Welcome
Many exciting events have occurred since the last issue of Thunderbolt. You will be happy to hear that Julie Wert has been promoted to Assistant Director of Annual Fund and Regional Campaigns. Her duties will consist serving our alumni base toward reuniting and gathering alumni across the country. She will help organize alumni gatherings anywhere a large group of alumni may live. Julie also will assist with other duties such as Homecoming and the fall Telefund. Please congratulate Julie on her new position.

Have you attended a regional alumni gathering yet? I spent June 21st in Hartford, Connecticut visiting with a very good group of individuals at an alumni dinner. Nearly 50 individuals attended, which is outstanding when you consider only 40 alumni live in or around Hartford and about 135 live in Connecticut. This was one of the many successful alumni events that we have instituted with our campaign for informing and reconnecting alumni with TSU and each other.

Have you checked your mailbox lately? We recently sent two new pieces of literature.  First, Discover, our new magazine, outlines informative stories telling the power and history of TSU. Each issue will focus on the success and significance of your alma mater, highlighting TSU graduates. You probably hear it just as much as us—“where is Tri-State University?” or “aren’t you known for engineering?” Well, it is time for us to begin telling our success stories and letting everyone know who we are. 

The second piece of literature was a letter sent out by our admission office asking for your assistance in referring students. There is no better person to tell the success of the university than the graduates themselves, so please help “Encourage the Future” by joining in our recruiting efforts.

Our database is growing with e-mail addresses, so please forward this onto other TSU alums you may know and ask them to send us their e-mail address so we may add them to our database.

Allen Keen ‘03

Lilly Challenge
Last month, the Lilly Endowment Inc. announced that TSU had been selected as one of 14 Indiana schools to participate in a very generous matching gift initiative. Phase Two of Lilly’s Initiative to Strengthen Philanthropy to Indiana Higher Education Institution will match $1.50 for every $1 TSU raises. If TSU raises its $3 million goal by December 31, 2006, Lilly will match the qualified gifts with $4.5 million! So watch your mailbox for more details, and please return your pledge card as soon as possible!

SOAR-ing to Success
The Office of Admission and the Office of Student Life recorded one of its most successful Summer Orientation And Registration (SOAR) events in at least five years! Over a three-day period, the Class of 2009 was represented by more than 700 students and parents. Said President Brooks: “SOAR was a huge success this year, and we are on track to have one of our largest freshmen classes in recent years,” said President Brooks.” Students had the opportunity to speak with different departments on campus to make sure everything was taken care of before they arrive on campus, including financial aid, student life and registrar. Coaches also were available for student athletes. 

A Celebration of Success: Homecoming 2005
It’s never too early to begin planning, so mark your calendars now to attend this year’s homecoming, October 7-9.20-22. Homecoming 2005—A Vision for the Future, A Celebration of Success—promises to be one of TSU’s most important weekend. Here’s a sneak peek: ground-breaking for the new University Center (the largest building in campus history); dedications of the newly named School of Education, newly renovated baseball field, and new Ingledue Villas.

Thunder Time
Three outstanding student-athletes—Matthew Botsford (BS ’98), Sarah Brown (BSBA ’98), Greg Lefeld (BSCE ’99)—and one national championship coach—Lori Stinson—will be honored at this year’s annual homecoming Athletics Hall of Fame dinner, set for October 7.XX.It is the first time football, men’s volleyball and women’s golf have representatives inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Botsford was a four-year starter and captain of the Men’s Volleyball team for two years.  He was a member of the NAIA National Championship team in 1998 and was MVP for the national tournament. He graduated as the all-time kill and block leader for TSU and was a three-time All-Conference player. Brown was a member of the inaugural Women’s Golf team. She was a four-year starter and was TSU’s number one golfer on the NAIA National Championship team in 1997. She earned NAIA All-American Honors. Lerner was a four-year starter and captain of the Football team for three years. He was a member of the national-qualifying team in 1998 and earned First Team All-Conference twice and NAIA Second Team All-American his senior year. Stinson started the women’s golf program in the fall of 1994 and, within three years, she led her team to the 1997 NAIA National Championship. She was named the 1997 NAIA Coach of the Year.

On the Road … with Indiana Alumni
TSU has applied for a special Indiana license plate. To date we have collected signatures from alumni and friends that want TSU on their 386 vehicles. We need a commitment of 500 Indiana vehicles to put TSU on the road in 2006. Show your support for your alma mater with a “TSU Home of the Thunder” special license plate! Call or e-mail the University Advancement office today.