Welcome to the UCR Alumni Association Electronic Newsletter!

In this issue:
The Press Room
Alumni Awards of Distinction
Leadership Opportunity: UCR Alumni Association Board of Directors
UC Day in Sacramento Legislative Conference March 3-4, 2003
Student Alumni Association Receives Regional Recognition
Scholars Honored at Annual Reception
UCR Alumni Directory, 50th Anniversary Edition Launch
Alumni College Swiss Alps
Did You Know? 

The Press Room 
UC President Atkinson Announces Retirement 
University of California President Richard C. Atkinson, who has initiated national reforms in college admissions testing, spearheaded new approaches to admissions and outreach in the post-affirmative action era at UC, and propelled research innovations to accelerate the university's contributions to the California economy, announced on November 13,  his intention to retire as president effective Oct. 1, 2003.

Arturo Gomez-Pompa receives Honorary Researcher Award and the Gold Medal Merit Award
For his many significant contributions in the field of tropical ecology, UC Riverside's Distinguished Professor of Botany and University Professor Dr. Arturo Gomez-Pompa recently received two honors: the "Honorary Researcher Award" from the Institute of Ecology (INECOL) in Veracruz, the largest institute in Mexico devoted to the study of ecology, and the "Gold Medal Merit Award" from the University of Veracruz, Mexico, one of the most prestigious state universities in the country.

Alumni Awards of Distinction
Since 1986, the Association has recognized alumni who have distinguished themselves through personal and professional achievements.  Five awards are presented annually at the Alumni Awards of Distinction Banquet.  The award categories are Distinguished Alumnus, Alumni University Service, Alumni Public Service, Alumni Community Service and Outstanding Young Alumnus.  This year's dinner will be held on Friday, January 31, 2003.  View the recipients.

Leadership Opportunity: UCR Alumni Association Board of Directors
The UCR Alumni Association (UCRAA) is now accepting nominations and applications for its Board of Directors. Through its various services and programs, such as legislative advocacy, student recruitment, scholarship selection, and regional events, the Board of Directors represents UCR alumni and assists the University in its quest for excellence. Directors enjoy a prestigious and responsible position within the University community and actively contribute to UCR's growth. Alumni interested in serving on the Board or submitting a nomination may contact the Alumni Association. All applications and nominations must be received by January 23.

UC Day in Sacramento Legislative Conference March 3-4, 2003
Support UCR and higher education as a whole by serving as a delegate to the annual UC Day in Sacramento Legislative Conference, sponsored by the Alumni Associations of the University of California (AAUC), on March 3-4.  This annual event is the one time of the year when all nine UC alumni associations come together to meet with elected officials and discuss higher education issues.  While the UCR Alumni Association will host most meals in Sacramento, delegates are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.  Please contact Bill Cole to sign up or for more information including group travel and hotel rates.

Student Alumni Association Receives Regional Recognition
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VII awarded the UCR Student Alumni Association's (SAA) career conferences the 2002 Award of Distinction for Best Student Program in Alumni Relations. The career conferences bring seasoned alumni professionals together with current students to educate them about career opportunities.  SAA hosted a medical career conference in October and will be hosting a career conference in law and business in 2003.  Alumni interested in being involved in the Career Conferences can contact David Chang '00 for more information.  CASE is a national organization for educational professionals in the areas of alumni relations, development, public relations, and communications

Scholars Honored at Annual Reception
On November 14, parents, alumni, volunteers, scholarship donors, and campus administrators gathered at the annual UCR Alumni Association Scholars Reception to honor some of UCR's best and brightest students.  The Alumni Association awarded over $78,000 in merit and need-based scholarships to UCR students.  Through its Scholarship Program, the Association administers awards for the Alumni Freshman Scholarship, the George Beattie Memorial Scholarship, the Leon Braddock Athletic Scholarship, the Brithinee Continuing Student Scholarship, the Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc. Scholarship, and the Reentry Scholarship.

UCR Alumni Directory, 50th Anniversary Edition Launch
We get questions all the time from UCR alumni trying to find their old classmates, roommates and friends with whom they have inadvertently lost touch. To make it easier for UCR alumni to connect, we are pleased to announce that work has begun on the University of California, Riverside, Alumni Directory, 50th Anniversary Edition. Questionnaires will be sent to alumni starting in December 2002 and the project will conclude in the Fall of 2003. The campus will celebrate its 50th year in 2004.

Bernard Harris Publishing Company will publish this special edition. Harris will contact UCR alumni to let them know about the directory publication and give them the opportunity to update their information.  Listing in the directory is free. Click here for more details about the UCR Alumni Directory, 50th Anniversary Edition.

While all alumni will be included, members of the Alumni Association will be highlighted and life members will be designated with an additional special indicator. In celebration of this 50th Anniversary Edition, the Alumni Association has a very special membership offer. With its combination of discounts and free gifts this is the best membership offer in recent memory! If you have any comments or questions about the UCR Alumni Directory,  50th Anniversary Edition please contact Jocelyn Whitfield.

Alumni College in the Swiss Alps
UCR alumni and friends are invited to share in the celebration of life-long learning by participating in an exclusive educational and travel adventure to the Swiss Alps, scheduled for June 8-16, 2003.  Perfectly situated in the center of Switzerland lies the small village of Meiringen, your temporary home.  With a population of 4,400, Meiringen offers friendly residents, traditional folklore, and diverse activities, in a setting unlike any other: an Alpine wonderland complete with clean air, cascading waterfalls, and grass-covered alps surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks thrusting into the deep blue sky.  Adventurers will travel through Lucerne, Interlaken, Berne, Hasliberg Reuti, and various Alpine natural wonders, an altogether spectacular compilation of splendor and cultural education.  This program includes first-class accommodations for seven nights at the family-owned Alpin Sherpa Hotel, museums, walking tours, boat and train rides, meals and receptions, as well as informative educational programs, all designed to make this experience as enriching as possible.  The excursion is priced at $2,595 per person based on double occupancy.  Contact the Alumni Association to request a brochure or to be placed on the Association’s travel list. 

Did You Know?
Since 1994 UCR has ranked at the top or second among universities in the number of faculty members elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest, general scientific organization and publisher of the prestigious journal Science.  In the last three years alone, UCR has had 30 faculty members named as Fellows to AAAS compared with UC Berkeley’s 18, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 13, Cornell 12 and UCLA, Harvard and Stanford with 11 each.

The UCR library will receive one of 27 prestigious National Leadership Grants for Libraries. The grant will help improve the INFOMINE search engine, which was created at UC Riverside. The library will receive a $249,581 federal grant, which the campus will match.