Alumni National Awards: 48 individuals to be honored this year -- find out who got the nod (and why)
 

June 2017

ALUMNI

NEWSLETTER

 
 
 

EXCELLENCE



Follow in Père Marquette's footsteps with an Alumni Travel Program tour

Be an explorer! In the spirit of Father Jacques Marquette, famed Jesuit explorer and Marquette University's namesake, we invite you to take full advantage of your alma mater's exciting travel program. Explore unique and interesting areas of the world with old classmates and friends; learn about other people and cultures; or simply relax in beautiful surroundings.

See all the upcoming Alumni Travel Program tours for 2017-18.

Three Marquette students win prestigious Fulbright Awards

“These students have a genuine openness to people of other ways of life, other cultures and other ideas of how the world works,” said Dr. John Pustejovsky, associate professor of German and Marquette’s Fulbright adviser. “They’re candid about themselves and the experiences that have made them, and there are no clichés in the way they present themselves.”

Learn more about the students, who will be placed in classrooms abroad to help local English teachers and serve as cultural ambassadors for the United States.

Office of Research and Innovation announces eight projects to receive support from the Marquette strategic innovation fund

The projects selected this year fall into the areas of water/environmental, community impact and interdisciplinary research infrastructure -- including addressing the dearth of fresh food retail options on campus and the near west side of Milwaukee. 

Explore the projects, which are conceived and led by Marquette students, faculty and staff.

Nominate an outstanding Marquette alum you know for a university national award

Each spring, Marquette University sets aside one special weekend to honor distinguished alumni from every college and school who represent the heart, soul and spirit of Marquette. The festivities honor alumni and community partners who have made significant contributions to the world around them.

Nominate a deserving alumnus/a today and read more about past award recipients.

 

FAITH

June reflection: Summer doesn't mean a slowdown for Marquette

At Marquette we have welcomed our summer school students and other visitors for camps and programs. Earlier this month we hosted over 400 Jesuits from around the Midwest as we celebrated the ordination of twelve Jesuits as priests and the creation of a new Jesuit province, the USA Midwest province, which combines the former Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin provinces.

It is also the season of weddings. Last Saturday I saw at least two wedding parties taking photos near the St. Joan of Arc Chapel. Also on campus is a new program called SPARK, which begins this week. Summer Priority Advising and Registration Kick-off. (How’s that for an acronym?) SPARK replaces what used to be Freshmen Preview and gives our incoming students and their families an opportunity to look at and prepare for their transition to college life at Marquette. And people think nothing happens on a college campus in the summer!

Hopefully the summer ahead, the years ahead, present us with all kinds of opportunities and challenges. We will find ourselves in new places. New people will enter our lives. Through all of this, we will hopefully become a little wiser having learned from our experiences. (Shameless plug: if you haven’t done so, think about taking part in our Alumni Travel Program!).

As summer unfolds around us we move forward with renewed hope and promise for the days to come. We are reminded how precious, how fragile, how fleeting our lives are. Take some time this summer to reflect on what is really important to you. Spend some time with those you enjoy and those you love. Celebrate and acknowledge your accomplishments. And thank God for the many gifts and graces you have received.

Have a good summer. Don’t forget we’ll be celebrating Reunion + Homecoming in October this year! And Happy Father’s Day!

Frederick Zagone, S.J.
Chaplain, National Alumni Association

 

LEADERSHIP

Making Marquette more diverse

By Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed

About a year ago, Marquette set itself a goal of becoming designated a Hispanic-serving institution within a decade. That would require, among other things, that at least a quarter of undergraduates are Latinos. Last year, Marquette was about halfway there, with Latino students making up 13 percent of the entering class.

For Marquette, diversifying has both practical and idealistic parts. Many students and families are less focused today than in previous generations on going to a college that reflects their faith. And both national and Roman Catholic demographics see sharp growths in the Latino population. The university's Jesuit ideals also call it to seek out those who could benefit but might not automatically land in Milwaukee.

Read more about Marquette's focus on outreach to minority populations.

Colleges of Education and Engineering receive $1.2 million NSF grant to attract and retain secondary STEM teachers

“This significant grant reflects the vital need to secure top-level science and math teachers in middle and high school,” said Dr. Bill Henk, dean of the College of Education. “We are proud to step forward to prepare and cultivate these future teachers who will significantly impact future generations of students in the classroom.”

Learn more about the program, which will educate students to teach in high-needs, urban and high school settings.

Marquette Biz Magazine: Beyond coconuts

Alumnus Mark Rampolla went out on a limb in starting ZICO, the company that introduced our country to coconut water. Then and now, there’s a mission to his method.

Read the full story to learn why Rampolla believes in blurring the lines between career, personal life and spiritual life.

Career Experts post: How to conquer fear of failure

What if you could turn your fear of failure into a passionate pursuit for growth and success? In other words: fail forward!

Read the full story by Monica Oliver, Sp '81, plus many other Marquette Career Experts posts.

 

SERVICE AND ALUMNI CLUBS

Chicagoland hears latest Marquette autism research

More than 80 Marquette alumni and friends attended Forward Marquette: Groundbreaking Autism Research in Northfield, Ill., on May 23. Guests heard from nationally recognized autism expert Dr. Amy Vaughan Van Hecke, associate professor, Department of Psychology and executive director, Marquette Interdisciplinary Autism Clinic; and other panelists about the latest autism research and how Marquette initiatives are supporting individuals with autism and their families.

Learn more and follow the MU Club of Chicago on social media.

 

LGBT+ Council Hunger Cleanup

LGBT+ Alumni Council nearly quintuples Hunger Clean-up fundraising goal this April

Eight Marquette LGBT+ Alumni Counci alumni and students took to Milwaukee's Jackson Park on April 22 to clean up trash in and around the river. The inaugural team set a goal of $500 but ended up raising $2,470 for Hunger Clean-up, which began in 1989 as a student effort to combat hunger and homelessness in Milwaukee and is now the university's largest day of service each year.

Learn more about the LGBT+ Alumni Council and follow the group on Facebook.

 

Marquette alumni and families enjoy family day at Disneyland with Provost Dan Myers

Close to 30 alumni, parents and friends of all ages descended on to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., for brunch with Marquette Provost Dan Myers followed by a day in the park. Myers gave a Marquette update about admissions, the campus master plan and athletics.

Follow the MU Club of Southern California on Facebook.

 

upcoming events

Thursday, June 22

MU Club of Washington, D.C.: Summer Networking and Happy Hour
Kick off the summer with Marquette alumni, parents and friends at a summer networking happy hour at Bar Deco in Chinatown.

Friday, June 23

Milwaukee: Marquette Men's Basketball Centennial Hoopla
Relive 100 years of Marquette basketball history as past players and coaches travel through the eras, sharing iconic moments and personal stories.

Saturday, June 24

MU Club of Minnesota: Service Day
Join alumni and friends to volunteer at Second Stork, a non-profit organization that works with hospitals to help provide families in need with basic baby essentials.

MU Club of Chicago: Service Day
Join fellow Marquette alumni, family and friends for a day of service, packing boxes of food for senior citizens in conjunction with Catholic Charities.

Tuesday, June 27

Central Wisconsin: Marquette CIRCLES Networking Program
Hear from a panel of industry leaders and academic experts as they discuss current issues and trends unfolding in Central Wisconsin and beyond.

June 28-July 7

Cleveland: World Union of Jesuit Alumni at John Carroll University
Taking place for the first time ever in North America, this event's highlights will include live-streamed addresses by Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., the new Jesuit Superior General, and best-selling author, Rev. James Martin, S.J.

See the complete events calendar to search for upcoming Marquette events in your area!

 

Alumni Spotlight


Brian Thompson, Eng ’00, AEGIS Engineering founder, principal and senior fire protection engineer, was honored in Consulting-Specifying Engineer as one of 40 building industry professionals age 40 and younger with demonstrated commitment to excellence in academic, professional, personal and community involvement. Brian lives in Edmonds, Wash.

 

Michelle (Buch) Backous, Eng ’14, and Jerrick Backous, Eng ’14, were married Oct. 1, 2016 at St. Benedict Church in Chicago. The couple met during their sophomore year at Marquette. Jerrick is a research and development engineer II at Boston Scientific in Maple Grove, Minn. Michelle is searching for a mechanical engineering position in the Twin Cities.

 

Lisa Schreihart, Eng ’94, Grad ’97, earned her juris doctor, magna cum laude from Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University in December 2016, and will swear in to the Maryland bar this month. Lisa has accepted a patent attorney position with Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox in Washington, D.C.


Tell the Marquette community what you've been up to lately. Send in a class note today!

 

Guess the year

 

Dr. Arnold Mitchem, director of the Educational Opportunity Program, laughs with students.

a. 1984
b. 1986
c. 1989
d. 1991

Answer: a. 1984

 

 
 

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