July 8, 2009
Dear University of Idaho Alumni and Friends:
Greetings to all of you from the road. It's been wonderful to see so many Vandals coming out to meet President M. Duane Nellis at alumni receptions this week as part of his statewide 'Listening Tour." We're in Boise today, and we'll finish up the week with stops in Coeur d'Alene, Moscow and Spokane. The final event is July 15 in Lewiston. You can get details on times and locations here.
Later this month, the Vandal Scholarship Fund hosts one of its premiere events, the Governor's Gala in Boise. It's July 23 in Boise at the Boise Centre. The gala is always a fun evening, and it features exciting silent and live auctions. All proceeds assist with student athlete scholarships and services. You can purchase tickets or reserve a table by calling (208) 364-4030 or go here.
Steven C. Johnson '71
Executive Director of Alumni Relations
Alumni Events
Vandal Welcomes in Idaho and the Northwest - July 6-27
President Nellis Listening Tour and Alumni Receptions in Idaho - July 6-15
Summer BBQ in Twin Falls - July 8
UIRA Dessert and Theater Event in Moscow - July 8
Summer BBQ in Idaho Falls - July 9
Vandal Night at the Ballpark in Idaho Falls - July 15
Thirsty Thursday in Nampa - July 16 (stay tuned for more details)
UIRA Summer Picnic - July 16
Thirsty Thursday in Twin Falls - July 16
VSF Governor's Gala - July 23
Vandal Night with the Colorado Rockies in Denver - July 25
University of Idaho Night with the Spokane Indians in Spokane - July 31
Vandal Night with the Boise Hawks in Boise - August 14
Thirsty Thursday in Twin Falls - August 20
North Idaho Vandal Celebration in Coeur d'Alene - August 26
2009 Vandal Football Schedule
Event information for these and other social connection opportunities can be found at www.idahovandals.com .
Alumni Profile
Idaho Actors Shine at Ashland
The University of Idaho offers one of the most prestigious drama fellowships in the United States. The late Idaho Theatre Arts Department MFA student and Oregon Shakespeare Festival company member, Rex Rabold, bequeathed an endowed fellowship for a University of Idaho drama major for an expense-paid year at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland. Operated in conjunction with the festival, the fellowship winner is assured of speaking parts and understudy roles for the season, as well as access to all tutorials and master classes. It is a working experience unique in the United States.
The Rabold Fellow for 2009 is Ian McNeely. His road to the fellowship and to Shakespeare began in northern Idaho. "I always knew that I wanted to entertain people," he says. His acting training began early through Spokane Children's Theatre, Lake City Playhouse and Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre. [more]
Vandal Student-Athletes Excel in the Classroom
Student-athletes at the University had a strong spring 2009 semester with an average cumulative grade-point average of more than 3.0. That enabled them to finish the 2008-09 school year at 3.1 gpa. The women's golf team was the leader for both the spring semester and for the academic year with a spring semester average of 3.66 and a cumulative of 3.78 for 2008-09. In addition, six University of Idaho track and field athletes - three men and three women - were honored as ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selections for District 8. Sophomore Paul Dittmer, junior Jonathan Marler and senior Allix Lee-Painter were named to the Academic All-District First Team, while junior Adam Leschber, senior K.C. Dahlgren and senior Christie Gordon were selected to the second team.
Alumni Honors
Accomplished Under 40
Nine Idaho alumni were honored June 23 in Boise as recipients of Idaho Business Week's 2009 "Accomplished Under 40" award. Recipients were recognized for their professional accomplishments, leadership, community involvement and long-term goals.
The following Vandals will be honored as part of this year’s class:
Shawn Barigar, `93
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences: Telecommunications
Courtney Robinson Feider, `98
College of Education: School and Community Health Education
Sonya Lenzi, `93
College of Art and Architecture: Interior Architecture
Thomas Lloyd III, `03
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences: Philosophy
Ken Carroll, `97
College of Engineering: Computer Science
Barton Cochran, `03
College of Business and Economics: Finance
Brian Kane, `97
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences: History and Political Science
Franklin Lee, `94, `98
College of Art and Architecture: Architecture
College of Law: Juris Doctor
Jon Munkers, `00
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences: Environmental Science
Joe Knows...
Vandal Legends Event is Sept. 11 in Seattle
Making the trip to Seattle in September to watch the Vandal football team take on the Washington Huskies? If so, join the University of Idaho Athletics Department for food, friends and stories on Friday, September 11 at the Hilton Downtown. Numerous Idaho athletic legends from different eras of competition will be in attendance to make this a special night. The Vandal Legends Event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a no-host social and silent auction followed by dinner at 7:30 with a program emceed by Bill Fagerbakke '81 and live auction. All Vandal fans are invited to participate in this fun-filled function prior to Idaho facing off against the University of Washington on Saturday, September 12. Cost is $150 per person and rooms at the Hilton Downtown also are available, starting at $169 per night.
For more information, contact Vandal Scholarship Fund representative Shelly Robson at shellyr@uidaho.edu or (208) 651-7992.