2018 Newsletters

January 4, 2018

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Office of Alumni Relations

Dear Vandals,

I am writing to share some great news to begin a great new year for the Vandal Family. Today, the University of Idaho is announcing a $10 million gift from Idaho Central Credit Union toward construction of the Idaho Arena! It is the largest cash donation to our alma mater in its history, and gives ICCU naming rights for what promises to be a remarkable facility on the Moscow campus.

Like the U of I, ICCU’s Idaho roots run deep. With headquarters in Chubbuck, ICCU has served Idahoans for more than three-quarters of a century. Today, the credit union has 34 offices across the state and is looking to expand, a reflection of their commitment to helping Idaho communities thrive and another point in common with our university.

The ICCU Arena will be located on the north side of the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center and will be a one-of-a-kind engineered wood structure that highlights Idaho’s wood products industry. The $45 million project will be home to U of I’s court sports as well as other activities, such as lectures and concerts.

In addition to ICCU’s gift, the arena project has garnered financial support from ASUI, the U of I Alumni Association and the U of I Foundation. So far, the university has raised $34 million. Shovels hit the ground as soon as funding for the entire project is complete.

This project is one more point of pride for the Vandal Family and reflects the energy and momentum of a great institution.

Happy 2018 and go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, ’81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Learn More About the ICCU Arena

January 17, 2018

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Office of Alumni Relations

Dear Vandals,

Happy 2018! Students are back at it after the winter break. At the same time, many of us are working to keep the resolutions that seemed like such a good idea on Jan. 1. Mine are fairly simple: Drop the last 10 pounds. Have more fun. Learn something new.

I include that last one every year and am always pleasantly surprised at the results. One of the most impactful parts of a U of I education is the emphasis on lifelong learning. Professors in every discipline stress not only learning the material at hand, but also learning how to learn, keeping curious, making sure the mental “saw” stays sharp.

Our alma mater provides a number of options for helping alumni to keep the “saw sharpened.” And you don’t have to be in Moscow to participate. There are too many opportunities to provide a comprehensive list, but consider the ones below.

The university now offers more than 30 online degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, for example, offers a Master of Public Administration program – one of the only of its kind to focus on rural governments and towns.

U of I’s centers at Coeur d’Alene, Boise and Idaho Falls also offer a wide and growing variety of classes and degree programs. UI Extension – which delivers programs such as 4-H and Master Gardeners – always has a multitude of research-based educational offerings; there are U of I extension offices in 42 counties across the state.

Listening to smart people talk about things that matter is always educational. Check out some of the university’s signature lecture series: the Borah Symposium, the College of Law’s Bellwood Memorial Lecture or the Robert B. and Floretta F. Austin Distinguished Lecture in Science series, for example.

The arts are a great way to learn something – about yourself as well as the work itself. Take a moment to peruse the U of I website to nail down some dates for attending the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the next poetry slam on the Moscow campus or the next production by the Theatre Arts Department.

If you want to learn how to speak Chinese, check out the U of I Confucius Institute, offering programs in Boise, Coeur d'Alene and Moscow. If you want to discuss interesting books with your fellow Vandals, join the Vandal Book Club. Our latest selection is “Through a Long Absence: Words from My Father’s Wars,” the newest work of longtime U of I English instructor Joy Passanante.

For the more adventurous, the Office of Alumni Relations offers travel programs at locations around the globe. For those more interested in “coming home,” we offer reunion attendees the opportunity to take classes without tests – the best of all worlds, in my opinion!

Whatever tool you choose for your saw sharpening this coming year, I hope it includes the University of Idaho and the Vandal family.

Happy New Year and go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, ’81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Inspiring the Art of Science

Art inspired by science. That is the core of Visualizing Science, a $40,000 internal grant shared by seven interdisciplinary teams of scientists and artists — and the first year of an ongoing investment in U of l's own people.

Each team was comprised of a scientist and an artist. The goal was to show the science through art.

The outcome? Hundreds of 3-D printed aphids hanging in beautifully complex swarms. A children's book explaining the complexities of evolutionary biology through endearing characters. Even a human-size "robot" built to replicate the powerful jumping motion of some animals.

"It's really informative for scientists to learn how involved the research of creative activity is. It's also fascinating for them to articulate what they do and to think about it in visual terms," said Sally Machlis, a professor in both the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences and the College of Art and Architecture and co-principal investigator. Roger Rowley, director of the U of I Prichard Art Gallery is also a co-principal investigator.

The internal grant is the first of an ongoing program deemed the Vandal Ideas Project. The program is designed to give funding to interdisciplinary groups of researchers and staff to tackle projects on a particular theme.

Learn More >>

Mark your calendar and join us for some Vandal fun in the sun this spring in Arizona!

Anaheim Angels vs. Colorado Rockies.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Tempe Diablo Stadium
Pregame Luncheon: 11:30 am in the Upper Pavilion off the first base line
First Pitch: 1:10 pm
Special guest Bill Stoneman '66, former general manager of the Angels.

Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Sloan Park
Pregame: 11:30 am on the 3rd baseline Party Deck
First Pitch: 1:05 pm

11th Annual Arizona Chapter Golf Tournament
Sunday, March 18, 2018
The Arizona Biltmore, Adobe Golf Course
1:30 pm Shotgun start
*New this year, you could win $10,000 for a hole-in-one!

View details online >>

Have event questions? Contact Sandy Larsen at sandyl@uidaho.edu or
208-364-4030.

For The Love of Food

CALS student turns love of cooking into food science career

Jacob Hause loves to cook. He has been cooking since he was 8 years old growing up in Milwaukee, Wis. He earned an associate’s degree in culinary arts from BYU-Idaho with the goal of becoming a chef.

But a conversation with one of his professors at BYU-Idaho introduced him to the field of food science, which Hause felt had better hours for family life. Plus the ability to work with food while incorporating Hause’s interest in science was a perfect fit.

Hause graduated this past December with his bachelor’s degree in food science from the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

“I like the fact that I can learn things about something that I use and eat every single day, as well as the fact that one day, when I get into my career, I can look on a shelf in a grocery store and say ‘I created that. That’s mine and I have my handprint on how it was made,’” Hause said.

Supporting his family

In addition to working toward his degree as a full-time student, Hause also is supporting his wife, Aasha, their 1-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. To make ends meet, Hause has worked stocking shelves at Walmart, making doughnuts at a local bakery, and he also took a semester off from U of I to work at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

Read Full Story >>

Giving High Schoolers a Competitive Edge

North Idaho’s high-tech industry is swelling, with startup companies and Silicon Valley offshoots opening in the region in droves. It’s an exciting transformation for the state’s panhandle, which has traditionally relied on the natural resources industry and tourism to fuel its economy.

But for Idaho’s tech industry to thrive, it needs a skilled workforce.

The University of Idaho is leading an effort to engage those potential workers earlier than ever, with a new computer programming course for high school students statewide.

As an added benefit, those students will receive college credit for the course without forking over a penny in tuition.

The Course

CS 112: Computational Thinking and Problem Solving was designed in 2014 for U of I computer science majors in the College of Engineering, while also providing basic programming knowledge to interested non-majors.

Computer science faculty decided the entry-level course was also a good fit for high school students, and in 2015, faculty members led a training at U of I Coeur d’Alene on how to teach the dual-credit course.

Among the participants in the class was Nanette Brothers, a Sandpoint High School math teacher. After going through the U of I Computer Science Department’s certification process, she enticed 11 Sandpoint students to enroll in the class.

Read Full Story >>

Cruising the Baltic Sea

Experience the cultural rebirth of the Baltic states, the magnificent imperial riches of St. Petersburg and the luminous “White Nights of Summer” on this remarkable five-country, seven-night Baltic Sea cruise.

Learn More >>

Looking for other Vandalized travel opportunities?
Visit Vandal Voyagers online >>

Alumnus Sam Michener Earns Spot on the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men's Bobsled Team

From Track to Ice

Sam Michener came to bobsled in adulthood. The life-changing tip came while Michener was wrapping up his undergraduate years at the University of Idaho. He was running track—he was a standout sprinter—and thinking about where to go for medical school.

One day an athletics department staffer pulled Michener aside.

"Trin, my sports psychologist was like, 'This is an opportunity for you. Have you thought about maybe pursuing bobsled?'" Michener said.

That was in the spring of 2012. The man making the suggestion was Greg Sun, a former Winter Olympian in two-man bobsled from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Hence the nickname "Trin."

"It looked like he wanted to talk to me for some time. He was just waiting for the right moment,” Michener said. “My time was pretty filled with school and track. I'm not wanting to hear about something like bobsled. I don't even know what bobsled is at the time."

Read Full Story >>

Looking for a new career? Need help revising your resume?
Alumni of the University of Idaho have lifetime access to the UI Office of Career Services, wherever you are in your career.

Check out these job opportunities:

Seed Production Manager
Learn More >>

News Producer
Learn More >>

Planning and Zoning Director
Learn More >>

Looking for jobs at UI? Visit the UI job board here >>

Mark Your Calendar!

Vandal Ski Day at Brundage Mountain
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018

Bundle up and join University of Idaho alumni and friends in McCall for Vandal Ski Day at Brundage Mountain!

Learn More>>

Golden I Reunion
April 4-5, 2018

Come home to campus at the University of Idaho and receive your commemorative Golden I pin marking your 50+ years since graduation.

Learn More >>

Latah County Silver & Gold Celebration
April 5, 2018

Please join us for an evening honoring UIAA award recipients.

Learn More >>

Upcoming Alumni Events

Jan. 19 –  Reconnect with Vandals Happy Hour, Washington, DC
Jan. 20 –  Vandal Night at the Spokane Chiefs, Spokane, WA
Jan. 20 –  Vandal Men's Basketball vs NAU Vandal Meet-Up and Pregame Celebration, Flagstaff, AZ
Jan. 23 –  Reconnect with Vandal Happy Hour, New York, NY
Feb. 1 –  Men's Basketball Pregame Social, Portland, OR
Feb. 3 –  Men's Basketball Pregame Social, Sacramento, CA
Feb. 6 –  Vandal Networking Night, Moscow, ID
Feb. 7 –  U of I Spring Career Fair, Moscow, ID
Feb. 8 –  Ada County Silver & Gold Celebration, Boise, ID
Feb. 16 –  Vandal Ski Day Kick-Off Event, McCall, ID
Feb. 17 –  Vandal Ski Day, McCall, ID

View more events on the alumni calendar.

The Value of Water

CALS student looks for answers to irrigation issue

The management and use of water in agriculture has always been of interest to Madison Moore. Growing up on a dryland wheat farm in the Horse Heaven Hills near Prosser, Washington, she has seen first-hand how important access to water is for agricultural production. So, it’s no surprise that water became the focus of Moore’s master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

A diverse region

The average annual rainfall for Prosser is just nine inches per year, compared to an average of 38 inches for the entire state. Prosser is located in Benton County, which contributes over $900 million to Washington State’s $9 billion agriculture sales each year, according to Washington State University Extension, making it a vital region for Washington State’s agriculture economy.

“My dad claims it’s the driest place in the world to grow wheat,” Moore said. “I grew up in an area that is really diverse. There are tree fruit and row crops and dryland, and it’s in close proximity so you can see the spread of difference between crops and how it really depends on water.”

Logic and theory

Moore earned a bachelor’s in agricultural economics from WSU in 2016. At first, she didn’t have any plans to pursue a graduate degree in economics but a research project her junior year changed that.

Read Full Story >>

Great news Vandals, you can now stream the movie Mark Felt - The Man Who Brought Down The White House online (or look for it in rental locations near you). Mark Felt was 1935 U of I grad who went on to become the long-anonymous source who leaked secrets about President Nixon's Watergate cover-up.

Watch Online

Read the full story on Mark Felt as featured in the 2005 edition of Here We Have Idaho Magazine.

New Office Addresses Research Needs

With a focus on providing the best customer service to the researchers of the University of Idaho, the Office of Research and Economic Development has added new key players.

Jeremy Tamsen and Jana Jones, in the Office of Technology, Innovation and Economic Development (TIED), will enhance and build strategic partnership connecting UI resources, expertise and assets to companies and communities.

TIED is tasked with promoting scholarly, research and creative activities around the state. These efforts are essential to fulfilling the research, outreach and engagement elements of Ul's mission.

Learn More >>

The Vandal Vibe is catching on. Palouse Juice, a new business in Moscow, has crafted a healthy and tasty treat (with a great name, we would like to point out) for all to enjoy.

Joe Knows...

Seventh Annual Idaho Bach Festival to Debut Performance on Rare Five-String Cello

U of I Study: Climate Models Predict Almond Harvest Expansion to Oregon

Tom Mueller: From Idaho Logger To Space Explorer

U of I Alumna Julie Van Matre Honored as the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of the Year

Want to stay up-to-date with Vandal events in your area? Join an alumni chapter.

Find one near you >>

January 31, 2018

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Office of Alumni Relations

Dear Vandals,

On any given day, there are about 107,000 Vandals on the planet, and because they are Vandals, they are making a positive difference wherever they are. They are leaders in their communities, schools, corporations, the halls of government, in the lab, on stage, in the military — you name it.

All members of the Vandal Family can be proud of what our fellow alumni achieve. The accomplishments of every Vandal become points of pride for all Vandals. I love the bragging rights that come with being an alumna of the University of Idaho.

Opportunities to recognize our fellow Vandals for their success range from a heartfelt "Go, Vandals!" when you see them to successfully nominating them for formal accolades from the group that represents all Idaho alumni, the U of I Alumni Association. The UIAA has been recognizing Vandal greatness for decades now. It is a responsibility board members value and take very seriously.

Dozens of Vandals at the top of their game and serving the greater good have been named to the Alumni Association Hall of Fame, received a Silver and Gold Award or earned the Jim Lyle Award. Association members also bestow Honorary Alumni status on outstanding individuals who support our alma mater but aren't graduates.

The nomination process is easy. The details of each award and what nomination entails are featured on our website. We in the Office of Alumni Relations are happy to walk you through the process if you have any questions. If you know of a stellar Vandal who does his or her alma mater proud, nominate them.

Next week at the Ada County Silver and Gold Celebration, the Alumni Association will honor two amazing women. Leah Frye, a 1979 graduate of the College of Science, will receive the Silver and Gold Award for her record of achievement and service in chemistry. She is the inventor on 18 U.S. patents and has an extensive record of research and publications. Currently, she is the vice president of the Drug Discovery Group at Schrodinger, a company that develops chemical simulation software for use in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and materials research.

Alice Hennessey will be given Honorary Alumna Recognition for bringing "great distinction while providing faithful and distinguished service to the University of Idaho." Although she graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder, Alice has long been a supporter of the University of Idaho. She served on the advisory board of the College of Business and Economics, as a member of then-President Hoover's Special Advisory Council, the Treasure Valley Advisory Board, the U of I Foundation and as an advisor to the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research. Alice and her late husband, Tom, created the Hennessey Family Centennial Endowment to benefit Vandal athletics. They were awarded the University of Idaho President's Medallion in 2008. She also has had a distinguished professional career, serving as senior vice president of Boise Cascade and executive director of the Idaho Community Foundation, as well as numerous charitable organizations in Idaho.

It promises to be a very special evening - join us if you can.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, ’81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Do you know of an outstanding alumni or friend of the university? Recognize their hard work and dedication with a U of I Alumni Association award, nominations are due by Aug. 1, 2018.

Silver & Gold Award: Alumni who have a distinguished record of achievement and service.

Jim Lyle Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions to the University and/or alumni association through volunteerism.

Hall of Fame: Alumni who have achieved national or international distinction by their accomplishments and leadership.

Distinguished Idahoan Award: Alumni or friend of the University that has an international or national reputation and has brought distinction to the state of Idaho and the U of I.

Learn more >>

Program Prepares Native Teachers for Native Classrooms

College of Education, Health and Human Sciences program helps indigenous teachers use their culture to improve learning outcomes for Native students

As a young girl in elementary school, JayLynn Rogers was proud to count to 10 in her native language.

But as an Iñupiaq Eskimo in Alaska, Rogers grew up in classrooms filled with mostly white students and white teachers, and that pride in her language wasn’t always shared.

Being discouraged from speaking her native tongue was one of many experiences that spurred her desire to teach music education to Alaska Native students in the villages that make up the 49th state.

“Growing up, I didn’t have role models who were Native,” said Rogers, 19, a sophomore music education major in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at the University of Idaho. She wants to better herself so she can be the best example possible for her fellow indigenous students.

Jessica Matsaw has a similar goal. A senior finishing her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in psychology in CLASS, Matsaw wants to take what she’s learned at U of I and apply it as a teacher on the Fort Hall Reservation in southeastern Idaho.

Read Full Story >>

Vandal Ski Day: Don't forget to RSVP!

Vandal Ski Day is just around the corner and we are excited for a weekend of fun-filled activities:

Vandal Ski Day Kick-Off Event
5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16
U of I McCall Outdoor Science School
Delicious appetizers and no-host beverages
Learn More and RSVP Today!

Vandal Ski Day
Saturday, Feb. 17
Brundage Mountain Resort
11 a.m. Open ski racing begins
Noon, Vandal BBQ (free!)
Learn More and RSVP Today!

Apres Ski Social
5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17
Lodge at Blackhawk on the River
Delicious hors d'oeuvres and no-host beverages
Learn more and RSVP Today!

University of Idaho WUE Extended to 16 States and Territories in the Northwest

The University of Idaho Vandal family is growing with the expansion of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship program to the 16 participating states and territories of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE).

WUE is a multistate program that allows college students across the West to get reduced out-of-state tuition at participating colleges and universities. Beginning in fall 2018, newly admitted U of I students who meet certain criteria will be awarded the WUE tuition and fee rate, which is 1.5 times the in-state tuition and fee rate. The award is a savings of more than $12,500 per year per student over the full out-of-state tuition and fee cost.

“We’re happy to expand access for students from WICHE states to the great education offered at the University of Idaho,” said President Chuck Staben. “This means more students will discover U of I’s unique combination of affordability, academic excellence and career outcomes that makes our institution a stand-out value among major research universities.”

The change will provide greater access to a U of I education for even more students across the West. U of I’s WUE scholarships are currently extended to new freshmen and transfer students from Alaska, Washington and Oregon who meet the requirements.

Read Full Story >>

Mark your calendar and join us for some Vandal fun in the sun this spring in Arizona!

From Jiu Jitsu Fighter to Rancher

U of I student and first-generation cattleman making a name for himself.

By Kaitlyn Alanis
Ranch House Journal

Unlike many agriculturists, Mitchell Coats started his cattle operation in Boise, Idaho, without the guidance of a predecessor. There was no farmer or rancher helping him in his journey from Jiu Jitsu fighting to Wagyu wrangling.

“I didn’t inherit anything,” he said. “I’m a first-generation guy. I didn’t inherit any land, any fencing, any feed tubs, water troughs — nothing.”

As a first-generation rancher, Coats had no obligation to take over any cattle, continue any family traditions, or sustain a ranching legacy.

Rather, the national award-winning Jiu Jitsu fighter of more than 14 years found himself leaving the business world and creating his own path into the cattle industry, simply because he wanted the lifestyle that agriculturists lead.

Coats noticed the same values he established during his championship fighting career were also present in the agricultural industry - hard work, integrity, responsibility and no days off.

A life, not a job

“I told my wife — we didn’t have children at the time — that I was looking for an investment, but I also want a lifestyle,” he said. “We were talking about having kids, and I wanted to raise them around those principles — the things that come from being around livestock.”

Within a three-year span, Coats, the founder and co-owner of Prime 37 Beef, has built his operation from a small cow-calf herd on one acre of land, to a 30 plus cow-calf operation now housed on 1,600 acres thanks to a partnership with Stock Rock Ranch. Alongside his friend and business partner David Gee, who is also a first-generation rancher, Coats drew upon values like hard work and responsibility to grow Prime 37.

Read Full Story >>

Maintaining the Field

CALS student pursues career in sports turf management

Trevor Owens dreams of one day working for a professional baseball team. But instead of running the bases as an athlete, Owens plans to be in charge of the field.

This fall, Owens will graduate from the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in sustainable cropping systems with an emphasis in environmental horticulture from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. It’s the first step in making his dream of working in sports turf management a reality.

Horticulture education

Owens got interested in horticulture when he was a student at Capital High School in Boise. The school was one of the few in the city with a horticulture program, and Owens took advantage of the opportunity to learn something outside the traditional high school curriculum.

After high school, he decided to explore his interest in horticulture further at the College of Western Idaho.

“I knew I didn’t want much of a desk job,” Owens said. “I like being on my feet, working with my hands outside.”

Owens earned a technical certificate in horticulture from CWI. His parents, grandfather and sister all graduated from U of I, so coming to Moscow for his bachelor’s degree was almost a foregone conclusion.

Read Full Story >>

Circumnavigation of Iceland

Discover the stunning beauty of Iceland on a seven-night circumnavigation of this Nordic island nation. See ancient Viking ruins and glittering glaciers atop simmering volcanoes. Cross the Arctic Circle and cruise along Surtsey, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Learn More >>

Looking for other Vandalized travel opportunities?
Visit Vandal Voyagers online >>

Vandal Grad Miles Beaux Shares How Floating Ultralight Craft Could Deliver Worldwide Internet

By Miles Beaux '05, '08, '10
Albuquerque Journal

More than half the people on Earth cannot access the internet. According to a Facebook study, bringing internet to all could raise the world’s gross domestic product by $2.2 trillion, increase the GDP growth rate by 72 percent, and create more than 140 million new jobs worldwide.

In remote locations, however, there’s no easy way to bring internet to everyone. But what if we had WiFi hotspots floating in the sky in even the most far-flung locations? It would improve the lives of millions of people.

That solution just might come from a new technology being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Researchers at the lab are closer than ever to creating an “air-buoyant solid” – a material that floats without helium gas, hot air, or some other buoyant filler – and with it the hope of building lighter-than-air craft that could deliver internet access to currently unserved, remote parts of the world.

The concept for the craft is analogous to an aircraft carrier: 100,000 tons of steel dropped into the ocean will sink immediately, but 100,000 tons of steel shaped into a boat will float. The shape must be just right, and the overall density, including the space enclosed by that shape, must be less than that of water. The steel ship floats because the weight of the water that it displaces, or pushes away, is greater than the weight of the ship. Those are the conditions that define buoyancy.

Read Full Story >>

Looking for a new career? Need help revising your resume?
Alumni of the University of Idaho have lifetime access to the UI Office of Career Services, wherever you are in your career.

Check out these job opportunities:

Affiliate Marketing Manager | JEBCommerce
Learn More >>

Director of Development | Ballet Idaho
Learn More >>

Civil Engineer | US Department of the Interior
Learn More >>

Looking for jobs at UI? Visit the UI job board here >>

Mark Your Calendar!

Golden I Reunion
April 4-5, 2018

Come home to campus at the University of Idaho and receive your commemorative Golden I pin marking your 50+ years since graduation.

Learn More >>

Latah County Silver & Gold Celebration
April 5, 2018

Please join us for an evening honoring UIAA award recipients.

Learn More >>

Moms' Weekend
April 20-22, 2018

Come share in the talents, achievements and involvement your students have in our close-knit campus community.

Learn More >>

Upcoming Alumni Events

Feb. 1 –  Men's Basketball Pregame Social, Portland, OR
Feb. 3 –  Men's Basketball Pregame Social, Sacramento, CA
Feb. 6 –  Vandal Networking Night, Moscow, ID
Feb. 7 –  U of I Spring Career Fair, Moscow, ID
Feb. 8 –  Ada County Silver & Gold Celebration, Boise, ID
Feb. 16 –  Vandal Ski Day Kick-Off Event, McCall, ID
Feb. 17 –  Vandal Ski Day, McCall, ID
Feb. 22 –  Vandal Men's Basketball Pregame Celebration, Pocatello, ID

View more events on the alumni calendar.

Farm Laborer to Intel Engineer

Farm Laborer to Intel Engineer: Mechanical Engineering grad Selso Gallegos credits Hispanic community for empathetic perspective and work ethic

Every summer from age 11 to 18, Selso Gallegos worked as a farm laborer in Idaho’s Treasure Valley. He picked cherries and apples, detasseled corn and weeded onions alongside his family.

Time after time, he experienced the inefficiencies of equipment and harvesting practices that affected the owners’ bottom line and the laborers’ ability to make a living wage. Tractor-trailers full of picked produce would stall or move too slowly. Other times, trailers would tip over, spilling entire crates of fruits or vegetables.

“Everything we were doing, I always saw better ways of doing it,” said Gallegos, a Parma native named a College of Engineering Outstanding Senior for spring 2017.

His first-hand experience, along with a passion for math and science, sparked Gallegos’ interest in process improvements within the manufacturing industry.

Read Full Story >>

Where has your Vandal degree taken you?
Yukiki Kuwahara graduated May 1995 with a double major in animal science and veterinary science. She is now a veterinarian on movie sets in California, allowing her to interact with an array of exotic animals.

Email us at vandalvibe@uidaho.edu to share what you do or did with a Vandal degree.

Joe Knows...

Engineering Associate Dean Lee Ostrom Selected for Fulbright in Finland

Washington State University and University of Idaho announce joint Women’s Leadership Conference

U of I Alumnus Michael Sullivan, Mystery Writer, Speaks at Littleton's Bemis Library

Want to stay up-to-date with Vandal events in your area? Join an alumni chapter.

Find one near you >>

February 14, 2018

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Office of Alumni Relations

Dear Vandals,

One of the many joys of working at a university - especially one of the caliber of the University of Idaho - is the sheer depth and breadth of amazing things students and faculty pursue. It is invigorating to work with people of all ages who are thinking about great things and working on some of our gnarliest societal problems.

This year's U & I Give projects demonstrate the wide range of work our faculty and students are doing. U & I Give is an online giving program that provides all of us an opportunity to support projects that need just a little additional help to truly make a difference. They are fascinating.

Consider, for example, supporting Polymorphic Games, a unique video game design studio for students from at least four colleges at the U of I, in the development of "Project Hastur." Students in the studio learn how to collaborate and communicate across disciplines in the shared creation of commercial video games that model biological evolution. "Project Hastur" is built on a mathematical model of evolutionary biology and includes all of the foundational ingredients of evolution - variation, inheritance, selection and time. The students already have created a functional beta version of the game, but need additional support to make it a fully-realized commercial game. When they are successful, proceeds from game sales go back into supporting the studio.

Other U & I Give projects open for support include campaigns to:

Send members of the U of I chapter of Music Teachers National Association to the annual national conference to present their research "#postmillenials - Connecting with the iGeneration"
Transform half of the U of I Language Lab into the Modern Languages and Culture Café Experiential Learning Classroom, a café-style space where students can practice active conversation
Provide short-term emergency housing assistance to TRIO scholars. TRIO is an educational opportunity for economically disadvantaged and disabled Americans
Offer student scholarships for the Nicaragua Partnership two-week summer study abroad program to learn, serve and grow in rural Nicaragua

The beauty of the U & I Give crowdfunding platform is that every gift - from $5 to $5,000 - can make a big difference in the experience and success of our future alumni. Take a look and prepare to be impressed with the work of our fellow Vandals.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, ’81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

CORRECTION: In the Jan. 31 issue of the Vandal Vibe we said Alice Hennessey served as CEO of Boise Cascade. In fact, she served as senior vice president.

U&I Give is a platform for faculty, staff and students to create and share fundraising campaigns with an engaged community. The platform empowers the entire University of Idaho community and beyond to come together and create a lasting impact by funding meaningful projects.

Spring 2018 projects:

Music to Bridge the Generational Gap: Connecting with the iGeneration
MLC Café Experiential Learning Classroom
The Nicaragua-UI Partnership: Health and Education
Polymorphic Games: Project Hastur
Student Emergency and Support Services for TRIO Scholars

Learn More >>

Jerry Kramer Elected to HOF

All-American. All-Pro. World Champion. Hall of Famer.

Universty of Idaho and Green Bay Packer legend Jerry Kramer was elected into the Professional Football Hall of Fame Saturday, in Minneapolis. Kramer will be formally enshrined in the Hall of Fame Aug. 4, in Canton, Ohio. He is joined in the 2018 class by Robert Brazile, Bobby Beathard, Brian Dawkins, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Brian Urlacher.

Kramer played 11 seasons for the Packers from 1958 to 1968. He was a five-time All-Pro and helped pave the way to five NFL Championships, including wins in Super Bowls I and II. Kramer was named to the NFL's 50th Anniversary Team and the All-Decade Team of the 1960s.

Before his professional career, Kramer was a standout for the Vandals at guard and kicker. He was Idaho's first All-American when he gained honorable mention acclaim as a junior in 1956, and added first-team accolades in 1957. He also competed on the Vandals' track and field team, leaving as the school record holder in the shot put. He was drafted by the Packers with the 39th overall pick in the 1958 NFL Draft.

Kramer's number 64 football jersey was retired at U of I on Jan. 23, 1963, and he was a charter member of the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame.

Read Full Story >>

Submissions are now being accepted for the 2018-19 Vandal Game Day T-shirt contest!

Each year the University of Idaho gives its students, alumni, fans and supporters the opportunity to leave their mark on the Vandal Game Day experience with the Vandal Game Day T-shirt Design Contest. It is time to show us what you got!

Designs must be submitted to sarb@uidaho.edu by 5 p.m. on March 4.
Contest is open to all Vandals and the general public.

Contest Rules and More Information >>

Changing Her Future

CALS student finds her passion

Finding her passion has been a circuitous journey for Corrina Cheatham. With the help of her family and a determined spirit, the University of Idaho graduate is on the path to achieving her dreams. She graduated with a degree in animal and veterinary science: dairy option this fall from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Looking for direction

When Cheatham graduated from high school in Fernley, Nevada, in 2002 she had no idea what she wanted out of a career. She had always liked animals, but didn’t want to become a veterinarian, and didn’t know about other opportunities in animal agriculture.

“In high school, it was about going into healthcare or engineering or some sort of trade school,” Cheatham said. “We didn’t have a real strong agriculture department or anyone who had information about what you could do. Unless you came from a farming family, you didn’t have that opportunity.”

Cheatham got a job and considered pursuing a degree in education. Her dad was a police officer and encouraged her to apply to the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) in Reno so that she would have a job that included benefits. Cheatham worked for TSA at the Reno Airport for two years before transferring to the Boise Airport in 2008 when her family decided to move to the Boise area.

Read Full Story >>

Tickets are running out!
Join us for some Vandal fun in the sun this spring in Arizona.

Honoring Their U of I Experience

After years of driving their children to sorority and fraternity rush and visiting for homecomings, moms’ and dads’ weekends, and graduations, Walt and Jill (Zaccardi) Czarniecki ’71 know the power a University of Idaho education offers and the sacrifices they needed to make sure their children succeed in life.

“The family was all Greeks,” Jill said. “We encouraged our children to join things.”

Although each of the Czarnieckis’ four children pursued a different degree, all were actively involved in social, philanthropic and academic opportunities at U of I.

“Every member of our family who attended U of I had great experiences,” Walt said. “The kids all had a good education and are successful in their careers.”

After graduating, each member of the family has given back to the university in their own way. In 2017, the family decided to have a greater impact by combining their annual gifts to establish the Czarniecki Family Scholarship Endowment. The endowment funds scholarships for students from Idaho high schools.

“My brother Joe came up with the idea to pool our resources,” said Amy (Czarniecki) Staufer ’98, a member of Pi Beta Phi who received a bachelor’s degree in public communications from the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. “He researched the option to create an endowment and coordinated efforts between the university and our family. We all thought it was a great way to give back.”

Read Full Story >>

Voices of Idaho: Why “Going on” Matters to Idaho

By Emma Atchley

In 2010, the Idaho State Board of Education set a goal that 60 percent of Idaho residents age 25 to 34 will have a degree or certificate. Why do we have that goal, and why is higher education important in Idaho?

The viability of our state relies on the employability of Idahoans. A study conducted in 2013 by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce concluded that by the year 2020, 68 percent of the jobs in Idaho’s economy will require a postsecondary degree or certificate. We must have a well-educated citizenry if we want good jobs for Idaho citizens.

Postsecondary education increases opportunities for individuals on many levels, including financial success, community involvement and personal satisfaction. Whether participating in academic or career-technical programs, higher education makes individuals more employable.

This is supported by recent job statistics. Of the 11.6 million jobs added since the Great Recession, 11.5 million — or 99 percent — went to workers with some form of postsecondary education. In 2014, degree and certificate holders age 25 to 34 had median earnings 66 percent higher than those with only a high school diploma, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Despite the well-documented benefits, we are not yet where we need to be. By the end of 2015, 42 percent of our residents age 25 to 34 had a postsecondary degree or certificate, and only about 50 percent of Idaho students go on to college within one year of graduating from high school. Our 60 percent goal is formidable.

Read Full Story >>

Turning Garbage into Art: New West Welcomes Unique New Residency Program

By Julie MacLellan | New West Record

Molly Marineau was that kid out in the yard, getting her hands dirty while she built little cities out of grass and earth. She was also the kid rearranging cans in the grocery store aisles to make them look more organized.

She figures it’s those two sides of her personality that led her to where she is today: embarking upon a stint as the city’s first Solid Waste and Recycling Artist in Residence.

Yes, you read that right.

The city’s engineering and arts services departments are teaming up for the program, which will give Marineau a five-month term – from Feb. 1 to June 30 – as the artist in residence. She’ll work out of both the Anvil Centre and office space in the city’s engineering operations yard (a.k.a. the works yard, home of recycling operations, garbage trucks, signage and a whole lot more), using whatever she finds from the city’s recycling operations to turn it into art.

“It’s a really cool and unique opportunity for me,” Marineau says. “It sounds like I can just sort of make myself at home. I’m just going to go with the flow and see what works.”

The residency is a natural extension of the work Marineau has already been doing.

The Idaho native channeled her lifelong interests in being creative and in “organizing the world” into studies in architecture. It was during an elective course in art history at the University of Idaho that Marineau discovered the conceptual art movement, which focused on the ideas behind art rather than its traditional formal and visual elements. It was also where she discovered the idea of making art out of found objects and set herself on a new artistic path.

Read Full Story >>

Looking for a new career? Need help revising your resume?
Alumni of the University of Idaho have lifetime access to the U of I Office of Career Services, wherever you are in your career.

Check out these job opportunities:

Communications Bureau Chief | Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Learn More >>

Compliance Director | University of Idaho
Learn More >>

Embedded Electrical Engineer | Nightforce Optics
Learn More >>

Looking for jobs at UI? Visit the U of I job board here >>

Join U of I Career Services in Boise, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls for personalized career advice!

Idaho Falls
Tuesday, Feb. 20 and Wednesday, Feb. 21
Bennion Student Union Building
1784 Science Center Drive
Idaho Falls, Idaho
To schedule an appointment, contact Debbie Caudle at 208-757-5454 or debrac@uidaho.edu.

Twin Falls
2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21
CSI Evergreen Building
315 Falls Avenue East
Twin Falls, Idaho
To schedule an appointment, contact Amanda Moore-Kriwox at 208-736-3624 or akriwox@uidaho.edu.

Boise
Thursday, Feb. 22 and Friday, Feb 23
University of Idaho - Boise
Idaho Water Center Building
322 E. Front Street, Suite 190
Boise, Idaho
To schedule an appointment, contact Matt Vaartstra at 208-364-4604 or mvaartstra@uidaho.edu.

Mark Your Calendar!

Golden I Reunion
April 4-5, 2018

Come home to campus at the University of Idaho and receive your commemorative Golden I pin marking your 50+ years since graduation.

Learn More >>

Latah County Silver & Gold Celebration
April 5, 2018

Please join us for an evening honoring UIAA award recipients.

Learn More >>

Moms' Weekend
April 20-22, 2018

Come share in the talents, achievements and involvement your students have in our close-knit campus community.

Learn More >>

Upcoming Alumni Events

Feb. 16 –  Vandal Ski Day Kick-Off Event, McCall, ID
Feb. 17 –  Vandal Ski Day, McCall, ID
Feb. 22 –  Vandal Men's Basketball Pregame Celebration, Pocatello, ID
March 1 –  Latah Silver & Gold Celebration, Moscow, ID
March 5 –  Follow Vandals on the Road to Reno, Various
March 16 –  Vandal Day at Spring Training - Angels vs. Rockies, Tempe, AZ
March 17 –  Vandal Day at Spring Training - Cubs vs. Indians, Tempe, AZ
March 18 –  11th Annual Arizona Chapter Golf Tournament, Phoenix, AZ

View more events on the alumni calendar.

Request for Wine

Vandals Uncorked - U of I's first-ever wine club - is looking for additional wines to feature. Participating suppliers get exposure to our membership that exceeds 100,000 alumni and friends of the University of Idaho.

Want to participate? Download our request form and submit it to helmke@uidaho.edu by March 1.

Download Form

Who is your Vandal Valentine?

Whether you fell in love at your first freshman dance or met your sweetheart later, the University of Idaho is thrilled to share a special connection with you and your partner. Share your inspiring story with other Vandals!

Spread the Love >>

Photo: "Tim and I met at the Homecoming Mixer in the Student Union Ballroom the Wednesday before Homecoming 1956. We were sophomores. He asked me to dance and said he knew me from the year before because I was dating a roommate from Gault Hall where he lived. Good line. So I thought, why not?"
- Katharyn Mattson, pictured with Tim Mattson

Joe Knows...

Prichard Exhibit Highlights Wildland Firefighters Up Close

More Schools and Participants to Attend Jazz Festival; Ticket Sales Strong

Journal Edition Highlights U of I Research Helping Mountain Communities Respond to Environmental Challenges

Want to stay up-to-date with Vandal events in your area? Join an alumni chapter.

Find one near you >>

February 28, 2018

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Office of Alumni Relations

Dear Vandals,

Like any family, what binds the Vandal Family are our stories and shared experiences.

I have been in a room full of Vandals who have never met and within minutes they are comparing notes about faculty members, their favorite places to study, or the pros and cons of Moscow watering holes. They remember slogging up the Line Street hill in winter and the blare of stereos from fraternity windows on the first warm day of spring. They know about Hello Walk, the I Bench and burgers at The Perch. In addition to our similarities, we each have our individual memories of U of I. Many of them are influenced by where we lived — a Greek house, residence hall, off campus. Others by the activities we enjoyed — Argonaut, Marching Band, intramural sports. Another important influence was what was happening nationally and internationally while we were in college. Were we at war? How was the economy? What were the issues of the day? Those stories tell a lot about what shaped us.

Unfortunately, as is the case with many families, most Vandal stories have gone undocumented — until now. Thanks to a partnership with Erin Stoddart and the U of I Library's Special Collections and Archives, we are going to start collecting those stories, sharing them online and saving them for Vandal generations to come. Erin and her team will help with both preparing the structure and technology necessary to collect these stories and formulating questions to really capture the essence of the story of every Vandal we visit with.

We will start the "Every Vandal Story" project with the Class of 1968 when they return to campus in early April for their 50th class reunion. Actually, every Golden I Vandal — those who graduated 50 years or more ago — will have the opportunity to share their story for perpetuity. I urge everyone in that group to really make an effort to get back to campus to participate — it will be worth the trip! You can find more information and register online.

Just imagine Vandals 50 years from now listening to Vandal stories from today. I hope, among other things, they will appreciate that we took the time to preserve our shared Vandal history. A goosebump moment, for sure.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, ’81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

What is a Golden I?

The word Golden (gold•en [gohl-duhn]) means: 1) exceptionally valuable, advantageous, or fine; 2) having glowing vitality; 3) radiant; 4) full of happiness, prosperity or vigor and this best describes University of Idaho Golden I: our alumni of the university of 50 years or more! Come home to campus at the University of Idaho and receive your commemorative Golden I pin noting your 50+ years since graduation.

Learn More >>

Making Law School Dreams a Reality

Three-year program in Boise puts legal education within reach of students who want UI’s expertise but can’t pull up roots in the Treasure Valley

Nicole O'Toole wants to be a lawyer, but she doesn't yet know what kind.

As a mother of three young boys — including one with special needs — she's interested in the processes of medical law. As a 33-year-old small-business owner, her entrepreneurial skills could lend themselves toward helping others establish businesses of their own with a business-focused law degree.

Or maybe she'll go a different direction and become an estate planning attorney.

O'Toole is sure of one thing — she is eager to get started.

This fall, O'Toole is one of 60 students who entered their first year of law school at the University of Idaho's College of Law program in Boise. It's the first time students will be able to take their first-year courses in both Boise and Moscow.

Moving from Boise to attend law school wasn’t an option for O’Toole, even though it's a dream she's always wanted to pursue. Her husband, Mike, is an IT manager at Micron Technology. She runs her own business managing an online clothing and jewelry boutique. And the family has found the right fit for their sons — 9-year-old Liam and 5-year-old Landon — as well as the right supportive therapy services that fit the needs of 7-year-old Lucas, who has autism spectrum disorder.

"To be able to do all three years in one place, especially here in Boise, really made the difference for me," she said. "I feel the continuity will enable invaluable relationships with fellow students, professors and potential employers."

Read Full Story >>

Last chance to submit your design for the 2018-19 Vandal Game Day T-shirt contest!

Designs must be submitted to sarb@uidaho.edu by 5 p.m. on March 4.
Contest is open to all Vandals and the general public.

Contest Rules and More Information >>

First a Vandal, Then a Seahawk - Now, Merriman Has Returned to His Rodeo Roots

By Greg Hansen | Arizona Daily Star

TUCSON, Arizona - None of the 100 or so calf-ropers and steer-wrestlers who lined up in their "Montana Silversmith" vests and "Bar None Country Store" boots knew that the man who directed their horses to the starter's box won the 1972 "Hoof and Horns" 4-H competition at the Pima County Fairgrounds.

None suspected that Sam Merriman was the 1975 champion of the "Saddle and Spur" breakaway roping competition, or a 1978 winner of the Southern Arizona Future Farmers of America competition.

But Merriman gets your attention, even if you don't know that he spent five years as one of the most productive special teams players in NFL history.

Roughstock? That's Sam Merriman.

He is 6-feet-3 inches tall and, even now, 35 years after he played in the AFC Championship game against Jim Plunkett and the Oakland Raiders, Merriman has a commanding presence as he directs calf-ropers and steer-wrestlers in heavy traffic at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds.

"It was probably inevitable that I came back to this, back to the rodeo," Merriman said Monday during slack competition at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. "This is how I grew up. This has been in my blood forever."

Instead of wearing Seahawks jersey No. 51, Merriman wears a Tucson Rodeo Performance vest, part of a small army of committee members and associate committee members who have made La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, at 93, Tucson's most historic sporting event.

Over those 93 years, the most transcendent rodeo cowboys ever - Casey Tibbs, Jim Shoulders, Ty Murray - have walked on the turf Merriman walked Monday.

Read Full Story >>

It's a Tri-Delt takeover on the U of I Alumni Association

Meet three of the UIAA board members who also happened to be members of the Tri-Delta sorority while they attended the University of Idaho.
From left, Catherine Freeman '09, '13, Emily French '11 and Jodi Pavkov '97, '05

The University of Idaho Alumni Association Board of Directors is an elected body that governs UIAA, Inc. and meets formally three times a year. Duties of the elected directors include managing corporate affairs, business and assets of the association.

Interested in serving on the Alumni Association board or would like to nominate a friend?
Fill out an online form here >>

Jerry Kramer Talks About his Hall of Fame Day

By Don Nelson | KIVI TV

BOISE, Idaho - It's the highest honor a professional football player can ever achieve. The Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

For former Idaho Vandal and Green Bay Packer Jerry Kramer, the long wait is over.

Kramer sat down with Six On Your Side's Don Nelson and talked about Selection Saturday that came during Super bowl week in Minnesota. Jerry says he was sitting on pins and needles waiting for the infamous knock on the door by Hall of Fame officials.

"I open the door, and there are six, or eight people in the hallway, and I know it's serious. I realize, it's him and he's here to notify me that I've made the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

From a young boy growing up in Sandpoint, Idaho, to his playing days for the University of Idaho, to an All-Pro career for Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers, Jerry Kramer made it.

Read Full Story & Watch Video >>

Postcards from Cuba

Open the door to island culture on this week-long luxury cruise through the heart of the Caribbean; stopping in Cuba and The Bahamas. Your last stop on the island is Havana, where you’ll go beyond the tourist destinations with unparalleled excursions. These exclusive trips allow you to dive deep into the city’s 500 years of history and culture with intimate group sizes and uniquely educational experiences.

Learn More >>

Looking for other Vandalized travel opportunities?
Visit Vandal Voyagers online >>

Not According to Plan

Perseverance pays off for CALS student

When Justine Carlson first enrolled in classes at the University of Idaho, she knew that her experience would be different from a typical college student. After all, she was at least four years older than the majority of her classmates and needed to get back into the student mindset.

Then an unexpected pregnancy forced her to step back from her two-year plan of earning a degree in horticulture and urban agriculture. But she didn’t give up. Now the mother of a 2-year-old girl, Carlson graduated this past December with her bachelor’s degree — and the determination that comes from succeeding against steep odds.

Discovering horticulture

When Carlson graduated from high school in Boise, she didn’t really know what she wanted to do with her future. She began working various jobs and, after four years, decided to look into higher education. She enrolled in classes at the College of Western Idaho and discovered horticulture.

“I have always been interested in plants, I just didn’t realize that you could actually make a career out of it,” Carlson said. “My dad encouraged me and told me that he would help me out if that’s what I wanted to do. I wasn’t really doing anything that was going to lead me anywhere.”

After a year at CWI, Carlson transferred to the U of I horticulture program in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Her interest is in propagation.

“My favorite thing is propagation — starting plants from seed or cuttings and seeing them grow,” Carlson said. “I want to go into nursery production. The field is a lot broader than I realized.”

Read Full Story >>

Looking for a new career? Need help revising your resume?
Alumni of the University of Idaho have lifetime access to the U of I Office of Career Services, wherever you are in your career.

Check out these job opportunities:

Production Superintendent | Korn Ferry
Learn More >>

Senior Scientist | Cramer Fish Sciences
Learn More >>

Salesforce System Administrator | Idaho Central Credit Union
Learn More >>

Looking for jobs at UI? Visit the U of I job board here >>

Mark Your Calendar!

Golden I Reunion
April 4-5, 2018

Come home to campus at the University of Idaho and receive your commemorative Golden I pin marking your 50+ years since graduation.

Learn More >>

Latah County Silver & Gold Celebration
April 5, 2018

Please join us for an evening honoring U of I Alumni Association award recipients.

Learn More >>

Moms' Weekend
April 20-22, 2018

Come share in the talents, achievements and involvement your students have in our close-knit campus community.

Learn More >>

Upcoming Alumni Events

Feb 28 –  D.C. Alumni Reception, Washington, D.C.
March 1 –  Latah Silver & Gold Celebration, Moscow, ID
March 3 –  Las Vegas Alumni Happy Hour, Las Vegas, NV
March 5 –  Follow Vandals on the Road to Reno, Various
March 16 –  Vandal Day at Spring Training - Angels vs. Rockies, Tempe, AZ
March 17 –  Vandal Day at Spring Training - Cubs vs. Indians, Tempe, AZ
March 17 –  Palouse Vandals St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Moscow, ID
March 17 –  Boise Vandals St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Boise, ID
March 18 –  11th Annual Arizona Chapter Golf Tournament, Phoenix, AZ

View more events on the alumni calendar.

A Better Version of Herself

Reluctant to become a Vandal, Madison Seymour found a special community in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences

Madison Seymour was reluctant to become a Vandal.

“Growing up in Rathdrum, a big population of our students end up going down to Moscow,” she said. “I wasn’t too excited because everybody I knew had done it.”

Affordability won out.

“It’s so affordable. I got accepted to other schools and could have potentially gone, but I knew that I wanted to be an English teacher. I knew that English teachers in Idaho don’t make a big wage, so I had to be smart about where I go to school,” she said.” You can’t beat the tuition at U of I.”

Her decision paid off in more ways than one: Seymour said she found a welcoming community in Moscow.

“U of I is so special,” she said. “The professors know you on a first and last name basis. They’re willing to put in the work to help you become better. It’s a great place to grow as a human being and become a better version of yourself.”

Seymour graduated this past December with a double major in English with a teaching emphasis and secondary education with an endorsement in English.

“The dream job is to teach English in some capacity,” she said. “Teaching feels like such a unique career path, in that you have the opportunity to elicit direct impact in the community you live in. With each student, they’re going to learn something from me and they’re going to carry that on with them.”

Read Full Story >>

Spotted on Social Media: "Boise Springlight 1998"

Dan Looney '68 graduated from the University of Idaho with a major in finance, but always had a deep love for the arts. He started painting professionally in 1975 and continues to do so. Fun fact: the texture in the sky in his painting above was created with spilled coffee. Dan also painted a beautiful scene from the Palouse that resides in the Office of Alumni Relations.

Joe Knows...

No Medals, But Golden Memories For Northwest Athletes At 2018 Winter Olympics

U of I Hemingway Festival Takes over Moscow March 1-3

U of I-Designed Scarves, Bandanas Help with Weed Identification

Want to stay up-to-date with Vandal events in your area? Join an alumni chapter.

Find one near you >>

March 14, 2018

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Office of Alumni Relations

Dear Vandals,

A point of pride all Vandals should share is the amazing impact the University of Idaho has on the state and national economy. Deeply rooted in the land-grant tradition, our alma mater has been a primary economic engine for business and growth since it was founded in 1889.

That's why the U of I's proposed Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE) project is so exciting.

Agriculture is a leading component of Idaho's economy and livestock industry, which includes dairy, is the largest part of that. The growth in the number and size of dairies — primarily in the Magic Valley — has been remarkable over the past several years. Idaho currently is the fourth largest dairy producing state in the country and has attracted international companies such as Glanbia and Chobani. That means jobs for Idahoans. Per its mission, U of I already supports the industry with research, outreach and an educated workforce; being located where the industry is centered will enhance the effectiveness of that work.

Idaho CAFE will be located in the Magic Valley and feature a 2,000 cow dairy with space for research laboratories, outreach activities and faculty offices. The research, outreach and educational programs offered will be interdisciplinary and focus on the industry's most pressing issues — water, nutrient management, animal care, labor, sustainability and profitability, among others.

The university is looking to purchase and re-purpose an existing dairy for Idaho CAFE. An existing facility will already have the water and animal permits in place; construction/remodeling time will be shortened; and there is less risk of producing milk in competition with the industry we are trying to serve.

Once completed, Idaho CAFE will be the largest research dairy in the country. What U of I scientists discover and develop there will be tailored to the unique semi-arid environment of southern Idaho, but also should be a resource to the dairy industry around the globe.

The funding model for the $45 million project is a three-way partnership with the state of Idaho, the University of Idaho and private support from industry in Idaho and nationally. The timeline for finding and purchasing a site for Idaho CAFE is sooner than later, so stay tuned.

Our alma mater has been linked to Idaho's prosperity for more than 125 years. Idaho CAFE is just another example of the University fulfilling its role as the state's premier research institution.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, ’81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

The Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE)

The Idaho CAFE will deliver research and education that will support a sustainable future for Idaho’s dairies, livestock operations and food processing industries. The center will link research, education and outreach in a public-private partnership to support the state of Idaho, generate jobs and support economic progress.

Learn More >>

Lisette Waits Honored for Contributions to Science

CNR researcher is known around the globe for her work with non-invasive genetic testing and wildlife populations

Newfoundland’s woodland caribou are prized as a tourist attraction, drawing visitors and big-game hunters to the area from around the globe.

But in the mid-2000s, officials began to worry that a growing number of carnivores were killing too many of the herds’ calves. The population was declining. Stranger still, something was removing the animals’ heads and burying them.

Unraveling the mystery required techniques more commonly seen in a police drama: DNA swabs, radio tracking and helicopters flying in scientists to examine the kill site.

At the heart of the science required to find a solution is Lisette Waits. Now a distinguished professor at the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources, Waits is known around the world for her works in conservation genetics and molecular ecology.

As a geneticist, Waits assisted a team of graduate students, including U of I doctoral student Matt Mumma, from the U.S. and Canada in collecting DNA from the wound tracks of killed caribou. Waits was able to analyze the DNA to identify which species of predators was the problem. And which were burying the heads.

“You’d be looking for the carcass, and you’d discover that the head and the radio collar had been buried — but only the head,” Waits said. “The hypothesis was that it was lynx, because cats in general cover their kills. But we were able to determine that all of them were due to coyotes.”

The DNA results, as well as using fecal and hair collection to estimate carnivore populations, allowed the researchers to show the Newfoundland government that coyotes were killing more calves than they’d originally realized, and adjust control strategies to help promote healthy herd populations.

Read Full Story >>

It's Time to Pave the Road with Silver and Gold!

The countdown is on for March 24, the first UIdaho Bound event of the semester! Brush off your vandal gear, snap a picture and get ready to Pave the Road with Silver and Gold for our future Vandals. Speaking of future Vandals, Matt Rajala’s 10-year-old triplets showed their Vandal spirit for career day at their Ely, Nevada school. How do you get Vandalized?

Help spread the word and submit your photo today >>

Turning Trash to Treasure

Electrical Engineering student inspired by Fiji’s commitment to renewable energy brings home business idea

Last summer, Kenny Sheffler filled a water bottle with excrement from his brother’s dog and left the contraption in the sun. Within a day, the bottle had inflated and the waste had decomposed — turning into biogas and fertilizer.

“It was really disgusting,” said Sheffler, a junior at the University of Idaho. But the gross combo was the beginning stages of a clean energy system, aided by anaerobic digestion, which can produce fuel suitable for cooking and even heating homes.

An electrical engineering major in the College of Engineering, Sheffler was inspired to build his own backyard digester after studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji, during the 2017 spring semester. Nearly everyone living in the island’s rural communities has a similar, albeit more advanced, set up, Sheffler said. The reasons are twofold: the 7,056 square-mile country has little space for landfills; also, the citizens of the island nation experience the impacts of climate change on a daily basis.

It’s why the country aspires to become 100 percent reliant on clean energy by 2030, and it’s what attracted Sheffler to study abroad at USP in the first place. A Potlatch native, Sheffler has aspirations of working for a renewable energies firm on global projects — especially in developing nations vulnerable to the carbon footprint of larger countries like the U.S. and China.

Sheffler attributes the mentality of putting other people before oneself to his family. He’s the middle child of 14 siblings, seven of whom are adopted.

Read Full Story >>

Vandal Wine Club - Spring Shipment Coming Soon!

The wines have been sampled and the bottles for the spring shipment of the Vandals Uncorked wine club will be announced and shipped soon.

Not a member of the wine club? Head on over to www.vandalsuncorked.com and sign up today!

CALS Alumna Develops Philosophy on Nutrition as a Stanford Fellow

The field of sports nutrition is fast paced and dynamic, and as Jenna Ellis has discovered, also requires a solid nutrition philosophy and the ability to build interpersonal relationships.

Ellis has spent the past seven months building that philosophy as a sports nutrition fellow in the Gatorade Sports Nutrition Immersion Program (SNIP), a program developed by the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association (CPSDA) and the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. Ellis is one of only 10 fellows in the country and is working with Stanford University Athletics.

Ellis applied for the program after earning a bachelor’s in nutrition in 2015 and a master’s in family and consumer sciences in 2017, as well as completing the coordinated program in dietetics, all through the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. She learned about the SNIP program through CPSDA, which she was a student member of while at U of I. After an application and interview process, Ellis was chosen for the program and was able to rank her location choices out of 15 host sites.

The strong focus on nutrition counseling and unique culture of Stanford Athletics ranked Stanford high on Ellis’ list.

“Because there are so many teams at Stanford, they do a lot of one-on-one consults and counseling and that’s an area that I’m extremely passionate about growing in as a professional,” Ellis said. “I had confidence that the dietitians here would serve as mentors and help facilitate that growth.”

The fact that Stanford was the closest host site to her hometown of Pocatello also didn’t hurt.

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Electrical Power & Distribution Reliability Engineer | Clearwater Paper Corporation
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Staff Engineer | Cascade Earth Sciences
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Director | E. W. Scripps
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U of I Football Player Up for a Challenge

Jacob Sannon finds academic home in College of Business and Economics and is working toward his Master of Accountancy

Jacob Sannon never pictured himself earning a master’s degree.

Now, not only is the Bradenton, Florida, native the first in his family to graduate from college, he’s pursuing his master’s degree in accounting. One day, he hopes to become a certified public accountant — but only after he enters the 2019 NFL draft.

“I have a lot of pride in being a role model to my family and friends back home,” said Sannon, a wide receiver for the University of Idaho’s Vandal football team. “Growing up with a single mom — she has five kids, what are the chances she’s going to be able to pay for all of her kids to go to college? It was a goal of mine to find my own way to get to college without the help of my mom financially.”

Sannon graduated with his bachelor’s in accounting in spring 2017 and is now working toward his master’s. He served as a captain of the 2016 football team and received the 2016 Idaho Potato Bowl Humanitarian Award for his community service as a member of the U of I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He also earned the W.J. Wilde award, a scholarship given to a graduating senior entering the Master of Accountancy program who has high levels of personal and professional conduct.

In December 2017, he was named to the 2017 Football Academic All-America First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He is the third student-athlete in school history to earn first-team academic honors and the first since 1973.

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Mark Your Calendar!

Moms' Weekend
April 20-22, 2018

Come share in the talents, achievements and involvement your students have in our close-knit campus community.

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Upcoming Alumni Events

March 14 –  Spokane Vandals St. Patrick's Day Happy Hour, Spokane, WA
March 16 –  Vandal Day at Spring Training - Angels vs. Rockies, Tempe, AZ
March 17 –  Vandal Day at Spring Training - Cubs vs. Indians, Tempe, AZ
March 17 –  Palouse Vandals St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Moscow, ID
March 17 –  Boise Vandals St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Boise, ID
March 18 –  11th Annual Arizona Chapter Golf Tournament, Phoenix, AZ
March 23 –  The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Vandals, Moscow, ID
April 4-5 –  Golden I Reunion, Moscow, ID
April 5 –  Latah County Silver and Gold Celebration, Moscow, ID
April 6 –  Silver and Gold Day Celebration, Moscow, ID

View more events on the alumni calendar.

Vandal Book Club Starts Fourth Book

Idaho: A Novel by Emily Ruskovich was selected by members of the Vandal Book Club as the selection for the fourth book, to be read March through April.

A book that explores the redemptive power of love and friendship, the burdens of loss and secrets, finding the strength to forgive yourself, the fragility of the mind and memory, and how long to maintain hope in the face of great uncertainty.

“You know you’re in masterly hands here. [Emily] Ruskovich’s language is itself a consolation, as she subtly posits the troubling thought that only decency can save us. . . . Ruskovich’s novel will remind many readers of the great Idaho novel, Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping. . . . [A] wrenching and beautiful book.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Ruskovich digs deeply into everyday moments, and shows that it is there, in our quietest thoughts and experiences, where we find and create our true selves.”—Hannah Tinti, author of The Good Thief

Ambrose Storytelling Endowment Premieres this Month at University of Idaho

By Elaine Ambrose

The Ambrose Storytelling Endowment at the University of Idaho was created by bestselling author Elaine Ambrose as a tribute to the memory of her brother, George Ambrose, and to support the tireless power of storytelling. George and Elaine grew up on a farm outside Wendell, Idaho, and were known to spin a clever yarn at any moment.

The endowment will support a student scholarship, faculty research award, and an annual on-campus storytelling workshop through the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS). The first workshop is scheduled for March 21, 2018 at the University of Idaho. Benjamin James, assistant professor in the Department of English, will organize and lead the workshop. The program includes interactive discussions about story selection, word choice, finding the best voice, and elements of storytelling. Elaine Ambrose will speak about “Telling Your Story.”

“From boisterous tales around rustic campfires to eloquent readings from leather-bound books of great literature, storytellers share enduring myths, legends, fairy tales, and adventures to amuse, educate, and motivate every culture on earth. It’s my honor to acknowledge my brother George and to support excellence in storytelling at the University,” said Ambrose.

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Spotted on Social Media: Vandals Supporting Vandals!

Joe Knows...

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Idaho Alpha Chapter Closed at the University of Idaho

U of I-WSU Team Leads Conference Focused on Improving Composition of Milk

Vandal Women's Basketball Falls in Championship Game at the NCAA Championships

Vandal Men's Basketball Falls in Quarterfinals at the NCAA Championships

Want to stay up to date with Vandal events in your area? Join an alumni chapter.

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Alumni Offices

2018 Newsletters

Inspiring the Art of Science

Mark your calendar and join us for some Vandal fun in the sun this spring in Arizona!

For The Love of Food

Giving High Schoolers a Competitive Edge

Alumnus Sam Michener Earns Spot on the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men's Bobsled Team

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Upcoming Alumni Events

The Value of Water

New Office Addresses Research Needs

Joe Knows...

Seventh Annual Idaho Bach Festival to Debut Performance on Rare Five-String Cello

U of I Study: Climate Models Predict Almond Harvest Expansion to Oregon

Tom Mueller: From Idaho Logger To Space Explorer

U of I Alumna Julie Van Matre Honored as the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of the Year

Program Prepares Native Teachers for Native Classrooms

Vandal Ski Day: Don't forget to RSVP!

University of Idaho WUE Extended to 16 States and Territories in the Northwest

Mark your calendar and join us for some Vandal fun in the sun this spring in Arizona!

From Jiu Jitsu Fighter to Rancher

Maintaining the Field

Vandal Grad Miles Beaux Shares How Floating Ultralight Craft Could Deliver Worldwide Internet

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Upcoming Alumni Events

Farm Laborer to Intel Engineer

Joe Knows...

Engineering Associate Dean Lee Ostrom Selected for Fulbright in Finland

Washington State University and University of Idaho announce joint Women’s Leadership Conference

U of I Alumnus Michael Sullivan, Mystery Writer, Speaks at Littleton's Bemis Library

Jerry Kramer Elected to HOF

Submissions are now being accepted for the 2018-19 Vandal Game Day T-shirt contest!

Changing Her Future

Tickets are running out! Join us for some Vandal fun in the sun this spring in Arizona.

Honoring Their U of I Experience

Voices of Idaho: Why “Going on” Matters to Idaho

Turning Garbage into Art: New West Welcomes Unique New Residency Program

Join U of I Career Services in Boise, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls for personalized career advice!

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Upcoming Alumni Events

Request for Wine

Who is your Vandal Valentine?

Joe Knows...

Prichard Exhibit Highlights Wildland Firefighters Up Close

More Schools and Participants to Attend Jazz Festival; Ticket Sales Strong

Journal Edition Highlights U of I Research Helping Mountain Communities Respond to Environmental Challenges

What is a Golden I?

Making Law School Dreams a Reality

Last chance to submit your design for the 2018-19 Vandal Game Day T-shirt contest!

First a Vandal, Then a Seahawk - Now, Merriman Has Returned to His Rodeo Roots

It's a Tri-Delt takeover on the U of I Alumni Association

Jerry Kramer Talks About his Hall of Fame Day

Not According to Plan

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Upcoming Alumni Events

A Better Version of Herself

Spotted on Social Media: "Boise Springlight 1998"

Joe Knows...

No Medals, But Golden Memories For Northwest Athletes At 2018 Winter Olympics

U of I Hemingway Festival Takes over Moscow March 1-3

U of I-Designed Scarves, Bandanas Help with Weed Identification

Lisette Waits Honored for Contributions to Science

It's Time to Pave the Road with Silver and Gold!

Turning Trash to Treasure

Vandal Wine Club - Spring Shipment Coming Soon!

CALS Alumna Develops Philosophy on Nutrition as a Stanford Fellow

U of I Football Player Up for a Challenge

Mark Your Calendar!

Upcoming Alumni Events

Vandal Book Club Starts Fourth Book

Ambrose Storytelling Endowment Premieres this Month at University of Idaho

Spotted on Social Media: Vandals Supporting Vandals!

Joe Knows...

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Idaho Alpha Chapter Closed at the University of Idaho

U of I-WSU Team Leads Conference Focused on Improving Composition of Milk

Vandal Women's Basketball Falls in Championship Game at the NCAA Championships

Vandal Men's Basketball Falls in Quarterfinals at the NCAA Championships

Tickets are running out!
Join us for some Vandal fun in the sun this spring in Arizona.