UWAA History
In 1889 a small group of alumni founded the University of Washington Alumni Association, this was the same year that Washington entered the Union as the 42nd state.
Under the direction of R. Bronsdon "Curly" Harris, who served as director of graduate relations and executive secretary of the alumni association from 1936–1964, the UWAA incorporated as a social-educational, non-profit organization. During that time, a member benefits program was established, awards programs were created, reunions and Homecoming activities were added, and active alumni political lobbying started to support the university's interests.
Tracy King became director of the association in 1979, and began helping the membership expand from the then-current level of 15,000. To help finance its growing role in support of the University of Washington, the UWAA began aggressive member recruitment programs in the mid-1980s when membership totaled less than 30,000. Today, nearly a third of the school's living graduates are members, making it one of the largest alumni associations in the nation. More than 50,000 members engage the alumni community through social, learning, athletic and volunteer activities.
Read more about this topic: University Of Washington Alumni Association
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