It’s because of the volunteer support of countless alumni and friends –spirited people like Mark Cromley –that Northwest continues to thrive.
People just like you
Canyou think of a decision in your life that has greatly impacted everything around you today? When I think about my family, friends, profession, affiliations and hobbies, it is amazing how all of those were forever shaped by Northwest. The opportunities, friendships and memories I received from Northwest were countless, and they continue to this day. I have been honored to work with fellow alumni in St. Louis to bring a chapter to the area. Through the Northwest Alumni Association and your local chapter, you can continue that camaraderie by reminiscing about the old and creating the new. If you are not active in your local chapter, please get involved to see how the Northwest experience lives on in new friendships and memories to be made.
Mark Cromley ’94 President, St. Louis Alumni and Friends Chapter
If
Photo by DiliP VishwAnAt
electronic Campus was the first of many accomplishments
I was appointed to the Board of Regents shortly after Dr. Dean Hubbard started the Electronic Campus in 1987, which gave Northwest national attention as the first public university to provide a networked computer in every residence hall room. This was just the start of his visionary changes at Northwest.
Dr. Hubbard was an expert in long range planning, and he applied this knowledge to the plans and vision he had for the school.
One of those plans was to improve the educational experience. In fact, he had done a study with a group of exceptional teachers to learn what common factors made them excel, and the results of this study helped him understand and evaluate how he would approach improving teaching and therefore student results at Northwest. This process led to his creation of the Culture of Quality. Dr. Hubbard believed that the measure of the effectiveness of a school was not necessarily the skills of the graduates, but rather the value or improvement a school added to the students. A great deal of the Culture of Quality was designed to add value (improve students) and to prove we had done it with testing and surveys, etc. This measurement concept is now starting to be considered in higher education, and Dr. Hubbard was one of the first to recognize and implement it.
Also, during his presidency, he helped hire one of the most successful football coaches in NCAA Division II history, Mel Tjeerdsma. When Dr. Hubbard interviewed Coach Tjeerdsma he told
the mission of
connections between alumni, friends and northwest Missouri State University. The offices of University Advancement and University Relations strive to inform readers of the accomplishments of northwest’s alumni, friends, faculty, students and administration and to positively position the University in the hearts of its many constituents to increase public and private support.
Northwest Foundation inc. ’08-’09 Board of Directors
President
Mike Faust ’74, omaha, neb.
Vice President
Dan Runde ’81, Platte City
immediate Past President
Jim blackford ’72, Maryville
Mary Asbell ’69, lubbock, texas
holly Murphy-barstow ’81, omaha, neb.
bill brown ’63, Platte City
Rick Carter, Maryville
Mark Doll ’80, Council bluffs, iowa
toni Espey ’83, Parkland, Fla.
Jason Garst ’93, watson
william Gram ’52, Rancho Palos
Verdes, Calif.
him he didn’t care if he ever won a football game, but instead he wanted a clean program that would be a positive influence on student athletes. He got that and so much more.
I have visited with educational leaders across the state, and they have told me how they have the utmost respect for Dr. Hubbard as an educational leader and visionary. Furthermore, I admire how Dr. Hubbard treated the late Northwest President Dr. Robert Foster. Dr. Hubbard was always so respectful and gracious to Dr. Foster, inviting him to events and asking him for advice – actions many presidents may be hesitant to do.
It goes without saying that Dr. Hubbard’s wife, Aleta, has played an equal role in his success. For 25 years she has supported him in every area and opened their home, the Gaunt House, to University guests, which she has done with grace, charm and warmth.
Former northwest Regent Ed Douglas ’74 of Chillicothe, with his wife, Marla, has witnessed the University’s great progress during Dr. Dean l hubbard’s 25-year presidency.
For the last 25 years, Dean and Aleta Hubbard have served our school well, with honor, distinction and dignity, and we owe them a lasting debt of gratitude and best wishes for their future.
Sincerely,
Ed Douglas ’74
bill hedge ’74, ’77, ’89, st. Joseph
Ray hischke ’66, the woodlands, texas
Joyce Kerber ’60, lee’s summit
Jodie Mackintosh ’77, omaha, neb.
Jerry Moyer ’76, ’78, titusville, Fla.
Kenny Petersen ’66, omaha, neb.
william C. Price ’60, Cincinnati, ohio
Juan Rangel ’91, Kansas City
Jim Redd ’66, leawood, Kan.
tim sullivan ’75, Urbandale, iowa
Ron taylor ’79, waukee, iowa
Kay thomas ’71, blue springs
Gary thompson ’76, Avon, Conn.
Dick thomson, Maryville
Deb tripp ’92, ’96, Carrollton, texas
Jason white ’91, Maryville
Richard “Dick” wiles ’71, Jefferson City
Ron woolsey ’74, ’78, Grain Valley
Ex-Officio Directors
b.D. owens ’59
President Emeritus, Clearwater, Fla.
Dean l hubbard
University President orrie Covert
Executive Director Advancement staff orrie Covert, Vice President covert@nwmissouri.edu
neil Elliott, Development Officer/Athletics neile@nwmissouri.edu
Polly Parsons howard ’00, ’09, Development Officer/Booth College of business and Professional studies pollyh@nwmissouri.edu
laurie Drummond long ’92, Development Officer/Donor Relations laurie@nwmissouri.edu
Mitzi Craft lutz ’91, ’09, Advancement Communications specialist mitzi@nwmissouri.edu
teresa Macias ’97, ’05, Development Officer/College of Arts and sciences teresa@nwmissouri.edu
Peggy Purdy, Accounting specialist ppurdy@nwmissouri.edu
lynn Ruhl, Executive Assistant lruhl@nwmissouri.edu
lori Mclemore steiner ’85, Finance Officer steiner@nwmissouri.edu
Anna bradshaw summa ’01, Database specialist summa@nwmissouri.edu
steve sutton ’71, Director of Alumni Relations ssutton@nwmissouri.edu
brenda Untiedt ’00, ’09, Alumni Relations specialist brenda@nwmissouri.edu
Andrea Kearns wagner ’00, ’09, Development Officer/ College of Education and Human Services/Corporate and Foundation Relations andrea@nwmissouri.edu
the Northwest Alumni Magazine is to foster
What do you remember?
if you have a funny or meaningful moment you'd like to share, or if you want to remember an inspirational professor, please let us know.
send a brief description of your favorite northwest memory to Mitzi lutz, editor, at mitzi@nwmissouri.edu or 800 University Dr., Maryville, Mo 64468, or complete the online form at www. nwmissouri.edu/alumni/ magazine/remember.htm.
i remember when ...
I’vecome to believe that all the instructors in Northwest’s home economics department during my years there were exceptional. In particular, I remember Mrs. Sawyers, who taught textiles and clothing; Miss Pagel, foods and nutrition; Mrs. Hassenplug, household equipment; Mrs. Bouska, child development; and of course Miss Mabel Cook, the department chair. I have many great memories and gained much knowledge from them all.
Georgia Linville Clark ’65
I read the “I Remember When” feature in a recent issue of the Northwest Alumni Magazine, and I, too, remember when the dorms became coed. I remember that the young man I was dating at the time was not a student at Northwest. When he got caught leaving the dorm “after hours,” the RA threatened to write him up. What could they do? I was always worried they would figure out who he had been visiting, and I would get written up. Luckily it never happened!
Mary Beth Clayton Baker ’81
Dr.
Ernie Ferguson (professor of computer science and information systems) often said, “Take pride in your work.” He always treated me with respect and always looked where I could be in life rather than where I was, which supported me to realize my true potential. Teaching is not only his profession, it is his life. I live every lesson he taught in class. There was never a moment he discouraged and did not have time for me. He is a living example for every student in his class.
Do you remember these events?
1959
In December, the first basketball game is played in what is now known as bearcat Arena. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest
A night watchman mistakenly shoots the Abraham lincoln statue in the Administration building. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest
1969
Enrollment tops 5,000 students for the first time in school history. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest Gymnastics becomes the first women’s intercollegiate sport at northwest. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest
Sudhamsh Mahankali ’07
1979
A massive fire rips through the Administration building on July 24, completely destroying the Deerwester theater and more than 60 percent of the building. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest
Former President J.w. Jones dies at the age of 85. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest
the statue of Abraham lincoln on the second floor of the Administration building surprisingly sustained no damage from the devastating 1979 fire.
I remember running for student body president as an independent. Back then, Greeks won all the elections every year, so a group of students got together and formed the Independent Party. We recruited students for all of the positions and won all of the offices for the first time since 1936. A record number of students voted, about 2,100 out of 5,400, and the system that was in place was changed due to my platform during my year as student body president in 1971-72.
Stan Barton ’72
Ihad many memorable times at Northwest. I remember finally getting to wear slacks on days when the temperature was 0 or below, Tower Choir touring trips, the Homecoming sock-hop, playing Peter Pan in a Homecoming skit and the endless hours of working on floats stuffing napkins in chicken wire. I also fondly remember Miss Bonnie Magill, who was the chair of the women’s physical education department, cheerleader sponsor, Dolphins coach, Alpha Sigma Alpha sponsor and my wonderful mentor.
Kathy Bogdas Flynn ’65
1989
Northwest is officially declared an alcohol-free campus. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest in April, comedians Ken ober, Colin Quinn and the relatively-unknown Adam sandler entertain the audience at the Mary linn Performing Arts Center. The Northwest Missourian
1999
northwest online is launched with 57 students enrolled in nine courses. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest Members of the tKE fraternity move into their new house on ninth street after their old house is destroyed by fire in 1996. Transitions: A Hundred Years of Northwest
eNiAC ‘computer’ role solidifies alumna’s place in computing history
JeanJennings Bartik ’45 recently was enshrined in the Computer History Museum Hall of Fellows, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of computer technology.
Bartik earned a mathematics degree from Northwest and, following graduation, was one of six young women hired by the U.S. Army to serve as “computers,” known today as programmers.
The group was assigned to program ENIAC, the world’s first electronic computer designed and built to calculate artillery firing tables for the U.S. Army. ENIAC, hailed as an international scientific breakthrough, was capable of computational speeds up to a thousand times faster than anything that preceded it.
As a Computer History Museum Fellows inductee, Bartik joins preeminent computing figures such as Digital Equipment Corporation founder Ken Olsen, Apple’s Steve Wozniak, programming language pioneer Grace Murray Hopper and Tim Berners-Lee, who made contri-
butions to the development of the World Wide Web.
Dr. Jon Rickman, Northwest’s vice president for information systems, attended the black-tie gala with Bartik.
“Jean Jennings Bartik symbolizes the real dedication of a team of women who were really breaking ground in a brand-new technology that has changed the world as much as any technology ever has,” Rickman said.
Bartik also has been inducted, along with the other ENIAC programmers, into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame and honored by the Army Research Labs and the University of Pennsylvania. Northwest is home of the Jean Jennings Bartik Computing Museum. n
Desoto native is first Honors Program graduate
When Jennifer Backer, a senior biology/psychology major from DeSoto, walked across the stage in Bearcat Arena in December to receive her diploma she had reached two important milestones.
The first – earning her bachelor’s degree – was largely personal, the culmination of Backer’s own hard work, talent and determination. But the second cast a bright reflection on the University as a whole and its commitment to academic excellence.
Backer was the first Northwest undergraduate to complete her degree as a member of the fouryear-old University Honors Program. As such, she wore a special medal over her gown as part of her academic regalia.
When it began in fall 2005, the Honors Pro-
gram was a new concept for Northwest, which had never had an academic track designed especially for gifted and highly motivated students.
Backer plans to embark on a career in animal behavior and conservation and is working as an intern at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center near Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Cleo Samudzi, dean of Northwest’s Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing, served as the Honors Program’s first director, a role currently filled by Dr. Thomas Spencer, associate professor of history. There are 110 Honors Program students enrolled at the University. n
election night laughs
saturday night live writer and comedian seth Meyers, perhaps best known for his role as weekend Update anchor on the long-running sketch comedy show, gave his stand-up routine at northwest on nov. 4, election night. the event, just $5 for northwest students, was sponsored by the student Activities Council. n
Jean Jennings bartik ’45 talks with linus torvalds, who played a key role in developing the linux operating system, following their installation as Computer history Museum Fellows. bartik was one of a team of young women who programmed the world’s first electronic computer, ENIAC, during world war ii
Northwest, st. Francis win Mo. Quality Award
Maryville has cornered the market on quality. two of the city’s landmark institutions, northwest and st. Francis hospital and health services, have both won the 2008 Missouri Quality Award from the Excellence in Missouri Foundation.
northwest, which has received the award in each year it was eligible since 1997, is the first school to become a four-time winner (1997, 2001, 2005 and 2008).
the award is presented annually to businesses and institutions that demonstrate excellence in continuously improving essential processes that govern management and operations.
Dr. Dean l hubbard, president, said the University’s longstanding policy of putting the needs of students first is the most important reason for the success of northwest’s internationally recognized Culture of Quality initiative.
“there are distinguishing features that people in the marketplace think of when you mention northwest,” said hubbard, citing the University’s textbook rental system and its creation of the Electronic Campus. “however, the reason students come here is not because we have slicker brochures or a niftier web site, but because those students tell their friends that northwest is the place to go. that’s the Culture of Quality.” n
Regents approve initial proposal for nursing degree completion program
TheNorthwest Board of Regents has approved a Faculty Senate proposal for changes to the University curriculum, including the addition of a new bachelor of science in nursing degree completion program.
The program is intended to mesh with a twoyear associate’s degree in nursing offered by North Central Missouri College in Trenton, which signed an articulation agreement with Northwest in 2007.
If approved by the state Coordinating Board for Higher Education, the arrangement will allow students to complete most of their nursing courses through NCMC while taking many of the general education courses, and some nursing courses, required for a bachelor’s degree through Northwest.
It is likely that a number of the Northwest courses will actually be taught on the Trenton campus, and that some content will be delivered via television and other electronic means in order
to make the program as flexible as possible for place-bound students.
According to the staff report submitted to the regents, a significant number of degree candidates will probably meet a large fraction of their requirements through transfer credits. The program would also waive the University’s academic residency requirement.
Northwest Provost Dr. Kichoon Yang said many of those expected to sign up for the program will be registered nurses seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree, a step that creates significantly improved professional opportunities.
In addition to 50 credit hours of majorspecific courses, the BSN program also would require successful completion of 42 credit hours of general education courses, six hours of institutional requirements and 26 hours of electives.
Yang said the nursing degree completion program is expected to serve about 50 students a year within three to five years. n
Best wishes to retiring faculty
The following members of the Northwest faculty soon will be retiring. Now is your chance to contact them and wish them well. In addition, Dr. Terry King, professor of math/statistics, and Roger Woods, assistant professor of accounting/economics/finance, retired Dec. 31, 2008. n
Dr. Harold Brown
Associate Professor of Agriculture (660) 562-1160
hbrown@nwmissouri.edu
Retirement: July 31
Dr. Margaret Buerman
Associate Professor of Math/Statistics (660) 562-1371
mbuerma@nwmissouri.edu
Retirement: May 4
Dr. ernest Ferguson
Professor of Computer Science/Information systems
(660) 562-1551
ferg@nwmissouri.edu
Retirement: July 31
Ron Ferris
Assistant Professor of History/Humanities/ Philosophy/Political science (660) 562-1213
rferris@nwmissouri.edu
Retirement: Aug. 1
Ferguson
Ferris
California couple donate $1 million to ‘American Dream’
Securing additional scholarship dollars for students continues to be a high priority at Northwest, and the generosity of a California couple has greatly assisted with that mission.
The Northwest Foundation received a $1 million cash gift from the estate of Max and Armond Quimby to establish the QuimbyWalker Scholarship fund. The couple’s generosity will benefit Northwest’s neediest students through the American Dream Grant program.
Having grown up during the Great Depression, the Quimbys knew what tough times were, and they never forgot where they came from. Raised on a farm in Hastings, Iowa, Max Quimby was a salesman for Life Savers in Kansas City when he met Armond Walker, a business student and elevator operator from Pattonsburg. They married in 1940 and lived in California. They toured the Northwest campus in summer 1986 with Armond’s brothers, Royce Walker and Buck Walker, and their wives. Assisting Northwest, where Buck Walker had attended in the 1930s, was a decision of which the Quimbys felt their entire family could be proud.
The American Dream Grant, where the funds have been directed, is the only program of its kind in the nation. Recipients meet Northwest’s moderately selective admissions criteria and come from the neediest families based on their application for federal aid. The grant pays virtually all college expenses during a student’s first two years at the University, including tuition, room, board, books and the use of a laptop computer.
Since the program’s inception in 2004, more than 840 students have benefited from the grant. In addition, more than 400 students who were awarded the American Dream Grant during their first two years of study are now attending as fulltime students without grant funds.
Like the Quimbys, many Northwest alumni and friends have committed their support to the American Dream Grant through either an outright gift or by way of a planned or deferred gift. Gifts at any level can support the American Dream Grant. n
For more information, contact laurie long, development officer, at laurie@nwmissouri.edu or (660) 562-1248.
Fund drive continues to connect ’Cat Caller with loyal alumnus
Several evenings a week in the basement of the Alumni House, Northwest students, employed as ’Cat Callers, call Northwest alumni seeking donations to the Northwest Annual Fund. As soon as one call ends, the automated phone system dials the next household. Thousands of calls are made each year, so the chance of a ’Cat Caller contacting the same alum from one year to the next is highly unlikely. It’s even more unlikely that it would occur three consecutive years, which is exactly what happened between Stephen Dawson and Arnold Johnson ’77.
Dawson, a senior psychology major from Lincoln, Neb., has been a ’Cat Caller for three years.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw my computer was, for the third year, dialing Mr. Johnson,” Dawson said. “I’ve had a great time talking to Mr. Johnson in recent years, but I never thought I’d get another chance to speak with him. I was glad I did. Just like in the past, we had a lot to talk about.”
Johnson, who lives in Houston, said he has many memories from his days at Northwest and looks forward to receiving the Northwest Annual Fund phone call each year from a student.
“As you can imagine, I was very surprised to hear Stephen’s voice for the third year in a row, and I always enjoy talking to him,” Johnson said. “I appreciate the students who devote their time to this effort, as I know it must be hard to call people you haven’t met to ask for money, even if it is on behalf of the University.”
And was Dawson successful at getting his fellow Bearcat to make a donation to Northwest? You bet – all three years. n
Dawson
Max and Armond Quimby
Johnson
Foundation exceeds standard for responsible gift use
According to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance for finance standards, when alumni and friends make a donation through the Northwest Foundation, they can be confident their gift is spent wisely.
The Better Business Bureau is known for providing information on ethical business practices and serving as a trusted intermediary between consumers and businesses. The BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance reviews and reports on national charities, using the 20 BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability. The finance standard for the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance prescribes that no less than 65 percent of total expenses of a charitable organization be spent on charitable programs.
Using this standard, in Fiscal Year 2008, the Northwest Foundation exceeded the BBB’s expectations by spending 88 percent of every dollar on University programs. This amounted to $4.7 million, which included more than $627,000 in scholarships and $2.6 million in direct support to Northwest. Furthermore, only 3 percent of the Foundation’s total expenses were fundraising expenses, such as donor cultivation, and 9 percent were management and general expenses, such as auditing services, training and interest expenses.
Total private support to the University in FY08 topped the $5.5 million mark, making it the third successive year that private support to the Northwest Foundation exceeded $5 million. n
iRA charitable rollover extension benefits Northwest, donors
Therecent passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 provides an opportunity for individuals to make a financial contribution to Northwest, through the Northwest Foundation, using IRA funds without tax complications. The legislation includes a two-year extension of the IRA charitable rollover. The provision, originally enacted as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, permits IRA owners starting at age 70½ to make tax-free charitable gifts totaling up to $100,000 per year from their IRAs directly to eligible charities, including universities. The provision expires Dec. 31, 2009.
When the ini-
tial Pension Protection Act of 2006 was announced, Robert Lee and Doris Ann Stanton of Rock Port took full advantage of the opportunity, and now that the program has been extended, the couple is considering making another IRA charitable rollover gift.
Robert Lee Stanton, a co-chairman of the Bearcat Stadium reconstruction committee in 2002, served on the Northwest Board of Regents and Northwest Foundation Board of Directors and has been a longtime supporter of the University. The Stanton’s $100,000 gift benefited the recent improvements to Bearcat Stadium.
According to the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, prior to enactment of the IRA charitable rollover, individuals who wanted to make charitable contributions of traditional IRA assets could have suffered negative tax consequences. Even if funds were transferred directly to a public charity, the donor still had to report the IRA gift as ordinary income taxable at regular rates.
“A gift through this program generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so even those who don’t itemize their tax returns receive the benefit,” said Orrie Covert, executive director of the Northwest Foundation. n
For additional information, contact orrie Covert at covert@nwmissouri.edu or (660) 562-0816.
Gandhi's grandson visits Northwest barry and Claudia ’05 beacom (left), members of the northwest Foundation’s 1905 society, as well as Ame lambert, director of intercultural affairs, and Jessica o’Rourke loch ’72 attended a meet-and-greet reception for Arun Gandhi (center), peace activist and grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Prior to the reception, Gandhi delivered a lecture in the Mary linn Auditorium. n
Hubbard arrived at Northwest after serving as an international consultant in Asia and a college administrator in California and Nebraska. A rocky start to his presidency, which included a struggle with state officials who had plans to convert the campus into a prison, a vote of “no confidence” by the University faculty, and a declining enrollment, was soon overshadowed by initiatives unlike any ever experienced at Northwest – or any other university in the country.
Claudia Beacom, Hubbard’s executive secretary for the past 13 years, said she isn’t surprised her boss overcame so many obstacles early in his career at Northwest.
“Dr. Hubbard simply is not afraid of failure,” Beacom said. “To call him a visionary doesn’t even do him justice. He’s confident in his abilities, he’s not intimidated, and he’ll take on any issue, no matter what the size, because he’s determined to find a solution.”
National recognition
During the 1980s, this confidence served him – and the University – well as he led the effort to make Northwest the first comprehensive electronic campus in the United States. That initiative continues today, the most recent development being the University’s decision to provide every full-time student, including those living off campus, with a fully programmed laptop computer.
“When we were first discussing the idea of the Electronic Campus, one of our goals was to make every student as comfortable with a computer as their parents were with a telephone,”
Hubbard said. “There was no reason to be intimidated by a computer, and there’s no question that we have reached that point today.”
Under Hubbard’s leadership, Northwest also has gained national recognition for its Culture of Quality, an initiative designed to foster continuous improvement in all aspects of University operations. Among many other distinctions in this area, Northwest has won the Missouri Quality Award four times – in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2008 –and is the only educational institution in the state to have done so.
A first-generation college graduate, Hubbard has worked for decades to make higher learning affordable for those lacking the financial means to continue their education. One of his most visionary ideas has evolved into the American Dream Grant, a need-based program that provides tuition, room, board, books and the use of a computer to lower-income students during their first two years at Northwest.
Other efforts rooted in the twin promise of educational and economic opportunity include Northwest’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. When complete later this year, the research center and high-tech business incubator will combine academic and entrepreneurial resources needed to help make Missouri a full participant in the 21st century’s global marketplace. The CIE will provide learning and research opportunities for Northwest
(From left) Dr. hubbard, recognized internationally as an expert on Continuous Quality improvement in higher education, co-authored “the Quest for Quality: the Challenge for Undergraduate Education in the 1990s.” in 1987, Dr. hubbard was joined by Gov. John Ashcroft to “switch on” the Electronic Campus. the historic Gaunt house has been the home to all northwest presidents, including Dr. and Mrs. hubbard.
MissiON:
the northwest Alumni Association
fosters lifelong relationships through initiatives and opportunities that advance the University and its alumni, future alumni and friends.
Alumni Association
Board of Directors, 2008-2009
President
tim sullivan ’75, Urbandale, iowa
Vice President
neil neumeyer ’98, Kansas City
Past President
Kay thomas ’71, blue springs
Alumni Programs
Mike Zech ’86, Maryville
Membership Committee
Chairperson
Amy willits harlin ’95, Kansas City
Chapters Committee
Chairperson
Nicole Bankus Porterfield ’91, St. Louis
Members
Cindy tjeerdsma Akehurst ’01, Kansas City
Jackie lionberger Damiani ’71, ’76, Edmond, okla.
Jim Goecken ’92, Maryville
Joan lynch Jackson ’65, Redding, iowa
Allen Kearns ’62, omaha, neb.
Vic Kretzschmar ’70, ’71, hemple
larry Maiorano ’69, ’74, lenexa, Kan.
Mark Pickerel ’76, st. Joseph
Kory schramm ’95, Johnston, iowa
Dave snider ’80, ’83, olathe, Kan.
Dave teeter ’86, Montgomery City
John Van Cleave ’73, ’89, Maryville
Ex-Officio Board Members
orrie Covert, Vice President for University Advancement
Mike Faust ’74, President, northwest Foundation, omaha, neb.
Dean l hubbard, University President, Maryville
b.D. owens, President Emeritus, Clearwater, Fla.
Peggy Purdy, Accounting specialist
steve sutton ’71, Director of Alumni Relations
brenda Untiedt ’00, ’09, Alumni Relations specialist
Northwest’s Class of ’58 reunites at Homecoming
several members of the northwest Class of 1958 returned to campus homecoming weekend for their 50-year class reunion. the Golden years society Reunion, which is sponsored by the northwest Alumni Association and includes all alumni from 1958 and before, included a welcome reception at the Alumni house, a bus tour of the campus and Maryville community, a group photograph and luncheon followed by the flag-raising ceremony at the Joyce and harvey white international Flag Plaza. the honored guests also attended the homecoming welcome at the Alumni house, received ViP seating for the homecoming parade, visited the bearcat Zone and watched the northwest football game. the 1958 graduates attending the Golden years society Reunion included (front row, from left) Ed Farquhar, Maryville; Velma lee swartz Mitchell, yuma, Ariz.; Donna ward thompson, Mesa, Ariz.; Peggy Ann bush Edwards, Forest City; Carol Gamble Anderson, omaha, neb.; Ron searcy, bellevue, neb.; (second row) bob Churchill, Madison, Ala.; beverly Murphy Miller, st. Joseph; norma long Clark, Maryville; Gary Funkhouser, treynor, iowa; walter Maris, savannah; (third row) Merton beuerman, Merced, Calif.; Paul Kerber, lee’s summit; Joyce Goeders Cromer, lee’s summit; George Maher, Red oak, iowa; loren stuvick, huntley, ill.; and George Green, Mclean, Va. n
Tourin’ bearcats
sixteen travelers, including wendall Jackson, Joan lynch Jackson ’65, Joan whiteaker Fore ’64 and Don Fore ’64, joined the tourin’ bearcats on a september cruise to the Pacific Northwest with ports in Seattle, wash., and Victoria and nanaimo, british Columbia.
Jill templin Ronk ’98, Doug Ronk ’97, larry w ickersham ’98, Michelle w ichersham, laurelle w ickersham, t im brechbiel ’98, Debra Kraft brechbiel ’02, Keith Arnold ’69 and sarah woodruff Arnold ’70 were among the northwest alumni and friends who hit the slopes in breckenridge, Colo., for the third annual bearcat ski trip.
MARyViLLe
The Maryville Chapter sponsored a wine and beer tasting event at the Alumni House in November, and the following month the chapter held a pizza party prior to the Northwest basketball games. The chapter also hosted its annual Super Bowl Party in February at the Maryville Country Club. Upcoming events include a summer movie and a Kansas City T-Bones game. n
sT. LOuis
Members of the St. Louis Chapter met in October at the new Chandler Hills Vineyard for a wine tasting and discussion about grape growing, wine making and the differences between area wineries. The chapter also met at Ozzie’s Sport Bar and Grill in December to watch the Bearcat football team compete in the semifinal and national championship games. In addition, the chapter sponsored a holiday social and raised $270 for Little Wishes, a program that grants Christmas wishes for St. Louis children in foster care. n
KANsAs CiTy
The Kansas City Chapter is hosting more events in Kansas City north, where a large percent of Northwest alumni live. Events have included an evening with the Bearcat basketball coaches in December at O’Dowds, the First Friday happy hour at the Landing in Liberty in February and an expanded family outing for North Kansas City’s Snake Saturday Parade. The chapter also hosted three watch parties for the football semifinal game. The following week, national championship watch parties were held at O’Dowd’s, The Landing, the Quaff and 810 Zone. The Kansas City Chapter would like to thank O’Dowd’s for its help in hosting events and for offering KC Hopp’s reward membership cards free to any Bearcat with a current Northwest Alumni Association membership card. For more information, visit www.nwalumnikc.com. n
For more information about an alumni chapter near you, contact the northwest Alumni Association at (660) 562-1248 or alumni@nwmissouri.edu or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/alumni
5. Attending the st. louis Chapter wine tasting event were (from left) David Jespersen ’72, Cheri skarin Jespersen ’72, Marie Kozel, Kathy leClair Randolph ’92, Greg bosch ’98, scott henneke, Amanda webb henneke ’01, Andy luckner, heather herweck luckner ’97, sue Johnson hockensmith ’72 and Dana hockensmith.
6. Members of the Chicago Chapter gathered for a watch party during the national championship football game.
7. Members of the Kansas City Chapter spent an evening discussing bearcat basketball with steve tappmeyer, former men’s head coach, and lori hopkins, women’s associate head coach. those in attendance were Kurt Jackson ’88, terry Day ’65, tappmeyer, Damian Valline bridges ’84, brian stewart, hopkins, Ron ives ’62 and steve sutton ’71.
8. northwest alumni in Arizona held a watch party to cheer on the bearcats during the semifinal and national championship football games.
Henry twins leave their mark in northwest record books
TwinsHunter Henry and Hannah Henry ’08 came into the world weighing merely 8 pounds each. However, that was no indication of the great heights these standout Northwest athletes would reach both physically and athletically. At 6’9”, Hunter has been a record-setter on the men’s basketball team. “Older” sister Hannah, 5’11”, has secured a place in the Northwest record books as a hurdler on the women’s track team.
Hannah set a Northwest record by winning the 60-meter hurdles at the University of Central Missouri’s Mule Relays in 8.96 seconds. That record qualified her for the national indoor meet in which she lowered her time to 8.92 seconds. Hunter is the second player in Northwest history to score 1,500 points and bring down 750 rebounds.
As competitive as the Henry twins are in the
athletic arena, they were separated in elementary school to help defeat sibling competitiveness, although they did dress alike occasionally.
“Until we were 4 we would wear matching outfits,” Hannah said. “It was weird because Hunter had more hair than I did, so my parents put a pink bow in my hair to show that I was the girl since we looked a lot alike when we were younger.”
As the Henry twins got older and their appearance changed, it became more difficult to recognize them as twins. Hannah said professors, coaches and classmates have been stunned after learning she and her brother are twins.
“I don’t think we look that much alike. I guess there are some resemblances because we’re both tall and skinny,” Hunter said.
The Henry twins were born into an athletic family. Their father played football for Kansas University, and their mother was a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Upon graduation in May, Hunter plans to play professional basketball in Europe, and Hannah, who is a graduate student at Northwest, plans to find a job teaching special education. n
Tappmeyer to retire after 21 seasons at Northwest
SteveTappmeyer, who has led the Bearcat men’s basketball program for the last 21 years, has resigned as coach and will retire from his position at Northwest following the 2008-09 academic year.
“My wife, Lyn, and I have enjoyed our years in Maryville a great deal,” Tappmeyer said. “We will have great memories of athletes, staff and some special people who were always so supportive. There’s a good chance I’ll coach again at this level, but for now we plan on being in Maryville until the end of the summer and then we’ll move closer to our families and decide what the next season of our lives has in store for us.”
Tappmeyer is the winningest coach in the program’s history after accumulating a 408-208 record in his 21 seasons. His accomplishments include three MIAA championships and four MIAA tournament championships. He’s taken Northwest to the NCAA tournament eight times in the last 10 seasons and 10 times overall. Tappmeyer led the Bearcats to the Elite Eight in both the 2002 and 2004 seasons with records of 29-3 and 29-5, respectively. He also led the Bearcats to nine 20-win seasons in the last 12 years.
One of Tappmeyer’s most impressive feats is the success he’s brought to the fans at Bearcat Arena. Northwest was 143-25 (.851) at home in its last 12 seasons. n
As competitive as hunter and hannah henry are in their respective sports, the twins rarely experienced sibling rivalry.
steve tappmeyer (right) was honored this season for becoming the 28th active nCAA Division ii head coach to reach the 400-win plateau.
1976
CARy HiLTGeN is president-elect of DRI, the nation’s largest organization of defense trial lawyers, and will serve as president of the organization in 2009-10. He is a product liability and commercial attorney at Hiltgen & Brewer, P.C. in Oklahoma City, OK.
1977
ROBeRT PAyNe retired Aug. 1 as a master chief petty officer from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He has been employed at Energizer Battery Co. for 24 years. He lives in Maryville.
1980
DAVe (MAsTeR’s ’85) AND CAROLe PATTeRsON GieseKe ◆ live in Ames, IA. Dave is the executive director of communications for the Iowa State University Foundation with responsibilities for communications and marketing efforts of that organization’s $800 million fundraising campaign. He previously was the director of communications for Iowa State’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Carole remains the editor of the award-winning Visions alumni magazine at Iowa State University. Their daughter Katie is a senior at Iowa State, and Lauren
is a senior at Ames High School. Dave and Carole previously worked for 15 years in the public relations office at Northwest.
M. LiNDA LeeK MOON ◆ is part of the National Corporate/Government Banking Sales Resource Team at U.S. Bank. She is the administrator of the sales Web site and U.S. Bank’s Proposal Tool. Her husband, Mark, is the pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, IL. Their son, Matt, is a 2007 Northwest graduate, and their daughter, Holly, is a sophomore at Northwest.
MeLODAe sMiTH MORRis is senior director of
marketing and public relations at Clarkson College. She also recently received her Accreditation in Public Relations.
DAViD sTRuDTHOFF (MAsTeR’s ’82) is the district administrator of the DeSoto (WI) Area School District. He had been superintendent of schools in Postville, IA, for the past nine years. He started his education career as a middle school science teacher and coach and also has been a middle and high school principal. He has been appointed to two governors’ task forces and is on the advisory board of the Iowa Association of School Boards.
Where are these 1959 graduates?
The following alumni who graduated from Northwest in 1959 are considered “lost” because the University does not have a current physical mailing address for them. Their 50-year class reunion is in October, and they won’t want to miss out on the fun of reuniting with fellow Bearcats.
If you recognize someone on the list, please provide Northwest with their contact information (i.e. address, phone number, e-mail address, married name) or ask them to e-mail alumni@nwmissouri.edu or call (660) 562-1248.
Arnold Anderson
Gayle Barry
James Brotherton
Wade Bruggeman
Marilyn Maynard Carlson
Gladene Sherard Collins
Joe Davis
Marilyn Davis
Richard Dowell
Donald Evans
J. Sterling Evans
Robert Fairchild
William Farnan
Cleo Fulton
Gerald Golden
Helen Bush Goosman
C. Joyce Kean Harter
Francis Hunt
Ruth Ingram
James Jarvis
John Johnson
George Kruger
James Kysar
Betty Lasswell
Kathryn Reid Lichty
Velma Lambert Long
Maude McCausland
Lucy Reynolds McFarland
Logan McGinness
Marjorie McClure McGinness
Robert Mejia
Lowell Miller
Thomas Nenneman
Lana Puckett Omarrah
Kay Pierpoint
Hazel Planck
Ivan Rasmussen
Marland Ray
Gladys Reardon
Darrell Renfro
Ivah Rentfrow
Richard Rose
Richard Rowland
Burl Sandusky
Jesse Scroggie
Anna Short
James Silcott
Elda Antrim Slagle
Myrtle Slover
Jerry Sommers
Merle Sorensen
Jack Stout
Judith Tamm
Terrence Thompson
Paul Thrasher
Neva King Waldeier
Arnold Warner
Marie Baily Warner
Beverly Myers Wetzel
Jerry Wetzel
Mildred Dooley Wharton
Ethel Witt
George Wood
Helen Francisco Woodward
Terry receives ‘new professional’ award
The Missouri College Personnel Association has recognized Steve Terry ’06, program coordinator of the Institute for Leadership and Service in the Department of Student Life at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, as the New Professional Award recipient. The award is presented annually to a professional with three years or less of experience in the student affairs field who serves as a role model to students and other professionals by demonstrating creativity and innova-
1981
NANCy JOHNsON ZeLiFF ◆ and her husband, John, celebrated their 25th anniversary July 23. Nancy is a professor of computer science/information systems at Northwest, and John is assistant superintendent for the Maryville R-II School District. They have two daughters, Lauren and Leslie.
1982
If so, become a fan of Northwest Missouri State University Alumni.
If not, go ahead and join. It’s free, and it’s a great way to reunite with your friends from Northwest.
BiLL GeRLT is the assistant general manager for the San Antonio Missions Baseball Club. He has worked with the club for 12 years during which time the team won four Texas League Championships. He also serves as president of the Leon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and chairman of sports and media for the U.S. Army Community Action Committee in San Antonio.
1983
LARRy “LARs” FRANZeN has taken a break from his career in marketing
research and consulting on retail financial services. He relocated to be near the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, where he received a lung transplant. Contact him through the “CarePages” Web site and search for him by name.
CHRis AND ANGie CROuse HiLL live in Liberty with their daughter Libby, 14. They also have twin sons, Kip and Cam, 21. Cam is a junior at Northwest, majoring in middle school education and is president of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Kip is a junior at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where he is majoring in political science and runs cross country and indoor and outdoor track. Angie has been teaching in Liberty for 25 years. She has taught preschool, kindergarten, second, eighth and ninth grade. Chris has been employed with Blue Cross Blue Shield for 20 years. They celebrated their 25th anniversary in December.
tion in his or her work, and who has the potential for continued success.
Terry is a former staff sergeant and veteran of the U.S. Army. After earning his undergraduate degree in speech communication at Northwest, he received a master’s of education in higher education at Pennsylvania State University and is currently working toward a PhD. in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Kansas. Terry also serves on the executive board of the Missouri College Personnel Association and is a national directorate on the Commission for Commuter Students and Adult Learners. n
ROBeRT AND BeTH MALOTT PAuL live in Liberty. Their son, Jeff, is a freshman at Northwest and became the first legacy pledge for Sigma Phi Epsilon. Robert is an orthopedic surgeon, and Beth is owner of Educational Endeavors.
1984
RON AND TRisH McCue (’86) BALLARD live in Germantown Hills, IL, with their two sons, Chad, 16, and Ryan, 14. Ron teaches physical education and coaches middle school baseball in the Peoria School District. Trish received a master’s in educational administration in June. She is a seventh-grade English teacher and speech coach at Germantown Hills Middle School.
TROy eLBeRT is a requirements and testing manager at Sprint where he has worked for 22 years. He has an apartment in Mission, KS, and a home in Gallatin.
JiM AND GLee GuDe sMiTH live in North Platte, NE, and have four children, Jessie, Carleigh, Zach and Jamie. Jim is beginning his second year as chief of staff at Great Plains Regional Medical Center and continues practicing emergency medicine and is medical director of education. He serves on the Nebraska State EMS Board. Glee is president of the Lincoln County Medical Association and serves on the Rape and Domestic Abuse Board.
1985
TeResA sCHueLKe VeRBOuT left her position as public information and marketing director at Central Arizona College to start her own public relations and marketing firm, Excel Creative. Contact her at www.excelcreative. com. Her husband, Scott, is a copy editor at Casa Grande Valley Newspapers. They live in Chandler, AZ.
the Missouri College Personnel Association has recognized stephen terry ’06 for his success as a new student affairs professional.
1987
sTeVeN HALe ◆ is the chief of staff/deputy commander for administration with the U.S. Army. He is stationed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He would love to hear from any Bearcats stationed in Germany or Europe.
1991
MiCHAeL DAVis (MAsTeR’s ’94) is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves and is on his third deployment to the Middle East. He will be serving in Baghdad, Iraq, for the next year. His wife, ReGina, is a delivery consultant at Cerner Corp.
1994
KeViN sHAW and his wife, Kim, announce the birth of Brody Brian on July 11. Kevin is a systems administrator at the Gilbert, AZ, Police Department. They live in Gilbert, AZ.
eRiC AND FRANCie MiLLeR (’95, ’98) siPes announce the birth of Miller Chase on May 9. He joins Mason, 6, and Marah, 4. Eric is an assistant principal in the North Kansas City School District, and Francie is a music educator in the Park Hill School District. They live in Kansas City.
1995
KiKi KuNKeL BOiNsKi participated in the 2008 Colorado Outward
Bound Relay on Sept. 12-13. Her relay team of 10 people ran 174 miles from Georgetown to Carbondale, CO.
RiCHARD (MAsTeR’s ’96) AND KRisTiNA eAsTeP (’96) HANseN announce the adoption of Connor Robert. He was born Sept. 29 and joins Taylor, 3. Richard is director of human resources at ConAgra Foods, and Kristina is a stay-at-home mom. They live in Gretna, NE.
LesLie TieRNAN MOORe and her husband, Adam, announce the birth of Sophie Anna on May 5, 2008. She joins Allison, 4. Leslie is a compliance consultant at Wells Fargo, and Adam is an adviser at Karl Chevrolet. They live in Granger, IA.
eRiK sCHReiBeR (MAsTeR’s ’01) is a police officer with the Chicago Police Department. He previously was a state police officer in Phoenix, AZ.
MiCHAeL TROyeR is a senior CTI engineer at Teletech in Englewood, CO. He and his wife, Crissy, live in Castle Rock, CO, with their three children, Jaycee, 13, Jocelyn, 13, and Spencer, 7.
eRiCKA CORRADO WALLeR is theatre director at the South Junior High School in Lawrence, KS. Her husband, Jay, is president of StagePro Inc. They live in Lawrence and have three children Ryan, 18, Jessie, 17, and Alyssa, 8.
TEST YOUR MEMORY
Carmichael recollects days with flying squadron
The Bearcats Flying Squadron began in 1940 when Northwest started a civilian pilot training program to prepare young men for service in the United States Navy.
Northwest was one of the first institutions to have a civilian pilot training program.
Keep in touch
As life changes, your classmates and friends want to know. tell us what has been going on in your life by using the enclosed envelope, by e-mail at alumni@nwmissouri.edu or online at www.nwmissouri. edu/alumni/magazine/ classnotes.htm
you also may submit a photograph. Please include a self-addressed envelope so the photo can be returned, or e-mail it, in high resolution, to alumni@nwmissouri.edu. (Photographs with children or pets will not be accepted.)
Bruce Carmichael ’49, a member of the squadron, participated in civilian pilot training while attending Northwest. After he completed training, he was sent to Kansas City, San Francisco and Texas for U.S. Navy training. Carmichael, a chiropractor who lives in Lebanon, Mo., offers a personal recollection of his experiences with the Bearcats Flying Squadron. The following is an excerpt from his written recollection. If you were around then, you may still recall, as I do, the spring of 1940 as being cold and wet. War clouds were gathering over the entire
1996
MiCHAeL AND JAMie sWAN (’06) CAsTeeL were married Nov. 24, 2007. Michael is the maintenance supervisor at the Maryville Housing Authority, and Jamie is a second-grade teacher at St. Gregory’s School in Maryville. She will begin a master’s in reading at Northwest this summer.
Sarah Ann on April 22, 2008. She joins Timmy, 5, and Andrew, 3.
NiCOLA HeNsLeR RiCCi and her husband, David, announce the birth of Sophia Nicole on Nov. 6. She joins Ella, 2. Nicola is a clinical dietitian.
world, and it was a time for decisive action by our nation’s leaders.
Northwest Missouri State Teachers College was one of the first institutions to adopt the new civilian pilot training. Two metal airplane hangars were erected along with a small flight office. There was no radio contact with the airplanes.
There was no compensation for being a student pilot, other than we were privileged to wash the airplanes down, sweep the hangars and “prop” the planes. It soon became common to see the student pilots at the college, going to and from classes in their white coveralls.
As the war heated up, the demand for pilots by the Army and Navy grew stronger. Northwest’s newly formed contingent of fliers was called the Bearcats Flying Squadron.
On a warm day in August 1942, 22 fledgling aviators lined up. There were pictures, well wishes and good-byes. These young men would soon be manning the lethal machines of war, to play their part in keeping our nation free.
If you stand quietly close to the grass-covered runways, you still may hear the echoes of those brave young men shouting and laughing, celebrating their first solo flight more than half a century ago. n
1997
MeLissA sTRNAD KuLA and her husband, John, announce the birth of
DOuG seLLeRs and his wife, Brooke, announce the birth of Morgan Renee on Aug. 26. She joins Jake Douglas, 4. Doug is an insurance broker at Sellers-Weis Insurance, and Brooke is a stay-at-home mother. They live in Salisbury.
sCOTT WieDeRsTeiN and his wife, Julie, announce the birth of Emma Rae on April 2, 2008. She joins, John, 3. Scott teaches K-5 music at Studebaker Elementary in the Des Moines (IA) Public Schools. Julie is a youth ministry coordinator at New Life Church. They live in Pleasant Hill, IA.
1998
KRisTiN McMuRRy AGuiRRe and her husband, Peter, announce the birth of Trenton Robert Michael on Nov. 11. He joins
Makayla, Abigail and Grace. Kristin is an early childhood teacher in the Hickman Mills C-1 School District. They live in Belton.
MATT AND LisA seARs BeCKeR ◆ announce the birth of Kathryn Elizabeth on April 11, 2008. She joins Nick, 5, and Ryan, 3. Matt is the bioimaging project leader at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Lisa is a second-grade teacher in the Frederick County Public School District. They live in Gaithersburg, MD.
AND LesLie OGLe (’99) NeuMeyeR ◆
announce the birth of Landon Alexander on Oct. 13. He joins Jackson Dean, 5. Landon was a member of the Bearcat Cub Club before birth and attended his
first Northwest commencement before he was two months old. The Neumeyers live in Kansas City and recently moved to a new home near Liberty.
CARRie siNDeLAR NieLseN and her husband, Dan, announce the birth of Cali Corinne on June 13. She joins Drake and Gabi. Carrie is a regis-
tered dietitian at Hy-Vee. They live in Omaha, NE. BRiAN AND GiNA HAyes (’01) suTTON live in Kansas City with their 2-year-old son, Jack. Brian recently opened his dental practice on the Kansas City Plaza, and Gina is a graphic designer at Hallmark.
1999
BRiAN CORNeLius and Caley Ballentine were married Oct. 10. They live in Omaha, NE, where Brian is a freelance graphic designer, and Caley is a training and support specialist at Mosaic.
Four bearcats enjoy racetrack assignments
When Mike Harbit ’84, Kansas Speedway track announcer, says “gentlemen, start your engines,” he also is sending a message to three other Bearcats at the venue: “gentlemen, let’s get to work.”
Harbit is joined at the Kansas City, Kan., racetrack by Kansas City Star journalists and fellow Northwest graduates Tom Ibarra ’84, assistant sports editor, Mike Ransdell ’00, photographer, and Cole Young ’06, reporter.
Ibarra’s duties at the Kansas Speedway include overseeing all media personnel at the race. His mornings at the track are spent formulating a game plan for what needs to be accomplished during the course of a race day.
“My involvement at the Kansas Speedway has been fun. I’m being paid to be a sports fan,” said Ibarra, who has worked at the Star for 24 years.
Ransdell is one of those individuals receiving instructions from Ibarra. Ransdell has photographed races at the Kansas Speedway since it opened in 2001 as part of his duties at the Kansas City Star.
Today, he acts as a liaison between Ibarra and other photographers and reporters covering the event. However, when he initially covered a race strictly as a photographer, Ransdell would spend the entire race positioned at one of the turns, waiting to photograph a spin out or crash. Although the task was at times monotonous, when the action was captured, it made it all worthwhile.
“The reward of photographing NASCAR or another similar race is higher than any other
sport,” Ransdell said. “You have to follow the action, and you can’t look through the camera. You have to anticipate a wreck, or anything else that might happen on the track.”
As an auto racing reporter, Young interacts with the drivers on a regular basis. He has been a sports reporter at the Kansas City Star for three years and has been covering the Kansas Speedway just as long.
Young said being able to see behind the scenes of race day is the most exciting part of his job.
“My dad is a huge NASCAR fan, so it’s fun to text him and say, ‘guess who I just talked to,’” Young said. “Experiencing a side of the race you never see in the stands is great. You can hear the tires sizzling as they are being pulled off the cars.”
Harbit, who owns KNEM-AM and KNMOFM in Nevada, Mo., has been a freelance race announcer since the mid 1980s and has been the Kansas Speedway announcer since 2002. His raceday duties include in-house announcements as well as race coverage when the broadcast networks are on commercial breaks.
From the tower high above the 1.5-mile track, Harbit views each race from a unique perspective.
“I am racing’s No. 1 fan, and I always have a great seat. I can see the whole facility,” he said. “This job is a great fit for me, and I enjoy what I am doing.” n
NeiL
Race day at the Kansas speedway also is a “work” day for (from left) Mike harbit ’84, tom ibarra ’84, Mike Ransdell ’00 and Cole young ’06.
JOe GAA (MAsTeR’s ’04) is director of parks and recreation for Sebastian County, AR. He also is pursuing a doctorate in recreation at the University of Arkansas.
TRAVis AND GAyLe MciNTOsH MANNeRs announce the birth of Christian Wayne on Aug. 17. In January, they opened Athlete’s Training Center for Sports Performance and Physical Therapy. They live in Omaha, NE.
AMy THORNBuRG PANeK and her husband, Robert, announce the birth of Robert Estel on Sept. 15. He joins Lainey, 3. They live in Kansas City.
2000
MAuRiCe “Reese” HuFF is the company commander of HHC, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade 1st Armored Division.
Faculty kudos
➤ Dr. Virgil Freeman, assistant professor of educational leadership, is the author of “blue & C: Personality traits of leaders,” research that has been peer reviewed, accepted and published by the national Council of Professors of Educational Administration’s Connexions project at Rice University. in addition, Freeman’s article was accepted for publication by nCPEA’s international Journal of Educational leadership Preparation.
➤ An article by Doug Russell, marketing and management instructor, titled “Selling the Tough Call: Conflict Resolution Management” has been accepted for publication in “Officials’ Quarterly,” a professional periodical for athletic officials.
➤ two stage scripts by Amanda Petefish-Schrag, assistant professor communication, theatre and languages, and her husband, ben schrag, have been accepted for publication by Playscripts inc. the scripts are titled “shakespeare on the Green: Fun,
They will deploy to Iraq in May.
JiLL KReisLeR KuDRON and her husband, Chris, announce the birth of Bryce Roderick and Spencer Jon on June 1. They live in LaVista, NE.
ANGeL McADAMs PResCOTT and her husband, Sean, announce the birth of Samantha Anne on Aug. 31. Angel is the director of campus activities at Northwest, and Sean is a drug and alcohol counselor at the Family Guidance Center.
Frantic and slightly Fractured introductions to shakespeare Plays” and “the imaginary invalid: A Dramatical Primer.” the plays have all been performed professionally during the past five years and are tentatively scheduled for release this year by Playscripts.
➤ An article by Dr. John Fisher, assistant professor of communication, theatre and languages, was recently published in the journal Competition Forum. the article, titled “Mass Media impact on Post-secondary Policy Making: A Case study of a Failed Merger Attempt,” examines a proposed merger several years ago involving northwest and the University of Missouri system.
➤ An article by Dr. thomas spencer, associate professor of history and director of the northwest honors Program, appears in the october 2008 issue of the Missouri historical Review, the official journal of the State Historical society of Missouri. “‘Demand nothing but what is strictly Right and submit to nothing that is wrong’: Governor lilburn boggs, Governor Robert lucas, and the honey war of 1839’” describes events surrounding a border dispute that nearly sparked armed conflict between militias from the state of Missouri and what was then the territory of iowa. n
2001
sTePHANie ANDeRsON (MAsTeR’s ’03) teaches in the office systems department at Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL.
TONyA COFFeLT (MAsTeR’s ’03) ◆ and David Eickman were married Sept. 6 in Maryville. Tonya is a senior auditor with the Social Security Administration, and David is a civil engineer at Olsson Associates. They live in Kansas City.
BiLL HeRRiCK AND sHeLBy sCHuLTes (’03, ’05) were married in Guthrie Center, IA. Bill is the owner and operator of Southwest Contracting and is involved in farming. Shelby is a wellness specialist at Des Moines University.
2002
JAKe AND CiNDy TJeeRDsMA (’01) AKeHuRsT announce the birth of Mason Andrew on July 28. They live in Kansas City.
ANDReA COOPeR eLLis and her husband, Derek, announce the birth of Brady Michael on Jan. 17, 2008. They live in Kansas City.
JACOB AND KeRi sTANGL KeNDRiCK ◆ announce the birth of Samuel Parker on July 3. Jacob is an internal auditor at JE Dunn, and Keri is a compensation analyst at Saint Luke’s Health System. They live in Kansas City.
ADAM KNeiseL AND TAMMie sMiTH (’06) were married Aug. 9 in Omaha, NE.
An article about the personality traits of leaders, authored by Dr. Virgil Freeman, assistant professor of educational leadership, has been accepted for publication.
Fitzgerald wins Miss Missouri title
Thefifth time is a charm for Northwest graduate Lacey Fitzgerald ’05, who was crowned Miss Missouri last summer in Mexico, Mo.
Fitzgerald has competed in the past five Miss Missouri pageants, winning the swimsuit and evening gown preliminaries but never advancing to the top 10. This was the last year she was eligible to participate, so her top finish was that much more special.
“As a contestant aging out this year, this was the best reward, not only making the top 10 for the first time, but taking home the title,” she said.
Fitzgerald has been competing in pageants since she was 5 – for nearly 20 years. She has won several titles on state and national levels that have provided her with scholarships and the chance to travel throughout the country.
As Miss Missouri, Fitzgerald’s platform is the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. To Fitzgerald, who volunteers as a “big sister,” youth and mentoring programs have always been important to her.
“I think it is vital to have role models in your life and someone who is outside your family encouraging you and pushing you to do your best and succeed,” she said.
NATHAN LeOPARD and Jennifer Grossman were married Nov. 3, 2007, in Baltimore, MD. Nate is a senior account manager at Affinity Corporation. They live in State College, PA.
Tim is an EMT with the Caldwell County Ambulance District. They started their own lawn care business this past summer and have three children, Hank, 5, Aydan, 4, and Emily, 2.
During her tenure as Miss Missouri, Fitzgerald has enjoyed visiting the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, singing the national anthem at the Show Me State Games and a Northwest basketball game and spending time with the USO entertaining American soldiers. Taking the state title also allowed her to appear on the TLC reality television show Countdown to the Crown and compete in the Miss America pageant in January.
While at Northwest, Fitzgerald was a member of Phi Mu, KIDS Club, was a KZLX on-air personality, a tutor for English as a Second Language and served on the Homecoming committee.
She said her experience as Miss Missouri has kept her as busy as she was at Northwest.
“Being Miss Missouri is a full-time job. I travel almost every other day speaking at conventions, schools and clubs,” Fitzgerald said. “This title challenges me to get out and make a difference and meet new people.” n
2003
HeATHeR BusHBy BuRNs and her husband Jeremy, live in Parnell, with their daughter, Jalyn Ann, 1.
KARis HeFLiN MORROW and her husband, Adam, announce the birth of Isaiah Noble on Aug. 28. He joins Zeke.
KeNDRA MAsONeR RAMsey teaches high school science and coaches junior high volleyball in the Braymer C-4 Schools.
JOHN AND JuLie McCRARy sCHROeTeR announce the birth of Aliyah Grace on June 12. She joins Jack, 4, and Corban, 2. John is a GIS analyst with the City of Olathe. They live in Olathe, KS.
NiCK WieDeRHOLT AND DANeLLe BieRMANN (’04) were married May 31, 2008, in Maryville. They are both employed at Midland GIS Solutions and live in Maryville.
BRiAN LOeRTs and Megan Boeke were married Aug. 30. Brian is an agronomist at Farmer’s Elevator in Rock Rapids, IA, and Megan is a registered nurse at Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA.
JusTiN AND KeeLy BuRNs (’04) McALeeR were married May 31, 2008,
in Omaha, NE. Justin is a claims adjuster at Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, and Keely is a public relations specialist at Midwest Housing Equity Group.
ALisON MOseL (MAsTeR’s) has joined the University of Wyoming Athletics Sports Medicine unit where her main coverage is women’s basketball. The past five years she has been at Buena Vista University in Iowa where she oversaw the primary coverage of volleyball, men’s basketball, baseball and softball and was an instructor in the School of Education.
lacey Fitzgerald ’05 boards a limousine as she departs for the Miss America pageant.
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2004
ANDy CReGeR AND MeLissA WORLey were married July 19 in Omaha, NE. They live in Portland, OR.
NATHAN AND KAReN GeORGe (’05) DiNGMAN announce the birth of Benjamin Matthew on Aug. 12. Nathan is a teacher in the Adrian R-III School District, and
Karen is a teacher in the Butler R-V School District. They live in Butler.
JOe HARVey (MAsTeR’s) AND ANDReA TOMPKiNs (MAsTeR’s ’05) announce the birth of Virginia Maryn on Jan. 6. Joe just completed four years as the student services coordinator of the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and AnDi is the Museum School manager at the Arkansas Arts Center.
in Memoriam
JACK APPLeMAN ’67
62, died Sept. 15 in Rogers, AR. He was a guidance counselor, athletic director, coach and high school sports official in Iowa for 33 years before retiring and moving to Bella Vista, AR, in 2000.
eLAiNe GORsuCH
BOWeRs ’44
86, died Dec. 27 in Peoria, IL. She was manager of St. Mark’s Catholic School cafeteria until retiring in 1987.
eVeLyN PeRRy COCKAyNe ’33 95, died Dec. 7 in Carrollton. She was a librarian at the Carrollton Public Library for 15 years. She and her husband also owned a shoe repair business for 37 years and Cockayne’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning.
MiCHAeL DeLANey ’95 36, died Dec. 14 near Springfield. He was a
partner and manager at GDL International in St. Joseph.
BeuLA HORN DOWDeN ’41 (HORACe MANN)
85, died July 30 in Maryville. She was a retired postal clerk and postmaster, having served 27 years in the U.S. Postal Service.
MALLeRD MAuNe FRye ’54 79, died Dec. 27 in Concord, NH. From 1958 to 1962, she was the executive director of the Midland Empire Girl Scout Council and later became the physical education director for junior and senior high school girls in Red Oak, IA, before moving to Concord in 1968.
BuFORD GARNeR ’39 92, died Dec. 1 in Iowa City, IA. He held several teaching and administrative positions in Missouri before moving to
They live in Little Rock, AR.
KyLe KeRAus works at Ticketmaster. He lives in Johnston, IA.
LisA MiCHAeL KONeCNe and her husband, Cody, announce the birth of Wyatt Ray on July 9. He joins Layla, 2. They live in Corning, IA.
DANieL AND NATALie ALDeN McKiM announce the birth of Mace Alden on Sept. 4. He joins Titus, 2. Daniel is an account manager at
Key Bank and competes nationally as a professional Highland Games athlete and is ranked 11th in the United States. Natalie is a stay-at-home mom. They live in Kansas City.
TReNTON AND eRiN FReDeRiCK (’05, ’08) TALLMAN were married Nov. 3, 2007. Trenton is farm manager at Hunter’s Specialities, and Erin is director of special education at the Scotland County R-I School District. They live in Lancaster.
Iowa City, IA, in 1950 to become principal of City High School. From 1952 to 1969, he was the superintendent of schools in Iowa City. He continued his educational administration career at the State Department of Public Instruction in Des Moines, Grinnell Public Schools and Area Education Agency #16 in Fort Madison before retiring in 1981.
ROBeRT “BOB” HuMPHReViLLe ’56 76, died Jan. 13 in Clarinda, IA. He was an auditor with the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1960 and worked for Thompson’s Wholesale in Clarinda until he retired in 1980.
BeTTy McGee McCALLisTeR ’40 89, died April 21 in Lee’s Summit. She was a first-grade teacher in Princeton, Kansas City and Wellman, IA.
DARLeNe RAMsey MiLLeR ’63 84, died Nov. 26 in Bedford, IA. She began teaching in a one-room county school in 1941 and retired as principal of John Glenn Elementary School in St. Joseph in 1986. For the next 14 years, she tutored elementary students at her home in Savannah and taught GED classes in Savannah and St. Joseph.
RuTH MiLLiKeN ’42 86, died Oct. 19 in Wilton, CT. She was a professional soloist in Missouri and Iowa. From 1945 to 1956, she was the field assistant and later secretary to the field director for the American Red Cross at Treasure Island Naval Base in San Francisco. She was the first woman to serve on the National American Guild
For up-to-date campus events, visit www.nwmissouri.edu
For more information on alumni events, visit www. nwmissouri.edu/alumni or call (660) 562-1248.
For complete sports schedules and the latest information on bearcat athletics, visit www. northwestbearcats. com.
Call the student services Center at (660) 562-1212 for ticket information.
TEST YOUR MEMORY
Answers from page 31 faculty photographs:
1. Dr. George Gayler, 19501987, history and humanities
2. Dr. Jim Gates, 1969-1992, education
3. Barbara Bernard, 19661992, health
4. Dr. David Cargo, 1966-1981, geology
5. Dr. Jane Costello, 1968-1992, curriculum and instruction
6. Gilbert Whitney, 1951-1980, vocal music
7. Dr. David Bahnamann, 19681986, math
8. Dr. Bob Mallory, 1969-1981, geology
9. Dr. Charles Frye, 1981-1995, geology/geography
10. Homer LeMar, 1969-1992, psychology
11. Dr. William Trowbridge, 1971-2000, English
Alumni events
May 7 Central iowa Chapter social, 6 p.m., Kelley’s on beaver, Des Moines
May 7
Nebraska/Western Iowa Chapter social, 6 p.m., old Chicago, downtown omaha
May 30 Central iowa Chapter bearcat Family Picnic, 1-5 p.m., Coneflower Shelter C at Raccoon River Park, west Des Moines, iowa
June 4 Central iowa Chapter social, 6 p.m., Kelley’s on beaver, Des Moines
June 4
Nebraska/Western Iowa Chapter social, 6 p.m., old Chicago, downtown omaha
July 2 Central iowa Chapter social, 6 p.m., Kelley’s on beaver, Des Moines
July 2 Nebraska/Western Iowa Chapter social, 6 p.m., old Chicago, downtown omaha
July 4 southern iowa Chapter, participating in Creston and Clearfield, Iowa, parades
July 22 southern iowa Chapter, participating in lenox, iowa, Rodeo Parade
Miscellaneous events
May 1 trimester ends
May 2 spring Commencement, bearcat Arena
May 11 summer classes begin
May 30 Missouri Academy of science, Mathematics and Computing Commencement
July 30 summer Commencement, bearcat Arena, 7 p.m.
Aug. 31 Fall classes begin
sports
April 25 tennis MiAA Championships, Kansas City, Plaza
April 26-27 track and Field MiAA Multi-Event Championships, herschel neil track
May 2-3 baseball vs. Pittsburg state, bearcat Field, 1 p.m.
May 9-11 baseball MiAA tournament, Kansas City
Save the Date for the 1959 Golden Years Society Reunion
1959 was a great year:
● The first Barbie doll was produced
● Alaska and Hawaii became part of the United States
● “The Twilight Zone” was a hit television show
● Ford discontinued the Edsel
● NASA introduced America’s first astronauts to the world including John Glenn and Alan Shepard and YOU graduated from Northwest!
miss this once-in-a-lifetime
Golden Years Society Reunion ● Honoring the Class of 1959 ● October 23-24 ● Homecoming Weekend ● Registration information will be mailed closer to the date
Lasting Legacies
“Ann and I have known teachers from our high school and college days who made lasting positive impressions on our lives. We want to honor these relationships and our interest in Northwest. One of the best ways to do this is by assisting others as they prepare to educate tomorrow’s leaders.”
Donald D. Beeson ’59
Don Beeson ’59 and his wife, Ann, have named Northwest as the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy for the Donald D. and Ann Beeson Scholarship for International Student Teaching. This scholarship is one of many ways the Des Moines, Iowa, couple have shown their dedication to Northwest.
Not only has Don served three terms as president of the Northwest Foundation, but the Beeson’s financial support to Northwest places them in The James H. Lemon Society, The Centennial Society and The 1905 Society.
In 1985, Don worked with Chuck Veatch ’71 and Rollie Stadlman ’70 in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to jumpstart Northwest’s fundraising efforts. As a result, a deferred giving program through
life insurance was implemented. This innovative program enabled Northwest alumni and friends to make a substantial gift while paying relatively small tax-deductible annual premiums to the Foundation for a whole-life insurance policy.
Following service in the United States Air Force, Don attended Northwest where he was involved in Tau Kappa Epsilon, the Union Board and the Vets Club as he completed his degree in business administration and accounting. He entered the life insurance industry in 1959 and, after 40 years, retired as a senior agent for The Principal Financial Group in Des Moines. Ann had an 18-year career in the banking industry, and, with her husband, enjoys traveling and being involved in the lives of their children and grandchildren.
A gift of life insurance is an easy way to ensure a legacy for future generations of bearcats.
Consider these advantages:
n Make a significant new asset for the University while taking no major assets away from donor’s own beneficiaries
n long range pledges are made possible with small, manageable deposits
n tax-deductible donor contributions
n Does not offset the donor’s will or estate plan
n satisfaction that northwest will receive a gift greater than premiums paid
n offers an investment in a cause that has a personal meaning to donor
n leaves a lasting legacy at northwest
Contact the Office of University Advancement at (660) 562-1248 or advance@nwmissouri.edu to find out about the many advantages of creating a gift through life insurance.