On October 13, President Shirley Ann Jackson hosted alumni, guests, and campus members at the launch of a capital campaign designed to position Rensselaer for its third century of leadership in research and education. “Transformative: Campaign for Global Change” will seek to raise $1 billion for student scholarships, faculty support, and campus enhancements. At the gala event in the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, President Jackson announced that the Institute has already raised more than $400 million toward the goal through the support of alumni, corporations, and foundations.
The event was the highlight of Reunion & Homecoming weekend, which also offered attendees an immersive experience demonstrating the exciting paradigm of The New Polytechnic, showcasing how students and faculty collaborate across disciplines, across sectors, and across global regions to harness the power of advanced tools and technologies to address today’s global challenges. Programs included a Research Showcase; “Passport to The New Polytechnic” programs that allowed guests to experience research and innovative pedagogy from each of the five schools; RED (Research, Education, and Discovery) Talks, TED Talk-style presentations on how Rensselaer researchers are playing a leading role in addressing societally important challenges; and “Impact on the Global Challenges: Rensselaer Alumnae in a Position to Create Change,” a panel discussion moderated by President Jackson and featuring alumnae who are top executives in business and industry.
A wide variety of groups gathered during the weekend. Milestone celebrations included the 50th anniversary of the Black Students’ Alliance, WRPI’s 60th anniversary, Rensselaer Motorsport’s 25th anniversary, the 20th anniversary of the Rusty Pipes, Sheer Idiocy’s 20th anniversary, and gatherings for Reunion-year classes ending in 2 or 7.
Athletic teams hosted events including breakfasts, tailgates, and athletic competitions with current students. Special interest groups included student groups such as Phalanx, ROTC, Crew, and the Society of Women Engineers. Eighteen Greek organizations held a variety of events throughout the weekend, which allowed brothers and sisters to reconnect and meet current students. Several departments and schools also hosted open houses for their alumni.
For more on the capital campaign, visit transformative.rpi.edu. For more on Reunion & Homecoming, visit alumni.rpi.edu/reunion.