Team Spirit

The Temple football team’s commitment to community service often continues long after graduation. For example, Raheem Brock, SBM ’08, defensive tackle  for the Indianapolis Colts, and several current members of the team recently took 45 school-aged children on a shopping spree funded by Brock.

Owls of Distinction in the Philadelphia Business Journal

When it comes to Owls, leadership should be as signature a characteristic as is wisdom. For example, both Elaine Thompson, CHPSW ’85, and Nilda Ruiz, SBM ’86, were included on Philadelphia Business Journal‘s 2009 list of  the region’s “Women of Distinction,” published Nov. 30.

Thompson is president of Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa., and earned a master’s degree from the College of Health Professions and Social Work.  Ruiz is president and CEO of Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, an organization that aims to improve the quality of life for Latinos in the greater Philadelphia area.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Fox School of Business.

Legal Eagle

As if law firms didn’t already have a reputation for being fiercely competitive, a recent article in The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the increasing pressures faced by the law industry.

For an example of grace under pressure, to whom did the Inquirer turn? To an Owl, of course. The story focuses on Christina Norland Audigier, LAW ’05, a lawyer with Duane Morris in Philadelphia.

‘Psycho’ About Hitchcock

For fans of Alfred Hitchcock, 2010 will be a landmark year. The classic suspense film Psycho celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2010, which also is the 30th anniversary of the director’s death.

It also will be a banner year for John W. Law, SCT ’88, author of Alfred Hitchcock: The Icon Years. Law’s book will be released by Aplomb Publishing in January.

Award Achievement

Todd Scalise, TYL ’95, and Joe Spear, TYL ’96, wrote to announce their participation in the 2009 Albuquerque Film Festival. However, their contribution wasn’t what you might think: The two artists designed the Dennis Hopper Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to the innovative actor and director at the Albuquerque Film Festival awards ceremony in August.

It’s definitely one of the most original award sculptures I’ve ever seen, but as an actor and director, Hopper might argue that nothing trumps the Oscar silhouette.

(Photo by Louis Leray, 2009.)

Reunited

Following  three days of celebration to mark the opening of the new School of Medicine facility, David Best, MED ’79, submitted a photo of reunited Medical School students from the Class of 1979. It was taken on Saturday, October 31 at the Medical School Reunion Banquet. Best says, “The Phillies may have lost, but we didn’t. It was a fun time!”

Pictured left to right:  Joe Nejman, James Mixon, Mary Glodek,  Curt Miller, Mary Tobin,  Michael  Ruddy and David Best

Meanwhile, at the Kennedy Center…

With his vast wardrobe of Temple gear, I would bet that alumnus Bill Cosby probably is the Owl who has granted Temple the most primetime television coverage—aside from the NCAA, of course. Last night, Cosby accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He’s the 12th awardee to be honored for humor with a social impact. Unfortunately, his Temple gear didn’t make an appearance.

New Goals

Though there might not be a Temple alumnus to root for in the Phillies’ postseason, Henry Burris, SCT ’98, a former Temple quarterback, earned a CFL (Canadian Football League) championship ring in 2008. Burris is quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders, who won the 2008 Grey Cup championship. He also was named the Grey Cup MVP for the 2008 season.

Back to the Future

I’m constantly amazed at how many women who were ahead of their time have graduated from Temple.  For example, The Wall Street Journal online recently profiled Bea States, CST ’54, MED ’67, one of  a handful of women of her generation to embark on a career in biochemistry. Born in the 1920s, States earned both an undergraduate degree in biology and a  medical degree from Temple. According to the Journal, States dedicated her professional career to studying childhood diseases.

Wunder Dad

Robert Wunder Jr., CHP ’86, will do anything to help his son, sophomore Harold Wunder, to attend college. After reading about them in The Philadelphia Inquirer,  it will come as no surprise that Rob Wunder was awarded the National Father’s Day Committee’s  “All-Star Dad” award in 2009.