Table of Contents2....Rio Boards Commit To Shared Vision and Governance3............................... Varney House/Davis Cottage Reunion4............................... Athena Chi Omega Alpha Celebrating

50 Years of SisterhoodMany Commemorative Opportunities Available

5.........................................................................Class Notes6....... Charles Withee To Retire After 46 Years of Teaching7..................................... Rio Grande Unveils Athletic Logo

Upcoming EventsFor more information or to register for these events

please visit the Events and News section of the Alumni & Friends site www.rio.edu or contact

Annette Brown Ward at 740-245-7431 or award@rio.edu

April 11, 2009 Admissions/Alumni Open House

Feel free to visit campus today as Rio Grande is offering open house events to alumni and prospective students. The Admissions Office Student Ambassadors will offer campus tours and the cafeteria will be serving lunch for a nominal fee.

May 1, 2009 Central Ohio Alumni Association Dinner at La Scala in Columbus, OH

This annual event always offers good food, fun and fellowship. Although this is primarily for alumni in the Central Ohio region, we encourage everyone to attend. $30 per person

May 9, 2009 Commencement

The 133 Commencement exercises will take place on the Campus Green. Please join us in celebrating the 2009 Graduates.

August 22, 2009 Alumni Reunion

Our annual all Rio Alumni Reunion and Alumni Awards presentation will be held on this Saturday in conjunction with move-in weekend for our resident students. Please plan to be on campus to rekindle your memories of Rio while new students begin making theirs. $10 per person

L to R outside circleRebecca Thomas Long ’99

Director of AdmissionsRobert Haner

Director of Foundations & GrantsPaul Harrison

Chief Operating OfficerDavid Mauer

Director of Davis LibrarySusan Petrie Haft ’83

Director of Career Advising and Resource ServicesJeanne Jones Jindra ’03

Director of Madog Center for Welsh StudiesPhyllis Mason ’96

Director of Human ResourcesKingsley Meyer

Director of Campus Computing & NetworkingTom Kearns

Director of Grounds and MaintenanceKathy Musser ’91,’09

Secretary of Career Advising and Resource ServicesL to R inside circle

Barbara Hatfield, Ph.D.Provost and VP of Academic Affairs

Kevin Yeager Chief Financial Officer

Dawn Knepper ’98Director of Financial Aid

Center:Don Wood

Interim PresidentNote pictured:

Luanne BowmanVP for Financial and Administrative Affairs,

Rio Grande Community CollegeBeverly Crabtree

VP for Institutional Advancement

Alumni Board MembersW. Todd Johnson ’88, President

Hope Leedy Keller ’59, SecretarySabrina Hurt ’02, Treasurer

Mary Kay Vollborn Ervin ’71Nanetta Fults ’72

Larry Guglielmi ’73Raymond Jackson ’50Bradford Krings ’74Charles Kunkel ’70C. Robert Leith ’65

Patrick “Jack” Morgan ’96Mary McCurdy Pierce ’67

Editor:Annette Brown Ward ’98

Contributing Writers:Mark Williams ’96

Nick Claussen

Graphic Designer:Jean Ann Vance ’86

On the CoverPhoto by Mike Thompson

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Interim President Named at the University of Rio Grande

The University of Rio Grande Board of Trustees has named Don Wood as interim

president. Wood, who formerly served as the chairman of the University Board of Trustees, fills the position that was left vacant after former President Greg Sojka, Ph.D., left the institution at the end of 2008. Wood is taking a leave of absence from the Board of Trustees while he serves as the interim president. “I have a real love and pas-sion for this institution,” Wood said. As the interim president, he plans to continue the work being done leading the institu-tion in all areas, while he will also work closely with Rio Grande Community College President Herman Koby, Ph.D. As Chair of the University Board of Trustees and now as Interim President, Wood also works closely with Mike Swisher, chair of the Commu-nity College Board of Trustees. Wood explained that Swisher is an excellent leader who works hard for the institution, and added that he is thankful to be able to work with him in order to benefit Rio Grande and its students. “The Community College Board and staff were pleased at the selection of Don Wood as interim president,” said Swisher. “During his term as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Rio Grande, Don has demonstrated his deep concern for doing what is best for Rio Grande.” Swisher added that he already has an excellent work-ing relationship with Wood, and he expects that relationship to continue to grow.

Wood is an experienced business and civic leader in southern Ohio, in addition to his work with Rio Grande. He is the founder of the Don Wood automobile dealerships in Athens and Logan, and has been transitioning out of the automobile business now that his son has taken on the leadership position there. The timing was perfect for Wood to move into the interim presidential position, and he is devot-

ing his time now to provide stability and leadership during this critical time for Rio Grande and the com-munity. “I see how important this institu-tion is to the people of the region, providing education and opportu-

nities for the people of southern Ohio,” Wood said. Jeff Smith, member of the Univer-sity Board of Trustees, said Wood has worked very hard on the Coordinat-ing Committee for the two boards over the last 15 months. “He, along with Steve Chapman and Gary Roach, has done a marvel-ous job in representing the university in this critically important joint effort

with our partner, Rio Grande Community College,” Smith said. “Rarely have we had a Trustee get involved as Don Wood has in the time he has been on the Board. His fellow Board members have great respect for him and we are im-pressed with his great interest in Rio Grande.” Wood’s broad-based business experience will also serve him well as the interim president, Smith said. “He’s been successful as an independent businessperson. I think he brings that business acumen to the Board as he looks to continue to improve the relationship between the University and Rio Grande Community College,” Smith said. “The faculty and staff will also appreciate his business approach to one of the largest industries in southern Ohio, the University of Rio Grande.” Gary Roach, also a member of the University Board of Trust-ees, agreed that Wood is an

excellent choice to serve as the interim president. “He is very qualified, with his banking and business ex-perience, to lead the university through these difficult economic

The Shared Vision

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Rio Boards commit to shared vision and governance

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times and improve our organization,” Roach said. “He is passionate about Rio, which is evident by his past work on the Coordinating Committee and as Chairman of the Board. The success of Rio is Don’s goal, and he sees this as a challenge to be met by all of us.” Elizabeth Brown, Ph.D., chair of the Rio Grande Faculty Association, said she has met several times with Wood in his role as the chair of the Board of Trustees and now as interim president. “He’s very accessible and open to the exchange of ideas,” Brown said. She added that Wood is also very com-mitted to serving Rio Grande and help-ing the institution continue to grow.

Interim President Named continued from page 1Alumni Directory

Jason Kellison, president of the Student Senate, said he is impressed with the work Wood is already doing. “I met with him last week and he has very good insight,” Kellison said. Wood wants to work closely with the Student Senate, while also talking with students from all across the campus. “We’re actually going to walk through the residence halls this week and look over the buildings,” Kellison added. Wood is thankful for the support of the administration, faculty, staff and students, and is also appreciative of all of the work that former presidents Dr. Barry Dorsey and Dr. Greg Sojka did during their tenures at Rio Grande.

Rio Grande

The boards of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College

participated in a joint board retreat to collectively discuss key issues facing the state, the region and each institution. Board members began with a commitment to move toward a shared vision, coupled with open communications and a focus on the key stakeholder – Rio’s learners. The highlight of the retreat was a resolution, approved by both boards, to “determine a way to further the concept of a permanent shared oversight entity.” In addition the resolution supported “the presidential search from this time forward as a combined search for one president with appropriate experience in public two-year education and private higher education.” Barbara Gellman-Danley, Ph.D., Coordinating Officer observed, “The joint board retreat exemplifies the spirit of “One Rio,” an institution that stands ready to work collaboratively to serve learners in southeastern Ohio

and beyond. This great passion for Rio and genuine excitement about creating a shared vision will ensure a financially healthy and sustainable future.” This collaboration has already had an impact as the boards have signed a new two-year operating contract. The renewal of this contract is significant in the fact that this new contract was signed well before the current contract was set to expire and is an example of how the two Boards are collaborating in order to benefit Rio Grande students and the community. “The relationship between the two Boards is very encouraging,” said Don Wood, interim president of the University of Rio Grande. “We are all community citizens, and we are cooperating and working together in order to serve the needs of our students.” Mike Swisher, Chairman of the Community College Board of Trustees, said, “We are extremely pleased to have extended our valued partnership with the University of Rio

Grande for another two years. This agreement demonstrates our joint commitment to continue providing outstanding educational services to the students of the district.”Gellman-Danley, who has played a key role in strengthening the relationship between the two Boards, said, “The renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (the contract) is the greatest single example of the outstanding collaboration at Rio,” Jeff Smith, a member of the University of Board of Trustees, said that the fact that the new contract was signed so early shows the joint spirit of cooperation between the two Boards. “I think this sends a very positive message to the community that both institutions are dedicated to a long-term cooperative educational relationship,” Smith said. “Faculty, staff and students should be very encouraged at this positive step forward.”

The Alumni Office is cur-rently in the process of working with Alumni

Research, Inc. for the production of a printed Alumni Directory. Please expect a call to update your information.

For questions please contact Alumni Research, Inc. directly at

1-800-299-1230

If you need to make a change after doing your initial interview, or to order or cancel a directory please call 1-800-325-8664.

Varney House/Davis Cottage Reunion

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The Shared Vision

Alumni from the University of Rio Grande gathered on campus on Sept. 13 for the

2008 Varney House/Davis Cottage reunion. The reunion, which is held every two years at Rio Grande, brought numerous alumni back to campus to visit with each other and enjoy the day. The event is held especially for graduates from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The reunion is named after the Varney House and Davis Cottage, but it is open to all students who were at Rio Grande at the time, whether they lived at home or on campus. At the Sept. 13 reunion, the alumni were first welcomed back to

campus with a special reception held in the President’s Home and then a luncheon followed in the Esther Allen Greer Museum. Several outstanding Rio Grande memories were shared during the afternoon, and special salutes to Rio Grande were given by alumni including Jim Magaw, Freda Ramsey Lowery, Marge Fadely Evans, Janette Large McKenzie, Mary Wilson Van Meter and Betty Mae Shear. Door prizes were also awarded during the event by Joan Montgomery Corder. One of the winners was Freda Lowery, who won an afghan donated by Mary Van Meter. Evelyn Kiehl Watts was also a winner, and

Row 1: Jeanette Large McKenzie ‘60, Wanda Saunders Willis ‘61, Kay Bias Mitchell ‘61, Reba Kisor ‘47, Priscilla Haven Waldren ‘55, Mona Dobbins, Mary Wilson Van Meter ‘51, Josine Thomas Moses ‘54, Kathy Lemley Shaw ‘54

Row 2: Freda Ramsey Lowery ‘63, Mary Maerker Nutt ‘61, Mildred Parkins Harris ‘48, Marinelle Parkins Jeffers ‘69, Evelyn Watts ‘65,

Emelyn Wickline Scarberry ‘67, Patricia McArtor Wiseman ‘54, Betty Shear ‘50, Mary Ann Dials Turner ‘66, Roalie Story ‘61, Bonnie Jones, Betty Holbrook Bloomfield ‘59, Joan Montgomery Corder ‘60, Maxine Rehme Oliver ‘50, Newt Oliver ‘49,

Regina Harrison Chaney, Hope Leedy Keller ‘59

Row 3: Al Scarberry ‘55, Jim Magaw ‘54, Bonnie Thompson Magaw ‘70, Randy Miller ‘70, Wayne Wiseman ‘54, Jim Shaw ‘57, Greg Sojka. Not Pictured: Jack Finch ‘74, Susan Haft ‘83

she received an Alumni Memorial Bell Tower Christmas ornament. This ornament, The Red & White, is the sixth in a series of Alumni Memorial Bell Tower ornaments. The committee members for the event put a great deal of work into making sure the Varney House/Davis Cottage Reunion was fun for everyone involved. The committee members were Hope Keller, who served as chair, Mary Van Meter, who donated the handmade afghan for the door prize, Marinelle Jeffers, who led the welcome committee, and Joan Corder, who served as the door prize coordinator.

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Rio Grande

The Sisters of Athena (Chi Omega Alpha) sorority announces their forthcoming

50th Anniversary in 2009. The first social sorority to be established on the Rio Grande campus was Athena, which was organized March 24, 1959 by 14 women students, Phyllis Barton, Roberta Booth, Deborah Chamberlain, Mary Cline, Hilda Corbin, Janet Farley, Rita Howard, Judith Lee, Judy Orr, Nancy Rhodes, Norma Snider, Linda Tripp and Susan Webb, who were committed to sisterhood, scholarship, and service. The sorority eventually changed its name to Chi Omega Alpha, Chapter of Athena.

Rio, Athena and the world in 1959

Fidel Castro became Premier of Cuba, NASA selected the first astronauts – the Mercury Seven; Jack Nicklaus won his first US Amateur title; some of the new television shows were The Twilight Zone and Rawhide starring an unknown young actor, Clint Eastwood; Alaska and Hawaii were admitted as our 49th and 50th states; Ben Hur was the best movie to see along with Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, The Mummy,

and Shaggy Dog; a plane crash killed Buddy Holly and on the radio in Davis Hall, they were listening to Connie Francis’ Lipstick on Your Collar, Paul Anka’s Put Your Head on My Shoulder and the number 1 on the charts, Bobby Darin’s Mack the Knife. They were reading Exodus, James Michner’s Hawaii and Psycho—the movie would be a year later. Harper Lee completed To Kill a Mockingbird in the summer of 1959 and published in 1960. Forget whatever stereotypes you associate with sororities before com-ing to college. There is no “cookie cutter” mold that the Sisters of Ath-ena fit into. They are diverse women with different academic interests; involved in a variety of campus clubs and activities. Sisterhood prepares you for living a full and reward-ing life in a diverse and challenging world. In Athena, members developed leadership skills, came together to help others, and appreciate having an enduring support system for all of the challenges and successes that came with college life. After college, they entered the world of teach-ing, social services, business, the military, nursing, and the sciences. Among their notable alumnae are, Susan Burnside Hagar’ 70, recipient of Rio Grande Alumni Award and the Atwood Achievement Alumni Award

and past member of the Alumni Board of Directors; MaryLou Mankin Crawford ’68, former URG Board of Trustees member; and Jane Johnson, ’71, served in the Peace Corps, and was recipient of the Atwood Achieve-ment Alumni Award. Greek life was another prominent social outlet on the Rio campus and joining Athena provided long enduring friendships. One major part of Rio’s history was the friendliness of the small environ-ment and historically that has been the trademark of Rio. This camarade-rie was in part due to the closeness of the fraternities and sororities. To commemorate the occasion, the sisters have organized a weekend full of events that will coincide with May-Day. The 50th Anniversary/May Day Celebration is scheduled for April 4, 2009. It will be held at the newly renovated Davis University Center.

For more details, contact Christy Caldwell Randles,

Alumni President, Christy_randles@yahoo.com or

(740.245.5810) or XΩA Alumni Association,

PO Box 257, Rio Grande, OH 45674. Fifty years seem to have passed by in a heartbeat but the traditions of Athena live on.

Athena Chi Omega Alpha • Celebrates 50 Years of Sisterhood

Many Commemorative Opportunities Available

As the University of Rio Grande campus continues to expand, there are many naming opportunities available for those who wish to give unrestricted

commemorative gifts. Alumni can have their names or that of a parent or friend commemorated on virtually any building space on campus. Alumni who wish to be recognized along-side their classmates, sorority sisters, fraternity broth-ers, or roommates also have the opportunity to select designated areas in which to participate as a group. Giving levels begin at $2,500 (Berry Arts Center

practice booths) and increase based upon the size and use of the facility. An opportunity that may be of particular interest to many alumni is the option to name a dormitory room for a gift of $5000. Gifts may be pledged over five years. For example, two roommates who want to name a room could each pledge $500 per year for five years. Unrestricted commemorative gifts provide the Universi-ty with the opportunity to recognize our alumni in a perma-nent, visible way. For more information about commemora-tive gifts, please call Annette Ward at 740-245-7431.

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The Shared Vision

1938Deceased: Martha Anne Streich Crowder on August 25, 2008. She began her 30 year teaching career in Portsmouth, Ohio and retired from Columbus Public Schools. She received the Golden Apple Award from The Linden Principals Alliance May 24, 1976 and The Alumni Citation of Appreciation from The University of Rio Grande May 1, 2004.

1961Wanda Saunders Willis has published a book entitled “The Beveled Mirror: Reflections of an Appalachian Family”. Willis says she “wanted to tell the world about how wonderful and strong my mother was in raising her eight children, but it turned out to be my own story with reflections of my whole family in the community.”

1966Deceased: Maxine Wickline Evans. Evans was a retired teacher from the Hamilton Twp schools.

1969Deceased: David Patrick Southard. Southard received his Master’s degree in special education from Wright State

Masters of Arts in Teaching from Marygrove College and completed the Educational Leadership Program at the University of Dayton.

Engagement: Angela Beans to David Corbett. Angela was a member of ZOX sorority and the Grande Chorale. She is now employed at Immaculate Conception School in Dennison, Ohio and David works for DSCC. The wedding will take place May 16, 2009 in Circleville, Ohio

1991Deceased: Jerry Starlin October 15, 2008

Chris Shank was recently named the Director of Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services Agency. He has been employed with MCDJFS for 18 years.

1994Todd Reigle completed his Master’s of Science degree in Marketing and Communications from Franklin University in May. He is currently the Promotions Director for 1460 The Fan, Mix 97.1, Ohio News Network, and the Ohio State Radio Sports Network in Columbus. Reigle resides in Dublin, OH where he serves on multiple fundraising boards in central Ohio.

1997Birth: Daughter Ella to Christina Heiss Schweikert on January 17, 2008. She joins brother Cole and sister Riley.

Rochelle Browning is the new principal of River Valley High School in Gallia County Ohio.

1998Birth: Daughter Natalie Elizabeth born to Glen and Katie Smiley ‘02 Ragan on April 18, 2008. She joins big brother Dillon Michael (age 3).

Steven Crone has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Tiffin Community YMCA. Crone was on the men’s soccer team while a student at Rio. He, his wife April and three children will reside in Tiffin.

2000Birth: Daughter Kayla Gayle to David and Beth Bales Tischler on January 16, 2008

Birth: Daughter Cambell to Brad and Robin Johnson Keating on May 17, 2007. She joins brother, Beckam,3. Brad was named partner of the law firm, Magelaner and Associates, located in Columbus.

2001Birth: Daughter Madeline Nicole born to Jason and Jillian Salmons on April 2, 2008. The family resides in Wellston, Ohio where Jason is an intervention specialist.

Birth: Son, Jalen Andrew to Jason and Jodi Stambaugh Dunham.

2003 Jana L. Fryman graduated in June 2008 from Ohio University with a Master of Education in College Student Personnel. She currently resides in Kane’ohe, Hawaii.

Birth: Daughter Emma Nicole to Nick and Kira Kearns Northup on May 27, 2008. The family resides in Mason, WV.

University and was a retired Clark County Vocational

School teacher.

1971Candace Kiess Spurlock retired on June 30, 2008

from Point Pleasant Primary School in

Mason County, West Virginia after 38 years of teaching second grade.

1973Vincent G. Hill recently retired after 35 years of teaching.

1974 Beverly Lyons retired from South-Western City Schools in Grove City, Ohio in 2005 but is currently teaching part-time in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District in Greenfield, Ohio as a Reading and Intervention teacher with first and second graders.

1977Deceased: Michael Chiccola of Dallas, Texas on December 25, 2008.

1986Lisa Casto has been hired as the new guidance counselor for Oak Hill Elementary School for the 2008-2009 school year.

Linda Jeffers Lester has been named foundation fund development manager for Holzer Health Systems in Gallipolis, Ohio.

1987Joseph R. Hemsley has been named Principal of Jackson High School in Jackson, Ohio. Hemsley received his

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Rio Grande

The University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College and the family of Charles Withee are pleased to invite you to a retirement party for Mr. Withee, long time Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sci-

ences. Mr. Withee estimates that over 8,000 students have taken a class with him during his 46 year tenure and he would like to invite each of them back to Rio for this occasion. The celebration of his retirement will be held on Sat-urday, April 25, 2009 in the rotunda of Bob Evans Farms Hall at Rio Grande from 2-4 p.m. All alumni, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend. Your RSVP may be made to Mary Withee at cmwithee@sbcglobal.net or PO Box 39, Rio Grande, OH 45674.

Michael Malone, a sixth-grade teacher at Hamilton’s Hayes Elementary School, will become the assistant principal at Edgewood High School.

2004Birth: Son Sean Mark Leonard to Jonny and Kim Richardson ’04 Leonard on July 9, 2007.

2005Married: Erin Morgan to Josh Stephenson on June 28, 2008. Erin is employed at First National Bank of Wellston and Josh is employed at YSK Corp. The couple resides in Wellston, Ohio.

2007Married: Joseph K. Jackson ’07 to Kelly Keene Hanselman ’05 on September 20,

2008 in Georgetown, Ohio. Joe graduated with a degree in Fine Woodworking and Industrial Technology while Kelly graduated with a degree in Nursing. The couple will reside in Georgetown, Ohio.

OTHER:Tammy Davison has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of social services.

Deceased: Sgt. Kevin R. Thornton, April 25, 2008. He was a 18 plus year United States Army nurse veteran, Kevin had served tours in Belgium, Bosnia, Iraq, Kuwait and Korea as well as numerous state side assignments.

Deceased: Gregory Wayne Phillips on June 30, 2008.

Charles Withee to Retire After 46 Years of Teaching

University of Rio Grande Alumni Board Job Description

Mission: The University of Rio Grande Alumni Board of

Directors seeks to serve the interests and needs of the alumni, and when-ever possible, the needs and interests of the University’s students. The Board’s primary focus is to promote the University to all of its constitu-ents. The Board will promote leader-ship by example by encouraging the continued involvement of its alumni in the Association, and by fostering social and professional relationships among its members.

Responsibilities: The University of Rio Grande Alumni Board is to assist the insti-tution with its mission and aims, evaluate various programs, and work toward building the human and financial resources necessary to reach these goals. The Alumni Board will assist staff in providing events, products and services that keep alumni informed about the institution and its progress, while fostering life-long relation-ships.

The Alumni Board seeks to:• Increase Rio Grande’s support base by hosting fellowship events for alumni and friends• Identify prospective students for the Office of Admissions• Improve Alumni Participation in giving by helping to raise funds from Alumni and Friends

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The Shared VisionRio Grande Unveils Athletic Logo

Rio’s Hively Finishes 10th at National Meet

With branding such an important part of the athletic community, we

are pleased to unveil the new athletics logo and with it many new opportuni-ties to promote the university and the athletics program. Athletic director Jeff Lanham, who was on the committee that selected the final design, is satisfied with the new logo. “Yes, I am,” he said. “The committee consisted of students, athletes, faculty members, alumni, administration, coaches, myself, hourly workers,” he said. “We tried to get a cross representation from as many people as we could.” “We defi-nitely came up with the one that the majority of us liked and it is some-thing that is going to match and be consistent for us.” It’s also the first time in the school’s history that the athletics pro-gram will have its own branding logo for promotion and marketing pur-poses. In years’ past the university’s would be used. Lanham says this will be a con-sistent, standard logo. “We’re trying to be consistent across the board, we haven’t in the past,” Lanham said. “We’ve used different Indian heads (when Rio Grande was the Redmen

and Redwomen) here and there, now we have one logo that will be consis-tent across the board.” “Of course, we’ll be using it in different designs, different areas, dif-ferent applications, all of our coaches, all of our athletic staff, the bookstore, t-shirts, camps, all of that will be us-ing this same logo,” Lanham added. Lanham believes the overall tone of the nickname and mascot change has been positive for the university, the alumni, the teams and the fans. “I think we can have some fun with

it. We’ve got recordings of storms, lightning and thunder and those kinds of things that we’re going to bring out with our teams,” Lanham said. “We’re in the process now of trying to get a mascot developed, actually our students are going to be involved with that.” Lanham did not rule out outside appearances for the new Red Storm mascot. “There are all sorts of things, Fourth of July parades, Christmas parades, going to elementary schools,

any type of outing or anything that is going on off campus that we can rep-resent, we will have a student in that mascot uniform and be able to put them out there and show them off.” Lanham said the process began with eight designs to choose from and it was slowly whittled down to the final selection. “We started off with eight and the next to the last meet-ing we had four and then it got it to two with changes to both of those and then we chose the current that we have,” he said.

Lanham is hopeful that in time, all students, faculty, alumni and fans will get behind the new logo and mascot. “This is part of history at Rio Grande and we want this to be something that

our students and our faculty and our alumni can grasp and grab a hold of,” he said. Lanham also stated the new mascot had to be gender equal. “We wanted something that was gender equal, when we put out the question-naire back in the summer that was one of the requirements,” he said. “We had over a 1,000 entries and we said we wanted it to be gender equal so that we can use one mascot for both men’s and women’s teams.”

University of Rio Grande junior race-

walker Kyle Hively produced a strong 10th place finish in the men’s 3,000-me-ter race walk at the

NAIA Indoor National Track & Field Championships last Friday at the Mini Dome in Johnson City, TN.

Hively came into the race ranked 12th overall and Rio Grande head coach Bob Willey was pleased with Hively’s performance. “Kyle did a great job, he has done a great job all year,” Willey said. “He got a little help as three kids were disqualified, but he still walked a great race. He set a new PR (personal record).” “As I said before we went down there, we’re very happy and excited for

Kyle, just really proud of his accom-plishments this year,” Willey added. Hively posted a time of 14:23.27. His qualifying time was 14:33.01. Hively was the only Rio Grande participant at the three-day event. He and the rest of teammates now gear up for the outdoor season, which begins Saturday at the Berea College Invitational. The meet be-gins at 10 a.m.

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Rio Grande

Beginning in the fall of 2009, the University of Rio Grande athletic teams will compete in

the Mid-South Conference, leaving the American Mideast Conference. Rio Grande has competed in the AMC since its inception in 1998. The AMC formed out of the old Mid-Ohio Conference, which Rio Grande joined in 1971. Before that, Rio played in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC). The Mid-South Conference is one of the most competitive and highly respected conferences in the NAIA. The move will constitute a jump in divisions for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which had been NAIA Division II since the 2000-01 season. Basketball is the only sport that has two divisions in the NAIA. Rio leaves the AMC/MOC with a number of championships. The RedStorm have won 10 conference or division championships in men’s soccer and will now have the likes of national power Lindsey Wilson to tangle with for Mid-South crowns. Baseball won two titles in the MOC (1974 and 1978), soft-ball tied for the AMC South Division championship in 2006 and 2008 with Ohio Dominican, women’s basketball copped three MOC titles in 1990-91, 1992-93 and 1993-94 and AMC Tour-

nament Championships in 1999 and 2000 respectively. Women’s cross country won the 1997 MOC title and women’s track and field went back-to-back in 1993 and 1994. Rio volleyball won four MOC titles (1987, 1991-1993) and men’s basketball captured 10 titles as well as the 2001 and 2003 AMC Tournament crowns. Men’s cross country won an outright MOC championship in 1992 and men’s track and field won MOC titles in 1990 and 1993.

Rio Grande Joins Mid-South Conference The Mid-South has 15 members overall, but seven schools are mem-bers in football only and two others play football and compete in track and field. The teams which Rio will compete against include: Bethel (TN) (M/W track only), Campbellsville, Georgetown (KY) College, Lindsey Wilson, Pikeville College, Shorter College (M/W track only), St. Catha-rine’s, The University of Cumber-lands (KY), and WVU-Tech. Mid-South Conference Commis-sioner Mike Pollio is pleased to have Rio Grande as a part of the confer-ence. “We are very excited to have a first class school like Rio Grande join what is considered one of the best conferences in the nation,” Pollio said. “When we toured Rio Grande we were very impressed by the class and professionalism of everyone

including the President, A.D. and the coaches. Rio is a welcome addition to the Mid- South Conference.” Athletic Director Jeff Lanham, as well as the entire athletic department, is excited and looking forward to the move. “The opportunity for the Uni-versity of Rio Grande to participate in the Mid-South Conference is very exciting!” Lanham said. “We believe we are moving from one of the top NAIA D II leagues in basketball to one of the top NAIA D I leagues in the country. Our coaches are very thrilled about the move.” Lanham talked about Rio’s past and returning to play the majority of their conference games in the Blue-

grass State as it did when his father, Art, was coaching Rio Grande back into the 1960’s. “We belonged to the KIAC during the ‘60’s and are now returning to familiar ground,” Lanham said. “This has generated en-thusiasm in our athletes, students and alumni, and will rekindle old rivals for Rio.” Lanham said that it has been a smooth transition to this point. “The A.D.’s, coaches and administration have been very helpful and have wel-comed us with open arms,” he said.“We are moving from the team in a league which is the farthest team south to a league where we are the farthest team north.” “Our fall and spring sports will benefit from the move to the south,” Lanham added. Lanham also talked concerning the

competitiveness of the Mid-South and about the increased

exposure Rio Grande will now have in the neighboring state of

Kentucky. “The MSC is very compet-itive and we are looking at this as a

challenge to all of our programs,” Lanham said. “The philosophy and commitment to the students/

athletes by the schools in the Mid-South Conference fit Rio’s goals. Our exposure in Kentucky will benefit our admissions goal to expand their recruiting in the state of Kentucky.” Lanham added that the Mid-South is also heavily involved in the Cham-pions of Character Initiative, which is something Lanham believes strongly in. “The Mid-South Conference, as does the University of Rio Grande, follows the Champions of Character Initiatives.” Competition in the Mid-South Conference for Rio Grande will begin with the Fall Sports Season of 2009-2010.

We Want To Hear About You! If you recently found a job, were promoted, were married, moved, had a baby or did anything else of interest, please let your Univer-sity of Rio Grande family know about it. Fill out the form below and send it to the Office of Alumni Relations, University of Rio Grande, PO Box 500, Rio Grande, Ohio 45674.

Name ____________________________________________________Phone________________________________ Grad. Yr. ____________Street ________________________________ City ________________State _______________________Zip _______ County _____________Email Address _________________________ Check if this is a new address.News: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nomination Form RequestThe University of Rio Grande accepts nominations for the follow-ing awards on a continuous basis. The deadline for nominations within a given year is February 1 of that year. Nomination forms are kept on file and reviewed yearly.

Alumni Awards (Distinguished Alumnus, URG Alumni, Atwood Achievement, Faculty Citation, Citation of Appreciation) Athletic Hall of Fame Educators’ Hall of FamePlease send the nomination form indicated above to:Name ____________________________________________________Address __________________________________________________

Mail this request to: Office of Alumni Relations, University of Rio Grande, PO Box 500, Rio Grande, OH 45674

Parents: If this issue of Tower & Times is addressed to your son or daughter who has established a separate permanent address,

please notify us of the new address: 740-245-7431, or 800-282-7201, ext. 7431, or award@rio.edu

The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College do not dis-criminate against applicants, employees, or students on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, or disability. Questions about this policy should be directed to the Hu-man Resources Director, Allen Hall, 740-245-7228. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be made through the Human Resources office.

The Shared Vision

The individual Board member strives to:• Identify with Rio Grande and endorse its mission• Know Rio Grande’s goals and objectives• Serve as an ambassador for Rio Grande• Support Rio Grande financially by giving at the Society of 1876 level ($100 - $499), or above, annually• Participate in the annual Alumni Phonathon by making calls to alumni and signing letters to class mates as requested• Attend, at minimum, 1 alumni event per year • Meet, as a group, four times per year.

If you would be interested in becoming an Alumni Board member, please contact

Annette Ward at 740-245-7431, or 800-282-7201, ext. 7431,

or award@rio.edu

Alumni Board Description continued from page 6

Non-ProfitOrganization

PAIDPermit No.200

Chillicothe,OH 45601F-990 OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

PO Box 500Rio Grande, OH 45674-0500www.rio.eduReturn Service Requested

The University Chapel at Rio Grande will be poised directly north of the campus, across from the Campus Green.

The University Chapel will offer seating for 100, a bride’s room, a groom’s room, and a pastor’s study. In addition to providing a place for worship and meditation, the University Chapel will be available for weddings, christenings, memorial services, and other special occasions for alumni, students, and the community.

University Chapel The University Chapel will reflect Rio Grande’s Christian heritage and founding.

Commemorative opportunities are listed in this brochure.

For more information about giving to the University Chapel Fund, please contact:

Beverly Crabtree740-245-7225 • beverlyc@rio.edu

orAnnette Ward

740-245-7431 • award@rio.edu