Graduates of FIU will one day have their own home away from home in which to gather for football tailgate parties, homecoming reunions and networking events. Slated to rise near the 107th Avenue and 16th Street entrance to Modesto A. Maidique Campus, the planned 30,000-square-foot alumni center, a rendering of which is shown here, will feature a ballroom and several conference rooms in addition to a 7,000-square-foot courtyard. Projected to cost $15 million to construct, the proposed building has already attracted nearly $5 million in contributions, the bulk coming from blue-and-gold couples Marcia L. Martinez-Strait MS ’77 and Richard W. Strait ’76 and Angela M. Martinez and Raul A. Chavez ’80. Additional donations from other alumni will help move along the project, says Bill Draughon, associate vice president for advancement, who is leading the initiative. He adds, “This will be the place to engage the Panther community and welcome back alumni looking to reconnect with their alma mater.” ♦