Alumni are needed to assist with this year’s IMSAloquium (formerly known as Presentation Day) on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. A tradition near and dear to many alumni, IMSAloquium gives student researchers the chance to let their talents shine and to present their findings to distinguished IMSA guests, research advisors and the IMSA community. IMSA needs your help in assessing more than 200 student research presentations and posters on this day. If you are interested in volunteering for IMSAloquium, please contact Dr. Judy Scheppler, Coordinator of Student Inquiry and Research by Tuesday, April 6 at quella@imsa.edu or (630) 907-5899.

Click here to view some past abstracts of student investigations.

Carolyn Johnson
Coordinator of Alumni Engagement

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA)
1500 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506

phone (630) 907-5041
fax (630) 907-5940

It requires you to ask permission to join which may take a day or two, but once you’re in there — that’s probably the best source of information regarding the upcoming reunion in July. I’ll put a prominent link on the sidebar shortly as well as copy details regarding the reunion on this site.

IMSA and the IMSA Alumni Association invite you to connect with fellow alumni and celebrate IMSA as the 2009 Intel Schools of Distinction “Star Innovator” at the following regional events! Alumni gatherings provide an opportunity for alumni to catch up with fellow IMSAns, meet people from other class years, and learn about developments at the Academy.
All events are free, but RSVP is requested. Families are welcome!

March 27 – Austin Alumni Gathering
Join Suzyn Price, VP for Advancement and fellow alumni for a casual gathering in North Austin!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Threadgill’s – North Austin, 6416 N. Lamar, Austin, TX
Complimentary appetizers and soft drinks will be served.
Please RSVP by Wed, March 24 on Facebook or email cjohnson@imsa.edu.

Durham, NC Area Alumni Gathering
Join Cathy Veal, VP for Strategy and Innovation, Jennifer Spuehler, Director of Development and fellow alumni for dinner in Durham!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tyler’s Taproom, 342 Blackwell St, Durham, NC
Complimentary dinner and soft drinks will be served.
Please RSVP by Wed, March 24 on Facebook or email cjohnson@imsa.edu.

San Francisco / Bay Area Alumni Gathering
Join IMSA President Dr. Max McGee, VP for Advancement Suzyn Price, and fellow alumni in the Bay Area!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
12:00 – 6:00 pm
Hosted by Jennifer Girotti Karp ’90 and family
1039 Annapolis Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403
Complimentary appetizers and soft drinks will be served.
Please RSVP by Tues, April 6 on Facebook or email cjohnson@imsa.edu.

Save the Date for IMSA Alumni Weekend!
July 23-25, 2010

I would like to invite you to participate in an effort to assess our relationship with IMSA. On a pragmatic and delicious level, you will get a free meal in addition to spirited conversation!

As alums, the state legislature expects us to provide a return on their investment in our education. I believe this can take many forms, from intangible to more concrete acts, but legislators are often focused on only one aspect: money. Given the relatively low financial burden for us to attend IMSA, this makes sense. If alums do not show an interest in donating to the Academy after they graduate, should Illinois continue to fund the institution, and should IMSA provide significant financial backing for programs to support the alumni community (such as regional events)?

I am arranging two focus groups to discuss why alums do or do not make financial contributions to IMSA. As part of these conversations, we will discuss the relationship between alums and IMSA through time, as well as past communications from IMSA to alums. Don’t worry if you’ve never donated. In fact, I think that can make the conversation richer. These focus groups are sponsored by the IMSA Alumni Association (IAA) and only IMSA alumni are invited to participate. Feedback from the meetings will be shared with the IAA cabinet and select IMSA staff. No names or identities will be shared with anyone beyond the focus group participants.

The groups will meet at 6 p.m. on March 9 and March 10 at Silver Spoon Thai Restaurant (710 North Rush). If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to mcknisley@gmail.com by Monday, March 8, at 5 p.m. Indicate your preferred date in the email. If we have more than approximately six participants for each group, we will discuss adding another date.

Feel free to contact me with questions.

Best,
Matthew Knisley
IAA President

Did you get a gift card for the holidays this year that you know you’re
not going to use? Well don’t lose that value – put it to good use by
donating it to the IMSA Fund! By working with our partner at
http://imsa.givezooks.com, we are able to take your unwanted gift cards
and turn them into cash that counts as your annual contribution to IMSA
and the IMSA Fund.

Want to hold onto your gift cards but still make a contribution? There are
still a few days left to make a gift in time for the 2009 tax season!
Visit our web site a www.imsa.edu/giving for all the details on ways you
can make a fast and simple contribution before the end of the year. Use
the online giving options at paypal, givezooks, or facebook to make your
gift in seconds.

Be Counted – Make your year end gift to the IMSA Fund!

Thanks and Happy New Year,
Jennifer

———
Jennifer Spuehler
Director of Development
IMSA and the IMSA Fund for Advancement of Education
1500 W. Sullivan Road
Aurora, IL 60506
630.907.5989
jspuehler@imsa.edu
www.imsa.edu/giving

Happy Holidays IMSA Alumni!
I hope you are preparing for a festive holiday season and an exciting new decade! But before you run off to your holiday parties and ring in the new year, I hope you will consider joining your fellow alumni by making a contribution to the IMSA Fund.

As you know, the IMSA Fund uses your contributions to support the students and faculty of IMSA, which allows the students to have access to equipment and opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable. Each year we set a participation goal for alumni giving. This year, that goal is 18% alumni participation by July 2010. We hope to be half way there by the end of December 31, 2009!

We need 252 alumni to make their gift this holiday season to reach that goal - Be Counted and make your gift today!!

A holiday appeal from IMSA and the IMSA Fund will soon reach you by mail. Please take the time to read it and send in your annual contribution before December 31. You can also visit the IMSA web site, www.imsa.edu/giving, to make a gift on-line and learn more about our giving options.

As an alternate, we have introduced Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) this holiday season! EFT is a secure way to deliver your gifts directly and automatically from your bank to the IMSA Fund. As with online giving, EFT donations allow us to minimize administrative expenses. Visit the web site for details and to sign up!

Have a safe and happy holiday, and thank you for your support!
Jennifer

Five distinguished IMSA alumni will now join 20 others as recipients of the annual IMSA Board of Trustees Alumni Awards. To see profiles of this year’s recipients visit https://www3.imsa.edu/alumni/awards/recipients09.

The honorees will be recognized at the Alumni Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Saturday, September 26, 2009 in conjunction with Homecoming weekend at IMSA. These awards are the highest honors bestowed to alumni in recognition of their accomplishments and contributions to their field of endeavor, to IMSA, and to the citizens of Illinois, our nation and the world.

IMSA wishes to thank everyone who nominated an outstanding alumnus for the awards program. To nominate an alumnus for next year’s awards, please visit https://www3.imsa.edu/alumni/awards.
–
Carolyn Johnson
Coordinator of Alumni Engagement

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA)
1500 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506