C-Mag July 2019

JULY TWENTY19 adrian.edu

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FIRST-GEN

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contents What does it mean to be a Bulldog? I imagine it means a little something different to everyone.

Students and alumni might speak of the sense of pride they get from belonging to their oncampus groups, or they might point to the lifelong connections they have made with their peers and professors while pursuing their degrees. However, it’s not just students and alumni boasting different kinds of Bulldog pride — the faculty and staff have takes all their own.

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A B B R E V I AT E D

JULY TWENTY19

CAMPUS

For me, as a member of Adrian College staff, being a Bulldog means being a cog in a well-oiled machine that has evolved into something fantastic over 160 years. By attracting men and women from all sorts of different countries, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds, this state-of-the-art institution has formed a unique melting pot of perspectives. There aren’t many places where a student-athlete and sorority sister who aspires to be a medical professional will learn alongside a first-generation college student from a lowincome background, but this is one of them. In fact, because Adrian is a small, private liberal arts college, even Bulldogs as different as these can grow close enough to learn from one another, forming connections that will broaden their worldviews for decades to come.

Creativity Award Fond Farewell

ACADEMICS

First Gen to Top of Class Alumni Spotlight

ATHLETICS

Women’s Soccer Baseball Take Note

HISTORY

Hail Adrian

UPCOMING EVENTS

Adrian’s vibrant, ever-flowing exchange of ideas, in my opinion, is what makes our Bulldog community great. By creating a culture in which every voice is celebrated, Adrian helps its Bulldogs flourish — and when its Bulldogs flourish, the College flourishes, too.

Hollie Smith Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

Mickey Alvarado • Michael Neal ‘12 • Megan Sauer ‘18 Michelle Siegel ‘19 • Hollie Smith • Sarah Symington

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campus p NSLS The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. With 657 chapters, the NSLS currently has 1,031,548 members nationwide. Students are selected by their college for membership based on academic standing and leadership potential. Adrian College’s NSLS chapter was founded by Jack Stover ‘19, Chris Stanhope ‘19 and Morgan Pearce ‘19 in the fall of 2018. The AC chapter has 280 members.

Director of Institutional Research and Assessment Beth Heiss ‘98 and the Director of Institute for Career Planning Janna D’Amico ‘02 are the student advisors who helped get the local chapter started.

AC is currently the only small private college in the state to have a chapter.

2019 SPRING COMMENCEMENT Adrian College had 22 graduates and 261 undergraduates receive degrees during its spring commencement on Sunday, May 5. Dr. Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA, was the main speaker for AC’s 159th commencement ceremony. AC President Jeffrey Docking recognized Emmert’s accomplishments by awarding him an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

Dr. Marti Morales-Ensign, AC professor of biology, is this year’s AC Creativity Contest winner. She received a $1,000 check for her winning idea, titled “Replica of the Shepherd’s Hook.” AC will also provide up to $10,000 toward the implementation of this project. Her entry to the 8th annual contest explains the winning concept: “My idea is that we should have on campus a replica (metal material?) of the Ribbon’s Shepherd’s Hook placed on display. Let the AC community tie a ribbon on such throughout the year when they have accomplished something pertaining to the ROE values (it should be a reflection when someone feels they have fulfilled such on their own). Each academic year, it starts over.”

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Submit your idea: adrian.edu/academics/

institutes/creativity/creativity-award-submission/

ALUMNI RESOURCES Transcripts, address updates, job opportunities and more: adrian.edu/alumni/alumni-resources/

Adrian College wishes Professor Beth Myers ‘79 (l-r), Chaplain Christopher Momany ‘84 and Assistant Professor Penny Cobau-Smith a fond farewell. After many years of service, the three said their goodbyes during a going-away party on April 26, 2019. Congratulations, and thank you for your extensive contributions to AC!

academics

FIRST-GEN

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eing the first in a family to attend college can be an overwhelming experience — but for those who stick it out and graduate, the rewards can last for generations to come.

“The most likely denominator to suggest that you’re going to go to college is if your mom or dad went to college,” Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking said.

“I really can’t overstate how important it is to our mission as an institution to help first-generation students,” Docking said.

“Michelle [Siegel] came over to dinner at my wife’s and my house one of the first weeks she was on campus and we got to know her, and Michelle is very verbal. She said very clearly, ‘This is all very new to me.

I don’t know my way around this place very well. I haven’t had as robust a support group as a lot of other students have, but I’m going to try to find my way through.’

Turn the clock ahead four years and I’m shaking her hand walking across the stage as the Alpha Chi scholar. She is the preeminent example of a success story.”

First-generation students are a critical part of what keeps the heart of Adrian College pumping and a vital factor in future enrollment. The students make up between 39-42 percent of the College’s yearly enrollment.

Michelle Siegel is one of Adrian College’s most successful first-generation students, and this is her story:

“I really can’t overstate how important it is to our mission as an institution to help firstgeneration students”

To this end, I joined Siena Heights University’s McNair program, which takes students from both Siena Heights University and Adrian College. Like Excel, McNair is a federally-funded program under the TRIO umbrella. However, McNair and Excel differ in that McNair helps qualified students from racial groups underrepresented in graduate education and first-generation students from low-income backgrounds enter graduate school and earn a Ph.D. In return for my participation in a research ADRIAN COLLEGE PRESIDENT JEFFREY DOCKING internship and my completion of an independent My parents had to endure a lot to achieve project, McNair gave me a stipend, graduate school their goal. My mother earned pocket change visit funding, graduate school application fee as a paraprofessional for deaf children, while waivers, GRE preparation materials (and a partial fee waiver) my pipefitter father did countless hours of hard labor and another amazing support system — in this case, a team in the factories. Dad took a buyout when I was 10 to avoid of trained professionals, a faculty mentor and another two an inevitable layoff, but that shrank our family’s primary dozen peers to connect with. income down to fixed social security and pension payments.

ICHELLE: When I was just a few months old, a financial advisor asked my parents why they wanted to save money. He offered a number of luxurious suggestions — a boat, a hot rod, a house on the lake — but my parents continued to shake their heads. “We just want our little girl to get a good education,” they said. “We want her to go to college.”

My parents made sure I never realized how hard that was on us until I moved out.

Luckily, I earned a full-tuition academic scholarship to Adrian College. Even though I had been the valedictorian of my graduating class, the transition was rocky. I knew nothing about college — not even what the term “credit hour” meant. Whereas many of my friends received insight and tuition support from their well-educated, middle-class parents, neither of my parents had earned a bachelor’s degree, so they did not have the money or experience to do the same. In other words, I was a first-generation, low-income college student.

The odds are stacked against people like me: According to a Pell Institute study, only 11 percent of students in my position earn a college degree within six years of enrolling in school, compared to 55 percent of their more advantaged peers. When I found myself struggling with all sorts of obstacles that my friends breezed past, I grew discouraged.

I wondered to myself, “Was college really the right choice for someone like me?”

As I pondered this, TRIO Excel reached out to me, and I was admitted to the program. Known nationally as Student Support Services, Excel is a federally-funded program that aims to help first-generation students who are from lowincome backgrounds and/or have documented disabilities earn a four-year degree. Excel provided me with access to grant aid, educational workshops, cultural activities and an incredible support system, including a professional mentor (who was trained to assist me), a peer mentor (who had navigated a similar situation herself) and connections to dozens upon dozens of other students who were fighting the same battles.

Thanks to TRIO, I never gave up at Adrian College and set my sights even higher, deciding to continue my education and earn a Ph.D in journalism.

“The odds are stacked against people like me: According to a Pell Institute study, only 11 percent of students in my position earn a college degree within six years of enrolling in school, compared to 55 percent of their more advantaged peers.”

In May, I earned the Alpha Chi Outstanding Scholar Award for being the Adrian College senior with the highest cumulative GPA and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English (writing) and psychology (plus a journalism minor). This August, I will head to Philip Merrill College of Journalism at University of Maryland, College Park to begin pursuing a master’s degree in multi-platform investigative journalism. I am proud of my achievements as a firstgeneration, low-income college student — but I could not have made these accomplishments without the support of Excel, McNair and Adrian College.

“Her life will never be the same,” Docking said. “She will be a better mom. She will be a better spouse. She’ll be a person with a greater ability to support her family, to take care of herself, to live in a safe neighborhood, to teach others the importance of academics. And all of that was a function, I think, of her being at Adrian College. So, you can’t put a price tag on it. Now she’s off to a great graduate school, one that she should be very proud to get into. And it’s all part of a happy and successful story.” n For information about Excel, contact Ben Ernst at bernst@adrian.edu. For more information about McNair, contact mcnair@sienaheights.edu.

alumni spotlight

THE INTERNATIONAL VALUE of a

Liberal Arts Education ormer Bulldog and AC staff member Dennis “My thoughts continued to focus on this ‘success trait’ DeSmet ‘10 attests a liberal arts education and how I could connect with people from different can afford you the world — and in his current cultures. I believe if one has a higher affinity to connect position as the Global Market Segment Manager for with others, their chance for success in whatever they do Freudenberg Seling Technologies, he’s improves,” DeSmet explained. “At seen quite a bit of it. While DeSmet AC, I had a wide base of knowledge and his family are currently stationed from numerous groups such as in Germany, he consistently interacts baseball and the Tau Kappa Epsilon with people from all over the Eastern fraternity. Friendships with my peers “If there is one thing hemisphere, many of whom are and professors also helped, as well interested in his unique background. as having an appreciation for the I’ve learned, it is community. It has played a role regardless of one’s path, “I am often asked in casual and continues to play a role in my whether straight or conversation what I studied, and frankly position.” winding, every success speaking, I love getting this question As proud as DeSmet is of his and failure in that from people of different world cultures,” personal and career development, DeSmet said. “I simply offer up a smile journey impacts your AC also helped him discover his and say I have my bachelor’s degrees in next step,” DeSmet passion for traveling and his family. biology and environmental science and said. “All you need to He married fellow Bulldog alumna studied business for my master’s. This Erin DeSmet ‘09 in 2014, and do is learn from them. usually results in a rather confused look.” the pair continue to support each Do not be afraid of other’s careers abroad. Since then, In many higher education institutions, failure. Embrace it.” the size of their family has doubled the focus is placed on individuals as they travel and connect with the mastering individual subjects rather rest of the world. than the interdisciplinary development of a student. Through DeSmet’s experience with the liberal “If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is regardless of one’s arts, however, he has learned how his strengths can serve path, whether straight or winding, every success and failure others through and beyond his degrees. It was in his role in that journey impacts your next step,” DeSmet said. “All with AC’s Office of Development that he realized his ability you need to do is learn from them. Do not be afraid of to connect with others. failure. Embrace it.” n

tradition

Hail ADRIAN!

LOOKIN’ FOR A GOOD FIGHT-SONG? Well, look no further than Adrian College!

Back in the fall of 1988, AC band member Darin McNabb ’89, decided he’d like to write a fight song for the College. Band Director Tom Tacke gave Darin the go-ahead, and before long, the new fight song was being used by the band on a regular basis. Unfortunately, a few years later, the song was shelved in Spencer Hall’s music library, possibly filed under “oldie, but goodie.”

Approximately 19 years later, Darin read the college was putting together a new marching band and it would be playing AC’s fight song. He wondered which fight song they were referring to, so he contacted the college’s current band director, Dr. Marty Marks, and had the old piece sent to him. Darin decided to rework the piece, received permission, and two months later, had what he believed to be a much stronger tune with far punchier lyrics.

Darin said his inspiration for the melody came from “The 40 Greatest College Fight Songs,” recorded by the University of Michigan marching band. He noted that if one listens closely to the new fight song, they will hear musical references to the fight songs of Northwestern, Wisconsin, Michigan State and the University of Michigan.

Darin wanted the words to be gender-neutral and nonsport specific, and he made sure to include the words “heroes,” “champions” and “victory,” to convey the values he believes AC has always strived to instill in its graduates. n

HAIL ADRIAN! Hail, hail to Adrian — The home of the Black and the Gold!

Cheer, cheer for Adrian — Lift high your voices, proud and bold, “Go, Dawgs, Go!” Fight, fight for Adrian — And champions again we will be!

Our heroes will score, and the crowd will roar, “Another Bulldog victory!”

LISTEN TO the fight song

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

athletics

>>>HISTORY

In a year characterized by record-setting achievement and glory, the Adrian College Women’s Soccer Team made history in the 2018-2019 season with its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs secured their spot in the tournament by winning the MIAA Conference and conquering favored Hope College in the MIAA Tournament Championship.

Caroline Flem ing

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The accomplishments of individual athletes were as impressive as the team’s collective accolades. On defense, junior goaltender Ayverie Giller had a .841 save percentage, while senior Rachel Rodeheffer ‘19 only allowed 15 goals in 21 matches and scored three goals. Throughout the season, Junior forward Caroline Fleming led the offensive end, contributing 31 total points this season, and had the most points and assists in the MIAA Conference. n

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The Adrian College Baseball Team captured the regular season MIAA title back in May. While the hardware earned from this championship is impressive on its own, it’s not nearly as astounding as the fact that this was the team’s 11th consecutive title.

While the team’s season ended in game six of the NCAA Regional Championship, it is still being dubbed as the best season in Adrian College Baseball history.

The Bulldogs tied the school record for most season wins, which secured their place in the tournament. n

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NOTE At the end of the 2018-2019 season, the Next College Student Athlete Organization (NCSA) recognized several Bulldog sports teams for their success and tapped Adrian College among the “Best Colleges for Student-Athletes.”

This designation also places AC athletics in the top 25 percent of NCAA DIII schools.

The report specifically highlighted the Adrian College men’s and women’s ice hockey, women’s rowing, men’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s wrestling programs, but several more Bulldog student-athletes made a name for the black and gold this year by bringing home state and national titles.

FIGURE SKATING • The Adrian College Varsity

Figure Skating Team captured bronze at the U.S. Intercollegiate Figure Skating Championships for the third year in a row. The competition, held this year at the Fred Rust and Gold Ice Arenas on the University of Delaware’s campus, also named AC studentathletes Amy Czuhajewski, Nikki Czuhajewski, Casey Labrenz, Jill Westerbur and Sadie Woodruff national champions in their respective events.

• This season, the Adrian College SYNCHRONIZED SKATING

Varsity Synchronized Skating Teams received accolades in all three divisions. The Open Collegiate Team had an undefeated season and was crowned Midwestern Sectional Champions. The Collegiate Team also had a successful season, earning its second national medal, pewter, at this year’s Synchronized Skating National Championships.

The Senior Team received its fifth and sixth international assignments in four years, which sent the Bulldogs to compete on behalf of Team USA in Rouen, France, and Milan, Italy.

WRESTLING • The Adrian College Women’s

Wrestling Team finished the season with the most All-Americans named in school history. The three student-athletes, Kassidy Block, Zoe Nowicki and Maggie Elliott, all placed in the top 10 in their respective events at the USA Wrestling’s Women’s Nationals.

Sophomore Devon Pingle and Freshman Collin Lewis advanced to the second day of the NCAA DIII Men’s Wrestling Central Region Championships. Pingle finished as the runner-up in his weight class and his placement secured his ticket to the NCAA DIII Wrestling Championships in Virginia.

BASS FISHING • Nick Marsh and Jarrett Martin

placed third in the Yeti FLW College Fishing National Championship with over 49 lbs across 15 fish. This was the Bulldogs’ highest ranking in school history at a national championship event and they competed against nearly 150 other boats for their chance at the title.

The team also made waves as the Ranger Cup University Challenge Champions. As shown on the Pursuit Channel, Jack Hippe and Nick Czajka conquered a rivaling team from Bethel University by pulling in over 87 lbs, across 31 fish.

ROWING • The spring season sent the black and gold to Grand Rapids, Mich. for the Lubber’s Cup — ­ where the men’s frosh eight boat took fourth and the women’s frosh four boat captured the title — then to Lewisberry, Penn. for the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference Championship.

At the championship, the men’s team placed fourth while the women’s team finished sixth for Adrian College.

ACROBATICS AND TUMBLING • In June, the NCAA Committee

on Women’s Athletics (CWA) advocated acrobatics and tumbling should be added to all three divisions of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women Program.

Acrobatics and tumbling, like women’s wrestling, is set to become an official NCAA regulated sport in August of 2020.

DANCE TEAM • For the second time in program

history, the Adrian College Dance Team competed at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) College Nationals. The Bulldogs, who performed their jazz routine for Division III, traveled to Daytona Beach for the event.

AUGUST 18-25

Welcome Week

SEPTEMBER 20

Greek Runouts

SEPTEMBER 20

Hall of Fame Dinner

OCTOBER 19

Grandparents’ Day

OCTOBER 25

President’s Dinner

UP COM ING events ADRIAN COLLEGE

NOVEMBER 10

Bulldog 101

Intro to the Adrian College Experience

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adrian.edu/bulldog101

SEPTEMBER 20—22

DECEMBER 13

Winter Commencement

Homecoming Weekend

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adrian.edu/homecoming