Summer 2011
SPIRITof GIVING
Thank You Your support makes these moments possible.
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Benedictine College
EDITOR Beth Hoffman, ’09
DESIGNER Hayleigh Diebolt
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Summer 2011
A MESSAGE
from the Vice President for Advancement, Kelly J. Vowels, ’85
WRITERS Vaughn Kohler Susan Traffas Rosemary Wilkerson
CLASS NOTES Trisha Clinesmith, ’12 Chloe Donaldson, ’12 Kathy Garrison
PHOTOGRAPHERS Megan Bickford, ’03 Hayleigh Diebolt Kelly Elias, ’85
WAYS TO GIVE GIVE BY MAIL
Gifts made by check should be payable to Benedictine College and mailed to: Office of Advancement, 1020 North Second Street, Atchison, KS 66002-1499
GIVE BY PHONE 1-800-766-0078 ext. 7416
ONLINE GIVING You may make a gift securely online using your debit or credit card. Visit http://my.benedictine.edu/bcannualfund.
GIFTS OF STOCK By donating appreciated securities or mutual fund shares, you can provide a lasting contribution while receiving tax benefits, such as capital gains tax savings.
REAL ESTATE Your gift provides a convenient way for you to enjoy a charitable deduction based on the current fair market value of your property, and it can reduce the size and complexity of your estate.
ESTATE PLANNING Remember Benedictine in your Will or estate plan. We also offer life-income gifts that provide income and immediate tax benefits. For more information, please contact Tim Andrews at 913-360-7363 or tandrews@benedictine.edu. If you already have named Benedictine College in your estate plan, contact us so we can welcome you into the Benedictine Legacy Society.
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This past June, many joined us for our 2011 Reunion Weekend. Men and women from numerous classes ate, played, and worshiped together from early morning to the wee hours of the night. It was a truly great Benedictine experience. As I reflect on the reunion, I am overwhelmed that such a diverse group of people could share such strong bonds of community. But as so many crossed the Amelia Earhart bridge, drove onto campus, and became 18 again, the unity and closeness was undeniable. As I watched people reunite—sometimes seeing each other for the first time in many decades—I saw the years wash away into powerful moments of laughter, hugs, tears, and—of course—storytelling. Our Benedictine community is full of storytellers—and all our stories are united by our common experience of this great place. In many ways, the heart of this place is the Raven Walk. Fitted with hundreds of red bricks, it is the path that leads from the Student Union, past the Haverty Center and Mary’s Grotto, and up to St. Benedict Hall. As it extends up the hill, it connects features of campus that are both old and new. Recently I have come to think of it as the perfect metaphor for the common life we share at Benedictine. Whether at the beginning of the steps (a bright-eyed beanie-wearing freshman), halfway along the path (a baby boomer who hopes to produce a legacy!) or all the way up the hill (a “Senior Raven” back for your golden jubilee!), all our separate paths have led us to Atchison, Kansas. Regardless if you are a member of the last class to graduate from Mount St. Scholastica College or the first graduate of the Mother Theresa School of Nursing, we are all together on this “Raven Walk.” As we move toward another year together, we are especially mindful, not just of maintaining our strong bonds of community, but of moving them forward (always forward!) to new and better levels of closeness and connectedness. As you read through this issue of the Spirit of Giving, we hope you enjoy getting to know some of the other members of the Benedictine family. Getting to know each other better is a huge blessing. You will discover that we’ve provided you with different platforms for strengthening our connections—including an online alumni community at my.benedictine.edu and fun and heartwarming social interaction at mybenedictineblog.com. This is our way of helping those on the Raven Walk to walk even closer. For Benedictine,
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BENEDICTINE COLLEGE FUND Supply the ordinary, share the extraordinary An Extraordinary Life and Work Dr. Wangari Maathai, ’64 is an extraordinary woman. Grieved by the environmental woes of her native Kenya, Maathai founded The Green Belt Movement, an organization that attempts to combat deforestation, restore the main source of food for cooking, and generate income for poor and oppressed women. Her work has transformed her homeland and improved countless lives. For her efforts, she was awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. The Ordinary Makes Possible the Extraordinary Remember: Wangari’s extraordinary life and work were made possible because, at the right time, someone supplied her ordinary needs. Wangari is not just a Nobel Peace Prize winner. She is a 1964 graduate of Mount St. Scholastica College, now Benedictine College. It was the extraordinary community at Mount St. Scholastica College who first supplied Wangari’s ordinary needs. The Sisters, her professors, believed in her and cultivated her scientific inquiry. Her classmates recognized her potential and formed strong and encouraging friendships with her. And, together with alumni and other friends of the Mount, they not only provided the funds for Wangari to study on scholarship, but gave generously until all her material needs were met. The generosity of a whole community was applied to Wangari’s life—and encouraged her success—in so many different ways.
Monies given to the operating budget helped maintain the dormitory where she slept—and dreamed of her homeland. Dollars earmarked for the cafeteria provided her a place to eat well and remember the hunger of her fellow Kenyans. Regular contributions sustained the library where she studied biology and political science, in preparation for her future vocation. Financial gifts kept the campus green and beautiful—and spoke to her love of nature. And—perhaps most importantly—financial gifts supported the professors who were so dear to her—those who taught her, befriended her, mentored her, and inspired her to serve her country and change the world. The Benedictine College Fund: Supply the Ordinary, Share the Extraordinary When you give to the Benedictine College Fund, you supply ordinary needs: every dollar you give goes to the general operations budget. While your money goes, in part, to scholarships, it also helps us maintain the campus. It provides upkeep for the residence halls and academic buildings, so that students can joyfully pursue both scholarship and community. And it helps provide competitive salaries for our professors, the men and women who work to educate and inspire our students who—like Wangari Maathai—have the potential to transform the world for good. When you give to the Benedictine College Fund, you share in the extraordinary results. Every time one of our students becomes someone extraordinary, you share the credit. Every time they do something extraordinary, you share the accomplishment. After all, they could never have benefitted from a Benedictine education— never had a comfortable dorm to sleep, a conducive place to study, or a competent professor to influence their faith and life— had your gifts not generously supplied all their ordinary needs. If you supply the ordinary, you share the extraordinary. That’s the opportunity provided by the Benedictine College Fund. Will you give today?
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Because of your generous support, we ended fiscal year 2011 on June 30 with great success. The Benedictine College Fund received $1,283,638 from 3,175 donors, exceeding our goal by more than $30,000! The 2011-2012 fiscal year began on July 1 and our goal for this fiscal year has been set at $1,250,000. Thank you for your continued support. 64046_Benedict.pdf 3
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Summer 2011
BENEDICTINE COLLEGE FUND Always a Raven
Benjamin A. Nicks, Jr., ’41, Shawnee, Kan., is one of the oldest alumni to have recently given to the Benedictine College Fund. When Ben came to Atchison, Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, the hottest new technology was the radio, and a taxi ride from St. Benedict’s to Mount St. Scholastica cost 50 cents. We hope you enjoy Ben’s recollections from his days in Atchison.
Spirit of Giving: What were your first impressions of St. Benedict’s College?
Spirit of Giving: Tell us a funny story from your days at St. Benedict’s College.
Ben: First and foremost, it was a boys school. For that reason, I think the atmosphere was a little looser, laid back. And it was not a very big school.
Ben: [Chuckling] In those days, there was a little saloon and gambling place right across the river. We weren’t really supposed to go there. But we went anyway and thought we were getting away with it. Several years later, I was talking to Father Florian Wimmer, OSB, who had been the dean of men. I mentioned that we had some escapades back when I was a student. He said, “Oh, yes. You don’t know how many times I stood on the banks of the Missouri River keeping an eye on you men, to make sure you didn’t get into any real trouble.” I said, “Oh. I didn’t think you knew about that.” Smiling, he said, “No. I didn’t think you did.”
Spirit of Giving: What do you remember about your interaction with the young women from Mount St. Scholastica College? Ben: To visit the Mounties, we’d cram five guys into the taxi so we’d only have to pay 10 cents apiece—plus a five cent tip. The two colleges used to have dances—a fair number of them. There would always be a 10-15 piece orchestra, not just a guy with a jukebox like the cheap way they do it today. Anyway, there was a lot of good socializing between the men and women. Not everything was monastic I can tell you that. Spirit of Giving: Do you remember much about popular culture? Ben: I remember the most popular movie was Showboat. There were lots of cowboy pictures, like Yakima Canutt, which you’ve probably never heard of. For a dime, you could see a double feature. And radio was just starting to become important. Jack Benny, Fred Allen, and Amos & Andy—those were the popular personalities at the time.
Spirit of Giving: What would you like to tell your fellow alumni/ae? Ben: I’m 92 years old—thank you, Lord—and I hope I have a little bit more time left. My friend always says he hates to imagine what’s going to happen to our country in the future. But my generation lived through a deep, grinding depression and World War II. And our children enjoy a better world today than we did. Sure, we’ve got problems with the economy and the news always reports the most sensational stories. But it can be, and in many ways is, a better world today than it was. I hope you are encouraged by that.
Ben also remembered that he went to three dances with the same dress—not the same girl! Go to www.mybenedictineblog.com and watch him tell the story! 64046_Benedict.pdf 4
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Summer 2011
ALUMNI
New alumni head to graduate school
Allison Thornton, ’11 came to Benedictine College from South Dakota. The first of six children, she was raised Catholic and attended parochial school up to seventh grade, then homeschooled through high school. During that time, she joined the Logic Club and discovered that wrestling with deep questions was interesting and fun.
“When I came to BC, I already had a strong foundation of faith and a desire to think deeply,” Allison said. “That’s what Benedictine is all about ... so that is why coming to Benedictine was a wise choice.” What Allison brought to Benedictine was further strengthened and honed when she arrived on campus. She was challenged by the courses she took, the lectures she heard, and the papers she was required to write. “It is really difficult to identify one professor who impacted me the most, because there are so many,” she said. “The philosophical psychology class taught by Dr. [James] Madden was life-changing because we explored an incredibly important question: ‘what does it mean to be human?’” Because of her interest in philosophy and the examples set by her professors, Allison decided to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy in order to become a professor herself. She applied, and was accepted, to the program at Baylor University in
Waco, Texas. When asked why she wanted to teach, Allison’s answer was simple: “It’s important to learn how to think clearly,” she said. “Everyone, whether Catholic or not, needs to be able to explain why they believe something is true.” It is exciting to think about the positive influence and powerful inspiration Allison could provide for others. That influence and inspiration was made possible, in part, by generous donations from alums and other friends of Benedictine College. Allison, like the majority of our students, received scholarship assistance during her time at Benedictine College. A large portion of gifts to the Benedictine College Fund go to the general scholarship fund. Allison Thornton’s life and future plans are good reminders to all of us: our gifts affect people’s lives. They help train men and women of faith and reason who can influence the world and inspire the Church.
Recent alum Joe Humphrey was always involved in student government. His senior year, he was student body president. It is no surprise that this 2011 graduate chose to move to Washinton, DC to pursue graduate studies at the Institute for World Politics. It is also not a surprise that the school gave him a Presidential Scholarship.
Since high school, Joe knew he wanted to major in political science and be involved in politics. He was such an excellent representative of what a Raven ought to be that he was chosen to be the co-recipient of the Fran Jabara Leadership Award for 2011. While he considered other possibilities, he soon settled on getting a masters in Statecraft and National Security. This opportunity especially appeals to him because the Institute for World Politics offers a chance to continue what he began at Benedictine College—to study politics grounded in principle. The Institute’s mission is to cultivate personal and civic virtues in order to encourage ethical conduct in those who would work in the field of national security. Joe is once again spending the summer with Benedictine alum, Terry Gainer, ’69, who is the Sergeant-at-Arms for the U.S. Senate. His favorite task is
helping out the Wounded Warrior Project. Joe gets to help wounded veterans who want to intern in Congress as they transition back to civilian life. Joe says that he is honored to help these young men and women, some younger than he is, who have given so much to their country. “It makes me humble to see what they have given. I’m happy to help in any way I can. It’s really a perk of the job.” Joe intends to continue the Benedictine tradition of giving back by staying in the political world serving his country. Some day he aspires to elected office. He is grateful for the gift of BC; as he says, “Benedictine prepared me for a life of public service as it challenged me academically, spiritually, and socially.” The moral grounding he received at Benedictine College will serve both him and his country well.
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ALUMNI REUNION 2011
SEEN & HEARD AT R
Class of 2006 Kansas Monk Recipient Col. Michael Murray, MD ’71
Class of 1971
Dennis Harrington, ’66
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Isabelle Murray, granddaughter of Michael Murray July 18, 2011 13:47:10
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Summer 2011
EVENT DETAILS
T REUNION...
“This weekend I encountered the fun, joy and community that we established over our four years at the Mount and at St. Benedict's. It is still alive and well.” “The activities were perfect and I’m glad they incorporated both campuses. Mass at the Mount chapel brought back many fond memories and we really enjoyed seeing the nuns there as well as on the BC campus.” “It was wonderful to see all the classmates and worth all the effort that went into the reunion.”
Class of 1951
Offeramus Medal Recipient S. Mary Irene Nowell, OSB, ’61
Class of 1961
“The weather, planned activities and atmosphere we all created made so many of us feel like we were 22 years old again. How many of us have stayed up and partied to midnight or later on consecutive nights in the last 5-10 years?” “Please come to BC 2012 Reunion-you will be so grateful you came.....see a phenomenal campus transformation, a phenomenal student/professor, and spirituality/academic experience.” “It was a once in a lifetime experience. It's an occasion not to be missed!” “The people on campus were young at heart, filled with great joy, and loved being back in community.” “It's like coming back home, we feel so welcomed. The warmth that we experience keeps us coming back.” To view and purchase photos from Alumni Reunion 2011 go to www.benedictinephotos.com.
Save the Date for Alumni Reunion 2012: June 8-10.
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INVESTING IN EXCELLENCE A match made for Benedictine College
“I called Lee and told him what I was going to do. While he was surprised, he didn’t blink and he agreed to match me again.” -Michael Lause, ’70
Michael Lause
R. Lee Lottes
Michael Lause, ’70, was pleased to discover that his former St. Benedict’s senior suitemate, Lee Lottes, ’70, was more than a man of his word. When he matched a major gift that Lause pledged to the new Academic Center, he did it not once, but twice. Their friendship began like so many of the college students past and present who come to Atchison seeking a Catholic education. Lause and Lottes were both freshmen from small Missouri towns near St. Louis. Lause was from Washington and Lottes was from Perryville, and neither knew each other before coming to St. Benedict’s College in the fall of 1966. “We lived together the summer after college in St. Louis,” said Lause. “Then I went away to law school and he moved to Sainte Genevieve to marry his hometown sweetheart, Jane, and develop a successful insurance business.” The friends didn’t see each other for many years as they were busy developing in their careers and raising their families. They also lost touch with their alma mater, except to attend an occasional St. Louis area alumni event or golf tournament. When they finally reconnected in 1996, Lottes loved to kid Lause about his status as their SBC senior class president and ask what he had done for the class or the school since he had left. Lause would give it right back to him and remind Lottes that his success was due to his SBC education and that he was the one who should do something for the school. Lottes’ response was
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always the same: he would match whatever Lause did. He thought he was safe. “In 2010 for our 40-year reunion, Jack Newman, ’70, contacted me to help him raise funds for a Class of 1970 gift for the new Academic Center,” said Lause. “I agreed to make a contribution and I called Lee about a gift. He repeated his long-time response that he would match me, which he did.” In addition to his gift, Lause decided to take his past role as senior class president to a new level and joined the Benedictine College Board of Directors in late 2010. It was in this role that Lause learned that there was still a “gap” in funding for the new Academic Center, so he decided he needed to do something more meaningful for the college. “I called Lee and told him what I was going to do,” said Lause. “While he was surprised, he didn’t blink and he agreed to match me again.” Indeed, the St. Benedict’s College classmates together pledged more than $100,000 toward the Academic Center, which is currently being constructed on the bluff of the Missouri River. The first floor of the new Academic Center will be the home of the School of Business. Lottes’ gift not only matches his promise to a college friend, but also honors long-time business school professor Ray Krupinski, who was very important to his success in college. “The timing was just right,” said Lottes. “I had been thinking
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Pictured L to R: 1970 SBC classmates Michael Lause, Edward Berns, George Keller, and Lee Lottes at the 2011 St. Louis Golf Tournament.
Lee Lottes with his grandsons: Matthew Hettenhausen, 6, and Ben Hettenhausen, 7. INVESTING IN
EXCELLENCE
about making a gift out of respect for Mr. Krupinski because he meant a lot to me and he was such a good person. I also wanted to support Mike in his new role on the Benedictine Board. He gave me a lot of advice over the years and he has always been there for me. I have always appreciated him for that.” Michael Lause and his wife, Ann, have two sons, Andrew and Scott. He is an attorney and a partner at Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis. In addition to his support of the Investing in Excellence Campaign, Lause has provided for the Benedictine College Fund, men’s basketball program, John Casey Scholarship Fund, and Fund-A-Raven program. Lee Lottes and his late wife, Jane, have three children, Kristine (John) Hettenhausen, Matthew and Greg (Krystol) Lottes; and four grandsons. Lee is president of Lakenan Insurance Agency in Sainte Genevieve. In addition to his matching gift to the Academic Center, Lottes has supported the Benedictine College Fund, men’s basketball program, Student Union project, Ray Krupinski Computer Lab project, and John Casey Scholarship and Press Box projects. Lottes has already garnered a promise from one of his grandsons that he will go to Benedictine College. “I have matched the gifts that Mike has asked me to make to the college,” said Lottes, “so I think he should send one of his grandchildren to Benedictine College one day, too. It would only be fair.”
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ALUMNI EVENTS
Benedictine hospitality extended by alumni across the country After spending the weekend celebrating with her MSSC and SBC classmates at the June 3-5, 2011 alumni reunion at Benedictine College, Cathy Espinosa Rugen, ’71, decided she wanted to take that Benedictine spirit home to New Mexico and share it with area alumni. “I have thought about hosting an event for a long time,” said Rugen. “I know there are a lot of alumni out here, because I keep running into them.” Rugen remembers her first encounter in 1980 when she was up for a promotion at the bank where she worked in Albuquerque. She said that her credentials were discussed by a review committee. After their meeting, one of the committee members came out and said he didn’t know she went to Mount St. Scholastica College. He said he had two uncles who were monks, two aunts who were nuns, and a lot of relatives who lived near Atchison. In her work as a trust officer, she also worked with an accountant whose daughter went to Benedictine College. “The meetings are just a coincidence,” said Rugen, “Every time it happens I think, ‘Wow, how many of us live here and we don’t even know we have this connection?’” The answer is that 172 alumni reside in New Mexico, including Rugen’s twin sister, Maggie Espinosa McDonald, ’71, who lives south of Albuquerque in Belen, NM. They are often confused ... rest assured, it will be “Cathy” hosting the Benedictine College alumni event in Albuquerque on Thursday, October 6. Although, don’t be surprised if it seems the hostess is in two places at once, as Rugen hopes that her sister will be one of the attendees.
If hosting an alumni event all by yourself seems daunting, than ask some friends to join you. That is exactly what Joe Schaefer, ’84, did after he noticed that alumni events were being held in a lot of other places besides Atchison. Schaefer decided that his hometown of Jefferson City, Mo. needed its own alumni event and he asked a few local alumni to help him make plans. The group decided they needed an event to recognize the area students who chose to attend Benedictine College. Every year they invite incoming freshman and their parents and current BC students from the area to a Mid-MO Raven Send-Off picnic. “The event has steadily grown. I don’t think we know what to expect this year for numbers as the number of new members joining the BC community this year is the largest ever,” said Schaefer. “We have had close to 100 people attend, and I would guess we are just touching the tip of the iceberg.” This year’s Mid-MO Raven Send Off is being held on Wednesday, August 3, at McClung Park in Jefferson City, Mo. The alumni group will welcome 15 future Ravens and their parents, and they will celebrate with incoming Benedictine College freshman, August Holly of Jefferson City, this year’s recipient of their Mid Mo Raven Endowed Scholarship. “I believe we are all living out the spirit of St. Benedict by giving this event to our community and college,” said Schaefer. Interested in hosting a Raven event in your area or setting up a regional alumni chapter? Contact Tim Andrews, ’88, Executive Director of Alumni Relations at 913.360.7363 or tandrews@benedictine.edu.
Upcoming alumni hosted events: August 3 August 5 October 6 October 29 December 19
Cathy Espinosa Rugen with 1971 SBC classmates Michael Varel (L) and Thomas Buchholz (R) at Alumni Reunion 2011. 64046_Benedict.pdf 10
Mid-MO Raven Send Off Denver Alumni Send Off Albuquerque gathering hosted by Cathy Rugen, ’71 Classes of 1971 & 1972 Post-Homecoming party hosted by Jack ’71 & June ’72 Bower St. Louis Christmas Party hosted by Class of 1971
Go to http://my.benedictine.edu for more information about alumni events. July 18, 2011 13:47:12
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CLASS NOTES
School. He served as the head of the school’s science department for many years, and has received multiple awards for both teaching and coaching. He and his wife, Pat, have two children, David and Jennifer.
March 1 - May 31, 2011
Norma Musslyn Herring, ’68, Leawood, Kan., received a purchase award for her watercolor painting “Evening Slipper” in the prestigious Watercolor USA 2011 exhibition at the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri. This painting of the Showy Lady Slipper (Minnesota’s state flower) also received an Award of Merit from Images Art Gallery’s annual show. The painting will be on display at the Springfield Art Museum, June 10 through Aug. 7. To view her artwork, please visit www.normaherring.com, or her blog at www.normaherringartist.blogspot.com.
Class notes are condensed. Please refer to http://my.benedictine.edu for full stories and photographs.
Sister Mary Damien Thaner, ’46, Pittsburgh, Penn., was featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in March 2011. Although she retired in 1985, she is still active in ministry, tutoring international students in English and leading a Bible study at LIFE Pittsburgh, a North Side centre for the elderly. She has served as a high school teacher, principal of two schools, and has a background in business. She now devotes her time to serving others and praying for priests and for her community. Theresa Carter, ’52, Topeka, Kan., and Mary Carnaghi, ’52, San Antonio, Texas, held a mini-reunion in Topeka for 48 of their high school and college friends. They reminisced on experiences, including getting autographs from Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. In April 2011, their story appeared in the Topeka Capital-Journal. John Lawler, ’64, Bellingham, Wash., is now Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, having retired in 2009 after 38 years on the faculty. He enjoys traveling and giving talks about linguistics. Ed O’Rourke, ’66, married Silvia Ines Gomez, an assistant district attorney in Medellin, Colombia, May 20, 2011. Ed is writing a book about war abolition and climate change. Vern Younger, ’67, Columbus, Neb., retired this spring after 44 years of teaching science and coaching at Scotus Central Catholic Junior-Senior High
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Steve Wyatt, ’68, Topeka, Kan., works his dream retirement job as the Head Marshall at Lake Shawnee. His wife, Jeannine Kiehl Wyatt, ’69, their daughter, Kate Turner, and a business partner, have purchased Express Employment Professionals in Lawrence, Kan., where Jeannine handles professional recruitment. Gerry Mills, ’71, Oklahoma City, Okla., left the Oklahoma City Defense Contract Management Agency Texas office in April 2011, and transferred to Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, to a contract negotiator position. Diane Eckert Liebsch, ’75, Atchison, was selected as the new principal of Atchison Catholic Elementary School; she assumes the role July 1. Patrick George, ’79, Dodge City, Kan., was selected by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to serve as the state’s Secretary of Commerce. He served in the Kansas House of Representatives for the past six years. Mary Flynn, ’79, Atchison, was promoted to Assistant Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, following the
Summer 2011
February 2011 Benedictine College Board of Directors meeting. John B. Brungardt, ’80, Wichita, Kan., was ordained Bishop of the Diocese of Dodge City, Kan. on Feb. 2, 2011. He previously served as a parish priest and chancellor of the Wichita Diocese. Richard Harden, ’80, Monument, Colo., was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Colorado Springs on June 11, 2011. He celebrated his ordination with his wife, Monica Blogin Harden, ’80, and his children, including John Harden, ’03, Daniel Harden, ’06, Paul Harden, ’07, and Cecilia Harden, a current Benedictine student. There were 16 other deacons ordained, including Gerard Lachiewicz, father of Monica Lachiewicz, a current Benedictine student; J. Peter McCann, father of Eamonn McCann, ’05; and Christopher Rower Phelps, father of Stephen Phelps, a current Benedictine student. Anthony J. Viviano, ‘85, St. Louis, Mo., is studying to become a priest for the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo. This fall he begins his fifth year at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wis. Tony was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate May 28, 2011 and his priestly ordination is set for May 2012. James Schmidt, ’86, Spring, Texas, recently authored his third book, Notre Dame and the Civil War Marching Onward to Victory, “[a] book that documents Notre Dame’s generally unknown and extraordinary contribution to the Northern war effort...This short, well-written book reflects excellent research, mostly in primary sources.”-Civil War News, http://www.amazon.com/NotreDame-Civil-War-Marching/dp/1596298790.
Maggie Hair, a 2011 Bishop Miege high school graduate and incoming Benedictine College women’s soccer player was featured March 9, 2011, on KMBC Channel 9 News, as a Hy-Vee Scholar Athlete. Maggie, an All-State midfielder, was also named a KC Star July 18, 2011 13:47:12
Benedictine College Scholar Athlete on May 15, 2011. Her parents are, Tim Hair, ’89, and Cathy Hosty Hair, ’87, Kansas City, Mo. Kevin Kramer, ’89, Olathe, Kan., became the executive vice president of commercial banking on April 12, 2011, assuming duties at Hillcrest Bank and Bank Midwest, where Tom Metzger, ’74, is the CEO and president. A long-time Kansas City resident, Kramer will be responsible for business development and client relationship management. Austin Braithwait, ’91, Leawood, Kan., senior vice president, correspondent services, for U.S. Central Federal Credit Union, gave a presentation on the impact of mortgage meltdown when he was a guest speaker April 28 at Benedictine. He has extensive experience working with financial institutions, having managed wholesale payment operations at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for five years before joining U.S. Central in 1997 as manager of financial operations. Austin and his wife, Janna, have two children, Jarin, 16, and Ritter, 13. Eric M. Stricca, ’91, Denver, Colo., married Jenece Amella on Oct. 2, 2010. Chris Tabor, ’93, Strongsville, Ohio, NFL Special Teams Coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, received the Benedictine College 2011 Young Alumni Award on May 13. He and his wife, Nikki Graves Tabor, ’94, have two daughters, Paityn and Lainey. Amanda C. Hashagen, ’96, moved to Kansas City, Mo., and started CreativeWorks, an educational arts non-profit business. Its mission is to engage communities through Applied Theatre and Digital Media programs. They are currently using digital story-telling techniques to produce “Stories from the Streets.” Working with Synergy Services’ transitional living program, they give homeless youth tools to express themselves and engage the community in a dialogue about homelessness. 64046_Benedict.pdf 12
12 Nate Poell, ’97, Lawrence, Kan., published his first novel, Post-Apocalypse Dead Letter Office. His book tells the stories of how survivors reinvent their lives after the end of the world as we know it and are transmitted through a collection of undelivered letters, creating a mosaic portrait of human loss and resilience. http://www.amazon.com/Post-Apocalypse-Letter-Office-Nathan-Poell/ dp/097862839X Aaron Sinclair, M.D., ’00, Atchison, was featured in the Winter 2011 issue of Kansas Connections for his work as a rural health care provider. In 2009, he co-founded the Atchison Community Health Clinic, offering free health and dental care to uninsured patients in the Atchison area. He is now president of the ACHC board. Aaron and his wife, Shelly, have six children. Erin-Michael Gill, ’01, Annapolis, Md., married Charlotte Spellacy in May 2002 and welcomed their son, Thomas Caden Gill in March 2007. He was an appointee in the Obama Administration Oct. 2009, and is now Managing Director and Chief Intellectual Property Officer at MDB Capital Group. Beckett Charles to Andy Henry, ’01, and Amy Henry, March 30, 2011. He joins older siblings, Owen, 3, and Karsyn, 1, in Olathe, Kan. Kyle Kellner, ’02, Shawnee, Kan., wed Gretchen Everhart, Oct. 2, 2010. Kyle works for Biomet Orthopedics, Inc., in Kansas City, and Gretchen works at Providence Medical Center as a clinical nurse supervisor of surgery. Andrea Corinne Vanderfeltz, ’03, Parkville, Mo., wed Jesse Lynn Dohlman on May 1, 2010. Hayden William to Erin Urban Dunn, ’04 and Kevin W. Dunn, ’04, MBA ‘05, March 15, 2011, in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Erin is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Saint Luke’s East in the Orthopedics department, and Kevin is a Business
Summer 2011 Analyst for D.H. Pace. Mark Crompton, ’05, Danville, Ill., wed Amanda Thompson, ’07, Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 13, 2010. Crompton works as a Carpet Direct sales agent in Kansas City, and Thompson is an occupational therapist for Kansas City’s Rehab Care. Zelie Therese to Rachel Hunninghake Krebsbach, ’05, and Jon Krebsbach, ’04, Dec. 30, 2010. She joins sisters, Sophia, 3, and Lucy Miriam, 2, in Atchison. Jon is a director of transfer enrollment at Benedictine College and Rachel is a stay-at-home mom. Molly McGee, ’05, Lakewood, Colo., wed James Melone, April 30, 2011. They live in Temple, Texas, where James is a principal of a Catholic school and Molly is in her second year of nursing school. Cody Shaw, ’06, Shawnee, Kan., wed Kim Peters, May 21, 2011. Cody currently works for CINTAS, and Kim works with the Shawnee Mission School District. Anita James, ’08, and Matthew Vettel, ’09, Atchison, married Dec. 31, 2010. Anita is the Campus Visit Coordinator at Benedictine College, and Matthew is the chapter director for St. Paul’s Outreach at Benedictine. Meghan McEvoy, ’09, Lawrence, Kan., a third-year student at Washburn University School of Law, is one of two people to receive the J.L. Weigand, Jr. Legal Education Trust Scholarship for 2011-12 from Washburn’s Dean of Law. Among the nation’s largest legal scholarships, it includes full tuition, fees, books, and a room and board allowance. Joshua Beckman, ’11, Mound City, Kan., was hired by Textron into their Finance Leadership Development Program. In June, he began working for Cessna Aircraft in Wichita. Breanne Branting, ’11, Huntsville, Ala., is working as a children’s mental health aide for Riverbend mental health clinic in July 18, 2011 13:47:13
Benedictine College Florence, Ala. Carolyn Crosson, ’11, Topeka, Kan., is working at Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Mo. Joseph Dobrynski, ’11, Manchester, Mo., and Reese Harris, ’10, were married May 28, 2011. Joseph and Reese are FOCUS missionaries at Texas State University. Jenna Enevoldsen, ’11, Ponca City, Okla., is employed as a Velocity Business Consultant at Cerner in Kansas City, Mo. Gregory Fiudo, ’11, Chesterfield, Mo., is employed at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Mo. Andrew Foster, ’11, St. Louis, Mo., accepted a position as a St. Paul’s Outreach mission leader for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Ashley Gill, ’11, Topeka, Kan., is employed as a communications specialist at MGP Ingredients, Inc., in Atchison. Nathan Harkins, ’11, Kansas City, Kan., has relocated to Boston, Mass., where he has accepted a volunteer position with Cristo Rey High School, starting August 1. The volunteers live in community at the school, working with the offices of admissions, corporate work study, and academic services. They will also assist with retreats and the life of the Cristo Rey community. Ruth Johnson, ’11, and Stephen Beery, ’10, were married June 4, 2011. They reside and work in Belgrade, Mont., where Ruth is a teacher at Petra Academy. Catherine Kneemiller, ’11, St. Charles, Mo., will be spending the summer with Crossroads, a pro-life organization that sends groups of people walking across the country, spreading the pro-life message. Clarissa E. Merz, ’11, Bakersfield, Calif., is now a velocity business consultant for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Mo. Kelsie Redinger, ’11, and Marcus Schoch, 64046_Benedict.pdf 13
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’11, Chippewa Falls, Wis., were married May 21, 2011. They are both employed as FOCUS missionaries.
Margaret E. Haegelin-Kesse, ’43, Atchison, died April 23, 2011. Survived by her sister, Imogene Haegelin McAuliffe, ’45.
Rachel Ruhl, ’11, married David Bennier May 27, 2011, in Lincoln, Neb. The couple resides in Kansas City.
Gertrude S. Ament Ripley, ’44, Orange, Calif., died Jan. 30, 2011. Her husband, William Ripley, ’43, died in 2001. Four children survive.
Kristin Stluka, ’11, Monett, Mo., is working as an assistant chemist at MRI Global in Kansas City, Mo.
IN MEMORY …
We honor those alumni and friends who have passed away. If you want us to include someone in this listing, please call 913-360-7427 or email alumni@benedictine.edu. Please refer to http://my.benedictine.edu for full details.
Bettie M. Coyle Smith, ’35, Topeka, Kan., died March 4, 2011. Her daughter, Bettie Smith Garhart, ’60, survives. S. Jeanne Marie Blacet, OSB, ’37, Atchison, died June 2, 2011. Eloise Gail Townsend Burson, ’37, Hutchinson, Kan., died March 13, 2011. S. Elizabeth (Sylvester) Coffey, OSB, ’39, Atchison, died March 8, 2011. Margaret Majerus Ahern, ’39, Novato, Calif., passed away March 11, 2011. Ann Elizabeth Cleary Brennan, ’41, Lisle, Ill., died Sept. 12, 2010. Survived by her daughter, Ann Maureen Brennan, ’67. Virginia Lewis Jones, ’41, Atchison, died March 25, 2011. Among the survivors are her daughter, Virginia Wilds Day, ’55; step-son, Phillip Jones; and granddaughter, Allyson Jones McFerrin, ’91. Marjorie Hart, Belton, Mo., died April 18, 2011. Husband, David Hart, ’42, preceded her in death, Dec. 9, 2010. Survivors include her daughter, Terry Jaloma, son-in-law, Keith Jaloma, and granddaughter, Jessica Jaloma, ’11.
Kathleen J. Gelski Wombwell, 1944-45, St. Joseph, Mo., died March 7, 2011. Charles F. Hales, ’45, Plattsburg, Mo, died May 27, 2011. He served on the college’s Board of Governors. Among his survivors is a sister, Dorothy Hales Rostine, ‘60. Walter Donlan, ’46, Fort Wayne, Ind. died May 18, 2010. Victoria M. “Tori” Kos, ’48, Kansas City, Mo., died April 18, 2011. She is survived by her husband and three children. Charles A. McKenny,’48, Memphis, Tenn., died Jan. 8, 2010. Robert J. Hanna, ’49, Wichita, Kan., died Feb. 13, 2010. Patricia Marie Connor Fitzgerald, Kansas City, Mo., died June 12, 2011. Among the survivors are her husband, John L. Fitzgerald, ’50, and six children, including daughter, Ann Fitzgerald Hodes and Joseph Hodes, ’87, and son, Martin Fitzgerald, ’90 and Jeanne Chaloupka Fitzgerald, ’90. Donald F. Lyon, ’50, Leawood, Kan., died March 4, 2011. His wife, Sue, and three sons survive. Ellen Valdez Romero, ’52, Lakewood, Colo., died Feb. 24, 2011. Patricia Faricy Troisi, ’52, Denver, Colo., died March 8, 2010. Richard “Dick” Arensberg, ’54, Atchison, died Feb. 28, 2011. Helen Frances Nutter Easterday, ’54, Mount Vernon, Ohio, died Jan. 7, 2011. July 18, 2011 13:47:13
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A sister, Barbara Nutter Hayden, ’56, survives. Catherine Robinson Swisher, ’54, Redding, Calif., died April 11, 2010. Francis J. Casey, ’56, St. Joseph, Mo., died Dec. 25, 2010. Violet D. Pautz Miller, ’57, Atchison, died April 28, 2011. Survivors include a daughter, June Friend and grandsons, James Friend, ’72, and William Friend, ’89. Judith A. Pierce Hall, ’58, Olathe, Kan., died Jan. 6, 2010. Her husband, Albert Hall, survives. Merle J. Freudenberg Kelly, ’58, Green Valley, Ariz., passed away June 9, 2011. In 2000, Merle and her husband, Ron Kelly; received the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict award. Survived by her husband of 54 years, Ron, and four children. William F. Henry, ’59, Saint Louis, Mo., died April 14, 2011. Daniel D. Mosher, Atchison, died March 14, 2011. Survived by his wife, Mary, two daughters, including Danielle, a current Benedictine student, and his mother, Rita Prohaska Mosher, ’59. Leo E. Linck, ’60, Santa Cruz, Calif., died Dec. 9, 2010. His wife, Shirley, survives. David E. West, ’60, Ballwin, Mo., died March 8, 2011. His wife, N. Jean Krueger West, and three children survive. John V. Gregg, ’61, Wichita, Kan., died April 12, 2011. Donald Placek, ’61, Aurora, Colo., died July 31, 2010. His wife, Kathleen, and three children survive. Jerry M. Boyd, ’62, Hastings, Neb., died Feb. 28, 2011. He played basketball for St. Benedict’s College. Survivors include his wife, Pauline, and two children. Maxine D. Gormley, Falls City, Neb., died 64046_Benedict.pdf 14
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March 16, 2011. Survivors include two daughters and their spouses: Geraldine Gormley Majerus and John Majerus, ’63, and Cheryl Gormley Murphy and Denny Murphy, a Benedictine College employee.
Wilfred J. Tangeman, Seneca, Kan., died March 14, 2011. A son, Richard H. Tangeman, ’71, and two nieces, Jane Tangeman Bergman, ’60, and Susan Tangeman, ’73, survive.
Isnar “Brad” Brados, ’65, Scottsdale, Ariz., died July 31, 2010. For the last five years he was the Consulate for Brazil in Arizona. Brad is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and two children.
Jeannine Burbach, ’74, Omaha, Neb., died March 11, 2011. Survived by her husband, Max, who taught at St. Benedict’s College from 1962-1972, and eight children.
Mary Teresa McMahon Lavery, ’65, Spring Hill, Kan., died March 2, 2011. Her husband, Chuck, and four children survive.
Glenn Heider, Ft. Collins, Colo., and formerly of Atchison, died March 1, 2011. Among the survivors are two children, Cheryl Heider Kletzker, ’74 and Mark Heider, friend of the College.
Maurice C. Breen, ’67, Fort Dodge, Iowa, died March 6, 2011. Among the survivors is his sister, Alice Breen Catalfo, who attended MSSC 1964-65. Mildred L. Hackler, ’68, Junction City, Kan., died April 5, 2011. She taught elementary school for 52 years, and was a substitute teacher until the age of 80. Virginia A. Stegeman, Kansas City, Mo., died Feb. 24, 2011. Among the survivors are her husband, Albert, and four children, including daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Tom Hoenig, ’68, and grandson, Michael Hoenig, ’97. Mary Virginia Poehler, Overland Park, died May 16, 2011. Daughter, Martha Poehler, ’68, is among the survivors. Col. Clem Courtney, (Ret.), ’70, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. died Jan. 27, 2011. His wife, Catherine, and four children survive. John J. Lopez, ’70, Jacksonville, Fla., died April 5, 2011. Maureen Ann Duff Osmond, ’70, Des Moines, Iowa, died April 4, 2011. Her mother, Geraldine Duff, survives, as do five siblings, including Kathleen Duff DePhillips, ’71 and Bill Duff, ’73. Kenneth L. Simpson, ’72, Austin, Texas, died Feb. 18, 2011.
Charles J. Hannon, Mission, Kan., died May 23, 2011. Three children, Tim C. Hannon, ’75, Michael J. Hannon, ’77, and Teresa Hannon, ’79, and a grandson and his wife, Andy Hannon, ’05 and Jennifer Ronnebaum Hannon, ’05, survive. John Marquis House IV, ’75, Champaign, Ill., died May 4, 2011. Among the survivors are his wife, Mary Rudolph House, ’76, and four children, including Monica House Beien, ’03. Theodore H. Hager Sr., Atchison, died March 17, 2011. His wife, Virgina, and seven children survive, including Bonnie Hager Pike, ’78. Ralph Lewis, ’80, Miami, Fla., died Oct. 15, 2010. He played football at Benedictine. His wife, Dorothy, and two daughters survive. Reed F. Murphy Jr. died April 25, 2011. Survivors include his wife, Carole, five children and their spouses, including Reed and Martha Murphy, III, and Benedictine College board member Mike Murphy, ’82, and Theresa McPhee Murphy, ’83. Peggy L. Wilburn, Atchison, died April 4, 2011. She is survived by five children, including Steven Wilburn, ’82.
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Sean P. Mabry died May 15, 2011. Survivors include his mother, Lisa Tilbey Mabrey, ’83, his father, Paul Mabrey, and two brothers. Edwin R. Brandt, Lakewood, N.J., died May 4, 2011. A son, Edwin S. Brandt, died in July 2010. Survivors include his wife, Joan, and two children, including Neil Brandt, ’86. James Connors, Overland Park, Kan., died May 12, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, four daughters, including Kathleen Connors Halling, ’86 and son-in-law James Halling, ’86, son Michael Connors, ’89, as well as 12 grandchildren, including Mary Cate Halling, a current student at Benedictine College. Charles J. Estes, Atchison, died April 13, 2011. His wife, Lois, and five children survive, including Joan Estes Bellows, ’88. Phyllis Mannella, Riverside, Ill., died March 20, 2011. Two sons survive, including Guy Mannella, ’88. Charles R. Evers, Chesterfield, Mo., died May 3, 2011. Among the survivors are his wife, Deanna; a daughter, and a son and daughter-in-law, William Evers, ’89, and Sharon Leikam Evers, ’89. Thomas J. McMahon, Walpole, Mass., died Feb. 6, 2011. His wife, Alcida, and his son, Thomas McMahon, ’91, survive. Patrick Morrow III, Omaha, Neb., died June 13, 2010. Seven children survive, including Chanda Morrow Koechner, ’95. Betty Jean “Kah-ni-quah” Cadue Brown, ’98, Horton, Kan., died May 3, 2011. Among the survivors are her husband, Harold, and five children, including Wanda Brown Wolf, ’98. John E. Clausen, Kansas City, Mo., died on May 12, 2011. His wife, Cindy, survives as does a son, Eric Clausen, ’05.
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15 Ryan William “Chubbs” Herrin, Topeka, Kan., died April 2, 2011. Survivors include his parents, Matthew and Erica Herrin, and paternal grandparents, Mike and Jeannie Herrin, ’06 EMBA. Fr. Hugh Keefer, OSB, Atchison, died June 1, 2011. In the 1970s, Fr. Hugh served as business manager and controller for the college and as chaplain for the college Knights of Columbus. More recently, he served as chaplain for the men’s basketball team, a position which he filled from 2003-2010. Among the survivors is a brother, Robert Keefer, a friend of the college.
Summer 2011 Introducing three new websites for our Benedictine community! MY BENEDICTINE Ravens are everywhere! And, as you might have guessed, they are also online. But they aren’t all present in one place. That, in part, is why we created http://my.benedictine.edu. On that site, members of our Benedictine community can get newsworthy information about the College, register for important events, locate long-lost friends and classmates, and support the ongoing mission of the College. There’s a lot you can do at My.Benedictine.edu. We encourage you to visit often. MY BENEDICTINE BLOG Why did we create My Benedictine Blog? Blogs often contain content that is more personal and relational. Posts can be engaging, encouraging and inspiring. They can be serious and reflective or funny and fun! They can contain photos, videos, opinions and stories. At My Benedictine Blog you’ll find the Benedictine community. You’ll find all sorts of people sharing memories of Benedictine College and updates on what they are doing now. We hope you enjoy the experience of our—your!—Benedictine community and we invite you to participate in it as well! So, go to www.mybenedictineblog.com. If you have something you’d like to write about, or you want to post a photo or video, please call Vaughn Kohler, 913.360.7419 or vkohler@benedictine.edu. BENEDICTINE PHOTOS We created www.benedictinephotos.com so that members of the Benedictine community can to view and purchase photos of current events happening at Benedictine College as well as ones from our history as MSSC, SBC and BC. All the proceeds from the website are donated to the Benedictine College Fund to help support this beautiful college.
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NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID KCMO 2257
Benedictine College Office of Advancement 1020 North Second Street Atchison, KS 66002 913-360-7414 www.benedictine.edu/giving
What do you think of our Spirit of Giving newsletter? Send your comments, suggestions and story ideas to bhoffman@benedictine.edu.
Do you have time to talk? Fund-A-Raven Fall Phonathon September 24-October 5, 2011
To see our student callers in action go to http://bitly.com/BConthephone 64046_Benedict.pdf 16
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