Insights Winter 2015

saint martin’s university • winter 2015

news for alumni and friends

Les Baily Writers Series • Brazilian visiting students • Gala 2014

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insights L A S T LO O K

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saint martin’s university winter 2015

On the cover: Brazilians at Saint Martin's 

8 EDITORS Genevieve Canceko Chan Meg Nugent Dwyer CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mary Holste PRINTING Capitol City Press CONTRIBUTORS Cruz Arroyo Tom Barte Kevin Bishop Deanna Bourgault Genevieve Canceko Chan Marki Carson Meg Nugent Dwyer Bianca Galam Irina Gendelman Roy F. Heynderickx Brother Boniface Lazzari, O.S.B. Megan Lobdell Brenda Lund Father Kilian Malvey, O.S.B. Deanna Partlow Amy Pollard Vanessa Schuler Rebecca Sill Katie Wojke 2

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PHOTOGRAPHERS Aaron Barna Suhyoon Cho Joe Saladino Insights is the official magazine of Saint Martin’s University. ©2015 All rights reserved.

We invite your comments and suggestions. Please email them to gchan@stmartin.edu.

Please send alumni news and address changes to: Institutional Advancement, 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, WA 98503; 360-491-4700; alumni@stmartin.edu.

Saint Martin’s University is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Visit us online at www. stmartin.edu.

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4 The Story Catcher Author Brian Doyle kicks off the Les Bailey Writers Series

8 Brazilians at Saint Martin's Students from Brazil infuse the SMU campus with their sparkle

12 Gala, Italian Style Chef Lidia Bastianich combines charm, elegance and remarkable flavors for Gala 2014

18 Tell Them About Us Student Amy Pollard brings messages from Tanzania

20 Hearing What Isn't Said The new Communication Studies program at Saint Martin’s

26 Alumnus Profile Steven F. Boedigheimer ’72 DEPARTMENTS 3 President’s Greeting 18 In Their Own Words 22 Benedictine Institute 23 Abbey News 25 Timeline

30 Alumnus Profile 32 Campus News and Events 36 Athletics News 40 Alum Notes

from the office of the

PRESIDENT

In this issue of Insights we take a look at how we use stories to share our human experience and how listening, one of our Benedictine values, plays an important part in that exchange.

In the first article, Portland author and longtime friend Brian Doyle says he is always “listening, listening, listening.” By listening, he says, we “bear witness [to] and preserve” one another’s stories, which can give power, comfort and strength.

In her essay, Professor Irina Gendelman shares how one of her Communication Studies classes studied closely a quote by Peter Drucker, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”

Now, this is not a passive type of listening. The Rule of Saint Benedict states that to listen is “to hear keenly and sensitively the voices of others”. When we listen, we hear for another person’s joys, pain and humanity, which help us to see the world from their perspective. Professor Gendelman says the goal of the University’s new Communication Studies program is “to encourage students to become responsible leaders, engaged citizens and inspired storytellers who … seek awareness on a personal scale and social justice on a scale beyond themselves.”

This is what we would hope for all in the Saint Martin’s family, from an undergraduate student on a service mission in Tanzania who promises the local families that she will take back their stories to the United States to an alumnus working with national health and government organizations to tackle the outbreak of a deadly virus. By listening, we also demonstrate other Benedictine values, including community, hospitality, respect and stewardship.

At the time of this issue, the University community is drafting a new strategic plan that will take us into the year 2020. This is an ambitious plan. Among our imperatives in the plan are how we hope to live our Benedictine identity, how we must support academic excellence, how we will embrace global and diverse perspectives, and how we need to extend our reach and partnerships into the greater community. At this stage, the most important thing we can do in our planning is what Saint Benedict prescribed 1,500 years ago: “to listen … with the ear of [our] heart.”

We hope to share a draft of the strategic plan later this summer. In the meantime, enjoy this issue of Insights and we look forwarding to seeing you on campus again soon!

Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D. President @SMUPresident

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T h e Sto r e h r y Catc artlow

by Deanna P

Portland author Brian Doyle is in the midst of a love affair – With words and the racket they make when they bang together; With stories and their tellers and their listeners, who are the rememberers; With children, his children and others, in all their newness, and his wife who is “riveting” – and short; With other people, too, in all their vulnerability and ordinariness and remarkableness; And with the God he calls “the Coherent Mercy.”

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n an evening in early October, Doyle shared his passions with a capacity crowd of some 200 people at Saint Martin’s University as he presented the inaugural session of the Les Bailey Writers Series. The new series honors English Professor Leslie G. Bailey, who inspired a similar love for the written word among generations of Saint Martin’s students. The series – presented by the University’s English Department and funded by the Leslie G. Bailey Endowment – brings authors of note to campus to read and discuss their books and craft, a practice that was an especially meaningful part of Bailey’s teaching philosophy.

Doyle’s presentation was just the sort of rich experience that would have made Bailey, who died in late 2010, laugh out loud and probably shed a tear or two. As Doyle spoke, listeners found themselves engulfed in emotions that darted and bobbed faster than a kite tail in a windstorm. And when people filed out the door, they left exhausted but still grinning and sorry the evening was over. More than one remarked that Doyle would fill the pews every Sunday if he were a preacher.

So who is Brian Doyle?

He’d tell you he was “a chump” and “an idiot,” and he did say that – but really, he’s a guy who has 14 books of personal essays, novels and poetry to his credit and numerous awards to attest to his far-ranging talents. He’s also the editor of the nationally acclaimed "Portland Magazine," the University of Portland publication that noted author Annie Dillard called “the best spiritual magazine in the country.” But the best description is what he also calls himself: “a story catcher.”

Frankly, he was born with more than a slight advantage in catching stories. He comes from a large, boisterous, Irish Catholic family in New York City, where he had his nose broken several times – once by his brother wielding a 2x4 – and now swears his speech has a nasal twang, although mostly it’s just the New York accent that you hear.

By 11, he was a published writer, selling a story in which he’d “borrowed heavily” from C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” for a story about his mom. From that encouraging start, he has captured all manner of stories

– without further borrowing. He says he gets them by “listening, listening, listening.” And then he writes them down in short little essays or meaty novels, novels with titanic sentences that are sprinkled with semi-colons and stretch like Silly Putty across several pages.

He says some people love his writing and send him letters of praise; others absolutely hate his writing and they send their messages on the Internet that the whole world can read. Each time he publishes a novel (there have been two – “Mink River” and his newest, “The Plover”), his six brothers compile a “Top 10 List of Hate Messages” from disaffected readers. Among his favorites is one from a reader who writes, “I’m going to send you a box of unused periods.”

But Doyle’s trademark run-on sentences are lyrical and lilting, pulsing like a tribal drumbeat through your brain.

Stories are universal; they give power and comfort and strength, “like someone holding your hand in the dark,” and in sharing them as a writer or listener or reader, we bear witness and preserve them.

“I write with a sort of music gyroscope in my head, and I listen for cadence and rhythm – it’s become something unconscious with me. I write long sentences but they have to be very direct and clear so I don’t lose the reader – I want them to surf with me,” he says, then reads a flowing passage – one sentence, really – from “Mink River.”

The editor in him then takes over: “Hmmm – not too bad!”

Calling writing “a benign neurosis,” Doyle spends part of each day at his craft. He is driven to write stories and not just because he’s Irish.

“Stories matter,” he told a group of Saint Martin’s students gathered to learn more about writing earlier that day. “Stories are holy and powerful, and they matter, whether they’re silly or funny or not – if you’re like me,

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Tower, in “that unbelievable hell,” he says, a man and woman stepped to the ledge, grabbed each others’ hands and, holding hands, jumped to their deaths.

The essay chronicles the eyewitness accounts of people who saw jumpers that day but this particular “leap” revealed a greater truth.

In “Leap,” he writes,

sometimes you’re so desperate, so needy, for a story to deal with the horrors I sometimes see around me.”

Stories are universal; they give power and comfort and strength, “like someone holding your hand in the dark,” and in sharing them as a writer or listener or reader, we bear witness and preserve them, he told the students.

“Stories, stories – stories. That’s why Alzheimer’s is so cruel – because it sucks all the stories out of you.”

When his words get hard to come by, Doyle turns to kids – his or others – for inspiration, he says.

“I’m sort of obsessed with the sacred holiness of children. Little kids are so wild and artless and cool.

When I feel clogged and dark – whenever I’m having what the Irish call a ‘black-dog day’ – I go and talk to little kids; I talk to a 4-year-old, who’s probably stuffing a peach pit up his nose. Kids are sort of the great naked antennas of the world … and sometimes you need that like water. Kids think today is the greatest day ever and that yesterday was the greatest day ever. Kids and dogs.”

Only once has his gift for storytelling deserted him and that was after the 9-11 attacks, in which three friends died. He foundered, unable to write even a single story to help make sense of that day.

“So my daughter says to me, ‘Don’t you always say to us that when God gives you a tool and you don’t use it, that’s a sin?’”

She was right, he says, and so he sought a story he could tell, and rejected them all but one – a nanosecond of hopefulness in a day of never-ending, non-stop horror.

He caught that story in a poem called “Leap.” On that morning, high in the World Trade Center’s South

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“Their hands reaching and joining are the most powerful prayer I can imagine, the most eloquent, the most graceful. It is everything that we are capable of against horror and loss and death. It is what makes me believe that we are not craven fools and charlatans to believe in God, to believe that human beings have greatness and holiness within them like seeds that open only under great fires, to believe that some unimaginable essence of who we are persists past the dissolution of what we were, to believe against such evil hourly evidence that love is why we are here.”

Not until the Dec. 14, 2012 shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School did he again face a situation which left him so bereft. This time, he found the story more quickly.

“Dawn and Mary” is a short essay about the school principal, Dawn, and the school counselor, Mary, who were in the office at a staff meeting when the first shots rang out in the school hallway. While those around them did the reasonable thing and dove under tables and desks, Dawn and Mary did the opposite. They “jumped, or leapt, or lunged,” from their chairs, ran out the door and toward the bullets to defend their students from a boy with a rifle, battling death in what he calls “an act of wild, defiant love and courage.”

“That story was there if you looked,” he says.

In the essay itself, he writes, “… if we ever forget what they did, if we ever forget how there is something in us beyond sense and reason that snarls at death and runs roaring at it to defend children, if we ever forget that all children are our children, then we are fools who allowed memory to be murdered too, and what good are we then? What good are we then?”

He asked each person to pass along a copy of “Dawn and Mary” to 10 more people so that their act of “naked, human, brave courage,” would be remembered. He asked it, not for himself, but because stories die if they’re not shared. u For a copy of the story to read and pass along, go to www.stmartin.edu/StoryCatcher.

The Leslie G. Bailey Endowment: A story you can help Saint Martin’s finish

by Deanna Partlow

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rian Doyle, the inaugural speaker for the Les Bailey Writers Series, asked, “Who was this Les Bailey guy?”

At Doyle’s presentation in October, four of Bailey’s former Saint Martin’s University students gave the audience a better understanding of the amazing English professor who became a symbol of so much that is good about the University.

A 1964 Saint Martin’s College alumnus, Bailey earned his doctorate in English at Indiana University and returned to teach at his alma mater in 1975. Despite his reputation for lofty standards and legendary strictness, students lined up to get in his classes because they knew he was an extraordinary teacher, not only of Victorian prose and poetry, but also of life and how to live it with compassion, dignity, humor and grace.

One student recalled a particular literature class in which Bailey realized none of his students had done the assigned reading for the day. Incensed, Bailey looked around the room and said, “Well, I guess there’s no need for me to be here,” then walked out. His remorseful students remained in class and discussed the book, and from then on, most came prepared to take part in discussions.

It is a quintessential Les Bailey story.

Bailey died on Christmas Eve 2010, after fighting through cancer to finish teaching the fall semester. In the weeks after his death, friends and colleagues came together to create the Leslie G. Bailey Endowment.

To honor Bailey’s legacy, the endowment has three parts: the first, to fund the small annual “Les Bailey’s Tennyson Award,” given to an English major who writes an outstanding paper; the second, to form the Endowment’s cornerstone, the Les Bailey Writers Series; and the third, to establish a scholarship in his name for a deserving English student. In late 2013, a milestone was reached when the initial amount of money required to fully meet endowment status was raised, enabling the writers series to begin.

Saint Martin’s English Professor Olivia Archibald, Ph.D., says of Bailey, “He defined our English Department’s purpose as a commitment to the act of awakening students to the magnificence of literature and its truths about the human family.

We are so fortunate to have Brian Doyle as our inaugural presenter in this series since so much of what he writes, whether novels, short stories, or essays, enacts what Les was about – the power of literature to give meaning to our lives.”

Archibald has continued the work to fulfill the endowment’s goals, along with fellow endowment committee members Holly Harmon and, until her recent death, Carleen Jackson. The target for perpetually funding a scholarship in Bailey’s name is not yet met and the writers series still needs a firmer financial footing.

You can help preserve the legacy of this gifted educator by making a gift to either the Leslie G. Bailey Endowment or the Les Bailey Writers Series through the University’s Office of Institutional Advancement, 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, WA 98503; or online at www.stmartin.edu/giving/, then click on the “donate now” button.

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When at Saint Martin's, do as Saints do‌.

by Meg Nugent Dwyer

A group of Brazilian students grin and pose after spending a rainy afternoon of pumpkin picking at a local farm.

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n the months since their arrival on the Saint Martin’s University campus in Lacey, 27 visiting students from Brazil have had

their first adventures with such icons of American culture as baseball, fast food and autumnal visits to a local farm in search of the perfect Halloween pumpkin.

They learned about that great American pastime, baseball, by attending a Mariners game after participating in an on-campus workshop cooked up by University staff members who introduced them to the sport through a Power Point presentation and some baseball equipment.

“Baseball is very uncommon in Brazil. So, for a lot of the students, they were holding a bat and a mitt for the first time,” says workshop co-organizer David Martin, community relations and service learning coordinator for the Office of International Programs and Development, which oversees the Brazilians and the other international students attending Saint Martin’s.

Other firsts for the Brazilian students include working together as a team of paddlers in the University’s Dragon Boat Festival; volunteering at the Hands On Children’s Museum; visiting Seattle and Mt. Rainier, and concocting Brazilian treats for the Chemistry Club bake sale.

They also learned the hard way that the American concept of punctuality is entirely different from what’s practiced in Brazil.

“When we first came here, we were always late for class!” says Felipe De Souza, a mechanical engineering major from the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná.

“In Brazil, if you are late for class, it’s not a big deal,” explains Idauana Vicente, a nursing student from the Universidade Federal de Pelotas. “But here, the professors get really upset if you’re late.”

“I have learned to love punctuality,” says Louise Da Silva, a pharmacy student from the Universidade Federal da Bahia. “I am now on time to avoid a teacher getting mad at me.”

The Brazilian students, who began arriving at Saint Martin’s in the summer of 2013, are here because of an initiative the Brazilian government launched to send 100,000 students to higher education institutions in the U.S. and other countries for one year to prepare for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professions.

The Science Without Borders initiative is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and is known in the United States as the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program. The program provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students from Brazil so that they can afford to study in the STEM fields at colleges and universities abroad.

“Without the scholarships, many of these students would normally not have the means to come study abroad for a year; many are from working-class and middle-class backgrounds,” says Marco Tulluck, the OIPD’s director of international programs who serves as advisor to the Brazilian students. “They’re really appreciative of this opportunity and they want to make the most of their time, here. They are very motivated.”

"In Brazil, if you are late for class, it's not a big deal. But here, the professors get really upset."

– Felipe De Souza The most daunting hurdle for the Brazilian students, whose native language is Portuguese, has been learning English.

“We couldn’t speak English and we knew nothing about American life when we got here,” says Geyssyka Guilhermino, a nursing student who came to the U.S. from the Universidade Estadual de Ciências de Saude de Alagoas. “My first time here, I remember thinking, ‘This is a beautiful campus. I just can’t understand what anybody is saying!’”

“Before I started to understand English, I just did a lot of smiling,” says Cristiana Barbosa, another nursing student from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Like other international students at Saint Martin’s, the Brazilians enrolled in ESL classes being taught on campus, some of them for up to two semesters, in order to become fluent in speaking, writing and reading English. Among their biggest accomplishments is mastering

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Brazilian students perform a variety of dances from their native country for the enjoyment of attendees at the Washington State and Rio de Janeiro Conference on U.S. and Brazilian Student Exchange held in November at Saint Martin’s University.

a new language while simultaneously taking courses in that language for challenging STEM majors such as civil and mechanical engineering, pharmacy and nursing.

The students’ desire to learn English was a major factor in their pursuit of a spot at a U.S. university.

“English is a global language. Everyone has to know English,” says De Souza. “In Brazil, the second biggest language at the big companies there is English. In the engineering designing programs, everything is in English.

The best book for engineering is in English.”

“I really love English. I like the sound of it, especially when it’s spoken the American way,” Da Silva says. “I love learning words like ‘chaotic’ – they come soft to my ears.”

In addition to learning a new language, the Brazilian students have encountered American customs that, at first, startled them.

“In Brazil, we are always hugging and kissing each other,” says Barbosa, adding Americans seem to be more reserved and shy about public displays of affection when greeting each other.

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“I learned to put my hand out first to shake instead of hugging a person,” Guilhermino says with a grin.

Another culture shock for the Brazilian students was the flavors of American food. “In America, the salty food is so salty and the sweet food is so sweet,” says Barbosa. “We don’t mix sweet and salt in Brazil like it’s done here.”

"I really love English. I like the sound of it, especially when it's spoken the American way." – Louise Da Silva “And what Americans eat for lunch is so different than in Brazil,” she adds. “Here, it’s often fast food and pizza.

In Brazil, we eat meat, rice, beans, and a salad for lunch.

It’s a full meal and we will take one-and-a-half to two hours for lunch and to visit with each other. Here, it’s maybe a 30-minute meal before the next class.”

Even with the cultural differences, the Brazilian students say they have been warmly enfolded into the campus community.

Saint Martin’s helps to foster student exchange

by Meg Nugent Dwyer

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ith the help of Brazilian students who are studying at Saint Martin’s University for a year, the University played host in November to an international conference designed to promote student exchange for the first time between Washington and Brazil by bringing representatives of higher education institutions from the two regions together.

The Washington State and Rio de Janeiro Conference on U.S. and Brazilian Student Exchange, held November 17-21, during International Education Week on the Lacey campus, was attended by representatives from one Portland and 20 Washington higher education institutions, as well as 11 Brazilian universities.

The conference was planned in response to President Barack Obama’s “100,000 Strong in the Americas” signature education initiative that was launched in January 2014. The initiative aims to increase educational exchanges between the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean.

“It was pretty easy to make friends. When you say you’re from Brazil, people are really excited and they ask a lot of questions,” says Vinicius Cecilio, a mechanical engineering major from the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná. “These are friendships you take with you for your whole life.”

“The people in the OIPD are helping us all the time and asking us if we need help,” says Da Silva. “Marco is amazing and very helpful to us as an advisor.”

Members of the campus community say the Brazilian students have infused the University with their own sense of generosity and fun.

“They’re energetic and they’re always giving you a hug.

It makes me want to go to Brazil and meet the rest of the Brazilian people,” says Christie Carlson, student activities coordinator for the OIPD. “They are very relational,” Martin says. “They approach you like they’ve known you for years. There’s a vibrance to them, they’re very friendly and they add a lot of life and joy to the campus.” u

The conference also served as the venue for a panel discussion, “Business Opportunities in Brazil,” that was announced by the University and the Thurston Economic Development Council as the first business conference in the South Sound area to address business opportunities for Washington companies in Brazil. Brazil has emerged as a vibrant economic engine. It has also taken center stage as the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

During the conference, the Brazilian students participated in a panel discussion that centered on their reflections about living and studying in the United States.

They also served in several supportive roles, including performing traditional Brazilian dances for the enjoyment of the conference attendees.

A highlight of the conference was a ceremonial signing of a “State-to-State Student Exchange” agreement by government representatives from the states of Washington and Rio de Janeiro to cement the fostering of the Washington/ Brazilian student exchange and educational cooperation between higher education institutions of both regions.

Dignitaries gather for this commemorative photo after participating in the signing of the “State-to-State Student Exchange” agreement held at the beginning of the conference.

volupta tquaspel maximusam et ut aut quossi

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Saint Mart

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rtin's Gala Chef Lidia Bastianich leads a generous night of giving at Saint Martin’s Gala The sights and smells of Italy filled the Hal and Inge Marcus Pavilion at Saint Martin's University on November 1, All Saints Day, as celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich cooked and shared recipes from the “old country” at the 2014 Saint Martin’s Gala, inspiring a crowd of 600 guests to raise $895,000 for student scholarships.

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Chef Lidia Bastianich makes her grand entrance into Marcus Pavilion, accompanied by students and minstrels, for the start of Gala 2014.

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he annual Saint Martin's Gala featured Bastianich, the award-winning chef and entrepreneur who was the fourth celebrity chef to headline the University’s signature fundraising event. Led by Italian minstrels on accordion and mandolin, the “grande dame” of Italian cooking rhythmically clapped to the music and exchanged elegant high fives with members of the warmly welcoming audience as she made her entrance and paraded throughout Marcus Pavilion, followed by students decked out in chef's whites.

The Pavilion had been transformed into a softly lit Tuscan dining space accented with shimmering purple and green tablecloths and stemless wineglasses. “I love this family style of eating!

Salute!” Bastianich declared as she raised her wine glass to toast the audience and then went right to work on the Viking-sponsored stage.

Bastianich offered a culinary demonstration accompanied by a five-course dinner and live auction. At one point, the chef gently commandeered a videographer taping on stage with her to move his camera in close to better show the Gala diners how she was preparing a salad. The menu, which repeat Gala guests said was the best yet, featured marinated calamari salad, pasticciata bolognese, and beef barolo so tender it fell off the fork.

Bastianich expanded one auction item – a trip to New York City to dine at not one but two of the hottest Italian restaurants in town, her restaurant, Felidia, and Mario Batali’s restaurant, Babbo – by selling it twice at $15,000, for a grand total of $30,000.

This auction item fetched the highest amount for scholarships.

Several guests had the opportunity to join Bastianich on stage, including those whose winning bids landed them on barstools “in the kitchen.” One lucky bidder won the chance to work alongside Bastianich as her sous chef and received a chef's coat signed by the guest chef.

As in years past, students played a major role in the event. Saint Martin’s junior Annabel Warnell welcomed the crowd to the Gala and introduced President Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D. Later in the evening, senior Ben Lopez shared his story of success and expressed his gratitude for the financial assistance he has received. Inspired by the students' remarks, guests “raised their paddle” to make gifts toward the University's “Feed-a-Mind” scholarship funds. This portion of the program raised $289,900.

“This is like throwing a party for your 600-plus friends – I guarantee you, this will be a party tonight!” Heynderickx told the crowd. “More than 150 volunteers are here with us tonight, and many of them are our students.”

The co-chairs for the 2014 Saint Martin's Gala were Armandino '59 and Marilyn Batali, Rick and Pam Panowicz, and Kathy Lombardo and Fred Wright. u

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© ABC STUDIOS

Special Gala 2015 Preview!

At the end of the evening, Gala emcee Elisa Jaffe revealed a special preview video that announced next year's Gala will feature the return of celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Michael Simon, along with their co-stars from “The Chew,” Daphne Oz, Clinton Kelly and Carla Hall.

The 2015 Gala will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 at Saint Martin’s University. Tickets and tables are on sale now at www.stmartin.edu/gala. #SMUGala

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in their own

WORDS

Saint Martin's student Amy Pollard with students at St. Agnes Primary School in Chipole

by Amy Pollard '16

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t was our last night in Tanzania. The air was thick and muggy, and it was growing dark.

After a long weekend of tears and goodbyes in Chipole, culminating in a 15-hour bus ride, we sat around a table and sipped Kilimanjaro lagers with Father Zeno Mtewele, our host in Dar es Salaam. He explained that the U.S. has a skewed perception of Africa. He explained that Africa, in particular Tanzania, has so much more to offer the world.

“Tell them about us,” he said.

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When I think about Father Zeno’s words, I become overwhelmed. There are so many things I could tell you. I could tell you a story exclusively about poverty and suffering. Or I could tell you a different story.

Last summer, I was part of the inaugural Tanzania Service Immersion trip. The trip spanned from June 16-July 24. I was one of six students, including Sam Bingaman, Jaime Rosenberg, Brianna Quintanilla, Niya Tawachi and Denver Garcia, who made the journey. Susan Leyster, director of Service Immersion, was our trip leader. The impetus for the trip began when Susan traveled to Tanzania in 2001. After her return, Susan was inspired to one day bring a group of students from Saint Martin’s University to Tanzania. Although alumni have traveled there individually, the University did not have an official trip until the summer of 2014.

During our visit, we spent a few days in Dar es Salaam and then devoted the majority of our time at St. Agnes Convent in Chipole. St. Agnes is home to more than 100 Benedictine sisters, as well as students, teachers and other government workers. The compound includes an orphanage, primary and secondary schools, trade school, medical dispensary and numerous small business enterprises which enable the convent to be self-sustaining.

Sister Redempta Ndunguru, who holds a Master in Education degree from Saint Martin’s, was our main contact. Sister Redempta helped us find ways to volunteer at the convent. Jaime and Bri helped in the orphanage, Sam and Niya helped in the primary school, Denver worked in the bakery and I helped in the bakery and the medical dispensary.

The trip was full of very human experiences. Some moments were joyful. For instance, we attended the Jubilee mass at St. Agnes, which celebrated the sisters who had served for 25 or 50 years. The event was filled with music, feasting and dancing. Sam Bingaman recalls, “This event was an incredible display of the word ‘celebration.’ ” Other moments were eye-opening. The orphanage was home to about 40 children. When we brought candy for the children, the older boys helped the toddlers unwrap the candy and learn to eat it. Bri explains, “All the kids took care of each other. The oldest kids of about 12 years of age had to grow up so fast in order to take care of the little ones running around.”

Still other moments were humorous. When Aslan attacked the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia, the 100-plus children packed into the library to watch the movie burst into cheers and threw their hands in the air.

(Left), Jubilee celebration at St. Agnes Convent in Chipole. (Right) Student Amy Pollard makes chili with sisters of St. Agnes.

After Brazil won a World Cup game, the men in the cantina shouted and ran around, waving their plastic chairs above their heads.

During our five-week trip, we encountered a lot of poverty. I saw beggars on the street, 10 students hovered over one textbook and a child bedridden with malaria.

At times, I remember feeling hopeless in the face of such quiet, day-to-day suffering. We gave what we could, including five boxes of medicine to the orphanage, but the poverty was part of a cycle that began long before we arrived and would continue after we left.

Amid these difficulties, however, there was a pervasive sense of joy. I saw it in the woman with polio, who smiled and greeted everyone. I saw it in Dr. Ishmael, as he laughed and chased a chicken out of the clinic. I saw it in Sister Gotharda, as she and other sisters danced into the dining room singing and drumming on empty buckets.

The Tanzania that we experienced was a place of poverty but also resilience. It changed us. Jaime says, “This trip has changed my perspective on life. It has made me realize how much you can love someone.”

Niya reflects, “I knew I would fall in love with the people.

However, I was not expecting the amount of love I received in return.”

Looking back, I’m beginning to understand Father Zeno’s message.

There is more to Africa than starving children, guerilla warfare and Ebola. There is more to Tanzania than its third-world status. Tanzania is the place where Nickson busted out his dance moves, where Sister Jackline sang to the radio, where Seline asked me to be her friend.

This is the Tanzania I will remember, the Tanzania I will carry with me. u To read more about Pollard’s experiences in Tanzania, follow her blog at amysmu.wordpress.com.

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in their own

WORDS

hearing what isn't said

by Irina Gendelman

I

asked my Introduction to Communication students to come up with a quote, any quote, about anything important to them. We would then print this quote at a local letterpress studio as a way to examine the visual and tactile form of print communication.

This was the middle of our first semester of the brand new Communication Studies program that was launched this past fall at Saint Martin’s University. The students deliberated among themselves and picked the words written by Peter Drucker, a social scientist and author:

" The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said."

As you might expect, they used a search engine to find a bank of communication-related quotes. We haven’t studied Peter Drucker in class. However, the fact that this quote resonated with the students is telling. They are a clever bunch and they are curious about the world around them, especially the mediated world in which they are so thoroughly immersed.

They understand that even though we are surrounded by a continuous and evolving cacophony of noise, there is still something important in that which is silent.

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In our first few months together, we have examined the many areas of communication, from interpersonal to political to social to organizational to mediated. We have looked at the ways that language is used to frame ideas; the ways that we use objects, such as clothing, to communicate our identities; and the ways that mass media representations perpetuate certain ideologies and silence others.

We have explored how communication is complex and not always what it seems at the surface and that reality is something more complicated than the shadows on the walls of Plato’s cave. Images, words, gestures and design elements speak to us as symbols beyond their literal meaning and students recognize that it is their job to explore this process of meaning making.

About 100 years ago, in the United States, scholars began to fuse two branches – speech communication and journalism. In those early days, led by sociologists at the University of Chicago, communication scholarship was fueled by the powerful and real-world examples of the ways that totalitarian regimes could use emerging media technologies to manipulate public opinion and to commit heinous crimes in the name of their citizens.

Jewish émigrés, such as Hannah Arendt, Paul Lazarsfeld and Kurt Lewin , who escaped the rise of Nazism in Germany during the 1930s, did much of the early

Students in Professor Irina Gendelman’s Introduction to Communications class visit Pope Press Olympia to experience first-hand the craft of letterpress printing, an earlier form of mass communication. “I wanted them to have the physical experience of printing, which is mostly lost with digital technologies,” says Gendelman.

intellectual heavy lifting in the field, studying power, propaganda, public opinion and how groups could work with each other for the public good.

Today, the imperative for communication scholarship remains strong. In the last decade, we have seen a lightning-speed convergence of technologies to a point where talking, dating, shopping, reading, making movies, reporting news, listening to the radio, navigating, playing games, advocating for a cause and much more can be done with one hand-held device. We live in a world of ubiquitous screens, endless selfies, viral cat videos, onthe-spot news, constant contact, instant access to information and consolidated corporate ownership of media and data. These communication technologies, undeniably, impact the ways that we experience our merging personal and public lives.

The goal of communication studies at Saint Martin’s is to encourage students to become responsible leaders, engaged citizens and inspired storytellers who, as scholars, seek awareness on a personal scale and social justice on a scale beyond themselves.

Before we had the Communication Studies program, I witnessed a hunger among the students. When we talked about communication-related themes such as the ones described above, I could see a shift in the classroom. Bodies would sit forward, eyes focused, discussion enlivened.

The same thing happened with media production.

Students were eager to get their hands on media tools and to create stories of their own. When the provost encouraged me to put together a proposal for the communication program, I was thrilled. I saw it as a great opportunity to connect many excellent classes that already exist on campus and to create a comprehensive program that uses our existing strengths and combines them with new opportunities.

There were already courses such as Language and Culture of War taught by humanities and sociology faculty at Saint Martin's. With the start of the new program, English professor Julia Chavez, Ph.D., created a cross listed course, “Media History: Evolution of the Book.” She begins her class by looking back at the origins of handmade books and connects that history with the more digital experiences of students today.

There is a lot of potential for other cross-disciplinary classes, such as media economics to be taught with business or visual communication and game design to be paired with computer science. In 2015, alongside classes such as communication and identity, interpersonal communication, media studies, film studies and journalism classes, we are offering filmmaking, podcasting and storytelling, and communication law. We are also working with the debate team to provide students with an opportunity to sharpen their speaking and argumentation skills.

The future of Communication Studies will, in part, be determined by the feedback from students today, who are our program pioneers, and the many excellent faculty at the University. We are also excited about the possibilities of partnering with our local community -- the many arts and non-profit organizations, as well as the state legislature and the high-tech industry in the area, all have expressed interest in working with our communication students.

Stay tuned for student radio and many other exciting developments in the near future!

Irina Gendelman received a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Washington. She is currently an associate professor and director of the new Communication Studies program at Saint Martin’s. u

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BENEDICTINE INSTITUTE

The Face of God O

n October 2, 2014, the Saint Martin’s University Benedictine Institute Lecture Series hosted the distinguished, internationally renowned Father William Meninger, O.C.S.O., from Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.

Father Meninger engaged the large and enthusiastic gathering of students, faculty, staff and guests with his captivating Irish wit and profound faith in a loving and caring God. Father Meninger reminded his audience that each person is created in the image and likeness of God and, as such, is called to see God as a loving, ultimate encounter of our lives; each person, he convincingly told his audience, is the “face of God.”

Father Meninger said there is something or someplace within us that belongs entirely to God, a place that has “never been darkened, defaced or obscured by the errors of our intellect, the meanderings of our imagination or the brutalities of our will.”

Father Meninger broke open the classic text, “The Cloud of Unknowing,” a little book dating from the 14th century about how to learn and practice contemplative prayer, and showed his audience how to tap into the miracle of God’s love and the miracle of our existence.

In making reference to the first paragraph of chapter three of the “Cloud,” he suggested we have all we need; for nothing stands between us and our loving God, and the Divine within each human being. There are no words for the depth and joy of God’s love. All we need is to embrace “the cloud of unknowing; all we need to do is just be.” For, as Father Meninger imagined for us, “a

snowflake always falls exactly where it belongs.” We are as intricate, unique and beautiful as a snowflake.

Father Meninger reminded his audience that God is AWE! He told a story of a young woman on retreat at his monastery. She stepped outside her cottage one dark evening; there was no artificial light polluting the environment, only the moon and the stars in the dark solitude of night. She had never seen the real beauty of the night.

Father Meninger truly showed us the face of God. Then, suddenly, the beauty of the sky lit up with crystal starlight, taking her breath away; she was in awe as she reached up to grasp a handful of stars and put them into her pocket. That breathtaking awesomeness, Father Meninger said, is an encounter with our God. In his wonderfully down-to-earth manner, Father Meninger reminded his listeners to get out of their heads and stop praying from the neck up. “Tap into your experiences, to the feelings, to the heart, for this is the teaching of Christ.”

This leads to profound experiences of love and a thrill to be alive in this universe. We are all a part of a cosmic timelessness that bursts with hope.

Father Meninger truly showed us the face of God in the brief time we had the honor to be with him.

www.stmartin.edu/Benedictine/benedictineInstitute.aspx

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ABBEY NEWS

MONASTIC HAPPENINGS

by Boniface V. Lazzari, O.S.B.

“The day draws to a close and, with it, the outgoing year comes to an end.”

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e enter our new year in a renewed state of mind, remembering what has happened in the year just past, even as we look toward the future. For the monastic community, the “year just past” included a profession of first vows, as well as the celebration of several jubilees of priestly ordination and monastic profession.

On 11th July, Abbot Neal Roth received the first vows of Vietnamese-born Brother Martin de Porres (Thang) Dihn in the presence of the monastic community, family and many friends. Following the Pontifical Mass, at which Father George Seidel was the occasional homilist, Brother Martin and the monastic community entertained their guests at a festive lunch. Brother Martin, a very welcome addition to our community, is currently enrolled in classes at Saint Martin’s University and carries out various assignments in the monastery under the direction of Junior Master Father Gerard Kirsch.

This past year, Father Timothy Lamm marked the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination; Father Alfred Hulscher, prior, the 60th of his monastic profession; and our golden jubilations of profession were Father Justin MC Creedy, Brother Ramon Newell and this writer. All marking anniversaries were honored at a special Mass and dinner at the annual monastic retreat in May. Brother Ramon renewed his monastic vows at Evening Prayer on the Eve of Saint Benedict’s Day. In mid-October, the monastic community hosted a jubilee reception for this

writer, who renewed his vows in the presence of community and friends at a liturgy celebrated in mid-November.

“Ad multos annos” and congratulations to all!

The final months of 2014 were months of classes, presentations, reunions and fund-raising galas. Brother Ramon spoke to the University’s international students on the topic of service. . . Brother Aelred Woodard conducted a weekend retreat on “The Liturgy of the Hours” at the Palisades, Federal Way . . . Brother Luke Devine flew from Chicago -- where he is residing at the Catholic Theological Union so as to be closer to sources for his thesis research -- to Berkeley in mid-October. In Berkeley, he successfully passed an oral defense, completing one more step toward achieving his doctorate in theology. . . Abbot Neal, Father Prior Alfred, Father Gerard and others of the monastic community joined members of the Saint Martin’s High School class of 1974 as they celebrated their 40th anniversary. . . Father George, Father Peter Tynan and this writer attended a benefit dinner for Lacey’s Holy Family School at Indian Summer Country Club. . . Father Kilian Malvey represented Saint Martin’s, along with our university president and others, at a benefit dinner in Yakima for the Yakima Catholic schools. . . Abbot Neal and other monks participated in the University’s annual Gala in November.

Father Kilian and Father Justin were re-elected to the University’s Board of Trustees at corporation meetings

INSIGHTS winter 2015 | 23

in the fall. At the same meetings, the Abbey community voted to make a significant donation to the Gala’s “Feeda-Mind” scholarship fundraiser as well as another gift toward construction of the new covered tennis courts for Saint Martin’s students.

The Abbey’s Martin of Tours Collection of Pacific Northwest Art recently acquired a new work artist, Simon Kogan.

A stained-glass work depicts Saint Martin of Tours, patron of the Abbey and University. It will be “on loan” to Old Main and displayed outside the newly renovated Admissions Offices. “Saint Martin of Tours” is the third piece by Mr. Kogan to join the Abbey collection. Mr. Kogan is a son of Saint Martin’s University Professor Victor Kogan, Ph.D. Thanks to the hard work of Brother Mark Bonneville, the monastic community is enjoying a new, much-needed laundry room. The room began life as a locker room in 1959. Later, it was turned into a laundry staffed by someone employed to do the washing. Still later, the monks took over doing their laundry individually in a Jerry-built space. Now we have a space that functions well.

Have a blessed 2015!

Portrait of Brother Boniface in 1979 by Bernard of San Francisco.

Boniface V. Lazzari, O.S.B., writes Abbey News and oversees the Abbey Concert Series.

ABBEY CHURCH EVENTS HOSTS VALENCIAN QUINTET Abbey Church Events, Saint Martin’s Abbey, presented its second concert of the 2-14-2015 season with the appearance in the Abbey Church of Spanish Brass. The brass quintet is in residence in Valencia, Spain.

It was the first time since the founding of Abbey Church Events that the Abbey presented an all-brass group. This is a silver anniversary for the highly acclaimed group, composed of two trumpeters, a hornist, a trombonist and a tubist.

Greg Alley, of the New York Brass Conference, has called Spanish Brass “one of the world’s finest brass quintets.”

The International Trumpet Guild Journal has called the group “exciting and artistic . . . gloriously brilliant.”

Their predominately classical program was presented at 8:00 p.m., on Saturday, 24th January, in the Saint Martin’s Abbey Church.

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Support for this concert has been provided by the family and friends of the late Louise A. Tamblyn, who died in April 2013. The Tamblyn family has a long association with Saint Martin’s. Mrs. Tamblyn’s stepson, Wayne Tamblyn, graduated from Saint Martin’s College in the year 1957 and was one of the supporters of the O’Grady Library. Carol Tamblyn Carlson, the daughter of Louise Tamblyn, studied music with the late Father Eugene Kellenbenz, O.S.B., and performed in the Saint Martin’s Consort, under the direction of Brother Aelred Woodard, O.S.B. Carol Carlson is a long-time supporter of Abbey Church Events.

Abbey Church Events was founded in 1980 by the monks of Saint Martin’s Abbey. Admission to concerts is without charge, though a free-will donation is suggested. For further information on Spanish Brass, see: www.spanishbrass.com

What's been happening at Saint Martin΄s

JULY Learning and culture camp gets on the go July 21-23 | Children aged 5-12 cross the Pacific on an imaginary adventure for free at the Saint Martin’s University Chinese Language and Culture Camp on the Lacey campus. The camp provides a daily mixture of Chinese language, writing and cultural activities, including practicing some tai chi moves, learning Chinese hand-counting and constructing dragon masks and lanterns. 

A satisfying partnership July 11 | Saint Martin’s and Tacoma Community College form a partnership that enables prospective teachers to attend classes in Pierce County. Through the new venture, known as the 2+2 Education Program, students who have earned their associate of arts degree at TCC, or at other nearby community colleges or universities, can apply for admission to the Saint Martin’s bachelor of arts degree programs in elementary education or special education.

Candidates accepted into the program can then take Saint Martin’s courses for two years to complete their degree but take the coursework with Saint Martin’s faculty on the TCC campus. 

JUNE Nursing Program Reaches Milestone June 13 | The Saint Martin’s University RN-to-BSN Program in nursing receives national accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, as well as approval from the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. National accreditation and state approval provide an evaluation of the success a nursing program has in achieving its mission, goals and outcomes. 

INSIGHTS winter 2015 | 25

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT SAINT MARTIN΄S

Sister Schools  August 13 | Saint Martin’s University signs a new joint sister-school agreement with Petrozavodsk State University in the Russian Federation Republic of Karelia, and the College of Saint Scholastica, a fellow Benedictine institution in Duluth, Minnesota. The agreement formalizes an academic and cultural exchange between the two American schools and the highly respected Russian teachertraining institution.

Happy Anniversary!

AUGUST Raising Green on the Greens August 1 | Even Saints need a hand when it comes to paying for college.

A total of $48,606 was raised during the 31st Annual Saint Martin’s Golf Tournament to support Saint Martin’s student-athletes in all sports. The tournament is a joint project of the Saint Martin's Athletic Foundation, the Office of Alumni Relations and the Athletics Department. 

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August 14 | Saint Martin’s University and Mukogawa Women’s University in Nishinomiya, Japan, celebrate the 30th anniversary of their summer cultural exchange agreement, which has enabled students on both sides of the Pacific to personally experience and learn about another culture, language and way of life. 

Thank you, Olympia Federal Savings and Murdock Trust!

A $100,000 gift toward the second phase of the Saint Martin’s University Engineering Initiative is pledged by local community bank Olympia Federal Savings. The initiative’s second phase will fund construction of a new $2.7 million industrial laboratory building.

Saint Martin’s also became $250,000 closer to breaking ground for the industrial lab because of a grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust out of Vancouver, Washington.

Make yourselves at home August 22 | Students, staff, faculty and alumni turn out to help freshmen and new students move into the residence halls at Saint Martin’s for the start of the 2014-15 academic year. Many hands made light work as Saints helped newcomers get their possessions moved in and organized in their rooms.

Growing our majors and minors August 25 | The University launches the 2014-2015 academic year with two new programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, the first in communication studies and the second in educational studies. The University also introduces a minor in social justice.

Saint Martin's growing study abroad initiatives include the introduction of new programs in Costa Rica, Spain and Argentina.

SEPTEMBER It’s good to give September 2 | Saint Martin’s begins to gear up for #GivingTuesday 2014 with an educational awareness campaign about the international event, held December 2. #GivingTuesday is a day set aside during the holiday season to celebrate philanthropy, volunteerism and community service, and to be part of the powerful difference people can make when they join forces to help others. Designated as the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday highlights “giving back,” similar to the emphasis on holiday shopping marked

by Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The main idea is to focus the generous spirit of the Christmas season on gifts of service and support.

Expanding Study Abroad 

We Love our Military

September 8 | The Saint Martin’s University Study Abroad program is partnering with a new affiliate provider to add three more host countries to the university’s pre-approved list, as well as provide a broader range of programs designed to ease the application and acceptance process for students. Brazil, Czech Republic and South Africa are the new destinations for Saint Martin’s students as the result of an agreement forged with the CEA Academic Affiliate Program.

September 23 | Saint Martin’s University announces it has been selected by Victory Media as a 2015 Military Friendly® School. The honor places the University in the top 15 percent of the nation’s military-friendly schools, which are recognized for doing the most to embrace military students and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation.

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WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT SAINT MARTIN΄S

Explora tus sueños October 22 | Explore Your Dreams is the English translation for the title of the Latino Youth Summit hosted by Saint Martin’s University. Some 300 high school students gather on the Lacey campus for a day of workshops designed to enhance education, future life choices and careers.

Groundbreaking news

OCTOBER The loving search for God October 2 | Eminent spiritual leader and teacher Father William Meninger, OCSO, a Trappist monk best known for reviving the early Christian practice of contemplative prayer, comes to campus as a distinguished speaker for the Fall 2014 Benedictine Institute Lecture. Meninger addresses a standingroom-only crowd with his thoughts on “Contemplative Prayer and the Loving Search for God,” delivering a talk laced with high humor and thoughtprovoking reflections.

The value of stewardship October 7 | The Benedictine value of stewardship is the theme of the Saint Martin’s University 5th Annual October Symposium on Teaching and Learning.

The symposium, “Stewardship in the Academy,” was attended by educators from local colleges and universities to take part in a discussion about how academia can be a good steward.

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What are you writing?  October 8 | Acclaimed writer Brian Doyle, whose 14 books of nonfiction, essays, poems and stories provoke deep thought as well as laughter, is the inaugural author for the Les Bailey Writers Series at Saint Martin’s University. The series is presented by the University’s English Department with funding from the Leslie G. Bailey Endowment. The endowment honors the gifted and inspiring Saint Martin’s University English professor, Les Bailey, Ph.D., who died in 2010. The new series will continue to bring writers and authors of note to campus to read and discuss their books, a practice that was an especially meaningful part of Bailey’s teaching philosophy.

Beautiful singing, inspiring music October 18-19 | The Saint Martin’s University Chorale comes together for the Sacred Music Concert, spending two days delighting audiences with its interpretation of the sacred music of opera composers such as Mozart, Bellini and Rossini. The annual concert celebrates All Saints Day (November 1) and the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours, the University’s patron saint.

October 30 | The Saint Martin’s community gathers inside Cebula Hall on a rain-soaked day to witness a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Industrial Laboratory. The 14,000-squarefoot facility will sit in a wooded area between Cebula Hall and the residence halls. It will feature student project work areas and four labs, including the fluids and mechanics lab, a lab for soils and materials testing, and one each for manufacturing and robotics.

The building, which is expected to be finished in one year, additionally will include a technology classroom, regular classrooms and faculty offices. The Saint Martin’s administration, monks, faculty, students and staff dip shovels into soil that fills a portable wooden box built a few days before in anticipation of rainy weather that brings the ceremony from the construction site indoors. 

DECEMBER #GivingTuesday happens December 2 | Members of the Saint Martin’s community turn out in full force for the University’s #GivingTuesday initiative, a blood drive that is held on the Lacey campus inside the Trautman Union Building, or, the TUB. The Puget Blood Center is on hand to collect blood from the many volunteer donors participating in #GivingTuesday, a day set aside during the holiday season to celebrate philanthropy, volunteerism and community service.

Jingle Bell Run A boisterous crowd of runners and walkers, many of them dressed in Christmas costumes, enjoy this third, annual, holiday-themed 5k race through the Saint Martin’s campus.

Spencer Hunt '12, former Saint Martin's track and cross-country athlete, is the top-finished runner of the event with a time of 15:32. The Jingle Bell Run drew a crowd of more than 830. 

NOVEMBER Gala!  November 1 | Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich wows a receptive audience with her masterful culinary skills while inspiring the 600 guests attending Gala 2014 inside Marcus Pavilion to raise $886,230 for student scholarships.

#HonoringVets November 10 | The American Legion Band, the color guard from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 318 in Olympia and a commemorative tree-planting ceremony are among the highlights of the first Veteran’s Day Celebration to be held at the University’s new Flag Pavilion.

The Saint Martin’s University Veterans Club organizes and hosts the event, which unfolds under azure skies and brilliant sunshine.

Brazil exchange  November 17-21 | Saint Martin’s hosts an international conference designed to promote student exchange for the first time between Washington and Brazil.

Representatives from 11 universities in Brazil and from 20 Washington colleges and universities, plus one from Oregon, attend the conference, which is held in response to President Obama’s “100,000 Strong in the Americas” initiative to increase the number of U.S. and Latin American students traveling to each other’s countries to study. Saint Martin’s group of 27 Brazilian students are present throughout the conference.

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alumnus

profile

Steven F. Boedigheimer ’72

by Rebecca Sill State Coordination Task Force Lead Steve Boedigheimer '72 confers with other task force leads on late-breaking news related to the 2014 Ebola response.

S

even days a week, Steve Boedigheimer ’72 is at work leading the State Coordination Task Force as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Ebola Response.

When asked a few months ago – at the time the Ebola outbreak was making daily headlines -- if he would consent to an interview with Insights, he responded, “I am a little busy right now.”

Busy is an understatement. Boedigheimer provides technical assistance to public health officials at the local, state and national levels, as well as to the four largest national public health organizations in the country. He also communicates daily with the executive leadership of these organizations and holds weekly national calls with their more than 3,000 members to be aware of local situations.

He listens to their burdens as they serve on the front lines of the Ebola Response and eases their fears, giving them the tools they need to respond. He also ensures CDC is aware of, and responds to, their concerns.

Public health emergencies such as the Ebola Response pull Boedigheimer away from his regular duties as deputy director of the Division of State and Local Readiness, in the CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. He has served as deputy director for five years and has also led the State Coordination Task Forces for the H1N1 influenza pandemic (swine flu), and the Middle East respiratory corona virus. The State Coordination Task Force is one of five major organizational task forces, or teams, of the incident management system within the response system.

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Boedigheimer’s passion for public health as a profession began in four county health departments in Washington and Oregon.

He has since built a distinguished career, serving on the executive staff of three different state health departments, playing a significant role in helping the nation prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, and working as a senior executive at the CDC, the premier public health agency in the world.

His love of the study of science was nurtured during his years as an undergraduate student at Saint Martin’s University.

Boedigheimer was drawn to Saint Martin’s because it was “quiet, small and Catholic, and it was away from home,” and because Saint Martin’s offered him a President’s Scholarship at the Catholic high school he attended in Oregon.

But, like many freshmen, Boedigheimer was unclear about what his major should be when he first arrived on the Lacey campus of what was then known as Saint Martin’s College.

When the future 2010 winner of the Employee of the Year Award from the CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response walked into the Saint Martin’s Office of the Registrar that long-ago summer day, he recalls, “They said, ‘Kid, what’s your major?’”

“I said, ‘I don’t know.’”

“They said, ‘You have to have a major. What do you like?’”

“I said, ‘I liked biology in high school.’”

“They said, ‘Take this paper. You’re a biology major with a chemistry minor. Report to fourth floor of Old Main and talk to Father Placidus.’”

“So that’s what I did, naively,” says Boedigheimer. “I did like biology and didn’t change. Four years later, I had a biology degree with a double minor in chemistry and education.”

“I’ve never looked back.”

Boedigheimer went on to become the assistant administrator of the Oregon Health Division, where he managed environmental and regulatory programs that included public drinking water supplies, food service facilities, health-care facilities licensing and certification, trauma system development and radiological emergency response.

"I liked biology, and four years later, I had a biology degree with a double minor in chemistry and education. I’ve never looked back.”

In 1990, Boedigheimer became deputy director of the Delaware Division of Public Health and, later, deputy cabinet secretary for Delaware Health and Social Services. In these roles, he managed the daily operations of agencies conducting a wide range of health and social services programs. His duties included management of state institutions and leading public health emergency operations, such as nuclear power plant emergency planning and response.

Boedigheimer, who went on to earn an M.B.A. from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, believes his strong science education at Saint Martin’s prepared him well for his career in public health, and remains especially grateful for what he was taught about public speaking and developing leadership skills.

Professors who particularly inspired Boedigheimer include Father Placidus Reischman, who taught biology, Father Christopher Abair, a teacher of botany and biology, and Father Meinrad Gaul, who taught public speaking.

“I still remember him stomping his cane on the floor if people referred to children as ‘kids,’” Boedigheimer remembers of Father Meinrad. “He would say, ‘A kid is a goat. You mean children.’”

Standing with President George W. Bush in this 2008 photo are Texas Health Commissioner David Lakey (left) and Boedigheimer, discussing the emergency operations that were underway at the time in the Texas City Hall Emergency Operations Center, in Galveston, three days after the landfall of Hurricane Ike.

In 2001, Boedigheimer joined the CDC as a branch chief in the Public Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO).

He supervised the Health Alert Network during the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001. In 2002, he was deputy division director for Public Health Systems Development and Research, and also served as emergency coordinator. He was acting deputy director of PHPPO in 2003, and was appointed the CDC senior management official for Arkansas in 2005.

He was assigned to the Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin, Texas, during hurricanes Dolly, Gustav, and Ike in 2008. Boedigheimer recalls, “A highlight of my career would be during Hurricane Ike, standing on Galveston Island and talking with the president of the United States [President George W. Bush]."

These days, Boedigheimer is beginning to consider his eventual retirement. He plans to return to his roots in January 2015 and retire with Mary Kay, his wife of 44 years, in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, where he has recently built a home. But Boedigheimer, a grandfather of four and the father of two adult children, Marisha and Steven Anthony, who is also a graduate of Saint Martin’s, wants to stay active and encourage young adults to consider a career in public health.

Boedigheimer still carries with him some of his fondest memories of Saint Martin’s, such as going to Mass with the monks or occasionally sitting in on vespers. “There was an interesting mystique with the monks and the monastery and religious life. I enjoyed being close to that.”

And there are these images of Saint Martin’s that he continues to hold close: “The campus in the snow, and late, late night fog.” u

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CAMPUS NEWS AND EVENTS Well done, Staff Sergeant Roth! honor of service members who have attended Saint Martin’s University campuses in times of conflict and during peacetime.

Staff Sergeant Matthew Roth of San Diego, California, a Saint Martin’s University senior who is majoring in psychology, has been selected as the University’s sixth recipient of its America's Service Heroes Scholarship.

Roth received the honor November 1 before 650 guests at Gala 2014, an important fundraiser for University student scholarships that was held in Marcus Pavilion on the Lacey campus.

Endowed and awarded annually since 2009, the award is given in

A nine-and-a-half year member of the U.S. Army, Roth enlisted as a combat medic, utilizing his experiences gained as an emergency medical technician on an ambulance and in an emergency room setting prior to enlisting in the Army. He is the son of retired Marine Corps officers, and he followed his younger brother into the Army when he learned his sibling had received orders to Iraq.

Roth’s first assignment led him to Ledward Barracks, where he served with the Blue Spaders of the 1/26 IN BN in Schweinfurt, Germany. This was also the first unit he deployed with during Operation Iraqi Free-

dom in 2006/2008. He is currently a practical nurse course instructor at Madigan Army Medical Center.

Roth has been married to his wife Sydne for 14 years. They have a daughter, Holland, with another child due in March 2015. After graduation, he intends to stay with Saint Martin’s and work towards a master’s degree in counseling. Roth’s ultimate goal is to become a child and family counselor.

He has earned a Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal with two stars, a Global War on Terrorism Medal and an Army Service Ribbon. Roth also holds the coveted Combat Medic Badge and the Drivers Badge-Wheele.

Welcome back, Jim Guerci!

Jim Guerci ’72 has been appointed director of alumni relations at Saint Martin’s University

by President Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D.

tant role,” Guerci says. “I greatly look forward to helping alumni reconnect with our alma mater and to positively contribute more at this point in my 45-year association with the Saint Martin’s Abbey and the University.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Jim back to our university family and a modern reprise of his role in his first job after college. His successful experience in the construction industry and his many friendships among alumni will serve him well,” Heynderickx says. Guerci previously served as the University’s alumni relations director from 1972 through 1974.

Guerci is a Seattle native and a 1967 graduate of Seattle Preparatory School. He earned his B.A. in English from Saint Martin’s and retired in 2014 from a 40-year career in construction management, overseeing major projects in eight states and in Japan, Okinawa and Korea.

“I am honored and delighted to return to campus in such an impor-

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He was awarded the Associated General Contractors “Contractor of the Year” award for small business in 1985 in recognition of the con-

struction of the King County Metro downtown Bellevue transit facility.

Guerci has lived in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle with his wife and best friend, Melissa, for 25 years. His daughter, Gretchen, earned her M.A. in education from Washington State University and she is the mother of Jim’s only grandchild, Molly.

Jim’s son, also named Jim, is a graduate of The Evergreen State College and is an artist.

A former trustee of Saint Martin’s University, the new alumni relations director is also chair of the board for The Roslyn, Ronald, Cle Elum Heritage Club.

REMEMBERING FRIENDS OF SAINT MARTIN'S Carleen Jackson, who for many years served in several senior administrative posts at Saint Martin’s University, died December 23, 2014 at her home in DuPont, Washington.

Brigadier General Maurice Denman “Denny” Roush, U.S. Army (retired), and former dean of engineering at Saint Martin’s, passed away July 30 at his home in Steilacoom. He was 86.

Jackson began her career at the then-Saint Martin’s College in 1993 as a development officer. Her leadership and commitment made her a valued colleague and she eventually filled other posts at Saint Martin’s, including director of development and director of enrollment management and marketing. In 2007, Jackson received the University’s President’s Medal, which honors distinguished contributors to the welfare of Saint Martin's.

That same year, she joined Washington’s Office of Secretary of State as director of development for the Washington State Heritage Center, where she worked until her retirement in mid-2013.

Roush served as the engineering dean from 1989-1997. He was also an associate professor at Saint Martin’s in 1983. Born February 2, 1928, in Douglas, Wyoming, Roush began his distinguished military career at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1950.

Even after she left Saint Martin’s, Jackson and her husband William “Willie” Jackson, who teaches history classes for Saint Martin’s at JBLM, continued to support the University. Most recently, she served as one of the leads on the planning committee for the newly established Les Bailey Writers Series, named for the dynamic English professor who died in 2010.

Jackson was a beloved friend of the university and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of her life took place Sunday, January 18, at the Harmony Hill Retreat Center in Union, where she found great comfort and support as she fought cancer.

Her family has asked that memorials in Jackson’s name be made to the Harmony Hill Retreat Center, 7362 E. State Route 106, Union, WA 98592, or to the Leslie G. Bailey Endowment, Office of Institutional Advancement, Saint Martin’s University, 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, WA 98503.

He first served in the 13th EN BN (Combat), 7th INF DIV during the Korean War, from 1950-1951.

Other notable highlights of Roush’s career in the military included serving in 1959 as district engineer in Honolulu, Hawaii. He later served in the Brigade Tactical Department at West Point, as well as a stint as commander of operations at the U.S. Naval Academy. He was an advisor to the Turkish Army in 1964, as well.

In 1971-1972, before governorship was returned to the people of Okinawa, Roush served as the last military lieutenant governor of Okinawa. He was assigned to Korea to assume the role of commanding engineer, United Nations Command, from 1974-1975. Roush’s final military assignment was as commander of the Pacific Ocean Engineer Division, from which he retired as brigadier general April 30, 1979. After his retirement from the Army, Roush worked as an engineer and vice president of the Collins Ryder Watkins Engineering Firm from 1979-1980. Roush is survived by his wife of 39 years, Ruth; his son, Paul; his daughter, Marie Hatch, and four grandchildren.

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CAMPUS NEWS AND EVENTS Faculty and staff updates Heather Grob, Ph.D., associate professor of economics, was a discussant and moderator for the symposium “Fading Dreams and Resurgent Hopes: The Challenges of Revitalizing American Retirement Security” in June 2014 at the 14th Annual Meeting of the Labor and Employment Relations Association in Portland, Oregon. In this role, Grob evaluated research contributions from the U.S. General Accountability Office and the National Institute for Retirement Security.

Peter Bishay, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering, who joined the Hal and Inge Marcus School of Engineering at the start of the 2014 – 2015 academic year, published two journal papers in the fall: “Multi-Region Trefftz Collocation Grains (MTCGs) for Modeling Piezoelectric Composites and Porous Materials in Direct and Inverse Problems,” Journal of Mechanics of Materials & Structures; and “Multi-Physics Computational Grains (MPCGs) for Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of Piezoelectric Composite/ Porous Materials and Structures,” Computational Mechanics.

Tiffany Artime, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, authored an article, “Acknowledgment of sexual victimization among heterosexual men,” that was published in July 2014 in the Psychology of Men and Masculinity. The piece summarizes her study examining how men label the experiences of rape and child sexual abuse. Artime also wrote, “A preliminary investigation of affective dispositions and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) symptom clusters in female interpersonal

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trauma survivors,” to be published in 2015 in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. The article focuses on a study with women who had experienced interpersonal violence where it was found that general negative emotions were related to the development of PTSD. Robert Hauhart, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice and legal studies, and Kim Menius (B.A. in criminal justice), the 2012 Saint Martin’s University valedictorian, have had a revised version of Menius’ senior thesis accepted for publication by a peer reviewed online journal, The International Journal of Criminology and Sociology (published by Lifesciences Global). Her paper was a study of evidence handling capabilities at a mid-size police department in western Washington with particular attention paid to handling potential DNA evidence. This is the second student senior thesis Hauhart has guided through the professional peer review process resulting in publication for Saint Martin’s graduates.

Ann Adams, associate dean of students and director of career development, and Alyssa Nastasi, career specialist, gave a presentation on “Saints Have A Plan: Saint Martin’s University career plan for graduating seniors,” at the 2014 Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU) Conference, held July 29 – August 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Saints Have A Plan is an initiative to encourage seniors to

develop a post-graduation plan, including a copy of their resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile. Students receive raffle tickets for a drawing at the end of the academic year and can earn more tickets by attending career fairs, mock interview and resume sessions, and networking socials. This was also a way to engage local alumni to serve as mentors. As a result of seniors filing a qualifying “plan of action” after graduation, our first-destination outcomes improved 20% from the previous year.

Louise Kaplan, Ph.D., ARNP, FNPBC, FAANP, FAAN, director of the Nursing Program and associate professor of nursing, was one of 168 leaders in nursing to be inducted in October 2014 as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Membership in the academy is among one of the nursing profession’s most significant honors. The mission of the academy is to serve the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through generating, synthesizing and disseminating nursing knowledge. Kaplan is also author of two articles recently published in two peer-reviewed journals: “Organizational Readiness of a Magnet Hospital for Evidence-Based Practice,” Journal for Nurses in Professional Development (November/December 2014); and “The Contribution of Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners to Rural Primary Care: Findings from a 13-State Survey,” Medical Care (2014).

Jamie Olson, Ph.D., associate professor of English, was the featured reader in August 2014 at Kings Books in Tacoma for the Distinguished Writers Series, co-sponsored by the City of Tacoma and Puget Sound Poetry Connection. Olson gave a reading of his poems and his translations from Russian. In November, Olson read his translations of poems by Ukrainian poet Irina Yevsa at a bilingual readings session during the annual conference of the American Literacy Translators Association in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

pel as they felt called. There were common elements these medieval women shared across Europe, including their visionary spirituality, their business acumen and their commitment to the poor and sick.

Craig McBride, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of mathematics at the Extended Learning Division, was an invited speaker in October 2014 at the University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute’s 7th Annual Mentoring Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. McBride spoke on, “How Mentoring and Other Induction Program Techniques Can Reduce Attrition Rates of New STEM Teachers.”

Susan Heltsley, vice president of finance, passed the four parts of the certified public accountant examination and was awarded her CPA designation in June 2014.

Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D., associate professor of English and chair of the Department of English, and Robert Hauhart just inked the contract on their forthcoming book, "Critical Insights: American Writers in Exile," to be published with EBSCO/Salem Press. The book is expected to be published in fall 2015.

Sister Laura Swan, adjunct professor of religious studies and associate editor of Magistra: A Journal of Women’s Spirituality in History, authored a book scheduled for release in November 2014, "The Wisdom of the Beguines: The Forgotten Story of a Medieval Women’s Movement" (BlueBridge). The Beguines, who began to form in various parts of Europe more than 800 years ago, were laywomen who did not want to marry but desired to serve the gos-

Carol Overdeep, Ph.D., and Bonnie Amende, Ph.D., both associate professors of mathematics, presented “Chemistry, Legos and Proofs” at the national meeting of the Mathematical Association of America (known as Mathfest), in August 2014 in Portland, Oregon.

Radana Dvorak, Ph.D., dean of the Extended Learning Division, served as a panelist at the Washington State Service Member for Life

National Transition Summit, which was held October 21-23, 2014 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The transition summit featured seminars, roundtables, panel events and recruiter training, and facilitated discussions focused on improving competitive employment for service members and veterans. Dvorak made a presentation on information technology and the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA), the result of a partnership between Microsoft Corporation, Saint Martin’s University and JBLM. The academy is focused on supporting the professional success of military veterans by providing academic coursework and training for careers such as software development, IT project management and applications engineering.

Blaine Snow, a member of the ESL faculty within the Office of International Programs and Development, gave a presentation on “Transcending the Ego, Developing the Ego: Why Waking Up Needs Growing Up,” at the Mind & Life International Symposium on Contemplative Studies, October 30 – November 2, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Snow has been a student of Buddhist and Western philosophy and psychology for more than 30 years.

Mary Snyder, an instructor in the College of Education and Counseling Psychology, and Sarah McKinney, a student in the Master in Teaching program at Saint Martin’s, presented a poster session on “Development of an Online Professional Network” in September at the 2014 TECHEd Conference, hosted by the Washington State University College of Education, in Pullman.

INSIGHTS winter 2015 | 35

Saint Martin’s

Fall Sports Highlights • The women’s golf team won the Saint Martin’s Invitational by 30 strokes. Saint That performance earned Martin’s the Saints recognition as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Red Lion Team of the Week. The last time the Saints won the tournament was in 2009.

• Jennifer Liedes earned conference honors for her performance at the Saint Martin’s Invitational. She won the tournament by 15 strokes and had rounds of 74 and 70 on the par73, 5,800 yard layout. Her threeunder par 70 score for the second rounds was a new school record.

• Austin Spicer was named GNAC Men’s Golf Player of the Week for his contribution to the Saints at the Sonoma State Invitational. He finished the invitational 12th with a three-round total of 222.

• Tody Tolo was named GNAC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for September 21-27. Tolo played a key role in the Saints 3-1 wins on the road to South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and the University of Mary. For the week, Tolo recorded three goals on seven shots, five of which were on goal, while playing all 180 minutes. Against Mary, Tolo recorded a hat trick, which ranks second in school history for most goals in a game. He is tied with Ruben Orozco, who scored three goals against Montana State University Billings in 2008. Xan Nixon holds the record of four goals set in 2008 against Northwest Nazarene.

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Saint Martin’s women's golf team

• JJ Olson was named GNAC Men's Soccer Co-Defensive Player of the Week for Nov. 2-8 as he stopped fifth-ranked Seattle Pacific from scoring a goal. Since 2007, SMU and SPU have never tied. The Falcons have won the last nine games against the Saints, including winning 2-0 at the SMU Soccer Field on Sept. 20. The last win for Saint Martin's against Seattle Pacific came on 10/15/09 in Lacey.

• Since 2001, Kristyn Ross is the only Saints volleyball player to hit over 1,000 kills. She did so on September 18 at Montana State University - Billings. She also recorded over 1,000 digs on September 13. Ross finished her career with 1,129 kills and 1,124 digs. Her digs rank third in school history. Brianna Bautista and Jacque Buchanan both hold the record of 1,212. Buchanan set it in 2001-04 and Bautista matched it in 2008-11.

• Ryan Rogers was named to the GNAC Men’s Basketball Pre-Season All-Conference team. Rogers was one of 15 players selected. He averaged 13.5 points per game last season and shot 46.2 percent from the field.

• Angela Gelhar was named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball PreSeason All-Conference. Gelhar played all 29 games for the Saints and is the leading scoring back on the team. She scored 318 points (11.0 per game) last season. She shot 33.8 percent from the floor and 83.1 percent from the free throw line.

• A total of 27 student athletes were named to the Fall Great Northwest Athletic Conference AllAcademic team. Ten men and 17 women were named.

Men’s Golf Honors Soldier The Saint Martin’s University men’s golf team will be carrying a uniquely patriotic golf bag during the 201415 season as the University takes part in the Folds of Honor Military Tribute Program.

Folds of Honor, a preferred charitable partner of the Golf Coaches Association of America and the Women’s Golf Coach Association, provides an opportunity for any collegiate golf program to honor a fallen or severely wounded American soldier by having a team member carry a golf bag that displays the name, rank and branch of service of the soldier being honored during the school year.

On August 26, the Saints men's golf team went to the American Lakes Veterans Golf Facility to meet a new member of their team -- United States Army Sergeant E-5 Infantry Aaron Boyle.

"It was truly an honor to meet Aaron at the American Lake Veterans Golf Facility," says head coach Kevin Bishop. "What an inspiration to hear his story, to feel his American pride and recognize the sacrifice he's made for all of us."

Boyle, 25, lost an arm and a leg in Iraq after stepping on an improvised explosive device. He was an avid golfer since he was 7 years old and grew up playing the sport alongside his father and grandfather, who were also in the military.

"It is with great pride that our players will carry a Saint Martin’s team bag, bearing his name and service, around the country this season," says Bishop. "We hope to build a long and lasting relationship with Aaron and with all the men and women of the armed forces who have sacrificed for our freedoms. If you can

picture an American soldier and hero, Aaron is it. As my guys stated, 'Man, he's a stud.'"

Ben Fosnick was the first Saint to carry the bag in a tournament, the Sonoma State Invitational. He earned the honor by being the low scorer during team qualifying.

Austin Spicer also received the honor to carry the bag. Since he was the low scorer for the Saints during the Sonoma State Invitational, he carried the bag at the UVIC Shootout tournament hosted by the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Saints closed out the fall season in Victoria but will continue to carry Boyle’s bag in the spring. The first tournament will be February 23-24 in California at the California State University, San Bernardino tournament.

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NO ONE DESERVES TO STAND ALONE

by Megan Lobdell

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ews stories last fall that focused on the arrests of National Football League players in connection with domestic violence incidents have outraged male athletes at Saint Martin’s University and they are taking a united stand to stop the abuse.

Saint Martin’s

To that end, the young men created a group called SAVE: Saints Against Violence Everywhere.

“We decided we needed to do something in the wake of all of the professional male athletes who have been having issues with domestic violence,” says Saints track and field athlete Matthew Hankins. “There is a perception that male athletes perpetuate violence.”

“Domestic violence is one of the biggest things out there, right now, with a lot of the male professional sports,” says men’s basketball player Riley Carel. “We are trying to come together and get the word out that it is not the norm. It is not something that every male athlete does.”

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of income level, race, religion, gender, sexual preference or age. It is a societal problem, not a private one. In addition, domestic violence is not limited to physical abuse – it can include emotional, financial, verbal and sexual abuse.

“We want to raise awareness and promote the idea that there is a sense of community and caring among male athletes for others,” Hankins says. “We also know we can make a difference for the better.”

One of SAVE’s first projects took place in October during Domestic Violence Awareness month, when members launched a Purple Ribbon Campaign, passing out purple ribbons at volleyball games, men’s and women’s soccer games and in the Trautman Union Building, known on campus as the TUB, to increase awareness of domestic violence. The student athletes are also raising money for SafePlace, a shelter in Olympia for domestic violence and assault survivors.

“We have been at every sporting event with these purple ribbons,” says Carel. “We have been passing out the ribbons and letting people know they can donate to the cause or they can just take a ribbon in a show of support for what we are doing.”

Through the Purple Ribbon Campaign, which ended on Halloween, SAVE raised $355.54 for SafePlace.

SAVE members want to expand their efforts to spread the word about domestic violence prevention.

“We hope to go into the community sometime in the spring to talk with young kids and young male athletes, too, and bring home the point that everything you do does not have to involve violence,” Hankins says.

Those interested in helping SafePlace and the people it serves are encouraged to go to www.safeplaceolympia. org to offer money donations and/or to fulfill wish lists for items that are needed at the facility.

To learn more about what SAVE will be doing throughout the year, follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ SMUSAVE. You can also tweet SAVE at @SMU_SAVE and follow #SMUSAVE. u

For the Saints’ athletic schedules, visit www.smusaints.com. #SaintsAlive INSIGHTS winter 2015 | 39

N OT E S

1 Back row (L to R): Biff Lenihan, John Diedi, Mick McClure, Terry Pellecchia, Dave Berschauer, Tom Nelson, Hank Lees, Blaine Coppin, Tom Maloney, Bob Reinhardt, John Mallon, Don Gadler, Paul Klinkosz, Mac Gaul, Jon Rollin, Ron Pulsipher. Front row (L to R): Kitt Jordan, Don Lehtinen, Augie Rossano, Ken Hoover, Greg Cox, Jim Kaufman, Ken Youmans, Pat Schreck, Clark Conzatti, Ken Hordyk, Dan Snyder, George Le Vasseur

1950s Douglas Elbert HS’52 recently moved to Woodway, Texas, from Waco, Texas. He has spent decades advocating for mental health funding and education.

Bob HS’54 and Mary Plaquet celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family gathering during the Labor Day 2014 weekend. It was held at Priest Point Park on Saturday, August 30. They then attended Mass at Saint Martin's Abbey Church on Sunday, August 31.

1960s 1 In 1964, 55 young men graduated from Saint Martin’s

High School. Over the weekend of Sept 12 – 14, 2014, 33 members of that class gathered at the Cedarbrook Lodge in SeaTac to celebrate their 50-year reunion.

Accompanied by wives and other mates, the Saint Martin’s alums renewed old friendships, retold tales of youthful exploits and shared the experiences of 50 years. In addition, 11 deceased members of the class were remembered.

On Saturday, 17 of the attendees enjoyed a round of golf at Riverbend Golf Course and gathered in the clubhouse afterward to tell even more tales. For those involved, it was a special weekend, filled with emotion

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and camaraderie…all of it founded upon time spent at Saint Martin’s High School many years ago.

Not pictured, in addition to wives and girlfriends, were coach/faculty members Dale Behles HS'57, '62, '66, Bernie Harvey HS'49, '54 and Joe Monroe, who were guests on Friday evening. Also not pictured were classmates Barry Ward and Mick Griesen, who didn’t join us until Saturday evening.

1970s 2 Mary Gentry ’73 had a collection of humorous personal essays published in her new book, “Quite Contrary.”

Visit www.marygentrywrites.com for information about what she is doing currently and where to buy her books.

3 Jim Guerci ’72 has been appointed director of alumni relations at Saint Martin’s University by President Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D. 4 The Saint Martin’s High School class of 1974 held their 40th reunion on campus in September 2014 with several members of the “last” high school graduating class attending.

Jim Swan ’77 is an instructor for the GRAVITY School (GED completion program) in Olympia.

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3

From left: John Lafond, Andy Kraemer, Michael Patrick, Attila Talaber, David Anthony, Bill Griffus, Rex Schade, Jim Swenson, Mark Bergford, Jim Ray, Father Alfred Hulscher, prior, Abbot Neal Roth, Jim Naccarato, Michael Griffus, Carlos Herrara, Charlie Gavigan

1980s 5 Richard B. “Doc” Hecker, DO, FAOCA '81 was

awarded his Certified Flight Instructor Single Engine Airplane and Seaplane rating by the Federal Aviation Administration in spring 2014.

Hecker had the pleasure of using his aviation skills to help make a wish to take a ride in a bi-plane come true for Clarence Heidemann, 94, a World War II and 20-years-of-service veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Wish of a Lifetime contacted Hecker, a U.S. Army retiree and a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 35, to make arrangements with him to fulfill Heidemann’s wish by sending him up in Hecker’s and Paul Celio’s big bi-wing aircraft, a 1942 Boeing (Stearman) Model A75-N1, U.S. Army Air Corps 4125606, which had been used in the Army from 1942-1946.

Hecker flew his plane from Bulverde Airpark to the Commemorative Air Force Centex Wing Hangar at San Marcos Airport on July 19, 2014, where Heidemann and his extended family were introduced to Hecker, the Centex staff and Lieutenant Colonel Gale Haskins, 80, a U.S. Air Force retiree from Cypress, Texas.

Haskins agreed to be the “senior” pilot flying up and over Heidemann’s family homestead in nearby Uhland, Texas. At the end of Heidemann’s spectacular flight, Hecker gave Heidemann a student logbook signed by Haskins, a certified flight instructor, attesting to his first-hour familiarization flight as a student pilot in the Stearman.

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Doc Hecker Clarence Heidemann and Lieutenant Colonel Gale Haskins

INSIGHTS winter 2015 | 41

N OT E S

6

9

7

Scott Hayman ’82 is the director of business development and gift planning at the Seattle Foundation.

He represents the Seattle Foundation to professional advisors who can recommend their clients to become philanthropists through the Seattle Foundation and represents the Foundation to high net-worth individuals. He also works with gift planning and donor-advised funds.

1990s Barbara (Proft) Post MEM’92 is growing the Austin/ San Antonio Office of Vanir Construction Management, taking projects from conception, design, construction, occupancy and warranty. In September 2014, she celebrated the 10th anniversary of her marriage with Daniel Post and the continued success of her 9-year-old daughter, Audrey.

Shannon Ritter ’93 is now the principal at Centennial Elementary School in Olympia. Superintendent Dick Cvitanich says, "She is student-centered and always exploring ways to help them grow as students, leaders and citizens."

Ritter received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Saint Martin's University and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from City University.

Sean Kochaniewicz ’95 and wife, Carrie, welcomed a son, Thomas Richard Kochaniewicz, on April 14, 2014.

Jason Bruhn ’96 joined the team at SCJ Alliance in October 2014. He also served as the MATHCOUNTS competition coordinator for Thurston County for 10 years.

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8

2000s Jack Niehuser ’01 and wife, Sylvana, welcomed a son, Alec Niehuser, on August 10, 2014 Aubrey Steedman ’01 and Jose Guzman welcomed a son, Martin Wesley Guzman-Steedman, on April 1, 2014.

Dr. Michael Dretsch MAC’02 is the chief of research operations at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), onboard Naval Support Activity Bethesda, home of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. The NICoE program is an intensive, interdisciplinary, comprehensive treatment program for persons with combatrelated comorbid mild traumatic brain injury and psychological health conditions.

6 Andrew ’05 and Kaleigh ’08 Prentice welcomed a

son, Kenneth Andrew Prentice, on August 23, 2014.

7 Deidre Eaton ’07 and Jonathan Peterson ’10

became engaged in September 2014.

Cody Bouchard ’09 and wife, Elizabeth, welcomed a daughter, Aria Michelle Bouchard, on August 29, 2014.

Nathanial Bulley ’09 and wife, Janel, welcomed a daughter, Victoria Kathryn Bulley, on September 7, 2014.

Aloha from Hawaii About 35 alumni, parents, friends and Saint Martin’s representatives, including President Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D., his wife, Kathleen, Father Kilian Malvey, O.S.B. HS’55,’64, Katie Wojke, interim vice president of institutional advancement, Jim Guerci ’72, director of alumni relations, and Tom Barte ’68, president of the Saint Martin’s Alumni Association, spent a few days reconnecting with each other in Hawaii this past December.

Activities included a luncheon at the Honolulu Country Club. President Heynderickx also participated in the Honolulu Marathon. Pictured left are Greg Iten ’67, Pat Barte and Father Kilian.

2010s 8 Megan (Busch) Rude ’10 married David Rude on September 5, 2014 at Canterwood Golf and Country Club in Gig Harbor.

Wenjia (Serena) Ding ’11 will be graduating from the Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations program at Michigan State University in May 2015. She has already accepted a Human Resources Advisor position at ExxonMobil and will be relocating to Houston, Texas.

Rebecca Gorlin ’12 received a promotion in the summer of 2013 to the position of staff accountant at MAS CPA's in Ballard. Her volunteer work includes serving on the board of Homeless Backpacks Inc., a non-profit that helps feed homeless students throughout Thurston County, and as of July 2014, she is on the board of the Lake Forest Park Rotary, holding the New Generations Chair.

Where in the world are you now? Let us know!

Have you moved, changed your name or established a new email address? Stay connected to Saint Martin’s! Email is our primary way to keep you informed and your zip code helps us determine which local events to notify you about.

If you send us an update, you are entered into a drawing: • 1st place is a $100 gift card to Amazon

Christina Kressin ’13 welcomed a daughter, Kaylee Michelle, on July 14, 2014.

• 2nd place is an SMU hoodie

Chris Roden MBA’13 and wife, Brittany, welcomed a daughter, Charlotte Amelie Roden, on September 13, 2014.

• 3rd place is an SMU tumbler and SMU coffee mug!

Charlie Sittingbull MIT’13 and her husband, Benjamin Sittingbull, welcomed a daughter, Josephine Manwi Sittingbull, on September 5, 2014.

Go online now at www.stmartin.edu/ LetUsKnow and let us know where you are and what you are doing or use the enclosed envelope to send us your updated information. You can also give us a call at 360-438-4366 and talk to us!

Benjamin Ford ’14 is a geotechnical engineer at the Olympia Office of Landau Associates. He also is an engineer-in-training in Washington state.

9 Christopher Harris MED’14 was hired as principal of

St. Agatha Catholic School in Portland, Oregon.

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IN MEMORIAM

1940s Dr. Richard Koch '47 June 16, 2014 Joseph Walter Feeney HS'49 September 17, 2014 William Luce HS'49 July 13, 2014

1950s Earl Baer HS'46, '50 October 12, 2014 Robert Malloy '51 August 24, 2014 Dr. John Allen Sauriol '51 June 12, 2014 Jim Milloy '52 June 16, 2014

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Edward Marinig '53 August 25, 2014

Michael Conway '71 October 4, 2014

Tom Brulotte HS'54 September 1, 2014

Gary Phelps '75 July 22, 2014

Ted Strozyk HS'56 July 16, 2014

Janet Johnson ‘78 October 26, 2014

Floyd Westman '58 June 6, 2014

1990s

Dr. G. Chris Harris HS'55, '59 August 24, 2014

Jennifer Macke MED'90 July 27, 2014

1960s

Mary Kennedy MIT'97 October 3, 2014

Bill Yandow '65 July 25, 2014

2000s

1970s

Robert Sanders MAC'05 June 8, 2014

Frances Devoe '61, '70 June 5, 2014

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Euclid Quartet

Theatre: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

Saturday, February 21, 2015 8 PM - 9 PM Saint Martin’s Abbey Abbey Church Events welcomes back the Euclid Quartet.

The Quartet made its Abbey debut a few seasons back. The Washington Post described the playing of this quartet as, "... an elegant mix of passion, ferocity and feathery delicacy."

Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance begins at 8 p.m.

There is no charge for the concerts but a free-will donation is suggested. Contact Brother Boniface V. Lazzari, O.S.B. at 360-438-4476.

April 11, 7:30 PM, April 12, 2 PM, April 14-18, 7:30 PM State Theater, 204 4th Ave E, Olympia How about a night at the theatre? Enjoy this thoughtful play, presented by the Saint Martin's Theatre Arts Program, that examines the plight and fate of the New Testament’s most infamous and unexplained sinner. Tickets: $12 general; $7 students/seniors/military. Contact David Hlavsa at 360-4384345 or dhlavsa@stmartin.edu. Check out the website, www.stmartin.edu/theatre.

Hope Concert Wednesday, March 4, 2015 7:30 PM - 10 PM Marcus Pavilion The musical talents of student performers from Saint Martin’s University will be showcased at the Hope Concert, an annual event held to raise funds for the University’s annual mission service trip. Contact Darrell Born at dborn@stmartin.edu or 360-438-4506.

Capital Food & Wine Festival Saturday, March 28, 2015 12 PM - 9 PM Marcus Pavilion The festival, one of the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, is celebrating its 26th anniversary! Always a community favorite, the Capital Food and Wine Festival showcases the best vintners, microbrewers and restaurateurs of the South Sound. Sponsored by the Saint Martin's Alumni Association, proceeds benefit Saint Martin's University students and programs. Information, including ticket information, can be found at www.capitalfoodandwinefestival.com. You can also contact Evan Martin at emartin@discoverymp.com or 206-601-7923.

Lu’au Saturday, April 11 5 PM – 9 PM Marcus Pavilion The University’s annual, student-planned Lu’au fills Marcus Pavilion with the beauty and richness of Hawaiian culture. Sponsored by the Saint Martin’s University Hui `O Hawai`i Club, the celebration features an authentic lu’au feast, musical performances and entertainment from several South Seas cultures.

Much anticipated in the South Sound, the Lu’au is a popular tradition for the Saint Martin's community and a destination event for hundreds of area residents.

Recital by Baritone Mischa Bouvier and Pianist Yegor Shevtsov Saturday, April 11, 2015 8 PM - 9 PM Saint Martin’s Abbey The Abbey Church Events' 2014-2015 season concludes with a recital by baritone Mischa Bouvier and pianist Yegor Shevtsov. On the afternoon of April 10, in collaboration with Abbey Church Events and the Saint Martin's University Music Program, Bouvier will conduct a series of master classes for selected vocal students. The New York Times has praised Bouvier for his "rich timbre and a fine sense of line." Contact Brother Boniface V. Lazzari, O.S.B., at 360-438-4476.

Commencement Want to know what’s happening on campus? Visit the online calendar of events!

Go to www.stmartin.edu and click on “SMU Events Calendar.”

May 9, 2015 2 PM Marcus Pavilion Saint Martin’s embraces a new crop of alumni as the class of 2015 graduates.

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L A S T LO O K Saint Martin’s University’s Flag Pavilion is one of the newest and most welcome additions to the Lacey campus.

The pavilion, located at the base of the Grand Staircase outside Old Main and adjacent to the Jan Halliday Memorial Plaza, was formally dedicated in February 2014 in recognition of military veteran and active-duty students, alumni, faculty and staff, and members of the community for their service to the country.

Board of Trustees member and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Terence Monaghan ’62 and his wife, Mary Louise ’60, played significant roles in establishing the Flag Pavilion.

The Monaghans were touring the Lacey campus one day when Mrs. Monahan noticed there was no American flag present.

“She remarked that we needed to do something to get a flag on campus. So, I put pencil to pad and designed a flag pavilion,” recalls Monaghan, an engineer and retired president of Veco Engineering. With funding provided by the Monaghans, the pavilion was constructed by Saint Martin’s personnel under the supervision of Alan Tyler, the University director of facilities.

In November, the first-ever Veterans Day Celebration to be held at the Flag Pavilion took place under a picture-perfect sky. Hosted by the Saint Martin’s University Veterans Club, the event included music from the American Legion Band, the color guard from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 318 in Olympia and a commemorative tree-planting ceremony of the “Honor Tree,” intended as a living memory that is symbolic of the sacrifice and efforts of service members everywhere.

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Saint Martin's to host its first ever 24-hour challenge!

On Saint Benedict's Day, March 21, 2015, Saint Martin's will be hosting its first-ever, 24-hour day-of-giving challenge! We hope we can count on you to be one of our 321 donors to help support student scholarships and programs.

Mark your calendars for 3.21GIVE — March 21, 2015 on Saint Benedict's Day For further information, contact: Deanna Bourgault, Director of Annual Giving, 360-438-4586 or deanna.bourgault@stmartin.edu

www.stmartin.edu/Give321