56 Biola Alumni joined the estimated 1 million spectators at the 2010 Rose Parade:聽 A Cut Above the Rest, on January 1.聽 Alumni met bright and early at the Biola campus for this first-time venture to Colorado Boulevard.聽 After a hearty breakfast provided by BonAppetit, the Alumni traveled to the parade grounds via chartered coach.

Biola Alumnus, Howard Parker, enjoyed the live parade alongside his family.聽 鈥淣icole, our daughter, decided that watching it on TV just isn鈥檛 adequate anymore,鈥 Parker said.聽

Pilot Chesley B. 鈥淪ully鈥 Sullenberger III led the parade as Grand Marshal.聽 Alumni heard the first-ever Ohio School for the Blind Marching Band, saw Jackie Chan aboard the Shanghai World Expo float, witnessed a Blue Angel fly-over, and were entertained by a Guinness Book of World Records float called 鈥淗ot Doggin鈥- Going for the Gold鈥.聽 This float, created by the Dick Van Patten鈥檚 Natural Balance Pet Foods Group, featured a moving winter chairlift and live snowboarding bulldogs!

Senior Director, Rick Bee (鈥79, 鈥90, 鈥01), was in attendance with his wife Julie (鈥80).聽 鈥淭he event was great, the floats were amazing, and the food was delicious! A bus and reserved seating are the only way to go!聽 Having lived in California for 30 years, this was the first time we鈥檝e ever been, and we were not disappointed!鈥

This event is sure to become a new alumni event tradition in the years to come.聽 If you missed out on the parade this year, remember to book early for your chance to join the alumni team in 2011!聽

There are still several exciting events being offered during the conclusion of the 鈥09-鈥10 events calendar.聽 For more information, check out our website at .