ACES e-alumreport

Dean Olson Retirement Celebrations Scheduled

After 36 years of dedication to the College of ACES and the University of Illinois, Assistant Dean Charles Olson will retire on August 31, 2008. Plans are being finalized to celebrate his contributions to students, alumni, industry and campus connections!

Mark your calendars for the following events to take place in his honor:

• Saturday, August 30 - ACES Alumni Tailgate, St. Louis, MO - TBA
• Wednesday, September 3 - THANK YOU Reception, Illini Center, Chicago, Orange & Blue Room, 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, September 4 - First Thursday Club with Dean Olson, Illini Center, Chicago - 7:00 a.m.
• Friday, September 5 - Campus Reception and Celebration, ACES Library, Information and Alumni Center, Heritage Room - 3:00-6:00 p.m.

A collection of warm thoughts of appreciation, special memories, photos and good wishes will be compiled and presented to Dean Olson on September 5 at the Campus Reception and Celebration. Please send your good wishes, cards, and photos to the ACES Alumni Association, 1101 S. Goodwin Ave, Suite 115 ACES Library, Information and Alumni Center, Urbana, IL 61801. Digital photos and other items may be sent via email to acesalumni@uiuc.edu. All items must arrive by August 25, 2008.

College of ACES First Thursday Breakfast Club

Illini Center, 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL

(Across the river from Union Station and across Wacker from the Sears Tower at Adams.)

Join us for coffee, muffins and Illini camaraderie!

Mark you calendar for upcoming dates and activities!

• Thursday, July 3rd – NO FIRST THURSDAY - HAPPY July 4^th!
• Thursday, August 7^th - First Thursday Club - 7:00 to 8:30 a.m
• Wednesday, September 3^rd - "THANK YOU" Reception upon his retirement for DEAN CHARLES OLSON Orange & Blue Room, 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
• Thursdsay, September 4^th - First Thursday with DEAN OLSON - 7:00 to 8:30 a.m

Stop by when you can, stay as long as you want.

For more information contact Kim Morton, kamorton@illinois.edu, 312 575-7805.

District 8 Alumni Event - Southern IL Miners Baseball Game

Each person must register individually for this event.

You're invited to join your fellow Illini for a minor league baseball game in Marion. The Southern Illinois Miners will be playing the Gateway Grizzlies from Sauget. Hosted by ACES Alumni Association District 8 Director Ken Hayse '82 of Mt. Vernon, and College of ACES Dean Robert Easter, PhD '76. Enjoy ballpark food while you hear college updates from Dean Easter. Don't miss it. . . It's gonna be fun!

When: Thursday, July 24, 2008

Cost: $25 per person

Time:

6:00 p.m. Picnic & Program , Picnic Area

7:05 p.m. Baseball game

Registration includes an all-you-can-eat buffet for one hour prior to first pitch consisting of hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, potato salad, baked beans, condiments and soft drinks.

Place: Rent One Park, 1000 Miners Drive, Marion IL

Driving Directions:

http://www.southernillinoisminers.com/

Register online at www.acesalumni.uiuc.edu

Registration deadline is July 14, 2008.

29th Annual ACES Career Fair

The 29^th annual ACES Career Fair will be held Thursday, October 2, 2008, from 1 pm - 6 pm, at the new I Hotel and Conference Center. If your organization is seeking to fill full-time and/or internship positions in the coming months, the ACES Career Fair is one of the best ways to market your opportunities to talented ACES students. Over 500 students are expected to attend. The registration deadline is September 2, 2008. More information is available at online.

Remember, you can also publicize your positions through the ACES online job board - the ILLINI NACElink Network. The ILLINI NACElink Network is utilized by both current students and alumni. It costs you nothing, but a few minutes of your time.

For more information about these opportunities, contact ACES Career Services, Jenny Neef, jneef@uiuc.edu

Morton Arboretum Alumni Event a Success

District 2 Director, Leo Kelly, hosted an ACES Alumni Event at the Morton Arboretum on Thursday, June 5 in Lisle, IL. Over 40 alumni and friends learned more about the facility through a tram tour. Greg Piercell, Department of Natural Resouces and Environmental Sciences Professor shared about off campus continuing education opportunities as well as collaborations the University has been involved with in the Chicago area and how he has involved students. Louise Rogers provided greetings on behalf of Dean Easter and an overview of current happenings on campus and a Brilliant Futures update including the construction of the new McFarland Bell Tower and Outdoor Childrens Development Lab projects. It was a wonderful evening of reconnecting with many alumni and friends from the College of ACES.

View more photos from the event

ACES Alumni enjoyed John Deere Event

Over 30 alumni and friends in ACES Alumni Districts 1 & 3 gathered at the John Deere Pavillion on Monday, June 9 to learn more about the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Departments involvement with bioenergy and ongoing programming and changes from Anne Marie Boone, Student Academic Program Coordinator. District Director 3, Kenny Eathington hosted the event. It was an enjoyable evening!

Upcoming Alumni Events Scheduled

Mark your calendars for future ACES Alumni District Events in your area!

September 9 - District 1 - Walmart Distribution Center, Rock Falls, IL

September 15 - District 3 - Mackinaw Winery, Mackinaw, IL

September TBA - District 6 - LA Gourmet Catering, Champaign, IL

Subscribe to the ACES Alumni Association Calendar

Did you know you could subscribe to the ACES Alumni Association calendar of events? Keep your calendar up to date and don't miss an ACES Alumni Event! Go to the Calendar and scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Subscribe. This will sign your email address up for an RSS feed to the calendar of events! We can't wait to keep you connected to your alma mater!

4-H Family Event Scheduled for IL State Fair

The Illinois 4-H Family Event will be held at 5:30 P.M. on Saturday, August 9, 2008 on the Director's lawn of the Illinois State Fairgrounds. 4-H Family Spirit Award Winners, Hall of Fame inductees, and the six Legacy of Leadership Scholarship winners will be recognized. Ice cream sundaes will be served. There is no cost to attend. Everyone is welcome to attend! Watch for more information and registration on the IL 4-H Foundation website.

2008 Illini Dairy Judging Team Golf outing

The 5^th Illini Dairy Judging team golf outing was held on June 13^th at the University of Illinois Blue Course in Savoy. The event provided a way for former judging team members, friends, and University alumni to get together and help raise funds for the judging team. Ninety six golfers (twenty-four teams) completed the 18 hole Blue course. Midwest Dairy Association provided prizes for the three flights. Individuals and organizations also provided twenty-four hole sponsors.

The Framed panoramic picture of the Rose Bowl signed by all the University of Illinois football coaches was the big item at the auction and purchased by Alumni Ron Debatin. Other auction items were Cardinal-Cub tickets donated by Mike Turley, autographed football signed by the University of Illinois Football coach Ron Zook, and a picture of Rose Bowl by Tintype Shoppe of Arthur, Illinois and alumni Don Kaiser. Fourteen items were sold at a silent auction with the silent auction and live auction netting over $4000.

The winner of the better ball scramble was the Ric Thacker team (16 under). The big winner was the University Dairy judging team as over $14,000 was raised to support judging team activities and scholarships.

Approximately 140 individuals attended the barbeque and swapped stories with old friends. Coach Ron Zook (University of Illinois football coach) spoke to the group relating to his days of being associated with dairying as a youth, discussing the future of the Illini football team and answering questions.

Committee members Ron Debatin, Jason and Tammy Oertel, Chris Keim, Dan Hornickel, and Gene McCoy organized the event. Big thanks to HiDee Ekstrom, Secretary in Animal Sciences, for keeping everyone on the committee organized from mailing, phone calls, art work for brochure, signs, posters, and keeping the event flowing.

Plans are underway for next year's event planned for June 12, 2009. Watch for further details!!!!!!

2008 Award of Merit Videos Online

The 2008 Award of Merit winners videos presented during the annual ACES Funk Awards Banquet are now online. This tribute to each of our outstanding alumni highlights their memories as student, their families and current careers. Congratulations again on behalf of the ACES Alumni Association for their outstanding achievements!

Seeking Young Alumni Award Nominations

Each year the College of ACES Alumni Association honors up to three outstanding graduates of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, or through outstanding leadership or service, have significantly enhanced or improved the lives of others. The 2008 award recipients will be honored during the ACES College Connection on Friday, November 14, before Salute to Agriculture Day.

Nominees must have received a bachelor, master, or doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The nominee must be under the age of 40 on January 1, 2008. The nominee should be able to attend the Salute to Agriculture Day weekend activities on November 14-15, 2008.

Read more about nominations. Nominations are due to the ACES Alumni Association by Friday, August 1, 2008.

View a list of previous Outstanding Young Alumni Award winners.

Seeking Family Spirit Award Nominations

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Family Spirit Award recognizes those family members who have demonstrated their support of the college as alumni and/or current students. Selection will be based on, but not limited to, a display of sincere dedication to the College of ACES and significant connections to the college and university. This year's award recipients will be honored during the ACES College Connection activities Friday, November 14, 2008, before Saturday's Salute to Agriculture Day tent party.

Nominations are due by Friday, August 1, 2008. Nominations may be made online.

View past Family Spirit Award winners.

Submit Your Illini Photos Today!

Travelling this summer or just showing off your Illini spirit? Submit your Illini photos today to vealt@uiuc.edu for inclusion in the ACES in plACES online web gallery! We want to hear from you!

Seeking Updates from Student Advancement Committee Alumni

In planning for the 2008 SACtionline newsletter, we need to hear from you, our SAC alumni! Please take the time to respond to the online survey for past Student Advancement Committee members! We would love to have the most current information and hear from you!

In addition, if you have any pictures of past or current SACers and/or your family, we would like to include them in this issue. (All photos will be returned to you) If you prefer, you may submit a digital photo file of a photo to vealt@uiuc.edu.

Deadline for submissions is: July 15, 2008

SAVE THE DATE... Celebrate ABE@Illinois

Celebrate ABE@Illinois will be held September 5-6, 2008.

The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering are planning a special weekend of activities for alumni and friends of the department. Mark your calendars for an opportunity to return to campus and reconnect!

Schedule of Events:

Friday, September 5, 2008

• Golf Outing - 8:00 a.m.
• ASABE Regional Meeting - 1:30 p.m.
• Campus Facility Tours - 3:00 p.m.

Banquet - 6:00 p.m.

• Saturday, September 6, 2008
• Football Tailgate - 9:00 a.m.

Watch for more information to come!

ABE@Illinois Spring Publication Available

The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering has published a new publication entitled ABE at Illinois. This publication is available online and is intented to highlight recent departmental happenings and accomplishments, as well as success stories about the people in and associated with the Department. A great new tool to stay connected with the Department of Agricultureal and Biological Engineering!

Congratulations to Bill Francis

Bill Francis BS '71 Ag Sciences and JD '74 Law, District 4 Director on the ACES Alumni Association Board was recognized on Thursday, June 26 by the Will County Illini Club as the 2008 Club's Alumni Achievement Award recipient.

The Alumni Achievement Award is presented to a University of Illinois alum with ties to Will County who has honored the University of Illinois through outstanding leadership in their professional career and in service to their community.

Congratultions Bill!

ACES Alumni Dr. George E. Cooper Named South Carolina State University's 10th President

ACES Alumni, Dr. George E. Cooper '72 PH.D. Animal Science was named South Carolina State's 10th President by The SC State University Board of Trustees Dr. Cooper will begin his duties on July 1, 2008. Currently, Dr. Cooper serves as the deputy administrator for Science and Education Resources Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Cooper earned his Ph. D. in Animal Nutrition from the University of Illinois, Urbana; a master's degree in Animal Science from Tuskegee University; and a bachelor's degree in Animal Husbandry from Florida A&M University.

For more information visit the South Carolina State University web announcement. Congratulations Dr. George E. Cooper!

ACES Alumni Board Seeks International Board Member

The new position of international alumni board member has been added to the College of ACES Alumni Association board of directors. With the College of ACES striving to be locally relevant and globally preeminent, the alumni association would like to fill the spot with an alum living internationally to serve in this role and provide feedback as well as help connect with our international alumni.

Nominee must:

• Have received a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
• Be a member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association and reside internationally. Hold a one term minimum (two years) with an option of two terms (four years).
• Nominee must be willing to engage with ACES Alumni Association Board of Directors through technology or in written communication.
• Be willing to return to campus at least once a year with the Alumni Association providing up to $2,000 per year/per term to assist with travel expenses.

For further information and a complete role description, please contact Tina Veal, director of alumni relations at vealt@uiuc.edu or view application online. Applicant's nomination letter, resume, and two letters of reference are due to the ACES Alumni Association by Friday, August 1, 2008, in order to be considered.

Support the ACES Alumni Association Endowment

The ACES Alumni Association has launched a campaign to create an endowment fund that will help us sustain our existing programs and activities as well as provide funds that give us opportunities to create and grow new points of connection for you and other alumni. We need your help to continue the tradition of making lifelong connections with all alumni who graduated from the College of ACES in the past as well as future graduates!

If you wish to make a gift, contact us at 217-333-7744 or you may donate online. Thank you for your support!

New Free Email Forwarding - Join Always IL today!

Chancellor Richard Herman recently announced that our online networking community, Always Illinois, now features e-mail forwarding. All members of the Always Illinois community can customize an @alumni.illinois.edu address, providing long-term consistency and connectivity. It's also a great way to network with family, friends, and colleagues.

If you haven't already, the alumni association urges you to sign up for Always Illinois online.

Our exciting networking community is a free benefit to all Illinois alumni, students, faculty, and staff. Always Illinois offers all the basic functions of a social network with added levels of security and privacy. To join and strengthen your ties to our great Illinois family, visit www.alwaysillinois.org.

**Always Illinois and e-mail forwarding are free services provided by the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the Office of the Chancellor.

Welcome New Members

Life Memberships

Mr. Billy L. Born

Mr. Joseph A. Kainz

Mrs. Jean H. Kent

Mrs. Dorothy J. Zimmer

Mr. Charles V. Peterson

Mr. Gary A. Reynolds

Mr. Michael J. Kenyon

Mr. Carrol D. Bolen

Dr. Robert Minoru Endo

Mrs. Glenna J. Lober

Mr. Thomas J. Curtin

Mr. Robert C. Shufeldt

Mr. Charles R. Aper

Mrs. Nancy J. Hansel

Mr. Gerald T. Cohron

Mr. Douglas L. Bosworth Annual Membership

Mr. Patrick Claffey Mr. William K. Spicer

Mr. Herbert S. Steffens

Mrs. Marion L. Carmody

Mr. Gordon L. Sissing

Dr. Eric W. Hahn

Mrs. Peggy A. Castle

Ms. M. Christine Nelson

Mr. Jack A. Wozek

Mr. Michael Eugene

Mr. Peter G. Cahill

Dr. Lynn L. Janulis

Dr. John L. Killmer

Dr. Jose C. Kohout

Mrs. Jean S. True

Ms. Carla T. Helaszek

Mr. Tad A. Devlin

Mr. Tim T. Moon

Mr. Nicholas Paul Ochs

Dr. Martina V. Stromvik

Dr. Lisa M. Cieply

Alumni Profiles Online

Check out ACES Alumni who have submitted online profiles to the ACES Alumni Association Website!

Kirk Builta
Hometown: LeRoy, IL
Degree: BS '07 Agricultural Education
Company: Champaign County Farm Bureau

Kirstie Canene Adams

Hometown: Naperville, IL
Degree: BS '02 Human Nutrition
PhD '07 Nutritional Sciences
Company: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

RichardCondrey

Hometown: Glen Carbon, IL
Degree: BS '59 General Agriculture
MS '67 Education, Indiana State University
SpEd '88 Supervision and Administration, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Company: Alton School District, Retired

Sue Gray
Hometown: Geneseo, IL
Degree: BS '80 ACE
MS '90 Crop Sciences
Company: Self Employed

Jody McCormick Janssen
Hometown: Avon, IL
Degree: BS '95 Ag Comm

Brian Randle
Hometown: East Peoria, IL
Degree: BS Agricultural, Farm and Financial Management Concentration Finance
MS Sports Management

Carrie Muehling Vogel
Hometown: Normal, IL
Degree: BS '01 Agricultural Communications and Education
Company: WJBC Radio/Radio Bloomington

Laura Walsh

Hometown: Elmhurst, IL
Degree: BS '92
Company: Walsh Nutrition Group Inc.

Jerry Wallace
Hometown: Champaign, IL
Degree: BS '71 Agricultural Science
Company: Wallace Land Company

Jane Whittinghill (nee Nzai)
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Degree: MS '95 Food Science and Human Nutrition
PhD '97 Food Science and Human Nutrition
Company: Solae LLC

Jennifer Wolf

Hometown: Bushnell, IL
Degree: BS '06 Technical Systems Management
Company: USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service

Chad Yagow

Hometown: Lincoln, IL
Degree: BS '01 Agricultural Engineering/Agricultural Engineering Sciences
Company: John Deere

We want to hear from you, our College of ACES Alumni, about your life after graduating from the College of ACES! Share your story and give advice to current students! Fill out our profile submission form today!

Big Ten Network and Comcast Enter into Agreement Coverage Area For Illinois Increases to 87 Percent

Comcast Corporation and the Big Ten Network announced today that they have reached a long-term multimedia agreement for Comcast to carry Big Ten Network programming across television, broadband and video-on-demand in time for the 2008 college football season. With this announcement, the coverage area for the Big Ten Network in the state of Illinois increases to 87 percent of its households.

"We are pleased that Comcast is now on board," said Illinois Director of Athletics Ron Guenther. "The Big Ten Network had a terrific first year. With the added distribution, Illinois fans in the state will now have additional opportunities to see the type of quality athletics we have in the Big Ten Conference."

"When introduced last year, The Big Ten Network offered the academic communities of the conference schools an unprecedented opportunity to publicize their educational accomplishments." University of Illinois Chancellor Dr. Richard Herman said. "As an academic leader, I am thrilled by the additional exposure of, not only our athletic teams, but our great faculty and students as well."

Under the terms of the agreement, Comcast will initially launch the network as part of its expanded basic level of service to promote it to the majority of its customers residing in states with Big Ten universities (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, with the exception of the Philadelphia region which will launch on a broadly distributed digital level of service) starting August 15th. (Comcast does not have systems in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.) In Spring 2009, Comcast may elect to move the network to a broadly distributed digital level of service in most of its systems in these states. Comcast's digital customers in the Big Ten states will also have immediate access to live Big Ten games and events in high definition, Big Ten programming via Comcast's video-on-demand platform, and a wide array of conference-related content through Comcast.net.

Outside of the Big Ten states that Comcast serves, Comcast has the option to provide Big Ten Network programming on any level of service, including its Sports Entertainment Package. Officials from Comcast and Big Ten Network said they look forward to utilizing both traditional and emerging media to bring more Big Ten programming to fans than was ever available to them before.

Big Ten Network already produces more high-definition television content than any new sports network in television history. Over the next year, more than 400 live Big Ten sporting events will be carried by the Big Ten Network in high definition, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and soccer, as well as other NCAA-sponsored sports.

Comcast's digital customers who receive the network will have On Demand access to programming such as weekly extended highlights and condensed game replays from around the conference, classic Big Ten sporting events, bowl game coverage and coaches' shows, plus original campus programming and nightly studio shows from Big Ten Network, most of which is available in high definition.

STATEMENT FROM COMCAST

"We are very pleased with the agreement we have reached with the Big Ten Network to carry hundreds of live Big Ten events," said Madison Bond, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, Comcast Cable. "We will be providing our customers with Big Ten programming through our signature video-on-demand service, and will have lots of highlights, replays, scores and more through Comcast.net so fans can keep pace with Big Ten action whenever they want to."

STATEMENT FROM BIG TEN NETWORK

Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the network is thrilled to have Comcast as a distribution partner. "This agreement allows us to reach many more Big Ten fans with our programming because of the high concentration of Comcast subscribers in Big Ten states. With the Comcast deal now in place, the Big Ten Network will be available to more than two-thirds of all homes in Big Ten Country."

STATEMENT FROM BIG TEN CONFERENCE

"On behalf of Big Ten presidents, faculty, administrators, players, coaches, alumni and fans, we congratulate Comcast and the Big Ten Network on reaching an agreement to bring Big Ten programming to millions of fans in the eight Big Ten states and millions more alumni and fans nationwide," said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. "We are very pleased with this partnership between the Big Ten Network and Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator. Big Ten fans and Comcast customers will now be able to see the network on linear television, in high definition, and through Video-on-Demand and broadband applications. The network remains committed to working with the remaining cable operators in Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin so that their customers will have the network as well."