Owen Family Reunion

Highlights from Reunion 2015

From the Fall 2015 edition of Vanderbilt Business

There were lots of cries of “You haven’t changed a bit” and “How long has it been?” when the Owen School welcomed back alumni for Reunion 2015 in April.

Students and alumni mingle at Closing Bell (formerly known as Kegs)
Students and alumni mingle at Closing Bell (formerly known as Kegs)
Rising second year Daniel Reches with Dave Berezov, EMBA'80
Rising second year Daniel Reches with Dave Berezov, EMBA’80

The weekend kicked off early with a special alumni and student Closing Bell celebration in the school lobby on Thursday. The weekly Owen event (remembered by many alumni by the moniker, Kegs) drew more than 200 people.

Crystal Churchwell, MBA'13, catching up with with Mary Lindley Carswell, MBA '15
Crystal Churchwell, MBA’13, catching up with Mary Lindley Carswell, MBA ’15
Clare Stanton, MSN'15, and Kalen Stanton, MBA'13, introduce their daughter to Owen.
Clare Stanton, MSN’15, and Kalen Stanton, MBA’13, introduce their daughter to Owen
Drew Nygard, MBA'93, and Petra Nygard
Drew Nygard, MBA’93, and Petra Nygard

One night later, alumni, faculty and staff again gathered in the lobby for an elegant wine and cheese reception. Snippets of conversation overheard featured updates on careers and lives, recollections of bonding over long hours working on projects as students and tales of favorite faculty, some of whom attended as well.

The evening finished with individual class year gatherings and dinners with friends.

The festivities continued on Saturday with an intimate reception for Owen Circle members. In his remarks to the invitation-only group, Dean Eric Johnson shared his vision for Owen’s future and thanked them for their support of the school.

Hank Ingram, Rachel Tunick and Caitlyn Cox, ENG '11, all rising second-year students, with Germain Boer, professor of accounting, emeritus
Hank Ingram, Rachel Tunick and Caitlyn Cox, ENG ’11, all rising second-year students, with Germain Boer, professor of accounting, emeritus
David Bartley, MBA'06, and Marshall Leslie, EMBA'10
David Bartley, MBA’06, and Marshall Leslie, EMBA’10

Then it was on to the highlight of the reunion, the Community Celebration Dinner. Alumnus Heiki Miki, MBA’96, received the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award for his work on behalf of the school and spearheading the establishment of a new Vanderbilt Alumni chapter in Japan. Guest speaker Vanderbilt University Provost Susan Wente shared the university’s new Academic Strategic Plan and what it means for Vanderbilt. Before the weekend was over, Owen alumni had donated more than $293,000 to the school in honor of their reunion classes.

Heiki Miki, MBA'96, with Vanderbilt Provost Susan Wente.
Heiki Miki, MBA’96, with Vanderbilt Provost Susan Wente
Dean Eric Johnson presenting the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award to Heiki Miki, MBA'96
Dean Eric Johnson presenting the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award to Heiki Miki, MBA’96