Central Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter

Chapter Updates

Summer 2009

Attendance has doubled for the Central Iowa Chapter’s monthly First Thursday socials, now located at Kelley’s on Beaver in Des Moines. Several members of the chapter attended the March reception for Dr. Dean Hubbard at the Des Moines Botanical Center, and in April chapter members attended an Iowa Energy basketball game. To encourage economical and family-based fun, the chapter hosted a Bearcat family picnic at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines in May. This summer, the chapter participated in a Bearcat night at the Iowa Cubs game and assisted with the Northwest booth at the Iowa State Fair. Read the chapter’s blog at CentralIowaBearcats.blogspot.com for event updates, event photos and more.

Central Iowa Chapter

Central Iowa alumni and friends attending the Iowa Energy basketball game included (front row, from left) Kim Wall ’01, Megan Thole Ulrich ’04, Amy Carter ’02, Surge (the Iowa Energy mascot), Jessica McDonald, Jill Awtry, Jami Willenborg ’02, (back row) Dennis Spark ’73, Ted Spark, Paula Spark, Faith Spark, John Patterson, Phil Patterson ’74, ’78, Craig Bassett ’74 and Sandy Allison.

Spring 2009

Central Iowa

The Central Iowa Chapter hosted watch parties in Urbandale, Iowa, for the semifinal and national championship football games.

Members of the Central Iowa Chapter cheered on the Bearcats at watch parties at The Game Sports Bar in Urbandale, Iowa, for the Division II semifinal and national championship football games. Each watch party had 65 attendees, and several items were collected for the Urbandale Food Pantry at the events as well. Beginning in February, the chapter moved the monthly First Thursday socials to Kelley’s on Beaver in Des Moines, Iowa. Attendance has been growing at these monthly events, and new faces are always welcome. On April 1, the chapter sponsored a Northwest alumni night at the Iowa Energy basketball game.

Winter 2008

Central Iowa

(Left) Jane Laughlin Sullivan ’74 and Megan Thole Ulrich ’04 enjoy the tailgate festivities prior to the Iowa Cubs baseball game.

(Right) Marc ’00 and Jodi Pick with their son, Nolan, join members of the Central Iowa Chapter at an Iowa Cubs game.

The Central Iowa Chapter has elected new officers: President Kim Wall ’01, Vice President Amy Carter ’02 and Secretary Faith Spark. The chapter’s annual golf outing in June was cancelled due to inclement weather. However, in July, several alumni and friends beat the heat and attended an Iowa Cubs tailgate and baseball game. The following month, the chapter partnered with Northwest’s Office of Admissions to sponsor a booth at the Iowa State Fair.

Chapter members invite all Northwest alumni and friends to attend socials at 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at Old Chicago on Merle Hay Road in Des Moines.

For more information about the chapter, contact Kim Wall at central_iowa_bearcats@yahoo.com or the Office of University Advancement at alumni@nwmissouri.edu or (660) 562-1248.

Summer 2008

The Central Iowa Chapter gathered to cheer on the Bearcats in the football playoffs. In December, the chapter organized a watch party for the semi-final football game at Front Row in Des Moines, Iowa. The following week, the chapter gathered for a watch party at The Game in Urbandale, Iowa, this time for the championship game. In addition, the chapter has hosted an information session on the new MBA program being offered at Northwest. Dr. Tom Billesbach, dean of Northwest’s Booth College of Business and Professional Studies, was in attendance to provide information and answer questions.

Chapter members, and many Northwest alumni living or working in central Iowa, continue to gather the first Thursday of each month at Old Chicago in Des Moines.

Spring 2008

Members of the Central Iowa Chapter participated in an Oktoberfest beer tasting and tour of Raccoon River Brew Co. in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, the chapter’s social chair has revived a time-honored tradition of “Thirsty Thursday,” a chapter social on the first Thursday of each month. In January, the chapter participated in the annual “Bearcats at the Bucs” outing at the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey game. Northwest alumni and friends in central Iowa are encouraged to provide their contact information to President Nick Wallace ’00 at nicholas.wallace@smithbarney.com so they can be notified of upcoming chapter events.

More than 100 Northwest alumni and friends in central Iowa attended watch parties in Windsor Heights and Urbandale, Iowa, to cheer on the Bearcat football team during its trek to the NCAA Division II National Championship game.

Summer 2007

The Central Iowa Chapter started off the year with its annual “Bearcats at the Bucs” event at the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey game. In February, the Northwest Jazz Quintet joined chapter members at “Sips, Sounds and State History” at the Iowa Historical Building. The evening was followed by wine tasting at the residence of Tim ’75 and Jane Laughlin ’74 Sullivan. Other chapter events included outings to the Funny Bone Comedy Club and bowling at Warrior Lanes. For more information about the Central Iowa Chapter, please contact central_iowa_bearcats@yahoo.com. The chapter also has a page on MySpace at www.myspace.com/central_iowa_bearcats and on Yahoo Groups at groups.yahoo.com/group/central_iowa_bearcats/.

Central Iowa

Members of the Northwest Jazz Ensemble performed at the Iowa Historical Building in Des Moines during the Central Iowa Chapter’s “Sips, Sounds and State History” event.

Spring 2007

Several members of the Central Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter gathered at Rock Bottom Brewery in West Des Moines, Iowa, for dinner and an Oktoberfest beer tasting event. In December, chapter members met at Champps to cheer on the Bearcats during the national championship football game. Recently, 49 alumni and friends attended a Des Moines Buccaneers hockey game and raffled off several Northwest items to raise money for the chapter scholarship. The annual golf outing is tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 25, and the chapter will be attending an Iowa Cubs game on July 20. For more information or to become involved in the chapter, contact Sarah Beggs ’04 at (913) 526-4150 or central_iowa_bearcats@yahoo.com.

Central Iowa 1

Central Iowa Alumni Chapter President Nick Wallace ’00 and Past President John Myers ’90 visit at the raffle table during the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey game.

Winter 2006

Central Iowa Chapter's golf event

There was a great turnout -- and ideal weather -- at this year's Central Iowa
Northwest Alumni golf outing at Briarwood Golf Course in Ankeny, Iowa.

The Central Iowa Chapter hosted a golf outing this summer at Briarwood Golf Course in Ankeny, Iowa, as well as a night at the Iowa Cubs baseball game. Chapter members also helped promote Northwest at the Iowa State Fair.

For more information about upcoming Central Iowa Chapter activities, contact Nick Wallace '00, chapter president, at nicholas.wallace@smithbarney.com.

Spring 2006

The Central Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter had a wine, beer and cheese tasting event in Ankeny, Iowa. The chapter also gathered at Howell's Tree Farm and Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, Iowa, where Northwest alumni and friends enjoyed horse and tractor rides and children's activities. Two weekends in a row, huge Northwest crowds took over Champps in West Des Moines to watch the Bearcat football team on television. Each event included giveaways, sweepstakes drawings (with money collected to help establish a scholarship) and lots of cheering. In January, the chapter hosted the fourth annual Bearcats at the Bucs hockey game. On April 30, the Bearcats will invade the Des Moines Playhouse for the musical "Pump Boys & Dinettes." In June, the chapter will host its annual golf classic, and in July, there will again be a Northwest Day at the Iowa Cubs game. If you would like more information on events or how to become involved, contact Kory Schramm '95 at (515) 986-5806.

The Northwest Missouri State University Alumni Association is establishing alumni chapters worldwide. Organized by alumni volunteers and supported by the Office of Alumni Relations, these chapters sponsor a variety of activities for alumni to get together socially and stay abreast of news from Northwest Missouri State University.

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