Join UC Alumni Nationwide As We ‘Light The Night’ to Fight Cancer

Photo courtesy of  http://www.lightthenight.org

We learned as UC students that helping others is part of what Bearcats do.  It’s even better when we can do that together as alumni.  The upcoming Light the Night Walk for cancer is a great way to do both — an emotionally rewarding experience for everyone who joins the cause, and a tangible way to help others.  

This fall, the UC Alumni Association continues its partnership with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) by offering important this community service opportunity in 14 cities across the U.S.  The LLS stages “Light The Night” fundraising walks each year, and you can join teams of UC alumni united as “Champions for Cures” to fight blood cancer — leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

Helping LLS also strengthens UC.  This year, LLS will fund four cancer-fighting research grants at UC, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Hoxworth Blood Center, totaling about $2 million over the life of the grants.

Please click on a city/region near you below to learn more and participate. All walks will take place in the evening hours, with specific times and meeting locations to be provided after registration.

Boston, MA – October 11

Charlotte, NC – September 29

Chicago, IL – October 20

Cincinnati, OH – October 11

Cleveland, OH – October 13

Columbus, OH – October 27

Denver, CO – September 27

Indianapolis, IN – October 13

Jacksonville, FL – November 1

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN – September 23

Phoenix, AZ – November 10

Plano, TX – October 20

South Florida (Boca Raton) – November 10

Tampa, FL – November 10

Thank you for volunteering for this great cause!

Laurence Jones III, Bus ’00

President, UC Alumni Association Board of Governors

Father, Son Alums Publish Motivational Book about "Going the Distance"

How far are you willing to go for a loved one?

Sharing both the Bearcat and father/son bonds, UC alums Jim Serger Jr. and Sr. recently came together to answer this question on their own terms. The duo wrote and published their first book, Go the Distance, to share a redemptive personal story about the power of unconditional love through life’s greatest challenges.

For the Sergers, their greatest challenge – and the inspiration for their book – was Jim Senior’s battle with alcoholism. Despite the toll the disease took on the family, the Sergers came out of it stronger and with a personal testimony to the power of family commitment.

“The book is about highs and lows. It’s about being down in the valley and looking toward the tallest peak,” Jim Jr. said. “We wrote it to help others see that no matter how big the challenge, there are ways to survive the storm. Life gave us extra innings and we took advantage of them and we hope it’s an inspiration for anyone else facing the same family hardships we faced.”

Jim Jr. credits his UC experience for empowering him to overcome his family odds. “Once I graduated I was prepared to handle any obstacle. UC equipped me with the skills to handle the work place and anything life threw at me.”

Jim Jr. earned his degree from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences in 1991. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Independence CV – 62. During his four year deployment in Yokosuka, Japan, Jim climbed Mount Fuji and backpacked throughout Asia. He currently serves as the plant manager at the Indianapolis Home City Ice.

His father, Jim Sr., was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school, but opted to play third base on UC’s baseball team. He graduated from University College in 1967. He raised his family in Anderson Township for 30 years. A youth baseball head coach for 14 years, Jim strengthened the bond between himself and his two sons through this shared love.

Let us know what’s inspired you to “go the distance” in your own life – this book, a friend’s advice, a UC professor or class?


Video courtesy of Cincinnati's Fox 19.com

Game on Bearcats: May the best city win!

Twenty alumni cities. Only one of them will bring home the prize. The UC Alumni Association is proud to present...

Bearcats nationwide are putting their game faces on for the 1819 National Alumni Face-Off. From now until June 30th, alumni networks from coast to coast will be facing off to prove which has the most UC pride and 1819 spirit. 

So maybe you're in Chicago, Atlanta, DC or even all the way out in California! Here's your chance to demonstrate your pride in UC - and your city - all at once. With each $18.19 gift, your local Bearcat network will go up in the ranks. In the end, the city with the highest alumni participation rate will receive national bragging rights and some fun Bearcat prizes to help keep UC close to home.

So don't let other Bearcat cities outshine yours. Check out the current standings and if you haven't given back to UC yet this year, now's your chance to help your city rise above the rest!

UC Alumni Nationwide Enjoyed Watching the Bearcats Destroy the Muskies

University of Cincinnati alumni, friends and fans watched the UC Bearcats crush the Xavier Musketeers at official UCAA Crosstown Shootout game-watch parties across the country! UC raffles and giveaways were provided by your UC Alumni Association at various locations. Everyone had a blast, as you can see!

Did you have a game-watch party in your city? Post a comment with the info below then send us your pics to proudlycincinnati@uc.edu!

Enjoying some Skyline in Miami!

Down with X in Tampa!

Bearcat Central in Indy

Sporting Bearcat pride in Virginia!

For even more fun photos of these game-watches and additional photos from other cities, please visit the UC Alumni Association Facebook page. Go Bearcats!

Looking Back at 2010: Proudly Cincinnati at UC

Can you believe the final days of 2010 are upon us already? New Year’s is a natural time for reflection, as we pause to take stock of the year gone by before turning our focus to the challenges and opportunities that await in 2011. And after considering just some of the wonderful happenings at UC in the past 12 months, there’s little doubt 2010 was a great year to be Proudly Cincinnati.

We want to thank everyone – from faculty, staff and students, to alumni, friends and supporters – for helping make this a year to remember. We hope the New Year brings even more wonderful things to each and every one of you, and we thank you for reading our blog. Be safe and enjoy celebrating the New Year with your family and friends!

As we bid farewell to 2010, here’s our top-10 list of reasons we were Proudly Cincinnati in 2010:

1. Being part of four of the five Centers of Excellence named so far by the state of Ohio and the Ohio Board of Regents
2. Being named the only public “Green University” in Ohio by The Princeton Review.
3. Doubling the number of start-up companies sparked by UC researchers.
4. Launching of the student-led Proudly Pennies campaign and the "1819" alumni giving effort.
5. Formation of the new UC Health system.
6. Launching our new strategic plan, UC2019 – Accelerating Our Transformation.
7. Ranking among the top 200 World Universities, according to The Times Higher Education magazine in London.
8. Welcoming the largest enrollment in UC history, with over 41,350 students arriving in fall quarter.
9. Being named one of the world's most beautiful college campuses by Forbes Magazine.
10. Reaching the $715-million mark in our $1 billion Proudly Cincinnati Campaign.

 What were you most excited about? Is there something we missed? Weigh in below and let us know!

UC vs. XU Crosstown Shootout Game-Watches Scheduled Nationwide

Looking for a place to watch the upcoming Crosstown Shootout on Thursday, January 6?  Have no fear! The University of Cincinnati Alumni Association has several 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 Matt Crone at the UC Alumni Association.

Las Vegas: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch San Diego: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Cincinnati: African American Alum Crosstown Shootout Happy Hour Chicago: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Dallas: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Milwaukee: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Minneapolis/St. Paul: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch St. Louis: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Boston: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Charlotte: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Columbus: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Dayton: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Detroit: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Indianapolis: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch NYC: Crosstown Shootout Game-Watch Orlando: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Philadelphia: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Raleigh: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Richmond/Tidewater: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Tampa: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch Washington DC: Crosstown Shootout Game Watch

Happy Holidays to Bearcats Across the Country!