It's All in the Family

It’s All in the Family

/// TAMMY TILLEY

Caption: The Sipka family, from left on couch: Tim, Chris, Phil, Steve, Steve’s wife Elyse, and Mark standing.

It’s not unusual for a student to choose AU in part because their parents or grandparents attended here. What is more unusual is if the whole family chooses AU.

For the Sipka family, Dad Tim BA ’75, Mom Chris (Cohagen) BA ’76, Tim’s sister Joyce (Sipka) Winner BA ’77, her husband, Jimmy BA ’76, and all three Sipka sons each said yes to the AU experience. According to the parents, the sons chose AU on their own.

Brent Baker BA ’85, director of development at AU, said, “All of these folks are warm, engaging, and love AU. They’re all engaged in their communities and are involved in the transformation of others’ lives.”

Tim graduated with a degree in math. He has been a professor at Alma College in Michigan for 40 years.

Chris was a physical education,

health, and recreation major. After teaching middle school P.E., she now serves in an outreach ministry, living out her faith in the context of sports leagues, exercise classes, neighborhood gatherings, and other community events.

The oldest son, Phil Sipka BA ’02, played football at AU. Dad Tim

relates, “He would probably tell you he was at a chapel when Bart Campolo was here and gave this challenge, ‘Would you give up a year of your life working in the inner city?’ and he took that to heart.” Now, Phil owns and runs Kusanya Coffee in Englewood, Ill., one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the Chicago area.

Son number two, Steve Sipka BA ’07, graduated with a degree in Christian ministries. He runs Exodus House in Anderson, a residential treatment program for men recovering from addictions.

Mark Sipka BA ’12, the youngest of the three sons, graduated with a degree in communication arts. He now lives in Los Angeles performing stand-up comedy and remains connected with many other former Ravens. Mark and other alumni debuted “Itinerary,” a short film, at AU this past Homecoming. To read more about the Sipka family, please visit anderson.edu/sipka.