A publication for our alumni & friends
Magazine
Special Panther, Special Team page 8 Jeff White ’72 Coming Full Circle page 16 Dr. Corey Johnson ’00 Why I Give page 17
Summer 2017
Magazine Kentucky Wesleyan College
Sections:
Barton D. Darrell ’84, J.D. President
3 President’s Letter 10 Alumni Association 11 Alumni Survey 18 President’s Circle 21 Class of 2017 22 Athletics 26 Class Notes 30 In Memoriam
Thomas W. Keith Vice President for Advancement Katherine Rutherman Editor, Director of Public Relations Jenna Brashear Director of Advancement Operations Mary Crawford Senior Development Associate/ Planned Giving Officer M. Blake Harrison Director of Development and Donor Relations Ruthie (Hutton) Hume ’62 Administrative Assistant Eddie Kenny Senior Director of Alumni Relations Julianna Pfadt Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Roy Pickerill ’75 Special Assistant for College Relations April Ray Director of Marketing and Communications Contributing Writers: President Barton D. Darrell ’84, Jenna Brashear, M. Blake Harrison, Eddie Kenny, Rob Mallory, Brad Moore, Katherine Rutherman, Liz Wacienga Contributing Photographers: Jacksonville Jaguars, Bryan Leazenby, Charles Mahlinger Kentucky Wesleyan Magazine is published by Kentucky Wesleyan College. The mission of the magazine is to maintain ties between the College, its alumni and all other constituents, and to report on issues of importance to these groups. Address correspondence to: Kentucky Wesleyan Magazine Office of Public Relations 3000 Frederica Street Owensboro, KY 42301 Phone: 270-852-3143 krutherman@kwc.edu Send address changes to: Office of Alumni Relations Kentucky Wesleyan College 3000 Frederica Street Owensboro, KY 42301 alumni@kwc.edu or 270-852-3146
Features:
4 6 8 16 17
The Wesleyan Way President’s Gala Special Panther, Special Team by Jenna Brashear
Jeff White ’72 Coming Full Circle by Katherine Rutherman Dr. Corey Johnson ’00 Why I Give with M. Blake Harrison
On the cover: Members of the Wesleyan community are gathered on a familiar campus corner. The new street sign indicates the name change from Wesleyan Drive to Wesleyan Way. Front: Dr. Leah Hoover, De’Vante McFarland (Class of 2019) and Chloe Lubag (Class of 2020). Back: Diana (Grinter) Hunter ’83, President Barton D. Darrell ’84, Steve Divine ’94 and Professor Joey Connelly ’06.
A United Methodist-related college since 1858 2 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
From the President Dear Alumni and Friends: Greetings from Kentucky Wesleyan College! I must thank each of you for all you mean to our great College. Your financial support makes it possible for more to have the opportunity of a Wesleyan education and all that means for a rich and rewarding life. Your engagement and participation in our activities and functions makes us a stronger institution and keeps us closer as a family. Your referral of potential students opens doors for them and affords us the opportunity to grow. In short, you are such a vital part of our mission here at Kentucky Wesleyan, and I hope you know how grateful I am for all you do. I am blessed to be allowed by you and the board of trustees to do what I do each day here. It is a daily inspiration to walk this campus and speak to our amazing students, faculty and staff. We encourage everyone here to refuse to be like anyone else. When we try to be like others, we set our expectations as “average” because “others” are already taken. We CAN’T be them. If we focus on being our best unique self, each of us will achieve greatness professionally and personally in a way that no other person can or will. That is my hope for our students - that they find themselves and reach their full potential to best serve and prosper. Our College is no different. We should never try to be like another college or university. Why should we strive for “average?” We shouldn’t, and we won’t. Because of you, Kentucky Wesleyan College is special and unique. While we are intensely focused on improving every day, we should waste no time aspiring to assume the identity of another institution. A guest at Commencement told me after watching our graduating seniors walk across the stage, “You have what I wish my school had. You don’t have just diversity. You have variety. You have family.” Yes, we do. Our collaborative goal must be to make Kentucky Wesleyan College the greatest “Kentucky Wesleyan College” she can be. We are making significant strides toward even greater days here, and each one of you is critically important to the success of our journey. I am grateful for your unique contribution to our family here at Kentucky Wesleyan. You mean so much to us. I hope to see you at Homecoming this fall (October 6-8) and many of our other festive events on campus and throughout the country in 2017-18. It will be an amazing year!
Barton D. Darrell ’84, J.D. President
Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 3
“The Wesleyan Way is new in label, but not in history or tradition. I became president of Kentucky Wesleyan College on Sept. 16, 2014. One week later, I called a ‘family meeting’ in the Woodward Health and Recreation Center to address the faculty, staff and student body. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to say. I thought about what it is that Wesleyan really does for students and what the College did for me. About two hours before the meeting was to begin, I coined the phrase, The Wesleyan Way, and listed four components I believed represent what we should strive for in all we do here. They are: (1) Honor in all that we do; (2) Support each other in all of our endeavors; (3) Compete with the highest level of integrity; and (4) Love each other in Christ. I believe if we focus on these four principles in all we do, we will be successful individually and as an institution. I closed my remarks with a request. I asked the students to tweet out ‘The Wesleyan Way’ and nothing else. They were to keep retweeting that and not explain what it meant until asked. Social media then did its thing, and we had tens of thousands of tweets of ‘#TheWesleyanWay’ out within a day. Then came tee-shirts, signage, wristbands, and a new way of checking ourselves (e.g., ‘Is that the Wesleyan Way?’). The students bought in and made it work quickly. The Wesleyan Way is now a significant part of our identity.” President Barton D. Darrell ’84 “When I think about The Wesleyan Way, I think about a standard which I try to apply to my work and personal life. It means I bring a certain level of knowledge, energy and passion to whatever I do … in or out of my work environment. It is a mentality that challenges me and helps me obtain the goals I’ve always wanted to accomplish.” Steve Divine ’94 Vice President and Senior Trust Investments Officer Independence Bank Alumni Association Board Member “The Wesleyan Way is more than just a motto to me. It’s the foundation that is guiding me through my college experience. From the outstanding coursework to the family relationships we build on campus to the competitive spirit of our scholar-athletes, we all embody The Wesleyan Way. My transition into college from high school was easy because my professors took an interest in me. Wesleyan has given me many new opportunities and many new family members. The campus is a second home for me, and I’m grateful to be a part of such an amazing place.” De’Vante McFarland Art and graphic design major Class of 2019
4 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
“Growing up in Las Vegas, Nev., I was quite the homebody. Far and few were the instances when we visited other places, so the decision to go to college in a state so far from home was daunting for me. Truth be told, I was petrified and absolutely scared beyond my wits up until the moment I saw the campus. It was beautiful and looked unlike any institution Vegas offered. It only got better as I met some of the most involved faculty and staff I’ve ever seen and became a part of the most kind student body you can imagine. I can’t wait to see what opportunities being a Panther brings!” Chloe Lubag Legal Studies Major Class of 2020 “Wesleyan got me ready for the world. I am the only member of my family to graduate from college, and my first time on a college campus was the day I arrived to move in. I remember my education professor, Dr. Walter Beumel, talking about growing up in a family similar to mine. I identified with him. Through his encouragement, I knew I could be successful. I still experience The Wesleyan Way today as the tennis coach – it is a warm and genuinely caring place – from the students to the president.” Diana (Grinter) Hunter ’83 Retired guidance counselor, language arts and reading teacher Head Coach, Women’s Tennis “I once had my poetry class write about a place that isn’t where they grew up but still feels like home. Over half wrote about a place suspiciously like Wesleyan, where meaningful connections with the people around them were easy and deep. My favorite line was something like, ‘Even my ex’s new girlfriend seems friendly on the quad.’ Robert Frost once said, ‘Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.’ The Wesleyan Way are the words we found for the thought and emotion that is here now, was here through my time as a student, and I bet goes all the way back to Winchester. The Wesleyan Way is our poetry. I wish I had written it.” Joey Connelly ’06 Assistant Professor of English “The Wesleyan Way means we are a family. As a family, we help each other in times of need, we love one another through good times and bad times, we don’t pass judgment on others, and we celebrate achievements and milestones each and every day. We are a support system for each other. While we have many leaders on this campus for various departments and organizations, we are all one big team that is constantly supporting those leaders. We believe in The Wesleyan Way, and it has become our mantra as we seek to set a good example both on and off campus.” Dr. Leah Hoover Associate Professor of Education Professional Studies Division, Co-Chair Teacher Education Department, Chair Director of Office of Disability Services Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 5
Nearly 270 individuals turned out for the second annual President’s Gala at the Owensboro Convention Center on April 21. The Gala honored members of the President’s Circle, the College’s most prestigious giving society and celebrated Wesleyan’s 2016-17 successes and commitment to our community and region. The black-tie optional event featured a reception sponsored by Independence Bank and continued with dinner and remarks from Jennifer Walker-Crawford ’17, Steve Divine ’94 and President Barton D. Darrell ’84. Guests enjoyed an energetic after-party with music provided by The Downtown Band from Nashville. Kentucky Wesleyan thanks these generous organizations who sponsored the event:
Cornerstone Sponsor Independence Bank
Gold Sponsors
American Patriot Getaways Atmos Energy Corporation Canteen At Your Service and John Conti Coffee Greenwell-Chisholm Printing Company Modern Welding Company
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
David Hocker & Associates GCA Services Group Ebelhar Whitehead, PLLC Hendrick Screen Company and North Hilliard Lyons – The Settle Group Bowie Farming US Bank and US Bank Home Mortgage Houchens Insurance Group Old National Bank Owensboro Health O.Z. Tyler Distillery
Mark your calendar! The 2018 President’s Gala is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 20. See kwc.edu/gala to view videos and photos of the Gala.
6 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Sherry (Miller) ’83 and Joseph Feldpausch
Holly and Rob Mallory
Harrison ’11 amd Adair Price
Darrell and Denise Higginbotham, Delynn and John Paris, Hayley and Jake Basham
Dr. David ’72 and Sharon (Gregory) Watkins ’69
Gloria and Tom Purcell
Ashley (Braun) ’09 and Chris Gendek ’10 Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 7
Special Panther, Special Team
by Jenna Brashear
Allyson Funk is an official member of the women’s basketball team but sometimes can’t make weight training because sessions are too late in the evening for a middle schooler. The 12-year-old, who lives in Utica and attends College View Middle School, signed a National Letter of Intent in February, just like her Panther teammates. She has Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic disorder that can lead to bone marrow failure, leukemia and other cancers and was recruited by the Panthers through Team IMPACT, which stands for Inspire, Motivate and Play Against Challenges Together. Team IMPACT is a national organization founded in 2011 to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,100 children with collegiate teams at over 450 institutions in 46 states, improving the lives of hundreds of courageous children and touching the lives of over 30,000 student-athletes with a focus on the fit of the child to coaches and players, rather than on placing the student in any specific sport. Allyson and her mother, Liz, say they knew nothing about basketball when she started coming to practices. But that changed in a hurry. Kiernan McGeehan, Team IMPACT midwest relationship manager, who placed Allyson with the Panthers, observed, “Allyson is now a Panther through and through.” Allyson says she learned more than the rules of the game. “I have learned that it takes a team to play basketball. It’s not just about one player, but about everyone.”
President Darrell with Allyson
The 12-year-old joined the team in Aug. 2016 and participates in everything from practice to weightlifting sessions to attending games. She joins the Panthers in huddles and on the bench and is always ready with a towel or water bottle for her teammates. Unlike most players, she prefers practices to games because she can spend more time interacting with coaches Caleb and Nicole Nieman and the players. Her grandmother, Selma Wiesenberg, remarked, “The women’s basketball team and coaches stepped up to include Allyson like you wouldn’t believe. They are amazing.” The benefits of her participation go both ways, according to her coaches. Coach Nicole Nieman reflected on Allyson’s outlook. “She runs into the Coaches Caleb and Nicole Nieman with Allyson at signing of National gym with a huge smile on her face, excited to be Letter of Intent there.” She also noted that Allyson’s enthusiasm for lifting weights and doing pullups increased the team’s motivation to complete their own workouts. Senior Bria Wright shared, “Soon after Allyson joined our team, we came to feel like she had always been a part of us. She just jumps in to take care of anything the team needs.”
8 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Improving her physical fitness also improved her confidence level, a valuable asset to a child struggling with chronic disease. She is much shorter than her classmates, and the illness has required multiple procedures, including a bone marrow transplant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital at age 5 and multiple surgeries to excise leukoplakia, pre-cancerous lesions on the tongue. When she was younger, Allyson sometimes underwent daily or weekly intravenous medication infusions. As a result of the transplant, she must limit exposure to sunlight due to the risks of graft versus host disease. After each women’s basketball practice, players must complete a “What Went Well” journal, including three things that went well, something for which the player is grateful and something she learned, something she needs to work on and ways she demonstrated mental toughness. Allyson keeps a journal, too, and her first entry had an impact on her new teammates. She recorded: “I got to come to practice.” “I got to see my friends.” “I got to hang out with my girls.” Nicole Nieman made copies for each team member, and senior Bria Wright said, “That list is something I will keep forever. It will always be a reminder of the team’s bond with Allyson.” Allyson attends all home games, along with many of her family members. She enjoys staying in touch with the players through group chats, and when she became ill during the season, teammates inundated her with messages of concern and support. She was back on the bench soon, cheering for her team. They cheer her on, too, and the entire team attended her Christmas choir concert at school. “We are honored that she is a part of our lives,” reflected Nicole Nieman. “Allyson has changed so much in the last year,” said her mother. “She has a more positive attitude, and she talks about her future plans. The strong bonds she developed with the team members are heartwarming, and the girls are demonstrating to Allyson that she ‘can do’ anything she works for.” Liz Funk went on to say that when Allyson is with the team, she forgets she is different and forgets she has Fanconi anemia. “She is just one of them,” recalled Liz. Summer is here, and GroupMe text messaging and Instagram will keep Allyson connected to her teammates until they return to campus in August. “The team means family,” said the middle schooler. “I love them all like big sisters.” Jennifer Walker-Crawford, Erin Dorn and Brittany Wells with Allyson and Liz Funk
Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 9
Alumni Association My Fellow Alumni: Like many of you, I moved away from Owensboro following graduation and transitioned into the next phase of my life. I am sure many of you have also experienced numerous transitions since your time at Wesleyan. Whether furthering your education, starting a new job, or raising a family, I hope you have experienced great success and fulfillment. As you reflect on your time at the College, I hope you can appreciate how special the experience was. As the years have passed, I recognize how my time at Wesleyan was superior to the college experience of most of my peers. As you already know, The Wesleyan Way is truly exceptional! If you are like me, you can look back now and see how your experience at Wesleyan helped pave the way for a successful future. But The Wesleyan Way doesn’t stop at graduation — it endures. There are so many opportunities for us to stay connected to one another, to current and future students, and to the faculty and staff that meant so much to our Wesleyan experience. Consider all of the opportunities we have for alumni in Owensboro and abroad:
• Homecoming • Wesleyan on the Waves cruise in 2018 • Downs after Dark at Churchill Downs
• Day at the Races at Keeneland • First Thursdays • Other regional gatherings
These are just a few ways to connect with other alumni. There are also great opportunities to connect with current and prospective students:
• Mock interviews • Etiquette Dinner
• Athletics events • Career fairs
• Social media • Panther Preview Days
If you have not felt like the Alumni Association wants you to be an engaged member, consider this your formal invitation to join us! We are all part of the Wesleyan family, and we are all here for each other. So make a commitment to get involved today. Volunteer for an event on campus. Sign up for Homecoming. Get connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Would you like to host an event? Are you looking to connect with alumni for new employment opportunities? Do you need interns at your current place of employment? Let us know! The Alumni Association is your connection to the past, present and future. I hope to see you — or meet you — at an event soon! Dr. BC Childress ’05 President, Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Association BC.Childress@gmail.com
Upcoming Summer and Fall Events
Owensboro First Thursdays
Jun. 24
Social/networking events are hosted monthly on the first Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in Owensboro.Visit kwc.edu/alumni and click “Alumni Events” for the latest schedule and venues for First Thursdays, as well as the most up-to-date schedule of Wesleyan events.
Cincinnati, Ohio Wesleyan Night with Cincinnati FC FC Cincinnati vs. Saint Louis FC July 14 Madisonville, Ky. Friday Night Live Downtown July 23 Santa Claus, Ind. Wesleyan Day at Holiday World Aug. 5 Winchester, Ky. Winchester Picnic Aug. 25 Owensboro, Ky. Friday After 5 at Owensboro riverfront sponsored by Kentucky Wesleyan Aug. 26 Owensboro, Ky. Alumni Association Board Meeting Sept. 8-9 Owensboro, Ky. Baseball Alumni Weekend Sept. 15 Louisville, Ky. Wesleyan Night with Louisville City FC Louisville City FC vs. Bethlehem Steel FC Sept. 19 Cincinnati, Ohio Wesleyan Night with the Cincinnati Reds Oct. 6-8 Owensboro, Ky. Homecoming 2017 Visit kwc.edu/alumnievents for more information and to register. 10 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Putting Alumni Survey Responses into Action “I don’t get the feeling Kentucky Wesleyan College cares whether I participate or not.” Comments like this were received with the comprehensive Alumni Attitude Survey conducted in the fall of 2015. They are what continue to inform and drive forward our Alumni Relations initiatives and outreach efforts to connect you with your alma mater. We want to share with you some of the progress that has been made at Kentucky Wesleyan in response to your comments. We want you to know that we certainly do care about your participation, and you have many choices: attend a Wesleyan event, refer a student to Wesleyan, submit a nomination for an Alumni Award or Alumni Hall of Fame, share your career expertise with current students and fellow alumni and give back financially to Wesleyan. Our engagement efforts have been ramped up in response to feedback and comments such as this, and also as a result of the commitment and efforts of your alumni leadership both on the Alumni Association Board and in the Office of Alumni Relations. The Office of Alumni Relations, now back in its home at the Martin Alumni Center, is dedicated to providing you the best alumni experience possible. We offer opportunities to connect with alumni locally, regionally, nationally, internationally and virtually. Join us on social media, register for upcoming events, including Homecoming 2017 and our “Wesleyan on the Waves” cruise that sets sail in June 2018, and let us know how you feel you can support the mission of the College in adding value to your degree and the experience of future Panthers.
Eddie Kenny Senior Director of Alumni Relations 270-852-3146 ekenny@kwc.edu
“To give back in time and money is something I am interested in. Just don’t know how to become involved, not being in the Owensboro area.” While we can’t make it to every city, town or country where our alumni reside, we are targeting areas that feature heavy concentrations of Wesleyan graduates. If you are interested in hosting or planning an event in your area, just get in touch. We may also have some opportunities to connect you virtually. Just reach out to your Alumni Relations team.
Julianna Pfadt Assistant Director of Alumni Relations 270-852-3144 jpfadt@kwc.edu
Ruthie (Hutton) Hume ’62 Administrative Assistant 270-852-3225 rhume@kwc.edu
“I did not get much communication from the College for years. I recently resolved the problem by giving my email address to the Alumni Office.” We want to stay in touch and keep you connected with your alma mater. However, we rely on your help to do so. A contact update goes a long way to ensure you receive all of the exciting news and event updates from Kentucky Wesleyan College. We also want to celebrate your successes, so be sure to share your family growth and career achievements. Call or email the Office of Alumni Relations or fill out an information update form on our website at kwc.edu/alumni to keep us as up-to-date as possible on your points of contact and guarantee you don’t miss out on all of the good that is happening at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 11
Putting Alumni Survey Responses into Action “Consider making it as easy as possible for your current and future donors to engage, offer feedback and contribute to Wesleyan.” Our new website provides user-friendly links and forms to share feedback, make a gift and register for events. In addition, our expanded presence on social media with general College channels and alumni-specific channels provides not only an interactive world for alumni to connect with one another, but also to communicate with the College.
Facebook facebook.com/kwcalumni
Twitter @kwcalumni
Instagram LinkedIn @kwcalumni Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Group
“I believe the Alumni Association should work on benefiting more recent graduates. Even though we may not be able to provide financial donations, we can help in other ways.” Young alumni engagement is a focus for our Alumni Relations operation, and we hope our recent graduates feel connected to the College through events such as First Thursdays (free networking socials designed to build the Wesleyan connection). While First Thursdays are currently hosted only in Owensboro, we hope to continue expanding that event concept into other key areas where our graduates work and live. Other opportunities to give back include participating in our Career Development events and offering to support a current student by being a mentor. Young graduates are also influential in speaking to prospective students about Wesleyan today and providing first-hand accounts that encourage the next generation of Panthers to join our family. We also understand that the majority of our young graduates do not have the financial capacity to give back with large monetary donations, but it is equally important to remember that every gift makes a difference for current and future Wesleyan students.
Left to Right: Matt Wallace ’11, Zederick White ’11, Vince Lalonde ’11, Jasen Fairley ’11, Tyler Herman ’16, Nix Crawford ’15, Madison Cleveland ’15, Chelsea Brothers ’15, Dalton Oliver ’15, Josh White ’15, Hannah Hudnall ’14, Mac Webb ’15 and Nathan Ballinger ’15
“A church-related college must develop and maintain a close and dynamic association with the local churches within its denomination.” We are an institution founded on, and focused in, faith. Campus Ministries has taken measured steps to connect with our local churches, and as a result of these efforts, more than 15 different churches representing various faiths became involved with our Campus Ministries efforts in the fall 2016 semester. As President Darrell said when addressing your Alumni Association Board of Directors in February, “Campus Ministries is not just a program, but the foundation on which we build our future. All the good things that are happening are not us, but God’s work in this College.”
12 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
“For years, I received a phone call and one copy of the alumni magazine. I receive e-mails two to three times a week from my other schools. I do receive e-mails from Wesleyan, but they are always about athletics. Who cares?” We have established a calendar of communications that allows us to let our alumni know about what is happening at Wesleyan, but not inundate across one communication platform or another. The “Alumni Monthly” e-newsletter is sent on the third Tuesday of each month, we have added a second issue of “Kentucky Wesleyan Magazine” and send event invitations to encourage your connection with Wesleyan as needed. Public Relations also sends “The Wesleyan Way” Sign up to receive the “Alumni e-newsletter at the beginning of each month. Athletics is a big part of who we are as an institution and indeed is a big Monthly” and “The Wesleyan Way” part of our makeup as an Alumni Association (more than e-newsletters at kwc.edu/subscribe 50 percent of our graduates are former scholar-athletes and many more are fans).
“I feel like I am ready to be more involved in alumni activities but am always nervous about not having anyone to talk to. I recently went to the Bowling Green Hot Rods game and saw that when you are around Wesleyan people ... there is ALWAYS someone to talk to!”
Front row, left to right: Hope Childress, Suzanne Childress, Jennilin (Deitz) Long ’07, Kathy (Holbrook) Sherman ’73, Christie (Kell) Stumpf ’69, Julianna Pfadt It can be intimidating, and sometimes uncomfortable, to Back row (left to right): Dr. BC Childress ’05, Katy (Evans) Harrison ’01, Ashley (Braun) commit to an event or activity Gendek ’09, Eddie Kenny when you do not know who will be there. However, the Wesleyan family is always welcoming and the goal of our events is to connect alumni wherever they may be. Rest assured, you’re going to walk away with new connections and expand your network. After all, that’s The Wesleyan Way!
Several other comments reflected a consistent theme of non-response from the Office of Alumni Relations. We want to assure you that if you reach out to us, you will receive a response. You can rest assured that our Alumni Relations team is available and ready to work with you!
Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 13
Development Kentucky Wesleyan Receives $3 Million Gift
Wesleyan announced an estate gift of $3 million from the late Dr. Willard T. Gillespie to the school’s General Scholarship Fund in Sept. 2016. Dr. Gillespie, a long-time Owensboro resident and dentist, passed away on July 28, 2016. Dr. Gillespie’s gift under his Last Will reflected his passionate commitment to Wesleyan and his strong desire to make a significant impact on the College. Wesleyan President Barton D. Darrell expressed the school’s appreciation for Dr. Gillespie: “Dr. Gillespie was most supportive of the Kentucky Wesleyan mission and the education we offer. He also committed himself to the Owensboro-Daviess County community and understood Wesleyan’s significant influence and positive impact here. Dr. Gillespie had recently expressed to us his excitement about the things that are happening at Wesleyan and reinforced his desire to support the College.”
2016 Wesleyan Way Day of Service/Giving Tuesday The Wesleyan family came together for the second-straight year to serve the community on Wesleyan Way Day of Service on Nov. 28, 2016. Students, staff, faculty and alumni volunteers gave 320 hours of their time to serve others, and the service hours nearly doubled last year’s output of 172. Giving Tuesday followed on Nov. 29 with a 30 percent increase in giving from the previous year with a total of $147,472 in charitable gifts. “We don’t just welcome investments from others in what we do; we are committed to investing in others as well. It’s The Wesleyan Way.” President Barton D. Darrell
2017 events will take place on Nov. 27 and 28. 14 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
2017 Alumni Awards Congratulations to these distinguished members of the Wesleyan community, who will be honored at the 2017 Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner on Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 7.
Outstanding Alumnus President Barton D. Darrell ’84
Alumni Achievement Todd Lillpop ’01
Outstanding Young Graduate Eric Flory ’02
Gus E. Paris Distinguished Service Dr. Henry Connor
Alumni Service Doug Hoyt ’84
Honorary Alumnus Don Moore
While our 2017 Alumni Award winners have been selected, nominations are being accepted for consideration for 2018 awards. For your convenience, visit kwc.edu/alumni to complete the nomination form.
With Gratitude
Dr. Evelyn Hiatt Associate Professor of Biology 2002 – 2017
Dr. Henry Connor Professor of Chemistry 1972 – 2017
Dr. William Conroy Professor of History and Political Science 1989 – 2017
Dr. Sally Asefa Professor of Economics 2007 – 2017
Our congratulations and best wishes to Drs. Connor, Conroy and Asefa on their retirements and to Dr. Hiatt, who is relocating to her home state of North Carolina. Thank you for your years of dedicated service to our students. Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 15
Jeff White ’72
Coming Full Circle
by Katherine Rutherman
“I am ready to give back,” said Jeff White ’72, after he closed his office door for the last time. He retired in June 2016 from the corporation he founded in his living room in 1988. Jefco, Inc., located outside Richmond, Va., had over 100 employees and manufactured and installed glass. White served on numerous boards in the building industry, and Jefco was one of four companies he owned during his career. He explained that as he pondered retirement, he felt the need to repay Kentucky Wesleyan for his valuable experiences as a student that prepared him for a successful, satisfying life. He wasn’t sure what career path he wanted to follow when he arrived on campus, but dedicated professors helped him find his way. A Perrysburg, Ohio, native, he said his high school graduating class was very small, and he knew a big university would be overwhelming to him. “The small classes and the welcoming atmosphere at Wesleyan were just what I needed,” he shared, “and I flourished.” “I got an excellent education and a lot more,” said White. “I got friendships that have lasted a lifetime. We were in each other’s weddings, we vacationed together with our kids and then attended their weddings. Now we swap grandchildren stories. What a life.” A business administration major, he was introduced to the glass industry right out of college with a job in Toledo, Ohio. He describes himself as forthright and hard-working. “I always concentrated on quality and service,” he shared, “and I am a person of my word. I did what I said I would do.” He had many employees who worked for him for 20 or more years. “I took care of them,” he said, “and they had expectations of me, too, which I took seriously.” Two years ago, White reached out to his alma mater to establish the White-Schmeal endowed scholarship for business students. After the initial contact, he got to know President Darrell. “I was immediately impressed with his leadership style and skills. His energy and his involvement with students got my attention.” “I retired with the mixed emotions many people have,” he explained. “I felt some relief, too, and I didn’t look back. I turned it off, and looked ahead.” Retirement includes more golf, and most of all, more family time. He and his wife of 42 years, Susan, enjoy travel, and his daughter and her family live nearby. White finds serving as a taxi driver to his two grandchildren, a second-grader and a pre-K student, to be the best job he has ever had. Jeff White joined the Kentucky Wesleyan College Board of Trustees in Feb. 2017 and serves on the Investment Committee. “The time is right,” he said, “and I can devote my time and knowledge to the College to which I owe so much.”
16 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Dr. Corey Johnson ’00
Why I Give
with M. Blake Harrison
“Giving through the President’s Circle and being part of the Alumni Association Board of Directors allows me to truly appreciate the impact alumni giving has on the College.” Tell us about your family. “ My wife, Ashley, and I grew up in Owensboro. We have three children: Arlo, 11, Claudia, 8, and Sylvie, 3. Ashley works for Kentucky BioProcessing as a bioanalytical chemist. Although she is not a graduate of Wesleyan, we started dating during a microbiology class she took here for work in 1998. We were married in 2000.”
Tell us about your career. “ I am a urologic surgeon for One Health Urology in Owensboro. I received my M.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in May 2006. I received my urologic and surgical training at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, which I completed in 2011.”
Why did you choose Wesleyan? Did you enter college knowing you wanted to be a doctor? “ I graduated from Daviess County High School in 1992. I was a ‘road less traveled’ sort of guy and came to Kentucky Wesleyan in 1997. Having taken the road less traveled allowed me to know what I did NOT want to do in life. I decided to focus on pursuing medicine. I grew up in a medical household and knew the rigors required to pursue that career. Wesleyan offered me a rigorous scientific program in my hometown that allowed me to matriculate to the UK College of Medicine.”
Who made an impact on your life while you were here? “I cannot say enough about the science faculty during the time I was at Wesleyan. Drs. Oetinger, Kingsolver, Magnuson, Connor and Flachskam all prepared me to succeed in medical school and in life. They were engaged and encouraging of their students, but required a high standard to succeed in their courses. The personal involvement of the faculty brought out the best in me academically and personally.”
You give back in many ways — why? “I give back because Wesleyan was a big part of the foundation for my success. Giving through the President’s Circle and being part of the Alumni Association Board of Directors allows me to truly appreciate the impact alumni giving has on the College. With President Darrell’s direction, he has assembled a team that has created the most enthusiasm I have witnessed around the College in at least two decades. The value a Wesleyan education currently provides to students is to be emulated, but the College’s success can only continue with alumni giving and involvement.”
Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 17
2016–2017
President’s Circle KWC Presidents Circle.pdf
1
The President’s Circle is the most prestigious annual giving society at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Alumni and friends who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more receive regular communication directly from President Barton D. Darrell, complimentary tickets to the President’s Gala and other exclusive benefits. For more information or to join the President’s Circle, visit kwc.edu/pc or call 270-852-3142. The following joined or renewed their membership during the 2016-17 fiscal year ending May 31: Ben ’59 and Linda (Huffaker) Abbott ’59 Dr. Ernest Abernathy ’55 All American/All Sports Club American Patriot Getaways W. Steve Anderson ’66 Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities Atmos Energy Corporation, Dallas, Texas Atmos Energy Corporation, Owensboro Dr. Kenneth and Rose Ayers Gordon and Connie Lou Barnett Chaplain Bruce Barrett ’53 B.J. Killian Foundation Kenneth ’61 and Rhoda (Chism) Bell ’61 Mike ’78 and Cathy (Meeks) Bishop ’78 John ’68 and Joanna (Brown) Blaney ’69 Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP Rev. William Bowling ’56 Rev. Darren and Lori Brandon Gary and Virginia Braswell Dennis Brown ’87 Duke and Tamara Brubaker Ross Bullock Robert ’81 and Ginger Burns James and Ann Call Calvert City (Ky.) United Methodist Church Cambron Body Shop 18 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Margaret (Cole) Cambron ’78 Canteen At Your Service Dr. Randall ’57 and Joan (Gray) Capps ’60 Mark Carroll ’88 Carson-Myre Charitable Foundation Greg and Dana Catron W. Hershell Cave ’61 Paul W. Chellgren Jeffrey ’89 and Gretchen Chenault Dr. BC ’05 and Hope Childress Evelyn Clark Martha Fitts Clark Roger ’63 and Jan Clark Sam Clark ’80 Noel ’81 and Brenda Clayton Dr. John Combs Community Health Concord Custom Cleaners – Steve and Susan McDaniel Nancy (Wood) ’76 and Dr. Henry Connor Patrick ’73 and Lorraine Corkran Rev. Dr. Billy Joe ’52 and Velma Cox James and Mary Crawford Sally (Allen) ’67 and Don Crenshaw Brian Cromer ’82 President Barton D. Darrell ’84 Bracken and Maria Darrell Carol (Combs) Daugherty ’51
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Daviess County Pork Producers Ernie and Martha Davis Dr. William ’80 and Peggy (Hicks) Davis ’82 Deborah (Carter) ’79 and Ted Dearing Dr. Paula Dehn Mike and Janna (Duncan) DeMarsh ’87 Sandra (Schmidt) Dickinson ’57 Anna Dixon-Skidmore Lydia Dorman ’82 Richard Dowse* Dr. James Dunlop ’84 E.M. Ford & Company Dr. Diane Earle Ebelhar Whitehead, PLLC Rev. Thomas ’68 and Susan Eblen Sherry (Miller) ’83 and Joseph Feldpausch First United Methodist Church, Henderson, Ky. Dr. Karen Fisher-Brasher ’77 Judith (Rogers) Ford ’61 Foreman Watson Holtrey LLP W. Jeff ’83 and Detra Foreman Kenneth Foster Wayne ’69 and Cathy Foster Nancy (Coons) Franklin ’48 Fraternal Order of Eagles – Yellow Banks Aerie Danny ’67 and Marcia (Fowler) Garland ’67 Jerry and Rebecca Garner Christopher ’10 and Ashley (Braun) Gendek ’09 Rev. Mark ’78 and Cheryl (Smith) Gibbons ’79 Mary Catherine (Hacker) Gilliam ’53 Gipe Automotive Glenn Funeral Home Greater Milwaukee Foundation Greenwell-Chisholm Printing Company George and Gertrude Greenwell John R. Gregory Rev. Tom ’78 and Cheryl (Spaulding) Grieb ’79 James Griffin ’86 Harold ’71 and Christy (Hocker) Hall James ’63 and Judith Hancock Nancy Hanna-Galster ’69 Ray ’85 and Shannon Harper Arthur and Debra Harreld Horace ’60 and Kalliopi Harrison Hendrick Screen Company Drs. Ernie and Evelyn Hiatt Darrell and Denise Higginbotham David ’59 and Marcia Hocker Talmage ’85 and Rosemary Hocker Robert ’86 and Stephanie Hodskins Holston Conference United Methodist Church Foundation
Horace L. Temple Remainder Unitrust Dr. Kristi (Wright) ’91 and John Horlander Michael Horn ’75 Doug ’84 and Brenda Hoyt Josh Hutchison ’10 Independence Bank Sandra Ivers J. Rogers Badgett Sr. Foundation Jay ’11 and Anna Ivey Neil Jesse ’62 Drs. Corey ’00 and Ashley Johnson Dr. Ellis Johnson ’60 Bill ’62 and Gerry (Beard) Jones ’62 Brian Jones ’83 James ’69 and Sandra Jones Tom and Kendra Keith Ken-Tron Dr. Arba Kenner ’74 Kentucky Annual Conference United Methodist Church Kentucky United Methodist Foundation Inc. Lee ’84 and Bettie Kincaid Mildred (Poe) Kincaid ’46 Ann Kincheloe Linda (Carver) Kingsley ’62 J. Drew and Gail Kirkland Allen ’60 and Penny Kirtley Dennis ’65 and Brenda Kirtley Edward ’93 and Jodi (Parks) Krahwinkel ’93 Nancy (Luckett) ’74 Kramer and Raymond Kramer Scott ’87 and Penny (Mills) Kramer ’86 Dr. William ’58 and Janice Lacefield Dr. Bill and Lane Langford Lawrence Augusta Hager Educational Foundation Scott ’97 and Kristin Littleton Lowe’s Dr. Frances Lucas Lynco Security Rev. Chris ’74 and Virginia Madison Dr. W.L. Magnuson and Kirsten Ahnell Mitchell ’92 and Laurie (Weida) Major ’92 Thomas ’79 and Donna Major Rob and Holly Mallory Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation Tonya Marksberry ’79 Charles and Susan Martin Matthew ’08 and Dr. Elizabeth (Mauzy) Martin ’08 Michiko Matsumoto Larry ’64 and Lamone Mayfield Bob ’78 and Mary (Turner) McDole ’79 Barry ’65 and Mollie (Dinwiddle) McGaw ’67 Memorial United Methodist Church, Elizabethtown, Ky. Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 19
President’s Circle Jerry ’60 and June Miller Modern Welding Company Brad Moore Don Moore Julie Moralez William Munday Myriad CPA Group, LLC Network for Good Dennis Newberry II Rev. Amy (Coleman) Noble ’93 Jean Nofsinger Happy and Bobbi Osborne Randy ’64 and Jean (Taylor) Owen ’63 Owensboro Christian Church Owensboro District United Methodist Church Owensboro Health Owensboro Lions Club John and Delynn Paris Roger ’69 and Meta (Woolf) Parker ’68 Penn Station East Coast Subs PepsiCo Mark ’78 and Linda Perko Anwar ’01 and Kimberly Perry Dr. Kenneth ’57 and Rhoda (Gillespie) Peters ’55 Will and Kathryn (Vittitow) Phillips ’91 Jeremy Pittman Dr. Wesley and Carol Poling Wanda Melhiser Prater ’63 Dr. Ray Purdom Rev. Donald ’65 and Patricia (Webster) Rankin ’55 Randall ’66 and Sherry Raskin Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust Real Living Home Realty John Reimbold Robert ’60 and Vivian (Riley) Rice ’60 T. Kevin ’81 and Mary Rice Gregory Risch ’93 Riney Hancock CPAs PSC Travis Roberts ’07 Robert Robinson Everett “Buddy” ’79 and Margaret Rogers Rev. Charles Rogers ’59 Richard ’67 and Barbara (Austin) Romer ’65 Joe Roop ’56 Matthew G. Ruark ’09 Betty Rush Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill Keith ’65 and Elissa Sanders Dr. J. Charles ’62 and Margaret (Heltsley) Schertzinger ’59 Charles ’72 and Nancy (King) Schmeal ’71 Megan (Evans) ’03 and Dr. David Schulte 20 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Second Amendment Firearms & Collectibles Settle Memorial United Methodist Church, Owensboro R. Mitch ’83 and Kimberly Settle Ruth (Clark) Seydel ’64 Keith and Vickie Sharber The Hon. Phillip and Audrey Shepherd Dr. Catherine (Eblen) Sherrard ’95 and Eric Sherrard A.J. Smith ’71 Dr. Charles C. Smith Jr. Rev. Dr. Jay ’85 and Marian (Helm) Smith ’85 Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. Rev. Glenn ’53 and Charlotte (Morrow) Sowards ’56 Merrylen (Wesley) Sparks ’57 Harry ’60 and Mary Spurrier Carolyn Staples Emogene (Clark) Stephenson ’59 Dr. Angelos Stergiou ’97 Cindra Stiff and Jimmy Ray Don Stroud ’65 Christie (Kell) Stumpf ’69 Steve Sutton Drs. Brandon ’01 and Andrea (Hardison) Tackett ’01 Tanner+West Advertising and Design Agency Brandon ’02 and Kimberly (Baugh) Taylor ’02 Joyce Taylor Lisa Terrazino James ’54 and Shirley (White) Thurmond ’70 George ’69 and Seretha (Summers) Tinsley ’71 Titan Contracting & Leasing Company U.S. Bank & U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Joel Utley ’74 Michael Wade ’80 Dr. David ’72 and Sharon (Gregory) Watkins ’69 Jack Wells ’77 Wesleyan Heights United Methodist Church, Owensboro Jeffrey ’72 and Susan White Lyndal and Rebecca (Rudd) Whitehead ’83 Eleanor Whitmore Sarah (Williams) Williams ’60 G. Edwin Wilson ’85 R. Allen ’60 and Beulah Wilson Michael and Maeghan Wolfe Drs. Barbara (Magnuson) ’88 and Michael Woodward W. Terry Woodward ’62 Worth Insurance Group Fred ’80 and Melinda Wright John and Kathy Wright Yager Materials Richard ’57 and Nancy (Svara) Zimmerman ’58 *Deceased
Congratulations
Class of 2017 The 149th Annual Commencement took place in the beautiful and spacious Owensboro Convention Center in downtown Owensboro. Speaker Brian Kelley encouraged the graduates to: “Live more deeply, learn more deeply, love more deeply. When you reach that level of mastery, there is no limit to the heights you can achieve.”
Honorary doctor of business degree recipient Christopher Reid, president and chief executive officer of Independence Bank, with Rev. Thomas Grieb ’78, chair of the Kentucky Wesleyan Board of Trustees.
Brian Kelley addressed the Class of 2017 and was awarded an honorary doctor of business. He joined Lindsay Goldberg, a private investment firm in New York City, in early 2017 and is vice chairman of the Keurig Green Mountain Board of Directors.
President Darrell with Rhiannon Moore
Megan Grace
Michaela Priddy
Connor Goodwin
Logan O’Bryan Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 21
Panther Athletics
Dear Alumni and Friends, It’s been a busy year in Kentucky Wesleyan athletics, and you’ve probably noticed some of the changes we have introduced. In August, we debuted a new look for the Panthers, and the feedback from our alumni on our new logos has been outstanding. During Homecoming weekend, we launched the Panther Athletic Fund, the new fundraising initiative for all 17 of our varsity sport programs. Your level of support has been overwhelming, as we expect to close the year with a record number of donors in support of our scholar-athletes. This spring we unveiled a new website, kwcpanthers.com, and new online store, kwcpanthersgear.com, to better inform and serve our alumni, friends and fans throughout the country. While these types of changes may seem minor or surface-level, I believe they can be extremely impactful, and they are made with one thing in mind — providing the best experience possible for the scholar-athletes who choose Kentucky Wesleyan. Through more effective and increased engagement of our Kentucky Wesleyan family, we will continue to lay the foundation for increased success on the fields of play, in the classroom and in the community. Three of our teams (men’s basketball, softball and baseball) reached the NCAA Tournament this year. Our scholar-athletes not only excelled on the court and on the field, the overall team grade point averages increased for the second-straight year and was 3.0 for the spring 2017 semester. No one is more giving of their time, talent and treasure than our passionate alumni and friends. We know that by improving your experience, we are serving our current scholar-athletes, as well. If you have any suggestions or recommendations for ways we can continue to improve, please feel free to send me an email at rmallory@kwc.edu. God Bless, and Go Panthers!
Rob Mallory Director of Athletics rmallory@kwc.edu
Panther Athletic Fund Support our scholar-athletes by joining the Panther Athletic Fund today via our secure site at kwcpanthers.com/give. You can even set up a monthly draft for the amount of your choosing. Your generosity provides additional resources to help our programs succeed at the highest level, both on the fields of play and in the classroom. Thank you for your support! For more information, please contact Brad Moore, associate athletics director for external operations, at bmoore@kwc.edu or 270-852-3195. 22 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Panther Athletics Men’s Basketball Advances to NCAA Regional; Wins Record 26 Straight The Panthers earned their secondconsecutive G-MAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional, while setting a single-season record with 26 straight wins, the second-longest streak in the NCAA this season. The Panthers boast a nation’s best 48-game home winning streak that began in 2014, and were nationally ranked for the final eight weeks of the season, finishing at No. 5 for their highest mark since Jan. 22, 2013, when they came in at No. 3.
Softball Team Makes First-Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance For the first time in program history, the Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament after winning its first-ever Great Midwest Athletic Conference title. The Panthers tied the program record of 38 wins in a season, set by the 1986 squad. Head Coach Miles Mallette was named the G-MAC Co-Coach of the Year while shortstop Jaylin Tidwell earned the title of G-MAC Freshman of the Year. Six Panthers were named First-Team All G-MAC, the most of any school: Tidwell; catcher Maddie Dawson, second baseman Lexie Mullen; outfielder Meredith Daunhauer, pitcher Maci Brown and third baseman Mallory Nease.
Baseball Team Makes First NCAA Tournament Appearance since 1988 The Wesleyan baseball team claimed the program’s first-ever conference title and first NCAA appearance in 29 years by advancing to the Midwest Regional. The Panthers landed 12 players on the G-MAC All-Conference Team, including four first-team members: senior shortstop Seth Campbell, sophomore outfielder Cody Bridges, freshman designated hitter Joseph Burke and senior utility player Josh Galvan.
Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 23
Panther Athletics Keelan Cole ’17 Signs NFL Contract with Jacksonville Jaguars Former Panther wide receiver Keelan Cole ’17 not only picked up his bachelor of science degree at Commencement the morning of April 29, but was also picked up as a free agent by the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars later that afternoon, becoming the first former Wesleyan player since 2012 to sign an NFL contract. Photo and logo used with permission of Jacksonville Jaguars
Basketball Alumni Day Celebrates a Rich Wesleyan Tradition
The Department of Athletics hosted Basketball Alumni Day on Feb. 18 as former Panthers gathered at the Owensboro Sportscenter to celebrate the rich tradition of Wesleyan basketball. Kentucky Wesleyan fans welcomed back the 1987 NCAA men’s basketball championship team and commemorated the 30th anniversary of the program’s fifth NCAA title. The women’s 1991-92 team was also recognized, as they achieved the first 20-win season in program history.
New Athletics Website kwcpanthers.com It’s easier than ever to follow the Panthers on any device.
24 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
New Online Store Features Panther Athletics Gear Kwcpanthersgear.com Shop from anywhere for apparel, home and office merchandise, tailgating supplies, gift certificates and much more.
Panther Athletics Kentucky Wesleyan Hosts Second Annual WESPY Sports Awards More than 350 guests celebrated the accomplishments of scholar-athletes who distinguished themselves during the 2016-17 academic year at the WESPY Sports Awards dinner in Jones Gymnasium on April 19.
Athletes of the Year Awarded to one male and one female scholar-athlete who had the best athletic performance during the 2016-17 academic year.
President’s Academic Achievement Award Presented to one senior scholar-athlete annually, based on academic credentials, including grade point average, degree program, peer mentoring and peer tutoring. Tyler Shewmaker – Baseball
Female: Crystal Hopkins – Track and Field
Mark Hedges Team Grade Point Average Trophy
Male: Keelan Cole – Football
Traveling trophy awarded to the men’s and women’s programs with the highest team grade point average over the previous two academic semesters. Women’s – Basketball Men’s – Soccer
Newcomer of the Year Awarded to one male and one female scholar-athlete for excellence in their first season of competition at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Marisue Coy Scholar-Athlete Award Awarded to one male and one female who epitomized the term “scholar-athlete” over the course of their careers at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Female: Jaylin Tidwell – Softball
Female: Jennifer WalkerCrawford – Basketball
Male: Charles Foster – Basketball
Male: Seth Applegate – Cross Country, Track and Field
The Wesleyan Way Award Awarded to the male and female scholar-athletes who most embody the four tenants of The Wesleyan Way - We Succeed with Honor, We Support One Another, We Compete with Integrity and We Love One Another.
Bullet Wilson Award Awarded to one male and one female scholar-athlete for outstanding athletic achievement over the course of their careers at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Female: Bria Wright – Basketball
Female: Casey Smith – Softball
Male: De’Vante McFarland – Soccer
Male: Ken-Jah Bosley – Basketball
For a complete list of WESPY Sports Awards winners, see kwcpanthers.com Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 25
Class Notes Jessica (Collins) Allen ’00 Appears on NBC’s “Today” by Katherine Rutherman Jessica (Collins) Allen ’00, an accredited financial counselor, opened her own office in McMinnville, Tenn., in Jan. 2017. It took prompting and inspiration from Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks. Jessica appeared with Hanks on the “Today Show” in Sept. 2016 in support of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes campaign and shared her experiences as a military caregiver. The Allen family appeared in two public service announcements with campaign chair Hanks, while “Today” host Matt Lauer, a Hidden Heroes ambassador, conducted the interview. Hanks took her aside during the filming of the public service announcements, and according to Jessica, gave her the kick she and husband Chaz needed. “He pointed out the value of my education and knowledge, and asked me what I was going to do to use them,” she shared. Discussions and planning followed at home, and Chaz strongly encouraged Jessica to follow her longtime dream. She opened her own office four months later. Jessica and Chaz married in 2001. On Jan. 22, 2011, while on a routine patrol in Afghanistan, he stepped on an improvised explosive device, instantly losing both of his legs. The Allens have two daughters, Deryn (15), a cheerleader, and Ryann (12), a ballerina. As a 2014 Elizabeth Dole Fellow, Jessica brought attention to “the millions of men, women and children who care for our nation’s wounded warriors.” She has volunteered extensively across the nation to help guide families of wounded soldiers to appropriate non-profits for resources and has been publicly recognized by former President and Mrs. Obama for her significant commitment to soldiers and caregivers. “Military families feel isolated; we know that from our own experience,” Jessica said. “Chaz is doing great and will get new legs at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C., in June,” Jessica remarked. “While we are there, I will offer the keynote address at a conference on military children and the wounds of war. Our daughter, Deryn, will take part in a panel discussion and share her journey.” “Chaz is our miracle,” reflected Jessica. “I have my husband, and the girls have their dad. We are savoring life together.” Jessica’s brother, Jarrett Collins, is a scholar-athlete at Wesleyan and plays football for the Panthers.
Tom Hanks, Jessica (Collins) Allen ’00 and Chaz Allen 26 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
Class Notes 1958
1965
Samuel Robertson was honored in November with the National Order of the Legion of Honor, the highest honor France bestows upon those who have achieved remarkable deeds for the country. Robertson earned the honor for his service as part of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, which led to his participation in the liberation of France during the Normandy landings on D-Day. He passed away in February.
Michael Clayton and wife, Marilyn, of Blacklake Village, Calif., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the summer of 2016.
1967 Jeannette (Sago) Ward retired after teaching for 28 years at Owensboro Community and Technical College. She is an associate professor of mathematics.
1972
1960 Rep. Jody Richards was re-elected to serve the Commonwealth’s 20th District in the Kentucky House of Representatives. He was honored by Western Kentucky University in May with the re-naming of the Mass Media and Technology Hall to Jody Richards Hall.
1963 Dr. Thomas Meredith was inducted into the University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame. He served as the head of three university systems and as president of Western Kentucky University during his 41-year career in higher education. He is a member of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2008. Sally (Magruder) Standiford was awarded the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by her local chapter of Wisconsin Retired Educators. Sally volunteers in the local schools reading to K4 students and tutoring. She also works in her church and does volunteer counseling.
Janet (Laswell) Suwanski was named executive director of the Owensboro Public Schools Foundation.
1978 Cathy (Meeks) Bishop was inducted as a member of the Bowling Green High School Hall of Honor in April. She was president of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Association in 1989-90.
1981 Dorothy Bibbs-Kendrick and Berna Bibbs-Snipes were featured in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer about their work in the family business, Bibbs Funeral Home, in Greenville, Ky.
1982 Chris Tolliver was selected as Second District Middle School Teacher of the Year for the Kentucky Music Educators Association. He was also named the Kentucky representative for School Band and Orchestra’s 19th Annual “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” Chris celebrated his retirement at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic
year. He is a member of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Association Board of Directors.
1983 Diana (Grinter) Hunter won the USTA State Senior Tennis Championship in 2016. Hunter is the head women’s tennis coach for the Panthers. Mitch Settle was named one of “America’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” by Barron’s for the seventh consecutive year. He earned the No. 3 ranking in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was also named to the Financial Times’ 2017 “Top 400 Advisors.” Mitch is a member of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Board of Trustees.
1984 Dr. Jeffrey Lekson returned to campus to deliver the 2016 Ellie Magnuson Lecture, “Tales from the Practical,” in October. He is a board-certified internist who practices primary care at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.
1985 Kentucky Wesleyan basketball legend Ray Harper was inducted into the Muhlenberg County Athletic Hall of Fame in Dec. Harper led the Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 27
Class Notes Jacksonville State men’s basketball team to its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament in March after winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship.
1988 Michael Grimes published “Cropper Reflections,” a collection of stories and pictures related to the small country hamlet of Cropper, Ky., in the northeast corner of Shelby County. This is the second book Grimes has authored.
1989 Commonwealth of Kentucky Secretary of Personnel Thomas B. Stephens announced the appointment of LaDonna Koebel as the cabinet’s chief of staff in Oct. 2016. LaDonna is a member of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Association Board of Directors. Wes Roberts is now managing director at Assured Partners Neace Lukens.
1992 Kevin Gibson was named 2016 Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year at the Chamber’s annual celebration. Mitch Major is vice president of commercial support, president ALLDATA and managing director ALLDATA Europe. ALLDATA recently surpassed 100,000 subscribers. He lives in Germantown, Tenn. Jonathan Moore’s documentary, “Coaches’ Wives,” was picked up for distribution on several platforms, including Amazon and iTunes.
1993 Wendy (Weil) Vogel recently released “Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden,” a kid-friendly science fiction adventure book. Wendy has been a veterinarian at Animal Care Center of Fairfield for 19 years and lives in Hamilton, Ohio.
1996 Jason C. Potts, CPA, was promoted to manager of planning at Owensboro Municipal Utilities.
2001 Derek Price was inducted into the Apollo High School Athletic Hall of Fame in Feb. 2017. Derek was an AllState baseball player and played in the Kentucky East-West All-Star Game. He still holds the Apollo record for home runs in a season (10). He also played basketball at Apollo, where he was an All-Region player and scored 997 career points.
2002 Patrick Ryan Sandefur is a math professor at Valencia College in Orlando, Fla. Ryan was accepted into the education Ph.D. program (math emphasis) at the University of Central Florida and will begin taking classes in the fall of 2017.
2003 Dr. James Fleming is a neurologist at the Southeast Regional Stroke Center at Erlanger, a part of Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, Tenn. Charity Flener Lovitt recently edited and published a new book, “Integrating Information Literacy into the Chemistry Curriculum.” Charity is a lecturer
28 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
in physical sciences at University of Washington Bothell in Bothell, Wash.
2005 Dr. BC Childress is director of valuebased clinical care at Owensboro Health. He previously served as clinical pharmacy manager at Owensboro Health and is president of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Association Board of Directors. Ashley (Dawson) Gorman was named principal at Hancock County High School, where she has taught English/ language arts since graduating from Wesleyan. Adam Hancock completed his year as chair and was honored as the 2016 Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Director of the Year at the Chamber’s annual celebration in Jan. 2017. Jason Tanner is the owner of Tanner+West Advertising and Design Agency in Owensboro. The company recently won 17 industry awards for their 2016 work. The accolades include nine Telly Awards and five ADDY Awards. Telly Awards are the premier awards honoring the best in TV and cable, digital and streaming, and non-broadcast productions. ADDY Awards are the industry’s largest and most representative competition of creative advertising.
Class Notes 2008 Lincoln Latham is sales manager at AmeriFirst Home Mortgage in Owensboro.
2009 Katie Cecil is transitioning from her role as marketing director for Chickfil-A in Brentwood, Tenn., to return to her family farm and focus full time on Community Supported Agriculture and produce sales for Cecil Farms in Daviess County.
2010 Brandon Cox accepted a position with South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company in Wadsworth, Texas, as the company’s internal communications lead. Previously, Cox was publisher of The Bay City Tribune. He and his wife, Kayla, are Owensboro natives and live in Bay City with their two children.
2011 Emily Harpenau was honored as Teacher of the Year for high school teachers in Daviess County Public Schools. Taylor West is the art director at Tanner+West Advertising and Design Agency in Owensboro. The company recently won 17 industry awards for their 2016 work. The accolades include nine Telly Awards and five ADDY Awards. Telly Awards are the premier awards honoring the best in TV and cable, digital and streaming, and non-broadcast productions. ADDY Awards are the industry’s largest and
most representative competition of creative advertising.
2012 Lauren (Bennett) Moore accepted a position as a laboratory technician at Aleris Rolled Products in Lewisport, Ky., in Nov. 2016. She previously worked at the Owensboro Cancer Research Program.
2013 Kevin B. Shields was accepted into Murray State University’s doctorate of arts in English literature, pedagogy and technology for the upcoming fall semester. Kevin is finishing his M.A. in sociology and the interdisciplinary social sciences at Morehead State University. Joey Kramer passed the Kentucky and Ohio Bar exams and has joined the litigation and construction practice groups at Dressman Benzinger Lavelle Law in Crestview Hills, Ky. Blake Tickle was accepted to the Wake Forest University School of Divinity and will begin his studies for a master of divinity with an emphasis in church music in the fall.
2014 Summer Crick was named community development director for the City of Madisonville, Ky.
2015 Sara Fleischmann was promoted to staff II accountant at Riney Hancock CPAs PSC. Sara became a certified public accountant in July 2016. Joey Keelin was named Officer of the Year by the Madisonville Police Department and was the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Impaired Driving Enforcement.
2016 Former men’s basketball team captain Marcus Fillyaw signed with the Puerto Rican pro team, Brujos de Guayama of the Baloncesto Superior Nacionale, in April.
We love to share your stories! Please send Class Notes information for our next issue to the Office of Alumni Relations. We would like to include a photo, too. Please identify everyone, and include class year and maiden name, if applicable. We look forward to hearing from you. alumni@kwc.edu OR Office of Alumni Relations 3000 Frederica St. Owensboro, KY 42301 You may also submit class notes information online at kwc.edu/alumni
Summer 2017 — Kentucky Wesleyan 29
In Memoriam
We offer condolences on the passing of the following alumni and friends of Kentucky Wesleyan College: Felix Russell Adams George Porter Campbell William Barry Cole Connie (Butler) Coleman ’66 Dorothy Coons William Coons Allie B. Curtis ’53 Jeannette (Sharp) Curtis ’52 Sidney Dalton Virgil Davis ’59 Richard Dowse Elsie (Hammons) Dulin ’44 Danny Erwin ’72 Dr. Willard T. Gillespie Robert Godthaab ’67 Jack Gold ’52 Donald Grady Sue (Shearer) Green ’43 Danny Grundhoefer Robert M. Hale Dr. Alberta (Chapman) Hall ’53
30 Kentucky Wesleyan — Summer 2017
H. Cashman Hawkins ’55 Dr. James C. Hilliard David Hilton Dr. Edward C. Johnson ’55 Sterling Johnson Leland Jones ’70 Patricia (Bowers) Kinville ’74 Alfred G. Kirkland Mildred (Connell) Lewis ’42 James McAfee ’51 Anne (Egerton) McDaniel ’62 J. Edward Maddox Georgetta (Wilson) Madole ’74 Sue Major A. Jeff Martz ’71 James G. Mills ’68 Lynn E. Mobley Christie (Gough) Montgomery ’97 Kevin Lewis Philpott Dr. Charles T. Pinkston Nell (Magruder) Pollard ’39
Dr. William Milton Pope Frankie Pryor J. Monty Raine ’71 Jane Rayburn Samuel Robertson ’58 Janet (Haycraft) Robinson ’73 June (Lyne) Robinson ’63 Dorothy Victoria (Terry) Shearer ’46 Dr. James A. Shepherd Michael R. Simpson ’69 Ann Smiser Van Dale Snyder Sherman Staples ’57 R. Douglas Swisher ’67 Gail Taylor ’65 Dr. Gerald Vanderpool ’60 John O. Venable ’44 Opal (Adams) Venable ’45 Roy H. Walter Jr. ’71 Janet Winstead Roy Woodward
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