![Alumna Ann Laatsch '88]()
Greetings, fellow Pioneers!
I hope that you are enjoying the summer, and that it isn’t going as quickly for you as it seems to be for me.
This past weekend, I had the joy of connecting with old and new alumni friends at Carroll’s first PioPalooza – an all-day celebration of our rich 175-year history. Over 300 alumni, families, and friends came to campus to enjoy food, music, tours, mini-courses, comedy, games, bouncy houses, and more. Despite the heat and threat of impending storms, folks turned up and enjoyed socializing, marveling at the campus’s growth, and taking advantage of the many activities. The highlights for me were teaching a French class to some adorable and enthusiastic kids, and enjoying the music of Bryan Cherry ’04, who was recently named best R&B/soul artist by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry. Huge thanks and appreciation to all the staff, volunteers, Alumni Council members, students, and everyone who pitched in to make the event a success! If you missed PioPalooza, there are a few more upcoming opportunities to come together with alumni. If you’re in Northern Wisconsin (or are perhaps planning a vacation in that area) on August 9, alumni and friends are invited to a hidden Northwoods gem, the Minocqua Country Club. This beautiful location will provide an evening filled with refreshments, Carroll swag, a student testimony, and a university update from President Cindy Gnadinger. Special thanks to alumnus J.D. Dell '82 for helping organize this Alumni and Friends gathering.
The annual
Alumnae Leadership Luncheon, celebrating the achievements of Pioneer women, will be held on August 18th in the Stackner Ballroom. This year’s keynote speaker is Global Operations and Technology leader Latoya Conners Gray ’99. In her position at Grainger as Global Director of Customer Financial Services - Credit/Fraud, Latoya dynamically leads teams that build agile and relevant business and technology solutions that are strategic, innovative, and results oriented. She is a highly engaging speaker on topics which include diversity & inclusion, faith, and leadership. In her commitment to her community and church, Latoya actively serves the underprivileged and is a voice for those that have none. We are excited to welcome Latoya back to campus for this engaging talk about how “Our Seat at the Table Holds Honor and Opportunity."
Additionally, we invite alumni to assist first-year students with moving into their residence halls on Friday, August 26! There are two different shifts to help students unload and carry personal belongings (large and small) to rooms. Each year, many families comment that these acts of kindness make a significant difference during a hectic and sometimes stressful moment in their lives. If you are interested in helping these new students, email
alumni@carrollu.edu and we will connect you with the Residence Life staff.
As if that isn’t enough, we will be hosting a
Young Alumni Pedal Tavern Bike Bar Tour on September 8. Keep an eye on the
Alumni Events calendar for more opportunities to connect – or reconnect with Carroll! We hope you’re having a fantastic summer, and that we see you at an alumni event soon!
Warmly, Ann