To encourage you to participate, Angela Althoff Most, BSBA ’90, and Gary Most, have established a generous Class of 1990 Reunion Challenge.
If only 30 more classmates give back, we’ll reach our goal, and the Mosts will contribute $100,000 to our Class Gift!
Growing up in southwestern Illinois, about 30 minutes from the Gateway Arch, I had always heard about Washington University and the amazing educational opportunities it provided its students as well as the large role it played in the success of the St. Louis metropolitan community. Both of my parents graduated from college before they were married in 1952 and it was always a given that I would attend college as well. Washington University was always an institution of interest and discussion in our family and a place that, from my earliest memory, I had wanted to attend.
When I was a junior at Waterloo High School in Waterloo, Illinois, I had the legendary Jack Burke as my American History teacher who spoke frankly and openly about life with his students. One day Mr. Burke said, “If you can go, you need to go to Washington University. It is right here in St. Louis and is one of the best universities in the country.” After that statement, my mind was positively made up.
Attending Washington University was absolutely a dream come true for me. The rigor of the academics, the enthusiasm of the professors and the intelligence of my fellow students were all that I had hoped for and more. I was challenged at Washington University such as I had never been before. I grew mentally and emotionally in ways that I could not imagine until stepping foot on the campus as a student. I thrived, matured and my mind was stretched to new and before unknown limits.
Graduating from Washington University was truly one of the happiest days of my life, along with my marriage and the birth of my children. Up until that point, I had not been as proud as I was on my graduation day. My degree from Washington University launched me into a financial management training program at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) in St. Louis, where I worked for 25 years before leaving and joining my husband at his newly acquired marketing company, where I continue to enjoy contributing.
Along the journey of life, our family has also been profoundly touched by the Washington University School of Medicine’s physicians. My father’s battle with Parkinson’s disease and my own battle with breast cancer are the two most notable examples. We will never forget the medical expertise, knowledge and kindly compassion we experienced by our treating physicians. Never did we fear that we were not getting the absolute best treatment available or question any of their decisions or suggestions.
I am forever indebted to Washington University for molding me into the young adult that I was, thus enabling me to grow into the person that I am today. My husband and I are thrilled that our family is able to challenge my fellow 1990 Washington University alumni to give back to the institution that molded and propelled them forward too. We hope they respond in kind!
