You donât have to look very far to find the University of Idahoâs greatest champions. Vandals populate cities and towns across the globe. We work jobs in every field. We contribute to the economy and volunteer in our communities. We add value everywhere we go, a truth since our inception in 1889. Letâs not keep it to ourselves. Itâs on us to communicate that success, to tout the transformational education that led us to where we are today. Thatâs the motivation behind telling our story â to demonstrate how our students meet the needs of Idahoâs employers, and how Vandals benefit from their University of Idaho degree. Through word and deed, we can be effective recruiters and continue the Vandal legacy for generations long into the future. The paths available to us to tell our story are endless. More than 110,000 Vandal alumni live across the world, and each and every one of us is an ambassador for this great university. Even the smallest measures of support add up. Wear your pride gold in public and watch what happens, especially the farther you travel from Idaho. Every time I travel beyond Idaho wearing Vandal gear, someone will identify themselves as an alumni or friend of the University of Idaho. We often talk about the pull of the Vandal Family, but itâs truly amazing to see just how often we can meet a fellow Vandal when weâre all showing our pride. About 200 alumni and others actively show their support in more public ways through our Brand Ambassador Program. These messengers are armed with toolkits and other information so they can advocate for the U of I in their own communities. More targeted measures brought out the Brave and Bold among Idahoâs teachers as part of last yearâs wildly successful Vandalize the Classroom initiative. Telling our unique story with one voice inspires future Vandals to join our ranks. It motivates more young people to access a life-changing education. It benefits our industry and government partners by ensuring they have trained workers who can compete at the highest levels. It aids our many communities by connecting support with the people who need it. Each and every one of us is a recruiter for Idahoâs land-grant university, the Best Value public university in the West. Introduce the students in your life to the power of that Vandal education and help âGrow the Gold.â We will continue to tell our story with billboards, TV spots, digital media and through every other possible avenue. A handful of alumni leveraged their own property to proudly support their Vandals. The first three silver and gold grain bins went up last year along busy highways near Picabo, Newdale and Parma. These grain bins represent the long-standing symbiotic relationship between the U of I and Gem State agriculture that benefits us all. Vandals often ask how they can contribute to the U of Iâs future. My answer: Just be our biggest supporters. Advocate on our behalf to your friends, students you may know, or your partners in government and industry. Write your legislators in support of the university and our contribution to the state. We are changing lives here in Moscow, and at points across the entire state. Letâs all serve as ambassadors in that mission. |