FRONT PAGE

USU Alumni Spotlight This month, meet Al Faccinto, Jr., President and Chief Operating Officer of MGM MIRAGE International. This company is the international marketing division which oversees marketing for Bellagio, MGM Grand, and The Mirage worldwide. In 1971, Mr. Faccinto started his career as a dealer at the Cortez Hotel in downtown Las Vegas. Over the next 11 years, he worked his way from dealer to Baccarat Manager at Caesars Palace. By 1987, he was transferred to Marketing where he was appointed Assistant Vice President of International Relations. In 1989, Mr. Faccinto was promoted to Vice President of International Marketing with The Mirage, where he successfully built all aspects of the Marketing Department. Today, as President of MGM Mirage International, his responsibilities have expanded to include all international marketing efforts at Bellagio, MGM Grand and The Mirage Hotels. Originally born in Ohio, Mr. Faccinto moved to Las Vegas at the age of five. He was named All-State in football, basketball and baseball his senior year of high school. Al came to Utah State University on a football scholarship and received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1972.  His career was highlighted by playing in the North-South Shrine Game in Miami, Florida after his senior year. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

True Aggies You've probably heard the term, True Aggie, but you may not know what being a True Aggie really means.  It all began on the "A", a structure in the form of the letter, "A".  The "A" was built in 1916 by a group of young men known as the Be-Nos.  Its purpose was to serve as the site of an initiation ritual when a young man had to kiss a willing young lady from on top the "A" under a full moon at midnight.  The ritual spread across the entire campus and became known as a method by which one could attain True Aggiehood.  A person can still become a True Aggie with a kiss on the "A" (next to Old Main) under a full moon at midnight by one who is a True Aggie or on Homecoming or A-Day night by one who is not.  This tradition is sponsored by the Student Alumni Association and has been attended by as many as 2,000 couples at one True Aggie Night in the past.

Wright Flyer
Nearly 100 years after Wilbur and Orville Wright completed the first powered airplane flight, Utah State University engineering students, faculty members and community volunteers discovered that they have the right stuff, too. A modified replica of the Wright Flyer, built with state-of-the-art composite materials at the Logan campus, successfully took flight at the Historic Wendover Airport. The airport was the ideal setting for the USU Wright Flyer’s first flight on March 14, 2003. Click here read more about the Wright Flyer.

 

A-Day 1919. Laying the sidewalk north of the QUAD. A-Day was a USU tradition, one day a year donated by all staff and students to work on some campus improvement.

A-Day Week The Student Alumni Association will be celebrating a week of service April 12 through the 18 . This old time tradition has been a part of the university since 1911. The main focus of the week is to raise money for Brook Jorgensen, a nine year-old girl from Logan who has Cerebral Palsy. The money raised will go to help pay for the family’s medical expenses. Some of the week’s activities will include a campus wide clean-up and making boxes for the Head Start program. A-Day week will end with a dance and concert from Ryan Shupe and the Rubberbands, followed by the traditional True Aggie Night.

All Alumni Las Vegas Weekend
All Aggies are invited to join in the fun with the Aggie Vegas Weekend July 26, 2003.  This is an opportunity for a fun weekend for you and your friends. Las Vegas has much to offer, including fantastic shows, shopping, great food, and fun in the sun. This event is co-chaired by Aggie alumni, Al Faccinto, Jr. and Dee Jones. Organized events include a 4-Man Scramble Golf Tournament at the Siena Golf Club and a Scholarship Dinner at Sergio’s Italian Gardens. All proceeds from these events provide scholarships to students at Utah State University. To register or make dinner reservations, call Utah State Alumni Relations at (800) 291-2586 by Friday, June 27, 2003 .

Commencement 2003
This spring, 2,839 students will receive their undergraduate degrees from Utah State University.  Graduate degrees will be conferred on approximately 750 additional graduates.  If you would like information about the schedule of events for commencement weekend of May 2nd and 3rd, click the following link: http://www.usu.edu/commencement/ . Congratulations to all 2003 grads!

NCAA Basketball Tournament - The Big Dance!! Utah State’s men’s basketball team fell to Kansas, 64-61, in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament in Oklahoma City, OK.  The Aggies had two shots to tie the game and send it into overtime, but both three-point attempts were off the mark, denying the Aggies a chance to take the game into overtime.  After defeating Utah State, Kansas eventually advanced to the NCAA Championship game. http://utahstateaggies.ocsn.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032003aaa.html

The Athletics Department and Alumni Relations combined to hold a pre-game party at a nearby restaurant in Bricktown, a popular local area, prior to the game against Kansas. The event was attended by alumni living in Oklahoma and fans who traveled from Utah.  In addition, eight avid Oklahoma Sooner fans paid their way into the party in a demonstration of the heated rivalry between Big 12 schools, vocally supporting an Aggie upset.  The pre-game party ended with a rousing performance by the outstanding USU pep band and cheer squad, attracting an appreciative local audience.

EVENT LISTINGS

Utah State University Alumni Relations sponsors many exciting events throughout the year. To keep informed about the most current ones, visit www.usu.edu/alumni/events.html often.

CONNECTIONS

Chapter News:

Salt Lake Luncheon with L. Tom Perry

Spend your lunch hour reminiscing about the university with Utah State Alum Elder L. Tom Perry, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be speaking at noon at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake on Friday, April 25, 2003 .   Lunch will be served. To reserve your spot, contact Patty Halaufia at (800) 291- 2586.

Davis County Honorees
It was a night to recognize the outstanding achievements of Jed Pitcher, Margaret Anderson, and Dan and Claudette Eastman at the Davis County Blue and White Gala. The chapter honored these individuals in Salt Lake City on March 19th for their contributions to the University and their communities.

Dan and Claudette Eastman

Jed Pitcher

Margaret Anderson

Eastern Idaho Honorees
Eastern Idaho Aggie Chapter Merit Citations were awarded March 28th in Idaho Falls to J. Richard Hinchcliff, Catharine Wright Harrison, Neil Kunz, and Bruce Schmalz for their commitment to the community and the University. President Kermit Hall spoke and Vice President Randy Talbot was also in attendance. Appetizers and Aggie ice cream were served following the program.

Richard Hinchcliff

Catharine Wright Harrison

Neil Kunz

Bruce Schmalz

Yellow Pages and Online Directory

Don't forget the Aggie Yellow Pages located in the Alumni Online Community.  This service enables you to find the products and services advertised by fellow Aggies. You can also post your own listing to promote your product or service for a nominal fee.  Resumes may also be posted for professional job placement.  In addition, the free Aggie online directory is your opportunity to network for jobs and connect with old friends. You’ll find both services at http://www.usu.edu/alumni/records.html.

Student Alumni Association

Dress for Success and Resume Writing

Sometimes it’s difficult for graduating college seniors to know what’s appropriate to wear to a job interview and how to make the transformation from a student’s wardrobe to wearing professional attire. The Student Alumni Association assists students with wardrobe questions and other career unknowns at Dress for Success night each spring. This year's event was held April 2nd.  Speakers at this popular event also present advice about resume writing and other career tips.

Travel Opportunities

China
To find more information, visit www.usu.edu/alumni/china.html or contact Scott Olson at (435) 797-2055.

Watch for news about a September Arizona football weekend in next month's eNewsletter.  We're also currently working on travel opportunities for 2004.

Athletics

2003 Aggie Auction
The date for this year’s Aggie Auction is Saturday, May 17, 2003, at the Taggart Student Center on the campus of USU.  The annual auction is a fun event geared specifically to raise money for the Big Blue Club in support of student-athlete scholarships.  The auction catalogue will go to press in a little over a week and will soon be available to the public.  Tickets are $30 a plate, with entire tables available for reservation at $300 for a table of 10.  Please call Heidi in the Athletics Department at 435-797-2583 by May 15th if you wish to attend.  Reservations for entire tables made by May 9th will be offered at a special price of $250, a savings of $5 a plate.  For this event, reservations are required.

Check out utahstateaggies.com for the latest news and information about Aggie Athletics.

If you would like to receive electronic updates from Athletics, e-mail Ken Beazer at ken.beazer@usu.edu.