Alumnews
U of S Alumni Association President’s Message
Spring is a time for renewal and transition. This is particularly true for the University of Saskatchewan and the Alumni Association.
During the last couple of years, your association has been conducting a governance review. That review is coming to an end, and the board has endorsed the association adopting a new set of by-laws. These by-laws will be voted on by you, our members, at the Annual General Meeting June 20. Moving from a constitution-based board to one governed by by-laws is a significant step, and I encourage you to take an active part in this change at the AGM. See page 23 for details on the meeting.
Another major undertaking was the work we conducted on renewing traditions, symbols and ceremonies at the U of S. A working committee has reviewed the report and has presented recommendations to the board. Initial feedback supports our recommendations to implement an induction ceremony for students entering their first year at the U of S. Introducing a symbol to mark the start of a student’s time at the U of S as well as a second symbol to mark the occasion of graduation were ideas that received wide support.
The university is also undergoing its own transition as we say goodbye to President MacKinnon and welcome his successor, Ilene Busch-Vishniac. President MacKinnon has made the U of S home for 37 years—13 of those years as its president. I have known and worked closely with Peter as a former student leader, an employee of the university, and now as president of the Alumni Association. Every interaction and conversation with Peter renewed my own sense of pride in our campus and its limitless potential. On behalf of all U of S alumni, I want to thank President MacKinnon for his leadership, vision and the positive change he has brought to our university. We will always count him among our most distinguished and accomplished alumni.
Finally, I want to draw your attention to our annual Alumni Achievement Awards. Nominations are now open and there are many alumni deserving of recognition for their accomplishments and success, so take some time to nominate a fellow alumnus. Award winners will be recognized at a reception November 2 at the Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon.
Best wishes,
Jason Aebig, BA’99
Annual General Meeting Notice
This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) starts at 6:30 p.m. on June 20, 2012, Convocation Hall.
The following special business will be transacted at the AGM:
- Amendment of the Association’s Articles. The original Articles and the proposed Articles of Amendment can be found at alumni.usask.ca/association/ agm.php
- Comprehensive revision of the Association’s bylaws. The proposed bylaws can be found at alumni.usask.ca/ association/agm.php
RSVP to alumni.office@usask.ca or 1(800)-699-1907
Volunteer recognition and reception will follow the meeting.
Huskies centennial walk
On February 7, 1,500 Prince Albert students—shown here walking under the Huskie Dog Jake—helped the U of S launch the Huskie Centennial Walk. The 2011-12 Huskie season marks one hundred years of Huskie Athletics and to celebrate this milestone, Huskie Athletics asked Saskatchewan communities to join a province-wide initiative with a goal to have 100 Communities Celebrating 100 Years of Huskies! The centennial celebrations came to a close with the final centennial walk on campus and an awards gala on March 31.
Recognizing young alumni
Courtesy of Relevance Magazine
Bryan McCrea (BComm’09) is the 2011-12 recipient of the Engaged Alumni Excellence Award, given to a recent graduate who is engaged with their community the university. McCrea is co-founder and CEO of 3twenty Solutions, a Saskatoon-based company that builds modular camps and offices for the mining, oil and gas, and industrial sectors. He is committed to building Saskatchewan through entrepreneurship and the development of the young business community.
The Engaged Alumni Excellence Award is open to alumni who graduated within the past five years and are under 35 years of age or younger. Nominations for next year close on February 15, 2013. Contact alumni.office@usask.ca for more information.
Reconnect with the U of S
With over 138,000 U of S alumni located in 117 countries, you never have to miss the U of S and your fellow alumni. Volunteer with alumni branch, chapter or club and reconnect with your alma mater. We are always looking to make connections with alumni, retired faculty and staff, and friends of the U of S.
Become part of our network. There are many ways to get involved: you can lead a group or be a key contact for the university where you live; boost student, faculty and staff recruitment efforts; and foster relationships with students and recent graduates by mentoring and providing internship opportunities.
Volunteers are rewarded with:
- meaningful connections with fellow alumni and your alma mater,
- social and professional networking opportunities,
- enriching experiences,
- building leadership skills,
- giving back to current students and the U of S community, and
- increasing the reputation of the U of S.
To express your interest and learn about the volunteer opportunities, visit alumni.usask.ca/volunteer, or phone 966-5186 / 1-800-699-1907.
Agriculture reunion
On January 6, faculty, staff and students kicked-off the college’s centennial celebrations with an all years reunion. Senior sticks were also invited to attend too as the fully ringed Senior Stick was retired to a display case.
Supporting our scholars
Once again this year, the Alumni Association was able to support 23 U of S students—undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of colleges and departments—with scholarships and bursaries funded through the generous donations to the Annual Fund by alumni and friends of the University of Saskatchewan. For more information on the 2011-12 recipients, please visit alumni.usask.ca/association/scholarships.php.
Upcoming events
President’s Provincial Tour
May 14, 5:30-7:30 pm
Hotel Saskatchewan, Radisson Plaza, Regina, SK
President MacKinnon’s Legacy of Leadership Dinner
June 14, TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK
U of S Alumni Association Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Recognition
June 20, Convocation Hall, U of S Campus, Saskatoon, SK
U of S 2012 Honoured Years Reunion
Celebrating graduates from the years of 1972, 1962, 1952 and earlier
June 21-23, Saskatoon, SK
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine class reunions in the months ahead:
- WCVM Class of 2002 October 13 in Banff, AB
- WCVM Class of 1997 October 13 in Banff, AB
- WCVM Class of 1992 August 10 to August 12 in Kananaski, AB
- WCVM Class of 1987 June 8 in Saskatoon, SK
- WCVM Class of 1982 September 7 to September 9 in Edmonton, AB
For more information, contact Melissa Mann at melissa.mann@usask.ca or 1-306-966-7426.
Your membership in the U of S Alumni Association and your free alumni card get you access to a variety of benefits and services. Visit http://www.usask.ca/alumni/benefits_and_services/index.php to learn more.
