UNI News - June 2001
Spring Commencement
The UNI Alumni Association would like to congratulate our recent graduates! Over 1200 students became our newest alumni when they graduated from UNI this spring. Congratulations!
UNI Women's Rugby Team Takes National Title
The UNI women's rugby team won the Division II national women's rugby tournament in Rockford, Illinois on May 6th. UNI defeated Lockhaven 45-6 in the first round. The Lockhaven team had not allowed any points by opponents in its last 27 games. The Panthers clinched the title with a 57-6 victory over the University of Nevada-Reno. Ranked first in the Midwest Division, the UNI team went into the tournament with a 15-1 record for fall 2000 and a 10-0 record for spring 2001.
Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center Ends Successful Inaugural Season
In its first season, the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center exceeded all expectations, drawing over 110,000 visitors to more than 200 events. The Kaleidoscope children's series also brought over 15,000 children from 59 Iowa communities to enjoy professional live performances in UNI's newest facility. Their second season will be just as exciting as the first with highlights including the sublime trumpet of Wynton Marsalis, the musical Rent, and the Gallagher-Bluedorn patented dance hall events where the orchestra pit is lowered and turned into a dance floor for the audience. For more information, please visit http://www.uni.edu/gbpac
Women's Volleyball Head Coach Announces Retirement
Iradge Ahrabi-Fard '65 announced his retirement as UNI Women's Volleyball Head Coach on April 25th. His legendary career includes 503 wins and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Bobbi Petersen '90, assistant coach for the past six years and interim coach during the 1998 season, has been promoted to take over as head coach. Ahrabi-Fard is a seven-time Gateway/Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, was a two-time District Coach of the Year, and was named the 1999 American Volleyball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. He will continue in his position as professor in Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services.
UNI Foundation Receives $1 Million Challenge Grant for McLeodUSA Center
Fundraising for the McLeodUSA Center is well underway. The UNI Foundation received a challenge grant of $1,000,000 from the R.J. McElroy Trust. To meet the challenge, the Foundation must raise $3 million in new gifts and pledges for the arena. Since receiving the grant, alumni and friends have pledged over $600,000 in additional commitments. The Foundation's goal is to meet the McElroy Challenge by December 2001. With alumni and community support, the McLeodUSA Center will be one of the best facilities of its size in the nation. For more information about the McLeodUSA Center, please visit
http://www.uni-foundation.org/
Men's Baseball Team Wins First Conference Championship and Bid to NCAA's
The UNI Men's Baseball team took home the Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Championship with a 13-10 victory over Indiana State. The victory gave the Panthers an automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA Baseball Championship for the first time as a Division I school. UNI lost the opening game to Nebraska 16-6 but came back to beat Brigham Young University 10-1. That win was the Panther's first victory at an NCAA tournament in school history. The Panthers were eliminated from the tournament with a 6-5 loss to Rutgers.
Homecoming 2001
Mark your calendars for October 12-13, 2001, and plan to return to campus for Homecoming 2001 activities. It's a great time to catch up with old friends and reminisce about your time on campus. The Panthers will take on Southern Illinois in the UNI-Dome at 4:05pm on Saturday, October 13th. Can't make it back for the events? Log onto the Alumni Association's web site at http://www.unialum.org to watch a live broadcast of the Homecoming Parade.
Coming Soon…A New Alumni Association Website
The Alumni Association's website is currently being redesigned in an effort to serve you better. In addition to purchasing merchandise and renewing memberships on-line, the new site will feature information on alumni club events and reunions. Please check in later this summer to see the new and improved site! Visit us today at http://www.unialum.org
Upcoming Alumni Club Events
Several Alumni Club events are scheduled for this summer. If you are in one of these areas, please join us for fun, food, and reminiscing about the good ol' days at UNI! If you would like more information on one of the following events, please call the Alumni Relations Office at 1-888-UNI-ALUM. We hope to see you there!
June 8 - Kansas City Alumni Club Happy Hour
June 13 - Twin Cities Alumni Club St. Paul Saints Baseball Game & Picnic
June 23 - Mason City Alumni Club trip to Sturgis Falls Festival
August 11 - Chicago Alumni Club Lunch and Chicago Cubs Baseball Game
August 18 - Phoenix Alumni Club at a Diamondbacks Baseball Game
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