President Kermit L. Hall Memorial Tribute


EVENTS

Join the Fun at Homecoming/Family Weekend and Reunion 2006
It's one of the biggest weekends of the year at UAlbany! Join us for a jam-packed weekend of events, Oct. 20-22. Highlights include the UAlbany vs. St. Francis football game, postgame fireworks, Touchdown Tailgate and Comedy Night. The weekend also features reunions for the classes of ’71, ’76, ’81, ’86, ’91, ’96, ’01 and ’06.(See sidebar on the right for class reunion details.) Visit our Web page for all the details!

Alumni Events Scheduled Across the Country
UAlbany will hit the road this fall and next spring with alumni events from coast to coast. On the agenda are Seattle, Wash., Oct. 30; San Francisco, Calif., Nov. 1; Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 23; Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 25; Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 15; Charlotte, N.C., March 13; and Washington, D.C., March 14.

Culinary Institute of America Luncheon Set
The Capital Region Chapter of the Alumni Association will host the annual Culinary Institute of America luncheon on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006. Feast on an incredible meal at the Escoffier Restaurant. You will have time after lunch to visit the bakery and bookstore to get a head start on your holiday shopping. Please register online by Nov. 1 or contact (518) 442-3080.

You’re Invited to a Gathering of Alumni and Friends
The UAlbany Alumni Association invites you to meet the new dean of Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy Jeffrey D. Straussman and receive a legislative update from Charlie Williams, vice president for Governmental, Public and Media Relations. This reception at the Pearl Restaurant in downtown Albany will be Sept. 26, 5-7 p.m. There is no charge. Please register online or contact (518) 442-3080 for more information.

Explore the Wonders of Greece
Visit the ancient kingdom of Macedon, home of Philip II and his son, known to history as Alexander the Great. This seven-day trip, sponsored by the Alumni Association and led by UAlbany Classics Professor John Overbeck, runs Dec. 31, 2006-Jan. 13, 2007. In addition to palaces and royal tombs, participants will visit Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, known for its Roman architecture; the monasteries of the Meteora; early Christian sites; superb museums; and much more. Full story >>

South Carolina SUNY Alumni To Meet
Come join other SUNY alumni Oct. 21, for Day 11 at the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia. Meet at the Big Rocket at 11 a.m. Admission is $5 at the door. At 7 p.m. meet at the Liberty Tap Room, 828 Gervais Street, to relax after the big day at the fair. Oct. 22 from noon-4 p.m. you’re invited to Bob and Ellen Sparks house for a potluck picnic. Bring your favorite New York appetizer/dish. RSVP to Bob and Ellen by Oct. 20 at (803) 532-4128 or (803) 730-1103 cell.


UNIVERSITY NEWS

Fall Term Brings Record Number of Applicants
The UAlbany applicant pool for the 2006-07 calendar year surpassed 18,000 — a 12 percent increase in freshmen applications above last year and a record number for UAlbany. From that, the University enrolled 2,350 freshmen in the class of 2010 — 200 fewer students than last year’s record class of 2,556. The smaller class allowed UAlbany to be more selective in admissions. Full story >>

Campus Engages In $25M Improvement Project
The University has embarked on a $25 million Campus Beautification Project to create a more welcoming environment. Key areas of focus include the completion of University Hall — where new and prospective students are greeted; a downtown renewal, with the addition of new signage, lights and cameras at Alumni Quad to enhance safety and accessibility; a University-wide signage improvement initiative; and special emphasis on the University entrance plaza bordering Collins Circle with improvements to the podium and Campus Center entranceways, landscaping, canopy and deck.

Citizen Laureate Winners Honored
R. Mark Sullivan, president of The College of Saint Rose; Richard C. Liebich, CEO of Cerbide Inc., Advanced Material Technology, Inc., and the Charitable Leadership Foundation as well as other charities; and Frank J. Thompson, faculty member and former dean of the UAlbany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, are the recipients of the 2006 University at Albany Foundation Citizen Laureate Awards. Award recipients were honored at a black-tie event Sept. 21 in Saratoga Spring. Full story >>

Inaugural Scholarship Fund Renamed in Honor of Kermit and Phyllis Hall
UAlbany’s Inaugural Scholarship Fund has been renamed the Kermit L. Hall and Phyllis A. Hall Inaugural Scholarship Fund to honor the former president’s life and contributions to the University. Kermit Hall established the Inaugural Scholarship Fund on his third day in office to assure that qualified undergraduates have the means to attend UAlbany. He jumpstarted the fund with $100,000 that the campus could have spent on a presidential inauguration, and he and his wife pledged $10,000. The fund today stands at nearly $3 million, with 1,605 gifts contributed and 19 scholarships awarded.


SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Freshmen Admitted to School of Business
Students no longer have to wait until their junior year to be admitted to the School of Business. This fall, 78 freshmen with average SAT scores of 1235 and GPAs hovering around 93, started the semester in the school’s new Freshman Admit program. Upon arrival, the class met with Dean Paul Leonard and his leadership council of upperclassmen, who will mentor them. They will continue to be integrated into the school through career development, business fraternities and clubs and networking events.

Begley Receives Environmental Scientist Award
The National Institute of Environmental Health Services has selected Assistant Professor Thomas Begley as one of eight recipients of the Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award. The award, which will result in $2.2 million in funding over the next five years, recognizes exceptionally talented scientists at the formative stages of their careers and assists them in launching innovative research programs. Begley, who is with the Department of Biomedical Sciences, will use the award to continue his work on cancer-causing agents. For more information, visit Begley’s Web page.

Best Practice Studies: Findings from New York Schools
The National Center for Educational Accountability named 10 New York State schools among the best in the nation. The findings, based on case studies prepared by Just for the Kids-New York at UAlbany’s School of Education, allow schools in need of improvement nationwide to gain direct and practical insight from the experiences of these top-rated schools. Full story >>

Professor to Study Noncredit Postsecondary Education
Kevin Kinser, assistant professor in UAlbany’s Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, has received a $45,000 grant from the Sloan Foundation for research that will create some of the first-ever informational tools to provide the basis for future research on noncredit education. Full story >>

School of Social Welfare Celebrates 40th Anniversary
The School of Social Welfare will kick off its 40th Anniversary celebration with a Mental Health and Disaster Relief Forum Oct. 20, 2-3:30 p.m. in Page Hall. John Weaver, disaster mental health manager, American Red Cross, will address the critical need for mental health services for victims of disasters and their families. Following the forum, you are invited to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary at an afternoon reception, 4-6 p.m., in Milne 200 on the Downtown Campus. Register on the Web or for more information e-mail Stephanie Wacholder or call her at (518) 442-5753. 


ATHLETICS

Basketball Season Tickets Still Available
Season tickets for the 2006-07 UAlbany basketball season are on sale now. Season tickets for the entire men's and women's home schedule start at $100. The defending America East champion men's basketball team will play a 13-game regular season home schedule. For more information call (518) 442-4683.

Hall of Fame Dinner Set
The 22nd Annual UAlbany Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction ceremony will be held Friday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. The Class of 2006 includes Dawn Di Micco Lukowitz '00 (lacrosse/basketball), Scott Price '69 (basketball) and Steve Shoen '81 (football). Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, contact Don Ostrom, director of Athletic Development, at (518) 437-4416.

more great dane news!


OF NOTE

Nominations Open for Alumni Association Excellence Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2007 Alumni Association Excellence Awards. These awards, presented in 12 categories, recognize alumni and friends of the University for their outstanding achievements and service to the University and community. Nominations are due Oct. 31. Full story >>

E-Mail Forwarding Service Keeps Alumni Connected
UAlbany alumni can select a free permanent e-mail address to share with family, friends and fellow alumni. All messages sent to your UAlbany e-mail address will be automatically redirected to whatever mailbox you select. Your e-mail will be forwarded to you no matter how many times you change Internet access providers, eliminating the need to update friends, family and coworkers when your email address changes. For more information, visit the Alumni Online Community.

UAlbany Veterans Project Celebrates Fifth Anniversary!
Five years ago, the University unveiled its Veterans Wall of Honor, a nine-panel, 36-foot-long mural inscribed with the names of UAlbany servicemen and women. The wall now holds the names of more than 4,000 UAlbany alumni, students, faculty and staff. To learn more about the project or to check if your name is included, visit UAlbany’s Veterans Web site.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 26 – A Gathering of Alumni & Friends, Albany
Oct. 20 – Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction
Oct. 20-22 – Homecoming/Family Weekend and Reunion 2006
Oct. 21 – Legacy Reception, Albany
Oct. 21-22 – South Carolina SUNY Gathering
Nov. 10 – Culinary Institute of America Luncheon, Capital Region Chapter


COME TO YOUR REUNION OCTOBER 20-22!
Homecoming weekend is a time to reminisce, come back to campus and reconnect with friends. Plans for the classes of ’71, ’81, ’86, ’91 and ’96 have been made, and we want to know you’re coming.

Reunion Events Include:
Aqua Ducks Tour
Great Danes Great Bash at WT’s
Class of ’81 Reunion Dinner
Fall Farewell at Indian Ladder Orchards
Student Association Reunion

Preregister for the Touchdown Tailgate and lunch is on the Alumni Association.

To register and for more infomation visit the Homecoming page.

Student Association Reunion
Don’t forget to register – visit the Web and click on Homecoming. For more details, call 1-800-836-ALUM or e-mail Carmelina Morrison.


PUBLISHED BY: UAlbany Alumni Association
www.albany.edu/alumni | [email protected]