There are two groups of people in the world who can tell you the Latin name for groundhog: UD students and Woodchuck cider drinkers, who regularly see "Marmota monax" inscribed on the cider's label. While the Vermont-based hard cider company celebrates "Woodchuck Day" in February, they have agreed to let bygones be bygones this Feb. 1 and sponsor UD's Groundhog Party in the Rat.
In addition to providing the celebration in the Rathskeller with cases of cider and keepsakes, Woodchuck is sponsoring the music (Richard Fougerousse, BA '72, and his band, House Special) and hosting a cider tasting at 3 p.m. that day.
Additionally, Liberty Mutual, who donated the gift bags for Alumni & Family Weekend, has sponsored security for the Party in the Rat.
Washington, DC, tour attendees are also in luck: Woodchuck has donated cider to the Jan. 31 celebration at ATMTC Wintergreen Plaza.
According to District Sales Manager Justin Bucci, it was an MBA alumna who "first recognized the connection between the Groundhog and Woodchuck. Same animal! I made a few calls, some meetings and the rest is history," said Bucci.
Online registration for the Groundhog Tour and the Irving Party in the Rat and Party in the Park closes on Jan. 24, so sign up now.
The university mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Jack Towne, Ph.D. (April 23, 1927 - July 8, 2019), who passed away in his Irving home at age 92. He had a long, celebrated career in education, culminating in his roles at UD.
+ Read MoreJuly 1 marked an era of new beginnings at the University of Dallas as Thomas S. Hibbs, Ph.D., BA '82 MA '83, stepped into the limelight as the university’s ninth and first alumnus president. And his early morning arrival on UD’s Irving campus denoted a full-circle homecoming for the former Holy Trinity seminarian.
+ Read MoreOn July 9, President Thomas S. Hibbs, Ph.D., BA '82 MA '83, along with Alex and Martha Galbraith, parents of alumna Alison Galbraith, BA '12, signed the C.W. Eaker Scholarship Fund for Chemistry/Biochemistry at UD. The endowed scholarship is the first to be received by Hibbs since his presidency began on July 1; it honors longtime and much-loved chemistry professor C.W. Eaker, Ph.D., who served UD with distinction for over 40 years, first as a faculty member, then as dean of Constantin College and finally as provost of the university.
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