Preserving and celebrating the University of Idahoâs traditions are what SArbies are all about. SArb â the Student Alumni Relations Board â is one of the first organizations new students encounter on campus in Moscow. The group organizes the Vandal Walk that freshmen take to start their U of I career. SArb enthusiasm is infectious, setting a tone for the Brave and Bold Vandal Pride we carry with us throughout our time here â and in the decades that follow. 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of SArb. Former Alumni Director Dick Johnston created the group in 1970 to bring more Vandal spirit to campus and foster connection between current students and alumni â many of whom are employers eager to hire hard-working graduates. The Vandal Pride that SArb members bring to the table has remained just as passionate throughout the past half century. I know. I spent time as a member of SArb as a student, and later interacted with the group as a member of the Alumni Association Board. The direct student-alumni interaction also reassures alumni that todayâs Vandals continue to raise the bar for our university as they prepare for their chosen field. Regardless of major, the No. 1 request the University of Idaho gets from alumni is for more information about what students are up to. Planning the various events such as spring and fall Parent and Family Weekends, the annual Easter Egg Hunt and the Grad Fair program takes a tremendous amount of work for SArb members, led this year by President Jake Milleson. Itâs a job that provides meaningful leadership opportunities and good life skills that SArbies utilize long after they graduate. The group reinforces whatâs possible from a positive and full university experience. Many SArbies are also members of the Homecoming Committee, which has been working day and night to plan this weekâs "Stay-at-Homecoming" virtual activities. Despite the cancellation of many in-person activities this fall, the traditions that connect all members of the Vandal Family will continue. The 2020 Homecoming Royalty will be crowned tonight as usual, on Facebook Live. Be sure to watch the Idaho Central Credit Union Fireworks Extravaganza beginning at 9:30 p.m. Pacific time Saturday. A SArb 50th anniversary celebration planned as part of the 2020 Homecoming festivities has been pushed to 2021 amid the pandemic. Until then, Iâm looking forward to celebrating our Homecoming traditions in a new way this weekend. Thank you to all of the SArbie alumni out there who gave their time to the university while on campus. Current SArbies continue to deliver on our traditions with their trademark enthusiasm. We can all be proud of them. |