QUniverse Spring 2021

niverse SPRING 2021

QUINCY UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

SAM ’76 & MAUREEN

BANKS

have been married 37 years, and together they have three children and three grandchildren. This committed couple has spent their years together living out the Franciscan values.

QU | President’s Page

“The pandemic will end. New elections in our democracy will eventually give us new governors, senators and presidents. What will endure, what will last, are the lessons passed on to the next generation, including the next graduates of QU.”

I

n the beautiful Quincy University Chapel, images of saints abound. Many of those saints are Franciscans, beginning with St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. Other saints who

created new Catholic religious orders also are depicted, including St. John Bosco, who founded the Salesians not long before the first classes were offered at Quincy University in 1860.

St. John Bosco is most famous for his commitment to the education of children, focusing on reason, religion, and kindness.

As he taught, children must be loved, but they must also know they are loved.

For this academic year, Quincy University has constantly lived

The pandemic will end. New elections in our democracy will eventually give us new governors, senators, and presidents.

What will endure, what will last, are the lessons passed on to the next generation, including the next graduates of QU. As our students finish their time at this university, I hope they will remember the ways that faculty, staff, and administrators took care of them during this tumultuous year. The memories

with a global pandemic. Sickness, death, and unemployment

of masks and distancing may fade, but the enduring lessons

have frequently dominated the news of the day, with masks and

of caring, kindness, and love should last for a lifetime. QU

physical distancing serving as daily reminders of the dangers of

graduates should know they were loved.

everyday interaction.

The pandemic hasn’t been our only burden. While generations

The world should be a better place not only because Quincy University alumni are successful – they are, and they will be –

of Americans have found ways to unite in opposition to the

but because QU alumni know how to love and care for others,

challenges of their time, the political divide in the United States

even when doing so is difficult. The pandemic will not prevail,

has never been deeper. Anger, very frequently, is the dominant

politicians will not prevail, over the power of love.

emotion found in politics and public life.

At this difficult moment, I hope we might remember St. John Bosco’s simple and powerful message. Both children and adults

In this edition of QUniverse, as in all editions, you will have no difficulty finding examples of the love our community shows to others. Enjoy!

in our culture need to be loved and to know they are loved.

Further, the love Franciscans have always shown has not been conditioned on anything other than our common humanity. That you should love your neighbor as yourself is a fundamentally

Sincerely,

Franciscan idea and is at the core of what it means to be a Christian.

As I sought to explain in my last Quincy University commencement speech, America needs more patient, kind, and

Brian McGee, PhD

self-sacrificial love. And I believe QU is perfectly positioned to

President

produce leaders who love, whose success is measured first and foremost by how they treat the people around them.

Contents | QU

IN THIS ISSUE ii

President’s Page

2

Student Spotlight

6

Main Feature

10

Main Feature

14

Hawk Talk

18

niverse Editor: Jen Wingerter ’13

Experiential Learning During Covid-19

Contributors: Miriam Hermann Brian McGee, PhD Brendan Saak ’18 Barbara Schleppenbach, PhD ’71 Pasha Yates ’15 Pilar Yates Brumbaugh

Heritage Award Winners

When the Lights Go On & The Legacy of Coaching

Graphic Designer: Jenny Willingham

Alumni Feature

Family, Community, and Giving Back

Photographers: Pasha Yates ’15 Sandy Trudell ’94 Lifetouch Portrait

22 2Franciscan Focus

A Continuing Legacy

24

Academic Feature

26

Academic Feature

Ready for Anything

Called to Heal

30

Faculty Focus

32

Faculty Briefs

34

QUniverse is published to serve the interests of Quincy University and its programs.

Send all correspondence to:

QUniverse Quincy University 1800 College Ave. Quincy, IL 62301-2699

qualumni@quincy.edu

Class Notes

14 22 26

6 18

from Quincy College and St. Francis Solanus dated before 1930

HERITAGE AWARDS

2

10

LOOKING FOR DONATIONS OR COPIES OF DIPLOMAS

24

QU | Student Spotlight

LIVING

PROOF

by Jen Wingerter ’13

Jacob Flynn ’21 grew up in Mt Sterling, Illinois. Born at only 24 weeks, he weighed a tiny three pounds and half an ounce and spent the first six weeks of his life in a Springfield hospital. As a result of complications from his premature birth, Jacob has Cerebral Palsy (CP).

“There is an assumption that all people with CP have the same limitations, but that is not true,” said Jacob’s mom Cherry Flynn. “I’ve told him since he was little how blessed he is.

So many children who have CP are a lot worse. I don’t want him to feel sorry for himself.

We can deal with physical limitations.”

Growing up, he faced his limitations with ingenuity. Jacob taught himself to do many things using one hand. From learning how to hold a pencil or figuring out how to use a game controller to play Call of Duty, Jacob has pushed himself to the limit.

“I learned mostly by trial and error,” said Jacob. “I’ve gotten better each year, figuring out ways that work best.”

“We can deal with physical limitations.”

-Cherry Flynn

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

Student Spotlight | QU

www.quincy.edu

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QU | Student Spotlight

“They [his aide and mother] believed I could go to college before I believed I could.”

-Jacob Flynn

ENCOURAGEMENT TO SUCCESS He didn’t travel his path to success alone. His aide and mother were a continual encouragement throughout his childhood and teenage years.

“They believed in me from day one and pushed me to be who I am today,” said Jacob. “They believed I could go to college before I believed I could.”

Jacob had the privilege of having Karen DeWitt as his aide from preschool through his senior year in high school. “We knew each other well. It was a blessing,” said Jacob. “She helped me up until the day I graduated.”

Jacob also credits his success to some great teachers throughout his childhood and college years. “Each one taught me something I needed to know and helped get me here,” said Jacob. “All my professors are great. They teach you things that you know you will carry forever.”

His road to QU wasn’t without its bumps. It was in his senior year of high school that his mom realized she would be going to college 4

QUniverse | Spring 2021

with him. Once Jacob turned 18, he would no longer be eligible for a 24-hour aide. Cherry knew the little assistance he could get wouldn’t be enough for Jacob to have a successful college experience. So she started making plans to join him on campus.

They now share a suite on the first floor of Padua Hall during the week and then travel home on the weekends so Cherry can work. “Not everyone brings their mother to college with them, but it has been better than I thought,” Jacob joked. “We work together pretty well.”

He wasn’t always as optimistic about the arrangements. Jacob dreaded freshman orientation.

“I told my mother multiple times, I’m not going to leave my room,” said Jacob. “I was bullied most of my high school years. Even though my mom told me it was going to be different than high school, I had that mindset going into orientation.”

The first activity required a partner, and suddenly Jacob felt like he was back in high school.

Student Spotlight | QU

“I was sitting alone, and I’m thinking great, here we go again, but then a student came across the room and made me feel like I was what he wanted in a partner” said Jacob. “He treated me like any other student.”

Another student crossed the room at lunch to greet Jacob. She wasn’t sure how to approach him, but she did it anyway. It was a great gift that Jacob encourages everyone to give.

“Go talk to the person, make them feel welcome, make them feel like they belong,” said Jacob. “The best thing you can give them is that feeling that they aren’t alone.”

Finishing up his final semester at QU, Jacob is excited about his future and surprised how fast the past four years have gone. He hopes to pursue work at a museum.

He wants to leave a message for those who come after him.

“I want to say this not only for me but for the students like me who come after me. You can do this. You can go to college. You can succeed. I’m living proof of that.”

INVOLVEMENT 2020 Lincoln Laureate Scholar Member of the CEO Club National Criminal Justice Honor Society Students for Life Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

www.quincy.edu

5

Quincy University believes that hands-on learning is critical to student success. The hands-on approach to learning moves beyond the classroom to an active learning experience. Students take what they learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world practicums. At QU, no matter the field of study, faculty worked hard to ensure students had hands-on learning despite the limitations COVID-19 created this semester.

Exper Learn iential During ing COVID -19

by J en W inge rter

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

’13

Main Feature | QU

The Quincy University Music Program is adapting to making music during the pandemic.

While rehearsal spaces and ensembles might look different, students still have the opportunity to make music and perform. The Quincy University Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Choirs are following spacing guidelines outlined in national research studies.

“Music is a huge part of the lives and well-being of many students,” said Christine Damm, DMM, fine arts and communication division chair.

“We missed performing music together last spring, so it was imperative that the music faculty research safe ways to rehearse and perform music.”

MUSIC

While concerts are not open to the public, students are still performing. Each student can invite two guests to performances. Audience members are required to wear masks at all times and be seated six feet apart.

Rehearsing music and performing has given some sense of normalcy in this uncertain time and has allowed students to express themselves artistically. Music faculty and students look forward to the day when concerts can be open to the public. In the meantime, musicians will continue to mask up, spread out, and enjoy making music.

For the fall semester, the Broadcasting Class made several adjustments.

This year QUTV shifted focus to producing a sports show to compliment the interest of the students in the broadcasting class. Students produced weekly episodes of QUTV Sports This Week and QUTV Hawk Talk Podcast.

“The majority of the students in the class plan to go into sports broadcasting, so we shifted the show to meet that need,” Nora Baldner, assistant professor of communication, said.

The classes also adjusted to restrictions due to COVID-19.

“We added masks, gloves, shields, and microphone covers and went from a fourperson show on the anchor desk to two-person and spread them apart,” Baldner said. “We also made weekly adjustments as students came in and out of quarantine.”

BROADCASTING

Gathering original footage was difficult because of canceled games, but due to an education agreement, QU was able to use CNN and relied on coach and player interviews for content. The lack of local content in the fall completely reversed this spring as almost every team on campus was able to compete. www.quincy.edu

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Learning to make observations and use scientific tools in the laboratory or field is a fundamental part of building competency in the natural sciences. Additionally, grappling with science in a real, physical way motivates analytical thinking and problem-solving in learners.

“It was clear after the spring of 2020 that the continuing COVID-19 pandemic threatened to drive a wedge between students and careers in science,” said Michelle Combs, assistant professor of biology. “President McGee and Teresa Reed, PhD, vice president of academic affairs, challenged us to provide COVIDsafeguarded, experiential science for our students.”

The mental effort and time my colleagues dedicated to plan and execute a successful semester of courses this fall were staggering. By pairing this with incredible efforts from all members of the QU team, including students, I am proud to say that QU delivered top-notch, experiential, safe science to QU learners.

-Michelle Combs ’96, PhD Assistant Professor of Biology 8

Eager to meet this challenge, science faculty re-engineered laboratory activities, eliminating group work. They split class time and recorded lectures to accommodate distancing requirements. To lower class sizes and prevent equipment sharing, professors taught extra lab sessions. Large-scale experiments and social interactions, such as the Science & Tech Picnic, were held outdoors under a tent at North Campus. Students in quarantine stayed connected to their face-to-face learning peers by logging in to class virtually and participating.

After class, instructors held virtual meetings with students in quarantine to keep them academically engaged and up to speed.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Main Feature | QU

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

MOCK TRIAL TEAM

Schools compete to present the case at trial as three attorneys and three witnesses. At each tournament, the teams present the case from both sides, so flexibility and understanding the case from multiple viewpoints are key.

-Christopher Pratt, JD Mock Trial Team coach

The Quincy University Mock Trial Program introduces students to the functions of a court case moving through the process of a jury trial.

Through this hands-on approach, students learn the details and elements of a jury trial while working on trial advocacy skills.

Like every class on campus, students wore masks and stayed physically distanced while in the Mock Trial courtroom. Students who could not attend in person participated virtually.

The QU Mock Trial Team competes in tournaments throughout the Midwest under the direction of the national organization, the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA).

AMTA produces a casebook each year that is used by over 200 colleges and universities across the country. The casebook alternates between criminal and civil cases.

The QU team usually competes in five to six tournaments per year with no more than ten members. Last season the team advanced past its Regional Tournament and competed at the Opening Round of the National Championships Tournament in Indianapolis.

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QU | Main Feature

HERITAGE AWARDS

by Pilar Yates Brumbaugh

THE HERITAGE AWARDS are the highest honor bestowed by

Quincy University upon an outstanding alumna or alumnus. The awards salute the achievements of alumni whose personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.

The Bill O’Donnell Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award

is given to alumni who have enhanced the reputation of Quincy University through their outstanding professional achievement, personal accomplishments, and their loyal service to their alma mater.

Recipients of this award have demonstrated a belief in Quincy University’s mission and vision through philanthropic support of the university and through the contribution of time, talent, and treasure.

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

The Franciscan Service Award

is given to alumni who have made significant contributions to their community, state, and nation through professional service, public service, and civic activities. The honoree offers inspiration and encouragement as role models for principled leadership and a wholehearted commitment to serving others.

The Rising Hawk Award

is given to alumni under the age of 40 who demonstrates success early in his or her career and is active in the life of the university or the life of their community.

Main Feature | QU

The Bill O’Donnell Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award This year, Quincy University is pleased to honor Alan Knepler ’71 and Lucinda Awerkamp McClain ’71.

Alan Knepler ’71 is a man who is inspired to help others be successful because of the support he received throughout his life.

He always knew that he wanted to be a support system for others; however, he realized that “Wanting to be and getting there” were two very different things. He was fortunate to have people in his life to guide and support him and help him figure out exactly what he wanted to do with his life after college.

The Credit of Success

Knepler, a retired physical education teacher and soccer coach, credits his success to his parents, mentors, and peers. And while Knepler’s career took him to various places, it was the countless number of lives that he touched throughout his life, both personally and professionally, that impacted him and his many successes.

“While you can

He crossed paths with hundreds of students and many student-athletes as an educator and coach, teaching students lessons that he had learned throughout his lifetime.

The Impact of Relationships

share your financial support, it's also important to share your story. Share your

When reflecting on the impact that has inspired Knepler to support his alma mater through the years, it all comes back to the relationships he had with his coaches and professors. He hopes their influence and passion and the loving atmosphere that they provided to their students will carry on to the students on campus today and for many years to come.

experience. Be positive.

Be Proud. Be a Hawk.”

“Al is constantly thinking of ways to help Quincy University students,” says Matthew Bergman, senior director of advancement. “So it comes as no surprise that for Knepler, the success of Quincy University is important because he wants to see other students, like himself, succeed.”

—Alan Knepler ’71

Lucinda Awerkamp McClain’71 started at Quincy College without knowing she would leave a lasting legacy on her alma mater that has helped the university continue to succeed today.

Growing up in the heart of Quincy, McClain was very familiar with Quincy College, and she knew that it was the best choice because she could live at home and save money. The oldest of ten children, grant and scholarship opportunities helped McClain make attending QC possible, just as it does for our students today.

Franciscan Values & Servant Leadership

McClain received a Franciscan education starting in grade school and through college, and had parents who lived out the Franciscan values their whole lives. The Franciscan values of servant leadership and service are two things, among many others, that she still lives out today. After college, McClain started her career as a History and English teacher.

She later practiced law with a focus on social security, disability, estate planning, and adoptions. Throughout her career, she built relationships with people and assisted them in navigating their life circumstances. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Main Feature

McClain believes the “tenants of being Franciscan are extremely important,” not just to her but to the Quincy community.

“Pray for success.

Send financial contributions.

Reach out to fellow alumni.

Stay in contact with the university, so you know

“Cinda has been a steadfast supporter of Quincy University for many years and is always willing to go the extra mile to help out her alma mater,” said Bergman.

For over 50 years, McClain has served her community, her clients, and her alma mater. In addition to her countless hours of community service to various organizations in the Quincy community, she has served her alma mater as a trustee and chair of the board, a scholarship representative, and a student mentor.

what is going on.”

—Lucinda Awerkamp McClain ’71

The Franciscan Service Award Quincy University is pleased to announce this year's award recipient, Fr. Frank Kordek ’67, OFM. Fr. Frank comes from a family filled with many Quincy University alumni, and the tradition continues as his nephew is a member of the 2021 freshman class.

While it has been several years since he has been back to campus, his experiences and the relationships that he built have left long-lasting impressions on his life. He remembers the genuine concern for the students on campus. All the faculty and staff helped students develop their gifts and talents freely and joyfully.

What helped bring Fr. Frank to vocation?

It was the Franciscans on campus!

“It has all been a faith journey, a journey with the Lord. I know that the Lord is there, and each experience has been special to me.”

—Fr. Frank Kordek ’67

Fr. Frank had the opportunity to get to know several of the Franciscans very well. Fr. Francis Jerome Gray, OFM, and Fr. Melvin Grunloh, OFM, were just two of the many special people who welcomed Fr. Frank into their home and creating relationships with him, leaving a lasting impact.

His Faith Journey

Following graduation from Quincy University, Fr. Frank attended Our Lady of Angels, the Catholic Theological Union at the University of Chicago, where he studied theology and participated in the Hesburgh Sabbatical program.Throughout his lifetime, he has served many different parishes. He has served in Illinois, Northern Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana, and Ohio, serving in various roles, including at a homeless shelter and large grade school.

Fr. Frank came from a prayerful family. His parents had profound faith, and he remembers his mother telling him to open his heart to Lord, and today, he continues to do that. Prayer has always been a large part of his life and even more so today.

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

Main Feature | QU

How to Succeed

When asked what alumni can do to help their alma mater succeed, he encourages all to “recommend their children and grandchildren to attend, share their memories and stories, contribute through time, talent, and treasure, but most of all, pray.”

HERITAGE AWARDS

He hopes that Quincy University continues to thrive and be a place where students of all cultures and traditions participate and bring their gifts with them, and together in learning, develop those gifts and bring the Lord with them on their journey, wherever it may take them.

Nominated by peers, Megan Greer ’20 is the recipient of this year's The Rising Hawk award.

As a first-generation college student, Greer did not always know if going to college would be possible. Graduating from QU is her greatest accomplishment to date, and one she did not do alone.

Quincy University’s National Alumni Board invites you to nominate a fellow alum who has achieved professional accomplishments and service to their communities and/or to the university.

The NAB would like to honor graduates in the following categories: Alumni Franciscan Service Award, Rising Hawk Award, and the Bill O’Donnell Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award.

The nomination deadline for the 2022 awards is October 31, 2021.

Submissions after October 31 will be considered for the following year.

Self-nominations will not be accepted.

The winners will be announced in the spring and highlighted in the spring edition of QUniverse.

Visit the Alumni Feature webpage quincy.edu to nominate a deserving alumni today!

A Support System

Throughout her life, she always had people in her corner, whether that was helping her and her family, encouraging her, or inspiring her.

The university community helped her grow and navigate some of life's challenging times. As a student, Greer utilized the various services at the J. Kenneth Nesbit Student Success Center, where she met Donna Holtmeyer, director of student success, one of her mentors.

NOMINATIONS

Nominations for all awards are solicited annually from faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university, specifically in the fall of each year. However, we accept award nominations throughout the year. We encourage nominations to be kept confidential. Submitted nominees are reviewed by Alumni Services and the final selection is made by a committee of the NAB.

The Rising Hawk Award

“Having a support system is truly the key to success,” said Greer. “Thinking about it now, I don’t know if I would have continued or made it through school, without their support.”

2022 AWARD

“I always knew that I wanted to help people.

I knew that's what I wanted to do. To make an impact on someone's life.”

—Megan Greer ’20

Living out Franciscan Values

Greer started living out Franciscan values before she knew she would one day attend a liberal arts college that lives in the spirit of Francis of Assisi. The interest of wanting to help others began at an early age for her. Impacted by the kindness, generosity, and support from those who helped her family, she volunteered to help those in need.

Since 2019, Greer has worked at Chaddock, an internationally recognized not-for-profit child-serving agency in Quincy, as a youth counselor supporting and helping her clients succeed, just as people did for her. She leads by example and uses her life lessons from various experiences to educate her clients. She hopes to continue to support others through their life journey, just as Holtmeyer, and countless others, were for her. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Hawk Talk

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON

by Brendan Saak ’18 QU ATHLETICS AND SPRING SPORTS

In March 2020, sports teams watched the lights go out in stadiums and arenas across the country as athletic programs canceled seasons due to the pandemic.

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While the GLVC postponed most of the fall team's official seasons, some teams were allowed to compete in September, including the men’s and women’s golf teams, tennis teams, and cross country teams. Men’s and women’s basketball were the first “high contact” sport to hold a regular-season starting at the end of November.

The women’s soccer and volleyball and men’s lacrosse programs all held intrasquad scrimmages during the fall, and numerous other teams like football, baseball, and softball all held practices.

Hawk Talk | QU

Protocols and recommendations were put in place by the CDC and the NCAA to ensure players could compete safely.

Throughout the process, staff members within the athletic department were crucial in the compliance of these protocols to ensure that competition happened.

We did this to jump ahead of the virus, mitigate the risk for other individuals, and not have an outbreak.”

Marty Bell, MSEd, former vice president of intercollegiate athletics, DJ Elmore, MA, head athletic trainer, and Kaylee Jones, MS, assistant athletic director, attended countless zoom meetings, set up testing protocol for the athletic department, and balanced jam-packed schedules in the months leading up to the spring competitions.

We are doing rapid antigen testing, along with PCR testing for certain teams based on the GLVC’s guidelines.

With the movement of most fall sports to the spring and the continuing COVID-19 concern, challenges are inevitable throughout the spring semester.

“This spring, logistics is a big issue,” said Phil Conover, interim athletic director. “Lumping everything into one season means a lack of officials, bus drivers, and buses, as well as navigating the limited practice and competition space, all while maintaining social distancing and masking protocols. The athletic department staff is putting in so many hours, running the operations of each competition. And, of course, the added challenge of maintaining a strict testing regiment.

We knew moving all athletic competitions to the spring would create challenges. But we prepared for them and are working hard to provide a high-quality experience for our student-athletes.

The process is different for teams this spring.

—DJ Elmore, MA, Head Athletic Trainer “For instance, 100% of the ‘high risk’ teams’ personnel will be tested once a week. For medium and low- contact risk teams such as baseball, lacrosse, and volleyball, 25% of their personnel will be tested every two weeks.”

Once teams pass these testing protocols with no positives, they can take the field. Kaylee Jones oversees the scheduling of QU’s facilities so that teams can train and play games.

I would say the biggest

challenge so far is to manage all of the space that is shared by all twenty-one teams.

—Kaylee Jones, MS, Assistant Athletic Director

— Phil Conover, Interim Athletic Director, President Emeritus

“Even though a handful of the sports are outdoor sports, they all share the weight room and the (HFC) courts at some point.

It has been a fun puzzle to piece together and organize each space at specific times for teams while still trying to keep it fair and follow COVID protocols.”

Teams had the chance to work through some of these challenges before a regular-season kicked off and became more comfortable with the new testing and quarantine protocols headed by Elmore.

The spring semester will be unlike any other college athletics has dealt with before. But because of the hard work of dedicated staff, QU stadium lights are on, and the Hawks have taken the field, court, and track once again.

“The university conducted surveillance testing this past fall,” said Elmore. “We randomly selected 25% of each teams’ roster, including coaching staff, and tested them with a PCR test every two weeks regardless if they were symptomatic or not. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Hawk Talk

THE LEGACY OF COACHING

by Brendan Saak ’18 and Jen Wingerter ’13

Pat Atwell (1990-2007) After college, Pat Atwell worked as a residential hall coordinator and assistant basketball coach for his alma mater, beginning his collegiate coaching career.

He coached various men and women sports until QU hired him as the head baseball coach.

“The greatest blessing for us was coming to Quincy in 1990,” said Atwell. “I love Quincy University. We spent 17 years there, to get that opportunity at the Division II level, to coach the Hawks, and then be the athletic director.”

HIGHLIGHTS Coached Baseball Team to a record of 288-200-3 overall record GLVC Championship Win, 2000

While baseball is his first love, he loved coaching soccer at QU with Jack Mackenzie.

“He inherited me. I learned a lot from him,” said Atwell. “As a young coach, it was great for me to watch him and how he handled the players with respect.”

Atwell approached his coaching with the philosophy of firm but fair. Through his years of coaching, he taught his players that attention to detail leads to winning games and the importance of how they carry themselves, on and off the field.

In his role as athletic director, Atwell enjoys working with coaches and their development.

“When you hire a young coach and see him do well, it’s pretty much the same feeling of watching a player figure it out and do well,” said Atwell. “That part of the job is rewarding.”

Atwell has worked as an athletic director for 20 years, first at QU, then later at Drury University, and now at Culver Stockton College. He has spent his years in this role working to create good experiences for his coaches and their players. His experiences coaching men and women athletics has been beneficial in his administrative world.

“Atwell hammered us to be mentally tough and always compete. He taught us that if our best players are our hardest workers, the wins and losses will take care of themselves. I learned many life lessons and baseball-related lessons as his player. But the greatest lessons I learned indirectly. He showed us all how to be a true servant leader and a great person. You wanted to make him proud by being a better person yourself.”

—Josh Rabe ’01, head baseball coach, associate athletic director

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

Hawk Talk | QU

Sharlene Peter (1965-1985) While it has been 55 years since former QU head coach Sharlene Peter initiated the women’s athletic program, she still remembers what it was like bringing winning ways and consistent dedication to women’s sports at Quincy University.

In her 20-year career with the Hawks (Hawkettes), she was an associate professor of physical education, the director of women’s athletics, and coached four different sports teams, all while navigating the pre-and-post Title IX era. Coming up as a woman in sports, often contrary to societal stigmas, she embraced the difficulty of fitting into a world dominated by men.

HIGHLIGHTS Russian Women's Basketball Team playing against Quincy College

“A woman had to work extra hard and go above and beyond to get a seat at the table,” Peter said.

NAIA National Championship in Softball, 1985

As a coach, she helped her players navigate the world of intercollegiate athletics primarily dominated by men and

Development of the Mart Heinen Softball Complex

strove to develop each player physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

“My goal was to provide opportunities and challenges that allowed them to build on experiences, profit by mistakes and successes, and that would serve them well in life,” Peter said.

Sharlene’s approach paid off and brought success to her teams. Despite the success, what she remembers as the most influential thing about her career was the people she met in the journey.

“We worked hard on and off the court to capitalize on the opportunities Coach Peter created for our team and all the female athletes. A lesson learned that served me well in my career and life, be thankful for the hand-up, just don’t wait around for the hand-out.”

—Michelle Quinn Armendariz ’79

Steve Hawkins (1991-2000) Steve Hawkins’ road to coaching collegiate sports began while he was in junior college. Needing a job, he applied to be the freshman basketball coach at a nearby prep school. He coached high school level basketball while also working at Bruins Coach John Wooden's basketball camps for several years. It was during this time he determined he wanted to coach collegiately.

After working as an assistant coach at Southern Alabama University and Quincy University, he was named the Hawks head coach in 1992 and led for nine seasons.

“QU is a special place. The university and the city are something that once you experience it, you know you are in the middle of something special,” said Hawkins. “It is a personalized experience.

Everybody knows who you are and are willing to help. When you combine that with the community, it is hard to beat.”

He joined the staff of Robert McCullum at Western Michigan University in 2000, serving as head coach from 2003-2020.

Throughout his coaching, Hawkins used John Wooden's Pyramid of Success philosophy.

“I taught my players, whether you are in the classroom, or at home, or on the court, the goal is not to beat someone but to do your very best,” said Hawkins. “You cannot control how good your opponent is, but you can control your effort, intensity, preparation, and concentration.”

In his career in coaching, Hawkins's goals and purpose have remained the same.

“You have to coach for the right reason, not for the win, the fame, or the love of the game. We are there to impact the players,” said Hawkins. “At the end of the day, coaching is really about preparing young people for life after the ball stops bouncing.”

HIGHLIGHTS Coached Men’s Basketball team to 137 wins Three NCAA Division II Tournaments

“Steve Hawkins (Hawk) is in it for the kids. He has spent his career loving, challenging, and mentoring kids and helping them grow. As a coach, he taught us how to be a good human. What I learned from Hawk in basketball, I have applied in my life as a husband, father, and a partner in a private, high energy equity firm.”

—Matt Steffe ’98 www.quincy.edu

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QU | Alumni Feature

FAMILY COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK

SAM ’76, MSW, AND MAUREEN, PHD, BANKS HAVE BEEN MARRIED 37 YEARS, AND TOGETHER THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN. THIS COMMITTED COUPLE HAS SPENT THEIR YEARS TOGETHER LIVING OUT THE FRANCISCAN VALUES.

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am and Maureen grew up in large traditional families that served as the foundation of how they have lived in community with others and showed them how to weave faith throughout all they do.

Values, like being trustworthy, caring for others, and serving the community, Maureen learned and practiced within her family.

She learned about service from her mother who volunteered at their church, school, and charities that helped others. “My mother showed us through her example, how to give back using our time and talents,” said Maureen. “With nine kids, there was not a lot of money around, but we learned to give what we could in service to those in need.” She also learned to speak up and to value her uniqueness. Maureen recalls when she and her twin brother were entering 2nd grade, her parents decided to put them in separate classes in school. “I remember that first day, feeling so alone. I didn't have my buddy there.

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But I realized then that I had to get my strength from within,” said Maureen. “This and later going to an all-girls high school are experiences that led me to be comfortable with myself and helped me find my voice. You have to do this first to be there for others.”

Sam lost his dad at the age of 13. As a young teen, he watched aunts and uncles step in to support his mom and siblings.

Their actions made an impression. Not only did Sam see these values modeled in his family, he saw them in his neighbors as well. Where Sam grew up, neighbors supported one another and helped each other succeed. These examples taught Sam how to be there for someone else. “When my dad died, I was the oldest of 5. I felt that I needed to help my mom and siblings,” said Sam. “It fostered responsibility and leadership in me and the desire to help others.”

Alumni Feature | QU

by Jen Wingerter ’13

Sam found that same kind of support on the campus of Quincy University as a young freshman, away from home for the first time. “I felt like I was embraced by the Franciscans, the administration, the folks who were there, I felt like I had come to an extended family in a lot of ways,” said Sam. “If I ever needed help, or I needed something, there was always someone I could turn to, somebody I could ask and get a response.”

While he was at QU, he came to a deeper understanding of the importance of environments that allow relationshipbuilding to happen. “QU is a place where perspectivechanging relationships can happen,” said Sam. “The campus is a melting pot of individuals where all kinds of relationships can happen.” One relationship resulted in a conversation about racism that has stayed with Sam his entire adult life.

“We both walked away from that conversation recognizing

how much our view of other people was shaped by the environment we came from and what we were taught or told by others. QU offers the kind of environment where I could connect with someone different from me, where eye opening conversations and new relationships can happen that allow us to see life differently than we saw it before.”

Maureen has always admired the lasting relationships Sam has from his time at QU. “There is a strong camaraderie and a friendship that has proven through the years,” said Maureen. “It is amazing to see.” She credits the example of the Franciscans. When she thinks of Quincy, she relates it to the Franciscan commitment to helping and connecting to others. She is impressed by the university’s commitment to teaching students how to serve. She and Sam both know how the act of serving others elicits change within. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Alumni Feature

I WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO HELP THEM MEET OSHA AND EPA STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS. WE MONITOR T H E CA M PU S A N D T H E ENVIRONMENT SO THAT THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A SAFE AND HEALTHY PLACE FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF.

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MAUREEN BANKS DIRECTOR OF SAFETY & COMPLIANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Maureen oversees comprehensive environmental compliance and occupational safety programs, offers consultative remedies to meet regulatory and statutory compliance, and acts as chief liaison with federal, state, and local agencies.

Before starting at the University of Illinois, Maureen worked for DuPont, Southland Corporation, and owned her own safety consulting business.

Maureen earned her bachelor’s degree in biological science from Western Illinois. She earned a master’s degree in preventive medicine and environmental health from the University of Iowa, followed by a doctorate in human resource education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Alumni Feature | QU

THE IMPACT OF A RELATIONSHIP.

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uring Sam's sophomore year, he volunteered as a Big Brother, Big Sister mentor. This experience changed his life. Just like his family had impacted his life, he saw the impact of his relationship made to his mentee. This experience changed his trajectory, and he switched his major from business to sociology.

“One of my life dreams, one of the things that came out of my volunteering and later my internship at Chaddock, was to be a difference-maker in these types of organizations,” said Sam. As a volunteer, he noticed a lot of black children participating in the programs but not a lot of people of color in the volunteer role. “My goal and desire became to lead an organization and be someone all kids can look up to but particularly those kids who are disenfranchised, to let them see someone who looks like them in a position of leadership. And that they would say, ‘If Sam can do that, maybe so could I.’” Sam has spent his entire career doing that very thing.

Sam and Maureen have spent their lives working to be a good neighbor where they work, in their communities, and to QU, out of gratitude for what others gave to them. They feel it is their responsibility to give back but, more importantly, their privilege and joy.

BELIEVE IN THE MISSION AND VISION. “It has been an honor to be able to do service with organizations that I believe in their mission and vision,” said Maureen. “I think the heart of QU is borne-out in the Franciscan tradition. It is something that I believe in and having the opportunity to be a board member is very fulfilling.”

“It has been a special opportunity to be involved with QU as a student, as a supporter, and as a board of trustee member,” said Sam. “Having all those sides really is an awesome look at the university. Each perspective gives a new connection.”

SAM BANKS CEO AT DON MOYER BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

Sam has spent his entire career working with children and families and has received regional and national recognition for program development and administrative achievement. Before joining the Boys and Girls Club, he served as President and CEO of Glenwood School for Boys and Girls in the Chicago area and the Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana, Illinois.

Sam’s career began at Chaddock in Quincy as the program director after earning his master’s degree in social work administration from the University of Illinois Chicago.

As a retired NCAA Men's basketball official, Sam also served 20 years officiating in the Big Ten, Missouri Valley, and other conferences. He has worked both the NCAA and NIT postseason tournaments.

ONE OF MY MENTORS, GENE SIMON, WAS THE CEO AT CHADDOCK WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO GRADUATE FROM QU. HIS INVESTMENT IN ME AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAS BEEN KEY IN MY LIFE. HE PROVIDED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR ME TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING I WOULD COME BACK AND WORK FOR HIM. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Franciscan Focus

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Franciscan Focus | QU

Franciscan Legacy Honored Through Giving

Franciscan Funds: Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, OFM, Scholarship established in 1983, in honor of his 26 years of service between 1957-1983.

Fr. Gervase Brinkman, OFM, Scholarship established in 1982.

by Jen Wingerter ’13

Fr. Tom Brown, OFM, Scholarship established in 1996, in honor of his 41 years of service from 1953-1994.

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Fr. Robert Dentzman, OFM, Scholarship established in 2007, in honor of his 44 years of service from 1959-2003.

ince 1860, more than 300 friars from the Sacred Heart Province have worked at Quincy University. They have served as administrators, faculty, coaches, confidants, and most importantly, spiritual advisors. Ask any alumnus or alumna and they can share the name of a Franciscan Friar who changed or influenced their lives in a significant way.

The impact made by these men in the QU community is evident in the desire of alumni and friends to establish scholarships named for Franciscan Friars who served QU. While there are not as many brown robes on campus today, the legacy of the Franciscan Friars remains.

One such legacy is that of Father Gabriel Brinkman, OFM.

While at QU, the students referred to him as Father Gabe. He did not waver in his convictions and treated all with kindness and gentleness. He entered the Franciscan order in 1943 and was ordained on June 24, 1951, in Teutopolis. Father Gabe earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1947 from Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio, a bachelor's degree in education from Quincy College, and a master's and a doctorate in sociology from the Catholic University of America.

He joined the QU faculty in 1957, serving

Fr. F.J. Gray, OFM, Scholarship established in 2004 in honor of his 32 years of service, from 1952-1953, 1958-1989.

Fr. Melvin Grunloh, OFM, Scholarship established in 1984, in honor of his 23 years of service from 1961-1984.

Fr. Victor Hermann, OFM, Memorial Scholarship, established in 1981 in honor of his years of service.

as an instructor and assistant professor of sociology. He served the college twice as president from 1963-1970 and then again from 1977-1983. Between those two terms, he served as the university’s vice president and resumed teaching.

During his first term, the university doubled its enrollment, and facilities were expanded, including the construction of Brenner Library, the Student Center, and Willer and Padua Hall. His second term priorities included balancing the budget, strengthening enrollment, and implementing new programs.

After retiring as president in 1983, Fr. Brinkman taught classes at QU, served as the director of the Franciscan Herald in Chicago, and served as chaplain for St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham. In addition to his work at QU, he served the community as Vicar from 1963-1972 and later as Definitor of the Franciscan Province from 1975-1978.

In 1983, alumni and friends of Fr. Brinkman established a scholarship in his name to honor Father Gabe’s 26 years of service to the university.

Thank you to all the alumni and friends who give to these funds each year.

And thank you to the men who taught us all the gift of generosity, may we remember each one with gratitude.

Fr. Phil Hoebing, OFM, Scholarship established in 2006, in honor of his 58 years of service from 1952-2010.

Fr. Pacific Hug, OFM, Scholarship established in 1989, in honor of his 32 years of service from 1942-1974.

Fr. Elmo Kurz, OFM, Scholarship established in 1984, in honor of his 36 years of service from 1947-1983.

Fr. J.J. Lakers, OFM, Scholarship established in 2010, in honor of his 26 years of service from 1974-2000.

Fr. Jovian P. Lang, OFM, Memorial Endowment for Brenner Library established in 2013, in honor of his 20 years of service to QU as director of the library and professor.

Fr. Titus Ludes, OFM, Scholarship established in 1998, in honor of his 20 years of service from 1956-1963, 1970-1983.

Fr. Aaron Pembleton, OFM, Endowed Chair in History established in 1991 in honor of his 27 years of service to Quincy University.

Fr. Lucien Trouy, OFM Memorial Scholarship established in memory of his 20 years of service, from 1924-1944.

Br. Clete Van Ackeren, OFM, Scholarship established in 1991, in honor of his 30 years of service from 1961-1991 to QU.

Go to quincy.edu/give to make your gift today. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Academic Feature

Ready f r

Anything QU’s Communication Department Preparing Graduates for

Exciting Careers

Julianne Touhy ’15 Major: Communication with a concentration in Professional Communications Position: Senior Meeting Planner for American Bar Association Touhy currently runs housing and registration for the American Bar Association’s two largest nationwide events where all different types of lawyers come together. She takes care of everything that has to do with biannual events including, registration, housing, and event coordination.

“I see a lot of civil justice and Supreme Court movements, and to have a little part in it and see it unfold and happen live during these events is a tremendous opportunity. I love what I do, mixing communication and political science; it’s the best of both worlds.”

Touhy says the Business Communications course with John Schleppenbach, PhD, helped prepare her for her career, and she still uses her syllabus, the book, and notes to this day.

“My biggest cheerleader during my time at QU was the late Dr. John. He pushed me to go to the Washington D.C. program during my junior year. He made me find who I was,” says Touhy.

“With assistance from the entire communication department, QU provided me with a great, solid foundation of people who pushed me to see the best in myself and work harder.”

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Andy Martinez ’15 Major: Communication with a concentration in Journalism Position: Social Media Coordinator and Cubs Contributor for the Marquis Sports Network part-owned by the Chicago Cubs Martinez manages the social media content, planning, and execution for the Marquis Sports Network. He also helps create content for the website, such as writing stories, cutting video, and interviews covering the Cubs.

Martinez discovered that he loved to write and produce video as a student working as an editor for the Falcon Newspaper and working at QUTV. “I remember back in May, in the depth of the pandemic lockdown, there was a social segment that I had to help produce and gather materials. When I was first assigned the task, it felt daunting, and I thought, ‘I’ve never done this before.’

I immediately remembered that I used to do this exact thing in college working for QUTV. I realized that I had done this before, and I knew I could do it,” said Martinez. “In college, I wasn’t prepared to do just one thing; I was prepared to do everything.

I learned how to shoot video, edit video, do social media, and how to write. If I didn’t have that kind of education, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today working with the Chicago Cubs.”

Academic Feature | QU

by Pasha Yates ’15

Sara Belmont ’15 Major: Communication & Music Production Position: Zone Manager for WGN News Nation In Belmont’s current role at WGN News Nation, she talks to affiliates within the media company in her assigned zone, bringing in their content for WGN’s three-hour newscast.

She oversees stations in the southeast region of America, including Florida, the Carolinas, the Virginias, and Washington D.C. Soon she will also oversee content from large media organizations, and take content the wire provides to rewrite it and make sure it’s top quality for a national news broadcast, and push it out for the company’s views.

Her media/broadcast courses at QU taught her skills she uses in her field every day. She also benefited from the real-world expertise displayed by her QU professors, including Nora Baldner, Barb and John Schleppenbach, Travis Yates, and Jim Lawrence.

Patrick Kuhle ’16 Major: Communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in graphic design and marketing Position: Associate Marketing Manager for Wilson Sporting Goods – Tennis Division Kuhle currently creates marketing campaigns for tennis racquets and other tennis products and promotes endorsed pro athletes that use Wilson Tennis products. Kuhle focuses on different touchpoints in marketing these products, including magazines, TV commercials, social media, and direct sales online.

Sara’s paid-internship with WGEM helped secure her first full-time job out of college with the Quincy Media Inc. organization at KWWL station in Waterloo, Iowa. Five years later, she returned home to Chicago to work for WGN News Nation.

“My education at QU helped me a lot because QU is a small school and you can try everything. Whether it’s writing for the newspaper, working the camera at a basketball game, writing blog posts or articles for the Falcon Newspaper, or even social media for some local businesses,” said Kuhle. “Even just one video editing course I took at QU has helped me with my job today; being able to make minor videos myself is great.”

“The everyday person deserves the right to knowledge, a right to safety, and to know what’s going on. I get to provide that information every day, and with News Nation, we do national news right; what QU taught me… journalism straight down the middle, and that’s what I love doing most.”

Kuhle says he loves his career field because he’s played tennis since he was three years old. Being able to market something he has a passion for is like a dream. He has had the opportunity to interview pro tennis athletes that he looked up to as a kid, including Roger Federer and Stefan Edberg. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Academic Feature

TRAINING UP THE NEXT GENERATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS <<

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Academic Feature | QU

We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.

--St. Francis of Assisi

by Barbara Schleppenbach, PhD ’71

The Master of Science in Education in Counseling and College Student Personnel (MSEd in Counseling) may be among the youngest programs at QU, but its mission is as enduring as the words of Francis himself. Founded in 2004, the MSEd in Counseling takes as its mission “the development of counselors as ethical, reflective practitioners and servant-leaders, who exhibit an affinity for lifelong learning, a commitment to social justice, and an appreciation for the diverse world in which they live and practice.”

According to Kenneth Oliver, PhD, program director and chair of the School of Education, MSEd in Counseling faculty members “have a philosophy of training the best clinicians in the region.” That pursuit of excellence has led to national accreditation of its two clinical programs by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in 2017.

In addition to those graduate programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, the MSEd in Counseling offers a non-clinical master’s degree in College Student Personnel.

www.quincy.edu

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QU | Academic Feature

“Being the only accredited counseling degree program within a 90-mile radius helps us to stand out and gives us a national profile,” Oliver says. “The program has received the Leo G. Bent Award for Outstanding Professional Counseling Program in the state of Illinois and has been nationally recognized for combining academic rigor with affordability.”

“We know that we have the highest accreditation that we can get,” says Asabi Dean, PhD, assistant professor of counseling education. “I came from two rockstar programs, Chicago State University and the Research I program at the University of Iowa, and we are on the level of both of those.

“We hold students accountable. We challenge them.

We stretch them. We don’t hold back. We live up to the highest standards of CACREP accreditation. We support one another and make sure that our students are ready to go out and do important work . . . to not just do the job but reach further.”

--Asabi Dean, PhD Reaching further means challenging students, according to Andrea Fifield, PhD, associate professor of school counseling.

“We are unique in my experience. Many other programs in the region don’t go into as much depth. We also have unique course offerings, such as ‘Trauma Across the Lifespan,’ ‘Counseling and the Creative Arts,’ and ‘Introduction to Counseling Supervision.’

“The ‘Counseling Techniques’ class gets them right into the chair on the first night of class. We start role-playing and assessing their skills right from the beginning. From what I see, from beginning to end, there is tremendous personal and professional growth.”

--Andrea Fifield, PhD Graduates and current students agree. “The MSEd in Counseling program gave me comprehensive and advanced training as a clinical therapist. The focus on theoretical orientation was so in-depth, and I feel it is one of the strengths of the program,” says Stacey S. Juilfs, LPC, CRADC, the program director at Preferred Family Healthcare. “The program taught me to learn about myself, and without that, I may have learned all the skills to be a therapist, but I wouldn’t be the confident professional I am now without the values that the program has imparted to me.”

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Brenda Cullo, MSEd, LPC, NBCC, concurs.

“Not only is it truly the best bang for the buck as a CACREP accredited program, but the professors require that you show proficiency in your chosen theory to graduate. I know many therapists that have graduated from other programs that did not have to do this and believe me, it shows.”

Graduating student Brandilee Winget calls the program “unforgettable and life-changing” as she enters her first position.

“This program truly has taught me a special appreciation for multicultural considerations and diversity, making me feel more comfortable in my role as an ethical and reflective advocate and leader, as I stand committed to social justice.”

99%

PLACEMENT RATE FOR GRADUATES << in such areas as clinical practice for local agencies, school counseling, and leadership of local not for profit organizations.

Despite a 99% placement rate for graduates in the above mentioned areas, faculty members still set their sights on growth. Building on a large first-year cohort, they hope to attract students from a wider area and add program tracks and certificates. Potentially new areas of focus like responding to trauma, incorporating technology, and employing play therapy would draw on the expertise of faculty, and there is interest in establishing a training clinic on campus.

POTENTIAL NEW AREAS OF FOCUS << Responding to Trauma Incorporating Technology Employing Play Therapy Establishing a Training Clinic on Campus

Whatever its future growth may bring, the MSEd in Counseling program will remain rooted in QU’s Franciscan mission, “respecting each person as a sister or brother with dignity, value, and worth.” Responding to new challenges and emerging technologies is essential, but inspiring ideas endure and transform the world.

Academic Feature | QU

ADVICE TO ALUMNI FROM YOUR PROFESSOR << Andrea Fifield, PhD As the world is taking tentative steps toward a semblance of normalcy, Andrea Fifield, PhD, associate professor of school counseling, weighs in on how to maintain overall wellness amid a pandemic.

Two general over-arching ideas to remember is that we cannot control everything, and we need to get comfortable not being able to control everything and to focus our energy on things we can control. Secondly, we need to get comfortable with ambiguity in our lives. Not every situation is black and white, so we have to become comfortable with ambiguous situations. Keeping these two ideas in mind, we need to recognize there are many areas in our lives that contribute to our overall wellness.

PHYSICAL WELLNESS • Make sure you are moving every day- it doesn’t have to be scheduled exercise; you can play with your children or take a walk.

• Eat well and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

• Follow public health guidelines.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL WELLNESS • If you are working from home, dedicate and define a workspace, which is quiet with adequate lighting, and has the necessary technology and equipment.

• Create a consistent routine with clear boundaries of when you will be working.

• Leave your desk at the end of the workday.

• Allow for time with family and downtime at the end of the day.

• Consistently connect with colleagues.

SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLNESS • Stay connected! You can maintain physical distance without sacrificing your relationships. Call, text, video chat, email, write- these are all ways to socialize safely.

ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS • Create inviting and relaxing spaces within your home that are clutter-free and organized. This doesn’t have to be magazine-worthy, but a cluttered, chaotic space creates stress in our lives. You can look up how-to’s online, and tackle clutter in 10-minute chunks of time.

• Manage your stress levels. Read or watch enough news to stay informed then turn it off. If you catch yourself bogged down in negative thoughts, stop yourself and shift your thinking to something more positive or switch to an activity you find enjoyable. Create something visual such as a gratitude list, or an art project as a visual cue to shift your thinking.

INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS • Read for pleasure and explore topics that interest you through online groups, or classes. Share your knowledge with others by writing a blog, creating a video, or teaching a class.

• Engage your senses. Create a visually stimulating but relaxing area in your office or home, wear comfortable clothes, take a hot bath or shower, listen to music, use aromatherapy, go outside every day- at least 15 minutes even when it is cold.

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS • Find ways to clarify and engage the values, beliefs, and ethics that guide your life. Connect with a local or online church or spiritual community, meditate or pray, do yoga, read religious, spiritual, or philosophical texts, or volunteer for a cause that is consistent with your values.

• Ask for and receive help (from friends, family, coworkers, supervisors, spiritual leaders, etc.).

• Do something each day that brings you joy.

There are a lot of things you can do to maintain your overall wellness, but if you are attending to all of these areas and are still struggling, reach out to a mental health professional.

www.quincy.edu

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QU | Faculty Focus

DR. KEN

OLIVER

Kenneth Oliver, PhD, is the director of the Master of Science in Education Counseling Program at QU as well as the chair of the School of Education, and professor of school and community counseling. Oliver has taught full time at QU since 2006. Prior to joining QU, he taught as an adjunct professor and served as director of clinical services for Midwest Behavioral Health. He holds national certification in counseling as well as professional licensure in Missouri. Oliver earned his doctorate from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Q&A

FOSTERING OPENNESS IN THE CLASSROOM

by Jen Wingerter ’13

Q. What experience hinted to you that teaching was your calling?

A. I chose the mental health field after I completed an internship at a residential treatment facility. I realized pretty quickly, as a member of the direct care staff, you had a lot of influence on what the patients were doing in their daily lives but not in their outcomes and treatments long term. After some time as a clinician, I knew I wanted to have a role that shaped the profession and would impact the most people. While I love being a therapist, I feel like I have a greater influence on the mental health profession as a professor.

I can impact how other practitioners see the world, operate in the world, and examine themselves as practitioners through my teaching.

Q. What lessons has your work life taught you?

A. The greatest lesson I've learned is the openness to understand people where they are and not allow your assumptions to reign supreme.

The challenge is to look at every interaction as cross-cultural, and by doing that, it keeps me from relying on preconceived notions. I've used this tool in interactions with people who look like me or who live where I do. Looking at those interactions as cross-cultural, even though they seem to be similar to me, allows me to be open in new relationships from a therapeutic and teaching standpoint.

It is easy to get caught in the trap of making assumptions from a small sample of interactions or familiarity.

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Faculty Focus | QU

Q. How do you interact with your students?

A. I think that for me, in teaching, it aids the students that I am open there, in the classroom. It's what I try to foster. As I allow myself to be free and authentic in my interaction with students, I hope that their interactions with each other will be the same.

I also try not to be authoritarian but more collaborative.

Q. How has the mental health field changed over the course of your career?

A. Well, most recently would be the level of virtual work clinicians are doing. Virtual work was starting to emerge in the mental health field, but of course, COVID was a springboard that forced clinicians to embrace and use it. Over the years, I've seen changes in the level of integration of specialty work in the profession. I teach a special topics course that covers going into specialty work and monetizing it. Another change is how society perceives mental health. Counseling is more mainstream with less stigma attached to it. There is a shortage of professionals in clinical health right now, particularly in minority populations.

Here at QU, we strive to recruit a diverse student

population because we know the attrition rate is higher for minority clients who only have access to a white clinician.

Q. Who inspires you?

A. The first person that comes to mind is my great aunt - who turned 100 years old in February. I moved in with her when she was 70 after she had a stroke. Watching how she fought back and worked to relearn to do things again makes her the person I admire the most. I’m also inspired by my colleagues often in the level of dedication they put in their work and how they interact and support their students. It’s one of the reasons I love QU and have stayed here for so many years.

Q. What advice do you have for our readers?

A. My message is to know yourself first, be yourself, and integrate that into your work. There are so many opportunities to monetize your uniqueness. That brings the added value to your work. Of course, use professionalism and integrity, but be truly expressive of how you see the world.

CONTINUING EDUCATION AT QUINCY UNIVERSITY ARE YOU LOOKING TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER? Do you want to further your education?

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE. To learn more, contact Karen Rabe at graduatestudies@quincy.edu or 217-228-5404.

Karen Rabe MSEd, graduate studies coordinator, helps navigate the enrollment process and offers support throughout your time at QU. QU offers three Graduate Studies programs:

Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Science in Education, and Masters of Science in Education Counseling and College Student Personnel. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Faculty Briefs

Faculty JOE COELHO, PhD, professor of biology, joined Insects editorial board

as a topic editor. Insects is an international, peer-reviewed open-access journal of entomology published monthly online by Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). Coelho co-authored the paper entitled “Nesting Ecology of the Pacific Cicada Killer, Sphecius convallis Patton, in the Sonoran Desert.”

Published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, the paper examines factors affecting the ecology of a large population of Pacific cicada killers occupying a field of mine tailings in Ruby, Ariz. Coelho reviewed a paper for the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

CHRISTINE DAMM, DMA, division chair of fine arts and communication, authored an article entitled “Clarinet 101: Getting Beginning Clarinetists Started the Right Way.” The article is geared towards band directors and focuses on beginning clarinet pedagogy. The article presents helpful tips and suggestions to give band directors the tools to get students started efficiently and effectively. The foundations of clarinet playing embouchure, tone development, flexible fingers, and articulation are discussed.

Newly composed clarinet warm-ups and scale studies accompany the article for director resources. The article was published in October 2020 on the website Band Directors Talk Shop.

ASABI AFI DEAN, PhD, assistant professor of counseling education,

co-authored an article entitled “Photovoice as an Innovative Approach to Group Work With Black Youth in School Settings.” The article focuses on how school counselors can use photovoice as a tool to address race-related struggles that Black students experience both inside and outside of school.

Photovoice empowers students to take photos capturing issues of shared concern in and around their school and use as the basis of critical dialogue and collective action plans. The key features and stages of this approach are outlined. The implication for practice and future research are discussed.

The article was published in the Journal for Specialists in Group Work, volume 45, issue 3 (2020).

Dean co-authored an article entitled “Don’t Wait Until She Dies: A Global Perspective of the Long-Term Effect of Trauma After Sexual Assault.” The article focuses on how psychological and emotional trauma is pervasive in both its effects on victims, as well as trauma’s effect on people around the globe.

Psychological trauma affects every part of a victim’s life. It is important to know what trauma is, to know how victims can come to suffer from its symptoms, and how trauma manifests in individuals across the lifespan. Understanding trauma across the lifespan and across cultures will be pertinent in the fight to intercede on some of the worst outcomes of trauma, including symptoms of numbing, dissociation, and ultimately suicide (Herman, 1997). The article was published in Counselling Australia Journal, Volume 20, No. 4, (2019).

CINDY LOVELL, PhD, adjunct professor of English, co-authored with

Jane Govoni, PhD, the textbook, Linguistics for K-12 Classroom Application, published by Kendall Hunt Publishing. Lovell authored an article entitled “Autograph of a Lifetime,” published in Stetson Today, the news site of Stetson University. Lovell was the keynote speaker at Missouri Humanities Council’s 7th Annual Grant Symposium in St. Louis, Mo., presenter at the Sunshine State TESOL Florida Virtual Conference, and featured in the University of Iowa “Chat from the Old Cap” speaker series.

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

Briefs ROBERT MANNING, PhD, professor of philosophy, recently authored

an article entitled “The Later Heidegger and the Later Levinas in the Age of the Coronavirus.” Manning originally wrote two short versions for his history of philosophy class last spring. He later expanded both versions and combined them into the published article. The article analyzes the later Heidegger thought on how people’s lives will continue to be more and more shaped by technology, and the later Levinas argument that the radical nature of our ethical responsibility to all other people makes us a hostage. The article was published in Gatherings: The Heidegger Circle Annual. Gatherings is a yearly peer-reviewed journal of scholarship on Heidegger, sponsored by the Heidegger Circle.

Several works of Quincy University’s ROBERT LEE MEJER, distinguished professor of art, have been selected for exhibitions. Mejer’s watercolor Origins was selected for inclusion in the Watercolor USA Honor Society 202 Watercolor NOW! Invitations Exhibition, December 5, 2020 - January 24, 2021.

Exhibition jurors, David McEown CSPWC, Marc Gagnon SCPWC, and Carla Garnet, director, and curator at the John B Aird Gallery, selected VariantCheckmate #2 for inclusion in The Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor 95th Open Water International Juried Exhibition 2020, November 1, 2020 - January 31, 2021. California artist, Katherine Chang Liu, selected Variant: The Dance Around for inclusion in the 12th Annual Signature American Watermedia International Exhibition-World of Watercolor 2021, at Fallbrook Art Center, Calif., February 13 - April 11, 2021. Mejer’s Take PC: Open Book #4 was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Miami University/ Ohio Department of Art Faculty and Alumni Exhibition, August 24 - December 11, 2021.

The watercolor also received a Merit Award in the 26th Annual Mary S. Oakley and Lee Lindsay Artist Showcase 2020. Mejer’s color drawing Self-Evolving and monotype Variant 1-PC #26 were selected for inclusion at the Quincy Art Center exhibit, November 20 - January 6, 2021. Mejer’s watercolor, Take PC Open Book #3, received an Honorable Mention Award in the National Abstract Only! 10th Anniversary Actual Exhibition at the Hawaii Island Art Alliance WAILOA Center in Hilo, Hawaii. His watercolor, Take PC #17, received the Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Merchandise Awards in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Actual Exhibition held at the Center for the Arts Evergreen, Col. Mejer received the International Society Experimental Artist top honor as Master Fellowship (ISEA-MF) in recognition of acceptance into ten juried international exhibitions.

CONGZHI XIA, PhD, visiting professor of mathematics, recently

co-authored an article entitled “Admissible Concentration Factors for Edge Detection from Non-uniform Fourier Data.” The article, published in the Journal of Scientific Computing, Volume 85, Article number three, addresses edge detection from Fourier data emerging in many applications.

The concentration factor method has been widely used in detecting edges from Fourier data. The article presents a theoretic analysis of the concentration factor method for non-uniform Fourier data in this paper. Specifically, the authors propose admissible conditions for the concentration factors such that the edge detector converges to a smoothed approximation of the jump function. Moreover, they also introduce some specific choices of admissible concentration factors and present estimates of convergence rates correspondingly.

www.quincy.edu

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QU | Class Notes

Forever Changed Debra Bower LeBlanc '78 was recently elected to the office of Northeast Regional Director for Delta Kappa Gamma, an International Society of Key Women Educators, for the 2020-2022 biennium.

She will support state leaders in 18 northeastern states of the US, 3 provinces of Canada, and Puerto Rico. LeBlanc has served at the local chapter level as president and in numerous state leadership positions including Illinois State President from 2017-2019. She has been on numerous international committees and is a graduate of the 2012 Leadership Management Seminar offered to 30 women around the world.

LeBlanc is the daughter of Jim Bower who taught alongside Gary Carter, Roger and Sue Francour, John Ortwerth, and Mary Ann Gullen, in the Education Department for years.

“As a graduate of QU, my life was forever changed,” said LeBlanc. “I was one of the first QU graduates with a double major in general education and special education. (thanks to Dad learning about a new law to take effect January 1978) and was hired immediately in Burr Ridge, Ill., upon graduation.”

LeBlanc later earned her master’s degree in administration and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction which opened doors to be an elementary and middle school principal, special education coordinator, and a program chair/instructor in the leadership programs at Aurora University.

“QU and my instructors were life changers and I remember their influences often in my work,” said LeBlanc.

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

’50s Richard Heitholt ’50 sadly reports the passing of his wife, Fern, on June 5, 2020, Quincy.

Donald Burke ’51 sadly reports the passing of his wife, Marjorie, July 1, 2019, Mount Prospect, Ill.

’60s

John Jennetten ’65 obtained Luxembourg dual citizenship along with his two sons, and his five grandchildren. His objective was to promote his grandchildren's awareness of their family’s ancestral connection to Luxembourg and to gain an understanding of European life and culture. He is also providing historical photos and family information to the writer of a forthcoming book on Luxembourgers in Chicago.

Dr. Robert Ware ’62 sadly reports the passing of his wife, Peggy, on February 6, 2020, Knoxville, Tenn.

Marilyn Zusag Weber ’62 and her husband Kenneth will be celebrating 59 years of marriage in 2021. They have 6 children, 33 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Paul Brown ’65 and Dr. Janise Denton celebrated their 30th anniversary on November 24, 2020, in Quincy.

John Jennetten ’65 with sons Paul and Patrick, and grandchildren William, Julia, John, Elizabeth, and Abby.

Louis Spoonhour ’65 sadly reports the passing of his wife, Georgene, on January 17, 2021, Lockport, Ill. Kathy Baer Lyons ’66 sadly reports the passing of her sister, Mary Ann Brake, on April 30, 2020, St Louis, Mo.

Paul Brown ’65 and Dr. Janise Denton celebrated their 30th anniversary.

George ’65 and Barbara Hess Daniels ’65 celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on July 3, 2020.

Larry Donaldson ’65 and his wife Rhea celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November 26, 2020, in Collinsville, Ill.

’70s Dwayne (D.D.) Fischer ’71 and his wife Jane celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2020.

John Roskopf ’71 recently wrote a book entitled I Carry Your Heart in Mine: Creating a Meaningful Life After the Death of a Spouse.

Leo Henning ’72 received the President's Award from the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at the annual Football Luncheon on October 20,

Class Notes | QU

2020. He recently retired after serving for eight years as the vice president & general manager of Nexstar Broadcasting.

Fr Jerry Bleem, OFM, ’76 had a recent solo exhibition at the Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, Ill, titled Jerry Bleem: Still. The exhibit ran from September 6 to October 17, 2020.

Kenneth Ley ’76 and his sister Patricia Ley ’79 sadly report the passing of their mother, Vera Ley, on October 4, 2020, Quincy.

Mary Kay Loughlin Brown ’77 sadly reports the passing of her father, James Louglin, on October 26, 2020, Indian Head Park, Ill.

Leo Henning ’72 was awarded the President's Award by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on October 20, 2020 at the annual Football Luncheon. He recently retired after serving for eight years as the Vice President & General Manager of Nexstar Broadcasting.

Robert Dowd ’73 retired from the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District on December 31, 2020. He had sat on the bench longer than any current sitting Missouri judge.

Robert Kadziewlawski ’73 sadly reports the passing of his son, Nicolas, on January 6, 2021, Phoenix, Ariz.

Susan Staes Hyndman ’74 sadly reports the passing of her husband, Charles, on December 1, 2019, Duluth, Minn.

Steven Baker ’75 sadly reports the passing of his wife, Lynda, on December 23, 2020, Quincy.

James Sula ’78 sadly reports that his wife of 40 years, Caron, passed away on September 29, 2020, from complications due to frontotemporal degeneration.

Terri Mangen Poterucha ’79 recently innovated and recently launched her children’s math card game, Numberkins, on Amazon, her website, and in a local store.

Jim ’85 and Carolyn Metzger Naumovich ’87 became grandparents for the first time on August 18, 2020, when Matthew Lee Gray was born to their oldest daughter Meg and her husband Austin.

Cristina Cray ’86 sadly reports the passing of her mother, Marcia, on December 20, 2020, Springfield, Ill.

’90s Brett Penick ’90 is the controller at AHW, a regional John Deere dealer based in Champaign, Ill. Kevin A. Brown ’94 and James Carey were married on August 30, 2020, in their home in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.

Thomas ’79 and Terri Mangen Poterucha ’79 celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in July 2020.

’80s James Fahey ’83 retired on December 11, 2020, from the Lake Forest, Ill. police department after 33+ years of service.

Kevin A. Brown ’94 (right) and James Carey (left) were married on August 30, 2020.

Richard Grady ’95 Celebrated 25 years with Enterprise Holdings, Inc. on August 28, 2020. His current role is with Enterprise Fleet Management as the fleet strategy manager for the Washington-Alaska group.

Janet Bertoglio Healy ’75 sadly reports the passing of her mother, Elnora, on November 24, 2020, Quincy.

Carrie Bechtold ’96 is senior vice president and senior managing counsel for Wells Fargo Advisors in St. Louis, Mo.

Michael Schneider ’75 is the quality improvement coordinator for Pathway Services, Jacksonville, Ill.

Marcus Manning ’97 is the executive director of the Durham Sports Commission in Durham, N.C.

Samuel Banks ’76 is serving as an independent director of the board of directors for First Busey Corporation, effective September 23, 2020.

William Wims ’97 is the chief executive officer and president of New Horizons of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee, Fort Pierce, Fla.

James Fahey ’83 retires froom the Lake Forest, Ill. police department.

Presidential Inaguration

Jeremy Kern ’01 participated in the recent Inauguration for President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Kern works for the Joint Force Headquarters as a government civilian in their Public Affairs Office - National Capital Region, U.S. Army Military District of Washington.

Kern graduated with a bachelor’s in media studies and public relations and joined the Army in August of 2002. He served in the active Army for six years in the prestigious 3d U.S Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and then started to work for the government a few years later.

These friendships began in Centennial West as freshmen in 1966. Picking up additional roommates and sticking together for 54 years!

There were many mini-reunions over the years; this photo was taken in 2019 at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Ill. Front row: Louise McEvoy McMaster ’70, Sue Schilling ’71, Linda Hainchek Cascio ’70, Marilyn Goschi Farrell ’70 Back row: Mary Lou Lynch Wolf ’70, Jeanne Murphy Allen ’70, Maureen Kelly Little ‘71, Margie Holt McClain, Anita Krieger ’70, Paulette Kelly Bozarth ’70.

www.quincy.edu

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QU | Class Notes

Hawks Soar Find these QU Alumni on Amazon!

John Roskopf ’71 recently authored a book entitled, I Carry Your Heart in Mine: Creating a Meaningful Life After the Death of a Spouse.

Roskopf retired after a 45-year career in finance and risk management, most recently focusing on risk management issues in higher education. He has spoken frequently on organizational strategy, leadership, and creativity and has published numerous articles on risk management. John received a bachelor’s from Quincy University and a master’s from Loyola University. He is the father of two and grandfather of four.

His book is available on Amazon.

Terri Poterucha ’79 As an educator, Poterucha created a game as an in-between step to help children move from using manipulates to doing math on paper.

She recently re-launched the game for the next generation of learners.

Numberkins is a unique educational card game for educators, parents, and children that compliments any existing math program. Numberkins uses number families to reinforce addition and subtraction facts and helps close the gap between concrete and abstract learning.

To learn more or purchase, visit numberkins.com.

The game is available on Amazon.

Toriano Griggs ’98 is the principal at Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Ill. Beth Mackenzie Hilbing ’99 sadly reports the passing of her husband, Chad, on January 19, 2021, Quincy.

Justin Meats ’99 has joined RevLocal as vice president of product in Columbus, Ohio.

Chad Ray ’99 is the communications manager for Spartanburg County, Spartanburg, S.C.

’00s Jeremy Kern ’01 works for the Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region, U.S. Army Military District of Washington in their Public Affairs Office.

Elizabeth Lask ’02 is teaching math at Quincy Notre Dame High School.

Beth graduated from QND in 1998, and went on to graduate from QU, and then earn her master’s degree at the University of Montana, Missoula.

Kyle Moore ’03 was the 36th recipient of the Theda Jansen Award, sponsored by the Quincy Neighborhood Federation in honor of the late Quincy police officer.

Brian Unger ’03 is the athletic director for the Waterloo school district in Waterloo, Ill. Adam Mason, Esq. ’04 is the president of Gershman Mortgage, based in St Louis. They have over 30 offices and are one of the largest mortgage companies in the Midwest.

Scott Koester ’05 and his wife Ashley welcomed a baby boy, Owen Robert, on October 17, 2020, in Atlanta, Ga. Owen joins big sister Cameron Rose.

Scott and his wife are the founders and owners of The Rose & Hemp in Stone Mountain Village, Ga.

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

Adam Mason, Esq. ’04 is the president of Gershman Mortgage, based in St Louis.

They have over 30 offices and are one of the largest mortgage companies in the Midwest.

Matt Wehrle ’06 is a project manager for Ridgeworth Roofing Co. in Frankfort, Ill. Michael ’08 and Torie Selsor DiSalvo ’09 welcomed their son, Thomas Michael, on January 1, 2021.

Thomas was the first baby born in 2021 in Quincy. He joins big brother Andrew and big sister Elizabeth.

Claire Vargo McAuliffe APRN, FNP-C, CCRN ’08 is a cardiovascular nurse practitioner for Specialty Physicians of Illinois in Olympia Fields, Ill

’10s

Jeff Terry ’10 and his wife Jessica welcomed a son, Jeffrey, on October 19, 2020, in Quincy. He joins big sisters Madison, Emma, and Olivia.

Scott Koester ’05 and wife, Ashley, are the founders and owners of The Rose & Hemp.

Class Notes | QU

Wyatt Pauley ’18 is the associate head coach for the men's tennis team at Chicago State University.

’20s

Dayanara Abernathy ’20 is the payroll coordinator for the City of Quincy.

Br. Stanley (Joseph) Wagner ’10 recently professed his solemn vows as a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Congratulations! Pictured from left to right: Fr. Michael Berndt, 2010 Rachel Mattaline, 2012 Fr. Joseph (John) Cox, 1986 Br. Stanley Rother (Joseph) Wagner, 2010 Sara Mares, 2012 Lauren (Ketchum) Coughlin, 2013 Fr. Adam Prichard, 2011

Br. Stanley (Joseph) Wagner ’10 recently professed his solemn vows as a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Meinrad, Ind. Victoria Ann Melville Barnett ’12 and her husband Andrew welcomed their first child, Jack Joseph, on December 23, 2020, in Manito, Ill.

Abigail Moore ’20 is the lead content creator at Hostirian Business Solutions, St. Louis, Mo. The Class Notes section allows alumni to share the news of their professional achievements and significant life events. Publication of announcements provided to us by alumni does not imply an endorsement by the university.

Announcements are published without independent confirmation of the accuracy of the information provided.

Nathan Blauser ’20 and Susan Hubbard ’19 were married on August 7, 2020, in St Louis, Mo.

Pasha Yates ’15 is the employee experience specialist for Quincy Medical Group.

Brooke Bracy ’16 received her DMD degree from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton, Illinois, and is now part of Advanced Dental Care in Quincy.

Evan McGaughey ’16 and Kara Gerbus '16 were married on August 7, 2020, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Nathan Blauser ’20 and Susan Hubbard ’19 met in 2016 and started dating fall semester of 2017.

Pictured above left to right are Wayland Blauser, Nick Zelner, Will Conerly (class of 2020), Andrew Smith, Nathan Blauser (2020), Susie Blauser (2019), Denise Karlen, Holly Brummel (2019), Kallie Slominsky, & Amanda Horsey.

Victoria Ann Melville Barnett ’12, husband Andrew and new baby Jack.

Virtual Homecoming 2020

Eddie ’13 and Brooklyn McCulloch Ragsdale ’12 welcomed their son Liam on June 12, 2020, in Florissant, Mo.

Alumni from across the globe celebrated Quincy University’s Virtual Homecoming 2020, enjoying virtual opportunities that included a music showcase, online gallery show, thought-provoking discussions, and social activities. Below are a few photos submitted for the Homecoming Spirit photo contest.

Evan McGaughey ’16 and Kara Gerbus ’16 pictured on their wedding day.

Joshua Hucklenbrick ’17 graduated from the University of St Francis in Joliet with a master’s degree in science of nursing in their psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program.

Eddie ’13 and Brooklyn McCulloch Ragsdale ’12 with baby Liam

Brendan ’17 and Elizabeth Leden McCrudden ’17 welcomed their son, Daxton Kerr McCrudden, on August 24, 2020, Quincy. www.quincy.edu

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QU | Class Notes

IN MEMORIAM Fr Albert Langheim, OFM, ’49 on December 6, 2020, Virden, Ill.

David Jucha ’63 on December 10, 2020, Gainesville, Tex.

Grace Phyllis Hagenbaumer Reed ’50 on June 17, 2020, Quincy.

Peter J. Bolt, Jr. ’64 on December 9, 2020, Springfield, Ill.

Nancy Fuelbier Kunkel ’51 on January 8, 2021, Beverly Hills, Mich.

Barbara Hess Daniels ’65 on December 17, 2020, Orlando, Fla.

Richard J. Grabher ’55 on September 20, 2020, Champaign, Ill.

Ted Eilerman ’65 on September 18, 2020, St. Louis.

Rollie E. Thomas, Sr., ’56 on July 2, 2020, Quincy.

Donald Christ ’66 on December 27, 2020, Quincy.

Fr. Harry Speckman, OFM, ’58 on January 2, 2021, Manitowoc, Wis.

Donald Kopenec ’66 on December 30, 2020, Munster, Ind.

William Besgrove ’59 on August 28, 2015, Bedford, Tex.

Daniel J. Mekemson ’66 on December 30, 2020, Racine, Wis.

Dean Steinkoenig ’60 on July 27, 2020, Bloomington, Ill.

Thomas Berry ’68 on July 11, 2020, Yorkville, Ill.

Ronald P. Cudney ’61 on December 11, 2020, Quincy.

Kathleen Whalen Dorst ’68 on March 15, 2020, Kansas City, Kan.

Thomas P. Meade ’61 on October 24, 2020, Louisville, Ky.

Fr. Kenneth Capalbo, OFM, ’70 on July 24, 2020, Chicago.

Donna Moorhead Wagner ’61 on July 31, 2020, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Michael J. Heming ’70 on August 3, 2020, Mendon, Ill.

Fr. Harry Speckman ’58, OFM Fr. Harry Speckman ’58, OFM, died on January 2, 2021, at the age of 91.

He was born on April 9, 1930. He attended Our Lady of Angels in Cleveland, Ohio, St. Joseph Seminary in Teutopolis, Ill., and Quincy College in Quincy, Ill. Ordained on June 13, 1961, at St. Francis Cathedral in Teutopolis, he celebrated 65 years as a friar on July 4, 2020.

Fr. Harry served as director of volunteer activities for Our Lady of Angels Seminary, vicar provincial for the St. Anthony Friary, director of the Quincy University public radio affiliate, pastor at Cross in the Woods Shrine in Indian River, and senior priest and president of Baraga Broadcasting.

He was instrumental in establishing the Quincy University Franciscan Retreat Center, home to Great River TEC, Quincy Cursillo, and Walk to Emmaus.

He retired in March 2014.

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QUniverse | Spring 2021

The William J. & Margaret A. Speckman Memorial Scholarship was established in 1993 by the Quincy University Friars in memory of his parents William J. and Margaret A. Speckman.

Class Notes | QU

Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Holinga ’70 on July 22, 2020, Springfield, Ill.

James H. Behrensmeyer ’79 on September 13, 2020, Rockford, Ill.

Jan Steinert Carlin ’71, on August 1, 2020, Elk Grove Village, Ill.

Larry Krigbaum ’84 on September 17, 2020, in West Lafayette, Ind.

Sr. Mary Sara (Marcia Sue) Koch ’71 on October 18, 2020, Urbana, Ill.

Guy C. Williams ’85 on September 26, 2020, Fowler, Ill.

Jerry Metternich ’73 on July 7, 2020, Hamilton, Ill.

Patricia Allain Woodworth ’87 on November 28, 2020, Mendon, Ill.

Kathleen Rothery ’73 on September 22, 2020, Chesterfield, Mo.

Mandi Terwelp Dickerman ’97 on December 12, 2020, Quincy.

Roma Ileen McConnell Weir ’74 on September 28, 2020, Quincy.

Ann Ghiotto ’97 on July 30, 2020, Decatur, Ill.

Kathleen Huhn Claes ’75 on December 12, 2020, Chicago.

Nicole Peterson Inman ’99 on December 5, 2020, Benton, Ark.

Michael J. Fox ’75 on January 2, 2021, Oak Lawn, Ill.

Erica Wieckert Kubena ’99 on October 23, 2020, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Rodney Frese ’75 on June 28, 2020, Quincy.

Jerry L. Cato ’08 on October 12, 2020, Edwardsville, Ill.

Pamela Bizallion Hammer ’75 on August 24, 2020, Hannibal, Mo.

Sheri Ann McCabe ’10 on July 12, 2020, Quincy.

Gerald C. Zagrodnik ’75 on March 17, 2020, Orland Park, Ill.

James Henry (Jim) Bower James Henry (Jim) Bower died on December 19, 2020, at the age of 87.

Born to Florence (Wisman) and Henry Bower, he grew up in Quincy, Ill, and attended grade St. Francis school and Christian Brothers High School. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, attending the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. After serving in the Navy for four years, he attended the University of Tulsa, where he played football for two years. He transferred to the University of Illinois and completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. He later earned an education specialist degree from Western Illinois University.

After several years of teaching, he joined Quincy College as an associate professor of education.

He also served as dean of students for several years and the chairman of the athletic committee.

In 1972, Jim was selected as an Outstanding Educator in America. In 1976 and 1977, Jim was selected to the National Register of Prominent Americans and International Notables.

He married Ruth Thenhaus in 1956, and together they had eight children. Jim was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Francis Solanus Parish. On January 9, 1999, he married Norma Houston in the St. Francis Solanus Chapel at Quincy University.

His children established the Jim Bower Education Scholarship, at Quincy University, in 2012, in honor of his 27 years of service at QU.

www.quincy.edu

39

We Go Together We Go Together We Go Together HOMECOMING 2021

For more information visit quincy.edu/homecoming

SEPT 30 to OCT 3

Believe in your Dreams

“By being awarded this scholarship, I can continue to dedicate my focus toward becoming a successful pilot.

The generosity of donors has inspired me to push above and beyond the goals I have set for myself.

I hope that someday I will be able to help a young and upcoming pilot achieve their dreams like I have.”

From a young age, Gurr knew he wanted to be a pilot. He chose Quincy University because of the hands-on learning and small class sizes. After graduation, he plans to obtain his CFI to build flying hours and give back to the aviation community that has positively influenced him.

Ultimately, his goal is to become a pilot for UPS. Gurr is the recipient of the Darwin L. McClure Aviation Scholarship.

Trevor Gurr ’21 Aviation Major Louisville, KY

Support a Dream

Invest in a student today.

217-228-5227 | quincy.edu/support-qu www.quincy.edu

41

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Quincy, Illinois Permit No. 188 1800 College Avenue Quincy, IL 62301-2699 Parents: If this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at home, please notify the Advancement Office of the new mailing address at 217-228-5226, or at

qualumni@quincy.edu

“My education from QU prepared me to become the senior vice president and CFO of Blessing Healthcare System,” said Jim Waterkotte ’65. “I used my FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS to help my church and other community organizations.

Most importantly, it allowed me to provide for my wife and children.

I feel it is important to give back to Quincy University to keep education affordable for prospective students. It is important to assist with the increasing costs the university incurs and ESTABLISHING SCHOLARSHIPS to keep the net tuition at a competitive rate.”

Jim joined the Army Reserve after he graduated from high school. The financial assistance the Reserve provided, along with encouragement from friends and neighbors, helped Jim decide to return to school. Jim worked his way through school, relying on the DISCIPLINE he learned from his years in Catholic school and his time in the reserves.

No one can do it alone, and Jim is grateful to the faculty and staff at QU for making it possible for him to be successful in REACHING HIS GOALS. Fr. Melvin Grunloh, OFM, was instrumental in helping Jim attain his degree in accounting.

“He was my mentor and academic advisor in accounting,” said Jim. “He was very PATIENT AND HELPFUL to me in returning to the academic world. It had been four years since I graduated from high school. He encouraged me during the first year back, which was a struggle.”

Jim retired from the Blessing Healthcare System in 2006, after a career that spanned 40 years. Jim spends his free time fishing, playing golf, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He CONTINUES TO HELP his church and other community organizations when he can.

SUPPORT THE QU FUND TODAY at www.quincy.edu/support-qu or call 217-228-5227 Your gift—large or small—matters.

QU ALUMNI FOCUS

Jim Waterkotte ’65 Quincy, Illinois