ALUMNI MESSAGE Our turn to share the light within us

Did you know there are more than 750,000 miles of fiber optic cable on the ocean floor connecting our world?

I recently made a career transition to work with some of the world’s leading information technology companies. That pivot has had me reflecting on the engineering breakthroughs that underpin the internet and our daily lives.

From video streaming to artificial intelligence, fiber optic cable is an often unsung hero. Quite literally, no artist or musician is performing timeless ballads extolling the great virtues of fiber. But they absolutely should.

At a basic level, fiber optic cable transmits information as light that travels from a source to a dark, remote location. It is equal parts philosophy and science: Light functions as knowledge within fiber optic networks, just as in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave.”

Likewise, light captures the personal enlightenment that takes place over four years on campus. At Commencement, we take that light with us.

In “The Road,” Cormac McCarthy more ruggedly refers to this as “carrying the fire” — bearing the goodness, knowledge, and humanity we have cultivated at Carthage to a wider, more uncertain world. On the journey, some Firebirds attain such success and repute in their career field that they are eventually referred to as “luminaries” — of, relating to, or characterized by light.

During my tenure as Alumni Council president, I have taken heart in our remarkable community here. We have visionary and capable leadership, a world-class faculty, a bright and ambitious student body, and more than 25,000 committed and accomplished alumni worldwide.

For the past three years, the council has worked steadfastly to strengthen the ties of our community. We helped Carthage weather the COVID-19 pandemic. We added diverse and talented alumni to our ranks from across the country. We implemented a new committeedriven model to expand our impact on issues ranging from student recruitment and retention to alumni engagement and fundraising. And we strove to put equity and inclusion at the heart of our work together.

I want to thank outgoing vice president Ann Gundlach ’14 and chaplain Shebaniah

Muhammad ’98 for their enthusiasm and thoughtful partnership. The progress we made would not have been possible without their dedication and willingness to serve.

Recently, as our terms ended, the Alumni Council chose a new Executive Committee (see pullout box). Each of them possesses a deep passion and commitment for Carthage, so I am thrilled to watch the council’s continued growth under their leadership.

As Carthaginians, the next chapter of our work begins this summer with the launch of a $100 million comprehensive campaign. With our support, Carthage can ensure continued excellence while launching innovative new programs and transforming the lives of future Firebirds through scholarships, financial aid, and funded internship opportunities.

Whether you set foot on campus every day, or if this magazine is your closest link to Carthage, know that you are a part of this community. The next 176 years of our institution — and its vast contributions to our world — rely upon your meaningful engagement and support.

As Carthage once shone upon you, the opportunity is now yours to be a Light That Travels.

Aaron Tinjum ’09 is the outgoing president of the Carthage Alumni Council. He remains eager to connect with Carthage alumni and can be reached at atinjum@carthage.edu.

Alumni Council Elections

In May, the Alumni Council selected its next executive committee:

• Jamin McGinnis ’06 (president),

• Nathan Giebel ’12 (vice president)

• Jaime Fluker ’03 (chaplain)

Other new members are:

• Rachael (Felton) Durie ’18

• Kaela (Munster) Oramas ’10

• Kalen (Kalfahs) Theusch ’79

• Matthew Thome ’17

Council members represent the Alumni Association, which helps alumni stay connected to the College and provides opportunities to give back to Carthage in a variety of ways.

1981

Lena (Steele) Williams – St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, retired after a 33-year career in telecommunications engineering. She attributes her success to the liberal arts education she received at Carthage and the technical foundation from Georgia Tech. Ms. Williams devotes her time to playing tennis and conducting hands-on engineering workshops for children through the nonprofit she founded, Engineers for Tomorrow Outreach.

1982

Dr. Brice Arndt – Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, has been elected chairman of the Pennsylvania Board of Dentistry, which is tasked with governing the dental profession in the commonwealth while protecting the public. He was first appointed to the board in 2019.

1984

Jill (Brehm) George –Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, was honored as 2021-22 Principal of the Year for the South Wisconsin District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Ms. George is the principal at St. Paul’s Lutheran School.

1987

Todd Casell – Plymouth, Minnesota, earned his second master’s degree (a Master of Arts) in 2022, graduating from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Casell teaches students with visual impairments in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

1988

David Maack – Racine, Wisconsin, won third place in the Local Column category of the 2022 Better Newspaper Contest for “Grandpa Time,” which he writes for The Journal Times. The Wisconsin Newspaper Association honored award recipients at a March 24 banquet in Madison.

1992

Christine (Buntrock) Selby – Westfield, Massachusetts, joined the faculty at Springfield College last fall and, in January, became director of the school’s graduate program in athletic counseling. She’s also midway through a three-year term as the Society for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (Division 47) Council representative to the American Psychological Association.