WINTER 2019 CENTRAL CENTRAL COLLEGE CIVITAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE 12 ROB LINDLEY ’95 ON TOUR WITH “PHANTOM” 17 ROOMMATES LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS BEGIN HERE 24 CAMPUS CAMPS 29 YEAR-ROUND OFFERINGS PRESIDENT’S CORNER MARK: MY WORDS PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWER Read more of President Putnam's writing at: BY MARK PUTNAM, CENTRAL COLLEGE PRESIDENT president.central.edu art of my job is to to me as a class. I receive them into the From time to time that brief moment free students from care and keeping of the college with great will resurface in a conversation with a the expectations of enthusiasm. Then it gets very quiet. student, most often a senior, as we share others. It is one of a moment of reflection. Though their the most rewarding Here is what I say to our new students: reactions vary, the common theme is a aspects of my work. realization that they had to begin to think If I gave you each a marker and On move-in more deeply and listen more carefully to invited you to write on the walls of this P day at the start of their thoughts and ideas. auditorium all the expectations placed fall semester, we have a brief ceremony in The four critical years of college on you by family, teachers, coaches, Douwstra Auditorium we call “Turning necessarily involves self-discovery that neighbors and friends, we would cover Over the Class.” Parents are excused, reaches beyond the expectations of others. the walls with your lists. Most of your though a few still linger in the shadows. Students set aside self-limiting ideas of the lives have been about conforming to Our task is to formally welcome these fresh past as a new course stimulates previously others’ expectations. Now you are faces as a class and begin fostering a shared undiscovered interests. Their self-assurance authors of your own story. identity for the journey ahead. grows as study abroad, service learning They cross the threshold of Central You are all fortunate that I have been and undergraduate research stretches them Hall to the cheers of our student endowed with phenomenal cosmic power. past comfort to grasp new competencies. orientation leaders. The room is abuzz So by the authority vested in me, I Eventually students realize they hold their with conversation and laughter. Yet in the hereby release you from all expectations own phenomenal cosmic power: They midst of a crazy day of activity, we quiet and invite you to begin writing your own become more than anyone expected. them for a few minutes of reflection. We story. Whatever burdens you bear from offer a prayer of hope, encouragement and the expectations of others are now gone. blessing and they are formally presented WINTER 2 0 1 9 CENTRAL COLLEGE CIVITAS TABLE OF CONTENTS ON THE COVER ALUMNI MAGAZINE Rob Lindley ’95 Winter 2019 | Issue 3 FEATURES EDITOR AND CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Dan Weeks [email protected] SENIOR DESIGN DIRECTOR Melody VanderLeest [email protected] 12 17 24 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS AN ACTOR AND WINNING THE CAMPS, Jeff Bersch A GENTLEMAN ROOMMATE LOTTERY CONFERENCES Jordan Bohr Rob Lindley ’95 on Four pairs of AND CLINICS Cyvannah Vecchio acting and authenticity roommates with In athletics, music, CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER lasting—and life- sustainability and more Lindsey Maurer altering—friendships PHOTOGRAPHER Paul Joy [email protected] CELEBRATE HOO-RAH DAY! NEWSNOTES EDITORS AROUND THE POND 4 Mary Benedict ATHLETICS UPDATES 8 Lisa Thurman Fyfe ’87 Connie Aalbers Marlow ’76 CENTRAL SCENE 10 Lynne Petty ALUMNI NEWSNOTES 29 Peggy Johnson Van Den Berg ’83 #HoorahDay [email protected] WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 PARTING SHOT 43 SPORTS EDITOR hoorah.central.edu Larry Happel ’81 [email protected] MARKETING AND [email protected] PROJECT MANAGEMENT CIVITAS.CENTRAL.EDU Steffanie Bonnstetter 812 UNIVERSITY ST., PELLA, IOWA 50219 [email protected] 800.447.0287 DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA Denise Lamphier [email protected] Civitas is published by the Central communications office for alumni, parents and friends of Central College. For information on the Civitas mission, visit civitas.central.edu. DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Civitas (USPS 096-840) is published quarterly by Central College, 812 University St., Pella, IA 50219-1999. Corey Falter Periodicals postage paid at Pella, Iowa, and additional offices. [email protected] Postmaster: send address changes (PS 3579) to Civitas, 812 University St., Pella, IA 50219-1999. Address changes also may be sent to [email protected]. VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Sunny Gonzales Eighmy ’99 [email protected] 10% 10% Post-Consumer Fiber Production notes: Civitas is printed with a vegetable-based ink by Town Crier, Pella, Iowa. AROUND THE POND SCHOLARSHIP HONOREES Central’s Geisler Penquite scholars are exceptional students in the teacher education program. They receive approximately $5,000 per year during their third and fourth years; in return, they represent the education department to prospective students, conduct research and/or develop new education department initiatives. Central’s 2018 Geisler Penquite scholars are, front row, left to right: Shelby Casner ’20, Mason Muur ’20, Brittney Latcham ’20, Elise Askelsen ’20, Madison McDowell ’20, Alaena Pelzer ’20, McKenna Fiebelkorn ’20 and Parker Majerus ’20. The Geisler Penquite Committee that helped choose the scholars is, back row, left to right: FALL SERVICE DAY “We also wanted Intersections classes— Sheri Timmer Roslien ’88, Dan Skokan, For the first time in 12 years, Central’s interdisciplinary classes required of all Gary Timmer ’55, Maurine Timmer, service day took place in October instead Central first-year students—to use service Jean Schnell, Eric Sickler ’83 and of the spring. as a bonding experience. Connecting with John Roslien. Not pictured: Noreen Otto In this annual tradition since 2006, the our regional community enriches civic and Eugene Knopf. The scholarship was college cancels classes, and students, faculty life, augments student learning and fosters established by Harold and Mavis Geisler and staff serve Pella and central Iowa. strong community relationships.” and Cecil Geisler Penquite and Loren “Community partners needed help with This year, 725 Central students, Penquite in honor of their parents, fall projects [such as raking leaves, above],” faculty and staff contributed thousands of John Edward Geisler and Gertrude explains Cheri Trout Doane ’98, Central’s volunteer hours—valued at approximately Setzer Geisler. director of community-based learning. $75,000—to projects that included: 4 | CIVITAS + Teaching English-learning students in Des Moines to play steel pans. + Improving woodlands at Christie Park in Pleasant Hill. + Doing outdoor work at Pella Regional Health Center. + Supporting clients at the Pella Food Shelf. + Collecting oral histories of Upward Bound participants in Des Moines. To learn more about service learning at Central: central.edu/service. HUMANISTS PRESENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Five Central students presented original Ashley Sojka ’19, above, was one of more than 150 Central students representing 25 research at the eighth annual Midwest courses across 15 academic disciplines who presented research results to the campus Undergraduate Conference in the community Dec. 4 in the Harry and Bernice Vermeer Banquet Hall. Humanities in November at Wartburg Through oral presentations, poster sessions and demonstrations, Undergraduate College. Adrienne Bergman ’20 spoke Research Symposium participants shared what they learned through research for classes, on “The Hidden Racism of Desdemona honors symposia, summer projects and independent study. in Othello” on the panel “Buried Desires? Presentations ran the gamut: One computer science student built his own video Women’s Perilous Agency in Literature,” game. Other students studied cultural controversies such as the treatment of confederate chaired by Assistant Professor of English monuments or wilderness access or tested hypotheses in the experimental and social Valerie Billing. Savana Henning ’20 sciences. All projects featured researchers delighted to do out-of-the-classroom work with presented “The Influence of Passover real-world applicability. on Christianity” and Christian Elementary education major Sojka, for instance, studied how sustainability is taught in Warner ’20 discussed “The Art of the United States versus Northern Europe. “The United States tends to offer specialized Rhetoric in Establishing a Conversation courses in sustainability; in Northern Europe, they embed green education in all classes. on the Origin of Law in Book I of Plato’s Theirs is a broader approach, and knowing about it has influenced how I plan to teach,” Laws,” both on the panel “Seeking she says. Justice: On Earth as it is in Heaven” moderated by Professor of Religion Terry Kleven. Miguel Piña ’19 presented “Rebuilding Home and Memory in TICKET CENTRAL ‘La Casa’ by Paco Roca”on the panel Now you can get tickets for virtually all Central public “Reflections on the Contemporary events from one source. With just a few keystrokes, you Hispanic World.” John Scearcy ’19 can register as a user, browse a comprehensive calendar presented “Chinese Language Education of Central events and buy tickets online that you can in Mérida, Mexico: Spanish, English and print at home or download to your mobile device. Mandarin Chinese in Mexican University and High School Settings” on the panel To get tickets: events.central.edu “Linguistic and Cultural Identity: From the Pragmatic to Personal.” WINTER 2019 | 5 GO