Challenge Magazine

TIFFIN UNIVERSITY

WINTER 2011/2012

TIFFIN UNIVERSITY

FALL / WINTER 2010

A Magazine for Alumni & Friends of Tiffin University

The Mission of Tiffin University Offer quality, professionally-focused, learning-centered undergraduate and graduate degree programs and life-long learning opportunities to prepare traditional college-age students and adult students for successful careers and for productive and satisfying lives of excellence, leadership and service.

Work with employers and specific professions to anticipate, design, and deliver effective academic programs that reflect evolving professional needs and intellectual requirements of the future.

t

Lisa Williams Editor

Sincerely, Lisa Williams Editor of Challenge Magazine Executive Director of Media Relations & Publications Photographer

Editor’s

Note

Special Mentions: Photography: Zeng Lei Writing: Geoff Schutt, Elaine Warnecke Student Intern: Jessica Huffman Graphic Designer – Mary Ann Stearns

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Enrollment up 38%

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Academic Programs

8

Homecoming

14

CampusScene

38

Student Success

47 ClassScene

53 InMemoriam

54

SportsScene

If this issue of Challenge Magazine is addressed to someone in your household who has moved, please notify the Alumni office by calling 419.448.3323 or email KoehlerS@tiffin.edu.

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How to send news to Challenge Magazine: Mail: Print out the Tell Us About Yourself form from the website - www.tiffin.edu (Click “Alumni”), Click “Stay Connected” - and mail to: Lisa Williams, 155 Miami Street, Tiffin, Ohio 44883 Call for interview appointment or story idea: Lisa Williams at 419.448.3444 Email: lwilliam@tiffin.edu (send a photo!)

Tiffin University is a place where we challenge our students to become all they are capable of becoming.

Hence, the name of the magazine.

C ontents

Welcome to Challenge Magazine!

Dear Alumni and Friends of Tiffin University, Pictures are worth a thousand words, and with each issue I try my best to give you an eye full of just how much is happening at TU. We have said it before, and we get to say it again, enrollment is at an all-time high!

So what is new with you? We are all interested in your news to be included in ClassScene, or better yet, as a personal testimony (see pages 38-46). Do you have a story to share?

A favorite part of my job as Editor is hearing from you.

Reading about you enlightens everyone including students who are considering TU. You have an opportunity to connect with TU each day through our website at www.tiffin.edu or to me by email lwilliam@tiffin.edu. If you have an idea, or a story to share, send me a note.

In the meantime, success at Tiffin University continues. We continue to grow, change, and we never stop looking at how we can do better. You will see for yourself in the pages ahead.

WINTER 2011 / 2012

Tiffin University Enrollm Total enrollment at Tiffin University increased from 4,940 in the fall of 2010 to 6,816 this fall, which is a oneyear increase of 38%. This fall’s total represents an eight-year increase of 354% compared with the 1,500 students enrolled in the fall of 2003.

According to President Paul Marion, “As the academic reputation of Tiffin University continues to grow, more students are choosing to apply for admission and enroll once admitted.”

6,816

4,940

3,422

2,349 1,658 1,500 1,634

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2003

2004

2005

2,705

1,990

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

ment Increases by 38%

S potlight

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Academic Programs The current programs are as follows: Master of Business Administration with concentrations in General Management, Finance, Healthcare Administration, International Business, Leadership, Elder Care Management, Sports Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing Master of Science in Criminal Justice with concentrations in Crime Analysis, Criminal Behavior, Forensic Psychology, Homeland Security Administration, Justice Administration Master of Humanities with concentrations in English, Art and Visual Media, and Communication Master of Education Graduate Certificates in Addiction Studies (post-bachelor’s), Addiction Counseling (post-master’s), Crime Analysis, Criminal Behavior, Homeland Security Administration, Justice Administration, Small Business Management, Leadership for Managers and Supervisors, Sports Management, Healthcare Administration, and Professional Development for Educators

Bachelor of Business Administration with majors in » Accounting » Information Systems with concentrations in Application Specialist, Software Development and System and Network Support » Finance » Global Leadership Honors » Management with concentrations in Equine Business Management, Hospitality & Tourism Manage ment, Human Resources Management, International Business, Supply Chain Management, Managerial Studies, Elder Care Management (degree completion program) Healthcare Administration (degree completion program) » Marketing » Organizational Management (degree completion program) » Sports and Recreation Management with concentrations in Sports and Athletic Administration, Recreation and Tourism, Sports Marketing Bachelor of Criminal Justice with majors in » Corrections » Cyber-Defense and Information Security » Forensic Psychology » Forensic Science » Law Enforcement » Homeland Security/Terrorism » Justice Administration (degree completion program)

» Emergency Management (degree completion program) Undergraduate Minors Accounting Addictions Counseling Art Business Administration Computer & Information Technology Corrections Creative Writing English Finance Forensic Accounting Forensic Psychology Forensic Science Government Green Technologies Homeland Security/Terrorism Hospitality & Tourism Management Human Resources Management Human Services Individualized Studies Industrial/Organizational Psychology Intelligence Analysis International Business Journalism Law Enforcement Leadership Management Marketing Music Psychology Public Relations Regional Studies Sociology Sports Writing and Promotion Sports and Recreation Management Theatre Associate of Arts with major in General Studies Associate of Business Administration with majors in Accounting, Business Healthcare Administration, Information Technology, Sports and Recreation Management Associate of Criminal Justice with majors in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Homeland Security

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Bachelor of Arts with majors in » Arts Administration with concentrations in Music Industry, Visual Arts » Communication with concentrations in Electronic Media, Journalism, Public Relations » Education (offered through partnership with Lourdes College) leading to licensure in Integrated Language Arts (Grades 7-12), Integrated Social Studies (Grades 7-12), Middle Childhood Education (Grades 4-9) » English

» General Science with concentrations in Green Technologies and Behavioral Science » Government and National Security » History » Paralegal Studies » Professional Music » Professional Studies » Psychology with concentrations in Addictions Counseling, Experimental Psychology, Human Services

Degree C lassPSrograms cene

The number of academic programs offered by Tiffin University continues to increase.

FALL 2010

H omecoming

Homecoming weekend kicked off on Friday evening when TU hosted the annual Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner in the Gillmor Student Center.

The 2011 Hall of Fame Honorees were: Elizabeth Wead Knackstedt ’02; Brian Campbell, Softball Coach 200108; Diane Schaefer Sackett ’94; Ted Wypasek ’97; and Dave Reiter ’90.

On Saturday, alumni, family and friends joined in on the annual alumni 5K Run , the alumni Team Challenge and softball game. Everyone enjoyed pre-game activities prior to the Men’s Soccer game.

The weekend included guided tours of campus, the Nature Preserve, the Paradiso Athletic Complex, Living Learning Community, and the new recreation center.

Prior to the kick-off of the football game, TU’s Alumni Office hosted a tailgate party including a chili cookoff, a food tent, and inflatable fun for kids. Other events included the introduction of the homecoming court and recognition of the 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees.

After the football game, the festivities continued at a post-game reception at the Pioneer Mill Restaurant. The weekend concluded on Sunday with an Alumni Golf Scramble and Lunch at Seneca Hills Golf Course and Women’s Soccer Game.

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H omecoming

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The Science Center of Tiffin University C ampus S cene

In the 1989 movie, “Field of Dreams,” Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella hears a voice tell him to build a baseball field in the middle of his corn field. The voice keeps repeating “If you build it, they will come.” Over the past few years, there have been many voices echoing for Tiffin University to add or improve many structures on campus, including residence halls, sports and recreation centers, and classrooms.

One other important campus facility, a new

science laboratory, is now completed.

The lab houses all of the biology, chemistry, natural science, and forensic science equipment.

The School of Arts and Sciences has added numerous new programs over the past decade emphasizing the foundations of English, Math, Natural Science, and other academic disciplines such as music and art. In fact, just this past year, TU created a concentration in Green Technology to educate students for careers in sustainable practices and “green” living. Yet, one piece of the puzzle was missing—a formal science laboratory.

According to the National Center of Education Statistics, 25% of all degrees awarded in America are in some form of science, mathematics, or engineering disciplines. This rep resents a significant number of students from all walks of life

Professors’ Ghosh & Herdlick

who are interested in scientific careers. As Tiffin University continues unprecedented growth in all academic majors, together with its entrepreneurial spirit and high quality academic programs, the building of a science lab was a natural addition to the campus. This laboratory will now open the doors to future scientific disciplines and serve as a collaborative focal point for students who may require scientific curriculum as part of their academic endeavors.

TU’s laboratory will have the capability of housing 50 students at a time for general chemistry, organic chemistry, quantitative and instrumental analysis, biology, environmental science and forensic science classes.

The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art bench space, fume hoods, equipment, high-speed computers, and other scientific tools. Students will also have direct access to their respective professors whose offices are now part of the Tiffin University Science Center.

Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and provides the highest international recognition for business students involved in their on-campus chapter.

Recognition in the society is for a lifetime and includes many benefits. Inductees to the honor society are those

in the top twenty percent of the business program.

Benefits that members enjoy include networking opportunities, scholarships, acknowledgement for Federal Employment, lifetime contact through the newsletter, and a subscription to Bloomberg Businessweek.

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TIffin University’s School of Business held its Delta Mu Delta Induction Ceremony in October.

According to Dr. Lillian Schumacher, Dean of the School of Business, Delta Mu Delta is a strong network of people that can help students with all career aspirations.

Delta Mu Delta is an International Honor Society in Business for Universities whose business school programs are accredited by the Accreditation

Science Center

School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences News ‘Hackademic Challenge’ Tiffin University students enrolled in the university’s new Cyber-Defense & Information Security major participated in the first “Hackademic Challenge” in October in Cleveland.

The challenge included teams from four colleges and universities and was part of the 2011 Information Security Summit.

The Tiffin University students who took part in the challenge were Roshan Patel and Justin Durham, both of whom are enrolled in the new Cyber-Defense major, which is offered through TU’s School of Criminal Justice.

According to Professor Scott

Blough, this new hacker’s challenge is part of TU’s commitment to preparing the next generation of cyber defenders.

Hackers’ challenges are designed to allow participants to test their skills and knowledge by attacking (or “hack-

Environmentally Friendly Campus

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TU’s Student Government has assembled a task force to work toward a more environmentally friendly campus.

Their goal is to develop initiatives, evaluate the plausibility of the initiatives, lobby for them in the Student Senate, and create an action plan for their implementation and campus awareness.

Student Government President Jonathan Allen has numerous ideas, such as creating a student-run, campus-wide recycling program for aluminum, paper, plastic, and glass; use recycled paper in printers,; harness solar energy with panels on buildings; change bathroom faucets and hand dryers; and reward those who contribute.

“I’m confident the task force will propose initiatives that the entire TU community will appreciate,” Allen said.

According to Allen, StuGov has been working with the Office of Residence Life to implement recycling in the residence halls. They will be making more connections with staff to ensure that the program is put into practice every-

ing”) into a live network. The exercise is done in a lab setting and the network is specifically designed for the exercise.

Participants use their own computers and connect to the lab network. After a brief overview of the rules, participants attempt to penetrate the network and gain information.

Both Patel and Durham noted the hands-on experience and networking opportunities with professionals from the information security field as valuable to their long-term career goals.

“I had never done any practical hacking of systems, since it’s illegal, so getting the chance to learn the differences between the concept of how to

where on campus.

“Our first goal is to extend the amount of recycling baskets in all residence halls,” said Nathan Strickland, task force member. “We feel that this is one task that can be done immediately and would benefit not only Tiffin University but the Tiffin community as well.”

Last April, TU was a recipient of a $4,000 grant from Ottawa-Sandusky-Seneca County Joint Solid Waste Management District to expand the on-campus recycling program. The TU Green Committee and administrators are in charge of how the grant money is being used on campus.

“The TU Green Committee welcomes any student involvement from the student government task force,” said Dr. Erin Dean, Green Committee Chair. “The grant money has been used to purchase recycling containers and materials to recycle glass, cans, and plastic bottles. Tiffin University’s own contribution also helped pay for supplies and a student worker to empty recycling containers throughout the campus.”

Founding Chief Prosecutor Visits TU Tiffin University hosted a visit by David Crane, the founding Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone – an international war crimes tribunal – during a two-day visit to campus in September.

David Crane

faculty and students during the day, and gave a talk entitled “Military Commissions – Past and Present” in the Osceola Theater.

“Military Commissions – Past and Present” included an introduction on the use of military commissions throughout U.S. history and a summary of the Military Commissions Acts of 2006 and 2009, including their differences. In addition, the jurisdiction of military commissions was examined in relation to the recent U.S. Court of Military Commission Review decisions in U.S. v. Hamdan and U.S. v. al Bahlul.

During his visit with students and faculty, Captain O’Toole discussed career options in military and national security law.

‘Totalitarian Islamism: Defining the Threat and Using the Definition”

Dr. Douglas Streusand

Chief Judge of U.S. Navy Visits TU Captain Daniel E. O’Toole, JAG Corps, U.S. Navy Assistant Judge Advocate General and Chief Judge of the Department of the Navy, visited TU in September. Captain O’Toole met with

Dan O’Toole

Dr. Douglas Streusand discussed “Totalitarian Islamism: Defining the Threat and Using the Definition” during his visit to TU in October. Streusand is Professor of International Relations at Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA. He is a noted historian specializing in the Islamic world. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Institute of World Politics (IWP).

‘The United States has had great difficulty in understanding the nature of the ideological challenge that the 9/11 attacks force us to confront,” Streusand

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Crane’s visit, sponsored by TU’s School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences and the GAO Club, included a program entitled “Accountability Under International Criminal Law.” Crane’s visit included a reception with faculty and students, classroom appearances and a student and faculty luncheon.

Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, appointed Crane as Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in 2002. He served with the rank of Undersecretary General for the international war crimes tribunal until 2005. His mandate was to prosecute those individuals who were charged with the greatest responsibility of war

crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international human rights committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone during the 1990s.

Among those persons he indicted for horrific crimes were Charles Taylor, the President of Liberia and the first sitting African head of state in history to be held accountable for his actions.

In his role, Crane was the first American since Justice Robert Jackson and Telford Taylor at Nuremberg in 1945 to be the chief prosecutor of a war crimes tribunal. His position as chief prosecutor was the culmination of more than 30 years of service in the U.S. federal government, during which time he held numerous key leadership positions.

At Syracuse University, Crane teaches international criminal law, international humanitarian law and national security law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University and his Master of Arts degree in African Studies and Bachelor of General Studies degree in History from Ohio University. He has received many honors and awards, including the Medal of Merit from Ohio University and the Distinguished Service Award from the Syracuse University College of Law for his work in West Africa.

lass SS cene CCampus cene

use certain methods to hack into machines and actually doing it was a good chance to get some real-world experience,” Durham said.

Echoing his students’ perceptions, Blough remarked, “From an academic standpoint, it allowed me to better understand the skill set that students require to be competitive in the job market and challenges such as these.”

School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences News explains. “The threat is in fact a totalitarian ideology, combining elements of Western totalitarian thought with a persistent tradition of dissent and resistance to the political mainstream of Islamic civilization.”

He adds: “The proper definition of the threat can form the foundation of a more effective strategy to address the challenge of totalitarian Islamism in the long term.”

While at Tiffin University, Streusand met with potential students for the IWP’s graduate programs in national security, intelligence and international relations. He also gave a presentation to TU faculty about the IWP’s efforts.

Criminal Justice Education Career Fair

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Students who are interested in a career in Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Mental Health or Social Services attended The Ohio Council of Criminal

Justice Education Career Fair hosted

by TU in November. Representatives from federal, state and local agencies were available to discuss career and internship opportunities, accept resumes and conduct brief interviews.

“We are very excited to host the OCCJE Career Fair for the third time in the past five years,” said Dr. Steven Hurwitz, Professor of Psychology and Criminal Justice at TU and OCCJE Trustee. “This year, we expanded our already impressive assortment of agen-

cies representing areas of law enforcement, corrections and homeland security, including several agencies that encompass victim’s services, mental health and social services. The OCCJE Career Fair provides undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, and working professionals the opportunity to gather information and network with a wide array of professionals under one roof.”

Good Morning World

How Football was Important to Me Former University of Notre Dame and NFL football player Frank Stams presented “How Football was Important to Me” during TU’s first Good Morning World breakfast lecture series in October. Good Morning World events take place at Camden Falls Reception Hall in Tiffin.

Stams is a 1984 graduate of St. Vincent-St. Frank Stams Mary High School in Akron, Ohio and a 1989 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, with a BA in History. While at Notre Dame, Frank was a consensus All-American and a member of the 1988 National Championship Team.

Upon graduating, Frank was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and spent three years there before being traded to the Cleveland Browns. He finished his seven-year career in 1995. While playing, Frank was active in local charities such as the Orange County, California Special Olympics and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Summit County.

lass SS cene CCampus cene

About Good Morning World…Tiffin University’s Good Morning World breakfast lectures take place at Camden Falls Reception Hall located at 2460 South State Route 231 in Tiffin. The format is simple: breakfast is served buffet style at 7:30 a.m., the speaker presents at 8:00 with conclusion by 8:50 a.m. If you would like to be placed on TU’s Good Morning World mailing list, call 419.448.3282.

Baseball from Behind the Umpire’s Mask

— Photos by Jill Gosche

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Retired major league umpire Larry Barnett presented “Baseball from Behind the Umpire’s Mask” at TU’s November Good Morning World Breakfast.

After graduating from high school, Larry Barnett entered umpire school. He was in the minor leagues for five years and in 1968 became the youngest major league umpire in history. He Larry Barnett retired in 1999. He umpired in the American League from 1969 to 1999 and became MLB supervisor of umpires from 2000-2001. He officiated in four World Series, is tied with Jim Evans for a record seven American League Championship Series, and holds the ALCS record of 36 games.

Barnett also umpired in four 4 All-Star games and was the home plate umpire when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played. One of the most controversial calls in World Series history came in 1975 when Barnett was behind home plate and made a call of no interference on Ed Armbrister after he impeded Carlton Fisk’s cut-off throw to second base. The result ignited considerable debate leading to MLB’s conclusion that Barnett made the correct call and instructing all future umpires to make the identical call should the same incident occur.

Faculty News Orr Appointed Dean of School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences Tiffin University named Dr. Jaimie Orr as Dean of the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.

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Dr. Jaimie Orr

Dr. Orr has been a professor at Tiffin University since 2008, teaching courses on National Security, American Government, and International Security. He advises the TU Global Affairs Organization, a student group which participates annually in the Model NATO Conference hosted by Howard University and the National Defense University in Washington DC. He joined the TU faculty after retiring with the rank of Commander after 24 years as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate, specializing in International and Operational Law. In his last military assignment, he served as the Deputy Legal Advisor for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation.

He was an adjunct instructor for the U.S. Joint Forces Staff College from 1996 through 2002. From 1996 to 2003 he supported the U.S. Naval War College, teaching at its off-site programs.

From 2004 until his retirement, he developed and ran several programs training international legal advisors at the NATO School in Germany, as well as teaching a variety of courses to military personnel outside the legal field. He continues to serve as a subject-matter expert in International Relations and International Law for NATO exercises run by the NATO Joint Warfare Centre, in Norway.

Orr entered the Navy’s Judge

Advocate General’s Corps Student Program while enrolled at The Ohio State University College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1984. He also holds a Master of Law degree in International Law from the University of Virginia and is a graduate of the College of Command and Staff at the U.S. Naval War College.

Found in Translation: A TU Professor Travels to China TU Associate Professor Dr. Jonathan Appel presented new research during the Annual World Congress of Forensics, held in October in China. Dr. Appel’s topic was “The Psychology of Terrorism.” The theme of the conference was “Science, Justice and Peace.”

Participants were world-wide forensic experts representing academia, the professional world, and those involved in developing policy. They delivered updates on their work and discussed and analyzed the development of the forensic sciences across the world.

“This annual conference provided a splendid and informative platform for domestic Chinese researchers to communicate with international experts.

It also offered excellent opportunities for cooperation and collaboration, and promoted international exchanges of emerging knowledge and practice in criminal justice and forensics worldwide,” Appel remarks.

He adds that the conference exceeded his expectations. “I found that the Chinese authorities were very gracious and eager to exchange information around differing views and procedures in criminal justice,” he says. “The head of Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau gave us a presentation that documented his cleaning up of the corruption of Chongqing police – many of whom had various deals with organized crime. I was actually surprised they

Dr. Jonathan Appel

were very open about it. Chongqing has been working hard to improve its police image and approve public safety and security in a municipal area of more than 30 million people.”

Participants also enjoyed an intensive tour of the local security facilities with demonstrations of various technologies being utilized.

“While the presentations themselves were fascinating and informative, other activities made the trip a great cultural exchange,” Appel says.

“I found the conversations with other professors and researchers to be most fascinating. We all made sure we ‘rotated’ around during the tours of the city and the wonderful banquet meals to connect with individuals from all parts of the globe – from Saudi Arabia to Scotland to New Zealand,” he says. “I found this group of experts to be the most open, humble, and friendly professionals I have ever encountered. This left a lasting impression – and I learned just as a much from these social experiences as the formal presentations.”

Dr. Appel notes that while everything in China is far from perfect, he experienced a proud country wanting to connect and cooperate with the world and move toward improving itself.

“I saw a huge city going through the challenges associated with a rapid explosion in new growth, but also one with unique traditions that were firmly rooted in a proud past,” he comments.

“Overall, I think the experience helped in my growth as a teacher and researcher in the global age. My professional

goals for the future are very much to include students on such future experiences. The world is certainly the best classroom for learning.”

Research has already linked better relationships with a person’s family-oforigin to better mental health measures – but it may also be associated with a healthy sense of “mindfulness,” according to new findings.

A recent study conducted by Dr. Jonathan Appel, a professor of psychology at Tiffin University, and his wife Dr. Dohee Kim-Appel, a therapist at Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services, demonstrated that the quality of our

Dr. Dohee Kim-Appel Dr. Jonathan Appel

Gajjala Presents Research at IBM Workshop Professor Vinnie Gajjala shared his expertise in transnational entrepreneurship and e-learning during a workshop organized by IBM. He received an invitation to present his research at “Future Technologies, Skills, Jobs and Careers: Connecting Frameworks, Theories and Models,” held in September at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in California.

Vinnie Gajjala

University-based entrepreneurship ecosystems, e-learning systems to boost productivity, and how computers change the nature of work across many industrial sectors were among the topics that were investigated in the workshop.

Dr. Gajjala has taught both on-campus and online in the undergraduate and graduate programs offered by TU’s School of Business and the University’s Executive MBA program in Romania since May of 2002.

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family relationships colors much of our psychological development, our ability to balance emotions with constructive thinking, and our ability to be “mindful” of self and others.

The Appels presented their research findings in August at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

“The Relationship Between Bowen’s Concept Of Differentiation Of Self

“Relationships are a core concept to our psychological well-being – perhaps even more so than what we previously have understood or have acknowledged in the mental health fields. The world is really a series of relationships. These relationships are critical to our health, and subsequently our individual views of the world around us. Relationships represent our very core nature as human beings,” adds Dr. Dohee Kim-Appel.

C ampus S cene

Quality of Family and Relationships To Mental Health ‘Mindfulness’ Connected

And Measurements Of Mindfulness” was based on a study of individuals in various relationship types and how these relationships connected with a “mindful” perspective both of the self and the one’s environment.

“Mindfulness is a concept that has taken quite a hold on the therapeutic world in recent years,” the Appels remark.

“Educational and counseling techniques that induce ‘mindfulness’ are increasingly being employed in psychology, psychotherapy and in self-help programs to understand and alleviate a variety of mental – and even physical – conditions.”

The Appels state that they found mindfulness very connected to “differentiation of self,” or the ability to relate with others without losing one’s healthy sense of self or becoming too emotionally overwhelmed by others.

Research that indicates mindfulness activates the medial prefrontal brain regions, which plays a prominent role in empathy, a better sense of self and a decrease in anxious or depressive self-obsession. The skill of mindfulness is related to how accurately one is aware of the present moment in the surrounding environment as it relates to the individual’s emotions, relationships and self-motivations.

“Our family relationships are usually the most intense relationships we experience, and families know how to push each other’s buttons. Our research suggests that targeting both mindfulness and the health of one’s family relationships has the ability to significantly improve one’s mental health and even other core relationships, such as work relationships,” explains Dr. Jonathan Appel.

Faculty News Christianity & Literature TU Professor James Rovira presented his paper, “Knowing Love and Peace by their Opposites: the Demonic in Blake and Kierkegaard,” at the Mideast Conference on Christianity and Literature in October.

“This paper applied the concept of the demonic in Kierkegaard’s The Concept of Anxiety to Blake’s character Urizen in The [First] Book of Urizen,” Dr. Rovira explains. “By illuminating each author’s consideration of the demonic, the paper then illustrates their consideration of the demonic’s opposite – love and peace.”

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James Rovira

Rovira noted that both Blake and Kierkegaard gave the demonic characteristics of darkness, fire, silence, and boredom, which Kierkegaard sums up with the terms “inclosing reserve” and “unfreely disclosed.”

“The good, in contrast, is comprised of light rather than darkness and fire, with communication rather than silence, and activity rather than boredom,” he said.

His paper also explored Kierkegaard’s concept of love as further developed in his Works of Love.

“My research explains how love – being an antidote not only to evil but to anxiety – is both a cancellation of the demonic and an active and continuing source of peace,” Rovira says. “This explanation also sheds light on the final redemption of Urizen in Blake’s Jerusalem.”

Mike Herdlick

Herdlick Presents at Ohio Water Environmental Association Faculty member Mike Herdlick recently presented a paper at the Ohio Water Environmental Association Lab Analyst Committee Meeting on “Applications in Green Technology.” The talk focused on the current state of energy use in our country and how sustainability concepts continue to grow and be applied to all aspects of business, education, and government. At the meeting, it was also discussed how Tiffin University has established a minor in Green Technologies and has been the recipient of two substantial grants for recycling. The Ohio Water Environment Association is a not-forprofit association that provides technical education and training for Ohio water quality professionals who clean water and return it safely to the environment.

Dr. Law Publishes Paper Tiffin University Professor Dr. FangMei Law, together with her husband Dr. Gwo-Jen Guo, published a paper entitled “Factors Influencing Interest in Research among Criminal Justice Students” in the September issue of Journal of Criminal Justice Education.

Dr. Fang-Mei Law

As the lead author of the paper, Dr. Law emphasized that, as the criminal justice system moves towards being a scientifically-oriented field, research methodology is a valuable tool enabling criminal justice professionals to assess the needs of the developing direction of the field; it is essential that criminal justice students receive effective training in research to gain sufficient knowledge and acquire adequate skills in research methodology throughout their professional development. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore factors influencing research interest among criminal justice students.

Based on the findings, the authors have proposed several implications for educators in the criminal justice field in regards to enhancing students’ research interest.

“This study helps us to understand the factors influencing research interest for students in criminal justice majors. Our findings will contribute evidence for this line of research in the field,” Dr. Law remarked.

How ‘Hope Theory’ Can Enhance Individual Development TU Professor Dr. Fang-Mei Law is exploring ways in which a step-bystep “Hope Theory” can enhance a person’s development from infancy to adulthood.

Dr. Law and her husband, Dr. Gwo-Jen Guo, describe their research findings in a new book entitled Finding Hope: Applied Hope Theories in Counseling, published in October.

In connection with her new book, Law presented the paper “I Believe I Can: The Study of Involvement, Coping Ability, Hope in Predicting Academic Self Efficacy for First-Generation College

Perry-Nause Presents During National Diversity Awareness Month Dr. Sharon Perry-Nause served as the keynote speaker for National Diversity Awareness Month at Marathon Petroleum Corporation in Findlay, Ohio in October. She is Director of Institutional Diversity and Assistant Professor of Management at Tiffin University. Her speech, “Diversity and Organizational Change” focused on how one must develop the appropriate diverse relationships that cultivate organizational commitment to diversity and aide in organizational transformation.

“The opportunity to share the

Nause says. “It was truly an honor to be selected as the keynote speaker for such an event.” She noted how diversitycompetent institutions accept their role as catalysts – as agents for societal change and transformation.

“They engage in consultations to further the course of diversity in organizations and communities. They engage in empirical investigations to learn more about the benefits associated with human differences, institutional policies, procedures, and practices gauge the level of commitment to diversity efforts,” she explains. “The presentation sought to broaden knowledge and support further diversity efforts.”

National Diversity Awareness Month began in 2005. It is a time to vow acceptance and tolerance. It is a time to celebrate and embrace who we are, despite our differences, no matter what race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, or disability. It is a time to reflect on and gain knowledge of about different ideologies and cultures (www.nationaldiversityday.com).

Leadership Emergence in Virtual Teams Dr. Canchu Lin presented “Leadership Emergence in Virtual Teams: Communication and Uncertainty Reduction,” which he co-authored with Dr. James Olufowote of Boston College, at the annual convention of National Communication Association in New Orleans in November.

Using the uncertainty reduction framework, this study investigated uncertainty reduction functions of emer-

significance of commonalities and differences and how the successful alignment of the characteristics foster commitment to diversity was truly welcomed,” Perry-

Dr. Canchu Lin

Golden Opportunities for School of Business Dean of Graduate Studies Bonnie Tiell visited Paris, France and Lausanne, Switzerland over Thanksgiving break. A guest of two-time Olympian Dr. Francis Dove Edwin of Sierre Leone (Africa), Tiell presented the Tiffin University Olympic Academic Experience to 150+ Olympians and members of the IOC at the 2011 World Olympians Association (WOA).

Seventeen students and three professors from nine universities will join Tiell and Edwin in London next summer. Tiell also visited Paris to meet with Horizons University President, Roberta Grossi. Grossi and Tiell are collaborating on academic projects dealing with shared curriculum for a graduate certificate, study-abroad opportunities, and global internships.

While in Paris, Tiell toured the National Archives, Paris Town Hall Government building, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Place de la Bastille which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

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Dr. Sharon Perry-Nause

gent leaders’ communication behaviors in twenty four virtual teams.

A qualitative analysis of the emergent leadership communication behaviors revealed four major functions in emergent leadership communication: initiation, task management, information management, and operational coordination.

The discussion of the findings revealed important implications for theory and practice regarding leadership emergence in virtual teams.

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Freshmen” at the All Ohio Counselor Conference in November.

As the lead author of the new book, Law – who teaches in TU’s School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences – emphasizes that although it is good to have dreams in life, the inability to attain those dreams may lead to depression more often than to happiness.

“This is because fulfillment of a dream is quite complex, but with a systemic approach, dreams can be attained,” the TU professor says. “Such an approach includes transferring the dream into a concrete goal, setting up a pathway for its attainment, and following the pathway step-by-step to reach the goal. This is called the Hope Theory.”

Student News Dragon Leadership Scholarship Many students throughout the Tiffin University community contribute their time and leadership to various campus organizations and activities, in addition to their stellar work in the classroom.

Without the hard work of our dedicated student leaders, many campus events and philanthropic activities would not take place for our entire Tiffin campus to experience. To recognize the efforts and show our appreciation to our outstanding student leaders, Tiffin University is proud to announce the launch of the Dragon Leadership Scholarship. Congratulations to the fifteen deserving recipients who will each earn $2,000 to $3,000 annually. We are proud of the contributions all of our Tiffin University students have and continue to make on and around campus and throughout the Tiffin community.

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Hospitality Club Attends Cleveland’s Fabulous Food Show The Hospitality Club sponsored an educational experience, Cleveland’s Fabulous Food Show, at the International Expo Center on Friday, November 11.

The eight students who attended received a discounted admission to the show which included one chef show in the Main Kitchen Theatre, as well as the Market Place featuring more than 225 exhibiting companies, the Culinary Celebration Theatre, Grand Tasting Pavilion, Sweet Street and more than 100 ongoing demonstrations on six stages.

The food expo showcased a smorgasbord of popular celebrity chefs -- Bobby Flay, Guy Fieri, Robert Irvine, Duff Goldman and Cleveland’s own Michael Symon. The students were able to attend the chef how featuring the “Ace of Cakes,” Duff Goldman.

The show’s popularity with the public is growing so rapidly that the I-X Center will host the Fabulous Food Show, Spring Edition, in April, 2012.

Students Selected to Assist in Inaugural Canadian Basketball Draft Four Tiffin University graduate students were selected to assist in the inaugural draft for the National Basketball League (NBL) of Canada.

The TU students – John Carpenter, Ornette Gardenheir, Darci Santella and Sidney Asante – are each pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Sport Management.

Basketball is among the fastest growing and most popular sports in Canada. More than 600,000 Canadians ages 15 and older play regularly. Until now, Canada was the only country in the top 30 basketball nations in the world without its own professional league.

The TU students participated in the administration of the NBL’s two-day combine in August at the Seneca College Sports Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The combine consisted of skill drill stations and live competition.

One of the league’s primary objectives was “to establish a sustainable financial model for the league and its franchises which is poised for growth and expansion across Canada and potentially United States markets.”

Tiffin University was one of only two universities in America selected to send students to work the draft.

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Student News The Daughter Project

New International Students Welcomed

Voicing Our Insight Creating Empowerment (V.O.I.C.E) is a new organization on campus which focuses on helping the young women of Tiffin University grow into beautiful, talented, strong, and healthy individuals. Throughout the fall semester, members learned of the impact of women in the media, selfimage, and how to check their own health and wellness.

Tiffin University President Paul Marion officially welcomed new and returning international students from 28 countries during the University’s annual International Flag Ceremony in November.

International students new to Tiffin University presented their countries’ flags to President Marion and returning international students celebrated their reunion. Taking place at this year’s ceremony was the induction of flags for Spain and Trinidad & Tobago, the rededication of our past and present

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During the fall semester, the co-founders of V.O.I.C.E began One-Dress, where each girl wears one dress for 110 days in order to raise funds and awareness for The Daughter Project. The Daughter Project is a non-profit organization in northwest Ohio that is preparing to build and operate a recovery home/trafficking shelter for girls who have been rescued from sex traffickers by local law enforcement agents.

Tiffin University’s One-Dress Project is being led by Jessica Oliver, a junior from Indiana studying forensic psychology, and Ana Reyes, a senior from New York also studying forensic psychology.

By wearing the one dress and partnering with The Daughter Project, the members of V.O.I.C.E hope to enable women access to information and services they need to enhance and protect their health, to eliminate violence against women, to mobilize political will and resources for women’s rights and development, and to increase women’s participation in civil and political processes.

flags, and performances by the Tiffin University Choir. Appropriately, the event took place during the U.S. Department of State’s “International Education Week,” a week designed to celebrate the benefits of educational exchange throughout the world.

Breast Cancer Awareness The members of Gamma Chi Alpha sorority hosted their 6th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Gala in October. The sorority sold T-shirts and wrist bands and organized a silent auction to raise money for breast cancer. During dinner, numerous speakers enlightened those in attendance and all proceeds from the benefit went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Gamma Chi Alpha is founded upon diversity. Every sister is different but all feel connected to each other by the causes that they represent: breast cancer awareness, suicide awareness, and adopt a soldier.

The Men’s Soccer Team, under the direction of Coach Rudy Brownell, sold T-shirts to raise funds for breast cancer awareness in October.

Community TU Funds Frost-Kalnow Stadium Enhancements

Statistics in Decision-Making

TU’s Office of Student Affairs hosted the Annual Community Trick or Treat activity in October. All Tiffin- area children were invited to the Legacy Courtyard to enjoy spooky festivities. Some of the festivities included roasting marshmallows, coloring in the courtyard, games, and more. Residence Life members also passed out candy at several residence halls and campus houses.

TU’s School of Business and the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce co-hosted a community seminar, “Using Better Business Decisions Using Strategic Information,” in November.

“Managers and other business people learned how to use statistical tools to assist in common decisions made in the organizational world,” said Dr. Perry Haan, Professor of Marketing, who led the session.

“As part of the process of learning how to use statistical data for decisionmaking, participants learned which statistical test to use where, how to interpret data and determine sample sizes for research studies,” Haan added.

“They were also introduced to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), a statistical software package designed for analyzing the data used in business situations.”

“This was a hands-on workshop that met in a computer classroom.

Sample data and possible business scenarios were provided. Certificates of Participation were provided by the Tiffin University School of Business,” Haan said.

Grad Talk Radio Grad Talk Radio is a new opportunity for graduate students and professors on TU’s campus. It is a 30-minute show focused on TU graduate programs, such as Criminal Justice, Business, and Humanities. The goal of the radio show is to connect with students and instructors using available technology.

“Ninety percent of grad courses are online, so we wanted to find a way to bring them (students, instructors, and alumni) together,” said Bonnie Tiell, Dean of Graduate Studies.

The show airs once a month with three speakers that include a guest speaker and a faculty member, student, alumnus, or an administrator. September’s show featured Janice Hilliard, Vice President of the NBA and member of TU’s Board of Trustees.

Grad Talk Radio can be found as a link on Tiffin University’s website, www. tiffin.edu. It airs on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.

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Community Trick or Treat Held on Campus

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In an effort to add value to the playing experience for the Columbian Tornados and the Calvert Senecas, as well as Dragon football, Tiffin University donated $15,285 to the Tiffin City Schools to purchase new football and soccer goal posts.

Tiffin University was active in past upgrades to the stadium and recently partnered with the Tiffin City Schools in relocating its transportation center. Tiffin University looks forward to further opportunities to partner with Tiffin City and the Calvert Catholic School systems to make Tiffin a great place to learn, work and play.

Community Hilliard Elected to Board of Trustees Tiffin University has elected Dr. Janice Hilliard to its Board of Trustees, according to Gary Heminger, Chair.

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Dr. Janice Hilliard

Dr. Hilliard is Vice President of Player Development for the National Basketball Association. Under her leadership, programming and professional development initiatives are implemented for players and staff on 30 NBA teams.

“Dr. Hilliard’s experience in the fields of education and sports management will be helpful to our Board, and we appreciate her willingness to serve as a trustee,” said TU President Paul Marion.

Prior to joining the NBA, Dr. Hilliard spent seven years as a teacher, coach and counselor for public school systems in Texas and Michigan. She also worked seven years in student affairs and athletics administration at Central Michigan University, the University of Houston, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She has been a featured speaker at the Women in Spotlight Leadership Conference, a frequent radio guest, and a presenter at many workshops and conferences across the country, including the NCAA and the Black Coaches Association.

Her experience as both a leader and an innovative educator has resulted in many awards, including the Central Michigan University Diversity Distinguished Staff Award, the University of North Carolina Friends of Carolina Lacrosse Service Award, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Founder’s Award.

Dr. Hilliard earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, where

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she was co-captain of the women’s basketball team. She later earned a master’s degree and doctorate from Michigan State University, and also graduated from the Sports Management Institute.

Veteran’s Remembered “The legacy of the American armed forces is truly extraordinary,” said Carol McDannell, Director of Career Development, at Tiffin University’s Veteran’s Day Celebration in Chisholm Auditorium in November.

TU faculty, staff, and students attended a celebration to honor those who have served in the U.S. military. Andrew Porter, veteran and TU adjunct professor, sang the National Anthem and Lisa Kirchner, Dean of Students, introduced guest speaker, Dr. John Schupp.

Schupp, Program Director of Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran (SERV), briefly explained how he first got involved with veterans’ education at Cleveland State University.

In the fall of 2006, a chemistry student who was also a veteran approached Schupp and thanked him for helping her pass the class after she had failed it several times before. This encounter prompted him to do research about why veterans were having

problems getting through college. He realized that veterans need a different environment to learn.

In the spring of 2008, he experimented with his first veterans-only class and the results confirmed his theory. “By bringing the vets together, I recreated the unit mentality,” he said.

“We would grow as a country really well if we embraced the vets,” Schupp said. He highlighted three things that veterans bring back that everyone in the U.S. should imitate: the ability to work together for a common goal, selfreliance, and the mentality to put the bigger picture first.

Schupp told attendees of an upcoming state-wide event that will bring Ohio veterans and college students to-

gether. He has assembled a competition called The Patriot Games that will begin with a torch relay through the state. He challenged the students and veterans to work together on the event that is to occur this summer.

“In my opinion, this country needs college students, this generation, working with five generations of veterans to make it a better place,” said Schupp.

Criminal Justice Club President, Whitney Reshonsky, gave the presentation of appreciation. She spoke of how much gratitude U.S. civilians owe to veterans who have risked their lives overseas.

The veterans in the audience stood and gave their name, branch, and years of service during the recognition portion of the celebration.

Anniversary of 9/11

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The 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks was commemorated by Tiffin University, Heidelberg University and Tiffin citizens in September at The Ritz Theatre.

The event was sponsored by the Tiffin University Global Affairs Organization and Criminal Justice Club and by Heidelberg University’s Office of Campus Ministry and Spiritual Life.

Tiffin University Junior Steve Smolinsky stated, “The purpose of today is to commemorate the lives lost that horrible day, and also to celebrate our response as a nation during the trying times.”

Art, Music and Theatre The Diane Kidd Gallery “Andrew Dailey – Recent Drawings”

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The Diane Kidd Gallery hosted “Andrew Dailey – Recent Drawings” for its opening 2011-12 exhibition season.

Dailey’s art featured distinctive graphite drawings, a medium, according to him, that is often seen as preliminary and secondary to other art media, and that while he considers his primary medium to be painting, much of his studio practice is spent drawing.

According to Marsha Pippenger, Gallery Director, Dailey has created this new body of Artist Andrew Dailey work as homage to the self portrait as aviator unique qualities of the drawn subject, such as subtle tonality and immediacy of touch.

“Drawing is a direct medium in which the artist makes his marks directly on the support. The drawings he presented for our enjoyment comprised a history of visual experience and sensations,” she said.

Dailey is a Dayton, Ohio-based artist who received his MFA in painting from Miami University and his BFA from Wright State University. He is the recipient of a 2011 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award. His work is included in the permanent collection of the Evansville Museum of Art, History, and Science in Evansville, Indiana.

‘Kinetic Memory, Mobiles

by Terry Welker’ “Kinetic Memory, Mobiles by Terry Welker,” the second exhibition of The Diane Kidd Gallery, opened in October. Welker, a Kettering, Ohio-based artist, is both a sculptor and architect. He works with metals and movement to create his distinctive mobiles.

Artist Terry Welker “Making mobiles comes from my passion for architecture, poetic space and meaningful places,” Welker says. “I work to understand and extend the language of mobiles by animating form, space and surface with time and motion.”

He adds, “The unique character of mobiles reveals the inherent challenge of gravity and the mystery of delicate balance. Seeking to push the limits of the art form with these forces, I work to orchestrate ‘near misses’ and enable ‘soft collisions’ by playing with that time and motion. The unpredictable and accidental nature of these movements allows the observer to move beyond simple viewing and become unconsciously engaged in the enjoyable act of ‘watching’ and ‘staring.’”

Welker began his formal education in fine art, but later moved toward architecture. After completing his graduate work at the University of Cincinnati in 1987, he continued teaching design and drawing at the university for several years. An award-winning architect, he opened his own office in 1994 and created the Archetype Gallery, serving artists of the Miami Valley. In 2000, he rekindled his own work as an artist in the Welker Studio. Today, as a distinguished member of the American Institute of Architects, his teaching experience, gallery knowledge and architectural practice informs his work as a sculptor. He has exhibited his work in many solo and group shows. He has also been commissioned to create larger works for such clients as the Miami Valley Hospital and the Children’s Medical Center in Dayton and the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, among many others.

offered its audience the opportunity to reexamine their relationship to common food and the people who make it.

Arts & Angles Indie Musician Bill Mallonee

Theatre ‘The Prisoner of Second Avenue’

Singer Songwriter Bill Mallonee

‘The Local Cheeseburger’ TU faculty member Lee Fearnside exhibited a special collection of photographs in a show entitled “The Local Cheeseburger,” hosted by the Perrysburg Area Arts Council.

Local Cheeseburger

by Lee Fearnside

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The exhibition was presented at the Way Public Library in Perrysburg, Ohio, in October and November and focused on alternatives to mass-produced fast foods by highlighting options offered by local farmers and food producers. “The Local Cheeseburger” illustrated the local production of the various components of this popular food item.

“My photos examined the products that make up the cheeseburger – the beef, the bun, the cheese, and the lettuce – as produced by local farmers and bakers,” Fearnside said.

“Each artisan makes their products from homegrown local ingredients and sells their goods at area farmer’s markets. They all speak about their passion for their products, their love of the craft, and the value of connecting to a local community in an age where face-to-face exchange is often diminished by virtual experience.” Fearnside added that “The Local Cheeseburger”

The Dragons Den Players presented Neil Simon’s comedy, “The Prisoner of Second Avenue,” in November.

“Though set in the 1980s, the play delves into economic concerns that describe in uncomfortable detail the American economy in its present state,” remarked Dr. Mary Grennen, Director of Theatre Arts.

“The Prisoner of Second Avenue” is the story of Mel and Edna – a middle class, middleaged, middle-happy couple – living in a Manhattan high rise apartment building. Mel loses his job, the apartment is robbed, Edna gets a job, Mel loses his mind, and Edna loses her job … to say nothing of the more minor tribulations of nosy neighbors, helpful relatives, and exact bus fares. The couple suffers indignity after indignity (some self-inflicted), and when they seem on the verge of surrender, they thumb their noses defiantly and dig the trenches for battle.

The play ran on Broadway from 1971 until 1973, and was later made into a feature film. The play was nominated for a 1972 Tony Award for Best Play.

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TU’s School of Arts & Sciences hosted its first Arts & Angles presentation in November featuring music by independent singersongwriter, Bill Mallonee.

In 2006, Paste Magazine published a list of the top 100 living songwriters and Mallonee was named number 65. He was part of a 90’s band called the Vigilantes of Love until 2001. Since that time he has toured as a solo-act, and presently is accompanied by his wife, Muriah Rose.

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Holiday Concert

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Art, Music and Theatre Music

Rees Travels to Belgium Brad Rees, TU’s Music Department Director, was invited to teach at the 2011 Halewynstichting Summer Jazz Workshop held in Dworp, Belgium. This week-long course for conservatory students and adult professionals is one of the longest-running and leading jazz events in Europe, and features a faculty composed of leading jazz teachers and performers in Europe, the US and South Africa. Rees worked with a group of twenty vocalists on solo jazz performance, improvisation and Brad Rees ensemble singing.

Vazquez Completes New Project Elijah Vazquez, TU’s Director of Instrumental Music, recently completed a new project for Cleveland Tapes Records, the digital album … off the vigorous by Odysseus Brown & the Midnite. Eli (AKA e.React) serves as the house engineer for Elijah Vazquez the record label, and is the creative muse behind this body of work by the legendary Odysseus Brown. Like many of Cleveland Tapes’ productions, this album is available for a “name your price” download.

The album is receiving some great buzz, having been named Bandcamp.com’s Album of the Week. The release closely follows Vazquez’ recent album Nowaystired – A Tribute to Bobby Womack, also on Cleveland Tapes Records.

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Up in the Air Alum Writes Future “Pop-Classic” Atlanta singer-songwriter and former member of Tiffin University’s ‘Up in the Air’ is on her way to making a huge splash in the music industry. Prisca Strother has been working with hitmaker and megaproducer Tricky Stewart on the debut release from the Swedish singer Ulrika. Stewart produced Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” Mya’s “Case of the Ex,” Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine” and Justin Prisca Strother

Bieber’s “Baby,” and now turns his RedZone Entertainment resources to the Swedish singer as his next pop star — doing so with the help of Strother and her co-writers at Namaste Studios in Atlanta.

The first single from Ulrika’s upcoming album is Strother’s song “Time Will Tell,” which Phillipa Young of Huffington Post calls a “pop classic in the making.” Strother also co-wrote several other songs on Ulrika’s debut album, including “I Confess,” which is currently being performed and recorded by TU’s Up in the Air. The song includes a catchy pre-chorus that was inspired by the vocal harmony experience Strother had in the TU a cappella group.

Up in the Air has toured the Atlanta area twice in the past year, and spent some time at Namaste Studios working with Ulrika and Prisca. Strother also appeared in a 2010 Tiffin show presented by the TU Concert Production Team.

TU Groups Open for Rockapella Tiffin University’s a cappella groups Up in the Air and Higher Ground served as opening acts for the acclaimed vocal group Rockapella in their November concert in Macedonia OH.

Members of TU’s Higher Ground with Rockapella after their November performance together.

One of the the most successful and lasting pop vocal groups in the world, Rockapella was an innovator of the modern a cappella style. The group leapt to fame more than two decades ago as cast members of the PBS kid-TV smash “Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego?”, on the Spike Lee documentary “Do It A Cappella”, and recording jingles for Folgers coffee and Almond Joy. In the years since the group has built on its fame touring the world and recording twenty albums.

The concert by Rockapella and the TU groups was the culminating performance of an all-day vocal festival hosted

by Nordonia Hills High School. TU vocal directors Brad & Ali Rees served as clinicians for participating high school vocal groups that performed during the daytime program.

[photo:

Members of TU’s Higher Ground with Rockapella after

their November performance together.]

TU Students perform with Ben Folds

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Four Tiffin University students were featured with recording artist and Sing-Off judge Ben Folds in his appearance with the Indianapolis Symphony in October.

Ben Folds Indy Choir

Tiffin University singers filled five of the eight positions in the background vocal group, with music industry majors Shanna Litton and David Driskill, professional music major Seth Conklin, graduate assistant Devin Langston, and music department director Brad Rees. This is the second time Tiffin University has provided background vocalists for Folds, with Litton having served in the role at a 2009 concert by Folds and the Columbus Symphony.

Folds was the front man and pianist for the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five, which charted with several hits in the late 1990s, and since 2001 has toured extensively as a solo artist and recorded seven solo albums. He is known for his trademark percussive piano style, distinctive voice, and often humorous or ironic lyrics. Folds is currently featured as one of the judges for the NBC-TV reality music show The Sing-Off.

Open Mic Talent Night

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TU’s Music Department hosted its first annual Open Mic Talent Night in September. In the style of the popular 70’s game show, The Gong Show, 12 talented student acts tried to avoid being ‘gonged’ off the stage by the judges as they competed for cash prizes.

Art, Music and Theatre New Dance Team Coach Erika Handru serves as coach of the extracurricular TU Crew dance team. In addition to leading rehearsals and choreographing routines for the TU Crew, Handru also serves as recruiter for incoming dancers, who are eligible to receive scholarships.

Handru graduated from Heidelberg University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in ComErika Handru munications and Theatre Arts and has danced nearly all her life. She taught ballet for several years at In Motion Dance Studio and has studied and performed a variety of dance styles including hip-hop, jazz, tap and lyrical. She also extensively studied ballroom dancing, including American Smooth and American Rhythm styles, and has won awards at collegiate competitions throughout Ohio and Indiana. She received first place in foxtrot at the Ohio State University’s annual ballroom competition in 2010. Erika, a Bascom, Ohio native, is married to TU’s Assistant Soccer Coach Mircea Handru.

Kids Choir

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Tiffin University sponsors the TU Kids Choir. For the past two years, this choir has operated as an afterschool program at Krout Elementary School in Tiffin, and is now open to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders from all area schools. Directed

by Ali Rees, the Kids Choir will perform several times over the course of the year.

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Tiffin University presented its Annual “Christmas at The Ritz” concert in December.

The concert featured the Tiffin University Women’s Choir, conducted by McKaylea Collins, and the University Singers, conducted

by Brad Rees, each performing traditional holiday selections. TU’s a cappella groups Up in the Air, Higher Ground, and the newest ensemble Temperature Risin’, performed contemporary and pop Christmas songs.

Higher Ground was joined by the Tiffin Kids’ Choir, which is comprised of 4th, 5th and 6th graders from the community, and meets one hour per week on the TU campus. Both Higher Ground and the Kids’ Choir are directed by Ali Rees.

TU’s Chamber Arts Ensemble performed traditional Christmas music for concert band, with guest flutist Dr. Teresa Collins. She is director of Tiffin University’s Master of Education degree program.

The Chamber Arts Ensemble is conducted by Doug Neel.

The concert also featured the InBetween, a 10-piece band that specializes in pop, rock, soul and funk music, the hip-hop band Sound & Silence, the TU Gospel Choir, and the brass and percussion band AfroFunk Arkestra.

Elijah Vazquez directs Sound & Silence, Neel directs The InBetween, and Vazquez and Neel co-direct AfroFunk Arkestra.

Ticket proceeds were donated to F.A.C.T. of Seneca County, which provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families.

Melissa (Missy) Firebaugh-Closser Hometown Millersburg, Ohio; now lives in London, Ohio Class Year 2003 Degree Bachelor of Business Administration (Concentration in Marketing)

A minute with Missy ...

Melissa Firebaugh-Closser

director position. It was a dream come true. I was so excited to revamp the UU brand and to design marketing pieces for something I love,” she exclaimed.

“And Urbana University is a lot like TU; faculty/staff know you by name, it’s easy to make friends, and you get the opportunity to be involved on campus that makes it difficult to do at other larger institutions. My goal at Urbana is to increase enrollment by creating marketing pieces that show what we have to offer as a small, liberal arts university. And because I spent one year as a student at Urbana before I transferred to Tiffin, my heart is tied to both universities because of the wonderful experiences I’ve had at both institutions,” she says.

She and her husband Patrick, a small business owner and City Councilman, reside in London, a half hour from Urbana. She hopes to one day get her doctorate and teach marketing/communications at the college level, as well as maintain her director position. Her schedule is hectic, but she keeps in close touch with Tiffin, her sorority, and the TU alumni cheerleading program.

It looks like Tiffin planted a seed which has continued to grow and develop.

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What did you always want to be when you were growing up?

Movie/TV star and a

Lakers Girl What is the name of your favorite band, songwriter, or song?

I LOVE Katy Perry!

If you could spend an afternoon with anyone, who would that be?

Zooey Deschanel’s character

‘Jess’ off her TV show “New

Girl.” She has such a positive,

happy attitude on life. I love

that she makes a theme song

about her life and sings it.

We should all make theme

songs about ourselves and

sing them every day!

What was your best vacation?

My honeymoon to Jamaica.

We did a zip- line tour

through the jungle and it was

scary and fun at the same time!

to leave such a wonderful place that had given me such wonderful memories,” she explained.

After graduation, she became the marketing coordinator at Hull and Associates, Inc., a mid-sized environmental engineering firm in Dublin, Ohio. “I’ll have to admit, marketing environmental engineering services was not the dream job I had hoped for, but it was good experience and I was able to apply the skills I learned in my marketing classes to my job,” Closser admitted. “I knew I was meant for something different, so I went back to school and got my master’s degree in marketing and communications at Franklin University in 2008. After I had finished, a friend mentioned that Urbana University was looking for a new cheerleading coach. So I applied and was hired to turn the declining program around.”

And she did just that. Now into her third season as the Blue Knight cheerleading coach, Closser has taken the program to a new level. She developed marketing materials to promote the program; added new, more difficult stunts/pyramids; a competition squad that exhibits at local competitions; stunting clinics for high school cheerleaders interested in collegiate cheerleading; and two male cheerleaders. “I give good cheerleaders, who may not have the tumbling skills required at most colleges, a chance to be a collegiate cheerleader – just at a smaller school. I can’t tumble, but TU gave me the opportunity to not only be a collegiate cheerleader, but the skills to be a collegiate cheerleading coach,” Closser proudly stated.

It was during her second season when she was offered the director of marketing and communications position for the university. “They saw the marketing pieces I designed for the cheerleading program and asked me to take the

S potlight

Melissa (Missy) Firebaugh-Closser got so involved in campus life at Tiffin that a campus has now become her life.

After transferring to Tiffin in 2000 when she changed her major to marketing, Closser quickly became involved in the Tiffin University community. She was a Dragon cheerleader for three years (captain her senior year); president of the Marketing Club; and helped found the Gamma Chi Alpha sorority. Now, as the director of marketing and communications and head cheerleading coach at Urbana University, she attributes the experiences she had at TU that lead her to a career in higher education.

“I’ve always loved school, as dorky as that sounds. When I left TU, I was sad

David Nash Hometown Paderborn, Germany; now lives in Tiffin, Ohio Class Year 2012 WHAT Degree WILL YOU EARN? Bachelor of Business Administration (Sports and Recreation Management)

After two years of college, David Nash wanted to refine his career direction. He looked outside Niederrhein University in Germany for a place he could study sports management and transfer his college credits. Tiffin University had what he wanted. So he moved to the United States in 2010. He will graduate in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Sports and Recreation Management.

While carrying nearly a 4.0 GPA in his business classes and working as a resident advisor, he uncovered yet another talent – art. You will find his work on a myriad of sports posters around campus and on athletic apparel and spirit t-shirts at the TU Bookstore.

It all started with an assignment in a marketing and management class his first semester at Tiffin University.

“We had a project where we had to come up with an object and market it,”

Nash recalls. “My group’s assignment was doing a spirit shop. I wanted to encourage more spirit. I wanted to build school pride so I created a two-minute commercial asking what a student could do.”

The commercial was about all Dragon sports at Tiffin University. “Because my professor liked it so much, she worked with me outside of class, too,” he says. It was such a hit, that Nash presented it to 120-plus students and faculty. It’s now on YouTube at www. youtube.com/watch?v=6fcdHMsX-RA “After presenting the commercial, the athletic director asked if I would be interested in a job creating promotional items,” says Nash. “My first job was creating a poster for basketball last year and I have been working for athletics ever since.”

He combined natural talent with media design work honed during

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A minute with David ...

What’s your favorite sport? American football. I played in high school and

coached two youth teams in Germany.

What did you always want to be when you grew up? Someone with

a purpose. One of my most desired things was being as educated as my

grandfather. He inspired me to not take opportunities for granted. I took

his advice to heart and while growing up with limited resources, I tried

to seize my opportunities. Now, my dream is to give other kids with

limited resources the opportunities I did not have.

What is the name of your favorite band and song? I like the bands

Foo Fighters and Limp Bizkit. My favorite song is “Hero of War,”

by Rise Against.

If you could spend an afternoon with anyone, who would that be?

It would be great to spend an afternoon with great political who seek

for freedom and learn from them what it takes to be a great leader.

Ultimately, though, I would rather spend an afternoon with my

grandparents, who helped raise me. I love them so much and I am

thankful for what they have done for me. They deserve to be

acknowledged for that.

What is your dream vacation? Any vacation with my family.

David Nash

his cultural studies in Germany. Tiffin University gave him the opportunity to merge his skills with something he loves, sports. As promotions and marketing administrator, he creates event posters, schedule posters and more. “I come up with ideas and talk to the sports promotion director to present them. If they agree, we do it.”

An ambitious student, Nash says, “The next couple of years are already planned. My goal is to build something similar to a foundation, a Sports Development Center for Disadvantaged Children. I want to give other kids the chance that I didn’t have when I was younger when I had to achieve everything on my own. I know there are a lot of kids who need a person to show them a proper way and prove to them that they can do it. I would like to be that person.”

Emily Fox Riehle Hometown Old Fort, Ohio; now lives in Delaware, Ohio Class Year 2006 Degree Business Administration (Concentration in Hospitality Management)

A minute with Emily ...

Emily Fox Riehle

“I jumped at it. It was one of the best career decisions I have ever made.”

A little over three years later, Emily was promoted to general manager of the N. State Street - Maxtown location in Westerville. She now is in charge of three managers and 34 associates at the store.

She and Josh were married in 2009 and son Landon was born on Mother’s Day in 2011. The family lives in Delaware, Ohio.

Her future plans could include managing a district for Panera and/ or finishing her master’s degree so she could teach what she has learned in the industry. According to Emily, “This would be coming full circle so that I could return the educational favors I received at TU.”

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If you could spend an afternoon with anyone, who would that be?

My Grandma Beier.

She was awesome. I would

like to tell her about my life

and have her meet my son.

What was your best vacation?

Our honeymoon in Banff,

Alberta....it was breathtaking!

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If there is a fast track in the food business in Columbus, Emily Fox-Riehle, 2006, is on it.

Five years after graduating from TU, she is general manager of a Panera location in Westerville, Ohio, and she credits Tiffin with getting her there.

“I was the vice-president of the hospitality club, and worked in the book store and library on campus. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the hospitality classes and knew that it was what I wanted to do.”

“Tiffin University gave me a better knowledge of the hospitality industry, and Professor Teresa Miller played a major role in developing my management skills. Her classes and knowledge of the industry helped guide me through my career choice, and without her, I probably wouldn’t have known what path to take.”

That path led first to a Bob Evans Restaurant in Columbus right after graduation, where she worked her way up to assistant general manager, and incidentally, met Josh, her husband-to-be.

In April, 2008, she had an opportunity to join Panera, “And,” she said,

John Rini Hometown Chagrin Falls, Ohio; now lives in Hudson, Ohio Class Year 2011 Degree Completing Master of Business Administration (Concentration in Sport Management)

John Rini watches the Cleveland Brown’ games on an eight-inch monitor – just a few feet behind the Brown’s bench.

Rini, who coached wide receivers in 2009 and linebackers in 2010 as a graduate assistant at Tiffin University, is also working on his final class online to finish an MBA at Tiffin University. But during

A minute with John ...

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What did you always want to be when you grew up?

A broadcaster Who is your favorite songwriter?

Lil Wayne Who would you like to spend an afternoon with? Bill Clinton Best Experience? I lived in

Costa Rica for a month.

the NFL season, he is a video intern with the Cleveland Browns.

The eight-inch monitor he watches records images of player positioning from a sideline camera and an end zone camera and is connected to a printer.

So if you see Colt McCoy or any of the Browns looking at still pictures after they come off the field, Rini has provided them with those pictures.

His job is another step in a football journey that started as a student assistant at Ashland University and wound up five years later as video coordinator for Ashland. He was hired as a graduate assistant at Tiffin, and after those two years, learned that Cleveland was looking for video assistance. Rini was offered the job, which also includes filming the practice sessions at the Berea training complex.

John Rini

With the extensive football background, and the MBA soon to be completed at TU, his hope is to continue in football coaching at some level. If the football openings do not develop, he will be able to fall back on the MBA and enter business.

Abbey Lopez Kanellakis Hometown Upper Sandusky, Ohio; now lives in Tiffin, Ohio Degree Communication

A minute with Abbey ...

Abbey Lopez Kanellakis

The developing of a public relations concept relating to the troubled Greek government is a part of her online master’s degree in Public Relations through Kent State, and a project which her faculty adviser feels can be published.

Abbey and Pavlo have two young daughters, Giselle and Sofia.

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Favorite Movie: My long-running

favorite is “What Dreams

May Come,” with Robin

Williams. We all need a good

cry at some point in our live .

What did you want to be growing up? I was 8 when my

grandmother took me to

The Star Theatre to see my

first musical, “Oklahoma.”

I was hooked. From that

day on, if there was an

opportunity for me to get up

on a stage, you couldn’t stop me!

What is your dream vacation?

I suppose I can’t say Greece

anymore, though I always

jump at the chance to go

back. I have always wanted

to visit Ireland in the spring.

Who would you have lunch with living or deceased? The

list is way too long, but if I

had to choose one it would

be Jesus. I am not really a

religious person, so I would

like to learn - from the source

how the message originated

and more importantly, what

that message was.

Janet Hanna, and was born and raised in Greece and came to the states to go to TU. Developing a world-view which includes a graduate project on the present day problems of Greece came about because of perspectives Abbey learned at Tiffin.

“Upper Sandusky is a farming and factory town. I was never a great student. No one in my family had gone to college. I came to Tiffin on a music scholarship, and being here changed everything,” she said.

At TU, she was active in University Choir, Up in the Air and Higher Ground vocal groups, and directed one-act plays with the Mediacs. She also performed in several theatrical performances and directed a few full-length plays, as well as a one-act production She eventually realized her interests were more in writing and communications. She also had the chance to build strong relationships with professors and classmates, “many of whom are still really great friends.”

Her first job after Tiffin was a year at the weekly newspaper in Willard, Ohio. “ I learned writing, investigating, creativity and sticking to a job. It was a great education, and led directly to the A-T,” she said. Since 2007, she has been the Sunday editor at The AdvertiserTribune.

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Abbey Kanellakis has never lived or worked more than a half-hour from Tiffin, but Tiffin University has helped expand her horizons to begin a study of the public relations problems of Greece.

A large part of this is because she is married to Pavlo Kanellakis, TU Class of 2005, former Assistant Director of the English Language and American Culture program at TU. Pavlo is the son of the late TU faculty member and Dean,

Class Year 2006

Shaun Polasky Hometown Akron, Ohio; now lives in Bradenton, Florida Class Year (S) 2005 & 2007 Degree (S) MBA (Human Resource Management) and BA (Hospitality Management)

Shaun Polasky feels it’s important to discuss how he got to where he is…and that has always been about selecting the right university.

“Tiffin University showed me early on that what you put into something is what you are going to get out of it…that effort and results go hand in hand, and building relationships and maintaining them while in school and out of school will always remain important. You never know who will need you down the road or who you will need to lean on in the future,” he said.

Shaun’s first position after graduating with his MBA from Tiffin University was achieved through TU networking.

In 2007, TU Alumnus Curt Neth hired Shawn to serve as Regional Human Resources Generalist for Nortrax—a wholly owned subsidiary of John Deere for the

Construction and Forestry Division in their Ohio and Tennessee facilities.

After approximately 2 years, Nortrax created a Shared Services structure in Tampa, FL, for which Neth was named the Director of Human Resources. Neth asked Shaun to join him and relocate as Corporate HR Generalist serving all 32 locations within 11 different states.

Shawn spent three additional years within that role and gained invaluable experience managing the payroll department, learning corporate retail business, and building life-long relationships that, “I continue to cherish each day,” he said.

After spending approximately 5 years with Nortrax and obtaining his PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certification, Shaun was offered an opportunity that he could not pass up with

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A minute with Shaun ...

Favorite Movies: Shawshank Redemption, Inception, and any/all comedies

no matter how cheesy.

What you always wanted to be when you grew up? A professional golfer,

but when I knew that was not going to pan out, I did the next best thing

and became a Professional in Human Resources.

What is your dream or best vacation? My wife and I have always wanted to

visit Ireland. We have no ties to the country, but there is something there

that is drawing us to it (could be the golf, the crystal, or maybe even the

beer). Fortunately, with my new position, I will have the opportunity to

visit within the next year or so. At which point, my wife and I will have to

try and make a vacation out of it.

If you could choose anyone to have lunch with, who would it be and why?

As cliché as this may sound, I will always choose to have lunch with my

wife. She is my best friend and a true inspiration to me in my life. She

has supported me in every decision I have made personally and

professionally, and has done so without reservation. I look up to her

every day as she puts on her scrubs and takes care of sick kids as a R.N.

at our local Children’s Hospital. It takes someone special to do that day

in and day out and still have the energy and mental capacity to deal with

me. She is great person, the love of my life, and I would be honored to

enjoy lunch with her any day of the week.

Shaun Polasky

Transitions Optical. Transitions Optical, a joint venture between PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass) and Essilor, has offices on five continents and serves as market leaders in the field of Photochromic lenses. “We use this technology to create products that protect and enhance vision by adjusting and adapting to different lighting situations,” Shaun said.

“Today, we offer adaptive solutions in more than 100 lens options in an effort to constantly improve the future of healthy sight.”

For Shaun, it was a very difficult decision to make the move away from Nortrax. However, the position at Transitions was too intriguing personally and professionally for Shaun to ignore.

“First,” he said, “Transitions has won Gallup’s Great Workplace Award two years in a row, which recognizes our ability to provide an engaged workplace culture worldwide. Second, I was hired in as a PPG employee--a position that is used as a breeding ground for placement within expanding roles as they become available. Third, I will have the opportunity to gain international experience, which is exceedingly important within the global market we all live in today. Finally, coming from the retail environment, I knew my next move needed to be with a manufacturing organization

Emily Miller Hometown Gilbert, Arizona; now lives in Tacoma, Washington Class Year 2011 Degree MBA with a concentration in Sport Management

“Attending Tiffin University was an unexpected event that started in 2009,” said Emily. “At that time, my little sister Kelley was recruited to be a part of the inaugural season of the Tiffin Dragons Women’s Lacrosse program.

After earning a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, I was looking for graduate assistant positions to continue coaching lacrosse at a higher level. Interestingly, in the process of recruiting Kelley, TU recruited me too, so I moved to Ohio, started my MBA in Sport Management, played lacrosse with my sister, and realized during my short time there that it was finally time to start a business.”

Emily had a goal and the completion of her MBA was key to starting a small business, now known as “Wildfire,” and to spread the word about lacrosse in America (particularly in Arizona and now Washington), and she has a developing website to prove it. The whole story is at www.wildfirelax.com .

Wildfire’s mission is to spread the sport of lacrosse…. Like WiLdFiRe!! “We are creating strategic partnerships with local non-profits, school districts, and parks and recreation departments,” said Emily, “and we offer a wide variety of programs and services, including instructional clinics, physical education class demonstrations,

A minute with Emily ...

Emily Miller

mini-camps, recreational programs, and organized clubs and teams.”

But that’s not all. While the Arizona program continues to grow, her MBA helped her land a position as the Sports Development Coordinator for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission near Seattle. She is creating a program from scratch for local youth and adults in Tacoma, including marketing, membership and fund-raising.

“I am utilizing skills gained from my MBA to operate a business, while also applying theoretical knowledge to daily tasks at the sports commission. TU gave me the extra boost I needed to move forward in accomplishing my dream of becoming a small business owner.

With the help and encouragement of my professors and lacrosse coach, I was able to take that leap knowing that in the business world, you cannot succeed unless you take risks,” she said.

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What did you always want to be when you were growing up?

Physical Education Teacher Dream Vacation?

Long visit to Greece

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in order to become more diversified within my career.”

As the Human Resources Generalist at Transitions Optical, Shaun is in charge of the recruiting efforts to bring top talent into the organization, and is responsible for partnering with the Operations Department in regards to employee relations and development, and providing overall benefits implementation/administration throughout the Transitions’ U.S. based operations.

“I am thoroughly convinced, that without the top-tiered education received at Tiffin University, the camaraderie established by being a member of the golf team, the networking options from being an alum, and the life-long lessons either taught or absorbed organically through some of the great professors I have had the opportunity to learn from, I would not have achieved my current successes nor any future successes without a combination of all of the above,” he said.

“Much like life, the substance of what I have experienced and learned within my profession far outweighs the number of years on a piece of paper.

Even though people try, you cannot put a price on experiences or on an education, both of which I thank God every day I have been able to and continue to receive.”

John Carpenter Hometown Brimfield, Ohio; now lives in North Olmstead, Ohio Class Year 2012 Degree MBA (Concentration in Sports Management)

After 19 years in the retail business -14 years as a manager for Bed, Bath & Beyond -- John Carpenter wanted to do something different. So, he enrolled in Tiffin University’s MBA Program (Sports Management Concentration).

He chose Tiffin University because of the curriculum, the online opportunity, and the fact TU is a brick-and-mortar school not far from home.

The best part of the program, he says, is the accomplishment and working toward his goal to work in the front office for a major sports team or in the athletic department at a major college.

The hardest part of the program is finding the time and discipline to handle the homework. “I work 50 to 65 hours per week,” he says. The online program was the only way he’d get that degree and move into a field he loves.

He had a taste of that (the field he loves) when a Tiffin professor connected

him with another student to work John Carpenter the draft for Canada’s first professional basketball league. “We helped GMs, coaches and owners of the team,” says Carpenter. “We took player measurements, weights and heights. To me, it was a great experience.”

He obtained an invaluable list of contacts from that experience.

He’ll get even more experience doing a mentorship with the NY Liberty WNBA franchise. Though the team is based in New Jersey, Carpenter will work from home doing scouting and research for the team.

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A minute with John ...

What did you always want to be when you were growing up? I always

loved baseball; I started playing at the age of five and continued to play

until I was 29. I always wanted to learn the game, teach the game, and

get better at the game. I always wanted to play in the Majors, but

struggled as a high school player. I coached after high school and still

love the game.

If you could spend an afternoon with anyone, who would that be?

Tony LaRussa, retiring manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. I think his

knowledge of the game of baseball and the experiences he could share

would be above and beyond most anyone who has played the game. He

goes down in history as one of the best coaches in the history of the game.

What is your dream vacation? A dream vacation would involve travelling

around the country seeing each Major league ballpark or NBA arena.

I love both games and they represent my passion for sports and what it

takes to get to the next level. I would love to watch games, learn the

franchise history and spend time with the fans that love their teams.

Tell Us About Yourself 1940’s Dale Walcutt, Class of 1941, celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Irene, in June.

1960’s William Hertzer, Class of 1960, and Jean Grady Hertzer, Class of 1956, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in June.

1970’s Rebecca Chaney Riggins, Class of 1975, Anchorage, Alaska, wrote, “I moved to Anchorage in 1978. I worked at Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility for 25 years as a Cost Accountant, Budget Office, and Payroll Supervisor before retiring in 2006. In 2006, I began operating Rely Tax Service full time. I’m now joyfully “semi” retired. I only work 1800 hours a year now! I would love to hear from old classmates.”

Nancy Hetrick Lee, Class of 1976, Alva, Florida, is now retired. She was an accountant for a construction company. Her husband, David, is a retired mechanical contractor.

Robin Marie Wahlers, Class of 1978, Port Clinton, Ohio, is the Chief Deputy Clerk for Ottawa County Juvenile Court in Port Clinton.

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Point. Click. Give.

With our secure server, investing in Tiffin University has never been easier.

Just point and click, and your gift helps TU provide access and opportunity for individuals, and facilitates their preparation for successful careers and satisfying lives. We invite our friends and supporters to join us at www.tiffin.edu

Marathon Petroleum CEO Makes Good On His Chance Dr. Gary Heminger, TU Class of 1975 The new Marathon Petroleum Corporation is being led by a man with Findlay roots who worked his way up from “one step above the mailroom.”

Gary Heminger’s rise at Marathon is a tale of hard work and opportunity.

“All I want is a chance. Give me a chance to get in the front door and let me prove myself,” he recalls saying in his job interview 36 years ago.

Heminger made the same request nine years earlier when he persuaded his father to let him sell furniture at Britts Department Store on Tiffin Avenue, a store his father managed.

Heminger was good on his word then, and he has been since.

“Every job we put him in he did an outstanding job,” said former Marathon President J. Louis “Corky” Frank, who retired in 2001. “He has a great work ethic and is a hard worker.”

Heminger had an associate degree in accounting from Tiffin University when he was hired on the condition he earn his bachelor’s at night while working days at Marathon. Marathon paid for his classes.

He went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration, and the promotions kept coming.

About 13 years ago, Heminger sensed he could make it to the top.

“After being able to put a number of deals together in the marketplace where I was dealing with Wall Street analysts, people who were educated at schools with a much higher brand name than the schools that I attended, I found that I could go toe-to-toe,” he said.

“I said, ‘You know what, I have the basic skills, and I have the passion to outwork most people, and I think this could turn out OK.’” But his success has not budged Heminger’s heart from Findlay.

“This is home for Jane and I,” he said. “We’re very proud of our roots

in Findlay.

We’re very, very pleased with the quality of life we have in Findlay. It’s a great community.”

He Dr. Gary Heminger showed his commitment to Findlay in the wake of the 2007 flood, which caused $4.1 million damage to the basement and first floor of the Marathon building downtown.

Controls for more than 5,000 miles of pipeline were shut down. Employees who work daily with customers could not make it to the office.

“It’s fair to say that (Marathon) corporate executives in Houston, when that building was under water, were going, ‘Why are we in Findlay, Ohio, again?’” said Scott Malaney, Heminger’s neighbor and president of Blanchard Valley Health System.

“There really isn’t any particular reason for Marathon to be here except for, it’s where it started, and I think Gary has worked really hard to keep it here and to keep it strong.... My take on it is, the biggest part of the reason why that’s happening, is him,” Malaney said.

Heminger answered to Houston for the flood expenses and inefficiencies.

“Can you efficiently operate in this town?” he was asked.

“Yes we can,” he responded, “and I will ensure that we start working on a strong foundation to improve this.”

He and Cooper Tire & Rubber President Roy Armes formed the Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership, which worked with the federal government to speed up early flood control studies.

At the time of the 2007 flood, Heminger’s standing at Marathon was well-established. While he has ascended

1980’s

This article appeared in The Courier, Findlay OH, June 2011

Theresa Nibblett, Class of 1984, Lorton, Virginia, writes, “I retired from the federal government after almost 30 years of service. I am now a contract employee with the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, and Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance. I am a Curriculum Project Manager and handle a portfolio of five Homeland Security courses that are delivered to foreign law enforcement and security officials all over the world.” Theresa’s husband, Donald, is a Senior Intelligence Analyst for the U.S. Army.

Larry E. Hoffman, Class of 1986, Bluffton, Ohio, is Chief Financial Officer of First National Bank of Pandora. He has been a certified public accountant for more than 24 years. Hoffman and his wife, Marcy, have three children.

Barbara Lockard, Class of 1988, Findlay, Ohio, was re-elected to the Findlay school board. She has served on the board since 2008 and is its vice president. A licensed Realtor, Lockard is the marketing assistant for the College of Education and Science at the University of Findlay. She previously was director of marketing and public relations for Blanchard Valley Health System, and was the communications director for United Way of Hancock County. Lockard and her husband have two children.

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“I said, ‘No, we’re going to close this transaction in Findlay, Ohio....

We have a factory of people with the strongest work ethic you will ever see,’” Heminger said.

Findlay’s Marathon employees “got to get in and work on this, and there was nobody in New York or nobody in Boston or nobody in Washington, D.C., that was going to outperform them,” he said.

The deal was closed in Findlay.

“You never see him with a dominant, elitist attitude. It’s always, ‘We’re a team,’” Frank said. “He works with them until midnight, 2 a.m., whatever it takes to get the job done. People want to do that for the right people.”

Heminger called being a top executive humbling. He said it is a 24-hour-a-day job, but he was not referring only to himself.

“You can’t be a top executive without having a top executive at home,” he said, referring to his wife.

“She runs the entire household...

She’s the home executive. And there’s no question, she has been in charge of raising and helping educate our children and done a great job. And now she’s working hard on the grandkids. You have to have that teamwork at home.”

Heminger also said being a top executive is “a lot of fun.”

“I have loved every day of the 36plus years I have worked for Marathon,” Heminger said. “I get up wanting to come to work. I just enjoy the people I work with. I enjoy what we do. I enjoy working in the commercial space, and working with customers.”

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steadily, his role in a 1998 venture with Ashland particularly sculpted his status.

In the 1990s, Marathon’s leaders saw a need to become more efficient in transporting oil to wholesalers and retailers in the Midwest. Heminger helped them do that by identifying Ashland as a partner for a joint venture. He also negotiated the contracts which formed the Marathon and Ashland venture.

It was a huge success. It saved costs in oil transportation, and broadened profit margins. It also accelerated Heminger’s rise.

“It propelled my career,” he said.

He became president of Marathon Ashland Petroleum in 2001, and went on to become president of Marathon Petroleum Co. in 2005.

Heminger grew up in Tiffin, the second of seven children. While he learned one aspect of the business world from his father, he absorbed other parts from his mother.

“She was a terrific businesswoman to be able to manage that big of a business, seven kids, get us through school, and then she worked part-time herself,” Heminger said.

Under her tutelage, young Gary became practiced in leading.

“She gave me responsibility early on to help look after some of my brothers and sisters. And I think that helped develop me,” he said.

“Being the second oldest, my job was always to keep an eye out, making sure that everybody was together, making sure everything is kind of coming along. To be able to make a family of seven work, you had to have everybody pulling together, and I think we did.”

His family experience and pride extends to his employees. In late 1997, Ashland leaders and New York lawyers wanted to have their “factory” of lawyers, paralegals and assistants do the work of closing the joint venture.

Heminger would have none of it.

Linda Bourne Davis, Class of 1983, Fostoria, Ohio, is a Real Estate Sales Agent/Investor for American Heritage.

Her husband, Thomas, is an Intelligence Engineer for the U.S. Army. Linda wrote, “Returning to school during a recession doesn’t seem uncommon today, but I finished school during the recession of 1981. My education has led me throughout Northwest Ohio; working for many different companies. I am fortunate to have the expertise that I received at TU that many graduates never received.”

Tell Us About Yourself 1990’s David Reiter, Class of 1990, Aurora, Colorado, was one of five former TU athletes honored at the Hall of Fame induction this fall. Reiter now works as a warehouse manager for Great West Drywall Supply in Centennial, Colorado.

Steven Fisher, Class of 1991, Fostoria, Ohio, is clergy for West Independence United Methodist Church.

Brian Campbell, Class of 1994, Kent, Ohio, was inducted into the TU Hall of Fame this fall. Campbell is currently the head coach at Youngstown State.

Maureen Anne Neuenschwander, Class of 1994, Lima, Peru, is a Sales and Marketing Manager for Hotel El Polo. Her husband, Javier, is the Vice President for Grupo Fierro.

Brenda Kay Poole, Class of 1997, Huron, Ohio, and her husband, Joseph, welcomed a son, Michael Kayden, in October.

Kevin Pickard CFP, Class of 1998, Washington, Michigan, is First Vice President for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Ann Darr, Class of 1999, Monroeville, Ohio, was recently hired by Ohio Business College in Sandusky as a computer instructor. She teaches word processing and machine transcription.

Mark Pardi, Class of 1999, Tiffin, Ohio, was elected as one of two new faces on the Tiffin City Council for next year. He served in the Marine Corps for 25 years, and now works production and operations management for a manufacturer in Fostoria.

Celinda Scherger, Class of 1999, Tiffin, Ohio, was appointed by the Seneca County Commissioners to serve on the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot Counties.

Lawrence Smith, MCJ 1999, Charleston, South Carolina, writes, “I am now in the education field. I have been a clinical counselor since being a part of TU’s first graduating class of the Master of Criminal Justice program. We relocated to South Carolina and we love the south. I love the new TU website. It is nice to keep up with the Dragons!” His wife, Sheila, is a sixth grade ELA teacher for Charleston County School District.

They have twin sons, Elijah and Isaiah.

2000’s Brian Bower, MBA 2000, Tiffin, Ohio, was promoted to Ohio Community Regional Sales Manager at U.S. Bank in Fremont, Ohio. As Regional Sales Manager, he leads the company’s mortgage production effort in the bank’s community markets in Ohio and Southern Indiana. Brian is also responsible for providing loan officer coverage for more than 100 retail locations throughout the two states. He is an active participant in local organizations such as Bascom Youth Sports and Leadership Seneca County. Bower and his wife, Danielle, have three children, Lileigh, Alec, and Regan.

Jynelle Rex, Class of 2002, Willard, Ohio, is a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Tri-Pro Realty in Tiffin and a substitute teacher for Willard City Schools.

She married her husband, Shane, in 1998. They have four children, Lauren, Michelle, Nolan, and Hannah.

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TU Specialty License Plate Program If you are an Ohio resident, you can show pride in Tiffin University through the Collegiate License Plate Program sponsored by the State of Ohio. The cost to participate in the program (in addition to any normal renewal fees) is $35 annually. Of this $35 fee, $25 is directed to Tiffin University in the form of a charitable donation to the General Scholarship Fund in your name.

Due to a change in the Drivers Privacy Protection Act, Ohio Revised Code 4501.27, the release of personal information will not be provided without written consent by the individual. Therefore, you must provide proof of your participation in the collegiate license plate program in order for Tiffin University to recognize your contribution to the TU General Scholarship Fund.

If you have questions regarding the Collegiate Plate Program, contact TU’s Alumni Relations Office at 419-448-3313 or your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Kristi Krintzline, Class of 2003, Tiffin, Ohio, represented Tiffin University at the inauguration of Ohio Northern University’s new president in October.

Jeremy Marinis, MBA 2003, and his wife, Jamie, welcomed a son, Niko James, in June.

Niko Marinis

Congini Pearson, Class of 2006, Gahanna, Ohio, is an insurance agent for Westfield Insurance in Columbus. Her husband, Nick, is a Graphic Designer for School Pride.

Marybeth Santo Domingo, MBA 2006, Plymouth, Minnesota, wrote, “Since I graduated from Tiffin University, I obtained with Asset Based Finance in the banking industry. U.S. Bank offered me the Senior Examiner (Auditor) position when I was in Cleveland and I moved to their corporate office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I don’t mind the cold weather—I just bundle up— and I love the city, because there are lots of places to explore.” Marybeth’s husband, Mario, is a Technician for General Electric. They have two children, Raphael and Axel.

Phillip Gosche, Class of 2007, and Veronica Yearling Gosche, Class of 2008, Tiffin, Ohio, welcomed son, Aiden Henry, in June.

Catch up on the latest TU Alumni News at www.facebook.com/ TiffinUniversityAlumni

Kurt Olson, Class of 2007, and Katlin Zvansky, Class of 2008, married in July.

Victoria Hamilton Speakes, Class of 2007, Dayton, Ohio, writes, “I married my college sweetheart and we started a family in 2007. We both ran track and field. I went to work as a price book analyst for Speedway in 2008. However, I recently left to start my own business, Allure Events and Photography--an event planning and photography company servicing Central and Southwest Ohio. I look forward to getting back in touch with my Tiffin family and supporting Tiffin; especially Coach Croy and the track team! Go TUTF!” Victoria and her husband, Ryan, have two children, Peyton and Olivia.

Scott Jason Cannon, Class of 2008, Johnston, Iowa, writes, “I enrolled at TU while working as an agent with the Ohio Investigative Unit. I felt the additional bachelor’s degree would help me obtain a supervisory position in the future. I loved TU. I was used to an extremely large university. TU offered a lot of character and personality that large schools lacked. It was nice for professors to not only know your name, but to know things about you and sincerely care about your success. After completing my undergraduate degree, I began to work as a criminal intelligence liaison with OIU at the Ohio Homeland Security Strategic Analysis and Information Center. While at the SAIC, I decided to enroll in TU’s master’s degree in Homeland Security Administration. Graduate School at TU opened up additional opportunities for me. After carefully considering my opinions, I decided to take a job with the U.S. Marshals Service as a deputy in Des Moines, Iowa. I genuinely feel that TU allowed me to successfully pursue this opportunity and that it opened up so many more doors than what had been available in the past.”

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Kris Waechter, Class of 2003, Wheeling, West Virginia, is the Deputy Sheriff for the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office.

Nicole King Keller, Class of 2004, Hilliard, Ohio, works as a CPA.

Jeff Stanley, Class of 2005, Wilmington, North Carolina, writes, “After graduation, I moved to Florida, worked, and Emily, Elizabeth and met my wife, Jeff Stanley Emily. We were married in 2010. I was promoted with my company in December and moved to North Carolina. Emily and I welcomed our first child, Elizabeth, in May.

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Kelly Calmes, Class of 2003, Fremont, Ohio, is the Vice President of Member Services at Fremont Federal Credit Union. She spent the first half of her financial services career at Bank One; starting as a teller in 1998. Shortly after the bank merged and left the community, she secured a position at Fremont Federal Credit Union. This is her 12th year there. Calmes considers herself to be a lifelong learner. She earned one of the first associate of individual studies degrees at Terra Community College and then went on to graduate from the Ohio School of Banking in 1993. She earned her first bachelor’s degree from TU in 2003, and is now working on a second. In the little spare time Kelly has, she serves as a board member (and past chairwoman) of the United Way of Sandusky County. She has been married for 27 years and has two daughters.

Tell Us About Yourself 2000’s Brian M. Kraft, Class of 2008, Bucyrus, Ohio, recently graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. During the nine weeks of training, he studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics. Brian graduated with distinction.

Stephanie Gerold, Class of 2009, Sandusky, Ohio, writes, “I graduated from TU in 2009, and will never forget my experience on Tiffin’s campus. As a single mother, enrolling in college was a struggle. However, I received more help and support than I ever imagined.

I made friendships and memories that could never be replaced. My time at TU was such a positive experience.

Any time someone asks about Tiffin, it brings back a flood of wonderful memories. I will always have good things to say about the campus and staff.”

Jonathon Sharp, MSCJ 2009, Fremont, Ohio, is the Sheriff’s Deputy for the Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office. His wife, Joy, is the Human Resources Manager for Wynn Reeth. They just welcomed a son, Rennie, in August. Rennie joins big sister, Madelynne.

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Ray Robinson and Kristen Ameling, both class of 2009, married in June.

Allison Budaj, MAH 2010, Woodstock, Georgia, wrote, “Since my graduation, I have been working for an on-campus television network called the Georgia Tech Cable Network. My degree really helped me centralize what I enjoyed from my college experience. Since taking this job, I have been able to use my experiences in my work. While here at GTCN, I have produced a show for playback on our GTCN network designated channels called “What the Tech?” The show focuses on exploring and keeping the campus traditions alive that are so unique to Georgia Tech by speaking with alumni and students and sharing personal experiences. The show has won a 2011 Gold EMPixx Award and two 2011 Silver International Davey Awards. It has been a blast working in such a creative environment where I get to collaborate with students and industry professionals. I have no doubt in my mind that my degree and time at TU helped me accomplish this. Now, I am looking to pursue a Ph.D. in History, Technology, and Society from Georgia Tech. Tiffin was a great foundation for me. The people and professors I was able to interact with were some of the best memories from at TU.”

Mircea Handru, MBA 2011, Tiffin, Ohio, married Erika Platt in June in Alba, Romania.

Erika is a staff writer at The Mircea Handru AdvertiserErika Platt Tribune.

Mircea is Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Tiffin University.

Gary Lyons, MCJ 2011, Sandusky, Ohio, was hired as the new Police Chief for Monroeville in February.

Nick Rader, Class of 2011, Peoria, Illinois, recently won the men’s title at the Square Fair 5-kilometer race in Lima.

He crossed the finish line in 17 minutes, 24.6 seconds.

Paul D’Amore, Class of 2010, North Bethesda, Maryland, is a Criminal Analyst for INTERPOL/US DOJ in Washington, DC. Maria Shaw, Class of 2010, and Jeremy Lee, Class of 2011, wed in June.

Angela Sosebee, MBA 2010, Napoleon, Ohio, is the Assistant in Development and Volunteer Coordinator for Henry County Hospital.

Tell Us About Yourself @

www.tiffin.edu

InMemoriam 1930’s Louise Horn Remsberg Class of 1934, Parma, Ohio, passed away in September.

1940’s Virgil F. Studer, Class of 1940, Tiffin, Ohio, passed away in July. He worked as the office manager for The Louis O’Connell Company and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, Council 608.

Virgil enjoyed playing cards and scroll woodworking.

Hazel Craycraft Franks, Class of 1941, Upper Sandusky, Ohio, passed away in September. She was born on Valentine’s Day in 1941. For anyone fortunate to have known Hazel, they would agree that she brought unselfish love and joy to everyone.

Dr. Franks was a member of Tiffin University’s Board of Trustees, a caring friend to students and employees, and a long-time supporter who made numerous programs possible at TU including football and music. She received an honorary doctorate from Tiffin University and was a member of the Founder’s Club.

She celebrated her 90th birthday on Valentine’s Day, this year, on TU’s campus.

Robert Stevens, Class of 1942, DeSoto, Kansas, passed away in February.

Donald Krofta, Class of 1948, passed away in February.

William Charles Kastner, Class of 1951, Warren, Michigan, passed away in January. He previously worked as a purchasing agent for a traditional medicine company. Kastner loved to spend time on his boat and at the beach.

Betty Laux, Class of 1951, Tiffin, Ohio, passed away in mid September. Betty retired as the comptroller at Terra Community College. She was also the clerk treasurer for the Tiffin City Board of Education for 13 years. After her retirement, she volunteered for many local organizations.

Arlene Gaietto, Class of 1953, Tiffin, Ohio, passed away in July. She had retired as the manager of St. Mary’s School cafeteria. She was active with the Girl Scouts. Family, faith and friends were important to Arlene.

Gale Crouse, Class of 1957, Milford, Ohio, passed away in October.

1960’s James Longacre, Class of 1967, Fostoria, Ohio, passed away in September.

He had a passion for cars, especially Corvettes, and enjoyed sports.

Timothy Beckwith, Class of 1969, Defiance, Ohio, passed away in March.

1970’s Lynn Newcomer, Class of 1973, Findlay, Ohio, passed away in April. He was a Certified Public Accountant and member of the Ohio Society of CPA’s.

He was previously employed by Schultz, Huber and Associated, CPA’s of Findlay, Defiance, Archbold and Van Wert. He farmed with his brothers and father his whole life. He was a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and enjoyed attending Big Ten football games.

1990’s Deacon Dan Scherger, Class of 1994, Tiffin, Ohio, passed away in July.

He served the congregation of St. Joseph Catholic Church for Deacon more than Dan Scherger 30 years. He worked as the pastoral associate at St. Joseph Catholic Church , served as an umpire in various baseball and softball leagues, and taught seventh-grade religion for Calvert Catholic Schools.

Additionally, he served as a marriage and a bereavement counselor.

Ryan McDaniel, Class of 1998 and 2007, Genoa, Ohio, passed away in August. He was a former student athlete from 1995-1998 and Assistant Baseball Coach for TU from 2004 to 2009.

2000 Daniel Ray Ross, Class of 2000, Tiffin, Ohio, passed away in early July. Daniel worked at Lowes Distribution Center in Findlay, helped with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteered with the city of Findlay to beautify downtown Findlay.

Jovan Zachary, Class of 2005, Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away in May. While at TU, Zachary served as a resident assistant. He was president of the Black United Students, threw shot put in track and field, and played basketball.

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Wanda Seiple, Class of 1942, Huron, Ohio, died in September. She was a former secretary for Erie Ordinance of Sandusky, Verco Stock Exchange of Mansfield, and for Dr. Robert Gillette of Huron. She was the secretary for the Huron School system from 1963 until her retirement in 1979.

1950’s

Robert Noonan, Class of 1977, Galion, Ohio, passed away in March. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a patrolman for the Galion Police Department and worked at various other places prior to working as Canteen Manager at the Galion American Legion.

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Rita Steinmetz Moyer, Class of 1938, Tiffin, Ohio, passed away in April. She retired as a secretary and teller at First National Bank of Tiffin and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Richard Weimerskirch, Class of 1948, Tiffin, Ohio, passed away in January.

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Football Men’s Soccer

Quarterback James Capello had a strong first season for Tiffin, breaking the single season completion percentage record and the single game completion record.

The men’s soccer team won their third GLIAC Tournament championship in four seasons. Overall, the squad finished 10-5-4, 5-4-3 in the GLIAC. The Dragons outlasted Northwood 2-2 after two overtimes and won 3-2 on penalty kicks in a dramatic conclusion to the tourney.

Tiffin University’s Michael O’Neill landed top honors for the men’s soccer program. O’Neill was a First Team pick after a season in which he had 2 goals and 5 assists for 9 points over 17 games. He was the lone Dragons player named to the First Team. In 2010 he was a Second Team and All-Region selection.

Three other Dragons were on the Second Team. Twotime GLIAC Player of the Year Ashton Campbell was a Second Team pick. He led the conference in goals with 9 and points with 23 along with 5 assists. He also led the GLIAC in five separate offensive categories. He finishes his career as a fourtime All-GLIAC honoree.

Two defenders were also selected to the Second Team.

Ryan Johnstone and Christopher Hoerle were the top defenders on a defense that led the GLIAC in all defensive categories including goals allowed, GAA, saves, and shutouts. Tiffin

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Tiffin University’s football team played hard but couldn’t pick up a victory in 2011.

For first-year head coach Gary Goff, the rebuilding process began with some offensive highlights. Tiffin University’s offense had their best game of the season against Lake Erie in a tough 52-42 defeat. Six records fell in the defeat.

Quarterback James Capello completed 46 passes in the game, shattering the GLIAC record of 39. The mark also broke Matt Root’s TU record of 40 set in 2008.

Wide receiver Obadiah Dykes caught 18 of those passes, breaking another GLIAC record of 15 catches. The mark also broke Dyshaun Edwards’s TU record of 14 set in both 2008 and 2007.

Capello accounted for 6 touchdowns in the game, passing for 5 and rushing for another, breaking the school record of 5 touchdowns accounted for by George Whitfield, Garrion Corbin, and Matt Root. Capello’s 5 touchdown passes also tied the single game mark held by Root and Whitfield.

Overall, Capello broke the season record for completion percentage with a .692 mark, while also finishing with the third highest completions in a season despite missing four games due to injury.

Dykes led the team in receiving with 547 yards while Marcus Beaurem led the team with 73.9 all-purpose yards per game. Mike Gomez (76 tackles) and Mike Virgin (68 tackles) led the team defensively.

Midfielder Michael O’Neill was a First Team All-GLIAC selection, helping to lead the Dragons to their third GLIAC Tournament title in four years.

allowed just 15 goals during the season.

A total of 10 men’s soccer players were named to the GLIAC All-Academic squad. Nick Kutch was the lone Dragons player earning Academic Excellence citation, while nine other players were All-Academic picks.

Volleyball

Women’s Soccer

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The 2011 Tiffin University women’s soccer season can be described in one word - roller coaster. The Dragons (9-8-3, 7-5-2 GLIAC) placed third in the GLIAC South Division and advanced to the GLIAC Championship Semifinals for the second straight season.

Senior Shelly Rogers was named to the All-GLIAC first team. This is the second straight year that Rogers has earned all-league honors. She was a second team selection in 2010.

Rogers becomes the second Dragon to earn first team honors.

Rogers led the team in scoring with six goals and 15 assists for 27 points while starting all 19 games. Her 15 assists led the GLIAC. In NCAA Division II, she is second in total assists and tied for third in average (0.79). For her career, Rogers is tied for third with 36 assists and among the top 10 with 88 career points.

Junior Ashley Davis earned second team honors for the second time in her career. She had four goals and two assists for 10 points while starting all 19 games.

Offensively, sophomore Lauren Bowyer led the team with nine goals and was tied for second with 20 points. Junior Alexandra Sevastakis was second with eight goals and 20 points.

Senior Lauren Turkington finished second with five assists.

In the net, junior Lindsey Gallagher went 7-7-2 with a 2.11 G.A.A. in 1491 minutes and 33 seconds. Her 110 saves ranks third best in single-season school history. Coppola finished 2-1 with 30 saves and surrendered just two goals in 388 minutes and 27 seconds of action. That gives her a 0.46 G.A.A. on the season.

Forward Michelle Rogers finished her Dragons career as a First Team All-GLIAC selection, finishing amongst national leaders in assists.

Sophomore Danielle McQuade led the Dragons in hitting again, earning Second Team All-GLIAC honors.

Youth was served during the 2011 Tiffin University volleyball season. Six freshmen were among the eight new players on the squad this season.

Senior Lindsay Heller and sophomore Danielle McQuade were named to the volleyball All-GLIAC team. Both players were honored for the second time each.

McQuade, who earned second team honors last year, averaged 3.56 kills and 2.89 digs per set while hitting .269.

She was fifth in the GLIAC in kills and total points per set. McQuade had 20 matches in double-figure kills and 14 doubledoubles, including seven in a row.

Heller, who earned honorable mention honors last year, led the team and was among the top 10 in the GLIAC with four digs per set. She had 10+ digs in all but two matches this season and hit the mark in her last 18 matches. Heller finished with 1604 career digs (8th all-time), the first player in school NCAA Division II history to reach that mark.

Tiffin excelled in the classroom as seven players earned academic honors from the GLIAC. Juniors Ashley Begeman and Maureen Kurtz were named to the Academic Excellence team. The team honors student-athletes with a G.P.A. of 3.50 or higher. Earning All-Academic honors (G.P.A. of 3.00 to 3.49) were junior Maggie Betz, Heller, sophomore Jordan Jenkins, McQuade and sophomore McKenzie Wright.

Cross Country

Women’s Tennis

Tiffin’s women’s tennis team had an improved season, going 6-8 overall, 4-8 in the GLIAC and just missing the GLIAC tournament by dropping their last match of the fall season.

Tiffin University’s Malaika Messi and Taylor Cooper earned their second consecutive All-GLIAC honors.

Messi was named Second Team for the second time, while Cooper landed Honorable Mention for the second year in a row. Messi finished the season with a 9-4 singles record.

Men’s Golf Tiffin University had its best finish ever at the GLIAC Championships, taking second by 11 strokes over Wayne State with a three-round total of 903. Only Grand Valley State finished with a lower total, bettering TU’s total by 16 strokes with an 887.

The Dragons benefited from their top four golfers all finishing within 6 strokes of each other.

Blake DeBruyn was one of Dillon Klein was the top placing the leaders of the men’s golf Dragons golfer, finishing 7th with program, which posted its best ever finish at the GLIAC rounds of 75, 71, and 77 for 223.

Championships by taking Blake DeBruyn was next in 8th second place. DeBruyn also place with 225 (76-73-76) while earned medalist honors at Tyler Maranville took 10th with 226 the Kyle Ryman Memorial.

(77-73-76).

Jon Klein was 17th with a 229 score, improving from an opening round 80 to 77 in round two and 72 in round three.

Jason Crow rounded out the top five for TU, firing 265.

Tiffin University dominated play at the annual Kyle ‘Ryman Memorial, shooting 591 to outdistance Southern Indiana’s 628. Notre Dame College came in third with 662, followed closely by Urbana’s 663 and Heidelberg’s 665. Blake DeBruyn took medalist honors, shooting 71-76-147 while Dillon Klein was one stroke behind with 73-75-148.

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From start to finish, the Tiffin University men’s and women’s cross country season will go down as one to remember.

For the men, freshman Colin Fisher had the perfect collegiate debut at the Carson-Newman XC Challenge. He ran 25:34.87 (8K) to win the race and set a new meet record as the Dragons scored 23 points to win the meet. Sophomore Brent Hunter finished among the top five as well.

At the GLIAC Championships, Fisher continued his strong season placing ninth with a time of 26:11.25 (8K). Not only did he earn All-GLIAC honors but was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year. Tiffin placed sixth as a team with 171 points.

The Dragons closed the season by scoring 287 points to place 10th at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship. Fisher and freshman David Knack finished among the top 35 in the race. The men scored 287 points to finish 10th.

The women scored 262 points to place 10th.

For the women, TU started the same way the men did, scoring 23 points to win the Carson-Newman XC Challenge. Finishing among the top five were freshman Jessica Kern, sophomore Ashley Gilroy, junior Carly Reese and senior Becky Miller.

Following a sixth place finish at the GLIAC Championships, the Dragons bounced back at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship to place 10th as a team.

Gilroy led the way finishing 14th with a time of 22:35.10 (6K), which was the second fastest in school history. Gilroy became just the third women’s runner in TU history to earn all-region honors.

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Tiffin’s Colin Fisher was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year at the conference championships, helping to lead the Dragons to a 6th place finish.

Malaika Messi earned another All-GLIAC selection, her second consecutive honor, finishing with a 9-4 singles record..

Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball

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Senior Mandy Jaeb enters the 2011-12 season with 1211 career points, fifth all-time.

She has also earned two consecutive First Team All-GLIAC selections.

The 2010-2011 Tiffin University Women’s basketball team enjoyed a breakthrough year, posting a 15-12 record (their best mark in nearly 15 years) and qualifying for the GLIAC tournament for the first time in school history. As exciting as the year was, the Dragons know it could have been even better, as they dropped 5 games by fewer than 7 points.

The Dragons enter the 2011-12 season with the confidence of knowing what they accomplished last season. They also return 10 letter winners and all five starters to a squad that is now loaded with experience. Leading the charge for the Dragons is two-time First Team All-GLIAC standout Mandy Jaeb, who averaged 14.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg while also finishing last season with 1211 career points, fifth in Tiffin history. Jaeb, who was also among GLIAC leaders in steals, was also named to the All-Defensive team for the second year in a row. Jaeb finished sixth in overall scoring in the conference while also placing second in free throw percentage. She currently is TU’s all-time leader in free throw percentage and is third in career free throws made entering her senior season.

Also back is Second Team selections Karli Mast and Jessica Harris. Harris was fifth in overall rebounding in the GLIAC with 8.1 rpg while also averaging 9.4 ppg. Harris also currently is third in TU history in career rebounds per game with a 8.3 per game average. Mast was second on the team with a 12.6 ppg average. She led the team with 50 three pointers, which is the fourth highest total in single season school history.

Other key returners for the Dragons include Holly Focke (6.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Jennifer Johnston (6 ppg), Amanda Baute (6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Melissa Gilliland (4 ppg), and Steph Kelly (3 ppg). Mary Kate Campbell (6-1, 19 games) and Jillian Adams (5-9, 26 games) also return in the post after gaining much experience in their debut seasons.

The Dragons also look to utilize two new additions, guard Deidra Brown (Wilberforce University) and Jessica Korzelius (Sanata Ana CC), adding depth at the wing and the post.

Senior Karl Finley is one of the top returners for the men’s basketball team, which enters the 2011-12 season with hopes for a breakout season in the GLIAC.

Leading the way for the men’s basketball team this year are the top two scorers from last year, senior Karl Finley and sophomore Joe Graessle. Finley averaged 14.6 points a game while shooting 39.5% from behind the arc and 75.2% from the line. Graessle averaged 14.2 points and 2.7 assists per game while hitting 75 three-pointers. He was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year and earned NCAA Division II Bulletin Freshman All-America honors.

Joining those two as returning starters are seniors Keenan Barlow and Travis Spahr. Barlow averaged 8.2 points while Spahr had 10.2 points and 6.7 rebounds a game and shooting 50.3% from the floor. TU also has returning letterwinners back in sophomore Mike Brown, senior Brandon Harris and junior Isaiah Twine.

The Dragons look to incoming freshmen Michael Bouley, Andrew Bendolph and Iman Johnson to be the key newcomers.

Bouley, a graduate of Cincinnati Glen Este High School (Ohio), was named the Fort Ancient Valley Conference East Division Co-Player of the year as a senior. He averaged 12.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and blocked 4.8 shots a game. Bouley blocked 158 shots during his career and led the Trojans to a record of 31-10 over his last two seasons.

Bendolph, a graduate of Portsmouth High School (Ohio), led the Trojans to the Division 3 state semi-finals as a senior for the first time in 21 years. He averaged 13.4 points and shot 53.4% from the floor earning All-Ohio Division 3 Special Mention All-State honors.

Johnson, a graduate of Dominican High School (Whitefish Bay, Wis.), was a two-time All-Midwest Classic Conference first team selection. The Knights won three Division 3 regional championships and a total of 62 games during his three-year career.

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Homecoming weekend kicked off when TU hosted the annual Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner in the Gillmore Student Center.

The 2011 Hall or Fame Honorees were (pictured left to right): Dave Reiter, Elizabeth Knackstedt, Ted Wypasek, Diane Sackett, and Brian Campbell

Dave Reiter

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In the early days of Tiffin University football, one name stood out when it came to tough-as-nails, hard-nosed defense Dave Reiter.

Reiter helped establish the Dragons program, recording defensive marks that have endured for over 20 years. During his three-year varsity career, he was a three-time All-District 22 selection at linebacker. He is second in career tackles with 397 while holding the single season record for assisted tackles.

His 1988 team also holds the single season record for least yards allowed. Dave also ranks third in fumbles caused over his career.

“While I was contemplating college options, Coach Buzz Kirkhart approached me with the idea of starting for the first football team in the history of Tiffin University,” Reiter said.

“It sounded intriguing and exciting to be a part of something new. Coach Buzz mentioned a few local guys that I knew that were considering playing on the first football team and that made it more interesting to me”

Like most first time college athletes, some challenges were larger than others.

“Time management was my biggest challenge. I went from no job to two full time jobs, academics and athletics. I think I did a good job with managing it but, it was definitely a challenge,” Reiter said.

As the Dragons built the program in the early years, wins were hard to come by. But certain plays and certain memories have lasted to this day.

“A couple highlights stand out to me,” Reiter said.

“Playing good hard football with a group of people that was like a big family. We were a tight knit group. Greg Richards, the Chapman brothers, Tony & Mike Agro, Ben & Jon Nutter, Darryl Buckley, Scott Paden, Brian Burns, Dan Tisdale and Lois Conrad. I also remember one play when I caught a running back slipping out of the backfield for a dump pass. He split his chin open from top to bottom. After going in for halftime, the guy has a chin full of stitches and comes back out and gives us fits the entire second half. I still respect that man.”

Hall of Fame Reiter also had fond remembrances for some faculty and staff members that helped him during that time.

“Every coach had an impact on me that will last a lifetime,” he said. “But professor Scott Distel had a huge influence on the direction I took in life after college and who I have become. I can’t explain it, but that man brought a calm to me.”

“Overall respect for others and discipline are the two most important things I learned while at TU,” Reiter said.

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Diane Schaefer Sackett

Diane Schaefer Sackett played with numerous Hall of Fame standouts during her softball career. That doesn’t mean she played in their shadow.

Diane earned four All-District 22 honors during her career while also landing three All-Mid-Ohio Conference citations.

She compiled a .346 career average over her four seasons, helping to lead the Dragons into the national spotlight with the team’s first NAIA National Tournament appearance in 1993 while also winning the Bi-District and District Championships.

She was also a key member of the 1991 Mid-Ohio Conference championship squad.

For Diane, being a multi-sport athlete also was a strong appeal.

“Tiffin University not only was able to offer me a great college education, but their sports program also provided me an opportunity to continue playing basketball, volleyball and softball, sports I had loved playing for the prior 10 years in elementary and high school,” she recalled.

With all the sports and big games during her career, one moment easily stood out.

“I was fortunate enough to be recruited by Bonnie Tiell to play softball and volleyball along with basketball. Because of the influence of Bonnie, the highlight of my athletic playing career came in 1993. Our softball team was the first in the school’s history to make it to the National Tournament in Columbia, Missouri. That took determination from every player and our coaches. Initially, we lost our first district game which could easily upset a team’s appetite to persevere. However our team did not give up, rather worked harder, kept focus, persevered and we wound up winning the next five straight games. We continued to win the Bi-District 15 championship the following weekend in 2 straight games. It was a very exciting experience,” Sackett said.

Sackett recalled many positive influences from her time at TU. “Bonnie Tiell along with Rick Robbins and Ron Schumacher were very involved with the players on and off the field.

Their dedication to the program and compassion for the players had a positive impact on me and the other players not only on the field, but in the classroom. One memorable moment during my Junior year was when my coach, Bonnie Tiell, escorted me to the ER with a fairly deep cut in my leg in an off-field accident that required 36 stitches. Bonnie was in the

vicinity when the accident happened and like the great person she was and still is, took command of the situation and helped us manage the issues and get me to the ER. “Some of my closest friends and old roommates were Stacy Ellinger Pantenburg, Kim Novotny Swartz, Lisa “Mo” Lucius Beeker, Carry Weygandt Becker, Dana Kuhlman Sendlebach, Jenny Kane and Angie Shardo. But, of course, my parents had the biggest influence on me. Their wisdom and support has helped me in many successful achievements I have obtained. Even before I played sports, they taught me that hard work and dedication pay off. This has proven true for me on and off the field.”

Ted Wypasek Only two players in TU men’s basketball history scored more points than Ted Wypasek - Jeff Ward and Ty Trbovich. Now Wypasek joins them in the Tiffin University Hall of Fame.

Wypasek totaled 1681 points over his four seasons. During that period, he also earned three All-Mid-Ohio Conference citations. He is one of the Dragons’ top perimeter shooters, finishing second in career three pointers while also finishing in the top four in eight offensive categories.

For all his accomplishments, it was a number of personal relationships that stood out to him.

“Playing with my brother Tim was one of my highlights,” he said. “We played together in high school and we were very fortunate to play together at the college level . Not too many people can do that. I was proud of the fact I was able to make significant contributions as a freshman to an experienced team. Some of my closest friends were my brother Tim, Jeff Durbin, Greg Gaskin, Mike Mazur, John Miller, Chad Kin, Matt Dasher, and Jamie Jones.”

Other individuals at TU helped Wypasek form a deeply personal bond over his career.

“First was Kevin Cluts. He helped me settle in with housing. Dr. Ellen Jordan was a very patient and understanding instructor, plus a huge basketball fan too . Her husband, Coach Randy Jordan, was a hard working coach who really helped you off the floor as much as he did on it. Coach Ken Braun was a very hard working coach. He did a lot of good for me in the weight room in particular. He was always in there pushing us.

He would always be there in those early morning runs.”

“My parents taught me at a very young age that if I wanted to be good at something, I had to work harder than anyone else at it,” said Wypasek. “But the most important thing I learned at TU was that playing basketball was more than just a game. The friendships you build and the memories you create with those 11 teammates are priceless. You experience at times more things with your teammates than you do your own family. Looking back, it was more than just wins and losses. It’s what you learn during all those wins and losses that will shape you into the person you are today. I hope to pass everything I learned from my wins and losses to my four children. That’s what matters to me.”

Tiffin University had significant softball success before Brian Campbell became head coach and enjoyed tremendous success since he departed to become head coach at Youngstown State. But for a sustained run of excellence, nothing has yet topped Campbell’s tenure with the team.

Campbell earned six Coach of the Year honors over his eight-year career, leading the Dragons to two NAIA National Tournament appearances, two Region IX Championships, five American Mideast Conference Championships, and a peak NAIA ranking of 13th in the nation. He was twice named Independent Division II Coach of the Year while also landing the 2006 Region IX Coach of the Year honors. His teams won 285 games, including an impressive 104-16 mark in conference play.

Campbell saw numerous changes off the field as well as improvement on the field that helped make the program a top caliber one.

“When I first started at TU, we had the obstacle of the field being at a park behind houses. This made it hard to recruit and was not an attractive incentive for recruits to play on.

Thank goodness the administration at TU believed in us as an athletic program, and helped to build a great athletic complex that is here today,” said Campbell.

Athletic accomplishments came in waves, but it was classroom success that meant just as much.

“The different championships were all great, but being in the top 10 in the country 7 out of 8 years for team GPA was a bonus. It is my goal as a coach for my players to be student athletes and strive to get their degrees. It is an accomplishment to know that I was a part of their success, and to see them walk across the stage with their degree is a bonus.

Knowing that I was part of sending these young ladies out in the work force to excel in life is priceless.”

Campbell was also quick to recognize the support staff at TU for contributing to his success.

“Coach Bob Wolfe, Ron Schumacher, Ian Day, Lonny Allen and Shane O’Donnell helped me tremendously during my time at TU, to only name a few. Coach Wolfe gave me the chance to come back to Tiffin and coach football. Ron Schumacher gave me a chance to coach softball for the first time.

I would not be where I am today without Ron. I was able to learn a lot from these two coaches. They also helped me form some of my own beliefs that I use now as a coach.”

“I learned the fundamentals of coaching, leadership styles, patience for others, and to trust that my team and assistants would get the job done during my time at Tiffin,” finished Campbell.

Written by Shane O’Donnell, Director of Sports Information

WINTER 2011 / 12 | CHALLENGE | 61

Brian Campbell

During Tiffin University’s rise as a NAIA national soccer power, one player stood taller than any other - Elizabeth Wead Knackstedt.

Knackstedt is the most honored athlete in Tiffin University women’s soccer history. She earned three NAIA All-American honors over her career while also landing three All-Region and four All-Conference citations. She is the career leader in goals, assists, and points while also holding the single season mark for assists. She helped lead Tiffin to its first NAIA National Tournament appearance, Region IX Championship, and three consecutive American Mideast Conference titles, posting a 65-15 conference record over four years.

For Knackstedt, it was other things that first attracted her to Tiffin.

“My parents really pushed me to go to Tiffin. They really liked (coaches) Jimmy Walker and Rudy Brownell and felt that the school was perfect for me. I would say the family atmosphere attracted me most to Tiffin,” said Knackstedt.

Helping the Dragons’ program reach the national stage for the first time in its history is something that Knackstedt still considers a major highlight.

“Making it to the National Tournament was the most memorable accomplishment,” said Knackstedt. “It was awesome being there with my closest friends and getting the chance to play at the national level. It didn’t hurt that it was in Miami, FL either.”

Knackstedt’s parents also had good instincts in recognizing the strong influence her coaches would have on her.

“My two coaches - James Walker and Rudy Brownell were key influences for me. They saw the potential in me in high school and really helped develop my skills into the player I became. They both took the time to work with me before and after practice.

“But my biggest influence had to be my parents. They both pushed me to be better on and off the field. They both worked really hard and made many sacrifices so I could attend Tiffin and I will never forget that. They both were also very supportive as they traveled to every game to come and watch me play.”

Knackstedt also had a very specific lesson that she learned while at Tiffin.

“The time spent at college is too short so get involved in your community, get involved in your career, and get involved in life. It is your responsibility to create your path in life so get involved in it.”

lass SScene SCports cene

Elizabeth Wead Knackstedt

ONWARD to theDAWN A History of tiffin University

By MiCHAEl ANtHONy GRANDillO

“Michael Grandillo has done a masterful job in bringing this history to life. His work adds greatly to the history of Ohio and higher education and reminds us how important independent colleges and universities, such as Tiffin University, are to our state and country.“ —Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator for Ohio “In the years between the Civil War and World War II, the for-profit business college that would become Tiffin extended access to first-generation-in-college students who were previously shut out by more traditional liberal arts colleges. The story of local boosters banding together to ‘bootstrap’ educational opportunities to lift up their sons and daughters is one told admirably by Michael A. Grandillo in this well-illustrated volume.”

—Stephen G. Katsinas, Professor of Higher Education, Director of Education Policy Center, University of Alabama “Michael Grandillo’s definitive history of Tiffin University is a delight to read. For historians of higher education in our world today, Grandillo opens windows into a long-neglected phenomenon—the rise of commercial or business schools in the United States and the process through which the best of these evolved into comprehensive universities with strong programs in liberal arts and sciences. I trust this book will one day serve as a plumb-line for future generations who want to understand this transformative experience in higher education in the United States.”

62 |

WINTER 2011 / 12 | CHALLENGE

—John Oliver, Emeritus Professor of History at Malone College and Editor of Cradles of Conscience: Ohio’s Independent Colleges and Universities

. y a d o t ok o b n o i t i .edu d n e fi f i d t . e t e mi stor i l k o s i o h b t t i of y r vis o p o 2 8 c 2 r u 448-3 9 1 4 Buy yo l l ca

C haritable G ift

Earn Income and Help TU Students

A Tiffin University Charitable Gift Annuity can: Increase your spendable income Provide joint and survivor annuities and deferred gift annuities Ease capital gain taxes

WINTER 2011 / 12 | CHALLENGE | 63

As a nation of generous people and friends of Tiffin University, we all understand the importance of charitable endeavors in our society. As a result, many people support our goals and our academic programs. However, our natural instincts also tell us that we must first be concerned with our personal and family security before we consider being of financial assistance to Tiffin University.

The Charitable Gift Annuity makes it possible for you to satisfy this dual objective of personal and family security and financial support of Tiffin University. Our Charitable Gift Annuity allows you to make an immediate gift to us without loss of income. In many instances, the gift annuity can actually increase your spendable income.

In exchange for your gift of money, real property or securities, Tiffin University will pay you a certain specified annuity for life.

The annual amount of annuity is fixed at the time of the gift, usually more than typical dividends or interest and remains stable throughout your life. It will not fluctuate with the economy, so you will know exactly how much income you will receive. What’s more, you have no investment worries because the annuity payments are guaranteed until your death.

Many TU alumni and friends are using this attractive program because it allows you to make a significant gift to the University and still get the equivalent of the income from the money as long as you or your spouse survive.

The Charitable Gift Annuity at Tiffin University is highly flexible and very personalized to your needs.

Please call Michael A. Grandillo, Vice President for Development and Public Affairs at 419.448.3282 or email mgrandil@tiffin.edu.

155 Miami Street Tiffin, Ohio 44883 800.968.6446 www.tiffin.edu

NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID TIFFIN UNIVERSITY