First Opening Convocation
Ushers in the New Year
The school year started uniquely this year with the first-ever opening convocation held at Hershey Hall on Monday, August 21. Students started the festivities with a ceremonial march from Best Hall to Hershey Hall, the location of the event.

During the formal ceremony, Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., president of TSU, encouraged the students to make the most of their years at Tri-State University and welcomed them into the TSU family. Faculty, administration, and staff ushered in the new year with a pledge of support, while students pledged their affirmation of commitment.

The ceremony ended with the students being greeted by the sound of applause and the TSU bell as they exited Hershey Hall. The administration, faculty, and staff formed a line to congratulate students on their new endeavors.

50 Attend Texas Regional Dinners
Fifty alumni were greeted throughout Texas during the month of August. Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., president of TSU, greeted alumni at regional dinners in Dallas, Austin, and Houston to discuss the success of the Vision for the Future capital campaign, which is nearing $60 million, and to discuss the new master plan. Brooks was accompanied to all three events by Board Chair John Pittman and Trustees John J. McKetta Jr. Trustee Mike McKetta attended the Austin event.

TSU Ranks at the Top of the List
in U.S. News and World Report
For the third consecutive year, Tri-State University has been ranked among the top 50 comprehensive colleges in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report based on the following categories: graduation and retention rank, average graduation rate, percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students, student/faculty ratio, freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class, financial resources rank, and average alumni giving rate.

The financial statistics for the University were among the top in the region as well. TSU ranked fifth in the Midwest with students who graduate with the least amount of debt. The amount of debt that students will graduate with was ranked among the lowest in the Midwest. The institution was also recognized for giving one of the highest percentages of students merit-based aid. The number of students in fraternities, which was 25 percent, was also among the highest in the region.

16th Annual TSU Alumni & Friends Golf Outing
Touted as a Success
Nearly 200 alumni and friends joined in Tri-State University’s 16th Annual Alumni and Friends Golf Outing to raise over $42,000. The funds will be used to benefit the University’s scholarship endeavors. The golf outing was held at Tri-State’s own Zollner Golf Course, which featured 18-holes of golf, lunch, dinner, and an award’s program.

Tri-State University would like to thank the following businesses for their support: AMI Investment Management, Jim Ingledue Construction, and Design Collaborative as eagle sponsors. American Sealants, H.E. Johnson & Son Funeral Home, ABZ Realty, Bon Appétit, and Schrader Real Estate & Auction Company (by Richard Williams) contributed as birdie sponsors. Fifth Third Bank sponsored the day’s luncheon. The dinner sponsorship was courtesy of Frank Hall & Hall Bros. Transportation.

The winning team was composed of four alumni. Bob Shearer, Liz Brown, Sarah Brown, and Justin Howard won by one stroke with a score of 55. The Jim Ingledue Construction team finished in second place in the two-flight scramble.

Homecoming 2006: Touch the Future
Homecoming is just around the corner and events for everyone are scheduled during the weekend. Make plans now to visit TSU, see all the changes taking place on campus, and reminisce with old friends. For more information, visit our Web site at tristate.edu/alumni/homecoming.cfm, call the Office of University Advancement at 260.665.4114, or e-mail Julie Wert at wertj@tristate.edu.

Homecoming Schedule

Thursday—September 21
5–6 p.m.	Scholarship Reception
6 p.m.	Touchstone Social Hour Class 1956 Reception
7 p.m.	Touchstone Dinner
Friday—September 22
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.	Franks School of Education—Open House
11:30 a.m.	Dedication of Ingledue Freshman Honors Villas
1 p.m.	Student Apartments Ground Breaking
6:30 p.m.	Homecoming Dinner
9 p.m.–12 a.m.	Student Bonfire and Band
Saturday—September 23
7:30 a.m.	President’s Advisory Council Meeting
9 a.m.–12 p.m.	Ketner School of Business—Open House
9 a.m.–12 p.m.	Allen School of Engineering and Technology —Open House
10 a.m.	Student/Parent Activities
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.	McKetta Chemical Engineering Celebration
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.	Alumni Tailgate Luncheon
12 p.m.	Women’s Soccer vs. Albion College
1:30 p.m.	TSU Thunder Football vs. Franklin College
2 p.m.	Men’s Soccer vs. Alma College
4 p.m.	5th Quarter
5:30–7:30 p.m.	Christian Campus House "Lantern Club” dinner
6:30 p.m.	Kappa Sigma Fraternity dinner
Sunday—September 24
9 a.m.	Alumni Board of Governors Meeting

Master Plan Update
Progress continues to move forward on the University Center and Center for Technology and Online Resources, as well as the Sponsel Administration Center. Although already under construction to ensure opening for students in the fall of 2007. TSU will break ground on the student apartments with our official ceremony to be held on Friday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. during Homecoming festivities. Plans for the multipurpose sport complex are being finalized. Technology updates will continue with our wireless Internet sites and installation of infrastructure. In addition, faculty and staff are receiving the new tablet PCs and training is underway.

Enrollment Numbers
As a part of TSU's plan to increase enrollment over the next five years, TSU is on track with its outstanding enrollment numbers this year. A total of 1,470 students have enrolled. This is a seven percent increase from last year’s enrollment. Of those students, 375 are new students, a five percent increase. The Allen School of Engineering and Technology has received a 30 percent increase in majors, with 160 new students. The amount of students living in new student housing has increased by 15 percent.