Dear Members of the Class of 2003, Can you believe we are only six months away from our 5th Reunion, which is scheduled for September 25-28, 2008? Here is a quick update for you. GET INVOLVED! REUNION EVENTS We have some great activities in store for Alumni Weekend 2008, including the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards, the All-Alumni Kickoff Party on University Yard, tours of campus and DC, Classes without Quizzes, "Back to Thurston" tours, an open house at President Knapp's new residence, The Kalb Report, Politics and Pita, book signings, an Orioles game, your class party, and more! SAVE-THE-DATE POSTCARDS PLEASE JOIN US We will be hosting our next reunion committee meeting on Thursday, April 3, at 6:00 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: (888)285-4585, and code: 402288. 2003 FACTS: Federal spending: $2,158 billion Popular Albums: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Outkast Popular Books: Living History, Hillary Rodham Clinton JOIN US ON FACEBOOK With the 5th Reunion only months away and the spirit of reconnecting in the air, we've been working hard to connect fellow classmates online on Facebook. Visit/join facebook.com and then search for our virtual profile "GW Fifth Reunion" and add us as a friend. By adding this profile you can find and connect with other classmates and check out what people have been up to. You'll even be able to upload and tag photos of your own to share with the '03s. POST A CLASS NOTE! ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS In 2006 the two moved to Buffalo, NY, where Golsa is Project Manager at Cisco Systems. One of her main responsibilities there has been managing Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) audit for IT processes. Golsa has also been taking classes in Interior Architecture and Design as a hobby and will graduate with an MBA from Pennsylvania State University in December 2009. When asked about her memories of her time at GW, Golsa says, "One of the greatest memories I have is the day I stepped into the Admissions Office after getting accepted by GW. I was transferring from UMass Boston and was very proud to become part of the GW family. I walked outside the building, noticing how GW's campus is so close to federal buildings. It was nice to know that I would be studying in the capital city of the nation. It was an amazing feeling that I will never forget." "Also, it might be funny" says Golsa, "but I credit GW for my parallel parking skills. Since GW's campus is right in the city, I ended up parking on the street most of the time. I usually joke with my family and friends that I got a parallel parking degree from GW as well!" Golsa credits GW with preparing her to face several life challenges. "Over the last few years," she says, "I have faced so many challenges, the hardest one being my father's sudden death from a heart attack. I think the years that I studied at GW prepared me to face different life challenges. I was able to get promoted within a short time in each of the two full-time jobs I have held after graduating from GW, I was able to start my own company and work on making it a bigger company when the market was down, and I was able to get into a top MBA program at Penn State. I was also able to take care of my family, especially after my father passed away. I think GW prepared me to face the real life challenges that we all face after graduating and h elped me balance my life. I also think that the quality of education available at GW and the knowledgeable faculty definitely made me a better candidate to land my jobs." Golsa is a member of the 5th Reunion Committee and will be attending the 2003 class party on September 27. "I am looking forward to seeing my academic family (friends, faculty, and staff)," says Golsa. "Just being at GW will bring me lots of joy!" TRUSTEE CHALLENGE MATCH To mark this exciting time at GW and to welcome President Knapp to the University, the Board of Trustees has introduced a special alumni annual giving challenge. If you have not been a recent donor, there is no better time than right now to contribute to GW. If you join your classmates in making a statement of support with a contribution, the Board will double the impact of your gift up to $1,000 (e.g., your $500 gift will become a $1,000 gift)! 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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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Golsa Eftekhar