Annual Report 2019-2020

Together
at home

AUBURN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT FY 2019-2020

A spirit that is not afraid

Dear Auburn Family,

I am honored every year to report the Auburn Alumni
Association’s accomplishments. But this year, with so many
unforeseen challenges, I am especially grateful to share the 2019-
2020 annual report with you. For nearly half of our fiscal year, we
carried out our mission of enhancing the engagement and connection
of all Auburn University alumni and friends in the traditional ways
we have always enjoyed. Then, COVID-19 changed everything and sent
our staff home to work remotely. Undeterred, the alumni association
found new ways to proceed virtually with scheduled programs, and
at the same time, created unique opportunities to connect, even when
we were apart.
These efforts paid off as we generated over 8.7 million social
media touchpoints, saw a substantial increase in downloads and
interactions on the Forever AU app and our award-winning Auburn
Magazine continued to be recognized nationally.
Innovative programming kept our alumni engaged and connected.
From AMBUSH at Home, our annual event with Coach Gus Malzahn
and Coach Bruce Pearl, to the 18:56 Speaker Series, to Black Alumni
Week and various Auburn Club activities, more than 136,000
individuals were engaged through association-supported events.
Even during a pandemic, philanthropic gifts, including
membership contributions, continued to generate critical resources to
support our mission. Sustaining life membership increased by a record
330%. Contributing memberships—both annual and life—along with
the magazine’s voluntary subscription program, License to Learn and
the Auburn Club Scholarship program combined to make a substantial
financial impact on many lives.
This year has given us a chance to slow down and reflect on how
grateful we are for the Auburn Family. On behalf of the Auburn Alumni
Association and our board of directors, we thank you for your unwavering
support during these uncertain times.

War Eagle!

Gretchen VanValkenburg ’86

Vice President for Alumni Affairs &

Executive Director, Auburn Alumni Association

IMPACT engage

Due to the COVID-19 virus, Auburn University went totally remote beginning in mid-March. The alumni
association engaged all alumni by continuing our previously planned programming as well as creating
new opportunities and events. From the first virtual AMBUSH at Home to a new biweekly online speaker
series, the association actually experienced an increase in engagement and followers.

Auburn Clubs and Auburn Alumni Affiliates

In 2019-2020, more than 44,000 alumni and friends participated
in events hosted by our more than 120 Auburn Clubs and Affiliates.
Networking opportunities through Freshmen Send-off events,
AMBUSH, happy hours and game watch parties were offered for
alumni and friends.

FRESHMEN SEND-OFFS
35 clubs and affiliates
250 freshmen and
alumni engaged

CLUB LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
and MID-YEAR TRAINING
129 club/affiliate leaders
50 clubs/affiliates
13 states
50+ first-time attendees
40 club/affiliate leaders for

midyear training

Student Impact 27,300

attendees

VIRTUAL SENIOR CELEBRATION
10 activities during the week
66 participants
STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
1,820 members
OTHER STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
1,227 participants

18:56 SPEAKER SERIES 59,169 ENGAGED

18:56, is a nod to Auburn University’s
founding year and allows guest speakers to
discuss various topics for 18 minutes and 56
seconds. Since launching in April, the online
series has had a variety of topics and guests
ranging from managing your finances during
COVID-19, mental health awareness, CNN
Entertainment Reporter Chloe Melas, comedian
Paul Schissler and our mascot Aubie. This past
fiscal year, 17 shows were produced engaging
59,169 alumni and friends.

IMPACT connect

Staying connected became a buzz phrase in 2020, but even during a pandemic, our members stayed
in touch, increasing sustaining life memberships by more than 300%, participating in Membership
Appreciation Week activities and more. Although for half of the FY, all events and activities had to be held
virtually, we stayed together—even though we were apart.

Membership

SUSTAINING LIFE MEMBERS
FY 2019 = 102 FY 2020 = 446

337%

INCREASE

in Sustaining Life Members FY20

tiger nation challenge

The third annual Tiger Nation
Challenge against the LSU Alumni
Association resulted in $34,442
in memberships and contributions
from 362 alumni and friends. The
challenge is a week-long competition
between the associations to see who
can gain the most members and raise
the most support for their university.

DAuibruercn tAlourmnyi

Reached more than 41,000 alumni
Updated more than 115,456 alumni records
Engaged 2,378 new contributing members

member appreciation
WEEK
JUNE 22-26, 2020

Almost 1,000 alumni participated in the first Member
Appreciation Week with complimentary Pete the Cat prints,
Forever AU app engagement, Auburn trivia and prizes and
discounted membership prices!

BY THE NUMBERS 185 member log-ins to Forever AU
281 new members 213 Auburn trivia participants
310 Pete the Cat prints

IMPACT inform

This year, of all years, staying connected and informing alumni was a priority. Through email, the Forever
AU app and social media platforms, the alumni association worked diligently to keep our alumni apprised
of all that was happening on campus, as well as offering programs, events and opportunities for the
Auburn Family.

auburn magazine

• 320,690 magazines were distributed in FY 19-20
• Fall 2020 issue went out to 203,000 households
• Voluntary subscription letter raised $131,734 in

gift subscriptions
• Magazine articles were viewed online an additional

33,260 times in FY 19-20, with For Pete’s Sake
viewed an incredible 14,022 times.

ONLINE ARTICLE VIEWS FOR THIS STORY WERE AN INCREDIBLE

14,022

Forever AU app

11,997 users

7,202 users 20
20
20
19

67% INCREASE

in users throughout FY20

Buy One, Give One Mask Initiative

In partnership with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Buy One, Give One Mask Initiative
sold high-quality Auburn masks in four unique designs. For every mask sold, the association

donated a mask to the area of greatest need in Alabama. At the end of FY20, the initiative had provided
more than 3,700 free masks to Alabama citizens.

IMPACT philanthropic impact

Despite a year filled with uncertainty, Auburn alumni supported the association in many ways, but
specifically through the License to Learn car tag program, the Commemorative Medallion initiative and
Tiger Giving Day. Overall, $751,000 was generated to fund Auburn University student scholarships
and over the past five years, more than $3 million has been awarded through directly supported
Auburn Alumni Association scholarships.

TIGER GIVING DAY

PROVOST LEADERSHIP
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP
PROJECT
• 274 donors (20 first time donors)
• $26,073 in contributions
• Scholarship impact of seven

additional PLUS scholarships
for four years

STUDENT ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION PROJECT
• 90 donors (13 first time donors)
• $4,425 in contributions
• Scholarship impact of four

additional Student Alumni
Association scholarships

AUBURN ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION PROJECT
• 386 donors
• 31 first-time donors
• $164,351 contributed overall
• $229,351 impact to 62 clubs

and 3 affiliate scholarships
• 3 new club/affiliate scholarships

established (2 endowments &
1 annual)

Commemorative Medallions

The Commemorative Medallion program
encourages Auburn University students
who are preparing to graduate, to make a
financial contribution to a school, college,
department, organization or program at
Auburn University. With a minimum gift of
their upcoming graduation year (i.e. $20.20
in 2020), the graduate is given a keepsake
commemorative medallion that can be
worn at commencement exercises.
• 497 gifts in FY 19-20
• $12,206 in contributions

License To Learn

Through August 2020, purchase of Auburn license plates through the License to Learn program
has raised $2,975,965 in FY 19-20, a 2.47% increase over the previous year.

IMPACT recognition

One of the highlights of every year is honoring outstanding faculty and accomplished alumni, as well as
having the association’s work receive recognition from peers in higher education.

faculty awards

Auburn Alumni Professorship recipients, nominated by their deans and chosen by the provost, receive
a monetary honorarium for five years. Three Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Awards are given to
teachers who are nominated by students, alumni and colleagues to recognize their quality of teaching.
The Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship, jointly sponsored by the Auburn Alumni Association
and the Auburn University Graduate School, is selected by the Graduate Faculty Council.

ANDREA S KAVAZIS LATIF K ALIN ALUMNI PROFESSORSHIPS
D SIKORA YILMAZ • Andreas Kavazis
EDWAR WITTE LEVENT Y SUHLING
BIRDSONG NGER College of Education
TRACY ER W. STONE JEFFRE • Latif Kalin
WEaagrle
JAMES KERRY I School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
• Edward Sikora
JENNIF
College of Agriculture
• Levent Yilmaz

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
• Tracy Witte

College of Liberal Arts

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE
FACULTY LECTURESHIP
• Jeffrey Suhling

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
• James Birdsong

College of Liberal Arts
• Kerry Inger

Raymond J. Harbert College of Business
• Jennifer W. Stone

College of Science and Mathematics

LIFETIME and young alumni ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients and Young Alumni
recipients for outstanding achievements Achievement Award recipient (left to right): Joe W. Forehand, Jr. ’71,
in their professional lives, personal integrity William E. Barrick ’68, Dion Aviki ’04, Octavia Spencer ’94,
and stature and service to the university. Jere Locke Beasley, Sr. ’59
It was established in 2001 to honor
extraordinary accomplishments by members
of the Auburn Family. Recipients of Lifetime
Achievement Awards are selected by a
committee of Auburn administrators,
trustees, faculty and alumni.

Established in 2011, the Young Alumni
Achievement Award recognizes extraordinary
accomplishments of Auburn University
graduates 40 years of age or younger.
Recipients are recognized for significant
achievement in their professional lives and/
or for distinguished community service.

CASE AWARDS

In 2019-20 the association’s communication
and marketing efforts won an incredible
six regional awards from The Council for
Advancement and Support of Education
(CASE). The association won two gold, three
silver and one bronze award for everything
from magazine design and editorial, to
posters and even one gameday-themed fan.
In addition to winning a gold regionally,
the Forever AU App Alumni Suite Poster
won a prestigious international Circle
of Excellence Award, with the judges
commenting “this was a funny ad and great
use of a small budget.”

IMPACT empower

In alignment with the alumni association’s strategic plan, two new councils were established in 2019-
2020. The Young Alumni Council and the Black Alumni Council are the first two groups formed to meet
the diverse needs of our alumni and create unique and meaningful engagement opportunities.

Black Alumni Week

518 registered for Black Alumni Week
25 virtual events

9 Black alumni recognized for achievements

Young Alumni Council UNG ALUMNI COUNCIL CHAIR
ERIC DUNLAP ’06, YO
The council’s primary mission is to support the goals and
mission of the Auburn Alumni Association specifically on 2001
matters pertaining to young alumni. TO

25 10 15 2019

MEMBERS ES REPRESE EGES & SCH G R A D U AT E S
NTED
OOLS
COLL
S TAT

black Alumni Council SOR ’04, BLACK ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBER
ERICA STRINGER-REA
The council’s primary mission is to support the goals and
mission of the Auburn Alumni Association, specifically on 1977
matters pertaining to Black alumni. TO

10 5 7 2015

MEMBERS ES REPRESE EGES & SCH G R A D U AT E S
NTED
OOLS
COLL
S TAT

FINANCIALS REVENUE

FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

UNIVERSITY SUPPORT 28 13
INVESTMENT INCOME
PERCENT PERCENT
RENTAL INCOME
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS 12 11

LIFE MEMBERSHIPS PERCENT PERCENT
GIFTS
10 8
AFFINITY PARTNERS &
SPONSORSHIPS PERCENT PERCENT
ADVERTISING
8 4
ALUMNI PROGRAMS &
SERVICES PERCENT PERCENT

OTHER INCOME 4 2

PERCENT PERCENT

EXPENSES

GENERAL & 51%
ADMINISTRATION 19%
ALUMNI PROGRAMS & 13%

SERVICES 9%
AUBURN MAGAZINE 8%
SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS

MEMBERSHIP &
MARKETING

PEOPLE Hello Auburn Family!

Even with its many challenges, the 2019-2020 fiscal year was
filled with meaningful engagement. Golden Eagles, club meetings
all over the country, AMBUSH and Black Alumni Week are just a
few of the many events that are planned and executed to carry out the
association’s mission of enhancing your connection to Auburn University.
Almost all these activities have historically been in person. Forced to
work remotely due to the pandemic, Gretchen VanValkenburg and our
staff stepped up big time, using technology to reach alumni in creative
new ways. And it is clear Auburn alumni desired to stay connected as
participation rates skyrocketed.
One example of the association’s vision has been the creation of a new
event. The 18:56 online speaker series, named after Auburn’s founding
year and the length of the event itself, began in April and features Auburn
alumni, faculty, coaches and staff. Expertly coordinated and produced by
our staff, 18:56 has engaged nearly 60,000 alumni and friends. If you
missed any of these virtual events you may still watch them by going to the
alumni association website. As you review this annual report you will find
other examples of how our hard-working staff served you.
I am also proud of the leadership of the board of the alumni association.
In addition to forming the Young Alumni Council and the Black Alumni
Council to help the alumni association better connect these important
groups to Auburn, the board recently established the alumni association’s
first need-based endowed scholarship, which is named in memory of
Auburn’s first Black graduate and faculty member, Josetta Brittain
Matthews. We hope it will inspire, enable and positively impact deserving
students from Alabama who want to pursue an Auburn degree but face a
financial barrier.
The Auburn Alumni Association is stronger than ever because of the
commitment and guidance of our alumni board as well as the dedication
of our staff. Congratulations and thank you all for a job well done.
Writing this letter is my final responsibility as president. Thank you
for the opportunity to serve. It has been an honor. And thank you for
your support of the Auburn Alumni Association and Auburn University.

Blessings and War Eagle!

Van Henley ’80

President, Auburn Alumni Association

AUBURN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MRS. JENNIFER G. MOORE ’85
MRS. ASHLEY N. ROBINETT ’01
2019-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MR. MICHAEL C. ROGERS, JR. ’87
MS. REGENIA R. SANDERS ’95, Vice President
MR. TIMOTHY A. “TIM” BARTON ’78 MRS. CHASTITY S. WESTRY ’97
MRS. SHIRLEY F. BOULWARE ’91
MR. CHRISTOPHER “CHRIS” M. CILLUFFO ’95 EX OFFICIO
MR. JOE A. DALTON ’82 MR. WILLIAM C. “BEAU” BYRD II ’89
MR. TIMOTHY M. “TIM” ELLEN ’81 DR. JAY GOGUE ’69
MRS. MICHELLE M. GRANBERRY ’92, Treasurer MS. KELLI D. SHOMAKER
MR. M. VAN HENLEY ’80, President MR. BENNY M. LARUSSA, JR. ’82
DR. JOSHUA R. JARRELL ’05 MRS. GRETCHEN VANVALKENBURG ’86
MRS. ANGELA R. JENKINS ’94 MS. JENNIFER L. STEPHENS
MRS. LAURA C. KEZAR ’08 MS. STACY LIN THOMPSON ’21
MR. DOUGLAS E. KILTON ’82
MR. ELON W. MADDOX, JR. ’73
MRS. JENNA C. MAYO ’06
MR. JEFFREY B. MOORE ’88

ALUMNI.AUBURN.EDU