In 2015 Cornell turns 150! – Cornell Class of 1973

On April 27, 2015 (Charter Day), Cornell officially turns 150 years old. The University is rolling out the Big Red carpet in 2014-2015 to make sure Cornellians everywhere can take part in this once-in-a-lifetime Sesquicentennial celebration. Cornell is going on tour in select cities worldwide in 2014-2015, with events planned and hosted by Cornell. Local alumni will be invited to attend these functions. In addition regional clubs will be working with other Cornell groups to host official parties on Charter Day weekend. Alumni will be encouraged to attend “scanning parties” throughout the celebration year, where guests can bring old pictures to be digitized and sent to Cornell’s collection. Even if you don’t attend a large event, you won’t be alone in embracing the Big Red spirit. You can catch the campus celebration remotely by watching livestreams or video recordings, and you can make connections all year long by sharing your photos, memories, stories, and more on-line.

Your class officers and council are participating in the planning process in a variety of cities across the US. We will keep you informed regarding dates and activities where we will have a distinct presence – but don’t hesitate to get involved where you live – Cornell is a big family, and you don’t simply connect via the class.

1973 Scholarship Fund

Since it was established at our 15th reunion, the Cornell Class of 1973 Scholarship has been helping Cornell undergraduates finance their education. The fund has been growing over the years through classmate donations, and currently we are able to grant a $10,000+ scholarship to a student or students needing financial aid. Generations of class officers have affirmed the Class of 1973 Scholarship as one of the most visible legacies that we can leave to Cornell. How better to leave a mark than establishing a fund that allows multiple students to afford a Cornell education?

We encourage giving to the Class of 1973 Scholarship, and many classmates have made gifts to help others afford a Cornell education. A gift may be made at any time – and many classmates “round up” their class dues to add a little bit to the scholarship fund. As of 2017, twenty students have received help from our scholarship fund. Check out some of the class letters to see their stories.

Class of 1973 Legacy

The class officers have worked to identify a class legacy that we, the members of the Class of 1973, can leave to Cornell which will make an impact on Cornell's future. We have determined that the class legacy should include: Scholarship (we have a Class of 1973 Scholarship which supports at least one student every academic year and will hopefully grow to support additional students), as described above; Mentorship (both of young class officers and graduating students to encourage their support of Cornell as alumni); and Public Service (both through supporting Cornell's initiatives and in our own communities).