FRANKLIN COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2019 THE VOICE Broadcaster achieves career win with Indianapolis Colts. Pg. 28 RENEE KEAN ’06 2 Franklin College MAGAZINE NATURE’S CLASSROOM With the sun shining, birds chirping, squirrels scavenging and magnolia trees blooming, spring is an enticing time to enjoy the outdoors at Franklin College. These students and their professor found the perfect spot in front of the Pulliam School of Journalism, on the west side of campus. SPRING 2019 3 FRANKLIN COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2019 PRESIDENT’S Volume LV, No. 2 Contributing Staff Director of Communications MESSAGE Deidra Baumgardner CONTENTS Editor Amy (Kean) VerSteeg ’96 Pulliam Fellow Shelby Mullis ’19 Director of Marketing Ann Smith Assistant Director of Marketing for Visual Dear Alumni and Friends, Communications Renee Kean ’06 Spring, as we all know, is a time of renewal and transformation in Sports Information Director nature. With lengthier daylight hours, blossoming plants and trees Ryan Thomas and visibly active wildlife, spring surrounds us with symbols of Senior Leadership promise and a fresh start. Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Dana Cummings My appreciation of the spring metaphor has deepened greatly Vice President and Dean of Admissions and during my four years of service as Franklin College President. I have Financial Aid observed in our college community, as in nature, how a culmination Kate Coffman of efforts, at just the right time, enables a flourish of awe-inspiring Submissions and Changes For content submissions, email aversteeg@ achievements. FranklinCollege.edu or call 317.738.8188. For address and phone changes, email recordupdates@ This spring, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for the hard work FranklinCollege.edu or call 317.738.8052. Mail faculty continue putting into our new curriculum implementation correspondence to Franklin College Magazine, Attn: Amy Kean VerSteeg, 101 Branigin Boulevard, and for the critical support staff provide. The chance to congratulate Franklin, Indiana 46131-2623. another class of students on their graduation and the start of exciting Franklin College Magazine careers and graduate school programs also gives me tremendous pride Published three times annually. Copyright by Franklin College. and joy. Franklin College Our college life cycle moves forward with each new endeavor, every Established in 1834, Franklin College is a liberal arts college in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, new class and all of you. I am sincerely grateful for your ongoing and about 20 miles from the city’s downtown. In 1842, generous support of ideas, programs and projects that profoundly the college began admitting women, becoming the first coeducational institution in Indiana impact the people in our Franklin College community. This magazine and the seventh in the nation. Our students and issue highlights some of the remarkable outcomes for which you are alumni are self-motivated lifelong learners who relentlessly pursue the best in themselves and in responsible. Thank you for all the reasons you continue to give us to our community. celebrate, year after year. Nondiscrimination Policy Franklin College is committed to the principle and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, faculty, employees Sincerely, and applicants for admission and employment. For that reason, the college provides equal employment opportunities on the basis of merit and without regard to the individual’s race, color, religion, gender, disability, age, national origin, marital status or sexual orientation, in accordance with state and federal laws and any other characteristic protected by law. The college prohibits, forbids and will not tolerate any FRANKLIN COLLEGE PRESIDENT verbal, physical or other conduct that belittles or demeans any individual on the basis of the above-listed statuses. All Follow @PresFC on Twitter. employees, managers, supervisors and job applicants are covered by this commitment. No person or employee, no matter his or her title or position, has the authority expressed, actual, apparent or implied to discriminate against any employee of the college. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, admission to and enrollment in Franklin College, including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, hiring, benefits, educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship and loan programs, housing athletic and other college-administered programs and activities. On the Cover Matt Taylor ’08 stands on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice field. PHOTO BY MATT BOWEN Franklin College MAGAZINE 4 Follow Us CONTENTS CELEBRATING PHILANTHROPY 8 DISTANCE LEARNING 16 LIVE AND LEARN 20 AHEAD OF THE CURVE 24 ON THE RISE 34 PUPPY LOVE 36 Featured Stories WAVE OF SUCCESS 22 Get up to speed on the 2019 HCAC champion Grizzlies’ swimming and diving program, and learn which five students recently competed in the NCAA Division III Championships. TALK THIS WAY 26 Meet the personalities behind the voices of four sports broadcasters covering high school, college and professional leagues for radio and TV. NO SMALL FEAT 45 Reminisce with Ric Flecker ’67, as he recounts his mother’s courageous role in helping him attend Franklin College and realize his dream of playing football. SPRING 2019 5 CAMPAIGN GOAL EXCEEDED A public announcement on “We are extremely grateful Minar said another gener- to the many donors, includ- ous and impactful gift came May 13 let the world know that ing trustees, alumni, friends from the Elba L. and Gene Franklin College had exceeded its and organizations, who Portteus Branigin Founda- $10 million fundraising goal for have been instrumental in tion. In January, the Branigin helping us reach our goal,” Foundation challenged the the Campaign for the Sciences. said Thomas J. Minar, Ph.D., college to raise the remain- The campaign helped fund the Franklin College President. ing funds needed to reach its fundraising goal by May 1. construction and renovation “One of the most impact- If accomplished, the foun- of the new 51,000-square-foot ful was college trustee Dr. dation would provide the Franklin College Science Center Margot Lacy Eccles (HD ’02). final $225,000 to bring the The generous $2.5 million campaign across the finish on campus. financial promise and line. matching challenge she PHOTO BY CHAD WILLIAMS made prior to her death “We are thankful for the in 2012 was a substantial Branigin Foundation’s impetus to getting the substantial gift and for campaign off the ground. challenging us to be The ripple effect that fol- diligent in reaching our lowed was game-changing, campaign goal,” said The college hosted a Science Center dedication and we are so pleased the Minar. “As impactful and ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 16. Science Center’s Lacy Labs as Dr. Eccles’ gift was in Full event coverage will be included in the will honor her memory and getting the campaign next Franklin College Magazine. contributions.” started, so was the Branigin Foundation’s challenge 6 Franklin College MAGAZINE RECORD-BREAKING GRANT A new grant funding research on Canada Geese in urban landscapes is enabling Franklin College, Ball State University and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to collaborate. The four-year, $250,000 grant is the largest Franklin has ever received for undergraduate student research and is administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Each research partner will study Canada Geese in distinct urban set- tings across Central Indiana. Franklin College’s optimal location south of Indianapolis will permit on-site research in one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing cities. Ben O’Neal, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and one of the principal and gift toward eclipsing May 2018, and the entire investigators, said, “Appropriate our goal.” facility was opened for use management of these beautiful, but in January 2019. The Science Center project contentious creatures necessitates began in February 2012, “I’m proud to be a Grizzly deliberate, evidence-based decision when the college’s board of every day, but the success making. This study will help meet that trustees announced moving of a $10 million campaign need and also offer Franklin College forward with preparations is a truly extraordinary students an opportunity to immerse for a campaign to enhance occasion,” said Dana Cum- themselves in the practical work of science programs and mings, vice president for wildlife research and management.” J facilities. In October 2016, development and alumni the board approved moving engagement. forward on the construction and renovation project, “The entire Franklin College breaking ground in May community came together 2017. Phase one was the in support of our beautiful construction of a 21,000- new Science Center, and square-foot addition to the the results are remarkable. existing science building, My heartfelt thanks go Barnes Hall, and phase to each and every person two was the renovation of who made the decision to Barnes Hall, built in 1927 support Franklin College and last renovated in 1987. students and the future of The newly constructed education with their hard- portion of the Science earned dollars. We are ever RENEE KEAN ’06 Center opened for use in grateful.” J SPRINGSPRING 2019 2019 7 7 CelebratingPHILANTHROPY Giving society members and donors who participated in the Campaign for the Sciences were special guests at the President’s Circle Celebration, Feb. 8. PHOTOS BY RENEE KEAN ’06 AND QUINN FITZGERALD ’20 President Thomas J. Minar, to the official dedication on Ph.D., thanked donors for their May 16. Science faculty and exceptional generosity and students were on site to highlighted how annual gifts facilitate tours, demonstrate help the college address prior- technology and share examples ity areas of need and opportu- of ongoing research projects. nity. He focused on the critical Each of the Science Center’s role of leadership gifts toward three floors offered a variety the $10 million Campaign for of hors d’oeuvres, desserts and the Sciences, and he gave a spirits.