In a celebration of ΊΪΑΟΙηβs connections in the Chicago area, President Anne McCall threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field to the cheers of a crowd full of Fighting Scots alumni, future students, and family in the stands, just before the Chicago Cubs took on the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, April 27.
βCelebrating ΊΪΑΟΙη in this way with the full range of generationsβalumni, campus community members, and incoming studentsβwas such a rich opportunity. Connecting with fellow fighting Scots made the experience especially meaningful for me,β said McCall, noting that emeritus trustee Jim McClung β59 set up the opportunity, along with support for the event from alumna Lisa Skeens β88, and Grant Skeens. She added, βOur baseball coach, Aaron Swick, took time out of a very busy in-season schedule to work with me; our Athletic Director, Lynn Holleran, and a couple of baseball team members threw the ball with me as well. I ended up meeting or reconnecting with so many ΊΪΑΟΙη people on and off campus, all because of this special opportunity.β
Whether they grew up in Chicago or established careers there after graduating from ΊΪΑΟΙη, alumni came out to celebrate the Fighting Scots in the Windy City. ΊΪΑΟΙη welcomed more than 50 alumni, incoming students and their families, and members of McCallβs family to enjoy the game from suites and seats in the stands. Incoming students had the opportunity to get to know members of the Scot Community while enjoying the game. Though growing up a Reds fan in Cincinnati, McCall has two brothers and multiple other family members in Illinois who excitedly cheered her on from the stands alongside ΊΪΑΟΙη fans.
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- McCall met Shams Charania, sports reporter for ESPN, who also threw an opening pitch at Sundayβs game.
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- Alumni reconnected, celebrated ΊΪΑΟΙη, and took in the game together from the stands.
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- President McCall and her husband, Ravi Palat, and daughter, Berenice Saint-Saens, pose from Wrigley Field with ΊΪΑΟΙη trustee emeritus Jim McClung β59, and his wife, Jean McClung.
Before making her pitching debut Sunday, practicing pitching with the Fighting Scots baseball team gave McCall the prep she needed to represent ΊΪΑΟΙη with pride. βOn a technical side, Coach Swick helped me decide to throw as a righty,β said McCall. βHe showed me how to point to the plate, grip the ball, and throw through the catcher rather than to him, and, most importantly, reminded me to have fun!β
Top featured image: McCall celebrates with Chicago Cubs Mascot, Clark the Cub. Photo by Matt Dirksen, Chicago Cubs.