MEMORYLANE
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Construction & Connection 1. Forging Partnerships—Sister Elise helped establish many local partnerships and collaborations during her time as USF president, including a thriving relationship with healthcare organizations such as Parkview Health.
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2. Commemorating Champions — Sister Elise and football coach Kevin Donley celebrated
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teamwork when Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry (’76, ’81) recognized the Avenue of Champions outside Bishop D’Arcy Stadium, a tribute to the football team’s NAIA titles and ongoing success. 3. Taking Care of Business—Keith Busse (’73) returned to give the Commencement speech in 2019, a continuation of his connection to USF, where the USF Downtown Business Center houses the Keith Busse School of Business and
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Entrepreneurial Leadership. 4. Making Signature Moves — One of the changes under Sister Elise’s leadership was the
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construction of the St. Francis Chapel, now a focal point on campus. Sister Elise joined others in signing a beam as construction began. 5. Working Together—Sister Elise established
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relationships with local leaders as USF became a part of Fort Wayne’s landscape. She celebrated with Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke during the creation of the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center.
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6. Enjoying Athletic Success — The Cougars have regularly competed for NAIA titles, including basketball, where the men’s team claimed the 2010 championship. Coach Jeff Rekeweg and assistant Chad LaCross posed with Sister Elise and professors Richard Avdul and Rolf Daniel. 7. Celebrating Service —A devotion to service is at the heart of USF and promoted tirelessly by Sister Elise. The university takes time to honor
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saint francis magazine | spring 2020
those, such as Leanne Mensing (’60, ’67), who go above and beyond to serve others.
