Talking with colleagues this week, everyone agreed that last weekend wonât be forgotten any time soon. I believe in a few years weâll look back on the inaugural Vandal Fest as one of the most important weekends in the history of our state. We knew that Homecoming and the opening of ICCU Arena would leave Vandals everywhere beaming with pride. The weather cooperated, and our campus was stunning in full fall colors. The football team came through with a Big Sky victory on Saturday. The serpentine and the fireworks Friday night were spectacular. And we also unveiled Brave. Bold. A promise to Idahoâs students. Our commitment to students is evident in the focus and drive behind this campaign â one that puts students and their access to a bright future at the forefront. Check out the Vandal Fest highlight video. As always at the U of I, our students come first. Weâre focused on student access, student experiences and students finding meaningful careers. This means removing barriers, connecting the classroom with hands-on training and linking with industry partners to deliver internships and other experiential learning opportunities. Our campaign cabinet held its first meeting last week. We were stirred with emotion as each of us shared stories of how our lives, careers and families were forged and forever changed during our time at the U of I. We all long for students across Idaho to have those same opportunities to transform their lives. Our remarkable partners across a variety of fields and industries are excited to kick this campaign into high gear. Thank you to our students, staff and faculty who went above and beyond to make Vandal Fest an unforgettable experience. I know Iâm not alone in feeling itâs a special time to be a Vandal. I hope you can find a way to plug in to this team effort, because we need everyone. You can have a lasting impact on our students and our state. |