| VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 8 | August 2008 |
In This Issue
USU Alumni Spotlight - Jessica Wells
Although she misses having her own car and the convenience of shopping in a large grocery store, Jessica Wells is enjoying life as a New York City resident. Jessica moved to New York earlier this year after accepting the position of Senior Marketing Manager for The N, an MTV network.
The N is a new 24-hour cable channel designed specifically for teens. In her position, Jessica aims to catch the trends and interests of teens today, in order to provide subsequent programming. Her recent work includes the launch of the new TV reality show, Queen Bees.
Jessica graduated from Utah State in 2000, with a BS in Marketing. In 2004, Jessica received her MBA from Webster University. Jessica initially chose to attend USU because it was the only college in the state of Utah to offer a business education teaching program. After taking some of her business courses, Jessica soon found she had a passion for marketing and switched majors.
During her time as a USU student, Jessica was an active member of the business clubs Delta Epsilon Chi and Phi Beta Lambda. In the course of her three year involvement, she served as VP of membership and VP of Fundraising. Jessica described her involvement in these clubs as great opportunities to work with others and learn valuable leadership skills.
Recently, Jessica became a lifetime member of the USU Alumni Association. While NYC is a stark contrast to Cache Valley, for now this Aggie is right at home in the big city.
spotlight by Clarissa Fidler
The Official MasterCard of Utah State University is here!
Your USU Alumni Association is delivering a totally new rewards card available exclusively through the Alumni Association. Thank you for supporting us with our former Chase Bank Visa Card. We hope we can count on your support for the new Official MasterCard. Your involvement funds Alumni Association activities such as Aggie Family Days, Homecoming, chapter events and more! This new MasterCard is available now! Click here for details.
The Campaign Continues - Goal Now at $400 Million
Utah State University’s alumni and friends had many moments to get comfortable with the word “celebration” on Aug. 6 in Salt Lake City as President Stan L. Albrecht brought cheers again and again by announcing one comprehensive campaign success after another to a packed hall of supporters.
First the president announced to rousing applause that the university would double the campaign goal from $200 million to $400 million. Then he followed that news by listing a steady stream of previously unannounced major gifts.“Our announcement this evening is much more than just stating that we are extending our reach,” the president told about 500 supporters at the Depot in Salt Lake City. “We are also announcing a series of gifts that has been received since our Founders Day event in March. These gifts anchor the second half of the campaign and get us off to a rousing start.”
The university announced in March at Founders Day that it had exceeded its initial $200 million goal only one year after the announcement of the campaign’s public phase. The campaign was scheduled to continue through Dec. 31, 2010, but Albrecht told the crowd that the university would extend the closing date until July 2012.
The campaign total is now $225 million.
Click here for the full story.
Student Alumni Association recognized at national conference
The USU Student Alumni Association attended the national Association of Student Advancement Programs (ASAP) convention in Salt Lake City, July 31-August 2, 2008. They came home with national recognition of Outstanding External Program for A-Day: A Week of Service. This is the second national award in as many years for Student Alumni. In 2007, they were recognized as Outstanding Organization at the national conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Alumni online community iPod giveaway
Congratulations to the winners of the inCircle iPod giveaway!
M. Crowther '00, UT won the Grand Prize 8 GB iPod touch
Winners of the 1GB iPod shuffles were:
T. Porter '04, AZ
T. Anderson '10, UT
C. Domichel '99, NE
USU inCircle is an online community that allows you to search for fellow alumni by city, employer, industry, class year, and more. It also will allow you to post and search employment listings, join and form alumni and interest groups, register for events, and discuss just about anything you want to.
The new community is open to all who attended (including current students), graduated from, or work at USU. In all over 140,000 people are currently pre-registered. Within the first week there was a range of registered users over 40 class years apart. To visit and set up your account go to https://usu.affinitycircles.com, or from the Alumni homepage click the online community link.
Merit Citation Awarded at the Alumni Band Concert
On Sunday, August 3, Alumni Association President Paul Parkinson awarded an Alumni Merit Citation to Dr. Lynn J. Skinner, an Emeritus professor from the University of Idaho. Lynn, a native of Nounan, Idaho, has three degrees from Utah State University. He came to USU in the fall of 1958, taught at Madison High School in Rexburg, and then finished advanced degrees from Utah State University. From his high school days, he always played in jazz combos on his tenor saxophone, which was purchased when his parents sold their highest producing milk cow and bought him the sax.
After being hired by the University of Idaho, Dr. Skinner became involved in the annual jazz festival and in the late 1970’s he became the Executive Director. He revolutionized the festival, and in the past thirty years it has grown to over 17,000 high school and college performers annually who come to learn, perform, and listen. In 1985, Lynn began developing a special arrangement and relationship with jazz legend Lionel Hampton. Hampton helped Lynn secure the talents of Sarah Vaughan, Dizzi Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Russell Malone, and all of the jazz greats.
“Doc” Skinner became the magnetic force that turned the Lionel Hampton Festival into an international extravaganza. Musicians and vocalists from throughout the world gravitate to Moscow, Idaho each February, where four major concerts, hundreds of clinics and individual instruction from the masters creates an intense atmosphere of learning. Lynn J. Skinner served as producer, director, human resource director, publicist, fundraiser and friend to all.
When Lionel Hampton died in 2002, Lynn was honored to be a pall bearer. Last year at the White House, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival received the Presidential Medal of the Arts.
We also honor his wife, Elvon, who has always been by his side.
Nominate someone for an Alumni Association Merit Citation here.
Homecoming 2008: October 19-25, 2008
United by Tradition: Once an Aggie, Always an Aggie
2008 Homecoming festivities begin on Sunday, October 19th with street painting and go through the football game on Saturday, October 25th. During the week and weekend there will be something for everyone including, a 5K, Golden Aggie Reunion, Mr. USU contest, the homecoming banquet, the homecoming parade, tailgate party, and of course, the Homecoming Football game with kickoff at 1:05 vs. Fresno State. For a complete list of events and more information, click here.
Alumni Calendar Photo Contest
Send us your photos of campus and Cache Valley for consideration in the 2009 Alumni Calendar. A negative or electronic file of at least 300 dpi and 10" x 10" must be available, but does not need to be sent with submission. Submissions by mail or email are acceptable. The deadline for entry is September 30, 2008. Mail your submissions to:
Utah State University Alumni Association
7500 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-7500
Email: alumni@cc.usu.edu
Didn't receive your 2008Alumni Calendar? Become an Alumni Sustaining Member and the calendar is free! Click here for more information.
Aggie Lagoon Day - Recap
Nearly 700 Aggies enjoyed over 37 gallons of Aggie Ice Cream at Aggie Family Day at Lagoon. The event was held on July 17, 2008, and Aggies came from all over the Wasatch Front and southern Idaho. We even saw former Aggie Football player, Troy Kema and his family. Troy lives in College Station, Texas and was in Utah visiting family. At the pavilion Aggies met for Aggie Ice Cream, face painters sponsored by Liberty Mutual, met Athletics Director Scott Barnes and a scholarship raffle. Look for an announcement of next year's date soon.
Aggie Lagoon Day pictures left to right: Serving Famous Aggie Ice Cream; Face painters courtesy of Liberty Mutual;
Athletics Director Scott Barnes speaking to the group of Aggies.
Celebrate America Show September 4-6, 2008
Click here to go to the Celebrate America website.
Alumni sets goal: 4,000 "A" plates in 2008
This article will appear monthly with updates on our plate numbers
The Alumni Association has sponsored the "A" plate program since Spring 2000. The point of this program has one financial purpose, to provide scholarships to legacy students.
The Alumni Association has set a goal in 2008 to end the year with 4,000 "A" plates on the roads in Utah. This will provide at least $100,000 to give back to the legacy scholarship program. As of June 2008 we have over 3,656 plates. If you don't have an "A" plate, but have always thought about it, now is the time.
Learn more about the "A" plate program here.
Do you have a custom "A" plate and want to show it off? Click here.
Back to the Buzzer
Buzzers are now available online! Click here to go to the Buzzer Yearbooks Collection at the USU Digitial Library.
1977-1978 Cheerleaders
Top row: Cindy Scott, Vicki Okamoto, Candi Gray. Middle row: Scott Monson, Brad Bills, Dame Samuels.
Bottom row: Gin Christensen
EVENT LISTINGS
A major event flyer was mailed to many Utah and southern Idaho homes.
Click on the image or download the flyer here.
Aggie Las Vegas Weekend- August 29-30, 2008
Schedule of Events
| Friday, August 29 | Time | Place | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner | 7:00 pm | Pampas Brazilian Grille, 3663 Las Vegas Blvd | Adjacent to Planet Hollywood in the Miracle Mile Shops. Enjoy unlimited servings from sizzling skewers of meats brought to your table. Also, a varied of garden fresh produce and salads are included --all to your heart’s content. | $55 per person |
| Saturday, August 30 | Time | Place | Details | Cost |
| Golf Tournament | 7:00 a.m. | Highland Falls Golf Club, 10201 Sun City Blvd. |
RSVP deadline August 22 7:00 a.m.Check-in, 7:30 a.m. Shot Gun start 4-person scramble www.golfsummerlin.com |
$150 per person |
| Aggie Tailgate Party | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | North of Sam Boyd Stadium | Come beat the heat with some cold Aggie Ice Cream and soft drinks as you meet fellow Aggies. Reserved game tickets will be available for pick up. | |
| Football Game | 7:00 p.m. | Sam Boyd Stadium, 7000 E. Russell Road |
Catch your Aggies in their season opener as they take on the UNLV Rebels! | $30 per person includes tailgate party & game ticket |
Register for any of these events online click here. You may also call the Alumni Relations Office at 1-800-291-ALUM (2586)
Aggie Family Day on the Quad-Saturday, September 13
Aggie Family Day is a time-honored tradition. There is something for everyone! Campus tours, games and educational activities from each college, Aggie Marching Band and Spirit Squad and more. Join us Saturday, September 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is FREE.
To keep informed about the most current event details, visit www.usu.edu/alumni/events/.
CONNECTIONS
Classnotes
Chapter News
| Aug 14 | Tooele County Aggie Chapter Pool Party |
| Aug 23 | Aggie Night at the Colorado Rockies |
| Aug 29-30 | Aggie Las Vegas Weekend |
| Sept 26 | Alumni Night at the Seattle Mariners |
| Nov 1 | Aggie Family Picnic in Phoenix |
For more information about these and other alumni chapters or to find the chapter in your area, visit www.usu.edu/alumni/chapters/.
Athletics
Aggie Football Family Fun Night
Saturday, August 16, 2008
4 to 7 p.m
Romney Stadium
Meet USU football players and coaches, participate in games and activities as well as pickup season tickets.
USU football’s scrimmage gets underway at 4 p.m., while the games and activities will begin on the South Concourse of Romney Stadium at 4 p.m. Food will be provided by Macey’s, (while it lasts).
From approximately 6-7 p.m., fans can get their favorite Aggie autographs and play catch with an Aggie on the field.
There is no cost to attend the event and everyone is welcome to meet the Aggies that night.
Fans can also purchase and pick up their season tickets at the Romney Stadium Box Office, which is located on the South end of Romney Stadium. Season tickets purchased at that time will be mailed to those fans.
Fans can also purchase two-game ticket packages, which allows fans to choose between either the Utah or the BYU game plus any of the other four home Western Athletic Conference games. For example, fans can choose the Utah game on Sept. 13 and the Fresno State game on Oct. 25 or the BYU game on Oct. 3 and the Hawai’i game on Nov. 8, etc.
Fans are reminded to enter Romney Stadium through the Southwest Entrance and to park in the West Parking Lot. Parking for the event is free.
USU Men's and Women's Track & Field Teams Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors
Utah State's men's and women's track teams were recognized for their academic excellence as they both received United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Academic Awards. The women had the third-best overall grade-point average in the country, while the men were tied for 16th. FULL STORY
Jeff Richards Named Utah State Gymnastics Head Coach
Jeff Richards has been named Utah State’s head gymnastics coach, it was announced by Utah State Director of Athletics Scott Barnes. Richards becomes only the second head coach in the Aggies’ history after legendary coach Ray Corn retired after 31 seasons at the helm of the USU program. FULL STORY
Men's Basketball Announces 2008-09 Schedule
Utah State University's head men's basketball coach Stew Morrill announced Wednesday the upcoming 2008-09 schedule as the Aggies will play a total of 31 games during the regular season, which includes five contests against in-state opponents and at least seven games against postseason teams from a year ago. Highlighting Utah State's non-conference schedule will be games against in-state rivals Brigham Young and Utah as the Aggies play the Cougars in Salt Lake City at Energy Solutions Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6 and host the Utes on Monday, Dec. 22. BYU has played in the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years, while Utah advanced to the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational last year. Click here for full story and schedule.
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Travel Opportunities
New England Fall Foliage Cruise - SOLD OUT!
October 4 - 11, 2008
Discover the French Riviera!
February 25 – March 5, 2009
Join other Aggies on a fabulous trip to the renowned French Riviera. Alumni Relations Travel is offering an amazing tour opportunity to the French Riviera with visits to Nice, St. Tropez – Cannes, Monaco, Grasse in France and a Ventimiglia, Italy! Click here for more information.
Sign up now! Call the Alumni Relations Office at 1-800-291-2586.