accenAlma College Alumni Magazine News and Events for Fall 2010 ts The Hogan Project is complete Also inside: Alma in 60 seconds accents Fall 2010 editor Mike Silverthorn designers Beth Pellerito Aimee Bentley photographer Skip Traynor printing Millbrook Printing contributors Ellen Doepke Susan Heimburger Brent Neubecker ’95 alumni notes compiled by Alyse Redman ’10 board of trustees Candace Croucher Dugan, Chair Ron R. Sexton ’68, Vice Chair Larry R. Andrus ’72, Secretary Bruce T. Alton C. David Campbell ’75 David K. Chapoton ’57 James C. Conboy Jr. Gary W. Fenchuk ’68 John C. Foster ’67 Nancy E. Gallagher ’80 Glenn D. Granger ’83 Greg Hatcher ’83 Richard P. Heuschele ’59 Kevin R. Johnson David P. Larsen ’84 David F. Lau Donald A. Lindow John McCormack Thomas J. McDowell James T. McIntyre ’69 Stephen F. Meyer ’80 Roger L. Myers Antje Newhagen ’67 Marcia J. Nunn ’73 J. David Pierce move-in day 2010 David T. Provost ’76 D. Michael Sherman ’74 Alma’s class of 2014 arrived on campus Saturday, August 28 and were officially Lynne Sherwood welcomed to campus by faculty and staff who helped carry their belongings into the dorms. CORRECTION A story in the Spring 2010 Accents on the cover: incorrectly identified the mother of The new Hogan Center is complete and open just in time for the arrival of our Aimmi Haverbush-Knarr ’01. Aimmi students. The 2010 Freshman Convocation took place in Art Smith Arena. is the daughter of Dr. Thomas Hav- erbush of Alma and Mrs. Jeanenne Arnold of Traverse City. features 6 The Alma Experience in 60 seconds Vaughn Brines ’10 has an ambitious goal for Alma’s new TV commercial: One million hits on YouTube. Seem unrealistic? Not to Brines, the director of the innovative spot that uses stop motion photography to promote the Alma Experience. 12 Hands-on learning in integrated health Alma rolls out three new academic majors designed to prepare students for work in rapidly changing career fields — within a liberal arts foundation — in biotechnology, environment studies and healthcare administration. David Provost ’76 is this year’s Distinguished 16 Art Smith Arena honors a legacy Alumni Award winner. Read more on page 20. The Hogan Center construction is complete, and Alma’s brand new environmentally friendly Art Smith Arena sparkles with fresh paint, varnish and lights. The arena is named after the long-time teacher and coach with an Alma College legacy. 20 Banking on Michigan departments Armed with a business strategy and a vision for customer-focused service, David Provost ’76 rescues a failing bank and revitalizes a community. He 6 thistle & pipes is the 2010 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. 17 highland games 19 great scots 26 The talk radio voice that booms Tim Nester ’98 has solutions for all of the world’s biggest programs — 28 tartan tidbits as ridiculous as they may seem. The audience for his streaming radio talk show as grown from a few hundred local listeners to more than 20,000 around the world. accents is published in October, Febru- 28 Leadership legacy: Ron Kapp ary and June for alumni, parents, students The former professor and provost taught more than 2,500 students dur- and other friends of Alma College. Send ing his 32 years at Alma College. But to him, teaching was more than comments to Mike Silverthorn, Accents just a job. He took a genuine interest in impacting and shaping the lives editor, Alma College, 614 W. Superior St., of the students he taught. Alma, MI 48801-1599, or e-mail: [email protected]. alumni.alma.edu/accents mission @ Alma College’s mission is to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations. www.alma.edu 3 My freshman year Dr. Jeff Abernathy President What an exciting introduction I have had these Our priorities will emerge over the coming past four months to Alma College. I have come year, but among the most important work will to see the great passion you have for Alma. be our efforts to ensure that the great story That passion is part of what a college education of Alma College is known far and wide. The is all about. Ralph Waldo Emerson said that the great work that Alma does needs to be known purpose of a college is to “set the hearts of its across the country. youth on flame.” Alumni help in this work in so many ways. I As 400+ freshmen arrived on campus earlier would be especially grateful if you will intro- in the fall, I reminded them I’m a freshman, of duce Alma to those high school students you sorts, as well. I’ve felt all of the usual butterflies know. And if you have opportunities for current that they are feeling. Like them, I’m meeting lots Alma students or recent graduates in your of people for the first time, settling into a new workplace, please let us know! home. Like them, I’m thinking a lot about what An Alma liberal arts education has never been these next years will hold. more important than it is today: our great gift to These next years will be exciting as we build on the world is our work helping students come to the great success President Saundra Tracy had a deeper sense of meaning and purpose as they through her years at Alma. As we make our prepare to lead and to serve communities across plans, I would like to hear from you about your the country and around the globe. hopes for the college. I look forward to getting to know the Alma My first months have convinced me of two things: community in this, my freshman year. I hope you will stop by when you are next on campus. * First, we must be rooted in our identity. We On the following page I’ve listed some ways in will not attempt to be what we are not: We which you can stay in touch. are Alma, and there is no prouder claim we can make. Go Scots! • Second, our plan must respond to our changing environment, with its many chal- lenges for liberal arts colleges. We will plan Jeff Abernathy for a college whose 150th year will be even President brighter than its 125th. 4 accents Meeting Tom Anthony ’72 and his daughter Devon ’09 at the July alumni reception on campus. 2010 Orientation Committee students participated in a scavenger hunt. A crazy photo with Dr. Abernathy was on their list of items to acquire! Addressing students at the 2010 Freshman Convocation Enjoying Alma’s first home football game with wife Rebecca, son Rohan and daughter Maren Meeting Alyse Redman ’10 at the welcome picnic You can reach President Abernathy in several ways: [email protected] facebook.com/almapresident twitter.com/jeffabernathy Phone: (989) 463-7146 www.alma.edu/about/offices/president www.alma.edu 5 The New AD CAMPAIGNAlma promotes the transformative Experience opportunities that students have to learn and grow at Alma in 60 seconds lma College is rolling taken in preparing the TV spot. The actual been done before, and something that was out a new 60-second commercial incorporates more than 500 still professional, not amateurish,” says Brines, television com- images all packed within a 60-second story- a student photographer and video editor Amercial that uses stop motion line that illustrates the many transformative during his four years at Alma. “We brain- photography, upbeat music opportunities that students have to learn and stormed various messages that we wanted and humorous visual affects to grow during their four years at Alma. to incorporate into the commercial, and we promote the “Alma Experi- Brines, who completed a Program of agreed we wanted to reach multiple audi- ence” to multiple audiences. Emphasis major in screenwriting and film ences, including prospective students and The commercial will air on production at Alma, was approached by the families as well as alumni.” television throughout the state College’s Marketing and Communications Early in the planning, Brines and the in coming weeks. In addition, Office to direct an in-house production of a planning committee determined that stop Brines the spot is posted on YouTube, TV commercial for the College. Brines, who motion photography, not video, would be where already it is generating attention on interned with a professional Brazilian film the means to an original presentation of the the Internet. company in Sao Paulo in 2007 and again Alma Experience. “This commercial is going to be a hit,” says in 2009, worked with a campus planning “With stop motion photography, you have 2010 Alma graduate Vaughn Brines, who committee that included Laurie DeYoung, more latitude for presenting concepts of worked with in-house professionals and stu- associate director of admissions; Carol time and space,” says Brines. “You can take dent staff to produce the commercial during Hyble, vice president for advancement; Beth more dramatic and creative leaps from scene his senior year. Pellerito, director of marketing; Mike Sil- to scene than you can with video. We had so verthorn, director of communications; and many scenes to describe the Alma Experi- More than 20,000 photographs — includ- Skip Traynor, digital media editor. ing shots taken to scout campus locations ence — to try to do it with video would have and test scenes, actors and extras — were “We determined that we wanted an been nearly impossible. Plus, stop action is original project, something that had not novel, artistic and fun to watch.” 6 accents The New AD CAMPAIGNAlma promotes the transformative Experience opportunities that students have to learn and grow at Alma in 60 seconds Brines worked with marketing and com- Scotland was actually shot on a mid-Michi- munications office staff to coordinate the gan farm that raises Highland cattle.