E-Express—a newsletter for alumni, donors, and friends

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Midwinter—win an Apple iPad 2!

Register today for the UMMAA 2012 Midwinter to be held on Thursday, February 16, at Jax Cafe, Minneapolis—complimentary refreshments, cash bar, ample free parking, and photo slideshow! The UMMAA Annual Meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Midwinter event from 6 until 8 p.m. There will be a chance to win an Apple iPad 2 for alumni attending the annual meeting at 5:30 p.m., sponsored by Sue Basiago ’87. Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson and external relations staff members look forward to seeing you there.

Young Alumni Service Project

The annual Young Alumni Service Project will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2012, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Emergency Foodshelf Network, a full service food bank, providing quality, nutritious food and support services to over 200 hunger relief partners throughout the state. Click here for parking and event information and to RSVP.

West Central School of Agriculture (WCSA) Arizona and Texas Winter Reunions

WCSA alumni will gather in Mesa, Arizona, at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012, at the View Point RV and Golf Resort. WCSA alumni will gather in McAllen, Texas, at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at Gatti’s, 4100 North Second Street. Call 320-589-6066 or email for more information.

Dinner with the Chancellor in Arizona

Join fellow alumni and friends for an informal Dinner with the Chancellor at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012, at Annabelle’s Restaurant at the Arizona Golf Course, 425 South Power Road, Mesa, Arizona. For more information, email or call 320-589-6066. The UMMAA sponsors the event.

Minnesota Alumni Night at the Minnesota Wild

The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are proud to offer an exclusive offer for a first-time collaborative event. The Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Minnesota Wild live on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at 7 p.m. Due to the large response from alumni, ticket options are limited and may sell out. Purchase online and enter code WILD to receive discount. U of MN and MNSCU alumni are invited to an all-alumni pre-game gathering at 5 p.m. at Patrick McGovern’s Pub (second floor), St. Paul, MN 55102. Cash bar and menu will be available.

Three Florida Events Planned

Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Carla Riley and External Relations staff Susan Schmidgall look forward to hosting alumni and friends in Tampa, Florida for a complimentary dinner sponsored by the UMM Alumni Association on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at Mitchell’s Fish Market, 204 WestShore Plaza, Tampa, Florida. Carla and Susan also look forward to hosting alumni and friends for lunch on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at noon at Columbia Restaurant–Ybor City, 2117 East 7th Avenue, Tampa, Florida. To RSVP for either gathering, by February 14, or for more information, email or call 320-589-6066.

Host Harlo Peterson ’64, Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson, and external relations staff Maddy Maxeiner ’76, Carla Riley ’85, and Susan Schmidgall look forward to an evening of socializing and reminiscing with alumni and friends in Fort Myers, Florida on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Islamorada Fish Company/Bass Pro, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers. Join them at 5 p.m. for a social hour, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. To RSVP for any gatherings for you and a guest, email or call 320-589-6066.

Morris Connect in Testing Mode

The new alumni and student networking tool, Morris Connect, plans to be unveiled this spring. Select alumni may receive an invitation to participate in the testing phase of the system. Please watch your email. Morris Connect is an online, searchable, secure program that will allow students and alumni to connect for mentoring, internship, and employment opportunities. The service will integrate with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Alumni can “opt in” to this mobile network. Morris Connect is provided by generous contributions from alumni and sponsored by the UMMAA.

Book Club Discussion

The Morris Alumni Book Club has been reading Michael Perry’s Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting. Online discussion will begin the week of February 5 with student led discussion by Jessie Sherman ’12 and Anne Meyers-Welsch ’12. Perry will be a visiting author for the 2012 Prairie Gate Literary Festival. To sign up or for more information, email or visit the Morris Alumni Book Club blog.

Call for Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations

The University of Minnesota, Morris Alumni Association (UMMAA) invites you to submit nominations for the UMMAA 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award honors alumni who make noteworthy contributions in their professional lives, in public service, or in service to the University. Nominees must be UMM alumni and may be nominated by anyone. Thank you to those who have previously submitted nominations. Contact Carla Riley, director of alumni relations and annual giving, with questions at 320-589-6394.

Attention 1960–64 Men’s Chorus alumni

Mark your calendars now for a 50-Year Reunion of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and the 1964 New York World’s Fair Men’s Chorus trip participants planned for Homecoming weekend September 21–23, 2012. Email Gary Sethney ’69: sethsethney@yahoo.com if you’d like to help organize the event or wish to contact him about details.

50th Anniversary Party for Jim Togeas

Jim Togeas has been teaching at the University of Minnesota, Morris for 50 years—so far! Save the date to celebrate with him on campus April 21, 2012. Share memories and view regularly updated event information at morris.umn.edu/alumni/togeas.

Kiplinger’s Ranks Morris on 2012 Best Value in Public Colleges List

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has announced its national ranking of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges, and Morris is included on the list. The Morris and Twin Cities campuses of the University of Minnesota were the only Minnesota institutions chosen for best value honors. Read more »

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service was held on January 16, for students and community members to celebrate King’s life and legacy. The Day of Service provided a day of diversity training, programming, and service designed to honor Martin Luther King’s life and legacy of hope and equality. View a slideshow of a few service projects in the community »

That is All, An Evening with John Hodgman

Come enjoy a night of silliness and laughs at “That is All, An Evening with John Hodgman” on February 11, 2012, at 8 p.m. in Edson Auditorium. Tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at the Information Desk/Higbies. Read more »

Community of Scholars brings 200 admitted students to campus

The Morris campus will welcome approximately 200 admitted students to campus on February 3–4, 2012, for the Sixth Annual Community of Scholars event. The students will be competing for the Prairie Scholars Award and the Morris Scholars Award. Read more »

Generous Donors Establish Three New Memorial Funds for Student Support

In 2011, donors honored the memory of two Morris alumni and a first year student: Matthew Ian Helgesen ’06, John Brian Becker ’97, and Logan Sage Hoehne ’15. The Matthew Ian Helgesen Memorial Award will support the Captain (Web Administrator) of the Bad Movie Club at UMM. The John Brian Becker Memorial Student Activist Award will support activist students identified as being progressive thinking individuals. The Logan Sage Hoehne Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to to a new student who comes from a farm. Gifts to these three funds continue to be welcome. If you’d like more information, please call 320-589-6456, or make a gift online. Thank you to those donors whose gifts made these awards possible.

In partnership with the University of Minnesota Foundation, 100 percent of all gifts designated to the Morris campus are received by and invested in the Morris campus.