This update is from Eric Olson: “This summer my wife, Maria, and I will be starting our 10th year living in North Carolina, where we enjoy the ‘nearly snowless’ winters with our kids Molly (16) and Brett (14). I’ve spent five of those years working at the Wake Forest School of Business, where I serve as executive director of enrollment management. Don’t ask how I got this job, but a prior career in marketing apparently helps with admissions. If anyone is in search of a mid-life crisis M.B.A., give me a call. My two kids are now finally reaching college age so I’m hoping that if Dartmouth isn’t in the cards, then they’ll become Demon Deacons, which will be easier on my wallet. We recently spent our spring break traveling through New York and Massachusetts, visiting family and old friends. We got to visit fellow ’88s Frank Wang in Newton, Massachusetts, and Mike Babick in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. We relived some good stories about our adventures in Mid-Mass and at the Hanover area golf courses.”

It’s hard to believe that in less than a year ’88s will be gathering in Hanover to celebrate our 30th reunion. Please mark your calendars for June 14-17, 2018. Come alone or bring your significant other and family. The more ’88s who attend, the more fun it will be. Interested in helping out? If so, email co-chairs Anne Chmielewski Kushwaha and Taylor Thomas at d8830thcochairs@gmail.com. You can also stay up to date on the latest class and reunion news at our amazing, newly revamped class of 1988 website, https://dartmouth88.org. (A shout-out to Bob Striker, our class webmaster, who custom designed the site for us—he won an honorable mention for Webmaster of the Year last year for his efforts!)

And, speaking of our 30th reunion, we’re so pleased to announce our 30th reunion class gift. Thanks for voting! We will be donating $30,000 to the first-year student enrichment program (FYSEP), which empowers Dartmouth students who are the first members of their families to attend college to thrive academically and in the greater college community. FYSEP includes an eight-day orientation program and also provides ongoing support to the students during their freshman year. The FYSEP program is also a fitting complement to our DCF 30th effort for financial aid. Our gift, which will be funded in large part by our class dues, will fund this program for 10 students. There are also opportunities to support these students through off-term internships and potentially to serve as mentors. Having been one of those first-generation college students—my dad did not have even a high school diploma—I can attest to how valuable this support would have been. If you have any questions or if you are interested in offering internships or exploring mentoring opportunities for these students, please reach out to Paula Zagrecki, our VP of service, at pzagrecki@gmail.com.

Finally, save the date for Homecoming, October 6 and 7. Join the parade or a post-game celebration and stay tuned for information on special events planned as a “warm-up” to our 30th reunion.

—Jere Mancini, 34 Wearimus Road, HoHoKus, NJ 07423; d88correspondent@gmail.com