As Alumni Association Board President, I have the honor of serving on a board that has the responsibility to represent over 16,000 Baker University Alumni. Baker Alumni have a tremendous opportunity to help shape the course for our Alma Mater, and the Alumni Association attempts to aide those efforts. Our association has 3 main objectives; connectivity, scholarship, and philanthropy.

First we strive to keep our fellow alumni, as well as current students, closely connected to the Baker community. We help current students better understand what it means to be an alumnus, and we are in the process of establishing a Student Alumni Association. For our alumni, we hold numerous events throughout the year to help alumni stay connected with the University and each other.

The Board is pleased to sponsor the Alumni Association Scholarship. We want to substantially reward students who excel both inside and outside of the classroom. Our scholarship is a perfect example of how alumni can directly affect current students' lives, and further enrich their Baker experience. Another focus of the Association is to grow our scholarship endowment, which will further aid us in our goal to have a positive influence on student lives.

Our final objective is to promote philanthropy and service to organizations outside of Baker. We are in the process of establishing a grant program that will allow students to apply for funds, enabling them to organize and execute various philanthropic efforts. Later this year we will sponsor our first annual philanthropic event, designed for our alumni and their families, that will lend a hand to a local charity.

Baker University is a treasure, and I am very proud to be closely associated with such a fine institution. These are very exciting times to be a Baker alumnus, and as the Alumni Board President, I ask all fellow Wildcats to let your Baker Pride shine.

Best regards,

Douglas Adams, class of 2001
Alumni Association Board President, 2006-2007