Ripon Magazine Winter 2009

MAGAZINE

WINTER

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2009

From the the President Making most of a bad situation

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he year was 1982. Video game company Atari was riding a seemingly unstoppable wave, having grown to a $2 billion powerhouse just a few years after being purchased by Warner Communications for $28 million. It owned 80 percent of the burgeoning video game market. In the days leading up to its Q4 earnings announcement, the Street predicted a 50percent increase Y/Y in earnings. As it happened, the company projected an increase of only 10 to 15 percent.

Why this happened, and how, is a cautionary tale with particular relevance to our current economic situation.

Basically, the company made a series of bad decisions.

First, they didn’t take care of their best people, programmers in particular, and many of them jumped ship. Then, they churned out 12 million copies of the game Pac-Man, expecting the franchise to sell the game despite the fact that it bore little similarity to the arcade hit. Five million copies came back to the company. The final straw was the game E.T., which was rushed through development and barely playable. Again, five million unused cartridges came back to Atari. Saddled with literally a mountain of useless cartridges, Atari crushed them with steamrollers and buried them in the New Mexico desert, where they remain to this day.

I share this anecdote because Atari’s downfall is attributable to hubris and greed, two of the ills that led to this situation. These are hardly new developments in the history of human nature, of course, so George Santayana was right when he said that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Make Atari a global bank and E.T. and Pac-Man highrisk loans and you have a nearly perfect analogy. The only difference is, the games will stay buried — this didn’t.

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ipon College does remember the past, which is why our fiscal planning since the late 1990s has taken bear markets into account. Compared to many colleges, our yearly endowment draw is quite small, so we remain confident that our reserves will be able to sustain us through the next few years. I believe this viability offers us a window of opportunity in which we must continue our momentum. As I am fond of saying, it would be a shame to waste a good

crisis.

Our planning assumptions for the times to come, while extremely conservative, hinge upon meeting the Annual Fund goal of $2.2 million.

That we are 20 percent behind last year’s pace in that regard isn’t surprising, considering the gloomy economic environment. Fundraising is a challenging enterprise in the best of times, but when even the most bullish pundits foresee little improvement on the horizon, it is hard to feel very generous. Everyone is feeling the pinch right now.

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ll things considered, the College is in good health. We’re not given to extravagances. We had record enrollment this year and are on track for the fall. The pursuit of our mission and strategic objectives has not abated. The mood on campus is upbeat.

Having said that, the truth is that we are not entirely in control of our fate — you are. In the very near future, we will face a crucial decision: back off the throttle with the rest of the pack or floor it and charge ahead. Survive or flourish. Many of the institutions with which we compete in this increasingly complex marketplace already have been forced to choose the former.

It may sound like a cliché, but the economic crisis truly is an opportunity for Ripon. Our relatively small endowment draw has buffered us somewhat from the same magnitude of budget woes that many peer institutions now face. Our belts are already tight. We don’t need to blow our goals out of the water — we need only to meet them. If we do, I believe we will emerge from this crisis in a position of unprecedented market strength. Our role in the global economy is to educate and inspire the very people who can lift us out of this mess. Let’s make sure we have the resources and support to make it happen.

Dr. David C. Joyce President joyced@ripon.edu

MAGAZINE

WINTER 2009

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VOLUME 42, NUMBER 1

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PROGRESS

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A ‘WIN-WIN-WIN’ SITUATION

On the Cover: Alicia Rhyner ’10 is all bundled up as she walks up Linley Lane. The deep black of the new campus lamp posts provide a striking contrast to the fresh blanket of thick white snow.

The Rev. Jerry Thompson and four alumni returned to campus recently to share their recollections of the 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. At the time, few would have thought it possible that a black man would today be the president of the United States.

Ripon Magazine looks at then and now from the viewpoint of four alumni, a retired professor and a student.

Professor of Psychology Joe Hatcher views his current sabbatical as a “win-win-win situation” that will expand his personal knowledge and experience, re-energize his classroom and provide his students with new internship and employment connections. Where is Hatcher spending his sabbatical? Within Wisconsin prisons. Jaye Alderson tells us why.

Colin Freeman ’09 photo

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DO IT YOUR WAY Does the current economic crisis have you down? Two alumni say now may be the best time to strike out on your own. Rich Gee ’84 and Andrew Limouris ’94 tell Jordan Lander ’09 how they’ve found happiness and success and share tips on how you can, too.

Ripon College prepares students of diverse interests for lives of productive, socially responsible citizenship. Our liberal arts curriculum and residential campus create an intimate learning community in which students experience a richly personalized education.

Ripon Magazine (ISSN 1058-1855) is published quarterly by Ripon College, 300 Seward St., Ripon, WI 54971-0248.

Periodical postage paid at Ripon, Wis. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Ripon Magazine, PO Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971-0248.

Editor: Ric Damm e-mail: dammr@ripon.edu Editorial Assistants: Jaye Alderson, Cody Pinkston Student Assistants: Megan Captaine ’09, Colin Freeman ’09, Elizabeth Kunde ’09, Jordan Lander ’09, Tiffany Seering ’12.

Layout design by the graphics factory – Deba Horn-Prochno ’74 Print Production by Ripon Printers Ripon on the Web: www.ripon.edu Visit Ripon’s online community at: www.riponalumni.org

These Days at Ripon

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Sports

17

Scrapbook

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Alumni

22

Class Notes

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FROM

SELMA TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Riponites celebrate first African-American president and look back to the civil rights movement that made it possible

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ow fitting that Barack Obama, the nation’s first president of African descent, was sworn into office during a week in which Ripon College celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Surely, the fact that Obama was even a legitimate candidate for the office speaks to the legacy of King and the civil rights movement he helped inspire.

Forty-five years ago, a dark-skinned citizen of this country was a second-class citizen (or lower).

Today, Obama holds the top office in this land — he is head of state. All politics aside, Jan. 20 was a historic moment in the development of the United States.

Ripon Magazine presents the accounts of an alumnus and a current student who were there to witness the moment, as well as the story of one alumnus who performed for the president-elect just days before.

A few days after Obama’s inauguration, Professor Emeritus Jerry Thompson and four alumni who participated in the civil rights march from Selma, Ala., in 1965 shared their recollections of the experience with the Ripon College community. Their discourse provided a glimpse of how far our nation has advanced in terms of racial equality and how much President Obama owes to Dr. King.

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Minor ’68 ‘humbled and honored’ by presence at inauguration Dave Minor ’68, director of corporate and foundation relations, was among the millions of people in Washington, D.C., to experience the inauguration of Barack Obama as our nation’s 44th president. The joy, optimism and exhilaration of the day remain with him as he shares a moment-by-moment commentary.

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attended the inauguration … with a reserved ticket obtained from Congressman Tom Petri. Approximately 240,000 reserved tickets were distributed by members of Congress to their constituents. I was fortunate to witness the event as many ticket-holders were not admitted to the viewing area because of congestion and delays caused by the large crowd, estimated at 2 million. I stood front and center immediately behind the seated area with a good view of the event. I received advice to start early, bring patience and wear a smile.

The day started before dawn when my sister, who hosted me, and I used public transportation — bus and subway — to reach our entry point around 5 a.m. We then waited until 8 a.m. for the gates to open. We stood in the dark, and, for some, the effects of freezing temperatures were fought with disposable warming packets for cold hands and feet.

Surprisingly, the mood was upbeat, positive, celebratory and almost festive. Easy conversation and personal stories bound us. Our “community” boasted “citizens” from South America, South Dakota, Alabama, California and nearby Maryland, revealed by someone asking for a “roll call.” There was an attempt to start a “wave” which, owing to the large crowd, was not sustained beyond our immediate area. Dawn broke over an ever-growing crowd, and soon we were cleared to enter the Capitol grounds for a short brisk walk to our reserved area.

Our coveted tickets remained out and visible at all times as uniformed officers and other security personnel watched our every move.

A pile of “prohibited” items — such as small coolers, folding seats and umbrellas — grew. Clearing our final checkpoint, airport security personnel searched and scanned us as if we were boarding a flight.

Other security personnel were stationed along the path to our reserved area, and figures in dark clothing could be observed along the tops of buildings. Secure in my designated standing area around 8:30 a.m., I was relieved and joyful that I had arrived at my journey’s end.

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armed by the walk and rising temperatures, I became acquainted with my new “community.” I stood near a family of five from California, and we shared our stories. I conversed at length with the father, a former high school history teacher and now charter school assistant principal. We told each other of our pasts and presents. We shared how we secured tickets, why it was important to attend and what the event meant to us. Others within conversation range added their perspectives and views on history, politics and the hope-filled promise of a new administration. The crowd was noticeably younger and shaded toward brown and black in appearance.

I was struck by the civility, warmth and friendliness of those near me. All seemed genuinely interested in doing all that was possible to ensure that others enjoy the moment. I noted that I was more senior than most and was pleased that many wanted to hear my story, Please turn to Minor on page 4

Guy McHendry ’06 and Amanda Hoefner ’09 stand among their fellow “pilgrims” who traveled to Washington, D.C., to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama first-hand.

Ripon senior recounts her pilgrimage to D.C.

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an. 20, 2009, is a day that will be remembered in history. Americans across the country gathered in local settings and tuned in online at work to witness history. While many of my fellow Ripon College students will tell their stories of how they crowded around televisions in The Pub, I will be able to tell my children and grandchildren that I was there and witnessed the first African-American president sworn into office.

When Guy McHendry ’06 offered me a ticket to the ceremony, compliments of Senators Hatch and Bennett of Utah, I could not resist the offer. As a future history teacher, I was compelled by the thought of telling my students about the inauguration. Guy, who is completing a doctorate in communication at the University of Utah, was a perfect traveling companion. While my interest in the election was that of a fairly informed citizen, Guy was an election buff, tracking every issue and every move that each candidate made.

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ur trip was only one small story of pilgrimage among the millions of people who traveled from every state and many nations to witness the moment.

Our story would not have been possible without the help of Dana Olson ’04 of Arlington, Va., who graciously put us up for the week. I had never met Dana before she allowed us to come into her home. Dana’s generosity embodies the spirit of Ripon that I love so much — knowing that wherever I go, there will be Ripon alumni reaching out to help.

Our inauguration day began at 3:30 a.m. so that we could catch the first Metro train into the city.

Please turn to Pilgrimage on page 4 WINTER 2009 3

Pilgrimage Continued from page 3

Dave Minor ’68 stands before the Capitol after the inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama.

Minor Continued from page 3 especially after learning that I hailed from Ripon, Wis. Disrespect was expressed for the outgoing administration; reflecting a partisan crowd, the booing was muted in our section but clearly audible. I and an Army veteran who was close to me in age pleaded restraint out of respect of the office and the Constitution, but the history teacher from California claimed the response was earned.

Approaching noon, sunshine broke between the clouds, and the moment in history that we had journeyed toward was upon us. We stood basking in what soon was to become, for all, a historic moment — Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th president!

Feeling very much a part of the moment, I turned around and looked toward the Washington Monument. I saw a jubilant mass of humanity as far as my eyes could see. Closer to me, I saw smiles, tears, hugs, high-fives and emotions that I can describe only as exhilarating and uplifting.

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ost agree that this event was a defining moment in the history of our nation and a significant event in world affairs. In time, history will reveal what it means for our country and our community.

Individual narratives, reflection and, hopefully, dialogue will craft personal meanings. For me, I am proud of my country, humbled and honored to have been at this time and place in our nation’s history. r 4 RIPON MAGAZINE

People packed the Metro like sardines as more and more devoted citizens crammed into the trains as we came closer to the Capitol. Finally emerging from the Metro station, we hurried toward our gate among thousands of others. In the crowd was a small group of people who broke out into singing “We Shall Overcome.” With multiple voices joining together, just as the last part of the refrain, “someday,” was sung, someone interjected “we have overcome.” The overwhelming spirit in the air nearly brought me to tears.

While thousands of us stood nearly seven hours in the freezing cold, spontaneous chants of “Yes We Can” and “Obama” and the numerous stories of those nearby about the meaning of their pilgrimage to the capital uplifted our spirits. As the morning progressed, the crowds welled with support as the senators and former presidents took their seats. The heightening emotions burst as Barack Obama emerged onto the stage and took the oath of office.

President Obama’s inaugural address was a pragmatic speech of the troubles that lie ahead for our nation. His recognition of the past — both triumphs and failures — reiterate that both storms and peaceful times lie ahead for our nation. Another powerful moment was when he denounced Islamic extremists, declaring, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.” These powerful words spoke of the U.S. commitment to make the world a more peaceful place. At the closure of the speech, I was humbled and proud to be a citizen of this great nation.

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s the cameras spanned the audience from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial — where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech — all the way to the Capitol steps where the first African-American president was sworn into office, I was amazed by both the literal and the symbolic distance that our nation has traversed together. That progress, coupled with the 2 million voices joined together in singing the national anthem, is an image that will remain vivid in my mind forever. R Amanda Hoefner Hoefner is a senior history major with minors in educational studies and politics and government.

She is from Manitowoc, Wis.

Jonas ’88 serenades Obama

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ne of Ripon’s own took a place in history as he sang during a nationally televised concert, “We Are One,” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial two days before President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

David Jonas ’88 is a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., which sang backup to Josh Groban and Heather Headley as they performed a moving rendition of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.”

The concert was aired live on HBO and streamed on the Internet.

Queen Latifah introduced the performance by telling the story of Marian Anderson, a renowned African-American opera singer. In 1939, Anderson had been barred from performing at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and she was invited to perform on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial by Eleanor Roosevelt.

She sang “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” before an integrated audience.

This year’s performance echoed that moment with a call of support for the freedom and rights of gay people. Members of the chorus wore red AIDS ribbons.

“Although they did not mention us by name, we were thrilled and exhilarated and a little cold.

OK, really cold,” says Jonas. “Standing out on those steps during the tech rehearsal Friday in 17°F weather for more than two hours … All we wanted to do was sing and go get some hot chocolate.”

Jonas has been a tenor with the chorus since he moved to Washington in 2001. He says he and the Obamas were neighbors when they all lived in Hyde Park on the south side of Chicago. Now, Jonas and his fellow chorus members sang just 15 feet away from Obama; David Jonas ’88 his wife, Michelle; their daughters, Malia and Sasha; and Vice Presidentelect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill.

“It was one of the highlights of my choral experiences,” Jonas says. “It is a thrilling moment when you’re up there. You’re on live TV, singing in front of millions of people. It’s a historic moment. You feel you were a part of history.”

Celebrating MLK

Ripon looks back, relives 1965 civil rights march As part of the College’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration — Continuing the Dream: Making the Impossible Possible — which took place Jan. 19-24, Ripon welcomed back to campus Professor Emeritus Jerry Thompson and a group of alumni from the 1960s. Thompson, a former chaplain and professor of religion at Ripon, led a number of students in the historic civil rights march from Selma, Ala., in 1965.

The following article, written by Ian Stepleton ’98, originally appeared in the Ripon Commonwealth Press and has been reprinted with permission.

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or a couple hours on a Friday afternoon in January, America’s historic struggle for civil rights came alive at Ripon College.

As the college honored two ministers — the Revs. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ripon College professor Jerry Thompson — the latter had a simple message: “Don’t forget people lost lives,” Thompson said. “This was not a picnic.”

It’s been 45 years since King’s historic march from Selma, Ala., to the state’s capital in Montgomery to fight for voting rights. But for those who were there — such as Thompson and several of his students from Ripon College — the memories still seem right at the surface.

Thompson, for instance, recalled how students blocked his car, attempting to prevent him from joining the rally.

Ripon graduate Dick Grimsrud ’65, remembered being “beat up a bit” by police in the Alabama state capital.

Other graduates pointed to the trip as a life-changing experience.

Not Everyone Agreed in 1965 For Larry Tice ’65, who has taught sociology at DePaul University, his passion for teaching is “directly related to Selma,” he said of the March 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. “How was it possible, after the [1963] ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, to be against going to Selma?” Tice told a crowd in Ripon College’s Bear Auditorium Friday afternoon.

But, as Tice and his classmates explained, they did receive opposition.

The group, led by Thompson and his late wife, Mugs, had asked the college Student Senate for $400 to fund the trip. The request

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passed 13-9. But those who were against it were really against the expenditure.

“I responded to Martin Luther King’s call to come to Selma,” Thompson said. “[But] this arouses a furor. Students were protesting this use of their money.”

Thompson recalled those students’ concerns as being largely because of the cost; Tice and others returning Friday noted it might have been for other motives.

“Could it have been other things — [and the money] was a cover for other things?” Tice said.

“I felt in the student body at Marchers including the Rev. Jesse Jackson (with hands folded) crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., the time … that [they felt] we on March 6, 2005, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Selma-Montgomery civil rights march. should stick to our own business.

Some were concerned that we The professor, however, dissuaded were contributing to mob violence, stirgone down to encourage violence and the students from stopping them. ring up trouble,” Gary Yerkey ’66 said. other illegal acts.

Yerkey joked that, “With God on his Such stories were propagated, in The result was a group of protesters side, Rev. Thompson parted the sea.” part, by media accounts misrepresenting that intended to keep the group of the truth, Thompson said.

Riponites from heading to Selma. “We Thompson remembers how, when he were met by this group of protesters as A Dangerous Trip returned from Selma, he was “stopped we were about to leave,” Thompson by the president of the local knitting said. “They threatened to lie down in As it turned out, leaving Ripon was the company” who was angry at how they’d front of our cars before we could leave.” easy part. For the students, largely used to Midwest civility, heading into the Deep South was a new kind of lesson.

In the mid-1960s, racial tension was as strong as ever — and laws regarding desegregation had just begun to take effect. Thus, when four diverse carloads of Ripon College students loaded up, they could have been a target.

“In my car alone was myself, a girl from the West Indies … a gentleman from Somalia; behind me a girl from Korea; next over was a girl from Ethiopia; and another girl from Korea,” Tice said. “We certainly formed a small United Nations in that Impala.”

The drive was a smooth Dave Minor ’68, Gary Yerkey ’66, Larry Tice ’65 and Dick Grimsrud ’65 shared their recollections of the 1965 civil one, but they quickly realized rights march from Selma, Ala., during Ripon College’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations Jan. 23. Ian Stepleton ’98 photo 6 RIPON MAGAZINE

how dangerous the trip could become.

“It got more serious state by state.

We got to Memphis and stopped at an ice cream stand,” Tice said. “… We forgot we were a very unique-looking group. We got three-quarters of the way around the stand and cars started blocking our exit. I realized we’d better get out of there.

“When we got to the state line, Mugs [Thompson] said it would be a straight shot to Jackson — no more messing around.”

A Different World For Grimsrud, he knew exactly what he could be getting himself into.

“I had an experience a year before Selma [while visiting the South],” he said. “We desegregated the capitol, which didn’t allow blacks in there at that time. I got beat up a bit in the basement of Jackson [Miss.] jail. That kind of shook me.”

Tice explained the situation was more serious than Grimsrud let on.

“Richard is being very modest,” he said. “It was some severe blows in the courthouse. Even though some of us have not suffered that blow by blow, it was real stuff. It took some major, major, incredible courage.”

Selma For the students, traveling proved more life-threatening than the march did.

“The night before the big march, they held a big convocation. There were people there like Jesse Jackson, Bob Neville, Dick Gregory,” Thompson said, noting that at that meeting King told the crowd “to remain nonviolent.”

The next day, “we marched through Selma very quietly. … On the march, we were protected by federal troops.”

Thompson recalled how “there was some taunting on the way and some cheering. But it was still dangerous after the march.”

“Looking back, it is very hard not to be inspired by Martin Luther King,” Yerkey said. “… Dr. King certainly knew about personal courage.” r

Honoring Jerry Thompson As part of the Jan. 23 event, the College recognized Professor Emeritus Jerry Thompson with the following citation:

To the Rev. Jerome “Jerry” H. Thompson Chaplain and Professor of Religion, Ripon College 1961-1983 In Appreciation of His Service January 23, 2009 Jerry Thompson, in the annals of Ripon College, yours is considered one of the most significant appointments in our history. There is no more fitting tribute to your work and your legacy than the words of our newly inaugurated U.S. President: In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor — who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

Barack H. Obama President of the United States Jerry Thompson, you, indeed, have contributed unselfishly to the greatness of our nation and to the intellectual and spiritual fitness of our college. You did not take shortcuts; you did not choose easy paths; you did not avoid risks; and you did not seek the pleasures of fame.

Having been a celebrated football coach, you resigned, went to divinity school and returned to Ripon as chaplain and professor of religion. You helped carry us up the long, rugged path. You led this campus through the civil rights movement and beyond; you directed the Transitional Year Program for promising but disadvantaged students; you helped establish the Educational Development Program, which serviced low-income students; and you did many more things equally significant but less easily documented or measured.

Most important of all, you followed the path of justice and helped our students and our campus find that path for themselves. In your The Rev. Jerry Thompson life and in your work, you guided our students to lives of purpose and helped them discover the meaning of courage.

For all you have done, the Rev. Jerome H. Thompson, you have the everlasting gratitude of Ripon College.

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Sabbatical gives Hatcher new perspective of those behind bars Psychology professor studying therapy in correctional setting

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sabbatical is a win-win-win situation, according to Professor of Psychology Joe Hatcher, who is currently on sabbatical so that he can fulfill a one-year internship for his re-specialization in counseling psychology. When he returns to Ripon next fall, he will bring a wealth of new knowledge and experience with him. He says this will re-energize his classroom and allow him to offer more up-to-date information to his students. And he also is making connections in settings where Ripon students eventually can be placed into internships.

“It adds something to the psychology department that we didn’t have before,” he says. “Most psychology majors want to go in the clinical/counseling direction, so for me to be able to use my recent training and experience to teach these courses should really help. Also, advising students as to which graduate programs they should attend is very complicated in this area, and I know a lot more about that now, too. During my re-specialization, I have been able to place students in internships at a small private mental health clinic in Fond du Lac, and also at the Wisconsin Resource Center, a facility that serves mentally ill inmates from the Department of Corrections. During this sabbatical year, I am having conversations that should lead to more internships and other student experiences in prison settings.”

Hatcher, who has a doctorate in social psychology, has been teaching at Ripon since 1986. He wants to do therapy, however, so he decided to go back to school to re-specialize in 8 RIPON MAGAZINE

counseling psychology. This new direction began with Hatcher’s interest in peace studies, which started about 15 years ago.

“Peace studies is an interdisciplinary field that looks at factors that lead to war and peace at all levels of human experience,” Hatcher says. “People in the peace studies field talk about things like poverty and lack of education as ‘structural violence,’ because these factors make it hard for people to reach their full potential.

“I enjoy teaching peace studies and talking about it, and I wanted to do something more direct, more hands-on. My wife [Karin Suesser] is a therapist who works with children and families, and one day it hit me that the therapy that she does is always directed toward helping people and families find greater peace. It was right in front of me for quite a while, and I didn’t realize it. So I decided that, in order to do something for peace every day, I wanted to do therapy.”

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or two of the last three years, Hatcher has taken classes and done practicum work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, while teaching full time at Ripon and preparing to take this sabbatical year off. The internships available within commuting distance from Ripon were mostly in the Department of Corrections, and this appealed to Hatcher.

“If you’re thinking about working for peace, [a prison set-

ting] makes sense because these are people who have not been peaceful at some point,” he says.

The first six months of his internship were spent at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, a facility for women just east of Fond du Lac, Wis.; and the Wisconsin Resource Center, a facility north of Oshkosh, Wis., which serves mentally ill male inmates. His second six months will be spent at Taycheedah and the Redgranite, Wis., Correctional Institution, a medium-security male prison.

“The challenge in working in a correctional setting is to maintain hope,” Hatcher says. “The most difficult thing about doing prison work is hearing all the bad things in people’s lives. There’s a lot of suffering. I remarked to a few of the security staff the other day that they are ‘working for peace,’ and they said they hadn’t thought about it that way and liked it,” Hatcher says. “This type of work is very difficult, and staff often make a point of very clearly separating job and the rest of their lives, which is very different from the way my professor colleagues approach their work.

“I worried whether I can stay optimistic about people. I’ve always been an optimistic person, and I wondered about going into the prison system and still coming out that way. So far, so good. I haven’t met a ‘bad’ person yet. It’s not my job to judge people anyway,” says Hatcher.

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hat has become part of his job is to share the precepts of positive psychology and critical thinking, not only with inmates but in talks to staff members as well.

“Positive psychology is the intentional nurturing of positive emotions through interventions designed to create and maintain them,” Hatcher says. “This is meant to go along with, not necessarily replace, typical psychological treatment, which generally is focused on decreasing ‘negatives,’ such as anxiety and depression.” One tenet of positive psychology is that the “good life” contains pleasure, engagement and meaningfulness, and Hatcher finds this challenging in a prison environment.

Hatcher says that in inmate life, pleasure can be “canteen,” a time when inmates get to buy snacks, and engagement can

Professor of Psychology Joe Hatcher talks with a group of Ripon students on a bright fall day. Hatcher has been spending much of his current sabbatical in prisons to fulfill a one-year internship for his re-specialization in counseling psychology.

Bill Denison photo

be present when talking to other inmates or groups in therapy sessions, and in the rare opportunity to do artwork. Meaningfulness is especially difficult, as inmates often feel that they are contributing nothing to their families and loved ones while in prison, and it can be a struggle to help them find meaning in their lives. For staff, looking at what they do as “peace work” has the potential to add to the meaningfulness they feel with their work, and there is truth in that point of view, as staff try to help inmates be more peaceful while there and more peaceful when they leave.

“I think [prison] staff have enjoyed the positive psychology presentations, so I’ve been able to teach a little bit anyway,” he says. “One thing I’ve learned this year is that I’m a pretty good teacher. Of course, I should be, as I’ve been doing it for more than 20 years. A lot of what I’m learning — like testing and assessment, and integrated report writing — is new to me, and I’m not as good at that.

“I eventually would like to do trainings for the Department of Corrections, particularly in positive psychology, as this has not, to my knowledge, been applied to a prison setting as of yet.”

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atcher says this interest in prison work does not mean that he doesn’t want to continue to teach at Ripon.

He is looking forward to returning to the “positive” atmosphere at Ripon and teaching an advanced clinical/ counseling course that will allow him to use what he has been learning.

“I want to come back and teach full time and do some clinical work part time, and I’d like to do that in a prison if I can, taking students with me,” he says. “I think it’s great if students can have some experience in the field they want to work in.

At the Wisconsin Resource Center, they can interact with mentally ill inmates and get a sense of what that’s like. They can’t do therapy, but they can talk to people. There are a lot of careers in corrections. Students find that very interesting, even fascinating. And it is a place where, unfortunately, there are jobs. We have a lot of people in prison.”

This is Hatcher’s third sabbatical, and he is thrilled with the opportunities they offer.

“Every employer should do this, not just colleges,” Hatcher says. “It gives you a chance to try something new, do whatever that thing was you’ve been wanting to do and couldn’t find the time. It’s a great thing to give a faculty member. You have thoughts you wouldn’t have otherwise. You do something that has an impact on your teaching.

“It’s been interesting to have an experience so different from that of a liberal arts college. It’s helped me think about and appreciate what I do every day as a liberal arts professor.

Going from prison back to the College is like stepping into Oz. In many ways, the two environments are exact opposites. At Ripon College, it’s all about helping the students reach their full potential, whereas at the prison just getting people started in the right direction is the goal. There is also an overall sense of joy at the College that is obviously lacking in a prison setting. It’s fun to walk around at the College and have people be friendly and glad to see me; that hardly ever happens behind the big fence. I know I will enjoy being back, no matter how stimulating and worthwhile this sabbatical feels to me.” R Jaye Alderson WINTER 2009 9

These Days at Ripon these days at ripon CHALLENGE COURSE OFFERS UNIQUE NEW EXPERIENCE

The new Ripon College Challenge Course uses physical challenges like the one shown to promote problem-solving and team building.

10 RIPON MAGAZINE

Jack Christ’s vision of drawing people to the College with a low ropes challenge course finally is being realized after years of research and preparation.

What began as a project for the leadership studies course that Christ teaches has transformed into the Ripon College Challenge Course (RCCC), a developing business for the College with the mission of providing clients with experience-based learning to improve problem-solving skills, communication and leadership.

When Adam Mielke ’08 was in a leadership studies course and was prompted to engage as a member of a project team, he elected to work to develop the low-ropes course. The rough idea continued to evolve throughout months of planning as the concept became more and more realistic. After the course ended, Mielke and friend Arthur Bratton ’08 continued to research other courses, learning about construction and developing a curriculum as part of their independent studies.

“Art is an Eagle Scout and has worked in construction and as a camp counselor,” says Mielke. “[He] was very enthusiastic about bringing a course to Ripon campus and … was an obvious choice to bring in as a partner.”

With the help of Christ, Bratton and Mielke ultimately broke ground about a year after the project began. Mielke currently is working for the College as the challenge course’s manager.

“I had participated in courses before, and, like most, found them to be exciting and very educational and wanted to see what I could do with one,” says Mielke.

After construction was completed in 2008, a number of campus groups took advantage of the new learning facility located west of the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts. Some of the groups include the women’s basketball team, the Multi-Cultural Mentoring program and the Bonner Program.

“Challenge course programs are used around the world to provide hands-on experiential learning,” says Mielke. “This experiential learning uses activities that depart from everyday tasks, making participants think in different ways to successfully complete the task at hand. In this way, participants experience learning and develop skills to help achieve personal and team goals.”

Mielke says low-challenge course elements, such as those found at Ripon, are designed to explore group interaction, problem-solving and teamwork. In addition, the RCCC aims at promoting conflict resolution, decision-making, self-confidence, communication, goal-setting, cooperation, self-esteem, leadership, trust and just plain fun.

As the ropes course continues to grow in popularity, Mielke and involved students will continue to develop programming to suit the specific needs of various groups.

“We’ve created a framework for planning and executing our workshops that completely revolve around the idea of reflection on the experience, pulling lessons from an activity and applying them to real-life situations,” says Mielke. “We focus completely on the idea of providing applicable experiences.”

Students active in running the challenge course simultaneously are earning course credit through leadership studies internships.

One of the organizers’ main goals is for the course to be self-sustaining and ultimately generate revenue for the Ethical Leadership Program. Thus, the challenge course is striving to build its contact list and develop a thriving group of clients.

“The focus is to continue to push our name into the community and to continue to grow and develop as a program,” says Mielke.

THEATRE STUDENTS REACH KENNEDY CENTER FINALS Ripon’s theatre department has established itself as a respected play production organization in regional college/university theatre, having been invited to perform scenes from campus productions over the past few years. This year, several students have been recognized with nominations in performance, design and stage management for the annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF); and several reached the finals, the first year that Ripon students have done so in any of the competitions.

Jessica Mann, a junior from Waukesha, Wis.,was nominated for the Barbizon Lighting Design competition for “Anatomy of Gray” and for the stage management competition for her work on “Arcadia.” She reached the finals in the lighting design competition and was one of two honorable mentions at the regional festival, which means she received third place in a field of 25 graduate and undergraduate designers of realized productions.

Nick Osenberg, a sophomore from Ramsey, Minn., was a stage-management nominee for “Anatomy of Gray.” Both Mann and Osenberg reached the finals in the stage management competition.

“This is the largest number of the design/tech entries we have ever had,” says Professor Bob Amsden, campus KCACTF coordinator and director of both “Arcadia” and “Anatomy of Gray.”

Four Ripon students were nominated for the Irene Ryan Audition Competition from plays presented in 2008: juniors Cady Cummings of Elkhorn, Wis., and Paul Steffens of Portage, Wis., for “Arcadia” (spring 2008); and Ashley Retzlaff, a sophomore from Bayside, Wis., and Brandi Gaspard, a junior from Ramsey, Minn., for “Anatomy of Gray” (fall 2008).

A nomination for the audition competition suggests that the recipient is in the top 10 percent of college actors in Region III, which includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

Robyn Zajac, a sophomore from Sobieski, Wis., was accepted as part of the Critics Institute for the festival. A select group of 14 students is chosen from across the region to develop their critical abilities in responding to plays presented at the festival. A winner is chosen at the end of festival for the quality of response. She received third place in the Critic’s competition.

“The nominations allow the students to work on their various crafts and display their work in a larger context,” Amsden says. “It helps the students understand where they are in relationship to their peers at other institutions and see what the regional selection committee determined to be the best or most artistically adventuresome plays in the region for 2008.”

Amsden went on to say that students from a small school like Ripon are competing with students from huge universities and conservatory type settings. “I look at the experience of the festival as a little bit of ‘reality therapy’ for our liberal arts students. There are so many people competing from high-powered training programs and graduate schools, that for a Ripon student to advance to the semifinals in any area is quite an accomplishment,” he says.

Ultimately, the winning plays, auditionees, designers and technicians at the regional festival are invited to the Kennedy Center for the national festival at the end Jessica Mann ’10 Nick Osenberg ’11 of April.

AWARD-WINNING POETS READ AT RIPON Contemporary poet Mary Fell read from her poetry Nov. 25, and nationally acclaimed slam poet Patricia Smith performed work from “Blood Dazzler” March 11.

Fell was born and raised in Worcester, Mass., the setting for many of her early poems. She began writing poetry at Worcester State College, from which she

Briefs BRIEFS EMANUEL ’09 HEADS BACK TO GERMANY Hannah Emanuel, a senior from West Bend, Wis., is headed to Germany after graduation. Emanuel was chosen as one of 25 American students to participate in the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest’s 2009 Transatlantic Program. She will intern with a German company.

Hannah “This seemed to Emanuel ’09 me the perfect compromise between a German major and a politics and government major, where I was primarily interested in international relations,” says Emanuel.

The experience will comprise two parts, the first being a 10-day immersion seminar in Berlin. Participants will engage in language and cultural activities as well as make visits to a number of prominent companies and organizations. This session will prepare Emanuel and other students for their internships to follow.

Emanuel will spend the next months interviewing with different German companies in order to find an internship that is the right fit. She says business and international law are her primary fields of interest.

“I am most excited about being integrated into the German business world,” says Emanuel. “I had wanted to work in Germany someday, and this opportunity seems to be a good first step.”

This will be Emanuel’s third trip to Germany as she traveled overseas for a Maymester as well as a semester-long study-abroad program in Bonn.

“The prospect of exploring and getting acquainted with a new city in Germany is very exciting,” she says.

While she says she is thrilled to meet new people, use her foreign language skills and live the European lifestyle, her mind remains focused on her opportunity to contribute to the global community.

“I believe the connections individuals make across borders are often as important as governments’ official relations,” she adds.

WINTER 2009 11

Briefs BRIEFS SALAS WORK INCLUDED IN EXHIBITS Assistant Professor of Art Rafael Salas recently had work featured in several exhibits.

His work was included in “Personal Culture: New Art from Latin Americans” at the Frederick Layton Gallery of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. In this exhibit, five artists challenge assumptions about Latin America and Latin American art. Salas was the only U.S.-born artist in the exhibition.

Rafael Salas DeRicci Gallery of Edgewood College in Madison displayed “Rafael Francisco Salas: Recent Drawings and Paintings” in February.

Salas’ work also was included in a presentation, “The Earnest Face of the Contemporary Portrait,” for a panel discussion at the College Art Association Conference in Los Angeles in February. The panel was chaired by Brandon Brame Fortune, curator of painting at The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. A solo exhibition, “Paintings by Rafael Francisco Salas,” will run at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, Wis., April 26 through Aug. 16.

12 RIPON MAGAZINE

Cady Cummings ’10 exchanged words with famed playwright Tom Stoppard less than a year after bringing his character, Thomasina, to life in Ripon’s production of “Arcadia.” He signed her newest copy of the script after fielding questions from an audience gathered at National Theatre in London, where she currently is studying abroad. “To be involved in a Stoppard production is absolutely mind-boggling,” says Cummings. “I feel like I’m still involved in ‘Arcadia’ because, more than a year later, I’m still discovering new things about the text and characters.”

Cummings ’10 meets playwright in London

graduated in 1969, and became active in the thriving poetry scene in Worcester in the 1970s. After a number of years as a social worker she went to graduate school at the University of Massachusetts, graduating in 1981 with an M.F.A. in poetry. It was at the University of Massachusetts that she began her long career as a college teacher.

She has conducted workshops and read her poems at many schools, libraries and other venues over many years. Since 1981, she has taught writing and literature at Indiana University East in Richmond, Ind. In 2001, she received the Indiana University Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Smith is recognized as one of the world’s most formidable literary performers and has read her work at venues around the globe, including Carnegie Hall, the Poets Stage in Stockholm, the Aran Islands International Poetry and Prose Festival, and Rotterdam’s Poetry International Festival.

A four-time individual champion on the National Poetry Slam — the most successful slammer in the competition’s history — Smith also has been a featured poet on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and has performed three one-woman plays, one produced by Nobel Prize winner Derek Walcott. She collaborates often with musicians, dancers and filmmakers, including the blues band Bop Thunderous, and as an occasional vocalist with the improvisational jazz group Bill Cole’s Untempered Ensemble.

“Blood Dazzler” was nominated for a National Book Award and named one of National Public Radio’s top five books of 2008.

She has served as a Cave Canem faculty member, a Bruce McEver Visiting Chair in Writing at Georgia Tech University and writer-in-residence at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. In 2006, during a ceremony at Chicago State University’s Gwendolyn Brooks Center, Smith was inducted into the National Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent.

Both visits were sponsored by the Ripon College Visiting Writers Series, with assistance from the Schang Family Visiting Writer Fund.

FORENSICS STUDENTS MAKE IMPRESSIVE SHOWINGS AT STATE The Ripon forensics team attended the Wisconsin Collegiate Forensics Association State Championships hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Feb. 20 and 21.

The following are the results: ■ State Champion, Impromptu Speaking: junior Luke Lockhart ■ State champions, Duo Interpretation: sophomores Jeff M. Davis and Garrison McMurtrey ■ Third place, After-Dinner Speaking: first-year Jeremy D. Johnson ■ Third place, Impromptu Speaking: first-year Vicky Weber ■ Fourth place, Duo Interpretation: Davis and first-year Emily Moore ■ Fifth place, Program of Oral Interpretation: Lockhart ■ Fifth place, Impromptu Speaking: McMurtrey ■ Sixth place, Prose Interpretation: Davis ■ Sixth place, Dramatic Interpretation: Davis ■ Sixth place, Impromptu Speaking: Johnson ■ Sixth place, Extemporaneous Speaking: Johnson In addition, Ripon placed third as a team, and Davis ranked as fifth speaker overall at the tournament. Ripon was honored by being elected to host next year’s college state championships during the third weekend of February.

Other students who competed at the state tournament were junior Alyssa Paulsen, sophomore Sara Sisco and first-year students Ariel Dickinson, Breena Brockmann, Ali Bagozzi, Matt Muza and Kurtis Hardy.

The weekend prior to state, Ripon competed in the Grace Walsh Individual Events Tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Lockhart was named overall top speaker, earning final-round spots in three of his four events, including tournament champion in impromptu speaking.

Finally, Ripon hosted the Red Hawk Invitational on Eau Jeff M. Davis ’11 Claire’s campus Feb. 15. Ripon hosted 15 colleges and universities from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota.

“Although this team is remarkably young, there are many hard-working and talented students who are doing a terrific job of representing the College this year,” says Deano Pape, director of forensics.

“Ripon has had finalists every weekend we have competed this year, a spectacular achievement.”

Briefs BRIEFS STUDENTS ELECT SENATE OFFICERS The following were elected by the student body to executive positions on the Student Senate: Chris Schaefer, a junior from Kimberly, Wis., was elected president; Matthew Farley, a sophomore from Algoma, Wis., was elected vice president; Rusty Schultz, a sophomore from Warrens, Wis., was elected treasurer; and Danielle Scholfield, a junior from Wausau, Wis., was elected secretary.

Angela Twaroski, a senior from Birnamwood, Wis., was elected to represent the student body as the special graduate trustee — a two-year appointment.

RIPON AGAIN MAKES PRESIDENT’S HONOR ROLL FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE Ripon was one of only six schools in the nation to receive a President’s Higher Education Community Service Presidential Award from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Ripon is one of only a few schools in the entire Midwest involved with the Bonner Leadership program, and the College ensures that dedicated Ripon students put in more than 10,000 hours in community support in one year alone. The development of the office of community engagement also has placed importance on community. The office brings together continuing student placements, one-time volunteer opportunities, and service learning. Deano Pape, director of community engagement, says the office fills a vital role.

“The office of community engagement is a centralized place where community partners can get the help that they need. Our students, faculty and staff can also use the services of our office to grow, learn and serve their community at the same time,” Pape says.

“In this time of economic distress, we need volunteers more than ever,” says WINTER 2009 13

Corrections CORRECTION ■ The Emily Meyer pictured on page 16 of the Fall 2008 issue of Ripon Magazine is not the Emily Meyer who garnered first place in the case study competition at WAICU’s residence life staff conference.

The Emily Meyer pictured here, a senior from Ripon, Wis., is the actual winner.

Our apologies to Emily and Emily for the mix-up.

Emily Meyer ’09

Stephen Goldsmith, vice chair of the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees the Honor Roll. “College students represent an enormous pool of idealism and energy to help tackle some of our toughest challenges. We salute Ripon College for making community service a campus priority and thank the millions of college students who are helping to renew America through service to others.”

Overall, the Corporation honored six schools with Presidential Awards. In addition, 83 were named as Honor Roll with Distinction members and 546 schools as Honor Roll members. In total, 635 schools were recognized.

The Honor Roll is a program of the Corporation, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is presented during the annual conference of the American Council on Education.

HOLMES ’57 HONORED WITH FOUNDERS’ AWARD The founders of Ripon College worked tirelessly to attract a certain kind of person to this community, the sort who is selfless and welcoming, generous and kind. Had the late Sam Holmes ’57 been around in the mid-1800s, he no doubt would have been as welcome a presence as he was until his recent passing. For embodying the spirit of its founders, Ripon College honored Holmes with its 2009 Founders’ Day Award Jan. 27.

“In the months since his death Oct. 8, 2008, stories continue to emerge about the lives Holmes impacted. His quiet, unassuming way allowed many of his deeds to go unrecognized,” said President David Joyce.

After graduating from Ripon, Holmes became an insurance agent, a job he held for more than 40 years.

His venture into outdoor furniture later in life earned him the title of “Sam the Patio Man.” “Sam’s public face, however, was not what defined him. Instead, he was known for a moral and ethical compass that always pointed true north,” said Joyce. “Random acts of kindness to friends, neighbors and even strangers were not uncommon for Sam, yet he preferred to go about such business with a minimum of fuss, and certainly not for recognition. Holmes’ friends have said that honoring him with an award could be done only posthumously, as it would have made him uncomfortable.”

On behalf of the late Sam Holmes ’57, Sam’s grandHolmes’ wife, Yvonne, and his son, Nick Revello ’09, left, and Sam’s wife, Yvonne grandson, senior Nick Revello, Holmes, accept the 2009 Founders’ Day Award accepted the award on Holmes’ from President David Joyce.

Ric Damm photo behalf.

CARPENTER ’09 BRINGS POE’S ‘GOLD BUG’ TO BIG SCREEN Megan Captaine, a senior theatre major from Oshkosh, Wis., shares the tale of Spike Carpenter’s film project — in which she plays several roles.

Spike Carpenter, a senior from Oshkosh, Wis., has spent a lot of his time at Ripon on a project outside of those offered or required as part of his coursework. He wrote, 14 RIPON MAGAZINE

directed and acted in his own silent film with the help of his close friend, Andy Tornow.

Based on “The Gold Bug,” by Edgar Allen Poe, the film that shares that name was far from a way to kill boredom for Spike.

He began working on this film in 2006, and after three years and multiple cast and location changes, the film premiered on Jan. 13 to mixed reviews. The mixed feelings on the film are due, in part, to a stylistic gap in films today compared with the era of the silent film.

Spike Carpenter ’09 “Now, if a movie does not contain an explosion or a CGI monster every few seconds, it’s considered a bore,” Spike explains. “I’m asking my audience to go back almost 100 years with this picture, to find the beauty in silence.” Today’s need for action posed another problem for Spike. “As Poe wrote it, (‘The Gold Bug’) is very anticlimactic,” Spike says. However, once he found the action and carried it through his film, “images such as a snake slithering across the ground or a gnarled oak looming in the distance became shots of immense symbolic power.”

Spike was not interested in altering his view for the film based on society’s desire for elaborate action sequences or CGI special effects. He was concerned with making a film he could be proud of that stayed true to his vision, something few can do in the film industry.

A cast of four, including yours truly, held down all the roles in the film, with each actor playing multiple characters, tying their roles to one another. At the premiere, Spike noted that each character represented a bit of the actor playing it. For him, the meticulous and almost obsessive nature of his character, Captain Kidd, displayed strongly how he personally felt about the film as he created it. “ ‘The Gold Bug’ is filled with imagery and metaphor that add meaning and depth to the story,” he says. Many objects appear in both the time periods shown in the film.

“Like Captain Kidd, I’ve buried a piece of treasure in almost every scene,” Spike says.

The film has a future beyond the living room of friends and family. It is being considered for entry in the largest silent film festival in the world in Pordenone, Italy. The festival is a week-long celebration of classic silent films as well as new ones, like “The Gold Bug.” The resounding question Spike gets asked after a new person views the film is “What next?” He always answers with a smile: “Now that I have one under my belt, I can move on with my film-making career and continue to learn and grow. I have a little credibility now, and that can go a long way.”

For me, coming from a theatre background, film was nearly an altogether new experience for me. I had made a few films with friends in high school, but a serious project was a new element.

Add the factor of it being a silent film, and I was completely out of my game. Suddenly your voice,

Calendar Calendar April 1 Ripon Forum on Ethics and Oratory Youth Summit Fiction and Poetry Reading by Susan Power April 3 Accepted Student Day April 14 Ripon College Green Conference, hosted by the Ethical Leadership Program and Students in Free Enterprise April 15-18 10-Minute Play Festival April 17-18 Wisconsin State Forensics Tournament April 19 Admission Open House for High School Juniors Symphonic Wind Ensemble April 22 Awards Convocation April 24-25 Hispanic Theatre Workshop April 25 Ripon College/Ripon Community Run/Walk Jazz Ensemble April 26 Choral Union April 28 Student Recital The Ripon Senior Showcase May 1-2 Ripon FilmFest May 2 Springfest May 3 Orchestra May 5 Last Day of Classes May 7-13 Final Exams May 15 ROTC Commissioning Baccalaureate Service May 16 Commencement May 18-June 5 Maymester June 5-6 Board of Trustees Spring Meeting June 26-28 Alumni Weekend

WINTER 2009 15

one of your strongest elements on a stage, is completely taken away from you.

Spike was wonderful to work with, though. He used the fact that sound was being taken out to his advantage, and would talk through scenes even while cameras rolled if needed.

We had many laughs between takes, which is needed to keep spirits light and keep focus where it needed to be as the cameras rolled, especially on a cliff on an August afternoon with temperatures climbing well above 90 degrees.

Spike was supportive of defining our own characters but helpful when sections didn’t make sense. He has an eye for details that make his film dynamic and intriguing many viewings later, even if you were there to film it. I look forward to his next project and only hope that he doesn’t choose the hottest day in August for filming again! r

TRUSTEE PROFILE:

J ANE R UNKEL F REDERICK ’74, S ECRETARY What compelled you to become a Ripon College Trustee?

I have worked in higher education for my whole career, beginning as a resident assistant in Bartlett Hall when I was a student.

After I graduated from Ripon, I worked on campus and in time received my Jane Runkel master’s degree in student Frederick ’74 personnel. From Ripon, I went on to get a doctorate in administration and policy from Northwestern University and then spent a year at Knox College as associate dean of students. From there, I worked at Alverno College as director of academic advising and taught some courses as well.

After joining the Board of Trustees as an Alumni Trustee, I found that I could make a difference in communication between the alumni and the board, as well as the board and the faculty. I found that it was a good fit, and in this way I could give something back to Ripon. I am tremendously grateful to Ripon for the education I received, the people I have met and worked with and the knowledge I gained during my early career at Ripon.

What qualities do you bring to the table as a Trustee?

With my background, I bring to the table a historical understanding of a 16 RIPON MAGAZINE

Ripon student, employee, alumna and board member.

Also, I know the players on campus and I have an understanding of higher education and policy that relates to it.

What are some of your pursuits/hobbies/interests?

I have a 13-year-old daughter and a husband who is a Ripon alumnus [John Frederick ’73]. I also have a 90-year-old dad and several other elderly relatives that I connect with in an ongoing way. They all keep me very busy.

I love to read, especially history, and I do genealogical research when I can. Genealogy is a puzzle that just keeps on opening new avenues for research and understanding of history.

I also volunteer in the local schools, and every morning I have to do my crossword puzzle.

What do you see as the most significant challenges for higher education in general, and Ripon in particular?

As always, it is a money game on one level, but more importantly it is finding ways of helping students learn various frameworks or methods of analysis which they can apply to the knowledge they are receiving in order to make sound decisions and communicate the knowledge and decisions to others.

Education has changed dramatically since I was a student. It is much more hands-on for the student and hands-off

for the faculty. There is much more concrete application of the knowledge learned, and the learning goes beyond the classroom experience and into the analysis of the outcomes for the concrete application. The challenge is for the faculty and the College to guide the students in this learning process.

This, to me, is what the liberal arts is all about. It is the wedding of the knowledge, the concrete application and the outcome analysis. This serves alumni well and does not cubby-hole them into one job slot that may or may not be available upon graduation or 10 or 20 years after graduation.

What excites you the most about Ripon College’s future?

We seem to be moving in new directions with our education, both in the classroom and outside of it. In many colleges and universities, the educational unit is seen as what happens in the classroom and not what happens externally. I think Ripon has seen that learning happens in all venues including residential life, student activities, sports, on-campus jobs and in the classroom. The College also has seen that there are areas of strength that can be developed that fit the inclusive model of education, especially the Communicating Plus and the Ethical Leadership programs, as well as the community outreach programming. There is something very special about these, as they are inserted throughout the curriculum

Sports sports Women’s basketball stuns conference, captures title Men look to future; while swimming, track show progress

T

he Ripon women’s basketball team surprised a lot of people this season by winning their fourth Midwest Conference Championship in school history and earning a bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. This also marks their first conference title in four years. After previously being picked to finish seventh in the MWC preseason coaches poll, the Red Hawks finished the year with a 17-9 record, which is more wins than the previous two seasons combined. That included a 12-2 record away from home and a 12-4 record in the MWC, a tie for second place in the regular-season The 2009 Midwest Conference Champion Red Hawks: In back, from left, are Skye Gonyo ’12, Jana VanHandel ’10, Erin Lind ’12, Alexis Becker ’12, Staci Dieringer ’11, Amanda Lindauer ’10, Emily Meyer ’11 and Sam Bickert ’11. In standings. front, from left, are Jeni Yaeger ’09, Jessica Goudreau ’10, Jessica DeHamer ’10, Ashley Meister ’10, Carissa Zuercher In the MWC Tourna’10, Morgan Abert ’12 and Emily Romatoski ’12.

Al Fredrickson photo ment, Ripon defeated Beloit College in the semifinals, before upsetting top seed St. NorMWC First Team honors. She also The Red Hawks shot 31 percent from bert 56-49 in the championship game. recorded the 10th most blocks in a single long range, including a record-breaking Ripon then bowed out with a 55-42 loss season by a Ripon player. Emily Meyer performance against Grinnell, which at the College of St. Benedict in the (So., Sherwood, Wis.) was named to the saw Ripon set single game school first round of the NCAA Tournament.

MWC Second Team for the second conrecords for most 3-pointers made (12) Head Coach Julie Johnson reached secutive season, thanks to her 10.6 points and highest 3-point percentage (.706). the 250-win plateau in her career late in and 6.1 rebounds per game. the season, while also earning the Also making a contribution to the MEN’S BASKETBALL MWC Coach of the Year award for the team were juniors Jessica DeHamer Ripon’s men’s basketball team finished fourth time in her 19-year career.

(Neenah, Wis.), Ashley Meister (Suamthis season with a 9-13 record and a 7-9 Erin Lind (Fr., Ripon) helped the ico, Wis.) and Carissa Zuercher mark in the MWC. One season highRed Hawk’s re-emergence as an MWC (Delafield, Wis.). DeHamer moved into light came in Ripon’s 79-71 overtime power with team highs of 12.2 points Ripon’s career top-10 for steals, while victory over Monmouth in their conferand 6.5 rebounds per game, en route to Zuercher did the same for 3-pointers. ence opener, which marked the 100th Meister also had her victory in the 90-year history of the best season to date, Ripon men’s basketball team. leading the Red This year’s Red Hawks were led by Hawks with 78 assists Scott Gillespie (So., Ripon), who was and 52 steals, which selected to the MWC First Team. Gillerank ninth on Ripon’s spie was the only player in the MWC to single season list. rank in the top 15 in scoring (18.9 ppg), Ripon’s 3-point rebounding (4.4 rpg) and assists (5.8 shooting this season apg), leading Ripon in each category. was the best it has Gillespie’s 416 points this season gives been in three years. him more than 400 points for the second Julie Johnson

Erin Lind ’12

Emily Meyer ’11

WINTER 2009 17

first-place finishes in Ripon’s eight meets. Jones and Rice teamed up with Katie Corbett (So., Burlington, Wis.) and Jessica Powell (Sr., Greenleaf, Wis.) to break the school record in the 400 medley relay (4:22.63). The Red Hawk women finished sixth at this year’s MWC Championships.

Parker Heaps ’09

Amy Jones ’09

consecutive year and makes him just the eighth player in Ripon history to reach that mark in more than one season.

Ripon’s future looks bright thanks to players like Gillespie and Aris Wurtz (Fr., Waupun, Wis.), who ranked second on the team with 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. In Ripon’s last six games, Wurtz averaged 18.7 points per game. Wurtz also was solid at the freethrow line, with the fourth-best free throw percentage by a Red Hawk in a single season (.895).

Even though Wurtz entered the record books, he still was not the best free-throw shooter on this year’s team.

Rich Cloeter (Sr., Clintonville, Wis.) set the school record by shooting 91.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Cloeter leaves Ripon as the school’s alltime best free-throw shooter, making 85

Max Bellmore ’11

Trisha Jones ’09

percent of his shots from the charity stripe in his four-year career. Also etching his name into the record books was Martin Esters (So., Toenisvorst, Germany), whose 64.3 field goal percentage is the seventh-best in school history.

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING This year’s men’s swim team was led by captain Parker Heaps (Sr., West Bend, Wis.), who finished first in at least one event in five of the seven meets in which he participated. (He finished second in the other two.) Heaps, who was named MWC Performer of the Week on one occasion, set three school records this year. He swam record-breaking times in the 500 freestyle (4:50.03) and 1650 freestyle (16:55.95) and was a part of Ripon’s record-breaking 200 freestyle relay team (1:31.96).

Joining Heaps on that record-breaking relay team was Zach Smith (So., St. Louis, Mo.), Bill Rodgers (Fr., Edina, Minn.) and BT Taylor (Fr., Union, Ore.). Smith and Grant Erickson (Sr., Greenfield, Wis.) also won their respective individual events at least one time this year. The Red Hawks finished fourth in this year’s MWC Championships, an improvement of two spots from last year’s finish.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

Scott Gillespie ’11 drives the ball to the lane against Lake Forest. Gillespie led the Red Hawks in scoring, rebounding and assists.

Al Fredrickson photo

18 RIPON MAGAZINE

The women’s swim team was led by captain Amy Jones (Sr., Springfield, Ill.) and Jenni Schalla (Jr., West Bend, Wis.).

Schalla recorded a first-place finish on five occasions this season, including twice in one meet.

Megan Rice (So., New Berlin, Wis.) also had great success, with five individual

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD The Ripon men’s track and field team experienced success this season, mainly in the field events. Max Bellmore (So., Libertyville, Ill.) twice was named MWC Field Performer of the Week for his performance in the high jump and triple jump. Another highlight of the season came from Bob Wood (Sr., Port Washington, Wis.), who ran the 55 meter hurdles in 7.87 seconds at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Last Chance Meet. That breaks the school record previously held by Ripon assistant coach Dan Sutter ’01.

Kyle Roy (So., Fredonia, Wis.) also had an outstanding season, culminated by a pair of All-Conference honors. Roy earned MWC First Team honors in the shot put thanks to a shot-put throw of 50-11.50 at the MWC Championships in Monmouth, Ill. His weight throw of 47-01.75 earned Roy an MWC Third Team award in that event.

The Red Hawk men finished sixth at the MWC Championships out of nine competing teams.

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD The women’s track and field team saw three school records broken this season.

Trisha Jones (Sr., Marengo, Wis.) broke the triple jump record with a jump of 36-00, earning her MWC First Team honors, while Brittany Dick (Sr., Amherst, Wis.) broke her own school record in the mile run with a time of 5:17.61, which gave her a spot on the MWC Third Team.

Dick also joined Erin Beggs (Sr., Crystal Lake, Ill.), Jessica Davey (So., Berlin, Wis.) and Alaina Nesbitt (Fr., Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) for a school recordbreaking distance medley relay time of 13:00.84, placing them all on the MWC Third Team for that event.

The women finished fourth at the MWC Championships. r

Reunion of the undefeated Richard Willich ’64, president and CEO of Medical Development International (MDI), hosted a reunion in Ripon during homecoming last fall with his undefeated 1963 football teammates. Pictured in back, from left, are MDI Holdings employee Amy Windover, David Grabske ’64, Bruce Dale ’64, Paul Noel ’66, Phil Holm ’65, motivational speaker Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger (Ruettiger greeted the group earlier in the day but was digitally inserted into this photo-

graph), Jack Ankerson ’64, MDI Holdings employee Ashely Spence, Scott Heiderich ’64, MDI Holdings employee Jennifer Reynolds and Frederic Graf ’66. In front, from left, are William Klappenbach ’65, Andy Goletz ’66, Willich, Robert Dorn ’66, Roger Crass ’65 and Phillip Steans ’65. Not pictured are James Cahoon ’65, Peter Cooper ’65, William Dussling ’64, Steve Finley ’66 and Elliot Samuels ’66.

Ripon ok Scrapbo Education students attend WSRA meeting

A group of educational studies students attended the Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) meeting in Milwaukee in February. The students, along with Shaunda Jennings, visiting instructor of educational studies, received support from the student life office to attend the event. Hollie Becker ’10 and Leah Wilde ’10 were awarded scholarships from WRSA to attend the full three-day conference. Pictured are, from left, Alyssa Stratton ’10, Becker, Cori Legemaat ’10, Wilde and Kristen Swoboda ’10.

WINTER 2009 19

Ripon Rhodes Scholar makes return visit Zach Morris ’02, one of three Ripon College students to receive a coveted Rhodes Scholarship, addresses a group of students, faculty and Trustees during a reception in Great Hall, Feb. 6. After graduating summa cum laude with majors in chemistry and biology and a minor in Latin, Morris attended Oxford University. He is currently a medical student at Harvard University.

Colin Freeman ’09 photo

Having a ‘ball’

Cadet Cameron Arndt ’09 escorts Jolene Rueden ’07, admission counselor, through the saber arch at Ripon ROTC Military Ball, March 6. The ball celebrated 90 years of “leadership development” and featured an address

by Lt. Col. Randall Wickman ’91. Wickman is a commander and professor of military science at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Colin Freeman ’09 photo

‘Imaginary Invalid’ earns nominations Paul Steffens ’10 as Argan, lying down, Ashley Retzlaff ’11 as Toinette, standing at left, and Ellen Dunphy ’09 as Béline, enact a scene from Molière’s “The Imaginary Invalid.” The Ripon theatre department presented the light-hearted comedy in March. Steffens and Retzlaff were nominated for the regional Irene Ryan acting competition, and Josh Aspland ’10 received a certificate of merit for the original music he composed for the play. The department as a whole was nominated to bring a scene featuring Steffens and Robyn Zajac ’11 to the regional festival next January in Michigan.

Colin Freeman ’09 photo

20 RIPON MAGAZINE

College coaches enjoy Packers game

Trustee Mike Reese ’65 treated members of the Red Hawk football coaching staff to a Green Bay Packers game Dec. 7. Pictured from left are Rick Coles, offensive coordinator; Bill Kinziger, linebackers coach; Ron Ernst, head coach; and Reese.

Discussing the ethics of crime communications Jim Haney ’76, associate dean of the college of fine arts and communication at the University of Stevens Point, addresses a group of Ripon students, faculty and staff during the 2009 Ripon Forum on Ethics and Oratory, Feb. 10. Haney, who previously served as director of research and information for the Wisconsin Department of Justice and was the chief spokesman for former Wisconsin attorney general (now Gov.) Jim Doyle, was the forum scholar and presented the keynote address. His talk discussed the ethics related to media and communication about crime in American culture about which he joked, “There are none.” The Forum on Ethics and Oratory is a project of the communication department, undertaken with support from the Ethical Leadership Program at Ripon. Ric Damm photo

Four alumni see shadow Four 2006 classmates, from left, Ed Hansen, Brian Macak, Andrew Kitslaar and Jon Gausewitz made the trek to Punxsutawney, Pa., to witness first-hand the prediction of the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, at Gobbler's Knob on Groundhog’s Day. They, along with Phil, saw their shadows, indicating four more weeks of winter. This still, despite our best efforts, was not long enough to publish this magazine in season.

WINTER 2009 21

ALumni alumni Gee ’84, Limouris ’94:

Paving your way with entrepreneurial success

A

s we progress though a time of job insecurity and economic hardship, many people search for the answers and options that will render success during these unstable times. Even though embarking on a new business venture may not seem like a viable option, Rich Gee ’84 and Andrew Limouris ’94 would argue otherwise. Their entrepreneurial stories prove that when options are slim, perhaps paving your own course is the true key to happiness and success.

Gee graduated from Ripon with a degree in art, but his primary focus was architecture. After a holding a few retail positions in Madison, Wis., and Minneapolis, Gee took a position at an architectural firm.

“After approximately one year, I found out architecture was not in the cards for me, and I moved back to my home state of Connecticut,” he says. “I went out and purchased the book What Color Is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-hunters and Career-changers, and proceeded to find out that my true vocation was marketing and advertising.”

After taking some classes to broaden his skill sets, Gee went on to hold several positions in the marketing and advertising fields. He was an advertising coordinator for a newspaper and moved on to a role as marketing director of Waldenbooks, where he met celebrities and authors such as Bill Cosby, Martha Stewart and Stephen King. He eventually landed a position at the advertising company ADVO. “Over seven years, I held many management positions within the company in marketing, product management and IT,” he says. “Finally, I ran a global, multi-million dollar e-commerce business and led various Web production teams at Gartner Inc., a technology research and advisory firm. When I left Gartner, I was managing $150 million in various product lines.”

Even with all that success, however, Gee yearned for a change.

22 RIPON MAGAZINE

“After more than 20 years in a corporate atmosphere, I yearned for an opportunity to run my own business,” he says.

“During that time, I was working with my own executive coach and decided to use my experience and explore my own path in the profession of corporate coaching.”

Gee invested his years of managerial and professional experience into starting his Andrew Limouris ’94 own business, Rich Gee Coach- Rich Gee ’84 ing. “As owner of an executive Limouris. “That’s what I did, and I’ve coaching company, I deal with all things never been happier.” business,” he explains. “I work with people After graduating from Ripon with a who want to energize their career, deal degree in communication, Limouris with an obstacle in their life or take moved to Zakynthos, Greece. advantage of an opportunity.”

“My family is Greek, and when I Rich Gee Coaching currently has two moved back, I actually ended up wanderoffices, a satellite in Stamford, Conn., and ing around the island selling toilet paper the home office in Oxford, Conn. Gee and and Nivea products,” he reveals. “Needhis company have been featured on NBC’s less to say, it was not an ideal situation.”

“Today Show” and in other prestigious Limouris then moved back to the media outlets. But for Gee, the true sign of United States to pursue a divergent and success is happiness. challenging career path. He began work“Let me ask you something — when ing at a staffing and consulting agency was the last time you woke up so in love and quickly embraced the industry. Durwith what you did that you couldn’t wait ing this time, he devised his own busito get to work? When was the last time ness plan to improve the company, but you actually found yourself deeply the executives never followed through engaged by your work, immersed in projwith his ideas. ects and relationships that were meaning“At the time, I tucked the business ful, truly significant and even fun?” Gee plan away and went on with my career,” asks. “Consider how different your life he says. “But after Sept. 11, 2001, I was would be if you found a way to earn a livforced to dust it off again.” ing that filled both your heart and your After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 bank account. I’ve been in both places, sent the United States into an economic and I can tell you no matter how much recession, many employees, including money I made as a corporate executive, it Limouris, were left without jobs. didn’t compare to the high of loving what “I figured I had nothing to lose, so I I do now.” moved to launch my old business plan for a healthcare staffing agency,” he says. ee is not the only Ripon graduate “My parents organically said, ‘You’re who will attest to the benefits of crazy. Everyone’s losing their jobs, and following your dreams and taking the economy’s terrible. This is not somerisks, even in troublesome times like the thing that is going to work.’ ” country’s current economic state.

Despite his parents’ warnings, Limouris “If you have a great idea, plan out the went forward with his business plan, and necessary steps and make it happen,” says

G

he and his new company, Medix Staffing Solutions, made it through the economic recession of 2001-02. After a couple of years with only seven employees and a 13by-12-foot office space based in a suburb of Chicago, Medix’s success began to multiply at a rapid rate. By 2003, the company expanded to earn $2.6 million in revenue.

Over the next four years, Medix’s revenue soared to $26.9 million in 2007, marking a

930-percent growth. The company currently has nine offices around the nation and has received praise in numerous business publications, including ranking seventh on the “Crain’s Chicago Business” list of the “Fastest Growing Companies in the Chicago metro area.”

“I have never been happier or more excited for the direction my life is going,” says Limouris. “It feels amazing to wake up

in the morning and go to something you helped create. I hope it gives motivation for other entrepreneurs to follow their dreams, even when the economy isn’t cooperating. I’ve found that with perseverance, anything is possible.” r Jordan Lander ’09 Jordan is a senior communication major from Westby, Wis. She held an internship last summer with Medix Staffing Solutions.

Rich Gee’s steps to a better life during economic crisis 1. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid. The news is sensationalized and fear sells.

Things are rarely as good as they seem and things are rarely as bad as they seem. If you allow yourself to give in to the news, you will determine your destiny. When people tell me about the bad economy, I tell them, “I have chosen not to participate.”

2. Reach out to your contacts — NOW. Past and present contacts, colleagues and friends are the lifeblood of any career (“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”)

The “robustness” and recency of your contact list is a great barometer of your career’s health. Call your closest contacts and colleagues and ask them how they are. Listen.

Don’t talk, offer help. Have lunch, drink coffee and strengthen those contacts!

Use Social Media: Get on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook — reach out to people you know and share knowledge and information. Givers Gain!

3. Focus on what you do best.

Present an extremely positive persona to management: This is the time where they might be looking at cutting the bottom 10 percent.

Be a partner to your boss: Ask for more work. No one really does it, and you will stand out as a “can-do” member of his or her team.

Be smart and flexible: Look at all of your activities and projects. Which ones are more important, and which are the ones that can be shelved, streamlined or retired?

The 80/20 rule comes into play. Make a list and then review it with your boss.

4. Keep your ear to the ground.

Have a clear picture of where your company’s revenues and expenses come from.

Companies are retrenching and focusing on the areas that will deliver the highest ROI. Stand back and see what projects, departments or people are slated to be cut.

Ask questions, read industry journals/blogs and keep up on the business news.

Track your company on the Web. Sometimes you hear something that isn’t currently communicated in your company. But take it with a grain of salt.

5. Look at your “product.”

It’s IMAGE, IMAGE, IMAGE. How do your clothes look? How does your hair look?

How do YOU look? I hate to say it — it’s perception, people. Not only when people first meet you — it’s when they work with you day in and day out. Critically look at yourself and see what you might need to change and how you would go about it.

Always dress one step above everyone else. No excuses. If everyone is casual, you wear country-club casual. Ensure that your clothes are made of the highest quality and are regularly pressed and clean.

Spend the money and go to a better barber/stylist. I don’t have much to work with, and I still go to one of the most expensive barbers in the area. He makes me look as good as I can.

Do you need to tone your physique? Hit the gym. Watch what you eat. It’s that simple.

6. Connect with new people.

The best defense is a good offense. This may be a sports cliché, but right now it rings true. Now is not the time to go into hiding based on fear of the recession. It’s the time to ramp up your networking, personal public relations and marketing to actively remind people of your presence.

Go to associations, meetings, conventions that are associated with your profession. Not only will you meet a lot of engaging people, you will re-energize your

batteries. AND your might get a lead on a great position!

Set up coffees and lunches with people that you don’t know, but want to know.

We all have people that we admire. Reach out to them. Take them to lunch. They are always on the lookout for new talent!

7. Review your resumé.

Too many people let their resumés grow old gracefully. When they really need them, they have to scramble and cobble together a mish-mash of experience that no one really wants to read. You need to get your resumé in order NOW. So some tips: Use a professional resumé writer. They should run $200 to 400, but you will get an incredible, document that sells. Call me, I know the best!

Keep it concise. Unless you have been in the business for 30 years or are a CEO, keep it to two pages or less. Again, people are looking for someone who can say less with more impact. Your first chance is your resumé.

8. Get financially fit.

One of the biggest worries people have during downturns is losing their job. They crawl into a hole and hope for the best.

Usually, it is financially motivated. How would you feel if you had six months worth of available funds if you suddenly lost your job? A little bit better? A little bit more confident?

9. Re-Vision your career.

I love downturns in the economy. Why? When executives get scared, they get going and they get SMART. They begin to look at everything they do: How can they use time more effectively? If the company is losing customers, where can they find

Please turn to Steps on page 32 WINTER 2009 23

Class Notes CLASS NOTES 1950s June 26-28, 2009 55th Reunion, Class of ’54 50th Reunion, Class of ’59 Frank Carlborg ’50 and Deane Houlihan Carlborg ’51 of St. Charles, Ill., are avid bicyclists.

Last fall, they cycled the Badger Trail to LaCrosse, Wis., where they hooked up with the Great River Trail along the Mississippi. Later, they covered Door County’s Washington Island which, as Deane says, “is made for biking, few cars and miles of beaches on which to picnic.”

Dick Bailar ’51 of Monticello, Fla., is chairman of his county’s efforts to raise funding and is an active lobbyist in Tallahassee. “I’m 80 now but as active as ever and have a wonderfully patient and supportive wife who unhesitatingly drives and picks me up at my various projects all over the county and on lobbying trips to the Capitol,” Dick says.

“Might I add that my years at Ripon were incredible blessings that helped mold and shape my life and career, for which I am forever grateful. That small college with its compassionate and dedicated professors nourished, inspired and guided me as a young WWII-era vet, and helped me find meaning and direction in a chaotic world.”

Lee J. Harrer ’52 of Clearwater, Fla., has donated his collection of books about books to the special Collectors of The University of Tampa in support of the Tampa Book Art Studio, which he proposed and helped establish. The collection includes fine and private press books related to printing, typography, graphic design, etc.

The Rev. Canon A. Paul Nancarrow ’52 of Maple Grove, Minn.: “We enjoyed April in England visiting our daughter and family with side trips to Bruges, Reims and Paris.”

Paul J. Spheeris ’52 of Milwaukee, Wis., is retired from his businesses, Spheeris Realty and Spheeris Merchandise Corp.

Louise “Bunny” Chamberlain Stevens ’53 of Berkeley, Calif., has retired after 30 years of teaching music at a private school in Oakland, Calif., and the University of the Pacific in Stockton. She now volunteers at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley Health Center and started a chorus open to people on the Berkeley campus. She works with two choral groups and 10 voice students.

John R. Howland Jr. ’55 of Venus, Texas is retired as the plant engineer of Riverside Refractories, a company in Pell City, Ala., that supplies refractories to the steel industry to help them contain molten iron and steel in the mill. He and his wife, Barbara, just moved to the Dallas, Texas, area from

indicates a marriage or union. indicates a birth or adoption.

24 RIPON MAGAZINE

Florida to be near family.

The Rev. Dr. Edwin H. Cromey ’56 of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., retired from St. Mary’s in Tuxedo in July 2006 and then was appointed vicar of St. Luke’s Church in Beacon, N.Y. Betty Trinrud Babb ’57 of Huntley, Ill., works backstage for locally produced musicals (including “Oklahoma,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Sound of Music”), as a member of a book club and as a bocce ball player.

Frank Brockway ’57 of Lisle, Ill., sings with the Downers Grove Choral Society, of which he has

been a member for 45 years, including terms on its board of directors and years as its president. The Choral Society performs mostly classical choral works (Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, etc.) with some opera and some pop music. Frank also travels and is a volunteer who mentors all newly elected treasurers in maintaining the society’s financial records and investments.

Vanessa Dehne ’57 of Scottsdale, Ariz., is retired and belongs to the Park Central Toastmasters organization in Phoenix. This speech major from Ripon (she and Carol Diedrich Cooley ’58 were the first speech majors at our College) meets with her fellow Toastmasters every Tuesday morning for

S IJAN ’42 R EMINISCES Sylvester Sijan celebrated his 90th birthday in February, but he still can sing the song his fraternity serenaded Ripon with 70 years ago: “We are the boys from Alpha House you hear so much about. / People stop and stare at us whenever we go out. / We’re noted for our wisdom and the clever things we do. / Everybody hates us, and we hope you hate us, too.”

A member of Ripon’s local Alpha Omega Alpha — “the self-imposed sweethearts of the campus” — Sijan says Ripon recruited him because he played for Milwaukee’s 1936 Bay View High School championship football team. Sijan, who played end for the Redmen, earned a scholarship worth $375 when he says Ripon cost just $500 or $600 per year — “And that included three meals a day.”

Sijan was a “fellow,” assisting Ripon sociology professor Ludwig “Doc” Freund, notable for his heavy German accent. During his college summers, Sijan worked as a deckhand aboard coal freighters, where he taught himself to type.

After school, he was office manager at the Mil-

Sylvester “Syl” Sijan ’42 hurdles a pile on one of the Great Lakes coal freighters he worked aboard during summers away from Ripon in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Photo courtesy of Sylvester Sijan

waukee manufacturer Rexnord. Later, he ran the Hillcrest Dining Room in Wauwatosa.

Sijan still recalls his first impression of Ripon. “I saw this green, spread-out campus, with the traditional college buildings, and I was speechless. I thought, ‘Wow, I’m a part of this?’ ” Sijan met his wife, Jane, on a blind date after one of his fraternity brothers assured him that “she’s a doll.”

“I looked at her and I was almost speechless, but not quite. So I said to her … ‘You’re going with me, and you don’t really know for how long a time.’ ”

The couple married in 1940 and since have lived in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood.

Each spring, the Sijans are invited to the Pentagon for the presentation of the Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award, named after their son, an Air Force captain and prisoner of war who died in Vietnam in 1968.

Three-dimensional likenesses of Sylvester Sijan are scattered across the world, including inside Milwaukee’s Midwest Airlines Center. Sijan’s son Marc, an artist, modeled his life-size security guard sculptures after his father.

Sijan’s daughter, Janine Sijan Rozina, recently launched Wisconsin’s largest independent movie studio complex, RDI Stages.

“I’m a famous guy, not because of my name but because of my children,” says Sijan, who takes pride in being one of only 119 living alumni who have contributed to the annual fund for 46 years or more.

Michael Timm ’04 Timm is an assistant editor at The Bay View Compass, a community newspaper in Bay View, Wis.

1-1/2 hours, the highlights of which are six- to eight-minute speeches by members. Vanessa has earned a blue ribbon for her speeches. The subject of her most recent speech was “Being Stubborn!”

Vanessa said she often speaks of Speech 101 at Ripon College at Park Central Toastmasters, and often wins the ribbon for Best Evaluator because of Speech 10l. “Toastmasters International uses manuals for speeches, and sometimes I find that those manuals are not adequate,” she said. “At Ripon, we learned to divide our speeches into two main parts: organization and delivery. To deliver a comprehensive evaluation in a minute and a half is much easier because of Mr. Brunet, our speech professor from Ripon, and organization and delivery. If any of you are interested in public speaking, please visit our Web site, Park Central Toastmasters, Phoenix, Ariz. To me, it’s the best Toastmasters group in the world. A few of our members include Wyatt Earp, great-grandnephew of (the legendary) Wyatt Earp; Betsy Dillard Stroud, watercolorist; and Cathy Eden, Ph.D. Please come and visit us in Phoenix, and come and visit me, too.”

1960s June 26-28, 2009 45th Reunion, Class of ’64 40th Reunion, Class of ’69 Carol Pickhardt Fancher ’62 of Naperville, Ill.: “We celebrated a 25-year anniversary and treated ourselves to a trip to Hawaii. It was a first for both of us, and we enjoyed it greatly and met Jevie Chang and her husband. It’s great to meet fellow Riponites!”

David Werner ’65 of Palmer, Alaska, is a doctor and semi-retired from his family medical practice — he’s working only five days a week during normal hours now. He is also an avid runner, telemark skier, biker (commuting five miles to work year round), hunter, backpacker and environmental activist. He thanks the chemistry department for preparing him for medical school; the long afternoon labs were especially good preparation for the constant demands of small-town medicine, he says.

Karen Reimer Sturtevant ’66 of Oak Forest, Ill., retired from her teaching career in 1995. She and her husband, Robert, now enjoy world travel and sailing on Lake Michigan. They live in Wisconsin about six months out of year from May through October. The other months are spent at their home in Illinois.

1970s June 26-28, 2009 30th Reunion, Class of ’79 Henry W. Knueppel ’70 of Beloit, Wis., has been

named to the board of directors of Harsco Corp., a worldwide industrial services company. As chairman and chief executive officer of Regal Beloit Corp., Knueppel leads a multi-national organization with operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia serving the HVAC, industrial motor, power transmission and power generation markets.

A. Paul Nancarrow ’52

Donald A. Hayner ’72 of Chicago, Ill., has been named editor-in-chief of the Chicago Sun-Times and suntimes.com. He had been serving as managing editor. Hayner has worked at the Sun-Times for nearly 27 years, serving as metro editor, city editor, a general assignment reporter, a personal finance writer, a neighborhood beat reporter and a Sunday features writer. He has won several awards for reporting including a national award for education writers. Prior to the Sun-Times, he practiced law for three years and co-hosted a Saturday morning talk radio show for WLS-AM (890). He also has co-written three books.

Beverly Hirsekorn ’72 of Centennial, Colo., has joined the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing as its health outcomes and quality management supervisor. She previously was a longtime public policy analyst and advocate for the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council.

Gary Lederer ’72 and Jean Kirkpatrick Lederer ’73 moved to a flat in Zurich, Switzerland in early November. “We were sad to leave England.

Nine years there had really made it feel like ‘home.’ Gary is still traveling constantly with his job and enjoying what he is doing. I will stay in Florida until I think all hints of winter are gone, then I will be in Illinois at times to be near the kids, and Switzerland when Gary has any prolonged stays there. Kind of a crazy setup, but it seems to work for us.”

William Pooley ’72 of Eau Claire, Wis., is a counselor with the Eau Claire County Alternative High School. He also owns a student rental business, Take a Look! Rental LLC. Lex Epting ’72 and Pat Wilke Epting ’73 of Houston, Texas, are enjoying their final few months in Amsterdam. “This is the first year in 12 years that it has been cold enough to freeze the canals. You can’t begin to imagine the euphoria in the Netherlands!” Pat writes, “Everyone in Amsterdam was out on the ice for a glorious week of skating. Companies were giving employees a day off to celebrate the occasion.

This incredible event feels like the perfect grand finale to 4-1/2 years of our Dutch experience.”

After a 30-year career, Pat will retire from Northwest Airlines on April 30. She and Lex will move back to the United States at the end of April and plan to spend the summer in Princeton, Wis. Noel W. Dalton ’73 of Arnold, Md., is CEO and president of Kitchen & Bath Creations, a whole-

Henry W. Knueppel ’70

Donald A. Hayner ’72

sale kitchen cabinet distribution company in Columbia, Md. Rich Miesfeld ’73 of Sheboygan, Wis., is an adjunct professor in the Kellet Graduate School program at Lakeland College, teaching counseling courses.

Katharine Parish Miller ’73 of Richland, Mich., is studying at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, where she also is a teaching assistant.

“Loving seminary and Chicago!”

Joe Sandrin ’73 of Bayside, Wis., has been with CH2M HILL, an engineering firm, for 21 years.

On Feb. 21, he relocated to Abu Dhabi to work on a large energy project for which CH2M HILL is the managing agent.

Jim Stone ’73 of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., was elected as the president of the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area.

Craig Whiting ’73 of Lakeshore, Minn, is president of the Alumni Association of Shattuck-St. Mary’s School and serving his second term as a member of the Board of Trustees of that school.

The school celebrated its sesquicentennial last June. Whiting and his wife, Julie Ponath-Whiting, divide their time between homes in Minnesota and Costa Rica.

William H. Denison ’74 of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., retired in April 2008 after 28 years with Tag Aviation. He now is starting an aviation consulting company specializing in safety and compliance audits. He and his wife, Amy, plan to move to North Carolina this summer.

Lynnda Uselding Petersen ’74 of Westfield, Ind., is now a certified Indiana Master Gardener. She took the course at Purdue last fall. She has joined the Westville in Bloom committee, which is dedicated to beautifying the town. They sponsor a number of programs, including a yearly contest for locals, encouraging citizens to spruce up their village.

David B. Wheeler ’74 of Minneapolis, Minn., is development director of Community Involvement Programs, an organization that has supported people with disabilities since 1971. CIP works with 1,200 participants in residential, employment, case management, mental health and family services.

“CIP is a large nonprofit with great cachet in the disability community,” David said. “I feel really blessed to work with such capable people in a sup-

WINTER 2009 25

1980s June 26-28, 2009 25th Reunion, Class of ’84 20th Reunion, Class of ’89

Catherine Depew ’78

Alberto Garcia ’79

portive environment that is making a significant difference in people’s lives.”

Leslie Spoon Balestracci ’78 of Stockton, Calif., is back to work full time after her children have left home for college. She is an administrative assistant for the Herrick Corp., a structural steel company that fabricates and erects steel buildings.

Recent cases for Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma Catherine Depew ’78 of Tulsa, Okla., include being on the government prosecution team in the Alleged City of Tulsa Public Works Fraud & Bribery indictments handed down in January and in a February multimillion dollar stock manipulation scheme filed in Tulsa. The latter case is being investigated by the F.B.I., the I.R.S. Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The scheme alleged was to defraud investors that reaped the defendants in excess of $41 million through manipulating the publicly traded stocks of three companies.

Jeanne Angelomatis Geraci ’78 of Mount Vernon, N.Y., was a finalist last October in the Locally Grown Recipe Contest in the lower Hudson Valley in New York. To see Jeanne talk about her recipe, along with her fellow contestants, go to www.lizjohnson.lohudblogs.com/2008/ 10/01/locally-grown-meet-our-contestants/ Rod Haynes ’78 of Renton, Wash., is a health insurance specialist with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Region 10 office in downtown Seattle. He conducts training on Medicarerelated matters in the Pacific Northwest and is a senior caseworker working with the public on Medicare issues. He is finishing up a third memoir, this one focusing on his 10 years of active duty service in the U.S. Navy’s Surface Warfare community. He also is involved in a number of community volunteer activities, including local food bank fundraising and disaster response planning with the city of Renton.

Greg Krejci ’78 of Wauwatosa, Wis., is director of Career Services for the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Paul Nancarrow ’78 became rector of Trinity Church in Staunton, Va., in September, leaving the lakes and plains of Minnesota for the beauties of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. In February, he joined a group from Trinity on a mission trip to Copan, Honduras, where they laid the foundations for a new church building.

They also visited Mayan ruins on the side.

26 RIPON MAGAZINE

Jim Laufenburg ’79

Kevin Sheridan ’82

Alberto Garcia ’79 of Knoxville, Tenn., is director of operations for Security Consultants Group Inc. After graduating from Ripon, he simultaneously was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served until 2003 when he retried as a colonel. After his retirement, he joined Security Consultants Group Inc., a privately owned company that supports Department of Homeland Security via Armed Security Officers who are trained to protect federal facilities, federal employees and visitors throughout the country. He says attending Ripon was difficult at first because he was born and raised in New York City. However, he feels fortunate to have gotten a Ripon education because it has assisted him in his path through life. Al recently visited with his Ripon College roommate, Kirby Smith, in Las Vegas.

Col. (retired) Jim Laufenburg ’79 of Alexandria, VA, U. S. Army and Director Army Programs, CSC (formerly Computer Science Corporation) will be awarded a Distinguished Alumni Citation at this summer’s Alumni weekend. Jim is also leading an effort to raise $1.2 million for The Old Guard Monument. One of Jim’s Army assignments was as commander of the Old Guard. It is our Nation’s and our Army’s oldest active duty Infantry unit, established on June 3, 1784. For more than 200 years, it has continued to serve our country with distinction, dedication and valor. In addition to its current traditional mission guarding the our nation’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on Sept. 11, 2001, the Old Guard again rose to the occasion searching for survivors and recovering victims from the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Since then, they have even deployed Soldiers to the Horn of Africa in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The Web address for the charity: www.theoldguardmonument.org Sue Rigler Palmer ’79 of El Dorado Hills, Calif., along with her husband, Jon, and son, Matt, took a cruise on the Mediterranean last July. On board the ship, they were able to participate in the 5-K “Deck for the Cure” to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For the last year, Sue has been having ongoing treatments for a second battle with cancer. She says, “I’m fighting the fight and am still in the winning stages. I plan to come back to Ripon for our 30th reunion this summer and hope to see as many of our Class of ’79ers as possible!”

Paul Gero ’82 of Ladera Ranch, Calif., works from home as a portrait and wedding photographer after leaving his journalism job in 2002. He also teaches photography courses at betterphoto.com. His daughter, Kate, was born Dec. 28, 2005. Last year, he and his wife, Nicki, embarked on a charity book project called “The Children of Ladera Ranch, 2008,” benefiting Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Kristin Kohles Janssen ’82 of Oshkosh, Wis., is hosting a foreign exchange student from Holland who happens to be the daughter of the daughter of the same family who hosted Kristen as a foreign exchange student in Holland when Kristen was in high school.

Kevin Sheridan ’82 of Wilmette, Ill., founded HR Solutions Inc., a human capital management consulting firm that specializes in analyzing employee survey results for organizations across all industries, with the goal of fostering positive employee relations while improving performance, employee engagement and retention. Sheridan has provided consulting for some of the world’s largest and most respected corporations. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, USA Today and the Chicago Tribune.

Col. Steven Woods ’82 of San Antonio, Texas, recently was promoted to deputy commander for support, United States Army South, with responsibility for personnel, logistics, resource management engineering and medical throughout Latin American and the Caribbean.

Lawrence D. Huebner ’83 of Owens Cross Roads, Ala., is still with the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, but has gone from working on Ares I-X (the first Ares I flight demonstration vehicle to be launched in 2009) to the Ares Vehicle Integration Office.

Larry Fahnoe ’84 of Minneapolis, Minn., is the owner and principal consultant for Fahnoe Technology Consulting, while also serving as an engineer with Merrill Corporation.

D.C. Ramsay McLauchlan ’84 of Madeira Beach, Fla., is the clearance manager for Home Shopping Network, and his current position as chair of the Pinellas Democratic Party has allowed his participation in a historic event. Ramsay, his wife, Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, and daughter, Peggy, were witness to the inauguration and ensuing festivities of Barack Obama in the wind and ice of Jan. 20.

Marlene K. Gohsman ’87 of Battle Creek, Mich., is a special education teacher at Battle Creek Central High School, and a trainer of nonviolent crisis intervention for her district through the Crisis Prevention Institute.

Erik J. Ristuben ’87 of Paxton, Mass., has been promoted to director of training and support operations for Commission Junction, a Value Click company, which does Internet marketing.

Peter J. Sausen ’87 of De Forest, Wis., is global vice president of Program Management Services for Covance Laboratories Inc., a multi-national drug development company which specializes in helping clients bring new drugs to the market.

Program Management Services works primarily with small and emerging pharmaceutical companies that don’t have internal resources to evaluate the safety and efficacy of their potential new drugs.

Deb Hanni Damrow ’88 of Oakland, Calif., is a client solutions manager for Nuance Communications, which focuses on speech recognition software.

Steve Fordham ’88 of Waukesha, Wis., recently was put in charge of the sales support team at MSB, the industry leader in property insurance data. The job is part sales, part technical, part business strategy and a lot of insurance industry acumen, Steve says.

Steve Goffar ’89 of San Antonio, Texas, works at Fort Sam Houston. He received his doctorate in education/curriculum and instruction from the University of Hawaii in 2005. He now is the director of clinical education for the U.S. Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy (#5 in the nation per U.S. News).

Marc Healy ’89 and Heidi Lyn Zwart Healy ’91 of Elgin, Ill., have a daughter, Gwendolyn Maya Healy, born May 19, 2008.

Kathryn R. Schultz ’89 of Fairfax, Va., was promoted in 2007 to senior adviser on South Asia nonproliferation issues and team chief in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. In October 2008, a presidential initiative to permit civil nuclear trade with India was achieved after three years of work with India, Congress and the international community.

Thaddeus “Ted” Uczen III ’91

Randall Wickman ’91

MetLife Financial. He also is a board member of the nonprofit Greater Hartford Arts Council and was selected as chairman of the Greater Hartford Arts Council Connecticut Historical Heritage Advancement Committee. That committee provides significant funding to nonprofit museums, groups and cultural centers toward educational programs supporting the arts and Connecticut’s rich history.

Samantha Bailey ’91 and her husband, Karl Fast, of Kent, Ohio, have a son, Niles Bailey Fast, born Feb. 18, 2009. Niles’ due date was March 29, so he spent his first weeks in the NICU, but he is doing very well.

Thomas G. Greve ’91 of Chicago, Ill., Tom is a free-lance writer for a Chicago television station and has written numerous children’s books. He and his wife, Meg, have a 9-year-old daughter, Madison, and a 3-year-old son, William.

Richard Kasson ’91 of San Antonio, Texas, started the new law firm of Gonzalez, Chiscano, Angulo & Kasson, P.C., Dec. 1, 2008, after being with Brin&Brin, P.C., for more than 11 years.

The new firm focuses its practice in the areas of commercial (plaintiff and defense) and insurance defense litigation. Richard’s primary area of practice remains medical and legal malpractice (defense) litigation. He and his wife, Michelle, will celebrate their 10th anniversary April 10.

June 26-28, 2009 15th Reunion, Class of ’94 10th Reunion, Class of ’99

Thaddeus “Ted” Uczen III ’91 of Brookfield, Wis., has been promoted to senior vice president of Global Banking Solutions at Metavante, a financial services processing and services company. He is working on an international partnership that includes travel to Madrid, London, Chennai, Orlando and Milwaukee. Recent Ripon encounters include seeing Amy Stapelfeldt Kruk ’91 and other fellow alums at the Orlando airport; running into Richard “Terry” Combs, ’91, who also works at Metavante; and attending the wedding of Roger Shaide ’93. “You can see I seem to find a piece of Ripon everywhere — how great is that?” he writes.

Kathleen Russell Bickhaus ’90 and her husband, Brent, of Niles, Ill., have a son, Bode Lake Bickhaus, born Sept.16, 2008. Kathleen is a stay-at-home mom, high school varsity boys’ volleyball coach at Warren Township High School and a USA volleyball coach/director.

Brenda Cotting VandeVelde ’91 of Basking Ridge, N.J., still works as a senior project manager for Walgreens’ Web site, but now works from her home office. She and her husband, Dan, have a second child, Eric Alan VandeVelde, born Nov. 11, 2008.

David Anthony Robert Troy Jr. ’90 of Wethersfield, Conn., now is a senior financial adviser at

Randall Wickman ’91 of Brookfield, Wis., is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and com-

Rodney D. Schulz ’89 of Slinger, Wis., is studying for his master’s of business administration at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

1990s

Lisa Ann Mahnke ’92

Gail Lynn Seefeldt ’98

mander and professor of military science at Marquette University in Milwaukee. He leaves this summer to command an Infantry Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Randall was the guest speaker for the Military Ball March 6 at Ripon College.

He spoke about the value of the liberal arts education vs. transitions, change and the military.

Lisa Ann Mahnke ’92 of Philadelphia, Pa., has been promoted to medical director at BristolMyers Squibb Co. She has worked in discovery medicine, virology, for 2-1/2 years on novel antiviral compounds. She works near Princeton, N.J., and lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Kyle Nelson.

Dr. Christine Phillips Heskett ’93 and her husband, John, of Park City, Utah, have a second son, Matthew John Heskett, born April 19, 2008.

James Johnson ’93 of Mukwonago, Wis., is an eighth-grade physical science teacher at East Troy Middle School. He donated some chemistry glassware to Ripon’s Chemistry Department in April 2008.

Brian James Marquardt ’93 of Seattle, Wash., is a faculty member in applied physics at the University of Washington.

Wade Packard ’93 and Kim Conroy ’94 of Glendale, Calif., have a son, Thomas Michael Packard, born Oct. 14, 2008. Wade works for Warner Bros. Television, and Kim works for Disney On Ice. Todd M. Zarwell ’94 and his wife, Lisa, of Madison, Wis., have a son, Drew Alexander Zarwell, born April 26, 2008.

Matt Umhoefer ’95 and his wife, Rachel, of Hawthorn Woods, Ill., have a daughter, Ava Catherine Umhoefer, born Jan. 6, 2009.

Kristin Marie Patey-Wagner ’97 and her husband, Mike, of Glendale, Wis., have a daughter, Lily Sherrin Wagner, born July 2, 2008.

Gail Lynn Seefeldt ’98 of Sturtevant, Wis., is a scientist for research and development in the Diagnostics Division at Abbott Laboratories in Lake County, Ill. She graduated with her MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management with an emphasis on international management.

During her MBA, she studied at the University of Cambridge in England and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

WINTER 2009 27

D E E R I N G ’05 A N A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R AT ‘A M E R I C A N G I R L’ When Shelby Deering ’05 was a child, she says, she gained a lot of insight into views of the world and herself as a devoted reader of American Girl magazine.

She also indulged her love of words by making her own “magazines” and writing articles.

As she grew older, she majored in English with a history minor at Ripon. She spent a semester at American University in Washington, D.C., and shadowed a reporter from the Washington Post, writing hard news and political news stories. She subsequently received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as a freelance writer for a year.

But she knew she wanted to work in magazines, and an association with American Girl would be her “dream job,” she says.

In September 2007,

themselves.

Deering came That’s why the full circle as a magazine is so writer when she important to me became associate personally and editor of Ameriprofessionally.” can Girl magaDeering says she zine and now always has had a lives in Madison. special interest in The magazine is helping young aimed at girls girls, and she also ages 8 through has been a coach 12 and seeks to Shelby Deering ’05 for the Madison instill in them self-esteem. It has a nation- chapter of Girls on the Run, an organization that teaches wide circulation of girls ages 8 through 12 to 700,000.

Deering edits several reg- run a 5K race and boost their self-esteem. ular departments and also “The 8 to 12 age range is does a great deal of writing so important,” Deering for the magazine. says. “Every day, I have the “I’ve worked on most knowledge that what I do is every section in the magagoing to directly impact zine at some point,” she these girls. I read the magasays. “The [work] is very zine myself and remember fulfilling to me. I really things that it taught me. enjoy it. I personally have Now it’s my responsibility always felt a responsibility to help these girls. That’s a to communicate, especially big responsibility, but it feels to girls. It’s so fulfilling to really good.” communicate to them and make them feel good about

Julie Mathers Hogan ’99 of Denver, Colo., is a fund-raising consultant with Social Capital Partnerships and works with blue-chip nonprofits to raise money through corporate partners.

Christina Ninedorf ’99 and Rafael Mojica of Chicago, Ill., have a daughter, Evelia Gertrud Angela Mojica, born Feb. 26, 2009. Christina is a teacher at Kilmer Elementary School with Chicago Public Schools. She taught second grade for four years and now is teaching third grade.

2000s June 26-28, 2009 5th Reunion, Class of ’04 Sara Erickson Baker ’00 and Alex Baker ’02 of Woodstock, Ill., have a daughter, Martha Jean Baker, born Oct. 28, 2008. As of January, Sara now is an assistant professor of English at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Ill. Alex started a new job last fall, teaching English at

28 RIPON MAGAZINE

Woodstock North High School and serving as head boys’ basketball coach at Woodstock High School.

Lisa Sharpe Elles ’01 of Pasadena, Calif., is teaching chemistry at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., and will be an assistant professor in biochemistry at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., starting in the fall of 2009.

Reynee Sampson Kachur ’01 and Timothy J. Kachur ’01 of Neenah, Wis., have a son, Koltyn Harold Kachur, born Jan. 5, 2009.

Mike McMorrow ’01 of Nashotah, Wis., stage name Moe Mack, has recorded a CD titled “Moe Mack & The Jet Blacks Rock The House.” Most of the music is blues-influenced rock ‘n’ roll. The CD will be available on the Web, and he is seeking an agent. “Last winter, I survived a car wreck and decided to get back to things that I enjoyed, realizing that any day can be your last,” McMorrow said. “The thing I missed most was my music.

I recorded as a hobby when I attended Ripon but realized that I was more interested in playing than recording. An interesting aspect of the album is that it was recorded in Waukesha, Wis.,

where multi-track recording and the electric guitar were invented by Les Paul. Ty Hayes, the recording engineer, is Isaac Hayes’ cousin, won a Grammy and is in the Rock Hall of Fame. Isaac was known for his work on the motion picture “Shaft” that utilized the wa wa pedal; as I play with the wa wa, I knew Ty was the man for the job.”

Becky Provencher ’01 of Chicago, Ill., achieved her National Board Certification in teaching. She currently teaches K/1 at a bilingual school in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. On Saturdays and in the summers, she teaches science to high school students in the Upward Bound program.

Dan Sutter ’01 of Omro, Wis. is a Red Bull salesman for General Beverage and is the assistant track coach at Ripon College. Niki Gorske Sutter ’01 is a physical education teacher and head girls’ basketball coach at Oshkosh West High School.

Niki was awarded the Alumni Coach of the Year Award at the Red Hawk Banquet last fall.

Michael Barber ’02 of Big Bend, Wis., is a financial counselor agency rep for Aurora Business Office in Milwaukee. He married Marlaena Schnitzler, March 29, 2008.

John W. Bitter ’02 of Milwaukee, Wis., married Melissa Maguire, Sept. 19, 2008. John is director of ticket sales for the Milwaukee Admirals.

Josh De War ’02 of Ripon, Wis., is pursuing a doctorate in educational administration and leadership at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wis. He plans to graduate this fall. Josh received a $1,000 grant from the American College Personal Association in Washington, D.C., to fund his dissertation research: “Retention and Access Issues Affecting African American Women at Predominantly White Institutions.”

Corryn Siegel Greenwood ’02 of Rochester, Minn., will finish her residency in pediatrics at the Mayo Clinic in June. She will start her fellowship in neonatology at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center in July.

AnnMarie Ibis ’02 of Fox Point, Wis., married Gregory Kreitzer, Sept. 27, 2008. Tori Dahl Gries ’02 and Gesina Giese Mentink ’02 served as attendants. Fellow alums and AXO’s Lindsey Bildsten Altman ’02, Rita Reiffers Huffman ’02, Sherrie Plato ’02, Kate Huff ’02 and Ashley Bildsten Roff ’03 attended. AnnMarie is a human resources generalist for Kohl’s Corporate in Menomonee Falls.

Ryan Hugh Morgan ’02 of New Berlin, Wis., married Jennifer Kenney, June 17, 2006.

Ryan is an account representative with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Matthew Jorgen Nielsen ’02 of Oakland, Calif., is a product manager with Risk Management Solutions in Newark, Calif.

Emily Kastenschmidt Powers ’02 and her husband, Timothy, of Cedarburg, Wis., have a son, Brady Thomas Powers, born Oct. 24, 2008.

Emily is an academic adviser at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Tiffany Sneden ’02 of Riverview, Fla., is teaching seventh-grade science at Mann Middle School in Brandon, Fla.

Paul M. Neuberger ’05

Anthony D. Veneziano ’03 of Highland, Ind., is in his fourth season as the public relations director of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. There will be about 80 races this sea-

son from coast to coast.

Sara Matzdorf Dassow ’04 and her husband, Nate, of Racine, Wis., have a daughter, Isabelle Elise Dassow, born Jan. 15, 2009.

Tammy Lyn Zellner ’04 of Goliad, Texas, is a park ranger with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Mary Grant Haste ’05 and her husband, Ryan, of Indianapolis, Ind., have a son, Grant Michael Haste, born March 3, 2008. She took a child-rearing leave of absence from the Indianapolis Public Schools for the 2008-2009 school year.

CJ Johnson ’05 of Brooklyn Park, Minn., is a home mortgage consultant with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Minneapolis, Minn. He also owns rental properties and officiates basketball from time to time.

Amber Kind-Keppel ’05 of Grafton, Wis., is an English teacher at Whitefish Bay High School, where she also directs theater from time to time.

Paul M. Neuberger ’05 of Oak Creek, Wis., has been promoted to vice president for Advancement at Saint Thomas More High School in Milwaukee.

In this expanded role, Paul will oversee the Development, Alumni and Admissions Offices in an effort to increase overall revenue for the school.

Paul officially will assume this new role July 1, 2009.

Philip Martin Argon ’06 of Des Plaines, Ill., is in the master’s degree program in chemistry at DePaul University.

Stephanie Chacharon ’06 of Seattle, Wash., is a marketing manager at Microsoft for a line of free software solutions products.

Alisha Gard ’06 of Verona, Wis., is working as an operations specialist for an Independent Review Organization, doing reviews for insurance companies specifically for psychiatric and additions benefits only. She plans to move to California in July.

Nikita A. Kibardin ’06 of Grayslake, Ill., is the office manger for National City Bank in the Antioch, Ill., branch.

Ambre Neuser-Gajewski ’06 of Green Bay, Wis., currently is working for Acme Television, otherwise known as the CW, as a master control operator. She recently was accepted to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to go back to school for her teaching certification in K-12 special education.

C H AW D A ’06 W O R K I N G T OWA R D P E A C E I N C O N G O After graduating origin and was from Ripon in May born in Angal, 2006 with degrees Uganda. In in German and 1992, her famcommunication, ily moved to Pooja Chawda set Pune, India, out on a mission to and eight years impact the world later, they — a global commoved to munity that has Milwaukee. always been her “Through home. She finished Pooja Chawda ’06 media, I her master’s degree learned about from the European Univer- violence and conflict across sity Centre for Peace and continents, intra- and interConflict Studies (EPU) in national, intercultural, Stadtschlaining, Austria, in between religions, in famithe fall of 2007. She then lies and, at times, intra-perworked at the International sonal,” Chawda says. “It Institute of Wisconsin in made me reflect about life in Milwaukee, focusing on the absence of violence and immigration and refugee if the outcome of construcresettlement, for almost a tive conflict resolution year. would foster more underShe now lives in Kinstanding about differences shasa, the capital of the and respect amongst Democratic Republic of people.”

Congo (DRC) where she Chawda learned bout the works for the United EPU through Professor Joe Nations Mission. She is Hatcher and says her curpart of an investigation rent work is important. team that writes reports “The Security Council of including findings, observa- United Nations has authotions and recommendations rized [the Mission] to use all regarding an incident incur- means deemed necessary — ring on UN Staff. within the limits of its Chawda is of East Indian capacities and in the areas

Sara Sanford ’06 of Decatur, Ga., is continuing to pursue her doctorate in psychology after finishing her master’s in psychology at Emory University last year.

Jennifer Baker Schilling ’06 of Pelican Lake, Wis., is a teller and key holder at Ripco Credit Union in Rhinelander, Wis. She and her husband, Dave, have a son, Tyler Allen Schilling, born April 5, 2007.

Craig Worden ’06 of Beaver Dam, Wis., earned his master’s of science in microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in August 2008. His research, “Environmental pH affects transcriptional responses to cadmium toxicity in Escherichia coli K-12,” has been published in the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) Microbiology Letters. Now the job search has begun.

of military deployment — to protect civilians under threat of physical violence and to contribute to the improved security conditions in the arena of fair elections,” Chawda says.

Military and police capabilities exceed 19,000; there are more than 4,000 civilians and experts in humanitarian affairs, human rights, child protection, legal affairs, political and economic affairs; and an administration represented by more than 100 nations. “[This is] an indicative factor of the global interest in resolving the Congo crisis and accompanying the Congolese into reconstruction and stabilization in the context of durable peace,” Chawda says.

“I am indebted to my education at Ripon,” she says. “Without my experience in Ripon, it would be impossible to achieve what I have so far. The knowledge and wisdom I received there has helped me in honing my skills, and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of some element in Ripon.”

Katy Griffiths ’07 of Oshkosh, Wis., recently presented her research at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans, La. The research is on Brugia malayi, a parasite of people that causes the debilitating disease elephantiasis. Her work is looking for ways to block it from infecting the mosquito which carries it from one person to another. 119 million people are infected worldwide.

Jill Jones ’07 of Marengo, Ill. is in the middle of her second year as an English language assistant in a bilingual grade school in Madrid, Spain. She not only is teaching but also learning a lot at the same time!

Emily Ninmann ’07 of Madison Wis. will be attending Madison Area Technical College in the fall for certification as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). She plans to eventually become a physician assistant.

WINTER 2009 29

Rebecca Perk ’07 of New Berlin, Wis., completed a photo shoot as a model for the new Lady Foot Locker Web site. Photos are posted on www.ladyfootlocker.com and rotate. Rebecca has gathered some of the photos in an album on Picasa at http://picasaweb.google.com/iPerkPhone/ LadyFootLocker# Tara Rabideaux ’07 of Madison, Wis., is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. She is engaged to Ryan Johanek ’04.

Christina Joy “CJ” O’Reilly ’07 of West Bend, Wis., is the development and marketing assistant at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend.

Josh Peterson ’07 of Oshkosh, Wis. is in a management training program with Biolife Plasma Services.

Annette S. Schliepp ’07 has completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., and is a Navy seaman.

Parissa DJangi ’08 of Glen Ellyn, Ill., is an editorial coordinator for McGraw-Hill in Burr Ridge, Ill. Amy Jane Dorman ’08 of Ripon, Wis., works in development and alumni relations at the National Forensic League. She is working toward a career in development for the arts.

Kelsey R. Green ’08 of Ripon, Wis., is an agricultural commodity grader with the Department of Agriculture. She is working from the office in Ripon.

Leah T. Hover ’08 of Friendship, Wis., is a parttime teacher at Bridges for Youth Alternative Education, a school for at-risk middle and high school students. She also is substitute teaching in the Adams-Friendship School District.

Stephanie Jungenberg ’08 of Oxford, Wis., has a long-term substitute teaching position through the end of the school year in the Westfield School District. She is working as a middle school special education teacher.

Bryan Schneider ’08 of Madison, Wis., won the InStep Icebreaker Indoor Marathon inside the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee in January. His time of 2 hours, 37 minutes and 3 seconds is the eighth fastest indoor marathon of all-time.

Don’t look for Schneider’s name on any record lists, however. Because the track at the Pettit center is more than twice the length of a standard indoor track (450 meters vs. 200 meters), Schneider’s time was not recorded as official according to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians.

Kara Wagner ’08 of West Bend teaches biology and chemistry at West Bend West High School.

She is also the coach of the men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams at the school.

30 RIPON MAGAZINE

Obituaries obituaries If you are aware of a Ripon College alumnus who has passed away, please send that information along with a printed obituary from the paper to the Office of Alumni Relations, Annual Fund and Parent Programs, Ripon College, PO Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971.

Bertha Baumgartner Weidler ’32 of Tripoli, Iowa, died June 21, 2008. She was a mathematics and biology major at Ripon College and a member of Alpha Phi/Kappa Sigma Chi. Bertha was a teacher in Indiana and later taught for Tripoli Community Schools. Survivors include three daughters; and a sister, Lena Baumgartner Michael ’32.

Bernice Bennett Wells Carlson ’32 of Lake Ridge, Va., died March 2, 2009. She was born July 21, 1910, in Clare, Mich., and grew up in Milwaukee. At Ripon, she studied English and French, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Gam Theta, theatre, College Days, forensics and debate. She was the author of 25 books for and about children. Her ideas grew out of her experiences working with children in such settings as camps, Boy and Girl Scouts, Head Start, church groups and library programs. She also drew on her experiences with her own three children. Her original manuscripts and publication materials are held in the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her honors include having a book prepared for use at the University of Hiroshima and included directions for writing and producing plays in Japanese and English; she and her husband, Dr. Carl Walter Carlson, were named the New Jersey Writing Team of the Year for the book they wrote together, Water Fit to Use (1966); she was named a Distinguished Alumna

by Ripon College; received the Authors Award for children’s books from the New Jersey Association of Teachers of English in 1963 and 1965; was named Literary Luminary of New Jersey by the Alumni Association of the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1977; and was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame in 1979. Survivors include a sister, Helen Cooke ’33 of Bellevue, Wash.; one son and two daughters.

Victoria E. Hargrave ’34 of St. Petersburg, Fla., died Nov. 26, 2008. She was born in Ripon, and at Ripon College, she studied classics and German and was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. She later received a degree from the University of Chicago. She was a librarian for more than 40 years, including MacMurry College in Illinois.

Survivors include a brother, David R. Hargrave ’47, and a cousin, Elsie Hargrave Sakiotis ’50.

Alice Senk Shafer ’34 of San Diego, Calif., died Jan. 21, 2006. She was born Feb. 28, 1912, and graduated from Ripon College with a degree in English. She was involved in forensics and debate and was a member of Alpha Phi. She received a master’s degree in psychology from Claremont Graduate School. She worked as a counselor at West Covina schools for many years and retired in 1997. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

Eileen Sylvester Hall ’37 of Wheaton, Ill., died Sept. 16, 2008. At Ripon, she was a member of Alpha Phi/Kappa Sigma Chi. She was a retired assistant manager at Marshall Field & Co. in Oakbrook, Ill. Survivors include two sons.

Warren Herbert Karstedt ’38 of Asheville, N.C., died Feb. 15, 2008. He was born Nov. 4, 1916, in St. Paul, Minn. At Ripon, he was a member of Alpha Phi Omega and was commissioned in the ROTC Program in 1938. He studied physics and mathematics and earned a master’s degree in statistics from Purdue University in 1952. He was a colonel in the U.S. Army with more than 30 years of service, including service during World War II and Korea and four years on the Army General Staff in Washington, D.C. His service awards include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and the Legion of Merit. His final assignment was a permanent associate professorship in the Department of Mathematics at the USMA, West Point, N.Y., from 1959 to 1971. He and his wife were active in various Post Chapel and churches on his military tours in the United States and he served a term as chairman of the finance committee of the Post Chapel at West Point.

After retiring from the Army, he became chairman of the mathematics and computer science department at Coastal Carolina College of the University of South Carolina at Myrtle Beach. Survivors include his wife, Anne West Karstedt, 1617 Hendersonville Road, No. 2102, Ashville, NC 28803; and one daughter.

Harvey R. Sharpe ’39 of Cathedral City, Calif., formerly a lifelong resident of Fond du Lac, Wis., died Jan. 23, 2009. He attended Ripon College for two years where he was a member of Sigma Chi and studied biology. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1939 and earned his medical degree there in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps where he spent three years as an Army surgeon in England. After earning his master’s degree in surgery from New York Medical College and completing his residency in Chicago, he returned home to Fond du Lac and founded the Sharpe Clinic, the first clinic in the city. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He served as chief of surgery and chief of staff at St. Agnes Hospital. He was a member of the Fond du Lac School Board for nine years and served on the original board of directors of the American Bank.

He was active in state and local medical societies and civic organizations. Survivors include his wife, Barbara, 220 Calle Leandro, Cathedral City, CA 92234; and four sons, Gary R. Sharpe ’73, Kim R. Sharpe ’76, Dean R. Sharpe ’71 and Lee R. Sharpe ’83; and a brother, James Sharpe ’44.

Nancy Barbour Vandervelde ’41 of Green Lake, Wis., died Feb. 2, 2009. She was born Nov. 16, 1918, in Janesville, Wis. The family moved to Ripon in 1921. She attended Wheaton College and the University of Wisconsin, and graduated from Ripon College. She was a member of Kappa Delta and studied physics and mathematics. She served on numerous church and school committees; was a camp counselor at Camp Robinhood; was a Girl Scout leader for many years; and was a member of the Green Lake Federated Church, Ripon Educational Club, Dartford Educational Club, Green Lake Yacht Club, and was on the

board of directors of the Green Lake Festival of Music. Survivors include her husband, Lawrence Vandervelde ’42, PO Box 335, Green Lake, WI 54941; two sons; two daughters; a sister, Jane Barbour Lockwood ’34; and a sister-in-law, Evalyn Roberts Vandervelde ’38.

Lois F. Guenther Dane ’42 of Monticello, Minn., died Feb. 1, 2009. She was born Nov. 14, 1920, in Rhinelander, Wis. At Ripon, she majored in English and was a member of Alpha Phi. She was married to William F. Dane ’43, who died in 2003.

Lois and William lived in Ripon, St. Louis Park, Minn., and Minnetonka, Minn. After William’s retirement, they moved to Southern Pines, N.C., where they lived until 2003. Lois was a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines, where she was instrumental in expanding the church library. She taught English in Menasha, Wis., before her marriage, and English and Spanish at St. Louis Park Junior High and High School during the 1960s. She enjoyed reading. Survivors include two sons; a brother and sister-in-law, Kermit Guenther ’44 and Anne Olson Guenther ’44; and grandchildren, including Joseph Dane ’05.

Robert McLay Humphrey ’42 of Fort Myers, Fla., died Nov. 9, 2008. At Ripon, he was a member of Delta Sigma Psi and received a degree in economics. He was a retired commercial sales manager for Binney and Smith Inc. Survivors include his wife, Joan, 4283 Island Circle, Apt. E, Fort Myers, FL 33919; two sons and one daughter.

Marjorie Johnston Peterson ’45 of Northbrook, Ill., a resident of Park Ridge for more than 40 years, died Oct. 29, 2008. At Ripon, she studied mathematics and was a member of the Alpha Phi (Duffy Girls) Sorority. She later received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Northwestern University. Survivors include her husband, Warren I. Peterson ’44, 2515 Mayapple Court, Northbrook, IL 60062; one son and two daughters.

Mary Ellen Weiske Borges ’47 of Carlisle, Pa., died Jan. 15, 2009. She was born Nov. 24, 1924, in Oshkosh, Wis. She graduated from Ripon High School in 1942 and Ripon College, where she studied English and speech communication and participated in Ver Adest. She later was a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She received a master’s degree in counseling at Shippensburg University in 1971 and completed all requirements for her doctoral degree from Temple University, with the exception of her dissertation.

Her thesis became the basis for Cansurmount, a national training program to assist families of cancer. She was also a member of the Governor’s Cancer Board in Pennsylvania. She first pursued an acting dream during three months of summer stock in 1949, where she shared the stage with Paul Newman. Mary Ellen and Paul each were selected as the summer’s top performers, earning support to live in New York. But Mary Ellen chose to teach, first at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wis., then at Cumberland Valley High School. After receiving her master’s, she returned as a guidance counselor to start a peer-counseling program. She later worked at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia and Carlisle Hospital.

She was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Carlisle for 55 years. Survivors include

her husband, Wayne Borges, 2 Todd Circle, Apt. A, Carlisle, PA 17013; two sons; one daughter; one stepson; one stepdaughter; and a cousin, Kermit “Doc” Weiske ’50.

George T. Haddican ’48 of Milwaukee, Wis., died Dec. 20, 1995. He was born Nov. 2, 1922. At Ripon, he was a chemistry major.

Charles Lyon “Chuck” Gerlach ’49 of Olympia, Wash., died July 23, 2008. At Ripon, he studied economics, was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Delta Sigma Psi and was commissioned in the ROTC program. He later was a class agent for the class of 1949 until his death. He worked in sales. Survivors include a companion, Norma Bauer, PO Box 7706, Olympia, WA 98507; one son and two daughters.

Joanne Miller Lueck ’49 of Marshfield, Wis., died Sept. 1, 2008. She was born Oct. 12, 1927, in Ripon, Wis., and graduated from Ripon College with a degree in music. She had been a member of Alpha Phi/Kappa Sigma Chi (AKA Duffie Girls) and Ver Adest. She taught at Marshfield High School, was a flutist and soloist for the First Presbyterian Church, Palm Sunday Chorale and the Community Orchestra, and enjoyed fiber art. Survivors include her husband, John Lueck, 8951 E. 29th St., Marshfield, WI 54449; three daughters; a sister, Mary Michie Udall ’44; and a great-niece, Molly Michie-Lepp ’96.

Roy Lawson ’50 of West Palm Beach, Fla., died Jan. 27, 2009. He was born Feb. 29, 1924. He graduated from Ripon with a degree in physical education. He participated in athletics and was a member of the Merriman Phi Kappa Pi fraternity. He then attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a master’s degree. He was the retired owner of the Christian Library. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

June Silvers Foley ’52 of Irvine, Calif., died Dec. 16, 2008. She was born April 7, 1929, in Racine, Wis., and raised in Chicago. She studied English at Ripon College and graduated from Michigan State University. She taught high school in the Chicago public school system. In the Irvine Ranch village of Turtle Rock, she was an active proponent of the 1971 incorporation of the City of Irvine and a leader in the 1972 formation of the Irvine Unified School District. She was elected to the Irvine Unified School District Board of Education and served from 1975 to 1979, ultimately as president. In later years, she was an administrative assistant to the academic senate at University of California, Irvine. She loved literature, classical music and opera, and was active for many years in the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. She was also an active member of the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa until her death. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

Joseph Robert “Bob” Peters ’53 of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Dec. 20, 2008. He was born Dec. 25, 1931, in Chicago, Ill. At Ripon, he double-majored in mathematics and physics, was a member of the Merriman Phi Kappa Pi fraternity and participated in Ver Adest. He also earned a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston in 1954 and a master of business administration from Stanford University in 1960. He was a project manager with the

CIA for four years, and later worked for Ingersoll Rand Corp. in New Jersey and New York City, the Golden Cycle Corp., and for 24 years as CEO of Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the Colorado Springs Rotary Club, Colorado Springs Executive Association, Colorado Springs Country Club, El Paso Club and Garden of the Gods Country Club. He volunteered with several organizations and enjoyed traveling, skiing, fishing, golfing, scuba diving, reading, researching investments, listening to music and keeping fit. Survivors include his wife, Jacquelin Peters, 6315 Alabaster Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80919; two sons and one daughter.

James E. Bronson ’54 of Oshkosh, Wis., died Jan. 6, 2009. He was born in Oshkosh on Feb. 24, 1931. At Ripon, he was a member of Theta Sigma Tau. He worked as a salesman and was a jokester and a storyteller who loved music, tinkering with models and cooking. Survivors include his wife, Eileen Hintz Bronson, 718 Hobbs Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54901; one son; two daughters; one stepson and three stepdaughters.

William Henry Calawerts ’54 of Green Bay, Wis., died Feb. 3, 2009. He was born March 1, 1932, in Green Bay. At Ripon he studied biology and was commissioned in the ROTC program. He served his country from 1954-1956 at Fort Benning, Ga., and Bremerhaven, Germany. He then taught at Reedsville High School and Franklin Junior High in Green Bay. After working as a salesperson for H. J. Martin, he became branch manager of Ver Halen Inc. in 1968. In 1980, Bill purchased the business and moved the company headquarters from Milwaukee to Green Bay. The company grew to become one of the largest independent Pella Window and Door distributorships in the country. Bill was active in and supported many industry, community and church organizations. He received the Golden Eagle Award from Club International of the Boys and Girls Club. He and his family received the 2007 Notre Dame Academy Founders Award for their support of Catholic education. Survivors include his wife, Norma, 325 Braeborne Courty, Green Bay, WI 54935; four sons and two daughters.

Christina Diamantes Slavens ’54 of Wilmette, Ill., died Feb. 21, 2009. At Ripon, she participated in Ver Adest and was a member of Kappa Delta.

Chris was also a class agent for the class of 1954.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Northwestern University in 1955. In addition to working at her family’s Fountain Grill, she worked in a variety of careers, including Heidrick & Struggles, Dawes House and as a real estate and travel agent. She was a retired event coordinator for the Evanston Historical Society. She did extensive volunteer work and was an avid reader, historian, gifted artist, craftswoman, pianist, photographer, PTA member, Girl Scout leader, Wilmette election judge and globetrotter. Survivors include three daughters.

Frederick Karl Schultheiss ’55 of Hartford, Wis., died Dec. 30, 2008. He was born June 4, 1933, in Lake Geneva, Wis. Fred grew up in Fond du Lac and graduated from the American Community High School in Paris, France. He graduated from Ripon College with a degree in French and German. At Ripon, he was a member of Ver Adest and was an ROTC-commissioned officer. He

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entered the Army Reserves as a second lieutenant, served six months on active duty at Fort Belvoir, Va., and then as a platoon executive and civil information officer for the 432nd Civil Affairs Co. before receiving his honorable discharge in 1964.

He taught in Durand, Ill., De Pere, Fond du Lac and Viroqua, Wis., and most of his career teaching German, French and English at Hartford Union High School, retiring in 1993. He was active in the community and in his church. He was a handyman, an avid golfer and card player. Survivors include his wife, Christa Margit Schultheiss, 130 Teddy Ave., Hartford, WI 53027; three sons and two daughters.

Allen Kay Sparks Jr. ’55 of Manhattan, Ill., died Jan. 22, 2009. Al was a chemistry major and a member of Lambda Delta Alpha at Ripon College.

He and his wife, Nina Bade Sparks ’55, met during their senior year at Ripon while playing bridge in the Student Union Lounge. He received a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Case Western Reserve University in 1960. He was the retired president of Allied Signal/Signal Holdings Inc. Survivors include his wife, Nina, 13620 W. Carriage Lane, Manhattan, IL 60442; and one daughter.

John Winslow “Jack” Fuller ’56 of Tucson, Ariz., died July 12, 2008. He attended Ripon College for three years, where he studied economics and was a member of Lambda Delta Alpha. He was a retired president of Milwaukee County Bank and was active in the West Allis business community. He was a longtime resident of New Berlin, Wis. Survivors include his wife, Arleene Hanke Fuller, 37970 S. Eagle Drive, Tucson, AZ 85739; and two daughters.

Richard “Dick” Shutter ’56 of Madison, Wis., died Oct. 31, 2008. He was born March 4, 1934, in Tomah, Wis. At Ripon, he participated in athletics and was a member of the Merriman Phi Kappa Pi fraternity. He received his architectural degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill. As owner of RC Shutter Architects, he was an architect for 50 years and won a national design award for one of the many churches he designed throughout Wisconsin. He was also the past president of the Madison Lions Club and past president of the Wisconsin chapter of The American Institute of Architects. He also served many years on the Urban Design commission for Madison, Wis., and was a member of the Orchard Ridge Neighborhood Association Board for a number of years. He and his wife, Jeanne, were members of Nakoma Country Club for more than 35 years. Survivors include his wife, Jeanne, 5202 Barton Road, Madison, WI 53711; two sons and two daughters, including Erica Shutter Hill ’78 and Kane S. Shutter ’80.

Nancy Schorb Wallenberg ’58 of Glen Ellyn, Ill., died Dec. 27, 2008. She was born June 1, 1936, in Chicago. She graduated from Ripon College and Northern Illinois University. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Theta sorority. She taught at Fenton High School in Bensenville, then became a professor at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Survivors include three sons.

Donald F. Kloehn ’63 of Ripon, Wis., died Jan. 14, 2009. He was born Aug. 6, 1941, in Appleton, Wis. At Ripon, he studied biology and partici-

32 RIPON MAGAZINE

pated in WRPN. He worked as a biologist at Triarch Inc. until his death. Survivors include his wife, Martha “Marty” Stende Kloehn ’67, 423 John St., Ripon, WI 54971; and three daughters.

Irvin “Irv” Joseph Ott ’63 of Ripon, Wis., comptroller in the Ripon College business office from July 1966 until his retirement in June 2000, died Feb. 4, 2009. He was born July 1, 1941, in Whitefish Bay, Wis. As a student at Ripon, he studied history, was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and participated in athletics. After retiring from Ripon after 34 years, he enjoyed golfing, working part time at Mascoutin Golf Club as a ranger, and working for the Diedrich Agency in Ripon as an accounts payable manager.

Survivors include his companion, Barbara Bending, 641 Hilltop Lane, Ripon, WI 54971; and two sons, Robert Ott ’86 and Joseph Ott ’88.

Marilyn Jones Baur ’64 of Island Lake, Ill., died May 24, 1999. She attended Ripon College for four semesters and was a member of the Kappa Theta/Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Marilyn retired from her position as a typesetter with CompuComp in 1995. Survivors include one son; and one daughter, Jaqueline Baur Roberts ’87.

Renowned author John Hoyer Updike, a 1965 honorary degree recipient from Ripon College, died Jan. 27, 2009. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist published more than 50 books in his career. His books won virtually every literary prize, including two Pulitzers, for Rabbit Is Rich and Rabbit at Rest, and two National Book Awards. He also wrote novels, short stories, poems, criticism, the memoir SelfConsciousness and a famous essay about baseball great Ted Williams. Other notable books included Couples, In the Beauty of the Lilies and Too Far to Go. Last year, judges of Britain’s Bad Sex in Fiction Prize voted Updike lifetime achievement honors.

Michael A. Sloan ’67 of Chicago, Ill., died Dec. 9, 2008. He was born March 24, 1945. At Ripon, he majored in psychology, participated in track, was in ROTC and received his commission in the Army Medical Services Corps. He received his master’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois in 1969. He was ABD for his Ph.D. in 1977 in neurobiology/physiological psychology at Northwestern Universtiy. He worked part time at several Evanston area jobs, while engaged in sleep and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS, crib death) research. He was a teaching assistant and frequent lecturer in the Northwestern University evening division and guest lecturer, including Ripon College in 1977. In 1979, he served a semester as a visiting instructor in psychology and assistant men’s and women’s track coach at Ripon College. In 1977, he was a captain, medical services, in the U.S. Army Reserve assigned to the 801st General Hospital, Chicago. Mike was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association for the Psychological Study of Sleep. He loved to read.

David Paul Born ’72 of San Carlos, Calif., died April 17, 2008. He was born March 25, 1950. He graduated from Ripon College with a degree in art.

He was an account manager and assistant vice president with Sedgwick of California Inc. Survivors include he wife, Marilyn, 44 Bayview Drive, San Carlos, CA 94070; and two sons.

Dr. William Ray “Bill” Bowen of Maumelle, Ark., a former Ripon College professor of biology and a Severy Award winner in 1975, died Jan. 19, 2009. He was a native of Iowa and retired from Jacksonville State University in 2001. He previously had taught at Ripon, Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill., and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He was an avid tennis player and amateur photographer. He participated in the Pulaski County Master Gardener program and enjoyed national and international travel.

Survivors include his wife, Janet; and two sons.

Charles Comb of Oshkosh, Wis., an adjunct instructor of music in guitar since 1995, died March 3, 2009. He was born Sept. 20, 1961, in Brownsville, Texas. He earned bachelor of music and master of music degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied with Javier Calderon. He started teaching guitar at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1994. He also taught at Marian College in Fond du Lac, Ripon College and the University of Wisconsin System.

Betty J. Pinch, a former Ripon College employee, died Dec. 9, 2008. She was born in Fond du Lac, Nov. 8, 1924. She taught in a one-room school in Rogersville, Wis., and was a substitute teacher for the Rosendale school district and later was a teachers’ aide. She retired in 1993 as secretary/technician in student activities at Ripon College. Survivors include two sons and one daughter.

Steps Continued from page 23 new and different customers/clients?

Take a step back and RE-vision your career. Understand your key interests and strengths and investigate new opportunities in YOUR marketplace.

Are you still a hot commodity on the market? If yes, great — get out there and sell YOU to potential new bidders. If no — you need to re-vision your career. Measure your capabilities and apply them to the NEW marketplace. I know of a lot of real-estate agents and financial planners who are doing this right now.

Contact Information: Rich Gee Rich Gee Coaching www.richgee.com richgee@richgee.com 203-500-2421 Oxford Office: 9 Rolling Hills Drive, Oxford, CT 06478 Stamford Office: 1266 East Main Street, 7th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902

“Opportunity.�

Opportunity is the gift we received from those

... and the promise

who came before us ...

we make to those who follow us.

The Annual Fund Three Ways to Give: Write to us at PO Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971 Call us toll-free at 1-877-231-0455 Visit us online at www.ripon.edu/gift