UMAA president Dennis Schulstad, left, and CEO Margaret Carlson, right, presented Volunteer of the Year Awards to Robert Freemore, second from left, and Patrick Weicherding.
Connecting alumni: winter 2007
A digest of ways people are staying connected to the University
From M, winter 2007
UMAA honors top volunteers
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association recognized three top volunteers at its 24th Volunteers Award Ceremony, last fall. It was the first time the UMAA has ever awarded its Volunteer of the Year Award to three individuals. Stephen Litton, Robert Freemore, and Patrick Weicherding were recognized for their extraordinary dedication of time and talent to alumni and University programs. Freemore (B.S. '75) and Weicherding (B.S. '72, M.S. '78, Ph.D. '84) were the team that brought together three separate alumni groups to form the new College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Alumni Society. The society brings together alumni from the College of Natural Resources, the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences; and the Department of Food Science and Nutrition in the College of Human Ecology."Bob and I felt it was very impotant to have a unified alumni voice for the new college, but we also wanted to preserve the heritage from each individual alumni society. We were just doing what we felt passionate about," Weicherding says. Litton, an orthodontist who is approaching a half century of involvement with the University, serves on the boards of directors of both the UMAA and the School of Dentistry Alumni Society. He was recognized for his untiring commitment to the UMAA and SODAS. Several other awards were also given, including Chapter of the Year to Rochester Area Alumni and Friends of the University of Minnesota, and Alumni Society of the Year to the School of Nursing.
Make us your home page
The UMAA has a wealth of information to help alumni and friends find their way around the University. No matter what you're looking for, our Web site can help you find it. At www.alumni.umn.edu you will find links to- The Twin Cities campus home page, which contains a directory of University personnel and departments, an events calendar, news and stories about the U, as well as links to other campuses and University facilities around the state.
- Gophersports.com, which contains updates, news, schedules, and scores from all 25 men's and women's intercollegiate athletics teams.
- eNews, a biweekly electronic newsletter for alumni and friends.
- U of M Career and Lifework Planning, a service of the College of Continuing Education that offers individual consultations, assessments, and workshops.
- The stadium Web page, which provides updates on the construction of the new Gopher on-campus football stadium.
Save the date: 2007 annual meeting
May 8 is the date for the UMAA 2007 annual celebration. This year's event will feature keynote speaker Tony Dungy (B.S. '78), head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and former Gopher football star. Special guests will be Stan Freese (B.S. '67), talent casting and booking director for Disneyland Entertainment Productions, and the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Time and place TBA. Watch for details at www.alumni.umn.edu/annualcelebration.Receive Minnesota magazine
The November-December 2006 issue of Minnesota, the magazine of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, includes a story on the healing powers of children's TV programming at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview; a look back at 1895, when a progressive professor landed at the U and clashed with convention; and a photo essay on campus fashion and student trendsetters. To receive every issue of Minnesota, mailed to 56,000 members of UMAA, call 612-624-2323 or 800-862-5867 or visit www.alumni.umn.edu.2007 legislative briefing
The 2007 legislative session will be pivotal for the University of Minnesota as it moves toward the goal of becoming one of the top three public research universities in the world.Mark your calendar now for the UMAA's annual legislative briefing, the evening of January 24. It's an opportunity to learn about the University's legislative priorities and how you can help make a difference through the Legislative Network, a coalition of volunteers who are committed to educating elected officials about the importance of the University of Minnesota to the state. The network, which the UMAA created nearly 20 years ago, is an essential grassroots component of the U's legislative efforts. Watch for details at www.supporttheu.umn.edu.