V10.5 NEWS FROM SU FOR ALUMNI
News from SU for Alumni (Vol. 10 No. 5)
May 19, 2008
An Electronic Newsletter for Southwestern University Alumni
GET CONNECTED:
Register for the Online Alumni Directory. IT’S FREE! Update your own information and look up friends. Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations for your personal registration number. Through the online directory, be sure to update your preferred e-mail address so you don’t miss announcements about upcoming events!
FEATURED STORIES:
The Association Welcomes Its Newest Members!
Chuck Merrill’s Legacy
ALUMNI NEWS:
Get Involved: Become an Alumni Volunteer
Save the Date – Homecoming and
Reunion Weekend
End-of-Year Giving
Aldersgate Day Celebration Scheduled for May 22
Online Giving
Refer a Prospective Student Online
Alumni Connection Group News
Local Association Happenings
2008 Class Reunions - Look Who’s PLANNING to Come!
Attention, Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni!
Arrange an Internship for Current Students
Career Services News
Class Notes Spotlight
Join The Association LinkedIn Group!
Check out “The List”
LIFELONG LEARNING:
Chautauqua Institution 2008 Summer Program and Group Rates
Art in the Park and Mendelssohn at Georgetown’s Festival of the Arts
Purchase Brown Symposium DVDs
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS:
Two Southwestern Graduates Receive Fulbright Teaching Assistantships
Students Organize Bike Collective
Five Students Selected to Participate in Summer Research Projects
Pirate Athletics
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Dallas Association Happy Hour – May 20
Aldersgate Day Celebration – May 22
Texas Annual Conference Breakfast for Alumni – May 27
Fort Worth Area Association Happy Hour – May 27
Georgetown Festival of the Arts – May 31-June 8
President Schrum to Visit Minnesota Alumni – June 4
San Antonio Association Night at the Ballpark – June 7
Houston Association Family Event – June 7
Big Apple Association Barbecue – June 7
San Antonio Area Association Ballpark Event – June 7
Dallas Association Road Scholars Event – June 12
Fort Worth Area Association Cats Ballgame – June 13
Houston Association Wine Tasting – June 14
Bay Area Association Picnic in the Park – June 14
Bay Area Association Happy Hour – June 19
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Gathering – June 21
Dallas Association Day of Service – July 12
Washington, D.C. Association Ballpark Event – July 13
Bay Area Association Happy Hour – July 17
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend – Nov. 7-9
FEATURED STORIES:
The Association Welcomes Its Newest Members!
Three hundred and thirteen (313) students graduated from Southwestern at the May 10 Commencement Ceremony. These newest members of The Association of Southwestern University Alumni were presented with an “S” pin by Association President Ann Tyrrell Cochran ’72. Welcome, Class of 2008!
James Winkler, general secretary of the General Board of Church & Society for The United Methodist Church, served as the 2008 Commencement speaker. Click here to read the Commencement Address.
Chuck Merrill’s Legacy
According to Trish Merrill, anyone who knew her late husband Chuck knows that he cared most about peace and justice. In the months following the death of Reverend J. Charles “Chuck” Merrill ’59, Trish and long-time friend and fraternity brother Bruce Barrick ’71 conceived of a way to both honor Chuck’s legacy and further the social justice issues for which he cared deeply. “The J. Charles Merrill Endowed Scholarship launched as a means to inspire the next generations to know about Chuck and to work passionately for good in the world,” says Trish. Click here to read more.
ALUMNI NEWS:
Get Involved: Become an Alumni Volunteer
Interested in becoming involved in The Association of Southwestern University Alumni? Click here to fill out a volunteer interest form and learn about the many ways you can get involved.
Save the Date – Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
Have you marked your calendar for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend (Nov. 7-9, 2008)? If so, let us know! Complete the “Save the Date” survey so that we know that you plan to attend. By completing this survey, you will assist us in developing our “Look Who’s Coming” list. (Please note: this survey is not the official registration form for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.) If you have questions concerning Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations or visit The Association of Southwestern University Alumni Web site.
End-of-Year Giving
As another academic year comes to an end, we invite all alumni to continue to invest in the future of Southwestern University by making a gift before June 30, 2008. Your gift is especially critical this year as more students find themselves in need of additional financial aid in order to return to school for the 2008-2009 academic year. If you have already made a gift during this academic year, please accept our gratitude for your generosity. If you have not, please make your gift before June 30, 2008, by calling 800-960-6363, x1482, or by making your gift online. Thank you! Your gift makes a difference in the lives of Southwestern students. Also, remember to keep up with the Adventures of Captain Ruter at http://www.southwestern.edu/captainruter/.
Aldersgate Day Celebration Scheduled for May 22
Aldersgate Day commemorates the founder of Methodism John Wesley’s “heart-warming” experience on Aldersgate Street in London in 1738. In honor of the 270th anniversary of the Aldersgate experience, Ellsworth Peterson ’55 and Rev. Milton Jordan ’62 have coordinated a celebration for Thursday, May 22. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and conversation in the Wilson Chapel Plaza next to the Lois Perkins Chapel. (Click here for a campus map.) The morning session, which begins at 10 a.m., will feature a presentation by Rev. Debra Crumpton, senior pastor at Wellspring United Methodist Church in Georgetown. A lunch buffet will be served in The Cove located on the lower level of the Red & Charline McCombs Campus Center for $6.50 per person. At 1 p.m., Ellsworth Peterson ’55, professor emeritus of music, will give a presentation on “The Wesleys and English Cathedral Music.” And, interspersed throughout the day’s celebration, Henry Holloway ’50 will lead the singing of Wesleyan hymns. Friends are welcome. Please RSVP to the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 800-960-6363.
Refer a Prospective Student Online
The recruitment climate for the best students is competitive and the admission staff is always interested in learning about potential students for whom the University may be a good fit. How can you recognize a student who may be a good fit? In the first-year class that enrolled Fall 2007, half ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Eighty-two percent graduated in the top quarter of their class. Southwestern’s average SAT and ACT scores continue to be well above the national average. And, most students who enroll at Southwestern have taken honors and AP classes during their high school career. Now you can refer prospective students online so that they receive an Admission Information Packet. Click here to refer a student you know!
Alumni Connection Group News
Did you know there are currently 13 Alumni Connection Groups affiliated with The Association of Southwestern University Alumni? And, there are more forming all the time! Take a look at these opportunities:
Join the “ARRRRdent Readers!” Alumni Connection Group to connect with other Southwestern alumni who love reading and sharing what they read with others. Contact Ruth Chiego Turner ’97 to participate.
Alumni working in or interested in government or public affairs are invited to join in professional networking, career mentoring and other professional, social and service-oriented activities through a new Government Alumni Connection Group. Please contact Alumni Connection Groups Chair Blake Stanford ’81 to participate.
Living outside the U.S.? Looking for ways to connect with alumni living in your country or with students studying there? Join the SU International Alumni Connection Group! To get connected, contact Sandra Romero de Thompson ’90.
The newly-formed SU Law Alumni Connection Group is developing programs for mentoring and networking with current students interested in the law field. If you are working or interested in law, and would like to get involved, contact Kevin Franta ’94.
For more information about Alumni Connection Groups and the affiliation process, visit The Association Web site or contact Amanda Randall, assistant director of alumni relations.
Local Association Happenings
Check out what local associations are doing across the country! Many local association officers are planning events for 2008. If you have any recommendations for events in your area or are interested in starting a local association, contact Megan Radison, associate director of alumni and parent relations, at 800-960-6363.
The Bay Area Association plans Picnic in the Park – June 14
The Big Apple Association coordinates Barbecue Event – June 7
The Colorado Association creates Alumni Interest Survey. Offer your feedback!
The Dallas Association plans for Road Scholars Event – June 12
The Fort Worth Area Association hosts Happy Hour – May 27
The Greater Austin Association plans for 2008.
The Greater Georgetown Association coordinates a Round Rock Express game - TBD
The Houston Association plans Family Event – June 7
The Los Angeles Area Association posts photos from April Barbecue.
The Metropolitan Phoenix Association organizes Theater Event.
The Missouri-Kansas Association creates Alumni Interest Survey. Offer your feedback!
The San Antonio Area Association invites families to A Night at the Ballpark – June 7
The Washington, D.C. Association organizes 3rd Annual Nationals Ballgame Event – July 13
2008 Class Reunions - Look Who’s PLANNING to Come!
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is the perfect time to return to the Southwestern University campus, spend time with friends, become reacquainted with classmates, visit with faculty, take classes and enjoy all the activities that are a part of Homecoming. SAVE THE DATE for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Nov. 7-9, 2008, and fill out the “Save the Date” survey. (Please note: This survey is not the official registration form for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.) To find out who is celebrating a class reunion, visit the Class Reunions Web site. Interested to know who is already planning to come? Visit the “Look Who’s PLANNING to Come” Web page.
Attention, Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni!
Join the Alpha Omicron Alumni Association (AOAA) for a wine and cheese party at the home of Bill Smith ’73 in Houston Saturday, June 21, at 7 p.m. All Alpha Omicron alumni, actives and their guests are welcome to attend. For more information, and to RSVP, please contact AOAA President Dustin James ’79 at 832-265-4347 or Bill Smith ’73 at 713-623-4230.
Arrange an Internship for Current Students
Marc Harrison ’03, sales director for Class Adventure Travel, is helping to coordinate summer internships for students in project management and market research with his company in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In Houston, Erin Skelley ’94 is arranging internships for students in The Methodist Hospital System, where she is the marketing director. Join them and many others in helping current students explore possible career paths by arranging internships/externships through the Office of Career Services. Interested alumni are welcome and encouraged to contact Maria Kruger ’91, internship coordinator at the Career Services Office, to discuss arranging internships/externships for Southwestern students at their place of work. To learn more about the Career Services internship and externship programs and how you can get involved, visit the Career Services internship Web site.
Career Services News
The Office of Career Services would like to thank the 28 alumni who participated in the 2008 Career Connections Barbecue. Click here to see who participated.
Is your job recession-proof? CareerBuilder.com offers advice about the job market in a rocky economy in this article.
Class Notes Spotlight
Have you heard? Ruth Chiego Turner ’97 works as librarian at the Brook Hollow branch of the San Antonio public library, focusing on youth and reference services. She is also a real estate marketing and on-site sales consultant, specializing in luxury vertical living options. See what your classmates are up to by visiting Class Notes online. While you are there, submit your own class note!
Join The Association LinkedIn Group!
Are you LinkedIn? If you are using this professional online networking tool, join The Association of Southwestern University Alumni Group and connect with other members of the alumni community.
Click here to join The Association of Southwestern University LinkedIn Group.
Check out “The List”
Southwestern University alumni and faculty are accomplishing great things on a daily basis. Now The Association Web site (www.sugrads.org) has a special page that provides details on news like upcoming performances, speaking engagements, television appearances and much more – we’re calling it “The List.” If you would like to include an item on “The List,” please e-mail the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations. And, don’t forget to view “The List” online!
LIFELONG LEARNING:
Chautauqua Institution 2008 Summer Program and Group Rates
If you are looking for an enriching, relaxing experience for you and your family this summer, the Chautauqua Institution is offering a special, all-inclusive group rate for Southwestern University alumni. The Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit organization that offers programs and facilities for spiritual renewal, intellectual stimulation and art appreciation. Among its amenities are accommodations at the Athenaeum Hotel, performance venues, golf, tennis, and educational and recreational facilities. Southwestern University learned about the educational offerings of Chautauqua Institution through the Institutions new director of education Sherra Haygood Babcock ’70. If you attend this summer, please share your experience with the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations as we are exploring the possibility of designating a Southwestern week at Chautauqua for Summer 2009. For more information about the Chautauqua Institution and details about the 2008 program, visit http://www.ciweb.org/.
Art in the Park and Mendelssohn at Georgetown’s Festival of the Arts
The 2008 Georgetown Festival of the Arts will be held May 31 - June 8, 2008. Ellsworth Peterson ’55, professor emeritus at Southwestern University, serves as artistic director of the festival and numerous Southwestern faculty and alumni are scheduled to perform. For more information, visit the Festival of the Arts Web site.
Purchase Brown Symposium DVDs
Did you miss this year’s Brown Symposium, “Umwelt: Exploring the Self-Worlds of Human and Non-Human Animals?” If so, you can still view the speakers’ presentations and the opening documentary.
DVDs may now be ordered for $4 each. Copies of the following are available for order:
· The Umwelt Film Documentary.
· Dr. Diane Ackerman’s Presentation.
· Dr. Michael Gazzaniga’s Presentation.
· Dr. Christopher Clark’s Presentation.
· Dr. David Fogel’s Presentation.
To order a DVD, please contact Sue Smith, in the Education Department.
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS:
Two Southwestern Graduates Receive Fulbright Teaching Assistantships
Two 2008 graduates have been awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships. Chelsea Edge ’08 and Amy Tanguay ’08 will spend nine months teaching English to students in Germany. Click here to read more.
Students Organize Bike Collective
A class project at Southwestern has evolved into an initiative that could encourage people in Georgetown to rethink transportation and conservation. As part of a new course titled “Introduction to Sustainability,” students were asked to participate in a project that would get them thinking about ways of living that are more sustainable. One group of students decided to form a bike collective that would teach bike repair and give refurnished bikes to people who need one, paying in work-trade rather than money. Click here to learn more.
Five Students Selected to Participate in Summer Research Projects
Five Southwestern students have been selected to participate in summer research programs sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The programs are all part of the NSF’s Research Experience for the Undergraduates (REU) program. Students selected for the program receive travel expenses, room and board, and a stipend of up to $4,000. Click here to read the rest of this story.
Pirate Athletics
Have you checked out the Pirate Athletics Web site lately? If not, visit www.southwesternpirates.com for the latest news. Also, check out the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Web site for conference updates.
Men’s Baseball: In the opening round of the SCAC Championship Tournament, the men’s baseball team lost to #14 DePauw University by a score of 12-5.
Men’s Golf: The men's golf team placed sixth at the SCAC Championship Tournament with a team score of 962.
Women’s Golf: The women’s golf team won the SCAC Championship, securing its berth to the 2008 NCAA Division III National Championship. Marisa Mauldin ’09 won SCAC Golfer of the Year for the second straight year. The team will travel to Waverly, Iowa for the NCAA Championship at Centennial Oaks Golf Club from May 13-16.
Men’s Lacrosse: The men’s Lacrosse Team won its fourth consecutive Division II Championship in the Lone Star Alliance. Southwestern finished the 2008 Season as the #15 team in the nation and earned an Automatic Bid to the National Tournament for winning the LSA D2 Championship. Southwestern entered the National Tournament as the #10 seed, its highest ever. On May 13, the men's Lacrosse Club defeated Fort Lewis College 12-7 to reach the elite eight of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division B Tournament in Dallas. On May 14, the Bucs lost to second-seeded Grand Valley State in an attempt to reach the final four.
Men’s and Women’s Tennis: The SU men’s and women’s tennis teams produced four All-Tournament performances at the SCAC Championships. The SCAC All-Tournament Team consists of all players who go undefeated at the SCAC Championship and play in at least two matches.
Men’s and Women’s Track: The men placed fifth in the team standings with 76 points, the highest point total in program history. This marks the second straight year the men have set a new high in points at a SCAC Championship. The women placed ninth with five points. Chris Norris ’08 capped his phenomenal senior season with a total of five SCAC Championships at the 2008 SCAC Track & Field Championship meet and he was named the 2008 SCAC Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
SU Home 
1001 E University