In Pursuit of Excellence
Dartmouth College Recognizes with Deep Appreciation the Extraordinary Achievements of the
Class of 1997
2019 Class of the Year – 25 Years Out and Younger
Using its 20th Reunion as a catalyst, the Class of 1997 took the year by storm! With an uptick in class activity across all pillars, this class demonstrated determination and resilience by taking steps to become a mover and shaker.
The class executive committee, which grew this year, set out to reinvigorate class activity through a multi-pronged approach: events, communications, and service. By setting ambitious goals and harnessing the strengths of the class executive committee, the effort was a success.
With more than 150 unique classmate mentions across communications outlets—from newsletters, to notes, to social media—the class highlighted news, updates, dispatches from Hanover, and upcoming events. After a five-year newsletter hiatus, printing three eight-page newsletters was no small feat. Further, the class shared 105 Facebook posts and contributed notes columns to all six editions of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine this year.
The Class of 1997 leveraged College-sponsored events—including Homecoming, The Call to Lead, and 250th anniversary celebration activities—to host seven mini-reunions, an increase from zero in recent years. Further, the class developed a checklist that future mini-reunion hosts can use as a guide throughout the planning process.
Finally, the Class of 1997 exemplified Dartmouth’s commitment to service with its first-ever class project supporting first-generation and low-income students through the First Year Student Enrichment Program. The class also set yet another Dartmouth College Fund (DCF) participation record, with 41.4 percent participation for a class 22 years after graduation. As a top-three finisher in a DCF participation challenge, the class earned $50,000 to support a fiscal year 2020 DCF Scholar.
For its focus on renewed class activity and commitment to increased engagement, the Class Officers Association Executive Board is honored to recognize the Class of 1997 as a 2019 Class of the Year.