partan entnel Michigan State University Varsity ‘S’ Club NEWSLETTER VOL. 56 ISSUE 2 Thomas Remembers Earliest Days of the ‘S” Club Room George Thomas, at center above (5th from left in first row) was the President of MSU’s Varsity Club in the mid-1950s, was a player in attaining our club’s room in Spartan Stadium, and significantly jump-started the club’s membership levels and activities. Also notable were MSU Sports physician, Dr. Fuerig, just right of Thomas, and Don Morey, in 2nd row just right of Thomas. (cont. on Page 2) S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 Michigan State University 2012-2013 Varsity ‘S’ Club 535 Chestnut Rd. - Rm 276 East Lansing, MI 48824 Varsity ‘S’ Club Phone: (517) 355-8523 Fax: (517) 355-7708 Executive Committee Email: [email protected] President Cheryl Gilliam ’81 Website: www.msuvarsitysclub.org 1st Vice President Wally Dobler ’58 2nd Vice President R. Paul Vance ’01 Secretary Mike Vorkapich ’94 We value your opinion and want to know what Treasurer David Brogan ’56 you think about the Varsity ‘S’ Club Past President Colin Cronin ’94 Newsletter. Send us an e-mail, call or fax with Board of Directors items or topics you would like to see included in Don Behm ’67 Ron Berby ’64 future newsletters. If you have suggestions on Tim Bograkos ’04 Michael Decker ’80 how to improve the publication, let us know. Sue Selke ’76!! Donald Weatherspoon ’67 Young Alumni Elections for the Board of Directors of the Varsity ‘S’ Lauren Aitch ’09!! Erica Mann ’11 A. J. Sturges ’12 Club are held each spring. If you would like to serve on the Board, simply visit our website, click on the Office Staff: Marilyn Bria (Office Hours: M-Th, 12-4; F, 12-3) application tab, print the form, complete, and mail to Newsletter Editor: Ron Berby the the club office. George Thomas, at left with son Jon, was President of the ‘S’ Varsity Club in 1956. At right (third from right) is Thomas with his fencing team and Coach Charles Schmitter. Jon Thomas was also a Spartan fencer, and President of the ‘S” Club, in 1981 and ’82 (cont. from page one) Shortly after our Winter issue came out, 1950s swimmer/diver Don Morey contacted us, crediting George Thomas for spearheading the making of the Varsity ‘S’ Club into an organized and effective group. Thomas, 84, was in the armed services in Eastern Europe during years of the Korean War. Afterward, on attending MSU, he competed on the fencing team and became active in the Varsity Club, eventually being elected President. He and Spartan hockey/baseball player John Polomsky (deceased in 2011) developed working relationships with Athletic Director Biggie Munn, eventually resulting in Munn and University President John Hannah having a room in Spartan Stadium remodeled for use as a meeting and activity room for the Club. As previous ‘S‘ Club meetings were held monthly, usually at a room which had to be reserved in the Union, Thomas jump-started the club, getting word out to teams to build membership numbers, and beginning to meet weekly and base activites in the newly attained room in the stadium. As a fencer George was All-American in 1955, and Big Ten Champion in 1955 and 1957. His son Chris (deceased) was Big Ten Champion in 1977 and 1978, and won the Dr. Feurig Award as the Outstanding Senior. Chris also lettered in football those two years, playing under Denny Stolz and Darryl Rogers. Son Jon, pictured above with him, was a 4-year letter-winning fencer, despite missing a season due to an auto accident. He was also President of the ‘S‘ Club, in 1981 and ’82, and won the Varsity Club’s Citizen Athlete Award in ’82. The Thomases leave quite a legacy in Spartan sports and achievement. - Ron Berby S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 2 Lauren Aitch Reaches her Stride Her Spartan dad Matt put the defensive clamps on Michigan basketball star Cazzie Russell back in the 1960s, and taught Lauren to work toward her goals. But he said not to let basketball define her, but rather to offer her opportunities. After leading Waverly High to the State Class A Championship, she played for MSU but met multiple crises her sophomore year. She tore an ACL and lost a season, her father died, and Coach Joann McCallie left for a job at Duke. But Lauren stayed with MSU basketball under new coach Suzie Merchant, earned her Bachelors, and went on to a Masters. Opportunity came when she played basketball in Copenhagen, Denmark. She spent her off days exploring the city, Denmark’s fashion capital, and she began to draw women’s clothing that came to mind. Her creative instincts took over, and she started to plan her fashion line, Lady Aitch. Playing at Waverly and MSU, Lauren thought little about Lansing, but now she recognized it as a town with a great mix of people and activity, a place to raise kids. So she returned and created Lady Aitch, as well as The Aitch Foundation, which researches detecting the early stages of cancer. Thus, we are proud to announce Lauren Aitch as the winner of the first annual MSU ‘S’ Club’s Cheryl M. Gilliam Young Alumni Award. Athletes Honored as Exceptional Scholars On April 16th, the Student- Athlete Support Services held their 16th Annual Spartan Academic Excellence Gala at the Breslin Center, honoring 275 student-athletes who achieved 3.0 GPAs or better. Overall, MSU student-athletes have a GPA of 3.01, this the 4th consecutive semester they have reached 3.0 or higher. The women’s golf team, shown in the upper left, had the highest women’s team GPA at 3.466. Pictured third from right in the group is ESPN’s Chris Fowler, who was keynote speaker for the evening. Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll was proud her women took their second in a row title. At the upper right is the men’s golf team, who led the way with a 3.36 GPA. Coach Gene Orlando’ crew has won the title for a sixth straight year and a record ninth time. On the lower left is field hockey player and Kinesiology major Corey Block of Chelsea. Hers was the top senior women’s GPA at 3.96. At the lower right is senior Finance major David Ellis of Negaunee, who’s 3.99 led the men. This was the 16th year that SASS has hosted the event, which brings to light the surprising competitive spirit that it has engendered in Spartan Athletes. SASS Director Jim Pignataro reports that MSU athletes earn an 85% graduation rate, a number not seen everywhere. S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 3 President’s Message Dear Fellow Spartans and Friends: We are fast closing in on another successful academic and fiscal year here at Michigan State University. You have seen several positive changes to your club during this time. Many things are happening behind the scenes in the athletic department to grow and improve our Club. With your help, we will become one of the best - if not the best - Letterwinners Club in the nation. Please keep sending us feedback on what you want from our Club. For starters: What types of events would you like us to host in the 2014/2015 year as we celebrate our 100th birthday? What improvements would you like to see in your Club Room? Do you want to bring your team back for a celebration in future Reunion Weekends that we host each year. Did you enjoy the format of this year’s Golf Outing? Do you have feature story ideas for the newsletter? We look forward to your feedback and will respond to it. Contact Alan, Marilyn or myself any time. In 2013/2014 we will have feature stories on our amazing Young Alumni Letterwinners on what they are doing in the communities where they live, and how they give back. If you know of any YAs who have formed nonprofit foundations or are participating in significant community service eforts, please let me know. We plan to highlight 3 – 4 individuals or groups in each of our quarterly newsletters. As always, thanks again for this remarkable experience as serving as YOUR President. I am going into my last year; Wally Dobbler will succeed me on July 1, 2014. Your comments are encouraged and always appreciated on how we can serve you better. Whether you live in the Michigan area or around the globe, we aim to meet your needs and please you. Go Green and Remember We Are SPARTANS FOR LIFE! Cheryl M. Gilliam, B. S. College of Agriculture, The School of Packaging Track, 1978 - 1981 Recent Views of Campus Below: Scenes from the new Brody Hall S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 4 More Recent Views of Our Campus Spartan Chariot Stadium’s Spartan Way Cowles House ‘S’ Club Room Broad Art Museum Old Sparty & Friend Bygone Award Beaumont Tower S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 5 Michigan State University Varsity ‘S’ Club Merchant Discount Program The Varsity ‘S’ Club coordinates a program with several campus-area merchants to give club members a discount on purchases when you present your membership card. So if you live in the East Lansing area, or when you visit campus, please patronize these fine merchants who support MSU athletics. Listed below are merchants participating in the program. Discount amounts vary by merchant, so please check with your cashier or waitperson prior to ordering.