IN THIS ISSUE: Dear Classmate, Our time at GW was filled with reflections. The reflection you saw in the mirror each morning as you got ready for class in Funger Hall, the reflection you saw in the window of the Metro as you traveled to your internship, the reflection you saw in the Potomac River on your daily jog; each one shaped your experience as a student. It has been FIVE YEARS since many of us have seen those particular reflections, but the memories of nights in Georgetown or Adams Morgan, of cheering on the Colonials to victory in the Smith Center, or of graduating on the Ellipse are still fresh in our min ds. Names like "Thurston," "Lafayette," and "HOVA" also bring back happy thoughts despite the fact that we first moved into those buildings almost nine years ago! With that, I write to invite you to our fifth-year reunion, to be held during Alumni Reunion Weekend September 26-28, 2008. During this weekend, the Foggy Bottom campus will host numerous parties and programs for alumni. Of special note, we will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Greek life on campus. A number of special panels and events will be held to commemorate this historic milestone. Given that this is our first official reunion, the University and the Fifth-Year Reunion Committee have already begun planning exclusive events for our class, in addition to the many events and happenings that will be open to all alumni. I believe that we are in the process of creating a truly memorable celebration of our time together as students at GW. Here are some of the early highlights: - The Alumni Achievement Awards dinner on Thursday, September 25. - An all-alumni kick-off party on the University Yard on Friday, September 26. - On Saturday, September 27, you will have the opportunity to take a guided tour of campus, a campus that has truly grown since our departure! - On Saturday afternoon we will also head Back to Thurston Hall for a tour and an opportunity to re-connect with roommates and friends. - Our main Class of 2003 Reunion Celebration is set for Saturday evening. - On Sunday, September 28, take advantage of the opportunity to attend a game of the DC United, Washington's very own Major League Soccer franchise. These events represent just a few of the things Alumni Reunion Weekend has to offer. GW invites your family and friends to any and all open reunion events. You will be formally invited to these and other reunion events in early August. In the meantime, there is a lot of work to be done to prepare for this monumental gathering. If you are interested in joining the Reunion Committee, please contact 1-800-ALUMNI-7, or e-mail reunion@gwu.edu . An event this monumental cannot happen without the dedication and help of classmates like you! There are many ways to get involved even if you do not live in the metropolitan DC area. If you are looking for more information about volunteering or how to attend our reunion, please visit: www.alumni.gwu.edu/reunion . I hope to see each of you in Washington this September as we reflect back on our time together. Sincerely,
Josh Hiscock B.A., Class of 2003, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Chair, Fifth-Year Reunion Committee GET INVOLVED! PLEASE JOIN US - FREE TICKETS TO TAILGATE & GAME We will be hosting our first reunion committee meeting on Wednesday January 30, at 5:30 pm EST, and all 2003 alumni are invited. The meetings usually last 20-30 minutes and we start right on time. You can participate in person or via teleconference. To participate via teleconference, dial: (877) 322-9648, and code: 833459. Those of you who attend in person can request a free ticket to the GW vs. St. Joe's tailgate and basketball game that night! There are a limited number of free tickets available to those who attend the meeting, so please RSVP soon to reserve your ticket. For more information about the event, please contact Stephanie Medwid, Assistant Director of Reunions, at smedwid@gwu.edu or at (202) 994-9524. ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: David Schaffer
David is currently an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Chicago, Illinois. "The most challenging and most rewarding part of my job," he says, "is uncovering subtle, nuanced legal principles to craft much larger legal arguments in any given case." When asked about his memories of GW, David says, "The memories of GW that immediately leap to mind are basketball games at the Smith Center; a seriously unhealthy amount of Chic-Fil-A sandwiches at J Street; Wednesday nights (80's night!) at The Tombs in Georgetown; late-night monument tours in the fall; falling asleep on the quad in the spring; and, eating Manush's hot dogs at 2 am while studying for finals at Gelman." "My absolute fondest memory of GW, however," he says, "started with a snowy day in early 2002. Hearing the news that GW had cancelled classes for the day, my roommate and I took a trip to a boating store in Virginia to buy a water-skiing tow rope, to the wonder of the store clerk who apparently didn't sell very much water skiing equipment in January. We tied the tow rope to the back of my roommate's car, and I grabbed hold of the end of the rope while my roommate drove about 30 miles per hour down H Street - past dozens of our classmates wondering why someone was 'water skiing' through campus in sneakers." David is currently engaged and will get married in June 2008 in Hinsdale, Illinois. "I met my fiancée, Katie, just a few days after graduating from GW, at (where else?) a happy hour at The Front Page." David is serving on the 2003 5th Reunion Committee. "I wouldn't miss the reunion for the world," he says. "I'm especially looking forward to returning to DC, having beer and pizza with old friends at Froggy Bottom Pub, strolling around the Tidal Basin, and taking in a Nationals game at their new brand new ballpark!" POST A CLASS NOTE! ALUMNI OPEN HOUSE AT YOUR NEW HOME ON CAMPUS - PLEASE JOIN US You are cordially invited to attend an open house reception at the new Alumni House @ 1918 F Street, NW, hosted by the Young Alumni Network. Please plan to join fellow GW alumni for food, drinks, and great company. It's Super Tuesday, so we'll be sure to have updates on the primary elections! Tuesday, February 5 There is no cost to attend the open house, but please register your attendance in advance. We look forward to seeing you in February and welcoming you to your new home on campus! TRUSTEE CHALLENGE MATCH Please join fellow Colonials and welcome President Steven Knapp to The George Washington University; please make your gift today! Visit: www.gwu.edu/give2gw JOIN THE LUTHER RICE SOCIETY! GW's oldest giving society has been re-launched with new benefits and energy! Luther Rice Society members enjoy the ability to connect to GW year-round through exclusive access and select networking events around the world that bring them face to face with University leaders and prominent alumni. For example, members are invited to join President Knapp for an invitation-only reception during Alumni Weekend 2008. The Society recognizes individuals who contribute between $1,000 and $24,999 ($250+ for recent graduates) annually. Contact a staff person from the Leadership Annual Giving team for more information on the Society and to learn about its many benefits at (202) 994-5228 or LRS@gwu.edu. To join today, simply make your gift online! www.gwu.edu/give2gw. We look forward to seeing you in September! The 5th Reunion Committee:
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An English major and French minor at GW, David Schaffer went on to earn his J.D. from University of Baltimore School of Law. After living in the DC area for four years, he moved west in 2007, and has since been living in the Lakeview area of Chicago, Illinois, fifty yards from Lake Michigan and one mile from Wrigley Field.