Aggies
Return From Iraq
As
was reported in the October 2004 issue of Aggie Insights,
a group of Aggies with the 115th Engineer Group, Utah
National Guard, were stationed in Iraq. Their mission
was to rebuild the infrastructure throughout the Dhi Qar
province, including the completion of Highway 1 which
connects Kuwait and Baghdad. The USU Alumni Association
sent an Aggie banner to these Aggies last year and the
banner was used in a ceremony to honor the soldiers serving
in the conflict.
On
August 29, 2005, several of the Aggie members of the 115th
EN GP returned to the David B. Haight Alumni Center to
present the Aggie banner to the university. Among the
Aggie troops in attendance was CSM Sid Cardon. For his
outstanding leadership, CSM Cardon was recently named
the Utah National Guard Non-Commissioned Officer of the
Year. Accompanying CSM Cardon were MAJ Scott Reading,
LTC Robert Dunton, MAJ Lynn Hinckley, and SGT Ron Hammond.
After remarks by USU President Stan Albrecht, Alumni Relations
Director Carlos Smith, LTC Robert Dunton, and retired
Air Force Colonel and USU Director of Athletics Randy
Spetman, the servicemen presented President Albrecht with
the banner. The banner was signed by all the Aggies of
the 115th EN GP.
The
signed Aggie banner will be on display at the David B.
Haight Alumni Center.
Inside
the New Library
The
finishing touches are being completed on the new Merrill-Cazier
Library for its upcoming opening. The new library will
replace the aging Merrill Library and greatly expand the
existing Sci-Tech Library to over 300,000 square feet.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on October 13
at 12:30 p.m., but the Merrill-Cazier will be open to
the public as early as September 19.
The
Merrill-Cazier Library will feature an auditorium, café,
wireless internet, and a state-of-the-art Information
Commons. The Information Commons will house 150 workstations
for patrons’ research needs. The library will also feature
30 group study rooms where only six were previously available.
Perhaps
the most impressive part of the new library will be the
automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). The ASRS
will house the library’s collections in a five-story rack
structure. When an item is requested, a crane moves along
the racks, locates the item, and delivers it to a library
staff member. This new system is fast, accurate, and decreases
the cost of storage for the library. The ASRS represents
the first of its kind in Utah libraries.
For
all the information and history on the new Merrill-Cazier
Library, go to http://library.usu.edu/yournewlibrary.
Dominican
Republic Ed. Minister Visits USU
As
part of the Presidential Higher Education Program for
Superior Students, Dominican Republic Minister of Higher
Education, Science and Technology Ligia Amada Melo de
Cardona made a recent visit to Utah State University.
Cardona was accompanied by 56 Dominican Republic students
set to begin their college career at USU.
The
Presidential Higher Education Program for Superior Students
was established to assist Dominican students in attaining
an education at Utah State. During the first phase of
the program, the Dominican government invested $1.5 million
to pay tuition, room, board, and books for the inaugural
group of 36 students in June 2000. USU President Stan
Albrecht traveled to the Dominican Republic last April
to sign the second phase of the program with Dominican
President Leonel Fernández Reyna. This new phase will
provide $4 million to fund the education of these latest
Dominican Aggies.
Minister
Amada de Cardona was accompanied by her grandson, Juan
Luís Lozada Cardona. Lozada is a USU graduate and president
of the newly formed USU Dominican Republic Alumni Chapter.
USU
Reacts to Katrina
Hurricane
Katrina wrought tremendous devastation to the Gulf Coast
and Utah State University is pitching in to help those
affected. Lynn Wright, USU’s emergency management coordinator,
traveled to Houston with representatives of the Cache
Valley Red Cross to help relief efforts there. Also, USU
Assistant Professor Kelli Cargile Cook and her husband,
Robert, traveled to Camp Williams near Salt Lake City
to lend a hand. Refugees from Louisiana and Mississippi
are being housed at the facility. Cook kept a record of
her experiences at Camp Williams that is available to
read at www.usu.edu/features/katrinarelief/campwilliams.cfm.
Donations
are currently being accepted for “Katrina Relief” at the
USU Service Center. A concert is also being planned during
Service Week with all proceeds going to relief efforts.
For more information on “Katrina Relief”, visit www.usu.edu/features/katrinarelief.
Aggie
Family Day
The
Utah State University Alumni Association would like to
remind all Aggies of Aggie Family Day on September 24,
2005. Come enjoy a wide variety of activities for kids
and adults alike. Stay and cheer the Aggie football team
on as they play UNLV that evening. Discount tickets to
the game are available for $7 on the Quad during the day’s
festivities.
Reminder:
Alumni Calendar Photo Contest
Send us your photos of campus and Cache Valley for consideration
in the 2006 Alumni Calendar. A negative must be available,
but does not need to be sent with submission. Submissions
by mail or email are acceptable. The deadline for entry
is October 15, 2005. Mail your submissions to:
Utah
State University Alumni Association
7500 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
Email: alumni@cc.usu.edu
Didn't
receive your 2005 Alumni Calendar? Become an Alumni Sustaining
Member and the calendar is free! Click
here for more information.
CONNECTIONS
Chapter News
Cache County Aggie Chapter
September 23, 2005 – Cache
County Golf Tournament BYOW (Bring Your Own
Wedge) at 6:00 p.m. on Old Main Hill. The cost is $35/person
or $140/team and includes golf, barbecue, and Aggie ice
cream. Cost for dinner is only is $10/person. For more
information or to register call the USU Alumni Center
at (435)797-2055.
Save
The Date
October
1, 2005 - Pregame Tailgate party at the University
of Idaho
October 8, 2005 - Homecoming
October 15, 2005 - Pregame Tailgate party at Fresno
State
October 22, 2005 - Idaho Aggie Chapters Tailgate
at Romney Stadium
November 12, 2005 - Pregame Tailgate party at the
University of Hawaii
Note:
More information on these events will be forthcoming.