Shipherd's REcord spring 2012

SPRING 2012

From the Office of the President Dear Friends:

graduating class in the we conferred degrees to our largest re whe 19, y Ma held was ent Commencem A. Morris Award, were s, and thus holders of the Donald uate grad five top r Ou . lege Col , two of whom are headed history of Olivet issue and represent our very best this in ured feat are ents stud se among them. The one onto a highly hing right here in Michigan, and on to medical school, two into teac year’s graduation Michigan State University. This competitive graduate program at s Trubac with the to honor Trustee Emeritus Charle also provided us with the chance MBA students causa. We also graduated our first Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris in insurance.

Course for pleted strategic plan, Charting the This issue features the recently com future the for on ond. This plan sets forth the visi es, issu the Olivet College of 2020 and Bey re futu and creating it. Throughout this issue and and maps out how we’ ll go about of ve ecti refl s and accomplishments that are you’ll see references to the activitie ond. the Olivet College of 2020 and Bey are advancing our effort to create lishments and mp Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. note include the growth, acco Other key highlights you should ing sett are ents program. Dr. Battaglia and our stud logy but for all of us. You’ll excitement within our psychology arch excellence, not only for psycho rese and c emi acad of ds dar stan s the election of current new and higher students and alumni. This include of ts men lish mp acco er oth y to the Charlotte City also note the man ociation president Branden Dyer Ass t men vern Go t den Stu g goin ches Association; and the student and out n ’91 by the American Football Coa Dea el No nus alum of ion gnit it is to be committed to Council; the reco ns ’98. These three embody what mo Sim a ann Bre Dr. of ship olar teaching and sch community of faculty and staff, individual and social responsibility.

In Memoriam section. As a close the to n ntio atte r you w dra to mixed emotion. They I’d also like notices and honorific messages with the s read us of each w kno I ni, ll some of the best memories students and alum w and loved, yet also help us to reca kne we se tho of loss the for s nes nae centenarians, Larida bring to us sad issue’s notices are two of our alum this ong Am s. ship tion rela ed valu these two remarkable ladies from our most lins ’28. I feel fortunate to have met Col ) end (Fri s nce Fra and ’31 n and remember Dr. David (Scott) Peterse of Olivet College. We also honor best the is t wha d odie emb and d rry Lu ’68 were among the very who both love ting David personally, he and Me mee of or hon the had er nev I ile cy of Olivet College and, for Prior ’65. Wh ions upon my assuming the presiden ulat grat con of e not l ona pers a nity, extend your thoughts, first to send me rest of the Olivet College commu the like , you w kno I . eful grat be that, I’ll always m listing. and friends of those in our memoria prayers and support to the family With very best wishes and regards,

Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. President

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS

MEMBERS

David T. Hayhow, L.H.D., Chair, Okemos The Hon. Judge Denise Page Hood, Vice Chair, Detroit William Middlebrooks, Vice Chair, West Bloomfield Robert M. Lawrence ’57, Secretary, Grosse Ile Stanley Dole, L.H.D., Treasurer, Grand Rapids

G. Asenath Andrews ’72, Detroit Sandy Aranyos ’68, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Sandra Boyer ex’85, Ann Arbor Thomas Burke ’82, Carmel, Ind. Dennis Daugherty ’70, Mattawan Robert Ewigleben, Albion Douglas Federau, East Lansing James T. Fitzpatrick ’86, Grand Ledge George F. Francis III, Southfield David E. Hathaway, J.D., Ada Rod Hathaway ’81, Wayland

Sharon R. Hobbs, Ph.D., East Lansing Timothy Hodge ’83, D.O., Holt Thomas Hoisington, Lansing Thomas E. Kolassa ’69, Battle Creek David Labrecque ’84, Battle Creek Dean Lewis ’55, J.D., Kalamazoo Charles McPhail ’64, Houston, Texas Karen (Wilson) Van Hentenryck ’81, South Lyon Jeff Wildern, Charlotte Janet (Stam) Zeaiter ’07, Mechanicsville, Va.

OLIVET COLLEGE SHIPHERD’S RECORD Shipherd’s Record is named in memory of “Father” John J. Shipherd, who established Olivet College in 1844. The magazine is published twice annually for Olivet alumni and friends.

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MAGAZINE STAFF Director of Media Relations and Senior Writer Molly (Reed) Goaley ’05 Director of Publications and Web Services Bruce Snyder

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COVER STORY Charting The Course for Olivet College 2020 and Beyond

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Psychology Program is Hidden Gem

Alumni Relations Marty (Mason) Jennings ’67 Sports Information Geoff Henson Advancement B.J. Hull Editorial Jeff Chaney Danielle Chauvin Jason Conkin ’97 Amber LeClear Katelyn Moore Send change of address notices to: Office of Alumni Relations 320 S. Main St., Olivet, MI 49076 Olivet, MI 49076 (269) 749-7644 mjennings@olivetcollege.edu

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CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION

Digging in the Dirt at the Bottom of the World

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Running Night Rings with Tradition

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Student Sweeps Local Election

President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. Executive Assistant to the President Barb Spencer Senior Vice President and CFO Bill Kurtz Vice President for Advancement B.J. Hull Provost and Dean of the College Maria G. Davis, Ph.D. Vice President for Administration Larry Colvin Vice President and Dean for Student Life Linda Logan, Ph.D.

Noel Dean ’91 Honored by AFCA National Award

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Departments 2 Around the Square 22 Advancement 24 Comet Athletics 27 Class Notes

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Director of Athletics Heather Bateman

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Full-Scale Pandemic Influenza Drill Held at The Cutler Event Center Olivet College, Eaton Rapids Medical Center and Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital partnered with District 1 Regional Medical Response Coalition (D1RMRC) and Comprehensive Emergency Management Associates, Inc. (CEMA) to conduct a full-scale pandemic influenza drill, titled District 1 Regional Playbook 3 (D1RE PLAY-3) on campus May 10.

The exercise, which also included participants from BarryEaton District Health Department, Eaton County Emergency Management, Olivet Fire Department and Olivet Police Department, was designed to simulate how the community would manage patients and hospital overcrowding in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak. The purpose of the drill was to evaluate plans and procedures for activating an Alternate Care Site (ACS) at Olivet College, EMT personnel prepare a “patient”for as well as the operations transport as part of pandemic training. of the site, and communications between the participating facilities and organizations.

During the drill, Olivet College students acting as “victims” checked in to Eaton Rapids Medical Center and Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital in Charlotte in the early morning. The student actors were then transported to the college’s Cutler Event Center, which serves as Eaton County’s designated ACS location

in the event of a pandemic or emergency. Once participants arrived at Olivet College, a fully equipped ACS, including incident command and treatment areas, security, mobile communications and medical supplies, food service and a functioning generator, were on hand.

“Olivet College was pleased to partner with the hospitals in Eaton County along with District 1 to be part of such an important training exercise,” said Linda Logan, Ph.D., vice Olivet senior Steven Mena is “admitted” into triage. president and dean for student life. “The drill helped to ensure that we are prepared to respond quickly and provide assistance to any type of natural or manmade emergency.

Testing our collaborative emergency plan allows us to discover what works and what areas we need to improve. The safety and security of our students and the surrounding communities are our top priority, and we are excited and proud that our students, faculty, staff and administrative team volunteered to be a part of this initiative.”

District 1 Regional Medical Coalition has conducted many Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) compliant exercises in the mid-Michigan area. HSEEP is a program in which exercises are designed and evaluated according to a national standard. The resulting exercise materials and lessons learned are then shared with others across the country.

Global Citizen Honors Program Hosts Inaugural Scholarship Competition Olivet College hosted its inaugural Global Citizen Honors Program (GCHP) Scholarship Competition Jan. 27 on campus.

More than 60 high school students competed for a grand prize full tuition scholarship to Olivet, as well as $126,000 in additional scholarship money throughout the day.

Students were selected for the competition based on their academic standing. All of the competitors are high achieving, incoming Olivet College freshmen who met specific grade point average and ACT score requirements.

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During the event, students participated in an interview session with faculty and staff members, as well as an essay writing competition. The program also included information about the GCHP and honors classes at Olivet; a question-andanswer session with President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D., and other college officials; and individualized visits with admissions and financial aid representatives.

Hailey Willett, an incoming freshman from Leslie, received the top prize for her essay, “For the Love of Detroit.”

From left: President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D.; Hailey Willett; Maria G. Davis, provost and dean; Matt Wait ’99, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies and Global Citizen Honors Program director.

Greek Societies Serve 10 Nonprofits in Port Austin In January, Olivet College President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D., along with more than 80 students, spent the day in service to 10 different nonprofit organizations in the greater Port Austin area. The students, who were pledges from each of the college’s Greek societies, worked with Friends Promoting Port Austin, an organization established to create family friendly events and support tourism in that area.

“As a college committed to Education for Individual and Social Responsibility, our students recognize that they have an obligation to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in our community,” said President Corey. “These students were in the midst of their Greek pledge period, an intense time of relationship building and induction into their respective societies, yet they took a day out of their schedules to go out and make a positive difference for others. I’m proud and pleased that they’d do so and that our Olivet College students are modeling what

Rowe and Hubbel Named Professors Emeriti The Olivet College Board of Trustees recently granted emeritus status to Don Rowe, professor of art, and Mike Hubbel, professor of insurance and risk management, upon their retirement. Both professors received the honor for exceptional service during their tenure at the college.

Rowe began teaching at Olivet in 1968.

His four decades of service to the college have included courses in art history, color and composition, drawing, painting, printmaking, art appreciation and general education.

Additionally, Rowe has served as chair of the Mike Hubbel Visual Arts Department and director of the liberal arts core program.

Rowe has received many honors as a member of the Olivet College faculty. He was awarded the Livingston Professorship in 1989, the highest faculty teaching honor awarded by the college.

Most recently, he earned the Riethmiller Outstanding Faculty Member Award for excellence in scholarship during the 2011 Honors Convocation. He continues to lend his exceptional teaching talents to students at Olivet College as a part-time instructor.

Hubbel served Olivet as professor of insurance and risk management and director of the Risk Management and

individual and social responsibility can and should be in the greater community.”

While the college hosts off-campus service trips monthly throughout the school year, the annual Greek service trip is the largest program of its kind and involves all of Olivet’s pledge classes. “For several years Olivet College students have been helping the community of Port Austin renovate a building that has become the new home of the Port Austin Historical Museum, which is scheduled to open later this year,” said Mike Fales ’75, director of service learning and campus ministries at Olivet.

During the trip, the students were greeted by State Representative Kurt Damrow at the Port Austin Visitors Center.

After a group orientation, the students were divided into smaller groups and transported to their worksites. The day concluded with a dinner served by community members at the Port Austin U and I Community Center.

Insurance Center for 20 years. During that time, he taught insurance and risk management courses, served as chair of the Business Administration Department and implemented the college’s first online graduate program, the Master of Business Administration in Insurance. He was also instrumental in developing educational partnership agreements with Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing and the Eaton Intermediate School District.

Hubbel led the Olivet College Risk Management and Insurance Program to national and international recognition. The program has been ranked eighth in the Don Rowe nation in number of students and graduates

by Business Insurance and Risk Management magazines, and was listed as one of 20 notable RMI programs in the world. Under his leadership, the college’s Alpha Alpha chapter of the student risk management association Gamma Iota Sigma was consistently ranked in the top three chapters in the nation.

Hubbel continues to design and conduct live and online insurance and risk management seminars for business professionals across the world, as he has done for previous clients Arch, Argo Group US, Deloitte, IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Risk Management Solutions, and Willis.

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Top Five Seniors Recognized Olivet recognized the best of its student body during Honors Convocation in April. The Donald A. Morris Awards are presented Emily Eldred Jacob Heller each year to the top five graduating seniors with the highest grade point average, and the professor whom each student deems the most influential in his or her academic career.

The 2011-12 recipients are: Emily Eldred, of Vermontville; Kelsie Kasuba, of Marshall; Jacob Heller, of Portage; Emily Pieri, of Cedarville; and Kelsey Singer, of Brooklyn.

Eldred chose to honor Leah Knapp, D.V.M., professor of biology. Kasuba also selected Knapp. Heller chose to honor Janine

Kelsie Kasuba

Emily Pieri

Kelsey Singer

Peters, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science.

Pieri selected Gary Wertheimer, professor of art, and Singer chose to honor Matthew Wait ’99, J.D., associate professor of interdisciplinary studies.

The Donald A. Morris Award was named after a former president of the college. Morris served Olivet from 1977-92.

Charles M. Trubac Delivers Commencement Address to More Than 200 Graduating Seniors

Olivet recognized more than 200 seniors as part of graduation ceremonies May 19 at The Cutler Event Center.

During the ceremony, Charles M. Trubac, former regional vice president of State Farm Insurance Companies and Olivet College trustee emeritus, was presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

A resident of East Lansing, Trubac is a longtime supporter of Olivet College and helped to establish the college’s Risk Management and Insurance Center.

Throughout his career, Trubac has achieved many accomplishments that have positively impacted the companies he has worked for, as well as the insurance industry and the greater community. He began in 1951 as an agent for State Farm Insurance in Washington, D.C. Four years later, he was appointed agency manager and progressed through other management positions to deputy regional vice president of the regional office in Frederick, Md. He came to Michigan as regional vice president in June 1971. The Michigan office grew substantially during his tenure. At the time of his retirement in 1992, there were nearly 1,700 employees, 730 agents and 50 agency managers. The

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companies serviced 1.2 million auto policies, 760,000 fire policies, 200,000 life policies and 42,000 health policies for earned premiums for Michigan totaling nearly $1 billion.

In addition to his business accomplishments, Trubac has also demonstrated Olivet College’s responsibility ideal through service to others and his community. He has been involved in the Optimist Club; Public Housing Authority of Frederick, Md.; Binder Park Zoological Society; Junior Achievement; Michigan Avenue Community Organization; and more. He has also demonstrated a substantial commitment to advancing ethical decision making and management as a graduate of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and as an active member of its Ethics Corp, traveling the country to promote a responsibility for ethical decision making, and management principles and practice. In 1994, Trubac was inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame.

Bethany Merfeld, of Waldron, was the senior class speaker for Commencement. Students who spoke at Baccalaureate May 18 include: Zachary Coddaire, of Lake Odessa; Abigail Fangboner, of Lansing; Jessica Howard, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Michelle Koebel, of Whitehall; Caitlin Lohr, of Holland; and James Williams, of Battle Creek. Phil Reed, Criminal Justice Program director and assistant professor of criminal justice, was also chosen by the senior class to speak as part of Baccalaureate.

Faculty and Staff News and Notes Michelle Lang was recently named an admissions representative. She previously served as the college’s assistant volleyball coach. Her new responsibilities include recruiting prospective students to Olivet.

Lang earned bachelor’s degrees in international studies and psychology with a minor in Spanish from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

In an effort to teach students about the dangers of drinking and driving, Larry Smith, director of the African Michelle Lang American Culture Center and alcohol education, hosted a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Simulator on campus in February. The program was sponsored in part by a grant from the Prevention Network, which was awarded to Olivet in the fall for the purpose of educating students about the consequences of alcohol abuse.

Eighty students and four teachers from Union City High School traveled to Olivet to experience the DUI Simulator as part of Larry Smith their alcohol education program. In addition, the students were given an admissions tour of campus.

Bruce Snyder, director of publications and Web services, was recently recognized by the Sixth District of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for designing the college’s presidential inauguration invitation. Snyder, of Battle Creek, received a Bronze ADDY Award for the project.

Conducted annually by the AAF, the local ADDY Awards are the first of a three-tiered national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie for recognition as the very best in their markets. Local winners then compete against other winners within their regions in one of 14 District competitions.

District winners are then forwarded to the National ADDY Awards competition.

Snyder was recognized among 300 local ADDY winners at an awards banquet hosted by the Mid-Michigan Creative Alliance Feb. 23 at the Michigan State University Union.

In February, Vicky Snyder, admissions representative, partnered with the Lansing School District’s Parent Coordinators and Office of Bilingual Education to offer assistance to graduating seniors and their parents in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Snyder and her team hosted a workshop at Sexton High School, which provided financial and technical advice to parents and students to help guide them through the online application process.

Russell Named Risk Management and Insurance Recruiter Jill Russell recently joined the Olivet College admissions team as risk management and insurance recruiter. She is responsible for growing enrollment in the college’s Risk Management and Insurance Center.

Prior to Olivet, Russell worked with programs involving epidemiology and communicable diseases, and health education and promotion for the Kent County Health Department. She is also an American Red Cross certified instructor of CPR, AED, first aid and pediatric first aid.

A resident of Lowell, she is an avid volunteer in her community, having served the Pink Arrow Pride Project, Murray Lake Elementary, Lowell Middle School, Immaculate Heart of Mary School and St. John’s Home Auxiliary.

Jill Russell Under the guidance of Dina Battaglia, Ph.D., Psychology Program director and associate professor of psychology, three seniors had papers accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association in Chicago in April.

Caitlin Barrington-Reed, of Battle Creek, made her second appearance at the conference with her paper titled, “Will Grandma Get the Job?: The Role of Perceived Age in Hiring Decisions;” Chelsie Whitesall, of Chelsea, presented her research on facial expressions and perceived attractiveness in her paper titled, “Why Your Mug Shot Might Not Be Your Dina Battaglia, Ph.D. Best Shot: The Role of Facial Expression in Determining Perceived Attractiveness;” and Arthur Chupp, of Bellevue, presented his research on the impact of persistence and perseverance on retention to graduation in his paper, “Seniors Get Gritty: Does Grit Affect Matriculation?”

Michelle Keene has joined Olivet College as administrative assistant for advancement. In addition to her administrative duties, she is responsible for supporting the college’s database system.

Keene previously served as administrative assistant to the organizational services department at W.K. Kellogg Foundation for nine years. Prior to that, she served in a number of capacities for Starr Commonwealth.

Keene earned an associate degree from Kellogg Community College. She resides in Michelle Keene Olivet with her two sons.

Vicky Snyder

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With the college we envision for the future a point on the horizon, the Olivet College community, composed of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, have begun Charting the Course for Olivet College 2020 and Beyond. Our strategic plan articulates this vision and maps out the way in which we can realize this future together.

It defines the Olivet College of the future through eight key attributes that we believe are central to a successful Olivet College in the decades ahead. Each of the key attributes is supported by strategic objectives and their associated actions which, if accomplished, will help to create the Olivet College we envision.

As you read through Shipherd’s Record, we invite you to look for the following graphic, which represents key attributes of the strategic plan in action.

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The Mission of Olivet College: As we chart the course for the Olivet College of 2020 and beyond, we recognize that, “Olivet College’s mission is to provide an education that enriches lives intellectually, morally and spiritually to a diverse campus community. Having attained these qualities through their educational experiences at Olivet, our hope is that our graduates will embody the ‘divine art and science of doing good to others,’ as stated by the college’s founding fathers in 1844.”

Through the realization of this strategic plan we will ensure the effective and long-lasting ability to carry out our distinctive and important mission in the years to come.

1.1.

2.1.

2.2.

2.3.

2.4.

2.5.

3.1.

3.2.

3.3.

3.4.

3.5.

Key Attributes of the Olivet College of 2020 and Beyond: As we look toward the Olivet College of 2020 and beyond, we envision a future where the college:

Key Attribute 1

Key Attribute 2

Key Attribute 3

Embodies in its curriculum and campus life our values-based mission of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility.

Facilitates the vibrancy of campus and community life, where students are empowered and engaged learners; where we support a culture of diversity and global inclusion; where each person feels included, supported and respected; where we build community and have fun together; and most importantly, where faculty, staff and students want to be, live and learn.

Provides a unique educational opportunity, where students from a wide assortment of backgrounds and abilities succeed as engaged learners, and where “providing opportunity” is defined by enhanced academic achievement, high graduation rates, graduate school acceptance or vocational placement of our graduates, and the social contributions of our alumni.

Strategic Objectives 2.1. Develop a “place” which optimally facilitates student life and campus vibrancy.

2.2. Strengthen the residential culture on campus.

2.3. Strengthen the overall quality of the athletic program for the benefit of not only studentathletes, but for the whole college community.

2.4. Reinforce connections and collaborations between the college and surrounding community with an emphasis on economic and community development.

2.5. Leverage our technological capabilities to provide effective communication with both the college and external community.

Strategic Objectives 3.1. Recruit students who are a “good fit” for our mission and vision.

3.2. Intentionally diversify the student and employee population.

3.3. Raise retention and persistence to graduation rates.

3.4. Increase job placement and graduate or professional school attainment rates in every academic program.

3.5. Raise social contributions of alumni.

Strategic Objectives 1.1. Advance a culture of responsibility for all students and employees through meaningful applications of the Olivet College Compact.

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4.1.

4.2.

4.3.

5.1.

5.2.

6.1.

6.2.

Key Attribute 4

Key Attribute 5

Key Attribute 6

Facilitates through an international perspective the development of productive and responsible global citizens who think critically, communicate effectively, work well with a diverse array of others, and embody individual and social responsibility.

Ensures an educational experience that is strong in professional preparation within a contemporary liberal arts foundation and develops critical, independent thinkers who possess a strong ethical compass.

Prepares students for a rapidly changing, technologicallyenabled global economy and society.

Strategic Objectives 4.1. Define, develop, and implement an “international learning experience� appropriate for Olivet College.

4.2. Increase international student enrollment.

4.3. Ensure that the curriculum addresses broader global views and cross-disciplinary examinations of global issues.

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Strategic Objectives 5.1. Develop a robust culture of scholarship and continuous professional development among the faculty.

5.2. Ensure the relevance, effectiveness and viability of the curriculum.

Strategic Objectives 6.1. Ensure the ubiquitous availability of technological resources, electronically available information and e-services on campus.

6.2. Integrate technology into the curriculum in such a way that it connects with the economic and social global context.

7.1.

A

B

C

Key Attribute 7 Is financially healthy and stable, and effectively directs financial resources at achieving priorities.

Strategic Objectives and Their Associated Actions 7.1. Strengthen overall financial position.

A. Strategically grow the oncampus enrollment of the college, through increasing the new student population as well as increasing retention, to a level that will create the greatest opportunity for longterm institutional viability and sustainability.

B. Increase the endowment.

C. Increase unrestricted cash reserves (working capital).

7.2.

7.3.

7.4.

7.5.

7.2. Align financial resources with institutional goals using datadriven decision making.

7.3. Establish a multiyear strategic budget which connects operational and capital budgeting to strategic priorities.

7.4. Create and promote an entrepreneurial structure within which faculty can operate to develop and drive the resources in their own programs.

7.5. Ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the administrative staff.

8.1.

8.2.

Key Attribute 8 Has a regional and national reputation as a college that effectively prepares students to be not only economically successful, but to take responsibility to make positive change in their local and global communities.

Strategic Objectives 8.1. Increase recognition of the college on the local, regional and national stage.

8.2. Ensure centrality of academics and mission in our public image.

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Psychology Program is Hidden Gem

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From left: Caitlin Barrington-Reed, Ashley Laprise, Dina Battaglia,Ph.D., Kalynne Allard and Jessica Tighe.

BY MOLLY (REED) GOALEY ’05

It’s no wonder why Olivet is renowned for such programs as insurance and risk management, criminal justice, and the natural and physical sciences. These professional disciplines, accompanied with a foundation in the liberal arts and backed by expert faculty, deserve to be lauded for their excellence in education and career preparation.

But a surprising new underdog is stealing some of that well deserved thunder. As Olivet College continues on its course toward 2020 and beyond, the Psychology Program refuses to be left behind.

Since the 2008-09 academic year, the number of declared psychology majors has more than tripled, growing from 19 students to 67, and Olivet students

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are increasingly being accepted to present research at the Midwestern Psychological Association’s annual convention in Chicago each year.

The catalyst behind the program’s extraordinary growth is Dina Battaglia, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology (or “Dr. B.,” as her students call her).

Since her arrival in August 2008, the psychology curriculum has undergone a complete overhaul, and a program that was nearly non-existent is now one of Olivet’s most in-demand.

In February, we sat down with Battaglia and five of her psych majors to get their take on the program’s transition. How did psychology suddenly become Olivet College’s hidden gem? We’ll let them explain.

Expert, knowledgeable faculty member is committed to student success – and has high expectations.

While psych majors at Olivet tend to describe their courses as “fun” and “interesting,” you will never hear one use the word “easy.” In addition to demonstrating a thorough, comprehensive understanding of the coursework, Battaglia expects a certain degree of professionalism and involvement from her students. When

off campus, psych majors are proud to represent Olivet College because of all the hard work they put into their academic research, activities and professional demeanor.

Battaglia is committed to providing her students with the best education possible in psychology, as well as preparation for their careers or postgraduate work. In turn, her students are accountable for their own success.

Battaglia: “The students are basically in charge of the trajectory of the program. When I first arrived at Olivet the psychology curriculum was very myopic.

It was very limited and focused simply on clinical psychology and counseling.

“I designed the current curriculum based on input from the students and some of the courses they were interested in. Now we have areas in applied psychology, such as health psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, intimate relationships, etc. So students

can come away with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Olivet and they can pursue careers in business, health care, social services, medical professions, and the list goes on. Some classes are required of everybody, but then they can pick and choose which courses best match their career aspirations.

“Our program is very student-driven and I’ll match them. If they put in 150 percent, I’ll put in 150 percent.”

Kalynne Allard, senior: “After graduation I am taking a year off in order to get patient care hours in a medical setting. I need these in order to get accepted into a Physician Assistant graduate program, which is what I plan to do as a career. I think the biggest way Dr. B. has prepared me for this is by teaching me how to be a professional. For example, she does not allow phones in class, will not accept papers if they are late or if they are not stapled, and during presentations she expects professional attire.

“This year I got a job at a nearby hospital and I have been shadowing different doctors; this requires extreme professionalism because these people may end up being my references for future endeavors. I greatly appreciate Dr. B.’s guidance with that.”

Intimate class structure allows students to be actively engaged in their learning, not just passive recipients of information.

Battaglia is vested in the interests and aspirations of her students, and describes the Psychology Program as a studentcentered learning team. Students not only have input on the structure of the curriculum, they also instruct their own weekly seminar. Psych majors are expected to be involved in each other’s learning through participation in class, in seminar, and in the program’s honor society and student organizations.

Jessica Tighe, junior: “Students organize seminar as a leadership team which is composed of the members of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology majors. Each member is chair of a specific team, such as the community service team, fundraising team, or portfolio

team. We teach each other the same things we would learn from Dr. B., but we are learning it from a student perspective, as well. The student instructors know everyone’s questions and how to answer them because we’ve all had the same questions at some point.

“Psychology Club also benefits my education because it enables me to have hands on, fun, important, real world experience with psychology. I get to literally do things with concepts and theories and am able to really see the difference that they make. For example, we hosted an Autism Awareness Concert in the fall with country artist DeWayne Spaw and donated the funds to the Harper Creek Autistic Impaired Classroom and Autism Speaks.

When we delivered the proceeds, we got to learn about how children with autism are being taught.”

Caitlin Barrington-Reed, senior: “When I first visited Olivet’s campus, I decided a small college was probably a lot better for me than Michigan State or University of Michigan, where I had originally planned to go.

What really stuck for me is that the psychology courses here opened my eyes to how broad the field actually is. Dr. B. even talked me into taking industrial/ organizational psychology, which kind of scared me at first but she thought it would interest me. You probably wouldn’t get that at a big university because your professor wouldn’t know your personal interests and wouldn’t be able to recommend courses like that for you.”

Ashley Laprise, senior: “The psych group is a very close-knit community of people who help each other. I used to be a double major in another program and it just wasn’t the same. I didn’t really feel comfortable in a bigger classroom like I do with the psych program.” continued SPRING

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Psychology Program continued from pg. 11

Research and presentation experience is a critical component to a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Olivet College When Battaglia first arrived at Olivet, no psych majors were involved in independent research. In fact, it wasn’t even offered as a course. She suggested a student who was working on a research project for

potential graduate professors, but also other psychology students. You can really see the difference of what standards of psychology Olivet has compared to other schools. We always present ourselves professionally, dress nicely and stay off our cell phones during presentations. I really do feel like I’ve learned how to be a true professional from being here at Olivet.”

beyond. They hope the program is one that continues to instill in students the value of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility, provide a unique educational opportunity, develop productive and responsible global citizens, and create an educational experience that is strong in professional preparation within a contemporary liberal arts foundation.

BarringtonReed: “If I hadn’t gone “By 2020, my vision for psychology to school here, I would at Olivet includes a program that is have never known that MPA was an option for energized by both a large number me. It just seemed so of majors and a large number of unattainable and it’s really not. I felt really successful alumni who have lucky because Dr. B. internalized the values instilled made sure I was prepared for every step by both Olivet College and 5 of that presentation. I its Psychology Program.” felt like an independent student while at the - Dina Battaglia, Ph.D. same time having the appropriate guidance to be successful. MPA made me a very the honors program present at the competitive candidate for graduate school, Midwestern Psychological Association’s and I wouldn’t have been able to put that (MPA) convention in Chicago. This year, on a resume if I hadn’t come to Olivet.” three students were accepted to present at MPA. Looking toward the future As the Psychology Program continues Chelsie Whitesall, senior: “I hope to gain momentum, Battaglia and her as we continue to present at MPA that students have big plans for charting the Olivet becomes a staple there. It’s really course to the Olivet College of 2020 and giving us a chance to network with not only

Battaglia: “By 2020, my vision for psychology at Olivet includes a program that is energized by both a large number of majors and a large number of successful alumni who have internalized the values instilled by both Olivet College and its Psychology Program. Our number one goal, albeit today or in the future, is to do our part in representing Olivet College in a positive manner in all of our professional and personal endeavors.”

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Barrington-Reed: “I envision the future of the program to be a bright one.

Our numbers are growing exponentially, and who knows? In five years, we could have our own building! When students are searching for colleges, I want them to say, ‘I’m applying to Olivet because their Psychology Program is amazing!’ I’m confident we’ll get there because the training we get at Olivet only sets us up for success.”

Lowell Football Coach Noel Dean Honored by AFCA National Award

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BY JEFF CHANEY, THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

When Lowell football coach Noel Dean ’91 first came up with the idea of the Lowell “Pink Arrow Pride Project” in February of 2008, he had no idea how far the fundraiser for Gilda’s Club of Lowell would reach.

Now schools across the country, both high school and college, have football games to help raise funds for a long list of needy charities.

And the Pink Arrow Pride Project, which has raised close to a million dollars in its four years, was even chronicled on NBC’s ‘Today Show’ earlier this year, showing how Dean’s idea has touched so many.

For that, Dean has won this year’s American Football Coaches Association Noel Dean ’91 Power of Influence Award.

Dean was nominated for the award last year by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association, and

learned earlier this season that he had won this year.

“When I looked up all the people that had won this award in the past, I said no way,” Dean said.

“It’s unbelievable. I was extremely surprised when I found out. I couldn’t understand it until I looked into it. I’ve never received an award of this magnitude. I don’t know what to say, other than I am so proud of my town, my team and the people that have supported this project.”

Dean said his intentions when he first came up with the idea were to raise some money, and teach some lessons.

“We were just looking to teach a few boys about service,” Dean said.

“Then it just took off.”

Dean, who has won three state championships while coaching at Lowell, said this may define his legacy as a coach more than all the wins.

“I think this is more important,” Dean

said. “When you get to it, to use what we do in football in a way to leverage it in a way to help people, support people, educate people and give people a chance to know they are cared for and loved is so important.”

Dean, who has also won two Steve Spicer Memorial Leadership Awards for service from the MHSFCA, was an easy choice for the Power of Influence Award, which is in its 10th year.

“It’s great that Noel gets this national recognition,” former MHSFCA president Steve Wilson said. “It’s an honor well deserved. It’s one thing to be honored in the state of Michigan, but another to be recognized throughout the country for this award.

“No. 1, it’s great for Lowell and Coach Dean, not only as a football coach but for a community project like this,” he said. “Noel leads this state in community support. His Pink Arrow Project is huge, and now a lot of schools have followed that lead.”

Dean will receive his award on Jan. 10 at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner in San Antonio, Texas.

“That will be fun,” Dean said. “I will be so excited to go out there to see this event. That’s going to be a pretty neat experience.”

Originally published in The Grand Rapids Press, Oct. 11, 2011

Parker Inducted into Massachusetts State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame

BY AMBER LECLEAR, SENIOR Keith Parker ’66 was inducted to the Massachusetts State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in April. Parker served as Head Football Coach at Boston English High School, the oldest public high school in the United States, from 1980-2009.

During his tenure, the Bulldogs won two state championships, five City of Boston championships, and placed first or second in the Boston North League 15 times. Parker coached the Mass Shriner’s Classic (an area all-star game)

in 1994 and 2006. He was named Boston Globe Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1997. Parker also received the New England Patriots Coach of the Week Award twice.

In 1997, Parker’s team achieved a perfect 12-0 season.

“It’s something I’m very proud of,” Parker said.

Parker’s coaching career ended in 2009, with a record of 141-168-5. “I had a great run during my career,” he said. “To be selected to be inducted into our state’s Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2012 is the highest honor, as a football coach, that I could possibly receive.”

E-mail Keith at coacholde@comcast.net.

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BY KATELYN MOORE Originally published in The Forest-Blade, Swainsboro, Ga.

Breanna Simmons ’98, Ph.D.

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When someone meets Breana Simmons ’98, Ph.D., for the first time, she is usually asked one question above all others: “Why here?”

“Everyone from the lady at the power company to the DMV asks how I got to Swainsboro (Ga.).

I’ve been all over the world and I’ve worked with all these famous people, and everyone wants to know why I’m here,” she says. “I like it here! This area of the world is my favorite part. I like the climate, I like the agriculture, I like the industry, I love the people and the culture. To me, the Southeast in general is a big cultural hug. It doesn’t get any warmer and friendlier than Georgia.”

Simmons is definitely one who appreciates the warmth of Georgia, especially as she spent four years of her life doing research with the McMurdo Long Term Ecological Research Station in McMurdo, Antarctica.

“I had heard of that research and had never been interested in it nor wanted to go to the Antarctic, because it is really cold down there and I don’t like the cold,” she says, “But working in the Antarctic was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had, and I liked it so much, I went back four times.”

Raised outside Detroit, Simmons attended a large high school and was, by her words, “always very science-y and art-y.” Upon graduation from high school, she immediately enrolled at Olivet College.

“I was ready for college at age five,” she says. “College was something I did really well and was the thing I was good at.”

She explains that she majored in art until she got her first A-.

“I switched to science because it was easier. I knew I could be the top of my class in science, but I knew there was no way I was going to be the best artist,” she says. “I couldn’t handle being second best at something.”

Most people do pretty much the opposite during their collegiate career, but Simmons was definitely not one to shun a work load, double-majoring in environmental science and communications with a minor in biology. She completed her bachelor’s degree in four years, with summers off, while holding between two to four jobs at any given time, being an active member of Alpha Lambda Epsilon, playing two sports, acting as a residence advisor, working as a DJ for WOCR, being crowned Homecoming Princess and speaking at graduation.

“Whenever I hear my students complain that it is impossible, I tell them that it is not,” she says.

“The thing that I can offer them is that this is what I was really good at, and I hope to help them be good at it, too.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree, she applied to five graduate schools. “None of them accepted me,” she explains. “I did some crying and then went to visit a professor at Michigan State who needed someone to run the Bug House, a kindergarten through 12th grade learning facility based on entomology.”

While working there, she won a grant to do some work on golf courses as her graduate project, which is where she got interested in the “little things that were living in the soil.” After graduation, she spoke with a professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) and wanted to work with him, but there was no grant money to bring her on, so she took a job with Stanford University in Hawaii as a research assistant identifying arthropods that came out of leaf litter samples. A few months later, she received a call that UGA had received some grant money to bring her on to do her Ph.D. work and have her as a teacher.

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She taught biology and soil ecology at UGA while working on her graduate research in cotton. For the project, she managed a farm near Athens, Ga. and did research down in Coffee County.

“It [Coffee County] was my first introduction to the Coastal Plain of

Georgia,” she explains. “I’ve been all over the world, and this is my favorite part. I tell my students, who have mostly never been out of this part, to travel, because they may find their favorite part is somewhere else.

I grew up in Detroit! How would I have known that Southeast Georgia would be my favorite part of the whole world?”

When Dr. Simmons completed her Ph.D., she was offered a job with Diane Wall at the McMurdo Long Term Ecological Research Station and Colorado State University.

“I asked my officemates if I’d be stupid to turn down a free trip to the

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Antarctic, and of course, they said yes, so I took the job,” she says.

Getting ready for life on the bottom of the world was a memorable experience for Simmons. “I was really scared and wasn’t sure I was going to like it at all,” she explains. “You go from Los Angeles, Calif. to Auckland, New Zealand; from Auckland to Christchurch, NZ, and then you go to the clothing distribution center where they fit you with your gear. There’s a bag of stuff with your name on it that you have to try on: two pairs of thermal underwear, a fleece layer, snow pants, a wind layer, a parka, six pairs of wool socks, several kinds of mittens and hats and your bunny boots, which are big rubber boots that keep the cold out.

“You try it all on, and mine was too small, so I asked if there were no fat people in the Antarctic, and the lady there said, ‘No, honey, the fat people are already there’ and I said, ‘Well, they have my gear!’

I resembled, a little bit, that kid from ‘A Christmas Story’ who couldn’t put his arms down. Every time I sat, my snow pants unzipped. Everything was too small,” she recalls. “Here I was, going to a place that I didn’t want to with a team that I didn’t know, in gear that was too small.

You get packed on a cargo plane, so you’re sitting in these little jump seats. Everyone knew everyone, and here I was in the toosmall gear not knowing anyone, and I was terrified. We got to the Antarctic and it was just unbelievable. You land on the ice runway and it’s just… The thing I noticed first was that there was no sound. Second, there was no smell. I ended up taking the job and devoting four years of my life to Antarctic research.

“It is a really interesting place to study purely theoretical ecology and I don’t

think there’s another place where you can do that,” she explains. “Nematodes and collembola are the largest terrestrial organisms in that area. There are marine animals such as penguins and several whale types, but the biggest land animal is a millimeter in length.”

For her work as a member of a United States Antarctic expedition, she was awarded the Antarctic Service Medal of the United States of America. This award is given by the National Science Foundation in recognition of service to America and was provided by Public Law 600 enacted by the 86th Congress in July 1960.

After these credentials, it really is a wonder that Simmons chose to join the

staff of East Georgia College (EGC), rather than a larger university. She currently teaches biology and microbiology, has offered a course in environmental biology, and will teach evolution in the fall.

She plans to teach ecology and conservation biology as part of the upcoming four-year program, and hopes to get a research program started.

“I’d only ever worked at top-tier research universities, and there is something very cold and impersonal about those places,” she says. “I hadn’t been on campus here more than 10 minutes, and I felt really welcomed and the idea that I could bring my expertise to a student who may have never been outside of the county was really exciting.”

“There’s a misconception that people who teach at small colleges, in particular small two-year colleges, are there because their family is there and they can’t move— well, my family isn’t here. They’re there because they couldn’t get another job— I had plenty of opportunities. That they’re there because they couldn’t cut it in the real world—I’m a successful scientist. I’m here because I want to be here. I want to teach these students,” she says.

She plans to teach more upper-level courses in the future, to expand the courses the college can offer to students, and to do more research with students. Her students currently have to do research projects and simple experiments, and she has to bring in someone to help judge them, because “I always turn into a proud mama when they’re done.”

“These students are capable of so much more than they have been asked to do and it is marvelous to challenge them and to really force them, sometimes against their will, to think

harder about something,” she says. “I want to help make EGC become a place where people want to go because it is just so amazing.”

“I fell in love with this entire area. The campus is gorgeous, the people couldn’t be nicer, the students are an underrepresented, underserved group of students that come from a socioeconomically depressed area that isn’t really served by places like UGA,” she explains. “EGC seems like an oasis to me, a place I could go and feel appreciated and useful.”

Simmons hopes to inspire some kids who have never even thought of what’s living in the soil to be amazed by what’s living in the soil. “My poor microbiology students,” she says. “I inadvertently turn them into germaphobes when I’m just trying to teach them that we’re superheroes. We come into contact with so much stuff, and on the whole, we’re hardly ever sick.”

She lives for the “light bulb moments,” when students realize that what she is teaching is applicable in the real world.

“Biology is the study of life, and it can’t get more applicable than that,” she says. “People say, ‘Oh, I’m not a science person,’ but by biological default, you are a science person. Who you are is dictated by genes, and that’s biological, and the process goes on from there, with things controlling looks and behavior. Some students sleep through it, but I don’t teach for them. I teach for the ones who are the history majors because they liked history and then discovered that they really liked biology, or for the art majors who think art is too hard.”

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dancing. Those who were standing on the floor, Linda Logan, Ph.D., vice president and dean of student life; Jason Meadows ’03, associate dean for student life; senior Mack Shannon, Inter-society Council

(ISC) president, and others could feel the vibrations from the hectic crowd. “It’s crazy in here!” an alumna of Alpha Lambda Epsilon shouted to an active. Alumni and actives from other houses were shaking hands and hugging as they reunited for this special night. Pledges were part of the movement, making their house’s unique call and watching what was going on around them.

Each house was sitting in its own section, which was marked by balloons with their respective colors. On one side were green, purple and black. On the other were orange, blue and red. In the middle were blue, pink and maroon. When it was time to start the event, Shannon got the crowd to find their places and said into the microphone, “If you are not Greek… Campus Safety, please escort them to the door! Better luck next year.”

President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D., addressed the crowd, saying how it is good

to get involved with Greek life and wishing everyone a safe and positive pledging experience. Each house’s pledge captains came to center stage to announce the class of 2012 for his or her society. Brothers, sisters and other Greek friends cheered and applauded as the pledges were announced.

This year, the traditional race around the square to ring the bell was canceled due to extreme weather conditions, according to Logan and Meadows.

The race has been a part of the Running Night tradition since 1965, when Marty (Mason) Jennings ’67, director of alumni relations, pledged Soronian. At that time, only the women ran to the church bell, and Running Night was not held in Mott. They started in Dole Hall, getting announced with their pledge class and running down the front stairs. Jennings said the pledges were always “buzzed with excitement.”

After Soronian, Alpha Lambda Epsilon and Sigma Beta were announced, all of the sororities’ pledges would run to the

Ross Bohms ’71 Adelphic Alpha Pi pledge class of 1968.

Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Olivet College

Vern Hazard ’83 Phi Alpha Pi pledge class of 1979.

Leadership Consultant at Flippen Group in College Station, Texas

Ed Heator ’80 Kappa Sigma Alpha pledge class of 1978.

Director of Planned Giving at Olivet College

Bohms has a frank opinion of Running Night, then and now. “I was nervous. I didn’t know what I was getting into.” He recalls the tradition of running with one’s “pledge father” from Blair Hall to their respective house; “The point was to keep up with your pledge father, or for him to keep up with you.” When Bohms got to the end of his run, “I went from being cheered to less so when I got in the house.”

Today, Bohms is co-advisor to Adelphic Alpha Pi with Mike Fales ’75, director of service learning and campus ministries, who celebrated the 40th anniversary of his Running Night this year.

The year before Hazard pledged, the Phi Alpha house had burned down, so his was a unique pledging experience. He said, “It was tough but well worth it… You had to go through difficult times to appreciate the friendship.

“I have so many wonderful moments of giving my pin away and serenading at the Soronian house and going down to the river,” he added.

Hazard spoke about how beneficial a small school is. “I was a part of something, but at the same time, I had friends at other places and who were independents; it was very special.”

Hazard now attends Olivet College golf outings and supports both the college and the fraternity. “We may be a small school but networking is still very powerful. Every time I’m in town I stop by the house to say hello.”

Heator says he owes the Kappa Sig fraternity, “It’s the reason I came back to Olivet College.” For that influential tool, combining friendship with motivation, he wishes more students would get involved in societies.

“During pledging my grade point went up because we studied every day.”

Today, Heator is the fraternity’s advisor, and is working hard with the men to get the house on 204 S. Main St. back in livable condition. “We are in the midst of saving the Kappa Sig house. We have a lot of people who can do a little; what we need is some people who can do a lot.”

BY DANIELLE CHAUVIN, SENIOR Mott Auditorium was a colorcoordinated sea of people Jan. 20 for Running Night, the ritual start to pledging at Olivet College. The waves came from the people overfilling the auditorium who were shouting, clapping, singing and

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Olivet Congregational Church and ring the bell there.

The men from Kappa Sigma Alpha, Adelphic Alpha Pi and Phi Alpha Pi were announced in front of Blair Hall. Their “pledge fathers” would grab the hand of the pledge as he was announced and run with him to his house; the point was for the pledge to keep up with his “father.”

Adelphic alumnus Mike Fales ’75,

with the weather” to have the event there, he said. “Now I miss the tradition of announcing the pledges in Dole and Blair because it was unique to the school. It was a special and beautiful tradition.”

Tammy Walters ’80, director of conferences and housing, who pledged Sigma Beta in 1977, remembers the bell in the square on her Running Night.

“Ringing the bell was a part of the fun…

I remember the night being jam packed with events,” she said.

Today, though Running Night is held in Mott instead of the dorms, and the bell is rung in the square instead of in the church, one element is still the same. The enthusiasm and excitement on Running Night goes across the board, through generations of Greek actives, alumni and pledges.

director of service learning and campus ministries at Olivet, believes it was about 10 years ago that Running Night was moved to Mott. It is more “appropriate

Marty (Mason) Jennings ’67 Soronian pledge class of 1965.

Director of Alumni Relations at Olivet College

Tammy (Hoyt) Walters ’80 Sigma Beta pledge class of 1977.

Director of Conferences and Housing at Olivet College

“Greek life is a huge part of Olivet,” Jennings said. She has memories from the big parts of pledging like pledge games, turnabout night and Hell night, but her favorite time was skit night when the pledges entertained the actives, mimicking their habits. “The pledges would eat three meals a day together, and everyone was required to dress up for dinner – meaning dresses and high heels,” she said. “My Soronian sisters are my closest friends; we get together often with three-day weekends with 18 to 20 of us from all over the country. Lifelong bonds were formed over 40 years ago.”

Today, Jennings gives members advice, support and stories of the history of the house, and she attends Running Night and meets the pledges every year.

“I think the most fun, yet potentially harmful part of pledging was the kidnapping and drop off. I was kidnapped a couple times by my own actives.

The most memorable time was when I was dropped off with another pledge who is now a vice president of student life at a college out east.

We were dropped off at a Meijer in Kalamazoo. All of my sisters were required to come and get me. Coordinating all of them and the vehicles was quite a project.” Walters added, “The ties I made during pledging and some of the things I learned helped to shape the person that I am today.”

Alumni Musings on Pledging and Greek Life Many of Olivet’s Greek houses are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year— Phi Alpha Pi and Soronian are marking 165 years, Adelphic Alpha Pi is celebrating 150 years, Sigma Beta is 105, Alpha Lambda Epsilon and Kappa Sigma Alpha were founded 90 years ago, and Nu Gamma Xi and Alpha Phi Kappa were both founded 15 years ago.

Looking back and celebrating the tradition of one’s society is a cornerstone of Greek life.

Below, alumni from the ’60s,’70s and ’80s share their wildly unique experiences of Greek life at Olivet College.

Carol (Furgerson) Westby ’67 Alpha Lambda Epsilon pledge class of 1964. Retired teacher after 32 years; current Women’s League and Lions Club volunteer “My favorite memories of Olivet were when we got to live in Longman House. When we first got to see it there had been men living in it and there was a partially assembled motorcycle in the front room, and engine parts soaking in gasoline in the kitchen sink. But we cleaned, painted, decorated and loved every minute of it. We made blazers for everyone so we could compete in the song fest competition during Greek Week one year. We went to Battle Creek, bought bolts of cream colored wool and the lining fabric and the buttons and started working. Some of us had our sewing machines with us but some cut, some sewed, some hemmed, some did the buttons.” Westby says she is still in touch with her AE family.

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Student Sweeps Local Election

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BY MOLLY (REED) GOALEY ’05

Twenty-one-year-old Branden Dyer was voted president of Olivet College’s Student Government Association last fall.

He’s also the vice president of the college’s Inter-Society Council and treasurer of his Greek society, Alpha Lambda Epsilon.

But surprisingly, none of these political endeavors are as notable as what he accomplished in November.

Branden Dyer

Dyer, a junior accounting major from nearby Charlotte, beat out incumbent City Councilman Scott Cuttle, 287-262, for a four-year term representing Ward Two of his hometown on Election Day Nov. 8.

Citing environmental and fiscal responsibility as two major components of his platform, Dyer worked part-time at Little Caesar’s Pizza for months to fund his campaign. His friend and classmate, senior Danielle Chauvin, helped him organize information packets and write an advertisement for the local paper. Dyer then went door-to-door, speaking to Charlotte citizens about his goals of improving recycling practices, driving business in the community, and attracting more families and recent college graduates to the city.

One of his top priorities, he told them, is to develop a business recycling program that would benefit Charlotte both

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financially and environmentally. “When I was little I lived down the street from the city’s recycling center,” Dyer said. “My mom used to take me there on Saturdays and we would unload the car, so recycling has been engrained in me from an early age.

“At work, I see how many pizza boxes we go through each day,” he continued. “When I sat in on a city recycle committee meeting, I learned that the Branden Dyer was voted into a four-year term as Charlotte city councilman Nov. 8, 2011. city can make money by selling recycled material to vendors for packaging and so Linda Logan, Ph.D., vice president forth. For free stuff it’s pretty good money, and dean for student life, said Dyer’s but I think there is an opportunity to “can do” spirit and approach to problem improve and update the system a bit.” solving make him an ideal student leader, Dyer also hopes to intertwine his and will serve him well as councilman. roles as politician and student to create “Branden is a tremendous multi-tasker educational partnerships with the city and successfully balances his curricular and co-curricular endeavors,” she said. “He breathes new life and “Dyer’s ‘can do’ spirit and excitement into whatever approach to problem solving he is involved in. He’s also make him an ideal student innovative and constantly leader, and will serve him well thinking of how he can improve systems to make as councilman.” them more efficient, which 1 Linda Logan, Ph.D., vice is something that a president and dean for community needs.” student life Although he says he was “nervous at first,” Dyer council and Olivet College. “I’m hoping is now energized about his work on the to represent both places by creating council, and was recently appointed to mentoring or internship programs with the Charlotte Area Recycling the council, or designating a recycling Association Committee. “I was worried drop-off area at the college,” he said. about my age compared to other council He added that he is thankful for his members,” he said. “But I’m hoping that leadership roles on campus, which have my hard work is showing that I’m taking helped him acquire the skills necessary to the job seriously, and that they respect serve the citizens of Charlotte. “One of the me for it.” main focuses of my campaign was social responsibility, and I learned that from Olivet,” he said.

Student Government Association Empowers Students

BY AMBER LECLEAR, SENIOR Olivet College’s Student Government Association (SGA) is helping to chart the course for 2020 and beyond by empowering and engaging students, and by building community. The group is working to make changes to student-run organizations by first making them easier to launch. New this year, SGA collected a small fee from every student, using the money to fund a grant program for student organizations.

The student fee will be very helpful in supporting programs and events for students in the future. “This is an awesome step forward for our campus.

This is a way to help students do projects that not only benefit our campus but encompass The Compact by promoting individual and social responsibility,” said Libby Lydy, senior and SGA vice president.

Branden Dyer, junior and SGA president, added, “There is no limit on the amount of grant money an organization can apply for and use.”

With the funds available, SGA is encouraging more students to launch organizations and events. Some examples of the opportunities the grant money is helping to fund are: conferences for honor societies such as Psi Chi, Gruen Chemistry Society and Sigma Zeta; a leadership workshop at Grand Valley State University; and Quiz Bowl buzzers for Student Activities.

Another way SGA is working to get students involved is by taking the reins for student activities, previously operated by the Office of Student Life. “To have a group that is centralized around the student voices, SGA now having control over student activities only makes sense,” said Lydy.

SGA meets monthly with representatives from the student body to discuss funding and other campus issues.

They have also launched a webpage on MyOlivet, and currently hold office hours in Mott 212 for all students to come and share their ideas and opinions.

Students in the News Four students participated in the Michigan Intercollegiate Honor Band at Hope College in February.

The band is a joint collaboration of Adrian College, Albion College, Alma College, Calvin College, Cornerstone University, Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College, Hope College, Olivet College and Spring Arbor University. Students in the band are nominated by their conductor and come together for one day of rehearsals, capped by a concert in the evening.

Olivet’s performers included from left: Cody Schweikert, a freshman from Union City, clarinet; Helen MacQueen, a junior from Hastings, oboe; Nicholas Adsit, a senior from Muskegon, French horn and Zachary Coddaire, a senior from Lake Odessa, trumpet.

RMIC Students Earn Professional Certification During the fall semester, 14 Olivet College insurance and risk management students passed exams earning the professional designations of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Certified Risk Manager (CRM). Hastings Mutual Insurance Company, a longtime sponsor of the Risk Management and Insurance Center (RMIC) at Olivet, supported the students by reimbursing them for the cost of the exams.

The students include: Lindsay Dege, a senior from Rives Junction; Megan Dobbertien, a senior from Marshall; Ronald Fesko, a senior from Henderson; Austin McGuire, a senior from Lansing; Bradley Phelps, a senior from Battle Creek; Anthony Pomerson, a senior from Canton; Timothy Puffer, a senior from Rodney; Stephanie Ross, a senior from Battle Creek; Ashleigh Seal, a senior from Portland; Benjamin Steffler, a senior from Lapeer; Brandon Taylor, a senior from Oak Park; Elizabeth Tengler, a senior from Olivet; Edward VanStrate, a junior from Owosso; and Jonah Wilson, a senior from Charlotte.

After completing the tests, the CRM students continued their studies with Control of Risk and earned the designation of University Associate Certified Risk Manager (UACRM). The UACRM designations were awarded to the students at the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents conferment in February.

The CIC students, who plan to pursue careers in agency management, worked toward earning University Associate Certified Insurance Counselor designation during the spring 2012 semester by studying for and taking the CIC Life and Health exam.

Hastings Mutual continued their partnership with Olivet by also covering the fees associated with this exam for students who passed.

In January, 14 members the American Marketing Association student organization on campus attended the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The students were accompanied by their advisor, Michelle Woodhouse-Jackson, assistant professor of business.

The annual trade show, held at Cobo Exhibition Center, is considered the premier auto show in the world, and this year’s event offered a unique networking opportunity for students interested in the automotive industry.

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Charitable Bequests Thoughtful, Helpful, Simple

There are many ways to provide support to Olivet Colege, but a charitable bequest is one of the most popular. Why? Because a charitable bequest allows you to retain full use of your assets and property throughout your lifetime, and you are not locked into commitments that eliminate future financial options or opportunities for you and your family.

Your bequest will help Olivet College continue its tradition of academic excellence, prepare for its future and make it possible for the college to:

Doris Laimbeer Fitness Center Re-opens With New Look and Equipment Thanks to generous donations from Dave Cutler ’65 and Tom Kolassa ’69, the college’s Doris Laimbeer Fitness Center has been renovated with a new look and modern exercise equipment. The grand re-opening celebration took place March 19.

The facility, which first opened in 1981, is located inside the Upton Center Gymnasium, upstairs above the pool and next to MacKay Gymnasium. A new glass wall lined with six flat-screen televisions overlooks the basketball court. New ceiling tiles, lights and flooring were installed, and a fresh coat of paint was applied to the walls.

“When I walked into the fitness center for the first time, there were no signs of what Dave Cutler ’65 Tom Kolassa ’69 was there before,” said Rachel Cook, a senior softball player from Traverse City. “The glass wall makes the space more open and bright.

I am definitely going to work out at Laimbeer.”

In addition to the aesthetic changes, brand new fitness and cardio equipment in the center includes five treadmills, three elliptical machines and one elliptical/stepper. The machines, along with new free weights, were installed to accommodate patrons at all types of fitness levels and lifting styles.

Other new pieces of equipment are a stack weight, chest press, shoulder press, leg extension, leg curl and hip abductor/adductor. Olivet Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Chris Stewart worked with employees from LifeFitness and Direct Fitness Solutions to purchase the new equipment and create the layout of the room.

The Doris Laimbeer Fitness Center is open to all Olivet College students, faculty and staff. “You don’t have to be an athlete at Olivet to use the updated fitness center,” said Stewart. “We are inviting anybody on the Olivet campus to use it.”

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Enhance and support academic and athletic programs of interest to you Upgrade and replace facilities Provide scholarships and fellowships to deserving students Improve student services Retain faculty of the highest caliber Why a Bequest to OC might be your best option No out-of-pocket cost Flexibility - you can change your bequest arrangement if your personal or family needs or goals change Allows you to support the program(s) most important to you Potential estate tax savings Three Easy Steps to Creating a Bequest 1. Determine an amount, percentage, or specific assets (real or personal) from your estate you wish to give 2. See your attorney and create or modify your will or trust to include your bequest.

3. Inform OC so that we might acknowledge your gift and make certai your bequest intentions are understood and accurately recorded.

For more information contact: B.J. Hull or Ed Heator ’80 Olivet College Office of Planned Giving 320 S. Main St. Olivet, MI 49076 (269)- 749-7630

Campbell and Hayhow Recognized During Leadership Awards Dinner Olivet recognized two of Michigan’s finest leaders as part of its 16th annual Leadership for Individual and Social Responsibility Awards Dinner May 17 in the college’s Lester K. Kirk Center.

For his work, Campbell was named the 2010 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) and is now president-elect of MASA. In 2011, he was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder as the superintendents’ representative on the state of Michigan’s Teacher Tenure Commission.

David Hayhow has served as Olivet College Board of Trustees chair for nine years. After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising from Michigan State University in 1955, Hayhow began a career that is truly reflective of the college’s academic vision, Education From left: David Campbell, Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. and for Individual and Social David Hayhow Responsibility. Starting with the Pontiac Press, he worked David Campbell has served as for four other publications throughout his superintendent of Livingston Educational career, holding positions from staff writer Service Agency in Howell since 2011. to publisher. Following his work in the Prior to this position, he served the Olivet newspaper industry, he was executive School District in a number of capacities assistant to the lieutenant governor; he for 19 years. As Olivet High School founded and published Great Lakes Life principal, he helped open the new high magazine; and he also founded and school facility, was instrumental in making served as president of Publicom it a positive school culture, helped improve Association Management Services. the quality of technology, facilitated the Beyond his work experience, Hayhow restructuring of the school day so students has taken great pride in the growth and and staff could concentrate on fewer development of the college since being classes, and helped revitalize the school’s asked to serve on its board of trustees in fine arts program.

1995. During his tenure on the board, In August 2000, Campbell was he has been involved with and overseen promoted to superintendent. Of his some of the college’s most recent dedication to learning, he has said, improvements, including the Burrage “Education is a process that is never Library expansion, the Heritage finished since we should never stop Campaign, phases I and II of the Cutler learning. I view my position in much the Athletic Complex/Cutler Event Center, same way. The job is never finished, as Gillette Student Village and the there is always room for improvement in Embracing Opportunity and Responan organization this size.” sibility campaign, among other initiatives.

Sponsors for the event included: Signature Level $5000 Rod ’81 and Amy Hathaway, Buiten & Associates Program Level $2500-4999 Thomas Hoisington Robert ’57 and Sarah (Engle) ’56 Lawrence Leadership Level $1000-2499 Barnes and Thornburg Brian Benner ’69 Sandra Boyer ex’85 Thomas Burke ’82 Chartwells Dining Douglas Federau David Hayhow Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital William Healy ’79 Tim Hodge ’83, D.O. Thomas ’69 and Gayle Kolassa David ’84 and Sonya Labreque Dean Lewis ’55 Linda Logan, Ph.D. Charlie McPhail ’64 Bill Middlebrooks Seeyle Wright Automotive Group Trane Karen (Wilson) ’81 and Keith Van Hentenryck Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Advisors Janet (Stam) ’07 and Ahmad ’05 Zeaiter Event Level $500-999 Air Way Manufacturing Stanley and Elizabeth Dole George Francis III Sharon Hobbs, Ph.D. Maner Costerisan Christine Moulton ’11 Robert Parrella ’68 Soil and Materials Engineers Jeff and Beth (Larson) ’90 Wildern

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Wrestlers Excel On and Off the Mat

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BY GEOFF HENSON The Olivet College wrestling team had a successful season on and off the mat in 2011-12. On the mat, five wrestlers won NCAA Midwest Regional titles and qualified for the 2012 NCAA Division III National Championships. At nationals, James Myers, of Monroe, Ohio, earned All-American honors for a second straight year with a sixth-place finish at 165 pounds.

Off the mat, the wrestlers finished second in the annual academic championship in collegiate wrestling, which is sponsored by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Olivet’s team grade point average (GPA) was 3.539.

“I knew we were going to have a great season on the mat,” said Olivet Head Coach Brandon Brissette. “But the pinnacle was earning the national runnerup team GPA. I have never been so proud of an accomplishment, and we have earned many other great honors.”

This is the 13th time since the inception of the award in 1998 that the Comets have placed in the top 10 Brandon Brissette of the standings. This year’s GPA is also the highest Olivet has had in the history of the program, and the second-place finish ties for the best in school history.

Individually, Robbie Bidlingmaier, of Chesterfield Township, Josh Crawford, of Birch Run, Logan Renas, of Big Rapids, Kenny Richmond, of Brighton, and Trevor Tyler, of Roscommon, were named to the NWCA Scholar All-American team.

Renas earned the honor for a second straight year, while Tyler was recognized for a third straight year.

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semester. Also during the fall, the women’s cross country team earned AllAcademic Team honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Comets recorded a 3.41 GPA.

The women’s swimming and diving team posted a 3.06 team GPA. Trevor Tyler

“To have half of our varsity lineup earn this honor is huge,” said Brissette.

“And even more, three of the five represented Olivet at the national championships. These five guys understand the importance of being a student-athlete. They come to practice every day but they also work exceptionally hard in the classroom.”

Comet Athletes Earn Honors The wrestling team was not the only team to earn academic honors this year, as the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams received a Scholar Team Award from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. During the fall semester, the men’s team had a 3.15 GPA, and the women’s team posted a 3.06 GPA. Other teams to earn academic honors from their respective coaches associations over the last year are women’s cross country, women’s track and field and women’s tennis. The cross country team posted a 3.41 team GPA during the 2011 fall

The men’s swimming and diving team posted a 3.15 team GPA.

The women’s cross country team posted a 3.41 team GPA.

Comet Sports

NEWS & NOTES

Olivet Welcomes New Coaches The Olivet College Athletic Department has welcomed three new head coaches who will lead their respective teams for the first time in 2012-13. Chris Coles has taken over head coaching duties for the men’s basketball team, Mike O’Neill is the first-ever men’s lacrosse coach and Dan Pifer will lead the football program.

Coles came to Olivet from Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) where he served as an assistant men’s basketball coach for the last five years. Prior to coaching at SVSU, he coached at the high school level for 17 years. Coles was an assistant varsity and head reserve coach at Ross School in Hamilton, Ohio, for three seasons and Talawanda High School in Oxford, Ohio, for two seasons. He was also the head varsity Chris Coles coach at Vestaburg High School, leading the Wolverines to more wins during the 1998-99 season than the previous three seasons combined. Prior to that, he coached at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic and Beal City high schools.

Joining Coles on the bench as assistant coaches will be his father, Charlie, and Chris Watz. Charlie most recently served at Miami University of Ohio and also spent time as the head coach at Central Michigan University. Watz was the head varsity boys’ basketball coach at Bay City Western High School for the last five years.

O’Neill currently serves as the head lacrosse coach of the Dutch National team. This summer, the Netherlands will host the European Championships. In 2014, O’Neill will coach the Dutch at the World Championships in Denver, Colo.

O’Neill has also served as the head men’s lacrosse coach at the University of Vermont, where he led Mike O’Neill the Catamounts to a 4014 record over four seasons. O’Neill also spent time as an assistant lacrosse coach at Ohio

Wesleyan University, The Ohio State University, Brown University, University of Delaware and University of North Carolina.

Prior to starting at Olivet, Pifer was the offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator/ special teams coordinator at Trine (Ind.) University since 2006. During his tenure, he helped lead the Thunder to three NCAA Division III National Playoff appearances (2008-10), including three consecutive undefeated Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championship seasons. During the last four years, Trine posted a 41-7 overall record, as well as a 20-home game winning streak and 20-game MIAA winning streak.

Pifer was also the offensive coordinator at Bellmont High School for four years, quarterbacks/ wide receivers/defensive line coach at Hillsdale College for two years, offensive coordinator at University of Saint Francis (Ind.) for three Dan Pifer years and running backs coach at Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) College for one year.

Pifer has also named the assistant coaches, who will be helping him out with coaching and recruitment of future football players.

Tim Baker ’77 came to Olivet after a successful coaching career at Constantine High School. He was on the football coaching staff for 31 years, including the last 15 years as the head coach.

David Gater serves as the special teams coordinator. Most recently, Gater served as the defensive coordinator at Anderson (Ind.) University during the 2011 season. Prior to that, he was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Trine (Ind.) University for five seasons.

Dan Musielewicz has been named offensive and recruiting coordinator. Most recently, he served as the wide receivers coach at Trine (Ind.) University since 2006.

Andrew Rodriguez is in his first season as an assistant football coach in 2012. Prior to starting at Olivet, he served as a graduate assistant coach at Elmhurst (Ill.) College, coaching the quarterbacks. Before that, Rodriguez spent three seasons as a student coach at Trine (Ind.) University.

Tim Rogers has been named defensive coordinator. Rogers’ most recent coaching experience was head football coach at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School from 2007-10.

Brad Rumsey is also in his first season as an assistant football coach in 2012. Prior to joining Olivet’s staff, he spent the 2011 season as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach at Trine (Ind.) University.

Pat St. Louis is Olivet’s new offensive line coach. Prior to joining the Olivet staff, St. Louis spent three seasons at Morehead State (Ky.) University. For the 2011 season, he was promoted to offensive line coach after being an offensive graduate assistant during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

2012 COMET FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10

@ Robert Morris (Ill.) @ Wisconsin Lutheran @ Rockford North Park (Ill.) Alma (Homecoming) @ Hope Adrian Albion @ Trine @ Kalamazoo

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COMET Football

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Remembering David Prior ’65

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BY MARTY (MASON) JENNINGS ’67

David J. Prior ’65, Ph.D., chancellor of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise for seven years, passed away suddenly Feb. 2, 2012 at the age of 68. During his tenure at UVa-Wise, the college experienced tremendous growth in both student enrollment and the campus in general including a successful campaign, which exceeded its goal of $50 million. David and wife, Merry Lu (Fritz) ’68 worked hard to build relationships with students, alumni, donors and elected officials. David was always focused on what was best for the college. He worked closely with the development of software engineering, computer science, management information systems, and biochemistry and music majors while serving UVa-Wise.

During David’s tenure, construction projects included the Hunter J. Smith Dining Commons, Dec. 13, 1943 the Gilliam Center for the Arts, Culbertson Hall and Commonwealth Hall, and the renovation of the Leonard W. Sandridge Science Center, Smiddy Hall and Crockett Hall, the college’s oldest building. A $30 million Convocation Center, funded by the Virginia General Assembly, was one of David’s proudest construction endeavors, and the UVa-Wise College Board elected to name the facility the David J. Prior Convocation Center after his passing.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, David occasionally taught freshman biology or a neurobiology special topics course. He often served as a faculty advisor to freshmen. He opened a research laboratory in the Science Center so he could work with students on research projects. David also enjoyed the annual tradition of trading places with a student, where he would attend the student’s classes and activities while the student served as “chancellor for a day.”

David earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Olivet College in 1965; a master’s in animal physiology and biochemistry from Central Michigan University; a doctorate in neurophysiology from the University of Virginia; and post-doctoral fellowship in neurobiology at Princeton University.

His teaching career included the University of Kentucky where he held dual full professorships in biological sciences and physiology and biophysics; chairman of the department of biology of Northern Arizona University where he was named dean of the College of

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Arts and Sciences; dean of graduate studies at Northern Michigan University; and provost for eight years in the Wisconsin system. As a researcher, he had more than 20 years of continuous National Science Foundation funding and is credited with more than 100 research publications, symposium presentations, review articles and book chapters.

Always active, David enjoyed fishing, fly-tying, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, and rollerblade hockey in his driveway.

During his memorial services, University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan remarked, “He was a scientist, but he was a dreamer, too.” She went on to say, “a wise, witty and wonderful dreamer who exceeded his own dreams and ours for UVa-Wise.

Rev. William Gipe of the Feb. 2, 2012 Gladeville Presbyterian Church said, “Prior was a man who made our life better because he was the rare sort of individual who told others, ‘I’m going to make your hopes, my hopes, and I’m going to make your problems, my problems.’”

During my college years, I was friends with David and his wife, Merry Lu. David was Merry Lu’s chemistry lab technician, and he asked her to dinner; she was thinking that he meant the Kirk Center, but he took her to Schuler’s. He asked her for a second date, and I encouraged Merry Lu to go, telling her that he was a “winner.” They had a wonderful, adventuresome life together with no regrets. I have always stayed in touch with them, visiting them while they were in Princeton and Lexington. I have always considered both of them wonderful and true friends.

When I became the alumni director at Olivet, David would make suggestions, sending me his alumni magazines, and wanting to help me in my progress. I will miss David, his upbeat enthusiasm for life, and concern and caring for everyone he ever met.

In addition to Merry Lu, he is survived by daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Tom; and son, Christopher, and his wife, Sarah.

Merry Lu has greatly appreciated all the cards, letters, phone calls, caring and concern from Olivet friends. It has meant so much to her, hearing from college friends, even those who had been friends of David’s whom she did not know.

E-mail Merry Lu at mlprior@uvawise.edu.

Olivet Loses its Best “Friend” Frances (Friend) Collins ’28, who was Olivet College’s oldest living alumna, passed away Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 in Melbourne, Fla. She was 104.

Frances was born Feb. 20, 1907, in Orland, Ind. She was raised on a farm in Orland and after graduation from high school in 1924, she attended Olivet. Her father’s sister, Fannie Quick, wife of Olivet’s town doctor, paid for Frances’ room in Shipherd Hall. After a year, she moved with three friends to a room in a house on Main Street. Elizabeth Hance ’28 was one of her roommates, and remained her best friend upon graduation.

Frances, who pledged Sigma Beta, met her husband, Stanley “Collie” Collins ’27, a Phi Alpha, at Olivet. Frances fondly remembered attending dances at Phi Alpha Pi or Adelphic; she would wear an evening gown and there would always be an orchestra playing. She said Stanley was always the one to fill her dance card. After her graduation in 1928, they were married in Detroit.

The Collinses had one daughter, Nancy ’57, a Sigma Beta, who married Jack Fieldman ’56, a Phi Alpha, like Stanley. Frances moved from Williamsburg, Mich., to Florida in 2009 to be near them.

In addition to her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Frances is survived by three granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren. She had the opportunity to meet her great-great-grandson, Aiden Wolf, and was very pleased to see the fifth generation of her family.

1940s Elizabeth “Biz” (Pettitt) Gazlay ’41 and Francis Gazlay ’42 celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary at their residence in Redford Nov. 14, 2011. Their daughter, Julie Lundstedt ’66, and son-in-law, Paul Lundstedt ’67, celebrated with them.

1950s Rev. Arthur Stratemeyer ’51 recently retired after 17 years as an “annuitant visitor” for the United Church Pension Boards and 16 years as the programmer for the Chicago Region Clergy and Spouse Retired Group. Speakers for the retired group included United Church of Christ pension board members, seminary presidents and representatives, and high school board presidents. E-mail Arthur at astrat@sbcglobal.net.

1960s Lee Phillips ’62 is retired from serving 23 years in the United States Air Force and lives in Arizona. He served in Vietnam. E-mail Lee at lphil@hotmail.com.

Larry ’64 and Mary Martha (Potts) ’65 Melendy celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on June 25, 2011. Both retired in 2000 from teaching in the Hastings Public Schools. Mary Martha retired in May as part-time director of adult ministries at the First Presbyterian Church in Hastings. E-mail Larry and Mary Martha at 3mlmel@cablespeed.com.

Left to right: Karen (Ciesielski) Bochenek ’65, Karen Penhallegon, Mary Martha (Potts) Melendy ’65, Diane (Schumann) Marling ’64, Sue Pompian ’64 and Nola (Jacobson) Bonandrini ’65.

Sue Pompian ’64 met with Olivet friends in Fowlerville in August 2011.

Many had not seen each other since their college days. E-mail Sue at spompian@sbcglobal.net; Karen at stringsandswings@aol.com; Mary Martha at 3mlmel@cablespeed.com; and Nola at sewnola@wowway.com.

Jill (Walbeck) Kattau ’68 and husband, Tom, have lived in Goshen, Ind., for 42 years. Jill taught first grade for 19 years and second grade for four years at Jefferson Elementary School in the Middlebury School System until her retirement in 2005. She now spends her time helping with church music, scrapbooking, enjoying her five grandchildren and volunteering at her granddaughter’s preschool. E-mail Jill at tjkattau@hotmail.com.

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1970s Gail (Lundstedt) Rivard ’70 was named Volunteer of the Year for 2011 by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society on St. Simons Island, Ga. Gail serves as a docent in the Society’s Lighthouse Museum on St. Simons, conducts tours for school groups and is involved in the Society’s Light Music Concerts during the summer months. She also sings with the Symphony of Coastal Georgia Chorus, is a 26-year member of the Community Messiah Chorus, sings in the Chancel Choir and is a member of the Handbell Choir at St. Simons United Methodist Church.

E-mail Gail at gailssi@comcast.net.

Asenath Andrews ’72 is one of the top 150 Most Fearless Women, according to Newsweek’s “The Daily Beast.” For 27 years Asenath has been the principal of the Ferguson Academy for Young Women, a college-prep school in Detroit for pregnant teens. E-mail Asenath at asenathandrews@gmail.com.

Marilyn (Carr) Jackson ’72 taught in the Flint School District for 34 years before retiring in 2006. She now spends her time gardening, reading, sewing and Asenath Andrews ’72 enjoying her Black Labrador/Pitt Bull, Emma Louise. Marilyn has a daughter and two grandchildren in Sheffield, England. E-mail Marilyn at mydogtashia@comcast.net.

Yvonne (Goudreault) Caamal-Canul ’73 began serving as superintendent of the Lansing School District in March. Previously Yvonne worked at Michigan State University’s Outreach and Engagement office on its FirstSchool project; served as chief innovation officer for Atlanta-based AdvancED, an international firm that conducted education research, created publications and products and worked in school improvement; directed the Michigan Department of Education’s Office of School Improvements; and served in numerous capacities in the Lansing School District. E-mail Yvonne at ycaamalcanul@aol.com.

Gary McKee ’73 retired in June 2011 from the West Bloomfield School District after 37 years as a fourth grade teacher. In 1978 Gary earned his master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in Educational Leadership.

He coached girls’ and boys’ high school basketball, golf, and girls’ fifth grade basketball for 36 years. Gary and wife, Carol, have been married for 34 years and have four children, including daughter, Kelli McKee ’08, and four Gary McKee ’73 and Kelli McKee ’08 grandsons. E-mail Gary at gmc729@yahoo.com.

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Dave Peek ’73 left the United States while in his 20s with only $800 and in three years managed to see much of the world. He recently wrote about his adventures in “The Careless Navigator,” now available on Amazon.com. For the last 11 years Dave has been living in Homosassa, Fla., where he and his brothers own a restaurant named “Ohana,” Hawaiian for family.

Bruce Redner ’73 and wife, Ruth, who just retired, have moved to Mandurah in Western Australia. They are now near their son, Raymond Redner ex’98, who is the chaplain at Coodanup Community College.

Doane Renshaw ’73, lost at sea in 1978 when he was a pilot in the Navy, would be proud to know that he has a granddaughter, Olivia Grace, born Nov. 4, 2011. Doane’s only child, Matthew, is Olivia’s father.

E-mail Doane’s wife, Sylvia, at smirenshaw@aol.com.

Marcia (Downs) Barker ’76 is the development officer of Bridge Disability Ministries, an ecumenical Christian-based 501 © non-profit organization in Bellevue, Wash. The company assists adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities. Marcia and husband, Brent, relocated to the Seattle area in 2010 when he retired from the U.S. State Department. They have two sons, Edmund, 16, and Martin, 14. E-mail Marcia at marciadbarker@gmail.com.

Cheryl (Mulvaney) Aponte ’77 is vice president of major gifts for the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate, covering Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. E-mail Cheryl at cheryl.aponte@gmail.com.

Caron (Covert) Mosey ex’78 is a clinical analyst in the healthcare industry in Flint. She earned her master’s in education from the University of Michigan-Flint, a master’s in reading education and a specialist degree in educational leadership. Caron taught kindergarten through grade 12, undergraduate and graduate courses at Eastern Michigan University and Ferris State University, and was an elementary principal. E-mail Caron at caronmosey@gmail.com.

1980s Brian Hughes ’82 continues as conductor with the Quad City Wind Ensemble in Davenport, Iowa, since 2007, and the Tri-State Wind Symphony in Dubuque, Iowa, since its founding in 1995. Brian is the music instructor at Northeast Iowa Community College, conductor of the concert band at Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill., and conductor of the Dubuque New Horizons Band. Brian has a daughter, Caitlyn, 11. E-mail Brian at maestroblh1@gmail.com.

Laura Vedder ’82 is senior associate at Compass Commercial, LLC where she is a tenant representative broker for office and industrial real estate. E-mail Laura at laura.vedder@yahoo.com.

Gina (Russell) Wagner ’86 is a district court probation officer with 3B District Court in St. Joseph County. E-mail Gina at wagnerg@stjosephcountymi.org.

1990s Kelly (Fuller) Roe ’90, ’99 MAT was principal of Potterville Middle and High School for the 2011-12 school year, after having served as Potterville High School principal the previous year. Prior to being principal, Kelly taught biology in the district for 14 years. She and husband, David, have three children. E-mail Kelly at roe_kelly@hotmail.com.

Dr. Jason Sefa ’94 was the team doctor for the Saginaw Sting, a professional arena football team. The Sting won the first ever United Indoor Football League (UIFL) Ultimate Bowl Championship this past season. This was the third arena football team for which Jason served as on-field team doctor. He owns a chiropractic practice in Flint and works with many athletes in that area.

E-mail Jason at drjjs_17@yahoo.com.

Dr. Jason Sefa ’94

Marsha (Hutchinson) Daugherty ’96 opened a new financial representative branch with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Comstock in January. Marsha previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. She and husband, Casey Daugherty ’98, live in Comstock with children, Drew, 10, and McKenzie, 9.

E-mail Marsha at mdaugherty@tfamail.com.

2000s Jessica (Davenport) Creager ’00 was voted Top Teacher of the month in Savannah, Ga., when students from kindergarten through grade 12 sent letters to WTOC TV station, sponsor of the contest. Jessica teaches fourth grade in Spencer Elementary School. She and husband, Jason Creager ’03, live in Savannah with sons, Chipper, 6, and Junior, 3.

Sara Wallace ’00 was appointed executive director of the Battle Creekbased Miller Foundation, which focuses on assisting local nonprofit, charitable organizations with projects that provide for the betterment of Battle Creek. She has spent 10 years in the nonprofit sector in Battle Creek. Sara earned her master’s degree in organizational management from Spring Arbor University. E-mail Sara at sarabaypine@yahoo.com Jake ’03 and Shannon (Murphy) ’99 Coon celebrated nine years of marriage in April. Shannon has owned and managed her own photography company, SKC-Photography since 2009. She is also event director for a non-profit called the Front Row Foundation. They recently relocated to the Philadelphia, Pa., area, where Jake was promoted to national recruiting specialist with Cutco & Vector Marketing Corp. E-mail Jake at jcoon@cutco.com and Shannon at shannoncoon77@yahoo.com.

Louisa (Grill) Trott ’03 was promoted to portfolio underwriting specialist at Nationwide Insurance in Georgia.

Wilson ’69 Honored With King Medal of Service Award From JCC Woodrow (Woody) Wilson Jr. ’69, retired faculty member of Jackson Community College ( JCC), was recently recognized with JCC’s 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Service Award.

During his nearly 40 years at JCC, Wilson helped to guide and serve as an example to many. He first arrived at JCC as a student, graduating in 1967 before attending Olivet College. He completed his bachelor’s degree in education from Olivet in 1969 and later earned Master of Arts and Education Specialist degrees from Michigan State University.

Returning to JCC in 1972, Wilson enjoyed a long and varied career. He began as director of career development for persons with special needs, in which Woody Wilson ’69 he helped assist disadvantaged and handicapped students obtain an education. From 1978-99 he served as a counselor in Student Personnel Services. In 2000, he transferred to the teaching faculty as a history instructor.

He retired from JCC in 2011.

“Coinciding with his retirement, we felt it was appropriate to bestow this honor on him because of his significant contributions to JCC over the past 40 years,” said Lee Hampton, director of multicultural relations at JCC. “He has been responsible for helping more students of color enroll and be retained at Jackson Community College than any other individual. He also served as a mentor to many young professionals at JCC, especially those of color.”

Over the years, Wilson has been active in several community organizations. He has served on the board of Goodwill Industries, as well as the Johnson Child Care and Development Center board in Albion, was a member of the Albion Scholarship Fund and Albion Black Alumni Scholarship Fund committees, and served on committees to help elect the Albion mayor. He also serves as a member of the Olivet College Alumni Council.

Wilson is married to Shirley (Patterson) ’72, and they have one son, Brandon.

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Making a Difference in Children’s Lives

BY MARTY (MASON) JENNINGS ’67 Every year when Barry Cannon ’87, English teacher at Southeastern High School in Detroit, brings his juniors and seniors to Olivet College, he tells each one of them, “I would love for you to enroll here.” His encouragement and enthusiasm is the main reason those students choose Olivet.

Cannon encouraged Julian Smith to attend. Now a freshman at Olivet, Smith remembers Cannon telling him, “College professors aren’t going to hound you about your work or going to class. You have to be responsible and do these things on your own.” In addition to teaching students about Olivet’s values of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility, Smith said Cannon often tells humorous and memorable stories about his days as a Barry Cannon ’89 and freshman Julian Smith college student.

Cannon wants his students to experience the Olivet that he once did.

Besides serving as a teacher at Southeastern, where he has worked for 12 years, Cannon is also the athletic director and union representative for the Detroit Federation of Teachers.

Cannon earned a master’s degree in teaching from Wayne State University, where he is currently pursuing his doctorate in educational administration.

Born in Alabama, one of six children, Cannon moved with his family to Detroit at an early age. His dad worked multiple industrial jobs to support the family, but unfortunately passed away before he could see his son’s many successes. Cannon’s family was close; he never spent a night away from them until he attended Olivet College.

He attended Northeastern High School for three years and then transferred to Pershing High School, where he graduated in 1983. While in high school, he played basketball and later came to Olivet to play for Coach Gary Morrison. At Olivet he majored in sociology and minored in physical education.

Cannon went into the educational field because growing up he was always helping children with basketball camps and activities, which he says was “the right thing to do, because the kids never forget you.

“That is my biggest reward as an educator,” he continued, “making a difference in a child’s life. Children always come first.”

E-mail Barry at bone_322000@yahoo.com.

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Joshua Lovendusky ’04 is the varsity wrestling coach at Benzie Central High School in Benzonia, where he has been working for nearly 10 years. Joshua wrestled at Benzie High School for four years. After one year of wrestling at Olivet, he suffered a knee injury and turned to coaching. He is looking forward to producing good wrestlers and a winning program. E-mail Josh at lovenduskyj@benzieschools.net.

Chad Folkersma ’06 earned a master’s degree in curriculum development from Michigan State University in August 2011. He recently finished his sixth year of teaching high school social studies at the CASMAN Academy, the only charter school in Manistee County, for grades seven through 12. He and wife, Denise (Ritzer) ’07, have a son, Eli, 2, and daughter, Emma, 1. E-mail Denise at denisefolkersma@gmail.com.

Abha (Karki) ’06 and Prashant ’06 Rajbhandari spent a week in March in Whistler Ski Resort in British Columbia. They are both working on their doctorates at the University of WisconsinMadison; Abha is studying neuroscience and Prashant ’06 and Abha (Karki) ’06 Rajbhandari Prashant is studying molecular and cellular pharmacology. E-mail Abha at rajbhandari@wisc.edu and Prashant at prajbhandari@wisc.edu.

Essence (Porter) Williamson ’06 has been teaching fourth and fifth grade science at Dudley STEM School in Battle Creeks for six years.

She earned her master’s in education leadership in May from Spring Arbor University. Essence married Troy Williamson ’08 on Dec. 19, 2009. Troy is a technician at Rosler, a leading supplier of surface finishing equipment and consumables. They have a daughter, Sacred, 2. E-mail Essence at mrs.williamson1983@gmail.com.

Levi Mason ’07 is the Student Support Specialist for Olivet Middle School. He previously worked four years for Eaton County Juvenile Court in the treatment program as student support and also served as a juvenile probation officer. He and wife, Stephanie, live in Bellevue.

E-mail Levi at masonl@olivetschools.org.

Olivet’s Regional Alumni Clubs Are you interested in helping shape the future of alumni initiatives? Would you like to help organize social and networking events for Olivet College alumni in your area?

Now is the time to get involved. Contact Marty (Mason) Jennings ’67, director of alumni relations, at mjennings@olivetcollege.edu or (269) 749-7644 for more information.

Mauricio “Moe” Palli ’07 earned his master’s degree in training and development with a concentration in instructional design at Roosevelt University in Chicago, graduating magna cum laude, in December.

E-mail Moe at mpalli1984@yahoo.com.

Melanie Engels ’08 earned her doctorate in pharmacy in May from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. For the next two years, Melanie will be doing her residency and specializing in medication safety.

E-mail Melanie at mengels2012@gmail.com.

Robert Horton Jr. ’08 started his own business, Outdoor Armour, LLC, exterior pest service, in Nashville. E-mail Robert at bobby@outdoorarmourllc.com.

Kelli McKee ’08 is an admissions representative for Argosy University in San Francisco, Calif. She previously served as a recreation supervisor for Canton Township. During that time, she taught first grade and coached boys’ and girls’ soccer at Taylor Exemplar Academy. Prior to moving to San Francisco, she was the assistant director at Huntington Learning Center in Canton. E-mail Kelli at mckee.kelli@gmail.com.

Nicole (Gregory) Durga ’09 graduated from Grand Valley State University in April 2012 with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She is married to Mike Durga ’08. E-mail Nicole at ndurga.nd@gmail.com.

Andrew Middleton ’09 is a physical education/health teacher at Manoogian School in Southfield. He is also the athletic coordinator for high school sports. E-mail Andrew at andrewmiddleton57@yahoo.com.

Christine Cameron ’10 is a licensed insurance representative for Noffsinger Allstate, LLC in Grand Rapids. She recently passed her examination for life and health insurance. Christine is attending Cooley Law School for a joint law degree and master’s program. E-mail Christine at ccameron10@allstate.com.

Alex Hill ’10 is teaching at Southwest Michigan Virtual Academy, an online charter school authorized by Grand Valley State University, He is also coaching football at Loy Norrix High School. E-mail Alex at alexhill@gmail.com.

Travis Stickler ’10 is the inventory analyst for the Sears Holding Corporation for Kmart in Chicago. He is in charge of the many different food brands, including Kellogg, Quaker and Unilever. E-mail Travis at travis.stickler@searshc.com.

Daron Cruickshank ’11 is currently a competitor and maintains an impressive winning record in the National TV show, “Ultimate Fighter,” which can be seen on the FX network.

Casey Eash ’11 is an artist and Olivet Middle School art teacher. He found his love for art at Olivet College. E-mail Casey at eashc@olivetschools.org.

Katie Hydon ’11 is teaching fifth grade at Olivet Middle School. E-mail Katie at hydonk@olivetschools.org.

Veronica Maidens ’11 has been accepted into the Americorps NCCC program for fall 2012. She will be going to Colorado. E-mail Veronica at veronica_maidens@hotmail.com.

Friends Art Sunleaf, hall director at Olivet College from 1989-93, has been promoted from associate vice president for student development and dean of students to vice president for student development at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he has worked since 2000. He is pursuing his doctorate in higher education leadership at Edgewood College.

Marriages Don Nichols ’57 and Sharon Jacobsen, Dec. 23, 2011, Grace United Church of Christ where Don is the interim minister, Uniontown, Ohio.

Together they have 12 children and 29 grandchildren. E-mail Don at DrDonRevSharon44@copper.net.

Tracey Lawie ’91 and Wes McGee, Feb. 29, on the beach at Grand Cayman. Amy Prevo ’90, Soronian sister, was Tracey’s attendant.

E-mail Tracey at tracey.lawie@wmich.edu.

Thomas Ray ex’09 and Kelly Veley, March 31, Stetson Chapel at Kalamazoo College’s campus. Danny Thompson ’11 and Kevin Shettler ’09 were the best men; groomsmen were Mike Durga ’08, Matt Hartig ’09 and Greg Seger ’10; Matt Mangold ’12 and senior Richard Perkins were ushers.

Lukas Linn ’10 and Kristen Watkins, Nov. 12, 2011, the chapel at Hawk Hollow with the reception at the Eagle Eye Golf Club, Lansing. Lukas is working for Child Protective Services. E-mail Lukas at linn.lukas.linn@gmail.com.

Kayla Miller ’10 and Jeffrey Lund, Aug. 15, 2010, in Leslie. Olivetians in the wedding were, senior Ryan Armstrong, senior Jessica Lund, Amanda Miller ’10, Kelsey Miller ’12 and Haley VanEpps ’12. Kayla’s mother, Regina, and stepfather, Jim Armstrong, are both criminal justice professors at Olivet College. E-mail Kayla at kmillerlund@ymail.com.

Publishing Concepts Alumni Directory Every few years, the Olivet College Alumni Association prints an alumni directory, and the 2012 directory project has begun! Over the last couple of months, Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) has been contacting OC alumni and friends like you via mail, phone and e-mail to request that you update your information. We understand that you might not want to provide your information to just anyone, so we want you to know their request for your information is legitimate. For more information about the project and PCI, call (405) 744-5368 or visit publishingconcepts.com.

SPRING

2012

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Remembering Our Grand Lady of Olivet

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Larida (Scott) Petersen ’31 (Jan. 23, 1910 - April 14, 2012)

BY MARTY (MASON) JENNINGS ’67

Larida Scott began her college days at Olivet in 1927 at the age of 17. She could not have envisioned that she would spend the rest of her life here in town. Her music teacher in Decatur went all over Michigan and found Olivet for Larida, because the college’s orchestra and music program were excellent.

She shared so many memories over the years, but her fondest ones were becoming a Sigma Beta and going to their elegant dances. Upon graduation, Larida joined the Olivet College faculty as an assistant for 10 years. She taught private cello lessons, as well as ear training, sight training and music appreciation, and performed with the college orchestra, a piano trio and a string quartet.

It was at Olivet College where she met Helmer Petersen ex’34; they married in 1940.

Helmer was a Phi Alpha and during the mid-40s they lived in the Phi Alpha house for one year.

As part of their rental agreement, they had the kitchen constructed.

The Petersens had to find other housing when the young men who had served in the armed forces returned to the college.

We will remember Larida for being full of life, always curious, and kind and considerate of others. In recent years many knew her for taking her daily walks near her home in Olivet, even when it was cold and snowy.

Larida is survived by her four sons, Michael ex’64, Stephen ex’67, Francis ’69 and John ex’78, and many grandchildren. The family has always maintained close and loving connections to the college, Sigma Beta and Phi Alpha Pi, and the Olivet Congregational Church. Larida served as a kind of loving godmother to many generations of Sigma Betas and Phi Alphas.

We have lost our grand lady of Olivet, a treasure to this town and a great friend, indeed.

The family requests that memorial gifts be made to Olivet College for the Larida and Helmer Petersen Music Scholarship.

Births Andy Kneffel ’98 and Saudia Santure ’98, a son, Sam Henry, Jan. 5, 2011. E-mail Andy and Saudia at akneffel@yahoo.com.

Ted Cohoon ’02 and wife, Valerie, twins, a son, Blake Aiden, and a daughter, Brielle Addison, Dec. 11, 2011. E-mail Ted at ted.cohoon@marsh.com.

Hector Plahar ’03 and wife, Asia QuoVadis Williams, a son, Wesley Adi, Nov. 7, 2011.

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In Memoriam Frances (Friend) Collins ’28, Nov. 19, 2011, Melbourne, Fla. She is survived by daughter Nancy (Collins) ’57 Fieldman and son-in-law Jack Fieldman ’56.

Larida (Scott) Petersen ’31, April 14, Olivet.

Loretta (Brown) Vary ’36, Feb. 19, Denver, Colo. Her husband, John Vary ’37, preceded her in death in 2009. Donations in her memory may be made to Olivet College.

Marian (Nolan) Stickle ’40, Dec. 22, 2011, East Lansing.

Elwin Heinze Greer ex’46, Nov. 22, 2011, Los Alamitos, Calif. His wife, Beatrice (Burnham) Greer ex’50 preceded him in death in 2008.

Conan D. Donahue ’53, June 12, 2011, Royal Oak. Connie Rey (Empson) Kracala ’54, Jan. 27. Husband, Peter Henry Kracala ’53 preceded her in death in 2004.

Gordon Walter ’59, March 24, Lansing. He is survived by brother, Jim Walter ’56; his mother Helen (Bohnet) Walter ’30 preceded him in death in 2004.

Dale Perry ’64, Feb. 24, Clinton.

David Prior ’65, Ph.D., Feb. 2, Wise, Va. He is survived by wife, Merry Lu (Fritz) Prior ’68.

Roger Reinhardt ’65, Nov. 23, 2009, Lapeer.

Steve St. Amant ’74, Dec. 13, 2011, Dansville.

Doug Weldon ’75, Jan. 5, Kalamazoo.

Chris Luedtke ’81, Nov. 16, 2011, Frankfort.

Judith (Berkompas) Holtgrave ’83, Jan. 4, Coldwater.

Greta (Webb) Johnson ex’84, April 12. Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Friends of the College Robert Barnes, Dec. 25, 2011, Marshall. Bob was the former choral director at Olivet College. The alumni choir sang during his memorial service in Marshall on April 21.

Jane Goudreault, Jan. 16, DeWitt. Jane taught in Olivet Public Schools, at Olivet College, and traveled the world with her husband, Fern Goudreault, who preceded her in death in 1998. She is survived by daughter, Yvonne Caamal-Canul ’73 and son, Paul Goudreault ’80.

Dr. Edwin Scott Overman, Jan. 26, West Chester, Pa. Dr. Overman received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Olivet College in 1985.

Louisa (Grill) Trott ’03 and husband, Ian, a daughter, Quinn Lavonne, Jan. 6.

Allison (Shakinis) Grinnell ’06 and husband, Cory, a son, Dylan Matthew, Nov. 21, 2011. E-mail Allison at ashakinis@hotmail.com.

Courtney (Clift) ’06 Hamilton and husband, Nick, a daughter, Chloe Lyndine, Feb. 15. E-mail Courtney at clc0212@aol.com.

Ken Lackscheide ’06 and wife, Jamie, a daughter, Aylah, March 22.

She joins sisters Karstyn, 4, and Hadley, 2. E-mail Ken at KLacksch@Travelers.com.

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BY JASON CONKIN ’97

The Civil War was raging and President Lincoln was in the White House when in 1862 a group of 11 Olivet College men gathered in Gentlemen’s Hall with the intention of forming a literary society. They called themselves “Clever Fellows” and it was their belief that one could gain a greater education as a group than as an individual. They did so by debating, giving lectures, managing their own library and performing plays for the public. They later changed their name to Adelphic Society, adopted the motto “Semper Fidelis,” and built Adelphic Hall, complete with a granite stone foundation, enormous stained glass windows, and glorious hand-carved wood. I’m not certain those early Adelphics could have imagined the society they built would have survived 150 years. Amazingly, Adelphic Alpha Pi is now on a short list of fraternities in the United States That can claim that honor and we’re going to celebrate the achievement in grand style.

Organizing our 150th anniversary celebration has been in the works for three years and the final plans are now being prepared. We began by creating an annual newsletter in order to start reconnecting alumni of the fraternity. We also organized small events such as a summer outing, a Homecoming tent at the football field, and a group trip to a Tigers game. Alumni have been receiving updates on the current state of the fraternity through e-mail, and the Adelphic Facebook page has more than

100 members and is growing. We now have volunteers making contact with their Adelphic brothers to be sure they’re aware of our upcoming event. Most importantly, we’ve raised a significant amount of donations which will be used for improvements to the house and to give the alumni a greater incentive to make a visit.

We’re expecting a very large turnout with these efforts and hope that all Adelphic alumni will make plans to attend. We also want to encourage the Sigma Beta alumnae to join us and welcome all other Olivet College alumni to stop by and see some old friends.

The celebration will take place during Homecoming weekend Sept. 28-30, 2012. The opening reception will include a dinner at the Oaks Dining Room in the Kirk Center Friday evening, and will be open to family members as well as Olivet College employees. Saturday will be the main event and we’ll make the “rafters ring” at Adelphic Hall throughout the day.

The house will open at 10 a.m. with a coffee reception and lunch will be served under a nearby tent soon thereafter.

Activities at the house will conclude around 2 p.m. and we’ll top off the weekend with the entire group being presented on the football field during halftime.

For more information, please contact me at jconkin@archinsurance.com or call (312) 914-1414. We look forward to seeing you in September. On Adelphic!

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