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By Andrea Hjelm, B.S. '65 When I walk into the Ski-U-Mah Room in the McNamara Alumni Center and look at the wall of photographs of the past alumni association presidents, I'm both inspired and awestruck. So many of these individuals tirelessly and passionately continue to serve the University and their communities in countless ways. I'm about to join the ranks of the past presidents, and over the years I've learned volumes about altruism from them. To them, serving wherever and whenever needed isn't optional. I'll mention just a few of them and why they do it. Deb Hopp (B.A. '75), president in 2002-03, is chair of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. She's also on the boards of the Minnesota Orchestra, Walker Art Center, and the United Way and chairs the development committee for the University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Department. “I had a great time at the University-probably the best four years of my life,” Hopp says. “To help others have as good an experience, through whatever effort one can put forth, is very important.” Nancy Lindahl (B.S. '68), president in 1999-00, is a founding member of the United Way Women's Leadership Council and a director of the Minnesota Community Foundation. With her husband, John (B.S. '68), she co-chairs another United Way group. The Lindahls also co-chair the Gopher stadium campaign. “Sometimes I'm actually shocked by how passionate I am about the University,” Lindahl says. “As I've grown older, I've realized that everything in this community depends on the strength of the University. I believe that to my core.” Dave Mona (B.A. '65), president in 1998-99, is chair of the Minnesota Vikings Children's Fund and vice president of the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association. In addition to his radio broadcasts for Gopher football games, Mona is leading the grassroots fund-raising for an on-campus stadium. “Once I started traveling with the football team and saw the impact an on-campus stadium could have,” Mona says, “it made me understand how much we've missed by not being a part of campus.” Linda Mona (B.S. '67), president in 1995-96 (and married to Dave Mona), is an adviser for the College of Human Ecology's Mertie Buckman Fund for Leadership in Philanthropy and a trustee for the University of Minnesota Foundation. She recently headed a committee that raised $950,000 for a new women's locker room in Williams Arena, and she's currently helping raise funds for the women's volleyball team. “I've worked hard to be involved in places in which I thought we could give girls and young women opportunities for leadership, learning, and fun that my generation didn't have,” Mona says. Harvey Mackay (B.A. '54), president in 1986-87, spearheaded the Save Gopher Sports campaign in April 2002. Just 10 months later, the group had raised the $2.7 million necessary to save the Gopher men's and women's golf and men's gymnastics programs from being discontinued. Mackay, a former varsity golfer, also endowed a scholarship for the golf team. He's currently working to raise $500,000 to fund a pair of scholarships in honor of StarTribune sportswriter Sid Hartman. “You have to have a good memory. Who are the people who helped you on the way up?” Mackay says of his continued service to his alma mater. “The University of Minnesota is the crown jewel of the state of Minnesota.” Tom Swain (B.S. '42), president in 1976-77, who just turned 84, is still on the boards or advisory committees of about a half dozen University and community organizations, including the Humphrey Institute, the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which he helped found 10 years ago. “You've got to think of the University in the same fashion you think of giving to the Red Cross or your community fund or your church-help make it possible for others to get by because costs today are huge,” Swain says. “It's terribly important that those of us who benefited from an education from the University recognize our obligation to repay.” I can't think of better words with which to conclude my final column as UMAA president. Let's all follow the lead of these exceptional individuals and continue working to safeguard the health and well-being of the University of Minnesota-and the community it so profoundly enriches--for generations to come | |||||||||||||
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