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More than 1,000 DPU alumni celebrate Reunion Weekend
More than 1,000 DePauw University alumni returned to Greencastle for the weekend to visit campus, see all the new amenities and rekindle old friendships during the annual Alumni Weekend event.
"We all still have so much to give," Vernon O. "Bud" Hamilton Jr. told fellow members of DePauw University's Class of 1964 Saturday. "How we do it isn't so critical, as we all have different capabilities and capacities and need to make our own choices. But, we all need to reach out in some way," said Hamilton, who served Procter & Gamble for 37 years in several executive capacities.
He spoke at Saturday morning's annual meeting of the Alumni Association: A Convocation for All Alumni in Meharry Hall of historic East College.
"We all need to do as much as we can, while we can," stressed Hamilton, who earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University after receiving his DePauw degree. "To do anything less diminishes the return on the investment we've made in our education, our professions, our families, our lives.
"As I see it, we're all still in our formative years, still learning and building on our aggregate life experiences. We still have much to do."
Elizabeth "Beth" Hentze Owens, founder of BrandEra, a marketing/public relations agency located in Fort Worth, Texas, spoke on behalf of the Class of 1989, back for its 25th reunion.
"DePauw has provided us the foundation of so many things," she noted. "It challenged us intellectually as we pushed through our class work. We cut our teeth on networking, consensus building, fundraising, event planning and team-building -- right here. And have those life skills come in handy.
"Unlike our parents who may have worked a job and retired with the commemorative watch, we have been forced to reinvent ourselves time and time again," she said.
"Multiple industries, multiple jobs and we have done it seamlessly. We are energized to make a difference and have clung to our youthfulness," Owens said.
She called the DePauw experience "a world-class education."
"These amazing four years prepared us for the world. What I cherish most is DPU gave us the capacity to be life-long learners and I know that I have benefited immensely from the liberal arts education. It connects with that natural curiosity that we share and a desire to have a well-rounded view. That B.A. in Spanish and minor in political science have served me well."
DePauw President Brian W. Casey told the gathering, "So much is new about DePauw, and so much is changing."
"We look toward a future that promises so many other changes," Casey said. "But the rhythm of our years still hold. And the story that is DePauw continues to be written, year by year."
Michael L. Smith, a 1970 DPU graduate, received DePauw's Old Gold Goblet. The award is given annually to recognize "eminence in life's work and service to alma mater."
Smith is considered a leader in higher education, business and philanthropy in the state of Indiana.