Robert Bowman '90, an executive with Edelman Financial Services, returned to teach Professor Steven Beach's global portfolio wealth management class and talk about his experience in the financial planning and investment management field. He reminisced as well, recalling his days in Peery Hall, where he met his wife, Mona '91, and the entry-level job that launched his financial career, literally in the basement of a downtown Richmond skyscraper.   

"I am you," he said. "I sat where you sit and have done what you are doing. I am just 20 years ahead of you, so I will tell you what I've found."

Now responsible for a portfolio valued at more than $7 billion, Bowman talked investment strategies and shared some observations on the current and future economic environment. "The opportunity set is always expanding," he said. "It is moving forward so much faster, and now it is less restrained by borders than ever before."

In a different test of stamina, 250 alumni, students and community members took a bracing dunk Saturday morning during the third annual Highlander Polar Plunge. The riverbank at Dudley’s Landing in Radford's Bisset Park was crowded with onlookers and well-wishers as the swimmers splashed quickly in and out of the brisk New River waters to raise more than $30,000 for the Special Olympics of the New River Valley.

Taking part in the plunge was Men's Soccer Head Coach Marc Reeves, who said he and his players didn't need much coaxing to plunge in for a great cause.

"It makes you proud as a coach that the players want to do the right thing," Reeves said. "They want to be involved in their community. They want to give back, and they know how fortunate they are."

Despite howling, blustery winds and frigid temperatures, Reeves said, the adrenaline ran high, as with any pregame moment.

"When we go into a contest, we prepare our team physically, mentally and emotionally to be ready to play. It's more of a mental aspect with a little bit of toughness," Reeves said with a smile. "It's a great team-bonding opportunity too—if one goes in, we all go in."

Capping the weekend's activities were two home basketball games, with the women defeating UNC Asheville 79-67 and Charleston Southern using a late run to hold off the men's team 65-59. Before the doubleheader tipped off, alumni, faculty, staff and friends assembled in the Dedmon Center volleyball court for the HOOPla BBQ Bash, which provided the opportunity to reflect and reminisce about time spent at Radford University. 

"There have been plenty of changes for sure," said Ed Zimmerman '85, a biology major from Fredericksburg and author of the recently published "Your Leadership Map," which draws on his 20-year career in the U.S. Army. "It is a pleasure to remember how you met people and bonded with them."

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