Alumni News & Announcements

Alumni News & Announcements\

VUU Alumnus Norfolk State University's First President

A reprint of the book Upward, a History of Norfolk State University by author and VUU alumnus Dr. Lyman Beecher Brooks (’29) refreshes the annals of VUU’s founding of Norfolk State University in 1935 as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University. Dr. Brooks reveals how he received a letter in 1938 from then VUU President, Dr. William J. Clark, appointing him director of the University's Norfolk unit (Norfolk State Unit of Virginia Union University). He details the many events and persons who were involved in the development and founding of NSU. Dr. Brooks particularly notes GWC Brown of then Bank Street Baptist Church who served as co-chair of the overall movement, chairman of the Publicity Committee, and presented the plan to finance the publicity campaign and related promotional activities. The book also meticulously chronicles Dr. Brooks’ life from his birth on May 27, 1910 in Matthews County, Virginia until events shortly before his passing on April 20, 1984. Copies of the book have sold out at NSU’s bookstore, but are available for viewing and reference at NSU’s library. Interested persons may contact Cathy Fuller or Dorothy Norfleet of NSU’s library at 757/823-2418.

CIAA Basketball Tournament 2008

Next year’s tournament dates are February 25 – March 2, 2008. Many CIAA alumni and fans are making hotel reservations very, very early to avoid the risks of increased costs and unavailability of rooms that may occur later. The Drury Inn and Suites, which accommodated some of our alumni this year, is accepting reservations at special rates of $91.00 for doubles, $100.00 for kings, and $115.99 for king suites per night respectively. The rates do not include taxes. To qualify for these special rates, please call 800/325-0720 and give group code “217025-Massey Basketball”. The deadline for reservations at the Drury is January 25, 2008. The Crowne Plaza Hotel, only 5-7 minutes from the Arena at 201 S. McDowell Street, has set a rate of $179.00 plus tax per night and a cutoff date of January 24, 2008. Like the Drury, the Crowne Plaza also provides free daily full breakfasts. Should you have any questions or prefer hotel accommodations within closer proximity of the Arena, please contact Barbara Massey at 202/380-8750 or masseybj@bellsouth.net.

VUU Travel

VUU alumni, faculty, staff, students, friends, and supporters can now make all of their travel plans for business or pleasure via VUU Travel. This service is one of the University’s emerging alumni affinity programs designed to provide benefits and privileges for the VUU family. Through VUU Travel, alumni can book all of their travel reservations, including group travel and cruises, at competitively lower costs than other travel services. Using VUU Travel not only adds a boost to our robust alumni spirit and enhances school pride, but generates an additional stream of revenue to support student scholarships and fortify academic programs. Use VUU Travel to book your summer vacations, Thanksgiving and Christmas travels, and packaged accommodations (flight, hotel, rental car, or any combination) for the CIAA 2008 Basketball Tournament. VUU Travel and website link is the result of a very gracious gift by VUU Alumnus James Hill (’72). You can access VUU Travel at www.ytbtravel.com/VUU or via “Alumni & Friends” link from the home page of the University’s website.
 
 
 
 
   

Career/Job Opportunities

The Department of Medical Assistance Services (Richmond, VA), The Bolton Group, LLC (Richmond, VA), and James Madison University are aggressively attempting to increase their respective applicant pools for a variety of employment opportunities by increasing the scope/range of their announcements. For information on employment opportunities with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Dept. of Medical Assistance Services, contact Valerie R. Harrison, Employment and Training Manager, Dept. of Medical Assistance Services, 600 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219 (804/371-0913 – voice; 804/786-9617). The contact for The Bolton Group, LLC is Brittany D. Cowans, Financial Search Consultant, 7400 Beaumont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23225 (804/672-7330 ext. 4196 – voice; 404/228-2060 – corporation fax). The Bolton Group, LLC offers employment opportunities along the eastern seaboard from Philadelphia to Orlando. For James Madison University, contact Jorge Matallana, HR Staff Recruitment and Employment Advisor, JMU, MSC 7009 University Services Building, 181 Patterson Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 (540/568-4115 – voice; 540/568-7916 – fax; matallji@jmu.edu).

Edwin “Zeke” Allison Scholarship Fund

The family of Edwin “Zeke” Allison (’55) has established a scholarship fund in his name with the assistance of Ms. Deborah Alston, Director of Development Research and Donor Services, Division of Institutional Advancement, VUU. Zeke retired to his heavenly home earlier this year on January 31st. He is a former Director of Alumni Affairs for VUU. Donors can send their gifts to Ms. Alston at Virginia Union University, 1500 N. Lombardy Street, Richmond, VA 23220.

Class of 1958 Ushers in Reunion Classes Ending in 3 and 8

Harold Bradley, Jean C. Alexander, and Allen Boone, Jr., all of the Class of 1958, have volunteered to form a class agent team to organize and plan for the Class of 1958 reunion. The class of 1958 will be celebrating its (Golden) 50th Year reunion during academic year 2007-2008. Other classes in reunion will be 1933, 1938, 1943, 1948, 1953, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003! The Office of Alumni Relations is prepared to support or assist class member volunteers with the establishment of class agent teams as a means to facilitate reunion classes’ anniversary activities and events. Opportunities for class reunion celebrations begin with Founders Day (February 1, 2008) followed by Commencement (May 2008), Summer Term, and culminate with Homecoming 2008. Members of the Class of 1958 who wish to join the 1958 class agent team may contact Harry Bradley at 804/226-1810 or hhbradley2002@yahoo.com.

Other members of classes ending in 3 and 8 who wish to help organize and plan their respective class reunions are invited to contact Mr. Landy F. Watson, Director of Alumni Relations, at 804/257-5827 or lfwatson@vuu.edu as soon as possible.