TG's 14th annual conference draws record crowd
Submitted by Vickie Tanner, AVP, TG Business Partner Services

A record-setting crowd of 705 finanical aid and higher education professionals gathered in Austin from April 18 – 20 to participate in the 2006 TG Conference, Caring for Our Generation and the Next. The largest TG Conference yet featured more than 40 sessions on assorted industry and professional development topics and top-notch speakers like David Dunn, acting undersecretary for the Department of Education (ED); Dallas Martin, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA); and Brett Lief, president of the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP). Most importantly, TG’s customers were extremely pleased with this year’s conference and its training opportunities. "TG is a great resource. They helped us work with all of our lenders to simplify our alternative loan process," said Cara Hendricks of Southern Methodist University.

Setting the stage
This year's conference took its inspiration from what drives many who work in financial aid—the desire to pass on an empowering education, one generation to the next. The conference opening session helped to frame this idea in several different ways—with a look back at 25 years in cultural, technological, and TG history; with a thank you to TG's business partners for its first guarantee 25 years ago; and with a commemoration of two exceptional mentors working in financial aid today as well as recognition to the 2006 conference sponsors.

Some opening highlights included

• The two mentor honorees were Terry Bazán, financial aid director at Austin Community College, and Taft Benson, regional vice president at Collegiate Funding Services. Both were moved by their nominations by financial aid colleagues and extended gratitude to all those dedicated to working with students.
• Ruben Esquivel, vice chair for TG's Board of Directors, helped set the stage for the conference by describing his experience as a Cuban immigrant arriving in the U.S. with his sister and just the clothes in his suitcase. His emotional description served to underscore the advantages that an education can bring.
• TG marked the silver anniversary of its first guarantee by recognizing its business partners on that loan: Baylor University and Herring Bank of Amarillo, Texas. Cliff Neel represented Baylor University and Zack Workman accepted a commemorative plaque on behalf of Herring Bank.
• TG wrapped up the opener by thanking conference sponsors in a novel, "cross-generational" way. Various team members and their children were invited on stage to provide special commemorative pins to sponsors. The children served as a reminder of the many future generations that TG will help to go on to postsecondary education.

Closing on a high note
On the final day of the conference, customers were treated to speakers that offered two things: practical knowledge on the latest legislative changes to higher education, and practical wisdom, in the form of Coach Ken Carter's take on work and life.

To address industry changes, TG invited David Dunn, acting undersecretary and chief of staff for ED, who spoke on the direction of higher education given the recent passage of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA).

Following David's presentation, Dallas Martin, president of NASFAA; Elise Nowikowski, managing director of policy NCHELP, gave an overview of the practical implications of the HERA.

Energized by Coach Carter
The charismatic Coach Ken Carter provided the finale to the TG Conference, offering a rousing keynote address on Thursday afternoon that brought customers to their feet and left them energized for their financial aid mission. Coach Carter, whose life story is the inspiration for the movie Coach Carter starring Samuel L. Jackson, shared his take on life with the passion of an evangelical minister.

TG golf tournament and Financial Aid 4K results
The TG Conference's slogan for this year — "Relax, Retool, and Recharge" — worked like a formula. Attendees who followed it could clear their mind of office distractions, learn more about student aid, and return to work energized with information and a fresh commitment to helping students. To provide the relaxation part of this equation, TG offered some friendly athletic competition with the TG Golf Classic and the Financial Aid 4K Fun Run/Walk.

TG Golf Classic – On Monday, April 17, 81 golfers forming 22 teams endured 101-degree temperatures to participate in this year's Golf Classic. The tournament, which was open to both customers and TG team members, was held at the Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock. Jim Anderson and Jackey Ey of Texas Tech, Mike Fuller of Student Capital, and Barry Lawson of College Loan Corporation took home first place with a team score of 61. Longest drive went to Terry Mucha of UT Austin. And the award for "closest to the pin" went to Rod Castillo of Titan Solutions.

Financial Aid 4K Fun Run/Walk – TG had a record 52 participants for this year's 4K. School and lender customers along with TG team members assembled in the lower lobby of the Austin Hilton on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. The group ran or walked a 2.5 mile loop of the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. Registration fees for the run/walk were provided to a local chapter of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), which introduces kids to the rewards of reading at an early age. About $1,000 was raised for this year's charity. Following is a list of early finishers.

Men: Darron Grussendorf, TG; Bennie Hayden, TG ; and Vincent Carales, TG

Women: Monica Comeaux, University of Houston; Jennifer Phillips, North Texas Higher Education Authority; Tracy Stine, Sallie Mae; and Sherry Hildebrand, Mapping Your Future