[Vision2020] The Friday Letter from UI President White (March 3, 2006)

[Tom Hansen]

Today's (March 3, 2006) Friday Letter from UI President White - 

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University of Idaho
Office of the President
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3151
Phone: 208-885-6365
Fax: 208-885-6558

The Friday Letter
A Newsletter for University of Idaho Alumni and Friends March 3, 2006

Dear Friends,

I'm pleased to announce there will soon be a "University of Idaho
Mississippi Center," at least for a week in fact, and for a lifetime of
memories. A group of 63 of our students will spend their Spring Break in
Waveland, Miss., March 11-18, to attend to the needs of those who are still
recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The Alternative Spring Break students
will work with Community Collaborations International - a non-profit
organization that is heading up relief programs where Hurricane Katrina
struck last August.

The group will fly into New Orleans and drive to Waveland, located near the
Bay of St. Louis on the Gulf coast. The University of Idaho students, five
staff members and one U of I alumnus will join with other volunteers from
around the country to tackle tree removal, debris cleanup, demolition, light
construction and basic repairs. You can follow along with the group on its
travels by checking a specially created blog at
http://asui.uidaho.edu/blogs/node/10 that will be updated daily.

A large portion of the trip's cost - about $20,000 - is funded by ASUI, and
the Parents Association, Office of the Dean of Students, UI Foundation and
Alumni Association, also have contributed. The University community acted
quickly and unselfishly last August to support the initial relief efforts.
Now, the University of Idaho Mississippi team will be on the ground and in
the devastated communities to make a positive impact. 

Such engagement through outreach makes us all very proud at the University
of Idaho.

Tim White
President

Here's the latest news from the University of Idaho:

~ The University of Idaho has named three new Humanities Fellows who will
continue the work of fostering excellence in the understanding of the
humanities. They are: Candida Gillis, professor of English: Margaret
Salazar, associate professor of Spanish; and Debbie Storrs, associate
professor of Sociology. They will work collaboratively with other UI faculty
members to extend learning opportunities for students; strengthen
curriculum; and support interdisciplinary teaching across the humanities. 
They also will organize faculty seminars, create a presentation series and
invite scholars to visit the UI campus. The Fellows have selected "The Power
of Play" as the theme to tie together its activities and events.

~ William Maeck of Idaho Falls has recently made a $25,000 gift to the
University to establish a new scholarship endowment for students in
chemistry or geochemistry. Maeck earned a master's degree in chemistry from
the University of Idaho program in Idaho Falls in 1960.  He had a long
career with the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, now Idaho National
Laboratory, where he worked to develop analytical radiochemical methodology
and measure thermal and fast fission yields. Maeck also owned a private
investment partnership for many years.  In 1995, he established the Maeck
Family Foundation for the advancement of all levels of educational
activities. The foundation has been sponsoring a scholarship for chemistry
students for several years. Maeck is pleased to support students at the
University of Idaho. He says, "The size and location of the University and
the quality of the staff should provide for a good learning environment."

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Take care, Moscow (you, too, Vandals).

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
UI '96

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the REALIST adjusts his sails." 
- Unknown