2025 Spring Fling at Handlery Hotel, Mission Valley

Our Annual Banquet will be a served lunch and will feature a presentation by Lieutenant Colonel Andy Bender from the Chez Veterans Center, plus introduction of the Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient, Dr. Aadeel Akhtar.

On Sunday, April 27, from noon until 4:00 the Illini Club of San Diego County will have an elegant lunch in the Terrace Room at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley.  And, this year, thanks to a generous Club Couple, the price is a bargain that you will not want to miss.

The Handlery is centrally located on Hotel Circle in Mission Valley with easy access to Interstate 8. This will be a relaxed event with time to mingle with and get to know your fellow Illini.


 

The Venue for Lunch - We will be located in a private room with access to the patio.

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The Sunday Luncheon Features:

  • Southwest Tri-Tip (Marinated Grilled Tri-Tip, Parmesan Roasted Potatoes, Market Vegetables), or select Crispy Skin Salmon (Marinated Salmon, Garlic Lemon Glaze, Rice Pilaf, Market Vegetables) or select Mushroom Ravioli (Creamy Three-Cheese Sauce, Herb Grilled Tofu, Market Vegetables)
  • Caesar Salad (Romaine, Garlic Croutons, Parmesan Cheese, Caesar Dressing)
  • Rolls and Butter
  • Chocolate Fudge Cake (Chocolate Layer Cake with Creamy Chocolate Frosting)
  • Coffee, Decaf, and Iced Tea 

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Parking at the Handlery Hotel

Parking at the Handlery normally costs $6 or more depending on the length of time.  However, our attendees will get FREE parking, complimentary from your Illini Club.  Just bring your parking stub with you to the sign-in desk, and we will apply a sticker that will cover the parking cost.
 

FEATURED SPEAKER Lieutenant Colonel Andy Bender, Retired


Andrew Bender is the Director of Operations and Services at the Chez Veterans Center.  Andy leads a team of seven dedicated professionals who provide transitional services to more than 800 Veterans, service members, and military-connected students at the Chez Veterans Center.
 

Throughout his 20-year military career, Andy held leadership and operational roles across elite Army units. His experience spanned combat operations, strategic planning, and mentorship, with six deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of operations, culminating as Professor of Military Science at Illinois State University.

Andy has been awarded numerous military decorations including three Bronze Stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and German Jump Wings. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School, Jumpmaster School, and the Command and General Staff College.  Andy holds a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in public administration, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.

Mr. Bender will explain the unique services and facilities available to veterans at the Chez Veterans Center. The center offers a full range of support, including mental health counseling, academic resources, career development, and VA benefits advising, along with specialized programs like the Camp McCall Veteran Mentoring Network and the Residential Veteran Transition Program. The Center is a model for Veteran support to improve student engagement, retention, and overall success for military-affiliated students transitioning from military service.  Andy will explain how his team have redefined how student Veterans are supported. Andy will answer questions about the Chez programs, challenges, and successes, helping those who have bravely served our country transition to productive civilian careers.

 

OUTSTANDING ILLINI  Aadeel Akhtar

 

Each year the Club recognizes an Illinois graduate who has made contributions to the community as well as achievements in their chosen profession.  This year we are honored to recognize Aadeel Akhtar, Founder and CEO of PSYONIC, as our Outstanding Alum for the San Diego Illini Club. 

 

Dr. Akhtar received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. He received a B.S. in Biology in 2007 and M.S. in Computer Science in 2008 at Loyola University Chicago. His research is on motor control and sensory feedback for upper limb prostheses, and he has collaborations with the Bretl Research Group at Illinois, the Center for Bionic Medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the John Rogers Research Group at Northwestern University, and the Range of Motion Project in Guatemala and Ecuador. In 2021, he was named as one of MIT Technology Review’s top 35 Innovators Under 35 and America’s Top 50 Disruptors in Newsweek.  The prosthetic arm that Chez Veteran, Sergeant Garrett Anderson demonstrates during Illini sports telecasts, is an example of Aadeel's expertise.  In 2024, Aadeel and Garrett were featured on Shark Tank resulting in a three-shark deal for PSYONIC.

 

When Dr. Aadeel Akhtar was 7 years old, he met someone with a limb difference for the first time. She was his age, living in poverty in Pakistan, missing her right leg. At the time, he wondered how they could share the same ethnic heritage but have such vastly different qualities of life. As he grew older, he realized that this was due to a lack of resources. For that reason, he founded and serves as the CEO of PSYONIC, a company whose mission is to develop advanced prostheses that are affordable for everyone. PSYONIC's first product is the Ability Hand--a prosthetic hand that moves all five fingers, is the fastest available, is impact resistant, and gives users a feeling of touch.

 

Pricing

The cost for the first 80 registrations will be only $55 per person.  FREE parking is included!  The cost to the Club for this event will be about $75 per person depending on attendance.  However, the Club has received an extremely generous donation from long-time Club Officers and members, Pat and Bob Giles.  The intent of their donation is to increase the participation of this event to that which existed pre-COVID, and to perpetuate it as the signature Club activity.    Register now to make sure that you are part of the first 80 guests.

Click here to buy tickets!!!