Alumni & Friends

Alumni Weekend 2011 - June 23-25

Doors to Our Past... Doors to Our Future

As students, we were told of the doors that would open because of Simpson.  As alumni and friends, we have a deeper appreciation for the doors Simpson continues to open.  Welcome home as we close our Sesquicentennial celebration!

To register online, click here or call 800-610-6369 or 515-961-1544.

To see who has registered, click here.  (Please allow 3-5 business days after submitting your registration for your name to appear.)

ACTIVITIES

Alumni College
Our Alumni College Classes give alumni an opportunity to learn something intriguing and new.  A small registration fee offers you access to an unlimited number of classes.  Classes will be held on Friday and Saturday in both the mornings and afternoons and are subject to change.

For a list of Alumni College courses, click here.

Opera Dress Rehearsal
On Thursday evening at 7 p.m., the Des Moines Metro Opera has given us access to the dress rehearsal of Don Pasquale.  Watch for John Moore '05 in a leading role as Dr. Malatesta.  Performance held in Blank Performing Arts Center on the Simpson campus.

Continental Breakfast
On Friday morning from 8 - 9 a.m. a complimentary continental breakfast will be served in Dirlam Lounge located in Smith Chapel.

Walking Tours of Campus
Students will be providing campus tours throughout the weekend including the newly renovated Blank Performing Arts Center.  Tours via golf cart are available upon request.

The Simpson Cup
New venue! The annual Simpson Cup golf tournament will be held on Friday at the Indianola Country Club located at 1610 Country Club Road in Indianola.  Tee times are available 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Advance registration and payment are required for this two-person best shot golf tournament.  Your registration includes green and cart fees, a box lunch and a ticket to the Presidents' Picnic.

Alumni Recognition Luncheon  
Some of our finest alumni will be honored at the Alumni Recognition Luncheon on Friday in the Matthew Simpson Room.  The event begins at 11 a.m.  Join us as we honor recipients of the Alumni Achievement Award: Jim Tyler '49; Alumni Loyalty Award: Cole Zimmerman '73; Recent Alumni Achievement Award: Nicole Molt '05 and Recent Alumni Loyalty Award: Nate Boulton '02.  Celebrate with the Class of 1961 as members are inducted into the Half-Century Club.   Advanced reservations are required.

Visit the President's Home & the Culver Center
Two unique opportunities! President & Nancy Byrd will open the first floor of Sigler House especially for our alumni and friends.  The home's rich history and beauty make it one of Simpson's true treasures.  Sigler House is located at 703 West Ashland Avenue and will be open from 3:30 - 5 p.m. on Friday.  Mary Sheka, Executive Director of the John C. Culver Public Policy Center will also host an open house during this time at the Center located at 505 Girard Avenue.  A van shuttle will be available with check in at the hospitality table in McNeill foyer.

View Pulitzer Prize-winning photos
Earlier this year, the Iowa History Center at Simpson received an extraordinary gift- a collection of Pulitzer-Prize winning photographs taken by photojournalist David Peterson which document the Iowa farm crisis of the mid-1980s.  Shattered Dreams: Iowa's Rural Crisis was featured in the Des Moines Register on December 7, 1986 and will be on display in Farnham Galleries in Mary Berry Hall throughout the weekend.  Please note that the galleries will be closed from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday for a luncheon.

Presidents’ Picnic
New venue! The Presidents’ Picnic on Friday will be held this year on the patio to the west of Dunn Library.  Alumni from all eras enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of food, music and fun at this casual gathering.  During the picnic, we will announce the winners of the highly-coveted Simpson Cup.  The picnic begins at 6:30 p.m.   (Rain site: Pfeiffer Dining Hall.)

All-Alumni Breakfast
This breakfast serves as the annual meeting of the Simpson College Alumni Association, where President Byrd will present his State of the College address.  Alumni will vote on the slate of newest members of the Simpson College Alumni Association Board of Directors including Brooke Avila '01; Lori Carlson Card '09, Joe Cockrell '97, Robyn Burgeson Mills '84 and Pam Leahigh Zimmerman' 75.  The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday in the Matthew Simpson Room, College Hall.  

Sorority Events (Noon on Saturday. $15 payable at the door.)
Delta Delta Delta alumnae are invited to a special luncheon at Sigler House, the home of President & Nancy Byrd, located at 703 West Ashland in Indianola.  RSVP by June 16 to Sara Heim at saraheim@hotmail.com or (515) 515-210-4103.

Alpha Chi Omega alumnae will gather for a luncheon in the Matthew Simpson Room on the 2nd floor of College Hall.  To make reservations, contact Kathy Nahkunst Bell '81 at 1105 North O Street, Indianola, IA  50125; by calling 515-961-4436 or email nahkunstbell@q.com by June 16.

The alumnae of Kappa Kappa Gamma are invited to a "Konnect with a Kappa" luncheon in Farnham Galleries located in Mary Berry Hall.  To make reservations, contact Jennifer Pfeifer-Malaney '97 at jmpfeifer@hotmail.com or call 515-720-1731 by June 16.

The Indianola Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club would like to invite all Pi Beta Phi alumnae to our annual luncheon.  This fun, casual luncheon will be held at the Chapter House where you'll be able to see what's new at 406 North Buxton Street.  We'd like all ages to come; you don't have to be having a class reunion to attend the luncheon.  Please RSVP to Emily Beckmann at emilykbeckmann@gmail.com or 515-229-3676.

Sandwiches, Sirianni & the Storm
Join us at noon on Saturday in the 1st floor lounge of historic Barker Hall for a box lunch and a relaxed conversation with John Sirianni, director of athletics.  He will share the exciting and evolving future of Simpson athletics, athletics facilities, Indianola's new Wellness Center and the exciting opportunities now present for the college.

REUNIONS

The members of the Class of 1961 will be inducted into the Half-Century Club at the Alumni
Recognition Luncheon at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 24.  On Saturday, June 25, these golden alumni are invited by President and Nancy Byrd for a social hour at Sigler House (the President's home), 703 West Ashland, Indianola, beginning at 4 p.m.  Afterward, the class will move to the All Alumni Reunion Dinner.

Alumni of all class years are invited to attend the new All Alumni Reunion Dinner on Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. as we honor the Classes of 1941, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961 and 1970-71-72.  We will celebrate in the beautiful setting of Duncan Hall located in the Amy Robertson Music Building.  Class reunion photos will be taken at this event. 

The Classes of 1970-71-72 will continue the evening with a post-dinner gathering at the home of Chris Schulte Blake' 71 and Joe Blake '71 located at 208 West Kentucky Avenue in Indianola.  Join your classmates on Facebook under Simpson College Classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972! 


GENERAL INFORMATION
Housing
Campus housing is available at our Station Square apartments on Detroit Street.  Each two bedroom apartment is air-conditioned, carpeted and can sleep from one to four people.  (Each bedroom has two twin beds.) Unit rates per night are available for: Single/Double and Triple/Quad.  Linens provided include sheets, pillow, one towel, washcloth and a small bar of soap.  A microwave and refrigerator are available in each room.  Please indicate if you would prefer a handicap accessible room.  

We encourage you to make your reservations early.  To reserve a room, please contact the hotel directly:

Indianola:
Apple Tree Inn 515-961-0551
Garden and Galley (B&B) 515-961-7749
Super 8 Motel 800-800-8000
Woods Motel 515-961-5311

Des Moines (Southside):
Radisson 515-285-7777
Holiday Inn Airport 515-287-2400
Heartland Inn 515-256-0603
Best Western 800-780-7234

Check-in for Station Square
If you are arriving on Thursday and will be staying at Station Square apartments, you may check in at the Office of College Advancement on the second floor of Hillman Hall on Thursday, June 23 after 2 p.m. 

Registration Packets & Hospitality Table
Alumni Weekend registration packets may be picked up on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 in the McNeill Hall foyer from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  We regret registration packets will not be available on Thursday.

Transportation
If you are traveling to Des Moines by air and need transportation to campus, please mark the appropriate line on the registration form.  To assure availability, this service must be requested in advance. 

Dietary Restrictions
Please include any dietary restrictions with your registration form.  

Special Assistance
If you or someone in your party has difficulty walking distances, we would be glad to arrange rides to and from events or classes on a golf cart.  Please let us know in advance or contact the hospitality table or a staff member at any point throughout the weekend. 

Click here to register online or call 515-961-1544 or 800-610-6369.

Last Updated: 11/18/11