Spotlight Spring 2020

For Alumni and Friends of Hornet Nation

Spring 2020

A RICH LEGACY

After Over 50 Years of Teaching and Mentoring Students, Iconic Professor John Rich Announces His Retirement

Community Events

Planning to visit campus?

Why not check out some things happening in the community, too!

APRIL 14

The Taste � Postponed White Auditorium

APRIL 23

Sybarites EAC’s Davis Theatre

MAY 2

OCTOBER 30

Historic Haunted Tours

OCTOBER 31

La Grind Bike Race

MAY 16

Flatland Cruisers Car Show

MAY 30

Dirty Kanza 200 Bike Race & Finish Line Party

JULY 10

PDGA Junior World’s Player Party

AUGUST 17

Welcome Back Block Party

SEPTEMBER 12

Great American Market

Managing Editors Lindsay Thompson lthomp15@emporia.edu

Dia de Los Muertos Festival & Parade

Laurie Pitman lpitman@emporia.edu

NOVEMBER 28

Design & Layout Ryan O’Meara romeara@emporia.edu

Small Business Saturday

Photography Dustin Michelson dmichels@emporia.edu

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

MAY 2-3

For Alumni and Friends of Hornet Nation

At the time Spotlight went to print, the coronavirus situation was rapidly evolving. The status of many of these events may have changed. Please consult the calendars of Emporia Main Street and the Emporia Art Center for the most current information about these events.

Emporia Main Street emporiamainstreet.com 620.340.6430 Emporia Art Council Emporiaksarts.org 620.343.6473

Below, the start of the 2019 Dirty Kanza 200, shot from the roof of Plumb Hall.

Spotlight on Alumni Gracie Dautel (CS) alumni@emporia.edu Contributors Lindsey Bartlett Curtis Becker Bethany Bowman Kate Kreiman Lindsay Thompson Editorial Committee Tyler Curtis (BSE 2001, MS 2004) Kelly Heine (BFA 2001) Shane Shivley (BSB 2000) Emporia State University President Allison Garrett

Contents 3

From Uncertain Undergrad to Parkinson’s Disease Researcher

4

Heart of Glass

6

Diversity Means Everyone

8

2010 National Championship Brings Lifelong Friendships, Memories to Lady Hornets

12

Providing Healthcare Professionals for the Future

Associate Vice President for University Advancement Jennifer Denton (MBA 2016)

14

A Home Built for Hornets by Hornets

Assistant Vice President for University Advancement Tyler Curtis (BSE 2001, MS 2004)

16

A Rich Legacy

Director of Alumni Relations Jose Feliciano Jr.

19

Using History to Find Hope

20

Distinguished Alumni

21

Outstanding Recent Graduates

22

Spotlight on Alumni

30

In Memoriam

Foundation President Shane Shivley (BSB 2000)

Foundation Board of Trustees Chairperson Russ Everhart (BSB 1990, MS 1996) Alumni Association Board of Directors President Brenda Vogts (BSE 1981) Spotlight is the magazine of Hornet Nation, consisting of more than 72,000 alumni and friends of Emporia State University. The Emporia State University Alumni Association and Emporia State Foundation, 1500 Highland St., Emporia, KS 66801-5018, publish Spotlight twice a year.

Third class postage is paid from Liberty, Mo. Publication number 708440.

Contact Information Spotlight 1500 Highland Street, Emporia, KS 66801-5018 620-341-5440

4

8

Postmaster, send address corrections to Alumni Association, 1500 Highland Street, Emporia, KS 66801-5018 Volume 49, Number 2

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

16

spring 2020

1

Alumni Events Spring 2020 APRIL

Dr. John Rich Retirement Reception Postponed Sauder Alumni Center

MAY

SEPTEMBER

ESU Booth at the Kansas State Fair September 11-20 Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson, KS

KC Golf Tournament Postponed Falcon Lakes Golf Course, Basehor KS

Summervill’s Fan Fair September 11 � 5:30pm Kansas State Fairgrounds, Encampment Building, Hutchinson, KS

JUNE

Emporia Connection Reunion September 18-19 Emporia, KS

Chicken N Pickle June 7 � 2pm Wichita, KS Volunteer Appreciation June 20 � Noon Memorial Union, Webb Hall

AUGUST

Welcome Back Block Party August 17 � 5:30pm Emporia, KS Don Edwards Golf Classic August 22 � 9am Sand Creek Station, Newton, KS

OCTOBER

Homecoming October 23-24 Black & Gold Gala October 23 � 6pm Memorial Union,Webb Hall

DECEMBER

Winter Commencement December 11-12 For a complete list of and updates on alumni events,please visit emporia.edu/alumnievents At the time Spotlight went to print, the coronavirus situation was rapidly evolving. ESU is taking steps to mitigate the risks for contracting the virus, which has resulted in the cancellation or postponement of many spring events occurring in March and April, perhaps extending into May. These plans are designed to help our constituents practice social distancing, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.” Please stay tuned as we manage this situation and provide updates for rescheduling these postponed activities.

Stay safe and healthy, Hornets!

From Uncertain Undergrad to Parkinson’s Disease Researcher “I never thought I would become a scientist or get a Ph.D. in this field,” says Hanna Kim (BS 2009-Integrated Studies; MS 2012-Zoology, Biology) of her career.

As an undergrad, Kim enjoyed studying various subjects like human anatomy and physiology under Dr. Melissa Bailey and biology and endocrinology under Dr. Lynette Sievert, both professors of Biological Sciences, but didn’t think her life would take the path of a scientist. It wasn’t until she started to pursue her master’s degree, delving deeper into physiology and toxicology, that Kim became serious about science. “Dr. Bailey inspired me, gave me confidence in my abilities in the field of science and encouraged me to pursue a Ph.D.,” says Kim of her former professor.

While studying at ESU, Kim also played violin in the orchestra and string quartet after encouragement from Dr. James Starr. “Playing music helped me enjoy ESU life, and Dr. Starr inspired me not only with music but with confidence,” shares Kim. This confidence led Hanna Kim to pursue a Ph.D. in Neurobiology at the University of Alabama. It was here that Kim would be part of a group of scientists making discoveries regarding Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s currently has no known cure, but the scientists Kim worked alongside made a breakthrough in the future of treating Parkinson’s. “While in the Caldwell lab at the University of Alabama, we found a novel small molecule from soil bacteria, which causes dopaminergic neurodegeneration in C. elegans and fruit flies.” (C. elegans or Caenorhabditis elegans are a free-living, transparent nematode, about 1 mm in length that live in temperate soil environments.)

“Studying with this molecule on Parkinson’s is allowing us to develop new approaches on the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s, and to ask deeper mechanistic questions. Moreover, understanding of the disease mechanisms will provide targeting for the prevention, or treatment of, Parkinson’s Disease,” says Kim. Kim is now a postdoctoral fellow for Pfizer in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she is studying drug discovery relating to anorexia and weight loss neurocircuits in cancer models. She switched from neurobiology to metabolic disorders concerning heart and muscle defects while at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. This enables her to have a broad research background, and to help understand complex disease mechanisms. Hanna Kim’s goal is revealing therapeutic targets for devastating diseases and helping patients and their families.

Kim’s time at ESU not only took her on the path to becoming a scientist, but it was also where she met her husband, Do-Kyong Kim (BS 2012-Biology). They studied biology together at ESU then went on to get their Ph.D. degrees together at the University of Alabama.

Her husband currently works in biotech as a scientist developing cancer drugs.

For Hanna Kim and many others like her, Emporia State played an essential role in developing her knowledge and confidence, both professionally and personally. The important research she has already done and will continue to do is a perfect example of the way ESU empowers its students to discover their life’s mission and make the world better for everyone in it.

2

spring 2020

3

In addition to Martin and Eichenberg’s close instruction, the students benefit from a mentorship environment on two levels. Firstly, they help one another. “Upper-class members are partnered with beginning level students in the shop to aid in their development and provide mentorship. This broad survey approach to process and technique requires a student to explore multiple systems while developing new technical skills,” says Martin. It also creates beautiful friendships and a sense of family.

f o t r a e H

“When I think back on my experience, the first thing that comes to mind is the community of people that I spent nearly every day with for almost 5 years. From professors to classmates, we became family by the end. We learned the good, the bad and the ugly of this temperamental material together and I will never forget that.

The many hours secluded at the bottom of the hill at the art annex were truly some of the best times of my life,” says Kristin Elliot, now the Coldworker at The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washinton as well as Owner and Coldworker at Grit City Coldworks in Tacoma, Washington.

The other mentorship they receive comes from a robust visiting artist program that brings in three to four artists a year. Says Martin, “This is a highly popular and important aspect of the program, providing students with professional contacts and handson working experience with artists from all over the country. It further expands the program’s educational offerings and provides students with exposure to more cutting edge glass processes and techniques.”

For artists who are interested in glass-forming, Emporia State University is the place to study. With the only university art concentration in glass in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado or Oklahoma, the university boasts a BFA concentration that is over 30 years old and that has produced numerous alumni who are working at the top of the field.

The concentration is a broad survey of methodology, providing instruction in hot sculpting, blowing, furnace casting, kiln casting, mixed media and cold working. Taught by professors Patrick Martin and Roberta Eichenberg, what these select students experience in the hot shop at the Art Annex on the ESU campus is a world where technical discipline and wild creativity merge. It is also a place where collaboration is essential.

Martin describes his approach this way. “A collaborative working environment is a primary ingredient for glass students to effectively learn, develop their technical skills, and to find their own creative vision. This eclectic approach can also lead to much larger group projects and culminate in hot glass performances and installation work that allow students to explore their ideas on a grand scale.”

The need for artists to function as a team is not a requirement of all mediums, but for glass, it is an enormous part of the learning experience and the work. Says Christa Westbrook, Studio Technician and Studio Coordinator for the Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, New York, “One of the biggest challenges for most glass artists in the beginning, including myself, is learning how to work with a larger amount of glass, which isn't only heavier and harder to turn the blowpipe, but also making it much hotter to work with. Learning how to "hack the heat", protecting yourself from harm and working with a team you could communicate with was super crucial in the hot shop to being safe and productive.

Going to school for glassmaking at ESU helped build my confidence as well as my communication skills. These are skills I still use every day in my current career as The Studio Coordinator at the Corning Museum of Glass.”

4

“I often think back about how lucky I was to be part of such an open and experimental environment at such a key developmental stage for me artistically.”

Jason Forck, Creative Projects Director for the Pittsburgh Glass Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, points out how valuable those influences were in his career development. “I was able to not only benefit from Patrick and Roberta's wealth of knowledge, but the additional international visiting artists they continuously brought in were some of the earliest professional contacts I made. I often think back about how lucky I was to be part of such an open and experimental environment at such a key developmental stage for me artistically.”

There is one more vital component to the instruction that Martin and Eichenberg offer – an open-minded willingness to face new challenges. Says Nick Davis, Lead Technician at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, “I walked away from ESU with a problem-solving approach to making that doesn’t limit me to the skills I have at any given moment. With community and ingenuity, I can find or figure out a solution to most any creative hurdle. This has served me well in my life since Emporia State as I have become a part of a worldwide glass community. Happening upon this program is likely the most influential event on the course of my life. The people who taught me and the people I learned with are family. I continue to meet and work with people who came out of the program after me who are a testament to the continued richness of the program.”

Kristin Elliot agrees. “Now that I've been in the glass world outside of academia for nearly 10 years, I realize how lucky I was to have gotten my degree at Emporia State University. Not only did we learn about glass as a whole, we were taught about what it would take to be successful in the glass environment after college. Professors Patrick Martin and Roberta Eichenberg would be my main reason for recommending this program. Their dedication to teaching is something I will forever be grateful for. They taught me the importance of a strong work ethic, the ability to problem-solve and how to be an active member of a team. All of which has gotten me to where I am today.”

spring 2020

5

DIVERSITY MEANS veryone

E

AN INTERVIEW WITH ESU CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER DR. ASWAD ALLEN

“It is important that voices are valued, not necessarily because of position, or power, or formal authority, but for what a person has to contribute. When we operate that way, we have opportunities to include different voices in different ways, which leads to better outcomes overall. This all comes together when we think about what we want ESU to be – how we want to create a welcoming environment for working and learning, for everyone.”

When Dr. Aswad Allen talks about his work promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, he distills it into big concepts like this. His tone is gentle, and he chooses his words carefully. The importance he places on clear communication is evident. So is his passion for his work.

Following a nationwide search last summer, Dr. Allen joined Emporia State University as the chief diversity officer, for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He came from the University of Colorado where he served as assistant dean for their School of Education and Human Development, Diversity, Inclusion and Student Engagement and special assistant to the vice-chancellor for Student Affairs. Dr. Allen has had a long career in the field and many of his positions were inaugural. He is well versed in building structures and networks necessary to help an institution understand its strengths and weaknesses when it comes to providing space for all voices, and opportunity for all members of a university community.

“The number one challenge is raising the level of awareness. Are we aware that we have this much difference in culture and context, ways of living and ideals? None of it is necessarily right or wrong, it just is. Are we preparing ourselves to engage in that work?” Engagement is the cornerstone of what his work at Emporia State entails. He does not see his function as creating rules and enforcing them, but as one of a facilitator, helping everyone in the campus community acknowledge and respect one another’s perspectives.

As part of his role, Dr. Allen sparks conversation and leads situational exercises to encourage meaningful discussion that can lead to change. “Those types of activities, I have found, provide a safe, controlled experience for groups to have a common point of reference, not only in terms of self-reflection but group reflection.

When you have common ground established, you can springboard into more complex, concrete institutional issues. Activities can give participants a window into emotional states other people experience in real-life situations, creating ‘aha’ moments of understanding.”

“Activities help us realize what skills we may need in terms of how to talk to each other. While this does not directly address deeper elements of diversity necessarily, language plays a big role in how we begin the work. Two people can say the same thing and have two totally different meanings. It happens all the time. Creating common rules that we are willing to follow in our community regarding respect and consideration, dignity and civility, as we talk is an important step in the right direction.”

6

Dr. Allen stresses that everyone in the university community is essential to this work. It isn’t the sole province of minority groups.

“If you just think, what does diversity, equity and inclusion mean to you, that’s a good question. Some will say ‘it is important to me and these are the reasons why’, while others will say ‘it doesn’t mean anything to me because I’m not part of that.’ But they actually are, because it includes everybody. Diversity means everyone. That’s exactly what it means. Everyone.”

Dr. Allen is clear that including everyone in the conversation does not mean that we allow the difference of experiences attached to disadvantaged communities to become diluted or discounted. “When we talk about everyone, it’s important that we don’t lose the essence of difference and why it’s important to consider those differences.”

“Part of the work involved in focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion involves resetting the conversation, especially since those terms often evoke different meanings to different people.

It has become code for divisiveness and exclusion, the opposite of what it was originally intended for. We have to dismantle the misinformation and misunderstanding to get to the work itself.”

Dr. Allen is clear that the work will be challenging at times, but it is essential to arriving at where we want to be as a university, changing lives for the common good.

“This work requires us to have passion. It requires us to have belief.

It requires us to have values. It doesn’t require us to agree on every element of diversity and inclusion and equity. It does, however, require us to recognize that we are all having a human experience and to appreciate and respect that.” Dr. Allen goes on to say, “If we can get to a place of common understanding, we are more likely to be able to work together. I never said ‘agree’ though. I said ‘understand and work together.’ Work together for a common goal to create a healthy working and learning environment for all. It’s our goal to prepare whoever comes to ESU with the equipment they need to be placed anywhere on the planet and be successful with anybody they work with. That’s the big idea.”

“When we talk about everyone, it’s important that we don’t lose the essence of difference and why it’s important to consider those differences.”

spring 2020

7

2010 National Championship Brings Lifelong Friendships, Memories to Lady Hornets

The Road to the National Championship

March 26, 2020, marks 10 years since the Emporia State Women’s Basketball team became National Champions.

Ten years since Lady Hornet Basketball started to mean even more all across the country. Our community of roughly 25,000 people always knew just how great this program was, but now America knew. It set a standard for Lady Hornet Basketball and many players to follow.

“The MIAA is the best Division II conference in the country,” Boston said. “It just goes to show that night in, night out you have to come to play.”

On February 8, 2020, Emporia State celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the national championship, where current Head Coach Toby Wynn addressed the former players in attendance.

“Thank you for setting the bar, for making the plays that you did, and for doing what you did for this community.

Now, we’re just trying to protect the tradition.”

Used to Winning The New York Times, one of the most established publications in the United States, called the Lady Hornets “a perennial power” with “the sort of storied tradition that drips trophies.” A program that, as of today, has been ranked in the Top 25 of the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll for 23 consecutive seasons. The Lady Hornets have been in the Coaches Top 25 a total of 283 weeks since first appearing in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have been in the top 10 for a WBCA Division II record 190 weeks. They have won seven MIAA regular-season championships and nine MIAA Tournament titles.

The winning tradition of the Lady Hornets is appealing to players during the recruiting process.

“The reason I became a Lady Hornet is because of the strong winning tradition,” said former Lady Hornet All-American Cassondra Boston (BS 09-Accounting, MBA 11-Accounting and Business Administration). “I knew I wanted to go somewhere I could win.”

Lady Hornet basketball was without a doubt a perennial powerhouse program, but until 2010 had no national title.

On March 26, 2010, that changed.

8

“Winning a national championship was pretty amazing,” said Brittany Miller (BS 12-Biology and Environmental Biology). “A hard-working group of coaches and women brought recognition to the school and the program.”

“An incredible group of young women did something on the court that had never been done at ESU before,” former Head Coach Brandon Schneider said.

The run to the national championship title wasn’t easy.

The 2009-2010 team was comprised of 13 players, from six different sates, and began the season in dominant fashion, winning their first five games by an average of 34 points. At the start of MIAA conference play, the Lady Hornets were stunned in a road matchup at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville—with their first loss of the season falling to the Bearcats, 88-76.

The team got back on track after being defeated in Maryville, rattling off 14 straight wins all the while climbing the national rankings.

The month of February tested the Lady Hornets. Emporia State fell three times in a span of three weeks, bringing their record to 22-4 heading into the MIAA Conference Tournament in Kansas City.

Facing Adversity “I vividly remember losing at Pitt State,” Boston said. “That was a huge turning point for our team. I didn’t play well; we didn’t play very well as a team.”

At the MIAA Tournament, Emporia State defeated Fort Hays State in the first round, setting up a rematch with the Jennies of Central Missouri, but it was no storybook ending for the Lady Hornets, not yet anyway. The Jennies escaped with a 79-74 victory over Emporia State, erasing any MIAA Tournament Championship hopes for ESU. Fortunately, the season wasn’t over for the Lady Hornets as they received an at-large bid to the National Tournament.

“I never won an MIAA championship in my four years,” Boston said. “It was one of those points where we realized ‘Hey, we get to continue on, and we have to make the most of it.’

Making the Most of It The Lady Hornets did just that. Their first stop was in Canyon, Texas, to take on Tarleton, West Texas A&M, and Northeastern State. ESU won by 19, 7, and 31 points respectively, earning themselves a trip back a little closer to home for the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Missouri.

While many of the Lady Hornet’s faithful fans traveled down south to Texas, even more were able to make the trip to St. Joseph.

spring 2020

9

Elite Eight

Leaving a Legacy

“I remember being in the locker room and knew they let the front doors of the arena open because you could just hear everyone coming in,” Lady Hornet Lacy Corker (BS 10-Accounting, MS 12-Health, Physical Education & Recreation) said. “At the moment, I thought, ‘This is real.’ It was just chills.”

The 2010 National Championship team certainly left their mark on Emporia State. Ten years later, many members of the team agree however, that the ESU women’s basketball program made a lasting impact on them.

“Being an athlete is short-lived. Through the wins and losses, tough practices, and injuries, the word perseverance comes to mind,” Miller said. “That’s something I take with me throughout my entire life.”

Emporia State opened the Elite Eight with a 91-85 win over Michigan Tech and advanced to the semifinal, a matchup with the number one ranked team in the country, Gannon University of Erie, Pennsylvania.

While life after ESU has taken the 2010 national championship team members down many paths, the growth and lessons learned are not forgotten.

A back and forth game almost the entire way, shots began to fall for Gannon, and they took an 18-point lead with just over eight minutes to play.

“Coming to Emporia State as a freshman, I was really young and really shy,” Boston said. “I grew as a person and found myself. The friendships that I have made on the team are lasting friendships.

It’s an experience I don’t think I would have gotten anywhere else.”

“They were really playing with a lot of rhythm,” Coach Schneider said. “Carving us up to be quite honest.”

The coaching staff made a defensive adjustment in a timeout and after some huge shots by members, the Lady Hornets tied the score, taking the game to overtime.

“The values I learned from my coaches helped shape me, not only into a great basketball player, but also into a great human,” Volkens said.

“It was incredible,” Miller said. “Watching the film still gives me chills. A lot of us still reminisce. It was all about believing in each other. It is something that we will never forget.”

“We all still meet up, communicate and keep up with each other,” Miller said. “It was the most competitive, lay it all out on the court, selfless group of girls.”

ESU and Gannon battled it out close in overtime, with the Lady Hornets taking the 97-94 victory.”

“We trusted each other; we played for each other,” said Lady Hornet Alli Volkens (BS 11-Pre-Physical Therapy and Biology). “That’s what got us the win.”

The Coaches “That was the game I remember the most out of the NCAA tournament, even more than the national game,” Boston said. “We were down so much and found a way to fight back. In my mind, I always knew we were in the game. We just stuck together and were able to pull out the win.”

The Lady Hornets quickly set their sights on the National Championship game the next night. With the number one team already knocked off, it was number six Fort Lewis College of Durango, Colorado, standing in the way of the National title.

The game saw seven ties and four lead changes, but the Lady Hornets never trailed by more than six. ESU found its rhythm in the second half and secured its first national championship with a 65-53 win.

Both former Head Coach Brandon Schneider and Assistant Coach Jory Collins (BS 02-Elementary Education, MS 07-Educational Administration) who led the team to victory in 2010 are now leading the way in Division I programs.

“One of the things I’ll always remember about this team is how connected they were,” Schneider said. “That chemistry really propelled them to the national championship.”

“Thinking back 10 years ago, sometimes you get a group that’s really special. It’s been so fun to see this group grow from college athletes into the impressive people they have become,” said Collins.

“You will forever be National Champions,” said Coach Schneider to his team.

“I don’t know what the Civic Center holds, but it had to be 95 percent Emporia State fans,” Coach Schneider said. “It wasn’t a game we were going to lose.”

In a balanced scoring attack, Volkens led the way with 16 points. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the National Tournament.

“Ten years later, it kind of hits you,” Volkens said. “In the moment, you think it’s a team sport, and I did everything I could for my team.

It will be pretty cool to be able to tell my daughter I was the MVP of the National Tournament.”

Boston and Miller were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Freshman Rachel Hanf (BSB 14-Marketing) was a leading scorer in the Title game, with 15 points.

“I went into the game trying to contribute in any way that I could,” Hanf said. “That’s all that I really wanted to do. We had upperclassmen who were great leaders, and I’m glad to have been part of that team.”

“We all just pushed each other,” Miller said. “It was such a special year, and we were a tight-knit group. Something I’ll never forget.”

10

spring 2020

11

PROVIDING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FOR THE Future EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY SEES CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THEIR NURSING AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS Educating nurses is nothing new to Emporia State University. The Department of Nursing has been preparing registered nurses for almost a hundred years. The department began as the Newman Hospital School of Nursing in 1922; it then transitioned from a diploma program to a bachelor’s in nursing degree (BSN) with Emporia State in 1990, as the Newman Division of Nursing. In 2014, the program transitioned fully as a BSN program through Emporia State University.

With nationwide nursing shortages, quality nurses are in high demand and will continue to be so well into the future. Emporia State University has continued to expand its nursing program to meet demands. In 1990, the nursing program admitted 20-30 students and only allowed entry in the fall term. Now, in 2020, the program admits around 50 students, and they can enter the program at either the fall semester or the spring semester. Dr. Linda AdamsWendling Ph.D., chair of the nursing department and a 2020 Icon of Education (Ingrams), who is affectionately known as Dr. Linda, illustrates the growth in the program over the years, saying, “to put it in perspective, in 2013 when I became the chair of the nursing program, we had around 112 students enrolled in the program. This spring, there are almost 200 students in the program.” Admission into a nursing program is very competitive, and some students can wait up to two years for admission to a quality program.

Part of the nursing program’s success has come from the faculty’s commitment to its students. “The goal is to ensure that all nursing faculty are certified as nurse educators with the credential CNE through the National League for Nursing. This is a measure of quality in a nurse educator,” says Dr. Linda.

Emporia State’s nursing program is excellent. ESU nurses are successful thanks to outstanding faculty, curriculum focused on clinical experiences and access to state-of-the-art simulation labs and equipment. The ESU nursing program is accredited through Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Hornets have a National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) first-time pass rate of 94% for the past six years. This is well above state (82.46%) and national (85.9%) averages. Passing the NCLEXRN exam is a requirement before graduates can begin to practice as a nurse.

12

Recently, the program received a significant gift from the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Testamentary Trust to provide improvements and technology upgrades to the Jones Lab. New hospital beds and carts, several Computers on Wheels (COWs) for electronic medical record training, new intravenous pumps, intramuscular simulation equipment, headboards with assessment equipment, as well as additional clinical equipment were purchased with the gift.

ESU Responding to Growing Health Care Needs

With the creation of a new degree program, ESU is expanding the choices available to Hornets pursuing health care careers. Working with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Brent Thomas, a Health Care Advisory Committee was established at the university.

The purpose of this committee is to bring together all of the departments that have health care related courses and/or degrees.

Each of these programs has a representative on the advisory committee. A virtual health care college is also in the works.

As the result of generous philanthropic support, Emporia State now offers a Pre-Medical Fellowship. Recipients are high school seniors who plan to follow a pre-med pathway when they enter college at ESU. They are given $2,500 a year guaranteed for four years as long as they maintain a specific grade point average and continue in a pre-med program throughout their college career. For Dean Thomas, the best part about giving out these fellowships is going to the high schools and having a signing for the students. The signing is similar to an athletic signing, with parents and teachers in attendance. It also gives Emporia State faculty a chance to recruit for the university.

As the health care industry continues to grow and change, Emporia State University rises to the challenge of meeting the demands of the industry. The Department of Nursing has been going strong for almost a hundred years, and it will see continued success, for its students and ultimately for the patients they will serve for many more years to come.

Additionally, the Loretto A. Langley Charitable Trust has provided funding since 2009 for the program to purchase 9 high-fidelity simulators to enhance student learning. These simulators allow faculty to teach students to use higher-order problem solving, clinical judgment, and critical thinking in a safe environment.

The most recent simulator acquisitions include virtual reality simulations so students can see the physiology related to the birthing process and other clinical scenarios. Emporia State is one of the first nursing programs in Kansas to have this technology available for its students. A few years ago, in partnership with Newman Regional Health, a simulation hospital was opened in the vacated ICU at Newman. This hospital now has a simulator in each room and allows for multiple patient simulations in an environment that resembles a real-life nursing unit.

Along with updates to these labs, the nursing program has received approval for a new master’s program in nursing. This program anticipates accepting students during academic year 2021 and will be available completely online. Students in the program can choose one of three concentrations: nursing education, nursing administration, or a blended track that combines nurse educator and nurse administration concentrations together. These concentrations also have a focus on rural health care, which is a specialty. Dr. Linda states, “Rural nurse educators and nurse managers must be generalists and not specialists, thus able to address clinical and managerial situations across the lifespan versus the city or urban nurse who would routinely focus on a specialty (e.g., cardiac, emergency, pediatrics, etc.).

Emporia State has a long history of excellence as it relates to the nursing field, and is positioned to carry that tradition far in to the future.

spring 2020

13

A BUILT FOR HORNETS,

BY HORNETS THE NEW BREIDENTHAL UNIVERSITY HOUSE RE-ENVISIONS THE PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE CAMPUS In December of 2019, Emporia State’s newest completed facility, the Breidenthal University House, became the residence of President Allison Garrett and her husband Chip. The facility is a fusion of a private residence and a meeting/entertainment space for faculty, staff, students, alumni and university events. This is a home for all of Hornet Nation where connections will be made and relationships will be fostered for the good of Emporia State students.

Entirely funded by alumni and friends, Breidenthal University House stands in celebration of the traditions of Emporia State University and of those who strive to advance our beloved alma mater. The home is named for Trustee Emeritus George Breidenthal, Jr., BA 1972, who was a dear friend and lifelong supporter of Emporia State.

George believed life is about experiences. He was a world traveler who brought joy and his unique sense of humor to everything he touched. With a tremendous passion for education, music, and athletics, and a heart for philanthropy, George bled black and gold. The impact he has had on Emporia State and our students will be felt for generations to come.

May all occasions celebrated here be inspired by George’s legacy and serve as a reminder to take the trip, go to the concert, enjoy the game, make time for friends, go to the reunion, be the yell leader, and forever share your Hornet pride.

14

With Gratitude For Extraordinary Gifts From

Breidenthal Foundation Carolyn Langenwalter-Walter Bobbi & Steve Sauder Mitchell-Markowitz Construction, Inc. Dedicated November 2, 2019

spring 2020

15

A RICH LEGACY After Over 50 Years of Teaching and Mentoring Students, Iconic Professor John Rich Announces His Retirement

More than half a century has passed since Dr. John Rich first came to Emporia State University (then Kansas State Teachers College).

Many things have changed since then but one thing has remained constant, Dr. John Rich has been devoted to helping students prepare for their careers and their lives. His commitment to his students’ success is evident when examining the outpouring of support to an endowed professorship in Dr. Rich’s honor, the Dr. John C. Rich Distinguished Accounting Professorship, established in 2017.

The Human Development Business

School of Business Dean Ed Bashaw points out that this professorship was primarily funded by former students who were able to achieve successful careers in no small part because of Dr. Rich. The professorship created in Rich’s honor will continue the spirit of his work, by providing important resources to supplement the salary of a designated accounting faculty member at Emporia State University and for student professional development.

“I'm an accountant, but really I'm in the human development business…seeing kids grow and develop and to be able to impact or influence that a little bit is what has given my life meaning and fulfillment.”

How It All Began

John Rich arrived in Emporia from Stillwater, Oklahoma, due to a few coincidences. At that time, Rich didn’t plan to spend his career at Emporia State—he really hadn’t even planned to come, but in retrospect, he’s glad he did.

“I came here in 1968; I was 22 years old [and] had a master’s degree…from Oklahoma State.”

Rich was working as an auditor at OSU. His boss, Bob Clark, had previously been on faculty at KSTC in Emporia and recommended Rich for a position teaching accounting.

“I didn't have a car. Clark brought me up here. I never intended to stay. I thought I would stay for two or three years and then go get my doctorate and go off to some big-time school, [but] circumstances happened.”

Part of what happened was the Vietnam War. Dr. Rich was drafted and left KSTC after teaching only one year. That could have been the end of his time in Emporia. Luckily for many generations of students, it wasn’t.

After two years in the army, Dr. Rich returned to KSTC and teaching. His time in the army and a few years at the University of North Texas for his Ph.D. were his only years away from Emporia.

Said Rich of Emporia State, “I liked it here and eventually…over time, it just really became home…I just felt really comfortable.”

Dr. Rich has been an instructor, professor, associate dean, interim dean, department chair, and even acting assistant vice president of Academic Affairs. Through all of that, he has always been a teacher who values his relationship with students and views preparing students for the next step as his paramount responsibility. As a result, Dr. John Rich has built amazing relationships with students over the past 52 years.

“I'm an accountant, but really I'm in the human development business… seeing kids grow and develop and to be able to impact or influence that a little bit is what has given my life meaning and fulfillment.”

16

Dr. Rich’s own undergraduate years were transformative for him, and he wanted that for his students.

“I see myself in a lot of our students,” Rich explains. “I was a firstgeneration college student, and I think we change the paradigm of students’ lives taking them out of a working-class or bluecollar environment [and moving them to] more of a professional environment where they use different skills.”

ESU alumnus Tony Forcum (BSB 1973-Accounting) says his lifelong career was shaped by this mentorship. “I graduated from a very small high school in a small town in Kansas and was the first person in either of my parents' families to go to college. I really did not know what to expect. To complicate matters further, my wife and I were married over Christmas break my freshman year, and I shortly thereafter started working nights full-time at the new Iowa Beef plant on the west side of town. In the span of six months, I had gone from a sheltered, relatively organized, small-town rural Kansas lifestyle to a more complicated, faster-paced, ‘big city’ life in Emporia that came with significantly changed objectives and expectations.”

“I wasn't a very good student because I looked at the process of getting a degree as simply a means to an end, and at times, I thought the ‘process’ was too slow. John became a willing ‘father figure’ who helped keep me grounded and focused on the purpose of the process and the prize of a career at the end. I am confident that ‘but not for’ his patience, guidance, professionalism, friendship, and unlimited willingness to mentor a student pretty lost-in-the-woods at times, I would not ever have finished my degree and had the successful 40year career I had at Deloitte.”

Tatum Graves (BSB 2019-Accounting), a current graduate student at ESU, said, “Dr. Rich is one of the most caring, kind, and intelligent professors I have ever had. Dr. Rich not only teaches his students the accounting fundamentals that we need to understand—the ‘how's’ and ‘why's’ of accounting—but he also helps us establish ourselves early in our career. Whatever route we choose, he enables his students to interact and connect with established professionals who could potentially assist in getting us hired.”

Graves explains Dr. Rich’s ability to influence his students. “Dr. Rich also treats every one of his students with a lot of respect and always acts with humility. I think that this rubs off on students and impacts them in a positive way. He is willing to help students in any way he can. Many of his students, including me, value his advice and encouragement in our decision-making that can be overwhelming early in our careers. His students take with them the idea that if they respect others and are kind and sincere, it will help them go places.”

Graves’s sentiment is echoed by countless former students. ESU alumnus Randall Steinert (BSB 1979-Accounting, Business Administration) said of Dr. Rich, “He truly embraced his profession and it showed through his development of so many young people who have gone on to be productive and successful people throughout society. Besides being a professor, he was also a friend to his students. A trait that is not typical to replicate in today’s world. John Rich had a significant impact on my life, and I am truly grateful for having the privilege of knowing him, first as a professor, then as the Xi Phi advisor, and now as a friend for over 40 years.”

spring 2020

17

Terry Young (BSB 1985-Accounting) credits Dr. Rich with being a role model. “My husband Mark and I were both so blessed to have had Dr. Rich as both a professor and as a mentor and can say without a doubt that he had a profound impact on our professional lives. Not only did he teach us the technical aspects of being an accountant, but he was the example of professionalism that so many students over the years have admired. As a student, Dr. Rich was genuinely concerned about how we were doing and always went above and beyond to do what he could to help us be successful. That same care and concern followed us into our professional lives.”

In addition to looking out for students in his program, he also served as the Faculty Athletic Representative for 23 years. Through this role, he provided his trademark guidance and support to student-athletes as well.

“Dr. Rich was a supportive and visible Faculty Athletic Representative. He spoke to student-athletes at the beginning of each academic year to help us navigate NCAA rules, and he was likely to be in the stands at athletics events cheering us on. I am fortunate to consider him a mentor, and he was one of the first people that encouraged me to pursue an MBA after I completed my BMB degree,” says former ESU women’s tennis player, Kirsten Ford (BS 2011-Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, MBA 2013-Business Administration), now Associate Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Countless students and former students feel that Rich’s approach has been a large part of their success. They feel he values them and considers their future to be important. When asked about his contribution to the success of his students, Dr. Rich dismisses most of the credit.

“I don't know how much of any credit I could take from that, but I've had the pleasure and enjoyment of watching a lot of students do well…some of them have been exceptional professionals, but most of them, nearly all of them, have become good contributing members of society.”

“As a student, Dr. Rich was genuinely concerned about how we were doing and always went above and beyond to do what he could to help us be successful. That same care and concern followed us into our professional lives.”

A Retirement That Will be Spent Still Supporting ESU

Says Terry Young of his retirement, “He has earned a well-deserved retirement, and we hope he realizes the significant impact he has had on so many ESU students.”

Using History to Find Hope Emporia State student Ilana Sol wasn’t looking to make a movie when she found a single index card in the archives of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library. But that day in November 2002, as she flipped through the cutout newspaper articles in the mysterious file, she knew she had found an unbelievable piece of history.

Sol’s first film, On Paper Wings (2008), tells the story of a Japanese balloon bomb that claimed the lives of the only people killed on the continental United States as the result of enemy action during WWII and the man who brought together the people involved 40 years later.

In Samurai in the Oregon Sky (2019), her most recent project, the people of Brookings, Oregon, and Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita, who became the only pilot to bomb the U.S. mainland during WWII, form lifelong friendships and reconcile the events of 1942.

While Sol has compiled the stories into two award-winning films, the journey from idea to finished product wasn’t always easy.

Sol spent years contacting archives and libraries and conducting interviews with people connected to the events. Grants funded portions of both On Paper Wings and Samurai in the Oregon Sky, but Sol paid for much of the projects herself while continuing her work in the Portland film industry, “My first film took 5 years to make and my second film took 9 years to make and that was largely because I would go film an interview and then I would go home and I would work for 3 months to save up to go film another interview.”

Besides the stories told through interviews, Sol’s projects relied also on the information she could learn from researching all over the country.

Though her career as a production assistant provided her the knowledge base to start her research, Sol gives credit to the archivists and librarians she worked with during her projects.

As she spent more and more time in libraries and archives, her admiration for the field led Sol to the SLIM program at ESU, “I really gained a true appreciation for and admiration of the archivists [and librarians] who were helping me…there was just always so much knowledge there. So much knowledge on how to find the materials that I needed to find that eventually I decided ‘You know, I want to be able to be an archivist, too.’”

When asked what she hopes people will take away from her films, Sol emphasizes a message of finding hope in dark times. “I don’t want people to lose hope in the power of the human spirit, to go towards peace, and to make those reconciliations,” she says.

As for her next project, Sol wants to focus on her studies as she nears graduation in August of 2020. However, she hasn’t ruled out anything yet, “I don’t have any plans to make a third film but who knows, I might be in a library or an archive sometime soon and find a story that I just can’t resist to make a film about.”

“I don’t want people to lose hope in the power of the human spirit...”

For a man who has spent his life so engaged with students and their educations, that doesn’t look like it will change in retirement. Dr. Rich is a Hornet through and through.

His retirement plans will keep him close to campus life. His plans include attending ESU sporting events and teaching a class for the School of Business. While he may travel some, Dr. Rich wants to continue to be associated with Emporia State University. It’s no surprise. Anyone who has had the chance to know Dr. Rich knows how he has devoted his life to ESU and its students.

18

spring 2020

19

2019

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

NOMINATE A HORNET Searching for—and recognizing—the best.

You know them. Those brilliant people who make everything they touch turn into Hornet Nation gold. In fact, maybe you’re one of them. Now is the time to tell us about those people and give them the recognition they deserve. Honor them with a nomination for an Emporia State award or board position. Or, put your name in the hat for consideration.

NOMINATION DEADLINES & LINKS: MARK K. SCOLES

(BSB 1977-Accounting) Certified Public Accountant Mark K. Scoles of Naperville, Illinois, retired in 2017, as partner-in-charge of accounting principles at the international accounting firm of Grant Thornton LLP and as a nationally recognized expert in his specialty.

DR. DEWAYNE A. BACKHUS

(BS 1966-Mathematics) Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor and long-time director of the Peterson Planetarium, Dr. DeWayne A. Backhus has maintained close ties with the university since retiring in 2011. He, with his wife Sherry, made the largest gift, at the time, the university had ever received when in 2013 they arranged for a $1.5 million planned gift.

His accomplishments include multiple NASA grants, a 1994 University Service Citation, 2002 XI Phi Outstanding Faculty, and Liberal Arts and Sciences Outstanding Service awards.

He has been a Foundation Board trustee since 2014. Backhus was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and has been a member of the Alumni Board, the Kellogg Society, Blue Key Honor Society, the National Science Foundation and NASA programs proposal reviewer on multiple occasions.

PHYLLIS A. (LARSEN) ERICSON (BA 1972-Chemistry & Biology; MS 1977-Analytical Chemistry; BS 1979-Medical Technology) Phyllis A. Ericson of Lincoln, Nebraska, retired in 2013 as CEO of the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, where she built a reputation for excellence and quality service.

On September 11, 2001, Ericson worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate the only emergency mission allowed to airlift blood supplies into the New York area to treat victims of the terrorist attacks as Nebraskans responded to the nation’s call for blood donations.

Ericson built a robust blood-donation program in Nebraska, then worked to improve the national network to supply blood products to blood centers and hospitals across the country.

The Association of Non-Profit Executives honored her in 2010 as Executive of the Year for making a difference in other people’s lives through blood donation.

Read the full bios at emporia.edu/distinguishedalumni 20

BRIGADIER GENERAL (RETIRED) CHRISTIE L. NIXON

(BS 1982-Recreation) Commissioned through Emporia State’s ROTC program, Brigadier General (Retired) Christie L. Nixon served 36 years in the US Army Reserve and held a final assignment as Commanding General of the Military Intelligence (MI) Readiness Command, which consists of every MI unit in the Army Reserve – over 8,000 Soldiers across the globe. Promoted to General Officer in 2013, she commanded at every grade except Second Lieutenant, including a battalion command while mobilized to Active Duty from 2004-2006.

Nixon received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the MI Corps’ Knowlton Award.

At Grant Thornton, Scoles was responsible for technical matters involving topics such as SEC practices on transfers of financial assets and instruments, derivatives, and debt and equity arrangements. He also was the firm's liaison to its peer global accounting firms.

Scoles served on the Emerging Issues Task Force of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, a rule-making body comprised experts at the top of their profession.

Scoles also served on the technical standards subcommittee of the American Institute of CPA's professional public ethics division and both its Auditing Standards Board and Financial Reporting Executive Committee.

ROBERT L. "ROBBIE" YOUNG

(BFA 1985-Theatre) Robbie Young cites training he received at Emporia State (especially ESU Summer Theatre) as a foundation on which he has built a successful career as a stage manager in New York City. Young is also an executive assistant at Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm in NYC. Broadway credits include: The Cher Show, The Band's Visit, The Book of Mormon, Jersey Boys, Gypsy with Bernadette Peters The Graduate with Kathleen Turner, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent, Ragtime with Audra McDonald, Candide, Kiss of the Spider Woman with Chita Rivera and The Who’s Tommy.

Off-Broadway: Jeffrey, Marvin's Room, Eric Bogosian's Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead, Playwright's Horizons, Second Stage Theatre, and The Women's Project.

National tours: Phantom of the Opera and Kiss of the Spider Woman

Distinguished Alumni November 1

emporia.edu/distinguishednomination

Alumni Association Board of Directors November 1

emporia.edu/boardnomination

Hornet Heritage Award December 1

emporia.edu/heritagenomination

University Service Citation December 1

emporia.edu/servicenomination

2019OUTSTANDING RECENT GRADUATES

In her civilian careers, Christie worked as a fisheries biologist for the MN Department of Natural Resources for eight years and was a firefighter/EMT for the Minneapolis Fire Department for 16 years, retiring in 2017.

CASSONDRA BOSTON RICHARDS

KELSEY A. RYAN

JOSHUA STOCK

BSB 2009-Accounting MBA 2011-Accounting Addison, Texas

BS 2011-Political Science Prairie Village, Kansas

BSE 2008-English, Creative Writing MS 2011-Instructional Design & Technology Olathe, Kansas

Read the full bios at emporia.edu/outstandingrecentgraduates

spring 2020

21

Spotlight on Alumni 1950

Doris M. (Wells) Lisenby (BSB 51-Business Administration), Kansas City, Mo., was recently awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Patient Volunteer Award from the Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Association.

Vaughn C. Nelson (BSE 57-Physical Science), Round Rock, Texas, has authored another book, Innovative Wind Turbines, An Illustrated Guidebook, CRC Press, 2020. He has been involved with renewable energy, primarily wind energy, since the early 1970s. He is the author of four books and has published more than 50 articles and reports. He also served as the principal investigator on numerous grants and conducted more than 60 workshops and seminars from local to international levels. He also started quilting in 2006 and has made over 150 quilts, a number with a science and/or math motif.

1960

Richard A. Sack (BSE 66-Industrial Arts), Leavenworth, received the inaugural Vincentian Charism Award from the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth for his volunteer work.

1970

Dave W. Ellis (BS 76-Rehabilitation Counseling, MS 78-Counselor Education), Olathe, retired from Johnson County Community College on June 28, 2019.

C.R. Goodin (BSE 71-Speech, MS 74-Counselor Education), Omaha, Neb., retired in June of 2019 after 48 years in education.

Dr. Robert F. Hartsook (BA 70-Social Sciences; MS 72-Counselor Education), Wrightsville Beach, N.C., retired from the company he started in 1987, Hartsook Companies, Inc. He assumed his new role with the company on March 1, 2019, as founder and chairman emeritus.

Dr. Dean E. Headley (BSB 70-Business Administration), Wichita, was inducted into the 2019 class of Wichita State University's Academy for Effective Teaching.

22

Kenneth R. "Ken" Johnson (BME 76-Music), Woodland, Calif., retired in November 2019 after a 34-year career as a baritone in the San Francisco Opera Chorus.

Jesse E. Nelson (BSE 74-Physical Education), Emporia, was inducted into the Emporia High School Hall of Fame on September 13, 2019.

Randal W. "Randy" Scott (BS 79-Chemistry), Los Altos Hills, Calif., retired from InVitae Corporation at the end of September 2019.

John R. Simecka (BSB 70-Business Administration), Saint Marys, received the Jefferson Award, which highlights local volunteers.

1980

Christopher S. Bahr (BSB 89-Business Administration), Burlington, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

James B. "Jim" Biggs (BSB 86-Business Administration), Topeka, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Dr. Judy Biggs (BSE 81-Elementary Education), Spokane, Wash., was announced as the new vice president for student affairs at The Catholic University of America.

Jason T. Bogard (BSB 89-Business Administration), Venice, Calif., was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Kathie M. Buckman (BA 81-History), Emporia, was elected president of the Wichita Area Library Association in May 2019.

Jon H. Cramer (BSB 88-Accounting), Goddard, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Rachelle R. (Redd) Eastep (BSE 86-English), Pueblo, Colo., retired from Pueblo West High School after 32 years as an educator.

Stanley D. "Stan" Gehrt (MS 88-Biology), Hilliard, Ohio, was featured in National Geographic for his work with coyotes.

New job? Recently retired? Newly married? New addition to your family? Need to update your information? Visit emporia.edu/alumni/request-information.html Gayle A. (Sullard) Gray (BSE 89-Elementary Education, MS 04-Educational Administration), Overland Park, is the new functional skills level 3 special education teacher at Paola Middle School.

John H. Hughes (BSB 86-Accounting, MBA 87-Business Administration), Topeka, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Dr. Jeremy C. Kohomban (BS 89-Psychology), Pawling, N.Y., was recognized as a key player in the world of New York politics and government by City and State New York.

Julie A. (Browning) Loevenstein (BSE 84-Elementary Education), Shawnee, was a 2020 Kansas Regional Teacher of the Year.

Shelly (Webster) Nibarger (BSE 87-Mathematics), Towanda, has lead Circle High School's volleyball program for 31 years as the head coach and had her 800th career win on October 12, 2019.

Brian Robinson (BGS 86-General Studies), Olathe, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Dr. J.D. Schramm (BFA 85-Speech & Theatre), San Francisco, Calif., is now the director of the King Global Leadership Program for the recently launched Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University.

Chris Sparks (BSE 89-Mathematics), Roeland Park, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Ryan J. Sprecker (BSB 89-Business Administration), Olathe, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Jan M. (Biles) Steinert (BSB 80-Business Administration), Andover, retired from Spirit Aerosystems at the end of July 2019.

Brad R. Stratton (BSB 86-Business Administration), Overland Park, was appointed by Governor Laura Kelly to be a member of the KPERS Board of Trustees.

Craig S. Stromgren (BSB 86-Finance), Silver Lake, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Phillip E. "Phil" Thacker (BSB 84-Business Administration), Lenexa, is the new parish manager at Church of the Holy Cross.

Bob A. Yonke (BSB 88-Business Administration), Fort Worth, Texas, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Cora A. Zaletel (BA 83-English, MA 85-English), Pueblo, Colo., is the new scholarship & marketing coordinator for the Pueblo Community College Foundation.

1990

Scott L. Bender (BSB 91-Accounting), Wichita, began working as the IT director of operations for Flint Hills Resources in February 2019.

Bryn M. Boice (BFA 99-Dramatic Arts), Long Island City, N.Y., is the associate artistic director at Commonwealth Shakespeare Company.

Steven F. "Steve" Bushnell (BSE 91-Physical Education), Topeka, was inducted into the Emporia State Athletic Hall of Honor on October 19, 2019.

Donald R. "Don" Cawby (BA 92-English), Osawatomie, is the new finance director for the City of Shawnee.

Verlin R. Conkle (BS 93-Psychology, MS 00-Counselor Education), Emporia, is the new psychiatry clinic manager at Flint Hills Community Health Center.

Jeffrey S. Dancinger (BS 91-History), Olathe, retired from the Johnson County Sherriff's Department as a master deputy on October 1, 2019.

John B. Decker (BFA 90-Art, MS 10-Instructional Design), Emporia, is a new assistant professor in the Art department at Emporia State University.

Monica Duffield (MLS 03-Library Science), Wichita, and Terry Velasquez (MLS 91-Library Science), Olathe, coauthored an article, "A Fresh Approach to Job Rotation," which appeared in the May/June issue of Public Libraries magazine.

Dennis R. Fort (BSE 90-Biology, Physical Education, MS 08-Health, Physical Education, and Recreation), Osage City, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Rick E. Frye (BSE 98-Physical Education), Euless, Texas, is the new physical education teacher at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center High School in Dallas, Texas.

Stacy M. (Fannin) Gaskell (BSE 96-Elementary Education), Horton, is the new 7th through 12th grade special education teacher at USD 335 Jackson Heights.

Shawn M. Gerleman (BGS 92-General Studies), Emporia, is the new chaplain resident for Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.

Steve N. Harmon (BA 93-Political Science, MS 96-Counselor Education, MS 08-Instructional Design), Emporia, is the new command sergeant major/ senior enlisted advisor major for the 34th Infantry Division of the Kansas Army National Guard.

Heidi L. Hawkinson-Penny (BA 99-History), Topeka, is a new social studies teacher at Royal Valley Middle School.

Lori A. Herrman (BSB 91-Marketing), Manhattan, is a wealth management advisor for Farm Bureau Financial Services in Emporia.

Shawn M. Hornung (BS 96-Sociology), Manhattan, was a 2020 Kansas Regional Teacher of the Year.

Chris E. Howell (BSB 92-Accounting), Lawrence, was appointed as the executive director of the Office of Native American Affairs and Governor's Tribal Liaison.

Terry D. Jontra (BGS 92-General Studies), San Diego, Calif., is a member service representative for Navy Federal Credit Union.

Marcy L. (Olberding) Knight (BS 95-Sociology), Shawnee, was awarded the Kansas Prosecutor of the Year Award from the Kansas Highway Patrol Drug & Alcohol Evaluation Unit for her dedication and commitment to prosecuting traffic safety laws.

Chris A. Lewis (BSB 93-Marketing), Lewisville, Texas, has been named the head varsity boy's and girl's tennis coach at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas.

Brian K. Obermeyer (BS 94-Biology, MS 96-Biology), Eureka, was named director of protection and stewardship for Kansas for The Nature Conservancy.

Kerensa A. Peterson (BFA 96-Dramatic Arts), Chicago, Ill., is the new assistant director of standardized patient training for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.

Clarice M. Podrebarac (BS 93-Rehabilitation Services Education, MS 96-Rehabilitation Counseling), Kansas City, is the new executive director at PACES of Wyandot, Inc. Family of Organizations.

Clayton J. Robinson (BS 95-Psychology), Gladstone, Mo., was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Dr. Steven B. Scraggs (BSE 96-Social Sciences), Lees Summit, Mo., is the new senior vice president of youth development services at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City.

Dr. Arthur L. White (BA 97-Music), San Luis Obispo, Calif., is the director of Jazz Studies at California Polytechnic State University.

Michael D. "Mike" Wise (MS 90-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Emporia, was chosen to serve on the 2020 Region IV Award of Merit Evaluation Committee. This award is presented to an individual who contributes significantly to the regional advancement of the National Intramural & Recreational Sports Association.

Lisa C. (Hassell) Young (BSB 91-Accounting, MBA 93-Business Administration), Stillman Valley, Ill., has joined SPX Cooling Technologies as plant manager in Olathe, Kan. Jennifer J. (Hanlon) Ziegler (BS 93-Political Science), Olympia, Wash., was inducted into the Emporia High School Hall of Fame on September 13, 2019.

spring 2020 23

2000

Moazzam Al-Islam (BSB 04-Computer Information Systems), Pflugerville, Texas, is a program manager for Dell Technologies.

Nanette "Nan" Ault (MLS 02-Library Science), Mount Pleasant, Utah, was named the new superintendent for the North Sanpete School District and will begin on July 1, 2020.

Jeri A. Baker (MS 08-Adaptive Special Education, Special Education), Atchison, is a special education teacher at Holton High School and began Fall 2019.

Luke M. Costello (BSB 08-Accounting), Keenesburg, Colo., is the new strategic account manager at Vangst.

Brian L. DeWitt (BS 00-Recreation), Emporia, joined ESB Financial's Mortgage Center as vice president for mortgage lending at the end of 2019.

Kimberly A. "Kim" (Slater) Dhority (MS 04-Instructional Design/Technology), Reading, received the 2019 Inside the Field Leadership Award from the Kansas Council for Workforce Education during the Workforce Innovation Conference on October 8, 2019.

Eric W. Dieckhoff (BSB 08-Business Administration), Olathe, is a new implementation installer at Quest Diagnostics.

Bree A. (Beattie) Ederer (BSE 06-Health Education, Physical Education, MS 08-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Olathe, was inducted into the Emporia State Athletic Hall of Honor on October 19, 2019.

Dusty D. (Wilson) Eubanks (BS 01-Sociology), Emporia, is the new executive associate for Intercollegiate Athletics at Emporia State University.

Dathan L. Fischer (BSE 03-Elementary Education, MS 10-Educational Administration), Emporia, was named the 2019 KASSP Assistant Principal of the Year by the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals.

Jose L. Franco (BSB 05-Computer Information Systems), Olathe, is now an implementation manager at Logility.

Diane G. (Walter) Frazier (BFA 03Art), McPherson, had her photography exhibited at McPherson Public Library on July 7, 2019.

24

Luke M. Freeman (BS 04-Biology), Au Gres, Mich., science teacher for the Au Gres-Sims school district, was selected as a 2019 Dow Innovation Teacher Fellow, a program of the Andrew N. Liveris Innovation Institute. He also received the 2019 Innovative Educator Corps (IEC) Grant from the Michigan Department of Education.

Christina M. (Wolfe) Gibson (BS 06-Health Promotion), Lenexa, was promoted to associate manager of clinical operation at IQVIA. Dr. Janet (Olsen) Holland (MS 02-Instructional Design), Ottawa, received the Best Paper Award at the World Academy of Science, Engineering, & Technology Conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in August 2019.

Kurt J. Jeffery (BSB 06-Business Administration), Derby, is a commercial lender at Carson Bank.

Cheryl Jorgensen (MS 02-Library Science), Junction City, retired from her position of assistant director of the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library after 28 years.

Christina M. Kerns (BA 04-Communication), Warrensburg, Mo., is the new assistant director of student activities at the University of Central Missouri.

Thomas L. "Tom" Kueser (BFA 03-Communication), Canton, was elected as the district 2 county commissioner for McPherson county.

Christopher M. Lewis (BSB 03-Business Administration), Germantown, Md., is the new head men's basketball coach at Frederick Community College.

Jana M. (Nichol) Liles (BFA 01-Dramatic Arts), Oak Park, Ill., is the new director of marketing for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Bradley W. "Brad" Long (BSB 06-Management), Paola, is the new eighth grade special education teacher at Paola Middle School.

Scott A. Matheina (BS 04-Social Sciences), Irving, Texas, is the CEO of GXT Global.

Natalie (Villaflor) Modin (BA 08-Chemistry, Spanish), Kansas City, Mo., was inducted into the Emporia State Athletic Hall of Honor on October 19, 2019.

Murad A. Moqbel (BSB 06-Business Administration, MBA 08-Busniess Administration, Information Systems), Edinburg, is the director of master of science in business analytics for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Ashley M. (Nienstedt) Nehls (BSE 09-Health Education, Physical Education, MS 16-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Hartford, is a new instructor for the Health, Physical Education, & Recreation department at Emporia State University.

Art Palafox (BSE 02-Physical Education), Ontario, Calif., is a farmers agent & producer at Farmers Insurance.

Dr. Connie L. (Rice) Phelps (MS 02-Special Education), Emporia, was named the inaugural Dr. John E. King Endowed Professor of the Emporia State University Teachers College.

Cassondra J. (Boston) Richards (BSB 09-Accounting, MBA 11-Accounting, Business Administration), Addison, Texas, was promoted to assurance senior manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Angela K. Schmidt (BSB 02-Management), Saint Simons Island, Ga., is a sales associate at Cora Bett Thomas Realty.

Drew P. Shirley (BFA 06-Theatre), Chicago, Ill., was the presenter at the 2019-2020 George R.R. Pflaum Memorial Lecture at Emporia State University on November 23, 2019.

Jill C. (Jones) Solomon (BS 00-Psychology, BSE 05-Elementary Education, MS 10-Subject Matter Concentration, Master Teacher), Valley Glen, Calif., is the new director of studies at Oakwood School Elementary Campus.

Josh Stephenson (MS 02-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Goodland, is the new principal for Guymon High School.

Dorothy J. (Jochem) Stevenson (BS 07-Sociology), Emporia, is the new director of marketing, media, and public relations for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Emporia State University.

Ashley N. (Stigers) Sullivan (BSE 06-Elementary Education), Paola, is a new second grade teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School in the Paola school district.

Erin E. (Minneman) Swearer (BA 09-English), Hutchinson, is the new project & operations manager at BowerComm.

Tyler B. Wray (BS 06-Psychology, MS 08-Clincial Psychology), Providence, R.I., was named the Edens Family Chair of Healthcare Communication and Technology at Brown University's School of Public Health.

Jennifer J. (Robertson) Zavadil (BSB 06-Accounting, MBA 08-Accounting, Business Administration), Topeka, is a new financial analyst for the Kanas Insurance Department.

2010

Diana S. Acevedo (MS 12-Biology), Overland Park, received the Nuestra Latina STEM/Education Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City.

Abigail D. "Abby" Adams (MLS 19-Library Science), Albany, N.Y., is a subject librarian for Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, Cyber Security, and Criminal Justice at the University of Albany.

Stephen R. Agudo (BSB 12-Management), Overland Park, is now a senior financial analyst at Cerner Corporation.

Ahmad Alaliwi (BS 19-Computer Science), Istanbul, is a web developer at LEAD Marketing Agency in the Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area.

Bassam A. Alanazi (BSB 17-Information Systems), Saudi Arabia, is a projects lead at Technology Control Company Limited.

Martin M. Altieri (BSE 10-Social Sciences), Overland Park, is the new assistant principal at Winfield Scott Elementary School and began on July 22, 2019.

Alexandria J. Arceneaux (BFA 16-Painting & Printmaking), Baton Rouge, La., graduated in May 2019 with an MFA in Studio Art from Louisiana State University.

Xochitl Z. Arzate (BS 19-Crime and Delinquency Studies), Emporia, is the new university police officer trainee for Police & Safety at Emporia State University.

Mike C. Atchison (MS 18-Special Education), Lawrence, is the new special education teacher for USD 491.

William A. "Will" Austin (BID 15-Interdisciplinary Studies, MA 18-Teaching English to Speaking Other Languages), Emporia, is a new instructor for the English, Modern Languages, & Journalism Department at Emporia State University.

Stephanie Bailey-White (MLS 19-Library Science), Boise, Idaho, was appointed state librarian by the Idaho Commission for Libraries.

Meredith B. (West) Baker (BSB 10-Business Administration), Overland Park, began working as a consulting services administrator for OMNI Human Resource Management in September 2019.

Craig M. Barnes (BS 11-Health Promotion), Topeka, was named one of Topeka's Top 20 Under 40 Honorees by the Jayhawk Area Council.

Spencer T. Bauman (BSB 15-Marketing), Kansas City, was recently promoted to senior buyer account manager at BacklotCars.

Kara E. Belew (MAT 11-American History, Social Sciences), Wichita, was named a 2020 Kansas Regional Teacher of the Year.

Megan N. (Stoker) Berryman (BSE 10-Elementary Education), Osawatomie, is a new third grade teacher at Trojan Elementary School.

Dustin A. Bittel (BFA 19-Theatre), Ellis, is a stage management intern at Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, Mich.

Ashley N. Blackman (BSE 15-Elementary Education, MS 17-Instructional Specialist), Paola, is a new second grade science and social studies teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School and third grade science teacher at Sunflower Elementary School in the Paola school district.

Drew S. Bonnet (BS 16-Communication), Emporia, was named champion of 'The Cut,' which is Flint Hills Technical College's cooking challenge.

Carly T. Bowden (BSE 14-Math Education), El Dorado, received the prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2019-2020.

Shane R. Britt (BFA 17-Communication), Stephenville, Texas, is the new dean of student experience at the Beloit campus of North Central Kansas Technical College.

Perry E. Brooks (BSB 11-Business Administration), Wichita, is the customer development manager at American Tire Distributors.

Reid Buckingham (BS 18-Health Promotion), Lawrence, is a new candidate experience representative for Nexus IT Group in Overland Park.

Christopher S. Buenger (BSB 15-Business Administration), Overland Park, was promoted to national account manager at Ryan Transportation Service, Inc. Remington C. Cabana (BSB 17-Management), Olathe, is now an account manager for network infrastructure services at TEKsystems.

Dr. Erik A. Calderon (BS 11-Biochemistry, Molecular Biology), Wichita, passed his internal medicine and pediatric board exams and is now a doctor. He completed medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2015 and completed his residency in internal pediatrics at the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education.

Cody J. Campbell (BSB 18-Marketing), Americus, is now in sales for Cherokee Building Materials in Oklahoma City.

Philip K. "Phil" Carselowey (BIS 11-Integrated Studies), Derby, was selected as an Emerging Leader in Wichita for the 2019-2020 Class by the Wichita Business Journal.

Matthew "Matt" Connell (MS 14-Early Childhood Education), Larned, started at Baker University in the Instructional Design and Performance Technology Doctor of Education Program in October 2019.

Conner R. Crumbliss (BS 19-Biology), Chicago, Ill., was inducted into the Emporia State Athletic Hall of Honor on October 19, 2019.

Scott E. Dahlberg (MS 13-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Laramie, Wyo., is the new men's and women's head cross country coach at University of Wyoming.

Cheyenne N. Dains (BS 17-Health Promotion), Wellsville, is the life enrichment coordinator for Town Village of Leawood.

Gracie M. Dautel (BSB 19-Accounting), Abilene, is the new payroll clerk for USD 435 Abilene.

Todd Deck (MLS 14-Library Science), Redding, Calif., was named the California Library Association Member of the Year.

Asher A. Delmott (BA 12-Psychology), Lebo, successfully completed two marathons in two months. He ran in the Chicago Marathon in October 2019 and the New York City Marathon in November 2019.

spring 2020 25

Chen Deng (MM 19-Music), Chongqing, China, was appointed as pianist of the Chongqing National Orchestra.

Eli J. Egger (MS 18-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Emporia, is the new assistant baseball coach at Dodge City Community College.

Diego H. Esparza (BA 17-Political Science), Hays, is the new diversity and community outreach counselor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Bryan W. Foltz (BS 17-Communication), Overland Park, is the new production director at Steel City Media.

Daniel L. Fragel (BS 15-Recreation), Emporia, was selected as the assistant director of media for the National Intramural & Recreational Sports Association's 2020 National Basketball Tournament. He will serve as the director for the 2021 tournament.

Hachem Gaieb (MBA 18-Business Administration), Overland Park, is a credit analyst at Design Resources, Inc. Kelli G. (Murphy) Galbrecht (BSB 12-Business Administration), Olathe, was promoted to commercial credit underwriting manager at CrossFirst Bank.

Nathan D. Gaswick (BSE 11-Business Education), Imperial, Neb., is the new physical education teacher, assistant football coach, and assistant wrestling coach for the Chase County Schools.

Amanda S. Geiss (BSB 19-Marketing), Emporia, began working as an administrative assistant at MONARCH in Overland Park in September 2019.

Cierra D. (Foth) Goodwin (BSE 19-Elementary Education), Peabody, is a new first grade teacher at PeabodyBurns Elementary School.

Cortez Gray (BS 16-Computer Science), Manhattan, is a new data entry associate at CB Announcements: Balfour.

Erin E. Grimes (BA 19-Earth Science), Topeka, is now a rural carrier associate at the United States Postal Service.

SUBMISSIONS

High-quality photographs are encouraged (JPG preferred) and will be considered for use. Entries may be edited for clarity or length and may be sent to alumni@emporia.edu or: Spotlight Magazine 1500 Highland St. Emporia, KS 66801-5018.

26

Molli R. (Chitwood-Roberts) Haller (BSE 11-Music Education), Osawatomie, is the new music teacher at Trojan Elementary School.

Sara A. (Niemczyk) Hamlin (BS 07-Biology, Environmental Biology), Great Bend, spent the summer of 2019 studying Borneo's primate denizens, including the orangutan, and developed new ways to engage communities worldwide in primate conversation in Borneo. Sara is a curator/zoo supervisor at Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo and is a graduate student in Miami University's Global Field Program.

Dr. Reed B. Harshorn, DC (BS 15-Health Promotion), Wichita, is a sports rehab doctor at Advanced Chirosport in the North Dallas area.

Adam C. Helmer (BSE 15-Speech, Theatre), Salina, is the new junior high English teacher for USD 421.

Olivia N. Henning (BME 16-Music), Lawrence, is the associate choir director for Lawrence Free State High School.

Aaron W. Herb (BSE 19-Mathematics), Emporia, is now a math teacher at Holton High School and began in the Fall of 2019.

Amy R. Hillman (MS 11-Master Teacher, Subject Matter Concentration/ Elementary), Olathe, was named a 2020 Kansas Regional Teacher of the Year.

Brianna K. Hoffman (MLS 13-Library Science), Kennewick, Wash., is the assistant director of the Washington Library Association.

Dylan P. Holden (BSB 18-Business Administration), De Soto, started a new job in client sales at Echo Global Logistics in July 2019.

Seth D. Holman (MBA 18-Business Administration), Wichita, is now the business development manager at RTS Carrier Services.

Marcus M. Houghton (BSB 16-Business Administration, MBA 18-Business Administration), Wichita, was promoted to category manager at Flint Hills Resources.

Lane E. Hoyt (BSB 18-Business Administration), Kansas City, Mo., is now the sales supervisor at Michael Kors.

Beau C. Jenkins (BSB 16-Information Systems), Tulsa, Okla., began working as an SQL report developer for Clearwater Analytics in October 2019.

Dr. Lu Jiang (MS 13-Biology), Fushun, Liaioning, China, published a coauthored manuscript in the prestigious science journal, Nature. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2018 and is currently a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California San Diego.

Lori R. (Nelson) Joiner (MS 10-School Counseling), Basehor, is the new counselor at Paola High School.

Rayna J. Karst (BA 18-English), Rush Center, is a communications coordinator in the office of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

Lydia N. Kautz (BA 12-English, BS 12-Information Resource Studies), Emporia, is the new managing editor for the Junction City Union.

Carrie L. Kellie (BSB 16-Marketing), Edmond, Okla., is now an HR assistant for Gulfport Energy Corporation.

Addie M. Lackey (BSB 17-Accounting), Burdett, is the accounting bookkeeper/ office manager for Jack Fuller Construction, Inc. Fionna D. (Colpan) Lee (BSB 17-Accounting, MBA 18-Business Administration), Americus, is the new alumni programs coordinator at Emporia State University Sauder Alumni Center.

Caelee T. (Gibbs) Lehman (BFA 11-Career & Professional Communication), Gardner, accepted the assistant director of student affairs position at the Research College of Nursing in Kansas City.

Mayra Lemus (BID 18-Interdisciplinary Studies), Emporia, is a new academic advisor at Emporia State University.

Rylee M. Liebau (BSB 19-Management), Grenola, is the new payroll bookkeeper at Brown, Graham & Company, P.C. in Pampa, Texas.

Leigha Limbach (MS 19-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Emporia, is a new instructor for the Health, Physical Education, & Recreation department at Emporia State University.

Elizabeth Love (MLS 18-Library Science), Honolulu, Hawaii, is a records management specialist at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Tingxuan Lu (MBA 19-Business Administration), Shanghai, China, began a social media position at Citizen Armor in Provo, Utah, in June 2019.

Tori E. Mace (MS 17-Special Education), Horton, is the new special education teacher at Holton Elementary School and began in Fall 2019.

Eloy Machado (BSB 19-Information Systems), Emporia, is now an application developer for the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Lizeth Magana (BS 16-Physics), San Antonio, Texas, was named a Future Investigator in the Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology program.

Jonatan Manriquez (BSB 19-Business Administration), Overland Park, is the provider relations coordinator for New Directions Behavioral Health.

Jeffrey Marroquin (BSB 12-Management), Emporia, is a logistics & execution specialist for Agforce Transport Services.

Braxton C. Marstall (BSB 19-Marketing), Emporia, began working as a LAET for Total Quality Logistics in Raleigh, N.C., in September 2019.

Shelby E. Marten (BSE 19-Physical Education), Wichita, is the new P.E. teacher at Rockville Elementary School in Louisburg, Kan. Kimberly K. Martin (MLS 17-Library Science), Spokane, Wash., is now a catalog librarian at Gonzaga University School of Law. Jeana M. McClure (MLS 14-Library Science), Portland, Ore., is the new program director for the Emporia State School of Library and Information Management Oregon Program.

Benjamin A. "Ben" McKaig (BSE 12-Mathematics), Wichita, is the new director of football operations and offensive line assistant for the Bryant University football program.

Frances A. (Busby) Mihulec (BA 11-English), Seattle, Wash., is now a customer service specialist at Dreamclinic Massage.

Natalie L. Moore (BSE 19-Elementary Education), Louisburg, is a new fourth grade teacher at Trojan Elementary School in Osawatomie, Kan. Justin M. Moore (MS 18-Educational Administration), Topeka, is the new principal at Royal Valley Elementary School.

Timothy R. "Tim" Morrow (BSB 13-Business Administration), Ottawa, is now the branch inventory manager at Norfolk Iron and Metal Co. in Emporia.

Zoey W. Nelson (MLS 19-Library Science), Denver, Colo., is the new campus librarian at the Art Institute of Houston.

Kimberly T. Nguyen (MS 19-Art Therapy, Clinical Counseling), Oklahoma City, Okla., is a new art therapist at LA Downtown Medical Center.

Yanzhen Pan (BSB 15-Accounting), Auckland, New Zealand, is now an auditor for KMPG New Zealand.

Kelsey J. (Pearson) Parks (BID 18-Interdisciplinary Studies), Twentynine Palms, Calif., is a teacher at VIPKid starting in December 2018.

Emily H. T. Pham (BS 19-Health and Human Performance), Emporia, is the new wellness coordinator for the City of Topeka.

Colton W. Poort (MBA 17-Business Administration), Clearwater, is the new international assistant business manager at Cargill.

Heather L. Powell (MLS 19-Library Science), Wichita, is the night circulation manager at Friends University Library.

Moira E. Pyle (BSB 18-Marketing), McPherson, is the new clubs coordinator for Auburn University.

Camila A. Ramos Ascarrunz (BA 19-Political Science, BSB 19-Management), Emporia, is a new import/export associate for Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Emily J. Reimer (MS 19-Clinical Counseling), Lawrence, is a new counselor for Counseling Services in the Student Wellness Center at Emporia State University.

Desiree (Newcomer) Rider (BSE 18-Elementary Education), Gardner, is a new kindergarten teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School in the Paola school district.

Megan D. Rohleder (MLS 16-Library Science), Topeka, won the YWCA of Northeast Kansas's Woman of Excellence for Government Award and was also promoted to senior archivist of public services at the Kansas Historical Society.

Lauren P. Roulhac (BSE 10-Elementary Education), Hesston, is a new instructor for the Elementary Education, Early Childhood, and Special Education department at Emporia State University.

Valerie Rubio (BSB 18-Accounting), Overland Park, is now a tax compliance analyst at Power Sales.

Tally L. Russell (BIS 11-Integrated Studies), Emporia, had her book, Magnificent Midnight's Marvelous Memories: A Loving Relationship Between a Young Woman and Her Therapy Horse, published and is available through the Kansas Talking Books Program.

Kelsey A. Ryan (BS 11- Political Science), Prairie Village, will be launching a regional in-depth nonprofit news organization called The Beacon.

Tami J. Schaefer (BSB 18-Accounting), Princeton, is now an accountant at Uhlig LLC. Tyler R. Sheldon (BA 14-English, MA 16-English), Baton Rouge, La., graduated in May 2019 with an MFA in Poetry from McNeese State University and is currently attending Louisiana State University for his Ph.D. Maxwell T. "Max" Simpson (BSB 19-Management), Tulsa, Okla., began working as the assistant night manager at QuikTrip in July 2019.

Mike J. Sirianni (MS 17-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Arvada, Colo., is the new assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Wichita State University baseball program.

Ryan C. Smith (BSB 18-Business Administration), Shawnee, is a carrier sales representative at Ryan Transportation Service, Inc. Benjamin R. Smith (BS 10-Biology, MS 13-Environmental Biology), De Soto, is the integrated resources manager for Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Capulin Volcano National Monument, and Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site of the National Park Service.

Tramel J. Smith (BSB 18-Business Administration), Emporia, is a management trainee at Enterprise Holdings in Kansas City.

Brianna L. Spence (BSE 17-English), Garden City, has completed her first year of teaching for Garden City Horace Good Middle School.

Maria A. Stanley (BSB 17-Business Administration), Kansas City, Mo., is the new compliance and human resources officer at First National Bank of Hope.

spring 2020 27

Taylor Steen (BS 17-Recreation), Grand Forks, N.D., is the new assistant baseball coach at Pittsburg State University.

Rose K. Stuhlsatz (BSE 19-Mathematics), Paxico, is now a mathematics teacher at Royal Valley Middle School.

Misty R. (Voyles) Taylor (BA 17-English, MS 19-Instructional Design), Wichita, is the new ITAS Coordinator for WSU Tech.

Taylour R. B. Tedder (BS 11-Economics), Leavenworth, received the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation by the International Economic Development Council in early October 2019.

Connor D. Thierolf (BSE 16-Social Sciences), Marion, is now a social studies teacher and assistant football coach at USD 458 Basehor-Linwood.

Janelle C. Thimmesch (MS 17-Forensic Science), Andale, accepted a position in Utah as a forensic scientist with the Public Health Laboratory.

Heather P. VanDyne (MLS 19-Library Science), Iola, is a library support specialist at Allen County Community College.

Robert D. Wake (MBA 17-Business Administration), Medina, Tenn., is the assistant store manager for Lowe's Companies, Inc. Maria S. Walden (BSB 19-Information Systems), Fort Worth, Texas, is a cyber security analyst for Textron, Inc. Connor E. Waldron (BSB 19-Information Systems), Louisburg, is a new technical solutions analyst for Cerner Corporation.

Ryan R. Walker (MS 10-Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), Spartanburg, S.C., is the new boy's head basketball coach at North Myrtle Beach High School.

Erin Wells (MLS 12-Library Science), Walla Walla, Wash., is the new director of the Milton-Freeman Public Library.

Danica E. White (BS 17-History, MLS 19-Library Science), State College, Pa., is the new student engagement librarian at Penn State University Libraries.

Jack D. Wilson (BSB 18-Business Administration), Omaha, Neb., began working as a law clerk for Leventhan and Puga in Denver, Colo., in October 2019.

Andrew S. Wimp (BSB 17-Marketing, MBA 19-Business Administration), Emporia, is a new business student advisor for Emporia State University.

28

Zhen "Jenny" Yin (BSB 13-Business Administration), Fresh Meadows, N.Y., is now a client success manager at Insider Jobs in the Greater New York City Area.

Karli M. Zabokrtsky (BS 19-Computer Science), Burlingame, is a technology services management trainee at BNSF Railway.

CURRENT STUDENT

Lara K. McDonald, Topeka, was named a 2020 Kansas Regional Teacher of the Year.

FORMER STUDENT

Luanne S. Barron, Olathe, was inducted into the Iowa School for the Deaf Hall of Fame in October 2019.

Gary M. Birch, Atchison, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Marvin Chatman, Moberly, Mo., was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Monkarlandio E. "Landis" Franklin, White Plains, Md., was inducted into the Emporia State Athletic Hall of Honor on October 19, 2019.

Grady R. Goff, Manhattan, graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic and opened his own practice, Restoration Chiropractic, in Wichita.

Rhonda J. (Fowler) Gordon, Emporia, is retiring from Kansas State University after more than a decade of service.

James Herrel, Emporia, is the new maintenance manager at Pharma Tech Industries in Union, Mo. Timothy F. "Tim" Karim, Charlotte, N.C., was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Mark A. Lackey, Axtell, was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Earl D. Lewis, Jr., Topeka, was appointed as the director of the Kansas Water Office by the governor.

Scott Wall, Merritt Island, Fla., was inducted into Emporia State's Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the 1986 men's basketball team.

Nuptials

Yukii Hoshino (BA 13, MS 15) and Desire Ntumba Ilunga (BS 17), September 10, 2017

Births

Daniel Goodman (BS 14, MS 16) and Rachel Shepard (BS 15), June 2, 2018 Devon Beckford and Dylan Meeker (BSE 14), July 7, 2018 Austin Knipp and Kelsey Frey (BSB 12), November 9, 2018 George Boesche and Jackie Spillman (BSE 84), April 13, 2019 Tyler Montgomery and Mariah Nunley (BS 16), May 25, 2019

Daniel Falk (BSE 17) and Kaley Ernst (BSE 17), June 1, 2019 Clayton Neas and Courtney Leive (BSE 18), June 29, 2019 Stephen Becker and Samantha Heimerman (BSN 19), July 6, 2019 Seth Howard and Elizabeth Wagner (BSE 17), August 24, 2019 Mathias Neises and Leora Seiler (BSE 19), September 7, 2019 Dakota Mills and Mariah Emily (BS 19), September 14, 2019 Tate Bruggeman and Jennifer Kinderknecht (MS 19), September 28, 2019 Craig Conley and Victoria Moyer (BSN 15), October 10, 2019 Jacob Patterson (BSE 18) and Hannah Baughman (BSE 18), October 19, 2019 Quinton Hett (BS 18) and Jenny Gottstein (BSE 18), October 26, 2019 Grant Bachura (BSE 16) and Hailey Hilgendorf (BSE 15), November 23, 2019

1

2

Sutton Lynn McCoy, daughter, born to Brent (BSE 12) and Lauren (Mulsow) McCoy (BS 11), September 10, 2016 Eliza Jean Tegtmeier, daughter, born to Caleb (BSB 08, MBA 09) and Bethany (Stanbrough) Tegtmeier, November 4, 2017 Kellen Anthony Schoenfeld, son, born to Scott (BSE 07) and Alycia (Ryff) Schoenfeld (BSE 04, MLS 10), November 20, 2017 Adam Jesse George, son, born to Daniel George (BS 14) and Alison Funk (BS 15, MS 17), January 14, 2019 Atticus Gavin Hinderliter, son, born to Brad and Ashley (Lundblom) Hinderliter (BID 13, MA 16), January 18, 2019 Bennett Noreen Christian, son, born to Matt (BS 16) and Jessica (Stewart) Christian (BSE 09), February 19, 2019 Payton Renee Gurss, daughter, born to Scott and Makenzie (Milner) Gurss (BSE 12), February 21, 2019 Connor Thomas McCoy, son, born to Brent (BSE 12) and Lauren (Mulsow) McCoy (BS 11), February 24, 2019 Julianna Lucille Carey, daughter, born to Jason and Rebecca Rodriguez Carey, March 23, 2019 Camila Medina, daughter, born to Gabe (BSB 06) and Elva (Samaniego) Medina (BS 07, MS 11), April 3, 2019 Cameron G. Summers, son, born to Matthew (BSB 10) and Ali (Ybarra) Summers (BSB 09), May 20, 2019

3 Marshall John Lawrence Goodman, son, born to Daniel (BS 14, MS 16) and Rachel (Shepard) Goodman (BS 15), May 26, 2019 Melanie Carole King, daughter, born to Chandler and Shelbi (Fehr) King (BID 15), May 29, 2019 Hallie Ann McLaughlin, daughter, born to Brett and Joanna "Joey" McLaughlin, July 12, 2019 Lillian Grace Crumbliss, daughter, born to Conner (BS 19) and Audrey (Sherman) Crumbliss (BS 08), July 25, 2019 Ian Robert Schmitendorf, son, born to Bryce and Kacey (Wade) Schmitendorf (BSE 14), July 30, 2019 Paityn Louise Bean, daughter, born to Brady and Kayla (Lansing) Bean (BSB 15), August 8, 2019 Nolan Lehman, son, born to Lukas (BA 12) and Caelee (Gibbs) Lehman (BFA 11), August 15, 2019 Heidi Grace Wilson, daughter, born to Brent (BSB 16) and Madison Wilson, August 25, 2019 Willow Minnie Weilert, daughter, born to Phillip and Lizzie (Ross) Weilert (BSE 16), August 26, 2019

Gavin Edison Xavier Desire, son, born to Ed Desire (BS 07) and Deshala Castille, September 9, 2019 Catherine Louise Schneider, daughter, born to Cameron (BSE 12) and Kristen Schneider, September 13, 2019 Nellie Anne Tegtmeier, daughter, born to Caleb (BSB 08, MBA 09) and Bethany (Stanbrough) Tegtmeier, September 24, 2019 Tate Ridge Tarrant, son, born to Brandon (BS 08) and Jennifer (Dace) Tarrant (BSB 09), October 5, 2019 Marjorie Ann Mossman, daughter, born to Mike and Jessica (Potter) Mossman (BSE 05, MS 11), November 4, 2019 Ford Mitchell Wheeler, son, born to Seth and Kayla Wheeler, November 4, 2019 Bennett Jackson Morris, son, born to Tyler Morris (BSB 16), November 6, 2019 Charlotte Elaine Cotton, daughter, born to Andy (BSB 11) and Kristin (Wood) Cotton (BSE 11, MS 14), November 7, 2019 Tessa Lynn Strobel, daughter, born to Jake and Amy (Schneider) Strobel (MS 11, MS 13), November 24, 2019

SIGN UP FOR CORKY’S CREW!

Did you or a Hornet you know have a new baby recently?

Then sign up for Corky’s Crew! This program features special gifts for our newest members of Hornet Nation.

To sign up, visit emporia.edu/crew

spring 2020 29

ESU Retirements Donna Breshears, Emporia, retired on October 31, 2019, after 14 years, ending her career as an executive assistant in the Foundation.

Ray Cole, Emporia, retired on October 5, 2019, after 25 years, ending his career in Information Technology.

Glen Gunselman, Emporia, retired on September 30, 2019, after 16 years, ending his career as a systems software specialist in Information Technology.

Canda Johnson, Emporia, retired on December 13, 2019, after 15 years, ending her career as a library assistant in University Libraries and Archives.

In Memoriam 1930

Roberta H. (Brown) Brewer (LIF 39), Ulysses, July 3, 2019 Ruth K. (Cheney) McPherson (BSE 37), Dodge City, Aug. 9, 2019

1940

Elsie N. (Mast) Blanka (BS 48), Chanute, Aug. 28, 2019 Betty "Jane" (Socolofsky) Course (BSE 42), Tumwater, Wash., Dec. 1, 2019 Eleanor A. (Grimwood) Davidson (BSE 43), Newton, Nov. 22, 2019 Betty D. (Harrison) Kimmel (BS 42), Placentia, Calif., May 25, 2019 Kenneth E. "Ken" Peery (BA 47), Topeka, Aug. 10, 2019 Wanda M. (Lang) Putnam (BSE 43), Emporia, Aug. 29, 2019 Marjorie E. Townsend (LIF 41), Haviland, July 4, 2019

1950

Elaine (Staples) Adkins (BSE 52), Council Grove, Sept. 18, 2019 Ruth A. (Staton) Bloxom (BSE 55), Emporia, June 27, 2019 John C. Davies (BSE 59), Wichita, June 23, 2019 Yolanda G. (Greco) Deal (BA 52), Urbana, Ill., Sept. 9, 2019 Earl V. Gritton (BSE 50), Manhattan, Feb. 13, 2019 June A. (Ward) Jennison (BSE 51), Salina, Oct. 2, 2019 Eldon R. Kadel (BSE 56, MS 65), Beloit, Oct. 23, 2019 Leonard L. Love (BSE 52, MS 59, EDS 71), Sparta, Mo., Aug. 17, 2019 Robert W. May (BSE 58, MS 63), Mulvane, Sept. 18, 2019 30

Edna M. (Davis) Meyer (BSE 57, MS 66, EDS 82), Wellsville, Nov. 1, 2019 Darwin D. "Doug" Minnis (BSE 52), St. Joseph, Mo., Dec. 26, 2019 Lois K. (Karolik) Neufeld (BSE 56), Ocala, Fla., Sept. 22, 2019 Conrad C. Junior Ohm (BSB 59), Detroit Lakes, Minn., Dec. 6, 2019 Darrell F. Powell (BSB 51), Hanford, Calif., June 24, 2019 Clarence W. Scharff (BSE 56, MS 59, EDS 63) Halstead, July 24, 2019 Dr. Claire L. Schelske (BA 55, MS 56), Gainesville, Fla., Aug. 20, 2019 Arlene R. (Shomber) Shaw (BSE 51, MLS 58), Sierra Vista, Ariz., Dec. 18, 2018 Dale L. Shepherd (BSB 57), Ellsworth, Nov. 8, 2019 Charles M. "Chuck" Sisson (BSE 56, MS 58), McKinney, Texas, Nov. 11, 2019 William L. Smelser (BSE 57), Centerville, Utah, Oct. 8, 2019 Phyllis J. "Phyl" (Moore) Stroud (BME 56), Topeka, Dec. 9, 2019 Muriel R. (Hill) Thode (BME 51), Hutchinson, Dec. 2, 2019 Harry R. Walthall (MLS 56), Woodstock, Ga., Sept. 9, 2019 CMDR Robert E. Woodbury (BSB 51), Rockport, Texas, Sept. 16, 2019

1960

Sharon M. (Mayes) Bagg (BS 64), Raymore, Mo., Nov. 1, 2019 Edward Beasley (MA 64), Glendale, Ariz., Sept. 6, 2019 Louis S. Beauchamp (BA 69), Milwaukee, Wis., July 30, 2019 Leroy A. Blasi (MS 65), Andale, July 15, 2019

Barbara Kern, Emporia, retired on December 13, 2019, after 35 years, ending her career as an executive assistant for Academic Affairs.

Debbie Roether, Emporia, retired on December 20, 2019, after 25 years, ending her career as an administrative specialist in Sociology, Anthropology, and Crime/Delinquency Studies.

Stephen R. "Steve" Cochrane (BA 64), Wichita, April 29, 2019 Pamela S. "Pam" (Grimm) ColsonGottstein (BSE 67), Baldwin City, Sept.

22, 2019 Richard L. "Dick" Cooper (BSB 60), Hutchinson, Dec. 13, 2019 Genivieve R. "Genny" (Rummell) Cramer (BS 60, MS 66), Springfield, Mo., Nov. 12, 2019 Jay D. "J.D." Detter (BSE 68), Alma, Ark., Sept. 1, 2019 Ralph W. Dixon (BSE 60, MS 66), Lees Summit, Mo., July 3, 2019 Roma J. Dove (BA 60), Sabetha, June 21, 2019 Wayne F. Dunn (MS 67), Belleville, Aug. 13, 2019 Dean B. Edson (BSE 62, MS 65), Topeka, Dec. 1, 2019 Susan K. Ellis (BSE 66), El Dorado, Oct. 17, 2019 Rex. E. Ford (BSE 60, MS 67), Tecumseh, July 8, 2019 Bernice E. Fry (MS 61), Garden City, Sept. 15, 2019 Joyce M. (Shweitzer) Green (BSE 68, MS 74), Ottawa, Nov. 27, 2019 Judith A. (Swenson) Hampleman (BSE 64), Georgetown, Texas, Sept. 5, 2019 Margret M. Hathaway (BSE 67), Kansas City, Nov. 29, 2019 Mary J. (Martin) Hawkins (BSE 63, MLS 67), Lawrence, Oct. 6, 2019 George R. Hedrick (BSE 68), Hutchinson, June 28, 2019 Robert L. "Bob" Horn (BA 61), Lees Summit, Mo., Sept. 14, 2019 Clarence E. Howland (MS 68), Emporia, July 18, 2019

Margaret A. (Clark) Hunter (MS 68), Enid, Okla., Aug. 20, 2019 Olivia D. "Libby" (Snider) Jacobs (BSE 66, MA 79, MLS 88), Wichita, Jan. 23, 2017 Nancy L. (Brooks) Kaufman (BSE 67), Plymouth, Wis., Aug. 21, 2019 Susan J. Kice (BSE 66, MS 81), Overland Park, Aug. 19, 2019 Janice L. Knight (BSB 69), Navarre, Fla., March 30, 2019 Marilyn L. (Weaver) Leeds (BSE 60), Emporia, Oct. 16, 2019 Ronald E. "Ron" Longhofer (BSE 69, MS 72), Kansas City, Mo., July 14, 2019 Marjorie J. (Zimmerman) Ludwig (BSE 66), Overland Park, Nov. 15, 2019 Manuel O. Naranjo (MS 65), Greeley, Colo., Sept. 12, 2018 Kreston I. Norris II (BSB 65), Paola, Aug. 22, 2019 Richard E. "Dick" Olson (BSE 61, MS 63), Lenexa, Nov. 13, 2019 Sally E. (Ashcraft) Palmer (BSE 69, MS 75), Shawnee, Sept. 4, 2019 Chester B. Peckover (MS 66), North Manchester, Ind., Sept. 8, 2019 Donald C. Perkins (BSE 62, MS 65), Castle Rock, Colo., Aug. 22, 2019 Carl A. Peters (MS 67), Boise, Idaho, Aug. 11, 2019 Dean O. Radcliffe (BSB 65), Lawrence, Aug. 1, 2019 Landon B. Reynolds (MS 63), Ladson, S.C., Oct. 27, 2019 Patricia J. (Gray) Rickabaugh (BSE 64), Gibsonia, Pa., Aug. 19, 2019 Dr. Kathleen M. (Yost) Ritter (MS 67, MS 70), Bakersfield, Calif., Aug. 9, 2019 Thomas H. Robison (MS 63), Topeka, June 25, 2019 L. Gerald Schuetz (BSE 65, MS 68), Leon, Dec. 14, 2019 Jack E. Scott (EDS 65), La Cygne, June 10, 2019 Maxine R. (Krauss) Shirk (BSE 60), Halstead, Sept. 16, 2019 Dr. Charlotte A. (Graves) Skinner (BSE 64, MS 79), Austin, Ark., Nov. 22, 2019 Herbert C. "Herb" Soukup (MS 64), Hutchinson, Dec. 22, 2019 Judy A. (Miller) Starbuck (BSB 61, MS 64), Durant, Okla., March 15, 2019 Marvin C. Stoss (MS 65), Hutchinson, Aug. 14, 2019 Donald D. Stucker (BSB 61), Gainesville, Fla., Sept. 14, 2019

Charles E. Sypher (BA 67, MS 69), Vassar, Aug. 4, 2019 Larry A. Taylor (MS 65), Shawnee Mission, Sept. 5, 2019 Dr. William V. "Bill" Tucker (MS 61), Sioux Falls, S.D., July 2, 2019 Joyce I. (Haller) True (BSE 68), Fort Scott, July 3, 2019 Melbourne E. Wodke (BSB 67), Council Grove, July 3, 2019

1970

Dennis E. Affolter (BS 73), Topeka, Nov. 7, 2019 Marcia A. Arensberg-Noll (BSE 76, MS 84), Omaha, Neb., July 6, 2019 Sara L. (Beal) Aufdemberge (MLS 73), Leavenworth, Oct. 21, 2019 Jo Ann Banister (BSE 74), Fort Collins, Colo., June 25, 2019 Doris L. (Kolbo) Brawner (BS 77), Emporia, Sept. 20, 2019 Elaine M. (Shire) Campbell (BA 73), Easton, June 8, 2019 William L. Chambers (BS 70), Atchison, Sept. 17, 2019 Wanda G. (Engle) Davis (BSE 72), Loveland, Colo., Sept. 24, 2019 Timothy J. "Timm" Fahrbach (BSE 70), San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 13, 2019 SCL Sister Madonna Fink (MLS 74), Leavenworth, July 20, 2019 Duane M. French (BS 79), Olympia, Wash., Sept. 12, 2019 Dana A. Gillespie (BSB 72), Wichita, July 31, 2019 Deborah K. Hinrichs (BSE 73, MS 78), Topeka, Nov. 16, 2019 Mary B. (VanLeeuwen) Mallon (BSE 71), Liberty, Mo., July 17, 2019 Evelyn L. (Eisenhauer) Nelson (MS 72), McPherson, Dec. 9, 2019 William "Bill" J. Pfannenstiel (MLS 73), Pittsburg, Nov. 2, 2019 Beth A. Ridenour (BS 75), Prairie Village, Dec. 4, 2019 Robert D. Russell (BSB 79), Topeka, Nov. 26, 2019 Lane K. Ryno (BSB 72), Emporia, Sept.

9, 2019 Marcia R. (Riccio) Schloerb (MS 76), Cotuit, Mass., Aug. 21, 2019 Dr. James M. "Jimmy" Shields (BS 77), Tura Beach, New South Wales Australia, Dec. 11, 2019 Paula C. (Mitchell) Starks (BSE 72), Cheyenne, Wyo., Sept. 14, 2019

Nelda O. Stitzel (BSE 70, MLS 72), Burlington, Oct. 29, 2019 Jon C. Strunk (BSB 73), Neosho Rapids, Dec. 10, 2019 James E. "Jim" Tefelski (BA 73, MS 78), Emporia, Aug. 25, 2019 Edwin Tijerina (MS 74), Harveyville, Sept. 11, 2019 Duane S. VanHorn (BSB 73), Springfield, Mo., Dec. 7, 2019 Terry L. Veazey (BS 79, MS 82), Phoenix, Ariz., Nov. 14, 2018 David L. Walters (BSB 76), Phoenix, Ariz., Aug 29, 2019 Richard K. "Rick" White (BSE 73, MS 74), Haven, Sept. 11, 2019 Doris J. Ziegler-Longabach (BSE 74), Conroe, Texas, July 7, 2019

1980

Joyce (Philip) Barr (MS 81), Emporia, Dec. 11, 2019 Doreen D. (Gerlach) Brady (BSB 81), Eudora, Oct. 8, 2019 Kitty I. Brown (MS 81), Wichita, June 27, 2019 James P. Eldersveld (BGS 89), Hammond, Ind., June 24, 2019 Carolyn B. (Bradley) Harvey (EDS 86), Colorado Springs, Colo., Nov. 27, 2019 Catherine J. "Cathy" (Thompson) Hoy (MS 82, MLS 83, PHD 01), Emporia, July 21, 2019 Sylvia D. (Reimer) Kuhlmeier (MS 85), Saint Louis, Mo., June 28, 2019 Judith C. McGuire (MS 87), Lansing, July 14, 2019 Mary L. (Murdock) Pickerill (MS 83), Elizabeth, Colo., Oct. 30, 2019 Ilene M. Proctor (MS 88), El Dorado, Oct. 6, 2019 Harrietta W. Robinson (MS 82), Conyers, Ga., June 5, 2019 Theresa L. (Scheve) Shepherd (BSB 87), Rock, Oct. 12, 2019 Mark D. Weeks (BS 84, MA 86) Iola, May 27, 2019 Timothy L. "Tim" Wright (BSB 86), Emporia, Nov. 19, 2019

1990

Dr. Kenneth F. Currier (MS 91), Sun City, Ariz., Oct. 31, 2019 Paul D. Fischer (BSE 90), Cheney, Dec. 17, 2019 Lori A. (Herbel) Grimmett (BSE 93, MS 99), Emporia, Nov. 16, 2019

spring 2020

31

Michael S. Thomas (BA 96), Hartford, Aug. 7, 2019

2000

Vance E. Crutchfield (BS 05), Burlington, July 3, 2019

2010

Brandilee Chacon (MLS 17), Sandy, Utah, Sept. 17, 2019 Morgan A. Hallstrom (MS 19), Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 22, 2019 Alexander B. "Alex" Neis (BS 14), Wellsville, Oct. 13, 2019 Paul V. Urbom (MS 11), Topeka, Dec. 23, 2019

FORMER STUDENTS

Kimberly L. (Storer) Aguilar, Overland Park, Dec. 21, 2019 Esther Baldridge, Emporia, Sept. 11, 2019 Charlie C. Baumgartner, Mulvane, Sept.

8, 2019 Roy F. Baysinger, Catonsville, Md., Oct. 9, 2019 Howard E. Blender, Emporia, Oct. 7, 2019 Beatrice J. "Janon" (Keown) Cairns, Independence, Mo., Nov. 10, 2019

Robert W. Coffland, Iola, Aug. 25, 2019 Dale M. Davies, Reading, Aug. 20, 2019 Gerald C. Dunfield, Mc Louth, July 1, 2019 Leonard Eudaley, Topeka, Oct. 14, 2019 Pauline E. "Polly" (Clouse) Farlow, Adair, Okla., Nov. 12, 2019 Harry L. Ferguson, Hugoton, Nov. 12, 2019 Joseph C. Gilkey, Bel Aire, Sept. 29, 2019 Rebecca R. "Becky" (Barnett) Guldner, Syracuse, Sept. 28, 2019 Howard S. Houser, Belton, Mo., Oct. 24, 2018 John F. Korphage, Lodi, Calif., Nov. 17, 2019 Allene L. (Jones) Lane, Clay Center, Dec. 11, 2019 Rachel E. (Phillips) Leford, Neosho Rapids, Feb. 13, 2018 Mildred L. "Millie" (Sill) Lewis, Lawrence, Dec. 16, 2019 Robert O. McCants, Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 16, 2019 Catherine E. (Reber) Molzen, Belen, N.M., May 27, 2019 The Honorable Pete Ramos, Lakin, Dec. 15, 2019

JoAn J. "Jo" (Elliott) Rusk, Osseo, Minn., Jan. 17, 2019 Barbara R. (Duryea) Shinkle, Pratt, Dec. 8, 2019 Genay H. Snyder, Lees Summit, Mo., April 12, 2019 Eleanor A. (DeGraffenreid) Stout, Americus, Oct. 21, 2019 Sue A. (Henning) Willcut, Iverness, Fla., Sept. 24, 2019

The Hornet Heritage Family award recognizes a multigenerational family of Hornet alumni and former students with Hornet fever in their bloodlines. To nominate your family for this prestigious honor, visit emporia.edu/hornetheritage

FRIENDS

Mildred A. (Brickley) Gunkel, Emporia, July 27, 2019 Edwin H. 'Ed' Hawes II, Dallas, Texas, May 27, 2019 Dr. Donna L. Jamar, Emporia, July 24, 2019 Dr. Gerald L. "Jerry" Karr, Emporia, Dec. 8, 2019 Pamela "Pam" (Sauder) Matlock, Andover, Dec. 6, 2019 Max L. Nightingale, Tulsa, Okla., Oct. 17, 2019 Kenneth G. Thomas, Hartford, Dec. 9, 2019 Martha F. "Marty" Walters, Emporia, June 12, 2019

! s n o i t a l u t Congra Emporia State Alumni Relations team for winning the 2019 – 2020 CASE Platinum Award District Finalist Best Practices in Alumni Relations with the Emporia State Classroom Takeover 2019

32

Hornet Heritage

Upcoming Hornet Travel Opportunities

■■ Michigan’s Mackinac Island, Grand Hotel, & More! June 5-12, 2020 ■■ Red Rocks, Railways, & More! October 4-9, 2020 ■■ Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg & More! December 5-9, 2020 If you would like to receive information on our upcoming Hornet trips, please contact Laurie Pitman at lpitman@emporia.edu

Be A Part Of ESU History!

Put your stamp on Emporia State history with a personalized signature brick in the Sauder Alumni Center patio’s Walk of Honor. Look for more information online at hornetnation.emporia.edu/ brick-program

Dillons / Kroger Card

Do you shop at Dillons/Kroger grocery or convenience stores? If so, here's a great opportunity to give back to Emporia State University and the Alumni Association while you are doing your everyday shopping! Simply sign up for the Dillons Plus Card/Kroger Community Rewards Program by visiting: https://www.kroger. com/o/store-services/community-rewards

TAG…

You’re It! Show your HORNET PRIDE and support ESU student scholarships! All ESU alumni, students, parents, fans, and friends who own or lease a vehicle in Kansas are eligible to apply for an ESU license plate! For more information, visit emporia.edu/esutag

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Spotlight Magazine

Sauder Alumni Center 1500 Highland Street Emporia, Kansas 66801-5018

PAID

Permit No. 457 Liberty, MO 64068

SAVE THE DATE OCTOBER 23-24 for more details and a schedule of events, please visit emporia.edu/homecoming