[Vision2020] The Friday Letter from UI President White (May 12, 2006)

[Tom Hansen]

Today's (May 12, 2006) Friday Letter from UI President White - 

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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 May 12, 2006

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is Commencement Day on the Moscow campus, and nearly 2,000 students
are eligible to receive their degrees. This is one of the most exciting
times of the academic year, and it is an honor for me to confer upon these
graduates their degrees, to share in their successes and stories, and
welcome them as alumni into the next chapter of their lifelong relationship
with the University of Idaho.
    
I'm delighted that Christopher D. Murray has accepted the position of vice
president for university advancement at the University of Idaho. 
As the University's chief advancement officer, Chris will be a member of the
president's cabinet. He will be responsible for advancement efforts that
include designing, articulating and leading our comprehensive fund raising
effort, and providing oversight and alignment of activities in the
development office, alumni relations, and marketing-communications programs.

       
Chris also will serve as executive director of the University of Idaho
Foundation, responsible for organizing, supporting and directing volunteers
in fundraising and advancement efforts. Chris will serve as liaison with the
University of Idaho Alumni Association and the Vandal Scholarship Fund. He
assumes his new role July 10, contingent upon approval by the State Board of
Education. 
           
At the University of Oregon - where Chris has served since 1997 as associate
dean for external affairs for the Lundquist College of Business - and before
then at the University of Southern California, Chris has been in leadership
roles that helped bring enormous success to advancing programs at these fine
universities. Chris brings a wealth of experience to the University of Idaho
as he provides leadership for long-term strategic decisions that will ensure
the growth and prosperity of the University of Idaho. 

Tim White
President

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

Eight student teams have finished a three-month competition for an
outstanding business plan. The competition was organized by the university's
Vandal Innovation and Enterprise Works (VIEW) program. 

The winning plan for MustDirt, a business that would develop, research,
register and distribute commercially viable uses for mustard meal, took home
$6,000 for its team members: Kris Freitag, Moscow; Tommy Goodwin, Nampa;
Riley Higby, Payette; Wes McClintick, Meridian; and Gordon Seefried, Mackay.
The Idaho Research Foundation recognized students for the best-presented
business plan. 

Clearwater Idaho Aid, a biofilter project to address the drinking-water
crisis in Africa, won first place. Team members, who will split a $1,500
prize, include: Sam Creason, Lewiston; Kristen Lothrop, Mountain Home; Jenn
Miller, Eagle River, Alaska; Jessica Malecha, Eagle River, Alaska; and
Jeremy Hundrup, Healy, Alaska.

Wildlife Professor J. Michael Scott's dedication and innovative
contributions to conservation science have earned him one of the highest
awards given by the U.S. Department of Interior. Scott, a senior scientist
with the U.S. Geological Survey, received the Interior Department's
Distinguished Service Award May 4 in Washington, D.C. The award is the
highest departmental award that can be granted to a career employee.

Join UI alumni and friends at a Silver and Gold celebration in Lewiston on
Wednesday, May 24. The event will feature President Tim and Karen White,
along with Athletic Director Rob Spear. The event is 5:30-7:30 p.m., at 1822
18th Avenue. Cost is $5. RSVP before May 22 to Joanne Meyer at 885-7069,
e-mail jmeyer at uidaho.edu.

Contributions to the University of Idaho Parents Association helped fund
this year's Alternative Spring Break. The Parents Association partnered with
ASUI, the Dean of Students Office and the Alumni Association to send 63
University of Idaho students to Waveland, Miss., for eight days to assist in
relief programs where Hurricane Katrina struck last August. For Rachael
Roig, a freshman from Cheney, Wash., it was a dose of reality. "Well, you
look at pictures and you see them on the Internet and on the news and you
think that you understand what it looks like and what those people are going
through, but when you go down there, the extent of the damage is so
immense," said Rachael. Alternative Spring Break has left these 63 students
with a new appreciation for running water, clean beds and even standing
buildings. For more information or to donate to the Parents Association,
contact Linda Williams at lwms at uidaho.edu.

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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