Campaign for Reed College celebration

From right, President Steven Koblik enjoys a spirited conversation with Brittney Corrigan-McElroy '94, Thomas McElroy '97, and professor of political science Darius Rejali

The Reed community gathered on February 9 for "an evening of inestimable good cheer and 100 million thank yous" to celebrate the recently completed Campaign for Reed College. The $100 million five-year campaign raised $112.8 million, primarily in support of financial aid, faculty development, and student research.

The celebratory evening was filled with highlights, including a series of off-campus dinners for faculty members, most of them in faculty homes; a dinner for trustees, donors, and other guests of the college that featured a multimedia campaign show with professor of theatre Kathleen Worley providing the leitmotiv as Amanda Wood Reed, Reed's original benefactor; and a late-night sighting of the Doyle Owl.

Hundreds of college revelers-- students, faculty, trustees, staff, and alumni epresentatives--enjoyed a buffet dessert and merriment throughout the Gray Campus Center, which had been transformed into a carnival (commons), brew pub (café), coffee house (meeting rooms), and jazz club (student union). The evening concluded with a celebratory toast by President Steven Koblik and an all-community dance in the Kaul Auditorium featuring famed guitarist Duke Robillard and his band.

More photographs of the evening and a detailed look at the campaign's success and Reed's future challenges will be forthcoming in a final Campaign for Reed College report.

The makeover of the commons into a "carnival" was complete with fire eater, juggler, mime, magician, popcorn and cotton candy.