Bright Lights in the Badger City

 

Red Tie Gala to celebrate alumni, increase scholarships.

Before the face paint and Badger gear come out for the Homecoming football game, the Wisconsin Alumni Association invites alumni to sport altogether different — but just as spirited — attire at a once-in-a-lifetime campus event: the Red Tie Gala.

The capstone event of WAA’s 150th anniversary, the Red Tie Gala is an evening for all UW alumni and friends to dress their best and feel their finest. This historic moment celebrates 150 years of UW alumni and traditions while driving toward a goal of raising $150,000 for the Great People Scholarship fund, helping ensure the UW experience continues for future generations.

“This will be an amazingly spirited and meaningful moment for alumni to get decked out in their Badger best while helping a great cause,” says Martha Vukelich-Austin ’81, co-chair of WAA’s Red Tie Gala alumni advisory committee. “This is a moment not to be missed and an event truly unique to this campus that I know will leave all in attendance with a lifelong UW memory.”

Held at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery Town Center on Friday, October 14, from 7 to 11 p.m., the gala is Madison’s premier Homecoming eve event. It will include hundreds of alumni and friends of all UW eras, along with honorary hosts UW athletic director Barry Alvarez and his spouse, Cindy, and UW interim chancellor David Ward MS’62, PhD’63 and his spouse, Judith ’64.

Attendees will arrive to a luminous red-carpet scene and dance to a live Big Band ensemble; dine on gourmet appetizers, local beers, and wines; and mingle with classmates and alumni, special guests, and Badger celebrities.

Space is limited at this event. See uwalumni.com/gala to register.

Published in the Fall 2011 issue