Tech Reunions 2009
Thousands Enjoy a Taste of Tech at Reunions
View Tech Reunions 2009 photo galleries
From left: Chuck Staples '59; Kadie Staples; Bruce Blomstrom '59, SM '62; and Anne Blomstrom enjoy the 112th annual Tech Night at Pops.
Singing "In Praise of MIT" to the accompaniment of the Boston Pops, glimpsing the mysteries of the mind, reminiscing with friends, and donning an official red jacket for the first time. These were just some of the activities alumni and their guests enjoyed at Tech Reunions 2009, held June 4-7.
Indeed, merriment and intellectual stimulation pervaded all four days of celebration. The 50th reunion class of 1959 proudly led graduates into Commencement. The 25th reunion Class of 1984 enjoyed a gala dinner in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences complex complete with an entertaining talk by pop culture expert and professor Henry Jenkins. The reunion Class of 1994 put on clothes from their senior year (party T-shirts!) to invoke past spring gatherings at a BBQ at Walker Memorial. Members of the Cardinal and Gray Society, among other offerings, heard from Institute Professor Mildred Dresselhaus HM about her work in physics and electrical engineering and visiting scholar Alexander Belenky on the electoral college. And alumni offspring learned about domino physics and the wonders of the MIT Museum at Kid Tech. Read on for more highlights from Tech Reunions 2009 and view the photo gallery.
MIT10 alumni reminisce and network at the MIT10 reception on Friday evening.
Student Pianist Plays with the Pops
The Boston Pops don't let just anyone perform on stage with them at Symphony Hall. But pianist Jennifer Lai '11 is not just anybody. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, she began playing the piano at age four. Her musical talents earned an honorable mention at the Music Teachers National Association Yamaha Piano Competition, Southwest Division, where she represented her state. At MIT, she's majoring in biological engineering and minoring in music and has performed numerous solo and chamber music programs. She has also won awards and a fellowship to support her musical studies. Lai joined the legendary Pops at the 112th annual Tech Night at the Pops, and she earned a standing ovation from the crowd of alumni, guests, graduating students, and parents with her rendition of "Rhapsody in Blue." At the event, Bob Muh '59 also narrated the Lincoln Portrait with a film as a backdrop.
Commencement Speakers Point to Opportunity amid Crisis
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick urged graduates at MIT's 143rd Commencement June 5 to use their MIT training and skills to "write the next chapter of the American story." President Hockfield inspired them to reach their full potential in service to the world, saying "To successfully battle the great problems of the day—from climate change to computer security, from healthcare to hunger, and from energy to the economy—will take extraordinary feats of science and discovery, engineering and invention. It will take precisely the kind of innovations and innovators that the world has come to expect from MIT." View her full speech or the Commencement Webcast. In all, 937 undergraduate students and 1,342 graduate students received 1,082 undergraduate degrees and 1,441 graduate degrees. Zawadi Lemayian '09, who received two of those undergrad degrees, grew up in a Maasai tribe in Kenya where the majority of women are either illiterate or not well educated. But thanks to an inspiring high school teacher, she is now looking forward to pursuing her PhD, also from MIT. Read Lemayian's story.
Smoot, Petraeus, & Old Jackets Make their Marks on Reunions
On Friday, onlookers witnessed the unveiling of a plaque on the Mass. Ave. bridge, a gift from the Class of 1962, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the night Lambda Chi Alpha pledges used the body of Oliver Smoot '62 to measure the bridge. Alumni learned some interesting trivia on the Fenway tour. General David Petraeus spoke at the commissioning of this year's ROTC graduates, which included his son, Stephen. And Brad Bates '59, a new Cardinal and Gray Society member, wore a red jacket previously owned by his father, Philip K. Bates '24, PhD '29. See all this and more on the Slice of MIT blog.
The Tech Challenge Games offered fun for the whole family.
Technology Day Looks into the Mind
Three professors who are unlocking the mysteries of the brain enthralled the crowd on Saturday morning. Rebecca Saxe PhD '03 discussed how the brain constructs abstract thoughts; Pawan Sinha SM '93, PhD '95 talked about his research involving visual cognition and how the brain retrains the eye when vision is restored; and Patrick Winston '65 discussed the challenges of transferring the many ways humans learn—through vision and stories for example—to computers to boost their intelligence. Watch the archived Webcast.
Honorary Members Announced at Tech Day Lunch
On Saturday, three people were made honorary members of the Alumni Association: Joanne Cummings, former MIT Admissions staff; Cheryl N. Vossmer, MIT campus police sergeant; and Dr. Clarence G. Williams, adjunct professor emeritus of urban studies. At the lunch, reunion classes also announced giving totals so far. The 50th reunion class of 1959 broke a class record with more than $100 million. The senior class set the bar high with a new record of 65 percent participation. Learn more about reunion giving announced at the Tech Day Lunch. And don't forget—the fiscal year ends June 30. You still have time to make a gift!
Tech Challenge Games Delight
Laughter and shouts of encouragement swelled around Steinbrenner Stadium on Saturday for the 18th annual Tech Challenge Games, an irreverent competition among classes to see who can outdesign, outwater-balloon toss, outhaiku, and outwit their fellow alumni. This year there was a tie. Congrats to the Classes of 1984 and 1989, which both proved victorious. Watch video of the action.
New Reunion Row Champs Crowned
Congrats to the Class of 1989, which took home the 13th annual Reunion Row cup.
