UVa throws a party!

This weekend (September 29-30) UVa kicked off it's $3 Billion Capital Campaign by throwing a series of parties for alumni and friends. On Friday, Arts and Sciences had a ground-breaking ceremony for it's new South Lawn Project, followed by a lovely dinner in a tent on the Lawn.





On Saturday, retired Supreme Court Judge Sandra Day O'Connor gave one of the most interesting and humorous talks we've heard in many years. She was witty, pointed, and displayed a clarity of mind that made you undestand why she was a Supreme Court Judge.



Then, THE GALA! What an awesome party, created by a group in Los Angeles that has put on parties for the Emmy Awards, Christina Aguilera, the Getty, etc. It was big-time and big-league the whole way. They transformed the John Paul Jones Arena into a simulacrum of The Lawn, with dazzling 360º projections. (Speaking of John Paul Jones, guess who we met that morning?)


Mr. and Mrs. John Paul Jones

Janna looked dazzling, of course! She was wearing a top that she made from Chinese Wedding Silks I brought back to her from Taiwan this summer.



We assembled for cocktails on the plaza, welcomed by hosts of gorgeous young people, and photographed after our cars were wisked away by valet parking.


David Breneman (Dean, Curry School) and Carol Block (Research Scientist), Donna Plasket (Head, BIS Program) and Gene Block (Provost)


Nancy Tramontin (UVa Webmaster) and David Toscano (Delegate to State Assembly)



Ted Genoways (Editor, Virginia Quarterly Review), Mary Ann Andrei, Janna, David

Here are a few pix of the John Paul Jones Arena, transformed.







Among the evening's hosts were Tiki (New York Giants) and Rhonde (Florida Marlins) Barber





I was asked to be one of the six major speakers (the only faculty member invited to speak), which I was pleased to do (I spoke about internationalization, study abroad, J-Term, and Semester at Sea). Just when I mentioned Semester at Sea, I pulled my admiral's hat (hand-painted gift from Denny) and put it on. I was incredibly nervous when I went on, but it ended up ok.





EVERYONE WAS THERE! Recognize this guy? (Hint: built Monticello?)



Following my talk, at a photo op with Katie Couric, she got into it, grabbed my hat, and hammed it up!



It was QUITE A WEEKEND!