saint martin’s university • summer 2019
news for alumni and friends
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
SAINTS ATHLETICS REBRAND
SERVING THOSE WHO
A military friendly school and Purple Heart University
The importance of
growing people John Farrell ’66
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insights L A S T LO O K
contents
saint martin’s university summer 2019
04 Serving those who serve 08
A military friendly school and Purple Heart University
Out with the old, in with the new
Saints Athletics receives a new look
13 Act Six
First cadre of Saint Martin's Act Six Scholars selected
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Fulbright Scholars connect us to the world
Robert Hauhart, Ph.D., Igor Krasnov, Ph.D. and Arwyn Smalley, Ph.D.
The importance of growing people
John Farrell '66, owner of Farrelli's Pizza Co.
03 President’s Greeting 10 Monastic Happenings 12 Campus News 20 Commencement 22 Athletics
28 Alum Notes 33 In memoriam 37 Calendar of Events 38 Last Look
EDITORS Genevieve Canceko Chan Kevin Hyde
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Marki Carson
JUNIOR DESIGNER Elexia Johnson
PRINTING Capitol City Press
CONTRIBUTORS Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D. Austin Byrnes Robert Hauhart, Ph.D., J.D. Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D. Igor Krasnov, Ph.D. Br. Boniface V. Lazzari, O.S.B. Kim Nelson Jamie Olson, Ph.D. Arwyn Smalley, Ph.D. Katie Wojke
Insights is the official magazine of Saint Martin’s University. ©2019 All rights reserved. We invite your comments and suggestions. Please email them to marcom@stmartin.edu. Please send alumni news and address changes to: Institutional Advancement, 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, WA 98503; telephone 360-491-4700; email alumni@stmartin.edu. Saint Martin’s University is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Visit us online at www.stmartin.edu
This spring, we wrapped up another outstanding academic year. We completed and dedicated a new science building; welcomed a new gifted provost as well as many new brilliant faculty and staff; and reached a new institutional milestone in fundraising. It is incredible what we accomplish for a small school! This past year we focused on the theme of Service. We looked at whom we serve, within and beyond our community. This includes especially our diverse student body: first-generation students, students of diverse ethnic backgrounds, international students and adult students returning to get their degree. In this issue, we highlight Saint Martin’s long history of serving active military and veteran students. With great humility, we received the special honor of being the first Purple Heart University in Washington state. In 2020, we will celebrate 125 years of serving students. In this coming year—the Year of Student Success—we will look at how we can better serve all our students. This fall, we will welcome another record-breaking incoming class of first-years and transfers. While we will never be a large university, this growth is important to sustaining our mission. Our mission is to support and bring forward more women and men who will make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others—more Saints to help change the world.
“ In 2020, we will
celebrate 125 years
of serving students. In this coming
year—the Year of
Student Success—
we will look at how
we can better serve
”
all our students.
Watch for dates and events scheduled throughout the next year so you too can be a part of this special anniversary! And thank you again for your help and generosity in making all of this possible.
Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D. President @SMUPresident
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hen World War II veterans returned from duty looking to enroll in college, Fr. Meinrad Gaul, then Saint Martin’s dean of college faculties, put together a list of courses and guidelines specifically tailored to address the needs of veteran students, and the College added trailers, Quonset huts and other new facilities to accommodate the growth in the student body. Later, in the 1970s, Saint Martin’s established dedicated extensions at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, now Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), to provide convenient access to education for service members. In 2014, the University, in partnership with JBLM and Microsoft, launched the Microsoft Systems and Software Academy (MSSA), an accelerated 16-week training and certification program designed to help members of the military transition to careers in information technology. Saint Martin’s opened the Veterans Center, a dedicated space for veteran and military-affiliated students, in Harned Hall in 2017. This commitment to veterans and students with military affiliation is part of the University’s DNA. Saint Martin of Tours, the namesake of the University, served in the Roman cavalry as a young man and is one of the patron saints of soldiers, and the University would not be the institution it is today without the contributions of the many veterans among the ranks of faculty, staff, monks and alumni. The University was recently recognized as a Military Friendly® school and as the first Purple Heart University in Washington. But it’s clear that the active members of the military, veterans and students with military affiliation who make up 20 percent of the University’s current enrollment
already knew that there is something remarkable about Saint Martin’s; the Benedictine values that define the University, especially hospitality, listening, community living and respect for persons, have influenced the experience of many veteran students. Robert Hearne ’19, who graduated this May with his degree in communication studies, spent more than 22 years in the Army, first as an armored crewman and later in human resources. He transferred to Saint Martin’s from South Puget Sound Community College and felt immediately welcomed as a student at the University. Hearne explained that he met Caitlin Gordon, senior recruitment transfer counselor, during the admissions process, and she reassured him that there was a thriving veteran community at Saint Martin’s. “I never could imagine myself going to a university,” Hearne says. “[Gordon] took the edge off of that and made me feel welcomed, and so did Fiona Kelly ’15 [former data analyst and marketing strategist at Saint Martin’s], who’s a veteran too and who introduced me well to Saint Martin’s.” Staff and faculty at Saint Martin’s are not only welcoming, but also show a level of attention and personal concern that shape the academic and extracurricular circumstances in which veteran and non-veteran students can thrive.
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THE INSTRUCTORS HERE CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS. Your instructors know you,” says Marc Figueroa ’19, a mechanical engineering major who enrolled in the 4+1 program, which means that he earned his bachelor’s degree in May 2019 and will earn his master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering management in 2020. Figueroa came to Saint Martin’s after 12 years in the Air Force, which he left as a training flight non-commissioned officer. It’s a sentiment that’s shared by other veteran students taking classes at the Lacey campus, at Saint Martin’s-JBLM and in the MSSA program. Devin McLellan ’19 served in the Army from 2009 through 2012, when she joined the Army Reserves and served until February 2019. She is a dual major in business administration and psychology who graduated in May. She’s taken all her classes at Saint Martin’s-JBLM or online during her time at Saint Martin’s and she shared a story about the help she received from Lisa Power, Ph.D., assistant professor of business, and Ron Trapp, lecturer in business. “During the first two weeks of class in fall 2017, I was in a car wreck and my mother passed away,” she says. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish that term. Dr. Power and Ron Trapp were absolutely amazing through all of it. With their encouragement, understanding and support, I was able to get through one of the hardest times of my life and finish the semester with a 4.0. I wouldn’t have been able to continue on my academic journey without that level of care and compassion.” While McLellan has taken a number of her courses online, Michael Vidick, staff sergeant in the Air Force, criminal justice major and the 10th recipient of the America’s Service Heroes Scholarship, has taken only online courses while still serving full time. Vidick said he was impressed with the fact that, as an online student, he feels like he’s a fully supported member of the University community. “My advisor, Robin Pellerin [program coordinator, admissions and systems support at Saint Martin’s-JBLM], is always looking out for my best interests,” he says.
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“And in the classroom, William Jackson—I like the way he teaches. He makes it clear what you need to do, and that’s definitely the way I learn.” Besides the important relationships that veteran and military-affiliated students establish with faculty and staff, there are also the tight bonds that many create with their peers. Figueroa said that the camaraderie he’s experienced with his fellow engineering students is similar to what he encountered when he was in the Air Force. “You’re not trying to step on each other, because we’re all trying to survive,” he says. “We’ve all worked together. We’ve all studied for tests. We’re always there to pick each other up. You need that group of people behind you.” Juan Avila, a student in the MSSA program, agrees with Figueroa. Avila worked in human resources in the Air Force and retired on May 31, 2019, shortly after he graduated from the MSSA program. Avila said that one of the aspects of MSSA he appreciates most is the way he and his peers use their respective strengths to solve problems. “Everyone here has different skills they bring,” he says. “There are some things I’m not good at and I can talk to someone who’s much better at programming, for example. Then I can help someone who might not be good at public speaking. Working together as a team is really important—and finding a good support network. This is a journey we don’t do by ourselves.” The all-around support offered by Saint Martin’s faculty, staff and peers—in addition to support from their own families—is what ultimately helped McLellan and Vidick feel less apprehensive about pursuing their degrees. Hearne said that he wants to urge other veterans who are unsure about higher education to consider going back to school. “There’s a percentage of veterans out there who never start school because they have a job lined up or because high school was enough for them,” he says. “But I want to say to all the veterans who are questioning their thoughts about attaining a higher degree, you should rethink that. Give it a chance. Especially at Saint Martin’s, since there are great opportunities here and people who can help you further your education.” u
WE ARE PROUD TO BE A MILITARY FRIENDLY SCHOOL AND PURPLE HEART UNIVERSITY
S Saint Martin’s recognizes its 10th America’s Service Heroes Scholarship recipient Staff Sgt. Michael A. Vidick, a member of the U.S. Air Force for more than 11 years. The America’s Service Heroes Scholarship was created in partnership with America’s Credit Union to provide financial assistance to service members and their families who have sacrificed for our nation’s well-being and security. Vidick, who is originally from Pueblo, Colorado, joined the Air Force right out of high school at the age of 18. He began his journey at the Air Force’s Basic Training Gateway, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Throughout Vidick's career, he has been on three combat tours; two in Iraq and one in Kyrgyzstan. Vidick also served as a Special Investigator with the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), where he worked on numerous felony-level investigations. He holds two Air Force Commendation Medals, one Army Commendation Medal, three Air Force Achievement Medals and two Army Achievement Medals that were earned throughout his Air Force career. Vidick completed an associate of applied science degree in police science in 2019 from the Community College of the Air Force. He is enrolled at Saint Martin’s University as a criminal justice major. u
aint Martin’s University has been named a Military Friendly® school for 2019-2020 by VIQTORY and ranked ninth in the nation within the category of private, non-doctoral-granting institutions. The Military Friendly® Schools list is designed to provide a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families about the higher education institutions that give the best opportunities to veterans and their spouses. VIQTORY creates the Military Friendly® Schools list each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. In March 2019, the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) designated Saint Martin’s University a Purple Heart University, making Saint Martin’s the first university or college in Washington state to receive the honor. The Purple Heart University designation is in recognition of Saint Martin’s history of supporting veterans and their families. The recognition letter from MOPH stated that the designation honors the entire veteran community at the University, as well as the students, faculty and staff, Board of Trustees and administration. Col. James Sims, USMC (Ret.) HS’57, ’62, former national commander of MOPH, nominated the University for the recognition. “It’s the attention that’s given at Saint Martin’s to veterans and students in general to make sure they can succeed—it’s the attitude of the faculty,” he said. The Military Order of the Purple Heart was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women who have received the Purple Heart Medal, which is given to U.S. military members who are wounded in combat or to their next of kin if they are killed in action or die from wounds received in action. Chartered by Congress, the MOPH promotes patriotism, fraternalism and the preservation of America's military history. u
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OUT WITH THE OLD
Did you know? Saint Martin’s was originally known as the Rangers, but during the 60s it was decided that there should be a distinction between Saint Martin’s High School and Saint Martin’s College. The High School remained Rangers and the College became the SAINTS and remained the SAINTS after the High School closed in 1974. 10
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IN WITH THE NEW.
Why now?
Saint Martin
With the recent growth and success in our athletics programs, and Saint Martin’s celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2020, now seemed like the perfect time for the rebrand. It was an opportunity to embrace our heritage and share our story.
What was the goal? 17 plume feathers: The number 17 symbolizes “overcoming the enemy” and “complete victory.”
To define what being a SAINT really means. To create a brand that would reflect our University’s history, embody our Benedictine values and project Saint Martin’s Athletics’ fierceness and spirit—a brand the entire community would be proud of.
Why the helmet? The Roman helmet is an intentional nod to our University’s namesake, Saint Martin of Tours, who lived around 300 A.D.
The story 5 Benedictine crosses: The number 5 symbolizes God’s grace, goodness and favor toward humans.
One winter, Saint Martin, then a soldier, encountered a lonely beggar shivering by the road. Martin took his sword, cut his cloak in two and gave half to the beggar. Later in a vision, the beggar revealed himself to be Jesus Christ. Inspired by this, Martin left the Roman army, became a monk and later a bishop, and committed to helping others.
A SAINTS path We hope our young women and men, throughout their time at Saint Martin’s and after, will always act out of compassion for others and in the process transform the lives of others as well as their own, just as Saint Martin once did.
WE ARE THE SAINTS !
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Abbey News
MonAsTic
HapPeNings by Boniface V. Lazzari, O.S.B.
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ach year on my birthday and on Christmas I receive a gift from a long-time friend in Edinburgh, Scotland. Usually, it is a book and a CD of classical music; on occasion he’s included a small netsuke in the package. Last year, on my birthday, he sent a collection of poems, a small book, entitled “Gratitude.” It includes poems with a gratitude theme from such diverse poets as the late American poet Mary Oliver to the late former queen of Hawaii, Lili’uokalani. No matter what is going on in our lives, we all have reasons, large and small, to be grateful and to express our gratitude. Our monastic community said farewell to two longtime members last summer, and welcomed two new members at about the same time. We are grateful for the contributions of the late FATHER BENEDICT AUER, who passed to God in June 2018, and of FATHER TIMOTHY LAMM, who followed some weeks later. FATHER BENEDICT was a published poet and film buff; FATHER TIMOTHY was an educator, Francophile and sports fan. May they rest in God’s peace! In mid-July 2018, BROTHER DAMIEN-JOSEPH (Brandon) RAPPUHN made his first vows as a Benedictine in the presence of ABBOT NEAL ROTH, his fellow monks, family and friends. BROTHER DAMIEN-JOSEPH discerned his monastic vocation as he worked as an employee of the University. A singer, he often joins the monastic schola singing for Abbey liturgies; is a devotee of baseball, both as a spectator and player; and, along with PRIOR NICOLAUS WILSON, organized the Abbey’s first ever gingerbread house-making competition last Christmas season. He is currently doing some post-graduate work at Saint Martin’s University. An ancient Jewish prayer for the new year prays to God that we might enter the new year in a “renewed, happier state of mind.” As we monks began 2019, we had reason to be in a “happier state of mind.”
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Postulant MICHAEL FERMAN, who had been discerning his vocation with ABBOT NEAL and vocation director FATHER PAUL WECKERT, began his monastic novitiate under the direction of novice director FATHER GERARD KIRSCH. BROTHER MICHAEL, who had spent six years in a Franciscan community, received a B.A. from Holy Cross College, South Bend, Indiana. He was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and an American father and only began to learn English seriously when he came to the United States at age eight. It was the balanced life of prayer and work, our rich liturgical life and stability and life in community that attracted BROTHER MICHAEL to our community. BROTHER MICHAEL is an expert bridge player; enjoys sports as a player as well as a spectator; and in his native Sweden
developed an adeptness and affection for mushroom hunting. BROTHER LUKE DEVINE, chair of the University’s Religious Studies Department, spent time this summer on a study tour of Russia sponsored by the University. Last summer, BROTHER LUKE was able to do research in Korea…During the spring Homecoming weekend, this writer was among those honored by the University’s National Alumni Board as one of its “Distinguished Alums”…ABBOT NEAL and FATHER PAUL, in their roles as abbot and official delegate, attended the General Chapter Meeting of our federation of Benedictine monasteries at Saint Anselm’s Abbey, Manchester, New Hampshire, early this summer…FATHER GEORGE SEIDEL, author and resident
philosopher, continues to accept an occasional “gig” as keyboardist for the group “Professors Three”… BROTHER MARK BONNEVILLE is the advisor to the University’s Circle-K chapter. Our community has two longterm guests, FATHER LAURENTI MIKINGA and FATHER NOVATUS NGONYANI. Both are Benedictine monks from Tanzania. FATHERS LAURENTI and NOVATUS participate completely in our life of prayer and work. Their principal work at present is polishing their already good English in the University’s ESL program. Following that, they will enroll in our graduate program in counseling. Be grateful! Develop an “attitude of gratitude.” u
Abbey COncert Series begins 39th Season
DMITRY KOUZOV / YULIA KOUZOVA
Abbey Church Events begins its 39th season this fall. The annual concert/lecture series, begun by the abbot and abbey community in 1980, currently presents four classical music concerts by renowned artists, along with occasional lectures, each season. All events on the series, held in the Saint Martin’s Abbey Church, are presented free of charge, though attendees are invited to make a donation in support of the series. The 2019-2020 season begins on Saturday, 12th October, at 8:00 p.m. with a concert by the acclaimed Paris-based HERMÈS QUARTET. Of this string quartet, The Washington Post critic writes that it “…will likely take its place among the top quartets of our time.” On Friday, 11th October 2019, the Quartet will be presenting master classes on campus in collaboration with the University Music Department.
HERMÈS QUARTET
MAXIM LANDO
BORIS ALLAKHVERDYAN, principal clarinet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will make his second appearance at the Abbey on Saturday, 9th November 2019. ALIN MELIK-ADAMYAN will be the collaborative pianist, in a presentation which will include some solo piano as well as pieces for clarinet and piano. Russian-born cellist DMITRY KOUZOV and pianist YULIA KOUZOVA will perform at the Abbey on Saturday, 22nd February 2020. Of Mr. Kouzov’s playing, www.allmusic.com has written: “…positively electrifying.” Our 2019-2020 season concludes the evening of Saturday, 28th March 2020. Young Concert Artists award-winning pianist MAXIM LANDO will perform that evening in the Abbey Church on the Abbey Steinway. On Friday, 27th March, Mr. Lando will present master classes in collaboration with the University Music Department.
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WHAT'S THE WORD AROUND CAMPUS?
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First cadre of Saint Martin’s Act Six Scholars selected Saint Martin’s has selected its first cadre of Act Six Scholars. In 2018, Saint Martin’s joined Gonzaga University, Northwest University, Pacific Lutheran University and Whitworth University to become the fifth college partner in the TacomaSeattle Act Six network. As an Act Six partner, Saint Martin’s provides full-tuition, full-need scholarships for a cohort of seven diverse urban leaders from across the Puget Sound area each year. The Act Six network is a leadership development and scholarship initiative led by Degrees of Change that identifies, trains and supports the region’s most promising urban
students as transformative campus and community leaders. The first cadre of Saint Martin’s Act Six Scholars all entering this fall are: Reine Albite, from Olympia, who will graduate from Pope John Paul II High School, in Lacey, and will major in civil engineering. Jolie Bwiza, from Masisi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, who is graduating from Stadium High School, in Tacoma, and will major in social work. Asma Ibrahim, from Tukwila, who will graduate from Federal Way High School, in Federal Way, and will major in biology.
Katherine Jamerson, from Tacoma, who is graduating from Franklin Pierce High School, in Tacoma, and will major in business administration. Jose Armando Jurado Beltran, from Paracho, Mexico, who will graduate from Washington High School, in Tacoma, and will major in nursing. Elvis Knight, from Nairobi, Kenya, who is graduating from Tacoma Science and Math Institute, in Tacoma, and will major in social work. Tina Ngo, from Burien, who will graduate from Highline High School, in Burien, and will major in nursing.
Kathleen Boyle, Ph.D., announced as new provost and vice president of academic affairs Saint Martin’s University Board of Trustees has announced that Kathleen “Kate” Boyle, Ph.D. will be the new provost and vice president of academic affairs. Since July 2018, Boyle has served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. Previously, she was the dean of the College of Education and Counseling, a position she had held since fall 2016. As provost and vice president of academic affairs, Boyle will be responsible for supporting and enhancing Saint Martin’s academic mission and vision, developing and maintaining open and collaborative relationships with the faculty, ensuring faculty development and support, working with the president, vice presidents and Board of Trustees and building internal and external partnerships. The deans of the College of Arts and Sciences, the
School of Business, the Hal and Inge Marcus School of Engineering, the College of Education and Counseling and O’Grady Library report to Boyle, as well as offices including Saint Martin’s University – Joint Base LewisMcChord Campuses, University Registrar, Institutional Research and the Office of International Programs and Development. Before coming to Saint Martin’s, Boyle was at the University of St. Thomas, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was chair of the department of leadership, policy and administration, an interdisciplinary academic department that served around 600 students each year in 15 degree programs and in licensure and certificate programs. At St. Thomas, she also taught in the leadership doctoral program and directed its Master of Arts in Leadership in Student Affairs Program.
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Fulbright Scholars connect Saint Martin’s University to the world SCHOLARS
By Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D., and Jamie Olson, Ph.D.
The Fulbright Scholar program is flourishing at Saint Martin’s University. This year, we are lucky to have three Fulbright Scholars with Saint Martin’s connections. Two are Saint Martin’s professors: Arwyn Smalley, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, Fulbrighted (yes, it’s a verb) at the University of Szeged in Szeged, Hungary, in fall 2018, while Robert Hauhart, Ph.D., J.D., professor of criminal justice, sociology and legal studies, is currently at the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia. And joining us here at Saint Martin’s for the entire 2018-19 academic year is Igor Krasnov, Ph.D., whose areas of focus are intercultural communication and English, from Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU), in Russia. The prestigious Fulbright is widely recognized around the world, and Fulbright alums have garnered 59 Nobel and 82 Pulitzer Prizes. Saint Martin’s is proud of its growing Russian-American relationship, which has now fostered myriad cross-cultural connections. Over the past decade, Saint Martin’s has developed a partnership with PetrSU, in northwestern Russia, which has allowed dozens of Saint Martin’s students to travel there to study Russian language and culture. The program began in the summer of 2010, when Jamie Olson, Ph.D., and Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D., led the first Russian Study Tour to Petrozavodsk through a collaboration with the College of Saint Scholastica, a fellow Benedictine institution. Since then, five groups of students have embraced the opportunity to study at PetrSU. Two of Saint Martin’s Fulbright awards have grown directly out of this partnership. First, Birkenstein received a Fulbright grant in 2013 to spend the fall semester in Petrozavodsk, where he taught literature and language courses alongside his Russian colleagues, as well as visited a number of local schools, colleges, universities and other groups to talk about American life and culture. Most recently, working together, Olson, Birkenstein and Krasnov won a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence award to bring Krasnov and his family to Lacey. Krasnov has taught four courses at Saint Martin’s over the past year, including two in his specialized fields of intercultural communication and English language learner instruction. With Birkenstein and Olson, he also taught a pair of courses on American and Russian fiction and film. Though Saint Martin’s has an unprecedented three scholars this year, we hope that more faculty and students apply for and receive grants. There are many levels of Fulbrights available, and just about anyone with a college degree may apply, regardless of when they graduated.
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Robert Hauhart, Ph.D., J.D., professor of criminal justice, sociology and legal studies From Slovenia, I have been using some of my Fulbright funds to “reconnect” with European scholars whose work Birkenstein and I have published in two volumes, “American Writers in Exile” (Salem Press, 2015) and “European Writers in Exile” (Lexington Books, 2018). As of early March 2019 I have spoken at universities in Istanbul, Turkey, and Nicosia, Cyprus, where Birkenstein and I have established collegial relationships. Forthcoming, I will travel to Joensuu, Finland, to reconnect with another contributor to one of our edited volumes. As you can see, the Fulbright program is all about connections, re-connections and new connections internationally.
Arwyn Smalley, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry During my journey to apply for a Fulbright Scholar Grant, I was looking for a host in Hungary, and at the American Chemical Society (ACS) I found Csaba Janáky, from the University of Szeged. We created a plan for me to teach science-specific communication skills in the graduate program at the University of Szeged, which is taught in English. Csaba also connected me with Judit Gera, the
Arwyn Smalley, Ph.D., pictured far right, poses with students from the University of Szeged.
director of the American Corner in Szeged. American Corners are an outreach service of the U.S. Embassy, offering cultural and educational programming in English. Judit helped me create a stronger connection with the Szeged community. Csaba also connected me with former ACS President Attila Pavlath, who had an exciting idea for a series of posters in support of the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT). I coached one of my classes at the University of Szeged into creating 34 beautiful posters about the elements, which were displayed at the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry opening of the IYPT in Paris, in January 2019. I feel I made a real difference helping my students in Szeged write journal articles, create effective scientific posters and hone their oral presentation skills.
Erin Igor Jonasson, Krasnov, Ph.D., assistant professor of Ph.D., intercultural chemistry, wins grant communication and from the National English, Petrozavodsk Science Foundation State University, Russia
Erin Jonasson, Ph.D., assistantmany Hearing the name “Fulbright” professor of chemistry, won years ago, it all seemed has an impossible adream, grant,something in collaboration with the for very serious University of Notre Dame, for researchers, professors and authors of $121,345 thethis National Science books. In from Russia, program has the Foundation (NSF) for research reputation of being the best andthat most will be conducted from 2018 prestigious program for July academics. until an estimated date of June So, when two of myend older colleagues 2022. Jonasson will serve as the got the Fulbright grant before me, I principal investigator forand thewanted project, got hooked on the idea with support from Holly Goodson, to try. I did not get it on the first try, Ph.D., of chemistry at the but wasprofessor encouraged by the same University of Notre Dame. colleagues to try again. Finally, in 2009 I gotofmy Fulbright grant The aim thefirst project, as laid out to go to Duluth, Minnesota, the sister in the proposal’s abstract, is to city of my hometown Petrozavodsk. investigate the dynamic substrand It was both academically and associated proteins that haspersonally rewarding in myriad Then, in fundamental roles inways. cell movement, DNA partitioning and internal cell organization. Many cytoskeletal polymers require chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (or guanosine triphosphate (GTP)) to maintain a polymerized
state and theof harnessing of this Saint the summer 2017, my present Martin’s faculty colleagues Jamie Olson, Ph.D., and Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D., approached me with the idea of applying for one more Fulbright, this time for a full-year Scholar-inResidence grant. I love working here in a new setting, teaching new courses, meeting new people, seeing new places in the U.S. I have not seen before (such as California, Nevada, Kentucky and Hawaii), going to conferences, giving lectures to the larger community, singing in the University choir and enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Contact Saint Martin’s Fulbright Liaison Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D., (jbirkenstein@stmartin.edu) for more information.
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Floraliza Bornasal '09, Ph.D., selected as an emerging scholar Floraliza Bornasal ’09, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil engineering at Saint Martin’s, has been selected as one of 15 emerging scholars for 2019 by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. The magazine has been recognizing an interdisciplinary group of minority scholars for their research, teaching and scholarly contributions since 2002, and selects the honorees from hundreds of nominations made by peers in the field and department chairs. Diverse: Issues In Higher Education is a source of news, information and commentary on the full range of issues concerning diversity in American higher education. Bornasal discussed what the recognition from Diverse: Issues In Higher Education means to her. “I’m grateful. Saint Martin’s was foundational in my growth when I was a student, and now that I’m a faculty member, I’m honored to represent the Saint Martin’s community in this way,” she said. “When I started my path through civil engineering (and higher education, in general), I had limited exposure to other people whose life experiences completely matched with mine: Being a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, then growing up in a small farming area in eastern Washington, then being among the first generation in my family pursuing higher education and graduate degrees and being a female civil engineer. Sharing this recognition
with other faculty members around the country, whose life experiences are also varied and diverse, is truly an honor. Hopefully, by sharing our stories through this recognition, we can represent various backgrounds, personalities and experiences with which our students and colleagues around the county can also resonate.” Bornasal is an alumna of Saint Martin's University, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering in 2009. She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in civil engineering at Oregon State University. She serves as the faculty advisor for the four cohorts of Saint Martin’s Benedictine Scholars, high-achieving students who serve as ambassadors for the Benedictine values and the core values of Saint Martin’s—faith, reason, service and community.
New lighting on campus The University recently partnered with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to improve more than 120 outdoor campus lights to make paths, parking lots and walkways safer and clearer. The improvements also increased the energy efficiency of the lighting. The first phase of the lighting changes occurred in areas near the Grand Staircase student parking lot by Old Main, near Marcus Pavilion, by the softball field and by residence halls.
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30th anniversary of partnership with Reitaku University In November 2018, Saint Martin’s University celebrated the 30th anniversary of its sister university relationship with Reitaku University, located in Tokyo, Japan, with a ceremony and symposium in Harned Hall. The Honorable Yoichiro Yamada, consul general of Japan in
energy the cytoskeletal Seattle,allows delivered congratulatory filaments and to do work, respond remarks, then a memorandum dynamically to internal and external of understanding was signed between signals self-organize. the twoand universities, with Saint Martin’s President Roy Heynderickx, The research could have Ph.D., Reitaku University President practical application in fields like Osamu Nakayama, Ph.D., Joe nanotechnology and synthetic Williams, chair of the Saint Martin's biology. University Board of Trustees, Consul General Yamada and Karen Fraser, Floraliza Bornasal ’09, retired Washington State senator, Ph.D., assistant professor participating in the signing of the memorandum.
Saint Martin’s receives $3.5 million for creation of labs and scholarships for the nursing program The Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation has made a commitment of $2.8 million to Saint Martin’s University to support the renovation of the first floor of Old Main to create dedicated facilities for the University’s nursing programs, which include the BSN program and the RN-to-BSN program. The
foundation’s commitment includes $2.5 million to cover the costs of the remodel and $300,000 to establish an endowment in support of nursing scholarships. In addition, Saint Martin’s Abbey has made a gift of $750,000 to support the renovation. This totals $3.5 million raised to ensure the success of the University’s nursing program. This summer, the University will begin remodeling 12,000 square feet of space within Old Main to create an eight-bed nursing learning lab, two-bed simulation suite, classroom, faculty
offices and equipment storage rooms. For fall 2019, Saint Martin’s will admit 25 first-year students for its four-year BSN program and will begin admitting upper division transfer students in fall 2020. When fully enrolled the BSN program will have two cohorts of 24 each year, graduating 48 students annually. The Saint Martin’s RN-to-BSN program will continue to provide an option for local nurses with an associate degree or diploma to complete their BSN in a year.
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Engineering student Wisdom and Chocolate selected for National returns to Saint Martin’s Science Foundation Saint Martin’s School of Business, Thurston Economic Development Research for Council and the Washington Center Undergraduates program for Women in Business hosted Renee Matthew Hancock, senior computer science major, was selected to participate in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program hosted in summer 2019 by the Department of Computing Sciences at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. The program will focus on applied computing research in unmanned aerial systems. Students in REU programs gain research experience, develop their professional skills, receive mentoring from faculty and learn about ethics in science.
Business students excel in global competition Saint Martin’s students in the BA 499 Business Strategy course taught by David Slotwinski, Ph.D., competed in spring 2019 in GLO-BUS, which is an online business strategy simulation where students develop and manage companies to try to reach global market leadership. Several student teams achieved remarkable results that put them in the top ranks of student teams. Colton Peha, Leslie Simpson and Andrew Walter earned the 46th best performance worldwide in early February; Crystal Gross, Trevor Hirano and Parker House earned the 68th best performance and, at another point in February, the 74th best performance worldwide; and Rebekah Baugh, Luke Hare and Jackson Hand earned the 2nd best performance worldwide in the round ending on Feb. 17. Per Slotwinski, over the last year, GLO-BUS has been used in 1,337 classes at 237 colleges and universities spread across 20 countries.
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Radcliff Sinclair, President and CEO of TVW, for a Wisdom and Chocolate event in December 2018. Sinclair spoke about the value of engagement, how to communicate constructively across the public sector/private sector divide and described how to participate in positive ways. Through the Wisdom and Chocolate Speakers Series, attendees interact with nationally known entrepreneurs who share what they have learned in establishing their businesses. The Saint Martin's School of Business sponsors Wisdom and Chocolate in partnership with the Washington Center for Women in Business and the Thurston Economic Development Council.
Saint Martin’s hosts the Stay Woke conference On March 19, the University hosted the Stay Woke conference, which empowers high school students though workshops and other presentations about identity, diversity, justice and action. More than 250 students attended the conference, organized by a committee of students, families, teachers, administrators and community members from the North Thurston, Olympia and Tumwater school districts. Activists Dolores Huerta and Bria Smith delivered keynote speeches and Saint Martin’s faculty members Eric Boyer, Ph.D., assistant professor of education, Ronnie Gordon, Ed.D., assistant professor of education, and Keri Graham, instructor of gender and identity studies, presented workshops during the conference.
Salmon cookout in partnership with the Nisqually Tribe In October 2018, Irina Gendelman, Ph.D., associate professor of communication studies, organized a salmon cookout event with students in her UNI101 class, John Hopkins, Ph.D., associate dean of students and director of the Diversity and Equity Center, and the greater University community. The event was put on to celebrate and show solidarity with indigenous peoples following Indigenous Peoples Day, held on October 8, 2018, and was organized in collaboration with the Diversity and Equity Center, the Environmental Studies Program, Bon Appétit Management Company and the Student Sustainability Club. About 250 people attended the cookout on the lawn of Harned Hall to relish the afternoon sun and the Pacific Northwest bounty of wild salmon, which was a gift from the Nisqually Tribe, homemade muffins made from the four gallons of wild huckleberries (also gifted by the Nisqually Tribe), and organic herbs and vegetables plucked from Our Common Home Farms and the Saint Martin’s Learning Garden. After the community meal, Nisqually tribal council members Hanford McCloud and Willie Frank III spoke about Nisqually activism for salmon and the land in the Pacific Northwest. Frank’s father, Billie Frank Jr., was a wellknown local environmental leader and treaty rights activist.
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Congratulations CLASS OF 2019!
"Our time at this school has shaped us into people who want to go out and make a difference in the world." — Christine Schaller '93, commencement speaker
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A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH TO A NATIONAL POWERHOUSE
T
he Saints men’s basketball team is coming off a run to their first NCAA Sweet 16, the most wins in a single season since joining the NCAA and a laundry list of awards. However, all the success did not come overnight, but rather over the course of a four-year journey, one where seniors Rhett Baerlocher and Jordan Kitchen were there every step of the way. “Being the top dog is a lot different than being the underdog,” said Kitchen when looking back on his first year compared to this last season. “Freshman year, it was all about outworking teams and earning opportunities. This year, we had a target on our back and everybody wanted to beat us.” Over four seasons, Saint Martin’s collected 87 wins, their first GNAC regular season title and back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament. Saint Martin’s went from the diamond in the rough to a national powerhouse. The Saints reached their highest ranking in school history last season, rising to eighth in the country. With all of the success on the court, the Saints developed a strong connection with the community, which resulted in a packed Marcus Pavilion for every home game. “People were always coming up and asking us about the game the night before, and how the season was going,” said Kitchen. “I remember being at a Mariners game and people recognized me and that just blew my mind. That is not something that would have happened just four years ago.” From the first season, where expectations were to reach the GNAC Championships to now, where titles and deep runs in the NCAA tournament are the goal, this senior class has changed the way people see Saint Martin’s basketball. “I hope we started something different at Saint Martin’s,” Baerlocher said. “Since I have been here, the culture has changed. I look forward to coming back and seeing where the program has gone and knowing I was a part of the beginning.”
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" This year, we had a target on our “ This year, we back and had a target oneverybody our back and everybody wanted wanted to to beat us.”us.” beat —Jordan Kitchen
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HAMMER THROW
CHAMPION V
olleyball had always been the sport for Liz Larson, while track and field was just something she picked her senior year of high school. Four years later, in her senior year at Saint Martin’s, Larson competed to be an NCAA national champion in the hammer throw. “It’s been a wild ride,” said Larson. “It was really intimidating showing up to meets my freshman year, seeing these girls who were really talented in throws, and I only had three months of throwing background. The idea that I’m competing on a national level for [the hammer] just blows my mind. Having constant support from my teammates and coaches has helped me a lot.” From learning what the hammer looked like at her first practice, to competing in the NCAA national championships, Larson wanted to continue the line of excellent throwers at Saint Martin’s. Saints’ throws coach Dwight Midles has seen Larson’s progression every step of the way, and the bond between the two grows stronger by the day. “He has been a phenomenal coach, and I wouldn’t be half the athlete I am today without him,” said Larson. “He’s given me so much support... and I can’t thank him enough.” On the year, Larson reached as high as third on the national leaderboard in the hammer, hitting a personal best mark of 188 feet, 3 inches. Larson has not only pushed herself to be the best in the ring, but also in the classroom. While competing as a dual-sport athlete at Saint Martin’s for three years, she
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also double-majored in biology and mathematics. Larson earned a multitude of awards in the classroom this year, including the Rosalind Elsie Franklin Award in biology; the Cap of Pythagoras Award and the CLIMB Awardin mathematics; GNAC Academic All-Conference Honors; and the Saint Martin’s Outstanding Female Student Athlete Award. At the GNAC Outdoor Championships this spring, Larson took first place in the hammer, becoming a GNAC Champion with a mark of 54.86m. She also competed in the NCAA National Outdoor Championships in Kingsville, Texas, where she placed 14th overall with a mark of 172’ 6”.
From NCAA tournament appearances, to All-Americans, to countless All-Conference and All-Academic awards, the 201819 season has been one for the history books in Saint Martin’s Athletics. ¢ The season has had many highs, but one day in March stands out, as it might have been the greatest single day in Saint Martin’s athletic history. March 16 started with softball pulling off a doubleheader sweep, while baseball followed suit with their own doubleheader sweep. On the track, the Saints had three different athletes post top-ten national marks in their respective events. To wrap up the day, men’s basketball defeated Seattle Pacific to advance to their first Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. ¢ The year began with men’s soccer putting together their best season since 2009, when they won the GNAC title. On the year, the Saints won nine matches, and finished third in the standings. Led by two-time AllRegion forward Brandon Madsen, the Saints featured five selections to the GNAC All-Conference team. ¢ Basketball season followed, and it was possibly the greatest season in men’s basketball program history. The Saints won an NCAA-era record 26 games, the first regular season GNAC title and their second straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Down in San Diego, California, for the tournament, the Saints knocked off Concordia (Calif.) and Seattle Pacific to reach their first Sweet 16. Luke Chavez was named an NABC All-Star and All-Region guard, while Alex Pribble was named the GNAC Coach
of the Year. Jordan Kitchen, EJ Boyce, and Chandler Redix also swept up GNAC awards. ¢ At the same time, the Saints were being recognized on the national stage with athletes like Tyler Cronk and Liz Larson of track and field. Cronk was an All-American in the high jump, and was named the GNAC’s Performance of the Meet after being only the second high jumper in conference history to clear the 7-foot mark. Over in the outdoor season, Cronk and Keshara Romain earned Freshman of the Year awards and each qualified for the NCAA National Championship. Liz Larson joined the duo in the national meet after earning a spot in the hammer. ¢ Men’s golf star Tyler Fitchett highlighted his terrific sophomore campaign with a medalist honor at the Notre Dame de Namur Intercollegiate. For his efforts over the year, Fitchett was named as an individual to the NCAA West Regional. ¢ Baseball capped off the season with a bang, earning a spot in the GNAC Championships, their first since 2013. The Saints made the most of it, beating both No. 3 seed Northwest Nazarene and No. 2 seed Western Oregon to advance to the program’s first GNAC Championship appearance. Mickey Walker highlighted the awards, earning two All-Region selections and a first team All-Conference. ¢ Other notable accomplishments by the department include women’s soccer breaking the program record
WWW.SMUSAINTS.COM
for most non-conference wins in a single season; track and field breaking eight school records on the year, and having five All-Region selections in the indoor season; softball posting their eighth consecutive season with 20 or more wins; baseball winning the most games in a single season since 2011; and Claire Dingus emerging as a future superstar for women’s basketball as the GNAC’s Freshman of the Year. ¢ In August 2018, Saint Martin’s University and TwinStar Credit Union proudly unveiled the newly named TwinStar Court, inside Marcus Pavilion, home to the Saint Martin’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams. Starting with the 2018-2019 athletic year and continuing for the next five years, the court inside Marcus Pavilion will be renamed the TwinStar Court. The financial support provided by TwinStar not only affects Saint Martin’s 200-plus student-athletes, coaches and staff, but also the tens of thousands of community members who attend Saint Martin’s events every year. ¢ Not only have the Saints showcased excellence on the court and field, but also in the classroom. Sixty-nine Saints were selected to GNAC All-Academic teams, and in order to be eligible, athletes must carry a 3.2 GPA while having sophomore standing or greater, and be in their second season at their institution. The 2018-19 season has proven to be one of the greatest in the longstanding history of Saint Martin’s.
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The importance of
growing people John Farrell ’66
Alumni Profile
ohn Farrell ’66, owner of Farrelli’s Wood Fire Pizza, was lucky to discover his future career while still a college student at Saint Martin’s. “I was really fortunate, my senior year, to get a traffic violation I couldn’t pay,” he says. “Among other jobs I had, I took a job for Saga Corporation [which managed Saint Martin’s dining services at the time]. By the end of the year, I was student manager and had learned to cook. I found that I loved managing and I loved the food business.” After graduation, Farrell took a job with Saga and worked with the company for 12 years. In his final position with the company, he was district manager for the state of Hawaii, where he supervised the food service operations at a dozen schools. In 1979, he and his wife, Margaret, moved back to Washington with their four daughters, and they decided they wanted to enter the restaurant business.
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“My first job in the restaurant industry was with the Ram Corporation. Dishwasher, cook, bartender, server—back to the beginning. Then after two years with Sea Galley Stores we decided to finally open our own restaurants,” Farrell says. For 15 years in the 80s and 90s, Farrell and his family operated restaurants throughout the South Sound area. They owned and operated John’s Breakfast, Burgers and Pies (later John’s Restaurant)
in both Gig Harbor and Lakewood. They were managing partners of the Huckleberry Inn in Key Center. They also owned The Hob Nob Restaurant, and were managing partners at Engine House No. 9—both in Tacoma. “These restaurants were always busy, but did not have the profit margins that were equal to the hard work our family put into these concepts. We needed to come up with a new plan.” In 1995, Farrell and his family decided to make a change and develop a whole new concept. One of his friends, Sid Bower, told him about restaurants in Portland that were using wood-fired ovens to make pizza, so he traveled down there to do some research. The first wood-fired pizza oven on the West Coast was at Tommaso’s, an Italian restaurant that opened in San Francisco in 1935. However, woodfired pizza didn’t truly catch on as a food trend until the 1980s, when both Alice Waters at Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, and Ed LaDou at Prego, in San Francisco, started making woodfired pizzas with bold, innovative topping combinations. Farrell liked what he saw in Portland and worked together with his friend Jack Rayburn to create a menu and overall concept for a new restaurant. With the help of another friend, Paul Ellingson, Farrell was able to take out a loan to purchase equipment and build Farrelli’s Pizza and Pool Co. in Lacey.
operates a mobile pizza oven to serve food at community events and The Party Place, in Sumner, a rental space for catered events and meetings. In 2009, Farrelli’s opened a new concept, McNamara’s Pub and Eatery, an Irish-inspired pub and restaurant in DuPont. “Many of the original crew at the first Farrelli’s in Lacey are now helping our family lead our company into the future. Our growth has been the result of growing people.” This culture of “growing people” stems from Farrell’s own time at Saint Martin’s. “Father Adrian Parcher, Father George Seidel, Father Matthew Naumes, Father Bertrand Trautman and others made me think. They taught me that to be fulfilled I needed to go into the world and make a difference.” At first, Farrell had been a reluctant Saint. An alumnus of Bellarmine Prepartory School in Tacoma, a rival school of Saint Martin’s High School at the time, he says that “Saint Martin’s was probably the last place I wanted to go—because in sports, if we didn’t beat Saint Martin’s [High School], we didn’t want to come home.” However, he was financially constrained with respect to his choices for college, and when he received a music scholarship from the music director, Father Eugene Kellenbenz, Saint Martin’s was realistically one of his only options for higher education.
“I was about 50 years old at that time, and I put everything that I’d learned from Engine House No. 9, John’s and The Hob Nob into that new concept,” Farrell says. “Right from the get-go, it was exciting. We knew within a year that that we had a concept we could grow.”
Farrell explains that Saint Martin’s shaped him and his outlook on life, especially the way that he thought about himself. “I got lucky and I went to the one school that I could have gone to where they got me. They got me. They made me a better human being than I would have been without my education at Saint Martin’s.”
Farrelli’s expanded to DuPont in 2003 and now has locations in Sumner, Tacoma, Parkland, Maple Valley, Frederickson and Point Ruston. In addition, the company
Today, Farrell serves as the company’s chief financial officer. His everyday responsibilities include making projections, analyzing budgets, researching and evaluating
potential new properties and conducting negotiations. “At this stage of the game, you kind of put your finger in the wind and ask yourself ‘Where do they need me today?’” Farrell says. He works closely with his daughter Jacque, the company’s chief operating officer, on the direction of Farrelli’s. “I think the success of our chain is due to my wife, my daughter and myself, and the combined synergy that created a really wonderful little company,” he says. “I’m budgeting growth and making sure we stay true to our philosophy and our culture.” Farrell credits his time at Saint Martin’s for helping him to see his true potential. Says Farrell, “What a gift, if you can leave college with more confidence, and the tools to think and the motivation to want to do good in the world. What a great education. I’m very grateful to Saint Martin’s.”
“ They made me a better human being than I would have been without my education at Saint Martin’s.”
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1: Emilie Esther-Ann (Schnabel) Brown ’11, MAC’17 and Geoffrey Brown ’07, MAC’10 were married on September 15, 2018. The wedding was attended by fellow members of the Saint Martin’s community. Kellen Gold ’09, Dave Shultis MAC’11, Tania Huston, and Emily Skeers ’11. Zach Lubin ’11, goalkeeper for Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship soccer league, was loaned to the Seattle Sounders for part of the 2018 MLS season, then returned to Phoenix Rising after his loan stint. Lubin previously spent some time in Sweden playing for Ljungskile SK as well. Alexandrea Rebar ’14 has been promoted to school based services coordinator at Valley Cities Behavioral Health. She will coordinate with Auburn schools to provide staffing for counseling and parenting classes and provide dialectical behavioral therapy to teens and adults. Allison Renae Senkarik ’11 accepted a position as a research administrator at the University of Florida in the Department of Hepatology Research. Brady Bomber ’12, MBA’13 led his women’s basketball team at Lynden Christian High School to their second state title win in his fourth season as head coach. Brady attended the Division 1A Lynden High School and returned as a coach after graduation.
2: Alana Markham-Harris ’10 and Samuel Bradshaw ’10 were married on May 1, 2018.
2 Blake Cloward ’17 is now employed at JD Ott Company as an aerospace mechanical assembly technician. He works on assembling manufactured parts and components for Boeing Aircrafts. He recently worked with the Boeing Company as a manufacturer and production engineer for 787 Dreamliners.
3: Eric Ott ’17 was promoted to civil engineer 3 for the City of Renton, where he works as a capital improvement project manager within the Drinking Water Utility Division. He celebrated the promotion and his wedding anniversary with his family on a seven-day cruise in the Western Caribbean Sea.
Alyssa Melder ’16 was hired as an account manager for Oratium, a small, Billings-based messaging consulting company. She spends her days in constant communication with clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Cisco and Disney. Eric Zabala MBA’15 became a State Farm agent, located in the Tumwater area. He is also a small business owner, which is veteran owned and operated. Kierstyn Clubb ’15 accepted a job with the Salvation Army in 5 Vancouver, Washington. This will be her first job in her degree field of social work. She is assisting families and individuals in finding housing, one-time utility help and emergency one-time rent help. Sancha Elevado ’12 transitioned into her new role as the manager of global engagement & designated school official (DSO) at South Seattle College. She returned to her passion –study abroad–as well as student activities, orientation and student services (advising). In addition to work, she has been an active member in the Junior League of Seattle for the last three years. Taylor Gersch ’16, MBA’17 accepted a position with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eugene, Oregon.
2000s
4: Timmy Wailehua ’00 was recently hired as the vice president and residential loan operations manager at First Hawaiian Bank, tasked with leading the state’s largest bank and residential operations with a culture of Aloha.
5: Joseph Baar Topinka MBA’02 published “Just Judy”, a biography of his mother, Judy Baar Topinka, a committed public servant and Illinois leader who dedicated her life to public service and her family. David Flynn ’02 was promoted to Superintendent of Cedar Creek Corrections Center. He most recently worked as the administrator and coordinator of operations at Washington State Department of Corrections Headquarters, where he worked closely with all divisions of the agency.
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6: Kristin Goldy Masteller ’02 was recently promoted to the general manager and chief administrative officer of Mason County Public Utility District No. 1.
7: Eliseo John “EJ” Juarez ’08 accepted a senior leadership role as the public policy manager at the newly formed Group Health Foundation. In this role he works in partnership with the CEO, board of directors, community leaders and funding partners to lead an ambitious public policy agenda to advance health equity in Washington. Josh Metcalf MEM’07 was selected as the Lewis County public works director, due to his extensive background in both municipal and private-sector engineering. He joins the county from HDR Engineering, Inc.’s Olympia office, where has spent the last 10 years and now serves as managing principal.
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1990s
8: Dr. Alicia R. Marroquin MAC’92, Ph.D. also known by her pen name, A. Roz Mar, is a practicing psychotherapist and counselor who uses a spiritual element to help benefit her patients. She is the author of a trilogy, titled “Rosenhart,” which can be found on www.bluepearlarts. com. Though helping others is her passion, Dr. Marroquin also sets time aside for her art. Todd Rayan ’95 accepted a position at Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP as a senior partner. The firm opened a new office in downtown Olympia and continues its service to Lewis County, Thurston County and to other clients throughout the State of Washington. Kate McEntee DeWeese ’97 has joined the marketing team at Nordstrom as a copy editor. She says it's a big change from her 20-year career in journalism, but it's so much fun. Kate lives in University Place with her husband, John, and their 10-year-old son.
1980s
Diane Hansen ’82 has a new artwork display outside the Olympia Regional Learning Academy. Diane, a successful artist with installations throughout the Pacific Northwest, has had her pieces featured in the public on numerous occasions, one of which being “Lock on Tacoma,” the key and heart collection that stands permanently near a Sound Transit stop in Tacoma.
9: Paula Bouwer-Ronshaugen ’86 won the 2018 Direct Support Professional of the Year award for her 24 years of dedicated services at Washington Vocational Services, where she assists customers who are 32
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8 deaf and hard of hearing obtain and maintain competitive employment. Frank David Gaetz ’86 recently retired. Gaetz served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, spent two years with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) at American Lake, 11 years with the VA in Monterey, California, and, after 34 years of service, Gaetz has retired as an alcohol, drug and PTSD therapist with the VA.
10: Dr. Richard B. Hecker ’81 assisted in the three-year restoration of the 1944 Douglas C-47A/DC-3 Skytrain that led the paratrooper drop over Normandy on the night of June 5-6, 1944. He ferried the newly restored aircraft from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to San Marcos, Texas, as a co-pilot in February 2018. In May 2018 Hecker received his captain rating in the DC-3/C-47 airplane. The aircraft will return to England to participate in the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Photo taken at the Wings Over Houston Airshow in October 2018, with Hecker flying through the smoke. Hecker was also named as a staff pilot at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California, flying the museum’s historic 1939 Lockheed C-40A/12A.
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10 John Hite ’85 was appointed as associate vice president, chief audit executive at the University of West Florida. In this role, Hite is responsible for overseeing the internal audit, investigation and university compliance functions and will act as liaison for audits conducted by external auditors.
Hite is a certified public accountant, certified internal auditor and a certified fraud examiner.
1970s
11: Lt. Col. Dennis Almer ’73 was the guest speaker for the 100th anniversary of the veterans who served in WWI at the American Legion in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Nov. 11, 2018. Here is a quote pulled from his speech, which can be found online through the Grand Forks American Legion: “America is fortunate to have had millions of brave men and women stand for freedom since our country's founding. Today, veterans are almost 22 million strong. This Veterans Day let’s not only thank those who served and their families, but let’s also do all we can to support them.” Terrence Burke Jr. ’75, Ph.D. is a member of the Senior Biomedical Research Service of the Department of Health and Human Resources and a senior investigator in the Chemical
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Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health. He is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications, with many being in the most prestigious scientific journals in the world. He is on the editorial advisory boards of several prominent scientific journals. He is also the co-inventor on more than 20 U.S. patents. He has dedicated his research to finding new treatments for AIDS and cancer. He has received numerous national and international awards in recognition for his research. Terrence would like to dedicate all of these accomplishments to his reason for going to Saint Martin’s College, Fr. Bede Ernsdorff, O.S.B. Fr. Bede was a model monk-scholar whose influence had a profound impact on his career.
12: Art Fillazar ’73 received the Legends of Lahainaluna award from the Lahainaluna High School Foundation in November 2018 in recognition for his “outstanding contribution to the school and commitment to the community.” Fillazar spent 30 of his 45 years in education at Lahainaluna High School. He retired from his position
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as student activities coordinator at the school in 2014.
13: Jerry Taniyama ’70 graduated with a degree in business administration that served him well working in the local banking industry. He is happily married to Marilynn and blessed with two children and three granddaughters. Jerry’s legacy of community service includes: Rotary, Navy League, Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Hawaii, Friends of Hickam AFB, Kalihi Business Association and the Hawaii Men’s Shed Association. He was involved in chartering Hawaii’s first men’s shed, a social organization modeled after the Australian Men’s Shed Association. He is currently training for his 30th Honolulu Marathon. He is also involved with his two senior moms (who are in their 90s) and helping inspire his three granddaughters.
13: Michael Thibault ’79 earned his 300th career WNBA win in July 2018, becoming the winningest coach in WNBA history, with the Washington D.C. Mystics. He has been named WNBA Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2013. He is also the only person to be a coach on both a men’s and women’s national team.
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1960s Mike Endicott ’65 led an exemplary career with the U.S. Secret Service and he was a Secret Service agent for former President of the United States Richard Nixon. After 14 years of service to Nixon, he was brought on as Nixon’s Chief of Staff, getting an even deeper look into the post-presidency Nixon life. Mike compiled thousands of hours spent with Nixon into his newest work, “After Watergate: The Renaissance of Richard Nixon.” It is a story about politics, history and power. But, most of all,
it is a story about a working-class kid from the south side of Tacoma, Washington, who became a Secret Service agent and traveled the world, building a relationship with one of America’s most controversial presidents, Richard Nixon, and his wife, Pat Nixon.
Accomplishments, promotions, babies or marriage? We want to hear your exciting news! Send your news along with a photo to the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@stmartin.edu or mail to: Saint Martin's University, Office of Institutional Advancement 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Saturday, August 3
Saint Martin’s Alumni Reunion Celebrating High School ’69, College ’59, ’69, ’09. All alumni welcome
GOLF
Friday, August 2
The 36th Annual Saints’ Golf Classic Olympia Country & Golf Club | 9 a.m. Supporting Saints’ Athletics stmartin.edu/golfclassic
Class Picnic ($15) Have a blast with us over lunch, lawn games and kick ball. Archive Open House Tour the University’s archives and donate historical items. Dinner Banquet ($30) Enjoy a delicious dinner while we recognize the honored class years.
Sunday, August 4
Reunion Mass, Saint Martin’s Abbey | 11 a.m.
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In memoriam
Remembering the alumni of Saint Martin's
1940s
(1950s continued)
(1960s continued)
Col. Mervin Getty ’42 May 24, 2018
Richard St. Hilaire ’52 September 28, 2018
Thomas Wren ’69 November 10, 2018
Bernard Harvey HS’49, ’54 February 14, 2018
Edward Van Aelstyn HS’53 May 23, 2018
1970s
Fr. Timothy Lamm O.S.B. HS’45, ‘50 July 11, 2018
George Werner HS’55 February 16, 2018
Frank Leibly, Jr. HS’49 May 5, 2018
William Zoebel HS’58 August 8, 2018
James Sweeney, Sr. HS’42 August 31, 2018
1960s
Richard Charette ’72 January 8, 2019 Jerry Lenzi ’70 December 29, 2018 Richard Mikota ’71 March 15, 2019
Sister Esther Aherne, O.P. ’66 January 15, 2019
James Miller ’75 December 13, 2018
David Anderson ’62 June 12, 2018
David Ray ’76 July 26, 2018
Dennis Cochran ’59 August 11, 2018
Charles Beck ’60 March 19, 2019
Thomas Shields ’73 May 7, 2018
Michael Conant ’58 August 18, 2018
Arley Conner ’63 May 16, 2018
James Steuby HS’74 August 3, 2018
Gordon Damitio ‘59 March 10, 2018
Mike Hazlitt HS’68 June 25, 2018
Maj. Donald Stiver, Jr. ’75 March 31, 2019
Leon Flaherty ’58 January 22, 2019
Francis Hyatt ’69 May 16, 2018
David Thysens ’76 January 5, 2019
The Hon. Paul George ’52 August 6, 2018
Bruce Hylton ’68 September 9, 2018
Peter Van Mieghem ’72 November 12, 2018
William Howe ’59 October 1, 2018
Thomas James HS’63 April 4, 2018
Donna Vermillion ’70 August 4, 2018
Charles Lang ’51 October 17, 2018
Richard Marchese ’69 June 1, 2018
1980s
Berni McCormack HS’57 September 13, 2018
John McCormick HS’60, ’62 March 12, 2018
John McGillis, Sr. ’51 April 30, 2018
Robert Neland ’65 May 29, 2018
Col. George McKnight HS’51 January 18, 2019
Linda Pemerl ’69 September 20, 2018
Donald Miller ‘54 July 30, 2018
Roy Renggli HS’61 February 12, 2019
Fr. Matthew Naumes, O.S.B. HS’54, ’59 August 13, 2018
Kenneth Wachter ’60 February 25, 2018
James O’Connor HS’55, ’59 February 27, 2018
Jerome Weigel ’65 March 8, 2018
Raymond Reding ’57 January 10, 2019
Dennis Wilkie HS’61, ’65 March 14, 2018
Paul Zenner HS’45 March 3, 2018 1950s
Phyllis Barnes ’85 March 31, 2018 Kris Cain ’80 September 27, 2018 Verna Kinkela ’85 September 6, 2018 Theresa McCuiston ’84 March 18, 2019 Phillip McGuire ’80 August 7, 2018 Laurie Middleton MED’89 April 25, 2018 Sabina Tweit ’87 September 21, 2018
1990s
Tamera Aven ’91 May 8, 2018 Michelle Barthule ’96 March 12, 2018 Terry Boyer ’91 February 19, 2019 Carol Britton MBA’93 December 21, 2018 John Burden ’90 March 16, 2019 David Derrow ’91 July 25, 2018 Matthew Marcus ’94 October 5, 2018 Phillip Medlin ’91 February 25, 2019 Kathy Morris ’98 January 23, 2019 June Sallgren ’91 March 7, 2019 Steven Standley ’92 March 14, 2018 Bryan Walsh ’96 October 3, 2018 Donald Webber ’99 February 17, 2019 2000s
Bruce Cox ’01 March 12, 2019 John Forrester ’07 June 5, 2018 Illona Root ’05 January 4, 2019 2010s
Michael Mayo MED’16 September 26, 2018 Eloise Porter ’16 August 27, 2018
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2019 Fun was had by all in February during Homecoming Weekend 2019. Events included the Distinguished Alumni Awards presentation, Saints Athletics Hall of Fame & Hall of Honor inductees and rallies for the women’s and men’s basketball teams. We are looking forward to celebrating with you during Homecoming Weekend 2020!
Congratulations to all our alumni who were recognized over Homecoming Weekend 2019 Distinguished Alumni Honorees
Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor
Armandino Batali ’59
Joslyn Eugenio ’13, MBA ’14 – Softball
Kenneth Berchtold ’59, posthumous
Zac Lubin ’11 – Men’s Soccer
Patrick Crumb ’85
Niko Nunogawa ’07 – Men’s Basketball
Br. Boniface V. Lazzari, O.S.B. ’67
Adam Siler ’07– Baseball
Christine Schoonover ’69
1964 and 1965 High School Boys’ Basketball Teams
Michael Waske ’66
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1990-1991 and 1991-1992 Men’s Basketball Team
Welcome home Saints INSIGHTS INSIGHTS SUMMER SUMMER 2019 2019
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In other news
Saint Martin’s will serve as the custodial institution for Marylhurst University Marylhurst University, located in Marylhurst, Oregon, announced in May 2018 that it would close by the end of the calendar year. The university chose to partner with Saint Martin’s University to continue its legacy. As part of the agreement, Marylhurst will transfer a $3.14 million endowment to Saint Martin’s, which will generate over $100,000 in scholarships annually to future Saint Martin’s students. Saint Martin’s will serve as the custodial institution for Marylhurst University’s records and transcripts. In addition, Marylhurst alumni will be able to opt-in to communications from Saint Martin’s to connect with fellow alumni and stay up-to-date on important information, special events and future programs. Marylhurst University was in operation for 125 years. In 1859, 12 Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary left their home in Quebec to establish an educational community in Portland, Oregon. In its early days, Marylhurst College provided higher education to young women. In 1974, Marylhurst transitioned to a co-educational college for lifelong learners, one of the first in the nation, serving older students returning to complete degrees. In 1998, Marylhurst became a university, adding master’s degrees and online degree completion programs. Marylhurst University has more than 12,000 living alumni today. For more information visit www.stmartin.edu/marylhurst or contact Luoyi Ling at Lling@stmartin.edu, 360-923-8742.
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EVENTS CALENDAR
Aug.
2
2019 Reunion Weekend August 2-4 stmartin.edu/alumni
August 2 Saint Martin's 2019 Golf Classic
Olympia Country and Golf Club Mariel Garcia, mgarcia@stmartin.edu or stmartin.edu/golfclassic
August 3 Saint Martin’s Alumni Reunion
Kim Nelson at alumni@stmartin.edu or stmartin.edu/reunion • Celebrating High School ’69, College ’59, ’69, ’09 All alumni are welcome
For more information regarding University events, visit the events calendar at www.stmartin.edu/calendar
July
SAINTS Athletic Camps July - August www.smusaints.com
July 15-18 Saints Men's Basketball Camp Boys & Girls
Ages 8-17 Saint Martin's University, Hal and Inge Marcus Pavilion
July 22-25 Saints Men's Basketball Camp Boys & Girls
Ages 8-17 Saint Martin's University, Charneski Recreation Center
July 29-30 Saints Volleyball All Skills Camp
7th Grade and older Saint Martin's University, Charneski Recreation Center
July 30-August 1 Saints Volleyball Positional Camp
7th Grade and older Saint Martin's University, Charneski Recreation Center
August 5-8 Saints Women's Basketball Youth Skills Camp K-8th Grade Saint Martin's University, Charneski Recreation Center
For more information regarding SAINTS Athletic Camps smusaints.com or call 360-438-4328. For more visit information regarding University events, visit events calendar at www.stmartin.edu/calendar the
• Class Picnic H ave a blast with us over lunch, lawn games, and kick ball. • Archive Open House Tour the University’s archives and donate historical items. • Dinner Banquet Enjoy a delicious dinner while we recognize the honored class years.
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Sept.
11
Sept.
18 Oct.
2
Oct.
5
Oct.
12
Mass of the Holy Spirit Hal and Inge Marcus Pavilion
Colleen Dunne, cdunne@stmartin.edu
STEM Fair Cebula Hall, 3rd Floor
Alyssa Nastasi, anastasi@stmartin.edu
Ages 8-17 Fair Business Harned Hall
Alyssa Nastasi, anastasi@stmartin.edu
Careers for the Common Good Fair Harned Hall Alyssa Nastasi, anastasi@stmartin.edu
Family Weekend October 5-6
stmartin.edu/family-weekend
Paris-based Hermes Quartet Abbey Church
For a complete list of Abbey Church Events visit page 11 of this magazine. INSIGHTS SUMMER 2019
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Last Look
This year is the 100th anniversary of the installation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue that stands in front of Old Main. The statue was created by Charles Biber, a sculptor who worked throughout the Pacific Northwest. According to Steve Biber, Charles’ grandson, Charles did stonework and sculpted statues for Holy Rosary Church in Tacoma, First Presbyterian Church Tacoma and Bellarmine Preparatory School, among others. The Martian, a Saint Martin’s College publication, stated in 1919 that the statue was a gift from “the men of Western Washington who, under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus, took part during the month of July, 1918, in the first Laymen’s Retreat ever held in this state.”
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Happy anniversary! INSIGHTS SUMMER 2019
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Office of Marketing and Communications 5000 Abbey Way SE Lacey, WA 98503
l l a H a l r
Ca
oy. j h t wi e v i e. L v o l ith w k Coo saturday, november 2 saint martin’s university lacey, washington Saint Martin’s University’s Gala 2019 welcomes celebrity chef, author, TV personality & restaurateur
Carla Hall Join us for a black-tie gourmet evening that includes an exquisite five-course dinner, cooking demos and a live auction benefiting Saint Martin’s student scholarships. Reserve your table at stmartin.edu/Gala or call 360-438-4366.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Tacoma, WA Permit No. #378
