How do I love thee? Let Miami count the ways.*
2024 Miami Merger valentine continues cherished tradition
By Donna Boen ’83, MTC ’96, Miamian editor
Nothing says Valentine’s Day like milk chocolates, red roses, and the latest Miami Merger valentine. On Feb. 1, the Miami University Alumni Association mailed 14,580 heartfelt (and heart-filled) cards to married couples who are both Miami graduates.
The merger numbers are actually a tad higher than the number of valentines mailed, with 29,898 graduates calling themselves Miami Mergers (14,949 couples.) That’s 12% of Miami’s approximately 241,426 living alumni.
Started 51 years ago, the valentine is new every year. The 2024 version opens to an original poem and several sheets of Miami Merger-labeled notepad to accommodate grocery lists, to-do notes, or brainstorming ideas for upcoming date nights.
“Creating these cards is always fun for our staff, who do a great job carrying on this unique and meaningful tradition,” said Kim Tavares, executive director of the alumni association.
There is at least one Miami Merger in all 50 states, and the group with the highest number of couples is study abroad, followed by the marching band. Miami Mergers can learn additional information about the tradition, report their new “merge,” or share their merger story at MiamiAlum.org/Mergers.
Groups with the highest Miami Merger numbers:
| 349 |
Study abroad/excluding Luxembourg |
| 152 |
Marching band |
| 110 |
Luxembourg second semester |
| 86 |
Wine tasting class |
| 83 |
Luxembourg first semester |
| 76 |
Honors program graduate |
Top five class years:
| 1990 |
383 couples |
| 1993 |
357 |
| 1992 |
356 |
| 1995 |
353 |
| 1991 |
352 |
*Apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning.