Alumni & parent relations moderates a community platform called Switchboard, which serves as a closed community space for faculty, staff, parents, students, and alumni to ask for what they need and offer what they have. Craig Swinyard, director, encouraged current Switchboard users to lean in to the power of connection. In these times of uncertainty, now more than ever, members of the UP community are here to support you. If you need help – or can offer help to your fellow Pilots – please reach out to your community here.
Alumni
Columbia Sportswear Offer for UP Alumni, Faculty, Staff, Friends
Spring will be here before you know it, and we want to let you know about a great deal for University of Portland alumni, faculty, staff, and friends currently being offered at the Columbia Sportswear Employee Store. The invite only runs from now to March 15, so sign up today using this link.
The offer features a Columbia Sportswear employee discount, with items marked at 40 to 50 percent off regular retail pricing, on all of the latest product from the Columbia Sportswear Company family, including SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, prAna, and more.
For more information contact the alumni and parent relations office at alumni@up.edu.
Nominate Students For 2020 Gerhardt Award
The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations is accepting nominations for the 2020 Thomas A. Gerhardt Award for Student Leadership. Criteria for selection include:
- Student must be a graduating senior;
- Student must have demonstrated leadership throughout his or her undergraduate career;
- Student must demonstrate consistent dedication to the University and the community through service to God and neighbor.
Nominations are due by Monday, March 2. Complete a nomination form using this link.
For more information contact Craig Swinyard, alumni & parent relations, at swinyard@up.edu.
First-Year and Sophomore Family Weekend, Feb. 14-16
The University will soon welcome approximately 800 participants in the inaugural Family Weekend for first-year and sophomore students. Parents and family members will arrive on Friday afternoon, February 14, complete their registration at the UP bookstore, and are welcome to attend a full slate of academic showcases and social events throughout the weekend.
This weekend provides a special opportunity for families to spend time together learning, exploring, and experiencing the true sense of our community here on The Bluff. The complete schedule of events can be found at this link. For questions or concerns, please contact Kathryn Seccombe at the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at x7328 or Jeromy Koffler, student activities, at x7470.
You’re Invited: Columbia Sportswear Employee Store Access, Now to Dec. 1
All UP employees are welcome to stock up on winter outdoor gear and potential Christmas presents at the Columbia Sportswear Employee Store from now until Sunday, December 1. Be sure to register here in order to be sent the official invitation and further instructions. Brought to you by the alumni and parent relations office and Pilot athletics.NIKE Employee Store Access: Sign Up By Nov. 15
University employees will have the opportunity to shop in the Nike Company Store in Beaverton during one visit between November 18–December 15. You must be signed up by 4 p.m. on Friday, November 15 in order to access the store during this period. Register here for your pass and more information. Brought to you by the alumni and parent relations office and Pilot athletics.2020 Alumni Award Nominations Due Oct. 15
The University of Portland’s mission centers on teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership. Through the annual Alumni Awards, we honor those individuals who embody this mission in their life and work, and demonstrate the power of the University to prepare people who respond to the needs of the world and its human family.All faculty and staff are invited to help identify alumni who should be recognized for making outstanding contributions in their professional fields, for their dedication to volunteer endeavors, and for their ongoing support of the University and its mission.
Whether it’s a person who has shown great promise early in their career, someone who embodies the University’s mission of service and leadership, or an individual who has built a sustained record of accomplishment and community contribution across their lifetime, we’d like to know about them.
The deadline for submitting a nomination for the 2020 Alumni Awards is October 15, 2019. If your nominee is selected as a finalist, members of the National Alumni Board will contact you to obtain more information about the individual you have recommended. Honorees will be chosen this fall, and will be celebrated at the President’s Alumni Awards Gala during Alumni Reunion Weekend in June 2020.
5th Annual UP Brunch With Santa: Dec. 7
All faculty and staff are welcome to join the alumni office for the 5th annual Brunch with Santa. Skip the lines at the mall and have your traditional Santa photo taken at UP while you mingle with other Pilot families. We’re excited to offer two opportunities to accommodate more alumni and their families.
Saturday, December 7:
- Alumni Mass in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, 10:30 a.m.
- Brunch in Bauccio Commons, 11:30 a.m.
Cost is $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 3–12. Children ages 2 and under are free, but still require registration. No RSVP is required for Mass.
This event sells out quickly, so be sure to register soon!
Do You Know an Outstanding UP Alumnus?
Every year, the University of Portland recognizes alumni who embody the mission of UP in their life and work. As part of the Pilot community, you are invited to help us identify these alumni through the annual Alumni Awards.
Whether it’s a person who has shown great promise early in their career, someone who embodies the University’s mission of service and leadership, or an individual who has built a sustained record of accomplishment and community contribution throughout their lifetime, we’d like to celebrate them and share their inspiring stories.
Please submit stories and nominations by Tuesday, October 15 using this link. Honorees will be chosen this fall, and will be celebrated at the President’s Alumni Awards Gala during Alumni Reunion Weekend in June 2020. Learn about our outstanding 2019 winners, or view photos from this year’s Gala.
New Family Weekends Coming in 2019-2020
Inspired by the University’s Holy Cross values of hospitality and community, and in response to frequent requests from family members, the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations and the Office of Student Activities are partnering to expand opportunities for parents and family members to experience life on campus with their students. Traditionally this has been the focus of Junior Parents and Families weekend. Beginning with the 2019-2010 academic year, UP will offer Junior and Senior Family Weekend in the fall semester (November 1–3, 2019) and First-Year and Sophomore Family Weekend in the spring semester (February 14–16, 2020).
These weekends will feature unique programs and activities that will highlight the student experience on The Bluff. Learn more about this new program by using this link.