Raven Review - Spring 2015

RAVEN REVIEW BENEDICTINE COLLEGE

SPRING 2015

inside 04

10–Year Minnis

The legacy (so far) of President Minnis

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Our Royal Year

Exciting times with the Kansas City Royals

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Kristen’s Walk

One student’s story of courage and faith

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A Year of Mercy

Benedictine alumnus pens new book

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Students Steal the Show

Scholarship Ball ’15 spotlights ravens

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The “One” Percent

National Merit scholarships

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The Robert J. Dehaemers Endowed Chair of Nursing

Lynne Connelly becomes first recipient

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Accounting for Success

2013-2014 Educator of the Year

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A Work of Pure Inspiration

Scott Cox and his play, Pas de Deux

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Lesson Learned

Flight engineering and honesty combine

24 OVERLAND PARK CONVENTION CENTER www.benedictine.edu/

SCHOLARSHIP–BALL

A Major in Transforming the World Evangelization and Catechesis program

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Global Abbot

World’s top Benedictine visits campus

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First-Year Leader

Raven wins Horizon Award for new teachers

RAVEN REVIEW

spring 2015 volume 42 number 2

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A Raven in the Shark Tank ABC series features alumna

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Smart Phones and Smart Basketballs Davyeon Ross and the ShotTracker

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Ravens Go National

NAIA Championship Tournament

38

Play Ball!

The new Asher Sports Complex

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Social Purpose

Social media connects Ravens

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Defending the Condemned Ravens Respect Life recognized

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A Monk’s Life of Service

We remember Father Gerard Senecal, OSB

EDITORS

Tom Hoopes G ’10

Vice-President of College Relations

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Beth Hoffman ’09

Director of Publications

Steve Johnson G ’12

Director of Communications

DESIGNERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Richard Bennett Art Director

Hayleigh Diebolt Graphic Designer

Kady Weddle

Graphic Designer

Kelly Elias ’85

Alumni Engagement Coordinator

COPY EDITORS Mary Asher ’80

Senior Administrative Assistant

Kathy Garrison

Administrative Assistant

Benedictine College

Published by the Office of Marketing and Communications

30 Wanted: Benedictine Weddings Did both you and your spouse graduate from Benedictine College, Mount St. Scholastica College or St. Benedict’s College? We want to feature your wedding picture on campus!

Send your names, class years and a 5-by-7 or 8-by-10 inch framed photo to: Sue Durkin Benedictine College • 1020 North Second Street • Atchison, KS 66002 Or email to: sdurkin@benedictine.edu

Spring 2015

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“ We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek — JESUS, her Son.” — Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort

Help Keep Mary’s Grotto Glowing Bright...

Please donate to our Grotto Candle Fund. Your intention will be placed in our St. Martin’s Chapel Book of Prayer and will be remembered in all campus Masses.

For $500-level donors, we will keep a candle burning in Mary’s Grotto for a year, along with a plaque naming the person or persons for whom you are praying.

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To make a gift online, go to: my.benedictine.edu/candles Donate by check to: Benedictine College Grotto Fund c/o Advancement Office 1020 North Second Street Atchison, KS 66002 For more information: sdurkin@benedictine.edu or (913) 360-7401

In this issue, the Raven Review’s editors have chosen to mark my 10-year anniversary (2004–2014) as president of Benedictine College. Of course I’m grateful for that, and I appreciate all the nice words, but I feel a little bit like I did at the Bishop LeBlond Hall of Fame celebrations in St. Joseph, Mo. You see, I’m in the Hall of Fame there because I sat on the bench my junior year while our basketball team won State. Yes, I realize I haven’t been on the bench at Benedictine College. But I also realize that it took a whole lot more than just me to bring the college so much success in the past 10 years and that ultimately God and the intercession of Mary deserve the credit for our blessings.

Our community has been strong because of the men and women who built the best student life program in the country, and because of the amazing leadership we have seen in the Athletic Department and from the coaches who have made extraordinary strides in our programs. Our enrollment has grown because of a great Admission Department, and because everyone at Benedictine College makes the school great and makes visitors feel welcome.

Our faith life on campus has been strong because of the monks and sisters who minister to our students, because of the dedicated efforts of College Ministry, and because of the strong faith of the families who are sending us their sons and daughters. As my wife Amy is fond of saying, we learn more from the faith of our students than they could possibly be learning from us.

Our scholarship on campus has been strong because of the leadership of Dean of the College Kimberly Shankman and the remarkable faculty who have dedicated their careers to our students. And we have been able to support it all with our excellent Office of Advancement, and tell the world via our Marketing Department.

Benedictine College did not get where it was because of any one person or any silver bullet.

It is through the integration of community, faith and scholarship that we have found success, and it is through our continued commitment to all three that we will go forward.

I am grateful for the look back, but even more grateful for all of the efforts of so many who made Benedictine College what it is today and what it will be in the future.

It’s a Great Time to Be a Raven,

President Stephen D. Minnis ’82

Spring 2015

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10 Years Strong The Legacy (So Far) of President Minnis

President stePhen Minnis recently

celebrated the 10th anniversary of his inauguration as President of Benedictine College. There is a lot to celebrate. The changes at Benedictine College have been astonishing in the last decade.

How has so much been accomplished?

“I think Benedictine College as it exists today is inconceivable without the leadership of President Minnis,” said Dr. Kimberly Shankman, Dean of the College. “His vision of actually being — not just appearing to be, but actually being — one of the great Catholic colleges in America is coming to fruition.”

Dr. Ruth Krusemark ’73, Kremmeter Professor and Chair of the Music Department gave one reason why. “I appreciate his ability to develop donors for this institution,” she said. “His ability to connect with people is remarkable. I was astounded at the Scholarship Ball that he knows almost everybody’s name.”

Coach Larry Wilcox ’72 gave another.

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“He remembers that why we are here is our students,” said Wilcox. “The change and improvements in facilities, academic programs, and opportunity for our students is amazing.”

The president’s wife, Amy, agrees. “The school has turned out so wonderful because of the students, not us,” she told The Circuit. “The students set an example for us.”

But the students have noticed Minnis’s example, too.

“You can’t go a week without seeing him on campus somewhere,” said Greg Starman, class of 2016, who recalls seeing him “leading the rosary early in the morning,” “stumbling upon him in the Grotto,” and “even eating in the dining hall.”

“Minnis obviously cares for the current students,” he said. “Without him, Benedictine as we know it would not exist.”

In the pages that follow, we ask the Chairs of the Board of Directors — his bosses — to share their thoughts on his leadership. We also trace some of the changes on campus in the past 10 years.

Board Chairs share their iMPressions of stePhen d. Minnis “Nine years ago, a young legally trained professional reached out to me to encourage me to reconnect with Benedictine College. At the time, I was a token alumnus, making reasonable, but not noticeable or sincere, donations annually to the College and not at all involved beyond that. I think someone had advised Steve Minnis that there was a grad in the executive ranks at Cerner. I had heard about Steve, but was “too busy” to check out what his thoughts were for leading my alma mater. We met briefly. I was immediately and enormously impressed by his passion and commitment, and I made a concentrated effort to reconnect with Benedictine. A couple of years later, I took Steve aside and begged him to be considered for a role on the Board of Directors, should a position become available.

I am one of thousands of alumni, students, parents, benefactors, and faculty/staff who have been smitten by this unassuming but passionate and gifted leader. As a result, the College he leads has soared to heights far beyond what any of us could have ever imagined in areas such as the following: • Enrollment–record growth, recently in the face of a declining market; • Academic excellence evidenced by the publications, awards, grants, and “mission fitness” of our faculty and an ever-increasing ACT score by our incoming freshmen; • Recognition in U.S. News & World Report, the Cardinal Newman Society, and many other evaluating bodies for excellence achieved; • Faith life on campus that proclaims to the heavens more than virtually any other Catholic college in America the precepts of Ex Corde Ecclesiae; • Re-engagement of alumni who have not previously paid much attention to the College; and • A dynamism that attracts many of the nation’s faith, intellectual, and business leaders to want to share in the Benedictine College phenomenon.

Through the efforts of an entire team led for the last decade by Steve Minnis, Benedictine College is well on its way to becoming one of, if not, “the” Greatest Catholic College(s) of America.

More importantly, Steve is who he is because of: his faith; his upbringing; and his incredible wife, Amy, and beloved/special children: Matt (and MK), Michael, and Molly. The four of them mean everything to him and he to them. Steve, thank you for encouraging me to be a part of this unbelievable journey. I relish the opportunity to be a part of the next 10 years and beyond.”

—JACK A. NEWMAN, JR. ’70 Chairman of the Board, Benedictine College, 2012–present

“While on the search committee for a new president, I received a phone call from Steve, saying that he was thinking of applying for the job. I couldn’t believe Benedictine’s good fortune. To me, he personifies the ideal leader to be president of Benedictine College. I had gotten to know Steve as a member of the board.

He is very bright, well-liked and motivated to make Benedictine College the premier Catholic college in the United States. Just realize what he has accomplished in 10 years. There is no limit to Benedictine’s success under Steve’s direction.”

— JAMES O’BRIEN ’60 Chairman of the Board, Benedictine College, 2004–2012

“It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to congratulate Steve Minnis on his 10 years as president of Benedictine College. I was the chairman along with my very good friend Jim O’Brien when the search went out for a new president, and Steve was, for he and I, clearly a top candidate for that job. He has proven us right. This institution would not be the institution it is without Steve Minnis. This institution has been enormously successful because of President Minnis’s leadership, his example, and his imagination. That has been so important to this institution. He couldn’t make me prouder to have been part of that search committee.”

— TOM HOENIG ’68 Chairman of the Board, Benedictine College, 1996–2004

200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015

The last 10 years have set the signature look of campus — from the new Dining Hall clock tower to the recreated Our Lady of Grace fountain.

FloreNce More Faculty

The college added a campus in Florence, Italy.

Faculty in 2004: 55.

Today: 105.

athletics Since 2004, the college has added wrestling, and both men’s and women’s lacrosse, as well as renovated or added facilities for soccer, baseball, softball, and football.

advaNceMeNt Endowment, 2004: $7 million; today: $21 million.

Scholarship Ball, 2004: $375,000; today: $620,000.

The college has raised $100 million under Minnis’ leadership.

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New Majors Art (reinstated), Finance, Foreign Language, International Business, International Studies, Nursing, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical and Civil Engineering and Catechesis and Evangelization.

resideNce liFe

adMissioN

Since 2004, Benedictine College has opened 10 new residence halls (Scholastica, Hartman, Schirmer, Cray Seaberg, St. Michael, Kremmeter, Wolf, Legacy, Lemke, Guadalupe).

Enrollment, Fall 2004: 1,086; Fall 2014: 1,836.

Retention rate, 2004: 86%; today: 91%.

BuildiNg

classrooM reNovatioN In all classrooms, decadesold wooden tablet-arm desks were replaced with tables and chairs, and projectors and computers were installed.

Since 2004, Benedictine College has opened three academic buildings (Cray Seaberg, Mother Teresa and the Ferrell Academic Center).

acadeMics Average GPA, Freshmen, 2004: 3.2; today: 3.51.

Average ACT, Freshmen, 2004: 22.2; today: 24.6.

FiNaNcial

Presidential Scholar candidates, 2004: 100; today: 302.

Faculty salaries rose to be competitive in the marketplace, by, on average, 38%.

Net assets in 2004: $28 million; today: $73.8 million.

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Benedictine Benedictine College College and and the the Kansas Kansas City City Royals Royals Baseball Baseball Club Club shared shared some some exciting exciting times times inin the the past past year! year!

“For the first time in a long time the Royals truly have a chance to win in 2014. We have a chance to compete from the first day to the last day.”

— Dayton Moore predicts the Royals’ 2014 season at Benedictine College, February 3, 2014.

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t makes sense that Dayton Moore received an honorary doctorate and served as Benedictine College’s 2015 commencement speaker. The Ravens and the Royals have had quite a year together.

On Feb. 3, 2014, Royals General Manager Dayton Moore spoke to President Stephen Minnis and Dean Joe Wurtz’s Leadership: Vision and Values class (photo on preceding page). He told The Circuit he appreciated meeting “young people with great futures who are very enthusiastic about making a difference in life.”

The Royals selected Katie Lind, a senior at Benedictine College, to sing the national anthem at Kauffman Stadium July 9, pictured left. She said the enormity of the honor hit her when she saw herself on the Jumbotron. “The minute I was finished I felt like I could run a marathon,” she said.

Hundreds of Ravens made the July 9 game their own — including Rocky. He is pictured with Adam Burns ’15 and Meghan Baldwin ’15, pictured far left, and with Slugger (and President Minnis and Sue Durkin), pictured right.

On August 5, a yearly retreat for Benedictine College staff department heads was held at Kaufman stadium, after which the Royals beat the Giants — a preview of the end-of-season matchup, when the ACLS champion Royals (pictured below) faced the Giants again in the 2014 World Series.

Baseball and softball were big on campus this year as the college opened a new 200-seat softball facility and Laughlin Field at Olsen Stadium for baseball, a 300seat facility with a turfed infield and new scoreboard, both at the Asher Sports Complex, north of Larry Wilcox Stadium.

So it is appropriate the year ended with Dayton Moore encouraging seniors to set big goals and work towards achieving them. He has shown them how it can be done. b

“The future belongs to people who believe in it,” Royals General Manager Dayton Moore told graduates at Benedictine College’s 2015 Commencement. “There’s no doubt in my mind that each and every one of you are gifted for success and will make a difference.”

KriSten’S one Student’S Story of courage and faith

A

remarkable story of courage and faith reached its climax on the commencement stage at Benedictine College. As Kristen Adlhoch walked off with her degree to her waiting wheelchair, President Minnis saw the hand of God — and the intercession of Mother Teresa at work.

As a freshman volleyball player at Benedictine College in 2010, Kristen spent Thanksgiving break on a family trip to Hawaii with her parents and little sister. Then, on the last day of vacation, she tried surfing — and tragedy hit. She was struck with Surfer’s Myelopathy, a rare non-traumatic spinal cord injury that left her without the use of her legs.

Doctors had little hope that she would ever walk again.

In the wake of her tragedy, the volleyball team created a card for Kristen, and President Minnis and Pete Helgesen each visited her in the hospital.

The college promoted a campuswide novena to Mother Teresa for Kristen. The Mother Teresa Center for Nursing and Health Education had opened on campus that year on the 100th anniversary of her birth. The year had been dedicated to Mother Teresa with the theme “Do Something Beautiful for God.”

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The novena lasted from December 13 to December 21. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college signed up to pray the novena prayer. “That is worth so much more than any other kind of therapy,” said Adlhoch.

At first, Kristen could not return to Benedictine, and took classes close to home at Colorado State University in order to keep up with her studies.

While she did, she underwent intensive physical therapy.

“After the novena was over, I did not want to stop,” he said.

“So I committed to pray the prayer to Mother Teresa every day from December 2010, until Kristen graduated, praying that she would be able to walk across that stage at graduation from Benedictine College.”

He had trouble keeping emotion from interrupting as he said: “Now, four and a half years later, Kristen will graduate from Benedictine College tomorrow and I hope you will join with me in awe as she walks across that stage to receive her diploma.”

When Adlhoch walked across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education, the auditorium erupted in cheering and a standing ovation.

“So “She’s a tough kid,” her father, Joe, told the Denver Post. “She has her whole life ahead of her, and she wants to get going.”

New technologies helped her regain the use of her legs — and got her featured on the Today show.

Minnis shared her story at the Senior Brunch the day before Commencement.

often we find it eaSy to point out the StruggleS and painS in our liveS when we Should be focuSing on the Silver lining”

“Everything has one,” Adlhoch told the college’s 2013 Scholarship Ball attendees. For me that lining was the Benedictine College community.

My journey would be so much different without it.” b

Benedictine Alumnus Pens New Book On Pope Francis K

evin Cotter, a Benedictine College alumnus from the Class of 2005, has penned his second book on Pope Francis. Following the success of his Catholic best-selling book, Through the Year With Pope Francis, he has written a new book on the main theme of Pope Francis’ papacy— mercy. The mercy of Pope Francis and the way in which he embraces the poor, the homeless, and the mentally and physically challenged has moved people around the world.

Kevin Cotter ’05 The question naturally arises: How can I follow his example?

In A Year of Mercy With Pope Francis, Cotter offers a brief daily meditation from the Holy Father, then follows it with a few reflection questions designed to help each person ponder and receive God’s love. These bite-sized quotes and engaging questions will fit easily into anyone’s busy schedule. But what a powerful few minutes they will be!

A Year of Mercy With Pope Francis draws the reader into God’s unfailing mercy, strengthening, healing, and equipping him to fulfill His plan. Ultimately, Cotter shows how to know God more deeply, how to serve others, and how to have a greater impact on your family, church, and world.

God doesn’t tire of us, Pope Francis has said, but “we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.” Join him in exploring the infinite love and unfailing compassion of the God who is always “there first,” ready to receive and embrace us.

Cotter is a missionary with FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students) where he serves as the Director of Curriculum and Web. He writes on evangelization, discipleship, bible studies, and Pope Francis on the FOCUS Blog and FOCUS’s resource website, focusequip.org. As the creator of popealarm.com, Cotter notified over 100,000 people about Pope Francis’ election via text and email. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sacred Scripture from the Augustine Institute and a Bachelor’s Degree from Benedictine College with majors in Theology and Philosophy. He lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife Lisa and their young children. b

S

TuDeNTS STeAL THe SHOW Scholarship Ball ’15 Spotlights Ravens Who Live the Mission

W

hen President Stephen D. Minnis gave his “state of the college” remarks at the 44th annual Scholarship Ball in Kansas City, Feb. 28, he made three major announcements.

But those announcements were not the most important part of his speech.

“I was excited coming into tonight to tell you about the progress the college has made under Benedictine 2020,” he said, announcing a new Rec Center, an initiative to upgrade campus pianos and make Benedictine College a Steinway School, and a new full-tuition scholarship for National Merit Finalists.

“But as you know the key to our college is our students and how we educate them within the mission. Integrating community, faith, and scholarship in everything we do is the best way to educate students so they will live the mission at Benedictine and then share that mission after they graduate.”

He introduced the audience to three Benedictine College students, saying “frankly I have 1,800 similar stories of young people embracing community, faith and scholarship in their daily lives.”

The stories he shared follow.

Integrating

community,

FA ITH

&

scholarship in everything we do is

the best way to

educate students

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C

helsea Beckman is a senior from Mound City, Kansas. After graduating from high school she was searching for a Catholic college where she could play volleyball. She was familiar with Benedictine College after visiting her brother on campus for Little Sibs weekend.

Community. She chose Benedictine, and ended up playing varsity volleyball for the team for four years – becoming team captain her senior year. She was recognized for her athletic and academic excellence as a Daktronics Academic All-American.

Faith. Beckman has also appreciated Benedictine College’s thriving faith life.

A regular at daily Mass, she also attended numerous retreats and led a life-changing mission trip to Puerto Rico to bring volleyball and love to young people there. She led a Bible study on the volleyball team through Varsity Catholic and is involved in uplift, serving the homeless in Kansas City.

Scholarship. Chelsea graduated with honors. An accounting and finance major, she received a prestigious internship at Cessna in Wichita and was hired before school started this year in their rigorous and competitive Leadership Development Program. Chelsea is a young lady committed to community, faith, and scholarship.

L

awrence Haynes is a senior from St. Louis, Missouri. Influenced by alumni Vince DeGreef and Greg Vitello to take his talents from DeSmet High School to Benedictine College, Larry has excelled at community, faith, and scholarship.

Community. He was on the Raven football team for four years. During that time, not only was he a leader on the team, one that the younger players sought out for mentorship, but he also dedicated himself to the Atchison community as a tutor for grade school students and volunteered for the annual Atchison Clean-up program as well as other mentoring events in the Atchison elementary school. He is a member of the Student Alumni Board and is one of our Ambassadors for the Admission department.

Faith. Larry participated in FOCuS (Fellowship Of Catholic university Students) retreats off campus. He was involved in a Bible study with Varsity Catholic as part of the football team. Larry is also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Scholarship. Finally, Larry is committed to scholarship. As a sophomore, he participated in the university of Nebraska Summer Medical and Dental education Program, which identifies and prepares underrepresented students in the medical field. He dreams of becoming a doctor. No one is more proud of Larry’s academic accomplishments than his family—as he will be the first member of his family to graduate from college. We are proud of Lawrence Haynes and his commitment to community, faith, and scholarship.

so they will

live

THe MISSION

@

BeNeDICTINe

College &

then share that

mission after they

graduate.

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sCholarship ball 2015 was in several respects the most successful such event ever.

annually one of the largest and most successful fundraising events in the Kansas City metropolitan area, the scholarship ball again saw more than 800 attend and raised over a record $600,000, despite a major winter storm that had moved in during the day. “thanks to our event co-chairs lené westerman and stephen and Joan Charbonneau, we have record sponsorships and record attendance here tonight,” said benedictine College president stephen D. Minnis. emceed by John holt, news anchor at Fox4 television, the night was dedicated to Fr. gerard senecal, osb, former president of the college who recently passed away. this year, the prestigious Cross of the order of st. benedict went to steve ’77 and peggy Mcbride, who are the second generation of Mcbrides to receive the Cross, and Dr. Jim ’77 and linda bongers. bongers surprised ball guests by announcing a million-dollar gift for the science and engineering Center project to renovate westerman hall and upgrade and expand facilities.

A

lexander Del Curto was the final student President Minnis introduced — as the student speaker for the Ball. Guests had already seen Del Curto performing on both guitar and trumpet with a jazz ensemble during the cocktail hour prior to the program. Del Curto, ’15, is the first Air Force ROTC cadet to graduate from Benedictine College. He talked about his desire to serve others and how that was enhanced while on campus.

“In researching colleges, I sought an institution that would train its students in a variety of academic perspectives,” he said.

“I discovered a college in Atchison, Kansas, which strived to follow the example of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, preparing its students to look beyond themselves and live in the service of others.”

Although a talented musician, he is majoring in political science. He chose a more difficult Air Force ROTC program even though he had a full-ride scholarship in another program. He was named a Superior Performer within the national Air Force ROTC program, presented at the Student Conference on u.S. Affairs by the united States Military Academy at West Point, and led his entire unit to a commendation.

As a student, he would often drive two hours to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where he entertained sick children with his musical ability. In a moving ceremony, Del Curto ended the Benedictine College Young Democrats’ tribute on the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s death, November 22, by playing “Taps” on his trumpet. b

service of humanity.

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College Announces Full-Tuition National Merit Scholarships

B

enedictine College is pleased to announce the National Merit Scholarship Program, providing full-tuition scholarships to any National Merit Finalist who is accepted to the school.

The initiative is part of the college’s game-changing strategic plan Benedictine 2020: A Vision for Greatness. Benedictine 2020 makes “attracting and educating America’s future leaders” a key school priority.

When the college began writing Benedictine 2020 five years ago, there were no National Merit Finalists at Benedictine. Today there are 22. The new initiative will attract more. Of the 16,000 semifinalists, only 7,500 eventually receive Merit Scholarship awards, and those are only $2,500, far below the cost of today’s college education.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is just one initiative attracting top students.

Students who receive a perfect ACT score also receive a full-tuition scholarship. Over the past 10 years, the average ACT score of incoming freshmen has increased from 21 to 25, giving Benedictine College the highest average ACT of any college or university in Kansas.

“Because of the peer effect, bringing these high-achieving students to Benedictine College will elevate the level of academic excellence across the board,” said President Stephen D. Minnis. “This scholarship program will take the college to a new level.” b

THE “ONE PERCENT” President Stephen D. Minnis poses in the Laughlin Rotunda in Ferrell Academic Center with some of Benedictine’s 22 National Merit Scholars – the top 1% of high school graduates. The college’s Benedictine 2020 plan instructs the school to attract more merit scholars.

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“You don’t build a house without its foundation.

You don’t build a hospital without its nurses.”

—anonYmous

The

Dehaemers

Endowed Chair of Nursing Robert J. Dehaemers May 6, 1940 – May 28, 2014

RobeRt J. DehaemeRs

robert J. Dehaemers and the first graduating class of nurses in 2012 16

Spring 2015

was a young Vietnam War veteran who wanted to be a nurse.

With close ties to the Benedictines through his cousin, Sister Janelle Maes, OSB ’68, who is a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery, he had longed to go to Benedictine College. At the time, Benedictine did not have a nursing program, so he had to go elsewhere.

Dehaemers never forgot about that missed opportunity and maintained a lifelong desire to bring a nursing program to Benedictine College.

He went on to will his estate to Benedictine College and its nursing program and upon his passing last year, those funds went into the endowment. The college awarded its first nursing degrees in 2012.

During the college’s annual Scholarship Ball, February 28, 2015, Benedictine College President Stephen D. Minnis announced the creation of a new endowed position, the Robert J. Dehaemers Endowed Chair of Nursing.

Lynne m. ConneLLy,

Ph.D., RN, is the first recipient of the Robert J. Dehaemers Chair of Nursing.

She is the current head of the Benedictine College Nursing program.

Dr. Connelly joined Benedictine College in 2010 to help create and launch the new Nursing program.

She has a tremendous amount of clinical and academic teaching experience throughout her career in the U.S. Army and as a member of the faculty at the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

“Education has been a deep commitment of mine for a long time,” Connelly said, explaining that her Master’s degree was focused on nursing education and her minor in the Nursing Ph.D. program was educational psychology.

Connelly served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps for 20 years, retiring as Chief, Department of Nursing Science at the United States Army Medical Department Center and School. During her time in the Army Nurse Corps she also served as a consultant to the (Army) Surgeon General for Nursing Education and Enlisted Training.

She was awarded the “A” Proficiency Designator for Nursing Education while on active duty and was an active member of the Army Nurse Corps senior leadership strategic planning group. Connelly has published over 30 articles in national journals and presented at numerous research conferences. She currently is a manuscript reviewer for Nursing Research and the Journal of Nursing Scholarship. In addition, Dr. Connelly sits on the editorial board of MedSurg Nursing.

“She is a great fit within our mission and is an outstanding leader heading this important department at the college,” said Kimberly Shankman, Dean of Benedictine College. b

President stephen D. Minnis, Dr. Lynne M. Connelly, and s. Janelle Maes, OsB

“DR. ConneLLy’s extensive expeRienCe in pRaCtiCaL nuRsing, LeaDeRship, ReseaRCh anD eDuCation make heR peRfeCt foR this honoR.” Spring 2015

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Accounting for SucceSS Chris glenski, 2013-2014 eduCator of the year, is launChing raven Careers

Accounting professors, Chris Glenski (left) and Kristen Whiteley (right).

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M

ost people tend to run the other way when the subject of accounting comes up. It’s a natural pain-avoidance response. But at Benedictine College, the image of accounting has changed.

When Christine Glenski, chair of the accounting program in the School of Business, gave the Educator of the Year address by proxy at the end of the 2014–2015 academic year, those expectations were turned on their head.

An accounting professor was a favorite of the student body? Accounting could be made interesting, fun, and enjoyable? Accounting could lead to a rewarding career?

Yes, Yes, Yes … and Ravens are practically flocking to the program.

In 2012, Benedictine’s Accounting Program graduated seven majors. In 2013 that went up to 11 majors, and then 14 in 2014. This year, there are 34 accounting majors walking at Commencement.

“The growth has been fantastic,” Glenski said. “Moving forward we already have 18 juniors declared, 25 sophomores declared, and an amazing 29 freshmen declared as accounting majors.”

It is clear the program is enjoying great success. Not only with increasing enrollment, but also in job placement.

“Recent graduates in public accounting have gone to some of the Big 4, like KPMG; Deloitte; and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC); as well as BKD, LLP; RubinBrown; MarksNelson; and TPP, just to name a few,” Glenski said. “In the corporate or private sector, our graduates have positions at Cerner, the Federal Reserve Bank, Cessna, Bank Midwest, Koch Industries, Midwest Grain, BNSF, Mutual of Omaha, and State Street Bank.

So we have success placing our graduates in good positions at great firms.”

“

“

The besT feedback we receive from employers is when They wanT more of our sTudenTs. -Chris glenski

And since the accounting industry works well ahead, Glenski said most accounting majors already have their summer internships set by the beginning of their junior year, and by the end of that year, they usually have fulltime employment set after graduation. She said one testament to the success and rigor of the program is that students are prepared to handle real-world accounting and perform well for their employers.

“The best feedback we receive from employers is when they want more of our students,” said Glenski. “That repeat performance is a good indicator that our students are well prepared.”

Another indicator of preparedness for accountants is the pass rate for the CPA exam. Benedictine students who have chosen public accounting have an extremely high pass rate, nearly 100 percent.

“That again shows the quality of the students and the program,” Glenski said.

All of this is being handled predominantly by two fulltime faculty, Glenski and Kristen Whiteley, with help from Dave Geenens, director of the School of Business.

Glenski has been teaching at the collegiate level for 22 years, beginning at the University of Texas where she earned her Master’s in Professional Accountancy. She taught at DePaul University in Chicago for three years and also taught as an adjunct professor at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, while staying at home to raise three daughters during the day. When she and her husband, Roger, brought the family back to the Midwest, she took an assistant professor job at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. When a position opened up at Benedictine College in 2003, she made the move and is currently finishing her 12th year in Atchison.

Whiteley joined the School of Business in 2013 and has just completed her second year at Benedictine College. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

Upon graduation, she took a position at Arthur Andersen and moved over to KPMG when Andersen closed. From there she moved to the corporate side with Cerner. Prior to coming to Benedictine, Whiteley taught as an adjunct at William Jewell. At Benedictine, she currently teaches Managerial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Federal Income Tax Accounting, and Advanced Accounting II. Despite the success, Glenski would like to do more. She said that students presenting at major conferences helps expose the Benedictine College name, the Accounting Program, and the students to potential employers. She mentioned that the Institute of Management Accountants holds an annual Student Leadership Conference that is beneficial to the students, but is costly, making it difficult for students to attend.

“These conferences are very useful,” Glenski said.

“Students get to network with employers and other students from across the country and they get the Benedictine name out there. That is how we made our initial placements with KPMG and PWC.” With over 100 majors in the pipeline, the future of the Accounting Program at Benedictine College looks secure.

You might say the audit has been completed, and the return on assets for the Accounting Program is extremely high! b

hire benedicTine Share intern and job information by contacting Chris Glenski at: cglenski@benedictine.edu

Spring 2015

19

A WORK OF PURE INSPIRATION

By Rich Bennett, Art Director

SCOTT COX TURNS FRUSTRATION INTO A CREATIVE OUTBURST WITH HIS ORIGINAL PLAY, PAS DE DEUX

I

“ sat down and wrote the initial draft of Pas de Deux in 36 hours straight – no sleep, no breaks,” Scott Cox recalls, “By the time it was done, I was physically and mentally drained. I feel the end result was worth it. It was a work of pure inspiration.”

Cox is chair of the Benedictine College Theatre & Dance Department. He wrote Pas de Deux in the early part of 2009 and premiered it to the public in May 2014, at Benedictine College.

The production was directed by Andrew Hagerty ’14 and starred Clare Nowak ’16 and Will Wright ’15.

At the 48th Annual Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, held in Minneapolis in January 2015, Pas de Deux was one of only five productions asked to perform a scene at the festival and the only one to receive a standing ovation from the attendees. Nowak received an Outstanding Performance Award at the festival for her work as the female lead in the production.

Cox’s inspiration for Pas de Deux was the result of a date night movie he saw with his wife, Amber. The movie was the romantic comedy Last Chance Harvey, starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson.

“The movie was pretty unremarkable,” Cox said, “But there was an interesting subplot between the female lead’s elderly mother and an elderly next-door neighbor that had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it was introduced early in the movie

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Spring 2015

TAKING A BOW. Scott Cox (Center) poses for a group photo with his students during a break at the 48th Annual Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last January. Top: Clare Nowak ’16, and Will Wright ’15, perform in Pas de Deux. and then pretty much ignored for the rest of the film. It was a little frustrating.”

Cox took his frustration with the film and focused it into a creative outburst.

The primary action of Pas de Deux takes place in an eldercare facility, in the room of Adrianna Petrovna (Nowak). Petrovna, a

r

prima ballerina in her youth, is a bedridden octogenarian. The plot revolves around Petrovna, her son and daughter-in-law, and an unanticipated romantic relationship with a fellow resident of the facility (Wright) with a history in entertainment himself.

There are several solo vignettes situated throughout the play, which give the audience back story concerning the characters’ lives and their struggles both past and present.

Cox stated that the play deals with a number of complex themes, the dual-edged sword of freedom, morality, and familial obligations being among them.

“The real struggle in the play is how each character deals with the obligations and expectations life puts upon them and their true desire to live a life of total self-determination without those constraints,” Cox said. “Each character is an artist in their own way and each either embraces or refuses their talents and suffers a cost regardless of which decision they make. They cannot have it all – that is the reality of life.”

Currently Cox has five parties interested in possibly producing Pas de Deux as a professional Actors’ Equity stage show. Cox is enthusiastic about the possibility; “It’s really exciting to see your work come to life on the stage. Andrew Hagerty and the cast did an incredible job here at the college. Seeing the show taken to the next level with age appropriate actors in a professional theatrical setting is the dream of every playwright.” b

DYNAMIC DUET. Clare Nowak and Will Wright sing and dance their way through a series of musical standards during the finale of Scott Cox’s Pas de Deux.

CLARE NOWAK: MUSIC MAJOR WITH A PASSION TO PERFORM C

LARE NOWAK ’16, is no stranger to the stage. With her incredible performance as Princess Winifred in Once Upon A Mattress last April, she has been in 39 plays so far and has no intention of stopping anytime soon.

“I love acting and singing. Performing for audiences is what I love,” Nowak said. “Which is pretty funny because I am actually a very shy person. Performing helps me get out of my shell and interact with people.”

Nowak began acting at the age of 10 after seeing her older sister in a production of C. S. Lewis’ classic The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in her hometown of Arvada, Colo.

Nowak was originally inspired to come to Benedictine College due to its strong music program and authentic Catholic tradition. “I wanted to go to a Catholic college but so many of them didn’t offer a degree in music – or theatre for that matter.

Benedictine had both and after visiting the campus and meeting the faculty, I knew this was the place for me,” Nowak said.

Nowak wasn’t always the leading lady. She remembers, “My first dramatic role at Benedictine College was as an extra in Romeo and Juliet. I had never gone to the type of auditions they have here at Benedictine where you have to have prepared, memorized monologues.”

Fate intervened, however. The actress originally cast as Juliet’s nurse dropped out of the production. Auditions were held for a replacement and this time Clare was ready. She got the part and hasn’t looked back.

“I enjoy any role I get to play. Here at Benedictine College everyone performs every job at some point that is required to put on a play,” said Nowak. “Acting in a play is sometimes the easiest job you can have in a production.”

Nowak won an Outstanding Performance award for her portrayal in Cox’s original play, Pas de Deux, at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in January.

“It was an incredible opportunity to be the first person to play Adrianna in Pas de Deux,” Nowak said. “It was such a terrific role and such a great honor to be recognized for it.”

Nowak has great plans for her upcoming senior year at Benedictine College — but in the meantime she will be working this summer with the Arvada Arts and Humanities Center and then appearing with Scott Cox in a production of The Naked Ape in Kansas City, Mo., this coming July. b

Spring 2015

21

Dr. Charles Sprouse and the Aero Design Team with their RC airplane on Discovery Day, 2015.

Left to Right: Dr. Charles Sprouse, Julia Chahine, Andreas Fritz, Graham Matlock, Bridget Fowler, and Christopher Kujawa.

lesson learned flight engineering and honesty combine in historic first

T

he announcement made it clear: Benedictine College Engineering students had reached second place in the first national Aero Design Competition they ever entered.

Ravens were ecstatic. But then they noticed a slight problem that changed everything.

It turns out the judges had mistakenly entered the Benedictine team’s payload as 2.2 pounds, rather than .22 pounds. Since the higher payload meant a higher score, the discrepancy resulted in a huge bonus for their plane.

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Spring 2015

“I really wanted to keep quiet, but I would have felt terrible about not reporting it,” Graham Matlock said.

It had all started in the Fall semester when Ravens got together to design, build, and fly a small remote-controlled aircraft and enter it in the Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) annual Aero Design Competition against teams from engineering schools from around the world.

“We spent a semester working on getting the project set up, taking care of logistics, securing funds for the substantial travel costs and entry fee, and doing preliminary design work,” said Matlock. He was one of six students who participated, along with Bridget Fowler, Christopher Kujawa, Julia Chahine, Sam Anderson and Andreas Fritz.

But the work lasted longer than the semester.

“Andreas and I spent most of our Christmas Break learning the aerodynamic theories necessary for designing

the aircraft, generating mathematical models, and writing the 30-page design report,” Matlock said.

So it was a moment of great excitement when they learned the work paid off. They were in second place in the competition — besting 19 of the 20 other universities participating in the Micro Class. The decision was based on a 30-page design report, a 10-minute oral presentation, and four scored demonstration flights.

“Before our fourth and final flight on the second day of flight rounds, I was attempting to come up with a strategy for payload-hauling that would benefit our score the most,” said Matlock. “After playing with the numbers, I realized that the score stated on the score sheet was impossible.”

“O ther

teams had wOrked hard and had cOme up with better designs , and it wOuld have been grOssly unfair tO take that recOgnitiOn frOm them . i t wasn ’ t easy tO repOrt it tO the judges , but i’ m happy we did .”

The team took the issue to their faculty advisor, Benedictine College engineering Assistant Professor Dr. Charles Sprouse, and then discussed it with the judges.

After the correction, the Benedictine team moved from second to eighth place.

The group shared their presentation and experiences during Benedictine College’s Discovery Day on April 15.

Lockheed Martin and the Florida Air Museum were host to 75 teams who made the trip for the threeday event. Competition was in three classes: Regular, Advanced, and Micro. Benedictine’s Micro Class competition required teams to carry the heaviest payload possible while simultaneously pursuing the lowest empty weight possible.

There were 20 other teams in the class from across the United States as well as Poland, India, Brazil, and Canada.

In addition to the competition requirements, the students set additional goals. They wanted to keep costs down and build an aircraft capable of carrying a camera.

After producing a monoplane weighing only 115 grams (about ¼ pound), the team headed to Florida for the Aero Design Competition. They were up against other undergraduates and even graduate students from colleges like Saboo Siddik College of Engineering (India), Vellore Institute of Technology (India), Politechnika Poznanska (Poland), Wroclaw University of Technology (Poland), Universidade Federal de Sao Joao del Rei (Brazil), the Georgia Institute of Technology, and other U.S. schools.

The Competition gives engineering students a real-life engineering challenge and even stresses the importance of communication skills.

By drawing attention to the judges’ error, Benedictine students demonstrated there is also a lesson to be learned in business ethics and morals.

And it is, apparently, a lesson Benedictine College has taught them well. b To learn more about Benedictine College’s engineering program and its majors in mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering, go to:

B enedictine . edu /e ngineering

Spring 2015

23

A Major in Transfo Evangelization and Catechesis program launches its first graduates

has been passed down, they are able to grow in their own love of God through Christ.

The new major replaces the Youth Ministry major, but retains the heart of that major, producing students who can work for the Church at the parish level or as missionaries.

“We’ve taken everything we have in the Youth Ministry major and maintained it,” said Sienkiewicz.

Richard White, the Chair of the Theology Department, said the major also works well as a companion major to other disciplines. “This is something we hope that business majors and music majors and science majors will use to learn how to do the work of the New Evangelization in other venues,” he said.

R

avens ready to change the world are graduating with a new major: The Evangelization and Catechesis major.

“I don’t know that there’s any other school in America that provides a major for undergraduates that is based specifically in Evangelization and Catechesis,” said Dr. Jeremy Sienkiewicz (shin-KEH-veech), the professor hired in 2012 to help launch the new major in the Theology Department (pictured above).

“Our whole department helped to put it together,” he said, and described a major that springs from the heart of the college.

“At Benedictine College what we’re really concerned with is transforming the world as Christ came to do, setting the world on fire with the graces that he has provided in his own incarnation,” he said. “Benedictine College in starting this major is really trying to continue the incarnation in the world, and especially here in America.”

He described the two emphases of the major.

“Evangelization is bringing people to Christ and making that first commitment to Jesus. Catechesis is building on that first commitment,” he said. “From that knowledge that

24

Spring 2015

In Line With History Evangelization and Catechesis may not have been a major before 2013, but it has long been an emphasis at Benedictine College.

The mural in Haverty Center shows how the sisters and monks brought the light of Christ to the bluffs of the Missouri River and planted it here through their schools.

More recently, Bishop Andrew Cozzens graduated from Benedictine College in 1991 and was ordained Bishop in December of 2013 — the college’s seventh 21st-century bishop — and now oversees the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

George Weigel wrote about the Fellowship Of Catholic University Students in First Things magazine, saying, “Founded by Curtis Martin [in 1998] at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, FOCUS’s genius is peer-to-peer evangelization and catechesis.”

The college curriculum requirements give pride of place to theology and philosophy, requiring multiple courses in each.

Courses in departments as diverse as English, sociology, political science, economics, and mass communications include encyclicals and other Church documents, in the manner of the New Evangelization.

Benedictine College’s approach has brought recognition

forming the World from both secular sources, such as U.S. News & World Report and Colleges of Distinction Guidebook and religious sources such as The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College and the National Catholic Register’s Catholic Identity College Survey.

The new Evangelization and Catechesis connects the academics of Benedictine College to the practical needs of the Church, drawing on the expertise of Deacon Dana Nearmyer of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan., Evangelization and Faith Formation office.

Student Response “Students love the major,” said Sienkiewicz. “The ones I have had in class have been on fire for everything we have been talking about and are more than excited in taking everything they are learning in class and going out into America to transform it.”

Sydney Giefer is a senior in the program.

“The major attracted me because it is a practical and challenging application of the Gospel,” she said.

“It is less theological theory and more focused on understanding modern man and the personal call to sanctity.”

Giefer is a double-major, with both Theatre and Evangelization and Catechesis. She hopes to work directly as a missionary after college.

She said her two majors complement each other. “I think in many ways, theater mirrors the process of evangelization: building relationships, striving with your community toward a goal that will never be fulfilled in this life, but the next,” she said. “Theatre is paired particularly well with Evangelization and Catechesis.” She hopes to start a theatre project with friends.

Dr. Sienkiewicz, no doubt, approves.

“Students majoring in other things can bring the truth of Christ to the places where they are working,” he said.

“The new evangelization is about going into the culture and transforming it from within.” b

EVANGELIZATION EFFORT Benedictine College is supporting the New Evangelization in many ways.

In April, the fourth annual Symposium for the New Evangelization was held on campus. Renewal Ministries’ Peter Herbeck (left) was one of four keynote speakers along with theologian Father David Meconi, S.J., Donnelly College President Msgr.

Stuart Swetland and R.R. Reno of First Things.

The symposium was called “Influential Joy: Gaudium et Spes to Evangelii Gaudium.” The Institute for Missionary Activity event was inspired by both Pope Francis and the 50th anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council. Each year, the event brings scholars to campus to discuss topics in the New Evangelization.

Spring 2015

25

Global Abbot “The Rule can cover all and hold all together.”

- Abbot Notker Wolf, OSB, PhD 26

Spring 2015

World’s World’s Top Top Benedictine Benedictine Visits Visits Campus Campus

Abbot Notker Wolf meets Brother Placidus (left) and performs with Ruth Krusemark (above).

A

bbot Notker Wolf, OSB, PhD, the Abbot Primate, or head abbot, of the Benedictine Confederation of Congregations, the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict, entertained a large crowd of students, faculty, and community members at Benedictine College February 10, 2015.

His presentation on the globalization of the Rule of St. Benedict was part of the Kremmeter Lecture Series and included a performance of J. S. Bach’s Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude on flute, accompanied on piano by Dr. Ruth Krusemark DMA ’73, Mother Evangelista Kremmeter Professor of Benedictine Traditions and Values and chair of the Benedictine College Music Department.

“I had the privilege on two previous occasions to accompany him on the piano for his flute recitals,” Krusemark said. “I found him to be highly engaging, entertaining, and inspirational. He has a wonderful sense of humor and enjoys talking about his experiences in rock music (He also plays the electric guitar.) and with Benedictines around the world.”

Dr. Krusemark was named to the endowed Kremmeter professorship in 2013. The professorship came with a special fund to allow for campus programming, which she has used to establish the Kremmeter Lecture Series. The Abbot Primate spoke for the inaugural lecture of the new series.

“Yes, the Rule of St. Benedict is global,” Abbot Notker said of the 1,500-year-old guide written by St. Benedict. “You can see it in the many translations. I even found a translation in Japanese, not modern, but from the 19th century.”

Abbot Notker was born in Grönenbach, Bavaria, Germany. He was ordained a priest in 1968 and was appointed as lecturer in philosophy of nature and science at the Benedictine University of Sant’Anselmo in Rome in 1971. In 1977 he was elected Archabbot of St. Ottilien, responsible for mission houses all over the world. In 2000 he was elected the ninth Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation, and re-elected in 2008 and 2012. He has written at least 19 books, his latest concerning the issue of living an environmentally sustainable life.

He explained that stability within the monastic order provided by the Rule has been key to its expansion. The Rule establishes the Benedictine charism and “arranges it so the strong ones find what they are looking for and the weak ones don’t run away.”

“The Rule can cover all and hold all together,” he said.

“You do not enter just an order, you enter a monastic family.

What’s important is the deeper sense of turning your life to Jesus Christ along with your brothers.”

He went on to talk about how the Order spread from Europe, first to South America, then North America and Africa, and finally to Asia. He stressed that it wasn’t just monasteries that were spreading, the monks were building schools and parish churches, so it was much more far-reaching.

Abbot Notker is also interested in interfaith dialogue and currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders. As an ambassador of Catholicism and the Benedictines around the world, he visits Benedictine communities in many countries. He has made many appearances, including several in the People's Republic of China and North Korea, and he noted that the largest Benedictine monastery today is in South Korea. b

Students welcomed Abbot Wolf to campus.

Spring 2015

27

Leader R aven W ins H oRizon a WaRd

foR

C

ommunity, faith and scholarship sum up the mission that has meant success for Benedictine College on campus. But an award-winning alumna teacher says that applying the same mission after graduation can spread success.

Madeline Dierking ’13, was announced as one of the 2015 Kansas Horizon Award winners. The Kansas Horizon Award Program recognizes exemplary teachers who perform their first year in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding.

After graduating from Benedictine College in 2013 with a degree in Elementary Education, Dierking is now a fourth grade teacher at Logan Elementary School in Emporia, Kansas.

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Spring 2015

n eW T eacHeRs

“ThroughouT my firsT year of Teaching, i was consTanTly reminded ThaT i had The mosT imporTanT job in The world — providing

a quality education for each student in my room,” said Dierking. “It is so important to create a climate where students know they contain great gifts and have the potential to make a difference in the world.”

Dierking came to Benedictine College as a transfer student. Her parents, Mark and Connie, are natives of Atchison, Kan., but Dierking is from Palm Harbor, Fla. Dierking credits her success to differentiation, working with students individually to meet their needs.

Her small-group approach is a direct result of her Benedictine College education.

Dr. Matthew Ramsey, Ph.D. ’98 worked closely with Dierking when she was a student and recommended her for the Horizon Award.

“Maddie had the ability to understand that not all kids benefit from one thing,” Ramsey told The Circuit.

“We tend to see our experience and make the assumption that everyone else has that experience.

My natural inclination is to teach the way I learned.”

“Maddie’s got a huge heart,” he said.

“She just has an intrinsic ability to love kids.”

Dierking in turn credits her students.

“The amount of potential they all have is amazing,” Dierking told The Circuit. “They persevere like crazy” despite poverty.

“You hear about kids not having coats or food on the weekends, but to actually see it is another thing,” Dierking said.

“You don’t realize how much teachers do behind the scenes.”

The Education Department’s emphasis on community made the difference, she told The Circuit.

“You’re not going to be a good teacher if you don’t build community,” she said.

Dierking is now in her second year of teaching. During this academic year, she has taken a leadership role for her school as part of a district curriculum team.

She was nominated for the Horizon Award by her principal, Jessica Griffin, Superintendent Theresa Davidson and Vicki Schweinler, executive director for elementary education.

Griffin wrote in the nomination, “Her instruction is mesmerizing. Madeline engages students immediately with rigorous academic tasks.”

2015 HORIZON WINNER

Madeline Dierking ’13

“Madeline has built a stronger relational capacity, used more data-driven instruction, differentiation, and shown more leadership than all first-year teachers I have observed.”

horizon ravens Dierking joins a growing list of Benedictine graduates who have been recipients of the Horizon Award for their first year of teaching.

2010

Megan McMillian Rapp ’08, G ’12

2009

Lisa Twombly ’07

2008

Nichole Congrove Honeywell ’06, G ’10

Schweinler said, “Ms. Dierking has certainly stood out as an exceptional educator in our district.

Recently, she was added as a lead teacher to our district level (curriculum) alignment team. This is virtually unheard of for a first-year teacher to be placed in such a demanding role. She has not only embraced this new role but has excelled at it.” b

Spring 2015

29

A RAven in the

30

Spring 2015

ABC TV series features alumna and her cookie business I

n January of this year, Leah Lomnicki Tutin took the plunge into the Shark Tank.

The 2002 graduate of Benedictine College had co-founded a business that was selected to appear on the popular ABC reality show for entrepreneurs. The company was still in the early stages of development, so she and her business partner, Taya Geiger, headed to Hollywood for the show and national publicity.

Shark Tank is an American reality television series that has been running since 2009 on ABC. It is based on a Japanese show called Dragon’s Den. The show pits aspiring entrepreneur-contestants against each other as they try to win seed money from investor-judges.

“At the time, all you needed to apply (to appear on the show) was a two-sentence summary of your business and a photo of yourself,” Tutin said. “Taya and I were watching it and thought we would be great on the show, so we looked up how to apply and did. We snapped a photo and sent a little note and that was it.”

Amazingly, that, along with their new company, Scratch & Grain Baking Co., landed them on a major network show. After initially being turned down for the 2014 season of Shark Tank, they were invited to participate in the 2015 season.

“I was a little terrified to have people know ‘of me’ and I did have some anxiety about

being on TV,” Tutin said. “However, after it aired I realized that was silly.

I have pride in my business and what it represents, so I feel grateful for all the support I received from the show. Being on TV was great for my business and it was exciting to see my kids react to mom being on TV. They were very proud, which was a great feeling.”

Tutin and Geiger were friends and neighbors in Portland, Oregon, and a bad baking experience with her daughters (now 8 and 6) had given Tutin an idea.

After spending much time and money at the grocery store purchasing all the ingredients to bake cookies from scratch, she ended up with a messy kitchen, way more ingredients than necessary, and a less than satisfactory end product. What if it could be easier, she thought. She went to Geiger, also a mother with young children, and pitched an idea of a kit full of top-quality ingredients, all pre-packaged in just the right quantities to make a perfect batch of cookies every time.

Geiger liked the idea and Scratch & Grain Baking Company (www.scratchandgrain.com) was born.

“We wanted to make homemade baking fun, delicious, easy, and a little healthier,” said Tutin. “As we discussed the concept of the product as well as the vision for the company, we knew it was something that could really happen.”

The pair started testing recipes and

Facing Page: Leah Lomnicki Tutin ’02 (left) and her business partner, Taya Geiger (right).

Spring 2015 31

E LeAh tutin (Left) And business pARtneR tAyA GeiGeR (RiGht) weRe contestAnts on the cRiticALLy-AccLAimed ReALity show shARk tAnk JAnuARy 13, 2015. established a set of cookie kits for chocolate chip, classic sugar, oatmeal raisin, gluten-free chocolate truffle, gluten-free Snicker Doodle, and gluten-free chewy peanut butter. They invested $45,000 from their personal savings and retirement funds and set up an online business, but also started working on getting the product on grocery store shelves.

Although the “Sharks” did not invest in their company, Tutin and Geiger were really after the exposure more than the money. After the Shark Tank appearance, Tutin said the company doubled the previous year’s sales within a few days. Reorders were also up and they were adding more stores to the distribution system.

“I was afraid it might be a quick bump and then sales would fall,” Tutin said. “However, we are continuing to have increased demand and reorders.”

Today, just two years into the venture, Scratch & Grain cookie kits can be found in 48 states and more than 400 grocery stores, including Whole Foods, New Seasons Market, and Albertson’s. The company now has five employees working in a 1,700-square-foot food processing facility with projected 2015 revenue of more than $1 million.

32 Spring 2015

Although not a business major while at Benedictine College — she was a Mass Communications major — Tutin was always a hard worker and was very businessminded. She studied hard and volunteered a lot. In her senior year, she managed the local Gambino’s Pizza restaurant while still holding an internship and maintaining a 3.6 grade point average.

“Benedictine College did teach me to be a nicer person,” she said. “Mary Quinn Baker ’03 encouraged me to volunteer and attend weekly Mass. I learned that there was joy in thanks and serving.”

The company donates five percent of profits back to charity, particularly educational non-profits in the Northwest. Tutin and Geiger thought this was an important part of the business plan from the beginning.

“The business does donate five percent of profits to charity,” Tutin said. “It was important to us that if we are fortunate enough to make a profit that we give back.”

With everything going according to plan and the company growing steadily, it looks like the sky’s the limit for this Raven. b

E

Smart Phones and Smart Basketballs

Raven entrepreneur Davyeon Ross ’00 is counting baskets … and sales.

“

“

If you don’t have the heart, if you don’t have the intensity, if you don’t have the determination to get back up after being knocked down, then you’re not going to make it.

espite success as a software engineer at Sprint after graduation, Davyeon Ross ’00 D wanted more.

Davyeon was an All-American basketball player when he was at Benedictine College. The 6’8” native of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, led the nation in field goal percentage his senior year and graduated with a degree in computer science and minors in business and mathematics.

He landed a position at Sprint before joining a startup consulting firm in 2004 where he caught the entrepreneurial bug.

He went on to use his fascination with new technology, his affinity for athletics, and a true innovative spirit to start his own business delivering NCAA Division I video highlights to media and sports websites. He eventually sold that company and in 2013, started a new venture, ShotTracker, a combination of devices that help

Spring 2015 33

basketball players improve their game.

The new company brought together high–tech computer technology, a software application for smart phones and tablets, and sports.

It was a natural for Ross.

“Athletics positions you for the next phase of life,” he said. “Everything you go through, from being able to work on a team, being able to understand roles and responsibilities, sacrifice … all of those things help make you the professional you will become in the future.”

Ross said he has a large number of athletes involved in his companies, not because they are necessarily sports related, but because he feels athletes are more resilient and can bounce back after defeat, something he said is required in the world of entrepreneurship.

“Entrepreneurship is not easy. It’s not for the weak,” he said. “If you don’t have the heart, if you don’t have the intensity, if you don’t have the determination to get back up after being knocked down, then you’re not going to make it.”

ShotTracker is made of three components: a wrist sensor that fits into a custom lightweight wristband or compression sleeve, a weatherproof sensor that clips to the net, and the ShotTracker Application. The technology is able to ignore nonshooting motions like dribbling and passing, and when a player shoots, the wrist sensor sends a signal that a shot was attempted. Based on the pattern of movement of the net, the net sensor sends a signal indicating if the shot was made or missed. Both signals are sent to the mobile device where the ShotTracker App keeps track of the stats. The wrist sensor and net sensor both charge simultaneously on a custom USB-powered charging station.

The ShotTracker App includes a variety of drills and workouts to help players improve their shooting

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percentage. It also helps identify if they are having problems shooting from a particular area of the court and will help improve that. In addition, the coach’s version of the ShotTracker App lets the coach monitor the team and note improvement, as well as giving the ability to assign specific drills to specific players.

“The ShotTracker has the chance to be the biggest technological advance to hit basketball skill training in a long, long time,” said Ryan Moody ’97, Benedictine’s head men’s basketball coach. “This product allows us as a staff to track the frequency and results of our players in the summer from Atchison no matter where they are. It gives the player instant results and motivation and the staff instant results and accountability with our players.”

Ross recently signed Klay Thompson, shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors, to an endorsement deal. The NBA All-Star will hold a virtual camp using the ShotTracker system and will also comment on player stats within the app, encouraging players and offering challenges.

Ross is well known in the Kansas City entrepreneurial scene. He was honored

by Ingram’s Magazine in Kansas City in its “20 in Their Twenties” feature in 2008 and was honored again in their “40 Under 40” feature this year.

Benedictine College presented him with the Young Alumni Award in 2009.

He has several wonderful memories of his time at Benedictine, but one of the most important is his recollection that, despite his athletic success, he was constantly pushed to concentrate on his academics.

“I remember that Sister Linda (Herndon, OSB) called coach (Joe Brickner) every single time I skipped my computer science class at eight o’clock in the morning,” said Ross. “She and I both knew I needed to go to class to be in the position I’m in right now and I thank her for caring.” b

Davyeon Ross with NBA All–Star guard Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors.

A

RAVENS GO NATIONAL

By Michael Sapenoff, Digital Media Producer

Jonathan Anaekwe Jackie Ziesel

WOMEN'S BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE

F

or the first time in NAIA Women’s Championship history, Benedictine College was able to make their run closer to home at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo. Normally held in Kentucky, the location of this year’s NAIA Women’s tournament allowed the Benedictine College alumni and fans to come out and support the Lady Ravens in large numbers.

“Nationals in Kentucky, where we went before, we had a lot of parents and supporters there, but we have three, four, five times that many here, which was awesome,” said head coach Chad Folsom (pictured below). “To be playing in front of the home crowd and essentially be the home team at the national tournament was exciting.”

Benedictine College used the energy from the “home” crowd when they came out to play Wiley College (Texas) in the first round. The Lady Ravens got out to an early lead before a 13-2 run put Wiley ahead 39-38 going into halftime.

With help from both Kristen Murphy and Chayla Rutledge, the Lady Ravens were able to battle back in the second half, taking their lead to as high as 10 points.

It was a hard fought victory with Wiley refusing to let up until late in the game when the Lady Ravens were able to open up a sizeable lead before eventually closing them out. Benedictine College defeated Wiley College 83-76 to advance to the second round of the tournament for the second time in three years.

Their victory earned them a matchup with No. 1-ranked Freed-Hardeman University.

The 27 wins for the Lady Ravens are the fourth-best single-season win total under head coach Chad Folsom, who has a long history of tournament success. b

The Ravens and Lions traded runs early, with three ties and four lead changes occurring in the first six minutes of the game. FreedHardeman would eventually go on a 15-5 run that gave them a lead they would never relinquish. Benedictine’s Chayla Rutledge (No. 42, top) scored 11 points in the game, while Jordan Kramer (No. 25, above) scored a career-high 16 points in a tremendous effort that saw the Lady Ravens fall to Freed-Hardeman 69-62.

36 Spring 2015

“

KANSAS CITY SHOOT OUT

W

ith the monumental task of returning to the NAIA tournament for the first time in 44 years behind them, the Benedictine College men’s basketball team made it to the tournament in back-to-back years for just the second time in program history.

Their opponent was a 23-9 Montana Western team that came into the tournament as a No. 18 seed.

The game got off to an intense start, with both teams taking an aggressive offensive approach, hoping to claw their way out of the first round to face the overall number one seed, Hope International (Calif.). Benedictine College began the first half by establishing the three-point threat early with threes from Jake Schannuth and Brett Fisher, causing Montana Western to adjust their defense on the fly.

However, the threes would eventually subside, while Montana Western went on a 28-10 run to take a four-point lead into half– time. Early in the second half, the Ravens took back the lead with another three from Brett Fisher, but it was short lived as Montana Western went on a 15-4 run to solidify their lead.

The Ravens never gave up, even pulling to within one point with 3:25 remaining in the game. In the end, Montana Western proved to be too much as the Ravens fell 80-77.

Throughout the entire game, the Benedictine College community was out in force, giving the Ravens the feel of home-court advantage.

The community support during the first round, and throughout the entire season played a pivotal role in the success of the men’s basketball team. b

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The Benedictine College community, and the community of Atchison, and all of our alumni make playing for Benedictine College men's basketball one of the best small college basketball experiences in the country.

Ryan Moody '97, head coach

Spring 2015 37

The new Asher sporTs Complex hosTs iTs firsT seAson of rAven BAseBAll & sofTBAll!

n a sunny Saturday afternoon in March, students, Raven baseball alumni, and families gathered at Olsen Field at the Asher Sports Complex.

David Laughlin took the mound at Laughlin Field on March 7 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. It was the first of a series of firsts for the park.

The first game played saw the Ravens face off against the University of St. Mary. Senior Adam Burns was the first Raven to pitch from the mound.

Sophomore Jacob Kirmer got the first Raven hit, a double that led to him scoring the first run. The Ravens won the game 12-10 over the Spires.

Later that month came the firsts for softball. At the first regularly scheduled game, Mary Asher ’80 threw the first ceremonial pitch, kicking off a dramatic sweep over Tabor College on Saturday, March 21. Benedictine earned a walk-off win, 6-5, in the opener over Tabor and completed the sweep with a 6-2 win in game two.

Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer ’75 said the new facilities have been very popular. “The student-athletes of each sport, as well as the followers and supporters of baseball and softball,” he said, “are extremely proud and grateful for such a magnificent complex.”

President Minnis credited Michael and Marlys Haverty with the vision to build a 300-seat baseball facility alongside the 200-seat softball venue. The stadium is named after Marlys’ father, Kenneth Olsen.

President Minnis also thanked David ’67 and Sherri Laughlin for making the turfed Laughlin Field possible.

“We will be forever grateful to Jim and Pat Asher and their family for this generous investment in Benedictine College’s baseball and softball programs,” said Minnis. b

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Spring 2015

TAKE US OUT TO THE BALL PARKS! Above: The new scoreboard at Olsen Stadium. Right and below: Mary Asher ’80 throws out the first pitch at the softball field. The Asher family donated seven acres of land adjacent to Benedictine College’s Larry Wilcox Stadium, allowing the college to expand to the north. Members of the Asher’s Raven family include James ’74; Martin ’77; John ’80; Mary ’80; Paul ’85; Elizabeth Gruenbacher ’86 and Robert ’89. Bottom, left to right: Michael and Marlys Haverty; Sierra Esau ’16, of Reno, Nev., slides to safety; David Laughlin, ’67, throws the first pitch at Laughlin Field.

S O C I A L

PURPOSE SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTS RAVENS

By Teresa Maly, Online Communications Specialist

I

f a picture is worth 1,000 words, how much is Instagram worth? Benedictine College is using images on social media to stay faithful to the story.

Instagram is a social media network comprised solely of pictures taken with smartphones. Nearly every day, a team of staff and students walk around campus in search of a photographic moment in which students are doing something uniquely “Benedictine.” This can be anything from a group of students enjoying a sandwich and a laugh in the Dining Hall to shots of traditions like the Beanie Banquet or bed races.

“I think the pictures paint a great image of what life is like on campus.” said Paul Seaton ’16. “I really enjoy Benedictine College’s social media and I know that many other students do too.”

Instagram is an emerging social media network, but one that attracts a younger audience. This has given Benedictine College the opportunity to engage with future students, illustrating what the life of a Raven looks like.

The main goal of Benedictine College’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts is to show how the campus community lives the values of community, faith, and scholarship on a daily basis. The Office of Marketing and Communications is devoted to curating content that brings Benedictine College’s traditions and unique story to life. More importantly, it’s a way to bring the values of community, faith, and scholarship to the twenty-first century.

Benedictine College launched a week-long campaign in February called “A Week in the Life of a Raven,”

40 Spring 2015

which documented the day-to-day life of Monica Swingle ’15. Posts included pictures of Monica attending an Ash Wednesday Mass, working on projects in one of her engineering classes, and collaborating on a Student Government Association initiative.

“It was fun to walk through the Dining Hall after the project and have students recognize me from Instagram,” said Monica. “It made me realize how important social media is to communicating with other Ravens, both past and present.”

The Benedictine College Facebook page is the flagship social media channel.

The main objective of the Facebook page is to provide content that followers can use—such as current stories to read and links to event registrations. This year, followers were able to vote for the Grateful Raven Day videos created by students to say “thank you” to benefactors.

“Our alumni have so much enthusiasm for Benedictine College that shines through our social media,” said Amy Pulk Meara ’99, Director of Alumni Relations. “We see this every day when our alumni like, comment, and share our online content.”

The Benedictine College Twitter account is one of the most influential online tools because posts are displayed live in chronological order.

From here, students are able to live tweet events such as the March for Life in Washington, DC. Annie Lind ’18 took pictures and video of the March for Life and posted them. Staff at Benedictine College worked with students at the March for Life to post and repost content to followers. Though the students and staff were thousands of miles away from one another, they were able to weave together the story of the Ravens at the March for Life.

“It was really exciting to be on the ground at the March for Life, posting pictures and videos,” Lind said. “I learned a lot about sharing content live and felt proud to be part of the March for Life and Benedictine College.”

Benedictine’s strategy of staying faithful to the story while providing quality content to its followers is successful.

Benedictine College leads its peer institutions in Facebook and Instagram and has one of the highest number of Twitter followers. The Benedictine College social media channels continue to thrive as followers reciprocate with retweets, comments, and sharing their enthusiasm for upcoming events.

Together, we will move forward, always forward in the digital world. b

Benedictine College Benedictine College January 26 •

Catch the highlights of Benedictine College students' 30th annual trip to March for Life in Washington, D.C., last week.

March for Life 2015 Benedictine College Find out why so many of those who visit decide to spend their college years in our unique community of faith and scholarship.

BENEDICTINE.EDU Like • Comment • Share

WEB benedictine.edu TWITTER @benedictineks FACEBOOK /benedictinecollege INSTAGRAM @benedictineks YOUTUBE /benedictinecollege

SOCIAL MEDIA IS INHERENTLY SOCIAL BECAUSE OF YOU —the individuals who comprise our digital community of faith and scholarship. We appreciate every comment, like, and retweet you share with your social circle. Social media is at its most powerful when its audience engages with the content. In other words, you are the spirit of Benedictine College’s social media—together, we will move forward, always forward in the digital world.

Spring 2015 41

DEfENDiNg tHE CONDEmNED

Ravens Respect Life Recognized for Fight Against the Death Penalty R

avens Respect Life, the Benedictine College student group best known for its work with the annual March for Life, was recently honored by the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty (KCADP) as a community partner for change.

The recognition came at KCADP’s annual Champions for Change Banquet in Topeka in September 2014. Archbishop Joseph Naumann was also honored at the event, which featured “Innocence Row,” a group of five men who had been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death, but were later exonerated.

“We thank the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty for the honor of this recognition, and we look forward to working further with them,” said Laura Peredo ’16, a Business Management major at Benedictine College and the president of Ravens Respect Life.

Ravens Respect Life worked with KCADP on a bill in the Kansas legislature, SB 126, which would abolish the death penalty in the state. The student organization submitted testimony in support of the bill this past January and Peredo spoke at a press conference in the Kansas Capitol Rotunda in March.

“Through our contact with this organization, our eyes have been opened to the importance of life issues across the spectrum from conception until natural death,” Peredo said. “We recognize that although abortion is an egregious and unprecedented attack on human life, innocent lives are taken in other ways in our country. Our hearts are moved with compassion for the innocent lives and we will not remain silent about these issues.”

Catholic opposition to the death penalty has been much in the news recently.

In October, Pope Francis called for an abolition of the death penalty saying “It is impossible to imagine that states today cannot make use of another means than capital punishment to defend peoples’

42 Spring 2015

RAVENS HONORED. Donna Schneweis, Chair of Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, and “Innocence Row” member, Curtis McCarthy, present Laura Peredo, Melissa Ott, and Theresa Ott with the Champions of Change Award recognizing the work Ravens Respect Life has done in furthering the cause to abolish the death penalty in Kansas. lives from an unjust aggressor.” The Pope spoke at a meeting Oct. 23, 2014, with representatives of the International Association of Penal Law. He was referring to Catholic teaching which “does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor,” according to the Catechism (No. 2267). The Catechism adds that “the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity ‘are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.’”

In March, four national Catholic journals: National Catholic Register, National Catholic Reporter, America, and Our Sunday Visitor cosigned a joint editorial urging readers, to “stand with us and say, ‘Capital punishment must end.’”

In April, as accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev stood trial, the Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts asked that he not receive the death penalty if he is convicted.

“The defendant in this case has been neutralized and will never again have the ability to cause harm,” the bishops stated.

“Because of this, we, the Catholic Bishops of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, believe that society can do better than the death penalty.”

In Atchison, the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica are involved in the “For Whom the Bell Tolls” project.

Along with other cathedrals, monasteries, temples, synagogues, and churches in the United States as they keep watch and pray for those involved in capital punishment, marking executions by tolling the Mount’s monastery bell.

The Church is helping change public opinion. Peredo said the gap between those who support the death penalty and those who are opposed to it is the smallest in history. And she said young people need to be consistent in their pro-life stance, which goes beyond the abortion issue.

KCADP is a not-for-profit corporation organized for the purpose of promoting public education concerning capital punishment and disseminating information about the death penalty and the effects of executions. b

Fat h e r G e r a r d S e n e c a l , O . S . B .

Monk’s Life of s ervice Spring 2015 43

F

that in everythinG, GOd may Be GlOriFied. Left: A young Father Gerard lecturing in a physics class. Center: Father Gerard and Renee Long Cella ’87, a Raven Cheerleader, during a varsity football game in the program he helped relaunch at the college. Right: Father Gerard with his younger brother, Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB, in front of the St. Benedict Catholic School sports facility named in his honor. Previous page: Benedictine College President Stephen D. Minnis presents Father Gerard with the 2011 “Do Something Beautiful for God” award.

ather Gerard Senecal, O.S.B. (1929 – 2015), died in the early hours of January 19. His brother, Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B., was able to be with him at the moment of his death.

Father Gerard ’51, president of Benedictine College from 1972 to 1987, received several honors in recent years. In 2011, he was presented the “Do Something Beautiful for God” award from Benedictine College for his work with families in Atchison.

In 2014, he was honored by St. Benedict’s Abbey at the Abbot’s Table dinner, and St. Benedict Catholic School named its sports facility “Fr. Gerard Senecal Gymnasium.”

Speaking to the college student newspaper about his 2011 award, Fr. Gerard reflected on his service as president when St. Benedict’s College and Mount St. Scholastica College merged to form Benedictine College between 1970 and 1971.

“The merger was difficult in the sense that you have a lot of emotional ties to the two former schools,” he said, then pointed out that Benedictine College stayed open as many Catholic schools closed.

“The foundation for success was there,” Fr. Gerard said.

“We want to act like the unabashedly Catholic institution we should be.”

Father Gerard liked to point out that he hired Larry Wilcox, who became the winningest college football coach in Kansas, and that he arranged for Bob Hope to be a commencement speaker at the college.

President Stephen D. Minnis said Fr. Gerard has left a lasting mark on Benedictine College.

“History will find that Fr. Gerard was one of the most influential people in the Abbey’s history,” he said. “He was a talented physics professor at the college — setting the stage for a very strong Physics department.”

44 Spring 2015

Father Gerard then became Benedictine’s longest-serving president, he said, and named two significant achievements for the college. “During his tenure he brought back football as a varsity sport, which was instrumental in preserving the college in the 1980s,” Minnis said. “He then was the Pastor at St. Benedict’s Church for 15 years and brought perpetual adoration to the city.”

Said Minnis, “He was an incredibly smart and hard-working man, and he will be missed.”

“He was one of those towering figures who trusted in Christ and remained faithful in good times and in bad,” a quote from the St. Benedict’s Abbey story of his life. b

thanKS FOr the memOrieS. Fr. Gerard (left) arranged for legendary comedian and entertainer, Bob Hope (center), to deliver the commencment address to the Benedictine College graduating class of 1977. Hope was awarded an honorary “Doctor of Humane Humor” degree from the college during the ceremonies.

The Raven Store

Summer Hours

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Vintage Issue Rocky T–Shirt ONCE A RAVEN, ALWAYS A RAVEN! For the first time, Benedictine College has a t-shirt showcasing the historical graphic timeline of our beloved mascot Rocky on this special edition Vintage Issue Rocky T-shirt!

Spring 2015 45

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Fall HigHligHts

September 26

46 Spring 2015

Dedication of Asher Sports Complex, Olson Stadium, and Laughlin Field Join us Saturday, SEPTEMBER 26, as we dedicate our new baseball and softball facilities

October 9–11

Family Weekend

OCTOBER 9-11, parents and siblings enjoy a great weekend at Benedictine College

October 23–25

Homecoming Weekend

OCTOBER 23-25, don’t miss the parade, bed races, and more