st. mary's university gold & blue | summer 2006

SUMMER 2006

Bill Greehey: One Man Making a Difference

‘Style’ Frames University’s Mission

Cummiskey Marks 50 Years of Teaching

Powwow Honors Texas Indians

Barrett Gift Celebrates Marianist History

PRESIDENTCharles L. Cotrell, Ph.D. (B.A. ’62, M.A. ’64)

UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENTVICE PRESIDENT

Thomas B. Galvin (M.P.A. ’04)

CHIEF OF STAFFAND COMMUNICATIONS

Dianne Pipes

EXECUTIVE EDITORCandace J. Kuebker (B.A. ’78)

ASSOCIATE EDITORSAnastasia Cisneros-Lunsford (B.A. ’92)

Rob Leibold (M.A. ’03)

PUBLICATIONS DIRECTORSteve Weed

PHOTOGRAPHYMelanie Rush Davis

Tommy HultgrenLew Whitener

CONTRIBUTORSTim Bowman

Nicole Chavez (B.A. ’04)Will Elliott (B.A. ’93)

Karen PersynChad Peters (B.A. ’06)

Melissa Valek (M.A. ’02)

Gold & Blue is produced for alumniand friends three times a year by theUniversity Communications staff.

Contents © 2006 by St. Mary’sUniversity. All rights reserved.

MISSION

St. Mary’s University,

as a Catholic Marianist University,

fosters the formation of people in faith

and educates leaders for the common good

through community,

integrated liberal arts and professional education,

and academic excellence.

University Ready for New Opportunities, Challengesby Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., President

News from Around the Grove

One Man Making a Differenceby Candace J. Kuebker

‘Style’ Frames University’s Missionby the Rev. Bernard J. Lee, S.M., Th.D.

Brother Charles Cummiskey–50 Years and Staying Putby Candace J. Kuebker

St. Mary’s Powwow Honors Texas Indiansby Milo Colton, Ph.D., Grace Keyes, Ph.D., and Stephanie Sanchez

Robert Jimenez–Advocate for the Poor, Community Health Careby Rob Leibold

Bell Tower Celebrates Barrett Family’s Love, Marianist History

Class Notes and Notables

summer 2006 Gold Blue& 1

CONTENTS From the Editor

May is a bittersweet month at St. Mary’s. Wesay goodbye to students who go off to summervacations and jobs before returning to campus inthe fall, or who walk the stage at commencementand begin a new leg of life’s journey. The 718May graduates joined the 215 students whograduated this past December as our newestalumni.

The spring semester, most agree, races by withmyriad activities. Two highlights of the springcalendar were the naming of St. Mary’s businessschool and the groundbreaking for the BarrettMemorial Bell Tower. In this issue you’ll readabout Bill Greehey’s loyalty to St. Mary’s andCharles Barrett’s loving memory of his mother.

Also during the spring, the Board of Trusteesapproved St. Mary’s new Mission statement, ayearlong collaboration of many campusconstituents led by the Rev. Bernard Lee, S.M.,vice president for Mission and Identity. Webelieve it captures and affirms what St. Mary’sUniversity in the 21st century stands for.

Present-day students have interests outside theclassroom that run the gamut. Members of oneextra-curricular St. Mary’s group—the NativeAmerican Student Association—are taking thetime to explore their roots. That investigation ledthem to organize something not often seen today,an authentic Indian powwow.

Anyone who has attended St. Mary’s since themid-1950s likely remembers Brother CharlesCummiskey, S.M. Though he’s held other titlesand responsibilities since arriving at St. Mary’s in1955, one thing has never changed—he’s taughtchemistry every semester for a half century.You’ll read about him as well as Marian HealthCare Award winner Robert Jimenez who shareshis lifelong calling of helping the poor as thechairman of the University Health System.

More concerted and targeted efforts are beingmade to stay in touch with you. Be sure to checkout the University’s Web site (www.stmarytx.edu)frequently to stay up-to-date with the good thingshappening at St. Mary’s. And finally, with gasprices the way they are, many of us may not bestraying too far from home. But, wherever homeis and your summer plans take you, have fun andbe safe.

–Candace Kuebker

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On the Covers

On the front cover: Bill Greehey’s (B.B.A. ’60) excitement is visible as he standsin front of the newly named Bill Greehey School of Business, made possible byhis unprecedented cash gift of $25 million to St. Mary’s this past December.The business school endowment will immediately result in qualitativeimprovements affecting student and faculty scholarship and recruitment.On the back cover: St. Mary’s boasts its first national championship golfer inJamie Amoretti who came from behind at the NCAA Division II tournament inWest Virginia to capture St. Mary’s fifth national title.

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www.stmarytx.eduGold Blue&2

Our graduates are feeling a

sense of accomplishment

this spring. I congratulate the Class

of 2006 for their achievement and

support them as they embark on a

new journey—one filled with new

opportunities and challenges.

St. Mary’s University, too, is

poised to begin a new era of

promise as the 2006-2007

academic year approaches,

empowered by a revised Mission

statement that articulates the

University’s distinctive purpose as

a Catholic and Marianist liberal

arts institution. Moreover, we will

be drafting a new strategic plan

that will guide the University

through 2012.

New Mission Guides UniversityThe new Mission statement

contains the same enduring values thatfounded this institution 154 years agoin a style and brevity appropriate to the21st century. I encourage you to readmore about the Mission in this Gold &Blue where the Rev. Bernard J. Lee,S.M., Th.D., interprets the Missionfrom the heart.

Strategic Planning 2007–2012Taking Shape

After many sessions withMarianists, faculty, staff, students andkey University constituents, the newstrategic plan, which will determinehow the University will proceedthrough 2012, continues to take shape.The University’s Executive Council isreviewing the strategic ideas andsuggestions that resulted from thesesessions before beginning to formulatea draft plan. The Board of Trusteeswill review and adopt the plan this fall.We will keep you updated on ourprogress.

Thank You, BillOn Dec. 21, 2005, St. Mary’s made

history when Distinguished Alumnusand Valero Energy Corp. ChairmanBill Greehey made a $25 million cashgift to the University—the largestsingle gift in St. Mary’s 154-yearhistory and the biggest ever given to aSan Antonio-area college or university.

For several months now, theUniversity community has beenthanking Greehey for his personalgenerosity and unceasing commitmentto St. Mary’s. You can read the morethan 200 “Thank You, Bill” posts atwww.stmarytx.edu/thankyoubill,where students, parents, alumni andfriends continue to send their messagesof gratitude. The following are someexamples of the outpouring ofappreciation:

“Mr.Greehey, my son, PhilipJanson, has been accepted atSt. Mary’s for the upcoming fallsemester. I, too, feel a great deal ofcompassion for St. Mary’s just fromour first visit there this past Februaryfor the Sleeping Bag Weekend. I knewmy son would get a very goodeducation, and what pride we feel thatit is at such a prestigious institution asSt. Mary’s. Your generous donation is

something that I hope my son learnsfrom also. I hope someday he will alsobe in a position to follow in yourfootsteps.”

—Anne Janson, parentLinn Creek, Mo.

“Mr. Greehey, Your generousdonation is truly a testament to thespirit of St. Mary’s. Thank you andGod Bless!”

—Vivian Esparza, studentSan Antonio

St. Mary’s Has Golf ChampionCongratulations to St. Mary’s junior

Jamie Amoretti who snared the NCAADivision II Men’s Golf Championship.He is the first St. Mary’s golfer to wina national title, bringing the total ofnational titles at St. Mary’s to five,making the University proud to beamong a handful of institutions thissize that can boast as manychampionships. n

University Readyfor New Opportunities, Challengesby Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., President

I knew my son would

get a very good

education, and what

pride we feel that it

is at such a

prestigious institution

as St. Mary’s.


University celebrates its Marianisttraditions, charism, and Society ofMary founder Blessed William JosephChaminade. “Our Marianist FamilyReunion” was the theme around whicha variety of activities were planned.

Members of Marianist communitiesthroughout the San Antonio area were

N E W SF R O M A R O U N D T H E G R O V E

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Short Subjects

E-Newsletters: Getting to KnowYour School Better

Four times each year, alumni withcurrent e-mail addresses in theSt. Mary’s database receive E-Talk, anelectronic newsletter from PresidentCharles L. Cotrell, Ph.D. This pastMarch, that newsletter linked alumni tonewsletters of one of the threeundergraduate schools to which theyare affiliated. (Update your e-mailaddress at www.stmarytx.edu/alumni.)

The newsletters include messagesfrom the deans as well as news aboutstudent successes and reports fromfaculty on research and special events.

Lecture Continues CatholicIntellectual Tradition

The Rev. Bernard Lee, S.M., vicepresident for Mission and Identity,invited Purdue University Professor ofSociology James D. Davidson, Ph.D.,to St. Mary’s to advance the Catholicintellectual tradition at a lecture inFebruary.

“Catholicism in Motion: Facts andMyths about American Catholicsand Their Church” characterizedCatholicism today. Davidson, who ispresident of the Religious ResearchAssociation and president-elect of theAssociation for the Sociology ofReligion, based his lecture onextensive research into Catholicpractices and sensibilities.

He is author of several books andreceived the 1998 Research Awardfrom the National Conference forCatechetical Leadership.

Marianist Heritage Week HasFamily Reunion Theme

The annual celebration of MarianistHeritage Week is a time when the

invited to activities that ranged from aservice project to the liturgicalcelebration of our Marianist Heritage.

A celebration highlight was therecognition of those St. Mary’scommunity members receivingawards. Rafael G. Moras, Ph.D.,professor of industrial engineering,and Katherine M. Sisoian, vicepresident for Student Development (atleft), were presented with the 2006Marianist Heritage Award whichacknowledges those who have madenotable, deliberate contributions to themission and identity of St. Mary’s as aMarianist Catholic university.

John J. Fogarty, a senior from St.Louis, Mo., and Gregorio Pardo III, asenior from San Antonio, received theMarianist Heritage Student LeadershipAward.

The Carl Fitzgerald MemorialScholarship Award recipients wereJennifer A. Buchmeyer, a junior fromWortham, and Cynthia S. Sias, ajunior from Dallas.

Marianist Family PhotoOn a sunny Friday afternoon in January, members of the St. Mary’s communitygathered outside the University Center for a photo at the conclusion of MarianistHeritage Week, whose theme this year was Our Marianist Family Reunion.


Women’s History Month Packedwith Programs

The St. Mary’s Women’s HistoryMonth Committee put together a jam-packed menu of activities celebratingwomen’s history that was enjoyed bythe University community throughoutthe month of March.

Programs encompassed myriadtopics, and included presentationsfocusing on family struggles,empowerment, and political, social andeconomic development of women.

Also on tap were an art exhibit, ashowing and discussion of the award-winning documentary “Born IntoBrothels,” as well as poetry meetings,leader-to-leader luncheons, aperformance of the play “Camp DavidDiaries,” and more.

Pictured above, from left, areAntonia Castañeda, Ph.D., associateprofessor of history, student KhushbuPatel, and alumna Rosalyn FalconCollier (B.A. ’70), who received theAlice Franzke Feminist Award as partof the monthlong celebration. Theaward commemorates the memory andwork of the late English ProfessorAlice Franzke, whose energy and workwith women, civil rights and civicinvolvement evokes the spirit of theaward.

President’s Peace CommissionFocused on ‘Traffickingin Humans’

“Trafficking in Humans” was thetheme for this spring’s President’sPeace Commission held in March.

The symposium discussed theissues of modern-day slavery and theeconomics of human trafficking, whichinvolves the transportation of personsfor forced labor, sexual exploitation orother illicit activities.

The Art of Peace Award and theannual President’s Peace Concertconcluded the program. Sister BarbaraPaleczny, S.S.N.D., Ph.D., founder ofthe South Texas Coalition Against

Latina Letters Changes Nameand Outreach

After a decade of featuring thegenius of stellar writers, artists,scholars and activists such as SandraCisneros, Cristina Garcia, DeniseChavez and many more, Latina Letterswill broaden its scope as it becomesLas Américas Letters: An Art andLiterary Series.

In addition to featuring Latinawomen writers, Las Américas Letterswill expand to include women writers,artists and intellectuals from thesouthernmost tip of Argentina to thenorthernmost latitudes of Canada.

The event remains a collaborativeeffort between St. Mary’s Universityand the Guadalupe Cultural ArtsCenter, and will now include anadvisory committee comprised ofcommunity leaders.

Gwendolyn Diaz, Ph.D., director ofthe Graduate Program in EnglishLiterature and Language at St. Mary’s,will continue to direct the series.

Las Américas Letters will take placethe first weekend in March 2007, andwill feature the award-winning NativeAmerican poet and saxophonist JoyHarjo, Mexican novelist extraordinaireCecilia Urbino, and Colombianperformance artist Monica Gontovnik.

Human Trafficking, received the Art ofPeace Award. She is a teacher, authorand painter, and her social justicepaintings have been exhibitedregionally and nationally.

Roamin’ Rattlers Update The St. Mary’s Roamin’ Rattlers

Travel Services continues to assemblea collection of educational, fun toursfor alumni and friends of theUniversity. Each excursion featuresSt. Mary’s professors and in-countryexperts who help make theseadventures unforgettable.

The following trips have beenscheduled or are in the planning stagefor next spring and summer.Jan. 6-21, 2007 Brazilian AdventureCruise, led by Eva Bueno, Ph.D.,associate professor of languages and anative of Brazil, departs from NewOrleans, and includes an optional add-on land tour.May 2007 (dates to be announced) –Greece, led by Rev. Charles H. Miller,S.M., S.Th.D., professor of theologyand scripture scholar.May 26-June 2, 2007 – Alaska Cruiseand Tour, on the Princess Cruise Linefrom Vancouver, British Columbia to

Anchorage, led by David Fitzgerald,visiting assistant professor of earthsciences, includes an optional add-onland tour.Summer 2007(dates to be announced) –Austria/Germany Law Alumni Tour,led by Sister Grace Walle, F.M.I.,D. Min., campus minister for theSchool of Law, includes a ContinuingLegal Education option as part of thelaw school’s Innsbruck Program.

Please contact Miller, director ofUniversity Travel Service, at [email protected] ortelephone (210) 436-3918 forinformation on tour itineraries andcost.

Meeting of the MindsPhi Sigma Tau, St. Mary’s philosophy society,brought together philosophers from acrosshistory to speak at its Meeting of the Minds eventwhere St. Mary’s faculty members representedtheir favorite thinkers. From left are: Jim Sauer,Ph.D., as David Hume; Terri Boggess, Ph.D., asJoan of Arc; student moderator and president ofPhi Sigma Tau, Thomas Bolin; Peter van Dusen asAristotle; and Patricia Owen, Ph.D., as SigmundFreud. Dressed in period costume, the“characters” revitalized the ideas, thoughts andcauses of these significant historical figures.


Cotrell Recipient of BrotherhoodAwardSt. Mary’s President Charles L. Cotrell,Ph.D., received the BrotherhoodHumanitarian Award from the National Conference forCommunity and Justice on Feb. 21. Cotrell was recognized forhis lifetime efforts in the community to promoteunderstanding and respect among all races, religions andcultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and education.

11 New Combined ProgramsBenefit Eager Students

St. Mary’s is extending theopportunity for students to reach theireducational goals. Beginning in thefall, the Graduate School will offernewly combined bachelor’s andmaster’s degree programs to servequalified students wanting to completetwo degrees simultaneously.

Combined programs include:English Communication Studies;English Literature and Language;International Relations; PoliticalScience; Public Administration;Computer Science; ComputerInformation Systems; ElectricalEngineering; Engineering SystemsManagement; Software Engineering;Industrial Engineering; and BusinessAdministration.

Through the combined degreeprograms, the Graduate School isoffering an additional value forSt. Mary’s students who wish to reachtheir educational goals in less time.

Accounting Studentsare Best in Texas

Two St. Mary’s accountingstudents, Jenna Snider and GermanLopez, have received scholarshipsfrom the Accounting EducationFoundation of the Texas Society ofPublic Accountants (TSCPA). Thestatewide competitive scholarshipprogram includes accounting majorsfrom all Texas colleges anduniversities.

The foundation permits each schoolto nominate one junior or seniorstudent for each 50 accounting majorsenrolled in the undergraduate program.TSCPA awarded 137 scholarships tothe best and the brightest accountingstudents in the state.

Bar Results Improve at MidyearStudents at the School of Law

taking the midyear bar exam improvedtheir passage rate by almost 10percentage points over last year. Some81 percent of the 26 first-time testtakers passed the exam compared to 72percent in 2005.

The improved passage rate—thehighest February rate since 1997—moves St. Mary’s up from seventh tofifth place among Texas’ nine lawschools.

The Rattler Racks Up MoreAwards

The student newspaper, The Rattler,earned more than 60 awards forexcellence during the past year.Included among them were honorablemention for Newspaper of the Yearfrom Associated Collegiate Press, 11first place awards (of 33 received)from the Texas Intercollegiate PressAssociation, first place for newspaperfrom the American Scholastic PressAssociation, and three first placeawards from the Columbia Universityof New York, School of Journalism.

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Newsmakers

Students Showcase UndergraduateResearch The seventh annual Undergraduate ResearchSymposium and Creative Activities Exhibition,which fosters scholarly dialogue among studentsand faculty, was held during HomecomingWeekend in April.

St. Mary’s undergraduate students showcasedmore than 170 projects, including scientificinvestigations, analytical reviews or projects,innovations/inventions, honors theses, seniorprojects and original works of art, media, poetryor writing. For more information aboutundergraduate research at St. Mary’s, as well asa list of all 2006 symposium presenters andpresentations, visit the Undergraduate ResearchWeb site at www.stmarytx.edu/uro.

Students March for PeaceSt. Mary’s students, faculty and staff walk in theMartin Luther King Jr. Citywide March in SanAntonio on Jan. 16, to commemorate MLK Day.The University community participated in severalactivities during the weeklong celebration ofKing’s legacy of peace and nonviolence.

Defining ‘People, Politics’Texas State Reps. Ruth JonesMcClendon and DawannaDukes presented what it meansto “Define the AfricanAmerican Community: People,Politics and Church” at a Coffeeand Politics event. The BlackStudent Union sponsored aseries of events and activities tocelebrate Black History Monthin February.

Dukes and Jones McClendon

assistant professor of physics, Schoolof Science, Engineering andTechnology; Brother Ed Violett, S.M.,Ph.D., assistant professor ofinternational relations, GraduateSchool; and Willy E. Rice, J.D., Ph.D.,professor of law, School of Law.

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Good Deeds

Local Business Leader SupportsInternational Educationat St. Mary’s

Carlos E. Alvarez, president andCEO of The Gambrinus Co., and hiswife, Maria, recently made a generouscontribution of $100,000 to supportstudents and internationalization atSt. Mary’s.

The gift will have a three-foldimpact. The Alvarez InternationalEducation Fund will supportscholarships for St. Mary’sundergraduate students who participatein University-sponsored semesterabroad programs.

The Alvarez United States-MexicanStudent Exchange Project will fund ajoint faculty and student internationallearning project.

And, the Alvarez InternationalStudent Fund will provide resourcesfor international students with financialneed.

Eagleton,whosecontribution willenhance thelibrary’s specialcollections, was aU.S. senator forthe state ofMissouri from1968 to 1987.Neiheisel was thesenator’s firstteaching assistantat WashingtonUniversity.

Top StudentsRecognizedby PresidentCotrell

The 12thannual St. Mary’s

University Presidential Awards,recognizing top students foroutstanding contributions and serviceas leaders in the community for 2005-2006, were presented on April 19 inthe University Center.

President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D.,presented the winners with a medallionfeaturing the St. Mary’s Universityseal.

Also recognized during the programwere student leaders in athletics, Greekorganizations, University Ministry,service, student life, universityprogramming, wellness andrecreation sports, and many more.

See the Presidential Awardwinners pictured with Cotrell onthe inside back cover.

Alumni Association HonorsDistinguished Faculty

The St. Mary’s AlumniAssociation honored facultymembers and recognized sixprofessors for excellence inteaching at its annual FacultyAppreciation Dinner in January.

The 2005-2006 DistinguishedFaculty are: Orion “Jim” Welch,Ph.D., associate professor offinance and qualitativemanagement, Bill GreeheySchool of Business; Brian St.John, M.F.A., assistant professorof art and Patricia Owen, Ph.D.,professor of psychology, Schoolof Humanities and SocialSciences; Olga Lobban, Ph.D.,


Orion “Jim” Welch Brian St. John

Patricia Owen Olga Lobban

Brother Ed Violett, S.M. Willy E. Rice

Nation’s Only All-WomenAppellate Court Hears Casesat St. Mary’s

The Texas Fourth Court of Appealsheard two cases at St. Mary’s LawSchool Courtroom.

The court, which is made up ofseven justices, all of them women—and five of whom are alumnae ofSt. Mary’s School of Law—heard oralarguments in a criminal appeals caseand a civil appellate case.

The event was co-sponsored by theSt. Mary’s Law Alumni Association,the St. Mary’s Women’s LawAssociation, St. Mary’s Law Ministryand the Bexar County Women’s BarAssociation.

After the court hearing a portrait ofChief Justice Alma Lopez wasunveiled in the Law Alumni Room ofthe Sarita Kenedy East Library.

Missouri Senator DonatesCollection to Blume Library

Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton ofMissouri recently donated his personalcollection of Middle East studies to theLouis J. Blume Library at St. Mary’sUniversity in honor of political scienceProfessor Steven R. Neiheisel, Ph.D.

The senator held a reception foralumni and prospective students in theSt. Louis area at his home in Clayton,Mo., to celebrate the library’s newcollection.

All-Women’s Court Features Five AlumnaeFive of the seven justices currently serving on the Texas Fourth Court ofAppeals are graduates of St. Mary’s School of Law. The court includes(seated from left) alumnae Sandee Bryan Marion (J.D. ’80) and Chief JusticeAlma Lopez (B.B.A. ’65, J.D. ’69), as well as Rebecca Simmons. Standing,from left, are Sara Duncan, and alumnae Karen Angelini (J.D. ’79),Catherine Stone (J.D. ’82), and Phyllis Speedlin (J.D. ’83).


Recent Gift Increases StudentAccess to Scholarship Support

In January, The David M. CrowleyFoundation contributed $20,000 to theendowed scholarship fund named inhonor of Crowley. Established in 1995,this fund provides support to studentswho have made a commitment toacademic excellence and demonstratefinancial need.

Chicago Alum EstablishesEndowed Scholarship

The Peter G. BeemsterboerScholarship Fund was established bythe 1980 business school alumnus toprovide financial support forundergraduate students enrolled in theBill Greehey School of Business.

Beemsterboer graduated with adegree in marketing and was a memberof Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity whileattending St. Mary’s. Today hemanages operations at BeemsterboerSlag & Ballast Corp. in Chicago.

Foundation Establishes Initiativefor Tuition Assistance

The John G. and Marie StellaKenedy Memorial Foundation, amajor South Texas charity, has starteda new initiative with the focus toprovide tuition assistance to Catholiceducational institutions. St. Mary’sUniversity is the recipient of $25,000from this initiative, which may berenewed on an annual basis at thefoundation’s discretion.

The foundation is organizedexclusively for charitable purposes.Founded in 1961 by Sarita KenedyEast, granddaughter of MifflinKenedy and Petra Vela Kenedy, thefoundation has donated more than$200 million to charitable causes andorganizations in Texas.

Local Foundation SupportsScholarships and StudentCommunity Service

The USAA Foundation awarded agrant to St. Mary’s University insupport of scholarships for studentswho have demonstrated academicsuccess as well as a commitment tocommunity service. Scholarshiprecipients are selected based on theircompleted application packet, whichcalls for a detailed accounting of theircommunity service involvement.

Foundation Adds to EndowedScholarship

The Marguerite Sours Foundationrecently made a $10,000 addition tothe Charlotte Walston EndowedScholarship. The scholarship wasestablished in 2002 in memory of Mrs.Walston, beloved wife of WilliamWalston Sr. (J.D. ’70), and mother ofWilliam Walston (J.D. ’84).

Fund-raising Goal for BelovedProfessor is Surpassed

The Sister Ann Semel ScholarshipFund is officially endowed thanks todedicated alumni and faculty whocelebrated her birthday early this yearwith an intimate gathering of friendsand former students. As an honor toSemel, everyone involved contributedand raised the funds necessary to reachendowment level.

When she arrived on campus in1967, Semel was the first femalefaculty member in humanities, andonly the third full-time female teacherat St. Mary’s. The scholarship honorsall the women faculty members thathave served St. Mary’s over the years.

Semel invites her former students tostop by campus for a visit. Thosewishing to make a contribution to thescholarship may contact theDevelopment Office at (210) 436-3718, or make a gift online atwww.stmarytx.edu/semel. A personalvideo of Sister Ann can be viewed atthe Web site.

Alumni, faculty and friends celebrate Sister Ann Semel’s birthday and the successfulendowment of a scholarship in her name. Pictured, from left, are David and KarenLee Zachry, Mary Rohmer Uhlig, Oscar Semel III, Julie Rohmer Collins, Elizabethand Bob McAdams, Sister Barbara Paleczny, Caroline Byrd, Sister Ann, CynthiaMassey, Rosemary Cutting, Jenness and Steve Davidson, Doris Slay-Barber, DeanJanet Dizinno, and Adriana Villafranca.

Rendition of restored corridor inSt. Louis Hall.

Renovations Setfor St. Louis Hall

With leadership from UniversityTrustee Bill Greehey, St. Mary’s is

currently raising funds torenovate St. Louis Hall, which isincluded in the first phase of the

Facilities Master Plan.

The St. Louis Hall RenovationProject will revitalize St. Mary’soriginal building, highlighting itspurpose in the community and

rich history as a CatholicMarianist institution.


Heritage Club Gathers for Mass On a beautiful Sunday in late

February, Heritage Club alumnigathered together for a private Massand reception to reminisce andcelebrate their Catholic Marianistroots. All former students of 50 andmore years ago gain automaticmembership to the club.

The Rev. Bernard Lee, S.M., Th.D.,vice president for Mission and Identityand a Heritage Club member since2004, officiated the Mass.

The Heritage Club Giving Program,headed up this year by co-chairsBrother Cletus Behlmann, S.M. (B.A.’56) and Peter Irwin (B.A. ’51),encourages alumni to return toSt. Mary’s and give back to their almamater.

The club raises donations to supportthe St. Mary’s Fund and usually holdstwo events each year, including theHeritage Club Reunion held annuallyas part of Homecoming Weekend. Attheir April reuinion, the Heritage Clubpresented a check to St. Mary’s in theamount of $126,443.

School of Law SurpassesCourtroom Goal

The School of Law has surpassed its$1.6 million goal for courtroomrenovations and technology upgrades.Led by a $300,000 challenge grantfrom the SBC Foundation andUniversity support, some $1.63 millionhas been raised for the improvementinitiative.

Construction on the facility in theLaw Classroom Building is expectedto be completed by the beginning ofthe fall semester.

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Sports Corner

Baseball Coach Migl Marks700

thWin

Rattlers baseball coach CharlieMigl collected his 700th win on March10 when St. Mary’s went 4-0 on the

road againstOklahomaPanhandle State.Head coach for20 seasons, Miglwas named the2006 HeartlandConference

Coach of the Year.The Rattlers posted an overall

record of 36-18 (28-12 in conference).Named to the All-HeartlandConference Team were: first basemanand Player of the Year John Alvarez(junior exercise and sport major), Co-Pitcher of the Year Caleb Staudt(senior marketing major), outfielderand Co-Freshman of the Year MichaelBrzezinski (business major), reliefpitcher Zach Kucera (sophomoreexercise and sport science major), andutility player Ryan Femath (seniorexercise and sport science major).

Team Advances, Fields Tallies400th Victory

Proving seeding meant very little inthis year’sHeartlandConferenceTournament, theSt. Mary’s LadyRattlers stormedup the loser’sbracket as the No.

4 seed to capture the conferencetourney crown. And fittingly, Rattlershead coach Donna Fields picked up her400th win in the process.

St. Mary’s (49-25 overall, 15-9conference) worked its way out of theloser’s bracket to defeat the WesternNew Mexico University Mustangstwice to seal the conferencetournament championship. That featearned the Lady Rattlers their sixthstraight championship and also anautomatic bid to the South CentralRegional Tournament for the sixthstraight year. Held at MidwesternUniversity in Wichita Falls, theRattlers advanced to the regional semi-final game before falling to IncarnateWord 6-3.

Five players were named to the All-Heartland Conference teams. Namedto the first team were: Pitcher of theYear Malissa Magee (sophomoreinterdisciplinary reading major),graduating senior leftfielder TiffaniCraft (corporate finance major), andsenior centerfielder Terrie Cox Dulin(general business major). Shortstopand Co-Freshman of the Year JessicaRomero (exercise and sport sciencemajor) and pitcher Brittany Brown-Kettinger (junior exercise and sportscience major) were named to thesecond team.

BasketballThe St. Mary’s Lady Rattlers

women’s basketball team won theHeartland Conference Tournament,earning an automatic trip to the NCAADivision II Tournament.

The Lady Rattlers traveled toTopeka, Kan., where they lost todefending national championWashburn University in the openinground of the tournament. The teammade its third national tournamentappearance in the last five seasons.

Guard Becca Herbst (sophomorehumanities major) and post CharlenaRodez (junior psychology major) werenamed to the All-HeartlandConference Second Team, whileforward Juliett Williams (seniorEnglish major) and forward AshtonBenford (freshman speechcommunications major) were namedhonorable mention selections.

In Coach Jim Zeleznak’s inauguralseason at the helm, the men’sbasketball team finished 14-14 for theyear.

Heritage Club members gather for a special Mass and reception in February.Pictured, from left, are Les Tschoepe (B.S.C. ’43), Mat Hizfelder (B.S.C. ’39),Brother Cletus Behlmann, S.M. (B.A. ’56), Mary Lou and Ricardo Tamez, M.D.(B.S. ’49), Herbert Rice (B.S. ’51), Ambrose Szalwinski (B.A. ’52), Peter Irwin (B.A.’51), Frank Gebhardt (B.B.A. ’52), and Homer Fetzer (B.S. ’54).

Joe Allen (sophomore humanitiesmajor), a post player, was named to theAll-Heartland Conference First Team,and point guard Rod Bellard (freshmanmarketing major) was namedHeartland Conference Freshman of theYear.

Wing Steve Goff (senior exerciseand sport science major) and guardJarvis Lee (junior exercise and sportscience major) were named All-Heartland Honorable Mentions.

GolfOn the men’s golf squad, Jamie

Amoretti (junior corporate financemajor) and Greg McAuley (seniorcorporate finance major) made the All-Heartland Conference First Team,while seniors KC Lim (exercise andsport science major) and BradenGraham (economics major) made thesecond team.

From the St. Mary’s women’s golfteam, Jessica Harbin (senior English-communication arts major) made theAll-Heartland First Team, and LesanGouge (sophomore exercise and sportscience major) and juniors ElizabethBrandt and Elizabeth Ried (bothgeneral business majors), were secondteam selections.

TennisIn men’s tennis, Jon Bush (senior

corporate finance major) and TroyNeighbors (sophomore criminal justicemajor) were name to the All-HeartlandTennis Team.

Women’s tennis team memberAbigail Martinez, a senior majoring inentrepreneurial studies, also made theAll-Heartland team.

Athletics Hall of Fame InductsFive New Members

Five alumni were inducted into theAthletics Hall of Fame in January at aluncheon and awards ceremony held inBill Greehey Arena. It marked the firsttime the event has been held oncampus since its inception in 1984.

Mark W. Christian (CL ’89), apitcher and designated hitter for theRattler baseball team from 1986 to1989, posted a 22-6 cumulative recordwith five saves. Christian is a salesrepresentative for Penske TruckLeasing. He lives in Universal Citywith his wife, Jill, and children Codyand Kaitlyn.

Jack L. Finger (B.A., B.B.A. ’48)enters the Hall as an associate for hisefforts to initiate varsity baseball atSt. Mary’s. Finger lettered playingshortstop from 1946 to 1948, served asteam captain, and spent many years asan active athletics booster. He isretired and lives in Helotes withJurleen, his wife of 54 years. TheFingers have six adult children.

J. Monique Fluellen (B.B.A. ’94)excelled on the softball diamond forfour years, where she pitched andplayed in the outfield. Fluellen madefour national tournament appearances,was a four-time NAIA All-American,and two-time Most Valuable Player.She resides in Fresno and works as asales service specialist forExxonMobil.

April M. Fricke (B.A. ’95) wasdominant as middle blocker/outsidehitter on the Rattler volleyball teamfrom 1992 to 1994. She was a two-time District Most Valuable Player andearned All-American honors in 1993.Fricke resides in San Antonio whereshe serves as assistant volleyball coachat Trinity University, and owns herown business.

Michael E. Livermore (B.B.A. ’90)is the second soccer player inductedinto the Hall. At the position ofmidfielder, Livermore led all scoringwith 15 goals in 1989. As a three-yearteam captain, he earned all-conferencehonors and was named anNCAA/NAIA State Collegiate All-Star. Livermore owns a laser tattooremoval clinic in Austin where he lives

with his wife, Martha, and theirchildren Carlin and Owen.

Greehey Arena Site ofInternational Basketball

St. Mary’s University trustee andValero Energy Corp. Chairman BillGreehey is chairman of the 2006International Basketball FederationAmericas (FIBA) U18 (Under-18)Championship for Men.

At a news conference held atSt. Mary’s in March, it was announcedthat USA Basketball is partnering withthe San Antonio Sports Foundation tohost the tournament on campus at theBill Greehey Arena from June 28through July 2, 2006.

San Antonio is the first U.S. city tohost this international basketballtournament which will feature eightnational teams comprised of athletesunder the age of 18. In addition to theUnited States, teams will representArgentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada,Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico andUruguay.

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo.,USA Basketball is a nonprofitorganization and the nationalgoverning body for men’s andwomen’s basketball in the UnitedStates. n


Five Join Athletics Hall of FameInducted into the St. Mary’s University Athletics Hall of Fame on Jan. 21, 2006,were, from left, Jack Finger, associate, Monique Fluellen, softball, Mark Christian,baseball, April Fricke, volleyball, and Mike Livermore, soccer.


The excitement was

palpable as hundreds

arrived to witness one man

making a difference.

Bill Greehey asserts often thatSt. Mary’s helped pave the way to hissuccess. And, he says, it is theMarianists who taught him values thathave guided him in life and business.Thus, in a March 7 ceremony filledwith much fanfare, an energized crowdcelebrated the newly named BillGreehey School of Business atSt. Mary’s University.

On that balmy spring day, as atribute to his loyalty and support—including his unprecedented $25million gift to endow St. Mary’sundergraduate and graduate business

programs—the school from which hehad graduated more than 45 yearsbefore was named to honor him.

Support Begins EarlyGreehey’s contributions to

St. Mary’s—in leadership, time andpersonal resources—span five decades.His reason for giving back is simple: Itmakes him feel good to help where hecan.

On Nov. 30, 1961, he began doingjust that. His first $4 gift to St. Mary’smay not seem large today, but itsymbolizes the beginning of hisdedication and gratitude to St. Mary’s,where he greatly admired and was

deeply affected by members of theSociety of Mary, who were histeachers and mentors.

The Marianists’ mission ofacademic excellence, ethicalcommitment, servant leadership andcommunity building infused Greehey’sstudent experience and is reflected inhis life. Brother George Kohnen, S.M.,the first dean of the business school,and Brother Paul Goelz, S.M., amongothers, influenced his lifelongcommitment to service and toSt. Mary’s.

Fresh from four years in the AirForce and supporting a family,Greehey took classes at San AntonioCollege before enrolling at St. Mary’sto study accounting. When he toldBrother Kohnen he had only enoughmoney for living expenses, he wasencouraged to focus on his studies and

Kohnen would find a way. Greeheygraduated from St. Mary’s with honorsin 1960.

Greehey built a thrivingprofessional career. When he moved toSan Antonio from Houston in the late1970s, he was invited by the Rev.James A. Young, S.M., president, toget involved at St. Mary’s. The twodeveloped a lasting friendship built onmutual respect.

Connection Remains StrongGreehey sat on advisory councils

and frequently participated in businessschool activities. He joined the Boardof Trustees in 1981 during a decade of

change at St. Mary’s and played amajor role as the first lay vicechairman of the board during thepresidency of the Rev. John A. Leies,S.M. Enrollment grew, new facilitieswere built, and Greehey was on handproviding leadership and businessadvice.

For his good works he was honoredas the business school’s DistinguishedGraduate in 1983, the GreeheyScholarship was initiated by a fellow

trustee, and he received the school’shighest honor, the St. Mary’sUniversity Distinguished AlumnusAward, in 1986.

After leaving the board in 1988,Greehey maintained his strong ties toSt. Mary’s. A particularly satisfyingaccomplishment came in 1991 whenhe was honored with the George B.Kohnen Award. Named for his mentor,the award recognized Greehey’snotable leadership of Valero EnergyCorp.—as longtime Chairman andCEO—as well as contributions to hisprofession and to society. Threedecades after his graduation, theMarianists’ influence remained strong.

One ManMaking a Differenceby Candace J. Kuebker, Executive Editor

Hundreds gather outside ofthe business school forthe naming ceremony.

Bill Greehey visits with guests beforeactivities begin on March 7.

Students meet Bill Greeheyafter his presentation.

President Emeritus, the Rev. John A. Leies,S.M., addresses an enthusiastic crowd.

President Charles L. Cotrell andBill Greehey look on as the newschool sign is revealed.

Currently, he is raisingfunds to modernize St.Louis Hall.

Greehey’s interest isnot limited to bricks andmortar projects. He haslong supported academicexcellence. Significantlyand immediately, his $25million cash donation toendow the businessschool—the largest single gift in St.Mary’s 154-year history and thebiggest ever given to any San Antonio-area university—will help St. Mary’srecruit top students from around theworld and attract internationallyknown professors. The endowmentwill advance academic excellence andscholarship, and propel the BillGreehey School of Business at St.Mary’s to national prominence andpremier status.

When announcing his gift, Greeheynoted that the endowment “will putSt. Mary’s business school on the pathto becoming one of the top schools inthe country.” More important, he says,is that “it will help us develop future

business leaders who are committed toexcellence, to doing what’s right andto giving back to their communities.”

Considering his passion foreducation, ethical business practicesand service (Valero employeesvolunteer almost 250,000 hours to theircommunities annually), it is notsurprising that to celebrate his 40-yearanniversary with the company, currentand retired employees, board membersand friends endowed the $1.5 millionBill Greehey Chair for Business Ethicsand Corporate Social Responsibility atSt. Mary’s. Although retired as CEO,Greehey continues to serve as Valero’schairman.


Building a Better St. Mary’sGreehey met Buddy Meyer (who

played basketball for St. Mary’s from1961 to 1965 and later became headcoach) in the 1960s. Both were fromsmall, hardscrabble towns where goingto college wasn’t the norm, bothserved in the Air Force, and bothwound up at St. Mary’s. Over theyears, they forged a friendship.

When Greehey was asked to chairthe campaign to build an athleticsfacility he agreed for several reasons—his friendship with Meyer was one—but mainly because “the students

deserve better.” Ground was brokenfor the $22 million facility in 1999,and on Nov. 27, 2000, the AlumniAthletics & Convocation Centeropened. The center’s 3,800-seat BillGreehey Arena is named as a tribute tohis campaign leadership.

His loyalty to St. Mary’s standsfirm today. Greehey rejoined the Boardof Trustees in 2001 and has beeninstrumental in raising additional fundsfor the University.

He is passionate about enhancingthe University campus, asdemonstrated by his involvement withthe Gateway to Historic St. Mary’sUniversity project, which addedaesthetic and practical improvements.

Living the LegacyGreehey’s boundless generosity,

leadership and dedication to St. Mary’sare inspiring. His involvement has andwill affect St. Mary’s students’experiences in the classroom, on theplaying fields and beyond forgenerations to come. He truly is livingthe legacy instilled by the Marianistpriests and brothers he has held in suchhigh regard.

With Greehey, that Marianistlegacy plays out every day. Hisphilosophy to serve, to give back, to,as he says, “always do the right thingsfor the right reasons,” has steered himin business and in life.

St. Mary’s President Charles L.

Cotrell, Ph.D., sees the difference he ismaking.

“Bill Greehey’s leadership andvision will…inspire future generationsof students to lead by example,” hesays.

It is evident that one man can anddoes make a difference. At St. Mary’sUniversity, that difference has beenprofound. Why Greehey chooses to doso is captured in his own words: “Ireveived an outstanding education atSt. Mary’s because I learned more thanacademics from the Marianists—Ilearned about the importance of givingback to the community. They taughtme that you are never a success untilyou share that success.” n

“I received anoutstanding educationat St. Mary’s because Ilearned more thanacademics from theMarianists—I learned about theimportance of givingback to the community.

The Greehey family gathers to commemoratethe special occasion.

Keith Russell, dean of the Bill Greehey School of Business, unveils thephoto that will be displayed in the Albert B. Alkek Business Building.

Ignacio Martinez and Sarah Ingrampresent Bill Greehey with gifts onbehalf of the student body.

Bill Greehey presents the newly named school’sinaugural executive leadership lecture.


John Henry Cardinal Newman

said that a successful Catholic

university education should show

up in the “style” that marks a

human life for all time. St. Mary’s

has a newly formed Mission from

the Board of Trustees. It reframes

the traditions that have animated

our soul since the beginning,

describing the style of human life

to which we aspire to educate.

In a solid Catholic university, partof the style of living is to be peoplewho care deeply about the commongood, and exercise leadership in itsbehalf. St. Mary’s graduates should becompetent to make the world a betterplace. Justice matters profoundly.Ideas are inert if they are not put towork to make the world a better place.

In a Marianist university, faithbelongs to our style of education. It iscommitment in the depths of soul tosomething larger than just living. To

the question “Is that all there is?”St. Mary’s responds, “That mostcertainly is not all there is. There’smore.” Father Chaminade, often citingSt. Paul, knew that “heart” is thefundamental home for human faith.That’s why “Mary treasured all thesethings and pondered them in herheart.”St. Mary’sUniversity’sfaith is aheart faithenlivened bya clear andlearned mind.

If you are astrong Catholic university, theinteraction between liberal artseducation and professional education isimperative. The university, a Catholicinvention in Western culture, sprangfrom cathedral schools and learnedmonasteries, and from the beginningcombined the liberal arts with theprofessions.

A recent article about HarvardUniversity says that “part of becominga responsible adult educated in the besttradition of human thought is to cometo grips, personally, with the basicquestions of life.” St. Mary’s intends to

educate highly competentprofessionals who come to grips withlife’s questions, and to educatethinkers who have the professionalcompetencies to matter in the world.That’s the integration of liberal artsand professional education. That’s astyle of being human!

If you are a strong Marianistuniversity, the claim that all of thishappens “through community” is notjust nice words. Becoming educated isa social act that happens in a socialenvironment where “communities ofinterpretation” and “communities ofdiscourse” are a serious style oflearning and teaching. Students,faculty and staff engage together.

The Marianist Rule of Life says thatcommunity is the privileged apostolicinstrument, and in a university, it is aprivileged pedagogical instrument inwhich faculty and students learn andteach together. Community is not justgood fellowship. It is the basis of truesocial capital in which people togethercreate and share a destiny. That is theinherent and defining style of aMarianist university.

And finally, there is a temptation tofeel apologetic for a trite phrase such

as “academic excellence.” Probablyevery university everywhere makesthat claim. And everybody means ittoo. The difference is in what“excellence” defines, and in howexcellence directs a university to levyits resources and hold itselfresponsible. St. Mary’s promiseslearning excellence in a community oflearning. That’s our style, and theoutcome is learned and competentwomen and men full of heart to make aworld that is just and beautiful. That’sacademic excellence at St. Mary’sUniversity. n

St. Mary’s University,

as a Catholic Marianist University,

fosters the formation of people in faith

and educates leaders for the common good

through community,

integrated liberal arts and professional education,

and academic excellence.

FramesUniversity’sMission

‘Style’ by The Rev. Bernard J. Lee, S.M., Th.D.,

Vice President for Mission and Identity

and Professor of Theology

St. Mary’s graduates should becompetent to make the world a betterplace. Justice matters profoundly.

13summer 2006 Gold Blue& 13

It’s been 50 years since BrotherCharles Cummiskey, S.M., Ph.D.,strode into Garni Hall and began

his first chemistry lecture at St. Mary’sUniversity. And it’s still where you’llfind him every fall and spring. “(I like)the challenge to do a good job,whatever it is, and to do it the best youcan do.”

Born in St. Louis in 1924,Cummiskey was inspired by Marianistteachers at McBride High School tojoin the Society of Mary. As a first-year scholastic, he was summoned toDetroit’s Holy Redeemer School toreplace an injured teacher. “Thestudent council president—futureMarianist Joe Barrett—filled in until I

got there. I had 53 seventh-grade boys,the oldest being 16 years old and I was18!” Cummiskey says.

Along with earning degrees at theUniversity of Dayton (B.S. ’44), andNorthwestern University (M.S. ’52),he taught high school in St. Louis.After taking perpetual vows in 1945,Cummiskey was appointed PostulantPrefect at Maryhurst, the Marianistpostulate, where he taught math,religion, French and chemistry. Exceptfor a one-year detour to St. BonifaceHigh School in Winnipeg—where hefirst taught chemistry—he was atMaryhurst until 1952, teachingpostulants and first-year scholastics.

When provincial superiors directedCummiskey to get a doctorate, heearned his in inorganic and nuclearchemistry from the University of NotreDame in three years. Spurred byinterest in the developing spaceprogram, many St. Mary’s studentswere interested in chemistry and thedepartment chair, Brother EdCollignon, was eager to get a Ph.D. inthe department.

At Notre Dame, Cummiskey wasone of several brothers pursuingdoctorates known as “The (Marianist)Four Horsemen” (after KnuteRockne’s fabled 1920s Fighting Irishbackfield). The quartet includedCummiskey, and Brothers John

Donohoo, James Gray, andMarion Belka, all of whomtaught at St. Mary’s.

By way of South Bend,Cummiskey arrived in SanAntonio in 1955.

During his early years, hewas a Chaminade Hall proctorwhile teaching two freshmanchemistry classes plus labs,and two math or religionclasses each semester. Hechaired the chemistrydepartment and was its firstgraduate adviser, and withassistance from the SouthwestFoundation for BiomedicalResearch, he added

biochemistry to the curriculum. When Brother Joseph Schmitz fell

ill in 1965, Cummiskey filledSchmitz’s vacant vice president–deanof faculty job. He spent nine-and-a-half years as St. Mary’s chief academicofficer, but never stopped teaching(albeit a lighter load).

As vice president, Cummiskeyhired faculty. He recruited them byemphasizing St. Mary’s commitmentto teaching and sharing with them itsmission. In those days, he says, thefaculty was smaller and “you wererubbing elbows with them all thetime—in the mailroom (we picked upour own mail in the basement of St.Louis Hall), in the coffee lounge nextdoor, and at Faculty Club events,” hesays.

In his 50 years at St. Mary’s,Cummiskey has taught all butbiochemistry courses offered by thedepartment, and he was honored as aMinnie Stevens Piper Professor in1979 for his teaching of organicchemistry. Ten years ago he reducedhis course load to one lecture class andlab; however, he now produces theUniversity catalogs!

Today about 100 St. Mary’sstudents are majoring in chemistry andbiochemistry, most in the latter. Theinterest, Cummiskey surmises, comesfrom what’s going on in science today.

Brother Charles Cummiskey, S.M., Ph.D.50 Years and Staying Putby Candace J. Kuebker. Executive Editor

“There’s so muchhappening in thedevelopment ofnew drugs andthere’s been aresearch explosionin that industry,”he says.

After all theseyears, he stillfavors teachingfreshman students.“(I try) to get themoff to a goodstart…and I figurethey’ll be aroundfor four years andI’ll get to interactwith them more,” he explains.

With teaching one precept stays thesame. “How well a student doesdepends entirely on how hard andefficiently they are willing to work,”he says.

And why has he spent most of hisprofessional career at St. Mary’s?“Well,” he says chuckling, “they (hisprovincial superiors) never asked meto do anything else.”

Lucky for thousands of St. Mary’sstudents who, for a half century, havebeen the beneficiaries of BrotherCharles Cummiskey, doing the best jobhe can do. n

Cummiskey was mentor to thelate Carlos De Llano (B.S. ’58),who would go on to earn adoctorate at The University ofTexas at Austin.


n the background, two drumsrepresenting the heartbeat of

Mother Earth and her Indian peoplealternate between each another,keeping a constant beat. Singers intonetheir high-pitched songs, infusingdancers and participants with the joy ofpowwow that brings enduringmemories, camaraderie andopportunity to honor aboriginalancestors.

At last, a grand and triumphantparade of dancers spills onto thepowwow ground. The slights of thepast are forgiven, a commitment tounderstanding and peace is affirmed,and for hours, Indians and non-Indiansdance together as one family and onecommunity.

Committed Few Start theNative AmericanStudent Association

Such was the scene last fall atSt. Mary’s during the intertribal“Learning Traditions Powwow,” whichcelebrated the legacy of AmericanIndians in Texas. It was sponsored bythe St. Mary’s Native AmericanStudent Association (NASA) and theNorth American Indians class taughtby Grace Keyes. They were joined inproducing the powwow by members ofUnited San Antonio Powwow Inc., alocal nonprofit organization dedicatedto dispelling stereotypes of AmericanIndians and promoting a positive

image of native people.NASA is a small but

dedicated core of St. Mary’sstudents whose activitieshelp honor and promote thecultural heritage ofAmerican Indians.

Today’s NASA began in 2002when Terence Vincent (B.A. ’03), aKiowa Indian, recruited studentsinterested in Indian affairs to join afterhe enrolled in a North American Indiancourse. Now studying podiatry inOhio, Vincent hopes to serveAmerican Indians living onreservations in Oklahoma where someof his relatives reside.

Ymelda Rivera (B.A. ’04) ofPueblo Indian descent followedVincent as president and organized thefirst powwow at St. Mary’s. She iscurrently pursuing graduate work inmuseum studies at the University ofWashington.

Alex Acosta (B.A. ’04) of Cherokeeancestry was the association’s thirdpresident, and current presidentStephanie Sanchez (B.A. ’05), also ofCherokee descent, is pursuing amaster’s degree in CommunicationStudies at St. Mary’s.

A Brief History of TexasIndians

When Europeans first set foot in thevast territory that would becomeTexas, the Indian population was largeand diverse.

According to John C. Ewers,Ethnologist Emeritus of theSmithsonian Institution in Washington,D.C., Texas once had more tribes thanany other future state.

“Nowhere else in the AmericanWest did tribes of so many cultureslive in such close proximity,” he wrote.“In Texas alone, buffalo-huntingnomads of the plains met not onlyhorticultural tribes of the plains andwoodlands, but also hunter-gatherersof the southwestern deserts andfishermen of the Gulf Coast.”

Today, the footprints of the FirstPeople can be found throughout thestate. They are in the names of townsand cities such as Cibolo (theComanche word for buffalo), andWichita Falls and Nacogdoches (aftertwo tribes). Even the name of our stateis from the Caddoan word tejas, whichmeans friend.

St. Mary’s PowwowHonors Texas Indiansby Milo Colton, Ph.D., J.D., Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Grace Keyes, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology

and NASA Faculty Adviser, and Stephanie Sanchez, Graduate Student and NASA President

I

St. Mary’sProfessor MiloColton and NASAPresidentStephanie Sanchezin traditionalCherokee garb.

Students Study Ancient Texas Indian Cave Paintings

This past April, St. Mary’s NASA members hiked into two ancient Indian sites 45 mileswest of Del Rio.

At the White Shaman Shelter, students examined a limestone wall 9 feet long and 4and one-half feet high containing the images of more than 30 anthropomorphic figures,birds, animals and monsters, including a White Shaman, painted by Indian inhabitants ofthe area 4,000 years ago. According to the late James Zintgraff Jr., an expert on Texasancient rock art, “The pictographs . . . are some of the best in the world, both incomplexity and beauty.”

After a couple of hours at the White Shaman site, the St. Mary’s party moved on toexplore Seminole Canyon rock art paintings at Fate Bell Shelter, which is a massive 150yards long and 40 yards deep in places, and covered with hundreds of figures on its wall,including deer, cougar, birds, and shamans—some as tall as 6 feet.


Texans benefit from the patienceand handiwork of ancient Indianhorticulturalists who gave the modernworld cash crops of corn, squash,beans, white and sweet potatoes,peanuts, cotton, tomatoes, chili,avocado, pumpkin, sunflowers, andmany others.

The Coahuiltecans were the firstnative converts to Catholicism and theworkforce that built the Alamo andother Spanish missions in the vicinityof San Antonio.

Unfortunately, disease, war andforced removal nearly extinguished theTexas Indian population in the 19th

century. The 1890 U.S. Census showedthe number of Indians living in Texashad dwindled to less than 300.

In the 20th century the AmericanIndian population in Texasexperienced a remarkable comeback.Between 1970 and 2000, thatpopulation grew from 17,957 to215,599, representing almost 200tribes and making Texas the state withthe fourth largest American Indianpopulation in the nation.

The American Indian renaissance inTexas can be explained by manyfactors, such as laws againstdiscrimination, especially in educationand employment, along with advancesin medicine and health care.

A Gathering of Nationsat St. Mary’s

Although cool and overcast thatmorning at St. Mary’s, dancers,drummers and vendors wearing regaliarepresenting the many different tribesthat populated the territory of Texasbegan arriving on campus. It wasperfect weather for a vigorous workoutby native men, women and children.

Many non-Indians also attended,including students and staff fromSt. Mary’s, local elementary andsecondary school children, Boy Scouts,and people in the community curiousabout the workings of a modernpowwow.

Gourd dancers—mostly middle-aged and elderly veterans who hadserved in the U.S. military—sang andperformed dances that prepared andcleansed the area prior to the actualpowwow. The Gourd Dance washanded down from the Kiowa Tribewhich roamed throughout westernTexas.

Traditional dancers wore elaboratefeathered bustles tied to the small oftheir backs and two eagle feathers as aheaddress. They carried feathered fans,shields painted with heraldic designsand dance sticks with eagle talons oranimal heads on one end, looking as ifthey had just returned from a hunt orbattle.

Straight dancers, more subdued intheir dress, wore headdresses madefrom the skins of animals or brighthued scarf-like turbans sporting dyedostrich feathers. Grass dancers woreoutfits with colorful fringed yarn thatrippled in the wind, mimicking thewaves of long grasses on the openplains.

Graceful women southern clothdancers wore resplendent shimmeringdresses and shawls of blue, red andturquoise. Jingle dress dancers, withhundreds of singing metal conesattached to their bright colorfuldresses, rivaled the southern clothdancer, as did the beautiful womenfancy shawl dancers, looking likebutterflies whenever they extendedtheir arms.

The powwow held at St. Mary’sgave all those in attendance a betterunderstanding of the rich multiculturalheritage that continues to influence ourstate and our society. n

Milo Colton appears at the Learning Traditions Powwowin American Indian grey wolf headdress and pelt.


When he was a child, RobertJimenez’s father instilled inhim the philosophy of

helping the poor–and doing it withoutrecognition.

As chairman of the board ofmanagers since 1992 for UniversityHealth Systems, the public hospitaldistrict for Bexar County, Jimenez hasbeen able to realize that ambition on acommunity-wide scale. For his

outstanding service in pioneeringcomprehensive mental health servicesfor county citizens, he was awardedthe 2006 Marian Health Care Awardby St. Mary’s University School ofScience, Engineering and Technology.

One of 13 siblings growing up onthe city’s West Side, Jimenez attendedJefferson High School, then a collegepreparatory school, where he was oneof 12 Hispanics. It was there he

learned to speak English, andwas exposed to a differentculture.

“It was not intended by theschool, but by mastering theKing’s English you were goingto succeed. Being able tocommunicate would get youwhat you were after,” Jimenezsays.

He took that education andattended community collegeand thenSt. Mary’s where he receivedhis bachelor’s degree inbiology and philosophy.

Two men at St. Mary’sprofoundly influenced Jimenezand his future, MarianistBrothers Thomas Treadawayand John Totten.

The legendary registrarTreadaway steered Jimenez in hischoice of classes in the pre-medprogram.

“(Treadaway) had a vision of what aChristian doctor ought to be. Heguided us in a stern but loving way. Hetold us, ‘You do XYZ, and we will getyou into medical school.’ All of uswent on to medical school and becamevery good friends,” Jimenez says.

Totten introduced Jimenez to thestudy of philosophy

that serves toguide hisunderstanding ofscience.

“BrotherTotten wastotally dedicated

to reach for thetruth,” Jimenez says.

“And without philosophy, you wouldnot be able to know and understand thetruth. He is one of the most likeable,kind, gentle and brilliant professorsthat I ever met. He instilled in me alove of learning, the love of knowledgefor knowledge’s sake.”

From St. Mary’s, Jimenezcompleted his medical training at TheUniversity of Texas Medical Branch atGalveston and his internship at theBrady Green Medical Complex andThe University of Texas HealthSciences Center at San Antonio.

After serving in the U.S. Navy andMarine Corps in Vietnam, Jimenezdedicated his life to the Virgin ofGuadalupe by deciding to become a“good doctor, work for peace andrededicate my life to the principlespassed to me by my father.”

He turned to the practice ofpsychiatry while he was assigned toU.S. Naval Disciplinary Command inPortsmouth, Ore. “I gave up the idea ofbeing a surgeon after I metpsychiatrists who were doing forensicpsychiatry,” Jimenez says.

He completed psychiatric trainingand a fellowship in community andlegal psychiatry at Boston UniversityMedical Center where he served on thefaculty, as well as the faculties ofBoston College Graduate School ofSocial Work, Northeastern UniversityCollege of Criminal Justice andHarvard Medical School.

Jimenez decided to move back toSan Antonio to help develop a programto improve the quality of health carefor the Mexican-American community.

With him he carried a desire toestablish medical facilities incommunities that need them the most.Over the past 10 to 12 yearscommunity health care centers haveopened in various parts of the city.

“Our primary mission at UniversityHealth Systems is service. We changedthe philosophy of how to deliver healthcare service to the community,”Jimenez says.

Those ideals imparted by his fatherof giving back to the community andhelping those who need assistance themost are what continue to driveJimenez. n

Marian Health Care Winner Jimenezan Advocate for the Poor, Community Health Careby Rob Leibold, Associate Editor

“(Brother Totten) instilled in me a

love of learning, the love of

knowledge for knowledge’s sake.”


When St. Mary’s UniversityTrustee Charles Barrett Jr.(B.B.A. ’62) envisioned a

bell tower on campus, he picturedmore than just a100-foot tallornate symbol ofexcellence. Heheard “The Bellsof St. Mary’s”chiming in thememory of hismother.

Before herdeath, she and herson watched thefilm of the samename, and Barrettwas well aware ofwhat the moviemeant to her. Tohonor his mother’smemory and the memory of otherfamily members who are gone, Barrettand his wife, Melissa, decided to makea special gift to St. Mary’s—theBarrett Memorial Bell Tower.

Barrett shared this story with well-wishers at the groundbreakingceremony of the bell tower on Feb. 3when University dignitaries recognizedBarrett’s vision and leadership on theproject and the generosity of otherdonors.

Representing the tower’s height,100-foot tall balloons hovered over theceremonial stage on Chaminade Fieldwhere vibrant multicolored flagsmajestically swayed to and fro,proclaiming the splendor of thedistinctive event.

With shovels in hand—and led bySt. Mary’s President Charles L. Cotrelland Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barrett—officials gently dug up scoops of soilto ready the site where constructioncrews now are erecting the $1 millionstructure. Situated toward the northend of Chaminade Field, the tower willintegrate newer facilities witharchitectural and historical elements ofSt. Mary’s early structures and serve asa beacon of pride in northwest San

Antonio. It also will complement theUniversity’s recent revitalization andbeautification efforts.

The traditional dig, which prepareda new geographicheart of campus,was celebrated bysome 500students, alumni,faculty and staff,and Universityfriends. Theupbeat ceremonywas punctuatedby selectionsperformed by theenergetic andtalentedSt. Mary’s JazzOrchestra.

Theconstruction site

will be transformed into a gatheringarea that reinforces the University’semphasis on community. The BarrettMemorial Bell Tower and surroundingplaza will connect pedestrian trafficfrom the Quadrangle to the north, theGateway to Historic St. Mary’sentrance to the east, the UniversityCenter to the west and residence hallsto the south.

The Barrett family believes thetower will provide inspiration to theUniversity community. As a spiritualcenter of campus, it will allow forgathering in faith formation and serveas a venue for community building.

Each day, at the time when Jesuswas at Calvary, bells ring andprofessed and lay Marianists aroundthe world pause for the Three O’ClockPrayer: “Lord Jesus, we gather in spiritat the foot of the cross with yourmother and the disciple whom youloved.”

By early next spring, the BarrettMemorial Bell Tower will soar aboveall other buildings on campus and “TheBells of St. Mary’s” will be hearddaily, honoring St. Mary’s richMarianist history. n

Bell Tower CelebratesBarrett Family’s Love,Marianist History

Charles T. Barrett Jr.

Charles and Melissa Barrett (center) lead theceremonial dig.

The University community gathers at thegroundbreaking ceremony.

Architect’s rendering of Barrett MemorialBell Tower.


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Jennifer Kohnke

After challenging years of studies atSt. Mary’s University, Jennifer Kohnke(B.A. ’01) felt what recent graduatessometimes feel after commencement.

“After I graduated from college, Iknew I wanted to do somethingmeaningful and personally fulfillingwith my life, but I wasn’t sure what thatwas,” she says.

Little did Kohnke know that herdrive for personal fulfillment wouldlead her to Cameroon, Africa, whereshe has served for the past two years asa member of the Peace Corps.

After receiving a bachelor’s degreein criminal justice, Kohnke waited ayear and a half before applying to thePeace Corps.

“I’ve always liked traveling, meetingnew people, learning new languagesand other cultures, so it seemed like agood fit,” she says.

For most of her service, Kohnkeresided in the village of Ngaoundalwhere she learned about the harshrealities of living in a developingcountry.

“No matter how badly some peoplein our country may live in poverty andhardship, these same individuals wouldbe considered upper-middle class in adeveloping country. That was a realeye-opener.”

When it came to adjusting to villagelife, Kohnke had to learn some basicskills herself like pulling her own waterfrom a well, starting and cooking on anopen fire, eating unusual things such asbush rat, porcupine, and termites, aswell as learning fluent French.

Kohnke says there are dozens ofreasons why she will miss herexperience in Cameroon. “(I’llremember) the generous hospitality ofthe native people (feeding you a lotwhen they themselves have almostnothing), eating simply, not spendingmuch, viewing Mt. Ngaoundal themoment I’d step out my front door, andthe emphasis placed on relationshipsand spending time together with friendsand family—something that’s missingin the United States.”

Kohnke also expresses the impact ofSt. Mary’s in her life.

“I believe (St. Mary’s) has helpedme to better understand my Catholicfaith, and impressed upon me theimportance to live what we believe andthe faith that we profess, not just talkabout it.”

With this in mind, Kohnke plans topursue a career in the field ofinternational development.

— Marybell Martinez,B.A. ’06

Peace Corps ExperiencePropels Alumna toPersonal Fulfillment


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ENoel also helped organize a

leadership workshop for ParaguayanWomen’s Day. Four of San Juan’s mostinfluential female leaders discussed theneed for women’s communityparticipation with an audience of morethan 200 women.

Noel realized the intensity of hisexperience after countrywomanBuenaAventura Meza’s testimonyexposed the harsh reality of the dailyfight for a better life in her humblebarrio of Paso Naranja.

“I was really proud that this woman,who has fought for so long to do whatis right, had the opportunity to sit on apanel and discuss leadership issues.”

For Noel, one of the best thingsabout his service in San Juan Bautista isseeing the faces of Paraguayans afterthey have successfully accomplished aproject or goal he helped them develop.His role as consultant to the citizens isimportant because it gives themleadership opportunities to run theirown projects and work with their ownideas.

Noel credits his St. Mary’seducation and his service in the PeaceCorps for his success as a developmentagent, adding that his master’s work hashad an incalculable effect on hisoutlook on the world. “Now I combinethe knowledge I gained at St. Mary’sand the practical, hands-on experience Iam gaining with the Peace Corps tobecome the best development agentpossible.”

Noel hopes to continue working inthe same field after completing hisPeace Corps service. He strongly feelshe was destined to be involved indevelopment.

“I know the lessons I will learnwhile serving in Paraguay will help mebe a better person at the end of theday.”

—Selena San Miguel,St. Mary’s sophomore

Leonard Noel

When Leonard Noel first arrived inAsunción, Paraguay, he had no ideahow much his experience working withpoor communities would impact hislife.

As a Peace Corps volunteer, Noelendured intensive cultural language andtechnical training before landing in SanJuan Bautista, Misiónes, where heworks to strengthen the relationshipbetween the municipality and itscitizens.

“I enjoy going to bed knowing that Ihelped make a positive difference in acommunity that could use a hand,” saysNoel, who graduated in spring 2004with a master’s degree in internationalrelations.

The Mexico City native worksmainly as a facilitator and mediatorwith neighborhood commissions andorganized groups within communities.The self-organized citizens must gainthe recognition of the municipalitybefore working on community projectssuch as public lighting or street-stoningprojects.

Alumnus OrganizesLeaders in Paraguay


Wall before its fall in 1989. At the resolution of the Cold War,

Griffin returned to the states, left Armyactive duty and became an ROTCinstructor at his alma mater. Afterfinishing his second bachelor’s degreeat Tennessee, Griffin and his familymoved to Fort Hood near Killeen,where he enrolled in the St. Mary’sinternational relations graduate programin 1994. For many years the Universityhas offered graduate courses at thatCentral Texas Army base.

Crossing the Atlantic had become anordinary fact of life by the time Griffinwas reactivated in 1996. Shortlythereafter, he served as the secretary ofthe general staff for Task Force Falconin Kosovo, and remembers it as adifficult assignment.

“That was a very demanding tourwith little time to take in thesurrounding environment,” he recalls.

Griffin’s extensive travel andexposure to military operations led himto seek employment in the intelligencecommunity and the foreign policy area.He was hired by the U.S. Department ofDefense where he uses his formidableskills as an analyst.

His eagerness and passion for “thelife” endures, and he supports U.S.military operations wherever hisservices are needed. Most recentlyGriffin spent more than a year trainingand working a local assignment until hewas deployed to Iraq as an analystsupporting Coalition Forces at Balad.That is where he continues to serve hiscountry today.

—Patrick T. Galvin, St. Mary’s junior

Charlie GriffinFrom the beginning, Charlie Griffin

(M.A. ’96) has lived the military life,having been born in Germany toAmerican parents. As a toddler Griffinmade his first of what now numbereight trips across the Atlantic Ocean.

Making the journey half way aroundthe world three times before heeventually chose military service as acareer, Griffin never doubted hisaspirations to enlist in the Army.

“The whole experience of travel, thetightly knit community and personalchallenge—all were strong draws forme,” he says.

Griffin signed up after earning anundergraduate degree from theUniversity of Tennessee in 1982.

“After a few months of training, Iwas sent again to Germany,” he says.“It was really at the height of the ColdWar, and we were always ready to go towar. Thankfully that never occurred.”

Griffin explored much of Europebetween the obligations he had to hispost. He sometimes passed throughRussian checkpoints along the Berlin

Alumnus Lives ‘The Life’

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EDuring her internship, she

interviewed rural women who havebeen successfully empowered and aregenerating better futures for theirdaughters by resisting early marriages,dismissing the dowry tradition andcontinuing their education. Bains hopesto raise awareness of social inequalitiesabroad, as well as in her own backyard.She is actively involved with theUniversity’s Service Learning Centerand 21st Century Leadership Centerwhere she has learned how to utilize hertalents to enrich the community.

The support and guidance shereceives from St. Mary’s have solidifiedher desire to intensely exploreinternational development. Bainsacknowledges the influence of theUniversity.

“Above all, my professors atSt. Mary’s reflect Catholic socialteaching and engage in a strongmentorship with me outside of theclassroom,” she says. One professor inparticular is Larry Hufford, Ph.D.,whom Bains credits for sparking herinterest in women’s internationalhuman rights.

Bains currently is compiling herinterviews with rural women inBangladesh to providerecommendations for their economicand social empowerment.

Completion of a master’s program ininternational development is included inher plans. She also has applied for a 10-month service fellowship in India.

Whatever path she takes, she looksforward to “gaining significant fieldexperience and ultimately completing adoctorate in international affairs, all thewhile embodying and promoting theMarianist spirit.”

—Analisa Farias, St. Mary’s junior

Kiran Bains

Venturing across the globe to attenda semester abroad in London was onlythe tip of the iceberg for St. Mary’sMay graduate Kiran Bains. In the midstof completing her undergraduatecoursework, conducting research at theUniversity of Notre Dame as a McNairScholar, serving as campus coordinatorfor Americans for InformedDemocracy, volunteering as a tutor at alocal high school and receiving theAlice Wright Franzke Feminist Award,she found the time to dedicate herself toothers during two consecutive serviceimmersions to Mexico.

Her quest for social equality andwomen’s rights was heightened withthe experience she gained south of theborder.

“After impressionable observationsin rural Mexico, I sought women’sempowerment via non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs) and established athree-month internship with theInstitute of Integrated RuralDevelopment in Bangladesh,” Bainssays.

Senior on InternationalTrek to Empower Women

This year has seen anunprecedented level of support fromthousands of St. Mary’s alumni andfriends who are committed to making adifference. One look at these smilingstudents and you know your gifts—90percent of which were $100 or less—have had a tremendous impact on theeducation we are able to provide thestudents we serve.

The 2005-2006 Presidential Awardrecipients represent the almost 4,000students who choose St. Mary’s for itsCatholic and Marianist values-centeredexperience. For your commitment topreserving the traditions of academicexcellence and service to community,the cornerstones of a St. Mary’sUniversity education, we thank you.

Providing scholarships is achallenge to which we remaincommitted. For your generouscontributions which resulted in severalscholarship funds reaching endowmentlevels that will generate the supportnecessary to help students achievetheir educational goals, we thank you.

Many of you also gave to projectsto enhance the physical campus,including the Barrett Memorial BellTower and the Moot Courtroomrenovations at the School of Law. Forthese additions which will helpestablish a clear identity for theUniversity and provide for continuedgrowth, we thank you.

With the historic endowment of theBill Greehey School of Business, ourgoal of becoming the preeminentCatholic University in the regiongrows closer. For Greehey and thethousands of alumni whose gifts everyyear honor the Marianist tradition andperpetuate their good works started154 years ago, we thank you.

Finally, your support of the annualSt. Mary’s Fund has allowed us tobreak an all-time record. For the$501,585 raised in unrestricted supportfrom you, members of Heritage Club,the senior class, and others whounselfishly provide the supportnecessary for a wide variety ofUniversity operations, we thank you. n

. . . your support of the annualSt. Mary’s Fund has allowed usto break an all-time record.

Presidential Award Winners Continue MissionStudents who receive the Presidential Award embody those characteristicsarticulated in the St. Mary’s mission: academic excellence, ethicalcommitment, servant leadership and community building. They and theirpeers give us great hope for the future. Winners of the 2005-2006Presidential Awards, with major and hometown, are, from left: (front row)Stefanie Gonzalez, master’s degree in political science, Pharr; Kelly Gonzalez,biology, Arlington; Arthur Bryan II, political science and speechcommunication, Round Rock; Tiffany Williams, biology, Austin; AntoniaSantistevan, general business, Ranchos de Taos, N.M.; (middle row) KiranBains, international relations, San Antonio; Ignacio Martinez, informationsystems management and marketing, Monterrey, Mexico; President Charles L.Cotrell; EB Chanoine, psychology, Dallas; (back row) Noah Almanza,marketing, San Antonio; Benjamin Barling, industrial engineering, Fort Smith,Ark.; F. Hunter Hook, master’s degree in business administration, McAllen;Tessa Cluck, chemistry, Benbrook; and Francisco Vara-Orta, English-communication arts, San Antonio. Not pictured is Gregorio Pardo III,international business and political science, San Antonio.

One Camino Santa Maria

San Antonio, Texas 78228-8575

www.stmarytx.edu

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St. Mary’s Boasts AnotherNational Champ

St. Mary’s junior Jamie Amoretti

clinched the NCAA Division II Men’s

Golf Championship individual medalist

title, finishing at even-par 280 for the

72-hole event held in Daniels, W.Va.

He battled windy conditions but came

from behind to birdie two holes in the

final round and take the lead. In doing

so, Amoretti captured St. Mary’s first

golf championship and the fifth

national title in Rattler athletics

history. This season Jamie has been

named to the first teams of the All-

Heartland Conference and All-South

Central Region. He is St. Mary’s first

golfer to earn First Team All-America

honors in NCAA Division II.

st. mary's university gold & blue | summer 2006

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