Media Advisory: UB to celebrate with WNY alumni and friends

BUFFALO, N.Y. – More than 1,000 University at Buffalo alumni are expected to celebrate their alma mater on Thursday, Sept. 12, during a function in The Buffalo Pierce-Arrow Transportation Museum on Michigan Avenue. The guests will also be among the first to tour the new Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Filling Station.

Special guests will include UB President Satish K. Tripathi, new Athletics Director Danny White, head football coach Jeff Quinn, new men’s head basketball coach Bobby Hurley and a number of student athletes, who will be on hand to pump up the crowd and talk about the new era of the Bulls. The Center for the Arts, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Zodiaque Dance Company, will be promoting the upcoming season of arts and performances. 

“Our university has been experiencing an incredible number of successes over the past year or so with no end in sight, and we want to share the excitement with our alumni and thank them for believing in their alma mater,” said Jay Friedman, EdM ’00 & BA ’86, associate vice president for alumni relations. “From our UB 2020 Tour to President Obama’s visit to groundbreaking for the new medical school next month, alums can’t help but walk away from this event feeling proud.” 

A similar event drew a crowd of 600 when was held in Buffalo last fall as part of the UB 2020 tour, in which Tripathi traveled to 20 cities in 20 months to meet alumni. “Last year’s 2020 tour stop in Buffalo was one of the largest alumni events in recent memory, and we’re shattering that record this year,” said Carol Gloff, BS ’75, president of the UB Alumni Association. “It’s clear that local alums are excited about their university and enjoy sharing that excitement with each other, so we’ve decided to make this an annual event.”

The choice of venue – owned by alumnus Jim Sandoro, BS ’71 – also demonstrates UB’s commitment to the downtown area. “We’re only a stone’s throw away from the burgeoning medical campus and the site of our new medical school,” Friedman said. “The downtown renaissance is happening, and we’re honored that we, and our alumni, are part of it.”

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with remarks slated for 7:30 p.m.

Press arrangements: John DellaContrada, onsite, at 716-361-3006.