Alumni Relations Annual Report

FY20 – July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020

Alumni Relations

The Northwest Alumni Association experienced a transformational year during 2019-20. A global pandemic impacted the way we live, work, learn and connect. However, against all the challenges and uncertainties the Bearcat family found ways to stay connected through the giving of their time, talent and treasures.

The Northwest Alumni Association hosted more than 300 engagement activities that drew more than 21,000 attendees. A few highlights of these activities included the Northwest Alumni Association Awards Banquet in September 2019 that honored seven deserving individuals during Family Weekend. The Class of 1969 returned to campus to celebrate their Golden Reunion at Homecoming 2019, and a spirited Homecoming weekend witnessed a large amount of Bearcat alumni and friends returning to campus to celebrate honored traditions. The Alumni Association also found ways to better engage with alumni through social media despite the many events canceled due to COVID-19. All spring and summer events were moved to virtual formats, resulting in an increase presence on social media. As one example of this effort, alumni leaders from across the country recorded videos to share via social media to help welcome incoming and returning students to Northwest.  

The Northwest Alumni Association’s Tourin’ Bearcats program continues to travel to new exciting destinations. With a sold-out trip to Greece during the winter of 2020, Bearcats visited well-known places such as the Olympic stadium and the Parthenon. Future trips include destinations such as Iceland in the fall of 2020 and New York City, Niagara Falls and Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2021. Both trips have been extremely popular with alumni and friends signing up. For more information about travel opportunities, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 660.562.1248 or visit.  

The Northwest Alumni Association thanks its amazing volunteers for giving more than 1,900 hours of time and support. In total, time volunteered with the Alumni Association was valued at more than $45,000. Additionally, the Bearcat Family continues to grow as its overall count for Alumni Association members is more than 80,000 strong.

Annual Giving and Stewardship

The Annual Giving program continues to be the cornerstone of unrestricted giving. In FY20, The 1905 Society, which recognizes supporters who make an annual unrestricted gift of $1,000 or more, counted 154 members. Meanwhile, the Foundation’s annual giving program raised $356,000 in FY20 for unrestricted and designated areas.  

Last April, for the sixth consecutive year, Northwest students celebrated alumni and friends who contributed generously to the University in support of scholarships, campus facilities and the value of college degree during “Thank a Donor Day.” Although, Northwest hosted the activities online amid restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual event maintained its mission to educate Northwest students about the importance of charitable giving by alumni, family and friends. 

Alumni Relations staff
Dr. Bob Machovsky ’15
Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
rmachov@nwmissouri.edu
660.562.1212

Carma Greene Kinman ’85
Constituent Relations Specialist
ckinman@nwmissouri.edu
660.562.1249

Kala Hughes Dixon ’19
Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Specialist
kalad@nwmissouri.edu
660.562.1718

Alumni Relations Annual Report:

View report (PDF)