Alumni Magazine Spring 2004
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Black Hills State University Spring 2004 Alumni Magazine Also in this issue Classnotes Alumni News Reunions University news Faculty and student achievements BHSU & Tech collaborate Enrollment increases Sports updates Alumni features Douglas McCalla dee Welsch Colleen Cutschall creates “Spirit Warriors” Taking sculpture chances Mona Chancellor takes over oil and gas exploration business Black Hills State University Non-Profit Organization 1200 University Unit 9506 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Spearfish, SD 57799-9506 Spearfish, SD 57783 Permit No. 58 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Editorial Alumni News Taking chances __________________________________Page 2 Dr. Thomas O. Flickema Deliberate actions ________________________________Page 4 BHSU President Scott Amundson Changing the landscape __________________________Page 6 Class of ‘84 BHSU Alumni Association President Sharpe shooter____________________________________Page 8 Steve Meeker Class of ‘84 Classnotes ______________________________________Page 10 Vice President for Institutional Advancement Alumni reunions ________________________________Page 18 Terri Wells Assistant Director for Institutional Advancement Corinne Hansen Class of ‘85 Director of University Communications Creating a Legacy Editor Kristen Kilmer Class of ‘99 Welcome Information Specialist Scholarships established __________________________Page 21 Copy Editor One of my favorite duties as president of Black Hills State Faculty take a seat for chair campaign ______________Page 22 University is taking the opportunity to show others around our beautiful campus. As winter turns to spring, we are looking for- Black Hills State University, ward to the exciting time of commencement when a new group founded in 1883 as a teacher prepara- of BHSU students advance into the next stage of their lives and tory institution, has grown to become choose their paths, putting their classroom knowledge and expe- the state's third largest university with riences to work. The accomplishments and achievements of our nearly 3,900 students. BHSU has expanded its curriculum and now students remain a source of great pride. offers more than 80 majors and We at BHSU are excited about recent developments, includ- minors through three colleges - the University News ing a collaboration with South Dakota School of Mines and College of Education, the College of Technology and the possibility of a national lab project right in Business and Technology and the our backyard, that have the potential to enhance educational College of Arts and Sciences. To find opportunities for our students. Although our focus remains on out more see www.bhsu.edu. High ambitions, strong roots ________Page 23 educating students, BHSU continues to be involved in educa- tional outreach activities, national grant projects and discussions with area business people to improve economic development in Double queened __________________Page 25 the region. BHSU Alumni Magazine There have been many changes on the BHSU campus. We are BHSU in the news ________________Page 26 very proud of the new state-of-the art music and academic build- Spring 2004 ing, Clare and Josef Meier Hall, which will be put to good use this summer during the annual Summer Institute of the Arts. BHSU people in the news __________Page 27 I hope you have the opportunity to visit our campus to see The Alumni Magazine is published twice a year by the why we remain so optimistic about BHSU's role in the future of Black Hills State University Alumni Association. 13,600 the state and region. copies were printed at a cost of 57.4 cents each. University news __________________Page 28 Dr. Thomas O. Flickema Send address corrections and alumni news to: BHSU, Looking ahead __________________Page 33 1200 University, Unit 9506, Spearfish, SD 57799-9506 Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Flickema, shown at the gateway of the stairway (created by a Class of ‘22 gift) or call 605-642-6446. Your comments are welcome. leading to Ida Henton Park, welcome alumni and friends to visit the campus. Please email [email protected]. Alumni News Mona Chancellor, BHSU alumna, teacher, world traveler and oil exploration business owner Taking chances t a time in her life thrust to the forefront of the business and to take the chance and invest. games. She was also an active skier and when many of her took on the new challenge of running the Knowing that this is a very high-risk enjoyed the skiing opportunities in the Aclassmates are think- gas and oil exploration company. Ironically, business, Mona relies primarily on contrac- region until a knee injury slowed her down. ing about retiring, Mona Mona said that she was minimally involved tors rather than employees for her compa- She now enjoys spending time with her Chancellor, 65, is actively in the business while her husband was ny. Mona admits that the whole process is family and travels with them often. She managing a gas and oil explo- alive. She occasionally went along to meet- very complex and that she relies on the enjoys planning trips with her grandchil- ration company, a profession ings, but more in a social role than in a busi- advice of lawyers, contractors, geologists dren when she can. She also enjoys summer she never envisioned. ness sense. She remembers meeting and and other people in the business. However, visits with relatives in her hometown of Growing up in an era when entertaining business people from around she must make the final decisions on the Rosholt and with college friends in the Mona says that women were told the world. leases. For more than five years, Mona has Spearfish area. She is making plans for her they had three occupational choices: Her husband, Chance, however, did dis- been making these decisions, something 50-year high school class reunion this be a nurse, a teacher or a secretary; cuss some business details with her and she that she never thought she would be doing. summer. Mona originally took the teacher route has relied on those bits of wisdom and his There are many schools of thought for Mona sometimes considers retirement but now has a vastly different career that business intuition as she has taken on the the “mom and pop” companies in this busi- but isn't quite ready to take that step. extends far from the boundaries of her original everyday operation of the businesses. ness. Mona explains that each investor must “I think in another five years, I'll be choices. Mona is currently the operator of an oil “The first year was really tough,” Mona weigh the risk against the return as they ready to retire,” Mona said. “Then I'll be 70, and gas exploration company near Denver, Colo. said. “You couldn't just stop the business. select properties and make decisions. and I think that will be the time to slow Mona, who grew up in the far eastern part of These leases had to be taken care of, so I did She then signs a division order, and con- down.” South Dakota, began college with the goal of becom- it." tracts with a “landman” to make sure that Even now, Mona recalls her time spent ing a teacher. She earned her teaching degree and Mona notes that the oil and gas industry the leases are all okay. After receiving and at BH as some of the best years of her life. went on to enjoy the challenges and satisfaction of her remains a very speculative business. She reviewing production reports and other “I loved being in college," Mona said. “If profession. She applied at a school in Littleton, Colo., remembers her husband fondly talking documents, the lease progresses and "if all it were up to me, I'd still be in college.” because it provided an opportunity for her to be near about the romance appeal of the oil compa- goes well - the ultimate reward for the Mona has dedicated her life to learning her sister. She feels her BH diploma served her well as ny but knows that it takes a lot of work and entire process is the royalties.” which has given her the ability to adapt to her application was chosen from a stack of many the ability to handle the risk factor as well. “If the well hits, that's really good news the many changes throughout her life. applications in a tough job market at the time. She remembers that Chance used to say because many times they don't hit,” Mona Attending BHSU in the late 1950s, Mona A single mother, Mona taught in South Dakota, ‘You have to have more guts than a high said. She estimates that nine out of 10 times remembers visiting friends in Vetsville, a Texas, Florida and Colorado for a total 20 years while diver to be in this business,’ and Mona the wells don't hit and the gamble falls temporary on-campus mobile home park raising her children. She also took the initiative dur- agrees the risks remains high and it some- through, something she has learned to designed to accommodate the large number ing this time to earn a master's degree in reading, her times takes your breath away. accept as part of the business. of married veterans who were enrolled at specialty area. Looking back, Mona is glad that she Mona foresees major changes ahead in that time. (See photo on page 35.) However, all that changed when she married took a chance and accepted the profession- the business. She explains that new technol- She noted that after growing up in the Charles E. (Chance) Chancellor, a Denver area busi- al challenge of running the business. She ogy, which relies on seismic testing, will far eastern part of South Dakota, she imme- nessman who had followed his father into the oil notes that “you never know what changes continue to improve the ability to predict diately appreciated the warmer climate and business.