Saint Mary’s alumni celebrate Centennial in Chicago

BY JULIANNE BARTOSZ
Editor in Chief

One thousand Saint Mary’s University and College of Saint Teresa alumni and friends gathered in Chicago’s Millennium Park on Sept. 22 to celebrate the Centennial and launch the university into the next century.

Not only did the celebratory event allow attendees to mingle, but it also honored Father Andrew C. Fabian with the Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit, updated alumni on the current status of the university and featured a performance by the Oldie Moldie All-Stars.

“The greatest challenge of planning the event was getting all classes involved,” said Co-Chair of the Event Committee Joe Phillips ’80.  According to Phillips, the event aimed to include 63 consecutive years of SMU alumni spanning from 1952 to 2015.  This span of attendees included notable alumni like President and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks John McDonough ’75 and former Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey ’75.  The oldest alumni in attendance was Sam Cascio ’48.

Class of 2011 graduate Katy Gannon said that she enjoyed being with so many people who are all a part of SMU.  “I can go talk to anyone and know that they’ve had a great four years,” said Gannon.  “They’re all here because they love SMU.”

The Centennial celebration also included an outing at the Chicago Cubs game on Sept. 21, an alumni boat cruise and mass at St. Peter’s Church.  The street posts outside of the church displayed SMU Centennial banners similar to the ones throughout the Winona campus.

Throughout the event, alumni and guests were encouraged to share their experiences on Twitter using #SMUMNChicago100.

SMU will continue to celebrate the Centennial with Centennial artwork being revealed during Family Weekend, a School of Graduate and Professional Programs alumni reunion in March, a student celebration later in the year and an all-class reunion during the 2013 homecoming.