University of Oregon to host events in San Antonio ahead of the Alamo Bowl

EUGENE, Ore. – (Dec. 19, 2013) – The University of Oregon will meet with prospective students and families, assist a local food bank and gather with fans before the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Longhorns in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

The game will occur on Dec. 30; however, the University of Oregon will come to town early to host events off the field to showcase the university for a Texas crowd.

Saturday, Dec. 28

A reception for prospective and current students and their families will be hosted by Enrollment Management with assistance from the Parent and Family Association.  The reception will occur from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marriott Riverwalk hotel. 

Roger Thompson, UO vice president for Enrollment Management, expects approximately 100 attendees at the event and looks forward to bowl visit opportunities to inform reception attendees about academic excellence at the university.

“Our team is excited to visit Texas to meet with prospective students and families who will be able to learn more about our institution and the aspects that make the University of Oregon a good fit for their future educational opportunities,” said Thompson.  “Annual bowl visits have become an important element of our efforts to reach new geographic areas.”

Immediately following the reception, prospective students and families will be invited to join other Ducks fans at “The Original” Rudy’s Bar-B-Q Pep Rally that is a celebration of both teams and will include bands, cheer, mascots, teams and coaches.  The pep rally is free and will begin at 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29

For the fifth consecutive year, the UO will participate in a community service project with a local organization.  The University of Oregon and the University of Texas at Austin will put rivalry aside to assist the San Antonio Food Bank

Approximately 100 volunteers – students, university and student leadership, alumni and fans of each team – will work together to assemble food boxes to help the San Antonio Food Bank. 

“Service to communities is an integral part of our university mission, and we’re happy to continue our tradition at the Alamo Bowl and to showcase how giving back is part of being a Duck,” said Robin Holmes, UO vice president for Student Affairs.

UO President Michael Gottfredson; Associated Students of the University of Oregon President Sam Dotters-Katz; UT-Austin Student Body President Horacio Villarreal; and San Antonio Food Bank President and CEO Eric Cooper are scheduled to attend the event.

Monday, Dec. 30

For the first time, the University of Oregon and the UO athletics department have scheduled an open-to-all tailgate party for Duck fans.  Admission is free at the gate but pre-registration is required to guarantee entry as space is available on a first come, first serve basis. Pre-purchase for meal and drink tickets is also available.

Kickoff for the Valero Alamo Bowl is at 3:45 p.m. PT broadcast on ESPN.

About the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Brown, UO media relations, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

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