Washington Winery Tour

More than 20 members of the Washington, D.C. Metro Alumni Chapter attended the October Purple Grape Escape, which took the Horned Frogs to two Virginia vineyards in KegBus, which bills itself as D.C.'s "Best Party Bus." Chapter President Shannon Johnson ’02 was delighted they filled the bus and says the event, "Was a blast!"

For a list of upcoming alumni events in your region, go to froglinks.

Johnson and Paul Kanitra '01

Paul Kanitra '01 and Lt. Col. Joe Blackwell (Ret.) '61

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Alum launches new film based on "Phantom"

"Erik: Portrait of a Living Corpse" — the debut feature film from writer, director, and current Film, Television, Digital Media (FTDM) junior Ryan Bijan — had its world-premiere screening at Fort Worth's Rose Marine Theatre on Friday, October 14, and the response was terrific. It will be screened next at the Rio 6 Cinema in Beeville, Texas, on October 28, as part of the film's recently launched press tour.

"This is by far the most impressive student film I've seen in several years," said Kylo-Patrick Hart, chair of TCU's Department of Film, Television and Digital Media. "If its contents are an accurate indication, Ryan Bijan has the potential to enjoy a very successful and intriguing filmmaking career."

Bijan's film offers a contemporary retelling of Gaston Leroux's "The Phantom of the Opera," one that is told from the Phantom's own perspective. In addition to his screenwriting and directing accomplishments, Bijan plays the role of character Raoul DeChagny and served as the film's editor.

Check out the trailer and find out where the next screening is:

http://www.wix.com/erikmovie/erik#!__home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JXbIQrHjPk

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1787064/


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Representing TCU 'til hell freezes, then respresenting 'em on the ice

There's exotic places to dive, and then there is exotic diving.

Earlier this year, Chris Burden '98 of Hemet, Calif., trained to become an ice diver for his job as an investigator with the Riverside County Sheriff Department, including its Underwater Search and Recovery Team. His other duties fall within the department's Professional Standards Bureau.

Notice his TCU headgear.

He posed for this photo in March 2011 at Gull Lake, Calif., where he trained at an altitude of 7,000 feet. "I wonder if ol' Dutch Meyer was referring to this kind of ice?" Burden jokes. The training enabled Burden to become certified as a Level 1 FEMA Dive Team, which allows his squad to be deployed anywhere for public safety related disasters or crime scenes on a national scale.

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College Fair in Germany

Bill ’02 and Pia ’02 (MEd) Heiges worked the Horned Frog booth during a College Fair at Wiesbaden American High School in Germany on Oct. 13. Assisting were three potential future Frogs; Ami Rose, Micah and Abi Rae Heiges. Bill works as a Security Program Manager for the Defense Department Dependent Schools in Europe.

If you are interested in helping with college fairs, contact the admission office at 817-257-7490, 800.828.3764 or frogmail@tcu.edu.

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Alum meets Daryl Washington in Arizona

Deborah Dye '91 of Flagstaff, Ariz., met Daryl Washington '09 earlier this year while the ex-TCU linebacker was in town for Arizona Cardinals training camp. Deborah writes, "He is such an amazing person and athlete (obviously). He spent an hour talking with me and have me tickets to every home game! It has been amazing and almost makes up for not living in Texas. He is just like the athletes I knew when I was at TCU - talented, gracious, grounded and kind!"

Washington is in his second season with the Cardinals, starting at linebacker. He has a career total of 101 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Deborah also made a plea to return to purple and white uniforms. "You can't mess with tradition - even if you win more games. The purple and white are classic and look better on TV. Gary Patterson can still wear all black."

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Andy Dalton and JT Hodges

Both are young alums, big fans of TCU and are rising stars in their professions. Earlier this month, they were introduced and posed for this photo flashing the Frog sign.

Andy Dalton '10, starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, and country music artist JT Hodges '00 met after a Bengals' practice in October. Dalton has guided Cincinnati to a 4-2 start, while connecting on 118 of 189 passes for 1,311 yards and seven touchdowns and five interceptions. While the season is not even half over, the QB is being called Red Rifle by the local media and is emerging as a contender for NFL Rookie of the Year.

Hodges signed to Show Dog-Universal Music last year and opened this summer for the Toby Keith Locked and Loaded Tour. His first single Hunt You Down, released in June, is currently ranked 40th on the Billboard Country chart. A full-length compact disc will be released later this fall.

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Spiders and Frogs - oh my!

Kelly Drake Patterson '92, a speech-language pathologist from Cedar Park, Texas, wrote to say, "I found this cool wolf spider on my front porch today sitting right on my frog! It is a native spider to the hill country and the Austin area, and he fit right in with our Halloween decorations! Even makes my frog look a little spooky! :) Just wanted to share!" Kelly is a

We're glad you did! Spooky, indeed!

Happy Halloween!

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Teaching the Frog sign in Ethiopia

Joel Fox '90 (left) went on a mission trip to work with World Orphans and E3 Partners in Woliso and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this summer and found the time to teach my new friends how to throw up the Frog sign! Fox is from Arlington and is a consultant in the banking industry. "I am also saving up now for road games in the Big XII next year!!," he told us.

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