Alumni e-News

March 2010

Ways to Give

Shop RU

Radford Magazine

RU Today

Facebook, Twitter, FlickrFlickrTwitterFacebook


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

Subscribe to
Radford University e-News


Radford University 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


The Newsletter for RU Alumni & Friends

Alumni Celebrate Centennial Homecoming 2010
HOmecoming 2010Radford University alumni and friends recently gathered to celebrate the university's Centennial Homecoming 2010. After a snow storm postponed the originally scheduled festivities, participants experienced a rare treat of warm weather. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

For a gallery of photos from the weekend's activities, please go to Homecoming Photos, or visit the RU Flickr page.

Highlander Polar Plunge Raises Money for Special Olympics
Polar PlungeJumping into the New River on a chilly, February day may seem a bit unusual, but that's exactly what nearly 100 people did during Radford University's inaugural Highlander Polar Plunge. The event was held as part of RU's Centennial Homecoming festivities, with proceeds going to benefit Special Olympics. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

2010 Highlander King and Queen Named
Homecoming King and QueenThe 2010 Highlander King and Queen were crowned in halftime ceremonies during the Centennial Homecoming's men's basketball game. In the photo, Homecoming King Jonathan Haskins (left) and Queen Lara Cariker (right) pose with President Penelope W. Kyle in the Dedmon Center shortly after the announcement. Harris represented the Student Government Association, and Cariker represented Lambda Alpha Epsilon. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Governor McDonnell to Highlight Charter Day Celebration
Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell will highlight Radford University's Charter Day Celebration on March 24, 2010, as students, faculty, staff, and the community come together to celebrate the university's 100th birthday. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Charter Day Keynote Speaker Blake Mycoskie Featured on CBS
Upcoming Charter Day Keynote Speaker Blake Mycoskie was recently featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Mycoskie, founder and chief shoe giver of TOMS Shoes, and his company were profiled for their unique and philanthropic business model of "One for One." For every pair of shoes sold, the company promises to give a pair of new shoes to children in need around the world. See the video here.

All Radford alumni and friends are invited to join Mycoskie, Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell and President Penelope W. Kyle for the Charter Day Celebration on March 24, at 11 a.m., in the Dedmon Center.

RU Named to Presidential Community Service Honor Roll
Radford University has been named to the 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Physics Professors, Students Trek to Alaska to Study Polar Ice
RU physics professor Rhett Herman and alumnus and adjunct professor Dan Blake '05 are in Barrow, Alaska for two weeks to measure the thickness and structure of the sea ice in Alaska's northern-most city. The researchers' goal is to establish a correlation between the ice thickness and the temperature at the surface of the ice with the warm ocean below the ice. In the photo below, the group is holding signs that read "Happy Birthday, RU!" in honor of the university's Centennial Celebration. From left are Herman, Susan Christopher, Laura Sweat, Ashley Taylor, Gaven Burnette, Jason McLarty, Blake, Biyuan Zhao, Jeremy McLaughlin. Taylor, Burnette and Zhao are dual enrolled at RU and the Southwest Virginia Governor's School. Read More>>

Greetings from Barrow, Alaska

Alumni

Turk Assumes Annual Giving Responsibilities
Laura TurkIn addition to her duties as director of alumni relations, Laura Turk '87, MS '90, has been appointed the executive director of the annual fund at Radford University. While continuing to develop and implement strategies for alumni engagement and participation, Turk will now be responsible for the planning and execution of the university's comprehensive annual giving program. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Northern Virginia Caribou Coffee Stores Join Centennial Celebration
Caribou Coffee stores in the Northern Virginia region are joining Radford University in its Centennial Celebration by offering two unique and tasty treats worthy of this landmark milestone in the university's rich history. Read More>>

RU Alumna, MBA Student Eager to Dig In and Grow
Like most, Brittany Gerald '09 is eagerly awaiting the inevitable arrival of spring. As the volunteer co-director of the City of Radford's community garden, she is combining her MBA skills and a desire to make a contribution to her community. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Alumni Relations Providing Career Services Through Optimal Resume
Radford University's Experiential Learning and Career Services has partnered with OptimalResume.com to offer RU alumni and students an online service that allows users to build dynamic and effective resumes. Alumni can begin utilizing the service by visiting OptimalResume and clicking on "New Users Click Here" at the top, right corner of the screen. A subsequent screen provides an option to select "RU Alumni."

"Optimal Resume is a user-friendly, interactive service that allows Radford University alumni to build resumes, write cover letters and practice for interviews," Executive Director of the Annual Fund and Director of Alumni Relations Laura Turk said. "We encourage RU alumni and students to utilize this extraordinary service and take advantage of its numerous career-building tools." The Alumni Relations Office is providing this resource as an alumni benefit.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Friday, March 12
Experience D.C. -- RU Student/Alumni event
Contact: Dr. Kathy Jordan at k-jordan@radford.edu

Wednesday, March 24
Centennial Charter Day Events

Saturday, April 10
Seattle, Washington, Alumni Event
5 p.m. at Cactus in Kirkland
Event contact: Jim Bove '96 at bovejame@hotmail.com

Tuesday, April 13
Centennial McGlothlin Celebration of Teaching

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

Support RU

Make Your Annual Fund Gift
Now is the time to make your gift to the Radford Fund. Through the end of February, we've raised over $1.8 million towards a goal of $2.5 million by the end of the fiscal year. Making a gift 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. All donors who give $100 or more during the year will be added to the Centennial Honor Roll which will be placed in the Centennial Time Capsule. Make a Gift.

Athletics

RU women's basketball returns to action Friday, March 12, against Liberty in the first round of the 2010 Advance Auto Parts Big South Women's Basketball Tournament. The three-day tourney will be hosted by High Point (N.C.) University.

RU baseball and softball are in full swing and both teams have full schedules in March. This week, softball is competing in the USF Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla., and baseball is hosting Rider for a three-game series this weekend in Salem.

Double-doubles from seniors Joey Lynch-Flohr and Art Parakhouski weren't enough as Radford shot just 25 percent from the floor and fell to third-seeded Winthrop 61-46 in the semifinals of the 2010 Big South Men's Basketball Tournament Thursday evening at Kimbel Arena.

For more information on Highlander sports, visit RU Athletics.



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 University 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.