ROCÍO DE LA ROSA DUNCAN,
Thirty Years of Service to Rockhurst Have you ever been in a place where you notice that you
don’t belong? Like a square peg in a round hole. Imagine the excitement of going to college to pursue your dream of obtaining an undergraduate degree, and the environment is like nothing you have experienced. You look around and find nothing familiar; everyone seems very different from you, so you try to find someone that might be familiar to you. Rocío De La Rosa Duncan, Ph.D., was that someone for many of our alumni of color in the Jesuit tradition of building a home for all.
You are why I have the opportunity to foster relationships with professors, coaching professionals, and mentors through my scholarship to attend Rockhurst. EMMA BARBEN, ’23 Omaha, NE Because of scholarships, I can learn from exceptional faculty who motivate students to excel in their fields. BRAYAN MANCIA GUARDADO, ’23 Grandview, NE Because of scholarship assistance, I can participate in multiple academic organizations where I can discover and discern career options. MARCI MCCANN, ’23 Grandview, NE
Ani Haroian, ’16, was recently at an event that included several Rockhurst alumni. Word of Rocío’s June, 2023 retirement spread, and the typical remark from many at the event, “she was the reason I stayed at Rockhurst.” In honor of her 30 exceptional years of service and being a beloved professor at Rockhurst, a group of her alumni has come forward to raise money for an endowed scholarship in honor of Dr. Duncan on her retirement from Rockhurst. Rocío, originally from Córdoba, Veracruz, México, obtained a degree in Spanish literature from the Universidad Veracruzana, along with a masters and Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. RU service trips to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras increased her interest in Central American Literature written by women. Duncan has served as director of the Department of Modern Languages several times throughout her career. In May 2011, she received the Excellence in Teaching award, and in 2012 the Harry B. Kies Award for extraordinary service. And in 2015, Dr. Duncan was named Faculty Member of the Year by Rockhurst University students. Through her active participation in SOL (Student Organization of Latinos), service trips and study abroad trips, Rocío helped change the world view for many students, says Haroian, ’16. For more information on Dr. Duncan’s Scholarship, please contact bebe.harrington@Rockhurst.edu.
You can honor Dr. Duncan’s 30 years of service to students and impact a student's life with a future scholarship. A QR Code is provided here for you to make your gift today!
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rockhurst university insider
Hall of Famers Come Up Big to CELEBRATE RU Men’s soccer hall of famers Denny Lee, ’77, and Rich
Suit, ’74, made sure the men’s soccer program had a lot to celebrate for Celebrate RU 2022. Before the University’s annual day of giving, Lee and Suit contacted as many Rockhurst men’s soccer alumni as possible, encouraging support of the program on Celebrate RU. Their efforts resulted in $35,000 raised from 55 individual donations in a single day. Being able to help the program sustain success amid a changing landscape in college athletics was a motivating factor for Lee and Suit. “Our student-athletes are putting in the time and doing everything they need to do to succeed. The least we can do is try to keep it at a level playing field to assist them in achieving their goals,” said Lee.
Bernie Lee, Denny Lee, ’77, and Katherine Lee
Lee and Suit are optimistic that the men’s soccer program alumni and fans can come together again in 2023 to have even more success. “Working together (in 2023) off the field will help us deliver what the teams need to compete at the highest level so we can all celebrate with pride,” said Suit. Alumni, family members and fans can learn more about how they can be a part of Celebrate RU for all athletic programs by visiting rockhursthawks.com/celebrateRU.
Rich Suit, ’74, and his family (left to right): Lindsey, Samantha, Rich, Sandy and Danielle.
Have you heard of the ‘Cody Fund’?
Tragedy turns to Overwhelming Generosity Cody Schuler, ’13, passed away on Nov. 25, 2014, after
a long battle with cancer. Philip Hageman, ’13, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 12, 2021. The sadness of these statements is overpowered by the generosity and joy of some alumni in their inner circle: Tracy Sexton, ’13, Nick Traxler, ’13, Steven Bokel, ’13, Isy Perez, ’13, and Cody’s brother, Clay Schuler, ’14.
Cody Fund from the Estate of Philip Hageman. We know in our hearts that Philip would have wanted us to do this,” said Philip’s family, who completed the fund. Are you interested in endowed funds at Rockhurst? Please contact Bebe Harrington at bebe.harrington@rockhurst.edu for more information.
In 2014, these alumni formed a nonprofit organization called the Cody Fund. When Philip passed away seven years later, his family decided to make a significant gift to the Cody Fund to complete the endowment. This fund was designed to raise money for students to participate in RU service trips. Cody and Philip were friends and roommates at RU. They also attended a service trip to Guatemala in the spring of 2011. “Knowing the positive impact of that service trip on Philip, it was our honor as a family to contribute to the celebrating stories of magis
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