December 2011

A perfect holiday memory

During the last week of classes as we prepared for final exams, we would hear the drone of Christmas music in the distance. Students, maybe six or seven of them as best I can remember, playing brass instruments … french horn, trumpet, trombone… wandered from building to building where they played Christmas songs. Everything was still and no one spoke. We just listened. Read more from Lynn Davies Pittman '79 and share your own campus holiday memory.

The magic of looking out

Immediately after completing graduate school in 1985, I accepted the call to serve as minister of music and youth at a church in Champaign, Illinois. How was I possibly going to help mold and shape rowdy, angst-ridden, hormone-driven and confused youths into tame and orderly church citizens? I quickly learned that nothing I could ever do would make that magically happen, but I did discover that getting them to focus on the needs of others helped us become something bigger and better altogether. Read more about what Alumni Association Executive Director Linda Carter learned from her experience.

Mike Dement steps aside as UNCG men's basketball coach

Assistant coach Wes Miller has been named as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Read the press release at uncgspartans.com.

Small celebration

The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering may have officially opened last year, but last week the public got a glimpse of its new building and all the potential wonders of the very small. Read more about the new building and the possibilities it holds.

The gift of bells

For nearly six years, the Nicholas A. Vacc bell tower has tolled each hour, day in and day out. Now it sings. Read more about the changes to the bell tower.

What makes a holiday happy?

You COULD have your happiest holidays EVER — even with this struggling economy and job market! It is a choice we each make. How will we spend our time, energy and savings to have the happiest holiday ever (Christmas…Hanukkah…Kwanzaa)? Would you be worried about disappointing the kids, family and friends? Read more from Kathleen Martinek, former UNCG alumni career counselor.

Alumni Association Announcements & Upcoming Events

If you're a Bryan School alumnus or a member of the Greek legacy and itching to catch a basketball game, you're in luck. The Dec. 16 UNCG vs. ECU game in the Greensboro Coliseum is offering $5 Spartan Spot seats for these groups of alumni. Also mark your calendars for the return of the Around the House series, which will resume Jan. 24 with a talk by Mike Byers on the UNCG/Glenwood Mixed Use Village. Learn about these events and more.