Momentum 2017-2018 Year in Review Senator Eddie Melton Commencement Address Speaker
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Alumni Magazine avelengAVolume 6h • 2017-2018 Building Wave MOMENTUM 2017-2018 Year in Review Senator Eddie Melton Commencement Address Speaker Service Speaks Volumes Community Outreach EGE of S LL A O IN C T T J E O M S E U P L H A C H A A N MM IA OND, IND avelength • Awards up to $3,000 annually! • Available to qualified family members of CCSJ alumni who earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree • Requires student to enroll full-time for both fall and spring semesters Alumni Magazine Letter from the President Dear Alumni, As I reflect on this past year, I think about the people that I have met; but more importantly, I think about the common thread that connects us --Calumet College of St. Joseph. A college has the ability to bring people together that may have never had a reason or chance to meet. Perhaps it was when you were at CCSJ that you found your best friend, or your spouse, or a professional colleague, or a mentor, or maybe even yourself. One of the best parts of being a college president is hearing the stories of students and alumni. It is what connects me to the history and the future of the college. I like to hear about their journey and how Calumet College of St. Joseph had an impact. I talked to a recent alumnus who said it wasn’t until he enrolled at Calumet College that he found his confidence. He was a smart student, but he wasn’t confident in a large classroom setting. In his first day at CCSJ, he met two faculty members, his academic advisor, and found the Tutoring Center. Together, these helpedavelengt lead him to academic h success. And his journey is not over yet. He is applying for graduate school. I have also spent time with our first two alumni to be accepted into medical school, which is a great accomplishment for them and CCSJ. On a cold day in January, I had lunch in Philadelphia with one of our alumnae that just finished a pre-doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania. I have also met several amazing individuals that went through our degree completion program and are serving the needs of our community. These are just a few examples of alumni that have discovered their passion; and, through hard work, mentors, and their professors, they are going to be making waves with a ripple effect on many. In this current issue, you will read about alumni who are making a difference at CCSJ, in our region, and at the state level. We recently added two alumni to the CCSJ Board of Trustees, and both previously were featured in the Wavelength magazine. Both David and Gail are good examples of our talented and committed alumni. State Senator Eddie Melton, a CCSJ alumnus, delivered an incredible commencement address at our campus that will be remembered by all of those graduates that attended the May 2018 ceremony. To those that have spent time with me, I thank you for sharing your stories and your hopes for Calumet College of St. Joseph. You know who you are. I look forward to another year of meeting people and extending the reach and impact of CCSJ. Please stay connected and make sure we have your email address. We know that there are many alumni making a significant impact in their communities, their professions, and the lives of others. I invite you to share your stories with us, so that we can share them with others. With gratitude, Dr. Amy McCormack President Contact us › We welcome your feedback on this issue and your letters/comments for future publications. Please contact us at 219-473-4254 or email: [email protected]. Find this issue (and back issues) of the magazine on our website: www.ccsj.edu/ institutionaladvancement/. Bookmark and save this link for future use! Alumni Magazine avelengAh Summer 2018 Volume 6 Features Calumet College of St. Joseph 5 Alumni Association Board Building Wave Momentum President Amy McCormack leads CCSJ with Andy Marks, B.S. ‘05 & M.S. ‘14 passion and high energy. See all the initiatives Chairman that have gained ground in her first year. Sally Lobo-Torres, B.S. ’07 & M.S. ‘14 Vice Chairman Jeffrey Stur, B.S. ‘71 & B.S. ‘06 8 Treasurer Alumni Spotlight Angela Szczepanik-Sanchez, B.S. ‘02 Indiana State Senator Eddie Melton, Class of 2017, Secretary inspires this year’s graduates to find their purpose in life and live it, just as he has in serving others. Debra Burbridge, B.S. ‘01 Fran Drozdz, B.A. ‘67 11 Jesse Garcia, Jr., B.A. ‘80 Service Speaks Volumes CCSJ students impact the community through Zebediah Hall, B.S. ‘09 experiential learning and outreach opportunities both in academic and co-curricular activities. Angela Hughes, B.A. ‘11 Leslie Ihnat, M.S. ‘14 Also in This Issue Donald Kubacki, B.S. ‘69 Victoria Merrill-Washington, B.S. ‘81 9 New Board Members 14 Alumni Notes Dino Ramierez, B.S. ’13 & M.S. ‘16 10 Mission Ministry 15 In Memoriam Michael Skowronek, B.A. ‘77 12 Scholarship Gala 15 Upcoming Events 13 Crimson Wave Athletics avelength Published By The Office of Institutional Advancement Wavelength is published annually and serves its readers by providing information about the activities of CCSJ and its Alumni. Text, photographs, and artwork may not Calumet College of St. Joseph be reprinted without the written permission of the Director of Communication and 2400 New York Avenue Public Relations at CCSJ. Whiting, Indiana 46394 www.ccsj.edu/institutionaladvancement Designed by Angela Hughes Alumni Magazine Year in Review avelength Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) is a special place with many great people doing amazing work in the service of students and higher education. Visionary leader and doer, President Amy McCormack, CCSJ’s 7th and 1st female president, immersed herself in the life, Mission, and spirit of the College. Engaging with students, the Board of Trustees, alumni, community leaders, and the greater community, McCor- mack spent the year building “Wave Momentum.” “A STRONG COLLEGE MAKES OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER,” MCCORMACK SAID. “WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CERTAINLY TO THE QUAL- ITY OF LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY. I AM WORKING TO INTEGRATE US MORE DEEPLY IN THE COMMUNITY. I waNT PEOPLE TO KNOW CALUMET COLLEGE AS THE VALUABLE RESOURCE THAT WE ARE.” Energized to connect people to the College, McCormack prioritized ways to increase the College’s visibility and expand the College’s reach and involvement in the community. Her foci for the year included strengthening CCSJ’s Catholic identity, establishing a sense of community as campus, engaging with the College family, and promoting pride in place. Mission Compels Service CCSJ holds a unique identity. Rooted in the Missionaries of the Gary’s needs; and, second, in collaborating with three Catholic high Precious Blood (C.PP.S) tradition, it embraces Catholic values and schools in the area to offer dual credit, which helps make higher supports an education that encompasses the whole person—spiritual education more affordable and accessible. and moral, as well as intellectual. Lifelong learning, student em- powerment, social justice, an ethic of service, opportunity, and the These efforts have been exciting, McCormack said, because “they are inherent dignity of all people are written in its very Mission. so core to who we are.” “Our Mission allows us and compels us to serve this area,” McCor- mack emphasized. “That Mission is important to me. As the only Community as Campus Catholic institution of higher education in Northwest Indiana, we have a significant role to play. We have the opportunity to make a CCSJ’s campus is small compared to most, but that doesn’t detract significant impact, and I think we’re doing that.” from the college experience students receive. Quite the opposite, really. In thinking outside the current campus, the College creates Working closely with Fr. Kevin Scalf, C.PP.S., Special Assistant to the a rich campus experience, and its location is perfect for students’ President for Mission and Ministry, McCormack looked to further educational, recreational, and career opportunities, according the College’s commitment to Catholic education in two ways: first, to McCormack. in meeting with Bishop Donald Hying to discuss the Diocese of 5 Alumni Magazine Year in Review PRESIDENT AMY MCCORMACK’S 1ST TRUSTEES’ SCHOLARSHIP GALA. (LEFT) MCCORMACK GREETS GUS FLORES, ‘95. (RIGHT) TRUSTEE “WHITING AND HAMMOND ARE MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE THE COLLEGE IS EMERITUS THOMAS KATSHANIAS, MCCORMACK, EFFIE, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD LARRY MEYERS. LOCATED. THEY ARE BOTH CRITICAL PARTNERS,” MCCORMACK EXPLAINED. “THEY ARE INTEGRAL TO THE CAMPUS IN SO MANY waYS.” Already, the College utilizes facilities within the community for athletic Student, Board, Alumni Engagement events. The Crimson Wave “home fields” include Whiting’s Oil City avelength Stadium, the Whiting Sports Complex, Hammond’s Lost Marsh Golf CCSJ connects people—students, board members, community leaders, Course and Olympia Lanes, and East Chicago Central High School. “It’s alumni–they engage with one another and support the College and com- an incredible benefit because they are amazing facilities,” McCormack munity together. said, knowing first-hand having been both a spectator and occasional par- ticipant of the Crimson Wave Athletics. While these facilities are not part Students, through internships and experiential learning opportunities, of CCSJ’s physical campus, they are characteristic of the unique college have much to offer the community. In embracing local causes and ap- experience of CCSJ student-athletes. The partnerships are favorable, plying what they learn in the classroom, they begin to see themselves as too, for both parties in making better use of present facilities within the positive contributors who make a visible impact.