Tech Topics - Winter 2008 - (Page 15)

ALUMNI HOUSE DirecTV Partnership Benefits Alumni Programming T une in to Tech games through DirecTV and support the Yellow Jackets — and alumni. “Our partnership with DirecTV is a very simple one. The Alumni Association receives a $100 royalty for each subscription that we generate,” said Jim Shea, vice president of Business Development and Fundraising. “For the Alumni Association to receive the royalty, new customers just sign up for DirecTV through http://www.directsattv.com/ directv/Georgia_Tech.html.” Alumni who sign up for DirecTV through the site will receive a $23-a-month discount for a year; free HBO, Showtime and Starz for three months; an HD DVR or receiver upgrade and installation. Shea noted that alumni will drive this program. The company will not solicit alumni by telephone or mail. While the Alumni Association cannot guarantee that subscribers will be entertained by all the programming they find on DirecTV, Shea can say that the royalties will benefit Georgia Tech alumni. “The Alumni Association will use the funds generated from this effort for alumni programs, activities and services,” Shea said. “It will go right back to them.” ROB FELT Fun and Games Family Weekend isn’t all about food and football, although the barbecue served at this year’s tailgate party was quite tasty and the Yellow Jackets’ win over Duke was quite exciting. There were mind-expanding games, like jelly bean counting, and mind-expanding seminars for parents and students as well as recreational offerings and a dive-in movie. Reunion Classes Fund Scholarships, Professorships W hile Homecoming is a time to celebrate Georgia Tech and its traditions, it was also a time for many alumni to give back to the Institute. The classes of 1958, 1968 and 1983 donated a combined $17,749,761 to the Georgia Tech Foundation. The money was raised as part of the classes’ 50th, 40th and 25th reunions, and class members presented the donations to Interim President Gary Schuster at their reunion parties during Homecoming. “The generosity of our alumni is remarkable and a testament to the value of the education and the life experiences that come with a Georgia Tech education,” said Joe Irwin, president of the Alumni Association. The class of 1958 raised $7.6 million, with $317,493 going to support a professorship in communications at the Institute. The class of 1983 raised $2.2 million, with $93,156 going toward study abroad scholarships. That also was the project for the class of 1968, which raised almost $8 million, with $465,078 going toward the scholarships. “It’s going to serve the students well in the 21st century they have to live and work in,” said Schuster, also a 1968 graduate, but not of Tech. In addition to fundraising presentations, the three reunions also featured bands, food and fun of all sorts. While listening to the O’Kaysions, of the hit song “Girl Watcher,” W. Clayton Sparrow Jr., Phys 68, said it was the best reunion gathering he’d been to. “This is great,” he said, “the most fun one of these I’ve ever seen.” TechTopics | Winter 2008 15 http://www.directsattv.com/directv/Georgia_Tech.html http://www.directsattv.com/directv/Georgia_Tech.html http://gtalumni.org/pages/affinitygroups http://gtalumni.org/pages/affinitygroups

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Tech Topics - Winter 2008 Contents Letters Buzz Around Town Alumni House Rockin’ Good Time State of the Institute The Hill Presidential Search Going Airborne Student Life An Architect’s Eyes Weight Coach Robot Burdell & Friends Ramblin’ Roll Rural Readers Leading Ladies Yellow Jackets Beyond His Years Leading Change Real World

Tech Topics - Winter 2008

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