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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

Donors Key in Helping RU Become A Steinway School

SteinwayEdward and Nancy Rice first learned of Radford University's goal to become an all-Steinway school when they attended the November gala to open the new Douglas and Beatrice Covington Center for Visual and Performing Arts. The Rices were so struck by the university's commitment to music study that they chose to help push along the initiative. Shortly after the gala, the Northern Virginia couple gifted a Steinway B to the Covington Center, adding to the performing arts center's existing inventory of Steinway and Sons instruments.

Edward and his close friend David Warme, an accomplished pianist who has a passion for Liszt and Chopin, selected the Steinway B in late July at Jordan Kitts in Richmond, and the piano is scheduled for delivery this week. The new Steinway adds to a collection of seven at the Covington Center, which is home to two new Steinway D concert grand pianos. Five other pianos of various size and age are housed in Covington, including one that is 49 years old. Read More>>

RU Hires Chief Communications Officer

Jeff DouglasRadford University has hired a public relations veteran -- and one of its own -- as its new chief communications officer and executive director of university relations. Jeffrey S. Douglas, currently director of the office of public relations and communications at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, will assume the post on Aug. 17. Douglas received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Radford University: a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1977, and a master's degree in corporate and professional communications in 1999. Read More>>

Alumna's Career Takes Flight at Cessna

Rookmin MaharajRookmin Maharaj '96 loves telling stories, so it should be no surprise to learn that storytelling is a big part of her career. Maharaj, who majored in broadcast journalism and minored in public relations at Radford University, is the manager of internal communications at Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. There, she produces a broadcast news program, a monthly newsletter and intranet content that is geared toward informing Cessna employees about important company news. Read More>>

Mammoth Leader

Steve Govett learned to deal with adversity when he was a member of the Radford University lacrosse team. The lessons he learned while battling opponents on Moffett Field helped mold the 1993 graduate into an ambitious and competitive leader for one of the most successful professional indoor lacrosse teams in North America. Read more>>

Cutter & Buck Items Available Now in RU Bookstore

Cutter & BuckThe Radford University Bookstore is now a source for Cutter & Buck apparel. Cutter & Buck is a premier line of golf-inspired apparel for men and women who appreciate innovative, high-quality sportswear. Men's and women's shirts, polo shirts and jackets are among the items available in the Bookstore. Visit Bookstore website>>

Grad Digs for Salamanders, Gets Published

RU graduate Clayton Faidley recently co-authored a manuscript with biology professors Karen Francl and Christine Small that was accepted for publication in the Southeastern Naturalist. "Salamander use of karst sinkholes in Montgomery County, Virginia" came from a yearlong study that examined salamander activity in 25 sinkholes and three non-sinkhole habitats at RU's Selu Conservancy. Read More>>

Welcome Back Reunion Weekend Invites Alumni to Campus this Fall

The inaugural Welcome Back Reunion Weekend happens October 2 and 3, providing a terrific opportunity for alumni to reunite on campus and reconnect with old friends. The event coincides with the 14th annual Highlanders Festival Weekend and kicks off Friday, October 2 with an Alumni Celebration on the Muse Hall patio. Golf enthusiasts can hit the links earlier in the day Friday for a tournament at the Pulaski Country Club. A host of athletics reunions are planned, including events for former baseball, softball, rugby, field hockey and lacrosse players. Read More>>

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.

Chemistry Alum Tapped for President and CEO Position

Paul T. Miller is the new president and chief executive officer of Carbonics Capital Corporation, the company's board of directors announced recently. Prior to his acceptance of the position, the 1996 RU chemistry alumnus founded and served as president of Sustainable Systems, an oilseed processing facility specializing in the production of high oleic vegetable oils for food applications. Miller earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Radford University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Montana. Read More>>

2005 Graduate Joins Lexington Law Firm

Grace Crickenberger '05 recently accepted a position with the law firm of H. David Natkin in Lexington, Va. Crickenberger graduated from the West Virginia University School of Law in May and was selected for the Order of the Coif, an honorary scholastic organization for top academic students. Participation in the order is limited to the top 10 percent of each graduating class.

Send-off Parties a Hit with Incoming Students

Sendoff PartyAlumni and friends of Radford University have hosted a number of send-off parties this summer for students preparing to enter their first semester of classes at the university. Most recently, alumnus Jay Kenslow and alumna Jayne Katz Ayers hosted parties in Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia, respectively. "Parents and students were excited about the informal opportunity to interact and meet,"; said Alumni Relations Director Laura Turk. For a list of upcoming send-off parties, visit the Alumni Relations Web site.

IN THE PHOTO: Molly Cash '07, third from right, with a group of incoming RU freshmen during a recent send-off party at the house of alumna Jayne Katz Ayers.

RU Athletics

Catharina Tonetti, a 2007 RU graduate and former member of the varsity cheer team, is the new coach for the Highlanders' cheerleading squad and mascot program. For more information, see the RU Sports Release.

Radford University led all Big South institutions by placing 57.9 percent of its student-athletes on the conference's Presidential Honor Roll. For more information, see the RU Sports Information release.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Sunday, Aug. 16
NRV Freshman Send-off Event
Hosted by Susan Sink '74, MS '78, & Leslie Sink (Class of 2013)
Sinkland Farms (Route 8 in Riner, VA)
7:00 p.m.; Ice cream social
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Thursday, Aug. 20
Roanoke Freshman Send-off Event
Hosted by Cathy Greenberg, RU VP of University Advancement
6 p.m.; Light Dinner
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Thursday - Sunday, Aug. 20 - 23
Radford College Golf Society
Alumnae outing to the 2009 Solheim Cup Tournament in Chicago

Sunday, Aug. 23
Wytheville Alumni & Freshman Send-off Reception
Hosted by Farron Smith '75 & Linda Hodges '79
2 p.m.; Afternoon Reception
Location: Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29
Residence Halls Open on Campus for Fall Semester

Monday, Aug. 31
Fall Semester Begins

Sunday, Sept. 6
Centennial Service Project
Virginia Beach Half-Mile Marathon

Saturday, Sept. 19
Seattle, Washington Alumni & Family Picnic
Newcastle Beach Park in Bellevue, Wash.
Contact: Jim Bove '96 at bovejame@hotmail.com

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

Alumni in the News

UAPB Instructor has Passion for Art
Husny Dahaln is an RU alum who is expanding horizons and sparking creativity as an art professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Read more in the Pine Bluff Commercial.

Karsay Coffee Builds on its Foodservice Base to Shine in OCS
Rich Karsay '87 studied marketing at Radford University and now is president of Karsay Coffee in Sommerset, N.J., a business that is providing a "case study of a company that shifted its focus in response to changing market conditions in the coffee service industry," says Vendingmarketwatch.com.

Life Lessons Taught by Lacrosse
Kevin Bugg talks about the lessons he learned from playing lacrosse at Radford University. Read more in Kernersville (N.C.) Living Magazine.

Alumna Appointed To Visual Communications Coordinator Post
Hooker Furniture announced that it has tapped RU alumna Karyn Walker Johnson for the new position of Visual Communications Coordinator, where she will oversee product photography, design and production for catalogs and other marketing materials. Read more from Furniture World online.


We have email addresses for less than half of our 60,000 Radford University alumni, so to help keep your classmates connected, please encourage classmates and fellow alumni to email us and subscribe to the 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.