Central Michigan University Alumni Magazine
Winter 2017
Talented Chippewa artists have crafted works that bring energy and beauty to CMU
centralight Winter 2017
On the cover Gete-Achitwa-Asinakkwe (Ancient Honorable Stone Woman) stands proudly outside the University Art Gallery. The sculpture by Jason Quigno is carved from black basalt and was commissioned by the Art on Campus Committee with a grant from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and additional funding from the CMU President’s Office. The work was dedicated in honor of CMU President Arthur Ellis, who served from 1986-88. Quigno is a Grand Rapids artist who grew up on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Reservation and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation. PHOTO BY STEVE
JESSMORE ’81
Features
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CMU has more than 600 works of original art — an impressive, diverse collection with many pieces created by alumni.
CMU’s groundbreaking Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates program, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has become the foremost concept of its kind in the country.
Art all around us
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Virtual protection
Cyber criminals are attacking with alarming frequency, making cybersecurity experts more vital today than at any other time in history. CMU alumni are among the ranks of those working to secretly out-cyber and outsmart the bad guys.
Advocating for safety on campus
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Wrestling with success
In 27 years, Coach Tom Borrelli has built the CMU wrestling program into a force. His success is based on pragmatism, discipline, toughness, empathy and love.
Executive Editor and Executive Director of Alumni Relations Marcie Otteman Grawburg, ’87 Editor
Betsy Miner-Swartz, ’86 Managing Editor
Robin Miner-Swartz
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Departments
Steve Jessmore, ’81 Writers
Research Associate Bryan Whitledge
18 Big Picture Climb the stairs into the Bovee University Center and you’ll be wowed by an installation celebrating CMU’s 125th anniversary.
Editorial Assistants Vicki Begres, ’89; Lori Conroy Communications Committee Rebeca Barrios, Chair, ’00, MBA ’02 Scott Haraburda, ’83 Sean Hickey, ’88, M.A. ’90 Bob Van Deventer, ’74 Tom Worobec, ’93 Nicole Yelland, ’05
26 Hidden Central A new wall display in Warriner Hall honors donors to Central.
Vice President for Advancement Robert Martin
36 Alumni News Men’s basketball’s top players begin their careers overseas.
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Photographer
Dan Digmann, M.A. ’15 Cynthia Drake, M.A. ’08 Terri Finch Hamilton, ’83 Andy Sneddon
4 CMU Today President and Mrs. Ross endow three scholarships with a $1 million gift.
38 In Memory
Graphic Designer Erin Rivard, ’07, MBA ’16
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Associate Vice President of University Communications Sherry Knight, ’86 For advertising information Call Cindy Jacobs, ’93 (800) 358-6903
Stay connected Send change of address information to: Alumni Relations Carlin Alumni House Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Phone: (800) 358-6903 Fax: (989) 774-7159 Email: alumni@cmich.edu Web: cmich.edu/alumni/Centralight
Body contains 30% post-consumer waste
Centralight is published three times each year by the Central Michigan University Office of Alumni Relations. It is printed by Quad/Graphics, Midland, and entered at the Midland Post Office under nonprofit mailing. CMU, an AA/EO institution, provides equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities (see cmich. edu/ocrie). Copies of Centralight are distributed to alumni and friends of the university who are paid Gold Members or donors to CMU. A virtual edition of the magazine is available free online at alumni.cmich.edu/centralight. UComm 9787–24,000+ (11/17)
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Your
DENty GOLOpportuni MEMORIES and FRIENDS
The
you share with your alma mater didn’t end with graduation. Continue to make new ones! Become a
Gold Member of the CMU Alumni Association today! cmich.edu/alumni
Keep the old, and bring the
GOLD!
CMU is an AA/EO institution, providing equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities (see cmich.edu/ocrie). UComm 9794 - 2017
A love for CMU that endures for generations Historical mementos are welcome reminders as we celebrate 125 years By Marcie Otteman Grawburg, ’87, executive director of alumni relations Celestine Theodore Van Dalen and his brother, Deobold, attended Central State Teachers College between 1931 and 1936. They played on the varsity football and basketball teams. They both played football on Alumni Field as Bearcats and wore classic leather helmets. On crisp fall days as the leaves changed to maroon and gold, they proudly sported their varsity sweaters while walking to class across our beautiful campus. Celestine’s daughter, Mary, delivered their sweaters to us this fall as a final gift from her dad and uncle. They wanted the university they loved to have them. Both became educators. Celestine had a long career teaching physical and health education in Flint and Midland public schools. Deobold taught history and social studies in Mount Clemens and Grosse Pointe before becoming a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, then at University of California-Berkeley. Their varsity sweaters will have a new home in the Museum of Cultural and Natural History, preserved there for CMU students and schoolchildren to see and appreciate. There were fewer than 1,800 students back when the brothers were undergrads. A graduate degree wasn’t an option (that came in 1938), and America was in the midst of the Great Depression. Deobold and his wife, Marcella, created an endowed scholarship in their estate plans.
Calendar January
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Detroit Pistons Game, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
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Skiable Feast, Gaylord
February
9
Sunset Cruise, Naples, Florida
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Red Wings Game, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
March
Something else related to our history happened this fall. Lyman “Pete” Ketzler, who designed our university seal in 1953 as a sophomore at Central State Teachers College, came to campus.
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The Villages Golf Outing, Summerfield, Florida
Pete was with his daughter, Kristin – also a CMU alum – to watch his granddaughter march in the color guard. I told him that graduates line up with proud family members every commencement weekend waiting to take their picture in front of the iconic symbol he created 64 years ago.
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Detroit Tigers Spring Training Game, Lakeland, Florida
Pete’s granddaughter Molly is the third generation in his family to attend CMU. I was lucky enough to meet Pete on his visit to campus and to spend some time hearing from Mary about her dad and uncle. It’s never hard for me to imagine a lifelong connection to our alma mater, but these families and so many others take legacy to a new level. Forever maroon and gold,
May
4-6
Commencement, Mount Pleasant
June
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Great Lake Loons, Dow Diamond, Midland
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Founders Brewing Co. Social, Grand Rapids
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Grandparents U, Mount Pleasant
This is a small sampling of the many alumni events. Please visit alumni.cmich.edu for a comprehensive list.
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CMU Today President and Mrs. Ross endow scholarships with $1 million gift Commitment benefits music, accounting, medical students President George E. and Elizabeth Ross reinforced their commitment to Central Michigan University and its students with a $1 million gift endowing three scholarships to benefit vocal music, accounting and medical school students. “It’s the truest gift from a president’s heart that I’ve ever seen,” says Robert K. Martin, vice president for advancement. “When he asks others to give to CMU, he asks them to support students — just like he and Elizabeth have.” Dr. Ross was an accounting major in college; Mrs. Ross earned a business education degree. She has an affinity for vocal music and is known for occasional singing appearances during community functions and in church. Their fondness for CMU’s College of Medicine, which graduated its first class in May, stems from two facts — it opened its doors under Ross’ leadership, and its students are dedicated to rural and medically underserved communities. “Education is transformational,” the president says. “It changed my life. Helping students earn their degree is our way of giving back.” •
CMU announces key partnerships with Ford, Quicken Loans Students will benefit from prime access to internships, jobs In his State of the University address on the 125th anniversary of the founding of CMU, President George E. Ross announced Ford Motor Co. and Quicken Loans as CMU’s first premier business partners. Juan Peralta (left) and Koblar Alan Jackson
$4.8 million grant boosts physics research CMU professors lead multiple-university search to fix a flawed molecular theory Two CMU physics professors are at the forefront of a four-year, $4.8 million U.S. Department of Energy research grant.
Ford has ranked CMU among its top recruiting institutions in the world. The corporation employs nearly 1,000 CMU alumni, and it sponsors the university’s Baja race team.
Koblar Alan Jackson is the project director named in the grant, and his physics department colleague Juan Peralta is a senior investigator. The project spans five universities and 10 senior scientists.
CMU is one of Quicken Loans’ top three university recruitment partners in the country. More than 420 alumni are employed by the Quicken family of companies, and dozens of CMU students intern with the company every summer. •
“What we’re doing, it’s big,” Jackson says.
Jim Livingston of Quicken Loans (left) and Birgit Behrendt of Ford Motor Co. joined President Ross for the announcement.
The researchers aim to solve a long-running challenge in molecular modeling — the science of using computer calculations to make predictions about materials at the atomic or molecular level. CMU will hire two postdoctoral researchers and two doctoral graduate students. Eight to 10 undergraduate students are expected to participate over four years. “You want to involve students in these types of projects, because they’re the next generation of scientists,” Peralta says. • 44
“CMU students and graduates will have prime access to internships and jobs, thereby addressing gaps in our partners’ talent pool,” he said in his address. “Our students and faculty also will be positioned to help our partners solve essential challenges through research and capstone projects. It’s a win-win proposition.”
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CMU Today In-demand health programs to expand CMU unveils plans for new integrated health studies building The new $26 million Center for Integrated Health Studies will help grow Central Michigan University health care programs. The two-story, 50,000-square-foot building will stretch north and south from the west side of the Health Professions Building. The first floor will include an auditorium, student collaboration areas, graduate student offices, and labs for human physiology, physical therapy and physician assistant students. The second floor will include an interprofessional education lab, with both simulation and standardized patient centers, additional faculty offices for program expansion, and several classrooms. “Students in all of our disciplines will be learning together, leading to improved patient outcomes,” says Thomas Masterson, dean of the Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions. He says the new facility will benefit the health professions’ clinical programs, as demand for these grows and the population ages. The building is expected to be completed by November 2019. The center will be the first new structure on campus since the Biosciences Building was completed in 2016. Grawn Hall’s renovation was finished this summer. •
It’s time to fawn over Grawn $10.8 million business college makeover positions CMU’s oldest building for the future Chuck Crespy stands in the afternoon sunlight filling Grawn Hall’s soaring new atrium. “Right about here,” he says, “is where the dumpster was.” Crespy, dean of CMU’s College of Business Administration, loves pointing out before-and-after settings at Grawn, the building with the longest history on campus. Built 102 years ago, it opened this fall after a 17-month, $10.8 million addition and renovation that revamped 16,200 square feet, added 6,600 square feet and woke up its “tired” collection of classrooms to modern purposes and possibilities. A Which Wich sandwich shop hosts working lunches with colleagues and instructors. Handles on the backs of plush chairs invite rearranging for impromptu team sessions. Skype-ready huddle spaces with flat screens and whiteboards can accommodate global teleconferences. And the atrium where the trash bins and loading dock used to be? With its drop-down screen and the right seating, it becomes a multimedia conference space for 280 people. More than anything else, Grawn Hall resembles a modern corporate office — which is exactly the point, Crespy says. The makeover helps with education, student experience and recruiting. • Grawn time-lapse Grawn renovations centralight Winter ’17
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Many works featured throughout CMU were created by alumni BY CYNTHIA J. DRAKE, M.A. ’08
CMU has in its holdings more than 600 works of original art — an impressive, diverse collection created by alumni and nationally recognized painters and sculptors. It’s important for students to be immersed in an art-rich environment, says Anne Gochenour, director of CMU’s Art Gallery. Student artists can see themselves in other artists and draw inspiration from their work. Beyond that, art enriches the lives of students pursuing other areas of study, too. “It adds value to life,” says Gochenour, who is working on an ambitious project with a committee to catalog all of CMU’s artwork. “All students need to be exposed to the visual arts. Having art actually displayed on campus also contributes to their education.” Here are the stories of five alumni whose artwork resides on campus. > Young alumni art display centralight Winter ’17
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ON MY FIRST DAY OF CERAMICS CLASS AT CMU, I SAID TO MYSELF, ‘I COULD DO THIS FOREVER.’ AND I DID. — SHIRLEY BRAUKER
Shirley Brauker’s “Ceramic Vase (goat vase)” (not pictured, but similar to this) is showcased in the Bovee UC Multicultural Center.
SHIRLEY BRAUKER, ’81, M.A. ’83 Shirley Brauker, owner of Moon Bear Pottery and Indian Arts in Coldwater, is a prominent American potter. Some of her work is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Indian Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Earlier this year, she won first place in diversified arts at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts’ Santa Fe Indian Market, the largest and most competitive of its kind since 1922. “I first knew I wanted to become an artist when I was just a young child. I actually remember it was at age 4 or 5. I know this because I was still too young to attend school myself. I was waiting for my sister to get off the school bus at the end of our driveway. It had rained the night before, and there was a mud puddle there with pliable clay in it. As I waited, I created an entire village. I used sticks to build a log cabin, complete with clay chinking, stick horses and, of course, pottery. Then on my first day of ceramics class at CMU, I said to myself, ‘I could do this forever.’ And I did.’”
MY WORK “My work is mainly in pottery, but I also enjoy drawing and creating works of art on old 1880s ledger pages. I carve intricate designs on the surface of my pots to tell stories or depict images from old woodland beadwork designs. It is my way of keeping these stories alive, as well as the beadwork patterns. I type many of the stories to go along with the pieces so others can enjoy retelling the stories, too. I try to give a brief account of the many parts of my art so people will understand my work along with my native heritage.” For her series of intricate vases, the technique came to Brauker in a dream while she was a student at CMU. “It showed me the ‘cut-out’ style that has become one of my trademarks. I really enjoy making these. I’m always anxious to see the finished project. There are a lot of construction issues that need to be understood before I start cutting the clay. I need to incorporate structures that help maintain the shape so it doesn’t crack or warp. Everything has to be in balance. This piece has added clay to complete the scene in the rocks, sheep and trees. There also is a band of incised carvings at the top of the jar that represent woodland patterns.” >
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Todd Herzberg, ’12
MY WORK
Todd Herzberg is a graduate student finishing his Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Last fall, his work was featured in the third annual Hand Pulled Prints: The Current Practice in Printmaking at SITE:BROOKLYN in New York.
“ ‘Colloquial’ (2012, 180 linoleum relief prints on muslin) was a project where I carved a linoleum relief print every day for 180 days. The goal was to create a nonrepresentative selfportrait based on the objects of my surroundings. Although individually each object has little significance, when viewed as a whole, patterns and correlations would start to draw a picture of the creator.”
“I think my entry into the art world started when I was a junior in high school, where I took my first art class since seventh grade. I was instantly hooked on how I could use my art as a productive outlet for all my teenage emotion and angst. I then took at least two art classes per semester while I was in high school and ended up being voted ‘most artistic’ when I graduated. I just found something that I enjoyed doing and have kept doing it for the past 12 years.”
CMU INFLUENCES “Johanna Paas, associate professor of printmaking, was one of the best instructors I could have asked for. She just has an ability to inspire her students that is amazing. When I’m struggling in the studio now, I still can hear her voice in the back of my head saying, ‘Make! Make! Make!’ — a mantra she would often repeat in the studio.” >
Todd Herzberg has two pieces titled “Colloquial Series” and “Czernina,” which are currently housed in Park Library.
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Rose Wunderbaum Traines, ’51 Rose Wunderbaum Traines sculpts with metals and old found objects in her two-car garage studio in Mount Pleasant, even at 89 years old. She has created more than 600 original sculptures and showcased her work in exhibitions throughout the country and overseas. “My brother taught me how to use a cutting torch when I was 11 or 12 years old. My family had a scrap business, and he was volunteering to go into the Army at the time. He wanted me to learn how to use the tools, so I’d go with my dad to cut down big trucks and cars and farm machinery. Along the way, I was in some factories, and I did rivets during the war, so I was known as Rosie the Riveter in my town during that time. “It wasn’t until my last year in college when I realized I wanted to work with metal and be a sculptor. I was a fan of Alexander Calder, the father of mobile art, and I was very much taken with the beauty of the work he did with stained glass. I made some pendants and mobiles myself out of stained glass and copper, then I decided to do larger works and more stationery kinds of things.” Rose Wunderbaum Traines has a piece titled Schuss Kabob in the Bovee University Center, Wound and Wound She Goes is in the Alumni House (pictured below), and Ballet Up to Barre is in Park Library.
MY WORK “I like to use identifiable objects to make another identifiable object. By working them into a figure – an animal, birds or flowers – all of a sudden, you have something that you think is alive, and it’s so exciting and fascinating. As you give them shape, you also give them life. I either want to pat them on the head, hug them, or stand back and laugh. My whole thrust is to make people laugh and smile. I loved it from the beginning, and I love it much more even now.” >
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Bruce Thayer, ’74, B.F.A. ’75 Bruce Thayer is a painter and printmaker who lives in Mason and has made, shown and sold his art for four decades, exhibiting in places such as Budapest, Macao and Portugal. “I would say one of my earlier influences was Diego Rivera. I was able to visit some of his murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts when I was younger. A lot of my art involves my experiences — I played one year of football, I was on the wrestling team for three years. After graduation, I worked in the Oldsmobile factory in Lansing and then at the General Motors Proving Grounds, in addition to earning an M.F.A. from the Chicago Art Institute and giving printmaking workshops. I think a lot of my work and experiences, especially working in the industrial plants, working in plastics and a lot of new things, it did influence my art.”
MY WORK “At Central I was trying different things out, everything from abstraction to figurative drawing. I did quite a bit of figurative satire. I was doing some social satire drawings in the dorm room. The Vietnam War was still kind of chugging along, and there were a lot of negative things going on. “Printmaking has a history of bringing the common person into enlightenment, going back to the first printmaking where they typeset for books — even the Bible — stories where individuals didn’t have access to the work until it was printed. “With most of my work, I’m hoping people come away with introspection and questions about what things are going on in society. I try to present things so they have a humorous aspect to them. It’s easier to take in and digest, where it’s not just kind of slamming you in the head with an idea.” >
Bruce Thayer’s piece titled “American Dog Walker” is hanging in the provost’s office in Warriner Hall.
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Ifeoluwaloju Zuri, ’16 Ifeoluwaloju Zuri is a freelance artist in Detroit.
Ifeoluwaloju Zuri’s piece “Rollercoaster” is on display in the Charles V. Park Library.
“I was born and raised in Detroit to a single mother. While growing up in Detroit, I learned to cope with tragedies and struggles through my art. I was constantly on the fence about pursuing art as a career due to my fear of the possibility of not making a living. However, I love making art. The allure of it being a limitless avenue won me over. These days everything around me inspires my artwork. Just talking to people influences my artwork because I get a look into the things they are struggling with and see if I can connect with that struggle.”
MY WORK “I created ‘Rollercoaster’ (2016, acrylic mixed media, mulch on wood panel) to express that feeling of a racing mind. My primary medium is acrylic paint, and my subject matter is generally self-portraits that are not naturalistic but representational. I work in multiple materials, whatever the artwork calls for. Here I used the leaves and twigs to represent the heavy weight of anxiety. “I want my artwork to stand for something I believe in. I feel that we as humans need to explore our layers — we are more than the surface layer. Realizing that will help us be less negative toward each other.”
CMU INFLUENCES “Being at CMU broadened my horizons and opened my perception of the world, and my artwork still grows from that opportunity. My professors all saw more potential in me than I did in myself and challenged and persuaded me to explore more deeply to tap into that potential.” •
Have you seen this
artwork?
CMU has a growing collection of work by prominent artists. Here are just a few examples to check out on your next visit. PHOTOS BY STEVE JESSMORE, ’81
James Adley
Two paintings by London-born James Adley, who later settled in Michigan and made his career at Michigan State University, are in the Music Building Lobby, “Entente/Boundaries” (1988, acrylic on canvas) and “Nature Vivante” (1984, acrylic on linen). These are appropriate locations for the artist’s works, which embrace his love of music.
Brooks Emerson Warriner Hall’s staircase mural was painted sometime between the late 1930s and 1940s by Brooks Emerson, ’37, whose artwork once was featured on the cover of Centralight. The mural reflects the aesthetic of Works Progress Administration murals of that time. Nature Vivante
Richard Haas
Noah’s Gateway
CMU owns a work of unknown title (1964, acrylic on canvas) from Richard Haas, a friend of painter James Adley and now a famous trompe l’oeil muralist in New York City. He often uses architecture as his subject. The piece is hanging in Wightman’s lecture hall, Room 142.
Charles McGee Many alumni will recognize the iconic CMU artwork in the pond by the Student Activity Center. Noah’s Gateway (1992, steel, awl grip) was commissioned by CMU for the university’s centennial celebration. McGee, now 93 and an acclaimed artist, installed an 11-story mural last summer in downtown Detroit called “Unity.”
Alice Neel Alice Neel is considered one of the great American painters of the 20th century. Her work “John” (1980, lithograph) is typical of her expressionistic style and is part of CMU’s collection. Among other works by noted artists in exhibition rotation are pieces by Will Barnet, Salvador Dali, Alexander Calder and Joan Miro. 12 12
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today! cmich.edu/alumni CMU is an AA/EO institution, providing equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities (see cmich.edu/ocrie). UComm 9789 - 2017 centralight Winter ’17
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JESSMORE PHOTO BY STEVE
CMU alums help keep businesses, military safe from cyber attacks BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83
Cyber criminals are attacking with alarming frequency, making the work of cybersecurity experts more vital today than at any other time in history. CMU alumni are among the ranks of those working to secretly out-cyber and outsmart the bad guys. One collaborates with hackers to learn how to keep car computer systems safe. Another works to reduce a company’s threats from the inside. And one leads Michigan’s military “cyberwarriors” as they defend our nation’s crucial infrastructure. At least one other Central alum is involved in high-level cybersecurity, but his employer wouldn’t allow him to be interviewed because his work is so top secret. Here’s a look at the important work three Chippewas are doing. > 14
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Teaming up with hackers Jennifer Tisdale, ’15, protects your car’s software system from hackers — by actually working with hackers. “Not all hackers are criminals,” says Tisdale, cyber automotive project manager for Mazda North American Operations. She calls them “cyber researchers,” and these freelance experts are a critical component of her work. “If they detect a flaw in Mazda code, I work with them to identify the vulnerabilities in the system, then coordinate with our engineers to mitigate the risk,” she says. “I bring the people building the cars together with the people who are trying to break them.” Automotive cybersecurity is more critical than ever. “The auto industry is changing at a very rapid pace,” Tisdale says. “We are acting as software developers more than ever before. We’re basically driving computers on wheels.”
“I was a working adult, trying to finish my degree,” she says. “It was a long road. I became a mom twice while I worked and took classes I thought would further my government career, and it did.” Tisdale went on to work as executive director of the Michigan Homeland Security Consortium, then as cyber mobility program manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Her CMU education, she says, gave her a solid foundation. “I often refer back to my CMU classes, whether to notes I took or just mentally reflecting on what I learned,” Tisdale says. “I carry CMU with me all the time.” The cybersecurity field changes so fast, most human resources departments struggle to write accurate job descriptions, Tisdale says. “The exciting thing about the cybersecurity industry is it takes so many forms,” Tisdale says. “It’s not just about being a coder. I’m a business strategist.
The more connected our cars become, the more vulnerable they become to hacking, she says.
“Cyber touches every industry possible,” she says. “And it’s ever-changing. No day is ever the same.”
“There are hackers out there looking to remotely access a vehicle, shut it down and demand money to restart it,” she says. “If I’m on my way to an important meeting, I might pay it.”
Tisdale knows more than most of us about breaches in cybersecurity.
Her job is to keep that from happening. Tisdale earned a bachelor of science degree in community development and public administration through CMU’s Global Campus while working at the U.S. Attorney General’s office.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,” she says. “I’m probably a bit more paranoid than other people because of my work within the hacking community. I understand the psychology and motivation behind them.” On the bright side, she notes: “I have good job security.” >
PHOTO BY STEVE
JESSMORE
Physics professor Juan Peralta works with students in CMU’s data center. The facility is designed to ensure safe, reliable 24/7 operation of the campus computer servers and to accommodate complex mechanical and electrical equipment that provide uninterrupted service to CMU faculty, staff, students and off-campus personnel.
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Preventing an inside job John Lainhart, M.A. ’76, knew cyber before it was cyber. Back when he started his career, it was called “automatic data processing.” In the Navy, he taught himself by reading books on the subject and went on to write the first information technology audit guide and perform the first IT audits for the U.S. government. Today he’s senior strategist at Grant Thornton‘s U.S. Public Sector cyber risk advisory practice. “Cyber has evolved, but I guarantee many of the issues are still the same,” Lainhart says. “Like the insider threat.” Up to 80 percent of cybersecurity breaches are caused by company employees who unwittingly allow access to criminals by giving out passwords or opening email attachments, he says. “If it’s outsiders, you can build a fence with software,” Lainhart says. “Now, phishing attempts come from foreign countries. They ask somebody on the inside to give them their password. They say they’re from the help desk or tech support. The problem is the innocence of people on the inside.” Many companies now simulate these phishing attempts so employees can learn what not to do. It’s part of what Lainhart does at Grant Thornton, an accounting and advisory organization. He came out of retirement to help the company develop a cybersecurity plan, using advanced software to sift through thousands of data entries and zero in on potential problems. “I want them to be more proactive, to use more automation to help ferret out the bad acts,” Lainhart says. Lainhart’s résumé is nine pages long. It details an impressive career including 30 years working for the federal government and being appointed the first inspector general for the U.S. House of Representatives. He also led cybersecurity work at IBM, overseeing a 250-person staff of cybersecurity and privacy professionals. Lainhart was in the U.S. Navy Reserve when he saw an ad for CMU and decided to earn his master’s degree in management and supervision. “I wanted to be a better leader and learn practical management strategies,” he says. “At CMU, I learned leadership principles that were tried and true, applied by leading practitioners in the field.” He needed a challenge, and that brought him out of retirement. “This field is never boring. Every day you read in the papers about another security breach. I’m as worried as anybody else. “You have to be proactive and not only see a problem that’s happened, but predict a problem before it happens. “I’m bringing in people who are leaders in the field,” Lainhart says. He laughs. “Then I can retire again.”
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Leading Michigan’s ‘cyberwarriors’ When Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Vadnais, ’74, took psychology and sociology classes at CMU in the 1970s, cybersecurity wasn’t part of our vocabulary. Today, as Michigan’s highest-ranking military official, Vadnais thinks about it daily. “We treat it now as a weapons system,” says Vadnais, the adjutant general and director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for Michigan. “It’s the fifth domain of defense. We have land, sea, air, space, and now we have cyber. “You can do a lot of destruction with cyber,” he says. “What’s the difference if you drop a bomb or create the same effect with a cyber attack? There is no difference.” Critical infrastructure could be targeted directly in a conflict or held hostage as a bargaining chip against the U.S. government, he says. “Think about transportation, water systems, electrical grids, fuel distribution, communication lines — they’re all very intricate systems that have to be defended,” says Vadnais, who commands and directs the Michigan Army and Air National Guard. The Michigan National Guard is at the front line of cybersecurity, as one of the first three cyber protection teams established by the National Guard. These “cyberwarriors,” as Vadnais calls them, receive intensive, highly specialized training to learn how to defend against cyber attacks. He’s had to learn some things, too. “I’ve attended a lot of classes, I’ve read a lot, I’ve learned from the experts on our team,” he says. “I’m not a tactical-level cyber guy. I’m more at the 50,000-foot level.” But he’s close enough to be concerned about the threats. “My worry is the vulnerability,” Vadnais says. “All you need is somebody who is not adhering to good cyber hygiene, as I call it. They download a file they shouldn’t have, and the hackers are in.” Unlike defending the land, sea and air, cyber has no boundaries, he says. Vadnais’ military career began in 1970 as an enlisted soldier in the Michigan Army National Guard. His psychology and sociology studies at CMU were a great complement to his military training, he says. “CMU is a great university,” Vadnais says. “I walked away with the ability to be more of an analytical thinker. The research I did, the great professors, the dialogue and interaction — it all made me better prepared to learn.” He uses that every day. “I never stop learning, particularly in cyber,” Vadnais says. “We’ve been here since the beginning of the beginning. What will it look like 20 years from now? It’s kind of mind-boggling.” •
Three CMU alumni experts in cybersecurity share the security tips they follow to protect important information:
Use just one credit card for both online shopping and at gas pumps, advises Jennifer Tisdale, cyber automotive project manager for Mazda North American Operations. “Then there’s only one card you have to watch,” she says. “You can easily shut it down if it’s compromised.”
Install all updates that become available on your computer and smart phone, says Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais, adjutant general and the director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for Michigan.
Don’t use thumb drives, Vadnais says. “We don’t allow any thumb drives in our military systems. You don’t know where they were manufactured or what might be on them. Once you install it, there’s no going back.”
When online shopping, make sure the address includes https, Tisdale says. The “s” stands for secure. If there’s no “s,” don’t shop there.
Don’t ever download a file if you’re not absolutely sure where it originated, Vadnais says.
Periodically back up your computer and put everything on a separate hard drive, Vadnais says. “Then it’s off the system.”
Make your password as difficult as possible for hackers to decipher, advises John Lainhart, senior strategist at Grant Thornton‘s U.S. Public Sector cyber risk advisory practice. The latest advice: Use a phrase that has meaning only to you, rather than a series of letters and numbers. “Toss in a number and a special character or two,” Lainhart suggests.
Looking for job security?
GO CYBER
Interested in earning a cybersecurity certificate from CMU? If you’re a federal government or state of Michigan employee, you’ll get a 15 percent discount, available to all prospective students who meet the program’s requirements. The federal government has identified several critical skills where there are shortages, and cybersecurity is high on the list. Complete CMU’s cybersecurity certificate, offered through Global Campus, and you’ll have the skills needed to take several industry certification exams, says Fred Kaiser, associate director of public sector and business outreach. CMU also offers a master of science in information security program online; however, it is not eligible for the discount. “If you’re looking for job security, this is the field,” Kaiser says. “More and more, we need people to keep the bad guys out.” For more information, call (877) 268-4636 or visit http://cmich.ly/fedemployeediscount centralight Winter ’17
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Happy
Anniversary! As we spend the year celebrating our 125th anniversary in so many ways, the biggest just might be in the Bovee UC. A wall is dedicated to honoring the past, leading today and igniting the future — all tenents of our milestone celebration. Learn more about our 125th, check out the historical timeline and take a virtual tour of campus online at anniversary.cmich.edu. PHOTO BY STEVE JESSMORE, ’81
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CMUBOO
For all your holiday needs
CMU Bookstore Winter Hours Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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ONCE A ALWAYS A
SAPA
Program marks 20 years of peers – and alumni – supporting students who have experienced sexual aggression TEXT BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83 PHOTOS BY CHELSEA GROBELNY
When Steve Thompson taught self-defense at CMU decades ago, young women often told him they’d been sexually assaulted but didn’t feel comfortable seeking professional support. “I heard the voices of survivors every day,” he says. “It broke my heart.” He also was frustrated and angry at the myths and misinformation. “People would say, ‘She shouldn’t have gone to the Wayside wearing that,’ or ‘She was drinking and went home with somebody, so of course that happened,’” Thompson says. Fed up, he wrote a letter to then dean of students Bruce Roscoe. “I said, ‘How could we let this happen?’” Thompson recalls. “He said, ‘Let’s have coffee and talk.’”
The result: Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates. The groundbreaking concept, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has become the foremost program of its kind in the country. Its flagship education program, “No Zebras. No Excuses,” is a staple of CMU freshman orientation and has grown into a company headed by Thompson that shares the message all over the world. The performance-based “No Zebras” training consists of seven vignettes that replicate situations of sexual assault, drug-facilitated sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking and harassment. Why zebras? When attacked by lions, zebras scatter until the predator takes down an unfortunate, isolated victim. After the attack, the zebras go about their business until the next attack. Thompson’s message: Stand together. Don’t be a zebra. > centralight Winter ’17
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Katie Parks (left), a veteran and student, works on practice drills with a SAPA partner.
SAPA trainees debrief and go over the training experience.
Beyond the education program, SAPA provides trained peer advocates to respond to sexual assault crisis calls. SAPA’s key features: »
Volunteer student advocates receive 50 hours of intensive training, then teams are available around the clock to answer crisis calls, accompany survivors to the hospital or police station if needed, or communicate on live chat.
» It’s confidential. » In a strong show of alumni support, former SAPA advocates from all over the country return to campus each year to help train the incoming group. “Once a SAPA, always a SAPA,” Thompson says, and he gets a bit choked up. “I’m emotional about this,” he says. “I cry at every training. It’s been the most important thing in my life, other than my kids.” The need is great. It’s a nationwide issue. 24
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Steve Thompson demonstrates what an attacker might do to get close.
“If there are 8,000 females on a campus, several hundred of them will be assaulted in an academic year,” he says. Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. In SAPA’s first year, about a dozen students called on advocates for help, Thompson says. Now, more than 200 students each year reach out, finding trained advocates ready to listen — any time. Roughly 100 CMU students applied to be an advocate this year. After a comprehensive application and interview process, 50 were selected. They were trained over two weekends in September. Those weekends are warm reunions for SAPA alumni, who travel from all over the country. “I haven’t missed a training since 2000,” says Susanne Stefanski, ’02, who started as a SAPA student advocate. After earning a master’s in counseling, she became a SAPA counselor at the CMU Counseling Center. >
Spencer Goodrich (above left) and Jenna Varner (above right) go over their training materials and work on practice drills.
Now a behavioral health consultant in Benton Harbor, Stefanski says SAPA makes a difference for so many. “Not only are 50 students on campus doing this every year, but each year 20 or 25 of them graduate,” she says, “and they’re out there spreading the message to not be a bystander, challenging the myths that are out there. Steve has really left a legacy, through all those people whose opinions are now changed.” Nicole Buozis, ’17, spent three years as a program advocate and was back in September to help with training. Her experience changed her, she says. “At first, after I’d hang up from a call, I’d think, ‘Oh, I should have said something else, I should have said that better,’” Buozis recalls. “But I soon realized even if I didn’t word everything perfectly, the important thing is that I was there for that person, to listen. “You can hear the relief in people’s voices when they know you’re there, not to judge them or criticize, but to support them in any way they need,” Buozis says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to listen and be a resource.” Thompson retired as CMU’s Sexual Aggression Services director in 2015 and is now the full-time CEO of No Zebras and More, the company he started in 2012 to provide sexual assault prevention education throughout the world, from universities to the military. He loves that it all started at CMU, “a campus that cares.” “SAPA gives comfort even to survivors who never reach out,” Thompson says. “They know there are a whole bunch of people on this campus who give a damn.” • Connor Haskins centralight Winter ’17
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WARRINER WALL
Warriner Hall, Central’s administration building and most striking architecture on the campus, is nearing its 90th anniversary. In grateful appreciation of CMU’s most generous donors, the Warriner Wall honors benefactors who have made a profound impact on student success. The nameplates represent giving at $1 million plus. Other key donor groups are highlighted on the wall’s interactive digital touchscreen. PHOTO BY STEVE JESSMORE, ’81
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Advancement Board puts its foot on the gas,
driving support for CMU TEXT BY CYNTHIA J. DRAKE, M.A. ’08 PHOTOS BY STEVE JESSMORE, ’81
Some say CMU’s Advancement Board is one of the most important boards at the university because of the tremendous gifts of time, talent and treasure given by its 30 members.
The people who serve on the Advancement Board do so because they see the value of the university’s contribution to nearly 225,000 alumni around the globe. They want to strengthen CMU’s foundation.
“They make a transformational impact on the lives of students,” says Robert K. Martin, vice president of advancement at CMU.
“This is the most generous board on campus,” Martin says. “It serves as an example to all alumni regarding the opportunities to give back to the university that gave them a fantastic education, that was responsible for them getting the career they desired — and many times even the place where they met their spouse.”
Each board member is required to serve two functions: “They make a financial commitment to CMU, plus they are required to make additional solicitations,” Martin says. Jeffrey Seeley, ‘82, serves as chair of the board, and the academic chair is Mike Murray, ‘75. Soon, each college will have its own chair to advocate on behalf of its faculty and students in raising money.
Private giving at Central has lagged behind its peers for several years, Martin says. “We are now making great strides to not only catch up, but to surpass our peers and be nationally recognized for our alumni support and excellent staff.”
“All of us who have a relationship with CMU do so because we want to be sure of a better and brighter future for the university,” says Michael O’Donnell, ‘70, chair of the national campaign steering committee.
CMU just completed two of the most successful consecutive years of philanthropic support in its history, raising $46 million — about $9 million per year over average.
“Reflecting on my student years, I had the very best experience. I want to help deliver that for every student,” O’Donnell says.
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“We have our foot on the gas and are not easing up,” says Martin. •
At left, President George E. Ross, former Board of Trustees chair and current Advancement Board member Sarah Opperman, ‘81, and Advancement Board chair Jeff Seeley, ‘82, are recognized by Robert K. Martin, vice president of advancement, for each making a $1 million gift to CMU. Below, Dr. Ross addresses a standing-room-only crowd at the Advancement Board shareholder meeting during homecoming weekend.
Above, Michael O’Donnell, ‘70, chair of the national campaign steering committee, speaks with fellow alumni at the shareholder meeting. At right, Robert K. Martin, vice president of advancement, reacts to a comment made by Dr. Ross at the meeting. centralight Winter centralight Fall ’17
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Wrestling with success
TEXT BY ANDY SNEDDON PHOTO BY BEN JARED
Tom Borrelli has built CMU’s program into a national contender Tom Borrelli had a plan. It was 1991, and he convinced then-Central Michigan Athletic Director Dave Keilitz he was the coach to lead the Chippewa wrestling program. He’s been convincing people ever since. In 27 years, Borrelli has built the CMU wrestling program into a force, casting it in his mold, which includes equal parts pragmatism, discipline and toughness. Empathy and love are a part of it, too. Borrelli, a highly successful high school and college wrestler, knows what student-athletes endure on the mat.
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He wrestled at The Citadel from 1975-79, was twice named the program’s outstanding wrestler and finished with a 58-27-2 career record. After a stint as a high school coach in Georgia and as a graduate assistant at Clemson, Borrelli built a solid program in five years at Division II Lake Superior State. At 34, he was ready to lead a Division I program. And CMU was ready for him. “I could just tell right away the program was headed in a new direction,” says Kevin Vogel, ’92, a senior captain on Borrelli’s first CMU team. “He had a plan and was organized; practices were run well. We knew what we should get out of every practice or every run or every lift.”
A tradition of excellence The critical element, Borrelli knew, was to get his wrestlers to believe in his method and, more importantly, themselves. “I wanted the expectations to be winning national championships, individual national championships, finishing top 10 in the country,” Borrelli says.
Patience It took time. In Borrelli’s first six years as CMU’s coach, the Chippewas finished runner-up at the MAC Championships three times.
Tom Borrelli, now in his 27th season as Central Michigan’s wrestling coach, carries a shining résumé that includes: » A 316-137-7 dual-meet record, including 111-23 in MAC duals » One individual national champion — Casey Cunningham in 1999 » 40 All-America honors
He continually added the right kind of building blocks: blue-collar types who liked to sweat, accepted coaching, were adaptable and thankful for an opportunity, just as Borrelli had been when he started at CMU.
» Sixteen times in the past 18 years CMU has finished in the top 15 nationally in team GPA
“The guys who really respond are the ones with the grit,” Borrelli says. “That comes with believing in you, and your system, and what you’re asking your team to do every day. We have to find the right kid for that.”
» Eight MAC Wrestler of the Year honorees
By 1997-98, Borrelli’s program was ready. The Chippewas won the MAC title that year, then crashed the NCAA party with a fifth-place finish, the best in program history. That finish came one year after CMU placed 41st at the NCAA Championships.
» 81 individual MAC champions
“He took kids who no one really knew about and made them,” says Casey Cunningham, ’99, a junior on that team who finished runner-up in the NCAA Championships at 142 pounds. “Guys who were high school state placers, and they became All-Americans in college.
» 53 Academic All-MAC selections
“He ran with us, he drilled with us, he did it right alongside us. It’s hard not to fight for a guy who does that with you.”
» The National Coach of the Year Award in 1998
Cunningham won the national title at 157 pounds the following year, becoming the first — and still only — NCAA Division I national wrestling champ in CMU history. He was one of a record five Chippewas to earn All-America honors that year. And the MAC? That ’97-98 league title touched off a dynastic run during which the Chippewas captured the crown 14 times in 15 years.
The process Borrelli’s training and motivational methods have evolved. His knack for spotting potential and then producing tangible results on the mat is constant. His fire burns today as it did 27 years ago when he made wrestlers believe they were not just contenders, but champions. “We don’t have to have the best of everything to be as good as everybody else,” Borrelli says. “I’m still fighting that battle. I’d like to win a team national championship. I believe we can win a team national championship here. “Really, in wrestling, all you need is a wrestling mat and some kids who can train the right way, believe in themselves and think they can beat everybody. That’s all you need.” •
» 144 qualifiers to the NCAA Championships, including a program-record-tying nine in 2017 » 10 MAC Freshman of the Year honorees » A record 12 MAC Coach of the Year Awards » 13 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic honorees » Two Academic All-Americans » The National Wrestling Coaches Association Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award in 2004
Borrelli's coaching legacy Dozens of former CMU wrestlers who competed under Borrelli are now in the coaching ranks, on both the collegiate and high school levels. Among them is Borrelli’s son, Jason, in his 10th season as the head coach at Stanford, and David Bolyard, in his fourth year at Eastern Michigan. Casey Cunningham, who served as an assistant under Borrelli for nearly a decade, is now an assistant at Penn State, where he has helped the Nittany Lions win six of the last seven national titles. Among the highly successful high school coaches who wrestled for Borrelli at CMU are Kevin Vogel (Temperence Bedford), Mitch Hancock (Novi Detroit Catholic Central), Greg Mayer (Warren Woods-Tower), Derek Phillips (St. Johns) and Brad Anderson (Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central). •
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Each fall, Central Michigan University recognizes exemplary alumni and corporate partners at the annual CMU Alumni Awards ceremony. Many recipients have shaped the various programs that contribute to student success, research and university athletics.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
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Gary Dunbar, ’76, is the John G. Kulhavi Professor of Neuroscience and director of the neuroscience program and the Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center. Dunbar helped start the neuroscience program at CMU in 1987. Over the years, the program grew in size and stature, and CMU became the first university in Michigan to offer a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience. In 2008, Dunbar added a master of science and doctoral program in neuroscience. The undergraduate program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation.
FUTURE ALUMNI LEADER AWARD Senior Benjamin Moxon is a marketing and logistics major in the College of Business Administration. Moxon worked for the CMU Phonathon as a student caller and is the fourth most successful student fundraiser in Phonathon history, securing nearly $200,000 in pledges and gifts. Moxon, who graduates in December, is an intern with Whirlpool Corp.
DICK ENBERG COMMITMENT AWARD David Keilitz, ’64, ’65, ’75, ‘05, has served CMU in many roles, from student-athlete to head coach of the baseball team and athletic director for 10 years. Retiring as executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2014, Keilitz is honored in six different halls of fame. He is a member of the CMU Advancement Board and the Mount Pleasant Area Community Foundation.
CORPORATION PARTNER AWARD
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Covenant HealthCare offers a broad spectrum of programs and services, supporting 20 counties across northeast and central Michigan with more than 560 physicians. The Covenant trauma/emergency care center is the largest health care employer in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Covenant invested in the development of CMU’s Saginaw Education Building and contributed $1 million to the Central Michigan University College of Medicine for a simulation center there. The ongoing CMU partnership with Covenant will bring long-term and sustainable academic affiliation for medical students and residents.
ALUMNI SERVICE RECOGNITION AWARD
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Dan Digmann, ’15, and Jennifer Digmann, ‘13, of Mount Pleasant, embody two sides of multiple sclerosis. Jennifer was diagnosed in 1997 and has secondary-progressive MS; Dan was diagnosed in 2000 and has relapsing-remitting MS. They are district activist leaders and members of the government relations committee for the National MS Society in Michigan. The Digmanns have raised more than $65,000 in the past 12 years through Michigan Walk MS events. Their award-winning blogging and social media posts generate great exposure for National Multiple Sclerosis Society policy issues. In November 2013, the couple received a “Declaration of Special Tribute” from the Michigan Senate, signed by the governor. In 2016, they were inducted into the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Volunteer Hall of Fame.
HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD
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Dr. Malcolm Field, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, is the medical director of the St. Mary’s of Michigan Field Neurosciences Institute in Saginaw. In 2001, Field and FNI established the Field Neuroscience Laboratory for Restorative Neurology with a $250,000 gift to initiate research on the use of stem cells and new ways to treat brain injury and disease. Field has allowed CMU students to shadow him during surgery and clinics. He also reviews and talks with them about their research projects, and his office provides internships and jobs for them. Field helped launch CMU’s College of Medicine, and he’s devoting more time and effort to help establish a School of Neuroscience at CMU. He’s an adjunct faculty member in the CMU College of Medicine and volunteer adviser to CMU’s neuroscience program. •
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ICONIC CMU seal is family’s point of Chippewa pride Even the Central Michigan University seal on Warriner Mall has a story. It’s rooted in three generations of CMU Chippewas that started in 1953 with Lyman “Pete” Ketzler, continued with his daughter Kristin Ketzler, ’86, and is carrying on today with his granddaughter, CMU sophomore Molly Kenely. The story began when President Charles Anspach picked thensophomore art student Pete Ketzler to take the state of Michigan crest, the lamp of wisdom, CMU’s founding date and the university motto and create a design.
The State Board of Education approved his design in 1954, and the seal today is used on presidential documents and diplomas. It also is the iconic backdrop for countless informal graduation photos. Ketzler, now 83, returned to campus this fall from his Howell home to watch his granddaughter perform as a member of the Marching Chippewas color guard.
BY DAN DIGMANN, M.A. ‘15
to get their pictures taken in front of it,” he says. Kenely remembered a time when her parents — her father, Don Kenely, also is a CMU alumnus — took her and her sister to visit campus.
Of course, he visited the seal he created.
“They took us to the CMU Bookstore, and they said we could pick out any shirt we wanted,” Kenely said, “as long as it had the seal on it.”
“I’m humbled. I never could have imagined there would be that much interest and love of that design and what it means to the people who want
No wonder Kenely says she swells with pride for CMU and her family, especially her grandfather, each time she walks by it. • Learn more
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Alumni News Young Alumni board President Michael Zeig, ’08 East Lansing Vice president Scott Hillman, ’10 Chicago Past president Ashleigh (Klipper) Laabs, ’07 Royal Oak Directors Cyril Agley, ’09 Grosse Pointe Michael Decker, ’07 Beverly Hills Morgan (Curtis) Hales, ’06, M.A. ’11 Farwell Eric Johnson, ’11 Mount Pleasant Anthony Lazzaro, ’15 Grand Rapids Danielle Leone, ’10 St. Clair Shores James (J.J.) Lewis, ’06 Thousand Oaks, California
Jennifer Lopez, ’10 Royal Oak Gregory Marx, ’08 Troy Brittany Mouzourakis, ’11 Royal Oak Jason Nichol, ’12 Chicago Kelly Pageau, ’08 Chicago John Reineke, ’09 Oxford, Ohio Joshua Richards, ’08 Lake Orion Michelle (Curtis) Rush, ’07 St. Joseph Christine Simon, ’13 Grand Ledge Jeffrey Stoutenburg, ’10, M.P.A. ’13 Midland Michael Wiese, ’09 Grand Rapids
Alumni board President Thomas Olver, ’98 Mount Pleasant Vice president Nathan Tallman, ’07, M.A. ’09 Auburn Hills Past president Ryan Fewins-Bliss, ’02, M.A. ’04 Bath Directors Rebeca Reyes Barrios, ’00, MBA ’02 Canton Carrie Baumgardner, ’99, M.A. ’02 Durand Lisa (Laitinen) Bottomley, ’97 Kentwood Megan Doyle, ’03 Chicago Jacalyn (Beckers) Goforth, ’82 Beverly Hills Laura Gonzales, ’79, M.A. ’89 Mount Pleasant Scott Haraburda, ’83 Spencer, Indiana
Sean Hickey, ’88, M.A. ’90 Chelsea Bret Hyble, ’82, M.A. ’86 Mount Pleasant Linda (Scharich) Leahy, ’82 Midland Scott Nadeau, ’89 Dexter Frederick Puffenberger, ’95 Mount Pleasant Kandra (Kerridge) Robbins, ’90 Portland Darryl Shelton, ’85 Grand Rapids Amy (Rousseau) Uebbing, ’86 Rochester Matthew Uhl, ’00 Grandville Robert VanDeventer, ’74 Saginaw Bradley Wahr, ’03 Mount Pleasant Thomas Worobec, ’93 Dearborn Heights Nicole (Williams) Yelland, ’05 Clarkston
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Alumni News Going pro CMU basketball players stay in the game with international teams Two high-scoring men’s basketball players that electrified Central Michigan crowds last season have gone pro in other countries. Guard Marcus Keene is playing with Cagliari Dinamo Academy of the Italian Basketball League after playing with the Washington Wizards in the NBA Summer League. He became the first NCAA Division I men’s basketball player in 20 years to average 30 points per game last season. Braylon Rayson, ’17, who ranks third in CMU history with 1,885 career points, is playing with the Windsor Express of the National Basketball League of Canada. Their former CMU teammates, Chris Fowler, ’16, and Rayshawn Simmons, ’16, also are playing pro ball. Fowler is with the Baunach Young Pikes in Germany. Simmons is playing for Zalakerámia-ZTE KK, a Hungary-A Division team located in Zalaegerszeg. • Marcus Keene
Chris Fowler, ‘16
Braylon Rayson, ‘17
Oprah, cooking shows and Cadillacs BCA alum has produced them all Joe Lecz, ’00, is co-executive producer of Food Network’s “Valerie’s Home Cooking” starring Valerie Bertinelli. He oversees all creative aspects and production of the weekly show, which includes coordinating culinary masterpieces in three separate kitchens and sets. Since his CMU graduation, Lecz served as a senior production manager on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” including helping manage the legendary “everybody gets a car” show and the episode featuring Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah’s couch. He has filled the role of producer for the lifestyle website Popsugar, reality TV shows “Young Marvels” and “Real Life: The Musical,” and branded videos for Cadillac and Ford Motor Co. While at CMU, Lecz was president of the Radio, Television, News Directors Association, an entertainment reporter for News Central 34, and completed internships at WLNS-TV in Lansing and at Walt Disney World’s Disney-MGM Studios. • 3636
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TKE brothers gather for 50th reunion More than 80 brothers from the 1967-73 era of Tau Kappa Epsilon gathered in Grand Rapids in October for a reunion. Stories, laughter and bear hugs were the order of the day, capped off with dancing and singing. As one of the brothers said, “Being a TKE isn’t what made us who we are, but choosing to be a TKE and enjoying those years together as fraternity brothers during the turbulent ’60s and ’70s contributed to where we are today.” They vowed to meet again in five years. •
Alumni News New Venture Competition students learn from a serial entrepreneur Alumnus co-founded OtterBase, co-created NBC’s ‘The Wall’ Jeff Bennett, ‘03, a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, shared his startup experiences with CMU New Venture Competition students during a fall visit to campus. Bennett and his brother, Bill, co-founded OtterBase in Bill’s spare bedroom. The IT staffing solutions company has grown to more than 20 locations across the United States. After seven years with OtterBase, Bennett, who earned his degree in political science, shifted his focus to television production. Working with Andrew Glassman of Glassman Media, he teamed with NBA superstar LeBron James and NBC to produce the game show “The Wall.” The show soon will be broadcast in 14 countries. Bennett met with New Venture Competition students, sharing stories of hard work, luck, fearlessness and giving back. He emphasized how much he wished CMU’s entrepreneurship program had existed when he went to school and encouraged students to take advantage of mentors and opportunities available to them. •
Honors for Chippewas Several CMU alumni have earned honors and accolades in recent months. Among them: Ashley Mizzi, MSA ‘14, was named one of Detroit Business Magazine’s “30 in their Thirties,” honoring young professionals who have achieved success in their fields. She is the director of operations and lending for the Detroit Community Loan Fund, which provides micro loans of $5,000 to $40,000 to small businesses. “Because these business owners, credit-wise, are known as harder to lend to, we will partner with external agents in our ecosystem to guarantee the success of this program,” she tells the magazine. Jason Olinik, ‘10, also was named to the “30 in their Thirties” list. As director of operations for HBF Airports, Olinik oversees six restaurants in the McNamara Terminal of Detroit Metropolitan Airport. “HBF has found a niche in the airport hospitality space by bringing high-end brands and delivering great guest service,” Olinik tells Detroit Business Magazine. Jeffery Steigerwald, ‘10, is the third Chippewa on the “Thirties” list. He’s vice president of operations and client services for Centria Healthcare, the largest provider of private-duty nursing and home catastrophic injury rehabilitation services in Michigan. “It’s a stressful industry, but the reward is amazing,” he tells the magazine. Ryan Iles, ‘11, was honored as one of 500 top next-generation wealth advisers by Forbes. Iles has been a financial adviser for Merrill Lynch in Saginaw since 2005. He works closely with families to focus on long-term financial strategies. This inaugural ranking recognized 16 millennial financial advisers from Michigan.
New Venture Competition students had the opportunity to get startup advice from businessman Jeff Bennett, ‘03.
Tony Fox, ‘01, MSA ’10, regional director of the Small Business Development Center for Mid Michigan, was honored as regional director of the year by the SBDC. “Our team enjoys our work and is rewarded each and every time we help a local business find a solution to an issue that was impeding their success,” he says. Prior to joining the SBDC, Fox owned and operated a residential construction company. Retired Judge Fred Mester, ‘59, was named Humanitarian of the Year by RESULTS Mentoring, a Detroit nonprofit tutoring and mentoring program. Mester was a judge in Oakland County Circuit Court from 1982-2009. Today, he is ombudsman for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Those who know Judge Mester understand that his kindness and desire to help others stems from his ceaseless belief in the underlying power and goodness within each individual,” says Charles Thomas Jr., CEO of RESULTS Mentoring. Bill Talcott, ’66, was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, honoring Arizona veterans who have made significant civic contributions at the local, state or national level. “I had no intention of becoming an Army officer as a freshman at Central,” Talcott says. “My military experience has had a very positive impact on my life.” Talcott also is a member of CMU’s ROTC Hall of Fame. He served in Vietnam as an Army Ranger and received two Bronze Stars for Valor and the Purple Heart. Kurt Nagl, ‘14, was named journalist-in-residence for the 2017 Daniel Pearl World Music Days in Flint. The event honors Pearl’s love of music and journalism; Pearl was kidnapped while working as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal and was killed by his captors in 2002. Nagl is a reporter for Crain’s Detroit Business. Before his assignment in Detroit, he reported from northern Iraq on the war against ISIS, the refugee crisis and other issues in the region. • centralight Winter winter ’17 ’10
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In Memory Monica A. (Baray) Yetter, ’44, Traverse City, Mich., died Aug. 30, 2017, age 96.
Geraldine D. Malenfant, ’62, Cheboygan, Mich., died Sept. 4, 2017, age 92.
Patricia J. (Shepard) Hatch, ’69, Cadillac, Mich., died June 28, 2017, age 81.
Robert E. Garland, M.A. ’76, Perkasie, Pa., died Aug. 15, 2017, age 70.
Lela E. (Bennett) Youngs, ’45, Adrian, Mich., died July 25, 2017, age 93.
James C. Roberts, ’62, Harbor Beach, Mich., died Aug. 3, 2017, age 78.
Albert J. Neukom, ’69, Hillsdale, Mich., died July 23, 2017, age 71.
Jean C. (Nichols) Hillman, M.A. ’76, Midland, Mich., died Aug. 14, 2017, age 85.
Charles A. Owen, ’50, Virginia Beach, Va., died Aug. 19, 2016, age 92.
L. Kay (Kemler) Stenman, ’62, Green Valley, Ariz., died July 1, 2017, age 77.
Theodore Wilson, ’50, M.A. ’75, Wickenburg, Ariz., died Aug. 7, 2017, age 91.
Gary M. Vanek, ’62, Royal Oak, Mich., died Sept. 5, 2017, age 77.
Darrel L. Rice, ’69, Fowlerville, Mich., died Aug. 4, 2017, age 77.
Ruth (Olson) Creaser, ’63, Villa Park, Ill., died Oct. 6, 2016, age 87.
Judith A. Hamilton, M.A. ’70, Greenville, Mich., died Aug. 27, 2017, age 84.
Kenneth P. Volz, ’63, Sebewaing, Mich., died July 18, 2017, age 78.
David E. Ozga, M.A. ’70, Highland, Mich., died Jan. 29, 2017, age 72.
Ronald A. Medford, ’52, Miami, Fla., died Aug. 19, 2017, age 87.
Judith D. (Thompson) Hogan, ’64, Holly, Mich., died July 27, 2017, age 75.
Anna Unkovich, ’70, M.A. ’82, Arroyo Grande, Calif., died Aug. 7, 2017, age 69.
Thomas H. Brockway, ’53, DeWitt, Mich., died Nov. 22, 2016, age 84.
Patrick G. Shafer, ’64, Muskegon, Mich., died July 9, 2017, age 74.
Sheila A. (Van Den Branden) Grant, ’71, Fraser, Mich., died Aug. 12, 2017, age 67.
Nancy C. (Case) Czap, ’54, Flint, Mich., died July 5, 2017, age 83.
Carolyn A. (Adams) Grieb, ’65, Gilbert, S.C., died Jan. 23, 2016, age 73.
Gerald Howard II, ’71, Fennville, Mich., died Aug. 2, 2017, age 75.
Roland J. Town, ’51, Indianapolis, Ind., died July 17, 2017, age 90. Ralph B. Vanzo, ’51, Rhinelander, Wis., died Aug. 22, 2017, age 90.
Richard E. Fulkerson , ’54, Traverse City, Mich., died Aug. 31, 2017, age 85. Dr. Lornie Kerr, ‘54, Traverse City, Mich., died Oct. 28, 2017, age 85. Harriet N. (Kritselis) Rennie, ’54, Traverse City, Mich., died Aug. 24, 2017, age 84. MaryAnn E. (Krakker) Smith, ’57, Davison, Mich., died Aug. 18, 2017, age 85. Frank B. Garczynski, ’58, Marquette, Mich., died Sept. 10, 2017, age 85. Marion Teeple, ’58, Port Sanilac, Mich., died Aug. 31, 2017, age 90. Edward L. Merrick, ’59, Marine City, Mich., died Sept. 29, 2017, age 82.
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Pamela A. (Kellum) Race, ’69, Bay City, Mich., died Aug. 14, 2017, age 70.
Agness M. (Skelton) Schmidt, ’65, Auburn, Mich., died Aug. 16, 2017, age 94. Karl W. Grube, ’66, M.A. ’69, Melbourne, Fla., died Aug. 16, 2017, age 76. William L. Walker, ’66,’73, Alma, Mich., died Sept. 4, 2017, age 85. Larry O. Lenz, ’67, Charlotte, Mich., died July 17, 2017, age 72. Jerry W. Papciak, ’67, Lansing, Mich., died Dec. 20, 2016, age 76. John C. Young, ’67, M.A. ’72, Bay City, Mich., died Aug. 29, 2017, age 76. John J. Hattenbach, ’68, Greenville, Mich., died Aug. 1, 2017, age 72.
Donald Iseler, ’60, Maple City, Mich., died Aug. 5, 2017, age 86.
Kathleen M. (Schulte) Nassif, ’68, M.A. ’78, Standish, Mich., died July 16, 2017, age 85.
Ruth (Wallace) ArmitageKempf, ’62, Lansing, Mich., died July 21, 2017, age 91.
Lawrence E. Quigg, MBA ’68, Clinton, Mich., died July 28, 2017, age 75.
Shirley A. (McSkulin) Dunn, ’62, Albuquerque, N.M., died June 30, 2017, age 78.
Thomas E. Wawrzyniak, ’68, Alpena, Mich., died March 14, 2017, age 70.
Margaret A. (Anderson) Hoffmeyer, ’62, Lake Ann, Mich., died Feb. 23, 2017, age 97.
Arlette I. (Tollefson) Harris, ’69, Chicago, Ill., died June 4, 2016, age 77.
centralight Winter ’17
James J. Laveck, ’71, Montrose, Mich., died July 11, 2017, age 87. Esther M. (Henry) Lounsbury, ’71, M.A. ’74, S.S.P. ’74, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Sept. 17, 2017, age 81. Marion J. (Muelhenbeck) Mundt, ’74, Saginaw, Mich., died Aug. 15, 2017, age 87. Maxine J. (Waalkes) Paesens, ’74, Farewell, Mich., died Aug. 24, 2017, age 89. Eleanor J. Perron-Valk, ’74, Green Bay, Wis., died May 25, 2017, age 65. John T. Weber, ’74, Moultonborough, N.H., died Oct. 1, 2017, age 65. Nancy L. (Hartman) Artley, ’75, M.A. ’78, Walker, Minn., died Aug. 22, 2017, age 69. Oscar Ford, ’75, Traverse City, Mich., died Aug. 6, 2017, age 86. Henry W. Heermann, M.A. ’75, Glen Allen, Va., died July 6, 2017, age 83. James P. Evans, ’76, Dolores, Colo., died July 24, 2017, age 64. Walter L. Ewing, ’76, M.A. ’77, Shepherd, Mich., died Aug. 12, 2017, age 86.
Sister Susan Keller, M.A. ’76, Grand Rapids, Mich., died July 18, 2017, age 70. Clarence H. Lindsey, M.A. ’76, Pinehurst, N.C., died Aug. 29, 2017, age 81. Clyde W. Maxwell, M.A. ’76, Clarksville, Ohio, died July 27, 2017, age 80. Clifford S. Shanoski, ’76, Traverse City, Mich., died July 29, 2017, age 64. David P. Siegrist, ’76, Westland, Mich., died Jan. 1, 2017, age 64. Donald B. Tree, ’76, St. Louis, Mich., died Oct. 9, 2017, age 73. Norma M. (Monroe) Schneider, M.A. ’77, Interlochen, Mich., died July 30, 2017, age 93. Charles T. Carney, M.A. ’77, Pickerington, Ohio, died Aug. 12, 2017, age 72. Vincent C. Guidace, M.A. ’78, Columbia, S.C., died Aug. 27, 2017, age 85. Kim J. (Schiller) O’Connell, ’78, M.A. ’97, Williamsburg, Mich., died Sept. 22, 2017, age 61. Alfred D. Tripp, M.A. ’78, Memphis, Tenn., died July 26, 2017, age 75. Robert L. Derderian, ’79, Mason, Mich., died Aug. 9, 2017, age 61. Robert E. Dodd, ’79, Walled Lake, Mich., died July 19, 2017, age 61. Kevin D. Wing, ’79, Marshall, Mich., died Aug. 14, 2017, age 60. Sandra (Powell) Northey, M.A. ’80, Troy, Mich., died Jan. 19, 2017, age 78. John F. Randall, M.A. ’80, Shreveport, La., died July 14, 2017, age 80. John H. Robinson, M.A. ’80, Bay City, Mich., died May 20, 2017, age 75. Thomas J. Taylor, ’80, Waterford, Mich., died Jan. 28, 2017, age 60.
Richard J. Wagoner, M.A. ’80, Plant City, Fla., died Feb. 24, 2017, age 81.
Marian F. (McDonough) Bendixsen, ’96, Cary, N.C., died July 21, 2017, age 85.
Frank E. Hibbard, M.A. ’81, Farmington, Mich., died July 13, 2017, age 73.
Perry L. Bridges, M.S.A. ’96, Columbia Cross Roads, Pa., died July 14, 2017, age 63.
Mark D. Maedeker, M.A. ’81, Albers, Ill., died Aug. 17, 2017, age 66.
Julie A. (Wise) Hanna, ’96, Lansing, Mich., died Jan. 7, 2015, age 64.
Charles C. Wright, ’81, Belding, Mich., died Aug. 29, 2017, age 72.
Jennie M. (Anderson) Burgess, ’97, Grand Rapids, Mich., died May 8, 2017, age 41.
Robert C. Key, M.A. ’82, West Point, Va., died Aug. 21, 2017, age 80. Timothy R. Anthony, ’83, M.S.A. ’88, Galesburg, Mich., died Jan. 8, 2016, age 55.
Frank M. Druzynski, ’98, Birmingham, Mich., died July 22, 2017, age 54. Samuel McGhee , ’00, Detroit, Mich., died Aug. 10, 2017, age 80.
Deborah M. Baker, ’84, Grand Rapids, Mich., died July 23, 2017, age 54.
Patricia L. Hubbard, M.S.A. ’01, Shreveport, La., died Aug. 10, 2017, age 76.
Paul J. Staelens, M.A. ’84, Auburn, Ala., died Nov. 28, 2016, age 80.
Ethel B. Parker, M.A. ’02, Southfield, Mich., died July 31, 2017, age 59.
John W. Suggs, M.A. ’84, Washington, Mich., died Feb. 28, 2016, age 69.
Robert C. Rang Jr., ’05, Roseville, Mich., died Dec. 10, 2015, age 62.
Susan E. (Baker) Neufeld, ’87, Shafter, Calif., died Sept. 9, 2014, age 50.
Kimberly A. (Hellmann) Rutherford, ’06, Waterford, Mich., died March 11, 2015, age 43.
Kimberly M. Kozian, ’88, Clinton, Mich., died Aug. 28, 2017, age 50.
Joseph L. Coffey, ’07, Livonia, Mich., died July 1, 2017, age 33. Bobby A. (Townsend) Newby, M.S.A. ’11, Saginaw, Mich., died Aug. 10, 2017, age 53. Carl Lutrick, M.S.A. ’13, Pflugerville, Texas, died July 10, 2017, age 47. Erik A. Burt, ’15, Midland, Mich., died July 18, 2017, age 25. Alanna M. Nagi, ’15, Novi, Mich., died July 25, 2017, age 24. Faculty Lawrence R. Dawson, Kalamazoo, Mich., died April 28, 2017, age 96. Ira S. Rosenbaum, Colorado Springs, Colo., died April 16, 2017, age 85.
Staff William E. Lorenz, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died July 15, 2017, age 79. Jeffrey S. Pickler, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Aug. 11, 2017, age 67. Ron Windgaston, Shepherd, Mich., died Aug. 15, 2017, age 76. Sharon Southwick, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Sept. 1, 2017, age 58. Doris L. Bucholtz, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Sept. 7, 2017, age 91. Margie M. Fountain, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Oct. 6, 2017, age 90. Leona Ouderkirk, Shepherd, Mich., died Oct. 7, 2017, age 89.
A. Riley Gaskill, Sun Lakes, Ariz., died Feb. 13, 2002, age 86.
Board of Trustees
James W. Jones, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died July 19, 2017.
Gordon N. Lambie, Petoskey, Mich., died Aug. 15, 2017, age 85.
Henry H. Han, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Aug. 26, 2017, age 89.
Jamie L. (Petchauer) Milnamow, ’88, Elkhart, Ind., died July 30, 2017, age 51. Elizabeth L. (Biolette) Church, ’89, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., died Aug. 13, 2017, age 50. Robert D. McGuire, M.S.A. ’89, Crestview, Fla., died Sept. 8, 2017, age 85. Scot W. O’Brien, ’89, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Aug. 2, 2017, age 53. Richard E. Henrichsen, M.S.A. ’90, Salt Lake City, Utah, died Aug. 12, 2017, age 77. Dixie L. (Dornbos) Wightman, MSA ’90, Beaver, Ohio, died Aug. 4, 2017, age 70. Leigh A. Tubbs, ’91, Tampa, Fla., died July 15, 2017, age 48. Henry J. Chirdon, M.S.A. ’92, Pembroke, Fla., died July 26, 2017, age 63. Robert C. Beardsley, ’95, Scotts, Mich., died July 3, 2017, age 49.
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Do you remember?
CMU’s Centennial Celebration As CMU celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, it’s fun to look back at how previous milestones were marked. And you certainly can’t miss a 10-foot-high, 4-foot-wide birthday cake. Robert Desormes, of Robaire’s Bakery in Mount Pleasant, whipped up 1,200 eggs, 75 gallons of milk, 32 buckets of sugar and 500 pounds of flour to create the massive masterpiece, served during the Centennial Birthday Celebration in the Student Activity Center on Sept. 13, 1992. The cake fed more than 1,600 people. •
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centralight Winter ’17
Recognizing student success Michael R. Murray, ’75, and Pamela Wasko Murray, ’77, ’83, appreciate the championship culture at Central Michigan University and support students who cultivate it. One of Michael and Pamela Murray’s fondest memories during their time at CMU was the 1974 football season when the Chippewas won the Division II Football Championship. The accomplishment amplified the Murrays’ sense of Chippewa pride, leaving a lasting impression on the couple.
Pamela Wasko Murray, ’77, ’83, and Michael R. Murray, ’75
The Murrays have established two student endowed scholarships through their estate plan, one for the College of Business Administration and another for the College of Medicine. The scholarships can be used for tuition-related expenses, internships or residencies. A separate endowment, the Michael R. Murray and Pamela Wasko Murray Football Championship Endowment, currently helps CMU maintain a football championship culture. “CMU networking connections helped us to further develop both professionally and personally in ways that we would have never dreamed throughout our college experience,” the Murrays said in a statement.
Spirit of giving back
Michael and Pamela Murray support students in developing the academic foundations of their careers. To learn more about providing assistance to students and recognizing their success at Central Michigan University, contact:
Ted Tolcher
CMU’s Senior Philanthropic Advisor and National Director of Planned Giving, Advancement, Central Michigan University, Carlin Alumni House, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 CMU, an AA/EO institution, provides equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities (see cmich.edu/ocrie). UComm 9855
989-774-1441 • ted.tolcher@cmich.edu
giftplanning.cmich.edu centralight Fall ’17
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIDLAND MI PERMIT NO. 260
centralight
Carlin Alumni House Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Join us this holiday season by making a tax-deductible, year-end gift in support of more than 450 CMU student-athletes. TO MAKE YOUR GIFT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION
chippewafund.com • 989-774-6680