Alumni e-News

Ways to Give

Shop RU

Radford Magazine

RU Today


RU Home
Alumni Relations
Alumni Information
RU Alumni Facebook
RU LinkedIn
Seat-Naming Campaign
RU Today
Radford Athletics

Subscribe to
Radford Alumni e-News

Alumni e-News Archive

ALUMNI RELATIONS
PO Box 6914
6226 University Park Dr.
Suite 3400
Radford, Va. 24142
540-831-5248
1-888-4RUGRAD
alumni@radford.edu


Office of Alumni Relations
Radford University

Channeling Travelers to Exotic Locations

James AshurstWhen the World Poker Tour premiered on the Travel Channel five years ago, essentially launching the poker craze, James Ashurst found himself in the middle of the action, standing in the glamorous Bellagio in Las Vegas surrounded by the best poker players in the world.

"To be part of the WPT launch team and to work inside the rail with the world's best poker players was an amazing experience," the 1995 RU graduate said. "Most people don't get to do that." Read More>>

RU Partners with Harris Connect to Produce Alumni Publication

Radford University alumni change emails, jobs and locations so often that it is hard to keep up with them. Radford has contracted with Harris Connect to update contact information for all RU alumni around the world so they can keep informed on news and activities from campus. Read More>>

Alumni Volunteer Workshop Set for October

A comprehensive alumni volunteer training workshop is scheduled for October 3 to coincide with RU's Welcome Back Reunion Weekend and the Highlanders Festival. The workshop will focus on strengthening alumni leaders and groups, planning alumni engagement for the Centennial, creating brand awareness, using social networking, promoting reunion activity and recruiting alumni support. Read More>>

Volunteer for Commonwealth Games, See a Free Concert

The Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia are just days away, but there still is time for RU alumni to gather in Roanoke and volunteer for the Opening Ceremony and be treated to a concert by American Idol finalist Elliott Yamin. Read More>>

Alumnus Shares Stories of Virginia Highway on With Good Reason

RU alumnus and author Joe Tennis is talking on the With Good Reason radio program this week about his recent book Beach to Bluegrass, a collection of fascinating stories from U.S. Highway 58 in Virginia.

With Good Reason is produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities for the Virginia Higher Education Broadcasting Consortium and is broadcast on ten public radio stations in Virginia and Washington, DC.

Over the past months, a handful of RU professors have spoken on With Good Reason, including Clarity James on composing and performing opera for young children, Matt Dunleavy on augmented reality, and Cliff and Donna Boyd and Rhett Herman about their trip with a group of RU students last summer to the Solomon Islands to search for the remains of the missing Goettge patrol from World War II.

Connect with RU Alumni through Social Networking

Many RU alumni are connecting through popular social networks. Join RU's official LinkedIn and Facebook to network and reminisce with old friends.

Welcome Back Reunion Weekend Invites Alumni to Campus this Fall

Since Homecoming moved to February two years ago, it has been a rousing success. Last year's Homecoming registration reached an all-time high. Still, we know that you, our alumni, want to visit RU in the fall, one of the most beautiful times of the year to be on campus. We have heard your request, and this year we are giving you an opportunity to relive just how wonderful autumn is on your campus with a new event, Welcome Back Reunion Weekend. Read More>>

1959 Alumnae Celebrate Golden Reunion

Radford College classmates from 1959 celebrated their Golden Reunion recently on campus, sharing memories of their favorite faculty, Dr. M'Ledge Moffett's training of proper ladies and the Radford band's trip to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Read More>>

Alumni Profiles

John Ogden
John Ogden’s ‘92 career in the wine industry has its roots in France.

A native of Salem, Ogden’s family relocated to the South of France for 18 months of his childhood, and it was there that he observed the French custom of having wine on the table for every meal.

“It was a diet staple and not thought of as alcohol, but a necessary component of any meal,” Ogden said. “Our family took that back home to Virginia and while the choices for interesting wines were not broad in Southwest Virginia, my parents still served wine with every dinner. But not lunch and breakfast because, hey, it was Southern Virginia, not the South of France.” Read More>>

RU Athletics

Freshman Justin Smith recorded a school record in the shot put and placed 17th overall to highlight the trio of RU track and field participants at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. For more, see the RU Sports Release.

Alex GregoryFormer RU first baseman Alex Gregory '09 has been assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Penn League following his selection by the New York Mets in the 2009 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft last month. For more information, see the RU Sports Information release.

Storybook Programs, Venues and 15-game Home Slate Highlight 2009-10 Radford Men’s Basketball Schedule

Returning four starters from a team that advanced to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, RU head men’s basketball coach Brad Greenberg has put together a schedule that includes dates against perennial powers Duke, Kansas and Louisville as well as a 15-game home slate with a chance to host an ESPN nationally televised contest.

“Fierce competitors desire the challenges and relish the opportunity of testing themselves against elite teams,” said Greenberg, the 2009 Big South and State Coach of the Year. “Playing at Duke, Louisville and Kansas – three of college basketball’s most successful programs has our staff and team excited and motivated.” See RU Sports for more.

Keep up with the excitement of Radford University men’s basketball through B-Rad Hoops, an online newsletter written by head coach Brad Greenberg. Sign up now and receive free weekly updates.

Phillip Martin, Lazar Trifunovic and Cole Wilder of the Radford men’s basketball team have been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court. See RU Sports for more.

Former Radford men’s tennis standout Martin Sayer (Hong Kong) continues to add to his already impressive Davis Cup resume as he helped his native country grab an early 2-0 advantage with a straight-set victory over Oman’s Mohammed Al Nabhani Friday at the Chinese Recreation Club. See RU Sports for more.

For more RU sports news, visit the RU Athletics web site or follow the Highlanders on Twitter.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Friday, July 17
Centennial Service Project
Alumni volunteers needed for Opening Ceremony at the Commonwealth Games
Roanoke, Va.
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Tuesday, August 4
VA Beach Send-off Event
Hosted by Jay Kenslow '91
Location: TowneBank - 297 Constitution Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
6:30p.m.; Reception
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Wednesday, August 5
NOVA Freshman Send-off Event
Hosted at the home of Jayne Ayers '83
14808 Wood Home Rd, Centreville, VA 20120
6:30 p.m.; Light Dinner
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Thursday, August 20
Roanoke Freshman Send-off Event
Hosted by Cathy Greenberg, RU VP of University Advancement
1029 Oakwood Dr SW, Roanoke VA 24015
6:00 p.m.; Light Dinner
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Sunday, August 23
Wytheville Alumni and Freshman Send-off Reception
Hosted by Farron Smith '75 & Linda Hodges '79
2:00 p.m.; Afternoon reception
Location: Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation (145 E. Main Street, Wytheville, VA)
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Visit the Alumni Relations web site for a complete events schedule.

Alumni in the News

Alums Voice Recording Company is Heard Far and Wide
William "Woody" Prettyman ‘87 is the CEO of Studio Center, a Virginia Beach-based voice recording company that lists “Dora the Explorer” and A&E "Biography" among its clients. The company also has won a Grammy for work on one of George Carlin's audio books. Read more from The Virginia Pilot.

RU Alums Teach and Make Science Fun at Inaugural Camp
A handful of RU alums served as teachers at the inaugural Camp Creation, a day camp that gave kids a chance to engage in science and creative problem-solving. Read more from The Roanoke Times.

Moran New VP at StellarOne
Beverly S. "Cheri" Moran '69 is the new vice president and asset management relationship manager at StellarOne. Read more about Moran at newsleader.com.

American Lung Association’s California Unit Names
RU Alumna as its CEO

Jane Warner ’78 has been selected CEO of the American Lung Association in California. "Jane is the statewide leader we need to help every Californian breathe easier," said Trisha Murakawa, volunteer board chair of the American Lung Association in California. Read more from San Francisco Business Times.

Alumna Promoted to Chief Financial Officer
Laura W. Thomas is now serving as chief financial officer of XO Communications, where she will lead the company's financial strategy. Thomas earned bachelor's degrees in French and business at RU. Read more>>


We have email addresses for less than half of our 60,000 Radford University alumni, so to help keep your classmates connected, please forward your Radford Alumni e-News!

To submit class notes for use in The Magazine of Radford University, please send your correspondence to alumni@radford.edu. Photographs may also be submitted; however, please note that photographs may not be returned to you.