No 3, 2013 I $5
When Carnegie Calls World premiere draws student ensemble to music’s biggest stage
I ATHLETICS UPGRADE I ART PARTNERS
Contents | May 2013
24
36 32
24 32 36 COVER STORY Level Playing Fields Warp and Weft The Big Stage Olympic sports, especially In a campus exhibition, artists women’s athletics, will get a Ann Hamilton and Cynthia e journey to Carnegie Hall much-needed boost with the Schira weave their creative for a 9/11 symphony’s world construction of long-awaited response to the Spencer premiere concluded months of Rock Chalk Park. Museum’s collection, their KU intense preparation by the KU history and each other. Wind Ensemble. But in some By Chris Lazzarino ways, it was just the beginning. By Steven Hill By Jennifer Jackson Sanner
Established in 1902 as e Graduate Magazine Volume 111, No. 3, 2013 ISSUE 3, 2013 | 1 Set your new graduate up for success with a KU Alumni Association membership!
He or she will receive:
• Invitations to young alumni networking events • Access to career/professional development programs • Discounts on Alumni Collection merchandise • Access to the online alumni directory and Kansas Alumni magazine • Invitations to athletic and academic programs
Recent grad rates are available for the first five years after completion of the most recent degree.
Special rates for new graduates:
Membership Single Joint
Half-Price Life Membership $500 $750
12-Month Installment Plan $41.66/month $62.50/month
Recent Grad Annual $25/year $30/year Membership May 2013
44
Publisher Kevin J. Corbett, c’88 4 Lift the Chorus Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Letters from our readers Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 7 First Word Steven Hill e editor’s turn Editorial Assistant Karen Goodell Photographers Steve Puppe, j’98 8 On the Boulevard Dan Storey KU & Alumni Association events Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 Communications Coordinator Lydia Krug Benda, j’10 10 Jayhawk Walk Top twirler, elite eats, a beauty on loan and more Advertising Sales Representative David Johnston, j’94, g’06 12 Hilltopics Editorial and Advertising Oce KU Alumni Association News and notes: Students win the Goldwater; 1266 Oread Avenue professor takes a hike for research. Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 785-864-4760 20 Sports 800-584-2957 Women’s track wins rst Big 12 team title; so ball www.kualumni.org [email protected] 400-hitter leads race for conference batting crown.
KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, 44 Association News September and November. $55 annual subscription includes member- Rock Chalk Ball rocks Kansas City; Class of ’63 ship in the Alumni Association. Oce of Publication: 1266 Oread reunites on the Hill. Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, KS.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 50 Class Notes Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 © 2013 by Kansas Alumni Pro les of a medical missionary, a persevering Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 writer, a budding star and more
68 In Memory Letters to the Editor: Deaths in the KU family
Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor. Our address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, 72 Rock Chalk Review Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Email responses may be sent Engineer nds creative calling; professor’s pro les to the Alumni Association, [email protected]. help teachers identify creative kids. Letters appearing in the magazine may be edited for space and clarity. For letters pub- 76 Glorious to View lished, we’ll send a free gift of KU Campus Scene on campus Playing Cards, a $5 value.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 3 Lift the Chorus Your editorial [First Word] revenue when parents visit persuaded me to write, but I their children. was thrilled to read of the In other words, legacy historic designation on campus students are a win-win for [“ e Long View”]. I was everyone! Much encouragement to keep appointed by Gov. Brownback When I do volunteer up the good work. to the Kansas Historical Sites recruitment in the Chicago Doug Hill, c’77 Board of Review in January. area, I stress to parents and Norman, Okla. Imagine my great excitement students that a degree from KU and honor to attend the does not stop at graduation. It KU connections February meeting (my rst) can lead to meaningful and get to vote to approve the contacts, friendships and I KU designation! I was thrilled! legacies of their own. the wonderful article on Terry Rock Chalk! ank you for recognizing Evans and her amazing Sharron Hamilton, assoc. that future KU generations will photography and body of work Salina be coming from around the [“Landscape Perspectives,” United States, and rewarding Editor’s Note: And more issue No. 2]. I was lucky to the families who continue to It’s all good exciting news arrived in April: see have been included in the story, p. 19. call KU home. I’ opening of the retrospective Laurie Forst Russell, f’73 and your sta on the March of her life and work at the Wheaton, Ill. issue, what may be the best Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Next generations Kansas Alumni magazine ever. last October, mostly because All too brief I’ve been an Association Life my sister is Elizabeth Farn- A RCJH for the KU Member for over two decades, sworth, who is collaborating Legacy program and the Y M so that’s saying a lot. with Terry on the North Howard and Helen Gilpin brie y notes in the obituaries Terry Evans’ magni cent Dakota oil fracking project. Legacy Relations Fund [“Boost section the death of Dean photos [“Landscape Perspec- Elizabeth has many Kansas for legacies,” Association, issue Francis H. Heller [In Memory, tives”] with their highly ties. We grew up in Topeka, No. 2]. University Community, issue attractive page layout are and our father was H. Bernerd My sons from Chicago and No. 2]. Surely you will soon nothing short of breathtaking. Fink, a 1931 graduate from the their cousin from California publish a feature article about e “Tribal Counsel” article School of Business. He served joined their Kansas relatives as Dean Heller, a KU icon whose focuses on some of our Haskell on the school’s advisory board fourth-generation Jayhawks. in uence on the many Indian Nations University for many years. She is married Although they graduated from hundreds of his advisees in the neighbors who I believe are so to a KU alumnus, Charles E. KU before the legacy program Honors Program and countless o en overlooked as being an Farnsworth, a 1960 graduate was established, our extended thousands of liberal arts important and attractive part who is an avid KU supporter family has long advocated for students in the College was of Lawrence. and never fails to miss a the initiative. immeasurable. e KU Historic District fraternity or class reunion. Legacy students are one of During my time as a student piece [“ e Long View”] anks for a wonderful story the University’s best invest- in the program in the early to brought back many fond on an outstanding KU alumna, ments. eir involvement with mid ’60s (I was one of the recollections, including one of Terry Evans. future recruits, along with KU’s lucky ones to be a Dean Heller when I was an undergraduate Marcia Fink Anderson, n’60 superb credentials, are real-life advisee) at least three Rhodes summer employee with KU’s Salina advertising for why a high Scholars and one Marshall physical plant department in school senior should consider Scholar participated in the 1975 as a full-time window The ayes have it KU. Legacy parents gain the rigorous educational experi- washer. I had the opportunity bene t of an aordable and ence he orchestrated. Few to climb the ladder all the way J how competitive tuition rate while universities—public or to the top of Fraser Hall and much I enjoyed your March maintaining ties to the private—can match those gaze out the hatch next to the issue of Kansas Alumni University. I believe this in results. ags across the magni cent magazine! Every article was turn leads to greater alumni But more than just a dean, Wakarusa Valley. well written and of great membership and participation, an author, and an administra- anks for the memories interest to me. Keep up the and the city of Lawrence gains tor, Francis Heller was a and an excellent magazine. good work! from hotel and restaurant mentor to his students and a
4 | KANSAS ALUMNI transmitter of the civic values Wild ings Are,” issue No. 1] 24, with disappointment, the that bind us all together. My brought back happy memories reference “... and periodically guess is that there are thou- from the 1950’s, when my enhanced from the 1950s Your sands of women and men father was working on his through the 1970s” with no opinion counts nationwide whose lives were doctorate degree and I spent mention of E. Raymond Hall, shaped by Dean Heller during many hours at the museum. c’24, father of my two brothers Please email us a note at [email protected] his 60 years at KU and who A generation later it was a and me. to tell us what you think of now yearn for your magazine pleasure to see my own son Our father dedicated his life your alumni magazine. to give his extraordinary life equally fascinated by the to building up the museum as the recognition it deserves. Panorama. a whole so as to rank among Jonathan R. Harkavy, c’65 rough a term as president the best in the nation. He was dictates of space. With the Greensboro, N.C. of the Natural History Muse- director of Dyche museum and benefit of hindsight, and Mr. um’s advisory board I became chairman of the department of Hall’s justified chiding, we Editor’s Note: With gratitude keenly aware of the institution’s zoology for most of that recognize that mention should for Mr. Harkavy’s wonderful have been made of Professor tribute to Dean Heller and international standing in period. biodiversity. But, observing the His achievements were Hall’s equally important role in encouragement to others who creating a Panorama and wonder the 100-plus-year-old amazing in our minds in that would care to share their museum beloved by generations memories about Heller’s lasting Panorama still inspires in he raised the necessary funds of Jayhawks. influence, Kansas Alumni is children is my favorite part of to double the size of Dyche unfortunately limited in its ability every visit to the institution. museum. is provided space to publish longer articles about I sometimes feel I have four for additional museum exhibits recently deceased professors and degrees from KU: BS, MBA, and above all for the research administrators. The University JD, and AW—that last standing collections that made KU a has proudly been home to for “Awe and Wonder,” the mecca for training the next countless scholars of notable feeling I had that day in 1954 generation of vertebrate wisdom and generosity, and while each deserves recognition, any when rst walking into the taxonomists. E.R. Hall’s attempt to do so outside of In Panorama. My “AW degree” fundraising and leadership also Memory would require a story in has provided a lifetime of facilitated the necessary virtually every issue of the fascination and study of the periodic maintenance of the magazine and would certainly natural world and the crucial Panorama and its enhance- Snuggle up leave many others slighted, issues confronting it. It’s ment by the addition of a causing bad feelings among exciting that the museum is Central America section. I that we tell you family and former colleagues and planning to continue the “AW” Obviously at this point no how wonderful Kansas Alumni students of those who were not so for another 100 years. change can be made to the magazine is! One of the recognized. As a result, we William L. Bruning, printed message, but one advantages of retirement is generally reserve longer obituary b’67, g’68, l’71 would hope and expect that snuggling up in our warm items, either in Hilltopics or the Mission Hills feature section, for former some investigation by the house and reading, from cover chancellors. author and his associates to cover, the new magazine. Bad omission would have led to a more Each one seems to get better accurate and balanced account than the last. M , Elaine alman of the museum’s history, giving We loved the adorable Hall, c’47, and I read your credit where credit is due. picture of the children on the article “Where the Wild ings William J. Hall, e’48 top of p. 3 [Contents, image Are” with great interest and Urbana, Ill. from Hughes Photography understanding about the need Collection, issue No. 1]. Now Editor’s Note: In attempting to for restoration of the animals to go ahead and read the tell the sweeping story of displayed in the Panorama of Professor Lewis Lindsay Dyche’s remaining pages! Dyche Natural History unique education, dramatic Always sad when we read of Museum. And we do appreci- adventures and innovative career the death of someone we knew, Kids’ delights ate the great eorts undertaken in concert with news about the but always happy when we by Dyche in establishing the Panorama’s desperate current read about the exciting T on the Natural Panorama. state, the omission of Professor activities of others! History Museum’s restoration However in careful reading Hall’s vast contribution was an Donna Neuner, ’76 of the Panorama [“Where the of the article we detected on p. unfortunate casualty to the Lawrence
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 5
by Jennifer Jackson Sanner First Word
PPE arts. “He would o en speak of supporting
TEVE P U the arts, and the arts as being the soul of S society,” Zakoura explained. “It re ects society. It has the possibility to lead the opinion of society. It has the possibility to upli the society. ... It’s kind of the glue that keeps everything together, or it can be. And it can speak to important items in a way that language cannot.” For Popiel, KU’s director of bands, the new symphony provided an opportunity to teach young musicians about the true impact of performance. “We have to teach the students that we are trying to take an audience on some kind of emotional journey. It’s an escape much like theatre, or a movie, or a poem,” the conductor said. “ e concert will be a very emotional time, and I’m hoping the students can see how their work, trying to musically represent he story of the KU Wind Ensemble’s an emotion, can bring about that emotion Popiel, Zakoura and Fairouz began Tmomentous March 26 performance at in an audience.” Carnegie Hall begins with a virtuoso trio: their collaboration in 2011. Zakoura On March 26, the musicians accom- James Zakoura, Mohammed Fairouz and hoped the symphony would be a plished their mission. As Steve Smith of Paul Popiel. e three express their shared e New York Times armed in his “positive and wholly inspiring gift conviction about the power of the arts March 29 review, the ensemble’s transla- with undeniable eloquence. from Kansas to New York and tion of Fairouz’s composition was “techni- Zakoura, d’70, l’72, an enthusiastic arts to the world.” cally impressive, consistently imaginative patron, commissioned Fairouz to compose and in its nest stretches deeply moving.” a symphony expressly for the KU ensem- Together, the patron, composer, conduc- ble. ey then entrusted Popiel and his in earnest. “ e worst you can do is tor and musicians created a memorable musicans with performing “In the underestimate people. It’s dicult music, testament to the wondrous, unifying, Shadow of No Towers,” a work describing extended music, with intense ideas. It’s healing power of the arts. the 9/11 attack and the world since that emotionally searing awful day. and intellectually RLIN Fairouz, born in 1985 in New York City, meaningful, and has worked with Zakoura on other they’re handling it
projects, and neither shies away from a masterfully because KELSEY KIMB E challenge. When Fairouz rst considered Jim allowed us to go composing a symphony that would begin forward.” with 9/11, he trusted that Zakoura would Zakoura, who embrace the bold idea. “I wouldn’t have has funded perfor- brought this idea up with any other mances, scholar- commissioner, because I think the ships and professor- response would perhaps have been, ‘ at’s ships for the School too ambitious; the kids are not going to be of Music, harks back able to handle it,’” Fairouz said last fall, to President John F. when he met with Zakoura and Popiel in Kennedy as a Lawrence as the ensemble began rehearsals champion of the
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 7 On the Boulevard (4)
TE R The Lied Center’s packed lineup includes (clockwise Y LI ED CEN from right) the always
S COURTE popular Blue Man Group, the hauntingly hilarious “Addams Family,” Hal Holbrook’s spot-on “Mark Twain Tonight!” and the brash and beautiful Asphalt Orchestra.
MARCH 9 Gleb Ivanov 29 Soweto Gospel Choir
APRIL 3-4 “Broadway’s Next H!t 27 Omar Faruk Tekbilek JANUARY Exhibitions Musical” 28 “Fables on Global 22 “Watchtower” lm “Conversation XIV: Water,” 8 Gold Medal Winner Van Warming” Spencer Museum of Art, 26 “ e Wonderful Wizard Cliburn International Piano through July 28 29 Hermès Quartet of Song: e Music of Competition Harold Arlen” “An Errant Line: Ann 11-12 e Cashore Mari- OCTOBER Hamilton / Cynthia Schira,” onettes “Simple Gi s” and FEBRUARY Spencer Museum of Art, 24 AnDa Union: “ e Wind “Life in Motion” through Aug. 11 Horse” 12 “ e Addams Family” 17 Serkan Çağri Band “KU Common Work of Art,” 25 Hal Holbrook in “Mark 18 e Peking Acrobats Spencer Museum of Art, Twain Tonight!” 26 e Cleveland Orchestra through Dec. 31 27 Naoko Takada ’Hawk Days of Summer Lied Center NOVEMBER 2013-’14 9 “red, black & GREEN: a JUNE blues” 6 Golden Belt Chapter JUNE 12 e Chamber Music Lunch with Sheahon Zenger, Society of Lincoln Center Great Bend 22 Elvis Concert to End Polio featuring Joseph Hall 14 “MEMPHIS” 7 Front Range Golf Tourna- ment, Colorado Springs DECEMBER SEPTEMBER 7 Smoky Hill Kansas 6 Asphalt Orchestra 13 Turtle Island Quartet Chapter Golf Tournament with special guest vocalist and Pig Roast, Hays 16-17 Blue Man Group Tierney Sutton
8 | KANSAS ALUMNI 8 Kansas City Chapter 22 Social Welfare Western ’Hawks, Helmets & Kansas MSW Program Handlebars Kicko Party, Garden City 11 KU Libraries presents 22 Social Welfare Western “Naismith Archives,” Kansas MSW Program Houston Kicko Party, Hays 12 KU Libraries presents 27 Fort Worth Alumni “Naismith Archives,” Dallas Reception 13 Denver Networking 27 KU Libraries presents Breakfast “Rhythm and Meaning: Jazz 14 KU Night with the at KU,” Chicago Northwest Arkansas 28 KU Night at Top Golf, Naturals, Springdale, Ark. Dallas 16 KU Night with the 28 Tampa Alumni Oklahoma City RedHawks, Reception Oklahoma City 29 Austin Alumni 11 Denver Networking 3 Indianapolis Brewery 18 Wichita Blood Drive Reception Breakfast Tour & Tasting 19 29 Kalamazoo Alumni Miami Alumni Happy 11-12 Wellington Wheat 4 Summer Picnic, Redondo Reception, Kalamazoo, Hour Festival Beach, Calif. Mich. 30 Houston Brewery Tour 12 KU Night with the Iowa 8 Denver Networking 19 Oatmeal, Omelets and & Tasting Cubs Breakfast the Oread: Houston Break- 30 East Kansas Chapter fast Networking Event 15 Wichita Chapter ’Hawks, 10 Beat the Heat Summer Wine Festival Helmets & Handlebars Picnic, Las Vegas 20 Detroit Alumni JULY Reception 17 Oatmeal, Omelets and 11 Summer Picnic, Seattle 10 KU Night with the the Oread: Houston Break- 20 16 Kansas City Chapter KU New York City Boat Yankees, New York fast Networking Event Cruise Kicko in Corinth Square 11 KU Libraries presents 22 KU Libraries presents 18 Day at the Cheyenne 21 Kansas City Alumni “Rhythm and Meaning: Jazz “Rhythm and Meaning: Jazz Mountain Zoo, Colorado Jayhawk Open Prairie Golf at KU,” Omaha at KU,” St. Louis Tournament, Olathe Springs, Colo. 25 Cleveland Alumni 21 KU Night with the Reception Albuquerque Isotopes, 26 Philadelphia Brewery Albuquerque, N.M. Tour & Tasting 21 Oatmeal, Omelets and 27 Columbus Alumni the Oread: Houston Break- Happy Hour, Columbus, fast Networking Event Ohio 23 Charlotte Alumni 27 Salina Steakout Reception, Charlotte, N.C. 27 Washington, D.C., 25 Charleston Harbor Brewery Tour & Tasting Cruise 28 Baltimore/Annapolis For more details about the Boat Cruise and Picnic Association’s annual ’Hawk Days of Summer tour, AUGUST including breakfast, lunch 2 Milwaukee River Cruise and dinner receptions, call 3 Bus Trip to Wine Country, 800-584-2957 or visit San Francisco www.kualumni.org.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 9 Jayhawk Walk EN JACOBS
Twirl power FF JE U will have a national champion on the football field this Kfall: baton twirler Shannon Livengood. A Clay Center sophomore and the Marching Jayhawks’ feature twirler, Livengood was crowned champion in the col- legiate division at the U.S. Intercollegiate and National High School Baton Twirling Championship in February. In the five- event competition she won two firsts, a second and two thirds to beat twirlers from K-State, Iowa State, Texas, Oklahoma and several other universities. A twirler since age 4, Livengood won the KU job after a video audition, filling a position that had been vacant for Plus-sized puzzlers three years. By the time she graduates, she hopes to defend her title and pass the baton to a successor, ensuring that the M Rubik’s Cube in a locker room re-established tradition continues. launching a 16-pound iron ball full of reporters during the Whoever steps up to give the job a spin will find twirling is more than 70 feet across the NCAA Tournament, exactly as no walk in the park. Livengood practices year dusty Douglas County Fair- Hoa had done last year a er round—up to four hours daily— to prepare for grounds’ show arena, where winning the Relays’ shot put. marching, parade and competition seasons. the Kansas Relays’ elite shot “He got me right from the “Football twirling is all about the show; I’m just trying to put escaped a nasty turn in jump,” Young conceded a er accessorize the band,” Livengood says. But competitions are the weather, Olympic Hoa triumphed in 1 minute, bronze medalist Reese Hoa 25 seconds. “When he pulled more intense, combining dance, choreography and gymnas- wiped his hands clean of heavy his cube out of a case, I was tics. “I think anyone can see how di¦cult it is if they watch. layers of chalk, reached into his like, uh-oh.” Young, it turned It’s really a sport. Twirlers are athletes, too.” cluttered nylon track bag and out, made a rookie mistake, In our case, a national champion athlete. shed out the apparatus for his using a sti cube he’d pur- second-best event: Rubik’s chased that a ernoon; Hoa, Cube. who once solved a cube in 38 Awaiting in the shot put seconds, used a “competition
STEVE PUPPE STEVE circle was a challenger as tall as cube” that is, to be sure, no Hoa is thick: KU basketball mere toy. forward Kevin Young, who “Once I saw his cube,” Hoa revealed his passion for the said, “I knew I wasn’t in iconic puzzle by ddling with a t rou b l e .”
Gone girl that don’t leave, impervious to university campus is a the passage of time. Atransient place. Students For some of us—or, at the come, then go, transformed very least, one of us—the into alumni winging away languid, sorrowful, lost lady of away on their life’s journeys, the Spencer Museum of Art, which perhaps helps explain La Pia de’ Tolomei, is precisely our fondness for landmarks. such a pillar of permanence. In Touchstones. Beacons. Things good times and especially
10 | KANSAS ALUMNI Elite Eight of eats asketball shmasketball. This March, the Crunchy Chicken beat out Iowa State’s Bmadness was for something much more VEISHA Cherry Pies in round one, delicious: Brellas’ Crunchy Chicken Cheddar and the Sweet 16 meant sweet Wrap. The campus favorite—breaded and fried victory for KU, with Crunchy chicken tenders, cheddar and Monterey jack Chicken crushing Syracuse’s cheese, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and ranch Cosmos Toasted Honey Buns. dressing, wrapped in a jalepeño cheddar But in the Elite Eight, Crunchy tortilla—gained national attention during the Chicken took a devastating Cooking Channel’s Best College Eats blow from The Marquette, a Y PEARSON
Tournament. The belly-busting bracket battle sloppy, chili-topped bowl of RO lined up with the NCAA tournament to challenge spaghetti.
tastebuds across the country and determine The Marquette lost in the LELARRY where the yummiest college food abounds. championship to Baylor’s Gut Dishes had to be oered near campus, a Pak—a plate of corn chips fully student staple, and absolutely awesome. Judges loaded with brisket, sausage, narrowed the field to 32, and the Food Network beans, pickles, peppers wrote recipes for at-home versions so viewers and—well, we’re sick just could vote. thinking about it.
In defense the massive undertaking. By prevent water erosion that OURNAL the time he completed his caused huge chunks of wall to -J of liberty AL Eagle Scout ceremony, in crumble. March, at the statue, he was a “I got to see the full aspect of
T “L S PEKA C APIT KU freshman in mechanical what goes into a project like Liberty” statue at the Kansas TO engineering. this,” he says. “I was already TE R/
Statehouse is among 200 Statue OS “I can attribute a lot of [the leaning toward engineering, of Liberty miniatures built in HA F delay] to a bit of procrastina- but this solidi ed it.”
1950 to honor Boy Scouts of AMAN T tion, de nitely,” Bargas says. And he solidi ed Liberty’s America’s 40th anniversary. By S “You know, teenage boy.” But foundation for another 2009 the grand dame of schoolwork and membership half-century—or more. democracy needed some in a traveling drumline also “It would be great to come serious TLC. contributed. “My mom kept back in 50 years with my Enter Jesse Bargas. In search me on track and kept me kids or grandkids and say of an Eagle Scout project, he going.” this is what I was able to hatched a plan to rebuild the Bargas worked with stone- accomplish,” Bargas says. “I’d limestone retaining wall cutters, masons, architects and like to see the wall still around the 8-foot statue. But more complicated than he engineers. He rebuilt the entire standing then, but if not I’d the project, begun when he was realized, and he raised an wall with a friend, and installed like to see a scout out there a high school freshman, proved additional $1,200 to complete a drainage system that should doing what I did.” T AR OF
UM not-so-good times, she has at Washington’s National contemporaries known as E always been there, silently Gallery of Art. Love can’t be the “Pre-Raphaelites.” The MUS sympathizing with those who bought, but beauty can be melancholy redhead PENC ER fret that life’s fragrances are not loaned, and ours played a returns when the D.C. S always so sweet. featured role in an exhibition show closes, so shortly But Pia, the pious one, since honoring her creator, Dante after Commencement Pia February has comforted from Gabriel Rossetti, and his should be safely home, afar, dashing o¥ for a semester 19th-century English where the art is.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 11 Hilltopics by Steven Hill
PPE (3) Good chemistry: KU’s 2013 TEVE P U S Goldwater scholars—chemical engineering major Qi Chen and chemistry major Lianna Dang.
usually small, says Chris Wiles, c’05, associate director of the University Honors Program, it’s not unusual for applicants to be acquainted: Last year, the University’s four Goldwater winners were all friends, and three had lived in the same residence hall. “ ose kind of circles really do help, and that’s kind of what the honors program does in general for students,” Wiles says. “ ey get a lot of support.” at a graduate-level session. Chen and Dang met during their rst Golden opportunity “But I get to take some credit for getting week on the Hill and began dating soon her involved in research, too,” he says. a er. A mutual friend made introductions, For undergraduate scholars, “Sophomore year I kept on bugging her, but they soon realized they’d been Goldwater is important step because I kind of had the Goldwater traveling in the same circles. application in mind.” “We were getting the same kind of to research career Designed to encourage outstanding recognition,” says Dang, a Shawnee junior students to pursue research careers in in chemistry. “We realized a er we started i Chen and Lianna Dang each claim a mathematics, engineering and the natural dating that he had a rst place mathletics Qlittle credit for the other winning a sciences, the Goldwater places a high trophy and I had a second place trophy Goldwater Scholarship. emphasis on undergraduate research. from the same year, and we hadn’t Dang pushed Chen to stay on track in More than 1,100 applicants vied for 271 even met.” meeting the application deadline. Chen scholarships for the 2013-’14 academic Dang’s research with assistant professor encouraged Dang to get involved in year. Chen and Dang are the 54th and 55th Shenqiang Ren uses chemical synthesis to undergraduate research, one of the key Jayhawks to win the Goldwater since the design new catalysts for industrial factors to winning a Goldwater, which is program started in 1986. processes. Her work has focused on considered the premier undergraduate Because the applicant pool for the converting biomass wastes from biodiesel honor for academically gi ed students in Goldwater and other elite scholarships is production into more valuable products science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “She had to give me a little talking to,” says Chen, an Overland Park junior in chemical engineering, who took advantage “From day one I was pretty frank with them and of a canceled ight to make a last-minute push on his application last fall while told both they had a very, very good shot at returning to campus from the annual winning.” —Chris Wiles meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, where he presented { }
12 | KANSAS ALUMNI such as lactic acid. Chen’s research with “My only fear was what happens if one associate professor Kyle Camarda in wins and the other doesn’t?” computational molecular design uses “He did tease us a little beforehand,” computers that can predict the properties Dang says. “He said, ‘I hope both of you of molecules. Researchers can use the data win, not just one, because that would be they gather to design new molecules that slightly awkward.’” could have applications in a wide range of Not that Wiles was worried. industries. “ ose two absolutely deserve it,” he Both students are interested in earning says. “I was so sure they would win, I doctorates and pursuing careers as would have been terribly disappointed if professors and researchers—a goal the they hadn’t. ey’re that good.” Goldwater is designed to promote. e scholarship pays up to $7,500 per year to cover the cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, books and room and board, but it is Walkabout also an early indicator of a promising future in research. Professor’s cross-state hike “ e Goldwater is known for picking raises money for stroke research out really good future researchers,” Dang says. “So having that label will help us get wenty years ago exercise may have into graduate school, and we’ll look into Tsaved Sandra Billinger’s life. Now she’s fellowship programs to help pay for walking across Kansas to raise awareness Assistant professor Sandra Billinger and her graduate school even, because we’ve been of the health bene ts of exercise and to son, Michael Thomas, are walking across recognized for our research. ey know raise money for a research project that will Kansas to raise money for Billinger’s stroke we have potential.” examine the potentially game-changing research. Wiles helped four KU students navigate impact it can have on stroke treatment. the Goldwater application process this An assistant professor in the School of year. He knew early on that both Chen Health Professions’ department of physical e lab researches the role of exercise and and Dang would be strong candidates. therapy and rehabilitation sciences, recovery a er stroke, and works with “From day one I was pretty frank with Billinger, g’04, PhD’09, leads the REACH doctors and nurses at KU Hospital, which them and told both they had a very, (Research in Exercise and Cardiovascular recently was named a comprehensive very good shot at winning,” Wiles says. Health) laboratory at KU Medical Center. stroke center.
CLASS CREDIT
wo University Honors Participants are chosen Ong, a senior in TProgram students, Leigh based on applications that accounting and finance Loving and Alyssa Ong, include a “commitment to from Malaysia, worked with represented KU at the action.” the Peter Paul Development Clinton Global Initiative In her commitment to Center in Richmond, Va., to University in April. Modeled action, Loving, a Hutchison design and deliver math on the Clinton Global junior in anthropology, modules to educate Initiative, which brings created and implemented children from low-income together world leaders to the Jayhawk Health communities. tackle global challenges, the Initiative, a campus Travel to the meeting, annual meeting engages program that provides held at Washington Ong and Loving future leaders on college medical missions and University in St. Louis, was campuses around the medical training in supported by a KU Honors world. developing countries. Opportunity Fund.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 13 Hilltopics
Overland Park and many small towns between. “We hope people will walk with us as Truman Scholar: Hannah Sitz, Andover we go through towns, even if it’s just a senior in psychology and strategic commu- short distance,” says Billinger, who expects to spend 10 to 12 hours a day walking. nications, was named a Harry S. Truman “I’ve always been a runner, but it’s still Scholar in April. The award provides up to going to be challenging,” she says of the nearly 25 miles per day they will need to $30,000 in graduate school funds for average to reach the medical center June 7. students preparing for leadership roles in “But I think it’s symbolic of the research we hope to do with early mobility in stroke public service. Sitz is KU’s 17th Truman recovery, while also sending the message scholar, and the only 2013 recipient from Kansas. that walking is good for you. If you can get up and walk and not be sedentary all day, that’s important.” Billinger will be sending updates during her journey via the Walk Across Kansas According to Billinger, clinical trials in weeks pregnant with Michael, she went Facebook page. You can also follow her Australia have suggested that getting into early labor. Doctors stopped her progress on Twitter at sandy_ patients moving a er a stroke can help contractions, and she was released a er a reachlab#whereissandy. To support the recovery. But treatments today emphasize couple of days. But weeks later she was fundraising eort, use the donate button at rest in rehab. back in the emergency room. “I had this http://ptrs.kumc.edu/walk-across-kansas/ “Our data show that stroke patients here gut feeling I was going to die,” Billinger index.html. on average are sedentary 96 to 97 percent says. “I went to the hospital and luckily I of their day,” Billinger says. “If we can was there, because in the middle of the show that it’s better to get people out of night I began having seizures.” bed, we need to implement that in our A er delivery by emergency C-section Capitol assignment health care system. at’s the ultimate and a stint in the neonatal ICU, Michael goal, to change clinical practice.” was ne. It took Billinger two years to Cline makes the case for KU To do that, the REACH lab needs receive her medical release to return to with Congress, U.S. agencies $50,000 worth of equipment that can work, but the lingering eects of her injury measure brain blood ow on stroke made it impossible to do her job as a s the University continues to extend patients while they are up and active. dental assistant. She went to school at Fort Aits reach to all corners of the state, it Billinger hit upon the idea of raising the Hays State to become a physical therapist, also has established a critical outpost in money herself while writing a grant and in 2003, as a single mother with Washington, D.C., where Jack Cline works proposal for the project in February. almost no income, she packed up her two as director of federal relations. “I thought, ‘If this grant doesn’t get children for her rst journey across the “My role is to be the liaison between KU funded, I still think this is something we state, to earn master’s and doctoral degrees and the Kansas congressional delegation,” need to look at,’” Billinger says. “ e at KU. Cline explains. “I’m also a bridge to money we are raising will let us move Now she and Michael are making what various research funding agencies, forward with something really important.” they call their second journey across including the National Institutes of Health, Billinger was already pondering a trip Kansas, a 23-day, 570-mile walk from the the National Science Foundation, the with her son, Michael omas, and he Colorado border to KU Medical Center National Institute of Standards and suggested they combine their personal trip and the Missouri state line. Technology and others. I’m the person on with her research goal. e 19-year-old “I was always told that I was lucky I was the ground day to day as the eyes and ears will be leaving for college soon, to study healthy and exercised before my car of the University on Capitol Hill.” physical therapy like his mother, and they accident,” Billinger says, “that it helped my Cline, who joined the sta of KU’s wanted to commemorate the milestone recovery and probably saved my life.” Oce of Public Aairs in January 2012, and “just be thankful that things turned Exercise’s life-saving potential—for stroke works full time in the nation’s capital, out the way they did.” survivors and for everyone—is part of the usually traveling to Lawrence for a few In April 1993, a driver ran a stop sign message of their trek, which follows the days each month to meet with KU leaders. and crashed into Billinger’s car as she American Discovery Trail through Garden In April, his campus colleagues made the drove home for lunch in Hays. irty City, Dodge City, Great Bend, Lawrence, continued on page 17
14 | KANSAS ALUMNI Experience the World with the Flying Jayhawks 2014 Travel
Tahitian Jewels Antebellum South Insider’s Wine Adventure Flavors of Northern Italy January 25-February 4 April 11-19 to Napa Valley September 6-14 July Tanzania Migration Safari Kentucky Derby Canada and New England January 27-February 7 May 1-4 Iceland and the North Sea September 16-28 July 27-August 8 Samba Rhythms Cruising Along the Accent on the Rivieras Baltic Treasures March 16-29 Dalmatian Coast October 3-11 August 21-September 1 June 18-26 The Masters Symphony on the New Zealand Expedition April 9-12 European Tapestry Blue Danube October 11-22 June 23-July 1 September 4-16
For the latest dates and detailed trip descriptions, visit www.kualumni.org/travel or call 800-584-2957. continued from page 14 strengthen our relationships with the Milestones, money trip to Washington for an informal Kansas delegation,” Caboni says. reception to thank members of the Kansas KU is one of 45 research universities and other matters congressional delegation for their support. that maintain oces in Washington, says ose from Washington attending Cline, who has worked for 13 years as a included Sen. Jerry Moran, c’76, l’82; Rep. higher education advocate or policy adviser. Kevin Yoder, c’99, l’02; Rep. Lynn Jenkins; He promotes the University’s goals to and Kathleen Sebelius, g’80, U.S. secretary advance research in three key areas: of health and human services and former biomedical engineering, drug discovery Kansas governor. and development and nanotechnology Along with related to alternative energy. “It’s such a IONS Chancellor Berna- T privilege to work for a major research dette Gray-Little and institution with established goals and a n A $2.5 million gift from Teresa her husband, Shade COMMUNICA real direction,” Cline says. Little, the Lawrence A presence in Washington complements and Tom Walsh, b’80, will benefit the contingent included KU’s national pro le as a longtime member KU Cancer Center’s nurse navigation MARKETING program. The gift will allow the center
Je Vitter, provost; KU of the prestigious 62-member Association Dr. Doug Girod, of American Universities and KU’s recent to add five new navigators, who guide executive vice designation by the National Cancer cancer patients through appointments, chancellor of KU Cline Institute, says Cline, and research funds tests, treatments and follow-up visits, Medical Center; are vital to the state’s economy. “It's not answering questions and providing Steve Warren, c’74, g’75, PhD’77, vice just KU that bene ts from federal research emotional support. Teresa Walsh’s chancellor for research and graduate and development—it's all the Kansas cities father received cancer treatment at KU studies; and Tim Caboni, vice chancellor and towns that surround research universi- Hospital, and in 2011 the couple made a for public aairs. ties,” he says. “I truly believe that there is a $2 million gift for the cancer center, half Cline is the rst full-time KU sta ripple eect ... when research dollars are of which established the Walsh Family member to be based in Washington; he awarded to our institutions. ... ese funds Foundation Patient Navigation Fund. shares a small oce with representatives create jobs, purchase equipment for from other universities in a building at laboratories—thus having a signi cant n A $1.5 million grant from the Na- 444 North Capitol St., just a short walk economic multiplier throughout our tional Institute on Deafness and Other from Capitol Hill. communities. And when these dollars are Communication Disorders will fund a “Having a physical presence and a awarded, I want them to be awarded right five-year clinical trial that examines full-time director of federal relations in here, in Kansas.” how book reading can help children with Washington, D.C., is invaluable as we —Jennifer Jackson Sanner Specific Language Impairment learn words. A team led by Holly Storkel, associate professor and chair of the speech-language-hearing department, IONS
T will develop treatments for kindergar- ten students with SLI, which a¡ects about 7 percent of children. COMMUNICA
n The architecture graduate program MARKETING ranked 14th out of 99 schools in the KU DesignIntelligence annual America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools publication. The leading survey of 282 architectural firms nationwide also named Dan Rockhill, the J.L. Constant Distinguished Professor of Architecture, among the 30 most admired educators in the United States, and midwestern Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little led a KU contingent that visited Washington, D.C., in April to firms rated KU’s graduate program No. 1 in the nation. meet with Kansas’ congressional delegation.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 17 Hilltopics
PPE Campus, as a graduate student and a teacher. His master’s and doctoral degrees TEVE P U S from KU are in organizational communication. “During my time at KU Medical Center, I have witnessed rsthand how the University and the medical center have engaged the Kansas City community to David Cook heads achieve monumental milestones, including KU’s Johnson obtaining National Cancer Center County campus, designation,” Cook says. “I am honored to which attracts adult have the opportunity to work toward learners from similar milestones at the Edwards around the Kansas C ampu s .” City metro. JOURNALISM
A DMINISTRATION KU Medical Center since 2008, replaces Jayhawk journalists thrive Bob Clark, who led the Johnson County in state and regional contests Med center veteran campus for 15 years. Mary Ryan, j’85, to lead Edwards Campus served as interim vice chancellor from Jan. S A of the 1 to April 15, when Cook took over. William Allen White School of Journalism A back- Cook also served as assistant vice and Mass Communications racked up a ground in community engagement and chancellor for external aairs at the slew of awards this spring for excellence in external aairs in the Kansas City area is Medical Center from 2005 to 2008, and print and broadcast media and the new vice chancellor of KU’s Edwards was formerly executive director of the advertising. Campus. Midwest Cancer Alliance. A tenured Ian Cummings, c’06, ’13, and Chris David Cook, g’96, PhD’99, associate vice faculty member in the School of Medicine, Hong, j’12, won the best news story award chancellor for community engagement at he has a long history with Edwards from the Kansas Press Association for
VISITOR
Wind and water by Engineers Without Borders, to build pumps from readily
ohn Drake, director of the KU Model UN, KU Energy Club, available local parts. Irrigation DRAK E Africa Windmill Project, African Students Association, allows them to take full J Y JOHN explained the nonprofit group’s National Society of Black advantage of the country’s rich
e¥orts to help farmers in Engineers, the department of soil and warm year-round S COURTE Malawi extend their growing African & African-American temperatures. season from three months to 12 studies, and Black Student by teaching them to build Union. ANECDOTE: Drake built the pumps powered by hand, first windmill in his backyard, bicycle and wind that can be BACKGROUND: An using design principles of whatever materials we could used to irrigate crops during the architect in private practice in catamaran sails, then launched find—bamboo, grain sacks, old long African dry season. Winter Park, Fla., Drake drew the project in Malawi with three bicycle parts,” Drake says. on his professional skills and his friends after failing to win a “Now we teach the farmers to WHEN: March 26 interest in sailing to design a Google grant competition. start with nothing but their windmill based on an ancient natural resources. Because they WHERE: Robert J. Dole Persian model. The project’s QUOTES: “We decided to go build the pumps, they know Institute of Politics. Sponsored Malawian sta¥ teaches farmers over and build one with how to maintain them.”
18 | KANSAS ALUMNI CAMPUS “Money, murder and prison: e rise and Milestones, money fall of a drug boss.” e story, which Historic Mount Oread appeared in 913, a publication from the included on National Register and other matters Kansas City Star, began as an independent student project and was published in 2012. T KU H D , added to Nine students were nalists in the the Register of Historic Kansas Places in n Chancellor Emeritus Gene Budig and Society of Professional Journalists Region February [“ e Long View,” issue No. 2], is his wife, Gretchen Budig, received the 7 Mark of Excellence Awards. Cummings now on the National Register of Historic Dole Humanitarian Award at the Robert and Hong were recognized in the feature Places. J. Dole Institute of Politics May 10. The writing category for their story, and Created with the support of Historic award recognizes people Hannah Wise also won a feature writing Mount Oread Friends, the district with Kansas connections award for her 913 piece, “Dierent, but encompasses the heart of the Lawrence who enhance the lives of really the same.” Six other students took campus, including buildings such as people with disabilities home awards for reporting, sportswriting Spooner and Strong halls, landmarks such and their families. The and radio news and features. as the Campanile and landscapes such as Budigs are longtime KU students also captured 30 awards the Hill. supporters of the special Budig from the Kansas Association of Broadcast- e National Register of Historic Places education department ers for TV, radio and website work. And is the ocial list of the country’s historic and other KU centers and programs in for the third consecutive year, the advertis- sites worthy of preservation. In addition to disability studies. As chancellor, Budig ing sta of the University Daily Kansan honori c designation, inclusion on the list was instrumental in recognizing the was named the best in the nation by the quali es properties for federal grants for need to support the field with funding College Newspaper Business and Advertis- historic preservation when funds are and facilities. ing Managers Inc. available. “Our students consistently show they “ is national designation re ects the n The School of Engineering bestowed are capable of creating quality journalism historic importance of Mount Oread as a its highest honor, the Distinguished time and time again,” says Ann Brill, dean center for teaching and scholarship,” said Engineering Service Award, on three of journalism. “ is quality is not only Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little when alumni this spring. Mechanical engineer reinforced by the recent awards our the National Parks Service announced the Harold Finch, e’56, PhD’71; mechanical students have won, but more importantly decision in April. “It will also help engineer Tom Jones, e’67; and petro- by the continued work they do as student preserve the campus for future generations leum engineer Jim Remsberg, e’57; were journalists every day.” of Jayhawks who will call KU home.” honored May 9 for their contributions to engineering and society.
n Marcus Tetwiler, a Paola junior, was elected KU’s new student body presi- dent in April. Tetwiler and his Ad Astra running mate, Elkhart junior Emma Halling, earned 67 percent of the vote. It marked only the second victory in 19 years by a student coalition other than KUnited, according to the University Daily Kansan. Ad Astra’s platform in- cludes banishing sales tax on textbooks, forgiving parking tickets after a parking quiz, and repairs to Watkins Health Center.
n The Blood and Marrow Transplant “I was shocked that the soil type in Malawi was program performed a record 230 trans- plants in 2012, KU Hospital recently better than Texas. They don’t have the freezes we do. announced. The KU Cancer Center- I couldn’t understand why they weren’t producing aliated program is the only one in the region and one of the largest acute food year-round.” —John Drake {} leukemia programs in the nation.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 19 Sports by Chris Lazzarino EN JACOBS FF JE
Champs! indoor title by claiming its rst Big 12 outdoor title with 158 points, the most Women’s track sweeps Big 12, scored by any team at the Big 12 meet since 2003 and 13 better than runner-up with first outdoor team title Texas. “I knew that we had some people and he stars did not disappoint. Senior events that Texas had no idea about,” TParis Daniels defended her confer- Geubelle said in a day-a er news confer- ence title in the 200 meters and led all ence in the Allen Field House media scorers at the Big 12 outdoor track and room. She pointed a nger toward eld championships with 23 points, teammate Jessica Maroszek, a junior at’s when Geubelle turned to her earning outstanding performer accolades. discus thrower who entered the Big 12 teammates and announced, “Get ready, Olympic gold medalist Diamond Dixon, a meet in Waco, Texas, with the league’s best we’re about to win a Big 12 title, outdoors.” junior speedster slowed earlier in the year mark of the season, but had won only one Said Maroszek, “I don’t really know if by hernia surgery over the winter, won her meet, at Emporia State. “I said to my dad anybody saw me coming, but we knew we third-straight Big 12 outdoor 400 title and, before the meet even started,” Geubelle were going to pick up some points because like Daniels, was on both of KU’s winning continued, “that Jessica is our secret Texas didn’t have any girls in the event.” relay teams. Senior triple jumper Andrea weapon. is girl is going to come out and KU took 30 women to the Big 12 meet; Geubelle, nally 100 percent a er bruising she’s going to win and nobody knows it.” 20 scored points and won a total of eight a heel at the NCAA indoor meet, repeated Late in the a ernoon on the meet’s nal event titles. e pole vault alone accounted as the Big 12 indoor and outdoor cham- day, Maroszek unleashed a personal-best for 20 points, with junior Natalia Bart- pion, and placed second in the long jump throw of 52 feet, 1.75 inches on her third novskaya placing second, followed by to senior teammate Francine Simpson. attempt. e mark was a KU record, and Jayhawks in third, h, seventh and ninth. But it turns out the stars, though shining only one other thrower was able to come “We said in our team meetings that our brightly, were not the key to KU women’s within 10 feet. Freshman Anastasiya fourth-place nishes were as important as track and eld backing up its Big 12 Muchkayev placed fourth, giving KU a our rst-places,” said 13th-year coach total of 15 points in the event— Stanley Redwine, “because they gave us more than the margin of victory points Texas didn’t get. We knew it would
EN JACOBS over the Longhorns. be a tough ght between Texas and us. We FF JE OREY AN ST D
Andrea Geubelle (l-r), Jessica Maroszek (also l, throwing the discus at the Big 12 meet in Waco), Diamond Dixon, Lindsay Vollmer and coach Stanley Redwine hoist KU’s first conference championship trophy in women’s track and field. Paris Daniels (top) was named the Big 12’s Outstanding Female Performer of the Year after winning three events and scoring 23 points at the conference meet.
20 | KANSAS ALUMNI knew that if someone didn’t do as well as they needed to do, then someone had to step up. To be a part of history like this, they wanted to get the job done.” “Here at KU it’s not about the individual. e men’s team won four event titles It’s always about the team, and that’s why we’ve had to place h, its best Big 12 placing since taking fourth in 2005. Senior Kyle so much success this year.” —heptathlete Lindsay Vollmer Clemons, an upset winner of the Kansas {} Relays’ Invitational 400 meters in 46.28 seconds, won the event at the Big 12 in 45.1, a school record as well as the season’s Vollmer said. “Here at KU it’s not about can get out there, but I like our chances. second-best mark in the NCAA and the individual. It’s always about the team, It’s going to be a ght and they know how fourth-best in the world. Sophomore and that’s why we’ve had so much success to ght.” Michael Stigler defended his Big 12 title in this year.” Said Geubelle, “I have so much faith in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of Asked whether Daniels’ 23 points might this team. Our girls are starting to peak at 49.79—a half-second or so o his NCAA- have been the best championship-meet the perfect time. We saw it this weekend. best 49.42, set at the Kansas Relays. performance during his tenure at KU, We are a national-caliber team, and I Senior Jesse Vaughn won KU’s 27th Redwine replied, “Paris is just a phenom- know that every single one of these girls league javelin title, and rst since Scott enal athlete. She’s really good. Paris was wants it just as badly as I do. Being a Russell in 2002, with a throw of 222 feet, high points scorer, but every athlete did senior, I’ve watched this team go from not 4 inches, on his rst attempt, a mark that their best. It was a total team eort all the even being ranked in the top 25 to being no competitor came within 13 feet of way through.” Later asked again to No. 1. reaching. Clemons and Stigler joined comment on Daniels, Redwine again “We’re all excited, we have great senior junior DeMario Johnson and sophomore insisted on focusing on the team. leadership, and everybody wants to do anchor Kenneth McCuin to win Big 12 “I’m not saying it just to say it; it really well. Everybody has what it takes to be the gold in the 4x400-meter relay with a time was a team eort,” he said. “Lindsay best team in the nation, and we’re going to of 3:07.72. It was the men’s rst conference Vollmer in the multi-event, she set it o go out and ght for it.” relay championship since the Jayhawks and had a personal best. When you have won the 440-yard relay in 1979. personal bests, personal bests, personal “When the women won the 4x4, the bests, it gets contagious. guys said, ‘We’re going to win the 4x4 “ at’s what happened. at’s what Local hero also,’” Redwine said. “It was a total team makes other athletes not want to let their eort by the guys, too, and as we get more teammates down. It wasn’t about just one Hot-hitting Hull does it again, depth, we’ll get better. For us to go and get athlete; it was about the team wanting to bats better than .400 82 points was phenomenal.” win the championship, and that’s where Along with their relay golds and the success comes from.” aggie Hull’s pronouncement that victories in the 200, 400, triple jump, long A er spending a month as the country’s Mshe intended to better her batting jump and discus, the women’s team also top-ranked team, the KU women entered average of a year ago should hardly come won the heptathlon, thanks to a personal- the Big 12 meet ranked No. 2 nationally. as a surprise, because that’s what elite best 5,644 points by sophomore Lindsay As they took a short breather a er the athletes do. e thing is, Hull, a Lawren- Vollmer, the reigning Big 12 indoor conference meet, the Jayhawks resumed cian and third-generation Jayhawk who pentathlon champion. Vollmer posted training again ranked No. 1 in the country. never wanted to play anywhere but KU, a 164-point lead a er the rst day and Redwine said the athletes would return to last year as a junior hit .409, the best won by 259. base strength and speed work for a couple batting average in school history. Not even returning to nd that a TV of weeks in preparation for the NCAA “When you say you want to match .409, production company had her car towed West Preliminary Rounds, May 23-25 in it sounds almost impossible,” says fourth- from a gravel lot behind Allen Field Austin, Texas, with an ultimate aim of year coach Megan Smith. “Not for Maggie. House—from a spot not even declared a again peaking for the NCAA Outdoor To be able to put those numbers up, it’s a tow-away zone until days a er she’d le it Championships, June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore. lot about your mental approach, and she’s there when departing with the team for “At that day and at that time you never our most mentally tough player.” Waco—could sour Vollmer’s mood. know, but I like our chances just as well as A er KU shut out top-ranked Okla- “We’re all really great friends, we’re all anyone else’s chances,” Redwine says. “I homa, 2-0, in the second game of a rooting for each other and trying to get believe Oregon will be tough at their senior-day doubleheader, Hull was again each other to do the best we can, always,” home, so we need any kind of support we running away with the Big 12 batting
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 21 Sports crown at .443. As the Jayhawks prepared to journalism talents as an anchor and close the regular season with a series at reporter for KUJH-TV. But Hull hopes her EN JACOBS FF Iowa State as Kansas Alumni went to press, job hunt is done, at least for now: the JE KU led the conference in hitting (.337) for Chicago Bandits of the National Pro the 12th-consecutive week. Fastpitch league in April dra ed her No. e Jayhawks, to Smith’s delight, are 11 overall. following their leader. Since arriving at KU ough she’s excited to turn pro, and at the same time as the new coach, Hull especially glad that by playing in Chicago has been the team’s most improved she won’t be far from her ancé, Kevin defensive player, progressing from, in Tietz, d’11, a personal trainer at e Smith’s estimation, a “very average” le Summit in downtown Lawrence, the elder to a leading defender, being picked transition is bittersweet. For the rst time by coaches as defensive MVP a er a series in her life, Hull won’t be playing alongside sweep at Texas Tech. She’s competitive, she her twin sister, Rosie, who, like Maggie, studies and applies the game plan, and she was named to the Academic All-District 7 stays focused on the next pitch or play. so ball team. “She’s showing the younger players how “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to go about it,” Smith says. “It’s not just to play this summer without her,” Maggie about the talent; it’s about the work ethic.” says. “She is that constant of accountability Dreaming of one day becoming a sports for me to be a sel ess player and to give broadcaster, Hull enrolled as a double- everything I have. She’s always so positive Maggie Hull’s key to hitting? “Honestly, it’s major, in journalism and Spanish. She and always keeps me in a positive state. It’s amazing how much better you do when you perfected her language skills with a always been so fun having her over there swing at strikes,” she says with a grin. summer in Argentina, and honed her in right eld.”
UPDATES the third time after pitching in Jessica Scheer, Breeona Foster scoring average was the lowest four of KU’s five victories in a and Lauren Miller; and since Ryan Vermeer’s 71.31 in stretch that included a three- freshman coxswain Mary 2000. The men’s team won the EN JACOBS
FF game home sweep of Baylor. Slattery in the winning boat. April tournament at the JE “The numbers that he’s put up Earlier, two boats won gold at University of Iowa on the same are absolutely incredible,” says the Knecht Cup in Cherry Hill, weekend that the women’s 11th-year coach Ritch Price. N.J., and the Jayhawks won 14 team, led by a second-place “He’s having as great a year as of 20 races at the Louisville finish by junior Thanuttra any player I’ve coached in the Invitational. ... Point guard Boonraksasat, placed second at 35 years that I’ve been in the Angel Goodrich, KU’s all-time the Indiana Invitational. ... The game.” After sweeping Baylor, assists leader, was chosen as privately funded, three-story KU was 12-9 in the Big 12, only the WNBA’s 29th overall pick building that will house James a half-game back of a three- by her home-state Tulsa Shock. Naismith’s original basketball way tie for first. Earlier, KU won ... Senior Chris Gilbert, who rules as well as student-athlete two of three from Texas, its first placed 10th at the Big 12 dining facilities and meeting Piché series win against the Championship at Hutchinson’s space, will be named the Longhorns since 2009. ... Prairie Dunes Country Club, DeBruce Center, in honor of In his 24 total appearances to Rowing took third at the Big 12’s was one of five golfers chosen major-gift donors Paul, b’73, date as Kansas Alumni went to championship regatta, including as individual participants for and Katherine Ruddy DeBruce, press, right-handed closer a victory in the Fourth Varsity the NCAA Regional in j’73, of Mission Hills. ... Former Jordan Piché led the country Eight, with junior Jessie Jacob; Fayetteville, Ark. Gilbert won a wide receiver and quarterback with an ERA of 0.72. Piché, a sophomore Kristen Byrd; tournament during both the fall Kale Pick, c’13, joined coach junior transfer, was named Big freshmen Stephanie Walker, and spring seasons, carded five Charlie Weis’ sta¥ as a 12 Newcomer of the Week for Maija Mallula, Kelsey Dick, top-10 finishes, and his 71.67 graduate assistant for o¥ense.
22 | KANSAS ALUMNI Sports Photographs by Steve Puppe and Laura Jacobsen
Coach Bonnie Henrickson and her 12th-seeded Jayhawks celebrated a first-round upset of No. 5-seed Colorado in Boulder. Henrickson’s ’Hawks, including senior Carolyn Davis (below), advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. Coach Bill Self (r) took his No. 1-seeded Big 12 champs to Dallas, where a young fan’s cheers could not help the ’Hawks—including seniors Elijah Johnson and Kevin Young (below right) and Travis Releford (center)—avoid a shocking overtime loss to fourth-seeded Michigan in the Elite Eight.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 23 Kelsey Kimberlin, KU Marketing communications The Big Stage Music patron, composer, conductor and students create symphonic remembrance of 9/11
he musicians have nished their As nearly 1,000 audience members, “It was a great way to start o my one and only rehearsal in Carnegie including many alumni, gather that night freshman year in just total immersion.” THall. A er months of practice back in Carnegie Hall, Chancellor Bernadette So immersed were Kaul and several in Lawrence, in 130 Murphy Hall, ne- Gray-Little and Robert Walzel, dean of the other ensemble members that they went to tuning countlesss intricate passages within School of Music, greet the crowd. “ is is Carnegie Hall the night before their four movements of a new symphony, the the rst time that we’ve brought a student performance for a choral concert featuring 69 students in the KU Wind Ensemble ensemble to perform in this wonderful composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. soon will change into formal attire space in more than 120 years of music- “It was great to be in the hall the day be tting the gold-leaf grandeur of the making on our campus,” Walzel proudly before and get a feel for the acoustics,” legendary New York hall. proclaims. Two hours later, a standing recalls Muriel Hague, an Overland Park Four hours from now, at 8 p.m. March ovation concludes the historic occasion. junior who plays French horn (her twin 26, in the Isaac Stern Auditorium, they sister, Marina, plays trumpet in the will take their places on the hallowed stage ensemble). to begin a world-premiere performance. wo weeks later, a er e New York How did it feel to return to Carnegie as eir eyes will lock on their conductor, TTimes review called the KU ensemble a performer? “ e hall has such a lovely Paul Popiel, whose eyes will beam encour- “one of America’s most esteemed concert sound. It’s so beautiful, and there was such agement as he li s his baton. ey will bands” and lauded the musicians for a great turnout,” Hague says. “Even being play the rst notes of “In the Shadow of “performing with polish, assurance and backstage is really fun, because in the No Towers,” a symphony depicting the copious spirit, eliciting a rousing ovation,” maestro’s studio, there are framed pictures post-9/11 world, created especially for the the students and their conductor arm of all the famous maestros who have been KU ensemble by a leading young com- that the evening far transcended mere there. Leonard Bernstein has a beautiful poser, Mohammed Fairouz. enjoyment. autographed photo. It’s all so cool. It’s For now, while they still look like Philip Kaul, a 19-year-old De Soto really special to think it was Leonard college students who have braved a freshman who soloed on tenor saxophone Bernstein’s studio for quite a while.” two-day road trip by bus and bypassed during the world premiere, calls the night Conductor Popiel, who became KU’s precious sleep to see as much of New York “an awesome experience, something that director of bands in 2010, joked before the as they could possibly pack into 72 hours, will stay with us forever. Fi y years from New York trip about “hanging up his tux their professor oers last words of now, we will be the grandparents everyone in Lenny’s closet.” Two weeks a er the instruction. “Just bask in the moment,” hates because we can’t stop telling the old performance, he is still sorting his Popiel urges them. “Just act like we’ve been stories of ‘when I was in Carnegie Hall,’ emotions. “It’s probably too close to the here before. Just enjoy.” but we won’t be ashamed. event still to know what happened to us,” COMMUNICATIONS
by Jennifer Jackson S anner
ELSEY KIMBERLIN, KU MARKETING ISSUE 3, 2013 | K 25 PPE (3) TEVE P U S
Philip Kaul Muriel Hague Pete Walker
“By the time I got to Carnegie, I had “Seeing pieces of the towers and the “No matter how excited or nervous played it a million times and I hadn’t footprints really brought home all the we were, by the time we got onstage messed it up in the last 10 or 12. I’d destruction.” those feelings were out the door. We gotten all of the nerves out in the were in the zone and we played.” practice room and the rehearsals in 130 Murphy.”
he says, “but I know for me personally, it ames Zakoura was the rst to imagine Lied Center on the Lawrence campus. was really life-changing. In truth, I JKU in Carnegie Hall. As a devoted Zakoura believes in the power of the thought I would never conduct a concert patron of the School of Music, the arts to unite communities and cope with in Carnegie Hall, and if I did, it would Overland Park attorney has funded dicult issues. “It’s about music as a have been part of some festival where regional KU performances through his bridge dealing with important themes, and 500 college bands rent out the hall, which organizations Reach Out Kansas Inc. and getting non-musicians to a concert,” he is how most people who conduct there do the Zakoura Family Foundation. He also says.“For me the greatest success of a it. Several of the teachers here are has provided scholarships, summer camps concert is if you look out in the audience, asking their students what it was like, and professorships. In 2011, he set his you don’t see a bunch of musicians. You because they’ve never performed at sights on showcasing his alma mater on also see truck drivers, carpenters, electri- Carnegie Hall. the ultimate stage. cians, philosophers, retail workers. If the “ e day of the concert, coming into the Zakoura, d’70, l’72, strives to bring the audience looks like society looks, I’m the hall, it all became very real, and as we were arts to those who might not otherwise happiest I can be.” starting to set up, we reached a peak of witness live performances. As a native of Zakoura also wanted to give students an nerves and a peak of adrenaline.” Osawatomie, he is especially passionate opportunity that for many will be once in But as his students settled into the about connecting musicians with rural a lifetime. “Not all of these students will sound check, a sense of calm quelled their towns and minority audiences through have performance careers,” he says. “Some nerves. “I could see in their faces, and I low-cost or free performances. Even in in the ensemble will teach in a high school think they could see in mine, we just pricey New York City, Zakoura and his law or play in their church choir. But 15 years relaxed,” he recalls. “We could have been partner, Lee Smithyman, helped ensure from now, they are going to say, ‘Well, I awestruck and let that shake up a perfor- reduced prices for the Wind Ensemble was at Carnegie Hall and played a world mance. But they were just so con dent. I concert: KU alumni could purchase premiere ... by an esteemed composer led found that striking. I knew all of us would half-price tickets for the Carnegie Hall by an esteemed conductor.’ at’s very be awestruck, but I didn’t know we would performance, and students paid only $5. important to me.” respond as a group so professionally. To On April 2, the ensemble presented a free For Zakoura’s ambitious project, Reach take that stage and come away so success- performance, the Kansas premiere of Out Kansas commissioned Fairouz, a fully, it’s hard to imagine what we could do “In the Shadow of No Towers,” for a 27-year-old New York City native who had next.” hometown crowd of 750 at the earned acclaim as “one of the most
26 | KANSAS ALUMNI talented composers of his generation” by the BBC News for his work, which already RLIN (2) included an opera, works for solo and
chamber performances, and three sym- KELSEY KIMB E phonies. For his fourth symphony—his rst for a wind ensemble—Fairouz selected a graphic novel, In the Shadow of No Towers, by Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman, as his inspiration for music that would depict the 9/11 attack on his city—and life in the United States since that fateful day. e symphony takes its name from Spiegelman’s novel, and the work’s four movements echo the names and themes of speci c panels, which Spiegelman began drawing shortly a er the 9/11 attacks and published in 2004. Fairouz, Zakoura and Popiel met for the rst time Sept. 13, 2011, to discuss the project. “It was very emotional,” Zakoura recalls. “I basically told them my aspira- tions for the piece, which was that it “There’s something to be said for looking into those address an important issue, and honor the people who lost their lives and the families pools and thinking about why we were there. It and the friends who survived that. I wrote connected us to our real purpose—to give another a note to Paul saying, ‘ ese are my hopes, memorial as a tribute to the people who lost their lives.” that this can be positive and a wholly —Philip Kaul inspiring gi from Kansas to New York { } and to the world.’” A er Fairouz nished the score, Popiel folded Zakoura’s note into the sheets of music as a reminder of their shared goals.
n a cold, rainy Monday a ernoon, the Oday before their performance, Popiel and his students came face to face with the most vivid symbol of their mission. Together they traversed the sacred ground of the 9/11 Memorial, which opened on the 10th anniversary of the attack and already has attracted nearly 7 million visitors from 176 countries. e stunning 8-acre complex magni es horri c loss by listing the names of the 2,977 men, women and children from more than 90 nations who perished when hijacked planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., and a eld in rural Pennsylvania on that Etched around the reflecting pools of the memorial are the names of 2,983 people killed in the sunny Tuesday morning in 2001. Etched in 9/11 attack and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. The musicians visited the bronze along the perimeter of two memorial March 25. The following day, a Carnegie Hall poster promoting the KU performance cavernous pools in the footprints of the (p. 24) was an encouraging sight for the students, including percussionists Mai Tadokoro, Luke north and south towers, the somber list Dull and Kanako Chikami.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 27 begins with the names of the “When I perform I rarely look at rst six people killed in an RLIN (2) the audience, except occasionally attack on the Twin Towers to see my family out there,” he
eight years earlier—Feb. 26, KELSEY KIMB E says. “But when we got to the rst 1993, when terrorists deto- plane hitting the tower, I checked nated bombs in the under- for their reactions. I could tell by ground garage. their faces, they knew. A er the Gazing at the names, visitors performance, I asked them, feel compelled to touch and ‘Could you tell when the rst trace the letters in bronze. e plane hit?’ ey said, ‘Yeah, we compassion of those who k n e w.’” created the memorial is At the end of the rst move- perhaps most evident in the ment, soloist Jánis Porietis, a thoughtful placement of each Following the first meeting of Zakoura, Fairouz and Popiel in graduate student from Riga, name. Victims are listed not September 2011, Zakoura described his hopes for the symphony in Latvia, stands to play a haunting alphabetically but in an order a note to Popiel, which the conductor kept tucked in the pages of trumpet solo, a brief, mournful dictated by “meaningful Fairouz’s score throughout the months of preparation. elegy for the fallen towers. adjacency”—their names stand e second movement, “Notes alongside those of their family members, new branches and blossoms. Even a er a of a Heartbroken Narcissist,” conjures the friends and co-workers, as requested by spring 2010 storm uprooted the tree, it horri c scenes amid the ruins beneath surviving loved ones. Beneath the bronze miraculously survived. Later that year, the Ground Zero. In his graphic novel, plaques, 30-foot waterfalls cascade tree returned to the World Trade Center Spiegelman drew this panel only in stark endlessly into the pools below. site as a monument to the strength and gray tones. “To mimic the use of gray e tour of the memorial helped resilience of a city and a nation. scale, I used just the percussion and the students understand the breadth of the e nal element of the plaza will be the piano and the double bass. I don’t use all tragedy, especially for many of the 9/11 Memorial Museum. e glass the colors of the wind ensemble as I did in ensemble members who were young pavilion that will house the entrance to the the rst movement,” Fairouz explained in children on 9/11. “ ere’s something to be museum is complete, and two massive an interview late last year. “What you hear said for looking into those pools and steel tridents, remnants of the North in this movement at the very beginning is thinking about why we were there,” says Tower facade, are visible through the glass. quite literally the scraping of metal and Philip Kaul. “It connected us to our real But the museum itself will reside under- steel. It’s a very eerie sound. at’s purpose—to give another memorial as a ground, plunging seven stories beneath achieved with the cymbal players scraping tribute to the people who lost their lives. Ground Zero. Several massive artifacts, their instruments with a coin. It’s a very You think you have a sense of it, but you including a scarred re engine, a battered introspective movement.” don’t really get the full feel for what that’s police car and damaged city cabs, are French horn player Muriel Hague, who all about until you go to Ground Zero and already underground, awaiting the doesn’t play in the second movement, calls the memorial and you see all those museum’s opening in 2014. Smaller the sounds of the percussion chilling. names.” artifacts, including photos carefully ose sounds echoed for her as the A er staring into the depths, visitors chosen by the loved ones of those who ensemble toured the 9/11 Memorial. “It’s feel compelled to look up and marvel at died, will pay tribute to each person lost. all about the sounds of construction and the dizzying height of the towers already digging through the rubble,” she says. under construction around the site. “Seeing pieces of the towers and the Overlooking the north pool is the nearly “ n the Shadow of No Towers” opens with footprints really brought home all the nished 1 World Trade Center, which at Ia movement called “ e New Normal,” destruction.” 1,776 feet will be the tallest building in the which recalls the shocking calamity of e third movement, “One Nation Western Hemisphere, a monument to 9/11 and the chaotic, confusing a ermath. Under Two Flags,” splits the ensemble into hopeful, de ant perseverance. Between the In Carnegie Hall, Pete Walker, a doctoral two competing, o en dissonant groups. two pools stands a lone pear tree, known music student from Terre Haute, Ind., sat Fairouz created the movement for two as the Survivor Tree. Workers discovered downstage, in the rst chair of the oboe ensembles, “ e United Red Zone of the tree, which had been planted in the section. His family members had traveled America” and “ e United Blue Zone of 1970s during the original construction of from Indiana and North Carolina to see America,” to portray the divisive political the Twin Towers, amid the rubble a er his performance, and during the rst debates that followed the 9/11 attacks. 9/11. e 8-foot stump, replanted in a movement of the symphony, he couldn’t “ at movement is really a political satire; nearby park, grew to 30 feet and sprouted resist looking at his parents and brother. both sides sound equally ridiculous,”
28 | KANSAS ALUMNI “The day of the concert, coming into the hall, it all became very real, and as we were starting to set up, we reached a peak of nerves and a peak of adrenaline.” —Paul Popiel
Issue 3, 2013 | 29 RLIN (3) KELSEY KIMB E
Students, including Kaitlin Fahy and Patrick Timmis, gathered in the dressing rooms to make last-minute adjustments to their instruments or formal concert attire.
Fairouz explained. “It’s convenient for two be the professionals you aspire to be. You movement, Fairouz, seated in the dark- reasons— rst, that I’m writing for a wind are worthy and you are playing like gods ened, nearly empty hall, shouted, “Gor- ensemble, because this is a uniquely and you will only get better. I’m so proud geous,” then stopped short. “I just had an American medium. And secondly, it’s a of y ou .” idea” he blurted, hurrying toward the stage medium that has a history of patriotic to huddle quickly with Popiel. He made music and marching band music.” one nal change, asking the six trumpet During a Murphy Hall rehearsal Feb. 20, he fourth and nal movement, players to stand and deliver their nal Fairouz encouraged the ensemble musi- T“Anniversaries,” begins with the notes, reminding the audience of the cians to join him in taking the risk of simple rhythm of a wood block, represent- trumpet solo in the rst movement. “It’s a presenting a bombastic satire in the third ing the passage of time since 9/11. e nal elegy for the towers. It complements movement. “You’re holding up a mirror wood block continues as freshman tenor the solo in the rst movement,” he later and presenting reality,” he told them. “Lots saxophonist Kaul begins a solo. Last fall, explained. of things in life will make you popular, but when he auditioned for the Carnegie Hall Walker, who hopes to teach music a er this is not one of them.” performance, Kaul had not seen Fairouz’s completing his doctorate, marveled at the At the end of that February rehearsal, score, and he never imagined he would last-minute, “out of the blue” change, Fairouz and conductor Popiel gave the play a solo. He calls the opportunity “a which could only occur because of the students their marching orders one month happy coincidence.” ensemble’s rare opportunity to work before their New York performance. “It’s a “I was much more nervous in the directly with the composer. “For us as luxury to have Mohammed here and audition last semester,” he recalls. “By the musicians, we rehearsed in Murphy, we bounce the music back and forth,” Popiel time I got to Carnegie, I had played it a rehearsed in the Lied Center, we said. “Now it is ours. He gave it to us. Grab million times and I hadn’t messed it up in recorded the piece and we have a certain it and own it.” the last 10 or 12. I’d gotten all of the nerves view of it,” he says. “And then we go to Fairouz, who had made several visits to out in the practice room and the rehearsals Carnegie Hall and we hear stu we’ve KU throughout the project, heaped praise in 130 Murphy.” never heard before. at’s a rewarding on the ensemble. “Your chops are great,” On the March a ernoon of the nal thing to experience. he said. “You are such a beautiful group of rehearsal and sound check, just hours “Everyone wants to hear a Beethoven players. I couldn’t ask for a better ensem- before the performance, Fairouz and symphony. Everyone wants to hear the ble. ... Next month you will have the rare Popiel tweaked only the slightest details. overture to a Mozart opera. You get used opportunity on one of the great stages to As the musicians nished the nal to that, and there’s so much that has been
30 | KANSAS ALUMNI Videos, CD more from the patron, the students boarded the bus helped complete this year’s composer, conductor and for New York, they recorded experience: “That’s what reprise symphony the players and listen to the symphony March 18-21 at makes this piece so special. To capture the collaboration high-lights of “In the Shadow the Lied Center. This is the We got to see it from the very of Zakoura, Fairouz, Popiel and of No Towers,” visit wind ensemble’s fifth release beginning—a rough draft of the students through this journeytocarnegiehall.ku.edu. in Naxos’ Wind Band Classics the first movement—all the academic year, KU Marketing In November, the entire series. Muriel Hague, an way up to a professional Communications created a symphony will be available on Overland Park junior who recording by a big-time special web site, which CD, released by Naxos, one of played on the ensemble’s 2012 classical musical label, features four videos chroni- the nation’s premier classical Naxos CD, “Landscapes,” says Naxos, and then we took it cling the project. To hear recording companies. Before recording the symphony to Carnegie Hall.”
done with those. With this, even though “It’s too bad that it takes external forces for “ is is a culmination of something, but we worked it to death and we worked it for us—for me—to realize I’m on the right it’s also the beginning of even greater so long, there is still something new there.” track, but it’s given me a tremendous boost heights.” of con dence.” Ultimately, performing in Carnegie Hall Freshman Philip Kaul exudes optimism invigorated spirits and red imaginations. ater that evening, amid the standing as he envisions his remaining student Pete Walker proudly recalls his brief Lovation at Carnegie Hall, Fairouz years on the Hill. “I have a feeling this isn’t exchange with Chancellor Gray-Little and bounded up from the audience to join the peak of the KU Wind Ensemble,” he Dean Walzel, who wished him well as he Popiel and the ensemble onstage. e says. “ is performance helped put us on and his fellow musicians prepared to take conductor and the composer struggled to the map in a more national sense, and I the famous New York stage: nd words be tting the moment. think the opportunities and the national “ ey wished me luck and said, ‘ is “Mohammed was visibly shaking when he recognition are just going to go up will be a great performance.’ came up,” Popiel recalls. “We hugged and I from here. “And I said, ‘Yes, the rst of many.’” said something like, ‘I think they really liked your piece’ as there was this thunder- ous ovation. And he just couldn’t speak, so I said, ‘Turn around and bow.’ He was shaking like a leaf. He’s had pieces done at Carnegie Hall before, he’s had big pre- mieres, but it seemed on all fronts to be a really special night.” Walker agrees that the ensemble rose to the occasion. “Ideally this is what we want to do for the rest of our lives, so we should get used to it now,” he says. “No matter how excited or nervous we were, by the time we got onstage those feelings were out the door. We were in the zone and we played.” In retrospect, Popiel hopes his students learn one overriding lesson from their months of dicult, exhaustive work—and the successful outcome on one of the world’s greatest stages: “If you can men- tally work your way through this whole process, there’s nothing you can’t do. You are capable of doing great things. Peixiang Li and Ethan Bartley were among the trumpeters who stood with soloist Jánis “So I feel really good that the 19-year- old students learned this—and me, too,” Porietis to play what Fairouz described as “an elegy for the towers” in the closing moments of the 42-year-old professor adds with a grin. the symphony, echoing Porietis’ solo in the first movement.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 31 Three-sport Rock Chalk Park an overdue victory for women’s athletics BY CHRIS LAZZARINO
iamond Dixon is a sprinter, not a was hard for us. We were talking about why we
EN JACOBS shoveler, so it’s perhaps not surprising needed this project, and if you don’t say that, it FF JE Dthat when an event organizer at Rock can be confusing to people as to why you need it. Chalk Park’s ceremonial groundbreaking Now it’s been said.” approached with a shovel, Stanley Redwine Finally, recruiting fears have transformed to grabbed the handle and coached his superstar on recruiting cheers. A er previous athletics regimes the proper technique—use wrists, not arms and spent the better part of two decades trying to shoulders—for gently turning a blade of loose dirt gure out how to con gure, schedule and pay for in front of cameras and VIP spectators. new facilities in the crowded elds south of Allen Having an Olympic gold medalist participate Field House—a concept that became known as helps illustrate the importance of the April 16 the “Olympic village,” because it would cater to event at the northwest Lawrence site of the future Olympic sports—Zenger and his sta in the past home of KU track and eld, so ball and soccer, year or so began pondering another possibility: but the true evidence that a new athletics era had constructing new athletics elds, spectator seating nally arrived was heard in blunt assessments of and training facilities in an open space west of current facilities. town, all at once. Jayhawk athletes in the three sports—75 e plan would solve two critical issues: Not percent of whom are women—have for years only will track, so ball and soccer move into the competed in the worst facilities in the Big 12 and nest new facilities in the conference and even the even the nation. Now, on a cold April morning in country, but Kansas Athletics also would nally a eld near the north-south stretch of the K-10 be free to turn its focus to completing renovations bypass, administrators admitted it and coaches to Allen Field House and modernizing Memorial and athletes bemoaned it. Stadium. And, for the rst time, publicly. “When you talk about facility needs at Kansas,” “ at’s something we were very careful not to says Zenger, who was named athletics director in talk about until we put a shovel in the ground, January 2011, “you also have to re ect on the because that’s dangerous territory,” says athletics things that have been accomplished in the past director Sheahon Zenger, PhD’96, noting that any decade or even the past six or seven years—things admission to out-of-date facilities would certainly like the football building, the football practice have been used against KU in recruiting. “ at elds, the baseball complex, the boathouse, all of Dixon
32 | KANSAS ALUMNI which were necessary to move Kansas so ball and track, and what are we going will contain a state-of-the-art track, athletics forward. And, not to be over- to do for those?” capable of hosting national-championship looked, the renovation of Allen Field Zenger says that in his rst year on the meets, with 7,336 permanent seats and House. at’s probably the biggest of all. job, he and his sta continued to work on room for temporary stands for an addi- “Knowing that, there’s a perception out possibilities for the Olympic village. A new tional 3,000; a so ball stadium with there that, wow, Kansas’ facilities are great. course began to emerge, he says, a er seating for 1,037 spectators and an indoor Well, the ones I just named are. However, Lawrence builder omas Fritzel, c’92, practice building; a 2,156-seat soccer we need to nish the Allen Field House said over lunch one day that he wanted to stadium; locker and training rooms; and project; we have a need in the training help. Zenger didn’t forget; to his surprise, concessions and permanent parking. room and we have a need on the second Fritzel and his wife, Dru Stewart Fritzel, e city of Lawrence will build and fund and third concourses. And the big crown c’92, didn’t either. its own $25 million recreation complex at jewel out there is, we need to renovate “So o en when you have a conversation the site, a 181,000-square-foot building Memorial Stadium. at really has a like that with a donor or an alum, it’s well with eight gyms and other athletics bearing on BCS comparison, so to speak. meaning but rarely does it end up coming amenities. It is hoped that the city and KU So once you grasp all that, the immediate to fruition,” Zenger says. “What occurred will attract to the entire Rock Chalk Park needs that jumped right out were soccer, over the next year was, as we were complex numerous championships and exploring the tournaments that will ll local hotels, Olympic village and restaurants and retail shops with athletes, PPE (2) omas continued to families and spectators. TEVE P U
S have a desire to help, Two dierent studies estimated the total somewhere in there cost for KU’s facilities in excess of $50 the two [KU’s need million. Fritzel, however, agreed to build to nd a solution and the complex, on land purchased by KU Fritzel’s oer of Endowment, for $39 million and allow assistance] crossed KU to pay it back over 30 years. paths and he brought e hope is that the track and eld forth his desire to stadium will be ready for next year’s help build those Kansas Relays. Soccer and so ball will facilities for us. e follow, with likely completion in fall 2014. rest is kind of e track in Memorial Stadium will h i s t or y.” eventually be removed, a er which the Rock Chalk Park football eld will likely be lowered and
Diamond Dixon (p. 32), Dale Seuferling (above, l-r), Sheahon Zenger and Thomas Fritzel dug in to help launch what Zenger says is Kansas Athletics’ largest building project since the construction of Memorial Stadium and Allen Field House.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 33 seating extended closer to the action, but track and eld aspirations with it. for a U.S. collegiate facility, with the no timeline has been set for that project. Not only was the track in bad condition, intention of gaining Class 1 international “We have the best location for a football but it wasn’t even compliant with current certi cation. With a world-class track and stadium in the country,” Zenger says. “We regulations. e track is a 440-yard oval; permanent stadium speci cally designed all revere the Hill and what it means for all the sport’s national and international for watching the frantic action at big track of us, so we are lucky, lucky, lucky to have governing bodies, including the NCAA meets, Rock Chalk Park could attract that. But before we could address that we and Big 12, now require 400-meter ovals. NCAA championships and even national had to take care of these other needs, and Even if KU wanted to replace the track, it meets with the sport’s pre-eminent we are. So that’s reason enough in and of would not have t within Memorial professional and amateur runners, itself to celebrate. Now we have to be Stadium’s concrete-walled con guration. jumpers and throwers. careful as we plan going forward, because “We’re not able to host really good “All those things are within reason,” what we do to that stadium will need to meets,” says Redwine, the 13th-year track Redwine says. “I believe it could be last for another 30 or 50 years.” and eld coach, “because you can’t host really huge.” those on a 440-yard track. e new facility Says Dixon, a junior who won a gold will be a 400-meter track, which is great. I medal at the London Olympics as a er 86 years, it’s likely that this love the atmosphere that Memorial member of the American 4x400 relay Aspring’s renewal was the last in Stadium has, and hopefully we can team, “I feel like it’s going to mean a lot, Memorial Stadium for the Kansas Relays. duplicate some of that here. We want to be especially for future generations that are e change will be bittersweet for many, able to host a Big 12 meet and have fans going to be on one of the best tracks in the but there were, in short, only two realistic come support us.” nation. It’s going to bring more profession- options: Build a new track stadium or As welcome as it would be, a Big 12 als in and it’s going to bring a new watch the beloved spring tradition meet would be only the start. e track tradition in, something new for KU.” wither and eventually disappear, in all will be constructed with an Olympic-cali- In his 14 seasons as soccer coach, Mark likelihood taking KU’s championship ber surface called Beynon 2000, a rarity Francis has yet to get used to traveling around the Big 12 and competing in
HLETICS stadiums that put KU’s current soccer eld to shame. “We play against some of the best teams Y KANSAS AT in the country in some of the best facilities in the country, and you see your players S COURTE looking around and you know what’s going through their heads because it’s going through my head, too,” Francis says. “ ey’re saying, ‘Well, how come we don’t have something like that?’ But to their credit, they’ve never, ever, any player on any team that we’ve ever had, complained. ey just get down to business and do the work.” Francis recalls a match two years ago at Texas Tech, a burgeoning Big 12 soccer program with a new stadium. It was a
Rock Chalk Park is situated about a quarter- mile north of Sixth Street, adjacent to the K-10 bypass in northwest Lawrence. The track stadium is being readied for next year’s Kansas Relays; the softball and soccer fields are expected to be finished in fall 2014.
34 | KANSAS ALUMNI PPE TEVE P U S
Friday night (KU’s eld has no lights) on homecoming weekend, with 2,500 fans in the stands and seven recruits on the eld during warm-ups. KU won, 3-1, but as Francis watched the recruits meeting with Tech’s coaches and players, he realized that it didn’t matter that Tech had just lost: the Red Raiders would still have the pick of any of those recruits it wanted. “Dr. Zenger is the fourth athletics director that I’ve worked for,” Francis says. “Every single one has promised us a new eld, and he’s actually following through with it. I’ve been here for 14 years and recruited a lot of student-athletes, and based on what I was being told, we were telling them, ‘Hey, in two years, three Smith, Francis and Redwine years, we’re going to have a new facility.’ So I think every single player who’s played for unbelievable stadium for our fans, we’re campus, Rock Chalk Park, come to reality.” me thinks I’m a liar. Except my current going to have excellent facilities for our As history comes full oval, from the rst players, because they are actually going to athletes, we’re going to have a locker room athletics facility to the newest, coaches and get to play on this.” and an indoor facility for us to train in. athletes gathered at Rock Chalk Park’s Francis speculated at the groundbreak- “ is eld is going to give us that equal groundbreaking allowed their imagina- ing ceremony that his players, though they playing ground that we need when we go tions to dri even further to the future— never said so out loud, have been intimi- out and recruit. e players and parents not just to visions of the KU athletes who dated when competing in lavish soccer who come in to see this facility will know will compete on the gorgeous new elds, stadiums. Sophomore defender Caroline that Kansas supports so ball and that but the young fans, especially girls, who Van Slambrouck con rms her coach’s Kansas supports women’s athletics.” will ock to Rock Chalk Park to cheer suspicion. them on. “It’s mind-blowing,” she says, “and it’s “Young female soccer players will be intimidating as well, it really is. Now we n 1890, Col. J.J. McCook of New York sitting there in the stands,” Francis says, will have that advantage once we have this Igave the University $2,500 to launch an “watching the athletes they admire who great facility. It’s great to see us nally on intercollegiate athletics program. A year are competing on this beautiful eld, and an equal playing eld. It’s great to see this later, Charles Robinson, the state’s rst they will tell themselves, ‘I could be out put into action and not just lip service.” governor, oered land on Mississippi there one day.’ Seeing it in that environ- Megan Smith, in her fourth season as Street, in the city’s new Oread addition, to ment, with the prospect of having that KU’s so ball coach, says her players KU for half price. But gi regulations in opportunity for themselves, is going to re experience that frustration not just within place at the time prevented the University them up even more.” the Big 12, but even when traveling to such from accepting Robinson’s oer, so in 1891 Says so ball’s Smith, “If you look smaller schools as Furman, a liberal arts the KU Endowment Association was speci cally at soccer and so ball, the university in South Carolina. created as the rst foundation at a U.S. facilities are the worst in the Big 12, no “Our girls go out every day and work public university, speci cally to give the question, and some of the worst in the hard and they don’t have permanent University the ability to use Col. McCook’s country, and those two sports are female restrooms or a permanent stadium,” Smith $2,500 to purchase Gov. Robinson’s land. only. So it’s exciting to see our sports being says, “but they still give their hearts and “And that land is where Memorial highlighted and nally have the facilities souls every day to be the best so ball Stadium stands and where the track team we need to compete. And for the girls who players they can be and represent KU in a runs,” KU Endowment president Dale will be out here to see our games, it’s huge. very positive manner. e eld that we’re Seuferling, j’77, said at the Rock Chalk ey will see how important they can be.” going to be getting here is going to be one Park ceremony. “Coming forward to today, Competitive balance, restored for now of the best in the country, not just the best KU Endowment is pleased to play a role in and nurtured for the future: Rock Chalk in the Big 12. We’re going to have an seeing this newest addition to the KU Park’s biggest victory of all.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 35 B Y S T EVEN HI LL
Wa r p and Two of KU’s most prominent alumni artists highlight the Spencer’s mission to honor art history— and make it
P hotographs by R yan Waggoner
36 | KANSAS ALUMNI ne feels she’s like a gold sh bound only installations, and Schira became a leading gure in by the size of its bowl. the textile art world. e other says she has always clung to e two well-known artists with very dierent Othe wall. ways of working collaborated for the rst time in Ann Hamilton and Cynthia Schira have been “An Errant Line,” an exhibition that opened in linked since the 1970s, when Hamilton, f’79, came March at the Spencer Museum of Art. e show, to KU to study textile design with Schira, g’67, a which runs through Aug. 11, is a chance for textile artist who taught at KU for more than 20 Hamilton to revisit her beginnings as a textile artist years before her retirement in 1999. e two kept and for Schira to experiment for the rst time with in touch as Hamilton went on to win a MacArthur the kind of large-scale installation Hamilton has “genius” grant and establish herself as one of the become famous for. world’s most high-pro le creators of large-scale “An Errant Line” breaks new ground for both artists, according to Susan Earle, the Spencer’s curator of European and American art. She and Spencer director Saralyn Reece Hardy, c’76, g’94, invited the artists to return to KU to explore their student-teacher relationship and their shared background in textiles while responding to the Spencer’s more than 36,000 works of art. Hamilton and Schira spent weeks going through the muse- um’s collection in galleries and storerooms. en each created their own art inspired by speci c Weft works in the collection. and
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 37 Ann Hamilton (left) and Cynthia Schira (bottom right) worked with Spencer Museum of Art exhibition design sta¥ to prepare the show, which includes separate installations of new work by each artist as well as works from the museum’s permanent collection selected and arranged by both.
winter, in a show Earle calls a “cultural phenomenon” for the way it captured the public imagination, Hamilton took on her biggest space yet, transforming New York City’s vast Park Avenue Armory into an interactive art installation. e centerpiece was 42 large wooden swings suspended from the military drill hall’s roof beams and attached to a oor-to-ceiling silk curtain that billowed as New Yorkers put aside briefcases or backpacks or a bad day and simply swung. While Hamilton’s work has expanded far beyond the boundaries of textile design even as she continued to draw on elements of the discipline, Schira has remained devoted to weaving as it was transformed by Computer Aided Design and lightning quick industrial looms. One of the genre’s most in uential gures, she was among the rst textile artists to fully capture the computer’s potential, but her weavings— collected by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery and the Museum Bellerive in Zurich—remained true to textile traditions. “I’ve always sort of clung to the wall,” Schira said while walking among the forest of textiles dangling from the ceiling in the rst- oor gallery adjacent to the Spencer’s central court. “Before now I’ve never worked in three dimensions. I’ve never taken over an entire “ e scale of their endeavor is quite pushes the limits of any space she’s gallery. So this was a risk for me.” astonishing,” Earle says. “I don’t think given—be it a room or an entire building. e result, says Earle, is two very we’ve ever had a commissioned artist work “I’m like the gold sh that grows to ll its dierent ways of viewing and creating art. this deeply with our collections. Both have bowl,” she said during the March opening. “Ann’s is so much about seeing and created work that is, in some ways, like “I’m always making a piece bigger than bringing gures to life. Cynthia’s is about nothing they have done before and yet what I’ve been asked to make.” At the nding codes and symbols. In each case, it builds on their prior projects.” Guggenheim Museum in 2009, that meant shi s my view of the artworks that Known for art installations that ditching the gallery that curators had set inspired them. ey give a whole new surround museumgoers with a dense, aside for her and instead taking over the history and a whole new presence to these sensory-bending mix of media, Hamilton building’s iconic domed rotunda. Last objects.”
38 | KANSAS ALUMNI “When we place these objects we cannot touch on a flatbed scanner and scan them, it makes visible a kind of tactility. It’s like it brought touch forward.”—Ann Hamilton
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 39 institutions commission new works. “In our culture it’s very important, I think, for museums to be involved in generating new work, to contribute to the cultural legacy of our time.”
he exhibition’s title—“An Errant TLine”—refers to a weaving technique that Schira developed called a supplemen- tary we . e we is the crosswise threads on a loom under and over which other threads (the warp) are passed to make cloth. “With a supplementary we you have a base cloth that is made of the vertical and horizontal and you also have a second we ,” Schira explains. “ at second we can play and do what it wants to do. I really think Ann and I are that way. I’m sort of the base, and Ann is the play.” e secondary we , a wayward thread that oats free and does what it wants to do, is the errant line: a tangent, a ri, a jazz improvisation above the bass line of the primary we . e idea intrigued Hamilton when she discovered Schira’s work. She had dropped out of school, where she had been studying geology and literature. “I saw Cynthia’s work,” Hamilton recalls, “and it was what propelled me to move to Kansas, to study under her in uence.” When the two artists accepted the invitation to return to campus to create new work inspired by the museum’s collection, their conversations about how to approach the project coalesced around the idea of the supplementary we . “We were seeking a structure for responding to each other,” Hamilton says. e errant line of thread became a In so doing, Hardy says, the artists help metaphor for how they’d work together, the museum ful ll its role as not only an and how they’d approach the Spencer’s art preserver, but also an art producer. vast collection of artwork. ey’d follow “ is exhibition is emblematic of the their fancy where it took them, wandering desire and goal I have to draw meaningful through the collection to focus on connections between our historical whatever held their attention. ey’d each collections and the ideas and works of do their own works and collaborate on the contemporary artists,” she says. “ e exhibition as a whole. Like a cloth with the museum is a place in which past and supplementary we technique, their show present vibrate and make new meanings would have a base and an improvisation. for all of us out of historic collections, but Seriousness and play. Warp and we . also of critical importance is that art On multiple visits to campus over the
40 | KANSAS ALUMNI two-year life of the project, Hamilton and Schira explored the Spencer collection, as curators opened their doors to the pair. “It was really exciting to us,” Schira says. “It was like the most wonderful shopping trip I’ve ever gone on.” Both were fascinated by doll-like gures from the museum’s collection of Italian presepios, nativity scenes that date to the 18th century. Donated by the museum’s original patron, Sallie Casey ayer, the intricately carved wooden gures, 8 to 16 inches tall, are clothed in nely worked costumes, which appealed to Schira’s interest in fabric. She zeroed in on details—the stripe of a magi’s vest here, a button from a peasant’s tunic there—and repeated these details to form a pattern in her weavings. She used a similar technique Hamilton and Schira spent weeks exploring the Spencer’s more than 36,000 works of art, in the rst and largest piece she completed including pieces from the global indigenous arts collection (top). Particularly inspiring were Italian for the show, “ETYMON.” e 30 foot by 10 foot damask jacquard weaving features presepio figures (bottom left). Scanned images of the figures (original image by Ann Hamilton, abstracted images from more than 30 courtesy of the artist, above left) were enlarged to create Hamilton’s installation in the central works in the collection, which Schira courtyard (page 36), while Schira worked details of the presepios’ clothing into her textiles (above gleaned by browsing the museum’s digital and page 37).
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 41 On opening night, Steven Spooner, associate professor of piano, gave a lesson to doctoral student Soojin Kim on the Bechstein concert grand once owned by Franz Liszt. Schira’s installation—her first—marked a departure for an artist who says she usually “clings to the wall” (bottom right). A detail (above) of Ann Hamilton’s installation. online library from her home in upstate “I was interested in how when we place was created. But that’s just the beginning, New York. Images in “ETYMON” include these objects which we cannot touch on a she explains. Just one milestone among a coptic fragment from Egypt, text from a atbed scanner and scan them, what it many. Florence Nightingale letter, a diamond makes visible is a kind of tactility. e rst time the turbaned magi with patch quilt pattern from the 19th century “ e image that it makes, it’s like it the velvet robe trimmed in gold was used and more. brought touch forward. And that really to re-enact the birth of Christ was a What fascinated Hamilton about the generated for me the structure of the milestone. Its acquisition by ayer and presepio gures was how the carvings’ project.” eventual donation to KU was another. Its detailed expressions and expressive Hamilton enlarged the haunting, almost discovery by Hamilton and Schira and its gestures imbued them with a lifelike ghost-like images produced by the daily viewing by visitors are still others. quality, “a sense of animating a narrative,” outdated scanner, mounted them on “We want the object’s origination to be as if they were telling a story. But the real Japanese gampi paper and hung them one of the milestones in the life of the breakthrough came almost by accident, around the museum’s central court. Taken object,” Hardy says. “Every time one looks when Hamilton, working with the many out of their usual context, blown up to at an object in a museum, you hope there’s KU students who assisted with the project, gigantic stature, the gures seem to gesture an echo of the original. But you also hope placed the gures on an outmoded atbed at one another across the courtyard as they that is joined by the care and attention of scanner. “It made a weird ping and really tower over museumgoers—part mystery the present glance.” didn’t render things very well,” Hamilton and part revelation. For the presepio gures and the various recalls. “We didn’t realize at the time what other objects (including many from the a real gi that was.” global indigenous arts collection trans- e thing about a museum, Hamilton art of the beauty of a museum is ferred to the Spencer in 2007) that are notes, is that touching is discouraged. But “Pthere’s the real object from a real displayed as part of the exhibition, that place a three-dimensional object on a moment in time,” says Hardy. Part of the “present glance” started with Hamilton scanner and only the portion that actually museum’s job is to document the facts of and Schira’s ramble through the collection. touches the scanner bed will be in focus. the object—when, where and by whom it “We talked a lot about how something
42 | KANSAS ALUMNI that’s in storage, something that’s in the “I’ve never worked in three dimensions. care and protection of a collection, that the act of looking at it animates it again, and I’ve never taken over an entire gallery. brings it forward in time,” Hamilton says. So much of what they were drawn to So this was a risk for me.”—Cynthia Schira was in storage, rather than on exhibition, Schira notes. is led to conversations about the role of a museum, particularly teachers and students: what Hardy calls “a artistic production these days and what is the role of an art museum at a research teaching, learning, growing space that is the museum’s role in that? What responsi- university, she says. Her installation is both experimental and historical at the bility do we have to both objects and divided into three parts that directly same time.” artists?” address those roles: Making, Showing, Earle and Hardy have the good fortune ose questions remain to be answered. Saving. to see the exhibition every day as they go But one thing is certain: anks to the “I decided to play with the idea that about their work in the museum. Plenty of Spencer’s commission, there is new work before something comes into the museum, time remains before the show’s Aug. 11 in the world—beautiful new work inspired it has to be made. I wanted to emphasize close for museumgoers to see it too. But by KU’s art collection and created by two that the museum doesn’t just hold things, Hardy says she’s already looking ahead to of its most prominent alumni artists. it brings things into the world.” the next milestone. “New work in the world changes things,” “An Errant Line” hits all those notes— “When the exhibition ends, when we Hardy says. “It shi s our perspective. It call them milestones in the life of a enter into a new relationship with the creates a new sense of possibility for artists museum, if you like—as it creates new, artists and the students have this as a and viewers.” commissioned art and brings out of memory, what does it suggest for us? at’s Seen side-by-side with the works that storage the collected works that form the the question that interests me now. What inspired them, Hamilton’s images and foundation of the museum’s role as both a does it suggest for us in terms of working Schira’s textiles create an experience across steward and a creator of culture, as a with contemporary artists, what does it time: a new way to look back, a new way sustaining force for artists, scholars, suggest about the ephemeral nature of to move ahead.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 43 Association
PPE Souvenir sunglasses, part of the evening’s
TEVE P U theme, were all the rage on the dance S floor. “I loved when everyone was dancing with their sunglasses,” says Howard Cohen, b’79, co-chair of the 18th-annual Rock Chalk Ball.
g’12. is was Elizabeth’s ninth ball and David’s fourth. eir table also included Michael Wade Smith, c’11, former student body president, who traveled from Newark, N.J., and Aaron Dolinger, c’12, who served in Student Senate with Smith and David Cohen. “Michael is like another son to me, and Aaron, David and Michael are great friends,” says Debbi Cohen. “It was so fun to have a table of young e ever-enthusiastic Cohens arrived Jayhawks. We are encouraging the next Crimson and Blues just before 5 p.m. to accomplish their rst generation to be part of the ball.” As a loyal mission of the evening: purchasing their KU convert, Debbi says her personal KC ball swings to jazz theme third commemorative wine bottle, part of motto is “Missouri by birth, Jayhawk by with nearly 800 Jayhawks the ball’s series featuring historic rendi- choice.” tions of the Jayhawk—this year’s bird Along with the Cohens and Blasis, oward, b’79, and Debbi Cohen, featured the 1923 version. “We always get Kansas City chapter volunteers Brooke Hassoc., have attended every Rock the number one bottle,” explains Howard, Briley Robison, d’01, g’04, and Mark Chalk Ball since the rst event in 1996. who bid on numerous items throughout Frutiger, b’01, led the ball committee, ey are usually the rst to arrive for the the night. “As I tell my kids, ‘You can never working with Association sta members silent auction and among the last to leave have enough Jayhawk stu.’” e Cohens Betsy Winetroub, c’05, assistant director of the dance oor. So it made perfect sense also added a carved marble “Rock Chalk” Kansas City programs, and Jacey Krehbiel, that the Cohens co-chair the 18th edition sign to their collection. e “Jayhawk” d’12, alumni programs coordinator, to of the Kansas City tradition with fellow portion of the sign, completing the KU gather 152 items for the silent auction, Jayhawks Nick, b’04, and Clare Blasi, mantra, belongs to Linda Ellis Sims, e’79, including men’s basketball season tickets, assoc. and her husband, Russ, assoc., who were private tours of sports facilities, golf trips, “Of all the black tie events we go to all bidding against the Cohens in the silent KU art and jewelry, spirited children’s year, the Rock Chalk Ball is by far our auction until Howard and Linda, who each wear and more. favorite,” Howard says. “I was thrilled to have served on the Association’s national In step with the bluesy theme, the Lucas see so many people there this year.” e Board of Directors, conspired to make the Parker Trio of student musicians wel- Cohens and the Blasis urged KU friends to shared purchase. “I told Linda, ‘You know comed guests to the silent auction and attend, and an impressive crowd of nearly what would be really fun? We should just reception with swinging standards, and 800 Jayhawks boogied and bopped April split it. You take Jayhawk, and we’ll take KU Libraries provided photos and 27 at the “Crimson and Blues”-themed Rock Chalk and every year we’ll get memorabilia from Kansas City jazz event at the Overland Park Convention together for dinner and swap ’em,’” performers, a sampling from this spring’s Center. Hosted by the Greater Kansas City Howard explains. “Rhythm and Meaning: Jazz at KU” Alumni Chapter, the ball raises funds for e ball is a family aair for the Cohens, exhibition at Watson Library. Alumni Association programs that unite who brought their daughter, Elizabeth John Holt, j’81, l’84, FOX 4 TV news Jayhawks, recruit students and support KU Cohen Levy, c’08, n’10, and her husband, anchor, emceed the event with his usual academic units. Steven, j’08, and their son, David, b’11, good-natured humor and, when it came
44 | KANSAS ALUMNI time for the live auction, up-the-ante antics. Bidders spared no expense when donating to Fund-A-Need—bolstering the Association’s student recruitment pro- grams—and raised a record total of nearly $74,000. A pair of Allen Field House seats signed by Coach Bill Self, who attended the ball with his wife, Cindy; dinner and basketball tickets for a party of 10; and jazzy art by painter Mike Savage, f’80, rounded out the live auction. Total fundraising from the ball is not yet nal, but initial estimates indicate net proceeds of more than $140,000. A er dinner, the incomparable Karen Davis Project provided soulful tunes to which guests jumped and jived for a generally fabulous time, as others sampled the Bananas Foster dessert buets sta- tioned throughout the ballroom. Souvenir sunglasses, part of the evening’s theme, were all the rage on the dance oor. “I loved when everyone was dancing with their sunglasses,” Howard says. “Seeing the chancellor and her husband start the dancing wearing theirs was a highlight.” More KU memories will be in store April 26, 2014, at the 19th-annual ball. You can be sure the Cohens will be there to get From top: Ball co-chairs Nick, b’04, and Clare Blasi, assoc., raised high their bidding number during the party started. the live auction. Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little hit the dance floor with her husband, Shade. Howard, b’79, and Debbi Cohen, assoc., co-chairs of the ball, arrived in festive KU finery. National Board member Greg, b’79, and his wife, Debby, assoc.; Nancy Tade Stoppel, d’73, and her husband, national Board member Larry Stoppel, c’73; joined arms with Kansas City Chapter Board President Je¥ Foster, c’88; and former national Board member Linda Ellis Sims, e’79, for a rousing chorus of the alma mater. Emcee John Holt, j’81, earned laughs from coach Bill Self, who sat with Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger, PhD’96, and his wife, Pam, at the Kansas Athletics table. Partygoers maintained safe distance as chefs prepared the fabulous flambéed Bananas Foster.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 45 Association Golden weekend Celebrations honor steadfast Jayhawks : the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the rise of Beatlemania, the birth of the Lava Lamp and the demise of the Studebaker all informed the social landscape. Amid such change, the year’s graduates built lasting bonds, and 50 years later, more than 200 Jayhawks returned to the Hill to unite and rekindle old friend- ships at reunion weekend, May 2-4. anks to the dedication of the Class of 1963 Reunion Committee and Nikki Epley, director of reunions, class members enjoyed a packed weekend, including a welcome reception, campus and Quantrill’s Raid tours, and lunch at the Adams Alumni Center. May 3, Chancellor Bernadette Gray Little addressed more than 180 guests at the Union’s ballroom for the annual pinning dinner. With the assistance of her husband, Shade, she greeted class members and awarded certi cates and 50-year pins. Gray-Little also hosted more than 100 guests at the Outlook the next morning for brunch. Jayhawks celebrating more than 50 years as KU graduates received recognition May 4 as members of Gold Medal Club. “Whether it was in the 1960s or 50 years later, the Class of 1963 truly enjoys being together,” says Jacey Krehbiel, d’12, alumni programs coordinator. “It was wonderful to see friends unite and a class that enjoys each other’s company.”
Above, top left: Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little greeted David Kyner, d’62, c’63, PhD’69, at the Class of 1963 pinning dinner May 3. Top right: Sorority sisters were all smiles as they gathered for RESERVE YOUR SPOT! photos before dinner. Middle: Class members, including Phil McKnight, c’63, (center), toast to 50-years as Jayhawks. Marilyn Mundon Breidenthal, d’57, (above) and Virginia Seymour, g’57, Registration 10:30 a.m. | Shotgun start 12 p.m. (left) caught up with Baby Jay at the Gold Medal Club luncheon May 4. Prairie Highlands Golf Course | Olathe Questions? Contact Betsy Winetroub at 913-897-8445 46 | KANSAS ALUMNI FRIDAY, JUNE 21 RESERVE YOUR SPOT! Registration 10:30 a.m. | Shotgun start 12 p.m. Prairie Highlands Golf Course | Olathe Questions? Contact Betsy Winetroub at 913-897-8445 Register at www.kualumni.org/golf Special thanks TO OUR LOYAL VOLUNTEERS AND BENEFACTORS The success of Rock Chalk Ball results in large part from the generosity of our volunteers and benefactors. Thank you for your ardent support of Rock Chalk Ball 2013, the KU Alumni Association and the University of Kansas.
Oread Underwriters ($10,000) MBB Advertising Crimson Couples ($500) Frontier Wealth Management, Frontier Miller Haviland Ketter, PC Don, c’61, m’65, m’72, and Kay Brada, Insurance Strategies Overland Park Regional Medical c’61 Kansas Athletics Center William F. Bradley Jr., c’77, l’80, and Ruf Commercial, LLC—Jay, b’96, e’96, Roberta Harding Rock Chalk Benefactors ($5,000) and Lori Ruf Sandy Emery, d’62, and Bob Schulze KU Endowment Scott, b’83, and Eileen Seyfarth Harry, e’65, g’66, and Becky Gibson, Jon, b’85, and Christi Stewart d’64 Jayhawk Benefactors ($2,500) Lewis, c’75, and Laura Gregory, j’75 Craig, c’81, m’85, and Allison University Friends ($1,000) Paul, b’05, g’09, and Jessie Gregory Anderson, c’81, m’85 KU Cancer Center/KU Endowment Mel, g’60, and Alice Hawk,’63 Arvest Bank Medical Center Mark, d’78, g’89, and Anne Jarboe, Burns & McDonnell KU Medical Center, Oce of Executive d’78 Deloitte Vice Chancellor Dr. Norman, m’62, m’71, and Shirley J.E. Dunn Construction Co. KU Memorial Unions Martin, assoc. Ernst & Young School of Business (2 tables) Bill and Marianne McKean Hallmark Cards Inc. School of Education Joe, b’61, and Susan Morris, assoc. John, j’81, l’84 and Suzanne Holt, l’84 School of Engineering (4 tables) Donna Nyght, n’77, g’94, DNP’11 IMA Inc. School of Nursing & School of Health Michael and Tari Parmely, d’92 INTRUST Bank Professions Randy Sedlacek, ‘79, and Mary Jayhawk IMG Sports Marketing School of Pharmacy Ventura, d’73, g’77, PhD ‘83 Brian, c’98, and Bu¥y King, c’95 Oce of Public A¥airs Russ and Linda Ellis Sims, e’79 Brad Korell, l’97, and Justin McNulty, Oce of Student A¥airs Bill, b’67, g’69, and Marilyn Taylor assoc. Oce of the Chancellor Martin, c’92, and Amy VanDerSchouw Tom, c’81, and Jennifer Laming Oce of the Provost/KU Edwards Tom, b’80, and Debbie Ward, j’86 Loyal Old Alums Campus Beth Winetroub, d’71, g’73 Richard J. & Penny D. Gerdes Jennifer L. Purvis Shannon E. Giles Aubrey M. Ramsey Mark H. Gillie Robert P. Ramsey Sarah L. Greenup Stephanie E. Rawe Robert C. Hafner Douglas A. Regnier Lucian B. Hammer Jr. Tonya M. Richmond-Olsen Luckey Heath Marie L. Riley Philip S. & Kelly O’Keefe Mark J. Ritter Heintzelman Edward J. & Margery A. John C. & Cynthia L. Hickey Robertson Glenda Evans Hinton Brent J. & Emily Gilpin Rohling Tanya N. Ho¥man Nirit Rosenblum he Association kicks o« its annual ’Hawk Days Andrea K. Holcomb Bryan S. Rosner Tof Summer festivities in June, o«ering events in Hannah M. Holcomb Miranda Shank Ruland Kansas and across the country. See “On the Boulevard” Dana M. Homan John M. Ryan & Jill Ryan (pages 8-9) and www.kualumni.org/calendar to find James P. Horner Sean O. Ryan events near you. Mark S. Hugeback Samuel P. Schroeder Stephen K. Imming Brent R. Schulte Joye L. Jobe-Hamilton Kenneth A. Schwartz & Elizabeth A. Johnson Virginia Aeschleman Life Members Stacy N. Johnson-Robnett Schwartz Wesley J. Kimmel & Sara H. Kelley D. Sears e Association thanks these Jayhawks, who began their Life C. Exon Marc N. & Kelly Shafer memberships May 1 through June 30. For information, visit Jennifer Johnson Kinzel Kiley J. Sheehy kualumni.org or call 800-584-2957. John A. Koepke Mark R. Sidener Brian C. Larkin Erica J. Smith Harlan C. IV & Kayla Hu¥man Bruce E. Cavitt Diane Lyon Laughlin Gary M. Smith & Janet M. Altman John P. & Emily Leonard John S. Le¥erd Cinelli Ashley K. Arnold Claxton Herbert E. Llewellyn Jr. Annette L. Stanton Stephen W. Ashcraft Jessica Wiele Clothier Yvonne M. Love Peter W. Stau¥er Anthony V. Baldino Elizabeth C. Conway Kelly E. Lyons Betty J. Ste¥ens Adam Z. Baratz Mark A. & Elaine S. Corder Alexandria D. Mackenzie John E. Jr. & Ann Lowry Vickie Barclay David C. & Karen Allen Mark R. & Denise D. Maloney Sundeen Nicholas P. Barr Cremer Aubrey A. Mantel Sin-Yee Tan Mark N. Barrath Traci N. Cuevas Kristina Knoll Martin Scott G. & Debra A. Taubin June Goehausen Barth Emelie E. Dillman Lauren B. Massey L. Franklin & Kathryn Christopher L. Benton Nathan H. Dormer William L. Matthew III & Achterberg Taylor Joanie M. Bergman Kenton M. Dorsey Katey Staeben Blair A. Thornton Kara N. Beussink Patricia Allen Dreizler James M. McCarten Kevin Tran Robert W. Bishop & Kristin A. Andrew D. & McKenzie Jennifer A. McCarty Piyush & Shilpa Upadhyay Vanderhagen Charlton Ek Rosalie McMaster, John L. VanRoekel Hannah Bolton Gil Ek Robert C. & Amy S. Merritt Caitlin C. Von Liski Todd C. & Elyse Weidner Drew Elder Garrett T. & Katie Eggers Amy Hamm Voorhees Bradley David D. Elliott Miller Philip M. Whalen Linda Bristow John English Melinda K. Mitchell Larry G. & Denise Walker Cynthia R. Bryant Danielle K. Fickler T. J. Mullender III White Arnold R. & Lisbeth French Robert B. Fiss Bradley G. & Jodi Nachtigal James M. & Marilynn M. Cabrera Patrick D. Flynn Paul J. & Carolyn Pannier Williams Elise Cadigan Sarah E. Foreman Manuel P. Pardo & Lillian Jack B. & Judith Locy Wright Col. Gregory L. Cantwell Kristian L. Fowler Gonzalez-Pardo Joshua P. Wunderlich Matthew B. Carey & Malana Michael D. Friedmeyer Robert A. Parrish Jack Xu K. Kuiper Karen S. Friesen Troy B. Percival Jerome G. Younger Shannon M. Carroll Sandra W. Gautt Bobbi Jo Perkins Matthew S. Ysusi Jay W. Carter Je¥erey V. Geraci Thomas B. & Robin A. Polsley Carolyn Peterson Zendeh Del
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 49 Class Notes by Karen Goodell establish the International Baccalaureate program for gi ed students at several high schools in Omaha, where the Budas make their home. William, b’53, and Diane Hornaday n’61, live in Vancouver, Wash., where he is 53 Hall, c’53, were awarded the rank of retired from a career in K-12 education Bob Dotson, j’68, wrote American Life Master by the American Contract administration. 68 Story: A Lifetime Search for Ordi- Bridge League for their accomplishments nary People Doing Extraordinary ings, in bridge tournaments. ey divide their Lewis Wiens, b’63, is chairman and published by Viking Press/Penguin Books. time between Scottsdale, Ariz., and Lake 63 chief executive ocer of True North e book is a compilation of human-inter- George, N.Y. Hotel Group in Overland Park. He and est stories featured on his segment, Susan Fredeen Wiens, ’66, live in Over- American Story with Bob Dotson, on Billy Mills, d’62, received the land Park. NBC’s “Today Show.” Bob and his wife, 62 Presidential Citizens Medal earlier Linda, live in Mystic, Conn. this year from President Obama. Billy, Marlene Loyd Lee, g’64, wrote a Don McFarland, b’68, is rst vice who lives in Fair Oaks, Calif., co-founded 64 novel, e Absent Woman, which president of investments at Wells Fargo Running Strong for American Indian will be published this spring by Holland Advisors in Kansas City. Youth, which supports cultural programs House Press. She lives in Columbia, Mo., and provides health and housing assis- where she works as a writing tutor. John, c’69, and Beth Donhowe tance for Native American communities. B. Lynn Pascoe, c’64, a diplomat with 69 Callaghan, ’71, make their home in Kelly Rankin, d’62, EdD’75, was more than 40 years of service with the San Antonio. inducted into the USA Track and Field United Nations and the U.S. Foreign Ann Kaiser Evans, d’69, is a regional Ocials Hall of Fame. An ocial for 40 Service, received an Alumni Distinguished program manager for KU’s Osher Lifelong years, he was a starter for Kansas Relays Achievement Award from the College of Learning Institute. She makes her home in and head starter for the Olympics in 1984 Liberal Arts and Sciences. He and Diana Lawrence. and 1996. He and Janice Cook Rankin, Wolfmeyer Pascoe, ’65, live in Alexandria, Va. Gary Erlich, j’70, is president of Martha Zimmermann Thywissen, c’64, 70 Erlich Communications in San School Codes Letters that follow names published a historical novel, Prussian Diego. indicate the school from which alumni earned Cadenza, written by her late husband, Joe, degrees. Numbers show their class years. g’64. Martha makes her home in Sagle, Gregory Gorman, ’71, owns Gorman a School of Architecture, Idaho. 71 Photography in Los Angeles. He won Design and Planning the 2013 Professional Photographers of b School of Business Fima Lifshitz, m’65, joined the America Lifetime Achievement Award c College of Liberal Arts 65 board of trustees of Sansum earlier this year. and Sciences Diabetes Research Institute. He’s president d School of Education Mohan Jain, e School of Engineering of Pediatric Sunshine Academics in Santa g’72, retired as presi- f School of Fine Arts Barbara, Calif. 72 dent of India Development Coali- g Master’s Degree tion of America, which he founded several h School of Health Professions Webster, c’66, and Joan Gilpin years ago. Mohan and his wife, Leela, live j School of Journalism 66 Golden, b’67, were recognized in Willowbrook, Ill. l School of Law earlier this year by the Lawrence Chamber m School of Medicine of Commerce with the Citizen of the Years Robert Totten, j’73, is vice president n School of Nursing p School of Pharmacy Award. Web is a partner in the Lawrence 73 of the Kansas Contractors Associa- PharmD School of Pharmacy law rm of Stevens & Brand, and Joan is tion in Topeka, where he and Bonnie s School of Social Welfare senior vice president at U.S. Bank. Bloom Totten, g’84, make their home. u School of Music DE Doctor of Engineering Sandy Buda, d’67, g’75, was Lawrence Deyton, c’74, became a DMA Doctor of Musical Arts 67 inducted this spring into the Omaha 74 clinical professor of medicine at EdD Doctor of Education Sports Hall of Fame. Sandy played football George Washington University, where he’s PhD Doctor of Philosophy (no letter) Former student and baseball for KU and was an assistant also a professor of health policy. His home assoc Associate member of the for coach Pepper Rodgers in the 1960s. is in Washington, D.C. Alumni Association Nancy Schroll Buda, d’68, g’69, has taught John Gurche, c’74, g’79, an artist whose at Millard North High School and helped work has appeared on magazine covers
50 | KANSAS ALUMNI Future Jayhawks MEMBERSHIP Ages 0-18
Kids, grandkids, friends, nieces and nephews can be members of the Alumni Association! Future Jayhawks will receive an exclusive, KU themed gift upon annual renewal. They will also receive a special birthday card from Baby Jay, newsletters, and other goodies to keep them connected to KU traditions! Just $15 for members and $20 for non-members.
Sign up today! Call 800-584-2957 or visit www.kualumni.org Class Notes
and in television documentaries by their home in Overland Park. High School for many years. He teaches National Geographic, the Smithsonian and Dale Boger, c’75, chairs the department history at Blue Valley West High School in the BBC, received an Alumni Distin- of chemistry at Scripps Research Institute Overland Park. guished Achievement Award from the in La Jolla, Calif. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He Charles Boyd, c’75, g’76, a retired U.S. Charles Babb Jr., a’78, directs lives in Trumansburg, N.Y. Air Force four-star general and Starr 78 Trinity One Group in Littleton, Susan Hickey Lindahl, d’74, g’92, is Distinguished National Security Fellow Colo. executive vice president of administration at the Center for National Interest, Arlie Campbell Bryant, EdD’78, is a at Baker University in Baldwin City. She received an Alumni Distinguished professor of education at Lonestar College and her husband, Paul, make their home Achievement Award from the College in e Woodlands, Texas. She and her in Overland Park. of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He lives in husband, John, live in Spring. Falls Church, Va. Susan Innes Shanklin, c’78, recently Janet Fisher, d’75, makes her home in became general counsel and director of Salina with her husband, Rick. human resources and corporate compli- ance at the Mental Health Association of Daphna Ben-Chaim, d’76, is an New York City. She and her husband, 76 academic adviser at the University Greg, ’79, live in Brooklyn. of Iowa in Iowa City. MARRIED Paul Carttar, c’76, is a partner in the Scott Davies, a’79, a retired Martha Hyten Sullivan, b’74, and Bridgespan Group in New York City. 79 architect, makes his home in Hot Kenneth Recchia, Sept. 2. Martha is a David Fields, b’76, manages a JC Penney Springs, Ark., with his wife, Jeanette. health and life insurance agent in Dallas. store in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he and Leslie Guild Kelly, j’79, edits the Central Carol Yarnevich Fields, j’76, live. Kitsap Reporter and the Bremerton Gregg Barner, b’75, e’75, is retired Paul Stuewe, g’76, g’79, was named to Patriot. She makes her home in Bainbridge 75 from a career with Honeywell. He the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame. He lives Island, Wash. and Geralynn Behm Barner, n’86, make in Lawrence, where he taught at Lawrence Mary Lawson, c’79, is a digital media
52 | KANSAS ALUMNI archivist for Fox News and Business in Cynthia Frogley Norton, c’81, l’84, was Joseph Moore, c’83, works as a New York City, where she lives. appointed a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the 83 senior management analyst for the Western District of Missouri. She and her U.S. Department of Veterans Aairs in Tammy Courter, j’81, edits the Fort husband, George, g’68, make their home Washington, D.C. He and his wife, 81 Scott Tribune. in Lawrence. Claudia, live in Fredericksburg, Va. Je« Diekmann, ’81, was inducted into John Ryan, m’81, is medical director of John Whitbread, c’83, is a senior clinical the Missouri High School Baseball AseraCare Hospice and has a geriatric and science liaison for Vivus Inc. in Sayville, Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He family medical practice. He and his wife, N.Y. teaches and is head baseball coach at Lee’s Jill, assoc., live in Marysville. Summit North High School in Lee’s Phillip Clampitt, PhD’84, was Summit, Mo. MARRIED 84 installed as a Blair Chair professor Dennis Logan, c’81, is senior program Kevin Johnson, c’82, and Sheryl at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, manager of Patrona Corp. He and his wife, 82 Cherry, ’95, Dec. 31 in Lawrence, where he’s a professor of information and Lisa, live in Dawsonville, Ga. where they live. computing science.
PROFILE by Chris Lazzarino HAM CH EAT Y MEL
Even North Korea opens S COURTE Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo for compassionate surgeon and the former Eastern Bloc. A er completing his neurosurgical eurosurgeon Mel Cheatham has residency and a year as a National Insti- Ntraveled the world many times over tutes of Health postdoctoral fellow, to deliver medical care to people in need, Cheatham intended to stay at KU Medical yet in his heart his mission always circles Center as an administrator and surgeon. back to where it began: the KU School of But a California seaside locale beckoned, Medicine, where he trained under dean and in 1967 the Cheathams settled in and future chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe. Ventura, where Mel joined two other “He said everyone who has been neurosurgeons in private practice. He successful in the rst half of life, if given a joined UCLA as a clinical professor in long life and good health, should change 1983, and in the late 1980s stepped down direction and do it all over again,” to dedicate himself full time to volunteer Mel and Sylvia Cheatham have enjoyed the Cheatham, m’59, g’65, recalls from his medical service around the world. “honor and privilege and responsibility” of Rancho Mirage, Calif., home. “So then “For people of my vintage,” Cheatham caring for sick and injured people in more than comes the question, ‘What are you going says, “it was never about money. It was 40 war-torn and developing countries. to do with the rest of your life?’ An always a matter of feeling that it was an important thing one can do is to give your important calling to be a doctor and to be life away in service to others. Life becomes able to help people when they were sick or chief operating ocer of Samaritan’s full when you begin to give it away.” injured or in need.” Purse, “and everything else good about Along with his wife and dedicated In 1997, the Rev. Franklin Graham, him, his servant’s heart and humility, travel companion, Sylvia, Cheatham has Samaritan’s Purse president, asked comes through to get the job done.” given over his second chapter in service to Cheatham to make his rst trip to famine- In recognition of his lifetime of service World Medical Mission, a branch of the stricken North Korea. He has returned 24 to others, Cheatham in May was awarded evangelical Christian relief organization times, and by Graham’s estimation the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Samaritan’s Purse. Since their rst trip, to a Cheatham has probably made more trips “Opportunities,” Cheatham says, “are teaching hospital in South Korea in 1985, into the closed country than any other U.S. there for all of us, at any point, with any the Cheathams have worked extensively in citizen. degree of education or background or both Kenya and North Korea, as well as “He has the credibility over there to get experience, to make a dierence in the such war-torn and beleaguered sites as the door open,” says Ron Wilcox, interim lives of other people.”
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 53 Class Notes
Edward Hubert, c’84, g’02, manages Richard St. Clair Jr., c’86, was promoted care unit at St. Luke’s Mid-America Heart Kansas City operations for Solar Side Up to vice president of commercialization at Institute in Kansas City. She and her in Kansas City. He and his wife, Gayle, live Evogen Inc. in Overland Park. He and his husband, Mike, b’87, live in Prairie Village. in Parkville, Mo. wife, Tari, live in Stilwell. Robert Rebein, c’88, wrote Dragging Pamela Swedlund, c’86, works as a Wyatt Earp: A Personal History of Dodge William Gallagher, g’85, recently senior human-resource generalist at City, published by Swallow Press. He and 85 became vice president of the West Invista in Wichita, where she lives. Alyssa Chase Rebein, c’89, make their Coast oce of the Independent Commu- Rosemarie Truglio, g’86, PhD’90, is home in Indianapolis. nity Bankers of America in Santa Monica, senior vice president of education and Calif., where he makes his home. research at Sesame Workshop, where she is Je«rey Amen, g’89, senior director responsible for developing the interdisci- 89 of SunGard Availability Services, Amy Brown, c’86, j’86, directs plinary curriculum on which Sesame lives in Centennial, Colo., with his wife, 86 agriculture and environmental Street is based. She received an Alumni Roberta. management for Santa Clara County. She Distinguished Achievement Award from Jon Gelhaus, PhD’89, is a professor and makes her home in San Jose, Calif. the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. curator of entomology at Drexel Univer- Sister Kathleen Dueber, g’86, recently Rosemarie and her husband, Steven sity’s Academy of Natural Sciences in celebrated 50 years as an Ursuline Sister. Brown, live in New York City. Philadelphia. He and his wife, Evalyn, live She lives in Maple Mount, Ky., and is a in Voorhees, N.J. member of the Ursuline leadership council Kevin O’Connor, j’87, l’92, recently Matthew Hickam, c’89, is president of and the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. 87 became city attorney of Derby. He Hickam Public Aairs in Topeka, where he Joseph. and Jennifer Stiles O’Connor, c’87, g’91, and Stacey Cook Hickam, c’91, live. Susan McBride, j’86, wrote e Truth make their home in Wichita. About Love and Lightning, a novel that was named a Midwest Connections Pick. She Michelle Junk Haines, n’88, g’92, and her husband, Ed Spitznagel, live in 88 m’03, recently was named medical Brentwood, Mo. director of the cardiovascular intensive-
54 | KANSAS ALUMNI Michael LaPoint, c’89, recently became make their home in St. Louis. Nelson Jackson, j’90, live in Alexandria, chief meteorologist at WOWT Channel 6 Va. She’s a nancial assistant with the in Omaha, Neb. Randy Anglen, l’91, was elected to National Military Family Association. Lisa Newcomer Vail, g’89, g’11, is chief 91 his 10th term as municipal judge of nursing ocer and vice president of Hollister, Mo. He recently wrote and Carey Mills Federspiel, d’92, a patient-care services at Bryan Medical published Kidnapped to South America: 92 children’s author and illustrator, Center. She lives in Kearney, Mo. e Story of My Son’s Abduction. released her rst picture book, Frankie: Donald Frew, e’91, is deputy director of e Untold Story of an Itsy-Bitsy Spider. Robert Ogren, c’90, directs sales the Reconnaissance Systems Program Carey and her husband, Fred, live in 90 and marketing at Chad Equipment Oce. He’s a U.S. Air Force lieutenant Larchmont, N.Y. in Olathe. He and his wife, Colleen, live in colonel, and lives in Bristow, Va., with John Kuhn, c’92, works as an IT princi- Mission. Melissa Schneider Frew, n’90. pal leader for CSC. He makes his home in David Peacock, j’90, is chairman of Col. Sean Jackson, e’91, serves as a U.S. Shawnee. Sho Me Smoothie. He and his wife, Jane, Air Force program manager. He and Cindy Stephene Donohoo Moore, n’92, was
PROFILE by Kate Lorenz TEVE BARRETT S
New evaluations help students improve when Gregory help D.C. teachers compared with similarly situated students. e nna Gregory, a human-resources teachers are then treated Aadministrator in the Washington, dierently based on the D.C., school district, used to imagine evaluations: Great herself working in the foreign service. She teachers are paid more, interned with the U.S. State Department struggling teachers and went to graduate school with an eye receive professional toward international policy. But two years development, and teaching h-graders through Teach For poor performers are America pulled her in another direction. moved out. Anna Gregory, chief of sta¥ for human capital for Washington, “It’s dicult to have an impact on any is signaled a change D.C., schools, says recruitment and evaluation of teachers are key social change, but it seemed harder in from the previous “widget another country, where I wouldn’t know eect,” as named in an to classroom success. the culture or the language,” says Gregory, education-policy study, c’05. “I felt better able to make a dierence where each teacher in my classroom than across the globe.” functioned as a gear in A er earning a master’s degree at the machine. Now that teacher evaluations on teachers in their third or fourth year of Princeton, Gregory returned to the have been in place for several years, teaching who have proven track records.” District of Columbia Public Schools. Gregory says, most DCPS employees see Gregory doesn’t plan a return to the DCPS was launching new teacher perfor- the system as fair. Teachers know the classroom, but she would like to stay in the mance evaluations that focused on student standards by which they’ll be evaluated eld, continuing to improve U.S. public achievement. Gregory was eager to work and principals have more control over who education. on a policy that set high expectations for works in their schools. “Not only is education the only thing I teachers and rewarded the great ones; a er Since being promoted to chief of sta think is going to make a dierence in her own classroom experience, she for human capital, Gregory oversees not ending the cycle of poverty, but it is also understood what a dierence the quality just the evaluation system, but also the most optimistic eld to work in. I of a teacher can make. recruitment, compensation and human believe in the power and responsibility of In the new system, which Gregory resources. public schools, and I’m con dent we will implemented as director of operations, “We’re expanding the team to do more close the achievement gap in D.C.” teacher performance is evaluated both focused recruitment outside of the D.C. —Lorenz, c’05, is a Lawrence through observation and how much area,” she explains. “And we’re honing in freelance writer
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 55 Class Notes appointed Region VII director of the U.S. Medical Center in Atlanta. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. She and her MARRIED husband, former U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, Robert Leeman, c’95, g’98, to c’67, have a home in Lenexa. 95 Johnna Semmer, Nov. 10 in St. Arthur Tsubaki, b’92, c’92, is vice Simons Island, Ga. ey live in Nashville, president of sales at Ispen USA in Cherry Tenn., where Robert is planning manager Valley, Ill., where he and his wife, Mariah, market manager for Graybar Electric. for the city. make their home. Rick Slade, c’93, recently became superintendent of the Monocacy National Jennifer Hartung Curtiss, b’96, is a Tyrone Borders, c’93, has become a Battle eld in Frederick, Md. He had been 96 nancial operations specialist for 93 professor and chair of the depart- chief of planning and resource manage- the U.S. Department of Health and ment of health services management at the ment at the Chattahoochee River National Human Services. She and her husband, University of Kentucky in Lexington, Recreation Area in Atlanta. Matt, live in Kansas City. where he and his wife, Liz, live. John Wuycheck, b’93, is vice president Lane Czaplinski, c’93, is artistic director of franchise development for Dustin Bopp, a’97, serves as presi- of On the Boards, which won a national Edible Arrangements. He and his wife, 97 dent of the St. Louis chapter of the award last year for innovative program- Anne, live in Scottsdale, Ariz. American Institute of Architects. He is a ming. He lives in Seattle. principal at Bopp Architecture. Daniel Deaver, e’93, directs manufactur- Travis Foxx, c’94, m’00, is an Christine Conroy, p’97, has been ing for Georgia Gulf Sulfur in Valdosta, 94 anesthesiologist at Premier Anes- promoted to senior vice president of Ga., where he and Laura Gwillim-Deaver, thesia and Pain. He and his wife, Whitney, regulatory aairs and quality assurance at c’91, g’94, make their home. make their home in Overland Park with Aymax Inc. in Palo Alto, Calif. Lisa Collins Reed, e’93, is a founding their children, Brock, 6; Beckham, 4; Matthew Copeland, d’97, g’00, g’01, principal at Envision Lighting Design in Addia, 2; and Kate, 1. works as a Lexile curriculum specialist at Lake Saint Louis, Mo., where she lives with Christopher Locke, c’94, recently MetaMetrics. He and Lara Squyres her husband, Todd, b’94. He’s national became chief operating ocer at Atlanta Copeland, d’04, g’06, live in Topeka.
56 | KANSAS ALUMNI
Andrew Graham, c’97, directs Foland, Wickens, Eisfelder, Roper & Hofer sheet-metal restoration and the history of marketing and events for the Downtown in Kansas City, where she lives with her automotive design at McPherson College. Overland Park Partnership. husband, Charles, a’97. Jessica Stites Mor, c’98, is an assistant Curt Lindeman, l’97, is co-founder, professor of history at the University of president and CEO of eGreenCars.com in BORN TO: British Columbia-Okanaga. She edited Solana Beach, Calif., where he and Cheryl Marjory Eisenman, c’97, son, Noah Human Rights and Transnational Solidar- Hagemann Lindeman, l’97, live with their Alexander, June 17 in Alexandria, Va., ity in Cold War Latin America, published daughter, Hagen, 3. where she’s director of student success at by the University of Wisconsin Press. Beverly Barnes Quinn, c’97, works as a Marymount University. Jason Dawdy Stein, c’98, co-wrote More marketing specialist for Turner Construc- an ey Bargained For: Scott Walker, tion in Boston. She and her husband, Tom, Edward Barr, g’98, wrote Profes- Unions and the Fight for Wisconsin. Jason live in Nahant. 98 sional Sheet Metal Fabrication, is a statehouse reporter for the Milwaukee Jacqueline Barber Sexton, c’97, l’00, has published by Quayside Publishing Group. Journal Sentinel. He and his wife, become a principal at the law rm of He lives in McPherson, where he teaches Amanda, live in Madison.
PROFILE by Lydia Benda SCO Y ANNIE TEDE
Recognizable Lawrencian Cold War era while accurately portraying S COURTE breaks out in lead role some of the memorable aspects of the early ’60s: the hair, the “duck and cover” f her face seems familiar, Annie drills in classrooms, and the cars. ITedesco’s many guest roles in TV might “Beth” may be her rst starring role, but be the reason. She has appeared in shows Tedesco acted in Lawrence as a child and including “Modern Family,” “Bones” and later as a member of the local Seem-To-Be “ e Mentalist.” She’s also the quirky girl Players children’s theatre group. Shortly trying to nd just the right purple paint on a er completing her psychology degree, the Ace Hardware commercial, and she’s a she joined the famed comedy troupe e voice for the CW Network. is spring, Groundlings in Los Angeles. Her third Tedesco, c’01, landed her rst starring role, audition in L.A. landed her a spot in a in a new series called “Granite Flats,” and Burger King commercial, which launched (at least according to her mother) this is her career. only the beginning. “I guess it was just my Her upbringing perhaps increased her time to get something,” she says. chances. Her mother, Susan Gronbeck- One of Annie Tedesco’s favorite aspects of her “Granite Flats,” which premiered April 7 Tedesco, associate vice provost for role in “Granite Flats” transports viewers on BYUtv, is a family-friendly, eight-epi- international programs, has a doctorate in straight to 1962: “I love my car! It is this big ol’ sode Cold War suspense drama that tells lm; her father, John Gronbeck-Tedesco, is station wagon situation with three on the tree,” the story of single mother Beth Milligan a theatre professor and graduate director she says. “I’m lucky I was a good driver’s ed (Tedesco) and her young son, Arthur, as of the department of theatre. “As much as I student.” they rebuild their lives in a new town a er didn’t want his in uence in life, he’s the death of Arthur’s father, who served in probably pretty much solely responsible the Air Force. for what I do,” Tedesco says with a laugh. “I get to play a nurse in the 1960s, when “Movies and theatre were a huge part of Tedesco has returned to auditioning for it was exciting to be involved in science my life and just having his colleagues, commercials and other shows while she because a lot was happening,” Tedesco other theatre professors, over for dinner waits to see whether “Granite Flats” gets says. “I also get to be a mom in the ’60s, and listening to them talk, and watching picked up for a second season. “My grand which was just kind of a ripe time of social all of their shows—because I had to see ambitions are just to be able to keep change.” everything, of course, that was the working,” she says. “ ey used to be much “Granite Flats” is based on actual, rule—that taught me a lot,” she says. larger. I wanted to y back to Lawrence in little-known U.S. military intelligence Shooting the rst season of “Granite a helicopter or something, but now I’d like events and touches on the neuroses of the Flats” wrapped in March, so for now to just keep working.”
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 59 Class Notes
Andrew Loos, c’99, was appointed husband, Paul Lewis, make their home in 99 to the Young Entrepreneur Council Egg Harbor City. in Los Angeles, where he’s co-founder Patrick Sterner, c’99, g’04, works as a of Attack! Marketing. solution architect and clinic coordinator at Murnane, s’04, daughter, Nella Jo, Jan. 30 Rebecca Morsch, m’99, received the Dr. EMC. He and his wife, Katherine Erm- in Lawrence, where she joins a brother, Nathan Davis International Award in godts, live in Kansas City. Lincoln, 4, and a sister, Elsie, 2. Jason is a Medicine earlier this year from the Dawn Wormington Williams, d’99, is an regional sales manager for Cargotec USA American Medical Association. She’s optometrist at Garden City Optometrists. in Ottawa, and Sue is a policy and contract director of community-based health care She and her husband, Charles, d’00, live in specialist for KVC Behavioral Health Care. at the Nazarene Health Ministry in Papua Garden City, where he’s a pysical therapist New Guinea. at Synergy Physical erapy & Wellness. Andrew Willis, e’01, recently became Michael Payne, c’99, l’07, is a senior 01 a partner in the Lincoln, Neb., rm associate at Otis, Coan & Peters in Fort Diana Krizman Bailey, c’00, was Cline Williams. Collins, Colo., and serves on the Commu- 00 named the 2013 Lawrence School nity Foundation. He and Brooke Warde District Elementary Teacher of the Year. MARRIED Payne, c’00, g’07, live in Windsor. She teaches h grade at Deer eld Elizabeth Blake, c’02, l’05, to Kyle T.J. Pugh, c’99, is a radiation oncologist Elementary School in Lawrence, where she 02 Handley, Oct. 27 in Prairie Village. and an assistant professor at the University and her husband, James, make their home. ey live in Ann Arbor, where Kyle is an of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Susan Rickman, a’00, works as a assistant professor of business economics Houston, where he and Amy Kipper Pugh, massage therapist at Just Massage. She and and public policy at the University of c’99, make their home. her husband, Robert Heidrick, ’01, live in Michigan. Betsy is a law clerk for a judge Kyle Roehler, l’99, was elected a princi- Lawrence, where he’s a master technician on the U.S. Court of Appeals. pal in the Kansas City law rm of Foland, at Ancona Honda. Jordan Cochran, j’02, c’02, and Lauren Wickens, Eisfelder, Roper & Hofer. Moore, j’09, c’08, Dec. 8 in Kansas City, Amy Schmidt, c’99, is a parent educator BORN TO: where they live. Jordan is a group for BCCAP in Burlington, N.J. She and her Jason, e’00, g’05, and Sue Ruder account director for VML, where
60 | KANSAS ALUMNI Lauren works in account management. Christopher Martin, c’03, a visual eects in Barney & Barney’s property and supervisor at Stargate Studios in South casualty group in San Diego. Tanner Fortney, c’03, g’09, moved Pasadena, Calif., received an Alumni Susan Hochman, d’04, is assistant 03 from El Paso, Texas, to Kansas City, Distinguished Achievement Award from director for health promotion and public where he’s a senior management analyst the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. information at University Health Services for Johnson County. Debra Kruger Smith, c’03, works as a at the University of Texas at Austin. Travis Go«, c’03, j’03, recently became marketing analyst at Intouch Solutions in Hannah Reynolds, c’04, is a postdoctoral deputy director of athletics for develop- Overland Park. She and her husband, researcher at the University of Akron in ment at Northwestern University. He and Alexander, ’06, live in Shawnee. He’s a Akron, Ohio. She lives in Barberton. his wife, Nancy, live in Evanston, Ill. claims adjustor for Foremost Insurance. Nathan White, l’04, has been named Suzanne Penny Hall, l’03, is vice senior vice president and chief operating president of Country Club Trust Co. Steven Fisk, b’04, was named a ocer at Sanford Health, eective next She and her husband, Scott, g’05, l’05, 04 Power Broker winner by Business year. He and his wife, Annette, live in live in Mission Hills. Insurance. He’s a principal and executive Sioux Falls, S.D.
PROFILE by Lydia Benda LEE
“I hope it sells well, but basically, I would just Y MARL ENE like it to be loved by the readers,” Lee says of
Steadfast author written in her S COURTE The Absent Woman. “If you’re writing because makes good on goals 30-year career you need to write, you need to express things, as an unpub- you need to clarify your life, you need to clarify lished author. others’ lives, you can’t stop writing. Even arlene Loyd Lee celebrated her 74th It’s also the only if you might want to.” Mbirthday April 8 with the publica- one she wrote tion of her rst novel, e Absent Woman, on a stenotype a er recently completing her third college machine, a degree, a master’s degree in ne arts from souvenir from College, Holland House Books picked up Brooklyn College. She began the graduate her many years as a court reporter in e Absent Woman. “Holland House is program at age 70. San Francisco and New York. (Even such a good publisher and I have such a “I would say that in a way I am like e though she can type shorthand on the good editor. I am so happy with the Absent Woman,” says Lee, g’64. “I am machine, “the ideas don’t come any publishing process,” Lee says. usually interested in changing if neces- quicker,” she says.) Holland House also plans to publish sary—growing. I really have made changes Lee hoped her move east would better some of her previous works, including in my life, and I am not afraid to continue her chances of publication—but publishers three mystery novellas under the title doing that as long as my health holds out.” still would not bite. As she continued to ree Blind Mice and a collection of short Her novel is somewhat autobiographical write, she attended classes and summer stories called Rebecca’s Road Trip. with “many, many imagined elaborations,” conferences: “I tried to take lessons and Lee maintains her New York apartment Lee says. e Absent Woman tells the story advice, but I also developed kind of a for book readings and getaways, but she of Virginia Johnstone, a wife and mother tough skin, because you hear a lot of now lives near family members in Colum- who leaves her husband and her comfort- advice that isn’t good. You have to believe bia, Mo., where she tutors students in the able life in Seattle in search of something in yourself,” she says. Ultimately she chose writing center at the University of Mis- more. She nds a room in a nearly graduate school, con dent that her age souri. She advises her students “to keep abandoned hotel and meets a would prove an asset. “I was writing. I got very discouraged at dierent retired concert pianist who certainly, of course, the oldest points, but I just kept writing,” she says. revives her love of piano. “She person in the class, but I was treated “ ere aren’t too many people who will ends up experiencing a lot of well and I learned a great deal,” she write for 30 years persistently without very surprise, pain and bene ts,” says. She earned her bachelor’s much encouragement. I would say my Lee says. degree from Kansas Wesleyan con dence grew over the years as I saw e Absent Woman is one University before nishing her myself not giving up and I felt like my of the 11 novels and numer- master’s in English at KU. writing was getting better. But,” she adds, ous short stories Lee has Shortly a er her stint at Brooklyn “I am glad I kept my day job.”
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 61 Class Notes
MARRIED Lawrence Journal-World. Louise studies in Lawrence. Aaron directs development Elizabeth Saylor, c’04, to Christopher for a doctorate in creative writing at KU. for Tradewind Energy, and Ashley is a Davis, Nov. 9 in Charleston, S.C. ey live member service associate at MeriTrust in Atlanta, where she’s a major-gi s ocer MARRIED Credit Union. at Children’s Healthcare and he’s CEO of Ken Chang, b’05, g’08, and Whitney KBD Development. Eriksen, j’08, c’08, March 9 in Kansas City, Kevin Watson, g’06, is city admin- Tricia Williamson, b’04, to Derek where they live. Ken is a business systems 06 istrator of Vadnais Heights, Minn. Halstead, Oct. 11 in Maui, Hawaii. ey analyst for Blue Cross & Blue Shield, and Kathleen Andrews Fisher, l’06, has been live in Topeka, where she works for HF Whitney coordinates special programs for promoted to a partner in the Kansas City Rubber Machinery and he works at People to People International. law rm of Graves Bartle Marcus & Concrete Unlimited. Christy McCormick, c’05, and Brian Garrett. Imel, ’06, Dec. 7 in Lawrence, where they Timothy Davey, b’05, is senior key live. She’s an environmental scientist for BORN TO: 05 account manager for DH Pace the state of Kansas, and he’s a maintenance Angela Errante Hartshorn, n’06, and Company. He and his wife, Diana Sperger, technician at ICL Performance Products. Ben, son, Jonathan Bradley, March 13 in g’07, PhD’11, live in San Mateo, Calif. Adam Wessel, j’05, and Kelly Warren, Lenexa, where he joins a sister, McKinley, Louise Stau«er Krug, j’05, g’09, wrote ’10, Oct. 20 in Kansas City. He teaches who will be 2 June 6. Angela is a neonatal Louise Amended: A Memoir, which was English and coaches golf at Mill Valley intensive care nurse at Shawnee Mission named one of the best books of 2012 by High School in Shawnee, and she coordi- Medical Center. Publishers Weekly. Louise and her nates high-school curriculum for the De Kristen Van Saun Toner, l’06, and Ryan, husband, Nick, j’01, live in Lawrence, Soto school district. ey make their son, Max Brennan, Feb. 24 in Lawrence, where he’s a sta photographer for the home in Overland Park. where he joins a sister, Grace, 2. Kristen is law development director at KU Endow- BORN TO: ment, where Ryan is an investment Aaron, e’05, and Ashley Denneler specialist. Weigel, c’08, son, Archer Grayson, Dec. 23 Toni Argueta Witt, p’06, and Jason, ’10,
62 | KANSAS ALUMNI son, Grayson Leroy, Feb. 16 in Lawrence. Lawrence, where they live. Stephani is Van Norman in Rapid City, S.D., where Toni is a pharmacy manager at Hy-Vee, assistant director of KU’s Williams she and her husband, Jared, e’09, make and Jason supervises service for Knology. Education Fund, and Robert is an account their home. He’s a structural EIT with representative for New Paradigm Imaging Albertson Engineering. Scott Baker, b’07, directs Highland in Lenexa. Megan He¯ey Spreer, j’08, is a social 07 Capital Management in Dallas. media specialist for the World Company Collin Bielser, c’08, g’10, g’12, is city in Lawrence, where she and her husband, MARRIED 08 clerk and community-development Aaron, make their home. Jessica Babcock, b’07, to Curtis Wood, director for Baldwin City. He and Hali Oct. 20 in Danforth Chapel. Jessica is chief Baker Bielser, c’09, j’09, live in Eudora. Natalie Bazan, g’09, directs the nancial ocer for Cottonwood, and Jennifer McCarty, c’08, coordinates 09 Hopkins District Library in Curtis is a eld engineer with AT&T. ey member bene ts for the National Society Hopkins, Mich. She recently was awarded make their home in Lawrence. of Collegiate Scholars in Washington, the American Library Association’s Demco Kelly Campbell, c’07, and Jacob Jones, D.C., where she makes her home. New Leaders Grant. ’08, Sept. 29 in Eudora. She’s a sales Jason McGlynn, b’08, works as a Mario Chalmers, ’09, a professional coordinator for Holland 1916, and he’s a nancial analyst for New eld Exploration. basketball player for the Miami Heat, was sales representative for Cropper Enter- He makes his home in Bixby, Okla. honored earlier this year when his No. 15 prises. ey live in Prairie Village. Joseph Presswood, e’08, g’12, is a civil jersey was retired during hal ime of the Lisa Matchulat, e’07, g’09, and Michael and railroad designer at Hanson Profes- KU-Texas game in Allen Field House. Briggs, g’08, Sept. 8 in Kansas City. Lisa is sional Services in Kansas City. He lives in Christopher Grover, b’09, l’12, works as a structural engineer with Genesis Lawrence. a legislative correspondent for U.S. Sen. Structures, and Michael is a bridge Morgan Sayler, p’08, is a clinical Pat Roberts. Christopher makes his home engineer at HNTB. ey live in Shawnee. assistant professor of pharmacy at the in Washington, D.C. University of Iowa in Iowa City. She lives Paul He«eron, b’09, is an associate BORN TO: in Indianola. account manager for Lockton Companies Stephani Heider Boyd, d’07, g’09, and Marli Smoot Schippers, c’08, is an in Kansas City. He lives in Mission. Robert, ’08, son, Henry Robert, Feb. 6 in associate attorney with Nonney Solay & Sasha Roe Kuchinski, c’09, j’09, recently
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 63 Class Notes
associate with the litigation group of rst-year teachers. Fish & Richardson in Washington, D.C. Joshua Rauch, g’10, was appointed deputy economic development adminis- Bret Brown, d’10, directs St. Joseph trator for the city of Spring eld, Ohio. He 10 ASC. He and Erin Fisher Brown, lives in Bellbrook. became a corporate communications d’07, g’10, live in Gardner. Laura Towers, c’10, manages sales representative at Intrust Bank. She and her Dustin Damme, e’10, is a drilling service for US Bank in Des Moines. She husband, Michael, e’10, live in Derby. engineer for Quicksilver Resources in Fort lives in Dallas Center, Iowa. Heather Bachelor Makarewicz, g’09, Worth, Texas, where he makes his home. Jessica Wothke, s’10, is site supervisor received the 2012 Young Alumni Award Joshua Decker, c’10, joined the Topeka for Communities in Schools in Lawrence, from Olivet Nazarene University in law rm of Coman, DeFries & Nothern where she makes her home. Bourbonnais Ill., where she is an adjunct as an associate attorney. professor. Heather and her husband, Heather Johnston, j’10, is an account MARRIED Joseph, g’09, live in Germantown Hills executive at Yelp Inc. She lives in Scotts- Mary Duarte, c’10, and Eric Thibault, with their children, Scarlette and Berenger. dale, Ariz. c’10, March 22 in Kansas City, where they Emilee Miller, j’09, manages accounts Aubrey Mantel, b’10, works as an live. Mary studies medicine at KU Medical for Intouch Solutions in Chicago. accountant/analyst for Flint Hills Center, and Eric studies at the Cleveland Nicholas Oldfather, d’09, g’12, coordi- Resources. She lives in Bel Aire. Chiropractic Center. nates corporate partnership development Alyssa Auld Meyer, d’10, g’11, teaches for Palace Sports and Entertainment and physics at Mill Valley High School in James Buddig, b’11, is district sales the Detroit Pistons. He lives in Pontiac, Shawnee, where she and her husband, 11 manager for Carl Buddig & Co. in Mich. Joseph, e’12, make their home. He works Matthews, N.C. He lives in Charlotte. Diana Taylor, c’09, g’12, works as a for Henderson Engineers in Overland Jessica Gowen, d’11, g’13, teaches with management analyst at Roberts Business Park. Alyssa recently received a Kansas Success Academies in Harlem. She lives in Associates in Tulsa, Okla. Cable Telecommunications Horizon New York City. Samuel Thompson, e’09, c’09, is an Award, which recognizes exemplary Ashley Mabrey, c’11, is an assistant
64 | KANSAS ALUMNI teacher at the Opportunity Project-South in Wichita, where she lives. William McChesney, c’11, manages accounts for Hewlett-Packard. He makes his home in Conway, Ark. Jacob Muselmann, j’11, edits copy for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He lives in Milwaukee. Jennifer Nyberg, c’11, is assistant manager of Famous Footwear in Garden City, where she makes her home. Alyson Smith, b’11, works as a recruit- ment administrator for Gentiva Health Services in Overland Park.
MARRIED Frank Basgall, l’11, and Jessica Daniel, l’11, Sept. 8 in Wichita, where they live. He’s an attorney with the law rm of Martin, Pringle, and she’s a child-welfare attorney at St. Francis Community Services. Brian Ortega, c’11, and Emily Leiker, ’11, Jan. 19 in Lawrence. ey make their home in Wichita, where Brian is a geologist with GSI Engineering, and Emily
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 65 Class Notes
is assistant manager of Commerce in Baton Rouge, La. Rowe, live in Overland Park. Bancshares. Lauren Maibach, a’12, is art director at Daniel Schae¯er, g’11, and Sarah the Balcom Agency in Fort Worth, Texas. Cole Aldrich, ’13, was traded from Wahle, g’11, Dec. 29 in Washington, Mo. e agency won 41 awards at the Ameri- 13 the Houston Rockets to the Sacra- He is an IT analyst at SSM Healthcare, and can Advertising Federation’s Fort Worth mento Kings basketball team. she’s an architect at Christner. ey make ADDY Awards, and her campaign for Kelsey Cipolla, c’13, j’13, recently their home in Ballwin, Mo. Justin Boots received the Best of Show became an associate editor of Club Award. Lauren lives in Arlington. Industry. She lives in Tulsa, Okla. Julia Barnard, c’12, is a Repair the Marcus Morris, ’12, was traded from the Sameh Elghzali, g’13, manages E1 12 World professional at Texas Hillel in Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns application development for Compass Austin, where she and her partner, Jordan basketball team, where his brother, Minerals International in Overland Park, Wade, g’12, make their home. Markie, ’12, also plays. where he and Rihab Mousa, assoc., live. Dylan Bryant, p’12, serves as chief of Samantha Stultz, j’12, coordinates Thomas Robinson, ’13, was traded from pharmacy services element with the U.S. meeting technology for Bishop-McCann the Sacramento Kings to the Houston Air Force at Beale AFB, Calif. He and Ellen in Kansas City. She lives in Shawnee. Rockets basketball team. Kraus Bryant, c’11, live in Yuba City. Danish Tarar, e’12, works as a reservoir Austin Rowan, b’13, works as a com- Keerthana Devarajan, g’12, is a lab engineer for Berexco in Wichita. modity manager for American Airlines. manager at Stanford University’s Depart- Shelly Howard Urish, c’12, is an He lives in Dallas. ment of Genetics. He makes his home in ad-trac specialist for the Golf Course San Jose, Calif. Superintendents Association of America. John David Hill, b’12, is a nancial She and her husband, Doug, make their adviser for Merrill Lynch in Tampa, Fla. home in Lawrence. Kevin Kemmerly, j’12, works as a Kristi Weaver, m’12, practices obstetrics communications specialist at Our Lady and gynecology with Specialists in of the Lake Regional Medical Center Women’s Care. She and her husband, Lew
66 | KANSAS ALUMNI Wherever you go a er graduation, take the Hill with you!
Featured artists Right: At the Top of the Hill, by Debra Clemente. Below: Clearing Skies Over Mt. Oread, by Gary Ozias.
Adorn your walls with a print from the Campus Gallery
In April of 2008, artists participated in a “plein air” painting event on the Lawrence campus. On that day artists set up easels across Mount Oread and, with paintbrushes in hand, captured the renowned beauty of the KU campus. The result is an amazing body of work rendered in various styles and media. This collection is available through the KU Alumni Association.
The beautiful book, A Spring Day on the Hill features the event, and 14 selected images of campus are available as giclee prints. Association Members receive special pricing 8x10 prints: Non-member $30 | Member $27 | Jayhawk Society or Life $24 11x14 prints: Non-member $55 | Member $50 | Jayhawk Society or Life $44 16x20 prints: Non-member $85 | Member $77 | Jayhawk Society or Life $68 Book: Non-member $35 | Member $32 | Jayhawk Society or Life $28 To order: www.kualumni.org | 800-584-2957
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 67 In Memory and four grandchildren. John Campbell, c’42, m’49, 91, Jan. 25 in Fairway, where he was a retired physi- cian. ree sons survive. Albert Cohen, b’49, 86, Feb. 14 in Harold Hall, e’37, 97, Nov. 22 in by two sons, John, c’57, and Paul, c’61; a Leawood, where he had been president of 30s Louisiana, Mo., where he had daughter, Mary Sloan Mozingo, c’63; nine Fineline Products and former potentate of been a topographical mapmaker for the grandchildren; and 11 the Ararat Shrine. He is survived by his U.S. Department of the Interior and the great-grandchildren. wife, Betty; two sons, Barry, ’77, and Cris, Mid-Continent Mapping Center. He is Hobart “Smitty” Smith, g’33, PhD’36, b’80; and three grandchildren. survived by his wife, Mimi, a son, two 100, March 4 in Boulder, where he was a Joan Darby Edwards, ’42, 92, March 20 daughters and three grandsons. professor emeritus of herpetology at the in Mission Hills, where she was active in John “Jack” Kaiser, ’39, 96, March 12 in University of Colorado. He is survived by many community organizations. She was a Lawrence. He lived in Paola for many a son; a daughter, Sally Smith Nadvornik, 1991 recipient of KU’s Fred Ellsworth years and is survived by two daughters, d’68, g’71; ve grandchildren; and eight Medallion for unique and signi cant Sandy Kaiser Praeger, d’66, and Nancy great-grandchildren. service to the University. A memorial has Kaiser Caplan, d’76, g’82; four grandchil- June Thompson Toland, c’36, 98, Feb. been established with KU Endowment. dren; and three great-grandchildren. 27 in Iola, where she was a legal secretary She is survived by a son, R.A., b’67, g’73; Virgie Fox Pine, c’36, 97, March 12 in for her late husband, Stanley, c’30, l’32, two daughters, Barbara, d’69, and Susan Lawrence, where she had been an elemen- and for former Kansas Gov. Payne Ratner. Edwards Miller, d’72; seven grandchildren; tary teacher and librarian for many years. She is survived by a son, Clyde ompson, and four great-grandchildren. Surviving are two sons, Ronald, c’60, and c’69, l’75; a sister, Lucy ompson Katherine Hall Gates, c’44, 91, Feb. 3 in Richard, c’67; three grandchildren; and McDowell, b’42; a brother, Clyde, b’52; Charleston, W. Va. She owned the Gates/ three great-grandchildren. seven grandchildren; and two Hall farm in Western Kansas and is Mary Edgerton Ranney, c’39, 95, Feb. 5 great-grandchildren. survived by two daughters, a son, seven in Lawrence. She lived in Wichita for grandchildren and three many years, where she owned Sign of the Thomas Ackerman, e’49, 88, Dec. great-grandchildren. Acorn art gallery and had served as a 40s24 in Savannah, Ga., where he was Anne Scott Kiaer, c’48, 85, Oct. 12 in director of the Wichita’s Children’s Home. retired from the Hercules Corp. and had Otnes, Rendalen, Norway. Among She is survived by four sons, Roy, b’70, owned Universal Machine and Fabrica- survivors are three sons, a daughter and a Michael, c’74, David, c’71, and John, f’78, tion. He is survived by his wife, Sybil; four brother. c’81; ve grandchildren; and 10 sons; a daughter; a sister, Barbara Acker- Joanna Wagsta« Kline, c’46, 87, Sept. great-grandchildren. man Fadler, c’50; and three grandchildren. 15 in Cheyenne, Wyo., where she was a Karl Ruppenthal, c’39, l’41, 95, Jan. 13 Harlan Altman Jr., b’43, l’49, 90, Jan. 22 homemaker. She is survived by four sons; in Berkeley, Calif. He was a pilot for TWA in Coppell, Texas. He lived in Wellington a daughter; a brother, Charles Wagsta, for many years and later directed the for many years, where he practiced law. He b’50; and 13 grandchildren. Centre for Transportation Studies at the is survived by a son, Harry, c’74; two Robert Knox, c’41, m’44, 96, Feb. 26 in University of British Columbia in Vancou- brothers, William, c’56, and Richard, c’52, Oro Valley, Ariz., where he was a former ver, Canada. He is survived by his wife, l’55; four grandchildren; and two physician. A son, a daughter and two Josephine, a daughter, two sons, two great-grandchildren. grandchildren survive. granddaughters and six Sally Sandifer Bell, ’48, 86, Jan. 11 in Joan Murray, c’45, 88, Oct. 30 in great-grandchildren. Wichita, where she had been board Sacramento, Calif., where she had worked Alan Sleeper Jr., c’39, l’42, 94, Aug. 19 president of the Wichita Children’s Home for Capitol Nursery and Merchants in Alden, where he was a rancher. He is and was active in community and church National Bank. A cousin survives. survived by his wife, Sara Fair Sleeper, aairs. She is survived by her husband, Albert Ottinger, b’49, 89, Feb. 25 in c’41; a daughter, Barbara Sleeper Hulsizer, Fred, assoc.; a son; two daughters, one of Shawnee Mission, where he was a real- c’68; a son, Jim, c’70; two grandchildren; whom is Nancy Bell Ringer, c’83; a estate investor and broker at Al Ottinger and two great-grandchildren. brother; a sister; and four grandchildren. Real Estate Investments. He is survived by Eldon Sloan, c’31, 103, Dec. 16 in Edward Burns, b’48, 92, Feb. 8 in a son, Dean, ’83; and two grandchildren. Topeka, where he practiced with the law Wichita, where he had owned Burns Marian Thomson Scheirman, j’46, 87, rm of Sloan, Hamilton & Sloan, main- Investment and been president of Beech Jan. 28 in Fort Collins, Colo., where she taining an oce with the rm until 2010. Aircra . A memorial has been established was a freelance writer. A memorial has He was a member of the Kansas Board of with KU Endowment. He is survived by been established with KU Endowment. Regents from 1964 to 1968. He is survived two sons, one of whom is Walter, b’76; She is survived by two sons, one of whom
68 | KANSAS ALUMNI is John, l’82, g’07; two daughters, Kathleen B.H. Born, ’54, 80, Feb. 4 in Peoria, Ill. career with Intrust Bank. Eight nieces and Scheirman Dean, ’92, and Margaret, c’78, He played basketball for coach Phog Allen, nephews survive. g’84; two sisters, Martha omson Nance, and in 1953 he was named the most Mary Pitts Duvall, ’53, 81, Jan. 26 in c’78, and Shirley omson Burbank, d’53; outstanding player in the NCAA tourna- Overland Park. She is survived by her and six grandchildren. ment. His jersey was retired in 1992, and husband, Leland, e’53, g’70; two sons, Ruth Granger Stau«er, c’49, 86, March he was a member of the KU Athletics Hall Steven, b’76, and Greg, b’81; two daugh- 31 in Topeka, where she was co-founder of of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of ters, Stacia Duvall Kemp, ’80, and Carol the Washburn Women’s Alliance. She was Fame. B.H was retired from a 43-year Duvall Jantsch, c’82; 12 grandchildren; and active in community aairs and had served career with Caterpillar Inc. He is survived three great-grandchildren. on the boards of the Mulvane Art Museum, by his wife, Joan Peterka Born, assoc.; two Jack Glenn, b’55, 79, Jan. 7 in Newport the Kansas International Museum, the sons; a sister, Jean Born Young, c’46, s’51; Coast, Calif., where he was a pop-art Topeka Performing Arts Center and KU’s and three grandchildren. collector and a private art dealer. He is Museum of Natural History. A memorial Albert “Ray” Brewer, f’52, 83, Feb. 26 in survived by his wife, Connie White Glenn, has been established with KU Endowment. Lawrence. He lived in Wichita for many f’55; two daughters; a son; a sister, Frances She is survived by her husband, John Sr., years and was an interior designer and Glenn Suderman, c’58; and seven j’49; two sons, one of whom is John Jr., l’79; salesman at House of Carpet. He is grandchildren. a daughter, Mary Stauer Brownback, b’80, survived by two sisters, Elwanda Brewer Thomas Klotz, e’57, 79, Feb. 2 in Olathe, l’83; a sister, Margaret Granger Robinson, Blair, d’48, and Marna Brewer Moore, ’55. where he was a retired mechanical d’51; nine grandchildren; and seven Marjorie Bourland Clark, f’52, 83, Jan. engineer. He is survived by his wife, Gail grandchildren. 31 in Wichita. She is survived by four William Klotz, d’74, g’82, EdD’95; three Russell Taylor, b’49, l’51, 87, Feb. 9 in daughters, a sister, four grandchildren and daughters, two of whom are Lisa Klotz Eskridge, where he was president and board two great-grandchildren. Winkler, e’79, m’95, and Andrea, ’94; a chairman of Eskridge State Bank. He is Leola Stewart Claussen, d’52, 82, Jan. son; a brother; and seven grandchildren. survived by his wife, Arlene, and a 22 in Topeka, where she was a retired Robert Maupin, b’50, 88, Feb. 18 in grandson. librarian. A memorial has been established Topeka, where he was retired CEO and Margaret Osmond Truxal, c’43, 91, Jan. 4 with KU Endowment. She is survived by director emeritus of Capitol Federal in Los Angeles, where she was active in the her husband, James, ’53; a daughter, Sally Savings. He is survived by a son, Craig, Westchester Mental Health Guild. She is Claussen Reece, d’75; a son; ve grandchil- ’82; and two granddaughters. survived by her husband, Fred, c’47, g’49, dren; and a great-granddaughter. Dale McClanahan, e’57, 78, Dec. 7 in PhD’52; a son; a daughter; a sister, Marian Lynne Logan Clawson, d’56, 79, March Missouri City, Texas, where he was retired Osmond Hayenga, c’49; four grandchildren; 23 in Kansas City. She had been a teacher from a career with Fluor Daniel. He is and 10 great-grandchildren. and is survived by a son and a sister, survived by a son, two daughters, three Donna Logan, ’59. sisters and ve grandchildren. Bernice Altenbernd, n’53, 83, Dec. Charles Deeds, c’51, 86, Nov. 26 in Donald Meeker, c’54, l’60, 80, Feb. 12 50s24 in Kansas City. She lived in Houston. He was a chemist at the Bellaire in Leawood, where he was retired presi- Overland Park. Shell Research facility, where he special- dent of Marley Cooling Tower and of Kermit Beal, c’53, l’59, 82, Jan. 25 in ized in clay and shale chemistry. He is Central Fiber Corp. He is survived by his Lawrence, where he had a private law survived by two sons, Robert, c’77, and wife, Bette Joy; two daughters, Anne, d’80, practice. He is survived by his wife, Sue Charles, ’75; a brother; and two g’85, g’93, and Donna Meeker Crouch, Reeder Beal, d’58, g’72; a daughter, Kim- grandchildren. c’83; a stepson; a stepdaughter; a brother, berly Beal Riddle, g’99; two sons, Mark, Kenneth Dellett, m’55, 82, Feb. 3 in El Robert, c’57, l’63; and 11 grandchildren. c’82, and John, c’85; a sister, Patricia Beal Dorado, where he was an ophthalmologist. Betty Billingsley Pfutzenreuter, ’56, 78, Willenberg, ’54; and four grandchildren. A memorial has been established with KU July 14, 2012, in Manhattan, Mont. She is William Beilharz, b’51, 82, Jan. 2 in Endowment. He is survived by his wife, survived by a son; two daughters; a sister, Lakeway, Texas. He had been vice president Margaret; a son; a daughter, Tamara Jane Billingsley Maier, c’83; and four at Partsnet and is survived by a daughter, Dellett Crum, c’81; a sister; and four grandchildren. two sons, nine grandchildren and a grandsons. Donald “Reuter” Pfutzenreuter, b’56, great-grandchild. Richard Devine, ’59, 76, Oct. 6 in d’61, g’62, Feb. 12 in Manhattan, Mont. Doyle Bontrager, b’59, 76, March 3 in Kansas City, where he practiced dentistry. He had owned Country West Ranch and Oskaloosa. He lived in Prairie Village and He is survived by his wife, Tammany Land in Bozeman and is survived by a had worked for Ford Motor Co., Bendix, Fraker Devine, ’63; a son, Douglas, ’00; stepson, two stepdaughters, two brothers American Airlines and Trans World and a brother, Mark, c’55, m’58. and four stepgrandchildren. Airlines. Among survivors are a daughter, Ronald Duphorne, b’57, 79, Feb. 14 in John Price, b’55, 80, Jan. 28 in Casper, two sons and two brothers. Wichita. He was retired from a 35-year Wyo. He is survived by his wife, Charline,
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 69 In Memory and three sons. her husband, Ted, e’66; a son; a daughter; grandchildren. Myron Seeley Jr., c’52, 82, Sept. 22 in and ve grandchildren. Judith Baker Lake Turner Sevick, ’67, Topeka, where he was retired from a career Marvin Lappin, b’60, 77, March 13 in 67, March 6 in Eastborough. She is with Southwestern Bell Telephone. Fort Collins, Colo. He was a salesman for survived by her husband, George, assoc.; a Sharon Frahm Steele, c’57, 77, Jan. 30 in Munsingwear and a rental-property son, David Lake, f’97; a daughter, Jennifer Colby, where she was active in community manager. Surviving are his wife, Barbara Lake Hearne, j’93; a stepson, George aairs. She is survived by her husband, McGee Lappin, ’59; a son; and a daughter. Sevick, ’97; and six grandchildren. Paul, b’57; three daughters, one of whom is David McCutcheon, EdD’65, 83, March Robert Smith, b’61, 73, Feb. 19 in Jo Steele Kraus, g’09; two brothers; seven 13 in Wichita, where he had been an Overland Park, where he was retired from grandchildren; and two educator and a restaurateur. Among a career with Eastman Kodak. A memorial great-grandchildren. survivors are his wife, Marjorie; a son; a has been established with KU Endowment. Kyle Thompson, f’54, 83, Jan. 19 in daughter, Lori, ’84; and two brothers. Among survivors are his wife, Sally Ossian Oakdale, Calif. He was an art director for Anna Hegenbart Misak, d’67, l’75, 68, Smith, d’61; two sons, one of whom is American Can and later worked as a Sept. 26 in Houston, where she was a Kent, b’89; and a sister, Elizabeth Smith freelance designer. Surviving are his wife, retired lawyer and psychologist. She is Babcock, d’68, g’75, g’82. Lois, two daughters and four survived by her husband, Otto, e’67; two James Wilson, b’69, 65, Aug. 12 in grandchildren. sons, one of whom is Andrew, c’06; a Olathe. He had a 43-year career in logistics Charles Wagsta«, b’50, 84, March 7 in daughter; a sister, Leah Hegenbart Barr, management and is survived by his wife, Garland, Texas, where he was a salesman. c’77; and three grandchildren. Jane Peters Wilson, g’76; two sons, John, He is survived by three sons, Charles Jr., Jawaharlal Nagori, g’61, 75, Jan. 22 in j’00, l’03, and James, b’06; a brother, Don, ’79, Timothy, b’81, and omas, b’83; and Leawood, where he was retired vice c’76; and two grandchildren. four grandchildren. president of Black & Veatch and later Charles Wright III, c’68, 66, Feb. 26 in owned Global Energy Consulting Services. Danville, Va., where he was retired from a Gerald “Derf” Figgs, m’67, 75, in A memorial has been established with KU 44-year career with Goodyear Tire and 60sPhoenix, where he had been a Endowment. He is survived by his wife, Rubber. He is survived by his wife, Sherri pediatrician and helped create the rst Vicki; a son; a daughter, Nikki Nagori Borger Wright, n’68; two sons; his father, HMO in the country, the Arizona Health Carmody, ’88; a stepson; a stepdaughter; Charles Jr., f’41; a brother; a sister, Plan. He was a clinician and medical two brothers; two sisters; six grandchil- Catherine Wright Howard, ’12; and two director for the plan for nearly 30 years. dren; and a great-grandson. grandchildren. Surviving are a son, a daughter, a brother Robert O’Reilly, EdD’62, 84, Jan. 10 in and two grandchildren. Ralston, where he was a professor emeritus Catherine Neal Armstrong, h’79, Kenneth Heim, g’63, 93, March 10 in of educational administration at the 70s55, Feb. 18 in Lawrence. She is Shawnee Mission. He was a teacher at the University of Nebraska. He is survived by survived by her husband, Je, c’78; a School for the Blind for 30 years and also his wife, Marjorie Newell O’Reilly, d’51; daughter, Meghan, d’06, g’10; a son, tuned pianos until the age of 88. He is two sons; two sisters; 11 grandchildren; Christopher, c’08; her parents; and two survived by his wife, Stella; three daughters, and two great-grandchildren. sisters, Julie Neal Wilmoth, j’81, and Jane one of whom is Donna Rose-Heim, ’84; a C. Royce Rasmussen, PhD’62, 81, Feb. 8 Neal, c’84. son; a stepdaughter, Rebecca Hendee-Tem- in Lansdale, Pa. He was a medicinal Steven Doering, l’77, 62, Feb. 11 in pel, d’77; two stepsons, Robert Hendee, chemist at Johnson & Johnson/McNeil Kansas City. He lived in Garnett and had a d’73, and Ronald Hendee, s’89; a sister; 11 Pharmaceuticals. Surviving are his wife, private law practice. He is survived by his grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and Carole; three sons; a stepson; two step- wife, Karen Frey Doering, d’74; two sons, ve great-grandchildren. daughters; a sister; a brother, Rex, p’57; one of whom is Hank, m’05; a brother, Jean Berger-Ridderson Jones, c’68, 90, eight grandchildren; and four Michael, l’78; and four grandchildren. Oct. 15 in Baltimore. Among survivors are stepgrandchildren. Virginia Smith Glandon, PhD’75, 94, two sons, Bruce, g’74, m’77, and James, ’72; Royce Roberts, g’63, 80, March 6 in Feb. 1 in Tulsa, Okla. She taught history at and a daughter. Overland Park, where he was a retired Benedictine College and at UMKC before Mike Kinnan, d’68, 69, Feb. 11 in Derby. teacher for Shawnee Mission Schools and moving to Tulsa. She is survived by a He was a radio broadcaster and later a volunteer Master Gardener. He is daughter, Sarah Glandon Edwards, s’74; a worked for the Kansas Lottery. He is survived by his wife, Jane, and a son. son, Clyde, c’69; two grandsons; and a survived by his wife, Trisha Slack Kinnan, John Rode, g’62, 86, Jan. 14 in Leawood, great-granddaughter. assoc.; a son, David, b’02; a daughter, where he was an engineer for Bendix/ Carol Bowers Johnson, m’77, 63, Feb. 4 Lindsay, c’03; and two grandchildren. Honeywell for 35 years. He is survived by in Bel Aire. She practiced medicine with Cynthia Dent Langrehr, d’66, 69, Jan. 5 in two daughters, one of whom is Carolyn Family Physicians of Kansas and is Mount Vernon, Wash. She is survived by Rode Bates, c’80, n’82; and three survived by two sons, one of whom is
70 | KANSAS ALUMNI Caleb, m’09; a daughter; four brothers, two two brothers; and a sister. of ecology and evolutionary biology of whom are Norman Bowers, e’71, and and curator of invertebrate paleontology Kenneth Bowers, ’71; and a sister. Howard Holbrooks, m’95, 44, at KU since 1972. He is survived by his Thomas Liley, d’71, 64, Jan. 22 in 90sFeb. 7 in Lawrence, where he was wife, Jean Bright Martin, g’96; and two Naperville, Ill. He had been a professor of a retired major in the U.S. Army. He had daughters, Mary Martin Almsberger, music at Joliet Junior College and was a been chief of anesthesiology at Lake c’95, and Amanda Martin Hamon, guest professor of saxophone at Indiana Granbury Medical Center and co-owner c’95, g’99. University, the University of Minnesota, of River Valley Anesthesia and Pain Charles Staley, c’50, 85, Jan. 11 in State Kansas State University and the University Management in Granbury, Texas. Surviv- College, Pa. He was a KU professor of of Iowa. Surviving are his wife, Nancy, a ing are his wife, Sarah omas Holbrooks, economics from 1958 to 1965 and had daughter and a sister. h’91; a son; two daughters; a brother; three taught at SUNY Stony Brook in New York, Byron Myers III, j’74, 65, Jan. 2 in Grand sisters, one of whom is Julie Silver Seidle, Harvard University and the University of Island, Neb., where he was a writer and c’01; and his stepfather. Edinburgh in Scotland. Surviving are his copy editor for the Grand Island Indepen- wife, Rhoda McCord Staley, ’61; a daugh- dent. Later he worked at Idleman Telemar- Lawrence Weller, g’03, 85, Jan. 7 ter; two sons; a brother, Paul, c’52, m’55; keting and for Cabela’s. He is survived by 00sin Wichita, where he was a retired and three grandchildren. his wife, Molly, a son, a daughter, a sister engineer with Boeing. He is survived by Donald Shoulberg, PhD’75, 76, March and ve grandchildren. his wife, Doris, ’84; two sons; a sister; and 26 in Lawrence, where he was a marriage Richard Pine Jr., c’71, g’77, 64, in ve grandchildren. and family therapist. He had taught at Pinckney, Mich. He had a 35-year career KU’s School of Social Welfare and also had in Finance at Ford Motor Company in THE U NIVERSITY CO MMUNITY been director of marriage and family Dearborn. He is survived by his wife, Richard Cole, 83, April 1 in Lawrence, services for Menninger in Kansas City. Cynthia Gallup Pine, ’71; two sons; a where he was a KU professor emeritus of Surviving are his wife, Mary “Gini” daughter; and two brothers, Randall, c’73, philosophy. He is survived by his wife, Hartigan Shoulberg, g’72; two daughters, g’78, and Russell, ’79. Marjorie Emerson Cole, d’74, g’81; two one of whom is Jennifer Shoulberg Lyon, Steve Riel, j’73, 61, Jan. 6 in Kansas daughters, Wendy Cole Ashlock, ’81, and b’94; a son, Paul, c’04; two brothers; two City. He was a wire editor at the Minne- Aletha Cole Musser, ’88; a son, Mark, c’84; sisters; and six grandchildren. apolis Star Tribune for nearly 40 years, and a brother; a sister; eight grandchildren; he lived in St. Louis Park, Minn. Among and a great-grandchild. ASSOCIATES survivors are a brother, Jerey, ’72. James Drury, 94, March 3 in Lawrence, Adele Coryell Hall, 81, Jan. 26 in where he taught in the political science Kansas City, where she was president of Peggy Anderson, g’80, 67, Feb. department from 1947 until 1989. A Heart of America United Way, former 80s24 in Bel Aire. She was a professor memorial has been established with KU Kansas Citian of the Year and board chair emeritus of education at Wichita State Endowment. He is survived by his wife, of Children’s Mercy Hospital and the University. Two brothers survive, one of Florence Daniels Drury, d’67; a son, Greater Kansas City Community Founda- whom is Denis Anderson, a’69. Jonathan, c’70; two daughters, Ann Drury tion. She also co-chaired a capital cam- Marc Heinz, p’80, 56, Feb. 25 in Heyse, c’79, and Jane, assoc.; eight paign to raise $225 million to expand and Prescott, Ariz., where he was a retired grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. renovate the Nelson-Atkins Museum of pharmacist. Oswin “Karmie” Galle, 81, April 8 in Art. Surviving are her husband, Donald Dorothy Trovillion Moon, d’80, 81, Lawrence, where he was a senior scientist Sr., assoc.; two sons, Donald Jr., g’86, and March 2 in Lawrence. She taught school at KU’s Kansas Geological Survey. In 2012, David, l’89; a daughter; and nine in Lawrence and for the Shawnee Heights he received the Distinguished Service grandchildren. School District before retiring in 1993. Award from the Federation of Analytical Gordon Mew, 77, Oct. 24 in Kailua, Surviving are her husband, Duane, assoc.; Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies. where he was president of Hawaii Inova- two daughters, Linda Moon Young, d’76, Surviving are his wife, Edna ieszen tive Engineering. He is survived by his and Brenda Moon Hardtarfer, d’79; a son; Galle, assoc.; a daughter, Suzanne, c’89; wife, Linda Wright Mew, d’59; a son; two two sisters, one of whom is Jeri Trovillion two sisters; and a brother. sisters; and two grandchildren. Hammig, ’57; six grandchildren; and two Edward Mattila, 85, March 22 in Nola Pickett, 91, March 12 in Lawrence, great-grandchildren. Tucson, Ariz. He was a member of the KU where she was active in community aairs. Jim Moorkamp, a’83, a’84, 51, Jan. 28 music faculty from 1964 to 1998. Survivors She is survived by her husband, Calder in St. Louis, where he was a partner at include a daughter, Amy Mattila Fortney, Pickett, ’57; two daughters, Carolyn PGAV Architects. He is survived by his ’86; and a son, Edward, c’90. Pickett Zeligman, d’73, g’77, and Kathleen wife, Nancy Combs Moorkamp, j’84; a Larry Martin, PhD’73, 69, March 9 in Pickett Jenson, f’75, j’75; and two son; a daughter, Molly, ’11; his parents; Lawrence, where he had been a professor grandchildren.
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 71 Rock Chalk Review PPE RICKLAND TEVE P U S ICHA EL ST M
As evidenced by “Embers of Autumn” (above) and “Winter Harvest,” Michael Strickland (l) honors his mentor Adam Schallau’s philosophy that “light is our subject.”
and strongly value, what Michael is doing with the Kansas landscape. It is simply stunning,” says Adam Schallau, an Iowa native now based in Flagsta, Ariz. “He has a way of creating images that make the sunset. at’s why I’ve really grown to you want to stand there with him in that Back to nature love nature photography.” eld. You can feel the warmth of the sun Sensing he was out of place both on your skin as you view his images.” Engineering student discovers studying music and living in a dense urban Strickland hired Schallau for a private talent for landscape photography environment, Strickland in fall 2010 eld workshop on his rst photography enrolled as an engineering major at KU; trip to the Grand Canyon, in March 2012. ate in his rst semester at New York the following summer, a friend convinced When the pair arrived at the canyon, a LCity’s New School, where in fall 2009 him to buy his rst digital camera. late-winter storm did its best to turn them he was studying jazz saxophone, Michael A passion was ignited. back. Sub-zero winds gusted to 60 mph Strickland traveled back to Kansas for Strickland has already placed solo and snow was blowing straight up out of anksgiving. On the rst night in his exhibitions at two downtown Lawrence the canyon and into their faces. Schallau parents’ home in Liberal, Strickland pulled venues and sells gorgeous images on his expected the neophyte shooter to retreat to on a coat and stepped out into the quiet website, michaelstricklandimages.com. the comfort of his hotel; he didn’t. blackness and looked up. Although he intends to complete his “It really said a lot about Michael,” “It was the rst time I’d seen the stars for degree in 2014, Strickland plans to make Schallau says. “He knows what it takes to ve months,” he recalls. “It’s the little photography his career. create the images that we as landscape things, being able to see the stars or watch “I really have a deep appreciation for, photographers are trying to create.” Strickland, a junior in mechanical engineering, grabs free hours and week- ends to explore countryside around RICKLAND Lawrence or roam the prairie back home in western Kansas, and uses school breaks ICHA EL ST M to head west, most recently to Death Valley, Calif. He says engineering studies make him comfortable with photography’s technical aspects, yet his next purchase will be a large-format, panoramic lm camera—the old-school tool favored by
72 | KANSAS ALUMNI the masters he studies for inspiration. Wei, who started practicing at hospital, Wei’s com- “Photography brings you closer to KU MedWest in Shawnee in mon-sense approach is nature because you’re paying attention to 2003 a er completing her still available thanks to every little thing that’s in front of you,” he residency at the Mayo her book, A Healthier says. “I want to have my own experiences, Clinic, recalls that she began Wei: Reclaiming Health for and I want to be able to share my ideas to wonder why she saw so Misdiagnosed & Overmedi- and my experiences with people.” many “sick” children whose cated Children, which can —Chris Lazzarino medicines and inhalers were be ordered at her website, not eective. “Clearly when the ahealthierwei.com. Also on medicine is not working,” she says, “that her website is a video, “ e Kitchen is tells me that whatever you’ve been Closed,” produced for Wei by Madison Eat right diagnosed with, you must not have that.” Davis Lacy, associate professor of lm and About ve years ago, Wei began asking media studies, and lmmaker Patrick Doctor prescribes healthy diet parents about what their children ate, and Monroe, c’12. for kids’ misdiagnosed maladies the responses were alarmingly alike: Wei says that although her approach Children consumed far too much dairy usually makes sense a er it is explained to or many children suering with such and sugar—which led Wei to describe her patients and their families, they rst must Failments as allergies, coughs, acid diagnosis as the “milk and cookie dis- get past psychological hurdles created by re ux, infected sinuses and runny noses, ease”—and ate too close to bedtime, which years of prescription medicines, expensive the best medicine might be no medicine at creates stomach acid that can lead to tests and emergency room visits. all, but rather a change in what and when nighttime coughing and stued sinuses. “Had I not started asking them, ‘What they eat. is is what physician and “I found families who are desperate, but does your kid eat?’ I would never have put pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon Julie skeptical,” Wei says. “So I say to them, ‘For this together. I’m a physician, a surgeon. I Wei describes as her “career epiphany.” the next four weeks you can try this, and if don’t have training for that. But because I “We’re talking about kids who are it doesn’t work then we’ll try the next stu,’ started asking, I noticed a pattern. en it otherwise healthy, but they’re not,” says and one by one, so many times it worked. I started to make sense to me.” Wei, associate professor of otolaryngology. was ‘curing’ symptoms without using any —Chris Lazzarino “ e parents come to me as one more medicine or surgery. ey became a doctor, one more visit, hoping somebody believer and I became a believer.” can answer these questions about why ough she will soon leave to become their child is not getting better.” chief of pediatric ENT at a new Florida Whiz kids
PPE Profiling identifies good students
TEVE P U who might be overlooked S
reative geniuses aren’t hard to identify Cin adulthood: ey create the kinds of products, services and works of art and science that can help de ne a culture and make their originators famous. But could schools do a better job nurturing these students—who o en do
A Healthier Wei: Reclaiming Health for Misdiagnosed & Overmedicated Children Physician Julie Wei says the “emotional complexity” of feeding too often leads parents to cave to by Dr. Julie Wei their children’s demands for unhealthy foods that contribute to chronic ailments impervious to $24.99 medication. “This was not from textbooks or Mayo Clinic training,” she says. “This was human ahealthierwei.com beings working together and having a conversation. We were learning about this together.”
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 73 Rock Chalk Review
PPE O READ READER TEVE P U S Seeds of change Book examines rich legacy of original Earth Day
he rst Earth Day started as a Trelatively modest proposal: During a September 1969 speech before the Washington Environmental Council in Seattle, U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a Minnesota Democrat, announced plans to stage a teach-in the following spring at 40 universities. By April 22, 1970, the rst Earth Day had grown into a nationwide phenomenon that spawned 12,000 local Barbara Kerr directs KU’s CLEOS lab, which helps creative students and their teachers identify events and spilled far beyond that single pathways to success. day to help launch the environmental movement in the U.S. In e Genius of Earth Day: How a 1970 well in their speci c area of expertise “ ere are ways to become a lmmaker, Teach-in Unexpectedly Made the First while performing below average in classes an animator, a reviewer of video games, Green Generation, Adam Rome, PhD’96, that don’t interest them—in adolescence? but many of these pathways are invisible to makes a convincing and thorough case Barbara Kerr, Williamson Family adolescents,” Kerr explains. “We want to that the rst Earth Day is “the most Distinguished Professor of Counseling make those paths visible.” famous little-known event in modern Psychology, thinks they could. Since CLEOS started at the School of American history.” While it is widely “Many of these kids do not qualify for Education in 2006, the lab has worked recognized by scholars and the general gi ed programs because they focus on with 60 to 70 high school juniors each public as a seminal moment in the their areas of interest and are not well- semester. ough some resist at rst, most environmental movement, an important rounded students in many cases,” Kerr open up when they learn that counselors national happening that raised awareness says. A budding programmer who skips are receptive to their creative interests. and tapped into a deep pool of concern for English class to spend extra time in the Follow-up studies indicate they explore the neglect and abuse of America’s lands, computer lab is a perfect example. “Our career options and communicate with waters and skies, the details of the event science kids get great grades in math and their parents about possible careers more have remained relatively unexamined. science but blow o English and history,” than students in a control group. Rome, a former editor of the journal Kerr says. “And our English and history “ ere are a number of models of Environmental History, contends that his kids do just the opposite.” creativity based on studying adults,” Kerr is the rst in-depth study of the original Kerr and her research partners devel- says. “But if you’re trying to nd creative Earth Day. oped six pro les of creative adolescents adolescents, you shouldn’t compare them e core of this highly readable book is that help teachers and counselors identify to adults; you should compare them to a detailed look at the nuts-and-bolts these promising but o en overlooked what the adults were like at 16. at’s what organizing of the many teach-ins, protests, students and refer them to KU’s Counsel- we did.” ing Laboratory for the Exploration of e pro les give schools a tool to reach Optimal States. When the high school kids talented kids who might otherwise be arrive at CLEOS, grad students administer viewed as slackers or troublemakers. The Genius of a battery of tests that gauge their personal- “We’ve learned that pro ling works. We Earth Day ity, interests and abilities. know it’s an ecient, inexpensive way of e goal, Kerr says, is to help creative identifying these kids. ere are lots of by Adam Rome adolescents, de ned by researchers as studies that show that if you ask teachers Hill and Wang, $30 those having the “capacity or the potential which kids are gi ed, they can’t tell. But if to create products, services or ideas that you give them these pro les, they say, ‘Oh, are novel, original or useful”—discover the my gosh, I know this kid.’” “invisible pathways” to success. —Steven Hill
74 | KANSAS ALUMNI parades, community fairs and speeches Indeed, the combined eort by Brown, not only would its proposal—which they that made up Earth Day, and a chronicle of three Kansas State University landscape called “ e Armory”—attract residents selected events around the country that architecture students and an MBA student and visitors, but it also predicted long- shows the wide range of issues and from the University of Missouri-Kansas term health for the neighborhood by concerns they brought to light. City advanced to the nals of the presti- continuing to generate income for owners e “genius” of Earth Day, Rome shows, gious competition, which attracted 149 and investors. is that it was not organized from the top entries, and a er additional development Baudoin says that while the intense down, as were so many of the movements work demanded of the nal four teams, competition and victory will be helpful for (the Vietnam War protests and Civil went on to win. Victory meant more than Brown as she embarks on an architecture Rights movement, namely) it drew on. resumé props: teammates shared a $50,000 career, all of her studio students have Instead, it grew from the grassroots, prize. bene ted equally from the intense year of involving many people, from college “I had never worked with a team of this competitions and critiques. students to housewives, with little experi- size before, and I had never worked “Being able to be very collaborative in a ence in community organizing. Rome interdisciplinarily,” Brown says. “Honestly, competitive environment and learning to examines how the event changed many of this has been the best group experience judge the scenario through some very these organizers and the culture at large, I’ve ever had. My team was awesome.” intensive weeks are skills she will always leading to a lasting commitment to For her h-year concentration, Brown use in architecture,” Baudoin says. “It’s environmental activism and the launching chose to enroll in the competition studio something I think they don’t get enough of a green movement. led by Assistant Professor Genevieve experience with all the time in school— Rome also puts the event in historical Baudoin. As Brown distinguished herself just being able to say things to each other context, examining the conservation during the fall semester, Baudoin thought without making oensive comments, tradition that preceded the rst Earth Day. of her when asked by Manhattan col- building toward good ideas for everyone But in his insightful and important leagues whether a KU architecture student without belittling people or feeling like it’s examination of Earth Day’s long legacy of would be willing and able to join their competitive in a negative way. at’s how positive changes—including landmark landscape architecture students in the ULI you learn in studio.” legislation to clean up the nation’s air and competition. Brown accepted, and in the —Chris Lazzarino water—he leaves no doubt that on April early meetings with her new
22, 1970, everything changed. teammates she learned that PPE —Steven Hill they had already put in a lot of TEVE P U work to prepare for a contest S they had entered many times but had yet to win. City centered On Jan. 14, organizers emailed the contest packets: Student architect helps team e site to be developed was an rethink downtown Minneapolis ugly chunk of Minneapolis surface parking that serves er two consecutive weeks of intense, commuters on weekdays and A16-hour days, Lauren Leigh Brown football crowds for the nearby says she and her teammates in the Urban Metrodome on fall weekends. Land Institute’s Gerald D. Hines Student Brown and her team chose to Urban Design contest were con dent create a mixed-use residential about their plans for developing a 20-block neighborhood with businesses section of the Downtown East district in and attractive green space. Minneapolis. eir proposed neighborhood “When we printed o our boards to has as its centerpiece a “ exi- send in, we were really shocked at what we ble-use market” fashioned out had done in two weeks,” says Brown, a of a renovated armory, and h-year graduate student in the master of includes enough housing and architecture program. “We felt pretty business opportunities to strongly about our submission. Of course attract visitors and residents we had no idea whether or not we’d be year-round. good enough to be a nalist, but we felt At their April 11 presenta- “This was about creating an identity for a neighborhood,” like we had given our full eort.” tion, the team explained that Lauren Leigh Brown says, “rather than a single building.”
ISSUE 3, 2013 | 75 Glorious to View Photograph by Dan Storey
Roses adorn Mount Oread’s Vietnam Memorial, which honors 57 students and alumni who gave their lives in service to the nation. When the memorial was dedicated on May 25, 1986, after a nearly three-year e«ort by a student-led committee, the landmark was the country’s first on-campus tribute to those who died in the Vietnam War.
76 | KANSAS ALUMNI
KU Alumni Association 1266 Oread Avenue | Lawrence, KS 66045-3169