AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:17 PM Page 1 Austin CollegeMagazine June 2008
DR. OSCAR C. PAGE ARCHITECT OF CHANGE, BUILDER OF CHARACTER
CARR RECEIVES TEACHING AWARD | WINKLER TO PRESENT OPENING OF SCHOOL ADDRESS | SENIORS ENDOW SCHOLARSHIP AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:17 PM Page 2
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4 Andrew Carr Earns Teaching Award magazine.austincollege.edu Andrew Carr, associate professor of chemistry, received Austin College’s Excellence in Teaching Award during the recent Honors Convocation, at which student and faculty accomplishments are 13 Alternative Spring Break Photos recognized each spring.
14 Evening With Your Scholar Photos 8 Architect of Change, Builder of Character Oscar C. Page has done much to enhance Austin College in the 23 Additional Commencement Photos years he has served as its president — overseeing building projects, campus renovations, and curriculum changes; leading 32 Student Leadership Awards with integrity and vision; and interacting personally with Phi Beta Kappa 2008 Inductees hundreds of students as well as faculty, staff, alumni, parents, Departmental Honors Graduates trustees, and friends. Honors Convocation Awards 12 Commencement 2008 38 2008 Athletics Award Honorees The Honorable Antonio Garza, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, presented the Commencement address for the 340 Bachelor of Arts graduates and 20 Master of Arts in Teaching graduates in the 40 Golden ’Roo Weekend Photos Class of 2008. Also, see the photo spread on pages 22 –23.
19 Winkler Will Present Opening Address Henry Winkler will offer the Opening of School Convocation address September 1 to begin the College’s 160th academic year.
24 Oh, the Places They’ll Go! Members of the Class of 2008 accomplished marvelous things while at Austin College. Many more marvelous things await them in the future. This article offers just a sampling of students’ successes, plans, and goals.
38 Athlete Earns All-America First Team Honors The Austin College athletics program reached a new summit with the announcement of Kaitlin Listol ’08 to the NCAA Division III Cover photo by Jason Jones First Team All-America roster. AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:17 PM Page 3
AUSTIN COLLEGE
Oscar C. Page President Nan Davis Vice President for Institutional Enrollment Heidi Ellis Vice President for Business Affairs Mike Imhoff Vice President for Academic Affairs Jerry Holbert Vice President for Institutional Advancement Tim Millerick Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics
AUSTIN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 19 June 2008 16 Editor Vickie S. Kirby Senior Director of Editorial Communication
Design Mark Steele Art Director
Editorial Dara McCoy Senior Writer Jeff Kelly Sports Information Coordinator Victoria Hughes Production Coordinator 23 Vickie S. Kirby Photography Vickie S. Kirby Jacqueline Armstrong ’08, Student Assistant Aaron Flores ’09, Student Assistant
Office of College Relations Michael Strysick Executive Director
The Austin College Magazine is published by the Office of College Relations, Institutional Advancement Division. The Office of College Relations retains the right to 38 determine the editorial content and presentation of information contained herein. Articles or opinion written IN EVERY ISSUE: by guest writers do not necessarily reflect official views or policy of Austin College and its Board of Trustees.
Contact Austin College Magazine : 3 Faculty Notebook Office of College Relations, Suite 6H 12 Around Campus Austin College 900 North Grand Avenue 32 Student Achievers Sherman, TX 75090-4400 Editor: 903.813.2414 34 Home Team Fax: 903.813.2415 Email: [email protected] 39 ‘Roo Notes Austin College does not discriminate on the basis of age, 48 Calendar of Events color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran in the administration of its 49 Every Picture tells a Story educational policies and programs, employment policies and practices, enrollment policies and practices, and athletics The Story Behind the Photo program, as well as any other College-administered policy, procedure, practice, or program. Reasonable accommodations are made for individuals with disabilities.
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president’ s column
Dear Friends of Austin College, of his classmates, a gift of $51,000, which will establish A LEGACY the Class of 2008 Endowed Scholarship for International As we come to the end of another academic year, it is Students. This effort was aided by an alumnus of Austin OF SERVICE gratifying to celebrate the success of another senior class. College who gave the seniors a challenge gift to Headed off to graduate or professional schools, or to that encourage reaching their original goal of $50,000. first job, I am confident that the Class of 2008 will be Axel and the senior class are to be commended for living ambassadors of our focus on values-based learning. their leadership and service. They have established a To encourage them on their way, this year’s seniors legacy that will be remembered for years to come. were offered inspiring challenges by the Honorable On this note, I am pleased to say that the theme of Antonio O. Garza, Jr., and student speaker Davy Axel service continues to be strong on the Austin College Nze Akoue, both of whom represent the global emphasis campus through an exciting new opportunity that of Austin College. Mr. Garza, a native Texan, is the U.S. allows students to combine the College’s focus on Ambassador to Mexico, and Axel, as he is known by his service and internationalism. friends, came to Austin College from Gabon, in This year saw the development of the Global west central Africa. The predominant theme in Outreach, or GO, Fellowship Program, funded by the both presentations was the concept of service, a Todd and Abby Williams Family Foundation. Ten to 15 subject that fell on sympathetic ears. fellowships will be available each year, making it Ambassador Garza stressed that success possible for students to travel to underdeveloped areas follows from openness, honesty, and goodness, of the world and work in non-profit sectors. values that are best complemented by Monica Martinez ’09, president of the Student compassion, tenderness, and forgiveness. Right Assembly, is one of the GO Fellowship recipients, and and wrong will constantly compete for your she will spend her summer in Nigeria working in an attention, he stressed to the seniors, and you orphanage. Nine other GO Fellowship students will have to be careful which hunger you feed. travel to Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Pakistan, Peru, Service to others, in small ways and large, is and Russia, undertaking such varied challenges as gratifying beyond measure, he emphasized, and providing healthcare for young girls, teaching English, will be your greatest success in life. distributing medical supplies, and teaching job skills By contrast, our student speaker noted that and career development to orphans. Be assured that we the concept of “service” was not a part of the will share their stories with you in the months to come. culture of his native country of Gabon, since The concept of service that permeates the Austin mere survival made focus on others College community today carries on a tradition long challenging, to say the least. It represented a ingrained in our campus ethos. And while today’s moment of pride to realize that Axel’s fellow Austin College students continue to carry the flag for students and professors at Austin College serving those who are in great need, they do so as an helped impart the importance of service as a expression of the purpose we place on education — to natural expression of our campus community. serve others. At the same time, it also highlighted the As we anticipate a new freshman class arriving on challenge that remains for us all to create the conditions campus later this summer, I am confident that the new by which service can thrive in places like Gabon. More students will seize the opportunity to join other on that in a moment. students on campus and establish an even stronger To commemorate his career at Austin College, Axel foundation of learning, leadership, and lasting values. worked with his fellow seniors to leave a lasting mark on the institution by creating an endowed scholarship Sincerely, to support future generations of international students. With the help of the Senior Committee, Axel reached Oscar C. Page his goal successfully. At the end of his Commencement President address, I was honored to receive from Axel, on behalf
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facult y notebook
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Jeff Czajkowski , assistant professor of economics, has written the paper “Modeling Shifts in Willingness- HUMANITIES To-Pay From A Bayesian Updating Perspective,” which has been accepted for publication in Land Economics. Daniel Dominick , associate professor of music, became Karen Nelson , associate vice president for president of the South Central Division of the College Institutional Effectiveness and professor of psychology, Orchestra Directors Association at the annual national presented “The Changing Role of Personal Autonomy in meeting. The presidency is a two-year position. Emerging Adulthood” at the meetings of the Southwest Jerry Lincecum , professor emeritus of English, Psychological Association in April. The paper addresses presented a paper, “The Hoxsey Cancer Treatment: From some of the data from the Teagle Project on “study Dallas to Tijuana,” at the Texas State Historical away” in which several Austin College faculty Association meeting in Corpus Christi, Texas, in March. participated. That project was part of a larger study, He is writing a biographical article on Harry Hoxsey for “Value-Added Assessment of Student Learning in the the Handbook of Texas , and Texoma Living! Magazine has Liberal Arts: Assessing the Impact of Engaged Learning,” accepted two articles written by Lincecum. One of completed by Austin College, Furman University, those, “Tom Nuckols: Growing Up in a Wild West Juniata College, and Washington and Lee University Show,” which highlights Professor Emeritus of Religion with a grant from the Teagle Foundation of New York. Tom Nuckols ’ early years, appears in the June issue. Karen Roper , adjunct assistant professor of Marsha McCoy , visiting instructor in classics, psychology, presented an invited address as part of the attended the American Philological meeting in Chicago, introduction of speakers during the 30th Brown Illinois, and presented the paper “The Cult of Priapus Symposium at Southwestern University in April. and Queer Identities in Petronius’ Satyrica ” as part of the Kevin Simmons , associate professor of economics, Lambda Classical Caucus panel “Cults and Queer and colleague Dan Sutter wrote “Tornado Warnings, Identities in Classical Antiquity.” In March, McCoy Lead Times, and Tornado Casualties: An Empirical attended the 10th Annual University of South Carolina Investigation,” published in Weather and Forecasting in Comparative Literature Conference, focused in 2008 on April 2008. The two had prepared articles on tornado “Plato and Platonisms: The Constitution of a Tradition,” shelters and manufactured home parks, and on the and presented the paper “Reading Plato in Gatsby: The housing market, for publication in Construction Great Gatsby , Trimalchio, and Platonic Origins” as part Management and Economics in November 2007 and in of the session “Plato Today.” Natural Hazards in December 2007. Simmons and Sutter Laura Spear , assistant professor of French, attended also wrote “The Groundhog Day Florida Tornadoes: A the national conference of the American Council on the Case Study of High Vulnerability Tornadoes” for Quick Teaching of Foreign Languages in San Antonio, Texas, in Response Research Report #193 for the University of November 2007. She presented “Beyond Borders: French Colorado Natural Hazards Research and Applications and Francophone Crime Narratives of the Orient Information Center. Simmons also made presentations Express” at the Louisville Conference on Literature and at faculty seminars at Northern Illinois University in Culture Since 1900 in Louisville, Kentucky, in February January and at Dallas Baptist University in April. and “In the Middle of Conflict: Women in the Fictions of the Orient Express” at the Women in French SCIENCES International Conference in Dallas in April. Andra Troncalli , assistant professor of physics, contributed the talk “Investigation of Vortex Pinning SOCIAL SCIENCES Anisotropy in the High Temperature Superconductor Tom Baker , professor of education, presented a paper, YBa2Cu3O7-d” at the Division of Condensed Matter “‘If I Knew Then What I Know Now’: Intern Teachers’ Physics meeting of the American Physical Society in New Advice to Next Year’s Cohort,” at the annual conference Orleans in March. She also gave the presentation “Extreme of the Association of Teacher Educators in New Orleans Physics: Superconductors, Nanotubes, and Beyond” to the in February. He accepted an appointment to a term as Lindsay High School Science Club that visited Austin an advisory director of Global Education , a quarterly College in November 2007. Troncalli was nominated for peer-reviewed journal. and accepted a position as a board member of ALPhA — the Advanced Laboratory Physics Association.
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facult y notebook
Carr Receives Excellence in Teaching Award
Andrew J. Carr , associate professor of chemistry and a member of the Austin College faculty since 2000, received the 2008 Austin College Excellence in Teaching Award at AHonors Convocation in April. The award recognizes the fundamental importance of the quality of teaching in the educational process and seeks to honor an individual who has made a distinct difference in the teaching climate. Carr expressed shock and honor at receiving the award, wondering initially if there could be a second Andrew Carr on the faculty. “I never thought that a chemistry professor, much less an organic chemistry professor, could win this award,” Carr said. “My sophomore-level organic chemistry course has crushed many a pre-med dream, so I never thought that students would ever put me forward for this type of award.” Though Carr does not consider himself a master educator with the latest implementation of pedagogical practices, he said he is willing to try almost anything to facilitate learning for his students, whether that means dancing, jumping on a table, meeting with students outside office hours, or listening with a compassionate heart to his students’ troubles. “The only thing I will not do,” he said, “is compromise my high standards. I expect my students to meet and overcome the challenges my courses present.” Carr said he treats his students with respect and encourages them to do their best, recognizing that students without hope of success will drop the course or bring down S
the entire class. He typically structures classes to offer E N O “a chance at redemption” by allowing the final exam J N O S
grade to replace one test grade. This, Carr said, gives A J Y students opportunity to learn from their mistakes B O T O
and to perform better, adding that if students drop H P his course or take on adversarial positions, he can’t teach them — and teaching is his goal. “I hope to continue teaching and helping our students here at Austin College for many years to come,” he said. Carr earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in chemistry from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He served as a visiting research assistant in chemistry and a post-doctoral research associate at Yale University before taking the teaching position at Austin College.
Andrew J. Carr
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Teaching Is Priority for Austin College Faculty Austin College nominees for two external teaching and doctoral degrees in political science at the awards are announced each spring during Honors University of Georgia and completed programs in Convocation. Nominees for these awards receive Austin Chinese language and political psychology. Before College teaching awards for this important honor. A joining the Austin College faculty, he was co-director of committee of faculty and students reviews nominations research at the Southern Center for International and makes selections. Studies, research fellow at the Center for the Study of Don Rodgers , assistant professor of political Global Issues, and taught at the University of Georgia science, was announced as the College’s CASE Professor and at Oglethorpe University. of the Year nominee. The Council for the Advancement E. Don Williams , professor of mathematics and and Support of Education (CASE) program recognizes Chadwick Chair in Mathematics, is the Austin College extraordinary undergraduate teaching by selecting one Minnie Stevens Piper Professor nominee for 2008. The professor of the year in each state. contest honors 15 faculty members throughout Texas Rodgers joined the Austin College faculty in 2003. for teaching excellence. He is an expert in Asian politics, and his teaching and Williams, who joined the faculty at Austin College research interests include international politics, in 1970, teaches courses in real and applied analysis, international human rights, and political psychology. probability theory, calculus, and statistics. Students Rogers has taken 22 Austin College students to Taiwan report that Williams thrives on teaching and is during summer trips and JanTerm courses, and dedicated to the individual learning experience. organized a Taiwan symposium during Austin College’s Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics 2007 Asia Week. and chemistry at Southwestern University and a A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University with a doctorate in mathematics at Texas Tech University. degree in international studies, Rodgers earned master’s
Daeley Named to Professorship in English Literature Carol A. Daeley , professor of English, was installed as 19th centuries and frequently works with East Asian, the Henry L and Laura H. Shoap Professor of English African, and post-colonial literature. Daeley also has Literature during Honors Convocation in April. interests in Asian studies, having taught and studied at The Shoap Professorship was established in 1959 by Kobe-Gakuin University in Japan, and has coordinated Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Shoap of McKinney, Texas, to the College’s Africa Symposium for several years. She provide the students of Austin College with instruction has explored her interests in theatre and drama of the highest quality in the composition, appreciation, through student trips and sabbatical visits to New and understanding of the literature of the English York, London, and beyond. language as a part of the liberal arts tradition. Daeley completed her bachelor’s degree in Daeley, chair of the English Department, joined the humanities at Rutgers University and her master’s Austin College faculty in 1973. The 1999 recipient of degree and doctorate in English at the University of the College’s Excellence in Teaching Award, she California, Riverside. specializes in British literature of the 18th and early
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Remembering the Legacy of Monroe “Bud” Bryant Present success often is built on the foundation of the past. The respect Bryant garnered from students and peers alike This sentiment is the principle on which most institutions of stemmed from not only his knowledge and teaching ability but higher education operate. The education provided builds a also his sincere interest in his students’ success beyond the platform for future success in the lives of students who attend classroom, Williams said. the institution. Those who study biology or other pre-medical Bryant was well-noted for his recommendations to medical preparation at Austin College owe the quality of the education school, said Don Shepherd ’58, a retired physician in Tow, and the reputation of the College’s program in part to the Texas. “Dr. Bryant was the best teacher I ever had, and I have legacy of the late Monroe “Bud” David Bryant ’27, professor had a lot of teachers over the years in medical school and post- emeritus of biology. graduate studies,” Shepherd said. “Because of Dr. Bryant’s great Bryant graduated from Austin College in 1927, obtained variety of experience, he helped students find their way into his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, and what they wanted to do in life.” pursued a broad spectrum of experiences — from playing Vick and Dorothy (Rodina) ’59 Williams , Don minor league baseball to serving as a park ranger at Yosemite Shepherd , and Patricia “Pat” Myers ’59 hope to memorialize National Park — before returning to Sherman. “Once on the Bryant’s Austin College legacy through creating an endowed faculty, he quickly established a loyal following at Austin professorship in his name. Vick Williams said they hope to College among pre-medical students and biology majors that honor him with something of lasting value, much like the would make him one of the most respected science professors lasting impact Bryant had on Williams’ own life. “He showed during a teaching career that lasted until the 1970s,” according me a life that I could not possibly O T O
to Austin College: A Sesquicentennial History 1847 –1999 , written have imagined,” said Williams, H P Y S
by Light Cummins , Guy M. Bryan Professor of History. who entered Austin College with E T R U
Bryant taught at Austin College from 1947 to 1972, a small-school education and no O C serving as professor of biology, chair of the Biology real career plans. “The most Department, and adviser to the pre-medical and pre-dental important thing he did for me was students during his tenure. His 25 years of dedication to Austin believe in me. I will be grateful for College spurred former academic dean Dan Bedsole to express that gift as long as I live.” his appreciation in response to Bryant’s letter announcing his “An endowed professorship intention to retire. “Based on remarks made by doctors and would recognize Bud Bryant’s faculty in medical schools, it is evident that you are the one many contributions to Austin faculty member most responsible for the reputation Austin College as a teacher and biologist, College has earned as an outstanding liberal arts college for and would honor a faculty preparing pre-med students,” Bedsole wrote. recipient who embodies the Austin College: A Sesquicentennial History 1847 –1999 credits professional values exemplified by Bryant with a part in “developing one of the preeminent pre- Bud’s career,” said Mike Imhoff , medical curricula in the southwest.” Vick Williams ’58 said he vice president for Academic M.D. “Bud” Bryant wasn’t interested in biology when he entered Austin College — Affairs and dean of the faculty. until he took Bryant’s courses. “Dr. Bryant had a well-deserved For information about helping these alumni to establish reputation for giving lectures that covered topics thoroughly the Monroe “Bud” David Bryant Endowed Professorship Fund and captured students’ attention,” Williams said. “He knew the and memorialize this mentor whose work is part of the subject and could make it fascinating. In short, it was a very history of Austin College, contact Josh Bowerman , director rich learning environment.” Williams is a professor of anatomy of endowment and gift planning, at (903) 813-2423 or at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. [email protected] .
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Adventures in Teaching
ichael Fairley , associate professor and department chair of communication studies, never thought a stint as a lifeguard would be in his future when he came to Austin College in 2000. Yet, during a JanTerm trip to Chile, Michael had to fish his colleague David Baker , associate professor of physics, out of the Class 3 to 4 rapids of the Petrohué River during a rafting trip. “Dave rode the rapids sans raft through the worst part,” Fairley said. “The guides were genuinely scared after their failed attempts at throwing life-lines. As Dave floated, face-up and out of danger, to a calmer spot, I got in position to ‘pull him out of the drink.’ He owes me his life, and I often remind him.” Rescuing capsized rafters is just one — thankfully, rare — adventure in the life of this Austin College faculty member. Fairley has taken advantage of JanTerm trips to M China, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia, learning aspects of the cultures and communication styles of each locale. When not guiding students around the globe on JanTerm courses, Fairley also travels to present papers or teach at communication
O workshops and conferences in England, T O H
P Hawaii, China, and throughout the Y S E
T continental United States. R U O
C Though not nearly as risky as whitewater rafting, Fairley has stretched his students through his professional travel also. In 2000, he and several students attended the Southern States Communication Association annual convention in New Orleans, where students presented research papers they had prepared through work with him. “Working with the students and seeing them make presentations at the New Orleans conference with graduate students and professors was definitely a highlight of my teaching career,” he said. Fairley, who teaches speech and social interaction courses, including interpersonal Michael Fairley communication, public speaking, intercultural communication, nonverbal communication, organizational communication, and persuasion, said he enjoys “uncovering the taken-for-granted ways we all communicate and getting students to value their thoughts about things.” Whether saving colleagues from raging waters or unraveling the intricacies of communication, Fairley said he appreciates Austin College for making it all happen. “Professors are given great latitude in what courses they offer and how they teach them,” he said. “Austin College also is very supportive of projects that advance teaching and scholarship.”
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Architect of Change,
When Oscar Page steps down as Austin College president in June 2009, the College community also will say goodbye to Anna Laura Page. In the September issue of Austin College Magazine expect a closer look at the first lady of Austin College.
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Builder of Character
by Dara McCoy
Oscar Page , Austin College’s 14th president, has been building since his father took him, as a toddler, along on construction jobs in Kentucky. He considered a career in architecture before building a successful academic career into his first college presidency at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee at age 48. A self-made man, Page has applied the same formula of personal growth and achievement to the 14 years he has served as president of Austin College. Those around Page say his ‘roll-up-your-sleeves’ approach is bolstered by an enduring optimism. “He’s tireless,” said Mike Imhoff , vice president for Academic Affairs. “He doesn’t give in to personal things like tiredness or frustration.” Such energy and outlook allow Page to set goals and create a vision that is difficult, lofty even, but never impossible. “When there’s a vision to follow, he doesn’t waiver,” said Robert M. Johnson ’53, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees. “When there’s a goal to be reached, it is never unattainable.” To find a segment of the campus community — students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, friends, or trustees — that doesn’t respect or admire what Page has done in his years on campus is difficult. “I don’t think it’s possible to find anyone who is more persistent or works harder than Oscar Page,” Imhoff said. “He has committed himself body and soul to the College. He lives and breathes Austin College.” Page’s dedication to Austin College and his commitment to leadership through service and example have been the main drivers of his success. “Dr. Page is the first in line for a day’s work for Great Day of Service,” Johnson said. “He is a perfect example of servant leadership.” That leadership was evident when Page joined a group of Austin College students in New Orleans in 2006 to help with Katrina cleanup, and has been seen each fall as he carried boxes for freshmen moving into campus residence halls. “Austin College has had a tradition of service as a core value,” Page said. “I saw this connection between a philosophy that was embedded in me and the concept of service that had been prominent on the campus Editor’s Note: In celebration of Oscar C. Page’s 10th anniversary as for many years before I ever heard of Austin College.” president of Austin College, the November 2004 President’s Report More Than Numbers profiled him. Writer Brian Builta captured the essence of the man, telling the story of a boy weaned on hard work and pride in the labor Like any good builder, Page realized the need to collect the of one’s own hands. Readers learned of a young man overcoming boards and hammer before the first nail could be driven. Johnson said one of the most important aspects of the his teacher’s doubts and discouragement to become a first-
Y generation college graduate, eventually earn a Ph.D., and begin a B legacy Page will leave is his leadership in fundraising. R I K
. career in higher education. That article chronicled a man coming S The success of the $120 million Campaign for the New E I K
C Era, the largest fundraising effort in Austin College history, is into his own as a leader, guided by faith and a commitment to serve I V Y
B a milestone in Page’s tenure. “The success of the New Era others. Some elements of this article are based on that profile. O T O H P
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campaign was clear validation that we were making excellent or at the many student events he makes time to attend. “Beyond progress and that people were really committed to investing in my tenure here, the thing I’ll carry with me as much as anything Austin College,” Page said. “The campaign was a benchmark event will be reflecting on the success of students and the contributions that gave us great confidence in the future of the College.” Page they’re making to society,” Page said. “That is what gives me a sense went on to increase the endowment 78 percent, from $83 million of accomplishment.” to $148 million, and to raise the number of $1 million donors from 11 to 46, with several donors above the $5 million mark. The House That Page Built The numbers are impressive, but to Page the work has never By 2009, assuming success in fundraising for the proposed science been about just the numbers. He used dollar signs and percentages building, Page will have orchestrated more than $100 million in as a means to an end, and the end has always been education. capital improvement projects on campus, creating better facilities and “Although Dr. Page dramatically increased the endowment, he a beautiful campus environment in which students, alumni, and the didn’t focus on financial needs only,” said Susan DeLee Cuellar entire College community can take pride. ’69, a senior trustee who served on the Board of Trustees from 1992 Those projects include construction of Jordan Family Language to 2006 and served on the search committee that selected Page as House, Jerry E. Apple Stadium, the Robert J. and Mary Wright Campus president. “Dr. Page has encouraged students, faculty, staff, alumni, Center, the Robert M. and Joyce A. Johnson ’Roo Suites, and the Betsy friends of the College, and trustees to focus on the learning Dennis Forster Art Studio Complex. Page also has overseen renovation experience and what is needed to support those efforts,” she said. of the David E. and Cassie L. Temple Center for Teaching and “In every situation, he challenges the College community to place Learning at Thompson House and of Wortham Center, as well as the highest value on the education of students.” creation of the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson Technology Center; Page’s focus on students is a trademark of his tenure. He is on the Margaret Binkley Collins and William W. Collins, Jr., Alumni first-name basis with a large number of students and stops to speak Center; and the College Green in honor of John D. and Sara Bernice with them as he makes his way across campus, in the dining hall, Moseley and Distinguished Faculty. In establishing the Robert T.
Search for the Successor
Oscar C. Page announced in March his intention to As always, he is looking to the future and he wants step down as president of Austin College in June 2009. to leave his house in order as a strong foundation for The Presidential Search Committee tasked with finding success for a new president. “Now is the time for the 15th president in Austin College history met excitement to build about new leadership and what formally for the first time in early April. “Dr. Page has that new leadership can bring to the College,” Page brought Austin College to an enviable position given said. “There will be some reflection on what I’ve done the many and significant accomplishment of his 15 here, but the more important thing is the level of years,” said Robert M. Johnson ’53, chair of the anticipation and excitement that can be connected to a College’s Board of Trustees. “We are well positioned to change in leadership.” attract a pool of top candidates for this position. The search committee will be assisted by Academic Page announced his decision more than a year in Search of Washington, D.C., a consulting firm that has advance to give the College ample time to find his worked exclusively in searches for presidents and senior successor. Page will focus his remaining time at the higher education administrators for more than 30 College in fundraising for the new $40 million science years. Thomas B. Courtice is the firm’s senior consultant building, supporting the College reaccreditation to Austin College and will provide counsel for the process, and assuring that the College runs smoothly committee’s work throughout the search process. until his departure in 2009.
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Mason Athletic-Recreation Complex, all the athletic facilities within Colin Powell, Oscar Arias, and George H. W. Bush. “Through the were renovated and the Verde Dickey Fitness Pavilion added. Since Posey Leadership Institute, the Austin College Leadership Award, and then, baseball’s Baker Field and stadium have been refurbished and other notable efforts, Austin College has gained visibility on the Russell Tennis Stadium has been relocated and updated. Plus, national and international stage,” Johnson said. landscaping and other projects have significantly enhanced the entire campus, particularly the addition of the Margaret Binkley Collins A Lasting Legacy Fountain, the Clyde L. Hall Graduation Court, and the Sandra J. Page’s 10th anniversary profile included the reflection, “Perhaps, Oscar Williams Founders Plaza. Page became an architect after all — his legacy not a house, but a Page said he hopes that the programmatic changes implemented campus that many students, faculty, staff, and alumni call home.” As during his tenure to enrich the curriculum, like adding four majors Page completes his final blueprint for Austin College and steps away and eight minors to the academic program, will be remembered as just from the drawing board, “perhaps” no longer is applicable. “Oscar not as important as new buildings and beautiful landscaping projects. only made a difference at Austin College, he made the difference Page has led the effort to make some 300 new scholarships between being average and being excellent,” said Richard Agnich , available to students, add 20 new tenure-track faculty positions, and Board of Trustees member for 12 years and chair of the current increase enrollment while maintaining a climbing SAT average. The Presidential Search Committee. “Austin College is on the verge of College now shelters a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, has an increasingly becoming one of the very best liberal arts colleges in the United States.” diverse student body, and continues to see a large number of students Page has drawn up many plans and seen those concepts through — seven out of 10 — study internationally. to completion. By evidence of his many accomplishments, he has Under Page’s direction, the College created four new academic been the architect of a strong future for Austin College. Equally, centers, including the Posey Leadership Institute, which has done through his philosophy of servant leadership and daily example of much to garner national exposure for the College by bringing well- integrity, he has been a builder of character in the lives of countless known figures to campus as speakers, such as Madeleine Albright, students and other members of the Austin College community.
Presidential Search Committee Oscar Page Richard J. Agnich, Chair Linus D. Wright ’49, Vice Chair will be remembered
Robert M. Johnson ’53, Board Chair as one of the Robert J. Wright, Past Board Chair Lee Dean Ardell ’74, Trustee best representatives Jacqueline R. Cooper ’73, Trustee in the College’s history. Jesse R. Thomas ’74, Trustee Linda Plummer Ward ’78, Trustee He is Todd A. Williams ’82, Trustee “ Monica F. Martinez ’09, Student Body President one of the most Michael T. Nurre ’67, Alumni Association President John Williams ’84, Chaplain and Director of Church Relations well-rounded Lisa M. Brown, Associate Professor of Psychology George M. Diggs, Professor of Biology presidents Todd C. Penner, Associate Professor of Religion we ever have had. Alternate trustee members: Davis B. Price ’67 Steven M. Mobley
— Robert C. Wright, chair of the Austin College Board of Trustees from 1997 to June 2007 June 2008 Aust”in College Magazine 11 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:18 PM Page 14
around campus
Commencement Ceremonies Highlight 159th Academic Year of Austin College
Sunshine and blue skies were Sperfect backdrops for the smiling faces of Austin College students and parents at Michael Imhoff, vice president for Academic Affairs; Stuart Baskin, who presented the Baccalaureate sermon; Professor Light Commencement Cummins, who introduced the Commencement speaker; Antonio Garza, Jr., Ambassador to Mexico and Commencement ceremonies May 18 speaker; Robert M. Johnson, chair of the Board of Trustees; and President Oscar C. Page prepare for the procession. for the Class of 2008. The event marked the close of the 159th academic “We’re about to go into a world that needs us, a year of the College and a new beginning for world that will learn from us the concepts of global approximately 340 Bachelor of Arts graduates and 20 vision and service to others,” Akoue said to his Master of Arts in Teaching graduates. classmates. “These are the things that will come to The Honorable Antonio “Tony” Garza, Jr., U.S. define us. This is the Austin College difference.” ambassador to Mexico, presented the Commencement The two graduates with the highest academic address to approximately 4,400 people gathered on the records, with no distinction between them, are selected Clyde L. Hall Graduation Court, north of Caruth by faculty to receive scholarship medals for their Administration Building. Garza began his speech by achievement. Laura Ellington received the J.C. Kidd assuring the audience he was not there to “give the big Scholarship Medal, and Will Radke, the J.M. Robinson speech” or lecture about issues like globalization, Scholarship Medal. (See profiles on page 25.) terrorism, world famine, or immigration. Garza and Stuart Baskin, senior pastor of First “How you face these issues has more to do with the Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas, and 2008 person you are than just about anything else,” he said. Baccalaureate speaker, each received honorary Doctor of “While you can’t be certain where life will take you, you Humane Letters degrees during the Commencement can plan on living it a certain way. My advice to you is ceremony, with President Oscar to be open, honest, and good, and success will follow.” C. Page, Vice President Michael Axel Nze Akoue of Libreville, Gabon, was selected Imhoff , and Robert M Johnson by his classmates as senior speaker. Akoue said that he ’53, chair of the Board of and fellow classmates learned about service and global Trustees, presenting the degrees. vision at Austin College and gained a broad worldview, Members of the Class of evident in his classmates by their election of him as 1958, on campus to celebrate 50 class speaker and by the $51,000 gift from the class to years since their own graduation, create a scholarship for international students. also were recognized.
See Commencement Photos, pages 22 –23. Axel Nze Akoue
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Law Symposium Celebrates Texas Law Beginnings at Austin College Y
B Even many Austin College alumni may not be aware Toobin is a staff writer at The New Yorker, a senior R I K .
S that the first study of law in Texas was offered at analyst for CNN, and the author of five books. He E I K
C Austin College. In celebration of the legacy that began provides analysis of many high profile court cases and I V Y
B in 1855, members of the Alumni “L” Law Association received a 2000 Emmy Award for his coverage of the S O T
O and the College’s Pre-Law Society have hosted Elián González custody saga. H P educational events for students and law professionals Y B
for several years. R I K .
On April 7, legal analyst and commentator Jeffrey S E I K C
Toobin, author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the I V Y
Supreme Court , provided the keynote address for the B O T O
2008 Law Symposium on campus. His address, “The H P Supreme Court: the Personal and the Political,” set the stage for an afternoon of panel discussions with law professionals covering topics such as “Finding Reality in Defining Judicial Philosophy,” “Is Federalism a Guiding or Bygone Concept?,” and “Playing to Reality or Zealous Representation?”
Jeffrey Toobin
No Beach Time for Students on Spring Break Trip Forty-seven Austin College students and four sponsors This was not the first time Austin College students gave up potential trips to the beach for an Alternative volunteered to help with the recovery effort. Through Spring Break, sponsored by the College’s Service Station JanTerm and spring break opportunities, five groups of this spring. The students spent the week rebuilding Austin College volunteers have mobilized to help homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The group residents of the Gulf Coast. stayed in Luling, Louisiana, working through Melanie Oelfke , who served as Service Station Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. coordinator at the time of the trip, said the trip filled quickly. “Volunteerism and community service seem to O T
O be a natural part of our students’ DNA,” she said. The H P Y
S College’s Service Station has organized Alternative E T R
U Spring Breaks since 1992. O C Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). For $20 per day, PDA provided food and lodging for each volunteer, as well as tools and materials for the home repairs. Most of the costs for the Austin College trip were provided through a grant to the Service Station from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas.
How many volunteers does it take to nail a ceiling? Austin College magazine.austincollege.edu students find out firsthand when working in New Orleans during Alternative Spring Break 2008. Alternative Spring Break Photos
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An Evening With Your Scholar
Austin College scholarship recipients come together comments. He spoke about a new program at the Aeach spring with the donors who have funded their College, Global Outreach Fellowships, that funds scholarships at the College’s Evening With Your Scholar summer international service projects for students. He program. At the 2008 event, Will Radke ’08 spoke on served on the committee that selected the first behalf of students, telling of some of the adventures he recipients and is proud of the work students will begin experienced as an Austin College student who spent this summer and continue for years to come. “Perhaps three summers in China, interned with a major business the greatest feeling of all,” Radke said, “is being a part company, and served as a campus leader. “It can’t be of something that will impact someone I will probably said enough tonight and everyday: thank you for your never meet. This program symbolizes what is at the support of Austin College. But more importantly, thank heart of an Austin College education: empowerment. you for your support of us, the students,” Radke said. “It We are empowered because of you, the donors, to is especially because of you that so many of our dreams participate in so many life-changing opportunities.” continue to take flight.” Marcus ’58 and Betty (Tappan) Payne ’58 Radke used the proverb “To whom much is given, sponsored the event, as they have for several years, much is expected” as the basis for many of his recognizing the importance of scholarships in the College’s recruiting efforts and in the ability of many students to afford a college education. Austin College Board of Trustee Chair Robert M. Johnson ’53 of McLean, Virginia, said the opportunity for students and donors to become acquainted allows each to benefit from the experiences of the other, making the scholarship about more than money or a name on a check. The opportunity to see the students and hear of their accomplishments allows donors to see the results of their scholarship investment, he said.
magazine.austincollege.edu Rachel Dragoo, Betty and Marcus Payne, Priscilla Shaner, and Gabrielle Acobyan visit during the Evening With Your Scholar event in April. More EveningWithYour Scholar Photos
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Global Learning Is Focus of Quality Enhancement Plan
Austin College seeks reaffirmation of accreditation as an One goal of the program is to strengthen traditional institution of higher education by the Southern study abroad programs, the JanTerm, and other types of Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) every 10 international experiences, with the ambitious aim of years. One requirement of that process, to be completed providing every Austin College student an international in 2009, is submission and implementation of a Quality experience, said Goldsmith. A second goal is to promote Enhancement Plan (QEP) for the College that has the global learning on campus by strengthening area studies, potential to have substantive and lasting effect upon interdisciplinary programs, and co-curricular activities students and student learning. that foster cultural awareness. The enhancements to off- In December 2007, the Austin College faculty chose campus and on-campus programs will be integrated by “Global Learning for Cultural Awareness” as its QEP administrative infrastructure that seeks ways to streamline 2008 –2013. The plan encompasses traditional study and coordinate global learning, Goldsmith said. abroad programs, international JanTerm courses, Members of the committee welcome input and internships and service projects in other countries, and encourage any interested individuals to visit and post to campus programs focusing on international issues. the blog listed below where an outline of the QEP goals The faculty-elected QEP committee — consisting of and objectives is posted. The final version of the QEP David Baker , physics; Wayne Crannell , music; Bart will be submitted to the SACS in early January 2009. Dredge , sociology; Patrick Duffey , Span´ish; Karann See the QEP blog: Durland , philosophy; and Julia Shahid , education; www.austincollegeqep.blogspot.com with Steve Goldsmith , appointed as chair — are working on development of the plan.
Knowing firsthand the importance of scholarships in financing a college education, as Seniors well as the richness created by the presence of international students on campus, members of this May’s graduating class established the Class of 2008 International Endow Student Scholarship at Austin College through return of residence hall deposits and other fundraising efforts. International The new scholarship will be awarded annually to an international student, with preference given to a student studying at Austin College on an F-1 visa issued by the Student U.S. Department of State. Will Radke , a member of the 2008 Senior Committee, was an organizer of the Scholarship initiative after the idea was submitted to the committee by Axel Nze Akoue ’08 of Gabon. A total of $50,000 was needed to endow the scholarship. Students gave more than $14,000 through room deposit donations, with 82 percent of students participating. Abby and Todd Williams ’84 made a challenge grant of $18,000 toward the effort, pledging that amount if students raised an additional $18,000. Through gifts from senior parents as well as Rotary clubs and other individuals, the seniors raised the needed total. With Williams’ gift, the scholarship endowment was complete. “We hope to encourage actively more international students to become part of the multicultural fabric of Austin College and to contribute the knowledge, culture, and perspective that only students of an international background can,” Radke said.
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Alumni Seek to Memorialize Matthew Brandon Reed ’06 Matthew Brandon Reed ’06 lost his life in March 2007 “Future student-athletes will see evidence of Mat the age of 23 as a result of an oilfield accident. Reed commitment, loyalty, athleticism, and heart each and played football for Austin College in the 2002 to 2004 every time they enter this dressing room,” Norman said. seasons, was a three-year starter for the team, and A total of $50,000, to be paid in gifts and pledges became an All-Conference player as a defensive back over the next four years, is needed to name the room. and a return specialist. In 2004, Reed was selected by his Gifts may be of any size and can be one-time gifts or teammates as the Duke Babb Award winner as the four–year pledges paid on a monthly, quarterly, or team’s most valuable player. “He was annual basis. Y H P
a young man who played with heart A A target date of September 30 R G O
and commitment, not only for T has been set to secure the gifts and O H Austin College but also for his P pledges so that the announcement of H S A L
teammates and friends,” said David F the naming in honor of Reed can be F O
Norman ’80, who was Reed’s coach Y made in conjunction with the S E T
at Austin College. R Homecoming football game against U O Several of Reed’s friends, C Rhodes College on October 25, 2008. coaches, and teammates, seeking a For more information, contact way that Reed’s name could live on Norman, assistant director of at Austin College, have begun a athletics, at (903) 813-2499 or fundraising initiative to create the [email protected] . Matthew Brandon Reed Varsity Information on the funding initiative Dressing Room in the Mason also can be found online: Athletic-Recreation Complex. www.austincollege.edu/Info.asp?6588 Matthew Brandon Reed
Allen-Head Lecturer Discusses U.S. Political Culture and Mrs. R.B. Head, Jr., of Whitesboro, Texas, feature Asia Week Brings Speakers, Cultural Experiences Author and theologian Mark Lewis Taylor presented Austin nationally prominent speakers in the areas of religion, Austin College’s annual Asia Week, March 31–April 3, College’s 2008 Allen-Head Lecture, “The Future of the philosophy, psychology, history, and literature made included several opportunities to share Asian culture Christian Right in U.S. Political Culture,” on April 9, available to the local community through demonstrations of mandalas, origami, and followed by a book signing. calligraphy, as well as to hear lectures from experts. Taylor is Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Theology and Columbia University Philosopher Offers Lecture Junhua Wang, M.D., of the University of Texas Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. His most recent John Collins, associate professor of philosophy at Southwestern Medical Center spoke on “Severe book is Religion, Politics, and the Christian Right: Post Columbia University, visited Austin College in March to Immunodeficiency Disease in Navajo and Apache 9-11 Politics and American Empire . present the lecture, “Scams, Hustles, and Confidence Indians: The Responsible Gene and Its Function.” A native Taylor also wrote The Executed God: The Way of the Tricks: Elements of Anti-Social Epistemology.” of mainland China, Wang endured the Cultural Revolution Cross in Lockdown America , theologically addressing and came to the U.S. recently to continue his research. issues of the contemporary prison-industrial complex, Campus Amnesty International Program Ban Wang, professor of Chinese literature and film at police brutality, and the death penalty. He is the author of Raises Awareness of World’s Refugee Stories Stanford University, presented a lecture, “Where Are All Remembering Esperanza: A Cultural-Political Theology for The College’s Amnesty International chapter hosted its The Villages Gone?: Landscape and Home in Chinese North American Praxis and Paul Tillich: Theologian of the annual event March 31, designed to raised awareness of Literature and Film.” He also introduced the film, Postman Boundaries ; as well as co-author of Reconstructing refugees and displaced people around the world. The in the Mountains , and led a discussion afterward. Christian Theology . 2008 event, Forced Out, included refugee guest speakers Scott Langton , associate professor of Japanese, is The Allen-Head Lectures, established at Austin John Chol, a Lost Boy of Sudan, and Asli Parker, president director of Asian Studies. College by a gift from Mr. and Mrs. E.T. Allen, Jr., and Mr. of Somali Community Outreach Center in Dallas.
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Student Fundraiser Supports Clean Water Worldwide A 6K Walk for Water March 29 on the trails at Herman Baker Park in Sherman raised $2,820 in support of WaterCan, a charity that provides clean water and sanitation to millions of people in eastern Africa. The event was sponsored by the Austin College Rotaract Club, with assistance from the Austin College chapters of Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity and the Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS). Students raised funds sufficient to provide access to clean water to 112 individuals. G
Many elements of the Walk for Water N O R T had significance, volunteer Rachel Dodd ’11 S M R A
said. The $25 entry fee represented the cost E N I L
of providing one person in Africa with clean E U Q C A
water and sanitation. The 6K distance of the J Y B
walk symbolized the average distance that O T O H
women and girls travel each day to retrieve P clean water. The Walk for Water was held in conjunction with World Water Day, designated by the United Nations. Statistics show one in five people in the world lacks access to clean water, affecting 80 percent of diseases in developing countries. Proceeds directly support clean water projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Students weathered gray skies to raise more than $2,800 in support of clean water and sanitation in a 6K Walk for Water at an area lake in March.
AIDS Quilt Display Returns to Campus studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Since Educator Proposes “Darwin Loves You” Austin College hosted its annual AIDS Quilt Program April 1993, he has served as a senior staff member and field Educator George Levine presented “Darwin Loves You: 10 with AIDS quilts from the Grayson County Home archaeologist at the Sepphoris excavation in Galilee. He Natural Selection and the Re-Enchantment of the World” Hospice on display. The program included poetry also has traveled and led student groups to Greece, April 17 during a campus lecture funded by a grant from readings, prayers in various languages, and discussions Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Italy, and Germany. the Keck Foundation. about issues surrounding AIDS, as well as remembrances Moreland is co-director of the archaeology program Levine’s lecture title comes from his 2006 book by of those who have died from the disease. A raffle at the at Rhodes, where he also directs the Institute for the same title. The book has been described as an event raised funds supporting the Simbaradenga Regional Studies. He heads research projects to sites exploration of Darwinism’s implications for moral and Children’s AIDS Orphanage in Zimbabwe. extending from the historic plantations of west Tennessee spiritual values, proposing that Darwin and scientific Roger Platizky, professor of English, coordinates to ancient Palestine. theory are not dehumanizing or amoral, and that it is the annual campus event. Moreland co-directed a project on the “James possible to be a Darwinist and still believe that the world Ossuary,” that surfaced in 2002. The James Ossuary is a has meaning. Lecture Addresses Biblical Archeology and Faith sepulchral, limestone box for containing bones, claimed Professor emeritus of English at Rutgers University, Milton C. Moreland presented the lecture “Raiding the to have held the bones of James, the brother of Jesus. Levine is the author of several books. He received his Tomb of Jesus: Biblical Archaeology, Conspiracy Theories, Moreland’s project has focused on the scholarly, master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, served and the Consequences for Faith” April 15 on campus, commercial, and religious aspects of the phenomena two years in the army, and then returned to the University sponsored by Austin College’s Humanities Division. related to the box and the media coverage it received. of Minnesota to earn his doctorate in Victorian literature. Specializing in archaeology and the origins of The Israel Antiquities Authority assess it as a modern He taught Victorian literature at the University of Indiana Christianity, Moreland is associate professor of religious forgery, but some scholars maintain its authenticity. from 1959 until he joined the faculty at Rutgers College [continued on page 18]
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“Parade of Fools” Supports the Fight Against Cancer
Even faculty and administrators act a bit foolish sometimes, especially on April Fools Day. This April, though, the cause was a serious one — the battle against cancer. A team of Austin College faculty Eand staff who signed up to participate in the local Relay for Life walk had set a goal to raise $4,000 by the May walk, and combined fundraising efforts with a little April Fools Day fun. Seven individuals on campus were asked to participate in a Parade of Fools, with the degree of costume required dependent upon the donations contributed in each name — ranging from a hat to a full costume. Contributions were worthy of complete costumes for all, making a colorful Parade of Fools for the many faculty, staff, and students gathered in Wright Campus Center for the event. Good-natured participants and their costumed alter-egos were Andrew Carr , associate professor of chemistry, as Mad Merlin the Wizard; Nan Davis , vice president for Institutional Enrollment, as Pierette the Clown; Molly Dougherty , assistant director of Annual Giving, as Slim the Rodeo Clown; Steve Goldsmith , dean of Sciences and professor of biology, as Scotty the Highlander; Mike Imhoff ,
Y vice president for Academic Affairs, as the Easter Bunny; Steve B R I K
. Stell , associate professor of religious studies and John F. S E I
K Anderson Chair of Christian Thought, as The Prom Queen; C I V
Y and Diane Walsh , Registrar’s Office records specialist, as B O T Flutterby the Butterfly. O H P The chance to see friends and co-workers in costume raised $3,193, with Imhoff supporters giving more than $400. The ’Roos Down Under Relay for Life team reached its goal by the day of the race and immediately began to plan its fundraising goal for next year’s event.
Parade of Fools participants are, left to right, Nan Davis, Steve Stell, Diane Walsh, Andrew Carr, Molly Dougherty, Steve Stell, and Mike Imhoff. Behind them is Kim Snipes, biology lab coordinator and a member of the ’Roos Down Under team.
in 1968, where he taught for almost 40 years in many language to another, from one genre/medium to Tricia Sheffield , a theorist of gender and sexuality and a capacities from chair to associate provost. In 1986, he another (e.g., literature to film), from script to Lilly Visiting Professor in religious studies at Austin College, became co-founder and Director of the Center for the performance, from male to female (and vice versa), offered “Performing Jesus: A Queer Counternarrative of Critical Analysis of Contemporary Culture, a program that from data to policy, from one business paradigm to Embodied Transgression,” discussing the Chalcedonian Creed’s focuses on making intellectual connections, especially another (e.g., going green), from one political party or relevance to transgendered people. between humanities and the sciences. system to another, or from theory to practice. Julie Hempel , associate professor of Spanish, and Alex Plenary speakers : Garganigo , assistant professor of English, co-directed this Art History Students Hear from Expert Carmen Perez Romero, translator, emerita professor year’s conference, with the assistance of several students, Cheryl Snay, associate curator of prints and drawings at of English literature at Universidad de Extremadura, including Szende Szabo ’08, chair of the student committee. the University of Texas Blanton Museum of Art, spoke to and author of the only full translation of Shakespeare’s students on “The Pantheon in Paris: Art and Politics in sonnets into Spanish, spoke on “Translating Gender Studies Talk Explores Networking Phenomenon 19th Century France” on April 17. Shakespeare’s Sonnets.” Dr. Tim Dean, professor of comparative literature at State Philip Boehm, translator, playwright, and director, University of New York at Buffalo, presented a lecture, Undergraduate Conference Examines presented “Challenges of Translating Drama,” “Breeding Culture: Barebacking, Bugchasing, Giftgiving,” in “Transformation and Translation” addressing the problems of translating plays from one April. The lecture, funded by the College’s Gender Studies The fifth annual Austin College Undergraduate language to another and from page to stage. program, examined a recent gay male subcultural Conference in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Bioethicist, barrister, and Penn State Professor of phenomenon: viral transmission as the basis for creating new “Transformation and Translation,” was held April 25-26. Law Jonathan Marks presented “’False Friends’ and kinship networks. The topic related ideas of translating and transforming, Uncertain Enemies: The Transformation of U.S. as from thought to word, from word to image, from one Interrogation Policy and Law in the War on Terror.”
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Henry Winkler to Present Opening of School Address
Henry Winkler, actor, director, producer, and author, will present Austin College’s Opening of School Convocation address Monday, September 1, at 7 p.m. in Wynne Chapel. Winkler remains best known as the television icon “The Fonz” on the 1970s sitcom Happy Days, though he has since added many television, film, and Broadway acting and directing projects to his credits. He also has Homer P. Rainey Award Is Presented
O emerged as a distinguished T O
H Cynthia Curtis Bean , associate director of Alumni and
P speaker, humanitarian, author, Y S
E Parent Relations, received Austin College’s Homer P.
T and advocate of young people R U
O and education. Rainey Award during academic year-end ceremonies on C The Opening Convocation campus. The Board of Trustees presents the award will officially begin the 160th annually to a member of the faculty or staff for Y
academic year of the College and outstanding service B R I K
to the College. .
will include investiture of the S E I
Bean, a 1975 K Class of 2012 as well as C I V
graduate of Austin Y recognition of the Class of 2009 B O T
as its members begin their final College, joined the O H P year at Austin College. staff in 1994. Her involvement with alumni spans many generations, as she works with GOLD alumni (Graduates Henry Winkler Of the Last Decade) and Golden ’Roos, alumni of 50 or more years ago. Cindy Bean
Alumna Janell Watson Offers Lecture Can a Chosen People Have a True Politics? Symphony Offers Opera Arias and Guest Lectures The Austin College Humanities Division presented an Kenneth Surin, professor of literature at Duke University, The Sherman Symphony Orchestra gave its final concert alumna lecture, “Psychoanalysis, Philosophy, Politics,” by spoke at Austin College on May 1, presenting “Can a for the 2007 –2008 season May 3, presenting “Opera Janell Watson ’82 on April 30. Chosen People Have a True Politics?” Arias, Choruses, and Overtures” with guest soloists Emily Watson is an assistant professor of French at Virginia Surin, born in Malaysia and educated in Britain, Newton, Lawrence Harris, Wayne Crannell , and the Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, taught in city schools in and around Cambridge, England, Austin College choirs performing selected scenes from Virginia. She is the university’s coordinator of the before joining the University of Gloucestershire. Verdi’s Rigolleto and Don Carlo , Gounod’s Faust , and master’s program in Area Studies and has taught In 1987, he took a position in the Department of Puccini’s Turandot . Daniel Dominick, music director and women’s studies courses as well. Religion at Duke, moving to the program in literature in conductor of the orchestra since 1992, is an Austin Her teaching interests are French language, 19th to 1992. He is professor and chair of the program in College associate professor of music. He also conducts 21st century French literature, cultural studies, gender literature, with an appointment in religion and an adjunct internationally and has arranged several piece of music studies, globalization, and French film. Watson earned appointment in the German Studies doctoral program. He for orchestra. her doctorate in French from Duke University. is director of Undergraduate Studies and has served as Crannell, tenor, is associate professor of music at Watson’s book, Literature and Material Culture from director of the Duke Center for European Studies. Austin College and chair of the Music Department. He Balzac to Proust: The Collection and Consumption of Founder of the journal Modern Theology, Surin is the has appeared with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Curiosities , was released in 1999 and she has written for author of two books, editor of another, and has written the Des Moines Symphony, and the Des Moines Metro several journals and professional publications. many journal articles for publication. Opera, and has performed extensively in Texas. [continued on page 20]
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Austin College Students Present Chekhov’s Three Sisters Austin College’s Department of Communication Studies presented Anton Chekhov’s play, Three Sisters , translated by American playwright Lanford Wilson, in April. Kathleen Campbell , professor of communication studies, directed the production. “The three sisters of Chekhov’s play long to leave the provincial town where they live and return N A B
R to Moscow,” Campbell said, summarizing the story. U S U
C “During the play they dream, hope, and plan, but R A
M their lives turn out very differently than their Y B
O expectations. Still, these characters seek life and T O H
P happiness, even when events seem to be turning against them. As is usual with Chekhov, the mood is both melancholy and funny, as we are asked to see both the foibles and flaws of the characters even as we deeply empathize with them.” The three sisters were portrayed by Jackie Purdy ’08, Averie Bell ’09, and Maria “Mimi” Malphurs ’10.
Actors, left to right, Jackie Purdy, Averie Bell, and Mimi Malphurs rehearse for the Austin College production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters.
Guest vocalists Emily Newton, soprano, and Students Host World Health Week Later in the week, a discussion on terrorism and Lawrence Harris, baritone, presented two campus The Posey Leadership Institute’s Global Issues special Jihad and a campus lecture, “Muslim Resources for lectures. Newton shared thoughts on music as vocation interest group sponsored a series of education initiatives Peace and Interfaith Dialogue,” were presented by Yahya in “The Path to the Profession: A Singer’s Journey from a for World Health Week in April. The students’ efforts Hendi, Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University. Small Town to New York City.” A native of Lake Jackson, focused on global diseases still prevalent in the world, Georgetown is the first American university to hire a full- Texas, Newton lives in New York City and has performed distributing information and colored ribbons representing time Muslim chaplain. Hendi also is the Imam of the widely on the opera and concert stage. Harris offered “A each disease. Students also held a small health Islamic Society of Frederick, and is the Muslim chaplain Master Class in Voice” for students. He made his debut pandemic simulation in Wright Campus Center in which at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, in the title role of Rigoletto at Philadelphia’s Kimmel they quizzed students on a particular disease’s Maryland. He serves as a member and the spokesperson Center. Response to that performance established symptoms. Claire Balani ’10, a coordinator of the effort, of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of North America him as an important new Verdi baritone. said that next year the group hopes to involve the Pre- and is an adjunct faculty member for Johns Hopkins Medical Society and create a larger impact on campus. University and the Fordham University. Staff Members Win Publication Awards In addition, musician, activist, and Rotary Peace Staff of the College’s Institutional Advancement Division Religious Life Students Host Peace Week Fellow David LaMotte shared stories and conversation earned a Grand/Gold Award for the brochure “Science Austin College’s second Peace Week, sponsored by the around the question of how one individual can have a Matters” at the Council for the Advancement and Support Religious Life staff and students, began with a dinner positive impact on the larger world. of Education (CASE) District IV conference in Arkansas in following the chapel service April 13. Patrick Coffman Peace Week ended with a communion service and a April. The brochure also earned a Bronze Award in the ’08 discussed the Ulster Project and its efforts to unite program with an Earth Day focus, “Peace on Earth CASE Circle of Excellence International Awards . Protestant and Catholic youth in northern Ireland. Requires Peace with Earth.”
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2008 Faculty Retirees Mark More Than 90 Years of Service Three members of the Austin College faculty retired at the close of Spring Term 2008. Shelton Williams , professor of political science and John D. Moseley Chair in Government and Public Policy, joined the Austin College faculty in 1970. “Highlights of my years here are the many interactions with students in classes, on foreign trips, in Model UN, in the Leadership Institute, and in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “My colleagues — my friends — were great associates. My greatest honor was to serve as the John D. Moseley Chair of Government and Public Policy.” Williams’ plans include continued work as president of the Osgood Center for International Studies in Washington, D.C., where, among other things, he conducts foreign policy programs that often include Austin College students and alumni. “I think I will always be teaching,” he said. “I hope Austin College students are always part of my classes.” Janet Lowry , associate professor of sociology, will move to Hanover, Indiana, this summer, transitioning from teaching about and researching the aging process to experiencing it through caregiving for her frail parents. Lowry is an alumna of Hanover College and grew up on the campus where her grandfather was president and her parents, as well as her husband, graduated. Lowry came to Austin College in 1983 so has a long career of memories of Austin College students and colleagues. “Highlights of my Austin College experience include 25 years of sports, plays, and concerts just two blocks from home, extensive service to the community through two decades with the Social Science Lab, and developing ties to India through sponsored trips, JanTerm classes, and sabbatical research.” Lowry’s involvement with India will lead to her first professional project of retirement. She plans to begin work on a book, Before the Sister Churches , about the first years of international partnership between Grace Presbytery and North Kerala Diocese in building global Christian relationships and mutual mission. James Gray, professor of English, joined the faculty at Austin College in 1978. After 29 years of dedicated service, Gray has been forced for health reasons to take early retirement.
Organizations Focus on Earth Day Events The students spend the entire term working on this Senior Art Exhibit Provides Color The Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students single video project, starting from the germ of an idea and The 2008 Juried Senior Art Invitational featured work by (ECOS) sponsored several events for Earth Day, April 22, working it through script, storyboard, and footage Austin College seniors. Faculty members of the showing an episode of Planet Earth and co-hosting, with captured on location into a final cut that includes Department of Art selected the pieces for exhibit. the Center for Environmental Studies, representatives of Re- soundtrack and visual effects. The films and students who Works in the 2008 exhibit were created by Carl Energize Texas, who spoke campus solutions for climate created the work are Ezekiel by Raif Smith ’10 and Antonowicz, Kristen Bagnall, Katie Burgoon, Kathryn change and the organization’s focus on college campuses Deepa Shridhar ’09, How the West Was Lost by Sam Cantrell, Christine Cunningham, Claire Gardner, committing to reducing CO2 emissions year-by-year. Maclin ’10 and Daniel Phipps ’09, and Waiting for Alexis Shannon Graves, Ashley Ledbetter, Krista Miller, In addition, the group sponsored an Earth Festival, by Austin Tooley ’09 and Shane Gannaway ’10. Karena Rogers, Nicole Ruano, Anna Sebesta, Beth which showcased live music from Austin College students “The casts included nearly a dozen student Shaw-Meadow, Dianne Smith, Sherry Spangler, and offered free drinks to those students with reusable volunteers, some of whom are regulars on the stage, Richard Talabay, Matthew Whitenack, Rachel Wilkes , containers. Several campus organizations hosted booth some who have not acted before, and almost none who and Mary Anne Woolley . activities and offerings, including leaf rubbings, go green have acted for the camera,” explained Brett Boessen , All art majors also present individual senior exhibits ideas, free seeds, and vegetarian and vegan recipes. assistant professor of communication studies, who led during the year. the course designed to provide students knowledge in Video Students Screen Films storytelling, screenwriting, preproduction planning, Students in the Digital Video Production II course offered casting, production, photography, and non-linear editing. a film screening May 11 of three narrative fiction short projects written, cast, shot, and edited by students.
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More Commencement Photos
June 2008 Austin College Magazine 23 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:18 PM Page 26 Oh, by Dara McCoy the places t he y’ ll g o!
embers of the Austin College Class of 2008, with “brains in their heads and feet in their shoes” have been to some great places (seven out of 10 Mstudents have had at least one international A few of the graduates’ contemplations led them to experience at Austin College) and many are now identify with the young boy in the Dr. Seuss book Oh, heading toward spectacular destinations. The final the Places You’ll Go! , a popular graduation gift. While a weeks of the academic term and Commencement gift of a children’s book to those reaching a milestone ceremonies were abundant with forward-looking of adulthood like college graduation might seem philosophy and thoughts of young people being sent ironic, perhaps Dr. Seuss intended all along for his “out into the world.” final book to take his young readers full circle, with an encouraging but realistic story about stepping out into life. Many Austin College students have already experienced more of the world than many individuals see in a lifetime. Oh, the places they have gone! Now, those students, like their classmates among the Class of 2008, have new adventures ahead, some known, some yet to be discovered.
Oh, the places they’ll go!
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Will Radke Major: International Economics and Finance and Asian Studies, summa cum laude Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Places He’s Going: Singapore Will Radke’s story is a rich example of what drive and determination can reap when coupled with the education and opportunities provided at Austin College. “Austin College has equipped me to understand much more of what I want from life and how to achieve this,” Will said. “I have tools for all kinds of tasks — from analyzing literature to making investment decisions. That’s the beauty of a liberal arts education. Graduates are no one-trick ponies.” Will’s drive, those tools, and meaningful relationships with professors and alumni have resulted in summer internships for Goldman Sachs in Dallas and for Deloitte Touche in Guangzhou, China, as well as completion of a Mellon Research Fellowship in China and an honors thesis on counterfeit goods. Austin College benefited from Will’s talents on campus, too. He served as president of Austin College Rotary International, co-chaired the Todd A. Williams Student Investment Fund, assisted with Africa Symposium, and serves on the steering committee for the Global Outreach Laura Ellington “GO” Fellowship. In 2007, Will founded GO Change, a micro-credit program Major: Biology, summa cum laude that encourages Austin College students to donate their spare change to Hometown: Greenville, Texas fund micro-loans for small businesses in West Africa. In the program’s first Places She’s Going: Johns Hopkins Medical School (Baltimore, Maryland) term, students raised over $1,700 for the program. Laura Ellington was attracted to Austin College by its reputation for Following graduation, Will’s education, experiences, and language excellent pre-medical preparation and her desire to play college skills in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese will be used in his new position volleyball. She was not disappointed by the decision to attend and found as an analyst for Archon Group, a developing market real estate fund at success in both arenas. Now bound for Johns Hopkins Medical School, a Goldman Sachs Reality Asia Pacific subsidiary in Singapore. “This is Laura played volleyball for the Kangaroos, advancing with her teammates truly an opportunity of a lifetime,” he said. “I am very humbled by all the in fall 2007 to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament help I have received and would be nowhere without it.” in Atlanta, Georgia. Laura also put her volleyball skills into service by offering a free volleyball clinic for Sherman-area fifth- and sixth-graders during Austin College’s Great Day of Service. She taught swimming lessons and served as a weekly sixth grade volunteer teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Sherman. Between athletics and service work, Laura was active in her scholarly pursuits. She was awarded the Kaplan Junior Award amongst all third-year Texas pre-medical students and was selected as the ExxonMobil Summer Intern for the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, where she conducted clinical research in pediatrics. Like many Austin College graduates, Laura spent significant time exploring the world, including six weeks of summer 2007 in San Jose, Costa Rica, volunteering at the Coopesalud Hospital. “My time at Austin College gave me a much broader worldview from traveling on JanTerms Y B R I
K and summers to Mexico, Rome, Costa Rica, and Australia,” Laura said.
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Michael Martin Major: International Economics and Finance, and Political Science Hometown: Groesback, Texas Places He’s Going: Vienna, Austria It took multiple internships in the legal field for Michael Martin to figure out law wasn’t the career he wanted. It took fall term 2007, studying abroad in Vienna, Austria, and interning with Austrian environmental consultancy firm Denkstatt GmbH to find not only his career, but a job after graduation. Michael desired a career path that implemented both his majors in political science and economics and, after overcoming reservations about “the unwanted stigma of becoming a hippy or tree hugger,” discovered environmental studies offered that opportunity. “Austin College was the turning point in my life where I found the world to be my home and a place where I as an individual can make a difference through hard work and dedication,” said Michael, who also traveled to Istanbul, Turkey; Budapest, Hungary; and Rome and Venice, Emileigh Stewart Italy. “I am most proud of not losing my small-town Texan roots, while Major: Political Science and Psychology, magna cum laude becoming a global citizen who can communicate within different Hometown: Midlothian, Texas cultures and ideologies.” Places She’s Going: St. Mary’s University School of Law (San Antonio, Texas) By attending Austin College, Emileigh Stewart continued a family legacy. Nine members of her family have attended or graduated from Austin College and her grandmother worked at the College for more than 20 years. “One of my favorite memories was my parents and I walking around campus together,” Emileigh said. “When we got to the Honors Court and fountain, we looked for their names and picked out the spot where my name would be engraved on the wall. It made me proud to be a graduate and achieve what my parents hoped.” Selected as Austin College’s 2008 Outstanding Senior Woman on the basis of academic achievements and campus involvement, Emileigh’s long list of accomplishments include service as president of the Austin College Pre-Law Society and Greek Council; director of the Austin College Rotaract, responsible for maintaining the College’s ties to area Rotary Clubs; 2006 Homecoming Queen; and the Posey Leadership Institute. She spent a JanTerm abroad studying culture and cuisine in Madrid, Spain, and studied fair trade, violence, and social unrest in Guatemala during her 2008 spring break. This fall, Emileigh will attend St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. While in leadership roles for various Austin College activities, she discovered a penchant for “organizing, remodeling, and fixing groups and programs.” She hopes to some day work for the CIA. “Austin College has encouraged me to learn and explore like no other school would have done,” Emileigh said. “I don’t know that I would have been able to accomplish all that I accomplished without attending Austin College.”
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Drew Kelly Major: History, summa cum laude Hometown: Anna, Texas Places He’s Going: Texas A&M Health Science Center (College Station, Texas) When Drew Kelly came to Austin College as a Lattimore Presidential Scholar, he could have been a perfect character for Friday Night Lights . He was captain of his high school varsity football, power lifting, and track teams; class valedictorian; an Eagle Scout; and had grown up ranching and farming on land that had been passed down through six generations, all in “a town that celebrated football as true religion,” Drew said. At the time, he was convinced he wanted to get an education in political theory and enter national politics, motivated by “dreams of public glory to satisfy naked ambition as much as making a positive difference in the world around me,” he said. A few weeks in Washington, D.C., during a JanTerm left Drew jaded by the political scene and motivated by a desire to “have a direct, immediate, and tangible impact in the lives of individuals,” he said. He went on to participate in a Lilly internship, shadowing surgeons in Allen and McKinney, Texas, and recognized the positive impact doctors could Rebecca Lake make in individuals’ lives. In addition to the JanTerm in D.C., Drew spent Major: Political Science and History, summa cum laude another JanTerm in Scotland and participated in a short-term summer Hometown: Royse City, Texas medical mission trip in Brazil. Places She’s Going: Harvard Law School (Cambridge, Massachusetts) “I leave Austin College a veritable scholar, having outgrown varsity As a junior high school student in Royse City, Texas (population athletics during my first term of exposure to real intellectual pursuits,” said approximately 9,300), Rebecca Lake was asked by her pre-calculus Drew, who this fall will attend medical school at Texas A&M Health teacher, Mrs. Irby, to share a dream with the class. Thinking her dream Science Center to employ his talents “in the service of something greater a little too big, Rebecca remembers saying she wanted to attend than myself on a daily basis.” Some things, like the fact that Drew still Harvard Law School, but qualified it as silly. “With as much seriousness works on the ranch as often as he can, never change, but his life pursuits as anyone has ever spoken to me, Mrs. Irby looked me straight in the seem no longer dominated by “naked ambition” or “public glory,” but an eyes and told me that my dream was absolutely not silly,” Rebecca said. “During my JanTerm in Guatemala, Harvard Law School accepted me interest to serve others through medicine. into its class of 2011.” Rebecca’s impressive résumé contains all the things you’d expect from a future Harvard Law School student: Austin College Pre-Law Society co-president, Peer Judicial Board co-chair, Phi Beta Kappa inductee, Posey Leadership Institute Scholar, Hatton W. Sumners Scholar in Political Science, Stephen F. Austin Scholar in History, and “Outstanding Delegate” at the 2007 National Model United Nations Conference in New York City. Her résumé also contains service-oriented work and projects like training lesson horses for Hannah’s Horseshoes for Hope, a therapeutic riding center for the physically and mentally disabled, and tutoring high school students at the College’s Math Achievement Center. “I never pictured myself zip-lining over the top of a rainforest, climbing a volcano, standing on top of an ancient Mayan pyramid, or watching Wicked from the front row in New York City, but I have done all of these things because of Austin College,” Rebecca said.
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Cicily Smith Major: Mathematics and Spanish, magna cum laude Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas Places She’s Going: Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas) Cicily Smith participated in home school education from early elementary school through high school while growing up in Fort Worth, Texas. At Austin College, Cicily discovered the world. “I feel I have grown and matured tremendously over the past four years,” she said. “In high school, I was comfortable associating with people who thought, looked, and behaved like me. Austin College is a microcosmic, real world experience that exposed me to life outside my comfort zone.” Life outside her comfort zone included a term at the Universidad de Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain; a summer assisting in graduate-level research at Universidad de Puerto Rico in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico; a JanTerm in Egypt studying pharaohs, pyramids, and mosques; and an internship at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Grand Prairie, Texas. Cicily has parlayed her experience, service efforts for Habitat for Humanity and as English as a Second Language volunteer, and her Elisabeth Shaw-Meadow honors into a full scholarship with stipend at Texas A&M University to Major: Spanish, summa cum laude pursue graduate studies in industrial and systems engineering. Hometown: San Antonio, Texas “Study abroad, summer research, and internships are just a few Places She’s Going: Americorps, Heifer International of the wide array of opportunities at the fingertips of Austin College Beth Shaw-Meadow’s academic career at Austin College illustrates students,” Cicily said. “Austin College has the resources to take its perfectly the advantages of a liberal arts education. She majored in students in just about any direction they want to go.” Spanish, took science courses to prepare for veterinary school, and pursued her passion as an artist. In fact, it was only after completing a Lilly internship at a veterinary clinic the summer after her freshman year that Beth decided her vocational calling was to be a veterinarian and not an artist. Beth spent a term abroad at the Universidad de Granada in Granada, Spain, developing her language skills; a JanTerm traveling throughout Europ e , visiting England, Ireland, France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Turke y ; and completed an internship at the Dallas Museum of Art, all important steps in a journey to explore purpose for life after college. “I credit my Austin College education 100 percent for developing an educational plan into a vocational plan for my life,” Beth said. “What I have done would not have been possible had I not attended a liberal arts college like Austin College.” Logging about 300 hours of service during her time at the College, it’s no surprise that after graduation Beth will spend a portion of the summer with a volunteer veterinary medical team in Honduras. Then, through AmeriCorps, she begins a year-long internship with Heifer Project International, a non-profit organization that sponsors small-scale livestock development projects around the world. Those projects complete, she will turn her attention to veterinary school.
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Eric Richter Major: Religion and Asian Studies, magna cum laude Hometown: Lakeway, Texas Places He’s Going: Goucher College (Baltimore, Maryland) Since coming to Austin College, Eric Richter has been from Timbuktu to Kathmandu, and a few places in between. Eric got his first taste of academic pursuits abroad during a JanTerm to Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia his freshman year. That trip and a year or two of “taking any class that I found interesting” sparked a passion for Asian philosophy and developed his double major in religion and Asian studies, he said. A 2006 JanTerm took Eric to Senegal, Mali, and Timbuktu, where he learned about global responsibility and cultural richness. He spent the 2006 –2007 academic year in a study abroad program at the Kathmandu University of Buddhist Studies and Himalayan Language in Kathmandu, Nepal. During that year, he took classes in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and trekked through the Himalayan Mountains. “It was humbling to live a Szende Szabo life absent of many of the day-to-day comforts I had always taken for Major: International Relations and Spanish, magna cum laude granted in the U.S., such as warm showers, washing machines, air Hometown: Uricani, Romania, and Buenos Aires, Argentina conditioning, and clean water,” Eric said. Places She’s Going: Bush School of Government and Public Service at While at Austin College, Eric has been president of the College’s Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas) Amnesty International chapter and the Environmentally Concerned Szende Szabo developed an appreciation for diverse people and places at Organization of Students (ECOS). Eric also spent two summers doing a young age. Born in Romania and of Hungarian ethnicity, she considers conservation projects as a crew member of the Continental Divide Trail both languages her mother tongues, but at age 10, Szende moved with her Alliance and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. family to Argentina. At 17, Szende came to the United States to continue The study abroad experience also inspired Eric to pursue a career in her education, which included four years at Austin College. Szende departs medicine. Immediately after graduation, Eric will attend Goucher College Austin College fluent in Romanian, Hungarian, English, and Spanish; for a year-long, post-baccalaureate pre-medical program. “I want to proficient in German; and having studied both French and Chinese. become a doctor and serve my community and other communities around “I don’t feel attached to a particular place, and I appreciate all the world in promoting health,” Eric said. cultures,” Szende said. “Many times I feel to be the citizen of a wide global community.” Szende continued her globetrotting at Austin College. Being an international student in the United States didn’t stop her from becoming an international student studying the European Union at Albert- Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany, during fall 2006. She spent her 2006 summer as a statistical marketing intern for TenarisSilcotub in Romania through an Austin College Lilly internship. She also is a member of the Posey Leadership Institute and Phi Beta Kappa honor society. This fall, Szende will attend the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University to pursue a master’s degree in public service and administration. “The Austin College environment has made my desire to pursue my goals even stronger because I was able to get first-hand experiences doing what I most love: helping and serving others,” Szende said. “It showed me that the career I have chosen in the non-profit and human rights realm is the best decision I could make.”
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Afua Kwarteng Major: German Hometown: The World Places She’s Going: University of North Texas Many students begin traveling while attending Austin College, but Afua Kwarteng grew up traveling in various countries throughout the Middle East. She came to the College with high expectations about finding purpose for her life and said, “Austin College did not let me down.” At Austin College, Afua studied in Germany and Jamaica where she compared her life to the people she met and “got a firmer grasp on where I stood in the world, what the impact of my life is, and what it could be,” she said. Afua also spent time volunteering with ECOS and at the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge. Afua did not spend all her time deep in philosophical and scholarly pursuits. She fondly remembers “the night police busted a party where only root beer floats were being served.” Afua plans to earn a graduate degree in public administration Kristin Shapiro from the University of North Texas, where she will attend on a Hatton Major: Biology and Spanish Summers Graduate Scholarship. “Plain and simple, Austin College has Hometown: Dallas, Texas opened doors for me that I did not know existed,” she said. Places She’s Going: The Peace Corps (The Caribbean) Can success be found in a person’s DNA? Kristin Shapiro might investigate that question one day. Kristin entered Austin College to take advantage of its pre-medical preparation, and she will someday employ her education as a genetic counselor. However, Kristin is hitting the pause button on graduate school to spend two years in the Caribbean. No, she is not taking an extended vacation. Kristin has committed to spend two years with the Peace Corps, employing her Spanish language skills in service to the Caribbean people. Her motivation can be traced back to her sophomore JanTerm in India. “That was an eye- opening experience,” Kristin said. “I learned to value the opportunities that I had been given by my family and my school. It also inspired me to learn about other cultures and experience them firsthand.” Kristin later studied at Universidad de Granada in Granada, Spain, during her junior year. She interned at the Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and spent hundreds of hours volunteering at local crisis centers, at health clinics, and through her sorority. “My time at Austin College was well worth it,” Kristin said. “I gained a huge amount of experience in a variety of settings that will prepare me for the Peace Corps, graduate school, my job, and life in general.”
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student achievers
Nicole Moore Hometown: Houston, Texas more places Major: Business Administration and Music, Honors in Music, summa cum laude Where She’s Going: Teach for America — Memphis, Tennessee the y’ ll g o ... Tamir Dean Anver Hometown: Bedford, Texas Major: Biochemistry/minor in Religion, summa cum laude Where He’s Going: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch
Austin Trantham Hometown: Argyle, Texas Major: Political Science, Honors in Political Science/minor in History, magna cum laude Where He’s Going: American University, Washington, D.C. Austin will pursue a master’s degree in political science from the American University School of Public Affairs.
Jesse Travis Hometown: Plainview, Texas Major: Religion and Psychology, summa cum laude Where She’s Going: Teach for America — New Orleans, Louisiana
Emma Wilking Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Psychology/minor in Art History, cum laude Where She’s Going: University of Massachusetts, (Boston, Massachusetts) Emma will work as a vocational instructor at Merrimack Education Center for teenagers with special needs (autism spectrum, cognitive and physical disabilities) while pursuing a master’s degree in special education.
Thomas Rhodes Hometown: Odessa, Texas Major: German and Music, Honors in Music Where He’s Going: Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Thomas, who spent Fall Term 2007 studying in Vienna, Austria, and completing an internship at the Vienna State Opera, has received a scholarship for the Master of Arts Management program through Carnegie Mellon’s College of Fine Arts.
Axel Nze Akoue Hometown: Libreville, Gabon Major: International Relations/minor in Communication Arts Where He’s Going: UN Foundation ( Washington, D.C.) Axel has begun an internship with the United Nations Foundation’s “Nothing But Nets” campaign to provide mosquito nets to families throughout Africa to prevent malaria. After completing a master’s degree in international relations and possibly a law degree, he hopes to return to Gabon to have an impact on need in his country.
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student achievers
Seniors Take Part in Busy Spring Strike Up the Band Cluchey Presents Paper at In addition to a number of presentations each term by Professional Meeting the various music instrumental and vocal ensembles at Kathleen McLaughlin Cluchey ’08 co- Austin College, all music majors present a senior recital presented a paper with Steve Stel l, as evidence of their accomplishment. This spring, associate professor of religious studies, at recitals were given by Adam Cluchey , vocal; Justin the Southwest Regional Meeting of the Duncan , vocal; Rebecca Farrar , cello; Katy Hampton , American Academy of Religion. The viola; Nicole Moore , vocal; Sarah Powell , clarinet; and paper, “A Dying Christendom and the Thomas Rhodes , vocal. Lindsey Brown presented her Postmodern Dilemma: A Theological senior vocal recital in December. Examination of Liberals, Conservatives, and the Emerging Church,” and research G N O
R efforts were a product of Cluchey’s 2007 T S M
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Left to right, Sarah Powell, Katy Hampton, and Adam Cluchey E T R U
prepare for a performance. O C Senior Directs Production Jackie Purdy ’08 directed and created the set design for the College’s presentation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight , by Dennis Scott in March. The lyrical play is based upon the original epic poem from the Middle Ages. “This romantic tale of bravery and honor centers on a knight of King Arthur’s court, Sir Gawain,” Purdy said. “Known for his
perfection, Gawain is confronted by a magic that will challenge his Kathleen McLaughlin Cluchey flawlessness. In the end, we discover that no Y B R I man is perfect, and that coming to that K
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P O’Donnell ’09. Stage manager was Katie Marchant ’10 with Averie Bell ’09 as costume designer; Philip Cartwright ’08, sound designer; and Michael Brahce ’08, artistic director. magazine.austincollege.edu Purdy majored in business Student Leadership Honorees administration and communication arts. Phi Beta Kappa 2008 Inductees Departmental Honors Graduates and Theses Jackie Purdy Honors Convocation Honorees
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Student Leaders Honored with Awards
Announcement of the Outstanding Senior Man and Outstanding Senior Woman highlight the annual Student Affairs Leadership Awards event that recognizes student leadership and co-curricular involvement. This spring’s honorees were Will Radke and Emileigh Stewart . (See their profiles on pages 25 and 26.) G N O R T S M R A
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Will Radke and Emileigh Stewart
The Outstanding Freshman Award, recognizing demonstrated leadership potential, was presented to Carlee O T
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involvement in the Posey Leadership Institute, the S E T R
Pre-Medical Society, the Biology Interest Group, U O and Student Development Board. She completed C close to 100 hours of service during the year, including participation in the Alternative Spring Break to New Orleans this spring, as well as regular involvement in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, an afterschool program at the Rangel School in Dallas, Habitat for Humanity, and Hannah’s Horseshoes of Hope. She plans to major in biology and history and hopes to attend medical or optometry school. Many other students also were honored Carlee Young during the event. A group of students traveled in March to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, to magazine.austincollege.edu view the exhibit, “Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art.” Student Leadership Honorees The trip, led by Marsha McCoy, Phi Beta Kappa 2008 Inductees visiting professor of classics, was Departmental Honors Graduates and Theses funded by an Austin College Honors Convocation Honorees Cullen grant.
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by Jeff Kelly
Annie Laski is a humble person. Her impressive accomplishments and activities would overwhelm some. After Aall, there are only 24 hours in a day. Yet Annie doesn’t boast about what she’s done or what she plans for the future. Her immediate plans are simple, befitting her humble nature. After graduation she headed to her hometown of Lubbock, Texas, to spend time with her family, drink some coffee, do some yoga, and as she said, “just level out before the real world hits me.” And when it does, her ultimate goal is merely to save the world. For Annie, that is not as far-fetched as it might seem. Annie has been has been a Dean’s List honoree for the entirety of her Austin College career, earning a 3.97 grade point average. She has completed a Lilly internship and participated in the Posey Leadership Institute, the Mentors in Violence Program, and the Catholic Students Association. In 2005, she was named the College’s Outstanding Freshman, and this spring, she earned departmental honors in political science for her thesis. Meanwhile, she managed to play a little basketball. A four-year player for Coach Deb Hunter, there was no more diligent worker than Annie, spending countless hours in Dickey Fitness Pavilion and Hughey Gymnasium for benefit of her team. Playing basketball for the Kangaroos was a humbling experience for Annie. When she looks back, she said, she won’t particularly recall opponents or specific games. “When I remember basketball, I remember the way it made me feel, and that is some complex mixture of joy, panic, anticipation, frustration, excitement, exhaustion, and empowerment,” Annie said. “Every time I got to play in a game, I felt like one of the luckiest people on the planet.”
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home team Coffee, Yoga, and a World to Save
Annie’s success on the court and in the classroom, as well her many campus involvements, might suggest she had been able to strike a perfect balance. She doesn’t see it that way. “I work at extremes,” Annie said. “I can’t tell you how many all-nighters I’ve pulled, especially this year “A” Association working on my thesis. Sometimes it’s just a matter of ignoring normal sleeping patterns.” Call for Nominations: Though Annie continues to pile up achievements and accolades, she takes little credit for her success. Instead, she points to her support system of friends and family. “Ultimately any success I have had is because of all ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR the people who have helped me along the way, given me second chances, adjusted their schedules to accommodate mine, or just put up with how COACH JOE SPENCER AWARD bad I smelled when I didn’t have time to shower after practice,” Annie said. “If everyone were as self-absorbed in their activities and schedules as Austin College is accepting nominations for 2009 Athletic Hall I have been, no one would ever get anything done, and that’s a fact.” Extra activities and a full and demanding course load challenge any of Honor inductees and the Coach Joe Spencer Award for student. Annie also had to manage emotional trauma as, during Annie’s Meritorious Service and Lifetime Achievement in sophomore year, freshman teammate Brittany Simpson died in a car Coaching. Nominations may be faxed to (903) 813-3196; accident mid-season and teammate Libby Kellum ‘06 was severely injured in an auto accident that same year. Then last August, Annie mailed to Austin College Athletics, Attention: Sandra Miller, received news that Coach Hunter had suffered a stroke. (See update on 900 North Grand Ave. Suite 6A, Sherman, Texas 75090; or Coach Hunter on page 37.) completed online: www.austincollege.edu/Form.asp?1842 . “I think anyone involved with any of those situations would tell you that none of us would have made it through alone,” said Annie. “It is a Hall of Honor nominees should be distinguished Austin trial and we all have survived together. We have leaned on each other, College athletes who graduated at least five years ago; hugged each other, counseled each other, and understood each other possess sportsmanship, character, and integrity; and have merely from our collective experience. That is the only way I could have dealt with any of the major hits we’ve had as a team. We have been brought distinction to themselves and Austin College. Former strong because we have had each other.” Austin College coaches, managers, trainers, or ardent Given all Annie faced through academic and athletic challenges as supporters may be considered for “honorary” membership. well as emotional trials, it’s easy to see why she looks forward to a summer of drinking coffee and doing yoga. Eventually she will pursue Nominees for the Coach Joe Spencer Award should be a graduate school, and hopes to travel abroad. Ideally, she’d like to work coach who has had some association with Austin College and with an economic development consulting group. whose career evidences outstanding contribution to the So, watching Annie accept her diploma as a summa cum laude graduate May 18, those who know her were confident that the best is still coaching profession. to come. After all, she’s out to save the world. Or, as she said, “at least a Nominations for 2009 awards close June 30, 2008. little part of it.” Y B R I K
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Men’s Basketball Team Makes SCAC Playoffs Swimming and Diving Season Topped with New Records The Kangaroo men’s basketball team took a big step in its second Several new swimming and diving records were set by the Austin season as a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) team, also College teams under the direction of Trey Sullivan in his first the first year under head coach Rodney Wecker . After going winless in coaching season at the College. The Kangaroo women finished eighth the SCAC in 2006 –2007, the ’Roos posted a 6-9 SCAC record, 9-16 and the men came in ninth at the Southern Collegiate Athletic overall, and earned a berth in the conference tournament — the first Conference (SCAC) Championship Meet in February. postseason appearance in the program in a decade. Marjory Gibson ’08, whose career included numerous record- Leading the way for Wecker was guard Kola Alade ’10, who setting performances, was fourth in the 1650 freestyle with a time of garnered Third Team All-SCAC honors after averaging 18.2 points per 18:15.77. Gibson shattered her own Austin College record in the 500 game, good for third best in the conference. Alade also led the ’Roos freestyle with a time of 5:16.17, topping her old record by more than with 73 assists and 31 steals, and was among the SCAC leaders with his six seconds. 81.2 percent free throw shooting. Lisa Holloway ’11 gave a record-breaking performance at the After missing the early part of the season due to injury, Chris SCAC meet, finishing sixth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 54.82 Sturtevant ’10 came back strong for the ’Roos and finished the year as and breaking the previous Austin College record by nearly two the team’s leading rebounder, grabbing 6.5 boards per contest. He seconds. Earlier in the season, Holloway broke another College record proved a capable scorer as well, with an average of 14.2 points per when she swam the 200 backstroke in 2:20.51. game. Alade and Sturtevant led a stellar sophomore class that keyed Elise Koestner ’10 was honored this season, named the SCAC the turnaround from the previous season. Diver of the Week, when she won the 1-meter board event at the That sophomore class also included Spencer Burke , who finished Austin College Invitational, scoring 279.65. She finished seventh in among the national leaders in blocked shots, guards Kyle Lintelman 1-meter diving and sixth in 3-meter at the SCAC Championship. and Arron Mewbourn , and forward Taylor Beatty . The men’s 400 freestyle relay team of Clement Durand ’08, Jesse Lone senior Emmanuel Nwelue provided strong leadership, Booher ’08, Tayyar Unal ’10, and Brent Burk ’08 finished seventh at starting in 24 games and proving integral in the team’s success through the SCAC Championship with a time of 3:29.00. Durand finished his tenacity on the glass and on defense. In May, he received the eighth in the 200 butterfly and Burk took 10th in the 1650 freestyle. Robert T. Mason Sportsmanship Award, and the Sig Lawson Dedication and Commitment Award for basketball. Adam Bishop ’09 also made solid contributions to the team with Lacrosse Team Earns Tournament Berth some late-season heroics against Southwestern, scoring 11 straight The Austin College men’s lacrosse club team earned a berth into the second-half points in Austin College’s win. Lone Star Alliance Playoffs on May 3. Seeded No. 3 in the LSA B Southwestern and Austin College were tied in SCAC standings at Division, the Austin College team was defeated by No. 2-seeded St. season’s end. Deadlocked through six potential tiebreakers, the two Edward’s University in the tournament. The tournament was played at teams resorted to a coin toss — won by Austin College — to determine Texas Stadium and the team was able to see much of the stadium, dress which team would go to the SCAC tournament. in the visitors’ locker room, and enter the field through “the tunnel” for play. This was the first playoff berth for the Austin College men’s lacrosse program in its 19 years. The Lone Star Alliance, the premier college lacrosse conference in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, is part of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association.
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Young Women’s Basketball Team Begins SCAC Advance Deb Hunter Rebounds from Stroke The Kangaroo women’s basketball team had a tough season, dealing Austin College women’s basketball coach Deb Hunter with youth and a preseason blow when Coach Deb Hunter suffered a suffered a massive stroke July 14, 2007. After four hours stroke in the offseason. Hunter, however, was on the sidelines by the of brain surgery, the cause of the stroke was still a season opener and the ’Roos came within one unlucky break of making mystery to doctors. Miraculously, though, within two days the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) tournament. of the surgery Hunter was walking, and on the third day, That unlucky break came on the final day of the season when, was discharged from the hospital. after defeating Southwestern to seemingly clinch a playoff spot, the It was little surprise to those who know Hunter that team learned that an unexpected loss by Hendrix changed the by the time the basketball season rolled around, she was standings and ended the Kangaroo season. back on the court, prowling the sidelines for the ’Roos. The ’Roos finished with an overall record of 7-18, but a 6-9 mark Hunter coached the entire season, with the help of her in SCAC play. Katy Williams ’10 led the way for Austin College, father, Dick, and Marissa Hesse ’99, one of Austin reaching milestones and earning numerous accolades along the way. In College’s all-time great players who returned to Sherman the season finale Williams pulled down 23 rebounds, the most of any to assist the coach. SCAC player in over a decade. In that game — her 50th — Williams Hunter is learning to deal with fatigue, medication, surpassed the 500-rebound mark, becoming the second fastest player in and blood draws as regular elements of her life. She conference history to do so. developed a blood clotting disorder and takes medication Williams finished the season second in the SCAC in scoring, to control it. Incredibly, her brain has completely healed posting an 18.7 points-per-game average, and led the conference with itself, and a recent medical test showed no evidence of 11.8 rebounds per game. She was the only player to average a double- damage. “The Austin College community has been double in the conference. For her efforts, she was named Second Team unbelievable supportive from the very beginning,” Hunter All-SCAC, but was the only player from the conference to earn a spot said. “I have felt only encouragement and a willingness to on the D3Hoops.com First Team All-South Region squad. help in any way I needed. This is a great place to be.” A trio of sophomore guards used their strong perimeter shooting S
to help the ’Roos all season. Amber Stafford , Maegan Fitzgerald , and E R O L F
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team-best 38.4 percent of her 3-point attempts. Stafford was even O H P better in conference play, hitting 43.5 percent. Lone senior Annie Laski had her best season at Austin College, getting her first career double-double when she scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Oglethorpe in February. She also finished second on the team in rebounding, pulling down 4.8 per game. She received the team’s Hustle Award and was the female athlete with the highest grade point average, earning her the Bo Miller Scholar Athlete Award for 2008.
Joy and David Simpson established The Brittany Simpson Endowed Memorial Scholarship after their daughter Brittany, an Austin College freshman, was killed in an automobile crash in 2006. In May, they presented a check for $45,000 to Coach Deb Hunter, center, toward the scholarship. To date they have contributed more than $150,000 to the fund that supports a master’s-level student in the College’s Austin Teacher Program.
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Listol Is First ’Roo All-America First Team Choice
The Austin College volleyball program reached a new summit with the announcement of Kaitlin Listol ’08 to the NCAA Division III First Team All-America
S roster, earning the third highest vote in Division III from the American Volleyball E R O
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P NCAA National Tournament in 2007. During that season, she twice was named SCAC Player of the Week and was the MVP at four tournaments. She ranked in the top 10 nationally in hitting percentage (.411) and in the top 15 nationally in kills per game (5.01), while setting the conference record for single-season kills and the school record for season and career kills. She also topped the school record for most digs in a career. Listol Named Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year In May, Listol received the Austin College Gene Day Outstanding Female Athlete Award and was selected by her teammates as volleyball’s most valuable player. The Kaitlin Listol Gene Day Award, named to honor long-time women’s coach, the late Imogene Grinnell Day, who taught for 35 years at the College, is chosen by the coaching staff. Listol, who completed an interdisciplinary major in mathematics and exercise and sport science with a minor in educational psychology, cum laude , will pursue her master’s degree in teaching through the Austin Teacher Program. She will serve as graduate assistant for the College’s volleyball team this fall. Justin Duncan Named Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year Justin Duncan ’08, a four-year member of the football squad, received the 2008 Pete Cawthon Male Athlete of the Year Award, named for the football coach who led the team in the 1920s. Named First Team All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Association (SCAC), Duncan was the anchor for the football team’s offensive line, which led the SCAC and was among the national leaders in rushing for the second straight season. Also a SCAC Academic Honor Roll member, Duncan was part of an offensive line unit that was named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week during the season and piled up more than 400 yards rushing on multiple occasions. Duncan, who earned a major in music and minor in history, received a teaching assistantship from Texas Tech University, where he will pursue the Master of Music in Justin Duncan Choral Conducting. Tim Jubela Freshman Athletes of Year Honored Women’s volleyball player Morgan Ballard and football player Chris Hickson were selected by the coaches as the Tim Jubela Freshman Athletes of the Year. Look for information on these students in the September issue of Austin College Magazine .
magazine.austincollege.edu
2008 Athletics Award Honorees
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FROM THE “May you live in interesting— repu tedlty thei Engmlish transleation sof a C.hin ese proverb and curse ALUMNI ” ASSOCIATION
Alumni Association Board It certainly has been an interesting six months since I took office as president of the Alumni Mike Nurre ’67, president Association in January, with the announced retirement of Dr. Page and a change in leadership of Becky Russell Sykes ’67, Institutional Advancement with Jim Lewis leaving and Jerry Holbert becoming vice president. past president During those six months, the Alumni Board has been restructured, our bylaws revised, and new programs created to better serve our alumni association. Here are a few highlights: Melida Ailshire ’06 Nominating Committee: Jenny King ’92, chair. The committee selected six candidates Bob Albritton ’66 who join the Alumni Board July 1. New members are Michael Dodd ’72, Justin Epker ’95, Beverly Benthul Barry ’67 Becky Easter Farnsworth ’82, Jan Wilson Flatt ’75, Kristen Brandt James ’85, and Don Sam Beakey ’93 Johnson ’73. Mickey Bonesio ’66 Alumni College Committee: Beverly Benthul Barry ’67 and Craig Florence ’84, co- Kelly Breazeale ’68 chairs. The committee sponsored an Alumni College on the Road event in February at the new Tulisha Langford Buchanan ’86 city hall in Austin, Texas. Sixty alumni attended the panel discussion on environmental issues. Michael Dodd ’72 Alumni College on the Road will include be a five-city tour this fall, with events in Dallas, Jeff Duffey ’00 Houston, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., and Denver, beginning in September. Chris Elliott ’84 Awards Committee: Mickey Bonesio ’66, chair. Members reviewed 81 applications for 26 Justin Epker ’95 John D. Moseley Alumni Scholarships to be awarded this fall to incoming freshmen. The Tanya Eustace ‘01 committee also selected Distinguished Alumni Osler McCarthy ’73, Jeannine Hatt Phelps ’72 Becky Easter Farnsworth ’82 and First Decade honoree Jennifer Deng-Picket t ’99 to receive awards at the March recognition Jan Wilson Flatt ’75 dinner. ( Sarah Gunderson ’81 and John Bentham ’93 received the College’s Heywood C. Craig Florence ’84 Clemons Volunteer Leadership Awards at that celebration.) Giselle Finne Gafford ‘00 Development Committee: Bob Albritton ’66, chair. The committee has provided support Jon Gaulding ’75 and ideas to the College’s development staff and coordinated the Alumni Board’s attainment of Sarah Gunderson ’81 its own fund raising goal. Your Alumni Board talks the fundraising talk and walks the walk! Michael Harper ’94 June 30 is the deadline to show your support and give back to the alma mater that has given so Kelly Hester ’69 much to us. Please consider a gift. Han Pham Hulen ’98 Homecoming Committee: Stephanie McDonald ’97, chair. Members are planning to Brandon Hurley ’95 repeat last Homecoming’s successful Saturday evening party for all reunion classes in one large Debra Rayfield Hurley ’93 tent on the grounds of the Collins Alumni Center. Mark Y B R I
Kirsten Brandt James ’85 your calendars for Homecoming 2008 — October 24-26. K
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E Don Johnson ’71 The Alumni Board will have more opportunities to I K C I V Jennifer King ’92 represent our fellow alumni, starting with the selection of Y B
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Amity Overall Laib ’01 only the fourth Austin College president in the past 50 T O H Eartha Taylor Linson ’97 years. As president of the Alumni Association, I am the P Stefanie Lucio-Herrmann ’92 alumni representative on the 15-member search committee Osler McCarthy ‘73 composed of trustees, faculty, and students. Please feel free Stephanie McDonald ’97 to contact me to voice your opinions about the presidential Eric Nordstrom ’99 search or any of our programs at [email protected] , or Gordon Northcutt ’87 contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at Jennifer O’Brien ’96 [email protected] . Cheers! Dianne Hardie Thompson ’68 — Mike Nurre Blyth Weber Treuhaft ’95
June 2008 Austin College Magazine 39 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 42
Class of 1958 Celebrates 50-Year Reunion Y B R I K
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Members of the Class of 1958 were on campus during Commencement to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their own graduation. During the weekend, the group officially became Golden ’Roos, alumni of 50 or more years ago. Other Golden ’Roos joined them for the reunion weekend. More Golden ’Roo Reunion photos are available online.
Pictured from the Class of 1958, left to right are: front row, Elsa Mickle Carnsner; Lem Scarborough, Mary Ann Owen Walborg, V. V. Miller; row 2, Charlotte Frasher Dupuy, Raymond Dupuy, Ray Smith, Elaine Russell Olson, Dorothy Brand Beyler, Beth Hester McCollough, Robbin Wiggins Groves; row 3, Kathleen Finke Manz, Mildred Johnston Jones, Mary Lynn Johnston Jones, Jani Staats Shepard, Clovis Swanner, Clinton Cravens; row 4, Albert Strickland, Betty Tappan Payne, Mike Murray, Mary Thulemeyer Murray, Barbara Whiteside Kiser, Pat Jamison Turner, Don Shepherd; row 5, Marcus Payne, Nancy Cunningham Satterfield, Lila Hall Smith, Gerry Sanders Seaman, Robert Lehr, Joe Turner, Earl Walborg; and top row, George Boyd, Frank Hayward, Marvin Arnold, Charles Galbraith, William Bondurant, Richard Mitchell, Lindy Cannon.
Charles F. Alford ’69 was the alumnus inductee to Austin O T O
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College’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter in April. Alford is professor of P
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government and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher in the Department E T
Inducts R of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, where U O Charles Alford he teaches classical, modern, and contemporary political theory. C During his career, he has received three Fulbright Fellowships, including Senior Fulbright Research Fellowships to Germany and to Korea. Alford earned his master’s degree and doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin. He also studies psychoanalysis and politics, political psychology, and organizational ethics. He has been interviewed more than 100 times on whistleblowing and corporate ethics, with remarks appearing in dozens of magazine.austincollege.edu newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times , and More Golden ’Roo Reunion Photos on many television and radio news programs. Charles Alford
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’ro o notes O T O H P
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Soccer Alumni Take on College Teams Alumni of Austin College’s men’s and women’s soccer teams returned to campus in late April to reunite with teammates and take on the current teams in an afternoon of competition. Bright skies and sunshine made for an enjoyable afternoon but most of the alumni found they were not in quite the same shape they once had been! Pictured, alumni are dressed in white, students in crimson. ac alumni .org
It’s here. And it’s NEW and IMPROVED! Please feel free to contact the Austin College Office of Alumni & Parent Relations with your questions. The Austin College Online Community is now stronger than ever, and it offers added features and increased opportunities for alumni to stay in touch with one another and up-to-date on college- [email protected] | 1-800-467-6646 related events. Even if you are a current user, you must go through a simple and quick login process, since we are unable to transfer your confidential password information. Welcome aboard!
Among the many features, acalumni.org allows you to: Update your profile, keeping contact information current Search for friends and classmates , as well as find alumni with shared interests Register for events Network
Registration is easy! But remember: ALL users—new and current—must select “First Time Login”
To login : Go to http://acalumni.org Click on “First Time Login” located at the top of the page. Enter your last name and follow the instructions. Enter your seven-digit Constituent ID# , which is listed on the address label on the back of this issue of Austin College Magazine . Create your username and password, agree to the Terms and Conditions, and you’re done.
June 2008 Austin College Magazine 41 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 44
’ro o notes a born teacher turns 100
In 2000, the Plano Independent School District named 50 years, and won the 1958 Teacher of the Year award from Mary Alice Skaggs ’30 one of the district’s “100 Heroes.” the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs. In 1968, Mary On April 22, 2008, one of their 100 turned 100. Born in Alice received a career achievement award from the Plano Celina, Texas, Mary Alice earned Business and Professional Women’s Club and a special O T O
H both her bachelor and master’s award of merit for service to Plano citizens from the Plano P
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S degrees from Austin College. Chamber of Commerce in 1984. E T R
U She went on to become the first In 1994, a Plano elementary school was named in her O C teacher with a master’s degree in honor, recognizing her many years of service to the the Plano district, where she community and education in the Plano area. “Mrs. Skaggs taught high school English, has a strong passion about teaching children not only journalism, and economics for what is in books but also what is important to be 31 years. successful in life,” said Mary Ann Bargmann, principal at “Literature came alive in Skaggs Elementary School, who has attended Skagg’s 98th, Mrs. Skaggs’ classroom,” 99th, and 100th birthday parties. “What I admire most is E L
according to the Skaggs that her work was never about her, but always about the I Elementary School Web site. children. She is very humble and reluctant to accept praise F “She instilled a love of learning, for all the contributions to education and children that she O R encouraged even the least has made.” P
motivated students, inspired Today, Mary Alice resides at the Settlers Ridge Care I future teachers, and expressed Center in Celina, Texas. “Her profound influence has Mary Alice Skaggs, at right, with Kristin Bishop of N confidence in each and every permeated the lives of generations of students, and trickled
Skaggs Elementary School M young person in her charge.” through their families to their children and grandchildren,” U
Mary Alice supervised the production of the Planoian , the school’s Web site biography reads. “She is a born L
the high school yearbook, for 37 years. She served as a teacher — of invaluable life skills and qualities.” A sponsor and leader of the Junior Thursday Study Club for Y B R
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S When 2008 Austin College graduate Kathryn Turner received her diploma
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C in May, she became the latest in a long line of Austin College alumni in I V
Y her family. B
O T In the late 1800s, John George attended Austin College and became a O H P lawyer in Dallas. His niece, Vida George, graduated from Kidd Key, a sister school of Austin College. His nephew, Taylor George , the great grandfather of Kathryn, was a member of the Austin College Class of “Naughty 07” (1907). Taylor’s daughters, Alice George and Mary George , were members of the Class of 1954. Alice met and married Dr. Jack Hunnicutt , Class of 1951. Mary, grandmother of Kathryn, had a daughter, Lisa Steed , in the Class of 1981 (master’s in teaching in 1982), who married Eric Turner , Class of 1980. Their daughter Kathryn graduated in 2008. Mary (George) Steed, Lisa (Steed) Turner, Eric Turner, and Kathryn Turner are The family legacy has not ended. Kathryn’s cousin Alyssa Steed will proud of the long line of Austin College alumni in their family. graduate in 2009.
Numbers in color after alumni names correspond with photos on page 45.
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Alumni News
president, based in Houston, in the Structured 70 89 Finance Group, responsible for all mezzanine debt Joseph Peele McNeill (9) joined Weight Watchers in A daughter, Lily, was born May 11, 2007, to Julie and preferred equity investments in the central May of 2006 and reached his lifetime goal in August and John Cutrer . United States. I A daughter, Elspeth Frost, was 2007, having lost 112 pounds, and has begun born July 11, 2007, to Michael and Sarah Poe maintenance. He reports a much brighter outlook on 90 Hickey . The family lives in Austin where Sarah works life as he moves toward retirement in a few years A son, Reid Graham, was born September 15, as a marketing communications manager and from his position as a librarian at McNeese State 2007, to Melissa and Rodney Lindsay. Michael works as a marketing copywriter. I Twins University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Michael Julius and Faith (6) were born November 92 12, 2007, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Matthew and 72 Judson Crowder and Bonnie Devine were married Diana Dean Sideman ’93. Brian Goesl (13) was named executive director of September 29, 2007, at a family ranch in the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, Warrenton, Texas, under a canopy of 300-year-old 93 Inc. (TRAHC), in April. He had served since mid- oak trees next to a tin-roofed red barn. Barry Jennifer Hughes Sutton (2) is a lawyer and now has February as interim executive director, having served Holcomb attended. Bonnie works as an started an invitation and announcement business, as the director of Community Programs and instructional designer for Halliburton, and Judson’s Splendid Envelope, which she loves. She and her Outreach for more than eight years, responsible for company, Restorganize, is in it’s third year. Judson husband, Johnny, and children Zach, 6; Eli, 5; and the direction, implementation, and marketing of will sit for his professional organizers certification in Sophie, 2, live in Austin, Texas. I Thomas L. TRAHC’s community programming. Goesl previously April. The couple lives in Houston. I A daughter, Matthews , M.D., accepted the position of assistant worked as a theatre artist-in-residence consultant at Norah Blythe, (4) was born April 10 to David and dean for Student Affairs at University of Texas Health Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, developing Autumn Dawn Eudaly Galbreath . Norah joins Science Center in San Antonio ( UTHSCSA ) in March. children’s theatre programs, and as a theatre brother Coggin, 9, and sister Ellie,7. The family lives He earned his medical degree from UTHSCSA in consultant to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in San Antonio where Autumn Dawn works as a 1997 and completed his internship, psychiatry and the Pine Bluff school system. He developed a physician and David owns a restaurant called residency, and a Child and adolescent psychiatry district-wide theatre program for the Greater Orderup. I Jarrod T. Foerster has joined Archstone fellowship at UTHSCSA . He joined the Department of Texarkana Association for the Gifted and Talented apartment investment and operations as a vice Psychiatry faculty in 2002 where he is an assistant program and was the performing arts administrator/director for the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. He also has more than 10 ten years of professional film and video production experience. 76 E.M. “Rocky” Bruni (1) founded Bruni International, as a sole proprietorship in 1982 and the company recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in May 2007. In January, he sold the Laredo, Texas, customs brokerage, freight forwarding, warehouse, and distribution services company to Logistics (Americas), Inc. Bruni has joined NYK Logistics as a senior vice president in the International Services group and will manage the integration of the two companies. The NYK chief executive officer said the firm benefits from the addition of Bruni, whose customer-focused and values-based leadership has earned Bruni International a reputation for quality and innovation.
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’ro o notes
professor and has served as the director of the UT- Nix Behavioral Health Clinic and the associate 00 training director of the General Psychiatry Rachel Blacketer and Eric Hedstrom (3) were Program. He now is the director of child and married October 6, 2007, at the Old Red adolescent psychiatry residency training, medical Courthouse in downtown Dallas. The Honorable director of the Child Guidance Center, and medical Ralph M. Hall, U.S. congressman of Rockwall, Texas, director of the Guadalupe Unit at Laurel Ridge officiated. Austin College alumni in attendance were Ross Worden ‘06 Residential Treatment Center. He has received Kimberly Richard ’00 and Sachin Kukreja ’00. The numerous awards in the Department of Psychiatry newly married couple was engaged on December Receives Rotary for teaching and advocacy on behalf of the 15, 2006, the bride’s birthday, at the top of the residents. I A son, Richard (Riku) Hikaru Eiffel Tower in Paris. Rachel is the media relations Scholarship Ishikawnitela, was born February 13 to Kayoko and manager for Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, and Brian “Rube” Rubrecht (12) . Riku, the biggest boy Eric is a service delivery manager with IBM. The Ross Worden ’06, who completed a in the hospital nursery, joined sister Lisa, 9, and the couple honeymooned on Oahu and Maui, and now master’s degree in political science at the family in Tokyo, Japan, just in time for Brian to begin resides in Allen, Texas with their sheltie, Morgan. University of Georgia in May, will leave for work as a tenured professor of English in the School I Micah Catterson and Monica Cruz (10) were Egypt in August as a Rotary International of Commerce at Meiji University. married March 29 at the Dallas Arboretum. Micah is Ambassadorial Scholar. During the yearlong employed as an area sales manager in advertising trip, Ross will complete a graduate degree and publishing for AT&T Southwest. Monica is an in Middle Eastern Studies at the American 94 associate attorney at McCurley, Orsinger, McCurley, University in Cairo. A daughter, Emily Ann, was born February 9 to Nelson, and Downing. The couple honeymooned in As a Rotary International Ambassador, Amanda and Larry Anderson . Larry is the newest the Caribbean and now lives in Richardson, Texas. his agenda also includes advancement of physical therapist at The Rehabilitation Center in I A son, Asher Charles, (5) was born March 26 to international goodwill, and he will speak Sherman. Amanda owns and operates a dental Joshua ’01 and Amy Poling Sutherlun . Older with many Rotary groups in Egypt, making savings business through Ameriplan. sister, Serena, 21 months old, is adjusting well to presentations and answering questions the new arrival. about life in the United States. Upon his 96 return, Ross then will speak with Rotary Oscar Garcia lives just outside Austin in Manor, groups in the U.S, relating his Egyptian Texas, with his wife, Amy, and sons Theron, 4, and 04 experiences. “This scholarship seemed to fit Gavin, 2. He works as a physical therapist for a Catherine Josephine “CJ” Varner and Shaun so well with my experiences at Austin skilled nursing facility in Elgin, Texas. McGuire (8) were married August 11, 2007, in College and the lessons I about the value of Richardson, Texas. CJ is the daughter of Bill Varner study abroad, service to others, and 99 ’79 and Susie Everidge Varner ’78.The wedding fostering cross-cultural understanding,” Ross
party included CJ’s sister, Elizabeth Varner ’08, said. “I’m very O
A son, Brennan Michael Cummings, (7) was born T O
maid of honor, and bridesmaid Nancy Meyer Legg honored to have H November 29, 2007, to Eric and Michaelle P
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’04. After a honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean this experience.” S Flanagan Cummings . He was welcomed home by E T
I R his sister Lauren, 3. I A daughter, Emma Grace, Islands, CJ and Shaun are living in Dallas. Jordan U O (11) was born March 12 to Omar and Helen Garrett Watson has accepted the position of staff attorney C Escobar . Helen serves as the coordinator of public at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. Legal Aid is a non- relations for South Texas College and Omar is an profit organization that provides access to the legal assistant district attorney for Starr County. I Chris system at no cost to individuals of low income. Maness and Catherine Goodrich were married July 14, 2007, in Scituate, Massachusetts. Attending 06 were Greg Maness ‘01, best man; George DeVera Lauren Ice presented “Grassroots Organizing: ’99, groomsman; father of the groom Joseph Effective Methods for Improving Environmental Policy Ross Worden Maness ’70; Bryan Campbell ’99, Mclean Pickett in Texas” in an Austin College Environmental Issues ’00 , Jennifer Deng-Pickett ’99, and Gallin Fortunov Forum on campus in November 2007. She is ’99. Chris and Catherine live outside Washington, program assistant in the Dallas office of the Texas D.C., where Chris works for the U.S. Agency for Campaign for the Environment. International Development.
Numbers in color after alumni names correspond with photos on page 45.
44 Austin College Magazine June 2008 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 47
2 ’93 3 ’00
1 ’70
4 ’92 5 ’01 6 ’92
7 ’99
8 ’04 9 ’70
11 ’99
12 ’93 13 ’72
10 ’00
June 2008 Austin College Magazine 45 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 48
K IN MEMORIAM Campus Community Suffers Loss The Austin College community was saddened by the deaths of two Austin College has received word of the deaths of the following alumni. members of the campus family this spring. Eric Sorenson ’36 Clifford Watters Williams March 27, 2008
O ’47 Henry W. Sory, Sr. March 20, 2008 Freshman Eric Sorenson died May 4 T O H
P ’50 Jack William Hollensed April 1, 2008
in a jet ski accident at Lake Texoma. Y S
E ’62 Richard Farrell Wright April 25, 2008 Eric, 19, was a graduate of S&S T R U ’68 Randall Scott Downing March 13, 2008 O
(Sadler & Southmayd) High School. C ’75 Michael J. Van Wickler May 28, 2007 His older brother, Chase Sorenson, ’79 Phillip Raymond “Ray” Bass March 24, 2008 Jr. , graduated from Austin College ’79 Rebecca “Becky” Lynn Blance Scott March 17, 2008 this May. The boys’ father, Michael, ’05 Rebecca Ann “Becca” Stuckey April 3, 2008 operated his own business, Midway Glass, and their mother, Kathy , is a senior assistant in Austin College’s Friends We Will Miss Office of Institutional Enrollment. James B. Cain of Athens, Texas, a longtime scholarship donor at Austin College, died April A memorial service for Eric was 27. Can, who received an honorary doctoate from Austin College in 2000, was an active held May 8 at Wynne Chapel. member of the Athens community, being named Citizen of the Year in Athens in 1997. Roy Melugin Roy Melugin , professor emeritus of religion, died on April 9, ending his battle with cancer. Melugin joined the Austin College religion faculty in 1967. Named Y
the Gould H. and Marie Cloud Professor of Religion in 1983, he retired B R I K
from the College in May 1999. . S
E I
Recognized internationally as an Isaiah scholar, Melugin had K C I V
served as research professor of Hebrew at Brite Divinity School since Y B
O
leaving Austin College. Roy and his wife, Sylvia, were living in Fort T O H Worth, Texas. P An Old Testament scholar, Melugin earned his master’s degree and doctorate at Yale University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history at McMurry College and a bachelor of divinity degree in theology from Perkins School of Theology at SMU. He also studied at the University
of Toronto (1962 – Y B R I Henry W. Sory , Sr., ’47 died March 20, 2008. He spent 35 K
1963), the University . S years in the Sherman Independent School District, moving E of Heidelberg I K C
I from teacher and coach to principal and then to assistant V
(1973 –1974), and at Y
B superintendent. He retired in 1985. Sory was very active in
the Claremont O T
O the Sherman community, including St. Mary’s Catholic Graduate University H P Church, United Way, and the Sherman Kiwanis. He and his (fall 1980 and wife, Joy (Davault) ’47 were loyal supporters of Austin 1987 –1988). College and frequent visitors to campus. Earlier this year, the Sherman Independent School District dedicated a new elementary school, scheduled to open this fall, in his honor.
46 Austin College Magazine June 2008 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 49
mee t the trustee K
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Despite the lighthearted comment by Austin College Board of Trustees C H A I R : vice chair Richard J. “Dick” Agnich that he likely was selected to head the Presidential Search Committee “after the first nine choices said Robert M. Johnson ’53, McLean, Virginia ‘no,’ and they were left with me,” board members had many other V I C E C H A I R : reasons to choose Agnich. Expertise honed in a nearly 30-year career with Texas Instruments (TI), where he served as senior vice president, Richard J. Agnich, Dallas, Texas general counsel, and secretary as well as various other roles, likely RRichard J. topped the list. He retired from TI in 2000. T R U S T E E S : Agnich, who graduated with an economics degree from Stanford and a law degree from the University of Texas, had no relationship John Q. Adams, Jr. ’84, Southlake, Texas Jeffrey Landsberg ’81, Dallas, Texas with Austin College until 1996 O
Margaret Allison, San Antonio, Texas Luan Beaty Mendel ’75, Palo Verdes, California when then-board chair Robert T O H P
Wright and Fred Meyer , trustee, Y S
Jerry E. Apple ’60, Irving, Texas Robert W. Minshew ’60, Sherman, Texas E
encouraged him to become T R U
involved with the College. “My O Lee Dean Ardell ’74, Houston, Texas Steven M. Mobley, Austin, Texas C respect for them and appreciation for what they had done for my James D. Baskin III ’75, Austin, Texas Samuel S. Moore ’64, Dallas, Texas church and other public Jacqueline R. Cooper ’73, Oakton, Virginia Jo Ann Geurin Pettus, Graham, Texas institutions in Texas required me to say ‘yes,’” Agnich said. Barry B. Donnell, Wichita Falls, Texas Davis B. Price ’67, Lubbock, Texas Thirteen years of service on the Austin College board, his Linda Morris Elsey, Fort Worth, Texas Fazlur Rahman, San Angelo, Texas son’s graduation from the College in 2000, and his involvement F. R. “Buck” Files ’60, Tyler, Texas Annadele H. Ross ’66, Dallas, Texas with successful students like Georgina Fisher ’69, Severna Park, Maryland Ann Coit Sporer Smith ’65, Fort Smith, Arkansas Christina “Tina” Miller Howard ’99, whom he recruited to TI, Rebecca Moseley Gafford ’72, Dallas, Texas Caroline Elbert Taylor ’66, Wyalusing, Pennsylvania have given Agnich more reasons Richard Agnich to stay involved at Austin College. Donald Gibson ’75, Houston, Texas Jesse R. Thomas ’74, Sherman, Texas “At the end of the day, it is about the students, and Tina was the first of many students at Austin College to make me very proud to be part Dennis E. Gonier ’83, Fredericksburg, Virginia Linda Plummer Ward ’78, Nashville, Tennessee of the institution,” Agnich said. Thomas Hall, Jr. ’78, Colleyville, Texas William E. Warren ’74, Plano, Texas Today, Agnich is focused on finding the best leadership, a leadership committed to excellence, for the future of Austin College. Mary Ann Stell Harris ’70, Fort Worth, Texas Todd A. Williams ’82, Dallas, Texas “Austin College has moved from a somewhat above average liberal arts college to a very, very good one, right on the cusp of excellence,” Charles Hendricks ’61, The Woodlands, Texas Stanley M. Woodward, Dallas, Texas Agnich said. “We need to continue our journey to excellence and be recognized nationally. Life is too short to spend time, after 60 years of M. Steve Jones, Sherman, Texas Michael G. Wright, Dallas, Texas age, with mediocrity.” Sharon S. King, Richardson, Texas Robert J. Wright, Dallas, Texas
June 2008 Austin College Magazine 47 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 50
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 2008 19-21 Legends Weekend
August 2008 29 New Student Orientation Begins
September 2008 1 Opening Convocation with Henry Winkler 2 Fall Term 2008 Classes Begin 27-28 Parent and Family Weekend
See the Austin College Master Calendar for a full schedule of campus happenings and updates to these events. austincollege.edu/MasterCalendar.asp?2057
Gifts to the Annual Fund allow Austin College to provide extraordinary opportunities for learning and discovery; to extend the financial aid program to every student who needs it; and to help meet emerging needs and challenges.
Annual Giving has been a vital source of institutional momentum for Austin LWEEeKENDg e JULY n19-21d, 200s 8 College, and the primary way for all alumni, parents, and friends to help sustain the special features that set Austin College apart.
The power of participation can do amazing things for Austin College. Please make your gift by June 30, 2008, and help us continue the momentum.
THE AUSTIN COLLEGE ANNUAL FUND For more information please contact Paula Jonse ’02, director of Annual Giving at (903) 813-2389 or email [email protected] Gifts also can be made online at: https://secure.austincollege.edu/giving
Thank you in advance for your support. www.austincollege.edu/legends
48 Austin College Magazine June 2008 AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 51
L E VERY P ICTURE TELLS A STORY
Academic regalia makes the faculty in this photo look much like the faculty participating in the Commencement of the 159th year of the College. A closer look will reveal faculty from an earlier era. Recognize the faces? Share your stories at the address below.
Alumni: Share YOUR Austin College photos for possible inclusion in Every Picture Tells A Story. Send to Editor, Austin College, 900 N. Grand Ave., Suite 6H, Sherman, Texas 75090 or [email protected] .
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO M S
Leah Clemmons Lane ’83 and Jeffrey Ward ’83 recognized the photo E V I H
taken in front of Thompson House in 1980 when it first served as the C R A
Language House, with German as the language of the term. The two E G E L
recognized the trio of dancers as Dale Johnson ’83 , Gina Holland ’83 , L O C
and Jeffrey Ward ’83 , doing a dance taught them by German language E H T
house assistant Roswitha Reifferscheid . Jeffrey identified Steve M O R F Pounders ’83 in the background and through some investigation asserts O T O
that the legs with Pounders belong to Linda Taggart ’82. H P
Marilya Veteto Reese ’78 also wrote and said that she recognized everyone, but most names escaped her memory. She said she had helped organize these events with the German Club and German faculty Truett Cates and David Stout. Now a professor of German at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Reese still organizes Oktoberfest events and still wears the dirndl she wore at Austin College !
Leah Clemmons Lane also recognized the previous issue’s photo of the China trip led by Jim Ware, professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, and added identifications of herself , Harry Huffman ‘83, and Sheila Pound Jennings ‘83. AC Magaz5:Layout 1 5/28/08 1:19 PM Page 52
Y B R I K
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E I K C I V
Y B
O T O H P
Senior speaker Axel Nze Akoue of Libreville, Gabon
learning |leadership |lasting values NONPROFIT ORG. Austin College US POSTAGE Office of College Relations PAID 900 North Grand Avenue, Suite 6H AUSTIN, TX Sherman, Texas 75090-4400 PERMIT NO. 110
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