SUMMER 2013 QUniverseQUINCY UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Celebrating Scholarship & Service Stirring Cultural Gumbo Launching the Class of 2013 QU | President’s Page “We aim to prepare students for success by encouraging them to strive for excellence within and beyond the classroom.” ne important debate about funding higher education Oconcerns whether it is an individual or a social good. To the extent that education benefits individual students, so goes the argument, then students and their families should bear the cost, through cash payments and student loans. To the extent that education benefits the larger society—projecting educated citizens’ increased civic engagement and their long-term rising economic tide that lifts all boats—then society should share the cost, President Robert Gervasi and his wife, Jen, accompany honorary degree recipient Jim through government aid and private philanthropy. In recent years, Mentesti and commencement speaker Fr. Thomas Nairn OFM across campus. regrettably, college has increasingly come to be viewed more as an individual good. This view adversely affects not only the funding personal success as well as commitment to the common good. For but also the very purpose and content of higher education, further example, our honors program has expanded from twenty-eight fragmenting our already strained society. students to almost 200 in just seven years. The number of students In contrast, Quincy University’s Catholic, Franciscan mission participating in service projects has also increased exponentially. integrates and celebrates both objectives. We believe that As you will read from their comments on these pages, students individuals flourish by embracing the common good. We aim to discover through their QU experience that striving to make a prepare students for success by encouraging difference in the larger world is itself a core component of striving them to strive for excellence within and for excellence. beyond the classroom. At the same time I hope you will be as inspired by these stories as I am, knowing we take seriously the challenge in our that your continued support is vital for QU’s ongoing success in mission statement for students to work for serving our students—who themselves will succeed and serve. the “transformation of the world,” with an astonishing array of service projects and commitments. This issue of QUniverse Peace and all good, highlights some of the Dr. Robert A. Gervasi, President people and programs that exemplify QU’s commitment to prepare students for lives of Contents | QU In This Issue ii President’s Page 2 We Salute 2013 Grads Another class has entered the ranks QUniverse 8 Student Spotlight Editor: Jen Gervasi | [email protected] Editorial Advisory Committee and 10 Hawk Talk Contributors: Inspired competition Sharon Barnett ’79 Bill Beard 14 Service & Scholarship Julie Bell Matthew Bergman ’99 The perfect nexus of the Franciscan ideal Brendan Bittner Ben Braun ’07 18 Alumni Feature Megan Duncan ’15 Dr. Barbara Schleppenbach ’71 The quintessential QU'er Christina Simmons Fr. Joseph Zimmerman, OFM 22 Franciscan Focus Fr. Ferd adds spice to our cultural stew 24 Class Notes QUniverse is published to serve the interests of Quincy University and its programs. 30 Faculty and Staff Send all correspondence to: QUniverse Quincy University 1800 College Ave. Quincy, IL 62301-2699 [email protected] Editorial Consultant: Helen O’Guinn Design Consultant: 8 J Michael Harlow 2 8 14 18 22 10 QU | Commencement 2013 ANOTHER CLASS HAS ENTERED THE RANKS OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF QU FOREVER. We Salute 2013 2 QUniverse | Summer 2013 Commencement 2013 | QU eet the Class of 2013, 250 strong and ready—in the Though much has changed in forty-plus years, the symbols of words of Quincy University’s mission statement—to a QU education continue to inspire: “The QU tower challenging Mlead the transformation of the world. you to look beyond the horizons, to be open to continued growth; On May 12, the jubilant undergrads and over 100 master’s degree the Quincy hawk, that symbol of vision, strength, courage, and candidates took a moment to reflect on the past, challenge the decisiveness; and the [tau] cross, the sign of God’s love and future, and celebrate a day of achievement. In just under an hour, mercy for us which in turn becomes a call to reconciliation and a proud procession of graduates, from MBA through nursing, service to others.” stepped across the commencement stage and into history as the Fr. Tom summarized the symbols in the words of Francis of 150th class to be named “sons and daughters of Quincy University Assisi: “Who I am before God, that’s who I am, and nothing forever.” more.” The journey of Francis to realize that identity is one that The commencement ceremony that filled Pepsi Arena to each graduate can follow. “To know who you really are – that’s capacity was preceded by several special events, from the success. And it doesn’t come from school or from your job, but traditional senior brunch on from your heart, from being committed to Friday to a newly established something that’s truly greater than you Saturday reception for families, are.” followed by the Baccalaureate In his concluding remarks, Mass at St. Francis Solanus “Taking this personal experience President Robert Gervasi, PhD, Church. into the future will be important echoed that theme. “How do we Computer Science graduate find out who we are before God? to all of us...work hard, be kind, Matthew Meglan opened the It’s a lifelong process. That’s why in ceremony with a welcome that and the rest will come.” the liberal arts tradition, we believe emphasized the Franciscan value ~MATTHEW MEGLAn ’13 firmly in lifelong learning. That’s of caring for individuals. “What the most important thing you can is special about this school is its learn and that’s the ultimate goal of ability to give each and every one of learning through all of the subjects us a unique experience,” Meglan said. we study.” “Taking this personal experience into the future will be He recalled the invocation of the Baccalaureate Mass: “May important to all of us.” He exhorted his peers to “work hard, be the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, kind, and the rest will come.” and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,” challenging Honorary degree recipient James Mentesti ’66, has exemplified the graduates to make those words their own. such a life of accomplishment that results from applying a QU “What would it be like if each of us framed our time every day education with diligence and generosity to the community. into a sacred space where what we wanted from our lives and Repeatedly honored for his twenty-seven years of outstanding from our world was grace and peace and love and fellowship?” service to the Great River Economic Development Foundation, Gervasi asked. “We hope that is what you’ve found a glimpse Mentesti retired as president in 2012. From 1969 to 1981, Mentesti of here at Quincy University in the people you have met, the was the QU director of placement and director of alumni. He people you have served, the courses you have studied, and the served on the university’s board of trustees from 1999 to 2008 faculty who have loved you. And I use that word deliberately and currently holds emeritus status. because in the end, learning has to be rooted in love. His board colleague, Fr. Tom Nairn, OFM, captured the heart of “We have faculty who love their subjects and who love that QU identity in his address to the graduates. Nairn ’71 is senior imparting that love to their students. We hope you’ve captured director, ethics, for the Catholic Health Association, U.S.A. He a little bit of that, but it’s not the end. It’s the beginning.” recalled his own commencement experience “on a hot Sunday in May,” years before the Pepsi Arena was blessed with air conditioning. QUniverse | Summer 2013 www.quincy.edu 3 QU | Commencement 2013 “We have faculty who love their subjects and who love imparting that love to their students. We hope you’ve captured a little bit of that, but it’s not the end. It’s the beginning.” ~ DR. ROBERT GERVASI 4 QUniverse | Summer 2013 QUniverse | Summer 2013 www.quincy.edu 5 6 QUniverse | Summer 2013 “Who I am before God, that’s who I am, and nothing more.” ~ FR. TOM NAIRN, OFM QUniverse | Summer 2013 www.quincy.edu 7 QU | Student Spotlight TWO THEATRICAL PREMIERES at Quincy The Journey The Presidents Under My Pillow The Quincy University Theatre Department set In April, the stage production The Presidents aside February 21-24 to recognize Black History Under My Pillow, brought American history to Month. Connie Phillips, director of the theater life. Written by Connie Phillips, director of the program, wrote The Journey, which features the theater program, with songs by Phillips and lives and stories of those who paved opportunity Allen Means, director of choirs, this original over the rocky roads of racism. The program production involved thirteen Quincy University touched on prominent figures, such as Martin students along with some very special guests. Luther King, Jr., and President Barack Obama, Designed with young people in mind, the play and also brought in a local twist by featuring interacted with the audience gathered in QU’s two Quincy University trailblazers in the quest MacHugh Theatre. The producers believe that for racial equality. if the children are involved on stage it will not George Iles, who was born and raised in Quincy just capture their attention at the performance and attended Quincy University, became one of but will also propel a lasting interest in history.