meliora Weekend: Reserve Your Tickets
Registration Closes Soon
Meliora Weekend—the University of Rochester’s one-stop destination to celebrate our collective impact, as well as Reunions, Family Weekend, and Homecoming—will run October 12-15 and will be filled with incredible moments and new memories.
The weekend of events will feature Robin Roberts, Peggy Noonan, Mike Birbiglia, The Corea/Gadd Band, and Miller’s Court.
The George Eastman Circle Dinner Reception will be held on Friday, October 13 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Art Gallery. This special experience will lead up to the Corea/Gadd Band concert at Kodak Hall.
George Eastman Circle members have special access to the Circle’s Hospitality Suite on Saturday, October 14. The Suite, located in the Welles-Brown Room, will offer breakfast, lunch, and additional refreshments throughout the day. It will also host entertainment from student musicians. Family and friends are welcome to join you.
Registration closes at 12 noon on October 9. To register, please visit www.rochester.edu/melioraweekend.
Engineering a Brighter Future
When Koji Muto was a senior at the University of Rochester, he decided to join the George Eastman Circle. After graduating in 2015 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in Business, Koji eventually joined ExxonMobil as a Project Development Engineer in Houston, Texas. He exemplifies Meliora, also serving as a member of the Hajim Young Leadership Council and the Houston Network Leadership Cabinet.
First thing’s first. Why did you decide to attend the University of Rochester?
Koji Muto: The world-renowned faculty, customizable curriculum, and beautiful campus were all strong influencers, but my decision to attend Rochester was primarily based on financial aid. My parents were not in a position to support me financially, and I wanted to avoid graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Rochester offered a generous financial aid package, funded in part by alumni donations. With additional scholarships, my total cost of attendance came out to less than my sister, who attended a state school at in-state tuition. I’ll never forget how fortunate I was to be provided the opportunity to attend Rochester.
Tell us about your current role at ExxonMobil, and how your Rochester experience made a difference in your professional career.
KM: I am a mechanical engineer supporting design development of capital projects. My experience with University clubs and organizations made a particularly impactful difference in my professional career. Rochester has a great focus on student-run organizations. The faculty have always been happy to support ideas for new clubs or events. It’s an invaluable opportunity to build leadership skills by pursuing personal ventures in a low-stakes environment. It fed my creativity, ambition, and sense of ownership. All critical traits that have helped me professionally.
We are honored that you joined the George Eastman Circle before you even graduated in 2015! That’s an incredible demonstration of leadership. What motivated you to take that path?
KM: I’ve always felt indebted to alumni who donated and funded the scholarships that allowed me to attend Rochester. Returning that favor to future students is the least I could do. It certainly was not an easy decision, but this University is fortunate to have some truly amazing alumni who inspired me to take similar steps. Great names like Ed Hajim, Gwen Greene, and Barbara Burger. Hearing their stories and witnessing all they do for the University – it’s contagious!
Do you have a favorite memory or experience while you were attending the University of Rochester? What was it?
KM: As cliché as it is, the memory I’ll carry with me forever is my first day of sophomore year when I saw the most amazing girl walk into my mechanical engineering class. I would later find out she transferred over from biomedical engineering, which is why I never saw her freshmen year. She’s here with me in Houston now, and we just celebrated our four-year anniversary in New Orleans. I’m not sure how much credit the University can take for that, but it certainly reinforced that I came to the right school.
You live in Houston, Texas – which is more than 1,550 miles from Rochester. Geography clearly knows no boundaries when it comes to making an impact. What advice would you give to fellow alumni who live across the globe and are considering how they can support Rochester?
KM: If you are not in a position to support the University with monetary donations, don’t underestimate how much of an impact you can make by supporting with your time! Whether it is helping plan local alumni events, providing industry contacts to recent graduates, or offering advice to students through University programs. It all collectively helps us build a stronger alumni support network, something powerful that lasts well beyond graduation. For many, college proved to be our most formative years. The path we continue on for the rest of our lives is oftentimes determined by the handful of years spent in Rochester. Let us build on that connection to our alma mater, and make it ever better.
Your Philanthropy at Work
Your Philanthropy at Work
Over the last decade, George Eastman Circle members have created a collective, tremendous impact by supporting hundreds of funds in every corner of the University and its Medical Center.
To read through the difference you’ve made in so many lives, click here to read our new George Eastman Circle Impact Report.
Upcoming Events
One of the ways we’re able to thank you for your commitment to philanthropy at the University is to extend invitations to various regional gatherings, dinners, and University programs. Here are just a few of the upcoming events that George Eastman Circle members are invited to join. To find more, please visit the George Eastman Circle website.
Celebrating 10 Years of Impact
September 25
Washington, D.C.
Celebrate UR: California
October 6
La Jolla, California
Meliora Weekend
October 12-15
Rochester, NY
Bat Out of Rochester: Toronto Brunch
October 29
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Wendell Castle Remastered
October 30
Rochester, New York
Celebrating Impact: Chicago
November 6
Chicago, Illinois
Celebrating 10 Years of Impact
November 9
Rochester, New York