November / December 2007 Edition happy holidays alums   Dear Alumni and Friends, It is hard to believe it is already November. Homecoming was October 27 and it was wonderful. The weather was perfect for a football game and meeting with friends. September was a big month for us in the Alumni Office. President Arnold, Trustees, Alumni, Reagan Fellow Alumni and friends traveled to beautiful Santa Barbara for an Alumni Gathering. The gathering began on September 5, with a tour of the USS Reagan. On September 6, a private tour was given of Ronald Reagan's beloved Ranch in the mountains of Santa Ynez.

Lea Anne Schmidgall & Jay Hein '87, Executive Director of the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, standing in front of a section of the Berlin Wall at the Reagan Center..

The tour was followed by the "Eureka College Edition" of the Michael Reagan Show. Michael hosted our group at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara. President Arnold and Jay Hein were interviewed on air. Michael Reagan has a listening audience of over 5 million people.

Following the radio show we had dinner on the Reagan Ranch Center veranda. It was a special time of reunited friends and we ended the dinner by joining hands and singing the alma mater. I can't imagine a more perfect evening than the one we shared that day.

Friday was spent at the Reagan Presidential Library with tours of the private offices and Air Force One. The day ended at Rodney Gould's '87 home in Studio City. We had another wonderful time reminiscing and sharing our memories of the week.

I want to thank all of the people that attended this event. It was a trip of a lifetime.

On that note, the Alumni Board has been working on ideas to help people leave their legacy here at Eureka College.
For many years, graduates have entered Rinker Theater for graduation and that has meant walking down a muddy path. All that will change this year. We created the "Graduation Pathway" brick project. This project began with an idea and has been supported by the Class of 2006 and 2007 Senior Gift funds.

Please take some time to look over the information and photos we have provided regarding this project. We would like the pathway completely filled with bricks by April 1. If you would like to purchase a brick for someone as a gift for the holidays, please do so! We will send a card to them, letting that special person know that you bought a brick in their name.

As always, I hope this issue of the Maroon and Gold finds you well. Please join us at our upcoming gatherings.
We appreciate your support of Eureka College and ask you to continue praying for blessings upon our school.

Sincerely,

The Reagan Fellowship Program 25th anniversary Celebration in California - september 2007

snap shot recollections of the Reagan Fellow celebration

California Mountains		At the Reagan Ranch
Jay Hein '87& Michael Reagon on-air		The audience responds to the radio show
Everyone outside the Reagan Ranch Center
Edwina Doran, Steve Kirk '87, Bill Doran		Sarah Gohl Isabel '98, Rodney Gould '87, Darin Mahlke '99
Brian Sajko, Richard & Fran Owen, Pres. & Katherine Arnold, Cal Lyons		President Arnold & Jay Hein '87

The Eureka Alumni Spirit is Catching on

Don't let it pass you by

where has the eureka path led you?

honor the journey you and your classmates have made

After many years of contemplation, the Alumni Board has launched the “Graduation Pathway” project. The classes of 2006 and 2007 have previously set aside their “Senior Gift” funds to help with the project. We need to sell 2,200 4x8 brick pavers to complete the pathway. We can do it!

The pathway is already under construction. The borders are prepared. Now all we need is for you to purchase a commemorative brick to be placed on the pathway. You may purchase a gift for yourself, a friend, a team that you were on, a club you were associated with, your business, your sorority or fraternity, the options are limitless.

Larger stones are available for $500 and $1,000. These will be considerably larger than a brick paver. Pictures of the larger stones will be available upon request.

You may purchase a brick anytime from now until April 1. Our goal is to have the pathway ready for the class of 2008.

Please take a moment to click the Graduation Pathway link below, download an order form, and purchase a brick as a gift to yourself or someone you care about. Thank you.

Click the above image for an on-line order form (pdf).

just in time for the holidays

get a eureka alumni shirt

Show your EC pride		EC student, Jordan Jesse '09 and friend
Perfect stocking stuffer for the EC alum. - Click for more information and to order -

Upcoming Eureka Alumni Events

mark your calendars

special event coming up in 2008

eureka college holds first ever reagan day and Dinner

Reagan on his beloved ranch		Eureka College will hold its first-ever Ronald Reagan Day and Dinner on February 25 to celebrate and benefit its Reagan-related programs. “Ronald Reagan Day will be a public celebration of EC’s most famous alumnus,” said Brian Sajko, director of the Reagan Leadership Program and curator of the Reagan Museum. “It will celebrate the 97th anniversary of the birth of President Reagan on February 6, and it also will mark the 25th anniversary of the leadership program named for him.” Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932. Day-long events will include presentations on the various mentorships that Reagan Fellows have completed and guided tours of the museum. Events also will include an invitation-only dinner to benefit the museum and the fellowship program, which awards six full-tuition fellowships to incoming freshmen each year.  Reagan Fellows will host the dinner. “Reagan Fellows will tell their stories and celebrate the history and future of this important program,” Sajko said. “Guests will be invited to join us in support of this life-changing program as well as our outstanding museum,” he said. Capping off events will be a presentation by historian Douglas Brinkley, editor of the best selling “The Reagan Diaries” at 7:30 p.m. in the Cerf College Center. The event will be open to the public. Cost to attend the Brinkley presentation is $10.   For more information about scheduled events, the birthday dinner, or the Brinkley presentation, call (309)467-6317 or click the Alumni Office.

Eureka College Headlines

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what's new with future alumni

This December Eureka College has 32 graduates on its current roster. Click to see who will join the ranks of alum.

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Mission Statement

Eureka College, a liberal arts and science institution, affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), exists to cultivate excellence in learning, service, and leadership. The College fosters the mutual development of intellect and character so that the members of our community may lead meaningful, productive lives and succeed in their professional and social roles.

Maroon & Gold is an e-mail newsletter distributed by the Alumni Relations Office at Eureka College. If you have comments or story ideas for Maroon & Gold please e-mail the Alumni Office or contact:

Lea Anne Schmidgall
Director of Alumni Relations & Legislative Liaison

(309)467-6313
laschmidgall@eureka.edu