September 2007
U of M Alum Running for President
Early Enrollment Figures Are Positive
Gifts Benefit Nursing, Kemmons Wilson School,
Freight Transportation Research
National Safety Council Honors Teen Driving
Program
New Learning Environment to Open September
19
Alumni News & Events
 As most of the country knows by now, former
U.S. Senator Fred Thompson is making a bid
for the Presidency. What many people don’t
know is that Thompson is a graduate of the
University of Memphis, having received his
bachelor’s degree in political science here
in 1964. While the University of Memphis does
not endorse political candidates, we are proud
to know that one of our alumni is running
for the nation’s highest office.
 Although final enrollment figures for the
U of M have not been released, early indicators
have administrators feeling positive about
this academic year. Of particular importance
is that 20 percent of the freshman class (over
400 students) is comprised of honors students.
The average ACT score for this group is 28
with more than one-fifth of them having a
30 or above. "We have been putting extra emphasis
on recruiting high ability students because
we are the type of university that can meet
their academic expectations and because we
benefit from the academic excellence they
bring with them," said President Shirley C.
Raines. "The University has elevated its admissions
requirements over the last few years so that
students who are accepted here are prepared
to succeed. We are seeing proof of the success
of our efforts, and I am very, very pleased."
Graduate enrollment and transfer numbers are
also up though final numbers are still being
tabulated. Additionally, 20 National Merit/Achievement
finalists are enrolled for fall.
The U of M received three significant gifts
recently. The Lichterman-Loewenberg Foundation
pledged a $1 million donation to help the
U of M fund the Loewenberg School of Nursing's
new building, which will also house the School
of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.
The Metropolitan Memphis Hotel and Lodging
Association made a $100,000 donation to
the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and
Resort Management to fund scholarships for
hospitality students. Additionally, the DeHart
Group has entered into a $100,000 partnership
agreement with the University to support intermodal
freight transportation research initiatives.
The DeHart Transportation Fund will support
work in advanced technology applications used
in container freight and supply chain security
systems and warehouse and freight yard management.
The National Safety Council has honored the
University of Memphis' "Alive at 25"
teen driver safety program with its Best Performance
Award. The award recognizes organizations
that lead the way in training safer drivers.
This is the second year the NSC has recognized
the University's work with teenage drivers.
"Alive at 25" is offered to freshmen at a
dozen area high schools, including Germantown,
Collierville, Houston, Memphis University
School, Millington, Bolton and Christian Brothers.
More than 1,700 students complete the training
each year. The program was created by the
NSC and is administered through the U of M's
Department of Professional and Continuing
Education. The program stresses driver responsibility
and the impact that poor driver judgment can
have on parents, passengers, siblings and
victims in other vehicles.
The U of M will host a grand opening for the
McWherter Learning Commons Wednesday,
September 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. Located in
the Ned R. McWherter Library, the Learning
Commons is a place of enhanced individual
and collaborative study, offering students
and faculty an exciting blend of information
resources and information technology. The
Commons introduces more computers, peripheral
equipment, group workstations in clusters
of five and six computers and group study
rooms with white boards. Users have 24/7 access
to computers and reference materials, and
staff are on site to offer research and technical
assistance.
Everyone welcome! With football season upon
us, the Alumni Association wants you to tailgate
with your Tiger family at our popular pre-game
True Blue Barn Bashes. Join us two
hours before every home game for BBQ, beverages,
live music and True Blue fun. Come visit the
Alumni Association at the big silver barn
near Gate 3 at all home football games and
prepare to cheer on our Tigers! Everyone welcome:
$5 for members, $7.50 for not yet members.
If
you haven't already seen the second Alumni
Association flash e-mail, please do so by
visiting http://www.memphis.edu/alumni/flash_aug07/memphis.html.
We invite you to pass along this great presentation
to all University of Memphis friends, fans
and supporters!
Y'all are invited to
Boots, Brims and BBQ on Saturday, October
6, from 2 to 4 p.m.! Round up your family
and friends for fun on the farm of Tennessee
State Representative Jimmy Eldridge for an
ole fashioned hoe down! We will have horseshoe
pitchin', bluegrass playin', Memphis BBQ eatin',
face paintin' and hay ridin' for all! We've
gathered up a bunch of special folks from
the Bluff City, including University of Memphis
President Shirley Raines and Head Basketball
Coach John Calipari. Wrangle up your Wranglers,
boots and don't forget your BLUE! To RSVP,
holler back to (901) 678-3119 or alumnievents@memphis.edu
by October 1 for this great event hosted by
your Alumni Association and the University
of Memphis Office of Government Relations!
Save
the date! Homecoming 2007 will be held
the weekend of November 2-4 at the
University of Memphis! The Homecoming Parade
is Friday, November 2, and other great events,
including the football game against East Carolina,
will be held Saturday, November 3. We look
forward to seeing all of our True Blue supporters!
For more information on Homecoming activities,
call the Alumni office at (901) 678-2586.
The
Alumni Association seeks nominations for its
2008 Distinguished Alumni Awards. These
awards honor alumni and friends who have brought
honor and distinction to the U of M. Award
winners will be recognized at a black-tie
gala held in their honor in early 2008. Categories
are Distinguished Alumni, Distinguished Friend
and Outstanding Young Alumni. A nomination
form is available online at www.memphis.edu/alumni/daa_nom.pdf.
The deadline for nominations is September
30. Watch future issues of the e-newsletter
for more details on this event.
Join
us for our Out of Town Pre-Game Tailgate
Events to support our Tigers!
Orlando
– September 22 – U of M @ UCF
Houston
– October 20 – U of M @ Rice
New Orleans
– October 27 – U of M @Tulane
To RSVP,
contact Holly Beuke at habeuke@memphis.edu
or (901) 678-1782.
The College of
Arts & Sciences Alumni Chapter will honor
its outstanding alumni and friends at a dinner
Thursday, September 20 at The Racquet
Club. Dr. Reed Baskin (BS '65), Eric Robertson
(BS '03) and Peggy Turley (BA '85) will be
honored as outstanding alumni, and Wallace
Bruce and Olivia Bruce will be honored as
outstanding friends. For more information,
contact Holly Beuke at (901) 678-1782 or habeuke@memphis.edu.
The
University of Memphis M Club will host
the 19th annual "Clash of the Tigers Golf
Classic" at the Links at Galloway Golf
Club Monday, October 1. Cost is $75
per person, including lunch, green fees, cart
and two mulligans. Prizes include tickets
to selected Tiger football and men's basketball
games. For more information, contact Tim Duncan
at (901) 678-4878 or at taduncan@memphis.edu.
Alumni
Association members can get ready for an exciting
weekend of Tiger Volleyball as you and
a guest will receive FREE admission (with
membership card) to a pair of Conference USA
matches. Come out and support OUR Tigers as
we take on Southern Mississippi at 7 p.m.
October 5 and UCF at 1 p.m. October
7. Wear Tiger Blue, bring your membership
card, and get ready for a weekend full of
exciting volleyball action!
Join the
Alumni Association in showing appreciation
for our annual and life members at the October
13 Barn Bash before Memphis takes on MTSU!
Alumni Association members who show their
card will receive free admission; only
card-carrying members will receive free entrance!
There will be limited space, so first come,
first serve! Everyone welcome: $7.50 for not
yet members.
The Journalism Alumni
Club will host its annual Outstanding
Journalism Alumni Awards Dinner Thursday,
October 18, at The Racquet Club of Memphis.
The reception begins at 6 p.m., with dinner
served at 7 p.m. Award winners are Lynne Rooker
('89), Michael Finger ('76) and Bob Winn ('75).
For more information, contact Stephanie Galloway
at sgallowa@memphis.edu
or (901) 678-4373.
Fogelman College
of Business & Economics alumni: join us
for the 15th Annual Alumni Day luncheon Wednessday,
October 17, at the Holiday Inn, University
of Memphis. Debbi Fields-Rose, of Mrs. Fields
Cookies, will be the keynote speaker. Eric
Bolton, President and CEO of Mid-America Apartment
Communities, will be honored as Outstanding
Alumnus of the College. Carolyn Hardy, majority
owner of Hardy Bottling, will be honored as
Entrepreneur of the Year. Contact Lauren Isaacman
at (901) 678-2333 or lauren.isaacman@memphis.edu
for details.
The Cecil C. Humphreys
School of Law Alumni Chapter will host
reunions for Law School classes of 1962, 1967,
1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and
2007 on Saturday, October 20, at the
Memphis Botanic Garden. Get ready for a fun-filled
evening with classmates and friends as we
enjoy complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres
while dancing to Memphis' finest music. For
more information, contact Kelly Davis at (901)
678-4299 or kdavis9@memphis.edu.
The
annual Bandmasters Championship, sponsored
by the Band Alumni Chapter, will be held Saturday,
October 20, at the Liberty Bowl. For more
information on the event, please visit www.tigerbandalumni.com
The
University College Alumni Chapter hosts
its Awards Reception on Thursday, November
8, at the STAX Museum of American Soul
Music. Mark your calendars and enjoy a fun-filled
evening of food, music and awards with fellow
graduates and friends. For more information,
contact Holly Beuke at (901) 678-1782 or habeuke@memphis.edu.
Save the Date - The Cecil C. Humphreys
School of Law Alumni Chapter will host
its annual Judicial Reception on Monday,
November 12, at 5 p.m. at the home of
President Shirley C. Raines. The event honors
Tennessee Supreme Court Justices, members
of the federal, state and local judiciary
and recent graduates of the Cecil C. Humphreys
School of Law. All alumni and friends of the
School of Law are invited to attend. For more
information, contact Alumni Coordinator Kelly
Davis at (901) 678-4299 or kdavis9@memphis.edu
The
Young Alumni Committee will now host
its first True Blue Tigers to the Tailgate
5K on the evening of Friday, November 16,
around the U of M campus. Alumni, students
and friends are invited to join in on this
fun event, as well as the Barn Bash before
the Memphis-UAB game the following day as
we celebrate our young graduates. For more
information, call (901) 678-2586.
Five
$100 book scholarships sponsored by the Alumni
Association were awarded in a drawing of students
from Parents Club members who joined
this summer at New Student Orientation. They
are: Sherri Tipton, mother of Danielle Tipton;
Deb Disney, mother of Haileigh Disney; Neva
Kirksey, mother of Christopher Awad; Bill
Davis, father of Houston Davis; and Marcia
Watson, mother of Cameron Watson. Congratulations
to all of our winners!
University
of Memphis Career and Internship Expo
– Career and Employment Services (CES) will
host the 2007 Career and Internship Expo on
Wednesday, September 26, from 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, University of
Memphis. This great event is free to U of
M students and alumni. For more information,
visit the CES website at http://saweb.memphis.edu/ces
or call the CES office at (901) 678-2239.
If you are an employer who would like to hire
a U of M student or graduate, please consider
registering for the Career and Internship
Expo. Online employer registration is available
on the CES Web site in the "News and Announcements"
section.
Travel the world with other
Tigers! Join U of M alumni and friends
on one of a variety of trips offered in 2008,
including trips to Paris, Spain, Ireland,
the Swiss Alps and many more! To learn more,
visit www.memphis.edu/alumni/tigertravel.html
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