Fall 2016 • Vol. 71 / No. 1
Inside:
Bringing Campus Back to Life Acts of Service Reaching New Heights Homecoming 2016
ce: n ra all e v rse ootb e P of lege F am Col r g o Pr abor T
From the President
Follow along with Dr. Glanzer’s travels and campus events on Twitter. /presglanzer
One of the joys of serving at Tabor is connecting with our alumni. Hearing their stories, reminiscing about their time at Tabor, and listening to how the Tabor experience has shaped them always makes my heart sing. I believe that a Tabor education contributes to the greater good of society and makes the world more as God intended it to be. Here is why: The focus of a Tabor education is on developing the mind, soul, and spirit of the person. There is an intentional integration that works at shaping a committed heart, a meaningful soul, and an inquisitive mind. In a speech to presidents of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, New York Times columnist, best-selling author, and Yale professor David Brooks said, “You (Christian colleges) have what everybody else is desperate to have: a way of talking about and educating the human person in a way that integrates faith, emotion and intellect. ... Almost no other set of institutions in American society has that, and everyone wants it.” He went on to say, “You have a recipe to nurture human beings who have a devoted heart, a courageous mind and a purposeful soul.” The intent of a Tabor education is on a transformed life. A Tabor education is more than acquiring knowledge or learning a set of skills. Our intention is to see a transformed life that is prepared for continued learning, meaningful work, and dedicated service. In today’s society, it is vogue to claim that transformation comes from whatever product one is selling. Even the sign on the shoe shine stand in the
Denver airport claims that the experience of having your shoes shined will change your life. At Tabor we desire to create an environment where God’s transforming work can happen. And there is a whole lot more at stake than shined shoes. The outcome of a Tabor education is a heart and life of service. When we are at our best, we send graduates into the world with a mindset for service and an understanding that their chosen vocation is a way to participate with God’s mission in the world. If we have done our job, our graduates will enter the marketplace understanding that giving ourselves away in the service of others in the name of Jesus is how we are to live. Instead of being concerned about ourselves, we are concerned for others, and we demonstrate that by entering a life of serving. Each day I walk onto our campus, I pass the Centennial Plaza where there is a sign reminding me that I have been “Called to Serve.” That sacred space on campus embodies the intended outcome of a Tabor education. The influence of a Tabor education is a better society. In today’s American society, having a strong evangelical faith labels one as extreme and irrelevant. Yet I believe our alumni around the world contribute to the common good of society. Ask the recipients of the impact and service of our graduates if their lives are better. Ask our graduates who are serving others and touching lives all over the world if the places they live and the people they serve are experiencing a better life. I believe that Tabor is the best college FOR the world. And the world is a better place because of those who have received a Tabor education.
President Jules Glanzer
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Connection Fall 2016 Vol. 71 No. 1 A magazine for Tabor College alumni & friends Editor Amy Doane amydoane@tabor.edu Writer Bailey Kauffman Contributor Aleen Ratzlaff aleenr@tabor.edu Contributor Janae Rempel Senior Designer Diane Steiner dianes@tabor.edu Photographer/Webmaster Vance Frick vancef@tabor.edu Student Photographer Courtney Reed Sports Information Director Mark Fox markfox@tabor.edu Tabor College 400 South Jefferson Hillsboro, Kansas 67063 (620) 947-3121 tabor.edu Tabor College Mission: “Preparing people for a life of learning, work and service for Christ and His kingdom.”
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From the President Bringing Campus Back to Life Student Spotlight Acts of Service Reaching New Heights Is It Built Yet? Tabor Theater Performs Homecoming 2016 Program of Perseverance Sports Report Adult and Graduate Studies Alumni Spotlight Alumni News
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Board of Directors:
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Lyndon Vix Chair Diana Raugust Vice Chair Theodore Faszer Secretary Brent Kroeker Treasurer Darrell Driggers Executive At Large Craig Ratzlaff Executive At Large
Loren Balzer Executive At Large Jose Cabrera Roger Ediger Rick Eshbaugh Jeral Gross Mark Jost David Karber Kelly Kirby Mike Kleiber Jerry Kliewer Lisa Kroeker Bill Loewen
Nate Loewen Dean Nachtigall Deborah Penner Faculty Representative Dennis Penner Elaine Setzer-Maxwell Tim Sullivan Wilbur Unrau Richard Unruh Molly Wiebe Student Representative 3
Bringing Campus Back to Life Each fall, Hillsboro residents and especially Tabor staff members look forward to the youthful excitement that comes with students’ return to campus. This year was no exception. In mid-August, students began returning to campus to prepare for the fall 2016 semester. Fall athletes arrived Aug. 12 and spent the week practicing their respective sports. Freshmen moved to campus Aug. 19. The following day, they participated in various service projects in Hillsboro and surrounding communities. Returning students arrived Aug. 21, and classes began Aug. 23. The student life office hosted several events during the first week of classes as part of Welcome Week. Each evening, a different activity was planned to help students get involved and acquainted with campus life. These events included living area gatherings, an outdoor supper, SP&D for chapel credit and a fall retreat.
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Grace Under Pressure
Student Spotlight: Aleya Hill For the past four years, sophomore Aleya Hill has been a lifeguard in her hometown of Stayton, Ore. “I grew up across the street from the pool,” said Hill, an exercise science major, “so I was always there. I already knew the whole lifeguard staff. It was pretty much inevitable that I became a lifeguard.” This summer, though, Hill experienced some-
“I grew up across the street from the pool,” said Hill, an exercise science major, “so I was always there. I already knew the whole lifeguard staff. It was pretty much inevitable that I became a lifeguard.” thing she had not yet encountered during her many hours at the pool. This summer, Hill saved a swimmer’s life.
“When I tell people the story, I like to highlight the fact that it wasn’t me who saved the man,” she said. “It was God. Everyone involved knew it was God, whether they believed or not. I think that’s very important.” According to Hill, the incident happened during a “normal senior lap swim.” “A man swam past me and I noticed he was an older gentleman and he looked tired,” she said. “He hit the wall and instantly went under. As soon as he hit the water, I knew he was gone and I jumped into action.” Hill dove into the water and, with the help of other witnesses, got the man out of the pool. The man had no pulse, and Hill started CPR while others called 911. “It was an instant reaction,” she said. After a minute or two, Hill noticed the man was starting to come back. “I took hold of his hand and he started to squeeze a little bit,” she said. “I knew we had brought him back at that point.” The emergency medical services arrived shortly after. “He stayed alert and held my hand,” Hill said. “Then they took him away.” Hill said God’s hand was evident in the entire situation. “When I tell people the story, I like to highlight the fact that it wasn’t me who saved the man,” she said. “It was God. Everyone involved knew it was God, whether they believed or not. I think that’s very important.” At Tabor Hill is a resident assistant and also helps lead Tabor’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
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Smaller Can Be Better
Student Spotlight: Ricky Benavides
The Tabor College student body consists of a diverse mix of students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some grew up just down the street from the college, while others traveled thousands of miles and even crossed oceans to get to Tabor. Junior Ricardo Benavides is 1,500 miles from his hometown of Los Angeles. But while the geographic difference between Benavides’ home and Hillsboro is quite great, the cultural differences have required even more of an adjustment. Benavides, who was recruited to play soccer as a Bluejay, was able to fly to Hillsboro to visit the college before committing to Tabor. “I really liked the coaches and the teachers,” he said about his initial visit. “I met (communications professor) Aleen (Ratzlaff) and thought she was a great person.” Benavides said his initial visit helped him know what to expect when he came to Tabor in the fall of 2015. Still, he said, it took some time to adjust to life in a small town. “I felt kind of lonely at first,” he said. “I was isolated from the large group of people that I was used to. The first month was exciting because everything was new, but then the next two months were kind of sad.” Benavides said the people at Tabor and in the Hillsboro community helped him overcome this sadness. “I had my doubts about
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coming here because it was so small,” he said. “But I feel like I really have gotten closer to more people and made lifelong friends. The people here are really nice and so cheerful.” Benavides is a communications major and would like to become an author as well as
“I had my doubts about coming here because it was so small,” he said. “But I feel like I really have gotten closer to more people and made lifelong friends. The people here are really nice and so cheerful.” a representative for a company or a motivational speaker. “Tabor has played a big part in helping me become a better communicator,” he said. “Its setting in small town Kansas, where people are so nice and receptive, has helped me break free from being uncomfortable and afraid of public speaking.” In addition to playing soccer, Benavides is involved in the Multicultural Student Union and is a staff writer for The Tabor View. Now in his second year at Tabor, he said he’s come to enjoy his time in Hillsboro. “I really like Tabor,” Benavides said. “It’s a great place to grow. The weather is the hardest part. It’s way colder here and I’m still not used to the snow and rain.”
Acts of Service Students in the Tabor College class of 2020 started their year providing a little extra help to community businesses. Between moving into dorms, registering for the fall semester and getting to know campus, the new students painted, cleaned, sorted materials and picked up trash for local places in need of a few extra hands. Students worked at 12 locations around the area, including USD 410, Parkside Homes, Marion Reservoir and Hillsboro Housing Authority. “Service is something that is at Tabor’s core,” said Jim Paulus, vice president for student life. “We list service in our mission statement and it is something students, faculty and staff take seriously as part of our calling.” Projects were chosen based on the number of students and type of work available at different locations. Karen Sites, director of Main Street Ministries in Hillsboro, was thrilled with the work the students were able to accomplish in a short amount of time. “It means the world to us to have young people come to volunteer,” Sites said. “They painted fences, worked in our children’s playroom and helped complete projects that had piled up. We struggle to get volunteers and their participation filled a real need for our facility.” The day of service has been part of Tabor’s welcome week since the early ’90s and has had different formats over time. This year the locations were expanded beyond Marion County to include
Mennonite Central Committee in North Newton and the Et Cetera Shop in Newton. “On the first day of college, which is traditionally the day you begin to prepare for a successful life, we like students to begin this journey thinking about someone else in the community,” Paulus said. “Not only is this a great way to show the communities that we care, but the group activities help students get to know each other before the pressures of academics and athletics are in full swing.” Although the projects may change from year to year, the goal is still the same. Tabor wants its students to be a part of their community and learn how to give back.
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Reaching New Heights Dr. Norman Schmidt, professor of chemistry at Tabor College, had a unique opportunity this summer to participate in a fellowship with the physics department at Wichita State University. Schmidt’s role was to assist with research on neutrinos for eight weeks in June through August. Neutrinos are neutral subatomic particles that are smaller than electrons and are emitted from nuclear reactions. These nuclear reactions occur in nuclear power plants and rarely elsewhere, but they occur very rapidly on the sun. “The goal of my research was to design a satellite with a neutrino detector to get close to the sun without burning up,” Schmidt said. “I needed to design the heat shield to protect the detector. Once I had the theoretical design, then I built a full-size model to help sell the design to NASA so that it would be accepted for a future mission.” Nickolas Solomey, who is leading the research project for WSU and NASA, served as Schmidt’s research director in WSU’s Watkins Fellowship program. “We are making progress,” Solomey said. “Like all science it is not an easy question, and a lot of calculations and simulations are needed to be done and double checked.” Schmidt began looking for opportunities to add to his work in physics to satisfy new requirements for accreditation. The Higher Learning Commission, which accredits Tabor and many other colleges in the Midwest, has increased the amount of graduate work needed to teach at the postsecondary level. Schmidt saw the posting for the fellowship at WSU and applied. After a review process he was accepted. “We encourage all our faculty to continue their education so they can provide the most up-to-date information and instruction to our students,” said Frank Johnson, vice president
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“The goal of my research was to design a satellite with a neutrino detector to get close to the sun without burning up,” Schmidt said. “I needed to design the heat shield to protect the detector. Once I had the theoretical design, then I built a full-size model to help sell the design to NASA so that it would be accepted for a future mission.” of academic affairs. “Dr. Schmidt’s work this summer with WSU is an excellent example of this commitment to academics.” While the initial research concluded at the end of August, Schmidt has been included on a grant to continue the research through next summer. He hopes to take advantage of a lighter course load at Tabor in the spring to begin traveling to WSU to pick up where he left off earlier this year. Schmidt has been teaching at Tabor since 2011. Prior to his tenure at Tabor, he spent 21 years teaching at Georgia Southern University. Schmidt earned bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and physics from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Is It Built Yet? Some are asking, “Is it built yet?” Others know the better question is “Is progress being made?” The answer to the second question is a resounding yes! After 50 years of dreaming, waiting and praying, the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts at Tabor College is taking shape. Construction crews began dirt work in July and now the footprint of the building is marked by a foundation, walls and flooring. “Through the generosity of our donors, we’ve been able to raise more than $17 million for the total campaign including $12 million for the Center for the Arts,” said Ron Braun, vice president of advancement. “That makes the Signature Campaign the most successful in Tabor history.” To complete the building debt-free, Tabor needs to raise an additional $1.4 million. This is not a small task, but one that the fundraising team has faith will be successful. “Progress is being made daily,” Tabor President Jules
Glanzer said. “There are changes and movement every day. Gifts are coming in because our donors see the dream becoming a reality.” Visit tabor.edu/signature to watch the construction of the Center for the Arts in real time via livestream.
Tabor Theater Performs “The Comedy of Errors” One of the beloved and longstanding traditions of Tabor College Homecoming is the fall theater production. This year “The Comedy of Errors” by William Shakespeare entertained crowds throughout Homecoming week. Tabor’s production joined theater groups around the world in commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death by performing his works. “Our cast and crew have enjoyed working on this show,” said Molly Wiebe, who played one of the Dromio twins. “We are always happy to see audiences enjoying our shows, but this was particularly special because we were part of something happening in other countries and other cultures.” Laurel Koerner, director of theater, said the production gave Tabor theater students the chance to share this experience with others. “We chose a piece by Shakespeare because theater has the power to educate, to teach empathy, to heal and to inspire,” Koerner said. “People often perceive Shakespearean theater as being stuffy and rigid. On the contrary, the audiences at Tabor’s performances were rowdy, the actors were bold, and the jokes were plentiful.” The audience had plenty to laugh about in this tale of mistaken identities, and the actors applied their own senses of humor to the creative process. The show is a comedic story of two sets of twins accidentally and unknowingly separated at birth. One set visits
the other’s hometown and are repeatedly confused for their identical brothers. The visit causes a series of mishaps and false accusations. “It was a collaborative effort to discover our version of ‘The Comedy of Errors,’ and we got to see our own ideas come to life,” said Reuven Isaac, who played one of the Antipholus brothers. “It was really exciting.”
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Alumni Comes Home to Tabor Along with patrons of the theater production, many alumni visited campus Oct. 21 and 22 to see friends and become reacquainted with the place they once called home. Traditions and new opportunities filled the weekend of more than 20 events for attendees. The Festival Dinner kicked off the weekend on Friday evening with its usual program of student and faculty performances as well as a new addition. “The Festival Dinner featured ventriloquist Greg Claassen, who was a crowd favorite,” said Rod Hamm, director of alumni. “Greg and his dummy, Harley, had the crowd laughing through the whole act. It was a refreshing update to an already fun evening with friends.” The traditional Dutch Lunch, Golden Brunch, Kids Zone and Druber’s Donut Shop run were all part of the weekend. Corissa (Bartel g’12) Mangus gave a talk on her experience
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as a zookeeper at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb. Tabor students displayed their work at the Art & Design show. The music department invited audiences of all ages to its popular Music Fest. The Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies supported the Shakespeare anniversary and Tabor Theater through its “Displays of Yesterdays” exhibit. Photographs, mementos, quilts and programs of Tabor classes were on display at the CMBS Heritage Alcove and in the library. The centerpiece of the CMBS exhibit was a portrait of Shakespeare done by A.R. Ebel in honor of former student James Franz. In support of the Shakespeare anniversary and Homecoming play, the exhibit included works that have been performed at Tabor and their directors. Tabor College won the football matchup with Friends University on Saturday 32-27 with a record 3,000 fans at the game. The women’s and men’s soccer teams faced off against Bethel College and both took home wins over the Threshers.
One of the new successes this year was the addition of a free barbecue at the athletic complex between the football and soccer matches. More than 350 people showed up to enjoy a pulled-pork meal and take a look at Penner Clubhouse, the baseball program’s new practice facility. “We packed a lot into the weekend and included activities for alumni of all ages and stages of life,” Hamm said. “Our hope is always to provide a fun environment for recalling good times and making new memories.”
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Program of Perseverance: Tabor College Football By Janae Rempel
During homecoming weekend, the inside of the Historic Church on campus was transformed into a museum exhibit detailing the history of Tabor’s football program. The exhibit, titled “Program of Perseverance: Tabor College Football,” followed a timeline, incorporating the program’s origins, the homecoming tradition, a dream team of all-time best players, the history of the logo and uniform, Bluejays in the NFL, the construction of Joel H. Wiens Stadium and the team’s recent success. Alumni loaned memorabilia to display, and the exhibit featured interactive pieces, such as a place to write messages to the team and a children’s coloring station. A 35-minute documentary was shown on a loop. The exhibit was designed by the Introduction to Museum Studies class, which was part of a curriculum redesign implemented two years ago by Jessica Klanderud, assistant professor of history. Last January, the class’s six students conducted archival research and studied museum design. Each student created a piece of the exhibit. The class met periodically in the spring while completing interviews. Along the way, Klanderud said, students noted a theme of perseverance. Tabor introduced football in 1967. The Bluejays recorded their first winning season in 1979 and did not do so again until 2002. The process resonated personally for many students.
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Dennis Fast, a 1971 Tabor graduate, was a member of Tabor’s first football team. Fast came from Reedley, Calif., for homecoming. Reflecting on that first year, Fast said: “A number of us had never played football. We came out of small, Christian high schools, so it was initiation and the difficulty of learning the game. The first year, all we had were white uniforms. It felt like we were playing in our pajamas. We’d have maybe 30 to 35 players on the team. We’d go warm up against a team, and they’d come out with 60, 75 players. It felt so overwhelming, but it was fun.” Fast played three seasons as a wide receiver and defensive back and said the exhibit brought back memories. “Just looking at the photos reminds me of the relationships and some of the amazing stories that we have,” he said. “It’s fun being on the team with guys like that and getting to do all those different things that are part of being a team.” Klanderud said a constant stream of people visited the exhibit. “We had probably around 650 people total come through over the weekend,” she said. “That was a huge turnout. I think it was very wellreceived. It was great for the students to see that you can do history work that really engages the community and have them be a part of it, too.” Klanderud, who will offer the class again in January 2018, said her objectives were met. “My goals for the class were really to get students doing original research and to help them figure out a way to put that research into service of the community,” she said. “Students learned how to work with a budget, how to put up an exhibit, how to tear it down (and) how to make something that can be re-used. The only sad part about the whole thing for me was that it was only up for two days.” Klanderud has received positive feedback in response to the exhibit. “I really felt like the community appreciated it,” she said. “The number of people that said, ‘I didn’t know we did stuff like this at Tabor,’ made me really happy because Tabor is trying new things and this is one of those. I think it’s nice to have that support.”
For The Love of The Game Sophomore Colton Moore grew up in Midlothian, Texas, and has been an avid hunter since he was young. Little did he know that a connection to hunting in Kansas would lead him to college. “Kim Weins is a member of my church at home, and I’ve been coming to Kansas to hunt on his family’s land since I was really young,” Moore said. “My father and I would always come up at least twice during deer season. I’d heard about Tabor from Kim and his father, Eldon.” With Weins’ encouragement Moore and Jaycek Jackson, a sophomore who is also from Midlothian, were both recruited by Tabor’s baseball program. After arriving at Tabor the two started a hunting club. “I followed this guy, Reese Johnson, who owned a company called Ready to Hunt,” Jackson said. “He wanted to have college students promote the company, so I emailed him about it and that’s how our group was started.” Fellow Tabor baseball players Blake Standiford, a senior from Wichita, sophomore Bailey Pattin from Perry, Kan., and Colton Flax, a senior from Wichita, also joined the club. “We signed up as a team and made some videos of our hunts,” Jackson said.
The original site has since shut down, but the group didn’t let that stop them. They started their own Instagram account. The account, @seams_and_sights_outdoors, not only tracks the progress of the club, but it encourages outdoor sports of all kinds. Along with deer hunting, viewers will see turkey, ducks, geese, pheasants and fishing. “It’s a chance to be recognized by other hunting groups and for professionals to see that we enjoy and respect what we do,” Moore said. Tabor’s location in Kansas makes it ideal for hunting enthusiasts and the Tabor group is growing. “Being able to have this group at Tabor is pretty cool especially within our baseball team because hunting and the outdoors are both things that we are all very passionate about,” Standiford said. Earlier this fall the group took a road trip to Western Kansas to try new locations. “We’re always looking for new ground to hunt on and new places to explore,” Moore said. When they’re not on the baseball field, you’ll likely find members of the group hunting around Hillsboro and Marion or taking advantage of the fishing opportunities in the area.
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FALL SPORTS UPDATES Follow Bluejay Sports on Twitter @GoTaborBluejays
Women’s Soccer
The women's soccer team, while young and relatively inexperienced have shown great improvement over last season. They tied for fifth in the KCAC (11-9, 6-5). The Lady Bluejays won their conference tournament first round match and lost in the semifinals.
Women’s Cross Country
The women’s cross country team has made strides this season, highlighted by a 4-5-6 individual finish in the Tabor College Invitational in September. Freshman Emily Kemling, sophomore Julie Loewen and senior Katey Whitesell helped lead the women to a second-place team finish. The women also competed at the Mid-States Classic, coming in 14th as a team.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s team has been very competitive this year, but just has not found a way to finish out matches, losing a number of heartbreakers. Coach Brubacher’s team finished 6-11-1, 4-6-1 and lost in the first round of KCAC tournament.
Volleyball
Men’s Tennis
The men’s tennis team has endured injuries and sickness during the fall season, but has shown improvement and a willingness to fight through matches. This should serve the Bluejays well as they look forward to starting the spring season healthy and ready to go. 14
The Lady Bluejays ended regular season play 25-9, 20-2. The team took second place in both the regular season and tournament and made its first NAIA tournament appearance. Senior Tena Loewen and junior Ali Jost represent Tabor on the KCAC AllConference first team. Loewen was named Player of the Year and Kendra Kroeker received co-Freshman of the Year honors.
Men’s Cross Country
The men’s cross country team continues to work hard and show incremental improvements under first first-year coach Joel Allen. The team just competed in the extremely strong NAIA Mid-States Classic, finishing in 17th place, just behind conference rival Friends and ahead of KCAC foes Bethany and Oklahoma Wesleyan.
Women’s Tennis
The women’s tennis team has had a fairly successful fall season, capped by junior Jessica Emoto’s ITA Regional victory and subsequent seventh place finish in the ITA Individual National Championship. The ladies will begin competing again in February when they head to Newman University to face the Jets.
Football
The Tabor College football team ended the regular season 8-2, 8-1. They hold backto-back conference championships and are currently ranked #12 in the NAIA. The Bluejays will appear in the NAIA playoffs. The team ranks in the top 50 in the NAIA in numerous categories, including ninth in pass defense (166 yards/game), ninth in rushing offense (252 yards/game) and 16th in scoring offense (36.7 points/game).
New Leadership Comes to TCW Tabor College is pleased to welcome Tom Shaw as vice president of Tabor College Wichita. Shaw comes to Tabor from Simpson University in Redding, Calif. “Dr. Shaw has more than 20 years of experience in post-secondary education and much of that has been spent working with adult and graduate students,” President Jules Glanzer said. “I am thrilled that he is part of the senior leadership team at Tabor.” Like Glanzer, Shaw is energized by the work going on at the Wichita campus. “I’ve known of Tabor for years and resonate with the mission and vision of the college,” Shaw said. “Having the opportunity to lead the Wichita campus is a privilege knowing the excellent reputation the school has in its 22-year presence in the city. Helping people complete their degrees is very motivating to me because of the value it brings to their lives, their faith, and of course, their careers.”
At Simpson, Shaw served as the vice president for enrollment management, where he managed a team responsible for the recruitment and retention of undergraduate, graduate, adult studies and seminary students. Glanzer said Shaw’s experience will further Tabor’s effort in Wichita. “Tom is already working with staff to further grow and develop the programs at TCW,” Glanzer said. We welcome his insight as we move into a new phase at the Wichita campus.” Shaw earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Moody Bible Institute and a master’s degree in college student personnel and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Turkey Makes an Impact on MEI Students
Five students and one professor in Tabor’s ministry entrepreneurship and innovation master’s program visited Turkey in June as part of the program’s international component. The group visited several sites, met refugees from Syria, walked the streets of Antioch, and learned about the church in Turkey. The trip featured a mix of cross-cultural interaction, observation of entrepreneurial ministries, community building, spiritual formation, reflective practices and sightseeing. The trip was led by Rick Bartlett, director of theological education at Tabor.
MEI student Kristen Poljansek said the trip helped her to see entrepreneurial leadership from a new perspective. “When you’re an entrepreneur, you need to build your relationships and contacts from all over,” she said. “Loving mission trips, I never had seen the business side of things overseas.” Fellow student Vern Hyndman described Turkey as possibly the “most hospitable place on the earth.” “Most people were curiously friendly and open,” he said. “A group of Turkish Harley folks literally threw me the keys to their Harley and invited me to take it for a ride. Trust me, this act happens nowhere else on earth.” Spending time with Syrian refugees was a highlight for several Tabor students, as well as Bartlett. He recalled visiting a children’s center for Syrian children who are out on the streets. The story of the center’s director especially inspired Bartlett. “(The director) had been captured by ISIS and had escaped after 10 days,” he said. “He had come to Turkey to find a better life, but instead had realized that the kids in this community had a much worse life than he had. He was able to pull together about a dozen people to help him, for free. I was moved by his story and his entrepreneurial spirit.” Bordering Syria, Turkey is currently a location of conflict. In fact, a terrorist attack on Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport took place less than two weeks after the group returned home. “If there was one dominant experience, it’s that I was treated hospitably in a place in which I’m a minority, and in a place that I’m hated for whom I love, and for what my country has done,” Bartlett said.
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Change for Good
Alumni Spotlight: Chris Williams When he came to Tabor College, law enforcement was the furthest thing from Chris Williams’ (g’06) mind. He was focused on finishing school and getting in a few more years of football before entering the “real world.” “I played football at Holmes Community College in Goodman, Miss., and had a couple schools interested in my athletic skills,” Williams said. “I didn’t know much about the Christian aspect of the college or the atmosphere that would help change my life. My coach Ed Rigby made the suggestion about me playing at Tabor. He had recently left Tabor to come to Holmes, and he was still good friends with head coach Tim McCarty. He made the call and the rest is history.” Williams found his place and got involved right away. He played football and participated in the Multicultural Students Union. He took part in several black history programs through his involvement in MSU and was starting defensive end on Tabor’s first KCAC Championship team. But, when asked about his biggest accomplishments during his time at Tabor, none of these top the list. Williams met and married his wife Gladys while at Tabor and found out during his senior year that he would be a father. “I fell in love with her at first sight,” Williams said. She is a big reason I am still in Kansas.” In fact, it was his wife, Gladys, that got Williams thinking about a career in law enforcement. “I was tired of sitting in a cubicle all day,” Williams said. “My wife encouraged me to look at other jobs.” A friend of Williams was a corrections officer at a juvenile detention facility and helped him go through the applica-
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tion process. During his two years there he heard from many residents about their problems with police officers and the poor image law enforcement had in their communities. “They liked me because I treated them with respect and they did the same to me,” Williams said. “I shared my experience of growing up with a father who was in law enforcement and it changed some of their views on police.” With more encouragement from his family, Williams took the exam and was accepted into the police academy. His family was especially proud of this accomplishment. Williams’ father, who is a police officer in Mississippi, would brag to his friends that his son was following in his footsteps. Everyone from his parents to his aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces knew the change was the right one for Williams. Now a commissioned police officer in Wichita, Williams sees much of his role as supporting the community. He serves on the Crisis Intervention Team to help the mentally ill and those going through traumatic life events find the resources they need to cope. He helps victims of domestic violence through a WPD program that assists with setting up new housing and rebuilding their lives. Williams participates in the Christmas Crusade project, visits schools to talk with students of all ages about the role of a police officer and life after graduation. He also serves as a member of the WPD recruitment team. Recently Williams participated in the First Steps Barbeque, which was a combined effort of WPD officers and community members to open up dialogue and share concerns. “With the negativity surrounding law enforcement these days, it was a priority for our department to show the citizens that we are not the enemy,” Williams said. “I believe it definitely allowed citizens to get to know police officers in Wichita a lot better and vice versa.” Looking back on the path his career has taken, Williams credits Tabor and the relationships with faculty and other students as a path to understanding his passion for people. “Tabor helped give me an understanding of God’s Word, what his purpose for my life is and the gifts I offer,” Williams said. “That taught me that my purpose is to help people and one of my gifts is the ability to make people smile. “I know that every time I talk to someone I get to share some sunshine from my life with them and hope they share sunshine with me.”
Stepping Out on Faith Alumni Spotlight: Charity Kossin Recent Tabor College Wichita graduate Charity Kossin has taken her former struggle with addiction and turned it into motivation to help other women. After obtaining her license in addiction counseling, Kossin did not feel called to the typical route of earning a bachelor’s degree in social work. Instead, she “felt peace” about choosing Tabor’s Christian Ministries program. “I knew that God had saved me from my own addiction, and I wanted to learn more about him,” she said. After graduating in 2013, Kossin knew she wanted to help other women feel the same freedom from addiction that God had given her. “It was very important to me to let women know that they will only have lasting freedom through a relationship with Christ,” she said. According to Kossin, God had a plan for her to do just that. Kossin already had worked as the director of an inpatient facility in Wichita, and she saw a need for a similar treatment facility in eastern Kansas. She contacted Christopher and Tammy Lund, co-founders of City on a Hill, a faith-based abuse treatment and recovery program with several locations in western Kansas. Along with the Lunds, Kossin prayed about a location for her branch of the organization and “just kept coming back to Sedan.” The Lunds bought a house on a hill in Sedan for Kossin’s treatment center, which is fitting to the organization’s name. “Everything worked out so perfectly that I know it was
After obtaining her license in addiction counseling, Kossin did not feel called to the typical route of earning a bachelor’s degree in social work. Instead, she “felt peace” about choosing Tabor’s Christian Ministries program. God,” Kossin said. Tabor provided the foundation for Kossin’s role in helping women recover from addictions. “My education at Tabor Wichita helped prepare me for helping women recover because it was there that I learned God’s purpose for my life,” she said. “I learned who I was in him and I learned who we were created to be. Going to Tabor changed my life in amazing ways.” Kossin said her biggest obstacle in starting her facility has been fear. “Fear of financial stability,” she said, “fear of the unknown, fear of my ability to make it work, fear that I made a horrible decision, and it is too late to turn back now.” To overcome this fear, Kossin has witnessed God’s provision throughout the entire process. “There have been times when I was literally crying not knowing how I was going to pay for gas to get to work the next day, and I watched God work it out,” she said. “I also have witnessed people who did not even know me put complete faith in me and help me fulfill this dream.”
A Quiet Leader
Alumni Spotlight: Karen Hauff
Karen Hauff graduated from Tabor College in 1966 with degrees in mathematics and chemistry. During her career she paved the way for women as a pharmacist. Growing up in McClusky, N.D., Hauff had much encouragement from her parents to do well academically. She was one of only a few women studying math or chemistry at Tabor. Hauff knew she wanted to work in the medical field, but wasn’t sure doctors’ hours were for her. She found a place in pharmacy. Following her time at Tabor, Hauff earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from North Dakota State University. Hauff worked for seven years as a pharmacist, and when the University of Minnesota began a doctorate program in pharmacy, Hauff was one of the first in line to complete the program.
Having earned a Pharm. D. from the Univeristy of Minnestoa, Hauff began work in the NICU at the university hospital. “The University of Minnesota Hospital hired me almost immediately,” Hauff said. “I was chosen as the first person to work in the neonatal intensive care unit. I think I had to invent all the things they do now.” After a few years in the NICU Hauff was asked to move up to the pediatric ICU and spent the rest of her career there. Because of her innovative work, Hauff was asked by a group of doctors in New York to contribute to a book on pediatric care by completing a chapter on pharmacy care for children. Another highlight has been teaching pharmacy students at the University of Minnesota. Now retired Hauff is catching up on things that she didn’t have time for during her busy career. She enjoys quilting and uses her skill to benefit fundraisers and auctions in the Twin Cities. “I like to read novels and am a crazy quilter,” Hauff said. “I used to donate quilts to MCC for their annual sales. Now I’m working on a quilt for the doctors I used to work with for a silent auction fundraiser. The money goes to pediatric research.” This spring Hauff said she hopes to move back to Bismarck where her brother and other family live. 17
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Alumni News Marriages Jacob Mullins and Kyndra Vix (cs), married in Towanda, Kan., Sep. 3, 2016
Garrett Nikkel (cs) and Ellen Janzen (g’16), married in Fort Collins, Colo., June 26, 2016
David Ewert (g’13) and Abigail Epp (g’13), married in Hesston, Kan., Aug. 1, 2016
Nicholas Ediger (g’16) and Lauren Neufeld (g’16), married in Greenwood, S.C., June 18, 2016
Josh Wiebe (cs) and Krista Schmidt (g’15), married in Hillsboro, Kan., July 23, 2016
Tristen Long (g’15) and Ashley Kemling (g’16), married in Grant, Neb., June 11, 2016
Timothy Regier (cs) and Kaitlyn Wells (cs), married in Hillsboro, Kan., July 23, 2016
Ryan Neufeld (g’16) and Stacey Warkentin (g’14), married in Wichita, Kan., June 4, 2016
Devin Dick (g’16) and Brooke Vandever (cs), married in Hillsboro, Kan., July 16, 2016 Bret Mueller (g’16) and Samantha Ens, married in Hillsboro, Kan., July 9, 2016 Drew Pankratz (g’15) and Allie Jost (g’16), married in Hillsboro, Kan., July 9, 2016
Kyle Westerman and Gina Hullet (g’13), married in Abilene, Kan., June 6, 2015
Births/Adoptions Tyler (g’08) and Cheri (Mount g’09) Weinbrenner, Inman, Kan., a boy, Lawson Reid, Sept. 1, 2016 Zac (g’09) and Leah (Kopper g’10) Remboldt, Hillsboro, Kan., a boy, Benaiah Jay, June 5, 2016 Michael (g’07) and Amanda Hagen, Enid, Okla., a girl, Avery Jolie, May 11, 2016 Vance (g’04) and Danielle (Brucks g’07) Frick, Park City, Kan., a boy, Wyatt Paul, May 6, 2016
Dick/Vandever
Ediger/Neufeld
Long/Kemling
Mueller/Ens
Mullins/Vix
Kyle and Gina (Hullet g’13) Westerman, Winfield, Kan., a boy, Dexter, April 15, 2016 Chad (g’09) and Cassondra (Huxman g’09) Basinger, Pretty Prairie, Kan., a boy, Barrett Leland, April 6, 2016 Aaron (g’99) and Hayley (Kusch g’99) Abbott, Enid, Okla., a girl, Story Hope, April 4, 2016
Neufeld/Warkentin
Nikkel/Janzen
Pankratz/Jost
Regier/Wells
Westerman/Hullet
Kerry (fs’95) and Rachel (Hanneman g’96) Hein, Hillsboro, Kan., adopted a girl, Kathy, May 17, 2011, and a boy, Bo, April 25, 2012, in June 2013 and they joined their family in March 2016 Sean Conner and Liz Finch (g’08), Chicago, Ill., a boy, Finch Walter Conner, Feb. 21, 2016
Story Abbott
Barrett Basinger
Finch Connor
Avery Hagen
Kathy Hein
Bo Hein
Benaiah Remboldt
Lawson Weinbrenner
Dexter Westerman
Haddie Wichert
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Brent (g’07) and Cindy (Wertenberger fs’07) Wichert, Buhler, Kan., a girl, Haddie Joy, Jan. 2, 2016
A L U M N I
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Deaths Katie (Funk g’68) Wiebe, Wichita, Kan., Oct. 23, 2016
Norma (Funk g’47) Penner, San Jose, Calif., April 25, 2016
David Fast (g’61), Hillsboro, Kan., Oct. 13, 2016
LaVern Loewens (g’44), Hesston, Kan., April 19, 2016
Dorothy (Voth g’58) Gray, Tulsa, Okla., Oct. 13, 2016
Luciano L’Abate (g’50), Decatur, Ga., April 8, 2016
Phyllis (Hiebert g’50) Martens, Fresno, Calif., Oct. 1, 2016
Melvin Pauls (fs’53), Reedley, Calif., April 7, 2016
Stanley Clark (ff’95), Emily, Minn., Sep. 30, 2016
New Tabor Staff
Monroe Dalke (g’61), Goddard, Kan., Sep. 10, 2016 Elsie (Ewert fs’44) Groening, Hillsboro, Kan., Aug. 24, 2016 Betty Lange (Harder g’74) Fruechting, Marion, Kan., Aug. 6, 2016 Karen (Ebersole g’79) Thomason, Evans, Colo., Aug. 2, 2016 Andrew Nachtigall (g’51), Newton, Kan., July 30, 2016
Jessica Allen (g’15), Administrative Assistant to the VP of Student Life Joel Allen (g’15), Head Cross Country Coach/Assistant Track & Field Coach/Assistant Sports Information Director
Ethel (Schroeder g’42) Ediger, McPherson, Kan., July 28, 2016
Brad Baker, Music Preparatory School Instructor/Staff Pianist/ Administrative Assistant - Music Department
Jesse Harder (fbd/g’38), Buhler, Kan., July 17, 2016
Tricia Brothers (new title), Director of Financial Aid
James Harrison (g’61), Tracy, Calif., July 12, 2016 Ruth (Warkentin g’44) Ratzlaff, Hillsboro, Kan., July 6, 2016 Twilla (Jost fs’74) Siebert, Garden City, Kan., July 6, 2016
Vickie Brubacher (g’07), Administrative Assistant - Teacher Education Department
Ethel (Ewert fs’44) Abrahams, Hesston, Kan., July 5, 2016
Mark Fox, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach/Sports Information Director/Physical Education Instructor
Irvin Schroeder (g’40), Buhler, Kan., July 5, 2016
Jessica Garcia, Admissions Counselor
Merlie (Ratzlaff fs’48) Friesen, Hillsboro, Kan., July 2, 2016
Shawn Knopp, Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music
Rosalie (Dout g’50) Suderman, Bartlesville, Okla., June 28, 2016
Amy Millsap, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Wallace Loewen (fs’39), Reedley, Calif., June 25, 2016
Ben Nafe (g’16), Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Rosella (Franz fs’38) Jost, Hillsboro, Kan., June 20, 2016
Brad Prescott (g’16), Admissions Counselor
Mary (Classen g’78) Born, Niles, Ill., May 27, 2016 Linda (Peters g’74) Regier, Omaha, Neb., May 20, 2016
Leah Remboldt (g’10), Assistant to the Director of Faith Front
Lorma (Kroeker g’59) Wiebe, Kearney, Neb., May 16, 2016
Tom Shaw, Vice President of Tabor College Wichita/Dean of the School of Adult & Graduate Studies
Betty (Krause fs’59) Crum, Reedley, Calif., May 13, 2016
Katrina Steiner, Head Athletic Trainer
Ruth (Ewert g’40) Harder, North Newton, Kan., May 12, 2016
Lee Waldron (g’06/masters g’16) (change of position), Men’s Resident Director/Director of Intramurals
Ruth (Heidebrecht fs’44) Neufeld, Newton, Kan., May 5, 2016
Public Notice
Connect with us ONLINE!
Update your info, send us pictures and tell us about your recent honors/ awards online at tabor.edu/alumnifriends. Click on the Be Connected tab to submit your information! CODES
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Tabor College is seeking comments from the public about the College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. The College will host a visit February 6-8, 2017, with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission. Tabor College has been accredited by HLC since 1965. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. The public is invited to submit comments regarding the college to the following address: Public Comment on Tabor College Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604-1411 The public may also submit comments on HLC’s website at www.hlcommission.org/comment. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing. All comments must be received by January 9, 2017.
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