In this last message, I'd like to comment on the alumni of this distinctive institution. Alumni are important to any college or university, but as we are just celebrating our 50th Anniversary and still have less than half the alumni we'll have at equilibrium, our alumni have been absolutely vital to our considerable success to date. Moreover, as our alumni body grows in size and maturity, this influence will only grow.

One doesn't have to speak with Joe Platt for more than a few moments to have him citing the many accomplishments of our alumni as evidence that we are not only fulfilling our mission, but also Joe's not so secret ambition that our alumni will be vastly overrepresented in the ranks of those making a difference in our society. No doubt, we'll hear from Joe on this score during his address as our 50th Anniversary Commencement speaker May 14.

Accordingly, let me comment on some other measures of the influence of our alumni on the college. First and foremost is their role in governance. There are now 18 alumni serving as trustees of the college, up from ten in the last nine years. And, given their commitment, special personal knowledge, and generosity, there is every reason to believe that in the years ahead alumni participation on the Board will grow significantly from today's almost 50 percent. And, alumni influence on college governance doesn't end with the Board of Trustees. There are also the important roles of the Alumni Association Board of Governors in admissions, the Alumni Fundd and alumni programs, as well as the advice and guidance they provide to the college, both directly and through the alumni trustee position held by the immediate past AABoG president.

Another area of alumni influence worthy of mention is direct monetary support. During the last eight years, the alumni annual giving for financial aid and other direct budget support has increased by 118 percent from $434,000 to $945,000. However, with the addition of all the large recent graduating classes, the participation percentage has dropped from almost 50 percent to 40 percent over that same period. We're working now through the senior class gift program and the class agent program to reverse this trend. But the real success in support from alumni in recent years has been for capital gifts, where the increasing alumni involvement and financial maturity has led to $5.2 million for four named endowed professorships, $7.9 million in gifts for capital projects such as the Linde Activity Center, Sontag Residence Hall and the Hoch-Shanahan Dining Commons, and another $5.3 million in alumni gifts for financial aid endowment and other capital purposes. Alumni annual giving for all purposes has risen by 1367 percent from 5.9 percent to 29.1 percent of total (non-bequest) giving over these eight years. This is a phenomenal record and there is every reason to believe it will continue.

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the many other roles and contributions of alumni as faculty-now six of our regular faculty-as volunteers, and as cheerleaders. But, the single greatest contribution of our alumni to the college is through your success, in your professions, of course, but also as productive citizens. Joe and Jean Platt have every reason for their pride in this institution and in its alumni, our single-most important product.

One of the most memorable and pleasurable aspects of Jean's and my almost nine years of association with Harvey Mudd College has been our interactions with the alumni who literally are the college's raison d'etre. We are very proud to have worked with you to advance the mission of this wonderful institution and are grateful for how you have included us in the Harvey Mudd College Family. We hope that we can continue to build on our many friendships as we move on to retirement on Bainbridge Island, Washington. And, we'll look forward to further interactions in Washington or wherever our paths may cross.

Thank you for being you and for your terrific support of your alma mater.

Jon C. Strauss