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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

RU Prepares to Launch Centennial

Centennial bannersRadford University's long-awaited Centennial Celebration is preparing for launch. Already, colorful light post banners that line the perimeter of the university campus proclaim the Centennial theme of "Celebrating the Past, Forging the Future." The official celebration will be observed from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, and be highlighted by the Radford University Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored appearance of one of the world's most dynamic social entrepreneurs.

"We're very excited about the year-long celebration that has been developed by our Centennial volunteers, and we hope it helps convey the excellence of our university to audiences throughout Virginia, the nation and the world," said Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle. "We're especially proud of the role that our SGA has played in making this celebration possible." To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Make Your Year-End Annual Gift
Use the envelope in the center of RU Magazine or give generously when student fund-raisers call.

Now is the time to make your year-end gift to the Radford Fund. Our goal is to reach $2.5 million and 4,000 alumni donors by the end of the fiscal year. Making a gift by the end of the year ensures that you join an elite list of donors who recognize the value of empowering Radford University with immediate cash resources to fund new ideas and initiatives as they emerge at the university. Through the Radford Fund you can direct your giving to those areas of the University for which you are most passionate. Funds received can be used immediately to meet Radford University's most important needs and priorities and support initiatives of RU's 7-17 strategic plan. The Radford Fund is the administrative umbrella for all the annual giving programs at RU and is the bridge that joins private support with the needs of the university. Make a Gift.

Homecoming 2010

Homecoming 2010RU's Centennial Homecoming is less than two months away. Have you registered? If not, you can do so at the official RU Homecoming 2010 Web site. Numerous events are planned for the February 5 - 6 Homecoming, including reunions, tailgates, Highlander polar plunge, men's and women's basketball games, Presidential brunch, Alumni Teaching Day, Legacy tours and college open houses, all Greek reunion, Toms Shoe project and more.

Volunteer for Homecoming

Volunteers are needed for the following: Alumni Teaching Day (guest lecturers, mentors, panel presenters), reunion leaders for All-Greek Reunion, men's and women's alumni basketball reunions and swimming alumni reunion, Centennial Ambassadors and other affinity reunion liaisons.

All volunteers are welcome! Please contact alumni@radford.edu with your contact information. We need your help for this to be the best Homecoming!

Challenge Grant Begins New RU COBE Building Fund-Raising Drive

A $150,000 challenge grant from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation of Richmond will help Radford University build its new college of Business and Economics (COBE) headquarters building. By November 2011, RU will raise $300,000 in required matching funds from alumni, parents and corporate friends in order to qualify for the grant. Groundbreaking on the $44.3 million, 110,000 square foot COBE building is scheduled for May 2010. The new COBE home will include an atrium and laboratories designed to break down barriers between classroom and laboratory with built-in "chalk-talk" gathering spaces for formal and informal discussion and meeting rooms. It will also feature the latest educational technology and financial research capabilities, according to COBE Dean Faye W. Gilbert. Read More>>

RU Magazine Hitting Mailboxes This Month

RU is celebrating its Centennial year in 2010, and the latest edition of The Magazine of Radford University notes the university's 100 years of service and highlights the Centennial experience that lies ahead in the coming year. The Magazine of Radford University will be in mailboxes this month.

"Celebrating the Century" Calendar

Centennial CalendarEnjoy this limited-edition, color RU Centennial Wall Calendar for 2010 and explore the photographic and narrative retrospective commemorating RU's 100 years of service. (Click on image at right to see a larger version of the calendar.)

Call RU Alumni Relations at (540) 831-5248 or e-mail alumni@radford.edu to get this limited-edition commemorative wall calendar. Cost is $10, plus $3.50 processing fee to cover sales tax, shipping and handling.

"Celebrating the Century" is produced by the Radford Heritage Foundation and the Radford Centennial Celebration Committee, sponsored by Taylor Hollow Construction, and benefits the Heritage Foundation. Read More>>

Alumni Teaching Day Has Centennial Theme

ALumni Teaching DayThe inaugural Alumni Teaching Day was a huge success at Homecoming last February. For year two of the event, Alumni Relations Director Laura Turk plans for the event to be bigger and better. "As part of our Centennial year, we aim to place 100 alumni in the classroom with this initiative. RU alumni are accomplished in many fields, and we want to tap into their expertise by having faculty welcome them as guest lecturers in their classes or as part of a departmental panel presentation," Turk said. Read More>>

Visit the official Homecoming Web site for information about reunions and other events now being planned.

Santa Brunch and Holiday Party Set for Saturday

santaThe annual Santa Brunch and Holiday Party are scheduled for Saturday, December 12 in Muse Hall Banquet Room on the Radford University campus. The event, sponsored by RU Ambassadors, has become a well-loved tradition to alumni and friends because of its legendary Santa Claus. Guests will be treated to a delicious feast, hear wonderful holiday tales, participate in reindeer games and visit with Santa.

The Brunch at 9 a.m. has sold out but space is available for the Holiday Party, which begins at 12:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $13, and $8 for all children.

Space is limited. RSVP by submitting a registration form (pdf file to be printed and returned).

To learn more, call (540) 831-5248 or email alumni@radford.edu.

For Rugby Alums Looking for Careers, RU Senior Has Solution

As captain of the Radford University rugby team, Eric Slockbower looks out for his teammates on and off the pitch. He also is looking out for RU rugby alumni and just about anyone around the world who is associated with the sport. Slockbower, a Richmond native who was part of RU rugby's 2008 national championship team, recently launched Therugbylink.com with the purpose of helping people in the rugby community find jobs. Any employer can post a job, but Slockbower wants to restrict the job seekers to those with rugby ties. "This site will hopefully be a huge asset for rugby affiliates of all ages here in the U.S. and abroad," Slockbower said. Read More>>

Alumni Recommendation Program

Radford University alumni have a unique opportunity to give back to their alma mater by recommending academically-talented students to apply and attend RU. This program allows Radford University alumni to interact with students who soon will be attending college by sharing personal RU experiences, pride and loyalty. By recommending talented students, alumni can help ensure that Radford University increases the number of highly competitive students who are considering enrolling at RU. To recommend a student, please fill out the Alumni Recommendation form, and return it to the RU Admissions Office.

Catch Highlander Hoops on TV, Throw a Party

Watch PartyThe RU men's basketball team is playing in three televised games this year, including a game this week (December 9) at No. 1 Kansas. The Office of Alumni Relations is calling on alumni to host watch parties for those TV games. Send photographic proof of your watch parties to alumni@radford.edu, and Alumni Relations will award party hosts with a Highlanders Fan Pack. RU is scheduled to play additional televised contests against Liberty (Jan. 23) and Winthrop (Feb. 27). In addition, the Big South Conference semifinals are scheduled to air on ESPNU and the finals on ESPN2. Visit radfordathletics.com to view the complete RU men's basketball schedule.

Alumni Profile

Alumni Fuel RU Green in Ford Challenge
Todd Joyce and teamTodd Joyce, MBA '99, an enthusiastic Ford Fusion owner, RU employee and alumnus, has enlisted four of his Information Technology colleagues, including Billy Kantsios '97, in Ford's Fusion 41 challenge and, at the same time, a Centennial Service Challenge. The team, called RU Green, must answer a challenge every 41 hours with their 2010 Fusion. At stake for the winning team are complete pay-off of the team leader's personal Ford Fusion and a year's worth of gasoline for the other team members. So far through the contest, RU Green has scoured the campus for refrigerator magnets to stick and then peel off the car, and delivered more than 2,200 pounds of frozen turkey to a food bank. "It has been a blast," said Joyce. Read More>>

RU Athletics

B-RadHoops, a weekly hour-long radio show featuring RU men's head basketball coach Brad Greenberg, can be heard at 7 p.m. each Monday on Super Sports 101.7 FM and on the Internet. Greenberg joins the "Voice of the Highlanders" Rick Watson as well as assistant coaches, student-athletes and special guests each week to discuss the happenings in RU basketball.

RU's soccer programs recently were recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as one of 97 institutions nationwide to have both its men's and women's teams earn the organization's team academic award. To achieve the honor, a team has to post a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. RU was one of two Big South institutions and the only school in Virginia to have both its men's and women's teams recognized.

Sophomore Katie Shaffer was selected recently as the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Women's Diver of the Week. Shaffer received the honor after placing second in the one and three-meter diving events at the Highlander Invitational. Shaffer's Diver of the Week selection was her second such honor this season and third in her career.

For more on these and other Highlander highlights, visit RU Athletics.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Wednesday, December 9
Nationwide Watch Parties -- RU vs. Kansas on ESPNU
Tip-off is at 8 p.m. Come earlier for dinner

Roanoke Watch Party -- Annie Moore's Irish Pub at 7:30 p.m. (3555 Electric Road, Roanoke). Bring a new or gently used book to participate in RU's Centennial Service Challenge. Books will be donated to the Roanoke Rescue Mission.

New River Valley Watch Party -- Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill in Blacksburg.

NOVA/DC Watch Party -- First Down Sports Bar (4312 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington)

Contact: alumni@radford.edu to promote your watch party in your hometown.

Thursday, December 10
Hampton Roads -- Va. School Holiday Mixer (RU Centennial Service Project)
Ibiza (Ghent Neighborhood --328 W 20th St, Norfolk, VA 23517)
6-10 p.m.
Gift drop site for the Union Mission that will be collecting gifts for pre-teens (ages 10-14).
Event Contact: Zach Mansell at hrcaninfo@gmail.com

Friday, December 11
Roanoke Chapter Event
Radford University Choral Ensembles Holiday Concert
8 p.m., St. Andrews Catholic Church.
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Saturday, December 12
Annual Santa Brunch & Party
Sponsored by the RU Ambassadors
Contact: alumni@radford.edu

Sunday, December 13
Rockbridge Holiday Party
Hosted at the home of Mary Skutts '57.
Event Contact: Ann Jones '65 at anncj@embargmail.com

Saturday, December 19
NOVA/DC Mini Reunion in Ashburn
Clydes at Willow Creek (42920 Broadlands Boulevard)
7:30 p.m.
Event Contact: Mike and Rita DeFilippo '90

Saturday, December 19
Charlotte Alumni Chapter and BAC Event with the Charlotte Bobcats vs. Utah Jazz
Dinner: Brixx Pizza at 4 p.m. (225 E. 6th Street, Charlotte, N.C.). Bring new undergarments for men, women and children that can be donated to the local homeless shelters.
Game: Time Warner Arena doors open at 6 p.m.; tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
Purchase Game Tickets online. The password for purchasing tickets is RADFORD.
Event contact: Misti Pinkston-Allen '98 at misti@radfordblackalumni.com

Wednesday, December 30
RU vs. George Mason
7 p.m. -- Pack the Dedmon Center
Tickets: 540-831-RUTX or purchase online.

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

Alumni in the News

RU alumnus David Hurley '97 (M.S.) recently completed his quest to run a marathon in all 50 states plus the nation's capital. Hurley won first place for his age group with a time of 4:19 in a marathon in Wichita, Kansas. Read more at NewRoanoke.com.

RU alumnus and current Highlanders' baseball coach Joe Raccuia talks with College Baseball Insider about returning to coach at his alma mater and the support that the university has given to the baseball program.


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.