2001 – Fall ’21 Class Letter
2001 – Fall 2021 Class Letter
Co-Class Agents:
NICOLE BAUMANN-BLACKMORE ’01
(608) 513-9078 / [email protected]
DANTE A. C. HOUSTON ’01
(414) 378-4937 / [email protected]
Hi, Class of 2001,
We would like to start by giving a HUGE shout out to the class members who were able to attend our Class Reunion and to those who contributed to our class gift! We know how difficult these last 18 months have been for many, and the fact that many of you were willing to keep Ripon College top of mind is nothing short of amazing. With your help and generosity, we raised $21,600 with 25% class participation!
We have some updates to share but are missing updates from all of you! Please contact us, Ripon College, or join our Facebook group (Ripon College Class of 2001 Reunion) to say hello!
Alumni Weekend:
Alumni and guests from 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, were on campus, Aug. 6-8, representing the classes of 1961 to 2023, for the first-ever August Alumni Weekend after COVID-19 put a pause on campus events over the past 18 months. Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2022, which will go back to our traditional end of June date: June 23-26, 2022.
This past fiscal year:
A record-breaking 2,087 donors from all around the world supported Ripon’s fourth annual giving day on April 28, known as #OneDayRally, reminding us all that regardless of the circumstances, Red Hawks come together.
Thank you to the over 3,600 donors who supported the College this past fiscal year through the Ripon Fund and other initiatives.
Campus upgrades:
The McCullough Family Lounge in Farr Hall of Science — a favorite location of students for studying and collaborative work — recently received an extreme makeover with the intent of making the space more contemporary and technologically friendly. The renovations were made possible by a lead gift from Trustee PHILIP MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, and his wife, Pat.
Also, a new Data Visualization Lab was installed in Todd Wehr Hall, which will be a great asset for the math and computer science departments.
Endowment:
Our endowment recently hit an all-time high and as of Thursday, August 19, 2021, it was at $112 million.
Start of the Academic Year:
Classes started on Monday, August 30 and the academic year is in full swing with in-person classes. The College is continuing to follow CDC and Fond du Lac County Health Department guidelines regarding COVID safety protocols
Here is the link to the latest Ripon Magazine, which includes features of alumni and faculty: ripon.edu/about-ripon/publications/
The article about the Ceresco Prairie is amazing! While the Prairie was in its infancy during our time on campus, it has now become a mainstay in education for students in the Sciences and provides everyone in the area with a beautiful place to decompress. We highly recommend you come back to campus and take a stroll through the Prairie!
Until next time,
Your 2001 Co-Class Agents:
NICOLE BAUMANN-BLACKMORE ’01
DANTE A. C. HOUSTON ’01