TAMIU Annual Report 2020

ALUMNI @ HOME BRINGS ON THE VIRTUAL FUN TIMES With a good amount of innovation, a dash of spirit and a liberal sprinkling of sweetmemories, theAlumni Association’s virtual offer- ing, Alumni @Home, served up an impressive menu of alumni fun. “With the Pandemic, we transitioned to a virtual environment… butwanted tomake surewe didn’t take the ’home’ out of that setting. Home iswhat aUniversity is…that’swhy it’s calledour almamater ,” said Rosanne Palacios , TAMU’s vice president for Institutional Advance- ment, “In the end, we reaffirmed that the University is always home and always here. And we had fun too!” There was 13 hours of dizzying array of fun, insightful and yes, even tasty options on board for the digital extravaganza. Where else could one: hear from Distinguished Alumni Award recipients in a panel; learn how to make paella and TAMIU-themed cocktails; hear about the University’s history from noted author Dr. Jerry Thompson ; paint a South Texas landscape online with Col- lege deans; take a Yoga or HIIT class with alums; see a light show at the Trailblazers Tower; network with alumni professionals and rock out with a virtual concert by Little Sister. “Wewere committed tofinding away tohonor our sharedhistory and reach out to our alumni around the world…and just around the corner. Fortunately, the University’s technology capability is robust and made it possible to deliver a fun and meaningful experience worthy of our celebration,” said Mario Peña (’78), Alumni @ Home Event Committee Chair. 16