The McKendrean - Summer 2022 | Magazine of McKendree University

Special Digital Edition for Summer 2022.

Check out Bearcat Athletics, Class Notes and More Inside!

Cover: Rudy Hayes M.A. ’22, and his classmates from the clinical mental health counseling program get ready to receive their diplomas during commencement on Friday, May 13, 2022. The clinical mental health counseling program is one of the many graduate programs that McKendree offers adult learners and working professionals.

Below: In honor of Women’s History Month, students in Dr. Shelly Lemons’ U.S. Women’s History course constructed a mural that was displayed on campus this spring. The mural represented the students’ interpretations of women’s history.

What’s Inside 5

Feature | McKendree Graduate Programs

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Feature | 100 Years of the McKendree Review

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What’s New?

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One McKendree

27 Bearcats Unleashed 34 Alumni News & Class Notes

Bearcat Reunions!

See who got back together on Pg. 43

Our Contributors Editorial content, writing and production: Tina (Napper) Tebbe ’08 | Director of Communications Krysti Connelly | Executive Director for University Communications and Marketing Matt Seniour, M.A.Ed. ’22 | Graphic Design and Multimedia Coordinator

Photography/Writing: Scott Billhartz ’85 Brandi Brown-Harris, M.A. ’10 Breelyn Craig Michael Embrich Michele Erschen Nadia Ghahkenshah Patrick Knapinski Lori Kuper ’20 Haley Moody ’22 Haley Rey ’22 Published twice a year, The McKendrean connects alumni and friends to the McKendree University community.

Please send address changes to:

Office of Development, Alumni and Parent Relations 701 College Road Lebanon, IL 62254 Keep in touch!

Call 1-800-BEARCAT, ext. 6826, or send e-mail updates to alumni@mckendree.edu.

Dear Campus Community, Alumni and Friends of McKendree,

Pictured Above: McKendree celebrated its brightest graduates by holding its very first Summa Cum Laude reception at the Stevenson House. Pictured left to right (front): Erika Axtell ’22; Kale Oglesby ’22; Ashleigh McKinley ’22; Dr. Dawn Hankins; Jessica Hoffmann ’22; Shelby Summer ’22; Mark Branz ’22; Dr. Jenny Mueller; (back): Dr. Tami Eggleston, provost; Colby Price ’22; Dr. Guy Boysen; Dr. Vincent Dunlap; Dr. Martha Eggers; Kim Joggerst; Hallie Dixon ’22; Nathan Townsend; Dr. Alan Alewine, associate provost; President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81.

As summer break begins to wind down, our faculty and staff are preparing themselves for another successful and memorable academic year. I find myself eagerly awaiting convocation and meeting the newest Bearcats who will make up the Class of 2026. This ceremony celebrates the start of each academic year. It represents a new beginning and a time for hope and promise.

Each time I step to the podium to address these students, I am filled with pride and excitement, and I recommit myself to the mission of this great University— providing a high-quality educational experience to outstanding students.

While our University continues to flourish, I can’t help looking back and thinking about where we were two decades ago. As the University was only beginning to dream about its very own center for the arts, it began offering students graduate degree programs starting in 2004. From there, our offerings only continued to expand into the robust, relevant programs that they are today.

You can read all about the history of our graduate degrees, where they are going, and just how they are shaping our local communities on page 5 of this edition of The McKendrean.

As McKendree draws ever nearer to its 200th anniversary in 2028, we are pleased to see that the University is growing. During this past year, we have partnered with the community colleges in Southern Illinois by entering into articulation agreements, which help us become even more transfer-friendly. We are also welcoming more Bearcats from our own backyard, thanks to the successful launch of our latest initiative, Clear Path.

Families throughout Southern Illinois have taken note of our message: that receiving an excellent education by attending McKendree is possible and at a cost in line with area public universities.

We are excited to see these new students choose McKendree to find their unique paths.

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Documentation of our beloved University’s history and growth is important as we look back fondly on how far we have really come. On page 9 of this magazine, you can take a step back in time and read about the history of The McKendree Review as it celebrates its 100th year anniversary.

Several past editors share what it was like to be a part of the campus-based newspaper. Learn about the newspaper’s many iterations and what the future holds for the publication.

Finally, new and returning Bearcats alike will be delighted to notice a few changes made to our campus over the past few months, especially the renovations made to the second floor of Holman Library.

The renovations are set to be complete by late August making the library, technology-rich space in which students can gather, learn, give presentations, and develop their skills. This is all part of our latest strategic plan, U.N.I.T.E.D., which will help us focus on the critical things we need to accomplish to grow and meet our students’ needs at McKendree. Read more about these exciting changes in this edition of The McKendrean.

Each day that I am on campus, I am continually humbled to be a part of this community, which constantly strives to make McKendree the wonderful place that it is today. I am looking forward to this new academic year and the joys and successes it will bring to our McKendree family. Today and always, through the efforts and support of many, I remain proud to be a Bearcat!

Together, We Are One McKendree!

Daniel C. Dobbins ’81 President | McKendree University

THE BEST IS YET TO COME Feature by Tina (Napper) Tebbe ’08

The early 2000s were a special time. Before the dawn of smartphones, Facebook and YouTube, Bearcats who arrived at McKendree in the year 2000 were busy debating about which boy band was the best, tuning into the first season of reality TV game show “Big Brother,” and testing out the myriad of sports games on the all-new PlayStation 2. McKendree in the early 2000s was also changing and growing to meet students’ needs. As the University began drumming up plans to create and unveil the gorgeous Russel E. and Fern M. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts as a premier performing arts venue, McKendree was also preparing to take another large step: offering graduate degrees to anyone wishing to further their education. The Class of 2004 was the very first class of Bearcats in 99 years to be able to take these courses at their alma mater. Since its launch in 2004, the graduate programs at McKendree have grown to include nine unique paths for adult learners to tread.

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The Start of Something Good: School of Education

Getting Students Ahead of the Pack: School of Business

When Dr. George Fero served as the chair of the Division of Education, Health and Human Performance at McKendree University, he remembers the faculty deciding to pursue a single graduate degree in education in 2002. A survey conducted during the 2001-2002 school year showed a large demand for a graduate program at McKendree.

“A primary reason for seeking graduate studies at McKendree was the reputation and excellence of the undergraduate education programs,” he said. Thus, after several months of conversations and sessions, McKendree began offering classes for an accredited master’s degree program in education beginning in January 2004, starting with the Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT).

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program arrived hot on the heels of the new education program in 2005 when the late Dr. Frank Spreng, former MBA director, and Dr. Gerald Duff, former provost and dean of McKendree, noticed a need to offer this new degree at the University. What began as a general MBA program with an emphasis on general management and decision making later evolved into a proliferate curriculum that now includes concentrations in human resources (added in 2009), cyber defense (added in 2019) and corporate finance and digital marketing (added in 2020).

During the spring 2004 semester, 25 students had enrolled in the first two graduate courses. By the next semester, there were over 100 new students, and more than 300 students enrolled themselves in the program the following year. The program only continued to grow with the authority to offer a graduate program leading to principal licensure in 2006 and a track for Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs in 2011. “The McK framework of preparing educators to be lifelong learners, caring practitioners and knowledgeable professionals permeated the profession throughout southern Illinois,” Dr. George Fero said. “Our graduates are in high demand in the region.”

But why do these adult Bearcats, who are mostly full-time educators with families of their own, seek an advanced degree from McKendree?

Elementary, dear readers: it’s the flexibility of the courses, the quality of the programs themselves and the excellence of McKendree’s faculty. “Our classes are offered when and where our students can take them, and our faculty are caring practitioners – we practice what we preach,” George said. “Faculty here are always available for advice and direction.”

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Uniquely crafted to meet the needs of business-minded Bearcats, the MBA also has a 4+1 program option, which enables undergraduate seniors to enroll directly into graduate courses, allowing them to complete an MBA in just five years. “Our program is tailored to the working adult, offering 8-week classes that meet either online or once a week in person,” said Dr. Tim Ros, MBA program director at McKendree. “This program is also advantageous for those students that have a fifth year of eligibility under NCAA rules.”

So who are the Bearcats pursuing an MBA from McKendree? They’re almost in equal proportions on-campus and online learners who are already on a reasonable career path. Six in 10 students have received their undergraduate degree from McKendree, and they continue to enjoy the campus community they loved as undergrads, although that isn’t unique to on-campus learners. Even with a total online experience, faculty and staff are available for interaction and feedback.

“It is a point of pride that faculty respond quickly to the needs of our graduate students via a variety of communication needs,” Tim said.

“Our career services are available to graduate students studying on campus or online. There is also an office to facilitate student services including registration, financial aid and more.”

Of course, what draws graduate students to the University’s MBA program is multifaceted yet simple: a low student-to-teacher ratio, auspicious rankings as one of the top MBA programs in Illinois by U.S. News and World Report, flexible course formats, a challenging program that emphasizes applied learning and, of course, McKendree’s outstanding list of caring, knowledgeable faculty members.

Mastering Mind and Body: Division of Health Professions In the spring of 2005, McKendree began offering the all-new Master of Arts Degree in Professional Counseling, now known as Master of Arts in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), to answer the needs of the University’s psychology majors seeking a master’s degree.

“A small group of faculty in the psychology program found that many of our McKendree psychology majors wanted or needed a master’s degree that would lead to licensure. We wanted to provide a highquality program that would allow students to pursue a career in counseling,” said Dr. Tami Eggleston, provost of McKendree.

The CMHC program has always emphasized both professional and personal development, recognizing that well-prepared professionals are those who possess relevant academic training, as well as the self-understanding and awareness needed to facilitate growth, development and healing, among others. The program itself continues to be updated in order to stay in compliance with the licensure requirements for the state of Illinois, which boasts very high standards. Additionally, many of the classes offered are evening classes so individuals can work and gain experience during the day while expanding their knowledge after the sun sets.

“The counseling graduate program at McKendree will continue to grow and stay relevant. We will head in the direction that society needs us, and I am hopeful we will add more specialty areas such as substance abuse and maybe even sport psychology,” Tami said.

As McKendree’s CMHC program continues to grow, students keep choosing the home of the Bearcats for many of the same reasons undergraduates do. “McKendree is a very friendly campus and appealing to many students seeking a program that is very personal in the delivery of services,” said Dr. Julie Smirl, assistant professor of counseling at McKendree. “Access to instructors and small class sizes for more one-on-one training is available in our program.”

On the opposite end, McKendree also offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT), an entry-level post baccalaureate program for anyone wishing to enter the profession of athletic training.

The rigorous, challenging and fulfilling program lasts for two years and extends over six semesters in a sequential order involving two eight-week summer sessions and four 16-week sessions. This program combines academic coursework and diverse clinical experience, providing the foundation to prepare students to be successful athletic trainers in just about any applicable work setting they could imagine.

Sometimes, undergraduates arrive at McKendree knowing deep down that their calling lies in exercise science or athletic training.

McKendree answers this call and helps fulfill students’ dreams faster by offering a 3+2 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Sport Performance and Master of Science in Athletic Training. This allows an undergraduate or transfer student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and sport performance to attain their bachelor’s degree in three years and then their master’s degree in athletic training in only two years.

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Shaping the Heart of Healthcare: Division of Nursing Before the trees on campus were adorned in layers of autumnal gold, russet and ruby, the Higher Learning Commission granted McKendree approval to begin offering a Master of Science (MSN) degree in nursing starting in 2005. This program began with two tracks: education and management/administration. McKendree welcomed its first RN to MSN students in the fall of 2010 with courses initially offered at two Illinois hospital locations and the Kentucky center. Today, the program is offered in a fully online format, with an addition of the ever-popular population health track, a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Ethical Leadership program and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), whose first cohort of 21 students graduated this May. The nursing program has enjoyed great growth since its inception in 2005. Presently, the population health track boasts the highest enrollment rates and doesn’t show signs of stopping, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. The DNP in Ethical Leadership also continues to expand with plans of launching a second Kentucky healthcare system cohort in the fall of 2022.

“With healthcare changing so rapidly and with more individuals recognizing the need for advanced degrees within the healthcare arena, our graduate programs are on target for growth,” said Dr. Richelle Rennegarbe ’92, director of DNP programs, chair of the Division of Nursing, and professor of nursing at McKendree. “We are very fortunate to have strong academic partnerships, which provide us opportunities for working with our partners to address healthcare issues and serve as an excellent recruiting source for all of our graduate degree programs. In addition, the practicums that our graduate students complete make a substantial positive impact on their healthcare organizations and the communities they serve. Our graduates are the best recruiters for our graduate program!”

The students who make up the master’s programs are busy healthcare providers who value the need for advancing their practice to become leaders within their healthcare organizations. They work tirelessly in the Midwest, across the nation and, of course, in your own neighborhood to improve their places of work with the knowledge and unique skillsets they attain while earning their degree, making them experienced, successful leaders in their healthcare organizations.

McKendree is there to help them thrive and make a true difference with their gifts, knowledge and caring hearts.

“We are always exploring opportunities to enhance our current programs or add additional programs to meet the changing needs within healthcare,” Richelle said. “We are exploring adding a school nurse certification to meet the needs of the school districts within our Illinois communities. This is particularly important based on the recent impact of COVID-19 on our children within schools. In addition, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recently released new essential competencies that will be driving nursing programs at all levels; we have already begun aligning our mission statement, student learning outcomes and curriculum to align with these new competencies.”

Mastering Your Future is Possible at McKendree McKendree has come a long way since the beginning of the new millennium. The oldest college on campus is still committed to its mission of providing a high-quality educational experience to outstanding students while meeting their needs in the current world.

As time progresses and needs continue to change, McKendree will still be there, guiding its students and preparing them for leadership roles to help shape tomorrow. For more information or to begin your story as a Bearcat, please visit our Admission page. mckendree.edu/admission

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by Haley Rey '22 former editor-in-chief of the McKendree Review and Krysti Connelly executive director for communications and marketing Since 1921, the McKendree Review has brought the latest information to students and the McKendree community, telling stories while simultaneously recording history. This year, the Review celebrated its 100th anniversary.

The McKendree Review began on November 15, 1921. It began as a means for the journalism students to practice their work, and was published by them from the beginning. The paper, printed and distributed throughout the campus, was usually between four and six pages long, with longer versions attributed to special campus events like Homecoming or important sports events. Before the McKendree Review, the institution published six other newspapers - The Lebanon Journal, the McKendree Repository, Sketchbook, The McKendrean, The McKendree Headlight, and the McKendree Echo - from 1847 to 1916 which eventually were disbanded.

The Review began with editors and other staff aside from the writers. The first staff consisted of Mabel Bower (editor), Mildred Wilton (assistant editor), Violet Glenn (circulation manager), and Fred Faverty (business manager). Milburn P. Akers ’25, former editor of the Chicago Sun-Times, former chairman of the McKendree board of trustees, and great-grandson of McKendree’s first president Peter Akers, was an integral part of the Review’s beginning, acting as editor and manager during his time at school and providing help to the paper’s staff even after he graduated.

In the 1920’s and 1930’s, the Hortin family from Albion, Ill. had several family members who served as editor-in-chief or staff members for the Review. L.J. Hortin ’28 was the first “Hortin” to serve at the helm of the Review. He went on to work as a reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Associated Press, Louisville Courier-Journal, and Paducah Sun-Democrat, before becoming a professor and head of the journalism program at Murray State.

Following in L.J.’s footsteps were Paul Hortin ’28, James Hortin ’30, Duane Hortin ’33, and Charles Hortin ’38 as editors; and Edith Hortin ’31, Dale Hortin ’39, and Flossie Hortin ’44 as staff members/writers.

Portions of the story are attributed to two McKendree Review articles written by Haley Rey, former editor-in-chief and published the week of Nov. 15-19, 2021.

Full articles can be found at: mckreview.com/2021/11/17/mckendree-review history/ -andmckreview.com/2021/11/19/review-staff-a-blast-from-the-past/ Historical information was also gathered from the Centennial archives of McKendree and old yearbooks.

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Mary (Reinhardt) Philip ’66

Editor-In-Chief 1965

McKendree did not have a journalism program when I was a student.

As an English major, I wanted the experience of writing or being in the field, so I served as editor of the McKendree Review in 1965 and the “McKendrean” in 1966. The Review did not have a faculty sponsor, so our student staff, including my husband Dave ’70, who was the photographer, worked with Leon Church ’32, and wife Helen ’34, who owned the “Advertiser.” Helen showed us how she typed our copy on the linotype machine and Leon would print the paper on the newspaper’s press monthly. For students who had no journalism background, I believe our small staff did a good job with the paper. It was a great learning experience for me, and I still look back fondly on the Church’s for everything they taught us.

One aspect of the paper that has changed over the years is who can write and be published. It used to be that only members of the Press Club could write for the Review, and members were selected very carefully. This eased up as time went on, and today—despite our full staff and their titles—anyone is welcome to write for the school newspaper. As always, the Review is “devoted to the interests of McKendree.”

Did you know it used to cost money to read the Review? The subscription price began at $1.50 per year and fluctuated a bit in the years following.

Published content was very similar in the beginning to what it is today, but there were more details included in each issue. For example, one issue from the late 1920s included a list of new books in the campus library. Of course, details like this could be included in today’s stories, but the smaller, older version of the school had the means to regularly report on the small things.

For a long time, the paper was printed and published in Lebanon, distributed mostly on campus. However, in its origin, the McKendree Review was a part of the Illinois College Press Association. This year, as we combined with McKendree Radio to become McKendree Media, we once again entered this association!

Since its establishment, the Review has gone through many phases. There used to be about 30 issues per year, with no posts during summer, holiday break, or final exam weeks. In fact, the regular posting schedule remained one issue every two weeks for many years. Posting regularity changed with different staff, too. For example, in 2002, issues were published bi-monthly.

Today, articles go up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

In honor of the 100 year anniversary of the McKendree Review, we reached out to some former editors-in-chief and asked them to share their memories.

Here are a few of our favorite recollections.

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Dr. Brian Frederking ’90

Editor-In-Chief 1988-1989

The McKendree Review almost did not make it to its 100-year anniversary. I was the editor of the Review in the late 1980s. At that time there was a much more contentious relationship between students and the administration. One unusual string of events began when President TenBrink canceled the school play because it included some profanity. Students wore black armbands to sporting events on campus to mourn the passing of the school play. We covered it in the Review and included pictures of students wearing the black armbands.

We wrote editorials mocking the president. We started sending copies of the Review to Board of Trustees members. TenBrink was so upset that he ended all funding for the Review – he literally tried to shut down a college newspaper. So we continued the paper on our own, selling subscriptions to alumni and selling ads to local businesses. For about a semester it was a truly independent student voice on campus, unconstrained by a reliance on university funds. It was a glorious and rebellious era for the Review. For some reason, once I was no longer editor of the Review, the University restored the funding.

Jodi (Edgar) Reinhardt ’92

Lauren Reeves ’17

The McKendree Review defined my life at McKendree College (now University). From the lessons learned to the friends made, our student-run paper gave me incredible memories. Every other week, members of our 40-person staff wandered in and out of the Review offices in Lower Deneen (now called The Lair), preparing the 12-16 page newspaper for print. I would often put in 40-hour weeks to hunt down reporters for their stories, organize the chaos, write, edit, design, and put the paper to bed. I was far from alone. We had a great team. Luckily, we had computers to type our stories, captions, and headlines, but still did page layout by hand on “light boards” made by one of the dads, Mr. McQuade. With Aerosmith, Poison, Van Halen or Rush blasting from the radio and a Hardees Moose cup of Diet Coke to keep us caffeinated, we’d print news copy by the column inch, put it through the temperamental, often jammed waxer, trim it, and place it on pages, often late into the night every other Thursday. It was always stressful getting it across the finish line. At the crack of dawn on Friday, we’d deliver the files to a printer in Clinton County and then pick up the paper on Monday morning (thank you Ann Huelsman) to hand deliver stacks across campus. On Tuesdays, I would receive the red-lined copy from our devoted faculty advisor and journalism professor, Dr. Michele Stacey-Doyle. She gave us constructive criticism along with grammar and style edits. She let us be a truly student-run paper and was our staunchest supporter.

I was more of a visual journalist, so when I joined the Review, I knew I wanted to bring a digital element to the stories we were telling.

My overall goal was to bring the Review into the digital world. My biggest accomplishment was doing fewer paper copies and instead doing digital content to keep students engaged. We also utilized social media like Facebook to showcase articles. This effort allowed more writers and journalists to take an interest in the Review as well as help build their digital portfolios. I also made sure we had our own camera equipment to allow more journalism efforts to sprout, like photo and broadcast journalism.

Editor-In-Chief 1990-1992

Editor-In-Chief 2015-2016

Magdalena Knapp ’20 Editor-In-Chief 2019-2020

Writing has always been a passion of mine.

When I found out that McKendree had their own newspaper, I knew I wanted to write some articles for them. Fast-forward a year, I found myself as the editor-in-chief of our beloved McKendree Review - the first ever Italian editor-in-chief, I’d like to add. I loved working for the Review and creating something that McKendree students enjoyed reading. Being a journalist was fun; I sometimes felt like an international super-spy, because as soon as I got out my little pink notebook and a pen, people wanted to answer my questions. When I began working as an editor, the newspaper published articles roughly a few times per month, but my co-writers and I sped it up and soon started publishing articles three times a week. I still have the days imprinted in my brain and sometimes find myself in the evenings before technical “publishing days” wondering if the article for the following day was ready to go. I’d like to think that the newspaper really made some peoples’ days better when they got to read a fun article or found an article of themselves online—it sure did make some of my days!

Student-run news | www.mckreview.com

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Say Hello to Our Newest Trustees!

The Board of Trustees has welcomed four new members in 2022 so far: Dr. Jeff Dosier ’87 (A) of Belleville, Ill., Kent Marty ’80 (B) of Edwardsville, Ill., The Reverend Dr. Victor Long ’83 (C) of Mt. Vernon, Ill., and Lawrence “Larry” Carrico (D) of St. Louis, Mo. His second appointment to the Board, Jeff is a retired superintendent from Belleville Township High School District 201. Kent recently retired as the director of commercial operations for Aclara Technologies in St. Louis. Victor is the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon. Larry is the CEO of SKC Enterprises, Inc. and Rent One in St. Louis.

A.

B.

C.

D.

mckendree.edu/news/new-trustees.php

McKendree University Unveils Its Latest Strategic Plan, U.N.I.T.E.D. Since 1828, McKendree University has adapted to changes in education, culture, economics and technology – and recent years have been no exception. In the past five years, McKendree has experienced a presidential transition, an increase in staff and faculty retirements, shifting student needs, increased technology needs and, of course, a global pandemic. What remains unchanged is McKendree’s dedication to delivering a high-quality educational experience to its students. With this in mind, the University aims to continue successfully navigating our ever-changing world with an exciting, all-new strategic plan: U.N.I.T.E.D. This strategic plan will allow the University to enter its third century united as One McKendree, thanks to a six-pronged plan. Each letter in the word U.N.I.T.E.D. stands for a singular idea or goal that McKendree will be striving toward: Updates and Modernization, Name Recognition and Identity, Intellectual Experience, Technology and Training, Engagement and Diversity and Equity. These metrics are specific, measurable, data-driven and achievable, and the University is looking forward to accomplishing these goals, all while maintaining its solid, traditional liberal arts foundation.

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Have you ever wondered what your favorite retired faculty and staff members are up to these days? Now you can read up on how the people who formed your life at McKendree are doing in our all-new “Where Are They Now?” feature!

In each issue, we will highlight an emeritus faculty member or emeritus staff member. For our very first installment, we decided to check in with both an emeritus faculty member and an emeritus staff member.

Read on to see what David Ahola, retired professor of political science, and Jane Weingartner, retired director of gift planning, have been up to lately!

29.987075 // 31.211806

Dr. David Ahola: Retired Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Division of Social Sciences (2003)

David’s former students more than likely remember the intriguing and immersive global trips his classes would take during his 35 years of college teaching, including Japan, China, New Zealand, Australia and more. While the pandemic has impeded his travels, David has been able to check off a few places from his bucket list since retiring in 2003, including Machu Pichu, Cuba and the Great Pyramids. “Cuba turned out to be a fascinating tour! I went with a colleague of mine and we toured the whole island,” he said. “I think interacting with other people from different cultures is so important.” As for the other countries on David’s bucket list, one will find the Philippines, more of Latin America, other places in Mexico and a return to Scandinavia.

David is also passionate about the environment and has been busy doing his part to make the world a better place. Last winter, he put in time and effort to help save the manatees by helping efforts to clean the water in Florida. He has also made an effort to help the loons in the Adirondack Mountains. “These kinds of environmental issues have been taking much of my time,” David said. “If all of us don’t try to do something, we’re going to be in some major trouble.” He has also involved himself in politics and has contributed to and worked for those who are concerned about the environment.

While he hasn’t been able to visit campus lately, David keeps in contact with his former students and colleagues, especially when he’s asked to speak about certain faculty members when they retire. “It’s a good way to stay connected to my colleagues and the campus community,” he said. “I have a real love for McKendree.”

54.992513 // 13.105563

Jane Weingartner: Retired Director of Gift Planning (2004) Jane, along with her husband, Jim, has relished the travel opportunities that retirement has given her. They’ve hiked in national parks from Maine to California, explored Philadelphia with their daughters and enjoyed vacations with extended family at the Jersey Shore. She has also hiked from the south rim of the Grand Canyon down to Phantom Ranch at the base and back to Bright Angel Lodge at the rim with her daughter, Mary.

“For our 50th wedding anniversary, we took a cruise in the Baltic,” Jane said.

“A tip of the hat goes to Professors Ottinger and MacLennan, whose art classes I had taken after retirement deepened my appreciation of the art in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.”

Jane has also remained an active volunteer at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Edwardsville, Ill., and even chaired the 100th anniversary celebration committee and coordinated a successful fundraising effort to repair and protect the church’s stained-glass windows in 2017. “Working with contractor Emil Frei of St. Louis gave me an education on the art and techniques of working with stained glass,” she said.

While Jane’s priorities have not changed in retirement, COVID-19 has recently affected how she pursues her interests. “Masks, social distancing, virtual concerts, webinars and Zoom have brought us safely thus far, and Jim and I are cautiously moving away from restrictions,” Jane said. “I look forward to being back on McKendree’s campus soon! Meanwhile, as members of the William McKendree Society, Jim and I continue to support the University and the difference it makes in the lives of its students and the community.”

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Hats off to the Class of 2022!

High-fives and hugs. Happy tears and heartfelt cheers. Impressive dance moves. The McKendree community came out in full force to celebrate commencement as undergraduates and graduates of all disciplines received their hard-earned diplomas on Friday, May 13. The University conferred a total of 656 degrees, and 114 students graduated with Latin honors.

“In spite of the many challenges, you remained steadfast in your academic journey,” said President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81. “You fill us all with pride.

This class of 2022 will no doubt shape the world we live in and make their mark beyond McKendree.”

Left to Right: Commencement was a family affair for the Deckard triplets - Curtis ’21, MBA ’22, Brandon ’21, MBA ’22, and Andrew ’21, MBA ‘22 – who graduated with their MBA degrees, together.

Anna Gualdoni ’22, had students from the American History and Sociology class at Wesclin High School, where she student taught this spring under Lindsay (Henry) O’Rear ‘05, sign a dress that she wore to commencement.

Debbie Waters, BSN ’08, MSN ’10, DNP ’22 is a proud three-time alumna of McKendree after graduating with a DNP in Ethical Leadership.

409 Bachelor’s Degrees 220 Master’s Degrees 9 Specialist Degrees 13 Doctoral Degrees 5 Associate’s Degrees 14

Kyle Garrett Wins Technos International Prize Kyle Garrett ’22 of Troy, Ill., is this year’s recipient of the Technos International Prize. The award was presented on May 13 during the undergraduate commencement ceremony, where Kyle graduated with a degree in chemistry.

Kyle plans to attend a Ph.D. program in chemistry at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He was also a member of the award-winning McKendree debate team, a participant in McKendree’s Model United Nations program and a coach for Triad High School’s debate team. As a junior, he was awarded the American Chemical Society St. Louis Chapter Outstanding Junior Award. His research involves designing and synthesizing dye compounds for use as lymph channel tracers in breast cancer surgery.

“Kyle easily combines the two criteria of ‘outstanding academic performance’ and a ‘commitment to the cause of international understanding.’ His preparedness, probing questions, and discerning comments are prized in the world of debate,” said Dr. Alan Alewine, associate provost. “Clearly, Kyle’s future is bright. He is a model of an emerging world citizen and worthy of the Technos International Prize.”

In April, the University recognized Kyle for his outstanding academic achievement in chemistry. He is also a member of the Pi Kappa Delta forensics (public speaking and debate) honor society and a student of McKendree University’s Honors Program.

Every graduate has had a special person who, through moral or financial support, made a big difference in his or her life. This year, McKendree graduates had the opportunity to add this special symbol of appreciation to their regalia.

Immediately following commencement, graduates would then take the stole from around his/her neck, and place it around the neck of their personal benefactor in a humble act of thanks.

There were a LOT of Bearcats sporting The Stole of Gratitude on the day of commencement, which just goes to show how important the support of friends and loved ones can be!

Check out all of our commencement photos, and see how many you can spot for yourself right here:

mckendree.edu/commencement

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Sticking With His Path: Meet Dmytro Golovko

by Haley Moody ’22 In the midst of a global pandemic and a declaration of war on his home country, Dmytro Golovko, ’20, MBA ’22 admitted to having a difficult time balancing his many commitments alongside his worries and concerns for his family and friends on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. “I missed my parents a lot,” he said. “But my wife, Kristen, helped me stay on track.”

Dmytro grew up in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, where life in the big city was fast-paced and offered a plethora of opportunities. “Everyone was trying to outperform others, to be the best at something,” he said, fondly reflecting back on his childhood. A memory that is particularly special to him is the time he spent playing for Ukraine National Hockey Project in 8th and 9th grade. “Those two years were the best time. Full of hockey, full of fun,” he said. Dmytro can’t help missing the excitement of a large city; however, he appreciates the comfort and kindness the people of a small town can provide.

Dmytro’s parents, brother, cat, and dog safely evacuated to the United States.

“Unfortunately, my mom’s parents are in Poland, and my dad’s mom is in Kyiv,” he said. “My mom’s parents were unable to enter the United States because they do not have visas to enter. My dad’s mom is too old and unable to take long trips; she is in the care of a nurse that is currently staying with her. Most of my friends are still in Ukraine.”

The desire to pursue his degree, land a good job and stay in the United States motivated Dmytro to finish his education at McKendree University. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in economics and finance with a minor in accounting within three and a half years, Dmytro started pursuing a general MBA. Once the MBA program expanded into four different segments, he chose to focus on the MBA in corporate finance. While exceling in his department, Dmytro was named one of this year’s Outstanding MBA students.

In addition to his studies, Dmytro played on McKendree’s hockey team for a total of six years where his personal growth was enriched by the many connections and opportunities that surrounded him. He also coached skating, power skating, and hockey programs at McKendree’s Metro Rec Plex. “I love hockey,” he said. “This activity helps me relax and get away from day-to-day stress.”

Dmytro, like any other college student, balanced school with extracurriculars and a job among other things but managed to always push through even the most difficult of circumstances. He would like to tell others: “No matter what is happening in your life, you always need to know your path and stick with it.”

Dmytro would also like to say, “Slava Ukraini, Heroiam Slava!” in support of Ukraine. “It’s not an empty journalistic or fanatical glorification of Ukraine as a place on the world map. This is a military call, charged with the power of our ancestors. Therefore, when we say ‘Slava Ukraini,’ we wish Ukraine victory in battle and when we say ‘Heroiam Slava,’ we wish victory to living heroes as glorious participants in the war. Our ancestors went into battle, shouting ‘Glory!’ and turning to the goddess of Glory for help and good luck in battle. In our time, ‘Glory!’ is no longer directly related to the goddess of Glory, but the essence remains. ’Slava Ukraini, Heroiam Slava!’ is a Ukrainian greeting and national slogan of the struggle for independence. It was used in the early twentieth century in various variations. It became widespread among Ukrainians during the Ukrainian Revolution (1918-1921) and became the slogan of Ukrainian nationalists and fighters for Ukraine’s independence.”

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Dr. Jean (Scheller) Sampson ‘83, left, receives the 2022 William Norman Grandy Faculty Award from Ryan Furniss ’00, Alumni Association president, during commencement.

“She creates an easy-going, respectful environment...

She has the Heart of a Bearcat!”

Dr. Alan Alewine Associate Provost

Jean Sampson Wins Grandy Award and UMC Award in One Semester Dr. Jean (Scheller) Sampson ’83, professor of management and marketing, has undoubtedly had a big spring semester this year. She received both the 2022 United Methodist Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award, given by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, and the 2022 William Norman Grandy Faculty Award, given by the Alumni Association.

There’s no doubt that Jean’s passion and commitment to the University and its students has earned her such prestigious accolades – and all in one semester, to boot.

Jean is no stranger to receiving acknowledgment for being an outstanding educator who prepares her students for various roles in the business world. In addition to serving as the chair of the School of Business since 2016, she was the recipient of the Grandy Award in 2014 and the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award in 2012.

Since Jean began teaching at her alma mater in 2005, she has been making a positive impact on the McKendree community. She regularly volunteers, attends campus events that her students are involved in, teaches University 101 to help first-year students get acclimated with college life, takes on new advisees, picks up classes to teach last minute and happily serves on committees and works on projects that aren’t typically within the scope of her daily responsibilities.

Her students know her as caring, friendly, approachable and a professor who champions people with disabilities in the workplace and instills a sense of lifelong learning in her students. Throughout the pandemic, a time in which feeling connected to professors in an online format was difficult for students, Jean went above and beyond to add a personal touch by posting videos, checking in with her students and informing them about what was coming up for the week.

“In each course, no matter how jam-packed with students it is, she creates an easy-going, respectful environment,” said Dr. Alan Alewine, associate provost. “She particularly shines in her business ethics course where she focuses on personal responsibility, inclusivity and good citizenship. She stays positive in her work as chair and creates and maintains a collegial atmosphere, insists upon civility and serves as the ideal anchor for the School of Business. She has the heart of a Bearcat!”

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Stand out from the Crowd with McKendree’s All-New Healthcare Management Degree!

Students wishing to become strong leaders and make a difference in the area of healthcare may now earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Healthcare Management through McKendree University! This all-new degree is designed to fulfill the educational needs for skilled managers in healthcare by providing students the opportunity to apply management skills and strategies unique to the healthcare industry.

Students can tailor their healthcare management degree to their specific interests by choosing elective courses that will benefit their future practice, including psychology, management, business and more. McKendree also offers qualified applicants the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) in five years with an HCM/MHA 4+1 option. Students can earn their bachelor’s degree in up to four years and make a smooth transition enrolling in graduate school full-time and complete their MHA degree in their fifth year.

McKendree Welcomes Stephen Kull as New Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Stephen Kull, a native of Texas, was welcomed into the Bearcat family on May 2 as the University’s new vice president for institutional advancement. An experienced advancement leader in the Midwest and fundraiser for 17 years, Stephen had served as vice president for advancement and chief philanthropy officer at Rockford University in Rockford, Ill., and as associate vice president of advancement at Central Michigan University. He also has higher education advancement experience at Eastern Illinois University, Blackburn College and Concordia Seminary.

“We are so excited to now be offering this degree,” said Dr. Richelle Rennegarbe ’92, director of DNP programs, chair of the Division of Nursing, and professor of nursing. “This program will prepare our future healthcare leaders utilizing an interdisciplinary approach.

Additionally, this versatile degree will help our students stand out as attractive applicants and highly-valued employees.”

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“We are excited to have someone of Stephen’s caliber join our institutional advancement and senior leadership teams.

This was a key search for our institution as we get ready to roll out our next strategic plan, U.N.I.T.E.D.,” said President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81. “Stephen’s wealth of experience in higher education fundraising and strategic plan engagement initiatives will make him a valuable addition to McKendree.”

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Stephen will be responsible for leading the University’s efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit and secure gifts that support its mission and enable the realization of the new strategic plan. Stephen resides in Mascoutah, where his wife, Angela, grew up. Angela attended McKendree and her brother, Michael Collins, graduated in 2007. Stephen and Angela have four children, ages 15, 11 and six-year-old twins.

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#GIVINGTUESDAY

Holman Library’s Renovations Near Completion!

If it’s been a while since you’ve visited Holman Library’s second floor, you’re in for a delightful surprise! The second floor’s renovations are nearing completion and are still trajected to be complete by the end of August, just in time for the 2022-2023 academic year. The books, shelves and furniture that were once housed on the top floor were moved to the basement in the fall 2021 semester. These renovations are a part of McKendree’s FORWARD campaign.

The renovated floor is envisioned as an education and conference center that is rich in up-todate technology. Once completed, the second floor will be amply set up for groups of all kinds to hold meetings and conferences – both in-person and virtually. Instead of one large space, the south side of the second floor is now partitioned off with a wall. The double doors open to a welcoming space that will be ideal for a variety of meetings. The southwest corner, which will house a 169-inch LED screen, a podium with outlets for power and plenty of USB outlets, can be sectioned off with a retractable wall, with collaborative white boards on each of the panels, making it perfect for brainstorming sessions.

The second floor is also outfitted with all-new carpet and will welcome new furniture with chairs in a beautiful deep plum. Additionally, there is all-new LED lighting and the chandelier that hangs above the staircase is now on an electric winch, which will make repositioning (and changing light bulbs) much easier. Finally, the stained-glass area will act as a stunning archive featuring a legacy of leadership, honoring the University’s past presidents.

In short, the top floor of Holman Library is being transformed into a modern conference and learning center with state-of-the-art technology and collaborative tools. These renovations will help the library quickly become one of the very best places on campus for students, faculty and staff to learn and grow. Be sure to check in with the winter 2023 edition of The McKendrean for a full story!

Excellence Doesn’t Stop in the Summer!

Excellence can always be found in the faculty members at McKendree – even in the summer! Our knowledgeable professors are working diligently during these hot months to improve themselves and the content they’ll be teaching in their upcoming classes by partaking in institutions, research and more.

Dr. Darryn Diuguid, professor of education, was recently elected to the American Library Association’s 2024 Caldecott Book Award Committee.

During this period, he and fourteen other committee members will be reading and reviewing more than 1,000 picture books in order to nominate and vote on books for the Randolph Caldecott award. Additionally, Darryn received a National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) fellowship and was selected to attend the NEH Summer Institute for Higher Education faculty conference at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., this June. During this time, Darryn and 24 other attendees learned about the history of books during the American Revolution and enjoyed hands-on experiences in papermaking, typesetting and bookbinding.

In the realm of biology, Dr. Michael Louison, assistant professor of biology, was named a faculty research fellow by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center in Alton, Ill. This summer fellowship included collaborating with staff biologists and researchers to conduct intriguing and important studies on local fish species, with a special focus on the impacts of microplastic pollution on fish behavior and physiology.

As for our professors in the English department, Dr. Martha Patterson and Dr. Jenny Mueller have exciting news! Martha was accepted into the NEH Summer Institute. The three-week, residential institute, Making Modernism: Literature, Dance, and Visual Culture in Chicago, 1893-1955, ran from July 18 to August 5 and explored Chicago’s vital contribution to the modernist movement. Directed by Dr. Liesl Olson of Newberry Library and Dr. Susan Manning of Northwestern University, the summer institute offered an expansive look at creative expression in Chicago across the arts from the turn of the century through the aftermath of the Second World War. Jenny also received writing residency awards for this summer at three nationally-known artist residency programs: Centrum in Port Townsend, Wash.; PLAYA in Summer Lake, Ore.; and Wildacres Retreat Center in Little Switzerland, N.C. She traveled to pursue writing projects in residence at each site during the summer, including her third book of poetry and a researched essay regarding how our diminishing access to the sight of stars affects the reading of poetry. We’re proud of you, faculty members!

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Retirement: A New Chapter in Life

by Haley Moody ’22 McKendree University sends fond farewells to its retiring faculty and staff, who look forward to the next chapter in life after several years of dedicated service. Three retiring faculty members and one retiring staff member received emeritus status: Dr. Timothy Richards, professor of secondary education; Dr. Duane Olson, professor of religious studies; Dr. Jackie (Kemp) Simmons ’88, professor of psychology; and Debbie Larson, assistant dean and registrar. Jackie retired last semester and returned during the retirement reception to receive her emeritus status.

McKendree also honored four more retiring faculty members, including Jeff Brasel ’81, instructor of accounting and finance; Dr. Jan Albers, MSN ’12, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Pam Manning, associate professor of education; and Dr. Allison Fahsl, professor of education and chair of the School of Education.

Deborah (Debbie) Larson Assistant Dean and Registrar, 1998-2022 Debbie Larson became a staff member at McKendree in January 1998 and became registrar in September 2004. She would like to be remembered as someone who put McKendree students first and as someone who advocated for positive change.

As she reflects on her time spent working for the University, she’s glad to have spent 24 years of her life in a place where she could make a difference in people’s lives. She is also proud that with enough creativity and hard work McKendree was able to accomplish so much.

Debbie expects to miss her colleagues the most. “I was privileged to work with wonderful people who were open to new ideas and were willing to work hard to achieve goals,” she said.

In her next stage of life, Debbie looks forward to less stress. She also plans to take some art classes and wants to work hard at getting back into shape again. As for her parting words of wisdom, Debbie shares the following: “Always be open to change; it’s hard but worth it!”

For her loyalty, dedication and extraordinary service to McKendree University, Debbie was granted Emerita Administrator status.

Timothy Richards, Ph.D. Professor of Secondary Education, 1997-2022 Tim has always viewed his role as one where he supports his students, doing everything he can to ensure their success. “I have been fortunate to see many of my former students go on to have wonderful careers in the education profession as teachers, principals and superintendents,” he said. “I am so proud of them and how well they represent McKendree University and the School of Education.”

Tim looked forward to commencement every year because each ceremony allowed a moment for him to reflect on everything his graduating students accomplished in the education program. Besides working with students, Tim will miss his relationships with dedicated faculty whom he had the opportunity to work with on committees, projects and special events.

During retirement, Tim hopes to read history books and do research on topics he has a special interest in. He also plans to travel, play more tennis, work on his model train layout, continue his community service and spend more time with his wife and daughters.

As a parting message, Tim wants to tell McKendree students to make the most of their college years. “So many doors can open for you while you are at McKendree, and you should take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.” Tim was granted Professor Emeritus status, making him a lifetime member of the McKendree community.

Duane Olson, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies, 2002-2022 Duane Olson started teaching at McKendree in the 2000-2001 school year.

He taught the Religious Studies program including majors, minors and general education classes, as well as supervised adjunct faculty. In his 22 years at the University, he taught 29 courses with different titles and content. “I’d like to be remembered as someone who was willing to step forward and do it all,” he said. “It takes a lot of courage to keep stepping out and doing new things. My job required it, and I loved it.”

One of the reasons Duane came to McKendree was to teach small classes with students who were interested in religious studies, and he will miss working in seminar-style classes with those students. “I was consistently pleased with the kinds of questions and inquiries the students asked, no matter their background,” he said. “We came together to analyze and discuss great works in the field.”

Having sung with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus for 18 years, Duane looks forward to continuing to sing with them for as long as his voice will allow. He recently joined the Bach Society of St. Louis, an organization he loves for its leadership and repertoire, and hopes to sing with them for some time as well. In addition to singing, he enjoys green woodworking with hand tools and plans to continue to carve bowls, spoons and other items from various kinds of wood. For his years of service to McKendree, Duane was named Professor Emeritus.

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Two Associate Faculty Members Recognized for Excellence in Teaching Melissa Ray (A), adjunct instructor and staff accompanist, received the 2022 McKendree University Associate Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. Dana Longmeyer (B), associate faculty of nursing, was the recipient of the 2022 McKendree University Associate Graduate Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.

A resident of O’Fallon, Ill., Melissa teaches applied piano lessons and accompanies the University’s Concert and Chamber Choirs and instrumental students for their performances. A member of the music department since 2014, Melissa performs in all choir performances both on and off campus, including on tour with the choirs when they performed in St. Louis, Chicago and Kansas City.

“She is an excellent piano instructor, preparing the music education students for their piano proficiency exams and working with nonmajors as well. In addition, she coaches the students and helps them perform at the highest of their ability,” said Dr. Nancy Ypma, chair of the Division of Visual and Performing Arts and professor of music at McKendree. “She stays on top of what is going on with each student, and her preparation for rehearsals is meticulous. Her influence on our students and program has been enormous.”

A.

B.

Dana has been a valuable associate faculty member for the Division of Nursing since 2021. A resident of Greenfield, Ill., and a full-time professor of nursing at Lewis and Clark Community College, she primarily teaches in the MSN program, particularly in the area of population health. She has also practiced as a family nurse practitioner for 21 years for the Nurse Managed Center at Lewis and Clark Community College and is a member of the American Nurses Association and Illinois Rural Health Association.

“Dr. Longmeyer is enthusiastic and supportive of our graduate students,” said Dr. Richelle Rennegarbe ’92, director of DNP programs, chair of the Division of Nursing, and professor of nursing at McKendree. “She has been a valuable addition as an associate faculty member and has brought her years of experience as a family nurse practitioner in the community setting. Her students frequently comment about how wonderful of an instructor she is and how she makes her classes an insightful and meaningful experience. She is most deserving of this award.”

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Stephani Stark Receives President’s Award for Professional Excellence Stephani Stark, a cooking staff member at Ames Dining Hall at McKendree University, has recently been awarded the President’s Award for Professional Excellence. The winner of this award shines as an ideal example of an ambassador of McKendree University who is respected by the entire campus community. They take on many roles outside of their primary duties and responsibilities and epitomize the One McKendree spirit through their leadership and outstanding service to the University.

A resident of Lebanon, Ill., Stephani was hired on as a cook in Ames in 2011 and quickly made a positive impact on the campus community. She provides a welcoming environment for all students who come to Ames for their meals. She is diligent in identifying students who are hurting, making new students feel welcomed and opening her family and home to the ever-growing number of international students. The long lines outside of the deli area where she works during lunch hours are a testament to how much the students enjoy her meals and her presence.

“Stephani Stark is a well-deserving recipient of this award,” said President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81. “She is a truly excellent example of someone who challenges herself and others to provide outstanding service and support to our students.”

Stephani is involved with the campus community by regularly attending most home athletic events, as well as many fine art events. A well-loved member of the Bearcat community, Stephani was nominated by students to be admitted into Phi Eta Sigma, the First-Year Student Honor Society, for her active role in first-year students’ success for transitioning and finding comfort away from home. Students have regularly commented on her dedication to and unwavering support of the University and its students.

Division of Nursing Receives $70,000 Grant to Aid in Vaccine Confidence Messaging McKendree University’s Division of Nursing is one of only 10 institutions of higher learning in the nation to have recently been awarded a $70,000 grant to participate in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) latest campaign. AACN will be using their recently-awarded $1 million in funding from the CDC to launch their new initiative, Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Among Nurses and in Communities, which will tackle health misinformation while bolstering confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines. As part of this project, AACN awarded funding to 10 schools of nursing nationwide to launch these targeted campaigns. McKendree’s Division of Nursing began implementing this new strategy this spring.

With strong partnerships, including the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) and the Southern Illinois Public Health Consortium, McKendree will be focusing their messaging in particular on rural areas. The University has also teamed up with four local community colleges to implement this strategy.

“We are so proud and fortunate to have been chosen for this opportunity and to have such strong partnerships to help us build vaccine confidence within central and southern Illinois,” said Dr. Janice Albers ’12, retired assistant professor and director of MSN programs at McKendree University.

“This is also a huge benefit to our students because they will gain valuable experience through some of these partnerships in our nursing programs.

It’s truly a win-win situation.”

All four nursing programs at McKendree, including the RN to BSN program, MSN program, DNP program and MHA program, will be participating in this new implementation with a two-fold plan. You can read more about it at mckendree.edu/news/vaccine-confidence-grant.php

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McKendree Hosts UMC Clergy Session of the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference McKendree welcomed hundreds of pastors to campus during the Clergy Session of the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church on June 5 and 6. During the session, clergy voted to receive associate members, elected candidates, and recognized the leadership of those clergy persons moving into retired relationship with the conference. Pictured left are The Reverend Tyson Parks, Sr., pastor of Peoria Bethel United Methodist Church, and The Reverend Dr. Beverly Wilkes-Null, university chaplain.

Antione Watson Shares the Wealth with St. Louis Area Foodbank Junior Antione Watson was one of the 19 randomly selected winners in Sodexo’s “Share the Wealth Sweepstakes” this spring, which gave students across the nation the chance to win one of 19 $500 donations. Antione, who is doublemajoring in business administration and management, chose the St. Louis Area Foodbank as his charity beneficiary because of his connection to the area.

“I spent most of my life living in the St. Louis area. I felt like donating the $500 to the St. Louis Area Foodbank would help the most,” he said. He received a $500 cash prize. Congratulations, Antione!

McKendree Stands with Ukraine through Benefit Concert McKendree University’s Center for Faith and Spirituality, along with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), joined forces to host a benefit concert called “Stand with Ukraine” at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on May 18. The concert featured a lineup of star-studded performers that wowed people of all ages. The benefit raised $10,655. All proceeds from the event were donated directly to Ukraine Relief through the UMCOR.

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McKendree Formally Installs The Reverend Dr. Beverly Wilkes-Null on Founders’ Day On Sunday, Feb. 20, McKendree University celebrated its 194th year during its Founders’ Day celebration at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts. During the event, The Reverend Dr. Beverly L. Wilkes-Null was formally installed as the University’s new chaplain.

Rev. Beverly, the former directing pastor at Highland Hope United Methodist Church in Highland, Ill., joined McKendree in the summer of 2021. The campus community at large formally welcomed her to the community during this celebration, with many speakers already singing her praises. “Rev. Beverly is a wonderful person who would give you the clothing off her back,” said Dr. Joni Bastian, vice president of student affairs, in her words of welcome. “In just a short time, she has made her mark with her love and support of students, faculty and staff.”

President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81 kicked off the installation with a brief overview of the University’s impressive history. “Here at McKendree, we cherish our historical relationship with the United Methodist Church and its tradition of Judeo-Christian ideals. Therefore, we hold in covenant the expectation that our University chaplain will welcome students, faculty and staff from all walks of life to participate in open dialogue, free inquiry and mutual respect,” he said. “We are blessed this year to celebrate this installation and all the good works that come from Rev. Wilkes-Null.” Several leaders of various faiths were also in attendance.

Following the formal installation performed by Mississippi River District Superintendent, The Reverend Allynn Walker, four faith leaders presented interfaith symbols to the newly-installed reverend.

“This day would not be possible without each and every one of you,” Rev. Beverly said to the crowd after accepting her installation. “I thank God for blessing me with this new family; this is my Heaven on Earth – all of you. You have to get excited when a dream becomes a reality and has staying power. In 1828, it wasn’t just a dream but passion to make McKendree a reality so we could be standing here today. Our history, our story – the Bearcat story – is still happening, for there are days ahead of us yet to be revealed.”

The ceremony also included a spirit-filled homily by Bishop Frank Beard of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and songs of praise by members of the Trinity United Methodist Church in East St. Louis.

Concluding the event were songs performed by the McKendree University Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. John McDonald, followed by a reception.

The Reverend Beverly L. Wilkes-Null received a warm welcome into the Bearcat family on Founders’ Day. Pictured from left to right are Dr. Joni Bastian, vice president for student affairs; Dr. Tami Eggleston, provost; Rev. Beverly L. Wilkes-Null, university chaplain; Mickey (Macaluso) Dobbins ’81; and President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81.

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McKendree Community Celebrates Academic Excellence More than 170 students presented their original research, collaborative projects and creative talents at the ninth annual Academic Excellence Celebration (AEC) on Thursday, April 28. The AEC gives friends, family, faculty and staff members a chance to appreciate the scholarly achievement and creativity of students from all disciplines. Sessions featured honors theses, capstone projects and research posters, as well as a student art exhibit, 11 honor society inductions and a performance at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts. junior Taylor Roth

junior Bradley Eston

sophomore Sadie Miyler

Cheers from London!

Dr. Alan Alewine and Dr. Heather Dye, along with first-year Aaron Brown, senior Chloe Gamber and senior Addie Smith, visited London this May. The group visited iconic locations including Kensington Park, Stonehenge, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s, Westminster and even Lacock, the setting for the Harry Potter movies. The trip counted as a cross-cultural requirement for the students.

McKendree Makes Transferring Even Easier for Southern Illinois Transfer Students This spring and summer, McKendree University established dozens of new articulation agreements with several southern Illinois community colleges, including Rend Lake College, John A. Logan College, Kaskaskia College, Lewis and Clark Community College and many more. These agreements enable students in the southern Illinois region to advance their education and careers by ensuring a seamless transfer process to McKendree.

“McKendree University has always taken pride in being a transfer-friendly institution,” said Dr. Melissa Meeker ’93, M.A.Ed. ‘06, dean of Worldwide Programs. “We have a focused effort to expand our agreements with community colleges throughout Illinois and the greater St. Louis region to ease the process for prospective students. We’re so pleased to make these partnerships with these community colleges.”

McKendree University works continually with community colleges throughout the state to develop articulation agreements and four-year transfer plans for students who complete their associate’s degree and go on to earn their bachelor’s degree at the University.

For more information, please visit McKendree’s articulation agreement webpage. mckendree.edu/admission/info/transfer/articulation-transfer-plans.php

Say Hello to McKendree’s newest faculty and academic staff members! Ten individuals were added to the Bearcat family this summer, including:

Dr. Angela Gilbreth, DNP ’22

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Dr. Jay Goble ’92

Lecturer of Education and Director of Graduate Programs in Education

Dr. Jeremy Henson

Assistant Professor of Human Resources

Dr. Robert Itri

Assistant Professor of Sport Management

Dr. Kim Joggerst

Lecturer of Education

Emily Marler

Lecturer of Psychology

Claire Reinert

Research and Instruction Librarian

Dr. Payear Sangiumvibool-Howell Assistant Professor of Accounting

Dr. Danielle Shubert

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Dr. Maureen Wirschell

Scientific Materials Manager

If you see these new Bearcats around campus, be sure to say hello!

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MLK Humanitarian Awards Honor Exceptional Student Leader and Newly-Retired Chaplain Junior Emmanuel Segbedzi from Accra, Ghana, and former chaplain The Reverend Dr. B. Tim Harrison of Lebanon, Ill. were this year’s recipients of McKendree University’s 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Awards. The annual awards celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Reverend Dr. King.

Emmanuel is the president of the Student Government Association (SGA), a UNI 101 peer mentor, a New Student Orientation (NSO) leader, a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and a valued athlete on the Bearcat cross country and track and field teams. He has demonstrated a desire to further social justice issues at McKendree, improve communication through the McKendree App and launch an inter-college allegiance board.

Tim, who served McKendree as its chaplain for 23 years and retired in 2021, received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Humanitarian Award, the first of its kind. At McKendree he brought meaningful spiritual enhancement to campus and supported students individually on their faith journeys. He also led dozens of immersion trips locally and abroad to give students a broader worldview, and he has exhibited great passion in furthering social justice issues and encouraging inclusion and diversity on campus. He has returned to church ministry as the minister of Friedens United Church of Christ in Troy, Ill.

Two Psychology Majors Study in Canada This Summer Juniors Peyton Osgood and Breanna Sampo received a Fulbright-Mitacs internship to conduct research in Canada this summer. The Fulbright-Mitacs Globalink enables about 60 students from the United States to attend a Canadian university in which they will undertake advanced research projects for 10 to 12 weeks in their area of interest under the supervision of a professor.

Peyton conducted research at Ryerson University in downtown Toronto with Dr. Andrew (Hyounsoo) Kim. She conducted a cross-cultural study of loot boxes in video games, exploring the possible relationship between the boxes and problem gambling in non-Western countries. “This study really stuck out to me because I love video games and believe that they have a lot of interesting psychological impacts that have mostly gone untouched,” Peyton said. “This research could have an impact on policies and restrictions on loot boxes in games in non-Western countries where there are currently no regulations.”

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Breanna worked on a research project at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario with Dr. Steve Sider. Her project, titled “School Leadership and Inclusive Education in Canada,” examined how the leadership of Canadian schools incorporates students with special needs into general classes. “This topic is particularly interesting to me because I have a passion for inclusion,” Breanna said.

“I strongly believe everyone has a special place on this earth and we should never exclude those who are different as it creates unnecessary barriers for those who deserve an equal chance in the world.”

A native of Crest Hill, Ill., Peyton will graduate in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in history and clinical and counseling psychology. She is the vice president of both the Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the psychology honors society. A member of Pi Gamma Mu, the international social science honor society, and first-chair French horn player in the McKendree University concert band and wind ensemble, Peyton also serves as a resident assistant in Barnett Hall and as a research assistant to Dr. Guy Boysen, professor of psychology at McKendree.

Breanna, a resident of Cedar Point, Ill., will graduate in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in communications and clinical and counseling psychology. She is the president of the Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the secretary of the Student Government Association, and a member of McKendree’s Academic Excellence Celebration Committee. A psychology tutor and section leader of the McKendree Color Guard, Breanna also serves as a research assistant to Dr. Boysen.

Q & A: JORDON SPENCE // NATIONAL CHAMPION Q: What is your background in powerlifting?

A: I started powerlifting my sophomore year in high school. I also played football, so I hated it at first because of the way your body has to adjust to lifting that much weight. Both sports benefited the other, of course, because conditioning carried over to the weight room and the strength carried over to the field. I come from a small town called Corinth in the state of Mississippi. My high school powerlifting career consisted of me going to North Half my first year (my sophomore year) and then I went to state back-to-back and placed second in both my junior and senior years. When I finished high school, I was recognized as part of the “Super 12” - one of the best lifters by total weight in the whole state of Mississippi. I was unable to bring home a state championship, so when I got an offer to come to McKendree, I set out to bring back a national title. My freshman year before Covid had happened, I was able to compete in two meets - I took first in Shreveport, La., and then I took fifth at Raw Nationals. When it was time for the collegiate nationals to come around, the pandemic had occurred and we were unable to go. At the time, that didn’t stop me from progressing as an athlete because I was determined to bring a national title back to McKendree. During my sophomore year, I came in second place at collegiate nationals.

Q: What motivates you?

A: My motivation would be my autistic eldest brother, Seantavious Barton, because he fights battles that a lot of people will not know about. So every time I hit an obstacle or adversity, I always think of him because he continues to fight and live happily despite his disadvantages and health issues. Another thing that motivates me is my legacy.

Everywhere I go, I want people, my state, and even the country to know who Jordon Spence is. When I am long gone from this earth, I want the world to talk about me still. One of my current goals is to one day be inducted into the McKendree Athletic Hall of Fame, so that is another reason why I push myself day in and day out.

Q: Do you have a pre-lift tradition?

A: My pre-lift tradition would be to kiss my Jesus piece and throw my hand up to the sky to acknowledge the Lord, because without Him, none of this would be possible.

Q: What are your future powerlifting goals?

A: My future goals with powerlifting are to beat some of the best lifters in the world and to go pro within the sport itself. I also would like to inspire people with my story so that they can gain the strength and courage to go out and prove the country wrong. Because even though the sport doesn’t get as much praise as it should, we are phenomenal athletes.

Q: What is your favorite powerlifting memory?

A: My favorite memory with powerlifting would be winning a national

Junior Jordon Spence from Corinth, Miss. won the national championship title in Men’s Raw 125 at the 2022 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals in Lombard, Ill.

title for the men’s team as an individual. I was the smallest in my weight class, and yet I walked away with the championship. I was 244 lbs., squatting almost 700 lbs., benching almost 400 lbs., and deadlifting almost 800 lbs. My time competing here at McKendree has been life-changing, because I have accomplished and opened doors that many won’t get the opportunity to do.

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National Champions Women’s Wrestling For the third consecutive year, the women’s wrestling team won the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling (NCWWC) Championships team title. The team totaled 188 points, 22 more than No. 1 ranked King University, who finished in second place. Fifteen wrestlers competed with twelve earning All-American accolades for their top-five efforts and two winning national championship titles.

No. 1 ranked senior Sydnee Kimber from Sitka, Alaska, won her third straight NCWWC national title at 191lbs. by pinfall. She posted a 4-0 record, with two pinfalls and two technical falls.

Sydnee improved her career record to 75-4 and extended her two-year winning streak to 45. She also took the top prize at the NCWWC Southwest Regional in February, was named the Alaska Athlete of the Week on March 14, and was a finalist for the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Pride of Alaska award.

Second Place • Senior Joye Levendusky (170lb.)

Clarksville, Tenn.

• Senior Kayla Marano (156lb.)

Jefferson, Ga. • Senior Felicity Taylor (116lb.)

Spillville, Iowa • Junior Alara Boyd (143lb.)

Muncie, Ind. • First-year Jaycee Foeller (191lb.)

De Soto, Mo

Third Place • Sophomore Lizette Rodriguez (101lb.)

Fremont, Calif.

Fourth Place • Graduate senior Natalie Reyna (109lb.)

Hesperia, Calif.

• Senior Grace Kristoff (170lb.)

Belleville, Ill. • First-year Skye Realin (136lb.)

Mililani, Hawaii

Fifth Place • First-year Emmily Patneaud (136lb.)

Newark, Calif.

Qualified • Junior Pauline Granados (109lb.)

Rialto, Calif.

• Junior Aliyah Rollins (116lb.)

Granada Hills, Calif.

• Sophomore Caitlyn Thorne (123lb.)

St. Charles, Mo.

Sydnee

KIMBER Sophomore Cameron Guerin from Yakima, Wash., defended her 130lb. crown from 2021 by posting a 4-0 record, with a pinfall and three tech falls. She was awarded the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament. Cameron also won first place at the NCWWC Southwest Regional and was the NWCA Southwest Region’s Women’s Wrestler of the Month in November 2021.

Cameron

GUERIN 28

McKendree entered the national tournament with a second-place team finish at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/NUWAY National Duals and the NCWWC Southwest Regional team title.

Off the mat, eight women’s wrestlers were named NWCA Scholar All-Americans, including Natalie, Felicity, Joye, Aliyah, Cameron, Lizette, Emmily and first-year Hannah Hall from Tampa, Fla. As a team, the Bearcats finished second in the nation with a team GPA of 3.776.

Women’s Bowling The No. 1 women’s bowling team capped off the 2022 season by capturing the program’s second-ever NCAA Collegiate Bowling National Championship title, as the Bearcats downed eighth-ranked Stephen F. Austin, 4-0, in a best-of-seven Baker match play format. The Bearcats, who faced elimination after falling 2-1 in the opening mega-match, responded by winning three straight matches to secure a spot in the championship final. On the year, the Bearcats claimed six NCAA tournament titles, including the GLVC Tournament, NCAA Erie Regional championship titles.

Members of the National Championship squad included graduate student Cassidy Courey from Brooklyn Center, Minn.; fifthyear senior Isabella Correa Sarmiento from Cali, Colombia; seniors Hope Gramly from Prosper, Texas and Britaney Myers from Mechanicsville, N.Y.; juniors Rebecca Hagerman from Loves Park, Ill., Maranda Pattison from Redwood Valley, Calif., and Kayla Smith from Salem, Ill.; sophomores Isabel Allen from Tamworth, England and Keyla Covarrubias from Mexico City, Mexico; and first-year Anna Warkel from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Hope earned multiple national and conference awards in 2022. She was named a repeat NCAA Division II/III Player of the Year, National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Division II Player of the Year, National Collegiate Bowling Championship (NCBC) Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, and GLVC Player of the Year. Hope recorded a 211.8 overall average on the season and in 1,115 total frames, she averaged 21.17 per frame, which was sixth among all NCAA women’s bowlers. In addition, she bowled 31 200-plus traditional games, had five Top 10 individual tournament finishes, and was tied for the top nationally in strike percentage at 55.9 percent on the season.

National & Regional Highlights 73 athletes and 12 teams qualified for Nationals, 3 individuals and 2 teams won national championships, 4 players won major national awards, 52 athletes earned All-American honors, and 69 scholar-athletes were named Academic All-Americans.

Baseball Three baseball players earned regional honors this season. Senior Alex Steinbach from Plainfield, Ill. and sophomore Joseph Copeland from Glen Carbon, Ill. earned spots on the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-Midwest Region second team and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Midwest Region honorable mention team. Senior Corey Price of Bethalto, Ill. was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Midwest Region second team.

Basketball

Hope

GRAMLY

Rebecca

HAGERMAN

Hope, Rebecca and Maranda earned NTCA All-American first team, second team and honorable mentioned nods, respectively. Hope and Rebecca were named to the NTCA AllCentral Region first team and second team, and Hope earned a National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA) All-American second team accolade.

The Bearcats also qualified for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships, after winning the Dayton Sectional. They fell three wins shy after falling to Mount St. Mary’s in their fifth-round match to end their season. Four bowlers competed for the Intercollegiate Singles Championship title, including Hope, Rebecca, Britaney and Anna.

Rebecca won two major academic awards this season. She was named the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 Award for having the highest cumulative GPA of the student-athletes participating in the finals of the 2022 National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championships.

She also was named the GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year for women’s bowling. She carried a season-high 3.87 GPA as a biopsychology major.

Rebecca posted a 210.8 overall average and was tied with Hope for first nationally in strike percentage at 55.9 percent on the season.

In the classroom, the team earned an NTCA AllAcademic team award with a 3.585 cumulative GPA. Fifteen women’s bowlers were named NTCA Academic All-Americans, including Cassidy, Isabella, Hope, Britaney, Rebecca, Maranda, Anna; junior Jessica Crowley from St. Marys, Ga.; sophomores Rhian Dobinson from Farmborough, England, Dominique Donegan from Midlothian, Ill., and Peyton Gonzales from Denver, Colo.; and first-years Sonia Halabi from South Barrington, Ill., Kira Johnson from Perham, Minn., Macy Kasperik from Gillette, Wy., and Lexus Petrich from Boardman, Ohio.

Men’s basketball junior Bryson Bultman from Nashville, Ill. was named to the D2CCA Men’s Basketball All-Midwest Region second team. He was also named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 4 At-Large team. He carries a 3.62 cumulative grade point average in accounting.

Bass Fishing Six Bearcat boats competed at the Major League Fishing College Fishing National Championships at Fort Gibson Lake on March 29-31. Fifth-year senior Nate Doty ’21 from Decatur, Ill. and senior Bailey Bleser from Burlington, Wis. led the Bearcat teams by reeling in 14 fish weighing a total of 39 lbs., 7 oz. and finished third overall. With their third place finish, they earned co-angler spots in the Professional Series Toyota Championship on Nov. 3-5, 2022.

First-years Lane Stephens from St. Louis, Mo. and Kyle Hopping from Lake St. Louis, Mo. finished in 13th place overall. Other Bearcat duos that competed were seniors Tyler Christy from Bolingbrook, Ill. and Trey Schroeder from Crestwood, Mo.; junior Trey Budach from Morris, Ill. and sophomore Colton Hill from Patoka, Ill.; junior Devon Rathbun from Springfield, Mo. and sophomore Harmon Marien from Eagle River, Wis.; and junior Nick Holtgrave from Trenton, Ill. and first-year Jaxson Freeman from Loda, Ill.

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Bass Fishing (cont.)

Women’s Hockey

Five boats competed in the 2022 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Pickwick and Wilson Lakes on May 26-27.

The women’s hockey team earned the No. 8 seed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division I Women’s Hockey National Championships before falling to the University of Massachusetts in the second round.

The team finished in 7th place, with Bailey and Harmon leading the way with a 28th place finish.

Trey Schroeder and Tyler; Lane and sophomore Colsyn Head from Poland, Ind.; senior Alec Berens from Channahon, Ill. and graduate student Joseph Bruener from Douglas, Texas; and first-years Jack Stephens from St. Louis, Mo. and Maxwell Trotter from Decatur, Ill., also competed. The Bearcats ended the tournament and season in third place in the national School of the Year Standings.

Seven Bearcats were named to the ACHA Academic All-American team, including seniors Brittany Koch from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. and Naomi Leasck from St. Louis, Mo.; juniors Quinn Atchison from Victoria, British Columbia, Juliana Davis from Onanole, Manitoba, Madison Puffalt from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and Camryn Scully from Prince George, British Columbia; and first-year Larissa Gorgevska-Sharpe from West Palm Beach, Fla.

Men’s Bowling

Lacrosse

The men’s bowling team punched its ticket to the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships after winning the Dayton Sectional Qualifier of the USBC Regionals. Junior Seth Gass from Dix, Ill. was the lone men’s bowler to qualify for the Intercollegiate Singles Championships; however, he fell in the quarterfinal round.

Junior Jorge Rodriguez from Yauco, Puerto Rico earned a NCBCA All-American honorable mention team nod.

Junior attackers Kat Albrecht from Louisville, Ky. and Sydney Tiemann from Eureka, Mo. were named as Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Midwest Region second team selections.

Cheerleading & Dance The cheerleading team finished fifth in the AllGirl division and 12th in the Coed Division at the National Cheerleaders Association College Nationals in April in Daytona Beach, Fla. The competitive dance team finished ninth for team routine at the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Competition.

Powerlifting The men’s powerlifting team finished in fifth place at the 2022 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals in Lombard, Ill. The women’s team competed for the first time as a team and had three women finish in the Top 10.

Fifteen powerlifters competed in the national championships with junior Jordon Spence from Corinth, Miss. leading the way with his first national championship title in Men’s Raw 125.

He was joined in the top ten by junior Kolby Pierce from Ionia, Mich. (4th place in Men’s Raw 56), sophomore Kailee Carr from St. Peters, Mo. (9th place in Women’s Raw 56), and first-years Jake Waltzer from Elkton, Md. (8th place in Men’s Raw 75), Isabelle Rivera from Lake in the Hills, Ill. (5th place in Women’s Raw 60), and Zariah Valentine from Monroe, La. (4th place in Women’s Raw 48).

Other national qualifiers included graduate student Daniel Filipek from Warrenton, Mo., senior Atticus Harris from Sullivan, Ill., junior Jared Trantina from Sibley, Ill., sophomores Dominique Donegan from Midlothian, Ill. and Maurice Mendenhall from Mahomet, Ill. and first-years Marissa Barauskas from Bolingbrook, Ill., Cadin Colehour from Lanark, Ill., Maxon Karnes from Edwardsville, Ill., and Shanyn Simmerman from Clinton, Mo.

Softball Junior Olivia Stansbury from Lafayette, Ind. was named the 2022 NCAA Division II Softball Statistical Champion for slugging percentage.

She recorded a school record and NCAA Division II best slugging percentage of 1.052.

Olivia was named the D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year and the GLVC Softball Player of the Year.

A finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player & Pitcher of the Year, she also earned CoSIDA D2CAA All-America and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America first team honors, and D2CCA and NFCA All-Midwest Region first team accolades.

Golf Ranked fourth in the nation for NCAA Division II Midwest, the men’s team finished seventh at the NCAA II Central/Midwest Regional and fourth at the GLVC Championships.

First-year Fabian Wennerlof of Onsala, Sweden was named the GLVC Freshman Men’s Golfer of the Year.

He averaged a 73.74 on the season in 22 rounds and 11 events. He was tied for second on the team with nine rounds of par or better golf and recorded team-best 36 and 54-hole scores. He captured three individual medalist honors and had two other Top 5 finishes.

The women’s golf team finished 14th at the NCAA II Central/Midwest Regional and sixth at the GLVC Championships.

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Fabian

WENNERLOF

Olivia

STANSBURY

Swimming & Diving Graduate student men’s swimmer Xander Skinner from Namibia, Africa headlined the 2021-22 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II Men’s At-Large Team by being named Team Member of the Year, the first student-athlete in McKendree’s history. He was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 At-Large first team. The 21-time NCAA Division II All-American graduated in May with his MBA and carried a 3.88 cumulative GPA in graduate school and a 3.86 GPA as an undergraduate, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and sport performance in 2021.

Xander

SKINNER

Tennis The men’s tennis team finished the season ranked No. 22 in the ITA Division II Collegiate Tennis Rankings and No. 3 in the ITA Midwest Regional Rankings. The team made history by winning its first-ever GLVC Championship by beating No. 12 ranked UIndy 5-4 in the finals.

The team advanced to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament for the second time in school history and won its first ever NCAA Tournament match to advance to the round of 32, where they fell to UIndy in the finals 4-0. Junior Leonardo Frederico Schmitz from TijucasSanta Cantrina, Brazil was named to both the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II Men’s

Leonardo

FREDERICO SCHMITZ

At the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships, the men’s team took home fourth place honors for the second consecutive season and the women’s team scored a program-best 56 points. The Bearcats had nine individual and five relay All-American finishes.

Sophomore Regan Gubera from Jamestown, Ind. became the first two-time All-American in women’s swimming & diving in school history by finishing in fifth place in 3-meter diving and sixth place in 1-meter diving. Highlights for the men’s team included runner-up finishes in the 200 butterfly by first-year Jackson Lustig from Milwaukee, Wis.; 400 medley relay by Xander, senior Gregg Lichinsky from West Des Moines, Iowa, junior DaVante Carey from Nassau, Bahamas, and sophomore Filipe Pinherio from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and 800 freestyle relay by Xander and first-years Leo GandariaHernandez from Milwaukee, Wis., Arthur Souza from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and Alireza Yavari from Isfahan, Iran.

Additional All-American finishers included Gregg (third in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 100 freestyle); Xander (fourth in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 100 freestyle); Filipe (fifth in the 200 breaststroke); Alireza (sixth in the 200 freestyle); Gregg, Xander, Alireza and first-year Emilio

At-Large Team and CoSIDA All-District 4 At-Large Team as first team selections. He carried a 3.94 cumulative grade point average in economic & finance and sport management. He was also named the GLVC Men’s Tennis GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year and Player of the Year. He posted a 20-4 overall record as the Bearcats’ No. 1 player in the lineup.

He ended the season winning 12 straight matches and was also ranked 53rd overall nationally by the ITA and second in the Midwest Region. In addition to his prowess in singles, he posted a 18-7 record in doubles on the year as partnered with No. 39 nationally ranked graduate student Boriss Kamdem from Ghent, Belgium at the No. 1 doubles spot. Leonardo and Boriss ended the season ranked 25th overall nationally by the ITA. Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams were named 2021-22 NCAA Division II ITA All-Academic Teams with 3.281 and 3.475 cumulative GPAs, respectively. Along with earning All-Academic Team accolades, 14 players were named NCAA Division II ITA Scholar-Athletes, including Leonardo, Boriss; juniors Mariana Caicedo Mora from Cucuta, Colombia, Viola Cipriani from Arezzo, Italy, Ryan Fung from Miami, Fla., and Anna Marison from Belleville, Ill.; sophomores Garrett Brunner from Pontiac, Ill., Griffin Brunner from Pontiac, Ill., Rhyan Cook from Pickerington, Ohio, Nanase Ebisu from Osaka, Japan, Bailey Grigg from Marine, Ill.,

Perez from Milwaukee, Wis. (third in the 400 freestyle relay); Gregg, Xander, Emilio and junior Caleb Law from Anchorage, Alaska (fourth in the 200 freestyle relay); and Gregg, DaVante, Filipe and Caleb (fifth in the 200 medley relay).

Eight individuals and three relay teams earned honorable mention All-American honors for finishing in 9th-16th place. Other Bearcats who competed at nationals included seniors Lilia de Oliveira Pelaez from Ile Perrot, Quebec, Hallie Dixon from Jeffersonville, Ind., Noah Javens from West Lafayette, Ind., Ethan Larson from Anchorage, Alaska, and Abigail Rumpp from Knoxville, Tenn.; juniors Grace Credit from La Grange Highlands, Ill. and Andrea MenardCordoba from Montreal, Quebec; sophomore Alexis Kachkin from Glenview, Ill.; and first-years Aurora Abbruscato from Reggio Emilia, Italy, Patryk Rozenek from Radlin, Poland and Karley Sonnenberg from Plainfield, Ill. Both the men’s and women’s teams earned Scholar All-America honors from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America. The women’s team had a cumulative 3.46 GPA and the men had a 3.26 GPA during the spring semester.

Emily Kettering from Bloomington, Ill., Julappagari Anurag Reddy from Dubai, UAE and Maria Vitoria Salomao from Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Track & Field Sophomore sprinter Malachi Carroll from Omaha, Neb. was named to the All-Midwest Region team by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Men’s Volleyball The men’s volleyball team closed out the season with a 14-11 overall record and were ranked in the Top 15 of the AVCA Coaches’ Poll for a total of six weeks. Graduate student Patrick Ross from Anthem, Ariz. was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honorable mention team.

The men and women’s volleyball teams were recognized by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) with a USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2021-22 school year.

Both teams also earned Team Academic Honor Roll accolades for being in the Top 20 percent of team GPAs from each division. The men’s team, with a 3.39 GPA, was the only Division II school recognized. The women’s team, with a 3.64 GPA, was one of 29 NCAA Division II schools to be selected.

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Women’s Water Polo

International Highlights

Six women’s water polo players earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Academic All-American honors, including graduate student Jaleh Moaddeli from Newport Beach, Calif., seniors Maddy Bolton from Alta Loma, Calif. and Abigail Burton from Chino, Calif., sophomore Kaitlyn Kasper from Thomasville, Ga., and first-years Sofia Dominguez from Long Beach, Calif., and Sydney Kane from Bradley, Ill.

Men’s Wrestling Six wrestlers competed at the NCAA National Championship, including Ian, graduate senior Daniel Filipek (184lb.) from Warrenton, Mo., junior Joshua Jones (174lb.) from Chicago Heights, Ill., redshirt sophomore Christian Mejia (125lb.) from Elkhart, Ind., redshirt first-years Ian Kuehl from Lena, Ill. and Cory Peterson (165lb.) from Valmeyer, Ill., and first-year Brody Norman (141lb.) from Washington, Ill. Cory finished third in the 165lb. class and Daniel finished fourth in the 184lb. class to both take home All-American honors.

Ian was named the GLVC Wrestler of the Year after finishing the season with a 15-1 conference record at 285lb. Ian collected a total of three wins by fall, one via tech fall, and 10 via decision. He helped lead the men’s wrestling team to a fifth place finish at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals, ninth place at the NCAA Division II National Championships and the GLVC Championship title for the fourth time in five years.

Five men’s wrestlers earned NWCA Scholar All-American nods, including graduate senior Vincenzo Scaletta from Harwood Heights, Ill.; sophomore Logan Kvien from Mundelein, Ill.; redshirt first-year Ryan Haynes from Pekin, Ill.; and first-years Zane Phillips from Pittsfield, Ill., and Noah Villarreal from Plano, Ill.

James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Awards Graduate student men’s golfer Will Postlethwaite from Carlisle, England and junior women’s bowler Rebecca Hagerman from Loves Park, Ill., were named the University’s overall recipients of the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Individual Awards. Each school chooses one overall male and female winner for the Individual Sportsmanship Award from a group of honorees named by the coach of each sport during the season.

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Graduate student Gregg Lichinsky from West Des Moines, Iowa, competed on the U.S. Open Swimming Team at the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel from July 12-26. He joined 20 other U.S. swimmers and more than 10,000 other Jewish athletes from 85 countries in the quadrennial event, which is the third largest international athletics competition in the world. The 22-time NCAA Division II All-American earned a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle, with a career best time of 50.28, and swam the second leg on Team USA’s gold medal winning 4 x 50 freestyle relay that recorded a time of 1:33.38. Along with his two gold medals, Gregg also earned seven silver medals in the 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter freestyle, 4 x 100 freestyle relay, 4 x 50 mixed freestyle relay, 4 x 100 mixed freestyle relay, 4 x 50 medley relay, and 4 x 100 medley relay.

Gregg

LICHINSKY Five additional swimmers also qualified for international competitions this summer, including senior Davante Carey from the Bahamas; Xander Skinner ’21, MBA ’22 from Namibia; and incoming first-year Olivia Fuller from Antigua, who all competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from July 28-Aug. 8. Sophomore Alireza Yavari from Iran will compete at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey from Aug. 9-18. Incoming first-year Keianna Moss from the Bahamas will compete at World Juniors in Lima, Peru from Aug. 30-Sept. 4.

Two women’s wrestlers, senior Alara Boyd from Muncie, Ind. and junior Cameron Guerin from Yakima, Wash. competed for Team USA at the 2022 Pan-American Championships from May 5-8 in Acapulco, Mexico.

Cameron finished in fifth place at 57kb.

Three bowlers competed at the International Bowling Federation U21 World Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden in June. Juniors Isabel Allen from Tamworth, England and Rhian Dobinson from Farnborough, England, were selected to participate on Youth Team England. Junior Nicholas Blagojevic from Brighten, Ontario qualifed for Canada’s Junior National Team after winning gold at the Canadian Ten Pin Federation Team Trials and being awarded the 2021 Canadian Junior Bowler of the Year.

Junior bowler Jeremy Kinealy from St. Louis, Mo., earned an automatic qualification spot on the 2023 Junior Team USA after finishing in second at qualifying at the 2022 Junior Gold Championships in July.

All-Conference Academics 12 Squads earned Team Academic All-GLVC honors, including baseball, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, women’s track and field, and women’s volleyball.

46 Bearcat seniors received the GLVC Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award for maintaining at least a 3.5 gradepoint average throughout their academic career. Senior women’s swimmer Hallie Dixon from Jeffersonville, Ind. received a perfect 4.0 GPA over all four years.

33 Athletes received the GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award for achieving a 4.0 GPA during the academic year.

320 Bearcats were named to Academic All-Conference squads. The Bearcats had a total of 307 Academic All-GLVC honorees. Thirteen men’s volleyball players also earned All-MIVA academic honors.

ICYMI | Athletic Staff News

GLVC All-Sports Trophy For the second consecutive school year, McKendree finished fifth overall in the GLVC All-Sports Trophy standings. The Bearcats totaled 140.5 points during the 2021-22 school year. mckbearcats.com/news/2022/5/17/baseball-mckendree-athletics-places-fifthin-glvc-all-sports-trophy.aspx

GLVC Commissioners Cup McKendree finished ninth in the 2021-22 GLVC Commissioner’s Cup, scoring 52 points this year in the league’s core sports. mckbearcats.com/news/2022/5/18/general-mckendree-athletics-finishesninth-in-2021-22-glvc-commissioners-cup.aspx

NCAA Learfield Cup McKendree tied for its best finish in the final 2021-22 LEARFIELD NCAA Division II Directors’ Cup with a 29th placement. The Bearcats tallied the most points (436.50) since joining the D-II ranks in 2013. mckbearcats.com/news/2022/6/16/general-mckendree-ties-for-highestfinish-ever-in-final-learfield-division-ii-directors-cup-standings.aspx

Hailie Sample-Erlinger was promoted to assistant athletic director and senior woman administrator.

Coach of the Year

mckbearcats.com/news/2022/3/28/general-mckendree-athletics-promoteshailie-sample-erlinger-to-assistant-ad-and-senior-woman-administrator.aspx

Head Women’s Bowling Coach Shannon O’Keefe made history in receiving her seventh consecutive NCAA Division II Women’s Bowling Coach of the Year award. She also won her third PWBA Player of the Year Title, her 15th PWBA title at the Twin Cities Open, and a gold medal in singles and a silver medal in doubles at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Ala.

Tyler Aulbur is the new director of athletic performance. mckbearcats.com/staff-directory/tyler-aulbur/1477

Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Jim Kisgen was named the 2022 GLVC Coach of the Year after his program won its fourth GLVC title in five seasons.

Alexio Garcia is the new head women’s wrestling coach.

Head Men’s Tennis Coach René Vidal was named the 2022 GLVC Coach of the Year after leading the team to its first-ever program GLVC championship title.

mckbearcats.com/news/2022/5/26/garcia-named-head-coach-of-womenswrestling.aspx

CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award Brydon Groves-Scott is the new head men’s and women’s cross country coach and assistant men’s and women’s track & field coach. mckbearcats.com/news/2022/1/28/mens-cross-country-mckendree-namesbrydon-groves-scott-as-head-cross-country-coach-and-assistant-track-fieldcoach.aspx

Zach Mittman ’21 is the new competitive cheerleading head coach. mckbearcats.com/news/2022/8/8/mittman-named-new-competitivecheerleading-coach.aspx

Natalie Simpson is the new head lacrosse coach. mckbearcats.com/news/2022/7/6/simpson-tabbed-to-head-up-womenslacrosse-program.aspx

Bob Vollmer is the inaugural head coach of the women’s beach volleyball program and the JV head women’s volleyball coach. mckbearcats.com/news/2022/1/19/bob-vollmer-named-inaugural-beachvolleyball-coach.aspx

mckbearcats.com/news/2022/7/20/general-cummings-honoredwith-cosida-lifetime-achievement-award.aspx Pictured Above: Former Sports Information Director Scott Cummings was awarded a CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award on June 27 at the 2022 CoSIDA Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. In attendance to accept on his behalf were three of his former assistants: Chris Mitchell ’99, manager of district communications at Granite City School District; Brian Lovellette ’00, associate commissioner at the St Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; and Austin Lagesse ’17, assistant sports information director at Bethel University.

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From the Alumni Director Greetings, McKendree Alumni and Friends, Congratulations to the Class of 2022! Remember that life at McKendree University doesn’t end when you graduate; it only continues to grow and thrive. You are now part of a distinguished network of 21,000 alumni.

As the Director of Alumni Relations, I am working continuously to promote events and activities that will strengthen the relationship among our alumni, as well as provide a good infrastructure that will continue to nurture, support and engage all alumni with the University.

I am pleased to announce a few of our upcoming events that I hope will be of interest to you. We will have Alumni Day with the St. Louis Blues hockey team, a football alumni tailgate party and most importantly, our Homecoming Reunion Weekend, which will be held on October 28-30, 2022. I encourage you to monitor our social media pages and the Bearcat Buzz for specific dates and times.

As always, I strongly encourage you to keep in touch with the Office of Alumni Relations. Update us on your personal and professional lives-whether you moved, changed jobs, got married or experienced any other significant life change.

Please send us an email or call – we’d love to hear from you!

SAVE THE DATE

HOMECOMING WEEKEND October 28-30, 2022 With Special Performance by:

Warmest regards,

Brandi Brown-Harris, M.A. ’10 For questions or more information, contact: The Office of Development, Alumni & Parent Relations alumni@mckendree.edu | 618-537-6826

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Jim Forrler ’65

Nothing speaks more highly of a university than alumni, friends and patrons who enthusiastically serve and support it. McKendree University and its Alumni Association offer a variety of ways to reconnect, serve and give back. In this issue, we highlight the accomplishments of Jim Forrler ’65, who has enthusiastically given his time, talent and treasure to McKendree University.

Jim has been true to his alma mater by supporting both the science building project, the library renovation and other areas of the FORWARD campaign. However, what he enjoys most is donating his time and resources to McKendree University, specifically athletics.

Jim has a strong passion for the sport of tennis and commits to giving back with his time on an annual basis. For five years, he served as a volunteer coach. He attended practices and also traveled with the team to regional tennis matches.

While he no longer coaches, he remains active in participating in practices and games and assisting the current coaching staff.

Moreover, he has a particular affinity for the international studentathletes in the tennis program. He serves as a mentor to the students who may have difficulty acclimating to the campus community, managing their time between tennis and academics and overall acting as a support system they need while being an international student at McKendree.

Jim received his degree in English from McKendree in 1965. He is a retired teacher from Belleville School District 118. “I am always pleased to help my alma mater in any way I can and I encourage all alumni to share their time, talent and treasures in whatever ways they are able,” Jim said. “McKendree is a great school and I enjoy seeing the students learn in so many different ways. It is so important to bring varying backgrounds to the University in order to gain a broader outlook of the world. My interest in tennis and working with the international students in this program has helped both of us to learn about each other. As a retired educator, it is critical that we gain this knowledge in order to have a clearer global perspective.”

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Class 1966 Kay Gauble received the Pacesetter’s Award on May 2 from the University City School District for a decade’s worth of love, support, time, yarn and thoughtfulness for Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School.

1986

2002

Connie (Holzinger) Elmore was inducted as an honorary member into McKendree’s Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. A family affair, she joined her sons Zach ’21 and Kyle ’23, who was installed as a student vice president, as a member of Chapter 292.

Jason Clay was named the Illinois High School Association/National Federation of State High School Associations Wrestling Coach of the Year and the Illinois nominee for the National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholastic Coach of the Year.

Under his leadership as head wresting coach at Vandalia High School, the team captured the school’s 27th consecutive regional title and advanced to the dual team finals for the 22nd time.

1980

Lt. Col. Matthew Ketchie was promoted to the deputy commander, 3rd Operations Group for the United States Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska.

Kevin Miller is the director of charitable and planned giving at the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Belleville, Ill.

1983 Susan Elmore retired from teaching at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Ill., after 37 years of service.

1984 Frank Evans retired from Mascoutah High School in Mascoutah, Ill., after 23 years of teaching science.

1985 The Reverend Michael Clark and The Reverend Dante Anglin ’19 were both ordained into the Sacred Order of Deacons on March 29 at Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Springfield, Ill.

1987 Jeffrey Junker retired as assistant principal from Mascoutah High School in Mascoutah, Ill., after 32 years of service.

1990 Lori Taylor retired as principal from Union Elementary School in Belleville, Ill., after 34 years of service.

1994 Maj. Gen. Brad Pyburn was named chief of staff at U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md.

2003 Eric Echelbarger, M.A.Ed. ’07 was named the 2022 River States Conference (RSC) men’s basketball coach of the year. He led the Indiana University Kokomo men’s basketball squad to the RSC conference and tournament championships and an NAIA men’s basketball sweet sixteen appearance.

Facundo Oyenard is the founder, owner and an insurance broker with Azteca Insurance LLC in Fenton, Mo. He was recently elected to the legal board of directors of Midwest BankCentre.

1995 Andrew Johnson is the superintendent of Effingham Unit 40 School District in Effingham, Ill. Jennifer (Bathon) Olson is the director of business development at The City of Marion in Marion, Ill. Clayton Thornhill is the vice president of HR strategic business partner at Mercy Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo.

1998 Chad Mills is the athletic director at Farmington High School in Farmington, Mo. Julie Tedford retired from teaching at Freeburg Community High School in Freeburg, Ill., after 16 years of service.

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2000 Justin Townsend is the athletic director at Fairfield High School in Fairfield, Ill. He also serves as the head football and boys’ track and field coach.

2004 Jackie Harlin was named the 2022 Illinois Elementary School Association Class 7AAAA/ Region 19 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. She is the head girls’ basketball coach at Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville, Ill., and led the team to a third place finish in the state tournament.

Clint Koerkenmeier was named Kaskaskia College’s 2022 Alumnus of the Year. He is the associate nursing officer at VanderbiltIngram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Drew Gericke, M.A.Ed. ’09 was recognized as the 2021 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A Coach of the Year. He is the head baseball coach at Freeburg High School in Freeburg, Ill., and led the team to the state championship title in 2021.

Brian Welzbacher wrote and published a book, “Oklahoma Beer: A Handcrafted History,” which was released on Jan. 10, 2022.

2008

2010

Erin Conner joined the law firm of Kuehn, Beasley & Young, PC in Belleville, Ill.

Stephen Kozusek, M.A.Ed. is the head football coach at Nashville High School in Nashville, Ill. He led the team to a runner-up finish in the 2022 IHSA Class 2A Football State Tournament.

Andrea Fohne was appointed as Ward 3 Alderman in O’Fallon, Ill. She works as a paralegal at SMMW Law in St. Louis, Mo. Angelique Hamilton, MAT is the district director of curriculum and innovation for the Riverton School District in Riverton, Ill. Ashley (Garland) Simpson is the open access/intake coordinator and grants project investigator for ComWell in Randolph County, Ill. Martha Weld, M.A.Ed. retired as assistant superintendent from O’Fallon High School in O’Fallon, Ill. Julius Williams, MBA ’11 was promoted to chief, national security space launch integration at United States Space Force in Los Angeles, Calif.

2007 Jonathan “Skip” Birdsong, Ed.S. ’15 is the head coach of the boys’ soccer team at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Ill. He led the Crusaders to a runner-up finish in the 2021 IHSA Class 1A Boys’ Soccer State Championships.

Adam Clapp is superintendent of Monticello School District in Monticello, Ill. Amanda Ennen, DNP ’21 is the interim CEO and president at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, Ill. Katie Hubbard is the founder and CEO of Mission 111, a non-profit that serves people in Haiti and the Philippines.

Nick Knolhoff was named the 2022 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A Girls’ Basketball Co-Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive year. He is the head girls’ basketball coach at O’Fallon High School in O’Fallon, Ill. Becky Mueth, M.A.Ed. ’13 is the head softball coach at Freeburg High School in Freeburg, Ill. She led the team to a runner-up finish at the 2022 IHSA Class 2A Softball State Tournament.

Brandon Woodrome, M.A.Ed. is assistant superintendent for Mascoutah School District in Mascoutah, Ill. Paul Zinck, MBA ’10 is the vice president for finance and administration at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis.

2009 Jeffery Alt, MS was awarded a 2022 “Those Who Excel” Meritorious Service Award from the Illinois State Board of Education. He is the director of instruction and technology at Freeburg Community High School in Freeburg, Ill. Theresa Schmidt graduated from John Carroll University with her M.A. in clinical mental health counseling with a substance abuse disorders concentration in December 2021.

She was certified as a licensed professional counselor in Ohio in January and accepted a position as an outpatient therapist at Child Guidance & Family Solutions.

Bethany (Hinkle) McQuiston was named the 2022 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 2A Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year.

She is the head girls’ basketball coach at Freeburg High School in Freeburg, Ill. Adam Schwind is an interventionist at Central Junior High in Belleville, Ill. Stephanie Thomas and Dr. Maggie Rahmoeller, both mathematics alumni, spoke to math majors during the “Continue Your Story Career Series” on March 8. The topic of discussion was graduate school.

2011 Michele Quirin, M.A.Ed. retired from teaching at Cahokia High School in Cahokia, Ill., after 34 years of service.

Patrick Weathers, M.A.Ed. ’20 was named the 2022 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association 2A Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. The head boys’ basketball coach at Nashville High School, he along with his father and assistant coach Brad Weathers ’76, led the team to its first IHSA Class 2A State Championship since 1978. In July, Patrick became principal at New Baden Elementary School in New Baden, Ill.

2012 Priscilla (McCowan) Duenkel M.A.Ed. is the campus dean of the Blount County campus at Pellissippi State Community College.

Joe Mark, MBA was appointed as the chair of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s Friends Advisory Board. He is the vice president-relationship manager team leader at Enterprise Bank & Trust.

Tierney (McKay) Moore was named the 2022 Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association Class M Junior High Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. She is the head girls’ basketball coach at Nashville Middle School in Nashville, Ill., and led the team to a third place finish in the state tournament.

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Jaime Pamatot, M.A.Ed. was named the 202122 Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association (IHSSBCA) Tom Durbin Class AA Coach of the Year. She is a science teacher and scholar bowl advisor at Granite City High School in Granite City, Ill.

Grace Fisher placed as a semifinalist in Premiere Opera Foundation’s International Vocal Competition in New York City. She also sang in Winter Opera St. Louis’ Madame Butterfly, where she debuted her role as the Cousin.

Adam (AJ) Johnson was the featured cover story in the May 2022 issue of Bowlers Journal International. The Team USA member and professional bowler made it to the semifinals of the KIA PBA Playoffs Final Four. On May 29, he also won the PBA Celeste Walker Midwest/ Central Open.

Alyssa Spano and Patrick Hollywood celebrated their delayed wedding reception on their second anniversary on Oct. 1, 2021. She is the assistant director of student transition and leadership at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

Elizabeth Gentry is the vice president of business development, access solutions at OptimizeRx.

Jay Smith, Ed.D. is the superintendent of St. George School District 258 in Kankakee, Ill.

Holly (Weathers) Sallee, MBA ’18 is the executive director of the Kaskaskia College Foundation in Centralia, Ill.

2014 Caleb Batson was named the 2022 Illinois Elementary School Association Class 7AAA Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. He is the seventh and eighth grade girls’ basketball coach at Abingdon-Avon Middle School in Abingdon, Ill. Ashlyn Beasley, MBA ’16 is the communications and events coordinator at the Bank of Springfield in Springfield, Ill.

2013

Caitlyn Westfall is the director of membership education for Zeta Psi International Fraternity.

Jonathan Becker is the head athletic trainer for the Hudson Valley Renegades, a minor league baseball team in the New York Yankees system.

2015

Matt Bettlach was named the Illinois High School Association/National Federation of State High School Associations Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year. The head girls’ soccer coach at Triad High School, he led the Knights to back-to-back Class 2A girls’ soccer state championship titles in 2021 and 2022.

Sarah Jackson won the University of South Carolina’s Rhude M. Patterson Fellowship Award. The $5,000 award is given each year to a female graduate student in the humanities or social sciences who has exhibited excellence in her field. She is pursuing a doctor of philosophy degree in geography.

Brandi (Branka) Kordelweski was named the 2021-22 GLVC Women’s Bowling Coach of the Year. She is the head coach at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. Matt Ernst is a principal SWE manager for network cloud in azure for operators at Microsoft in St. Louis, Mo.

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Nicole (Alwan) Bohnker was promoted to clinical research manager at the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine in Peoria, Ill. Lauren (Putbrese) Carro, MBA ’21 is the diversity, equity and inclusion manager and senior guest relations manager with the St. Louis Blues.

Caty (Ponce) Happe was named the 2022 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A/Region 19 Girls’ High School Basketball Coach of the Year. She is the head girls’ basketball coach at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Ill. Evonne Huelsmann ’15 and Kyle Jacob were married on June 5, 2021.

2016 Ronald Atkinson, M.A.Ed. is the director of the center for fraternity and sorority life at the University of North Texas.

Matt Dannaman, M.A.Ed. is the superintendent of Effingham Unit 40 School District in Effingham, Ill.

2017 David Franklin, MAT ’22 was named the McKendree School of Education Outstanding Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education student for 2021-2022.

AJ Wentland signed with the Leipzig Kings of the European League of Football. The AllEurope linebacker spent the 2021 season with Germany’s Dresden Monarchs and Austria’s Swarco Raiders and the 2020 season with Finland’s Kuopio Steelers, helping all three teams win their national titles.

2018 Mollie Bowman graduated with her law degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.

2019 Sara Kalkenova, M.A. ’22 works at Counseling Associates, Ltd. In St. Louis, Mo. Amy Marley, MSN ’22 was named a McKendree School of Nursing Outstanding Master of Science in Nursing student for 2021-2022.

Morgan Melchert graduated with a master’s degree in sports management and administration from Ball State University in May 2022. After graduating from McKendree, she worked as an intern at GLVC Headquarters and is now an intern at NCAA Headquarters.

Jordan Morton graduated with a law degree from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan.

Kayla Douglas is the director of IT-security engineering at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, Mo.

Lauren Pate, M.A. ’22 won the Illinois Queen’s Bowling Championship in April. The professional bowler and Team USA member also finished 6th at the PWBA BowlTV Classic in June.

Brandon Hampton was named the McKendree School of Business Outstanding Master of Business Administration student for 20212022.

Collin Smith bowled a perfect 300 game at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in June.

Justin Smock graduated with a master’s degree in public history from the University of Illinois-Springfield. He is a conservation education representative at the Cahokia Mounds World Heritage Site.

2020 Shayli Florine graduated with her master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from the University of Iowa. She is a community director at Michigan State.

Dmytro Golovko, MBA ’22 was named a McKendree School of Business Outstanding MBA student for 2021-2022. He is a product and relationship associate at Stifel Financial Advisors in St. Louis, Mo. Jenny Homann is a third grade teacher at Red Bud Elementary School in Red Bud, Ill.

2021 Breanna Clemmer captured her first career Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour title at the 2022 St. PetersburgClearwater Open on June 5. In the second block of the quarterfinals, she finished with a 1,595 six-game total, which included a four-game run of 289, 300, 300 and 279. The final three games of the block broke the PWBA Tour record for highest three-game set at 879.

Anita Moore, M.S. ’22 was named the McKendree School of Health Professions Outstanding Master of Science in Athletic Training student for 2021-2022.

Ayemere Oiyemhonlan was obtained by Major League Rugby’s San Diego Legion.

James Stone signed his first professional contract with the Michigan Stars Football Club of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) in Detroit, Mich.

Emily Westlove is a community relations program administrator with the St. Louis Cardinals.

2022 Brooke Boatman is a chemist at Advanced Testing Laboratory (ATL) in St. Louis, Mo. Abby Chapman is a behavior technician at Orchard Learning and Behavior Services in Chesterfield, Mo.

Brenda Reyna won the national title at 59kg. at the 2022 USMC U23 Women’s National Championships. She will represent Team USA at the U23 World Championships on Oct. 17-23 in Pontevedra, Spain.

Alex Steinbach signed his first professional contract with the Lincoln Saltdogs, a professional baseball team in the American Association of Professional Baseball league in Lincoln, Neb. Savannah Stover is a fourth-grade teacher at West Elementary in Alton, Ill. Felicity Taylor won the U.S. Senior Women’s Wrestling Freestyle Championship in April and finished first at the U.S. Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in May. She also won the national title at 53kg. at the 2022 USMC U23 Women’s Wrestling National Championships and will represent Team USA at the U23 World Championships on Oct. 17-23 in Pontevedra, Spain.

Isaiah Ward signed his first professional contract with Vantaan TAFT in Finland’s American Football League.

Logan Wolf was hired to teach middle school English at Quincy Jr. High School.

Samantha Cummins is a prevention specialist at Hoyleton Youth and Family Services.

Andrew Cunningham is the band director at Selmaville Junior High School in Selmaville, Ill. Olivia Dreyer works at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Jacksonville, Fla. Ryan Herrington is an audit associate at Anders CPAs + Advisors.

Jessica Hoffmann was hired as a mathematics teacher at Belleville West High School in Belleville, Ill. Lyndelle Luecking was hired to teach middle school English at Signal Hill School.

Benjamin Mailloux is an applications developer for Morton Buildings.

Abigail Meseke is a fourth grade teacher at Discovery Elementary in St. Charles, Mo.

FAN // ZONE Tune in to listen to live audio play-by-play on the GLVC Sports network at www.glvcsn.com/mckendree/.

“Follow us” on twitter and Facebook.

Check out McKBearcats.com for upcoming schedules, team news, and to purchase tickets.

Visit shopmckendree.com to buy official athletics gear!

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A.

B.

C.

G.

D.

E.

A.

B.

F.

Kristin (McKinney) Fanning ’11, husband Evan, and big brother Oliver welcomed Blake Amelia on June 18, 2021.

E

Hannah (McDowell) Fullerton ’11, husband Britt, and big sister Hadassah welcomed Evelyn Rey on Sept. 3, 2021.

Tricia (Straub) Schwind ’11, M.A.Ed. ’16, husband Adam ’10, big brother Ezekiel and big sister Selah welcomed Violet Louise on Feb. 5, 2022.

F.

Cassie Brown ’13 and Carrie Brickey-Brown ’11, welcomed daughter Everleigh Noelle on April 29, 2022.

G.

Kelly (Lenzini) Taylor ’13, and husband Tevin ’15, welcomed Madelyn Mae on Oct. 8, 2021.

H.

Andrew Williams ’11, wife Julie, and big sisters Emerson and Katherine welcomed Maren Drew on Dec. 29, 2021.

C.

Emily (Battas) Ketrow ’12, and husband Justin, welcomed Owen Kyle (right) and Benton Douglas (left) on July 6, 2020.

D.

Sarah (Schomaker) Richter ’13, and husband Jeremy, welcomed Avery Grace on Oct. 29, 2021.

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H.

I.

I.

J.

K.

K.

M.

L.

M. J.

I.

J.

K.

L.

O.

N. L.

Ashley (Tebbe) Winter ’13, MBA ’14, husband Daniel, and big brothers Louie and Caleb welcomed Rylee Nicole on Sept. 21, 2021.

Kendra (Grimes) Hutchcraft ’14, husband Colton, and big brothers Karson and Cole welcomed Kamryn Elaine on June 3, 2021.

Grace (McDowell) Payne ’16, and husband Troy, welcomed Scarlett Adaline on Nov. 7, 2021.

Shayna (Dixon) Ford ’14, and husband Lucas ’13, welcomed Stetson Lucas on Oct. 18, 2021.

P.

M.

Rebecca (Blake) Meeker ’15, husband Darren ’13, and big sister Riah welcomed Ruby Jo on Jan. 10, 2021.

N.

Haley (Ecker) Priddy ’17, and husband Logan, welcomed Sophia Rose on Nov. 11, 2021.

O.

Kati (Melton) Hassall ’15, M.A.Ed. ’18, and husband Timothy, welcomed Isaiah Kenneth on July 16, 2020.

P.

Brooke (Cronin) Vandeventer ’17, husband Joe ’17, and big brother Finley welcomed Huxley Neal on Jan. 10, 2022.

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In Memoriam

The Reverend

Deceased alumni and friends through July 27, 2022.

Trustee Emeritus and Former Alumni Board President

Dr. Oscar G. Rasmussen ’54, 7/17/21 Janet L. Crocker ’68, 8/24/21 Warren McCollom ’69, 9/15/21 Marcia A. Gray ’97, 9/23/21 Karen L. Trifari, 10/4/21 James B. Hefner ’83, 10/16/21 J. Edward True, USAF, Ret., 12/21/21 Ethelbert Dawson ’56, 12/23/21 Elveria (Schwarze) Miller ’61, 12/27/21 Thomas R. Roach ’68, 12/31/21 Leon Hough ’64, 1/1/22 J. Denis Symer ’63, 1/4/22 Robert F. Fitts ’58, 1/20/22 Lily “Ann” Browning, 1/21/22 Dr. Jack Early, 1/22/22 Mary Elizabeth Lobring, 1/24/22 Gary E. Eberle ’81, 2/2/22 Daniel W. Gaddis ’99, 2/2/22 Joyce A. Piasecki ’04, 2/3/22 Norma Jean (Hinson) Hillmer ’53, 2/13/22 Denise M. Saksa ’08, 2/14/22 Diane (Wallace) Agan ’85, 2/15/22 Jackie L. (Northcutt) Fremming ’86, 2/28/22 David Dressel, 3/12/22 Nichole E. (Higdon) Jones ’07, 3/29/22 Kevin R. Hagarty ’90, 3/30/22 Rev. Dowain V. McKiou ’55, 4/3/22 Frederick A. Rutherman ’50, 4/11/22 Arlene Dumas-Fuller ’92, 4/22/22 Willie Pirtle ’77, 5/3/22 Cecil R. Cope ’68, 5/8/22 Julia A. (Moran) Denning ’02, 5/10/22 Jerome M. Lewis Jr. ’77, 5/12/22 Amanda Wurtz ’05, 5/15/22 Mickey L. Melvin ’15, 5/16/22 Marlinda D. (Whitehead) Birkner ’86, 5/21/22 Rita D. Akers Brautigam, 5/24/22 C. Levelle Simon II ’12, 5/30/22 Alice B. (Bollinger) Walton ’50, 5/31/22 Sheryl L. Ratz ’74, 6/1/22 Kent A. Vollert ’71, 6/1/22 Gary R. Schwoebel ’78, 6/5/22 Lorraine L. Newgent ’78, 6/12/22 A. Virginia (Phillips) Barthel ’45, 6/17/22 Lawrence “Larry” Maggiacoma ’64, 7/9/22 Derwood L. “Woody” Derickson ’60, 7/10/22

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Dr. Miley Palmer ’58 | 1937-2022 Miley passed away on Jan. 24, 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from McKendree, a master’s degree in theology at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree at Christian Theological Seminary.

A long serving member of the McKendree Board of Trustees, from October 1997 to November 2021, he was named Trustee Emeritus in 2021. He received the Peter Akers Award in 2018 for professional success in recognition of his outstanding service and loyalty to his alma mater. He served as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and was an Alumni Board member for 25 years. He was also a William McKendree Society member, Friend of the Hett and Bearcat Booster, who will be long remembered for his gracious demeanor and giving nature.

The first recipient of the Peter Cartwright Lifetime Evangelism Award from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church, he served United Methodist congregations in Central and Southern Illinois from 1955 until 2021, including nine years as a campus minister at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and six years as superintendent of Peoria District (93 total churches). After retiring, he also served as the full-time chaplain at Decatur Memorial Hospital for 20 years. He was honored by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Theta Phi Honors fraternity, and the IGRC. He helped guide Decatur’s Racial Taboo initiative and received the local NAACP chapter’s Joe Slaw Civil Rights Award. A Rotarian for 43 years, he held every local leadership role in the Rotary Club.

He is survived by his wife Janet; children Elizabeth, Mary, Michael and Patricia, four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Adding Up the Memories The McKendree University Accounting Club hosted an accounting alumni reception on Friday, April 29. Several accounting alumni stopped by the McKendree Gallery of Art to celebrate the retirement of Jeff Brasel ’81, enjoy light appetizers and beverages and catch up with one another.

Pictured from l. to r.: Jordan Reichert ’20, MBA ’21; Seth Wheatley ’20; Justin Sweeney ’19; Jeff Brasel ’81; Cole Foster ’19; Collin Patton ’20, MBA ’21; Kailey Anderson ’20; and Macy Kuhnke ’20, MBA ’21.

Not Pictured: Rebecca (Lindstrom) Wohltman ’09; Austin Vuichard ’14; and Dr. Jean (Scheller) Sampson ’83, chair of school of business.

Basketball Alumni Game | Feb. 19, 2022 Pictured from l. to r.: President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81; Brother Steve Davis ’93; Mark Collins ’91; Darron Randle ’92; Michael Schaulat ’77; Dave Warnecke ’78; Chuck Renner ’78; Brad Weathers ’76; Tom Burleyson ’77; Barry Harris ’78; Jacob Donaldson ’21; Rich Stein ’56; and David Nottrott ’64.

Triad High School Purple Friday | Feb. 23, 2022 Pictured from l. to r., top to bottom: John Zweck ’04; Hannah Valbert ’17, M.A.Ed. ’22; Todd Grigg '94; Kati (Melton) Hassall ’15, M.A.Ed. ’18; Kathy (Betts) Mersinger, M.A.Ed. ’11; Shannon (Stueber) Mallrich ’98; Jessica (Joiner) Hasemann ’90; Kelli (Jackson) Barbour ’91; Brandi Brown-Harris, M.A. ’10, director of alumni relations; Megan (Doty) DeLong ’15; Dianna (Hicks) Fogleman ’01; Allison Loehr ’20; Stephanie (Harris) Potthast ’12 and Stephanie Webb, M.A.Ed. ’21.

Band Alumni Reunite for Concert Eighteen band alumni came together to take part in the McKendree University Instrumental Concert on Saturday, April 23. The concert featured McKendree’s Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Percussion Ensemble and Concert Band. Alumni reunited to rekindle their love of music, display their musical talents and reconnect with former bandmates during a post-concert reception.

Pictured from l. to r., front row: Elizabeth (Mesnard) Wilkinson ’19; Maile (Mills) Signorotti ’15; and graduate student Kendall Roller. Center row: Brock Wilkinson ’19, Kristen Goersch ’21, Rebecca Chicosky ’20, Raina Isaacs ’19, Skyler Bowrey; Michael Long ’02; Kara Grafton ’20; Hope Connelly ’20 and Andrew Rist ’20.

Back row: Matthew DeTore ’21 and Tyler Jewell ’17.

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Share your professional accomplishments, such as job changes, promotions and awards, or personal milestones, such as advanced degrees earned, marriages or births. There are two easy ways to submit your information.

1. Fill out the Class Notes Form: https://www.mckendree.edu/alumni 2. Email a class note to alumni@mckendree.edu and include your name (maiden name when applicable), class year, and relevant information.

Information submitted will be posted in The McKendrean (print and online editions) and news releases and information from published news clippings may also be used. Please note the information that is published may be subject to availability of space and editing.

Interested in Volunteering?

As an alumni volunteer, you can give of your time, talent and treasure in a variety of ways. You can help with a specific program, speak at a career workshop, work alongside students, provide leadership for alumni activities, serve on a committee or as a class agent, and/or serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. If you have a desire to serve your alma mater, please contact the Director of Alumni Relations.

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