Fall 2010

MAGAZINE

Where it all began... acclaimed soprano found her voice at PSU

From the Oval 2 Baby Boomer Fashions 20 College Updates 22 Alumni News 34

Vol. 18 No. 2 Fall 2010

MAGAZINE Features 12 Where it All Began... 16 A Greener Future: Algae 17 A River Runs Through It 18 Neat Trick 19 Summertime is No Vacation 20 Baby Boomer Fashion– the ’60s

College Close-up

22 College of Arts & Sciences 24 College of Business 26 College of Education 28 College of Technology Departments

2 From the Oval 9 Fine Arts Calendar 10 Where in the World is Gus? 30 Athletics Update 34 Alumni News 38 Class Notes

From the editor This issue of the PittState Magazine comes to you as a new semester is about to begin. The opening of a new term is always an exciting time full of opportunity and anticipation. We hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine and the stories about the campus, students and faculty, and alumni. The PittState Magazine is an important link to your alma mater. It would also be great if you could take some time to come back for a visit. Family Day is Sept. 18 and Homecoming is Oct. 16, but you’re welcome anytime. Until we see you in person, remember to send your class notes, letters, comments and suggestions to us at [email protected] or by regular mail to the Office of Marketing and Communication, 106 Russ Hall, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762.

ContainsFall 10% 2010 post consumer PITT recycledSTATE fiber. 1 Please recycle FROM THE OVAL

Record setting become the choice of more domestic minority students. numbers This spring, minority PSU set a record for enrollment was up 7.5 enrollment this past spring percent, with Hispanic with a total of 6,752 students students constituting the - a 2.4 percent increase largest increase (13 percent). over the spring 2009 There was also a 9 percent semester. The university increase in American reported the numbers to the Indian students and an 8 Kansas Board of Regents percent increase in African for the annual spring 20th American students. day count of the six state “We feel very good about universities. this, and we give a lot of “We are extremely pleased credit to our people who to see this number. Even do so much in the way of with the budget challenges recruitment and retention,” Inez Kaiser we face, which have resulted said Dr. William Ivy, dean Apple Day features wisdom of in a cut of $4.7 million in of Enrollment Management state funding, Kansas and Student Success. African-American pioneer students and parents “People are returning to continue to see Pittsburg school to increase their When Inez Kaiser arrived at Chicago University, State as offering a great skills and marketability in on the PSU campus in the Rockhurst University and value when they consider the workplace, and they are ‘30s, opportunities were very Dartmouth College. In 1952, postsecondary education seeing PSU as the place to limited for a young African- Lincoln University awarded options,” said President do that.” American woman and there her an honorary doctor of law Steve Scott. “Clearly that seemed no shortage of people degree. is the result of the efforts around to tell her what she Over her lifetime, of the entire campus could do and become. Dr. Kaiser has been a pioneer, community. I’m very proud Her return in 2010 to recording a long list of “firsts” Travis of and grateful to our faculty Stewart deliver the keynote address as an African-American and and staff. They have put the at Apple Day was a tribute as a woman. She has advised budget challenges aside and not only to social change, but presidents and directed the have focused on ensuring a also to the determination and marketing efforts of major quality experience for our grit of a unique person. corporations hoping to reach students.” The first African- African-American customers. PSU experienced American woman to open Despite her long list increases in several areas, and operate a public relations of accomplishments, including new freshmen, firm in the U.S., Dr. Inez Y. Dr. Kaiser’s words to the transfer students, new Kaiser earned a bachelor of students gathered that day graduate students, and science degree in education were simple. Gorilla Advantage students. (home economics) from “You’ve heard my life’s The university also saw an PSU in 1938 and a master’s journey,” she told the increase (66 students) in the of science degree from audience. “If I did it, you can number of Kansas residents. Columbia (N.Y.) College do it, too.” In addition, PSU has in 1958. She also studied

2 PITT STATE Fall 2010 FROM THE OVAL

Honoring beyond simply getting the work done, however. student “Students are the front employees line people” who visitors and other prospective students Rebecca Bauman, a senior meet, the president said. “In English major who works many ways, they carry the as a writer and designer for culture of the campus. It’s not the Collegio newspaper, just work to do, it’s part of was named the 2010 PSU the campus culture.” Student Employee of the For more information Year in April. Bauman on the award and winners, was also named Student contact the Office of Career Employee of the Year for Services at 620-235-4140. the State of Kansas. At the same time, Travis Stewart, a senior plastics engineering Students say technology major, was Yard tools named Student Employee of ‘Thanks!’ with in hand, the Year in a new category Big Event energetic established for students who students Nearly 600 students put work off campus. Stewart fan out on gloves, grabbed rakes was nominated by his across and shovels and set out employer, Plastic Resource Pittsburg across Pittsburg in April Group, Inc. to say to say “thank you” to the “thanks” President Steve Scott said community. to the students are critical to the The Big Event is the largest community. operation of the university. community service event of He said their role goes the year and lets Pittsburg citizens know how much students appreciate their support during the year. Rebecca Participants in the service Bauman project went to 100 homes throughout the community to do yard work, painting, repairs, and other odds and ends. Organized by the Student Government Association and supported by PSU fraternities and to say thank you to the SGA has been putting sororities, students plan community,” said Alyssa on the Big Event for the the event throughout the Hillman, SGA’s Big Event past eight years, assisting year, take applications from director. “It’s important for primarily retired community residents needing help and us to help the people in the members and in some cases organize the volunteers. community who can’t do this even former and current PSU “It’s our biggest way kind of work themselves.” faculty.

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 3 FROM THE OVAL

for the end of the stimulus Gorilla money and for a range of higher costs over time. I Advantage really appreciate the efforts Program I’ve seen across campus to use our limited resources wisely expands and to come up with creative The Kansas Board of ideas for saving money.” Regents recently granted the Scott said the university university permission to add has approached the Benton and Washington budget crisis as a shared counties in Arkansas to responsibility. the university’s Gorilla “At the budget forums, Advantage program. I’ve seen faces from every Beginning in fall 2011, the President Steve Scott Difficult budget year ends– department on campus and program allows qualified there have been very good students in border counties President offers thanks, questions,” Scott said. “These to attend PSU at in-state encouragement candid, open discussions rates. have been key to our shared In its proposal to expand As the fiscal year ended in “Some local legislators understanding of the issues Gorilla Advantage into June, President Steve Scott made difficult decisions to we face and to finding northwest Arkansas, PSU took a few minutes to thank prevent even more drastic solutions to some of our pointed out that large high the university community cuts to higher education problems.” schools in those counties and friends of PSU for their and alumni and community The president pledged are actually much closer efforts in getting through a members added their voices to keep the lines of than some of the university’s very tough budget year. to those calling for an end to communication open in the large feeder schools in the cuts to university budgets,” months ahead and to share Kansas City, Wichita and “On campus, everyone Scott said. “We appreciate information as it becomes Tulsa areas. from administrators their courage and their available. “Pittsburg State has a and faculty and staff, commitment to education.” “We’ll have more budget number of highly ranked President Scott said the forums in the future,” Scott programs that are not to physical plant difficult budget year ahead said, “and I’ll post relevant available at any other workers and part-time could have been much worse news stories and other university in the region, student employees if the current budget plan information in the budget and would be beneficial have pulled together had not been passed. As it area of my web pages as it to students in these fast- is, the university is facing comes along. And I need growing counties,” said so the university a 2010-2011 budget that is feedback, as well. It is President Steve Scott. could continue to essentially at the same level important that we keep the “We’re eager to make serve students in one as 2006. information flowing in both those available to Arkansas of the most difficult “Although we were directions.” students.” budget years in the pleased that the final state The president added that budget plan didn’t require he will have additional university’s history,” additional cuts beyond those budget information posted Scott said. we’ve already absorbed, that to a page he has created that Off campus, Scott said, doesn’t mean the months is devoted to the university’s there were many others who ahead will be easy,” Scott budget: www.pittstate.edu/ served critical roles. said. “We need to prepare office/president/budget/.

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Scott names in student personnel and guidance - Fuchs to lead higher education from Oklahoma State Olson provost University, and a Ph.D. in family life Honors College President Steve Scott announced education and consultation from Kansas In May, Dr. Craig Fuchs was selected the selection of Dr. Lynette Olson State University. to be the new leader of the PSU Honors as provost and College. The Honors College guides vice president high-achieving students through of academic President adds to enriched academic experiences during affairs in March their time on campus. The director leadership team following a of the college national search. Two new faces recruits, oversees Olson has served were added to the selection of, in that role as the President’s and cultivates an interim since Council this those students, July of 2009. The Dr. Lynette Olson spring. In March, who take provost and vice President Steve intensive courses president for academic affairs is the Scott announced and complete chief academic officer at the university. the selection of more rigorous “The selection of the provost is one Angela Neria as requirements for Dr. Craig Fuchs Angela Neria of the most important decisions in the university’s graduation. the life of a university,” Scott said. new chief Fuchs, who has served as chairman “The national search that Pittsburg information of the Music Department since 2002, State University has just concluded officer. In June, will continue to teach in the department confirmed that Dr. Olson is the right he announced and also to conduct the wind ensemble choice for this pivotal role at PSU. the selection of and to oversee the department’s master’s In addition to coming through a Chris Kelly as program in wind conducting. demanding search process, Dr. Olson the new associate Fuchs said that in his new role, has demonstrated over the past year her vice president for he hopes to increase students’ ability to work well with the faculty and marketing and opportunities to study internationally, campus leadership. Her commitment communication. Chris Kelly take field trips in order to provide to learning, to this university and its Neria leads the experiential learning, and bring in students is evident.” Office of Information Services and guest speakers, as well as create new “I am pleased to serve as the next provides leadership and management for interdisciplinary courses. provost and vice president for academic the university’s information technology affairs at Pittsburg State University and efforts. Kelly has been charged with look forward to working with faculty, integrating the university’s growing Homecoming 2010 staff and administration in moving marketing and communication efforts. Students have selected “The Grass is Pittsburg State forward,” Olson said. Neria, who holds three degrees Greener on the Gorilla Side” as the theme “Pittsburg State has much to be proud from PSU, was previously the chief for Homecoming Week, Oct. 11–16. Events of and I believe we will continue to be information officer for the Joplin, during the week-long celebration include: Oct. 11 – Gorilla Games, 4 p.m., Oval competitive through well-established Mo., school district. Kelly, who holds Oct. 13 – Homecoming Convocation, noon, programs and as we pursue new two degrees from PSU, came to the Carnie Smith Stadium directions and initiatives.” university from Via Christi Hospital Oct. 14 – Yell Like Hell, 7 p.m., Olson received a bachelor’s degree in Pittsburg, where he was director of Carnie Smith Stadium in Christian education from Ozark marketing and public relations. Oct. 16 – Parade, 9 a.m., downtown Pittsburg Christian College, a master’s degree Oct. 16 – Football vs. Washburn, 2 p.m. (GorillaFest starts at 11 a.m.)

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 5 FROM THE OVAL

25 years and For future generations– still going It’s the right thing to do strong! PSU President Steve Scott frequently says that The university celebrated its conserving finite resources and encouraging a culture 25th year of partnering with area businesses during the that strives for sustainability is the right thing to do for 2010 Community Campaign, future generations. Now the campus has embraced that which kicked off with a people around the goal. breakfast on March 9. state that would kill to have The University Strategic Planning Council gave its More than 30 area this kind of economic driver approval to the addition of sustainability as a sixth goal businesses were recognized for in their community.” in the university’s strategic plan in April. President continually supporting At the breakfast, the Scott made his case for adding the goal in a series of the university since the Rex Crowley Award was campus forums and a draft of the proposed goal got campaign first began back in presented to Wendell and campus scrutiny before its adoption. 1985. The breakfast, which Lynda Wilkinson, longtime “I am extremely pleased with the enthusiasm with marked the beginning of the supporters of Pitt State who two-week campaign, featured have provided years of service which the campus has embraced this concept,” Scott campaign co-chairs Elaine and leadership to PSU and to said. “Clearly the time is right to include sustainability Castagno, co-owner of Jim’s the community. Both knew in our planning process.” Steakhouse and a financial Crowley, a Pittsburg banker The new sustainability goal calls for the university planner with University Bank, and one of the first members to “institutionalize environmental sustainability into and Mark Werner, president of the business community all university activities including operations, teaching of Citizen’s Bank. to volunteer his time for and learning, discovery and engagement." It joins five “You don’t have to look PSU fundraising, through established goals: far to see how important their individual work in the 1. Enhance learner success the university is to the banking industry. 2. Enhance discovery and research community,” Werner told For more information on the crowd of 150 business giving to the Community 3. Enhance engagement and interaction with members and university Campaign, contact external stakeholders to stimulate cooperative supporters gathered for the University Development, and progressive growth and development breakfast. “There are a lot of 620-235-4768. 4. Embrace emerging technologies 5. Obtain the resources necessary to support the university’s strategic goals while maintaining sound fiscal management strategies that are clearly articulated to all constituents The university uses these strategic goals to drive planning across campus and each department and unit measures progress against the goals. To learn more about PSU’s strategic planning, go President to www2.pittstate.edu/inres/. To view PSU President Steve Scott Scott’s forum on the new sustainability goal, visit (right) presents www.pittstate.edu/office/president/speeches/. the 2010 Rex Crowley Award to Wendell and Lynda Wilkinson.

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Fashion Week– teachers who care about their “Green is the students. Each is a first-time winner of the award. New Black”Æ For Woodburn, who Students concerned with received the honor after two very important things multiple nominations, the - looking good and caring win was a way to honor her for the planet - were in the father, a former accounting spotlight as the Fashion professor who won the award Merchandising Association during his tenure at PSU. recognized Fashion Week in “I’m humbled, because March. there are so many other The theme for the week was good teachers at PSU,” said Bob Schroer, Cynthia Woodburn and Ron Downing “Green is the New Black.” Woodburn, whose students James Smith, a sophomore cited her teaching skills, fashion merchandising personality, and skill at her major who organized the craft. “It’s a good feeling to be Goin’ mobile fit on a phone, it’s about week’s events, said that with recognized.” To accommodate the rapidly addressing the specific needs of designers making more eco- For Bob Schroer, the growing number of users who users on mobile devices.” conscious decisions about award is affirmation that access the Internet through The university’s new mobile their pieces, the theme his 30+ years in industry are their smart phones, PSU has site will initially work on the seemed appropriate. valuable to students who will launched a mobile-friendly iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, “We thought we should soon seek careers in the diesel web site. Palm Pre and Android-based focus the week on something and heavy equipment field. “We’ve seen a dramatic handheld phones. It will not we all care about,” he said. “When you work on growth in the number of yet work on Windows Mobile Fashion week events projects with your class, you users who come to our and Blackberry phones, but included a Q&A with fashion always hope the students website on their iPhones Fienen said he is working to professionals, prizes on the will enjoy it and learn from and other smart phones,” expand the feature. Oval, and a runway fashion it,” he said. “To get this said Michael Fienen, PSU To visit the new mobile PSU show featuring vintage and award affirms the fact that director of web marketing. site, point your mobile device’s organic clothing. we’re doing things students “This is a global trend that is web browser at m.pittstate. appreciate and are learning just going to get bigger, and edu (don’t use the www in from. It makes my work all it’s important to address it the web address). An ‘about’ Outstanding that much better.” early.” page answers questions and faculty On the heels of his Mobile university sites describes the mobile site’s The winners of this year’s recognition for leading his are still rare, Fienen said. features. Outstanding Faculty Award latest advisee to a win at “To make the web pages said they were honored to be WorldSkills USA, Ron usable for smart phones, you singled out from peers they Downing says the real reward really need to create a simple believe to be great teachers. is simply being able to work page with fewer images and Dr. Cynthia Woodburn, with students each day. graphics. The goal is to create mathematics, and automotive “I like to see young people an easy way for users to get technology professors Ron succeed,” he said. “If I can information. Making Downing and Bob Schroer pass on the knowledge to help a mobile site well were honored at Apple Day them do that, then this has isn’t about just ceremonies in the spring for all been worthwhile. That’s making their passion in the classroom why I teach.” existing and their reputation as great pages

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 7 FROM THE OVAL

University begins work on New scholarship program– new master plan Non-resident children and In the spring of 2010, the university began the exciting work grandchildren of alumni benefit of developing a new master plan for the campus. A new scholarship program for the nonresident children and “The current master plan was developed a little more than grandchildren of PSU alumni got the green light recently a decade ago,” said President Steve Scott. “Many things have from the Kansas Board of Regents. changed since that plan was put in place and many of the University officials made the argument that admitting the major components of that plan have been accomplished. Now nonresident children and grandchildren of alumni would help it is time to prepare for the next decade.” increase the geographic diversity of the student body and The first step in the process was the selection of an would be a benefit that alumni would appreciate. experienced firm to guide the planning. After presentations “We get inquiries from alumni every year who would like from several highly qualified firms, PSU selected the to encourage their children or grandchildren to consider architectural firm of Gould Evans. attending PSU,” said President Steve Scott. “Often, they “They have extensive experience in doing this kind of have a spouse whose alma mater offers some sort of legacy planning with other universities,” said Paul Stewart, director program.” of facilities planning. “They have very good experience with The new program, which will go into effect in the fall of constituent group engagement.” 2011, will allow nonresident children and grandchildren of That engagement, which included meetings with alumni to attend PSU for 150 percent of the resident tuition. community stakeholders over the summer months, is part The program will be available for full-time undergraduate of the research phase of the process, which will run through students enrolling at PSU for the first time and will be made September. retroactive to include currently enrolled students who meet President Scott said a very important part of the master the program criteria. planning process will be a series of meetings with campus The duration of the award will be up to eight semesters of and community groups. undergraduate study. Students in the program must maintain “An effective master plan is more than just a list of where a 2.50 GPA in work completed at PSU. to stick new buildings,” Scott said. “It has its genesis in the For more information, contact the Office of Enrollment university’s strategic plan. It takes into account existing Management and Student Success at 620-235-4109. structures and systems, the changing needs and expectations of students and evolving technology.” Scott said it is important to keep the campus and the public informed and involved throughout the master plan’s development. “It is important that the campus and community participate in the presentations and forums that will take place over the next several months,” Scott said. “We will also post information and updates regularly on the university’s web site.” Stewart said the timeline calls for a draft master plan to be completed and ready for consideration for approval in the spring of 2011. “There’s a lot of work to do in a relatively short time,” Stewart said. “but I know the result will be worth the effort.” Nature Reach’s 30-year-old eagle, Aurora, surprised everyone this spring by laying her first egg. It is uncommon for eagles to lay eggs in captivity and Aurora has been with Nature Reach for 25 years. Caregivers substituted an artificial egg (above) for the real one, which was not viable, to allow Aurora to follow her nesting instincts.

8 PITT STATE Fall 2010 fine arts calendar Art Department PALS/Theatre Music Department Lecture and reception dates and times TBA. Contact sbowman@ SEPTEMBER pittstate.edu, or call 620-235-4305 for more information. Performing Arts and Lecture Series: for ticket information 26 ...... Symphony Orchestra and prices, go to http://www. 3 p.m., Pittsburg UNIVERSITY GALLERY April 11 – May 10, 2011 Memorial Auditorium Porter Hall Michael Aurbach pittstate.edu/office/tickets/ pals.dot. Aug. 23 – Sept. 20, 2010 Sculpture OCTOBER Cathy Breslaw Nashville, Tenn. 4...... Jazz Ensembles Duff Goldman Wall Sculpture/Hangings 7:30 p.m., Overman “The Ace of Cakes” Carlsbad, Calif. Student Center HARRY KRUG GALLERY– Sponsored by PALS Porter Hall Sept. 17, 2010, 7 p.m. Sep. 22 – Oct. 20, 2010 5...... Band Concert Aug. 27 – Sept. 30, 2010 Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium 7:30 p.m., Pittsburg Kevin Hughes Memorial Auditorium Lecture: Sept. 21, 6 p.m., Vaughn Wascovich An Dochas & the 316 Hughes Hall Lecture: Aug. 30, 10 a.m., Haran Irish Dancers 8...... Estonian Vocal Ensemble Reception: Sept. 21, 7 p.m., 316 Hughes Hall Sponsored by PALS 7:30 p.m., McCray Hall Porter Hall Reception: Aug. 30, 11 a.m., Feb. 3, 2011, 7 p.m. Ceramics Porter Hall 28 ...... Chamber Orchestra Pittsburg Memorial Audtorium Springfield, Mo. Photography 7:30 p.m., McCray Hall Commerce, Texas Tracy Silverman Oct. 26 – Nov. 25, 2010 NOVEMBER Sponsored by PALS Judy Rushin Oct. 6 – Dec. 6, 2010 5...... Choir Concert April 19, 2011, 7 p.m. Drawing Installation Michelle Rogers 7:30 p.m., McCray Hall U-Club - Overman Student Tallahasee, Fla. Photography Alexandria, Va. Center DECEMBER 2...... Jazz Ensembles Dec. 1, 2010 – Jan. 20, 2011 Jan. 27 – Feb. 28, 2011 7 p.m., Pittsburg Stephen Heywood and Memorial Auditorium Emily Douglas Life-Force: Brianne Fulton, Jennifer Higerd, Casey PSU Theatre Ceramics and 2D 5...... Band Concert Mixed Media Drawings Stueber Productions 3 p.m., Pittsburg Jacksonville, Fla. Ceramics Memorial Auditorium Fort Hays, Kan. For ticket information on PSU Theatre productions visit 8 & 10...... Annual Timmons Feb. 4 – March 4, 2011 www.pittstate.edu/office/ VISUAL TERRITORY March 11 – May 5, 2011 Chamber Concerts tickets/or call 620-235-4716. Time: TBA Timmons Chapel National Juried Exhibit COLLECTIVE FUSION: Sherry Leedy, juror A Salon Style Non-juried The Jungle Book Exhibit by PSU Faculty & Staff by Rudyard Kipling For a complete listing of performances, including senior March 10 – April 7, 2011 Opening and Reception: Directed by Cynthia Allan March 11, 2011 Oct. 28 – 30, 2010, 8 p.m. recitals, visit www.pittstate. Art Department Biannual edu/music/calendar.html. Faculty Exhibit Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium Theatre Unplugged SOLO AND CHAMBER student directed MUSIC SERIES Dec. 3 – 4, 2010, 7 p.m. All performances begin at Grubbs Studio Theater 7:30 p.m. in McCray Hall. Tickets are available at the door and by calling the PSU Ticket The Water’s Edge Office at 620-235-4796. by Teresa Rebeck Directed by Megan Westhoff Friday, Sept. 10 March 3 – 6, 2011 Trio Fedele Evenings: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 Matinee: 2 p.m. Heinavanker (vocal ensemble) Grubbs Studio Theater Friday, Oct. 29 ETHEL (string quartet) Woman In Mind Friday, Feb. 11 by Alan Acykbourn Richard Raymond, piano Directed by Linden Little Friday, March 11 April 28 – May 12, 2011 Adam Holzman, guitar Evenings: 8 p.m. Matinee: 2 p.m. Friday, April 1 Grubbs Studio Theater Chatham Baroque Ensemble

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 9 Racing Fans Becky Moore (BS ’06, MS ’08) and Jessica Moore (BS ’10) traveled to Charlotte, N.C., in May 2010. They showed off their Pitt State pride while touring the Hendrick Motorsports Racing Complex, home to Jeff Gordon & Jimmie Johnson’s racing teams. While on their adventure, they also toured Rousch Fenway, Earnhardt Ganassi, and Joe Gibbs racing shops, the brand new NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 race. They ended their trip by attending the Coca-Cola 600 race and cheering on their favorite drivers. Galapagos Gorillas There are lots of exotic species on the Galapagos Islands, but not many Gorillas. We would like to know what interesting places While Matt Vietti (BA ’99) and his wife, Angela (BA ’99), showed their Gorilla pride, Gus has visited. E-mail your photo and a brief marine iguanas covered the rocky shore behind them. Matt and Angela live in story to [email protected] Colorado Springs, Colo.

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10 PITT STATE Fall 2010 Making a BIG impression Pittsburg State There was no shortage of Gorillas at the Vatican when University these loyal alumni showed their pride on the Our Lady www.pittstate.edu of Lourdes Choir (Pittsburg, Kan.) pilgrimage to Rome in March 2010. President Steven A. Scott

Vice President for University Advancement J. Bradford Hodson

Magazine Editorial Board Chairperson: Ron Womble Chris Kelly, BA ’94, MA ’09 Dr. Bruce Dallman Dr. Brenda Frieden, BS ’71, MS ’97 Eweleen Good, BS ’72, MS ’88 Dr. Brad Hodson, MBA ’93 Dr. Lynette Olson Matt Osterthun Melinda Roelfs Johnna Schremmer, BBA ’02, MBA ’03

The PittState Magazine is produced by the Office of Marketing Another growing Gorilla family and Communication It was a Gorilla family vacation to Hoover Associate Vice President Dam in March 2010. Marlin Carson Chris Kelly (BS ’78), his wife, Ellen (BSN ’78) their Diane Hutchison daughter, Lindsay Young (BBA ’05, MBA Paulina O’Malley ’09), and husband, Aaron (BSET ’05), all Cassie Mathes made the trip to celebrate the marriage Malcolm Turner of Grant Carson (BST ’07) and Tosha (Gier) Carla Wehmeyer Carson. Tosha, a management major, is Ron Womble well on her way toward adding still one Sondra Wood more PSU degree to the family. Pitt State Magazine, the official magazine of Pittsburg State University, is published for alumni and friends of the university. Circulation: 55,000

Vol. 18 No. 2 Fall 2010 EDITOR: Ron Womble EDITORIAL Cassie Mathes DESIGN Diane Hutchison Paulina O’Malley PHOTOGRAPHY Malcolm Turner Carla Wehmeyer

For extra copies or Proud to be teachers and alumni Gorillas at Disney World additional information: These Pittsburg third grade teachers, all PSU alumni, show their Mel Anderson (BSBA, MBA, MS, EdS) PSU Office of Marketing and Communication Gorilla pride at the Botanical Gardens at Caesar’s Palace in Las and sons Chris (BSBA ’99) and Matt (BS 106 Russ Hall Vegas in June. The teachers were attending a national workshop ’08) on spring break at Disney World 1701 S. Broadway on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), a national – clearly loyal readers of the Pitt State Pittsburg, Kansas 66762-7575 strategy for school change and improvement. Left to right Magazine. are Lori Wilkes (George Nettels Elementary), Kerstin Womble telephone: 620-235-4122 (Westside Elementary), Lacey O’Brien (Lakeside Elementary), e-mail: [email protected] and Amy Bartlow (George Nettels Elementary). Fall 2010 PITT STATE 11 Where it all began... Acclaimed soprano found her voice at PSU.

AS BARBARA RONDELLI-PERRY companies, TV, and radio stations across stood on the mezzanine walkway of the world. McCray Hall, she couldn’t help but Born in Chicopee, Kan., to a German- remember the significance of the place Italian family, Rondelli-Perry had an early where her career in music first began. start at music, taking the stage at McCray “I have so many memories of McCray,” for her first full recital at only 16 years of said Rondelli-Perry, a 1960 alumnae age. who has enjoyed an incredible career as “My mother taught me to play piano a globally recognized opera singer. “I’ve and sing,” she said of the years before she seen a lot of facilities, and this building began studying with PSU’s Judy Bounds ranks up there with anything I’ve seen. Coleman. “By the time I was 14 or 15, It’s beautifully done.” I knew voice was for me.” After nearly 15 years traveling and It wasn’t long before she realized how performing across the world – and more rare her gift was. At PSU’s former Carney than three decades as a professor of voice Hall, she performed the lead in several at the University of Toledo – Rondelli- works including “Old Maid and the Perry recently returned to PSU for her Thief,” “Brigadoon,” “La Boheme,” and Half-Century Club reunion and to visit “Telemachus.” She also performed with the family farm where she grew up. the Inspiration Point Opera Workshop in Along the way, she shared memories of Arkansas, being cast as a soprano Carmen an exciting career as an internationally (“to the chagrin of all the mezzos who acclaimed operatic soprano who wanted the part,” she said with a smile) in performed in a dozen countries on three Bizet’s opera “Carmen.” continents, appearing with major opera Perhaps her first big break, however, (see Rondelli-Perry pg. 14)

(clockwise from top left ending in center) Madama Butterfly in “Madama Butterfly,” Düsseldorf, Germany, 1970; Rosina in “Barber of Seville,” Saarbrücken, Germany, 1967; Sophie in “Der Rossenkavalier,” Saarbrücken, Germany, 1967; lead role, in “Venetian Festival,” Wuppertal, Germany, 1969; Micaela in “Carmen,” Lübeck, Germany, 1964; Gilda in “Rigoletto,”Saarbrücken, Germany, 1965; Undine in “Undine,” Wuppertal, Germany, 1970 12 PITT STATE Fall 2010 Fall 2010 PITT STATE 13 Rondelli-Perry (from pg. 12) It was a work ethic. My father many concerts, performing in major was when she won third prize at the was always adamant that nothing operatic roles and guest performing in national auditions for the National should be just given to you. So it was a other opera houses when people would Federation of Music Clubs, an tremendous day when I got the letter.” fall ill. I would travel on the train accomplishment that allowed her In 1960, at the tender age of 20, she system and go wherever they needed to make a professional recording boarded the Queen Elizabeth for the me to go. I sang Elsa in Wagner’s that helped land her a concert tour five-day journey to England where she “Lohengrin” and the first Rhine Maiden performing for the U.S. Information studied with the noted British soprano in the “Ring of the Nibelungen.” I Service. Dame Eva Turner. Rondelli-Perry learned the role of Sieglinde in four days It wasn’t long before Rondelli-Perry began winning voice awards at the when one of the sopranos fell ill. It was received notification that she had academy and performed in an one of the biggest thrills of my life. I opera tour in her spare time. wouldn’t try to do that now, but at the “..as the granddaughter With school behind her, Rondelli- time I knew I could.” of immigrants, I worked Perry came back to the United States, Of her nearly 100 operatic and finishing as a finalist at New York oratorio roles, her favorite role is one she hard. It was a work City’s Metropolitan Opera auditions. performed not only in Europe, but also ethic. My father was But in 1964, she returned to Europe to in the United States at the New York always adamant that perform at an opera house in Germany City Opera and in Honolulu: Madama nothing should be just – the beginning of her professional Butterfly in the famed Puccini opera. career. “From one language to another, it is given to you.” During the mid 1960s, she as though you’re a pianist and someone performed as many as six major roles has moved middle C,” she said, her eyes each year for opera houses throughout lighting up. “But you still have to play become the first PSU graduate ever Germany and in Holland, Belgium, the piece.” to receive a Fulbright Scholarship to Switzerland, and London. In the late 1960s, she traveled to attend the Royal Academy of Music in “This whole time, I was doing so South Africa, where her first husband London. was an opera and orchestral conductor. “Nobody thought I would get it,” She took a break from opera, performing she said. “But as the granddaughter occasional concerts. She opted to return of immigrants, I worked hard. to the U.S. in 1974. With an infant daughter in tow, she accepted a position at the University of Toledo, seeking stability for her new focus in life. There, she fell in love with her students, many of whom went on to accomplish vocal fame in their own right. As years passed, her students weren’t the only ones she fell in love with. A widow by this time, she met Dr. Richard Perry, the university’s associate vice president for academic affairs emeritus and a professor of higher education, who was taking voice lessons from one of her former students. Accompanying her to the reunion this past May, Perry delighted in his wife’s

Barbara Rondelli-Perry today and as Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème," Carney Hall, Pittsburg State University, 1959. 14 PITT STATE Fall 2010 reminiscing. Music, he said, brought Toledo were able to hear it as recently purchased a collection of old LPs them together. as April, when Rondelli-Perry was which included an original recording “I attended a dinner party at her featured as part of a voice recital at the of her very first recital at McCray Hall house where I was surrounded by Toledo Art Museum’s Great Gallery. 54 years ago, and wanted to know if he professional singers. They warned me I “Her voice is heavenly indeed. should return it to her. would have to sing for my supper,” he I’d like to say it’s arresting,” he said, “I opened them and it was like I recalled with a laugh. “I find singing watching her move among the crowd at was pulling back the curtain of time,” to be a great comfort. To me, if you the reunion. “No one has her repertoire. she said. “I was very moved. It was as can feel the song and are true to it, it But I’m not just impressed with her. I though I was there again.” • becomes an expression of your very am in love with her. She is my passion.” soul.” With retirement on the horizon, To hear a sample of that recording, Her voice, he said, is as wonderful Rondelli-Perry said she was pleasantly visit the PSU’s online press and media as one who has only read about her surprised last year when a man from center at www.pittstate.edu/pr. experiences might imagine. Fans in Carthage, Mo., contacted her. He had Leaving a Legacy a decade of gratitude.

TEN YEARS AGO, the PSU Foundation established the Heritage Society to honor and thank those, like Ken Gordon, who have “planted seeds” to ensure continued growth of our vibrant institution and the success of our students. As a professor, Ken committed more than 40 years to the education of PSU students. Now retired, he has chosen to continue his commitment through a planned gift for scholarships. Planned gifts such as provisions in wills, trusts, retirement plans, life insurance and other long-range financial plans are integral to the generational success of PSU.

By planting the seeds of support today through a planned gift, you can join Ken and more than 400 other Heritage Society Members who have shown their commitment to the long-term success of the university we all love.

For more information on creating a lasting legacy at Pittsburg State, or if you have already included PSU in your plans, contact: Shawn Naccarato, Director of Planned Giving 620-235-4863 [email protected]

Ken Gordon, retired faculty, PSU College of Technology

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 15 Dr. Andrew Myers, director of the Kansas Polymer Research Center, examines algae samples. a greener future: algae may hold the key

GREEN AND SLIMY, algae may not appeal to most “Depending on what you feed it, algae produce things people, but it is a thing of beauty to folks looking for like oils that we believe we can turn into polymers,” said sustainable energy solutions. A group of Pitt State scientists Dr. Andy Myers, director of the KPRC. Describing the has been enlisted to help pave the way. algae as being grown in large tubes, Myers said the center is This year, PSU’s Kansas Polymer Research Center working with its partners to acquire samples and ultimately, was awarded its largest-ever federal allocation to become algae oil. the first group of scientists to perform research using oil “Using this oil would take our work from a multi-step produced by algae. to a single-step conversion process, which would save time, In March, the USDA said ‘yes’ to a proposal by the money, energy, and waste,” he said. “The field of renewable KPRC to use a $2 million allocation to pursue the cutting- materials is both popular and relevant to the green edge research, which would simplify the conversion chemistry movement that is receiving a lot of attention process of using natural oil to create polymers. Those today. Algae research is an area that has a lot of potential.” polymers ultimately will lead to environmentally friendly Steve Robb, KPRC executive director emeritus, said end products such as floor tiles or foam seats for chairs. USDA leaders have expressed an unrivaled confidence in The allocation was included in last fall’s Federal Omnibus the research that is taking place at the center, and have Spending Bill, and is disbursed by the USDA. encouraged the scientists to explore the unlimited potential Over the past five years, the center has received national in this field. attention for its work converting bio-based materials “This is definitely cutting-edge, and it keeps the KPRC such as vegetable and soybean oil into products that are on the forefront of research in that field,” Robb said. produced and distributed by industry partners. With this “These kinds of research grants are few and far between. new allocation, which will be distributed to the KPRC over In most cases, the money goes out and it is the government a three-year period beginning this September, scientists telling schools what to do with it. But in this case, they’re will become pioneers in exploring this sustainable form of encouraging us to explore and they’re as excited as we are.” • research using an important natural resource.

16 PITT STATE Fall 2010 a river runs through it

Construction students create award-winning pervious concrete

WHEN KYLE BUNTIN AND JAKE KNIGHT chose Pittsburg State to pursue degrees in construction engineering technology, they learned quickly how access to the right materials and instructors can make all the difference in an education. Lifelong friends from Erie, Kan., Buntin and Knight saw research opportunities in the developing area of pervious concrete, a form of concrete that allows water to flow through – a more sustainable choice for many contractors today. The two began spending long hours in the lab experimenting with a variety of rocks and filler materials. In the end, they created about 30 different concrete samples that were durable and permeable, allowing the maximum amount of water to filter out. Their samples were so good (the best used a mixture of quartz and fiber) that they finished second last fall and again this spring at the Kansas-Missouri American Concrete Institute’s Pervious Concrete Competition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Pitt State was the only Division II school Long-time friends, represented in the competition. classmates, and now With sustainable techniques proving to be masters of new, the wave of the future in construction, Buntin environmentally and Knight are looking forward to using these friendly concrete technology: successes to build their careers. Kyle Buntin, left, “It gives you confidence knowing you can and Jake Knight. go out and achieve goals you set for yourself,” said Knight. •

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 17 Neat ANDREW CLARK was just a college freshman hanging out in his dorm trick! room at Pitt State when his friends filmed him performing what has become perhaps the most widely broadcast party trick any PSU student has ever recorded. Clark, of Seneca, Mo., had perfected the art of spinning a basketball on the tip of a pencil back in high school while killing time in the locker room with his teammates. He got so good at it that he expanded the trick to spin as many as three balls at once, using even his toes to keep them moving. Talk about productive downtime. Posting clips to YouTube this spring (as of July he’d received more than 25,000 views), his videos soon became viral sensations, twice being featured by ESPN as their “Video of the Week.” It wasn’t long before producers with major networks began calling, first from the “Tonight Show” and then Ellen Degeneres. Clark flew to California in June, meeting Leno and performing the trick in front of an audience of millions. Now, the 19-year-old engineering technology major is back at PSU. A science guy at heart, he explains the friction that makes the trick work (he once kept a ball spinning for 14 minutes) and laughs at how such a simple skill has received so much attention. “I know it looks hard, but you just have to keep the ball spinning,” he said. “I never thought all this would happen to me. I came back from doing Leno and decided to get even more balls and start practicing to see what else I can do.” •

Andrew Clark hadn’t been west of Kansas until a talent he perfected while clowning around in the locker room won him a chance to appear in the audience on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

18 PITT STATE Fall 2010 Peak time for new construction and renovation– Summertime is no vacation

COME SUMMERTIME, Paul Stewart were paid for by a variety of sources, may just be one of the busiest people on including state funds and federal campus. stimulus dollars. As director of the Office of Facilities With only about 12 weeks to get the Planning, Stewart and his small team work done, construction and renovation are responsible for the multitude of projects have also resulted in the creation renovations of buildings across campus, as of hundreds of jobs and the hiring of well as the oversight of new construction. nearly a dozen contracting companies. And with construction being a major focus One of the most visible projects, For many who work on on the Pittsburg State campus for the however, is the construction of the new university campuses, past several summers, it’s a schedule he’s Crimson Commons residence halls, a summer is a time getting used to. $10 million, five-building project that when the pace slows. “Each summer I feel like I’m seeing will house 200 students. Although the But for Paul Stewart, progress,” said Stewart, who had eight project experienced some weather delays, director of facilities planning, summer is a major projects going on this summer. university officials anticipate it to be hectic ballet in which “Our priorities are the building envelopes complete this fall. Also this summer, the he coordinates multiple and then we look inside at the mechanical second of several existing residence halls construction and systems. We have big goals.” was completely renovated. renovation projects that In the summer of 2009, the campus It’s a busy time, Stewart said, but can only be done in the began a frenzy of projects with the goal of it’s work that each year is making a big weeks between the end of the spring semester having everything complete by the time difference. and the beginning of new freshman moved into the dorms in “When you start relocating classrooms the fall semester in August. and moving departmental offices, you August. This summer was even busier, with get a lot of people involved,” Stewart Below: crews work on projects in Kelce, Porter, Russ, Whitesitt, said. “It’s busier every summer than it the Crimson Commons Yates, Grubbs, and Trout Hall. Ranging is at any other time during the year, residence hall complex. from the replacement of windows and and we appreciate everyone proactively doors to roof and masonry repair, the doing what they need to do to keep PSU projects varied in size and expense and operational.” •

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 19 The ‘60s– Fashions tell the story of BY social change on campus BA The students who arrived on the Pittsburg State campus in 1961 looked a lot like their predecessors, who came in rapidly increasing numbers throughout the ’50s. Today, we call them Baby Boomers. Boomer By the end of that tumultuous decade, FASHIONS however, styles, like society, were undergoing radical change and Kansas State College was in the midst of it. Many social scientists argue that fashion Do you see yourself or reflects the politics and mood of the time. anyone you know from these Some even claim to be able to track the stock unidentified photos we gleaned from old Kanzas? market by the length of women’s skirts or the If so, drop us a line. width of men’s ties. Whether fashion has some We'd like to hear more. 20 PITT STATE Fall 2010 [email protected] deeper meaning or it is simply a popular, if difficult hair style at women were common. The beehive matter of the incessant striving by the beginning of the decade, but it and bouffant hair styles for women each generation to differentiate quickly gave way to much shorter in the early part of the decade had itself from those who came before, page boy and chin-length contour been replaced by long, straight hair there is no denying that the decade cuts. The required knee-length more characteristic of Joan Baez of the ’60s brought one of the skirts of the early ’60s also gave than of Jackie Kennedy. For both most dramatic shifts in fashion the way to polyester slacks and capri African-American men and women, nation has seen before or since. trousers. When the mini-skirt was the afro became not only a popular introduced in 1964, the fashion hairstyle, but also a symbol of the In the early ’60s, men wore their floodgates opened. struggle for racial equality. hair well above their ears and crew cuts were a popular style for men at In the wild years between 1965 Color, for both men and women, Kansas State College. Men’s casual and 1970, the nation changed and was everywhere. shirts were likely to be plaid, with Kansas State College changed It was just 10 short years, but what buttoned down collars and blue with it. Styles on campus were just a difference – jeans were the uniform of the day. the visible evidence of that wider, in clothes and deeper social upheaval. The women, meanwhile, were hair, but also in inspired by the both by the By ’69, longer hair had become attitudes and elegance of First Lady Jacqueline more fashionable for men and opinions. The Kennedy and by the early Beach facial hair was popular. Bell Baby Boomers Party films. The beehive was a bottom jeans for both men and had arrived! • Fall 2010 PITT STATE 21 ARTS & SCIENCES COLLEGE CLOSE-UP

family, she says it was a good fit from the beginning. “As I got further into it, I became impassioned that I could give medical care to all these people giving their lives for their country,” she said. “I think the military has a lot of special people in it.” When she graduated in May, Roush was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. With a near-perfect GPA, she will begin Col. Ron medical school at the University of Seglie (BA ’65) Kansas this fall. The Army has granted presents the her an educational delay, which will Bronze Cross put off her active duty requirements Award to Cadet until after she finishes her three-year Melissa Roush residency. at the ROTC “I’m very honored by all of this. Spring Banquet. I always think, ‘Are you sure this is for me?’” she said with a laugh. Cadet honored with “But I haven’t done any of this to get rare military awards military prefers the award be presented rewarded for it, I just push myself and if by a Medal of Honor recipient. Because recognition comes, then that’s great.” Four years ago when Melissa Roush those are hard to find, Roush’s Bronze enrolled at PSU, she knew she wanted to Cross was awarded by Col. Ron Seglie, Science students land pursue a career as a military physician. a Pittsburg physician and the event’s competitive K-INBRE grants But what she and ROTC leaders at PSU keynote speaker. couldn’t foresee was that before she even “There are only about 200 still alive Eleven students studying science at finished her bachelor’s degree, she would in the U.S. It’s easier to find generals PSU have won highly competitive end up one of the most highly awarded than it is Medal of Honor recipients,” research grants through the Kansas cadets in university history. Johnson explained. “To our knowledge, IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Roush, a native of Louisburg, Kan., this is the first time anyone from this Excellence (K-INBRE). received a number of awards at the department has ever received this The students, who plan to attend ROTC Spring Banquet for both her award.” professional or graduate school upon academic success and physical aptitude. Roush was also selected by the completing their degrees, each received What places her above the rest are two Women’s Army Corp Veterans $4,000 ($1,000 of which goes toward top honors: the Legion of Valor Bronze Association to receive the Pallas Athene their research supplies) through the Cross Award and the 2009 Pallas Athene Award, which is given to only a handful grant program, which provides money to Award. of female cadets in the country each qualifying university scholars throughout The Bronze Cross is awarded to year. the state. The funds come through the the top cadets in the nation, including Despite her success as a woman - at National Institutes of Health, which aims Roush, who ranked 26th out of 4,703 22 years old, Roush oversaw more to provide money for biomedical research cadets nationwide. Roush earned her top than 80 cadets as PSU’s Battalion in states that have traditionally been ranking last summer while spending a Commander - she says it’s not about underfunded. month at Fort Lewis, Wash., at the U.S. the awards. She decided to join ROTC Dr. Virginia Rider, PSU’s campus Army Cadet Command’s Leadership after seeing her brother, Bradley Roush, representative for K-INBRE, said Development Camp. Her high grades, flourish in the program four years ago the university has received more than physical fitness tests and extracurricular (he is finishing a captain career course $700,000 since the program became involvement all factored into the ranking. at Fort Leonard Wood before going available in Kansas. With the addition of Pittsburg State ROTC Cpt. George into the special forces). Although they chemistry majors competing for grants Johnson said the honor is so rare, that the had no history of military in their for the first time in 2009-10 (four were

22 PITT STATE Fall 2010 COLLEGE CLOSE-UP ARTS & SCIENCES awarded), more science majors received Student broadcasters High School students funds this past year than ever before. win state awards compete at Science Day “We probably have the most Student broadcasters from PSU took More than 450 high school students competitive students of any university in home 10 awards, including five first- participated in PSU’s Science Day Kansas. Their maturity, their drive, their place awards, last spring at the Kansas 2010 on April 22. Students competed grades, their ethics - they can compete Association of Broadcasters’ annual individually and in teams in four areas: with students at any university in the banquet in Wichita. Chemistry Capers, Physics Frolics, state,” Rider said. “Research is expensive, Students from Pittsburg State Earth and Space Science, and the and we couldn’t sponsor undergraduate competed in a variety of broadcasting Biology Bowl. research projects without this.” categories against students from other Some of the competitions included The students who received colleges and universities in Kansas. They the popular mouse trap car, in which scholarships are Alissa Becknell, a senior received five first-place awards, four students design and build cars powered from Cherryvale, Kan.; Caleb Burrows, second-place awards and one honorable only by a mousetrap; the water balloon a senior from Quapaw, Okla.; Afrita mention award. drop, in which students attempt to Davis, a senior from Coffeyville, Kan.; Troy Comeau, associate professor design and build a container to protect Sierra Foster, a junior from Edna, Kan.; in communication, said the state a water-filled balloon in a 3-story fall; Dustin Graham, a senior from Carl competition is becoming more and seismic shakers, in which students Junction, Mo.; Emma Hayes, a senior competitive each year. construct a tower of craft sticks and glue from Andover, Kan.; Joshua Kristalyn, “Kansas colleges and universities have that can withstand an earthquake. a sophomore from Iola, Kan.; Joshua some excellent broadcasting programs,” Mayfield, a sophomore from El Dorado, Comeau said. “This year, nine different Kan.; Meagan Miller, a sophomore from schools received a first place award. Wichita, Kan.; Haley Ruther, a senior Kansas has one of the most competitive from Robins, Iowa; and Sarah Wolfe, a state competitions, in not only the sophomore from Shawnee, Kan. number of entries, but in the quality of student productions.” Conference features For more information, contact experts on terrorism, Dr. Troy O. Comeau, at 620-235-4721. Afghanistan & Pakistan A day-long discussion of terrorism, More than 850 attend Afghanistan and Pakistan drew an Math Relays interesting mix of students, faculty and More than 850 high school students from community members to the campus in schools across the four-state area tested January. their math skills at the 42nd annual PSU “Terrorism, War, and the Challenge Math Relays in April. Facing the U.S. in Afghanistan The students competed individually and Pakistan” was sponsored by and in teams in areas such as algebraic the Department of Social Sciences, equations and inequalities, geometry, the International Academic Affairs trigonometry, logic and set theory and Committee and the International Studies algebraic word problems. Program. The conference featured a Terry Martin, a member of the Math distinguished panel of experts, including A Science Day competitor watches as Department faculty and the director of the device he has designed to protect a military officers, authors and an Afghani the annual event, called the attendance at military officer. water balloon in a fall plummets toward this year’s Math Relays “tremendous,” in the ground. Paul Zagorski, a member of the light of widespread school district cuts. faculty in the Department of Social Sciences, said the speakers’ on-the- ground experience in Afghanistan gave special weight to their comments.

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 23 BUSINESS COLLEGE CLOSE-UP

Entrepreneur magazine names College of Business One man’s legacy: one of the nation's best scholarships PSU’s Kelce College of Business has and of our faculty, who have created a It’s been two years been named one of the top business student-centered environment,” Dearth since PSU alumnus colleges in the nation by Entrepreneur said. “We have world-class faculty who Doyle Morton magazine, a leading publication for and are consistently recognized on a national passed away, but his about entrepreneurs. and international level.” niece can remember In its April issue, the magazine listed The Princeton Review compiled his love and the MBA program as one of the most the lists using data from its national generosity like it was Doyle Morton highly rated by students. survey of students attending the schools yesterday. The publication rated schools in that were recognized for its “Best 301 “He did so much for us and was a very six areas key to a successful career in Business Schools” ranking announced in giving, hardworking man,” said Nancy business: accounting, finance, general late 2009. The 80-question survey asked Moyer, recalling her mother’s brother. management, global management, 19,000 students to report on classroom “When my parents passed away, I was marketing and operations. The “Student and campus experiences at their schools supposed to take the piano but didn’t Opinion Honors for Business Schools” and rate their MBA programs in several have room for it in the house. I remember announcement lists 15 graduate schools areas. him writing us a letter saying that if we of business across the nation that were “We commend the schools on these wanted to build an addition onto our rated the highest by their students. lists for the outstanding job they are house in order to make room, he would Within those six areas, PSU’s College doing in preparing their students to pay for it. He was always so kind to us.” of Business was recognized in two apply their MBA training beyond the Morton, who finished his BS in categories, accounting and marketing classroom to successful job searches and business administration in 1955, saw (management). productive careers,” said Robert Franek, much of the world during his 79 years. Although the award recognizes senior vice president and publisher of Born in Moline, Kan., he served in the graduate programs specifically, College the Princeton Review. U.S. Army during the Korean War. of Business Dean Richard Dearth said For more information, contact After finishing his degree, he went to the reward reflects positively on the Dr. Dearth at 620-235-4590 or at work for the former Amoco Production entire college, since no faculty teach [email protected], or visit www. Co. (now BP), a job that led him to live exclusively in the graduate area. entrepreneur.com/topcolleges/index. in Trinidad, Madagascar, London, Egypt “We are extremely proud of this honor html. and Iran. He retired to Texas in 1989. Pitt State this spring experienced the great generosity his family had always known. Morton left a portion of his estate to the university – nearly $900,000 in total – to go toward business scholarships (the amount was added to a scholarship fund he had set up in 2007). The gift is the second largest ever made to the College of Business, and the third largest received by the PSU Foundation since its inception. “He was big into education,” said Moyer, whose family was honored at the spring College of Business banquet. “After he passed away, we found lots of correspondence and personal things that had the PSU emblem on them. Those were the things he had saved, because President Steve Scott speaks at a celebration of the Princeton Review's special recognition PSU was important to him.” of the Kelce College of Business.

24 PITT STATE Fall 2010 COLLEGE CLOSE-UP BUSINESS

Computer science degree program will now teach courses the fundamentals of national market changes with the times through the Department of Accounting economics. This spring, PSU took official steps or the Department of Engineering “Our team worked extremely hard this to modify the Computer Science/ Technolog y. year and although we did not advance out Information Systems degree program, of our league, it was a great experience to changing the coursework and focus of SIFE competes at nationals be part of the national competition,” said Katie Gull, vice president of operations the major. The Pitt State chapter of Students In Free for the student group. Now, the Department of Computer Enterprise (SIFE) was one of 170 teams Science-Information Systems will no out of 375 to advance out of their regional longer offer the Bachelor of Science competitions to the SIFE USA National degree in computer science. Students Exposition in Minneapolis in May. The can still pursue a Bachelor of Business regional competition was held in Dallas. Administration degree with a major in The SIFE presentation detailed the information systems, now housed in group’s use of business concepts to the Department of Accounting, which develop community outreach projects that has been renamed the Department of improve the quality of life and standard Accounting and Computer Information of living for people in need. This year, Systems. Students majoring in the team organized 16 projects in the Information Systems may select an Pittsburg community, including Just emphasis from System Design or Imagine Nation, where SIFE members Information Assurance and Computer taught area fourth-grade students Security. The merger with the Department Above: SIFE members Li Shin Chang and Ivan Hunnicutt celebrate their regional success in of Accounting creates an opportunity Dallas. Below: The team advanced to national competition in Minneapolis. Bottom photo: Among their many local projects was an effort that helped the growing for collaboration between the System recycling program on campus. Design emphasis and Accounting Systems as well as between the Information Assurance and Computer Security emphases and the Fraud Examination and Internal Audit minors. The decision to modernize the coursework was carefully made, said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lynette Olson, based on what today’s students were needing out of the program. “We found that we needed to make the program more relevant for what our graduates are being asked to do today, and we believe changing the focus will make it more attractive to students who want to go into these fields.” Students already enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science program will be allowed to finish, Olson said, with the final graduates finishing by 2013. Faculty are also relatively unaffected by the change: professors who taught in the former

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 25 EDUCATION COLLEGE CLOSE-UP

College of Education

honors educators The College of Education honored three teachers and an administrator for their distinguished service, excellence, and outstanding efforts at the annual Clyde U. Phillips Awards Recognition Ceremony on April 29. The Clyde U. Phillips Distinguished Service Award is given to one teacher and one administrator whose careers have been highlighted by significant achievement and excellence in education. This year, the administrator’s award went to Steve Parsons, superintendent of USD 413 in Chanute, Kan. The educator’s award went to John Holloway, an John Holloway, an 11th/12th grade physics teacher at Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, Kan., 11th/12th grade physics teacher at Blue speaks to student scholarship recipients at the annual Clyde U. Phillips Awards in April. Holloway, Valley High School in Stilwell, Kan. BS 1992, received the Distinguished Service Award for teaching. The Outstanding Educator Award is given to persons who have shown, within their first seven years of service, Awards and Scholarship Ceremony. and two toddlers,” Flynn recalled. the potential to make significant Flynn, SSLS, told scholarship donors “Her oldest child was a senior in high contributions to education. The 2010 that their gifts have effects beyond what school who, along with my mother, had Outstanding Educator Awards went to they know. been saving her money so she could Andrea Merrick, a fourth grade teacher “Know that your dollars certainly attend college after graduation. Their at Frank Layden Elementary School in extend further than a nine-month school efforts were thwarted by unfortunate Frontenac, Kan., and Christen Jackson, period,” Flynn said. “You likely will circumstances and the money was just a mathematics teacher at Girard High never know the complete branching not there for sis to attend college.” School in Girard, Kan. effects of your generosity…but you Because of scholarships, however, that The Clyde U. Phillips awards were should be assured that it happens.” sister (Marilyn Graham Bishop) did go established in memory of Clyde U. Flynn used her own family experience on to college, earning both a BSED and Phillips, a graduate of Pittsburg State to illustrate the power of scholarships. an MS from PSU. University and a well-known Kansas “In 1961, my mother was a single Flynn then asked, “What if my sister educator. Phillips, who met his wife, parent raising two teenagers, a preteen, had not gone to college? Children in Fern Field Phillips when they were classrooms in Fredonia, Neodesha, and both students at PSU, completed his Pittsburg would have never had the career in education as the superintendent opportunity to have Mrs. Bishop as their of schools in Hays. In their will, the teacher. It has been overwhelming the Phillipses bequeathed a sum of money to number of people who, upon discovering support the awards. Marilyn Bishop is my sister, have told me how much they loved her or that she Flynn receives Excellence was their favorite teacher or that their in Teaching Award kids just loved Mrs. Bishop.” Flynn urged the students receiving Gloria Flynn used her acceptance of the scholarships to thank donors for their College of Education’s Excellence in gifts and also to not let them down. Teaching Award as an opportunity to “These folks have faith in you and encourage scholarships. Flynn received trust you will be wise in your decisions,” the award at the Clyde U. Phillips Gloria Flynn Flynn said.

26 PITT STATE Fall 2010 COLLEGE CLOSE-UP EDUCATION

Smith named College of of roles, including professor, chairman providing financial assistance to 20 Education dean of the Department of Special Services students this spring and fall. The Dr. Howard W. and Leadership Studies, director of family also endowed a portion of their Smith began the Kansas City Metro Center, and contribution to provide scholarships well his new duties legislative liaison and assistant to the into the future. as dean of the president. The children of immigrants John and Mary Shular, Felix, Mary and Rose, as College of Family’s generosity Education on well as their late brother John (’41), were provides scholarships for determined to get great educations. They June 1. Smith future teachers was selected to found success at PSU. Graduating with fill the post being A family of former teachers has created a a variety of degrees, the four all pursued vacated by Dr. scholarship for education majors that will careers in teaching and together accrued Dr. Howrd W. Smith Andy Tompkins, make a big impact on students for many more than 100 years in education. who was tapped earlier in the year to be years to come. Now in their 90s, (Felix died in May) the new CEO of the Kansas Board of Felix Shular (’39) of Arcadia, and the Shular siblings are pleased to see Regents. his sisters Mary Shular Logan (’41) of their scholarship fund making a big “During his interview process, Dr. Wichita and Rose Shular Campbell difference in the lives of students. Smith received great support from (’42) of Pittsburg recently established For more information on giving to faculty, staff, and administrators,” Provost the Shular Family Scholarship, which PSU, contact the Office of University Lynette Olson said. “We are fortunate is making an immediate impact by Development at 620-235-4768. to have someone with his breadth of experience at various levels of education and administration to provide leadership New graduates take Teacher’s Oath for the college at this point in time.” Christa Kimzey “I’m excited to continue my relationship is all smiles with the faculty and staff in the College after taking the of Education,” Smith said. “Pittsburg Teacher’s Oath State University is a great place to work with her fellow and a great place to be and I’m looking graduates at forward to the work that lies ahead.” the College Smith received his bachelor’s degree of Education in elementary education from PSU, recognition his master’s degree in curriculum and ceremony for newly minted instruction from the University of teachers in May. Kansas and his Ph.D. in educational administration from Kansas State Brett Potts, BS University. He first joined the Pitt State ’90, welcomed the faculty in 1996. class of 2010 into Smith began his career in education the profession. in 1975 as an elementary school teacher Potts, an assistant in Shawnee Mission, Kan. Over the principal at Blue years, he was a middle school teacher, Valley High School, elementary school principal, middle is a former Kansas school principal, executive director of Teacher of the middle schools and superintendent of Year. schools. He served Kansas school districts in Shawnee Mission, Overland Park and Coffeyville, as well as districts in Amarillo, Texas, and Bentonville, Ark. At PSU, Smith has served in a variety

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 27 TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE CLOSE-UP

in Greenville. The team finished 4th in the four-hour endurance race, and took 11th place overall out of 106 teams. The second baja group competed with their car at the SAE Baja Washington competition May 18-22, where they finished 20th overall and 12th in the endurance race. Moonbuggy– In the area of engineering technology, the moonbuggy teams competed April 9 in Huntsville, Ala., at the Great Moonbuggy Race held at the Marshall Space Flight Center. After a rough start that resulted in one of the It’s a jungle out there! children rowed through the Crocodile vehicles losing a wheel, the teams made the repairs and modifications needed and First-grader Karen Maturino didn’t know River Rapids, the Mad Monkey Mine - rallied to finish in 9th and 12th places out what to expect as she walked through the a real roller coaster with a wood car of 35 college teams. thatch-covered doors to what used to be speeding across a frame of PVC pipes, For more information, visit www. her school cafeteria. But as she entered and the Mystery Maze, where children pittstate.edu/academics/technology/. the room, now transformed into a lush, compiled clues gathered along the way to spell out the location of the hidden chirping jungle complete with palm trees Gift makes technology and props reminiscent of an Indiana treasure. The stations, each focusing on Jones adventure, her day at West Central different elements of math and science, scholarships possible Elementary in Joplin, Mo., just got a lot were all built by the PSU students Early this year, the university received more interesting. manning them and accentuated with dim $87,000 from the estate of E. Neural “I’m so glad I’m at school today!” she lights and tropical background noises. R. Reagan to be used for scholarships said after being chosen to hula-hoop in “It’s an awesome opportunity for us,” for students in Plastics Engineering front of her classmates before climbing said Rachel Hartley, a junior technology Technology. Mrs. Reagan, of Pittsburg, into a wooden wheel demonstrating the education major, who taught children died in November 2008. same rotary motion. “This is a fun day. how to use Python Pass, a large wooden “This is an example of the many gifts We don’t get to do this every day.” wheel they moved by crawling inside. the university receives from persons who Thanks to PSU professor Mike Neden “We’re learning to work with students of have developed a strong bond with the and his technology education students, all ages, and modifying activities by the university and its students, even though the physics and math lessons these seat of our pants. It’s a great experience they, themselves, are not alumni,” said children are learning may be concepts that’s teaching us what it will really be Scott Roberts, former director of the PSU they’ll never forget. Neden and his like.” Office of Development. students presented “The Mystery of the Mrs. Reagan first established a Golden Gorilla” to students at West Racing teams take off at scholarship in Plastics Engineering Central Elementary in Joplin, Mo., a spring competitions Technology in 1980 in memory of her late treasure hunt exploration that teaches The Pittsburg State University College husband, Maurice. Maurice Reagan was children about physics - disguised in of Technology knows its cars. an electrical engineer who in retirement fun. For the past 10 years, Neden and his Last spring, four teams took part in served on PSU’s Plastics Advisory students have spent the spring semester racing competitions located throughout Committee. With this latest gift, the creating an adventurous activity that the U.S., with nearly 40 students in scholarship has been renamed the Maurice solidifies the lessons children have been various areas of the college coming V. Reagan and E. Neural Reagan Plastics learning all year. together to build baja vehicles and Engineering Technology Memorial Divided into different stations, the moonbuggies. Scholarship Fund. For information about activity featured a real moving car that endowed scholarships and gifts to the Baja– In April, the first half of the laid a bridge across the Treachery Tar university, contact the Office of University 20-member PSU Baja Team competed at Pits, canoes (on small wheels) that Development at 620-235-4768. the SAE Baja South Carolina competition

28 PITT STATE Fall 2010 COLLEGE CLOSE-UP TECHNOLOGY

Block Kids competition teaches construction concepts More than 40 area children participated in the Block Kids competition at the Kansas Technology Center in January. The event, now in its third year, is sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction. It is designed to teach young children construction concepts. “Block Kids exposes youngsters to construction-related activities,” said Dennis Audo, PSU construction instructor. “Plus, it’s a lot of fun.” Builders Show competitors Derek Morgan, Derek Jackson, Lori VanDyne, Justin Honey (professor), Jon Fargo, Michael Gillis and Andrew Molgren. For the event, each participant received a kit with 100 Legos blocks, string, aluminum foil, a rock, and other and defended at the competition company, in February. Used for the basic items. The children then have a set alongside top Division I teams. The team past several years in Europe, the unit amount of time to create a structure. took home Rookie of the Year honors as uses advanced technology to perform well as third place overall, becoming the a computer analysis of molten metal, Construction management competition’s first rookie to place that reporting exactly what is in the students earn high. composition. stunning victory The Pitt State team was surrounded by “This machine can tell us how well teams from Brigham Young University the metal is forming, the size of the A team of construction management (1st place), the University of Denver (2nd grains that are forming, and whether it’s students returned from this year’s place), Michigan State University (4th a good or bad sample overall,” Rosmait International Builders Show with record- place), and Texas A&M (5th place). said. setting honors. The PSU team consisted of Lori Six students in the Department VanDyne, of Independence, Kan.; Jon of Construction Management and Fargo, a senior from Gardner, Kan.; Construction Engineering Technologies Andrew Molgren, a senior from Newton, competed Jan. 18 at the IBS’s Residential Kan.; Derek Jackson, a junior from Construction Management Competition Council Grove, Kan.; Derek Morgan, a in Las Vegas. The team challenged 38 sophomore from McPherson, Kan.; and other four-year schools in a competition Michael Gillis, a senior from Drexel, that tested their organization and Mo. management skills on a construction project in a town they’d never seen. Casting program tests out Justin Honey, a professor in the machine new to U.S. CMCET department and the team’s Students in the manufacturing/metal coach, has guided the students since last casting program have become the first to October on the project. The team’s task test out a thermal analysis machine never was to analyze the demographics of a before used in this country. real city (competition organizers assigned Students in the casting lab led by the city of Corsicana, Texas to the PSU Engineering Technology Professor team) and develop a construction plan to Dr. Russ Rosmait received the Thermaltest fit that community. 5000 thermal analysis unit from Foseco In the end, the team submitted a 150- Testing the Thermaltest 5000 Metallurgical, a Brussels, Belgium-based page business plan, which they presented

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 29 PSU ATHLETICS UPDATE

For Muff, head men’s wins per season over the past four years basketball job is a dream and played in the NCAA Division III come true National Tournament twice. Athletics Director Chuck Broyles For Kevin Muff, head men’s basketball praised Hunt-Shepherd for taking a coach of the Gorillas is a “dream job.” program struggling for an identity and Muff was introduced as PSU’s 14th head making it one of the most competitive men’s basketball coach in April and went programs in its conference. He also lauded right to work preparing for the always her commitment to students and student tough MIAA schedule, which begins success. with a home game on Nov. 16 versus “Annette is a well-rounded person,” Newman. Broyles said. “She’s committed to helping Muff takes over for former head develop well-rounded student-athletes – coach Gene Iba, who retired after 15 Kevin Muff individuals who succeed in the classroom seasons with a 261-172 record leading the A Salina, Kan., native, Muff was a as well as on the softball field. She’s Gorillas. two-year basketball letterman at Kansas interested in cultivating relationships not “It’s something that I’ve always State during the 1984-85 and 1985- only on campus but also in the community dreamed that I would see myself doing 86 seasons. He transferred to K-State and with alumni. We are excited about the some day, to coach at a four-year after playing two seasons at Cloud future of Gorilla Softball.” institution with the kind of class and, County Community College, where he Hunt-Shepherd earned a bachelor’s quality that Pittsburg State has. I am back was a first-team NJCAA All-Region degree in health education in 1997 from at a place I wanted to be,” Muff said. VI selection as a sophomore in 1983- the University of Maryland, where she A former assistant coach at Pitt State 84. Muff was both a McDonalds and helped the Terrapins to an ACC title as from 1990-93, Muff has served the past Converse High School All-America a senior team captain. She batted leadoff 12 seasons as head coach at Cloud County selection as a senior during the 1981-82 and played first base for the Terps and was Community College in Concordia, Kan., season at Salina Central High School voted the Academic Player of the Year at where he has averaged 21 wins per season Muff earned a bachelor’s of science Maryland in 1997. over the last five years. degree in education (BSed) in social Prior to playing her senior season As an assistant coach at Pitt State in science from Kansas State University in at Maryland, Hunt-Shepherd played the early 1990s, Muff helped the Gorillas 1986 and a master’s of science degree collegiately for two seasons at Miami post a 21-8 record during the 1991-92 (MS) in physical education from (Ohio) University, from 1993-94, and one campaign – the school’s first 20-win Pittsburg State University in 1991. season at Shippensburg University (1995). season in two decades. That Pitt State Hunt-Shepherd also earned a master’s squad rose to a top 10 national ranking Hunt-Shepherd brings degree in parks, recreation and resource and the Gorillas upset No. 1 ranked management from Frostburg (Md.) State Washburn, 72-71, before a school record a history of success to in 2003. crowd of 5,000 fans at John Lance Arena softball coaching position Hunt-Shepherd becomes the ninth on Jan. 18, 1992. Pitt State’s new head coach in the 36-year history of the While Muff has a keen appreciation head women’s Pitt State softball program. She takes over for the school’s proud past, he’s eager to softball coach is the reins of the Gorillas softball program write new chapters of success for Gorilla no stranger to following the resignation of former head basketball. success. During her coach Brad Horky, who coached for 10 “My expectations … I want to win seven-year tenure seasons during a pair of stints at the school championships,” Muff said. “I want our at Ohio Northern (1991-95, 2006-10). Horky compiled program to be a contender year in, year University, Annette a 296-216-1 (.578) record leading the out with the right type of kids who do it Hunt-Shepherd Annette Hunt-Shepherd Gorillas, including a 20-29-1 mark in the right way. We want to put a product compiled 191 2010. on the floor that people can identify with.” victories. Her squads averaged 35

30 PITT STATE Fall 2010 PSU ATHLETICS UPDATE

Pitt State track teams enjoy solid seasons; Pitt State announces 2010 Jewett receives regional honors Hall of Fame Class The men’s and women’s track PSU will induct seven individuals into & field teams enjoyed a pair its Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of of successful seasons again Fame during ceremonies on Saturday, in 2010. Sept. 18. The Gorilla men finished PSU’s Class of 2010 is headlined as the MIAA runner-up at by former football All-American the conference meet, which Ronald Moore (1989-92), who captured Pitt State hosted at Prentice the 1992 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Gudgen Track/Carnie Smith national player of the year during his Stadium on May 8-9, while senior season, before embarking upon the women placed third an eight-year NFL career. overall. Two-time All-Americans Oscar Both squads qualified Gonzalez (1996-99) and Ben Peterson several athletes to the NCAA Division (1995-98) also join the Hall of Fame, II Outdoor National Championships, representing the sports of basketball which took place at Charlotte, N.C. and football. Former football athlete The Pitt State men came away with a J.W. Emerson (1951-52), who went ninth place finish at nationals, while the on to enjoy a decorated four-decade women placed 21st overall. coaching career, joins the Hall of Fame For the men, junior Mike Beeler as a meritorious achievement inductee, finished as the national runner-up in the along with former Pitt State associate javelin and senior Jeremy Jackson placed athletics director Tommy Riggs, who as the national runner-up in the 110 will be posthumously lauded. meter hurdles. Junior Kiara Jones also Additionally, Walter “Vic” White earned All-America honors with a fifth- (1926-29), a national class shot putter place showing in the triple jump, while in track & field and Francis Wachter senior Brian Allen placed sixth in the (1929-32), a key member of Pitt State’s hammer throw and junior Ethan Hobbs undefeated basketball teams from placed sixth in the pole vault. 1930-31, will be inducted in the Hall of For the women, sophomore Larissa ranked No. 2 nationally by the United Fame’s “Legacy” category. The Legacy Richards, also a post player on the Pitt States Track & Field and Cross Country category, created in 2005, focuses solely State women’s basketball team, earned Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on individuals from the school’s first 50 All-America honors with a third-place following the conclusion of the 2009-10 years (1903-53) in an attempt to bolster effort in the discus throw and a fifth- academic year. the school’s rich heritage from its first place finish in the shot put. Junior The Gorillas, who finished among the half-century. Gretchen Clark and freshman Amber top 10 schools at nationals in indoor and “We are very excited about our Kloster also garnered All-America outdoor track & field, ranked second newest class of inductees into the honors with eighth-place showings behind only Adams State College. PSU Athletics Hall of Fame,” athletic in the high jump and the javelin Pitt State compiled 33.5 points in the director Chuck Broyles said. “Every respectively. USTFCCCA’s scoring system, which year we feel like we have a class of Head coach Russ Jewett was named awards points based upon a school’s final inductees that measures up very well the NCAA Division II South Central standings at nationals. with past induction classes, and this Region Men’s Track & Field Coach of The Gorillas placed 18th overall at year is no exception. Like always, this the Year at the end of the season. cross country nationals, sixth nationally year’s group features individuals who in indoor track and tied for ninth place in The Pitt State men’s combined cross (continued on pg. 33) country and track & field squads were outdoor track.

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 31 32 PITT STATE Fall 2010 PSU ATHLETICS UPDATE

are near and dear to many of our hearts. “These seven individuals are an impressive cast, representing a wide range of years in the history of Pittsburg State University. Each of these individuals is most deserving of joining the group of all-time elite Hall of Fame members at Pittsburg State.” Pittsburg State’s 23rd class of inductees will be honored at a special Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, in the Crimson & Gold Ballroom of the Overman Student Center on the PSU campus. The group also will be honored at 3.97 GPA as an early/late childhood halftime of PSU’s football game against education major. eight losses by two or fewer runs. MIAA rival Central Missouri later that In addition to Jones’ on-field success, In addition to Sibala’s play, junior evening. four other Pitt State players received All- shortstop Jeremy Graves, from Albany, For information, contact MIAA recognition. Sophomore utility Ore., batted .380 with a team-leading Intercollegiate Athletics at 620-235- player Amanda DeCastro was named to nine home runs and 37 RBIs, earning 4389. the first-team All-MIAA squad, while honorable mention All-MIAA honors. senior outfielder Cassie Martin was Senior outfielder Rhett Rigby, from named to the second-team All-MIAA Baseball– Oak Grove, Mo., also hit .348 with 12 Sibala earns Academic squad. Senior catcher Lindsay Birchfield doubles and 34 RBIs to earn honorable and senior pitcher Melissa Slayden both All-America, Second-Team mention All-MIAA honors. All-MIAA Honors garnered honorable mention All-MIAA honors. Junior second baseman Taylor Sibala led Softball– DeCastro, an All-American as a the baseball team on the playing field as Jones Finishes Career freshman in 2009, also earned second- well as in the classroom in 2010. as Four-Time All-MIAA team All-Region recognition this spring. Sibala, a native of Overland Park, Player, Earns Academic The Carl Junction, Mo., native batted Kan., and a Blue Valley Northwest High All-America Honors .367 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs, 34 School graduate, batted .366 with nine runs scored and 39 RBIs. doubles and a team-leading 39 runs Senior designated player Jessica Jones Following the season, head coach scored and 11 stolen bases this past finished her softball career as a four-time Brad Horky resigned his position. Horky spring. All-MIAA performer for the Gorillas. led Pitt State to a 296-216-1 record in 10 Sibala, a mechanical engineering The Osawatomie, Kan., native earned seasons during a pair of stints (1991-95, technology major with a perfect 4.00 second-team All-MIAA honors last 2006-10) at the school. GPA, claimed first-team ESPN The spring after batting .338 with eight home On June 23, Pitt State hired Annette Magazine® Academic All-America runs and 27 RBIs. Jones helped Pitt Hunt-Shepherd as Horky’s successor. honors following the season. State post a 21-29-1 overall record (4-16 Hunt-Shepherd spent the past seven Sibala also was one of three Pitt State MIAA) on the season. seasons as head coach at Ohio Northern players to garner All-MIAA honors after In addition to her athletics success, University (see related story). www. the Gorillas finished a disappointing Jones also earned first-team ESPN The pittstategorillas.com/home/detail. season with a 15-29 overall record (13-27 Magazine Academic All-America® dot?id=216382 MIAA). Pitt State’s final record was a honors. She enters her professional bit deceiving with the Gorillas suffering teaching semester in Fall 2010 with a

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 33 PSU ALUMNI NEWS

Harlan Hess, left, and Rob Kobel Alumni honored Two alumni whose service to the university spans decades were honored with the Dr. Ralf J. Thomas Distinguished Service Awards in March. Harlan Hess (BS ’63, MS ’68) and Rob Kobel (BST ’80) received the award at Members of the Class of 1960 gather on the iconic marble steps of Russ Hall for a photo during the annual Apple Day convocation. their Half-Century Club reunion. A retired school teacher and administrator, Harlan Hess has remained involved with PSU since graduation. He served on the Alumni Association Board and has been a volunteer for the Kansas City Phonathon. Hess, who Gorilla Bookstore was inducted into the Athletics Hall of The official Pittsburg State University Bookstore Fame in 1990, is a charter member, past Overman Student Center • 302 E. Cleveland St. • 620-231-1930 president and present member of the KC Gorilla Club. He and his wife, Carol, are members of the Excellence in Athletics endowment fund and he has helped run the Gorilla Open Golf tournament for the past 28 years. From the time Rob Kobel graduated and joined the Service Center management team at Ford, he has given back to his alma mater. During his years with Ford, Kobel supervised and mentored more than 100 PSU graduates. He served on the Automotive Technology Advisory Board and was instrumental in securing in-kind gifts from Ford Motor Co., that included software, automotive components and Order all your even vehicles. Kobel and his family have established the Kobel Family Endowed Scholarship, which helps out-of-state “Gorilla Gear” online “Gorilla

students meet expenses after choosing to at pittstate.bkstore.com study Automotive Technology at PSU.

34 PITT STATE Fall 2010 PSU ALUMNI NEWS

PSU honors three alumni for achievement Three alumni who have shown outstanding leadership and achievement in their fields were awarded the 2010 Meritorious Achievement Award during commencement activities May 14-15. The PSU Alumni Association established the award in 1958 as the highest award given to graduates based on career achievement. Candidates for the award have demonstrated substantial professional growth and advancement over an extended period of time. The candidate’s activities, including participation and leadership in civic and professional organizations at the local, state and national levels, are also considered by the awards committee in 2010 Meritorious Award recipients: James L. Harlin, Inez Y. Kaiser and Paula F. Baker. selecting the recipients. This year’s recipients were Inez hoping to see a bigger crowd of attendees important gifts we get back from them. Y. Kaiser of Overland Park, Kan., a than ever before. It makes you appreciate their success, speaker, consultant, and founder and “It’s the first time we’ve ever had an and that in turn is a measure of our CEO of the public relations firm Inez entire college invited back for a reunion,” success.” Kaiser and Associates; Paula F. Baker of said Johnna Schremmer, director of The early bird deadline to register Joplin, Mo., the CEO of Ozark Center alumni and constituent relations. “This for the reunion is Sept. 1. To sign up, and CCO for Freeman Health System; is a good college to start with because contact alumni relations at 620-235- and James L. Harlin of Edmond, they’re a very special and unique group. 4758. For more information on the Okla., the founder and president of And they have a lot of loyal alumni, so reunion schedule, go to www.pittstate. FiSource, Inc., an actuarial and financial we wanted to bring them back at once.” edu/audiences/alumni-friends/. consulting firm. With the Kansas Technology Center “We are so excited about hosting a For complete biographies of the three completed in 1997, approximately 7,000 reunion of this magnitude,” Schremmer winners, visit the alumni website at of the college’s alumni have never seen said. “We’re hoping all of our technology www.pittstate.edu/press-media/detail. the building. The activities for the alumni will mark it on their calendars dot?id=211473. weekend include a tour of the center, and make it a point to return to PSU for Technology reunion as well as time for alumni to reconnect this event.” planned for Homecoming with faculty members and their fellow classmates. The weekend also centers The best plate in the state weekend, Oct. 15-16 around the Crimson and Gold Dinner, With Pittsburg State license plates Pittsburg State will host its largest a large-scale tailgate party, and the becoming the one of the most popular alumni reunion ever this fall as graduates Homecoming game. collegiate plate in the state, it seems from the College of Technology are “The most exciting thing about this you never have to look too far to find a welcomed back to campus. reunion is that we’ll be able to visit with Gorilla. The reunion, planned for the weekend our alumni, some of which we haven’t This spring, numbers from the state of Homecoming on Oct. 15 and 16, will been able to talk to in awhile, and hear transportation office showed that PSU have the largest invitation list yet. With about their successes,” said surpassed Wichita State University in nearly 11,000 graduates since the college Dr. Bruce Dallman, dean of the College having the third highest number of was first established, organizers are of Technology. “That’s one of the most license plates on the road. Currently,

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 35 PSU ALUMNI NEWS

there are more than 1,500 vehicles in “We wanted the opportunity to go they tell us how appreciative they are that Kansas bearing PSU tags. The highest and meet people in our area who had we’ve come to their area and provided number is Kansas State University. graduated from PSU, and it was so that for them.” “We’re seeing them everywhere, interesting listening to their stories,” said With 70-80 Gorilla Gatherings held including more often on company Yocham, a business development project each year (including two in Los Angeles vehicles,” said Johnna Schremmer, manager who finished his engineering and Washington, D.C.), it’s no small feat. director of alumni and constituent technology degree in 2003. “We don’t A prominent university representative relations. “Our push is to become the make it to Pittsburg as much as we’d like, attends each gathering, and the agenda most represented university in the state.” so it was great to get the updates.” is simple and enjoyable: guests hear Soon, supporters across the state line Hosted by the Office of Alumni an update about the university, see the may have a chance to show PSU pride and Constituent Relations, Gorilla latest pictures from campus, hear about on their vehicles, as well. The alumni Gatherings are held throughout the upcoming events, and hopefully run into office is working with the Missouri country during the school year as a old friends. Department of Revenue to release a way to build relationships with alumni, “We saw friends we hadn’t seen in Pitt State plate in Missouri. Over the update them on the university, and give years, and now we’re staying in closer summer, the office collected names of them a chance to hear from current contact with them,” said Yocham. “People residents who would potentially purchase administrators about university initiatives should definitely attend these. It was great tags (with more than 14,000 alumni and programs. Held in a variety of forms to see that PSU leaders are networking and friends in Missouri, there’s a strong (gatherings range from more formal and traveling.” support system). The state will collect dinners to cookouts at ballgames) every comments from drivers until Nov. 30 gathering has a common goal – to keep before the decision is made by the Joint alumni engaged in and connected to PSU. Committee for Transportation. “I think that for most alumni, the “Ideally, we’ll be seeing PSU license biggest thing is the reconnection to other plates on Missouri vehicles as early as graduates,” said Johnna Schremmer, next summer or fall,” Schremmer said. director of alumni and constituent “We’re hoping the process goes smoothly relations. “It brings them back to their and that our neighbors can share in the college years. It may be the one time of Pitt State pride the way Kansans can year they can really focus on PSU, and now.” For more information on getting a Gorilla Gatherings like the night at the Kansas PSU license plate for your vehicle – as City T-Bones baseball game draw Gorillas well as a half-price special Sept. 1-15 – (and future Gorillas) of all ages. go to the PSU alumni web site at www. pittstate.edu/audiences/alumni-friends/ or call the office at 620-235-4758.

Gorilla Gatherings– Keeping connected! When Craig Yocham and his wife Jennifer received an invitation this spring to attend their first PSU Gorilla Gathering in their hometown of Tulsa, Okla., they weren’t certain what the evening would hold. But within minutes of walking through the door, the meaning of being a lifetime Gorilla came flooding back.

36 PITT STATE Fall 2010 er ond Experience the W

Whether you choose to experience the ominous size of Big Brutus ... Or smell the fresh aroma of Italian hardcrust bread baked in an oven over 110 years old at the Frontenac Bakery ... Or sink your teeth into crispy, juicy fried chicken featured on the Travel Channel at Chicken Annie’s, Chicken Mary’s, Gephardt’s Chicken and Dinners, Barto’s Idle Hour, Chicken Annie’s Girard or Pichler’s Chicken Annie’s ... Or visit one of our 13 free tourist attractions ... When it come to experiencing Pittsburg and Crawford County, Kansas, the wonders never end.

For information call 1-800-879-1112 www.visitcrawfordcounty.comFall 2010 PITT STATE 37 CLASS NOTES Submit class notes information online: [email protected]

Class of ’66 Burke began teaching in Hotchkiss, assistant for education to the governor of Gary Daniels (MS) of Grove, Okla., has Colo. In 1985, he was named assistant Kansas. She served as a member of the been awarded the 2010 Cardinal Citation principal and counselor at Hotchkiss Kansas Board of Regents, the governing Award by the Labette Community High School. In ’83, he was named body of the six state universities, from College Alumni Association and Labette principal. Over the years, Burke served 1989-1992. Community College. This is the highest in a number of administrative roles for McDowell holds a Ph.D. from Kansas honor that is bestowed to an individual the district. His wife, Beverly, continues State University (KSU) and was named for lifetime achievement by LCC. to teach in the district. Alumni Fellow (Outstanding Alumna) Each year the association recognizes an Class of ’76 from KSU’s College of Education individual for a lifetime of outstanding in 1992. She holds an Ed.S., M.S. service to their community or college. Dr. Jo Ann C. McDowell, president and B.S. from PSU where she was Daniels has had teaching experience at emeriti of Metropolitan Community named Outstanding Alumna in 1984 several different universities including College (MCC) in Omaha, was honored and received PSU’s 2005 Meritorious PSU, Ohio State University and Kansas on June 5th at the fifth annual Great Service Award. McDowell also holds State University. Plains Theatre an associate of arts degree from Conference Independence Community College. Class of ’69 (GPTC) on the Carl Birney (BS) retired from a 17-year occasion of the Larry Mitcham (MS) retired at the age teaching career at Minneola (Kan.) High 30th anniversary of 47 after a successful career with a School this spring. After college he spent of her Theatre number of companies including Texas two years in the Navy as a mechanic, Conference Instruments. He spent a number of years serving in Guam, before briefly teaching oversight and as a consultant with companies that in the Oakley and Meade, Kan., school the fifth included Sharp and Samsung before districts. Birney, who taught industrial anniversary taking a position with the Samsung arts, now plans to spend time working on of the GPTC. Advanced Institute of Technology. his farm in Minneola. That evening, the Jo Ann C. McDowell Mitcham holds 14 U.S. patents and 3 Class of ’71 Great Plains Theatre Award for overseas. After retiring, Mitcham earned Outstanding Service to the Omaha a Ph.D. in theological studies in Hebrew Brilla Highfill Scott (MS), of Lawrence, Theatre Community was established. and special Biblical studies. He has since has been named the state executive McDowell will present it each year at the written two books and has appeared director for the Kansas Association of conference. on numerous television and radio Retired School Personnel (KARSP). Dr. McDowell semi-retired last broadcasts. He and his wife, Sharon, live She began her responsibilities on March year from MCC and plans to fully in Salado, Texas. 1. Scott, a former Lawrence junior high retire in December to her hometown of principal, retired in 2003 as the executive Cherryvale, Kan. Class of ’85 director and chief lobbyist for United Prior to her tenure at Metropolitan Cheryl Horton (BBA), of Naperville, School Administrators of Kansas. Community College, McDowell served Ill., received the $2,500 Ruth C. Class of ’74 as president of Prince William Sound Dissinger Memorial Award for Community College in Valdez, Alaska, Outstanding Administrative Support Dan Burke (BS) Counseling, retired in from 1992 to 2005 and holds president Staff from North Central College in May after 35 years in teaching, 28 in the emeriti titles from both PWSCC and Naperville. She has served there as an Delta County (Colo.) School District. In MCC. academic affairs secretary since 2006. addition to his degree from PSU, Burke McDowell served her alma mater, She graduated from PSU with a degree earned a master’s degree in education Independence Community College, in in marketing. According to one proud from Wichita State University and several senior administrative positions nominator, Horton is “very much the an educational endorsement from the from 1979-1992, including serving as ‘face’ of North Central College to University of Denver. Burke began his president from 1988-1992. McDowell prospective faculty.” teaching career at the middle school level also held the position of executive in Douglass, Kan., in 1975. In 1982,

38 PITT STATE Fall 2010 Submit class notes information online: [email protected] CLASS NOTES

Class of ’87 Richard (Rick) Simoncic (BSEd), was one of five Kansas school administrators honored for excellence this year by the Kansas Association of School Administrators. Simoncic received the Superintendent of Promise Award. Simoncic, who received an MS from FHSU, is in his first year as the superintendent of the Barnes-Hanover- Linn school district. Previously, he served as a teacher and coach in Lamar, Mo., and then at Southeast High School. For the past 15 years, Simoncic has been with the Larned schools, where he taught math, coached the girls basketball team, served as athletic director, assistant principal and eventually principal. Simoncic and his wife, Jacquelyn (Bozone), BBA 1990, have four children Class of ’90 Mark Knoles (BS), an 18-year member Gorilla Generations of the Winfield Police Department in We don’t know what the record is for PSU degrees in a single family, but the Winfield, Kan., was promoted last spring Otto family set the bar pretty high when they gathered to show their family and from sergeant to lieutenant. A native of Gorilla pride. They are, left to right, back row: Brandon Clark (BS ’09 Physical Independence, Kan., Knoles earned one Education), William Clyde “Bill” Otto (BS, MS, EdS), JoNita Hunt Otto (BS, MS), Amy of the highest scores of all promotion- Otto Mispagel (BS, MS); 6th row: Julie Otto Cain (BS Construction Engineering), eligible officers during an intensive JoVeia Clark (6 months), Casey Mispagel, 6th grade, Olathe, Kan.; 5th row: Captain testing process. Knoles attended Travis Cain, US Army, ROTC (BS), Carl A. Otto (BS ’50, MS ’57), Deloris Wilson, Independence Community College Tim Mispagel (MS); 4th row: Charlie Cain (7 months), Conner Mispagel (4 years); before earning a degree in sociology from 3rd row: JoVoli Otto Clark (BS), Elizabeth “Lizzy” Otto, Soph at Allen County College,coming to PSU next year; 2nd row: Adriana Cain (3 years), Logan Mispagel PSU. He and his wife, Michelle, have (2 yrs); front row: Brody Clark (2.5 years). two children, Eric and Emma. Class of ’91 Newest Gorillas Julia (Anliker) Pyle (BSN) has been Malissa L. (Hawn) Walden (’97) of Walden named the chief nursing officer at & Pfannenstiel, LLC in Lenexa is proud Newman Regional Health Center in to announce the birth of her daughter, Emporia. After earning her BSN at Lenora Christine. Lenora was born three weeks early on February 4th at 8: 52 PSU, Pyle went on to earn an MSN from a.m. She weighed 6.2 pounds and was 17 the University of Missouri Kansas City. inches long. Malissa, her husband Don, She worked 18 years in intensive care and big sister Opal Adelle, and Lenora are all cardiac nursing at St. Luke’s in Kansas at home doing well. City, Mo. She served as the chief nursing officer at Coffey County Hospital in Burlington from 2007 to 2009 before coming to Newman.

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 39 CLASS NOTES Submit class notes information online: [email protected]

Class of ’99 and Joplin offices before moving to his father wrote in 1939 while attending Kim (Emerson) Vogel (BS) Recreation, Branson to lead that branch in 2000. KSTC, is Gray’s third book. He has also has been named director of Parks and As a member of both the BKD published the memoir “Waking Up in Recreation for the City of Pittsburg. Southern Missouri retail and business the Studebaker” and “To the Prairie and Vogel has served as recreation supervisor services and Wealth Plan teams, Hill to God,” a book of poetry written by his for the city for the past 10 years and has 26 years of experience providing father. For more information, visit http:// as such has been instrumental in the tax, accounting and consulting onthestrand.org. expansion and development of much of services for individuals and closely the department’s current programming. held businesses, including those in the Insurancenter Associate Class of ’00 real estate, hospitality, retail, business services, manufacturing and distribution Earns Professional Lisa Walser (BS) of Miami, Okla., is the industries. Designation new community relations coordinator at Hill is a member of the American Dallas Johnson, a the Independence (Kan.) Living Center. Institute of Certified Public Accountants, native of Kansas and For the past eight years she worked in Missouri Society of Certified Public a PSU graduate, was Texas as a corporate trainer and as the Accountants, Branson/Hollister Rotary recently awarded Director of the Training and Auditing Club and the Southern Missouri BKD the professional departments, contracting hospitals in 14 Foundation Advisory Committee. designation of states. Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI) from The Insurance PSU grad receives tenure Institute of America. To receive the

and promotion AAI designation the candidate must PSU alumna Vicky Fang recently received successfully complete three courses a promotion and tenure at Cedarville and national examinations that test for University (Ohio). This honor goes into the person’s knowledge of insurance effect August 2010. A faculty member at coverage, marketing concepts, selling Cedarville University since 2004, Fang techniques and agency and sales has been promoted to associate professor management. of computer engineering. She earned her Johnson, who joined the agency in BSEE at Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2008, is a commercial insurance producer in 1992, MSET at PSU in 1998, and and is responsible for bringing in new business for the agency. He has 13 years Ph.D. at the University of Akron in 2004. Graduate publishes memoir She currently resides in Xenia, Ohio. of experience in the insurance business Located in Cedarville, Ohio, set in Pittsburg and holds a Bachelor of Science degree Cedarville University is an accredited Kevin Gray, an author and 1976 graduate from Pittsburg State University and an Baptist university of arts, sciences, of PSU, has written a memoir about Associate of Arts degree from Neosho professional and graduate programs. the adventures and life lessons learned County Community College. He and during his college years. His new book, his wife, Teresa, and their two children PSU grad named partner “On the Strand,” is focused largely in reside in Webb City, Mo. The Insurancenter, an independent, at BKD Pittsburg and at the former Kansas State College, which became PSU in 1977. Best Practices agency, provides business Troy E. Hill, (BBA ’84) has been named Gray, whose father Harold L. Gray and personal insurance, employee as a partner to BKD’s Joplin (Mo.) office. graduated from Kansas State Teachers benefits and financial planning services After earning his degree in accounting, College in 1941, works as a journalist for businesses and individuals. he joined BKD in 1992, when CPA firm for the Osawatomie Journal. He taught Oler, Casey & Dennett in Pittsburg was English and journalism at Paola (Kan.) acquired by BKD, one of the 10 largest High School for 30 years before retiring CPA and advisory firms in the U.S. He to pursue journalism. spent eight years in the firm’s Pittsburg “On the Strand,” named after a poem

40 PITT STATE Fall 2010 Submit class notes information online: [email protected] CLASS NOTES

Alum’s company wins state business award The Joplin (Mo.)-based company owned by a PSU graduate has received the “2010 Rising Star of Entrepreneurship” award from the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers in Jefferson City. Brian Carpenter, (BS ’95) and his wife Amy own I3 Technology Group, a telecommunications and low-voltage wiring contractor which sells phone systems to clients throughout the U.S. The company, one of 19 outstanding small businesses in Missouri to win the award, was founded in 2007. The award was presented in January at the 2010 MO SBTDC Client Showcase, held at the Capitol rotunda. (Left to right) Missouri Senator Gary Nodler (District 32), Amy Carpenter, In addition to the award, I3 was also presented with Brian Carpenter, and Missouri Representative Tom Flanigan (District 127). legislative resolutions by Missouri Senator Gary Nodler and Representative Tom Flanigan.

Back to school special- HALF OFF! Sept. 1-15, 2010 only! Get a NEW plate and get 1/2 off of the PSU donation! You pay only $15! The Best Plate in the State

Did you know? • Anyone with a Kansas tag can get a gorilla plate. • You can switch your plates any time of year. GOPITT • Any gift of $30 or more to any area at PSU Pittsburg State University qualifies you for a plate Coming to Missouri! • If you have already donated at least $30 to PSU For all the details within the last year, you may already qualify. and timeline: PSU Alumni & Constituent Relations 620-235-4758 or 877-PSU-ALUM www.pittstate.edu/alumni

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 41 CLASS NOTES Submit class notes information online: [email protected]

In Memory Velma Louise (Heckethorn) Holmes, John Nichols, Jr., 1964, (Deaths are reported based on 1947, Columbus, Kan. Elizabethton, Tenn. information received from families or Rene E. Thuillez, 1947, Wichita, Kan. Jerry R. Choate, 1965, Hays, Kan. reported in local newspapers. Listed by Eugene E. Donaldson, 1948, Betty May (Edwards) Finley, 1965, date of graduation/attendance.) Galena, Kan. Miami, Okla. Richard Eugene Harley, 1948, R. Roger Moore, 1965, Parsons, Kan. Mae Van Sickle, 1928, Fulton, Kan. McCune, Kan. Anna Enoch, 1967, Callao, Mo. Anna C. Loch, 1929, Louisburg, Kan. Raymond J. Holland, 1948, Joplin, Mo. Mark William, Gassen, 1967, Elizabeth Toepfer Ashbrook, 1930, Leo Charles Schweitzer, 1948, Shawnee, Kan. Shawnee, Kan. Pratt, Kan. Gerald A. Johnson, 1967, Joplin, Mo. Logan C. Guffey,1930, Buhler, Kan. Lemuel D. Holmes, 1949, Diane F. (Schofield) Jones, 1967, Marjorie Harwood, 1930, Columbus, Kan. Parsons, Kan. Humboldt, Kan. Theodore Wiebe, 1949, Claude Parks, 1967, Hutchinson, Kan. Iris Jackson, 1930, Winfield, Kan. Hutchinson, Kan. Beverly A. Turner, 1967, Franklin, Kan. Sarah Jane Leach, 1930, Sedan, Kan. Elsie M. Ellis, 1950, Frontenac, Kan. Rosalee A. Wright, 1967, Thelma Moran Hamilton, 1932, Mac Hay, 1950, Independence, Mo. La Quinta, Calif. Leavenworth, Kan. Shirley Knepper, 1950, Wichita, Kan. Larry R. Dunphy, 1968, Pauline Dalton Beatty, 1933, Roberta Sooter, 1950, Derby, Kan. Brentwood, Mo. Topeka, Kan. Gerald L. Hougland, 1951, Olathe, Kan. Mary Etta Hynds Lane, 1968, Frances Colleen Hess, 1936, Perry Webb Page, 1953, Pittsburg, Kan. Kansas City, Mo. Altamont, Kan. Robert D. Coughenour, 1954, William Lewis May, 1968, Ruth M. Rohde, 1937, Tyler, Texas Fort Scott, Kan. Broken Arrow, Okla. Roy M. Adams, 1955, Tyler, Texas John Peterson, 1968, Winterspring, Fla. Vivian Mildred Ralls, 1939, Dolores Joan Rogers, 1955, Edwin Joe Sanders, 1968, Uniontown, Kan. Vero Beach, Fla. Lancaster, Calif. Myrtle A. (Miller) Presson, 1939, Douglas C. Serage, 1956, Joplin, Mo. Ronald L. Boydston, 1969, Cherryvale, Kan. Pete T. Monsour, 1957, Pittsburg, Kan. Topeka, Kan. Felix Shular, 1939, Arcadia, Kan. Maida C. Kirk, 1958, Cherryvale, Kan. William R. Albertson, 1970, Kay Breinig, 1940 Warren D. Lagle, 1958, Columbus, Kan. McCune, Kan. Ruby Louise Erickson, 1940, William Bill Kline Stevens, 1958, Casey R. Capps, 1970, Overland Park, Kan. Benedict, Kan. Nacagdoches, Texas Doris Eugenia Tharp,1940, Rudy A. Pouch, 1959, Lyndon, Kan. Della J. Capps, 1970, Granby, Mo. Lenexa, Kan. Charlene Yates McDaniel, 1960, Floyd Byerl Lyerla, 1970, Dorothy Elizabeth (Mallicoat) Arcola, Mo. Pittsburg, Kan. Van Daele, 1940, Olathe, Kan. Bertha Mae Persons, 1960, Winfrey M. Ruffin, 1970, Newburg, PA. Garnett E. Bloomcamp, 1941, La Cygne, Kan. V. Clione Bieber, 1971, Columbus, Kan. Pittsburg, Kan. Joseph Micheal Fenoughty, 1961, James F. Comstock, 1971, Jacqueline Gore Edgar, 1942, Osawatomie, Kan. Fort Scott, Kan. Pittsburg, Kan. Harold Fisher, 1961, Frontenac, Kan. Gregory Kent Evans, 1971, Girard, Kan. Leon H. Jursche, 1942, Pittsburg, Kan. Virginia Rae Peterson, 1961, Katy, Texas LaDonna R. Marsh, 1971, Lois Wanita (Goodno) McKinnis, 1942, Richard Rankin, 1961, Longton, Kan. Bella Vista, Ark. Uniontown, Kan. Harry E. Fay, 1962, Orville Dean Plummer, 1971, Eva Frederick, 1943, Pleasanton, Kan. Broken Arrow, Okla. Cherryvale, Kan. Tony Buffo, 1944, Arkansas City, Kan. Rosella M. Hillbrant, 1962, Iola, Kan. Duane Edward Rau, 1971, Ferne L. (Paradee) Westfall, 1944, Larry Sutherland, 1962, Le Roy, Kan. Broken Arrow, Okla. Joplin, Mo. Billy Gene Chrismon, 1963, Bradley E Oman, 1972, Altamont, Kan. Pauline G. Harvey, 1946, Commerce, Okla. Barbara Ann Purdon, 1972, Lawrence, Kan. Dennis Shaw, 1963, Valley Center, Kan. Ozawkie, Kan.

42 PITT STATE Fall 2010 Submit class notes information online: [email protected] CLASS NOTES

James J. Crowdes, Dillon J. Fullerton, 2009, Isaac Deer, Fredonia, Kan. 1973, Kansas City, Mo. Yates Center, Kan. Nancy J. Jacquinot Fox, Walnut Kan. John Laurie IV, 1974, Atchison, Kan. Derek R. Schirer, 2006, Newton, Kan. Winifred Helsel, South Haven, Kan. Mildred Marie Lemon, 1974, Seth David Kaplan, 2009, Lucille Bernice (Larsen) Neil, Parker, Kan. Shawnee, Kan. San Antonio, Texas Doris Jean Duffey McVay, 1974, Christopher Moon, 2009, Thomas Ross Pickerell, Wichita, Kan. Nevada, Mo. Pittsburg, Kan. Delidia Ann San Romani Price, John Davis Forbes, 1975, Travis Micheal Morrison, 2009, Independence, Kan. Fairbanks, Ala. Overland Park, Kan. Vivian Shore, Johnson, Kan. Gary Lee VanPielt, 1975, Reva (Cottle) Blanchard, Topeka, Kan. Bernice, Okla. Margaret Varvel, 1975, Corvallis, Ore. Mike Farris, 1976, Iola, Kan Marjorie Wiand, 1976, Oswego, Kan. Victor D. Brown, 1977, Register Today! Huntington Beach, Fla. Kathy Edmonds, 1977, Monett, Mo Jodi S. Spilman, 1978, Edmond, Okla. College of Technology Brent L. Cherry, 1979, Conn. Sandra Lynn Patterson, 1982, Homecoming Reunion Bella Vista, Ark. Gary W. Massa, Sr., 1984, Olathe, Kan. Kevin Brian Dougherty, 1985, Kansas City, Mo. Jerald L. Larery, 1985, Parsons, Kan. Iva June Johnson, 1986, Leavenworth, Kan. Dean A. Chamberlain, 1987, Tulsa, Okla. George Daniel Homan, 1987, October 15-16, 2010 Columbus, Kan. Gareld G. Payne, 1989, Oklahoma City, Okla. Kraig Leroy Stevens, 1990, Scammon, Kan. Todd Swanson, 1990, Merriam, Kan. Gracie M. Fager, 1991, St. Paul, Kan. Clint Wayne Day, 1993, Baxter Springs, Kan. Shawn Lee Bowman, 1994, Reconnect with classmates and former instructors Caney, Kan. Tour the campus and the Kansas Technology Center Rodney D. Mathis, 1994, Departmental presentations and demonstrations Leavenworth, Kan. Participate in the Homecoming Parade Helen Geist, 1995, Garden City, Kan. Teryl Borders, 2000, Neodesha, Kan. Pre-game tailgate and special seating at the football game Eric Frederick Haag, 2000, Leavenworth, Kan. www.pittstate.edu/alumni

Fall 2010 PITT STATE 43 no place like home Theres’

There’s a reason so many people call Kansas home. From our thriving communities to our progressive job opportunities, we make it easy to love life. Discover for yourself at ThinkKansas.com/psu, an innovative Web site full of features and videos about why Kansas is such a great place to live, work and play. Best of all, getting there is easy. All you have to do is c lick , a nd y o u ’l l b e

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44 PITT STATE Fall 2010

LayoutsRd4e(final).indd 4 1/29/10 1:37:46 PM PSU Foundation Spotlight: Jacob Tupper

Student makes the connection with loyal alums

2010 graduate Jacob Tupper was to new donors and bringing in gifts a greater opportunity to connect looking for a part-time job two years to the PSU Foundation. and share their stories. This year’s ago when he heard about student Phonathon kicks off in September. caller openings for PSU’s annual “We have a chance to connect to Phonathon. With only one day left so many people across the country, “As a caller, you speak with a variety to apply, he made the call. from the East Coast to the West,” of people – those who give right away said Tupper, an accounting graduate. and those who don’t,” he said. “But Since then, he’s made thousands “Whether or not people were able what I found interesting were the more. Tupper, of Stilwell, Kan., was to give, you could tell how fond and ones in between, who open up when a natural fit for the Phonathon, one loyal they are to the university. As a you remind them about their days at of PSU’s ongoing communication student, that was inspiring to hear.” PSU. When we are able to tell them tools designed to keep alumni about life on campus now and how connected to the university. Tupper Recently, the PSU Phonathon we need their support more than took to the job right away, becoming expanded to a year-long effort, ever, it makes for some wonderful the top student caller in reaching out allowing current students and alumni conversations.”

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION 401 East Ford Avenue • Pittsburg, KS 66762 • 620-235-4768 Pittsburg State University NONPROFIT U.S. Postage 1701 S. Broadway PAID Pittsburg, KS 66762-7500 Pittsburg State University

Imagine the possibilities when Gorillas connect... share stories, get university updates, Q&A, university video, prizes, socializing and networking Events with President Steve Scott ATTEND A After-hours • Family events GORILLA Athletics events • Dinners, picnics, GATHERING luncheons with special guest speakers IN YOUR AREA! Have fun with other PSU 2010 alumni, friends & staff. Aug. 26.....KC Lunch Series

Sept. 9...... Crawford County - Lunch • Homecoming Sept. 21....Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Sept. 23....Cherokee County, Galena • Reunions EVEN MORE Sept. 25....Jasper County, Joplin

Sept. 28....Labette County, Parsons • Online community Sept. 30....KC Lunch Series and directory GREAT EVENTS. Sept. 30....Detroit, Mich.

...... Sedgwick County - Lunch • Oct. 5 Student programs MARK YOUR Oct. 7...... Montgomery County, Independence Oct. 19 ...... Topeka, Kan. • Travel ...... KC Lunch Series CALENDAR! Oct. 28 • Nov. 4 ...... Crawford County - Alumni awards

Meet the PSU President’s Council 2010 Nov. 12 .....Johnson County - Tanner’s Pregame Party Sept. 3...... Movie, Jungletron Nov. 19 .....Jasper County - After Hours For event locations Sept. 4...... Chris Cakes Pancake Tailgate Sept. 18 2011 and details: ...... Family Day, Gorilla Village Oct. 2...... Current & Retired Faculty & Staff Tailgate Jan. 11 ...... Houston, Texas www.pittstate.edu/alumni Oct. 15-16 ... College of Technology Reunion Jan. 13 ...... San Antonio, Texas Oct. 15 ...... Jan. 19 ...... Family Night at Gorilla Basketball Outstanding Alumni Award Reception Oct. 15 ...... Jan. 27...... KC Lunch Series Crimson & Gold Dinner Oct. 16 ...... Feb.-TBA ...Washington D.C. Homecoming Tailgate Oct. 30...... Feb. 3...... Sedgwick County - After Hours Discount Day, Gorilla Village Nov. 6 ...... Gorilla Chili Challenge, Gorilla Village Feb. 8...... Jasper County - Lunch Nov. 13 ...... Feb. 10 ...... Phoenix, Ariz. Fall Classic GorillaFest, Arrowhead Nov. 29 ...... Gingerbread House Contest starts Feb. 12.....Southern California Dec. 17 ...... Feb. 23.....Crawford County - Day with the Deans Meritorious Achievement Award Reception Feb. 24 ...... KC Lunch Series 2011 Jan. 25...... Career Makeover, Kansas City Metro Feb.- TBA...... Children’s Symphony PSU Office of Alumni Feb. 24 ...... Current & retired faculty & staff wine/beer tasting and Constituent Relations Limited mailings will go out to these events, Wilkinson Alumni Center so please provide your email so you can get invitations to all events 401 East Ford Avenue • Pittsburg, KS 66762 620-235-4758 • 877-PSU-ALUM • [email protected]