Nearly 100 alumni and friends turned out for the iSchool Centennial Alumni and Friends reception at the ALA Conference held at Mother's Restaurant in New Orleans, LA on June 26. Recent graduates, as well as senior alumni dating back to 1949, were in attendance and sharing old stories and recent experiences at the event.

Dean Harry Bruce thanked the group for their participation at the conference. He also recognized Nancy Magnuson, MLIS '78, with a certificate of recognition as Notable Alumna for her "extraordinary service in librarianship and special collections." In her nomination letter for the Distinguished Alumni Award, her colleague stated, "Her work with the special collections at the Julia Roger Library exemplifies the kind of innovation possible by college libraries but that makes that innovation transparent to the larger community and to library leaders in all disciplines."

In honor of the Centennial, Dean Bruce announced the "100 for 100 Campaign" to establish a $100,000 endowed scholarship as a legacy fund for student support in the next 100 years and beyond. He explained that donors of $100 or more, representing our 100th anniversary, will receive a Centennial thermos as a thank-you gift. Ten Centennial thermoses were raffled off at the event. One alumna who has relocated in the Midwest presented Dean Bruce with a significant gift at the event to launch the scholarship campaign. What a great boost to our Centennial campaign!

Mother's Restaurant, known for its fabulous home-cooked, local cuisine, served up some of its most scrumptious food and appetizers including, gumbo, debris, grits, po boy sandwiches, and the uniquely purple "iJulep".