Out of the Big Blue

by Christina Noll

Along with the Homecoming 2010 festivities this past weekend, the Alumni Association hosted the Golden Wildcat Reunion for those UK graduates from the class of 1960 or before. I was fortunate enough to meet many of those attending and spent part of Friday with a group of alumni at Keeneland.

I especially loved talking with these alumni about how UK has changed over the years.  They told me about classes they remember and the history of landmarks on campus. Everyone seemed to enjoy reminiscing and have a wonderful time catching up with friends.

And that got me thinking. What will it be like at my Golden Wildcat Reunion? What will it be like at yours? Who will you look forward to seeing again and how do you think campus will have changed?

As we watched the Homecoming parade pass in front of King Alumni House, I noted that UK graduates spanning from the class of 1940 up to 2010 were present to share in the pride for our alma mater.

It is fun to look back at the past, but one thing remains the same–As Wildcats, we all seeblue. Forever!

by Christina Noll

It’s Homecoming week and everywhere around me, I seeblue.

It started last Friday when some of my co-workers decorated King Alumni House with festive banners in preparation for all the alumni who will join us for this week’s events.

And, of course, Blue Pride was everywhere on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium when the Wildcats rallied for the awesome win over South Carolina.

This week, I noticed campus is literally turning blue. UK students painted windows around campus and Lexington as part of the Paint the Town Blue contest.

Members of STAT (Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow) & Team Wildcat painted this window at DeSha's restaurant, downtown Lexington.

And that’s just the beginning. Activities are scheduled throughout the week and include career networking, seeblue Day at Keeneland, pep rallies, the parade, and of course tailgating before the big game, plus much, much more. There are so many ways to celebrate! For a list of all the activities planned, visit www.ukhomecoming.com.

Seeing so much blue is helping me, and all Wildcat fans, get in the Homecoming mood. I think the Student Activities Board website says it best, “…go ahead and get out all your blue and white. We promise to help you put it to good use.”

I know I’ll be wearing blue this week. There may or may not be face paint involved.

Go Cats!

by Linda Perry

“Free” and “spectacular” were the two words that initially caught my attention so I continued reading the notice. Come to find out, some of our UK Band alumni will be joining a performance on campus this Sunday to help send the UK Jazz Ensemble on a tour of Europe in 2011.

In fact, about 50 jazz alumni are expected to return to UK to perform in the UK Alumni Jazz Band Spectacular, which will be held at 3 p.m., Oct. 17, in the Singletary Center for the Arts. The show has names that I am already familiar with — for example, Miles Osland, director of Jazz Studies at UK, and Vince DiMartino, who spent about 20 years as the UK Alumni Distinguished Professor of Trumpet, among others. The UK Jazz Ensemble will also perform.

The ensemble is currently in fund-raising mode for its anticipated European tour, which will include playing at festivals in France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. So while Sunday’s concert is free and open to the public, donations toward the tour will be gratefully accepted.

I spoke with Joel Lovan ’77 FA, one of the alums returning to the stage. Joel plays the bass trombone and is now retired but spent his music career working as a band director in the Fayette County School System. He also is a longtime member of the Lexington Philharmonic.  He told me that the audience on Sunday will be treated to a quality performance by band alums from all walks of life, including college professors and individuals who still entertain as professionals.  In addition to helping these UK students in their fund-raising effort, having alumni perform at this event has another benefit.

“Any time we can interact with the kids, it’s good for them to see that there’s life after school,” he said. “Don’t put your horn away!”

For more information about the UK Alumni Jazz Band Spectacular, contact Miles Osland at 859-257-8173 or e-mail to miles.osland@uky.edu

Current UK student and scholarship recipient Daniel Whitehouse sent the following letter to the UK Alumni Association, care of the Academic Scholarship Office. What a terrific example of pride in blue!  UK Alumni are truly making a difference for students!

Dear Academic Scholarship Committee:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the UK Alumni Association Scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year. This scholarship is such a wonderful opportunity for me to continue my education as a full time student at UK. While my parents continue to help me with my education expenses, I am still responsible for my housing and half of my tuition. This scholarship will help me to be able to focus more on my classes since I will be able to cut some of my working hours. This means a great deal to me since I want to continue my quest to attain a high level of academic achievement.

I am currently majoring in Pre-Management with a minor in Biological Sciences and hope to one day achieve my dream of owning a business. I am proud to let you know that I am third generation UK student. My grandfather attended UK in the mid 1930s and seven of his ten children also attended UK. It was such an honor to tell him and my parents I had received this scholarship and they were all very proud of this. My grandfather always impressed upon me how important it is to have an education and to pursue your dreams and there is no better place to do this than the University of Kentucky!

Once again, I would like to thank each and every one of you on the scholarship committee for this tremendous opportunity! I will continue to strive for success in academics and life achievements and this scholarship will help me on this road toward my dreams.

Sincerely,

Daniel Whitehouse

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