Culver-Stockton College Chronicle Winter 2016

CHRONICLE HOMECOMING 5 | POST GRAD 9 | VICTORY BELL 17 | PASSING THE TEST 25 | CLASS NOTES 27 | FRESH START 33 | VIEWS FROM THE QUAD 34

RECENT GRADUATE OUTCOME

STRAIGHT TO THE CLASSROOM Hired directly after graduating from Culver-Stockton, Danielle Wade ’14 enjoys life as a kindergarten teacher.

Winter 2016

Volume 26

Issue 1

www.culver.edu 1

FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL Students gathered at the Pillars to sing Christmas carols with President Thompson.

CHRONICLE CULVER-STOCKTON COLLEGE

Winter 2016

Vol. 26

Issue 1

The Culver-Stockton Chronicle is published by the C-SC Office of Marketing and Public Relations for alumni and friends to inform readers of campus happenings and give insight into the mission and philosophy of the College and the expertise of its leaders.

A

warm hello to all the alumni and friends of Culver-Stockton College. I am overjoyed to report that this fall’s incoming class brought the College’s enrollment to a 20-year high and this year’s Homecoming nearly broke attendance records for the second year in a row.

A good time was had by all, so mark your calendars for Oct. 7-9, 2016, and join us at Homecoming next year. A few of the weekend’s high points for me include honoring our distinguished alumni, the Homecoming Parade and the Top of the Hill and Scholarship Luncheons. It’s always a treat at the Scholarship Luncheon to see how excited the students are to meet their donors and how delighted the donors are to meet their students. I am also touched by the number of alumni who attend the Sunday morning memorial service to honor their loved ones. The Rev. Sam Pulliam ’86 reminded us in his message that morning that indeed there is no place like “the Hill!”

As we move forward, our five-year strategic plan, “We See the Future,” is guiding us well. We are creating networks on campus, in our community and globally that support experiential learning. This fall students traveled to Guatemala to immerse themselves in the Spanish language and a group of sports management and athletic training majors traveled to London and Dublin. Domestic trips included visits to Kansas City, Chicago and St. Louis to study global business, leadership, politics, religion and real estate. We are grateful to the alumni that took time to speak on campus, host student events at their companies or provided internship opportunities. I am also extremely grateful for all the support we’ve received for the Student Scholarship Fund. The campaign #EveryWildcat has been met with resounding success. Every dollar you give goes directly to support a student on “the Hill” and I know how very much they appreciate your support. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In this edition of the Chronicle, we showcase alumni that feel the preparation they received at Culver-Stockton College advanced their careers and enhanced their lives. Their solid educational foundation, leadership skills and determination enabled all of the featured alumni to be flexible in the face of changing economies, technologies and opportunities.

This truly speaks to our mission here on “the Hill,” which is to prepare students of promise for a dynamic world through our distinctive experiential curriculum within a supportive learning community founded upon the best values of faith and the human spirit.

I hope you enjoy this Chronicle and are happy to see the progress we have made in the last few years. With everyone working together, we will continue the momentum and our students of promise will continue to thrive in this ever-changing world.

Best wishes,

Follow @CSCPresident on Twitter!

1 Chronicle, Winter 2016

EDITORIAL STAFF Jessica M. Martin Director of Marketing & Public Relations Amanda Welker Assistant Director of Marketing & Public Relations Heidi Lanier Writer Jen Roberts Lead Designer & Web Manager Laura Harcharick Marketing Coordinator John G. Schild Sports Information Director

Ronald W. Leftwich ’64 Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Kelly M. Thompson President Dr. Daniel K. Silber Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Marjorie Ellison ’90 Senior Director of Advancement and Alumni Programs Jennifer Sousa ’04 Director of Alumni Programs

Culver-Stockton College One College Hill Canton, MO 63435 Office of Advancement and Alumni (800) 755-CATS alumni@culver.edu

CONTENTS

Alumni Leslie (Herdegen) Swedo ’68, left, Denise (Herdegen) Cook ’73, Sam Cook ’72, Bob Stone ’71, Carla (Douglas) Boren ’83, Dave McClintock ’71, Patricia (Wollerman) MacCarthy ’73 and Tommy MacCarthy ’71, reminisce at an alumni golf outing in Chicago.

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

5

From the Top of the Hill

1

News Briefs

3

Homecoming

Academic Affairs

7

Post Grad

9

A look back on 2015’s Homecoming, There’s No Place Like the Hill.

From the Chaplain

15

Victory Bell 17 Donations at Work

23

Passing the Test

25

In Memoriam

27

Tools for Success

Class Notes

27

Three alumni reflect on the skills C-SC gave them to be successful after graduation.

Fresh Start 33 Views from the Quad ON THE COVER Danielle Wade ’14 takes our recent grad survey on what life is like after graduating from Culver-Stockton College.

11

34

CHRONICLE HOMECOMING 5 | PASSING THE TEST 9 | VICTORY BELL 17 | VIEWS FROM THE QUAD 26 | CLASS NOTES 29 | FRESH START 33

21

Bucket List RECENT GRADUATE OUTCOME

STRAIGHT TO THE CLASSROOM Hired directly after graduation from Culver-Stockton, Danielle Wade ’14 enjoys life as a kindergarten teacher.

Winter 2016

Volume 26

Issue 1

Dr. Karl Hansmeier ’65 recounts his once-in-a-lifetime journey piloting a Cessna 172 from Hannibal, Mo., to Alaska.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Culver-Stockton College is to prepare students of promise for a dynamic world through our distinctive experiential curriculum within a supportive learning community founded upon the best values of faith and the human spirit.

www.culver.edu 2

NEWS BRIEFS

WILDCATS PAY IT FORWARD For the third straight year, C-SC Wildcats collected toys and donations for the Toys for Tots program. Anyone who brought a new, unwrapped toy or made a donation received free admission to the basketball doubleheader against Grand View on Saturday, Dec. 5. All donations from the event benefited children in the Lewis County area.

A Recap of Noteworthy Campus Accomplishments FOR MORE NEWS, GO TO CULVER.EDU.

LIVE WITH KATZ 5 Tyler Tomlinson ’03, lecturer in communication, and his students worked during the fall semester to shoot, edit and produce the first news broadcast on KATZ 5 live which aired on campus Dec. 11, 2015.

C-SC ON ESPN3 C-SC’s football team played Missouri Valley College with a national viewing audience on Oct. 3, as the game was webcast on ESPN3. The broadcast was part of a 12-game package between ESPN, Niles Media and the Heart of America Athletic Conference for the 2015 campaign. C-SC also appeared on ESPN3 on Oct. 10 against Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan.

3 Chronicle, Winter Summer2016 2015

GREEK LIFE RANKING

RANKED 22ND BEST COLLEGE FOR GREEK LIFE BY

BESTCOLLEGEREVIEWS.ORG

C-SC was ranked #22 on BestCollegeReviews.org’s 50 Best Colleges for Greek Life. The list was comprised of schools where Greek participation is high and the current Greek students are satisfied with their experiences.

NEWS BRIEFS

A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE Culver-Stockton College is one of six institutions honored by University Business in its Summer 2015 Model of Excellence recognition program, which nationally identifies programs designed to help students succeed. C-SC was recognized for the Passport to Success program, completed by all first year students.

NAMED A MODEL OF

Excellence

BY UNIVERSITY BUSINESS

LEADERSHIP SERVICE

#GREENLIGHTAVET Specialist Kendall Kothe ’18 was honored when C-SC participated in the national #GreenlightAVet campaign to show support to Veterans in November. The College gave 200 green light bulbs to students, faculty, staff and the Canton community. Also, the College hosted a military football game, where free admission was given to those who have served, along with giveaways.

C-SC athletic training students Zachary Wilson ’17 and Briahna Wisecarver ’16 were selected to serve on the Athletic Training Student Leadership Committee (AT-SLC) for the 20152016 academic year.

EXCELLING IN EDUCATION Rachel Elder ’16 is C-SC’s 2016 Robert J. Greef Award winner. The Missouri Council of Teachers of English established the award to honor former MATE president Robert Greef, who was an outstanding teacher at the University of Central Missouri. Rachel is eligible to be honored at the Write to Learn Conference at Tan-Tar-A on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016.

EXPLORING NEW HEIGHTS An honors leadership course traveled to the YMCA Trout Lodge in Potosi, Mo., during the fall 3-week. Students worked together in team-building exercises, leadership training and also climbed the lodge’s famous Alpine Tower, a 50-foot-tall obstacle course.

www.culver.edu 4

COOL TEMPS DID NOT STOP A LARGE NUMBER OF ALUMNI FROM RETURNING TO CULVER-STOCKTON’S CAMPUS TO CELEBRATE THE 2015 HOMECOMING WEEKEND. For the first time, C-SC

combined Family Weekend with Homecoming, which allowed current C-SC families to mingle with the larger alumni family for several fun-filled days.

Influential alumni were recognized for their accomplishments, professionally and in their communities, during several campus receptions over the course of the weekend. The College also formally dedicated three new facilities: the Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center, the Alpha Xi Delta Plaza and the W.A. Herington Events & Sports Center.

The weekend also featured reunions for nursing, theatre, cross country, track & field and Sigma Sigma Sigma alumni, as well as reunions for the Classes of ’55, ’65, ’75, ’85, ’90 and ’05. In addition, the Class of 1965 was welcomed into the Top of the Hill Society.

Mark Your Calendar! Next year’s Homecoming Weekend, Let The Good Times Roar, is scheduled for Oct. 7-9, 2016.

5 Chronicle, Winter 2016

1. Alpha Xi Delta alumnae pose for a photo at the dedication of the new AZD Plaza located next to Carl Johann Memorial Library.

2. Kent Miller ’73, division chair of Fine, Applied and Literary Arts, professor of theatre and technical director at C-SC, right, honors Mr. Marc Tower, son of honoree Dr. Wesley Tower, former Fine Arts division chair, during the Fine Arts Banquet.

3. Distinguished Alumni Honorees Ashton Lafferty ’71, left, Jeff Stuerman ’82 and Leslie Kelsay ’73 in the Homecoming Parade.

4. Future Wildcat, great nephew of Leslie Kelsay ’73, poses in the Gladys Crown Center.

5. Homecoming King and Queen, Fred Moore ’16 and Morgan Wilson ’16.

6. Mike Bruner ’76, left, Joe Hogan ’73, Byl Watters, Terry Ahern ’80 at the golf outing at Spring Lake Country Club.

7. Paul McClelland ’65, left, and Bruce Condill ’65 speak at the dedication of the W.A. Herington Events & Sports Center.

8. Terry Larimore ’65 receives Top of the Hill pin from President Thompson.

9. Honorees Steven Fannin ’71, left, and Karen (Kost) Baker ’81 at the Education Hall of Excellence Banquet.

10. Bev Dunn ’65 and Kirk Briscoe ’94 ride in the parade.

1

2

5

4 3

6

8

7

9

10

www.culver.edu 6

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Letter OF THE Law

THE

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH MOCK TRIAL TEAM

P

ractical career training is a vital component of Culver-Stockton College’s experiential curriculum, and no experiences directly prepare students for their future careers quite like the Mock Trial Team.

Participating on the Mock Trial Team allows students to apply the concepts they learn as students to real life simulations and develop their writing, public speaking, logic and comprehension skills.

C-SC’s current Mock Trial Team is a member of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) and has been competing since 2009. While the official C-SC Mock Trial Team is relatively new, C-SC students have been partaking in mock trials as early as the 7 Chronicle, Winter 2016

1920s. More recently, students participated in mock trials while enrolled in local attorney Dennis Smith’s “Criminal Law” course in the 1980s.

As a member of the AMTA, C-SC mockers study one case per year and the cases alternate annually between criminal and civil cases. The students spend hours preparing before they compete against universities and colleges from around the nation, taking the case as seriously as they would in a real court of law. Each team member is assigned a specific role in the case, which they hold for the entire season. This provides mockers in-depth insight into different roles in a court of law and allows participants the ability to narrow down which legal role to pursue in their careers.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Anna Wilmesher ’17 stands to deliver an opening statement as the prosecution.

Lance Smith ’17 cross examines Grace Stiles ’18, who is portraying a witness in a case during a team scrimmage.

Mock Trial Team members Grace Stiles ’18, back left, Gabe Holmstrom ’17, Connor Rohrs ’19, Ben Hooker ’18, Advisor Melody Schroer, JD, Dakota Kee ’16, Lance Smith ’17, Sabrina Thompson ’18, Shakendra Young ’17, Nancy Rocha ’19, front left, Joanna Holmin ’17, Megan Green ’18 and Anna Wilmesher ’17 stand in the courtroom at C-SC.

“I have gained a thorough understanding of the trial process and how to present evidence in court, which will help me in my future law career,” said Lance Smith, captain of the C-SC team. “Mock Trial Team has given me experience in every aspect of court – from case theory all the way to giving directs, cross examinations and opening/ closing statements.”

While participating on the team makes obvious sense for students majoring in legal studies and criminal justice, Mock Trial also cultivates skills for students of other majors. Currently, the 12-member team also has a psychology and a history major on its roster.

“A part of the Mock Trial experience is learning how to develop and defend logic-based arguments,” Smith said. “If you don’t have a strong argument, that will be apparent very quickly. Being able to develop a sound argument can benefit any career field.”

Former C-SC mockers are enrolled in prestigious law schools around the country, including Justin Ferris ’15, who received a full scholarship to Washington University’s School of Law.

www.culver.edu 8

POST GRAD

Paying it Forward:

Catching up with Steve Viorel ’02

A

By Heidi Lanier

fter graduating with his degree in business administration, Steve Viorel ’02 returned to live in his hometown of Hannibal, Mo. There he is a financial advisor and director of Investment Services at HNB Bank’s Investment Center. He began his career as a teller and then earned his broker’s license to move into his current role, which he has held for 11 years.

Even at work, he likes to remember his time at C-SC and has photos from his graduation day on display in his office.

“College was a meaningful time of my life. I formed relationships and skills that have lasted through the years,” said Viorel. “Professor Jim Cosgrove and I meet up for dinner about once a year to catch up. That relationship and many others mean a lot to me and remain important in my life.”

On campus, Viorel was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and he played two years on the Wildcat soccer team. He was also a member of the College’s Investment Club. Membership in this club affected Viorel’s life in a way that he never anticipated.

During Viorel’s time as a student, the College’s Board of Trustees allocated funds for the Investment Club to use in real markets. Trustee Larry Gorrell advised the club and the club’s investments were ran through a broker dealer.

“The Investment Club was a great experience for me. Having actual money to invest and having a mentor who was already successful in the field made all the difference. Larry Gorrell’s involvement made a major impact on my experience as a student and on into my career,” remembers Viorel. “I felt C-SC prepared me for my career very well, especially with the focus on real world experiences that we had in the Business Department.”

9 Chronicle, Winter 2016

Belonging to this club is part of his motivation for continuing to support Culver-Stockton’s Student Scholarship Fund.

“Affording an education can be very difficult. Having a liberal arts education was important to me, and I think the small school experience still benefits kids today,” said Viorel. “Now I have the perspective to look back and see the reason I was able to have that great experience, which was because someone cared enough to give back to Culver-Stockton. Larry Gorrell’s support made a huge impact on my life, and I want to do that for people as well.”

Viorel also applies his philanthropic attitude to his community.

He and a colleague started a soccer club in Hannibal. In this capacity, Viorel coaches a competitive travel soccer team and has been coaching the same group of athletes since they were eight years old. His team is currently comprised of juniors and seniors in high school and many are varsity starters on the high school’s team. One of his former players, Bri Johnson, is a current C-SC midfielder.

“I have watched my team grow up and start to work together really well,” said Viorel. “It has been a rewarding job.”

As satisfying as Viorel’s community involvement and career are, he still has a soft spot for his days at C-SC. “My time on ‘the Hill’ was probably the best time of my life.

Those great experiences just sitting around laughing and making our own fun. It draws you back.” remembered Viorel with a laugh.

“And with all of the updates and changes to campus, I even wish I was a student at Culver-Stockton College right now.”

MEET C-SC’S

BOARD OF TRUSTEES H.B. TURNER ’79 Board Treasurer Parkville, Mo.

KENT CLOW ’78 Olathe, Kan.

TIMOTHY L. FISCHER ’89

West Chester, Penn.

SCOTT A. JOHNSON ’71

New Albany, Ohio

MICHAEL G. McCAY ’68

Bentonville, Ark.

STACY RAITH ’83 Shawnee, Kan.

C. CLARK TODD Hannibal, Mo.

RONALD W. LEFTWICH ’64

LARRY W. GORRELL ’69

Board Secretary Quincy, Ill.

LARRY ASKEW ’94

DONALD M. CLAYCOMB

ANTHONY E. CRANE ’74

SALLIE CUNNINGHAM ’95

JENKINS DAVIS ’70

ROBIN A. GREGER ’78

TIMOTHY M. JAMES ’74

LESLIE V. KELSAY ’73

DAVID LEE ’16

New Lenox, Ill.

DAVID C. MOBLEY ’83

TOM POLETT

CHARLES W. SCHOLZ

ROBERT STONE ’71

JEFFREY A. STUERMAN ’82

KATHY TURPIN

NATHAN ZELINSKE ’99

JASON R. STRATTON ’96

Quincy, Ill.

SUSAN G. GODERSTAD ’81

Apple Valley, Minn.

JACK KANNE ’71 Franklin, Tenn.

DAVID MCCLINTOCK ’71

Quincy, Ill.

TERRY TRAEDER Quincy, Ill.

Board Chair Houston, Texas

Overland Park, Kan.

Madison, Wis.

Hannibal, Mo.

Santa Clara, Calif.

New London, Mo.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Weatherby Lake, Mo.

Board Vice Chair Quincy, Ill.

Linn, Mo.

Barrington, Ill.

Fishers, Ind.

Student Representative

Faculty Representative

St. Charles, Mo.

St. Louis, Mo.

NOT PICTURED: CALY CRAMSEY ’08, QUINCY, ILL., TORY LUCAS, LYNCHBURG, VA., AND DAVID YONKER ’00, BURLINGTON, IOWA www.culver.edu 10 BE SURE TO WATCH FOR FEATURE STORIES ON OUR TRUSTEES IN FUTURE ISSUES OF THE CHRONICLE.

THREE ALUMNI SHARE HOW CULVER-STOCKTON PREPARED THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

By Heidi Lanier The liberal arts education provided by Culver-Stockton College allows students to learn how to draw connections across many disciplines. With this model, students often discover new interests and passions while completing the First Year Experience requirements, their major-specific courses and participating in a range of extracurricular offerings.

As a result, C-SC alumni have demonstrated time and time again that they hold a wide variety of tools to attain success and combat challenges in their respective fields. The alumni featured have combined the skills they developed in college with their focus and determination to achieve amazing results.

11 Chronicle, Winter 2016

Ashton Lafferty ’71 is honored as a 2015 Distinguished Alumnus by President Thompson.

ASHTON LAFFERTY ’71 is a man with a very calming

presence. He is passionate about singing, which he does in his church’s choir. His voice is soft-spoken and he insists people call him “Ash.” Don’t let his soft spokenness fool you into thinking he’s soft, though. Lafferty is also a retired colonel in the United States Air Force and a SETA contractor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Lafferty’s outstanding career path came from following a dream he’d had since he was a young man.

Ashton’s dream was simple. He wanted to fly.

Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Kentucky, he felt the best way to accomplish his goal was to join the armed forces. A visit to the Air Force Recruiter’s Office presented him with what could have been considered as a small setback, but actually influenced the rest of his life in a big way.

“The recruiters told me the best path for me to become a pilot was to enlist as an officer. To do so, I needed a college degree,” remembers Ashton. “It was the summer after my senior year, so I didn’t have a lot of time to act. When I applied to the colleges in Kentucky, many schools were already at their limits.”

Shortly after this fated trip to the recruiters, Ashton was leaving church and the family pastor told him to stop by his office. Once there, the pastor passed two college pamphlets across the desk.

One stuck out immediately.

“I just remember thinking the pictures of campus on one of the brochures were so beautiful. All the buildings had these stately white pillars,” said Ashton. “I still remember it was the first college west of the Mississippi River founded for co-education.”

Ashton applied and was accepted to Culver-Stockton one week before the start of the school year. He hadn’t even taken his SAT

yet. Despite the late jump he had on getting to campus, Ashton took to college life immediately. He was a member of two singing groups, A Cappella Choir and C-S Singers. He also joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After changing his major a few times, Ashton graduated in four years with a degree in mathematics.

“College was a new world for me. C-SC allowed me to meet so many different types of people that I would have never come into contact with if I had stayed in Kentucky,” said Lafferty. “Those interactions are all part of the liberal arts journey and it prepared me to go into a big organization like the Air Force.”

Ashton achieved his goal of becoming a pilot in the Air Force, going on to fly some of the world’s most amazing aircrafts, including a U-2 spy plane. His time in the armed forces took him on tours of duty around the world, including in the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. He also earned a Master of Science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California while enlisted.

All told, Ashton retired from the Air Force in 1997 with 26 years of experience under his belt. He went on to complete 17 more years as a contractor for the OSD before fully retiring in 2014. He and his wife, Sally Ann Layfield, live in Alexandria, Va. Ashton was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus during the 2015 Homecoming Weekend at Culver-Stockton College. The man who has spent decades serving his country and traveling the world was honored to be recognized by his alma mater.

“I couldn’t believe I had been selected to be honored, or that the president of Culver-Stockton College was calling my cell phone,” said Ashton. “The whole thing was a very humbling experience.” www.culver.edu 12

Tony ’93 and Christine ’93 Johnson pose for a photo.

salt mines in Kansas, and he found the hundreds of trucks required to supply the vital salt to country’s third largest city and dozens of surrounding communities spanning the state of Illinois.

“Midwest Salt was just a small company,” said Tony. “We were able to use our experience from all the different companies we had been at to build this one.”

And build it they did. The company grew meteorically, increasing from a $3 million to a $22 million organization in under 18 months. They have been dubbed The Salt Company that helped save TONY ’93 AND CHRISTINE ’93 JOHNSON met Chicago from Disaster, and the company was featured in INC their first day of school. They became quick friends, though both Magazine’s 500 of 2015. were involved in long distance relationships with people from “I still don’t know how we did that. I had great support at their hometowns. home, and it enabled me to do this,” said Tony. “If it wasn’t for “I used to catch rides with Tony back home so we could both Christine, I wouldn’t have even attempted to take it all on.” visit our significant others,” remembers Christine. “But then one The family does attribute a portion of their success to the year coming home from Christmas break, we realized we had the skills they learned while on “the Hill.” Greek life and the close potential to be more than friends.” relationships developed with faculty and peers played a large role The two dated the remainder of their college in both of their lives. years, getting married nine months after Tony “I use strategies I was taught in college all “WE WERE ABLE graduated with his degree in accountancy and the time, in the way that I put together possible TO USE OUR minor in computer science and Christine with EXPERIENCE FROM solutions,” said Tony. “The leadership skills I her degrees in psychology and human resources. learned in college and in Greek life provided me ALL THE DIFFERENT skills I have used my entire life. I really believe that Since then, their careers have led them around COMPANIES WE the country and to levels of success they could the fraternity (Delta Upsilon), brought the best HAD BEEN AT TO have hardly dreamed about. While the two out of me.” have worked for several different companies, BUILD THIS ONE.” “It wasn’t until the last 5-7 years that I realized their highest level of success came recently - TONY JOHNSON ’93 the importance of being in a sorority. It benefits after capitalizing on several lucrative market so many areas of life. I use those experiences in opportunities. my human resources career all the time,” reflected Currently, Tony is the president of Midwest Salt Company Christine. “It was in my sorority that I learned how to manage (MSC) and Christine is a human resources consultant for many people and how different personalities come into play, personally companies, including MSC. The Johnson’s bought the company and in the work place.” in 2011. Shortly after the purchase, Tony and his company Interestingly, some of Tony’s success may be attributed to Joe recognized an opportunity to achieve astounding success.

Charles, a C-SC alumnus and successful businessman.

In the winter of 2013-2014, a polar vortex descended on the “It is actually kind of funny. I have a distinct memory of country. The city of Chicago had run through its winter salt attending an ACE event featuring Joe Charles. During the event, supply by November. The city was facing a transportation crisis as he spoke about his company and his company’s successes,” recalls city officials looked for additional salt stores needed to keep streets Tony. “Seeing a fellow Wildcat reach such high levels of success properly deiced through the winter. brought out my competitive spirit and I remembered thinking I Tony saw the opportunity and started making moves. Within wanted to be like him. I wanted to make a contribution to hours, he was able to connect the city of Chicago directly with the world.”

13 Chronicle, Winter 2016

Amanda Schwartz enjoys herself while rafting down the Main Payette River in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho.

AMANDA SCHWARTZ experiences more high-adrenaline situations in one week than most experience in a year as a member of a trauma team in a hospital. She credits her ability to keep a calm head in emergency situations to a combination of things, in part her experiences as a college athlete on C-SC’s soccer team.

Amanda came to Culver-Stockton College to play soccer, following her former high school coach Matt Longo when he came to C-SC as the head women’s coach. She was a starting keeper on the team and her series of shutouts helped the women’s team have their best season to date, with a 10-8 record.

Amanda was as successful in the classroom as she was on the field, and was inducted into the freshman honor society Phi Eta Sigma. Her academic focus was on pre-medicine, but even in all of her success, something didn’t feel right.

“I started feeling like my motive for studying medicine was off. I felt like I was being motivated by money and not by helping people,” remembers Amanda. “I guess you can say I had a college mid-life crisis.”

After two years on “the Hill,” Amanda made a major life decision when she dropped out of college and enlisted in the Air Force.

“At first I thought I was just joining the Air Force to be doing something while I got my life figured out,” said Amanda.

What Amanda thought would be a short two or three year stint turned into more than a decade, with Amanda successfully training for two completely different careers while in the service.

Once enlisted, Amanda initially was placed as an airborne linguist and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. There she worked on translating Tagalog and Tausug, two languages from the Philippines.

After a few years as a linguist, Amanda once again felt the call to enter the medical field. This time, she felt her motives were clearer and she successfully completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees to become a physician’s assistant (PA). Amanda remained in the Air Force as a PA and completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan with a Forward Surgical Team (FST). Her tour kept her on the front lines, treating soldiers and people on the verge of death.

“I felt like I was able to reach my full potential while in Afghanistan. It was the most fulfilling thing I could have done with my military experience and it changed my life,” said Amanda. “To get through that and survive it is second to none. You get to know yourself pretty well.”

After Afghanistan, Amanda was stationed in Mountain Home, Idaho, where she finished out her time in the Air Force. Her first job as a civilian was at a general family practice in Boise working as a PA. Amanda enjoyed this work, but once again began to feel restless. As soon as a job on the trauma team at the hospital opened up, Amanda knew what she wanted to do.

“I felt like being on the trauma team allows me to continue to reach my potential and help as much as I can,” said Amanda.

Amanda now works on the trauma team for Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center Hospital in Boise, Idaho, the only Level II Trauma Center in the region.

“I love what I do now,” said Amanda. “Each experience I already had helps me in each new experience that life brings. I am so grateful I was able to attend Culver-Stockton College and play college athletics.” www.culver.edu 14

& LEARNING FROM THE CHAPLAIN

Service

INCOMING FRESHMEN GIVE BACK TO THE CANTON COMMUNITY IN ANNUAL EXTREME DOME MAKEOVER

By Amanda Sorenson, C-SC Chaplain

I

t’s an impressive sight to say the least, when hundreds of students, faculty and staff begin the descent down the Concourse into the city of Canton for Extreme Dome Makeover every August. However, what is more impressive is the impact EDM has on both community members and students alike.

Extreme Dome Makeover began in 2010 as a way to help individuals and families who have faced either physical or financial hardship, yet still find ways to make a positive impact on the Canton community. It also helps connect the College and the town and provides first year students with a service learning opportunity their first weekend on campus. EDM goes a long way in filling the needs of both the community and our student body.

Service is also part of who we are within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination.

“When we serve the local community and work with our neighbors, we become part of the movement for wholeness in a fragmented world,” said Dr. Dan Silber, vice president for academics affairs and dean of the College. “We believe it is a great way to make a difference in the city of Canton and at the same time for students to learn more about the community and make a positive impact on it. Also, they bring the knowledge and skills that they learn in the classroom to bare in making the world a better place.”

As an institution that places a high value on service learning and core experiential learning components, beginning a student’s experience at C-SC with EDM is a powerful way to highlight our commitment to the broader world and help students engage in the larger community.

In the past six years, EDM has become a strong part of our tradition. Over the years students have completed a wide variety of projects including building a wheel chair ramp for a family home,

15 Chronicle, Winter 2016

1

2

3

4 laying a brick patio, working in the community garden, planting trees, constructing playground equipment and more.

EDM works with the city of Canton, local churches, organizations and residents to find candidates and projects. In 2013, students painted the home of Irma Jean Walker, a longtime Canton resident who was not physically able to do the work herself. “It is a wonderful service to help those who need it and to bring the students and the community together,” said Mrs. Walker. “It was a wonderful experience.”

In 2015, nearly 400 students, athletes, faculty, staff and community members worked at 15 different locations including six private family homes. It is always a joy to visit each site and see how the students are bonding with each other and with the community members.

Senior Brittany Thompson returns early for EDM each year to help organize and work at a site. When asked why, her response was, “I like to be able to give back to the community that helps to support Culver-Stockton College. EDM is one of the best ways to give back. Large groups of students venture down the Concourse to people's houses, who need a little repair or touching up in the community are not able to do it themselves. It is also a great way to get to know the people in the community.” It really is a day that unifies us as one whole community and creates lasting relationships.

1. Madeline Mullins ’17 pulls weeds at a Canton home during Extreme Dome Makeover.

2. President Kelly M. Thompson stands with a group of student workers.

3. A student paints a garage at a house in Canton.

4. Whitten Crawford ’17 and Alleah Lay ’16 work in the community garden.

5. A group of students plant a tree on Lewis Street in Canton.

6. Trustee C. Clark Todd, center, and students also plant a tree in Canton.

5

6 www.culver.edu 16

VICTORY BELL

WILDCAT

NATION ATHLETES EARN ACCOLADES AND TEAMS COMPETE FROM THE HEART

By John Schild, Assistant Athletic Director & Sports Information Director The fall sports season at Culver-Stockton College saw each of the Wildcat athletic programs compete successfully against some of the finest competition in the NAIA. The results were teams making runs at conference championships and individuals earning accolades at the conference, region and national levels.

FOR ALL THE LATEST ON CULVER-STOCKTON ATHLETICS, GO TO CSCWILDCATS.COM OR FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

17 Chronicle, Winter 2016

VICTORY BELL

WOMEN'S SOCCER

The women’s soccer program turned in its second straight winning campaign and the third overall in the last four seasons.

The Wildcats completed the 2015 season with a 12-6-1 overall record and a 6-4 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, which was good for fifth place. The 6-4 record was also the first time in the College’s history the Wildcats have finished with a winning ledger in conference play.

Among the highlights from the 2015 season, the Wildcats played four teams who appeared in the NAIA National Tournament, defeating Saint Ambrose (Iowa). In addition, the Wildcats earned a victory for the second straight year over a ranked opponent, defeating 13th-ranked Missouri Valley College 2-1 at NX Level Field. C-SC went 6-1-1 against nonconference opponents this season, running their record against non-conference foes to 21-5-3 over the last three seasons.

Individually, senior forward Brittney McMahon earned All-Heart honors for the fourth consecutive year. She was named to the second team for the third time in her career after netting seven goals and six assists for a team-best 20 points this season. McMahon finished her career with 31 goals, which ranks third on the school’s all-time list, and had 12 career assists, which ranks sixth on the all-time list. In December, McMahon became the first women’s soccer player at Culver-Stockton to earn All-Midwest Region honors when she was named to the second team by the

National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Senior defender Jill Griebel was also named to the All-Heart second team, while sophomore midfielder Erin Kelly was named to the third team for the second straight season.

Griebel was an instrumental cog in the Wildcat defense that recorded seven shutouts and a 1.07 goals against average during the season. She also netted her first career goal in the 2-1 victory over Grand View (Iowa) on Oct. 31. Meanwhile, Kelly registered one goal and two assists from her center midfielder position. She was also instrumental in the defensive effort turned in by the Wildcats.

Speaking of defense, the Wildcats got solid efforts from a pair of underclassmen goalkeepers. Freshman Abby Mikesell started the first 14 games and recorded an 8-5-1 overall record with a 1.24 goals against average and five shutouts.

Sophomore Carly Simmons started the final five games and garnered a 4-1 record with a 0.59 goals against average and two shutouts.

Finally, Coach Tyler Tomlinson registered his 45th victory as head coach of the Wildcat women’s soccer program when the Wildcats defeated Avila (Mo.) on Oct. 23, moving him past Matt Longo for first place on the program’s coaching all-time win list. Tomlinson is now 46-39-8 in five seasons.

MEN'S SOCCER The men’s soccer program fell short of earning a second straight winning campaign, settling for an 8-10-1 overall record against a strong schedule that featured seven matches against teams that were ranked in the NAIA Top 25 and five teams who advanced to the NAIA national tournament.

The Wildcats were fourth in the Heart with 43 goals scored this season. Leading the way was senior forward Dominic Caruso, who netted a team-best 12 goals this year, which ranked fourth in the Heart. In addition, Caruso tallied two assists for a team-high 26 points. He averaged 1.37 points per game, which ranked fifth in the Heart. Caruso was named to the All-Heart second team. In late November, Caruso was also named to the CoSIDA Academic-All-America College Division First Team for his play on the field and his work in the classroom. He is just the second Wildcat student-athlete named to the first team, joining Jason Kaiser (1995- football), and just the 11th Wildcat overall to be named to the CoSIDA Academic AllAmerica team.

Joining Caruso on the all-league team were junior midfielder John Hoemeyer and sophomore midfielder Santiago Dirrocco. Hoemeyer racked up two goals and two assists from his defensive midfield position and joined Caruso on the second team. Dirrocco followed up his second team selection as a freshman with a third selection this season.

Dirrocco registered one goal and a teamhigh eight assists this season. The eight helpers tied for second in the Heart.

www.culver.edu 18

VICTORY BELL

CROSS COUNTRY The Wildcat cross country team made strides under first-year Head Coach Alan King. The Wildcat women placed 11th in the Heart of America Athletic Conference championships, one of their best finishes since the sport was reinstated in 2007. Senior Skyler Barger, running in her only meet of the season, set a school record with a time of 20:18 in the fivekilometer race. That mark was good for a 22nd place finish.

On the men’s side, freshman Miguel Obregon showed the future was bright as he consistently finished near the top of the weekly individual standings. Obregon also set a school record at the Heart Championships, registering a time of 28:47 in the 8-kilometer race and finished 36th overall.

The men finished 12th in the team competition.

FOOTBALL The 2015 football season is one that most people would just as soon forget as a young, inexperienced team suffered through a winless campaign.

However, several players turned in fine play individually and were recognized by the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Senior defensive end David Marcinko and senior linebacker Jeff Treadway earned second team honors, while junior tight end Fred Moore III, junior wide receiver John Haarmann and senior offensive lineman Nick Curlett were honorable mention selections.

Marcinko, who was a first-team selection in 2013 and 2014, led the Wildcats with three sacks and eight tackles for loss this season. He was third on the team with 60 total tackles, including 30 solo stops, one forced fumble and one blocked kick.

In addition, Marcinko recorded his 19 Chronicle, Winter 2016

first career interception, which he returned for a touchdown, against MidAmerica Nazarene on Aug. 29.

In his career, Marcinko, a four-year starter, recorded 200 total tackles, including 41.5 stops for loss, and 21 sacks. He registered four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and five passes defended in 43 career games.

Treadway, a four-year letterwinner, moved from safety to linebacker this season and led the Wildcats with 91 total tackles this season. He finished fourth in the Heart, averaging 8.3 tackles per game. In addition, Treadway recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and forced a fumble.

In his four-year career, Treadway garnered 214 total tackles, including 109 solo stops and 15 tackles for loss.

He also forced two fumbles, had one fumble recovery and was credited with five passes defended.

VICTORY BELL

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL The Wildcat women’s volleyball program fought injuries early in the season before rallying at the end of the year to sport a 10-16 overall record and a 7-4 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, which was good for a fifth place finish in the expanded 12-team league.

The Wildcats won just four of their first 17 matches while several key players were nursing injuries. However, once healthy, the Wildcats reeled off six victories over their final eight regular season matches, including six straight in league play, to earn the fifth seed in the Heart postseason tournament where they faced Peru State in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats battled hard but fell in four exciting sets to end their season.

Senior outside hitter Kamrin Gold ended her career as one of the most decorated players in school history. She was named to the All-Heart and the All-Midwest Region first team for the third straight year despite missing four matches due to injury. After being named to the NAIA All-America second and third team in 2014 and 2013, respectively, Gold earned honorable mention accolades this season. Gold finished her career with 1,185 kills on 3,362 career attempts, which both rank ninth on the school’s alltime list. Gold was a two-time Heart Attacker of the Year and was named the Heart Player of the Year in 2014.

Fellow senior Abbie Foster also ended a brilliant career with the Wildcat volleyball program. A four-year starter at libero, Foster was named to the All-Heart team for the fourth straight year, earning honorable mention honors this season. Foster ended her career with 2,014 career digs, which ranks fourth on the school's all-time list. Her career mark of 4.37 digs per set ranks third on the career list, while her career .959 career service percentage ranks first on the school's all-time list. She ended her career with 81 career service aces.

Sophomore Monica Bumbry was named to the second team All-Heart team, while junior transfer Victoria Day joined Foster on the honorable mention list. Bumbry, a middle blocker, averaged 2.34 kills per set, recording 225 kills overall. Her .278 hitting percentage ranked seventh overall in the conference.

Bumbry also led the Wildcats with 78 blocks, including 16 solo blocks. Meanwhile, Day saw action in 93 of the 98 sets played by the Wildcats this season. She was third on the team with 221 kills, averaging 2.38 kills per set. She also registered 30 service aces, which tied for the team lead, and was third on the team with 267 digs, averaging 2.87 digs per set.

www.culver.edu 20

BUCKET LIST:

ALUMNUS PILOTS SMALL PLANE FROM HANNIBAL, MO., TO ALASKA The career of Dr. Karl Hansmeier ’65 includes more than a decade as C-SC’s Dean of Students. Now in his retirement, Hansmeier has taken on a hobby that provides a slightly different perspective.

D

r. Karl “Ken” Hansmeier ’65, C-SC alumnus and former Dean of Students, recently checked off a “bucket-list adventure,” when he flew a Cessna 172 from Hannibal, Mo., to Anchorage, Alaska. Hansmeier made the journey with one other pilot, taking five days to complete the 3,600-mile distance.

Hansmeier attended Culver-Stockton College from 1961 through 1965. While in college, he was a 4-year starting guard on the men’s basketball team, an awardwinning distance runner and captain of the cross-country team. Hansmeier, a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, also met his future wife, Beth (Jasper) Hansmeier ’65, while a student.

After college, he found his way back to “the Hill” in 1982, when he was hired on as the Dean of Students. He held this role for more than a decade, before retiring to Hannibal, Mo., in 1995.

21 Chronicle, Winter 2016

Flying has been a passion for Hansmeier became president of the University’s flying for many decades. The father of three club. But I did it just as a hobby, never for learned how to fly through a chance a living.” opportunity he received when he was Though flying has always only been a a doctoral student enrolled at Indiana hobby with trips to places like Key West, University.

Hansmeier invested in it.

“I was out He became part owner “I WAS OUT HANGING hanging around of a Cessna 172 and flies AROUND THE LOCAL the local airport regularly. Though, until AIRPORT WATCHING watching airplanes the August of 2015, most AIRPLANES TAKE OFF take off and an older of his flights were short gentleman came up and close to home.

AND AN OLDER to me and said, ‘Boy Hansmeier was GENTLEMAN CAME would you like to presented with the UP TO ME AND SAID, go flying?’ We did, opportunity for the ‘BOY WOULD YOU and after that, I was longer trip to Alaska LIKE TO GO FLYING?’” hooked,” remembers after speaking with his Hansmeier. “That nephew. His nephew lives guy happened to be the fixed-base operator in Alaska and told Hansmeier about his for the whole airport. Flying was his friend, Shelby Standley, a college student life and he was a flight instructor. I got in Anchorage who flew from Alaska to my license and before I left the college I Houston, Texas. Standley was looking

Dr. Karl Hansmeier and Shelby Standley stand next to the Cessna 172 they piloted from Hannibal, Mo., to Anchorage, Alaska.

for a co-pilot to make the return trip.

Hansmeier was hesitant at first, but the idea of the adventure made him reconsider.

Hansmeier talked to Standley on a Wednesday and was satisfied with his credentials and attitude on safety, so they agreed he would fly to Hannibal, Mo., to see if they felt good about flying together.

When Standley landed in Hannibal, Mo., they hit it off and Hansmeier took him around to visit the Mark Twain attractions, then the pair took off for Alaska the following Sunday.

“On the fourth day we were scheduled to go through the mountains, but woke up that morning to 50-knot winds predicted through the passes, and we decided to stay on the ground that day. So when you translate that out, it took us five days to get there,” explains Hansmeier. “At no point did we fly hard

days, but there were long days of maybe six hours. We were flying very cautiously.”

Hansmeier and Standley flew through the mountains and enjoyed the view of wildlife and spectacular glaciers along the way. As this was an extended trip through remote areas, Standley had a device in the plane that sent a signal to a website that showed where the plane was located.

Hansmeier and Standley both promoted the link via social media and their friends and family were able to follow their journey.

“Every small plane pilot thinks about flying to Alaska or making some other long trip,” said Hansmeier. “This was definitely a check on the bucket list.”

Shelby Standley, right, takes a selfie with Dr. Karl Hansmeier in the Cessna 172.

www.culver.edu 22

LIGHTS AT ELLISON POULTON STADIUM

DONATIONS CONTINUE TO SHED LIGHT ON CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION

NIGHT GAMES POSSIBLE DUE TO FIELD ILLUMINATION Culver-Stockton College officials announced this November that funding had been secured to install lighting surrounding Ellison Poulton Stadium.

The addition of lighting to the field means several important things for the College. Without lighting, C-SC soccer games were held in the middle of the afternoon, causing students to miss classes. Now, soccer can be hosted at night after classes are finished.

The lights in the stadium follow the 2014 addition of the stateof-the-art NX Level synthetic field to the facility. The lighting is fully installed and will be used for spring athletics.

SCHWAN PLAZA PARKWAY

JOSEPH SCHWAN ’59 AND FAMILY CONTINUE IMPROVEMENTS ON MAIN ENTRANCE Culver-Stockton has continued to see improvements along the newly paved southern entrance to the school thanks to Joseph Schwan ’59 and his family. They have once again made the decision to give back to C-SC and have generously provided funding to add the Schwan Plaza. The new gathering spot overlooks Schwan Lake and the campus, while providing an inviting stop along Charlann Schwan Parkway. The vision of Joe and Charlann Schwan to invest in the first impression of the College has improved the aesthetic scene for prospective students, alumni, friends and travelers to Culver-Stockton College and the Canton community.

23 Chronicle, Winter 2016

In 2014, the southwest entrance to campus received a complete renovation including paving, landscaping and the addition of a stately sign. The new entryway, named in memory of Joe’s wife, Charlann, became Charlann Schwan Parkway. The entrance runs past Nichols and Ayers Fields, meeting up with the paving in front of Fraternity Park. Through a partnership with the Ayers family and Ayerco, the sidewalk was continued to the east entrance of Ayerco.

Night lighting on the plaza provides an inviting and relaxing area to view the beauty of Culver-Stockton College.

DONATIONS AT WORK

ALPHA XI DELTA PLAZA

COMPLETED PROJECTS UPDATE

CENTERS DEDICATED AT HOMECOMING SORORITY DONATES OUTDOOR AREA WITH A VIEW C-SC completed work on this new plaza in time to dedicate the facility at this year’s Homecoming. The plaza was put on campus to commemorate the alumnae of the former campus chapter of Alpha Xi Delta, an international sorority.

The plaza is situated behind the Carl Johann Memorial Library and features a stunning view of the river and Canton.

It is equipped with a cedar pergola, brick patio and wrought iron seating, all donated by C-SC alumni and friends.

C-SC hosted dedications for both the Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center and the W.A. Herington Events and Sports Center during Homecoming 2015.

Though the rainy summer weather pushed back the completion date on the Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center, the W.A. Herington Events & Sports Center was finished in time for teams to begin using the facility for fall practices.

www.culver.edu 24

PASSING THE TEST My favorite spot on campus is…

The athletic training room. It is the one place that I get to see my students’ learning come to life. It is a place where you see both physical, social, and emotional healing. It’s truly authentic.

The older I get, the more I realize…

That philanthropy, volunteerism and giving one’s self are extremely rewarding.

The most useful piece of advice I ever received was…

“The most important things you do in life are the things done when people aren’t looking.”---Kathy Schniedwind, retired head athletic trainer at Illinois State University. Basically, do it because it’s the right thing to do, not because you’re looking for recognition.

Short Answer

with

Dr. Jay Hoffman Jay Hoffman, DHSc, ATC, LAT, PES, CKTF, is the director of the Athletic Training Program, as well as the director of the Mabee Recreation & Wellness Center. He has worked at Culver-Stockton College for more than four years (2008-2012; 2015-present). He resides in Canton, Mo. When I first got to Culver-Stockton, I thought…

It felt like a second home. People are welcoming. My family is treated and respected like extended family. Faculty and staff truly value the student and each other. This is what makes small liberal arts institutions great places to work.

The words in the dictionary that best describe me are…

Strategic, purposeful and creative.

If I had one “do-over,” I would…

Have learned to play an instrument or explored my artistic side more.

The most unforgettable person at Culver-Stockton is/was…

It’s not a person. It is a team or the community. My wife and I returned to C-SC, because we valued our team work and relationships with our colleagues. Our AT family encouraged us to come back and supported our return. I immensely value the faculty and staff peers that I collaborate and debate with on several task forces. Each allows me to see different perspectives and grow as a person and as a professional. I can’t acknowledge any one person; it is truly a community.

My favorite memory of C-SC is…

That’s not a fair question. My favorite memories are vast and numerous.

Commencement always comes to mind. It is a time where we celebrate students’ accomplishments. It’s a sense of fulfillment and pride. I call this emotional currency. Homecoming also strikes a chord. These are times when we reconnect with our alumni and again get to hear their adventures and successes. However, if I was put in an arm bar and required to pick one of the pinnacles, I guess I would have to pick the Mabee Recreation & Wellness Center dedication. I say this because it is the manifestation of a student vision, and the application of concepts taught and learned with in our experiential learning curriculum, come to life. It was so rewarding to see Nicole Buck, Adam Lee, Kelly Gronewold, Lauren Eloff, and Brianne Guymon recognized for their efforts, dedication and hard work. I was proud of the project they produced, and even more proud of the young persons and professionals they have become.

“Short Answer” is a column for alumni and friends to keep up with former and current faculty and staff. Send suggestions of who you would like to see in “Short Answer” to marketing@culver.edu.

25 Chronicle, Winter 2016

PASSING THE TEST

Essay Portion:

Learning to Lead

By Bailey Gengenbacher ’16

T

hroughout my three and a half years at CulverStockton College, I have experienced so much. From passing my first college exam to playing in my first collegiate softball game, C-SC has shaped me to become the leader I am today.

When I first enrolled at C-SC, I was feeling so many emotions.

I was excited to start a new chapter in my life and to continue my softball career. I was nervous and scared to be living away from home and have to make new friends. But what helped me overcome all those emotions was the welcoming family and leaders I met when I stepped on campus for the first time as a college student. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging that I felt at home again.

I have accomplished many things while at C-SC, not just in the classroom or on the softball field, but also through different organizations. I am a member of four different organizations on campus: Campus Programming Council, Chi Alpha, Fellow Christian Athletes, and Culver-Stockton Teacher Organization. I am also the president of Campus Programming Council (CPC) and was vice president my junior year. All these organizations have shaped me into the leader I am today.

With those leadership skills, I have been able to use them in the classroom and on the softball field. In the classroom you have to be able to work with many different people and be cooperative.

One of the things I have learned from being president of CPC, is that you are more successful when you work with others around you and get their feedback, instead of trying to do everything on your own. This can also be used on the field. Being a senior this year, I have more responsibility on my shoulders. When you’re an upperclassman, you want to make sure everyone is doing what they should be and focusing on the skills they might need to work on. Without leadership, I would not be as successful as I am today with my team. I might not have had the best stats in the books, but when you are looking for leadership, that is a skill I have pride in.

During my time at Culver-Stockton College, I have learned so much about myself that I did not know before. The main thing that I will take away from C-SC, other than my degree, is the leadership C-SC has instilled in me. I will be forever grateful for the lifelong lessons that I was able to receive from Culver-Stockton College.

www.culver.edu 26

CLASS NOTES Loraine Pitman resides in Indianapolis, Ind. Many of her family attended CulverStockton College including sons, Steve ’70, Bob ’71 and Greg Pitman ’76, and nieces, Jackie Pitman ’69 and Anna Lee Pitman Lipka ’74 and her husband, Jim ’74.

1950s

Lee ’63 and his wife Linda (Anderson) ’62 Plank celebrated 55 years of marriage on

June 15. Lee sold his business in 2001 and they have enjoyed 14 years of retirement.

The couple has three children, four grandchildren and a great-grandson.

The Planks reside in Florissant, Mo. Tom Mott ’65 has retired. He lives

with his wife, Jackie, in a new location in Grayslake, Ill.

Jessie (Lansing) ’03 and Joe Gray ’04

welcomed their daughter Mia Marie Gray on July 3, 2015, at 7:26 a.m.

Dr. Wayne McGinnis ’66 was recently

honored for 40 years of service at Henderson State University as a professor of English. He lives in Arkadelphia, Ark., with his wife, Sara.

Charles ’56 and Colleen (Roegge) ’56 Burlingame celebrated their 60th wedding

Peter Zakos ’67 is a 30-year retired

teamster. He lives in Scottsdale, Ariz.

anniversary June 26, 2015. They live in St. Joe Beach, Fla., and are parents of four boys.

Joyce Martello ’68 has retired and is living

Ruth, at C-SC and was married to her for 48 years until her passing in 2007. Tom is retired and lives in Janesville, Wis.

in Tinley Park, Ill. Joyce took a medical leave of absence from her position of CEO of the Colorado Chiropractic Association in 2011 due to AML. She received a bone marrow transplant in September 2011 and is doing well. She relocated from Colorado to Illinois in July 2014.

Karen (Lane) Bane ’62 has returned to

Bev (Reeves) Twillman ’69 and her husband

1960s

Tom Cornelius ’60 met his lovely wife,

Virginia after only one year of retirement in Tennessee. Karen and her husband, Warren, have become innkeepers at Braehead Manor B & B, a historic Manor Home within the bounds of the Fredericksburg National Battlefield.

Jamie Janney ’14 married Dylan McKinnon ’14 on May 30, 2015.

Norb have four grandchildren; their daughter is due any day with a little boy! They are still enjoying life’s beauty living in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, right on Lake Coeur d’ Alene in the Bitterroot Mountains. They traveled to Europe

IN MEMORIAM Bernice (Ransom) Swanson ’33 Pittsfield, Ill. • June 26, 2015

Margaret (Bier) Anderson ’39 Ankeny, Iowa • April 15, 2015

Robert Bestor ’42 East Moline, Ill. • Oct. 31, 2015

Janice (Gragg) Horn ’37 Evanston, Ill. • Oct. 9, 2015

Lucile Danker ’41 Kahoka, Mo. • Nov. 7, 2015

Irma (Stith) Allen ’42 Jerseyville, Ill. • May 20, 2015

Oma (Klusmeier) Pascoe ’37 Ozark, Mo. • Nov. 3, 2015

Mildred (Callahan) Speckhart ’42 Lynn Haven, Fla. • Aug. 9, 2015

Virginia (Frazee) Fleischhauer ’43 Richmond, Va. • Sept. 28, 2015

27 Chronicle, Winter 2016

CLASS NOTES this fall for some extensive immersion into old Europe. She works as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children taken into custody, as their voice before the court. She has been doing this for eight years and loves helping the children.

1970s

Janice (Kern) Koleszar ’70 is retired as a

high school and college librarian. She lives with her husband, Jay, in Warren, R.I., having moved there in December 2014. They like being closer to the water and the activities they enjoy with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. They continue to enjoy traveling by land and sea (flying only when absolutely necessary) to see family and friends.

Samantha (Zaiser) Leverton ’09 and

her husband Jarrett celebrated the birth of their son, Owen Theodore Leverton, on Sept. 16, 2015.

Samantha works at OSF St. Francis Hospital. The family resides in Washington, Ill.

Dr. Wayne Byrnes ’72 and his wife, Linda,

live in Pepperell, Mass. Wayne retired from his career as a primary care physician in December 2013, due to increasing cognitive impairment from a stroke he suffered in August 1999. He is looking forward to spending time relaxing with his wife during his retirement.

William (Bill) Brown ’73 and his wife,

Margaret, live in Lake St. Louis, Mo. For over 25 years, Bill has owned Psychological Services, a private behavioral health practice located in O’Fallon, Mo. Bill and Margaret have four children and 11 grandchildren.

Gary DeClue ’74

of Quincy, Ill., was named Faculty Emeritus at John Wood Community College upon his retirement in June 2015. DeClue is an experienced actor and has received national recognition for performing the role of Senator Stephen A. Douglas in the C-Span production of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. He has played music professionally for several years and is currently a member of Quincy’s jazz group, Ben Bumbry and the Messengers.

Douglas Finney ’75 and his wife, Margaret,

live in French Lick, Ind., where he is directing pastor of Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church and associate district superintendent of the South District of the Indiana Conference of UMC. Donald Rhodes ’75 has retired and is living

the good life in Arizona.

Mike ’75 and Mary Ann (Muffler) ’74 Schmook are retiring. Mary Ann worked

with DuPont as an occupational health regulatory specialist for 26 years and Mike has completed 37 years with Cecil County Public Schools, most recently as the director of strategic planning. They live in Elkton, Md. Warren ’76 and Enid (Johnson) Martin ’78

were married Sept. 21, 2014. They reside in Versailles, Ill. Buena (Brown) House ’75 of Bonne Terre,

Mo., has retired from her career in music education to relax with her husband, Donald.

Richard Rogers ’78 retired from Boeing

Company and has instructed at NCAT of Wichita-Area Technical College since 2008. Richard and his wife, Kathy, live in Wichita, Kan. They have seven children, 14 grandchildren and three foster children.

Their youngest child and the foster children live at home.

Earmon Colton Wilcher Jr. ’74 retired after

Mary Oatman ’79 retired from a career in

30 years of teaching music overseas in Germany. His wife, Marquita (Hill) ’73, retired after 23 years of teaching. They now live in Omaha, Neb.

art education in 2008. Since that time, she has been active in the League of Women Voters, AAUW, P.E.O., substitute teaching, gardening, reading, painting and

Howard Reynolds ’43 Seattle, Wash. • Sept. 28, 2015

Betty (Cody) McCord ’47 Falls Church, Va. • July 1, 2015

Jane (Terwische) Weeks ’49 Chesterfield, Mich. • Aug. 27, 2015

M. Eloise (Bowman) Seekamp ’45 White Hall, Ill. • Aug. 21, 2015

Miriam (Rector) Warren ’48 Olathe, Kan. • Nov. 28, 2015

Eric Fagerlund ’50 Flagler, Colo. • May 4, 2015

Paul Hoff ’46 East Moline, Ill. • Aug. 20, 2015

Irma (Schlager) Leavitt ’49 Nappanee, Ind. • Aug. 16, 2015

Dean Johansen ’51 Cupertino, Calif. • July 25, 2015 www.culver.edu 28

CLASS NOTES Barb (Dodd) Perkins ’85 is working in

logistics at Nordstrom in Des Peres, Mo. She currently resides in Ballwin, Mo. Debbie (Munoz) Riddle ’87 continues

to substitute teach for three school districts. She lives with her husband, Jim, in Greenville, Ill. Their daughter is a freshman at Spring Arbor University. Their son is a junior in high school. Debbie enjoys volunteering at her son’s school and at church.

2015 list of fastest growing companies.

They ranked #298 and had a spotlight article written about the business. This is Tony’s second time as a CFO on the Inc. 500 list.

Jamie Ross ’93 is an ortho trauma/

CMF hybrid sales consultant for DePuy Synthes Trauma, a company of Johnson & Johnson. Jamie and

Rob Porter ’89 and his wife, Stacy,

Kory Buys ’07 and wife, Genevieve,

welcomed their son, Kristian Dominick Buys, on July 29, 2015.

international travel. In 2014 and 2015, she traveled with a group of watercolorists to Spain and Mexico. She currently resides in Quincy, Ill., with her husband, Dr. C. Patrick Hotle, C-SC professor of history, and on most Saturdays, she gathers for breakfast with some “Ol’ Chi-Os from Canton, Mo.”

1980s

Susan (Reem) Schlatter ’80 retired from

Carthage Elementary School district in June 2015. She has taught full-time for 35 years, the last 32 years in first grade. She currently resides in rural Hamilton, Ill., with her husband, Joel.

and daughters, Abby and Lily, live in O’Fallon, Mo. Rob has worked for 23 years as a probation and parole officer with the State of Missouri. He spends time coaching his daughters’ basketball and volleyball teams.

1990s

LeGita Scott-Williams ’91 is a senior human

resources consultant for Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. She is responsible for providing strategic and responsive human resources consulting services to campus departments and divisions in the area of employee relations, performance management and organizational development & effectiveness.

Tony ’93 & Christine ’93 Johnson, married

21 years, have lived in Naperville, Ill., Memphis, Tenn., Atlanta, Ga. and are now back in Illinois. They have a 15-year old daughter, Stephanie. Their company Midwest Salt was named to Inc. Magazine’s

Sara (Ellis) ’03 and Jamie Hooker

recently expanded their family with the addition of their daughter, Faith Cheyenne, born July 12, 2015. She was welcomed home by her brothers, Jack (8) and Reese (4). Sara works for Mid America Transplant and was recently promoted to onsite donation coordinator at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

IN MEMORIAM Shirley (Miller) Turner ’52 Rochester, Minn. • Nov. 17, 2015

Janice (Wanzer) Lewis ’54 Rochester, Ill. • July 20, 2015

Norman Jones ’59 San Antonio, Texas • Oct. 16, 2015

Gayle Nelson ’52 Colchester, Ill. • Sept. 13, 2015

Norman Crawford ’56 Springfield, Ill. • Oct. 8, 2015

Carl Traicoff ’60 Highland, Ind. • Oct. 25, 2015

Ann (Jonsson) Eckert ’53 St. Charles, Ill. • June 1, 2015

Frederick Koechlein ’59 Murfreesboro, Tenn. • Aug. 4, 2015

Galen Parrack ’61 Quincy, Ill. • Aug. 22, 2015

29 Chronicle, Winter 2016

CLASS NOTES

2000s

Dawn (Debro) ’91 live in Centralia,

Mo., with their son, Logan, and daughter, Kailin. Dawn is now staying at home enjoying her family and taking care of her parents in St. Louis.

Kristi (Thurman) Meeks ’02 was named

the “Teacher of the Year” in 2014 for her accomplishments in the classroom. She teaches fifth grade at McEowen Elementary School in Harrisonville, Mo., where she resides with her husband, Thomas Meeks ’01 and their three children.

Michelle (Moore) Wade ’95 currently resides

in Linn, Mo. She is a counselor with the Disability Determination Services in Jefferson City, Mo.

Jason ’03 & Kayla (Pickel) ’12 Richmond

celebrated their marriage on March 7, 2015.

Mario DePasquale ’96 was promoted to

the Chief of Police for the McCook, Ill., Police Department in August 2013 and still serves in that capacity today. He currently lives in Lemont, Ill. with his wife, Jennifer and their two children, Dominic and Marissa.

Brian Dorian ’96 and his wife,

Alexandra, celebrated their son Camden’s first birthday in April. Brian has been a police officer in Chicago’s south suburbs for 17 years. He and his family live in Cedar Lake, Ind. Tonya (Adams) Teasley ’96 lives in Bowling Green, Mo., with her husband, Bennie, and children, Teagan and Payton.

Her husband farms and they own and operate Prairie’s Edge Garden Center in Bowling Green.

Roy ’05 and Lindsay (Loos) ’05 Spaulding welcomed their son, Evan

Spaulding, in November 2014.

Damon Morrison ’98 is the president

of Pinnacle Bank in Marshalltown, Iowa. He lives in State Center, Iowa, with his wife, Heather, and children, Emily, Kaitlyn and Brian.

Brian Gagnon ’04 and his wife, Erin, live

in Osage Beach, Mo., with their daughter, Elaina. Brian is an assistant vice president for Central Bank of Lake of the Ozarks.

Chelsea (Taylor) Carleton ’07 married Brian Carleton in June 2015. They currently reside in Columbia, Mo. Chelsea

Dani Leigh Van Buskirk ’98 and Christopher Crossley ’97 will be celebrating

with her family in Salem, Mo. After 14 years of teaching at the elementary level, she switched to teaching art at the elementary and middle school levels three years ago. Her youngest son is a sophomore in high school and the other two have graduated.

their 18th wedding anniversary on May 16, 2016. Dani marked 10 years of service with the Rainbow Center for Communicative Disorders on Dec. 5, 2015. In May 2015, Dani was presented with the Direct Support Professional of the Year Award by Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County- eitas. They currently reside in Independence, Mo.

Gary Lawson ’63 Concord, N.C. • May 27, 2015

William Mueller ’69 Hannibal, Mo. • Dec. 8, 2015

Brenda (Haley) Alexander ’72 Country Club Hills, Ill. • July 11, 2015

Patricia (Leeper) Copper ’63 Gainesville, Ga. • Sept. 5, 2015

Norma (Hockett) Dorris ’71 Canton, Mo. • Dec. 6, 2015

Vincent Gutierrez ’73 Creve Coeur, Ill. • Nov. 21, 2015

Richard Ruggiero ’68 Warren, N.J. • Sept. 5, 2015

Robert Nykyforchyn ’72 Columbia, Md. • July 6, 2015

Margie (Hagar) Beck ’74 Eureka, Ill. • Oct. 1, 2015

Angela (Happel-Wood) Dingess ’97 lives

Nathan and Catherine (Hoeffken) Burkart ’06 welcomed their baby girl,

Vivyanne Jane Burkart, Aug. 26, 2015.

www.culver.edu 30

CLASS NOTES is a human resource specialist at the University of Missouri.

and beyond the call of duty to serve her peers and community. She lives in Madison with her husband, Justin Gumm ’09.

Jamie (Kenzler) Kerr ’07 is married to

Justin L. Kerr and resides in Bowling Green, Mo.

Sal Rivera ’11 is a project manager for Arrow

Construction in Sacramento, Calif. He is also the head varsity baseball coach at El Camino High School.

Dustin Little ’07 was married to Alexa

Michelle Sprick on April 11, 2015. Dustin and Alexa live in Park City, Kan.

William Ryan ’11 was approved for

Melissa Rhea ’07 is currently the

program manager of First Resources in Keokuk, Iowa. She has a 17-year-old son, Ethan Rhea.

Sara (Licari) ’08 and Adam ’10 Enloe

ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) May 23, 2015, at the First Christian Church in Des Moines, Iowa. He is engaged to Hannah Fisher and will be married Dec. 31, 2015. He currently is a youth minister at Azle Christian Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

gave birth to daughter, Marcella Marie, on July 28, 2015.

2010s

Brad Baker ’10 is the account administrator

of Lockton Companies. He lives in Overland Park, Kan. Kelsey Stout ’10 recently moved to

Susanville, Calif.

Alexis (Westerhausen) Gumm ’11 graduated

Tony ’12 and Whitney (Gibler) ’11 Edmondson welcomed their son,

Braxton Dale, into the world June 28, 2015.

from University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford, April 25, 2015 with a M.D. degree. She will specialize in pediatrics with residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wis. She received the Chancellor’s Student Service Award for her efforts in and around the UIC campus and commitment to the community above

Ann (Schneider) Wilson ’86 went

on a family trip to Germany and Switzerland this past summer. The Wilsons (Michael ’85, Ann ’86, Leslie ’19 and son Taylor) met up with Missy (Walker) Mitchell’s ’84 family in Rothenberg, Germany.

IN MEMORIAM Garry Anders ’75 Odessa, Mo. • June 10, 2015

Gail Smith ’77 Arnold, Mo. • Sept. 20, 2015

Carol Davis ’87 Keokuk, Iowa • Aug. 8, 2015

Edward Gillespie ’76 Lagro, Ind. • June 4, 2015

Ronald Surber ’79 Harrisonville, Mo. • Oct. 1, 2015

Lynne Trautvetter ’92 Arlington, Va. • Dec. 3, 2015

JoAnne (Kallas) Gerst ’76 St. Louis, Mo. • Nov. 21, 2015

James Tully ’87 Bellow Falls, Vt. • June 27, 2015

31 Chronicle, Winter 2016

CLASS NOTES Kelseigh Ruths ’13 and Garrett Maas

gave birth to a daughter, Leighnkon Lynn-Danielle Maas, June 12, 2015.

They live in Quincy, Ill. Jessica (Martin) Yagyagan ’13 is a

fourth grade teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School in Hannibal, Mo. She lives in Palmyra, Mo., with her husband, Brandon, and daughter, Addilynn.

Kegan Sill ’15 is an internal auditor for Steris PLC in Mentor, Ohio. He is currently residing in Rocky River, Ohio.

Jimmy ’13 and Carrie (Gerberding) ’13 McKee were married

Ted Wolf ’78 welcomed his grandson

James Richard Wolf, born June 17, 2015, to parents Matt and Ellen Wolf of Springfield, Ill.

Want your news announced in the next issue of the Chronicle?

July 25, 2015.

Submit to class notes by going to culver.edu/alumni and clicking “Class Notes” in the left-side navigation.

Paul Bengel ’12 recently accepted a

promotion as a probation officer with the State of Michigan. Previously he was an investigator for the State of Michigan with Children’s Services.

Paul and his fiancée Amber recently had their first child, Breslynn Tate, in August 2015.

Dakota McKee ’12 recently moved from

Las Cruces, N.M. She is the residential life coordinator at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Kimberly Armstrong ’13 is an

accountant at the Boeing Company in St. Louis where she resides.

IN MEMORIAM:

Josh Gustad ’14 and wife,

Savannah, gave birth to a little girl, Saige Gustad, on October 6, 2015.

The family resides in Tulsa, Okla.

In 2013, Allen Searson ’12 was invited to join Ark Search, LLC and its expedition on Mount Ararat, Turkey in the search for Noah’s Ark. Searson returned to Mt. Ararat in 2014 and 2015 to direct independent research expeditions.

Friends of C-SC

John Schiffman Webster Groves, Mo. • Aug. 5, 2015 Mary Warner Canton, Mo. • Aug. 1, 2015

Jean Sperry Canton, Mo. • July 18, 2015 Jean was the wife of John Sperry, a faculty member at Culver-Stockton College from 1957-1992. www.culver.edu 32

FRESHSTART CHECK IN WITH OUR NEWEST ALUMNI AS THEY TAKE ON LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

DANIELLE WADE ’14 MAJOR:

Elementary Education with a Middle School Math Endorsement and Early Childhood Certification CURRENT JOB:

Kindergarten Teacher at Canton R-V in Canton, Mo. CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS AS A STUDENT:

Culver-Stockton Teacher Organization (C-STO) Health Outreach by Peer Educators (HOPE) ADVICE TO CURRENT STUDENTS:

“Participate in many extracurricular activities,” Wade suggests. “You’ll make new friends, build relationships and gain skills that will benefit you in your career.”

HOW C-SC PREPARED WADE FOR THE FUTURE:

Through leadership positions on campus.

CAREER GOALS:

To earn my master’s degree as a reading specialist and continue to make a difference in children’s lives.

BEST C-SC MEMORY:

“The best memory at C-SC is all of friends that I have made,” said Wade. “And meeting my fiancé, Jacob Moffitt.”

33 Chronicle, Winter 2016

VIEWS FROM THE QUAD

JEFF STROUD ’86 “I was the mascot for four years. In a small place like C-SC, it’s hard to keep that a secret. My whole freshman year no one knew it was me.”

MARK BORSCH ’78 “I had a fish, an oscar, I called him Oscie.

I had a 30-gallon tank in the roost of Sig Ep, basically in the attic on the third floor.

He would come up to the top of the tank and you could pet him.”

JESSI KIRCHNER-SPARKS ’08 “I was in the music department, so all of my free time was spent practicing or performing or traveling.”

What hobbies did you have when you were on

“THE HILL”?

KIM (DONITHAN) LARSON ’82 “I was a Chi Omega and an ATO little sister. I participated in drama, and I was in the choir too.”

WILLIAM MACBETH ’85 “My unusual hobbies happened after Culver. I started biking and rode across Iowa 28 times. I bicycled in Europe and got into paddle sports.”

DALTON BOHAN ’11 “One of my buddies Cameron Chenoweth and I got gorilla suits and ran around and scared people.”

AMANDA WALKER ’12 “I think just hanging out with my sisters was my biggest hobby. Between that and working a full-time job, I didn’t have a whole lot of time for hobbies.”

www.culver.edu 34

Culver-Stockton College One College Hill Canton, MO 63435

Parents: If this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at home, please notify the Advancement Office at (800) 755-CATS or at advancement@culver.edu.

EXPLORE

IT TAKES

BELGIUM & NORTHERN FRANCE

#EVERYWILDCAT

WITH PRESIDENT THOMPSON!

STUDENT

JULY 7-19, 2017

TO HELP SUPPORT THE

SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT C-SC. GIVING ONLINE

is

easy

IT TAKES JUST THREE STEPS...

1

GO TO CULVER.EDU/GIVING.

2

CLICK THE “GIVE NOW” BUTTON.

3

FILL OUT THE SECURE ONLINE FORM.

Or call (800) 755-CATS to have a pledge card mailed.

35 Chronicle, Winter 2016

This trip is being coordinated by the Travel House of Quincy. The cost is $4,170 per person which includes airfare, several meals, transportation and trip insurance.

Deposits are $500 and are due

by July 7, 2015. For more information contact the Alumni Office at (800) 755-2287 or email alumni@culver.edu.

BRUSSELS ANTWERP

GHENT

VERDUN METZ DIJON

REIMS BRUGES