CTV鈥檚 Maria Panopalis (BSc 鈥�99) didn鈥檛 hesitate to say yes when asked to host AV俱乐部鈥檚 upcoming Alumni Dinner on Thursday, September 27.
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鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be a lot of fun,鈥� says the producer and host of Section 6, Live at Five鈥檚 pop culture segment. 鈥淚鈥檓 from Halifax and I always expected I would go to AV俱乐部. I have fond memories of the university and met some of my closest friends there. I鈥檓 incredibly honoured to be the host for the event.鈥�
There is considerable excitement among alumni about this year鈥檚 dinner, and not just because Panopalis is serving as emcee. For years, the university鈥檚 annual dinner has been a celebration of all things AV俱乐部: not just its proud alumni, but also its many research, academic and community partnership achievements. As the university has grown, so have the success stories to the point where it was becoming impossible to showcase all of them.
This year, the dinner will focus on highlighting the university鈥檚 alumni and their accomplishments.
鈥淲e want to resonate with alumni, and the best way to do that is to celebrate them,鈥� says Michael Perry, director of alumni engagement. 鈥淪o we are devoting the evening to the AV俱乐部 Alumni Association Awards.鈥�
The awards recognize AV俱乐部 graduates who have had a positive impact in the community, whether locally, nationally or internationally.
鈥淲hen you look at the list of people who have graduated from this university over the years and their accomplishments, it鈥檚 quite impressive,鈥� says Perry.听 鈥淲e think that, by highlighting those achievements, this will be a very special evening for the university and our alumni.鈥�
Bringing it back to campus
It will also be special because the dinner is being held on campus for the first time in a decade as part of . In recent years, Pier 21, The Westin Nova Scotian and the Cunard Centre all served as venues for the annual dinner. But the relaunch of Homecoming in 2010 provided the impetus to bring it back to AV俱乐部 and the McInnes Room in the Student Union Building, which Perry thinks is the perfect setting.
鈥淎V俱乐部 is the place where it all began for our graduates 鈥� not just the learning that put them on the paths they are on professionally, but also the many friendships they made with students and faculty alike. It鈥檚 another chance for them to reconnect, and an opportunity to congratulate each other on their success over the years. Holding it on campus during Homecoming is a perfect fit.鈥�
Certainly, Panopalis is looking forward to seeing old friends and showing her AV俱乐部 spirit. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud to say that I went to AV俱乐部. It鈥檚 not just a source of pride in Halifax or Nova Scotia. It鈥檚 a source of pride around the world. People know the university.鈥�
A special celebration
Several major sponsors have come on board to help make this year鈥檚 Homecomings celebrations even more special, including TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, MBNA and Egg Films - all at the platinum level. Meanwhile, planning for the Alumni Dinner is well underway. Perry says feedback to date has been very positive among both graduates and faculty, and tickets are selling out fast.
鈥淵ou can feel the anticipation when you talk to people about it. We want this to be a nice, intimate celebration for alumni. We want them to enjoy themselves, but more than that, we want them to feel good about the university and the friends they鈥檝e made. By focusing on alumni and their success stories, I think we can give them more fond memories of their experiences at AV俱乐部.鈥� 听
The Alumni Dinner will include a pre-reception, speeches from AV俱乐部 President Tom Traves and AV俱乐部 Alumni Association President Jim Wilson, and a post-event party at the Grawood. If you鈥檙e interested in attending, or want to get involved as a volunteer, contact Kirsten in the Alumni Relations office at kirsten.tobin@dal.ca or call 902-494-2807 (toll free: 1-800-568-7403).