A Publication for Alumni and Friends SPRING ISSUE 2006

Roast and Relive
Coach Art Lanham
Coach Art Lanham, former head men’s
basketball coach, and Coach Bernie
Bickerstaff, one of Rio’s own and the general
manager and coach of the NBA Charlotte
Bobcats, will be dodging punches
without a “ref” to save them at Rio’s noholds-barred
dinner/roast. On Friday, May
5 at 6:30 p.m., Rio alumni and friends will
gather during a dinner to see both Lanham
and Bickerstaff get pummeled by friends,
peers, former students and teammates during
the inaugural Champions of Character
Roast on Rio’s campus.
The event will be hosted by the Lighting
the Way Campaign Office and the URG
Athletic Department. Bob Leith ’65 will
serve as Master of Ceremonies. It’s a classic
opportunity to relive, remember, reconnect,
and just have fun.
From football to baseball to track &
field, to basketball and much more in between,
alumni and friends will gather for a
night that will be marked by memories and
the recognition of two of Rio’s finest. This
year’s dinner/roast, with limited seating for
SPRING ISSUE 2006
Coach Bernie Bickerstaff
350 guests, will highlight a rich tradition
of men and women athletes and athletics
at Rio going back to the 40’s.
In addition to the roasters that will rip
both coaches that evening, photo tributes
to a legacy of Rio sports and legends of
Rio sports teams will be on display throughout
with live music to accentuate the night.
a 1940’s musical revue
On Saturday, May 6, following Rio
Grande’s commencement ceremony,
alumni and friends will gather to chronicle
their years at Rio through present times.
A limited number of hotel rooms have
been blocked for this event. For more information
or to make your reservations,
please contact the Lighting the Way Campaign
Office at 740-245-7009, or the Athletic
Department at 740-245-7293.
130th Anniversary
Commencement
May 5, 2006
2:00 p.m.
NAIA’s Champions of Character Program
Student athletes at Rio Grande are participating in the
NAIA’s Champions of Character Program, which promotes sportsmanship
and character at colleges and universities across the country.
The program was created to recognize schools for teaching character
along with athletic skills.
Rio Grande has been honored by the NAIA for meeting all of the
requirements to be recognized as a Champions of Character institution
in each of the last five years, and has begun distributing awards to deserving students.
The University is also currently raising funds for a Champions Scholarship Program.
The student athletes are also involved with, and available for, community service
projects throughout the area.
Ken French, newly-named men’s head basketball coach, serves as the director of
the Champions of Character Program.
A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
Rio Grande Dance Team
Wins Championship Title
The University of Rio Grande Dance
Team won the title Midwest Collegiate Division
II Hip Hop Team Champions Sunday,
February 26 at the Cheerleaders of
America (COA) Midwest Open National
Championships in Columbus, Ohio. The
Rio Grande Dance Team has been in existence
only 2 years, and this was their first
competition. “The team has been a great
addition to campus, and their game performances
are always a hit,” stated advisor
Julie Haines. “For them to now have competition
experience and a championship
title at their first competition is just a sign
of bigger and better things to come.” The
team performs at Rio Grande men’s basketball
games and choreographed the competition
routine while still preparing new
material for games.
The dance team season began last spring
with team auditions. Before classes started
in the fall, the team attended an intense
dance training camp held on the Rio Grande
campus. Several routines were learned at
the camp, and the team received technical
dance training. Once classes started, additional
tryouts were held to fill vacant spots
on the team. Most of the team’s routines
are choreographed by the members and are
hip hop infused, but they do include other
styles.
“Our musical selections this past year
ranged from Barry Manilow to the Beastie
Boys, and each member got to step outside
her dance comfort zone to perform various
styles,” Haines stated. “They all have great
ideas and varied dance interests and experiences
resulting in some great routines.”
2005-2006 Dance Team Members include
Katie Childs (Middleport), Sam
Adkins (West Portsmouth), Kara Caulley
(Oak Hill), Kandace Clark (Batavia), Sasha
Clarke (Cleveland), Brittany Dixon (Cleveland),
Alex Savage (Lewisburg), and Liz
Stevens (Gallipolis).
www.rio.edu/11