Dear alumni and friends of the Benedictine community:

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed time with friends and family. The end of the year was busy at the University as we completed projects, held a successful M.B.A. reunion and made plans for 2009. I am very excited to share these plans with you, and I welcome your ideas for future events as well as the growth of alumni participation.

The alumni office has hit the ground running in 2009. Several new events and initiatives have been added. See the Coming Events to the right for more details or go to www.ben.edu/alumni.

Alumni Relations will host "Welcome Wednesdays," a lunchtime event for current students to get acquainted with us, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the Krasa Eagles Nest. We will play Wii, ping pong and other games. All students, staff and faculty are welcome to join the fun and enjoy coffee and some special desserts!

Career Development and Alumni Relations are hosting a workshop, "Packaging Your Potential," from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21 on the second floor of the Krasa Center. The evening will begin with a light supper followed by a presentation by Rob Sullivan, a Chicago-based author, motivational speaker, career coach and corporate trainer. We are currently working on a workshop in February, and have scheduled a wine and cheese networking reception on March 24. We are inviting area employers to meet with both alumni and students regarding internships and employment opportunities during the March event.

Early spring is the target for our new online alumni directory to go live. We are very excited about this project which will connect alumni for networking opportunities such as job searches, reunion planning, mentoring and much more. We have also added an online giving module which will make it even easier for you to support your alma mater. I encourage you to sign up as soon as you can – and IT’S FREE! Look for more details as they become available.

I am very excited about 2009 and look forward to meeting you or seeing you at one or all of our events. I encourage you to visit our Web page at www.ben.edu/alumni to view alumni events and initiatives. Please contact me anytime with your ideas and suggestions on how we can better serve you. You can reach me at (630) 829-6077 or jnelligan@ben.edu.

Julie Nelligan Alumni Relations Director

Bring your Valentine to the Red & White Gala!
(formerly the "Sweetheart Club")

The Red & White Gala is a night of dinner, dancing and celebrating the unions made here at Benedictine. Come and celebrate your love and union at the Red & White Gala on Saturday, February 7, 2009. The Gala will be held on the second floor of the Krasa Student Center with entertainment provided by Music Mania.

Cocktails 5:30 p.m.
Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Dancing 8:00 p.m.
Couples Theme Silent Auction 5:30-9:30 p.m.

R.S.V.P. to Julie Nelligan, Alumni Relations Director
at (630) 829-6077 or jnelligan@ben.edu.

Updates from University Development

• Secured year-end gifts to support the Campaign for Student Success
• College of Business secured substantial gift from Magnetrol
• A gift of significance was made to Benedictine Athletics
• Online giving to the University is higher than it has ever been

Campaign for Student Success Update

We have recived 20 gifts in support of the Campaign for Student Success.

Student Connection

Benedictine University is the home to many well-rounded leaders and scholars. We would like to introduce you to a student each month to keep you connected to those following in your footsteps and to update you on what campus life is all about.

Meet Leah Vercelli!

Alumni Spotlight

Ray Konopka believes his "alma matters" and has started a scholarship to help others receive the education he found so important. After graduating from Benedictine, Konopka attended Northwestern University on a fellowship and earned his master’s degree in computer science. He is now the owner of Raize Software, Inc., an international computer software company. Read More

Can you sing the Alma Mater?
The next time you are on campus for a commencement ceremony, homecoming or sporting event, sing along with your fellow alumni!

Hail, Benedictine!
Hail, Benedictine! Alma mater true.
We raise our voices in loyalty to you.
Our minds and our spirits will spread your message wide.
We’ll be ever faithful with you as our guide.
Hail, Benedictine! Carry us through strife,
Seeking God’s glory, always in our life.
We praise and salute you, as our model true.
Hail, Benedictine! Hail to you!

Listen Here:

The Alma Mater was written by Fr. David Turner, O.S.B., Lee Bash and Laura Markun.

Traditions Wanted!
Do you remember canoeing the slough (Lake St. Benedict)? Friday Afternoon Club? Hell Week?
The University Development Office is compiling some of the past and present traditions in which our alumni have engaged. Please e-mail Jessica Stillo at jstillo@ben.edu with your favorite Benedictine tradition!

The Tanzania Project

The Tanzania project is a group effort between Benedictine University, Carein Connections and Global Family Rescue. The goal is to help the people of Tanzania who do not have access to basic human essentials – shelter, clothing, food and medicine. We are currently collecting donations to send students to school and sponsor families for one year. We are also working on funding a mission trip to Tanzania in June 2009. If you are interested, please contact Marc Davidson, Education Abroad Coordinator, at (630) 829-6346 or mdavidson@ben.edu.

Keep in Touch!

Married? Have children? Moved? Promoted? Let Benedictine know the exciting life changes that have occurred since graduation by updating your information online!

Connect with old friends and classmates on our social networking pages!

MySpace is a great way to reunite with old friends! Ernie also has his own MySpace page, so check him out!

Get linked professionally to the Benedictine network of your peers. LinkedIn is a great way to advance your career and make beneficial contacts with faculty, staff, alumni and classmates! Link your page to Ernie Eagle’s!

Facebook is a great way to reunite with old friends and form new contacts and networks. Become friends with Ernie the Eagle, and join the Benedictine Alumni group. Or you can "Become a Fan" of the Benedictine University page. Click the link to check us out!

Campus Trivia!

The correct answer to January's trivia contest, "Which was taller, the water tower or the old smoke stack?" is the water tower.