The Blasters Classic Golf Tournament For nearly three decades, the Blasters
Classic Golf Tournament has brought together civic-minded business leaders and proud Lakeland College alumni for a
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Snapshots of Success
The college’s strategic plan is beginning to have positive impact on students and the community. In this issue, read more about three programs that are creating transforming relationships.
Each Lakeland student has his/her own story. Here’s a collection of stories that show how the power of a Lakeland education can help students achieve their educational and personal goals.the finished product will look.
fun-filled day of top-notch golf and warm, genuine camaraderie.
Save The daTe for BlaSTerS 2015
June 19
Questions? Contact Kym Leibham at 920-565-1014 or leibhamk@Lakeland.edu
Fall-Winter 2014 Volume 9. Number 1. Lakeland, the magazine of Lakeland College, is published twice a year and is distributed to alumni and friends of Lakeland by the Communications Department. We welcome feedback and letters to the editor via email to: gallianettidd@lakeland.edu Lakeland College Mission Statement
Lakeland College, a liberal arts college related to the United Church of Christ, is committed to educating men and women of diverse backgrounds, enabling them to earn a living, to make ethical decisions, and to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives distinguished by intellectual, moral and spiritual growth. president: Daniel Eck editor: David Gallianetti, Director of Communications writers: Pete Barth, David Gallianetti graphic design: Huber Creative, LLC - www.HuberCreative.com photography: Blue Moon Studio, Sheboygan, WI
Jeff Kernen Photography, Pete Barth Change of address:
Clip the mailing label from the cover and send it with changes to: Alumni Office, Lakeland College. P.O. Box 359, Sheboygan, WI 53082 or fax to: 920.565.1556 or email to: gallianettidd@lakeland.edu attention postmaster:
Please return any pieces that cannot be forwarded that include a new address. If you are unable to forward a piece and there is no new address available, please discard the magazine. Thank you! Copyright © 2014 Lakeland College. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
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Scene on Campus
Catch up with your classmates, teammates, roommates and others – and don’t forget to share your news with us!
The school year is off to a great start, and there are some wonderful things happening that we want to share. This is news you can use!
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Since the college’s board of trustees approved the five institutional goals that guide the college’s comprehensive strategic plan last
October, we have been
hard at work implementing many facets of them.
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We introduced the plan and detailed the goals for you in the spring issue of Lakeland magazine. In this issue, and in subsequent issues, we’ll be sharing stories about how our actions are improving the Lakeland experience for students. Over the next few pages, you’ll read about: The strong relationships building between our science department and world-class local companies that are setting the stage for our students to get great post-graduate jobs.
9 A new initiative that will provide additional support for students at all levels to help them transition into and make the most of their Lakeland experience.
9 A new partnership between Lakeland, ACUITY and Sheboygan South High School that is making college more affordable for students and encouraging our best and brightest to study and enter the workforce locally. There are many other success stories, and I encourage you to follow a blog where we’re sharing many of them. You can access it by visiting the college’s website, Lakeland.edu, and clicking “The Blog” or visiting lakeland.edu/blog. We’re proud to shine the spotlighton some of our talented students and alumni.
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i n no vati v e commun ity pa rtn ers hip One of Lakeland President Dan Eck’s first strategic priorities has
trained and gaining experience, many of those employees move back
been the identification and development of new community-based
to their own home communities.
partnerships. This summer, the college announced an academic
“These pathway programs are introducing our local students
partnership that will deliver on this priority by encouraging local
to attractive careers with local employers while they’re still in high
high school students to attend college and, ultimately, get a job at
school. We are all working together to make sure we keep our best
one of the area’s outstanding companies.
talent here to live and work and support this community.”
Lakeland, ACUITY and Sheboygan South High School have created
the Information Technology (IT) Pathway community partnership.
partnership. The dollars will fund Android tablets and Arduino open-source
ACUITY will provide nearly $120,000 over four years for the
This program allows students to take
programmable micro controllers, giving
classes that earn both high school and
South students access to cutting-edge
college credit while getting valuable work-based learning opportunities. Beginning this fall, South High students are taking computer science courses as freshmen, and will then have access to Lakeland computer science
The Information technology partnership between Lakeland, ACUITY and Sheboygan South High School ties to two of the strategic plan’s strategies:
courses as sophomores and juniors. As upperclassmen, South students will have the opportunity to complete the pathway with internships at ACUITY. In the process, students have the opportunity
college more affordable. Lakeland’s computer science program
with ACUITY will help South stay current with industry standards, while giving students real-life experiences and connections to the industry. “By helping provide resources to high school students through the partnership
Goal III, strategy A: The college will understand the needs and expectations of employers and use this information to drive curricular and co-curricular programs.
to earn up to 30 college credits with little cost to parents, thereby making
programming tools. The partnership
program, and by giving them exposure through rewarding internship opportunities, ACUITY is helping to prepare the next generation of workers in the growing field of technology,” said Marcus Knuth,
Goal V, strategy B: The college will facilitate vital connections with the community among students, alumni, faculty and staff.
a 2000 Lakeland graduate who serves ACUITY as vice president - enterprise technology. “We also hope that when
is led by Assistant Professor Cindy
students graduate, they consider ACUITY
Lindstrom, who came to Lakeland after
as a place where they want to work
more than two decades of creating and analyzing technology systems
because they see the value ACUITY places on education.”
in the corporate world. Enrollment in Lakeland’s computer science
major has tripled because of her work to align Lakeland’s program
in computer science careers. In 2014, the top two jobs were in the
with the needs of regional employers and having students working
computer science field, as ranked by US News & World Report in its
on real-world issues.
“100 Best Jobs” report.
Eck said the IT Pathway directly addresses concerns he hears
from local employers like ACUITY. “Local companies are concerned
education and the business community as well as an innovative
about the skills gap, and with the Baby Boomer generation reaching
approach to preparing students for college and careers,” said Joseph
retirement age, there are widespread concerns about who will
Sheehan, superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District.
replace them,” Eck said. “Local CEOs have told me they often recruit
“We thank our partners for their commitment to improving
new employees from other regions to move to our area. After being
opportunities for high school students.” G
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The IT Pathway comes at an ideal time for students interested
“This is a valuable partnership between K-12 education, higher
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a new way to support st u d e nt s achieve its goals of increasing the retention and four-year graduation College can be a challenging environment to navigate. Devoting the rates for first-time, full-time freshman students. amount of time needed for college-level academic work, meeting and Lakeland faculty continue to serve as academic advisors for forming relationships with new people, deciding a career path and students, helping them schedule classes managing the freedom of living away and navigate through their majors. from home is daunting, even for the “The success coaches do not supplant most responsible teenager. Creation of the Student faculty or any staff member who has an This fall, Lakeland College introduced Success and Engagement Team existing relationship with a student,” a new initiative designed to give Strmiska said. “The success team is students additional support as they ties to three of the strategic another tool being used to make sure pursue a college eduation. Lakeland’s plan’s strategies: students are getting connected to Student Success and Engagement Team Lakeland so they can become full members is led by Eric Blacknall, who manages of this community.” a team of five success coaches. Each Goal I, strategy D: Success coaches will help their member of the success team has a portfolio The college will provide innovative support services students explore career aspirations, of students who they shepherd through that contribute to academic success. reinforce academic expectations and the Lakeland experience. tap into their vocational awareness. “For many of us, the academic Goal III, strategy B: “What’s your bigger purpose for being community is comfortable and we The college will provide resources to help students define here? The success coaches can help understand the various systems and and achieve personal and professional goals. individual students answer that speak the language of higher education,” question, and connect them with said Ken Strmiska, who is leading the resources to achieve their long-term transition to the team in his role as vice Goal III strategy C: goals,” Strmiska said. president for advancement, innovation The college will provide opportunities to gain The success team is also taking on and strategy. “But for many students — professional experiences in the students’ chosen fields. most of the duties that had previously especially first-generation students who been handled by Lakeland’s student life are the first in their family to attend department. Success coaches will help oversee student organizations, college — it is a foreign environment that can be overwhelming. Greek life, a revitalized Student Association (student government) “The success team helps students stay connected to resources and other student activities. A new student activities foundation is they need to succeed and help them overcome the growing pains of being created that will award money to existing student groups as adapting to college. And, for junior- and senior-level students, the well as individuals who come up with proposals for new activities. success coaches are helping them hone leadership and other soft skills This program invites students to play a large role in creating their that employers are so desperately seeking in today’s workforce.” The team’s success will be measured by its ability to help the college community and college experience. S
After conducting a national search, Lakeland College is pleased to announce that Eric V. Blacknall, Ph.D., a veteran of nine years of motivating students to be more involved in their college experience, has been hired to head up its new Student Success and Engagement initiative. “Eric has tremendous passion for student success and understands that it takes a college community to make it happen,” said Lakeland President Dan Eck. “He understands how to collect and use data to drive development of initiatives that increase student participation. He’s an engaging person who builds relationships. After working in large, public school settings, he’s been looking for a smaller environment where he can directly and quickly implement his plans and see the immediate positive impact of his team’s work.” Blacknall comes to Lakeland from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., where he has worked as assistant director of academic innovation and mentoring programs and services since 2013. In this role, he used assessments to improve outreach and employee performance which led to increases of student participation in academic and campus engagement initiatives. He was previously associate to the vice president at Georgia State University from 2008-12, where he worked closely with students, parents and college employees on a wide range of student and family issues. Blacknall is a first-generation college student who identifies with the challenges that face many Lakeland students. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied social science and a master’s in social science from State University of New York and a Ph.D. in educational policy studies from the University of Illinois. His doctoral research is on student success, giving him a depth and breadth of knowledge that will benefit Lakeland greatly. the magazine
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Me e ti ng l ocal in d us try n eed s Brian Frink has a bit of a supply-and-demand problem. Frink, a full-time chemist position. Based in Sheboygan Falls, Curt Joa professor of chemistry and physics at Lakeland, has been fielding competes with global companies and constantly strives to improve its phone calls from world-class local companies and headhunters who machinery. In order to do that, its research and development are eager to hire the talented graduates from Frink’s program. As fast department is extremely competitive. Chemists are needed to understand as Frink’s students graduate, they quickly find jobs. and evaluate the chemical makeup of various adhesives and other “I’m kind of stuck,” Frink said. “I really want to meet the needs raw materials and how they interface with the equipment. of our community. But right now, our chemistry department has the Rob Andrews, director of engineering and research and development enviable problem of local businesses wanting our graduates at a higher at Curt Joa, says he expects the relationship between Curt Joa and rate than we have graduates. Our program has made a name for Lakeland’s chemistry program to continue to grow. “Brian is a great itself, and we’d love to welcome more guy,” Andrews says of Frink. “He’s high school students who are interested down to earth and very knowledgeable. in chemistry to Lakeland.” He’s a real working teacher who knows When it comes to sending his graduates what he’s doing. His students are The partnerships between out into the workforce or to graduate well-prepared. I like where the relationship Lakeland’s chemistry school, Frink’s rate of success is staggering. between Lakeland and Curt Joa is now, Over the past decade, every graduate and I think it’s just going to keep getting department and local of Lakeland’s chemistry program who better and better.” employers ties to two of the wanted a job in a chemistry-related field The relationship between saco or related graduate school placement Polymers, which specializes in the strategic plan’s strategies: was successful. “It speaks so much to our manufacturing of protective coatings students’ abilities,” Frink says. “It’s a for wiring and pipes, is also growing. Goal III, strategy A: testament to what Lakeland produces, Four Lakeland students in the past The college will understand the needs and and how our students are willing to few years have landed internships with expectations of employers and use this information accept challenges and really work. the company. One recent graduate, Employers want our graduates because Amanda Schuessler, is now a full-time to drive curricular and co-curricular programs. they continually prove themselves.” chemist, and Chris Ross, a senior chemist Over the past decade, Frink, who is at saco, holds a master of business Goal V, strategy B: in his 16th year at Lakeland, has helped administration degree from Lakeland. The college will facilitate vital connections with the an average of about four students Frink says saco has asked for two more community among students, alumni, faculty and staff. graduate with chemistry degrees each interns, who would have the opportunity year. In recent years, as the reputation for full-time employment upon their of Lakeland College chemistry graduates graduation in May 2016. has blossomed, the demand has grown – both in terms of full-time Additionally, saco funds Lakeland’s capstone course for chemistry work and internships. Frink has established strong connections and biochemistry majors. “We wouldn’t have this class without saco with local companies Curt Joa, saco Polymers, Heresite Protective Polymer’s help,” Frink said. “They have, in effect, funded this class Coatings and Plymouth Foam. for the past three school years and we are deeply appreciative.” Lakeland chemistry and biochemistry grads have also moved on Ricardo Rosas, of Sheboygan, who graduated in May with a triple to Ph.D. or master’s programs at the University of North Carolina, major in biology, chemistry and history, interned at saco in the R&D the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Johns department and is listed on a patent for a new machinery lubricant Hopkins University. They have studied protein folding, molecular he helped to develop. “It gave me so much confidence,” Rosas biophysics, chemical engineering, medicinal chemistry and said of his Lakeland experience. “You can have the knowledge, but quantum chemistry, among other disciplines. applying it in a hands-on setting is so valuable. I was definitely ready A headhunter who recently called Frink was representing Curt Joa, when I started my internship. A lot of people think that if you go to a arguably the world’s top manufacturer of machines that produce small school, you can’t be as competitive as students who go to bigger diapers and feminine care products. Curt Joa has hired Lakeland students schools. But our natural sciences division is so competitive, and our as interns, and the headhunter was searching for a graduate to fill a alumni are proving it.” p 6
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Brian Frink, professor of chemistry and physics and chair of Lakeland’s Interdisciplinary Studies Division, is in his 16th year as a Lakeland faculty member. The 2013 winner of the Underkofler Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award has been lauded for his academic vision for Lakeland’s interdisciplinary classes and for creating a student-friendly environment in and around his classroom. Last winter, he was nominated for the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Apple Award for “preparing students for post-graduate success with innovative classroom content and opportunities for students in the community.” In December, he was an inaugural winner of Lakeland’s “Big Fish” award for service to the college, its students and his co-workers. He has chaired the on-campus curriculum committee and the assessment committee and served on task forces that worked on the college’s core curriculum. Before coming to Lakeland, he worked at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and The Ohio State University. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a doctorate in physical organic chemistry from The Ohio State University.
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Advice that I always give to my students: There are no such things as stupid questions.
If I were not a professional educator, I would be: Homeless. I am not sure I have any other employable skills other than talking, so maybe I could be a lawyer or a politician, but I think I would choose homelessness because nobody likes lawyers and politicians and people tend to ignore the homeless. If I could teach another discipline, it would be: Philosophy. I like thinking about questions which simply don’t have answers or have multiple answers.
When I read for me, I read: Novels that are dystopian. The societies within and the struggles of the characters make me always feel better about myself and our world. Right now, I’m reading: “The 100,” by Kass Morgan, on my Kindle app.
determine that her entire translation was into Italian and not Latin showed me what a smaller, more intimate class setting could do for the student. This is the reason that I wanted to teach at a small, liberal arts college.
The words that I live by are: Never have any regrets. I’m up and at ’em by: 5:15 a.m., because I play basketball at 6 a.m. My favorite meal: Anything I don’t have to cook or clean up afterwards. If it is also spicy then it really becomes one of my favorites. When I was in graduate school, I ate at the same Chinese restaurant every day, Moy’s, which was a block from The Ohio State University chemistry building. If I were king for a day: Teachers would be paid what they are truly worth. My luck is that I would be king during the summer!
My students don’t know how much: I enjoy watching reality TV. I will watch
The best book I have ever read: Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game.” There is simply no equal in my mind. When I read the book I just felt like I was Ender.
Websites I visit often: Papa Pear on King.com. What’s in my iPod: Other than the songs that my daughter put there, I have Black Violin, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Home Free.
I can’t live without: My family. This may seem trite, but without them I would only work. They remind me to find balance in my life.
anything from Survivor to The Voice and America’s Got Talent to Buying the Bayou to Pawn Stars and Storage Wars to Project Runway. Where I draw the line is that I will not watch someone’s home life – so no Kardashians, Real Housewives, Kate Plus 8.
The thing I love most about my job is: Interacting with the students and watching them reach their potential.
Besides teaching, I’m good at: I don’t know. I am not even certain that I am good at teaching, but I hope that I am getting better at teaching each day.
part of the job, because if the students don’t do well, I blame myself.
Lakeland is a good fit for me because: I just know that I belong. In fact, my wife, Tricia, jokes that the only reason she is in Wisconsin, where it is way too cold for any sane person to live, is that she loves me and I love my job. Because I won’t leave Lakeland, she must suffer in the cold and snow.
The most beneficial class I took was: Latin at the University of Minnesota. My professor identified a student who failed her test, but he was willing to give her a second chance. In most classes that I took, the student’s success or failure didn’t seem to faze the professor. The fact that the professor could
Lakeland colleague who really inspires me: Jeff Elzinga. He has the ability to say what he thinks in the most diplomatic manner possible. So, even though he may disagree with someone, he always is able to keep his cool, validate the other person’s point and still shoot the idea down.
My one unbreakable rule is: I should never be a barrier to any student’s ability to learn or any colleague’s ability to help a student.
The hardest thing about being a teacher is: Grading papers. I don’t like this
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snapshots of success Ben Manske Ben Manske enjoyed all facets of his internship at world-famous Road America (RA), but race weekends were when his adrenaline flowed fastest. “There was so much energy out here,” he says. “I really enjoyed the controlled chaos.” Manske, a Neenah, Wis., native who graduated from Lakeland this past May with a degree in business management and a minor in sports management, was a hit at picturesque RA in Elkhart Lake. “Ben worked out just great,” says Mary Lou Haen, RA’s marketing & promotions director. “This is the first time we had an intern, and he was outstanding. He was very versatile, which is good because we introduced him to many opportunities in different areas. He did work in customer service, marketing, sponsor relations and even hands-on events like helping with ticket sales and autograph sessions.” The relationship between Manske and Road America began when Haen spoke at Lakeland’s Sport Marketing and Promotions class last winter. After the class, Manske spoke with Haen and followed up via email until he was offered the internship. “Basically, I kept bugging her,” jokes Manske, whose tenacity as a defensive back on the football field culminated in second-team all-conference honors after his senior season. As he heads into the rest of his life, Manske looks back fondly on his Lakeland experience. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” he says. “I got a chance to meet so many different people from many different states and backgrounds, and I made good friends with students and professors. It was really great.” Manske has already started the next phase of his professional career by landing a position as a licensed sales rep in the health service division of Alta Resources in Neenah, Wis.
Jamie Fait & Annelies Slack Jamie Fait and Annelies Slack have never met, but the two Lakeland College graduate students have quite a bit in common. Both women realized during long teaching careers that counseling young people is their calling. As a result, both are seeking their Master of Arts in Counseling degree at Lakeland — Fait in school counseling and Slack in community counseling. In addition, they both serve as Lakeland representatives for two prestigious state associations. Fait has been chosen as the Lakenad graduate student rep with the Wisconsin School Counseling Association, while Slack is Lakeland’s graduate student liaison to the Wisconsin Counseling Association. The two students are examples of the impact Lakeland’s counseling students are having on the professional counseling industry. “Our graduate students are really involved,” says Deb Bilzing, director of Lakeland’s counseling program. “It’s nice to know that when we send out notices about representing us with these great associations, we draw such interest. Of course, it is also a great item for our students to put on their resumes, and the opportunity to network is a bonus.” The students are doing their part to spread the word about Lakeland’s program. Lakeland is one of 12 graduate schools in Wisconsin to offer a Master of Arts in Counseling degree, and is also approved for licensure by both the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Fait, a Sheboygan Falls, Wis., native now living in West Bend, Wis., earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 11 years ago, then launched a successful career as a middle school math teacher. “I love it, but I have always found myself gravitating toward helping students with outside-of-the-classroom issues,” she said. “School Counseling just seems like a great fit for me.” She chose Lakeland for graduate school because of its flexibility and the BlendEd course format. BlendEd allows students, on a week-to-week basis, to attend class either online or face-to-face depending on their schedule and other life commitments. Given the fact she’s got three kids under the age of 6, Lakeland’s flexibility is incredibly important to her. “The way Lakeland schedules its classes and the summer offerings are a huge draw for me,” said Fait. “BlendEd makes it so much easier for me to complete my coursework.” Slack has been teaching music to students from kindergarten through high school for a decade, and she’s realized that advising young people and supporting them emotionally is the most rewarding part of her job. “But, as a music teacher, I don’t really feel like it is my place,” she says. So, she’s back in school, and is finishing up her master’s in community counseling at Lakeland’s Chippewa Valley Center near her home in Eau Claire. “I chose Lakeland because of the flexibility,” Slack says. “The night classes are a lot easier for my lifestyle.” 8
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Diana Torres On the last day of her five-month internship at Safe Harbor, a domestic abuse shelter in Sheboygan, Wis., Diana Torres was asked if she’d like to stay – full time. She quickly answered, “Yes.” “I feel like I am needed here,” says Torres, Safe Harbor’s new Hispanic community advocate. “Yes, there are times I want to go home and cry. It’s not always easy hearing about and seeing the struggles. But, I can make a difference, and that makes it worth it.” Safe Harbor’s mission is to provide prevention, intervention, education and outreach services to empower individuals, families and the community to end all forms of domestic violence and sexual assault. Torres has been a critical link for Safe Harbor to the local Spanish-speaking community. “If it wasn’t for Diana, we would be struggling to reach our Spanish-speaking residents,” said Amanda Drossel, Safe Harbor’s shelter services coordinator. “We have definitely had a great experience with Diana.” Torres graduated from Sheboygan South High School in 2005. Thinking higher education might not be for her, she worked for a few years before enrolling at Lakeland in 2010. Driven to become an interpreter, Torres double majored in Spanish and criminal justice. “I worked hard,” she says. “I adopted a very different mindset. Seeing my name on the dean’s list made me feel good, and I really liked Lakeland. The small class sizes and the close relationships with the professors were perfect for me.” Torres also blossomed out of the classroom, serving as president of the Spanish National Honor Society for two years, helping fellow students as a Spanish tutor and earning recognition as Lakeland’s Spanish Student of the Year as a senior. “Lakeland really helped me grow as a person,” Torres said. “The school and the professors did a great job preparing me for my career path. My critical thinking skills were honed at Lakeland. I’ll always be grateful for everyone who helped me reach my potential.”
Fabian Qamar Fabian Qamar had a rich experience as a music student at Lakeland College. It culminated with a captivating 90-minute vocal music recital at the President’s House on campus this past spring that included works written in German, Italian, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese. Recitals are a centerpiece for students studying music at Lakeland. Education majors studying music perform junior and senior recitals, while performance majors give sophomore, junior and senior recitals. “He did an excellent job in every way,” said Lakeland Associate Professor of Music Arthur Johnson. “It was the model recital, one of the best I’ve ever seen. It would have held up at any school in the country.” Qamar, a talented tenor and the 2013-14 Lakeland College co-Music Student of the Year, came to Lakeland from Kewaunee, Wis. He majored in vocal performance and pedagogy, but developed in many musical ways while at Lakeland. In addition to his renowned vocal skills, he plays the viola, French horn, organ, piano and guitar. He also served a conducting internship with Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra music director Kevin McMahon. Following a collegiate singing career that included All-State Collegiate Choir recognition and positions with the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra as a singer and a violinist, Qamar continued his musical path at the University of WisconsinMadison. He is pursuing a Master of Music in vocal performance and has earned a fellowship in the opera department. Someday, he’d like to teach music at a college or university. “I was able to explore so many things at Lakeland,” Qamar said. “The faculty cares about you enough to really take time to meet all your needs, not just musically but across the board, academically.”
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MEGAN DERSE Megan Derse, a 2014 Lakeland College graduate, lives 8,000 miles from home, misses her family and friends and witnesses deep suffering more often than she’d like to. But, her heart swells with hope and passion every day. “I am so happy to be here,” says Derse via email from Kenya, Africa. “I am thankful for this opportunity, and I can’t imagine doing anything else during this time of my life.”
MONICA SMITH Monica Smith’s path to a Lakeland College master’s degree was more winding than most, but certainly no less rewarding. Her story reinforces the notion that it’s never too late to challenge oneself through higher education. “Lakeland College has given me so much,” says Smith, 60. Life is good these days for this successful woman who, in 2003, earned her Lakeland bachelor’s degree with a double major in business administration and marketing – then followed it up with her Master of Business Administration in 2009. Smith, who is retired after a 20-year career at American Family Insurance corporate headquarters in Madison, is currently an adjunct instructor at Lakeland’s Madison Center and also serves as a supervisor for the Town of Windsor.
Derse, who earned a degree in middle childhood/early adolescent education, is in the Oasis for Orphans fellowship program, an organization dedicated to rescuing and raising parentless children in Africa. Her relationship with Oasis for Orphans started in 2011 when her Sheboygan, Wis., family sponsored a Kenyan child named Mikal. In October of that year, after exchanging letters and Skype conversations with Mikal, the Derses traveled to Kenya for two weeks to get to know the boy even better. It was love at first hug. Two years later, the Derse family again traveled to Kenya for a six-month mission. Megan, by now deep into her curriculum at Lakeland, joined her family for two different stints totaling almost two months. During her time back in Wisconsin between those trips, she felt a strong calling. “I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of after graduation,” she says. “So I prayed that God would open a door to make that possible. I grew and changed a lot during my college years, as I was challenged and stretched. God did tremendous work in my heart, and I grew to deeply love and care for a group of people on the opposite side of the world.” As part of the two-year Oasis Fellowship Program, Derse will be with the children in Kenya until November, then work on sponsorship and educational initiatives and administrative duties at Oasis for Orphans’ Illinois headquarters. “My Lakeland experience helped get me ready for this experience in many ways,” Derse says. “Many of the kids at the children’s home never set foot in a school until they came here. For many of them, this means they are getting a late start in school. This has been hard, and several of the kids are in need of extra help. Through my Lakeland experience, I have the knowledge, skills and tools to help support them and help them learn and develop.”
Shortly after graduating from Madison East High School, she got married and started a family, but felt the pull of higher education. She enrolled in Madison Area Technical College, and chipped away at classes when she could, finally earning an associate degree. She then looked into pursuing a bachelor’s degree and selected Lakeland when she learned that her credits would transfer. She took classes in the Madison center, again at her pace, finally earning a bachelor’s degree 21 years after graduating from high school. All the while, she was building her career at American Family Insurance, finishing in the human resources department. When it was time to continue her education journey, several people told her she should get a master’s from a different college. “I did look around, but I just didn’t see the personalization at other colleges that I got from Lakeland,” Smith said. “At Lakeland, they sat down with me and went through everything.” Today, as an adjunct instructor, she continues her passion for higher education by teaching a graduate-level project management course and an undergraduate marketing class. “My life and my educational journey with Lakeland College go hand-in-hand,” she says. “Lakeland has enriched my life by giving me the confidence and knowledge that I can share with my family and community.”
Megan writes that the reality of life in poverty-stricken Kenya can be heartbreaking, given there are about 2.5 million orphaned children in that country alone. But the feeling that comes with seeing Oasis for Orphans literally save lives has made the pain worthwhile. “These kids have tragic stories full of loss, sadness and pain. Really, all of the odds are stacked against them,” she says. “They have little-to-no chance of going to school, being loved and cared for or having a promising future. But through the work of Oasis for Orphans, they become healthy, happy, loved and have hope. I love being a small part of that.”
Tara Guell It didn’t take Tara Guell long to make a strong impression. Just halfway through last winter’s four-month internship at Schenck SC in Sheboygan, the 2014 Lakeland College accounting graduate had a job offer in hand. Today, she’s working in a new staff accountant position at Schenck’s Port Washington, Wis., office, where she serves small business clients. Guell enrolled at Lakeland after earning her associate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan. At Lakeland, she exceled in the classroom and played a lead role in Lakeland’s highly regarded Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which facilitates Lakeland students preparing tax returns for the Sheboygan area’s lower-income residents. As her senior year approached, Guell honed in on internships, taking advantage of the many career development and networking opportunities offered at Lakeland. She met with a Schenck HR representative on campus, then got a phone interview and landed the internship that quickly led to full-time employment. “I was a little nervous about the public accounting realm,” she says. “But Schenck has been very welcoming, very helpful. They really make me feel like part of the team.” As she begins her accounting career, Guell looks back fondly on her Lakeland experience. “The Lakeland business division became a family to me,” she says. “All of the professors helped me grow and become a professional. I talk up Lakeland all the time. It’s small enough that all of the professors know your name, know who you are as a person and what’s going on in your life.”
Tess Myklebust On a peaceful August morning at the world-renowned Whistling Straits golf course near Sheboygan, Wis., Lakeland College grad Tess Myklebust peers out over the scenic 18th fairway. Myklebust will spend the next year helping plan for the 2015 Professional Golf Association (PGA) Championship, set for next Aug. 10-16 at Whistling Straits. She graduated in May with a double major in marketing and business management and a minor in sports management and a goal of landing a job in sports. “I’m very blessed to have this opportunity,” Myklebust said. “When the championship director asked me to stay on after my internship, it was pretty neat.” Her focus will soon shift from marketing to helping organize the mammoth volunteer component of this global event. Her title will be volunteer operations assistant. “This will be a diverse experience for me,” Myklebust says. “I love what I’m doing and I love being a part of this team. I felt like I belonged my first week. They welcomed me with open arms.” Myklebust, a Wisconsin Dells, Wis., native, was a portrait of academic and athletic success. In April, she earned the prestigious Clarence H. Koehler Senior Award, given each year to the student who best exemplifies Lakeland’s spirit through outstanding academic achievement and engagement in campus activities. Her Lakeland experience included internships with Community Bank & Trust and in Lakeland’s communications department, as well as a clerical assistant position for the college’s business administration office. She was a two-time Outstanding Business Student award winner and won the Outstanding Marketing Student award last spring. “The diversity of every facet of Lakeland was so good for me,” she says. “I learned a lot of different things and developed a well-rounded view of the world.” After the 2015 PGA Championship concludes, there are no guarantees for Myklebust. But over the next 12 months, she will have plenty of chances to showcase her intelligence, work ethic and dedication to teamwork. “I may have the opportunity to stay on with the PGA, or go somewhere else,” she says. “Or, if nothing else, this will be a great résumé builder and overall experience.”
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Lakeland College welcomed several accomplished faculty to its ranks for the 2014-15 academic year. “Lakeland’s new faculty members come to us with great energy and solid track records of engaging students through research and hands-on learning that will prepare our students well for post-graduate success,” said Meg Albrinck, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “I’m excited to see them continue to build each of the programs they will be joining.”
Learning Leaders Daniel David Black Daniel David Black has been named instructor of music and director of choral activities. He brings to Lakeland’s music department a rich background in teaching and conducting. He comes to Lakeland from the University of Arizona where he received a doctor of musical arts in choral conducting. While there, he led four academic choirs. He received his master of music in choral conducting at Houghton College in New York, where he also conducted three of the college’s choirs and later served as faculty conductor of the men’s choir. He served as assistant conductor for the Vocális Chamber Choir in Buffalo, N.Y., assistant director/manager for the Tucson Chamber Artists and assistant conductor/manager for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Black has conducted a number of master classes at local, state, regional and national levels, and in March 2013 was a graduate division finalist in the National Conference Conducting Competition hosted by the American Choral Directors Association. His scholarly interests include the exploration of Franz Liszt’s choral music, the use of sports training mobile apps in the teaching of conducting and the application of Music Learning Theory to collegiate choral ensembles. Black has a bachelor’s degree in choral music studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Juli Cáceres García Juli Cáceres García has been named assistant professor of Spanish. He comes to Lakeland from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he was an assistant professor of foreign languages and literature since 2008. Prior to that, he was a teaching associate in 12
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the Spanish and Portuguese department at Georgetown University for eight years. During his time at Georgetown, he earned a doctorate in Spanish literature and cultural studies, a master of science in Spanish and Spanish American literature and cultural studies and a master of arts in communication-culture and technology. He has a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in communications from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. A native speaker of Spanish and Catalan, Cáceres García has authored and presented research at numerous conferences, lectures and workshops, and he has won several awards and grants that helped make that research possible. His own research interests include the Spanish language, modern and contemporary peninsular and Latin American film, literature and popular culture and feminist and gender/queer studies.
William Ebben William Ebben has been named associate professor of exercise science and sport studies. He has been teaching and coaching for nearly 20 years and has a strong record of motivating students to succeed. He comes to Lakeland from the University of WisconsinParkside, where he had been an associate professor in the Department of Health, Exercise Science and Sport Management since 2010. lakeland college
Prior to teaching at UW-Parkside, he was an assistant professor in Marquette University’s Department of Physical Therapy/Program in Exercise Science for nine years. He has also taught at Waukesha County Technical College, Concordia University Wisconsin and Northern Michigan University. He has extensive experience as a strength and conditioning coach, serving as head strength and conditioning coach at Marquette for three years and holding various strength and conditioning roles with the Green Bay Packers, UW-Madison, the United States Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich. and the U.S. Luge Association with the Olympic Development Team. His teaching model includes significant emphasis on engaging students in research. Through his support, his students have become award-winning scholars, and he has co-authored numerous studies and publications with them. He has an active research agenda and is looking forward to bringing Lakeland’s students into this model. He has a doctor of philosophy in exercise science from Marquette, a master of science in exercise science from Northern Michigan, a master of science in social work from UW-Madison and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. Norbert College.
Jered McGivern Jered McGivern has been named assistant professor of biochemistry. He brings to Lakeland broad research experience in biochemistry, d e ve lopme nt a l biolo g y, neurodegenerative disease, cell biology, molecular biology, proteomics, histology and infectious disease. Since 2011, he has served as an adjunct faculty member teaching organic chemistry and biochemistry lab courses in the chemistry department at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis. He has a diverse research background that includes opportunities at the Marshfield Clinic, Novartis, UW-Madison, the Medical College of Wisconsin and additional collaborations with a variety of institutions. He has authored and co-authored a number of presentations and published research. He is also the recipient of several honors, including a recent postdoctoral travel award from the Medical College of Wisconsin. McGivern has a doctorate in biomolecular chemistry fro UW-Madison and a bachelor’s in chemistry from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
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Brandon Molina Brandon Molina, an accomplished pilot and flight instructor with extensive aviation industry experience, has been named instructor of aviation science. Molina comes to Lakeland from Gulfstream Aerospace in Appleton, Wis., where he had been working since 2013 as an engineer for one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the country. He has also served as chief flight instructor with Tailwind Flight Academy. Prior to coming to Wisconsin, Molina worked for 14 years at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek, Mich. He has also worked in higher education, serving as a certified flight instructor at Western Michigan University. Molina has a bachelor’s degree in aviation flight sciences from Western Michigan, and he holds multiple pilot ratings and certifications.
Karin Tusinski Miofsky Karin Tusinski Miofsky has been named assistant professor of criminal justice. She comes to Lakeland from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., where she has been an assistant professor in the criminal justice program since 2011. She previously worked as an assistant professor in the department of criminal justice and criminology at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Mass., for three years. Her doctoral dissertation is entitled “The Causes and Consequences of Bullying,” and she has done research on cyber bullying and gangs. She is the author and co-author of numerous articles, reports and presentations on a wide range of criminal justice topics, with her most recent research investigating the perceptions and consequences of teen “sexting” within local communities. Tusinski Miofsky received both a doctorate and master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a bachelor’s in psychology and criminal justice from St. Louis University.
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keeping his legacy alive community commitment Lakeland College strengthened its commitments to the Green Bay and Milwaukee areas this year by announcing moves for its Evening, Weekend and Online Centers in both regions to new locations. The moves position Lakeland to improve delivery of its academic programs and services to students in both areas. Lakeland’s Green Bay Center, currently located at 2985 S. Ridge Road, will move into a new facility at 2601 Development Drive in Bellevue in December. Construction of the new, $2.8 million center began in June. The first classes will be offered in January 2015. The 15,000-square-foot facility includes nine technology-rich classrooms and two computer labs, including one laptop classroom, a large student lounge for students to study and work in groups and Wi-Fi throughout the building. In Milwaukee, Lakeland is moving its center this fall from West Allis to 9000 W. Chester St. in Milwaukee. The new location gives the college a convenient location for students living and working in the city and the surrounding counties. Lakeland will occupy the majority of the third floor of the Honey Creek Corporate Center IV building. The location, which is nearly 16,000 square feet, includes 10 classrooms, one laptop lab and one computer lab, a student lounge, eight offices, Wi-Fi throughout the 14
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facility and ample free parking. Classrooms in the new locations are designed to deliver the college’s signature course format, BlendEd, which allows students to seamlessly transition from week to week between the traditional classroom and online, as needed. The newest feature of BlendEd offers the ability to broadcast live lectures to students outside of the classroom, connecting face-to-face and online students in one, interactive classroom environment. Classrooms at both facilities will be available for daytime rentals to businesses, clubs and other organizations. “These projects provide Lakeland the opportunity to significantly upgrade our centers with the latest in instructional technology and better position us for future technology upgrades,” said Zach Voelz, Lakeland’s vice president for enrollment management. “Both locations also provide better student access and accommodate our continuing growth in both regions. Without a doubt, our students are going to be pleased with what they see and experience.” Lakeland has offered degree programs in Milwaukee since 1979 and today serves more than 400 students in that area. It has offered degree programs in Green Bay since 1984; there are currently more than 500 students who routinely enroll at the Green Bay center. p lakeland college
Throughout its 152-year history, Lakeland College has maintained an intentional relationship with its founding church, today the United Church of Christ. The college recently launched a new campaign that presents an opportunity to affirm this historic and deeply-rooted connection by completing the funding for the Reinhard Ulrich Endowed Chair in Philosophy, Ethics and Christian Thought. This position was originally conceived in 2000 to honor renowned UCC theologian and Lakeland faculty member Reinhard Ulrich, and was partially funded through the “Forward in Faith” campaign of the Wisconsin Conference of the UCC. The money raised at that time, $248,000, has been administered and invested by the Lakeland College Foundation for more than a decade, and has grown to more than $256,000. The college has launched a new campaign to raise an additional $750,000 to bring the endowment principal up to $1 million. The fund’s earnings will generate financial support for an additional, full-time religious faculty member, as well as new programming, including an annual “Distinguished Lecture in Ethics.” The college will assume other expenses associated with this position. Ulrich, a German immigrant who became acquainted with Lakeland College (then known as Mission House) in the mid-1940s, was an influential member of the Lakeland and UCC family for nearly five decades. A pillar of Lakeland’s academic community, he was, for many, the face and heart of the college. Ulrich was the embodiment of a man who combined faith with knowledge. “Reinhard Ulrich was superbly qualified to teach at Harvard the magazine
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or Yale, but he stayed where he believed God called him,” said the Rev. Fred Trost, former UCC Wisconsin Conference president and minister. “He believed in the excellence and vocation of a small, church-related college. He believed in its unique place in modern society. He served the Lord with gladness. There was always that sense of immense joy with life.” Ulrich arrived in the United States in 1949, graduated from Mission House College in 1951 and from the seminary in 1953, and then went on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago while serving as a pastor there. He returned to Lakeland to join the faculty in 1964. He became an internationally recognized theologian and authority on the history of the Christian church, authoring and editing two books and numerous articles and lecturing on a wide range of topics. He retired from his position in 2001 after 36 years of teaching and passed away in 2007. Ulrich’s legacy is an apt reflection of the depth and breadth of the work that the endowed chair will undertake in his name. Upon the successful completion of the campaign, a national search will be conducted to identify the best qualified candidate to fill the position. The faculty member will become part of a team that will continue to foster Lakeland’s strong connection to the UCC and ensure that the beliefs of the UCC continue to be a central part of the Lakeland experience. If you would like to contribute to this campaign, contact Stuart Merritt at 920-565-1000, Ext. 1383, or merrittsk@lakeland.edu. x lakeland college
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A LM A M A T T ERS 1941
Wis., was the recipient of a 2013-14 Kaplan Award from the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac. The Kaplan Award honors UW staff for significant and innovative improvements in instruction or service to students. Langolf and two co-workers were honored for their development, planning and implementation of a new fundraising event which showcased students, faculty and staff and raised $18,000 for student scholarships and the UW-FDL Foundation. Langolf has worked as special events coordinator at UW-Fond du Lac for the last three years.
The Rev. Carroll Olm, of Whitewater, Wis., celebrated his 65th Ordination Anniversary at Congregational UCC in Whitewater, on Aug. 24, 2014.
1950
Robert Gartzke, of Beaver Dam, Wis., was a participant on the Badger Honor Flight for WWII veterans to Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2014.
1954
The Rev. Gerald Schrankler retired in June after 57 years of ministry in Wisconsin. He had most recently been interim pastor at Our Savior’s UCC in Ripon, Wis.
Brian Skortz, of Owensboro, Ky., is director of athletics and department head of the sports management program at Brescia University. He also teaches sports management classes at the school.
1960
Helene (Gehler) Schrankler retired in September as organist at Church of Peace in Fond du Lac, Wis., after 65 years as a church musician. She started as an organist while in eighth grade.
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Greg Sadler, of Kingston, N.Y., owns a consulting company and develops and produces philosophy videos for his YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/gbisadler. He taught philosophy and religious studies for 20 years in a variety of settings, including a state university, a private college, a community college, a historically black university and a maximum-security prison degree program. He has also published a book on the Christian philosophy debates and dozens of articles, translations, book reviews and encyclopedia entries. Email: greg@reasonio.com.
1973
Barbara Steinberg, of Paramus, N.J., was promoted in January to the rank of captain of detectives, the first female to hold this title in the department. She is the division commander of criminal investigations, and she is responsible for all major crimes, juvenile and bureau of criminal investigations at the second largest police department in Bergen County. On May 1, 2014, she celebrated her 35th year of service as a police officer, and she has worked for the department for 40 years. Email: bs323@aol.com.
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Kathyrn Strong Langolf, of Fond du Lac, 16
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Tiffany Vande Hey MBA ’05 became coordinator of financial services for the Sheboygan Area School District in July. She has 17 years of financial and management experience, and holds CPA, CMA and CFM designations.
Ben Duke MBA ’10 of Fond du Lac, Wis., was named vice president of marketing at Briggs and Stratton in April 2014.
2010
Leslie Oskey is entering her first season as
Brad Washuleski MAC ’09, Sheboygan, Wis., is a K-5 math and reading interventionist at the Sheboygan Area School District, where he works with students of a variety of ability levels. He also has a master’s degree in reading from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
2005
Shane Hansen started a new job as athletics director at West Bend East High School on July 1, 2014.
2008
Elisa Waltz ’12 MBA married Casey Carr in June. Lakeland graduates in the wedding party were Sarah (Voigt) Korth ’08, Megan Stock ’08 MBA ’10 and Ozgur Acar ’04. The couple lives in Howards Grove. Casey is head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Lakeland.
Janeen (Saunier) Kuczero of Lafayette, Ind., is an application support analyst at Roeing Corp. Email: jkuczero10@gmail.com.
Jason Bartelt was named director of athletics for Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wis., in July. He has served as head baseball coach for 13 seasons, and had served as interim director of athletics for several months. Anthony Call, of Phoenix, Ariz., has accepted a position as adjunct instructor of of
Caitlin Piat, of Gurnee, Ill., is engaged to Jeff Thompson, and they plan a spring 2015 wedding. She works in IT at the Special Education District of Lake County in Gages Lake, Ill.
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Angelia Neumann, of Cleveland, Wis., was named one of Sheboygan County’s Top 10 young professionals at the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce “Making Their Mark” awards ceremony on May 6, 2014. She was named director of development and communications at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in August 2013, and the hospice ended the year with its most successful fundraiser to date. She has also started a grassroots youth ministry which now serves more than 70. She co-founded Sheboygan Teen MOPs and is also active in the Sheboygan County Chamber, Sheboygan Noon Rotary and Junior Achievement.
c e l e b r at i n g o u r o w n In June, the college welcomed approximately 50 graduates working in education back to campus for an Educator Appreciation Event. It was a night of re-connecting and thanking alumni for sharing in the college’s mission—changing the lives of others through education. The event, held at the president’s house, included current and retired teachers, administrators, counselors and coaches from all over the state. The college plans to make it an annual event. The group heard a short update from Lakeland President Dan Eck about new initiatives at the college, including a community scholarship to help make higher education more affordable for high school graduates, and the creation of a K-12 school relations manager position (see a related item in the Scene on Campus section of this issue). Two graduates who attended, Brad Washuleski ’03 MAC ’09 and Nate Brunnbauer ’07, contacted the college after the event to establish a yearly fund for education students who could benefit from assistance in paying for text books. After that conversation, the Brunnbauer-Washuleski Alumni Book Award concept turned into reality. Both Brunnbauer and Washuleski were recipients of the Alumni Legacy Scholarship book award during their time at Lakeland, and they thought it was time to pay it forward and help other students who needed help covering the cost of text books. Washuleski is K-5 intervention specialist with the Sheboygan Area School District, and Brunnbauer is a third- grade teacher at Sheboygan’s Lincoln-Erdman Elementary. The college has scheduled next year’s Educator Appreciation Event for June 25, 2015. To learn more about the event, help plan the 2015 event or to simply ensure you are on the guest list for future alumni educator events, contact Katie Britton, alumni engagement officer, at brittonkm@lakeland.edu or 920-565-1224.
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head women’s soccer coach at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. She has 10 years of soccer coaching experience, including the past two seasons as an assistant at NCAA Division III Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She was a three-year letterwinner at Lakeland, a two-year team captain and in 2008 was recipient of the NCAA Academic Scholar Award.
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Paul Zachow, of Swansea, Ill., graduated from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., with a Master of Arts in pastoral studies degree with a pastoral care concentration. He serves as chaplain and in bereavement with Vitas Hospice Care in Fairview Heights, Ill. Email: paulzachow@yahoo.com.
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hospitality information systems at Scottsdale Community College.
Lola Engel MBA ’11 and Cameron Smit ’10 welcomed their third child, Cambrie Joy, on April 29, 2014. Kayden, 5, and Cale, 3, are extremely proud older siblings and are great helpers. The family lives in Appleton, Wis. Cameron works for the City of Appleton, while Lola works as a team lead for Humana’s large group health insurance.
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Jan. 14, 2015 Feb. 18 - 22, 2015 March 11- 15, 2015
Grand opening, Lakeland College Milwaukee Center Grand opening, Lakeland College Green Bay Center Florida Alumni Gatherings, specific locations TBA Arizona Alumni Gatherings, specific locations TBA
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March 19, 2015 Second Annual Lakeland Day April, 2015 Professional Women’s Event
May 16, 2015 June 19, 2015 June 25, 2015 October, 2015
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(specific date TBA) Movers & Shakers Gala Blasters Golf Tournament Second Annual Alumni Educator Appreciation Event Alumni European Riverboat Cruise
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Have you ever wondered what happened to that guy in your accounting class? Or maybe you’d like the email addresses for your sorority sisters so you can plan a reunion? Do you want a way to reconnect with Lakeland friends you’ve lost touch with over the years? Lakeland has partnered with PCI, also known as Publishing Concepts, to produce an alumni directory, which will only be made available to Lakeland alumni. Beginning in January, Lakeland graduates will be contacted to verify their contact and other information. The directories will be distributed in early 2016 and will be available in print and digital forms. Once contacted, you may call a toll-free number or go online to verify or make any changes to your information. No purchase of a directory is needed to be listed, and we hope you will update your information regardless of whether you plan to purchase a copy in order to benefit the college, your classmates, teammates or others who might like to contact you.
At Lakeland, your success is our success, and that’s why we want to know what you’re doing. Here are several ways this project helps strengthen the Lakeland family: • Updated information allows us to share information relevant to you. • Sharing careers of alumni with current students helps them visualize their futures and gives them possible career connections. • We can share your success stories with prospective students so they see the value of a Lakeland education. • Your success stories help position Lakeland for grants and other awards. Lakeland will never sell your information to any third party for any purpose. Additional information on how to purchase a directory will be included in the information you receive from PCI.
Members of the Lakeland College Mu Lambda Sigma, including Lakeland graduates and current students, gathered on campus this summer for a reunion. If you and members of your organization would like the college to help you plan a reunion, contact Katie Britton at 920-565-1224 or brittonkm@lakeland.edu. v Pictured in front row (from left): Steve Emory ’10, Dale Sievert, Eduardo Orihuela, Alex Busch, Robby Frias ’13 MBA ’14, Todd Fischer ’68 and Dylan Busch. v Middle row (from left): John Cook ’69, Neil Zevitz ’73, John Muench ’74, Larry Kaderabek ’72, Cal Gander ’50, Earl Jochimsen ’50, Don Godshaw ’71, Larry Samet ’71, Tom Vodnansky ’71 and Jerry Weyer ’70. v Back row (from left): Dave Coen ’70, Bill Gilbert ’70, Jeff Love ’70, Kevin Hildebrand ’09, Andrew Wagner, Eddie Currin, Matt Brown, Gabriel Bucio, Steven Nietzel ’10, Nathan Lischka ’09, Tom Kelly ’08, Collin Campbell ’11, Angelo Hernandez, Jeremy Reis, Jake Frias ’10, Jared Martin ’11, Don Cerra ’73 and Walt Sinisi ’72.
More than 300 Lakeland College alumni and friends helped raise funds to benefit Lakeland students at the college’s 27th annual Blasters Classic Golf Tournament. The event, held June 20 on two area courses, raised $33,000, which will be used for various needs in the Lakeland athletic department. H The Moose Woltzen Cup was held at The Bull at Pinehurst Farms near Sheboygan Falls, and the Mike Devaney Cup was held at Town & Country Club in Sheboygan. Following a day of golf, everyone gathered at Lakeland’s campus for an awards celebration. Winning teams included: H Woltzen corporate division – McDonald’s Stockyards: Dave Voskuil, Chris Sanchez, Jake Scrum, Lyle Kraft. Woltzen open division – The Show Me Boys: Dave Pierce, Bob Smith, Ben Scheffer, Gale Rasnic. H Devaney corporate division – Kaeden Service: Eric Wergin, Eric Jaeger, Ryan Norton, Doug Norton. Devaney open division – Da Yoopers: Mat Hill, Toivo Ahonen, Eino Annonen, Mac Evergreen. H Woltzen, former Lakeland athletic director and men’s basketball coach, was one of the college’s greatest ambassadors. He was the first Wisconsin basketball coach to win 500 career games. He and his wife, Dona, provided love and support that made a significant difference in the lives of many students, faculty and staff. He helped shape the development of the department as it exists today. He died in 2009. H Devaney was a member of Lakeland’s faculty for nearly three decades. He was chair of the Natural Sciences Division from 1992 until the time of his death in 2007. He received the college’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 1982 and the Underkofler Award for Teaching Excellence in 2000. He served as director of the Lakeland College Math Meets, and was women’s tennis coach from 1989-06.
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I n M e m o riam Lakeland College has been notified of the following deaths of alumni and friends of the college:
Ruth (Flueckinger) Ley ’38
Linda Resop ’80
of Madison, Wis., on April 25, 2014
of Sheboygan, Wis., on May 4, 2014
Marjorie (Heckmann) Coleman ’50
Chris (Engebrecht) Klossner ’86
of Vermilion, Ohio, on May 18, 2014
of Punta Gorda, Fla., on April 5, 2014
Rev. Dr. Martin Koehler ’51
Charles Miller ’88
of West Bend, Wis., on June 29, 2014
of Oregon, Wis., on Aug. 19, 2014
Maynard Hamilton ’50
Allen Lueck ’93
of Port Charlotte, Fla., on May 14, 2014
of Rosendale, Wis., on April 3, 2014
Rev. Daniel Vander Ploeg ’59
Robert Barwig ’93
of Oakdale, Minn., on Aug. 16, 2014
of Milwaukee, Wis., on July 8, 2014
Carol (Frickenstein) Tauchen ’60
Daniel Gilsdorf ’94
of Woodruff, Wis., on July 19, 2014
of Reedsville, Wis., on June 1, 2014
Rev. Kenneth Dix ’62
Curtis Weber ’02 MBA ’09
of Lake Holcombe, Wis., on Aug. 6, 2014
of Neenah, Wis., on June 23, 2014
James Lilienthal ’69
Donna Walsh-Frye ’03
of Camas, Wash., on Jan. 12, 2014
of Wauwatosa, Wis., on July 31, 2014
Jay Parkins ’71
Jeffrey Ott ’04
of Southern Pines, N.C., on Sept. 18, 2014
of Appleton, Wis., on May 4, 2014
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Lakeland College adds two alumni to Board of Trustees
honoring their commitment In 1964 – 50 years ago this past August – Loren and Rosemary Tiede arrived at Lakeland College. Loren was named the college’s dean of students and served as head baseball coach, and Rosemary was the campus nurse. They had no idea they were about to build lifelong relationships and impact the lives of countless students. To celebrate the Tiedes’ impact at Lakeland, the college, along with the Tiedes’ children (Charlie, Mary, Todd and Jay), announced in June a campaign to create an endowed scholarship fund in their name and to upgrade a space on campus near the Wehr Center to be named the Loren and Rosemary Tiede Terrace. A video from the announcement at the Blasters reception is online at lakeland.edu/tiede. To date, the effort has raised more than $87,000 toward the $100,000 campaign goal. The campaign received a generous lead gift from Jeanette Rearick, Rosemary’s sister-in-law. The campaign is a tribute to the Tiedes’ commitment to Lakeland, and the terrace will be adjacent to two existing spaces honoring some of their best friends: the Moose and Dona Woltzen Gym and the Coach Thome Memorial Practice Field. Construction of the Tiede Terrace is scheduled to be completed next spring. Loren and Rosemary were married in 1950 and moved to Bremen, Ind., where Rosemary (who passed away in 1997) worked as a registered nurse at the Bremen Community Hospital and 20
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Loren as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor at Bremen Community Schools. The Tiedes came to Lakeland thanks to John Morland, who hired Loren in Bremen. When Morland was named Lakeland’s president, the Tiedes followed him to Wisconsin. Loren served as Lakeland’s dean of students until 1977, and during that same time spent 10 seasons as the Muskies’ head baseball coach. Along with their official job duties, the Tiedes, along with their close friends, Duane “Moose” and Dona Woltzen, were available at all hours as a source of support, encouragement and, when needed, discipline for students. The Tiedes lived on campus, were fixtures at campus events and provided an available set of hands to help with any project – anything from driving the bus to watering the baseball diamond. They also organized an open house for faculty and staff around the middle of each year. In 1985, Loren was named the first recipient of the Lakeland College Alumni Association’s Honorary Alumnus Award, and in 1992 he was inducted into the Lakeland Athletic Hall of Fame. Loren left Lakeland to become executive secretary of the Indiana State Teachers’ Retirement Fund, a position he held until retiring. If you would like to contribute to the Tiede campaign, you can make a gift online at www.lakeland.edu/give. x lakeland college
In May, two Lakeland graduates were elected to the college’s Board of Trustees. Bob Loffredo ’70 and Jill Wagner ’92 MBA ’05 will participate in their first meeting in October. “I am delighted to welcome these successful Lakeland graduates to the board,” said Robert Melzer, chairperson of the board of trustees. “They bring a wide range of skills that will complement the talents of the current board. Both are excited to help chart the future direction of the school they love and give something back to a place that helped prepare them for their successful careers.” Loffredo is vice president for U.S. industrial sales for Snap-on Incorporated in Kenosha, Wis. Snap-on is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. In his current role, Loffredo directs the entire North American region, which has gross volume sales in excess of $200 million. Loffredo began his career with Snap-on as an industrial sales rep in 1977 and held various positions within the industrial division. Loffredo, who earned a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Illinois in 1974, taught school for seven years, was an assistant elementary principal and the assistant varsity coach of a conference champion football team for the Kewaunee (Ill.) School District. He was inducted into the Lakeland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982 in recognition of his accomplishments as a football player. Wagner is president of Appleton-based Integrity Insurance. She previously held the role of vice president of commercial lines for the property and casualty insurer. Wagner has worked in the insurance industry for 22 years, including positions with Rural Mutual Insurance and ACUITY Insurance. Wagner is a board member of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of the Fox Cities, served as the chairman of the Commercial Lines Underwriting Conference Committee for
the National Association for Mutual Insurance Companies and is a Business Advisory Group Member of Lakeland College and Concordia University. She has also held numerous volunteer board positions with youthfocused organizations.
Several improvements completed on main campus While most of Lakeland’s students were away for summer, the college underwent some significant improvements. Following is a brief recap of those changes: • Bandwidth on campus increased tenfold, and 233 wireless access points were installed across campus for improved coverage. • The Esch Library was re-carpeted and Bossard Hall received a new coat of paint, new chairs and blinds and the f loor was stripped and re-finished. • The softball team dugouts were completed, and the baseball and softball teams both have new scoreboards. Also, the Wehr Center gym floor was refinished.
Lakeland to launch new ThinkHaus speaker series
Lakeland, in partnership with Jake’s Café in Sheboygan, will launch a new speakers series this fall called ThinkHaus. The series of community conversations is modeled after the popular TED Talks and positions Lakeland as a thought leader and resource for the region. ThinkHaus will feature powerful, thought-provoking talks, no longer than 20 minutes, by an expert on a topic of interest to the local community. Following the talk, the speaker and community engage in discussion on the topic that results in new levels of understanding. The mission of ThinkHaus is to inspire positive change in the community through knowledge sharing and creativity; promotion of community wellness through a thoughtful, meaningful forum; and creation of common ground among community members by sharing new ways of thinking.
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For more information and to view the schedule of speakers, visit Lakeland.edu/ thinkhaus.
Lakeland, Gannett partner to host political debate series Lakeland is hosting a series of political debates again this fall, partnering with Gannett Wisconsin Media to give local voters a chance to hear directly from candidates. In July, Lakeland and Gannett hosted Republican primary debates for the Sixth Congressional District and the 26th and 27th state Assembly districts. In October, general election debates will be organized for those three races, along with the state’s 9th Senate District. Rick Dodgson, associate professor of history, serves as debate moderator, and members of the college’s staff coordinate logistics for the events. Gannett has provided free live video streams of the events via their newspaper websites, including papers in Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh and Appleton. “We’ve gotten feedback from voters that these events are a valuable way for them to hear directly from candidates on some of the important issues leading into these elections,” Dodgson said. “Our format strikes a nice balance between allowing candidates to share their central messages and inviting candidates to engage in a real discussion that unfolds spontaneously.”
Lakeland students enjoy May course in Belize In May, Associate Professor of Biology Paul Pickhardt took his tropical biology course to the Central American country of Belize, where five Lakeland College students engaged in 15 days of the most hands-on learning imaginable. It was the fourth time since 2008 that this educational excursion has taken place. After returning to campus, the students presented their results. Paul Elzinga (Howards Grove, Wis.), Tim Green (Hager City, Wis.)
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Personnel Moves
Paul Pickhardt and his students in Belize
and Tyler Malwitz (Niagara, Wis.) studied the predatory habits of ant lion insect larvae; and Lindsey Biter (Shermans Dale, Pa.) and Theresa Wallner (Plymouth, Wis.) focused on the nesting preferences of off-the-ground termites. While in Belize, the class had a six-mile hike to the flora- and fauna-rich tropical forest base. The group endured temperatures of up to 104 degrees with high humidity, Pickhardt counted more than 100 tick bites on his body and the group heard howler monkeys shrieking through the night. But Pickhardt said while the course, which he created with fellow Lakeland faculty member Greg Smith, is demanding, the rewards are immeasurable. “I think that for everyone involved, this is a transformative experience in terms of putting into practice all the things we talk about,” said Pickhardt. “It’s such an incredibly diverse place, with plants and animals just jumping out at you. Not just every day, but every hour.”
Green Bay Packers president to deliver Kohler Lecture Mark Murphy, now in in his sixth year as the Green Bay Packers’ president and CEO, will discuss the economics and business side of professional football during the 14th annual Charlotte and Walter Kohler Distinguished Business Lecture. The lecture is free and open to the public, although tickets will be required. The date for Murphy’s talk and instructions for obtaining tickets will be announced later in 2014. Under Murphy’s guidance, the Green Bay Packers rank as one of the NFL’s premier franchises, with highly successful operations 22
both on and off the field. The fan experience at Lambeau Field, a top priority for the organization, continues to rank among the best in sports. Murphy, who holds a law degree and an MBA in finance, brought a unique background to his role, including an eight-year playing career with the professional football team located in Washington, D.C. Later, he served a combined 16 years as director of athletics at Colgate University and Northwestern University, and was an assistant executive director of the NFL Players Association and a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Professor J. Garland Schilcutt has taken on more responsibilities in alumni engagement and community relations for the college. As a result, he stepped down as director of Lakeland’s graduate program in business administration. Scott Niederjohn, Charlotte and Walter Kohler Charitable Trust Associate Professor of Business Administration, is now serving as the director of the MBA program. Schilcutt will continue to serve as a member of the faculty and teach the college’s popular business protocol course, and his office will remain in the Laun Center. • Jason Duff, a teacher and coach in the K-12 school setting for the last 12 years, including nine years at Plymouth High School, has been named Lakeland College’s first K-12 school relations manager. In this new role, Duff will be a primary face of Lakeland in the region’s schools, sharing the
associate director — all at the Madison Center. • Greg Teuton joined the Evening, Weekend and Online team as the new admissions advisor at the Madison Center. Teuton has been working at Lakeland for the past three years, first as an admissions counselor and then as an assistant director of admissions for the traditional programs.
Winning the “Judges’ Choice” award was Julie Steinert, who danced a dazzling Cha-Cha hip-hop routine. In its seven years, Movers & Shakers has raised more than $2.7 million. For more information about the Movers & Shakers Gala, visit moversandshakersgala.org.
Movers & Shakers Gala has another successful year
• Meg Albrinck, professor of literature and writing and vice president for academic affairs, presented a paper and chaired a panel at the 24th Annual International Conference on Virginia Woolf, held in early June at Loyola University-Chicago. Albrinck’s paper “‘All kinds of forms in one book’: Generic Disruption as Political Act in ‘Three Guineas’” positioned Woolf ’s 1938 work “Three Guineas” in the context of narratives of World War I. She also chaired a panel examining connections in Woolf ’s work between the war and the emerging technology of the gramophone. • Deborah Bilzing, director of Lakeland’s counseling program, has joined the Education Community Action Team (Education CAT) for Sheboygan County. Lead organizations in this initiative include: Mental Health America in Sheboygan County, Safe Harbor, Aging and Disability Resource Center and Healthy Sheboygan County 2020. She was asked to join as a result of her involvement in the “Community Conversation About Mental Health and Alcohol/Drug Abuse” event held in Sheboygan in March. • “Master, Maid,” f lash fiction from Karl Elder, Fessler Professor of Creative Writing and Poet in Residence, that appeared in a 2002 issue of Carriage House Review, has been reprinted in Popcorn Press’s newly released “Cthulhu Haiku II: and More Mythos Madness.” • Jodie Liedke, assistant professor of composition, recently had her poem, “Balancing Light,” published in a 2014 issue of “Fourteen Hills.” This poem was a revision of a poem featured in the “Mark My Words Again Writing and Art Exhibition” in La Crosse, Wis. • Christopher Moore, associate professor of sociology, and Alex Liosatos, campus counselor, were appointed to the executive board of the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association of Sheboygan. • This spring, Christopher Moore, associate professor of sociology, presented a paper entitled, “How Setting Constrains Friendship:
More than 500 guests helped raise $209,000 as Lakeland College hosted the seventh annual Movers & Shakers Gala in May. Next year, the Gala, which is set for May 16, 2015, will expand its lineup of acts to include talents beyond dancing. The outgoing format, which benefitted Lakeland College, the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra and numerous local charities, showcased the dancing skills of nine
College appoints new academic division chairs The college announced several new division chairs at the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year. • The Interdisciplinary Studies Division is now chaired by Brian Frink, professor of chemistry and physics. • The Education Division is now chaired by John Yang, associate professor of education. • Linda Tolman, professor of English, will serve as interim chair of the Humanities Division during the fall semester while Peter Sattler, professor of American literature, is on sabbatical. Sattler will return to the position this spring. Frink and Yang are both beginning three-year terms in their roles. The college a lso recognized Jef f Elzinga, professor of writing, and Mehraban Khodavandi, professor of education, for their service as division chairs.
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Lakeland story with administrators, counselors and teachers so they better understand what the college has to offer for current high school and prospective college students. He will also manage Lakeland’s dual credit course offerings with high schools in the region. • Jon Kuecken has been named director of the Madison Center. Kuecken has already made significant contributions to Lakeland’s success through eight years of experience as a center coordinator, admissions advisor and
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community leaders and their professional partners. Lakeland’s Todd Wehr Center was transformed into a majestic ballroom, which included an elegant dance floor framed by wall-to-wall carpeting plus professional lighting and two large video screens. Tracy Wusterbarth, a human resources specialist at ACUITY, won the 2014 Movers & Shakers Gala championship, which goes to the dancer with a combination of the best judges’ scores and the most “popular” votes.
Names in the News
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An Affect Control Analysis,” at the annual meeting of the International Network for Social Network Analysis, St. Beach, Fla. Additionally, Moore had a passage entitled, “Impression Formation,” published in the Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, second edition. It is a revision of his previous short entry on the process by which humans form impressions of others. • Scott Niederjohn, Charlotte and Walter Kohler Charitable Trust Associate Professor of Business Administration, in June taught a week-long course for teachers at Edgewood College on paychecks, contracts and entrepreneurship. In July, he taught a second week on investor education and economics. In August, he presented a program entitled, “Experiencing Luxembourg,” at Cedar Beach Inn during Luxembourg Fest of America in Belgium, Wis. He spoke about his experience living in Luxembourg and teaching at the University of Luxembourg during the fall 2013 semester. • Denise Presnell-Weidner, associate professor of art and co-director of the Bradley Gallery, continues to see her work added to exhibits around the state. Two of her pastels and one ink monotype were included in “Drawing Invitational 2014” at the Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Her lithograph, “Paths of Entanglement III,” was included in “R icheson75 Landscape, Seascape & Architecture 2014” at the Richeson School of Art and Gallery in Kimberly, Wis. Additionally, she had three pieces published in a hardbound book entitled, “The Richeson75 Landscape, Seascape and Architecture Exhibition.” One of her oil paintings, “Annual Anarchy,” and one print, “Paths of Entanglement,” were part of “Alive in the Arts,” at the Plymouth Arts Center, Plymouth, Wis. She had 15 pieces in the Health, Hope and Healing exhibitions at St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan, Wis. • Ken Strmiska, vice president for advancement, strategy and innovation, was a resource for and quoted in “Engaging Your Board in Fundraising: A Staff’s Guide,” a new publication from BoardSource, a Washington, D.C.,- based organization that assists non-profits with a variety of resources. • Lisa Vihos, director of sponsored programs and research, has received one of 10 honorable mentions for her poem, “Reversal,” in the Wisconsin People and Ideas 2014 Poetry Contest.
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Lakeland College’s basketball teams enjoy international experiences The women’s basketball team spent 17 days in China, and participating students earned three credits as the trip was offered as a May Term study course. The group, which included 28 people, stayed in Shanghai and Nanchang/Fuzhou. Students visited and studied at Lakeland’s sister schools, Shanghai Finance University and the East China Institute of Technology, and they ran a Junior Muskies community service program at a boarding school for low income children. The Muskies also played three games, and visited a number of sites, including the Daoist temple at Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Bund in Shanghai and shopping and buying food from street vendors. The tour was led by Lakeland faculty David Lynch and Rene Ryman. The men’s team spent a week in Europe, including a lengthy stay in Luxembourg and day trips to Trier and Saarburg, Germany; Strasbourg, France; and Brussels, Belgium. The Muskies played three games and visited a number of sites, including Vianden Castle, the American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg and a by-invitation-only tour of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The tour was led by The Luxembourg American Cultural Society, based in Belgium, Wis. You can read more about the trips online at: lakelandmuskieschina2014.blogspot.com and at: lakelandmuskieseurope2014.blogspot.com.
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Coming in October 2015
Alumni European Riverboat Cruise
For more information contact Katie Britton, Alumni Engagement Officer, at (920)565-1224 or brittonkm@lakeland.edu.