COWLEY alumni & friends newsletter July 2007 contents 2 Kay Kautz Cowley instructor presents paper at England’s 3 Bengt Pipkorn Oxford University 4 Victoria Ukaoma. Arkansas City student of year Anita Nix Schafer 100 years 5 Alex Gottlob Cowley student of the year annual honors and awards 6 Cowley College 84th commencement 7 north campuses honors new degree and certificate programs approved 8 Phi Beta Lambda Jodi Sanderholm science lab 9 Kay Kautz, an instructor in Cowley College’s north campuses social science Preparing Educators Together (PET) department, was invited to present a paper she wrote at Oxford University in transfer agreement with Kansas State Oxford, England. University at Salina The presentation took place March 20 at Oxford’s Examination Hall at a 10 conference titled “Unity of Nations”. Kautz’s paper was titled, “Is Ethnic praise from the Higher Learning Commission Group Self-Identification a Human Rights Issue?” The paper reviewed past and recent identity theories, recent UN rulings on 11 rights to self-determination of identity, examination of identity components, 19th annual Mr. Cinderfella Pageant marginalization of minorities, indigenous, and immigrant groups from disallow- ing identity and subsequent components, and the call to examine the issue 11-12 Arts at Cowley in the light of human rights by the academe. Kautz enjoyed the opportunity to present her paper at the prestigious 13 university. Steve Eck, men’s basketball coach “I was thrilled to be among academic theorists and those who wished to 14-15 solve issues of conflict,” Kautz said. “The professional academic atmosphere athletics was exemplary.” 16-18 The presentation was very well received and a debate ensued about identifi- alumni news cation through DNA. 18 “I feel it is a critical issue, as self-identification is an issue of power,” Kautz said. in memory Kautz, who has been employed at Cowley for 10 years, plans to submit the paper for publication next year. She is currently a doctoral candidate at 19 Oklahoma State University in Higher Education Leadership. recognition awards nomination form Along with her teaching duties at Cowley, she volunteers as an advisor and is working to help establish the context of an American university credit system cover photo: sculpture by Laurel Johnson, freshman, Wellington, Kansas. in Africa. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Global Learning Center photo by Denise M. Irwin in Wichita and is a member of the Anthropology and Education Association. 2 | alumni news former Cowley student finds success back home in Sweden Bengt Pipkorn, who “My college years influenced me very much,” attended Cowley College Pipkorn said. “I have a lot of positive memories and was a member of the from my time at Cowley.” tennis team during the Coming to Arkansas City from Sweden made for a 1983 season, has gone on bit of a transition. to become a successful “It was very different, everything was new,” Pipkorn researcher for the auto- said. “I spoke English but not that good.” mobile company Autoliv in Vargarda, Sweden. Kim and Cynthia Hocker, who were actively involved in Cowley’s “Foster Parent” program, He began working for helped make the transition easier for Pipkorn by Autoliv in Vargarda, serving as his “Foster Parents”. Sweden, in 1996 and has been with the company “Coming as I did, not knowing anybody or ever since. He currently anything about Ark City, it was great to have serves as the Manager people who knew other people in the city,” of Simulation, Active Pipkorn said. Structures and Algorithm Along with the Hocker’s, Pipkorn has fond memo- Development. ries of tennis coach Mike Watters and calculus The company has over teacher Phil Buchner. 40,000 employees world- After Cowley, Pipkorn went on to play tennis wide. In the United States, at Louisiana Tech and majored in mechanical back to the United States, the company has workers engineering. At Louisiana Tech, Pipkorn led the school to Pipkorn decided to fly in in Detroit, Michigan and the NCAA Tournament, where they won their first round to see his former “Foster Ogden, Utah. match before being eliminated. Parents”. “We do research in the area After graduating from Louisiana Tech, Pipkorn went to Prior to his trip to Ark City, of occupant protection,” Phoenix, AZ. to work on a test track. However, after six Pipkorn had visited with Pipkorn said. “We supply for months on the job, he decided he wanted to pursue individuals at the University the automotive industry and a master’s degree. So, he went back to Chalmers of Virginia. After spending provide protective systems University to obtain his master’s and then continued in two days in Ark City he was such as air bags and seat school to earn his PhD. back in the air heading to belts.” While working on his PhD, Pipkorn helped with the Ogden, Utah for business. Prior to beginning his career, process of developing the side air bags in Volvo’s. He is This marked the first time Pipkorn heard about currently working on a device that would help influence Pipkorn had been to Ark Cowley from friends, Johan how the vehicle structure reacts in a crash. City since the early 1990’s. Ahlqvist and Johan Hallin, Pipkorn came into his current line of work while working “The college seems to be who were members of the on his master’s degree. prospering and doing very Tiger tennis team during “As a researcher you really have to dig into the details of well,” Pipkorn said. the 1982 season. Upon their the problem you are trying to solve,” Pipkorn said. “We Pipkorn and his wife, Eva, recommendation, he came do research to bring out new products every couple of have three children, Linda to Cowley from Sweden in years.” 16, Jenny 14, and Elin 6. the fall of 1982. As a result of his profession and also as a hobby, Pipkorn In his free time he enjoys Pipkorn helped the Tigers has traveled to many places. He has traveled to jogging, bicycling, skiing, capture conference and Australia, Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain, Greece, and also still enjoys playing region titles, while also Switzerland, and Austria. tennis. getting an opportunity to compete at the national He enjoys visiting the United States and returned to Ark tournament. City and the college in April. With his work bringing him July 2007 | 3 named as the overall winner. The second place winner from Cowley College was Alex Gottlob and third place went to Chansi Long. At Cowley, Ukaoma serves as editor for the Cowley Press, along with being a student ambassador and a resident assis- tant in the Oscar Kimmel Dormitory. Ukaoma, who attended Maize High School, chose Cowley after meeting with journalism director Dave Bostwick and taking a tour of the campus. After Cowley, she plans to attend college at Washburn University in Topeka. “It is going to be really hard to leave and move on to another school,” Ukaoma said. “I feel Cowley was perfect for my personality and made me feel more confident about moving on to a university.” The city has given this award each year since 1984. A committee is chosen by the city and it takes nomina- tions from school teachers and administrators to select the winners. The process includes interviews with the students. The selections are based on grades and the interviews. Cowley sophomore named Arkansas City student of the year With several worthy candidates up for the honor of the Arkansas City Student of the Year, Cowley Happy 100th, Anita! College sophomore Victoria Ukaoma was surprised to hear her name called during a banquet held April Anita Nix Schafer, Arkansas City Junior College class of 1926, 13 at Cowley’s Earle N. Wright Community Room. celebrated her 100th birthday June 20 in Tulsa, Okla. She “I was really surprised because there were so many has fond memories of ACJC instructors Dean Galle, Pauline good people picked for the final round,” Ukaoma Sleeth, Edith Joyce Davis, and Dan Stark. Following ACJC said. “Not expecting it made it that much better. It she attended Hardin College in Mexico, Mo. and married makes me feel like I did my best here at Cowley.” her fiancé Lewis Schafer of Arkansas City. Lewis worked for Ukaoma was chosen from among three finalists, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the couple lived in one each from Cowley College, Arkansas City High several locations and traveled internationally during their School and Arkansas City Middle School. marriage. Schafer loves music and sang with the choir while at ACJC. She went on to sing at weddings, funerals, Earlier, three top students were named from each special events, and with her church and other choral groups. school. At Friday’s banquet, the top student from Pictured are Schafer with friends from California and England each school was named, and then Ukaoma was enjoying a laugh at her 100th birthday party. 4 | alumni news Gottlob named Cowley College student of the year Alex Gottlob, a sophomore business administration •Paws Advocating Wellness for Students — Brandy Hallacy, major, was named Cowley College’s Student of the Matt Mendoza. Year during the school’s annual Honors and Awards •Phi Beta Lambda — Caleb DeGraaf, Megan Pauly. Ceremony held April 17 in the Brown Center’s Earle N. •Tyger Tawk Communications Club — Jessica Hadley, Wright Community Room. Amanda Pratt, Denise (Nykki) Watkins. Gottlob was involved in Phi Beta Lambda, Campus •Vocal Music — Nathan Holcomb. Christian Fellowship, and was a Cowley Ambassador. He •Allied Health Department — Brian Schmidt. plans to attend Southwestern College in Winfield in the •Business, Computer and Information Technology fall.