Volume 29 · Number 1 · Fall 2011
End Notes
Scholarship suds
Jay Prahl, masterbrewer at Sudwerk and a 1995 graduate of UC Davis' Master Brewers Program, pours an Aggie Lager.
Karin Higgins/UC Davis
What's on tap in Davis? Aggie Lager is. The new brew gives beer drinkers a way to enjoy a cold beverage and support Aggie student-athletes at the same time
Aggie Lager is brewed by Sudwerk Restaurant and Brewery, and is currently on tap there, as well as at Hallmark Inn, The Davis Graduate, 3rd and U Café, Woodstock's Pizza and Original Steve's.
Under a one-year agreement, UC Davis has licensed the use of its name and athletics trademark for Aggie Lager to Sudwerk, which has a long association with UC Davis brewing programs and the Department of Athletics. The agreement aims to generate about $25,000 a year, or one full year's scholarship for an in-state student-athlete.
Jay Prahl, top left, masterbrewer at Sudwerk and a 1995 graduate of UC Davis' world-leading Master Brewers Program, describes Aggie Lager as "a rich golden lager, complex and artfully balanced and reminiscent of Bavaria's most popular style—the Munchener helles or the Munich light lager." The 100 percent malted beer is mildly hoppy, crisp and clean, he said.
The lager was first presented under the Aggie name nine years ago at the annual Aggie Auction fundraising event for athletics, where cases of bottled lager continue to be offered for auction.
Even with the scholarship benefits, campus officials hope that beer drinkers will take care in tilting their support. "For those who choose to drink, UC Davis advocates that they do so legally and safely," said Michelle Famula, executive director of Health and Wellness. UC Davis continues to promote its Safe Party Initiative, a collaboration with the city of Davis to reduce problems associated with drinking among college students.
A tough race to Marrakech
They trekked for more than four hours in the high desert of Morocco, kayaked across treacherous rapids and carried 40-pound backpacks up a 600-foot sand dune—and their adventures were broadcast on national TV this past summer.
Team "California Girls" cross a stream
(Gilles Mingasson/ABC)
Natalie Smith '08, M.A. '10, Brittany Smith '10 and Christina Chin '09 were team "California Girls" on the reality TV show, Expedition Impossible, finishing eight weeks of competition before getting eliminated.
Chin, a community engagement manager for Intel who lives in Davis, said the experience made them more than best friends. "We're family now."
Before the show, the trio was required to train in swimming, navigation, trekking, horseback ridding and rock climbing. Team California Girls even joined a survival boot camp and an orienteering club to prepare. "The girls and I were literally memorizing knot systems on our flight to Morocco," Chin said. During the show, they had to build shelters and cook for themselves every night after carrying their belongings all over Morocco all day long.
"I'm really glad nobody told us how bad it was going to be because I think I would have chickened out," Chin said.
Still, she said participating in the race is "one of the greatest things I'll ever do in my life."
Episodes can be viewed online.
Student employees Frances Gocuan, left, and Caitlyn D'Haenens welcome customers to the new store. (Hung Pham/UC Davis)
New store, longer hours
Aggie T-shirts, sweatshirts and polo shirts. Books by UC Davis authors. Aggie pens and pennants. Aggie coffee cups, license plates and stuffed animals. UC Davis olive oil.
Where am I?
You would be right if you guessed the bookstore in the Memorial Union, but now there's another correct answer: a new branch store at Second and F streets in Davis. The UC Davis Store Downtown opened in June.
Jean Aguirre, general merchandise manager for the newly renamed UC Davis Stores, said the downtown location is a key selling point for Davis residents and visitors who may not otherwise venture onto campus. Additionally, the store is open seven days a week (whereas the main store in the MU is closed most Sundays) and stays open later (until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday).