UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Alumni relations

Nominate Now For 2016 Alumni Awards

oddoTomNominations for the 2016 Alumni Awards are now open. Each year, the University of Portland presents awards to alumni for their outstanding contributions to their professional fields, for their dedication to volunteer endeavors, and for their ongoing support of the University and its mission. Alumni may be nominated in three categories:

  • Distinguished Alumni Award: Established in 1960 and renamed in 1982, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions their professions on a local and national level.
  • Rev. Thomas C. Oddo, C.S.C., Outstanding Service Award: Established in 1983 and rededicated in 1991 to honor the late University president, Rev. Thomas C. Oddo, C.S.C. (pictured), the Outstanding Service Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated the University’s mission through volunteerism.
  • Contemporary Alumni Award: Established in 1995, the Contemporary Alumni Award recognizes alumni graduates of the past 15 years for significant professional contributions to the community and support of the University.

Awards will be presented at the annual State of UP luncheon on March 1, 2016. Nominations are due by Friday, December 4, at this link.

A Successful Launch for UP Switchboard

operator copySince its launch in late July, the alumni office’s UP Switchboard has grown to over 650 users, which is a record launch, according to Switchboard founder Mara Zepeda. UP Switchboard is an online networking platform where University of Portland students, alumni, faculty, staff, and parents can go to offer what they have and ask for what they need. More information about Switchboard and the alumni office’s decision to partner with the Portland-based startup is available at switchboardhq.com/blog/up. Sign up for UP Switchboard at up.edu/Switchboard.

Send a new student a Bluff Box!

BluffBox_New.JPGCalling all UP faculty and staff alumni. It’s time to send a Bluff Box to students in your old dorm room.

Bluff Boxes include half a dozen freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, UP stickers and pins, and a note from you – an alumnus who was once a new Pilot too. The small care package is $10 and can be ordered online here. Deadline to order is Friday, August 28.

For more information, please contact Katie Mitchell Franz, alumni relations, at mitchellk@up.edu.

Ask For What You Need or Offer What You Have: UP Switchboard

operator copyThe Office of Alumni Relations has officially launched UP Switchboard, a new community building social network for members of the UP community. Switchboard will give students, alumni, faculty, and staff a place to connect online about everything for career advice to travel tips. It is designed to work like a combination of LinkedIn and Craigslist, where community members can ask for what they need and offer what they have.

Joining Switchboard takes less than a minute. Go to www.up.edu/switchboard to sign up, or go to this link for more information.

Questions? Contact Katie Mitchell Franz, alumni relations, at mitchelk@up.edu.

Alumni Relations Moving To New House

alumnihouseThe Office of Alumni Relations will be in the process of moving to a new house starting Wednesday, July 29, according to Nancy Nofziger, alumni relations. The current alumni house is slated for demolition to make way for the new student dormitory. The new house is located at 5618 N. Strong Street, but the office’s mailing address and phone numbers will remain the same.

For more information contact alumni relations at alumni@up.edu.

 

Faculty, Staff Invited To Reunion Weekend, June 26-28

UPReunionSlideshow_JQuigley82-XLFaculty and staff members are encouraged to join the hundreds of alumni who return to campus to participate in the annual Alumni Reunion. Registration is available online, and those who would like to attend are asked to fill out the form by Friday, June 19. Reunion will take place on campus June 26-28. The faculty/staff registration form is available at http://bit.ly/r15facstaff (this link will pre-fill the discount code). Most events are free for faculty and staff and their families, as indicated on the registration form.

The following events are not free and require payment: Alumni Golf Tournament, and the Columbia Gorge Fruit Loop bus tour. To register for these paid events, please contact the alumni office directly.

Reunion is the largest alumni event of the year, annually drawing more than a thousand alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to campus for a weekend of reconnection and reminiscing. This year, Reunion celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mehling Hall, the 80th birthday of the School of Nursing, the Entrepreneur Scholars program, the Cross Country program, the milestone classes of 1965 and 1990, and all classes ending in 0 and 5.

Friday’s National Alumni Board Golf Tournament kicks off the weekend, along with a bus tour, the Purple Flamingo welcoming reception, and the Mehling Alumnae Rooftop Soiree. Saturday features the Old Stomping Grounds 5K run, the return of Alumni College session classes (hosted by Brian Doyle, Fr. Charlie Gordon, Stephanie Salomone, Gary Malecha, and Brad Franco), the 50 Year Club Mass and Lunch, a men’s basketball alumni game, River Campus and Beauchamp Center tours, receptions for the classes observing quinquennial anniversaries, and the signature event of the weekend, the Welcome Home BBQ and Dance. The weekend concludes on Sunday with the All-Alumni Mass and Brunch.

For more information contact the alumni office at 7328 or alumni@up.edu.

Nominate Students For Gerhardt Award

gerhardt copyThe Office of Alumni Relations is accepting nominations for the 2015 Thomas A. Gerhardt Award for Student Leadership, according to Ken Hallen­ius, alumni relations. Criteria for selection:

  • 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 to Hallenius by Monday, January 5. Please attach a letter of recommendation, detailing reasons for nomination. For more information, contact Hallenius at 8326 or halleniu@up.edu.

Alumni Advent Mass, Dec. 14

1chapel150Join the Office of Alumni Relations on Sunday, December 14 at the University of Portland’s Chapel of Christ the Teacher for the annual Advent Mass for alumni of colleges and universities guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross. The 10:30 a.m. Mass will be followed by a light reception in Bauccio Commons. Please submit your RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/n4rjcfm by Friday, December 12.

For more information, contact alumni relations at 7328 or alumni@up.edu.

Nominations For Annual Alumni Awards Due By Dec. 14

awardsEach year the University of Portland Alumni Association presents awards to alumni for their outstanding contributions to their professional fields, for their dedication to volunteer endeavors, and for their ongoing support of the University and its mission. Alumni may be nominated in the following three categories by Sunday, December 14:

  • Dinstinguished Alumni Award: Established in 1960 and renamed in 1982, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have rendered distinguished service to the University and to their community. Submit nomination or view previous recipients.
  • Rev. Thomas C. Oddo, C.S.C., Outstanding Service Award: Established in 1983 and rededicated in 1991 to honor late University president Rev. Thomas C. Oddo, C.S.C., the Outstanding Service Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated the University’s mission through volunteerism. Submit nomination or view previous recipients.
  • Contemporary Alumni Award: Established in 1995, the Contemporary Alumni Award recognizes alumni graduates of the past 15 years for significant professional contributions to the community and support of the University.

Submit nomination or view previous recipients here. Awards will be presented at the annual State of the University luncheon on March 17, 2015.

For more information contact alumni relations at 7328 or alumni@up.edu.

Alumni Advent Mass, Dec. 14

massJoin the Office of Alumni Relations on Sunday, December 14 at the University of Portland’s Chapel of Christ the Teacher for the annual Advent Mass for alumni of colleges and universities guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross. The 10:30 a.m. Mass will be followed by a light reception in Bauccio Commons. Please submit your RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/n4rjcfm by Friday, December 12.

For more information, contact alumni relations at 7328 or alumni@up.edu.