Byword

It's been said that "Good is the enemy of Great." One of the things I admire about Baylor people is that they refuse to settle for "good." 
In this issue alone, you'll read about how a Baylor alumna spearheaded an effort to recognize the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II. But that wasn't enough; she continued her push and succeeded in having the 1,000-plus female pilots honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, as well.
Similarly, when it came to protecting the Waco Mammoth Site, a simple structure with four walls and a roof would have sufficed to keep the dig site out of the weather. But because they wouldn't settle, the site is on the brink of joining the National Park System and will open to the public in December in a first-class facility.
Within the University, Baylor administrators are continually evaluating every aspect of every program and service. In recent years, those efforts have resulted in the improved recruitment and retention of students, the construction of state-of-the-art academic, athletic and residential facilities, and the development of a number of expanded and enhanced services available to students, faculty and staff.
Connecting with alumni has also been at the forefront of efforts in recent years. The University has continued to expand its offerings through the Baylor Network, linking alumni around the world through affinity-based gatherings focused on interests such as business, sports and service. 
This publication, Baylor Magazine, was launched in 2001 to fill a significant deficiency in the University's communications with alumni. Before the magazine's launch, Baylor had no official ongoing communications vehicle in place to consistently connect with alumni. 
With Baylor Magazine, the University is able to directly communicate four times a year with over 120,000 alumni and friends of the University, fostering a sense of active belonging and pride and engaging readers in Baylor's advancement by communicating the aspirations, needs and accomplishments of the University community. 
As part of that effort to keep the Baylor family connected--not only with the University, but with each other--beginning with this issue, we are also including class notes to enable you to share your news with all your fellow Bears--weddings, births, promotions, retirements, honors and awards.
Class notes begins on page 48 in this issue and will be a regular feature in future issues of Baylor Magazine. You can submit your note here, or by mail to: Baylor Magazine, One Bear Place #97024, Waco, TX 76798-7024. 
We look forward to hearing from you, and joining with you to keep all of the Baylor family firmly connected and growing strong.