March 12, 2008

For the complete spring newsletter, click here.

Dear Graduates and Friends,

Greetings from Ohio University and the Center for Sports Administration! Spring is in the air, and the students are working hard to wrap up the winter quarter. Bobcat Blitz is coming together and Symposium details are being nailed down day-by-day. We are looking forward to celebrating this year's reunion classes of 1983, 1988, 1998, and 2003, and hope you can make it. To register for symposium, visit: symposium registration.

I especially hope many of you can join us on Saturday, May 3rd when Scott McCune returns to campus to receive the Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alum Award. Through Scott's leadership as the Vice President and Director of Integrated Marketing for Coca-Cola, he continues to be a dominant player in the evolution of sports marketing. McCune has played a key role with Coca-Cola's participation and activation plans in the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Thanks to many of you, the MSA Class of 2008 has currently set a new record for advertising sales with this year's directory. Your continued support as alumni of our program with donations to the SAFM Annual Fund and advertising support in this directory, continues to set us apart from other schools that are now offering a post graduate degree in sports. Ohio University's SAFM program will not take its place in history for granted and remains committed to recruiting and training the finest group of graduate students in the world. The MSA Class of 2008 is a fine example of what our future looks like and one that you can all be very excited about having in our industry.

The class continues to work hard in other areas, too, and has once again raised the bar and will leave its legacy behind with a number of accomplishments that included the marketing, promotion and event operation for a return engagement of the Harlem Globetrotters to the Convocation Center. The class's grass roots marketing and group sales brought in 5,500 fans, and saw gross ticket sales reach $ 70,000. The hard work marked the event a success, as the Globetrotters only had 800 fans come out to Athens High School the last time they were in town to play.

The MBA/MSA Class of 2009 has also been working hard to develop the skills needed to solve authentic business problems through action learning by integrating the classroom experience with a consulting practicum at Ohio University's George Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. These students have been given the opportunity to apply theory and make a significant difference in the lives of businessmen and women throughout the southeast Ohio region. There is no doubt that these students will excel and proudly represent the OU SAFM program in their internship experiences this summer. The Class also appreciates the scholarship monies that they have received from many of you through the SAFM Annual Fund and is planning a special announcement at this year's Symposium.

One behalf of our faculty, students, staff, and the College of Health and Human Services, I would like to once again thank you for your continued support of the SAFM Program and Center for Sports Administration at Ohio University.

Sincerely,

Jim Kahler Executive Director Center for Sports Administration Ohio University