Some of Karen Epport’s fondest memories at UCLA are of meeting John Wooden while he was still coaching UCLA basketball in the 1970s and watching the 1984 Summer Olympics in Pauley Pavilion.
In 2010, Epport added a new favorite memory to her list by giving her son a tour of her alma mater.
Epport, her father and her son have witnessed many of the university’s most memorable moments during their three generations on campus.
Epport and her son attended UCLA’s third annual Alumni Day on Saturday, which offered former UCLA students and graduates the chance to visit the campus, see how much has changed since their time as students and possibly contribute to UCLA’s future.
Epport, who received her doctorate in psychology at UCLA in 1987, checked in early at will call to pick up her tickets with her son, Josh Epport Footlik, to enjoy a day full of tours, speeches and reminiscing.
But nostalgia was only half of the reason Epport came to the alumni celebration.
Footlik, a future tenor saxophonist for the UCLA marching band, received his acceptance letter in March, and both he and his mother took the opportunity to tour the school and look at the dorms.
Footlik said he has been indoctrinated to love everything UCLA since he was young and was thrilled to be admitted to his top-choice school.
The family’s connection to the school goes back to Epport’s father, who was part of the second class to graduate from the UCLA School of Law in 1953, Epport said.
Epport was an undergraduate at UC San Diego and California State University, Northridge before coming to UCLA. However, her school spirit belongs solely to UCLA, she said.
“I loved it here, and I was thrilled when I got here,” she said.
She now works as a speech therapist for the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
Epport and Footlik live in El Segundo and attend most UCLA football and basketball games. Karen is particularly proud of her two photos with Wooden, UCLA’s star basketball coach.
Epport, who lived in an apartment throughout her time at UCLA, made it a point to check out the different dorm room layouts for Footlik. This included stopping random students outside Rieber Terrace and De Neve Plaza and asking to take a look inside their rooms, to the horror of her son.
A few things have changed since Epport’s time as a graduate student, most notably the construction of the John Wooden Center, the Bruin Bear and some aesthetic changes in the sports uniforms.
“The basketball shorts have gotten a lot longer. Coach (Wooden) never would have allowed that,” she said.
She was also concerned about students becoming “one-dimensional” and sacrificing other activities to focus entirely on academics.
“Students face pressure to enter college and specialize immediately ““ that was my mistake,” Epport said. “The purpose of an undergraduate education is to become a well-rounded person, enjoy the time you have here. Grab on to any activity, and have fun.”
The school has become much more diverse and environmentally active, and the range of majors has expanded since her time as a graduate student, Epport said.
“There wasn’t a women’s studies, or (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) program when I was here. … I’m thrilled at the level of diversity,” she said.
At the end of the day’s tours and events, Epport said she appreciated the efforts UCLA has made to reach out to former students.
“There’s never been such a focus on alumni ““ it was really great to come back,” she said.