The award-winning College of Biological Sciences (Bio Sci) Alumni Society was chartered in late 1999. Already, the OSU Alumni Association has awarded the Bio Sci Society and its board members five leadership awards. These awards were based on innovative service programs. We were the first alumni group to actively assist in recruiting highly talented undergraduate students (in cooperation with the Admissions Office) to the university’s honors and scholars programs. The Admissions Office used our successful involvement to persuade other groups to follow our lead. Secondly, we initiated an annual community-service event, Buckeye Island Hop, which benefits Stone Laboratory (the university’s Lake Erie field station) and other non-profit organizations of the Lake Erie Islands. Buckeye Island Hop is a genuinely innovative and successful annual event, bringing together for the first time an alumni club, alumni society, and a friends group to collaborate on a single volunteer event at Ohio State.

Other Bio Sci sponsored activities include a graduation luncheon for students and their families each June, a social event in the college’s greenhouse, tailgate events for football and hockey games, a golf outing and auction, and a joint mailing with the OSU Alumni Association to prospective members that highlights distinguished Bio Sci alumni. Members are invited to special college-sponsored events such as the dedication of the new Stanley J. Aronoff Laboratory and the Undergraduate Research Colloquium during each Spring Quarter as well as all society-sponsored events. Current goals include building the Alumni Scholarship Fund to benefit Bio Sci students, developing student mentoring and professional networking activities, and expanding our membership to include new students and alumni. We need to continue to develop strong involvement in our society for the encouragement and support of academic and research excellence in the biological sciences, and to enhance the quality of the student experience.

Please consider joining the Biological Sciences Alumni Society in doing something great to promote the advancement of our college and the university. An annual contribution to the College of Biological Sciences will keep your membership active. More importantly, we need your talents, energies, and ideas to continue our great record of accomplishments. You can make a real difference in the life of students and in the progress of the college.

Please keep in touch by revisiting our website for updated society activities. If you have any questions or comments, or want to learn how to become involved, please contact me at jennik02@odjfs.state.oh.us or Megan Lalumondier in the college office at lalumondier.1@osu.edu.

Thanks for visiting our website and best wishes for 2003-2004.

Sincerely,

Karen Jennings
President, Bio Sci Alumni Society