January 2011

Association Club and Chapter News and Events
Click here to view the upcoming activities and events with Association Clubs and Chapters.

Join the Alumni Association!
Be on the lookout for the Benefit Partner Stickers around Memphis to get your exclusive Association member discounts from local businesses!

The University of Memphis Alumni Association will be hosting the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Awards on Friday, February 25 at 6:30 pm at The Peabody Hotel Continental Ballroom. Our True Blue award recipients are:

Outstanding Young Alumna: Dana Gabrion (BA '98), Co-Executive Producer, America's Next Top Model

Distinguished Alumnus: Ken Bennett (BS '79, MS '85), Founder and Executive Director of Streets Ministries, Inc.

Distinguished Alumna: Carolyn Hardy (BBA '74, MBA '87), President and CEO, Hardy Bottling Company

Distinguished Alumnus: Jody Stephens (BBA '84), Drummer of the rock band Big Star; Studio Manager, Ardent Studio

Distinguished Alumna: Dr. Jan Young (BSN '83), Major General for the Air National Guard; Executive Director of The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc.

Click here for ticket information and to see pictures and award recipients from previous years.

The year 2012 marks the centennial anniversary of the University of Memphis. The University is now engaged in strategic planning to commemorate this historical milestone. Celebrations and events will officially kick-off in the fall of 2011, with numerous other programs and initiatives occurring through the end of 2012.

The University of Memphis Alumni Association is bringing Tigers Around Town to the greater Memphis community. To celebrate the University's Centennial, the Alumni Association will place life-size Tiger statues all around town, with each statue being uniquely decorated with artwork by local artists, students and alumni. The goal of the campaign is to not only recognize the Centennial of the University of Memphis, but to impressively illustrate the city's rich history and relationship with the U of M. Tiger statues will be sponsored by local fans, alumni and businesses and will be on display at their chosen locations throughout the 2012 Centennial Year!

On September 10, 2011 (9-10-11 at 12 pm), the Tigers Around Town Grand Unveiling Gala will take place on the University of Memphis campus. At this event ALL of the Tiger statues will be gathered on campus for the community to see together in one place. Community members, local press, alumni, students and friends will all have the unique, one-time opportunity to view the Tigers in one location at this Gala. After remaining on campus through the holidays, the Tiger statues will make their way to their respective locations throughout the town and will remain there throughout 2012 to remind the city of the University of Memphis' 100-year anniversary. It is our hope that this campaign will not only bring many alumni back to campus but that it will also help build awareness of the integral relationship between the University and the city of Memphis.

Tigers Around Town Centennial Celebration Call to Artists
The University of Memphis Alumni Association is accepting artwork proposals for Tiger Statues that will be featured in the Tigers Around Town Centennial Celebration. If you are an interested artist, please click here for more information. Download an Artist information packet here.

For additional information, visit here or contact the Alumni Association at alumniassociation@memphis.edu or 901/678-2568.

Todd (BS ’99) and Keri (BSN ’01) Chappell are two of the most True Blue University of Memphis supporters around. Both originally from Obion County in Northwest Tennessee, they came south to Memphis and have become ever-attached to the University and the city they now call home.  

While students, Todd and Keri were heavily engaged on campus, and since graduating they have remained connected to the U of M. Both are involved with the Frosh Camp Alumni Club and are supporters of the Donald K. Carson Leadership Scholarship and Student Leadership Programs, while Todd serves on the LEAD Advisory Board. 

When not attending a U of M event, Todd is a physician at Adams Patterson Gynecology & Obstetrics, and Keri is a clinical research nurse at ACORN Research, a cancer research center here in Memphis.

“Keri and I had invaluable experiences each year at the University of Memphis,” Todd said. “Today, the U of M is still an integral part of our lives, whether by attending sporting events, helping campus organizations, or simply spending time with our lifelong friends from college. We will always be huge supporters of our University and Tiger Family.”

The Alumni Scholars Program encourages children and grandchildren of Alumni Association members to make the U of M their first choice for higher education.

Family of dues-paying Alumni Association members any time within the calendar year prior to the application deadline who will be first-time, incoming freshmen are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The award is worth $1,000/year ($500/semester).

Please click here to view and print the scholarship application for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Please contact Becky McCoy at 901/678-2930 or bmccoy@memphis.edu for more information.

Atlanta Alumni Club
The Atlanta Alumni Club invites all alumni, fans and friends in the Atlanta area to its upcoming Basketball Watch Parties this season. The next watch party is Saturday, January 15 at 11 am ET at Varner's Restaurant & Tavern, and the Tigers tipoff at 12 pm ET.  View this season's watch party schedule here.  For more information on these events or to get involved with the Atlanta Alumni Club, please contact Club President Don Sparkman (BEE '87) at don.sparkman@gmail.com or Alumni Coordinator Bret Bilbrey at bjbilbry@memphis.edu or 800/678-TRAX.

Alumni Night at "Shrek The Musical"
Join the Alumni Association at the Orpheum to see "Shrek: the Musical" on Friday, January 21 at 8 pm.

New York Alumni Club
The New York Club invites all alumni, fans and friends in the New York area to its upcoming Basketball Watch Parties this season. The next watch party is Saturday, January 22 at 7 pm ET at Rogue. View the entire schedule here. For more information on these events or to get involved with the New York Alumni Club, please contact Club President Janet Griffin (BS ’95) at jgriffin1002@yahoo.com or Alumni Coordinator Bret Bilbrey at bjbilbry@memphis.edu or 800/678-TRAX.

UMAR Book Club
The UMAR Book Club will meet at 11 am on Tuesday, January 25 at Brother Juniper's. The book to be discussed is Wicked River: The Mississippi When it Last Ran Wild by Lee Sandlin. Click here for more information about the book. For more information, contact Alumni Coordinator Connie Thiemonge at cthmonge@memphis.edu or 901/678-1333.

UMAR
UMAR will host their “Soul-Full Day” mix-n-match event on Thursday, January 27. UMAR members will take a tour of the STAX Museum, eat lunch at the Four Way, and then tour LeMoyne-Owen College. For more information on this event contact Alumni Coordinator Connie Thiemonge at cthmonge@memphis.edu or call 901/678-1333.

The UMAA Distinguished Advising Award
The University of Memphis Alumni Association invites you to submit a nomination for the Distinguished Advising Award for 2011.  Faculty and professional staff members who advise undergraduate students may be nominated for the Distinguished Advising Award.  This award, sponsored by the University of Memphis Alumni Association, was established to recognize excellent advising on our campus and it has been a great benefit to our campus that, over the years, so many faculty and professional advisors have been recognized by students, alumni, peers, and supervisors for excellence in advising. You may nominate an advisor by clicking here.  The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 28.

Lower Alabama Alumni Club
The Lower Alabama Alumni Club invites all alumni, fans and friends in the Lower Alabama area to its Basketball Watch Party on Saturday, February 5 at 2 pm at the home of Club President Robert Murphree (BBA '76). For more information and to RSVP, contact Club President Robert Murphree (BBA '76) at 251/948-8893 or Alumni Coordinator Bret Bilbrey at bjbilbry@memphis.edu or 901/678-TRAX.

UMAR
UMAR will host its Valentine's Dinner and a Play event on Thursday, February 10 at 5 pm. Dinner will be at Cafe 1912 followed by an a cappella musical performance of Shakespeare's classic A Midsummer Night's Dream at Playhouse on the Square. For more information contact Alumni Coordinator Connie Thiemonge at cthmonge@memphis.edu or call 901/678-1333.

Engineering Alumni Chapter
The Herff College of Engineering Chapter will host a student/faculty/alumni mixer on Tuesday, February 15 at 5:30 pm in the Alumni Center. All current and former Engineering students are welcome to attend. For more information contact Alumni Coordinator Connie Thiemonge at cthmonge@memphis.edu or call 901/678-1333.

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Alumni Chapter
The AuSP Alumni Chapter will host a reception on Thursday, February 24 at 5:30 pm at the 41st Annual Midsouth Conference on Communicative Disorders. The reception will take place in Director's Row 6 at the East Memphis Hilton. For more information contact Chapter President Melissa Meeks at 901/373-7561.

Save the Date: Distinguished Alumni Awards
The U of M Alumni Association will be hosting the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Awards on Friday, February 25 at The Peabody Hotel at 6:30 pm. For more information contact the Alumni Association at alumniassociation@memphis.edu or 901/678-2586.

Save the Date: Engineering Alumni Chapter Awards Dinner
The Herff College of Engineering Alumni Awards Dinner will be held on Tuesday, March 1 at 6 pm at the Holiday Inn on the University of Memphis campus. The chapter will present its Outstanding Alumni Award and host a silent auction to benefit its book scholarship fund. For more information contact Alumni Coordinator Connie Thiemonge at cthmonge@memphis.edu or call 901/678-1333, or to purchase a table, contact Director of Development Susan Armacost at susan.armacost@memphis.edu or 901/678-1537.

Parents Club
Are you a parent of a current U of M student or incoming freshman? If so, join the ranks of the Alumni Association Parents Club. Membership in the Parents Club is included in Alumni Association regular membership. If you are not currently an Alumni Association member, you can join the Alumni Association and Parents Club for just $35. Join now by clicking here or contact Alumni Coordinator Shawn Carter at 901/678-5016 or smcarter@memphis.edu for details.

Tigers Around Town Centennial Celebration Call to Artists
The University of Memphis Alumni Association is accepting artwork proposals for Tiger Statues that will be featured in the Tigers Around Town Centennial Celebration. If you are an interested artist, please click here for more information. Download an artist information packet here.

Be on the lookout for the Benefit Partner Stickers around Memphis! Simply present your Association membership card before you check out to receive your exclusive members-only discount! View the complete list of benefits here.

Not a member? Click here to join and start saving!