Getting to Know Our Newest Members - A Quick Look at the Undergraduate Class of 2016
In May, The Alumni Association welcomed 931 new members to its ranks as the university’s latest undergrads braved rain, sleet and strong winds to attend the spring commencement ceremonies. This spring’s undergraduate class was comprised of 433 women and 498 men.
Within the undergraduate class, the majority of degrees (458) were bestowed by the College of Arts and Sciences. The Case School of Engineering awarded 348 degrees while 53 graduates were from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing and 73 degrees were earned from the Weatherhead School of Management. The group included 45 dual degrees.
The undergraduate class confirmed that CWRU attracts talented minds from across the country and around the world. The May graduates represented 44 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with the largest number of graduates from Ohio (303), Pennsylvania (82), Illinois (71), New York (58), New Jersey (40) and Michigan (35). Additionally, there were nine international countries represented by the graduating class: Armenia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
One of the best things about our university is our amazing alumni. We can’t wait to hear about the exciting adventures that will unfold for the newest members of our alumni family!
Summer Send-Offs
Every summer, The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University, in collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, invites alumni, current students, parents and friends to help us welcome incoming students and their families to the CWRU community. These casual social events were created to provide opportunities for incoming students to gain invaluable insight into life on campus from current and former students. Over the years, Summer Send-offs have become a well-received and well-attended CWRU tradition.
The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University strives to make each Summer Send-off unique, showcasing the city in which it is held while celebrating the students, alumni, parents and, of course, the incoming class. The events make interaction the focus with fun activities ranging from board games to picnics and everything in between. Every year, we select cities where we have the most incoming students. This year’s events include:
- Cleveland (with around 100 admitted students)
- Chicago (over 70 students)
- Pittsburgh, Pa. (over 50 students)
- D.C./Baltimore, Md. (roughly 50 students)
- New York City (roughly 50 students)
- Bay Area (roughly 50 students)
- Columbus, Ohio (around 40 students)
- Detroit, Mich. (around 40 students)
- Cincinnati, Ohio (around 30 students)
- Boston, Mass. (around 30 students)
Making 2016 even more exciting, this year marks our first-ever international Summer Send-off in Shanghai on July 16, welcoming 80 admitted students from mainland China. The event will be held at the Radisson Blu New World and attended by Anne Cunningham from the Case Alumni Association.
If you live near a Summer Send-off event, please consider sharing your CWRU story with an incoming student. We can’t think of a better way to welcome our newest students as our alumni are always the most impressive things about our university!
Entrepreneurial Alumnus Share Their Knowledge During this Month's Podcast
July’s podcast features CWRU alumni who are making their mark as entrepreneurs. Chris Wentz (CWR ’13), CEO of Everykey, Inc., established his start-up while he was still a student. Meanwhile, Gordon Daily (CWR ’01, GRS ’01, computer engineering) stepped away from a successful career at Rockwell Automation, a company dedicated to industrial automation and information, to become president and co-founder of BoxCast and focus on his passion for changing the way we communicate through live HD streaming video. Toby Maloney (GRS ’73, English), a current investor and advisor for BoxCast, is a longtime angel investor and advisor, best known for developing mental-floss from a dorm room idea to multi-million-dollar media company. Additionally, Jason Cellura (CWR ’07), a former CWRU football player, is looking to score big in the athletic wear market as founder of AMMO Athletic, while Tony Briggs (MGT ’14) and Seamus Malley (MGT ’11) utilize their skills and experience to take the varied companies they acquire or operate to the next level.
Volunteer Spotlight: Katherine Gullett (MGT ’13) and the International Friendship Program
CWRU's International Friendship Program pairs an international student with an alumni, staff or faculty member who has volunteered to help them navigate life on campus and in Cleveland. Katherine Gullett, senior director at the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at CWRU, shares her experience hosting Bea Helen Tan, from San Juan, Philippines, a current biochemistry student. She fondly recalls attending a CWRU International Dinner last April, where they enjoyed great food and beautiful student performances before driving home in a surprise Cleveland blizzard!
Gullett (right) sharing a meal with Tan - Photograph from Katherine Gullett
What about being a part of the International Friendship Program (IFP) most excites you?
Before joining IFP, I had several friends on campus who were international students and I enjoyed being not only a friend but also a resource for them as they navigated a new environment without a local family or friend support system. I saw how important it was to them to have someone they could call. I want each and every international student to feel at home while they are at CWRU, and this is my way of helping that happen. I love the opportunity to meet new people and share Cleveland with them.
How much of a time commitment is this volunteer activity?
My student and I get together every few weeks for dinner, an outing or event, and we keep up via email or text in between.
How did you first get involved with volunteering?
I saw the program advertised in The Daily and knew it was something I wanted to join.
Why do you continue to volunteer?
It is meaningful to me, I enjoy making new friends and it is exciting to be a part of a student’s school experience.
What would you say to others who are interested in getting involved with the International Friendship Program?
Do it! If it appeals to you, you are the right person to be a part of this program. It will be rewarding to you and your student. At first, I was hesitant because I felt I didn’t have enough time to commit. Any amount of time will make a positive impact on a student’s experience at CWRU and in Cleveland.
IFP is currently recruiting alumni, staff and faculty to help welcome a new class of international students to CWRU and Cleveland. Please consider volunteering for this rewarding opportunity.
More info and application for International Friendship Program
More IFP volunteers share their experiences in this short video
Support CWRU’s Cultural Endeavors by Volunteering at The Maltz Performing Arts Center
The Milton and Tamar Maltz Performing Arts Center is Case Western Reserve University’s newest public face – a contemporary concert hall located in the magnificently restored Temple-Tifereth Israel. Known for generations as simply “The Temple,” this golden-domed architectural gem rising above the horizon just west of North Campus is now host to a variety of concerts, lectures and special events. The Maltz Center represents a unique opportunity for the University to interface with the community-at-large, hosting concerts by student and professional ensembles as well as numerous lectures and other artistic and intellectual fare.
The center is seeking alumni volunteers to serve as ushers and tour guides. Most times, a volunteer usher is able to take in the performance for free. Please email Chamois Williams at The Alumni Association or call 216.368.3085 if you would like to join their volunteer team.
Listed below are a few of the upcoming performances where ushers are needed.
Saturday, July 30: The 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition presents Anderson & Roe in concert, with dynamic two-piano arrangements featuring works from Mozart to Coldplay.
Sunday, July 31: The 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition presents jazz pianist Dan Tepfer performing his own variations on Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
For more alumni volunteer opportunities, visit our website.
Expansion Update & Alumni Paver Program
Construction at the Linsalata Alumni Center has made important progress over the past month. The expansion is now connected to the original structure. A portion of the wall in the reception area was removed to add a door and the three-century-old windows in the wall were saved for installation in the new addition. Additionally, the roof, including a slate portion matching the roof on the existing structure, temporary lighting and window frames were installed. These huge steps are keeping construction on track for a late October completion.
As part of the expansion, a paver stone courtyard is being installed on the grounds. We are inviting alumni to leave a permanent mark on this exciting new project by purchasing a paver stone. Each paver stone is an eight-inch square that accommodates up to five lines of text with 20 characters per line. This custom inscription is a lasting way to celebrate your Case Western Reserve University connection or honor a relative or friend. Pavers ordered before August 31, 2016, will be included in the initial courtyard installation.
Check out the latest issue of think magazine!
Read about Tom Bachtell (WRC '80), caricature artist for The New Yorker magazine, the university's deep dives into space-related research, a program to help victims of human trafficking and much more.
Check out think's latest issue
Excited to See the World?
Do you like to travel? Do you dream of visiting foreign lands but don’t want to go alone? Join CWRU faculty, alumni, and friends on adventures around the world! Cuba, Pyrenees, Iceland and more in 2016-2017. Contact Michelle Miller 216.368.8745 for more information.
http://case.edu/lifelonglearning/
Lifelong Learning
We want your feedback regarding lifelong learning opportunities for alumni. We are looking to discover how much you know about the current opportunities offered as well as what you would like to see in the future. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Kribel at 216.368.3760 or Kelly.Kribel@case.edu. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Weatherhead 100
The 2016 Weatherhead 100 application is now open! Area businesses can now apply for the chance to join this elite consortium of the fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio.
More info and application for Weatherhead 100
July 21: Cocktails & Conversation: Aging with a Plan
Join fellow CWRU alumni with Co-Deans Jessica Berg and Michael Scharf for "Cocktails & Conversation" at an all-alumni reception at the Catawba Island Club. Special thanks to Dan Clancy (LAW '62) for hosting this alumni event.
Professor Sharona Hoffman will speak and share comments about her recent book, Aging with a Plan: How a Little Thought Today Can Vastly Improve Your Tomorrow.
Cocktails and Conversation Registration
View the University and Alumni Relations Events Calendar for more upcoming events on campus and around the country.