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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

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The enduring value of a Radford University education depends on the strength of the University today and tomorrow. Gifts from alumni support scholarships, academic programs, research resources, athletics, the arts and the academic colleges. Donations from alumni like you allow our students to accomplish far more than could be achieved with state assistance and tuition alone. Our ambitious goal seeks to raise $2.3 million from 4,000 alumni this year. How close are we? Read more >>

RU Alums Receive $25,000 McGlothlin Awards

Two Radford University alumni, Jayanne Bridges '92 and Elizabeth Lester M.S. '80, are the 2009 recipients of the prestigious McGlothlin Awards for Teaching Excellence.

McGlothlin WinnersThe Tenth Anniversary McGlothlin Awards ceremony was held at the university on April 6. The awards rank among the largest individual teaching honors in the nation and are available only to educators from selected parts of Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky. Each year two award winners, one teaching in grades K-5 and one in grades 6-12, receive $25,000 each, with the stipulation that $10,000 must be used, within a year, for international travel and/or study to broaden the thinking and experience of the winning teachers and further enhance their excellence as professional educators.

Bridges (on left in the above photo) teaches at Christiansburg Middle School in Montgomery County, Va., and Lester (on right, above) at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Martinsville, Va. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Reunion Weekend Volunteers

Radford University alumni are lending a helping hand to ensure that the upcoming Reunion Weekend is a rousing success. The reunion happens June 12 and 13, and numerous events are planned for Radford graduates from 1959, 1974, 1979, 1984 and 1999. Thus far, a number of alumni already have volunteered their services for the weekend that is packed full of fun, summer happenings designed to give alumni opportunities to catch up with old friends and revisit the RU campus.

"Our volunteers are putting forth an extraordinary effort to make our first Reunion Weekend a fun and exciting experience for alumni who are coming back to campus," said Alumni Relations Director Laura Turk.

Many alumni have come forth to give their time and efforts for Reunion Weekend. There is still time to register to become a volunteer for Reunion Weekend. To learn more, contact Turk in the Alumni Relations Office at (540) 831-5248 or alumni@radford.edu.

Alumni Profile: Realizing a Boyhood Dream

Ryan Speier realized his boyhood dream of playing in the World Series two seasons ago when his Colorado Rockies made a remarkable run to the Fall Classic. The former RU hurler is beginning his fourth season in the major leagues and once again will be a key component in the Rockies bullpen. Read More>>

RU Athletics

Men's basketball coach Brad Greenberg has been named the 2009 Virginia Sports Information Directors Association Coach of the Year, while junior Art Parakhouski earned first-team all-state recognition. (See RU Athletics News Release.) Also, cager Phillip Martin earned a spot on the Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team. (See story.)

Freshman third baseman Nichole Beall was tabbed Big South Player of the Week in softball last week. (See Story.)

The Highlanders' baseball team faces the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on April 15 and returns to Radford for a three-game weekend series with VMI on April 17-19.

RU's men's tennis team (17-3, 6-0) recently concluded a perfect Big South run and is gearing up for the league championships in Rock Hill, S.C., on April 16-19. The women's team also will compete in the Big South tournament April 16-19 in Rock Hill.

For more on all of RU's sports teams, see Radford Athletics.

Alumni in the News

RU Graduate Has Art Installation in Key West
Jennifer Martin exhibitA sculpture installation by Radford University alumnus Jennifer Martin, M.F.A '94, is on display through April at the Armory Sculpture Garden in Key West, Fla. "Visitors to the garden will discover that the grounds have been invaded by what seem to be floating colorful spheres," Martin says. "Color Play - Leaving White" includes separate forms, each assembled with painted organic shapes cut from aluminum and wired to steel forms. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

Alumnus' Organization Named Finalist for Prestigious Award
Return to Roots, a program coordinated by RU alumnus Shai Cullop BS '06, MS '08 to help former Southwest Virginia natives find career opportunities in their home state, has been named a top 50 finalist for Innovations in American Government Awards. The awards are judged by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. To learn more, visit the Return to Roots Web site.

Crocker Q&A in Richmond Times-Dispatch
Jake Crocker says the best advice he ever received came from a plaque hanging in RU's Ingles Hall. What were those insightful words? Read the advice and more about Crocker in a Q&A with the president and chief strategist of Crocker Strategic Marketing.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Wednesday, April 22
RU Championship Season Banquet

Friday, April 24 - Saturday, April 25
RU Men's & Women's Soccer Reunion

commencementFriday, April 24
Hokie - Highlander Springfest
Downtown Christiansburg on Main Street
6-10 p.m., $5 per person

Saturday, May 9
Spring Commencement

Saturday, May 16
Virginia Beach Sunset Celebration
The Baja Restaurant (3701 Sandpiper Rd., Virginia Beach)
Special RU Guest: Coach Brad Greenberg
Register Online

Saturday, May 16
NOVA/DC
RU Alumni Bash
Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd., Arlington)
9 p.m.; $5 early entry fee

Friday, June 12 - Saturday, June 13
Alumni Class Reunion Weekend
Classes of 1959, 1974, 1979, 1984 & 1999
Contact Laura Turk at alumni@radford.edu or (540) 831-5248

Monday, June 22 - Friday, June 26
Summer Camp
The College of Science and Technology is partnering with the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation to offer a science camp for elementary school children. To learn more, contact Ann Brown at abrown238@radford.edu or visit www.campinvention.org.


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.