News from the Alumni Band Leadership Board
November 2021
From the Kirk Phillips, President of the Alumni Band Leadership Board
Our Board is in its third year, welcoming two new members -- Craig Brown of Cedar Rapids and Dina Jensen of Austin Texas. While we continue to organize year-round activities of networking/mentoring, Down and Off podcasts, pep bands and other activities, the recent Homecoming performance under the direction of Jeff Sebille was most visible, playing the parade and pre-game show.
All of this happens with behind-the-scenes/less visible staffing provided through the University of Iowa Center for Advancement (UICA). Kim Chickering and Leah Best of UICA are shown here shuttling instruments and players that weren’t able to safely climb the stairs.
We hope that you will continue to support the UICA, who are the glue to our organization, as they:
- Assist alumni band in their engagement efforts by providing campus connections, communication and event promotion opportunities.
- Help plan Alumni Band at Homecoming and pep band events.
- Support powerful interaction and collaboration between UICA staff, HMB (School of Music), Athletics, and our alumni band volunteer board.
- Engage HMB and Alumni Band members to join us in bringing new ideas to life.
As we look to the future, we will expand upon our partnership between the Alumni Band, UICA, and the School of Music in support of current HMB students and the legacy of the alumni band!
Go Hawks!
Kirk Phillips
From Jeff Sebille, Alumni Band Music Director
Thank you, Alumni Band!
I hope you enjoyed Homecoming Weekend 2021. I hope you enjoyed it so much that you are already planning to return for next year’s Homecoming, which is currently scheduled for October 27-29, 2022!
Thank you to Dr. Tammie Walker, Director of the School of Music, for hosting the Sudler Trophy Reception in the beautiful Voxman Music Building. The Alumni Band cherishes your support and enthusiasm!
Thank you to Dr. Eric Bush, his staff, and the entire Hawkeye Marching Band. Special thanks to Courtney Kelly and the HMB Work Crew for all their work involving the instruments the Alumni Band used throughout Homecoming Weekend.
Thank you to all the people and businesses who support the Alumni Band through event logistics, products, services, and volunteers. Without them, Homecoming Weekend for the Alumni Band just does not happen.
- UICA Staff: Kim Chickering and Leah Best
- UICA Staff who volunteered Saturday morning: Jenn Brummond, Molly Torchia, Rosie and Logan Felton
- Karla Hurley and the UICA Communications team
- Josh Berka and the Athletics team
- Paul Hoff, Underground Printing
- Jane Marie Wold, Hy Vee Catering
- Mike Valentine and the Field House staff
- Aero Rental for the tables and chairs used during the Tailgate Brunch
Thank you to our fellow Fossils that helped out this year by providing the following:
- Parade Truck and Trailer: Kevin Kurka and Kirk Phillips
- Post Parade Picnic location reservation, food and volunteers: Ryan Hesseltine, Cheryl Lounsberry, Suzanne Smith, Kirk Phillips
- Social Media Account Development: Wendy DeCora
- Social Media Host: Craig Brown
Thank you again, Alumni Band. And, Until the Game is Won, Go Hawks!
Sincerely,
Jeff
From Arlene Houk, Vice-President of the Alumni Band Leadership Board:
Greetings HMB and Alums! I’m excited to introduce the two newest members of our Alumni Band Leadership Board. (In alphabetical order so as not to show favoritism.)
Craig Brown is currently a pastor at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Since 2009 he’s helped families live out their faith through worship and service to the wider Cedar Rapids community including cleaning up yards after the derecho, rebuilding homes following the flood, and feeding the hungry each week. Prior to ministry, Craig worked as an on-air news reporter with three different TV stations, including KCRG-TV9. Craig volunteers as a trained crisis response counselor for area schools, serves with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and announces marching band for area high schools. Craig received a BA in Communication Studies from Iowa in 1997 and was an HMB cymbal player. Craig’s wife, Katie, was an HMB sax and teaches 4th grade at College Community Schools. The couple have three boys: Kirk (14), Hayden (12), and Brock (8). You may also recognize Craig as the “roving reporter” who brought the homecoming parade game day events to all of us through the University of Iowa Alumni Band Facebook page.
Dina M. Jensen received a BA in Interdepartmental Studies and Aging Studies Certificate from Iowa in 1993. She has a MS in Human Resource Management from University of Central Texas and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Currently, Dina is an Associate Director of Business Operations and Practice Administrator for Community Care Health Centers, an organization of 31 Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers in Austin, TX. She manages and leads a team of 120 team members at her clinic, a primary care clinic. In addition, she oversees and supports 11 clinics within her region, providing a wide range of healthcare services to over 100,000 Austinites, primarily those who are under and/or uninsured as well as those who have insurance. Dina was in the HMB from 1989-1993 and is a vocally proud trumpet. She was the first female A-1 in 1992-93 and the first A-1 NOT a first chair, rather, 3rd part! Her favorite moment was performing at the Band Extravaganza in the 1991-92 season in our Senior Thirds skit.
Please help us welcome Craig and Dina!
