Virginia Tech Magazine
Alumni Association News -|- Fall 2006


University pictorial to be published next spring

Virginia Tech: Cut in Stone
The Alumni Association has commissioned a special color pictorial featuring photos portraying the spectacular beauty of the Virginia Tech campus throughout the four seasons. Virginia Tech: Cut in Stone, a 100-page, approximately 12"x 11" volume, will include forewords by celebrity alumni authors Homer Hickam and Sharyn McCrumb. The first such publication in the past 10 years, it is sure to become a keepsake for all Hokies. Copies ordered before Dec. 31 will be $29.95 (plus S&H); copies ordered after that date will be $39.95 (plus S&H). To purchase Virginia Tech: Cut in Stone, visit www.vtcutinstone.com or use the order form in the Fall 2006 issue of the Alumni Association magazine, Alma Mater.



New Summer Around the Drillfield format a
success

The Alumni Association resumed its popular Summer Around the Drillfield program this year with a new, college-oriented format. This theme, "How Small Can You Go? A Glimpse into Nanotechnology at Virginia Tech," focused on presentations by faculty from the College of Science.

alumni in lab

From June 22-25, nearly 100 alumni and family members learned about nanotechnology and related cutting-edge research through seminars led by Tech researchers, including demonstrations and tours of several state-of-the-art labs. Highlights included extracting DNA from strawberries as well as building tiny, soccer-ball-like structures known as "buckyballs." (For more on buckyballs, see this issue's College of Science story.)

Beyond the science lessons, participants spent their afternoons visiting popular attractions and taking advantage of recreational opportunities in and around Blacksburg. On Friday evening, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry James Wightman--dressed in colonial costume--and Associate Dean of Science Jerry Via addressed the participants. During his keynote speech at the final banquet on Saturday, Dean of Science Lay Nam Chang discussed the latest developments in the college.

James Wightman

Because of the enthusiastic response to the new Summer Around the Drillfield format, the Alumni Association will hold two programs in summer 2007. The program from June 21-24 will focus on the performing and visual arts, featuring faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. A second program from July 5-8 will focus on global health and related research in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Natural Resources, and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Look for details at www.alumni.vt.edu.

Alumni Travel Program


Travel with alumni
in 2007

Learn more at www.alumni.vt.edu
or call 540.231.6285.


Treasures of New Zealand
February 22 - March 7

Alumni College in Italy
Lake District

May 15-23

Essential Europe
for New Alumni

May 20-June 13

Alumni College in Scotland
Highlands and Edinburgh

May 24-June 4

Barcelona and the
Culinary Secrets of Catalonia

May 27-June 3

Alumni College
in the Greek Isles

June 12-23

Mediterranean Cruise
Aboard the Crystal Serenity

June 12-20

Blue Danube Cruise
June 28-July 11

Alumni College in Italy
Cortona

July 11-19

Salmon River
Whitewater Adventure

Idaho

July 31-Aug. 6

Cruise Alaska
Denali National Park

Aug. 2-11 | 10 days
one night in Vancouver
and one night in Anchorage
Aug. 2-16 | 15 days
six-night land tour to Denali

Passage of Peter the Great
Russia

Aug. 21-Sept. 2


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