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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
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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 >>
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Program Prepares Native Teachers for Native Classrooms
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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 >>
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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!
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University of Idaho WUE Extended to 16 States and Territories in the Northwest
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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 >>
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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.
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From Jiu Jitsu Fighter to Rancher
U of I student and first-generation cattleman making a name for himself.
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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 >>
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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 >>
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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 >>
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Vandal Grad Miles Beaux Shares How Floating Ultralight Craft Could Deliver Worldwide Internet
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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 >>
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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 >>
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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 >>
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Latah County Silver & Gold Celebration
April 5, 2018
Please join us for an evening honoring UIAA award recipients.
Learn More >>
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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 >>
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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.
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Farm Laborer to Intel Engineer
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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 >>
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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.
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Engineering Associate Dean Lee Ostrom Selected for Fulbright in Finland
Read more
Washington State University and University of Idaho announce joint Women’s Leadership Conference
Read more
U of I Alumnus Michael Sullivan, Mystery Writer, Speaks at Littleton's Bemis Library
Read more
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Want to stay up-to-date with Vandal events in your area? Join an alumni chapter.
Find one near you >>
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