SPIRITof GIVING
James T. O’Brien, Loyal Raven
WINTER 2019
Called to Greatness EDITOR Tom Hoopes G’10
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Amy Nell
DESIGNER Hayleigh Diebolt
WRITERS Steve Johnson G’12 Doug Longstaff G’07 Rosemary Wilkerson
CLASS WAYS TONOTES GIVE Kathy Garrison GIVE BY MAIL Gifts made by check should be payable to PHOTOGRAPHERS Benedictine College and mailed to: Kelly Elias ’85 Office of Advancement Benedictine College Marketing Office 1020 North Second Street Atchison, KS 66002-1499
WAYS TO GIVE
GIVE GIVE BY BY PHONE MAIL Gifts made by check should be payable to 1-800-766-0078 ext. 7416 Benedictine College and mailed to: Office of Advancement ONLINE GIVING 1020 North Second Street Visit http://my.benedictine.edu/bcannualfund. Atchison, KS 66002-1499
GIVE BY GIFTS OFPHONE STOCK
800-766-0078 ext. 7416 securities or mutual fund By donating appreciated shares, you can provide a lasting contribution while ONLINE receiving tax GIVING benefits, such as capital gains tax Visit http://my.benedictine.edu/bcannualfund. savings.
GIFTS OF STOCK REAL ESTATE By donating appreciated securities or mutual fund shares,
Your giftprovide providesa alasting convenient way for while you toreceiving enjoy tax you can contribution abenefits, charitable deduction current fair such as capitalbased gainson taxthe savings. market value of your property, and it can reduce the size and complexity REAL ESTATEof your estate. Your gift provides a convenient way for you to enjoy a charitable deduction based on the current fair market value ESTATE PLANNING of your property, and it can reduce the size and complexity of Remember Benedictine in your Will or estate your estate. plan. We also offer life-income gifts that provide income and immediate tax benefits. Please contact ESTATE PLANNING Tim Andrews, ’88 at 913-360-7363 or tandrews@ Remember Benedictine in yourhave Willnamed or estate plan. We also benedictine.edu. If you already offer life-income giftsinthat provide and immediate tax Benedictine College your estate income plan, contact us benefits. Please contact Tim Andrews ’88 at 913-360-7363 so we can welcome you into the Benedictine Legacy or tandrews@benedictine.edu. If you already have named Society. Benedictine College in your estate plan, contact us so we can welcome you into the Benedictine Legacy Society.
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here is something special about the alumni of Benedictine College and the parent colleges of St. Benedict’s and Mount St. Scholastica. That became obvious when Raven Football went to Daytona and when we launched a new way for alumni and Ravens to connect. The Road to Daytona was an experience I won’t soon forget and it’s one I hope gets repeated again and again across all Raven Athletics. The takeaway for me is that Benedictine College does everything with class, professionalism, excellence and success. The staff came together to make sure the experience our alumni, parents, friends and fans had would unleash greatness. The football program made us all so proud with their Champion of Character attitude and their tenacious performance leaving it all on the field. And finally, the Raven Pride that we know exists came out in spades; in Daytona, across social media, across the nation — the world, actually. We’ve been to the big dance and we all want to be there again. Go Ravens! Each of us gives back in ways that make sense for us. Some cheer on the Ravens, some volunteer, some read the Raven Fly By, some send our children here; the list goes on and on. Each of us gives back in ways that make sense for us, and I am excited to announce a new way many of you have already begun to use. When families come to campus on their search for the right college for their student we want to answer the following questions: Will my son or daughter succeed in school? Or, will my son or daughter be ready to succeed after graduation — in a career or further studies? For years we have relied on you to make this happen, and you have. Now, we have made it easier to help. We have launched an online platform, The Raven Walk, to connect our Raven network to students. Soon after an initial email invitation went out to alumni and our current students, connections were being made. The response was immediate and Ravens are helping Ravens in a systematic powerful way. Please take the time to log on to RavenWalk. Benedictine.edu and join your fellow Ravens. Everyone has their way of helping. Some are able to be more a part of our daily journey than others. The recent passing of Jim O’Brien ‘60 — a former Raven football player and a great connection for alumni — allows us to tell his story and remember the impact this one Raven had on our college. I was fortunate to work here throughout his tenure on the Board of Directors. He was one of my biggest cheerleaders. Thinking about Jim leads me to think about all of you who support our work at Benedictine College. You give us strength and encouragement and it drives us forward, always forward.
Kelly J. Vowels ’85 Vice President for Advancement
S pirit of G iving
A Transformative Chairman
Remembering James T. O’Brien, Jr., Feb. 27, 1939 – Dec. 11, 2018
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he Benedictine College community was recently saddened to say goodbye to one of the truly all-time great Ravens. A former Chairman of the Board for the college, James T. O’Brien, Jr. ’60, passed on to his eternal reward on December 11, 2018. When the book is written on the growth and resurgence of Benedictine College in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries as one of the great Catholic institutions of America, there will surely be a chapter dedicated to Jim O’Brien. But Jim’s Raven story actually began a half-century before that time. Not long after he made the transition from his north Texas teenage years to the halls of St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, Jim’s leadership qualities began to manifest themselves. He was a member of the Raven football team that won the 1957 Mineral Water Bowl, and was chosen as the quarterback for the
all-conference team. Jim graduated from St. Benedict’s in 1960, and he always credited his Benedictine education for his later successes in life — and those were many. He enjoyed a long and distinguished career in executive leadership in the health and pharmaceuticals industry. Jim’s career took him, wife Katie and their family across the country and overseas, but they eventually settled for good in the Kansas City area in 1994. For Jim, the most rewarding part of a successful professional life was having the ability to dedicate his later years to service of others, particularly his beloved Benedictine College. Jim’s 18 years on the college Board of Directors covered an incredible period of resurgence, growth and development for Benedictine. He helped usher in the presidency of Dan Carey, Ph.D. ’68, in 1995, and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the first eight years of the tenure of current President Steve Minnis, J.D. ’82.
www.benedictine.edu
Jim and Katie were dedicated supporters of the football and basketball programs, the Scholarship Ball, capital campaign projects, the Benedictine College Fund and so much more. Jim was awarded the Kansas Monk award in 1997, and Jim and Katie received the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict in 2010. “It has been amazing the outpouring of love for Jim O’Brien,” said President Minnis. “We have received beautiful descriptions of how the college affected him — and how he affected the college. He certainly is missed.” The James T. O’Brien Scholarship was created by friends and family in recognition of Jim’s life-long commitment to Benedictine College. B HOW YOU CAN HELP To contribute to the scholarship in honor of Jim and his legacy, please contact: Kelly Vowels, Vice President for Advancement kvowels@benedictine.edu.
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The faculty, students and staff gratefully acknowledge all who made our fall postseason such a tremendous success through their support of the Playoffs Championship Fund for Raven Women’s Soccer and Football. Go Ravens! Brent & Marcia Adams Timothy '88 & Lisa Huerter '87 Andrews Anonymous Mary Asher '80 Paul & Karen Bader Bank of Atchison, USB Rhonda Barry William '82 & Susan Berberich Stephen & Deborah Betts Blish-Mize Company Gregory '93 & Rhonda Petry '93 Bower Joseph, D.Mgt. '70 & Constance Brickner Mackie Browning Larry '60 & Tresa Buessing Caleres, Inc. Jeffrey G'99 & Tracie Caudle Todd & Kamille Caudle Alietia Caughron, Ph.D. Stephen '91 & Joan Koechner '90 Charbonneau Robert '63 & Shirley Von Harz '63 Chenoweth Stephanie Clark Martin & Linda Clements Brett Cott '94 & Teresa Candori Timothy, M.D. '93 & Carolyn Diederich '93 Dalton Daniel '81 & Marietta Dayton Daniel '74 & Mary Ann Teegarden '74 Didde Chester Kozak & Linda Dolsberry Franklin, D.P.M. '50 & Doreen Harris '50 Donovan Dugan Family Foundation John, M.D. '67 & Bonnie Dugan Polly Faught '92 & David Dykstra Donald '99 & Amy Eason Eric '89 & Rose Whitcomb '90 Eaton Patricia Kearney '85 & Bradley Elder Eleven Doors LLC Fiat Insurance & Risk Management Matthew '76 & Mary Cook '76 Filpovich Frederick '59 & Carole Finder Bo '64 & Terry Fraser Mark Galley '94 Alec Garcia Charles '75 & Sheila Gartenmayer Katherine Gartenmayer '09 David & Terry Geenens Thaddeus '79 & Bobette '93 Geiger Patrick '79 & Lori George John '55 & Margaret Schumacher '56 Gladbach Daniel & Karen Glennon Gregory Glore '68
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GREATNESS UNLEASHED
Mark Gormley '93 Green Jeans LLC Denise Hamilton Dale '66 & Deedra Hartung Michael & Marlys Haverty Helen Cozzens '88 & Tim Healy Peter & Melissa Helgesen Luke '08 & Kelsey Hendrixson Robin Krupinski '82 & Daniel Hennigh Patrick & Anne Henning Harry & Cathy Heppler Keith '79 & Kelly Hertling James '88 & Dawn Hintz Roseann Hughes Michael & Deborah Hundley Michael S. Hundley Construction, Inc. Hundley's Liquor Store Ivan '65 & Grace James Darryl Jones '68 Robert '76 & Marie Cassilly '76 Kaemmerer Don '63 & Amelia Kassing Stephen '84 & Milinda Kelley Dennis & Mary Ellen Kelly Michael & Jennifer Kelly Peter Klebba '83 Rick & Lesha Koch Sara Flax '98 & Jeff Kramer John '69 & Sarah Krzeminski Kuckelman Torline Kirkland David '67 & Sheryl Laughlin Gary '69 & Mary Lewis James '77 & Dunrie Lewis Marisol Perido Lewis '94 Douglas G'07 & Anna Longstaff Joan Richardson '79 & Richard Lynch Matthew & Amy MacKay Joseph & Esther Martinez Lou '53 & Sue McAvoy Patrick McRae Thomas '74 & Joan Teegarden '77 Metzger Stephen '82 & Amy Kohake '84 Minnis David '57 & Rebecca Reichenberger '59 Moritz Dustin '97 & Kimberly Mersinger '00 Muckenthaler James '93 & M. Catherine Bush '88 Mueller Diane Munsell Jack '70 & Kathleen Newman Carol Niemann Kevin '79, G'97 & Colleen McGraw '81 O'Malley David '70 & Patricia Frawley '70 Ochs
Francis '52 & Bobbie O'Malley Alejandro Pacheco '16, G'18 Perf-Etc Steel Corp. Pickman Electric Jeffrey Pirog '85 Kevin '85 & Lori Rauber Raven Liquor Store Frank & Timi Ray Jerry '81 & Kerrie Rellihan Michael '82 & Sandra Rieker Jerome '16, G'17 & Olivia Dowling '16, G'18 Roehm Peter '65 & Mary Rubinelli Jeffrey '79 & Sara Ryan Thomas '85 & Michelle Oswald '85 Sak Eduardo '69 & Anne SardiĂąa Carla Schaefer '85 John & Amy Schneider Christopher '73 & Janet Schottel Kevin & Carol Schrunk Gail Schuetz Securian Foundation David Sellinger '94 Joseph Shaneyfelt '16 Craig & Susan Sisson James '75 & Martha Clark '78 Skain Wendell '97, G'04 & Jaime Snodgrass William '78 & Linda Soldati Ashton '13 & Kaela Stratman '11, G'13 Stephens William '80 & Nancy Stoddart Stephen '91 & Susan Stone Meredith Stoops '11 Patrick '84 & Janna Crowley '85 Stueve Clarence Synakiewicz '55 Edmund Szubka '72 Don '91 & Margaret Mary Tabor Adam '87 & Elizabeth Taff Kimberly Wohlgemuth '91 & Christian Taylor Scott Taylor Paul '87 & Karen Torline Stephen '93 & Michelle Torline Robert '77 & Carol Tumberger Alice Amrein '83 & Tracy Underwood Donald '69 & Sandy Van Eycke Steven '61 & Zildete Vilvens Kelly Boland Vowels '85 Richard & Lori Watkins Rick '99, G'00 & Karin Weber Mark '72 & Barbara Bellows '73 Wetta Les & Rosemary Wilkerson
S pirit of G iving
C H A M P IO N
FA N S
Raven Spirit Washes Over the Country as Raven Football goes to National Championship
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he Benedictine College Ravens made history in December. An unprecedented run through the football playoffs brought them to the NAIA National Football Championship game in Daytona Beach, Fla. for the first time ever. They faced the number one ranked and undefeated Morningside College Mustangs. The game was hard-fought and back and forth, with the Ravens and Mustangs locked 28-28 after a stunning two-point conversion by the Ravens tied the game late in the fourth quarter. The swarming Raven defense had effectively shut the prolific Mustangs down for most of the game, but a late score gave Morningside a 35-28 victory. The score does little to tell the whole story. In a halftime interview, President Stephen D. Minnis told ESPN, “A win or loss doesn’t define us, we are a school of community, faith, and scholarship.“ In talking about the game, he was likely to tell the story of “Mary’s Team,” a name he gave the team because a key group of players attended the president’s Wednesday morning Rosary for two years. The college offered Mass, rosaries and adoration in the hotel in Daytona Beach. He also pointed out that U.S. News & World Report gave Benedictine College a higher academic reputation score than any other team in the playoffs, and that
starting linebacker Luke Wozny was awarded the NAIA’s Champions of Character award for leadership off the field, in mission trips to Haiti and in teaching servant leadership to kids. But the biggest story of the game was about community. The stands showed the strength of Raven Nation, more than 4,000 strong — the largest crowd in NAIA Football Championship history, cheering and singing the school’s fight song. The wave of Benedictine Spirit that washed over the country was impressive. The excitement level was tremendous among friends and alumni of the college. Watch parties were set up all across America and they were packed. It was the largest Raven reunion ever! But there was still something more. Onlookers remarked on the Raven spirit they saw of hospitality and welcome. From conversations in airports and on airplanes heading to Daytona Beach, to interaction with the hotel staff and the people of Daytona, and to crowds in sports bars and restaurants for watch parties, it was clear that Benedictine College is a special place imparting special traits to its graduates and all who come to know them. “The amount of support that we received was overwhelming,” said head coach Larry Wilcox. “It was amazing how many fans were able to show up on short notice. Our players are very appreciative, and we’re looking forward to the 2019 season!” B
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#RavensTa Raven Nation
Shaefer Schuetz, Carly Tay lor, Lori Schuetz & Jeff Schuetz
AnneTorline, Pete Klebba, Terry Torline & Danny Dayton
Marquis Stewart
Charlie Gartenmayer & Raven Band
Larry Buessing Lueckenhoff Family – Tim, Tyler, Tanner, Julie & Danielle
Janet Wilcox & Shem Johnson
Bill Evers, Shawn Boos, Denny L Yerashunas, Paul Yerashunas, Yerashunas & Jolene Law
akeDaytona
Lawlor, Faith , Ehelena wlor
Tom Sak, Jeff Pirog, Charlie Gartenmayer & Jamie Mueller
Dave Laughlin, Mary Flynn, Linda Bonett, Darryl Jones, Bill Nolan & Mike Coyle
Jacob Young #18 & Matt McCullough #7 Jacquelyn Gump, Za ch Wagster, Terry & Dave Geenen s, Rocky Raven, Sally Wachtel & Maris ue Stoll
Daulton Daies & Jennifer Newman
Brian Fetters, Greg Bower
& Shawn Connor
Elizabeth Fortenberry & Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
Katey McIntosh, Ian McIntosh, Dora Giboney, Maddie Welde, Kinley Swenson, Sierra Kenney & Emily Dalton
Mike Spiegel, Mike Walsh, Ralph Krummenacher & Tom Latz
Inspiring Endowments HE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN
FUELING DREAMS
JERRY BRAUN SCHOLARSHIP
WILLIAM R. AND SHIRLEY D. CASSERLY SCHOLARSHIP
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erard A. “Jerry” Braun was an outstanding student athlete at Benedictine College in the early 1980s. He was a starting forward on the 1983 Raven Men’s Basketball team. The son of John C. and Patricia A. Braun of Affton, Missouri, Jerry graduated in 1980 from St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, where he excelled as a student and as a basketball player. Jerry majored in business administration at Benedictine College. He was elected president of the B Club, a letterman’s organization. After finishing third in scoring and second in rebounding as a junior, Jerry was to serve as captain of the Raven Basketball team his senior year. Tragically, Jerry lost his life in an accident at Warnock Lake shortly before the end of his junior year at Benedictine in 1983. “I didn’t know a nicer guy in high school or at Benedictine College,” said John Fechter, classmate and friend from both Vianney and Benedictine College. “Jerry Braun remains the finest human being I have ever met.” In celebration of the Class of 1984’s upcoming 35th Benedictine College reunion, John ’84 and Melanie Smith ’84 Fechter, created the Jerry Braun Scholarship. Friends who contributed to the endowed fund include Jeff ’85 and Sarah Conrad, Dr. Mike ’83 and Christie King, Tim ’85 and Kathy Wetzel ’85 Gallagher, Mark ’84 and Mary Isley, Paul ’85 and Debra Koller, Julie Dwyer Beckerjeck ’84 and Amy Kohake ’84 and Steve ’82 Minnis. The Scholarship will be awarded to a native of the St. Louis metro area with preference for a St. John Vianney High School graduate attending Benedictine College.
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hortly after his birth in Atchison, Kansas; William R. Casserly Jr. and his parents, William “Mike” and Ruth Casserly, moved to Independence, Kansas. It was there that Bill met Shirley, the daughter of Fred and Maude Crane. Shirley graduated from Independence High School two years after Bill, who was then attending Rockhurst College. After a year and a half at Rockhurst, Bill enlisted in the Navy. He served for three years in World War II on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. During that time, Shirley attended Kansas University in Lawrence. Bill and Shirley married after the war in 1947, at St. Andrew’s Church in Independence. They moved to Oregon after their wedding for Bill to finish his degree at the University of Portland. After his graduation, they returned to Independence where Bill began his career with Sinclair Oil. In 1952, Sinclair moved them to Tulsa, Okla. Bill and Shirley had three daughters, Peggy, Ann, and Rebecca; and five sons, Mike, Steve ’73, Bill, Pete, and Nick. In 1969, Bill moved his family to Ponca City, Okla., after joining Conoco Oil. Four years later they moved to Houston, Texas with Conoco, where they lived until Bill’s retirement in 1985. Bill had fond memories of visiting his grandparents, Henry and Mary Klostermeier, in Atchison, so he and Shirley made their final move to the city of his birth. The William R. and Shirley D. Casserly Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student at Benedictine College who is enrolled full time.
S pirit of G iving
For information on creating an endowed scholarship, please contact Rosemary Wilkerson, Executive Director of Development, 913-360-7417 or rosemaryw@benedictine.edu.
A RAVEN LEGACY EXTENDED
JERSEY GIRL
JAMES T. O’BRIEN SCHOLARSHIP
PAT SHAW SCHOLARSHIP
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ames Thomas O'Brien, Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of James T. and Mary O’Brien. He earned a degree in business administration from St. Benedict’s College in 1960. At the college he played football, was the all-conference quarterback, and his team won the Mineral Water Bowl in 1957. After college, Jim was a teacher and coach at St. Pius X High School in Kansas City. He soon met Kathleen Denise O’Neil and the couple were married in 1962. Jim began working for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in 1963 and eventually served as Vice President of U.S. Marketing and Sales. He then worked as the president of the Revlon Health Care Group’s ethical products division before founding O’Brien Pharmaceuticals in 1986. From 1989-1991, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Elan Corporation. He also served as a consultant to the pharmaceutical and health care industries along with being the director of Derma Sciences, Inc. Jim was a transformational Chairman of the Board of Directors of Benedictine College, focusing on the beauty of the campus. He received the Kansas Monk Award in 1997, and he and his wife, Katie, received The Cross of the Order of St. Benedict in 2010. Jim and Katie were members of the College's President’s Circle, Memorare Army, supporters of the football and basketball programs, Scholarship Ball, capital campaigns, Benedictine College Fund, and Golf Classics. The endowed scholarship in Jim’s name will benefit future Raven students.
www.benedictine.edu
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atricia Shaw always bet on herself. She worked hard for the things she valued, including her own education. Pat grew up in Fairview, New Jersey, the youngest child of Loretta Rose and Robert Anton Shaw. Pat paid for her own private high school education at Holy Rosary Academy because she didn't want to go to public school. She worked babysitting and as a checker at Food Land, but also at a number of out-of-the-ordinary jobs: at St. Francis Hospital in Hoboken, at an Italian bakery and at a Christmas ball factory. She would take two buses and walk for more than a mile to get to work. She soon realized that she needed a college education. After graduating high school in 1954, Pat went to Mount St. Scholastica College. She lived on the fourth floor of the administration building and her roommate was a chemistry major named Mary Syron. Pat majored in biology and minored in physical education. She went home every summer to work at a Catholic camp in New York. After graduating from the Mount in 1958, Pat received her masters of arts in secondary education from Seton Hall University in 1960. She bought her own house in Long Island when she was 26 years old. Patricia was a dedicated teacher and coach. She is retired from the Brentwood School System in Chestertown, New York. The Pat Shaw Scholarship is awarded to female varsity athletes with a preference for students majoring in education, exercise science, or biology. B Pictured above: Pat entertains campers at Saint Patrick’s Camp in Herriman, N.Y., the summer after her freshman year at Mount St. Scholastica College.
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Following Yonder Star A s t r o n o m y D e p a rt m e n t r e c e i v e s C h r i s t m as G i f t s The wise men weren’t the only ones following a star this Christmas.
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ess than two weeks before Christmas, Dr. Ryan Maderak ’03, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, was notified that he would be receiving a Christmas present for the Daglen Observatory. Dr. Joe ’69 and Frankee ’69 Daglen made a donation of $25,000 that made it possible for Benedictine College to purchase a 14” Celestron Schmidt Cassegrain telescope, a Paramount robotic telescope mount, and a spectrograph with precision digital imagers. In addition, the gift will allow upgrades of the observatory building, such as a viewing window between the control room and observing chamber. “Spectroscopic research at small observatories is an emerging area within astronomy, with the exciting potential to expand the use of research methods that were previously somewhat limited, such as spectroscopic monitoring of variable stars,” said Dr. Maderak. “We can learn a great deal more from a star’s spectrum than we can from simply measuring how bright it is. The Daglen’s generous gift puts Daglen Observatory in the premier class of small college observatories.”
"This donation is part of a continuing effort to support the Benedictine College Department of Physics and Astronomy in their need to provide meaningful hands on practical research experience for their students," Joe Daglen said. Dr. Maderak and Benedictine College astronomy majors will travel as guests to the Daglens’ private observatory in Mayhill, New Mexico over Spring Break 2019. During their visit they will learn how to use the new equipment, which will allow for exciting new research to begin at Daglen Observatory by the end of the Spring 2019 semester. “When the students come down, it’s just a treat for me,” Joe Daglen said. “I enjoy the astronomy and the students have the opportunity to get an experience they really can’t get anywhere else.” Students will have the opportunity to view the night skies in one of the most sought after sites for serious astronomers. “We built the house with the idea that students could come and stay here,” he said. “It gives them an authentic research opportunity to devise a plan, use scientific equipment to obtain their data, process it and present it. I think that’s one of the most important experiences in college, to learn how to do that.” In June, Joe and Frankee plan to celebrate their 50th reunion with St. Benedict’s College and Mount St. Scholastica College classmates in Atchison. Dr. Maderak will have his chance to host them and their class to an evening of viewing the Atchison skies at Benedictine College. B
Engineers enjoy the Sean and Anne Shaughnessy Study Room
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idan Shaughnessy ’17, remembers well the days when the Benedictine College Engineering Department was stuck in the mobile trailers. It wasn’t aesthetically pleasing in the make-shift labs, but the quality of the faculty and the hands-on experiences still made an impact on Aidan and helped land him a job at Polaris Industries in their engineering developmental program, in which he’s completed roles as a systems engineer, international project engineer and intellectual property engineer, and is now in his final rotation as a manufacturing engineer. But the department has now emerged from its assortment of mobile trailers and storage units, and the Benedictine College School of Engineering is enjoying the renovated and expanded Westerman Hall. The building project added to existing Westerman Hall, and updated the entire 100,000 square foot facility in order to create America’s finest small-college science and engineering building. The completed addition has 12 full engineering labs, including civil and concrete lab, project lab, wood shop, metal shop, and welding shop. Of course, increased classroom and faculty spaces to accommodate the rapidly growing engineering department are a huge improvement as well. Today, Aidan creates computer simulations and control models of electronically controlled shock absorbers for off-road vehicles. Part of his job is riding the vehicles and finding ways to improve them. “Needless to say, I really enjoy my job,” said Aidan. “I’m very blessed to have been taught by the faculty in the Benedictine College School of Engineering. They prepared me well for this position.” Despite the fact that Aidan graduated a year before the new engineering addition was completed, it didn’t stop him from investing in his alma mater. As a Christmas gift to his parents, Aidan and his siblings, John, a 2015 Benedictine graduate of the Mechanical Engineering program, Bernadette, a current student at Benedictine College, and Charles Shaughnessy, made a combined gift of $25,000 to name a group study room in honor of Sean and Anne Shaughnessy. “For me, personally, when told about this idea, I was excited,” said Bernadette. “Mom and Dad are the perfect example of people places should be named after. They didn’t do anything exciting or revolutionary. They just raised us and sacrificed and made sure we had a strong faith and good education. This gift is a way of honoring their commitment to their faith and to us.” B
TO GROW
Pictured to the right: The Shaughnessy Family. Ambrose, Aidan, Anne, Sean, Bernadette, Charles, John
www.benedictine.edu
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joy
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Thanks to all the Benedictine alumni who visited our annual Jingle and Mingle Christmas Celebrations across the country! Invite a friend and be sure to come again for Christmas 2019!
D CELEBRATE
Ravens gathered for Christmas in Atchison, Kansas City, Wichita, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, Omaha and Chicago. Want to organize a gathering in your city next Christmas? Write Joanne Huey ’88, Director of Alumni Relations, jhuey@benedictine.edu 11
K S pirit of G iving
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Discover Raven Research You are invited to Discovery Day, April 10
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he Benedictine College community invites you to join us on campus in Atchison, Kansas, for the college’s 24th annual Discovery Day, Wednesday, April 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This year’s keynote speaker will be Raven alumnus and Broadway singer and actor Kingsley Leggs ’83. Kingsley starred in the original Broadway casts of The Color Purple and Sister Act, and was awarded the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict in 2016. Discovery Day began in 1996 as an opportunity for students to present and share results of academic projects that they have researched and executed outside of the classroom settings. Since its inception, almost 3,000 students have participated in Discovery Day projects. Nearly every faculty member and every academic discipline have been involved in displays. Discovery Day is a time for Benedictine College students and faculty to share an intellectual journey which seeks to revitalize liberal arts education by applying the strengths of a liberal education to bridge the gap between learning and working. Last year’s projects included the ancient art of wax casting, a mathematical study of fractions, astrophotography from the Daglen Observatory, the presentation of an original play, an experiment to harvest energy from luminescent solar concentrators, and much, much more. Mark your calendars for a celebration of scholarship on Discovery Day 2019!
Host a Rav en
Networking Event! www.benedictine.edu
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avens always love an excuse to get together anyway. Why not consider hosting a Raven Networking Event at your place of business or local venue? Networking is a powerful way to help all fellow Ravens meet new people and connect with potential employers and clients. It’s vitally important for new alumni and current students to make connections as soon as possible to launch careers and put their Benedictine education to work in the community! Lots of locations are ideal for a Raven Networking Event: • Corporate offices • Law firms • Schools • Homes or local establishments To find out more about how you can host a Raven Networking Event, or how you can benefit from attending an event with your fellow Ravens, contact Joanne Huey ’88, Director of Alumni Relations, jhuey@benedictine.edu today! B
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New career prog
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S pirit of G iving
gram
The Raven Walk leads graduates into the ‘real world’
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The system is a win-win for alumni who want to help their fellow Ravens and graduates who need help getting their post-college lives started. This new platform will foster connections, meaningful career conversations and “flash mentorship” by taking advantage of our incredibly loyal alumni community. Alumni participants will be able to specify how they would like to provide assistance for students through conversations on career explorations, industry trends and expertise, work/life balance, job/internship search as a well as possible shadowing opportunities. Users can login using email or LinkedIn. A LinkedIn login optimizes the experience for both alumni and students due to the depth of data available. The site includes career resources and videos available to all users. Finally, alumni can control how often and by what means students can use to make contact. The Office of Alumni Relations and Career Services monitors all activity to ensure proper utilization. Get started today! Log in to become a mentor to a current or future student. There is no other community like this one and this new platform is tailor made for Benedictine College. B
veryone knows the Raven Walk, the campus’s iconic staircase. Now, discover Ravenwalk.Benedictine.edu — newly available online. Freshmen start their campus life on the March of Light at Convocation, and finish it at a second March of Light at Commencement. The new The Raven Walk leads them on as they begin their off-campus life. Benedictine College’s Alumni Relations and Career Services offices have merged, and now offer this powerful online platform, powered by PeopleGrove. After internal testing, this central tool to their work has launched. The Raven Walk allows students to expand their professional networks and allows alumni to help their fellow Ravens. The platform: • Connects capable alumni mentors with those who need them. • Gives students the opportunity to get started in their careers. • Lets the strengths of our alumni shine by providing a single platform that allows the freedom of individuality by users. • The platform allows students to get immediate advice that impacts their lives each day. • Its algorithms and automated matching allow students and alumni with similar interests to find each other easily. • Graduates get answers to questions that range from the most basic to the very specific as they look for a career path.
HOW YOU CAN HELP For more information, log on to Ravenwalk.Benedictine.edu or contact Tim Andrews '88, Executive Director of Alumni & Career Services, tandrews@benedictine.edu.
REACH NEW HEIGHTS WITH A RAVEN WALK MENTOR!
3 2 1 CONNECT Connect with someone who has more life/ career/educational experience than you.
ASK QUESTIONS Ask questions about their career path, educational path, life journey, and be curious about them.
SHARE & SET GOALS Share what your short and long term goals are or ask for help developing some goals.
4 LEARN & APPLY Be open to learning from others' experience then apply it to your own success.
5 PAY IT FORWARD Share what you’ve learned and pay it forward.
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Let’s Get Together! Register Now for 2019 Alumni Reunion Weekend, June 7-9
A LUM N I
Love you guys
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What a great
eekend 2019 Raven Reunion W Co lle ge . ass . Yo ur Yo ur Fr ien ds . Yo ur Cl
Scholastica All alumni of Mount St. llege, and College, St. Benedict’s Co welcome to come Benedictine College are n Reunion, home for the annual Rave g in 4 or 9 will June 7 to 9. Classes endin es to celebrate have anniversary mileston be held on the this year. Festivities will pus, at Mount St. Benedictine College cam d in Atchison. Scholastica Monastery, an dships, relive Come rekindle old frien new ones on the fond memories, and make dictine College! beautiful campus of Bene beloved Reunion We’ll celebrate with many traditions, including: the Mary • Moonlit Dance around Fountain of the • Pub Crawl, visiting some ents in most iconic establishm Atchison ment. • New Pickleball Tourna the Sisters of • Ice Cream Social with a Monastery Mount St. Scholastic at the Daglen • Wine Under the Stars Observatory eramus • Presentation of the Off nk Awards at Medal and Kansas Mo uet the All-Alumni Banq Visit Registration is open now. e your spot erv res to My.Benedictine.Edu the word among today, and please spread ds that you are your classmates and frien e College for coming to visit Benedictin y need to join you! Raven Reunion, and the
weekend!
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HOW YOU CAN HELP ion 2019: Register for Raven Reun My.Benedictine.edu entative: Volunteer as a class repres Joanne Kobe Huey ’88
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S pirit of G iving
Tomorrow’s Nurses Benefactors make a Top 40 Nursing School Even Better
B
enedictine College Nursing was recently named a Top 40 Nursing school in the Midwest, and benefactors are working hard to make the school even better. In just its ninth year of educating future nurses, the Benedictine College Department of Nursing received approval from the Kansas State Board of Nursing to increase enrollment in the program by 44% for the 2018-19 academic year. In August 2018, 36 juniors— all of whom were admitted to the School of Nursing among Benedictine College sophomore applicants — began their two-year course of study to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Together, they are the largest class in the program’s history. Most of the nursing students spend the majority of their day hours in the Mother Teresa Nursing Center. To make that time more comfortable,
the department is in the planning stages for a new student lounge in the existing building, which is being made possible by a generous gift of $50,000 from Emmett and Mary Jo Tangeman. When complete, the lounge will feature a sitting area, tables and a kitchenette, complete with a refrigerator, oven and other amenities to help students enjoy a break from their studies. The department then applied for and received a grant of $49,000 from The Westerman Foundation to purchase a variety of departmental needs, including five general hospital beds, a birthing bed, vital signs monitors, an electronic lift and much more. “The goal of the Westerman grant,” said Nursing director Dr. Bill Buron, “is to ensure what our students do in our facilities most closely resembles what they will do in hospitals and other clinical settings.”
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The department also received a grant from the Virginia G. Piper Trust, which it combined with gifts from Luz Mogrovejo, Stephen ’54 and Dorothy Osborne ’55 Podry, Carol Rogers ’71, and John ’81 and Teresa McGreevy to purchase a Nursing Anne simulator manikin, which allows the students to observe and treat lifelike medical situations and scenarios. “The Nursing Anne gives students the opportunity to make mistakes and receive real-time faculty feedback before using the same techniques in a clinical environment with real patients,” said Buron. Finally, the department recently received a gift of $15,000 from Marlene and Edward Gellings to be used for an upcoming project still in the planning stages. Dr. Buron expressed gratitude on behalf of the department for the generosity of so many benefactors. B
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Class Notes JULY 1 THROUGH JANUARY 26, 2019
Class notes are condensed. Please refer to http://my.benedictine.edu for full stories and photographs. John H. Mize, Jr. ’61, Atchison, Kan., retired as Chairman, President and CEO of Blish-Mize in May 2018. He continues as the company's Chairman of the Board of Directors. The 148year old family owned hardware and building supplies business features a 500,000 square foot distribution center; also is a fulfillment center for many online retailers. John began with the company as a teenager, climbing the corporate ladder - into sales, handling several territories, became field sales manager, and for 35 years was the Chairman President and CEO. John and his wife, Cheryl are parents of two children, Jonathan and Blish. James Nass ’61 and his wife, Winnie Lundy Nass ’64, Prairie Village, Kan., had their 50th wedding anniversary July 27, 2018. They are the parents of three daughters and one son. Michelle Ferraro Winfield ’71, VanderWagen, N.M., along with her husband, Robert Winfield, are retired from the family business, Winfield Trading Company, and enjoy spending time with family and traveling to Arizona and Mexico. Robert’s parents, the late M.C. and Grace Winfield, purchased turquoise mines in Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, and began the business of mining and selling the stones. The family business is now operated by the third generation, Jason Winfield, oversees the Lone Mountain Turquoise Company in Tubac, Ariz., and Justin Winfield, oversees the Winfield Trading Company in Gallup, N.M. Together the outlets offer a wide array turquoise stones, and hand-made Native American items including jewelry, rugs, pottery, paintings, baskets, carvings, and sculpture. Tom McGuire ’73 and his wife, Teri Hosty McGuire ’76, are retired and have moved back to Overland Park, Kan., from Colorado to enjoy their 10 grandkids. Jennifer Halling ’84, Atchison, Kan., made her First Profession of Vows at Mount St. Scholastica Monastery, Sept. 8, 2018, at Evening Praise. She entered the community two years ago and finished her novitiate in June. John Alfirevich ’85, Lemont, Ill., dealer principal at Apple Chevrolet in Tinley Park, Ill., was selected as the 2019 TIME Dealer of the Year, January 25, during the 102nd annual National Automobile Dealers Association Show, in San Francisco. TIME Magazine presented the award and is exclusively sponsored by Ally Financial. John represented the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and was selected from a field of 51 dealer nominees from across the United States. John and his father, Joseph Alfirevich, are the owners of the Apple Chevrolet dealership. John credits Benedictine College as a contributor to his success and accomplishments. John and his wife, Christine, are the parents of three children. Also during the ceremony, Frank Hug Jr. ’85, President and Owner of Hug Chevrolet Buick GMC in Charleston, Ark., was one of four nominees
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named as a 2019 TIME Dealer of the Year Regional Finalist. Frank and his wife, Debbie, have two daughters. (Photo, Left to right: Frank Hug Jr. and John Alfirevich.) Joni Brophy Colwell ’85, Atchison, Kan., is Manager of the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. She began the position in November 2018. Joni, and her husband, Tom Colwell Jr., are the parents of five children. Kerry McDonald, Ph.D. ’87, Columbia, Mo., is interim chair of the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology. A national search to fill the position permanently is on-going. He is the Margaret Proctor Mulligan Professor of Biomedical Research and has served the department as vice chair for research since 2015. Kerry and his wife, Rosalie, are the parents of three children. Mike Lucas ’94, G’98, York, Neb., has been selected the new Westside Superintendent in Omaha, Neb., and will begin the position in July 2019. The district is responsible for educating about 6,000 students and consists of 10 elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Mike, and his wife, Liesl Dean Lucas ’92, are the parents of two daughters and two sons. Nick R. DiCarlo ’99, is the General Manager for the Franchise Restaurants division at Intrepid Direct Insurance Agency LLC in Overland Park. He has 20 years of Property and Casualty insurance experience including national broker, regional agency, and direct writing company. Nick and his wife, Kara, are the parents of three daughters, Anna, Katherine and Nora. The family resides in Overland Park. Kevin Cotter ’05, Littleton, Colo., is the Executive Director for Amazing Parish, headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo. The organization, co-founded in 2014 by Pat Lencioni and John Martin, uses conferences, coaching, and resources to help parishes form leadership teams so that pastors and their parishes can accomplish the mission of the Church. Kevin and his wife, Lisa Augustyn Cotter ’05, also welcomed their fourth child, Isaac Augustine Cotter, born Nov. 22, 2018. Lorenzo Nuñez ’10, and his wife, Danielle Nuñez, had a daughter, Lucy Marguerite, born May 7, 2018. She joins older sister, Gianna Francesca, at the family home in Park Ridge, Ill. Carolyn Crosson ’11, Murfreesboro, Tenn., answered “Yes” to Neal Carter’s proposal to be his wife. The couple will exchange wedding vows May 25, 2019, at Sacred Heart Chapel in Fairhope, Ala. Carolyn and Neal are consultants for healthcare companies. Abigail Wilson Beckman ’12, Colorado Springs, Colo., is a Morning Edition host and reporter at KRCC-FM. She previously worked three years as a reporter and news intern for KMUW-FM, a public radio station in Wichita, Kan., and spent a year as a reporter and news editor of the Dodge City Daily Globe newspaper. Catherine McDonough ’14 wed Brett Castelli, June 23, 2018, at Visitation Church in Kansas City, Mo. She is a sales solution consultant for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, and he is a research analyst with Tortoise Capital Advisors in Leawood, Kan. Catherine and Brett reside in Overland Park, Kan. 2LT Dylan T. McGuire, R.N., ’14, Louisville, Ky., was recently commissioned as an Officer in the United States Air Force. His first assignment is a Critical Care Registered Nurse at Travis Air Force Base in California. Dylan and his wife, Alexandra
S pirit of G iving
Popovich ’15, are the parents of two children, Aiden and Zoe. Ryan Smith ’14 and his wife, Cassie Waggoner Smith ’15, had a son, Jory Ryan, born Aug. 18, 2018. The family resides in Hiawatha, Kan. Ryan Bax ’15, Conception, Mo., is in his second year at Conception Seminary College as a Pre-Theology student, and plans to graduate this May. Johnny Clifford ’15, San Antonio, Texas, is the Head Coach for the Midland-Odessa Sockers Football Club in the 2019 National Premier Soccer League season. The Glasgow, Scotland, native is also (and will remain) the Head Coach at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. In 2018, Johnny led the Rattlers team to a record 10-5-3, and placed third in the Heartland Conference. William Wright '15 wed Sarah Smeltzer '17, June 30, 2018, at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, Kan. The couple resides in Savannah, Ga., where William is a fifth grade teacher at Blessed Sacrament School, and Sarah is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Performing Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design. Emily Bauer ’16, Atchison, Kan., entered into the first year, postulancy, at Mount St. Scholastica Monastery, during summer 2018. She finished her Master’s degree in gerontology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis this past May. Faith Chandler ’16 and Jake Cushing ’17, wed Aug. 4, 2017, at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, Kan. Jake is attending the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Faith is working at the Mid-Continent Public Library as an Early Literary Specialist. The couple resides in Mission, Kan. Thomas J. Kroh ’17 wed Shannon E. Schrader, R.N. ’17, Dec. 29, 2018, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. T.J. is currently attending University of Nebraska - Lincoln College of Law and working at Freidman Law Firm, and Shannon is a registered nurse working at St. Elizabeth Hospital. The couple currently resides in Lincoln, Neb. Kimberly Russell ’17 wed Eamon Mulholland ’18, Sept. 1, 2018, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Saint Charles, Mo. The couple resides in Franklin, Tenn., where Eamon is a cybersecurity engineer at Nissan and Kim is employed as an infant/toddler teacher at St. Mary Villa Child Development Center in Nashville. Kathryn Surmeier ’17 wed Nicholas Brouillette ’18, Oct. 13, 2018, at Immaculate Conception in Jefferson City, Mo. The couple resides in Blue Springs, Mo. Jacob Franey ’17 wed Mary Bridget Pecha ’18, Oct. 20, 2018, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish in Overland Park, Kan. The couple resides in Olathe, Kan. Samuel Anderson '18, Fabius, N.Y., was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force at a ceremony held at Benedictine College, Dec. 17, 2018; and he holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Mechanical Engineering. Sam’s first assignment is Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. (Photo shows Sam getting sworn in by his father, Col. Dean Anderson, (Ret).) Molly Cromer '18, Lenexa, Kan., is the copywriter and copyeditor for Essense of Australia, a bridal fashion company headquartered in both Australia and Kansas City, Kan. Molly assists the marketing team with a range of internal and external projects, including editorial requests from bridal magazines around the world, as well as the company blog posts, magazine spreads, press releases, and interviews with Chief Creative Officer and Head Designer, Martine Harris. Austin Geenens '18 wed Sarah-Marie Herrera '18, May 19, 2018, at St. Joseph Parish in Leavenworth, Kan. The couple currently resides in Phoenix, Ariz., where Sarah is a third grade teacher at St. John Vianney Catholic School and Austin works as a corporate accountant for Freeport-McMoRan.
FAMILY DIRECTED MEMORIALS:
Memorials for the following may be sent to Benedictine College, Attn: James Kew, Office of Advancement, 1020 North Second Street, Atchison, KS 66002. James T. O’Brien ’60, Leawood, Kan., passed away Dec. 11, 2018. While a student at St. Benedict’s College, he played football, was the all-CIC quarterback, and was a member of the team that won the Mineral Water Bowl in 1957. Jim served 18 years on the Benedictine College Board of Directors, eight at chairman, ending in 2012. He was awarded the Kansas Monk Award in 1997, and Jim and his wife, Katie, received The Cross of the Order of St. Benedict Award in 2010. Jim and Katie were members of the College’s President Circle, Memorare Army, supporters of the football and basketball programs, Scholarship Ball, Capital Campaigns, Benedictine College Fund, and Golf Classics. Among the survivors are his wife, Katie O’Neil O’Brien, and two sons, David and Robert O’Brien. Memorials are directed to an endowed scholarship in Jim’s name. Neal D. Colby Jr. ’63, Kansas City, Mo., passed away Dec. 27, 2018. Among the survivors are his wife, Mary Bernice "Bernie" Murphy Colby ’63, three sons, Shawn, Brian and Kevin, two grandchildren, and two sisters, Carol Colby Papin ’65 and Joan Colby Williams. Donna Meng Dittemore ’65, Atchison, Kan., passed away Nov. 19, 2018. Among the survivors are four grandchildren. Mary Jane Thum, Atchison, Kan., passed away Oct. 7, 2018. Among the survivors are three daughters, including Ellie Thum Folsom ’76, son-in-law, Rick Folsom, and grandson, Chad Folsom, head coach of women’s basketball at Benedictine College. Carolyn K. Shackelford, Hot Springs, Ark., passed away Dec. 27, 2018. Among the survivors are her son, Douglas Shackelford ’98, and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Heitman Shackelford ’99. Memorials are directed to the Schieber/ Heitman/Shackelford Family Endowed Scholarship. We want to hear from you! Please send updates of education, career, birth/adoption, engagement/marriage or death to alumni@benedictine.edu B
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NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID KCMO 6412 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? Send your comments, suggestions and story ideas to bcadvancement@benedictine.edu.
Saturday, May 11 2019 Commencement speaker will be five-time Major League Baseball All Star and former Kansas City Royals player Mike Sweeney.
June 7-9, 2019
Register for Raven Reunion: My.Benedictine.edu
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