Alumni Wall, Spirit Store Welcome Beavers to Iowa State Fair
Hundreds, if not thousands of Beavers, sign the popular BVU wall
Hundreds of Buena Vista University alumni joined current and incoming students in signing the alumni wall, a signature attraction (pun intended) in the BVU booth at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
“It was so much fun connecting with alumni and watching as they picked a spot for their signature on the alumni wall,” said President Brian Lenzmeier. “I know that by the end of the fair, there wasn’t much space left. It’s really a fun touchpoint for our current students and alumni.”
“I enjoy going to the booth, as it gives me a chance to reminisce about my time at BVU!”
Lauren McCammant, 2020 BVU grad
Lauren McCammant, a 2020 BVU graduate from Malcom, used her father, Brent Slings, as a ladder of sorts. Slings crouched on his hands and knees and allowed his daughter to stand on his back as she signed her name in the only place with ample room for a signature, the top of the wall.
“I always try to stop at the BVU booth each year,” McCammant said. “I enjoy going to the booth, as it gives me a chance to reminisce about my time at BVU!”
“It’s nice I can sign this with my mother present, who made so much of my experience possible at BVU,” said Council Bluffs resident Bibiana Lemus, a 2021 BVU graduate who is now working on her master’s degree at BVU.
Of the several hundred who signed the wall and then entered their graduation year and up-to-date contact information at the booth, Dirk Bruns, a 1991 graduate from Mason City, was selected as the winner of the BVU gift basket provided by BVU Advancement and Alumni Relations.
Additionally, the BVU booth at the Iowa State Fair provided fair enthusiasts from across the Midwest an opportunity to purchase Beaver clothing and swag from the Spirit Store. Items ranging from sweatshirts to alumni t-shirts to caps to Yetis found their way into the hands of eager Beaver alumni, students, and friends.
“We had a great time seeing alumni and visiting with them about events we have coming up, both on-campus and throughout the country,” said BVU Director of Alumni Relations Sarah Johnson. “Being at the Iowa State Fair came on the heels of a fun day for alumni, friends, and incoming students at Principal Park with the I-Cubs. We now look forward to Soccer Alumni Day on campus on Sept. 1, and then the Beavers roll right into Homecoming on Oct. 13-14.”
BVU alumni will make a big splash back in Des Moines on Feb. 24 as the inaugural Beaver Ball is held at the Iowa Events Center, giving Beavers of all ages the opportunity to connect as friends while celebrating our growth and accomplishments.