The University of West Florida is one of 146 schools to be named a “Best Southeastern College” by "The Princeton Review.&qu= ot; Student opinion data from a total of 654 schools is featured on the Best Colleges: Region by Region section of PrincetonReview.com. Click here for complete story

Marine Biology Student Finds Ecological Diversity, Life’s Passion in Indon= esia

Traveling for three nights aboard a small, canoe-like boat, Rachel Wilborn, a University of West Florida marine biology graduate student fin= ally arrived at her destination – Hoga, a very small island in Indonesia= , a nation of 17,508 islands in the South East Asian archipelago. She was gre= eted by locals in the mostly Muslim community and was led to a hut she would c= all home for the next six weeks.

Wilborn was in the country to study Blue-Spotted Ribbontailed Stingra= ys as part of her ongoing research involving the swimming abilities of juven= ile Bamboo Sharks and Atlantic Stingrays. By determining how fast the various species can swim, along with how taxing the activity is on them, Wilborn sought to determine how juvenile ocean creatures escape – or hide – from their predators. All three species live in similar habitats – shallow coastal waters like estuaries and lagoons.

Read more abou= t this story...

Alumni Events …<= /b>

Pensacola- The Pensacola Chapter held a = very successful event at the Pensacola Pelicans on August 16^th. There were 100 people in attenda= nce.

1^st Alumni Golf Tournam= ent- Join us at Stonebrook Golf Club, Pace Fl. Fo= r the 1^st Alumni Golf Tournament on Friday September 28^th= . Cost is $70 per person. Lunch at noon and 1:00 shotgun start. Registration deadlin= e is Monday, September 17.

Class reunions-Join us on Saturday, September 29^th= for class reunion. While all al= umni of the University of West Florida are welcome, we honor the classes of ’68 – ’72, ’78 – ’82, ’88 ̵= 1; ’92, and ’98 – ’02 with a celebration held downto= wn in Seville Quarter. Deadlin= e to register is September 21. Click here for online registration form

40^th Anniversary= - The University will host the 40^th Anniversary Celebration the week of September 25- September 29. Please check the website for more details. http://uwf.edu/40years/=

Donor News…<= /p>

Brick campaign

Time is running out= on UWF’s first-ever brick campaign! Since 2005, alumni and frien= ds have been able to show their support through the purchase of a personaliz= ed brick that will be incorporated into the walkway entrance of the new Heal= th, Leisure, and Sports Facility. However, this campaign is quickly com= ing to an end and brick orders must be received by September 30, 2007 in orde= r to be processed. Don’t lose this opportunity to purchase a comme= morative brick and become a permanent part of UWF’s history! In additi= on to covering the costs of the brick campaign, proceeds from the sale of ea= ch brick will go towards; an Argonaut Statue to be erected outside the new facility and the endowment of the Ben Williamson Scholarship for HLES students. For more information about the UWF Brick Campaign or to purchase a brick, visit the brick ca= mpaign website or call 850-474-2758.

UWF Announces First Argo Scho= lars

The University o= f West Florida announced the Pensacola High School (PHS) students who are the fi= rst participants in the ARGO Scholars Program. They are Miguel Aldahondo, Rho= nda Barfield Turi Clausell and Dasom Bae. The ARGO Scholars Program offers mentoring and scholarship support to selected PHS students of high potent= ial who also face financial or other barriers to success. ARGO Scholars are identified in the tenth grade and are supported and mentored through their high school careers. Over the next two years, UWF will seek to build a $1 million endowment fund to provide scholars who attend UWF scholarship sup= port that, when combined with other sources of aid, will pay for all tuition, = room and board and book expenses, as well as fund a study-abroad experience. To read more click here…

Alumni Pride

Alumni share their stories and experiences…

In celebration of the University of West Florida’s 40th anniversary in 2007, 40 alumni from various backgrounds and professions w= ere selected from nominations put forward by UWF alumni, friends, faculty, and staff. Each one of the hono= rees has taken the time to complete an interview on their experiences at UWF.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Please take time to read their s= tories as we celebrate these top 40 outstanding individuals. http://www.uwf.= edu/40years/honorees/honorees.cfm

Emerald Coast Campuses

Fitness Center

The fitness center located on the Joint OWC/UWF Campu= s in Fort Walton Beach will become available for use by UWF students, alumni, faculty, and staff this Fall

Semester 2007. The facility has state-of-the art equipment, locker rooms, showers, and exercise rooms. Hours for the Fall semester: M-F 6 am-8 am and M-F

6:30 pm-10 pm (open at 5 on Friday). You must have a nautilus card for entry. For more information, contact Gail Holmes (= gholmes@uwf.edu, 863-6569) or Jennifer

Johnson (jjohnson@uwf.edu, 850-474-2814)

UWF Announces $25,000 G= ift Commitment From Vanguard Bank

Vanguard Bank has pledged an endowment gift of $25,000 to the University of West Florida Foundation. The gift will be used to provide an annual scholarship of $1,= 000 to a full-time business student from the Emerald Coast area who meets UWF admission criteria.

"We are del= ighted to partner with the University of West Florida Foundation," said Fred Leopold, president/chief operating officer of Vanguard Bank. "A numb= er of University of West Florida graduates have made significant contributio= ns to Vanguard's success. We are excited to enhance our partnership to enable more local students to achieve their educational and career goals."<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> To read more please click here…

<= u1:p>email: alumni@uwf.edu<= u1:p>

p= hone: 850-474-2758 1-800-226-1UWF

f= ax: 850-474-2714

w= eb: http://alumni.uwf.edu/<= /b>

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