IU Alumni Association celebrates 150 years today

IU alumni are sporting the University's official cream and crimson colors today to celebrate the IU Alumni Association's 150th anniversary.\nThe official date fell on Aug. 1, but celebration activities at Indiana campuses around the state have been scheduled for today.\nOn Bloomington's campus, IU faculty and alumni will gather this afternoon for an ice cream social under the IUAA tent at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center. A proclamation by the Bloomington mayor officially declaring today as IU Alumni Association Day will be read as part of a short program.\nAccording to the organization's Web site, IUAA was founded in 1854 by dedicated graduates after a fire swept the campus. These dedicated alumni created the association to rekindle the University's spirit and pride. \nIU now has more than 460,000 living graduates, nearly 80,000 of whom are members of the IUAA.\nPart of the celebration includes an online puzzle, which can be accessed from the IUAA Web site www.alumni.indiana.edu. IU alumnus Will Shortz, crossword puzzle editor of The New York Times, contributed the puzzle in a contest open to the public. Answers to the puzzle are commonly used two-word phrases that have a succession of the letters "ind" to represent Indiana.\nCynthia Schultz, senior director of communications for IUAA, said the puzzle is part of what she calls "infotainment," a mix of information and entertainment. She said she feels this form of communication, combined with the Internet, is an important factor in the success of communication between alumni and the IUAA.\n"What better mechanism to keep in touch with alumni?" Schultz said. "With the information age, individuals have resources to continue learning. It provides an important network with other graduates."\nIUAA President Ken Beckley said the most important reason for alumni to be involved with their alma mater is to keep IU at its current level of excellence.\n"It is important to keep alumni connected with the University," he said. "(IUAA) makes certain that alumni are involved and informed and play a role as a partner for the University's progress, growth and support."\nIUAA has been responsible for starting many organizations among the IU campuses, including Hoosiers for Higher Education, an organization to get IU affiliates and alumni involved in influencing the legislative process on issues of higher education. IUAA is also heavily involved in commencement activities, travel opportunities through Hoosier Travelers and the Student Alumni Association, which IUAA founded.\nIUAA also provides many services to current students. According to the IUAA Web site, in 2003 the organization awarded more than 200 scholarships worth about $250,000. In its 150 years, IUAA has awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships.\nSchultz said she personally identifies with the monetary benefits the IUAA provides to students.\n"I never would have had the opportunity to go to school without scholarships and financial aid," she said. "IUAA plays a big role in raising scholarship money. For people like me, there is a sense of responsibility to give back the same opportunities."\n-- Contact staff writer Ashley Lough at amlough@indiana.edu.