The Tartan - Fall 2022

ON THE COVER

A performer with the Kiltie Marching Band is pictured at Homecoming 2021. The Kiltie Marching Band is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Read more beginning on page 8.

MISSION

Alma College’s mission is to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations.

BRING THE TARTAN TO LIFE

Use your mobile device to scan this QR code. When you do, you’ll be taken to The Tartan website. There, you can enjoy web-exclusive content about Alma College that we just couldn’t fit in this edition.

For more info, visit alma.edu/tartan

100 YEARS OF KILTIE MARCHING BAND

Administrators, alumni and friends have been preparing for the Kiltie Marching Band’s 100th anniversary reunion, set to take place at Homecoming in September.

BUSINESS MAJOR REDESIGNED

The new Business curriculum will give students a solid core of business skills, along with opportunities to get their feet in the door at the nation’s top companies, benefiting their careers long into the future.

LEARNING COMMONS NEARS COMPLETION

The Learning Commons project started in February 2022 and is expected to complete in early 2023. When it’s ready, it will be a transformative learning environment, bettering the student experience for generations to come.

NEW GRAD PROGRAM TEACHES IT LEADERSHIP

Students will learn about modern and future information technology systems and processes in the new Master of Science in Communication and Information Technology (CIT) program.

HERE’S TO YOU, CLASS OF ’22

Art Smith Arena was packed with friends and families as the 135th year commencement took place in April.

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S ATHLETICS

Current and former Alma College student-athletes, coaches and administrators gathered in February to mark the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX legislation.

rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school — is worth celebrating for the impact it has had to improve diversity, equity and inclusion efforts nationwide. At Alma College, we marked the anniversary with a gathering of female athletes from past generations to speak with current student-athletes, to pass on their memories so that their efforts may endure. At the same time, we have added a new varsity sport, women’s wrestling, which we expect to grow rapidly and become another point of pride for our Athletics department.

“All across campus, in every classroom and department, we’re seeing new ways of reaching students and equipping them with the skills they need to become outstanding leaders in their communities.”

— Jeff Abernathy

As this is our pre-homecoming issue, we want to make sure everyone knows what’s happening on homecoming weekend, Sept. 23-25. As in past years, we will honor those alumni from several generations who have chosen different paths to build lives of purpose and service. We will host an academic department reception and welcome alumni who are celebrating milestone anniversaries.

Special for this year, we honor the Kiltie Marching Band, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The members of the Kiltie Band, whom you’ll read more about in this issue as well, have been ambassadors for Alma College across the world, bringing enjoyment to many, many people. I look forward to personally seeing so many former band members return to Alma College at homecoming and to honor their tradition of excellence.

I hope you will join us! ❖

— JEFF ABERNATHY, PRESIDENT

abernathyj@alma.edu alma.edu/offices/president (989) 463-7146

almapresident @jeffabernathy

TIME Marches

On

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The Alma College Kiltie Marching Band has changed quite a bit since its founding 100 years ago.

The marching band is now accompanied by a pipe band, Scottish dancers, color guard, drumline and more, which wasn’t the case in 1922. Its members now wear kilts, which is a practice that was not in place until 1937. But what hasn’t changed about the Kiltie Marching Band (KMB) has been its authenticity to the mission and values of Alma College.

While administrators, alumni and friends have been preparing for the band’s 100th anniversary reunion, scheduled to take place this year at Homecoming on Sept. 23-25, they are looking at the Kiltie Band as a valuable part of the student experience at Alma — something distinct and enduring that has stood the test of time and united Scots from many generations to come together as one.

“On the surface, I think the Kiltie Marching Band touches on so many things that are distinctly Alma — the kilts, the bagpipes, and the fight song, which has embedded in it, part of ‘Scotland the Brave,’” said Dave Zerbe, who for the past 25 years has served as director of the KMB. “But what I think really has made people connect with it for so long as been a sense and a tradition of playing well.

KILTIE MARCHING BAND CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

“Ultimately, people want to be a part of something that is good. I think that tradition of excellence has continued and allowed me to carry it forward as the college’s numbers have grown.”

‘WE WANT TO BE HERE WITH EACH OTHER’

Founded in the fall of 1922 by students, the Kiltie Band has evolved from its original pep band status to a contemporary marching ensemble. Membership is open to all Alma College students by audition. The band has held steady at about 100 members strong for many years, according to Zerbe, which aids its reputation among colleges and universities around the state as a band that “punches above its weight class.”

Throughout the band’s history, one of its most prominent qualities has been the sense of community it imbues in its members. Different generations of marching band alumni agree that the friends they made in the KMB were some of the closest relationships they developed at Alma, and the most likely to continue after graduation.

“It was just a very happy place for me,” remembered Diane Falk ’72, who played timpani in the band and was a baton-twirler majorette. “I always enjoyed being a part of it, working with other people toward a common goal. There was always a spirit of, ‘We want to be here with each other and make good music together.’ It was a special place.”

continued on page 10

DID YOU KNOW?

1) This image from 1971 shows the Kiltie Marching Band in their signature Royal MacPherson Tartan uniform.

2) The 1986 edition of the Kiltie Marching Band is pictured.

3) The Kiltie Marching Band is pictured in 1999.

4) Newsweek magazine had a quote after the first Highland Festival in 1968: “Och, but the heart leaped up and the shoulders squared at the brave sounds of the massed bands of kilted bagpipers ... of central Michigan.”

KILTIE

4

MARCHING BAND

While the band was started in 1922, it wasn’t until 1937 — six years after Alma’s athletic teams first became known as the Scots— that the band wore uniforms featuring kilts and became the Kiltie Band.

The Royal MacPherson tartan made its debut at Homecoming 1938, when the Kiltie Band wore them for the first time during a pep rally at Bahlke Field. Bagpipers were also incorporated into the band around this time. (The Alma College tartan was created in the mid-1990s and the band slowly phased it in over the course of about five years.)

The band has played a number of major venues over the years, including; Disney World in Florida, the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center in Washington D.C. and at the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade.

FEATURES

continued from page 9

John Wilson ’90, a snare drummer with the band and a current member of the Board of Trustees, shared the sentiment: “We say often, the percentage of students at Alma College who play a sport. The percentage is enormous and it’s growing every year. But for those students who aren’t in sports, the KMB is our team.

“It broadens your horizons and makes you a better musician. It gives you someone to sit next to at lunchtime and someone to help you study in math. It absolutely speaks to the values of a liberal arts education and the mission of Alma College.”

‘I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT’

Today’s students feel a similar sense of community, Zerbe says, but under his leadership, he also wants students to feel a sense of responsibility. Over the past quarter-century, Zerbe has worked hard to develop student leaders who represent the band well both when they are performing and when they are not. He has delegated certain responsibilities to section leaders, for example, which frees him up to focus on the bigger picture.

“I have students who teach technique, and that responsibility rotates. I tell them, ‘If I put you in this position, that’s because I know you can do it,’” Zerbe said. “When you have more voices saying the same thing in a different way, I feel like you reach the widest-possible audience.”

Matt vandenBerg ’02 was once one of those student leaders. VandenBerg was a drum major with the KMB who later went on to serve as vice president for advancement and external relations at Alma College. Now the president of Presbyterian College in South Carolina, he remembers his time as a drum major as being one of his first experiences in

“It was a really cool confidence-booster to see everyone waiting to start or stop on your command, and a unique challenge to keep people who are 50 or 60 yards apart from each other in time with one another,” vandenBerg said. “I’m so grateful to Dave Zerbe for the opportunity to serve in that capacity. It helped me realize that I could be a leader on campus at Alma and anywhere else.”

‘THE NEXT 100 YEARS’

Organizers hope to see as many alumni as possible come to a celebration of the Kiltie Marching Band, set to commemorate the group’s 100th anniversary, at this year’s Homecoming event. Alumni band members will be welcome to participate in morning rehearsal, pregame performances, and the march to the football stadium. A reception will take place after the game, which is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24.

An event specifically dedicated to the KMB, with a sit-down meal and a live performance, will take place in November. Details will be announced online as the date draws closer.

“I feel so blessed to have had the support of alumni, family and friends of the Kiltie Marching Band for so long. I hope to see so many of them come out to Homecoming,” Zerbe said. “For me, this is about celebrating the first 100 years, but it’s also a launch point for the next 100 years.”

For more information, visit alma.edu/homecoming. To make a donation to the KMB, visit alma.edu/donate. ❖

— Material from “Within Our Bounds: A Centennial History of Alma College” (1986) and “A History of Alma College: Where Plaid and Pride Prevail,” by Gordon G. Beld and David C. McMacken (2014), was used in this report.

A program from the late 1960s, featuring then-conductor Jack W. Bowman, is pictured.

“THE RENT IS DUE EVERY DAY”

On the desk in his Eddy Music Building office, Dave Zerbe has a wooden sign with a message engraved on it, which reads: “Success is never owned, it is rented — and the rent is due every day.”

It’s not exactly a reminder for the director of the Kiltie Marching Band as much as it is a manifesto. According to former students and peers, Zerbe is a consummate professional, soft-spoken and kind, but decisive and determined to bring out the best in his young musicians at every opportunity.

“Dave is the paragon of faculty excellence to me, the prototype for someone who can take nothing and build it into a distinguishing aspect of an institution,” said Matt vandenBerg ’02, who first knew Zerbe as a student drum major with the Kiltie Band, and later as vice president for advancement and external relations at Alma College. “Dave has brought a level of professionalism and expectation to the Kiltie Marching Band that is just mind-blowing. I’m really proud of the fact that I was a part of the band, in large part, because of him.”

Zerbe, the Paul Cameron Russell Professor of Music and the director of bands and percussion studies, has led the KMB for 25 years. He was a recipient of the Faculty Barlow Award in 2013 and the Outstanding Faculty Award for the Humanities in 2011. He played a key role in starting the Alma College Percussion Ensemble, which

has been invited to perform 19 times at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, and currently serves as lead drummer and arranger for the percussion section of the Alma College Pipe Band.

Zerbe’s excellence does not end at Wright Avenue, the college’s eastern border, however. He was a founding member of the internationally acclaimed recording group, the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble, and has performed live with a wide variety of artists, including the late, great Aretha Franklin. He has performed as a soloist for the Flint Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Carman Moore’s Gospel Fuse and as a percussionist with the Midland, Saginaw, Traverse City, and West Shore symphonies.

It’s a distinguished career, one that would not have been possible without incredible skill built on a solid foundation of hard work. That’s the lesson that Zerbe tries to impart on each student who comes into his office.

“Ultimately, what this comes down to is learning your notes and playing your music,” Zerbe said. “I tell every student, ‘This isn’t going to happen overnight. You need to do it slowly. But if you do it the right way, you’ll do great.’” ❖

The 1941 incarnation of the Kiltie Marching Band, pictured above.

Raymond Barclay named chief operating officer and senior vice president

Raymond Barclay, an accomplished higher education professional with a 25-year career that stretches across a diverse array of academic, planning, enrollment, and innovation initiatives, has been named chief operating officer (COO) and senior vice president at Alma College, effective March 1.

“I’m enthused by the wealth of experiences that Raymond brings to our campus, and believe he will be an enormous asset as we move forward with our dynamic plan for Alma,” said Jeff Abernathy, president of Alma College. “Raymond has a deep understanding of the higher education landscape and what Alma must do to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. I look forward to our partnership. His unique experience in strategy development, data sciences and analytics, community engagement, and academics brings a helpful integrated lens to the work of the COO as we consider ways to leverage and build on our assets and creatively move the college towards developing new opportunities to further our mission.”

A strategic advisor to the president, the chief operating officer oversees the college’s operating budget and focuses upon strategic matters of the college’s operations and systems such as financial analysis, debt structure, new revenue and innovation efforts, efficiency and sustainability initiatives, and capital projects.

“I’m thrilled to join the Alma College community, where President Abernathy has provided the stable leadership necessary to create a compelling vision for the future,” Barclay said. ❖

Scott Wills named vice president for advancement

Scott Wills, previously the assistant vice president of university advancement at Ohio Northern University, was named vice president for advancement at Alma College in February.

“Scott brings an energy and enthusiasm level to Alma, along with an extensive track record in the operational, tactical and strategic aspects of institutional advancement, and the skills to match,” said Alma College President Jeff Abernathy. “He will be a pivotal leader for the advancement team and the important fundraising campaigns and related initiatives we’re starting over the next few years. We are pleased to welcome Scott and Jamie and their family to Alma.”

Over the course of two decades at Ohio Northern, Wills worked in various advancement capacities of increasing leadership, joining Ohio Northern as director of The Northern Fund (the university’s annual fund), prior to becoming the director of development for the Raabe College of Pharmacy. Over the course of 10 years, Wills directed development efforts while maintaining a leadership giving portfolio in his roles as senior director of development and assistant vice president of advancement.

“The family environment at Alma is special – both literally in the many families with multiple generations having been Scots and figuratively in the family-like atmosphere that was very evident in my interactions during the entire search process,” Wills said.

Wills can be reached at willssd@alma.edu or (989) 463-7614. ❖

Honors Day 2022 showcases excellence in student research

Student presentations on vaginal douching, high school physics instruction and blood flow during exercise were chosen for recognition at Alma College’s 26th annual Kapp Honors Day, held on April 7.

Lainie Ettema ’23, Jackson Nordbeck ’22 and Jack Poling ’22 were recipients of the Ronald O. Kapp Honors Day Prize for their outstanding Honors Day presentations in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, respectively.

The prize is named for the late Ronald O. Kapp, who was an Alma College biology professor for 32 years and vice president of academic affairs for 20 years.

Ettema, a senior art and design major from Howell, presented “No One Needs a Douche; Causes and Implications of Vaginal Douching and How it Sustains Patriarchal Oppression.”

Nordbeck, an integrative physiology and health therapy (IPHT) major from Livonia, presented “Chronic Effects of Ischemic Preconditioning on 1.5 Mile Run and Blood Flow.”

Poling, a secondary education major from Grand Rapids, presented “Investigating Impacts of Professional Development on High School Physics Teachers’ Collaboration and Lesson Planning.” ❖

Barlow Trophy winner works to help fellow students

Blake Jonassen ’22 is the 2022 recipient of the Barlow Trophy, Alma College’s most prestigious award for a graduating senior.

Established in 1949 by Dr. Joel Barlow, a 1929 honors graduate of Alma College, the award recognizes academic achievement for students in the top 10 percent of their class as well as contributions to campus and community. The winner of the Barlow Trophy was announced April 6 at the Wright Leppien Opera House, as the culmination of an event honoring past Barlow Trophy winners.

Jonassen has devoted much of their time on campus to promoting inclusivity and intercultural awareness through academic and extracurricular activities. A senior psychology major, they are a lead mentor and student assistant with the King-Chavez-Parks First Year Mentor Program, where they work directly with first-year and transfer students to acclimate to college life, and work with the Diversity and Inclusion Office to plan and facilitate cultural events.

Jonassen has participated in a number of science-based research projects during their time at Alma; including work as the lead researcher measuring the relationship between mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic achievement of students. This project received the attention of regional and statewide media outlets.

Two other students were recognized as finalists for the award; Peyton Erndteman ’22 and Emily McDonald ’22. ❖

Blake Jonassen ’22, right, is pictured with Alma College President Jeff Abernathy at a special event honoring past Barlow Trophy winners.

Lainie Ettema ’23

Jackson Nordbeck ’22

Jack Poling ’22

Alma College Business program transformed to better reflect real-world trends

“What separates those who will win in long-term periods versus those who will win in the short term is the ability to learn and adapt quickly. That is the fundamental gift of a liberal arts education, and if you’re interested in studying business, it’s a great reason to go to a preeminent liberal arts institution like Alma.” — Darryl G. Schimeck ’82

Students in the Alma College Business program will graduate with a solid core of business skills, along with opportunities to get their feet in the door at the nation’s top companies — helping them go beyond entry-level employment and benefiting their careers long into the future.

Those are the goals of the new Alma College Business curriculum, which was approved earlier this year and goes into effect in fall 2022. According to Bob Cunningham, associate professor and chair of the business and economics departments at Alma College, changes have been made to prepare students for the rapidly changing job market.

“What we recognize is that no one knows what jobs are going to be four years from today,” Cunningham said. “You can hope to design a very specific major that will match up with what the business world needs in 2026 or 2027, but that’s a big swing to miss. What we want to do instead is design courses that are both timeless and contemporary. That will let them jump into whatever is needed four or five years from now, rather than some specialization that may be outdated.”

Top: Swanson Academic Center is pictured in this fall 2021 photo.

Bottom: Students are pictured in adjunct faculty member James Haupt’s Spring Term course, Managerial Accounting.

The revamp was developed by business faculty, working with input from an advisory group that includes members of the college Board of Trustees who work as business executives in the private sector. Darryl Schimeck, chief executive officer of the industrial services firm Versa Integrity Group and chair of the college Board, said the new curriculum teaches qualities that he looks for when hiring staff for his company.

“I believe that what this transformation of the department will do is turn Alma College into a destination for those students seeking a differentiated business education. They will see the business program at Alma College as being extraordinary, interesting, and relevant in terms of providing job skills for 21st-century employees,” said Schimeck, a 1982 graduate of Alma.

Business students at Alma will now be required to take part in one of four available “concentrations,” including sports management, environmental responsibility, leadership and management, and business analytics. Each concentration offers its own set of coursework — the majority of which takes place outside of the business department — rooted in Alma’s tradition of liberal arts and interdisciplinary education.

Among other major changes:

• Internships will now be required of all business students, with support being offered to them through the college’s Career and Personal Development Office.

• All business majors, regardless of their concentration, will be required to take two new courses centered on business analytics.

• Students in the core accounting, finance, management, and marketing courses will now be expected to use Excel, and issues of diversity, equity and inclusion will be included as well.

• The name of the major is being changed from Business Administration to simply Business, to better reflect trends in the industry.

• The Spring Term course known as “Plaid Returns” is being reworked to incorporate elements of professional skills workshops.

The department will continue to offer its highly regarded Accounting and Healthcare Administration majors. ❖

ALMA COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022-23

Darryl G. Schimeck ’82, chair

Deborah Lynch Fitzgerald ’93, vice chair

David A. Devine ’90, secretary

Erika K. Powers Appelt ’91

Karen M. Asner ’89

Brian E. Bartes ’87

Eric P. Blackhurst ’83

Kevin F. Blatchford ’83

Carol J. Burns

Robert G. Cramer ’88

Charles A. Deacon ’80

Stephen C. Falk ’72

Douglas B. Gross ’77

Charles B. “Chip” Hardwick ’88

Greg Hatcher ’83

Christopher Hufnagel ’94

Rachelle S. Jacques ’93

Cardell D. Johnson ’02

Burt R. Jordan ’89

David P. Larsen ’84

Karen M. Magnuson ’78

Edward K. Osowski ’87

Derron Sanders

Bryan K. Segedi ’81

Kim Taylor ’83

James E. Wheeler II

John M. Wilson ’90

Bob Cunningham

Students with the Business Professionals of America organization are pictured: Braxton Lamey, Gracie Allen, Sondes Gasmi and Brianna Sharpsteen.

Building a new future

THE LEARNING COMMONS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE IN EARLY 2023

Throughout the spring months of 2022, onlookers could be seen at various points crowding around the Kehrl Building, commonly known as the college library. They were watching one of the most transformative building projects to come to Alma College in many years, the Learning Commons, take shape.

The Learning Commons project started in February 2022 and is expected to complete in early 2023. When it opens, leaders on campus say, it will be a hub of education and campus community.

“As a student, I never could have imagined something like this at Alma College,” said outgoing Chair of the Board of

Pictured from left at a ceremonial groundbreaking event held in May are Alma College Board of Trustees member John Wilson ’90, Alma College President Jeff Abernathy and outgoing Board Chair Eric Blackhurst ’83.

An artist’s rendering of the new Learning Commons is pictured. When the Learning Commons opens, it will be a hub of education and campus community.

Trustees, and Class of 1983 graduate Eric Blackhurst. “I am so pleased that future generations will be able to socialize, study, collaborate, learn and create in this space. I believe it will help keep Alma College a vital part of our future and be something we can all be proud of.”

The Learning Commons will offer the same library services Alma College students have relied on for decades, but so much more. It will feature a cafe, open performance area, quiet study areas, collaboration spaces, rooms for meetings and receptions, digital media center and book collections, and other offices and amenities. The goal is for there always to be something for students to do within its walls. The roughly $14-million project was one of the signature elements of the “Our Time is Now” fundraising campaign, which wrapped up in 2021.

Do you know a prospective student who would be a great fit for the MFA program?

The Alma College Refer-a-Writer Award provides $1,000 per year for two years ($2,000 in total) in the name of the individual who referred them to the college.

Contractors led students, staff, faculty and others on tours of the Learning Commons construction site during a ceremonial groundbreaking event held in May.

The demolished portion of the Alma College library formerly known as “The Stacks” is pictured. In place of The Stacks, which was built in 1927-28, there will be additional windows and an entrance from the south side of the building.

The project, guided by Michigan-based firms The Collaborative and Granger Construction, brought with it some changes of pace to everyday student life. The entire collection of books, known as the Monteith Library Collection, were temporarily packed up and moved off-site. Excavators and cranes were brought onto McIntyre Mall in order to make room for new construction.

The covered side stairwell and main-level sidewalk bridge on the northeast corner of the building were taken out. As of the time of this writing, concrete footings were being poured for a new, three-story glass addition that will go up in their place. The goal with this new design is to ensure the Learning Commons is open and transparent — welcoming and safe, with more convenient entrances.

The month of April was a milestone in the Learning Commons project as demolition of “The Stacks” began in continued on page 18

CAMPUS NEWS

continued from page 17

earnest. In place of The Stacks, which was built in 1927-28, there will be additional windows and an entrance from the south side of the building, adding much needed light and accessibility. From the new south entrance, you will be able to walk directly through the Learning Commons to the north side where Clack Art Center is located.

A ceremonial groundbreaking event was held in May, in order to commemorate the philanthropy that made the Learning Commons project possible and the progress that has been made thus far. Students, staff, faculty, members of the Board of Trustees, the community and the press, among others, gathered to hear from a range of guest speakers and tour the progress of the facility.

“As the center of campus, the library has on one hand served as a meeting place for students keen to collaborate with one another, and on the other hand, a refuge for those seeking solitude and quiet,” said one of the speakers, Class of 2022 graduate Luke Losie. “It is the recognition of these contradictory needs that endows this new facility with so much hope.”

As much as we celebrate the future and all that is to come from the Learning Commons, it’s necessary to look back at the past. Among the items that were discovered during the demolition project were a time capsule that was buried at the time the “new library” was built, in 1964. In July, Alma College staff opened the time capsule, in a video that was made available via social media.

In addition to the time capsule, several other interesting items were found throughout the library before demolition took place. Read on to learn about a few of them! ❖

PIECES OF HISTORY

Whenever you make a big move like the kind we’re making, you’re bound to uncover some surprises. Here are a few interesting items that were found in the Kehrl Building this winter, before demolition took place.

AN ILLUMINATING LAMP

Library Director Matthew Collins found this lamp in his office as he was moving out. Apparently, two lamps of this design were donated to Alma College by the Class of 1906 (!). They illuminated the front entrance of Old Main until it was destroyed by fire on March, 10, 1969.

The frame, back and upper bracket of this lamp were salvaged after the fire. The lower bracket was fabricated in the Alma College Art Department by professor Kent Kirby. The glass, ornamental metalwork, top and wiring were reconstructed by professor of English Eugene Pattison ’56 and presented back to the college in 1986.

AN ENERGETIC BOOK

A FAMOUS SIGNATURE

Frank Knox is one of the most recognizable names in the history of Alma College: an 1898 graduate who was the 1936 nominee for Vice President of the United States under Republican presidential nominee Alf Landon, and later served as the Secretary of the Navy under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

According to Collins, appointees in military roles like Knox’s typically received large certificates to formally recognize their position, similar to a college diploma. Knox’s certificate, complete with an original signature from FDR, was also found in the library.

One of the more interesting library finds was a children’s book, containing fold-out maps of the solar system, decorated with radium paint. The idea at the time the book was produced was that kids could put the maps on their bedroom ceilings and the map would glow in the dark, thanks to the radium. Long-term exposure to radium was later found to be dangerous and the books are no longer produced.

The level of radium in Alma College’s book is not considered dangerous, Collins said, especially if the book remains boxed.

BPA, Model UN succeed at national competitions

The Alma College chapters of the Business Professionals of America and Model United Nations both followed up on impressive showings at regional championships with excellent results at their respective national competitions.

The BPA team took part in the 2022 National Leadership Conference in May in Dallas, Tex., and won three first-place awards, along with seven other top-10 finishes. The Model UN team competed at the 2022 National Model UN Conference in April in New York City and received two “outstanding delegation” awards for its representations of Egypt and Sierra Leone, along with numerous individual accolades. ❖

Trustees elect officers, welcome new members

Darryl G. Schimeck, chief executive officer at Versa Integrity Group, Inc., has been elected chair of the Alma College Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2022.

A 1982 graduate of Alma College and a resident of Michiana Shores, Ind., Schimeck has served on the Alma board since 2014. He succeeds Eric Blackhurst ’83, who will continue to serve as a trustee after completing a four-year term as Board chair.

Deborah Lynch Fitzgerald ’93, retired chief information officer at Deltek, in Herndon, Va., has been elected vice chair, and Dave Devine ’90, president of Conner Engineering, LLC, and Smithfield Manufacturing, has been elected secretary.

Trustees also have approved the appointment of two new members to the 27-member board:

• Rachelle Jacques, president and chief executive officer of Akari Therapeutics, PLC, in London, England. She is a 1993 graduate of Alma College.

• Burt Jordan, retired vice president, global purchasing of Ford Motor Company in Detroit. He is a 1989 graduate of Alma College and served as a trustee previously from 2017–2020. ❖

Darryl G. Schimeck ’82

The Alma College Model United Nations team is pictured in New York, where in April they competed in the 2022 National Model UN Conference.

Teaching the IT leaders of tomorrow

NEW MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM SET TO BEGIN IN FALL 2022

“I am thrilled to be at Alma College, which has a rich tradition of creating a world-class learning environment for students to grow into their calling. I see the CIT program as fitting in seamlessly at this liberal arts institution, which seeks to build students who are inquisitive and adaptable in the ever-changing job market.” — Jared Linder

Students will learn about modern and future information technology systems and processes — and adapt into an ever-evolving job market — in the new Alma College Master of Science in Communication and Information Technology (CIT) program.

The new, online program will be led by Jared Linder, a longtime leader in the field of technology who most recently served as chief information officer for the State of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration. The program, which has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission, is set to begin in fall 2022.

The CIT program is designed to prepare students to lead organizations through the rapidly evolving technological and regulatory landscape. CIT is an interdisciplinary professional master’s program designed to cultivate communication and leadership skills along with a foundation in technical knowledge and data skills. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of networks, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data warehousing, and also develop leadership and communication skills.

“The CIT program helps illustrate components of our Evergreen strategic plan at Alma, including providing experiential learning and creating new and innovative courses of study,”

Jared Linder is a longtime leader in the field of information technology. He came to Alma College from the State of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration, where he led enterprise efforts for health and human services technology solutions, focusing on IT modernization, data and analytics and systems interoperability.

said Alma College President Jeff Abernathy. “One goal of a great liberal arts program is to create well-rounded students of the broad universe we inhabit; the CIT program will help us build on our reputation for excellence in that area.”

The M.S. in CIT is the second graduate degree being offered at Alma College in its 136-year history; the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program was launched in 2020 and has since held two successful in-person residencies. More graduate programs are in the works.

In a similar way to the MFA program, CIT classes will be flexible in their scheduling to allow working professionals to remain employed while also enrolled in the program. This flexible program design also ensures students can learn from outstanding instructors and industry professionals from across the country.

An Alma College strategic investment task force spent three years considering different areas of study to add to its offerings before selecting CIT. The task force considered it to be a good fit for Alma because, in part, a number of its own graduates from a variety of majors pursue graduate study in the field.

Linder comes to Alma from the State of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration, where he led enterprise efforts for health and human services technology solutions, focusing on IT modernization, data and analytics and systems interoperability. Linder previously held roles at private sector technology and consulting firms and has 10 years of experience teaching IT project management to graduate students at Ball State University, in Muncie, Ind.

Linder holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in information and communication sciences, both from Ball State, as well as an M.B.A. from Butler University, in Indianapolis.

“My experience in the field has shown me that employers are looking for talented and motivated employees who are great communicators and writers, who possess relevant technical skill sets with emerging enterprise tools, and who can learn to lead and grow,” Linder said. “Our graduates will leave with the framework to become an information technology leader of the future.”

The fall application deadline for the M.S. in CIT program is Nov. 15. For more information, go to alma.edu/cit. ❖

Here’s to you, Class of ’22

CEREMONIES RETURN INDOORS AS STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY GATHER TO CELEBRATE COMMENCEMENT

The Hogan Center, Art Smith Arena was packed with families and friends as the sounds of “Loch Lomond” bounced off the walls and the Alma College graduating Class of 2022 lined up to receive their diplomas.

The 135th year commencement was held on April 23 and it seemed like old times, following two years of graduation ceremonies being held outdoors or online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outgoing Board of Trustees chair Eric Blackhurst ’83, Alumni Board President Dave DeLine ’11, 2022 Barlow Trophy recipient Blake Jonassen ’22 and guest speaker Robert Pinsky all addressed the audience; Will Nichols, the conductor of the Alma College Choirs, led the singing of the alma mater.

“Our years together at Alma may have been totally different than we were expecting ... but I have never been surrounded by more eager and resilient individuals prepared to make the world a brighter place,” Jonassen told those gathered in attendance. “I am unbelievably proud of the work we have done together to achieve true change here at the college.”

Honorary degrees were awarded to Pinsky, who served as Poet Laureate of the United States from 1997 to 2000, and William Caldwell, formerly the head of the vocal and choral department at Central State University, in Wilberforce, Ohio. ❖

Andison, Barlow awards recognize faculty excellence

TOP AWARDS FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZE SUPERIOR TEACHING IN THE AREAS OF NEW MEDIA STUDIES, INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH SCIENCE, AND PSYCHOLOGY

The Andison Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Andison Award, made possible by a gift from former trustee Thomas Andison, recognizes excellence in teaching through pedagogical innovation, creative activities with students, and superior teaching. Faculty members nominate their colleagues for the award, and the president selects the recipient, who receives a $1,000 cash grant to support their scholarship.

Lauren Woolbright teaches courses in game design, social media, and environmental communication. She has a Ph.D. in rhetorics, communication and information design from Clemson University.

“Knowing what amazing teaching my colleagues do, I am honored and humbled to receive the Andison teaching award this year,” Woolbright said. “I am glad to know that I have been able to provide my students with learning experiences that have been meaningful for them.

“It would not have been possible without the support of my colleagues and the institutional emphasis we put on pedagogies, and I am so grateful for all the opportunities and collaborations I have been afforded.”

The Barlow Awards for Faculty Excellence

The Barlow Awards for Faculty Excellence, established in 1982 and made possible by a gift from Joel Barlow, a Class of 1929 Alma graduate, recognize faculty members for excellence in teaching, scholarly or creative work, and college and community service. Recipients are nominated by faculty, administrators, alumni and student Barlow Trophy nominees. The president selects the awardees, who each receive a $1,000 cash grant.

Alexander Montoye’s main research area involves the accuracy and reliability of physical activity monitoring devices. He has a Ph.D. in kinesiology/exercise physiology from Michigan State University.

“Receiving the Barlow is gratifying as it is evidence that my work is adding value to the college and the experience for our students,” Montoye ’10 said. “I’m appreciative of the recognition, and it motivates me to continue to work hard for Alma’s phenomenal students.”

Natashia Swalve’s expertise is in drugs of abuse, animal models of mental disorders and psychopharmacology. She has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and behavior from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“I am honored to receive the Barlow Award,” Swalve said. “I hope that my teaching, scholarship, and service have strengthened Alma College and have benefited the students with whom I interact.”

In addition to the faculty awards, Stephany Slaughter and Robert Vivian were selected for Charles A. Dana Professorships and Joel Dopke was awarded the Towsley Professorship in Chemistry. ❖

Alexander Montoye ’10

Lauren Woolbright

Natashia Swalve

Honoring trailblazers

VIRTUAL PANEL HELPS ILLUSTRATE TRIALS FACED BY WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS

Alma College Athletics celebrated the 36th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Title IX with a student-planned virtual panel discussion in February.

Current and former Alma College student-athletes, coaches and administrators came together to discuss their experiences and achievements as girls and women in sports, and to celebrate Title IX, the federal civil rights law that helps to protect against sex-based discrimination in schools. While on the panel, they discussed everything from gym time to equipment, transportation to respect.

“For me, life has been about finding the courage to do the unusual,” said Sharon Falor ’78, one of the panelists. “Thankfully there were many strong women in my life leading the way. The honors and accolades in my professional and personal life are the result of being surrounded by women of courage.”

Student-athlete Stasha Warchock ’22 helped organize the panel in order to shed light on the trailblazers who helped establish women in athletics at Alma College.

“The stories that our panelists shared and the experiences that were told were inspiring to hear. Many of these women advocated for women’s sports in collegiate athletics and equality in athletics. I was amazed with everything that was shared and it was truly life changing to be a part of,” Warchock said.

The seven panelists were Falor, Nancy Paige ’71, Peg Ciccolella, Annie Falor Watson, Cindy Trout ’80, Sue Moore ’79 and Barb Gladding.

Falor was part of the Alma College basketball team and field hockey team. In 1978, Falor took a graduate assistant position for Michigan State University women’s athletics.

Paige graduated from Alma College in 1971 and taught physical education, swimming and health at Spring Arbor University for 39 years. She also coached high school basketball and track.

Ciccolella, the first women’s athletic director of Alma College in 1976, coached field hockey, basketball and swimming for Alma. In the physical education department, Ciccolella taught anatomical kinesiology, exercise physiology, and health.

Annie Falor Watson, daughter of Sharon Falor, competed at Mississippi State University in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track from 2004-08. She graduated from MSU with a degree in English and earned her master’s degree at Northern Arizona University.

Trout transferred to Alma College in the fall of 1977. She played basketball for Alma in 1979 and served as a basketball manager in 1980 while also playing softball. In 1980, Trout was hired as the first graduate assistant under Ciccolella.

Moore graduated from Alma College in 1979, where she played field hockey, basketball and softball. Moore then became a teacher at Vanderbilt School and was the head basketball coach and assistant softball coach.

Gladding was inducted into the Alma College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. She worked in the physical education and exercise and health science departments. In 1972, she became the athletic department secretary and worked there for many years. ❖

1. Cindy Trout ’80, who coached three sports and worked in various capacities for Alma College Athletics, is pictured in this 1980 photo.

2. The 1992 NCAA Division III national championship women’s basketball team, led by Charlie Goffnett, is pictured following its victory over Moravian College (Pa.) in the title game.

3. Barb Gladding, a member of the Alma College Athletics Hall of Fame, is pictured in this 2000 photo.

4. The 1980-81 Scots field hockey team, led by Peg Ciccolella, is pictured.

5. Current Alma College Director of Athletics Sarah Dehring, left, is pictured with Sami Stormont, head women’s basketball coach, in this 2020 photo.

6. The Alma College dance team is one of many women’s teams that have enjoyed great success in recent years. They are pictured in Daytona Beach, Fla., celebrating their 2022 NDA national championship.

7. Carolyn Sachs, a star field hockey performer in the early 1970s, is pictured at right.

VIEW WEB-EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

Use your mobile device to scan this QR code for a web-exclusive video of the Title IX student-planned virtual panel discussion.

Athletics adds women’s wrestling to the roster

Opportunities for women student-athletes at Alma College will continue to grow in years to come, with the addition of a women’s wrestling team, which was announced in December 2021.

Women’s wrestling is the 28th varsity sport at Alma. It will begin as a club sport in fall 2022 and transition to a varsity sponsored sport in 2023-24.

Alma also announced the hiring of its first women’s wrestling coach, Katlyn Pizzo, a former star of the Clawson (Mich.) High School wrestling team. Pizzo is the last woman to place in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state tournament.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of women’s wrestling,” Athletics Director Sarah Dehring said. “The support of the president’s cabinet, Board of Trustees, alumni, and campus has been outstanding and truly demonstrates how Alma College supports women in athletics. We are excited to join others that have added women’s wrestling nationally and to see how the NCAA Emerging Sport continues to grow, support equity and offer opportunities for women.”

Katlyn Pizzo

GRATITUDE IN ACTION

Please join fellow alumni, parents and friends by making your gift online at alma.edu/donate or returning the enclosed business reply envelope.

Alma Fund: Flexible, immediate-use resources for Alma to address the greatest campus needs

Scot Scholarship Fund: Directly support financial aid for Alma students

Academic Excellence Fund: Support experiential learning and your favorite academic program

Scot Athletics Fund: Support Alma College athletics and your favorite athletic team

Your gift strengthens Alma College and empowers current and future Scots to reach their highest potential.

Learn more and explore other ways to give at alma.edu/giving.

Kraft-Strong set to take over as president of alumni board

CLASS OF 2008 GRADUATE HOPES TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY FOLLOWING PANDEMIC

Mark Kraft-Strong ’08 has been giving back to his alma mater since graduation. Now, he’s helping out in a new way — as president of the Alma College Alumni Board.

Kraft-Strong, currently the vice president of the board, is set to step into the role after this year’s Homecoming event. As alumni board president, he said, he wants to rebound from a pandemic that took many opportunities for face-to-face interactions away.

“I’d like to bring back a sense of engagement and find that balance between in-person meetings and virtual,” Kraft-Strong said. “COVID-19 taught us that we can do many things virtually, but are we truly connected through screenshots on a PowerPoint? We have some new leadership in the Advancement Office who are bringing incredible energy to Alma, and I’m excited to work with them and explore some of these ideas.”

Kraft-Strong, a sociology major during his time at Alma, has previously served as an advisor for organizations on campus, a volunteer during athletic events and a mentor for students seeking employment. The company he co-owns, Beyond Horizons Tour and Travel, has outfitted one of their buses with Alma College logos and wordmarks. The bus is frequently used by Scots athletic teams en route to away games.

“When those graphics hit that bus, it was one of the proudest moments of my professional career,” Kraft-Strong said. “When our teams hit the road at the different states they play in, all over the country, people are seeing and experiencing Alma College, big and bold, right in their face. Oftentimes, these are people who haven’t yet heard of Alma. So, it’s a great ice-breaker.”

Kraft-Strong said he actually started Beyond Horizons as a tour agency from his residence hall room at Alma College. It has since grown to become a full-service tour and travel agency, and motorcoach charter company with a fleet of 10 motorcoaches and two locations in Michigan.

Originally from Alpena, Kraft-Strong now lives in Alma — just a five-minute walk from campus, he said — with husband Brad.

“Alma did what they always said they would do — provide me with a quality education. Now it’s my time to do what Alma always taught me, which is to use that knowledge to give back. I want to make sure students in the future have wonderful opportunities,” Kraft-Strong said. ❖

ALUMNI BOARD

President

David DeLine ’11

Vice President

Mark Kraft-Strong ’08

Secretary

Kristin Swihart ’96

Michael Altman ’80

Hugh Brenneman ’67

Leslie Burgess ’85

Robyn (Paige) Carr ’04

Samantha Coykendall ’15

Samantha (Perrin) Jackson ’13

Mary Kushion ’85

Shelia (Arrington) Minetola ’82

Lisa Anne (Tomei) Mithen ’84

Blake Padget ’15

Amy Pratt ’04

Rugelio Ramereiz ’10

Mary (Skinner) Sexton ’68

Marc McKenzie Stanley ’98

Susan Latham Timoner ’85

Steven Whetstone ’04

Sarah White ’93

Matthew (Yettaw) Yuill ’15

Laura Zuidema ’ 96

Diane Postler-Slattery passed away on March 8, 2022, in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Postler-Slattery was born in Thorp, Wis., on March 30, 1959, to Melvin and Julie (Dittbrender) Postler. She started her career as a nurse in a hospital, and through hard work and dedication, later went on to become president and CEO of MyMichigan Health, in Midland.

Dorothy M. (Bedford) Howe Swanson passed away on March 14, 2022, in Alma.

Swanson was born April 5, 1921 in East Chicago, Ind., the daughter of Clifford Paul and Selma Helen (Kernen) Bedford. After graduating from Alma High School, Swanson worked at the switch board for Consumers Energy. She later worked as executive secretary to several presidents of

Jonieta J. Stone passed away on June 19, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Stone was born on May 17, 1941, in Cottage Grove, Ore., the daughter of Russell and Mary Ann Smith. She earned her undergraduate degree from Southern Oregon College, an M.S. from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University.

Jonieta’s life was linked to the career of her husband, Alan Stone, who from 1988 to 2000

Postler-Slattery was elected to Alma’s Board of Trustees in 2019. While her time with Alma College was relatively short, her leadership and contributions to the board were great. She will be remembered as a champion of Alma College and the mid-Michigan community as a whole.

Leonard Refinery and then, Total Refinery in Alma, retiring after 20 years of service.

Dorothy married Alma College President Robert “Bob” Swanson on Aug. 4, 1979. Bob Swanson is Alma’s longest-serving president (1956-80). Dorothy Swanson is remembered as a joyful conversation partner, always enthusiastic about the future and always excited about Alma College.

served as president of Alma College. When the couple moved to Alma, Jonieta Stone taught classes, a continuation of her profession first spent in elementary schools and then at Aurora (Ill.) University during Alan’s presidency there. She was also active in the local community, serving with the Gratiot County United Way, Highland Festival art fair, Gratiot Community Hospital Board of Directors and Alma Women’s Club. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce’s Athena Award.

IN MEMORIAM

HONORING OUR DEPARTED SCOTS

Alma College mourns the loss of the alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students who have passed away. This page specifically honors the lives of the college community members whose passing we have become aware of since the last issue of The Tartan. To continue paying meaningful tribute to those we have lost, we have created a website where you can view full obituaries for each person. Visit alma.edu/in-memoriam to learn more.

1930s

Helen Elizabeth “Betty” Roberts Alley ’39

1940s

Althea Helen Dewey Mulloy ’48

Ethelyn McArtor Shavrnoch ’49

1950s

Ralph W. Appell ’50

Charles E. Schoenhals ’50

Patricia Miner Van Amberg ’50

R. James Colter, Jr. ’51

Keith Van Duzen ’51

William H. Arbury ’53

George B. Lawrence ’53

Walter J. Roman, II ’53

Ruth Morse Silbert ’53

John R. Koschara ’54

Philip J. Chisholm ’56

Sherra Nugent Fritch ’56

Marcia Lou Johnson ’57

Gordon C. Smith ’57

George R. Arrick, Jr. ’58

Phyllis Dresbach Hedberg ’58

Carol Blanck Hummel ’58

Arthur C. Dittenber ’59

Shirley Pond Hosmer ’59

1960s

Charles H. Gable ’60

C. William Rankin ’60

Lawrence H. Thompson ’60

Donna Schwartz Wallace ’60

M. Jean Dent Dice ’61

David L. Ebert ’61

Leonard H. Krueger ’61

David L. Proctor ’61

F. Curtis Roemer ’62

Victor Scully ’62

Gerald R. Tiemann ’62

Gary Burkhardt ’63

Lola Marie Wells ’63

Charles R. “Bud” Acton ’64

Randy R. Mason ’64

John T. Sala ’64

Rodger C. Blair ’65

Philip Granville “Gran” Mitchell ’65

John F. O’Dell ’65

Janice L. Shanahan ’67

Nancy Slattery Chesterton ’68

George J. Cottay, Jr. ’68

Yvonne Oliver Hooker ’68

Gordon Hetrick ’69

1970s

Michael B. Cornelius ’70

Stephen G. Goodell ’70

Bruce A. Landino ’70

Gwynne Olson Mitchell ’70

W. Neil Spink ’70

Karen Lovett Smith ’71

Caroline Anne Cohoon Weller ’71

Michael J. Hughes ’72

Jeffrey L. Johnson ’72

William B. Spencer ’72

Gail Krueger DeMint ’73

Kathleen Ann Kupsky Martz ’73

Patrick C. Goggin ’74

Bonnie Snyder Hollern ’75

Judith Kan Meleski ’77

Pamela Jane Heck-Smith ’78

Pamela S. Backes ’79

1980s

Joanne Barbour “Joey” Walker ’80

Michael P. Conway ’86

Renee Scramlin Perry ’86

1990s

Kelly Ann Arnold Boon ’92

2000s

Karen E. Maxfield ’14

Former Faculty and Staff

Rosemary Fisher

Jon K. Groteluschen

Mary Ann Wenzel

Friends of the College

Richard J. “Dick” Allen

Donald G. Hall

Janet Hintz

Mary Anita Vanatten Hoxie

Mary Ryan Munisteri

Martha Lee Muska

Charles L. Paige

Wendell E. Parker

Barbara Ramsey

Barbara J. Randall

Frank Rosengren

Yvonne “Bonnie” Sweeney

Sarah Simons Thorndike

Janis Ann Collard VanEvery

Fletcher J. Wright III

Tell us what’s new!

The Tartan and your friends want to know what you are doing these days. Please send your news about promotions, honors, appointments, graduation, marriages, births, travels and hobbies. If you would like former classmates to contact you, include your contact information. Submit your news online at alma.edu/alumni-notes

Devere Curtiss ’68 wrote “Greeting God: The History and Stories of Greater Europe Mission in Austria” about the organization’s work there since 1964.

Craig Wesley ’72 and wife Maria attended their son Charles’ commencement on June 8, 2022, when he received a Master of Public Administration degree from the Evans School of Public Administration and Governance at the University of Washington.

Richard Palmer ’72 retired after 43 years of practicing law and 16 years of college teaching. Jemery (VanSickle) Palmer ’73 retired after eight years of teaching and 26 years as director of the Greenville Public Schools’ childcare programs. They still live in their lakefront home near Greenville, Mich., where their son and daughter-in-law, as well as their daughter, live nearby.

Dean Winn ’85 retired from the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2019 after 31 years of service, lastly as regional agriculture adviser. Dean built a house with his longtime partner next door to his parents’ home near Alma and is driving a semi truck. He is the proud uncle of great-niece Taylor Pepitone, a sophomore at Alma.

Beth Ann Short Lafady ’90 published their second book, “Healing from Clinical Trauma Using Creative Mindfulness Techniques,” in 2021.

After 12 years with the Indiana State Police Laboratory, Carrie Rau ’00 accepted a new position as a senior DNA analyst at a private forensic laboratory. Carrie’s position is remote-based and she will be returning to Michigan. She can be reached for catching up at dnageek.jd@gmail.com.

Megan Freeland ’02 married Morgan Kelly of New York City in a secret ceremony on the Brooklyn Bridge on Oct. 23, 2020. The bride walked from Brooklyn, where she lives, accompanied by a bagpiper and her parents. The groom walked from Manhattan, where he lived, accompanied by his mother. They met in the middle and were married. The couple revealed the secret on their one-year anniversary during a vow renewal, which guests in attendance were led to believe was their wedding. In attendance were the bride’s father, Lee Freeland ’72, and the family’s close friend, Cal Kerr ’72.

A mergers and acquisitions advisory firm founded in 2013 by Matthew Friar ’03, Calder Capital, LLC, made Inc. 5000’s annual list of fastest-growing companies this year.

In June 2022, Dr. Daniel Rito ’05 became head of the neonatology division at Henry Ford Health System.

Mollie Smith ’07, husband Alex Wood and big sister Claire Elisabeth welcomed Hazel June into the world on Nov. 4, 2021. Hazel measured 9 pounds, 4 ounces, and 21 1/4 inches. The family is over the moon with their girl squad.

Mary Parsons ’08 and Batya Matchanov welcomed Vera Elizabeth to the family, born Nov. 8. She is greatly loved by big brother Elliot, 2, who can’t wait to share his snacks with her and teach her to sing and dance with him.

Ashley (Matuzak) ’08 and Tyler Wellman ’08 welcomed their third son, Thomas Richard Wellman, into the world on March 10, 2022.

Ali (Cnudde) Huntoon ’11 and husband Scott recently opened two businesses side-by-side in Midland, Mich. Allied HR Solutions is a human resources consulting company and Allied Group Fitness is a fitness studio.

Raeann (Dumka) Gentner ’12 and husband Dan welcomed their second child, Grayce Charli Gentner, in August 2021. Raeann is in her fourth year working as an elementary school social worker for a local school district.

Samantha (Perrin) ’13 and Kendall Jackson ’12 welcomed their second child, Miles William, on Dec. 30, 2021. He joins big brother Kayden Scottie.

In July 2022, Kenny Sparks ’13 was married to Emily Clark, pastor of Faith United Church of God in Grand Rapids, Mich., in their hometown of Kalamazoo, Mich.

Tara (Brecht) ’15 and Derek Clements ’10 welcomed their son, Jackson Raymond Clements, into the world on Nov. 20, 2021.

Olivia (Laux) Howard ’16 and husband Evan welcomed their second child, Lorelei Gretchen Howard, on Jan. 6, 2022.

The Tartan is published for alumni, students, parents, families and friends of Alma College. Please recycle this magazine and pass it on to a prospective student.

Alumni, faculty, staff members, current students, parents and friends of the college can refer a friend or relative to Alma College. Students who enroll are eligible to receive a $1,500 Referral Award each year, for up to four years — in your name! Learn more at alma.edu/refer Do you know a student who might be a great fit for Alma?

Did you know that you can also refer a career or internship opportunity for Alma College students? Call the Center for Student Opportunity at (989) 463-7147 or go to alma.edu/career-referral to share the information or help create an internship in your organization.