News Releases

Alumni, students, and faculty gather together for the KU Business homecoming event

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

BY LAURA WOLFE

Over 200 alumni returned to see former classmates and professors when the KU School of Business hosted a Homecoming celebration on the Hill on Saturday, October 10. The School's Homecoming Tent was busy, despite the chilly weather, before the KU v. Iowa State football game. Many current students, graduate and undergraduate alike, alumni and faculty stopped by to share experiences about the KU School of Business.

Howard Cohen, who graduated in 1979, remembered watching KU football greats Nolan Cromwell and Laverne Smith. "It's been fun to see the football team get good again," he said. Cohen, who has worked for Deloitte since graduating, has remained an active member of the School of Business community. He guest lectures every semester and has been the chair of the Board of Advisors, among other contributions. He has received the School's coveted Distinguished Alumni award, as well. Cohen's son and daughter both attend KU, and he wouldn't have it any other way. "I told them I wouldn't pay for their education if they went to Mizzou!" Cohen said with a laugh.

MBA student Julie Gasper was among many masters students who joined the festivities the morning of the game. "I don't think I've had a bad class in the MBA program," she said. Gasper received her undergraduate degree in education and sports management in 2006 from KU.

Chris Armstrong, Lawrence travel agent, received his MBA from KU in 1984. Armstrong recalled how much he enjoyed his experience at the KU School of Business. "It was really exciting to go back to school. It was completely different from undergrad. I went to classes because I wanted to," he said. "Education is wasted on the young - remember that," he teased his son.

Also in attendance were many members of the new Masters in Supply Chain Management program offered by the School of Business and the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Major Jimmy LaCaria was looking forward to going to the game. "I chose KU over other Masters programs because of the sense of belonging to a community," he said. "I wanted to learn something. Other programs aren't as academically rigorous."

Major Brad Heath is also participating in the new Masters program. "Having homework again is hard," he said. "But it is challenging and worthwhile."

The celebration honored all alumni who graduated from the School in five-year increments, in a year ending in either 4 or 9, from 1929 to 2009, but all Business graduates were welcome and many stopped by to reminisce.