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Class Notes
Sybil Wyatt is a lecturer in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 6 Stephen Terry was honored with the Missouri Outstanding Professional Award by the Missouri College Personnel Association. The award is given yearly to an experienced college or university professional who significantly contributes to student success in higher education, either through
specific accomplishments or through long-term meritorious service. Stephen is director of Park University’s Department of Military and Veteran Student Services and Park Warrior Center. Brian and Jill Culley (’07) Youtsey announce the birth of Jacob Brian on June 13. Brian is a tinsmith at Gloggner’s, and Jill is a financial consultant at State Street. They live in Cameron.
2007
Sara Chamberlain is an associate attorney in the law offices of Kadie Campbell & Johnson in Kirksville. Kayla Earhart received a doctorate in physical therapy in August from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Ariz. She is a staff physical therapist in a pediatric outpatient rehab setting in Gilbert, Ariz.
Katey Lipiec is a licensed doctor of chiropractic at Advanced Chiropractic in Maryville. She completed graduate study at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, last June. Taylor Railsback is a third-year law student at Loyola Law School in Chicago and serves as a law clerk in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.
Abby Stephens is a teaching assistant at Purdue University where she is pursuing a doctorate in American studies. Parke Stevens is pursuing a law degree at the University of MissouriKansas City. Anthony Stiens is director of research and planning for the Community Action Partnership in St. Joseph.
Air Force chaplain commits to helping cadets Ministry is often pinpointed to the space behind an altar, within a church on a Sunday morning. However, the United States Air Force doesn’t believe in such limitations nor does Chaplain, Lt. Col. Rives Duncan ’93 (master’s) who conducts most of his ministry outside of a chapel. Duncan graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1982, and during his five years of duty he felt a call to the ministry. Immediately after his service ended he went to the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and then served as a missionary in Nigeria. “After I received my doctorate and taught, I tried to see if I could become a Reservist and get my Air Force fix once a month,” Duncan said. “The Air Force noticed I was ordained and suggested I become a chaplain.” In the next six years, Duncan’s chaplain ministry took him to seven bases in five countries, including his first assignment at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii where he was deployed to Italy. He spent three months in Saudi Arabia and later went to England before
Northwest Alumni Magazine
he came off of active duty and returned home to Colorado Springs, Colo. “My whole chaplain ministry has not focused on what takes place in the chapel but instead on walking around and meeting with people, whether it’s talking with a security policeman out on guard post at 3 a.m. or talking to people in their work environment,” he said. “I’ve used up a lot of shoe leather, so to speak, as a part of my ministry.” Duncan, stationed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, has also been responsible for several programs to help further benefit the cadets during their time at the Academy. He rewrote lesson plans and presentations for the Core Values Education that are directed to every incoming freshman at the Academy. “We teach the cadets what it means to live with integrity first, service before self and excellence in all they do and the importance of living by these values that the Air Force was built on,” said Duncan, who was named an Outstanding Academy Educator in 2010. Likewise, integrity, service and excellence are paramount in Duncan’s role as chaplain as
Spring 2012
he strives to lower hurdles for his cadets so when they face obstacles they don’t face them alone. “My passion is dealing with people,” he said. “I live my life as a chaplain establishing rapport. They may be having a great day today, but a week later they may be crashing. If I talk to the cadets and relate to them then they are more likely to talk to me, rather than if His calling to the ministry has led Chaplain, Lt. I stand up in Col. Rives Duncan to reach out to others in need front of a room – at home and abroad. and tell them, ‘Hi, I am your chaplain, if you want to talk to me about anything, you can. Regardless of the setting – in a sanctuary or in the field – Duncan is committed to helping the cadets understand that they don’t have to struggle alone and that he is there to listen and help. n