Clarke University Magazine Winter 2015-2016

WINTER 2015-16

THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

SISTER DIANA MALONE’S LASTING LEGACY P. 2

HEARTFELT GIFT TO TERENCE DONAGHOE HALL P. 8

IMPACT TOMORROW: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CLARKE P. 16

Dear Alumni and Friends, Holiday greetings to you and your family. I was fortunate to spend time with my family this holiday season, traveling home to the East Coast for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Being home gives me the opportunity to reconnect, partake in long-standing family traditions and also enjoy family meals with one another around the dinner table. Family time is cherished time and I hope you enjoyed a blessed holiday season with those you hold dear.

The end of this fall semester brought the retirement of one of the longest-serving members of the Clarke family, Diana Malone, BVM, Ph.D. Sister Diana’s career at Clarke spanned 46 years, nearly all of which was spent in the Chemistry Department. I hope you enjoy the feature story on Sister Diana, which can be found on page 2. Her wisdom and wit will be missed and we wish her nothing but the very best in her retirement.

We also made strides this fall with efforts on the Campus Life phase of the capital campaign. As the number of student-athletes at Clarke continues to grow, facility improvements and expansions are necessary. These enhancements will not only benefit our student-athletes, but all those using Clarke’s fitness facilities. An article detailing the project is on page 16.

In other news regarding facility enhancements, Clarke’s Terence Donaghoe Hall was the beneficiary of a distinctive gift of beautiful stained-glass windows. These windows are a gift from alumna Jamie Richardson, class of 1982. The story of their journey to Clarke and Jamie’s dedication to this project is included in this issue.

Enjoy the articles and photos highlighting the many great things happening at Clarke University. Our thanks to you for your continued support. We wish you and your family a joyful, healthy and happy new year.

Sincerely,

Joanne M. Burrows, SC, Ph.D. President

TABLE OF CONTENTS | WINTER 2015-16

IN THIS ISSUE CLARKE: THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY is published three times a year for alumni, parents and friends of Clarke University.

ON THE COVER: ALUMNA JAMIE RICHARDSON’S HEARTFELT GIFT..................................................... 8

Joanne M. Burrows, SC, Ph.D. President Bill Biebuyck Vice President for Institutional Advancement Courtney Leonard Executive Director of Development Alissa Riegler Associate Director of Alumni Relations

FEATURE STORY: MALONE LEAVES BEHIND LASTING LEGACY IN CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT..................................... 2

Gwen Hayes ’07 Assistant Director of Annual Funds Ken Brown Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Gayle Langel ’08 Director of Creative Services

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE...........................................................................................................6

Susan Cain Copywriter

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT...................................................................................................................11 FRANCIS J. O’CONNOR WINNERS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?.......................................................13

EDITOR: Ken Brown DESIGNER: Gayle Langel ’08 COPYWRITER: Susan Cain

HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS.......................................................................................................14

FEATURE STORY: IMPACT TOMORROW: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CLARKE CAMPUS LIFE ......................................................16

LISTEN FOR CLARKE ALUMNUS LUKE FLYNN ’13 IN STAR WARS: EPISODE VII ..........................18 ALUMNI NEWS AND NOTES .......................................................................................................23

Clarke University 1550 Clarke Drive Dubuque, IA 52001-3198 (563)588-6318 Fax: (563)588-6789 Clarke University does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or disability in its educational programs, admissions policies, employment practices, financial aid, athletics or other universityadministered programs. Clarke University complies with all pertinent state and federal regulations concerning affirmative action, non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity.

AARON THOMAS: YOUR RESPONSE TO ADVERSITY WILL DEFINE YOU.........................................26 CLARKE UNIVERSITY CHOIR WILL JOURNEY TO PRAGUE.............................................................28

PAGE 1

lasting legacy

MALONE LEAVES BEHIND

IN CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

The Clarke University Chemistry Department prides itself on giving students hands-on experience throughout their undergraduate career.

Long-time department chair Diana Malone, BVM, is the reason why that philosophy is in place. She is also the reason why it will remain at Clarke long after her retirement.

Malone retired at the end of the fall semester after more than 46 years in the Chemistry Department at Clarke. She left behind a lasting legacy.

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CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

“BVM Sisters Diana Malone, Mary Lou Caffery and Marguerite Newmann laid the foundation for the department today. All of these women, and especially Diana in her years as chair, have stressed the importance of hands-on experience for students early in their academic career,” said Karen Glover, associate professor of Chemistry who will succeed Malone as department chair.

“Diana has always encouraged even first-year students to operate the instruments themselves. In conversations I’ve had with peers at other institutions, I’ve come to discover this philosophy is not so common. Diana’s insistence on hands-on use by all class levels has shaped our technology requests and choice of instrumentation. In addition to insisting on user-friendly instrumentation, Diana has always stressed the importance of undergraduate research.

Research experience at Clarke has helped many chemistry majors obtain National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduate appointments amongst stiff competition,” continued Glover.

Even more so than facilities, it is the people at Clarke who Malone will remember.

“We still get great kids here at Clarke,” she said. “They’re nice people. I have never had a disruptive kid in class.

They’re very nice, very polite. The vast majority really want to do well.”

Faculty have made her time at Clarke memorable as well.

Malone said the logic behind her philosophy is to ensure the competitiveness of Clarke students.

“I have always had the same philosophy to teaching,” she said. “That is to teach classes so the students are competitive with peer college students. Because they have to apply for graduate school or apply for a position at work. If they can’t compete, I’ve done them a tremendous disservice.”

“No student has to apologize for graduating from Clarke and not having had excellent training with the latest equipment available. That’s not true at big schools. They watch someone else do it. Our classes allow students to use the instruments and use them alone – not with some faculty member hovering over them.”

Malone added that the hands-on approach has worked due to Clarke’s state-of-the-art facilities.

“When I got here, we were in CBH (Catherine Byrne Hall) and the building was relatively new. It had been open for about seven years,” she said. “The amount of equipment we had was very small. Little by little, we wrote grants and got the equipment we needed. Now, of course, we have this beautiful building (the Center for Science Inquiry).”

Diana Malone, BVM, at the CSI ribbon cutting with President Joanne Burrows, SC and Chair and Professor of Biology Michelle Slover.

“Clarke has marvelous faculty,” she said. “I always eat in the dining room. That’s where you can interact with people from various departments. Otherwise you won’t know what’s going on. You can sit down with the art faculty and find out how their show on Friday went; how many people came. Or the music faculty to find out about their trip to Europe. People who teach freshmen courses, to discuss with them how this freshmen class is different than the previous group. That interaction is great. If you’re talking to people for about 45 minutes every day you find out what’s going on in the rest of the school.”

Malone began her career at Clarke in August 1969. After becoming a BVM sister in 1956, she was working at Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa, when she PAGE 3

was invited by Clarke Chemistry Department Chair Sister Marguerite Newmann and President Mary Benedict Phelan to join the staff. She has a bachelor’s degree from Mundelein College, a master’s from Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.

Along with teaching chemistry, Malone also served as the athletic director for the first 20 years of her time at Clarke.

“I think every year when the kids graduate you feel very, very proud, whether they are your majors or kids you just taught along the line,” she said. “It’s a great sense of pride.

And when they come back and you see the kind of people they are, the mothers and fathers they’ve become, it’s very gratifying.”

“I hired coaches, got games scheduled, bought uniforms,” she said. “Of course there were only women teams then.

Why me? I haven’t the foggiest idea how that happened.

Maybe because I liked going to the games. At least I didn’t have to coach the teams.”

She was also in charge of graduation practice and fitting students for gowns.

But like most people who were here in 1984, the most memorable event of her time at Clarke was the fire. Malone had lived in the dormitories for her entire career, but the previous semester she had been on sabbatical. When she returned she moved into a house. She did not lose all of her possessions in the fire, so on the night of the fire she and another sister went to the store to buy various essentials.

“While we were in Hartig’s drugstore, we picked up all kinds of stuff – toothbrushes, toothpaste, denture paste, deodorant, all of the necessities you would just automatically have and suddenly you didn’t. When I was checking out the young women said, ‘Are you from Clarke?’

I said yes; how do you know? She said, ‘You smell so much like smoke.’ I remember when I went home that night I took a shower. When I got out of the shower I noticed – my hair still smells.”

There were also uplifting stories from the fire.

“The very next day it was put on the radio that all of these sisters had lost everything,” she said. “The amount of clothing that was brought to campus was amazing – it was good clothing. People really brought beautiful clothes – everything.”

Malone said another memorable part of her long career is commencement.

PAGE 4

After 46 years, Malone said the time has come to step down.

“It’s time. It’s time. I’m not as energetic as I once was. You always want to be able to put out as much as you possibly can. But when what you have isn’t as much as you’d like to have as far as energy is concerned … I have tried, to the best of my ability, to keep up with my field through reading magazines, and the Internet is marvelous for that. So it’s not what was true 20-30 years ago, it’s what’s true now, what we know now.”

As for what’s next for Sister Diana?

“A lot of people ask me that. I always say to them, I’m 80 years old – can’t I just say nothing? Can’t I just say I’ll think about it?” she joked.

She added that she would likely do some volunteer work.

CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS “My brother died last summer so I was in nursing homes quite a bit,” she said. “So many people in nursing homes have nobody to visit them. Either their family is far away, or their family is no longer there. That might be one possibility.

My own community needs people to help out at Mount Carmel; that could definitely be another possibility.”

President Joanne Burrows, SC, Ph.D., said the Clarke community wishes her the best and is thankful for all Diana has brought to the school’s mission.

“We always value the BVM presence,” said Burrows. “Their excellence and compassion is something we try to emulate.

Diana has nurtured, or maybe cajoled, many students as chemistry majors and in the health sciences. We will miss her as a teacher and as a colleague.”

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 Your Best U!: Joan Lingen, BVM ’61 Dubuque, Iowa WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 Coffee with Clarke Dubuque, Iowa FRIDAY, JANURARY 29 Fighting Saints Hockey Night Dubuque, Iowa SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Presidential Brunch Scottsdale, Ariz.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Coffee with Clarke Dubuque, Iowa

KEEP UP with Clarke!

LIKE THE ALUMNI FACEBOOK PAGE FACEBOOK.COM/CLARKEALUMNI JOIN OUR NETWORK ON LINKEDIN SEARCH “CLARKE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI NETWORK” VIEW PHOTOS ON FLICKR CLARKE.EDU/FLICKR/ALUMNI VIEW VIDEOS ON VIMEO VIMEO.COM/CLARKEUNIVERSITY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 CHEERS Sarasota, Fla. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Naples Golf Event Naples, Fla. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Presidential Brunch Naples, Fla. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Mackin-Mailander Alumni Lecture: Donna Ewy ’86 Dubuque, Iowa EARLY MARCH Chicago Cubs Spring Training Mesa, Ariz.

Visit clarke.edu/alumni/events for a complete listing of upcoming events and opportunities to connect!

PAGE 5

UNDER THE CLARKE ENACTUS CHAPTER WORKING ON PROJECTS! Clarke University now has a local chapter of Enactus.

Enactus is a new student organization dedicated to enabling progress through entrepreneurial action.

Clarke student Kaitlyn Svestka teaches 4-H students at an art workshop put on by Enactus in November.

Enactus, formerly known as SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise), is an international, non-profit organization.

The chapter at Clarke aims to contribute ideas, innovation and planning to help organizations, small businesses and start-ups. It was started by Terry McGovern, department chair and assistant professor of Business/ Accounting at Clarke.

Elisabeth Dowling is the current president of the club, Josh Connolly is the vice president, Trey Weidman is the chief financial officer and Matt Lechnir is the marketing director.

PAGE 6

Dowling talked about why she was eager to join Enactus.

“After participating in mission trips to Detroit and Minneapolis, I have seen some of the challenges faced by others and realized how truly blessed I am,” she said. “I consider one of my greatest blessings to be the opportunity to receive an education, and Enactus has given me a way to apply some of that education to real-life scenarios and give back to my community. While I'm not a business student, I feel the skills that Enactus will allow me to develop will be very helpful to my future career, and I am so excited to be a part of the original group of officers getting this off the ground!”

Clarke Enactus students took on three projects during the fall semester. The first involved hosting two separate workshops to help students prepare better resumes and practice interviewing techniques. Local human resources professionals donated their time to help students with these vital career skills.

Another Enactus team created a workshop for local Boy Scouts to come to campus and earn merit badges. More than 40 Boy Scouts were on campus on Nov. 14 working on merit badges in first aid, emergency preparedness and scholarship.

A third Enactus team hosted workshops for Dubuque area 4-H leaders and members. This team had experts in agriculture safety, thrift shopping (a 4-H competition), and health/nutrition come to campus to help 4-H participants develop projects and gain knowledge for upcoming county and state fair competitions.

WAY BACK WHEN

75 During the spring semester, Enactus will travel to Chicago to compete in a regional program where they will create a presentation using performance measures from their projects. Students report metrics that have a social, economic or environmental outcome. They will present to executive judges from Fortune 500 companies.

Winners move on to the national competition held in St. Louis in May. The regional and national competitions are also internship and career fairs with representation from some of America’s largest companies. Clarke students upload their resumes to an Enactus server prior to the event, then interview for jobs and internships while at the competition.

YEARS AGO

50 YEARS AGO

The word Enactus comes from: ENTREPRENEURIAL — Having the perspective to see an opportunity and the talent to create value from that opportunity.

ACTION — The willingness to do something and the commitment to see it through even when the outcome is not guaranteed.

US — A group of people who see themselves connected in some important way; individuals that are part of a greater whole.

Enactus has chapters worldwide at 1,600 universities with 66,500 student members. Students in any academic major are welcome to join. Even though it was started by the Clarke Business Department, it is a campus-wide program and the group welcomes students who have ideas on how to make our community better through social, economic or environmental means.

Those interested in making a difference in our community should contact the Clarke chapter advisor Terry McGovern or an officer with the group. You can also visit the Clarke University Enactus Facebook page for more information.

AIR THEATRE PAYS TRIBUTE IN PROGRAM Joining with radio hook-ups the nation over in honoring the memory of Abraham Lincoln, the Clarke College air-way thespians presented a new play, Challenge to Destiny, especially written for Workshop production and broadcast on February 12 from the college studios through the facilities of WKBB. The story of two women beloved of Lincoln, Challenge to Destiny, acclaimed as among the more finished and most artistic radio performances yet given by Clarke students.

TROUPE TALLIES ‘13X13’ USO SHOW Jazz, Broadway hits and folk songs will add up to a USOapproved product when the music department counts to “13x13” at 7 p.m. April 27 in TDH. The 13-member troupe will present the same show while touring military bases in the Northeast Command this summer. The troupe will tour Iceland, Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland under the sponsorship of the United Service Organization.

25 YEARS AGO

CLARKE REACTS TO WAR Minutes after reports aired that war in the Persian Gulf had become a fact, the Clarke community reacted. A number of activities marked the public response; other individuals continue to react privately. In one of the events of January 16, Clarke College students and faculty members gathered to pray for an early end to the hostilities.

10 YEARS AGO

CLARKE’S NEXT PRESIDENT READY TO TAKE ON CHALLENGE Curiosity filled the air on Feb. 2 as faculty and staff and students packed Jansen Music Hall for a press conference announcing who would be the 15th president of Clarke College. When President Catherine Dunn, BVM, announced Joanne Burrows, SC, Ph.D., as her successor, the crowd broke out into a rumbling applause.

PAGE 7

Heartfelt GIFT

ALUMNA JAMIE RICHARDSON’S

The theater for performing arts in Terence Donaghoe Hall (TDH) on Clarke’s campus has recently received some added beauty thanks to the generosity of alumna Jamie Richardson ’82. As TDH guests ascend the staircases on either side of the main entrance, they are gifted with the sight of two stunning, backlit stained-glass window displays.

These windows have a unique story about how they found their home at Clarke, and particularly in TDH. The windows originally hung in the choir loft of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church in Kenswick, Iowa, from 1913 through 2007.

This church was Clarke drama and speech major Jamie Richardson’s childhood parish.

Like so many small parish churches, it closed on July 2, 2007. Prompting the decision to put its contents, including the stained-glass windows, up for auction.

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CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

Richardson had never been to an auction, but concerned about what would become of the windows, she decided to go. She recalls feeling a certain melancholy at the event.

“The sun was setting, lighting for the last time the windows that had witnessed so many weddings, funerals, holy day celebrations, as well as regular Mass, for over 90 years,” she said. “I was able to acquire two windows from the choir loft — one, a harp with a woman’s head, was once a symbol for Ireland. The other, a lyre, was a common musical instrument of ancient Greece, a time when music, drama, art, dance and storytelling were an integral part of everyday life as well as special celebrations.”

Richardson wasn’t quite sure what she would do with the windows, but in the meantime she contracted Bovard Studios in Fairfield, Iowa, to have them refurbished. Bovard carefully cleaned the glass, replaced missing pieces, releaded the windows and framed them in mahogany. The refurbished windows remained crated in her garage for several years.

In 2012, the Clarke Drama/Musical Theatre Department and students hosted a tribute event for retired drama professor Carol Blitgen, BVM, celebrating the depth and breadth of her teaching and directing career. Richardson was among those honored to participate.

“As I considered the meaning of that gathering, something became clear: Clarke would be a fitting home for the windows and, moreover, dedicating them would be a way to honor the theatre and music instructors who had so influenced my education, my life and, over the course of their careers, so many other students and arts patrons.”

Richardson once again contacted Bovard, this time to enlist their expertise with lighting the windows. They created light boxes, each of which contains an acrylic LED light panel designed to produce even light distribution. Bovard’s combined science and artistry truly brought the windows to life.

The windows were installed in May on Clarke’s campus on the mezzanine level in TDH, and have added a new level of beauty to the space.

“I'm very happy to know that Clarke and the larger community are enjoying the windows,” said Richardson. “I'm also happy that the windows have found their safe resting place in TDH. I am happiest of all that they will grace a place of such importance to the Clarke experience — in my humble opinion — and will honor the people who have given so much to make it so, to the unique benefit of all who have come through.”

Each of the two stained-glass windows honor instructors Richardson studied with when she attended Clarke.

The plaque beneath the first window reads, “This stained glass window honors Dr. Carol Blitgen, BVM, ’58; Ellen Gabrielleschi, MA; and Karen Ryker, MA ’68. Gifted artist educators who, understanding the necessity of the Arts to education, humanity, and illumined life, devoted their professional lives to the theatre arts, their students, and community — at Clarke, and beyond.”

The second window honors John and Nancy Lease: “Gifted artist educators who, understanding the necessity of the Arts to education, humanity, and illumined life, devoted their professional lives to music, their students, and community — at Clarke, and beyond.”

PAGE 9

Ellen Gabrielleschi, professor and chair of the Drama/ Musical Theatre Department, hears many comments from students, alumni and visitors regarding the displays.

She said, “I’ve heard numerous people comment, ‘How magnificent!’ and ‘So beautiful.’” She has even seen people take “selfies” with the windows to post on social media.

“We are so fortunate to have alumni like Jamie Richardson,” Gabrielleschi said. “Jamie was such a gift when she was here as a student, sharing her talents in too many ways to count.

For many years to come, our students, alumni, faculty, staff and audiences will be greeted by these two magnificent structures that celebrate the arts and those who work every day to bring theatre, music and art into people’s lives, enriching and empowering them.”

(now Clarke Drive) and the structure was the western-most building on campus at the time.

The space below the auditorium was designated a recreation room and served as the first student union on campus with four regulation size bowling alleys and billiard tables on either side. Both hot food and beer were served here. In 1979, at which time the college became coed, the Drama/Musical Theatre Department took over the space, utilizing it as much needed storage space.

In closing, Richardson reflected upon her experiences at Clarke.

“I was afforded extraordinary cross-discipline learning opportunities, both academically and experientially, in the Theatre and Music departments. It was a very creative and vibrant time. We were immersed in learning, with focus and clarity on the definition and value of a faith-based, liberal arts education. My classmates and I were developing and deepening as human beings, learning who and how we would choose to be in and contribute to the world, in addition to preparing for how we might make a living.”

A HISTORY OF TERENCE DONAGHOE HALL

This building was named in honor of the Rev. Terence J. Donaghoe, who first rented a building in Philadelphia to Mary Frances Clarke, Margaret Mann, Eliza Kelly, Rose O’Toole and Catherine Byrne for their school for girls.

Together, these women would become the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVMs) and would found St. Joseph Academy, in Dubuque, which later expanded into Mount St. Joseph in 1881. Mount St. Joseph would later be renamed Clarke College after BVM foundress Mary Frances Clarke.

Groundbreaking on Terence Donaghoe Hall (TDH) took place on May 17, 1928. Built in the shape of an inverted “L,” the main body of the building functioned as a large auditorium, complete with a balcony, descending floor and large stage. The main entrance doors faced Seminary Street

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The theater has undergone changes over the years. Because it was difficult getting the interior dark enough, the windows were bricked over in the mid-1950s. The interior was also remodeled in 1981, removing the wooden seats on the main floor to be replaced with cushioned seats. The original wooden seats still remain in the balcony.

Campus blueprints dated Dec. 1, 1966, show an intended addition to TDH on the west and north sides. This threefloor structure was intended to match the architectural style of the building and add 30,000 square feet of space.

Plans for the expansion, however, were dropped for reasons unknown.

Today, TDH hosts four drama performances each year. It is also used for various drama courses.

For more information about Jamie Richardson and her gift, visit clarke.edu/magazine.

i n m u l A LAURA ROUSSELL ’99, ’04M DEGREE:

Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, Master of Business Administration CURRENT POSITION:

Senior Community Affairs Manager at Black Hills Energy CITY AND STATE:

Dubuque, Iowa Laura knows a thing or two about how to climb the corporate ladder. She started with Aquila (a natural gas utility company) as a front line customer service associate.

Since then, she has had several positions with the company including credit and collections, operations supervisor and external affairs manager.

“This varied experience gives me a very broad perspective of the company and provides a great background for my current role as senior community affairs manager for Black Hills Energy Iowa gas operations,” she said.

Her primary role is to lead the Iowa Community Affairs team in the development and implementation of all Iowa community programs and activities including franchise renewals, contributions, media relations, communications and employee involvement.

“I love what I do and enjoy the opportunity to make a difference for my company, our customers and my coworkers,” said Laura. “My education has allowed me to

CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

follow my passions and take advantage of these career opportunities along the way.”

And make a difference she has! In 2012, Laura was honored to receive the company’s corporate Chairman’s Award.

Laura attributes her success partly to Clarke’s TimeSaver program, which allows adults to take evening classes and earn their degree while working full-time.

“I was working full-time at Aquila (now Black Hills Energy) during my classes,” she said. “It was helpful to have this work experience as a backdrop for my studies. It gave me a better understanding of how the learning would apply in the workplace. I was in the same position as most of my classmates. We had just worked a full day at our job then headed to Clarke for the evening. It made for some very long days but it was such a great investment of my time. I developed relationships that I still call on today.”

Laura appreciated the flexibility that the TimeSaver program offered. It allowed her to find a balance between work, school and personal life.

“During my MBA studies, my husband was diagnosed with cancer,” said Laura. “Wanda (Ryan) Morrow arranged for me to take a few courses online during his recovery time so that I could be with him and not have to worry about attending class on campus. He has since had a full recovery and I am grateful for that!”

To this day, when Laura thinks about the day she graduated from Clarke, she can’t help but smile.

“I graduated from Clarke the same year that my son graduated from high school,” she said. “I still remember him yelling out “Way to go, Mom!” as I walked by to get my diploma. We had our pictures taken together in our caps and gowns. I’ll never forget that moment which represents such a rewarding experience at Clarke.”

Our alumni are making an impact around the world.

To view more stories, visit clarke.edu/magazine.

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BOFFELI TELLS CONVOCATION GATHERING: BE ENGAGED Tim Boffeli, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of the Psychology Department, shared his story with new Clarke students of overcoming adolescent years that included bullying and acting out to turning his life around in college.

Boffeli, as the 2015 recipient of the Meneve Dunham Award for Excellence in Teaching, addressed all new students at Clarke’s Convocation and Tree Planting Ceremony, held Sept. 9 in the Robert and Ruth Kehl Center.

Boffeli concluded by telling the new students, “Our time on earth is so limited that we need to make the most of our time. I truly believe that working for the common good is a great place to start. I pray that you join Clarke University faculty and staff in that life journey.”

President Joanne Burrows, SC, Ph.D., also addressed the Convocation gathering, welcoming students to the official opening of the 173rd academic year. Clarke Student Association President Shanna Forbes spoke to the audience as well.

There were four main points Boffeli wanted new students to take away from his address:

1. BE AUTHENTIC

“When I stopped worrying about what other people thought of me, I started to shed their negative definition of me. When I stopped socially comparing myself to others, I gave myself permission to invent me.

I started to decide what was in my best interest. Not in a selfish or narcissistic way but in a nourishing way.”

2. RESIST CONTROL

“My mind controls me. You cannot control me. I control myself. My mind controls how I perceive what is presently going on, my future and the influence of the past.”

3. SHOW UP AND ENGAGE

“Do not be a slug or social loafer by having the attitude ‘Show me a good time.’ Have the attitude ‘I am going to be the good time.’”

4. BEING WISE MEANS BEING A SPONGE

“I was watching a woodworking show one time.

The elderly woodworker said, ‘Wisdom is when you recognize that you made the same mistake twice.’

With the first mistake, you commonly cuss. With the second mistake, you say, Oh, I have done that before.

With wisdom, you do not make an error the third time because you see it coming. So be wise and learn from your mistakes so that you do not keep repeating them.”

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The time-honored tradition of presenting tassels to the new students also took place during Convocation, followed by the tree planting by the freshmen and the naming of the tree by the Class of 2016.

The seniors named their tree Groot, a character from the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The movie is about a group of very different people coming together to save the world. Groot is an alien tree that can only say “I Am Groot.” He dies in the end of the movie by sacrificing himself for his friends but, first says, “We are Groot!”

This is a great representation of different majors coming together and leaving a tree behind as they move on to start their next journey.

CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

FRANCIS J. O’CONNOR WINNERS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? This is another installment in a series of articles on former Francis J. O’Connor Award winners. Since 1935, this award has been recognized as the most prestigious honor bestowed upon a graduating senior. The Honorable Frank A. O’Connor established the Mary Agnes O’Connor Award in memory of his wife. In 1991, Clarke University in cooperation with the O’Connor family, renamed the award the Francis J. O’Connor Memorial Award to honor the late Francis J. O’Connor, a longtime Clarke trustee.

Criteria for the award include demonstrated leadership, cooperation, generosity, kindness and academic achievement. The award recipient is selected by a vote of seniors, faculty and staff.

PAT SPAIGHT KALIBAN WAS THE AWARD RECIPIENT IN 1955.

Tell us about your career.

Perhaps I was ahead of my time since my thought of becoming a sports writer after graduating from Clarke as an English major was not a possibility. In the mid-1950s, women were not allowed in the press box at any athletic event. There was no entry into the locker rooms or onto the field for interviews after games. Rather than fight the system, I chose a more welcoming career — elementary education. As a fourth-grade teacher in Davenport, Iowa, and then in Chicago, dealing with pre-tween children was a challenge but proved to be a delightful chapter in my life.

What impact did winning the award have on you?

At age 82, I must admit that I "can't remember" some of the most momentous events of my life. I do, however, vividly recall winning the O'Connor award 60 years ago. What a total shock!

That prize was intended for a senior who had the highest academic achievements and who had exhibited extraordinary traits in leadership, generosity and kindness.

What is your fondest memory of Clarke?

Fond memories of Clarke abound: freshman advisers; waiting in line to request permission for a 10:30 night out; Saturday afternoons at Diamonds; playing tennis and picnicking at Eagle Point while wearing nylon stockings; wearing nylon stockings every day; wonderful roommates; the beauty of Sister Michail; the compassion of Sisters Adorita and Lucilda; the brilliance of Sisters Philippa and Ignatia; the enduring care and concern of Sisters Carolanne and Ann Pauline; the terror of Sister Crescentia; the SLC; the Honor System; serving tables in the dining room while learning to properly set a table under the tyrannical eye of Sister Mildred Ann; breakfast with Father Friedman after Mass; Tim Gannon's psychology exams; attending "Hamlet" and "Finian's Rainbow" and falling in love with the star.

What advice would you give a student today?

Most of these memories will surely have little meaning to current Clarke scholars, but I do encourage them to embrace the wonderful surroundings of the Clarke campus. Get involved in what is offered there. You'll never find nicer people and make more lasting friends.

To view a full list of Francis J. O'Connor Award winners, visit clarke.edu/magazine.

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View more photos from Homecoming 2015 at www.clarke.edu/alumni.

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: CAMPUS LIFE Strong athletic programs are essential to the future of Clarke University. That’s why Clarke has added several sports in recent years including men’s and women’s lacrosse.

Lacrosse brought nearly 30 additional students to Clarke.

Athletics strengthen school spirit and campus vibrancy, which will enhance Clarke's ability to recruit and retain more students.

The outdoor venue will include lighting and synthetic playing surface for the existing competition field and for a new practice field.

At Clarke University, the term student-athlete is used quite literally. Clarke student-athletes are bright students first, and talented athletes second. This is something that has not changed since the beginning of Clarke athletics over 40 years ago.

One thing that has changed is the number of studentathletes attending Clarke. We welcomed a new freshman class of 181 students this fall, 60 percent of whom are student-athletes. They are intelligent students who have been competing in athletics their entire lives and wish to pursue participation at the collegiate level. And they don’t just shine on the court or field, but in the classroom, too: Clarke’s student-athletes have an overall higher grade-point average than non-athlete students.

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A growth in athletics necessitates facility improvements and expansions. As we progress with the Impact Tomorrow: The Campaign for Clarke, we embark on the Campus Life phase. This includes a $6 million goal to renovate and rejuvenate Clarke’s athletic venues. Slightly more than half of this goal will be devoted to the outdoor facilities that will accommodate both soccer and lacrosse. The remainder will allow for upgrades to the Kehl Center.

“The demand for access to Clarke’s athletic and fitness facilities grows each year,” said Clarke President Joanne Burrows, SC, Ph.D. “It is a continuing challenge to provide access to all who want to use the facilities. The Campus Life phase of the Impact Tomorrow campaign will support improvements to the Kehl Center’s fitness and team facilities and create a new practice field and updated competitive field venue which will impact the lives of all students, faculty and staff.”

The goals for the outdoor venue are to upgrade the competition field with lighting and a synthetic playing surface and a new lighted practice field with the same synthetic playing surface. This new facility will provide on-campus competition venues for the men’s and women’s soccer, lacrosse and field sport programs.

CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

The outdoor courtyard area between the existing weight room and the Kehl Center walking track will be enclosed to create an expanded weight room that is directly connected to the current weight room facility. This new space will complement the current weight room facility by adding more exercise machines such as ellipiticals, spinning bikes and treadmills, along with additional weight machines.

today AND tomorrow. We are excited to build upon the momentum created by the construction of the Center for Science Inquiry and add vibrancy to the Clarke campus by expanding and renovating our athletic facilities. With donor support we look forward to making these plans a reality and enhancing the Clarke experience for all students,” said Carolyn Gantz ’70 and Timothy Conlon.

Offering athletic opportunities contributes to traditional student retention by enhancing the campus life experience for all students. Attendance at athletic contests gives students added activities, fosters school spirit and provides a positive outlet for energy and competitive impulses.

Improving the quality of campus life is critical for improved enrollment and retention among traditional students.

For more information regarding the Impact Tomorrow Campaign, please contact the Institutional Advancement Office at (563)588-6405.

The expanded weight room will complement the existing facility.

These new venues will greatly strengthen campus spirit by developing an environment more conducive to fan and spectator attendance. The improvements will also address the recreational and fitness needs of the entire campus community, as well as the greater Dubuque community.

"Turfed fields and an upgraded fitness facility will be a boost for our athletics programs and are necessary for us to be more competitive with our peer institutions in terms of student recruitment,” said Clarke Director of Athletics Curt Long. “It will be exciting to see our plans become reality, and these venues will be fantastic ways to continue building vibrancy among students and the campus community.”

Clarke University strives to provide students with a robust campus life program beyond the classroom. Clarke’s athletic program is a key component of this goal by providing not only inherent wellness benefits, but as a key developer of important life skills such as time management, organization and ethical character.

“As members of the Clarke University Board of Trustees and co-chairs of the ‘Impact Tomorrow’ campaign our focus continues to be investing in the future for students

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LISTEN FOR CLARKE ALUMNUS LUKE FLYNN '13 IN

STAR WARS: EPISODE VII Luke Flynn ’13 recently landed a job in Los Angeles working on the musical scores for both Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.

“The job is absolutely incredible! I'm having a blast,” Luke said.

Luke earned his master’s degree in May 2015 from Butler University in Indianapolis, and two weeks later was offered a position as music score proofer with JoAnn Kane Music Service in Los Angeles. JoAnn Kane Music Service is the leading film and television music preparation company in the United States.

When describing his work, Luke said, “While the composers are scoring the films, they send all of the rough manuscript music to our office. We take the music they provide and create the final product as well as create all of the sheet music for the recording session.”

Luke’s job is to be the absolute final overseer of any mistakes or edits in the sheet music before it is printed and sent to the recording studio. After that’s done, Luke attends the orchestra's recording sessions, working on-site in case there are any last-minute changes to be made in the music.

Luke has worked on the following films since starting with JoAnn Kane in May: ˯˯ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens ˯˯ The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 ˯˯ Disney-Pixar's The Good Dinosaur ˯˯ Ant-Man ˯˯ Fantastic Four ˯˯ The Peanuts Movie ˯˯ Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials ˯˯ Gods of Egypt ˯˯ The Finest Hours ˯˯ Monster Trucks ˯˯ Concussion ˯˯ Television shows: The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad and Empire

Luke has been on the fast track since he graduated from Clarke two short years ago. During his first year of graduate school at Butler, he worked as a graduate assistant in composition, and during his second year, he held two assistantships: one in composition and one in music technologies.

In other exciting news for Luke, he got married in Japan during his first year of graduate school. His wife, Risa, is a native of Japan. They met while Luke was studying abroad in Japan during his time at Clarke. Luke says, “My immediate family all traveled with me for the wedding, and we got to spend 10 days in Kagoshima — an unforgettable experience.”

Congratulations, Luke! Clarke University is proud to call you one of our own.

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clarke.edu/clarkeday Clarke Day is a day to celebrate all things Clarke.

For 24 hours, we will flood the campus and social media sites with Clarke pride, memories, photos and more. Support Clarke on Clarke Day and help us reach our goal of 500 donors in 24 hours.

CELEBRATE CONNECT SUPPORT

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FROM THE DESK OF ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT, JANE DALY SEABERG ’78 Dear Alumni and Friends, I am pleased to share the Alumni Board has focused its efforts on answering two essential questions this year: ˯˯ How can we ensure that graduates of all eras feel a connection – and remain connected – to our alma mater? ˯˯ How can we as alumni leverage our professional experiences and connections to offer advice or help open doors for current students for internships, the job market or graduate and professional school?

Essential, you ask? Absolutely. Clarke alumni have what today’s students need: experience, wisdom and influence. As a result, during our recent meeting over homecoming weekend, the Board unanimously determined it would implement the following initiatives during the upcoming year: ˯˯ To work with Clarke’s Alumni Relations office and establish a young alumni component for our programming and communications. ˯˯ To connect Clarke students with alumni via electronic resources to offer insight into professions and pathways to graduate or professional school and employment. ˯˯ To offer a professional development component during Homecoming 2016, which provides career networking and workshops for students and alumni.

We see the entire Clarke community reaping many tangible benefits from these initiatives. Clarke graduates go on to do amazing things in the world. A quick look at our alumni presence on LinkedIn and other social media outlets certainly underscores that we are living proof that Clarke works.

We are educators, corporate and nonprofit executives, advocates, scientists, artists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, musicians, social workers, public officials, health care professionals, servant leaders, civic and community leaders, and more. Many of us are fulfilling our second or third careers thanks to the liberal arts foundation Clarke gave us.

We hope you will consider sharing your talents, experiences and connections with today’s Clarke students. What’s in it for you? What better way to see and better understand the Clarke of today than having meaningful conversations with students who share your interests and ambitions?

In many ways, the more things have changed at Clarke, the more they have stayed the same.

Clarke remains the place where professors and mentors see something more in students and ask more of them; where students make loyal, lifelong friends; where students find their voices; where they learn to lead and serve; where they become more aware of the larger world and their responsibility for it; where they learn to give back; and they learn to lead meaningful lives.

Whether you graduated from Clarke five or 35 years ago, it is still a special place you can call home. In the coming year, we hope you will come home to Clarke Drive and consider how you might support one or more of these initiatives as a steward of your alma mater. If you are interested in participating in any of these initiatives, please contact us at alumnirelations@clarke.edu.

It is a pleasure and a privilege serving Clarke and representing the graduates of this fine university.

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Jane Daly Seaberg ’78 President, Clarke University Alumni Association Board Lewisburg, Pa.

A PHOTO COLLECTION FROM ALUMNI EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ROCKFORD, ILINOIS (BELOW) L to R: Mary Jane (Walsh) Winn ’70, Rita Highland ’75 and Nancy (Clark) Kunnert ’61

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABOVE) L to R: Margaret Enzler ’65, Carol Enzler Dinan ’61, President Joanne Burrows, SC, Tersh Norton, Jean (Thornton) Norton ’61 BUSINESS AM (BELOW) The Clarke University Adult and Graduate Studies Office partnered with the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce to host their November Business AM. Pictured are Clarke alumni and members of the Dubuque community in the Fabiano Conference Room on Clarke’s campus.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (ABOVE) L to R: Margaret Kukec ’83, Collen Dansart ’10, ’12D, Peggy Vogt ’83, Caitlin Murray ’10, ’12D, Karen Chiappetta ’83

Want to see more alumni snapshots? Visit clarke.edu/alumni/eventphotos.

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GIVE WHAT IT TAKES TO

IT TAKES HEART. IT TAKES VISION. IT TAKES ACTION. IT TAKES YOU. Almost every student at Clarke receives some sort of financial aid. In fact, many wouldn’t be able to receive an education here without the support of donors like you. So your gift is more than appreciated; it’s necessary. Whatever is near and dear to you about Clarke can now be directly impacted by your gift. You choose where your gift will be used.

It’s your gift, your way.

YOUR GIFT. YOUR WAY. PAGE 22

888.225.2753 yourgiftyourway.org

ALUMNI

&

JULY 20 THROUGH NOVEMBER 5, 2015

NEWS Judith Hack '69 Merrillville, Ind. Judith was one of three Purdue University Calumet faculty members who received the university's 2014-15 Outstanding Faculty Awards for teaching, scholarship and service. Judith received the Outstanding Service Award for her 30-year career at Purdue Calumet, as associate professor of hospitality and tourism management, Hack has been a tireless advocate of advancing university, student and faculty success and academic quality.

She has been a long-time respected voice of the Faculty Senate and also has positively impacted service learning and experiential learning faculty initiatives. Her passion for service learning has impressed colleagues and students alike, as has her sincerity, positivity and professionalism. She was instrumental in Purdue Calumet's adoption of experiential learning, the integration of traditional and real world learning, as a baccalaureate degree requirement. Hack is a registered dietitian and holds a baccalaureate degree from Clarke College, master's degree from Purdue and a doctorate from Andrews University.

Diane (Lammer) Kutsch '73 Wichita, Kan. Diane presented a two-hour workshop at the International Literacy Association’s 60th annual conference in St. Louis in July 2015. She is a reading specialist with the Wichita Public School and plans to retire in May 2016.

Kathleen (Tillman) Porter '73 Arvada, Colo.

After 30 years in the same house, we recently downsized to a home in Arvada, Colo. The best part of the move is being closer to our grandchildren. The worst part is going through 30 years of "stuff".

Mary Beth (Carroll) Blatner '81 Oak Park, Ill. I recently (2013) earned a Master of Science in Education from Dominican University and have been very happy shaping the lives of the precious children in my first grade classroom for 13 years following a successful career in marketing and non-profit administration.

I am living proof that it is never too late to pursue your passion!

Cathy (Hemesath) Howell '83 Leesburg, Va. Cathy's daughter, Alyssa, was named Miss Nebraska and competed for Miss America in September, where she was a top 12 finalist.

Teri Lawson '92 Dubuque, Iowa Chalmers & Eaton Investment Services hired Teri Lawson as a financial advisor in association with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Lawson formerly worked as the brokerage operations coordinator at American Trust & Savings Bank.

Joe Cannavo '02 Dubuque, Iowa Joe Cannavo was hired at Heartland as a data architect. Cannavo will be responsible for researching and developing enterprise reporting solutions.

Christine Steines '04, '06M Columbus, Ohio Christine Steines enters her sixth season as the head of the Otterbein softball program this spring. Steines served as a graduate assistant softball coach at Otterbein in 2005, and was named the interim coach in 2009 before ultimately taking the reigns as head coach in 2010. Steines, a native of Dubuque, Iowa came to Otterbein from the University of Dayton where she served as assistant softball coach for two years. While at Dayton she helped lead the Flyers to their first 20-win campaign in three years and more than doubled their Atlantic 10 Conference win total from their previous season in 2007. Prior to coaching at Dayton, Steines had spent two seasons (2006 and 2007) as an assistant softball coach at her alma mater, Clarke College. At Clarke, Steines helped coach the Crusaders M - Master’s Degree from Clarke D - Doctorate Degree from Clarke

PAGE 23

to back-to-back 20-plus win seasons. A 2004 Clarke graduate, Steines earned four varsity letters and was a three-time first team All-Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) selection at catcher.

She served as team captain and was voted team Most Valuable Player three times. During her career, Steines competed in two NCAA Division III tournaments and also helped her team win the NIIC Conference Championship in both 2003 and 2004. In addition to her success on the field, she was an All-American Scholar Athlete and served as president of the NCAA Student Athletic Association Committee. Steines also competed as a collegiate athlete in volleyball and basketball. Steines, who received her master's degree in business administration from Clarke in 2006, currently resides in New Albany, Ohio.

Josh Sundstrom '04, '06M Mechanicsville, Iowa Josh Sundstrom is the founder and owner of Sundstop Convenience Stores.

He opened the company's third location of 2015 with the acquisition of the former Kwik Stop site along Hwy. 20 on the west end of Dyersville, Iowa.

Jenny (Harms) Link '08 Dubuque, Iowa A reception was held for the Alumni Spotlight Exhibition that featured the work of Jenny (Harms) Link and Marianne (Annie) Bennett ’09 on Saturday, Oct. 3, in the Quigley Gallery 1550. The exhibition was titled, “Pencil and Ink” and was on display from Saturday, Sept. 26, through Saturday, Oct. 17. Link's graphite drawings portray a figure with internal unrest physically manifested. She earned a bachelor's in fine arts in drawing from Clarke in 2008.

Marianne (Annie) Bennett '09 Jefferson City, Mo. A reception was held for the Alumni Spotlight Exhibition that featured the work of Annie Bennett and Jenny (Harms) Link ’08 on Saturday, Oct. 3, in the Quigley Gallery 1550. The exhibition was titled, “Pencil and Ink” and was on display from Saturday, Sept.

26, through Saturday, Oct. 17. Bennett's preparatory tattoo drawings are examples of her designs, commissions, tattoo stencils and art. She earned a bachelor's in fine arts in ceramic sculpture from Clarke in 2009.

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M - Master’s Degree from Clarke D - Doctorate Degree from Clarke

Brad Schweikert '11 Dubuque, Iowa Brad Schweikert was hired by McCullough Creative as a brand communication specialist. His responsibilities include the management and enhancement of client services and brand objectives.

Luke Flynn '13 Dubuque, Iowa Luke Flynn is working on the musical score for the movie, “Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens” as part of his role at Joann Kane Music Service in Los Angeles. (Please see Luke’s full story on page 18).

Nico Piscopo '14 Hartford, Conn.

Nico Piscopo won the University of Connecticut mock trial competition.

Nico teamed with a partner to win a mock trial competition open to first-year law students at UConn. "It was really exciting," said Nico, who majored in philosophy at Clarke. "The final argument was in front of three real judges and one of them sits on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. It was such a great experience." Overall, Nico is having a great time at UConn.

"The classes were engaging and I talked a lot," he wrote in an email to Clarke Professor of Philosophy Norm Freund. "New England has been wonderful so far. It is really nice to be so close to so many great cities. Our apartment is less than a two-hour drive from both Boston and New York. But I really do miss Clarke. It was such a great environment to go to school."

This summer, Nico worked for an employment law firm in Connecticut and he is the director of the William R. Davis Mock Trial Tournament, the same competition he won last year.

He authored the material that will be used in this year's tournament. He also had kind words for Norm and the entire philosophy department. "You have been such a great help to me, and everything you have done for me has meant so much," he said. "I truly would not be where I am today without you and everyone in the philosophy department."

Elizabeth Courtney '15 Dubuque, Iowa Elizabeth Courtney got engaged in September of 2015. The wedding is set for July 16, 2016.

Collin Heer '15 Coralville, Iowa Collin Heer started research in early July with Professor Dr. Prabhat Goswami at the University of Iowa. They are working toward an understanding of why cancer risk increases with age. Specifically, they are focusing on the cells and environment around the tumor and how it affects cancer risk and progression, rather than studying the tumor itself. This area of cancer research has become a hot topic lately.

Last summer, I worked with a different professor in the same program named Rick Domann. The project I worked on with another member of the lab was recently selected for publication.

Kelly Humphrey '15 Dubuque, Iowa Kelly Humphrey was hired by Hodge Company as a logistics coordinator.

Adam O'Dell '15 Bowling Green, Ohio Adam O’Dell recently had an article published in the International Choral Bulletin. The quarterly journal was published to thousands of readers across 85 countries. Adam’s graduate school, Bowling Green State University, also wrote about his publication in the International Choral Bulletin.

Nick Woltkamp '15 Dubuque, Iowa Nick Woltkamp was hired

by Cottingham & Butler as a financial services representative in accounting.

MARRIAGES Brian Elenz '04, '07M to Jill Bergfeld '15, Dubuque, Iowa Holly (Kueter) McPherson '06 to Matt, Bellevue, Iowa Ashley (Streeper) Kurt '07 to Matt, Cascade, Iowa

Matthew Adams '09 to Emily Cotton Cram, Dubuque, Iowa

Katherine (Welter) Gansen '05, '08M and Jesse, girl, Asbury, Iowa

Amara (Deckert) Wasmund '11 and Ben, boy, Scales Mound, Ill.

Lacy (Bettcher) Arant '09 to Jeff, Overland Park, Kan.

Dennis Petesch '05 and Amanda, boy, Bellevue, Iowa

Elizabeth Palmer '15 and Cory Schlitter, boy, Dubuque, Iowa

Wes Johannsen '10 to Megan Fiedler, Dubuque, Iowa

Kelly (Campbell) Eigenberger '06 and Brian, girl, Dubuque, Iowa

Kollin Ehlinger '11 to Jolene Clemen '11, Asbury, Iowa

Rachel (Swift) Teal '06 and Matt, boy, Dubuque, Iowa

Travis Ferrell '11 to Becca Bahl '11, Sanger, Calif.

Adam Van Cleave '07 and Lyssa, Dash Edward, Olathe, Kan. Nate Lech '07, '13M and Kayla (Shaffer) '10, Sofia Ann, Dubuque, Iowa Hillary (Waddell) Melvold '08 and Tim, Landon Thomas, Dubuque, Iowa Jen (Maurer) Slater '08 and Christopher, Claire Elizabeth, Freeport, Ill.

Sam (Ross) Shindelar '11 to Michael, Sun Prairie, Wis.

Jill (Durkop) Rockwell '09 and husband, Arthur (Art) James, Delmar, Iowa

Callie (Young) Nissen '13 to Mike, Ankeny, Iowa

Courtney (Townsend) Tucker '09 and Dave '09, boy, Dubuque, Iowa

BIRTHS

Kelly (Murphy) Yeager '09 and Nate, girl, Dubuque, Iowa

IN MEMORY Sophia (Lindle) Danner '37 Maleta (Fleege) Kellogg '41 Patricia (Mangold) Duggan '44 Eileen (Ehrhardt) Williams '45 Patricia Lalley '49 Anne (Lyons) Lammer '49 Peg (Gaffney) Sinclair '49 Charleen (Reilly) O'Connell '50 Dorothy (Reed) Winter '51 Mary Schmidt, BVM '54 June (Cook) Glaser '55 Benita (Kane) Kirschbaum '55 Vivina Bly, BVM '61 Terri Daly Peterson '61 Mary (Cismoski) Goetzinger '68 Susan (Arthur) Hummer '71 Julie (Mapes) Lavacek '78 Martha (Lamansky) Lundh '80M Mary Kay (Juergens) Adams '81 Angela (Haggas) Kruszynski '93 Scott Long '97

Ross Chapman '99, '00M and Amy (Gatena) '13M, girl, East Dubuque, Ill. Leslie (Baumann) Munson '03 and Eric, Nora Carolynn, Avondale, Ariz.

Mary Kay (McLain) Yaklin '03 and Fabian '03, Felicity, Prior Lake, Minn.

Jessica (Then) Lester '04 and Chris, boy, Peosta, Iowa Josh Sundstrom '04, '06M and Theresa (Weber) '07, Kenneth Robert, Mechanicsville, Iowa Alissa (Beck) Ausmann '05 and Joseph '05, Victoria Eden, Northbrook, Ill. Bridget Daly Wilhelm '05 and John, Patrick John, Peosta, Iowa Dan Dunne '05 and Jessica, girl, Andrew, Iowa

M - Master’s Degree from Clarke D - Doctorate Degree from Clarke

SHARE YOUR JOY:

SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE YOUR LIFE IS FULL OF AMAZING HAPPENINGS – AND WE LOVE TO SHARE IN YOUR JOY! Share your updates with us for inclusion in the magazine by emailing alumnirelations@clarke.edu or online at clarke.edu/alumni.

(Don’t forget to send pictures!)

PAGE 25

AARON THOMAS: YOUR RESPONSE TO ADVERSITY WILL DEFINE YOU

Aaron Thomas told an audience of nearly 700 people at Clarke University that the reason many good things have happened to him is because of the way he and his family responded to tragedy.

Aaron gave the Mackin-Mailander Lecture on Sept. 23 in the Robert and Ruth Kehl Center.

"I can be mad. I can be bitter," Aaron said. "That wasn’t going to change the fact that my father's still going to be gone. All of the opportunities I have had are because of the reaction I had to a terrible tragedy.

Something bad will happen to everyone. You will lose someone you love. There is no way to control that. But you can control the way you react to that.”

The Thomas family experienced one tragedy when their hometown of Parkersburg, Iowa, was devastated by an EF5 tornado in 2008. The tornado wiped out nearly half of the town, including the high school, and killed seven people.

The worst for the Thomas family was still to come.

Just one year later Aaron’s father, Ed Thomas, a legendary high school football coach who was instrumental in helping the town recover from the deadly tornado, was shot and killed by a former player named Mark Becker, who was dealing with mental health issues.

Through it all, Aaron’s faith and the faith of his family never wavered. When Aaron spoke at a press conference on behalf of the family shortly after the shooting, he made sure to tell the Parkersburg community to keep the Becker family in its prayers as well. Rather than shun the family of their father's murderer and perpetuate the tragedy Parkersburg faced, Aaron and his family called for understanding and forgiveness – because that's what Ed Thomas would have wanted them to do.

Their courage and admirable response eventually led to the family winning the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2010 ESPY Awards. The family also traveled to New York and was invited to NFL games in New Orleans and Kansas City.

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The Thomas family would return all of those things to have their father back, but Aaron said the lesson is that your reaction to a bad experience will define you.

Aaron Thomas addresses a packed Robert and Ruth Kehl Center during the Mackin-Mailander Featured Lecture.

Aaron was working in La Porte City, Iowa, at the time of his father's murder and returned to Parkersburg to take over his father’s responsibilities as athletic director and continue the legacy his father had built in being not only a school leader, but an example for the town to follow. He is currently the principal and head boys basketball coach at Aplington-Parkersburg High School.

Aaron told the crowd that his father won two state championships and 292 games in 37 years at Parkersburg. He coached four players who would make it to the NFL. But that wasn’t his legacy. His legacy was how he treated people and how he cared about every kid who played for him.

CLARKE | THE MAGAZINE OF CLARKE UNIVERSITY

UPCOMING

“We didn’t have 4,500 people at his funeral because he was a great football coach,” Aaron said. “Those people were there because he was a great man.”

MACKIN-MAILANDER FACULTY LECTURE Clarke University Professor of Sociology Rachel Daack, Ph.D., gave the Mackin-Mailander Faculty Lecture, “Other People’s Children and the Common Good,” on Oct. 27 in Jansen Music Hall.

Through stories of her own and others’ experiences, Daack encouraged attendees to consider new or renewed thoughts about others and the role each of us can play in creating good. Caring about and creating good for those who are not part of our close circle requires a special kind of energy, she said.

Daack said many people are willing to help “cute” children in need, but she reminded the audience that children grow up.

“It is irrational to only care about them until they reach a certain age,” she said.

She urged audience members to become engaged in their communities. There were many people from area social service groups in the audience who shared what they are doing in the community.

“Care about others and create an excellent community,” she said.

Lectures DONNA EWY ’86

Mackin-Mailander Alumni Lecture Sunday, February 28 | 5 p.m.

Jansen Music Hall, Clarke University Campus Admission is free Donna graduated from Clarke with majors in math and elementary education. She taught at St. Columbkille in Dubuque for four years before attending medical school at the University of Kansas. She graduated from Kansas in 1994.

She is board certified in both family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

She currently works for Via Christi Clinic in Newton, Kan., in the newly formed Department of Geriatrics with a mission of caring for nursing home residents. She is a medical director of seven nursing homes and a hospice facility. Donna is also a clinical associate professor for the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita.

KOHL CRECELIUS

Mackin-Mailander Featured Lecture Sunday, March 13 | 1 p.m.

Robert and Ruth Kehl Center, Clarke University Campus Kohl Crecelius is the CEO and co-founder of Krotchet Kids Intl., a non-profit company that sells hats and goods made in Uganda and Peru. Based out of Costa Mesa, Calif., Krotchet Kids currently employs 150 women in Uganda and 30 women in Peru, pairing work with mentorship and education to build sustainable opportunities and investment in local communities.

Kohl will talk about how Krotchet Kids has created a sustainable cycle of employment and empowerment where it is most needed.

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CLARKE UNIVERSITY CHOIR WILL JOURNEY TO PRAGUE Clarke’s choir students are about to have the experience of a lifetime at the 10th annual Prague Choral Festival in the Czech Republic. Prague is known to many as THE city for music and is also famous for its cultural heritage. The festival goals are to gather people together who love music, share musical experiences, perform together and enjoy the city of Prague.

Assistant Professor of Music Jeremy Mims reflected, “Traditions are an important aspect of the Clarke University experience. Over the years, we have traveled with student groups to Ireland, Japan, India, Soviet Union, Poland, Czech Republic and Puerto Rico. We are continuing that legacy with this trip.”

Clarke also encourages alumni and friends to accompany the choirs for this international journey. In the past, students have been fortunate enough to use funds gifted by generous donors for these travel experiences.

“As a professional in the music field, I know how important it is for students to share their talents with the world through travel opportunities,” said Frank McClain ’84, director of the Grand Opera House. “I am still grateful today for the generous donors who helped me gain valuable travel experiences when I was a Clarke student.”

The Clarke Collegiate Singers, our mixed ensemble, and Cantabile, our women’s choir, will combine for the trip in July 2016. Clarke’s singers will meet with other prestigious vocal groups to perform for seven days in Smetana Hall, which is one of Europe’s most famous concert halls. The experience will end with a performance of Orff ’s Carmina Burana.

Travel abroad is an invaluable and essential tool in a student’s educational experience. Travel abroad tours give students the opportunity to refine their skills, connect with people and experience the trip of a lifetime. Travel abroad experiences also allow students to see new parts of the world, discover a new appreciation for cultures unlike their own and gain independence.

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In addition to attending the Prague Choral Festival, the choir will spend five days in Germany. They will perform several concerts in noteworthy places like St. Thomas Church, home of the famous St. Thomas Boys Choir. The choir will also tour Berlin and see extraordinary sights such as Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden Strasse and the Bach Museum.

“I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity,” said sophomore Jennifer Pohlman, choir member and physical therapy major. “I have never been out of the country, and I am very fortunate to be able to sing in college and travel the world. Choir has taken me to California, Hawaii and, now, here I go to Germany and Prague.”

For more information or to support our students as they prepare for this trip, please contact the Clarke Music Department at (563)588-6412 or development@clarke.edu. To learn more about the festival, visit www.praguechoralfestival.com.

THE BACK PAGE A L OOK AT YES T ER DAY AN D TODAY

MARY FRANCES HALL

Mary Frances Hall is named after Clarke University Foundress Mother Mary Frances Clarke and is the oldest residence hall on campus. It was built in 1924 and is unique with its varying room sizes and shapes, high ceilings and hardwood floors. Over the years, students have enjoyed their time living in “Mary Fran� and have memories ranging from studying in the formal lounge to the annual haunted house on the fourth floor. Today, it is home to approximately 100 upperclassmen, who are making their own Mary Fran memories!

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1550 Clarke Drive Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3198

CLARKE HEADS TO ! g n i n i a r t g n i r p s CHICAGO

CUBS

Sloan Park, Mesa, Arizona Join the Clarke Alumni Office in March to catch spring training with the Chicago Cubs.

For more details, call (563)588-6559.