Dear Alumni, 

March is upon us, and so are the first sights of spring (and some lingering snow).  

Many AU alumni will fondly recall the cherry blossoms on campus and their heralding of warmer months in Washington, DC. With peak bloom this year predicted between March 29 and April 1, the next few weeks will be a perfect time to return to campus to re-experience AU’s historic, 200-plus cherry trees. 

On this theme of AU pride, it was a great day to be an Eagle for All Alumni Day on February 28. We held watch parties across the country to cheer on the men's basketball team in their final home game of the season. I was at the NYC Alumni Chapter watch party, where we had alumni from the classes of 1978 through 2024, and I know this spirit of camraderie carried through cities nationwide. Check out photos from Boston, Chicago, and West Palm Beach! 

Alumni also showed up for AU in a historic way this year for AU Giving Day. The 36-hour effort on February 25-26 raised $1.25M in new gifts, matches, and challenges—the most dollars ever. And, nearly 1,000 alumni participated—the most alumni ever. A special thank you to all who signed up to be advocates this year and generated over 400 gifts. Read about more highlights from this year!

Looking ahead to next month, lend your time and talents helping others with Eagles in Action in late April. Volunteer service projects are currently organized for eight US cities, so sign up for one near you and give back to your local community alongside fellow alumni.  

I also hope you will mark your calendars and join us for AU’s annual Alumni  Awards  Dinner and Ceremony on May 14. It is always a wonderful evening of recognition and inspiration, and all alumni are invited to secure their tickets now as we prepare to announce the 2026 winners. (Look back at last year’s event for a taste of what to expect!) 

Thank you for showing up for AU in ways historic and close to home, 

Patty Caballero, SOC/BA ’91, Kogod/MBA ’00