VOLUME 1 » ISSUE 2
February 2003

USU Alumni Spotlight

Meet Don Jeng Wang, founding member, chairman, and CEO of MetroBank in Texas. Mr. Wang was most recently appointed to the METRO Board by the City of Houston in May 2002. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Future Programs Committee.

Mr. Wang has been heavily involved within Houston's communities. He has previously served on the boards of the American Leadership Forum, Harris County Hospital District, Houston Image Group, the Childress Foundation and the Houston Asia Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as president of the Chamber of Commerce of North America and the advisory board on the University of Houston Small Business Development Center. In addition, Mr. Wang has also served as chairman of the board of New Era Life Insurance Company since 1989.

On April 29, 1993, Mayor Bob Lanier proclaimed “Don J. Wang Day” in Houston in honor of Mr. Wang's abundant achievements in the realm of Asian community relations. In 1999, Mr. Wang was named Greater Houston Partnership International Executive of the Year. He also received the National Conference for Community Justice's Humanitarian Award.

Mr. Wang was also spotlighted in the 2000 book “Houston's Millennium Makers” which features native and adopted Houstonian's, including athletes, media celebrities, politicians, business people, philanthropists, and civic leaders who have led Houston in to the new millennium.

Born in Taiwan, Mr. Wang attended the Chung Hsing University, graduating with a degree in agricultural chemistry. He received a master's degree in nutrition and food science from Utah State University in 1972. Currently, Mr. Wang resides in Houston, Texas with his wife Ming Y, and remains a very loyal Aggie.

Founders Day
Have you ever wondered what Founders Day is? It's the celebration of the University's birthday, founded on March 8, 1888. The Alumni Association hosts the birthday banquet each spring. This year's Founders Day Celebration will be held on Friday, March 7, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ballroom of Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. A reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. At the Founders Day Celebration, the Distinguished Service Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award are presented to alumni and community members. Tickets for the event are $40.00 each and are available at the Alumni Relations office. For more information on attending this event, please call (800) 291-2586.

Big West Tournament Pregame Party
Come catch the Big West Basketball Tournament excitement held March 13-15, 2003 at the Alumni Pregame Party in sunny Anaheim, California! You can be a part of the action at the Pregame Party held 3:30-5:30 pm on Friday, March 14 at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel located at 777 Convention Center Way. Parking is available at the hotel or at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The cost is $10.00 per person. Activities include a Mexican buffet, prizes, scholarship raffles and a cash bar. RSVP by March 10 to USU Alumni Relations – (435) 797-2055 or call Toll Free at 1-800-291-2586.

Online Directory
Search for friends and make new connections with the brand new USU Online Community. Participation is exclusive and free to anyone who studied at Utah State University, or is a Sustaining Member of the Alumni Association. You now have the opportunity to network with other Aggies worldwide through the online directory, to receive a free e-mail forwarding service for life, or to sign up to advertise in the Aggie Yellow Pages. Postcards with University ID numbers have been mailed and you will soon have all the tools necessary to enrich your professional, social, and family life through the Aggie Network.

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:

Cache County Aggie Chapter of the USU Alumni Association Presented Two Merit Citation Awards on December Ninth, 2002.
Calvin R. Watts was recognized for his outstanding service and contributions to the university and the Cache County community. Mr. Watts has been a lifetime supporter of Aggie athletics, served as President of the USU Booster Club, is a Lifetime Sustaining Member of the USU Alumni Association, a member of the Old Main Society, and also served as Grand Marshal for the Utah State University Homecoming Parade.

Calvin Watts' service has not been limited to Utah State University. After attending the university, he served in WWII as a B-29 pilot and flight instructor. His service to the community includes the following roles: Director of the Logan Junior Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Logan Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Logan Planning and Zoning Commission, and Board of Directors for the Sunshine Terrace.

Calvin is married to Ann Adams and together they have five children.

Harrison T. Groutage
Harrison T. Groutage was recognized for his outstanding service and contributions to his profession and to the artistic community. He received his Bachelor of Science from Utah State, a Bachelor of Arts at BYU, and Master of Fine Arts at the University of Utah. He returned to USU and served as a professor and Department head for 32 years.

Mr. Groutage is widely recognized for his artistic work in painting, printmaking, drawing, and murals. His work is included in over 500 private and public collections, and is recognized and honored in galleries throughout the nation. His works have received over 55 awards and honors including the Utah Heritage Foundation Award for significant and unique contribution to art, Altro T. Hibbard Memorial Award for his painting “Mormon Country”, displayed in the Nation Academy of Design in New York, and the Governor's Award for 1999 Utah Artist of the Year.

Harrison is married to Iva Lou Pilkington, and they have three children.

Cache County Chapter
Seven new Alumni Chapter Scholarships will be awarded to Cache County students in the Fall of 2003, according to Cache County Chapter president Bernice McCowin. This is the first year the chapter has been able to provide so many scholarships. Thank you to the many loyal Aggies who have made this possible through Aggie license plate sales and the Alumni Sustaining Membership Program.

3rd Annual Winter Golf Tournament
Picture a golf tournament in late February in Cache Valley. The 3rd Annual Winter Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2003 on the USU Quad. This fun event is a fundraiser for Cache County Alumni Scholarships. For registration information or to become a hole sponsor, please contact Patty Halaufia at (435) 797-2053.

Cache County Retirement Planning Seminar
Cache Valley Chapter President Bernice McCowin invites you to an informative workshop hosted by USU and investment counselors to learn how to maximize your Retirement Program Benefits on Wednesday, February 12, from Noon-1 p.m., or 7-8 p.m. The noon workshop will be in USU's Taggart Student Center, Center Colony Room, and the evening workshop will be in the Taggart Student Center, Walnut Room. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by Feb. 10 at 797-1158 or 1-888-653-6246. Seating is limited.

Salt Lake County Chapter
How about an evening spent at the Hale Theater in Salt Lake City? In conjunction with the performance, the Salt Lake County chapter will recognize the lifetime achievements of Utah State Alumna Bonnie Parkin. A reception will be held in her honor on February 20, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. prior to the performance of Big River. If you are interested in attending the reception or the performance, please call (800) 291-2586.

Salt Lake County Retirement Planning Seminar
Salt Lake County Chapter President Sharon Larkin invites you to an informative workshop hosted by USU and investment counselors to learn how to maximize your Retirement Program Benefits on Wednesday, March 12, 7:30-8:30 p.m. The workshop will be given at the Salt Lake County Extension Office located in the South Building of the Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by March 7 at 1-435-797-1158 or 1-888-653-6246. Seating is limited.

Seattle Chapter
Watch the Lakers and the Sonics battle it out at the Key Arena! The Puget Sound Chapter would like you to join them for an evening of basketball on Friday, February 28, 2003. The cost is $24.00 per person with proceeds going to the Puget Sound Aggie Chapter Scholarship Fund. For reservations, contact USU Alumni Relations at (800) 291-2586.

Utah County Chapter
Utah County Retirement Planning Seminar
Utah County Chapter President John LaCognata invites you to an informative workshop hosted by USU and investment counselors to learn how to maximize your Retirement Program Benefits on Thursday, March 20, 7-8 p.m. The workshop will be given at the Utah County Extension Office - Old Courthouse Ballroom, 51 South University Avenue in Provo, Utah. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by March 14 at 1-435-797-1158 or 1-888-653-6246. Seating is limited.

Weber County Chapter
Weber County Retirement Planning Seminar
Weber County Chapter Presidents Trudy and Scott Young invite you to an informative workshop hosted by USU and investment counselors to learn how to maximize your Retirement Program Benefits on Thursday, February 20, 7-8 p.m. The workshop will be given at the Eccles Conference Center, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by Feb. 14 at 1-435-797-1158 or 1-888-653-6246. Seating is limited.

If you are interested in participating in any of the current chapters, please visit www.edu/alumni/chapters.html or contact the alumni office at alumni@cc.usu.edu

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