Following the Alumni Association Board of Governors meeting on Saturday, April 2, alumni volunteers gathered to celebrate the creation of the alumni association. On April 24, 1965, this small group of Harvey Mudd College alumni and staff came together in a constitutional convention meeting to create an Alumni Association. From that meeting, the Alumni Board of Governors was born to become a passionate body of alumni who support the college, its mission, students and alumni. 

Bob Ashenfelter, William Benkovsky, Larry Hallanger, Wayne Schmus and Donald Williams were honored with thank-you Warts, and Velma McKelvey accepted one on behalf of her husband, George McKelvey, who was vice president of development at the time of the constitutional convention. Additionally, volunteers were given a clock with the Harvey Mudd College logo as recognition for their gift of time. Jerry Van Hecke ’61 presented a timeline of accomplishments, and no recognition could be complete without the warm wisdom of founding president Emeritus Joseph Platt, who commended the group for their loyalty and wisdom.

ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE HMC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Robert Ashenfelter ’61 -- William Benkovsky ’63 -- Michael Blasgen ’63 -- Janet Cook ’60 -- Dennis Diestler ’64
Anthony Fallon ’61* -- Bruce Goeller ’62* -- David Goodsell ’62 -- Robert Hall ’62 -- Lawrence Hallanger ’61
Dorothy Harris -- John Hurst ’64 -- Walter Keller ’64 -- George McKelvey* -- Eugene Moore ’61 -- Edward Prono ’63
Freya Schmus ’62. -- Wayne Schmus ’62 -- Donald Trapp ’61 -- Joseph Uhlarik ’64 -- Donald Williams ’61

*deceased

Seen, said, and sung at alumni weekend

Thanks to the efforts of Jim Dewar ’66 and Steve Dequer ’66, classmates came out to cheer Paul Vitta ’66 as he received the outstanding alumni award, which was presented to him by Joseph Platt.

Department tours were featured, including one by Gerald Van Hecke ’61, professor of chemistry.

A panel of NASA alumni was moderated by Greg Lyzenga ’75, professor of physics.

Lunch was a great time for faculty and alumni to catch up.

Founding President Emeritus Joe Platt and Scott Olmsted ’74 led the sing-along around the campfire.

Award Recipients

Outstanding Alumnus
Paul Vitta ’66

Honorary Alumni
Professors Tom Helliwell, Hank Krieger and J’nan Morse Sellery; and Deren Finks, dean of admission emeritus

Order of the Wart
Ruth Cinquini, former assistant director of annual support and alumni relations

Clearly a Good Time

Alumni from the mid-Atlantic area gathered in Washington, D.C., for a  tour of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, an extension of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and home to a portion of the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft. Pictured are Jeff Cade ’90; Julia Llewellyn and Rick Llewellyn ’68; Key MacLane ’96; Ajay Shah ’06; and Courtney Hoshibata ’02 and Bradley Akitake ’02.