WASHBURN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION — SPRING 2019 ICHABODTHE SPRING ISSUE 2019 On the cover: Celebrating its 50th year, White Concert Hall is just one of the venues in Garvey Fines Arts Center that makes it the premiere destination for performance and visual arts in the community. Photo by Doug Stremel 16 Jeremy Wangler Peggy Clark assistant director photographer, public relations of marketing and Features communications Annie Flachsbarth, ba ’07 The Ichabod editor freelance [email protected] 14 Lori Hutchinson Barry Feaker and the Topeka marketing coordinator, Susie Hoffmann, bba ’87 Washburn Tech Rescue Mission are making director, Alumni Association a difference combating 14 [email protected] Angela Lutz homelessness and, with freelance CONTRIBUTORS added importance, human Chris Marshall, ba ’09 trafficking Allyson Burr, ba '19 freelance communications assistant Danielle Smith 16 Bayley Baker communications specialist, communications assistant Angie Price has led five graphics national championship teams Gene Cassell Sarah Towle, ba ’07 in her 31 years as coach of sports information director, director, marketing and Washburn Athletics the Dancing Blues, the fifth communications coming this spring 22 Sheila Kjellberg’s welding Photography: Doug Stremel certificate sparked a career 22 and a desire to lead IN EVERY ISSUE CONTACT US 28 Your news, thoughts and questions are important to us. The women’s tennis team, 2 From the President Please write, telephone or send us an email. News of jobs, under MIAA Coach of the honors, weddings, anniversaries and births are always Campus News Year Lance Lysaught, capped 4 welcome. Please include your name, class year, address and daytime phone number. an undefeated conference 12 Alumni News record to win the regular 28 Sports season championship Address: 1710 SW Jewell Ave., Topeka, KS 66621 31 Class Notes Telephone: 785.670.1641 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wualumni.org 34 In Memory The ICHABOD alumni magazine is published three times a year by the Washburn University Foundation for alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University. From the President Uplifting news is not hard to come by in Topeka, and often, those stories center around Ichabods. It gives us great joy knowing so many alumni choose to serve in one way or another. This edition of The Ichabod is full of such stories. Barry Feaker is executive director of Topeka Rescue Mission, and he’s doing amazing work serving those in need and finding people to support TRM’s efforts. Brett Durbin is doing the same thing with the Trash Mountain Project, an international organization based in Topeka that creates sustainable change for communities living off what they find in landfills. The world needs more people like Barry and Brett. Recycled Rides puts keys to refurbished automobiles in the hands of families in need. This spring, Washburn Tech students, faculty, donors and volunteers collaborated on their 27th Recycled Ride, more than all other institutions in the nation combined. You’ll read about the transformations students go through working with industry professionals and then pulling the tarp off their work in the joyful and sometimes tearful Ride-Away ceremonies. Two deans who nurtured passionate students are retiring this summer. Monica Scheibmeir led the School of Nursing and Clark Coco led Washburn University Institute of Technology. Dean Scheibmeir made sure nursing curricula met everchanging industry needs in health care. Practicum opportunities with places like Pine Ridge Family Health Center help students meet community needs. Dean Coco improved the relationship with civic and industry leaders and brought more programs and more students to Tech. When that wasn’t enough, he brought technical education where it is needed with Washburn Tech East. Their service will be missed. This year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Garvey Fines Arts Center. Alumna Richetta Manager, who became famous singing in Europe, reflected on the impact of performing at White Concert Hall as a student. With Mulvane Art Museum, Andrew J. and Georgia Neese Gray Theatre and the Rita Blitt Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Garvey Fine Arts Center is the heart of performing and visual arts on campus and in the community. Philosopher José Ortega y Gasset said the obligation of a university is to help a culture rise to the best of its times. Garvey Fine Arts Center truly does this. As the needs of our communities grow and change, know Washburn University and alumni will continue meeting those needs and rising our culture to the best of our times. 2 From the President From the President Eric Showalter, instructor, collision repair, has helped Washburn Tech give away 27 Recycled Rides, more than all the other schools in the nationwide program combined. Photo by Doug Stremel Giving a Lift Washburn Tech’s Recycled Rides drives an impact that goes on for miles By Annie Flachsbarth If you’ve never had to worry about where your realize that not everybody has what we have, and I next ride will come from, it can be easy to take think it can shape the character of the students.” transportation for granted. For many, however, getting a lift can mean the difference between getting a In 2011, Washburn Tech became the first educational paycheck or going hungry. institution in the nation to participate in Recycled Rides, a National Auto Body Council program. Led Students and volunteers with Washburn University by instructors Eric Showalter and Emiliano Arzate, Institute of Technology’s Recycled Rides program are the program brings together auto repair and collision using their skills to make a difference by repairing repair program instructors, students and volunteers donated vehicles to give reliable transportation to to refurbish donated vehicles for donation back into someone in need. From repairs to selecting worthy the community. recipients and giving the car away, the experience is an emotional one for the students involved. Now in its eighth year at Washburn Tech, Recycled Rides has given away two to four cars each “It can be an eye-opener,” said Eric Showalter, year to deserving individuals in need of reliable instructor, collision repair at Washburn Tech. “They transportation. In the fall of 2018, they gave away 4 Campus News their 25th car – more than all other schools in the donors, community partners and elected officials, the country combined. This spring, they gave away ceremonies are often both emotional and uplifting for numbers 26 and 27. all in attendance. Going the Extra Mile “The car was covered up with a big bow on top,” From finding a salvageable vehicle, locating donated remembers Susan Carter, recipient of the fourth parts from community partners, the physical labor and Recycled Rides car – a Kia Sportage SUV. “When they selecting the perfect recipient, countless hours are put uncovered it, I cried and jumped for joy. It made me into making each vehicle ready to give away. feel so happy that there are people out there who can do this.” “Some of the work is done during class time, but 95 percent of the work is done as extracurricular work,” Carter uses her vehicle to get to work, the grocery store Showalter said. “With our advisory council and industry and the doctor. partners, as well as past students who have graduated and have come back to volunteer, train and mentor our current students – when you consider everyone who contributes parts and works on the cars, approximately 100 to 125 people have worked on each car.” Recycled Ride recipient applications are collected through the United Way of Greater Topeka. The selection committee, made up of student ambassadors, carefully reviews each application and considers who may be helped the most by receiving a vehicle before narrowing down the list for a vote. George James, certificate ’12, certificate ’16, has worked on all 27 cars and was on the recipient selection committee four times as a student in the auto collision Susan Carter (center) received the fourth Recycled Giving a Lift and automotive service technician programs and as Rides automobile during a Ride-Away ceremony on an alumnus. the steps of the Kansas Statehouse. Photo submitted Washburn Tech’s Recycled Rides drives an impact that goes on for miles “Picking the best candidate for the car is one of the “This whole experience has done so much for me,” Carter hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” James said. “Some said. “I give the workers who do the repairs a standing of the stories are so touching, so it’s really hard to ovation. They work so hard to get these cars rebuilt and narrow it down from 25 people to just one. You really in tip-top shape for the people who need them.” hope you pick the right person.” James noted the gifted cars can greatly improve a As a student, James had the opportunity to present recipient’s quality of life. the work of the Recycled Rides program at a SkillsUSA competition – a national technical institute “I recently saw one of the car recipients. Now that he competition where Washburn Tech has won at both has the car, he has a much better job, and he’s using the state and national level. As an alumnus, he still the car to get back and forth from work,” James said. volunteers when he can. Arzate said the impact of the program extends to all “Some weekends I go up and help take apart or those involved. reassemble the cars,” James said. “Recycled Rides helps me keep my skills up.” “It's rewarding to see the cars being gifted and know that you're giving something back,” Arzate Opening Doors said. “When we're able to use our skills to provide The finished cars are presented each semester at something for somebody with our free time – it's the a Ride-Away unveiling ceremony.