If you’re planning on watching the University of Cincinnati
take on the University of North Carolina in the 2013 Belk Bowl on Dec. 28,
consider cheering on the ‘cats with fellow alumni in your city! The University of Cincinnati Alumni Association has several game watches scheduled in cities
across the country. Check the list below for information on your city’s game
watch. If your city is not featured below and you’re interested in organizing a
game watch, please contact Allison Hoehn at the UC Alumni Association.
Boston Network: Dan Fonovic, The Baseball Tavern 1270 Boylston St., Boston, MA
Columbus Network: Mark Hale, Gresso’s German Village 961 S High Street Columbus, OH
Dayton Network: Dennis Hole, Dayton Beer Company 912 East Dorthy Lane Kettering, OH
Dallas Network: Mark Schmitmeyer, The Nodding Donkey Kitchen & Sports Saloon 5600 SMU Boulevard, Suite 120 Dallas, TX
Denver Network: John Messiter, Stoney's Bar & Grill 1111 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO
Miami Network: Sandra Van Buskirk, Skyline Chili 2834 North University Sunrise, FL
Phoenix Network: Brian Moore, Spoke and Wheel Tavern and Eatery 8525 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ
The attendees of the 2013 Network Leaders Conference took a backstage tour of CCM during their Homecoming Weekend visit to campus.
Washington D.C. is 402 miles east of the University of Cincinnati’s Clifton campus. Jacksonville, Fla., is 628 miles south; San Francisco, Calif., 2,040 miles west.
Distance didn’t stop Adam Thurn, CEAS ’10; Kimberly Marshall, Bus ’83; and Chad Reid, A&S ’09, ’10, respectively, from returning to UC for Homecoming the middle weekend of October. They came for two reasons: 1) They share a strong desire to stay closely connected with their university; 2) More importantly, they want to do the same for their fellow alumni who live with them in those distant cities.
Thurn, Marshall and Reid were three of 25 alumni who converged on the Myers Alumni Center for the UC Alumni Association’s annual Network Leaders Conference. They swapped stories, shared best practices, and collectively brainstormed about how to better engage the UC alumni in the 31 U.S. cities with UCAA regional alumni networks.
“Half of our nearly 270,000 alumni live outside Greater Cincinnati, whether it’s one state over, across the country or on the other side of the world,” said Sam Walston, CECH ’09, the UCAA program director who oversees national and international alumni outreach. “We rely on these volunteer network leaders to be our ambassadors and key resources for the thousands of alums who live in their areas.”
As the term “network” implies, the volunteers got involved with the UC Alumni Association because they either “knew somebody,” or they wanted to.
“I had gone to a UC-Northern Illinois football game with long-time network leader Dave Watkins on a visit to Chicago years ago,” recalled Markus Kremer, CEAS ’92. “When I later moved to Chicago, I got involved with the network. Then when I moved to Milwaukee, I began to coordinate that network on my own.”
Carmen Pescatrice, A&S ’11, recently moved to Cleveland. “I was looking to network with UC people in the Cleveland area to reignite the Bearcat bonds and develop my career,” he said. “When I learned there was a revitalized alumni network, I was eager to join and was appointed social chair.
“It’s a great way to make contacts and help others do the same while reminiscing about our collegiate experiences. The Bearcat network is powerful and has amazing opportunities.”
Cleveland’s alumni network was rejuvenated by a visit from UC President Santa Ono’s #HottestCollegeinAmerica Tour earlier this year. The turnout was tremendous, the message about today’s UC was exciting, and the alums in attendance wanted to keep the energy going. The network is the way to do that. Similar results are occurring wherever Ono’s tour makes a stop.
A key takeaway from each Network Leaders Conference is the need for diverse programming. While there will always be widespread interest in attending games when the Bearcats come to town or getting together for game-watches in local “Bearcat hangouts,” not everyone is into sports. Consequently, UC alums have come together this year for such events as a UC-themed picnic in Dallas, a concert featuring CCM alumna Kathleen Battle in Baltimore, a wine-tasting in Minneapolis, and a tour of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, just to name a few.
The bottom line: If you live in or near a city with a UCAA regional alumni network, there are hundreds or even thousands of Bearcats around you. Many of them get together for various kinds of activities while strengthening their UC connections. And a lot of it probably originated with your network volunteers and their Homecoming return to campus.
Click here to see what’s going on in your area, and to volunteer with your area network. If your city isn’t listed, or if you want to learn more about getting involved, contact Sam Walston at 513-556-4404, 877-4-UCALUM toll-free, or Sam.Walston@uc.edu.
If you know an alum that you think deserves recognition,
there are only a few weeks left to nominate them for a UC Distinguished Alumni
Award! The deadline for the 2014
UC Distinguished Alumni Celebration nominations is December 18th.
The celebration
will be Thursday, June 12th at the Kingsgate Marriott on the UC
Campus. The UC Alumni Association holds this annual event to recognize and
celebrate the many contributions and overall excellence of UC alumni in
countless fields of endeavor, throughout the world.
Each year, four awards are given to the top nominated
alumni:
The William Howard
Taft Medal Awardis given to an alumnus of UC solely for notable achievement
in his or her field. The award is in honor of Dr. William Howard Taft, 27th
president of the United States.
The Alumni Distinguished Service Awardis
given to a dedicated alumni who make an outstanding contribution to UC by
aiding the advancement of the university through their service.
The UC Alumni
Association Mosaic Award is presented to an alumnus who has demonstrated
leadership while enhancing the community through cultivating collaborations,
fostering inclusiveness, championing the cause of the underrepresented and
promoting greater equity and opportunity for others.
The Jeffrey Hurwitz
Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award is given to a UC graduate who is
35 years old or younger for their significant professional achievement in his
or her field and continued service to the university and community. The award
is in honor of Jeffrey Hurwitz, former president of the UC Alumni Association.
The Distinguished Alumni Celebration is an exciting time for
alumni to get together and celebrate those who have truly made a difference. To
see videos of 2013 award recipients, click
here.
If you're planning on watching the University of Cincinnati vs. Xavier Crosstown Classic basketball game on Dec. 14, consider cheering on the 'cats with fellow alumni in your city! The University of Cincinnati Alumni Association has several game watches scheduled in cities across the country. Click the links below for information on your city's game-watch. If your city is not featured below and you're interested in organizing a game-watch, please contact Sam Walston at the UC Alumni Association.
Homecoming weekend started off with a kick-off party on
Friday night at the newly renovated Myers Alumni
Center. It was the perfect way to start off the fun-fill “Once
Upon a Homecoming” weekend. Coach Tommy Tuberville and Athletic Director
Whit Babcock spoke at the event where more than 300 people attended. Not only
was this a great kick-off for the weekend, it was also a chance for the new
renovations inside the Myers Alumni Center to be revealed.
Following the kick-off party on Friday night, UC alumni,
students, employees and their families lined the streets surrounding the UC
campus early Saturday morning for the annual Homecoming parade.
The fairy tale inspired floats paraded around Clifton while grand marshals
Oscar Robertson (Bus ’60, HonDoc ’07) and his wife, Yvonne (CECH ’56), waved to
the Bearcat fans watching.
The rest of Saturday was filled with alumni reuniting and
celebrating with each other as the UC Bearcats walked away with the big win
against UCONN.
Share your favorite memories from Homecoming below.
University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono visited the West
Coast for two tour stops on the #HottestCollegeInAmerica tour. On back-to-back
days, President Ono and other UC staffers ventured to Seattle and Portland.
Both stops were a huge success with a room full of energetic
alumni, prospective students, parents, and friends of UC. Ono started off the night with an address on
the state of the university then followed by a reception and a candid Q&A
session. Check out photos from the
event on Facebook.
The #HottestCollegeInAmerica tour has solidified and charged
UC alumni networks around the country with an even greater affinity with their alma
mater. The tour is presented and coordinated by the UC Alumni Association and is
named for Ono’s twitter hashtag that promotes UC as the
“#HottestCollegeInAmerica” on social media.
Click
here to check out the rest of the #HottestCollegeInAmerica tour
schedule. Follow @PrezOno on
his journey across the country.
Have you visited with Ono at previous tour stops? Comment
below about your favorite part of President Ono’s visit to your city!
If you graduated from the University of Cincinnati, you likely know Homecoming is more than a football
Ryan Minges, University Cincinnati Alumni - Charlotte Network
game or weekend of events. Homecoming provides UC alumni with a chance to reconnect with former classmates and our alma mater. It’s an opportunity for us to show our UC pride, wave our Bearcat flags, and reflect upon (and relive) some of the most memorable moments of our lives. Homecoming gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation for UC and everything our UC experience has given us — degrees, careers, lifelong friends, spouses, and more.
Fifteen years ago, I attended the University of Cincinnati as a student-athlete on the baseball team. I immediately formed a bond with my teammates and the university. I was proud to jog out onto the field wearing a jersey stitched with “Bearcats” across my chest. As my final baseball game ended in a loss to Tulane, tears poured down my face as I thought, “It’s all over.”
I didn’t realize it then, but my last baseball game was not the end of my relationship with my teammates or the university. I’ve stayed in touch with a number of my teammates, and some of them have become my closest friends. During Homecoming weekend, I get together with former teammates, and even participate in the annual Alumni Home Run Derby.
Outside of my friendships with former teammates, UC is intertwined through many other aspects of my life. I
Ryan, his wife Stacy, and daughter Elle
met my wife Stacy at the university, and our daughter, Elle, loves cheering on the Bearcats. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet dozens of alumni in Charlotte, N.C., as the network leader for the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association’s Charlotte Network.
As I return to campus on Oct. 18-20, I will reminisce about some of my favorite college memories, and also show my appreciation for a university that’s given me so much.
I hope to see you at Homecoming 2013! Go Bearcats!
Ryan Minges, BUS ’01
P.S: If you live in the Charlotte area and want to get more involved with UC, contact me at r.minges25@gmail.com.
As homecoming nears, you likely reminisce about your experiences at the University of Cincinnati. You might even pull out some old photos to share with other alumni, friends, and family.
Now you have a chance to share these photos with other alumni across the country. The University of Cincinnati Alumni Association is asking alumni to share their favorite UC memories and photos on the UC Alumni Association Facebook page. Each week, the alumni Facebook page will post a "Flashback Friday," providing alumni with a chance to reminisce about their alma mater.
To submit a photo, go to the UC Alumni Association Facebook page and click the "message" button to send a message with your flashback photos. Please include a caption for the photo and your name and graduation year. Inappropriate photos will not be accepted or posted on the UC Alumni Association Facebook page. Read more about the UC Alumni Association's social media guidelines here.
Submit your photos and let's flashback to great red and black memories!
Are you ready for some fall fun? Be sure to check out all
the events happening
this Fall for Bearcats. Here are a few highlighted events to make
sure you do not miss them!
One of the biggest events this fall is homecoming
weekend. Homecoming is always a great place to reconnect with fellow
Bearcats and a great chance to be back on campus and cheer on the football team
to a victory as they take on Connecticut. This year’s theme is “Once Upon a
Homecoming” and it is taking place Oct. 18-19.
There will be lots to see and do all weekend long.
Another big opportunity for alumni to stay involved and
reconnect this fall is through the #HottestCollegeInAmerica
tour with President Santa Ono. Ono will be traveling to different
cities throughout the country to meet alumni, prospective students, current
co-op students, parents and donors. Make sure you check to see when he is
coming to your city and do not miss the great opportunity to find out all the
latest happenings at UC.
As always, the fall is filled with Bearcat football. Before
most home games, the Myers Alumni
Center will open four hours prior to kickoff for the Bearcats-Blitz
pre-game festivities. It is considered the UC family’s biggest tailgate party.
This is another great opportunity to reconnect with fellow Bearcats and cheer
on the Bearcats! Everyone is always invited.
Don’t worry, if you cannot make a home game, there are always
away game opportunities! Bearcats on the
Road events will take place at two away games this coming fall. On Saturday,
Oct. 5, Bearcats on the Road will be at the University of
South Florida and again on Saturday,
Nov. 23, pre-game events will be held before the
Houston game.
This fall will be a busy one, but always a great chance for
alumni to reconnect and make some new memories with UC. New events are always
popping up so be sure to check the events calendar in the next few weeks.
UC launched a new campaign called Cincinnati Smart this past month. This
campaign provides students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends with the
opportunity to tell the world why they are Cincinnati Smart. UC is a unique
university that creates the best environment for learning with the best minds
and in the best academic programs.
Cincinnati Smart is not only a campaign, it is who you
become while attending UC, and it gives you a competitive edge in the world.
Many factors set UC apart from other universities. UC has a revitalized campus
and provides experiential learning. It is in the top 25 of public research
universities and has standout division 1 athletics. Last but not least, UC President Santa Ono has even coined UC
the #HottestCollegeInAmerica.
The marketing plan includes 85 high schools that will be part of the campaign
through television, radio, billboards and various ads. Prospective students
will have the opportunity to see why so many people are proud to call UC a
second home.
Students, professors, alumni, friends and family have
already started sharing their
stories of why they are Cincinnati Smart. Everyone can help spread the word
about why they believe UC is the best university around.
Help us spread
the world and share your story about why you are Cincinnati Smart.
“I just knew UC was the one,” said Alex Hartke the first
time she stepped foot onto UC’s campus.
Alex, a 2012 College of
Nursing graduate, took advantage of her time at UC. She was involved in almost
everything possible while at UC. Alex was a ROAR campus tour guide all 4
years as an undergraduate, College of Nursing student
tutor, involved in the social sorority Pi Beta Phi, and served on
the Committee for Athletic Traditions and Spirit. She did it all.
During her time at UC, Alex received a Cincinnatus scholarship
and College of Nursing Scholarships, which helped her stay focused on her
academics and push herself harder to reach higher. She wanted to get as much
out of UC as possible.
“My education is the key to my career,” said Alex. “It’s
given me so many great learning opportunities during my undergraduate time
which led to my first job after graduation at University
of Cincinnati Medical Center.”
Coming from a small town, Alex thought of Cincinnati as a
culture shock at first. However, she learned to grow and love the city of
Cincinnati. She connected with prospective students as a tour guide because of
her own transformation while she attended UC.
“I strive to ‘Represent the C’ as best as I can as an alum,
and I look forward to seeing my alma mater grow in the future,” said Alex. “My
pride definitely shows through during football season. Some of my best college
memories come from traveling to Memphis, Knoxville and Oxford to watch my
Bearcats, and then coming home to Nippert Stadium to watch them play at one
of my favorite spots on campus.”
Recently, Alex relocated to Dallas, Tx. to start a new
career at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas as a nurse on their
neuroscience unit. She credits her career success to her co-op opportunity as
an undergraduate student at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where
she worked on the orthopedic and trauma unit.
“I’m Proudly Cincinnati because I love UC,” Alex says. “I’m
so proud that I had the opportunity to spend my undergrad time in Cincinnati.”
UC President Santa Ono kicked off the 2nd annual #HottestCollegeInAmerica
tour in Boston on August 1st with an energetic room full of alumni, prospective students,
current and co-op students, parents and friends of UC. Ono started off the
night with an address on the state of the University.
Among the many speakers that evening were Dean Greer
Glazer from the College of Nursing and
co-op student Kate Davis from the College of
Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). Dean Glazer spoke about the importance of grants and private support, and progress at the College of Nursing. Davis, who is currently
doing her co-op in Boston, discussed what it was like to be a co-op student at
UC.
The #HottestCollegeInAmerica tour has solidified and charged UC alumni networks around the country to have an even greater affinity with their alma mater. The tour is presented and
coordinated by the UC Alumni
Association and is named for Ono’s twitter hashtag that promotes UC as the “#HottestCollegeInAmerica”
on social media.
The Boston tour stop was the first stop on the 17 city tour
ending in Baltimore, Md. on June 11, 2014. Ono will travel across the country
throughout the next year, hitting many major cities in order to reach as many
fellow and potential Bearcats as possible. Check out photos from the event on Facebook.
Click
here to check out the rest of the #HottestCollegeInAmerica tour schedule. Follow @PrezOno on his journey across
the country.
Have you visited with Ono at previous tour stops? Comment
below about your favorite part of President Ono’s visit to your city!
Nippert Stadium is
ready for a series of long-anticipated renovations. Construction is scheduled
to start in December of this year and is projected to finish by the start of the
2015 season.
The enhancements will take place on both the east and west
side of the stadium, but a new press box, suites club seats and boxes will dawn
the west side of the stadum. Both sides of the stadium will have new concession
stands, bathrooms and updated concourses. It is expected that Nippert Stadium’s
capacity will increase from 35,000 to 40,000.
Since the renovations are scheduled to take more than a year,
it is a possibility that the Bearcats will not be able to play at Nippert
Stadium for the 2014 season. One of the options being considered as an
alternate location is Paul Brown Stadium. While the Bearcats have used Paul
Brown Stadium in the past, a final decision has yet to be made.
The Bearcats have used Nippert Stadium as a playing field
since 1901. This makes it the second-oldest playing site in the nation for
college football. The demand for the renovations are in line with the increased
success for the Bearcats throughout the years.
For more information about the renovations and the
transformation of Nippert Stadium, click here.
Inflatable Bearcat outside of O'Leary's in
Chicago before a UC game watch
As football season nears, the summer edition of the UC Where You Are newsletterfeatured 'Bearcat Hangouts' in Columbus, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. These hangouts provide Bearcats fans with an opportunity to gather with other alumni outside of Cincinnati and cheer on the 'Cats during various sporting events.
Growing tuition fees. A troubling job market. Mounting student loan debt. These are the realities of higher education, which can play a significant role in the decisions young adults make when deciding how to pursue their education.
Those of us who graduated decades ago didn't face these same challenges. Higher education was, at that time, more attainable. More affordable. The job market was more stable. In short: we were lucky.
Today, we cannot be complacent about the extreme challenges college students face. For those of us who have experienced how a college education can put you on the trajectory to success, we have a responsibility to empower future generations by giving them access to the same opportunities we had.
Universities are sources of innovation. Universities are where entrepreneurial spirits are encouraged, groundbreaking findings are discovered, minds are opened and critical thinking skills are honed.
As we experience our own successes, we must remember to invest in the future through higher education. When we entrust funds to a center of learning we provide resources so that the next generation can pick up the baton and run with it. We are setting the stage for even greater accomplishments.
This is a theme I've called upon many times in the last several years, as I've served as the Washington, D.C. campaign committee chair for the University of Cincinnati’s billion-dollar Proudly Cincinnati campaign. As a 1982 graduate of the university’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP), I’m proud of UC as an institution and as the place that helped me shape my future. I surely wouldn't be where I am today were it not for UC.
And I am not alone. I've had the opportunity to engage with hundreds of UC alumni in the region, and I've realized we have one thing in common: deep respect for our alma mater. In sparking those fond memories of our formative college years, it became clear for many, the time to give back is now.
When talking with donors who have generously contributed to the University of Cincinnati, it is obvious they see the bigger picture. A gift to a great university makes it possible for students to succeed and helps the university attract and retain the best teaching talent. Higher education is a cause that undoubtedly deserves our support.
With the help of my fellow D.C.-based alumni, the University of Cincinnati recently reached its billion-dollar fundraising goal. These donations will accelerate the university’s transformation into a world-class institution. I am proud of what the university has accomplished and what I and my compatriots have been able to contribute. We believe in the work that is happening on the campus and beyond.
While the system of higher education has issues that need to be overcome, it is not in our best interests to stand idle. So I would challenge all readers of this post to do what many UC grads have done. Take up the responsibility to support your alma mater. Heed the call to support the university that supported you in your most formative adult years. You may not even fathom what your investment can make possible.
President Santa Ono is at it again. He will kick off the 2013-2014 #HottestCollegeInAmerica Tour in Boston on Aug. 1, 2013 at the Algonquin Club of Boston at 6:30 p.m. The #HottestCollegeInAmerica Tour provides alumni, prospective students, current and co-op students, parents and friends of UC with an opportunity to meet President Ono in various cities around the country.
Fellow Bearcats are encouraged to participate during the tour stops, and ask questions about the university. Ono offers a very open environment with a candid Q&A session after his presidential presentation.
Presented and coordinated by the UC Alumni Association, the tour is named for Ono’s Twitter hashtag that promotes UC as the “#HottestCollegeinAmerica” on social media.
The Boston tour stop is the first stop on a 17 city tour ending in Baltimore, Md. on June 11, 2014. Ono will travel from coast to coast throughout the next year, hitting many major cities in order to reach as many fellow and potential bearcats as possible.
In the past two years, students at UC Clermont College have worked together to create the Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies (BTAS) Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship was created in 2011 with the first class, who managed to raise $644. The most recent class raised $2,305 to be awarded as four separate scholarships for the 2013-2014 school year.
The BTAS program began in fall 2011 as a two year program designed for students that already have a technical associate’s degree, such as an Associate of Applied Science or Applied Business. The program is offered at both of UC’s regional campuses in Batavia and Blue Ash.
The BTAS Legacy Scholarship was originally created as a way to increase alumni engagement. However, Bill Wise, chair of the Scholarship Committee and Assistant Professor of Business at UC Clermont, and a team from the Development Office decided that it was best to engage with the current students before they graduated.
Students in the BTAS program should apply for the scholarship in the spring semester and the recipients receive the scholarship in the beginning of the following fall semester. The criteria for the scholarship was established by a group of students in the program. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must be full time in their first or second year in the program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The student must have demonstrated a financial need. Recipients of the scholarship are determined by the Scholarship Committee, composed of faculty and staff.
According to the Clermont Sun and Bill Wise, “To the best of my knowledge, it is the first time in the history of Clermont College and the University of Cincinnati that students have created and funded a scholarship for their own academic program.”
UC has seen quite a few accomplishments recently. From reaching the billion-dollar milestone in the largest fundraising campaign in UC history, to continually providing cutting-edge research and learning opportunities, your alma mater has given many people a reason to be proud. There are many reasons to be proud to be UC alum this year. Some of the accomplishments include:
UC among “Nation’s Best” for sixth straight year – UC has once again been named one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education for the sixth straight year.
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) – UC will be one of the first to offer MOOC for free. This seven week service is offered to students who will master tools necessary to generate new ideas and transform those concepts into viable new products and services.
International College of Medicine – UC and a partner Chinese University will apply this summer to local governments in Chongqing to open an International College of Medicine and start teaching medical students in China, largest source of UC’s international students.
Former Athletic Director inducted into Hall of Fame – Bob Goin, UC’s former athletic director (1997-2005) was in ducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame on June 14. Goin had previously been inducted into the University of Cincinnati James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame.
Ranked No. 1 for industrial design – UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) was named as the country’s best undergraduate industrial design program for the second straight year. The DAAP program is tied with the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
These accomplishments are just a few of many from the past year. The success to make UC such a standout institution comes from the help of UC faculty/staff, alumni like you and students of UC. To learn about more of the accomplishments visit the UC Magazine website.
Today, the University of Cincinnati announced it surpassed President Santa J. Ono’s ambitious challenge to reach 100,000 unique donors by the end of UC’s Proudly Cincinnati billion-dollar campaign. The campaign will officially end Sunday, June 30, with more than $1.05 billion raised and more than 100,000 unique donors.
“With such strong support from the UC community, we have made history yet again. I want to express my sincere thanks to the generous donors who helped the Proudly Cincinnati campaign finish strong,” President Ono said. “I couldn’t be more Proudly Cincinnati than I am today.”
By meeting President Ono’s challenge, the Proudly Cincinnati campaign surpassed two of the most ambitious goals in UC’s history: raising more than $1 billion and securing more than 100,000 donors in a single campaign. Only one percent of the nation’s colleges and universities have ever raised a billion dollars in a single campaign.
President Ono issued the “100K Strong Challenge” in February, when the billion-dollar milestone was announced. The campaign had roughly 92,000 donors at the time.
“Private support has transformed UC into a world-class institution,” said Rod Grabowski, newly installed president of the UC Foundation. “We are fortunate to have such a committed and generous network of donors, alumni, students, faculty, staff and community partners.”
According to both Ono and Grabowski, the impact of this private support will be felt on UC’s campus for generations to come. Funding for scholarships for the best and brightest UC students, improvements to the UC campus and facilities, and support for renowned faculty and endowed chairs remain priorities for the university. To that end, the UC Foundation will continue to fundraise for UC to the tune of $125 million per year.
“It’s a very exciting time to be a part of the Bearcat family,” Ono continued. “The conclusion of Proudly Cincinnati is really just the beginning for UC, the #HottestCollegeInAmerica.”
For more information about UC surpassing the 100,000 donor and $1 billion goals, including photos and video of the announcement, visit proudlycincinnati.org or track the conversation on Twitter: @ProudlyCincy#UC100KStrong.
That’s how recent graduate Carlo Cruz describes his time at UC – an impressive career that saw him not only gain a world-class education, but also a new perspective on himself and the world.
“UC provided a unique opportunity to discover a diverse life, not only in academia, but also socially and culturally as well,” says Carlo. “For instance, I have spent the past several years traveling to countries like South Korea, India, and Chile through the study abroad program and witnessing a variety of cultures along the way. UC has allowed me to embrace these differences and truly develop myself as a globally conscious individual.”
Carlo participated in the innovative ACCEND program, which allows students to earn a bachelors degree in their chosen field as well as an MBA in five years. He ended up earning a BS in Chemical Engineering with minors in Chemistry and Materials Science in addition to his Business degree.
“My engineering background serves as a great backbone of technical skills, and my business education has furthered my skills in strategic planning, marketing, and interpersonal development,” Carlo says. “My education has allowed me to become not only an analytical and rational professional, but also a forward-thinking and business oriented individual”
His journey was supported and enhanced by the generosity of others. Carlo received a scholarship through the Darwin T. Turner Scholars program, which was essential to his success in the classroom and allowed him to take part in multiple activities and clubs. The Turner Scholars Program is one of the oldest ethnic scholarship programs in America and is named after Dr. Darwin T. Turner, the youngest person ever to graduate from UC.
“In addition to the Darwin T. Turner scholars program,” Carlo remembers, “I was involved with the International Dance Team (Dhadak), the Midwest Dhamaka, the Asian American Association, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, Student Government, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the News Record to name a few organizations.”
Not only did Carlo participate, he even took the lead in planning and executing a charity Bollywood Dance Competition (known as the Midwest Dhamaka) with Saloni Hemani. The event featured more than 150 dancers and received tremendous support from the community, who bought every available ticket for the event and enthusiastically applauded their performances.
“The sold out crowd was incredible, as well as the joyous feedback we received after the event, says Carlo. “It was my favorite UC memory and speaks to one of the best qualities of this university: the embrace of diversity.”
Another well-known cornerstone of UC, cooperative education, is what provided Carlo a springboard to employment after graduation. In addition to working as a student researcher and at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, he co-oped at Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing.
“These cumulative experiences allowed me to integrate my analytical mindset to the business world,” says Carlo. “I was able to witness problems common to the workplace will enhancing my knowledge of corporate culture and business strategy.”
Just this month, Carlo began working as a full-time specialist at Toyota. And while he has completed his time at UC, he doesn’t plan on giving up his pursuit of multiple activities.
“I plan to continue as a freelance photographer and videographer,” he says.
Thanks to the generosity of Bearcats around the world, more than $101 million has been committed to scholarships and financial aid during the Proudly Cincinnati Campaign, the largest and most successful fundraising effort in UC history. In addition, more than 480 new scholarship funds were created, and nearly 11,000 students (including Carlo) who received scholarship support have graduated during the campaign. Learn more here.
Did you receive a scholarship at UC? Tell us about your experience with a comment below.
UC alumni prior to the second-annual golf outing in Charlotte
On Saturday, June 8, the UC Alumni Network in Charlotte gathered for the second annual golf outing at the Skybrook Golf Club in Huntersville, NC. The event was organized by Charlotte Alumni Network leader, Ryan Minges, and a dozen alumni attended the event. The alumni golf outing is just one example of the events hosted by the UC Alumni Network in Charlotte throughout the year.
If you are one of the 2,642 alumni living in the Charlotte area and would like to get involved with the UC Alumni Network in Charlotte, please visit the networking page for more information. Join the network's Facebook group to connect with other alumni in Charlotte and to receive information about future event opportunities.
When Patrick Meier graduated in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, he wasn’t sure how he would start his career. Like many new grads, Meier, a 2009 graduate of DAAP, worked a few jobs to get by but desired to use his degree. So, Meier started Contrast Productions and looked for freelance opportunities to jumpstart his career. Soon after starting his freelance work, Patrick produced a music video that catapulted him to internet stardom.
“My first major music video production was for a friend Nick Petricca and his band Walk the Moon,” Patrick explained "I thought I could make a music video for them and inject them into the music scene. I had an idea for the song ‘Anna Sun’, and I called Nick out of the blue from my car one day to share my idea.”
Meier ended up working with Nick Petricca to film the music video over the course of two days with the help of 80 or so extras. The shoot included a 2 ½ minute continuous take at the Mockbee, an iconic venue in Cincinnati, culminating in a dance sequence choreographed by Kim Popa.
“After finishing the music video and posting the video to YouTube, it was picked up by an established blog and blew up like crazy,” Meier explained. “It’s the main reason I have my current position as Director of Video & Motion Graphics at Eric Mower + Associates (formerly Strata-G Communications). Eight months after producing the video, I took my job here. Shooting as a freelancer led to professional relationships that spawned more video work, and ultimately my career.”
To date, the ‘Anna Sun’ video Meier produced has more than 7 million views on YouTube. Meier’s video for Walk the Moon was just the start. After the video he worked with a few local artists, and eventually worked with Eve 6 to create a new video for their song ‘Curtain’ in Long Beach, CA at Shoreline Aquatic Park.
“Eve 6 played at an event with Walk the Moon, saw the ‘Anna Sun’ video and wanted to touch base with the producers,” Meier said. “I was contacted by the lead guitarist and he gave my information to the label. I was approved to work on the video, and only had about a week to develop and pitch a concept for the video.”
Meier wanted to create a video that could go viral, and reintroduce the band to the music world.
“We came up with an idea to film the whole song backwards. It was a surreal approach. The frontman had to sing the entire song backwards while walking backwards during a single shot take,” Meier described. “There were events that took place during the video that reinforced the reverse motion technique. In post-production, we reversed the footage so all of the movements were very unnatural, but his mouth matched up with the vocals. ”
Meier wasn’t alone in the creation of the Eve 6 video. Another DAAP alumnus and Eric Mower + Associates employee, Chaske Haverkos, helped Meier bring his concept to fruition.
“Patrick and I had worked together for a while and I helped him with a previous music video,” Haverkos explained. “Patrick had talked to me about the Eve 6 video opportunity and I was interested in working with a band of that level of stature. It was a challenge because we wanted to make some sort of viral video and had to think outside of the box.”
Both Meier and Haverkos established professional relationships within the music industry by producing music videos like the Eve 6 video, which helped them develop their careers. Meier and Haverkos also credit their education at DAAP for providing a foundation for success.
“I felt like there was a good mixture of creative freedom in DAAP, and I was able to explore things on my own accord. I learned how to practically apply design principles,” Meier explained. “The principles I learned at DAAP have translated to the work I do every day. Lessons in painting, drawing, video, photography culminated into my fine arts degree that has taken me so many places.”
Haverkos echoes Meier’s sentiments about UC. “The degree I got from DAAP and the experience I have from there has proved to be very valuable. I graduated with a foundation of design knowledge needed for professional life.”
Meier and Haverkos are just two of many alumni who use their degrees to pursue their professional dreams, and develop extraordinary careers. Do you know someone who has extraordinary success while putting their degree to use? Comment below!
Say you live in the Chicago area — long-time resident or newly relocated. You love watching your Bearcats, ideally with other UC alums. What’s a Chicagolander to do?
2010 UC vs. Fresno State game watch at O'Leary's in Chicago
That’s an easy answer: Get to O’Leary’s in the River North area. It’s been Chicago’s Bearcat Bar since the fall of 2004. Alumni network leader Dave Watkins, A&S ’92, happened to be dining there and started chatting with the owner because he needed a venue for his upcoming UC-XU Crosstown Shootout game-watch.
“Everyone knows to head to O’Leary’s and they’ll find other Bearcats watching the UC games,” Watkins said. “And it isn’t just about sports — it’s great to just socialize with someone who can relate to going to UC.”
The Washington D.C. counterpart to O’Leary’s is Penn Quarter Sports Tavern. A couple years ago, Adam Thurn and a friend wanted a place to watch Bearcats games and looked near a metro stop, since traffic and parking can be problems in D.C. Penn Quarter fit the bill, and it has hosted eight football and three basketball game-watch parties, plus a Bearcats Happy Hour, in the past year.
Inflatable Bearcat in front of O'Leary's
“Having a place everyone knows about, and which doesn’t vary from week to week, simplifies our planning and provides continuity for alumni here,” said Thurn, CEAS ’10, who helps lead the D.C. network.
In Columbus, Bearcats gather at Gresso’s, whose owner works closely with the local UC group, even providing menus with dishes renamed with a Bearcats theme. That key ingredient — an interested, hands-on owner who can spot new business potential — is crucial in setting up a “Bearcat hangout.”
“You need to find an owner who is actively engaged in day-to-day operations, because it’s easier to get the support you need right away without going through a middleman,” said Andrew Maurer, CEAS ’09, of Columbus.
Building such a relationship with the owner and management benefits everyone involved.
“We generate a lot of money for them, so the people at O’Leary’s have been great to us,” Watkins said. “They’ll use Montgomery Inn sauce on their pulled pork sandwich and discount it for us a couple times a year. If I provide the Skyline, they’ll provide the fixings for coneys. One of their bartenders has even concocted a ‘Bearcat Shot.’”
Young Bearcats fan at Gresso's
Veteran network leaders feel that establishing, promoting and cultivating a “Bearcat hangout” is a necessity in growing a vital alumni network.
“The hangouts make it much easier for those who are just getting involved,” said Columbus’ Shaun Simpson, Bus ’00. “Sporting events provide a common bond which makes it easier to engage with each other and grow the group.”
For alumni in other cities looking to develop a “home base” for alumni activities, the Chicago, Washington and Columbus network leaders suggest a simple, two-step process:
Find the right combination of an accessible location and an enthusiastic owner who sees the value of working with you. It also helps if the venue has private areas that can host closed events.
Once you find such a place, stay with it. Promote it virally, via social media and other channels in the city. And at events, make it look like a Bearcat hangout as much as possible.
“It’s been the single most important thing we’ve done to grow our Chicago network,” Watkins said. “Whether they’re regulars here, they have moved away but are back in town visiting, or they’re just passing through, alums love having a place to watch the game with other UC people and feel at home. One told me, ‘It’s like Homecoming without the parade!’”
Want to start up a “Bearcat hangout” in your city? Contact Sam Walston at Sam.Walston@uc.edu or 513-556-4404.
What's your favorite "Bearcat hangout"? Let us know with a comment below!
Last weekend, the Kingsgate Marriott was packed full of the University of Cincinnati’s finest alumni, supporters, leaders, faculty, and staff. They gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of five outstanding alumni for the UC Distinguished Alumni Celebration, which took place Thursday, June 13, 2013.
The annual event is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many contributions and overall excellence of UC alumni in countless fields of endeavor throughout the world. The event recognized five alumni and was hosted by Dan Hoard, radio voice of the Cincinnati Bengals and UC Football and Basketball teams.
Dr. Joseph P. Broderick
Dr. Joseph P. Broderick (Med ’82) was honored with the William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement for his notable achievements in the medical field. He is one of the world’s foremost researchers, teachers, physicians, and leaders in battling the effects of stroke, and has attracted over $82 million in sponsored research funding over the last 15 years.
Bill Keating, Jr.
Bill Keating, Jr. (Bus ’76, Law ’79) was awarded the Alumni Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding, generous contributions to UC. He compiled a Hall of Fame career through academic and swimming excellence at St. Xavier High School. He was awarded the coveted Jimmy Nippert Award as UC’s outstanding graduating student-athlete. After graduating from UC Law School, Keating has had a successful career with Keating Muething & Klekamp and dedicates his time and energy to a variety of community causes.
Dr. Jeffrey T. Burgin, Jr.
Dr. Jeffrey T. Burgin, Jr. (A&S ’97) was awarded the UC Alumni Association Mosaic Award for his leadership in our shared community. He embodied the message of learning, cultural growth, and service to others as his career in higher education has taken him to six universities through the eastern half of the United States. He credits his time at UC for building the foundation of his career, which is responsible for uniting diverse groups of students, facilitating multicultural appreciation, and diligently overseeing aspects of student well being.
Coppola was a Bearcat in both football and baseball, was active in his fraternity, and grew his business All Star Chiropractic in Northern Kentucky to a million-dollar business in just a few years. He has been involved with a range of philanthropic activities, from holiday gift and food drives to youth mentoring and counseling to volunteer leadership in cancer-fighting fundraising. His passion for UC continues to show in his support and leadership for a variety of efforts at the university.
Robert E. Richardson, Jr.
Richardson established the first college chapter of the NAACP in the Tristate, was elected Student Body President his senior year, and was consequently awarded the Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence. He currently serves Of Counsel with the law firm Branstetter, Stranch and Jennings, PLLC, serves as a Construction Market Representative for the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) for eight states, including Ohio, and was elected Secretary of his alma mater’s Board of Trustees, becoming its youngest-ever elected officer.
The event had over 20 sponsors and held a full audience, including President Santa Ono. For more information on the UC Distinguished Alumni Celebration and the awardees, visit the Alumni Association website.
This past week has been an exciting breath of fresh air for the UC community. On June 3, 2013, Rodney Grabowski began his role as the President of the University of Cincinnati (UC) Foundation and Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, and acquainted himself with his colleagues at the UC Foundation All-Staff Meeting on June 10, 2013.
He comes from the University of South Florida (USF) with over 20 years of fundraising experience, where he served as the Senior Associate Vice President for University Advancement and Campaign Director. He was responsible for the branding and successful completion of the USF Unstoppable Campaign, the university’s largest fundraising and outreach effort ever with an annual giving program in excess of $85 million.
Prior to his tenure at USF, Rod held key development positions at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, and Alfred University in New York. In addition to his 23 years of fundraising, leadership and management experience, and charisma, he brings a strong understanding of higher education’s unique fundraising landscape.
“I am pleased to welcome such an accomplished, energetic and enthusiastic individual to the UC family,” said UC President Santa J. Ono. “Rod’s fundraising expertise and ambitious attitude will be an asset to the university.”
The senior team, including Rod Grabowski (featured second
on left) recognizes staff with a thank you lunch.
In other words, he’s perfect for the job. The Proudly Cincinnati campaign pushed UC into the top one percent of all colleges and universities when it reached its goal of $1 billion four months ahead of schedule, and plans to break another record by reaching 100,000 donors before the campaign’s end.
“Rod possesses the visionary leadership needed to help us achieve our strategic goals for the university, and I am honored to call him my colleague.”
