We are pleased to offer several new online avenues for alumni and friends to connect back with the Alumni Association.  For those of you on facebook, you can now become a fan of the Alumni Association on our official fan page.  You can also join our official group on Linkedin and follow us on Twitter.  To connect with your UGA Alumni Association, please click on the icons below. 

In addition to these offerings from the Alumni Association, the University of Georgia also has a presence on itunes and youtube.  To visit these pages, please click on the icons below.

And, as always, we invite you to join the UGA Alumni Association’s Online Community.  As a member of the Online Community, you’ll receive updates about events in your area, special announcements, and be on the inside track for members only discounts and benefits.  To join, please visit the registration page here.

If you’ve ever eaten at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers on campus, you can thank a UGA grad.  The fast-food restaurant was the brain child of Todd Graves ‘94, and it’s become one of the nation’s fastest-growing chains with more than 70 locations in 13 states.

Not only has Todd been busy being the CEO of Raising Cane’s, he took some time away from office last fall to appear with his wife, Gwen, in the first episode of Fox TV’s Secret Millionaire.  The premise of the show is to have millionaires go undercover and work for minimum wage with those in need and in environments they are unaccustomed to being in.  And at the end of the show, the millionaires confess that they are not down-and-out and give their new needy friends checks for $100,000.

Dr. Susan White ‘80, a UGA College of Veterinary Medicine professor emeritus, was recently honored with the Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence, given yearly to recognize outstanding achievements and service to the veterinary profession.  Dr. White received the award at the 2009 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum.  What’s so special about this honor for Dr. White is that she’s the first female in the large animal field to receive this award.  She’s been at UGA since 1976 and has taught more than 3,000 vet students.  Congratulations.

New York City artist and Fayetteville, Ga. native Laura Loving ‘93 will be appearing live on Fox Business News between 2 -3 p.m. Wednesday, July 29.  I hope you’re able to tune-in.  And if you’re in the NYC area next week, I hope you can attend a NYC Dawgs Art Event where Laura’s work will be on display at the New York Merchantile Exchange.

Brooks Mendell (PhD ‘04) will be discussing and signing copies of his new book, “Beaverball: A (Winning) season with the MIT Baseball Team,” at Borders bookstore this evening at 7 p.m.

Here’s what happening as we head into the new academic year.  I hope you’re able to attend.

- Freshmen Send-Offs in Atlanta, Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC

- T.G.I.F. Mixer in Atlanta July 31

- Speed Networking in Kennesaw August 3

- Bulldogs After Business Hours in Cumming August 6

For more information about the UGA Alumni Association, including how to join, please visit our web site.

Current and former Alumni Association presidents, as well as an AA executive committee member, are serving on the UGA Foundation board. 

Former AA president Trey Paris ‘84, ‘85 of Gainesville and executive committee member John Neel ‘84 of Macon were recently elected to begin their service July 1.  Current AA president Vic Sullivan ‘80 of Albany serves in an ex-officio capacity.   

The more than 70-year-old UGA Foundation manages a $500 million endowment and, over the last five years, has provided more than $120 million to the university for academic support.

Here are some pictures of our new Bulldawg that recently arrived at Wray-Nicholson House as part of the Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club’s public art exhibit.  This one succeeds the other proud Bulldawg that stood guard over our office for several years and served as the back drop for hundreds UGA faithful pictures.  Artist Chris Wyrick’s (MFA ‘00) theme is “Dog Walker,” honoring 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.  He said the old Bulldawg had been “loved to death,” and needed to switched out.  I hope you will drop by Wray-Nicholson to see the new Bulldawg and snap a few pictures.

Fred Greer ‘62, ‘64 has been recognized with the Georgia Forestry Association’s Wise Owl Award, the highest honor bestowed by the organization for service to the state’s forestry community (2008’s recipient was Gov. Sonny Perdue ‘71).  The Mansfield, Ga. forester and farmer received the award at GFA’s annual meeting this week in Savannah.  Agriculture and forestry are Fred’s two passions, having been inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1997.  I know you join me in congratulating Fred. 

Jason Herskowitz MBA ‘96 is joining the peer-to-peer software developer as vice president for product management in charge of overseeing LimeWire’s “integrated product strategy, planning, design and management,” according to a Marketwire news release.  Jason leaves TotalMusic where he held a similar position in the “creation and management of music platform, products and services.”  He’s also worked at Strands and AOL.

We have three great events coming up this week that offer something for everyone.

Our Women of UGA invite you to Network at the Nook Wednesday evening from 6:30 – 8:30 at The Nook on Piedmont Park in Atlanta.

Our Young Alumni are hosting The Art of Networking Thursday, July 23 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Stout Irish Sports Pub in Atlanta.

Finally, if you’re in the Northeast this weekend, I hope you can make your way to the Comedy Connection in East Providence, Rhode Island to catch the act of funny man and UGA alum John Turco ‘93.  John says he got his start performing at the Tate Student Center on campus when he was in school.  Click here for all the details.

I hope you can join us for any of these events, but if you can’t, please check our calendar often for other opportunities in your area.  Please visit our web site for more  information about the Alumni Association or if you’d like to join.