faLL 2008 FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA UT president’s ANNUAL REPORT Contents Vol. XXIV, No. 1 Fall 2008 Features UT Challenging Mindsets. The Honors Program at UT 6 continues to challenge students … and their ideas. The University of Tampa Journal is published three times a year — fall, winter, spring — by The University Hard Corps. Alumni in the Peace Corps find out 10 of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606- just how rewarding hard work can be. 1490. Third-class postage paid at Tampa, FL. Opinions expressed in the Journal do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, administration or students. Hot off the Presses. The student newspaper 12 th Eric Cárdenas ..........................................Executive Editor celebrates its 75 anniversary. Robin Roger ...............................................................Writer Anne Rowland ......................................................Designer Running on Faith. A Cuban immigrant goes from Melanie Munger ’10 ...........Student Graphics Assistant 28 waiting tables at Disney to running for office. Contributors: Jessica Burns ’04, Eric Cárdenas, Jay Hardwick, Justin Herndon, Tom Kolbe, Brian Overcast, Taylor A Launch Pad to Success. President Ronald 40 Albertson Pinke, Dan Sullivan ’06 L. Vaughn highlights the improvements that will Contributing Photographers: help UT graduates go anywhere. Todd Anderson, Jessica Burns ’04, FJ Gaylor Photography, Christine Goodwin, Harrison Haas ’08, Jay Hardwick, Justin Herndon, Bob Knight Photography, Eric Kreher, Jessica Leigh, Charles McKenzie, Cliff McBride, Alex McKnight, Dr. Mason Departments Meers, Andy Meng, Bob Olayas, Taylor Albertson Pinke, Nelson Sanderson The Front Burner ................................................................................1 About the Cover All graduates who complete the Honors Program Beyond the Lectern ...................................................................... course requirements receive a medal to wear at 14 commencement. Last spring 70 students graduated with this distinction. Concept by Anne Rowland. Design by Ana Montalvo and Anne Rowland. Spartan Sportsbag ........................................................................ 17 Duplicate Mailings Muezzin .............................................................................................21 Please help us cut down on mailing costs. If your household is receiving more than one copy of the UT Journal, send us the address labels from each copy. We Class Acts .......................................................................................22 will review our records and correct any duplication. Send your labels to The University of Tampa Homecoming Information ............................................................34 Office of Alumni Relations • Box H 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. • Tampa, FL 33606-1490 Address changes also can be made online by going to Leaving a Legacy ...........................................................................36 www.ut.edu/alumni and clicking on address update. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The UT Journal, The University of Tampa, Box H, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606-1490. The The Common Good ........................................................................38 University of Tampa is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Spartan Dollars and Sense .........................................................39 Donor Honor Roll ...........................................................................46 SYMBOL OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE Minaret Moments .........................................................................72 New Building to Embody Spirituality and Values he Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and the programming Values, a non-denominational facility which opportunities connected T promises to further strengthen UT students’ with the Sykes Chapel academic and personal development, will soon be a are limitless. reality. “Programming The project, which includes a 250-seat main hall, plans will continue to be Above: Gene McNichols (left), vice chairman of the Board of meeting and meditation rooms, pipe organ, a plaza developed along with the Trustees, and board members Leo and 60-bell musical sculpture/fountain, is being built facility’s construction,” B. Berman ‘69 (center) and Jim MacLeod ‘70 (right) applaud the through a multi-million dollar lead gift from John H. and said Holz. “But at this announcement of the chapel. At right: Board member Craig Susan Sykes. The total project is valued at $19.5 million. point I see the potential Sturken ‘66 (right) shakes hands “This is a stunning project that has been in our for a wide spectrum of with John H. Sykes, whose multimillion dollar gift made the hearts and minds for more than a decade,” said John character- and value- project possible. H. Sykes, a longtime benefactor who is the namesake building programs that of the John H. Sykes College of Business. “At the will benefit a wide range of students on campus.” project’s foundation is the development of the minds At present, UT has 10 student organizations that and spirit of young people for generations to come.” focus on religious issues and spiritual development. Vaughn said the Sykes Chapel and Center for “I think that the project will definitely benefit all Faith and Values will continue the transformation students no matter what their faith,” said Kimberly of the campus and further enrich the educational Fogelman, a University of Tampa graduate student. environment and experience. “Even if students never share their beliefs out loud, “We are grateful to the Sykes for their gift that they will know another aspect of the University, which we believe will aid in students’ own discovery and will now encompass mind, body and soul.” The Grand development processes and support the study of world The acoustically-superior building will include Musical religions,” Vaughn said. “Universities have a key a 45-foot tall, 3,184-pipe custom-built organ and a Sculpture opportunity to support such student development, and 75-foot outdoor musical sculpture/fountain to be built The unique musical now UT will be a model in this endeavor.” after the Chapel/Center is completed. sculpture is a 75-foot lighted The Chapel/Center is part of UT’s master plan, The Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values structure adorned with 60 bells. The entire structure is which was approved in 1996. Part of the former will represent the eighth completely new building on integrated as part of a plaza fairgrounds building has already been demolished for UT’s campus in the past decade. UT and water fountain. UT the project, and a groundbreaking is set to occur on the site on campus in October. The planned 12,750-square-foot, 65-foot vaulted, east-west oriented facility will be situated in the center of campus — just north of North B Street across from Brevard Hall. The building uses natural light as a primary design focus and will include architectural elements constructed of red brick, laminated timber, glass, granite, zinc roofing and decorative red cherry millwork. The Chapel/Center will include a main hall, meeting rooms, two meditation rooms, a foyer and vestibule. It is designed to seat 250 people in movable seating for spiritual programs, speaking engagements, seminars, ceremonies, meetings and concerts. Construction of the facility is tentatively scheduled to be completed by January 2010. Stephanie Russell Holz, director of Office An architect’s rendering of the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. For more renderings see pages of Student Leadership and Engagement, said 2 and 3. FALL 2008 1 Chapel/Center to Anchor UT’s Modern Campus he Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and improve the learning experience and add value to the Values represents a center point to the education offered to our students. T transformation of the UT campus. UT’s “We must continue bringing the quality of our projected growth to 6,000 students by 2010 and campus in line with the quality of our education,” approximately 6,500 in another decade will require Vaughn said. new academic buildings, parking facilities, student The new construction will be heavily influenced centers and an expanded library. by the traditional styles and architecture dominant The above campus master plan — with the Sykes on campus — starting with the landmark Plant Hall Chapel in the center — is a recent blueprint of what — and will reinforce UT’s position as a prestigious, the campus might look like in the future. According metropolitan, residential learning institution. to President Vaughn, the master plan represents for more information about UT’s achievements future construction that will “house new programs, and future, see the annual report on pages 40-45. UT The Pipe 1 Sykes Chapel/Center for Faith 8 Center for the Arts (future) and Values 9 Parking Garage (future) — 400 Organ 2 David A. Straz Jr. Hall cars, five levels The 3,184-pipe, 45-foot mechanical action pipe 3 Soccer Field 10 John H. Sykes College of organ will anchor the west 4 Baseball Field Business end of the Chapel/Center 5 Graduate Studies and Health 11 Grand Musical Sculpture and, when constructed, will (future) be one of the largest of its Sciences (future) kind in the southern U.S. 6 Information and Communication 12 Brevard Hall The organ’s horizontal and Technology (future) 13 Vaughn Center — Student vertical pipes — which vary Center and Residence Hall in size — will be made of 7 Stadium Center — Residence