Alumni News

Space Vet
New Legacy Scholarship
In the Spotlight
Sanborn Honored

Rick Linnehan '80, who walked in space as a NASA astronaut in 2002 to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, ventured into a considerably more congenial environment when he walked onto center ice at the Whittemore Center on Nov. 27 to receive the UNH Alumni Association Award of Outstanding Achievement. Linnehan, who is a veterinarian, made three flights on the space shuttle Columbia.

It pays to be a family member—a UNH Alumni Association family member. That's the idea, literally, behind the association's newest scholarship opportunity. Qualified applicants for this merit-based award will have leadership skills, an outstanding academic record and broad extracurricular interests. But they'll have something else working in their favor, too—connections to the Alumni Association.

Associate executive director Sarah Potter says the scholarship "really grew out of the desire of the association to give back to our alums." To apply, students must have a direct familial tie—a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent—who is a dues-paying member of the Alumni Association.

The endowed scholarship fund of $250,000 was the association's contribution to UNH's recent capital campaign. Today, the fund is fully endowed. And starting next year, one student from each class will begin to receive scholarship support that will follow them until they graduate. (After the first year, the award will go to one incoming freshman each year.) In the early years, the awards will be modest, probably several thousand dollars, explains Potter. "But our hope is to grow over time," she says.

A new scholarship committee, comprised of five representatives selected by Gregg Sanborn '66, '77G, the association's executive director, will award the scholarship. "UNH is among a limited number of schools leading the way with this sort of alumni-driven scholarship," says Sanborn.

Applications must be postmarked by March 17. For an application, or to learn more about the scholarship fund, visit www.alumni.unh.edu/forstudents/scholarships.html or call (603) 862-2040.

One of the first things visitors see when they approach the Epsom, N.H., home of Scott '94 and Stephanie Martin Sewade '95 are the UNH hockey stickers on the kitchen window.

Further evidence is in the closet that has Sewade's collection of UNH hockey jerseys, including shirts for Stephanie and Robert, Stephanie's 9-year-old son. Stephanie Sewade, who works as a medical assistant at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Concord, says the family loves hockey. "The games we don't go to we watch or we tape," she says.

But Scott Sewade is also devoted to his motorcycle. For years, Scott, a CAD/Web database engineer, commuted by motorcycle to work. So it was a hard choice: would they become a member of the American Motorcyclist Association, or the UNH Alumni Association Dues Program?

As much as I like motorcycling, it was one of those things that could end at anytime," Sewade said. "The UNH thing I didn't see ever changing—we'll always have some connection there."

The Sewades not only joined the dues program, they became life members, a significant contribution for a young couple. "I guess really, after thinking about it, it just was a way to stay connected and give a little bit back," said Sewade. "I've been involved in so many different activities and hobbies I figured that was one lasting thing I could stick with."

In addition, they realized it would save money. "We're definitely trying to be very money conscious, especially with gas prices and everything costing more," Sewade said. "Why keep paying every year when you know it's something you're committed to?" As for commitment, the Sewades are thinking those UNH hockey stickers on the window may not be enough.

"We've been debating whether to get a UNH flag," Sewade said. "Not as big as the one they parade around the ice, though."

For information on joining the UNH Alumni Dues Program, visit www.alumni.unh.edu/join or call (800) 891-1195 or (603) 862-2040.

Sanborn Honored

Alumni Association executive director Gregg Sanborn '66, '77G was selected by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, District I, to receive the Eleanor Collier achievement and recognition award for "contributions to his organization and profession that reflect honor" on CASE, education and the field of higher education administration. The award was presented on Feb. 13 at the CASE District I Conference in Montreal. During his 34 years at UNH, Sanborn has—in addition to his role at the Alumni Association—served as assistant vice provost for Student Affairs; director of the Memorial Union and Student Activities; dean of student affairs; and executive assistant to the UNH president, a 10-year period during which he served five presidents.