On behalf of the JMU Alumni Association, I want to welcome two new members to the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Lorraine Warren Strickler ('52) of Harrisonburg and Kelly Stefanko ('94) of Norfolk joined the alumni board in June. We're delighted to have these two passionate alumnae join our hard-working board. Strickler is active in her church and is a former alumni chapter president. Stefanko is current president of the Tidewater Alumni Chapter. Please help me welcome these two new alumni board members. — Elaine Toth Hinsdale ('85), president of the JMU Alumni Association

The Craig M. Blass ('96) Memorial Golf Tournament is the key annual fundraiser for the memorial scholarship, which honors the alumnus who died in the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy. The fourth annual golf tournament will be held at South Riding Golf Club in South Riding, Va., Sept. 16. Most players are alumni, but the tournament is open to anyone. Many alumni have donated prizes and/or sponsorships in previous years, and these gifts are crucial to the event. More than 100 participants helped push the scholarship total past the $100,000 mark last year. Help us keep the scholarship fund thriving to honor Craig and support JMU students. If you are interested in playing, sponsoring or volunteering, please contact Geoff Black ('96) at grblack22@hotmail.com, or Jason Sfaelos ('96) at jasonsfaelos@CollegeTransit.com. You can also visit the tournament Web site, www.BlassMemorial.org.

Join the JMU Duke Club on a cruise of the Potomac River July 27. Price is $29.50 per person. The Miss Christin Potomac River Boat leaves from Alexandria City Marina at 6:30 p.m. (Cameron and Union Streets, Old Town Alexandria). Click here for directions to the marina. The cruise is sponsored by Spectrum, accounting and technology professionals. The event includes an open bar, light fare and live music by Tap Room Uglies. The boat has an open deck that can be closed in the event of rain. Come hang out with alumni and support JMU athletes. The cruise is limited to 125 guests and is open to all alumni and friends. Pay through PayPal through July 28 and register here.

Team Metro Dukes spent a fun-filled afternoon and evening May 20 camped out on the track at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va., for Relay for Life. Several team members walked in loving memory of family members and friends. For years, I relayed in memory of my father who died in 1990 from a brain tumor. But this year was incredible because I was celebrating my grandmother's amazing recovery from breast cancer. My co-captain, Lauren Maguire ('05), and I also traveled to JMU to support the university's Relay for Life team April 8-9. We wanted to promote participation in Relay after graduation. Metro Dukes sponsor two raffles, one targeting graduating seniors and underclassmen, which gave us an excellent opportunity to speak with soon-to-be grads about alumni activities.

As co-captain, I'd like to thank the other Reston Relay for Life team members: Lina Ciarleglio ('03), John Finamore ('94), Kate Ouellette Finamore ('94), Allison Focht ('99), Kaija Johnston ('99), Maggie Ivey ('99), Farrah Khan ('05), Lauren Maguire ('05), Alissa Merrill ('96), the team's top fundraiser, Emily Millington ('05), and Jenene Romanucci ('02). We worked hard to raise a team total of $2,377.69. The Reston Relay raised $319,611 for the American Cancer Society. "I'm proud of our team for beating our fundraising goal," says Farrah Khan ('05). Join next year's team by contacting Caroline Chin at caroline.s.chin@gmail.com, or Lauren Maguire at laurenmmaguire@gmail.com. — By Caroline Serena Chin ('05)

Metro Dukes Relay for Life team members include (l-r): Maggie Ivey ('99), future Duke Sarah Grace Finamore, Caroline Serena Chin ('05), Emily Millington ('05), Farrah Khan ('05), Lauren Maguire ('05), Kaija Johnston ('99) Allison Focht ('99), Kate Ouellette Finamore ('94) and future Duke Caleb Finamore. Not pictured: Lina Ciarleglio ('03), John Finamore ('94), Alissa Merrill ('96) and Jenene Romanucci ('02).

Planning for the Metro Dukes' annual Crabfest is in full swing. The 2006 Crabfest will be Sept. 16 from noon to dusk at Fort Belvoir's Castle Park. Adult tickets are $25; children 13 and under eat free. The ticket price includes an all-you-can-eat-and-drink menu of crabs, shrimp, hot dogs, corn on the cob, cake, soda and beer. For more details, please contact Mike Jones ('94) at msjones@jones-cpas.com, or call Mike at (703) 508-5709.

The JMU Black Alumni Chapter hosts the annual summer meeting July 22 at 1 p.m. in Richmond. All alumni are invited. Details regarding the meeting and chapter events are posted on the chapter's Web site, www.jmu.edu/alumni/chapters/bac. Black Alumni Chapter members celebrated each other's talents and talked about JMU to prospective and current students during the second annual April Reunion Weekend on campus. JMU's Students for Minority Outreach co-sponsored an alumni talent showcase, and alumni enjoyed a cookout, happy hour and party in the Grand Ballroom. "The weekend was a great success," says chapter President Vanessa Evans ('93, '97M). "Alumni from many different class years who had not seen campus in years were back this year." Evans joined six additional alumni leaders in a panel discussion to give advice to JMU students. The "Packaging and Preparing Yourself for Life After College" program is designed "to mentor current JMU students and help them begin to create a JMU network," Evans says. "We discussed what life was like on campus when we were enrolled, and we talked about preparing for job interviews and rèsumè writing." The BAC also invited JMU President Linwood H. Rose to talk about the changes, challenges and accomplishments of JMU's diversity initiatives. "Dr. Rose was extremely candid about campus diversity — the shortcomings, positive steps and initiatives currently in place," says Evans. "Alumni were energized to hear of the commitment JMU has made to create a more diverse campus environment." For more information about the Black Alumni Chapter, send an e-mail to blackalumnichpt@alumni.jmu.edu.

Black Alumni Chapter President Vanessa Evans ('93, '97M), center, shares advice on "life after college" in a roundtable discussion for JMU students.

Boston-area alumni are hitting the links July 22. Join fellow Dukes at McGolf in Dedham for your choice of mini-golf, the driving range or the chipping and putting greens. For more details, please e-mail JMUinBoston@yahoo.com. McGolf is accessible by public transportation, or visit www.mcgolfonline.com for directions.

Richmond alumni: It's time to register for the chapter's Crabfest, to be held Aug. 5 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Columbian Center on Pump Road. Visit with fellow Dukes and enjoy an all-you-can-eat-and-drink menu of crabs, shrimp, hot dogs, corn, cake, soda and adult beverages. Adult tickets are $25; children 13 and under eat free. Kids will have a "Kids' Food Only" table and a Moon Bounce. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Richmond chapter's scholarship fund. Register for the Crabfest here.

"We have two upcoming alumni events, and we'd love to see some JMU spirit at both," says Baltimore/Annapolis Chapter President Lauren Bronich-Hall ('98). The chapter is sponsoring a baseball outing July 15 to watch the Baltimore Orioles take on the Texas Rangers. The event includes a pre-game celebration and welcome for new graduates from 2 to 4 p.m. at Edgar's. The game starts at 4:35 p.m. Tickets are $13 each. Register here. For more information, please contact Kevin Grunkemeyer at kevin.grunkemeyer@rrd.com or (410) 327-5764. The chapter also will sponsor a crab feast Aug. 20 at Mariner's Landing Crab Feast, beginning at 2 p.m. The event will include live music from 3 to 7 p.m. To register, visit the JMU Online Community and click on the Events Calendar link. For more information, please contact Lesley Stein ('01) at lstein@umbc.edu or (443) 394-0146.

Click on photo to enlarge.

JMU Atlanta Chapter President Melissa Palladino Roberts ('98), (seated center, with daughter, Kylie, standing) submitted this photo of the Atlanta Chapter's June 4 baseball outing. The Braves lost 9-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but alumni enjoyed visiting with each other's families at a pre-game reception and during the game at Turner Field.

The Chicago-Area Alumni Chapter held June's Purple Thursday happy hour on the rooftop deck of Rock Bottom Brewery downtown. The next Purple Thursday event is July 13 at 7 p.m. If you have a location idea, please e-mail the chapter from the Web site, www.chicagodukes.com. Since summer only lasts a brief three months in the Windy City, chapter leaders plan on taking advantage of the good weather by gathering alumni at some of the many Chicago summer festivals and beer gardens. In June, alumni gathered at Ravinia in Highland Park to hear the Bo Deans perform. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the chapter's book scholarship, which will be awarded to a current JMU student from the Chicago area.

Click photo to enlarge.

Chapter President Raminder Chadha ('93), with the purple pom-pom, joins Chicago alumni, friends and family at Ravinia to hear the Bo Deans.

Alison Cooper ('93) and Robyn Buchanan Gerstenslager ('04) take time out of their duties as photographer and writer. Check out their Tidewater Beach Party article in the upcoming fall issue of Madison magazine.

It may not have been a good hair day, but the wind didn't keep JMU alumni from the Ocean View Fishing Pier for the third, sun-soaked Tidewater Beach Party. "We had a great time at the party," says purple & gold beach party sponsor Bob Barton ('96), who attended with his wife, Tristie ('98), and their children, Ella and Reed. "I was really impressed. I could tell everyone was having a good time despite the wind," says Brooke Nielson ('01), who has attended all three beach parties. Though the winds canceled the bubble machine and children's noodle race, Mary Loumeau ('93) kept kids entertained with hula hoops and jump ropes. Mary Jones ('91), who traveled all the way from Richmond with her family of five, gave the new beach party venue a thumbs-up: "It's nice that the venue is a smaller, more intimate setting. It makes it easier to mingle and meet. Without the sand/surf to play in, it made me relax more since I didn't have to worry about my kids wandering off into the water." Thanks to several generous alumni, alumni-owned business sponsors and the raffle-ticket buyers, the beach party was a financial success. The event raised more than $2,000 for the Tidewater Chapter Scholarship. If you want to help plan Tidewater Beach Party 2007, visit the chapter Web site, www.jmu.edu/alumni/chapters/tidewater, and contact us. — By Kelly Stefanko ('94)

Join the JMU Alumni Professional Network chapter July 25 for "Speed Networking." If you have never done this type of networking before, or if you have tried it before and loved it, this is a can't-miss opportunity. Bring a friend, lots of business cards and your best 30-second sales pitch. Don't be nervous — most of us have never done this before. Come join the fun at Jammin' Java (227 Maple Avenue E in Vienna) from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The $10 fee includes coffee, tea and assorted pastries. To register, visit the chapter Web site at www.jmuapn.com/calendarevents.html. — By Nicole Bono ('01)

Summer is a great time to brush arms with the all-stars of James Madison University alumni. Lucky for me, my summer started off early when I watched a whole class of JMU students walk across graduation stages all over campus to become alumni! Once a whole new fleet of JMU alumni were entering the "real world" to show off everything JMU has to offer, it was time for the veteran stars of JMU alumni to come back to their alma mater and make decisions for the next year. I met up with all of them at the JMU Alumni Board of Directors meeting in June. After a dinner filled with reminiscing, witty banter and great stories, board members went off to their meeting, leaving me truly impressed by the vastly different and exciting lives our alumni lead. The board members truly make an impact on JMU. All of my summer fun with alumni just proves that the magic of JMU does not leave when students go home for summer. JMU magic is always in the air — and in our alumni. — By Elizabeth Puritz ('07), Student Ambassadors Vice President for Alumni

Sept. 2 — Fall Reunions and first home football game (vs. Bloomsburg State)
www.jmu.edu/alumni
www.jmusports.com

Oct. 7 — Family Weekend

Oct. 20-21 — Homecoming 2006 and Homecoming Gala

For more detailed information on any of the above listed events, please call the JMU Office of Alumni Relations, toll free 1-888-JMU-ALUM, or visit the online calendar.

Joe Damico of Libertyville, Ill., was elected rector of the JMU Board of Visitors and Dr. Meredith S. Gunter of Charlottesville, Va., was elected vice rector at the board's regular meeting held June 16 at JMU. Damico, who earned a B.S. degree in 1976 and an M.B.A. degree in 1977 from JMU, is a founding partner of RoundTable Healthcare Partners. At the meeting, board members also approved a 2006-07 university operating budget of $334.4 million, an increase of $38.2 million or 12.8 percent over the previous year, and three new bond issues to finance the construction of a new parking deck, acquisition of real estate and renovation of Hoffman Hall. The board approved two new undergraduate degree programs to be offered at JMU: a bachelor of science degree in engineering and an information analyst bachelor of science degree with concentrations in national security and competitive analysis. JMU President Linwood H. Rose reported to the board that:

• JMU has produced more Ph.D.s in the last five years than any other U.S. master's-level university;
• the Division of University Advancement has raised more than $12 million so far in fiscal year 2006, a record year for private giving at JMU; and,
• JMU's Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance held its symposium, "Homeland Security: Engaging the Front Lines," at the National Academies of Science in Washington, D.C.

The entrance to the old Harrisonburg High School, now called Memorial Hall and home to the JMU College of Education.

The Harrisonburg City Council approved the sale of the 27-acre Memorial Hall property, the former Harrisonburg High School on South Main Street, to JMU at its June 13 meeting, and the university's Board of Visitors approved the purchase at its June 16 meeting. The city council vote was 4-0; Mayor Larry Rogers, a JMU alumnus (B.S., 1979, and M.Ed., 1981) and a Board of Visitors member, abstained. The purchase price for the land and buildings, including athletic fields and Veterans Memorial Stadium, is about $17 million. The university has leased the property from the city during the past year. The department of geology and environmental sciences and the department of military science moved into the former high school last fall. Early this summer, the College of Education moved into Memorial Hall.

Among the many summer programs held at JMU was a new, weeklong summer camp for local girls to build their confidence and leadership skills. The first-ever Leadership Camp for Girls was held June 19-23 at JMU. The camp hosted 18 rising sixth-grade girls from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County schools. Guided by young women mentors, the camp provided a fun, non-competitive environment for girls to develop decision-making and public-speaking abilities. The girls learned to critique media images of women, and they took part in goal-setting experiences based on healthy decision-making and personal dreams. Studies indicate girls in early adolescence begin to lose interest in mathematics and science as they focus more on trying to please others, especially in their appearance, said Dr. Michele Kielty Briggs, assistant professor of counseling in the department of graduate psychology and the camp's co-director with Dr. A. Renee Staton. Here's a sampling of other summer programs at JMU:

• The ninth annual AthElite Strength & Conditioning Academy for young athletes to develop strength, speed, agility, coordination, power, flexibility, endurance and/or toughness.
• Camp UREC offers a week of recreational activities encouraging teamwork and new skills to children ages 6-12.
• Mickey Matthews Football Camp offers two sessions for boys 8 to 18.
• Dean Keener Boys Basketball Camps holds day and overnight sessions for boys in grades K-8 and in grades 2-12.
• The second annual Children's Poetry Camp hosts rising third through fifth graders and rising sixth through eighth graders to work with teachers, poets, storytellers and musicians.
• The 20th annual Summer Band Camp for rising 8th through 12th grade students offers camps for concert and marching band, drum line, drum majors, rifles, color guard and band leadership.
• Two vocal camps are held at JMU: Children's Choral Camp for ages 6-16 and the High School Choral Camp.
• The 14th Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates, funded by the National Science Foundation, allows chemistry students to conduct full-time independent research. JMU also offers summer REUs in materials science, math, biology and environmental biology.
• Camp Jumpstart is designed to help improve the academic skills of students entering grades six through nine who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
• The National Center for Rural STEM Education brings about two dozen middle-school teachers from rural areas across the country to become immersed in geospatial technology.

Madison sophomore Braden Gellenthien of Hudson, Mass., won the individual men's compound gold medal and was a member of two gold-medal teams at the Sixth World University Archery Championships June 19 in Vinicne, Slovakia. Gellenthien beat Italy's Sergio Pagni easily 117-110 in the finals to take home the gold. Gellenthien, JMU freshman Stephen Schwade of Summerville, S.C., and Josh Binger of Texas A&M defeated France 22-21 to capture the men's compound team championship. Gellenthien then teamed with JMU freshman Brittany Lorenti of Trumbull, Conn., to win the gold in the mixed compound team competition. Lorenti also won a bronze medal in the women's compound team competition. She and Texas A&M archers Anna Stratton and Amanda Raffaelli beat Great Britain 20-18 in the bronze-medal match.

JMU sophomore outfielder Kellen Kulbacki of Hershey, Pa., was named the National Co-Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseballnewspaper in June. Senior Nate Schill of Audubon, N.J., was also honored as a third-team All-America first baseman. Kulbacki, the 2006 Player of the Year in the Colonial Athletic Association, shares the national award with Cal State Fullerton pitcher Wes Roemer. Kulbacki is the first JMU baseball player to earn First Team All-America honors at the Division I level. He also was one of five finalists for the 2006 Dick Howser Trophy, which was won by Brad Lincoln of Houston at the College World Series June 16. Kulbacki also was named a first-team Louisville Slugger, College Baseball Foundation All-American and the 2006 Player of the Year in the Colonial Athletic Association.

JMU's Greg Werner has been named one of six candidates for the National Strength and Conditioning Association College Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year Award. Werner is the director of strength and conditioning for the JMU men's and women's basketball programs and oversees the same for 11 other JMU sports. Werner came to JMU 14 years ago as the assistant strength and conditioning coach, and was promoted to head coach in 1995.

Six Madison athletes were among 98 athletes throughout the state honored for their achievements in athletic competition and in the classroom with 2005-06 Academic All-State Awards announced by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association. Women's soccer player Kim Argy of Oak Hill, Va., and football player Matt Magerko of Farnham, Va., were named to the first team. Earning honorable mentions were women's soccer players Annie Lowry of Butler, Pa., and Melanie Schaffer of Allison Park, Pa., women's tennis player Ashley Reyher of Williamsburg, Va., and field hockey player Kristen Sondermann of Stafford, Va.

JMU forward Juwann James of Jacksonville, Fla., June 26 received rookie of the year honors in voting for the All-Virginia Division I men's basketball team selected by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association. The 6-foot-5 James led JMU with averages of 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds a game in the 2005-06 season. He also was rookie of the year in the Colonial Athletic Association and a freshman All-America by Collegeinsider.com. His 191 rebounds matched JMU's No. 4 mark for a freshman, and his 342 points are JMU's No. 7 freshman mark.

Five JMU lacrosse players were named to the 2006 Virginia Sports Information Directors Association All-State Team. Named to the first team were junior midfielder Kelly Berger of Jessup, Md., and junior defender Kylee Dardine of Broomall, Pa. Junior midfielder Lynlea Cronin of Columbia, Md., senior attacker Brooke McKenzie of Englewood, Colo., and senior defender Betsey Priest of Reisterstown, Md., were second-team honorees.

JMU women's basketball players Meredith Alexis of Hanover Township, Pa., and Tamera Young of Wilmington, N.C., have been named to the 2005-06 Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State First Team. Alexis, a 6-3 junior center, led the Dukes in scoring and rebounding. She set school records for career rebounds, career double-figure rebounding games, career double-doubles, season rebounds and season double-doubles. Young, a 6-1 sophomore forward, was JMU's steals leader and was second in scoring and rebounding. Young set school sophomore records for points, double-doubles and double-figure rebounding games.

Chris Malone, a former standout Division I player and a coach in three Division I programs, has joined the JMU football coaching staff. Malone, who was a four-year starter as an offensive guard at Virginia Tech, will coach the Dukes' offensive tackles and tight ends. He joins the JMU staff after coaching the offensive line and tight ends last season at Virginia Military Institute. He also previously coached the offensive line and tight ends at Massachusetts, was a graduate assistant offensive line coach at Virginia Tech, and was offensive and defensive line coach at Fork Union Military Academy. "Chris brings extensive coaching and recruiting experience to our program," Dukes' Head Coach Mickey Matthews said. "His hiring was a natural for our program — he is well known both in Virginia and the Atlantic 10."