LINDENWOOD Connecting to Alumni and Friends In this issue: Winter 2017 Pg. Cathcart Family Pg. Johnson Pg. Arington Pg. Sports Hall Pgs. Harvey Makes Tracks Path Crowned Miss Makes Most of of Fame Class Way as 3 to Success 4 Alaska USA 12 New Heart 15 Installed 17 Entrepreneur Happy Holidays from Lindenwood University PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE OUR ALUMNI ARE INCREDIBLE This issue of Lindenwood magazine is You will find articles about two of our We’ve also got pictures from Homecoming especially thick with amazing alumni successful entrepreneurial alumni, Sharece on both campuses, Dark Carnival, and our accomplishments, and it reinforces what Johnson and Zandra Harvey, who are both recent Sports Hall of Fame induction I’ve known all along—some amazing people running successful businesses in Illinois, ceremony, as well as articles about the have strolled our campuses, studied and a group of alumni from our Belleville cemetery on our historic St. Charles campus, in our classrooms, and walked across the campus have banded together to sports, and our 2017 Sibley Medallion stage to get a Lindenwood diploma. provide opportunities to stay involved with of Honor winner, Jerry Scheidegger, of our the university and the community. Board of Trustees. Take the Cathcart family, who run one of the largest general freight railcar facilities When Rich Reighard stepped down after In our next issue of Lindenwood, we look in the country, and it is still growing. Casey 30 years as station manager KCLC, our forward to telling you about our new strategic Cathcart and his father, Tom, have three campus radio station, his old graduate plan for the university, which was approved Lindenwood degrees between them. assistant, Chad Briesacher, returned to his by our Board of Trustees in November alma mater, from which he has two and takes effect at the beginning of the year. Our own Brooke Johnson moved back to her degrees, to take the job. It’s an exciting time, indeed. home state of Alaska after graduation and embarked on a career in television news. Anthony Arington, who has two degrees from Check out the News and Notes to see She was also recently crowned Miss Alaska Lindenwood, found out in his early 20s what your fellow alumni are up to, and have USA and will compete for Miss USA in that he had a progressive heart condition and a happy and blessed holiday season the spring. We couldn’t be prouder of her. had to have a heart transplant in 2012. With like no other! his new heart, he has participated five times in a 340-mile kayak race on the Missouri River, raising thousands for transplant patients. It’s a truly inspiring story. MICHAEL D. SHONROCK, Ph.D. President, Lindenwood University System Real Experience. Real Success. Enhancing lives through Approved by Board of Trustees LINDENWOOD quality education and professional preparatory preparation. Nov. 10, 2017 COPY EDITORS, WRITERS, AND OFFICE OF EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHERS DEVELOPMENT .............................. .............................. .............................. Scott Queen Christopher Duggan Lennon Mueller Dan Grigg Jennifer Ferguson Bryan Stone (’16) (’99, ’07) (’00, ’12) Vice President for Director of Alumni Associate Daniel Newton (’09) Development & Relations and Development Officer Jennifer Ferguson Alumni Relations Special Events, Scott Wuerz (’07) Belleville April Kernan (’16) Rachel Johnson Phil Vida Kate O’Neal Administrative (’04, ’10) (’07, ’08) Nathan Payne Assistant for Bailey E. Kinney Brian Vorce Assistant Vice Director of Development President for Development Charlie Mager Don Adams Jr. Development & John Creer Alumni Relations Mark Bohr Consultant Chuck McPherson Director of Michelle Giessman Development (’16) Director of Kassandra Linzmeier ON THE COVER Alumni Relations Associate ................................. Development Officer During a quiet snowfall, the Lindenwood campus takes on a sublime beauty. LINDENWOOD is published by the offices of Marketing and Communications and Development at Lindenwood University. Lindenwood is mailed free of charge to Lindenwood alumni. Story ideas are welcome and should be forwarded to Director of Alumni Relations, Lindenwood University, 209 South Kingshighway, St. Charles, MO 63301 or via email at [email protected]. CHANGE OF ADDRESS notifications should be sent to the Office of Alumni Relations at the address above. The Alumni Office telephone number is 636.949.4975. Lindenwood University ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT LINDENWOOD Winter 2017 CAMPUS NEWS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT The Cathcart family poses in front of a sign for Bucyrus Railcar Repair (from left, Casey’s mother Susan, sister Ashley, wife STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Gena, Casey Cathcart, Thomas Cathcart, CATHCARTS and Casey’s brother Brad). TRACK PATH TO RAILWAY SUCCESS by BRIAN VORCE LINDENWOOD SPORTS Alumni take different tracks to Thom Cathcart echoed his son’s for the company in various roles. Thom success after graduating from sentiments. He remembers former Cathcart said he enjoys working with his Lindenwood, but Casey and president Dennis Spellmann speaking in family, and he is able to see Casey develop Thom Cathcart’s tracks are filled his class about how the school and and improve each facet of the business. its campus were expanding. with railcars. “I handle operations and he handles The Bucyrus Railcar Repair complex is financials and sales,” Thom said. “At the Casey Cathcart (’06, ’07), who has already one of the largest general freight same time, he’s learning operations and bachelor’s degrees in computer science railcar facilities in the nation, but the picking it up quickly.” and mathematics and an M.B.A. from company and its property are expanding. Lindenwood, is the executive vice president Spanning 60 acres with 330,000 square The Cathcarts’ business ventures are ALUMNI EVENTS and CFO for Cathcart Rail Holdings and feet of indoor space, 38 repair spots, and growing, expanding through central Ohio. the manager of Bucyrus Railcar Repair, holding capacity for 400 cars, the facility’s “As of today, Bucyrus Railcar Repair is the LLC, a subsidiary of the company. His capabilities include heavy modification only subsidiary of Cathcart Rail Holdings, father, Thom (’94), earned his M.B.A. from and wreck repair, new railcar assembly, so 90 percent of my time is spent Lindenwood and brought his 40 years of parts fabrication, and non-hazardous operating BRR,” Casey Cathcart said. railroad experience into a partnership cleaning. The operation grew from an area “However, there may be some significant with his son. accommodating 125 cars to more than announcements coming out of CRH in 200 in just over a year. Bucyrus Railcar Repair, named after the the near future, as we are closing in on AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS Ohio town in which it is located, is a train our second subsidiary operation.” railcar repair shop operating from several “I met a tremendous locations as a running repair agent, With Cathcart Rail Holdings and Bucyrus professor, Charlie Railcar Repair rolling, the Cathcarts are focusing on quick repairs for clients. Forrest... and went to Cathcart said his time at Lindenwood, becoming major players in the train work for him shortly industry. Casey Cathcart said his path is especially working with his professors, before graduation.” helped him prepare for the business world. well worth the hard work. Casey Cathcart “Lindenwood has always done a great “Take the risk,” Cathcart said. “Honestly, job recruiting adjunct professors in their what do you have to really lose?” Casey Cathcart’s track to success was graduate program,” Cathcart said. “I met crowded with railcars before he ever earned a tremendous professor, Charlie Forrest, a Lindenwood degree. Cathcarts have & NOTES ALUMNI NEWS during my graduate courses and went worked in the train industry for generations. to work for him shortly before graduation. Thom retired from the Rock Island Line He taught me a lot in the first couple after nearly 40 years in the industry. His years of my professional career.” father worked in the rails and his father before him. Today, Bucyrus is a family affair with Casey’s parents and siblings working 3 Lindenwood University ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Brooke Johnson reacts to being crowned Miss Alaska USA on Sept. 30. She will go on to compete for Miss USA in the spring. BROOKE JOHNSON CROWNED MISS ALASKA USA by BAILEY KINNEY Lindenwood alumna Brooke Johnson (’16) was crowned Miss Alaska USA 2018 on Sept. 30, 2017, certainly a dream come true, but she has bigger dreams even still. Before graduating in 2016, Johnson co-captained the Lionettes Dance Team, co-starred in and produced a student web series called Life as a Lindenwood Lion, chaired the Campus Activities Board, and pursued her passion for film through the Digital Cinema Arts program. “The first time I drove on campus I knew there were so many possibilities ahead of me,” Johnson said. As a transfer student, her journey to campus was not direct, but she quickly found her place in student life. Her journey to Lindenwood began when she won “Lindenwood is first runner up for Miss Alaska USA 2014, which opened up scholarship amazing... they opportunities that enabled her transfer. She found more than an education always want to see when she arrived on campus. you reach your greatest potential.” “Lindenwood helped me find my voice and embrace who I am,” Johnson said. Brooke Johnson “I was pushed to not only work on my weaknesses but to showcase my strengths as well, which can carry into all aspects of life, not just pageants. The faculty and fellow students always loved me for my quirky spirit, which in turn helped me love myself and feel confidently beautiful.” The confidence and courage she gained during her experiences at Lindenwood enabled her to compete for Miss Alaska once more. Johnson roared to the top and claimed first place. And her journey continues to compete in the Miss USA 2018 competition next spring. During her time as Miss Alaska USA, Johnson plans to continue her work with Youth Empowered Achievers! (Yea! Inc.) to help young people embrace themselves and erase the stigma around mental health.