Ashley Privott

Ashley Privott, currently senior director of Alumni Relations at Old Dominion University, has been selected JMU's new director of Alumni Relations. Privott has also served as the director of the Dominion Fund (similar to JMU's Madison Fund) and the assistant director of Annual Giving at ODU. Prior to her nearly seven years at ODU, she worked at North Carolina State University as the Calling Center Manager for their annual fund area. She is a 1997 graduate of Old Dominion University. She will officially start at JMU in early January.

Doug Segree ('92) performs at FedEx Field.

Did you miss Doug Segree ('92) singing the national anthem last year at the Redskins vs. Giants game? Did you miss him at the September Metro D.C. Crabfest? You have one more chance this year to catch Segree in action. He will perform the national anthem at FedEx Field on Dec. 10 at 1 p.m., when the Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles. Segree performs at FedEx Field's club level during the Redskins' pre-game, half-time and post-game shows. Learn more at his Web site: www.DougSegree.com/.

Alumni Association President Elaine Toth Hinsdale ('85) accepts the 2006 Internal Communications Professional of the Year award.

PR News, the leading trade publication among communicators, named JMU Alumni Association Board President Elaine Toth Hinsdale ('85) the 2006 Internal Communications Professional of the Year. Hinsdale was honored at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in November. A communication arts graduate, Hinsdale is communications director at Lockheed Martin. More than 200 public relations professionals attended the annual PR People Awards luncheon to celebrate the year's most outstanding PR achievements and to salute the leading communications pros. "PR professionals often work behind the scenes, sometimes without the 'thanks' and accolades they so deserve," says Diane Schwartz, vice president and publisher of PR News. "The winning PR People stood apart for their leadership, creativity and results-driven activities during the 2005 calendar year judging period. These awards are one way of recognizing the outstanding achievements in the PR community." The awards were judged by a blue-chip panel that includes PR executives from corporations, agencies, nonprofits, associations and leading educators and industry consultants. Learn more at the PR News Web site.

JMU alumni are invited to attend the seventh annual Alumni Job Fair on Friday, Jan. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tysons Corner Marriott, 8028 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. Attendance is free and open to the public. Alumni, current students, soon-to-be-graduates and friends: e-mail your resume for the employer's resume CD-ROM. Resumes must be submitted electronically via e-mail as an attached file in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect or Adobe Acrobat. Please save file as: LastNameFirstName.[extension] (example: JonesJane.doc, ArringtonLavar.pdf). Then, e-mail your resume to jmumetrodukes@yahoo.com by 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15. You may also register as an employer or recruiter. Register at www.jmu.edu/alumni/jobfair. Benefits include: booth space, event Web site link, resume CD-ROM (300-400 resumes), breakfast, lunch and prominent event advertising mentions. Average attendance has been more than 400 JMU students, alumni and friends. Money raised through employer registration fees benefits the Metro Dukes Chapter Scholarship Fund. Special thanks go to the Job Fair's gold ad sponsor, Spherion Professional Services. For more information, contact Carolyn Adler at CarolynAdler@spherion.com, call the JMU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-888-JMU-ALUM, or visit www.jmu.edu/alumni/jobfair.

Get your purple-and-gold birthday hats ready! Kicking off in March 2007, and running through May 2008, the JMU Centennial Celebration promises to be the grandest celebration in JMU's history. Special centennial events will be held throughout the 2007-08 academic year. There will be a number of special projects — including the selection of Madison's "100 Best" and the placement of uniquely painted Duke Dogs throughout Harrisonburg. The history of JMU will be chronicled in six display areas, each reflecting 100 years of academics, the arts, athletics, campus life, campus appearance and the university's leadership. An award-winning Web site on the centennial is already in place. The ever-growing site contains 15 major areas, a variety of facts and figures and more than 60 stories on the history of JMU. The historical articles contain information that is informative in some cases and just plain fun. See for yourself here: www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/. If there's a particular topic you would like to see highlighted on the Centennial Web pages, contact the JMU Centennial Office: Centennial Director Fred Hilton, hiltonfd@jmu.edu, or Assistant Centennial Director Debra Long, long2da@jmu.edu. — By Fred Hilton ('96M)

If you were putting together a list of Madison's "100 Best," who would you include? The list of 100 will include those who have meant the most to JMU during its first century. You'll get a chance to express your opinion on those who make the list, which is being developed as part of JMU's Centennial Celebration. Selections on the list are expected to include current and former Madison professors, administrators, staffers, alumni, students and friends. The list will be open to groups like the Marching Royal Dukes, the Stratford Players or a championship team. Those who aren't practically people, like Duke Dog, are also eligible. Nominations for the list will be accepted from throughout the JMU family. Suggestions should be sent to: jmu100best@jmu.edu. Nominations will be reviewed by a special committee composed of professors, staff, alumni, students and local leaders. The final selection of the "100 Best" will be announced throughout the 2007-08 academic year as the centennial is observed. A few names will be announced each week. The final list will be announced on the 100th anniversary of JMU's founding, at the Centennial Convocation on March 14, 2008, and at the New Century Banquet the following evening. — By Fred Hilton ('96M)

JMU Atlanta Chapter President Melissa Palladino Roberts ('98) reports that the Atlanta chapter's Holiday Party is Dec. 10 at Jocks and Jills in Brookhaven, 4046 Peachtree Road, NE. Register for the party here. Cost is $20 for adults (age 21 and older) and includes house beer, wine and hot hors d'oeuvres (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) and $10 for adults who choose not to drink alcohol. Those under 21 will be able to order from the menu. Learn more about Atlanta Chapter events or sign up for the chapter's e-mail updates at www.jmuatlanta.com/. If you have an idea for a chapter event, contact Roberts at Melissa.Roberts@turner.com.

While you were at JMU did you spend Saturdays during football season on the field at halftime entertaining the crowd? If so, we are looking for you. Everyone knows that JMU's Marching Royal Dukes are "Virginia's Finest." Now it is time for Virginia's Finest alumni to get back together. We are in the process of forming the JMU Marching Royal Dukes Alumni Band Chapter. So pick up your horn, drum or flag and send an e-mail to MarchingRoyalDukes@alumni.jmu.edu to get more information or to volunteer to help with the new chapter. — By Dan Everard ('89)

Metro Dukes alumni walked in the 19th annual Fannie Mae Foundation "Help the Homeless Walkathon" Nov. 18. The 5K around the National Mall and the Tidal Basin raised money to support 180 organizations in the Washington area that work to prevent and end homelessness. Eighteen Metro Dukes and friends participated as guests of Fannie Mae employee Megan Cech ('04). For their efforts, the Fannie Mae Foundation donated $50 per guest, along with $100 per employee, to the Help the Homeless program — for a total donation of $1,000! Many other D.C.-area alumni also contributed to the cause by walking with other organizations, including the Capital Alumni Network and corporate sponsors Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Award-winning singer/songwriter Jewel, the walkathon's honorary chair, offered a personal and powerful perspective — she was once homeless — and joined D.C.'s incoming and outgoing mayors in commending the dedicated work of the beneficiary organizations and the 25,000-plus participants. We hope all Metro Dukes will plan to join us for next year's walkathon. — By Shannon McQuary ('03)

Metro Dukes alumni join Fannie Mae employee Megan Cech ('04) to walk in the 19th annual Fannie Mae Foundation "Help the Homeless Walkathon" in November.

Metro Dukes Chapter members will meet Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at the George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Have dinner, meet new people and help chapter leaders plan future chapter events. Please RSVP to chapter President Shelly Santos ('00) at MetroDukesChpt@alumni.jmu.edu.

The Metro Dukes hosted the Metro Dukes Book Club on Dec. 4, discussing The Memory Keeper's Daughter at Panera Bread in Ballston Mall, Level 1. For information about the book club, contact Evan Bolick ('05) at MetroDukesBookClub@yahoo.com.

The Metro Dukes Chapter also will host the following December events:

• Dec. 14 — Best Cellars Wine Tasting
  7-9 p.m. at Best Cellars
  2855 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington
  Click here to register.
  For more information, contact Kendra Hastings ('01) at kendrahastings@gmail.com.
  If you were impressed by the first wine tasting at Best Cellars or if you missed out on this one-of-a-kind, wine-tasting event, you don't want to miss it this time around. Participants will taste six wine varietals (different selections not previously tasted in our September event). Everyone receives a gift bag including a $10 in-store gift certificate and store discounts after the wine tasting. A portion of the ticket cost will be donated to the Metro Dukes Scholarship fund.
• Dec. 17 — Holiday Gift Wrapping
  Border's at Pentagon Centre (10 a.m.-7 p.m.)
  To volunteer: caroline.s.chin@gmail.com
  Put your gift wrapping skills to good use and volunteer with your fellow Dukes to wrap gifts for monetary donations to benefit the Northern Virginia Literacy Council. If you would like to participate (even if it is just for an hour or two), please e-mail Caroline Chin ('05) at caroline.s.chin@gmail.com with your availability. For those of you who are "gift wrapping challenged," feel free to bring gifts by the booth and have your fellow alumni do your holiday dirty work!

Join old classmates and new friends for the annual Richmond Chapter Holiday Party, Saturday, Dec. 9, from 7 to 10 p.m. Norman and Mary Sulser ('64) have generously agreed to host the party in their home at 6051 Old Meadow Court, Mechanicsville. Enjoy cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Guests are welcome. The party is complimentary, but each guest is asked to bring a bottle of wine to share. For more information, please e-mail chapter President Timothy Eades ('00) at RichmondChpt@alumni.jmu.edu. Register for the party at the JMU Online Community.

Rocky Mountain Dukes are busy giving back to the community this fall. On Dec. 14 and 19, the chapter will prepare and serve dinner for Denver-area homeless men, women and children at a Denver Rescue Mission soup kitchen. Also, Rocky Mountain Dukes have adopted a local family for the holiday season. We will provide a full meal and gifts for a young mother and her four children, ages 10 months and 4, 6 and 7 years. For more information on either holiday project, please contact Allison Coffman Leking ('04) at allicoffman@yahoo.com. Learn more about Rocky Mountain Dukes at the chapter Web site. — By Allison Coffman Leking ('04)

New Tidewater Alumni Chapter President Alison Cooper ('93) chats with Deenie Lane at the chapter's Career Networking event in November.

Congratulations and big thanks to Alison Cooper ('93), who has agreed to take on the Tidewater Alumni Chapter's presidential duties. When both of the chapter's newly elected co-presidents had to bow out due to demands of new jobs, this seasoned alumna veteran rose to the occasion. Cooper has been an active chapter member for years. With her enthusiasm and power of persuasion, she single-handedly doubled the sponsorship dollars brought in for the chapter's third annual Alumni Beach Party. Cooper is a third grade teacher in Virginia Beach. If you have an idea for a chapter event, contact her at TidewaterChpt@yahoo.com.

The Tidewater Chapter's annual Holiday Party is Monday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at Byrd & Baldwin Brothers Steakhouse, 116 Brooke Avenue, Norfolk. Attendees will enjoy a fabulous three-course dinner with fellow Dukes in a private room. Alumni status is not required, and spouses, parents and friends are welcome. Registration is limited to the first 30 people and will close upon reaching capacity or by Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. The cost is $40 per person, inclusive of tax and tip. (Drinks are not included.) For further information, contact Kelly Woodruff at KellyWoodruff@spherion.com. RSVP to reserve your seat at the JMU Online Community or call 1-888-JMU-ALUM.

Elizabeth Puritz ('07), Student Ambassador Vice President for Alumni

From: Elizabeth Puritz ('07), Student Ambassador Vice President for Alumni

As the year comes to an end, so does my term as student ambassador vice president of alumni. This past year, I have had the privilege to learn and grow while in the presence of such an incredible body of people. Journeying along the last few legs of my college career, I have had the privilege to take a peek behind the curtain of graduation and look into "the life of JMU alumni." I have seen the continuing excitement for JMU that awaits me after graduation. I have seen the dedication of the people who have come before me to make this institution the indescribable place that it is. I witnessed the service that JMU graduates give to one another and the world around them. This experience has enlightened me in so many ways and taught me what it means to be a JMU alumna. Thanks to every alumnus I encountered, every event that I was given the opportunity to attend, and every ounce of my heart I put into my work with alumni, I plan to continue my involvement with the Alumni Association once I graduate and hopefully be a part of the richness that is JMU alumni. For all of these reasons, I want to extend my deepest thanks to every alumnus, every person in the Office of Alumni Relations and everyone at this university who made my experiences enlightening and fulfilling. As I walk across that stage in May, I will without a doubt in my heart and mind be "an educated and enlighten citizen who will lead a productive and meaningful life," thanks to all of the experiences I have had at this university. Thank you so very much for being a part of my Madison Experience.

Fredericksburg's "The Free Lance-Star" reported Dec. 1 that the "local James Madison University alumni opted for a beach tailgating theme" for the 19th annual Fredericksburg Jaycees Christmas Parade Dec. 2. Said the newspaper: "Members of the Fredericksburg chapter of JMU's Duke Club, an athletic booster organization, were putting the finishing touches on their float yesterday, adding a grill, tent and lit-up palm trees. The group is especially excited that the school mascot will be joining them in the parade. 'The Duke Dog is going to be here, which is a pretty big deal for us,' said club member Jeremy Bullock of Spotsylvania." The theme for the Virginia city's parade was "A Caribbean Christmas."

Corey Davis

An overall record of 9-2, including a 7-1 record in the Atlantic 10, earned the James Madison football Dukes a trip to the 16-team NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. It was the program's seventh venture into the division's postseason and the first since winning the 2004 championship. The Dukes, who won the title two years ago with three wins on opponents' fields, were sent packing to face the Youngstown State Penguins (9-2) in the first round. The champions of the Gateway Conference overcame an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit to turn back the Dukes, 35-31. The outcome ended the careers of 14 seniors, who over the last four years made major contributions to the most successful stretch in the Dukes' football history, posting a record of 35-15.

When the Dukes open the 2007 season Sept. 1 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., they will be playing as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, and no longer in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference. JMU will be joined in this move under the CAA banner by the other 11 programs that are currently members of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference. Schools which are full-fledged members of other leagues, such as the A-10, will continue to play other sports in their respective leagues, thus becoming associate members of the CAA for football only. JMU has been an associate member of the A-10 since the league took over the old Yankee Conference in 1997.

The Division I-AA label to distinguish those football programs that offer a maximum of 63 scholarships has been changed to NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. Those schools that offer 85 scholarships are now in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Kelsey Cutchins

The James Madison field hockey team earned an automatic berth to the NCAA National Championship Tournament with a remarkable 1-0 win against top-seeded and nationally third-ranked Old Dominion in the championship game of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. Sophomore Melissa Walls converted a penalty stroke 22 minutes into the contest and it held up as the Dukes won their second CAA crown, the first coming in 1995 on the heels of their 1994 national championship. What was remarkable was that the Monarchs led in shots 23-1 and in penalty corners 21-1. JMU was able to withstand 14 corners, 17 shots and a missed ODU penalty stroke in the second half to hold onto the victory. "We talked about how we'd have to execute when we had the opportunity," said third-year Head Coach Antoinette Lucas. "You never imagine that you'll survive 21 corners against you. But we were hoping to be able to hang in there and in the end take the punch." Freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Cutchins played a huge role in taking the punch as she recorded 14 saves in goal for the Dukes, including 12 in the second half. She had 22 saves in the tournament and recorded her fourth solo shutout of the season, all against CAA opponents. In the NCAA tournament, the Dukes traveled to Durham, N.C., to face the Duke University Blue Devils. JMU overcame 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, but the Blue Devils scored 3:22 into the sudden-victory overtime for a 3-2 final that brought the season to a close for Madison. The Dukes' goals came from Baille Versfeld and Ashley Walls. JMU finished the season 15-8.

Sarah Cebulski

Coach Dave Lombardo's 17th edition of JMU women's soccer made a tremendous run down the stretch to qualify for the six-team CAA Championship Tournament. The Dukes carried their momentum though to the title match before falling 3-2 in sudden-victory overtime to Old Dominion, a first-time CAA champ. The Dukes defeated Virginia Commonwealth in their final regular-season game to qualify as the sixth and final seed and came back three days later to beat the third-seeded host Rams 5-0 in the quarterfinals. JMU returned a 2-0 favor from September to UNC-Wilmington in the tournament semifinals. Freshman Corky Julien and senior Sarah Cebulski netted the scores. In the title match, JMU led 1-0 and 2-1, but the Monarchs snatched away the title 5:17 into overtime. Cebulski and junior Melanie Schaffer scored for JMU. The loss in the championship was JMU's first in eight matches and gave the Dukes a final record of 11-9-2. JMU is 206-135-23 all-time in women's soccer.

Senior C.W. Moran won the 98th annual Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America men's cross-country championship race by finishing 11 seconds ahead of the pack while JMU placed second among 15 teams in the five-mile race at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City. Fellow Colonial Athletic Association member William and Mary won the men's team title with 45 points. JMU was second with 92, followed by Yale (96), Duke (103), Marist (161), Princeton (176), Saint Joseph's (180), Columbia (207), New Hampshire (239), and Maryland (259) to round out the top 10 teams. Moran, the 2006 CAA men's cross-country champion, claimed first place in the race after finishing second in last year's event. His time of 24:38.1 was more than 11 seconds ahead of the 24:49.5 posted by second-place finisher Mike DiDio of Saint Joseph's. Junior Bryan Buckland placed second among JMU runners and ninth overall in 25:24.6. Sophomore Tim Young was 26th in 25:54.8. Junior Andrew Waring was 29th in 26:00.5, while senior David Baxter closed the scoring for the Dukes with a 34th-place finish in 26:05.7. Senior Dena Spickard finished 107th among 253 entries in the 2006 NCAA Women's National Cross-Country Championships, hosted by Indiana State. She completed the 6,000-meter course in 22 minutes, 11.7 seconds. JMU has been represented at the NCAA meet the last three years and seven times in the last 11 years.

Sophomore Christy Ward was JMU's top finisher and the Dukes placed 10th as a team at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Women's Cross-Country Championships, hosted by Fordham. Ward completed the 5,000-meter race in 18 minutes, 53.3 seconds, to finish 35th among 108 runners. Other top JMU finishers included junior Michelle Beardmore, 39th in 18:59.5; freshman Holly Fredericksen, 59th in 19:30.5; senior Elaina Orphanides, 65th in 19:37.5; and sophomore Aspen Foster 68th in 19:43.0.

The seasons for the fall sports teams all wrapped up in November. Many Dukes garnered all-conference and other honors for their outstanding performances as JMU student-athletes.

Women's Soccer — Four James Madison women's soccer players were recognized by the Colonial Athletic Association. Junior forward Annie Lowry earned first team All-CAA honors for the second year in a row. Sophomore midfielder Kimmy Germain and sophomore defender Teri Maykoski were named to the All-CAA second team. Freshman forward Corky Julien was selected to the league's all-rookie team. Lowry was also named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week. She was honored after scoring three goals on just four shots in the Dukes' 3-1 home win over Virginia Commonwealth Oct. 27. The victory earned JMU a berth in the six-team CAA Tournament. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Lowry was recognized for her academic achievements by being selected to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Women's Soccer Team, along with senior Natalie Ewell. Ewell, a dietetics major with a 3.84 grade-point average, was named to the second team. She also earned academic all-district honors in 2004. Lowry, a business marketing major with a 3.75 GPA, was selected to the third team.

Men's Soccer — Senior midfielder Kurt Morsink was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer first team. Morsink earned first-team conference honors for the third year in a row. He ranked second in the CAA in scoring with 24 points on nine goals and six assists.

Baillie Versfeld

Field Hockey — Four JMU players were honored by the CAA for their achievements this past season. Senior Baillie Versfeld and freshman Meghan Bain were selected First Team All-CAA. Bain also was named the CAA Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie Team with freshman Tara King. Sophomore Melissa Walls was a Second Team All-CAA pick. JMU claimed CAA Rookie of the Year honors for the first time since former goalkeeper Lori Amico was honored in 2002. Bain led the Dukes and ranked third in the conference with both 34 points and 15 goals. Her points ranked 41st nationally and she was 25th nationally in goals. She led the CAA and shared the national lead with eight game-winning goals, including the game winner in five of JMU's six conference wins. Bain ranks second all-time at JMU in points and goals for a freshman, trailing only Julie Martinez with 38 and 18, respectively. Versfeld was named First Team All-Conference for the third time and was also a second-team pick her freshman season. She ranked tied for fifth for the Dukes with 12 points on four goals and four assists. She is in 13th place all-time at JMU with 26 goals. Versfeld was also selected to participate in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game. Walls received her first CAA honor. She was tied with Versfeld for fifth on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists. Walls converted two penalty strokes on three attempts to rank 11th nationally in penalty-stroke goals. Freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Cutchins, Versfeld, Walls and sophomore Lauren Walls were all selected to the CAA All-Tournament Team after the Dukes defeated top-seeded Old Dominion University to win their second CAA Championship.

Men's Swimming and Diving — After racking up three first-place finishes at the Nov. 5 meet with UNC-Wilmington and Towson, junior Brian Freitag was named CAA men's swimmer of the week. Freitag finished the 200-yard individual medley in 1:55.44, the 400-yard IM in 4:04.16, and won the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:07.13. All three of his times rank as the fastest in the CAA so far this season.

Eugene Holloman

Football — Senior linebacker Akeem Jordan was named the Atlantic 10 defensive player of the year. Jordan led the conference with 140 tackles this season and was ranked sixth in the nation in tackles. Jordan also managed an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble and was among 16 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation's top defensive player. He was named first-team all-conference as a linebacker, putting him among the ranks of 14 other Dukes who received all-league players. Jordan is also a finalist for the Dudley Award that is presented annually to Virginia's most-outstanding Division I college football player. Junior tailback Eugene Holloman, senior offensive tackle Corey Davis, junior punt returner L.C. Baker, senior defensive end Kevin Winston, senior linebacker Isaiah Dottin-Carter and junior free safety Tony Lezotte received all-conference first-team honors. The Dukes had five players named to the all-conference second team, including senior quarterback Justin Rascati, who was among the top finalists for the Walter Payton Award for the nation's best offensive player, junior defensive tackle John Baranowsky, senior defensive tackle Chuck Suppon, senior safety Phil Minafield and Baker as a wide receiver. Third-team selections included senior offensive guard Mike Parham, senior kick returner Ardon Bransford, sophomore punter Jason Pritchard and senior placekicker David Rabil, who just this season broke the JMU record for consecutive conversion kicks and points by getting 231.

Pierre Curtis

Men's Basketball — Freshman guard Pierre Curtis was named CAA men's basketball Rookie of the Week (Nov. 27) for his role in JMU's victories over Virginia Military Institute and Wofford. Curtis averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in the two games. He scored a career-high 16 points against Wofford. Through the first five games of his career, Curtis is averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 32.5 minutes per game.

Women's Basketball — Senior center Meredith Alexis was named CAA women's basketball Player of the Week (Nov. 13) after posting a game-high 30 points against East Carolina. She also tied for game rebounding honors with 13.

Allyson Halls

Volleyball — Junior libero Jena Pierson led a group of four JMU volleyball players who were honored by the Colonial Athletic Association while head coach Disa Garner was named CAA Coach of the Year. Pierson was named the CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year and was also a First Team All-CAA selection. She is the first libero to be named to the first team since the position was added by the NCAA in 2002. She is also the first JMU player to garner defensive specialist honors. Pierson led the CAA in digs per game and ranked ninth nationally in dig average. Her dig average, 6.24 per game, and 655 digs for the season are both JMU records. She has 1,491 career digs and needs 79 to tie Lindsay Collingwood (1996-99) for first. Junior middle blocker Allyson Halls was a CAA First Team All-CAA pick. After claiming Second Team All-CAA honors in 2005, she has stepped up her game in 2006. She ranked in the top 10 in four different offensive categories in the CAA. Sophomore setter Lauren Miles was a Second Team All-CAA honoree. Miles ranked second in the CAA during the regular season with an average of 12.98 assists per game. She also led the CAA in conference play averaging 13.19 assists. Freshman outside hitter Kaitlin McFaddin was chosen for the CAA All-Rookie Team. She had 120 kills for the season to rank fourth on the team with 2.12 kills per game. Garner captured her second CAA Coach of the Year recognition. She was also honored as Co-Coach of the Year in 2002. She guided the Dukes to a 19-9 overall record in 2006. JMU finished 13-5 in the CAA to earn the #2 seed and a first-round bye for the CAA tournament. The Dukes went 13-2 at home in Sinclair Gymnasium, including a 3-0 win over UNC Asheville on Aug. 26 to give Garner her 100th career win at JMU. She is currently 116-79 at Madison, 74-24 (.755 win percentage) in home matches, and has led the Dukes to one CAA championship.

Charles H. Foster Jr.

Charles H. Foster Jr., chairman of LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. and a former rector and current member of JMU's Board of Visitors, will address about 500 graduates and their families and guests at fall commencement Saturday, Dec. 16, when JMU President Linwood H. Rose will confer approximately 503 bachelor's degrees and 68 master's degrees. Foster's real-estate transaction services firm is ranked as a 2006 Fortune 500 company and listed on "Fortune" magazine's roster of most admired companies. Director of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, he also serves on the boards of directors of several Richmond-area corporations.

Lt. Col. Dominic (Nick) D. Swayne, former head of JMU's military science department, received the Legion of Merit Nov. 15 to honor his nearly 24 years of U.S. Army service. The award established by Congress is given to long-serving senior officers and very senior noncommissioned officers to acknowledge outstanding careers. Swayne led JMU's Duke Battalion for six years until October. During his tenure, the Duke Battalion earned the prestigious MacArthur Award in 2005 as the best large battalion east of the Mississippi River. About 150 students were commissioned as Army second lieutenants during Swayne's six years at JMU. Swayne officially retires from the Army Jan. 1, 2007. He currently teaches two courses for JMU's department of learning, technology and leadership education and is finishing a master's degree in computer science at JMU.

Lt. Col. Dominic Nick Swayne (center) is awarded the Legion of Merit from Col. Frank Ippolito of Fort Belvoir.

Three local high schoolers accompanied 55 JMU students, faculty and staff on a hurricane-relief trip to New Orleans during the week of Thanksgiving. The trip was the third for some group members who also spent Thanksgiving Week 2005 in Biloxi, Miss., and a week last May in Waveland, Miss., helping Gulf Coast residents to recover from Hurricane Katrina. The Nov. 18-25 trip was organized by the JMU College of Education. Each volunteer paid $363 to perform a variety of tasks, including gutting buildings, doing construction work and delivering food and water.

JMU volunteers packing boxes on Katrina Relief III.

JMU's annual Holidayfest was held Dec. 3 with a concert in Wilson Hall Auditorium and the traditional tree lighting and caroling in front of Wilson Hall.