AlumniReview32014_0

QuAA PresIDenT’s
message
Welcome to the family
The QUAA president welcomes the class of 2014 and
looks forward to meeting the class of 2018.
By GeorGe m. JACKson, ArTsCI’85
On behalf of the Queen’s
University Alumni Association
(quaa) and the entire
Queen’s alumni family, I want
to extend my congratulations
to the new graduates of the
class of 2014! You are now a
part of one of the most active
alumni associations in the
world. From a Queen’s connection
to help you land your first
job to opening other doors for
the future, remember that the
Queen’s alumni network is
always at your disposal. Also,
don’t forget that your Queen’s
email address will continue
to be active. We would love to
hear about what you’ve been
up to since graduation!
Email me at quaa.president
@queensu.ca.
I am looking forward to the return of students
to campus this fall, and to welcome the class of
2018 to the Queen’s family. The majority of new
students come to Kingston from more than 150
kilometres away. In fact, students will be joining
us from every province in Canada. International
students make up just over six per cent of the
class. The coming few years will be an exciting
time for the class of 2018 to be at Queen’s and in
Kingston. They will be witness to both the 200th
anniversary of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald
in 2015, and in 2016, the 175th anniversary of the
founding of our fine university.
Another highlight this fall will be the celebration
of Homecoming 2014. As many of you know,
Homecoming is a unique event for Queen’s – one
that holds a special place in the hearts of Queen’s
students and alumni. A lot of planning has gone
into this year’s programming, reunion dinners
and events in order to create a weekend that
connects returning alumni with each other,
with their faculties, with students and with the
Kingston community. For those alumni celebrating
their official reunions this year, I hope that
you will be able to join us in Kingston to celebrate
the spirit of initiative that makes Queen’s
the unique university that it is, and to do so in a
safe and respectful way. And please remember to
Spring convocation ceremonies welcomed new graduates into the
Queen’s University Alumni Association.
register online for your Homecoming weekend,
in order to secure all your preferred weekend
activities. (queensu.ca/homecoming2014)
On a final note, I am proud to announce that
the entire quaa board of directors has participated
in the Queen’s Annual Appeal (and all
within the first month of the Queen’s fiscal year)!
As some of you may know, Queen’s is enduring
especially tough economic times due to deep
reductions in government funding.
So, the giving back of your
time, talents or treasure (it
doesn’t matter which of the
three, and it doesn’t matter
how much!) is more important
than ever to help ensure that
everything we know and love
about the university, from academic
opportunities to sports teams, will continue
to flourish, and that current and future
students can experience the Queen’s we have all
grown to love so much.
Our board of directors is proud to lead the way.
As always, I look forward to connecting with
you and the rest of my extended (alumni) family
in the coming year at one of the many alumni
events happening around the world!
Cha Gheill! B
“You are now a part of
one of the most active
alumni associations
in the world.”
Issue 3, 2014 | alumnireview.queensu.ca 27
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