2008 PRESIDENT'S REPORT

2008 Highlights

UM Commercials Rake in Awards

UM continued its award-winning advertising campaign this year with two more commercials produced by Montana-based Chisel Industries. One new ad, featuring anthropology Assistant Professor Kelly Dixon, won Best of Show in the electronic media category at the 2007 Montana ADDY Awards Competition in Great Falls. In total, Chisel Industries won six ADDY awards for the UM campaign at the February awards ceremony. Another new UM commercial features footage of a flyover of Missoula and the University campus.

Braeden Comes Back

UM alumnus and daytime television star Eric Braeden came back to his alma mater last spring after an almost 50-year absence. Known for playing Victor Newman on the daytime drama series “The Young and the Restless,” as well as his role as John Jacob Astor in the Academy Award-winning movie “Titanic,” Braeden attended UM in the early 1960s and worked nights at the Bonner mill. He was back on campus in April to screen his aptly titled latest film, “The Man Who Came Back.”

AIDS Quilt Displayed During Homecoming

UM Homecoming 2008 had a special guest this year – a 101-section portion of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, commemorating those who have died of AIDS. Established in 1987, the memorial quilt comprises more than 40,000 panels in all and is the largest community art project in the world. The section of the quilt on display in the Adams Center was the largest exhibit of the quilt ever in Montana and included many panels honoring Montanans who have died of AIDS.

Rocket Man Returns

Elton John didn’t get enough of Missoula after his performance at UM in fall 2007. So he and his band were back for an encore performance in the Adams Center on April 11. A sold-out crowd of 8,000 fans cheered as the legendary singer, pianist and songwriter belted out his hits, including “Rocket Man,” “Yellow Brick Road” and “Candle in the Wind.” “Everyone at the University is thrilled that Elton John has chosen to play in Missoula a second time,” said UM Executive Vice President James Foley.

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