March 2006

All NEW in this issue:

  • Meet Carla E. Alsandor MBA '04, director of alumni programs
  • Two Alumni Spotlights
    • Donald J. Barnes '84, lieutenant colonel, USAF
    • Timothy J. Bricker '80, building designer
  • Photos from Centenary in the Highland Mardi Gras Parade
  • William Joyce speaks out about New Orleans

Help expand the Centenary Connection by forwarding this newsletter to fellow alumni who may not be on our list.


Carla E. Alsandor MBA '04, director of alumni programs

Meet Carla E. Alsandor MBA '04, director of alumni programs

Carla E. Alsandor MBA '04 has been a part of the Centenary Community for almost four years. She began her MBA here in 2002 and finished in the spring of 2004. As she was finishing her master’s, the position in alumni relations became available. Carla read the job description and knew she was a “perfect match.”

Carla graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas in 1982 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in radio, TV, and film. She then left Texas for a career in broadcast news in California.

After working in radio, Carla found that she enjoyed being on the other side of the microphone in public relations. She eventually found her joy of event planning and fundraising for profit and non-profit organizations, through her work with the American Cancer Society. Working for a cause is something that Carla knows well. In previous jobs her cause was to benefit health and now “our cause is education.” Carla says, “Alumni are much more fun to work with because of the wonderful relationships that are formed.” This keeps her motivated to produce interesting events that keep Centenary alums involved.

At Centenary, Carla has helped many alumni events grow and flourish locally and around the country, with remarkable alumni support. We now have events like special receptions, picnics, lunch bunches and happy hours that keep our alums in contact with each other and their alma mater. Carla has learned how challenging it is to undertake the never-ending task of keeping alums in contact with their school. She understands the need to keep the Office of Alumni Relations informed of any new contact information and how alums enjoy the ability to stay in touch with each other through our Online Alumni Community.

Each alumni event requires great attention to detail. Carla knows how to make sure that no small task is overlooked and the event is a hit time after time. A lot of her time is spent working with all of the alums that graciously volunteer their time to Centenary. The key to making events run smoothly is accurate communication. Some of our most successful and pleasant events have been the low key, informal ones like crawfish boils, cheering on our athletes and alumni happy hours.

Carla does have many interests beyond the Office of Alumni Relations at Centenary College. She is passionate about cooking and is currently working on putting together her own cookbook. Picnics are something that you may find Carla doing on a beautiful long afternoon away from Centenary’s campus (despite the fact that Centenary is a great setting for a picnic.) Traveling is also one of her loves. She has been to the Hawaiian islands about 15 times and she looks forward to her next trip sometime soon.

So, if you see Carla with a wicker basket on her arm you can almost bet it is either a neatly packed picnic ready for a slow afternoon or Centenary party supplies like nametags, guest books, “I love Centenary” pins and a camera, as she heads to another Centenary alumni event.

Alumni Spotlights


Donald J. Barnes, Lt Col, USAF (second from right) standing with Iraqi contractors at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Baghdad

Rebuilding Baghdad

Donald J. Barnes, Lt Col, USAF graduated from Centenary in 1985. He has been in the Air Force since a year after graduation. Recently he was stationed at the Pentagon but last year he was deployed for a one-year tour in Baghdad Iraq. Barnes was sent in May of 2005 and will return in May of this year. Here is his story: Rebuilding Baghdad.

Bricker To Lead State Society of Building Designers

After serving four years on the Board of Directors, the last two as secretary, Timothy J. Bricker '80 will take the helm of the Florida Society of the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) as president for 2006.

Begun in California in 1950, AIBD is an organization of over 1,100 building designers, in 47 states, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Its purpose is to promote a standard of excellence through education, cooperation with governmental agencies and industry related businesses, as well as public interest and confidence in the profession. With over 125 members in the state, the Florida Society is one of the largest chapters of AIBD.

Bricker is an award-winning, certified building designer specializing in single family home design, additions, and renovations. He has provided design services in the Upper Florida Keys since 1983.

Community service has been a part of his professional career for many years. As founding president of Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys, he continues to offer plan services and support to the Key Largo affiliate. More recently, he served as the founding president of Upper Keys Community Pool, Inc., the non-profit volunteer organization that oversaw the construction of the Jacob’s Aquatic Center, and he is currently on its Board of Directors.

Other areas of involvement include his pro-bono design of the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, his ongoing work with the Kiwanis Club of the Upper Keys and the Key Clubs at Coral Shores High School and Island Christian School, and as lay leader and adult Sunday School teacher at Burton Memorial United Methodist Church.

Bricker and his wife Edith Zewadski-Bricker, have three children: Jessica (Little), Mark (currently serving in the 82nd Airborne in Iraq), and Annabelle, a seventh grader at Key Largo School.

Alumni Class Notes

Read this month's class notes to catch up on classmates such as:

Centenary participates in the Highland Mardi Gras Parade

The Office of Alumni Relations is thrilled to say that we had wonderful Centenary attendance at this year's Highland parade. The hot dogs grilling and Centenary cups flying through the air let everyone know that it was time to celebrate Mardi Gras in Highland once again. Take a look at the photos of Centenary and the Highland Mardi Gras Parade.

KatrinaRita Gras

Centenary's Artist-in-Residence William Joyce Illustrates, Writes about This Year's New Orleans, Mardi Gras, Tears. Read his story.

Save the Date

Friday, March 17, 2006
LA State Exhibit Museum Alumni Reception and St. Patty's Day Celebration
With the luck of the Irish, we're bridging the gap between the past and the present. Every one is invited. View the invitation.

Sunday, March 26, 2006
Central Arkansas Chapter Kick-Off Reception
Join fellow Centenary alumni for a casual gathering at the home of Matt Prysock '96
View the invitation.

Saturday, April 1, 2006
Gumbo Mambo 7 in Washington, D.C.
View the invitation.

Saturday, May 20, 2006
2nd Annual Kappa Alpha Alumni Golf Tournament, to benefit the Alpha Iota Chapter's housing fund. Contact for more information.

For more up-to-date alumni events visit our alumni events calendar.

Cruise the Passage of Peter the Great

Rendezvous in Russia! September 13 - 25, 2006. Trace the steps of Peter the Great as you explore St. Petersburg, encountering his famed replica The Bronze Horseman. You'll be amazed by this city, bursting with Russian art and culture! Board the luxurious M/S Repin and take pleasure in the folk music and wooden dachas of Mandrogi; stand in awe at Kizhi Island and Goritsy; and appreciate the delicate beauty of the Florence of Russia, Yaroslavl. Sail the Volga River to Uglich and arrive in Moscow. Revel in the State Tretyakov Gallery; and adorn yourself in grandeur as you admire the regality of the Russian aristocracy housed in the Kremlin's Armory Museum. Allow your imagination to take flight at Star City as you experience the Russian space program's launch pad, Gagariin Cosmonaut Training Center.

To make your deposit ($600) and reserve your place on this trip, please call AHI at 800-323-7373. Price is determined by cabin category. Air from Atlanta, transfers, all meals and all excursions are included in the price.

For more information contact or go to Russia September 2006.

Updates

If you move or change your contact information, please let us know so that we can keep in touch with you. Also, let us know about memorable moments such as weddings, births, and promotions, so that we can keep your peers and our records updated.

If you know Centenary alums that are not receiving this email or other mail correspondence, please forward this email to them and ask them to submit an update online at http://www.centenary.edu/alumni/update. You can keep in touch with other alumni by signing up for the Centenary College Alumni Online Community.

For any other alumni news or ideas contact, alumni communications specialist, Amanda McCarter '04 at 318.869.5028 or .