3-class Kelley alumni reunion brings current and former MBA students together for a weekend

Last weekend, Kelley School of Business MBAs had the chance to build lasting relationships with well-established graduates at the Kelley School of Business MBA Reunion Weekend.

The school’s MBA classes of 1988, 1998 and 2003 were invited to last weekend’s festivities. The event was designed to help the alumni stay “in the know” and reconnect, said Rochelle Reeves, director of alumni relations for the Kelley School of Business.  

“We are all excited about Kelley, and the alumni are a big part of the reason for the school’s success and growth,” said Katherine Burgun, associate director of Alumni Relations for the Kelley School of Business and the coordinator of last weekend’s event.

Alumni came from as far as Belgium, China, Brazil, London and Paris, and they brought spouses and kids with them, Burgun said.

“It’s impressive,” said Emilio Vicini, vice president of external relations for the Kelley MBA Program. “Although, I don’t think a lot of people traveled that far. Bloomington is not that easy to get to.”

The event ran from Sept. 12 through Sept. 14. After checking in, the alumni were encouraged to meet with classmates for food and conversation, and they proceeded to Assembly Hall for a tour given by current MBA students, Reeves said.

On Saturday, the alumni started off with breakfast and a tour of the Godfrey Graduate and Executive Education Center. Following the tour, Dan Smith, dean of the Kelley School of Business, and second-year MBA student Himanshu Tayal addressed the alumni with speeches designed to inform them about the current status of Kelley, Reeves said.

“The question of the progress of the school came up a lot. The alumni are very convinced and very confident that they are on the right path,” Tayal said.
Kelley MBA students helped to provide an enjoyable environment by aiding with the tours, shuttling the alumni home after certain events and offering daycare during the events, Vicini said.

After the presentations the alumni and students were invited to mingle at a barbecue in the Waller Courtyard. The alumni ended the evening with a cocktail party at the DeVault Alumni Center.

“It was great seeing people make new memories by coming back,” Burgun said.

Sunday, the alumni met one last time in the Indiana Memorial Union for brunch.

Although the weekend was full of great opportunities for students and alumni to connect, the Kelley School of Business Alumni Relations Committee looks forward to working on improving the alumni network base, Vicini said.

“We are going to try to work with alumni here in Bloomington,” Vicini said. “As of right now, they are unorganized. Currently, there are about 3,000 alumni in the area. Even if only 10 percent show, that’s at least 300 people.”