News

Michael J. Stephens '57

Michael Stephens, you have done so much to promote WPI within your class and among other alumni. During your four years, you represented the university well as a multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and tennis. Over the years, you have taken part in many alumni events including golf tournaments and class reunions. As chairman of your class’s 25^th and 50^th reunions, your leadership unites many people who could easily have lost touch over the years.

You have been instrumental in establishing the Class of ’57 Excellence Scholarship, which awards $100,000 to the Excellence in Teaching program, and $20,000 toward the purchase of an Alpha computer to service the WPI website. As technology continues to become a vital piece of any successful business, it is with great appreciation that we acknowledge your efforts. With your help, the Class of ’57 has become one of the most recognizable and successful classes ever to graduate from WPI.

Your paper detailing the problems with the Alumni-By-lines convinced your peers that it was time to revise and update them. After analyzing the alumni giving process, you recommended a different approach to maximize fund-raising. Much time was spent working to re-invigorate alumni participation; it was your responsibility to meet with each group of class representatives. You named the new organization the “Class Board of Directors.” Your efforts to re-connect the alumni community are greatly appreciated; with many of your tactics are still used today.

You are the coordinator of WPI alumni on Cape Cod as well as scorekeeper and handicap generator for regular golf outings. With events held every three weeks, you constantly manage to unite graduates from the 1940s with the most recent graduates – a task that is sometimes quite difficult. Through alumni events and your dedicated scholarship work, you allow new relationships to form and develop.

Mike Stephens, for always going above and beyond, WPI honors you with the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service.

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