VOL. 35, NO. 2 VOL. 35, NO. GRACELAND UNIVERSITY Annual Report 2019 HOW TWO GRACELAND ALUMNI GAVE BACK TO THEIR ALMA MATER IN A BIG WAYP6 Horizons (USPS 0884-8939) is published three times per year by Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa. The magazine is distributed without charge to alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. Free copies are available upon request. CONTACT US Your feedback is always welcome! Direct correspondence and address changes to: Graceland University Alumni Programs Office 1 University Place Lamoni, IA 50140 866.GU4.EVER [email protected] BOARD OF TRUSTEES Harry J. Ashenhurst, PhD, ’70, CHAIR Robert G. “Bob” Ackerley ’06, VICE CHAIR David J. Brown ’73, TREASURER Michelle Hampton ’83 Waite, SECRETARY Sue Bevington ’89 Michele Black, MBA, ’81 Joseph Booz, JD, ’86 Stassi Cramm, PhD, ’03 Nancy Tanner Edwards, PhD, ’65 Ronald E. “Ron” Gillilan, MD Karen Booth ’76 Jewell, JD Ivan Joseph, PhD, ’96 Dale W. Lick, PhD John Sheehy ’79 Dennis Shields, JD, ’77 Samuel G. “Sam” Smalldon ’78 Rachel Bradford ’07 Tovey Ryan Watson ’77 Michael R. Wiley, PhD, ’83 Strength Through Change ADMINISTRATION Patricia H. Draves, PhD PRESIDENT ne of the best things about living in Lamoni is the absolute beauty Kathleen M. Clauson Bash, PhD VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS of the changing seasons. For anyone who has spent extended time Kelly W. Everett, BA, ’77 on campus, you know that we can even experience almost all of VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT O Jill Rhea, PhD the seasons in the span of a single week! As the seasons change, though, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND DEAN OF FACULTY David Schaal, EdD, ’80 the strength of the Graceland experience remains. Brick buildings stand VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT LIFE AND DEAN OF STUDENTS tall against the cold of winter, and our hearts stay warm as we reflect Jodi L. Seymour EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT on experiences of the past year — new friends made, life changes, new AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES David Siddall, JD, ’85 careers, and even friends we have lost. VICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS AND FINANCE Graceland is on the cusp of a change of its own — and not just in the ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michele Black, MBA, ’81, PRESIDENT renovation of buildings like Newcom Student Union and Morden Center. Brian Woodson, BA, ’87, VICE PRESIDENT Our administration, faculty and staff have been engaging in a months-long Holly Phillips ’81 Caskey, BA, SECRETARY Kevin Brunner, PhD, ’86, FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE evaluation and planning process to transform our university to address the Brooke Beytin, MA, ’15 challenges of higher education that we see in the future. This transformation Caleb Brian, PhD, ’08 Joy Brunner-Cannavino, MA, ’85 is leading us to a university that is dynamic and nimble while remaining Cal Closson, BA, ’82 true to the pillars of community and togetherness that have always made Lynley Closson, MSW, ’15 Michael Davis, BA, ’10 Graceland the special place we all know it to be. Carmen Fisher, RN, BSN, ’02 Ric Hettrick, BA, ’74 As we work through this transformation, we celebrate the generosity of Beth Higdon, MA, ’73 Jeff Martin, BA, ’85 our amazing alumni and friends listed in the annual report for the 2018-19 Nichelle Closson ’10 Oxley, JD fiscal year. I hope that you will take time to read the stories of our amazing Samuel G. “Sam” Smalldon, MBA, ’78 Lisa Sheehy ’80 Stobbe, MEd community and see on full display the impact that this generosity has on Brittany Atwood ’06 Thomas, BA our students. EDITOR & WRITING Change is challenging, hard decisions need to be made, but it is also Shane Adams ’99 exciting. As the seasons change on our campuses, Graceland stands strong, DESIGN poised to continue realizing its potential as a dynamic, comprehensive Tiffany Rider ’06 Smith, MEd Midwestern university. Thank you for all you do to help make that happen PHOTOGRAPHY — from your support and encouragement to your generosity of your Shane Adams ’99 R. Paul Davis, MA, ’81 resources. We are so grateful to have you as a part of our community. Michael Gruich Wendell Smith, MEd, ’06 WRITING & DATA ANALYSIS Brooke Sutherland, MS, ’03 DIGITAL LAYOUT Steve Edwards, MS, ’96 Patricia H. Draves, PhD President CONNECT WITH US @GracelandUPres Graceland University @GracelandU @GracelandUniversity ON THE COVER Gorgeous fall colors in October gave way to an equally beautiful landscape — winter arrived at last and blanketed the Lamoni campus with snow. We were fortunate to capture aerial views Graceland University of the Higdon Administration Building and Newcom Student Union (the temperature was a balmy 7ºF). Visit graceland.edu/newcomproject for updates on this exciting project. SNAPSHOT The Newcom Footprint As we watch the renovation progress of Newcom Student Union, it has become clear that generations of Gracelanders recognize the pivotal role this building has played in the student experience. We’re excited to see that role continue for future generations of Gracelanders. Go to the annual report section to see who contributed to this project. ▸ P24 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 HORIZONS | 3 The Buzz A section dedicated to sharing what's going on at Graceland — because so many cool things are happening, and we want you to know about them! COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS Esports Champions Graceland’s ESPORTS TEAM was named the Iowa Division B Esports League champion at the GG Leagues tournament at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, in November. Jared Doty, Graceland Esports coach, said of the team’s collective win, “Our communication, in-game adjustments and strategy were very effective, and these are skills they’ll need in the global economy.” In the spring, the team will compete with some of the highest-ranked schools in the U.S. RECIPIENTS Baseball Anthony Moore HOMECOMING 2019 Read about the ALUMNI AWARDS honorees ▸ P9 Basketball (M) Brady McMains Basketball (W) Emma Burns Cheer Cheyanne Chesley Students Dance Team Tabitha Watson Honored for Football Their Academic Dyllon Mack Golf (M) Achievements Carter Wiley Golf (W) The FREEMAN AWARDS, named Julia Austin for Tom ’55 and Terry Moore Softball ‘56 Freeman, are presented Daryn Nowlin Athletics Hall of Fame annually to one senior student- Soccer (M) athlete in each varsity sport who, Dylan Fox Class of 2019 Honored in their junior year, earned the Soccer (W) A NEW CLASS OF highest cumulative GPA in their Maria Mafi da Silveira INDUCTEES ATHLETICS HALL respective sport. This year’s Track & Field (M) OF FAME INDUCTEES medals were presented to the Donavan Switalski 1979 Men’s recipients before kickoff at the Track & Field (W) WAS RECOGNIZED Volleyball Team during Homecoming homecoming football game. Kristol Vanterpool Ian Davies ’78 2019 for their A special plaque with each Volleyball (M) Rob Kaleikau ’80 contributions to the student’s name will be placed Kaelan Padilla athletic department. Diana Jensen ’01 in their coach’s office to Volleyball (W) commemorate the students’ Abigail Karlis achievements and as a reminder Wrestling of the important role a coach Shea Swafford Homecoming photo albums can be viewed here: flickr.com/gracelanduniversity plays in a student’s collegiate life. 4 | HORIZONS graceland.edu/horizons Theatre Production Addresses Global Issue “LIGHTING THE WAY” presented Graceland’s theatre audience with different perspectives on climate change through 12 short vignettes — some silly and some intense, but all thought-provoking. The Graceland performance was part of a global network of public forums on the subject of climate change under the umbrella of The Arctic Cycle consortium. The Climate Change Theatre Action, a participating group, offers a menu of 50 short scenes for stage performance. Of those, Graceland chose 12 for the local production. This scene, “Canary,” was selected to be performed at the annual Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region 5, held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jan. 19-25, 2020. CAMPUS LIFE ABOVE Jessie Fuller '20 enacted the scene from "Canary" by Hanna Cormick, a poetic piece dedicated to those who put their life/body on the line, voluntarily and involuntarily, to bring about awareness of climate change, like canaries in the coal mine. Assistant Professor of Theatre Tracy Salter dedicated this scene to her friend and former professor who suffers from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Susceptible to environmental toxins, individuals with MCS are characterized as canaries because their bodies can no longer process certain poisons in the air, water or food sources, and are early indicators of a danger. Nine Students Inducted Into Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society The GRACELAND CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTED NINE NEW MEMBERS in October. Fly Like a Bird Graceland’s chapter, Alpha In November, JANA ZINSER ’80 Phi Upsilon, was founded in SHARED A LIVE READING OF HER 2017, and these new members LATEST NOVEL, inspired by her experiences are part of the third class of growing up in Lamoni. Fly Like A Bird, Zinser’s inductees. Sigma Tau Delta second novel, tells the coming-of-age story of was founded in 1924 to confer NEW MEMBERS Ivy, a young girl growing up in a small southern distinction for high achievement Iowa town during the 1970s, where everyone in English language, literature Randallynn Smith knows everything about their quirky neighbors. and writing, and to foster Payton Young After discovering that her family and neighbors literacy and all aspects of the Daryn Nowlin are keeping secrets from her about the night discipline of English. With Emma Cleland-Leighton a tragic car crash killed her parents, Ivy over 850 chapters across the Ashley Gress attempts to untangle the truth about what U.S. and abroad, Sigma Tau Kaylen Schaefer really happened and escape the town that Delta is the most active honors Passion Shaffer lied to her about the true fate of her mother.