GeDUNK Fall 2004 by Grove City College

totheeditor Dear Alumni and Friends, In August, we all had a chance to watch the excitement of the Summer Olympics in the birthplace of organized sports, Athens, Greece. Names like Phelps, Thorpe and Hamm are now common household names. The dedication and commitment of hundreds of Olympic athletes was obvious throughout the Games. Without a doubt, sports of some type play a role in all our lives. Whether it’s as a participant on an organized team, a weekend spectator or a proud parent watching a son or daughter’s T-ball game, the role of athletics in our lives is real. This issue of The GeDUNK takes an athletic spin! We take a look at some of the players and coaches throughout our College history who impacted our fields, arenas, classrooms and lives. Today, more than 1,900 of our talented students participate in an intramural or varsity sport. Many of our alumni transfer their love of the game into careers upon graduation. David Auker ’83 and Ryan Shirk ’04 are two such alums and are our cover story. You will read about the Choby family, who translates a love for sports and Grove City College into a lifestyle. We also catch up with longtime swimming and diving coach Jim Longnecker and realize that he’ll never get out of the pool. If you were an athlete on campus, I encourage you to join us for an alumni match during Homecoming weekend (see details on page 35). You will witness firsthand the dedication and character of our Grove City College scholar-athletes. I hope you enjoy this issue of our alumni magazine and look forward to your comments and suggestions for future issues. Warm regards,

Jeffrey D. Prokovich ’89 Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Dear Alumni and Friends, The theme of The GeDUNK Alumni Magazine this edition is sports. Not only is sports ubiquitous to our culture, but growing up during the championship years of the 1970s in Pittsburgh, it became a big part of my life. This month, we opened the $10 million Student Activities Center – an all-star on any campus. It is a dramatic new venue for our students to use and enjoy. We also invested in an “old veteran” by putting more than $2 million in the old Gedunk and former Bookstore area to transform this facility into the location of our Career Services suite (relocated from Carnegie Hall on lower campus to the heart of upper campus), add additional offices for our coaches and greatly expand our student physical workout facility. Our Development team set an all-time record as 22 percent of our alumni gave $785,000 to Grove City College. All around, the numbers were out of the park (see page 64 for details). Records, however, are meant to be broken and with your help we intend to continue to raise the bar. We still have work to do to catch the major-league teams in fund-raising. The “rookie” of the year in the coming season will be the new president’s house (see article on page 44) and just announced will be a potential “franchise player,” new student apartmentstyle housing to be built on lower campus and opened in 2006. One building for males and one for females will provide about 200 seniors with a new and exciting student life opportunity. We will continue to make the investment in physical assets to make the College great and we are doing and will continue to do the same in the faculty and administration. We have added a number of first-team performers to the faculty and Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson joins the starting lineup as the new vice president of student life and learning. We think we have put together a terrific team – we invite you to increase your participation in the winning tradition at Grove City College.

David R. Rathburn ’79 Chair of the Board of Trustees 2

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

It is refreshing to peruse through a magazine (GeDUNK, Spring 2004) that enthusiastically features successes in academics, sports, missions, faith, following God’s leading, friendship, homeschooling, motherhood as a profession, community service, authorship and a broad spectrum of other noble life activities many publications avoid. You portray a balance of offerings available to the diverse graduate audience. Thomas Wager ’74 Victor, N.Y. I have many memories of my athletic career at Grove City College! Fresh out of high school in 1947, I tried out for the varsity basketball team. What an experience that was for a 17-year-old! This was a period during which veterans of World War II literally were predominant on campus and those out of high school were competing against men, in our case, up to 25 years of age and more for positions! It should be noted that most of them were excellent athletes and had enjoyed distinguished athletic careers in high schools and colleges prior to their entry in the military. It truly was a blessing as far as education was concerned, gaining much from our excellent school and much from our relationship with these veterans. I was fortunate in making the team as a freshman and playing with, among other outstanding athletes, Lawrence “Mike” Bish ’50, Dave Bock ’49, Dan Hill ’52 and, without question the most outstanding basketballer of our era, Bob Ungren ’50. Oh, for a reunion with those gentlemen! My best to you and the current athletic department. Mike Robertson ’52 Frisco, Texas Dear friends, It pleases me when you send me the GeDUNK Magazine. I enjoy the beautiful pictures of the folks attending and the successes of the graduates. My years of pleasure at Grove City stay with me. Soon, I’ll be 99 years old (Aug. 11) and I look forward to more copies of The GeDUNK. With happy memories, Margaret Conroy ’27 Monessen, Pa.

GROVE CITY COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE The GeDUNK Editorial Board Thomas J. Pappalardo Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jeffrey D. Prokovich ’89 Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Managing Editor Amy Clingensmith ’96 Director of Communications Associate Editor Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman Publications Manager Contributing Editors Caroline Koopman ’01 Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw Ryan Briggs ’01 Linda Reash Cover Photo Skip Milos Productions, Inc. New Port Richie, Fla. (www.skipmilos.com) Design Amy Clingensmith ’96 SWP (www.swpagency.com) Printer Printing Concepts, Inc., Erie, Pa. ON THE COVER: David Auker ’83 and Ryan Shirk ’04 spend a lot of time together at Tropicana Field in Clearwater, Fla., where both are employed by Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Read more on page 4. Alumni Association Officers 2004-05 Arthur G. Mitchell ’64 President Laura (Ritchey ’87) Havrilla Vice President Jeffrey D. Prokovich ’89 Executive Secretary Roger K.Towle ’68 Treasurer Ronald W. Brandon ’64 Annual Giving Chair Clark A. Rechkemmer ’68 Alumni Trustee John R.Werren, Esq. ’58 Alumni Trustee Arthur G. Mitchell ’64 Alumni Trustee Grove City College 100 Campus Drive Grove City, PA 16127 (724) 458-2300 (888) GCC-GRAD www.gcc.edu alumni@gcc.edu

letterspolicy Letters to the Editor must be no longer than 250 words and should be sent to: Alumni Magazine Editor, Letters, Grove City College, 100 Campus Drive, Grove City, Pa. 16127 or news@gcc.edu.The Alumni Magazine Editorial Board reserves the right to edit, hold or not publish letters.

COVER STORY

FALL 2004

An Epsilon Pi event at Homecoming last year forged a friendship between David Auker ’83 and Ryan Shirk ’04. They realized they had much in common – now even more so working in the Major Leagues for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

FOCUS ON SPORTS

Ben Tuliebitz ’01 feels right at home at Yankee Stadium . . . . . . . 8 Tim Tobitsch ’03 relishes Madison Square Garden internship . . . 9 Mary Halada ’75 gets the Kansas City Chiefs started . . . . . . . . 10 Matthew Carney ’94 juiced for Florida’s bowl games. . . . . . . . . . 11 R.J. Bowers set to retire from NFL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Larry Griswold ’69 hones career with Sports Illustrated . . . . . . . 12 Randy Wilber ’76 prepares Olympic athletes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Bob Christy ’78 calls the shots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Greg Wright ’77 shines as Millersville SID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Ralph Batykefer ’87 teaches through hands-on ministry . . . . . . 15 Katie McCaslin ’01 makes difference for young swimmers. . . . 16 David Belowich ’72 earns coaching kudos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 PGA fits Tom Place ’49 to a tee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Golfing Grovers take a swing at publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Mike Koerber ’01 coaches soccer in Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Tracey McGurk ’93 turns in ‘Ironman’ performance . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Julie Maholic ’90 pedals for a good cause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Greg Spalding ’80 writes for the love of the game. . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Todd Smartt ’02 on track with career in NASCAR . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Smiths team up to teach Sports in American History . . . . . . . . . 24 Academics and athletics go hand-in-hand at Grove City . . . . . . 24 Scott Herring ’81 finds ‘Magic’ in Orlando . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Mark ’83 and Jody ’83 Smith still sports stars at home . . . . . . . 25 Alumni Essay: Richard Crousey ’70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

ALUMNI NEWS & EVENTS

Alumni Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Alumni News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Alumni Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

SPORTS

Sports Feature: Football is a family affair for Chobys. . . . . . . . . . 32 Sports News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Fall sports roundup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Winter sports preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Abby Moose ’05 preparing for Deaflympics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

IN RETROSPECT: TEAMS OF YESTERYEAR FACULTY

38 42

Faculty Feature: Dave Fritz ’94. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Faculty Profile / Retired Faculty: Where Are They Now? . . . . . . 45 New faculty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Faculty briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

CAMPUS NEWS CLASS NOTES IN MEMORY ALUMNI BABIES

48 51 62 65

The GeDUNK is a magazine published three times a year for alumni and friends of Grove City College and highlights campus news, student features and alumni achievements. Gedunk is a word that resonates with Grove City College alumni and friends. Named after the on-campus gathering place/snack bar for students since the early 1950s, the word Gedunk made its way into the Grove City College vernacular when World War II Navy veterans returned to campus, bringing with them the word that defined the place where snacks could be purchased aboard ships or the snack items themselves, everything from potato chips and candy to ice cream and sodas.The name stuck. For decades, the Grove City College Gedunk has been the place to come together to share news and ideas, and this magazine strives to do the same.

Hitting

Home yan Shirk grew up a Detroit Pistons fan. So when he met a dozen Epsilon Pi alumni at Homecoming 2003 and heard that David Auker ’83 once worked for the team, he could hardly stay in his seat. Shirk ’04 and Auker talked at the Pi Homecoming event where one was celebrating his senior year while the other was marking a 20-year reunion.They talked about the importance of finding a job and, more importantly, finding a job to feel passionate about. It just so happened that Auker and Shirk had a few passions in common – namely, sports and business. Both sports fans are from Ohio – Auker from North Canton and Shirk from Toledo – both were business majors and both were Grove City grads from the same fraternity. And thanks to a friendship and that Homecoming meeting, both are working for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in sunny Florida, perhaps one of the most promising franchises in Major League Baseball. Auker has served as senior vice president of business operations for the Rays since Dec. 1. It’s his second stint with the club, having worked with the expansion team for two years beginning in 1996, getting ready for the inaugural season of ’98. Fresh out of Grove City in ’83, Auker landed a job with the Pistons, but it came after a slew of rejections from a host of major league teams. “I sent resumes to every team in every league and every sports-related field I could think of, from Nike to Reebok,” he remembers with a smile. He also remembers getting some “really cool rejection letters” on letterhead with team logos from around the country. The steady stream of rejections became

Two alumni, 20 years apart, find their field of dreams in the business of baseball By Amy Clingensmith ’96

somewhat of a joke with his friends at started the huge sports conglomerate the Grove. In fact, they crowded around Palace Sports & Entertainment and his mailbox next to the Gedunk, boxing brought home two championship titles. him out and routinely getting to the Twenty years later, Auker got to give stack of letters first. But that wasn’t the similar good news to Ryan Shirk. end of it.They began a Wall of Shame of It came during Homecoming last year. sorts on the closet door of his Hopeman Shirk sat with his fraternity brothers and residence hall room. And, true to Grover listened to the introductions of each of style, they were pretty calculating and his Epsilon Pi predecessors. Auker was the creative about it. last to be introduced and when Shirk On that closet door, Auker’s heard he had worked as the vice “supporters” starting posting the letters, president of player operations for one of not only by league but also division.They his favorite teams – the Pistons – he made an addition to the NHL section with a “no” from the Quebec Nordiques; another, a “thanks but no thanks” from the Green Bay Packers. And The Wall grew. But, one day, Auker got the last laugh. It was “back in the day” PAGE: DAVID AUKER ’83 AND RYAN SHIRK ’04 AT THE TAMPA BAY DEVIL when there was OPPOSITE RAYS’ TROPICANA FIELD. ABOVE: AUKER AND SHIRK SHARE A LAUGH IN THE DUGOUT. just one phone / Photos by Skip Milos in the hallway of Hopeman, which happened to be right couldn’t have been more excited, both as across from Auker’s room. On one a fan and as prospective job hunter. providential ring, his friends picked up Auker and Shirk started up a the phone and yelled,“Auker, the Detroit conversation and found many Pistons are on the phone!” commonalities between them. Auker was Used to his friends’ ribbing, Auker impressed by Shirk’s energy and passion laughed and waved them off. But this for the field and said he’d do whatever he time it was no joke. He had gotten a job could to help him break into the very as an account executive and stayed with competitive sports job market. the NBA team until 1990 during one of They kept in touch, and a few months the most exciting times in Pistons’ after Homecoming, Shirk got a call from history. During that seven-year period, the Auker’s wife, Louise, who told the senior Pistons built a new arena – The Palace – See HITTING HOME, page 6

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coverstory

Hitting Home that her husband had recently taken a job with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Florida and wanted Ryan to call him. With his past connections, Auker was able to get Shirk an interview with the Pistons, a job Shirk didn’t get. “Fortunately for us,” Auker says,“the job didn’t work out for him.” By April, Shirk was still jobless, but then got another encouraging e-mail from Auker:“Ryan, call me Monday morning ASAP. I think I’ve figured out something.” Auker had figured out that the Rays had an opening for an account executive. Shirk had a phone interview with the assistant director of ticket sales on May 1 and found out a few days later that he had the job. From there, he admits that studying for finals and focusing on graduation was a difficult task.

continued from page 5

Soon after Commencement on May 15, Shirk took a vacation with his fraternity brothers, spent four days at home with his family in Toledo and then moved to the Tampa area. After staying with friends until he got settled, Shirk

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THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS IS MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN IT WAS EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO. David Auker ’83

can either sit inside and stay on the phone all day or get out there, face to face, and make connections with people.” Shirk has discovered that he loves the business of sports, especially the sales aspect. And he’s encouraged by the many different routes this job will afford him: corporate sales, management, sponsorship. After all, look where David Auker ended up after starting out as an account executive for the Pistons. “I want him to be successful for a myriad of reasons,” Auker says of Shirk. And Auker can feel good about having Shirk in his organization because he knows where he came from: a good family, a Midwest upbringing, a strong work ethic and a Grove City College educational experience.And because of the latter, Auker says he feels comfortable having faith in Shirk, even at the young age of 23.

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moved into a house on Aug. 21. Shirk is also settling well into his new job. As one of 10 account executives, he is responsible for sales, customer relations, tickets and special group events and promotions. “It’s tough,” he says,“because like most businesses, it’s what you make of it.You

“You almost have the inherent makeup of a person before you even know them,” Auker says. Auker and Shirk have had fun swapping Grove City stories.They call Tropicana Field home, especially during the long hours of baseball season.The domed park, redesigned in an $85 million project in 1996, is one of the many parks around the country that is catering to the baseball-as-business way of thinking. Perhaps no one knows how important that is more than Auker. “The business of sports, in my opinion, is more sophisticated than it was even five years ago,” he says. For one, there are many more demands on fans’ time: the Internet, 100-plus television channels and multiple sports teams to follow. Back when Auker was a graduating senior, being a sports fan was different that it is today too. Fans usually followed the team in their hometowns, knew the quarterback stats from 30 years prior and didn’t tread much into new waters.Today, kids in elementary school and junior high are learning to play lacrosse and field hockey, swimming competitively at a younger age, and soccer is now as common as stickball in the street.Therefore, expansion teams like the Rays are working hard to create their own history and fan base. True, having no grainy, black-andwhite film reels and no glowing history can be a hurdle to overcome, but it can also be an opportunity. “The nice part about an expansion team is that it’s a clean slate,” Auker says. Floridians were screaming for a team of their own years before the Rays moved into the Bay. In fact,Tropicana Field was built in 1990, just waiting for a Major League team.The Rays’ ownership, along with several community members, finally made it happen in 1998. Seeing a young fellow alum in the office has made Auker realize that it seems like yesterday when he moved into his freshman residence hall. During his four years at Grove City, Auker spent time with his Pi brothers, was the playby-play announcer for the Wolverine basketball team under coach John Barr and continued dating Louise, who was a

student at Westminster College. Even after two decades, Auker has kept in touch with at least 30 of his college friends and is now getting to know their families too. In March, Auker traveled with the Rays to Tokyo, Japan, as the team played two games again the New York Yankees and two against professional Japanese teams.There, he was able to reconnect with Ron Ellenberger ’83 and wife Carole (Kozusko ’82), who live in Japan with their children. Auker and his wife have three daughters, Emily, 12, Allison, 9 and Cameron, 4, and live in Bradenton, Fla., about 30 minutes from Tampa. And although Auker’s focus at work is baseball, he says his favorite sport is “playing with his kids” and has also taken up kayaking with former OPPOSITE PAGE: DAVID AUKER ’83 AND RYAN SHIRK ’04 TAKE THE PITCHER’S MOUND AT ‘THE TROP.’ ABOVE: AUKER BRINGS ON THE HEAT AS SHIRK STEPS Grove City College roommate Dave Jennings. UP TO THE PLATE. / Photos by Skip Milos was difficult to leave Palace, but even the Auker’s career in sports leading up to head of Palace told Auker it was an his current Tampa Bay post was a varied and successful one. After seven years with opportunity of a lifetime. Today, Auker and Shirk are the Pistons, he moved back to his home experiencing the quintessential rookiestate of Ohio for a position with the veteran relationship. Auker smiles at Cleveland Cavaliers, who were also Shirk’s enthusiasm and Shirk marvels at building a new arena.Then in 1996, he the cool leadership Auker exudes as one returned to what he calls “one of the finest organizations in professional sports” of the top executives for the team. Occasionally, they sit in the stands – Palace Sports & Entertainment in together, cheering on their team, loving Auburn Hills, Mich., which owns the the sport itself as much as the business of Pistons and the Detroit Shock WNBA team, among others. Auker worked for six baseball. Along with way, Auker will undoubtedly flash signs to his young years alongside a close friend who was protégé, telling him when to lay low and the Palace CEO. bunt and when to crank it out of the In the winter of 2003, the Rays asked park. Auker to return to the team for a newly And maybe, one day, Shirk will hit a created role of senior vice president of home run, just like his mentor. business operations, overseeing VPs in (Amy Clingensmith ’96 is the Grove City public relations, customer relations, College director of communications and ticketing, corporate relations, marketing GeDUNK managing editor.) and sponsorship, among other areas. It – DUNK theG e

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focusonsports Making the Big Leagues Ben Tuliebitz ’01 steps up to the plate for the New York Yankees By Meghan Price ’03 ven before college,” says Ben Tuliebitz ’01,“I knew I wanted to enjoy my working day.” Tuliebitz, a New Jersey native, was studying elementary education when he had doubts about his future career choice. During this mid-college crisis, he began to wonder about working in professional sports. Nicknamed the “Father of GCC Hockey” by his teammates,Tuliebitz’s favorite sports are hockey and baseball. As the summer of 1999 approached, Tuliebitz “called or wrote every major sports team in New York,” asking for an internship.“But I didn’t have much of a resume.”And internships that gave college credit were geared more toward sports management majors. His efforts paid off when he contacted the Metrostars, a professional soccer team playing at Giants Stadium. “The guy liked my enthusiasm,” Tuliebitz says. He started immediately as an unpaid intern in broadcasting. He waited tables on the side that summer and ultimately decided not to change his major.Tuliebitz still believes he may teach down the road. The following year,Tuliebitz became a public relations intern for the New York Mets, which despite being what he wanted, involved “a lot of sacrifice.”The position was unpaid, but Tuliebitz had to pay for his commute from New Jersey and often would work 14-hour days for four or five days consecutively.The season was a memorable one and resulted in the first “Subway Series” in Major League Baseball since 1956.The Yankees took the World Series from the Mets in Game 5 that October.Tuliebitz had mixed feelings: “While I grew up a Yankees fan, I wanted the Mets to do well while I worked for them.”

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Grove City College Alumni Magazine

BEN TULIEBITZ ’01 FEELS RIGHT AT HOME IN YANKEE STADIUM, WHERE HE WORKS AS THE MEDIA RELATIONS COORDINATOR. / Contributed photo

Tuliebitz graduated in 2001 “with the ‘now what’ dilemma. … I had a degree, no job and was coming home to a competitive field.” He returned to the Metrostars as a community program director, which incorporated his love for kids.Tuliebitz planned clinics and player appearances and accepted a part-time job with hockey’s New York Rangers, assisting with media at Madison Square Garden home games. “But I really missed baseball,” he says. In the spring of 2002,Tuliebitz heard of an opening with the Yankees. He called the public relations director on a Wednesday, interviewed on Friday and was offered the job on Monday.The long, unpaid hours of internships paid off at last. He became a media relations assistant for the Yankees and has since been promoted to media relations coordinator. His responsibilities include the team’s publicity, photo shoots and media interaction.“It’s like working for the President,” he explains. “A lot of my days are spent telling

people ‘no.’”Tuliebitz is inundated with requests for the ballplayers to come to schools, charity functions or even birthday parties. He has learned “how to deal with people, how to talk, be succinct and also be careful, because everything you say can get quoted and scrutinized.” Still, for Tuliebitz, building relationships is the ultimate boon of this job.“That’s why God put me in this position.” There are no vacations and many times the pressure and stress are immense. From April to October,Tuliebitz doesn’t have much of a social life, and he acknowledges his fiancé might prefer he had a regular 9to-5 job. (Tuliebitz is getting married in October 2004; as he says,“You’ve got to plan big events around the season.”) Although he’s been fired twice – “Everyone gets fired once or twice; you come back the next day like nothing happened” – Tuliebitz concludes,“I get paid to watch baseball games. I’ve been blessed. It’s terrific.” (Meghan Price ’03 is a freelance writer in Boston and a graduate student at Emerson College.)

focusonsports

Fruits Garden from the

Tim Tobitsch ’03 relishes internship at Madison Square Garden as small business idea heats up By Meghan Price ’03 essons learned in the subterranean levels of New York City’s Madison Square Garden helped Tim Tobitsch ’03 manage a sports team at Grove City College and transfer toward his goal of opening a hot dog shop in Pittsburgh. The New Jersey native was a business communication major who, via his passion for hockey, landed an internship with the Madison Square Garden Network website in the summer of 2002. The cable television station is “just like ESPN, but with the focus on New York sports,”Tobitsch says. His responsibility was to watch a given night’s sporting events from the television studio below the Garden’s arena floor, and as soon as the games finished, write up the highlights for MSG Network’s website. Because “sports tend to happen at night,”Tobitsch worked nontraditional hours from 4 or 4:30 p.m. to 1 or 2 a.m. “You tend not to see anyone.” A former general manager of Grove City’s unaffiliated roller hockey team, Tobitsch is a self-described hockey fanatic, specifically devoted to the New York Rangers. His experiences at the Garden long predate his internship and include many hockey games attended with his father.

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HOT DOGS AND HOCKEY ARE TWO THINGS I CAN TALK ABOUT FOREVER. Tim Tobitsch ’03

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Tobitsch applied for an internship with in GCC Hockey e-mail updates.“I the Rangers after his freshman year, but learned a lot about writing concisely,” was below the minimum age; he Tobitsch says,“and that’s useful in any reapplied his sophomore year and field.” maintained contact despite being turned While Tobitsch tracked many sports away again. As Tobitsch’s senior year during his internship, hockey remains his neared, fellow GCC Hockey enthusiast real love. After graduation,Tobitsch Ben Tuliebitz ’01 put Tobitsch in touch “loosely pursued” a position in the NHL, with an employee of MSG Network, but was turned off by the frequent labor and, in September,Tobitsch “acted really disagreements in professional sports. Now fast and things came together.” Tobitsch believes his experience promoting GCC Hockey helped him secure the internship. His interviewers were impressed with the hockey website Tobitsch had developed and recommended him for work in new media. Tobitsch’s creativity and adaptability were evident as he described the marketing ploys used by the fledgling hockey team. “Running GCC TIM TOBITSCH ’03, LEFT, TESTS GRANT MCKINNEY ’04, FAR RIGHT, Hockey helped bring DURING A GCC HOCKEY BOBBLEHEAD PROMOTION. / Contributed photo out my entrepreneurship skills… a little propensity for that residing in Pittsburgh, he is “very close” sort of thing I didn’t know I had. … We to opening the shop Hot Dogma got to talking about the hockey team, (www.hotdogmapgh.com) with business and I told them about (a) bobblehead partners Megan Lindsey ’03 and Matt doll (promotion).” Unique ideas such as Niblack.The knowledge from his years at that sealed the deal. the Grove and his summer at the Garden Tobitsch’s favorite part of his internship factor together in his current pursuit. was coming up with attention-grabbing “Hot dogs and hockey are two things I headlines for his stories.The MSG can talk about forever.” website also was the inspiration for the (Meghan Price ’03 is a freelance writer in “Three Stars” feature (three of the night’s Boston and a graduate student at Emerson outstanding players), which later appeared College.)

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‘Chief ’ of Operations Mary Halada ’75 makes sure the Kansas City Chiefs get off on the right foot at training camp By Amy Clingensmith ’96 t 5 feet 6 inches, she’s a full foot shorter than the big, tough Kansas City tight end Jason Dunn. But Mary (Proescholdt ’75) Halada is an integral part of how well the Chiefs’ season starts. As vice chancellor for administration and finance for the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, Halada coordinates the Chiefs’ training each summer. She oversees all arrangements for the monthlong camp, from negotiating contracts to leading a large staff that keeps everyone happy and healthy. Back in 1990,Wisconsin was a popular place for NFL training camps.The Chicago Bears trained at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, the New Orleans Saints inhabited the La Crosse campus and, of course, the Green Bay Packers were already right at home. But then-Wisconsin Gov.Tommy Thompson wanted to do more to bring NFL teams to the state, both for tourism and economic reasons.Thirteen years ago, the university began recruiting the Chiefs, who toured three other campuses but chose UW–River Falls and have remained there for more than a decade. Halada has been working on the camp ever since. In fact, she’s never worked anywhere else besides the university. She started as the assistant to the director of auxiliary services – covering food service,

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

MARY HALADA ’75, RIGHT, WELCOMES PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH DURING HIS UNEXPECTED VISIT TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS’ CAMP ON AUG. 18. / Contributed photo

housing and student activities – soon after getting her business administration degree from Grove City.The Sigma Theta Chi sister and her husband,Tom, the chief financial officer for a River Falls hospital, have two children: Jason, a 2002 graduate from UW–Madison and mortgage broker, and Emily, a sophomore hospitality/tourism major at UW–Stout. The family enjoys football and Mary feels especially connected to her Chiefs after getting to know the players and coaches over the years. She’s seen many come and go, including Pittsburgh’s head coach Bill Cowher, who served as Kansas City’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for three years before taking over in Pittsburgh in 1992. Although the roster changes from year to year, there are certain consistencies that keep the Chiefs coming back to River Falls. For one, the summer climate of Wisconsin is cooler and therefore better for long training days.The campus facilities, Halada adds, also lend to a beautiful friendship.The Chiefs practice on four football fields and use two connected buildings for lifting and other training. About 150 from the Chiefs’ organization call the campus home between mid-July and mid-August – 90 players and 60 staff. At Halada’s University of Wisconsin

campus, approximately 5,800 students complete graduate and undergraduate work. In fact, she says, it’s seeing the benefits the camp brings to students that is the most enjoyable for her. About 50 students across all majors are hired each summer, both for jobs and to fulfill internships. Either way, the students make valuable connections, meet great people and often break into the job market – some with other NFL teams – because of the experience. The Chiefs’ camp also brings business benefits to campus, through food service, which would normally be slow during the summer, and by bringing media attention to the school. Camp coordinators even work to make guests and fans feel welcome with special events and promotions for those looking forward to kickoff. As if this weren’t enough of a win-win situation, there is also economic impact for the community of River Falls, and that’s one arm of the school’s mission: to support the region. All in all, Halada says, it’s a match made in heaven.“We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such a good, solid relationship with such a class-act team.” (Amy Clingensmith ’96 is the Grove City College director of communications and GeDUNK managing editor.)

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Carney’s career shines bright in Florida’s college bowl games By Ann-Margaret Lambo atthew Carney gets his daily does of Vitamin C, thanks to his involvement in an Orlandobased organization. Carney, a Class of ’94 accounting major, is involved in Florida Citrus Sports, the non-profit organization responsible for the Capital One Bowl (the Citrus Bowl) and the Tangerine Bowl. Carney became involved in the organization through some friends in the Tampa Bay area. “I’m a huge college MATTHEW CARNEY ’94 football fan,” Carney said.“You don’t get the same excitement at any other level as you do at the collegiate level. I like to watch other sporting events as well – the Steelers, the Pirates – but there is something about college.They are all playing for school pride, there’s camaraderie as well as the pageantry and history. And being involved in this organization has been such an awesome thing.” According to Carney, Florida Citrus Sports is a member-friendly organization. There are a lot of people involved – approximately 800 – on many different levels in its mission. Carney, for instance, was involved in the marching band in high school so he uses that experience to assist Florida Citrus Sports.The former Pittsburgher acts as a liaison for the marching band that provides the halftime entertainment at the Citrus

Bowl. He makes sure the group is comfortable and that their needs are met while staying in Orlando. “I think that’s a strength of our bowl game,” Carney noted.“We are the local community. A lot of people in the Orlando community – professional and private – are a part of Florida Citrus Sports.” In addition to its New Year’s bowl game involvement, Florida Citrus Sports is involved in the Orlando community in a number of ways. Over the summer months, the organization sponsors a camp for at-risk youth.The organization also runs the Grid Iron Classic, the college football all-star game, the Citrus Bowl parade and a half marathon.The members also scout the different college teams to decide who they will invite to play in Florida Citrus Sports’ two bowl games. Carney had the opportunity to do just that in 2001, when he extended an invitation to the University of Pittsburgh’s Panthers football team to play in the Tangerine Bowl. It was an exciting time for Carney. “There I am being interviewed by Bill Hillgrove, my favorite newscaster when I was growing up,” Carney said with a chuckle.“And then later on that night I am extending an invitation to Walt Harris and the Pitt Panthers to come to Orlando. The next year, I found myself hanging out with Joe Paterno in Madison,Wis. It has been unbelievable the people that I have been exposed to through this organization.” (Ann-Margaret Lambo is a freelance writer in New Castle, Pa.)

Bowers set to retire from NFL By Ryan Briggs ’01 Former Grove City College football standout R.J. Bowers announced his intentions to retire from the NFL, effective Sept. 1. Bowers spent three seasons in the NFL, playing with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. Bowers missed the second half of the R.J. BOWERS 2003 season after an injury against Kansas City Nov. 9. Earlier in that game, Bowers caught a two-yard touchdown pass, his first NFL touchdown reception and second career touchdown. Bowers’ professional career began with the Panthers in 2001. He then joined Pittsburgh’s practice squad at the end of training camp and made his professional debut Dec. 23, 2001, against Detroit. In that game, Bowers ran seven times for 17 yards.Two weeks later, Bowers scored his first NFL touchdown against Cleveland. This past summer, several NFL teams contacted Bowers but no concrete offers materialized. He is eligible for full pension benefits from the NFL because he played three seasons in the league. While at Grove City, Bowers became college football’s all-time leading rusher with 7,353 yards from 1997-2000. He is also the first 7,000yard rusher and scored 92 touchdowns in 40 games at Grove City. Bowers and his wife, Erin, were married in April 2001 and welcomed a son, Jaden, in April 2002. Bowers currently works in sales for ABF Freight System in Hubbard, Ohio. (Ryan Briggs ’01 is the Grove City College sports information director and a GeDUNK contributing editor.)

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Fall 2004

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Sports Savvy Job with Sports Illustrated combines hard work, fun and love of sports for Larry Griswold ’69 By Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf An avid sports enthusiast, Larry Griswold ’69 has never met a sport he didn’t like. Baseball, football, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse and golf are among his favorites.“As a kid, I played baseball. I was a catcher. A lot of young boys want to be catcher, because they want to put on all the gear,” laughed Griswold. A lot of young boys also want to become professional athletes.“But I wasn’t particularly good,” Griswold said, “not a natural athlete.” Happily, the world of sports careers is not limited to the “naturally athletic.” For Griswold, a love of sports translated into a successful career in sports media. For the last 15 years, Griswold has worked for Sports Illustrated magazine as advertising account manager. A resident of Stirling, N.J., Griswold takes a one-hour train ride into New York City each day, where he is responsible for bringing in one of the biggest revenue sources for the magazine: advertising dollars. Griswold connects with clients primarily through advertising agencies who design the ads, create the media plan and negotiate the buys. His top clients are currently Wendy’s and HBO. Other clients have included Hagen

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ABOVE: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S LARRY GRISWOLD ’69, THIRD FROM LEFT, WORKED AS A VIDEO ASSISTANT DURING THE DEC. 14 ‘SNOWBALL’ BETWEEN THE NEW YORK JETS AND PITTSBURGH STEELERS. WITH HIM ARE, FROM LEFT, BRIAN BERMUDEZ, JOHN BLAND, ROB BRAKEL, BRENDAN OSEAN AND MIKE LLOYD. BELOW: GRISWOLD MET LEGENDARY QUARTERBACK DAN MARINO DURING A MEDIA EVENT. / Contributed photos

Daas Ice Cream, City Bank, Minwax, Nivea and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “I say it’s 90 percent hard work and the rest is fun times,” said Griswold. But those “fun times” make it a job that sportslovers the world over would envy. Consider the perks: Griswold attended the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000 and the Winter Olympics in Utah in 2002. And he works in New York City, the “media center of the nation, home to all of the major television networks and publishing companies.” Griswold has attended an “incredible number of big sports events,” including two Super Bowls, four Masters golf tournaments and the National Hockey League All-Star Weekend in February of this year. He’s met “some pretty amazing people,” including professional baseball players from his childhood. And he’s collected more than 100 of their autographs. And he’s proud of his magazine.

“Sports Illustrated has succeeded not simply because it covers sports, but because it’s such a high-quality journalistic product that has won awards for writing, photography and editing. That’s what attracted me to it from the beginning, that it was so well done.” (Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf is a freelance writer in Fairborn, Ohio.)

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A War of Olympic Proportions Olympic trainer Randy Wilber ’76 prepared Team USA members for Athens By Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf or the American athletes of the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece,‘war’ on foreign soil presented a number of unique challenges including heat, humidity and air pollution. Like any good strategist, Randy Wilber ’76, senior sports physiologist at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., prepared for those challenges with a reconnaissance trip to Athens this summer. “I measured the levels of pollution at the various competition venues and found that the pollution levels in the central part of Athens are very similar to those in Los Angeles, Calif. So they weren’t good,” said Wilber, who also found that athletes would endure temperatures in the mid-90s and humidity levels of nearly 50 percent. “Heat and humidity have a very negative effect on performance, particularly endurance performance. For example, if you look at someone running a marathon – an event for both men and women that lasts over two hours – and they haven’t prepared for heat and humidity, it will have serious effects on their performance and on their health and medical condition,” said Wilber. “Carbon monoxide, in turn, reduces the level of oxygen in the blood. If it’s affecting the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, your performance is going to be impacted if you can’t get enough oxygen to your muscles. Some of the other pollutants – sulfur dioxide, nitrogen

dioxide and ozone – affect the lungs primarily.They cause a lot of breathing problems.” In preparation for the Games,Wilber worked very closely with the athletes – including American standout swimmer Michael Phelps – and coaches of the United States Olympic Team in various capacities related to exercise RANDY physiology, such as WILBER ’76 evaluating performance, blood chemistry, altitude training and evidence of overtraining. “It’s very similar to going to war, in terms of preparation, organization, linguistics, support, pressure, emotion, the whole thing,” he said. Wilber’s own preparation began at Grove City College with David McKillop, Barbara Akin and Diane Grundy in the classroom and coaches such as John Barr in cross country and Jim Longnecker in track. “They had a huge impact on my life, in terms of encouraging me to have high goals, a good work ethic and values.” After earning his history degree at Grove City,Wilber obtained his master’s degree in history at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and taught at the high school level, coaching track and cross country for 10 years in Florida. There, he attended Florida State University for his master’s and Ph.D. in exercise physiology. He has been at the Olympic Training Center since 1993. “I feel very honored to be part of Team USA,” said Wilber, who invested seven days a week and 12 hours a day, on average, in monitoring and training athletes in Athens before, during and after the Olympics. “In 11 years, I can’t remember an athlete who wasn’t also a very good

MICHAEL PHELPS, OLYMPIC CHAMPION SWIMMER AND WORLD RECORD HOLDER, TAKES A PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST (PFT) ADMINISTERED BY RANDY WILBER ’76 AFTER A HARD TRAINING SESSION. THE PFT WAS CONDUCTED IN ATHENS IN AUGUST 2003 FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVALUATING PHELPS’ RESPONSE TO THE HEAT, HUMIDITY AND AIR POLLUTION IN ATHENS. RESULTS OF THE PFT WERE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT PHELPS WOULD NEED ASTHMA MEDICATIONS TO COMPETE OPTIMALLY IN THE ATHENS OLYMPICS. / Photo courtesy of the United States Olympic Committee

person in addition to being a very good athlete. Olympic athletes are truly amateur athletes with high standards and high values, who are very passionate about what they do. I’ve worked with athletes that sleep in their car.These are not $10 million-a-year NBA or NHL athletes.They’re kids that sometimes have to pay out of their pocket to go to Europe to compete. My interaction with athletes and coaches is easily the best part of the job.They’re first-class people and first-class athletes.” (Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf is a freelance writer in Fairborn, Ohio.)

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Fall 2004

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Baseball is Bob Christy’s game By Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman n Bob Christy’s website, he posted the thought “Baseball is life and the rest is just details.” For this ’78 grad, baseball has, indeed, been an integral part of his life. He is in his fifth decade of the sport he has played, umpired and coached.

BOB CHRISTY ’78 KEEPS A WATCHFUL EYE AS AN UMPIRE IN GEORGIA. / Contributed photo

One could say that Christy’s baseball career began at age 6, playing first base and right field for the Center Township (Butler, Pa.) Braves. As a player, he participated for the next 15 years. It was at Grove City College that his years as an umpire began. “In interfraternity sports, each fraternity had to send someone to be an official.” Christy explained.“I became the ‘designated official.’” Also in college, he began umpiring Little League games. He also umpired through his four years in the Marine Corps and for local high schools and colleges along the way. But, after 27 years behind the plate, he had to hang up his gear.Two left knee reconstructions and numerous lost or chipped teeth took their toll. Looking back on it, Christy reports that he had a lot of fun, learned a great deal about himself and “on occasion had the opportunity to toss a number of highly reputable high school and college coaches out of games.” The coaching aspect of Christy’s career began in 1992 when his son, Kenneth, started playing ball. Coaching his son’s teams led to assisting the baseball

programs at two local high schools and serving as head coach of the nationally ranked travel baseball team, the Roswell (Ga.) Rampage.This team of 14-yearolds played more than 100 games, traveled to eight states and ended the 2003 season ranked 27th in the nation. This past season, he and his son coached the 15-year-old East Cobb (Ga.) Giants to a No. 7 ranking at the 2004 USSSA World Series in Kissimmee, Fla. Christy’s work career also has ties to sports. He serves as president and CEO of Christy Investment Company in Alpharetta, Ga., which represents and advises many professional athletes and musicians. All told, Christy has been involved in thousands of games and seen a million or so pitches as a pitcher, catcher, hitter, umpire, coach and fan. He keeps it in perspective, though. In a recent newsletter to clients and friends, he reminds them that “baseball is just a game and that no matter how hard we might try, we’re all kids at heart.” (Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman is the Grove City College publications manager and GeDUNK associate editor.)

Wright ’77 earns awards in sports information at Millersville By Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman reg Wright ’77 is a selfproclaimed stickler for details. That’s entirely appropriate, because as sports information director at Millersville University, he reports the statistics and accomplishments for 429 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports. That’s his favorite part of the job. Ensuring that his office’s work is “done professionally and sent to the media as accurately as possible” is a top priority. He has been doing so for 20 years at Millersville and 25 in the profession. His work includes such duties as writing and distributing sports releases, preparing media guides, planning for

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game days and coordinating the athletic Hall of Fame events. He also is webmaster for the university’s athletics website.Wright handles all of these activities with a staff of one GREG graduate assistant and WRIGHT ’77 three to five part-time undergraduates during the academic year. His efforts have paid off, as earlier this year he received the prestigious Irving T. Marsh Award (University Division) for excellence in the field of sports information.The award is presented by

the Eastern College Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors’ Association. In addition, he was honored in June with a 25-Year Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America, the same group that has awarded Wright and his staff 10 citations for publications and writing excellence since 1984. Wright has many years of experience with state and national sports organizations, including 13 years as secretary of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors. In May 2004, he began a twoyear term as the group’s president. He

See WRIGHT, page 15

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Batykefer teaches ‘God-esteem’ through hands-on ministry of Tai Chuan Do By Rebecca (Beinlich ’95) Sodergren t first blush, Christianity and martial arts – fighting – might seem irreconcilable. But not for Ralph Batykefer ’87, a youth minister and black belt in Tai Chuan Do. Not only does he harmonize these disciplines in his own life, but he also helps others to do the same by teaching popular Tai Chuan Do classes at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Bel Air, Md., where he is on staff. The classes are free, but students – who range from age 6 to the 60s – are required to attend a short Bible study before each session. Batykefer notes his style of martial arts is not bound up in Eastern religions. Instead, students are taught self-control and Christian principles, and they are instructed to use force only as a last resort in self-defense situations. Growing up, Batykefer studied judo for nine years and wrestled for 10, and he fondly recalls wrestling in his housing group with Alpha Epsilon Chi brothers. But he didn’t pursue martial arts until he served a church in Laurel, Md., where he studied under a member who started a Tai Chuan Do ministry. Now Batykefer not only teaches at Oak Grove but also coordinates statewide

RALPH BATYKEFER ’87 DEMONSTRATES HIS TAI CHUAN DO SKILLS AT A RECENT MEET. / Contributed photo

tournaments. His own children are among his students. He and wife Karen (Dennie ’87) have two children – Noelle, 11, and Ralph III, 8. Grove City College graduates Krista Waller ’04 and Jason O’Grady ’04 have also studied under Batykefer. Presently pursuing a doctorate in postmodern adolescent discipleship from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Batykefer is convinced today’s teens are interested in hands-on activities that integrate spiritual life with the rest of life – such as his Tai Chuan Do program.

Self-discipline, respect for others and “God-esteem” rather than self-esteem are all taught through Tai Chuan Do at Oak Grove. So is evangelism – students are taught not to be timid in sharing their faith, but to be as bold as they would be in performing martial arts feats. In the end, Batykefer teaches, it’s not really about whether you can conquer someone by force. He cites Romans 8:37: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Rebecca (Beinlich ’95) Sodergren is a freelance writer in Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Wright shines as SID at Millersville from page 14 and his wife,Vicki, reside in Lititz, Pa., with their two daughters, Megan, 10, and Jessica, 4. Although Grove City College (Div. III) doesn’t compete with Millersville (Div. II), Wright said there is a touch of Grove City history on his campus.Two retired Grove City professors – the late Drs. Fred and Hilda Kring – are Millersville graduates. Wright studied under both at Grove City.

Wright can trace the beginnings of his career to three years spent working at GCC’s WSAJ radio station.“I did a little bit of everything,” he said,“from being a play-by-play sportscaster for football and basketball to being a disc jockey and newscaster… It was a great head start into what I do today.” (Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman is the Grove City College publications manager and GeDUNK associate editor.)

GREG WRIGHT ’77 WORKS IN THE PRESS BOX AT MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY. / Contributed photo

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Fall 2004

SWIMMING COACH KATIE MCCASLIN ’01 CONGRATULATES SOME OF HER YOUNGEST STUDENTS AFTER A GOOD LAP IN THE POOL. / Contributed photo

In the Swim of Things Katie McCaslin ’01 makes a splash in the lives of young swimmers By Caroline Koopman ’01 atie McCaslin ’01 found a way to combine her love of swimming with her passion for education – through coaching.“The two perfectly complement each other,” she said. McCaslin swam all four years at Grove City College, as well as throughout her childhood.When she grew too old to swim for her swim club, she made the natural transition into coaching. She is now in her sixth year as the assistant coach to the varsity swim team and the head JV coach for the Ply Mar Swim Club in Lafayette Hill, Pa., on the outskirts of Philadelphia. At Ply Mar, McCaslin is also in charge of the developmental team, which focuses on teaching the basics to the youngest swimmers.“At this stage, swimming is all about the fun,” said McCaslin. With the young swimmers, she enjoys developing creative ways for the children to learn each stroke.When she teaches the backstroke, for example, she starts with teaching the children how to roll their

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bodies from side to side in the water while imagining they are a bowl of ice cream waiting for their “toppings” to be sprinkled on. Once students have mastered the technique of each stroke, McCaslin’s next goal is to teach them to increase their speed.To motivate them to swim faster, McCaslin often has contests between the swimmers, rather than just requiring them to swim drills. “Swimming is not always the most exciting sport to practice since it’s a lot of lap swimming,” she said.“That’s why it’s important to motivate swimmers to do their best. So much of coaching is simply understanding how each child is motivated. “Being a swimmer myself,” she continued,“it helps with my coaching because I can empathize with the kids. I can understand the importance of being motivated both internally and externally.” McCaslin enjoys the individual pep talks she gives to the swimmers just before they compete, especially the younger ones

who do not have as much experience. She also encourages the swimmers to cheer on their teammates, especially when the coaches don’t have time to speak with each swimmer one-on-one during a meet. One of the most rewarding experiences for McCaslin with the Ply Mar Swim Club has been the annual “Laps for Life” fund-raiser. One of the club’s swimmers died of cancer, so each year the swim club raises money for the American Cancer Society in his honor. McCaslin swam two miles herself, but was especially encouraged by watching an 8-year-old on her team swim 300 laps and a 13-year-old swim 350 laps. McCaslin sometimes misses swimming competitively herself, but often finds coaching just as rewarding.“When I coach, I get to enjoy the successes of 150 kids, rather than just my own personal victories.” (Caroline Koopman ’01 is the Grove City College assistant director of alumni relations and a GeDUNK contributing editor.)

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Making Waves David Belowich ’72 sees coaching successes at Carnegie Mellon, Pitt By Ryan Briggs ’01 or many collegiate swimmers, setting three school records, serving as senior captain and qualifying for the national championships would be a career highlight. For Dr. David Belowich ’72, a Ph.D. in exercise physiology, those athletic accomplishments were merely the foundation of an outstanding coaching career that has spanned three decades and various levels of collegiate competition. In eight years as the head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University, Belowich has built a Division III powerhouse.This past season, Belowich earned his 100th dual-meet coaching victory and led CMU’s men’s team to a fourth consecutive undefeated season and a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships. And for his efforts, Belowich earned the D-III Coach of the Year award. “It was a very, very humbling experience,” Belowich said,“to have your peers recognize you and acknowledge that you did a pretty good job.” Belowich was able to share the special moment with his wife, Cheryl, and sons, Brian and Sean, at the Championships in St. Louis. Brian earned All-American honors this season while Sean is a former CMU team captain. Approximately 15 other former CMU swimmers also joined the Belowich family. Prior to taking over the men’s and women’s programs at Carnegie Mellon, Belowich coached the University of Pittsburgh’s women’s swimming and diving team for a dozen seasons, leading the Lady Panthers to nine consecutive Big East championships from 1983-91. While at Pitt, Belowich coached U.S. Olympian Sue Heon and earned the league’s Coach of the Year award five times. Earlier, Belowich was the head women’s coach at South Florida from 1980-82. In 1996, however, Belowich returned to his small-college roots by taking over at Carnegie Mellon. “I certainly cherished my time at the Division I level,” Belowich said.“I was able to work with some very talented athletes who did some remarkable things.” But attaining success at the Division III level has been even more rewarding for Belowich.“The part for me that is even more gratifying comes from Division III,” he said.“There is a separation in the talent level from Division I to Division III. But there is no separation in the drive to succeed or the understanding of the role that athletics plays in life.The purity involved goes well beyond any accolades they obtain – medals, records, recognition on campus.”

DAVID BELOWICH ’72 HAS SEEN EIGHT SUCCESSFUL YEARS COACHING AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY. / Contributed photo

Belowich understands that sense of purity from his days under head coach Jim Longnecker.While at Grove City, Belowich qualified for the NCAA Championships as a senior and held three varsity records before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Belowich says that he has tried to incorporate some of Longnecker’s approaches into his own coaching repertoire.“I have been fortunate enough to coach at both the collegiate and club level and from all of those things, you pick up on things from the people that are around you.” Belowich is using all of those nuggets of information as he takes on an additional challenge at Carnegie Mellon: interim athletic director. Currently, the Renfrew, Pa., native is overseeing CMU’s 17-sport athletic program on an interim basis. “It is a compliment that the administration felt I could handle (the duties),” Belowich said.“The learning curve is steep but I like challenges. It’s been a challenge and I have enjoyed it. I’m enjoying the interaction and I am pretty excited about the whole prospect.” Still, Belowich’s top athletic priority remains the swimming program that he has directed to unparalleled heights at CMU. “The team is the first and foremost reason that I am here.” (Ryan Briggs ’01 is the Grove City College sports information director and a GeDUNK contributing editor.) – DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

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In the Right Place A career in publicity for the PGA fit ’49 graduate to a tee By Rebecca (Beinlich ’95) Sodergren ot many people can say they’re on Jack Nicklaus’ Christmas card list.Tom Place ’49 is, but he’s not star-struck. That’s because his career kept him around the PGA Tour golfers literally day and night, so he got to know them as regular guys – “just like the rest of us, except they were playing the game on a very high level.” Place was the director of information for the PGA Tour from 1972 to 1992, arranging players’ interviews with reporters from print and broadcast media and handling tour publicity. During the tour season, he and wife Jean lived with the players, who at that time also included Arnold Palmer, and became

very close with them. In fact, golfers Tom Weiskopf and Paul Azinger were among the handful of people to attend Place’s wedding in 1981. He and Jean were married in Scotland – on their way to the British Open – in the church where Place was baptized in 1927.The Azingers remain among the Places’ closest friends even since retirement from the Tour. After 1992, Place spent a year doing media relations for Greg Norman and still works as a consultant for golf clubs. He was well-suited for his work with

the PGA Tour because he’d been on the other side of the interview table during 20 years as a sportswriter for Cleveland newspapers, a career he launched immediately after college. He credits Grove City College – and particularly his extracurricular involvement there – with influencing his later career success. An English major, he lettered in football and track and was a sportswriter for The Collegian. He graduated intending to become a collegelevel football coach, but his father advised him,“You could coach football and influence the 50 or 60 people on your team in a year, but if you follow the writing path, you could influence maybe hundreds of thousands of people – and you could sit in the press box and never lose a game.” Not only did he never lose a game, but he also rubbed shoulders with golfers who rarely lost either. (Rebecca (Beinlich ’95) Sodergren is a freelance writer in Pittsburgh, Pa.) TOM PLACE ’49, RIGHT, WITH LEGENDARY GOLFER BEN HOGAN. / Contributed photo

Duo of golfing Grovers tee it up in print By Dave Hollenbaugh ’92 Golf is many things to many people. For some it is a vocation, for others it’s simply a pastime. In either case, the chance to improve each time the ball is struck is the challenge. But have you ever been too serious about the game? Have you ever had a bad shot that made you start thinking and correct your swing too much? Gary Steadman ’89, a PGA professional in eastern Pennsylvania, has some helpful hints. After teaching countless lessons and developing practice exercises and techniques for golfers of all abilities, he wanted to share his approach with a broader audience. Calling upon the wit and publishing 18

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expertise of Nu Lambda Phi brother David Richwine ’89, he put his ideas to print.The result is a book titled “Never Up, Never In and Other Golf Myths.” “It was the marriage of two interests really,” recalls Richwine.“Gary is great with golf, but would prefer not to write about it, and I enjoy the writing and publishing, but don’t golf much at all.” The partners worked well together and combined their knowledge and skill for a fun and practical book. Making use of many golf catch phrases and other myths, Steadman and Richwine’s book offers advice on course management, practice drills and exercises, and a positive mental approach to the sport.

The team began distribution by testmarketing the book to the top 30 PGA touring professionals.They received a favorable response. Richwine proudly conveyed that golf legend Hale Irwin said,“This book is perfect for people who take the game too seriously.” Other professionals described the book as being straightforward and genuinely helpful. Those interested in purchasing a copy of “Never Up, Never In and Other Golf Myths,” should contact Red Cent Publishing, Box 347, Downingtown, Pa., 19335, or e-mail redcentwest@mac.com. The cost to Grove City College alumni is $10, which includes shipping. (Dave Hollenbaugh ’92 is the Grove City College senior director of development.)

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MIKE KOERBER '01, SECOND FROM THE RIGHT IN BACK ROW, STANDS WITH THE VARSITY SOCCER TEAM FROM BLACK FOREST ACADEMY IN GERMANY AFTER WINNING THE EUROPEAN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP. / Contributed photo

In Goal By Caroline Koopman ’01 ou never know when the lessons you learn at Grove City College will come in handy. Drawing from his experience as a soccer player and resident assistant in the Memorial residence hall, Mike Koerber ’01 is making his mark at a little school halfway around the world. Koerber is a resident assistant at Black Forest Academy, an international Christian boarding school located in the picturesque village of Kandern, Germany.About 95 percent of the 340 students are children of missionary families from all over the world. For the 2003-04 academic year, Koerber also served as the assistant coach for the varsity soccer team and head coach for the junior varsity team. “This was my first year coaching,” said Koerber.“I would get so excited for the games and would have all this nervous energy I couldn’t release since I wasn’t playing myself.” Instead, Koerber used that energy to cheer on the players he coached. For many of the players, this was their first opportunity to participate in an

Rookie coach Mike Koerber ’01 leads boarding school team to championship organized sport.“Their skills were very strong since they had all played pick-up games of soccer growing up,” said Koerber.“But I had to teach them how to play specific positions.”The tryouts for soccer were extremely competitive, so beginning with the 2003-04 academic year, a JV team was created. “The JV guys were my favorite to coach,” Koerber said.“They were much more eager to learn, plus since I was the head coach, I was the final authority.” His biggest struggle as a coach was keeping the players on task.“I’m not much of a disciplinarian,” he chuckled.“Sometimes it was tough motivating them to keep going hard during practices.” But all his pushing must have paid off. At the end of the season, the JV team had three shutout victories and only one loss. “They were a very unselfish team.They played really well together,” said Koerber. Koerber also had a number of rewarding experiences through helping to coach the varsity players.“The guys had a lot of depth and speed, but their skills playing as a team weren’t always that great.”To compensate, Koerber suggested

that the team switch their formation to one very similar to the formation he played at Grove City.The decision turned out to be a great one.The team won the European Championship for its division, which is made up of primarily military base schools located throughout Germany, Belgium and Holland. “We were the only private Christian school in the division, so it was great seeing all the other teams cheering for us during the championship game. It was neat how we earned their respect.” Koerber also had the opportunity to share his experience at Grove City with one of his players, Sung Chung, a current freshman at Grove City whose parents are missionaries in Uzbekistan. Koerber is not sure if he will be coaching again next year, since he was married over the summer and may not want to make the time commitment that coaching requires.“I’ll at least help with the practices,” he says.“It was a really great experience.” (Caroline Koopman ’01 is the Grove City College assistant director of alumni relations and a GeDUNK contributing editor.) – DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

MY F I R ST T R IAT H LO N WAS N’T VE R Y F U N B UT I T O O K F I R ST O R S E CO N D I N MY AG E G R O U P ... IT J U ST B E C AM E AD D I C T I N G. IT’S N O T ALWAYS T HAT M U C H F U N, B UT AF T E R YO U’R E D O N E YO U F O R G ET AB O UT IT AN D YO U F E E L G O O D. Tracey (Polliard ’93) McGurk

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TRACEY (POLLIARD ’93) MCGURK CROSSES THE FINISH LINE TO WIN HER AGE GROUP AT LAST SUMMER’S IRONMAN CANADA COMPETITION. / Contributed photo

Measure T of Tough ‘Ironman’Tracey McGurk ’93 has a heart of steel and an attitude to match 20

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

By Ann-Margaret Lambo racey (Polliard ’93) McGurk has an ironclad hobby that keeps her on the move. McGurk competed – and took first place in her age group – in the Ironman Canada competition in Pentiction, British Columbia, last August.With her win in Canada, McGurk qualified for the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships, although she did not accept the berth. McGurk has been involved in training for and competing in triathlons for the last nine years. McGurk actually came to be a triathlete out of necessity. “Before I moved here (Dallas, Pa.), I

was working two jobs, putting in 70 or 80 hours a week,” explained McGurk, a former swimmer and track athlete.“I had no problem sleeping.Then I moved here and into a 40-hour work week and couldn’t sleep at night. So I started swimming again.” That quest to find a peaceful night’s sleep not only introduced McGurk to super slumber, but also to a group of triathletes. Her new friendships piqued her interest in triathlons and so someone lent her a bike. She began riding and started running again; one thing led to another and McGurk was training for her first Ironman. The Ironman is a three-pronged competition that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26-mile run. McGurk and other Ironman athletes like her train year-round for the competition. McGurk, who trains with her husband, John, also a triathlete, focuses her training on swimming, riding and running for a total of 18 to 20 hours per week, with the bulk of the time dedicated to weekend workouts. “It’s hard to describe why I do it,” McGurk said.“My first triathlon wasn’t very fun but I took first or second in my age group at that competition. So I thought,‘Wow, I got a prize and I did well.’ So after that initial experience I figured out how I needed to train and I began to see improvement, and it just became addicting. It’s not always that much fun, but after you’re done you forget about it and you feel good.”

See IRONMAN, page 22

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Julie Maholic ’90 pedals for cause in cycle race for MS By Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf ake a stroll through the Pine Barrows of New Jersey in September and you might encounter a strange hybrid creature that is part cyclist, part deer.This extraordinary specimen is a member of the Wild Bucks, a team belonging to the Central Bucks Bicycle Club in Bucks County, Pa. (The antlers are just a “hood ornament.”) For the past 10 years, the Wild Bucks have participated in the annual MS150, a 150-mile, two-day bike ride each September to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Last year, the event attracted 5,500 participants and the Central Bucks Bicycle Club alone raised more than $25,000 in sponsorship funds. In true “weekend warrior” style, most cyclists bike 75 miles each day, through the scenic Pine Barrows to Ocean City and back to the starting point the next day. Julie Maholic ’90, a resident of Newtown, Pa., has participated in the fund-raiser seven times since 1994. An elementary instrumental band director for the Council Rock School District, Maholic trains primarily in the summer by biking an average of 600 miles in the three months between academic years. “That way I’m not crying at the end, which has happened to me,” Maholic laughed.“One year, I did not train efficiently and it just seemed like everything went wrong. I had the agonyof-defeat tears after Day 1. All I kept thinking was that ‘if this is what it’s like to have multiple sclerosis, God bless these people,’ because everything hurt.They

ALONG WITH HER BROTHER, JEFF, JULIE MAHOLIC ’90, RIGHT, CELEBRATES HER FINISH OF THE MS150, A 150-MILE, TWO-DAY BIKE TOUR TO BENEFIT THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY. / Contributed photo

live with it, so I can endure it for a day or two.” Maholic went on to finish the event that year. Last year, Maholic set a new record for herself, completing the two 75-mile segments in less than seven hours. “At the Tour de France, they average 35 miles an hour for four hours and I think,‘I’m 15 miles an hour on a good day!’” The event is challenging in other ways as well.Wind, rain and even hurricanes have made conditions dangerous for

riders, particularly for those who are less “road savvy,” Maholic said. Riders must constantly test their brakes and keep a safe distance from each other during lessthan-ideal conditions. “I think it’s a different experience every time,” she added.“In the last couple years, I definitely felt that I had trained more appropriately for it. But I finished every time.That’s one thing I can say. I finished every time.” (Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf is a freelance writer in Fairborn, Ohio.)

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Fall 2004

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Playing with Words Greg Spalding ’80 hones long career in sports writing By Ann-Margaret Lambo hat do you get when you combine a passion for sports writing fueled by a love of Christ? Grove City College alumnus Gregory Spalding ’80. Spalding is a Pittsburgh-based writer who has turned his love of the game into an exciting, satisfying career.Throughout his 25 years as a writer, he has interviewed some of sport’s brightest stars, established a publishing company and through that organization has penned eight books, including a trilogy on the Pittsburgh Pirates. “It was always a dream of mine to be a writer, even from junior high days when I started working on the school newspaper,” said Spalding, a communication arts and business double major at Grove City.“I developed a real love for it.When I was 13, I used to listen to the Pirates games – Bob Prince {who is married to alumna Betty (Casey ’38) Prince} and the other legendary announcers on the radio – and so I started to write my first book at that time. It was written like a 13-year-old but it was just an attempt to do something with journalism at that point.” Twenty years later, when that same Pirates team had a reunion, Spalding went back to that manuscript, penned by the

13-year-old. He dusted off the cobwebs and rewrote his boyhood story, which became his first book, both in his career and about the Pittsburgh Pirates. “It was a boyhood dream that actually GREGORY came to fruition,” SPALDING ’80 Spalding noted.“What has been the most exciting thing of it all is to be able to infuse it all with my love for Christ.” Spalding has used his deep faith and the sporting arena as a communication vehicle to encourage positive behavior and change in people – young and old. “We have to look at athletes as models, not idols,” Spalding said.“What makes sports so powerful is that it is such a part of our lives.All of us either play it, watch it or talk about it at least at some point in our lives.And a lot of people are into sports almost daily.” Spalding acknowledged that the sports scene in Pittsburgh is much different than in other cities. Pittsburghers are always talking about sports, no matter what the season. Spalding has a theory about why people just love the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins.

“I think they reflect the community,” explained Spalding, who is a Penn Hills native.“The thing about Pittsburgh, as opposed to other cities, is that it is more like a community. So when you go to a game you feel like you are more a part of that community.The Steelers and Pirates, for instance, are both working man’s teams.They both have to hustle and work hard to win.That reflects the community.” Spalding’s love affair with sports has spawned eight different books on the subject, including “Sailing the Three Rivers to the Title,”“The Classiest Team Baseball Ever Knew,”“The Men in Mustard Hats,”“Shine! All-Star, Shine!,” “Baseball’s Best Kept Secret,”“Three Rivers That Spawned the City of Champions,”“Run the Greatest Race” and “Coming to Terms with Jesus Christ: Athletes, Celebrities and Everyday People’s Theology and Testimony about Reconciliation With God.” “I am tremendously blessed,” Spalding said.“It’s been such a joy to incorporate my love of sports with my faith.” He and his wife, Lilly, have one child, Carlos, and live in the Pittsburgh area. In addition to his writing, Spalding owns City of Champions Publishing. (Ann-Margaret Lambo is a freelance writer in New Castle, Pa.)

McGurk puts heart and soul into the Ironman from page 20 “You learn a lot about yourself, too.” At Ironman Canada, McGurk competed against approximately 120 women in the 30-to-34 age group. She finished first in that group with a time of 10 hours and 23 minutes. John also competed in Ironman Canada and finished in 10 hours and 16 minutes. “You are definitely suffering while you are out there, but at the same time it 22

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shows you how strong you are,” McGurk said.“When you are out there you have a lot of time to spend with yourself. I find myself talking to God a lot.To even take this on, you have to have a lot of faith, so that you know that you will get through this.” When she is not training or competing in an Ironman competition, McGurk, who was a biology major at Grove City College, is employed by the Pennsylvania

Department of Environmental Protection in the permitting section for waste management. Her responsibilities include regulating landfills as well as issuing permits, among other things. McGurk is preparing for another Ironman competition of sorts. Early this fall, the McGurks are expecting their first child, a baby girl. (Ann-Margaret Lambo is a freelance writer in New Castle, Pa.)

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On Track Todd Smartt ’02 shares in thrill of NASCAR in career initiated through Grove City connection By Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw

hen Todd Smartt ’02 found out that fellow Young Life member Jessica Hawk ’04 had a father who worked as a sports agent for NASCAR, his jaw – in his words – “hit the floor.” When he found out that her father was president of Earnhardt, Inc. – as in Dale Earnhardt Sr./Jr. – he picked his jaw off the floor and let it drop again. Smartt had always enjoyed most any sport, but harbored a secret love for NASCAR that he found difficult to share on campus. Grove City College, much like the Pittsburgh region in general, just didn’t seem to have a huge NASCAR following. So when Hawk offered him tickets to the races at Pocono, he knew he’d made a connection that might make a difference in his future. He accepted the Pocono tickets and started to be more proactive with his love of the sport – even working summers with the local race

TODD SMARTT ’02, LEFT, TALKS CARS WITH REGAN SMITH, AN UP-ANDCOMING STAR ON THE NASCAR CIRCUIT. / Contributed photo

team at Mercer Speedway to increase his mechanical knowledge and experience in the sport. That prep work paid off when Smartt, who was in North Carolina for a different job interview, traveled to Huntersville to interview with Hawk’s father. Admittedly a neophyte in the NASCAR marketing world, he tried not to look too much like a star-struck fan as he was shown around the memento-laden offices.

At the conclusion of his meeting, he had a job of which he’d only dreamed. As part of Hawk Sports Management, Smartt serves as a corporate sales agent for a variety of clients, predominately NASCAR, but also the occasional golf pro. Smartt believes that his business management major was diverse enough to enhance his abilities at such a demanding job. His job has allowed him to meet all the premier drivers in the game

while attending the biggest races. He has worked with every aspect of the game, although he’s not had another opportunity to work the pit or drive as of yet. His dream gig? Working exclusively with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who Smartt feels has built on the legend of “The Intimidator” – the late Earnhardt Sr.’s famous nickname – and taken it to even higher levels and to a newer, hipper audience. Yet in spite of all the flashing lights and glamour of NASCAR, it is Smartt’s continued involvement with Young Life that gave him his biggest thrill. While speaking at an area Young Life banquet, he had the opportunity to meet Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gibbs (of the Washington Redskins) and entertain them with what he admits was some pretty lame “schtick.” Surprisingly, he heard Gibbs’ distinctive laugh ring out in the audience. Smartt has used his involvement with organizations such as Young Life to keep him focused on his faith. In the whirlwind of professional automobile racing, it is easy to get thrown off balance by the spectacle. Smartt feels that faith helps him and the other drivers and crews keep their balance. After all, when you are driving over 200 miles per hour around a stadium in a tin can, you need to believe in something more than your own ability. (Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw is the Grove City College assistant director of alumni relations and a GeDUNK contributing editor.)

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Fall 2004

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Two Smiths team up to teach Sports in American History D

By Leah Acker ’07 r. Gary Smith ’72, chair of the department of history, and Chris Smith ’72, associate professor of physical education and head football coach, have more in common than their last name and graduation year. Both love sports and this passion brings them together to team-teach Sports in American History on the Grove City College campus. The three-credit course explains how “both informal and organized sports have contributed substantially to shaping our nation,” Gary Smith said. The course begins with the Puritans, traces folk sports’ development and shows how sports impact Americans’ perceptions of “their bodies, exercise, leisure time, and the virtues of character, courage and perseverance.”The class considers the impact of race, class and gender in sports and probes the causes of sports’ popularity,

sports’ effect on colleges and why athletes are considered heroes. The course also notes the semester’s major sports events, such as the Super Bowl, the start of baseball season and the Olympics. Among the sports specifically considered are “baseball, football, basketball, boxing, horse racing, automobile racing, tennis, golf, soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse and wrestling.” And all levels are examined, from elementary to professional. Although most enter the course knowing a

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lot about sports – 75 percent are varsity athletes and most are men – its depth soon levels the playing field. “It’s more rigorous than students anticipate but, on the other hand, more rewarding than they anticipate too,” said Chris Smith. Chris Smith first taught the course in 1998 and again in 2000 with Dr. Barbara Akin.After her retirement, Gary Smith joined his former classmate in 2002. “I’m very interested in sports so it was natural for me to think of resuscitating the course,” he said. Outside of the classroom, too, both professors connect with students through sports. Gary Smith plays tennis with men’s team and usually participates in the alumni Homecoming matches. Besides coaching football, Chris Smith is also the men’s and women’s golf coach. (Leah Acker ’07 is an electrical engineering major from Mercer, Pa.)

Academics and athletics go hand-in-hand at Grove City By Caroline Koopman ’01 hen it comes to Grove City College varsity athletes, the “dumb jock” stereotype simply does not apply. Just ask sophomore Dan Jeltes, a premed major and varsity football tight end. “I picked Grove City mainly because of its academic and Christian reputation,” he said.“Playing football was just an added bonus.” Jeltes came to Grove City after graduating No. 3 in his Class of 2003 at Indian Hills High School in Oakland, N.J. He was also the captain of his baseball team and received all-conference honors in football and baseball. As a freshman at Grove City, Jeltes lettered and is a probable starter for his sophomore year.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

Jeltes, however, is not the only success story. In the 2003-04 academic year, Grove City led the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in placing 75 athletes on the Honor Roll, which requires a 3.6 grade point average or higher. Out of the 365 varsity athletes on campus last year, more than 150 earned a GPA of at least 3.4. This past spring, the College also saw four students earn College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American distinctions: Meg Tilley ’04 (women’s soccer), Drew McKelvy ’04 (men’s swimming and diving), Megan Hulick ’05 (women’s tennis) and Peggy (Whitbeck ’04) Mahan (women’s swimming and diving). Then in August, the women’s and men’s tennis teams earned All-Academic recognition from the International Tennis

Association for the 2004 season. The men accumulated a team gradepoint average of 3.25 during the spring. Teams with a cumulative average of 3.20 or higher are recognized by the ITA. Under 32nd-year head coach Joe Walters, who has chalked up a career record of 274-106, the Wolverines went 15-2 and secured their 14th consecutive PAC championship in 2004. The women’s squad also earned ITA AllAcademic honors for compiling a GPA of 3.20 or higher, posting a team 3.38 GPA during the 2003 season.The women won their 17th straight PAC title last fall. (Caroline Koopman ’01 is the Grove City College assistant director of alumni relations and a GeDUNK contributing editor. Sports Information Director Ryan Briggs ’01 also contributed to this story.)

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Magic Moments Scott Herring ’81 handles basketball business in Orlando By Ann-Margaret Lambo cott Herring has found Orlando to be a very magical place, and Disney World had nothing to do with it. But the Orlando Magic Basketball team did. Herring ’81 is the director of basketball administration for the NBA franchise. A business administration major with a concentration in accounting, Herring has been with the Magic for the last 17 years. Although he admits that he loves sports, he never really envisioned himself working in the front office of a professional team. “I got really tired of public accounting so I decided to make the jump,” Herring said. “I played sports all my life and figured that sports teams needed finance and accounting work done, so I figured I would try it.” How Herring came to the Orlando Magic is somewhat magical as well.

When he decided that he was going to make a move, Herring called directory assistance and got the number for the administrative offices of the Magic. Then he called it. Then he sent in a SCOTT resume. A little while HERRING ’81 later he got a phone call at home to come for an interview. A week after the first interview Herring went for a second interview. “It all happened pretty quickly,” noted Herring. “I was offered the job on Memorial Day weekend and moved from Naples to Orlando on the Fourth of July.” In his current role with the Magic, Herring is responsible for handling the organization’s salary cap and player

contract issues.This includes projections and strategy formulation related to trades, free agents and player signings, as well as drafting player contracts and other collective bargaining issues. He is also responsible for all business issues within the basketball operations department. In addition, Herring oversees the organization’s youth camps, Junior Magic youth leagues and youth tournaments.The Greensburg, Pa., native, resides in Maitland, Fla., with his wife, Debbie, and three sons, Brett, 15, Sean, 14 and Kendall, 12. Besides the business of basketball, there is an exciting side to Herring’s role with the Magic. “Every season is a new season,” Herring said. “Just the excitement of not knowing what is coming next makes it exciting to be in the front office.” (Ann-Margaret Lambo is a freelance writer in New Castle, Pa.)

Smiths first husband-wife pair inducted into hometown hall By Leah Acker ’07 ark ’83 and Jody (Imbrie ’83) Smith began dating during their freshman year at Butler (Pa.) High School, where they were both standout basketball players.After high school, the couple enrolled at Grove City College, where both continued their stellar basketball careers. In recognition of her success on the court, Jody, an All-American at Grove City, was inducted into the Butler Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Mark was inducted in April, making them the first husbandwife team to achieve this honor. The Smiths, who were married the fall after college graduation, live in Georgia with their three children, Kara, 14, Erik,

12, and Kylee, 10.All three kids play basketball. Mark, who works in chemical sales, and Jody, a stay-at-home mom, have coached their children’s rec league teams, feeder programs and fall basketball teams. Basketball isn’t the only sport in the Smiths’ home, though. Erik plays baseball and golf and swims; Kylee swims and plays soccer. Kara has played many sports over the years, but as a high school freshman she’s focusing mostly her family’s sport – basketball – and playing the piano and clarinet. When the Smiths aren’t involved with sports, they enjoy music, Spanish, camping and bike riding. (Leah Acker ’07 is an electrical engineering major from Mercer, Pa.)

MARK ’83, SECOND FROM LEFT, AND JODY (IMBRIE ’83) SMITH, FOURTH FROM LEFT, SHINED ON THE BASKETBALL COURT IN BUTLER AND AT GROVE CITY AND NOW THEIR KIDS ARE CARRYING ON THE TRADITION. IN THE FRONT, FROM LEFT, ARE KARA, 14, KYLEE, 10, AND ERIK, 12. / Contributed photo

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‘Put me in, Coach’

Father and son watch a baseball career close By Richard Crousey ’70 y wife and I drove the three hours east to see our son, Caleb, close out his college baseball career. The contest started like most, but with a peculiar suspense building. By the fifth inning, I was driven to take a short walk. Game noises disappeared as I wandered on. I needed a moment with God but why? Thoughts ran desperately through my mind.This game, my son, the experience are each important to me but why so exaggerated now? I’ve always loved watching Caleb play ball. Somehow, though, I had missed the enormity of the blessing. It was the fading away, even while I walked, that somehow gave it value. We’ve all had similar experiences. It’s the vanishing that catches our attention. I spoke with the Lord, attempting to express thanks, but mostly I was silent. Finally, I worked my way back to the field where I sought out a quiet, grassy terrace adjacent to right field. A well-played game ensued but not to our favor. From my intimate setting, I watched Caleb sit down on the grass to remove his spikes for the last time. He had played ball for 15 years and now, at the pinnacle of his game, it was over. I tried convincing myself that I understood his thoughts, but surely I could not. Following the game, we met, cautiously giving each other a hug. I invited him to

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

FOR MANY SEASONS OF BASEBALL, RICHARD CROUSEY ’70 AND SON CALEB WERE IN IT FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME. / Contributed photo

alumniessay Richard Crousey ’70 If you are interested in sharing your story in the Alumni Essay feature, contact GeDUNK Managing Editor Amy Clingensmith ’96 at alclingensmith@gcc.edu or (724) 458-3302.

my terrace box showing him the woodpecker’s nest and butternut tree, anything to avoid the situation at hand. As my voice cracked and tears washed my cheeks, I tried thanking him for all those wonderful moments. Caleb, with labored effort, responded there was no one he’d rather have in the stands. That evening Caleb shared another game experience. During the fifth inning he found himself strangely disengaged from the game. Realizing himself what was fading before him; Caleb looked around at the field, the stands and those he had grown to love. Countless times he had stood at “his” spot in center field. This time, with misty eyes, he witnessed his surroundings for what seemed the first time. Our experiences were different but mirrored one another. God was helping

us see more clearly “little things” we had previously taken for granted.These “little things” occur regularly, inviting us to recognize their significance; yet what causes them to blossom into sweetness is their fading away. Passing without fanfare, they are the substance of life.When did my children last welcome me home by hanging on my legs? When did Caleb last follow my every step with his blue, plastic lawn mower? When did I last complain about the kids asking too many questions? The seasons of our lives surely change but they are made up of the “little things” that went before. Nothing is lost. As one picture fades, another begins to dawn, even to the very end.“For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face…”The fabric of each life is unique, finely woven of insignificant threads as they cross the shuttle. Words to a popular song say,“Put me in, coach. I’m ready to play today. I know I can be center field,” how apt for my son. He is at his best, ready to play but the season is over. Hopefully, experiences have positioned me to be a better father, strange now that my season is drawing to a close.

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Name: Mary Brown Major at GCC: Senior business marketing/ management Further Education Planned, if any: I plan to attain my MBA Jobs/Internships Held During High School/College: Grill room attendant/beverage cart sales at Hickory Heights Golf Club, student assistant for coach Chris Smith ’72, marketing internships at American International Relocation Solutions and Corporate Accommodations. Community Service: Relay For Life volunteer, hospital volunteer, Adopt-AGrandparent Program Awards and Honors: Junior Spring Queen; three years as 1st Team All PAC in Women’s Golf; PAC Player of the Week five times in three years; Phi Tau Alpha Sweetheart Hobbies: Dance, aerobics and golf Last Movie You Saw at the Guthrie: “The Passion of the Christ” Activities/Sports: Captain of varsity women’s golf team, varsity cheerleading, treasurer of GCC Management Association, Junior SGA Representative for Parents’ Weekend Committee, Gamma Chi Sorority Family Members: parents, attorney Thomas “TB” Brown ’68 and Marie Brown The Best Thing About GCC: The friendliness of the students and the sincere concern for the students’ well-being continually exhibited by the faculty and administration If I Were a GCC Trustee, I Would: Construct on-campus apartment-style living facilities for GCC seniors Favorite Professor: Dr. Linda Christie Why?: Dr. Christie challenged me to adapt “book knowledge” to real world business problems. These lessons have proved invaluable in my internships. Favorite GCC Moment: Parents’ Weekend when I met and shared stories about GCC with the previous Spring Queens On Campus, I Am Most Likely to be Found: Studying/socializing at the library When I Get Off Campus, I Head For: Sheetz gas station for some late-night food What GCC is Doing for Me/How I Am Impacted: GCC has allowed me to obtain a top-quality education and hopefully graduate debt-free. Story or Moment That Revolves Around a Dorm or Place on Campus: When the brothers of Phi Tau Alpha sang their sweetheart song to me outside of Harker Hall, then carried me down to Wolf Creek for the initiation as their Sweetheart (the water is VERY cold in October).

Name: Bill Jordan Major at GCC: Business administration Grad Year: 1977 Further Education: M.S. physical education, West Virginia University, 1979 Professional Experience: Athletic Director at Grove City High School, Ryan Homes Inc., Hunting Ridge Plan Bridgeville, Pa. Volunteer Work: McGuire Memorial Home, New Brighton, Pa.; also active in local community and neighborhood Most Significant Accomplishment: Sixtime PAC track and field Coach of the Year; ECAC and AFCA Football Coaching Staff of the Year member, 1997 Hobbies: Working on our home, raising lambs, growing our own food Last Book You Read: “Rise to Rebellion” by Jeff Shaara Favorite Vacation Spot: Many—Deep Creek Lake, Md.; Lake Worth, Fla.; Nantucket Island, Va.; Teton National Forest Activities/Sports: Varsity football, four years Family Members: Wife, Judy Stone ’79, kindergarten teacher in Grove City; daughter, Kate ’02, attending graduate school at Brockport, N.Y.; son, Bill, a senior at Slippery Rock University; son, Tom, a senior at McGuire School Pets: Two border collies, Ben and Meg The Best Thing About GCC Is: The athletes that I had the opportunity to coach throughout my career at GCC, excellent athletes who were also exceptional people Most Memorable Grove City Class or Professor: Marketing class with Ed Bowden Why? I enjoyed his class and when Judy and I moved back to town he and Ruth became our next-door neighbors. Favorite GCC Moment: Every fall Saturday afternoon, particularly 1974 On Campus, I Was Likely to be Found: In the weight room or at football practice Last Time I Was on Campus: I am on campus or go through it almost every day What GCC Did for Me/How I Was Impacted: I met Judy, my best friend and wife of 25 years. I received an excellent education at a manageable cost, and I was able to play football in an atmosphere that was enjoyable for me and my parents. I enjoyed employment for 19 years as a coach and teacher at Grove City College, and I was able to be near my daughter, Kate, a student at that time, if she needed me. Story or Moment That Revolves Around a Dorm or Place on Campus: One year, the rock group Kansas performed in the Arena. It was so loud that those of us standing on the floor leaned into the sound. When they stopped playing, you had to take a step forward to keep from falling over. About 15 minutes into the concert, I left and went to the quad. They sounded really good from down in front of Rockwell.

Name: William C. Stewart, P.E. College: Grove City College Major: B.S. mechanical engineering Grad Year: 1961 Further Education: Numerous courses in preparation for my professional engineering certificate Occupation: Retired CEO of Armstrong Cable Services (30 years) First Job After College Graduation: PPG Industries Role on Board/Committee: Library & Technology Committee Trustee Since: July 1, 2004; served as a past alumni trustee Volunteer Work: Habitat for Humanity, church, township government, County Industrial Development Awards and Honors: National Cable Pioneer, State Cable Pioneer, Grove City College Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award (1995) Hobbies: Boating, golf, being a grandfather Last Book You Read: “The Purpose-Driven Life” by Rick Warren Favorite Vacation Spot: Naples, Fla. Family Members: Wife Gay, daughter Paula (Stewart ’84) Brestensky, son Jud, five grandchildren, brother Orrie Stewart ’60, niece Patti (Stewart ’88) Rowles, niece Cindy Stewart ’91, niece Joy (Sedwick ’80) Moon who is married to Robert Moon ’79, nephew Dru Sedwick ’86 who married Trudy (Horner ’86), cousin Ella Louise (Kline ’64) Ekas and Ray Johnston ’85 who is married to another niece Most Memorable Grove City Class or Professor: All of my engineering profs Why? They were good instructors, but more importantly gave us the practical side of doing our chosen profession. Activities/Sports: Varsity baseball, intramural sports (basketball, soccer and volleyball); Kappa Alpha Phi fraternity Favorite GCC Moment: Graduating and the fellowship developed as being a part of the KAPs On Campus, I Was Most Likely To be Found: At the Gedunk What GCC Did for Me/How I Was Impacted: I was prepared both emotionally and educationally to accept a position as a wage earner and develop a place in society with family and friends. Story or Moment That Revolves Around a Dorm or Place on Campus: The KAP fraternity won the Homecoming parade float competition in the fall of 1960. We finally arrived.

– DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

alumninews Dupree trains Touring Choir alumni prepare to serve God for trip with Grove City concert and country By Leah Acker ’07 While the U.S. military typically relies on new technology and old-fashioned manpower to combat terrorism, Alicia Dupree ’04 plans to fight terrorists with words. Dupree recently began training to become an Army interrogator. Dupree left for basic training at Ft. ALICIA Leonard Wood, DUPREE ’04 Mo., on Sept. 14. After completing the nine-week training, she will travel to Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., for an intensive five-month intelligence training program. Once graduated from intelligence training, she will study a foreign language in a yearlong program at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, Calif. Her high scores on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery make her eligible to learn the institute’s most difficult languages: Mandarin Chinese and Farsi. During her military tenure, Dupree plans to become an officer. Her father, Professor of Business Dr. James Dupree, attained the rank of major during his military service. Dupree views her service as a “great ministry opportunity” as well. She has helped the Officers’ Christian Fellowship, a Bible-based ministry within the military, with its retreats since she was in high school. She will continue to work with the fellowship because she feels military service is “an incredible opportunity to serve God and country.” (Leah Acker ’07 is an electrical engineering major from Mercer, Pa.)

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

By Rebecca (Beinlich ’95) Sodergren Fifty-six Touring Choir alumni and current students, spanning graduating years from ’63 to ’06, gathered in Grove City in June to rehearse, perform a concert and relive their shared choir experiences. The concert also served as a dress rehearsal. Most who participated will tour the United Kingdom in July 2005, performing in British cathedrals and sightseeing on the side. In less than nine hours of rehearsal, the group learned 13 songs, resulting in a 45-minute concert under the baton of Dr. Douglas Browne. British cathedrals will provide magnificent venues for the group’s concerts next summer. Between performances, the group will visit Bath,

ALUMNI MEMBERS OF THE TOURING CHOIR, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR. DOUGLAS BROWNE, PERFORMED ON JUNE 26 IN GROVE CITY. THE CONCERT WAS A REHEARSAL FOR THE GROUP’S JULY 2005 TOUR TO THE BRITISH ISLES. / Photo by Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman

Stonehenge,Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and more. The tradition of Touring Choir alumni gatherings began in 1996 with a concert in Grove City. It was such a hit that when Tracy Radosevic ’87 posed the idea of a Europe trip, she found herself the organizer.The alumni choir had another Grove City concert in 1999 and took the first overseas trip in 2000. Next summer’s trip will be the second. Betty Ann Buckley ’87, owner of

Alpha Christian TourS, Inc. (ACTS), is handling the arrangements. Despite the work and details, Radosevic is enthusiastic about next summer’s tour. “There was some concern (before the 2000 trip) because the range of graduating years was about 40, so we didn’t know how it would work. But it worked really well – which is why we’re doing it again.” (Rebecca (Beinlich ’95) Sodergren is a freelance writer in Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Greg Bailey ’92 rocks with Petra A ’92 grad is on tour as a member of the Christian rock band Petra. Greg Bailey joined the Grammy Awardwinning band in January 2002 after hearing about a possible opening and scheduling a tryout. He formerly performed with the Christian bands Whitecross and Stir. Now, with Petra, he is part of a musical group that emerged in the 1970s and, through the years, has sold more than seven million records, earned four Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards and was inducted

GREG BAILEY ’92, FAR RIGHT, IS PART OF THE CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND PETRA. / Contributed photo

into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Bailey co-wrote the song “Would’a, Should’a, Could’a” on the group’s Grammy-nominated 2003 album “Jekyll and Hyde.”

alumnievents PAST EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

JUNE 14, 2004 Boston, Mass. Alumni gathered at the Harvard Faculty Club.

OCTOBER 8-10, 2004 Homecoming OCTOBER 12, 2004 Grove City College Ballet Magnificat! and alumni reception Pew Fine Arts Center 6:30 p.m. reception in Pew Memorial Room 8 p.m. performance OCTOBER 19, 2004 Grove City College Dedication of J. Howard Pew statue Noon, Harbison Chapel/Chapel Garden OCTOBER 23, 2004 Grove City College Retirement Dinner for Nancy (Lee ’54) Paxton, who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters during Commencement 2004 for her years of service. 6 p.m., MAP West Dining Hall; contact Diana King, (724) 458-2700 or studentlife@gcc.edu. For information on alumni events, call (888) GCC-GRAD or e-mail alumni@gcc.edu.

FROM LEFT, MONICA DOWNEY, FORMER GROVE CITY PROFESSOR DR. JIM DOWNEY ’81, BEN SPEAD ’01 AND JEN (LIGHT ’01) SPEAD. DOWNEY HAS ACCEPTED A TEACHING POSITION WITH THE ARMY WAR COLLEGE IN CARLISLE, PA., AND RECENTLY FINISHED A FELLOWSHIP AT HARVARD.

JUNE 15, 2004 New York City Alumni spent a summer evening at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. FROM LEFT, DAYL JEWELL, JEREMIAH WILSON, HEATHER (MITCHELL ’98) WILSON AND CORI (FORNEY ’98) SUMMERS

J. Howard Pew finds a home on campus As of this fall, former Grove City College chairman of the board J. Howard Pew, Class of 1900, will have a permanent “home” on the campus he loved so much. On Oct. 19, the dedication of the J. Howard Pew statue will officially welcome the life-sized cast bronze structure to the Harbison Chapel Garden.A dedication service will begin at noon in the Chapel, followed by an outdoor unveiling and prayer. The idea to commission the statue arose from a contest in 2001 during the 125th Anniversary Celebration of the College.The competition asked entrants (students, alumni, employees and friends were eligible) to identify a symbol that best represented the first 125 years of the College’s existence.The winning entry was the Pew statue, representing Pew’s contributions as well as the principles the Pew family

bestowed upon the College. The donated statue is produced from the last picture of Pew taken at Commencement in June 1971. He suffered heart failure shortly thereafter and died in November 1971 at age 89. Alumni, friends, students and staff are invited to share in the event, which will include remarks by Rebecca Rimel, president of Pew Charitable Trusts; Dr. Lee Edwards, author of “Freedom’s College: The History of Grove City College”; fifth President Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie; and Dr. John Van Til, professor of business and Pew researcher. President Richard G. Jewell ’67 will serve as master of ceremonies, Grove City College choirs will offer selections and the faculty will process in full regalia. For more information on the event, call the Alumni Relations Office at (888) GCC-GRAD.

THIS JUNE 1971 PHOTOGRAPH WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR A J. HOWARD PEW STATUE TO BE UNVEILED IN THE CHAPEL GARDEN ON OCT. 19. / Archived photo

– DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

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Freshmen get a taste of college life at summer picnics A relatively recent Grove City College Alumni Relations Office tradition is to host Freshmen Sendoff Picnics for students starting their college careers. The benefits are many. One, freshmen are able to interact with each other before the big move-in; two, incoming freshmen and current students from the same area can meet alumni from their state; and three, parents’ minds are often put at ease knowing there has been a Grove City connection made before their young adults leave home. Freshmen Sendoff Picnics were planned at 11 locations this past summer.

JULY 23 Pittsburgh, Pa., at PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3. More than 100 alumni, students and College staff also enjoyed Skyblast, a multimedia show combining Pittsburgh history and fireworks.

JULY 17 Philadelphia, Pa., area at the home of Dick ’70 and Diane (Thomas ’70) Gies in Kennett Square, Pa. Freshmen and their parents attended, along with Grove City College Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Caroline Koopman ’01.

JULY 31 Northern Virginia at the home of Paul ’80, Brenda (Millican ’80) and Katy ’07 McNulty in Fairfax Station, Va. Representatives from the College were Vice President of Institutional Advancement Tom Pappalardo and Caroline Koopman ’01, along with alumni, upperclassmen and freshmen.

JULY 18 Harrisburg, Pa., at the home of Barbara (Montgomery ’60) Arnold. President Richard G. Jewell ’67 and First Lady Dayl Jewell attended, along with Caroline Koopman ’01 and alumni and current students from central Pennsylvania.

AUGUST 1 Central Virginia at the home of Andy, Brenda, Nathan ’03 and Rachel ’05 Burgess in Richmond, Va. Attending along with Tom Pappalardo and Caroline Koopman ’01 was alumni chapter vice president Gerald Bullock ’92, who presented a gift certificate to the Bookstore to each freshman.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

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AUGUST 1 Baltimore, Md., area at the home of Claire (Faragalla ’96) and Mo Hanna in Lutherville, Md. In attendance from the College was Director of Communications Amy Clingensmith ’96, along with current students, incoming freshmen, parents and alumna Sarah Myers ’97.

AUGUST 8 Cleveland, Ohio, area at the home of Parents’ Advancement Council members Eric and Libby Peterson and their daughter, Kristen ’07 in Bay Village, Ohio. Representing the College was Director of Annual Giving Peggy Wolstoncroft.

AUGUST 7 Southeast Virginia at the home of Jerry ’78 and Marsha (Reuman ’76) Crissman in Chesapeake, Va. Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Jeff Prokovich ’89 attended and chapter president Melissa Pinard ’96 presented freshmen with a Bookstore gift certificate on behalf of the chapter.

AUGUST 15 Boston, Mass., area at the home of Joseph and Kimberly Gleason and their daughter, Tiffany Lowe ’07, in Hingham, Mass. Helping to welcome freshmen from the Boston area was Senior Director of Development Dave Hollenbaugh ’92.

AUGUST 7 Akron/Canton, Ohio, area at Portgage Lakes State Park. Senior Director of Development Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod was in attendance, along with alumni hosts Todd Jones ’93 and Todd Snitchler ’92, who serve the Akron/Canton alumni chapter as vice president and president, respectively.

AUGUST 22 Trustee Louise (Slavcoff ’56) Baird hosted freshman women to her Pittsburgh home for the annual Pittsburgh Women’s Club of Grove City College welcoming party, which has taken place since at least the 1920s. From the College were Caroline Koopman ’01 and Nancy (Lee ’54) Paxton. – DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

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Four th Goal

Grove City College football is a family affair for Jordan, Mike, Garret and, now, Kalyn Choby By Brad Isles or the Choby family, Grove City College is the epitome of a home away from home. Jordan Choby graduated in 2003 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Mike Choby is beginning his senior year and will graduate with a physics/secondary education degree. Garret Choby is a sophomore majoring in molecular biology/pre-med. Jordan played football for four years under head coach Chris Smith ’72, while Mike returns as one of the top players in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Garret is also a member of the Wolverines football squad.They will be joined on the sidelines this fall by sister Kalyn, a freshman who is assisting athletic trainer Kay Mitchell-Emigh. “We’ve had brothers before,” Smith said.“But I don’t think we’ve ever had three from the same family with the program at the same time.” They are the children of Scott, a truck driver, and Cathy, a nurse/housewife, of North Huntingdon, Pa. And there are three more kids at home: Jake, who is in eighth grade in the Norwin School District; Hannah, a seventh-grader; and Jolene, a third-grader. Because of their parents, and the upbringing they provided, the decision to attend Grove City College was an easy one for the Chobys. “They raised us in a way that this school would be a good fit for us,” Garret said.

Playing football was also an easy registered three tackles in seven games as decision.The kids started off playing a freshman while playing on special teams soccer, but soon switched to football. and as a backup linebacker and safety. Athletics was something their parents encouraged and the children developed while they were growing up. “They’ve really pushed us,” Mike said of his parents.“They had us working all the time, and it’s paid off.” Jordan is a former offensive guard who started each game of his senior campaign after also playing tight end and linebacker. Then last year, Mike led the Wolverines defense in tackles (92) and the league in sacks (9½) and tackles for loss (20). The outside linebacker opened the season with three sacks in GCC’s victory over Hiram.Then, ‘CHOBY’ IS A FAMILIAR NAME ON THE GROVE CITY COLLEGE CAMPUS, in the season finale, he BUT A NEW FACE IS JOINING THE RANKS THIS FALL. FRESHMAN added 10 stops and three KALYN ’08 FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTBALL FOOTSTEPS OF, FROM LEFT, tackles for loss, giving him a MIKE ’05, JORDAN ’03 AND GARRET ’07. / Photos by Dave Miller school record of 40. He went on to earn All-Region honors from “Mike is established as one of the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, Second premier defenders in the conference,” Team All-PAC and CoSIDA Honorable Smith said.“We look for him to continue Mention All-American honors. that level of play. Garret is very much in This year, Smith expects big things from both Mike and Garret, who See CHOBYS, page 34 – DUNK theG e

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For Chobys, football is a family affair from page 33 line with where Mike was when he was the same age.We expect him to step up and be a bigger contributor. He has the same potential as his brothers. “They do anything and everything that is asked of them,” Smith continued. “They are, and were, great people to have in your program.” As if it wasn’t enough to have three boys being a part of the GCC football team, now Kalyn is too. It makes Saturdays in the fall even more like a family reunion. Already 10 to 15 Choby relatives – from grandparents to aunts and uncles, and even members of their church – travel to Grove City on Saturdays in the fall. “It’s almost like we have a family away from our family at home,” Garret said. That was one of the draws of GCC, Garret said, because then his parents wouldn’t have to miss one of his games if they were at one of his brother’s.

IT’S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE A FAMILY AWAY FROM OUR FAMILY AT HOME Garret Choby ’07

“ ” Likewise, Mike came to Grove City because of Jordan.The same can be said for Kalyn. Grove City was the only school any of the four applied to. Having a family legacy has helped both on the field and off, the quartet agreed. Mike is the Student Government Association president, and he’s on the college’s strategic planning committee and a member of Phi Tau Alpha fraternity. Garret is also a Phi Tau, like his two older brothers were. But their legacy is perhaps most evident in the classroom, especially with the demanding majors the Chobys

settled on. For Jordan, his degree paid off in the form of a job with Bloom Engineers in the South Park section of Pittsburgh. Mike will be student teaching this spring. Garret spent the summer interning with two doctors from his hometown. Now Kalyn plans to major in English/communication/secondary education with an eye on one day becoming a school psychologist. “I have big expectations,” she said. “I’m excited to meet the professors and get to know them as opposed to a bigger college where I would just be a number.” Little does she realize that she is a number – No. 4 – as in the fourth Choby to take part in Wolverine football Saturdays. They could put her on the roster, right between Mike, who wears No. 3, and Garret, who wears No. 5. (Brad Isles is a newspaper editor in Grove City, Pa.)

Students learn to knock out injuries in athletic training class By Leah Acker ’07 hile coaches and players seek the thrill of victory on the field, Grove City College head athletic trainer Kay Mitchell-Emigh sees the agony of injury after far too many games.To help students knock out sports-related ailments, she is teaching Basic Principles of Athletic Training to about a dozen students this fall. Last fall, the two-credit physical education course debuted with 12 available seats, but student interest in the hands-on lecture format enabled the class to expand to 17 students with diverse interests and majors. “There were students who wanted to go into coaching, physical therapy (or) medicine,” Mitchell-Emigh said. The course begins with basic structural anatomy and studies common injuries affecting each body part.The

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

class also covers concussions and heatrelated illnesses. Students also practice treating injuries with a hands-on section on taping, and Mitchell-Emigh makes sure students get a tour of Phillips Field House at Thorn Field to examine the Wolverine football team’s equipment.The course also touches on protective gear utilized by most NCAA sports. Each class includes demonstrations, complete with X-rays and photographs of injuries. Mitchell-Emigh also incorporates videos showing treatment methods and injuries as they happen. Students are also required to observe the College’s athletic training room for at least three hours. From watching Mitchell-Emigh treat athletes, the students see rehabilitation programs as well as intense game-day preparation. “I teach it in the fall because they get

to see what it’s like to work with the football team on game day,” MitchellEmigh said. Prior to home football games, the athletic trainer tapes injuries “for an hour and 15 minutes straight.” Student reaction to the course has been “very positive” because it is “very practical in nature.” And students like the fact that they can “use it in coaching or medicine,” Mitchell-Emigh noted.The course even benefits those outside the fields of education and medicine because it can help future parents identify sports injuries in their children and give them basic treatments. Therefore, Basic Principles of Athletic Training provides students with information that they’ll use whether they’re doctors, soccer moms or anything in between. (Leah Acker ’07 is an electrical engineering major from Mercer, Pa.)

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Grove City College history rich with All-Americans According to Grove City College records, there have been a multitude of student-athletes named to the prestigious national athletic All-Americans list. Football: Tom “Jake” LaMotta ’60, Doug Hart ’89, Tony Colangelo ’92, Doug Steiner ’99, R.J. Bowers (named in ’98, ’99, ’00), Mike Choby ’05 Men’s Soccer: Frank Sbrocco ’57, Peter Buttner ’61, John Mulholland ’65, Matthew Lux ’70, Bill Juergens ’87 Volleyball: Natalie (Sutyak ’83) Watkins, Barb Beck ’86, Sue (Shadle ’87) Nelson, Lisa (Lippincott ’93) Campion Cross Country: Paul Cameron ’73 Men’s Basketball: Jeff Claypool ’69 Women’s Basketball: Jody (Imbrie ’83) Smith Men’s Swimming and Diving: Ubbo van der Valk ’60, Scott Clausen ’65, Dave Davidson ’65, Jim Livermore ’65, Dave McClintic ’65, Chuck Stadler ’65, Tyler Cassell ’66, Steve Epp ’66, Bill McGarry ’66, Bill Griffith ’67, William “Skip” Arbuckle ’71, Dan Reid ’71, Jim Drummond ’75, Robin Frey ’75, Bill Hanlon ’75, Scott Brainard ’76, Jamie Brunk ’76, Rick

Durstein ’77, Paul DeMeritt ’78, Bryan Panner (named in ’78), Phil van Sickel ’78, Dave Tomashewski ’78, Pat Walsh ’78, Marty Wurl ’78, Dan Freyer ’80, Phil Lindauer ’80, Jeff Moxie ’80, Randy Galm ’81, Chris van de Mark ’82, John Virag ’82, Augie Beyer ’83, Dave Peltz ’83, Dan Young ’83, Mike Daylida ’84, Clark Johnson ’84, Rick Yendall ’84, Keith Bennett ’85, Peter Dusinberre ’85, Eric Sluss ’86, Dan Bliton ’87, Pat Kelley ’87, Matt Wilkes ’87, Jay D’Ambrosio ’95, Doug Fullerton ’97. Women’s Swimming and Diving: Joanne Bennett (named in ’93), Katie O’Neil (named in ’93), Joan (Reep ’94) Karp, Amy (Scott ’99) Coughlin, Peggy (Whitbeck ’04) Mahan Men’s Track and Field: Wayne Sedlak ’75, Jim McElhaney ’86, Jim Phibbs ’97, Rory Phillips ’04 Men’s Water Polo: Steve Johnston ’01, Matt Gibson ’04 Women’s Water Polo: Jessica Zedaker ’04, Julie Zedaker ’04

(Editor’s note:These inclusions are according to official Grove City College records.) —Compiled by Ryan Briggs ’01

Homecoming ’04 October 8-10 Be sure to catch these special alumni sporting events during Homecoming, Saturday, Oct. 9: Lacrosse 10 a.m., Men’s alumni game, IM Fields Noon-4 p.m., Men’s and women’s reunion tent, lower campus Rugby 2 p.m., Men’s alumni game, IM Fields Soccer - Men’s 10:15 a.m., Soccer Hall of Fame introductions, varsity soccer field 10:30 a.m., Alumni game, varsity field 12:30-1:30 p.m., Picnic, IM Room 1:30-2:30 p.m., Hall of Fame awards, IM Room Soccer - Women’s 10:30 a.m., Alumni game, upper field Volleyball 10:30 a.m., Women’s alumni game, Arena (Editor’s note: The football schedule changed since the last issue of The GeDUNK. Clip and save this schedule at left to cheer on your Wolverines each Saturday.)

Two inducted into Soccer Hall of Fame at Homecoming By Ryan Briggs ’01 Grove City College will induct two former standouts into the College’s Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame as part of Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 9. Richard Manley ’67 and Travis Young ’59 will become the 12th and 13th members of the Hall of Fame since its establishment prior to the 2001 season. Manley is considered one of the finest goalkeepers in Grove City history.A fouryear letterman from 1963-66, Manley anchored the Wolverine defense during that era as Grove City accumulated a 304-2 record during his career. Manley helped lead Grove City to its finest season ever in 1964 as the Wolverines went 9-0-0. He also helped lead the Wolverines to another undefeated season in 1965 (8-0-1). As a senior, Manley captained the 1966 team that went 7-1-1, finishing the season with an eight-match unbeaten streak. Manley earned All-Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware honors while holding opponents to just 0.7 goals per game. He earned an invitation to the 1967 U.S. Pan American Team. Manley capped his career by earning the College’s Omicron Delta Kappa Sportsman of the Year award in ’67. Young earned a pair of letters at fullback in the late 1950s, helping the Wolverines accumulate a 23-7-1 record from 195558. He captained the 1958 team as a senior, leading Grove City to a 5-2-1 record – the program’s ninth consecutive winning season.That season,Young helped Grove City end Oberlin’s 56-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win. Young also capped his career by earning All-Pennsylvania-New JerseyDelaware distinction and the ODK Sportsman of the Year award. (Ryan Briggs ’01 is the Grove City College sports information director and a GeDUNK contributing editor.) – DUNK theG e

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FOOTBALL

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Grove City opens Presidents’ Athletic Conference play Oct. 2 at Bethany before returning home to host Thiel Oct. 9 at Homecoming.The Wolverines also visit Washington and Jefferson and Waynesburg before closing the season at home against PAC rival Westminster on Nov. 6. View September’s schedule on page 35.

VOLLEYBALL With five returning starters from last season, the Wolverines will likely challenge for their first PAC title since 2001.Along with three returning senior starters, several freshmen played extensively in 2003.That combination should put Grove City back in contention.

MEN’S SOCCER Nine starters are back from last season’s conference runner-up squad, along with several other letterwinners.The Wolverines feature a five-player senior class, led by co-captains Dan Bryan and Peter Williams.

WOMEN’S SOCCER Grove City is gunning for its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament this season as well as a return to the top of the PAC.The Wolverines entered 2004 with a 16match unbeaten streak against conference foes during the regular season.

SPLIT END DAVE DIDONATO ’05 HAULED IN TWO TOUCHDOWN PASSES TO CLOSE OUT THE 2003 SEASON AND IS LOOKING FOR A MEMORABLE SENIOR YEAR. / Photo by Dave Miller

CROSS COUNTRY

WOMEN’S TENNIS

MEN’S WATER POLO

Under first-year head coach Sean Severson, the men’s and women’s cross country teams are looking to repeat as PAC champs.The men have won four straight titles and 13 of the last 14.The women own 15 straight PAC crowns.

Grove City will look to secure its 18th consecutive title at the PAC Championships Oct. 22-23 in Erie at the Pennbriar Athletic Club. Longtime men’s tennis coach Joe Walters is coaching the women’s team on an interim basis this fall.

The sixth season of water polo begins this fall as the Wolverines look to build upon consecutive 10-win seasons.The Wolverines will compete in the CWPA Division III Eastern Championships in Washington, Pa., Oct. 23-24.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

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winter

Cold-weather teams already heating up By Ryan Briggs ’01 All four of Grove City College’s winter sports programs posted winning seasons during the 2003-04 season and are in prime position to repeat that feat as well as be strong contenders for their respective Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships. The men’s swimming and diving team, coached by Dave Fritz ’94, captured the 2004 PAC championship last season and recorded its 53rd consecutive winning season with a 6-3 record. The Wolverines return just three seniors, Felix Mason, Jay Simon and Matt Trollinger. However, that trio will be augmented by strong junior and sophomore classes, as well as several incoming freshmen who could contribute immediately. On the women’s side, Grove City is also coming off a 6-3 season.Three-time national champion Peggy (Whitbeck ’04) Mahan graduated last spring but Grove City does project to return a strong nucleus from 2003-04, including seniors Christine Bare, Emily Bolek, Karen Rodgers and Emily Shaheen, under the longtime leadership of head coach Cathy Jacobs. Both of Grove City’s basketball teams are gearing up for runs at the PAC championship this winter. And both squads advanced to the PAC Tournament semifinals last season before falling at Bethany. The men’s squad, under the direction of Steve Lamie ’85, welcomes back four starters as well as senior center Phil Bushre, who missed last season due to injury. Bushre joins fellow seniors J.D. Collar, Ryan Eller, Mike Lukcic and Matt O’Brien, giving Grove City one of its most experienced squads in recent years. The women’s team, under the coaching of Melissa Lamie, is also senior-laden as four seniors return from last year’s 14-11 squad. Guards Jocelyn Kempema, Abby Moose (see related story at right) and Rachel Romance join center Sandy O’Keefe as returning starters. Grove City will open the season Nov. 19-20 by hosting the Howard Johnson Tip-Off Classic. (Ryan Briggs ’01 is the Grove City College sports information director and a GeDUNK contributing editor.)

Senior Abby Moose ready for Deaflympics this winter in Australia By Ryan Briggs ’01 Grove City College senior basketball player Abby Moose has been selected to the United States Deaflympic women’s basketball team that will compete in the 20th Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 6-15. A 5-foot-6 guard, Moose is one of 12 hearing-impaired United States athletes that have been named to the squad.The USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) selected the 12 team members and three team alternates. Team members must have a hearing loss of 55 decibels or greater in order to be eligible for competition. Moose has a hearing loss of 60 to 90 decibels, which ABBY MOOSE ’05 is considered as a moderate to severe hearing loss. “It will be a really great experience to wear ‘USA’ on my jersey,” Moose said.“I am very blessed to have an opportunity like this. Hopefully, we will do well. No matter what, it will be fun.” Moose is a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter at Grove City. As a junior, Moose earned First Team AllPresidents’ Athletic Conference honors after leading the Wolverines (14-11 in 2003-04) in scoring (12.5 points per game), three-point goals (43), steals (65) and minutes played (28.8 per game). An elementary education major, Moose also moved into 10th place on Grove City’s all-time scoring list in 2003-04 with 871 points and needs just 129 points to become the program’s eighth all-time 1,000-point scorer. She also earned First Team All-PAC recognition as a sophomore. In addition, Moose holds the school’s single-season (62) and career (138) records for three-point goals. She will report to training camp Dec. 20-24 at the California School for the Deaf in Riverside, Calif.The team will then depart for Melbourne on Dec. 26 and will practice in Australia until the team’s first game Jan. 6, 2005. The United States is the defending Deaflympic champion, winning the 2001 gold medal game over Sweden, 60-58, at the 19th Summer Games in Rome, Italy. (Ryan Briggs ’01 is the Grove City College sports information director and a GeDUNK contributing editor.)

– DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

inretrospect:teamsofyesteryear

True.

Grove City College has a longstanding history of varsity sports that still excites fans today. But off the football field and away from the basketball court, there were many sporting events and clubs that were just as memorable for those who got in the game.

THE PHYSICAL LEARNING CENTER BOWLING ALLEY IS STILL FREQUENTED BY STUDENTS TODAY.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY GAVE YO OUT THERE AND GET DIRTY, SOMET

inretrospect:teamsofyesteryear

THE EQUESTRIAN CLUB

UNG CO-EDS THE CHANCE TO GET IMES A RARITY DURING THAT ERA.

WRESTLING WAS A PASSIONATE PASTIME FOR TWO DECADES IN THE ’60s AND ’70s UNDER THE COACHING OF JACK SCHLOSSNAGEL, DAVE BRAINE AND JOE KOPNISKY.

– DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

inretrospect:teamsofyesteryear

ABOVE, A MARKSMAN TAKES AIM AS PART OF THE GROVE CITY COLLEGE RIFLE CLUB; AT LEFT, THE RIFLE CLUB FROM 1972-73 INCLUDED, KNEELING FROM LEFT, KARL YOUNGINGER ’76, PRISCILLA CODDING, JOYCE RODGERS ’75, ARLENE (BROWN ’75) TOWNSEND AND BRAD MENEILLY ’75. STANDING FROM LEFT ARE STEVE SCHIFF, DAVID CAPRON, DAVID SMITH ’76, MIKE CUNNINGHAM ’74, BRYCE WALLACE ’76 AND STEVE LILLMARS ’74.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

inretrospect:teamsofyesteryear

ABOVE, YOUNG WOMEN HIT THEIR MARK IN THE PRACTICE OF ARCHERY, WHICH WAS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CYNTHIA WALTERS; BELOW, WALTERS ALSO LED THE TRITONS, THE GROVE CITY COLLEGE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING TEAM, TO GRACEFULLY CUT THROUGH THE WATER UNTIL THE MID-1990S.

– DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

facultyfeature

Splash making a

Dave Fritz ’94 continues Grove City’s swimming legacy while building a new one in water polo

By Ryan Briggs ’01 ave Fritz ’94 first made his name in Grove City College athletics as an AllPresidents’ Athletic Conference defensive lineman during the early 1990s. Now, he is making a bigger splash – literally – in an entirely different environment than the gridiron. Now in his third season as the water polo and men’s swimming and diving coach at Grove City, Fritz directed the swimming and diving team to the 2004 PAC championship and also led the men’s and women’s water polo teams to new heights during the 2003-04 academic year. The men’s swimming and diving team went 6-3 in 2003-04, capturing the conference title. Meanwhile, the men’s water polo team tied a program record with 10 victories last year.The women’s water polo team set new program records with 17 victories, including a record fivematch win streak. Fritz hopes that such a strong overall year will be a “springboard to greater heights for all three programs.” “I’ve always been an extremely competitive person,” he said.“It’s no different for me as a coach. I want to take our teams and athletes to the highest level possible. I am proud of our athletes for how far they have come and I want for them, for Grove City and for myself to keep that momentum going.” The thrill of being able to lead the programs is enhanced by the fact that

Fritz knows what it is like to represent group of athletes eases that transition.“It Grove City as a student-athlete. is more or less the same athletes who play “Obviously, it is a really positive water polo and then swim.” experience to be back and be among such great people,” Fritz said.“It feels like I came home.” Fritz “came home” in July 2002 when he took over as the water polo and men’s swimming and diving coach after directing the women’s water polo team on an interim basis in 2002. Prior to his return to Grove City, Fritz coached swimming and water polo at Chartiers Valley High School in Bridgeville, Pa., near Pittsburgh. He also wears the hat of instructor of physical education and teaches the swimming lab portion of the Fitness and Wellness course. Thus, Fritz was used to making the transition from water polo, which is played in the fall by both boys and girls at the scholastic level, to swimming and diving. Still, making that switch does not come without OPPOSITE PAGE: DAVE FRITZ ’94 GIVES GUIDANCE TO THE MEN’S SWIMMING TEAM. ABOVE: FRITZ FORMS A GAME PLAN some difficulty. DURING A QUICK TIMEOUT WITH THE WOMEN’S WATER POLO “It is quite different going TEAM. / Photos by Dave Miller from men’s water polo, which is a fast, precision sport, to the Also helping to ease the transition is individualized sport of swimming,” Fritz the fact that Fritz’s wife,Tammy, will be said.“You’re working on perfecting entering her second year as Grove City’s strokes and getting someone to their diving coach. optimum performance level.” “We have fun with it,” Fritz said.“We But being able to work with a similar See FRITZ, page 44 – DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

Fritz makes splash at his alma mater

AN ARTIST’S RENDERING OF THE NEW PRESIDENT’S HOUSE, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

President’s house razed over summer, paving way for new residence By Amy Clingensmith ’96 Grove City College President Richard G. Jewell ’67 has an open-door policy, but that door is officially “under construction.” On June 30, the president’s house at Grove City College, in existence since 1957, was razed, making room for a new residence for the Jewells and the campus leaders who follow in the years to come. Jewell marked his first year as president this month. He and First Lady Dayl have lived in the Cunningham House, a guest residence on lower campus, since their arrival at Grove City College last summer. The president’s house, next to Crawford Hall, was built for fourth President J. Stanley Harker and was inhabited by fifth President Charles S. MacKenzie, sixth President Jerry H. Combee and seventh President John H. Moore. The new residence will be built in the same location and funds for the construction were previously donated and available for several years through various gifts to the College.These gifts include the Cross Trust, a sum of money given to the College specifically for a new president’s house and other campus construction projects.Therefore, according to Chair of the Board of Trustees David R. Rathburn ’79, no

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

funds will be taken from the current Change & Commitment Campaign or the College’s operating budget, and the project will not affect any student charges (tuition or room and board). “In fact, since its establishment, more money has accumulated in the trust, enabling the Grove City College Trustees to redirect some funds for the Student Activities Center and other projects such as the ongoing renovations of the Physical Learning Center that will benefit the entire campus community,” Rathburn said.“After 50 years, we felt it was time for a new, more welcoming residence to be a part of our campus.” According to Vice President for Operations Tom Gregg ’80, just half of the trust money will be used for the house, with the remainder to help with other current construction projects. In the new house, space will be available to welcome student groups, alumni, faculty, staff, community members and friends of the College for meetings, dinners and other functions. Ground for the new house was broken in August.Wallace Builders of Pulaski, Pa., will be in charge of the construction, which should be complete by Feb. 1, 2005. (Amy Clingensmith ’96 is the Grove City College director of communications and GeDUNK managing editor.)

from page 43 joke that it is the only time we see each other. But we’re both intent on making sure that the athletes are doing as well as they can.” Returning to Grove City has provided an additional benefit for Fritz and his family. He considers the student-athletes at Grove City to be good influences on their two children, Emily, 4, and Hayden. 1. “With their commitment to academics and work ethic, they can be great role models,” Fritz said.“I hope our children share those values and strengths as they get older.The athletes are a great influence and our kids can strive towards that.” In looking at the future of the men’s swimming and diving program, Fritz is well aware of the proud tradition started by former head coach Jim Longnecker. “I have big shoes to fill,” Fritz said. “There’s always something to strive for. A lot of that will be impossible to reach – 40 years, 366 wins.” Fritz has done nothing but contribute to that legacy, compiling a 12-6 dualmeet record over the last two seasons along with the 2004 PAC title. “I want the program to continue to improve,” he said.“The swim team is riding our 53-year (consecutive winning season) streak and I am looking to get the program back to national prominence. I want to get to the point where we’re contending for national titles.” In contrast, the water polo programs at Grove City are still in their relative infancy as the sixth year of varsity competition began in September 2004. “With water polo, we’re playing against Division I teams a lot, so I want for us to progress to the point where we can hold our own with them. Hopefully, the sport will develop to the point where we can compete against D-III teams exclusively.” (Ryan Briggs ’01 is the Grove City College sports information director and a GeDUNK contributing editor.)

facultyprofile

Susan K. Roberts

Name: Susan K. Roberts College: Ohio University Major: Physical education Graduation Year: 1975 Further Education: Master’s degree in biomechanics, University of Arizona Titles: Associate professor; associate athletic director; head volleyball coach First Job After College Graduation: Davidson College, started the field hockey program and served as head coach; coached basketball; taught at the Lake campus Volunteer Work: Hosanna Industries, helping neighbors Awards and Honors: 492 victories; ECAC volleyball champions; PAC

volleyball champions; National Volleyball Coach of the Year, 1985; Who’s Who Among American Teachers Activities on Campus: Runs the women’s intramural program; involved with all WolvArena activities surrounding Parents’ Weekend More Sports Connections: Coordinates summer camps for former players who now serve as head coaches at high schools Hobbies: Anything outdoors, crafts, woodworking, making gifts for players, family and friends Last Book You Read: “One Tuesday Morning” by Karen Kingsbury Favorite Vacation Spot: Florida –

maybe now Hawaii Family Members: Mike Roberts (brother); Sharrie Donough (aunt); Andy, Chad and Cameron (cousins) Favorite GCC Location: The Rock Classes Taught this Semester: Mechanized weights, volleyball, bowling Favorite Part of Interacting with Students: I get to laugh

retiredfaculty:wherearetheynow?

Swimming with the Current Coach Jim Longnecker continues to compete and coach in retirement By Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw ater is a lot like time – both are propelled by currents. How you navigate these currents often determines where you are going and how you get there. In 1997, a current that Grove City College swimming coach Jim Longnecker had long followed finally changed when he retired after 40 years. In its wake were championships, wonderful relationships and memories, plus one diving champion who just happened to become the College’s current president – Richard G. Jewell ’67. Longnecker, recognizing that change brings new possibilities, knew it was time to look for new challenges and follow a different tack. First was the Allegheny Mountain YMCA Masters Swimming Association.

RETIRED GROVE CITY COLLEGE SWIMMING COACH JIM LONGNECKER CUTS THROUGH THE WATER DURING THE 200 BUTTERFLY AT A CLARION UNIVERSITY REGIONAL MASTERS SERIES. / Contributed photo

A multi-state program for swimmers past college age who are not training for the Olympics, the association offers competitive sports in different age categories combined with fitness benefits and fellowship. By coaching the local program, Longnecker enjoys working with people from all walks of life, including four alumni and two professors from the College. Longnecker, a two-time national age group champion, is a razor-sharp competitor in various events. But the 200 butterfly is his specialty. He trains solo on days away from the program to focus on pushing himself to find that “extra edge.” One occasion in 1999 required an outside force in his training – so he turned to his

former student and longtime friend Jewell to pull a role reversal as coach.The training was rugged, but “Coach” Jewell rewarded his star athlete with a lot of fun in the Florida sun and some great steaks and desserts. In addition to his work with the masters swimming association and his own competitions, Longnecker runs a two-week Blue Dolphin camp in Erie, Pa., each summer. Geared toward intermediate and high school age swimmers, the camp focuses on technique to improve timed performances. In addition to the camp, Longnecker is back in training for the June 2005 Senior Olympics in Pittsburgh,

See LONGNECKER, page 46

newfaculty

Seven faculty members join College family Joshua Drake Assistant Professor of Music/Humanities

Joshua Drake began his academic training with a B.M. in sacred music from Union University in Jackson, Tenn. He followed with a M.Mus. degree at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, where his research centered around the sacred music of the Renaissance. He is continuing his research toward a Ph.D. He he was awarded several grants and scholarships from the university and the U.K. government. He was recently appointed as an editor for “British Postgraduate Musicology.” He is now in the final stages of writing his dissertation. While studying in Scotland, he met his wife, Vicki, a Scotland native.

Dr. Jan Dudt Associate Professor of Biology

Dr. Jan Dudt has spent the majority of his career in Christian education. While teaching high school science in Christian high schools in suburban Chicago and Atlanta, he completed a master’s degree in secondary science education at the University of Pittsburgh. Later, in his doctoral program at Emory University, he researched plant-insect interactions in the mountains of Georgia. After completing his Ph.D., he worked as a contractor for the EPA in Atlanta. Most recently, he taught biology courses at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Dudt and his wife, Katie, have five children.

Dr. Mark Fair

’85 Assistant Professor of Engineering and Physics

Dr. Mark Fair returns to his alma mater, where he graduated with a B.S. in chemical engineering. He received his Ph.D. in

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Following his graduate studies, he performed post-doctoral research at Stanford University. Fair began his career with Aristech Chemical Corporation at the Research Center in Monroeville, Pa., and continued as a scientist/engineer at Aristech Acrylics LLC in Florence, Ky.

Dr. Steven Jones Assistant Professor of Sociology

Dr. Steven Jones earned a B.A. in sociology and religious studies from Houston Baptist University and continued to The Divinity School at Duke University. In seminary, he encountered the Williamsburg Charter, a scholarly effort that led him to the University of Virginia. In the Ph.D. program at UVA, he was one of the first participants in a joint program on religion and social order housed in the Department of Sociology. He is married to Beth, and they have two children.

Dr. Glenn Marsch Associate Professor of Physics

Dr. Glenn Marsh earned a B.S. in physics from Clemson University, followed by a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics from Florida State University. Marsch studies carcinogen-damaged DNA molecules. He also conducts research at Vanderbilt University’s Center in Molecular Toxicology. He and his wife, Cindy, have four children. The Marsches are founding board members of Augustine School, a Classical Christian school in Jackson, Tenn. Along with other members of Union University’s physics faculty, Marsch also wrote a monthly Q&A column called “Inquiring Minds” for the Jackson Sun newspaper.

Dr. Paul Munson Associate Professor of Music

Wheaton College graduate Dr. Paul Munson studied historical musicology with Tchaikovsky scholar Roland John Wiley at the graduate school of the University of Michigan. Since 1997, he has taught at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. In Jackson, he helped start a classical Christian elementary school and a church plant with fellow new faculty member Dr. Glenn Marsch. Munson and his wife, Elisabeth, have three children.

Sean Severson Instructor of Physical Education, Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

Sean Severson was previously the assistant basketball coach for Div. II Adams State College in Colorado. Prior to Colorado, Severson was in Minnesota playing shooting guard for the University of Minnesota-Morris Cougars. Severson has a B.A. in athletic training from Minnesota-Morris and an M.A. in health and physical education from Adams. He is a certified athletic trainer with the National Athletic Training Association’s Board of Certification as well as husband to Tara and father to Selah.

Longnecker from page 45 having qualified in seven events. With every new opportunity, Longnecker recognizes that his current life is no less a challenge and thrill than his past collegiate world. And as with all top-grade swimmers, he plans to dive headfirst into the future. (Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw is the Grove City College assistant director of alumni relations and a GeDUNK contributing editor.)

facultybriefs Allgaier studies at math institute

Carlson granted U.S. patent

Professor of Mathematics Dr. Darrell E. Allgaier participated in the Institute for Advanced Study/Park City Mathematics Institute in Utah on July 11-31. The institute serves faculty members whose focus is teaching undergraduates and offers the opportunity to renew excitement about mathematics, talk with peers about teaching approaches and address research questions. Allgaier joined the faculty in 2003.

Professor of Mathematics Dr. Ralph Carlson ’62 was one member of a threeperson team to be awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent Office in June. The patent seeks to solve the problem of searching through hundreds of thousands or millions of electronic documents for a particular word or character string. Carlson, along with Thomas Kraay and Charles Brisbin, was issued the RALPH CARLSON ’62 patent for his work on an algorithm capable of solving the problem of identifying which documents contain particular characters. Kraay and Brisbin are consultants for the company Ultimate Solutions, LLC, of which Carlson is also a partner. Carlson joined the Grove City College faculty for a second stint in 2000.

DARRELL ALLGAIER

Ayers, Bibza named to Who’s Who list Assistant Dean of the Alva J. Calderwood School of Arts and Letters Dr. David Ayers and Professor of Religion and Philosophy Dr. James Bibza were selected for “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” for the 2003-2004 academic year. Who’s Who grants national honors to faculty members who are designated by students on The National Dean’s List for positively impacting their lives. Just 5 percent of American teachers are included in the editions, with less than 2 percent appearing more than once. This year marks both Ayer’s and Bibza’s third appearance. Besides serving as assistant dean, Ayers is also a professor of sociology who came to Grove City College in 1996. Bibza joined the faculty in 1977 and has served as in interim pastor at many local churches.

Folkertsma writes work of fiction

DAVID AYERS

JAMES BIBZA

Brenner reelected to two posts Professor of Biology Dr. Fred J. Brenner was recently reelected to leadership positions in two professional societies. A faculty member since 1969, he was elected northeast regional vice president of the Beta Beta Beta biological honorary. Brenner is responsible for the operations of all Beta Beta Beta chapters in the northeastern U.S. He was also re-elected the co-chairman of the Forestry and Wildlife section of the American Society for Mining and Reclamation.

FRED BRENNER

Jenny named instructional technologist This summer, Dr. Fred Jenny moved into the role of instructional technologist. The former professor of computer science now coordinates efforts to introduce technology into the classrooms, provides instruction to faculty members and helps anticipate new developments in the field. Jenny will work with several departments and will continue teaching. Jenny has been at Grove City College since 1984.

FRED JENNY

Weber earns physician assistant status

Brower to lead physics department Provost Dr. William Anderson announced this summer that Dr. Shane Brower will serve as chair of the Department of Physics this fall. Brower, a member of the faculty since 1999, was promoted to associate professor at Grove City in 2003. Last year, he served with retiring Professor of Physics Richard Leo as acting cochair in the absence of Dr. James Downey ’81, who was studying at Harvard University.

Professor of Political Science Dr. Marvin Folkertsma has authored a book titled “The Thirteenth Commandment,” written under his pen name, Bruce Marvin. The fiction work, released by Glenbridge Publishing Ltd. this spring, looks at ancient biblical codes, much like the recent bestselling “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown. Complicated characters dot the story: a chess grandmaster, quirky MARV FOLKERTSMA American congressman and twins who survived medical experiments. Folkertsma joined the faculty in 1974 and has written numerous books and articles.

SHANE BROWER

Dr. Mark Weber, who was featured in the Spring 2004 GeDUNK for his medical missions trips around the world, has completed coursework for his physician assistant certification. On campus, Weber serves as director of the International Medical Mentoring Program and is a professor of physiology and the health professions coordinator. He joined the faculty in 1992 and has traveled with students interested in medicine and missions since 1993.

MARK WEBER

campusnews

Staff welcomed to campus over summer Summer was a time of change in staffing on the Grove City College campus. New Vice President for Student Life and Learning Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson arrived in Grove City in June. Several organizational changes took place in the former Student Affairs Office, including the title changes of some of its staff. Former Dean of Women Ann Stranahan has been named assistant dean of students and director of residence life. Former Dean of Men Andy Toncic ’77 will serve as director of student recreation, club sports and fraternity life. Scott Gordon will serve as director of student activities and programs. Former head resident Latisha Maust ’02 is now the assistant director of residence life and program coordinator. All former head residents will be referred to as resident directors and student housing staff will be resident assistants. New resident directors are Shawn Steiner ’04 (Ketler), Bethany Slautterback ’95 (South), Erik Wessel (Hicks) and John Coyne ’04 (Hopeman). Registrar Dr. John Inman was promoted to assistant dean of enrollment services. He will now oversee both the Registrar and Financial Aid offices and continue to serve as registrar. In Institutional Advancement, which encompasses development, alumni relations and communications, there are many new faces and some promotions. Dave Hollenbaugh ’92 and Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod were hired as senior directors of development. Hollenbaugh has seven years experience with Paychex, Inc., and 12 years in sales. He and his wife, Cheri (Rupert ’91), have three children and live in Grove City. MacLeod worked for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for eight years, most recently as the corporate and group sales manager. She married Scott MacLeod in August and they reside in Whitehall, Pa. Michael Inman also joined the development staff as major gifts officer. 48

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

DAVE HOLLENBAUGH ’92

MELISSA (TRIFARO ’96) MACLEOD

He worked for seven years at Eastern College near Philadelphia and spent six years in data and network sales and support. He resides in Warrendale, Pa. In August, Brian Powell ’03 joined the staff as development associate after working for Sprint. He is married to Doreen and will be starting a master’s program in higher education at Geneva College. Additionally, Connie Roudybush is now serving as executive assistant to the vice president of institutional advancement, Tom Pappalardo. Jeff Prokovich ’89 has been named senior director of alumni and college relations, overseeing all aspects of internal and external relationships and focusing on the alumni base around the country. Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw was added alongside Caroline Koopman ’01 as assistant director of alumni relations. Amy Clingensmith ’96 was named director of communications and will oversee public relations efforts, publications, media relations and internal and external communication. She is also the GeDUNK Alumni Magazine managing editor. Lee Wishing ’83 will head up the new Center for Vision and Values at Grove City College as its administrative director. Wishing has worked in Placement and in Public Relations and is now working with faculty on research, public policy and commentary. In the Admissions Office, Courtney (Spoon ’99) Vago returns to Grove City as the assistant director of admissions, previously working as an admissions

MICHAEL INMAN

MATT BEATTY ’93

counselor from 1999 to 2001. Amanda Sposato ’00 has been named associate director of admissions, working closely with the admissions counselors, to which three were added to the staff: Andrew Smith ’04, Gretchen Eckhardt ’04 and Keith Davis ’04. The Career Services Office recently moved to its new location in the Physical Learning Center and added one staff member to its ranks. Matt Beatty ’93 began this summer as the second assistant director of career services alongside Christine (Sibenac ’00) Swift and under director Dr. James Thrasher ’80. Beatty has a Master of Divinity from GordonConwell Theological Seminary and resides in Grove City with his wife, Lynnae (Calo ’93), and three children. Sherry Collins joined the College as assistant director of administration for the entrepreneurship program, assisting Dr. James Dupree, founder and director of the program. For the past 16 years, she was executive assistant to the president and CEO of Lifesteps, Inc. She lives in Butler with her husband and two children. James Wendelschaefer was hired as director of physical plant after spending four years at Alcoa as a plant engineer. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Grove City with their two children. Additionally, Cindy Duncan moved from the Operations Office to staff assistant for the athletic department, Wanda Campbell is now a Bookstore sales associate and Carol Singleton is working in Buhl Library.

Student Activities Center opens doors

campusbriefs Grove City ranked No. 1 In August, U.S. News & World Report ranked Grove City College the No. 1 Best Value in its category for the 2005 guide. Grove City was also ranked No. 5 overall in America’s Best Colleges among northern comprehensive colleges.

French web site launched

THE NEW STUDENT ACTIVITIES CENTER, COMPLETED IN TIME FOR STUDENTS’ ARRIVAL IN LATE AUGUST, HAS BEEN A POPULAR PLACE. THE STRUCTURE THAT SITS IN FRONT OF THE $20 MILLION HALL OF ARTS AND LETTERS CONTAINS THE STUDENT LIFE AND LEARNING OFFICES, STUDENT MEETING SPACES, A COMMUTER LOUNGE, AND THE NEW AND IMPROVED GEDUNK AND MAIL HALL. / Photo by Caroline Koopman ’01

aroundcampus Education conference forum for idea exchange The first education conference on July 23 brought together alumni in the field to hear from speakers, participate in workshops and enjoy family activities. Dr. Brian Yates ’95 was the organizer. AT RIGHT: JONI (PAVLASKY ’92) TELARICO, DEAN LONGWELL ’91, JENNIFER (WILLARD ’98) CYGAN AND REBECCA (MARTIN ’90) SHOEMAKER.

Volunteers give summer time to alumni office A small legion of volunteers helped the Grove City College Alumni Relations Office get important Homecoming information ready for alumni this summer. AT LEFT: JANE (MCKNIGHT ’63) KLINGENBERG, MARLENE (OTTO ’59) MORRELL, MOLLY (GILBERT ’58) REILLY, MARSHA (OWENS ’70) HOOD AND SHIRLEY (LUNT ’52) ROTH.

Wear GCC on your sleeve Grove City College Alumni Relations is proud to offer blazer buttons and cufflinks from the Ben Silver Corporation. Featuring the GCC seal and handcrafted in red enamel or burnished gold, cufflinks are available for $30 and a set of nine buttons (three large and six small) is $55. To order, e-mail alumni@gcc.edu or call (888) GCC-GRAD.

Grove City College Professor of French Dr. Céline Léon has initiated a web site for French majors, past and present, to communicate better.The site, found at www.gcc.edu/ academics/web/mod_language/french/ default.htm, is named Le Cercle Français and contains the department newsletter, French literature and current events.

Trustees added to board Grove City College added several new members to its Board of Trustees, under the leadership of David Rathburn ’79. They are: former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating; Paul McNulty ’80, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ronald H. Miller ’75 of the Barton Malow Company of Fenton, Mich.; Cleaster Whitehurst Mims of the Marva Collins Preparatory School in Cincinnati, Ohio; and William C. Stewart ’61 of Butler, Pa., retired CEO of Armstrong Cable Services (see profile on page 27). John R.Werren ’58 and Arthur G. Mitchell ’64 were named alumni trustees.

EPs dedicate memorial During Homecoming weekend, alumni from the Epsilon Pi fraternity will dedicate a memorial bench to two of their late brothers, Michael Coleman ’85 and Guy Blaney ’86. All EP brothers and family members of Coleman and Blaney, as well as friends of these two men, are invited to the dedication at noon Oct. 9 on the Isherwood Terrace of the Grove City College Hall of Arts and Letters. For additional information, contact Jerry Aubel ’86 at 27361 Maurer Drive, Olmsted Twp., Ohio; (440) 235-7175.

campusnews Trio added to AAA ranks AAA winners honored at Homecoming Homecoming 2004 marks the 40th anniversary of the Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Awards, named for Jack Kennedy ’37, who served the College for 32 years as accounting professor, alumni secretary and placement officer. The awards were established in 1964 by the Grove City College Alumni Association and have recognized 137 alumni for their successes. Three join these prestigious ranks in 2004. Nancy (Byers) Eaton Stedman graduated in 1954 with a degree in music. She had an extensive career in theater, performing on Broadway with Angela Lansbury in “Sweeny Todd” and working with composers Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim. Stedman taught voice and piano and completed graduate work in opera at Juilliard and in language at the New School. In her retirement, she works with the Charleston (S.C.) Symphony and the Charleston School District. Stedman was Homecoming Queen and May Queen and is a sister of the Phi Sigma Chi sorority. She resides in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and will be honored for her work in the arts. Barbara (Spotz) Johnson graduated in 1979 with a degree in biology. She earned her Doctorate of Jurisprudence at the College of William and Mary in 1984 and then joined the Pittsburgh firm of Webb Ziesenheim Logsdon Orkin & Hanson.

She is a director and shareholder of the firm and has become one of the most experienced biotechnology patent attorneys in the United States. Johnson also serves on the board of directors of Metro Family Practice in Wilkinsburg, Pa. Her community involvement focuses on fostering the arts in Pittsburgh, specifically music. An accomplished pianist, she serves on the board of the annual piano competition sponsored by the Steinway Society and as an event host for the National Society of Arts & Letters, Pittsburgh Chapter. She will be honored in the field of law. Richard L. Pease graduated in 1967 with a degree in electrical engineering. He began his career with General Electric as an aerospace design engineer and served in various roles, including president and CEO of the European Automation group in Frankfurt, Germany, until 1990. He is president and CEO of GE’s Power Controls Technology in Duluth, Ga., and served on the boards of GE Toshiba, GE Fuji and GE Hitachi, GE IUSA and GE Prolec. He is also on the board for Junior Achievement and is an active community volunteer. Pease earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University. He and his wife, Lynne, have two adult children, Michael and Kimberly. Pease will be honored for his achievements in the field of business. (Alumni and friends are invited to the 40th anniversary celebration at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in Harbison Chapel. For more information, call the Alumni Relations Office at (888) GCCGRAD.)

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

Recipients of the Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Awards from the past 40 years will be honored at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in Harbison Chapel. (*Denotes deceased alumni.) 1964 1964 1964 1964 1964 1965 1965 1966 1966 1966 1966 1966 1967 1967 1967 1967 1967 1968 1968 1968 1968 1969 1969 1969 1969 1970 1970 1970 1970 1971 1971 1971 1972 1972 1972 1972 1972 1973 1973 1973 1974 1975 1975 1975 1976 1976 1976 1976 1977 1977 1977 1978 1978 1978 1978 1979 1979 1980 1980 1980 1981 1982 1982 1982 1983 1983 1984

Weir C. Ketler ’08* F. Paul McConkey ’09* J. Howard Pew ’00* George C. Southworth ’14 Robert E. Thorn ’16* Ray H. Boundy ’24* Harold W. Dodds ’09* Russell Fairgrieve ’17* Frederick A. Kaufman ’41* Lois Mary (Downs) McBride ’04* Wilbur C. Ruckel ’34 Frank J. Soday ’29* John F. Bohlender ’24* J. Stanley Harker ’25* Donald L. McMillan ’32* Robert H. Reed ’43 J. Paul Sticht ’39 C. William Campbell ’11* R. Heath Larry ’34 Alice L. Montgomery ’33* Gary C. Peters ’59 Brainard O. Hawk ’32* Robert B. Meneilly ’29 Walter L. Moser ’15* Edna (Cookson) Sinclair ’30* Ruth I. Anderson ’41* Clifford M. Bowden ’25* Calvin H. Hughes ’51* Alexander Slavcoff ’27* J. Thomas Cathcart ’31* William K. Smith ’38* Donald C. Thompson ’33* Thomas S. Austin ’38* Helen (Calderwood) Harker ’23* Clair B. King ’17* Thomas B. Martin ’47* Frederick G. Reiter ’31* Edward J. Czerwinski ’51 Richard A. Sweet ’27* Lauren L. Wygal ’48* Kenneth R. Waldron ’24* Jacob P. Hassler ’11* Lois (Thompson) Henderson ’40* William P. White ’36 Fred E. Buchanan ’48* Robert P. Neely ’34* Esther Post ’25* Ted A. Rosenberg ’28* Kent S. Dennis ’50 William L. Edwards Jr. ’41* Adley W. Hemphill ’47 Alice E. Bartlett ’48* Louis J. Bibri ’39 C. Fred Fetterolf ’52 Wallace G. Smeltzer ’26* William C. Laderer Jr. ’24* Garrett C. McCandless ’23* Lawrence E. Bish ’50 Thomas C. Place ’49 James F. Stevenson ’42 David L. Morrison ’54 James W. Dean ’49* James P. Passilla ’61 Robert A. Patterson ’39 Richard M. Larry ’60 James A. Walther ’39 Marcia D’Arcangelo ’67

1984 1984 1985 1985 1986 1986 1986 1986 1987 1987 1987 1988 1988 1988 1989 1989 1989 1990 1990 1990 1990 1991 1991 1991 1992 1992 1992 1992 1993 1993 1993 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1995 1995 1995 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003

Robert S. Janicki ’56 Thaddeus H. Penar ’42 Robert R. Montgomery ’65 Elizabeth (Casey) Prince ’38 Janet (Graham) de Araujo ’50 Bruce W. Johnson ’60 Bernard Judy ’41 Elizabeth (Graham) Lotz ’50 Dale Critchlow ’53 Judith (Chittum) Flynn ’66 William H. Lang ’40* Shirley (Douglass) Ball ’52 Donald L. Bauer ’58 Thomas J. Smith ’62 Patricia A. Ecker ’63 George W. Rhoad ’39 Thomas E. Snodgrass ’63 Don A. Hayes ’59 Michael G. Mawhinney ’67 Richard A. Morledge ’54 John Timothy Snyder ’52 Beverly (Walter) Kelley ’52 C. Dale Reis ’67 James D. Storey ’61* Eugene A. Larson ’64 Ross S. Mc Clintock ’48* James E. Sterrett ’55 Richard T. Swope ’64 Robb M. Jones ’75 William J. Nutt ’67 Susan (Vladuchick) Sam ’69 Gerald H. Anderson ’52 Lee Kessler Hodgson ’68 John “Jack” C. Jordan ’52* Nancy (Lee) Paxton ’54 Charlotte A. Zuschlag ’73 Mary (Dill) Matz ’53 Albert R. Puntureri ’59 William C. Stewart ’61 Bonnie B. Barr ’59 Jody L. Mathie ’77 John “Jack” J. Barry III ’62 Beverly (Cameron) Clayton ’64 Jeremy G. Fair ’69 Charles W. Hamilton ’61 William D. Hetrick ’68 Paul J. McNulty ’80 Suellyn (Wright) Novak ’73 Lawrence W. Reed ’75 Kenneth B. Zeigler ’70 John “Jack” Isherwood ’63 Kathryn J. Jackson ’79 Stanley M. Johnson ’60 Paul J. Kardos ’62 James F. Merriman ’38 Robert L. Nutt ’67 James W. Stark ’51 Edward Breen ’78 David Rathburn ’79 Scott A. Foster ’88 Michael Lazarus ’77 Donna Moraz ’79 F. Stone Roberts ’66 John Sparks ’66 Lissa G. Hilsee ’80 David Jones ’54 Arthur J. Schwab ’68

classnotes

Drawing from experience

ALUMNI E-MAIL We want to keep in touch with you electronically! If you have an e-mail address, or have recently changed your address, please contact us at alumni@gcc.edu.

From one grad to another – Bill Bovard ’50 provided the artwork used in the ’04 graduates’ diplomas. Bovard, a retired pastor by trade and an artist by hobby, provided a new pen-and-ink drawing of the College’s Harbison Chapel as a gift to the College. The image was used both in the diploma covers and on the front of the Baccalaureate programs in mid-May. Bovard, who lives in Grove City, has provided the College with other images of campus as well. The former Collegian cartoonist also enjoys working with watercolors and remembers taking a few art classes from Professor Margaret Williams on the fourth floor of Crawford Hall. Alumni and friends wishing to purchase one

of these diploma covers may do so by contacting the Bookstore at Lmmathieson@gcc.edu or (724) 458-2134. Cost is $15.95, which includes tax, shipping and handling. Orders must be prepaid and placed by Oct. 15, 2004. The covers fit diplomas measuring 8½ by 11 inches.

1934

1953

DR. GRANT ATWELL was named the 2004 Lions Club Citizen of the Year by the Meyersdale, Pa., Elks Lodge. A physician, he delivered thousands of babies and was a long-time staff member of the Meyersdale Community Hospital. He continues to be active in his community, and has served with the school board, volunteer fire department, borough council, Masons, Lions and Elks clubs. His family includes daughter Mary Alice “Mimi” (Atwell ’69) Naragon.

DONALD and HELEN (FRANKE) GEORGE celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 17, 2004. Don worked as the Lease and Right of Way area supervisor for the Consolidated Natural Gas Company in Sabinsville, Pa., retiring after 37 years with the company. He also served four years in the Air Force. Helen, a retired English teacher, taught for 22 years at Cowanesque Valley High School in Westfield, Pa. They now live in Hummelstown. They are the parents of Beth (George ’79) Bremigan and Jim George ’82, who is married to Susan (Webber ’82) George.

1949 LOIS “PINKY” (SMITH) JONES represented The Friendship Force of Greater Denver at an international conference in Budapest, Hungary. Prior to the conference, she toured the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Friendship Force is a cultural exchange organization with chapters in 54 countries.

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classnotes 1964 MIKE REARDON, who works with The Greensboro (N.C.) Agency of MassMutual, has qualified for the National Leaders Club. This award is given to the top 10 percent of the company’s financial services professionals. Reardon specializes in estate planning and corporate benefits.

Omicron Xi reunion

1967 PAUL CARLIN was honored in May for his vision and efforts as the founder of Philadelphia’s SeniorLAW Center. The Center, which celebrated its 25th anniversary, has provided free legal services to more than 200,000 senior citizens. Carlin is executive director of the Maryland State Bar Association, located in Baltimore. IRENE HECHLER retired from the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, Princeton Junction, N.J., after 30 years of service. She served as the district supervisor of world languages, responsible for curriculum and instruction in five languages, grades two through 12. She is now a client assistant and Spanish interpreter for the Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, a joint social services agency founded by two local churches.

1969 KAREN (CAMPBELL) COOKSON was named Teacher of the Year for Berkeley County School District, South Carolina. She is a media specialist for Marrington Elementary School and has been an educator for 31 years. THE REV. DR. MERRITT EDNER is the new senior pastor of Grove City’s Grace United Methodist Church.

1970 DR. JAMES EVANS was appointed by the Institute for Shipboard Education at the University of Pittsburgh to serve as executive dean on the Fall 2004 52

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

Brothers of the Omicron Xi fraternity held a reunion during Homecoming 2003 at the Tionesta, Pa., home of Jack ’68 and Maureen (Howard ’68) McKnight. Row 1: from left to right: Bert Ross ’68, Jim Bowes ’71, Ron Lucas ’70, Bill Kennihan ’70 and Nick Hager ’66. Row 2: Bruce Ketler ’71, Ross Rumbaugh ’68, John Haarbauer ’66, John Bullions ’67, Mike Creedon ’66, Harry Morton ’66, Charlie Campbell ’66 and Dan Deer ’67. Row 3: Pat Ross ’68, Lynn Purnell ’68, Dick Hollander ’68, Charlie Markel ’69, Charlie Teese ’68, Bill Bowes ’71 and Bill Hyman. Row 4: Fred Moore ’69, Larry Galbreath ’69, Steve Brown ’68, Jim Leighty ’71, Ted McKnight ’69 and Jack McKnight ’68. voyage of “Semester at Sea.” He will assume chief responsibility for an aroundthe-world academic voyage aboard the S.S. Universe Explorer, on which 700 college students, faculty and staff will study and travel. He is vice president and dean of student affairs at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. His wife, Dr. Lisa Fiorentino, is an assistant professor of nursing at Pitt-Bradford and will serve on the same voyage as staff assistant to the deans. This is Jim’s third “Semester at Sea.”

1971 KAREN (REEVIE) MCDONOUGH was selected for inclusion in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2004.” She teaches French and Spanish at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colo. Karen and her husband, Joseph, live in Aurora. LINDA (CUNNINGHAM) WEYMAN was part of a group of teachers from Hawaii who presented two sessions on Hawaiian children’s music at the National American Orff Schulwerk Association Conference in Long Beach, Calif. The

sessions included chants, song, dance and Hawaiian instruments. She and her husband, Jim Weyman ’70, reside in Honolulu.

1973 ROGER GRABMAN, P.E., is the principal author of a brochure that explains engineering to middle school students. The brochure, called “Engineering the Future,” was produced by the Atlanta Metro Section of The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers. Grabman lives in the Norcross, Ga., area.

1974 ANDREW HENRY and his wife, Carmen, announce the birth of a daughter, Ciana, born Nov. 12, 2003.

1975 TERRY CLEVER retired from ALCOA in February 2004, after a career that took him to assignments in Texas, Jamaica, Brazil and Arkansas. He expects to relocate to the Asheville, N.C., area.

classnotes PATRICIA WALKER has been reelected to the Ohio State Bar Association Council of Delegates. She has served on the Council since 1993 and is a member of Walker & Jocke law firm in Medina.

‘Dungeon Rats’ congregate

1976 DAVID BOWER received a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of New Mexico in May 2003. He is an assistant professor in the College of Education at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He received his master’s degree in educational administration in 1996. He retired as the principal of Roosevelt Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M. RODNEY SMITH completed his third year as senior pastor of the Chippewa United Methodist Church, Chippewa Township in Beaver Falls, Pa. He has been named the varsity boys basketball coach at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, which plays in the WPIAL. In his previous post in Kane, Smith coached varsity boys basketball and was named Coach of the Year in District 9 in 2001. RICHARD STEINER, Ph.D., was promoted to professor in the Department of Statistics at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio. Currently, he is co-principal investigator on two grants: a Department of Defense grant on the epidemiology of restless legs syndrome and a NIH grant on biocompatibility of zirconium alloys for use in joint replacement. Recently, he co-authored a book chapter on wildlife disease surveillance with GCC Professor of Biology Dr. Fred Brenner. Steiner and his wife, Carolyn (MacHose) Steiner, are active in their church as Sunday School teachers, choir members and College & Career group leaders. They have two sons. Carolyn is an office manger at KSM Careers & Consulting, Ltd.

1977 NEIL SMITH gave the opening prayer for the U.S. Senate on April 27, 2004, and has served as senior pastor of Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Kingstowne, Va. He and his wife, Mary Sue (Young) Smith, have two daughters enrolled at Grove City College: Erin ’05 and Lindsay ’08.

Several of the women who lived together in the basement of MAP residence hall in 1969-70 gathered for a mini-reunion in July. Residents of that section of the dorm were nicknamed the ‘Dungeon Rats.’ These friends from the Class of 1972 convened in Portsmouth, N.H., for a three-day reunion in July. From left to right, Jane (Wiggins) Amis, Linda (Voss) Conley, Sharon (Policelli) Faelten, Chris (Ecke) King, Patsy (Wonnell) Porter and Patti (Wilber) Fecteau.

1978 PATRICK O’NEIL and his wife, Gale, announce the birth of a son, David Charles, on July 14, 2004. He joins siblings Elisabeth, 18, Janelle, 16, Cooper, 15, James, 12, Anna, 11, Austin, 7 and Zachary, 4. The family resides in Port Byron, Ill.

1979 BETH (GEORGE) BREMIGAN and her husband, Ralph, are the parents of a son, Thomas Ivan. Thomas was born Dec. 31, 2002, in Kamensk, Russia, and joined the Bremigan family on Sept. 26, 2003. Both Beth and Ralph are professors in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

1980 STEVEN GREJDA and his wife, Elaine, announce the birth of a daughter, Johanna, on May 5, 2004. They also have a son, Aidan, 6. Steve is an anesthesiologist in Detroit.

CMDR. PETER GREGORY, U.S. Navy, is assigned to the office of the commandant, Naval District, Washington, D.C. As district chaplain he is responsible for more than 14,000 sailors spread across two states and the D.C. area. He and his wife, Kris (Jacobs ’82) Gregory, have two children. JACK OWEN, Esq., was named Outstanding Volunteer Attorney for 2004 by the Executive Service Corps of Western Pennsylvania. Since 1997, Owen has helped more than a dozen nonprofit organizations with issues from personnel policies to bylaw revisions and tax issues. He is a shareholder of the Pittsburgh law firm Polito & Smock, P.C. He also received the 1999 Pro Bono Achievement Award from the Allegheny County Bar Foundation. CHRISTINE (GULARSON) SCHIFF and her husband, Peter, live in Potomac, Md., and are the parents of Rebecca Claire, 2. – DUNK theG e

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classnotes 1981 DR. JAMES DOWNEY accepted a position at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., as a professor of science and technology, effective August 2004. He recently completed a year at Harvard University serving as a National Security Fellow. Previously, he served as chair of the Physics Department and professor of physics and engineering at Grove City College. BRUCE FOX joined the law firm of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP as a partner. Fox will lead the firm’s litigation practice and business development efforts in Western Pennsylvania at its Pittsburgh office.

1982 CHRISTOPHER BAKKEN was appointed president and chief nuclear officer of PSEG Nuclear. He will head PSEG Nuclear’s two-unit, 2,188-megawatt Salem Generating Station and the 1,049megawatt Hope Creek Generating Station, all located in Lower Alloways Creek, N.J. Bakken re-joined PSEG Nuclear in August 2003 and had been serving as senior vice president – nuclear operations. JAMES GEORGE was promoted to vice president, packaging, for Hershey Foods in Hershey, Pa. He is responsible for the structural and graphic design, development and procurement of packaging materials for the corporation.

1983 LINDA (MARINO) HICKS was elected to the newly created position of vice president – technology and pyridine manufacturing for Reilly Industries, Inc., in Indianapolis. She now has responsibility for the company’s technology program, comprised of chemistry, engineering and analytical services. In addition, all pyridine products manufacturing sites will report to her. She has been with company since 1984.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

Layman wins Disney teacher award Janey (Christner ’82) Layman is not an actress, but she received an Oscar this summer. Or, make that a “Mouscar.” Layman, a ninth- through 12th-grade teacher at Southmoreland High School in Alverton, Pa., was selected from more than 150,000 nominees to be recognized as a 2004 DisneyHand Teacher Awards Honoree. The award is known as the Oscars of teaching. Layman and the 37 other honorees were flown to Southern California in late July, where they participated in an awards gala, professional development programs, were honored by Mickey Mouse and appeared in a Disney Main Street parade. The awards gala was emceed by American Idol’s Clay Aiken, a former special education teacher. The honorees were chosen by a committee of distinguished educators. Each honoree and his or her school received a monetary award. Plus, the teachers and their principals will attend seminars in

1984 LORI (MCCRACKEN) GUBALA is serving as church administrator for Apostles Lutheran Church in Chesapeake, Va., after 19 years in non-profit organization management, including work for chambers of commerce, a university and two orchestras. DAVID RENO has been named a partner in the Fort Washington, Pa., law firm of Timoney Knox LLP, where he heads the firm’s Worker’s Compensation Department. Dave and his wife, Jennifer, live in Lansdale, Pa.

1985 TODD HELVIE was promoted to senior vice president/treasurer for Delta Air Lines. Helvie has served as Delta’s vice president of corporate tax since September 2000. He joined the company in 1999. MATT KIBBE is the new president and CEO of Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), based in Washington, D.C. The organization works to gain lower taxes, less

October at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, then next April in Anaheim, Calif. As part of the awards program, The Disney Channel went to Layman’s school on May 6 to film her classes. Layman taught at Grove City College from 1983-1990 as an assistant professor of business education. She and her husband, John, live in Mt. Pleasant. government and more freedom. He has been CSE’s executive vice president for the past eight years. TRACY (EDEBURN) and WARREN ’83 SULLIVAN announce the birth of a daughter, Grayce Olivia, on Dec. 10, 2003. She joins brothers Trey, Nate, Bryce and Ian. Warren is serving as pastor of worship at Chippewa Evangelical Free Church in Beaver Falls, Pa. Tracy is a stay-at-home mom. The family resides in Beaver Falls.

1986 GARY GIBSON completed the Claims Law program and received his Senior Claims Law Associate (SCLA) designation. He also was promoted to team leader, multi-line, with Penn National Insurance in Greensboro, N.C. He continues to live in High Point, N.C. with his wife, Vickie, daughter and stepdaughter. ERIC SLUSS and his wife, Cathey, announce the birth of a daughter, Taylor Kelley, on April 26, 2004. Her sister Jacqueline is 2. The Sluss family lives in Canonsburg, Pa.

classnotes 1987 JANET (PRITCHARD) AULT and her husband, Lawrence, welcomed son Nolan Thomas on June 16, 2002. Joining him at home in South Euclid, Ohio, were siblings Ryan, 8, and Christine, 5. AMY DAYTON was awarded the Bronze Star for her service in the Iraq War. She serves with the Combat Communications Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. She is a 16-year Air Force veteran. STEVEN HAMEL and his wife, Jill, welcomed a daughter, Olivia K., on April 26, 2004. The family lives in Wyoming, Pa. ERIC MAGEE and his wife, Caryn, announce the birth of Avery Erin on Aug. 26, 2003. Siblings Paige, 8, Meredith, 4, and Regan, 2, welcomed her home in Beavercreek, Ohio.

1988 LEIGH (GRANDIZIO) BOYER and her husband, Ken, announce the birth of a daughter, Callie Elizabeth, on July 22, 2003. She joins Sonny, 11, Cullen, 4, and Emma, 2. The Boyers live in Pittsburgh. DR. WILLIAM DEAN was awarded his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in May 2004 from Slippery Rock University. He is employed by Jameson Health System in New Castle, Pa., as a physical therapist. His wife, Gizelle (Kovacsics ’90) Dean is also a practicing physical therapist and a full-time faculty member at Penn State University – Shenango Campus. They reside in New Castle with their two children. MARK POGUE and his wife, Michelle, announce the birth of Torin Bailey on Oct. 21, 2003. Torin has siblings Brandon, 11, and Reilly, 9. The Pogues live in Canisteo, N.Y. BETSY (DEEDRICK) SUZIO is a retail product manager for Custom Retail Services. She and her husband, Jim, live in Pittsburgh with their daughter, Meri. BETSY (MCCLURE) WIRANT and her husband, John, welcomed a son, Thomas David, born Jan. 18, 2003. Tommy joins siblings Lauren and Kent at their home in Oaks, Pa.

Grover cousins

Alena Julia Steiger, 12, holds her cousin, Jackson Brady Rennix, born Sept. 5, 2003. Alena is the daughter of Richard ’87 and Janine (Graf ’86) Steiger, who adopted her on May 16, 2003, from Russia. She joins Emily, 12, Bradley, 10, and Matthew, 7, at the Steiger home. Jackson is the son of Brady and Elizabeth (Steiger ’91) Rennix. He joins sisters Madison, 5, and Savannah, 3, at the Rennix home.

1989 J.R. DANIELS composed two pieces of music. “How Shall I Sing That Majesty” for SATB choir and organ was released in January by Paraclete Press. “Speak Out With a Voice of Joy” will be included in the World Library Seasonal Missalette in the upcoming liturgical year. Alumni and friends can read more about his compositions and recitals at www.city-net.com/~jrdssj. STACEY (CLARK) FEICK and husband Joseph welcomed daughter Sarah on June 21, 2003, joining Joshua, 7, and Adam, 4. CHRISTINE (DAUGHERTY) FERRIS and her husband, Stephen, are the parents of Archer Boone, born June 22, 2004. WENDY (MONROE) GRAHAM is working at Balfour Elementary School in Asheboro, N.C., as the technology teacher.

BRUCE HEZLEP and his wife, Karen, announce the birth of a daughter, Anna Olivia, on April 24, 2003. She joins brother Nathan, 2. Bruce was named Rookie of the Year of the Cranberry Township (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Department in January. HOLLY (ATKINSON) MOORE is cochairing the International Federation of Leatherguilds show in Pittsburgh in October 2006, which is co-hosted by the guilds to which Moore belongs – the International Internet Leathercrafters and the PittPounders. KELLY PIDGEON is working in broadcasting and has been anchoring the news at Pittsburgh’s KDKA radio since October 2003. He also started a production company, doing freelance commercial voiceover work and creative imaging services for radio stations around the country. He has a studio in his house in Indiana, Pa. ED and SHARON (SMEDLEY) SCHAMING welcomed daughter Julia Christine on May 19, 2002. Sister Jessica is 6. LISA (SADLER) SOMMER and her husband, Carl, are the parents of a son, Hudson Taylor, born Jan. 28, 2004. He joins his brother, John, 5. Lisa is a stay-at-home mom in Raleigh, N.C. KRISTIN (GARFIELD) SPINA and her husband, Michael, announce the birth of a son, William Avery, on April 11, 2004. They live in Pineville, N.C. DR. STEVE TAAFFE was promoted to associate professor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Also, his second book was recently published, titled “The Philadelphia Campaign, 1777-1778.” He and his wife, Cynthia (Phillips ’88) Taaffe, live in Nacogdoches with their two sons.

1990 KRISTIN (MORRELL) BOVARD and her husband, Ted, announce the birth of a daughter, Trudy Morrell, on March 15, 2004. The Bovards reside in Zelienople, Pa. KAREN (MARTIN) HEATER and her husband, Dave, announce the birth of a daughter, Elise Marie, on Aug. 26, 2003. She was welcomed by brothers Sam, 7, and AJ, 4. The family resides in Hudson, Ohio. KRISTYN (MCGUIRK) ROBB and her husband, Mark, welcomed a son, Connor Earl, on Aug. 27, 2003. Brother Spencer is 6. Trenton, Mich., is their home.

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classnotes 1991 GREGORY ARNOLD was promoted to assistant vice president at Susquehanna Bancshares Inc. He continues as manager of alternative business services and sales management. He lives in Elizabethtown, Pa. AMY (PFERDEHIRT) GILES is a senior systems analyst at Burlington Resources in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her husband, Eric Giles, is a senior drilling engineer. They live in Calgary with their children Erin, 3, and Adam, 1. KARI HAUGETO is a freelance writer in Winter Springs, Fla. She and her husband, Christopher Elliott, are the parents of Aren, 2. TIM and DEBORA (ZOMAK) HOUCK welcomed a daughter, Brittany N., on Feb. 6, 2004. BETH (SPEERHAS) MCCLYMONDS was promoted to senior vice president – internal audit/loan review for ESB Bank. She is now responsible for managing all aspects of the audit functions for the bank, which is based in Ellwood City, Pa. DOUGLAS MOUNT and his wife, Amy, announce the birth of a daughter, Ashley Marie, on Dec. 17, 2002. The Mounts live in Dumfries, Va. SHANNON (CAMMISA) MULLNER and her husband, Jim, welcomed a daughter, Anna Marie, on March 1, 2004. The family lives in Butler, Pa.

1992 TOM BOYER began work as a physician assistant at the University of Pittsburgh Physicians Hillman Cancer Center in December 2003. He is working in the area of melanoma and head and neck cancers. KRISTEN (MACOSKO) DENNIS and her husband, William, welcomed a son, Aaron Michael, on July 8, 2003. Brother Ryan is 6. The family lives in Cochranton, Pa. CHIP JOHNSON and his wife, Alison, announce the birth of a son, Tyler Charles, on Jan. 15, 2004. He was welcomed by big sister Julia, 3. Chip is employed by Merck & Co., Inc., as a research maintenance supervisor. They live in Jamison, Pa. SEAN and KIMBERLY (DAVIS) RUTKOWSKI welcomed a son, Bryan Edward, on April 21, 2004. Siblings Ashley, 7, and Tyler, 4, welcomed him home in St. Michael, Minn.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

TODD SNITCHLER joined the law firm of Stark & Knoll in Akron, Ohio, as an associate attorney. STEPHEN and MICHELE (RICKER) SOMOGY announce the birth of a son, Stephen Glenn, on Jan. 3, 2004. The family resides in Everett, Wash. MICHELLE (PAINTER) THOMPSON and her husband, Jerry, announce the birth of a son, Jeremy Francis, on Dec. 27, 2003. His brother James is 1. The family lives in Pottstown, Pa. KRISTEN (KNAPP) VERGERIO and her husband, David, announce the arrival of a son, Matteo Anthony, on April 17, 2003. He joined a brother, Romano, 7, and a sister, Gabrielle, 5, at home in Pittsburgh. Kristen continues to teach in the Fox Chapel Area School District. David is a police officer for the Allegheny County Police Department stationed at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

1993 AMY (WILLISON) BREW and her husband, Thomas, are the parents of a daughter, Helena Catherine, born March 2, 2004. The Brews live in Columbus, Ind. JULIE (ORASHAN) DECARLO and her husband announce the birth of twins, son Cameron and daughter Courtney, on May 12, 2004. The family lives in Jonesboro, Ark. REV. DARYL DIDDLE was appointed senior pastor of the Wilmore Free Methodist Church in Wilmore, Ky., as of June 1, 2004. He had served the church for five years as assistant pastor. He and his wife, Annette, reside in Wilmore and are the parents of two sons, Benjamin, 2, and Paul, born Dec. 9, 2003. DAVID HENRY and his wife, Lisa, announce the birth of a son, Joshua. MELISSA (JENNY) KELLY and her husband, Scott, welcomed a daughter, Shannon Marie, on May 7, 2004. She joins Nathan, 3, at home in Pittsburgh. BRENDA (SMOKER) MALCOLM and her husband are the parents of a daughter, Madison Kay, born Sept. 3, 2003. Madison joins Makayla, 3, at home in Strasburg, Pa. JULIE (VOGEL) PETSCHKE and her husband, Dan, welcomed a daughter, Rachel Audrey, on May 11, 2004. AIMEE (MARRA) and BRIAN ’95

SCHALTENBRAND announce the birth of a son, Chase Ryan, on May 7, 2004. He joins big brother Austin at home in Cranberry Township, Pa. KAREN SCIBETTA and John Acee II were married Dec. 13, 2003, in Rochester, N.Y. Karen has been employed for six years as a unit manager for ADT Security Systems and John is a senior insurance underwriter for Utica National Insurance. They reside in Westmoreland, N.Y. DOUG and SUSAN (BADORF) TRAVIS welcomed a daughter, Paige Lauren, on March 18, 2004. She joins brother Brett, 3. The family lives in Leola, Pa. SHARI (CLEMENS) TUZ and her husband, Peter, welcomed a son, Andrew Renner, born March 30, 2004. The Tuz family lives in Matthews, N.C.

1994 RENEE (VOLTZ) BROWN and her husband, Gregory, are the parents of a daughter, Emily Marie, born June 2, 2004. The Browns reside in Springfield, Va. DR. LAURA CROTHERS accepted an assistant professor position at Duquesne University in the Department of Counseling, Psychology and Special Education. She is teaching master’s and doctoral-level students in the school psychology program. KIMBERLY FINGER and Daniel Crawford were married May 31, 2003, at St. Luke Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lafayette, Colo. Kimberly is a director of marketing and sales consultant at Chris Finger Pianos in Niwot, Colo., and Daniel is an optometrist in Wheat Ridge. CINDY (HAAN) GARRISON and her husband, Kolby, welcomed son Kaleb Oleg on May 18, 2004. They live in Greenville, S.C.

classnotes LAURA (EVERT) GRAY and her husband, Julian, are the parents of a son, Matthew Logan, born June 7, 2004. The Grays live in Mount Lebanon, Pa. CHRISTY (BROGLEY) and MICHAEL ’95 HOLLAR announce the birth of a son, Thomas Robert, on May 9, 2004 (Mother’s Day). Thomas joins Benjamin, 5, and Reagan, 3, at home in Purcellville, Va. LAURA (KARDAR) KAWCZAK and her husband, Paul, are the parents of a son, Noah Nathaniel, born May 23, 2004. They reside in Seven Hills, Ohio. ERIN (BEHRENDT) and RYAN ’93 KERRY welcomed a daughter, Leah Grace, on April 3, 2004. They reside in Fairfax, Calif. LAURA (MCBRIDE) SHIRING and her husband, Tim, announce the birth of Wesley Clyde, on April 24, 2004. They make their home in Canonsburg, Pa. ADAM and DEANN (SANDOR) STEFL welcomed a son, Adam Todd Jr., on Feb. 23, 2004. Sister Molly is 2. The family resides in Monroeville, Pa. DARREN WARREN graduated in June from the Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh with a degree of Juris Doctor. While at Duquesne, he received recognition as a contributing writer to Juris Magazine, Volume 36, for his publication of “Compensation for Victims of 9-11: An Analysis of Economic Damages Calculations.” He also served as the Duquesne Business Law Journal’s executive comments editor. He is relocating to California. JASON and MICHELE (JOLL) WOOLCOCK announce the birth of a son, Matthew J., on July 24, 2003. He joins Samantha, 3.

1995 KEN BROTHERS is working as a network security specialist for Federal Home Loan Bank of New York in Jersey City, N.J. He and his wife, Crystal (Stowe) Brothers, and their two daughters live in Yardley, Pa. KIRSTEN (KERNER) BRUDER and her husband, Brian, are the parents of a daughter, Lindsay Alexandra, born Jan. 24, 2004. The Bruders live in Manassas, Va. SHERI (ROBINSON) and THOMAS ’96 CAMPION are the parents of twins, Greyson Michael and Elaina Grace, born April 29, 2004. The Campions make their home in Mahomet, Ill.

Grovesmen celebrate 10 years

Music, faith and friendship have kept five Grove City College grads meeting for a decade. Erik Welchans ’94, Chip Frontz ’94, Kris Barnes ’95, Todd Jones ’93 and Matt Bates ’93 formed a quintet called The Grovesmen during their years at Grove City. They performed at campus events such as talent shows and chapel services. After two of The Grovesmen graduated in ’93, the fivesome went on tour together, sharing their barbershop sound with church groups, nursing homes and the Lion’s Club State Convention in Pittsburgh. Although graduation sent The Grovesmen their separate ways, the guys were determined to keep the group singing and getting together. Each year for the past decade, the men and their families have gathered for a Grovesmen reunion weekend. The weekend consists of practicing new and old music, performing at a local church and renewing these special friendships. Residing in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the five families boast 12 children between them, with at least one more on the way! All five Grovesmen wives have ties to Grove City College. Four out of five wives are alumni: Sharon (Zill ’95) Barnes, Jenny (Morrone ’93) Bates, Annette (Bransby ’94) Frontz and Brenda (Fortney ’94) Jones. And Erik Welchans’ wife, Beth, has a brother who is a GCC alumnus, Jim Chilton ’98. For more information about The Grovesmen or for a copy of their cassette tape, “We Believe,” contact Kris Barnes at (814) 337-8601 or e-mail him at ksbarnes@zoominternet.net. KEVIN and NIKKI (PROTOS) HAGEN are the parents of a son, Samuel Von, born May 9, 2004. His sister, Sara, is 4. Kevin is a senior project engineer with PPG Industries in Creighton, Pa. KATRINA (BUCH) HOSTETTER and her husband, Jonathan, welcomed a son, Micah Bentz, born Jan. 25, 2004. They reside in Lancaster, Pa. Katrina is a licensed professional counselor in private practice. Jonathan is a nurse practitioner in a family medical practice. CATRIN (HUGHES) JOYNER and her husband, Kevin, announce the birth of a daughter, Abigail Carys, on April 9, 2004.

Her sister, Lydia, is 2. Catrin is a stay-athome mom while Kevin remains in private practice at a law firm in Cary, N.C. They live in Apex, N.C. KATHLEEN (MCCARTNEY) MILLER and her husband, Christopher, welcomed a son, Adam Christopher, on June 9, 2004. His brother, Seth, is 2. Grandparents are Wiliam ’67 and Charlene (Mang ’68) McCartney. ADRIENNE (CATES) MINEIRO and her husband, Joseph, announce the birth of a daughter, Amaris Elena, born Jan. 12, 2004. The family lives in Melbourne, Australia.

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Fall 2004

classnotes LISA MOYER and Kendall Ruth were married in Telford, Pa., on April 3, 2004. Lisa is a project manager at Armstrong World Industries and Kendall is a CPA. They live in Lititz, Pa. NICOLE O’NEAL-MCCARTY was promoted to business analyst supervisor of the administrative technology support division of AFLAC in Columbus, Ga. She has been with AFLAC for seven years. She and her husband, Kevin, and son, Ian, reside in Midland, Ga. MARTIN and STACIE (HANNI) NOVOSEL are the parents of a son, Andrew Joel, born Aug. 27, 2003. They live in North Canton, Ohio. LYNETTE SHANNON and Thomas Chang were married Oct. 11, 2003, in Pittsburgh. They now live in Dallas, Texas. CINDY (GOEHRING) and CRAIG ’96 SMELTZER welcomed a son, Jonah Benjamin, born March 29, 2004. Big brother Jacob is 3. The Smeltzers live in Cranberry Township, Pa. STACEY (CATLIN) and CHARLES ’94 STAUFFER announce the birth of a son, Ryan Alexander, on May 9, 2004. He joins sister Lauren, 3, at home in Lisbon, Ohio.

1996 ERICK AIKEN and his wife welcomed a daughter, Maielyn Grace, on March 11, 2004. They reside in Hershey, Pa. JASON ALLEY and his wife, Marybeth, welcomed a daughter, Annabeth Cait, on Feb. 3, 2004. They live in Williamsburg, Va. CAPT. NATHAN CARLSON spent two weeks this summer as the 2nd Brigade Combat Team dental surgeon at the 31st Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. He and other oral surgeons assisted in the treatment of an array of facial and oral traumas. When not deployed, he and his wife, Lynn, live in Schweinfurt, Germany. ROBB and JONI (CHURM ’97) COLBRUNN announce the birth of a son, Gabe Joseph, on May 25, 2004. He joins siblings Boyd and Lilia. ED and DAISY (LEPNARK ’97) CRANE announce the birth of a son, Noah Scott, on March 28, 2004. His sister Eliana, 3, welcomed him home in Glenside, Pa. Ed works as a senior consultant for Synygy and Daisy stays at home with the children.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

JASON HANNAS and his wife, Karen, announce the birth of a son, Joshua Ryan, on Oct. 28, 2003. He joins Jake, 3, and Autumn, 2, at home in Bel Air, Md. JULIE (SCOTT) and JUSTIN ’97 KIROUAC are the parents of a son, John Pierre, born Dec. 25, 2002. They reside in Lawrenceville, Ga. VICTORIA (JELLEY) MALONEY and her husband, Scott, welcomed a son, John David, on Feb. 24, 2004. “David” joins his parents at home in Bay Village, Ohio. JOE and ANGELINE (SNEERINGER) MERTZ are the parents of a daughter, Rachel Emma, born Dec. 17, 2003. They reside in Orlando, Fla. MATTHEW and TRACEY (BARNES) MOSER announce the birth of a son, Toby Wayne, on March 6, 2004. The Mosers reside in Gunpowder, Md. AMY (CHEESEMAN) NEWLON successfully defended her Ph.D. in chemistry at Syracuse University in August 2003. Following her defense, she and her husband, Jason Newlon ’97, moved to Lebanon, Ohio, where Amy serves as an adjunct professor of chemistry at Raymond Walters College/University of Cincinnati. Amy and Jason also announce the birth of their first child, a son, Max Joseph, on May 26, 2004. BRIAN O’ROARK and his wife, Christie, welcomed twin daughters, Emily Margaret and Katherine Anne, on May 25, 2004. The family lives in Middletown, Va. CARRIE (BAYLISS) ROUSH and her husband, Dan, announce the birth of a son, Zachary Daniel, on March 28, 2004. They live in Akron, Ohio. JANINE (SODERGREN) SHURMER and her husband, Bryn, are living in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, with their three children, Elijah, 6, Mary, 4, and Isaiah, 1. KRISTEN (ONDAKO) SINGLETON and her husband, Christopher, welcomed a son, Christopher Joseph, on Jan. 23, 2004. His sister, Julia, is 3. The family lives in Butler, Pa. STEPHANIE (BAUMAN) and ARTHUR ’95 SLEAR are the parents of a son, Lucas Arthur, born May 13, 2003. The Slears live in Butler, Pa. ANDY SWANDA and his wife, Ashley, welcomed their second set of boy/girl twins with the births of Ryan Andrew and Hailey Marlowe on May 4, 2004. Siblings Will and Abby are 2. They make their home in Savage, Minn.

1997 HEATH BRADLEY and his wife, Kim, announce the birth of a son, Ethan Bruce, on Oct. 18, 2003. NICOLE (MCCREADIE) BRUGGER and her husband, Carl, welcomed daughter Sarah Alice on Nov. 27, 2003. Sister Jenna is 3. The family resides in Erie, Pa. CHAD and KRISTI (SIMONSEN) BUNOVICH welcomed son Asher Gabriel on March 24, 2004. They live in Irwin, Pa. JAMES EISNOR is the national sales director for Blue Vase Securities, LLC, in Pittsburgh. Fellow grad Scott Dooley ’00 also works at Blue Vase, a company that provides support services for independent financial advisors and community banks. The company was profiled in the March 2004 issue of Forbes magazine and Eisnor was pictured. LEIGH (SAWYER) HARVEY and her husband, Todd, welcomed a daughter, Aubra Leigh, on March 29, 2004. The Harveys reside in Kittanning, Pa. JASON HOLLENBAUGH and his wife, Elaine, welcomed Nathan W. on Nov. 1, 2003. The family resides in Pittsburgh. HEATHER (POWELL) JARVIS and her husband, Jonathan, welcomed a son, Samuel Francis, on June 1, 2004. Brother Jacob is 1. The family lives in Glen Allen, Va. JASON NEWLON successfully defended his Ph.D. in neuroscience and physiology at the State University of New York – Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., in June 2003. He and his wife, Amy (Cheeseman ’96), moved to Lebanon, Ohio, where Jason is a sensory scientist for the Health Care Business Unit of The Procter and Gamble Company in Cincinnati. FRANK and JENNIFER (SCHULTZ) REESE are the parents of a son, Jacob Holden, born Jan. 13, 2004. SHARNA (MOORE) ROZANOVICH and her husband, George, welcomed a daughter, Alexandra Elise, on June 1, 2004. They reside in Darien, Conn. Sharna has been promoted to senior account executive on the Pepsi International Team at Tracy Locke Productions in Wilton, Conn. MATTHEW STEWART and his wife, Caryn, are the parents of Victoria, born May 4, 2003. The family resides in Pittsburgh. JULIE (REUTTER) and ERIK ’96 THELANDER announce the birth of Weston Merrill on April 1, 2004. The family resides in Centennial, Colo.

classnotes 1998 JENNIFER BENTZ and Kristopher Buck were married June 7, 2003, at The Lantern Lodge in Myerstown, Pa. Jennifer is an engineer for the Dana Corporation, designing truck frames. Kris is manager of safety, fire and security for the Visteon Corporation. The couple recently built a home in Bright, Ind. MATT BEST was elected chairman of the Pennsylvania Young Republicans during the group’s June convention in Harrisburg. Amanda Pflugh ’01 was also elected the group’s new secretary at the convention. Best’s role is to lay out a vision for the organization and serve as its chief spokesperson. He will work with other state Republican organizations to rally for the candidates in November. Best began participating in Young Republican activities in 2002 when managing a congressional campaign. He has also served as an executive board member and two years as chairman of the Cumberland County chapter. MATTHEW EPPS and his wife, Kimberly, announce the birth of a son, Joel, on March 17, 2004. The family lives in Brandon, Fla. BRIAN FAGAN passed the professional engineer licensing exam in the spring of 2003. He is living in Medford Lakes, N.J. LAURA (OTTO) and ANDREW ’97 GAYDOS are the parents of a son, Micah Andrew, born Dec. 20, 2003. MAXWELL and DAWN (WARRINER) HOPKINS announce the birth of a son, Christian Alexander, on Feb. 29, 2004. Big brother Will is 2. The family lives in Fayetteville, Pa. JENNIFER (HOOGERBRUGGE) and DEREK ’97 MOSES announce the birth of a son, Colin Samuel, on March 22, 2004. The family lives in Belcamp, Md. BRADLEY and JENNIFER (SWEETSER) PERDEW welcomed a son, Ethan Josiah, on March 15, 2004. Sister Isabelle is 2. Stuarts Draft, Va., is their home.

JOSHUA RICKETTS and Karen Robinson were married April 17, 2004, at Calvary Chapel in Massillon, Ohio. Joshua works for the Pennsylvania state government and Karen is planning to teach in the Greensburg, Pa., area, where they live. SUSAN SEMS and J.C. Calzada were married Dec. 20, 2003, at Pilgrim Lutheran Brethren Church in Mentor, Ohio. They live in Willoughby, Ohio. CRAIG and JENNA (FREEMAN) TYSON announce the birth of Zoe Grace on March 26, 2004. Six weeks later, Craig graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with Master of Divinity and Master of Old Testament degrees. They plan to move to Ann Arbor, Mich., where Craig will pursue a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies.

1999 MATT ALLEN and Meredith McKnight were married Dec. 27, 2003, at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Mercer, Pa. They now reside in Cranberry Township, Pa. PAUL and HEATHER (BUSIN ’00) ARNOLD announce the birth of Jacob Paul on May 12, 2004. They live in Grove City. CARLEE CAIAZZA spent four weeks in France in March 2004 as part of a Rotary International Group Study Exchange. JONATHAN CETTI and Kristi Rudd were married Aug. 23, 2004, in Anoka, Minn. Jon is a chemist and Kristi is a mechanical engineer at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. They live in Mason, Ohio.

MEGAN (KOERBER) and MATTHEW ’97 DEMONTAIGNE announce the birth of a daughter, Gabrielle Alyse, on Dec. 4, 2003. The family lives in Trooper, Pa. BENJAMIN GREENE and his wife, Kelly, are the parents of a daughter, Esther Grace, born March 11, 2004. They reside in Haverhill, Mass. KATIE HALL and Matt Parrish were married April 17, 2004, at Hampton Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia, Pa. The couple lives in Pittsburgh, where they both work for PPG Industries. Katie is a business analyst and Matt is a project manager of financial decision support systems. MICHELLE KOMLOS and James Roush were married March 8, 2003. They live in Jacksonville, N.C., where Michelle is a teacher and Jamie is an employee benefits consultant. RENE (KALP) LEGO and her husband, Aaron, announce the birth of a daughter, Rachel Hannah, on May 26, 2004. The family lives in Volant, Pa. STEVE and KELLY (BUBAR) MCCANN welcomed a daughter, Kaitlyn Beth, on May 10, 2004. LAURA MCFALL left her position in Grove City’s Admissions Office to become a college counselor at St. Agnes Academy in Houston, Texas. She moved to Houston in June. LAURIE (HAGGY) NJIGUA and her husband, Anthony, are the parents of Emma Grace, born Dec. 24, 2002. The family lives in Lynn, Mass. LINDSAY ORAM and DR. TEMPLE RATCLIFFE were married May 31, 2003, in First Presbyterian Church, Jamestown, N.Y. Lindsay is pursuing her master’s degree in English from the University of Texas. Temple is completing his residency at Lakeland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. They live in Helotex, Texas.

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Fall 2004

classnotes CLAIRE (MOSS) and JAMES ’97 OSBORNE welcomed a son, Caleb James, on Nov. 16, 2003. The Osbornes reside in Kittanning, Pa. BOBBY PARKER left his position at Merrill Lynch to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and improvisational theater. He lives in Jacksonville, Fla., where he is a member and part owner of an improv theater company. The partners will open their own theater in downtown Jacksonville this fall. DAVID and JENNIFER (COWAN) PATERLINE announce the birth of a daughter, Sidney Elizabeth, on Feb. 18, 2004. The Paterlines reside in Pittsburgh. RACHEL (BOWSER) RERKO and her husband, Neal, announce the birth of a daughter, Ella Morgan, on June 2, 2004. The family lives in Coatesville, Pa. JENNIFER (CHESS) SCHULTZ and her husband are the parents of a daughter, Alison Paige, born March 9, 2004. SEAN SULLIVAN and Kristen Kay were married July 12, 2003, in Fairview Park, Ohio. They are now living in Parma, Ohio. Sean is a band director for grades six through 12 and a music teacher for grades three and four in the Brooklyn City School District. Kristen is a third-grade teacher in the same district. She is also the dance and flag line adviser for Sean’s marching band. Sean proposed to Kristen on the 50-yard line during his dad’s band show on Sept. 21, 2002. SUZANNE SURMAN earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. At Commencement, she received an Honorable Mention, the Dr. John E. and Ethel M. Crozier Memorial Award and the GR Lens Clinical Excellence Award. DANIEL SWIGER earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts in May from The Johns Hopkins University. COURTNEY (SPOON) VAGO has rejoined Grove City College’s Admissions Office and is serving as the assistant director of admissions. She and husband Steve Vago ’97 live in Cranberry Township. JEREMY and ROBIN (DAPRA) WHITMER welcomed a daughter, Anna G., on Dec. 22, 2003.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

2000 BETHANY BLOOD graduated in May 2004 from The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, earning a certificate in Dispute Resolution and Advocacy. She will be working as a judicial clerk for the McKean County Court of Common Pleas in Smethport, Pa. JOHN and LAURA (BROWN) BROWN announce the birth of Elizabeth Jane on April 27, 2004. They live in Rahway, N.J. DR. JENNIFER CAPELA graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine and is a resident at Brown in Providence, R.I. LINDSEY (CATLIN) and TIMOTHY ’99 DOUTT announce the birth of Lucas Jacob on Feb. 23, 2004. The family resides in Ypsilanti, Mich. DAVID JETTER earned several positions at the Duke University School of Law. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Law and Contemporary Problems, president of the Christian Legal Society and vice president of the Federalist Society. This summer, he worked for the law firm of Baker & Botts. JASON KLINE received his Master of Education in School Administration from Edinboro University in May. JAMES KRYGOWSKI and Brenda Boggs were married July 14, 2002, in Houghton, N.Y. After graduating from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine on May 21, 2004, they both began residencies, Jim in emergency medicine and Brenda in family practice. They live in Norfolk, Va. TONY KUNCZEWSKI accepted a position as assistant football coach at Bowdoin College in Maine. He and wife Nicole (Fraumann) Kunczewski are now living in Topsham, Maine. KILEY (ALLISON) LIBRICH and her husband, Frank, are the parents of a son, Isaac Francis, born June 30, 2004. They are living in Seven Fields, Pa. JENNIFER (FOXENBERG) MACALPINE and her husband, Daniel, welcomed Abigail Jean on Sept. 4, 2003. The family lives in Chittenango, N.Y.

DR. JACKIE MATUS received her M.D. from Temple University on May 21, 2004. She is completing her residency in pediatrics at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. BOB MCMICHAEL graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on June 6. He will complete his internship at Delaware County Memorial Hospital next year and will complete his residency in anesthesiology at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa. PETER POLIZZI and his wife, Allison, live in Felton, Del., and are the parents of a new baby, Alex. VALERIE SEKULA is the author of a children’s book titled “Too Many Princes!,” published by Vantage Press, Inc. Sekula is a sixth-grade teacher. AMANDA SPOSATO is now Grove City College’s associate director of admissions. She has served the College as a counselor since 2000. COURTNEY (ONDER) WILBERT and her husband, Stephen, welcomed a son, Jonathan, on Dec. 18, 2003. The family lives in Butler, Pa.

2001 SAMUEL BIGELY was awarded a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. AMY (MCCOY) and JOSH ’00 BROWNE announce the birth of a daughter, Jessica L., on May 11, 2004. EMILY (ALDERTON) COULSON and her husband, Benjamin, welcomed a son, Corbin James, on April 1, 2004. Emily works as a substitute teacher in the ClarionLimestone School District and Ben is employed as a farrier. They reside in Corsica, Pa. TREVOR and STEPHANIE (RUSCIO) GARDNER are the parents of a son, Colin Joseph, born Nov. 14, 2003. The Gardners live in Grove City. LAURA HAMPTON and BEN LATHROP ’00 were married Aug. 14, 2004, in the Maplewood Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, Minn. They are now living in Minneapolis, where Ben is a teacher, and both are working on their master’s degrees, Laura in teaching and Ben in education. JOHN and LAYNE (BUCKLEN) HEDDEN announce the birth of a son, Jackson Tyler, on May 29, 2004.

classnotes CAROLINE KOOPMAN had four photos selected for use on Jones Soda labels. Her photos can be found on crushed melon, fufu berry and blue bubble gum bottles. She is a freelance wedding and portrait photographer, in addition to being Grove City College’s assistant director of alumni relations. JESSICA (KISTLER) MCGUIRE and her husband, Matthew, announce the birth of a daughter, Caitlyn Rae, on Aug. 30, 2003. DIANE MILLER is now working in the office of Connecticut State Representative Rosa DeLauro. AMANDA PFLUGH was elected the Pennsylvania Young Republicans new secretary during the group’s June convention in Harrisburg. She is responsible for correspondence, taking meeting minutes, collecting information from county clubs and working with other statewide officers. Matt Best ’98 was also elected chairman at that gathering. MELODY (CLAYPOOLE) SCARDINA and her husband, Michael, welcomed a son, Henry Thomas, on July 17, 2003. His brother, Anthony, is 2. The family lives in Fenelton, Pa. MATTHEW and TARA (MCCASLIN ’99) SMOUSE announce the birth of a son, Gabriel Matthew, on July 25, 2003. They reside in Owings Mills, Md. CHRISTINA STAUFFER, a doctoral student in medicinal chemistry at the University of Kansas, received a 2004-05 ACS Division of Medicinal Chemistry Predoctoral Fellowship Award, worth $20,000 for one year. The award is one of five fellowships awarded nationally by the American Chemical Society. Her research involves the design, synthesis, structural modification and evaluation of complex peptidyl nucleoside antibiotics as potential antifungal agents. She will present her research at the ACS national meeting in the fall of 2005.

2002

2003

TRAVIS BARHAM has been named to the editorial board of the Law Review at Washington & Lee’s School of Law. KARA GIBSON and BENJAMIN HOFFMAN ’01 were married May 24, 2003, at Summit United Methodist Church in Erie, Pa. They are now living in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Kara is a network database administrator at Allegheny Center Alliance Church in Pittsburgh and Benjamin is a senior accountant at RC Holsinger Associates in Wexford. MICHELLE GULASY and CHRISTOPHER BOEHM were married May 31, 2003. Michelle is currently a full-time graduate student in Yale University’s Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and Christopher is a business consultant for MaxQ Technologies of Norwalk, Conn. The Boehms reside in New Haven, Conn. JENN RUGG and J. MARK SALLADE were married July 12, 2003, at St. Stephens Church in Sewickley, Pa. Jenn is teaching fifth grade and leading a dance club at Plumstead Christian School in Chalfont, Pa. Mark is entering his third year of a Master of Divinity program at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside. The Sallades reside in Fort Washington.

DEMARIE (ALLEN) BABER and her husband, David, announce the birth of a daughter, Elizabeth Grace, on March 24, 2004. The Babers are living in King George, Va. WILL BRABSTON and DANIELLE CAUSER ’04 were married on June 26, 2004, in Tennessee. They have moved to Alabama where Will is attending medical school at the University of South Alabama. JULIE MULCAHY received a Master of Science in Library Science from Clarion University in May 2004. MELANIE ROBERTS and NATHAN MIKLOS ’02 were married August 16, 2003.

2004 CARA (FRAGELLO) and JOHN ’03 CHAMBERS announce the birth of a son, Michael Gerald, on May 10, 2004. The family resides in Washington, Pa. RANDY COLE was selected as Omicron Delta Kappa’s Province II Leader of the Year. To be so chosen, an ODK member must show leadership in his or her chapter on campus, maintain high scholarship and be committed to the ideals of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honorary. Cole served as the president of the Grove City ODK chapter during his senior year. He was also involved in numerous other leadership activities on campus and was the 2004 student Commencement speaker. KEITH DAVIS is now working as an admissions counselor at Grove City College. GRETCHEN ECKHARDT joined Grove City College’s Admissions Office. She began her work as a counselor in July. CHRISTINE O’HARE and JONATHAN ISSLER were married June 19, 2004, in Dahlgren Chapel, Frederick, Md. The Isslers make their home in Germantown, Md. ANDREW SMITH joined Grove City College’s Admissions Office. He began his work as a counselor in June.

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Fall 2004

inmemory he Grove City College Alumni Association places a book in Henry Buhl Library in memory of each alumna/us for whom the Alumni Office receives written notification of death, including a copy of the obituary. In addition to paying tribute to the lives of deceased alumni, the books will benefit current and future students.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

DAVID C. MORFORD ’30 died July 3, 2004. An Army veteran, he had a 44-year banking career, retiring from Mellon Bank in 1974. He was active in his community and church, both while living in Mercer, Pa., and Naples, Fla. Surviving are his wife, Isabelle, three daughters, six grandchildren and a great-grandson.

DONALD W. CLAYPOOL ’40 died June 21, 2004. He worked in production and engineering with PPG Industries for 36 years. His activities included the Masons and Shriners. Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane; two sons, including Jeffrey Claypool ’69; a daughter; a sister; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

LEROY KUHN ’32 died Jan. 9, 2004.

THE REV. DR. GREER S. IMBRIE ’40 died April 16, 2004. A fifth-generation Presbyterian minister, he served the First Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green, Ohio, from 1954 until his retirement in 1984. He then served several churches as an interim minister. He was a naval chaplain during WWII and the Korean War, and he was a 50-year Kiwanian. Grove City College awarded him an honorary doctorate in divinity. Surviving are his wife, Julia, a son, three daughters and three grandchildren.

RUTH (MYERS) RUGH ’32 died May 27, 2004. Formerly a Pittsburgh resident, she moved to Virginia 13 years ago to live near her daughter, Joanne (Rugh ’56) Nisley and son-inlaw Lt. Col. Ret. Kermit Nisley Jr. ’56. Other survivors include a son, a brother, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. JANE (TARR) EPSTEIN ’34 died Feb. 6, 2004. LEWIS C. LADERER SR. ’35 died June 7, 2004. He was CEO and president of Wells Aluminum Company and vice president of Revere Brass and Cooper, as well as president of the Aluminum Association of America. An avid golfer, he was a founding director of the Sea Pines Association in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He was also involved in church activities. Survivors include his wife, Jan Laderer ’48, three sons, stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. MARIAN (BUSCH) MOSHER ’35 died April 14, 2004. She was living in Greenville, Pa. She taught business courses for two years each at Girard (Ohio) High School and the former Penn High School, and was a secretary for Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.’s former Hempfield Township (Pa.) plant. She had been involved with her church, the Salvation Army and the Greenville Civic League. Surviving are a daughter, sister-in-law and three grandchildren. DAVID C. EWING ’36 died Feb. 20, 2004. He lived in Peoria, Ariz., and worked for 39 years with United States Steel Corp. Surviving are his wife, Alyce Mae, a son and two grandchildren. BERNICE (HAMILTON) OGDEN ’38 died May 24, 2004. She retired as librarian of Roosevelt School in River Edge, N.J., and served previously as librarian for the public library in Toledo, Ohio. She had lived in River Edge for the last 46 years. Surviving are two sons and four grandchildren.

DONALD E. CROOKS ’41 died Dec. 11, 2003. An Army WWII veteran, he received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He worked in the family business, J.M. Crooks and Sons in Clarion, Pa., where he lived and was active in his church and taught Sunday School for more than 50 years. He was also an avid horseman. He and his wife, Bernadette, received the Clarion Citizen of the Year award in 1988. In addition to his wife, surviving are three sons, including Edward Crooks ’71 and his wife, Cynthia (Mayfield ’72) Crooks, three daughters, two sisters, a brother, and 14 grandchildren. THE REV. CLYDE W. DIETRICH ’41 died June 17, 2004. He was an ordained Methodist minister who pastored several Pennsylvania churches. He retired in 1979 to Natrona Heights, Pa. He also enjoyed woodworking. Surviving are two daughters, one son, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. DOROTHY (BOWSER) PASSMORE ’41 passed away June 11, 2004. She had worked as the financial secretary of Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls, Pa. Survivors include her husband, Irvin Passmore ’42, two daughters, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a sister, Janet (Bowser ’33) Stull. MARTHA (HART) CLELAND ’43 died April 18, 2003. She lived in Fort Gratiot, Mich.

JOHN C. PIZOR ’38 died Feb. 6, 2004. A Navy veteran, he was a professor at Grove City and Malone colleges and retired from the University of Akron. Survivors include two sons; three daughters; grandchildren; a brother, J. Paul Pizor ’39; and Paul’s wife, Jane (Colcord ’39) Pizor.

VIRGINIA (PENCE) OLMES ’44 died March 30, 2004, in Oil City, Pa. Active in her community, she belonged to the YMCA, the Belles Lettres Club and was a director and past president of the Garden Club. Survivors include her husband, Major “Jim” Olmes ’43; a son, James Olmes ’67; three daughters, including Judith (Olmes ’70) Etzel and her husband James Etzel ’68; four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

WILLIAM L. MILNER ’39 passed away Jan. 25, 2004. He had been living in Grove City.

EDWARD B. OLMES ’46 died March 6, 1999. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of

inmemory WWII and had been employed for several years as an accountant by Price-Waterhouse in South America. Later, he was a working partner for more than 40 years in the Olmes & Dickson CPA firm in Oil City, Pa., before retiring in 1994. He assisted his church, the Elks, the Masons and the American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Jakoba; two sons, including Donald “Rusty” Olmes ’73; two daughters; a brother, Major “Jim” Olmes ’43; six grandchildren and a great-grandson. CHARLES F. WIELAND ’46 died July 7, 2004. He was living in the Pittsburgh area and had a career in family and real estate law, establishing his own practice in Ross in the early 1970s. An Army WWII veteran, he earned three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. JAY E. PORSCH ’47 died April 15, 2004, in Grove City, where he was living. An Army Air Force veteran of WWII, he retired as general manager of Sterling Oil Division of Quaker State Oil Co. While employed, he was director of the Pittsburgh Automobile Association and chairman of Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania’s Executive Committee. He was also involved in the Masons, Shrine, Elks, Rotary and Boy Scouts. Surviving are his wife, Sarah Jane “Sally” (Good ’48) Porsch, two daughters, a son, a brother and four grandsons. SHIRLEY (YOUNG) RICHARDSON ’48 died Feb. 17, 2004, in Fort Myers, Fla. JOHN H. POTTS ’49 passed away Dec. 12, 2003. He was living in Delaware, Ohio. JOHN A. WHITEHEAD ’49 died Nov. 18, 2003. FRANK A. WOLOSZYN ’49 died Sept. 29, 2003, in Oil City, Pa. He served in the 15th Air Force during WWII. He had worked as a financial controller for Cooper-Bessemer, Alcan Aluminum and Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company before retiring. He is survived by two sons, including Raymond Woloszyn ’72, a daughter and three grandchildren. W. DAVID SMITH ’50 died Feb. 4, 2004. A WWII Navy veteran, he lived in Hilton Head Plantation, S.C., and retired from J&L Steel, LTV Corp. in 1983 after 33 years. He was superintendent of the open hearth converting department, superintendent of steel producing and assistant plant manager of the Aliquippa Works. Survivors include his wife, Bunny, a daughter and a brother. DAVID D. MCMASTER JR. ’51 died March 3, 2004. An Army WWII veteran, he was a social studies teacher at Francis Scott Key

Middle School in Springfield, Va., for 18 years until his retirement in 1985. Survivors are his wife, Alice, two sons and two grandsons. DR. JAMES R. CLIFFORD ’52 died May 19, 2004. He had a family medical practice in Emmaus, Pa., for 40 years before retiring in 1999. He was active with his church and the Masons. Survivors include his wife, Barbara, a son, a daughter, a sister and grandchildren. KATHRYN (BOAG) COLGROVE ’52 passed away June 6, 2004. She was living in San Diego, Calif. She taught high school students in Harborcreek, Pa., and Hayward, Calif., and adult students in El Cajon, Calif. She was a church organist, church choir member and volunteer receptionist at a homeless shelter. Surviving are her husband, Robert, a daughter, a son, a brother, six grandchildren and a sister, Jane (Boag ’75) Hershberger. THOMAS W. FLOHR ’53 died March 22, 2004. He retired from IBM Corp. after 25 years and was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He enjoyed gardening and antiquing. KENNETH H. JOHNS ’53 died Feb. 22, 2004. He was a long-time resident of Brighton Township, Pa., and retired from management at Crucible Steel in Midland. He loved to garden and was a member of Deer Trails Country Club. Survivors are his wife, Vivian, three sons, a sister and four grandchildren. LEW R. MATTHEWS ’53 died March 19, 2004. A long-time Grove City resident, he moved to Virginia Beach, Va., in February. He retired in 1989 after 35 years as a music teacher for Grove City Area Schools. He established the first handbell choir at Tower Presbyterian Church and served as its assistant organist and choir director. Surviving are his wife, Jean (Sticht ’53) Matthews; a son, Reed Matthews ’82, and his wife, Lee Rae (Symons ’83) Matthews; a brother and a granddaughter. JAMES D. KREIDLE ’55 died Sept. 11, 2003. He served in the Air Force Reserves from 1955-57 and worked in investment banking as senior vice president of George K. Baum and Company and president of the Municipal Bond Dealers Association of Colorado. Survivors include his wife, Zona, two sons, a daughter, two sisters and six grandchildren. KENNETH R. WATSON ’55 died March 26, 2004, in Bellefonte, Pa. He retired as a computer programmer for Raytheon of State College. Surviving are wife Jean, a daughter and son, sister Shirley (Watson ’54) Minshull, a brother and three granddaughters.

DAVID J. MCCLOSKEY ’61 died May 7, 2003. He was living in Aiea, Hawaii. He was a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander. Survivors include his wife, Claudia, and a son. NIEL J. JOHNSON ’62 died May 14, 2004. Survivors include two sons, a daughter, a sister, a brother and grandchildren. DOROTHY EILEEN (JONES) BELL ’64 died June 22, 2004. During a 35-year accounting career, she worked for Kennametal Inc. as the payroll manager. She was active in her church, serving as the organizer of the traveling ensemble, church pianist, choir member and finance committee member. Surviving are her husband, David, her mother, a daughter, two stepdaughters, a stepson, five grandchildren, a sister and a brother, Ronald Jones ’67. CHARLES W. ZINSSER JR. ’64 died Jan. 14, 2004. He was living in Pleasant Hills, Pa. CATHIE (WAGENHOUSER) SMITH ’67 died Dec. 15, 2003. She was one of the top women’s trapshooters in the history of the PSSA. She earned her way on 15 All State Teams, her last in 2001. She won the state handicap crown in 1984 and 1985. She also won the women’s HAA title in 1985 and two state women’s doubles titles, in 1977 and in 1984. She is survived by her husband, Clyde. GERALD L. CASHDOLLAR ’74 died May 27, 2004, at his York, Pa., home. He worked for Stauffer’s Biscuit Co. in York and was a member of the Optimists Club. Survivors include his wife, Brenda; two sons; a daughter; four stepdaughters; his parents, Oliver ’49 and Geraldine (Walker ’46) Cashdollar; two brothers, David Cashdollar ’71 and John Cashdollar ’79; nine grandchildren and a great-grandson. KENNETH B. WEISS JR. ’75 died June 6, 2004. He was living in Allentown, Pa., and was the chief financial officer for Bio Serv Inc., Frenchtown, N.J. He was also a youth soccer coach and president of the Stone Crest Swim Club. Surviving are his parents, a son, a sister and two brothers. JOHN D. MITCHELL ’79 passed away June 6, 2004. He was living in the Pittsburgh area. JOHN D. ORMEROD ’92 passed away Nov. 22, 2003. He was living in Crescent, Pa., and was a computer engineer for Alcoa Aluminum. Survivors include his parents and paternal grandmother. – DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

Thank You! For the first time in Grove City College history, alumni have reached an historic high for annual giving. By the end of the 2003-04 fiscal year, 22.21% of you, our alumni, gave $785,306, an increase of more than $215,000 over last year! Participation is up almost 4½% and the number of new donors more than doubled! Thanks to the generous support from alumni, Grove City College programs and scholarships that benefit students are growing every day.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

alumnibabies

Olivia Gabriela Alvarado Born 7-24-03 Marguerite (Myers ’94) and Luis Alvarado

Hannah Nanise Benson Born/adopted 10-30-03 Bryan ’95 and Heather (Johnson ’95) Benson

John Patrick “Jack” Bosic Born 8-7-03 John ’84 and Dorothy (Burt ’87) Bosic

Addie Elizabeth Burdick Born 6-15-03 Christina (Bryant ’99) and Nathan Burdick

Isaac Lee Busler Born 12-6-03 Melissa (Alkson ’99) and Shaun ’00 Busler

Cade Walter Cass Born 12-04-03 John ’94 and Anna (Brumbaugh ’93) Cass

Sophia Colonello Born 9-13-03 Alexis (Troian ’97) and Rick Colonello

Joshua Gillan Dreves Born 8-6-03 Michael ’97 and Susan (Gillan ’97) Dreves

Ryan Nicole Farneth Born 3-13-03 Drew ’97 and Angie Farneth

Sarah Feick Born 6-21-03 Stacey (Clark ’89) and Joseph Feick

Lillian Gail Fisher Born 7-12-03 Caren (Hiser ’92) and Wes Fisher

Micah Andrew Gaydos Born 12-20-03 Andrew ’97 and Laura (Otto ’98) Gaydos

Jeannette Sarah Graham Born 1-11-04 Wendy (Monroe ’89) and Bernie Graham

Nicholas Paul Guarendi Born 2-11-03 Christine (Wenger ’94) and Mike Guarendi

Congratulations New Parents! Grove City College welcomes your new bundle(s!) of joy.We want to send your newborn a Grove City T-shirt. So between the feedings and late-night lullabies, be sure to send the Alumni Relations Office your child’s name and date of birth. Shirts are available only in infant size. Due to the popularity of the Alumni Babies feature, photos will be limited to babies in GCC T-shirts only. Digital photos must be high resolution, 300 dpi. Send to Alumni Relations Office, Alumni Babies, 100 Campus Drive, Grove City, Pa. 16127 or alumni@gcc.edu.

– DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

alumnibabies

Braeden Nathan Harvey, born 6-9-03 Brielle Elizabeth Harvey, born 8-27-01 Nathan ’95 and Jennifer (Cassaday ’95) Harvey

Anna Olivia Hezlep Born 4-23-03 Bruce ’89 and Karen Hezlep

Michael Hower, born 7-10-03 Sophia Hower, born 2-27-02 Melissa (Haugh ’96) and Michael Hower

Tyler Charles Johnson Born 1-15-04 Chip ’92 and Alison Johnson

Joshua Seth Johnston Born 8-16-03 Matthew ’97 and Shelly (Boben ’97) Johnston

Connor William Leverton Born 11-7-03 Amy (Smith ’88) and Robert Leverton

Isaac Douglas Lewis Born 8-20-03 Steve ’91 and Jodi (McElhinny ’90) Lewis

Nathan Andrew Metzger Born 1-28-03 Diana (Bushless ’87) and Matthew Metzger

Amaris Elena Mineiro Born 1-12-04 Adrienne (Cates ’95) and Joe Mineiro

Emily Lane Moore Born 2-14-03 Laurie (Ecker ’95) and Rob Moore

Ashley Marie Mount Born 12-17-02 Douglas ’91 and Amy Mount

Benjamin Nichols Born 11-7-02 Jonathan ’00 and Alanna (Mack ’99) Nichols

Jaden Elizabeth Parker Born 3-25-03 Brenda (Booher ’94) and Jason Parker

Samuel J. Pfeifer Born 6-24-03 Mike ’86 and Michelle Pfeifer

Kalynn Radzanowski Born 11-12-02, Kris (Chestnut ’91) and Tom Radzanowski

Jacob Holden Reese Born 1-13-04 Frank ’97 and Jennifer (Schultz ’97) Reese

Ella Morgan Rerko Born 6-2-04 Rachel (Bowser ’99) and Neal Rerko

Grace Simone Rivera Born 11-4-02 Mallory (Egler ’90) and Miguel Rivera

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

alumnibabies

Camden Bryce Rockcastle Born 4-18-03 Christine (Willard ’95) and Nathaniel Rockcastle

Brett Wayne Rouda Born 3-10-03 Hope (Cousins ’87) and David Rouda

David James Roy Born 7-11-02 Scott ’86 and Teresa Roy

Zachariah Joseph Russell Born 10-19-03 Ted ’90 and Jennifer (Wilson ’89) Russell

Julia Christine Schaming Born 5-19-02 Bob ’89 and Sharon (Smedley ’89) Schaming

Grace Twyla Sabella, born 5-18-02 Lillian Carol Sabella, born 1-3-04 John ’01 and Melissa (Snowden ’02) Sabella

Ellie Marie Slezak Born 6-26-03 Connie (Martin ’92) and Mark Slezak

Amanda Ayleen Smith Born 1-19-04 Heidi (Riese ’96) and Conrad Smith

Xander Isaac Smith Born 10-2-02 Gregory ’97 and Erin (Landis ’98) Smith

Victoria Stewart Born 5-4-03 Matt ’97 and Caryn Stewart

Zoe Grace Tyson Born 3-26-04 Craig ’98 and Jenna (Freeman ’98) Tyson

Rebecca VanOrder Born 6-9-03 Gilbert ’92 and Wendy (Parkany ’95) VanOrder

Jake Matthew Walker Born 11-25-02 Matt ’94 and Kim Walker

Thomas David Wirant Born 1-18-03 Betsy (McClure ’88) and John Wirant

Alexander Nicholas Wood Born 6-1-03 Timothy ’93 and Michelle Wood

Kyle Young Born 5-5-03 Steve ’95 and Kris Young

Anna zurBurg Born 10-16-02 Rochelle (Schleef ’91) and Kurt zurBurg

Tiffeni Patrick ’97 and Dominique Aiken ’97 roomed together for four years at Grove City College and now their children are getting to know each other. At left is R. Lucas Furman, son of Tiffeni and Robert Furman. At right is Jadyn L. Newman, daughter of Dominique and Fabian Newman. – DUNK theG e

Fall 2004

From the last cover… As an update from the Spring 2004 GeDUNK with a medical theme, Dr. Amy (Rice ’81) Young recently welcomed a new doctor to her Warren, Ohio, practice. This improves her working schedule, allowing her to spend more time with Daniel, 7, Ken, 12, and Colleen, who is starting her junior year in high school. Amy and husband Dave ’81 are keeping their fingers crossed that Colleen will look at Grove City in her college search.

The women’s tennis team, under the interim coaching of Joe Walters this fall, began training camp Aug. 23. The Lady Wolverines are returning all but one starter and are hungry for their 18th consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship. Here, tennis team hopefuls run morning drills on the first day of camp. / Photo by Amy Clingensmith ’96

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