Alumni director Mat Grau ’68 speaks on the importance of maintaining class connections.

More than 50 alumni represented their graduation classes at the 2016 Alumni Class Captains meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The attendees, who spanned classes from the 1950s through 2012, came together to discuss not only their involvement in upcoming alumni activities, but also the school’s direction.

Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66 opened the meeting with a report on the school, including enrollment, academics, athletics, and proposed facility renovations. He detailed several of Jesuit’s recent curriculum changes, including the introduction of robotics and pre-engineering courses, as well as college counseling enhancements. Fr. McGinn also spoke of the excitement surrounding the arrival of Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., Jesuit’s next president, in Jan. 2017.

Tom Bagwill, Jesuit’s director of institutional advancement, thanked alumni for the role they play in providing the resources necessary for Jesuit to fulfill its mission of developing in its students the competence, conscience, and compassion that will enable them to be men of faith and men for others. Bagwill introduced Ian Blanchard ’03, the chairman of the 2016-17 Living Endowment Fund (LEF) drive. Blanchard encouraged captains and their classmates to sign up for shifts at this fall’s LEF Phone Drive on Tuesday – Thursday, Oct. 11 – 13.

Alumni director Mat Grau ’68 emphasized the importance of class connection.

“Your mission as leaders is to cultivate this connection among your classmates and back to Jesuit,” Grau said.

Grau also detailed upcoming events, such as Alumni Homecoming Weekend 2016, which will include the Great American Rivalry game against Holy Cross on Friday, Sept. 30, and the Alumni Mass and Jazz Reception on Saturday, Oct. 1.  He also invited Blue Jays to Celebration 2016, Jesuit’s annual gala and auction. Grau said that there are plenty of opportunities for alumni to get involved throughout the school year, including serving as ushers for Jesuit’s Open House, speaking at Career Day, and attending the Commencement Luncheon, where soon-to-be graduates mingle with their predecessors.

Bill Babin ’74 closed the evening by facilitating a listening session, a key component of an ongoing Jesuit feasibility study. The floor was opened up for input, which ranged from discussion on facility improvement priorities to funding Jesuit’s endowment. Many good opinions emerged, which will serve to inform Jesuit’s future development.