On July 14, hundreds of alumni, students, and their families gathered in Washington DC, Detroit, Raleigh, Ann Arbor, and online to celebrate the Ford School’s shared community and enjoy trivia and conversation.
Grace Evans (MPP ‘16), vice-chair of the alumni board, helped coordinate the festivities. "Ford School Spirit Day is a special tradition," she said. "Each year, I meet students and fellow alums who work on a diverse array of policy areas all over the country and the world. It is a reminder that we are part of something bigger, and that my community of fellow learners and doers is out there working for the public good alongside me."
Alumni hosts included Naomi Goldberg (MPP ‘08) in Ann Arbor, Sam Geller (MPP ‘17) and Trevis Harrold (MPP '17) in Detroit, Matt Filter (MPP '13) and Evan Raleigh (MPP '12) in Raleigh, John Guerriero (MPP '17) and David Leapheart (BA '10) in Washington, DC.
Special thanks to Jason Levien (MPP/JD '97), CEO and co-chairman of D.C. United for hosting and sponsoring the Spirit Day event at Audi Field in DC. “On behalf of the Ford School Alumni Board, a huge thank you,” said David Leaphart (BA ‘10). “It's hard to imagine a better venue to reconnect with Fordies in DC—the views, the staff, and Audi field are all spectacular. And what a wonderful reminder that Ford School prepares students for exciting careers in (or on) any field.”
Grace Evans (MPP '16) and Jackson Voss (MPP/STTP '18) also organized a virtual celebration for Fordies joining from coast to coast, including California, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, and even South America.
First held in 2011, Spirit Day encourages Fordies to celebrate their school and honor the legacy of President Ford on his birthday by attending alumni-led gatherings, catching up with old friends, networking, and sharing the latest school news.