The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.
Issue link: https://louisville.epubxp.com/i/535203
S U M M E R U O F L M A G A Z I N E | 1 5 H A P P E N I N G H E R E ACC ross the Conference Cards in Action joins ACC counterparts in D.C. UofL and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference student leaders descended on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to meet and lobby high-level policy makers, Members of Congress and prominent government off cials for increased student f nancial aid and federal research funding. "At UofL, we have a large percentage of students who rely on federally-backed student loans and grants to pay for college and tried to impress on the senators and con- gressmen the importance of keeping that funding intact," said UofL Student Government Association Director Aaron Vance. "Our university has made the most of its federal research funding, pioneering advanced treatments for cancer and heart disease, as well as innovations in indus- trial development and engineering. We want to make sure that funding continues, especially now since we're in the ACC and among some of the nation's elite schools." According to Vance, the ACC's third annual student advocacy trip had a distinctive Kentucky f avor, due in part to UofL's close relationship with some of D.C.'s most powerful and inf uential power brokers. "We met with Majority Leader and UofL alum Mitch McConnell, 64A, as well as every other Kentucky congres- sional off ce," Vance said. "UofL's strong relationship with such a powerful delegation in Washington got us in to those meetings, and we were very proud of that." TOP ROW: Dana Mayton, Govt. Relations, UofL; Sean Southard, Kevin Grout BOTTOM ROW: Aaron Vance, Chris Bird, Macey Mayes, Alicia Humphrey ACC fi nancial, marketing and public relations offi cers received a behind-the-scenes tour of Churchill Downs before enjoying dinner at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Even though UofL is new to the Atlantic Coast Conference, the university fostered several relationships with conference members over the decades. UofL intends to use its ACC membership to forge new academic and research opportunities, as well as strengthen existing partnerships. Below are two examples of these partnerships in action. UofL "raised the bar" as host for top ACC fi scal, communications offi cers More than 100 of the ACC's top f nancial, marketing and communications off cers received a healthy dose of Kentucky hospitality in April as UofL played host to the conference's annual meetings designed to strengthen intercollegiate com- munication and explore best practices between institutions. UofL requested to create a new, separate conference for university marketing and communications leaders when it volunteered to host the annual ACC f scal off cers meeting. Judging from the reactions, the idea and resulting confer- ences proved overwhelming successes. "We've talked about this for a long time. I'm so grateful to UofL for f nally making it happen after all these years," said Virginia Tech Associate Vice President for University Rela- tions Larry Hincker. "You guys have really raised the bar." "This conference was invaluable. A lot of times we're in our own little worlds, and when facing challenges we often wonder if we're approaching it the right or wrong way," said N.C. State Director of Student Accounts Maria Brown. "To hear new ideas and learn how everyone else is addressing the same issues gives us a fresh perspective we can take back with us. It's amazing." In addition to meetings, conference participants enjoyed a bourbon tasting from Makers Mark Master Distiller and President Bill Samuels, a guided tour of Churchill Downs and a dinner at the Derby Museum.