UNI News - April 2004

In this issue:

1. Men’s Basketball Makes NCAA Tournament
2. Summer Volunteer Opportunities
3. Upcoming Events
4. Alumni Association Introduces WorldPoints MasterCard
5. Heritage Honours Award Recipients Announced
6. Arts in April
7. Baseball Team Takes on Iowa in I-380 Corridor Classic
8. UNI's Human Performance Complex Fund Drive Receives Boost
9. UNI to Host Film Premiere
10. University Dedicates New Center for Multicultural Education
11. UNI to Host Summer Sports Camps for Kids

1. Men’s Basketball Makes NCAA Tournament

For the first time in 14 years, the UNI men’s basketball team returned to the NCAA tournament. The Panthers faced Georgia Tech in the first round on March 19th. Hundreds of fans made the trip to Milwaukee to cheer on the team in person, while hundreds more gathered at game watch locations around the country. Although the Panthers struggled in the first half, the Panthers came out strong after half time, going on a 15-2 run in the first four minutes. UNI eventually reclaimed the lead by one, but Georgia Tech came back. Georgia Tech escaped with a narrow victory of 65-60 over the Panthers.

2. Summer Volunteer Opportunities

The University of Northern Iowa and the UNI Alumni Association are coordinating two exciting volunteer opportunities for the Des Moines area this summer. Alumni volunteers are needed to help sell ice cream at the Des Moines Arts Festival, June 25-27, and to staff the University’s information booth at the Iowa State Fair, August 12-22. Volunteers for each event will receive a complimentary t-shirt and free admission, where necessary. A portion of the profits generated through the ice cream sales at the Des Moines Arts Festival will be donated to the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund. If you are interested in volunteering for these events, please call the Alumni Association toll free at 888-864-2586 or visit http://www.unialum.org/volunteer.

3. Upcoming Alumni Events

The Alumni Association is sponsoring several upcoming alumni events. You won't want to miss out on these great opportunities to meet other alumni and reconnect with UNI!

April 21 – Mason City Annual Alumni Dinner
April 22 – Twin Cities Alumni Reception
May 6-8 – Golden Reunion for the Class of 1954
May 10 – Sacramento Alumni Reception with UNI’s Peterhof Quartet.
May 11 – San Francisco Alumni Reception with UNI’s Peterhof Quartet.
May 13 – Los Angeles Alumni Reception with UNI’s Peterhof Quartet.

For more information on these events or to register on-line, visit http://www.unialum.org/events.html. We hope to see you there!

4. Alumni Association Introduces WorldPoints MasterCard

The Alumni Association is now endorsing the MBNA WorldPoints MasterCard. All previous UNI credit cards are still valid, but alumni and friends now have the opportunity to carry a new card and earn WorldPoints for themselves while supporting the Alumni Association with every purchase. WorldPoints can be redeemed for airline tickets, hotel stays, merchandise, or even cash! For additional information, call Jennifer Noehl at 888-864-2586. To apply for a UNI WorldPoints MasterCard, call 800-437-0180, and use priority code JXBA.

5. Heritage Honours Award Recipients Announced

The UNI Alumni Association is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2004 Heritage Honours Awards. David Peters ’78, and Paul Stanwood ’54, were chosen to receive Alumni Achievement Awards. They will be honored during the spring Commencement ceremony on May 8, 2004. David Peters received his BA from UNI in 1978 and is currently President and Chief Executive Officer for Peters Construction Corporation in Cedar Falls. Paul Stanwood received his BA in 1954 and is currently a Professor Emeritus with the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. For more information about the Heritage Honours Awards program, please visit http://www.unialum.org/scholarships/heritage/heritage.shtml.

6. Arts in April

Arts in April is UNI’s month-long celebration of the arts. A variety of events are held throughout the month of April to showcase the very best UNI has to offer in arts and culture. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.uni.edu/artsinapril.

7. Baseball Team Takes on Iowa in I-380 Corridor Classic

The UNI baseball team will take on the University of Iowa at a special event on Tuesday, April 20 at 6:00pm. The two teams will play in Cedar Rapids at Veterans Memorial Stadium, home of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. This year’s annual match up is in partnership with the American Diabetes Association. As a fundraiser for the organization, fans can vote for their favorite UNI coach to kiss a pig for $1 per vote. Fireworks will follow the game. For ticket information, please call the UNI Athletic Ticket Office at 319-273-DOME.

8. UNI's Human Performance Complex Fund Drive Receives Boost

The R.J. McElroy Trust recently pledged $500,000 for the Human Performance Complex as a challenge grant. Through this challenge, the UNI Foundation is charged with raising
$1 million in order to receive the $500,000 from the Trust. This is an outstanding opportunity for UNI to complete fundraising for this important project. For more information on the Human Performance Complex and the Students First Campaign,
visit http://www.uni-foundation.org/foundation/SF/SFperformancecenter.shtml.

9. UNI to Host Film Premiere

The premiere showing of "America's Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie," will be Friday, April 30, at 7:30pm in Lang Hall Auditorium. The feature-length documentary is directed by Daryl Smith, professor and director of UNI’s Native Roadside Vegetation Center. It is narrated by Annabeth Gish, critically-acclaimed film and television actress. Gish will attend the premiere. Featuring breathtaking cinematography, original music and moving narrative, the film covers one of the world's great ecosytems and its transformation from natural landscape to farmland. The event is free and open to the public with a reception immediately following. Please RSVP for the reception by calling 800-782-9522. For more information on the premiere, visit http://www.uni.edu/~lostland.

10. University Dedicates New Center for Multicultural Education

The new Center for Multicultural Education, located in the new addition to Maucker Union, was dedicated on Friday, March 26th. Students, faculty, staff and special guests joined University officials for a ceremony to celebrate the new facility. Special guests included former University President James W. Maucker and members of the UNI Seven. Maucker was President in 1970 when the UNI Seven staged a sit-in in his home to demand a space for a cultural center on campus. The original facility was opened in 1971.

11. UNI to Host Summer Sports Camps for Kids

The University of Northern Iowa offers a variety of sports camps for kids during the summer months. Camps are available in most sports, plus Strength & Conditioning and Athletic Training. The program’s goal is to provide a fun, positive experience while providing personal attention for skill development. The camps are staffed by UNI coaches, past and present UNI athletes, and top-notch coaches from the Midwest. For detailed information on UNI’s sports camps, please visit http://www.unipanthers.com/camp or call 319-273-2267.