Download - Aquinas Magainze :: Fall 2004
FALL 2004 the magazine of aquinas college
Undergraduate sustainable business class, shown meeting outdoors, is one of Aquinas College’s signature programs (see page 14).
mission statement
vision statement
Aquinas College, an inclusive educational com mu ni ty rooted in theCatholic Do min i can tradition, provides a liberal arts ed u ca tion with aglobal perspective, emphasizes ca reer preparation fo cused on leadershipand service to others, and fosters a com mit ment to life long learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good. Aquinas College conducts an array of educational programs whose quality and ef fec tive ness cause it to be considered con sis tent ly as a premier Catholic liberal arts college in the Midwest. In doing so, it is the college of choice for increasing numbers of stu dents who seek a diverse, but inclusive, learning com mu ni ty that will enable them to increase their knowledge, hone their com pe ten cies, develop their character, and answer God’s calling to use their gifts and talents to make a positive difference in our world through their lives, work, and service. Aquinas strives to graduate students of competence, con science, com pas sion, and com mit ment.
editorial team
contact information Aquinas magazine, created in spring 2002, is a semi-annual publication of Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is published in August and February each year by the College Relations Department for alumni, friends and benefactors of the College as well as parents of enrolled students. Aquinas is a private four-year Catholic Dominican Liberal Arts College. Letters comments/ suggestions are encouraged.
E-mail: [email protected] Mail to: College Relations DepartmentWeb site: www.aquinas.edu 1607 Robinson Road SEAlumni news: www.aquinas.edu/alumni Grand Rapids,MI 49506-1799Main number: (616) 632-8900 (616) 632-2844 / Fax: 616-459-2563
Rabbi Albert Lewis, D.H.L.Sister Jean Milhaupt, O.P. `45Tony Nolan `67Sandy RademakerSally Reeves Julie RidenourTonya Schafer `02Cynthia VanGelderen William WeitzelDeb WickeringMike Williams, Ph.D.
DESIGN/LAYOUT:Mindpower, Inc.Silvija Visockis
PHOTOGRAPHY:Joseph BoomgaardBrian KellyMark SchmidbauerAndris Visockis
EDITORIAL TEAM:Marty FaheyJoelle Kwiatkowski `02Sally ReevesJulie RidenourSilvija Visockis
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:Megan Alford `04Glenn Barkan, Ph.D.Laura Bennett-Kimble `95Damon Bouwkamp `00Terry Bocian `70Joseph Boomgaard `03Michelle Bottrall `97Marty FaheyOmar Flores `02Brenda Hennink `96Harry Knopke, Ph.D. Joelle Kwiatkowski `02Crystal (Lubbers `01) Laska
FALL 2004 • Vol. 3, No. 2 the magazine of aquinas college
CONTENTS
Page PageLetters to the Editor 4
President’s Message 5 Campus News AQ Receives Accreditation 6
2004 Commencement 7
Chaplain Father Charles Dies 12
FEATURE: The Road Ahead 14
FEATURE: AQ and Metro Health 16
Japan Trip Strengthens Ties 18
Guest Lecturers 19
Campus Safety 25-year Milestone 25
Alumni News
Chiwaya Named to Government Post 29
Homecoming 2004 30
Pollster Sarpolus Checks Pulse of Voters 31
Alumni Golf Outing 32
Student News
Going to “Congress” 34
Weinandy Heads Campus Life 34
CE Students Honored 35
Faculty News
Deans’ Reports 36
Faculty Notes 39
Athletics
Seventh Consecutive WHAC Award 40
Bocian Receives Lifetime Award 41
Senior Athletes Honored 43
2004 Athletic Hall of Fame 44
Jan Bennett Retires 45
Development
Palmores Plan $10 Million Gift to AQ 46
Refl ection Award: Kate Pew Wolters 47
Community Leadership’s Major Gift 48
Hall of Fame Gala Preview 49
Ryans Establish Scholarship 50
Lights! Action! Auction! 51
Trustees
Profi le: The Rev Bill Duncan 52
Trustee Morrison Receives State Award 53
Emeritus College
Sister Aquinas Honored 54
Admissions
Notable First-Year Students 56
Class Notes 60
Aquinas College is committed to equality. This statement of the College speaks to this commitment, as do our history and heritage. We believe that diversity is a blessing, which brings a richness of perspective to our in tel lec tu al, cultural, social, and spir i tu al life. All members of our community—faculty, staff, students—will demonstrate respect for each other regardless of our dif fer enc es. All of us will be sensitive in our actions, words, and deeds. We will dem on strate these sen-sitivities in our classrooms, curricula, of fi c es, meet ing places, and living environments. We will maintain the diversity of our Board of Trustees, faculty, student body, and staff and appreciate the different gifts each brings to this community re gard less of age, gender, race, ethnicity, re li gion, or disability.
Cover photo by Andris Visockis.Dr. Matt Teuth takes his class into the environment to make his point.
page 54page 46page 41page 30page 16 page 25page 25page 12page 7
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Kudos to Brent Chesley for a well written and thoughtful article (“The Choice She Makes,” p. 40, Aquinas, Spring 2004). I’m passing it on to my daughter, who is studying for a master’s degree and broke up with her Kermit last year. Even though it was painful and it took her a long time, she fi nally had the courage to fol-low her own dreams. It’s nice to know there are professors out there giving such thoughtful advice to young women (and men, I hope). Laurel Hill ‘87
Glad to see the old colors back at AQ (“College Identity and Messaging Gets Updated,” p. 13, Aquinas, Spring 2004). Think the mascot is great also and he should also get a new maroon suit. The Aquinas magazine is outstanding and we look forward to every issue. Keep up the great effort. Bill MacKay `77
Hey, all. Love the new logos. I attended AQ from 1974 to 1978. After that, I was the head soccer coach there till 1983. I think the idea for calling Aquinas “AQ” originated with me and a group of my friends [fellow athletes]. I put AQ on a soccer t-shirt my sophomore year and the next thing you know, people were writing it on their book covers, putting it on sports banners, etc. I think it started to appear in the school newspaper around that time, as well. Just an F.Y.I. Cheers. Doug Mello `78
Thanks, Doug. Our archivist, Sr. Jean Milhaupt, O.P., tells me that “AQ” was actually used quite exten-sively in the Sunrise (student newspaper), at least in 1973 and she found uses as far back as 1968. However, from your description, your use of it certainly elevated its visibility around the campus community. So, THANKS! (Ed.)
Just wanted to take the opportunity to express my appreciation for the great job…in the Spring 2004 edition of Aquinas magazine, focusing on the Catholicity of Aquinas College. It is a message that I believe really needs to be communicated to our greater audience and you did it very well.
Pat Quinn `58, Aquinas Trustee
As an alumna who worked for 17 years in communications/media relations and 22 years in higher education, I am very disappointed in the new format of Aquinas magazine. It is too big, too glossy, too boring. It is a PR piece, designed to please internal groups and its own makers. I don’t see any added-value for the readers. I had consid-ered asking you to remove me from the mailing list, but I do feel loyal to Aquinas. I remember my years there as a positive period of my intellec-tual growth and a great preparation for graduate school and career. So, you can keep me on your list, although I would much rather receive a modest little newsletter to keep in touch.
Mary R. (Tomaszek) Grove `57, Indianapolis
Mary, I do appreciate your comments. Aquinas magazine is a work in progress and I hope to con-tinue making changes, perhaps shortening the length of articles and incorporating more feature pieces. As the only current historical publication for the College (year-books have not been produced for years), it is important to share with everyone what is happening here, while creating a record for future reference. (Ed.)
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president ’s message
“Change is underway at Aquinas — positive, deliberative change….”
Across the country, the cycles of college life con-sistently show renewed vigor at this time of year. Aquinas is no different: we’re progressing into the new academic year with substantial energy, enthu-siasm, and confi dence, but with added momentum generated by a number of important accomplish-ments recorded last year, many of which are described in this issue of Aquinas magazine.
Among the most important of our achievements was receiving the reaffi rmation of our accreditation from the visitation team of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, summarized in the article on p. 8. We were pleased by the team’s overall highly positive assessment of the College, its people, programs, organization, and processes, including our institutional planning and the ways in which we have developed our annual and long-range plans.
The core of our institutional plan is the set of “Signature Programs” that gives direction for our efforts over the next ten years. Laura Bennet-Kimble’s article on p.16 provides a fi ne summary of those distinctive programs and initiatives. Each takes advantage of the particular strengths inherent in our departments, faculty, and staff, and each will enable Aquinas to address quite effectively future
needs of both our graduates and the broader com-munity.
When thinking about the efforts devoted to con-structing these signature programs, I’ve been struck by how they describe Thomas Aquinas’ concept of change: a combinant of fi xity and movement, wherein entities evolve but everything is not new, for something of the past remains in the pres-ent, and in turn enters into the constitution of the future. As well, W. B. Yeats, one of my favorite authors, implicitly adapted this position in his pre-dominant images of spirals of all kinds conveying his notion that life is a journey up a spiral staircase. As we grow older, he maintained, we cover the ground we have covered before, only higher up; as we look down the winding stair below us, we mea-sure our progress by the number of places where we were but no longer are.
In many respects, the College is “higher up” than it was last year, and we are most confi dent it will be even further “up” each successive year when new academic seasons begin. Change is underway at Aquinas—positive, deliberative change that builds on our Dominican charisms, our tradition, and our rich institutional history to ensure the College will continue to be a very special place in the months and years ahead.
Harry J. Knopke, Ph.D.
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The fi ndings of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools indicate that Aquinas College continues to grow and improve. After a March visit, the review team recommended a seven-year renewal, which is what most colleges like Aquinas receive in the accreditation review process.
“The team noted the considerable progress the College has made in addressing the issues raised during the last visit in 1997, particularly in the fi nancial areas, planning, and student advising,” said Provost and Dean of Faculty C. Edward Balog, Ph.D. The team also would like to check future progress. Therefore, the Higher
Aquinas ReceivesSeven-Year Accreditation
Learning Commission has planned a focused visit during the academic year 2007-2008 “to consider the progress made in pushing beyond the present level of fi nancial stability to a posi-tion of growth and enhancement of fi nancial reserves and the endowment” and to evaluate the College’s progress toward a comprehensive assessment program, Balog said.
He also said, “based on the self-study review, the team confi rms that the institution con-tinues to meet each one of the 24 general institutional requirements.” And in the broader criteria involving the school’s mission, resources, accomplishment of stated purposes, effectiveness, and integrity, the two areas mentioned above were the only ones showing need for improvement. “Otherwise, they said everything was fi ne,” he added.
By Laura Bennett-Kimble `95, Contributing Writer
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A member of the North Central Association visitation team talks with faculty and staff.
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Commencement: Keeping Hope Alive“I come to you with full humility from the Aquinas of Indiana to the Notre Dame of Michigan,” announced University of Notre Dame President Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., upon receiving an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Aquinas during its 63rd Annual Commencement on May 8. The comment drew the applause of some 320 graduates, their families, faculty and staff.
“I love graduations,” said Malloy, because “they fi ll the air with emotions. It’s a time to recall the sacrifi ce of all that’s represented here, the hard work of students and the tremendous dedication of faculty, staff and administration.”
In his seventeenth and fi nal year as president at Notre Dame, “Monk,” as he’s known to those close to him, delivered a commencement message titled “Keeping Hope Alive.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to keep hope alive,” Father Malloy observed. “There’s too much violence, too much prejudice and too much unhappiness. The cornucopia of good things of this world is not always justly shared,” he said, referring to a growing infl ux of foreigners who come to America, bringing with them the richness of their culture, only to fi nd rejection.
“It’s ironic. That’s the way we (our forefathers) came here. I hope you have learned what it means to be just in your dealings with others and to recognize the special obligation we have to those who don’t enjoy the same privileges we have,” Malloy said.
He challenged each graduate to keep hope alive, encouraging them to “be loving in relationships, to be a person of integrity in your work, and to be just in your dealings with others.”
The Most Reverend Robert Rose, a former Aquinas Trustee who retired in October 2003 after serving 14 years as the Bishop of the
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Diet Eman
The Most Reverend Robert Rose
The Reverend Edward Malloy
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Diocese of Grand Rapids received a doctor of humane letters for his long-term service to both the diocese and the community.
Eighty-four year old Diet Eman, a Holocaust survivor and member of the Dutch resistance in World War II, was presented with an honorary doctor of social science degree. The honor came nearly 60 years to the hour after Eman was arrested by the Nazis. Even at the risk of her own death, her covert activities during the war allowed hundreds of allied troops and others to escape the atrocities of the German occupation.
Accepting the award on behalf of her friends, half of whom died during the Nazi occupation of her country, Eman said, “I thank God for answering my prayers to spare my life.” She received two standing ovations from a gratifi ed audience.
Four retiring College faculty members were honored with Emeritus status for their years of dedicated teaching and service. They were Sr. Amata Fabbro, O.P., Ph.D. (Theology); Sr. Yvonne Greiner, O.P. (Theology); Lee Jacokes,
Diplomas bring smiles any dentist would be proud of as readily seen in the photographs on pages 8 and 9.
Ph.D. (Psychology) and Shirley Kane Lewis, Ed.D (Dean of Arts and Sciences).
Aquinas Trustees Jim McKay and Sr. Carmelita Murphy, O.P., were also recognized for their “outstanding leadership and guidance” to the College over the past decade and were given Emeritus status as well.
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Aquinas College honored its fi rst nursing graduates in a special campus ceremony May 4. The twelve students actually received their Bachelor of Science in Nursing diplomas May 8 from the University of Detroit-Mercy (UDM), which coordinates the collaborative program in conjunction with Aquinas and Saint Mary’s Mercy Medical Center.
The students earned their degrees through four years of study with coursework at both Aquinas and UDM as well as clinical experi-ence at Saint Mary’s Mercy Medical Center.
First Nursing Graduates Recognized at Commencement
The fi rst Nursing Program graduates (above) are:
(L to R) Front row:Ann Deja, Kristy Vogel, Julie Kamps, Amber Williams, Melissa Elliott, Heather Bennett.
Back row:Paulette Abbey, Chasity Wagner, Terri Beute, Sheila Lukens, Lynne Piccard, Therese Carroll-Caruso.
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College Launches New IdentityAquinas is sporting a new look these days since the College publicly unveiled its new Web site design (www.aquinas.edu) July 1. The complete site redesign will take as much as two years to complete with more than 7,600 pages to be updated or redesigned.
The new identity is part of the efforts of Mindpower Inc., an Atlanta-based marketing/communications fi rm hired by the College. The company has been working with Aquinas for more than a year. Last spring, the fi rst changes came to light with the production of the new admissions viewbook and the placement of multicolor banners around campus.
This edition of Aquinas magazine, as you can see, refl ects the use of a palette of colors that complement maroon and white, which were selected as the College’s primary colors. Those colors help to maintain the historical consis-tency with the original College colors of bur-gundy and silver. The new logo and colors will be prominently displayed on items including letterhead, envelopes, brochures, catalogs, and promotional goods.
In addition to the main logo, the College has adopted a circular “AQ” logo, with the goal of it becoming recognized as representing Aquinas College.
Also, in the main logo, we have incorporated the tagline “Makes all the difference in the world.” The tag speaks to our goal of providing a lib-eral arts education in the Catholic Dominican tradition that inspires compassion and instills a desire to serve in a manner that does indeed make a difference in the world.
The new logo provides a cleaner, updated look that incorporates a maple leaf, instead of the “trees” logo, which helps to maintain the con-nection to the College’s scenic, wooded beauty.
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The red and white colors used extensively in athletics, though never offi cially adopted, will change to maroon and white with the future opening of the proposed Field House expansion.
The goal of the institutional identity changes is to allow the College to project a consistent and bold image, fostering a greater awareness and recognition of the College.
We again want to extend special thanks to the Wege Foundation, which has graciously under-written a large portion of the creative work done by Mindpower.
Web site: www.aquinas.edu
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The Aquinas community was shocked to learn that its chap-lain, Fr. Charles Santoro, O.P., died suddenly and unexpectedly
on Tuesday, August 3—nearly two years to the day when he began his duties at Aquinas.
Fr. Charles, 60, was greatly beloved by the AQ community. His love and acceptance for each person he met was quite remarkable. Even though he had only been at Aquinas two years, he made a great impression on the campus. He was a dedicated priest with whom everyone felt comfortable. His deep faith and love for God and the Church were refl ected through his pas-sion for life. In each of the two years he was here, students awarded him the Spirit Award. Extremely supportive of the sports programs at Aquinas, Fr. Charles distributed pom poms to fans at basketball games and cheered the teams on, yelling enthusiastically.
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He also loved to study and to teach. A faculty member mentioned that she learned something new every time she ran into Fr. Charles. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable about Catholicism, but he was also committed to ecumenism. Fr. Charles will be deeply missed. His large heart touched us all.
Fr. Charles is believed to have died from a blood clot. He had had successful surgery on July 12 to remove some cancerous glands. While recovering at home, he developed an infection, for which he was hospitalized for a brief stay. He had just arrived home when he collapsed. He was returned to the hospital where efforts to revive him failed. His funeral Mass and burial were held August 9 in Minneapolis. A special memo-rial service and a Mass for Fr. Charles were held on campus in August.
Aquinas Community Stunned by Death of College Chaplain
Fr. Charles Santoro, O.P.
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Bishop Kevin Britt was establishing close ties with Aquinas College when, just 10 months in offi ce, he suddenly died on May 15.
The Kent County Medical Examiner ruled in June that Bishop Britt had died of a “rare brain disorder”—so rare, in fact, according to the medical examiner, that there are only 70 cases recorded in medical literature (as reported in The Grand Rapids Press, June 4, 2004).
Britt was installed as the Diocese’s tenth bishop in October 2003, replacing the retired Reverend Robert Rose. The Reverend Bill Duncan, the Vicar General of the Diocese who is also an Aquinas Trustee (see article, p. 52), was given responsibility for handling the daily administra-tive responsibilities while Detroit Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida has assumed the Apostolic Administrator duties.
Fr. Duncan said the late Bishop Britt was “very committed to Catholic education at all levels. When he arrived at the diocese, he was pleased to know that we had a Catholic college here in our midst with the great Aquinas tradition. And so from the very beginning, he wanted to estab-lish a good working relationship with Dr. Knopke and the Aquinas community.”
Aquinas President Harry Knopke said that Bishop Britt was fast becoming an asset, not just to the Catholic Diocese, but to Grand Rapids and west Michigan as well. “Britt possessed seemingly boundless energy; demon-strated a genuine interest in all the people, programs, and organizations that either con-stitute or relate to the diocese; and quickly established personal and organizational rela-tionships throughout the broader community,” Knopke said.
Bishop Britt Death ShocksAquinas Community
Bishop Kevin Britt offers a prayer at Evening of Elegance, an Aquinas fundraiser held just two weeks before his death.
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When traveling, a map can ensure that you reach your destination. When planning for the future, set-ting goals has a tendency to do the same thing. Aquinas College President Harry Knopke and Provost and Dean of Faculty C. Edward Balog have assembled a detailed roadmap to help implement the vari-ous goals of the College through 2013. Plans are in place for the development and enhancement of academic offerings as well as a new library and Field House.
Several signature programs —programs recognized as Aquinas specialties —will be enhanced within the next 10 years, including expanding the sustainable business undergraduate degree program to the graduate level, establishing a writing center with creative writing certifi cation, and creating an alterna-tive certifi cation program for the master’s in education degree.
The undergraduate sustainable business program, which has doubled its expected enrollment and is attracting students from as far away as Japan (see p. 18), has proven to be an innovative and logi-
THE R OAD AHEAD
By Laura Bennett-Kimble `95, Contributing Writer
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cal blending of the College’s environmental and business programs. The president said, “There has been a lot of interest in the six-course undergraduate program and the planned graduate program.” He said that he expects to see the sustainable business graduate program up and running within the next year or so.
The writing program—including a prominent visiting artist-in-residence each year—is a logical addition to English Department offerings. Because so many of the English faculty members are published writers of everything from non-fi ction texts to poetry and fi ction, “I think it’s a natural fi t,” said Knopke. “The attraction is the faculty.” The six-course creative writing certifi cation pro-gram, which includes fi ction, poetry, and creative non-fi ction, will be in place this fall.
The Education Department is exploring alternative master in education options, Balog said, “so that students don’t have to give up their day jobs to get their certifi cation.” This change involves meeting State of Michigan requirements and working with various departments throughout the institution because education students often earn degrees in specifi c disci-plines rather than solely through the Education Department.
Other disciplines will also evolve. The undergraduate nursing program has been growing and will con-tinue to grow. “We’ll be at capacity this fall,” said Balog of the successful fi ve-year-old program. The fi rst class of nursing students graduated this spring and 11 of the 12 students have jobs. The 12th, Knopke said, didn’t have a job yet because she was still deciding between two offers. To continue supporting the nursing and pre-professional programs, new science equipment and laboratory space are planned.
Additionally, a master’s degree program in religious studies may be offered within the next couple of years. As the Catholic community evolves, and as it continues to deal with the declining number of priests, “people are looking for this level of certifi cation,” Knopke said. Other signature program developments will include a revised and expanded master of management program, an expansion of leadership and confl ict management courses in association with the Woodrick Institute, a continua-tion of support for the theatre program and the new Performing Arts Center, and a political science department that collaborates with the Community Leadership Institute to focus on state and national government.
Two building projects are also planned: the expansion and enhancement of the Field House and the relocation and expansion of the library. The Field House will be enlarged by over 60,000 square feetto include an athletic training facility, the health center, more classrooms for the expanding athletic
F E AT U R E A RT I C L E S
(Left) Dr. Matt Tueth takes his class out into the environment for lectures.
President Knopke (right) and Provost Balog (below) map out a promising future for the College.
(continued on p. 16)
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In a continuation of the Aquinas College mis-sion to reach out to the community and to form partnerships with complementary organizations, Aquinas College has joined with Metro Health to create a unique educational opportunity through its Sustainable Business program.
In an effort that will expand and revolutionize its health care services, Metro Health is moving from Grand Rapids to a 170-acre Health Village in suburban Wyoming. When completed by 2006, the Village will include a 208-bed hospital,retail village, commercial businesses, health ser-vices, and the Center for Sustainable Energy and Education (CSEE), a sustainable education center that also functions as the main utility plant of the hospital. It is here that Aquinas students will expand and apply their knowledge of sustainable business, the concept of promoting economic growth while seri-ously addressing environmental and social responsibility.
department, and a convocation center, all of which will comprise the 120,000-square-foot facility. Integrated Architecture and Rockford Construction have been chosen to handle the project. The library will move from the Academic Building to the Jarecki Center, adding approximately 25,000 square feet to the building and doubling the library fl oor space. Progressive Architecture Engineering and Erhardt Construction have been chosen for the project.
Both buildings will have environmentally responsible components factored into their construction and renovation. “It is our expectation that they will be LEED certifi ed,” Knopke said. This certifi ca-tion of the U.S. Green Building Council designates structures as meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria.
The many changes projected for the future may seem quite diverse, but they add up to the College tradition of stewardship, service, leadership and career preparation.
“We’re collaborating on these program development initiatives to ensure that we aren’t responding to trends,” Knopke said, “but rather anticipating and leading them. In moving into the future, we want to build on the strengths that we already have to create more strengths, basically, to provide our students and alumni with expanded opportunities.”
AQ AND METR O HEALTH
create energy-education lab
Architectural rendering of proposed Center for Sustainable Energy and Education.
(The Road Ahead continued from p. 15)
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U.S. Congressman Vernon Ehlers addresses a press conference held to announce the Center for Sustainable Energy and Education. At the front tables (l-r): Director of Aquinas’ Sustainable Business Program Dr. Matt Tueth; Director of Engineering and Real Estate, Metro Health Jeff Smitley; President of Novi Energy Anand Gangadharan; Vernon Ehlers, Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives (standing); President of Aquinas College Dr. Harry Knopke; and Metro Health President and CEO, Mike Faas.
The partnership was formalized at an August 25 press conference, which also included the announce-ment of a $2.75 million federal contract award from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory toward the project’s $30 million estimated cost. Funds for the project will come through a mix of conventional fi nancing and national grants. Students in the program include those seeking a bachelor of science degree in sustainable business, the fi rst undergraduate program of its kind in the nation, as well as those seeking a minor degree or certifi cate in sustainable business. The program began offi cially in August 2003 and enrollment is double what Sustainable Business Program Director Matthew Tueth, Ph.D., had expected. Twenty-seven students are currently enrolled in the program, including four Metropolitan Hospital management employees.
The CSEE, which planners expect to achieve the coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum designation of the U.S. Green Building Council, “will produce tradi-tional and renewable energy for the hospital and potentially the health care village,” said Tueth. In its 45,000-square-foot energy and educational center, students will participate in learning and research projects in areas such as community education, waste elimination, material recycling, and renewable power generation to further their education and to assist in developing the facility’s potential.
“The Metro Health Village project is unique in the world,” Tueth noted. “Our association with this truly unique sustainable business development will benefi t Aquinas and the Sustainable Business pro-gram as well as Metro Health.” And, in the spirit of sustainable business, it is also expected to benefi t the local environment, the economy, and the community as a whole.
By Laura Bennett-Kimble `95, Contributing Writer
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Trip to Japan a SuccessIn an effort to strengthen business and educa-tion ties with Japan, a group of West Michigan residents including Grand Rapids City Mayor George Heartwell, Aquinas President Harry Knopke, and Aquinas faculty members, Dr. Matthew Tueth and Dr. Masato Yamazaki, met with representatives from numerous orga-nizations during a May visit.
The trip was organized by Yamazaki, who is a co-founder of the U.S.-Japan Economic, Business, and Cultural Forum, a group created to help Japan improve its economy. Aquinas College has hosted two forums in the past, said Yamazaki.
“This trip followed up several visits of Japanese offi cials to west Michigan and reinforced our respective commitments to developing mutu-ally benefi cial business initiatives,” said Knopke.
A result of these relationships may be College representation at the March 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan, where Nature’s Wisdom will be the offi cial theme. Aquinas
College and its partnership with Metro Health [see p. 17], along with the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, are being consid-ered for inclusion in the U.S. Pavilion.
While in Japan, Tueth presented lectures on the Aquinas Sustainable Business program, a new program that incorporates economic growth and environmental responsibility. “I also gave an overview of what west Michigan is doing—it really is a leader in the fi eld of sustainable business.” He was well received and said many people want to start the same program there.
Some of those people will be visiting west Michigan. “We are expecting our fi rst Japanese undergraduate enrollment this fall and are aim-ing at next summer to offer a concentrated certifi cate program for managers, which would include Japanese business people,” said Knopke.
This could be very good for the crowded nation. With 130 million people on the four main islands of Japan, Tueth said, “they’ve got environmental problems.”
“Japan was, historically, very sensitive to nature,” Yamazaki stated, but things changed during and after World War II. “Then, economic growth became the focus. Now they have to turn the clock back.” With sustainable business, he said, it isn’t an either/or situation regarding quality and cost—it’s a beautiful solution.
By Laura Bennett-Kimble `95, Contributing Writer
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(Left) Dr. Tueth makes a sustainable business presentation to a group of Japanese educators with Dr. Yamazaki providing the translation. (Center) West Michigan visitors view expo site model. (Right) Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell, director of AQ’s Community Leadership Institute, and President Knopke pictured on a hill overlooking the expo site.
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Wege Foundation Speaker SeriesSome 350 people converged on the Performing Arts Center in April for the eighth-annual Wege Foundation Speaker Series. It was fi tting that some attendees, like Peter M. Wege himself, arrived in gas-electric hybrid vehicles, considering the overall theme of these lectures: combining environmental responsibility and good business practices.
Christine Ervin—in her fi nal day as president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)—focused on buildings designed to meet the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifi cation in her talk “Building a Healthy Future: The Role of the Built Environment.” Ervin praised Michigan companies for leadership in environmental action, listing Herman Miller, Inc.; Steelcase Inc.; Ford Motor Company; and other Michigan-based businesses that are committed to green building.
Green building distinguishes the construction and operation of buildings that have signifi cantly re-duced or even eliminated environmental impact through the use of various technologies to im-prove water and energy usage, indoor air quality, and materials conservation.
Ervin said government plays a key role in the green movement, regardless of political affi lia-tion. “This work should be bipartisan,” she said.
Ervin highlighted several LEED-certifi ed build-ings across the country, prompting audience members to share information about local proj-ects projected to meet LEED criteria.
USGBC was established in 1993 to promote buildings that are “environmentally responsible, profi table, and healthy places to live and work.”
By Laura Bennett-Kimble `95, Contributing Writer
Christine Ervin’s lecture was made possible by the Wege Foundation and its founder Peter Wege.
Cardinal George will lecture on the “Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Its Signifi cance in a Secular Society.” The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center (PAC). The event is free and open to the public, but reserved tick-ets must be obtained in advance by contacting the PAC ticket offi ce at (616) 456-6656.
His Eminence Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Archbishop of the Chicago Diocese, will speak at Aquinas College on Wednesday, October 13, 2004. Cardinal George will be the fi rst speaker for the newly established series entitled the “St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture on Catholic Intellectual Tradition.”
Archbishop of Chicago to Speak at Aquinas College, October 13
20
Author to Speak on the Issue of Women and Low Wages, Oct. 13
As part of the Women Make a Difference Luncheon Lecture Series, the Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies Center
will host author Beth Shulman on October 13 in the Wege Student Center Ballroom at 11:30 a.m for a pre-sentation entitled “Low Wage Jobs: A Women’s Issue.”
The cost of the luncheon is $100, and reserva-tions can be made by calling (616) 632-2821. Another presentation , “Where the Jobs are: Can They Sustain Families?” is free of charge and will be held at 7 p.m. The author of The Betrayal ofWork: How Low-Wage Jobs Fail 30 Million Americans and Their Families worked for the 1.5 million-member United Food and Commercial Worker International Union (UFCW) for more than 25 years as general counsel, regional organizing and bargaining director, and vice president and director of UFCW’s Health Care, Insurance, Finance and Professional Employees Division. She also served on President Clinton’s Advisory Council for School to Work Opportunities along with other national boards and committees.
Shulman has appeared on PBS’s “Now with Bill Moyers,” CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight” and NPR’s “Talk of the Nation.” Her most recent articles have been published in The Washington Post, Perspectives on Work and The American Prospect.
CA M P U S N E W S
PAC Completes First Full YearThe Aquinas College Theatre Program concludedits debut season in April at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) by presenting an interesting slant on the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
Anthony Guest, assistant professor of theatre and theatre director, and set designer Benjamin Zimmer created a concept that included a raked platform spanning the stage, simulating the comic section in The Grand Rapids Press. A cartoon Peanuts character inhabited each comic cell on the newspaper.
As the lights dimmed, the cartoon characters disappeared and were replaced by the human counterparts playing Snoopy (Nina Croll), Charlie Brown (Jason Dobb), Shroeder (Patrick Earl), Lucy (Laura Eilar), Linus (Justin Narrdechia) and Sally (Molly Jones). Each cell also contained objects that popped up, like Lucy’s psychiatrist booth and Shroeder’s piano. The production concluded with the actors returning to their cells.
Laura Eilar (Lucy) and Molly Jones (Sally) were recognized for outstanding performances. They will be competing for an Irene Ryan Scholarship at the 2005 American College Theatre Festival.
Beth Shulman
Final performance of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
21
The Power of ManyNationally acclaimed speaker Monsignor James P. (“Msgr. Jim”) Lisante, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hampstead, Long Island, New York, appeared in Aquinas’ Performing Arts Center on April 29 to share his views on life.
Msgr. Lisante, who has made a name for him-self nationally as a speaker regarding life issues including abortion, spoke to a crowd of around 300, including about 90 students from Catholic Central and West Catholic High Schools. His talk, “Defending Life in Death Defying Times,” addressed what he called “the central moral issue of our time.” He asked, “How can we become a more life-embracing society?” While he mentioned euthanasia and death sentences during his talk, the focus was on abortion.
Combining humor, statistics, theology, pragma-tism, and personal stories, Msgr. Lisante laid out a solid, logical case against abortion. He quoted a Roper poll, stating that 61percent of Americans call abortion the killing of a human life, yet 62 percent stated that they would want to have abortion available if they needed it. He shared dramatic stories of individuals he’s met who had had abortions, who had decided against abortions, or who were almost aborted. His own nephew was almost aborted, he said, because his sister was forced by her husband to choose between the marriage and the baby. She chose the baby, her husband left her, and Msgr. Lisante became a surrogate father to his nephew, who turned 20 years old this year.
Msgr. Lisante has written three books, Personally Speaking, Celebrating Our Catholic Values and Ideals, and most recently, The Power of One. He is a very public face for the Catholic Church and has appeared on
“Nightline,” “The Phil Donahue Show,” and news programs on MSNBC, ABC and NBC. He host-ed the television program, “Personally Speaking,” and currently hosts “Christopher Closeup.”
Msgr. Lisante’s visit was sponsored by Students for Life, which was formed in 1997 by Tricia Tyler Worrell (2000) and fi ve other students. The group, which now has about 70 members, has been sponsoring Pro-Life Awareness Week on campus every October for three years.
By Laura Bennett-Kimble `95, Contributing Writer
Monsignor James Lisante
22
Resourceful Women’s ConferenceThe Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies Center held its Resourceful Women’s Con-ference on April 5 on Aquinas’campus, show-casing women’s contributions both past and present and emphasizing women’s stories.
The conference kicked off in the Jarecki Center for Advanced Learning with the announcement of the outstanding entry awarded to senior and dual English and history major Jennifer Sikora for her paper “Celestial Eve: A Deconstructionist Reading of Feminine Imagery in Milton’s Paradise Lost.” Stacey Danevicz received honor-able mention.
The conference’s premier event was “True Story,” a one-woman performance by playwright/performer Allison Williams. The event, held in the Performing Arts Center, was touted as a
“side show, strip show, and talk show.” Williams played the roles of six women (including a prom-date-seeking teenager, an intelligent strip-per and a New York fashion boutique clerk) while focusing on the contents of a person’s pockets to tell her story.
During the show, Williams performed an aerial acrobatic display suspended from the PAC’s ceiling. “All of the good tricks hurt,” said Williams, whose act included fi re eating. Sometimes, performers have to “seek out pain like salvation. …Fear keeps you safe,” Williams said.
After the students’ presentations, Williams held a workshop in the Lack’s Center for Graduate Studies about gleaning extraordinary stories from ordinary people.
“Everyone has an extraordinary story to tell,” Williams told the participants.
By Joe Boomgaard ’03, Contributing Writer
Playwright Allison Williams
23
International Business Advisory Committee (IBAC)The international business program at Aquinas College is getting some advice from area busi-ness professionals, thanks to its newly formed advisory committee. The committee, which consists of 11 businesspeople and industry insiders plus fi ve faculty members plans to meet biannually. It gave the program laudatory support and offered some recommendations for improvement.
The panel stressed the need for classes in both sales and negotiations targeted at the interna-tional market. In addition, they emphasized the importance of foreign language training, especially in Chinese and Spanish.
The Advisory Committee was the idea of Ali Erhan, Ph.D., director of business and corpo-rate relations at Aquinas. Erhan, who teaches and has worked in international business and fi nance, felt independent perspectives on the international business market would greatly benefi t the program at Aquinas College.
“We graduate students with degrees in inter-national business and want to know if they’re marketable and employable. We want to know if what we’re teaching is applicable in the real world,” Erhan said. “We want to know how our product fi ts with the buyer, or more specifi cally, employer expectations.”
Erhan hopes that the committee members will also serve as connections for possible student internships, both domestic and abroad.
By Joe Boomgaard ’03, Contributing Writer
CA M P U S N E W S
Members of the IBAC discuss the need for foreign language training, among other topics, for the international business program.
24
Aquinas College Sponsors Economic Summit Aquinas College hosted an Economic Summit on February 4 that featured a panel of local business fi gures and keynote speaker, Paul Kasriel, the director of economic research at Northern Trust-Chicago.
For 2004, Kasriel predicted moderate growth in an economy that will become stronger and more balanced. In his presentation entitled “Impact of Globalization on Local Manufacturing,” Kasriel suggested the economy will shift away from the housing sector and move toward business and exporting. He said China is responsible for much of that change. “Although we don’t sell much directly to China, we will sell more to its suppliers,” Kasriel said.
CA M P U S N E W S
The conference, sponsored by Northern Trust, included a panel discussion with Kasriel; John Jackoboice, Chairman, Monarch Hydraulics; Stephanie Leonardos, CEO, AMERIKAM; and James Zawacki, Chairman, Grand Rapids Spring and Stamping.
While three members of the panel perceived the economic situation rather optimistically, Zawacki characterized himself as a “realist,” saying, “We need to make people realize that [American manufacturers] have to stay com-petitive.” He said that Americans, being price conscious, are not loyal to American goods if they cost more than foreign-produced goods. “That is why you have local companies moving their manufacturing to Mexico or China—to stay competitive.”
By Joe Boomgaard ’03, Contributing Writer
Paul Kasriel (at podium) delivers his economic perspectives before a panel discussion that includes (sitting L-R) John Jackoboice, Stephanie Leonardos and James Zawacki ’65.
25
Campus Safety Achieves Milestone
The Aquinas Campus Safety Department celebrates its silver anniversary this fall. The College has had some form of security coverage throughout the years, but the for-mation of the department, as it now oper-ates, originated in the fall of 1979 under the direction of Garth McGrath.
Approximately 24 students and then-security offi cer Harold Hikade formed the original “Boys in Black” Public Safety Offi ce. A special commemorative 25-year pin has been authorized for current offi cer uniforms and for former offi cers who visit the campus at Homecoming 2004. Former directors of campus safety will also be pre-sented the anniversary pin. In addition to McGrath, Phil Johnson, Barry Kantz, Mike Palmer and Bob Ryan also served as direc-tors. Tony Nolan is the current director.
A limited number of pins will be available, so former offi cers are encouraged to sign in at Homecoming 2004. Mail requests will be considered after Homecoming pins are issued. Written requests to campus safety or e-mails to [email protected] should include offi cer’s name and year(s) of ser-vice. Join with us to celebrate 25 years of living our mission to Serve-Protect-Assist.
By Tony Nolan `66, Campus Safety Director
Service and dispatch operations
1979 Public Safety Staff
2004 Campus Safety Staff
25th anniversary pin
26
Michael Ondaatje (below right), award-winning author of The English Patient, read selections from several of his books of poetry, fi ction and novels to a packed house at the Aquinas Performing Arts Center on April 13. His visit was made possible by a special gift from Deborah Meijer (2nd from right in group photo, below left) through the Rimbaud Fund of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The Aquinas Contemporary Writers Series receives ongoing funding from Tony Foster, M.D. ‘73 (far right, below), and his wife, Grand Rapids’ poet laureate Linda Nemec Foster ‘72 (center, below), and Friends of the Contemporary Writers Series. Asst. Professor of English Vicki McMillan is on the far left, next to Ondaatje.
The second annual Aquinas College Outstanding Woman awards were presented on March 26 to a packed crowd in the board room of Holmdene. The event, sponsored by the Jane Hibbard Idema Women Studies Center, recognizes three women, one each from the faculty, staff and student body, for outstanding contributions to the Aquinas community and for promoting women’s issues. This year’s honorees were Dee Wagner, Student Development Offi ce; Sister Yvonne Greiner, O.P., theology faculty, and senior Gail Gromaski.
Outstanding Women Honored at Aquinas
CA M P U S N E W S
Author Ondaatje Visits
27
AQ Community Cleans Up Campus A little sprucing, some trimming, a few plant-ings and a stream clean up were among the tasks on a list faculty, staff and students tackled April 30. Nearly fi ve dozen people helped in the effort to clean up portions of the campus.
There was plenty of work, which is typically handled by the grounds maintenance staff. But this year, members of the campus community decided to pull together and help Grounds Manager Jim Williams and his staff get ready for Commencement and the summer months.
The volunteers, given time away from their offi ces by supervisors, helped with cleanup around the buildings, pulling weeds, planting and spreading mulch. Several volunteers said they had so much fun working outdoors with other colleagues freshening up campus that they volunteered to do it again.
There was plenty of work to go around, per-haps, twice over. As important as fi nishing the tasks and creating a beautiful campus for commencement and the visitors the ceremony would bring, those who labored came away with a better appreciation for just how much work the grounds maintenance crew has to do each spring and year-round.
Still, response from the day’s activities brought questions about what’s next. Well, we’ll see you in September!
Gary Eberle (faculty), Brad Schaub ’04, and Joe Gary Eberle (faculty), Brad Schaub ’04, and Joe Boomgaard ’03 team up to clean debris from Boomgaard ’03 team up to clean debris from the stream that runs through campus.the stream that runs through campus.
Brian Matzke ’97, and MM ’02 Brian Matzke ’97, and MM ’02 (Provost’s Offi ce) digs around (Provost’s Offi ce) digs around fl ower garden in front of the fl ower garden in front of the Field House.Field House.
Connie Udell ’91 Connie Udell ’91 (Information Services) (Information Services) assists Cheri Dykhouse assists Cheri Dykhouse (Admissions) with (Admissions) with planting in front of planting in front of Wege Student Center.Wege Student Center.
The team of Jessica Higgins (sophomore), The team of Jessica Higgins (sophomore), Katy Moore ’01 (Web Department) and Katy Moore ’01 (Web Department) and Veronica Beitner (Health Center) pull Veronica Beitner (Health Center) pull together to clean up the gardens around together to clean up the gardens around the Arts and Music Center.the Arts and Music Center.
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200428
ALumni ne ws
Dear Fellow Alumni,
By the time you receive this maga-
zine, the summer will have come and
gone. The Alumni Association has
been busy planning for the coming
year to get more alums reconnected
to the AQ family.
Look for details on Homecoming
Weekend (Sept. 24-26) as there are
many events planned. It is a great
time to get together with fellow
alums. Also, we are planning a trip
to Ireland April13-20, 2005. Some
details are included further in this
Aquinas magazine. It will be a
GREAT trip with an optional two
days in Connemara for all of the
interested Aquinas Ireland alums.
We would be so pleased if you
would consider becoming a member
of one of our Alumni Association
committees. The Special Events
Committee could really use your
ideas for new events, as could the
Campus Life Committee and the
Development Committee. You may
contact the Aquinas Alumni offi ce
at (616) 632-2494 for details on the
committees and on how to join. You
may also visit the Aquinas Web site
and click on Alumni Association for
committee information.
Finally, let me encourage you to
visit campus if you haven’t done
so recently. The new Performing
Arts Center is MAGNIFICENT.
Homecoming Weekend is a great
time to visit us. Also, look for infor-
mation on a St. Patrick’s Day party
on campus in ’05. We hope to see or
hear from you soon!
Mike Zagaroli ’74
President, Alumni Association
Board of Directors
Mike Zagaroli ’74, President, Alumni Association Board of Directors
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200429
Alumnus Chiwaya Named to Malawi Cabinet Post
Clement Chiwaya `02 is a full-
fl edged Cabinet Minister in his home
country of Malawi. He sent word
that he had won a seat in Parliament
and then, within days of being
sworn into offi ce on June 7, he was
appointed to serve on the President’s
Cabinet as Minister of Social Services
and Disability Affairs.
Chiwaya, who graduated in
December 2002 with a double
major in community leadership and
political science, wrote in a June
e-mail, “This is the fi rst time that
a disabled person has ever been
elected to Parliament. I want to
thank you all for the fi nancial and
spiritual help you have given me.”
He continued, “When I was grow-
ing up and crawling on all fours to
go to school, I never contemplated
that one day I could be privileged to
help in the running of this country.”
As a Cabinet Minister, Clement is
required to live in Malawi’s capital
of Lilongwe, some fi ve hours from
his home.
Clement has been working hard
since leaving Aquinas. He returned
to his homeland and began several
projects that have included the
building of two schools in villages
where there have never been school
buildings. Clement worked to secure
funding through the Warmhearts
Foundation for one school and from
the Elk Rapids (Mich.) Rotary Club
for the second school. Clement
and his wife, Faith, have a daughter
Sandea who is less than a year old.
Contributed by Sandy Rademaker, coordinator of graduate education programs in the School of Education, who was Chiwaya’s surrogate mother while he was in the United States.
Clement Chiwaya ’02 is pictured here with his wife Faith and
their daughter Sandra.
(Left) A blindfolded Chiwaya sits as his supporters
line up behind him.
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200430
Homecoming and Gala Weekend, September 24-26!
Aquinas is excited to celebrate
Homecoming and Gala Weekend
2004! Be sure to join us for the
many festivities. All of the fun
activities from past years will take
place, like the Main Stage; men’s,
women’s and alumni soccer games;
Ernie’s Run; Golden Saints Reunion;
children’s games; and the last week-
end of the performance of “Baby” at
the Performing Arts Center.
In addition, some new events will
take place, such as continuing edu-
cation’s celebration of 35 years and
Aquinas College Campus Safety’s
25th anniversary celebration reunion
for former employees.
Your whole family is welcome!
Be sure to save the dates
September 24-26, 2004!!
2003 Homecoming Weekend visitors enjoy time together, again.
get A fun vacation, volunteering, a job change, whatever your news, share it with friends and classmates via the Aquinas magazine. Submit your news by De c. 1 to be con sid ered for the next issue. If your ad dress or other in for ma tion has changed, please let us know. (Address is on inside cover.)
submit your class note
Name _____________________________________________________________
Former name ____________________________ Class year__________________
Address ___________________________________________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________________________
Your news _________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
no ticed
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200431
A dedicated group of Detroit-area alumni gathered to cheer their Aquinas
Saints Men’s Basketball Team to victory over Madonna University last February.
A pizza tailgate party followed by speeches from Coach Dave Hammer and
Athletic Director Terry Bocian prepared our alumni for an exciting victory!
Detroit-area alumni—watch your mail for our next get-together.
Ed Sarpolus ’76 got his start as a
pollster early. During his days at
Aquinas, the undergrad paid fellow
students to make telephone calls
for public opinion studies. Three
decades later, Sarpolus is still at it.
As vice president of EPIC-MRA, the
state’s most-quoted public polling
fi rm, Sarpolus measures citizen sen-
timent about issues of the day, then
passes data along to organizations
that use it to market products,
promote causes, and report on
AQ Alum/Political Pollster Busy as Fall Elections Near topics from politics to health care.
The presidential campaign has been
a key area of study, and school mill-
age and bond issues are major parts
of their business, as well.
USA Today and Fox News Channel
have quoted the former Saint’s
fi ndings. Yet while years of self-
employed professional experience
led to his high-profi le position,
Sarpolus said credit also goes to
mentors who encouraged him while
he was a student at Aquinas.
In the early 1970s, Sarpolus worked
as a research assistant with psychol-
ogy professor Lee Jacokes, Ph.D.,
and also helped build databases for
a state legislative campaign. During
his sophomore year, Sarpolus set up
the dorm room phone banks that
collected information for his stud-
ies. Finding workers for the project
wasn’t hard. Then, as now, “every-
body needed money,” Sarpolus said.
EPIC-MRA started as Michigan
Researchers Associates in 1985, and
got its current name when its found-
ers made it a full-time business in
1993. After graduating from Aquinas,
Sarpolus left for Cincinnati, but
eventually moved to Lansing, where
EPIC-MRA is based.
He lives there with his wife,
Kathleen (Sruba) ’81, and with
their two children Andrea (20) and
Jacqueline (14). His work might
seem dry to some, but Sarpolus said,
“We create dialogue and we help
clients do better work, but we also
help people understand the world
we live in. Aquinas taught me every-
thing I needed to know to do that.”
By Tonya Schafer `02
Homecoming & Gala WeekendAquinas Hall of Fame Gala Event: dinner and induction of honorees into the Aquinas College Hall of Fame and the Aquinas College Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the presentation of the Aquinas College Alumni Association awards.
Golden Saints Alumni Reunion. A celebration for all alumni of classes 1930-1955.
Celebration of 35 years of the Aquinas College Continuing EducationProgram and 25 years of Aquinas’ Campus Safety Program.
Women’s, men’s and alumni soccer games; Ernie’s Run; main stage tent activities; children’s games and activities; student organization booths; and circle theatre’s presentation of “Baby.”
Saturday, November 20Alumni & friends Chicago bus trip
April 13-20, 2005“Unforgettable Ireland” alumni travel program
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200432
Alumni Golf OutingThe bright sun tricked a few golf-
ers into wearing shorts for the 38th
Annual Alumni Association Golf
Outing. The temperature was actu-
ally a little cool for June 19, but the
bright clear sky and very few clouds
provided for an enjoyable round of
golf at Boulder Creek Golf Club in
Grand Rapids.
Seventeen foursomes, including both
men and women, participated in the
event this year, yielding the highest
participation in fi ve years. Though
no one made either of the two hole-
in-one opportunities, competition in
team scores was fi erce and tiebreak-
ers were used to determine the best
men’s score and mixed score overall.
Generous sponsors included John
and Sarah Jackoboice, Erhardt
Construction, Williams Group,
Varnum Riddering Schmidt &
Howlett LLP, Tom and Joyce Wisner,
Kool Chevrolet, Liberty Mutual,
Emerald Spa, and Mika, Meyers,
Beckett & Jones.
The team of (above center, L-R) Bill
Weitzel, Ron Urbanski ’56, Dave
Stocking ’80 and Tom Moleski, O.D.
’69 took best men’s score at nine
under par 63. Mixed team top hon-
ors went to the team of (above right,
L-R) Lynnanne Phillips, Dan Brick,
Tom Sullivan ’64 and Joe Dulin.
By Jennifer Johnson Reynolds ’98, Coordinator of Parent/
Alumni Relations
Join your fellow AQ alumni on a trip to “Unforgettable Ireland” April 13-20, 2005
Please join us for an information session on Monday, September 13, 2004
at 6 p.m. in the Loutit Room (top fl oor of Wege Center).
Details are available at www.aquinas.edu/alumni, or contact the Alumni Offi ce at (616) 632-2494 or via e-mail at [email protected].
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200433
Hello Alumni:
As the new Director of Multi-
cultural Affairs, I would like to tell
you about an exciting new program
that you can be a part of. Do you
remember being an upperclassman
preparing for the world of work or
service?
Let me take this opportunity to ask
for your assistance in planning and
implementing a mentor program for
the upperclassmen of color here at
AQ. Here’s what we hope to accom-
plish: to provide a network system
for upperclassmen so they can hear
from our successful alumni of color
and share their common experiences
of being students of color at Aquinas
College and how they prepared for
the world of work or service. If you
are willing to help in this endeavor,
please contact me at (616) 632-2455
or at [email protected].
Itinerary: 7:30 am Bus Departs from Aquinas 11 am Arrive in Chicago 8 pm Depart for Grand Rapids 11:30 pm Arrive at Aquinas
The cost is $50 and includes bus ride, muffi ns, juice, snacks, and door prizes.
Seating is limited to the fi rst 45 guests; non-refundable payment reserves your spot.
Contact the Alumni Offi ce by Nov. 8 at (616) 432-2493 or at [email protected].
Aquinas Col legeAlumni & Friends
Shopping Trip
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Chi ca go
Multicultural Affairs ___________
Stacey Jackson
34student NEWS aquinas magazine fall 2004
Student ne wsBest Foot Forward:
Ambassadors
Aquinas College Community Senate
organized a volunteer literacy
enrichment program at Congress
Elementary, a racially diverse Grand
Rapids public school, in early March.
The service project, dubbed “Senate
Goes to Congress,” was developed
by three cabinet members: Briana
Asmus, Gail Gromaski, and Megan
Alford.
The organizers consider this an ongo-
ing project and hope to make it an
annual event, much to the delight of
John Verhagen, principal of Congress
Elementary, who thought the service
project coincided well with National
Literacy Month in March.
The successful Senate Goes to
Congress project involved 44 Aquinas
volunteers who read to students for
one hour. Every 20 minutes, volun-
teers rotated between groups of chil-
dren. The children also had a chance
to read to the volunteers.
The children’s reactions were posi-
tive. Annexia, a third grader, asked,
“Are you guys now coming every
Wednesday morning?” The students
especially enjoyed the one-on-one
attention.
Many Aquinas groups helped make
this event successful. Woodhouse
Library helped the volunteers check-
out all 160 books and categorized
them by different reading levels. In
addition, the Media Center’s Lisa
Klynstra Yarost created 500 colorful
bookmarks for the children to keep.
By Megan Alford `04
Going to “congress”
Community Senate
Weinandy to head
Campus Life
(Left, above) Meghan Porubsky with Congress Elementary student. (Right)
Students from Congress Elementary and Aquinas College work together.
David
Weinandy,
Ph.D., pro-
fessor of
communi-
cation, has been tapped to guide the
Campus Life Department at Aquinas.
Provost C. Edward Balog appointed
Weinandy as Special Assistant to the
Provost for Campus Life in June. In
his role within campus life, Weinandy,
who began teaching at Aquinas in
1991, will be involved in directing
various campus activities for students.
Weinandy has been involved in nearly
all facets of the College from teach-
ing and advising to serving on various
committees and panels.
Student NEWS35
aquinas magazine fall 2004
Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL), the
National Continuing Education
Honor Society, inducted 21 out-
standing adult scholars into their
fold on April 19.
The annual cere-
mony took place in
Aquinas’ Bukowski
Chapel.
President Harry
Knopke acknowl-
edged the special
achievement of
adult students who
meet the challenges
of completing their
coursework while at
the same time often
juggling demands of bosses, children,
spouses and communities. He also
noted the important support and
contribution of recipients’ family
members.
President Knopke and Provost C.
Edward Balog then honored each
inductee with a presentation of cer-
tifi cate, pin and honor cords. This
year, each member also received
a nameplate engraved with his or
her name, the ASL insignia and
Aquinas College’s motto. The name-
plates were the gifts of current ASL
member, Michael Benedict of 2/90
Sign Systems in recognition of his
gratitude to the Aquinas College
Continuing Education Program.
Aquinas is one of only four colleges
in Michigan with an ASL chapter.
To become a member, students must
be a Continuing Education student
studying toward their fi rst under-
graduate degree, have completed 24
credit hours at Aquinas, and have
achieved a cumulative grade point
of at least 3.2. Students who meet
these criteria are invited to become
members of ASL.
The inductees included: Pamela
Bacon, Angela Brueck, Tamara
Buikema, Mary Cook, Amy Deboer,
Ann Devroy, Robert Fiore, Teresa
Fortier, Julie Guenther, Janet Kuiper,
Melinda Larva, Linda McCaleb,
Brenda Merrifi eld, Anya Nyson,
Gaylia Ross, Peter Rumley, Annette
Shumay, Kareen Thomas, Julie
VanDam, Colleen Watts and Thora
Wease.
By Deb Wickering, Professor-in-the-College
GRAHEN award
Continuing Education
AQ’s CE honor society
Alpha Sigma Lambda
Senior Mark Caswell, an Aquinas busi-
ness and communication dual major,
(pictured below) was honored by the
Grand Rapids Area Higher Education
Network (GRAHEN) at its fi fth
annual ceremony April 27. Caswell
was selected as AQ’s Outstanding
Adult Learner for the 2003-2004
academic year.
GRAHEN is a consortium of 14 west
Michigan colleges and universities
that have graduate programs. Its mis-
sion is to create an awareness of life-
long learning opportunities for adults
in the Greater Grand Rapids Area.
Aquinas College is proud to be one of
GRAHEN’S founding members.
Provost Ed Balog presents certifi cates to inductees.
Senior Mark Caswell receives certifi cate from AQ Director of Adult Student Recruitment Brenda Hennink ’95.
36student NEWS aquinas magazine fall 2004
36Faculty NEWS aquinas magazine fall 2004
facult y ne ws
Though I’ve taught political science at
Aquinas for 31 years, I feel like the new
kid on the block. My perspective on
what Aquinas is about has broadened
over the past few months as I’ve toured
Albertus, the Art and Music Center,
and the dramatic new Performing Arts
Center (PAC).
I knew the buildings were there and
serious faculty and students worked
hard to better understand our world
and our lives, but I guess I never fully
appreciated the work these many
talented people are doing. What a
great place to be a part of!
Glenn Barkan, Ph.D., professor of political science, was named dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, replacing Shirley Kane Lewis, Ed.D., who retired at the end of the 2003-04 school year. Barkan, who joined the College in 1973 and most recently served as chair of the political science department, assumed his duties on May 10. He has researched and written about politics and the media, urban government, and health care policy. After 35 years in politics, Barkan continues to be a strong believer in our democratic system.
Dean Glenn Barkan, Ph.D.
School of Arts & Sciences
One recent summer afternoon, I
went by Albertus and the chemists
were at work reorganizing their labs
and preparing for fall classes.
The Art and Music Center is home
to our summer jazz camp, and 58
young musicians learned and created
and added a delightful background
to those toiling in the summer.
One evening, our Music Depart-
ment hosted a jazz performance to
help out jazz camp instructor and
west Michigan institution, Dave
Spring.
The PAC, summer home to Grand
Rapids’ Circle Theatre, was a beehive
of activity as “Morning’s at Seven”
closed, and Magic Circle’s production
of “The Princess & The Pea” was
mounted.
And all of this is during the summer!
Our quiet time for refl ection is not
that. As I thought about the days
ahead, I couldn’t wait for the fall
when a couple thousand students
would invade once again. I still like
political science. But arts & sciences
is a lot more fun!
Student NEWS37
aquinas magazine fall 200437
FACULTY NEWS aquinas magazine fall 2004
Greetings!
Faculty and staff are anticipating
the beginning of another exciting
academic year. We look forward
to greeting new and returning
students as we continue to
provide outstanding educational
opportunities in the areas of business
and technology. We welcome a new
faculty member to the Business
Department—Bruce Nanzer, Ph.D.
In addition to teaching regular busi-
ness courses, he will be handling
classes in the new Sustainable
Business program.
As we begin the second year of
the Sustainable Business program,
we continue to appreciate the
outstanding support and contributed
expertise of the many individuals
and organizations who have
partnered with Aquinas College in
this effort. We are excited about the
opportunities for students and others
in the partnerships between Aquinas
College and Metro Health in Grand
Rapids as well as those developing in
Japan with the assistance of Masato
Yamazaki, Ph.D., assistant professor
of economics.
In addition to the undergraduate
major, minor and certifi cate programs
in Sustainable Business, we now have
added a concentration within the
Masters of Management program.
The foundation course, Industrial
Ecology, will be offered this fall. We
welcome new students as well as
returning M.M. alumni to this area
of study.
Dean Cindy VanGelderen
School of Management
38student NEWS aquinas magazine fall 2004
38Faculty NEWS aquinas magazine fall 2004
Major changes have taken place in
the School of Education.
Dr. V. James Garofalo resigned as
dean but will remain on the faculty.
Garofalo came to Aquinas to head
the Department of Education in
1979 when there were only two
full-time faculty members. He built
the program over the next 25 years,
increasing the department to a dozen
full-time faculty, nearly as many staff
persons, three offsite programs, three
master’s programs, and fi ve academic
majors and six minors for which the
School of Education has primary
administrative responsibility. At any
one time, between eight and nine
hundred students take education
courses. The School of Education is
Dean Mike Williams, Ph.D.
School of Education
Michael R. Williams, Ph.D., was named dean of the School of Education, replacing V. James Garofalo, Ph.D., who stepped down to devote his time to full-time teach-ing. Williams, who assumed his duties May 10, joined Aquinas in 1974 and had served previously as a profes-sor-in-the-college, as a program advisor to the com-munity leadership major and as an academic partner in the Aquinas College Community Leadership Institute. Williams holds two doctorate degrees, one in philosophy and one in urban education, and is the author of three books.
practically a small
college in itself,
and bears Jim’s
stamp in every
facet. We all owe
him a great debt
of gratitude.
I was asked by
the College to
succeed Jim and
decided to accept this tremendous
opportunity. Let me introduce myself
and then set forth a vision for the
School of Education.
Three and a half decades ago, I was
fi nishing a life-changing year. Inspired
by the civil rights marchers passing
the Marquette University classroom
window where I was teaching the
Dr. Garofalo
F AC U LT Y N E W S
Student NEWS39
aquinas magazine fall 200439
FACULTY NEWS aquinas magazine fall 2004
theoretical dynamics of machinery
to engineering students, I moved into
Milwaukee’s inner city and taught for
a year at North Division High School.
That experience, in a part of what
Michael Harrington called “The Other
America,” moved me to commit to a
life of study, teaching and involvement
in the actual dynamics of society.
With a group of parents and other
volunteers, I worked to create the
Highland Community School in an
economically depressed neighbor-
hood near Marquette University. After
building the still-present program for
fi ve years, I completed a doctorate in
urban education and came to Aquinas
College to begin a 30-year career as
a professor-in-the-college, teaching in
several departments during that time,
including education.
Five years ago, the Rev. George
Heartwell, now the Mayor of Grand
Rapids, joined Aquinas to create the
Community Leadership Institute
and to teach in our new community
leadership (CL) major. He and I have
teamed to teach the CL major courses
each semester since his arrival. We
have placed our students in a variety
of social service and governmental
agencies, mostly in Grand Rapids, but
also as far away as Malawi, Ghana,
and Haiti. CL students learn the
meanings of community, service and
leadership in actual settings and are
required to create realistic propos-
als to enhance those settings. Some
of their proposals have actually been
funded and implemented – the stu-
dents in effect created their own jobs
after graduation.
The School of Education is experien-
tially based in its curriculum, just as is
the CL major. Our students are intro-
duced to the real world of the schools
and their communities from their fi rst
course here to their last. My experi-
ence with community leadership has
given me insight into the problems
and potential of “hands-on” learning,
and I hope to apply what I’ve learned
to enhance the development of our
teacher candidates.
Experience by itself, however, is not
necessarily educative, as John Dewey,
the eminent American philosopher,
wrote. What makes it educative is
the refl ection upon that experience
guided by wisdom. Our coursework
—indeed our very operation —seeks
to instill that wisdom in our students
as they move through the School of
Education.
I profoundly believe that education is
the cornerstone of democratic society.
Without critical and open inquiry,
people and societies are at enormous
risk of being blindfolded by ignorance
and shackled by tyranny. Our teacher
candidates are called to become build-
ers of just and harmonious commu-
nities. The role of teacher in public
life has enormous potential to shape
a thoughtful, engaged citizenry. Our
work in the School of Education pro-
vides our students with the tools, skills
and insight needed to embark success-
fully on this work.
In future articles, I’ll detail how the
School of Education prepares our
teacher candidates to be wise and
effective builders of civilization. I will
specifi cally describe our programs and
introduce the people here who make
it all happen.
My fi rst few weeks in the School of
Education at Browne Center have
been exciting. We have a dedicated
team of faculty and staff, a strong
legacy to build on and a profoundly
far-reaching mission.
Jason Duncan, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, had his review of Robert Dallek’s book, An Unfi nished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963, published in the Review of Politics journal, published in spring of 2004 by the University of Notre Dame.
Duncan is also nearing comple- tion on his book, A Most Democratic Class: New York Catholics and the Politics of the Early Republic, which Fordham University Press has agreed to publish, hopefully in 2005.
PROMOTIONS: Kathy Burgis, Ph.D., to Associate Professor of Mathematics
Robb Bajema, Ph.D., to Associate Professor of Biology
TENURE:Dennis Marshall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology
Michael McDaniel, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics
Pamela Waterbury, Assistant Professor of English
Robb Bajema, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology
Nkechy Ezeh, Assistant Professor of Education
40aquinas magazine fall 2004ATHLETICS
athleticsAll Americans and Academic All Americans
Seven Aquinas College basketball
players were honored by the NAIA
with Academic All-American honors.
The fi ve members of the women’s
team and two from the men’s team
earning the Academic recognition
are part of the largest contingent
of basketball players from Aquinas
College ever honored.
ALL AMERICANS
Matt Bocian Baseball
Noellia Garcia Outdoor Track
Bob Jonaitis In/Outdoor Track
TJ Shimek In/Outdoor Track
ACADEMIC ALL AMERICANS
Laura Beattie Track
Michelle Borek Track
Brett Cagney Baseball
Emily Corcoran Tennis
Mandi DeGroot Basketball
Sarah Ellis Track
Kara Ferguson Tennis
Jeremy Frost Baseball
Matt Garner Tennis
Kim Gullekson Basketball
Leslie Hoffman Basketball
Tom Kuslikis Basketball
Jeff Luehm Track
Josh May Track
Andy Mezwicki Golf
Josh Miller Track
Kim Pomeroy Basketball
Heather Orr Basketball
Craig Rehmann Basketball
Ashley Rivers Tennis
TJ Shimek Track
Aquinas College has won the
Wolverine Hoosier Athletic
Conference (WHAC) All-Sports
Trophy for the seventh consecu-
tive year. The WHAC is comprised
of seven schools from Michigan
and Indiana which include
Aquinas College, Concordia
College, Cornerstone University,
Indiana Tech University, Madonna
University, Siena Heights University,
and Spring Arbor University. There
are 14 sports that are recognized
by the league as sanctioned sports.
Aquinas began its All-Sports Trophy
streak in 1997-98.
The 2003-04 season saw the Saints
sweeping the competition in men’s
track and fi eld by capturing fi rst
place fi nishes in men’s cross coun-
try, men’s indoor track, and men’s
outdoor track. The women’s track
and fi eld team claimed a fi rst place
AQ captures record seventh
WHAC All-Sports Awardfi nish in women’s indoor track while
racking up a third place fi nish in
women’s cross country and a third
place fi nish in women’s outdoor
track. The Aquinas basketball teams
added to the total points with a
third place fi nish in women’s bas-
ketball, while the men’s basketball
team fi nished the season in fourth.
Respectively, the volleyball team fi n-
ished the season strong to capture a
third place fi nish. The women’s soc-
cer team tallied a sixth place fi nish
followed by the men’s soccer team
with a fi fth place fi nish. Rounding
out the athletic competition, the
softball and baseball teams each
ended up third in the conference.
Aquinas fi nished the all-sports
tabulation with a total of 40 points
followed by Cornerstone with 38.
Madonna fi nished a close third by
accumulating 37 points.
41aquinas magazine fall 2004ATHLETICS
Aquinas College is proud to award
three student athletes as well as
one athletic team to represent
Aquinas College with the 2003-04
“Champions of Characters” Award.
Three students, one team awarded Champions of Character honors
The award recognizes fi ve core char-
acteristics: respect, responsibility,
integrity, sportsmanship and servant
leadership.
Senior Bonnie SpiegelbergSoftball
Juniors Craig Rehmann, Tom KuslikisMen’s basketball
Men’s cross-country team
Terry Bocian receives
Lifetime Achievement Award Athletic Director Terry Bocian ’70,
former long-time baseball coach, was
honored by the March of Dimes dur-
ing its West Michigan Sports Awards
Banquet on May 25. He was given
the Warren Reynolds Lifetime in
Sports Achievement Award.
The event—which honored local,
professional, college and high school
athletes, teams, and coaches—raised
$85,000 for the March of Dimes.
Previous recipients of this prestigious
award were former Detroit Tigers
announcer Ernie Harwell and former
East Grand Rapids High School foot-
ball coach George Barcheski.
Bocian is in his 33rd year at Aquinas
and his 25th year as athletic direc-
tor. Bocian coached basketball for
13 years and baseball for 30 years
at Aquinas, during which time AQ
baseball teams won 1,079 games.
He was inducted into the NAIA
Hall of Fame in 2000. He cited the
support of his “two families”—the
Bocians and his Aquinas College
family—for any success he may have
had.
The award is named for the late
Warren Reynolds, a longtime WOOD
TV-8 sports announcer who died of
cancer.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Sept. 1 vs. Davenport
Sept. 7 @ Taylor (IN)
Sept. 10 @ St. Xavier (IL)
Sept. 11 @ Robert Morris
MEN’S SOCCER
(Bold – Home Games)
August 27 @ Bethel
Sept. 1 vs. Davenport
Sept. 7 @ Taylor (IN)
Sept. 8 vs. Kalamazoo College
Sept. 10 @ St. Xavier (IL)
Sept. 11 @ TBA
Sept. 4 vs. Northwood University
Sept. 18 vs. Spring Arbor
Sept. 19 vs. St. Ambrose (IA)
Sept. 25 vs. Madonna
Sept. 29 @ Concordia
Oct. 2 @ Siena Heights
Oct. 6 vs. Cornerstone
Oct. 9 vs. Indiana Tech
Oct. 11 @ Spring Arbor
Oct. 13 @ Madonna
Oct. 16 vs. Concordia
Oct. 20 vs. Siena Heights
Oct. 23 @ Cornerstone
Oct. 27 @ Indiana Tech
Sept. 14 vs. Northwood University
Sept. 19 vs. Kalamazoo College
Sept. 22 vs. GVSU
Sept. 25 vs. Madonna
Sept. 28 @ Concordia
Oct. 2 @ Siena Heights
Oct. 5 vs. Cornerstone
Oct. 9 vs. Indiana Tech
Oct. 11 @ Spring Arbor
Oct. 12 @ Madonna
Oct. 16 vs. Concordia
Oct. 19 vs. Siena Heights
Oct. 23 @ Cornerstone
Oct. 26 @ Indiana Tech
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42aquinas magazine fall 2004ATHLETICS
Aquinas College has enhanced its
coaching staff with the addition of
Mark Fales as head women’s soccer
coach. Fales most recently served
as head women’s and men’s soccer
coach at Lansing Catholic Central
High School. While at Lansing he
was voted 1999 Coach of the Year
by area soccer coaches.
Other coaching stints for Fales
included a stop at Olivet College
as the head women’s soccer coach
(1995-99) In his last two years at
Olivet, he compiled a 30-7-3 record
including an invitation to play in the
national tournament.
New faces in
Athletic Department
The volleyball program has added
Nicholas Griffi n. Griffen will join
Head Coach Jan Nevelle as women’s
volleyball assistant coach.
Griffi n most recently served as
student assistant coach at Olivet
Nazarene University for three years.
He also serves as the associate train-
ing coordinator for USA Michigan
Volleyball.Mark Fales
NicholasGriffi n
Mike
Wolhoy
Volleyball
(Bold – Home Games)
Sept. 3-4 @ Cornerstone University Tournament
Sept. 10-11 @ St. Xavier Tournament
Sept. 14 vs. Grace Bible
Sept. 18 vs. Aquinas College Invitational
Sept. 21 vs. Cornerstone
Sept. 24 & 25 @ Trinity Christian
Sept. 28 vs. Siena Heights
Oct. 1 @ UM Dearborn
Oct. 5 @ Concordia
Oct. 8 & 9 @ Indiana Wesleyan
Oct. 12 @ Madonna
Oct. 14 vs. Kalamazoo
Oct. 19 @ Siena Heights
Oct. 23 vs. Concordia
Oct. 26 vs. UM Dearborn
Oct. 29 & 30 @ Calvin College Tournament
Nov. 2 vs Madonna
Nov. 6 @ Cornerstone
Nov. 9 @ TBA fi rst round WHAC Tournament
Nov. 12 & 13 @TBA Semis & Finals WHAC Tournament
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Mike Wolhoy begins his fi rst year
with Aquinas’ athletic training staff.
Wolhoy joins the Saints after com-
pleting his graduate work at the
University of Louisiana at Monroe
and earning a master of science
degree. Wolhoy, a certifi ed trainer,
will be responsible for the treatment
of the athletes in the intercollegiate
sports programs as well as supervi-
sion of student athletic trainers in
Aquinas College’s newly accredited
athletic program.
43aquinas magazine fall 2004ATHLETICS
Michelle Borek
Thomas Shimek
The Athletic Department honored
two of its outstanding senior athletes
this past spring.
Michelle Borek received the Helen
Louise Brogger Award, which is given
annually to a female athlete. The
recipient must have demonstrated
academic strength, service to others,
and athletic involvement and success.
Borek, of Marlette, Michigan, earned
four year letters on both the Aquinas
indoor and outdoor track teams. She
was an all-conference performer help-
ing Aquinas win six of eight possible
league championships during her four
years at Aquinas.
In 2003, she earned All American
honors in track and Academic All
American Honors. She graduated in
May with a major in biology, a minor
in chemistry, and carried a 3.75 GPA.
Borek has been involved in the
national honor societies for both
biology and chemistry. She has been
active in service learning projects
as well as tutoring and coaching
students in biology and track and
fi eld.
Thomas Shimek, better known to
many as T.J., received the Joseph
Baker award, presented to a male
athlete who exemplifi es academic
strength, service to others and
athletic involvement and success.
Shimek, who’s from Empire,
Michigan, has been a key member
of the indoor and outdoor track
team for four years. He has helped
the Saints claim fi ve of eight league
championships during his career.
Shimek has also personally qualifi ed
for the national competition in each
of his four years. Along with his All
American honors in 2003, he has
been honored as an All American
Scholar Athlete.
Shimek currently holds several
school records in shot put and the
35-pound weight throw. Recently,
he began competing in the javelin
throw. In his last attempt in the
javelin throw at the conference
tournament, he threw one 20 feet
farther than his personal best which
propelled the Saints to come from
behind to clinch the league cham-
pionship. With a double major in
business administration and account-
ing, Shimek currently carries a
3.70 GPA. He has been involved
in tutoring, the Student Athletic
Advisory Board, the Aquinas College
Thespians, and the Aquinas College
Business and Accounting League.
Two senior athletes
Honored byAthleticDepartment
44aquinas magazine fall 2004ATHLETICS
The Third Annual Athletic Hall of
Fame ceremonies will take place
during the Gala event scheduled
for Friday, September 24, 2004, in
the ballroom of the Wege Student
Center. Four individual athletes and
one team will be in the third class to
be inducted.
The individual recipients are: Paul
Gnepper ’74 (baseball/basketball),
the fi rst baseball All American and
one of the top scorers in basketball
history; Pat Ryan ’70 (basketball) was
an all-time leading rebounder; Alese
Keiser ’89 (basketball) became one
of the top ten scorers and rebound-
ers as well as an All American and
Academic All American; and Fabian
Knizacky ’82 (track and fi eld) was
an All American and Academic All
American.
The team honors will go to the
1969 Men’s Tennis Team, coached
2004 athletic
Hall of Fameby Chuck Frydrych ’64,
associate professor of
physics, along with play-
ers Joe Hesse ’69, Terry
Abel ’69, Greg Pfent
’70, Terry Green ’70,
Harold Hall ’71, Michael
Crawford ’69 and Roger
Lilac ’72.
Tickets for the event are
available through the
Development Offi ce
by calling (616) 632-
2809 or the Athletic
Department at (616) 632-2474.
Paul Gnepper ’74 Fabian Knizacky ’82
Pat Ryan ’70 (middle) Alese Keiser ’89
Men’s Basketball(Bold – Home Games)
Nov. 5 & 6 @ Bethel TourneyNov. 9 @ Grace BibleNov. 16 vs. Spring ArborNov. 26 & 27 Van Andel TourneyNov. 30 vs. CalvinDec. 4 @ Grand ValleyDec. 7 vs. HopeDec. 10 and 11 Brann’s ClassicDec. 19-21 @ St. Xavier TourneyJan. 5 @ Siena HeightsJan. 8 @ UM DearbornJan. 12 vs. MadonnaJan. 15 vs. Indiana Tech
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Jan. 19 @ ConcordiaJan. 22 vs. DavenportJan. 26 @ CornerstoneJan. 29 vs. Siena HeightsFeb. 2 vs. UM DearbornFeb. 5 @ MadonnaFeb. 9 @ Indiana TechFeb. 12 vs. ConcordiaFeb. 16 @ DavenportFeb. 19 vs. CornerstoneFeb. 24 TBA WHAC Tourney 1st RoundFeb. 26 TBA WHAC Tourney 2nd RoundMar. 1 TBA WHAC Tourney Finals
45aquinas magazine fall 2004ATHLETICS
After 18 years of service to
Aquinas College, Jan Bennett
offi cially retired from her position
as athletic secretary on May 5,
2004. In appreciation of all of
Jan’s efforts through the years,
athletic and physical education
departments hosted “Jan Bennett
Day” on Thursday, April 29.
Invitations were extended to the
members of the Aquinas College
community to wish Jan well as she
embarks on a new challenge —
retirement. Jan (pictured above
with her husband, Dick) says she’s
“looking forward to retirement
and being able to spend more
time with my husband, family and
grandchildren. My years at AQ
were good years and the people
made it especially so. I’ll miss each
and every one of you.” Although
Jan is retiring, she will be stopping
by in the fall to assist new athletic
administrative assistant and AQ
alumna, Crystal Laska ’01.
Now retired
Jan Bennett
4TH ANNUAL AQ/BRANN’S BASKETBALL SHOOT OUT
Toys for TotsFriday, Dec. 106 and 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 11noon and 2 p.m.
One new toy (non-violent) in
orginal packaging (unwrapped)
is good for two (2) admissions.
Admissions for one-day pass:
$5 for adults , $2 for students.
All proceeds from this two-day
tournament benefi ts the U.S.
Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots
program.
Drop toys off at any Brann’s or at Aquinas’ Field House.
(616) 632-2474
Women’s Basketball (Bold – Home Games)
Nov. 5 & 6 @ St. Francis Tourney
Nov. 13 @ Trinity International
Nov. 16 vs. Huntington
Nov. 19 & 20 Aquinas College Classic
Nov. 23 @ Calvin
Dec. 1 vs. Grace Bible
Dec. 4 vs. Rochester
Dec. 17 & 18 @ Goshen College Tourney
Dec. 27- 29 @ St. Xavier College Tourney
Jan. 5 @ Siena Heights
Jan. 8 @ UM Dearborn
Jan. 12 @ Madonna
Jan. 15 vs. Indiana Tech
Jan. 19 vs. Concordia
Jan. 22 vs. Davenport
Jan. 26 @ Cornerstone
Feb. 2 vs. UM Dearborn
Feb. 5 vs. Madonna
Feb. 9 @ Indiana Tech
Feb. 12 @ Concordia
Feb. 16 @ Davenport
Feb. 19 vs. Cornerstone
Feb. 23 TBA WHAC Tourney 1st Round
Feb. 26 TBA WHAC Tourney Semis
Feb. 28 TBA WHAC Tourney Finals
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46aquinas magazine fall 2004DEPARTMENT NEWS
Karen Palmore
Alumna Gives Back
de velopment
Karen Vogel Palmore ’89 believes
education is the key to success—and
that the success she and husband
William J. Palmore enjoy as fi nancial
consultants is rooted in the college
educations they received.
Their belief in higher education,
combined with their admiration
of Ben Franklin and his principles
of philanthropy, helped to compel
Karen and Bill Palmore to pledge
to Aquinas College in the form of a
bequest. Their future gift of $10 mil-
lion, the largest known bequest to
Aquinas College, will be used to sup-
port two areas of the College that
Karen Palmore, an Aquinas Trustee,
holds high: scholarships for continu-
ing education students and a depart-
mental chair for the Aquinas
College School of Management.
“The generosity of Karen and
Bill Palmore will allow Aquinas
to expand its efforts in two pro-
grams that are very important,” said
President Harry Knopke. “And it
sends a message of institutional
from the very beginning. “From the
moment I met Mudge, and how she
welcomed me to the campus, I knew
unequivocally that I was in the right
place at the right time.”
That lasting impression, combined
with the continuing classroom lessons
of helping others, convinced her to
give back to her alma mater immedi-
ately upon receipt of her diploma.
“I was so appreciative of the all-
encompassing education I received,”
Palmore recalled. Initially her gifts
were double-digit gifts, and she im-
mediately updated her will to pro-
vide a 10 percent portion to Aquinas.
With this latest gift, Trustee Palmore
hopes to provide two messages to
vitality and deservedness to all who
care about Aquinas and all the
College represents.”
Belief in the Aquinas College mission,
belief in the work of its faculty, and
the experience of having Palmore’s
life changed by her education are
signifi cant factors in the Palmores’
decision to make a pledge to Aquinas,
which will provide a large and last-
ing impact upon the two programs
selected for support.
Karen Palmore came to Aquinas as a
single parent whose goal was to grad-
uate from college by age 50.
Former College registrar the late
Marjorie “Mudge” Joppe made an
instant and positive impact upon her
Pictured L-R) President Knopke, Karen and Bill Palmore, and Vice
President of Development Julie Ridenour
47aquinas magazine fall 2004department NEWS
Refl ection Award 2004 Honors Kate Pew Wolters
Aquinas College friends and
family gathered Thursday,
September 9, to celebrate the
presentation of the 12th 2004
Refl ection Award to Kate Pew
Wolters ‘78.
Without exception, Wolters
mirrors the values recognized
by the award: community
leadership, commitment, vision,
service, loyalty, integrity, and
trust. Over the years, Kate
has been the embodiment of
these principles through the
leadership she provides to both
the community and Aquinas.
More than 300 came together
to honor our alumna,
immediate past president of
the Aquinas College Board of
Trustees, philanthropist, leader,
and advocate.
other alumni: to include Aquinas
in their estate plans no matter the
size of their bequest and that, as
colleges go, Aquinas is exceptional.
The Palmores also have pledged
a similar amount to Bill’s alma
mater, Purdue University, where
he received a degree in agriculture.
That decision to split their estate
between their two institutions of
higher education was carefully
determined by the Palmores.
“The impact my education had on
my career and the success of my
career is no less for me than it is
for Bill,” explained Karen. “It makes
no difference whether it’s a Big Ten
university or a small private col-
lege. The impact is no less.”
The opportunities to change oth-
ers’ lives through education is a
great motivator for the Palmores—
but no less is the chance to make
this change in perpetuity through
their gifts of endowment.
“Education is absolutely primary,
and we wanted it to go into perpe-
tuity, so there never is an ending to
the number of people we can help
to achieve their goals,” said Karen
Palmore.
This fun-loving couple savor
together the gusto of their lives and
often can be heard exclaiming in
unison “Life’s short. Eat dessert
fi rst.” Through their hard work,
shared successes and thoughtful
planning, their fi nal dessert will
be enjoyed by many future gen-
erations of Aquinas students and
faculty.
Kate Pew Wolters
48aquinas magazine fall 2004DEPARTMENT NEWS
Kate Pew Wolters ’78 developed a
keener appreciation for her Aquinas
College training when she entered
Michigan State University’s master’s
program in social work.
“I looked around … and I realized
the knowledge and information I
had, and the quality of that knowl-
edge, was really superior to what
others had,” explained Wolters,
immediate past president of the
Aquinas College Board of Trustees.
“I knew I had a good thing going
while I was at Aquinas, but it didn’t
become clear to me until after I had
graduated,” continued Wolters, who
appreciated the school’s attention to
inclusiveness.
That—and her subsequent service to
the College as a trustee and offi cer
of the Board of Trustees—helped to
convince Wolters through the Kate
and Richard Wolters Foundation to
$1 million for community leadership
Alumna’s Endowment
support the Community Leadership
Institute (CLI) in the form of a $1
million endowment.
The Foundation also provided start-
up funds for CLI in its infancy. And
Wolters said the student involvement
with the CLI convinced her the that
institute was both viable and needed.
“When I saw them and their enthu-
siasm and talking about the impor-
tance of the curriculum and the
experiences, I thought, this is a good
one,” she said.
Grand Rapids Mayor and CLI
Director the Rev. George Heartwell
shares Wolters’ enthusiasm for
the students and their work. He
described with pride the fi rst CLI
graduate, Clement Chiwaya ’02, and
his recent election to Parliament in
Chiwaya’s home country, Malawi.
Heartwell also talked about
Chiwaya’s classmate and CLI col-
league, M. Bridget Clark ’03, now
executive director of the Kids Food
Basket.
“Bridget stepped in, put the organi-
zation together, created a corps of
volunteers to assist with this, wrote
grants that were approved, and fol-
lowing her graduation, accepted
the position as executive director,”
Heartwell said of Clark’s work in her
CLI capstone class.
For the program’s 14 majors and
its staff, the endowment gift from
the Kate and Richard Wolters
Foundation means a solid, continu-
ous base of funding. “It gives CLI
the fi nancial security to expand our
leadership development throughout
west Michigan as well as address
the needs of students right here at
Aquinas College,” added Heartwell.
This gift “assures us that function
will continue into the future.”
And that’s exactly what Wolters
hopes for her gift.
“Every department, school, or insti-
tute at Aquinas has to think about
their existence because of money.
Like it or not, it’s a harsh reality. I
hope by taking away some of the
anxiety around the money that the
focus can be on the program. That
the foundation is providing a great
learning experience to the students
and a resource to the community,”
said Wolters.
D E V E L O P M E N T
49aquinas magazine fall 2004department NEWS
Sister Aquin Gallagher Norbert J. Hruby, Ph.D. C. Arthur Woodhouse
HALL OF FAME RECOGNITION
The third annual Aquinas College Hall of Fame Gala—which will kickoff the 2004 Homecoming Weekend on Friday, September 24—will recognize fi ve outstand-ing individuals who are either alumni or friends of the College.
To be inducted into the Aquinas College Hall of Fame in this year’s event are: Norbert Hruby, Ph.D., president emeritus; the late Sr. Aquin Gallagher, O.P., professor emerita of English; and the late C. Arthur Woodhouse, a former Aquinas College Trustee.
The Aquinas College Alumni Association will also present its Outstanding Alumni Award to Rosemary (Hickey) Zant ’59 and its Distinguished Service Award to current Trustee John Wheeler.
The induction ceremonies will take place in the Wege Center Ballroom. For more information about the event, contact Deb O’Donnell at (616) 632-2809 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Rosie Hickey ZantJohn Wheeler
50aquinas magazine fall 2004DEPARTMENT NEWS
A late-night conversation with Father
Martin Donnelly, S.J., at Xavier
University was the catalyst for
Aquinas College Trustee Emeritus
Alan and his wife, Margaret, Ryan to
make changes to their estate plan.
Donnelly described for the Ryans
Xavier University’s Pacesetter pro-
gram, established by family friend
Charles P. Gallagher for Xavier
and the Toledo Catholic secondary
schools. The Pacesetters program
funds promising, but needy Toledo
students through both high school
and Xavier University.
Through their thoughtful conversa-
tions and community interactions,
the Ryans brought together Aquinas
College, the Grand Rapids Catholic
Secondary Schools and the Grand
Rapids Community Foundation to
create a scholarship program that will
provide a seamless opportunity for
high school and college support for
their hometown.
“I really believe that any determined
young person can complete a col-
lege education and fi nd the resources
to fi nance it. The operative word is
determined,” said Alan Ryan. “We
are testing that premise with our
program.”
The partnership between the Ryans
and the three organizations will
make possible a series of Ryan
Scholars. Students selected by com-
mittee for the awards will be pro-
vided with fi nancial assistance from
ninth grade at either Grand Rapids
Catholic Central or West Catholic
through graduation from Aquinas
College.
Ryan Scholars will be selected in
their last year of middle school for
participation in the program, based
upon their leadership potential, aca-
demic standards, and commitment
to a Catholic higher education in
Grand Rapids.
The scholarships will be established
through a bequest, and ultimately
will fund eight students each year.
Leaders at all three organizations are
delighted with the collaboration, one
which has linked in perpetuity the
Community Foundation with the
Catholic Secondary Schools and the
College.
“Aquinas College has more alumni
from Grand Rapids Catholic Central
and West Catholic than from any
other parochial high schools,” said
Aquinas President Harry J. Knopke.
The Ryan Scholars will further those
lines of commitment and expand the
enrollment to an even broader base
of students from these schools.”
Both Alan and Margaret are products
of Catholic educations, and both are
great believers in the value of higher
education. They also believe the pro-
gram will be an incentive not only to
future Ryan Scholars, but also to oth-
ers who share their vision for higher
education.
Trustee Emeritus Ryan
Establishes Scholarship
Margaret and Alan Ryan
D E V E L O P M E N T
51aquinas magazine fall 2004department NEWS
The tickets for this year’s biggest
event are going, going …!
A grand committee is already work-
ing hard to make Lights! Action!
Auction! 2004 the best ever. With a
Pink Panther theme complete with
trench coats, tiaras and a groovy pink
cat and entertainment featuring our
own President Knopke —this is one
gig you won’t want to miss! Mark
your calendar for October 28 at
6:30 p. at the Performing Arts
Center.
The black-tie event will take place in
the new Performing Arts Center and
will be chock full of sparkling enter-
tainment, great food, music, and a
variety of unique items that are sure
to excite everyone there.
Thanks to a fantastic committee, the
event in 2003 was the most success-
ful auction to date. In the last four
years, we have raised over $170,000
which goes directly into scholarships
for Aquinas students. You can help
make this year’s auction even better
than the last!
Already promised is a beautiful,
handmade cherry baby cradle, a cus-
tom-designed playhouse, a lease on a
A Saintly “thank you” to all who helped make
the 2004 Aquinas Fund campaign the most
successful in the College’s history! And a big
round of recognition to you, the alumni, who
helped elevate our level of alumni giving above
17 percent. That increase refl ects growth of
25 percent—and an important surge in alumni
giving.
Why is alumni giving so important? There
are many reasons —but perhaps none more
important than the message alumni giving
levels send to our present and future students.
Our graduate satisfaction surveys indicate a
very high level of appreciation of the “Aquinas
Lights! Action! Auction!
Pink PantherPink Panther
Martita and Pete Cudlipp at Lights! Action! Auction! 2003.
2004 BMW X-3 and much, much
more. Be sure to check our Web
site for complete details.
NEW for 2004! Your chance to own a 2005 Ford Pickup. Watch
for more details on the AQ car
raffl e. Make your reservations to
attend the auction today by call-
ing (616) 632-2805 or email
[email protected]. We’d be
tickled pink to see you there!
experience.” Aquinas Saints believe they are well
prepared for the world beyond, whatever their
fi eld of endeavor.
Tuition fees at Aquinas, like most other private
liberal arts colleges, barely cover 60 percent
of the cost of the education. So our graduates
—whatever their graduation year—are like
more than 80 percent of our current students
who receive fi nancial support from the College.
And through gifts to the Aquinas Fund, you are
helping to enhance that experience and ensure
its availability to a vast range of students.
You, like Aquinas College, “make all the
difference in the world.”
52aquinas magazine fall 2004DEPARTMENT NEWS
Trustees
The Rev. William Duncan
Trustee Profi le
Like a number of his fellow mem-
bers of the Aquinas College Board of
Trustees, the Rev. William Duncan
has a history with the College that
spans back to when he was a stu-
dent. That was in the early 1980s,
when he attended the Aquinas
Institute for Religious Studies. At
the time, he also was an employee
of St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was
putting his master’s degree in health
administration from Duke University
to good use.
Duncan worked at the hospital from
1979 to 1986, when the call to reli-
gious life led him to leave his position
as a vice president and enter the sem-
inary. After he was ordained in 1990,
he began teaching at the College
as an adjunct instructor, continuing
through the early 1990s. He has been
a trustee for more than three years
and was recently reappointed to the
Board for another three-year term.
“Having the three different perspec-
tives of the College has been very
enriching. In each of those experienc-
es I have been able to participate in a
learning community that I just have
great, great respect for,” he said.
“The board is committed to provid-
ing a fi nancially secure future for the
College and part of that necessarily
entails trying to provide for appro-
priate need for resources, including
salaries. We’re very blessed with a
committed faculty, but we need to
continue to try to fi nd the necessary
resources to support them in their
work.”
He continued, “The commitment
of the students to learn, the com-
mitment of the faculty members to
share their wisdom and knowledge,
and the desire of the trustees to
53aquinas magazine fall 2004department NEWS
Lyle Morrison `52, an Aquinas
College Trustee, was honored last
spring by the Life Insurance Agents
of the State of Michigan with the
state industry’s top award.
Morrison received the prestigious
Marvin E. Muilenberg, C.L.U.,
Distinguished Service Award. The
award is presented annually by the
provide that foundation for a bright
future is just a wonderful combina-
tion of people coming together for
the noble purpose of education and
preparing people to be good citizens
in the world and in the Church.”
Duncan has been the Vicar General
and Moderator of the Curia for the
Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids for
two years. His responsibilities there
involve the administration of the
secretariats of the diocese and serv-
ing as the bishop’s representative in
the executive administration of the
diocese.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to
work with all of the priests in our
diocese and the various agencies
and institutions and parishes,” said
Duncan. Those institutions include
Aquinas College. “My role includes
serving as liaison for the diocese with
Aquinas, and that’s a great opportu-
nity and a privilege,” he noted.
After the death of Bishop Kevin
Britt in May and the appointment of
Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit as
Apostolic Administrator, Duncan’s
work did not change dramatically.
Speaking in June, he said, “It’s basi-
cally the same responsibilities, but
now I bring the matters that need
to be brought to the attention of a
bishop … to Cardinal Maida.”
“I love being a priest in west
Michigan, he said.” In his sparse spare
time, he likes to read and walk the
beaches of Michigan, “in all seasons
of the year,” he added.
Trustee/Alumnus Lyle Morrison,C.L.U.
National RecognitionNational Association of Insurance
and Financial Advisory-Michigan,
to an individual selected from
among the association’s 1,600
members.
Morrison has been a member of
the NAIFA-Michigan for nearly
40 years and is a past president of
NAIFA-Grand Rapids.
Lyle Morrison
54aquinas magazine fall 2004DEPARTMENT NEWS
emeritus college
At the 2004 Emeritus Evening,
Sr. Mary Aquinas Weber, O.P., ’58
received the Emeritus Award during
an evening of sharing stories both at
the lectern and among the crowd of
some 350 people.
Rabbi Lewis said that Sister Aquinas exemplified the Jewish maxim “say little and do much.”
Sister Aquinas recognized
Emeritus Evening
The program included tributes by
her brother Joseph (Jack) Weber,
Dr. Norbert Hruby, and Rabbi
Albert Micah Lewis; a heartfelt,
humorous toast by Martin Allen,
who has known Sister since she was
his sixth grade teacher; and a bio-
graphical video presentation.
After pointing out that Sr. Aquinas’
strong character was probably built
while growing up with four older
brothers, fi ve younger brothers, and
only two “allies” in her mother and
one sister, Jack Weber said, “I have
never heard her complain about any-
thing she’s experienced in her life. We
congratulate you, Sister. We are proud
of you and the varied accomplish-
ments you have achieved, and we
love you very much.”
In addition to Jack Weber and his
wife, siblings Dan Weber, Paul Weber
and his wife, and Marge Wagner also
attended.
Prioress of Grand Rapids Dominicans Sister Mary Beth Holtrip and Sister Aquinas share a moment.
55aquinas magazine fall 2004department NEWS
Louise Harley (pictured front right) was one of 30 Aquinas Emeritus
College students recognized at the
June 7 Aquinas Emeritus College
Student Awards Luncheon. Harley
received a certifi cate for 100
hours of credit. She has been a
student at the Emeritus College
for over 20 years and participates
in a wide variety of the class offer-
ings. This is one of several awards
Louise has accrued over 1,200 credit
hours at Emeritus. (Pictured L-R) In back: Dr. Albert M. Lewis, direc-tor of the Aquinas Emeritus College and Aquinas College President Harry Knopke.. Seated: Sister Mary Aquinas Weber and Louise Harley.
Aquinas Emeritus College Recognizes StudentsLouise Harley
Rabbi Lewis delivered a heart-
warming speech grounded in
the friendship he and Sister
have shared for thirty years.
Speaking to her, he said, “You,
more than any other person
in the Catholic community,
have taught me that together
we can dream dreams and see
visions and truly bring them to
life.” He said she exemplifi es
the Jewish maxim, say little
and do much.
While a natural leader, Sister
herself would just as soon
not be the focus of attention. Martin Allen reminisced about being a sixth-grade student of Sister Aquinas.
Emeritus College
When asked how she liked the eve-
ning, the 81-year-old acknowledged
“all this fanfare,” as she put it, with
an embarrassed smile and a shrug.
“It’s okay.”
In keeping with such modesty,
when she received the award from
Aquinas President Harry Knopke,
she opened with the words, “I
need to say something about the
Emeritus College.” Her talk
emphasized the program’s
accomplishments and future
plans, and concluded with the
words, “I am deeply appreciative.
God bless you.”
56aquinas magazine fall 2004admission NEWS
he offi cially became the College’s
youngest enrollee ever.
According to The Grand Rapids Press
(June 5, 2004), at three years old, Ryan
began reading everything he could. By
four, he could multiply and divide.
Later that year, the report states, an
IQ test showed Ryan was, indeed, a
gifted individual.
Ryan excelled at everything and was
four years ahead of his contempo-
raries. He entered high school at 10,
and now, at 14, he begins his college
studies at Aquinas. He plans to major
in pre-law, computer science and math.
When asked about his being a genius,
The Press article said he shrugged it
off, saying, “I was always taught it was
a gift from God. I was taught that
everyone has talents. I never thought
of myself as different from anyone else.”
Aquinas College’s freshman class
will number about 345 this fall.
Among those in the incoming class
are several notable members: the
youngest student to enroll at the
College, an athlete who fought back
from a tragic accident and another
who has his eyes on the White
House.
Ryan Lomonaco
While most 14 year olds are just
entering high school and thinking
about getting their drivers licenses,
Ryan Lomonaco was already looking
at colleges. In June, he became the
youngest person ever to graduate
from Grand Rapids Catholic
Central High School. And when
he walked onto the campus of
Aquinas in August for orientation,
admissionS
Ryan Lomonaco
First-Year Students Overcome Obstacles and Set High Goals
Ryan Lomonaco, Amanda Strouse, Tim Ramsay
57aquinas magazine fall 2004admission NEWS
Tim Ramsay
Amanda Strouse (Photo courtesy of the Lansing State Journal.)
Amanda Strouse
Amanda Strouse is a young person
fi lled with a desire to succeed, driven
by an inner strength that allowed
her to overcome adversity. In July
2003, just before her senior year in
high school, the Lansing Catholic
student was in a serious car accident.
Sideswiped by an oncoming car, her
vehicle landed upside down in a farm
fi eld near her home, causing serious
injuries to the track and fi eld athlete’s
right arm. Her forearm, which was
nearly lost as a result of the crash,
had been broken in two places.
Doctors worked to save the arm
through a total of eight surgeries.
As one of Lansing’s top distance
runners as a junior, her future as
a top competitor appeared to be
in question. But her coach, Tim
Simpson, knew she would do “what-
ever it took to come back.” Her
determination, support from friends
and family and her faith helped her
return to the fi eld of competition.
The 18-year-old Strouse continued
into late spring to work with an
occupational therapist and received
nightly massages from her mom,
Sue, a nurse from the Michigan State
College of Nursing.
In early June, she competed in her
fi nal high school track competitions.
And while her running times still
trail some of her record-breaking,
pre-crash times in the 1600 and 800
meter competition, she’s making
good progress – progress she hopes
will come to life at Aquinas.
Tim Ramsay
A West Coast teen who has his
sights set on high political offi ce is
coming to Aquinas this fall, as well.
Tim Ramsay, who graduated from
Granite Hills High School in Apple
Valley, California, plans to major in
political science and, someday, hopes
to be president of the United States.
“I want to change things (and) make
the United States better,” he told a
Daily Press (Victorville, California)
reporter. According to the news
report (June 9, 2004), Ramsay has
begun to lay the foundation for a
future career in political leader-
ship. He served as a member of his
school’s Associated Student Body,
addressed his local town council
on youth issues, spent a month in
Europe in the summer of 2003 to
learn about various governments
and spent a week in Sacramento,
California, learning about the intrica-
cies of his own state government.
An administrator at his high school
stated she could see Ramsay enter-
ing politics someday: “He really does
have a passion of fi ghting for what’s
right. He’s a mature leader with an
overall good attitude.”
___________These articles are a compilation of stories excerpted from The Grand Rapids Press, Lansing State Journal and the Daily Press (Victorville, California).
58aquinas magazine fall 2004admission NEWS
Experiencing the arts has become
one of the most important parts
of an education for a number of
high school students. Holding to
that theme, the Admissions Offi ce
held the fi rst annual Fine Arts Day
(FAD) on March 19 when 180
prospects, high school freshmen
through seniors, attended what many
described “as the most unique visit at
Aquinas College.”
“This is a really interesting program
and really put together well,” said
one student. “I loved the teachers and
I met some awesome people.”
High school students from around
the Midwest began the day with
department overviews from profes-
sors and then toured the Aquinas
campus. After lunch, the students
experienced everything from the-
atre workshops, jazz improvisation
sessions, printmaking exercises, and
poetry writing seminars. Following
the breakout sessions, the students
shared their work with everyone in
the Performing Arts Center.
“I am impressed with everything I
saw today and I would recommend
this day to anyone who is interested
in fi ne arts,” commented another stu-
dent.
By Damon Bouwkamp `00, Admissions Representative
Admission Department’s special events days for the
2004-2005 school year
Friday, November 12, 2004 Campus Day
Friday, November 19, 2004 Campus Day
Saturday, January 22, 2005 Athletic Campus Day
Friday, February 4, 2005 Nursing Campus Day
Friday, March 18, 2005 Fine Arts Day
Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Leadership Day
Spring 2005 Science Day
Friday, April 22, 2005 Campus Day
Fine Arts DayFirst annual high-schoolers
Dr. Paul Brewer orchestrates a group of musicians.
Associate Professor of Art Kurt Kaiser works with several student prospects.
A D M I S S I O N S
59aquinas magazine fall 2004admission NEWS
Some happenings at AQ11, Thurs. 7:30 p.m.Lee Gutkind, author and editorContemporary Writers SeriesWege Student Center Ballroom
14, Sun 2–4 p.m.Collaborative Sculpture and Poetry ExhibitRon and Miriam PedersonOpening Reception Art and Music Center GalleryExhibit runs through Dec. 17
18, Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Fall Jazz Night. Art and Music Center
21, Sun. TBAInvitational Band ConcertArt and Music Center
22, Mon. 12:30 p.m.Gender, Racial and Political Ideologies in American ThanksgivingMaria DeRose, Women’s Studies Program, Bowling Green UniversityJane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies Center Wege Student Center
30, Tues. 12:30-1:20 p.m. “Representation of Mothers and Daughters in East-German DEFA Films between 1949 and 1989” Katharina GrossAquinas College Lecture SeriesWege Student Center Ballroom
December ’04
3, Fri. NoonSister Santa visits Aquinas College. Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies CenterWege Student Center
9, Thurs. 7:30 p.m.Percussion Group ConcertArt and Music Center
12 Sun. 5:00 p.m.Lessons and Carols Music Department ConcertBukowski Chapel
January ’05
17, Mon. TBA Martin Luther King, Jr. Blood DriveWege Center Ballroom.
17, Mon. 12:30 p.m.Jazz Combo Concert honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Wege Student Center Ballroom
18, Tues. 12:30“Richard Nixon Tapped Our Phone”Brent Chesley, Ph.D.Aquinas College Lecture SeriesWege Student Center Ballroom
24-28, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS WEEK
September ’04
20-24, Wed.-Thurs.The Amazing AQ Women Alumni ExhibitJane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies CenterLower Level Wege Center, Pond Lounge
25-27, HOMECOMING
30, Thurs. 7:30 p.m.William Heyen, award-winning poet Contemporary Writers SeriesWege Student Center Ballroom
October ’04
7-10, 8 p.m. or 2 p,m,“The Nerd,” a comedy written by Larry ShueAquinas Theatre Department$8 general admissions $6 faculty/staff and $3 students Performing Arts Center
13, Wed. 7 p.m.“Where the Jobs are: Can they Sustain Families?”Beth Shulman, author, attorney and former vice president of United Food and Commercial Workers.Wege Center Ballroom. FreeJane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies Center
13, Wed., 7:00 p.m.“The Catholic Intellectual Tradition and its Signifi cance in a Secular Society” His Eminence Cardinal Francis E. George, O.M.I., Archbishop of ChicagoFirst Annual St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture on Catholic Intellectual TraditionPerforming Arts Center. Free.
25, Mon. 7 p.m.Subhankar Banerjee Wildlife photographer and author Presentation, reception and book signing Performing Arts Center Free
28, Thurs., 12:30 p.m.“Yes, Virginia, There is a Glass Ceiling!” Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies Center Wege Student Center, Loutit Room
29, Fri. 6:30-9:30 p.m.HOLIDAY AUCTIONAquinas Performing Arts Center$75 per person
November ’04
2, Tues. 12:30-1:20 p.m.“Northern European Contributions to Early Renaissance and Baroque Art”Aquinas College Lecture SeriesWege Student Center Ballroom
For information:(616) 632-8900
www.aquinas.edu
28, Fri. 12:30 p.m.“Arms and the Women: Gender and Governance in Late Medieval England”Ann Clark Bartlett, De Paul UniversityJane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies Center‘s 8th Annual Lecture and TeaWege Student Center
31, Mon. 7:30 p.m. Carlos de la Barrera., classical guitarist, in concertArt and Music Center
February ’05
10, Thurs. 12:30 p.m.“Profi les of Middle Eastern Women”Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s Studies Center, Wege Student Center
10–13, Thurs.–Sun. 8 p.m. and 2 p.m.“Spinning into Butter,” a comedy written by Rebecca GilmanDirected by William IrwinAquinas Theatre ProgramCost: $8 general admissions$6 faculty/staff, $3 studentsFor tickets, call (616) 456-6656
15, Tues. 12:30-1:20 p.m. “Is it True That … ? Fun with Regression and Correlation”Don Chaffee, Ph.D. Aquinas College Lecture Series Wege Student Center Ballroom
20, Sun. 2–4 p.m. Annual, All-Media, Juried Student Show Opening ReceptionArt and Music Center GalleryShow runs through April 1
20, Sun. TBA Music Department Choral Invitational ConcertArt and Music Center
24–27, 7 p.m. and 2 p.m.2005 Children’s Production Directed by Penny Avery, Ph.D.Aquinas Theatre ProgramCost: $8 general admissions $6 faculty/staff and $3 studentsFor tickets, call (616) 456-6656
25, Fri. 7:30 p.m.Music Department Faculty RecitalAquinas Art and Music Center
26, Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Aquinas College Bridal ShowWege Student Center Ballroomwww.aquinas.edu/conference
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200460
CLASS NOTESMarriages
’82 Betsy Jean Gilsmythe and Larry Ray Davis, May 1, 2004
’83 Amy Neitzel and Sean O’Brien ’83, August 2002
’85 Marky J. Klapthor and Edwin Trinkle, June 21, 2003
’96 Sarah Nowak and M. Kevin Mulvihill, April 2, 2004
’97 Amanda Boes and David Feddes, July 10, 2004
’99 Ashley Lynn Harris and John Rice, August 5, 2003
’99 Jean VanWeelde ’02 and Justin Manwell, July 20, 2002
’00 Elizabeth Schmiedicke and Omar Flores ‘02, May 22, 2004
’00 Carrie Steffens and Doug Lipinski, Aug. 1, 2003
’01 Mandy Sue Schneider ‘03 and Mark Pittman, Jan. 11, 2003
’01 Lisa Bush and William Lemanski, June 7, 2003
’02 Jessica (Buck) and Joshua Greenwald ’03, December 27, 2003
’02 Kimberly Potter and Stephen G. Johnson, Aug. 16, 2003
’02 Tracy L. Major and Craig Patterson, July 2002’02 Faith and Clement Chiwaya, July 5, 2003’03 Sara E. Beeler and David Lothschutz, July
23, 2003
Births
’80 Margaret and Daniel Sherman, a girl, Bridget Rose, April 28, 2004
’85 Lynn and Joseph P. Nelis, a girl, Madelin Elizabeth, Feb. 17, 2004.
’87 Balby and Paul G. Cardenas, a boy, Jorge Giovanni, Oct. 29, 2003
’88 Linda (Trentman) and Jeffrey Coon, a girl, Brigid Caroline, January 30, 2004
’92 Megan L. Reid-Frank and George Frank, a girl, Meguire Reid, December 31, 2003
’93 Renee Orr, a girl, McKenna Charlize, April 26, 2004
’93 Amy (Wieczorek) and Clint Solden, a boy, Calvin Alexander, September 3, 2003
’96 Dionne M. (Costello) and Scott Underhill, a girl, Carlyn McKenna, Nov. 3, 2003
’96 Stacey D. (Dobrygoski) and Greg Bangsma, a girl, Rachel Marie, December 19, 2003
’97 Sue (Harvey) and Rick Brown, a girl, Reese Elizabeth, June 18, 2004
’97 Jennifer (Wilkinson) and Timothy Shaw ’99, a girl, Emelia Martha, June 18, 2004
’98 Lauren (Mullane) and Terry Poisson, a girl, Kayleigh Elizabeth, March 20, 2004
’98 Erin Trapp and Patrick M. Krueger, a girl, Stella Grace Krueger-Trapp, April 30, 2004
’99 Jean VanWeelde ’02 and Justin Manwell, a boy, Blake John Thomas, December 9, 2003
’01 Valerie Mossman-Celestin and Jacson Celestin, a boy, Joshua Emile, March 23, 2004
’01 Amber L. and Jamie Fogarty, a girl, Olivia Ann, in May 2002
’01 Anne Marie Schlichting and Thomas Ferratt ’00, a boy, Brendan Patrick, April 24, 2004
’02 Faith and Clement Chiwaya, a girl, Sandra, in October 2003
’03 Monica and Greg Vedders, a boy, Zachary Alexander, June 2, 2004
Deaths
’34 Mary (Schmitt) Robach, mother of Michelle (Robach) Ogren ’93, Bernadette (Robach)Kamps ’72, Rosalyn (Robach) Wolfer ’65, and Mary (Roback) Prokop ’63 and
grandmother to Angela Prokop ’03 and Sandra Ogren ’03, Feb. 11, 2004
’40 Roberta Grady, wife of Stafford Grady’41 Gerard Popma, Feb. 25, 2004’42 Geraldine (Bukowski) Konieczny, mother of
Timothy Konieczny ’69, June 16, 2004’43 Toby McGowan, brother of Sr. Ann Lucille
McGowan, O.P.’44 Patricia Ann (Eardley) Ghering, May 26,
2004’50 Gladys Monique, May 6, 2004’50 Joseph Kupinski, Jan. 25, 2004’51 John Rogers, Sr., Jan., 2004’52 Leo Joseph Bouchard, June 23, 2004’52 Scott L. Hock, son-in-law of Lyle and Gail
Morrison ’52, May 26, 2004’53 Sr. Pelagia M. Litkowski, O.P., May 18, 2004 ’55 Frances Zacharuk, brother of Sr. Audrey
Kubian, O.P., May 24, 2004’56 Amalia Vargas, mother of Ruth Vargas
Drummond and Irene Vargas Essenmacher ’59
’57 Jane Murray, sister of Sr. Mary Alice MacDonald
’58 John C. Zant, husband of Rosemary (Hickey) Zant, Feb. 5, 2004
’58 Kathleen Cashen, March 7, 2004
’59 Melvin Groulx, brother of Sr. Julia May Groulx, O.P.
’59 Fernande Gard, Feb. 19, 2004’60 Francis Bray, brother of Sr. Theresa Bray, O.P.’62 Caroline Baker, wife of Frank Baker ’40, Dec.
6, 2003’62 Florence Desmet, mother of Joanne (Desmet)
Deschaine’62 Edward Tracy, brother of Sr. Susanne
Tracy, O.P.’66 Rose Anderson, mother of Sr. Catherine
Anderson, O.P.’67 Josephine Snook, Feb. 28, 2004’67 Michael McLellan, March 28, 2004’67 Sr. Mary Ann Otway, O.P., Jan. 28, 2004’67 Phillip Paskiewicz, March 15, 2004 ’69 Stuart Splan, Dec. 22, 2003’69 William Morin, father of Barbara (Morin)
Camenga’70 Roberta Zimber, Dec. 4, 2003’70 Richard Zwier, father of Lawrence Zwier ’75
and Thomas Zwier ’76, Jan. 2, 2004‘72 Martha Greiner, sister of Sheila Greiner‘73 Robert Stawasz, March 17, 2004‘73 Kenneth Brousseau, father of Sr. Nancy
Brousseau, O.P.’73 June Wittenbach, mother of Mary
(Wittenbach) Dewey and Stephen Wittenbach ’81 and sister of Most Rev. Robert J. Rose
’74 Ray Slagter, father of Daniel Slagter ’03, Feb. 7, 2004
’74 John Navarre, father of Sr. Mary Navarre, O.P., May 8, 2004
’74 Jean McDonnell, sister of Sr. Irene Mary McDonnell, May 2, 2004
’75 Charles E. Smith, June 12, 2004’77 Earl Folkert, father of Michael O’Connor and
Linda O’Connor-Myers ’79’78 Mary Watson, May 31, 2004’79 Caesar Solomon, father of Denise Solomon’80 Arsenia (Carballo) Popma, Jan. 7, 2004’81 Wanda (Showalter) Stinchcomb, Jan. 13,
2004’83 Irene Stankus, mother of Sandra Becker, June
2, 2004 ’87 Steven Vander Voord, June 4, 2004’88 Marilyn Reilly, mother of Neil Reilly, April 3,
2004’89 James Banta, father of Theodore ’90 and
Elizabeth (Luce) Banta’97 Leslie Tassell, grandfather of Aquinas Trustee
David Bottrall and Michelle Bottrall, March 19, 2004
’97 Ethel Ghering, aunt of Mary (Hamel) Cook, March 26, 2004
’00 Andra Visockis, cousin of Rita ’92, Steffi ’95 and Andris, Jan. 7, 2004
’00 Joseph Tran, father of Kien Tran’03 Darrell Garrett, Feb. 14, 2004’03 James Vedders, father of Bradley Vedders
and Gregory Vedders and father-in-law of Meghan (McGahey) Vedders, July 5, 2004
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200461
1957Patricia A. Haviland owns For Women Only, offering therapeutic massage/neuro-muscular therapy.
’58John F. Burns joined Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C., where his practice focuses on corporate and business law matters and related financing and also provides labor and employment counseling for business and health care clients. He is president of Pheasant Ring Community, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting people and families affected by autism. John was previously appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board and was chairman of the board during his tenure. John and his wife reside in Northville, Mich.
Thomas Sorrelle sold his insurance agency to his daughter, Michelle A. Jennings ’81. Tom has taken the position as Consultant for Life and is enjoying semi-retirement with his wife, Nancy, in Crystal.
’73Fr. Charlon Mason celebrated the 25th anniver-sary of his ordination to the priesthood on May 19, 2004, at St. Joseph Church in Pewamo, Mich.
’76Michael Howell spends his professional time employed by Catholic Human Development Outreach, where he is in charge of relocating political refugees. Outside of that, Mike says his whole life is running. In May 2004, Mike logged his 10,000th mile of running at the YMCA since 2001. Give or take a few hundred miles, he estimates he has run 68,000 miles at the YMCA.
’78Earl D. Edwards retired from the Army after 20 years of service in Sept. 2001. Earl works at Lock- heed Martin as an electronic technician. He and his wife, Laura, have two daughters in high school.
’79Marlene (May) Ryan, immersed in full-time gra-duate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a master of liberal arts degree with concentration on the role of hands in cognition, perception and emotion.
’81Andrea M. Urda-Thompson received an M.A. in geography from Eastern Michigan University in April 2004. She currently teaches earth science and chemistry to at-risk high school students in the Ann Arbor Public School system.
’83David Farley recently opened up the first chiropractic practice in Cranston, Rhode Island where he lives with his wife and four sons.
Amy J. Neitzel-O’Brien is the Center Coordinator for the Center for Spiritual Direction in Mass.
Sean O’Brien is coaching football and track at Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass.
’84Chris Seager lives in Grayling, Mich., with husband, Steve. She received her M.A. from Central Michigan University in 1993 in counseling. Chris works for Catholic Human Services as a family services counselor. She has a daughter, Jill, 16, and a son, Matthew, 18.
’86Michael Stevenson is with DTE Energy and Freight Logistics as a Supervisor. He has been selected to lecture at MSU in Freight Logistics management. Mike and wife, Patricia, have five children between 4 and 14 years. Mike just completed his tenure as president of Transpor-tation Club of Detroit. He has coached baseball at Grosse Pointe High School for four years.
’87Dellajean Combs completed her master of arts in Counseling Psychology at John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, Calif., in 1991.
’88David G. Echelbarger, CPA and Shareholder at Echelbarger, Himebaugh, Tamm & Co., P.C. was recently recognized by Business Direct Weekly as one of Western Michigan’s Top Business Leaders Under 40. David is the Director of the Technology Solutions Division at EHTC.
’90Remi Gonzalez was recently promoted to vice presi-dent at Public Communications Inc. in Chicago.
Kris (Kooistra) DeYoung was named Teacher of theYear by VSA Arts of Michigan, an affiliate of the national VSA arts group, which promotes art education for children/adults with disabilities and has taught for nine years at Catholic Central High School.
Tamara Ujiie and husband, Andrew, launched Nature Basics, Inc.; they are introducing an early child development program, “Play along with me!” to build bonding between babies and their parents/caregivers. The company, wholly owned and operated by the couple, is based in Irvine, Calif.
’91Michelle (Jankowski) Carter and her husband, Tim, are the owners of It’s Just Lunch of West Michigan, a dating service for busy professionals
’92Rachael Drenovsky accepted the learning center coordinator position with the Michigan Supreme Court, where she will be running a small museum in the new Hall of Justice in Lansing.
Eric Bridge (pictured below), the coordinator of service learning at Aquinas, received the Michigan Campus Compact (MCC) Faculty/Staff Community Service-Learning Award last spring. It is the highest annual award that MCC bestows on faculty and staff in Michigan. The award recog-nizes Bridge’s important influence on students to become involved in community service and service learning through all of his tireless efforts through the Campus Ministry Department.
’93Reyes Carrasco retired from the Grand Rapids Police force as the city’s top-ranking Hispanic in April, 2004. Carrasco intends to take some time off, but hopes to teach. He and his wife, Valerie Ann, a detective in the Family Services Unit, have two children, Alyssa, 11, and Daniel, 8.
’95Job S. Grotsky received his master of arts in teaching from John Hopkins University. He is engaged and plans to be married next year. He is teaching third grade in Baltimore’s inner city and is still playing with the band Domestic Problems.
’96M. Kevin Mulvihill teaches English at Rogers High School.
Former Aquinas College pitcher Tom Vos collected a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series ring after Grand Rapids Community College, where Tom is a coach, won its national championship this spring.
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200462
Derek J. Donnelly and his wife Stephanie have two daughters Morgan, 3, and Katie, 8 months.
David Berault will be attending law school in Chicago for the next few years.
Stacey (Simmons) Jackson has been named AQ’s Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
’98Karen McPhee was selected as superintendent of the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District in Holland, Michigan, in May 2004. The OAISD Board of Education unanimously selected McPhee for the post after she served as interim superintendent following her predecessor’s retirement in March.
Troy Wilbon was named as the new head boy’s basketball coach at Grand Rapids Central.
Patrick M. Krueger completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Sociology and Population Program at the University of Colorado-Boulder. His dis-sertation is titled “Social, Cultural, and Economic Capital, and Behavioral Investments in Health.” In the fall of 2004, he will continue his research on the causes and consequences of poor health in the U.S. as a Robert Wood Johnson, Health and Society Scholar, at the University of Pennsylvania.
Matthew J. Flannigan graduated from the Michi-gan State College of Osteopathic Medical School in May 2004 and will be an intern at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich. At graduation, Matt was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award for professional involvement, academic achievement, leadership, and community volunteer work.
James E. McHale is assistant vice president at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Mich.
Jennifer (Johnson) Reynolds is the Coordinator of Alumni & Parent Relations at Aquinas College.
’99Ann Walsh has taken a job with GM Planworks as a media planner.
Tammy M. Cramer was promoted to the grant writer of Noah’s Ark Animal Center and Noah’s Ark Children Care Homes in Locust Grove, Geo. Her goal is to reach the $1.5 million mark through writing grants and fundraising.
Dan O’Donnell graduated from Michigan State University of Osteopathic Medicine. Dan will be doing his internship and residency at Ingham Hospital in Lansing, Mich.
CORRECTIONS!Sorry ’bout that … Spring 2004 edition:
(P. 49): 2003 Hall of Fame Gala
The former coach who influenced honoree Ralph Coleman `61 was Ray Null, not Nault, as printed.
(P. 16) “Aquinas Welcomes Hennick to Recruitment Post.” Her name should have read as Brenda Hennink.
Geraldine Hogan ’53 was incorrectly listed in the Spring 2004 Class Notes as deceased.
The late Geraldine Hogan, mother of Nancy Schmiedicke ’91, is not an alumna of Aquinas College_____We make every effort to ensure all information con-tained herein is correct and people whose names are listed in this magazine are properly identified. However, due to the large volume of information and names in the publication, we inadvertently fail to identify every possible error during proofing. It is our policy to make corrections on all identified errors in the next publication. We apologize in advance to those affected by our errors. (Ed.)
person government relations firm, in Washington, D.C. She primarily works on Social Security and educational issues.
Tonya Schafer has been working as a reporter and editor since her graduation. She is currently living in Grand Rapids and is senior editor at New View Media, which publishes Grand Rapids Cosmopolitan Home magazine.
’03Jessica (Buck) Greenwald is working on a master’s degree in Geography and plans to pursue a Ph.D.
Kelli C. Sattler is a master’s student in Higher Education Administration at Syracuse University.
’04Gail Gromaski, who majored in international business and German, will head to Austria this fall as part of the Fulbright program. Gromaski was selected for a prestigious Fulbright Teaching Assistantship Scholarship, allowing her to live and
work in Austria teaching English for the Ministry of Education. Her teaching assignment will run from October 2004 to May 2005.
2000Cari Blind will be graduating from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and intends to practice medicine in Illinois.
Angela M. Bruce graduated with an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Wright State University.
Miriam Lynch made headlines in the Pistons Idol Contest. Designed to copy the phenomenon of American Idol, the Detroit Pistons staged their own contest to find the most talented Pistons fan. Miriam sang “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor to win the February 11 round.
’01Amber L. (Seldon) Fogarty has been working as a Middle School Language Arts Teacher at Portland Middle School in Mich. She recently decided to take it one step further and pursue a master’s in School Counseling from Central Michigan University. Amber, her husband Jamie, and their eight-year-old son, Lane Christopher welcomed a baby girl, Olivia Ann Fogarty, in May 2002.
Jennifer A. Churchill works for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department as a communications specialist.
Maria G. Garza-Grande graduated from Indiana University-School of Library & Information Science with a master of library science. Maria is back home in Grand Rapids, ready to start a new career in librarianship.
Jenna Elwart received a master’s degree in clinical psychology and has only two more years until she earns a Ph.D.
Crystal (Lubbers) Laska is the Athletics Administrative Assistant at Aquinas College.
’02Marquise J. Blakeslee completed her master’s in European Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.
Clement Chiwaya was elected to Parliament in Malawi in May 2004 and then, was given additional duties when appointed to the new Malawi presi-dent’s Cabinet as Minister of Social Services and Disability Affairs. Clement and his wife, Faith, had a daughter, Sandra, in October of 2003.
Josh Greenwald works as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Ohio University.
Betsy B. Maesen obtained her MA in Congres-sional Studies and has been promoted to higher level position within the Greystone Group, a three-
(‘96 cont.)
ALUMNI NEWS aquinas magazine fall 200463
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