Embrace Your Inner Blue: Attend the Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala June 12
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Embrace Your Inner Blue: Attend the Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala June 12

Once again, it's time for the University family to don its formalwear and to celebrate the achievements and support of our alumni and friends at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards gala. This year, we're celebrating all things "True Blue" with an evening of music, merriment and memories at the Peabody Hotel.

In addition to honoring Dan Palmer (BBA '66), Margaret Craddock (MA '83, JD '88), Harold Byrd (BBA '71, MS '75), Reggie Howard (BBA '01) and the late Billy Hicks, the evening will feature a silent auction and a retro-inspired performance by The Blueffants (aka the Bouffants).

This year, special pricing is being introduced for our young alumni who are 30 and under. Please contact the alumni office (information below) for details.

The silent auction and cocktail hour will kick off at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and awards following at 7:30 p.m. To make reservations for this year's gala, or for more information, e-mail alumnievents@memphis.edu or call 901/678-5314 or 800/678-8729.

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the Alumni Vision Forum in March. Your feedback has been invaluable and will play a significant role in the Alumni Association's new strategic plan, to be in place by July 1.

Results of the forum are available for your review at http://www.memphis.edu/visionforum. From this site, you can also fill out a brief alumni survey. The survey will end on May 31, so visit soon to let your voice be heard!

Governor Phil Bredesen gave sage advice to the 1,600 spring graduates of the University of Memphis, and he asked President Shirley Raines to invite him back to speak at a future ceremony, when he hopes to have good news about the funding of higher education in the state.

Addressing the graduates, Bredesen recalled how, on the occasion of his own graduation from Harvard, he wrote a list of life lessons that have since served him well:

• Have a few genuine relationships, and treasure them
• Work hard to overcome obstacles and attain goals
• Be open to change and to the education that results from life's experiences
• Put more back into life than you take from it

Bredesen also said the newly instituted state lottery may mean that more students will take advantage of education on the state's campuses, and some people are worried that that will put more pressure on an already strapped state higher-education system.

"It's a problem I'd love to have," Bredesen said, "and I'm certainly going to step up and support these institutions."

More than 300 students graduated with honors - 68 summa cum laude, 115 magna cum laude and 122 cum laude.

Tina Santi Flaherty, past recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, has published her third book, What Jackie Taught Us: Lessons from the Remarkable Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She will be in Memphis in June for a series of events, including a book signing at Davis-Kidd Booksellers.

Santi Flaherty is an accomplished businesswoman - she was the first female elected as a vice president at three of America's leading companies: Colgate-Palmolive, GTE and Grey Advertising. She also is the founder and CEO of Image Marketing International in New York and has been described by BusinessWeek as one of America's top corporate women. Her two other books are The Savvy Woman's Success Bible and Talk Your Way to the Top.

Meet this remarkable alumna at Davis-Kidd in the Laurelwood Shopping Center on June 21 at 6 p.m.

The University of Memphis Association of Retirees recently visited the Memphis Zoo and will tour Elmwood Cemetery on June 15. For more information, contact Emily Jones at alumnievents@memphis.edu or 901/678-1782.

The University of Memphis Society will meet in the Alumni Center for wine and cheese and to vote on UMS constitutional revisions June 22 at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Emily Jones at alumnievents@memphis.edu or 901/678-1782.

The Half Century Club Board will meet May 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Alumni Center to discuss the 2005 Reunion. New classes added to the Half Century Club for the 2005 reunion will be the classes of '54 and '55. All those interested in joining the committee, please contact Emily Jones at alumnievents@memphis.edu or 901/678-1782.

Hensarling received his Master's in communication from Auburn University, and later served as a lecturer on public speaking at Clemson. Jones ('98) is a graduate of the U of M College of Arts and Sciences. She comes to us from Hilton Hotels Corporation where she managed their national recognition programs. Gray is pursuing a degree in graphic design and art history from the University and most recently worked at The Dixon Gallery and Gardens.