PSU Magazine Fall 1995

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWS New Board officers Jo Ann Smith '90, owner of Jo Ann Smith and Associates Employment Consultants, is president of the Alumni Board of Directors for the 1995-96 year. Smith has been vice president and chaired PSU Weekend '93. Other officers include Vice President Sue Purpura '77, manager of Prepaid Health Plans for Sisters of Providence; and Treasurer Brian Black '69, a vice president with U.S. Bank of Oregon. Committee chairs include: Joan Johnson '78, chair of PSU Advocates; Nancy Fargo '82 and Joe Gonzales '91, chairs of Outreach; Lee Jenkins '79, chair of Student Affairs; Gail Dundas '87 and Leo Macleod '90, chairs of the Marketing/Communi– cations Committee; and Purpura, chair of PSU Weekend '95 . Alumni serve as mentors When Alumni Board member Terry Hunt '65 talks about the Beech Elementary School fourth-grader he mentors, he beams with obvious pride. "I look at him sometimes and think this kid has the potential to really be somebody," he says. "I mean, really be somebody." Eight-year-old Ryan has obviously made a strong impression on Hunt, who once a week leaves his downtown law office to spend his lunch hour with Ryan. 'This is the kind of kid," Hunt continues, "who could be an All-American quarterback and a Rhodes Scholar." In cooperation with the Portland Public Schools, the PSU Alumni Association is seeking alums to be mentors to young students. A mentor is a grown-up friend, someone to talk to, someone who cares. Hunt recalls some of the activities he and Ryan have experienced together: a look at the animal skele– tons in one of PSU's science buildings, Ryan's first trip on MAX, toying with an electric motor kit, and a visit to the public library to find books about 22 PSU MAGAZINE FALL 1995 insects. "It doesn't take much to have a kid appreciate your time," Hunt says. After receiving special training, volunteers are asked to work with one child for one hour a week during the coming school year. The Alumni Association sees community service, such as the mentoring program, as another way that the University enhances city life, giving children a better future. Call the PSU Alumni Office at 725-4948 with questions or to volun– teer, and join other PSU alums in helping children. Helping alumni children The Portland State University Alumni Association will offer a full scholarship this year to the son or daughter of a PSU graduate. The Jane Wiener Memorial Alumni Scholarship covers the cost of tuition and required fees and will be awarded winter term 1996. Lee Jenkins '79, chair of the Student Affairs Committee of the Alumni Board, administers the schol– arship program. According to Jenkins, "the Alumni Association attempts to enhance the PSU student experience · whenever possible. Offering this schol– arship to a son or daughter of an alum is a win-win situation; it helps PSU students and helps our alumni." Applicants for the scholarship must qualify on the basis of need, meet specific academic requirements, and do volunteer work at one of PSU's research institutes. The scholarship is renewable on an annual basis. The scholarship is named in honor of the late Jane Wiener '68, a Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney and alumni board member. Wiener, a quadriplegic, fought for the rights of the disadvantaged. The Alumni Association hopes to continue to build the endowment for the schol– arship fund so that it can provide addi– tional scholarships to more children of PSU alumni. Alumni who would like to contri– bute to the scholarship program and those who have questions about it can contact Ben Schonberger, assistant director of Alumni Relations, at 725-5073. Salute to retirees, welcome new members The PSU Alumni Board of Directors recognized retiring board members at its final meeting in June. Leaving the Board after serving two terms were: John Eccles '69, chair of the Board's Outreach Committee and a founder of the PSU Weekend event; Deanna Hotchkiss '88, a past treasurer and host for alumni receptions at Intel; Jan Kurtz '87, past Board president and chair of the Student Affairs Commit– tee; and Linda Marshall '83, who was recognized for her outstanding service as chair of the PSU Advocates Committee for the past three years. "These four people accumulated an incredible amount of hours in their service to the Alumni Association and the University," says Alumni Director Pat Squire. "And while they are offi– cially retired, we know they'll all stay active with PSU. They're a permanent and important part of our family." Newly elected board members include: Steve Amen '86, director of production at Oregon Public Broad– casting; Glen Beckley '68, president of Beckley & Associates, an information systems consultant; Vicki Chase '78, vice president/securities at Standard Insurance Company; Dan Gemma '64, senior vice president of dealer banking at First Interstate Bank; Mary Mertens James '78, an attorney with Amburgey & Rubin; Stan Payne '73, controller at Container Recovery Inc.; Don Rickel '65, an account executive with Channing L. Bete Co., educational publishers; and Ellen Wax '82, MURP '92, a planner with city of Portland. The volunteer Alumni Board of Directors meets monthly to plan and direct the activities and programs of the Alumni Association. Each board member serves on at least one committee, as well as supporting University events and activities. For information about the Alumni Association, call Alumni Relations at 725-4948, or stop by the office at 506 SW Mill, Suite 239. D