Virginia Tech Alumni Association News - Fall 2001
Outstanding Chapter Awards 2000-2001
Each Year the Alumni Association Recognizes Outstanding Chapters and Chapter Leaders
Presented at the Annual Chapter Officers Forum Awards Banquet on August 31, 2001
Superlative Awards
Superlative Awards were created to recognize outstanding events in five different categories: Event or Activity, Fund-raising Event, Alumni Admissions Program, Community Service, and New Member Plan.
In the Outstanding Event category, the award went to the Williamsburg Chapter for their Second Annual Virginia Tech Day.
In the Outstanding New Member Plan category, there were two winners. The first to the Northern Virginia Chapter which actively recruited new members at their booth at the Fairfax County Fair. The second to the Tidewater Chapter which recruited new members by inviting them to a special social at a popular beach establishment.
In the Outstanding Fund-raising Event category, the award went to the North Alabama Chapter for their Civil War Presentation with Jack Davis. This event supported local scholarships.
In the Outstanding Alumni Admissions Program category, again two awards. The first to the Baltimore Chapter. The second to the Alleghany Highlands Chapter. Both chapters created very extensive and purposeful plans in their effort to recruit students to Virginia Tech.
In the Outstanding Community Service category there were three winners, all representing very diverse programs. The Baltimore Chapter for the MPT Telethon, where volunteers answered phones and received TV time to promote their programs. The Tidewater Chapter for their Hokie Blood Drive with the American Red Cross, where they promoted a Virginia Tech theme with decorations, raffles, and football videos. The New River Valley Chapter for their Prom for Tekoa Girls and Boys Home. The chapter provided dresses, tuxes, flowers, and photographers for 19 students attending the home's Senior Prom.
The Outstanding New Chapter award went to the Augusta Chapter.
The Most Improved Chapter award went to the San Diego Chapter.
Achievement Awards
There were twenty-two Achievement Award winners. First time winners received a certificate, banner and pin, and those former winners were presented a pin depicting the award and year to display on their banners. The Achievement Award recognizes those chapters who have met a minimum set of suggested activities, programs, and services including a scholarship program, submitting reports, sponsoring a variety of programs, and participating in the Alumni Admissions Program. Recipients were:
Atlanta Chapter, Greg Jones '77, President
Austin/San Antonio Chapter, Trey Collins '86, President
Augusta Chapter, Cristin Campbell '98, President
Charlotte Chapter, Rob Modiri '97, President.
Columbia Chapter, Gretchen Lambert '94, President
Columbus Chapter, Diane Aukland, President
Halifax Chapter, Carlyle Wimbish '61, President
Houston Chapter, Mike Strickler '83, President
Kanawha Valley Chapter, Christie Goldman '94, President
Kentuckiana Chapter, Shawn Dikes '91, President
Knoxville Chapter, Jim Wright '60, President
Minnesota Chapter, Linnea Burman '96, President
New Jersey Chapter, Tracy Beck '87, President
Northeast Ohio Chapter, Kirk Gray '94, President
Northern Virginia Chapter, Greg Merritt '93, President
Palmetto Chapter, Brooke Gambrell '92, President
Research Triangle Chapter, Rusty Czerwinski '88, President
Roanoke Chapter, Deborah Hurley '97, President
Sacramento Chapter, Kara Hoffert '94, President
San Diego Chapter, Vicki Burke '88, President
Southside Chapter, Beverley Hawthorne '78, President
Tideneck Chapter, Cliff Mullins '75, President
Outstanding Chapter Awards
The Outstanding Chapter Awards are the most prestigious awards given by the Alumni Association to its alumni chapters. First time recipients received a banner, and all received an Outstanding Chapter pin for their banner and $500 toward their scholarship programs. These awards recognize selected chapters who have exceeded the bar, and in consideration of other factors were selected by the Alumni Association staff. In addition to Achievement Award requirements, all of these chapters provide scholarships to local students, work with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in student recruitment, sponsor a variety of events including a speaker from the university, participate in a community service activity, and provide scholarships to local students attending Virginia Tech. There were fifteen Outstanding Chapter Award recipients this year.
Greater Alleghany Highlands Chapter. Nick Moga '76, President. The Greater Alleghany Highlands Chapter sponsored a new student picnic, an evening with Jack Davis where they introduced the Alumni Center Campaign, and a holiday party. They hosted a golf tournament, cosponsored the O&M tour, and organized tailgate parties. For community service they participated in ringing bells for the Salvation Army and the Hokie Bird Fights Hunger Campaign. They gave five scholarships totaling $3500.
Baltimore Chapter, Mary McClelland '94, President. The Baltimore Chapter held their 33rd annual Crab Feast, a scholarship banquet with George Simmons, a winery tour, and a visit to an Orioles game. They sponsored their third annual golf tournament, game watching parties, and monthly happy hours. They participated in Habitat for Humanity, the MPT Telethon, and gave $3500 in scholarships.
East Tennessee Chapter. Frank Haynes '94, President. The East Tennessee Chapter hosted an academic night and Alumni Center Presentation with George Simmons and Aaron McClung. They sponsored the Hokie Smokey Classic baseball game and dinner with University of Tennessee alumni, a golf outing, and they participated in the Adopt-a-Highway program. They raised money for their scholarship program by auctioning a VT football and a signed Corey Moore jersey, and gave two scholarships totaling $2000.
Fredericksburg Chapter. Carol Smith '75, President. The Fredericksburg Chapter sponsored their annual crab feast and scholarship dinner with George Simmons. They sponsored TV watching parties, and cosponsored their annual golf tournament with the Hokie Club which raised over $6000 for student scholarships. For the second year they participated in their innovative community service project called "Hokies for Literate Kids Book Drive," and participated in the Hokie Bird Fights Hunger Campaign. They gave six scholarships totaling $6,000.
First State Chapter, Burnie Williams '87, President. The First State Chapter hosted their annual winter dinner with George Simmons and an Alumni Center Presentation. They sponsored game watching parties, outings to Blue Rocks and Phillies baseball games, and pre-game events for men's and women's basketball with Villanova. They participated in the Adopt-a-Family program at Christmas, Clean Up the Beach Program, and Special Olympics. They gave a $1000 scholarship.
Middle Tennessee Chapter. Marshall Helm '60, President. The Middle Tennessee Chapter sponsored an evening with Len Peters, Paul Carney and T.O. Williams, a new student picnic and scholarship awards banquet. They provided care packages to students from the Nashville area attending Virginia Tech, helped create internships in Nashville for local students, hosted TV watching parties and a Hokie Scramble golf tournament. They have been a dedicated group of volunteers in helping raise money for the Alumni Canter Campaign. They had success auctioning a Corey Moore Jersey, participated in the Hokie Bird Fights Hunger Campaign, and sponsored a child to YMCA Summer Camp. They gave two scholarships totaling $2,000.
New England Chapter. Peter Darby '90, President. The New England Chapter sponsored a Clambake with incoming students, and an evening with Len Peters. They hosted game watching parties, bimonthly happy hours, and a Big East Alumni Club holiday party. They also hosted the pre-game party for the BC game, an outing to the Boston Pops, and a Red Sox game. For community service they participated in the Greater Boston Foodbank. They gave $1000 in scholarships.
New River Valley Chapter. Heather McElrath '94, President. The New River Valley Chapter hosted their annual scholarship fund-raisers, Hokie Celebration, and their golf tournament. They hosted speaker Bevlee Watford for a lecture during Black History Month, a resume critiquing workshop, a financial planning seminar, and attended a Roanoke Express Hockey Game. They hosted TV watching parties, monthly happy hours, and organized a Virginia Tech Day at King's Dominion. They participated in community service by sponsoring a Prom for the Tekoa Girls and Boys Home. They awarded the most scholarships of any chapter, giving a total of 19 worth $14,500.
North Alabama Chapter. Norm Clevinger '70, President. The North Alabama Chapter sponsored an evening with Jack Davis, their annual student send-off picnic, and a holiday party. They held TV watching parties, and several tailgate parties in Blacksburg. They helped build a handicap ramp for CASA for the needy. They gave two scholarships totaling $2,000.
North Carolina Triad Chapter. John Wilkins '66, President. The NC Triad Chapter sponsored their annual new student picnic, an academic event with J. I. Robertson, and a bus trip to the ECU game. They hosted TV watching parties and participated in the Turkey Trot for their community service project. They gave two scholarships totaling $5000.
Shenandoah Chapter. Richard Ruckman '81, President. The Shenandoah Chapter sponsored their annual Hokie Holiday Social, the Apple Blossom Social, and a spring banquet with Jack Davis. They raised money for scholarships through their 13th annual Greater Hokie Open. They hosted a bus trip to a football game, and sponsored a Gator Bowl party. They participated in the "Feed the Needy" canned food drive, a "Hokie Tree" auction, and awarded four scholarships totaling $4,000.
Southwest Virginia Chapter. Hugh Ferguson '85, President. The Southwest Virginia Chapter held their annual family picnic, a holiday social, and an evening with Bob Denton and Aaron McClung to promote the Alumni Center Campaign. They have made raising money for the Alumni Center Campaign an important priority. For community service they participated in Adopt-a-Highway and a local recycling program. They raised money for scholarships through auctioning a VT signed football and a Corey Moore Jersey, ice cream sales at the Washington County Fair, and their ever popular Cow Chip Bingo raffle. They gave six scholarships totaling $3,000.
Tampa Bay Chapter. Mike Pietrzyk '76, President. The Tampa Bay Chapter held an Evening with George Simmons, sponsored a golf tournament and a social with Rickey Bustle, and TV watching parties. They hosted a scholarship dinner, a pep rally before the Miami game, and participated in the "Hokie Bird Fights Hunger" campaign. They gave a $1,000 scholarship.
Tidewater Chapter. Dave Miller '95, President. The Tidewater Chapter hosted their annual Pig Pickin' and a Mardi Gras Fund-raiser with an Alumni Center presentation. They also sponsored a golf tournament and TV watching parties. In the area of community service they participated in a Hokie Blood Drive and the "Hokie Bird Fights Hunger" campaign. They gave four scholarships totaling $5,000.
Williamsburg Chapter. Karen Rehm '75, President. The Williamsburg Chapter held a Pig Pickin' Picnic, a golf tournament, and a reception for Lucinda Roy. They participated in the "Hokie Bird Fights Hunger" campaign, and gave three scholarships totaling $2000.
Outstanding Chapter Officer
The Outstanding Chapter Officer award recognizes an individual from an alumni chapter who has excelled as a leader and volunteer within their chapter. This year Cath Ronan was recognized for her dedication to Virginia Tech, the Alumni Association, and the New England Chapter. Cath has been active with the chapter since 1988. Although she has served on just about every committee and officer position, including President, she has been instrumental behind the scenes, initially in working with students, and since the early nineties in planning pre-game parties when the Hokies visit Boston College every other year. Many alumni are appreciative of her contributions. Her Chapter President said, "Her role as the liaison for the Alumni Admissions Program here has been phenomenal. She has been committed to making sure we have a student picnic, to having several of our officers participate in student fairs and setting up the guidelines and selecting our scholarship candidates." Congratulations to Cath Rona
By Debbie Day Shelton, Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations