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IN THIS (ISSUE) News from your class agent News From Your Class Agent 1 What’s New With You? 2 Alumni Spotlight: Kim Norwood 2 25 Years of Graduate Education 2 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees 3 Inauguration Date Announced 3 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kettler 3 Spring Alumni Events 4 From the Desk of Lisa Tilma 4
Nicholas Bennington, M’00 MMIS Class Agent nbenning@sbcglobal.net You are invited to the inauguration of President Dr. T.J. Arant.
Happy New Year! I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well and that you rung in the 2012 new year in style. As I reflect on the events of 2011, it was certainly an eventful year for me and my family.
I sold my residence, my fiance and I integrated two households, got married and travelled to Italy for a wonderful two-week honeymoon. Our trip to Italy was a fantastic experience. After visiting the cities of Rome, Venice and Milan, I have a much better appreciation for the talents and works of the great architects, sculptors and painters of the renaissance, especially Michelangelo. The history and ornate details of the buildings and churches were absolutely incredible. After returning to the states, it was evident that our country has different attitudes toward its own history and culture. Even though the U.S. is young in history, it is obvious that our country is the leader in communication technology. It is easy to take for granted our ease of access to the Internet via businesses offering “free wi-fi,” whereas in Italy, internet access for travelers is a luxury, especially with the high cost of the Euro. Even then, Italy’s wireless infrastructure is substandard to the U.S. But the transition to free or inexpensive
access to the Internet globally will gradually become more commonplace. It may take a decade or so as companies expand, improve the infrastructure and take risks in new markets. That’s why I commend Google for its forward thinking. Last year, Google announced it would deploy its ultra-fast broadband network in Kansas City, Kan. Its broadband network is expected to be 100 times faster than what we have available today. This capability will change the course of multimedia entertainment and offer new possibilities for consumer online offerings. One area that will certainly benefit is the online education industry. Friends University has always offered a great classroom experience for its students. Friends also offers an accredited online education. Working adults can take advantage of several bachelor’s and master’s course offerings available online. With a network in place similar to what Google is offering in Kansas City, online programs will certainly increase in popularity in the coming years and will truly offer a “virtual” classroom alternative. More information is available online at learnonline.friends.edu/programs.