Geoff Gamble Greetings alumni and friends, I'm very fortunate to have the job of president of Montana State University. I expect that few people have the daily opportunities in their workplace to see such tangible evidence of good works. It makes it very easy to be optimistic about the future of MSU. On any given day, I see and hear numerous examples of accomplishments across the university—researchers and faculty making breakthroughs in the classroom and laboratories; students who are discovering their talents and applying those talents towards meeting their goals; staff who go out of their way to help our students succeed. But it is often the alumni stories that touch me most. For MSU faculty and staff, our daily commitment to the university is part of our job; it's how we earn a living. Even students generally perceive earning their degree as their day-in-day-out "career" during the time they spend on campus. But those of you who leave Montana State and go out into the world have many other commitments: careers, families and community involvement. Yet time and time again, I hear about alumni who don't let go of their MSU ties simply because they may be far away in space and time. What is it about this place that keeps it close to the hearts of so many alumni over the years? I hear it again and again when I attend Homecoming and other reunion events. . . "there's something about MSU that has remained a part of me." Many people make financial contributions to MSU. Our current "Putting Students First" scholarship campaign, for example, surpassed its $18 million goal in just a portion of the time we had outlined. Gifts are still coming in, and the campaign will run until Dec. 31, 2005. But, monetary donations notwithstanding, I am always amazed by how many people give back to MSU in other ways, too. Many hours are given in Bozeman and other communities to support the Bobcat teams, students and the entire university. Community members donate time to serve on advisory boards, alumni offer their guidance and mentorship to students, and athletics boosters fill the stands to cheer on our student-athletes. In this issue of the Collegian, you'll read more about the generosity of alumni who give in so many ways to support our university—former athletes who now share their skills as coaches; former students who live the dream of building a Native American Student Center. I hope their stories will inspire you, too, to think about how you can strengthen your ties to MSU. We can use your help in so many ways, and we value your continued loyalty. Have a joyous spring. We hope to see you at Commencement. Geoff Gamble President, Montana State University