Carthaginian Magazine Summer 2022

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C ARTHAGINIAN A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF CARTHAGE COLLEGE

SUMMER 2022

A guided quest for purpose New initiative helps students pick more than a major

carthage.edu 800-551-1518

Upcoming Events

Find details at: carthage.edu/calendar

Sept. 15

Sept. 23-25

Nov. 4-6

Opening Reception: Mark Space Art Exhibition

Homecoming & Family Weekend

New Play Initiative: Memento Mori

Sept. 22-23

Oct. 6-8

Nov. 12-19

The Aspire Conference

Music Theatre: Hair

Forum: Lincoln, The Press, and Emancipation

Dec. 2-4 Christmas Festival

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

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Become a Carthage Alumni Ambassador

homecoming family weekend &

raise your hand. get involved. make a difference.

Three ways to join the new program:

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Become a Carthage Alumni Ambassador Support the Office of Admissions’ recruiting efforts by reaching out to prospective students and families. Volunteer activities (in-person or virtual) might include: Representing Carthage at college fairs Hosting a reception Interviewing scholarship applicants Chatting with prospective students by phone or email Handing out fee waiver cards We’ll send you 50 business-sized cards with your name and an application fee waiver code. Share them with any high school student who would benefit from a Carthage education.

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Volunteering is a great way to connect with current and future Carthaginians. There is a place for you in the family of Carthage volunteers.

SEPT. 23-25, 2022 Three days of fun for alumni, families, and friends

Match your talents with your passion and leave a lasting impact on the Carthage community.

Everyone who joins the program will receive a decal that shows you’re an Alumni Ambassador.

Homecoming Events • Football game vs. Washington University • Beacon Awards Presentation

Join the Carthage Alumni Presenters Bureau Are you an experienced presenter with field expertise to share? We’re building a database of Carthaginians who are available to speak in the classroom or at networking events.

Become a Carthage Aspire Mentor

• Athletic Hall of Fame Induction • Reunions: Class of 1972 (50th) and Class of 1997 (25th)

To sign up for one (or more) of these three volunteer options, go to

• Firebird Alumni and Family Fair

carthage.edu/alumni-ambassador

• Forever Red Tailgate and Biergarten

or reach out for more info alumnioffice@carthage.edu • 800-551-1518

• Homecoming concert (Treble Choir 40th Anniversary) • Trinity House tent party • Parade, brunch, games, and more!

Help students and your fellow alumni with quick career and life advice. Choose which type of guidance you’re able to provide and how often you’re available.

Register now:

carthage.edu/homecoming

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IN THIS ISSUE Feature Articles

cover story:

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Quest for Purpose A new initiative guides Carthage students to pick a major and much more. .

16 TLE U-Turn Regrouping in Kenosha, dual citizen Alejandra Arcos embraces bilingual teaching.

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NCAA Repeat Carthage wins back-to-back Division III men’s volleyball championships.

20 Art of Destruction Demolition derbies recharge Professor Jojin Van Winkle’s creative battery.

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IN THIS ISSUE Departments

THE CARTHAGINIAN Volume 101, Number 2

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On Campus

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Faculty/Staff Notes

With a $475,000 lead gift, Carthage plans to fortify its mental health services.

Meet the 2022 Distinguished Teaching and Staff award winners.

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175 Years of Carthage

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Commencent 2022

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Anniversary series traces an athletic legacy that values the people behind the statistics.

Meet the Distinguished Alumni Award recipients and see where the latest graduates are headed.

Class Notes LEGO builder Bryce Martin ’10 sets a Guinness World Record on campus.

The Carthaginian is the official magazine of Carthage College, which is raising expectations for a private college experience. Carthage blends the best liberal arts traditions with desirable degree programs, transformative learning opportunities, personal attention from distinguished faculty, and a focus on career development, which makes its graduates competitive in the workforce. Founded in 1847, Carthage is located on an idyllic shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the thriving corridor between Milwaukee and Chicago. For more information, visit: carthage.edu

Carthaginian Editorial Team Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Photographers/Illustrators

Elizabeth Young

Steve Janiak Alexis Greve ’24 Mike Gryniewicz

Managing Editor

Contributing Writers

Mike Moore

Mike Moore Dana Ehrmann ’15 Traci Parker

Design/Art Direction Steve Janiak Kim King ’06

Page From the Past A visual tour spans 145 years of Carthage publications.

Chair of the Board of Trustees

President’s Message

Jeff Hamar ’80

Alumni Message

President John R. Swallow

Corrections A photo in the Winter 2022 issue depicted the wrong Francis Springer. The first president of the College is shown at right.

A class note about alumnus David Maack’s retirement misidentified his class year in the Winter 2022 issue. He graduated in 1988.

Vice President for Advancement Bridget Haggerty

For More Information The Carthaginian Office of Marketing and Communications 2001 Alford Park Drive Kenosha, WI 53140 262-551-6021 • editor@carthage.edu CMYK

Transparent PMS

Update Address/Mailing Preferences carthage.edu/mycontactinfo 800-551-1518 • alumnioffice@carthage.edu

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Carthage: Where practical heroes are made

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n the previous edition of The Carthaginian, celebrating Carthage’s 175th year, I reflected on how this institution’s deep founding purpose — to enlighten the people of the American frontier — has remained true even as we have adapted our education for the needs of society in each generation.

This issue explores a different sort of purpose: the one that guides each student’s life journey. It is fitting, then, for me to connect the two, and to reflect on what they mean for the enlightenment that Carthage continues to shine into the Midwest.

Carthage’s 19th century mission to enlighten the Far West had a narrow focus: educating Lutheran pastors who would, in turn, lead and teach in communities far and wide. The College fulfilled its deep purpose then not only by the work of its faculty and staff, but by the actions of its graduates.

The same can be said today. The question, then, is what is the work of those graduates, if it is no longer mainly to lead Lutheran churches?

First, Carthage has sought since 1870

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to offer curricula that prepare students for a wide range of occupations, all in the service of our belief in Lutheran whole-life vocation. The practical education we offer in diverse fields from business to education to nursing and now engineering, as well as from English to music to theatre, reflects our considered understanding that our society and economy need all of these. Moreover, we know that students are seeking these fields as part of shaping their personal vocation.

The impact of our graduates, therefore, is in the success of their work across so many fields of endeavor, from the arts to the sciences, from small businesses to corporations, from agencies to not-for-profits.

Practically every organization — particularly in the Midwest — needs a Carthage graduate in some capacity to amplify its work for the prosperity of its people and community.

Carthage’s impact, however, does not stop with the workplace — for there are more and still deeper effects. That additional impact has its origin in the liberal arts, seen as practical preparation for that Lutheran sense of whole-life vocation, to serve society.

I put it this way: Our graduates grow into practical heroes needed by their communities. They become that special admixture of independent and dependable, self-reliant and reliable.

They become the ones others seek out for solutions, depend on for guidance, and count on to follow through when the going gets tough.

Whether it is in the workplace, the family, or the house of worship, these are the qualities that communities need — and they are the ways in which Carthaginians, regardless of occupation and personal vocation, live out the mission of our founders.

Once upon a time, our nation had many institutions creating such practical heroes, from the military to the scouts, from church groups to civic organizations to youth sports.

If today some of those institutions struggle to perform our founders’ mission, rest assured that, at Carthage, we carry the flame.

John R. Swallow

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ON CAMPUS

A glimpse of what’s happening in the Carthage community

Moving to normalize mental health care Siklossy Foundation gift fuels fundraising drive Fortifying its commitment to provide mental health care for students who need it, Carthage has secured a substantial gift from the Elinor Siklossy Foundation.

Through her philanthropic foundation, mental health advocate Ellie Siklossy pledged $475,000 over a five-year period. The lead gift enables the College to move ahead with a key component in its strategy: making services more accessible to students by moving the Health and Counseling Center to the main floor of the Todd Wehr Center.

Carthage welcomes additional donations to maximize the care it can provide. In all, the College is seeking to raise nearly $2 million for counseling facilities and long-term staffing.

“We are extremely grateful for donors like Ellie who partner with the College to effect large-scale change,” said Bridget Haggerty, vice president for advancement. “Every contribution to mental health services on campus strengthens our holistic commitment to student success, ensuring we can attend to students’ wellness even as we prepare them academically for life beyond Carthage.”

The center’s new space should offer a quieter atmosphere and more central location than the current one in the N.E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center. The TWC also houses the Center for Student Success, the Engagement and Inclusion Center, student mailboxes, and The Caf. “Relocating the Health and Counseling Center closer to other core services that students regularly use makes our mental health services more visible,” said President John Swallow. “By showing students that going in for a counseling appointment is as normal as meeting with an advisor, we can destigmatize care.”

Increasingly essential Given the 12 years she served as president of the Palm Beach (Florida) County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, no one has to convince Ms. Siklossy mental health is a massive national priority. She emphasizes the three E’s: early, excellent, and enough treatment.

“The brain, like other body organs, sometimes needs treatment to improve its functioning,” she says. “It is smart, sensible, and very important to seek help rapidly for depression, anxiety, and other brainrelated problems.”

The concerning trend is only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In surveys conducted by the American College Health Association, nearly 75% of undergraduate students in fall 2021

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reported moderate or serious psychological distress (up from 69% just two years earlier).

Meeting students’ personal needs is just as vital to Carthage’s own well-being. For years, mental illness has been a primary reason American college students drop out of school.

Rooted in the memorable experiences her son Leon ’95 had as a student, Ms. Siklossy has become a fervent supporter of the College.

She’s confident the campus community can turn the tide in the mental health battle, merging its genuine commitment with expert guidance.

“Carthage is doing something really excellent at the right time,” she said.

Over the past few years, Carthage has ramped up its mental health support with a multi-pronged approach: • In-Person Counseling: The College recently added another fulltime counselor, making on-site services more accessible. Free, short-term counseling is available to students during the academic year, either by appointment or during walk-in hours.

• Teletherapy: Made possible by previous donations, a partnership with telehealth provider Uwill connects students to licensed therapists for help via video, chat, text, or phone. That reduced the typical wait from nine days to one or two days and allowed students to continue receiving care from home during breaks.

• Faculty/Staff Training: More than 140 faculty and staff members have completed the Mental Health First Aid training course, learning how to spot warning signs and direct students to campus and community resources.

The Health and Counseling Center provides holistic care for students’ mental and physical well-being. In addition to counseling staff, the center houses a campus nurse who diagnoses and treats minor illnesses and injuries.

Renovations to the center are underway and should wrap up this fall. The new facility will feature three offices, two exam rooms, and private restrooms.

To make a gift toward Carthage’s mental health initiative, please contact Bridget Haggerty at bhaggerty1@carthage.edu or 262-551-6572. Naming opportunities are available for individual exam rooms or the center as a whole.

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Crosby takes entrepreneurship mainstream Aerospace innovator selected for Hedberg professorship Inspired by the entrepreneurial culture he’s brought to the space sciences program, Carthage has chosen Professor Kevin Crosby to infuse that same spirit of innovation throughout the College as the new Hedberg Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies.

“Most people think of entrepreneurship as starting your own company, which is certainly something we’ll cultivate — and that’s just the starting point,” he said. “Entrepreneurial thinking breeds success for everyone. It’s about having an innovative mindset, solving problems that matter, and creating value in your community.”

Influenced by lessons from his own well-rounded career, the late Donald D. Hedberg ’50 established the faculty endowment in the 1990s with a gift of $1.25 million. Today, that gift supports both the

professorship and related student programming.

“I’m delighted to see Kevin Crosby apply his prodigious skills to increase entrepreneurship among students across the College, in accordance with the Hedberg family’s wishes,” said President John Swallow. “Don Hedberg was an outstanding entrepreneur, and this is yet another way that his legacy at Carthage lives on.”

Prof. Crosby’s work will expand on the blueprint laid out by ScienceWorks, a groundbreaking program that benefited natural science majors for more than 20 years. In tandem with The Aspire Program, he’ll encourage all students — regardless of major — to develop creative solutions to “real world” needs.

Prof. Crosby has been awarded more than $14 million in grants and contracts, and he’s eager to help faculty and students tap into similar venture capital and grant funding. He’ll continue in his roles as director of the Carthage space sciences program and the NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, which is headquartered at the College.

Help the next generation of Firebirds

discover all that carthage has to offer.

Share Carthage with a high school student TODAY! carthage.edu/requestinfo

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ON CAMPUS

BREWED DONATED Bob Collins ’78 and his company, GERSTEL Inc., generously supplied a MultiPurpose Sampler for the chemistry lab. Using the robotic system, students can measure chemical compounds in liquids and gases more efficiently and reliably.

To celebrate Carthage’s new team name and mascot, Matt Geary ’99 created Firebird Ember Ale. Many alums know him as the founder and president of Public Craft Brewing Co. in Kenosha.

COOKED

Based on overwhelming feedback, we chose Pittsburgh-based Parkhurst Dining as our new food service provider. Its inclusive dining approach caters to students with special dietary needs, incorporates global flavors, and relies heavily on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

PARTNERED We’re working with city leaders to develop the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy, a facility that’ll open by next spring in the diverse Uptown neighborhood. On-site staff will give local students access to pre-college advising, financial aid counseling, and college credit programs.

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ENLIGHTENED We welcomed a broad mix of presenters to campus in spring.

To list a few: Rosario Marin Former U.S. Treasurer

Sidik Fofana Writer

Donald Driver Retired NFL star

Lisa Delpit Author, urban educator

Amir Hussain Interfaith scholar

Elyzabeth Wilder Playwright

Oren Cass Conservative policy analyst

Business and Professional Coalition panel Supply chain experts

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Carthage's new mascot, Ember, experienced Giving Day for the first time.

Giving Day 2022: Mini-challenges, full support Befitting this year’s “Blast from the Past” theme, the Carthage community made sure Giving Day 2022 was swell, groovy, hip, rad, gnarly, phat, and fire all at once.

When the annual event came to a close on March 31, the College surpassed fundraising goals for all nine of its mini-challenges. Alumni, parents, and administrators stepped forward as challengers.

Don Wruck ’96, civil trial attorney and founding partner of Wruck Paupore PC, challenged fellow Carthaginians to give toward arts and humanities programming.

Taking Spanish and traveling to Mexico and Europe as a student reshaped his perspective.

“My language skills and understanding of culture diversified which doors would be opened to me,” he said. “I want Carthage students to continue to learn and expand horizons.”

Jeff Waring and Cheryl Stucky, the proud parents of a 2022 computer science graduate, issued a challenge to support students in the natural and social sciences.

“We are firm believers in an education that prioritizes close engagement with accomplished faculty; hands-on research opportunities; and unique complementary programs,” Mr. Waring said. “Our son found these qualities and more at Carthage.”

Overall, Giving Day brought in well over $100,000 for new and ongoing Carthage priorities. Thanks to donors’ generosity, the College reached 90 percent of its participation goal and unlocked an additional $225,000 in a trustee challenge.

President John Swallow leaned into the retro theme, playing Pac-Man against Michele Hancock (Vice President of College Culture for Inclusion) and other online challengers.

To amplify your support, consider becoming a 2023 Giving Day challenger. For details, please contact Heather Zima ’18, associate director of annual giving and donor relations, at hzima@carthage.edu or 262-551-5747.

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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES

Updates on faculty and staff achievements

awards

hires and promotions

Laura Huaracha, associate professor of

Maggie Burk, the newly hired director of

communication and digital media, won the 2021-22 Distinguished Teaching Award. Student nominators praised her for customizing job recommendations to their individual graphic design styles and regularly taking “time out of her own personal schedule to make sure each of her students is both mentally and educationally stable.”

Meggan Mazanet ’10, director of campus events and conferences, received the 2021-22 Distinguished Staff Award. Supporters describe her as a collaborator whose resourcefulness particularly shone during the pandemic. She devised hybrid (in-person and remote) events while chairing the COVID-19 Coordinating Committee.

John Voynovich ’10, M.Ed.’13, webcasting producer, won the 2021-22 Quality of Life Award. He coordinates a packed schedule of live-streamed events, which proved vital when safety precautions limited in-person attendance at athletic events, the Christmas Festival, and even Commencement.

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choral activities, is a passionate choral singer, scholar, and advocate for social justice in the arts. Prof. Burk recently completed the Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan.

Robert Nagel, director of engineering, joined the College in July. He previously taught at James Madison University in Virginia. A portion of Lentz Hall will be converted into lab, classroom, and office space for the thriving Engineering Science major and future Carthage programs.

Jim Padilla, founding dean of the School of Business and Economics, joined Carthage in mid-July after growing a similar business program at Loras College. He’s also an experienced executive in specialty insurance, with Major League Baseball teams, NFL stars, and SONY Recording among his past clients.

Julius Crump, director of equity and inclusion for faculty and academic integration, took on a new role to cultivate inclusive teaching methods, partnerships, and hiring practices. He continues to teach religion classes at Carthage, as well as the general education course Legacies of Race and Racism in the United States.

Bridget Haggerty, vice president for

retirements

advancement, was promoted to lead the team she joined in 2016. Ms. Haggerty has reinvigorated the President’s Leadership Council, evolved donor recognition programs, and engaged alumni through initiatives supporting equity, athletics, wellness, and pre-health advising.

39 YEARS

Endia McWhorter-Robbins, director

Sandie Bisciglia ’94, assistant professor of religion and women’s and gender studies

of equity and inclusion for student engagement, was hired to coordinate existing studentfocused DEI programs and develop new ones as needed.

Her educational career has been devoted to addressing inequities, both as a teacher and a counselor.

Tami Villup, mailroom coordinator

35 YEARS Amy Haines, associate professor of music

30 YEARS Jim Lochtefeld, professor of religion and Asian studies

27 YEARS

24 YEARS Jacquie May, administrative assistant and budget manager – Athletic Department

16 YEARS Diane Levesque, associate professor of art Dennis Munk, professor of psychological science and education

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Rebekah Johnson, assistant professor of

Colleen O’Brien, associate professor of management and marketing

exercise and sport science, gave a presentation at the 2022 SHAPE America convention in New Orleans that centered on the implementation of a new teacher assessment in physical education programs.

Walter Smith, assistant professor of chemistry

12 YEARS Josie Kick, administrative assistant – Education Department

tenure The Board of Trustees approved tenure for these faculty members, which will take effect this fall: Shannon Brennan, associate professor of English Erik Johnson, associate professor of economics Jun Wang associate professor of education

Allen Klingenberg, adjunct faculty in mathematics, and students from his Statistics course analyzed data and designed a research paper for an Oregon professor’s self-study of potential grading bias. The paper won an award at the Global Conference on Business and Finance in Hawaii this past January.

Diane Levesque, associate professor of art, is highlighted in a newly published book: “The Creative Space: The History of Wisconsin Art.” The book recognizes works by more than 500 Wisconsin artists.

Janet Levey, associate professor of nursing,

Melissa Burwell, director of the Center for Student Success, and Eli Marten, student success advisor, led a workshop May 16 at the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association conference. Ms. Burwell was also selected to serve on a new committee of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Steve Henle, assistant professor of neuroscience, and collaborators published research in the journal Cell Reports. Their paper explores the Fat3 protein’s role in eye development, a line of study that could contribute to potential treatments for blindness.

Matthew Hougland, assistant professor of music, started the summer by reprising his role as music director for the national tour of “Spamilton,” a parody of classic and contemporary Broadway hits. He then headed to northern Europe to continue working as a vocal director for Celebrity Cruises.

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delivered a podium presentation in July at the Sigma Theta Tau International Research Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland. Prof. Levey developed a tool to measure perceptions of universal educational design, as well as social support for it.

A research article by Carthage faculty members

Paul Martino (Biology), Justin Miller (Biology), Daniel Miller (Neuroscience),

and external collaborators was republished in the e-book “Horizon 2030: Innovative Applications of Heart Rate Variability.” The findings represent five years of student-driven research into the effects of mild respiratory stress.

Mark Mrowiec, assistant professor of management and marketing, and a collaborator presented their research March 5 at a conference of the Society for Consumer Psychology. His work focuses on consumers’ perception of the fairness of personalized pricing.

Melanie Nyhof, assistant professor of psychological science, received a grant to further examine people’s concepts of death in Indonesia. The new funding comes from the International Research Network for the Study of Science & Belief in Society.

During a research trip to Puerto Rico, Prof. Nyhof co-presented early findings about religion’s role in response to crises in the territory.

Colleen O’Brien, professor of management and marketing, co-presented “The Search for AI-Enabled Virtual Agent Value” at the Frontiers in Service Conference in Boston. The gathering took place June 24-26.

Thomas Powers, associate professor of political science, received an Outstanding Pre-Law Advisor Award from Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.

Prof. Powers also gave multiple presentations on the anti-discrimination movement in American politics.

Nancy Reese, director of nursing, was selected for an immersive 13-month leadership program that the American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers to new nursing deans and chief academic officers.

Carolyn Serdar, interim executive director of career and professional development, was elected to a two-year term as president of Wisconsin Private Colleges Career Consortium. Members from the state’s 20-plus private institutions share career service resources and ideas.

Richard Sjoerdsma, professor emeritus of music, accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Teachers of Singing in July at the group’s conference in Chicago.

After 22 years as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Singing, he plans to step down at the end of the 2022-23 publication cycle.

Dennis Munk, professor of psychological science and education, was the faculty recipient of Carthage’s inaugural Mental Health Advocate Award from the Health and Counseling Center.

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Summer Carthaginian 2022

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back to back

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Repeat NCAA men’s volleyball title cements Firebirds’ elite status

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his settles it: The first time was no fluke.

Carthage repeated as the NCAA Division III men’s volleyball champion this past spring, beating top-ranked Springfield (Massachusetts) College to secure the title.

To head coach JW Kieckhefer, the second one tasted even sweeter than the first.

Sure, he understands the significance of last year’s historic achievement. By winning Carthage’s first national championship in any team sport, the 2021 Firebirds etched their place in campus lore.

But consider the circumstances: Instead of an empty arena hundreds of miles away, the 2022 Firebirds got to seal the deal in front of a fired-up home crowd. Carthage hosted the Final Four, smashing the attendance record as an estimated 4,200 fans packed Tarble Arena over two days of competition.

In a sense, by going back-to-back, this year’s squad got two trophies for the price of one.

The second title affirmed the legitimacy of the first, erasing an asterisk that others in volleyball circles had unfairly attached to it.

“Plenty of people told us, ‘It was a COVID year. That one didn’t count,’” Coach Kieckhefer said. “To do it this way against a team everybody else thought was the best team in the country … nobody can take this away from us and pretend it wasn’t real.”

early obstacles Unlike last season’s unit, which steamrolled to an undefeated season, the 2022 Firebirds

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ATHLETICS

had to muster some resiliency. After opening the season with three straight losses, they recovered to sweep their final 24 matches.

The biggest one came against the biggest name in D-III men’s volleyball. Springfield has built something of a dynasty, winning 11 national championships — most recently in 2018, the first time the Carthage campus welcomed the Final Four.

This time, the host Firebirds refused to let someone else cut down the net, humbling the Pride in four sets April 23. Taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 disruptions, outside hitter Matt Slivinski ’22 repeated as NCAA tournament MVP. The players got to share the moment with plenty of familiar faces. President John Swallow covered the admission cost for all Carthage students who turned out to support the home team.

Three other holdovers from the 2021 championship squad joined Matt on the AllAmerica first team: middle blocker Zach Bulthuis ’23, libero Kyle Cohan ’22, and setter Gene McNulty ’24. Among the reinforcements, middle blocker David Markes ’24 was voted Newcomer of the Year.

The accolades spread beyond the volleyball court. Zach became Carthage’s first-ever recipient of the Elite 90 Award, which the NCAA presents for true excellence in both athletics and academics.

As a triple major (mathematics, finance, and datat science) with a 4.0 GPA, he has plenty of commitments to balance.

“Nevertheless, when that final ball was hit out of bounds and that relief set in, at that moment, everything the team and I had done to get to that point became worth it,” Zach said. “The amount of hard work and determination that I saw throughout the year within our team and coaches justified the struggles that we faced all year long.”

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clutch throw brings shot put title The Firebirds put a bow on a successful spring, adding an individual national championship when Joseph White ’24 won the shot put at the NCAA Division III outdoor track and field meet.

Sitting in second place going into his final attempt May 27 in Geneva, Ohio, Joseph surged past the previous year’s winner with a throw of 17.85 meters.

“He has had a historic year, and to close it with a national title is super-fitting,” said head coach Josh Henry. “He has worked incredibly hard for this moment, and to have the confidence to step in the ring and win a title on his final throw is incredible.”

Joseph was the only student-athlete in the nation to qualify for the national meet in all three throwing events: shot put, discus, and hammer. His was the sixth individual event title in the history of the Carthage men’s track and field program.

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Throwback collection now available

Continuing the celebration of Carthage’s 175th anniversary, we’re offering a collection of throwback T-shirts, hoodies, phone accessories, and more for purchase on Amazon.

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ATHLETICS Women’s Bowling

Freshman takes CCIW honor

Esports team levels up quickly Beginner’s luck? As well as the Carthage esports team’s debut season went, we can safely call it beginner’s skill.

In their first season of esports competition, the Firebirds made the NECC playoffs in all five games: Rocket League, Overwatch, League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, and Valorant.

“Converting a group of students with multiple majors, extremely diverse backgrounds, and obligations outside of school into a team was no easy task, but their resiliency shined through,” said Kevin Palmer, director of esports. “They were able to accomplish far more than anyone could have expected.”

Most notably, the Firebirds’ B team in League of Legends came within a single game of winning the national championship. All three Carthage entries qualified for the national tournament in Rocket League, led by the A team’s run to the Final Four.

The spring 2022 esports roster comprised 42 student-athletes, a number that’s likely to grow. Mr. Palmer plans to form additional teams in other popular games, including chess.

“I look forward to this fall, when our first recruiting class comes in and we take another shot at becoming conference and national champions,” he said.

One possible talent pool? Service members. To ease the transition to civilian life, Carthage created a grant program that awards $2,000 per year to each American military veteran who enrolls full time and earns a spot on the varsity esports team.

Mr. Palmer, who served in the U.S. Army, notes that gaming is extremely popular in the armed forces — both for fun and as part of recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“When I was transferring from active duty to the U.S. Reserves, I found myself lost at times and didn’t have a lot of guidance or support during that time,” he said. “Creating a culture that is structured and supportive is huge for veterans who are transitioning their life and trying to find what they want to do next.”

To learn more about competitive esports at Carthage, visit: athletics.carthage.edu/esports

The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selected Caitlin Powers ’25 as Bowling Student-Athlete of the Year. Caitlin ranked in the top five in several categories among conference bowlers, including overall scoring average, strike percentage, and 10th frame scoring. She took fourth individually during the CCIW regular-season tournament.

Women’s Golf

Returns to NCAA tourney The women’s golf team advanced to the NCAA Division III championships in May, the program’s first appearance since 2015.

The Firebirds placed 18th out of 29 teams at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, capping a season in which they averaged an all-time Carthage low 313.04 strokes. Kate Munro ’22 had eight top-10 finishes, while Adrienne Rohwedder ’23 won three individual medalist honors.

Men’s Swimming and Diving

Mages caps stellar career Mitchell Mages ’22 was named the CCIW Student-Athlete of the Year in men’s swimming and diving. The senior helped the Firebirds to their fifth conference championship, winning three individual events and contributing to three victorious relays in the meet. He earned All-America honorable mention in the 100-yard breaststroke, concluding his Carthage career as a five-time All-American.

All Sports

Golf outing raises nearly $100K The 2022 Firebird Classic, the annual fundraising golf outing for Carthage Athletics, brought in $92,500 to support the College’s 28 varsity teams and the student-athlete experience. Presented by The winners Palmen Auto Stores, the 47th annual event welcomed 145 golfers to The Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha on June 27. The winning foursome consisted of Fred Petersen ’81, Jan Dyke ’95, Todd Manteufel ’98, and Joe O’Brien.

promotions and hires • J ake Calhoun was promoted to head coach for women’s wrestling in June after one season as a graduate assistant at Carthage and 12 years of D-III coaching overall. Alberto Quiros, who coached both wrestling teams the past two years, will focus on men’s wrestling.

• Paul Leese was hired as men’s soccer head coach in February. He has nearly 20 years of collegiate coaching experience at the D-I and D-II levels. carthage.edu

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A well-deserved vocation First home-grown Target Language Expert embraces teaching after academic U-turn

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hree years into an engineering program in Mexico, Alejandra Arcos ’19, M.Ed. ’21, came to a frightening realization: All of the talent and passion she brought to architectural design might not be enough.

What if I make a bad calculation that causes a structural collapse?

The prospect haunted her enough that it became a deal-breaker.

On to Plan B, the dual U.S. and Mexican citizen returned to Kenosha, the city where she spent roughly half of her childhood. Resuming her studies at Carthage in 2017, she intended to major in graphic design and, thus, preserve a fragment of her architectural dream.

That soon gave way to Plan C. Through some fateful connections, Ms. Arcos discovered a surprisingly strong pull toward teaching.

The abrupt U-turns caught her inner circle off-guard. Midstream academic changes are less common in Mexico, where the educational system often prompts students to commit to a career track as early as age 16.

Abandoning those accumulated credits at the Superior Institute of Technology of Ciudad Hidalgo seemed especially out of character for a “super-scheduler” like Ms. Arcos.

“All of my friends told me my decisions were very radical,” she admits.

Nope, just methodical. Her normal pace is everyone else’s accelerated.

Taking courses year-round here to speed the process along, Ms. Arcos earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and then stuck around to teach it as a Target Language Expert. She’s the first Carthage undergraduate alum ever accepted into the College’s own 33-year-old graduate program.

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After a whirlwind five years, she left campus in May with two degrees, an armful of teaching certifications, zero student debt, and a newfound mission in life.

“She did everything right,” says Professor Emeritus Ed Montanaro, who directed the TLE program for more than a decade until retiring in 2020. “It was probably the most complicated arrangement we ever made, and it all worked flawlessly.”

a distinctive program What’s now called the Target Language Expert program began in 1989, developed by the late Irene Kraemer (then associate dean and chair of the Modern Languages Department) and championed by former Carthage first lady Barbara Campbell. Graduate students from targeted countries are brought in to teach introductory courses while pursuing advanced degrees.

Within the five foreign languages Carthage offers, the TLE program exposes students to a range of dialects and backgrounds.

For example, faculty hire Spanish instructors from different parts of Latin America and French teachers from Africa and Quebec — not just Spain and France.

In any beginning language class, there’s a segment of students who show up grudgingly to check off a requirement and nothing more. Young and creative, TLEs hook them with fun cultural stuff from their homeland: movies, music, comic books, even food. The vocabulary lessons go down easier after that.

The program’s founder envisioned that kind of authenticity.

Raised in Paris, Prof. Kraemer knew the visitors would bring much more to the classroom than an accent.

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“For her, language was culture,” says Marian Rothstein, a professor emerita of modern languages who directed the program for more than 15 years.

Rather than recruiting through mass advertising, the department relies mainly on personal recommendations from faculty members, alumni of the program, and trusted partners. Prof. Montanaro insists the process is “more orderly than it looks.”

Schools commonly use graduate assistants to teach intro classes, but Carthage faculty see a couple of unique elements to this program. For an international student with grad school ambitions, it’s hard to beat the cost.

“You don’t need a dime to do this,” says Prof. Montanaro. “All you have to do is get to O’Hare or Midway airport.”

TLEs typically make a two-year commitment to teach at Carthage.

In exchange, each receives a free private room and meal plan, a small yearly stipend, and the big attraction: free graduate tuition.

Most take courses toward the M.Ed. degree, although 2022 graduate Franco Basili of Argentina arranged an alternate course of study in the Master of Music program.

Another distinctive feature: They’re fully immersed Carthaginians who share an office, live on campus in Swenson Hall, and sometimes lead J-Term study tours.

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“I don’t know of many other places that have the combination of people who live on campus and not only teach courses, but also make a substantial contribution to campus culture while earning their graduate degrees,” says Professor Greg Baer, the current TLE director.

Plenty of personal milestones can be traced back to those years on campus, as well. Faculty receive a surprising number of wedding notices from alumni couples who met as TLEs. “Sometimes I thought I was the captain of ‘The Love Boat’,” jokes Prof. Montanaro.

Graduates of the program fan out in all directions. Some go on to teach at universities where the atmosphere is more cutthroat than collegial.

“Looking back, they refer to Carthage as ‘the life,’” says Prof.

Montanaro. “It’s a gentle introduction to U.S. educational culture.”

a rousing restart The oldest of four siblings, Alejandra Arcos was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in Kenosha. She mastered English while attending elementary and middle schools in the city.

Heading out of town on Alford Park Drive, she’d stare out the passenger window at the pretty Carthage campus. Had she stuck to

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tle tracker the original plan, the school probably would’ve remained a mystery forever.

“I never thought when I was little that I would walk the stage from here,” she says.

When she finally did enroll — technically as an international student — Ms. Arcos quickly found her footing. Assigned to clean Hedberg Library while working as an Environmental Services technician, she got to know seemingly everyone on the faculty roster.

Teaching wasn’t even a consideration at first. Her faculty advisor saw it before she did. After seeing her strengths up close, both in advising sessions and on a J-Term study tour to China, Prof.

Montanaro encouraged Ms. Arcos to check out the Target Language Expert program.

Paula Ruiz Santamaria, M.Ed. ’20, then a Carthage TLE from Spain, befriended the curious undergrad and invited her to sit in on a couple of Spanish classes. That’s all it took. A teacher was born.

There’s a natural acclimation period as new TLEs try to make sense of their hybrid role as instructors and graduate students. On top of that, Ms. Arcos taught part-time at a private elementary school in town, which solidified a more specific passion.

“I really enjoy connecting with kids who are bilingual,” Ms. Arcos says. “I used to be that student when I came here to Kenosha.”

She feels strongly that it’s healthier for students to embrace their heritage than to hide it. That can start small, like saying tor-TEE-ya rather than purposely mispronouncing tor-TIL-la to blend in.

Bulldozing through the Master of Education program, Ms. Arcos graduated early with summa cum laude honors. Entering the final semester of her Carthage teaching duties, she filled the gap by taking interior design classes at a nearby technical college.

Second-guessing? Hardly. You can activate backup plans without renouncing everything you loved about the first one.

Plan C landed Ms. Arcos a job as a first-grade teacher at EBSOLA Dual Language in Kenosha. To secure the necessary (Bilingual) teaching license, she’ll need to make an encore as a Carthage student.

“It has been lovely,” she says. “This experience has opened my eyes to a lot of things.”

When the ones doing the teaching and the ones doing the learning both emerge with a changed outlook, it’s a clear sign that the TLE program is going according to plan.

“It was an inspired idea,” says Prof. Montanaro. “Over time, the College smoothed out the rough edges, and it’s been a real asset.”

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Where do Target Language Experts go after Carthage? Here are the latest destinations for just a few of the program’s alumni: JAPAN Midori Iwamoto, 2021 Madison, Wis. Ph.D. student – UW-Madison

CHINA Long He, 2017 Ames, Iowa Ph.D. student – Iowa State SPAIN Luis Diaz Perez, 2015 Shanghai, China English and Spanish teacher GERMANY Ramona Kreis, 2012 Morgantown, W. Va. Visiting Assistant Professor – University of West Virginia GERMANY Paul Szkoc, 2005 Jawor, Poland Director of Battery Production – MercedesBenz Manufacturing COLOMBIA Harold Castañeda-Peña, 1997 Bogotá, Colombia Associate Professor – Doctorado Interinstitucional en Educación FRANCE Sabine Loucif, 1991 Hempstead, N.Y. Professor – Hofstra University

COLOMBIA Marleny Perdomo, 1991 Arlington, Va. Principal – Escuela Key Elementary

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SHOW YOUR

PRIDE!

Barnes & Noble at Carthage is the official campus bookstore.

Find Carthage apparel and souvenirs, reading or textbooks, and an assortment of gifts and gift cards, in addition to all of your supply needs!

Visit us in the Campbell Student Union or online at

carthage.bncollege.com 262-551-5778 • 800-551-6202 • 2001 Alford Park Drive • Kenosha, WI 53140

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The Art of Destruction Demolition derbies recharge professor’s creative battery

Professor Jojin Van Winkle won awards for screenwriting and photography in June at the Cowpokes Film Festival in Electra, Texas.

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When Jojin Van Winkle felt lost in her creative life, the concept of destruction helped the Carthage assistant professor of art find herself again.

The filmmaker, visual artist, and writer had recently finished work on two highly successful documentaries, as the U.S.-based cinematographer for the PBS/Independent Lens film “In the Shadow of Ebola” and an associate producer (with additional cinematography) for “The Land Beneath Our Feet,” a film about Liberian land rights. Once those concluded, she had nothing else lined up.

Her artistic practice has always focused on the journey rather than a particular outcome. So Prof. Van Winkle ventured out one day, armed only with her camera and the intention to experience something new.

She happened upon a demolition derby, and it delivered. It became the basis for her award-winning multimedia work, “The Destruction Project.”

If you haven’t seen a demo derby, the drivers deliberately crash their cars into one another to see whose junker can be the last one running. They’re especially popular at county fairs and festivals in rural areas.

She quickly became enthralled with the derby spectacle, calling it “fun, absurd, dangerous, and comical” all at once.

The intense culture reminded her of artists and their work.

“These people feel an obsession, a need to participate,” says Prof. Van Winkle, who grew up in rural Indiana. “They spend so much time and energy building up their cars that may just end up destroyed in 30 seconds. All they can do is have faith in their work.”

A multi-channel installation emerged, featuring demo derbies in Wisconsin and Illinois, other automotive scenes,

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scrap shots In the first phase of "The Destruction Project," Prof. Van Winkle depicted the entertaining side of destruction. She took a particular interest in demolition derbies, popular with both adults and kids.

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and interviews with rural women. Exploring destruction as entertainment, it’s the beginning of a multi-phase project.

Since its debut at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art in October 2020, “The Destruction Project” has been accepted to film festivals in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Rome, and elsewhere. Both the 15-minute experimental film and the associated still photos have earned international recognition.

emerging programs Wedding photographer. Finger painting teacher to toddlers. Public art creator. None of those previous gigs influenced Prof. Van Winkle’s creative practice as much as her work at the College has.

“My journey as an artist is absolutely tied to my growth as an educator at Carthage,” she says. “The question I’m navigating now is, ‘How do I bridge my practice with scholarship?’”

In 2018, only a few weeks after joining the faculty, she spearheaded a proposal to add minors in photography as well as film and new media.

Offered since fall 2020, the two minors are “meant to provide lots of choices,” says Prof. Van Winkle, who directs the combined program.

Courses go beyond the traditional broad strokes.

For example, photography minors can now take courses on both darkroom and digital photography, as well as a related history course.

Film and new media minors can gain exposure to virtual and augmented reality and 3D printing.

Through a partnership with the Computer Science Department, students in the program can even learn coding.

Prof. Van Winkle supplements courses with a robust schedule of hands-on programs, like the workshop she secured with photography

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giant Canon last year. Representatives arrived with more than $100,000 worth of equipment in tow so students could experiment with optics and try out the newest camera with stereoscopic imagery capacity.

In addition, she’s teaming with colleagues to make student photography more visible on campus. A new gallery opened in the Ehrler Hospitality Center (a community space in the A.F. Siebert Chapel building), and Nigerian cultural photos taken by Azubuike Whigham ’23 adorn the walls of the Engagement and Inclusion Center.

Intent on providing an inclusive educational environment, Prof. Van Winkle serves on the College’s Equity and Inclusion Committee. She’s also an ARISE equity coach, leading freshmen on a two-semester personal and relational journey known as the Anti-Racism and Intercultural Seminar Experience.

Corinne Ness, dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities, calls Prof. Van Winkle a “grower” of students.

“Jojin sees their strengths and looks for opportunities to explore and bolster them,”

Prof. Van Winkle directs a pair of new Carthage academic programs: photography, as well as film and new media.

A robust schedule lets students gain hands-on experience both on and off campus.

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says Prof. Ness. “She always looks for ways to engage students in creative projects that elevate the Carthage experience while also elevating student learning.”

artistic growth Exploring diversity of lifestyles and settings has been integral to Prof. Van Winkle’s growth as an artist, too, starting with a stint in Germany as a high school exchange student.

She’s completed in-person artist residencies in places like Pittsburgh; Charleston, South Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; and Haukijärvi, Finland. Artist residencies provide space and time for artists to create and connect globally with other makers. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, her more recent residencies have taken place virtually.

Artistically, Prof. Van Winkle continues to branch out. Her first screenplay, “Tanked,” won top awards in Iceland and Texas and made the semifinals in the Londonbased Frances Bell Film Screenwriting Competition — one of 20 scripts to be chosen from 1,200 submissions.

This summer, Prof. Van Winkle is conducting research at Earthship Biotecture Academy, which focuses on self-reliant housing and sustainable living in the arid landscape of Taos, New Mexico. She hopes this experience will inform her ongoing creative practice, extending its hands-on building and mindful principles into her life and teaching.

She’s also been selected for a 2022 artist fellowship through the Racine Art Museum, just north of the Carthage campus. Her

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upcoming solo exhibition will circle back for the second phase in “The Destruction Project.”

The RAM fellowship will focus on resilience, a theme that naturally follows destruction. Prof. Van Winkle recently received her maternal grandmother’s 1950s stereoscopic film camera, and she plans to use special lenses like that to capture images of resilient landscapes and dreamscapes.

“Growing up on a farm in Missouri, my grandmother had an eighth-grade education. She didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, but she was an avid lifelong learner with a keen eye for photographing clouds with her Brownie camera,” says the professor. “I didn’t know she also used a stereoscopic camera until very recently.”

In contrast to the wreckage depicted in her portfolio, Prof. Van Winkle’s teaching is unfailingly constructive.

She aims to provide students with the tools and the experiences to “follow their noses,” pursuing whatever excites them and connects them to their interests and communities. Just like she has.

“I’ve found that art has a lot to do with listening — to others, but even more to yourself.”

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People 3, Statistics 0 Athletic legacy values the humans behind the touchdowns

To celebrate 175 years since Carthage’s founding, each 2022 issue of The Carthaginian examines some of the multi-generational connections that have fueled the College’s lasting success.

D

uring her four years as equipment manager, Liz DeFelice ’05 felt just as much a part of the Carthage football program as the starting quarterback.

She was here for the memorable 2004 season, when the squad reached the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. But the guy leading the program left an imprint on her that far outlasted the victory celebrations.

The late Tim Rucks ’83 took a genuine interest in everyone, no matter where they stood on the depth chart — or off it entirely, in this case. When life got difficult, Coach Rucks persuaded Ms. DeFelice to keep going.

“You could go into his office and talk to him at any time about anything,” she recalls.

Unsure what to do after graduation, Ms. DeFelice dreaded giving up her job with the Athletic Department.

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Using his connections, Coach Rucks showed she could make a career out of it.

“He came to my graduation party. What head coach does that for the equipment manager?” she says, still amazed 17 years later.

As director of equipment operations for Temple University, an NCAA Division I program in Philadelphia, Ms. DeFelice continually tries to replicate the culture Coach Rucks instilled.

“In every equipment room I have been a part of, I have tried to make it a family-like atmosphere like he showed me when I first started working with the football team,” she says. “Even among all the athletes I deal with day in and day out, I try to build relationships — not treat them as just numbers.”

After a brief pro career as an offensive lineman, Coach Rucks turned around the football program at North Park University before returning to his alma mater in 1995.

Espousing the acronym ACE — attitude, character, and enthusiasm — the “gentle giant” was known for

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In memory of Tim Rucks '83, the Staff Council at Carthage created note cards to encourage handwritten notes like he wrote daily. The acronym ACE represents Attitude, Character, and Enthusiasm, the attributes Coach Rucks valued most.

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his upbeat, handwritten notes.

Coach Rucks rejected the hurried, down-to-business culture, starting conversations by asking for personal updates.

That was just one of many lessons Coach Rucks adopted from his own Carthage coach and mentor: the late Art Keller ’44. They began many days with a 15-minute chat and plenty of laughter.

After several years at Carthage High School in western Illinois, Coach Keller moved across town in 1952 to direct the athletic program and coach at the College. As he later joked to his family, he almost turned around and went back after only 19 players — mostly Korean War veterans — showed up for the

first day of practice.

Thankfully, he stuck with it. In 31 years, Coach Keller’s football teams won 177 games and eight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles.

“No matter what your talent was, he’d try to work with it,” says his daughter Sharon (Keller) Matusevicius ’70.

A devout Christian, he could be brutally honest and caring at the same time. Once, after cutting a player, Coach Keller persuaded him to channel that passion as the team manager. They formed a lasting connection.

Stop us if this sounds familiar.

Years later, as his team practiced and played on Art Keller Field, Coach Rucks wanted players to feel the powerful tradition its namesake established. Even after Art died, his wife, Beverly (Hand) Keller ’61, had an open invitation to team meetings.

Sometimes fiery competitors are the best allies. Pass it on.

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COVER STORY

a quest for purpose New initiative guides students to pick more than a major

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

It’s a pretty innocuous question … if you’re asking an 8-year-old. Whatever rolls off little Ralphie’s tongue — NBA star, dolphin trainer, TikTok influencer — the card-carrying grown-ups can laugh it off, knowing his response will change roughly 457 times as he realizes what each really entails and what else is out there.

When you’re quizzing an 18-year-old, there’s a lot more riding on it. Ralph, as the maturing college freshman might prefer to be called, is expected to lock in a practical answer that’ll dictate his path for the foreseeable future.

That’s a fair expectation, as long as he has enough intel to decide. Too often in modern higher education, students feel like they’ve been blindfolded and pressured to throw darts at a list of careers.

This past academic year, the offices overseeing career development and spiritual life at Carthage joined forces to turn that intimidating process into an invigorating one. Their new initiative grants students a temporary respite from the hounding about when-you-grow-up while they consider some ultimately more meaningful questions: What’s my larger purpose? What kind of life do I want to build?

Once a student discerns those answers, the blindfold comes off and it’s suddenly a whole lot easier to fill in the other blanks. College major and minor. Career path. Work-life balance. Desired location.

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It can be an emotionally trying exercise, as students come to grips with some hard truths. A severe injury forces an athletic standout to re-evaluate her identity. A student who’s always been gifted in a particular subject admits he can’t stand it.

“It’s about peeling back who you thought you were when you arrived and then putting it all back together to show who you authentically are,” says Holly Hess, Carthage’s first Purposeful Life and Leadership Coordinator. “Then you’re in a much better place to make those important decisions.”

Bridging the Aspire Center and the Center for Faith and Spirituality, her position reflects the College’s firm belief that “what you want to be” stretches far beyond a job title.

something to declare

Declaring a major is a big step, one the Aspire Center likes to document when a student is ready.

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Choosing a major is the first major milestone. About 10% of incoming students arrive without a specific area of study in mind, a larger segment than any of the College’s 50-plus majors.

Rather than “undecided” or “undeclared,” Ms. Hess likes to categorize those students as “open” — for their openness to try new things and add to their skill set. Short of an epiphany, that’s the best way to identify a preferred path.

“You’re not going to walk down Campus Drive and hear a voice that says ‘Be an occupational therapist,’” she says. “There is a guided process with a lot of self-reflection.”

Online career development tools walk students through that process, and they can connect with Aspire Center staffers for individual guidance. They also lean on one another.

“I’ve been surprised how student-driven it’s been,” Ms. Hess says.

More than 60 students took part in an online program called 40Form, which hinges

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on thought-provoking cues about their individual values, experiences, and personal growth. Several also met weekly in person for a discussion that Ms. Hess moderated.

Tehya Catunao ’25 came into the program with a strong leaning toward nursing, and the purpose-finding exercises only reinforced that. Her bigger takeaway was the motivation to develop her creative side. Finally acting on a longtime goal, she started singing lessons.

“I’m glad I’m part of a group that cares about emotional and spiritual well-being, too,” she says.

Bringing students with differing backgrounds and interests together, the core discussion group formed a unique bond.

“I got to know a side of people I probably wouldn’t have seen,” Tehya says. “Stuff that I haven’t said to my friends before, I’ve said to this group of people. There are times I questioned if I was oversharing, but that’s the whole point of it.”

The rising sophomore got so much out of the 40Form sessions, she signed on to lead them starting this fall as a staff member in the Center for Faith and Spirituality. While continuing to target freshmen, the modified program will be open to all students.

Visiting speakers in the new People of Purpose series personified how someone’s raison d’être can evolve over time in surprisingly rewarding ways. Last spring, the Aspire Center welcomed guests including versatile alumnus Nick Demske ’06, a librarian, elected official, poet, and antiracism activist; as well as Karri Hemmig, a human trafficking expert who assists law enforcement.

“There’s a career theory called Planned Happenstance that accounts for the unexpected,” says Becky Windberg, an Aspire staff member. “Having the mindset to lean into it, to be open to those new opportunities, is really important.”

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The 2021-22 activities culminated in Carthage’s first major declaration ceremony.

Held in May during Celebration of Scholars, it attracted almost 100 students and guests.

The moment filled Carla Cozzi with pride and gratitude. As the mother of newly declared criminal justice major Joey Cozzi ’25, she saw what’s possible when educators believe in their students.

It’s a scene she had trouble envisioning just a couple of years ago. All over, remote learning during the pandemic doused enthusiasm for the future at a critical point in the college search.

“Coming from the kid who sat in his room for a year and a half, staring at an iPad, it’s amazing,” Ms. Cozzi says. “Carthage pulled him out of that COVID hole, inspiring him to find his own self-motivation and look toward his future.”

Joey, who has worked as a veterinary technician for several years, found the prospect of four additional years in school too daunting to pursue that path academically. Recalibrating with help from the Aspire staff, he got interested in K9 police work.

On his own, Joey arranged a ride-along to

The Carthage Plan

general education

major

• Over 50 academic are

intellectual foundations

wellness

explorations

abilities

perspectives

Artistic Inquiries Cultural Legacies Social Interactions Scientific Explorations

Global Language (2) Written Communication(3) Oral Communication Quantitative Reasoning

Religious Perspectives Diverse Perspectives International Perspectives Interdisciplinary Perspectives

• Senior Thesis

electives

reflection framework AN ALL-PURPOSE TOOLBOX The incoming fall 2022 class will become the first to follow Carthage’s revised general education curriculum, which makes it clearer to students how they benefit from the courses they take.

Under the headings Explorations, Abilities, and Perspectives, 12 new categories cover a broad array of tools that students need for life after graduation. The revised curriculum is more efficient, too, allowing students to meet many of these goals through courses in their major.

New students will still take Intellectual

Foundations (formerly Western Heritage) and two J-Term courses. They’re also expected to take a Wellness class from a list of options that expands well beyond Concepts of Physical Fitness to include mental, financial, environmental, and spiritual health.

Reflection, as the graphic illustrates, is the framework that holds it all in place. By consistently taking a few minutes to soak in what they just learned and how it fits in with their experiences and goals, students can develop and articulate a sense of purpose to guide their life and work.

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get a feel for law enforcement. Knowing that German shepherds — still the most popular American police dogs — are typically trained in Germany before they’re brought over, he even took a class in that language.

His excitement must be contagious. The returning sophomore convinced his best friend and a cousin to join him at Carthage.

a 360-degree selfie When the Rev. Kara Baylor arrived as campus pastor in 2014, a faculty and staff learning community was already brainstorming ways to help students find their place in the world. She’s taken an active role ever since.

You’ll hear lots of terms used in different circles: Find your vocation. Your purpose.

Your mission. Your why.

Bit by bit, Carthage coaches students to build an all-encompassing vision for their future. That might incorporate marriage, children, hobbies, service, and more.

“Vocation goes beyond what you do 9 to 5 to bring a paycheck home,” says Pastor Baylor. “It’s also knowing what brings you joy, what gifts you can share in the world.”

Although the concept aligns neatly with traditional Lutheranism, she emphasizes that inner journey holds value for anyone — regardless of what, or even if, they believe.

“We haven’t cornered the market on meaning and purpose, by any means,” acknowledges Pastor Baylor. “All humans want that. It’s who we are.”

Purpose isn’t only found on the distant horizon. The Network of Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) recently awarded Carthage a grant to help students

reflect on the things they’re learning right now … and why they matter in the long run.

Describing the massive importance of reflection in the classroom, history professor Stephanie Mitchell cites a quote from 18th century British and Irish statesman Edmund Burke: “To read without reflecting is like eating without digestion.”

In her own classes, Prof. Mitchell might pause after a lesson about U.S.-Cuban relations to let the budding historians reassess their view of Cold War leaders.

Now, with reflection deeply embedded in Carthage’s new general education framework, she serves on two campus committees that are sharing those techniques with colleagues across the College.

When students see how every aspect of their Carthage experience adds to that life they’re setting out to build — classes, clubs, sports, research, etc. — it finally clicks.

“Young people appreciate when you help them understand why they’re doing all of this,” says Prof. Mitchell. “Yes, faculty desperately want you to get a good-paying job, but we also want you to serve on the school board and coach Little League.”

It further fuels her campaign against the cynical notion that higher ed is just a means to a BA or BSN. Nobody finds their purpose stapled to a diploma.

“It’s absurd for colleges to just emphasize a piece of paper,” says Prof. Mitchell. “We need to communicate to students what they’re really buying: the opportunity for transformation — that they can emerge bigger, better, and stronger than they entered.”

Going once … going twice … SOLD to the bidder in the “Proudly Undecided” shirt.

Joining the Carthage staff in a new position shared by the Aspire Center and the Center for Faith and Spirituality, Holly Hess helps students to identify their larger purpose.

The College held its first declaration ceremony in May, celebrating students’ newly selected majors.

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LEADERS IN PHILANTHROPY

Educators to the core Andy Boncher ’99 and Leigh Ann Mondrawickas-Boncher ’99 have spent their lives as champions for education.

They’re both longtime educators at Warren Township High School in Gurnee, Illinois — Andy as a science teacher for more than 20 years, Leigh Ann as an ELL teacher for 19. She also coaches girls’ golf, applying some of the knowledge she picked up while competing in women’s golf at Carthage.

The commitment they’ve shown to their alma mater is unwavering. Both Andy and Leigh Ann serve on the President’s Leadership Council, which comprises some of Carthage’s most dedicated and generous alumni, parents, and friends. PLC members help the president to advance the strategic goals of the College and offer input on new and ongoing initiatives.

Andy is also an emeritus member of the Alumni Council. He served on that body for more than a decade, providing leadership as president near the end of his term. Among many accomplishments, he: • spearheaded changes to revitalize the Beacon Awards program • brought renewed focus to the Alumni Association Scholarship and led fundraising to support Carthage students • oversaw the council’s growth (in membership and impact), including a push for greater diversity Andy has also lent his time and expertise to the Noyce Scholarship selection committee and the Task Force on Team Names and Mascot.

Together they’ve provided philanthropic support for many areas of the College, including the Science Center and Tower Residence Hall building projects, multiple scholarship funds, and Carthage Athletics. That consistent generosity has earned them membership in both the Alford Park and Leadership giving societies.

This alumni couple continues to model student-focused advocacy, volunteerism, and philanthropy. We thank them for their leadership and look forward to a continuing partnership that will support Carthaginians for years to come.

Leadership Giving Society members give $1,000 or more cumulatively to any area of the College in a fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Tiers recognize higher levels of giving, and graduated giving levels are available for recent alumni. Membership is renewable annually.

Enduring Gift Society members have cumulative lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more (exclusive of estate commitments).

Tiers recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is lifetime.

Alford Park Loyalty Society members have contributed any amount to the College for three or more consecutive fiscal years (July 1 through June 30). Tiers recognize greater consecutive years of giving. Membership is renewable annually.

Denhart Society members have made Carthage a part of their legacy through estate commitments and planned gifts. Membership is lifetime.

To learn more about our philanthropic societies and see online donor honor rolls, please visit: carthage.edu/leaders-in-philanthropy

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8/1/22 11:27 AM

J-Term in South Africa

ngiyakuthanda (in-ghee-yuh-coo-TAHN-dah) Zulu for ‘I love you’

This summer, Carthage faculty and students renewed an ongoing relationship with Nkume Primary School in rural South Africa. A study tour led by professors Michele Hancock and Jacqueline Easley featured two days of service learning activities at the school, as the College contingent supplied computers, whiteboards, fans, clothing, and chess sets. Members of Future of Africa were especially moved by the completed kitchen that the student organization had funded. Afterward, the group saw some of the country’s wildlife and natural beauty.

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COMMENCEMENT 2022

Five honored at year-end ceremony distinguished alumni awards Barbara Dale

Nick Pinchuk (left), who received an honorary doctorate, is shown with Jeff Hamar ‘80 (center), chair of the Board of Trustees, and President John Swallow.

honorary degree Nick Pinchuk Carthage awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Snap-on Incorporated chairman and CEO Nicholas T. “Nick” Pinchuk, who delivered the 2022 Commencement address.

Headquartered in Kenosha, Snap-on is an S&P 500 company that develops and manufactures tools, diagnostic systems, and software and data solutions. Before joining the company in 2002, Mr. Pinchuk was president of a multibillion-dollar unit at Carrier Corporation and held various financial and engineering positions with Ford Motor Company.

He has drawn widespread acclaim for his contributions to the growth of a skilled American labor force. He regularly provides commentary for media outlets such as CNBC and Bloomberg.

A member of the Carthage Board of Trustees since 2011, Mr. Pinchuk has given extensively toward the College’s facilities and operations.

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Not content to talk about environmental and social justice, eternal optimist Barbara Dale ’75 has spent the bulk of her career exploring new ways to achieve it.

Ms. Dale started her career in Chicago, climbing to vice president of sales and marketing in the male-dominated janitorial industry. She then moved to South Carolina and co-founded EarthcareCLEAN, a Charleston-area company that has provided eco-friendly cleaning services for the past 35 years.

Beyond the workplace, Ms. Dale established a foundation to help address the nationwide housing shortage. Construction begins this fall on a housing community with a reduced footprint, featuring 3D printed homes and regenerative gardens that conserve water and capture carbon.

John Danley Jr. Accomplished senior executive John Danley Jr. ’80, Ed.D, has achieved success by cultivating organizations’ best resources: their people.

Mr. Danley is the senior director for space enterprise planning and operations at Lockheed Martin, which counts NASA and national security agencies among its primary customers. Before that, he directed a quick financial turnaround at GKN Aerospace Transparency System.

His background as a proven leader in both the aerospace and

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automotive industries spans more than 25 years. Mr. Danley shares that expertise through an executive coaching business and “Dimensions of Leadership,” a book he wrote about leading through inclusion.

Outside of work, Mr. Danley is a dedicated volunteer who helped steer dozens of California gang members away from that life to continue their education.

Brian Peccarelli Lawyer and CPA Brian Peccarelli ’81 is co-chief operating officer for Thomson Reuters, where he has compiled nearly 40 years of experience in tax software and services.

Since joining its predecessor in 1984, he has held several roles at the Dallas-based company.

Under Mr. Peccarelli’s leadership, the tax and accounting segment more than tripled in value between 2005 and 2016.

Six times, trade publication Accounting Today has named Mr. Peccarelli one of the 100 most influential people in the field. He is a frequent panelist at the World Economic Forum.

He taught Carthage business classes remotely in 2021 through the Chapman Executive-in-Residence program. He served on the American Heart Association leadership team in Dallas and remains active in the regional chamber of commerce.

Nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Award can be submitted online at carthage.edu/distinguished-alumni.

The deadline for the next cycle is Oct. 15.

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carthage flame Al Van Maren Family members accepted the Carthage Flame on behalf of the late Al Van Maren ’65.

After enrolling at the College’s former location in Carthage, Illinois, he became part of the first graduating class on the Kenosha campus.

Mr. Van Maren served on the Alumni Council for nearly 20 years, and his cumulative giving to Carthage approached $1.4 million.

Following successful business ventures in real estate, janitorial management, and signage, Mr. Van Maren operated an alpaca farm in retirement. He taught for 32 years at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago.

Al Van Maren's son Ryan (center) and brother Tom (right) accepted the Carthage Flame on behalf of the late 1965 alumnus.

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Distinguished Senior Natalie Lall ʼ22

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8/1/22 1:14 PM

Faculty speaker Professor Greg Barron

“You’re beginning a journey that’s going to last decades, but I can assure you the world is watching you.” nick pinchuk

Chairman and CEO of Snap-on Inc.

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class of

2022

More than 650 members of the Class of 2022 participated in Commencement events May 20-22. After formal degree conferral and traditional speeches at the Last Night celebration Friday night, graduates and their supporters enjoyed an extended procession and ceremonial stage walk at assigned times on Saturday and Sunday.

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COMMENCEMENT 2022

graduate spotlight nurse grad student Marisol Robinson

teacher

Management

Graduate student – Law University of Baltimore

marketer scientist

Where’s the Class of 2022 headed next? Here’s a glimpse of the “first destinations” for a few of Carthage’s newest graduates:

Jacqueline Miller English

Graduate student – Divinity Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Allie Ontaneda

Henry Meyer

Elementary Education

Physics

Dual Language Teacher District 59 – Elk Grove, Ill.

Graduate student – Medical Physics

Zoe Gatz

Gelene Rivera

Public Relations / Music (Music Theatre)

Nursing

Head of Audience Development

Medical ICU, Mayo Clinic

MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas

Registered Nurse

Citadel Theatre – Lake Forest, Ill.

Esteban Machado

Vince O’Neal

Chemistry

Political Science

Graduate student – Pharmacy

Litigation Paralegal

Midwestern University

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Zwicker & Associates – Rosemont, Ill.

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“It has been an

amazing experience Krishna Patel

Kate Vieyra

Finance

Marketing

Business Development Associate

Communications Associate for Global Community Affairs

Salesforce – Chicago

SC Johnson

Yesenia Martinez-Hall

Zachary GIbson

Social Work

Finance / Marketing

Treatment Foster Care Specialist

Junior Financial Analyst

New Horizon Center – Milwaukee

getting my degree at Carthage, and I now feel prepared to use my knowledge

to make a difference at Abbott and within the world.”

Abbott Laboratories

Ashley Brickl Biology

Geneticist Quest Diagnostics

“Being able to understand Alyssa Rodway Environmental Science / Psychology

Corporate Responsibility Assistant, Sustainability Division Aldi

David Vowels Exercise and Sport Science

both people and nature is a skill that is not easily mastered, and both of my majors have helped me to achieve this at an advanced level.”

Personal Trainer / Strength and Conditioning Specialist Wisconsin Athletic Club – Hartland, Wis.

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CLASS NOTES

Rodrick Frazier ʼ95 wrote “Like a Snowflake,” a memoir about his recovery from a traumatic brain injury.

Brick by brick, alum sets LEGO record Returning to campus to break a world record, Bryce Martin ’10 single-handedly built the word “Together” using more than 23,000 LEGO bricks.

Mr. Martin spent nearly 20 hours over a two-day span in June creating the 11.5-foot-long word on the lower level of Hedberg Library. A few weeks later, Guinness World Records certified the result, which more than doubled the previous record of 9,697 bricks.

The idea was born a dozen years ago on graduation night. As he brainstormed with his roommate, Mr. Martin joked that “world record holder” would make his resume stand out.

Now working as manager of business operations for surgical services at Froedtert South in Kenosha,

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23 621 lego bricks

he’s done fine on his own merits. When the pandemic hit, the Carthage alumnus found a new reason to follow through.

Mr. Martin chose “Together” in part to salute health care workers — including his wife — who have battled the COVID-19 pandemic. The word also connects to the College’s mission statement: “Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service — Together.”

He used red and black bricks to show school spirit and honor the late Bob Bonn, Carthage’s former athletic director. As a student, Mr. Martin portrayed the former team mascot, Torchie.

John Robinson ’13 served as the official brick counter.

CALLING ALL AUTHORS To all of our talented alumni authors, filmmakers, and musicians: We want to showcase your work!

A new Hedberg Library collection will feature original works written, produced, and recorded by Carthage graduates throughout the years.

The collection will be housed in the Staubitz Archives reading room.

We’re looking for hard copies of items alumni have created, such as: • Books • Movies on DVD, Blu-ray, etc.

• Music CDs Let the Library and Information Services staff know how to acquire your items by sending an email to: archives@carthage.edu

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alumni college returns The popular Alumni College returned this year, as Carthage paired it with the Illinois Campus Reunion June 10-12. The weekend schedule featured topical classes taught by current and retired faculty members, a book signing by alumni authors, and social events on and off campus. Watch for the 2023 dates!

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CLASS NOTES

1953 Raymond Hoewing – Dickerson, Maryland, retired as president of the Washington-based Public Affairs Council, a professional society for public affairs officers of large U.S. corporations.

1955 Reva Hoewing – Dickerson, Maryland, closed her small business, Crafts-A-Plenty in Poolesville, retiring after more than 40 years.

1966

1971 Ken Byrge ’71 and Laurie (Ostrom) Byrge ’72 – Simpsonville, South Carolina, celebrated 50 years of marriage in December with family and friends.

The couple met at Carthage.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina, retired in July 2021 after careers as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and as vice president of A. R. Mays Construction Company in Scottsdale, Arizona. He and his wife, Tina, now enjoy devoting their time to golf and travel.

Wisconsin, was re-elected to the Racine County Board in April. He has held the District 15 seat since 2007.

1976

1970

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1978

1982 Ray Arbet – Burlington,

Susan Lee Johnson, Ph.D. – Madison, Wisconsin, is serving

Charlie Flanagan – Dexter, Missouri, authored “The Yank Down Under,” a book that was published in February. This story starts at Carthage and then takes readers on his two-year adventure in Australia.

Wisconsin, retired in July as director of public works for Kenosha County. He worked in county government for the better part of 40 years.

as president of the Western History Association. Prof. Johnson holds the Harry Reid Endowed Chair for the History of the Intermountain West at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dave Leiting – Spring, Texas, was appointed executive director for the Energy Security Council, a professional organization based in Houston whose partners aim to protect the energy industry from physical and cyber threats. Mr. Leiting is the retired head of BP’s global security operations, as well as a former FBI special agent.

1981

Tom Mortenson – Detroit

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Florida, was appointed chief financial officer of KnowBe4, the company announced in February. He brings more than 25 years of business and financial management expertise to the firm, whose platform provides security awareness training and phishing simulations.

Capt. William Piatnitza –

John Wisch – Caledonia,

Lakes, Minnesota, was appointed to the Hillsborough County (Florida) Community Action Board for a term that runs through 2024. He represents the city of Temple Terrace.

Robert Reich – Lakewood Ranch,

Minnesota, earned a master’s degree in advocacy and political leadership from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul.

1972

1975 Roger Eagan – Riverdale, Illinois, wrote “The Adventures of Angel Pup and Grandpa,” a children’s book that was published in March. Inspired

by Mr. Eagan’s dog, the Christianthemed bedtime story emphasizes the power of prayer.

Helene Haapala – Northfield,

Rev. Keith Kolstad – Marinette, Wisconsin, retired May 1 after 23 years as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church.

Ray Pettenuzzo – Arlington Heights, Illinois, was inducted into the Maine West High School Coaches Hall of Fame in September.

Over three decades at the school, he coached football, golf, and track.

Since retiring from teaching and coaching in 2019, Mr. Pettenuzzo has enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his family.

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ALUMNI MESSAGE

1984 Doug Pauls – Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the Dieter Bergman Fellowship Award in February from IPC, a global association for electronics manufacturing. He’s a principal materials and process engineer at Collins Aerospace.

1986 Garry Gustafson – Park Ridge, Illinois, recently retired from teaching and coaching after 35 years at Niles West High School in Skokie and became the head baseball coach at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago. At Niles West, his baseball teams won more than 500 games.

1998 Jeremy Podolski – Milwaukee, was promoted to director of public relations and editorial strategy at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. The nonprofit is committed to advancing racial equity and inclusion through regional investments. He has worked on the foundation’s marketing and communications team since 2014.

Jennifer Sperry – Cape Coral, Florida, was promoted to vice president of compliance at Neighborhood Loans Inc.

1999 Emily Kuhn – Middleton, Wisconsin, retained her seat on the City Council in the spring election.

She has represented District 4 in Middleton, a Madison suburb, since 2018.

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How Carthage helped alumni find their purpose In my role as president of the Alumni Council, I have had the great privilege to connect with a wide range of alumni across class years, majors, and careers.

From this vantage point, I am consistently inspired by the number of alumni undertaking interesting and important work. While their paths are distinct, Carthage serves as a common throughline.

I recently caught up with some of our alumni to learn how Carthage helped them identify their purpose in life.

Tim Yanacheck ’69 had to wait to apply his Carthage degree. First, he had a duty to his country.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Mr. Yanacheck began a distinguished 42-year law career.

Looking back, he recognizes that his education helped him analyze current world events, empathize with others, and confidently venture across cultural boundaries.

“Perhaps the most valuable and enriching lesson I learned at Carthage was to love learning,” he shares. “The pleasurable process of continuing to learn new stuff every day of my life.”

Jaime Fluker ’03 greatly valued the close-knit community she found at Carthage. The College helped her prepare for a career centered on promoting community well-being.

“All the diverse experiences — from serving as a resident assistant, a student-athlete, a member of the Gospel Messengers choir, a member of Greek life and many other student organizations — prepared me for my current occupation as scholar, clergy, and community organizer,” Ms. Fluker explains.

Sharbel Maalouf ’11 is president of Medline Industries. He has had an impressive career

trajectory since graduating from Carthage with a degree in business administration.

“I’ve always thought that an important leadership trait is agility and open-mindedness,” Mr. Maalouf explains. “Carthage, which at its heart is a liberal arts college that encourages students to explore and try new disciplines, helped me become well-rounded, while ingraining a desire to constantly learn new things and challenge myself with unique opportunities.”

Natalie Lall ’22, one of Carthage’s newest alumni, moved to Los Angeles shortly after delivering the senior class address. At Carthage, Ms. Lall had plenty of chances to assess her strengths and connect them to career options.

“I feel the most alive when I’m performing — the most ‘me,’” she says. “Now that I’m in the global hub for film and television, I am confident that I’ll be able to make my mark using everything Carthage has given me.”

She came to recognize the importance of telling everyone’s story.

“It is a really exciting time in the industry, because the diversity of stories being told is unparalleled in Hollywood history,” Ms. Lall explains. “I want to add my voice to the conversations being had behind the screen to help create innovative and inspiring stories to meet our present moment.”

Soon, hundreds of new students will make their way to campus to begin their own search for purpose. I cannot wait to see how they add to the rich tapestry that thousands of Carthage alumni have weaved.

Aaron Tinjum ’09 is president of the Alumni Council. He can be reached at atinjum@ carthage.edu.

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CLASS NOTES

IN MEMORIAM Merle Aleshire Prominent aerospace and defense researcher Merle J. Aleshire ’56 of Escondido, California, passed away March 3, 2021. He was 87.

He retired as an executive with General Dynamics Corp.,

concluding a career that began as a flight test engineer for the Atlas missile that launched Alan Sheppard and John Glenn into orbit. In 1972, Mr. Aleshire was one of three original developers of the unmanned Tomahawk Cruise Missile that’s still used by the U.S. armed forces.

Heavily involved in public service, Mr. Aleshire held leadership posts continuously for the last 51 years of his life.

2000 Pete Rosengren – Batavia, Illinois, was posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal on March 29 for helping to rescue a 9-year-old boy in dangerous water conditions last year. The Carnegie Hero Fund presents the medal, North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism, to those who enter extreme danger while attempting to save others. A memorial tribute in the Summer 2021 Carthaginian issue detailed the bravery of Mr. Rosengren, who drowned near Miramar Beach in Florida.

2003

2005

Joshua Atlas Known for his kindness, contagious smile, and humility, Carthage student Joshua Atlas ’24 passed away April 15.

The sophomore from Downers Grove, Illinois, was majoring in finance.

A four-year cross country conference champion in high school, Joshua joined the

Firebirds in that sport and contributed to a pair of relay wins in track and field. In his lone year of competition, he formed deep and memorable friendships with teammates.

“Joshua clearly cared about the success of those around him and was willing to give 100 percent,” said men’s track and field coach Josh Henry. “He would always put everything he had into his races so he wouldn’t let his teammates down.”

John Pender Carthage trustee emeritus John H. Pender of Matthews, North Carolina, passed away June 11 at age 92.

He served on the Board of 46Trustees from 1981 to 2006.

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His business career spanned more than a half-century, including 17 years as senior vice president of Aid Association for Lutherans.

Mr. Pender was also a member of the Enduring Gift Society, which recognizes donors whose lifetime giving to the College totals $100,000 or more.

Lindsay Jones Parkis – Libertyville, Illinois, and her husband, Michael, welcomed their newest family member on Feb. 9, 2021: Avery Jane Parkis, who joins big sister Norah and big brother Hayden.

Jean Pagliaro – Onalaska, Wisconsin, recently received a promotion to executive director of the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, where she’s been on the staff since 2017. The center is “a sacred place of peace and hospitality for those seeking spiritual renewal, personal and professional growth, healing, transformation and deeper self-awareness.”

Melissa (Nicholson) Rojas – Mt. Morris, Illinois, married Eric Rojas on Sept. 25 at Trinity Lutheran Church.

2006 Casey Griffiths – South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, started in January as the first city administrator in Cudahy (a Milwaukee suburb).

He has administrative experience with several other communities in southeastern Wisconsin.

2008 Ashley Cesario – Bartlett, Illinois, has been given an expanded role at Jordan Winery & Vineyard, in California. Since joining the business in 2014, Ms. Cesario has taken on more responsibilities — most recently as its Eastern U.S. and export sales director.

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IN MEMORIAM 1949 Bob Schilson

Mark Januszewski – Palatine, Illinois,

Spokane, Wash.

Nov. 7, 2021

completed his first season as head baseball coach at Deerfield High School this past spring. He was a multi-sport standout at the school in the early 2000s.

1951 Ila (Myers) Biggs

2009 Chris Krepline – Kimberly, Wisconsin, was hired as field manager of the Green Bay Rockers baseball team in November. The Rockers compete in the summer collegiate Northwoods League.

Fort Wayne, Ind. April 5, 2022

Marian (Crofton) Rasmussen Fort Wayne, Ind. Jan. 29, 2022

1952 James Greenland Rockford, Ill. Feb. 22, 2022

1953 Carole Bansback Fort Wayne, Ind. Nov. 2, 2021

Kathy (Shanklin) Califf Piqua, Ohio Nov. 21, 2021

Aaron Tinjum – St. Paul, Minnesota, married Yara Benavides Paz in a celebration with close family and friends Dec. 29 in Medellín, Colombia.

2010

Nancy (Nelson) Lyerla Barrington, Ill. Feb. 15, 2022

Lois (Oneson) Meyer Vero Beach, Fla. Sept. 17, 2021

Elizabeth J. (Bollman) Snyder Lacey, Wash.

Dec. 21, 2021

1956 Rev. Dale Hallberg Sun Lakes, Ariz.

Feb. 7, 2022

Lauren Hansen – Grayslake, Illinois, wrote her first book, “Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through The People We Meet,” which was published in January. In it, she shares 40 inspirational and life-defining stories from her interactions with strangers on the way to discover the true nature of God.

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Marilyn (Tambert) Roessler Kennett Square, Pa. Dec. 13, 2021

1958 Peter Kolettis West Bend, Wis. Oct. 15, 2021

Judy (Gorsky) Simko

Edmund Krunfus

Nadine (Regel) Thorn

Fridley, Minn.

June 13, 2022

Clarkston, Mich.

Jan. 22, 2022

Zion, Ill. Sept. 29, 2021

1959 Richard E. Bloemke

Edward Plagemann

1988 Michelle Smith

Fort Atkinson, Wis. Jan. 26, 2021

1962 JoAnn (Ewen) Peitzmeier Evansville, Ind. Feb. 6, 2022

1964 Al Rother Watkinsville, Ga. March 19, 2022

1965 Horst Hackemer Spring Hill, Fla. Jan. 14, 2022

1966 Walter Messick III Columbus, Ohio Feb. 28, 2022

1968 Daria (Uglianitza) Faber Whitehall, Wis.

1969 James Iaquinta Wauwatosa, Wis. Feb. 18, 2022

1970 Ann (Davis) Hair Lincolnton, NC April 22, 2022

Kim Jordan Clermont, Fla. July 19, 2021

Jim Kaiser Bloomington, Ill. March 20, 2022

1971 Patricia Calvert Kenosha April 24, 2022

Racine, Wis. May 23, 2021

Elaine (Dracos) Rompella

Waukesha, Wis. Jan. 5, 2022

Fort Myers, Fla. Dec. 7, 2021

2010 Samantha Reid, M.Ed.

Thomas Sarnowski

Antioch, Ill. March 1, 2022

Wind Lake, Wis. Jan. 17, 2022

1972 Donna Ryberg Beloit, Wis. Jan. 8, 2022

1974 Kent Gaertner Aurora, Ill. March 2, 2022

Thomas Schuelke Estero, Fla. Feb. 22, 2022

1976 Laurie (Hrdlicka) Knudson Volo, Ill. Sept. 12, 2021

1977 Ruth (Spitzer) Hoefer Oro Valley, Ariz.

Dec. 26, 2021

1985 Leah Center Nashville, Tenn.

Nov. 3, 2021

2018 Charlie Hilt Minneapolis Aug. 23, 2021 friends of carthage

Kay (Johnson) Hamman Keokuk, Iowa Feb. 11, 2022

Betty Hein Janesville, Wis. March 24, 2022

Richard Kosinski Raymond, Wis. Jan. 2, 2022

Steven Mussenden Racine, Wis. Feb. 22, 2022

Marilyn Stulken Rench Franklin, Wis. Dec. 28, 2021

David Schani Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Jan. 12, 2022

Scott Staven Helenville, Wis. Dec. 22, 2021

1987 Heidi (Henschel) Pellett Ellensburg, Wash.

Feb. 25, 2022

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2018 Amani Dennis – Wheeling, Illinois, was a major contributor this spring as a defensive back for the Philadelphia Stars, runners-up in the relaunched United States Football League. Taken in the fourth round of the league’s supplemental draft, he made two interceptions and 42 tackles in 10 regular season games. Mr. Dennis then picked off another pass to clinch the upset victory that sent the Stars to the USFL championship game.

Ryan Koessl ’10 and Tricia (O’Keefe) Koessl ’11 –

Samantha (Florio) Hampe – Mount Prospect, Illinois, and her

Kenosha, welcomed their second child, Tanner, on Aug. 17, 2021.

husband, Brian, welcomed their first child on Dec. 28. Carter James Hampe weighed 10 pounds and measured 22 inches long.

2011

2017

2019

Taylor Kundert – Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in May. Focusing on small animal medicine, she will practice near her hometown.

Josh Kundert – Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, graduated from Marquette University Law School in May. Next, he will clerk for Magistrate Judge Lee Ann Reno of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

2018 Marna (Larson) Bestul – Cudahy, Wisconsin, and her husband, Paul, welcomed daughter Aurora Ruth “Rory” Bestul on Nov. 4.

Krista Grensavitch – Milwaukee, joined the American History Association staff as a teaching resource developer. The role is part of an AHA initiative titled “Teaching Things: Material Culture in the History Classroom,” which is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. She’s also a senior lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Cecilia (Grove) Morine – Erie, Illinois, welcomed a new baby in May 2021.

2012 Megan Miller, M.Ed. – Beloit, Wisconsin, won re-election to the Board of Education in April. She serves as president of the board in the Beloit district.

2016 Alexander Karcher – Columbus, Ohio, joined Roetzel & Andress as an attorney in the firm’s transportation and logistics group. His practice assists clients in transportation and logistics with legal issues related to the supply chain.

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Jordan Snider-King ’19 and Tucker King ’20 – LaPorte, Maxine (Mella) Jump ’18 and Ryan Jump ’16 – Naperville, Illinois, were married on Dec. 21 with a contingent of Carthage tennis alumni in attendance.

2018 Elyssa Hawkins – Clarendon Hills, Illinois, is an assistant coach for the PomonaPitzer College men’s water polo team in Claremont, California, which won its first NCAA Division III championship in December.

Ms. Hawkins was a defender for the Carthage women’s team during a four-year playing career.

Indiana, were married Feb. 26 in a private ceremony at Carthage’s Walter Fritsch Meditation Chapel.

2021 Ella Spoelstra – Lake Forest, Illinois, directed her first show with Three Brothers Theatre. “Come Undone” ran throughout March on weekends at Stage 115 in Waukegan.

Written by Louis Arata, the play explores abuse and healing.

Summer Carthaginian 2022

8/1/22 11:23 AM

Class Notes Submission Form

Deadline for the next issue is Oct. 15, 2022

Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Professional Title

Class Year

Employer

SPRE ADING THE WORD

Street Address

City

Mobile/Home Phone

Email

Other News

(attach additional sheets as necessary)

Photos are welcome! (Please send non-returnable photos.) Besides family updates, here are some other examples of news for alumni to share: • Job changes, promotions, or retirements • Awards and other milestones (professional or recreational) • Publications, studio recordings, art exhibitions, etc.

• New service projects, civic appointments, etc.

• Third-generation (or more) Carthage students

State

ZIP

Business Phone

Marriage Announcement Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Spouse’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Date of Marriage

City and State of Current Residence

Birth/Adoption Announcement Parent’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Parent’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

Daughter’s Name (first/middle/last)

Son’s Name (first/middle/last)

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Death Announcement Name of Deceased (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Year

City and State of Residence

Date of Death

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name)

Relationship

Class Year

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name)

Relationship

Class Year

Submit online

carthage.edu/classnotes Or tear off this form along the perforated edge and mail to:

Carthage College, Office of Alumni and Family Engagement, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha WI 53140.

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8/1/22 11:24 AM

PAGE FROM THE PAST

A slice of Carthage history from the Staubitz Archives

Keeping Carthaginians in the loop for 145 years

1877

1929 1950

2008

1975 48 Explore the rich history of Carthage at carthage.edu/library/archives

S22_CARTH_PFP.indd 48

1990

Summer Carthaginian 2022

8/1/22 11:32 AM

Become a Carthage Alumni Ambassador

homecoming family weekend &

raise your hand. get involved. make a difference.

Three ways to join the new program:

1

Become a Carthage Alumni Ambassador Support the Office of Admissions’ recruiting efforts by reaching out to prospective students and families. Volunteer activities (in-person or virtual) might include: Representing Carthage at college fairs Hosting a reception Interviewing scholarship applicants Chatting with prospective students by phone or email Handing out fee waiver cards We’ll send you 50 business-sized cards with your name and an application fee waiver code. Share them with any high school student who would benefit from a Carthage education.

2 3

Volunteering is a great way to connect with current and future Carthaginians. There is a place for you in the family of Carthage volunteers.

SEPT. 23-25, 2022 Three days of fun for alumni, families, and friends

Match your talents with your passion and leave a lasting impact on the Carthage community.

Everyone who joins the program will receive a decal that shows you’re an Alumni Ambassador.

Homecoming Events • Football game vs. Washington University • Beacon Awards Presentation

Join the Carthage Alumni Presenters Bureau Are you an experienced presenter with field expertise to share? We’re building a database of Carthaginians who are available to speak in the classroom or at networking events.

Become a Carthage Aspire Mentor

• Athletic Hall of Fame Induction • Reunions: Class of 1972 (50th) and Class of 1997 (25th)

To sign up for one (or more) of these three volunteer options, go to

• Firebird Alumni and Family Fair

carthage.edu/alumni-ambassador

• Forever Red Tailgate and Biergarten

or reach out for more info alumnioffice@carthage.edu • 800-551-1518

• Homecoming concert (Treble Choir 40th Anniversary) • Trinity House tent party • Parade, brunch, games, and more!

Help students and your fellow alumni with quick career and life advice. Choose which type of guidance you’re able to provide and how often you’re available.

Register now:

carthage.edu/homecoming

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8/1/22 4:03 PM

8/1/22 4:06 PM

T H E

C ARTHAGINIAN A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF CARTHAGE COLLEGE

SUMMER 2022

A guided quest for purpose New initiative helps students pick more than a major

carthage.edu 800-551-1518

Upcoming Events

Find details at: carthage.edu/calendar

Sept. 15

Sept. 23-25

Nov. 4-6

Opening Reception: Mark Space Art Exhibition

Homecoming & Family Weekend

New Play Initiative: Memento Mori

Sept. 22-23

Oct. 6-8

Nov. 12-19

The Aspire Conference

Music Theatre: Hair

Forum: Lincoln, The Press, and Emancipation

Dec. 2-4 Christmas Festival

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Repeat Champs • Art of Destruction • TLE U-Turn S22_CARTH_Cover Outside2.indd 1

8/3/22 4:21 PM