Alumni, students, faculty and staff will celebrate the 60th anniversary of UMSL’s founding by showing off their school colors on Red and Gold Day on Sept. 15.
Over the past six decades, the University of Missouri–St. Louis has left a lasting mark on the St. Louis region and far beyond by educating more than 112,000 alumni who do work every day that enhances their communities.
The 60th anniversary of the university’s Sept. 15, 1963, founding provides a perfect opportunity to celebrate UMSL’s impact far and wide.
“We want to have an UMSL celebration without borders, in both the digital and physical space,” said Susan Elliott, assistant vice chancellor for external and donor relations and co-chair of the 60th Anniversary Planning Committee. “We’re asking all alumni, wherever they are, to join students, faculty and staff in displaying their Triton pride on Red and Gold Day, Friday, Sept. 15. They can post a selfie or team photo at work or about town and share them on social media, tagging UMSL and using the hashtag #UMSL60.”
Alumni Shawntelle Fisher, founder and CEO of The Soulfisher Ministries; Tony Davis, owner of Pop Pop Hurray!; Chris McKenzie, owner of Mac’s Local Eats; Joe Blanner, partner at McCarthy, Leonard & Kaemmerer, LC; and Julio Zegarra-Ballon, owner of Zee Bee Market, all recorded videos highlighting their plans to mark the occasion. Davis, for example, will be selling his UMSL mix of cherry, caramel and cheese popcorn, while Zegarra-Ballon is offering a 10% discount on red and gold merchandise at his stores on South Grand Boulevard and in Maplewood, Missouri.
And they aren’t the only alumni planning for the occasion.
Katie Trouton-Alexander, who earned her BSBA in international business and management in 2010, serves as a leader for Strategic Partnerships at Edward Jones and the chair of the firm’s Edward Jones/UMSL Alumni Advisory Board. She has been working with UMSL’s Office of Alumni Engagement to help coordinate some of her alumni colleagues wearing UMSL T-shirts – whether they’re working in the office or remotely – and share photos on social media.
Edward Jones counts approximately 500 UMSL alumni among its ranks, including principals Ken Cella, Dave Reifschneider and Jay Plaskett.
“We are one of the most organized alumni boards within the firm and have been for many years,” Trouton-Alexander said. “I would say there’s definitely quite a bit of awareness.”
A sea of red clothing is already in abundance at the St. Louis Cardinals’ offices in Busch Stadium. But Rex Carter, who earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from UMSL in 1989 and serves as the organization’s director of risk management, expects to see a splash of gold when he and some of his fellow UMSL alumni working with the Cardinals gather for a group photograph.
Eric Madkins is one of more than 20 UMSL alumni working at Regions Bank, where he serves as the vice president for community development. He’s arranging T-shirts for all of them and will also be bringing them together for a picture.
The campus community will be gathering on the morning of Sept. 15 outside The Nosh in the Millennium Student Center for cake and beverages. There will be music and door prizes awarded throughout the morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the cake cutting scheduled for 10 a.m.
Students, faculty and staff will be able to take selfies or get their picture taken with Louie the Triton.
The Office of Alumni Engagement will also introduce students to the Triton Traditions Challenge. The initiative features 63 challenges – including things like going to the gym, the Fall Involvement Jamboree or meeting with their advisors – that can be captured in photos and uploaded in Triton Connect. Students who complete 40 of the 63 will receive a commencement medal recognizing them as Triton Traditions keepers.
