CTX ATHLETICS ExPERIENCES HISTORIC SUCCESS TORNADOS WIN 3 ASC CHAMPIONSHIPS CTX OPENS NEW FACILITY IN DFW SUMMER 2012 VOL. 4 PAGE 10 IssUE 2 OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP CHRISTIAN LEADERS TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message from the President 03 CTX Athletics Experiences Historic Success 04 The Concordia MBA - First Graduating Cohort 06 Conversations With... Speaker Series 07 2012 Milestones for Concordia 08 Editor Melinda Brasher New CTX Programs 09 Graphic Designer (‘09) • Common Experience Curriculum Launches Fall 2013 Jesse Gumtow Maggie Thompson • Concordia Launces Expanded Online Learning Opportunities Contributing Writers Jill Cloud Heidi Doering Jolie Perez Concordia Opens New Facility in DFW 10 Matt Chmura Amy Huth Brittany Scheel ‘12 • Student Blogs The magazine for Concordia Concordia University Texas University Texas is published two Attn: Melinda Brasher times a year by the University’s 11400 Concordia University Dr. Ben & I Play for Peace 12 External Relations Office. It is provided Austin, Texas 78726 free of charge. Please send comments, [email protected] Jazz Ensemble 13 letters to the editor or story ideas to: [email protected] All in the Timing 14 Concordia University Texas President Spring Concert 14 Dr. Thomas Cedel Vice President of External Relations Faculty & Staff News 15 Don Adam • Craig Potts Marathon Runner Vice President of • CTX Welcomes New Dean of College of Science Strategic Planning & Assessment • Dr. Kim Perlak Releases New CD Gary Belcher Vice President of University Services Faith Lutheran Church 18 Rev. Dr. David Kluth Presidential Ambassador for Mission Advancement 2012 EIL Gala Honoree, Reid Ryan 21 Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick Vice President of Business Services Student News 22 Pamela Lee • Justice Conference Provost Dr. Alan Runge • Bastrop: Rising from the Ashes • Hannah Boeck Receives Fulbright Award Board of Regents Alumni Notes 26 Quentin Anderson Dr. Max Kiesling Barry Burgdorf Noreen Linke Dr. Roger Birkman Receives Honorary Doctorate 29 Albert Carrion Kristi Matus Rev. Allen Doering Ed Moerbe Mike Gardner 30 Rev. Michael Dorn Chuck Requadt Stephen Eggold Robyn Roberts Record Tornado Season 32 Mark Hazelwood Daniel Schaefer Rev. Kenneth Hennings Keith Weiser CTX Athletics Award Banquet 34 Rebecca Kieschnick Concordia University Texas is a private, coeducational institution of liberal arts and sciences offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Concordia offers an Accelerated Degree Program for part-time students and adult returning students. Concordia University Texas is ON THE COVER accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is under the auspices of the Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod. www.concordia.edu Concordia’s Baseball, Women’s Cross Country, and Women’s Basketball all are 2011-2012 ASC Champions. See pages 4-5 for full story. 2 CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT NEW YEAR, NEW RECORDS t’s been an exciting year for Concordia, corporations and friends who support our I with many record-setting moments for the mission of developing Christian leaders. history books. For those things, we are both proud and grateful. Your support has helped On behalf of everyone at Concordia University expand academic and athletic programs, Texas, thank you for your philanthropy and inspire students and support our mission. The generosity. stories in this issue of CTX magazine and the included Donor Honor Roll attest to your belief in our students’ present and future. Faithfully Yours, We continue to be blessed, and your support is crucial to our success. As you review our accomplishments in this publication, may Dr. Thomas E. Cedel you also share our pride in this outstanding President university. I am thankful to our devoted alumni, parents, churches, foundations, 2011–2012 HIG 2011–2012 • Enrollment continues to increase at record rates. Water 2 Thrive, and more than 100 volunteers The spring 2012 enrollment was at 2,658, up more than were on site in Smithville supporting the Extreme 230% since the move to the northwest Austin location. Makeover: Home Edition project after the Bastrop County fires in the fall of 2011. • The first class of nursing students graduated in April 2012. Since its inception just two years • The Texas District Church Extension Fund (CEF) recently ago, the program has become one of the purchased what is known as Lot 1, a property adjacent fastest growing majors at the University. to the main campus in Austin. The University plans to lease the space until a time when they can purchase HL • The first MBA cohort will graduate in August 2012. the property outright. The 53 acres of buildable space IG Program growth is up 255% since its start in 2010. will provide the University with additional opportunities for expansion. Possible plans for the 53 acres include hts • A new Concordia Center opened in athletic fields and support facilities such as a fitness the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. center, locker rooms, office space, and classrooms. • Through the Service-Learning program, money was raised to build a fourth well in Africa with SUMMER 2012 3 FEATURE CTX ATHLETICS ExPERIENCES HISTORIC SUccESS TORNADOS WIN 3 ASC CHAMPIONSHIPS oncordia athletics has seen its The momentum likely started with Student athletes continue fair share of success throughout the 2011 baseball team’s title run. C the school’s 86-year history, but It continued during the fall season to be recognized for their none quite like the past academic with the women’s cross country team academic commitment as year. Concordia had three teams taking the conference title for the earning the American Southwest first time in school history, followed well, with a record-setting Conference champion title during the by women’s basketball who not only 71 students being named to 2011-2012 year, ranking second for earned their first conference title most championship titles in a year but went on to play in the NCAA the ASC Academic Honor among the 15 member institutions. regional tournament. Shortly after, Roll and two students Beginning with the baseball team’s the nationally-ranked baseball team title run in 2011, which was the took a second-straight conference named as Distinguished institution’s first championship in title, earning the opportunity to host Scholar Athletes any sport since 2002, the school has two rounds of post-season play at won four ASC titles in the last 13 Tornado Field and an invitation to the breaking year for most of our sports months. NCAA regional tournament. programs, which is great momentum moving forward.” “We are so proud of our Other sports including men’s and women’s soccer recorded season-best outstanding and dedicated Concordia athletes aren’t just gifted records earlier in the year. And later, on the field. Student athletes continue student-athletes, Concordia men’s and women’s golf and softball to be recognized for their academic did as well. has had a record-breaking commitment as well, with a record- setting 71 students being named to year for most of our sports “We are so proud of our outstanding the ASC Academic Honor Roll and and dedicated student-athletes,” programs, which is great two students named as Distinguished Stan Bonewitz, Director of Athletics, Scholar Athletes. The cumulative momentum moving forward.” said. “Concordia has had a record- average GPA for Concordia student Stan Bonewitz, Director of Athletics 4 CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS FEATURE CTX AtHLETICS INDIVIDUAL AWARDS Tommy Boggs & Assistants (Baseball) 2012 ASC West Division Coaching Staff of the Year Tyler Grygar (Baseball) photo by McCaslin Carson McCaslin by photo 2012 D3Baseball.com All-West Region Third Team Scott Hays (Baseball) 2012 D3Baseball.com All-Region Third Team Collin Janssen (Baseball) 2012 ASC Fred Jacoby Male Sportsmanship im Clark Athlete of the Year T 2012 D3Baseball.com All-American Second Team 2012 ASC West Division Co-Player of the Year photo by 2012 ASC West Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year 2012 D3Baseball.com All-West Region First Team Matt McManemin (Baseball) 2012 ASC Championship Series Most Valuable Player Rusty Rainbolt (W. Basketball) 2011-12 ASC West Division Coach of the Year photo by Meghan Ferrell Kyle Rodriguez (Baseball) 2012 ASC West Division Freshman of the Year Brent Schaekel (Baseball) Details on spring sports can be athletes was 3.12 for the year, another 2012 D3Baseball.com All-West Region Third Team record. found on pages 32-34. Teylor Schiefelbein (Softball) Purple Out events throughout the Plan to join us for the NFCA National Player of the Week year encouraged fans to attend games and wear purple. Media coverage 2012-2013 seasons. Tear Shamika Singleton (W. Basketball) was at an unofficial all-time high, out the back page of this 2011-12 D3Hoops.com All-South Region and fans were able to follow their Third Team teams from anywhere thanks to live magazine for a handy guide 2012 ASC Tournament Most Valuable Player streaming of events. It was certainly a to fall sport schedules. great year for Concordia, and looking Ryan Ullmann (Baseball) forward to the fall season, there is 2012 D3Baseball.com All-Region Second Team much anticipation for continued Follow us: success. MEGAN WAGENAAR (Women’s Track & Field) Twitter 2012 ASC SPORTsmAnshIP ATHLETE OF THE YEAR @concordiatx & @ctxathletics ZAch COLLIER (Men’s Golf) 2012 ASC DISTIngUIshED schOLAR Facebook ATHLETE OF THE YEAR facebook.com/concordiaTx KAYLA BURch (Women’s Golf) 2012 ASC DISTIngUIshED schOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Find the latest athletics info at: athletics.concordia.edu *Concordia athletes accounted for four of a total 16 distinguished scholar athletes named by the ASC for the 2011-2012 year, the most of any school in the league. SUMMER 2012 5 CTX NEWS THE CONCORDIA MBA First Cohort to Graduate in August 2012 by Jill Cloud Dr. Elise Brazier calls on a student in the Concordia MBA program, which will graduate their first class in August of 2012.