Hello Class of '86! Welcome to the first issue of “In the Mix with ’86!” We plan to bring you this lively newsletter a few times a year, focusing on information about PENN specifically relevant to the Class of ’86 covering topics such as: What’s New on Campus; Best of the DP (that’s the Daily Pennsylvanian in case you have forgotten); PENN Athletics; Admissions and more! We will help you stay connected to PENN. Since our 25th Reunion, your class officers have been busy on campus, keeping up with things so we can bring information back to you. Please let us know what you would like to hear about! As many of you know, there are numerous PENN events around the country and the world all year. Local club events, PENN sports, Mask and Wig tours, Engaging Minds, etc. and of course Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. We often have designated ’86 sections at these events…it’s a great way to meet up with our classmates between reunions. We will also profile one of our Classmates in each Newsletter. Feel free to suggest someone, but be careful…. It could be you next! Do you have any old photographs from our days at PENN? In the Quad, Franklin Field, the Palestra, Houston Hall, College Green, etc… Send them our way and we will share them. We have a great PENN ‘86 Facebook page. Please LIKE us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/49398110814/ So here we go…Hurrah Hurrah! We hope you enjoy our inaugural copy of “In the Mix with ’86!” Enjoy! Sue Dreier Wishnow, David Blatte Co-Presidents – Class of ‘86 Dina Orlove Fink, Mina Raskin, George Graffy, and Della Makower Co-VPs News From Campus! Exciting things have been going on at Penn since our 25th...here are a few of them: The Class of 2018 Admissions cycle in underway. Penn is HOT! Early Decision (ED) applications are pouring in. Last year’s results were outstanding. PENN had a total of 31,238 applicants and admitted 3,830 (12.1%). Of those, 4,818 were ED applicants with 1,194 admitted through ED. 13% of the class of 2017 is international; representing 73 countries and the ratio of women to men is 52%/48%. PENN Park is our new, beautiful, 24 acre, green area, between Walnut and South Streets. The park is graced by three multipurpose NCAA-worthy fields, including one that seats 470 spectators, as well as 12 tennis courts, which can accommodate another 200 sports fans. The Park has already become a key part of Penn’s athletic system and has hosted both alumni concerts and Spring Fling events. This fabulous project transformed a parking lot into something sustainable, including "cisterns, energy efficient lighting, and native plants." What this means is that 548 local trees were planted in the park, all of which can be irrigated using recycled rainwater from cisterns. Also, energy-efficient lighting should save the park 300,000 watts of energy per hour. There are plans underway to build a new state of the art residence on Hill Field. This development called Hill Square will be a 300-400 bed College House, including residential advisors, faculty, and house master suites. The ground floor will feature public amenities such as retail, dining and social spaces. It will establish a gateway to campus, as it is located at a key pedestrian approach from the northeastern corner of the University. It will be the first building one encounters comingfrom 30th St Station. Remember eating in the Commissary in the old Christian Association building? That building is well into its renovation. The ARCH (Arts, Research and Culture House) at 36th and Locust Walk has moved into the construction phase for renovations to serve as a center of campus life. Plans include a lounge, gallery, conference and group study rooms with state of the art technology, expanded office space, an outdoor terrace and indoor café, an auditorium for lectures, performances, or receptions, and restoration of historic architectural features. PENN surpassed the goal of $3.5 billion in its MAKING HISTORY campaign raising a total of $4.1billion. PENN’s endowment now ranked 9th stands at $6.8 billion. PENN was ranked #7 (tied with Duke and MIT) in National Universities by US NEWS. President Amy Gutmann is staying on for at least another 5 years after her current 10 year contract expires – through at least June 2019. The extension would make her the second longest serving President in the school’s modern history. As Penn’s president, Gutmann has championed greater interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship, enhancing the school’s stellar faculty by attracting world-renowned scholars, adding more than 100 new named professorships, including 14 Penn Integrates Knowledge professors jointly appointed between two schools, and launching a new Action Plan for Faculty Diversity and Excellence. President Gutmann inaugurated Penn’s no-loan undergraduate financial aid program, which has greatly expanded access to a Penn education and become a model for other universities. Speaking of wonderful Penn Presidents, our community had sad news this year as Sheldon Hackney (President during our time as students 1981-1993) died of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Born in Alabama, Hackney worked to increase minority presence on campus and focused on undergraduate education, student financial aid and research funding. His focus in particular on undergraduate education resulted in the creation of new dual-degree programs in cognitive science, international area studies and public and urban policy, along with many other areas. He left Penn in 1993 when President Bill Clinton appointed him as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He later returned to Penn as a history teacher retiring in 2010. Amy Gutmann, called Hackney "an exceptional leader and renowned scholar who was a national champion for the humanities.” Update on our Class Scholarship recipient: Joseph Coto You may recall that our AWARD WINNING CLASS OF 1986 raised over $17 million dollars for Penn in honor of our 25thReunion. We broke records for Funds raised and attendance numbers, re-defining Reunion goals that have helped raise Penn reunions to a new height. Our Friday night party in the QUAD, a first, has become a new staple for 25th Year Reunions. Our Class gift to the University funded two important things. We donated the revitalization of the “Amphitheatre next to the Library on Locust Walk, a great place for students (and alumni) to relax. We think the even more rewarding gift was the creation of the “Class of 1986 Endowed Scholarship” that will exist in perpetuity and will be given to a deserving student each year. Our Class Scholarship was presented to Joseph Coto, Class of 2015. Joseph is an amazing young man, who we have met on numerous occasions. Joey is extremely grateful for this unique opportunity he has had at Penn, made possible by this scholarship support. If any 86ers are on campus and want to meet Joey, please do not hesitate to contact us and we would be more than happy to help facilitate. We know Joey would love to meet and thank you! Originally from Florida, Joseph was an Eagle Scout and National Merit Semifinalist. He also received the Louis Armstrong Award for Musical Excellence playing the saxophone. He enjoys Penn’s close proximity to Philadelphia’s rich artistic community. Joseph, a Junior in SEAS, is a Digital Media Design major and is currently building a portfolio of 3- D computer models and digitally rendered images to apply for positions at places like Pixar, Unisoft and Dreamworks post- graduation. He is also working with other students and professors to design an artificial intelligence system to automate his dorm room – with the goal to translate that design into an affordable life-changing device for people in assisted living situations. Undergraduate Scholarships are a key to fostering a dynamic campus, thriving with students eager to make the most of Penn. The impact of a scholarship is both crucial and far-reaching. Penn’s commitment to need-blind admissions and a no-loan financial aid policy – to eliminate tuition costs for those who can ill-afford it – not only allows Penn to admit the very best candidates from all backgrounds, it ensures students will be free to choose the career that best suits their passions, unburdened by crippling debt. Penn was a pioneer in this program and remains committed to this program. It is by far one of the most important and meaningful gifts that can be given to the University. Our individual ’86 Classmates are responsible for 71 student scholarships at the University. Only two Classes have given more student scholarships than ours! That is an unbelievable achievement and we should all be very proud of our Class!! This is one of the many reasons why the Class of ’86 is so special and looked at as the model of an Alumni Class. We plan to add to the “Class of 1986 Endowed Scholarship” each reunion year with the goal of having a fully self-funding scholarship to defray 100% of the cost of a deserving student’s education each and every year going forward! "Upclose" with classmates Gary and Lorraine Survis: Lorraine Kooby Survis (C’86) and Gary Survis (W’86) met the first night of school at Doc Watsons and have continued to strengthen their ties with Penn long after graduation. Lorraine and Gary married in 1989, and are the proud parents of Nicole (C’2014) and Matthew (C’2017), keeping the family Penn tradition alive! After many years of active involvement with the Penn Club of Metro New Jersey, Lorraine and Gary took the helm as Co-Presidents from 2011 – 2013, leading the Club to earn this year’s Alumni Club Award of Merit, which was presented at the Gala during Homecoming Weekend.