This version of Wheaton magazine does not contain the Class News section. s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 WHEATON The Litfin Legacy Continuity Amid Growth President Duane Litfin retires after 17 years Inside: Science Station Turns 75 • Remembering President Armerding • The Promise Report 150.WHEATON.EDU Wheaton College exists to help build the church and improve society worldwide by promoting the development of whole and effective Christians through excellence in programs of Christian higher education. This mission expresses our commitment to do all things “For Christ and His Kingdom.” volume 14 i s s u e 2 s PR i N G 2 0 1 0 6 a l u m n i n e w s departments 32 A Word with Alumni 2 Letters Open letter from Tim Stoner ’82, 5 News president of the Alumni Board 10 Sports 33 Wheaton Alumni Association News Association news and events 27 The Promise Report 37 Alumni Class News 56 Authors Books by Wheaton’s faculty; thoughts from published alumnus Walter Wolfram ’63 Cover photo: President Litfin enjoys the lively bustle of the Sports and A Sentimental Journey Recreation Complex that was built in 2000 as a result of the New 58 Century Challenge. The only “brick-and-mortar” part of that campaign, An archival reflection from an alumna the SRC features a large weight room, three gyms, a pool, elevated Faculty Voice running track, climbing wall, dance and fitness studio, and wrestling 60 room, as well as classrooms, conference rooms, and a physiology lab. Dr. Nadine Folino-Rorem mentors biology Dr. Litfin’s 17-year tenure has seen the development of many facilities, research students in addition to scholarship funding, new faculty, and student resources. As he has held Jesus Christ central to the College’s purpose, he 61 Student Profile has navigated the paradox of ushering in tremendous growth while Student Government VP Christin Fort ’10 tells maintaining continuity of mission. Photo by Les Barker what she’s learned about leadership Inside photos: Michael Hudson ’89, pp. 1, 5, 13, 18-19, 25, 30, 32, 62 Wheaton in the World 52, 61; Jimi Allen, pp. 1, 60; Les Barker, pp. 2, 14, 18-19, 21, 30-31; Dr. Barrett McRay meets with Congolese William Koechling, pp. 6, 26; Walter Danylak, p. 18; Michael Johnson, pastors in war-torn communities 501 College Avenue pp. 19-21; Craig Taylor, p. 21; Carlos Vergara, p. 26; Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois 60187 Archives and Special Collections, pp. 3, 12-13, 22-23, 59. 68 President’s Commentary WHEATON contents 24 60 f e a t u r e s Wheaton View A Living Laboratory Photography of Wheaton students The February 1956 issue of Wheaton Alumni 12shows slices of campus life through the 22magazine states that the Wheaton College decades. Science Station in the Black Hills is “a great place and nothing but satisfaction is ever On Paths Less Traveled expressed by those who go there.” Such After 17 years of leadership and service, sentiments remain true today, as the Science 14Dr. Litfin retires as Wheaton’s seventh Station celebrates 75 years. president. In a personal, reflective article, by Jennifer Grant ’89 the president of Cornerstone University writes about the president of Wheaton, At the Threshold of His Glory who has been his best friend since their Wheaton remembers the life of Dr. Hudson seminary days. 24T. Armerding ’41, fifth president of the by Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, College. Wheaton College trustee by H. Taylor Armerding II ’70 letter from the efore you read this letter, turn back a page and read Wheaton’s mission Editor editor Georgia I. Douglass ’70, M.A. ’94 statement at the top of the inside front cover. Why? Because this statement Managing Editor is important. As the College’s catalog says, “[It] expresses the stable Alanna Foxwell-Barajas ’06 and enduring identity of Wheaton College. All the purposes, goals, and Editorial Consultant activities of the College are guided by this mission.” Katherine Halberstadt Anderson ’90 Interestingly, Wheaton’s statement is not unlike that of many other Design Consultants Alice Isoz Chrismer ’70 Christian institutions. Yet some of these schools are vastly different from b Ellen Mardock Wheaton—from a large research university to a small residential college with Chrismer+ Mardock Communication thousands more students taking courses online rather than in a classroom. Class News Editor Donna Antoniuk If our missions are alike, what, then, makes the difference? For 150 years, Wheaton has remained a residential, academically rigorous Christian Editorial Adviser Dr. R. Mark Dillon liberal arts college. Its motto For Christ and His Kingdom is not simply a Wheaton Alumni Association sentiment from the past; it permeates the life of this institution, setting the President standards, tone, and vision for the ways the College accomplishes its Timothy A. Stoner ’82 work and ministry. President-Elect Christopher A. Jahns ’82 Why has Wheaton not wavered? Because each of its seven presidents Executive Director has been a linchpin in preserving the vitality of Wheaton’s mission. Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 Just as his predecessors, President Duane Litfin, who retires this summer, Professor Emeritus has not only ensured the continuity of mission but also defined the ways to Leroy H. Pfund ’49 accomplish that mission during his 17-year tenure. In the midst of constancy, Alumni Trustee Representatives there has been remarkable growth: new buildings and old buildings now Timothy A. Stoner ’82 Georgia I. Douglass Christopher A. Jahns ’82 Matthew C. Hsieh ’93 ’70, M.A. ’94 newer, the Chase Commons walkway, “smart” classrooms, stronger faculty Editor and academic programs, and much more. And it was the mission that Wheaton College guided the tough decisions and gave response to controversy. President Dr. Duane Litfin Awhile back I emailed Dr. Litfin, asking him to tell me his deepest, most Provost heartfelt prayer for Wheaton. He responded: Dr. Stanton L. Jones I suspect it is what we claim as our mission: developing whole and Vice President for Finance Dale A. Kemp effective Christians to impact church and society For Christ and His Kingdom. If that’s our key goal, one might expect that the achievement Vice President for Student of that goal should have pride of place in one’s most fervent prayer for Development Paul O. Chelsen ’91 the College. Vice President for Advancement So, if I’m to avoid simply repeating our mission statement, I would and Alumni Relations say my most fervent prayer for the College is that we turn out graduates Dr. R. Mark Dillon who have caught a vision of what it means to put Jesus Christ at the Executive Assistant center. They see their lives as His life lived through them, bought with to the President a price; they see the church as His church, in which they have been Marilee A. Melvin ’72. placed and to which they have been called for service; they see the Wheaton is published autumn, winter, and spring by Wheaton College, world as His world, into which He sends them to spend themselves for 501 College Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187-5593, His sake, whatever their vocation. 630/752-5779, and mailed free of charge to alumni and friends of Wheaton College. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Wheaton’s mission—so deeply loved and highly regarded by our president Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187-5593. that it becomes his prayer. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors or the editors, and do not necessarily represent the official position of the College. © 2010 Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL www.wheaton.edu 2 SPRING 2010 dearWHEATON A Lesson in History I was delighted to share “Hiding in the Open” (section one of “An Underground Railroad Stop, a Preacher to Billions, and the Sixties” in the winter 2010 Wheaton magazine) with my fourth grade students as part of our study of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. One of my students wrote the following “letter to the editor” after learning about this remarkable part of Wheaton’s history: Dear Editor of Wheaton, My name is Catherine, and I go to Evergreen School. My teacher is Miss Williams, a former student of Wheaton College. We are learning about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. I think that being a stop for the Underground Railroad sounds amazing! Also, I think that it was very Wheaton 150 years ago when compared having studied at Wheaton College was generous of Wheaton College to be a to the 2005 two-page photo of the always a good “foot in the door,” such is the stop for the Underground Railroad. campus today. What a gorgeous setting reputation of our alma mater. I think it also was very nice that you let for the photo—Wheaton College in her fall I feel slightly inadequate when reading the African American students come splendor. Brings back the memory of the accomplishments of classmates, to your college, because a person is a shuffling through the leaves as we gals so illustrious their careers as compared to person no matter what color their skin strolled those first days of freshmen week mine. However, I recognize we can’t all be is. Finally, I think it was a great decision back in ’54. inventors, authors, executives, preachers, to let girls come, too! My teacher, Miss I am sure I would have to navigate the founders, or industrialists. The world needs Williams, is a great teacher, and she campus with the aid of a map today. Christian mothers and neighborhood went to Wheaton College. Incredible to see how enlarged it has leaders and certainly volunteers in the Sincerely, become with many intersecting triangles church.