September 2004

In this Issue:

A Word About Dave

It is with sadness that we inform you of David Weisbord's departure from Susquehanna University as of September 15th, 2004. Dave has accepted a position in the Office of Admissions, and as an IT Advisor, to Columbia University. Dave felt that it was a great opportunity for him and his wife, and one that he could not pass up. We thank Dave for all of the wonderful work he has done, for his dedication to APAN and to Susquehanna University in general. We wish him the best of luck in his new position at Columbia University!

When I first arrived at SU as a freshman, I was excited. I was looking forward to meeting my roommates and making new friends; I was looking forward to running college track; I was looking forward to living on my own for the first time; and, believe it or not, I was excited for my Assistantship. I knew I was going to be working on an Alumni-Parent program for the Office of Admissions, but I didn't have a clue what the program was about or who exactly I was working for. I couldn't have been on campus for more than orientation weekend when I met Dave Weisbord and he wanted to have a meeting. A meeting? Already? I couldn't believe it. What had I gotten myself into?

Well, the meeting didn't turn out too bad, as Dave and Chris Markle took me out to BJ's for lunch, but afterwards I had an answer to my question: I knew exactly what I had gotten myself into. I would be helping to run the APAN program - I would help with college fair assignments and materials; I would develop the Adopt-A-Student program and the Interview Initiative; I would write the monthly newsletter; and I would pretty much help out wherever else they needed it. Everything was spelled out for me and within a week or two, I was in the flow of the system. How did it come so easily when I had so much else going on? Simply put, it went smoothly because Dave had a plan. He knew what he needed help with and he knew where he wanted the program to go. APAN was, and still is, Dave's baby, and as I found out, Dave ALWAYS had a plan.

Although I didn't arrive at SU until the Fall of 2002, it is not lost on me what Dave did for the APAN program. I can't tell you the countless times I have heard, "We've had APAN for a long time, but we never developed it or used it correctly until Dave took over... he turned the program around." Dave had a vision for APAN... but not just the outer-workings of alumni showing up at college fairs - Dave wanted to do it the right way. He traveled all over the east coast recruiting members for APAN and getting them to buy into the program. When we realized during the fall of 2002 that there was a better way to cover college fairs, Dave ordered table banners and Polo shirts to put a better face on the program. When we realized that the program had to be more accessible for all members, Dave created and constantly updated the APAN Web site, so everyone was always in the loop. He wanted everyone to have an opportunity to be involved, because he wanted to make sure that everyone felt like they were a part of the SU community.

All of this is only what Dave did for APAN, and, of course, he had a number of other responsibilities within the office as well. On a personal level though, Dave helped me in more ways than I can count. He helped me around the University, getting acclimated, using the computer network, introducing me to different professors or administrators I otherwise wouldn't have known. He was always understanding when it came to balancing all of the activities in my life. He always kept M&Ms on his desk because he knew I liked them, even if it meant he had to buy a new bag each week. Dave, in other words, is not just a great boss, but a great friend.

Of course, the program will continue to run - Chris is now the Coordinator of APAN, Pam Aungst will continue with her tireless work of making sure things are running smoothly, and I will continue answering all of your e-mails, updating the Web site, and writing the newsletter.

On behalf of everyone here, though, I want to thank Dave for all of his hard work and efforts, and to let him know that we already miss him and his M&Ms around the office.

-Sean

The APAN Member of the Month section highlights individual APAN members who have contributed significantly to the expansion and success of APAN over the past year.

The September APAN Member of the Month is RuthAnn Updegrove. RuthAnn is not only a member of the Class of '70, but her daughter Kate also attends SU and will graduate this spring!

RuthAnn first came to SU as a transfer student looking for a college with a more "personal feel" than that of the large university she attended. While she admits to having several majors over the course of her study here at SU, she graduated with a major Sociology, and participated in a variety of activities, including Concert Choir and student government. She also was a member of "...the 'big name entertainment committee,' the name of the committee that booked entertainment acts before Weber Chapel was opened and SU began to book "popular" groups to perform, a la today's rock concerts."

RuthAnn believes that in preparing her for life after college, "The most important avenue available from SU was the ability to meet all different types of people with wide interests and talents. In the working world, having had the experience of having to readily adapt to different people with different ideas is a terrific advantage."

RuthAnn first joined APAN after being highly impressed by the SU admissions program during her daughter's college search. RuthAnn works a number of college fairs for APAN in both the fall and spring, and, not surprisingly, this is her favorite aspect of the program. RuthAnn notes, "It's interesting to see what types of careers the 'next generation' is considering - and what parts of a college experience seem most important to them." Additionally, RuthAnn is already looking forward to Kate joining the program after her graduation so that they can work fairs as a mother-daughter team!

Thank you for all of your hard work and assistance at college fairs RuthAnn! Congratulations!

As an APAN Member you work hard throughout the year, volunteering your time and energy to help spread the word about SU and recruit top-notch students to the University. Well, in case you haven't heard, here are the results of all of your hard work:

For the 10th consecutive year, SU began the academic year with record-breaking enrollment of over 1,900 students! About 550 are new students – approximately 525 of whom are freshmen, and 25 are transfer students. Nearly 60 percent of the first-year students were in the top one-fifth of their high school classes, and about 90 percent were in the top two-fifths. Twenty-two new students were either valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school classes! Members of the Class of 2008 come to Susquehanna from 18 states, including as far away as Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Washington. Three other countries – Bolivia, China and Nepal – will also be represented among the student body! About 7.5 percent of the new students describe themselves as being part of an ethnic minority group.

As Chris says, “The Class of 2008 was selected from the largest applicant pool in the University’s history. Our first-year students bring exceptionally strong credentials to campus; they have demonstrated their talents in high school – both in and out of the classroom."

A large part of this continual success can be credited to all of your efforts over the past several years, and especially last year! Your hard work is appreciated and valued - we couldn't do it without you!

Calendars, Schedules and Events

(Click the link to see all of the latest happenings on campus!)

SU Receives College of Distinction Honor

As the reputation of Susquehanna University grows, so do the number of honors and awards it receives. Just this week, SU received the honor of “College of Distinction,” and will be featured in Colleges of Distinction, a new book profiling some of America’s best bets in higher education. Based on the opinions of guidance counselors, educators, and admissions professionals, Colleges of Distinction honors colleges that excel in four key areas of educational quality, specifically: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Communities, and Successful Outcomes. Colleges of Distinction makes particular note of the personal attention students get from their teachers, the school’s career planning and placement success and its students’ diverse academic experiences through on-campus and study abroad learning. “The Susquehanna community is pleased to be recognized by Colleges of Distinction. We take great pride in the numerous ways we engage our students, both in and out of the classroom, on campus and abroad, to prepare them for lives of achievement, leadership and service – hallmarks of a Susquehanna education,” said University President L. Jay Lemons.

Colleges of Distinction will be published later this year. However, SU is already featured on the Colleges of Distinction Web site! Check out the Colleges of Distinction homepage here, and take a peek at the SU profile here!

Emmy Award Winner Tony Kushner to Speak at SU

Tony Kushner, fresh off of winning an Emmy award for his hit Broadway play and HBO television production Angels in America, will speak at SU on Sunday, October 3rd at 8 pm.

In the early 1990s, Kushner scored a major hit with the epic Broadway blockbuster Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, a seven-hour, two-part play which earned him many awards, including a Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards. The play examined social and political aspects of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980’s. The HBO television production won 11 Emmy awards less than two weeks ago, including Kushner for Best Writing for a Mini-Series, Movie, or Dramatical Special.

Kushner has been fearless in his confrontation of such issues as religion in American life, the dissolution of the family, the ravages of AIDS, and the necessity of taking moral responsibility. About Angels in America, Newsweek magazine wrote, “The entire work is the broadest, deepest, most searching American play of our time.”

Kushner is a self-described gay, Jewish socialist raised in Louisiana and educated at Columbia University and New York University who enjoys addressing audiences that are receptive to ideas for change and progress. In his talks and lectures, he shares his thoughts on his own faith, on death, moral responsibility and politics. Kushner’s appearance at Susquehanna University is one of several programs centered on the theme of “Religion in the Public Square” during the 2004-05 academic year.

Tickets are free, and can be obtained by calling 372-ARTS (2787). Please join us for what promises to be an exciting and captivating evening!

As if the James W. Garrett Sports Complex and the Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium were not enough, SU has added the Sassafras Field Complex to its collection of athletic facilities. The complex includes a softball field, a synthetic surface multipurpose field equipped with lights, and a grass surface multipurpose practice field. The synthetic surface field has already played host to Crusader Men's and Women's Soccer and Field Hockey, and in the spring will also be the home of Crusader Men's and Women's Lacrosse. Students have already grown fond of the new complex, flocking to the fields for the fall sports, including a capacity crowd at a men's soccer night game over Homecoming Weekend. If you are in town, make sure you check it out!

The September Top 5

(Editor's Note: Every month Chris Markle, Director of Admissions, will provide a top 5 list of interesting facts about SU admission statistics or the University in general.)

The Top Five Home States of Susquehanna Students

1 Pennsylvania

2 New Jersey

3 New York

4 Maryland

5 Maine

Source: Registrar’s Office

IMPORTANT UPCOMING ADMISSIONS EVENTS

Friday, October 1, 2004: Science In-Action Day

Friday, October 1, 2004: Fall Getaway Bus trip

Saturday, October 2, 2004: Fall Open House

Monday, October 11, 2004: Liberal Arts In-Action Day

Monday, October 25, 2004: Writing In-Action Day

Monday, November 1, 2004: Arts In-Action Day

Visit http://www.susqu.edu/admissions/calendar.htm to register for any of the above dates!

FALL COLLEGE FAIRS & TABLE BANNERS

Thank you to all of you who have agreed to help with the fall college fair season - APAN is covering over 80 fairs this fall! You can check the Fall 2004 College Fair list on the APAN Homepage or by clicking here. If you have agreed to cover a fair, you will receive your materials in the mail 7-10 days before the fair. Please remember, WE CAN ONLY PROVIDE YOU WITH SO MANY MATERIALS! If you are running low, remember to keep each of your last brochures for a table copy, and tell students to simply fill out an Information Card if they would like brochures and more information about SU. Also, please remember to fill out your College Fair Evaluation Form on the APAN Web site or on the hard copy provided in each package.

Additionally, if you receive a table banner in your package, make sure that you return it to the Office of Admissions in the provided envelope. We are still missing approximately 24 banners from the Spring College Fair season...if you have one and are not covering a fair this fall, please e-mail us at APAN@susqu.edu!

APAN WEB SITE UPDATE

We would like to remind you that all of the materials you receive via mail will also be available through links on our Web site, http://www.susqu.edu/apan/. A PDF version of the APAN manual is available to view and print on the APAN Web site. Please continue to check the APAN Web site as we are continually making updates and improvements. Many key aspects of the program are now run on the Web site. Members can update their personal information, refer a prospective student, submit their College Night Evaluation form, order an APAN Polo Shirt, and read their favorite monthly newsletter, The Pipeline!

REFER A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT

Please be sure to send us the names of any rising high school sophomores, juniors or seniors who you think would make a good Susquehanna student. You can submit the student's name on-line at http://www.susqu.edu/APAN/studentreferral.htm and we will send the student information about Susquehanna.

REPLYING TO E-MAILS

We here at APAN are continually sending out mass e-mails as it is the fastest and most efficient way to contact all members. If you are going to contact us in response to a specific e-mail, it is fine to leave the same subject line. However, if you are responding to us with an urgent or important request, PLEASE CHANGE THE SUBJECT LINE to reflect your request. E-mails with the changed subject line will be read and replied to as soon as possible. If you need to reach us right away, please contact Pam at 1-800-326-9672. Thank you!

APAN POLO SHIRTS

If you have not already ordered an APAN polo shirt, we still have a limited number available. The shirts cost $20 and are available in M, L, XL and XXL (add $2 for XXL). To order your APAN polo shirt, please click here.

ADDRESS/CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES

Please be sure to keep us informed of any changes to your contact information (address, phone numbers, e-mail). IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE YOUR CURRENT E-MAIL ADDRESS. You can update your information on-line at http://www.susqu.edu/apan/UpdateInformation.htm and we will be sure to pass your updated information along to the Office of Alumni Relations.