Summer 2014 - Millikin University

Transcription

ation
SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE: HONOR ROLL OF DONORS, P. 63
|
HOMECOMING 2013 WRAP-UP, P. 48
s
7
SUMMER 2014
s
er)
ON THE
HORIZON
A NEW ERA AT MU
SU14_cover.indd 3
6/16/14 10:30 AM
MILLIKIN QUARTERLY
Vol. XXX, No. 1 | Summer 2014
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Dr. Patrick E. White
VICE PRESIDENT
FOR ALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT
David Brandon
EDITOR AND
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Deb Hale Kirchner
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Alida Duff Sullivan ’06
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Margaret Allen Friend
Jenell Anderson Hironimus
STUDENT INTERNS
Amanda Hamilton ’14
Jackson Lewis ’13
Brittany Mytnik ’15
Brooke Paddock ’14
Stephanie Strick ’15
CONTRIBUTORS
Tina Cloney
Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77
Ryan Jorstad ’62
Dane Lisser
Bryan Marshall ’85
Amanda Pippitt
Millikin Quarterly (ISSN 8750-7706)
(USPS 0735-570) is mailed twice yearly
by the Millikin University Office of Alumni
and Development, 1184 West Main Street,
Decatur, Illinois 62522-2084. Two digital
supplements are also sent to alumni and
friends who have valid email addresses on
file with the office.
EMAIL AND WEBSITE
[email protected]
www.millikin.edu/alumni
POSTMASTER
Please send address changes to
Millikin Quarterly
Millikin University
1184 West Main Street
Decatur, Illinois 62522-2084
Phone: 217-424-6383
Toll free: 1-877-JMU-ALUM
Copyright ©2014, Millikin University
ON THE COVER
An aerial view of the MU campus, taken by
Brian Cassidy ’09 and Michael Rauch, of the
MU marketing department.
Like us on
FB.com/MillikinAlumni
SU14_cover_REV.indd 4
IT’S BEEN A WHILE.
Say hello to your old friend, this alumni magazine. And yes, it has been a
while since you’ve seen the magazine in your mailbox. Millikin Quarterly,
the university’s magazine since 1985, is transitioning from four printed
issues yearly to two printed issues and two online supplements; partly due
to our society’s growing focus on electronic media, and partly as a budgetsaving measure. It’s also a reflection of a renaissance happening all across
campus, in all departments and programs, as the university refocuses on
how best to allocate its resources to meet its mission and vision.
The just-concluded school year of transition brought a new president to campus, a seasoned
university leader who was originally selected to serve as MU’s interim president while a national
search for a permanent president was conducted. However, he fell in love with Millikin and apparently
the feeling was mutual. As a result, Dr. Patrick White, formerly of Wabash College, was named
Millikin’s 15th president by the board of trustees last October after not quite 100 days in office (see
details, pages 2 and 20).
In my 20 years at the Big Blue, I am accustomed to embracing change. It’s common, anticipated
and even necessary in just about any workplace these days. Millikin is no exception. Although Dr.
White’s appointment was the most significant of leadership changes at the institution during the
past year, several senior employees retired or moved on to other opportunities, and other employees
moved up to assume their responsibilities. It was interesting to observe the passing of these torches,
especially as some Millikin alumni stepped up to fill the roles of their former mentors.
For example, following last June’s retirement of Jan Devore, longtime alumni relations director,
the university hired Gina Bianchi ’93, as Millikin’s senior director of alumni and donor engagement
(see pages 2 and 12 for details). Gina had worked in alumni relations and advancement at Illinois State
University for 17 years but had kept her eye on her alma mater just in case Jan’s job came open. She
stepped into her new role last August, and perennial Jan fans will be glad to know that Gina comes
with the Jan Devore Seal of Approval. Already one of my favorite colleagues, Gina is a warm and
outgoing individual who welcomes questions, ideas and comments from Millikin’s alumni and friends.
She’s also a die-hard Cubs fan (but I try not to hold her team choice against her).
An alum-to-alum transition occurred in the registrar’s office, as last fall Jason Wickline ’95 took
on the role of retiring Walt Wessel ’65, who had served as registrar since 1987. Walt always called
himself the “surly registrar,” but students and faculty knew the truth about his kind heart and knack
for helping them work through complicated issues. As registrar, Walt was one of Millikin’s quiet
heroes, and Jason, after serving in MU’s information technology department for many years, is on the
right track to continue and build on Walt’s legacy.
As torches were being passed to the next generation of faculty and staff, the alumni office was
working on how to keep you informed of campus developments. Although there will be fewer issues
of this magazine mailed, our office will continue to email news to alumni and friends who have valid
email addresses on file with us. To receive these alerts, including the online Quarterly supplements
as well as our popular monthly e-newsletter, Out of the Blue, just send your current email address to
[email protected]. You’ll also find us on Facebook and Twitter as Millikin Alumni.
So, what changes are on deck for Millikin in the next school year? Based on my time at Millikin, I
feel confident that our university will continue to deliver on the promise of education for our students.
I’ve observed firsthand how Millikin offers students the complete package on how to succeed in life.
It’s been part of the unique performance learning offered only at Millikin since 1901. And that will
never change.
What changes are happening in your life? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Hope
you enjoy this long-awaited issue, and best wishes for a great summer!
Deb Hale Kirchner
Millikin Quarterly Editor and Senior Director of Communications
6/20/14 1:02 PM
DEPARTMENTS
2
4
6
8
10
14
16
18
Campus News
Big Blue Sports
Looking Back
With Your Support
Transform U
Zooming In: Jan Devore
Faculty Profile: Robert Money
Faculty Profile: Brad Holmes
ALUMNI
NEW ERA
ON THE
HORIZON
20
10
26
27
29
31
33
35
37
38
40
42
44
92
Class Notes
Profile: George Ecklund Sr. ’44
Profile: David Overlot ’81
Profile: Fiona Solkowski Becker ’95
Profile: Gretchen Ozee Cawthon ’95
Profile: Ryan Lawrence ’99
Profile: Kelsee Hankins ’09
Weddings
Births and Adoptions
Passings
Legacy Continues
My Turn: Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77
FEATURES
12 JAN DEVORE STEPS DOWN –
BUT NOT OUT
Permanent recognition on
campus sought for retired
alumni relations director
20 POSITIONED TO SUCCEED
Dr. Patrick E. White steps into the
presidency at just the right time
48
24 A MUSEUM GROWS IN CHICAGO
MU alum stakes her reputation
on creating the first American
Writers Museum
48 HOMECOMING 2013
The photos you’ve been
wanting to see
58 ALUMNI AWARDS
Outstanding alumni are
recognized at Alumni Awards
and Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
58
SU14_front_REV_6-19.indd 1
24
63 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
Recognition of donor giving from
July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013
6/20/14 12:52 PM
Q
CAMPUS NEWS
DR. PATRICK WHITE NAMED MILLIKIN’S 15TH PRESIDENT
After fewer than four months in office as
interim president, Dr. Patrick E. White
was named Millikin’s 15th president by the
board of trustees on Oct. 9.
White had been appointed interim
president in July, with the intention that
he would serve for 12 to 18 months while
a national search was conducted for a permanent president. However, the Millikin
trustees decided to suspend the search and
hire White as permanent president after
observing his performance during his first
100 days in office.
“While Dr. White initially joined
Millikin in an interim role, he has never
acted like an interim president and quickly
proved himself an invaluable leader on our
campus,” said Board Chair Van Dukeman.
“Selection of a president is one of the most
important decisions we make as trustees.
We are happy to have found in Dr. White
an experienced leader to guide Millikin’s
future.”
“The Millikin I have come to know in
the last few months has affirmed my belief
in James Millikin’s promise of education
and in the university’s signature commitment to performance learning and to our
students’ success,” said White. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help advance the
university in the years to come.”
Prior to working at Millikin, Dr. White
served seven years as president of Wabash
College in Crawfordsville, Ind. During
his tenure there, Dr. White developed a
student-focused strategic plan; guided
the college through the financial turmoil
of 2008-09; completed a comprehensive
academic program review and an unqualified self-study report that led to reaccreditation; secured a number of grants to
establish new programs; achieved success
in the Challenge of Excellence capital
campaign that exceeded its $60 million
goal; and completed a $6 million Athletics
Field Campaign (See more information
beginning on page 20).
Millikin’s 14th president, Dr. Harold
Jeffcoat, retired in late January 2013 after
serving nearly two years in office. Q
1993 GRADUATE STEPS INTO ALUMNI OFFICE POSITION
Gina Bianchi ’93 is the new
senior director of alumni and
donor engagement for MU’s
alumni and development
office. She replaces longtime
MU alumni relations director
Jan Devore, who retired in late June (see
article, page 12).
“Gina brings to the position an extensive background in higher education, a love
of Millikin and a passion for connecting
people to their alma mater,” says Dave
Brandon, Millikin’s vice president for
alumni and development. “I am sure our
alumni and friends join me in offering
Gina a warm welcome.”
Bianchi comes to Millikin from Illinois
2
State University, where she worked for the
previous 17 years. At ISU, she spent six
years working in the athletics department
as assistant director of the athletics study
center while earning her master’s degree
in athletic administration. She later spent
two years working as the athletic development coordinator for the university before
being named director of the annual fund.
She subsequently was named director of
development for the division of student
affairs, and for the past six years she served
as ISU’s director of alumni relations.
As a student, Bianchi earned her
MU degree in communication and public
relations, was active in several campus
organizations, played softball and also
served as a resident assistant. Since
graduating from Millikin, she has volunteered for her alma mater, serving as class
fundraising agent, class reunion chair and
volunteer admission counselor.
“I am so pleased to be returning to
Millikin to work in alumni and development,” Bianchi says. “My past work
experiences and my passion for Millikin
make this a perfect fit!
“I look forward to building on the
good work done by Jan Devore in fostering
relationships between Millikin and its
alumni and friends all over the world. I
will enjoy connecting and reconnecting our
alumni and friends to the university that I
love.” Q
MILLIKIN QUARTERLY | SUMMER 2014
SU14_front.indd 2
6/16/14 10:39 AM
CAMPUS NEWS
Q
NEW PROVOST HAS ILLINOIS ROOTS
In April, Dr. Jeffery P.
Aper was named Millikin’s provost, effective
July 1, 2014.
Aper just completed
his 12th year as provost
at Blackburn College
in Carlinville, Ill., where he had oversight of academic, athletic, student life
and student-managed work programs,
institutional research, technology services,
enrollment services, advising services and
retention initiatives. Aper replaces former
VPAA Barry Pearson, who resigned last
summer to serve as provost and VPAA at
Purchase College in New York. Pearson
had worked at Millikin since 1989.
“Jeff Aper has long had a deep
commitment to experiential learning, and
he will be a great asset as we shape and
articulate Millikin’s performance learning
to an ever-wider audience,” says Millikin
President Patrick White. “To the opportunities and challenges Millikin faces at this
time, he brings an engaging personality
and an analytic mind as well as experience
in assessment, budgeting and leadership.”
Aper previously served as associate
professor of education leadership and
policy studies at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville from 1994-2002. As
director of the UT-Knoxville Graduate
Center at UT-Chattanooga, he had overall
responsibility for UT-Knoxville doctoral
programs offered on the UT-Chattanooga
campus. Aper also served as assistant professor of educational administration and
higher education at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale from 1990-93, where
he was also responsible for oversight of the
Organization and Administration Master’s
Program.
A 1978 graduate of Blackburn College,
Aper earned his bachelor’s degree in
social science. He next earned a master’s
degree in environmental studies from the
University of Illinois – Springfield in 1981.
In 1989, he completed his doctorate in
educational research, evaluation and policy
studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University in Blacksburg, Va. Q
MILLIKIN SERVES
Millikin was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community
Service Honor Roll for its commitment to
bettering the community.
During the previous academic year,
Millikin students engaged in 147,656
hours of service in curricular and cocurricular programs. Approximately 530
MU freshmen in 28 seminar classes completed a variety of projects, starting with
the local United Way’s Day of Action. Q
TEAM TAKES TOP HONORS FOR REAL-LIFE DATA APPLICATION PROJECT
Millikin undergraduates took top awards
at the 2014 Information Systems Project
and Case Competition at Ball State
University in Muncie, Ind., in April. Five
students competed against nine other
institutions, including the host, with MU’s
team receiving first place for best project
and best project presentation, plus second
in the overall team category.
“This is a great example of MU’s
performance learning difference, where
students not only build real-world solutions for external clients, but they are also
evaluated by the professional community,”
says RJ Podeschi ’02, assistant professor of
information systems (above).
The students presented on a real client
project they had completed, delivering a
working database application for tracking
debt collections for the Decatur-based law
firm Bolen, Robinson and Ellis.
“It was a fantastic experience as
a whole and just being able to present
something that we developed and being
recognized for it was wonderful,” says
Boone McIntosh, a junior from Fenton,
Mo. “It is also reassuring to know that
things we are doing in the Tabor School
of Business are on par with or better than
what other schools are doing.”
“This course allowed students to
connect their newly learned technical
skills with their application in the business
world,” Podeschi says. “Seeing students
connect those dots in a meaningful way is
priceless.” Q
Student remembered
Along with her family and friends, the
Millikin community mourned the loss of
Amanda Puckett, a sophomore majoring in
music performance who died unexpectedly
on campus last Aug. 25 from an undiagnosed medical condition. A memorial
service was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church next to campus. The family
has requested that memorials be directed
to Millikin to help establish a scholarship
named in memory of Amanda. Q
WANT THE LATEST MU NEWS?
Visit www.millikin.edu/alumni for campus
news, e-newsletters, upcoming alumni and
friends events and more!
SUMMER 2014 | MILLIKIN QUARTERLY
SU14_front.indd 3
3
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Q
BIG BLUE SPORTS
BREAKING GROUND
ARTIFICIAL TURF INSTALLED AT FRANK M. LINDSAY FIELD THIS SUMMER
ABOUT THE PROJECT
• Cost for turf project is
$1.75 million.
• Includes installation of field
lighting and resurfacing the track.
A high-definition video scoreboard
and sound system will also
be added, both financed by
advertising dollars.
Photo by Alida Duff Sullivan ’06.
• Completion set for fall 2014.
• After renovations, the field will also
serve as the home field for soccer
teams and as a practice facility for
the softball and baseball teams.
• Field originally dedicated Oct. 17,
1987, and named in memory of
Decatur business leader and media
owner Frank M. Lindsay.
M
ILLIKIN BROKE GROUND this May on a new artificial turf playing surface for Frank M. Lindsay Field, scheduled for
completion in time for the first home football game against Aurora University at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27. The last major
upgrade to the field was more than 15 years ago. Donations to the project from alumni and friends of the university have
included numerous gifts to name various areas of the field in honor or memory of individuals, including large areas in
honor of two former outstanding MU football coaches and alumni. The blue end zones will be named in honor of the late Don Shroyer ’50
of Decatur, and the visitors sideline in honor of Carl Poelker ’68 of Breese, Ill.
Carl Poelker ’68
coached at Millikin for 27 years,
beginning in 1968.
In his 13 years as
head football coach,
from 1982-95, he
posted an 88-39-1
coaching record,
won two CCIW
championships and set the record for the
most football coaching wins in MU history.
Millikin elected him to the university’s
Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981.
Poelker was also a three-year
letterwinner in football as an MU student,
4
earning National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) all-district
honors as a defensive lineman during his
senior year. After graduation, he earned
a master’s degree in physical education at
Illinois State University before returning to
Millikin to coach.
Poelker left the Big Blue in 1995 to
revive the football program at McKendree
University (then McKendree College).
The program had been dissolved in 1950.
As the new head coach, he established a
team that earned a national ranking in
only its second season. In his 14 years
as their coach, the team achieved seven
Midwest League titles and nine playoff
appearances, and Poelker was recognized
in 2002 as NAIA Football Coach of the
Year. Poelker was also selected as the 1997
Schutt Sports/NAIA Coach of the Year by
American Football Quarterly magazine and
named MSFA Midwest League Coach of
the Year in 1999 and 2002. He retired in
2012 with a 117-60 record at McKendree.
He’s “one of Millikin’s great players
and coaches,” says John Manner ’67, a
former player for Poelker who served as
the team’s co-captain his senior year.
In honor of his positive impact on
Big Blue football, Poelker will be honored
at a dinner on Saturday, Oct. 11, during
Homecoming weekend. Q
SU14_front.indd 4
6/16/14 10:39 AM
REMEMBERING COACH DON SHROYER ’50
by Ryan Jorstad ’62
Editor’s note: Coach Don Shroyer ’50, who died
July 7, 2013, led the Big Blue football team from
1956-62. See page 42 for more information. The
text on this page is excerpted from a eulogy
given by one of his former players, Ryan Jorstad
’62, at the coach’s funeral. Jorstad played on
the celebrated 1961 undefeated football team
coached by Shroyer.
“By definition, a
legacy is what you
leave to others
when you’re gone.
What about Don
Shroyer’s legacy?
Fifty-two years
later, we all still call
him Coach and will
do so forever.
So what legacy did Coach leave? Well,
he was happily married for 62 years, which
is quite an example to set. He had four successful kids who are also just good people.
He also was blessed with five impressive
grandkids. And he had a successful career
doing what he loved.
Those things collectively are a proud
legacy. But Coach left much more.
He believed in the basics of football.
You won by hitting harder and being in
better shape than your opponents so you
could hit them longer than they hit you.
Despite the simplicity of his football
approach, he taught us how to handle
the complexities of life during and after
football. Here are 12 key “life lessons” he
taught us:
Be a good teammate. There’s no
sport more dependent on team play than
football. The greatest athlete in the world
will look very bad if the other 10 players on
his team do not do their jobs. How valuable
a lesson is this in your workplace and in
your marriage?
Be physically fit. We won games
because we were in better shape than our
opponents. Look at the obesity problem
America has now. When we had our
50-year reunion two years ago, there was
only one overweight person there, and that
was due to medication issues.
Strive for perfection. We repeated
drills – running basic plays over and over
until we ran them perfectly.
Be disciplined. The worst chewing
out I ever saw Coach give anyone was right
after a reserve running back had just run
45 yards for a touchdown. He grabbed the
young man by the shoulder pads, got about
four inches from his face and told him he
had run around the end for the touchdown
when the play had called for him to run
between the guard and tackle. Coach told
him if he ever did that again, he would
never play another down for him.
Be dedicated. End of season? The
next day begins the next season. There’s
always weight lifting, etc. He told us that
we may lose a game, but it should never be
because we didn’t work or try hard enough.
Be respectful. Coach taught us to
respect the other team, your teammates,
your coaches and the game. No hotdogging.
If you scored a touchdown or made a big
hit, you put the ball down and went back to
your huddle like you’d done the same thing
thousands of times before.
Be humble. Coach kept us from
getting too high on ourselves so we always
had a hunger to do better.
Show love. Our team has had a
reunion every five years because of the
feelings we never lost for our team and our
Coach.
Be confident. Coach made us feel
we could win every game we played, even
when we were very young and really not
that good. We learned that unless you are
confident in your preparation and ability,
your chances of winning at anything are not
very good.
Be resilient. When you get knocked
down, get up with more wisdom and
resolve than before. Get up quick and ‘get
after it!’
It’s OK to laugh. Laughter is more
than OK – except for a while after a loss.
Find your passion. You will not do
all the things I just listed unless you have a
passion for what you’re doing. If you don’t
have a passion, get out and find it.
Once the Shroyer formula had been
applied to our team, we ended up with one
state senator, one school principal, two
doctors, three attorneys, 24 businessmen
and no one in jail!
If each of his players could have talked
with him one last time, they would have
said something like this:
‘I love you, Coach. Thank you so much
for teaching me how to be a good man.’” Q
SU14_front.indd 5
5
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Q
Photo from the 1925 Millidek.
LOOKING BACK
STARTING MU AT AGE 2
SURPRISING FACTS OF MU HISTORY
by Amanda Pippitt
T
HESE COMMUTER STUDENTS
never ate dinner on campus and
spent a lot of time coloring and
learning their ABCs. They also
liked to sing, dance, pretend, and play with
their puppies, chicks and bunnies.
Millikin’s successful ongoing lab partnership with neighboring Dennis School
somewhat mirrors a historical example of
the university’s involvement with Decatur
community children through Millikin’s
Conservatory Kindergarten. From 191348, elementary schoolchildren could be
seen and heard in Millikin’s Conservatory
of Music and across campus as they sang,
danced, played and learned under the
guidance of Conservatory teachers.
The program was first promoted in
the August 1913 Conservatory Bulletin as
the “Hughey Color-Music Model School,”
a program for children between ages 2
and 7. Tuition was $5 per month, or $10
per year, and “normal training classes for
6
mothers and prospective teachers” ($75
per year) offered instruction in the program’s innovative methods. Mrs. Fannie
E. McKinney-Hughey, who designed the
system, was compared in the bulletin
to Dr. Maria Montessori, creator of the
Montessori method. This bulletin can be
viewed online at bit.ly/Hughey_bulletin.
Within a few years, the formal
program name was dropped. Mrs. Hughey
appeared to have left Millikin by 1914,
leaving Miss Esther Requarth to direct the
classes. Though it was sometimes referred
to as the “child culture department,”
most area residents simply called it the
“conservatory kindergarten” or the “music
kindergarten.”
Over the years, the school’s children
were a source of pride and amusement to
both the campus and local community.
Formal events covered by the campus and
local press included recitals, plays and kindergarten commencements. Picnics, boat
rides, parties, teas and the addition of new
toys and pets – including a puppy, rabbits,
chicks, canaries and kittens – were also
covered. In 1926, a local newspaper article,
“Like Old Woman Who Lived in Shoe,”
reported that as many as 18 children, plus
a teacher and driver, squeezed into each
of the four cars sent around the West
End to deliver the children to and from
the kindergarten. Another local reporter
described one of the children’s daily
activities as playing store with “real cornflakes, baking soda, and other boxed goods
over a counter, answering a tiny telephone
on a little desk, and wrapping parcels
and greeting customers with professional
manner.”
The children also regularly interacted
with university students. On multiple
occasions, the children rode on homecoming floats, dressed in miniature Millikin
caps and gowns. Home economics students redecorated the kindergarten rooms,
student teachers taught in the classes and,
at one point, the kindergarteners learned
how to “gamble” during a visit to Professor Cole’s class, predicting which of the
wooden alligators placed at the top of an
incline would wobble to the bottom first.
A September 1948 issue of Decaturian
announced the kindergarten was closed,
though it didn’t explain why, saying, “the
years of dodging kittie-cars and tricycles on
the Conservatory west forty are over for the
university students.” Perhaps its 35-year
history can best be summed up by a 1925
newspaper advertisement for the program,
headlined: “Learning by doing … Millikin
Conservatory Kindergarten.” Performance
learning has long been a guiding principle
at Millikin University, even for its youngest
students. Q
Amanda Pippitt is Millikin’s
access services coordinator,
archivist and research
instruction librarian. She has
worked at MU since 2004.
Pippitt earned her master’s
degree in library and information science from
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
anthropology.
SU14_front.indd 6
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Join us March 6-14, 2015, for an Alumni & Friends trip to
Andean Lake Crossing and
ChileanWine Country
with an optional three-night Easter Island Post Tour Extension
Informational Session:
Thursday, July 10, 2014, 2 p.m.,
Millikin Alumni Center
For more information call the Alumni and Development Office at
1-877-JMU-ALUM or visit bit.ly/mu-chile for details.
6/20/14 12:52 PM
Q
WITH YOUR SUPPORT
BLUE AND WHITE CHALLENGE RAISES $200,000 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
A blitz campaign to raise funds for
student scholarships garnered more
than $200,000 over two days in early
May. Nearly 300 alumni, friends and
employees of Millikin gave to the Blue and
White Scholarship Challenge, so named to
represent Millikin’s school colors, as well
as referring to Millikin’s nickname, “Big
Blue,” and the university’s new president,
Dr. Patrick White. President White has
made this particular challenge an important priority during his first year in office.
Most contributions were made online
during the two-day blitz. Short, often
humorous, “blue cheese” videos were
released every few hours as goals were
met. Smaller matching challenges were
made by individual alumni, and the campaign was widely discussed and promoted
on social media by alumni and friends.
“One of the proudest moments of my
presidency to date has been the wholehearted and generous support shown for
the Blue and White Scholarship Challenge,” says White. “On behalf of Millikin
students, thank you to all the donors.”
Each year, Millikin distributes nearly
$30 million in merit and other student
scholarships, more than half of Millikin’s
annual operating budget. These scholarships are awarded to students based on
academic merit, talent and financial need.
Millikin is committed to working with
families to find ways to manage the cost of
a college education, with student financial
aid packages that include academic scholarships, loans, government assistance and
student employment.
“As the oldest of three and the first to
go to college in my family, I am so grateful
for the contributions the donors have
made to Millikin University. [Scholarships] have allowed me to achieve all my
dreams,” said Demetruis Spidle, a senior
from Chicago.
“Without [scholarships], I wouldn’t
be able to afford to go to Millikin,” said
Kishan Tailor, a senior from Forsyth, Ill.
Gifts to the Blue and White Scholarship Challenge continue to be accepted.
Learn more at give.millikin.edu. Q
WEB EXTRA:
Watch “blue cheese” videos at give.millikin.edu.
FOUNDATION AWARDS $100,000 IN TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN NEED
A family foundation established by an
alumni couple provided Millikin with
$100,000 to give scholarships to students
in need. The grant was presented last
summer by the T.S. and Juanita Ballance
Foundation of Decatur, established in
2009 by the late Thomas Stephen “Steve”
Ballance, a 1941 MU graduate, and his
wife, Juanita, a 1956 graduate.
Three scholarships were established:
A $10,000 scholarship for a deserving
student in elementary education; a
$10,000 scholarship for a deserving
student in accounting or business; and
$80,000 in general scholarship funds
to be used by the university to assist
deserving students in any field of study.
“As we discussed with the Ballance
Foundation officers, Millikin is awarding
8
these tuition scholarships to students with
a demonstrated financial need who are
working – contributing through their own
toil to their educational expenses – while
earning a Millikin degree,” says Vice
President of Alumni and Development
Dave Brandon.
“Since Mr. Ballance worked as a
student to earn the money he needed
to complete his Millikin degree, we at
Millikin feel strongly that he would have
enjoyed knowing that his support is going
to ‘help those who help themselves.’ This
investment by the Ballance Foundation
will help open doors that might otherwise
have remained closed for these students
and help them as they strive to become
the kind of high-quality Millikin graduate
who serves, gives back and advances the
quality of life in Decatur and beyond.”
Steve Ballance served as president
of BJ Industries Inc. from 1975 until his
death in 2011. The company operated
Jarvis Drilling Company, which had
formerly been known as S.D. Jarvis
Company before Ballance, a longtime
employee, purchased it. Ballance was
a life member of the Stephen Decatur
Lodge, a member of the Decatur Noon
Kiwanis Club for more than 50 years,
and also a member of Decatur’s Central
Christian Church for more than 50 years,
serving as a deacon there for many years.
Juanita Ballance is a retired teacher who
taught for the Mt. Zion School District.
The couple raised two daughters. Daughter Charlotte Ballance remains active in
the Ballance Foundation. Q
SU14_front.indd 8
6/16/14 10:39 AM
CATERPILLAR MAKES $1 MILLION PAYMENT
As part of its 2011 pledge of $7 million to
the university, the Caterpillar Foundation
made its second payment of $1 million to
Millikin last year. This charitable investment is specifically earmarked for a new
Center for International Education on the
university’s campus.
In 2011, Caterpillar Inc. Chairman and
CEO Doug Oberhelman, a 1975 Millikin
graduate, announced a joint charitable
investment of up to $11.5 million toward
Millikin’s “Transform MU” capital
campaign, the largest show of support in
Millikin’s history.
The investment, made both by the
Caterpillar Foundation and personally by
Oberhelman and his wife, Diane, helps
support the creation of a new university
center that will house the Oberhelman
Leadership Development Center, provides
funding for the Center for International
Education and doubles the number of
students supported by the university’s
Long-Vanderburg Scholars Program for
minority students.
The $1 million second payment
presented by Caterpillar Decatur’s General
Manager Walt Hupe is designated for Caterpillar’s committed total of $3 million to
help develop the Center for International
Education.
Four of Millikin’s international
students, along with Professor Carmen
Aravena, director of the Center for International Education, attended the check
presentation at Caterpillar’s Decatur office:
Jordan Moxey of the Bahamas, a biology
major; Dominic Hart, an exercise science
major from Australia; Mohand Aalsaleh
of Saudi Arabia, a pre-pharmacy major;
and Tom Pardo, an international business
major from France.
Millikin’s partnership with Caterpillar
extends back nearly six decades to 1955
when the company made its first charitable
investment in the university. Q
LEIGHTY LEGACY LIVES ON
During the just completed academic year,
a gift of nearly $1.65
million was received
from the Dr. John A.
Leighty Charitable
Remainder Trust. The
trust, funded by the late Dr. Leighty ’31 in
1999, is designated in support of the university’s natural sciences programs. This
gift provides ongoing financial support
for research, scientific instrumentation,
and performance-learning enhancement
needs, and will create a new endowed
professorship in the natural sciences and
mathematics division.
Dr. Leighty earned his master’s
degree and doctorate from Purdue
University. During his 33-year career at
Eli Lilly and Company, he was a member
of the company’s team that first produced
penicillin in the 1940s; he was also
involved in development and production
of the antibiotics erythromycin and
streptomycin and the analgesic Darvon.
Leighty also served on MU’s board
of trustees from 1967-70. He and his late
wife, the former Ula Davis ’33, established
Millikin’s John and Ula Leighty Research
Award in Biology. He later established the
John and Ula Leighty Science Scholars
Program. He also made multiple gifts
to the science center that now bears his
name and served as honorary chair of the
center’s building campaign. Q
Fischer Fund grants continue to enhance athletics department
Grants from the Burnell and Ermell
Fischer Athletic Enhancement Fund
continue to make a positive difference for
the Millikin athletics department. In the
past two years, 12 grants were awarded
from an endowment fund established in
memory of the late Burnell Fischer, M.D.
’39, and his late wife, Ermell Fischer,
a Decatur native and supporter of the
arts. The Fischers’ two sons, Dr. Burnell
“Burney” Fischer and Terry Fischer,
created the fund as a lasting legacy to
their father, whose belief in participating
in student athletics was a tradition they
wish to perpetuate.
Each year, MU’s athletics department
personnel can apply for funding for
needed equipment or services through
the Fischer Fund. The 12 grants awarded
since February 2013 include: Four sets of
iron grip, urethane weights; eight sets of
variable resistance lifting chains; a Beta 2
baseball pitching machine; two Wall Ball
pitch back nets; two Just Jump mats; a
10’ x 15’ pop-up tent; an automated interval timing device; two stationary training/
exercise bikes for the athletic training
room; three flat-screen televisions for
the weight room; two Man-of-War sleds;
four Vertimax V6Pro platforms; and three
licenses for video analysis software for
individual sport skills. Q
SU14_front.indd 9
9
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Q
TRANSFORM U
COLORFUL
BUT DANGEROUS?
by Tina Cloney, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D.N., C.D.E.
T
HEY ADD COLOR to our lives and to
our food – but what effect do they have
on us? Food dyes are commonly found
in almost every part of our lives – from
shampoos and soaps, to make-up and vitamins
– and yes, even in a wide variety of the foods we
eat. Manufacturers use natural and synthetic food
dyes to make our food look more appealing by
replacing natural colors lost due to processing or
adding color to otherwise
colorless foods. Most of us
10
have a small box with a rainbow of the four
primary food dyes in our kitchen cabinets, used
to color birthday frosting, Easter eggs and other
foods we eat. As a nation, we consume five times
more food dyes than we did in 1955.
Through the years, though, food dyes have
come under suspicion as possible culprits in causing everything from hyperactivity in children to
allergies to cancer. Dr. Benjamin Feingold made
the first claims regarding a widely-assumed link
between food dyes and hyperactivity in the early
1970s. In the early 1980s, however, the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that, while
some research is supportive of a potential link
between food dyes and child behavior problems,
no conclusive proof was found and more research
was needed. Children who already have ADHD
may just be more sensitive to food dyes, the
FDA said, resulting in more unwanted
behavior.
Other research has suggested a
possible but unconfirmed link between
food dyes and allergies. However, the
findings are not
significant, not
SU14_front.indd 10
6/16/14 10:39 AM
conclusive, or the research contains some form of
research error.
Several food dyes were banned by the FDA
following research that suggested a positive
correlation between that specific dye and certain
types of cancer. Currently, three of the most
widely used synthetic dyes – Red No. 40,
Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 – were found
through FDA testing to contain low levels of
cancer-causing compounds. The Center for Public
Interest has petitioned the FDA to ban eight of the
nine remaining synthetic food dyes used in the
U.S. due to the growing evidence.
As a result of several studies in Europe,
manufacturers in the United Kingdom were asked
to remove all synthetic food dyes from their foods
in 2010. Manufacturers who did not voluntarily
comply were required by the European Union to
add warning labels to their products noting that
the food contains synthetic food dyes that “may
have an adverse effect on activity and attention
in children.” Since the U.K. ruling, many manufacturers have switched to plant-based food dyes,
deriving food coloring from natural sources such
as grape skins, beet juice and carrots.
Contrast that to the U.S., where the food
you’re eating could contain synthetic dyes
derived from petroleum. Interestingly, some
manufacturers and fast-food restaurants use
synthetic food dyes for their products distributed
in the U.S. but use natural food dyes or no coloring at all for those same products distributed in
other countries.
While this debate continues and the negative
evidence mounts, use these methods to reduce the
amount of synthetic dyes in your diet and safeguard your health and the health of your family:
LIMIT PROCESSED FOODS, AND ADD MORE
WHOLE FOODS. Aim for more color in your
diet, not from processed foods, but from
fruits and vegetables. The natural hues in these
foods provide several health benefits.
CHECK THE COLOR SOURCE. If a food is colorful
but not a fruit or vegetable, look at the label to
determine if natural sources of coloring have been
used. Examples of natural dyes include beet juice,
beta-carotene, blueberry juice concentrate, carrot
juice, grape skin extract, paprika, purple sweet
potato or corn, red cabbage and turmeric.
READ THE LABEL TO REDUCE OR LIMIT YOUR
INTAKE OF SYNTHETIC DYES. These are the nine
synthetic dyes currently in use today: Blue No. 1
and Blue No. 2; Red No. 3 and Red No. 40; Green
No. 3; Red No. 40 (Allura Red); Yellow No. 5
(Tartrazine) and Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow).
BE PROACTIVE BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL
HEALTH RISKS. If you or your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, has behavior issues or a family
history of cancer, try removing major sources
of food dyes to determine if behavior improves
and/or to reduce your risk in case later research
should find that these food dyes present more risk
than once thought. These major sources include
candy, brightly-colored cereals, fruit drinks and
soda. With the exception of fortified cereals, these
foods contain little to no nutritive value and a lot
of sugar, anyway. (Although sugar has not been
found to increase symptoms of hyperactivity in
children with or without ADHD, excess sugar can
result in other unwanted conditions including
dental cavities and childhood obesity. And if these
nutrition-robbing foods take the place of healthier
foods in the diet, the child’s overall health, growth
and development can be negatively affected.)
The best advice for anyone, with or without
ADHD or a family history of cancer, is to follow
the new MyPlate recommendations found at
myplate.gov to promote overall health and
academic performance. Q
FDA FACTS:
TO DYE FOR
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) divides food dyes
into two categories:
Certifiable. These dyes are
man-made, derived primarily
from petroleum and coal
sources. They include Yellow
No. 5 (Tartrazine) and No. 6
(Sunset Yellow), Blue No. 1,
Green No. 3, Red No. 3 and No.
40 (Allura Red).
Exempt. These dyes are
obtained from plant, animal or
mineral sources and include
caramel color and grape color
extract.
Both categories must meet
Dr. Tina Cloney is chair of Millikin’s
FDA safety requirements before
exercise science and sport depart-
the dyes are added to food,
ment and a health and nutrition
based on the average consump-
professor. She is a registered dietitian,
tion per person and toxicolog-
certified diabetes educator and board
ical data. The FDA reports that
certified specialist in sports dietetics.
the average consumer, adult or
Her passion is communicating the role of nutrition in
sport performance and nutrition and exercise in
disease prevention and management.
child, consumes significantly
less than the established safety
levels.
Q
SU14_front.indd 11
11
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Photos by Alida Duff Sullivan ’06.
SU14_front.indd 12
JAN DEVORE
STEPS DOWN –
BUT NOT OUT
6/16/14 10:40 AM
CORNERSTONE
D
OES JAN DEVORE know
everyone? Of course not. But
in her 35 years with Millikin,
the longtime director of alumni
relations and former dean of students definitely earned her legendary reputation for
remembering individual students by name,
even long after they were alumni. Often, it
didn’t matter if she hadn’t seen the alum
for some time or if his or her appearance
was no longer that of a fresh-faced college
student. Jan has been known to recognize a
former student by voice alone.
Last June, Jan retired from Millikin as
senior director of alumni and donor engagement. An employee farewell reception was
followed by a second retirement reception
for alumni and friends at last fall’s Homecoming. At both, Jan was praised for a job
well done, and the praises keep coming.
“Thanks are due to Jan for being a
constant source of encouragement and
‘hands on’ support to Millikin students for
nearly 35 years,” said Millikin President
Emeritus Doug Zemke ’66. “As students
transitioned to alumni, Jan became a caring
friend and an inspiration for them to ‘do
good and to do well’ in their adult lives. She
is the personification of the institution that
she loves so dearly. Once you become Jan’s
friend, you have become her friend for life.”
That is no exaggeration. After beginning her Millikin career as a resident
director for the student development staff,
Jan Devore enthusiastically immersed
herself in the Millikin community. It was
rare not to see her face at a Millikin event.
Through the years, her name became
synonymous with events like Freshman
Camp, Commencement and Homecoming.
If not leading the event herself, she was
troubleshooting it and working the room
like a seasoned politician, making sure
everyone felt welcome. Students and alums
alike greeted her warmly as “Jan Devore!”
and shared their latest news – a new job,
a new move, a new spouse. Many alumni
treat her like family, inviting her to their
weddings and letting her stay in their homes
when she’s on the road.
“As a student or an alum, your life was
impacted by Jan,” says Michelle Stremmel
’95. “You were either inspired, encouraged,
and mentored by her, as I was, or you
greatly benefited by the programs, organizations, and events which she created. She
gave freely of her time and energy to ensure
that Millikin students received as much
education outside the classroom as we did
inside, and in recent years, she worked to
ensure we remained connected to campus
and its rich history.”
In recognition of her positive influence on generations of Millikin students
and alumni and her enthusiasm for their
achievements both during and after their
time at MU, efforts have been underway
since her retirement to name something
permanent on campus in her honor.
“We seek to honor her amazing legacy
at the institution by naming the student
lobby in the proposed new University
Center in her name,” said Trustee Emeritus
Peggy Madden, who traveled overseas with
Jan on many alumni and friends trips.
“I ask you to consider joining me in this
effort to thank our dear friend and give her
name permanence on the campus she loves
so much; for her heart, for her humor, for
her help,” Madden says.
To name this high-traffic lobby in the
proposed new center, more than half of
the construction cost of the space must be
raised from alumni and friends of the university, per Millikin board policy. The original goal was to raise the $400,000 needed
to name the space the Dr. Jan Devore
Student Lobby. However, supporters now
feel an even more fitting tribute would be to
raise the entire $775,300 to construct the
space. Many alumni have already given, and
at press time the total stood at $375,494.
“We believe it is a fitting legacy that
Jan’s name will become a permanent part of
the institution she has served so well,” said
Jan’s first MU boss, former VP of Student
Development Joe Houston.
Learn more about the effort to name
the lobby at http://bit.ly/devore-lobby. And
in the meantime, watch for Jan at Millikin
events. She may have stepped down as an
employee, but her heart still belongs to the
Millikin family. Q
1
2
3
1 Retired registrar Walt Wessel ’69 serenades Jan
during her on-campus retirement party. Wessel himself
retired last August after a 40-year Millikin career.
2 Jan passed the torch to 1993 Millikin graduate Gina
Bianchi, the new senior director of alumni and donor
engagement (see page 2 for more about Gina).
3 Three alumni who had worked closely with her as
associate directors helped Jan celebrate at her Homecoming retirement party. From left, Tim Martin ’10,
Jaclyn Weisenborn Cantwell ’09, currently associate
director of alumni engagement, and Dan Stuby ’07.
Deb Hale Kirchner is senior director of communications for the alumni and development office.
SU14_front.indd 13
Q
13
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Q
ZOOMING IN
2
35 YEARS OF
BIG BLUE MEMORIES
A
FTER 35 YEARS on the Millikin
campus, plus the fact that she’s widely
considered to be an enthusiastic
volunteer Millikin archivist, it wasn’t a
surprise to find an office full of memories belonging to Jan Devore, longtime alumni relations
director and former dean of students. Let’s take a
look at a few of the items Jan had displayed in her
office until her retirement last summer.
1
1
QUILT: Before she became alumni relations
director in 1996, Jan had worked in the office
of student development since 1978, ultimately
rising to the position of dean of students before
switching departments. One of her responsibilities in student development was to head up the
annual Freshman Camp that eventually became
known as Millicamp. Each year’s camp was held
the weekend before classes began at Allerton Park
near Monticello, Ill., and each year had a memorable theme. A former MU resident director,
Shelia Higgs Burkhalter, crafted this quilt with
T-shirts from several of the camps.
2
HAWAII GROUP PHOTO: Jan often hosted
travel trips for Millikin’s alumni and
friends. Among the many photos from various
trips in her office was this one of Jan with a group
of travelers on a cruise to the Hawaiian islands.
2
3
BULLDOG: Jan is well known for her
tenacity in making sure each alumni event
was done right, down to the smallest detail.
Following her hosting of an alumni and friends
trip to Ireland, Scotland and England, Kevin
McGreevey ’78 presented Jan with this “Bulldog
Award” in recognition of her efforts to make sure
the needs of all the travelers were met.
4
3
14
ART PRINT: In an office bursting with
artifacts and gifts gathered through the
years, it would be easy to excuse her for not
remembering each one’s history, but that’s not
Jan. She knows the what and the who, including
that this art print was given to her by Janet Saum
Dorn ’84.
5
UCHOIR PHOTO: For several years, Jan has
traveled with the award-winning University
Choir on its annual U.S. tour each January, riding
on the bus with the students, and serving as a
troubleshooter and a welcoming face for MU
alumni and friends at each concert stop. This
photo, signed by each of the 2013 tour members,
was given to her in appreciation of her role as one
of the vocal ensemble’s biggest supporters. Jan
traveled with the group on their Midwest tour in
January and to the Baltic States in May.
SU14_front.indd 14
6/16/14 10:40 AM
2
7
4
3
6
5
6
HOLE-IN-ONE PLAQUE: A golfer since age
8, Jan has won or placed near the top in
several golf tournaments, even though she has
never had golf lessons and played sporadically
while working at MU. With more time to play in
retirement, another hole-in-one may lie ahead.
7
STUDENT SENATE PHOTO: The engraving
on this photo of the 1992 Student Senate
executive board members with Jan as their adviser
says it all: “Thanks for everything.” Q
6
7
SU14_front.indd 15
15
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Q
FACULTY PROFILE
THE
PHILOSOPHY DISEASE
by Jackson Lewis ’13
P
HILOSOPHY IS EVERYWHERE if you
just pay attention to it,” says Dr. Robert
Money, professor of philosophy. “If I’m
watching a movie, looking at magazine
headlines, hearing a news story, a joke or a rock
lyric: It doesn’t matter. I can find it.”
Money has been watching for it since he was
a child. He recalls watching his father, a Baptist
minister, weed the grass, wondering why that was
necessary. “We got into this back and forth asking
why he had to do that – why God would put
weeds in the grass and why he was eliminating
something God had put there – questions like
that,” Money says.
That conversation foreshadowed a
love of philosophical tension that would
be cultivated during his undergraduate
years studying political science at Furman
University in Greenville, S.C., where he
met Dr. Jim Edwards. “He was the best professor I’ve ever had,” Money says. “I took
a course he taught my junior year called,
‘Law, Justice and the State,’ and it was the
bomb! I couldn’t think about anything else.”
Aspiring philosophy instructors must
have the philosophy “disease,” as Money
puts it – that constant need to seek the truth
in all things – in order to legitimize pursuing
this line of work. Money’s disease was strong
enough to land him a tenure-tracked job at
Millikin in 1999.
In the classroom, Money keeps his cards
close to the vest, careful not to reveal his own
opinions on the philosophical and moral issues
discussed in class. “I don’t want anything to
contaminate the student from being able to
speak his or her mind,” Money says. Instead,
Money role-plays, taking the view of Socrates
one day and John Stuart Mill the next.
Six years into his time at Millikin, Money
found a few students who were similarly
infected with the philosophy bug on the
newly created Millikin Moot Court.
In their first year, Millikin
students took both first and second place
and outstanding student justice awards at the
16
Modern Illinois Government (MIG) simulation,
where schools from across Illinois compete, arguing different sides of past real-world court cases.
Millikin has taken first place in seven consecutive
years of competition, including this spring.
Money eventually turned the team into a
class, “Appellate Legal Reasoning.” “It’s a lot of
role-playing,” Money says. “They are attorneys in
front of a court. I’m the judge. I’m interrupting
and asking questions. We imitate the rules at the
competition.”
This attention to detail is much needed,
building up to a four-day competition. “It’s a lot
of work,” Money says. “You argue once in the
morning on one side of the case, and you know
you’re going to come back that afternoon on the
opposite side of the case. You scout other teams,
hear other arguments and expound on your own.”
In the opinion of Kevin Stocks ’13, firstplace winner at the 2011 MIG along with David
Anderson ’11, Money’s prep work makes all the
difference. “Year after year, top to bottom, every
Millikin team is prepared to compete with anybody,” Stocks says. “In the past three years, only
three teams from other schools have advanced to
the semi-finals. We go into the competition armed
with the tools to win, and Dr. Money deserves all
the credit in the world for that.”
Money attributes the team’s success to their
dedication to practice and inherent skill. “Just like
in football, you’ve got to recruit good players to
win games. You have to recruit good students to
win moot court.”
Above all, Money aims to have fun with his
Millikin position. Though philosophy is everywhere, he enjoys seeing it in the minds of his
students the most.
“It’s a great bonus to really enjoy what you
do for your job,” he says. “I hardly distinguish
between my job, work and fun.” It seems Money
is afflicted with the philosophy “disease” and in
serious condition. Q
Jackson Lewis ’13 was a writing intern for the alumni
and development office for two years. Originally from
Dallas, he currently lives and works in Chicago.
SU14_front.indd 16
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Honor these faculty and administrators with
your gift to one or more of these
FACULTY/STAFF FUNDS.
THE CHEMISTRY
FELLOWS FUND
This fund was established
by Dr. Clarence Josefson,
professor of chemistry, to
support the research of an
outstanding senior chemistry
major. Alumni and friends of MU are asked to give
to the fund in honor of Dr. J., who completed 40
years of teaching at Millikin in May 2013.
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
AND LEARNING AWARD
The Dr. Jerald Hunt and
Dr. Darlene Hoffman Award
for Excellence in Teaching and
Learning, named in honor of
two emeriti professors, will
annually recognize one or more senior education
students who embody James Millikin’s philosophy
of integrated theory and practice.
THE CHEMISTRY
FELLOWS FUND
Dr. Ed Acheson, associate
professor of chemsitry, taught
at Millikin for 35 years, retiring
in May 2014. Alumni and
friends are asked to give to
the Chemistry Fellows Fund in his honor, for it is
Dr. Acheson’s wish to see the fund established by
his colleague, Dr. J., continue to grow.
LINDA SLAGELL
STUDENT
SUCCESS FUND
This fund will provide
emergency financial
assistance to qualified
students. Linda Slagell has
served as a mentor and guide for hundreds of
Millikin students during her more than 20 years
at the university.
THE DR. JAN DEVORE
STUDENT LOBBY FUND
The Dr. Jan Devore Student
Lobby in the new University
Center will give a permanent
presence on the Millikin
campus in recognition of this
administrator’s outstanding 35-year career in
both student development and alumni relations.
DR. DAVID GOLDEN
MEMORIAL FUND
After the death of Dr. David
“Doc” Golden, his family
requested that donations be
sent to Millikin toward the
goal of naming the green
room in the planned new Center for Theatre and
Dance in his memory.
Learn more and make your gift at bit.ly/mu-give.
SU14_front.indd 17
17
6/16/14 10:53 AM
Q
FACULTY PROFILE
of people in a lot of places.
I went all over the South
Pacific, all over the Caribbean
and all over Europe.” In his
early 20s, Holmes was tasked
with looking after more than
40 singers between the ages
of 16 and 25 in foreign countries he had never visited.
After teaching high
school music in Albuquerque,
Holmes left to pursue his
doctorate at Arizona State
ABOVE: Dr. Brad Holmes warms up with the alumni choir during the
University, where he met
Homecoming 2013 festivities.
his wife, Beth. They were married just
two weeks after both were offered music
positions at Luther College in Iowa, where
they served as assistants in a nationally
known choral program.
However, as he gained more experience directing, and even earned tenure
at Luther, Holmes found himself wanting
R. BRAD HOLMES, professor
to direct his own program. “I had some
of music and director of choral
visions of my own that I wanted to see
activities, has been traveling
played out,” Holmes says, so in 1991, the
the world since his college
couple moved to Decatur so Brad could
years, sharing his love for the beauty of
serve as director of choral activities and
collaborative music. “I knew from very
conduct the Millikin University Choir
early on,” Holmes says, “that I wanted to
(UChoir). Beth conducted secondary choirs.
put people together to make music.”
Holmes replaced the late Dr. Richard
Growing up in Albuquerque, N.M.,
Hoffland, director of choral activities and
Holmes was surrounded by music. He
professor emeritus of music, who had led
performed in the Albuquerque Boys Choir,
Millikin choir and the Vespers concert
played oboe in the Youth Symphony and for
tradition with his wife, Kay, for more than
musicals, played saxophone in a jazz band,
30 years. “There was certainly a feeling of
directed a group of fellow vocal students
stability and tradition, but I also saw room
and often sang with his family.
for growth,” Holmes says.
His passion for collaborative music
Vespers blossomed further as Holmes
led him to Las Vegas. “I knew of this group
decided to include every Millikin choir. To
doing backup vocals,” Holmes says. “They
showcase the more than 300 Vespers perwere going onstage in two weeks, desperate
formers, Holmes set up surround-sound.
for a baritone and, to be honest, I was the
“We broke the proscenium wall and
right size for the costumes they had.”
spilled out into the audience,” he says. “We
Holmes eventually pulled the plug
stood choirs in the aisles so they could help
on his Vegas gig to spend his summers
the audience sing. It’s like the audience is
working, first with the Continentals, an
listening through headphones.”
international ministry of Christian singers,
Holmes also has found success leading
then with various church organizations in
the University Choir outside Decatur. In
need of a director. And during summers
2007, UChoir was invited to sing at the
between his undergraduate studies at the
American Choral Directors Association
University of New Mexico, Holmes had his
(ACDA) national conference in Miami.
first taste of worldwide touring.
“That’s probably the biggest jump
“We weren’t always the greatest
we’ve made in terms of exposure to the
musically,” he says, “but we sang to a lot
THE PURSUIT
OF BEAUTY
D
18
country,” he says. “For us, this is the Final
Four of the choral world. For Millikin to
be brought into that conference as one of
only 10 university choirs was just huge.”
Millikin’s performance in Miami was so
stunning that nearly 100 higher education
directors and ACDA representatives sent
Holmes letters of congratulations.
One letter was from Dr. Weston Noble,
conductor emeritus of Luther College and
“really an icon of the choral scene,” Holmes
says. Noble said, “in my conversations with
colleagues as to choirs who impressed them
the most, the Millikin University Choir kept
coming up over and over.”
Choral directors from around the
country were talking about Millikin’s
Cinderella story. “There was a basketball
team from nowhere, Winthrop College,
that got into the Sweet Sixteen that year,”
Holmes says, “and people were calling us
the ‘Winthrop of Choirs.’”
Last spring, Holmes received Millikin’s Research and Artistic Achievement
Award recognizing that remarkable ACDA
conference UChoir performance in Miami,
Holmes’ own compositions, plus his more
than 200 guest conducting engagements
around the U.S., including Carnegie Hall.
But he insists that he is simply one part
of a greater whole. He praises a Millikin
voice faculty led by Helen “Hadi” Gibbons,
associate professor of music, and conductors Guy Forbes, Ted Hesse ’93, Beth
Holmes and Matt Leese, who have only
three months each fall semester to prepare
freshmen singers to perform in Vespers
for four sold-out performances in Kirkland
Fine Arts Center. “They have a much
tougher job than I do,” Holmes says.
For Holmes, each hour spent teaching
takes him closer to the joy of bringing
people together to make music. “When
people sing together it creates something
outside of themselves. It’s beautiful,” he
says. “There’s a knitting together that is
unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I
guess that’s what grabbed me around the
neck and dragged me into this pursuit.” Q
Jackson Lewis ’13 was a writing intern for the
alumni and development office for two years.
He currently works in Chicago.
SU14_front.indd 18
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Summer
READING LIST
2014
Q
SECTION NAME
There’s no better time than summer to grab a book and head
for the beach, the front porch or your favorite easy chair for
a quick escape into the world of your choice. Following is a
partial list of selections from this year’s summer reading
list, as recommended by Millikin faculty and staff. Be sure to
check out the complete list at http://bit.ly/staleylibrary.
“THE BOOKMAN’S TALE: A NOVEL OF OBSESSION”
by Charlie Lovett
Peter Byerly, a shy but passionate book restorer, collector and seller,
comes across a painting resembling his deceased wife that leads
him into the world of dishonest booksellers, greedy collectors and a
questionably authentic text that may or may not secure Shakespeare
as the writer of his own works. The story includes both fact and fiction as it shifts smoothly among Peter’s present life and his past life
with his beloved wife. It is entertaining, informative and satisfying
to my inner bibliophile.
Recommended by Judi Crowe ’91, assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Center.
“NOS4A2” by Joe Hill
Soon after little Victoria McQueen is given her first bicycle, she
discovers she can travel wherever she wants simply by conjuring
up an old, windy covered bridge as a portal. As an adult, Vic comes
up against Charlie Manx, a Nosferatu-ish man, and his accomplice,
Gas Mask Man, who drive a 1938 RR Wraith bearing the titled
license plate numbers. They, too, have the ability to travel through
time, particularly to Christmasland, where children are taken to
remain innocently blissful. But there’s something clearly wrong with
Christmasland, which Vic must confront in order to save her child.
“THE BOOK THIEF”
by Markus Zusak
Actually this book is at
the top of my summer
reading list. I was going
to hurry through it so
I could write a recommendation. However,
after reading just a
few pages I decided to
save it for a time when
I could really enjoy the book. “The Book
Thief” is about a young girl in Germany
during World War II who steals a book
and then learns to read. Her love for
reading changes her life. This book has
won many awards and USA Today says
it “deserves a place on the same shelf
with ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne
Frank.”
Recommended by Cindie Zelhart ’10, English
department administrative assistant and
coordinator of the University Studies program.
Recommended by Judi Crowe.
“THE GOLD FINCH”
by Donna Tartt
Beautifully written
prose about a young
man, Theo Decker,
and a famous stolen
painting of a Dutch
master. A wildly
inventive read spanning a decade and
several countries, the story following
Decker’s quest for his dead mother’s
favorite painting is so much more than
a mystery: it’s a meditation on grief,
loss, choosing your family when you
have none, all-consuming love, antique
furniture, Russian gangsters and the
role art should play in our lives.
“MARVEL COMICS:
THE UNTOLD STORY”
by Sean Howe
Sean Howe writes
an engaging history
teeming with interviews and insider
information. Howe
paints a clear picture
of the ups and downs
of Marvel Comics.
Learn more about Stan Lee, Jack Kirby,
Jim Steranko, and Chris Claremont
(and many more), along with the origin
of some of your favorite superheroes.
Recommended by Jeff Kirchoff,
assistant professor of English.
“THE MAGICIANS”
by Lev Grossman
A young man grows
up feeling crushed
and saddened that
real life is not as exciting as the Narnia-like
world he reads about
in fantasy novels.
When one day he
stumbles onto a high school for young
magicians, he imagines he’s hit the jackpot. Things, of course, are not as they
seem. Written in the style of literary
realism, “The Magicians” is a perfect
gruesome read about what happens
when your wildest dreams come true.
Recommended by Katie Schmid Henson.
Recommended by Katie Schmid Henson ’06,
visiting lecturer in English.
SU14_front.indd 19
19
6/16/14 10:41 AM
SU14_front.indd 20
6/16/14 10:41 AM
POSITIONED
TO SUCCEED
by Deb Hale Kirchner
H
E CAME TO MILLIKIN at a transitional time in the university
history, signing up for a temporary role as interim president
while the search for a permanent president was held. From his
first day on July 1, 2013, though, it was clear that Dr. Patrick White was
more than just a seat-warmer for the new leader.
He put in long hours. He made hard decisions; some controversial. He
publicly mourned with the family and campus community when a student
died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed medical condition. He took time
to get to know students personally, stopping to hold conversations in the
hallways, in the cafeteria, and even on the sidewalks as he walked back
and forth to the Huss House each day. He met individually with dozens of
faculty and administrators. Employees, current students and community
members observed him closely, perhaps a bit wary after the unexpected
departure of previous president Dr. Harold Jeffcoat after less than two
years in office.
In the end, a favorable consensus of the former president of Wabash
College was reflected in an Oct. 9 announcement by Van Dukeman, chair
of Millikin’s board of trustees. After exactly 100 days in office, White was
Photos by Michael Rauch.
named Millikin University’s 15th president, eliminating the need for a
SU14_front.indd 21
planned national search process for a new president.
21
6/16/14 10:41 AM
Q
PositioneD to suCCeeD
Above: Dr. Patrick White and his wife, Chris.
“It’s so easy to
get excited about
Millikin. We are
doing exactly what
so many in our
society say higher
education should
be doing.”
- Dr. Patrick White
22
“He gets it,” says Dave Brandon, MU’s vice
president of alumni and development and a
member of the president’s cabinet. “He understands
Millikin and the unique nature of the performance
learning that we do here, and he clearly communicates it to students, prospective students and
alumni and friends of the university.”
“It’s so easy to get excited about Millikin,”
White says. “We are doing exactly what so many
in our society say higher education should be
doing: helping students get jobs and be prepared to
continue to grow in those jobs. True to the vision of
Founder James Millikin, our students are not only
prepared to compete in the real world, they are also
primed to become leaders. I’m excited to be at an
institution with a distinctive performance-learning
mission and a distinctive sense of itself.”
His enthusiasm is tempered by an awareness
of the serious challenges facing Millikin and many
other universities: stiff competition for students; a
growing number of high school students who are
unprepared to perform at the college level and/
or with families unable to contribute to the cost of
their education; rising operational expenses; and
aging facilities.
“Like everyone in American higher education,
Millikin faces significant challenges,” White says.
“I wish I could make some of them go away. But I
am grateful for the work all of us are doing together
to meet these challenges and even more to shape,
frame and enact our best imagination of Millikin
together, a task where each one of us – student,
faculty member, staff member, alumnus, friend
and supporter of Millikin – plays a role. We must
remain nimble in our thinking and in our actions
to address the complex challenges facing higher
education and Millikin specifically.”
Among the immediate pressing Millikin
challenges White tackled was the search for a
replacement for Barry Pearson, former vice president of academic affairs, who left last year to take a
position at Purchase College in New York. During
a national search for his successor, White assumed
the responsibilities of that position in addition to
wearing the presidential ball cap. The new provost,
Dr. Jeffery Aper, joins Millikin this summer (see
related article, page 3). His new title reflects White’s
collegial and collaborative style.
“Some faculty thought it would be good to have
the position called provost,” White says. “I first
resisted because the provost title is usually associated with much larger universities, but in considering the need expressed by many to emphasize
how important the academic life is at Millikin, I
thought a change was needed. Though each Millikin
vice president must be committed to the education
mission of the university, ‘Provost’ is a good name
for a chief academic officer and will help us see the
position anew.”
The renaming of the VPAA position is just one
example of White’s intentional focus on listening
to reach goals successfully. He also sees the
importance of listening in another role, one he calls
“storyteller.”
“One of the odd things about being a university president is that we carry stories across the
Millikin quarterly | summer 2014
6/19/14 2:49 PM
country,” he says. “I hear stories from our
alumni that I share with our students to
inspire them to achieve, and I hear stories
from our students that I share with our alumni
to encourage them about the good things happening at Millikin.”
By all reports, White successfully led Wabash
College as president from 2006 through June 2013.
His tenure included one of the most challenging
periods in that school’s history as the institution
grappled with the national economic downturn,
just as many other colleges and universities across
the nation. In Wabash’s case, White managed
the school through a significant downsizing of its
endowment during the recession that began in
2008. When he announced in May 2012 that he
would be stepping down the following year, the
Wabash board chair specifically cited that period as
evidence of his leadership skills.
“The board of trustees is grateful to Pat White
for his steady, thoughtful and effective leadership of
the college in a period of great economic difficulty
for the country and for higher education,” said
Wabash Board Chair Stephen S. Bowen in a news
release issued by the college at that time.
White also led efforts to complete Wabash’s
new strategic plan and to surpass a $60 million
capital campaign goal. In addition, during his
presidency the college reached record levels of
enrollment and gifts to the annual fund; obtained
donations to create several new endowed faculty
chairs; formed strong new programs and majors,
including a dual-degree engineering program
with Purdue University; constructed new football,
baseball and soccer facilities; and forged stronger
bonds with the Crawfordsville, Indiana community.
White now looks forward to helping Millikin
face its own unique challenges and opportunities.
“I firmly believe that Millikin’s best days are
still ahead,” he says. “Last June, my wife, Chris, and
I were hustling and bustling to move to Decatur
to take up what we thought would be an interim
position. We were anticipating an important year
of good work at a great university with the nervousness that comes with any new adventure. Chris and
I are both grateful for the welcomes we received
from everyone we’ve met. You’ve made us feel at
home. We look forward to meeting more of you in
the months to come, and we also look forward to
more time, more good work together.” Q
PresIdent whIte at a glanCe
Dr. Patrick White, who was named Millikin’s 15th president in
october, previously served seven years as the 15th president
of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, ind. During his tenure at
Wabash, an all-men’s college, White developed a studentfocused strategic plan; guided the college through the financial
turmoil of 2008-09; completed a comprehensive academic
program review and a self-study report leading to reaccreditation; secured a number of grants to establish new programs;
achieved success in the Challenge of excellence capital
campaign that exceeded its $60 million goal; and completed
a $6 million athletics field campaign.
Prior to his seven years at Wabash, White served as vice
president and dean of faculty at saint Mary’s College, notre
Dame, ind., from 2002-06. He also served the all-women’s
college as associate dean of faculty from 1988-2002, and
as a professor of english. He spearheaded a number of
academic initiatives at saint Mary’s, including establishing
the Center for academic innovation and creating grants
that supported collaborative research between faculty
and students and among the faculty members themselves.
White was also one of the designers of saint Mary’s Center
for Women’s intercultural leadership, a lilly endowmentfunded initiative.
earlier in his career, White was the chair of the department of language and literature at Pfieffer College in
Misenheimer, n.C., from 1985-88, and taught at Westmar
College in le Mars, iowa, from 1976-85. a native of
Dixon, ill., and a national Merit scholar, Dr. White
earned his undergraduate degree in english from the
university of Chicago in 1971, his master’s degree in
english from the university of iowa in 1975, and his
doctorate of english and american literature, also from
the university of iowa, in 1980.
White and his wife, Chris, a family nurse practioner,
have twin daughters, Katie and Molly, and a son,
Paddy. Paddy and his wife, eileen, have two children,
norah and oliver.
blue-tIe guy: Clearly wishing to show his Big
Blue spirit, President Patrick White is rarely seen on
campus without a Millikin-blue tie and often wears a
deb hale Kirchner is senior director of communica-
Big Blue baseball cap to athletic and other events on
tions in the alumni and development office.
campus and off.
summer 2014 | Millikin quarterly
23
6/19/14 2:49 PM
A MUSEUM GROWS IN CHICAGO
by Katie Liesener ’03
N
24
IKE SMYTH WHITCOMB ’66 looks the
part of a polished museum director.
Warm smile, professional, no-nonsense
manner. Blond hair that converges into a neat
chignon. Her office, on Chicago’s stately Wacker
Drive, is lined with photos of a handsome, graying
man – her husband of 30 years. She has just
returned from previewing the American Writers
Museum’s first traveling exhibit when suddenly
the enthusiastic Tri-Delta sorority coed still inside
bursts forth.
“It was totally cool!”
That same afternoon Whitcomb sprung into
action, taking photos and interviewing designers
for the museum website. It was the kind of work
she once did as an intern at the Decatur Herald
& Review, where an editor gave her this advice:
“Find the human angle to make a story real.”
“That’s the way I think about everything,”
she says. “How do I make this real?”
Making the intangible real is Whitcomb’s
challenge as the new executive director of the
American Writers Museum (see sidebar). She
must raise money for a museum that does not
yet exist.
The museum board chose Whitcomb based
on her five decades as a fundraising force, raising
hundreds of millions of dollars for nonprofits
during her career. Again and again, Whitcomb
asks people to suspend cynicism and disbelief,
see her vision of a better future, and help make
that vision real.
If she achieves her goal, the U.S. will garner
its first museum to celebrate American literary
heritage, and Chicago will notch a cultural
landmark.
“I’m banking my entire reputation on this,”
she says.
The museum is a prime project for Whitcomb, who reads voraciously. As a Millikin
student, she read all the books for her European
novels class in the first week. Even now, her red
handbag perpetually totes a book. She reads two
to three volumes per week to explore subjects
of interest, most recently including Judaism,
Parisian history, meteorology and Frank Lloyd
Wright.
“There’s a lot of talk today about specialization,” she says. “At Millikin, I learned how to be a
SU14_front.indd 24
6/16/14 10:41 AM
Q
O
generalist, how to acquire knowledge. You don’t
have to be an expert if you know how to find the
answers you need.”
After graduating from MU with a bachelor’s
degree in English, Whitcomb worked in fashion,
education and government. She was hired as
executive director of Chicago’s American Diabetes
Association chapter when she was 25. In that role,
she organized the city’s first bike-a-thon, raising a
then remarkable $100,000 in a single day.
Whitcomb attributes her success to three
traits. “I’m not shy,” she says. “I have no problem asking people to give to something I think
they should care about. I also have no problem
hearing ‘no.’”
At the time Whitcomb began her fundraising
career, she was an anomaly. Fundraising was an
overwhelmingly male profession; she knew no
other women in senior management. When she
became president of the Chicago chapter of the
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP),
a colleague suggested she chair meetings from
the side of the table, lest her cohorts bristle at
a woman presiding over them. She took that
advice, but shortly after she helped form a networking group for women in development to help
them overcome barriers against women in the
field. That networking group has since spawned
chapters in other cities and, coincidentally or not,
fundraising has transformed into a female-dominated profession.
In 1981, Whitcomb formed her own fundraising consultation business but surprisingly
soon found herself in desperate need of funds.
Her heating bills had soared to $800 a month,
and her fledgling business was at risk.
Fortunately, she found herself on the receiving end of a donation when her future husband,
Jamie McKechnie, paid her bill so she could grow
the business. Whitcomb had met McKechnie,
then executive director of the National Hearing
Association, to discuss fundraising strategies,
but soon they were dating. She calls his bailout a
lifesaver.
“If it hadn’t been for Jamie,” she says, “I
would not have made it.”
Since then, Whitcomb’s company has helped
raise funds for arts organizations, hospitals,
shelters, conservation groups and other causes,
including Millikin’s “Advancing the Vision” capital campaign that raised more than $125 million
from 1996-2006. She sees her work as her legacy.
“I walk down the street and can see which
churches are in better shape, or libraries or
schools,” she said. “That’s a point of pride for me.
I want to make a difference in the world. This is
how I do it.”
Last November, Whitcomb saw the AWM
museum director position posted in the newsletter of her women’s networking group. She
applied and was offered the job within two
weeks. But there was a heartbreaking complication: Her husband was dying. Jamie had
developed pneumonia and other health issues
following what should have been a routine
surgery. Whitcomb had attended his hospital
bedside every day for months. Caretaking was
her full-time job.
When she told him of the offer, Jamie
encouraged her to take it. No longer able to
speak, he mouthed, “I’m proud of you.”
“I think he saw it as an opportunity at a time
that was going to be hard,” she says. “He knew
he wasn’t getting better.” McKechnie died in
January.
The museum’s first goal – raising $10
million by 2016 – has been called “ambitious” by
one nonprofit consultant. But Whitcomb believes
donors will care about preserving the values of
American writing: freedom of speech, creativity
and the search for identity.
In Jamie’s final days, Whitcomb read to him
at his bedside. She picked passages from “The
Monuments Men,” a book about U.S. soldiers
saving artworks from Nazi destruction. Together,
they saw a powerful picture conjured by the words
she read aloud: men hoisting masterpieces on
their backs for generations they would never see.
“If we can spark that same intention in
even one out of every hundred people who come
to the museum; a vision for how they can be
better, have a better life for themselves, for their
children – that is powerful,” she says. Q
Katie Liesener ’03 is a freelance writer who recently
relocated to Chicago after teaching college-level
writing in the Boston area.
THE SUN ALSO RISES ON A
NEW NATIONAL
MUSEUM
China, Germany, Brazil,
Scotland and Korea have writers’
museums; the U.S. has none. The
American Writers Museum aims
to change that.
According to the
museum’s executive director,
Nike Smyth Whitcomb ‘66, the
American Writers Museum will
celebrate all forms of American
writing, from novels and
non-fiction to speeches and
screenplays. Toward that end,
artifacts will be less important
than engaging the public – an
urgent cultural mission when
more than 25 percent of all
Americans have not read a book
during the past year.
The idea for the museum
originated with Malcolm
O’Hagan, an Irish immigrant and
retired manufacturer who was
inspired by the Dublin Writers
Museum and was stunned
to learn the U.S. had nothing
similar. In 2010, O’Hagan formed
the American Writers Museum
Foundation, which recently
created its initial touring exhibit
on Chicago writers.
The museum is slated
to open in phases. For the
first phase, the planners
and Whitcomb seek a
10,000-square-foot space in an
extant building in downtown
Chicago. The ultimate goal is a
60,000-square-foot, stand-alone
structure. At press time, $1.3
million had been raised for the
project.
Q
Learn more at
americanwritersmuseum.org.
SU14_front.indd 25
25
6/16/14 10:41 AM
’69
Mary Lou Doehring
Shea of Bartow, Fla.,
owns a horse farm with 26 Paso
Fino horses. She completed a
master’s degree at the University
of Illinois and a doctorate at
Southern Illinois University. She
and her late husband, Raymond,
who passed away in December
2012, were married for 54 years.
She writes, “I am working hard,
but for myself. I had a great career
in education in Illinois; worked for
four different state agencies. [I]
have a good life. Best wishes for
Millikin students.”
’70
James Henson of Mt.
Vernon, Ill., is a retired
public defender for Jefferson
County, where he served for 28
years. He now volunteers at his
church and as a mentor.
William Horton of Forsyth,
Ill., retired from Decatur Public
Schools as a fifth-grade teacher.
He writes: “I currently sing in First
United Methodist Church choir,
teach an adult Sunday school class,
portray President U.S. Grant at the
Governor Oglesby Mansion, read,
fish, and sing in Opus 24.” He is
also a member of the MU Alumni
Association board of directors.
He is married to Lana Towell
Horton ’68.
Dan Shappard and his wife,
Sharon, of Bartlett, Tenn., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last June. They have four
children and 15 grandchildren.
’71
Linda Booth Marshall
of Columbus, Ohio, is
a retired substitute teacher for
Hilliard City Schools.
James Stiehl of Salem, Ill.,
was recently invited by Harvard
University School of Medicine to
lecture on computer navigation
and ligament balancing in total
knee replacement surgery. He
currently practices general orthopedics in Centralia, Ill., where he
also serves as chief of surgery at St.
Mary’s Hospital in that city. He is
also editor-in-chief of “The Knee,”
an international journal that publishes studies on clinical treatment
and biomechanical characteristics
of the knee, and has published two
text books and 18 articles on computer-aided and robotic surgery.
ALUMNI PROFILE
’73
Thomas Bucy of
Warminster, Pa.,
recently retired from Carter
Communications Co., a business
he started 20 years ago. He also
recently completed 30 years as
director of music ministries at
St. Andrews United Methodist
Church.
Paul Foster of Jamaica Plain,
Mass., is a vice president at Bank
of America in Boston.
Sharon Maves Lutes of Black
Hawk, Colo., recently won a large
grant for Gilpin County Middle
School, where she is a fifth-grade
teacher. The grant will allow the
school to order Chromebook
computers for the students. Lutes
received a Tiffany Crystal Apple
for Teachers award at a celebration banquet at Denver University
last June.
Dean Messinger of Bloomington,
Ill., and his wife, Patricia Ray
Messinger ’74, are both retired.
They have two grown daughters.
Wendy Overocker Wiegers of
Gurnee, Ill., writes, “So much for
being retired! I have been retired
[from Waukegan Public Schools]
for six years, but still subbing;
[am] children’s choir director at
St. James Lutheran in Lake Forest;
graduate advisor and reader for
graduate papers at Vandercook
College of Music in Chicago; music
supervisor for Northwestern
University music undergrads;
serving on the board of directors
for the Illinois Retired Teachers
Association and on the local board
for Lake County Retired Teachers;
involved with area alumnae groups
for Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma
Alpha Iota [international music
fraternity]; helped create a new
Alpha Chi chapter at Carthage
College and was advisor for two
years.”
’74
Gary Deitelhoff of
Arlington Heights, Ill.,
works in sales for Biotheranostics,
a biotechnology company that
develops and markets molecular
diagnostic tests for cancer patients.
Mike Meyers of Wadsworth,
Ill., is a senior business partner at
Cardinal Health in Waukegan, Ill.
He also regularly plays trombone with big bands in Lisle and
Palatine, Ill.
NOTES FROM A
MUSICAL LIFE
G
EORGE ECKLUND SR. ’44 comes from a family of
musicians, so it’s no surprise that music has been a
dominant force his entire life. Shortly after his MU
graduation, Ecklund joined the Springfield Community Chorus,
which held rehearsals at the Illinois Wesleyan Junior College of
Music in downtown Springfield, Ill. To Ecklund’s surprise, he
was asked by the school’s director to teach piano there in the
fall of 1945.
“I was speechless,” Ecklund says. “I had never thought of
teaching piano before. So before he could change his mind, I
told him I would like to try it.” Ecklund taught at the school for
two years before leaving to open his own piano studio. One of
his more unusual teaching experiences occurred early in his
career, when he received a request from a nearby town for a
piano teacher for their local school.
“When I went for the first lesson, I found that I would be
teaching in a storage room with sacks of potatoes,” Ecklund
recalls. “I called it my ‘potato studio.’ I survived, and a few
months later, I was moved to a nice room in their junior high.”
During his more than 68-year musical teaching career,
Ecklund also served as musical director/conductor for musical
productions and a church choir, performed on a weekly radio
show and composed interlude music for a ballet production.
His late wife, Shirley, was also a piano teacher. He retired from
the music faculty of Lincoln Land Community College in 2010.
Now 93, he was teaching music to a few “very advanced”
students until just recently.
“I have been very fortunate to attract students who were
very talented and had the desire and the drive to advance to the
competitive level,” he says.
Perhaps, like their teacher, they also can enjoy long and
musical lives. Q
Margaret Allen Friend edited this profile from a personal history
written by George Ecklund Sr. ’44. The complete version is available
online at www.millikin.edu/alumni. Margaret is the associate editor
of Millikin Quarterly magazine. She has contributed to Quarterly as
a writer since 2004 and joined the alumni and development team in
2010 as class notes editor for the magazine.
SU14_CN.indd 27
27
6/16/14 10:42 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
THRIVING THROUGH CHANGE
by Stephanie Strick ’15
D
AVID OVERLOT ’81 decided at a young age
to pursue a career in health care and
now thrives in that busy, ever-changing
environment.
“You have to be able to go from zero to 120
just like that because you never know what’s going
to happen,” says Overlot, executive director of
diagnostic radiology at Decatur Memorial Hospital
(DMH). “The only constant in healthcare is that
things are going to change.”
During his 32 years with DMH, Overlot has
seen many advances in patient care, especially in
the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. “The
technology to detect and treat breast cancer has
changed so much,” he says. “Years ago, we often
found the disease in a very advanced stage that was
difficult to treat successfully. Now it can be detected
and treated early, and people can go on and have
full lives.”
He also has witnessed many technological
changes in DMH’s radiology department. For example, the hospital’s first CT scanners required an hour to produce a dozen
images, but today’s equipment can scan the entire human body
in 10 seconds.
A particular source of pride for Overlot is the recent
enhancement of the hospital’s nuclear pharmacy, where
radioactive isotopes are created to help diagnose and precisely
pinpoint cancer. Overlot says the new technology offered,
typically found only at research or university-based hospitals,
provides advanced treatment and helps patients avoid the need
to spend time and money on out-of-town treatment. “Our goal
has always been to provide the care that people need so they
don’t have to leave town,” he says.
Overlot says molecular medicine will continue to advance
so doctors can detect and treat diseases even sooner. “The goal
is to make a drug that will go directly to the cancer cell and
target just the cancer,” he says. “That’s probably 15 or 20 years
down the road, but you know it’s coming; just watch it take
place. Being a part of that is exciting.”
Overlot is gratified to know that he plays a role in successfully diagnosing and treating patients toward the goal of
sending them home to continue their lives. And although his
work can be stressful, he embraces its responsibilities. “Healthcare is a 24/7, 365 job. It’s a pretty big commitment,” he says.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in allied health at
Millikin, Overlot graduated from DMH’s School of Radiologic
SU14_CN.indd 29
Technology and began his career at the hospital in 1982. He
started as a general X-ray technologist specializing in angiography and CT scanning, as recommended by his mentor, the
late G. Richard Locke, M.D., medical director of DMH’s Cancer
Care Institute and a former MU trustee. Four years later,
Overlot was promoted to chief technologist, and in 2002, he
was promoted to his current position.
Overlot came to Millikin after discussing various healthcare careers with Dr. Norman Jensen, now MU associate
professor emeritus of biology. His decision was also influenced
by his late brother, Michael Overlot ’80, a Big Blue baseball
letterwinner and Alpha Tau Omega member, who tragically
drowned in a boating accident shortly after his graduation.
A lifelong Decatur resident, Overlot and his wife, Cynthia,
have two children: son Sean, who is serving in the National
Guard, and daughter Brittany, a Millikin junior. An active
Big Blue supporter as a student, Overlot returns to campus in
support of Millikin athletics whenever possible. “Go Big Blue;
that’s my team. I’m Big Blue all the way through.”
Overlot is grateful for his Millikin education, which led
to his DMH career. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Decatur
Memorial, and Millikin is what really set me up to be successful,” he says. Q
Stephanie Strick ’15 of Abingdon, Ill., was an intern for the alumni
and development office during spring semester. A major in art with a
photography emphasis, she is completing a minor in writing.
6/16/14 11:11 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
SHARING HER ROOTS
by Amanda Hamilton ’14
SU14_CN.indd 31
Submitted photos.
T
HE GRASS on Fiona Solkowski Becker’s side of the fence
may not be greener than her neighbor’s grass, but it is
definitely taller. When Becker, a 1995 Millikin graduate,
moved into a neighborhood not far from downtown Indianapolis, her neighbors were accustomed to neatly mown lawns
rather than the conglomeration of native plants soon fostered
in Becker’s front yard.
A conservation planner with The Nature Conservancy,
Becker had recently transitioned from a hands-on job restoring
prairies to an office position and a city home. Planting a tall
grass prairie in her front yard was her way to stay connected
with the outdoor life she loved. She saw it as “a tiny natural
habitat in the pocket of the city.” Her neighbors feared it was a
newly installed breeding ground for mosquitos.
After a few complaints and citations for “tall grass and
weeds,” Becker joined with the mayor’s office of sustainability,
SustainIndy, and embarked on her five-year effort to create
a city code friendlier to native planting and rain gardens. In
2010, they succeeded and Indy residents can now register
their native gardens for exemption from the vegetation height
restriction. Becker proudly displays a sign declaring her yard a
registered native planting area.
Through that quest, Becker found other benefits: “It was a
learning experience for me on how to educate people who live
in the city about nature,” she says. “It was a good way to start a
conversation about how plants actually work.”
Educating people about nature is her lifelong endeavor,
both professionally and and personally. Becker began working
with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Indiana as a preserve
steward restoring prairies and wetlands (above). “When
prairies don’t have their natural regime … when houses start
to encroach on natural areas, or something has changed in the
natural cycles, prairies turn to woodlands,” says Becker. “There
isn’t a lot of prairie left, especially in Indiana.” To help set up a
habitat where native plants can grow, Becker spent most days
wielding a chainsaw to remove woody trees. “I had awesome
biceps!” she laughs.
That experience eventually led to her educational role
with TNC as a conservation information manager, where she
works with a Global Information System (GIS) to interpret data
layers, maps and information to aid in communicating about
conservation planning. As a potter, dancer and singer in her
personal life, Becker enjoys the opportunity to mold the information into stories and visuals that make the ideas accessible
to the general public and those who may fund the project. “I
have to create maps or present data in a way that is interesting
and pleasing to the people looking at
it,” she says. “I have to capture their
attention.”
Becker also gives presentations
on planting native gardens in small
urban spaces as part of her work
with TNC and on a volunteer basis
with the Indiana Native Plant and
Wildflower Society. She finds her
master’s degree in education from
Lesley University useful for this:
“I use my educational degree in a
non-traditional kind of way.”
Since the city code change in
Indianapolis, Becker says “there are
definitely more ‘native’ plants showing up in yards and around offices.” She sees a growing interest
from her neighbors, too. “More and more folks are moving into
the neighborhood who are interested in plants that are native
to Indiana and are lower maintenance than a lawn,” she says. “I
happily share plants or advice with them!”
With Becker teaching her neighbors about prairie plantings, in years to come she may no longer be able to claim the
tallest grass on the block. Q
Amanda Hamilton ‘14 was a writing intern for the alumni office during
spring semester and is continuing to write for Quarterly part time.
6/16/14 10:42 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
A CAN-DO ATTITUDE
SU14_CN.indd 33
Submitted photo.
G
ROWING UP, Gretchen Ozee Cawthon ’95 did many
things girls weren’t “supposed” to do. She liked playing
with Legos, then considered a toy only boys enjoyed.
When she was in sixth grade, her school didn’t have a girls
basketball team, so she tried out for the boys team — and made
it. At 15, she received a drum set for her birthday and for her
first two years at Millikin, Cawthon was the only woman in the
percussion department.
Going against conventions wasn’t always easy. In 2005,
Cawthon was pushing a business partner to improve their web
design. She had entered the partnership with experience in
computers and web design, and knew how to build a website.
The partner, however, told Cawthon’s husband, Doug (also a
partner in the business), that “women can’t do web design.”
Gretchen quit the partnership.
At the time, Gretchen and Doug’s two daughters were in
grade school, and Cawthon wanted to be home with them after
school and available to go to their activities. Doug suggested
she get a job that allowed her to work from home. “Make a
T-shirt, sell it online or something,” he joked, telling her she
should start a business and call it “Women Can’t WHAT?” She
liked the idea. They modified the name to “Girls Can’t WHAT?”
hoping to get younger generations involved, but Cawthon
wondered, “Now what do I do with it?” She woke in the middle
of the night with the idea of a website that could highlight
what girls are doing, show off their ideas and draw attention to
individuals who are breaking gender barriers, and
girlscantwhat.com was born.
Nine years later, Cawthon runs a growing website that
provides encouragement to girls and features a line of girl
empowerment products. Cawthon says in high school she was
“the kid doodling in the back of class … and friends thought
it was cool to get a silly cartoon from me.” Now, her designs
on magnets, mugs and yes, T-shirts, feature girls as doctors,
mechanics, police officers, veterinarians, football players and
even drummers.
Daughters Katelynn, 16, and Kirstynn, 14, offer suggestions. Both currently play indoor soccer on the only co-ed
team in the league. Cawthon says, “If someone tells them they
can’t do something because they are girls, they say ʻGirls can’t
WHAT?ʼ ... and then they usually ask me to make them a new
design to wear.”
Girls Can’t WHAT? led to another business opportunity
for Cawthon when a site visitor was impressed and asked
her to build a company website. That was seven years ago.
Cawthon’s business, Thyme for Design Inc., has since designed
several company websites,
including the Ad Council
of New York. She cites her
music business major from
Millikin as being extremely
helpful in managing the
financial aspects of her
growing businesses.
In 2008, she began
using 20 percent of her
profits to provide microloans through Kiva, a
program that allows a group of people to invest in an individual
to help that person reach his or her goals. Cawthon intentionally chooses women who need loans and enjoys hearing from
them about their progress, including a woman who used the
loan to help buy trucks for her plumbing business. As loans are
repaid, Cawthon reinvests the funds into creating new loans.
So far, Girls Can’t WHAT? has made loans to nearly 500 people
through Kiva.
“That’s the coolest part,” she says, “People are buying
T-shirts and know that women are being helped by it.” Q
Amanda Hamilton ’14 was a writing intern for the alumni and
development office during spring semester. Immediately after her
graduation in May, she and her grandparents embarked on a fiveweek trip out west, their graduation present to her.
6/16/14 10:42 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE
by Margaret Allen Friend
SU14_CN.indd 35
Although he now has a
successful career in marketing,
Lawrence’s passion for magic is
in no danger of dematerializing.
After devoting countless hours
to preparation of his material, he
still performs several shows each
year. His solo show, “A Vanishing
Art,” took several years to develop as Lawrence explored new
effects and elements.
Lawrence says he considers magic a “what if” challenge.
“What if we could levitate?” he asks. “What if we could dematerialize objects? What would it look like? How can we challenge
ourselves to make these things real?”
Assuring his audience a truly magical experience is a challenge Lawrence takes seriously. He takes copious notes while
developing his performance and practices each effect diligently.
“I work very slowly on my performance material to ensure
that everything I do is excellent,” he says. “I would prefer to do
one effect better than anyone than do a thousand effects poorly.”
A theatre major at MU, Lawrence credits his Millikin
coursework and student performances with helping develop
knowledge and techniques he still uses today.
“I count my time at Millikin as the most formative of
my life,” Lawrence says. “I also formed some of the greatest
relationships of my life with friends and colleagues, and I still
communicate with faculty and classmates.”
He is also quick to acknowledge faculty members’ roles in
his college experience.
“My movement and improvisational work with [professor]
Denise Myers helped me overcome some performance fears
and obstacles,” Lawrence says. “I also enjoyed group discussions in Doc Golden’s directing courses. Doc helped me develop
technique both creatively and on the business side of theatre.*”
Lawrence has a parting message for faculty and alumni.
“I look forward to seeing you soon ... in Decatur, Chicago,
online at www.amazingryan.com, or wherever our paths may
cross. Thank you all for an amazing experience! It was truly
magical.” Q
Submitted photo.
W
HEN RYAN LAWRENCE ’99 was 10 years old, his
parents took him to see a magic show. Faster than
they could say, “Abracadabra,” he was hooked.
Enthralled with the spectacle of magic, Lawrence immersed
himself in the ancient art. After years of practicing with
magic sets and staging living room performances for family
members, Lawrence began transforming his hobby into a
money-making venture.
“As a teenager, I started making money performing magic
for organizations and schools,” Lawrence says. “I joined the
local magic club and spent so much time at the magic shop
that the owner gave me a job. I remember pouring over magic
manuscripts, investigating props and performing magic for
customers. It provided an outstanding learning curve!”
During more than 15 years of performing, The Amazing
Ryan has met many well-known magicians that he credits with
being friendly and gracious with their time, including David
Copperfield and Penn & Teller. But despite his respect for many
contemporary magicians, Lawrence finds himself gravitating
(if not levitating) to the work of earlier greats such as Harry
Blackstone and Max Malini.
Inspired by these early illusionists, Lawrence sees magic
as much more than a bag of tricks, instead viewing his craft as
an opportunity to expand horizons and as a great vehicle for
storytelling.
“I’m more interested in developing character and story
than learning tricks,” Lawrence says. “Once you have the story,
it’s fun to go find the magic that supports it. In the end, it’s all
about taking the audience on a journey.”
But a magical journey can be fraught with pitfalls, especially when pyrotechnics are involved.
“I once performed a pyrotechnic effect and some streamers
accidentally caught fire on the floor,” Lawrence says. “There
was no property damage or danger, so I just played off it and
quickly stamped it out. The audience went crazy and thought it
was part of the act. It was a real ‘I meant to do that’ moment …
sometimes this is a magician’s greatest ally.”
Lawrence recounts a similar story involving Harry Blackstone, who performed in Decatur during the 1920s.
“During one of Blackstone’s performances at the Lincoln
Square Theatre, there was a fire backstage,” Lawrence says. “To
keep the audience from panicking, he calmly announced, ‘This
next illusion is so big that we all need to go outside to see it.’
Everyone was slowly escorted outside and saved from harm.
This is real magic.”
* See page 17 for more information on Professor Golden, who
passed away Oct. 30.
Margaret Allen Friend is associate editor of Millikin Quarterly
magazine.
6/16/14 10:43 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
WORKING & PLAYING
AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS
TALKS TO MILLIKIN QUARTERLY ABOUT HER ROLE AT THE
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS.
MILLIKIN QUARTERLY: What are some of your duties as an
actor/interpreter at the museum?
KELSEE HANKINS: Sometimes I pretend I’m Egyptian.
Sometimes I play with dinosaurs. Sometimes I think I’m caught
in the middle of World War II, or maybe I’m singing in the Lilly
Theatre or with the Chorduroys (the museum’s barbershop
group whose name is a play on the word “chords”). I wear a lot
of hats and get to do something different every day.
MQ: What is your favorite exhibit at the museum so far?
KH: Right now, I’m a huge fan of the Take Me There: China®
gallery. This exhibit allows visitors to learn about modern
Chinese life. Visitors can “shop” in a Chinese store, check out
urban and village homes in China, or learn about Shaolin Kung
Fu at its birthplace – The Shaolin Temple. I helped to pilot the
Kung Fu program, and now I lead it several times a week. It’s
one of my favorite programs to do with our visitors.
MQ: Had you considered working there previously?
KH: I lived about 45 minutes away from the museum as a child
and loved coming here. I even had fun visiting as a young adult
out of high school. I always had friends who worked here before
me, but until I saw a job posting in fall 2012, I had not thought
much about working here.
MQ: Are there any perks that come with working at a
museum?
KH: In Indianapolis, we have the Arts Consortium where we
can use our work ID for discounts at most major performing
arts venues and free admission to Indianapolis’ other museums. I also consider the availability of professional development opportunities here to be a perk.
MQ: What did you learn at Millikin that you’ve been able to
apply at work?
KH: I studied theatre at MU and my performance studies
SU14_CN.indd 37
have been very valuable. Ask any Millikin
freshman theatre major about script
scoring and I’m sure they’d have a lot to
say about it, but I’m thankful I know it
now. It allows me to create more realistic
characters when learning new programs/
performances. I also learned the value of
excellent time management since I was
involved in several different activities and organizations. It’s
important here since I’m always learning or studying something new.
Submitted photo.
2009 GRAD
KELSEE HANKINS
MQ: What do children take from their visit to the museum?
KH: I think most leave with the memory of a fun experience
and curiosity about something they’ve seen here. Hopefully,
that curiosity will encourage them to want to learn more on
their own, at school or with their grownups. There is something
for every member of the family to learn and take home from
their visit. Even grandparents!
MQ: What are some of the rewards and challenges of working
with children?
KH: I always appreciate their smiles and cheers when they are
experiencing something new. For example, I love watching
kids respond to our live transformation of the Transformer
Bumblebee. Some get scared, but most are very excited and
cheer him on. Hearing children and families tell me they are
inspired to learn more about something in our museum after
a performance is rewarding. As far as challenges, I work with
a multitude of kids of varying ages every day. Often, I have to
make a performance work for 5-year-olds and make the same
performance work for high school students a few hours later.
There is often a crying child or a cell phone ringing, but that’s
expected. It is live theatre, and as actors we learn to work
around that.
MQ: If you could have any job other than your own at the
museum, what would it be?
KH: This is a tough question, since my job fits me pretty well!
However, I think it would be cool to be a part of designing
exhibits for our visitors. Or maybe CEO. I like to take charge
and get things done, and I think being CEO of a museum like
this would be very exciting and definitely not boring. Q
6/16/14 10:43 AM
Q
Submitted photo.
CLASS NOTES
SOMETHING OLD; SOMETHING NEW; SOMETHING BIG BLUE: Kayla Vogel and Evan File, both ’11, May 13, 2013. Kayla is marketing communications
coordinator at Runzheimer International, a provider of global employee mobility services based in Waterford, Wis. Evan is a loan processor at Waukesha
State Bank in Waukesha, Wis. They live in West Allis, Wis.
Row 1 (from left): Sarah Nielsen '11, Brittany Hassee '11, Marilyn Trainer Dechert '55, Kayla Vogel File '11 (bride), Kelsey Nihiser '12, Kyle Nicholson '13, Carla
File Scott '73 and Mary Ferguson File '46. Row 2 : Joe Page '12, Garrett Mathison '11, Dick Dechert '54, Evan File '11 (groom), Andy Howell '11, Jessica Ewalt '11,
Melissa Breed-Parks '99, Milton Scott '67 and Allan File '79.
WEDDINGS CONTINUED
Ashley Knezevich ’05 and
Jocelyn Pelasky, July 6, 2013.
Ashley is a corporate recruiter for
Walgreens. Jocelyn is a full-time
nursing student. They live in
Glendale Heights, Ill.
Michael Lee ’05 and Elisabeth
Green, Dec. 30, 2012. Michael is a
biology teacher and football coach
at Sangamon Valley High School
in Niantic, Ill. Elisabeth is fitness
supervisor at the Decatur Indoor
Sports Center (DISC) and also an
adjunct faculty member in MU’s
exercise science and sport department. They live in Illiopolis, Ill.
Sarah Stedman ’05 and Seth
Major, June 22, 2013. Sarah
teaches physical education at
Mt. Zion High School. Seth is a
sheriff’s deputy for the Macon
County Sheriff’s Office. They live in
Moweaqua, Ill.
Beth Bauer ’06 and Matthew
Capocci, June 22, 2013. Beth
is a mathematics teacher at
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
in Flintridge, Calif. Matthew is a
freelance film and television editor. They live in North Hollywood,
Calif.
Henry Kappler ’06 and Jennifer
Knigge, June 22, 2013. Henry is
associate director of bands at Holt
High School in Wentzville, Mo.
Jennifer is a paraprofessional in
the Fort Zumwalt School District
in O’Fallon, Mo. They live in Lake
Saint Louis, Mo.
Chrissy Meyer ’08 and Harry
Petitt Jr., Dec. 8, 2012. Chrissy
is a first-grade teacher at Hope
Academy in Decatur. She earned
a master’s degree in teacher
leadership at the University of
Illinois-Springfield in 2011. Harry
is a laborer for HTH Companies,
a mechanical contractor. They live
in Decatur.
Amy Svendsen ’08 and
Michael Pitzer ’00, Nov. 24,
2012. Amy is senior event marketing representative for ALSAC/St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Midwest Affiliate in Peoria, Ill.
Michael is coordinator of student
spiritual development at Calvary
United Methodist Church in
Normal, Ill. They live in Normal.
Kayleen Gifford ’09 and
Aaron Huber, also ’09, May 25,
2013. Kayleen is sales manager
for Gateway Conference Center
in Collinsville, Ill. Aaron is an
accounts receivable clerk at
Amsted Rail, a manufacturer of
freight rail car components. They
live in St. Louis.
Alison Kickle ’09 and Nicholas
Huckstep, Oct. 15, 2011. Alison
is a night aide at Spring Creek
Terrace, a group home for adults
with developmental disabilities.
Nicholas is a welder at Caterpillar.
They live in Decatur.
Faith Martin ’09 and Jason
Marks, Aug. 31. Faith is the
contemporary worship leader and
youth engager at Somerset Hills
Lutheran Church in Basking Ridge,
N.J. They live in Plainfield, N.J.
Michael Oates and Natalie
Perfetti, both ’09, May 4, 2013.
Michael is an IT manager for the
Florida Coalition Against Domestic
Violence. Natalie is completing a
doctorate in literature at Florida
State University. They live in
Tallahassee, Fla.
Brandon Barney ’12 and Kelsi
Squires ’14, July 13, 2013.
Brandon is associate director of
development in Millikin’s alumni
and development office. Kelsi is
a case manager at the Boys and
Girls Club of Decatur. They live in
Decatur.
SU14_CN.indd 39
39
6/16/14 10:43 AM
Q
CLASS NOTES
PASSINGS
Editor's Note: You’ll find complete
memorials for all the individuals
listed in this section on our website
(unless an obituary notice was
unavailable to us). Each online
listing has a section for comments
should you wish to leave a note of
condolence or a memory. We’ve
also included a photo in cases
where we have received one. To
view the memorials, visit http://bit.
ly/MU-memorials.
ALUMNI
Thomas Beadles ’30 of Cape
Girardeau, Mo., July 10, 2012. He
received Millikin’s Alumni MeritLoyalty Award in 1996.
Martha “Marty” Kuhns
Weicker ’40 of New Braunfels,
Texas, Aug. 23.
Virginia Lambert
Shallenberger ’44 of Lombard,
Ill., July 12, 2013.
Mavis Breuer Talbot ’45 of
Pearland, Texas, Feb. 16, 2013.
Virginia Bigler McGinley ’33
of Richton Park, Ill., July 29, 2012.
Betty Wheeler Burcham ’41 of
Decatur, Sept. 6.
James “Jim” Fritz ’46 of Ames,
Iowa, Dec. 10, 2012.
Ruth Helm George ’35 of
Decatur, March 6, 2013.
Shirley Cornick HenryStephens ’42 of Mt. Zion, Ill.,
June 9, 2013.
Mary Amanda “Mandy”
Morford McKenzie ’46 of
Monmouth, Ill., formerly of
Galesburg, Ill., April 12, 2013.
For those without website access,
please call our office at 1-877-JMUALUM, and we will gladly mail
you a printout of any requested
memorial.
Jessie Baldwin Harris ’38 of
Decatur, Sept. 28.
FRIENDS
Irene Newman Wright ’38 of
Boynton Beach, Fla., Nov. 5, 2012.
Luther Roehm of West Orange,
N.J., formerly of Summit N.J.,
emeritus trustee, Feb. 27, 2013.
He and his wife, Louise, were
recipients of the James Millikin
Award in 2003. The award recognizes non-alumni friends who
have demonstrated outstanding
support of the university.
Frank Rogier ’40 of Evans, Ga.,
April 27, 2013.
Earl Kuhle ’38 of Decatur,
March 24, 2013.
Geno DeRochi ’39 of Taylorville,
Ill., Sept. 5.
John Baird ’40* of Decatur,
June 8, 2013.
Harold Jeter ’40 of Decatur,
March 21, 2013.
Robert Parrish ’43 of
Harrisonburg, Va., May 8, 2013.
Henry “Dale” Reidelberger
’43 of Decatur, Feb. 17, 2013.
Helen Brown Dalton Woare
’43 of Decatur, June 15, 2013.
Henry Bolz Jr. ’44 of Pittsford,
N.Y., April 27, 2013.
Marlene Chicoine
Munsterman ’44 of Decatur,
Sept. 10.
Nancy Morarity Michiels ’47
of New Orleans, July 12.
Eunice Bolz Garrison ’48 of
Chicago Heights, Ill., formerly of
Flossmoor, Ill., May 2, 2013.
John Waltrip ’48 of Peoria,
Ariz., June 10, 2013.
Mary Lou Sowles Allaben ’49
of Indianapolis, Dec. 20, 2011.
James Fairbanks ’49 of Tucson,
Ariz., May 17, 2013.
* The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University, Office of Alumni and Development, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522.
** The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University, Don Shroyer Scholarship Fund, Office of Alumni and Development, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522.
*** The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University Student Scholarships, Office of Alumni and Development, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522.
MEDALLION SOCIETY MEMBERS REMEMBERED
Recently, Millikin lost two individuals who had been inducted into the Millikin Medallion Society for their lasting impact on the university: 1999
Alumnus of the Year Jim Fitzgerald ’53 and former MU Head Football Coach Don Shroyer ’50. The Millikin Medallion Society Award was conferred
during the university’s centennial celebration held from 2001-03 and recognized those individuals who had the greatest impact on Millikin during
the university’s first 100 years.
Jim Fitzgerald ’53 died Sept. 23. An emeritus
trustee, he served on Millikin's board from 1975
to 1992, and he and his wife, Donna Riechman
Fitzgerald ’54, were named co-recipients of the
1999 Alumnus of the Year Award. A recipient of
the 1964 Young Alumnus Award. Fitzgerald was
an active member of the Millikin Club of Chicago
and served as his class reunion chair from 1976
until his death shortly before Homecoming 2013. He also served terms
as vice president and president of the Millikin Parents Association and
was a member of the university's centennial planning committee in the
early 2000s. Fitzgerald worked nearly 30 years with Illinois Bell and
after retiring from that company, he went on to work as a realtor for
Coldwell Banker in Winnetka, Ill. A retired U.S. Navy captain, he served
10 years as vice president for the Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy
Scouts of America and received the Silver Beaver Award for 60 years of
continuous scouting participation.
42
Don Shroyer ’50 died July 7, 2013. An outstanding Big Blue running back, Shroyer was
signed by the Chicago Bears after graduation.
He returned to MU as head football coach in
1956, and was named conference Coach of the
Year in 1961, the year his Big Blue team had an
undefeated season. Shroyer served as offensive
and defensive backfield coach for the St. Louis
Cardinals for two years then returned to Illinois to coach for an SIU
team that included future NFL quarterback Jim Hart. Shroyer rejoined
the Cardinals in 1966, serving as a linebacker coach until returning
to Decatur in the early 1970s. He held various positions with Decatur
Public Schools, including assistant principal at Johns Hill Middle
School and retired in 1995. A charter member of Millikin’s Athletic
Hall of Fame, Shroyer also was inducted into the 1997 Decatur Athletic
Council Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Marilyn Morthland Shroyer ’51,
had four children: daughters Gail and Beth; sons Doug and Chris, a
1987 Millikin graduate. (See related article, pages 4-5.)
SU14_CN.indd 42
6/16/14 10:43 AM
THE LEGACY CONTINUES:
DECEMBER 2013 COMMENCEMENT
1
4
5
8
10
2
3
6
7
9
11
12
1 Conor Wrigley with father Jim Wrigley ′80, sister Kate Wrigley ′16 and mother Vicki Ferguson Wrigley ′86, Millikin controller.
Jeffery ′07.
3 Hannah Bradshaw with mother Susan Schumaker Bradshaw ′89.
aunt Kimberly Palmer ′06. 6 James White with mother Julia Wall White ′80.
2 Brittney Jeffery with husband Bruce
4 Ryan Bragg with mother Debbie Warmker Bragg ′82/MBA ′01.
7 Evan West with father Thomas West ′79.
5 Chazaray Carson with
8 Brian Hartlaub with father Don Hartlaub ′05 and
sister Christine Ford ′11. 9 Justin Marshall with aunt Judy Fitzgerald ′80, mother-in-law Kathryn Fitzgerald Bragg ′79, uncle David Fitzgerald ′82, fiancee Erin Bragg ′12 and aunt
Cynthia Hogan Fitzgerald ′81. 10 Jodi Van Uytven with father John Downs ′83 and mother Janet Downs ′93. Not pictured: sister Jennifer Pieper ′07. 11 Michelle Augustine
with father Michael Augustine ′82 and uncle Gary Augustine ′85. 12 Ariel Robinson with sister Amanda Robinson Taylor ′06. Photos by Grad Images.
SU14_CN.indd 44
6/16/14 10:43 AM
MAY 2013 COMMENCEMENT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1 Anne Rogers with uncle Chuck Yurieci ′68.
Ehling ′76.
2 Jeffery Bensmiller with aunt Barbara
3 Nicole M. Wiedmann with mother Pamela Thomas Wiedmann ′77.
4 Christine Holl Hoffman with father Timothy James Holl ′80.
5 Precious Taylor
with sister Shontia Fox ′10. 6 Michelle McDonagh with sister Meaghan McDonagh
′09. 7 Ryan Abernathy with uncle Robert Grady ′85. 8 Kelsie Corcoran-Gallegos
with husband Andrew Gallegos ′12. 9 Kelsy Whitney with mother Rikki Hofferkamp
Whitney ′94. 10 Jaime Spears with mother Jeanne Black Spears ′77. 11 Emily
Richardson with sister Amelia Richardson Moeller ′05. 12 Josh Kotras with brother
Nathanael Kotras ′04. 13 Anibal Valentin Jr. with brother Elijah Valentin ′12. 14
Audrey Taylor with brother Derek Taylor ′10. Photos by Grad Images.
13
14
SU14_CN.indd 45
45
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
3
1 Chelsea Bray with brother-in-law Richard Hill ′05 and mother Kim Tish ′04.
2 Alison Ryan with brother William Ryan ′09.
3 Jordan Moxey with mother
Birgirtha Evans Moxey ′87. 4 Penny E. Hood with daughter Jennifer A. Hood ′11.
5 Elizabeth Merrill with mother Joan Shoemaker Merrill ′73.
6 Lucas Reid
Petersen with mother Patricia Reid Petersen ′88 and father Todd Petersen ′87.
Not pictured: uncle Michael Reid ′87.
Turner ′57.
7 Amanda Erickson with uncle Harry W.
8 Danielle Tuggle with cousin Megan Tuggle Tuetken ′05.
9 Lauren
Kitterman with mother Lisa Schmidt Kitterman ′87 and uncle Steve Schmidt ′82.
10 Amber Freund with aunt Cheryl Williams-England ′89.
11 Eric Grooms with
great aunt Caroline Walker Manock ’39 and cousin Carol Ruth Manock Tullis ’69.
Photos 1-10 by Grad Images. Photo 11 submitted by Ruth Manock Tullis.
10
46
11
SU14_CN.indd 46
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1 Jonathan Haley with brother Josh Haley
′02 and sister-in-law Kara Haley ′04.
2 Ashley Eiland with father Alex Eiland ′82
and boyfriend Dion Wilson ′11. 3 Devon
Gant with sister Chelsea Gant Wright ′09
and brother-in-law Nick Wright ′11.
4 Jamie Kowalczyk with mother Mary
Strine Miller ′76 and father Bill Kowalczyk
′76. 5 Taylor Black with stepfather Bryan
Marshall ′85, assistant athletic director for
sports information; brother Nathan Marshall
1
2
′20 and mother Shannon Black-Marshall ′05.
Not pictured: uncle Erik Black ′88, aunt Amy
Harrison-Black ′90, aunt Pam MarshallGarriott ′81 and uncle David Marshall ′76.
6 Brothers Simon Nicholson (left) and
Kyle Nicholson with mother Tina Nicholson,
professor of music. 7 Kendall Robison
with cousin RJ Podeschi ’02, assistant
professor of Information Systems; fiance
Jordan Trump ’10; cousin Mandi Landacre
Podeschi ’02, director of development/
Millikin Fund; and aunt Cindy Landacre,
3
4
Tabor School of Business administrative
assistant. Not pictured: aunt Robin Steadman, Office of Student Success administrative assistant; cousin Lori Landacre Leeper
’05; cousin Lisa Landacre ’05; cousin Pat
Steadman ’08 and cousin Michelle Purkes
Guzman ’98. 8 Alexandra Miller with
aunt Debbie Miller Wray ′75, mother Ellen
Winchell Miller ′81, father Charles Miller ′84,
grandfather President Emeritus Dr. J. Roger
Miller, grandmother Arlene Miller ′63, and
uncle Gregory Miller ′72. Not pictured: aunt
Nancy Lynch Miller ′72. Photos 1-7 by Grad
5
6
7
8
Images. Photo 8 by Alida Duff Sullivan ’06.
SU14_CN.indd 47
47
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
1 BLACK ALUMNI NETWORK, Row 1: Monica Parker ’01, Jennifer Friday ’77, Kevin Hines ’81, Tamara Butler ’01. Row 2: LeTeah Pender ’08, Debra Fields ’76, Travis Jones ’12,
Raushana Pender ’02, Quantrell Willis (assistant dean of inclusion and student engagement), Niki Fenderson Allen ’99, Wayne Dunning ’83, Gilbert White ’09,
Ronald Branch ’81, Michael Halbert ’79. Reunion photos by DR Roberts, www.drroberts.com/muhomecoming.html.
48
SU14_CN.indd 48
6/16/14 10:44 AM
HOMECOMING 2013
1
Q
2
3
1 CLASS OF 1943, Row 1: Bill McGaughey, Delilis Stoutenborough. Row 2: Doug McGaughey (son of Bill McGaughey), Scott McGaughey (son of Bill McGaughey), Rich
Stoutenborough (son of Delilis Stoutenborough). 2 CLASS OF 1948: Dorothy Baker McFadden, Merill Cameron Dees. 3 CLASS OF 1953, Row 1: Patcie Wieland ’54, Nancy
Fisher Eichenauer, Eileen Eberhardt Tertocha-Langley, Doris Ryan McElwee, Lillian Vasiloff Wisham, Constance Bennett Oakes, Jeannine Maxwell Freyling. Row 2: Roy Schaub,
Jackie Dunkel Sward, Betty Harrington White, Barbara Burgis Zuegel, Janet “Bunny” Keeler Williams, Joan Adams Avis, David Freyling (husband of Jeannine Maxwell Freyling).
Row 3: Bill Heyduck, Rod Sward ’52 (husband of Jackie Dunkel Sward), Kirke White, Gregg McElwee (son of Doris Ryan McElwee), Herb Zuegel ’52 (husband of Barbara Burgis
Zuegel), Joe Williams ’54 (husband of Janet “Bunny” Keeler Williams), Duane Avis (husband of Joan Adams Avis).
SU14_CN.indd 49
49
6/16/14 10:44 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1958, Row 1: Clara Henson Peters ’59, Judy Fuson (wife of Hal Fuson), Mary Sue Whaley Butcher, Barbara Connolly (wife of John Connolly), Carol Rayhill (wife of
David Rayhill). Row 2: Larry Peters ’57 (husband of Clara Henson Peters), Bill Stocks, Hal Fuson, Judy Tucker Cain ’59, Bob Cain (husband of Judy Tucker Cain), John Connolly,
David Rayhill, Alice Mueller LeFevre, Ed LeFevre ’57 (husband of Alice Mueller LeFevre). 2 CLASS OF 1963, Row 1: Janet Bolin (wife of Jerry Bolin), Brenda Gadberry (wife of
Roger Gadberry), Pat Norton King, Dona Olson McLaughlin, Julie Vernon, Sheila Shrout Ford, Donna Waller (wife of Mike Waller), Betty Cordes Chapman ’64. Row 2: Jerry Bolin,
Bruce Dillingham ’61, Karen Mains (wife of Mike Mains), Kathy Hengst (wife of Steve Hengst), Richard Ford ’60 (husband of Sheila Shrout Ford), Mike Waller, Larry Chapman, Ron
Frystak. Row 3: Roger Gadberry, Jim King (husband of Pat Norton King), Mike Mains, Steve Hengst, Tom Greanias, Bob Byrkit, Don Walker ’60.
50
SU14_CN.indd 50
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1968, Row 1: Paula Koyak Cordts, Mary Cole Chuzi, Cheryl Gary Currie, Lois Kramer Kelly, Gwen Yurieci (wife of Chuck Yurieci), Jacalyn Crowe Osborne ’79.
Row 2: Tom Cordts (husband of Paula Koyak Cordts), Paul Chuzi ’69, Charles Currie (husband of Cheryl Currie), Dennis Kelly (husband of Lois Kramer Kelly), Chuck Yurieci,
Dave Osborne. Row 3: Chris Brown Franklin, Sharon Liston Yeakley, Carol Black Phillips, Fran Coutant Peterson, Lynne Wheeler Mormino, Diane Lohr Coen ’72. Row 4: Anne
Heinle Edsall, Jim Deremiah, Karen Maurer Krows, Mary Fran Dick Willis, Dave Coen (husband of Diane Lohr Coen). 2 CLASS OF 1978, Row 1: Amy Vaughn Pritchard, Diane
Williams Dunn, Jane Thomas Croxton, Kathy Gardner Thomforde, Jeanine Harris Buttimer. Row 2: Judy Mason, Jim Croxton (husband of Jane Thomas Croxton), Sara Miner
Franklin (holding photo of Leslie Hannapel Kessler), Sue Wallace Strauch, Norm Hoback.
SU14_CN.indd 51
51
6/16/14 10:44 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
1
1
1 CLASS OF 1973, Row 1: Cheryl Cromwell (wife of Robert Hess), Karla Davis (wife of Richard Davis), Wendy Overocker Wiegers, Karen Paradiso Apel, Debbie Goodrich Weller
’75, Janet Perkins Rund. Row 2: Robert Hess, Richard Davis, Dave Wiegers (husband of Wendy Overocker Wiegers), Paul Foster, Tom Bucy, Dennis Weller, Austin Rund ’75
(husband of Janet Perkins Rund). Row 3: Lucinda Bumber Burke, Jan Bosak Munz, Mary Hartlaub (wife of Don Hartlaub), Nancy Joy (wife of Frank Joy), Francys Cross Norton,
Debbie Donnelly Akers. Row 4: Patrick Burke (husband of Lucinda Bumber Burke), Tom Munz (husband of Jan Bosak Munz), Don Hartlaub, Frank Joy, Robert Guenther.
Row 5: Joyce Tuecke Burkhart, Carol Heynen Price, Joan Shoemaker Merrill, Fred Miller, Gwen Miller (wife of Fred Miller). Row 6: Millard Everhart, Thomas Rasler, Peter
Churukian, Dan Parker, Carvel Johnson, Edward Porter. 2 CLASS OF 1983, Row 1: Susan Pearman Arp, Kristi Salman Geggie, Karen Klein, Jean Schafer Oesterreich, Lora
Pearson Huebner. Row 2: Sandy Cristy Kinahan, Faith Delatte Carr, Vicky Yedinak Dose ’81, Bonnie Yedinak. Row 3: Karen Livingston Farnum, Kathy Springer Kuddes, Kent
Kuddes (husband of Kathy Springer Kuddes), Sheri Kaiser Eichelberger, Dena Kareotes Arendt, David Throne.
52
SU14_CN.indd 52
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1988, Row 1: Kristine Lasco Stanley, Judy Hand Dobai, Blythe Holmes Kitner, Lori Liles Massutti, Jodi Creek Larson, Ann-Marie Cook Hillyer. Row 2: Annete
Younker Gilson, Troy Kitner (husband of Blythe Holmes Kitner), Elizabeth Ryerson Osborne, Thomas Massutti (husband of Lori Liles Massutti), Lisa Hoffman Waight.
Row 3: Brian Hunt, Denise Ciesielski Williams, Beth Cubbison Zych, Diana Miles Huntoon. Row 4: Jay Marshall, John Marshall. Row 5: A. Shawn Freeman.
2 CLASS OF 1998, Row 1: Jessica Busjahn Buttimer, Heather Burk Schmidt, Mary Reece Alexander, Michelle Tucker Smith, Amanda Johnson Butterick ’99. Row 2: Alan
Buttimer (husband of Jessica Busjahn Buttimer), Emily Oshita Layton, Carmen Fisher Hamilton, Jason Butterick (husband of Amanda Johnson Butterick), Patrick Butterick (son
of Amanda and Jason Butterick, age 10). Row 3: Christine Claytor Harshman, Seth Morrell (holding son Sedgwick, age 3 months), Patrick Dill.
SU14_CN.indd 53
53
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1993, Row 1: Jennifer Navarro Nagy, Michele Solomon Jett, Nancy Carter Dopke (holding daughter Monika Dopke, age 3), Julie Stevenson O’Reilly, Dawn Galligos
Peck. Row 2: Matthew Argo, Lisa Hokamp Mason, Kevin Jett (husband of Michele Solomon Jett), Angela Benson, Michael Cox, Gina Bianchi. Row 3: Jennifer Canter Vogland,
Kim Stacey-Hazucka, Kristin Mikkelson Hawkins, Laura Kelly Kapala ’94. Row 4: Brian Abbott, Tom VanHowe, Dustin Hawkins (husband of Kristin Mikkelson Hawkins), Kevin
Kapala (husband of Laura Kelly Kapala), Denise Bell Tomano, Marc Strathman. 2 CLASS OF 2008, Row 1: Liz Ciaccio, Jon Popovitch, Cathy Thomas Popovitch (wife of Jon
Popovitch), Erin Wyant. Row 2: Miranda Schuett Watson, Alisha Goebel, Magon Hallowell, Cassandra Logsdon, Sara Askins Wilson. Row 3: Christopher Weisenborn, Nick Bley,
Alex Rowe, Verneil Phillips.
54
SU14_CN.indd 54
6/16/14 10:45 AM
1
1 CLASS OF 2003, Row 1: Elizabeth Hensen Ehler (holding daughter Natalie Ehler, age 6 months), LeAnne Hunt Bergschneider (holding son Trey Bergschneider, age 3),
Tanell Hopkins Spears (holding daughter Audrey Spears, age 1 and son Ben Spears, age 5), Katie Harp Anderson (holding daughter Nora Anderson, age 9 months), Cate Parish
Kaufman (holding daughter Claire Kaufman, age 1), Miranda Baker Bolanos, Meghan Morgan Adams. Row 2: Bobbi Mielcarski, Stacy Radliff Smedley, Ryan Spears (husband of
Tanell Hopkins Spears), Shaun Anderson (husband of Katie Harp Anderson, holding daughter Ava Anderson, age 3), Alan Kaufman (husband of Cate Parish Kaufman), Sandy
Hodge Garza, Anna Edwards. Row 3: Sara Patterson, Brenden Wilson (age 12, son of Sara Patterson), Ryan Jones, Sara Ray Helmus, Sarah Ritter Garner, Monique Garcia
Runnels. Row 4: Amanda Moloney, Heather Hoke, Heidi Castleman, Laura Goodman, Sarah Carson, Courtney Ruffner Reed, Rachel Kraft. Row 5: Meg Schleppenbach Bates,
Kerry Hammergren Heckman, Anna Forslund Hartmann, Colleen Heffernan, Katie May Potts, Katie Liesener, Amy Middleton Miles, Sara Krows Walstrom. Row 6: Pamela
Schneider Pendelton, Kelly Ferrell Durkin, Jason Welsh, Jaime Haege Welsh (wife of Jason Welsh), Andrew Weatherford, Joni Kash Nightingale, Graham Nightingale (husband of
Joni Kash Nightingale).
SU14_CN.indd 55
55
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
Homecoming photos by Alida Duff Sullivan ’06.
ALPHA CHI OMEGA 100 YEARS
SU14_CN.indd 56
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Photo by DR Roberts.
SU14_CN.indd 57
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR:
MICHAEL WALLER ’63
M
ICHAEL WALLER ’63 is recipient
of the 2013 Alumnus of the Year
award, the most prestigious
award presented by the university.
Waller has demonstrated a strong
commitment and dedication to Millikin
for many years, both through service and
generous financial support.
Now an emeritus trustee, Waller
served on Millikin’s board of directors from
2000-10, and continues to serve as co-chair
of the “Transform MU” capital campaign
steering committee. He had been the
national Millikin Fund chair since 2006; in
2013, he shared chairmanship duties with
trustee, Dr. Steve Huss.
In addition to supporting his alma
mater with his time and talents, Waller
has financially supported the current
58
capital campaign, “Transform MU,” as well
as the previous “Advancing the Vision”
capital campaign. He also was a generous
supporter of renovations to Albert Taylor
Theatre.
Waller’s distinguished career in
journalism began at the Decatur Herald
newspaper, where he worked as a sports
clerk while attending Millikin. He then
progressed to reporter, copy editor and
finally, wire editor.
After leaving the Herald in 1965, he
worked for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in
copy editing for two years. From 1967-78,
he worked for both the Louisville Courier
Journal and Louisville Times, where he
assisted with two Pulitzer Prize-winning
stories, one about riots following school
desegregation and one about a fatal fire at
the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Covington, Ky.
In 1978, he joined the Kansas City
Star as managing editor, where he edited
coverage of the 1981 collapse of a skywalk
at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which killed
115 people. After hiring an engineer
and studying records and architectural
drawings, the newspaper revealed that
the collapse was caused by a design flaw.
The Star’s coverage of the tragedy earned
a Pulitzer Prize. Waller was then named
managing editor of the Star’s sister paper,
the Kansas City Times, and in 1983, he
was promoted to editor of both papers.
He is the only journalist in the history of
the papers to serve in the top three news
positions.
In 1986, Waller was named executive
editor of the Hartford Courant, the oldest
continuously published newspaper in the
country. He became the Courant’s editor
in 1990 and was appointed publisher
and CEO in 1994. While Waller was the
paper’s editor, the Courant won its first
Pulitzer Prize.
Waller was named publisher and
CEO of The Baltimore Sun and senior
vice president of Times Mirror Co. in
1997. During his tenure, The Sun received
two Pulitzers. Waller retired from The
Baltimore Sun in 2002.
In recognition of his achievements
in journalism, Waller received Millikin’s
Alumni Merit Award in 1987. In 2002, he
received a lifetime achievement award from
the Delta Sigma Phi national fraternity.
Waller has authored two books:
“Durand’s Marvelous Merchants: A Tale of
Small-Town Life and Big-Time Softball,”
and “Blood on the Out-Basket: Lessons in
Leadership from a Newspaper Junkie.”
In addition to serving on several
nonprofit boards while in Hartford and
Baltimore, Waller was also chairman of the
United Way campaigns in each city, raising
a total of nearly $70 million.
Waller and his wife, Donna (pictured
above), live in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He
has four children: Eric Waller ’87, Danielle
“Dani” Waller ’90, Heather Kean and
Katharine Waller. Q
SU14_CN.indd 58
6/16/14 10:45 AM
MERIT-LOYALTY AWARD
Kathryn Springer
Kuddes ’83 is
director of fine arts
and special academic
programs for the
Plano (Texas) School
District, teaches
music education at
Southern Methodist University and has
taught classes at the University of North
Texas. She joined the Plano School District
in 1995 as an elementary music specialist
and in 1998, was named vocal music
coordinator for the district. The Plano
School District serves more than 54,000
students in pre-K through grade 12, with
more than 70 percent of the students
involved in the district’s award-winning
fine arts activities. Prior to Plano, she
served as elementary music specialist and
choral director for the Stafford, Killeen and
College Station school districts.
In 2010, she received the OAKE
(Organization of American Kodály Educators) Outstanding Administrator Award for
her advancement of Kodály-inspired music
curriculum in the Plano schools. Kuddes
served as vice president of the Kodály
Educators of Texas from 1994-98. She also
has served the Organization of American
Kodály Educators as Southern Division
president from 1997-2001, administrative
liaison from 2000-04, and on the conference planning committee in 2002 and
2004; and the Texas Music Administrators
Association as secretary/treasurer.
A loyal ambassador for Millikin,
Kuddes organized a University Choir
performance in Plano in January 2013,
when the choir performed with 200
high school students and also provided a
workshop for another high school. In 2001,
she also helped Dr. Guy Forbes, associate
conductor of choirs and chair of music
education, arrange a Chamber Chorale
tour throughout Texas.
Kuddes has served as her class agent
for fundraising and has also volunteered
for the Millikin Admissions Support Team
(MAST). At Homecoming 2008, she served
as a career connections panelist for the
School of Music. Q
MERIT AWARD
MERIT AWARD
Janet Heinie Clark
’91 of Terre Haute,
Ind., earned her
doctorate in chemistry from Purdue
University in 1996,
then accepted a
position as a research
chemist with Exxon Research and Development Laboratories in Baton Rouge, La.
In 2002, she was a member of ExxonMobil’s Process Research 2002 Innovator of
the Year research team. She worked for
ExxonMobil until 2003, receiving 13 U.S.
patents in the areas of gas conversion and
low-sulfur fuels.
Clark left ExxonMobil to begin her
teaching career at Saint Mary-of-theWoods College (SMWC) in Terre Haute,
Ind., as an assistant professor of chemistry
and physics in 2003. Since then, she has
served as president of the college’s faculty
assembly and also received one of the highest teaching honors at SMWC — the Sister
Mary Joseph Pomeroy Award for Faculty
Excellence in Service. In 2008, she was
named chair of the department of sciences
and mathematics, and in 2011, she was
named vice president for academic affairs
(VPAA) after serving as interim VPAA
since July 2010.
The author of numerous publications and presentations, Clark was also
co-coordinator of the Expanding Your
Horizons in Math and Science Conference,
which encourages young women to pursue
careers in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics.
Clark is a founding member of the
Wabash Valley Women of Influence committee, which was established in 2012. She
also served as national president (200508) of Iota Sigma Pi honor society for
women in chemistry. She served 12 years
on the organization’s national council and
as president of two local chapters, one at
Purdue University and the other in Baton
Rouge.
In 2008, Clark delivered the Sixth
Annual American Chemical Society Alumni
Lecture during Career Connections at
Millikin’s Homecoming. Q
Sunny E. Hull ’69
of El Paso, Texas,
worked as a materials
handling engineer at
Allis-Chalmers in
Springfield while
attending night
classes at Millikin.
After earning his degree in industrial
engineering, Hull accepted a position as a
consulting engineer for Booz Allen
Hamilton in Chicago. In 1971, Lozier Corp.,
a client of Booz Allen Hamilton based in
Omaha, Neb., hired Hull as a manufacturing executive.
In 1981, Hull and an Omaha neighbor
formed Mid-West Textile Co., a textile
recycling firm. Although most of the
company’s operations are located in El
Paso, where Mid-West employs nearly
350 people, the company also has a facility
in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the
border from El Paso. The company sorts
and sells textiles for several different
uses, including clothing for third-world
countries, vintage clothing, recycled fibers,
industrial cleanup and more, with the
added benefit of increasing the textiles’
useful life and keeping them out of
landfills. Now one of the largest clothing
recycling centers in the world, Mid-West
reports annual sales of nearly $50 million.
Since 1982, Hull has been a member
of the Secondary Materials and Recycled
Textile Association (SMART), a recyclingbased international trade association,
and has served on SMART’s nominating
committee, which submits nominations for
officers and directors.
A member of the El Paso Downtown
Lions Club, Hull is also a supporter of the
local United Way, with Mid-West Textile
leading the corporate donor board each
year. He and his wife, Linda, also support
local Christmas aid programs and the
Wounded Warriors Foundation.
Hull is a faithful and generous donor
to The Millikin Fund, and his unrestricted
gifts to the annual fund continue to
support areas of need throughout the
university. Q
SU14_CN.indd 59
59
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
LOYALTY AWARD
Charles J. Yurieci
’68 of Bloomington,
Ill., a devoted
alumnus and former
student-athlete, is an
avid MU football fan
and attends many
games, as well as
other campus events, including Vespers
and Kirkland performances.
Through more than 40 years of giving,
Yurieci has provided generous support
through The Millikin Fund, the Big Blue
Club and Friends of Kirkland. He supported the “New Horizons” capital campaign and contributed to the ADM-Scovill
building project in the “Advancing the
Vision” capital campaign. During the
current capital campaign, “Transform
MU,” he has contributed toward football
field enhancements and equipment for the
Exercise Science and Sport program.
A member of the U.S. Army Reserve
from 1968-74, Yurieci also completed a
master’s degree in business administration
at Illinois State University in 1972.
After more than 33 years of service,
Yurieci retired in 2002 as crops division
operations manager for Growmark Inc.,
a North American cooperative serving
farmers with agricultural supplies and
grain marketing services.
As a Millikin student and accounting
major, Yurieci was the recipient of several
scholarships and awards, including the
Mueller Co. Scholarship all four years; the
Murphey, Jenne and Jones Accounting
Excellence Award and the Steagall-Sarran
Scholarship in 1967; and the Millikin
National Bank Outstanding Business
Student award in 1968. A four-year
letterwinner in football and baseball, he
also played junior-varsity basketball his
freshman year. Q
Extended biographical information
on the 2013 Alumni Award recipients and
Athletic Hall of Fame inductees can be
viewed online at millikin.edu/homecoming.
60
YOUNG ALUMNUS AWARD
John Robert “Jay”
Schleppenbach
’00 of Chicago is an
assistant attorney
general in the
criminal appeals
division of the Illinois
Attorney General’s
office. Prior to joining the Attorney
General’s office, he was a partner and
associate at the Chicago law firm, Jenner &
Block LLP from 2005-12.
He graduated summa cum laude from
the University of Illinois School of Law in
2003, and was chosen by his fellow students to give the commencement address.
Schleppenbach has had more than a
dozen articles published in legal journals,
and has assisted with instruction of an
international arbitration course at Northwestern University College of Law. He also
coached Northwestern’s award-winning
international arbitration Moot Court team
in Vienna.
He has served as a volunteer with the
Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago’s “Lawyers in the Classroom” program,
helping second- through eighth-grade
students better understand the Constitution and our legal system. He has also
volunteered with the “Saturday School”
program at Chicago’s KIPP Ascend Charter
School, a tuition-free college preparatory
middle school.
Schleppenbach has served as his
class agent for fundraising since 2006. A
regular contributor to The Millikin Fund,
he has also assisted with numerous other
fundraising efforts, including providing
funding for Millikin’s Outstanding Journalism Award and helping solicit former
James Millikin and presidential scholars.
A Career Connections volunteer, he also
attends Millikin events in the Chicago area
and hosted University Choir members at
his home during their 2008 tour.
Schleppenbach is a graduate of
Chicago’s famed Second City Conservatory
programs in improvisation and writing,
and writes and performs sketch shows at
the Second City Skybox Theater and other
Chicago venues. Q
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Ryan Ash ’01, of
Normal, Ill., the
goalkeeper for the
men’s soccer team
from 1997-2000,
staked his claim to
several spots in the
MU record books.
Ash still holds the record for career
wins (25); most wins in a season (15
in 2000); career shutouts (19.5); most
shutouts in a season (9.5) and the lowest
goals-against average (0.41).
He was the starting goalkeeper for
the 2000 College Conference of Illinois
and Wisconsin (CCIW) championship
team that went 15-1-1 — the best men’s
soccer season in Millikin history. During
his senior year, he was also named to the
National Soccer Coaches Association of
America’s All-Midwest team.
Ash gives back to soccer by serving as
a certified national collegiate referee. He is
a member of the National Intercollegiate
Soccer Officials Association (NISOA), and
was recipient of the NISOA’s George Faragallah 2008 National Referee Achievement
Award. He is a member of the Central Illinois Soccer Officials Association, serving as
rules interpreter and clinician. Q
Joanna Conner
’06 of Decatur was a
starter for the Big
Blue’s 2004-05
national championship women’s
basketball team.
During that
tournament, Conner was named the Final
Four Most Valuable Player. Her performance during the sectional tournament
leading up to the championship netted
her selection to the 2005 NCAA Sectional
All-Tournament Team.
Conner was named to the CCIW’s
All-Conference First Team in 2004-05;
selected for the D3Hoops.com All-Region
and All-American Third Team in 2004-05;
named Women’s D3News Preseason Honorable Mention All-American in 2005-06;
earned All-Conference Second
SU14_CN.indd 60
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Team honors in 2005-06 and Third Team
honors in 2003-04. She also served as the
Big Blue co-captain her senior year and
was a four-year letter winner.
Conner currently serves as assistant
women’s basketball and strength and
conditioning coach for the Big Blue. Q
Jim Kettelkamp
’59 of Pana, Ill., was
recognized for his
accomplishments in
recruiting student
athletes and supporting Millikin athletics.
Kettelkamp joined
the Millikin staff in 1964 and worked
in various positions in admission and
financial aid for eight years. He was named
director of admission in 1972 and dean of
admission in 1987.
In 1993, Kettelkamp retired as dean
emeritus of admission after 29 years of
service to the university. During his tenure,
he was responsible for recruiting more
than 13,000 students to MU.
A loyal fan and supporter of Millikin
athletics for many years, Kettelkamp
was an active member of Millikin’s
Quarterback Club. In addition to assisting
with recruitment of student athletes,
Kettelkamp was also a valued adviser and
advocate for the Big Blue coaching staff. Q
Stacey Stegeman
Lambert ’05 of
Bloomington, Ill., was
a standout volleyball
player for the Big
Blue and was chosen
by the College
Conference of Illinois
and Wisconsin (CCIW) as freshman player
of the year in 2001.
Serving as team captain during both
her junior and senior years, she led the
team in service aces and kills in 2002,
2003 and 2004. At the time she graduated,
she held the school record for career
kills with 1,528 and was No. 4 in career
digs with 1,364. She still holds the No. 2
position for career service aces with 218,
and is now No. 3 in career kills.
The CCIW named her “player of the
week” twice during her senior year. She
was also named to the All-CCIW first team
in 2004, and was named to the second
team in 2002 and 2003. She was named
tournament MVP several times and
recognized on numerous all-tournament
teams during her Millikin career, including
five in her senior year.
Lambert joined the Illinois High
School Association as coordinator of
marketing and special events in 2008. In
2009, she was promoted to the organization’s assistant executive directorship,
serving as administrator for boys and girls
volleyball, boys and girls bowling and for
girls golf and badminton. Q
Jeff Monken ’89 of
Statesboro, Ga.,
began his coaching
career as a graduate
assistant football
coach at the University of Hawaii during
the 1989-90 season.
There, Monken tasted success as his team
ended the season 9-3 and participated in
the 1989 Aloha Bowl — the first bowl game
in school history.
Monken also served as a graduate
assistant wide receivers coach at Arizona
State University for one season, then
moved on to the State University of New
York at Buffalo, where he was assistant
coach for the wide receivers and tight ends,
and also served as recruiting coordinator
from 1992-94. After a brief stint coaching
at Morton High School in Berwyn, Ill., and
at Concordia University in River Forest,
Ill., Monken headed to Georgia Southern
University, where he was the slotbacks and
punters coach from 1997-2001. During this
five-year period, the GSU Eagles were the
national runner-up in 1998 and national
champions in 1999 and 2000.
In 2002, Monken became the slotbacks coach for the U.S. Naval Academy in
Annapolis, Md. During his six seasons with
the team, the Midshipmen set numerous
school records, including notching 18
victories in two seasons. Among their
successes were the first back-to-back bowl
victories in school history.
As slotbacks coach and special teams
coordinator for the Georgia Institute of
Technology from 2008-10, Monken helped
lead the team to an 8-4 record and an
appearance in the 2008 Chik-fil-A Bowl.
In 2009, they won the conference championship with a 10-4 record and made an
Orange Bowl appearance.
Monken returned to Georgia Southern
University as head football coach in 2010,
where his 31 victories in three seasons
rank first in the Southern Conference and
second nationally. He was named Southern
Conference Coach of the Year and American Football Coaches Association Regional
Coach of the Year in 2011, and was a 2012
Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year finalist.
Under his direction, the GSU Eagles
earned national semifinal appearances in
the NCAA Division I football playoffs in
2010, 2011 and 2012. Q
David Peabody ’94
was an award-winning member of
Millikin’s track and
field and football
teams from 1990-94.
In 1992, he
earned College
Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
(CCIW) honorable mention status as a
defensive back for the Big Blue football
team. In 1993, he was named to the 2nd
Team All-CCIW as a defensive back.
A member of the 1992 CCIW championship 400-meter relay team, Peabody
achieved Outdoor All-American status
when the team took seventh place at the
1992 NCAA Division III championships.
The track team captain and co-MVP in
1993, Peabody was a member of the 1600meter relay team that set a new Millikin
outdoor record with a time of 3:18.27 — a
record that still stands. In 1994, Peabody
was CCIW champion in the long jump and
at the NCAA DIII championships, he was
named an Outdoor All-American again
when he finished eighth in that event.
Currently, Peabody is a math teacher
and track coach at Redmond (Wash.) High
School. Q
SU14_CN.indd 61
61
6/16/14 10:45 AM
HOMECOMING 2013
Q
SU14_CN.indd 62
6/16/14 10:46 AM
MY TURN
GROWING UP
MILLIKIN
by Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77
I
STARTED GOING TO MILLIKIN in kindergarten. That was
the year my father began teaching mathematics there,
a position he kept for 34 years. Drawing on his office
chalkboard and playing with the gigantic slide rule propped
behind his door were activities to keep a young girl entertained.
In second grade, I became a piano student in the School
of Music’s preparatory department. My first teacher had a
basement studio that was a bit creepy, but evidently I got over
the feeling since I spent the next 14 years visiting that building.
Piano recitals in Kaeuper Hall were oft-dreaded affairs. All the
pianists would gather in a classroom until it was our group’s
turn to descend the stairs to the tiny backstage area. In winter,
the stairwell was freezing, but we’d thaw by the hissing radiator
while waiting our turns. With nerves on high alert and brain
hoping my fingers would remember all the notes, I sometimes
secretly wished my parents weren’t there. They always were.
My family seldom missed choir and jazz band concerts.
Most of my babysitters were Millikin students, and some were
choir members. I always looked for them as soon as the choir
filled the risers and felt especially proud if one of them had a
solo. We began taking students to church with us. They quickly
became my adopted brothers and sisters, and many of them still
stay in contact.
Along with other faculty wives, my mother made and
served cookies for the annual Cookie Party. My sister and I
always “helped” make the cookies and sometimes attended.
When my father became faculty advisor for Alpha Chi Omega,
we were invited to their Christmas parties and occasional
dinners. It was a treat to have dozens of big sisters for a night.
During junior high, I met another faculty brat, Judy
Marshall Kuypers ’77, who became my partner in crime for the
next decade. We enrolled at Millikin as seventh graders. (Okay,
it was just a beginning Spanish class taught at night.) It was no
surprise we both decided to attend Millikin after graduating
92
LEFT: The Shelton family Christmas card photo from 1960, the year the
Sheltons came to Millikin. From left, Winnie, Debbie, Ronald and Kathie.
RIGHT: Debbie and her parents the day she graduated from MU in 1977.
from high school.
Being a Millikin student after having been around campus
for 13 years brought me a different perspective than most
freshmen. My family’s home was close by, so homesickness,
moving and laundry were not issues. I had attended school
with or babysat the children of many of my professors. Trips
to the bookstore were more expensive, since I was now buying
textbooks instead of sweatshirts. My job in the admission office
was a great fit, since it was easy for me to give campus tours,
knowing the buildings so well.
Having professors as my teachers in addition to family
friends was a new experience. I remember Dr. Ferry, now
professor emeritus of education, proudly displaying his corn
belt during a social studies methods class. My ear training class
soon learned to discern Professor LaRowe’s chords by noting
the expressions on his face. The hours in the choir room
were probably my favorites, even when going over the same
phrase a multitude of times to fix some imperfection that only
Professor Hoffland could hear.
After graduating and marrying my alum husband, we
stayed connected with Millikin. Concerts and other MU
events appeared on our calendar. If the Quarterly had published wedding photos back then, ours would have qualified.
All those of college age in our wedding party were Millikin
students or alums.
Today, we have lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost
30 years. I seldom get to attend official Homecoming weekends,
but any visit to Millikin is definitely a part of coming home. Q
Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77 and her husband, Forrest Jay Fisher ’79,
live in Union Gap, Wash., where she works as a para-educator for the
Union Gap School District. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Ronald
Shelton, professor emeritus of mathematics and computer science,
who taught at MU from 1960-94.
SU14_HROD.indd 92
6/16/14 10:46 AM
HIGH-FASHION HEADLINES: A dress display at Staley Library was
designed and assembled from newspapers by BFA theatre design/
production students (from left) Sierra Goldberg ’13, Lilly Suwinski ’14,
Kate Burton ’14 and Emily Wilson ’13.
“The paper dress project was conceived as a 3D project for the
Costume Design course. The guidelines were pretty loose, other
than they were to explore the Principles of Design through paper.
Each student approached the project from their own perspective.”
– Jana Henry Funderburk, costume director and
associate professor in the department of theatre and dance
SU14_cover.indd 5
6/16/14 10:31 AM
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Decatur, Illinois
Permit No. 127
Office of Alumni and Development
THEN & NOW
How much can
change in
40
YEARS?
As we gear up for
Homecoming 2014,
Oct. 10-12, here’s a brief look
at how it will compare to the
1974 Homecoming weekend.
Watch the mail for your
HC14 brochure, or visit
millikin.edu/homecoming.
HOMECOMING DANCE
1974:
2014:
Formal, Hotel Orlando
Neon Paint Dance Party, Football practice fields
KIRKLAND PERFORMER
1974:
2014:
Comedian David Steinberg
Broadway star Sierra Boggess ’04
FOOTBALL GAME RIVAL
1974:
2014:
Wheaton (MU won 34-21)
Illinois Wesleyan
AMONG STUDENT ACTIVITIES
1974:
2014:
House Decs contest
Alumni share advice at Career Connections
AMONG ALUMNI ACTIVITIES
1974:
2014:
Hospitality Room at Holiday Inn
Reunion Rally All-Class Dinner
at Holiday Inn (now Decatur Conference Center)
CLASS REUNIONS
1974:
2014:
’54, ’59, ’64, ’69
Five-year increments of classes 1944-2009
ATTENDANCE AT REUNION LUNCH
1974:
2014:
144
500+ expected (bring the family!)
REUNION LUNCHEON ATTIRE
1974:
2014:
Plaids and stripes, often together
Anything blue (Just sayin’.)
ABOVE: In 1974, pant suits for women, and ties, jackets and sideburns for men were popular choices
among the class of 1964 at their 10-year reunion photo.
HAVE AN IDEA FOR THEN & NOW? Send an email to [email protected].
SU14_cover.indd 2
6/16/14 10:30 AM
MILLIKIN QUARTERLY
Vol. XXX, No. 1 | Summer 2014
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Dr. Patrick E. White
VICE PRESIDENT
FOR ALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT
David Brandon
EDITOR AND
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Deb Hale Kirchner
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Alida Duff Sullivan ’06
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Margaret Allen Friend
Jenell Anderson Hironimus
STUDENT INTERNS
Amanda Hamilton ’14
Jackson Lewis ’13
Brittany Mytnik ’15
Brooke Paddock ’14
Stephanie Strick ’15
CONTRIBUTORS
Tina Cloney
Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77
Ryan Jorstad ’62
Dane Lisser
Bryan Marshall ’85
Amanda Pippitt
Millikin Quarterly (ISSN 8750-7706)
(USPS 0735-570) is mailed twice yearly
by the Millikin University Office of Alumni
and Development, 1184 West Main Street,
Decatur, Illinois 62522-2084. Two digital
supplements are also sent to alumni and
friends who have valid email addresses on
file with the office.
EMAIL AND WEBSITE
[email protected]
POSTMASTER
Please send address changes to
Millikin Quarterly
Millikin University
Phone: 217-424-6383
Toll free: 1-877-JMU-ALUM
Copyright ©2014, Millikin University
ON THE COVER
An aerial view of the MU campus, taken by
Brian Cassidy ’09 and Michael Rauch, of the
MU marketing department.
Like us on
FB.com/MillikinAlumni
SU14_cover_REV.indd 4
IT’S BEEN A WHILE.
Say hello to your old friend, this alumni magazine. And yes, it has been a
while since you’ve seen the magazine in your mailbox. Millikin Quarterly,
the university’s magazine since 1985, is transitioning from four printed
issues yearly to two printed issues and two online supplements; partly due
to our society’s growing focus on electronic media, and partly as a budgetsaving measure. It’s also a reflection of a renaissance happening all across
campus, in all departments and programs, as the university refocuses on
how best to allocate its resources to meet its mission and vision.
The just-concluded school year of transition brought a new president to campus, a seasoned
university leader who was originally selected to serve as MU’s interim president while a national
search for a permanent president was conducted. However, he fell in love with Millikin and apparently
the feeling was mutual. As a result, Dr. Patrick White, formerly of Wabash College, was named
Millikin’s 15th president by the board of trustees last October after not quite 100 days in office (see
details, pages 2 and 20).
In my 20 years at the Big Blue, I am accustomed to embracing change. It’s common, anticipated
and even necessary in just about any workplace these days. Millikin is no exception. Although Dr.
White’s appointment was the most significant of leadership changes at the institution during the
past year, several senior employees retired or moved on to other opportunities, and other employees
moved up to assume their responsibilities. It was interesting to observe the passing of these torches,
especially as some Millikin alumni stepped up to fill the roles of their former mentors.
For example, following last June’s retirement of Jan Devore, longtime alumni relations director,
the university hired Gina Bianchi ’93, as Millikin’s senior director of alumni and donor engagement
(see pages 2 and 12 for details). Gina had worked in alumni relations and advancement at Illinois State
University for 17 years but had kept her eye on her alma mater just in case Jan’s job came open. She
stepped into her new role last August, and perennial Jan fans will be glad to know that Gina comes
with the Jan Devore Seal of Approval. Already one of my favorite colleagues, Gina is a warm and
outgoing individual who welcomes questions, ideas and comments from Millikin’s alumni and friends.
She’s also a die-hard Cubs fan (but I try not to hold her team choice against her).
An alum-to-alum transition occurred in the registrar’s office, as last fall Jason Wickline ’95 took
on the role of retiring Walt Wessel ’65, who had served as registrar since 1987. Walt always called
himself the “surly registrar,” but students and faculty knew the truth about his kind heart and knack
for helping them work through complicated issues. As registrar, Walt was one of Millikin’s quiet
heroes, and Jason, after serving in MU’s information technology department for many years, is on the
right track to continue and build on Walt’s legacy.
As torches were being passed to the next generation of faculty and staff, the alumni office was
working on how to keep you informed of campus developments. Although there will be fewer issues
of this magazine mailed, our office will continue to email news to alumni and friends who have valid
email addresses on file with us. To receive these alerts, including the online Quarterly supplements
as well as our popular monthly e-newsletter, Out of the Blue, just send your current email address to
[email protected]. You’ll also find us on Facebook and Twitter as Millikin Alumni.
So, what changes are on deck for Millikin in the next school year? Based on my time at Millikin, I
feel confident that our university will continue to deliver on the promise of education for our students.
I’ve observed firsthand how Millikin offers students the complete package on how to succeed in life.
It’s been part of the unique performance learning offered only at Millikin since 1901. And that will
never change.
What changes are happening in your life? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Hope
you enjoy this long-awaited issue, and best wishes for a great summer!
Deb Hale Kirchner
Millikin Quarterly Editor and Senior Director of Communications
6/20/14 1:02 PM
DEPARTMENTS
2
4
6
8
10
14
16
18
Campus News
Big Blue Sports
Looking Back
With Your Support
Transform U
Zooming In: Jan Devore
Faculty Profile: Robert Money
Faculty Profile: Brad Holmes
ALUMNI
NEW ERA
ON THE
HORIZON
20
10
26
27
29
31
33
35
37
38
40
42
44
92
Class Notes
Profile: George Ecklund Sr. ’44
Profile: David Overlot ’81
Profile: Fiona Solkowski Becker ’95
Profile: Gretchen Ozee Cawthon ’95
Profile: Ryan Lawrence ’99
Profile: Kelsee Hankins ’09
Weddings
Births and Adoptions
Passings
Legacy Continues
My Turn: Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77
FEATURES
12 JAN DEVORE STEPS DOWN –
BUT NOT OUT
Permanent recognition on
campus sought for retired
alumni relations director
20 POSITIONED TO SUCCEED
Dr. Patrick E. White steps into the
presidency at just the right time
48
24 A MUSEUM GROWS IN CHICAGO
MU alum stakes her reputation
on creating the first American
Writers Museum
48 HOMECOMING 2013
The photos you’ve been
wanting to see
58 ALUMNI AWARDS
Outstanding alumni are
recognized at Alumni Awards
and Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
58
24
63 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
Recognition of donor giving from
July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013
6/20/14 12:52 PM
Q
CAMPUS NEWS
DR. PATRICK WHITE NAMED MILLIKIN’S 15TH PRESIDENT
After fewer than four months in office as
interim president, Dr. Patrick E. White
was named Millikin’s 15th president by the
board of trustees on Oct. 9.
White had been appointed interim
president in July, with the intention that
he would serve for 12 to 18 months while
a national search was conducted for a permanent president. However, the Millikin
trustees decided to suspend the search and
hire White as permanent president after
observing his performance during his first
100 days in office.
“While Dr. White initially joined
Millikin in an interim role, he has never
acted like an interim president and quickly
proved himself an invaluable leader on our
campus,” said Board Chair Van Dukeman.
“Selection of a president is one of the most
important decisions we make as trustees.
We are happy to have found in Dr. White
an experienced leader to guide Millikin’s
future.”
“The Millikin I have come to know in
the last few months has affirmed my belief
in James Millikin’s promise of education
and in the university’s signature commitment to performance learning and to our
students’ success,” said White. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help advance the
university in the years to come.”
Prior to working at Millikin, Dr. White
served seven years as president of Wabash
College in Crawfordsville, Ind. During
his tenure there, Dr. White developed a
student-focused strategic plan; guided
the college through the financial turmoil
of 2008-09; completed a comprehensive
academic program review and an unqualified self-study report that led to reaccreditation; secured a number of grants to
establish new programs; achieved success
in the Challenge of Excellence capital
campaign that exceeded its $60 million
goal; and completed a $6 million Athletics
Field Campaign (See more information
beginning on page 20).
Millikin’s 14th president, Dr. Harold
Jeffcoat, retired in late January 2013 after
serving nearly two years in office. Q
1993 GRADUATE STEPS INTO ALUMNI OFFICE POSITION
Gina Bianchi ’93 is the new
senior director of alumni and
donor engagement for MU’s
alumni and development
office. She replaces longtime
MU alumni relations director
Jan Devore, who retired in late June (see
article, page 12).
“Gina brings to the position an extensive background in higher education, a love
of Millikin and a passion for connecting
people to their alma mater,” says Dave
Brandon, Millikin’s vice president for
alumni and development. “I am sure our
alumni and friends join me in offering
Gina a warm welcome.”
Bianchi comes to Millikin from Illinois
2
State University, where she worked for the
previous 17 years. At ISU, she spent six
years working in the athletics department
as assistant director of the athletics study
center while earning her master’s degree
in athletic administration. She later spent
two years working as the athletic development coordinator for the university before
being named director of the annual fund.
She subsequently was named director of
development for the division of student
affairs, and for the past six years she served
as ISU’s director of alumni relations.
As a student, Bianchi earned her
MU degree in communication and public
relations, was active in several campus
organizations, played softball and also
served as a resident assistant. Since
graduating from Millikin, she has volunteered for her alma mater, serving as class
fundraising agent, class reunion chair and
volunteer admission counselor.
“I am so pleased to be returning to
Millikin to work in alumni and development,” Bianchi says. “My past work
experiences and my passion for Millikin
make this a perfect fit!
“I look forward to building on the
good work done by Jan Devore in fostering
relationships between Millikin and its
alumni and friends all over the world. I
will enjoy connecting and reconnecting our
alumni and friends to the university that I
love.” Q
SU14_front.indd 2
6/16/14 10:39 AM
CAMPUS NEWS
Q
NEW PROVOST HAS ILLINOIS ROOTS
In April, Dr. Jeffery P.
Aper was named Millikin’s provost, effective
July 1, 2014.
Aper just completed
his 12th year as provost
at Blackburn College
in Carlinville, Ill., where he had oversight of academic, athletic, student life
and student-managed work programs,
institutional research, technology services,
enrollment services, advising services and
retention initiatives. Aper replaces former
VPAA Barry Pearson, who resigned last
summer to serve as provost and VPAA at
Purchase College in New York. Pearson
had worked at Millikin since 1989.
“Jeff Aper has long had a deep
commitment to experiential learning, and
he will be a great asset as we shape and
articulate Millikin’s performance learning
to an ever-wider audience,” says Millikin
President Patrick White. “To the opportunities and challenges Millikin faces at this
time, he brings an engaging personality
and an analytic mind as well as experience
in assessment, budgeting and leadership.”
Aper previously served as associate
professor of education leadership and
policy studies at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville from 1994-2002. As
director of the UT-Knoxville Graduate
Center at UT-Chattanooga, he had overall
responsibility for UT-Knoxville doctoral
programs offered on the UT-Chattanooga
campus. Aper also served as assistant professor of educational administration and
higher education at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale from 1990-93, where
he was also responsible for oversight of the
Organization and Administration Master’s
Program.
A 1978 graduate of Blackburn College,
Aper earned his bachelor’s degree in
social science. He next earned a master’s
degree in environmental studies from the
University of Illinois – Springfield in 1981.
In 1989, he completed his doctorate in
educational research, evaluation and policy
studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University in Blacksburg, Va. Q
MILLIKIN SERVES
Millikin was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community
Service Honor Roll for its commitment to
bettering the community.
During the previous academic year,
Millikin students engaged in 147,656
hours of service in curricular and cocurricular programs. Approximately 530
MU freshmen in 28 seminar classes completed a variety of projects, starting with
the local United Way’s Day of Action. Q
TEAM TAKES TOP HONORS FOR REAL-LIFE DATA APPLICATION PROJECT
Millikin undergraduates took top awards
at the 2014 Information Systems Project
and Case Competition at Ball State
University in Muncie, Ind., in April. Five
students competed against nine other
institutions, including the host, with MU’s
team receiving first place for best project
and best project presentation, plus second
in the overall team category.
“This is a great example of MU’s
performance learning difference, where
students not only build real-world solutions for external clients, but they are also
evaluated by the professional community,”
says RJ Podeschi ’02, assistant professor of
information systems (above).
The students presented on a real client
project they had completed, delivering a
working database application for tracking
debt collections for the Decatur-based law
firm Bolen, Robinson and Ellis.
“It was a fantastic experience as
a whole and just being able to present
something that we developed and being
recognized for it was wonderful,” says
Boone McIntosh, a junior from Fenton,
Mo. “It is also reassuring to know that
things we are doing in the Tabor School
of Business are on par with or better than
what other schools are doing.”
“This course allowed students to
connect their newly learned technical
skills with their application in the business
world,” Podeschi says. “Seeing students
connect those dots in a meaningful way is
priceless.” Q
Student remembered
Along with her family and friends, the
Millikin community mourned the loss of
Amanda Puckett, a sophomore majoring in
music performance who died unexpectedly
on campus last Aug. 25 from an undiagnosed medical condition. A memorial
service was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church next to campus. The family
has requested that memorials be directed
to Millikin to help establish a scholarship
named in memory of Amanda. Q
WANT THE LATEST MU NEWS?
Visit www.millikin.edu/alumni for campus
news, e-newsletters, upcoming alumni and
friends events and more!
SU14_front.indd 3
3
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Q
BIG BLUE SPORTS
BREAKING GROUND
ARTIFICIAL TURF INSTALLED AT FRANK M. LINDSAY FIELD THIS SUMMER
ABOUT THE PROJECT
• Cost for turf project is
$1.75 million.
• Includes installation of field
lighting and resurfacing the track.
A high-definition video scoreboard
and sound system will also
be added, both financed by
advertising dollars.
• Completion set for fall 2014.
• After renovations, the field will also
serve as the home field for soccer
teams and as a practice facility for
the softball and baseball teams.
• Field originally dedicated Oct. 17,
1987, and named in memory of
Decatur business leader and media
owner Frank M. Lindsay.
M
ILLIKIN BROKE GROUND this May on a new artificial turf playing surface for Frank M. Lindsay Field, scheduled for
completion in time for the first home football game against Aurora University at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27. The last major
upgrade to the field was more than 15 years ago. Donations to the project from alumni and friends of the university have
included numerous gifts to name various areas of the field in honor or memory of individuals, including large areas in
honor of two former outstanding MU football coaches and alumni. The blue end zones will be named in honor of the late Don Shroyer ’50
of Decatur, and the visitors sideline in honor of Carl Poelker ’68 of Breese, Ill.
Carl Poelker ’68
coached at Millikin for 27 years,
beginning in 1968.
In his 13 years as
head football coach,
from 1982-95, he
posted an 88-39-1
coaching record,
won two CCIW
championships and set the record for the
most football coaching wins in MU history.
Millikin elected him to the university’s
Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981.
Poelker was also a three-year
letterwinner in football as an MU student,
4
earning National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) all-district
honors as a defensive lineman during his
senior year. After graduation, he earned
a master’s degree in physical education at
Illinois State University before returning to
Millikin to coach.
Poelker left the Big Blue in 1995 to
revive the football program at McKendree
University (then McKendree College).
The program had been dissolved in 1950.
As the new head coach, he established a
team that earned a national ranking in
only its second season. In his 14 years
as their coach, the team achieved seven
Midwest League titles and nine playoff
appearances, and Poelker was recognized
in 2002 as NAIA Football Coach of the
Year. Poelker was also selected as the 1997
Schutt Sports/NAIA Coach of the Year by
American Football Quarterly magazine and
named MSFA Midwest League Coach of
the Year in 1999 and 2002. He retired in
2012 with a 117-60 record at McKendree.
He’s “one of Millikin’s great players
and coaches,” says John Manner ’67, a
former player for Poelker who served as
the team’s co-captain his senior year.
In honor of his positive impact on
Big Blue football, Poelker will be honored
at a dinner on Saturday, Oct. 11, during
Homecoming weekend. Q
SU14_front.indd 4
6/16/14 10:39 AM
REMEMBERING COACH DON SHROYER ’50
by Ryan Jorstad ’62
Editor’s note: Coach Don Shroyer ’50, who died
July 7, 2013, led the Big Blue football team from
1956-62. See page 42 for more information. The
text on this page is excerpted from a eulogy
given by one of his former players, Ryan Jorstad
’62, at the coach’s funeral. Jorstad played on
the celebrated 1961 undefeated football team
coached by Shroyer.
“By definition, a
legacy is what you
leave to others
when you’re gone.
What about Don
Shroyer’s legacy?
Fifty-two years
later, we all still call
him Coach and will
do so forever.
So what legacy did Coach leave? Well,
he was happily married for 62 years, which
is quite an example to set. He had four successful kids who are also just good people.
He also was blessed with five impressive
grandkids. And he had a successful career
doing what he loved.
Those things collectively are a proud
legacy. But Coach left much more.
He believed in the basics of football.
You won by hitting harder and being in
better shape than your opponents so you
could hit them longer than they hit you.
Despite the simplicity of his football
approach, he taught us how to handle
the complexities of life during and after
football. Here are 12 key “life lessons” he
taught us:
Be a good teammate. There’s no
sport more dependent on team play than
football. The greatest athlete in the world
will look very bad if the other 10 players on
his team do not do their jobs. How valuable
a lesson is this in your workplace and in
your marriage?
Be physically fit. We won games
because we were in better shape than our
opponents. Look at the obesity problem
America has now. When we had our
50-year reunion two years ago, there was
only one overweight person there, and that
was due to medication issues.
Strive for perfection. We repeated
drills – running basic plays over and over
until we ran them perfectly.
Be disciplined. The worst chewing
out I ever saw Coach give anyone was right
after a reserve running back had just run
45 yards for a touchdown. He grabbed the
young man by the shoulder pads, got about
four inches from his face and told him he
had run around the end for the touchdown
when the play had called for him to run
between the guard and tackle. Coach told
him if he ever did that again, he would
never play another down for him.
Be dedicated. End of season? The
next day begins the next season. There’s
always weight lifting, etc. He told us that
we may lose a game, but it should never be
because we didn’t work or try hard enough.
Be respectful. Coach taught us to
respect the other team, your teammates,
your coaches and the game. No hotdogging.
If you scored a touchdown or made a big
hit, you put the ball down and went back to
your huddle like you’d done the same thing
thousands of times before.
Be humble. Coach kept us from
getting too high on ourselves so we always
had a hunger to do better.
Show love. Our team has had a
reunion every five years because of the
feelings we never lost for our team and our
Coach.
Be confident. Coach made us feel
we could win every game we played, even
when we were very young and really not
that good. We learned that unless you are
confident in your preparation and ability,
your chances of winning at anything are not
very good.
Be resilient. When you get knocked
down, get up with more wisdom and
resolve than before. Get up quick and ‘get
after it!’
It’s OK to laugh. Laughter is more
than OK – except for a while after a loss.
Find your passion. You will not do
all the things I just listed unless you have a
passion for what you’re doing. If you don’t
have a passion, get out and find it.
Once the Shroyer formula had been
applied to our team, we ended up with one
state senator, one school principal, two
doctors, three attorneys, 24 businessmen
and no one in jail!
If each of his players could have talked
with him one last time, they would have
said something like this:
‘I love you, Coach. Thank you so much
for teaching me how to be a good man.’” Q
SU14_front.indd 5
5
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Q
Photo from the 1925 Millidek.
LOOKING BACK
STARTING MU AT AGE 2
SURPRISING FACTS OF MU HISTORY
by Amanda Pippitt
T
HESE COMMUTER STUDENTS
never ate dinner on campus and
spent a lot of time coloring and
learning their ABCs. They also
liked to sing, dance, pretend, and play with
their puppies, chicks and bunnies.
Millikin’s successful ongoing lab partnership with neighboring Dennis School
somewhat mirrors a historical example of
the university’s involvement with Decatur
community children through Millikin’s
Conservatory Kindergarten. From 191348, elementary schoolchildren could be
seen and heard in Millikin’s Conservatory
of Music and across campus as they sang,
danced, played and learned under the
guidance of Conservatory teachers.
The program was first promoted in
the August 1913 Conservatory Bulletin as
the “Hughey Color-Music Model School,”
a program for children between ages 2
and 7. Tuition was $5 per month, or $10
per year, and “normal training classes for
6
mothers and prospective teachers” ($75
per year) offered instruction in the program’s innovative methods. Mrs. Fannie
E. McKinney-Hughey, who designed the
system, was compared in the bulletin
to Dr. Maria Montessori, creator of the
Montessori method. This bulletin can be
viewed online at bit.ly/Hughey_bulletin.
Within a few years, the formal
program name was dropped. Mrs. Hughey
appeared to have left Millikin by 1914,
leaving Miss Esther Requarth to direct the
classes. Though it was sometimes referred
to as the “child culture department,”
most area residents simply called it the
“conservatory kindergarten” or the “music
kindergarten.”
Over the years, the school’s children
were a source of pride and amusement to
both the campus and local community.
Formal events covered by the campus and
local press included recitals, plays and kindergarten commencements. Picnics, boat
rides, parties, teas and the addition of new
toys and pets – including a puppy, rabbits,
chicks, canaries and kittens – were also
covered. In 1926, a local newspaper article,
“Like Old Woman Who Lived in Shoe,”
reported that as many as 18 children, plus
a teacher and driver, squeezed into each
of the four cars sent around the West
End to deliver the children to and from
the kindergarten. Another local reporter
described one of the children’s daily
activities as playing store with “real cornflakes, baking soda, and other boxed goods
over a counter, answering a tiny telephone
on a little desk, and wrapping parcels
and greeting customers with professional
manner.”
The children also regularly interacted
with university students. On multiple
occasions, the children rode on homecoming floats, dressed in miniature Millikin
caps and gowns. Home economics students redecorated the kindergarten rooms,
student teachers taught in the classes and,
at one point, the kindergarteners learned
how to “gamble” during a visit to Professor Cole’s class, predicting which of the
wooden alligators placed at the top of an
incline would wobble to the bottom first.
A September 1948 issue of Decaturian
announced the kindergarten was closed,
though it didn’t explain why, saying, “the
years of dodging kittie-cars and tricycles on
the Conservatory west forty are over for the
university students.” Perhaps its 35-year
history can best be summed up by a 1925
newspaper advertisement for the program,
headlined: “Learning by doing … Millikin
Conservatory Kindergarten.” Performance
learning has long been a guiding principle
at Millikin University, even for its youngest
students. Q
Amanda Pippitt is Millikin’s
access services coordinator,
archivist and research
instruction librarian. She has
worked at MU since 2004.
Pippitt earned her master’s
degree in library and information science from
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
anthropology.
SU14_front.indd 6
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Join us March 6-14, 2015, for an Alumni & Friends trip to
Andean Lake Crossing and
ChileanWine Country
with an optional three-night Easter Island Post Tour Extension
Informational Session:
Thursday, July 10, 2014, 2 p.m.,
Millikin Alumni Center
For more information call the Alumni and Development Office at
1-877-JMU-ALUM or visit bit.ly/mu-chile for details.
6/20/14 12:52 PM
Q
WITH YOUR SUPPORT
BLUE AND WHITE CHALLENGE RAISES $200,000 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
A blitz campaign to raise funds for
student scholarships garnered more
than $200,000 over two days in early
May. Nearly 300 alumni, friends and
employees of Millikin gave to the Blue and
White Scholarship Challenge, so named to
represent Millikin’s school colors, as well
as referring to Millikin’s nickname, “Big
Blue,” and the university’s new president,
Dr. Patrick White. President White has
made this particular challenge an important priority during his first year in office.
Most contributions were made online
during the two-day blitz. Short, often
humorous, “blue cheese” videos were
released every few hours as goals were
met. Smaller matching challenges were
made by individual alumni, and the campaign was widely discussed and promoted
on social media by alumni and friends.
“One of the proudest moments of my
presidency to date has been the wholehearted and generous support shown for
the Blue and White Scholarship Challenge,” says White. “On behalf of Millikin
students, thank you to all the donors.”
Each year, Millikin distributes nearly
$30 million in merit and other student
scholarships, more than half of Millikin’s
annual operating budget. These scholarships are awarded to students based on
academic merit, talent and financial need.
Millikin is committed to working with
families to find ways to manage the cost of
a college education, with student financial
aid packages that include academic scholarships, loans, government assistance and
student employment.
“As the oldest of three and the first to
go to college in my family, I am so grateful
for the contributions the donors have
made to Millikin University. [Scholarships] have allowed me to achieve all my
dreams,” said Demetruis Spidle, a senior
from Chicago.
“Without [scholarships], I wouldn’t
be able to afford to go to Millikin,” said
Kishan Tailor, a senior from Forsyth, Ill.
Gifts to the Blue and White Scholarship Challenge continue to be accepted.
Learn more at give.millikin.edu. Q
WEB EXTRA:
Watch “blue cheese” videos at give.millikin.edu.
FOUNDATION AWARDS $100,000 IN TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN NEED
A family foundation established by an
alumni couple provided Millikin with
$100,000 to give scholarships to students
in need. The grant was presented last
summer by the T.S. and Juanita Ballance
Foundation of Decatur, established in
2009 by the late Thomas Stephen “Steve”
Ballance, a 1941 MU graduate, and his
wife, Juanita, a 1956 graduate.
Three scholarships were established:
A $10,000 scholarship for a deserving
student in elementary education; a
$10,000 scholarship for a deserving
student in accounting or business; and
$80,000 in general scholarship funds
to be used by the university to assist
deserving students in any field of study.
“As we discussed with the Ballance
Foundation officers, Millikin is awarding
8
these tuition scholarships to students with
a demonstrated financial need who are
working – contributing through their own
toil to their educational expenses – while
earning a Millikin degree,” says Vice
President of Alumni and Development
Dave Brandon.
“Since Mr. Ballance worked as a
student to earn the money he needed
to complete his Millikin degree, we at
Millikin feel strongly that he would have
enjoyed knowing that his support is going
to ‘help those who help themselves.’ This
investment by the Ballance Foundation
will help open doors that might otherwise
have remained closed for these students
and help them as they strive to become
the kind of high-quality Millikin graduate
who serves, gives back and advances the
quality of life in Decatur and beyond.”
Steve Ballance served as president
of BJ Industries Inc. from 1975 until his
death in 2011. The company operated
Jarvis Drilling Company, which had
formerly been known as S.D. Jarvis
Company before Ballance, a longtime
employee, purchased it. Ballance was
a life member of the Stephen Decatur
Lodge, a member of the Decatur Noon
Kiwanis Club for more than 50 years,
and also a member of Decatur’s Central
Christian Church for more than 50 years,
serving as a deacon there for many years.
Juanita Ballance is a retired teacher who
taught for the Mt. Zion School District.
The couple raised two daughters. Daughter Charlotte Ballance remains active in
the Ballance Foundation. Q
SU14_front.indd 8
6/16/14 10:39 AM
CATERPILLAR MAKES $1 MILLION PAYMENT
As part of its 2011 pledge of $7 million to
the university, the Caterpillar Foundation
made its second payment of $1 million to
Millikin last year. This charitable investment is specifically earmarked for a new
Center for International Education on the
university’s campus.
In 2011, Caterpillar Inc. Chairman and
CEO Doug Oberhelman, a 1975 Millikin
graduate, announced a joint charitable
investment of up to $11.5 million toward
Millikin’s “Transform MU” capital
campaign, the largest show of support in
Millikin’s history.
The investment, made both by the
Caterpillar Foundation and personally by
Oberhelman and his wife, Diane, helps
support the creation of a new university
center that will house the Oberhelman
Leadership Development Center, provides
funding for the Center for International
Education and doubles the number of
students supported by the university’s
Long-Vanderburg Scholars Program for
minority students.
The $1 million second payment
presented by Caterpillar Decatur’s General
Manager Walt Hupe is designated for Caterpillar’s committed total of $3 million to
help develop the Center for International
Education.
Four of Millikin’s international
students, along with Professor Carmen
Aravena, director of the Center for International Education, attended the check
presentation at Caterpillar’s Decatur office:
Jordan Moxey of the Bahamas, a biology
major; Dominic Hart, an exercise science
major from Australia; Mohand Aalsaleh
of Saudi Arabia, a pre-pharmacy major;
and Tom Pardo, an international business
major from France.
Millikin’s partnership with Caterpillar
extends back nearly six decades to 1955
when the company made its first charitable
investment in the university. Q
LEIGHTY LEGACY LIVES ON
During the just completed academic year,
a gift of nearly $1.65
million was received
from the Dr. John A.
Leighty Charitable
Remainder Trust. The
trust, funded by the late Dr. Leighty ’31 in
1999, is designated in support of the university’s natural sciences programs. This
gift provides ongoing financial support
for research, scientific instrumentation,
and performance-learning enhancement
needs, and will create a new endowed
professorship in the natural sciences and
mathematics division.
Dr. Leighty earned his master’s
degree and doctorate from Purdue
University. During his 33-year career at
Eli Lilly and Company, he was a member
of the company’s team that first produced
penicillin in the 1940s; he was also
involved in development and production
of the antibiotics erythromycin and
streptomycin and the analgesic Darvon.
Leighty also served on MU’s board
of trustees from 1967-70. He and his late
wife, the former Ula Davis ’33, established
Millikin’s John and Ula Leighty Research
Award in Biology. He later established the
John and Ula Leighty Science Scholars
Program. He also made multiple gifts
to the science center that now bears his
name and served as honorary chair of the
center’s building campaign. Q
Fischer Fund grants continue to enhance athletics department
Grants from the Burnell and Ermell
Fischer Athletic Enhancement Fund
continue to make a positive difference for
the Millikin athletics department. In the
past two years, 12 grants were awarded
from an endowment fund established in
memory of the late Burnell Fischer, M.D.
’39, and his late wife, Ermell Fischer,
a Decatur native and supporter of the
arts. The Fischers’ two sons, Dr. Burnell
“Burney” Fischer and Terry Fischer,
created the fund as a lasting legacy to
their father, whose belief in participating
in student athletics was a tradition they
wish to perpetuate.
Each year, MU’s athletics department
personnel can apply for funding for
needed equipment or services through
the Fischer Fund. The 12 grants awarded
since February 2013 include: Four sets of
iron grip, urethane weights; eight sets of
variable resistance lifting chains; a Beta 2
baseball pitching machine; two Wall Ball
pitch back nets; two Just Jump mats; a
10’ x 15’ pop-up tent; an automated interval timing device; two stationary training/
exercise bikes for the athletic training
room; three flat-screen televisions for
the weight room; two Man-of-War sleds;
four Vertimax V6Pro platforms; and three
licenses for video analysis software for
individual sport skills. Q
SU14_front.indd 9
9
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Q
TRANSFORM U
COLORFUL
BUT DANGEROUS?
by Tina Cloney, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D.N., C.D.E.
T
HEY ADD COLOR to our lives and to
our food – but what effect do they have
on us? Food dyes are commonly found
in almost every part of our lives – from
shampoos and soaps, to make-up and vitamins
– and yes, even in a wide variety of the foods we
eat. Manufacturers use natural and synthetic food
dyes to make our food look more appealing by
replacing natural colors lost due to processing or
adding color to otherwise
colorless foods. Most of us
10
have a small box with a rainbow of the four
primary food dyes in our kitchen cabinets, used
to color birthday frosting, Easter eggs and other
foods we eat. As a nation, we consume five times
more food dyes than we did in 1955.
Through the years, though, food dyes have
come under suspicion as possible culprits in causing everything from hyperactivity in children to
allergies to cancer. Dr. Benjamin Feingold made
the first claims regarding a widely-assumed link
between food dyes and hyperactivity in the early
1970s. In the early 1980s, however, the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that, while
some research is supportive of a potential link
between food dyes and child behavior problems,
no conclusive proof was found and more research
was needed. Children who already have ADHD
may just be more sensitive to food dyes, the
FDA said, resulting in more unwanted
behavior.
Other research has suggested a
possible but unconfirmed link between
food dyes and allergies. However, the
findings are not
significant, not
SU14_front.indd 10
6/16/14 10:39 AM
conclusive, or the research contains some form of
research error.
Several food dyes were banned by the FDA
following research that suggested a positive
correlation between that specific dye and certain
types of cancer. Currently, three of the most
widely used synthetic dyes – Red No. 40,
Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 – were found
through FDA testing to contain low levels of
cancer-causing compounds. The Center for Public
Interest has petitioned the FDA to ban eight of the
nine remaining synthetic food dyes used in the
U.S. due to the growing evidence.
As a result of several studies in Europe,
manufacturers in the United Kingdom were asked
to remove all synthetic food dyes from their foods
in 2010. Manufacturers who did not voluntarily
comply were required by the European Union to
add warning labels to their products noting that
the food contains synthetic food dyes that “may
have an adverse effect on activity and attention
in children.” Since the U.K. ruling, many manufacturers have switched to plant-based food dyes,
deriving food coloring from natural sources such
as grape skins, beet juice and carrots.
Contrast that to the U.S., where the food
you’re eating could contain synthetic dyes
derived from petroleum. Interestingly, some
manufacturers and fast-food restaurants use
synthetic food dyes for their products distributed
in the U.S. but use natural food dyes or no coloring at all for those same products distributed in
other countries.
While this debate continues and the negative
evidence mounts, use these methods to reduce the
amount of synthetic dyes in your diet and safeguard your health and the health of your family:
LIMIT PROCESSED FOODS, AND ADD MORE
WHOLE FOODS. Aim for more color in your
diet, not from processed foods, but from
fruits and vegetables. The natural hues in these
foods provide several health benefits.
CHECK THE COLOR SOURCE. If a food is colorful
but not a fruit or vegetable, look at the label to
determine if natural sources of coloring have been
used. Examples of natural dyes include beet juice,
beta-carotene, blueberry juice concentrate, carrot
juice, grape skin extract, paprika, purple sweet
potato or corn, red cabbage and turmeric.
READ THE LABEL TO REDUCE OR LIMIT YOUR
INTAKE OF SYNTHETIC DYES. These are the nine
synthetic dyes currently in use today: Blue No. 1
and Blue No. 2; Red No. 3 and Red No. 40; Green
No. 3; Red No. 40 (Allura Red); Yellow No. 5
(Tartrazine) and Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow).
BE PROACTIVE BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL
HEALTH RISKS. If you or your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, has behavior issues or a family
history of cancer, try removing major sources
of food dyes to determine if behavior improves
and/or to reduce your risk in case later research
should find that these food dyes present more risk
than once thought. These major sources include
candy, brightly-colored cereals, fruit drinks and
soda. With the exception of fortified cereals, these
foods contain little to no nutritive value and a lot
of sugar, anyway. (Although sugar has not been
found to increase symptoms of hyperactivity in
children with or without ADHD, excess sugar can
result in other unwanted conditions including
dental cavities and childhood obesity. And if these
nutrition-robbing foods take the place of healthier
foods in the diet, the child’s overall health, growth
and development can be negatively affected.)
The best advice for anyone, with or without
ADHD or a family history of cancer, is to follow
the new MyPlate recommendations found at
myplate.gov to promote overall health and
academic performance. Q
FDA FACTS:
TO DYE FOR
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) divides food dyes
into two categories:
Certifiable. These dyes are
man-made, derived primarily
from petroleum and coal
sources. They include Yellow
No. 5 (Tartrazine) and No. 6
(Sunset Yellow), Blue No. 1,
Green No. 3, Red No. 3 and No.
40 (Allura Red).
Exempt. These dyes are
obtained from plant, animal or
mineral sources and include
caramel color and grape color
extract.
Both categories must meet
Dr. Tina Cloney is chair of Millikin’s
FDA safety requirements before
exercise science and sport depart-
the dyes are added to food,
ment and a health and nutrition
based on the average consump-
professor. She is a registered dietitian,
tion per person and toxicolog-
certified diabetes educator and board
ical data. The FDA reports that
certified specialist in sports dietetics.
the average consumer, adult or
Her passion is communicating the role of nutrition in
sport performance and nutrition and exercise in
disease prevention and management.
child, consumes significantly
less than the established safety
levels.
Q
SU14_front.indd 11
11
6/16/14 10:39 AM
Photos by Alida Duff Sullivan ’06.
SU14_front.indd 12
JAN DEVORE
STEPS DOWN –
BUT NOT OUT
6/16/14 10:40 AM
CORNERSTONE
D
OES JAN DEVORE know
everyone? Of course not. But
in her 35 years with Millikin,
the longtime director of alumni
relations and former dean of students definitely earned her legendary reputation for
remembering individual students by name,
even long after they were alumni. Often, it
didn’t matter if she hadn’t seen the alum
for some time or if his or her appearance
was no longer that of a fresh-faced college
student. Jan has been known to recognize a
former student by voice alone.
Last June, Jan retired from Millikin as
senior director of alumni and donor engagement. An employee farewell reception was
followed by a second retirement reception
for alumni and friends at last fall’s Homecoming. At both, Jan was praised for a job
well done, and the praises keep coming.
“Thanks are due to Jan for being a
constant source of encouragement and
‘hands on’ support to Millikin students for
nearly 35 years,” said Millikin President
Emeritus Doug Zemke ’66. “As students
transitioned to alumni, Jan became a caring
friend and an inspiration for them to ‘do
good and to do well’ in their adult lives. She
is the personification of the institution that
she loves so dearly. Once you become Jan’s
friend, you have become her friend for life.”
That is no exaggeration. After beginning her Millikin career as a resident
director for the student development staff,
Jan Devore enthusiastically immersed
herself in the Millikin community. It was
rare not to see her face at a Millikin event.
Through the years, her name became
synonymous with events like Freshman
Camp, Commencement and Homecoming.
If not leading the event herself, she was
troubleshooting it and working the room
like a seasoned politician, making sure
everyone felt welcome. Students and alums
alike greeted her warmly as “Jan Devore!”
and shared their latest news – a new job,
a new move, a new spouse. Many alumni
treat her like family, inviting her to their
weddings and letting her stay in their homes
when she’s on the road.
“As a student or an alum, your life was
impacted by Jan,” says Michelle Stremmel
’95. “You were either inspired, encouraged,
and mentored by her, as I was, or you
greatly benefited by the programs, organizations, and events which she created. She
gave freely of her time and energy to ensure
that Millikin students received as much
education outside the classroom as we did
inside, and in recent years, she worked to
ensure we remained connected to campus
and its rich history.”
In recognition of her positive influence on generations of Millikin students
and alumni and her enthusiasm for their
achievements both during and after their
time at MU, efforts have been underway
since her retirement to name something
permanent on campus in her honor.
“We seek to honor her amazing legacy
at the institution by naming the student
lobby in the proposed new University
Center in her name,” said Trustee Emeritus
Peggy Madden, who traveled overseas with
Jan on many alumni and friends trips.
“I ask you to consider joining me in this
effort to thank our dear friend and give her
name permanence on the campus she loves
so much; for her heart, for her humor, for
her help,” Madden says.
To name this high-traffic lobby in the
proposed new center, more than half of
the construction cost of the space must be
raised from alumni and friends of the university, per Millikin board policy. The original goal was to raise the $400,000 needed
to name the space the Dr. Jan Devore
Student Lobby. However, supporters now
feel an even more fitting tribute would be to
raise the entire $775,300 to construct the
space. Many alumni have already given, and
at press time the total stood at $375,494.
“We believe it is a fitting legacy that
Jan’s name will become a permanent part of
the institution she has served so well,” said
Jan’s first MU boss, former VP of Student
Development Joe Houston.
Learn more about the effort to name
the lobby at http://bit.ly/devore-lobby. And
in the meantime, watch for Jan at Millikin
events. She may have stepped down as an
employee, but her heart still belongs to the
Millikin family. Q
1
2
3
1 Retired registrar Walt Wessel ’69 serenades Jan
during her on-campus retirement party. Wessel himself
retired last August after a 40-year Millikin career.
2 Jan passed the torch to 1993 Millikin graduate Gina
Bianchi, the new senior director of alumni and donor
engagement (see page 2 for more about Gina).
3 Three alumni who had worked closely with her as
associate directors helped Jan celebrate at her Homecoming retirement party. From left, Tim Martin ’10,
Jaclyn Weisenborn Cantwell ’09, currently associate
director of alumni engagement, and Dan Stuby ’07.
Deb Hale Kirchner is senior director of communications for the alumni and development office.
SU14_front.indd 13
Q
13
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Q
ZOOMING IN
2
35 YEARS OF
BIG BLUE MEMORIES
A
FTER 35 YEARS on the Millikin
campus, plus the fact that she’s widely
considered to be an enthusiastic
volunteer Millikin archivist, it wasn’t a
surprise to find an office full of memories belonging to Jan Devore, longtime alumni relations
director and former dean of students. Let’s take a
look at a few of the items Jan had displayed in her
office until her retirement last summer.
1 1
QUILT: Before she became alumni relations
director in 1996, Jan had worked in the office
of student development since 1978, ultimately
rising to the position of dean of students before
switching departments. One of her responsibilities in student development was to head up the
annual Freshman Camp that eventually became
known as Millicamp. Each year’s camp was held
the weekend before classes began at Allerton Park
near Monticello, Ill., and each year had a memorable theme. A former MU resident director,
Shelia Higgs Burkhalter, crafted this quilt with
T-shirts from several of the camps.
2 HAWAII GROUP PHOTO: Jan often hosted
travel trips for Millikin’s alumni and
friends. Among the many photos from various
trips in her office was this one of Jan with a group
of travelers on a cruise to the Hawaiian islands.
2
3 BULLDOG: Jan is well known for her
tenacity in making sure each alumni event
was done right, down to the smallest detail.
Following her hosting of an alumni and friends
trip to Ireland, Scotland and England, Kevin
McGreevey ’78 presented Jan with this “Bulldog
Award” in recognition of her efforts to make sure
the needs of all the travelers were met.
4 3
14
ART PRINT: In an office bursting with
artifacts and gifts gathered through the
years, it would be easy to excuse her for not
remembering each one’s history, but that’s not
Jan. She knows the what and the who, including
that this art print was given to her by Janet Saum
Dorn ’84.
5 UCHOIR PHOTO: For several years, Jan has
traveled with the award-winning University
Choir on its annual U.S. tour each January, riding
on the bus with the students, and serving as a
troubleshooter and a welcoming face for MU
alumni and friends at each concert stop. This
photo, signed by each of the 2013 tour members,
was given to her in appreciation of her role as one
of the vocal ensemble’s biggest supporters. Jan
traveled with the group on their Midwest tour in
January and to the Baltic States in May.
SU14_front.indd 14
6/16/14 10:40 AM
2
7
4
3
6
5
6 HOLE-IN-ONE PLAQUE: A golfer since age
8, Jan has won or placed near the top in
several golf tournaments, even though she has
never had golf lessons and played sporadically
while working at MU. With more time to play in
retirement, another hole-in-one may lie ahead.
7 STUDENT SENATE PHOTO: The engraving
on this photo of the 1992 Student Senate
executive board members with Jan as their adviser
says it all: “Thanks for everything.” Q
6
7
SU14_front.indd 15
15
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Q
FACULTY PROFILE
THE
PHILOSOPHY DISEASE
P
HILOSOPHY IS EVERYWHERE if you
just pay attention to it,” says Dr. Robert
Money, professor of philosophy. “If I’m
watching a movie, looking at magazine
headlines, hearing a news story, a joke or a rock
lyric: It doesn’t matter. I can find it.”
Money has been watching for it since he was
a child. He recalls watching his father, a Baptist
minister, weed the grass, wondering why that was
necessary. “We got into this back and forth asking
why he had to do that – why God would put
weeds in the grass and why he was eliminating
something God had put there – questions like
that,” Money says.
That conversation foreshadowed a
love of philosophical tension that would
be cultivated during his undergraduate
years studying political science at Furman
University in Greenville, S.C., where he
met Dr. Jim Edwards. “He was the best professor I’ve ever had,” Money says. “I took
a course he taught my junior year called,
‘Law, Justice and the State,’ and it was the
bomb! I couldn’t think about anything else.”
Aspiring philosophy instructors must
have the philosophy “disease,” as Money
puts it – that constant need to seek the truth
in all things – in order to legitimize pursuing
this line of work. Money’s disease was strong
enough to land him a tenure-tracked job at
Millikin in 1999.
In the classroom, Money keeps his cards
close to the vest, careful not to reveal his own
opinions on the philosophical and moral issues
discussed in class. “I don’t want anything to
contaminate the student from being able to
speak his or her mind,” Money says. Instead,
Money role-plays, taking the view of Socrates
one day and John Stuart Mill the next.
Six years into his time at Millikin, Money
found a few students who were similarly
infected with the philosophy bug on the
newly created Millikin Moot Court.
In their first year, Millikin
students took both first and second place
and outstanding student justice awards at the
16
Modern Illinois Government (MIG) simulation,
where schools from across Illinois compete, arguing different sides of past real-world court cases.
Millikin has taken first place in seven consecutive
years of competition, including this spring.
Money eventually turned the team into a
class, “Appellate Legal Reasoning.” “It’s a lot of
role-playing,” Money says. “They are attorneys in
front of a court. I’m the judge. I’m interrupting
and asking questions. We imitate the rules at the
competition.”
This attention to detail is much needed,
building up to a four-day competition. “It’s a lot
of work,” Money says. “You argue once in the
morning on one side of the case, and you know
you’re going to come back that afternoon on the
opposite side of the case. You scout other teams,
hear other arguments and expound on your own.”
In the opinion of Kevin Stocks ’13, firstplace winner at the 2011 MIG along with David
Anderson ’11, Money’s prep work makes all the
difference. “Year after year, top to bottom, every
Millikin team is prepared to compete with anybody,” Stocks says. “In the past three years, only
three teams from other schools have advanced to
the semi-finals. We go into the competition armed
with the tools to win, and Dr. Money deserves all
the credit in the world for that.”
Money attributes the team’s success to their
dedication to practice and inherent skill. “Just like
in football, you’ve got to recruit good players to
win games. You have to recruit good students to
win moot court.”
Above all, Money aims to have fun with his
Millikin position. Though philosophy is everywhere, he enjoys seeing it in the minds of his
students the most.
“It’s a great bonus to really enjoy what you
do for your job,” he says. “I hardly distinguish
between my job, work and fun.” It seems Money
is afflicted with the philosophy “disease” and in
serious condition. Q
Jackson Lewis ’13 was a writing intern for the alumni
and development office for two years. Originally from
Dallas, he currently lives and works in Chicago.
SU14_front.indd 16
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Honor these faculty and administrators with
your gift to one or more of these
FACULTY/STAFF FUNDS.
THE CHEMISTRY
FELLOWS FUND
This fund was established
by Dr. Clarence Josefson,
professor of chemistry, to
support the research of an
outstanding senior chemistry
major. Alumni and friends of MU are asked to give
to the fund in honor of Dr. J., who completed 40
years of teaching at Millikin in May 2013.
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
AND LEARNING AWARD
The Dr. Jerald Hunt and
Dr. Darlene Hoffman Award
for Excellence in Teaching and
Learning, named in honor of
two emeriti professors, will
annually recognize one or more senior education
students who embody James Millikin’s philosophy
of integrated theory and practice.
THE CHEMISTRY
FELLOWS FUND
Dr. Ed Acheson, associate
professor of chemsitry, taught
at Millikin for 35 years, retiring
in May 2014. Alumni and
friends are asked to give to
the Chemistry Fellows Fund in his honor, for it is
Dr. Acheson’s wish to see the fund established by
his colleague, Dr. J., continue to grow.
LINDA SLAGELL
STUDENT
SUCCESS FUND
This fund will provide
emergency financial
assistance to qualified
students. Linda Slagell has
served as a mentor and guide for hundreds of
Millikin students during her more than 20 years
at the university.
THE DR. JAN DEVORE
STUDENT LOBBY FUND
The Dr. Jan Devore Student
Lobby in the new University
Center will give a permanent
presence on the Millikin
campus in recognition of this
administrator’s outstanding 35-year career in
both student development and alumni relations.
DR. DAVID GOLDEN
MEMORIAL FUND
After the death of Dr. David
“Doc” Golden, his family
requested that donations be
sent to Millikin toward the
goal of naming the green
room in the planned new Center for Theatre and
Dance in his memory.
Learn more and make your gift at bit.ly/mu-give.
SU14_front.indd 17
17
6/16/14 10:53 AM
Q
FACULTY PROFILE
of people in a lot of places.
I went all over the South
Pacific, all over the Caribbean
and all over Europe.” In his
early 20s, Holmes was tasked
with looking after more than
40 singers between the ages
of 16 and 25 in foreign countries he had never visited.
After teaching high
school music in Albuquerque,
Holmes left to pursue his
doctorate at Arizona State
ABOVE: Dr. Brad Holmes warms up with the alumni choir during the
University, where he met
Homecoming 2013 festivities.
his wife, Beth. They were married just
two weeks after both were offered music
positions at Luther College in Iowa, where
they served as assistants in a nationally
known choral program.
However, as he gained more experience directing, and even earned tenure
at Luther, Holmes found himself wanting
R. BRAD HOLMES, professor
to direct his own program. “I had some
of music and director of choral
visions of my own that I wanted to see
activities, has been traveling
played out,” Holmes says, so in 1991, the
the world since his college
couple moved to Decatur so Brad could
years, sharing his love for the beauty of
serve as director of choral activities and
collaborative music. “I knew from very
conduct the Millikin University Choir
early on,” Holmes says, “that I wanted to
(UChoir). Beth conducted secondary choirs.
put people together to make music.”
Holmes replaced the late Dr. Richard
Growing up in Albuquerque, N.M.,
Hoffland, director of choral activities and
Holmes was surrounded by music. He
professor emeritus of music, who had led
performed in the Albuquerque Boys Choir,
Millikin choir and the Vespers concert
played oboe in the Youth Symphony and for
tradition with his wife, Kay, for more than
musicals, played saxophone in a jazz band,
30 years. “There was certainly a feeling of
directed a group of fellow vocal students
stability and tradition, but I also saw room
and often sang with his family.
for growth,” Holmes says.
His passion for collaborative music
Vespers blossomed further as Holmes
led him to Las Vegas. “I knew of this group
decided to include every Millikin choir. To
doing backup vocals,” Holmes says. “They
showcase the more than 300 Vespers perwere going onstage in two weeks, desperate
formers, Holmes set up surround-sound.
for a baritone and, to be honest, I was the
“We broke the proscenium wall and
right size for the costumes they had.”
spilled out into the audience,” he says. “We
Holmes eventually pulled the plug
stood choirs in the aisles so they could help
on his Vegas gig to spend his summers
the audience sing. It’s like the audience is
working, first with the Continentals, an
listening through headphones.”
international ministry of Christian singers,
Holmes also has found success leading
then with various church organizations in
the University Choir outside Decatur. In
need of a director. And during summers
2007, UChoir was invited to sing at the
between his undergraduate studies at the
American Choral Directors Association
University of New Mexico, Holmes had his
(ACDA) national conference in Miami.
first taste of worldwide touring.
“That’s probably the biggest jump
“We weren’t always the greatest
we’ve made in terms of exposure to the
musically,” he says, “but we sang to a lot
THE PURSUIT
OF BEAUTY
D
18
country,” he says. “For us, this is the Final
Four of the choral world. For Millikin to
be brought into that conference as one of
only 10 university choirs was just huge.”
Millikin’s performance in Miami was so
stunning that nearly 100 higher education
directors and ACDA representatives sent
Holmes letters of congratulations.
One letter was from Dr. Weston Noble,
conductor emeritus of Luther College and
“really an icon of the choral scene,” Holmes
says. Noble said, “in my conversations with
colleagues as to choirs who impressed them
the most, the Millikin University Choir kept
coming up over and over.”
Choral directors from around the
country were talking about Millikin’s
Cinderella story. “There was a basketball
team from nowhere, Winthrop College,
that got into the Sweet Sixteen that year,”
Holmes says, “and people were calling us
the ‘Winthrop of Choirs.’”
Last spring, Holmes received Millikin’s Research and Artistic Achievement
Award recognizing that remarkable ACDA
conference UChoir performance in Miami,
Holmes’ own compositions, plus his more
than 200 guest conducting engagements
around the U.S., including Carnegie Hall.
But he insists that he is simply one part
of a greater whole. He praises a Millikin
voice faculty led by Helen “Hadi” Gibbons,
associate professor of music, and conductors Guy Forbes, Ted Hesse ’93, Beth
Holmes and Matt Leese, who have only
three months each fall semester to prepare
freshmen singers to perform in Vespers
for four sold-out performances in Kirkland
Fine Arts Center. “They have a much
tougher job than I do,” Holmes says.
For Holmes, each hour spent teaching
takes him closer to the joy of bringing
people together to make music. “When
people sing together it creates something
outside of themselves. It’s beautiful,” he
says. “There’s a knitting together that is
unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I
guess that’s what grabbed me around the
neck and dragged me into this pursuit.” Q
Jackson Lewis ’13 was a writing intern for the
alumni and development office for two years.
He currently works in Chicago.
SU14_front.indd 18
6/16/14 10:40 AM
Summer
READING LIST
2014
Q
SECTION NAME
There’s no better time than summer to grab a book and head
for the beach, the front porch or your favorite easy chair for
a quick escape into the world of your choice. Following is a
partial list of selections from this year’s summer reading
list, as recommended by Millikin faculty and staff. Be sure to
check out the complete list at http://bit.ly/staleylibrary.
“THE BOOKMAN’S TALE: A NOVEL OF OBSESSION”
by Charlie Lovett
Peter Byerly, a shy but passionate book restorer, collector and seller,
comes across a painting resembling his deceased wife that leads
him into the world of dishonest booksellers, greedy collectors and a
questionably authentic text that may or may not secure Shakespeare
as the writer of his own works. The story includes both fact and fiction as it shifts smoothly among Peter’s present life and his past life
with his beloved wife. It is entertaining, informative and satisfying
to my inner bibliophile.
Recommended by Judi Crowe ’91, assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Center.
“NOS4A2” by Joe Hill
Soon after little Victoria McQueen is given her first bicycle, she
discovers she can travel wherever she wants simply by conjuring
up an old, windy covered bridge as a portal. As an adult, Vic comes
up against Charlie Manx, a Nosferatu-ish man, and his accomplice,
Gas Mask Man, who drive a 1938 RR Wraith bearing the titled
license plate numbers. They, too, have the ability to travel through
time, particularly to Christmasland, where children are taken to
remain innocently blissful. But there’s something clearly wrong with
Christmasland, which Vic must confront in order to save her child.
“THE BOOK THIEF”
by Markus Zusak
Actually this book is at
the top of my summer
reading list. I was going
to hurry through it so
I could write a recommendation. However,
after reading just a
few pages I decided to
save it for a time when
I could really enjoy the book. “The Book
Thief” is about a young girl in Germany
during World War II who steals a book
and then learns to read. Her love for
reading changes her life. This book has
won many awards and USA Today says
it “deserves a place on the same shelf
with ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne
Frank.”
Recommended by Cindie Zelhart ’10, English
department administrative assistant and
coordinator of the University Studies program.
Recommended by Judi Crowe.
“THE GOLD FINCH”
by Donna Tartt
Beautifully written
prose about a young
man, Theo Decker,
and a famous stolen
painting of a Dutch
master. A wildly
inventive read spanning a decade and
several countries, the story following
Decker’s quest for his dead mother’s
favorite painting is so much more than
a mystery: it’s a meditation on grief,
loss, choosing your family when you
have none, all-consuming love, antique
furniture, Russian gangsters and the
role art should play in our lives.
“MARVEL COMICS:
THE UNTOLD STORY”
by Sean Howe
Sean Howe writes
an engaging history
teeming with interviews and insider
information. Howe
paints a clear picture
of the ups and downs
of Marvel Comics.
Learn more about Stan Lee, Jack Kirby,
Jim Steranko, and Chris Claremont
(and many more), along with the origin
of some of your favorite superheroes.
Recommended by Jeff Kirchoff,
assistant professor of English.
“THE MAGICIANS”
by Lev Grossman
A young man grows
up feeling crushed
and saddened that
real life is not as exciting as the Narnia-like
world he reads about
in fantasy novels.
When one day he
stumbles onto a high school for young
magicians, he imagines he’s hit the jackpot. Things, of course, are not as they
seem. Written in the style of literary
realism, “The Magicians” is a perfect
gruesome read about what happens
when your wildest dreams come true.
Recommended by Katie Schmid Henson.
Recommended by Katie Schmid Henson ’06,
visiting lecturer in English.
SU14_front.indd 19
19
6/16/14 10:41 AM
SU14_front.indd 20
6/16/14 10:41 AM
POSITIONED
TO SUCCEED
by Deb Hale Kirchner
H
E CAME TO MILLIKIN at a transitional time in the university
history, signing up for a temporary role as interim president
while the search for a permanent president was held. From his
first day on July 1, 2013, though, it was clear that Dr. Patrick White was
more than just a seat-warmer for the new leader.
He put in long hours. He made hard decisions; some controversial. He
publicly mourned with the family and campus community when a student
died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed medical condition. He took time
to get to know students personally, stopping to hold conversations in the
hallways, in the cafeteria, and even on the sidewalks as he walked back
and forth to the Huss House each day. He met individually with dozens of
faculty and administrators. Employees, current students and community
members observed him closely, perhaps a bit wary after the unexpected
departure of previous president Dr. Harold Jeffcoat after less than two
years in office.
In the end, a favorable consensus of the former president of Wabash
College was reflected in an Oct. 9 announcement by Van Dukeman, chair
of Millikin’s board of trustees. After exactly 100 days in office, White was
Photos by Michael Rauch.
named Millikin University’s 15th president, eliminating the need for a
SU14_front.indd 21
planned national search process for a new president.
21
6/16/14 10:41 AM
Q
POSITIONED TO SUCCEED
ABOVE: Dr. Patrick White and his wife, Chris.
“It’s so easy to
get excited about
Millikin. We are
doing exactly what
so many in our
society say higher
education should
be doing.”
- Dr. Patrick White
22
“He gets it,” says Dave Brandon, MU’s vice
president of alumni and development and a
member of the president’s cabinet. “He understands
Millikin and the unique nature of the performance
learning that we do here, and he clearly communicates it to students, prospective students and
alumni and friends of the university.”
“It’s so easy to get excited about Millikin,”
White says. “We are doing exactly what so many
in our society say higher education should be
doing: helping students get jobs and be prepared to
continue to grow in those jobs. True to the vision of
Founder James Millikin, our students are not only
prepared to compete in the real world, they are also
primed to become leaders. I’m excited to be at an
institution with a distinctive performance-learning
mission and a distinctive sense of itself.”
His enthusiasm is tempered by an awareness
of the serious challenges facing Millikin and many
other universities: stiff competition for students; a
growing number of high school students who are
unprepared to perform at the college level and/
or with families unable to contribute to the cost of
their education; rising operational expenses; and
aging facilities.
“Like everyone in American higher education,
Millikin faces significant challenges,” White says.
“I wish I could make some of them go away. But I
am grateful for the work all of us are doing together
to meet these challenges and even more to shape,
frame and enact our best imagination of Millikin
together, a task where each one of us – student,
faculty member, staff member, alumnus, friend
and supporter of Millikin – plays a role. We must
remain nimble in our thinking and in our actions
to address the complex challenges facing higher
education and Millikin specifically.”
Among the immediate pressing Millikin
challenges White tackled was the search for a
replacement for Barry Pearson, former vice president of academic affairs, who left last year to take a
position at Purchase College in New York. During
a national search for his successor, White assumed
the responsibilities of that position in addition to
wearing the presidential ball cap. The new provost,
Dr. Jeffery Aper, joins Millikin this summer (see
related article, page 3). His new title reflects White’s
collegial and collaborative style.
“Some faculty thought it would be good to have
the position called provost,” White says. “I first
resisted because the provost title is usually associated with much larger universities, but in considering the need expressed by many to emphasize
how important the academic life is at Millikin, I
thought a change was needed. Though each Millikin
vice president must be committed to the education
mission of the university, ‘Provost’ is a good name
for a chief academic officer and will help us see the
position anew.”
The renaming of the VPAA position is just one
example of White’s intentional focus on listening
to reach goals successfully. He also sees the
importance of listening in another role, one he calls
“storyteller.”
“One of the odd things about being a university president is that we carry stories across the
6/19/14 2:49 PM
country,” he says. “I hear stories from our
alumni that I share with our students to
inspire them to achieve, and I hear stories
from our students that I share with our alumni
to encourage them about the good things happening at Millikin.”
By all reports, White successfully led Wabash
College as president from 2006 through June 2013.
His tenure included one of the most challenging
periods in that school’s history as the institution
grappled with the national economic downturn,
just as many other colleges and universities across
the nation. In Wabash’s case, White managed
the school through a significant downsizing of its
endowment during the recession that began in
2008. When he announced in May 2012 that he
would be stepping down the following year, the
Wabash board chair specifically cited that period as
evidence of his leadership skills.
“The board of trustees is grateful to Pat White
for his steady, thoughtful and effective leadership of
the college in a period of great economic difficulty
for the country and for higher education,” said
Wabash Board Chair Stephen S. Bowen in a news
release issued by the college at that time.
White also led efforts to complete Wabash’s
new strategic plan and to surpass a $60 million
capital campaign goal. In addition, during his
presidency the college reached record levels of
enrollment and gifts to the annual fund; obtained
donations to create several new endowed faculty
chairs; formed strong new programs and majors,
including a dual-degree engineering program
with Purdue University; constructed new football,
baseball and soccer facilities; and forged stronger
bonds with the Crawfordsville, Indiana community.
White now looks forward to helping Millikin
face its own unique challenges and opportunities.
“I firmly believe that Millikin’s best days are
still ahead,” he says. “Last June, my wife, Chris, and
I were hustling and bustling to move to Decatur
to take up what we thought would be an interim
position. We were anticipating an important year
of good work at a great university with the nervousness that comes with any new adventure. Chris and
I are both grateful for the welcomes we received
from everyone we’ve met. You’ve made us feel at
home. We look forward to meeting more of you in
the months to come, and we also look forward to
more time, more good work together.” Q
PRESIDENT WHITE AT A GLANCE
Dr. Patrick White, who was named Millikin’s 15th president in
October, previously served seven years as the 15th president
of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. During his tenure at
Wabash, an all-men’s college, White developed a studentfocused strategic plan; guided the college through the financial
turmoil of 2008-09; completed a comprehensive academic
program review and a self-study report leading to reaccreditation; secured a number of grants to establish new programs;
achieved success in the Challenge of Excellence capital
campaign that exceeded its $60 million goal; and completed
a $6 million athletics field campaign.
Prior to his seven years at Wabash, White served as vice
president and dean of faculty at Saint Mary’s College, Notre
Dame, Ind., from 2002-06. He also served the all-women’s
college as associate dean of faculty from 1988-2002, and
as a professor of English. He spearheaded a number of
academic initiatives at Saint Mary’s, including establishing
the Center for Academic Innovation and creating grants
that supported collaborative research between faculty
and students and among the faculty members themselves.
White was also one of the designers of Saint Mary’s Center
for Women’s Intercultural Leadership, a Lilly Endowmentfunded initiative.
Earlier in his career, White was the chair of the department of language and literature at Pfieffer College in
Misenheimer, N.C., from 1985-88, and taught at Westmar
College in Le Mars, Iowa, from 1976-85. A native of
Dixon, Ill., and a National Merit Scholar, Dr. White
earned his undergraduate degree in English from the
University of Chicago in 1971, his master’s degree in
English from the University of Iowa in 1975, and his
doctorate of English and American literature, also from
the University of Iowa, in 1980.
White and his wife, Chris, a family nurse practioner,
have twin daughters, Katie and Molly, and a son,
Paddy. Paddy and his wife, Eileen, have two children,
Norah and Oliver.
BLUE-TIE GUY: Clearly wishing to show his Big
Blue spirit, President Patrick White is rarely seen on
campus without a Millikin-blue tie and often wears a
Deb Hale Kirchner is senior director of communica-
Big Blue baseball cap to athletic and other events on
tions in the alumni and development office.
campus and off.
23
6/19/14 2:49 PM
A MUSEUM GROWS IN CHICAGO
by Katie Liesener ’03
N
24
IKE SMYTH WHITCOMB ’66 looks the
part of a polished museum director.
Warm smile, professional, no-nonsense
manner. Blond hair that converges into a neat
chignon. Her office, on Chicago’s stately Wacker
Drive, is lined with photos of a handsome, graying
man – her husband of 30 years. She has just
returned from previewing the American Writers
Museum’s first traveling exhibit when suddenly
the enthusiastic Tri-Delta sorority coed still inside
bursts forth.
“It was totally cool!”
That same afternoon Whitcomb sprung into
action, taking photos and interviewing designers
for the museum website. It was the kind of work
she once did as an intern at the Decatur Herald
& Review, where an editor gave her this advice:
“Find the human angle to make a story real.”
“That’s the way I think about everything,”
she says. “How do I make this real?”
Making the intangible real is Whitcomb’s
challenge as the new executive director of the
American Writers Museum (see sidebar). She
must raise money for a museum that does not
yet exist.
The museum board chose Whitcomb based
on her five decades as a fundraising force, raising
hundreds of millions of dollars for nonprofits
during her career. Again and again, Whitcomb
asks people to suspend cynicism and disbelief,
see her vision of a better future, and help make
that vision real.
If she achieves her goal, the U.S. will garner
its first museum to celebrate American literary
heritage, and Chicago will notch a cultural
landmark.
“I’m banking my entire reputation on this,”
she says.
The museum is a prime project for Whitcomb, who reads voraciously. As a Millikin
student, she read all the books for her European
novels class in the first week. Even now, her red
handbag perpetually totes a book. She reads two
to three volumes per week to explore subjects
of interest, most recently including Judaism,
Parisian history, meteorology and Frank Lloyd
Wright.
“There’s a lot of talk today about specialization,” she says. “At Millikin, I learned how to be a
SU14_front.indd 24
6/16/14 10:41 AM
Q
O
generalist, how to acquire knowledge. You don’t
have to be an expert if you know how to find the
answers you need.”
After graduating from MU with a bachelor’s
degree in English, Whitcomb worked in fashion,
education and government. She was hired as
executive director of Chicago’s American Diabetes
Association chapter when she was 25. In that role,
she organized the city’s first bike-a-thon, raising a
then remarkable $100,000 in a single day.
Whitcomb attributes her success to three
traits. “I’m not shy,” she says. “I have no problem asking people to give to something I think
they should care about. I also have no problem
hearing ‘no.’”
At the time Whitcomb began her fundraising
career, she was an anomaly. Fundraising was an
overwhelmingly male profession; she knew no
other women in senior management. When she
became president of the Chicago chapter of the
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP),
a colleague suggested she chair meetings from
the side of the table, lest her cohorts bristle at
a woman presiding over them. She took that
advice, but shortly after she helped form a networking group for women in development to help
them overcome barriers against women in the
field. That networking group has since spawned
chapters in other cities and, coincidentally or not,
fundraising has transformed into a female-dominated profession.
In 1981, Whitcomb formed her own fundraising consultation business but surprisingly
soon found herself in desperate need of funds.
Her heating bills had soared to $800 a month,
and her fledgling business was at risk.
Fortunately, she found herself on the receiving end of a donation when her future husband,
Jamie McKechnie, paid her bill so she could grow
the business. Whitcomb had met McKechnie,
then executive director of the National Hearing
Association, to discuss fundraising strategies,
but soon they were dating. She calls his bailout a
lifesaver.
“If it hadn’t been for Jamie,” she says, “I
would not have made it.”
Since then, Whitcomb’s company has helped
raise funds for arts organizations, hospitals,
shelters, conservation groups and other causes,
including Millikin’s “Advancing the Vision” capital campaign that raised more than $125 million
from 1996-2006. She sees her work as her legacy.
“I walk down the street and can see which
churches are in better shape, or libraries or
schools,” she said. “That’s a point of pride for me.
I want to make a difference in the world. This is
how I do it.”
Last November, Whitcomb saw the AWM
museum director position posted in the newsletter of her women’s networking group. She
applied and was offered the job within two
weeks. But there was a heartbreaking complication: Her husband was dying. Jamie had
developed pneumonia and other health issues
following what should have been a routine
surgery. Whitcomb had attended his hospital
bedside every day for months. Caretaking was
her full-time job.
When she told him of the offer, Jamie
encouraged her to take it. No longer able to
speak, he mouthed, “I’m proud of you.”
“I think he saw it as an opportunity at a time
that was going to be hard,” she says. “He knew
he wasn’t getting better.” McKechnie died in
January.
The museum’s first goal – raising $10
million by 2016 – has been called “ambitious” by
one nonprofit consultant. But Whitcomb believes
donors will care about preserving the values of
American writing: freedom of speech, creativity
and the search for identity.
In Jamie’s final days, Whitcomb read to him
at his bedside. She picked passages from “The
Monuments Men,” a book about U.S. soldiers
saving artworks from Nazi destruction. Together,
they saw a powerful picture conjured by the words
she read aloud: men hoisting masterpieces on
their backs for generations they would never see.
“If we can spark that same intention in
even one out of every hundred people who come
to the museum; a vision for how they can be
better, have a better life for themselves, for their
children – that is powerful,” she says. Q
Katie Liesener ’03 is a freelance writer who recently
relocated to Chicago after teaching college-level
writing in the Boston area.
THE SUN ALSO RISES ON A
NEW NATIONAL
MUSEUM
China, Germany, Brazil,
Scotland and Korea have writers’
museums; the U.S. has none. The
American Writers Museum aims
to change that.
According to the
museum’s executive director,
Nike Smyth Whitcomb ‘66, the
American Writers Museum will
celebrate all forms of American
writing, from novels and
non-fiction to speeches and
screenplays. Toward that end,
artifacts will be less important
than engaging the public – an
urgent cultural mission when
more than 25 percent of all
Americans have not read a book
during the past year.
The idea for the museum
originated with Malcolm
O’Hagan, an Irish immigrant and
retired manufacturer who was
inspired by the Dublin Writers
Museum and was stunned
to learn the U.S. had nothing
similar. In 2010, O’Hagan formed
the American Writers Museum
Foundation, which recently
created its initial touring exhibit
on Chicago writers.
The museum is slated
to open in phases. For the
first phase, the planners
and Whitcomb seek a
10,000-square-foot space in an
extant building in downtown
Chicago. The ultimate goal is a
60,000-square-foot, stand-alone
structure. At press time, $1.3
million had been raised for the
project.
Q
Learn more at
americanwritersmuseum.org.
SU14_front.indd 25
25
6/16/14 10:41 AM
’69 Mary Lou Doehring
Shea of Bartow, Fla.,
owns a horse farm with 26 Paso
Fino horses. She completed a
master’s degree at the University
of Illinois and a doctorate at
Southern Illinois University. She
and her late husband, Raymond,
who passed away in December
2012, were married for 54 years.
She writes, “I am working hard,
but for myself. I had a great career
in education in Illinois; worked for
four different state agencies. [I]
have a good life. Best wishes for
Millikin students.”
’70 James Henson of Mt.
Vernon, Ill., is a retired
public defender for Jefferson
County, where he served for 28
years. He now volunteers at his
church and as a mentor.
William Horton of Forsyth,
Ill., retired from Decatur Public
Schools as a fifth-grade teacher.
He writes: “I currently sing in First
United Methodist Church choir,
teach an adult Sunday school class,
portray President U.S. Grant at the
Governor Oglesby Mansion, read,
fish, and sing in Opus 24.” He is
also a member of the MU Alumni
Association board of directors.
He is married to Lana Towell
Horton ’68.
Dan Shappard and his wife,
Sharon, of Bartlett, Tenn., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last June. They have four
children and 15 grandchildren.
’71 Linda Booth Marshall
of Columbus, Ohio, is
a retired substitute teacher for
Hilliard City Schools.
James Stiehl of Salem, Ill.,
was recently invited by Harvard
University School of Medicine to
lecture on computer navigation
and ligament balancing in total
knee replacement surgery. He
currently practices general orthopedics in Centralia, Ill., where he
also serves as chief of surgery at St.
Mary’s Hospital in that city. He is
also editor-in-chief of “The Knee,”
an international journal that publishes studies on clinical treatment
and biomechanical characteristics
of the knee, and has published two
text books and 18 articles on computer-aided and robotic surgery.
ALUMNI PROFILE
’73 Thomas Bucy of
Warminster, Pa.,
recently retired from Carter
Communications Co., a business
he started 20 years ago. He also
recently completed 30 years as
director of music ministries at
St. Andrews United Methodist
Church.
Paul Foster of Jamaica Plain,
Mass., is a vice president at Bank
of America in Boston.
Sharon Maves Lutes of Black
Hawk, Colo., recently won a large
grant for Gilpin County Middle
School, where she is a fifth-grade
teacher. The grant will allow the
school to order Chromebook
computers for the students. Lutes
received a Tiffany Crystal Apple
for Teachers award at a celebration banquet at Denver University
last June.
Dean Messinger of Bloomington,
Ill., and his wife, Patricia Ray
Messinger ’74, are both retired.
They have two grown daughters.
Wendy Overocker Wiegers of
Gurnee, Ill., writes, “So much for
being retired! I have been retired
[from Waukegan Public Schools]
for six years, but still subbing;
[am] children’s choir director at
St. James Lutheran in Lake Forest;
graduate advisor and reader for
graduate papers at Vandercook
College of Music in Chicago; music
supervisor for Northwestern
University music undergrads;
serving on the board of directors
for the Illinois Retired Teachers
Association and on the local board
for Lake County Retired Teachers;
involved with area alumnae groups
for Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma
Alpha Iota [international music
fraternity]; helped create a new
Alpha Chi chapter at Carthage
College and was advisor for two
years.”
’74 Gary Deitelhoff of
Arlington Heights, Ill.,
works in sales for Biotheranostics,
a biotechnology company that
develops and markets molecular
diagnostic tests for cancer patients.
Mike Meyers of Wadsworth,
Ill., is a senior business partner at
Cardinal Health in Waukegan, Ill.
He also regularly plays trombone with big bands in Lisle and
Palatine, Ill.
NOTES FROM A
MUSICAL LIFE
G
EORGE ECKLUND SR. ’44 comes from a family of
musicians, so it’s no surprise that music has been a
dominant force his entire life. Shortly after his MU
graduation, Ecklund joined the Springfield Community Chorus,
which held rehearsals at the Illinois Wesleyan Junior College of
Music in downtown Springfield, Ill. To Ecklund’s surprise, he
was asked by the school’s director to teach piano there in the
fall of 1945.
“I was speechless,” Ecklund says. “I had never thought of
teaching piano before. So before he could change his mind, I
told him I would like to try it.” Ecklund taught at the school for
two years before leaving to open his own piano studio. One of
his more unusual teaching experiences occurred early in his
career, when he received a request from a nearby town for a
piano teacher for their local school.
“When I went for the first lesson, I found that I would be
teaching in a storage room with sacks of potatoes,” Ecklund
recalls. “I called it my ‘potato studio.’ I survived, and a few
months later, I was moved to a nice room in their junior high.”
During his more than 68-year musical teaching career,
Ecklund also served as musical director/conductor for musical
productions and a church choir, performed on a weekly radio
show and composed interlude music for a ballet production.
His late wife, Shirley, was also a piano teacher. He retired from
the music faculty of Lincoln Land Community College in 2010.
Now 93, he was teaching music to a few “very advanced”
students until just recently.
“I have been very fortunate to attract students who were
very talented and had the desire and the drive to advance to the
competitive level,” he says.
Perhaps, like their teacher, they also can enjoy long and
musical lives. Q
Margaret Allen Friend edited this profile from a personal history
written by George Ecklund Sr. ’44. The complete version is available
online at www.millikin.edu/alumni. Margaret is the associate editor
of Millikin Quarterly magazine. She has contributed to Quarterly as
a writer since 2004 and joined the alumni and development team in
2010 as class notes editor for the magazine.
SU14_CN.indd 27
27
6/16/14 10:42 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
THRIVING THROUGH CHANGE
by Stephanie Strick ’15
D
AVID OVERLOT ’81 decided at a young age
to pursue a career in health care and
now thrives in that busy, ever-changing
environment.
“You have to be able to go from zero to 120
just like that because you never know what’s going
to happen,” says Overlot, executive director of
diagnostic radiology at Decatur Memorial Hospital
(DMH). “The only constant in healthcare is that
things are going to change.”
During his 32 years with DMH, Overlot has
seen many advances in patient care, especially in
the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. “The
technology to detect and treat breast cancer has
changed so much,” he says. “Years ago, we often
found the disease in a very advanced stage that was
difficult to treat successfully. Now it can be detected
and treated early, and people can go on and have
full lives.”
He also has witnessed many technological
changes in DMH’s radiology department. For example, the hospital’s first CT scanners required an hour to produce a dozen
images, but today’s equipment can scan the entire human body
in 10 seconds.
A particular source of pride for Overlot is the recent
enhancement of the hospital’s nuclear pharmacy, where
radioactive isotopes are created to help diagnose and precisely
pinpoint cancer. Overlot says the new technology offered,
typically found only at research or university-based hospitals,
provides advanced treatment and helps patients avoid the need
to spend time and money on out-of-town treatment. “Our goal
has always been to provide the care that people need so they
don’t have to leave town,” he says.
Overlot says molecular medicine will continue to advance
so doctors can detect and treat diseases even sooner. “The goal
is to make a drug that will go directly to the cancer cell and
target just the cancer,” he says. “That’s probably 15 or 20 years
down the road, but you know it’s coming; just watch it take
place. Being a part of that is exciting.”
Overlot is gratified to know that he plays a role in successfully diagnosing and treating patients toward the goal of
sending them home to continue their lives. And although his
work can be stressful, he embraces its responsibilities. “Healthcare is a 24/7, 365 job. It’s a pretty big commitment,” he says.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in allied health at
Millikin, Overlot graduated from DMH’s School of Radiologic
SU14_CN.indd 29
Technology and began his career at the hospital in 1982. He
started as a general X-ray technologist specializing in angiography and CT scanning, as recommended by his mentor, the
late G. Richard Locke, M.D., medical director of DMH’s Cancer
Care Institute and a former MU trustee. Four years later,
Overlot was promoted to chief technologist, and in 2002, he
was promoted to his current position.
Overlot came to Millikin after discussing various healthcare careers with Dr. Norman Jensen, now MU associate
professor emeritus of biology. His decision was also influenced
by his late brother, Michael Overlot ’80, a Big Blue baseball
letterwinner and Alpha Tau Omega member, who tragically
drowned in a boating accident shortly after his graduation.
A lifelong Decatur resident, Overlot and his wife, Cynthia,
have two children: son Sean, who is serving in the National
Guard, and daughter Brittany, a Millikin junior. An active
Big Blue supporter as a student, Overlot returns to campus in
support of Millikin athletics whenever possible. “Go Big Blue;
that’s my team. I’m Big Blue all the way through.”
Overlot is grateful for his Millikin education, which led
to his DMH career. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Decatur
Memorial, and Millikin is what really set me up to be successful,” he says. Q
Stephanie Strick ’15 of Abingdon, Ill., was an intern for the alumni
and development office during spring semester. A major in art with a
photography emphasis, she is completing a minor in writing.
6/16/14 11:11 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
SHARING HER ROOTS
SU14_CN.indd 31
Submitted photos.
T
HE GRASS on Fiona Solkowski Becker’s side of the fence
may not be greener than her neighbor’s grass, but it is
definitely taller. When Becker, a 1995 Millikin graduate,
moved into a neighborhood not far from downtown Indianapolis, her neighbors were accustomed to neatly mown lawns
rather than the conglomeration of native plants soon fostered
in Becker’s front yard.
A conservation planner with The Nature Conservancy,
Becker had recently transitioned from a hands-on job restoring
prairies to an office position and a city home. Planting a tall
grass prairie in her front yard was her way to stay connected
with the outdoor life she loved. She saw it as “a tiny natural
habitat in the pocket of the city.” Her neighbors feared it was a
newly installed breeding ground for mosquitos.
After a few complaints and citations for “tall grass and
weeds,” Becker joined with the mayor’s office of sustainability,
SustainIndy, and embarked on her five-year effort to create
a city code friendlier to native planting and rain gardens. In
2010, they succeeded and Indy residents can now register
their native gardens for exemption from the vegetation height
restriction. Becker proudly displays a sign declaring her yard a
registered native planting area.
Through that quest, Becker found other benefits: “It was a
learning experience for me on how to educate people who live
in the city about nature,” she says. “It was a good way to start a
conversation about how plants actually work.”
Educating people about nature is her lifelong endeavor,
both professionally and and personally. Becker began working
with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Indiana as a preserve
steward restoring prairies and wetlands (above). “When
prairies don’t have their natural regime … when houses start
to encroach on natural areas, or something has changed in the
natural cycles, prairies turn to woodlands,” says Becker. “There
isn’t a lot of prairie left, especially in Indiana.” To help set up a
habitat where native plants can grow, Becker spent most days
wielding a chainsaw to remove woody trees. “I had awesome
biceps!” she laughs.
That experience eventually led to her educational role
with TNC as a conservation information manager, where she
works with a Global Information System (GIS) to interpret data
layers, maps and information to aid in communicating about
conservation planning. As a potter, dancer and singer in her
personal life, Becker enjoys the opportunity to mold the information into stories and visuals that make the ideas accessible
to the general public and those who may fund the project. “I
have to create maps or present data in a way that is interesting
and pleasing to the people looking at
it,” she says. “I have to capture their
attention.”
Becker also gives presentations
on planting native gardens in small
urban spaces as part of her work
with TNC and on a volunteer basis
with the Indiana Native Plant and
Wildflower Society. She finds her
master’s degree in education from
Lesley University useful for this:
“I use my educational degree in a
non-traditional kind of way.”
Since the city code change in
Indianapolis, Becker says “there are
definitely more ‘native’ plants showing up in yards and around offices.” She sees a growing interest
from her neighbors, too. “More and more folks are moving into
the neighborhood who are interested in plants that are native
to Indiana and are lower maintenance than a lawn,” she says. “I
happily share plants or advice with them!”
With Becker teaching her neighbors about prairie plantings, in years to come she may no longer be able to claim the
tallest grass on the block. Q
Amanda Hamilton ‘14 was a writing intern for the alumni office during
spring semester and is continuing to write for Quarterly part time.
6/16/14 10:42 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
A CAN-DO ATTITUDE
SU14_CN.indd 33
Submitted photo.
G
ROWING UP, Gretchen Ozee Cawthon ’95 did many
things girls weren’t “supposed” to do. She liked playing
with Legos, then considered a toy only boys enjoyed.
When she was in sixth grade, her school didn’t have a girls
basketball team, so she tried out for the boys team — and made
it. At 15, she received a drum set for her birthday and for her
first two years at Millikin, Cawthon was the only woman in the
percussion department.
Going against conventions wasn’t always easy. In 2005,
Cawthon was pushing a business partner to improve their web
design. She had entered the partnership with experience in
computers and web design, and knew how to build a website.
The partner, however, told Cawthon’s husband, Doug (also a
partner in the business), that “women can’t do web design.”
Gretchen quit the partnership.
At the time, Gretchen and Doug’s two daughters were in
grade school, and Cawthon wanted to be home with them after
school and available to go to their activities. Doug suggested
she get a job that allowed her to work from home. “Make a
T-shirt, sell it online or something,” he joked, telling her she
should start a business and call it “Women Can’t WHAT?” She
liked the idea. They modified the name to “Girls Can’t WHAT?”
hoping to get younger generations involved, but Cawthon
wondered, “Now what do I do with it?” She woke in the middle
of the night with the idea of a website that could highlight
what girls are doing, show off their ideas and draw attention to
individuals who are breaking gender barriers, and
girlscantwhat.com was born.
Nine years later, Cawthon runs a growing website that
provides encouragement to girls and features a line of girl
empowerment products. Cawthon says in high school she was
“the kid doodling in the back of class … and friends thought
it was cool to get a silly cartoon from me.” Now, her designs
on magnets, mugs and yes, T-shirts, feature girls as doctors,
mechanics, police officers, veterinarians, football players and
even drummers.
Daughters Katelynn, 16, and Kirstynn, 14, offer suggestions. Both currently play indoor soccer on the only co-ed
team in the league. Cawthon says, “If someone tells them they
can’t do something because they are girls, they say ʻGirls can’t
WHAT?ʼ ... and then they usually ask me to make them a new
design to wear.”
Girls Can’t WHAT? led to another business opportunity
for Cawthon when a site visitor was impressed and asked
her to build a company website. That was seven years ago.
Cawthon’s business, Thyme for Design Inc., has since designed
several company websites,
including the Ad Council
of New York. She cites her
music business major from
Millikin as being extremely
helpful in managing the
financial aspects of her
growing businesses.
In 2008, she began
using 20 percent of her
profits to provide microloans through Kiva, a
program that allows a group of people to invest in an individual
to help that person reach his or her goals. Cawthon intentionally chooses women who need loans and enjoys hearing from
them about their progress, including a woman who used the
loan to help buy trucks for her plumbing business. As loans are
repaid, Cawthon reinvests the funds into creating new loans.
So far, Girls Can’t WHAT? has made loans to nearly 500 people
through Kiva.
“That’s the coolest part,” she says, “People are buying
T-shirts and know that women are being helped by it.” Q
Amanda Hamilton ’14 was a writing intern for the alumni and
development office during spring semester. Immediately after her
graduation in May, she and her grandparents embarked on a fiveweek trip out west, their graduation present to her.
6/16/14 10:42 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE
by Margaret Allen Friend
SU14_CN.indd 35
Although he now has a
successful career in marketing,
Lawrence’s passion for magic is
in no danger of dematerializing.
After devoting countless hours
to preparation of his material, he
still performs several shows each
year. His solo show, “A Vanishing
Art,” took several years to develop as Lawrence explored new
effects and elements.
Lawrence says he considers magic a “what if” challenge.
“What if we could levitate?” he asks. “What if we could dematerialize objects? What would it look like? How can we challenge
ourselves to make these things real?”
Assuring his audience a truly magical experience is a challenge Lawrence takes seriously. He takes copious notes while
developing his performance and practices each effect diligently.
“I work very slowly on my performance material to ensure
that everything I do is excellent,” he says. “I would prefer to do
one effect better than anyone than do a thousand effects poorly.”
A theatre major at MU, Lawrence credits his Millikin
coursework and student performances with helping develop
knowledge and techniques he still uses today.
“I count my time at Millikin as the most formative of
my life,” Lawrence says. “I also formed some of the greatest
relationships of my life with friends and colleagues, and I still
communicate with faculty and classmates.”
He is also quick to acknowledge faculty members’ roles in
his college experience.
“My movement and improvisational work with [professor]
Denise Myers helped me overcome some performance fears
and obstacles,” Lawrence says. “I also enjoyed group discussions in Doc Golden’s directing courses. Doc helped me develop
technique both creatively and on the business side of theatre.*”
Lawrence has a parting message for faculty and alumni.
“I look forward to seeing you soon ... in Decatur, Chicago,
online at www.amazingryan.com, or wherever our paths may
cross. Thank you all for an amazing experience! It was truly
magical.” Q
Submitted photo.
W
HEN RYAN LAWRENCE ’99 was 10 years old, his
parents took him to see a magic show. Faster than
they could say, “Abracadabra,” he was hooked.
Enthralled with the spectacle of magic, Lawrence immersed
himself in the ancient art. After years of practicing with
magic sets and staging living room performances for family
members, Lawrence began transforming his hobby into a
money-making venture.
“As a teenager, I started making money performing magic
for organizations and schools,” Lawrence says. “I joined the
local magic club and spent so much time at the magic shop
that the owner gave me a job. I remember pouring over magic
manuscripts, investigating props and performing magic for
customers. It provided an outstanding learning curve!”
During more than 15 years of performing, The Amazing
Ryan has met many well-known magicians that he credits with
being friendly and gracious with their time, including David
Copperfield and Penn & Teller. But despite his respect for many
contemporary magicians, Lawrence finds himself gravitating
(if not levitating) to the work of earlier greats such as Harry
Blackstone and Max Malini.
Inspired by these early illusionists, Lawrence sees magic
as much more than a bag of tricks, instead viewing his craft as
an opportunity to expand horizons and as a great vehicle for
storytelling.
“I’m more interested in developing character and story
than learning tricks,” Lawrence says. “Once you have the story,
it’s fun to go find the magic that supports it. In the end, it’s all
about taking the audience on a journey.”
But a magical journey can be fraught with pitfalls, especially when pyrotechnics are involved.
“I once performed a pyrotechnic effect and some streamers
accidentally caught fire on the floor,” Lawrence says. “There
was no property damage or danger, so I just played off it and
quickly stamped it out. The audience went crazy and thought it
was part of the act. It was a real ‘I meant to do that’ moment …
sometimes this is a magician’s greatest ally.”
Lawrence recounts a similar story involving Harry Blackstone, who performed in Decatur during the 1920s.
“During one of Blackstone’s performances at the Lincoln
Square Theatre, there was a fire backstage,” Lawrence says. “To
keep the audience from panicking, he calmly announced, ‘This
next illusion is so big that we all need to go outside to see it.’
Everyone was slowly escorted outside and saved from harm.
This is real magic.”
* See page 17 for more information on Professor Golden, who
passed away Oct. 30.
Margaret Allen Friend is associate editor of Millikin Quarterly
magazine.
6/16/14 10:43 AM
ALUMNI PROFILE
WORKING & PLAYING
AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS
TALKS TO MILLIKIN QUARTERLY ABOUT HER ROLE AT THE
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS.
MILLIKIN QUARTERLY: What are some of your duties as an
actor/interpreter at the museum?
KELSEE HANKINS: Sometimes I pretend I’m Egyptian.
Sometimes I play with dinosaurs. Sometimes I think I’m caught
in the middle of World War II, or maybe I’m singing in the Lilly
Theatre or with the Chorduroys (the museum’s barbershop
group whose name is a play on the word “chords”). I wear a lot
of hats and get to do something different every day.
MQ: What is your favorite exhibit at the museum so far?
KH: Right now, I’m a huge fan of the Take Me There: China®
gallery. This exhibit allows visitors to learn about modern
Chinese life. Visitors can “shop” in a Chinese store, check out
urban and village homes in China, or learn about Shaolin Kung
Fu at its birthplace – The Shaolin Temple. I helped to pilot the
Kung Fu program, and now I lead it several times a week. It’s
one of my favorite programs to do with our visitors.
MQ: Had you considered working there previously?
KH: I lived about 45 minutes away from the museum as a child
and loved coming here. I even had fun visiting as a young adult
out of high school. I always had friends who worked here before
me, but until I saw a job posting in fall 2012, I had not thought
much about working here.
MQ: Are there any perks that come with working at a
museum?
KH: In Indianapolis, we have the Arts Consortium where we
can use our work ID for discounts at most major performing
arts venues and free admission to Indianapolis’ other museums. I also consider the availability of professional development opportunities here to be a perk.
MQ: What did you learn at Millikin that you’ve been able to
apply at work?
KH: I studied theatre at MU and my performance studies
SU14_CN.indd 37
have been very valuable. Ask any Millikin
freshman theatre major about script
scoring and I’m sure they’d have a lot to
say about it, but I’m thankful I know it
now. It allows me to create more realistic
characters when learning new programs/
performances. I also learned the value of
excellent time management since I was
involved in several different activities and organizations. It’s
important here since I’m always learning or studying something new.
Submitted photo.
2009 GRAD
KELSEE HANKINS
MQ: What do children take from their visit to the museum?
KH: I think most leave with the memory of a fun experience
and curiosity about something they’ve seen here. Hopefully,
that curiosity will encourage them to want to learn more on
their own, at school or with their grownups. There is something
for every member of the family to learn and take home from
their visit. Even grandparents!
MQ: What are some of the rewards and challenges of working
with children?
KH: I always appreciate their smiles and cheers when they are
experiencing something new. For example, I love watching
kids respond to our live transformation of the Transformer
Bumblebee. Some get scared, but most are very excited and
cheer him on. Hearing children and families tell me they are
inspired to learn more about something in our museum after
a performance is rewarding. As far as challenges, I work with
a multitude of kids of varying ages every day. Often, I have to
make a performance work for 5-year-olds and make the same
performance work for high school students a few hours later.
There is often a crying child or a cell phone ringing, but that’s
expected. It is live theatre, and as actors we learn to work
around that.
MQ: If you could have any job other than your own at the
museum, what would it be?
KH: This is a tough question, since my job fits me pretty well!
However, I think it would be cool to be a part of designing
exhibits for our visitors. Or maybe CEO. I like to take charge
and get things done, and I think being CEO of a museum like
this would be very exciting and definitely not boring. Q
6/16/14 10:43 AM
Q
Submitted photo.
CLASS NOTES
SOMETHING OLD; SOMETHING NEW; SOMETHING BIG BLUE: Kayla Vogel and Evan File, both ’11, May 13, 2013. Kayla is marketing communications
coordinator at Runzheimer International, a provider of global employee mobility services based in Waterford, Wis. Evan is a loan processor at Waukesha
State Bank in Waukesha, Wis. They live in West Allis, Wis.
Row 1 (from left): Sarah Nielsen '11, Brittany Hassee '11, Marilyn Trainer Dechert '55, Kayla Vogel File '11 (bride), Kelsey Nihiser '12, Kyle Nicholson '13, Carla
File Scott '73 and Mary Ferguson File '46. Row 2 : Joe Page '12, Garrett Mathison '11, Dick Dechert '54, Evan File '11 (groom), Andy Howell '11, Jessica Ewalt '11,
Melissa Breed-Parks '99, Milton Scott '67 and Allan File '79.
WEDDINGS CONTINUED
Ashley Knezevich ’05 and
Jocelyn Pelasky, July 6, 2013.
Ashley is a corporate recruiter for
Walgreens. Jocelyn is a full-time
nursing student. They live in
Glendale Heights, Ill.
Michael Lee ’05 and Elisabeth
Green, Dec. 30, 2012. Michael is a
biology teacher and football coach
at Sangamon Valley High School
in Niantic, Ill. Elisabeth is fitness
supervisor at the Decatur Indoor
Sports Center (DISC) and also an
adjunct faculty member in MU’s
exercise science and sport department. They live in Illiopolis, Ill.
Sarah Stedman ’05 and Seth
Major, June 22, 2013. Sarah
teaches physical education at
Mt. Zion High School. Seth is a
sheriff’s deputy for the Macon
County Sheriff’s Office. They live in
Moweaqua, Ill.
Beth Bauer ’06 and Matthew
Capocci, June 22, 2013. Beth
is a mathematics teacher at
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
in Flintridge, Calif. Matthew is a
freelance film and television editor. They live in North Hollywood,
Calif.
Henry Kappler ’06 and Jennifer
Knigge, June 22, 2013. Henry is
associate director of bands at Holt
High School in Wentzville, Mo.
Jennifer is a paraprofessional in
the Fort Zumwalt School District
in O’Fallon, Mo. They live in Lake
Saint Louis, Mo.
Chrissy Meyer ’08 and Harry
Petitt Jr., Dec. 8, 2012. Chrissy
is a first-grade teacher at Hope
Academy in Decatur. She earned
a master’s degree in teacher
leadership at the University of
Illinois-Springfield in 2011. Harry
is a laborer for HTH Companies,
a mechanical contractor. They live
in Decatur.
Amy Svendsen ’08 and
Michael Pitzer ’00, Nov. 24,
2012. Amy is senior event marketing representative for ALSAC/St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Midwest Affiliate in Peoria, Ill.
Michael is coordinator of student
spiritual development at Calvary
United Methodist Church in
Normal, Ill. They live in Normal.
Kayleen Gifford ’09 and
Aaron Huber, also ’09, May 25,
2013. Kayleen is sales manager
for Gateway Conference Center
in Collinsville, Ill. Aaron is an
accounts receivable clerk at
Amsted Rail, a manufacturer of
freight rail car components. They
live in St. Louis.
Alison Kickle ’09 and Nicholas
Huckstep, Oct. 15, 2011. Alison
is a night aide at Spring Creek
Terrace, a group home for adults
with developmental disabilities.
Nicholas is a welder at Caterpillar.
They live in Decatur.
Faith Martin ’09 and Jason
Marks, Aug. 31. Faith is the
contemporary worship leader and
youth engager at Somerset Hills
Lutheran Church in Basking Ridge,
N.J. They live in Plainfield, N.J.
Michael Oates and Natalie
Perfetti, both ’09, May 4, 2013.
Michael is an IT manager for the
Florida Coalition Against Domestic
Violence. Natalie is completing a
doctorate in literature at Florida
State University. They live in
Tallahassee, Fla.
Brandon Barney ’12 and Kelsi
Squires ’14, July 13, 2013.
Brandon is associate director of
development in Millikin’s alumni
and development office. Kelsi is
a case manager at the Boys and
Girls Club of Decatur. They live in
Decatur.
SU14_CN.indd 39
39
6/16/14 10:43 AM
Q
CLASS NOTES
PASSINGS
Editor's Note: You’ll find complete
memorials for all the individuals
listed in this section on our website
(unless an obituary notice was
unavailable to us). Each online
listing has a section for comments
should you wish to leave a note of
condolence or a memory. We’ve
also included a photo in cases
where we have received one. To
view the memorials, visit http://bit.
ly/MU-memorials.
ALUMNI
Thomas Beadles ’30 of Cape
Girardeau, Mo., July 10, 2012. He
received Millikin’s Alumni MeritLoyalty Award in 1996.
Martha “Marty” Kuhns
Weicker ’40 of New Braunfels,
Texas, Aug. 23.
Virginia Lambert
Shallenberger ’44 of Lombard,
Ill., July 12, 2013.
Mavis Breuer Talbot ’45 of
Pearland, Texas, Feb. 16, 2013.
Virginia Bigler McGinley ’33
of Richton Park, Ill., July 29, 2012.
Betty Wheeler Burcham ’41 of
Decatur, Sept. 6.
James “Jim” Fritz ’46 of Ames,
Iowa, Dec. 10, 2012.
Ruth Helm George ’35 of
Decatur, March 6, 2013.
Shirley Cornick HenryStephens ’42 of Mt. Zion, Ill.,
June 9, 2013.
Mary Amanda “Mandy”
Morford McKenzie ’46 of
Monmouth, Ill., formerly of
Galesburg, Ill., April 12, 2013.
For those without website access,
please call our office at 1-877-JMUALUM, and we will gladly mail
you a printout of any requested
memorial.
Jessie Baldwin Harris ’38 of
Decatur, Sept. 28.
FRIENDS
Irene Newman Wright ’38 of
Boynton Beach, Fla., Nov. 5, 2012.
Luther Roehm of West Orange,
N.J., formerly of Summit N.J.,
emeritus trustee, Feb. 27, 2013.
He and his wife, Louise, were
recipients of the James Millikin
Award in 2003. The award recognizes non-alumni friends who
have demonstrated outstanding
support of the university.
Frank Rogier ’40 of Evans, Ga.,
April 27, 2013.
Earl Kuhle ’38 of Decatur,
March 24, 2013.
Geno DeRochi ’39 of Taylorville,
Ill., Sept. 5.
John Baird ’40* of Decatur,
June 8, 2013.
Harold Jeter ’40 of Decatur,
March 21, 2013.
Robert Parrish ’43 of
Harrisonburg, Va., May 8, 2013.
Henry “Dale” Reidelberger
’43 of Decatur, Feb. 17, 2013.
Helen Brown Dalton Woare
’43 of Decatur, June 15, 2013.
Henry Bolz Jr. ’44 of Pittsford,
N.Y., April 27, 2013.
Marlene Chicoine
Munsterman ’44 of Decatur,
Sept. 10.
Nancy Morarity Michiels ’47
of New Orleans, July 12.
Eunice Bolz Garrison ’48 of
Chicago Heights, Ill., formerly of
Flossmoor, Ill., May 2, 2013.
John Waltrip ’48 of Peoria,
Ariz., June 10, 2013.
Mary Lou Sowles Allaben ’49
of Indianapolis, Dec. 20, 2011.
James Fairbanks ’49 of Tucson,
Ariz., May 17, 2013.
* The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University, Office of Alumni and Development, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522.
** The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University, Don Shroyer Scholarship Fund, Office of Alumni and Development, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522.
*** The family requests memorial gifts be made to Millikin University Student Scholarships, Office of Alumni and Development, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522.
MEDALLION SOCIETY MEMBERS REMEMBERED
Recently, Millikin lost two individuals who had been inducted into the Millikin Medallion Society for their lasting impact on the university: 1999
Alumnus of the Year Jim Fitzgerald ’53 and former MU Head Football Coach Don Shroyer ’50. The Millikin Medallion Society Award was conferred
during the university’s centennial celebration held from 2001-03 and recognized those individuals who had the greatest impact on Millikin during
the university’s first 100 years.
Jim Fitzgerald ’53 died Sept. 23. An emeritus
trustee, he served on Millikin's board from 1975
to 1992, and he and his wife, Donna Riechman
Fitzgerald ’54, were named co-recipients of the
1999 Alumnus of the Year Award. A recipient of
the 1964 Young Alumnus Award. Fitzgerald was
an active member of the Millikin Club of Chicago
and served as his class reunion chair from 1976
until his death shortly before Homecoming 2013. He also served terms
as vice president and president of the Millikin Parents Association and
was a member of the university's centennial planning committee in the
early 2000s. Fitzgerald worked nearly 30 years with Illinois Bell and
after retiring from that company, he went on to work as a realtor for
Coldwell Banker in Winnetka, Ill. A retired U.S. Navy captain, he served
10 years as vice president for the Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy
Scouts of America and received the Silver Beaver Award for 60 years of
continuous scouting participation.
42
Don Shroyer ’50 died July 7, 2013. An outstanding Big Blue running back, Shroyer was
signed by the Chicago Bears after graduation.
He returned to MU as head football coach in
1956, and was named conference Coach of the
Year in 1961, the year his Big Blue team had an
undefeated season. Shroyer served as offensive
and defensive backfield coach for the St. Louis
Cardinals for two years then returned to Illinois to coach for an SIU
team that included future NFL quarterback Jim Hart. Shroyer rejoined
the Cardinals in 1966, serving as a linebacker coach until returning
to Decatur in the early 1970s. He held various positions with Decatur
Public Schools, including assistant principal at Johns Hill Middle
School and retired in 1995. A charter member of Millikin’s Athletic
Hall of Fame, Shroyer also was inducted into the 1997 Decatur Athletic
Council Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Marilyn Morthland Shroyer ’51,
had four children: daughters Gail and Beth; sons Doug and Chris, a
1987 Millikin graduate. (See related article, pages 4-5.)
SU14_CN.indd 42
6/16/14 10:43 AM
DECEMBER 2013 COMMENCEMENT
1
4
5
8
10
2
3
6
7
9
11
12
1 Conor Wrigley with father Jim Wrigley ′80, sister Kate Wrigley ′16 and mother Vicki Ferguson Wrigley ′86, Millikin controller.
Jeffery ′07.
3 Hannah Bradshaw with mother Susan Schumaker Bradshaw ′89.
aunt Kimberly Palmer ′06. 6 James White with mother Julia Wall White ′80.
2 Brittney Jeffery with husband Bruce
4 Ryan Bragg with mother Debbie Warmker Bragg ′82/MBA ′01.
7 Evan West with father Thomas West ′79.
5 Chazaray Carson with
8 Brian Hartlaub with father Don Hartlaub ′05 and
sister Christine Ford ′11. 9 Justin Marshall with aunt Judy Fitzgerald ′80, mother-in-law Kathryn Fitzgerald Bragg ′79, uncle David Fitzgerald ′82, fiancee Erin Bragg ′12 and aunt
Cynthia Hogan Fitzgerald ′81. 10 Jodi Van Uytven with father John Downs ′83 and mother Janet Downs ′93. Not pictured: sister Jennifer Pieper ′07. 11 Michelle Augustine
with father Michael Augustine ′82 and uncle Gary Augustine ′85. 12 Ariel Robinson with sister Amanda Robinson Taylor ′06. Photos by Grad Images.
SU14_CN.indd 44
6/16/14 10:43 AM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1 Anne Rogers with uncle Chuck Yurieci ′68.
Ehling ′76.
2 Jeffery Bensmiller with aunt Barbara
3 Nicole M. Wiedmann with mother Pamela Thomas Wiedmann ′77.
4 Christine Holl Hoffman with father Timothy James Holl ′80.
5 Precious Taylor
with sister Shontia Fox ′10. 6 Michelle McDonagh with sister Meaghan McDonagh
′09. 7 Ryan Abernathy with uncle Robert Grady ′85. 8 Kelsie Corcoran-Gallegos
with husband Andrew Gallegos ′12. 9 Kelsy Whitney with mother Rikki Hofferkamp
Whitney ′94. 10 Jaime Spears with mother Jeanne Black Spears ′77. 11 Emily
Richardson with sister Amelia Richardson Moeller ′05. 12 Josh Kotras with brother
Nathanael Kotras ′04. 13 Anibal Valentin Jr. with brother Elijah Valentin ′12. 14
Audrey Taylor with brother Derek Taylor ′10. Photos by Grad Images.
13
14
SU14_CN.indd 45
45
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
3
1 Chelsea Bray with brother-in-law Richard Hill ′05 and mother Kim Tish ′04.
2 Alison Ryan with brother William Ryan ′09.
3 Jordan Moxey with mother
Birgirtha Evans Moxey ′87. 4 Penny E. Hood with daughter Jennifer A. Hood ′11.
5 Elizabeth Merrill with mother Joan Shoemaker Merrill ′73.
6 Lucas Reid
Petersen with mother Patricia Reid Petersen ′88 and father Todd Petersen ′87.
Not pictured: uncle Michael Reid ′87.
Turner ′57.
7 Amanda Erickson with uncle Harry W.
8 Danielle Tuggle with cousin Megan Tuggle Tuetken ′05.
9 Lauren
Kitterman with mother Lisa Schmidt Kitterman ′87 and uncle Steve Schmidt ′82.
10 Amber Freund with aunt Cheryl Williams-England ′89.
11 Eric Grooms with
great aunt Caroline Walker Manock ’39 and cousin Carol Ruth Manock Tullis ’69.
Photos 1-10 by Grad Images. Photo 11 submitted by Ruth Manock Tullis.
10
46
11
SU14_CN.indd 46
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1 Jonathan Haley with brother Josh Haley
′02 and sister-in-law Kara Haley ′04.
2 Ashley Eiland with father Alex Eiland ′82
and boyfriend Dion Wilson ′11. 3 Devon
Gant with sister Chelsea Gant Wright ′09
and brother-in-law Nick Wright ′11.
4 Jamie Kowalczyk with mother Mary
Strine Miller ′76 and father Bill Kowalczyk
′76. 5 Taylor Black with stepfather Bryan
Marshall ′85, assistant athletic director for
sports information; brother Nathan Marshall
1
2
′20 and mother Shannon Black-Marshall ′05.
Not pictured: uncle Erik Black ′88, aunt Amy
Harrison-Black ′90, aunt Pam MarshallGarriott ′81 and uncle David Marshall ′76.
6 Brothers Simon Nicholson (left) and
Kyle Nicholson with mother Tina Nicholson,
professor of music. 7 Kendall Robison
with cousin RJ Podeschi ’02, assistant
professor of Information Systems; fiance
Jordan Trump ’10; cousin Mandi Landacre
Podeschi ’02, director of development/
Millikin Fund; and aunt Cindy Landacre,
3
4
Tabor School of Business administrative
assistant. Not pictured: aunt Robin Steadman, Office of Student Success administrative assistant; cousin Lori Landacre Leeper
’05; cousin Lisa Landacre ’05; cousin Pat
Steadman ’08 and cousin Michelle Purkes
Guzman ’98. 8 Alexandra Miller with
aunt Debbie Miller Wray ′75, mother Ellen
Winchell Miller ′81, father Charles Miller ′84,
grandfather President Emeritus Dr. J. Roger
Miller, grandmother Arlene Miller ′63, and
uncle Gregory Miller ′72. Not pictured: aunt
Nancy Lynch Miller ′72. Photos 1-7 by Grad
5
6
7
8
Images. Photo 8 by Alida Duff Sullivan ’06.
SU14_CN.indd 47
47
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
1 BLACK ALUMNI NETWORK, Row 1: Monica Parker ’01, Jennifer Friday ’77, Kevin Hines ’81, Tamara Butler ’01. Row 2: LeTeah Pender ’08, Debra Fields ’76, Travis Jones ’12,
Raushana Pender ’02, Quantrell Willis (assistant dean of inclusion and student engagement), Niki Fenderson Allen ’99, Wayne Dunning ’83, Gilbert White ’09,
Ronald Branch ’81, Michael Halbert ’79. Reunion photos by DR Roberts, www.drroberts.com/muhomecoming.html.
48
SU14_CN.indd 48
6/16/14 10:44 AM
HOMECOMING 2013
1
Q
2
3
1 CLASS OF 1943, Row 1: Bill McGaughey, Delilis Stoutenborough. Row 2: Doug McGaughey (son of Bill McGaughey), Scott McGaughey (son of Bill McGaughey), Rich
Stoutenborough (son of Delilis Stoutenborough). 2 CLASS OF 1948: Dorothy Baker McFadden, Merill Cameron Dees. 3 CLASS OF 1953, Row 1: Patcie Wieland ’54, Nancy
Fisher Eichenauer, Eileen Eberhardt Tertocha-Langley, Doris Ryan McElwee, Lillian Vasiloff Wisham, Constance Bennett Oakes, Jeannine Maxwell Freyling. Row 2: Roy Schaub,
Jackie Dunkel Sward, Betty Harrington White, Barbara Burgis Zuegel, Janet “Bunny” Keeler Williams, Joan Adams Avis, David Freyling (husband of Jeannine Maxwell Freyling).
Row 3: Bill Heyduck, Rod Sward ’52 (husband of Jackie Dunkel Sward), Kirke White, Gregg McElwee (son of Doris Ryan McElwee), Herb Zuegel ’52 (husband of Barbara Burgis
Zuegel), Joe Williams ’54 (husband of Janet “Bunny” Keeler Williams), Duane Avis (husband of Joan Adams Avis).
SU14_CN.indd 49
49
6/16/14 10:44 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1958, Row 1: Clara Henson Peters ’59, Judy Fuson (wife of Hal Fuson), Mary Sue Whaley Butcher, Barbara Connolly (wife of John Connolly), Carol Rayhill (wife of
David Rayhill). Row 2: Larry Peters ’57 (husband of Clara Henson Peters), Bill Stocks, Hal Fuson, Judy Tucker Cain ’59, Bob Cain (husband of Judy Tucker Cain), John Connolly,
David Rayhill, Alice Mueller LeFevre, Ed LeFevre ’57 (husband of Alice Mueller LeFevre). 2 CLASS OF 1963, Row 1: Janet Bolin (wife of Jerry Bolin), Brenda Gadberry (wife of
Roger Gadberry), Pat Norton King, Dona Olson McLaughlin, Julie Vernon, Sheila Shrout Ford, Donna Waller (wife of Mike Waller), Betty Cordes Chapman ’64. Row 2: Jerry Bolin,
Bruce Dillingham ’61, Karen Mains (wife of Mike Mains), Kathy Hengst (wife of Steve Hengst), Richard Ford ’60 (husband of Sheila Shrout Ford), Mike Waller, Larry Chapman, Ron
Frystak. Row 3: Roger Gadberry, Jim King (husband of Pat Norton King), Mike Mains, Steve Hengst, Tom Greanias, Bob Byrkit, Don Walker ’60.
50
SU14_CN.indd 50
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1968, Row 1: Paula Koyak Cordts, Mary Cole Chuzi, Cheryl Gary Currie, Lois Kramer Kelly, Gwen Yurieci (wife of Chuck Yurieci), Jacalyn Crowe Osborne ’79.
Row 2: Tom Cordts (husband of Paula Koyak Cordts), Paul Chuzi ’69, Charles Currie (husband of Cheryl Currie), Dennis Kelly (husband of Lois Kramer Kelly), Chuck Yurieci,
Dave Osborne. Row 3: Chris Brown Franklin, Sharon Liston Yeakley, Carol Black Phillips, Fran Coutant Peterson, Lynne Wheeler Mormino, Diane Lohr Coen ’72. Row 4: Anne
Heinle Edsall, Jim Deremiah, Karen Maurer Krows, Mary Fran Dick Willis, Dave Coen (husband of Diane Lohr Coen). 2 CLASS OF 1978, Row 1: Amy Vaughn Pritchard, Diane
Williams Dunn, Jane Thomas Croxton, Kathy Gardner Thomforde, Jeanine Harris Buttimer. Row 2: Judy Mason, Jim Croxton (husband of Jane Thomas Croxton), Sara Miner
Franklin (holding photo of Leslie Hannapel Kessler), Sue Wallace Strauch, Norm Hoback.
SU14_CN.indd 51
51
6/16/14 10:44 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
1
1
1 CLASS OF 1973, Row 1: Cheryl Cromwell (wife of Robert Hess), Karla Davis (wife of Richard Davis), Wendy Overocker Wiegers, Karen Paradiso Apel, Debbie Goodrich Weller
’75, Janet Perkins Rund. Row 2: Robert Hess, Richard Davis, Dave Wiegers (husband of Wendy Overocker Wiegers), Paul Foster, Tom Bucy, Dennis Weller, Austin Rund ’75
(husband of Janet Perkins Rund). Row 3: Lucinda Bumber Burke, Jan Bosak Munz, Mary Hartlaub (wife of Don Hartlaub), Nancy Joy (wife of Frank Joy), Francys Cross Norton,
Debbie Donnelly Akers. Row 4: Patrick Burke (husband of Lucinda Bumber Burke), Tom Munz (husband of Jan Bosak Munz), Don Hartlaub, Frank Joy, Robert Guenther.
Row 5: Joyce Tuecke Burkhart, Carol Heynen Price, Joan Shoemaker Merrill, Fred Miller, Gwen Miller (wife of Fred Miller). Row 6: Millard Everhart, Thomas Rasler, Peter
Churukian, Dan Parker, Carvel Johnson, Edward Porter. 2 CLASS OF 1983, Row 1: Susan Pearman Arp, Kristi Salman Geggie, Karen Klein, Jean Schafer Oesterreich, Lora
Pearson Huebner. Row 2: Sandy Cristy Kinahan, Faith Delatte Carr, Vicky Yedinak Dose ’81, Bonnie Yedinak. Row 3: Karen Livingston Farnum, Kathy Springer Kuddes, Kent
Kuddes (husband of Kathy Springer Kuddes), Sheri Kaiser Eichelberger, Dena Kareotes Arendt, David Throne.
52
SU14_CN.indd 52
6/16/14 10:44 AM
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1988, Row 1: Kristine Lasco Stanley, Judy Hand Dobai, Blythe Holmes Kitner, Lori Liles Massutti, Jodi Creek Larson, Ann-Marie Cook Hillyer. Row 2: Annete
Younker Gilson, Troy Kitner (husband of Blythe Holmes Kitner), Elizabeth Ryerson Osborne, Thomas Massutti (husband of Lori Liles Massutti), Lisa Hoffman Waight.
Row 3: Brian Hunt, Denise Ciesielski Williams, Beth Cubbison Zych, Diana Miles Huntoon. Row 4: Jay Marshall, John Marshall. Row 5: A. Shawn Freeman.
2 CLASS OF 1998, Row 1: Jessica Busjahn Buttimer, Heather Burk Schmidt, Mary Reece Alexander, Michelle Tucker Smith, Amanda Johnson Butterick ’99. Row 2: Alan
Buttimer (husband of Jessica Busjahn Buttimer), Emily Oshita Layton, Carmen Fisher Hamilton, Jason Butterick (husband of Amanda Johnson Butterick), Patrick Butterick (son
of Amanda and Jason Butterick, age 10). Row 3: Christine Claytor Harshman, Seth Morrell (holding son Sedgwick, age 3 months), Patrick Dill.
SU14_CN.indd 53
53
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
1
2
1 CLASS OF 1993, Row 1: Jennifer Navarro Nagy, Michele Solomon Jett, Nancy Carter Dopke (holding daughter Monika Dopke, age 3), Julie Stevenson O’Reilly, Dawn Galligos
Peck. Row 2: Matthew Argo, Lisa Hokamp Mason, Kevin Jett (husband of Michele Solomon Jett), Angela Benson, Michael Cox, Gina Bianchi. Row 3: Jennifer Canter Vogland,
Kim Stacey-Hazucka, Kristin Mikkelson Hawkins, Laura Kelly Kapala ’94. Row 4: Brian Abbott, Tom VanHowe, Dustin Hawkins (husband of Kristin Mikkelson Hawkins), Kevin
Kapala (husband of Laura Kelly Kapala), Denise Bell Tomano, Marc Strathman. 2 CLASS OF 2008, Row 1: Liz Ciaccio, Jon Popovitch, Cathy Thomas Popovitch (wife of Jon
Popovitch), Erin Wyant. Row 2: Miranda Schuett Watson, Alisha Goebel, Magon Hallowell, Cassandra Logsdon, Sara Askins Wilson. Row 3: Christopher Weisenborn, Nick Bley,
Alex Rowe, Verneil Phillips.
54
SU14_CN.indd 54
6/16/14 10:45 AM
1
1 CLASS OF 2003, Row 1: Elizabeth Hensen Ehler (holding daughter Natalie Ehler, age 6 months), LeAnne Hunt Bergschneider (holding son Trey Bergschneider, age 3),
Tanell Hopkins Spears (holding daughter Audrey Spears, age 1 and son Ben Spears, age 5), Katie Harp Anderson (holding daughter Nora Anderson, age 9 months), Cate Parish
Kaufman (holding daughter Claire Kaufman, age 1), Miranda Baker Bolanos, Meghan Morgan Adams. Row 2: Bobbi Mielcarski, Stacy Radliff Smedley, Ryan Spears (husband of
Tanell Hopkins Spears), Shaun Anderson (husband of Katie Harp Anderson, holding daughter Ava Anderson, age 3), Alan Kaufman (husband of Cate Parish Kaufman), Sandy
Hodge Garza, Anna Edwards. Row 3: Sara Patterson, Brenden Wilson (age 12, son of Sara Patterson), Ryan Jones, Sara Ray Helmus, Sarah Ritter Garner, Monique Garcia
Runnels. Row 4: Amanda Moloney, Heather Hoke, Heidi Castleman, Laura Goodman, Sarah Carson, Courtney Ruffner Reed, Rachel Kraft. Row 5: Meg Schleppenbach Bates,
Kerry Hammergren Heckman, Anna Forslund Hartmann, Colleen Heffernan, Katie May Potts, Katie Liesener, Amy Middleton Miles, Sara Krows Walstrom. Row 6: Pamela
Schneider Pendelton, Kelly Ferrell Durkin, Jason Welsh, Jaime Haege Welsh (wife of Jason Welsh), Andrew Weatherford, Joni Kash Nightingale, Graham Nightingale (husband of
Joni Kash Nightingale).
SU14_CN.indd 55
55
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
ALPHA CHI OMEGA 100 YEARS
SU14_CN.indd 56
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Photo by DR Roberts.
SU14_CN.indd 57
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR:
MICHAEL WALLER ’63
M
ICHAEL WALLER ’63 is recipient
of the 2013 Alumnus of the Year
award, the most prestigious
award presented by the university.
Waller has demonstrated a strong
commitment and dedication to Millikin
for many years, both through service and
generous financial support.
Now an emeritus trustee, Waller
served on Millikin’s board of directors from
2000-10, and continues to serve as co-chair
of the “Transform MU” capital campaign
steering committee. He had been the
national Millikin Fund chair since 2006; in
2013, he shared chairmanship duties with
trustee, Dr. Steve Huss.
In addition to supporting his alma
mater with his time and talents, Waller
has financially supported the current
58
capital campaign, “Transform MU,” as well
as the previous “Advancing the Vision”
capital campaign. He also was a generous
supporter of renovations to Albert Taylor
Theatre.
Waller’s distinguished career in
journalism began at the Decatur Herald
newspaper, where he worked as a sports
clerk while attending Millikin. He then
progressed to reporter, copy editor and
finally, wire editor.
After leaving the Herald in 1965, he
worked for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in
copy editing for two years. From 1967-78,
he worked for both the Louisville Courier
Journal and Louisville Times, where he
assisted with two Pulitzer Prize-winning
stories, one about riots following school
desegregation and one about a fatal fire at
the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Covington, Ky.
In 1978, he joined the Kansas City
Star as managing editor, where he edited
coverage of the 1981 collapse of a skywalk
at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which killed
115 people. After hiring an engineer
and studying records and architectural
drawings, the newspaper revealed that
the collapse was caused by a design flaw.
The Star’s coverage of the tragedy earned
a Pulitzer Prize. Waller was then named
managing editor of the Star’s sister paper,
the Kansas City Times, and in 1983, he
was promoted to editor of both papers.
He is the only journalist in the history of
the papers to serve in the top three news
positions.
In 1986, Waller was named executive
editor of the Hartford Courant, the oldest
continuously published newspaper in the
country. He became the Courant’s editor
in 1990 and was appointed publisher
and CEO in 1994. While Waller was the
paper’s editor, the Courant won its first
Pulitzer Prize.
Waller was named publisher and
CEO of The Baltimore Sun and senior
vice president of Times Mirror Co. in
1997. During his tenure, The Sun received
two Pulitzers. Waller retired from The
Baltimore Sun in 2002.
In recognition of his achievements
in journalism, Waller received Millikin’s
Alumni Merit Award in 1987. In 2002, he
received a lifetime achievement award from
the Delta Sigma Phi national fraternity.
Waller has authored two books:
“Durand’s Marvelous Merchants: A Tale of
Small-Town Life and Big-Time Softball,”
and “Blood on the Out-Basket: Lessons in
Leadership from a Newspaper Junkie.”
In addition to serving on several
nonprofit boards while in Hartford and
Baltimore, Waller was also chairman of the
United Way campaigns in each city, raising
a total of nearly $70 million.
Waller and his wife, Donna (pictured
above), live in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He
has four children: Eric Waller ’87, Danielle
“Dani” Waller ’90, Heather Kean and
Katharine Waller. Q
SU14_CN.indd 58
6/16/14 10:45 AM
MERIT-LOYALTY AWARD
Kathryn Springer
Kuddes ’83 is
director of fine arts
and special academic
programs for the
Plano (Texas) School
District, teaches
music education at
Southern Methodist University and has
taught classes at the University of North
Texas. She joined the Plano School District
in 1995 as an elementary music specialist
and in 1998, was named vocal music
coordinator for the district. The Plano
School District serves more than 54,000
students in pre-K through grade 12, with
more than 70 percent of the students
involved in the district’s award-winning
fine arts activities. Prior to Plano, she
served as elementary music specialist and
choral director for the Stafford, Killeen and
College Station school districts.
In 2010, she received the OAKE
(Organization of American Kodály Educators) Outstanding Administrator Award for
her advancement of Kodály-inspired music
curriculum in the Plano schools. Kuddes
served as vice president of the Kodály
Educators of Texas from 1994-98. She also
has served the Organization of American
Kodály Educators as Southern Division
president from 1997-2001, administrative
liaison from 2000-04, and on the conference planning committee in 2002 and
2004; and the Texas Music Administrators
Association as secretary/treasurer.
A loyal ambassador for Millikin,
Kuddes organized a University Choir
performance in Plano in January 2013,
when the choir performed with 200
high school students and also provided a
workshop for another high school. In 2001,
she also helped Dr. Guy Forbes, associate
conductor of choirs and chair of music
education, arrange a Chamber Chorale
tour throughout Texas.
Kuddes has served as her class agent
for fundraising and has also volunteered
for the Millikin Admissions Support Team
(MAST). At Homecoming 2008, she served
as a career connections panelist for the
School of Music. Q
MERIT AWARD
MERIT AWARD
Janet Heinie Clark
’91 of Terre Haute,
Ind., earned her
doctorate in chemistry from Purdue
University in 1996,
then accepted a
position as a research
chemist with Exxon Research and Development Laboratories in Baton Rouge, La.
In 2002, she was a member of ExxonMobil’s Process Research 2002 Innovator of
the Year research team. She worked for
ExxonMobil until 2003, receiving 13 U.S.
patents in the areas of gas conversion and
low-sulfur fuels.
Clark left ExxonMobil to begin her
teaching career at Saint Mary-of-theWoods College (SMWC) in Terre Haute,
Ind., as an assistant professor of chemistry
and physics in 2003. Since then, she has
served as president of the college’s faculty
assembly and also received one of the highest teaching honors at SMWC — the Sister
Mary Joseph Pomeroy Award for Faculty
Excellence in Service. In 2008, she was
named chair of the department of sciences
and mathematics, and in 2011, she was
named vice president for academic affairs
(VPAA) after serving as interim VPAA
since July 2010.
The author of numerous publications and presentations, Clark was also
co-coordinator of the Expanding Your
Horizons in Math and Science Conference,
which encourages young women to pursue
careers in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics.
Clark is a founding member of the
Wabash Valley Women of Influence committee, which was established in 2012. She
also served as national president (200508) of Iota Sigma Pi honor society for
women in chemistry. She served 12 years
on the organization’s national council and
as president of two local chapters, one at
Purdue University and the other in Baton
Rouge.
In 2008, Clark delivered the Sixth
Annual American Chemical Society Alumni
Lecture during Career Connections at
Millikin’s Homecoming. Q
Sunny E. Hull ’69
of El Paso, Texas,
worked as a materials
handling engineer at
Allis-Chalmers in
Springfield while
attending night
classes at Millikin.
After earning his degree in industrial
engineering, Hull accepted a position as a
consulting engineer for Booz Allen
Hamilton in Chicago. In 1971, Lozier Corp.,
a client of Booz Allen Hamilton based in
Omaha, Neb., hired Hull as a manufacturing executive.
In 1981, Hull and an Omaha neighbor
formed Mid-West Textile Co., a textile
recycling firm. Although most of the
company’s operations are located in El
Paso, where Mid-West employs nearly
350 people, the company also has a facility
in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the
border from El Paso. The company sorts
and sells textiles for several different
uses, including clothing for third-world
countries, vintage clothing, recycled fibers,
industrial cleanup and more, with the
added benefit of increasing the textiles’
useful life and keeping them out of
landfills. Now one of the largest clothing
recycling centers in the world, Mid-West
reports annual sales of nearly $50 million.
Since 1982, Hull has been a member
of the Secondary Materials and Recycled
Textile Association (SMART), a recyclingbased international trade association,
and has served on SMART’s nominating
committee, which submits nominations for
officers and directors.
A member of the El Paso Downtown
Lions Club, Hull is also a supporter of the
local United Way, with Mid-West Textile
leading the corporate donor board each
year. He and his wife, Linda, also support
local Christmas aid programs and the
Wounded Warriors Foundation.
Hull is a faithful and generous donor
to The Millikin Fund, and his unrestricted
gifts to the annual fund continue to
support areas of need throughout the
university. Q
SU14_CN.indd 59
59
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Q
HOMECOMING 2013
LOYALTY AWARD
Charles J. Yurieci
’68 of Bloomington,
Ill., a devoted
alumnus and former
student-athlete, is an
avid MU football fan
and attends many
games, as well as
other campus events, including Vespers
and Kirkland performances.
Through more than 40 years of giving,
Yurieci has provided generous support
through The Millikin Fund, the Big Blue
Club and Friends of Kirkland. He supported the “New Horizons” capital campaign and contributed to the ADM-Scovill
building project in the “Advancing the
Vision” capital campaign. During the
current capital campaign, “Transform
MU,” he has contributed toward football
field enhancements and equipment for the
Exercise Science and Sport program.
A member of the U.S. Army Reserve
from 1968-74, Yurieci also completed a
master’s degree in business administration
at Illinois State University in 1972.
After more than 33 years of service,
Yurieci retired in 2002 as crops division
operations manager for Growmark Inc.,
a North American cooperative serving
farmers with agricultural supplies and
grain marketing services.
As a Millikin student and accounting
major, Yurieci was the recipient of several
scholarships and awards, including the
Mueller Co. Scholarship all four years; the
Murphey, Jenne and Jones Accounting
Excellence Award and the Steagall-Sarran
Scholarship in 1967; and the Millikin
National Bank Outstanding Business
Student award in 1968. A four-year
letterwinner in football and baseball, he
also played junior-varsity basketball his
freshman year. Q
Extended biographical information
on the 2013 Alumni Award recipients and
Athletic Hall of Fame inductees can be
viewed online at millikin.edu/homecoming.
60
YOUNG ALUMNUS AWARD
John Robert “Jay”
Schleppenbach
’00 of Chicago is an
assistant attorney
general in the
criminal appeals
division of the Illinois
Attorney General’s
office. Prior to joining the Attorney
General’s office, he was a partner and
associate at the Chicago law firm, Jenner &
Block LLP from 2005-12.
He graduated summa cum laude from
the University of Illinois School of Law in
2003, and was chosen by his fellow students to give the commencement address.
Schleppenbach has had more than a
dozen articles published in legal journals,
and has assisted with instruction of an
international arbitration course at Northwestern University College of Law. He also
coached Northwestern’s award-winning
international arbitration Moot Court team
in Vienna.
He has served as a volunteer with the
Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago’s “Lawyers in the Classroom” program,
helping second- through eighth-grade
students better understand the Constitution and our legal system. He has also
volunteered with the “Saturday School”
program at Chicago’s KIPP Ascend Charter
School, a tuition-free college preparatory
middle school.
Schleppenbach has served as his
class agent for fundraising since 2006. A
regular contributor to The Millikin Fund,
he has also assisted with numerous other
fundraising efforts, including providing
funding for Millikin’s Outstanding Journalism Award and helping solicit former
James Millikin and presidential scholars.
A Career Connections volunteer, he also
attends Millikin events in the Chicago area
and hosted University Choir members at
his home during their 2008 tour.
Schleppenbach is a graduate of
Chicago’s famed Second City Conservatory
programs in improvisation and writing,
and writes and performs sketch shows at
the Second City Skybox Theater and other
Chicago venues. Q
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Ryan Ash ’01, of
Normal, Ill., the
goalkeeper for the
men’s soccer team
from 1997-2000,
staked his claim to
several spots in the
MU record books.
Ash still holds the record for career
wins (25); most wins in a season (15
in 2000); career shutouts (19.5); most
shutouts in a season (9.5) and the lowest
goals-against average (0.41).
He was the starting goalkeeper for
the 2000 College Conference of Illinois
and Wisconsin (CCIW) championship
team that went 15-1-1 — the best men’s
soccer season in Millikin history. During
his senior year, he was also named to the
National Soccer Coaches Association of
America’s All-Midwest team.
Ash gives back to soccer by serving as
a certified national collegiate referee. He is
a member of the National Intercollegiate
Soccer Officials Association (NISOA), and
was recipient of the NISOA’s George Faragallah 2008 National Referee Achievement
Award. He is a member of the Central Illinois Soccer Officials Association, serving as
rules interpreter and clinician. Q
Joanna Conner
’06 of Decatur was a
starter for the Big
Blue’s 2004-05
national championship women’s
basketball team.
During that
tournament, Conner was named the Final
Four Most Valuable Player. Her performance during the sectional tournament
leading up to the championship netted
her selection to the 2005 NCAA Sectional
All-Tournament Team.
Conner was named to the CCIW’s
All-Conference First Team in 2004-05;
selected for the D3Hoops.com All-Region
and All-American Third Team in 2004-05;
named Women’s D3News Preseason Honorable Mention All-American in 2005-06;
earned All-Conference Second
SU14_CN.indd 60
6/16/14 10:45 AM
Team honors in 2005-06 and Third Team
honors in 2003-04. She also served as the
Big Blue co-captain her senior year and
was a four-year letter winner.
Conner currently serves as assistant
women’s basketball and strength and
conditioning coach for the Big Blue. Q
Jim Kettelkamp
’59 of Pana, Ill., was
recognized for his
accomplishments in
recruiting student
athletes and supporting Millikin athletics.
Kettelkamp joined
the Millikin staff in 1964 and worked
in various positions in admission and
financial aid for eight years. He was named
director of admission in 1972 and dean of
admission in 1987.
In 1993, Kettelkamp retired as dean
emeritus of admission after 29 years of
service to the university. During his tenure,
he was responsible for recruiting more
than 13,000 students to MU.
A loyal fan and supporter of Millikin
athletics for many years, Kettelkamp
was an active member of Millikin’s
Quarterback Club. In addition to assisting
with recruitment of student athletes,
Kettelkamp was also a valued adviser and
advocate for the Big Blue coaching staff. Q
Stacey Stegeman
Lambert ’05 of
Bloomington, Ill., was
a standout volleyball
player for the Big
Blue and was chosen
by the College
Conference of Illinois
and Wisconsin (CCIW) as freshman player
of the year in 2001.
Serving as team captain during both
her junior and senior years, she led the
team in service aces and kills in 2002,
2003 and 2004. At the time she graduated,
she held the school record for career
kills with 1,528 and was No. 4 in career
digs with 1,364. She still holds the No. 2
position for career service aces with 218,
and is now No. 3 in career kills.
The CCIW named her “player of the
week” twice during her senior year. She
was also named to the All-CCIW first team
in 2004, and was named to the second
team in 2002 and 2003. She was named
tournament MVP several times and
recognized on numerous all-tournament
teams during her Millikin career, including
five in her senior year.
Lambert joined the Illinois High
School Association as coordinator of
marketing and special events in 2008. In
2009, she was promoted to the organization’s assistant executive directorship,
serving as administrator for boys and girls
volleyball, boys and girls bowling and for
girls golf and badminton. Q
Jeff Monken ’89 of
Statesboro, Ga.,
began his coaching
career as a graduate
assistant football
coach at the University of Hawaii during
the 1989-90 season.
There, Monken tasted success as his team
ended the season 9-3 and participated in
the 1989 Aloha Bowl — the first bowl game
in school history.
Monken also served as a graduate
assistant wide receivers coach at Arizona
State University for one season, then
moved on to the State University of New
York at Buffalo, where he was assistant
coach for the wide receivers and tight ends,
and also served as recruiting coordinator
from 1992-94. After a brief stint coaching
at Morton High School in Berwyn, Ill., and
at Concordia University in River Forest,
Ill., Monken headed to Georgia Southern
University, where he was the slotbacks and
punters coach from 1997-2001. During this
five-year period, the GSU Eagles were the
national runner-up in 1998 and national
champions in 1999 and 2000.
In 2002, Monken became the slotbacks coach for the U.S. Naval Academy in
Annapolis, Md. During his six seasons with
the team, the Midshipmen set numerous
school records, including notching 18
victories in two seasons. Among their
successes were the first back-to-back bowl
victories in school history.
As slotbacks coach and special teams
coordinator for the Georgia Institute of
Technology from 2008-10, Monken helped
lead the team to an 8-4 record and an
appearance in the 2008 Chik-fil-A Bowl.
In 2009, they won the conference championship with a 10-4 record and made an
Orange Bowl appearance.
Monken returned to Georgia Southern
University as head football coach in 2010,
where his 31 victories in three seasons
rank first in the Southern Conference and
second nationally. He was named Southern
Conference Coach of the Year and American Football Coaches Association Regional
Coach of the Year in 2011, and was a 2012
Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year finalist.
Under his direction, the GSU Eagles
earned national semifinal appearances in
the NCAA Division I football playoffs in
2010, 2011 and 2012. Q
David Peabody ’94
was an award-winning member of
Millikin’s track and
field and football
teams from 1990-94.
In 1992, he
earned College
Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
(CCIW) honorable mention status as a
defensive back for the Big Blue football
team. In 1993, he was named to the 2nd
Team All-CCIW as a defensive back.
A member of the 1992 CCIW championship 400-meter relay team, Peabody
achieved Outdoor All-American status
when the team took seventh place at the
1992 NCAA Division III championships.
The track team captain and co-MVP in
1993, Peabody was a member of the 1600meter relay team that set a new Millikin
outdoor record with a time of 3:18.27 — a
record that still stands. In 1994, Peabody
was CCIW champion in the long jump and
at the NCAA DIII championships, he was
named an Outdoor All-American again
when he finished eighth in that event.
Currently, Peabody is a math teacher
and track coach at Redmond (Wash.) High
School. Q
SU14_CN.indd 61
61
6/16/14 10:45 AM
HOMECOMING 2013
Q
SU14_CN.indd 62
6/16/14 10:46 AM
MY TURN
GROWING UP
MILLIKIN
by Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77
I
STARTED GOING TO MILLIKIN in kindergarten. That was
the year my father began teaching mathematics there,
a position he kept for 34 years. Drawing on his office
chalkboard and playing with the gigantic slide rule propped
behind his door were activities to keep a young girl entertained.
In second grade, I became a piano student in the School
of Music’s preparatory department. My first teacher had a
basement studio that was a bit creepy, but evidently I got over
the feeling since I spent the next 14 years visiting that building.
Piano recitals in Kaeuper Hall were oft-dreaded affairs. All the
pianists would gather in a classroom until it was our group’s
turn to descend the stairs to the tiny backstage area. In winter,
the stairwell was freezing, but we’d thaw by the hissing radiator
while waiting our turns. With nerves on high alert and brain
hoping my fingers would remember all the notes, I sometimes
secretly wished my parents weren’t there. They always were.
My family seldom missed choir and jazz band concerts.
Most of my babysitters were Millikin students, and some were
choir members. I always looked for them as soon as the choir
filled the risers and felt especially proud if one of them had a
solo. We began taking students to church with us. They quickly
became my adopted brothers and sisters, and many of them still
stay in contact.
Along with other faculty wives, my mother made and
served cookies for the annual Cookie Party. My sister and I
always “helped” make the cookies and sometimes attended.
When my father became faculty advisor for Alpha Chi Omega,
we were invited to their Christmas parties and occasional
dinners. It was a treat to have dozens of big sisters for a night.
During junior high, I met another faculty brat, Judy
Marshall Kuypers ’77, who became my partner in crime for the
next decade. We enrolled at Millikin as seventh graders. (Okay,
it was just a beginning Spanish class taught at night.) It was no
surprise we both decided to attend Millikin after graduating
92
LEFT: The Shelton family Christmas card photo from 1960, the year the
Sheltons came to Millikin. From left, Winnie, Debbie, Ronald and Kathie.
RIGHT: Debbie and her parents the day she graduated from MU in 1977.
from high school.
Being a Millikin student after having been around campus
for 13 years brought me a different perspective than most
freshmen. My family’s home was close by, so homesickness,
moving and laundry were not issues. I had attended school
with or babysat the children of many of my professors. Trips
to the bookstore were more expensive, since I was now buying
textbooks instead of sweatshirts. My job in the admission office
was a great fit, since it was easy for me to give campus tours,
knowing the buildings so well.
Having professors as my teachers in addition to family
friends was a new experience. I remember Dr. Ferry, now
professor emeritus of education, proudly displaying his corn
belt during a social studies methods class. My ear training class
soon learned to discern Professor LaRowe’s chords by noting
the expressions on his face. The hours in the choir room
were probably my favorites, even when going over the same
phrase a multitude of times to fix some imperfection that only
Professor Hoffland could hear.
After graduating and marrying my alum husband, we
stayed connected with Millikin. Concerts and other MU
events appeared on our calendar. If the Quarterly had published wedding photos back then, ours would have qualified.
All those of college age in our wedding party were Millikin
students or alums.
Today, we have lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost
30 years. I seldom get to attend official Homecoming weekends,
but any visit to Millikin is definitely a part of coming home. Q
Debbie Shelton Fisher ’77 and her husband, Forrest Jay Fisher ’79,
live in Union Gap, Wash., where she works as a para-educator for the
Union Gap School District. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Ronald
Shelton, professor emeritus of mathematics and computer science,
who taught at MU from 1960-94.
SU14_HROD.indd 92
6/16/14 10:46 AM
HIGH-FASHION HEADLINES: A dress display at Staley Library was
designed and assembled from newspapers by BFA theatre design/
production students (from left) Sierra Goldberg ’13, Lilly Suwinski ’14,
Kate Burton ’14 and Emily Wilson ’13.
“The paper dress project was conceived as a 3D project for the
Costume Design course. The guidelines were pretty loose, other
than they were to explore the Principles of Design through paper.
Each student approached the project from their own perspective.”
– Jana Henry Funderburk, costume director and
associate professor in the department of theatre and dance
SU14_cover.indd 5
6/16/14 10:31 AM
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Decatur, Illinois
Permit No. 127
Office of Alumni and Development
THEN & NOW
How much can
change in
40
YEARS?
As we gear up for
Homecoming 2014,
Oct. 10-12, here’s a brief look
at how it will compare to the
1974 Homecoming weekend.
Watch the mail for your
HC14 brochure, or visit
millikin.edu/homecoming.
HOMECOMING DANCE
1974:
2014:
Formal, Hotel Orlando
Neon Paint Dance Party, Football practice fields
KIRKLAND PERFORMER
1974:
2014:
Comedian David Steinberg
Broadway star Sierra Boggess ’04
FOOTBALL GAME RIVAL
1974:
2014:
Wheaton (MU won 34-21)
Illinois Wesleyan
AMONG STUDENT ACTIVITIES
1974:
2014:
House Decs contest
Alumni share advice at Career Connections
AMONG ALUMNI ACTIVITIES
1974:
2014:
Hospitality Room at Holiday Inn
Reunion Rally All-Class Dinner
at Holiday Inn (now Decatur Conference Center)
CLASS REUNIONS
1974:
2014:
’54, ’59, ’64, ’69
Five-year increments of classes 1944-2009
ATTENDANCE AT REUNION LUNCH
1974:
2014:
144
500+ expected (bring the family!)
REUNION LUNCHEON ATTIRE
1974:
2014:
Plaids and stripes, often together
Anything blue (Just sayin’.)
ABOVE: In 1974, pant suits for women, and ties, jackets and sideburns for men were popular choices
among the class of 1964 at their 10-year reunion photo.
HAVE AN IDEA FOR THEN & NOW? Send an email to [email protected].
SU14_cover.indd 2
6/16/14 10:30 AM

Summer 2014 - Millikin University

Transcription

Similar documents

MU Homecoming Kirkland Fine Arts Center

Homecoming Week Flyer - College of Education

Contribution Form

Summer 2013 - Cook County Health and Hospitals System

Splash Lagoon Family Fun Weekend!

Associate of Business Administration in Human Resources

Full page photo - Texas Southern University

Join us for the2016 Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series

Power, Steering Proxes R888 sticks to the track whilst you stick to