Fall / Winter 1998 Newsletter

Mark Anderson '69
Elizabeth Baker '97
Todd Chervany '92
Sarah Fjelstul '90
Amanda Green ’76
Kathy Heafey ’90
Brad Holmes '83
Thomas Keller '57
Anne Weinhardt Lawler '86
Ron London '67
Rob Mairs '91
Jim McFarland '86
Beca Solberg McPherson '90
Joe McRae ’89
Olaf Minge '93
Hampton Rich '69
Dennis Ryan '81
Bo Willsey '93

Advisory Board
Norm Carpenter '53
Doug Fulton '85
Fred Gamble '50
John Hughes '66
Tom Keller '57
Dick McFarland '51
Molly VanMetre '81

Well, the club is off to a great start! Our summer began with a fantastic ‘dry’ golf tournament hosted by Doug Fulton ‘85. Over 25 alumni tore up the greens for the sake of Big Green. Next, the club hosted a summer picnic where many anxious ‘02’s (‘02 can you believe it?) pumped alumni for critical matriculation information like "Should I bring my own bed sheets?" or "What dorm should I apply for?" Of course we alumni knew all the answers. In August, the club converged on Midway Stadium to witness the titanic battle between the St. Paul Saints and the Duluth Mariners.

In late August, the club hosted a final send off to the class of ‘02 at the home of Robert and Patricia Mairs ‘50. Prof. Donald Pease gave the incoming class an excellent historical perspective on the transitions of the college through its past five presidents. Finally, in October the club converged on the Mall of America where loyal alumni cheered Dartmouth on to a Homecoming victory over Yale.

As the club heads into winter (say it isn’t so!), we are busy preparing events to distract you from wind chills and jumper cables. Watch your mail for bulletins or bookmark the club’s website at:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/alumni/clubs/midwest/

Speaking of internet technology, if you have an email, please email me at: EMAIL GONE

The club uses email to update and remind alumni of upcoming club gatherings. Email is a quick and inexpensive means to keep you ‘in the loop.’

Holiday Party at Gluek’s
Date: Thursday, December 10th

"life & literature of Norman MacLean" – alumni
continuing education
Date: Saturday, February 6th

The club tried something new this year. We invoiced members for 1998/1999 dues. Thus far, the response has been excellent. A gracious thanks to all who have paid their dues. If you misplaced your invoice, please pay your dues as soon as possible. Send your check, payable to the Dartmouth Club of the Midwest, to: DCMW, P.O. Box 390743, Edina, MN 55439

It was just three years ago, as I stared out the window of an Amtrak train, that I embarked on my Dartmouth experience. At the time, I expected all of the basics of an Ivy League school: a rigorous academic environment, an intelligent and diverse student body, and excellent career opportunities. Dartmouth quickly met every expectation.

Freshman sweep and the bonfire, football games, sneaking into frat basements, talking with friends until 4:00 AM, studying in binges and munching late-night EBAs bread sticks (with ranch dressing) dominate my first year memories. Sophomore year marked the joy of being a fraternity pledge and strengthening friendships. Sophomore summer I honed my pong game and enjoyed motorcycle rides throughout the valley. Junior year was a blur with investment banking internships in New York and London and an FSP at Oxford University.

By exceeding expectations, Dartmouth has also enhanced my belief that any goal is attainable. Even before catching my first glimpse of Baker tower, the foundation had already been laid. Dartmouth was the only Ivy League school to which I applied -- financing such an education seemed no more than a pipe dream. When the acceptance letter came back with an affordable financial aid package, I euphorically mailed off my matriculation form within 6 hours.

With this confidence, I made a few calls to Oxford University my Freshman year. Although they informed me that exchange students were not admitted, two years later I was "reading finance" at Keble College. Because of the interest of students like myself, the college started the Keble exchange program my Sophomore year.

1998 has been another great year for Dartmouth enrollment activities in Minnesota. There are 14 freshmen in Hanover from Minnesota, filling out the Class of '02 from 10 different schools in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester. Each, of course, was a top student at their high school and they have excelled in athletics, the arts and other areas. It is always interesting to interview so many great candidates, see several of them accepted and watch them develop as they attend the College. The continued popularity of Dartmouth among applicants -- and our success in getting so many accepted -- is a tribute both to the College and the alumni who so strongly support it.

We have a new Admissions Officer assigned to Minnesota this year. Jennifer Cieslak graduated from St. Paul Central in 1990. Although she attended Princeton and then obtained a Masters degree at Harvard, she has landed in Hanover and admits she should have gone to Dartmouth in the first place! Jennifer visited selected high schools in the Twin Cities during a brief visit in early October. The Club hosted a reception on the evening of October 6 in Minneapolis for Jennifer to address candidates interested in Dartmouth. Forty-five students and parents attended the reception, as well as a dozen alumni who answered many questions about the College. We have already impressed Jennifer with the tremendous alumni support in our Club.