Carthaginian Magazine Summer 2023

CARTHAGINIAN THE

$100 million campaign seeks to deliver a radiant future for Carthage students

save the dates

SEPT. 28-OCT. 1, 2023

Four days of on-campus fun for Carthage alumni, families, and friends

Homecoming events

• Football vs. Elmhurst

• Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

• Alumni and Family Brunch

• Forever Red Tailgate and Biergarten

• Lincoln Symposium

• Class of 1973 50th Reunion

• Class of 1998 25th Reunion

• 150th Carthage Band Reunion

• Parade, concert, games, and more!

Learn more: carthage.edu/homecoming

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Appreciating Asset

Giving to Carthage supports what matters most: our students.

26

cover story:

Light That Travels

Imagine, with more resources, how far our Carthage community can go. Your gifts lead the way to fulfill our promise to students today and secure futures for those who follow.

With a $100M goal, Carthage’s new fundraising campaign sets out to provide the resources, programs, and mentors for students to shine.

We hope you will join us in the Campaign for Carthage. Make your gift and be a Light that Travels.

12

Give now: www.carthage.edu/light

Roll Out the Barrel

18

World of Difference

International students play an increasing role in the Firebirds’ tennis success.

Accounting professor Julie Dawson’s caring but practical approach endears her to students.

Leinenkugel’s master brewer John Hensley ’02 gets a new brewery running at Milwaukee’s baseball stadium.

office of advancement

office of advancement office of advancement

On Campus

See updates from spring, including topical discussions and a smoother transfer process.

Faculty/Staff Notes

Three Carthage administrators are highlighted as Notable Leaders in the region.

Athletics

Standout thrower Joseph White ’24 adds two more NCAA track and field titles.

The Arts

National awards recognize Carthage Theatre’s far-reaching impact.

Commencement 2023

Meet the Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and see where new graduates are headed next.

Class Notes

Alumni share milestones from their careers and families.

Page From the Past

Tales from the fundraising trail, which was treacherous in the College’s early days. 3

THE CARTHAGINIAN

Volume 102, Number 2

The Carthaginian is the official magazine of Carthage College, which is raising expectations for a private college experience. Carthage blends the best liberal arts traditions with desirable degree programs, transformative learning opportunities, personal attention from distinguished faculty, and a focus on career development, which makes its graduates competitive in the workforce. Founded in 1847, Carthage is located on an idyllic shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the thriving corridor between Milwaukee and Chicago. For more information, visit: carthage.edu

Carthaginian Editorial Team

Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Elizabeth Young

Managing Editor

Mike Moore

Design/Art Direction

Steve Janiak

Kim King ’06

Jess Thierfelder ’20

Photographers/Illustrators

Steve Janiak

Casey Aicher ’22

Alexis Greve ’24

Mike Gryniewicz

Cameron Krueger ’23

Hanna Lizano ’23

Hunter Montano

Kayleigh Wieska ’26

Contributing Writers

Mike Moore

Laura Ferguson

Jacqueline Kenny

Isabella Lambrecht ’23

Joe Torcaso ’11

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Jeff Hamar ’80 President

John R. Swallow

Vice President for Advancement

Bridget Haggerty

For More Information

The Carthaginian Office of Marketing and Communications 2001 Alford Park Drive

Kenosha, WI 53140 262-551-6021 • editor@carthage.edu

Update Address/Mailing Preferences carthage.edu/mycontactinfo 800-551-1518 • alumnioffice@carthage.edu

Taking action today will generate a radiant tomorrow

In this issue we announce a $100 million campaign for Carthage, “Light That Travels.”

Why, you may ask, and why now?

Because resources are required for Carthage’s light not to dim, but to brighten. For our light to reach not fewer students, but more. For our time-honored programs to shine further, and for our timely new programs to shine forth.

I write you as president during a time that will be as challenging for Carthage as any since its move to Kenosha and its struggles in the 1970s — perhaps even more so. I know you read the news of higher education. Fewer students are enrolling, and fewer colleges are surviving.

In this competitive and even chaotic time, I call on us to demonstrate the commitment to education that we demonstrated in 1962, when our grand opening in Kenosha brought thousands of people and support from across the land.

In my six years at Carthage, our faculty and staff have strengthened every aspect of what we do. And the results are showing.

When so many small colleges are recruiting fewer and fewer, we are recruiting more.

When others spend more time talking than doing, we are improving retention rates and closing equity gaps.

While others fret about the future, we confidently strike out toward a future in which Carthage grows in leadership, service, and impact.

Make no mistake. These times will test Carthage. But being tested and being found capable is the essential story of the College. It is, as they say, in our DNA.

For this next chapter of my presidency, I intend not only to secure Carthage’s future, but to broaden and deepen its impact.

Building on the strength in teaching and in serving students we have already achieved, we will reach further. We will raise more money than ever before to fuel the difficult journey ahead. We will serve and support our incredibly hard-working students. We will enable our especially dedicated and imaginative faculty and staff. We will build the college our region acknowledges as essential to its future.

Join us in this journey, when you are most needed. There will not be a more important time later.

Five to 10 years from now, we will look back and ask: Which colleges persisted, prevailed, and prospered?

I know we will reflect then, with pride and satisfaction, on how we responded when the dark clouds gathered. How, when fog and haze obscured what successful American higher education would finally be, our light pierced through it all to show others the way.

In 1975, when enrollments were declining across the country, Carthage President Harold H. Lentz wrote:

Carthage lives now in its 128th year with widespread recognition as a strong college, succeeding while many institutions are dying, moving steadily forward in times of great difficulty for higher education in general. As a battle-hardened veteran among the older colleges in the Midwest, it has learned the secrets of success.

Almost 50 years later, those words ring as true as they did then. And now is our time.

Join us as we prepare to claim Carthage’s future.

Join all those who are confidently proclaiming that future.

Join us in carrying the light.

John R. Swallow

During the spring 2023 semester, Carthage:

CONVENED

three topical discussions involving professional and civic leaders in the region:

the inaugural Urban Education Summit, which emphasized “Finding Peace Within” for K-12 urban teachers in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. a panel discussion titled Caring for the Community: Creating a Culture of Mental Health sponsored by the Carthage Business and Professional Coalition.

the first Excellence in Healthcare Practice event, an educational session for both aspiring and active health care professionals.

EXPANDED TREATED STREAMLINED

its academic lineup with several new undergraduate majors — game development (B.A., B.S.), photography (B.A.), musical theatre (B.M.), and playwriting (B.A.) — plus a minor in sport business. The College also added a Bachelor of Science option to several existing B.A. programs (accounting, biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics) and two new master’s programs in music pedagogy and product management.

the process to transfer to Carthage, waiving general education requirements for students who already have an associate degree. Reflecting the College’s ongoing effort to provide a smoother transition, honor society Phi Theta Kappa named Carthage one of the nation’s most transfer-friendly schools.

residents’ ailments and promoted healthy lifestyles in Honduras during a new service learning study tour that nursing professor Nancy Reese led in June. Students from majors outside of health care took part as well, assisting with construction, supply distribution, and children’s hygiene.

Clutch contributors

Strong finish for Giving Day 2023

Once again, Carthaginians came through in the clutch. Thanks to a late surge in contributions, Carthage exceeded its primary goal for the eighth annual Red & Ready Giving Day with monetary gifts from more than 760 donors. The 24-hour fundraising sprint took place March 30.

The large online fundraiser is held each spring to rally a broad base of support. By surpassing the 750-donor target for 2023, the #redandready community unlocked an additional $250,000 “challenge gift” from the Board of Trustees.

Lead donors issue giving challenges to support segments of the Carthage experience that shape the lives of students. Scholarships were the biggest winners among this year’s challenges, with significant funding also designated for operations, mental health services, textbooks, equity and inclusion programming, academic divisions, and study abroad. Successful mini-challenges elicited matching gifts from alumni, faculty, trustees, and friends of the College.

As an extra incentive to give, Carthaginians had the option to secure temporary naming rights for campus spaces and equipment. Available options ranged from the obscure (speed bumps, drinking fountains, and red Adirondack chairs) to the familiar (Office of Admissions and Kissing Rock).

The College also participates in Giving Tuesday, a nationwide fundraiser that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Carthage’s giving goals for that fall virtual event (Nov. 28 this year) focus on more specific projects.

To amplify your support, consider sponsoring a challenge with a commitment of $1,000 or more for the 2023 Giving Tuesday or the 2024 Red & Ready Giving Day. For details, please contact Heather Zima ’18 in the Office of Advancement at hzima@carthage.edu or 262-551-5747.

$511,320

RAISED FOR STUDENT-CENTERED PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL AID

GIFTS RANGED UP TO $10,000

FACULTY/STAFF NOTES

Updates on faculty and staff achievements

three named notable leaders in region

Over the winter, Milwaukee news outlet Biz Times Media honored three Carthage administrators for their innovative work in southeastern Wisconsin.

Michele Hancock, vice president of college culture for inclusion, was selected for the “Notable BIPOC Executives” feature honoring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) leaders.

Abigail Hanna, executive vice president for administration, was chosen for the “Notable Leaders in Higher Education” feature.

highest staff honors

In addition to Professor Julie Dawson, winner of the 2023 Distinguished Teaching Award (see feature on page 22), Carthage honored three staff members for their dedication:

Debbie Clark, assistant to the campus pastor, received the Distinguished Staff Award for her indispensable guidance in the Center for Faith and Spirituality

since 2001. Nominators praised her as a team player with an eternally positive attitude who empowers student staff members.

Brandon Porter, registrar, and Greg Huss, director of admissions and financial aid, received the Quality of Life Award. This award recognizes employees who enhance life on campus by promoting a common purpose, highlighting an overlooked aspect of the College, or underscoring the best of the Carthage community.

faculty innovation grants: step one

Nine Carthage faculty members were awarded Faculty Innovation Grants in the initial round of funding through the College’s own Donald Hedberg Endowment for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. During the spring semester, each faculty team developed a technology prototype that addresses a particular community challenge.

Angela Dassow/Dana Garrigan (Biology):

John Swallow, president and CEO, was selected for two features: “Notable Leaders in Higher Education” and the “Wisconsin 275,” a list of the most influential executives shaping the state’s economy.

Classroom-friendly bee chalet to encourage interest in STEM fields

Steven Henle/Andrea Henle (Biology):

Low-cost fluorescent and light microscopes for classrooms in high-need districts

Cheryl Petersen/Nancy Reese(Nursing)

K8 Prange (Communication and Digital Media): Spiritual care app to support and connect adults with cancer

Wenjie Sun (Geospatial Science)

Rick Bingen (Computer Science)

Service learning platform to connect community partners and diverse talents from Carthage Teams with successful prototypes are eligible for additional funding. In the second phase of their projects, faculty will involve students and will introduce the proposed innovation to a pilot audience.

retirements

34 YEARS

Diane Schowalter, director of learning accessibility services

17 YEARS

Joan Volmut, Admissions receptionist and visit coordinator tenure

The Board of Trustees approved tenure for these faculty members, which will take effect this fall:

Cheryl Petersen, associate professor of nursing

Kateryna Sylaska, associate professor of psychological science

Chao Zheng, associate professor of accounting and finance

Eric Hahn, assistant professor of communication and digital media, presented a research paper titled “A Raw Deal: Big Data and the Quality of Digital Cinema” in April at the Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference in Denver.

Andrea Henle, associate professor of biology, received the Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Immunologists for her research into the COVID-19 booster’s effect on antibody levels in breast milk. The award was presented in November at the AAI fall conference in Chicago. Prof. Henle’s work was also published in the Journal of Human Lactation.

Rebekah Johnson, assistant professor of exercise and sport science, was named the statewide Physical Education Teacher of the Year for 2022 at the collegiate level. The Wisconsin Health and Physical Education Association presented the award during its conference in October.

Melanie Nyhof, assistant professor of psychological science, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Templeton Religion Trust toward her research in Tana Toraja, Indonesia. The funding allows her to study adult perspectives regarding death, the afterlife, and the ways that ritual contributes to the grieving process.

Colleen Palmer, assistant professor of communication and digital media, presented twice at this year’s Central States Communication Association conference in St. Louis. Prof. Palmer shared how she uses Hofstede’s Cultural Comparison to help PR students craft messages for international audiences, and she was a panelist discussing solutions to burnout in academia.

Nancy Reese, director of nursing, discussed her leadership project at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing deans’ meeting March 26. By building bridges, the project is designed to produce better collaborative outcomes.

Maggie Burk, director of choral activities, composed “Set Me As a Seal,” which the National High School Honor Choir performed in February at the biennial conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Cincinnati. Her graduate mentor, Eugene Rogers (University of Michigan), conducted the choral piece, which Prof. Burk originally wrote for her twin sister’s wedding.

Sarah Cyganiak, assistant professor of modern languages, presented a paper examining a 1930 text by philosopher María Zambrano at the International Conference on Literature and Hispanic Studies in Cartagena, Colombia, on March 11.

Angela Dassow, associate professor of biology, spoke during the International Dairy, Deli and Bakery Association’s webinar series about the value of incorporating insects into a regular human diet. She also published multiple research papers delving further into animals’ vocal communication.

Tim Eckert, professor emeritus of chemistry, wrote a research paper that appeared in the Journal of Chemical Education. The article is intended to help instructors and students in the organic chemistry lab to design and appreciate the solvent systems used to carry out chemical reactions and isolate products.

Adrianna Jones M.M. ’22, adjunct assistant professor of theatre, directed the classic play “A Raisin in the Sun” for two weekends in February and March at the Rhode Center for the Arts in downtown Kenosha.

Mark Mahoney, professor of computer science, gave a live demonstration of his Storyteller tool at the recent Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education conference in Toronto. Prof. Mahoney also presented a paper about the tool, which he’s been developing to guide learners through code examples. Surveys show that his students prefer those code playbacks over programming textbooks and video tutorials.

Rachel Martinez, assistant professor of nursing, earned Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This achievement signifies her dedication to patient care, safety, and professional development.

Kevin Morris, Klingenmeyer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, and collaborators received an $85,000 research grant through the National Science Foundation to continue studying amino acid-based surfactants using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular modeling. These molecules are biodegradable, with applications in detergents, cosmetics, and separation science.

Samantha Saalfeld, athletic trainer, volunteered at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for 12 days last winter. Working with athletes on the national wrestling, shooting, swimming, figure skating, bobsled, skeleton, and Paralympic cycling teams, she assisted with rehabilitation, therapy, and evaluation.

Thomas Van Dahm, professor emeritus of economics, received a proclamation from Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman declaring Feb. 20 — his 99th birthday — Thomas Van Dahm Day. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Carthage President John Swallow also honored the retired faculty member, who served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II.

Jojin Van Winkle, assistant professor of art, discussed her experimental film and video work at the Symposium on Arts and Technology in New London, Connecticut, last November. The multidisciplinary symposium brought artists, technologists, and scholars together for dialogue. Her paper was titled “Performance for and with the Camera: Grounded in Humor and Meditative Practice.”

Eastward ho!

Retired professor sails to new home, New York

Sometimes being practical also means being impulsive. That paradox led Anne Cassidy, professor emerita of art, to sail all the way from Kenosha to Long Island Sound.

She moved to New York last year but couldn’t find proper road transportation for her vessel. A boat trip sounded fun, so, in June 2022, she set off for that East Coast inlet from the Kenosha Yacht Club.

Prof. Cassidy, who retired in 2020 after 15 years at the college, was the faculty advisor for the Carthage Sailing Club. She first got into the sport years ago when a friend asked her to crew for them.

“Most sailors are happy to have crew and happy to teach newcomers,” she says. “So, anyone who thinks they might like to learn how to sail need only find where the sailboats are.”

A few of Prof. Cassidy’s sailing companions accompanied her at different parts in her journey through the major channels of Lake Huron, Lake Erie, the Erie Canal, and the Hudson River. She sailed or motored during the day and came into port at night, stopping at 39 ports in total.

She passed through historic fishing sites dating back to preEuropean settlements, made new acquaintances among craft groups in coastline communities, and discovered industrial towns surrounded by mountains of sand and stone. She also visited larger cities like Cleveland, Buffalo, and Albany.

Steady breezes made for an exhilarating voyage. However, not every day was trouble-free.

“There were some days when the wind and wave action were particularly demanding,” she admits, “but challenging days are part of the attraction of sailing.”

Finally, after two months of traveling across the country, Prof. Cassidy looked up from her craft on the Hudson River and gazed at the faint silhouettes of the New York skyline. She successfully brought her boat to the East Coast, ending in Manhasset Bay at Port Washington.

“Sailing is an ancient skill and a sublime activity,” says Prof. Cassidy. “It combines intellectual, sensual, and spiritual experience for anyone who spends a bit of time working at it. It is worth learning and worth doing for its own sake.”

Sailing from Presque Isle to Harrisville, Michigan, on Lake Huron. Image courtesy of Jim Otton

Docked by the industrial section on the Buffalo River, preparing to head into the Erie Canal.

Professor Emerita Anne Cassidy with her sailboat in Catskill, New York, off the Hudson River. Image courtesy of André Beaudry

Trophy case filling up

Two more NCAA titles for thrower Joseph White ’24

After winning a national championship in his sophomore year, long-throwing track and field standout Joseph White ’24 tacked on two more as a junior.

Capping a dominant indoor season, Joseph won both the weight throw and shot put at the NCAA Division III championships in Birmingham, Alabama, this past March. That made him an easy choice as National Field Athlete of the Year.

Add those to his 2022 outdoor victory in the shot put, and Joseph’s three national event titles trail only Shea’na Grigsby ’06 (eight) among Carthage individuals all-time.

Joseph’s winning efforts measured 21.41 meters in the weight throw and 18.47 meters in the shot put. As a team, the Firebirds finished eighth in Birmingham, tying their best result ever at the indoor championships.

Then in May, Joseph concluded the 2023 season by making the All-America team in two events at the NCAA outdoor meet in Rochester, New York. He placed fourth in the weight throw and eighth in the discus.

Majoring in nursing, Joseph balanced the competition schedule with clinical rotations.

“To make the physical and mental growth that he has in such a short time frame is truly incredible and shouldn’t be understated,” said Firebirds head coach Josh Henry. “That is what makes him a special person who is accomplishing truly amazing things right now.”

Carthage assistant coach Greg Raimondi ‘12, left, has worked closely with Joseph White ‘24 in his development as a thrower.

Word has been spreading for a while that the Firebirds are going places, which attracted an enthusiastic new driver who’s ready to lean on the accelerator.

After building a strong resume in similar settings, Ryan Kane took over as Carthage’s director of athletics in April. He’s been involved in NCAA Division III sports for more than 25 years as a student-athlete, coach, and senior administrator.

“I wanted to be part of the new chapter here,” he says. “There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity for Carthage Athletics to take the next step. We’re not interested in the status quo.”

The program’s results have been stellar. Since 2020, the Firebirds have won five national championships (two team and three individual) while adding four competitive sports (for a total of 28). Rather than the peak, Mr. Kane sees this as just the beginning of an upward trend.

The pieces are largely in place. On the whole, Mr. Kane says Carthage’s athletic facilities can match any in the region. The staff is strong. And he considers the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin an elite league at this level.

All that’s left is to infuse those high expectations throughout everything the Athletic Department does. In the first few coaching hires he’s made at Carthage, Mr. Kane sought out “relationship-

New AD keeps foot on the gas

builders” — candidates who can draw up plays on the clipboard but also inspire the people around them.

“We can be a D-III program and still provide student-athletes with a first-class experience that feels like Division I,” the new director says.

While the newcomer works to gain trust, he’s counting on a fired-up alumni base to set the tone.

“The people I’ve met speak so highly and so passionately about their time as Carthage student-athletes, it’s easy to feed off their energy,” Mr. Kane says. “They’re the biggest ambassadors for these programs.”

Carthage hired him away from Ripon College in central Wisconsin, where he held dual roles as director of athletics and men’s basketball coach. Mr. Kane relocated to Kenosha with his wife, Paige, and their three daughters.

He replaces Nate Stewart, who left the Firebirds to begin a new career path outside of athletics.

“Ryan’s success as both a coach and athletic director at small, private schools in the Upper Midwest made him the perfect choice to take over our thriving athletic programs,” says President John Swallow. “His expertise in leadership, management, recruiting, and fundraising allowed him to hit the ground running.”

Raised in Green Bay, Mr. Kane competed in

basketball and golf while studying communications at nearby St. Norbert College. He then earned a master’s in sports administration from Valparaiso (Indiana) University.

As Ripon’s coach, he reached 100 wins faster than anyone in program history. As the Red Hawks’ athletic director, he oversaw a program that set school records with seven Midwest Conference championships and 195 academic all-conference honorees in 2022 alone.

“I love the private liberal arts approach to education and the skillset it provides,” he explains. “Carthage has struck the right balance between competing at a championship level and setting the environment for learning.”

“There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity for Carthage Athletics to take the next step. we’re not interested in the status quo.”

–Ryan Kane

BATTER UP!

Construction on Carthage’s new varsity softball stadium wrapped up this spring, giving the Firebirds and their fans a vastly improved home field for NCAA Division III competition starting in 2024.

Most notably, crews installed a synthetic turf surface that enables the team to practice and play reliably when weather conditions fluctuate. The stadium remains at the northwest corner of campus, but the batter’s box is now positioned roughly where the left field foul pole previously stood.

The work also included upgrades to the scoreboard, bullpens, batting cages, dugouts, and sound system. With a superior on-field and spectator experience, Carthage should be in consideration to host future postseason tournaments.

Longtime College supporters Glenn and Barbara Madrigrano provided a substantial $250,000 starting gift that set the project in motion. They were joined by other donors whose lives have been touched by Carthage Athletics.

A dedication and naming ceremony for the stadium will be scheduled during the 2023 Homecoming weekend, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

Men’s Basketball Djurickovic makes state Hall of Fame

The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association will induct former Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic into its Hall of Fame this fall. He retired in 2020 after 34 years of coaching, including a school record 371 wins in 24 seasons at Carthage. The ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 24 in Wisconsin Dells.

Top conference newcomer

Voters selected Julian Campbell ’26 as First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The center from Lansing, Illinois, averaged 12.1 points per game and grabbed 113 rebounds during the season.

Women’s Bowling CCIW champs twice over

In their third year of competition, the Firebirds rose to the top of the CCIW. They went 12-2 to share the 2022-23 regular season title with Marian (Wisconsin) University, then defeated the Sabres to win the conference tournament and advance to the NCAA regional in Lansing, Michigan. The National Tenpin Coaches Association honored Carthage’s Katelyn Zwiefelhofer as Division III Coach of the Year.

Men’s Lacrosse National scoring leader

Wrapping up an impressive college career, Colin Poitras ’23 led the country with 4.93 goals per game in 2023. The senior from Winnipeg, Manitoba, totaled 86 points (71 goals, 15 assists) for the season to earn honorable mention on USA Lacrosse magazine’s All-America list.

Tarble Arena The Fire Pit student section

To boost the game-day experience for both spectators and competitors, Carthage created a more defined student section in the arena. Students attending games are encouraged to sit in the bleachers on the east side of the court, branded The Fire Pit. The Pep Band now performs at the north end.

Men’s Volleyball Pair of All-Americans

The American Volleyball Coaches Association selected Carthage middle blockers Zach Bulthuis ’23 (first team) and David Markes ’24 (second team) for NCAA Division III All-America honors. A third-time honoree, Zach led the team in blocks (75) and was third in the nation with a .472 hitting percentage. David’s 64 blocks ranked fourth in the conference.

A world of difference International players fuel tennis success

The rosters for Carthage’s varsity tennis teams read like a world atlas.

Alongside student-athletes from familiar Midwestern states, you’ll find those from South America, Asia, and other parts of our own continent. This past spring, the men’s and women’s teams had a combined eight players from other countries.

To put that in perspective, almost one-fifth of the College’s entire international undergraduate population competed in tennis. And they played an integral role for the Firebirds.

As conference champion, men’s tennis made the NCAA Division III tournament as a team for the first time since 2016. Carthage advanced to the second round there, coming within one victory of matching the program’s deepest postseason run.

“We had a fantastic year,” head coach Brady Lindsley ’95 reflected. “It was a complete team effort, but, without the three international student-athletes, our success would not have been possible.”

That’s no exaggeration. By the end of the season, Yanozie “Zizi” Amadike ’23 of Canada and Brazilians Francisco Silveira ’26 and Luca Okino ’26 had a say in five of the nine contested matches.

Although the Carthage women fell short of the national tourney, they engineered a resurgence. Led by Xingchen Liu ’26 of China with regular contributions from Giovanna Mendes ’25 and Luana da Silva ’25 of Brazil, the team won 11 dual meets — the most since 2017-18. Assistant coach Julia Valls I Lope of Spain adds to the international contingent.

As one of the few in D-III to lead both tennis programs full time, Coach Lindsley cleared 800 combined wins during the memorable season. In April, the CCIW named him Men’s Coach of the Year for the 10th time — his 13th conference award overall.

a larger pool

Coach Lindsley has ramped up recruiting of international students in recent years. Why? Largely out of necessity.

According to the most recent participation figures from the National Federation of State High School Associations, tennis is only the ninth-most popular sport for boys and seventh for girls in the United States. With more than 325 D-III tennis programs scouring the nation for talent, coaches are looking elsewhere to gain a competitive edge.

Simply put, it’s a bigger deal in other parts of the world.

“It’s definitely different,” said Xingchen, who started playing competitively around age 15 or 16. “(In China) we don’t have as many options as here, and we have more people … so people can choose to go pro or play in college, but you have to be very good to compete in college there.”

She’s from Hefei, a city of about 9 million. A trainer recommended Carthage to her, and, between the comfortably small campus, the Lake Michigan backdrop, and the liberal arts focus, Xingchen was sold. Majoring in public relations as well as exercise and sport science, she intends to pursue a career in sports management or sports journalism.

Immediately as a freshman, Xingchen stepped into the Firebirds’ No. 1 slot, going 20-3 overall in singles (undefeated in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matches) and adding 17 doubles victories — mostly in the top pairing with Giana Apostoli ’23. Coaches voted her the conference’s best newcomer and overall player for 2022-23.

Zizi, her counterpart as No. 1 on the Carthage men’s squad, wrote a rousing final chapter in his Carthage career. The steady senior from Calgary, Alberta, passed the 100-win milestone.

Some contributions are harder to quantify. The visitors from abroad have made those, too.

“Their impact as team leaders has been just as influential on the success of our program,” says Coach Lindsley.

Xingchen Liu ’26

Francisco Silveira ’26

Luca Okino ’26

Yanozie “Zizi” Amadike ’23

Giovanna Mendes ’25 Luana da Silva ’25

He doesn’t need to travel overseas to give the Carthage elevator pitch in these families’ living rooms. Really, he just has to keep an eye on his inbox. Recruiting services act as matchmakers for international student-athletes and U.S. colleges.

Giovanna paid one such company to make a highlight video and distribute it to NCAA coaches. Unsolicited messages often go unread, but Coach Lindsley opened that one and saw a promising student-athlete who could thrive here.

“I fell in love with the campus, and Carthage was just a perfect fit for me,” said Giovanna, a rising junior from Mogi das Cruzes, the birthplace of Brazil’s soccer star Neymar. The College combined the chance “to continue to play the sport that I love with an outstanding academic program.”

Majoring in finance and economics, she’s still weighing career options. Graduate school remains a strong possibility, but Giovanna also envisions returning home to work in financial advising while brainstorming business ideas.

welcoming unit

In all, there are six Brazilians on the Firebirds’ tennis teams — an odd coincidence, considering most didn’t know one another until their paths converged in Kenosha. Giovanna and Francisco are an exception, having met back home.

A year ahead of her friend, Giovanna was already getting comfortable here when Francisco’s college search got going. He picked her brain “about the academics and the everyday life of a student-athlete at Carthage,” and a strong financial aid package sealed the deal.

Like many international students, Francisco’s experiences in America before college consisted of brief stays — one for a family vacation, another on a tennis trip. A welcoming atmosphere at Carthage eased the transition.

“I felt like I was at home,” Francisco said. “People treated me well, and I created a strong bond with the tennis team.”

The two-time national under-18 singles champion from Niterói, Brazil, carried his strong play into college. Francisco earned recognition as CCIW FirstYear Student-Athlete of the Year, locking down the Firebirds’ second singles spot and teaming with Cooper Ferruzzi ’24 at No. 2 doubles.

He’s determined to build a life here in the country after college. Discovering a new interest, Francisco switched majors from political science to data science.

Here’s a compelling data point: Except for Zizi, who graduated in May with a degree in psychology, all of the international players have multiple years of eligibility left. And Coach Lindsley has tentative commitments from five more to enter this fall.

Add the other returning Firebirds to the equation, and it’s clear we can expect more passport stamps on this epic journey.

2023 firebird classic

ATHLETICS

promotions and hires

• Rebecca Congel, who took over as women’s lacrosse head coach on an interim basis in March, has accepted the permanent position. She has worked on the program’s staff since 2021.

• Beth DeLaRosby, longtime women’s swimming and diving head coach, also took over the men’s program and added the title of senior woman administrator. Former men’s head coach Seth Weidmann was promoted to associate athletic director for advancement but will remain involved with the swim teams as associate head coach.

• Megan Jones was hired as women’s basketball head coach in April, a position she held at Monmouth College for the previous two seasons.

• John Sams joined the Firebirds in November as head women’s golf coach, following a long career in high school coaching that included two Wisconsin state titles.

• Robert Xiong, MSc ’23, accepted the position as director of esports. He worked as a graduate assistant during the 2022-23 season.

The 48th annual Firebird Classic, a fundraising golf outing and dinner program that supports Carthage Athletics, drew more than 150 people to The Club at Strawberry Creek in nearby Bristol on June 26.

National curtain call New playwriting major builds on success

Long known for its artistry, the Carthage theatre program is now drawing notice for contributions that reverberate far beyond the stage.

For its work on “Memento Mori,” an original play examining human mortality, the College earned two significant national accolades in the Kennedy Center’s 2023 American College Theater Festival: the Citizen Artist Award and the newest honor, for Facilitation of a Brave Rehearsal Space.

“These particular awards show something more than the excellent work we’re doing,” said Professor Neil Scharnick ’99, who directed the play. “They show we’re doing work that matters.”

“Memento Mori” is the latest work to emerge from Carthage’s New Play Initiative. Each year, the College commissions an original play, partnering with award-winning playwrights and theatre artists to develop and produce it.

These professional collaborations are a major bonus for Carthage students who plan to pursue the new playwriting major. The Theatre and English departments joined forces to offer students the interdisciplinary option beginning this fall.

The Citizen Artist Award recognizes collegiate programs that employ theatre “to promote long-term societal impact through an artistic lens, to encourage empathetic exploration of the complex cultural and physical world, and to advocate for justice” everywhere.

“Memento Mori” became the third original Carthage production to win the award in the six years it’s been given out. The national committee previously honored “A Seat at the Table,” a historical voting rights account written by Regina Taylor, in 2018 and the addiction-themed “Up and Away” by Eric Simonson the following year.

An even newer category honors the vital groundwork that’s laid behind the scenes. The inaugural Brave Rehearsal Space award “celebrates teaching artists who create a rehearsal room community that prioritizes the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of their student artists, empowering them to safely engage with challenging theatrical stories.”

That was essential in the making of “Memento Mori,” which is Latin for “Remember you must die.” The plot centers on Alice, a young musician who recently passed away. Mourning friends try to make sense of her death while Alice comes to terms with life beyond the grave.

Profoundly affected by past losses, cast member Rose Reichert ’23 dreaded going into a project with such heavy subject matter. This time, when the tears came, it wasn’t awkwardness she felt — but empathy and support.

“Memento Mori,” the latest in Carthage's New Play Initiative, premiered on campus in November.

Selected to produce the play in January at the Kennedy Center's regional festival in Flint, Michigan, faculty and students savored the experience.

Cast and crew members including Nicky Caldwell '23 performed the play at the historic Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, during J-Term.

“In a weird, kind of awful way, I have never felt so relieved. I never realized how badly I needed to talk about this out loud to my friends,” Rose said. “I knew this would be a healing journey for me, and it has been.”

Donal Courtney, one of Ireland’s leading acting instructors, signed on as a guest writer for the New Play Initiative. Both he and director Neil Scharnick ’99, a Carthage theatre professor, wanted the play to engage with life’s biggest questions.

Before it had moved beyond the earliest workshop stage, however, the project took a poignant turn. In May 2022, cancer took Mr. Courtney’s life at age 52.

Messages of grief and gratitude poured out from the theatre community. Even mega-star Michael Fassbender considered the man a mentor.

Dedicating the work to their Irish collaborator’s memory, Prof. Scharnick and his students wrote and developed “Memento Mori” over the next several months. After it premiered on campus in November, Carthage was invited to showcase the play at the Kennedy Center’s Region 3 festival in Flint, Michigan, in mid-January.

Traveling to Ireland later that month, the cast and crew also performed “Memento Mori” at the historic Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin and at West End House School of Arts in Killarney.

“We made something that lets people look at the subject of death in a way it is not often viewed: that of hope, community, grief, the unknown, and most importantly, in whatever way best fits their story,” said Emily Halfmann ’25.

Up to that point, Emily had found writing uncomfortable, but the atmosphere of openness filled her with creative inspiration. Calling it a “formative experience in my theatrical career,” she contributed extensively to the script.

That’s the kind of personal and professional growth Carthage tries to facilitate. Each award signifies to Corinne Ness, dean for the Division of Arts and Humanities, that it’s working.

“These honors recognize the community that we work hard to maintain: a space where student artists can fully realize their potential with the support of an exceptional faculty.”

new play initiative turns 15

Carthage Theatre will reach a notable milestone this fall, when it produces the 15th installment in the New Play Initiative.

The annual tradition empowers students to create art that lives on long after the patrons file out of Wartburg Theatre. Several of the plays created since the initiative began in 2008-09 have gone on to be published or produced for wider audiences, including:

• “Honest” (2009) by Eric Simonson: Produced by Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago

• “One Day in the Season of Rain” (2010) by Mohan Rakesh: Translation published in the Penguin World Classics series

• “Ghost Bike” (2012) by Laura Jacqmin: Several professional productions, starting with Buzz22 Chicago

• “Up the Hill” (2015) by Keith Huff: Selected for development at the National Playwrights Conference

Working with impressive playwrights, Carthage students get to experience the joys and challenges of the creative process. In recent years, the theatre program has expanded its original content to include verbatim plays drawn directly from the words of combat veterans, health care workers, and those affected by racial injustice.

For the milestone project in the New Play Initiative, guest writer C. Quintana (known professionally as CQ) will work with guest director Lucky Stiff and students to produce “The Genderless Play Experiment.” Performances are scheduled Nov. 3-5 and 9-11. To buy tickets, call the box office at 262-551-6661 or order online at: carthage.edu/tickets

CARTHAGE THEATRE PRESENTS

WRITTEN BY ACADEMY AWARD WINNER AND TONY NOMINATED WRITER AND DIRECTOR ERIC SIMONSON DIRECTED BY HERSCHEL KRUGER

MARCH 27 – APRIL 5, 2009

Gift of artwork offers window into Soviet era

Last year, Carthage received a major donation of fine art depicting scenes and themes from areas under Soviet rule in the 20th century. In total, Carthage acquired 131 pieces worth $3.8 million.

Sam and Berry Shoen, longtime supporters of the arts, donated the largest portion of the collection, which includes oil paintings and drawings from Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Twenty-eight of those works served as the centerpiece for “Beauty in Expression,” a visual and performing arts symposium held on campus earlier this year. The community symposium will return in 2024 for a deeper exploration from Jan. 18 to 20.

The “Milestones” exhibition at the H.F. Johnson Gallery of Art provided the first public glimpse of the collection. More selected works can be viewed beginning Dec. 1 during the gallery’s next Soviet art exhibition, “Beauty Will Save the World.”

A visiting scholar will help to develop other related programming. Carthage appointed Leslie Brothers, an experienced arts administrator and educator, to the SC Johnson Distinguished Visiting Professorship for 2023-24.

“Our hope is that this artwork can set the table for creative thinking and robust conversations,” said Professor Corinne Ness, dean for the Division of Arts and Humanities.

Mr. Shoen’s friend Raymond Johnson ’60, a prominent art dealer, facilitated the connection with the College. Two of Mr. Johnson’s clients, Eric Lorentzen and Bob Lavinia, donated additional pieces to Carthage. While he understands the anti-Russian sentiment that has resurfaced in the United States since last year’s invasion of Ukraine, Sam Shoen views this as an ideal teaching moment.

“It’s important for people to understand art in the context it’s created,” he said. “Even under the most oppressive regimes, beauty is created by talented people.”

Carthage also received significant funding from the David A. Straz Jr. Foundation. Two gifts totaling $55,000 support the housing and preservation of the artwork, as well as scholarly engagement with it.

“Between Battles,” oil on canvas, by Aleksei and Sergei Tkachev

The “Milestones” exhibition in January displayed select pieces from Carthage’s new collection of Soviet art.

“Karelia (4 Women with Handcrafts)” by Olga Stepanova Kuranskaya

Professor Gregory Berg, left, interviews art collector Ray Johnson ‘60 on Jan. 28 during the Soviet art symposium.

Band celebrates 150 years

A series of special events in 2023-24 will commemorate 150 years of musical excellence at Carthage.

According to news reports, students on the previous campus in Carthage, Illinois, formed a six-piece brass ensemble in fall 1873. Among the oldest college bands in the United States, it has grown significantly in both size and distinction over the ensuing century and a half.

Today, band activities at Carthage comprise three ensembles: Wind Orchestra, Concert Band, and chamber winds group AMATI. Conducted by Professor James Ripley, the band maintains a rich touring tradition throughout the United States and Japan.

Those who helped shape this legacy are invited to take part. Spanning the full academic year, the celebration begins Sept. 30 with the annual Homecoming concert, highlighted by an Alumni Band and music from the 1870s. Then, on Nov. 4, music education graduates will lead the Wind Orchestra during the Lakeside Band Festival.

The series culminates in a 150th Anniversary Concert on May 11, featuring the premiere of “Fortitude” by prominent composer Timothy Mahr. Commissioned specifically for the occasion, the piece serves as a musical representation of 142 — the band room number in the Johnson Arts Center — while depicting the spirit, conviction, camaraderie, and joy that come from playing in a band.

All events are free and open to the public. See the full schedule at: carthage.edu/band150

‘The SpongeBob Musical’ features a sea of alumni

Several Carthage alumni participated in “The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences,” a production staged in March and April by First Stage, a children’s theatre company in Milwaukee.

Alumnus and adjunct faculty member Tommy Novak ’11, M.M. ’20, directed the production, which is based on the popular animated TV show “SpongeBob SquarePants.” The professor was thrilled to have numerous Carthaginians in the cast.

“It’s rare in the theatrical world for this many people from a community to be able to come together for a production, so it’s really special,” Prof. Novak said. “It’s exciting to show Carthage music theatre students the opportunities out there in theatre and make known the alumni working professionally in the area.”

Other participants in the musical included Bree Beelow ’13, M.M. ’21; Zack Simonini ’12; Mireya Magallon ’20; Rachel Skowronski ’22; Sophie Michalski ’22; and Raven Dockery, M.M. ’20. Gabbie Tifft ’23 assisted with lighting design.

A thirsty fan’s best friend

It’s March 24, and 10 days remain until Opening Day at American Family Field. While those other Brewers ramp up to the season in warmer climes, Leinenkugel’s master brewer John Hensley ’02 is grinding to get the brand new on-site brewery up and running at the team’s stadium in Milwaukee.

Tucked into the concourse behind the left-field stands, J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard isn’t quite ready for prime time. Next to the brewery, the year-round taproom and restaurant will serve the beers made on site.

The clock is ticking. Mr. Hensley knows the stadium will soon be hopping with 42,000 fans thirsty for more than baseball.

When the home crowd sings ‘Roll out the barrel,’ master brewer John Hensley ’02 takes it literally

after graduating from carthage with a degree in chemistry and biology, Mr. Hensley mentally penciled in the next natural steps in his education. He’d apply to a graduate program — maybe even medical school. Just not right away.

Opting for a gap year to gain experience and build savings, he contacted a temp agency. Two positions were available that fit his criteria: one with a meat packing company and another with a major brewing company. He chose the latter.

Med school never stood a chance. Mr. Hensley has turned a temporary gig into a 21-year career.

Returning to campus in March to share insights from his career journey with Carthage students and faculty, he could say with confidence it was the right choice.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else now,” he said. “There aren’t too many unhappy people in brewing.”

For now, during the Barrel Yard’s startup phase, Mr. Hensley can tolerate the 3 1/2-hour drive from Leinenkugel’s headquarters near the Minnesota state line, but he’ll need someone skilled at the ballpark full time. Enter Corrine Georges, the pilot brewer he just hired.

kettles and tanks with a test brew.

visually unappealing flakes that most commercial beer makers try to prevent. brewers, too.

the master brewer position at the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company comes with lots of managerial responsibilities: personnel, quality control, supplies, production schedules — you name it. So Mr. Hensley savored the recent return to hands-on beermaking.

A pilot brewery is the place to experiment. Over the

Depending on the recipe, Mr. Hensley estimates the entire brewing cycle will take 3 to 4 weeks. As their test gets underway, the faint but unmistakable aroma of baking bread wafts through the Barrel Yard brewery, signaling yeast at work.

“Now you see why we call ourselves yeast farmers,” he jokes.

The stainless steel equipment is packed into a space about half the size of Leinenkugel’s other new pilot brewery at the Leinie Lodge, a popular attraction across the river from the main plant in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

small can be great, Mr. Hensley knows from his time at Carthage. Attending larger universities, his high school friends reported a much different college experience.

“I really appreciated the smaller classes and personal attention we got,” he said.

He maximized the hours outside of the classroom, too. Besides lettering in soccer as a freshman, Mr. Hensley took an active part in social fraternity Delta Omega Nu and biology honor society Beta Beta Beta.

Although he married another Carthage graduate, they

couple, who now have three children, met during an outing with mutual friends.

The practical benefits of Mr. Hensley’s education extend beyond science. Thanks to an emphasis on communication in core courses like Western Heritage (now Intellectual Foundations), he grew comfortable as a public speaker.

That comes in handy when talking to beer distributors … or curious college students. His packed itinerary as a campus guest included a Biochemistry class discussion and a Q&A organized by the Carthage Engineering Program.

“Connecting our students to alumni like John opens their eyes to the wide variety of career possibilities afforded by studies in STEM and helps them to realize that it’s OK to not have all the answers today,” said Professor Robert Nagel, director of engineering.

Six days before the home opener, the Brewers send out a press release announcing the first three Leinenkugel’s specialty beers that will be served at the Barrel Yard: Cherry Gose, Hop Head (IPA), and a newly remastered Red Lager.

Eventually, those will rotate out in favor of beers exclusively brewed in-house with baseball-themed names. The announcement even hints at the possibility of “calling up Brewers players to participate in the brew making process.”

“Connecting our students to alumni like John opens their eyes to the wide variety of career possibilities afforded by studies in STEM and helps them to realize that it’s ok to not have all the answers today.”

– Robert Nagel, Carthage Director of Engineering

as for

grad

school? Well, preserving the spirit of his original post-graduation plan, Mr. Hensley did ultimately earn an advanced degree. Two, in fact: a Diploma in Brewing and, last year, a Master of Science in operations and supply management from the University of WisconsinStout.

He entered the field as a flavor chemist at Miller Brewing Company’s pilot brewery in Milwaukee. After a decade there, he was hired as assistant brewmaster for Leinenkugel’s.

The two brands share a parent company, Molson Coors. Within that Fortune 500 giant, Leinenkugel’s has maintained a distinct identity as a sixth-generation family-run business. Jennifer works there, too, overseeing merchandising.

In 2019, the apprentice climbed to the top rung, a job with minimal turnover. Mr. Hensley is just the 11th brewmaster since the company’s founding in 1867.

His enthusiasm, like his products, has aged well. So it’ll probably be a long wait for brewmaster No. 12.

Opening Day has arrived! The Barrel Yard is serving, the Brewers are shutting out the New York Mets, and the fired-up crowd is belting out the carefree lyrics to “Beer Barrel Polka,” a Milwaukee seventh-inning stretch tradition.

“Zing! Boom! Tararrel! Sing out a song of good cheer … Now’s the time to roll the barrel, for the gang’s all here.”

One asset whose value only appreciates

Accounting professor Julie Dawson wins Carthage's Distinguished Teaching Award

Yes, Julie Dawson has taught accounting at Carthage for almost 30 years, but another number provides a more meaningful measure of her career.

“I have kept up with at least 200 alumni,” says the assistant professor of accounting and finance. “I always want to know: How’s your career going? How’s your family? We have a sense of belonging to a close community, and that makes Carthage a unique place to teach.”

That’s become a defining advantage for the College: a faculty commitment to provide both academic rigor and individualized support along the path to a rewarding career.

“I always say I have the best job in the world, because I get to work with young adults who are so intellectually curious. I can have incredible conversations with them,” she says. “They work very hard, and they're incredibly kind; I root for all of them.”

The feeling is mutual. Backed by glowing recommendations from students and colleagues, Prof. Dawson won the 2022-23 Distinguished Teaching Award — Carthage’s highest faculty honor.

“She takes a specific interest in each of her students, and we can tell she genuinely loves each one of us,” one student wrote in support of her nomination.

Of course, in the not-so-touchy-feely business world, results are king.

When Accounting Today crunched the numbers in 2021, Carthage ranked in the top 6 percent nationwide for first-time success rate on the CPA exam. An industry group has withheld subsequent results during a transitional phase in the exam, but the College’s extremely high internship and job placement rate suggest it’s no fluke.

In August, Sierra Sonnemaker ’23 begins work on the tax staff of Plante Moran in Schaumburg, Illinois. The recent graduate calls Prof. Dawson “hands down” the most influential Carthage faculty member in her growth.

Competing on the Firebirds’ tennis team for four years alongside a demanding major tested Ms. Sonnemaker’s time management. Four classes with Prof. Dawson sharpened her specialized skills, with test questions modeled after the ones on the actual CPA exam.

Ms. Sonnemaker passed the first two parts of the licensing test even before graduating. Nationwide, there’s a roughly 50 percent success rate on each section.

“When you get to the exam, it’s already something you’ve seen before,” the young alumna says. “So it’s not too much of a surprise.”

For her part, Prof. Dawson brings plenty of applicable experience and connections. She started out as an auditor for Deloitte in Davenport, Iowa, and still consults for some local nonprofits to keep her knowledge current.

“Our students are among the strongest in the country,” says the popular professor, who joined the faculty full time in 1993. “They just need the opportunity to succeed, and it's my obligation to provide those opportunities to them.”

With her guidance, rising sophomore Isaak Gotberg ’26 of

School of Business and Economics

Kenosha has already secured two prime accounting internships. He’s working with Deloitte this summer — one of three Carthage interns in the 18-person Milwaukee cohort — and has another spot reserved for next summer at fast-growing Sikich LLP.

Touching base even before he enrolled, Prof. Dawson arranged for Isaak to take her Financial Accounting course right away in fall. That’s a semester earlier than schedules typically allow, giving the eager freshman a sneak peek into the profession.

Using a “flipped classroom” model, she assigns a roughly 45-minute video for students to watch in preparation for class. Bringing their notes to the classroom, they spend the period running through practical examples.

“To me, that’s the best way of learning,” Isaak says. “I learn best by doing things.”

Earning a reputation as a master scheduler, Prof. Dawson sees academic advising as one of the best parts of her job. By demonstrating how he could fit everything he wanted from Carthage into four years, she turned Isaak’s nervousness to relief.

He’s also halfway through a yearlong term as president of the Carthage Accounting Association, a student group advised by — you guessed it — Prof. Dawson.

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grand opening celebration

More than 300 people attended the grand opening celebration for Carthage’s School of Business and Economics on April 5.

The day’s events included remarks by Carthage officials and keynote speaker Kunal Kapoor, as well as a roundtable discussion hosted by the College’s Business and Professional Coalition. Over 80 community leaders took part in the roundtable, offering input to help shape the new school’s educational vision.

Mr. Kapoor, CEO of Chicagobased Morningstar, raved about the value of a broad-based education. He emphasized the critical thinking chops that liberal arts graduates acquire.

“It’s really easy to hire smart kids,” he said, “but it’s really hard to find kids who can think for themselves.”

The School of Business and Economics brings faculty from several thriving academic programs together under one umbrella. The new collaborative model promises to expand hands-on learning and pave the way for new programs and partnerships in emerging fields.

“Kids from liberal arts colleges just have more grit.”

– Keynote speaker Kunal Kapoor, CEO of Morningstar

a bright forecast

Steadily ranked among the 10 most popular majors at Carthage, accounting is now part of the School of Business and Economics. Prof. Dawson says the more targeted focus “allows for agile problem-solving and dreaming.”

One year in, she’s excited by the momentum this new academic division has already gained. In part, she credits founding dean Jim Padilla for quickly identifying faculty strengths and putting them to use on students’ behalf.

One of the first changes to emerge is a new Bachelor of Science degree option for accounting majors. Consisting of 150 credits — 20 more than the Bachelor of Arts officially requires — the B.S. track will equip students for the more expansive CPA exam coming in 2024.

By enrolling in J-Term each winter, Carthage students can still finish in four years. At most other schools, it takes five.

The deeper dive into accounting won’t come at the expense of a liberal arts foundation. Learning to think critically, to communicate

clearly, to work in diverse teams — these vital skills will remain well-integrated into the Carthage experience.

“Accountants actually speak and write more than they crunch numbers,” notes Prof. Dawson. “When we talk with recruiters, they always ask: ‘Do your students have the whole package?’ They are looking for people with strong interpersonal dynamics.”

Conducting an external audit, for example, requires a delicate balance. It’s a pressure-packed situation for the client.

“You go in and learn about their business practices, their culture, their dialect. Then you turn around and point out any errors,” she explains. “It’s important to make your clients feel comfortable talking to you and to communicate results in a constructive, positive way.”

Beyond the classroom, Prof. Dawson brought the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to Carthage in 1993. About 30 volunteers, all certified by the IRS, prepare taxes for low- to moderate-income households free of charge.

Administered by the United Way, VITA has served at least 20,000 local families over the past three decades.

“She’s been a mainstay for the program and one of the reasons it has grown so much,” said Carolynn Friesch, CEO for United Way of Kenosha County.

Long before making a career in higher education, Prof. Dawson saw it from two distinct vantage points as a student. She earned an undergraduate degree from Augustana College and a master’s in accountancy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She sees a continued bull market for those with a “distinguished and versatile” accounting degree from Carthage. Graduates have held controller positions at organizations as varied as the Chicago Bulls and the Field Museum.

“Every organization needs accountants,” says Prof. Dawson. “In whatever field or geographic area that you would like to start your career, there's a strong chance you can do that with an accounting degree.”

Professor Julie Dawson, right, hugs faculty colleague Laura Huaracha after receiving the 2022-23 Distinguished Teaching Award. Prof. Huaracha, the previous year's winner, presented the award May 26 during a year-end reception.

the arts at

THE MUSICAL

Travels that

So much of the Carthage experience evokes images of light. The early morning sun rising over Lake Michigan. The flame of knowledge in the College logo. The stars and planets gleaming in the night sky that inspire our NASA-funded research. The legend behind Firebirds, our team name. The Carthage Flame and Beacon Award, whose recipients represent the thousands of alumni who illuminate their communities.

For 176 years, Carthage has switched on curious minds and passionate hearts. In turn, Carthaginians everywhere find ways to brighten their surroundings, solve problems, and cultivate hope.

In that spirit, Carthage adopted the theme “Light That Travels” for the public phase of its new comprehensive fundraising campaign. Establishing a goal of $100 million, leaders have laid out an ambitious plan to ensure that students have the resources, mentors, and programs to shine in the years to come.

“Just as one candle lights another and can light thousands of other candles, so one heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts.”

— LEO TOLSTOY, 19th century author

Thanks to generous gifts during the campaign’s silent phase, which ran from 2017 until June 2023, the College is already approaching the halfway mark with almost $50 million raised. Beginning with a $5 million pledge from Jeff Hamar ’80, chair of the Board of Trustees, several donors have made significant multiyear commitments toward targeted areas of need.

Another Carthage trustee, Snap-on Inc. CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk, serves as campaign chair. The pages to follow will lay out the “Light That Travels” vision, divided into three broad priorities:

• SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL AID: Establish scholarships that keep Carthage affordable, enabling all talented students to enter and stay enrolled until graduation, plus funds that remove barriers to internships, study abroad, and other valuable experiential learning.

• PROGRAM INNOVATION: Equip Carthage to meet the changing needs of students and regional employers by quickly developing new programs and continuing to grow existing offerings in nursing, pre-health, engineering, business, and other highdemand fields.

• SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE: Reinforce the College’s liberal arts tradition by endowing professorships in key areas of study, lifting multi-use facilities like A. F. Siebert Chapel up to modern specifications, and enhancing popular co-curricular options like athletics and the performing arts.

As Carthage stands on the cusp of a luminous future, we’re calling on Carthaginians everywhere to play a part … to be a Light That Travels.

a community of light

Both on campus and around the country, watch for campaign events in the year ahead where you can celebrate the spark that someone lit in you at Carthage and learn how you can be a Light That Travels for future generations. Off-campus events will be hosted in:

Chicago Naples, Florida

Kenosha Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida

Milwaukee Washington, D.C.

Minneapolis

Watch for your invitation by email and follow Carthage’s social media platforms for details. facebook.com/carthagecollege • twitter.com/carthagecollege instagram.com/carthagecollege

Trustee Emeritus Dennis Monroe ‘74 hosted a pre-campaign alumni gathering earlier this year at his Minneapolis restaurant, EaTo.

Priorities Travels that

SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL AID

AREAS OF SUPPORT

Recruiting Scholarships

Gifts to the Illuminate Recruiting Scholarship Fund will help to solidify Carthage as a top choice for talented high school and transfer students of any background or financial situation. Support merit (based on GPA), competitive (based on interviews, essays, or auditions), and need-based scholarships.

Retention Scholarships

Gifts to the Firebird Retention Scholarship Fund will remove financial barriers for returning students, keeping them on track to graduate. Provide additional support to sophomores, juniors, and seniors whose increased need threatens to disrupt their education.

Opportunity Funds

Contributions to the Opportunity Funds will give Carthage students access to tools and beyondthe-classroom options that maximize their education. Provide laptops and textbooks for those who struggle to afford them, cover travel expenses for a study abroad, or supplement students’ income to make research and internships feasible.

Given a financial second wind, students keep graduation pace

Sometimes even a champion sprinter needs a gentle push to cross the finish line.

Inspired by his late brother and buoyed by some well-timed financial support, Kendric Cornelius ’23 completed an epic 11-year Carthage journey in May. Earning a degree in exercise and sport science gave him a bigger rush than anything he felt as a four-year track and field competitor.

“Walking across that stage, I was expecting to have superpowers or something,” he said. “I figured anything after that is smooth sailing.”

In 2016, with a little more than a year’s worth of credits left to complete, Mr. Cornelius had set his Carthage studies aside. Still searching for a career passion despite multiple major changes and determined to support his newborn daughter, he shifted focus to a family-sustaining wage.

The two-time conference champ leaned into his passion, finding work as a high school track and field coach. That rewarding job outlined a clear direction for Mr. Cornelius as a physical education teacher and coach.

Re-enrolling at Carthage in fall 2021, he resolved to complete his education in memory of his younger brother. Courtland Cornelius, a promising Carthage studentathlete whose 4x100-meter relay team still holds the school record, tragically drowned in summer 2018 shortly after completing his first year.

Finances still presented a barrier for Kendric, but a small retention award from

the Wiggan-Kenniebrew Endowed Scholarship Fund lowered that hurdle. The funding allowed him to give up a time-consuming job in furniture sales so he could concentrate on coursework.

Hired as a PE teacher at Bolingbrook (Illinois) High School, he’ll start this fall while wrapping up his certification through Carthage’s Master of Education program. After the school day ends, Mr. Cornelius will continue to coach nearby at Nequa Valley High School, where he assists the jumpers.

He and his wife, Rachel Davey, met as Carthage students and now have two children. She ultimately transferred to another school, but Mr. Cornelius grew too attached to the College to leave.

That attachment grew even stronger when the extra aid nudged him across the finish line.

“I’d get lost if I went anywhere else,” he says. “The bulk of my life is now because of my time at Carthage.”

Timely relief

As part of the comprehensive fundraising campaign that’s officially launching this summer, Carthage is looking to fortify and expand the scholarship and grant funding available to existing students.

College provides a safe space for students to steel themselves against the rough-andtumble “real world.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t render them (or their families) immune to hardship.

“We’ve seen firsthand that even a small sum of money can make a huge impact on a student’s ability to remain enrolled,” says

“ This scholarship is a huge deal to me, because I am a first-generation student. All my years of hard work, from elementary school to high school, finally paid off.”

– JUAN GOMEZ-SOLIS ’25

Modern Languages

Scholarship recipient

Kendric Cornelius ’23

Abigail Hanna, executive vice president for administration. “Unexpected car repairs, medical bills, or computer problems can leave someone with an agonizing decision: push ahead with their education or abandon it. By issuing small emergency grants to Carthage students like those, we’ve seen extremely gratifying results.”

Established by Trustee Emeritus Loren H. Semler Jr. ’65 and his wife, the late Vickie Semler ’67, the Semler Bridge Scholarship Fund is designed precisely for those instances. For years, these scholarships have provided extra cushion for students whose financial need unexpectedly spikes.

That can happen for a variety of reasons.

For Bridge Scholarship recipient Faelan O’Shaughnessy ’21, it was the ripple effect of a traumatic brain injury she suffered in a car accident at 16. Although her parents had diligently saved for her education, massive medical bills gradually drained those funds.

In the aftermath of the crash, doctors declared college off the table for Ms. O’Shaughnessy. As a high school junior, she struggled just to read and write. But neurological therapy fueled a stunning turnaround that led to Carthage.

Fittingly, she majored in neuroscience, regaining confidence as the mysteries of the brain were revealed to her. A dream that seemed permanently derailed just a few years earlier remained on track thanks to caring donors and a young woman’s persistence.

“A college education is a privilege in itself, but attending college when previously told it was not an option makes it much more valuable,” said Ms. O’Shaughnessy, who is now a doctoral candidate in occupational therapy at The Ohio State University. “I actively avoid taking the easy path through

life, and I enjoy the obstacles and struggles that come with a journey.”

Proactive support

Carthage now conducts an annual review of every student’s personal and financial circumstances to identify those with rising need. Qualifying students automatically receive a Firebird Retention Scholarship to help close the gap.

Returning students can still apply for a Bridge Scholarship and other emergency funding, but this new proactive approach makes it easier for families to budget for their child’s education. Already, Firebird awards have helped more than 350 students to stay enrolled.

The Firebird scholarship grew out of Carthage’s ongoing work in the Moon Shot for Equity, a nationwide initiative to wipe out racial and income gaps in retention and graduation rates by 2030. Crossdepartmental teams are exploring several avenues to keep students progressing toward their degrees.

The initial results hold promise. Among full-time undergraduate students enrolled in fall 2022, a record-high 94% returned to Carthage in spring 2023. Looking deeper, midyear figures for students who identify as Black (98% retention rate) or Hispanic (97% retention rate) exceeded the overall percentage.

More debt-conscious than in preceding

generations, today’s students consistently pitch in toward their own education. While that kind of sweat equity has immense value, there’s a tipping point. And Marc Arias ’23 found it.

At one point in college, Mr. Arias juggled four jobs and six classes, and it took a toll on his grades. Compounding the problem, his father lost his job during the pandemic. A well-timed Bridge Scholarship helped him to scale back and restore balance.

Most likely, Mr. Arias would’ve willed himself across the finish line without outside help, but the quality of his Carthage experience would have suffered. He played two years of NCAA Division III baseball with the Firebirds and got involved in the Pi Sigma Epsilon business fraternity, which won an award this past spring for the most improved chapter nationwide.

After graduating in May with a degree in marketing and management, Mr. Arias dove into the business sector with a fulltime position as an account representative at technology services company CDW.

“The financial burden has always been on my mind, and getting awarded this scholarship relieved some of my stress,” he says. “Without a doubt, the decision to attend Carthage has been gratifying for my life.”

As financial need rises, students rely on scholarships to minimize debt and maximize their opportunities at Carthage.

Faelan O’Shaughnessy ’21

Marc Arias ’23

Priorities

PROGRAM INNOVATION

AREAS OF SUPPORT

President’s Innovation Fund

Gifts to the President’s Innovation Fund will ensure that Carthage offers academic programs that meet the ever-evolving needs of students and employers in the region. Stimulate fresh approaches to traditional education and customized programs for community partners.

Academic Growth Areas

Contributions will enable the College to build and fortify programs with significant growth potential, including:

• engineering

Optimize the engineering facility that’s now in the first phase of construction in Lentz Hall and make faculty openings even more attractive to highly qualified candidates.

• business and economics

Equip Carthage students to “Achieve What’s Next,” the fitting motto of the new school. Spur the creation of new business offerings and help the College to recruit additional faculty.

• nursing and pre-health

Support Carthage’s most popular major (nursing) by paving the way for new specialties, additional faculty, and updated facilities (including software for the high-tech simulators). Boost pre-health advising.

Custom-designed partnerships reject unisize education

Evolving to meet both student and workforce needs in a new way, Carthage is helping local businesses combat their talent shortages while providing well-paying, part-time jobs for its students.

To pilot this innovative program, called Carthage Spark, the College partnered with LMI Packaging. The family-owned manufacturer 10 miles southeast of campus in Pleasant Prairie makes lids and labels for a variety of industries.

As part of the comprehensive fundraising campaign that’s officially launching this summer, gifts to the President’s Innovation Fund will equip Carthage to adapt quickly to changing workforce needs in the region. The LMI agreement came together in a matter of days.

Shedding the one-size-fits-all educational mindset, Carthage has shown that responsiveness since its first days in Kenosha.

“Recapturing the spirit of 1962, we can respond nimbly when we see new opportunities for education,” says President John Swallow. “Serving both traditional and adult students, the President’s Innovation

Fund provides the resources to get programs off the ground quickly and lay the groundwork for a sustained impact.”

Administrators are actively looking to expand Carthage Spark to additional partners. It features two highly customizable options for employers: workplacedelivered education and enhanced student employment.

Workplace-delivered education

Carthage faculty can teach college-level courses right in the workplace, giving employers in the Kenosha area an attractive benefit to develop and retain existing employees and recruit new ones. This option serves workers who aren’t sure if they want to pursue a four-year degree.

For example, 11 LMI employees took the first on-site session: a seven-week introductory business course with Professor Joseph Tenuta. Beginning in February, classes met twice each week.

Carthage supplied laptops for participants, as well as promotional assistance to help the company spread the word about the unique perk. The firm provided tuition assistance on top of the workers’ base wages and set aside classroom space.

The first-time offering drew positive reviews from the LMI staff.

“This course gave me insight that I haven’t had previously on how businesses are formed and run,” one employee replied in an evaluation survey.

“I’ve always found it most fulfilling to be a bridge between a problem and a solution, to build relationships. I came to Carthage with a sense that college would help me find my path, and it did. I found my calling.”

– PATRICK D’ALESSANDRO ’23

B.A. in Marketing and Management

Professor Mark Mrowiec then followed with a marketing class that enrolled nine LMI workers. Those who complete a fourcourse sequence will earn a certificate in Business Foundations.

Although business professors have taught the initial offerings, faculty in other subjects can tailor courses to individual partners’ needs.

Enhanced student employment

While financial aid packages that include both College- and donor-funded scholarships keep a Carthage education well within reach, many students still work off campus to help cover their remaining expenses.

With that in mind, President Swallow sought “to cultivate employers who can pay our working students substantially more than they earn in retail or hospitality.”

In addition to hourly wages, LMI provides tuition assistance to full-time Carthage students who work there, which is applied directly to the cost of their education. That can push their total compensation to $18 per hour.

As laid out in the Carthage Spark agreement, the College provides campus housing in summer so students can work at LMI year-round. The company offers transportation, flexible hours, work that

aligns with career goals, and potential advancement. Lydia Siegler ’23, whose work in the ink room led to a finance internship there, relished the chance “to see business processes happen in real time and ask critical questions about the way the business operates on a day-to-day basis.”

While he jokingly acknowledges that it may not be a student’s dream “to run a die cut machine and make K-cup coffee lidding,” LMI’s Chief Operating Officer Frank Unick has enjoyed seeing the hard-

working students and full-time staff build camaraderie at the plant.

Thrilled with the results, LMI officials are eager to compare notes with other Spark collaborators.

“There’s no reason Carthage couldn’t have a program like this with 10 other companies like us,” said Mr. Unick. “We support that and can’t wait for that to happen.”

Looking for an innovative solution to your workforce needs? Contact Paul Martino, dean for the Division of Professional Studies, at pmartino@carthage.edu or visit the program’s webpage for more details: carthage.edu/spark

Piloting a new workplace-delivered education model, Carthage faculty are teaching a four-course business sequence for employees at LMI Packaging.

Travels that

Priorities

SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE

AREAS OF SUPPORT

Endowed Professorships

Establishing or contributing toward an endowment for a professor’s or program director’s seat will greatly enhance Carthage’s ability to bring in and keep elite teachers.

Endowed Programs

Gifts toward lasting endowments in academics, athletics, fine arts, and spiritual life will boost students’ options as they pursue the full Carthage experience.

Equity and Inclusion

Establishing or contributing to an endowment for the Engagement and Inclusion Center will guarantee Carthage students’ long-term access to culturally responsive programming.

Health and Counseling

Gifts designated for the Health and Counseling Center will give Carthage students easier and faster access to in-person support on campus.

Facility Upgrades

Gifts toward Carthage facilities will provide students with the best possible preparation for their future vocations. Bring legacy buildings up to contemporary standards.

Chapel tune-up can re-energize spiritual, musical heart of campus

Matching its physical location at the center of campus, A. F. Siebert Chapel continues to serve as both the spiritual and musical performance heart of the College.

Nearly 50 years into the chapel’s lifespan, Carthage sees potential for it to serve in yet another capacity: as a community venue.

To ensure it can pull triple duty in the decades ahead, this impressive facility needs a significant tune-up. As part of the comprehensive fundraising campaign that’s officially launching this summer, donations toward facilities will enable the College to modernize the chapel’s acoustics, lighting, and seating.

Dedicated in 1975 with a seating capacity of 1,325, the building was always intended as a multipurpose space.

“The challenge of that building was that it was both a chapel and a convocation center,” recalls Bob Erdmann, who was a partner at Architects III when the firm designed Siebert Chapel. “The space had to accommodate different-sized groups at different times for different purposes,

without it feeling empty with a small group or crowded with a big group.”

Dual purpose

The chapel is named in honor of the late Alfred F. Siebert, whose philanthropic foundation has supported Lutheran ministries for more than 70 years. Carthage alone has received more than $7 million from the Siebert Lutheran Foundation.

From the Rev. Dudley Riggle to the late Rev. Kara Baylor, the College has been blessed with caring and influential spiritual leaders who preserve its deep-seated faith roots. The Center for Faith and Spirituality still coordinates weekly worship and meditation services in the chapel during the academic year, along with special events like the well-attended Nights of Praise that bring students together with thriving local congregations.

Groups often gather in Ehrler Hospitality Center, a welcoming space in the building’s northwest corner, for meetings or interfaith events. And Luther’s Lunchbox, a self-

On Stephanie Mitchell, Valor Distinguished Professor in the Humanities:

“Professor Mitchell’s class wasn’t a cakewalk for me, but it instilled the importance of communicating with professors, taking advantage of the small class sizes, being open-minded, and exploring classes outside of your major.”

– AYANNA CRENSHAW ’24 marketing and management majors

serve station where any student can pick up supplementary food and hygiene items, demonstrates ELCA colleges’ commitment to “serve the neighbor so all may flourish.”

Far from an exclusively religious space, the chapel has a natural link to Carthage’s acclaimed Music Department. The west end of it stands directly above a section of the H. F. Johnson Center for the Fine Arts, allowing people to move between the two buildings by elevator.

More than two dozen choral and instrumental music concerts take place in Siebert Chapel each year. Besides showcasing its high-quality student ensembles, Carthage brings in rising and established musicians through its longrunning Performing Arts Series.

Attracting more than 5,000 community members each December, the Carthage Christmas Festival remains the crown jewel. Each performance concludes with the Service of Light, which fills the chapel with candlelight to spread the joy and reverence of the holiday season.

As a young girl, Melissa (Nicholson) Rojas ’05 often attended the festival with her grandmother, C. Jeanne (Empson) Nicholson ’43. Those enchanting evenings left a permanent impression.

“That was when I fell in love with Carthage. It was the only college I applied to,” says Ms. Rojas, who later stood on the same risers as a student in the Gospel Messengers choir.

In the moments between selections, when they’re not focused on the conductor or their sheet music, the performers soak in the captivating atmosphere. Looking back, many describe it as a highlight of their time at the College.

“I remember the first time I sat grasping the cool keys of my bass clarinet underneath that giant star set up for Christmas Fest …

and the heart-dropping moment when the candles were fully lit across the chapel, with everyone singing ‘Silent Night,’” says Sophie Shulman ’23.

An inviting space

In architectural terms, Siebert Chapel will always have good bones.

Built with the angular features of the brutalist style, it takes the form of a fourarmed Maltese cross. If you include the spire climbing up from the center of that cross, the building reaches 120 feet high — among the tallest in Kenosha.

Inside, visitors’ eyes are immediately drawn to the massive Fritsch Memorial Organ. Designed by Casavant Frères of Quebec, it remains one of the finest trackeraction pipe organs in the Midwest.

In other aspects, the facility is showing its age. Like other performance spaces on campus — namely the Wartburg Theatre, Studio Theatre, H. F. Johnson Recital Hall, and Visual Arts Performing Laboratory — the chapel needs improvements.

Upgrades to the sound system, lighting, flooring, and seating area would greatly enhance the attendee experience at all chapel events. And, by installing a mobile stage and adjustable acoustic panels, Carthage could quickly transform the space from worship space to concert venue (and vice versa) without making any permanent structural changes.

“This project embodies Carthage’s commitment to fostering artistic excellence and creating lasting memories for performers and audiences alike, while maximizing the revenue generation potential of all campus facilities,” says Adam Koenig, executive director of the student experience and strategic campus initiatives.

Countless alumni couples have been married in Siebert Chapel, and administrators see potential for the facility to open its doors even wider to the surrounding community.

Mr. Koenig says the building’s large seating capacity, distinctive architecture, and lakefront location make it an attractive venue. The proposed renovations would make the facility even more conducive to rent for conferences and other public events. The income, in turn, will support the ongoing maintenance of the historic building, as well as the Music Department and the Center for Faith and Spirituality. And the heart of the campus will beat stronger than ever.

carthage word search

How many of these Carthage terms can you find?

ADIRONDACK J B E Q F P N V M I N N O V A T I O N A C F N R B U S I N E S S E E U C Q D K R L I G H T T H A T T R A V E L S U R X C M G I B Y O K J H P B B L U T H E R A N M H N N N L U X Z H J K B G E G S Y B I U N E P U C M W F K Z Y C T K O K F I M K D E D M Z R A O I I X D V M X W E O E O I R S N R X L D W R S L O A J L D D Z G P I C U E E Z A I B E S D E W I V A G I L N H R D P U X K R B B I S C M R J E V I G O S A D B E B E O S I N Z W J G E I B W L I N Y E X R A M N U R G G C C S N E I A N D D G C S A M I D X D R G K E G R K R G R C P E I M N O C A P S O E Y O A P S E E W W L U F A K Q H C B F C R F L P H L A J V L O U S C E V I K T S K J A T I R D D C E T C A R P L Q G G C J Q R C P Z Y P X N A N L O I H K G A O S L T W S Y U Y T C U A S P I R E B R N B S S E K Q H G Z E E Z Z D R Y J K N F J

name the location

Answer key on page 46

LEADERS IN PHILANTHROPY

Young alumni pass the torch

A trio of driven and compassionate young alumni from Carthage share the same vision: to make a lasting impact on the lives of deserving students by creating endowed scholarships.

Each new endowed scholarship is a testament to the belief that knowledge is a torch that must be passed down through generations. Contributions are invested, and earnings provide scholarships in perpetuity for future students.

Giada Marie Gentile Memorial Scholarship: Rita N. (Torcaso) Gentile ’17 aims to support women who will keep the vocal arts alive in our community for many years to come. Mrs. Gentile earned both a Master of Education and a Master of Music from Carthage and teaches both graduate and undergraduate voice lessons and courses as an adjunct faculty member.

Daniel Krc Scholarship: Daniel J. Krc ’16 seeks to raise awareness for important initiatives on campus as the College continues to deliver on its mission. Mr. Krc earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and hopes this scholarship motivates other young, successful alumni to give back to the Carthage community.

Jason Wendt Scholarship: Jason T. Wendt ’08 aims to support future generations of Carthage entrepreneurs, as well as to further the entrepreneurial spirit across campus. Mr. Wendt earned a bachelor’s degree in business technology and is a rising star for Ameriprise Financial as a financial advisor and franchise owner.

By establishing these endowed scholarships, these three alumni have underscored the transformative power of education and the importance of paying it forward. They have each set a remarkable example, urging others to embrace the torch of knowledge and create opportunities for future generations.

If you are interested in creating an endowed scholarship, please contact Joe Torcaso in the Office of Advancement at jtorcaso@carthage.edu

Leadership Giving Society members give $1,000 or more cumulatively to any area of the College in a fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Tiers recognize higher levels of giving, and graduated giving levels are available for recent alumni. Membership is renewable annually.

Enduring Gift Society members have cumulative lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more (exclusive of estate commitments). Tiers recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is lifetime.

Alford Park Loyalty Society members have contributed any amount to the College for three or more consecutive fiscal years (July 1 through June 30). Tiers recognize greater consecutive years of giving. Membership is renewable annually.

Denhart Society members have made Carthage a part of their legacy through estate commitments and planned gifts. Membership is lifetime.

To learn more about our philanthropic societies and see online donor honor rolls, please visit: carthage.edu/leaders-in-philanthropy

Two impactful leaders recognized

honorary degree

Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt

Carthage presented an honorary Doctor of Public Service to Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt of the U.S. Navy.

Originally from Milwaukee, Capt. Bauernschmidt recently completed a 21-month tour of duty as commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln. The historic appointment in 2021 made her the first American woman to command an aircraft carrier.

Since being designated a naval aviator in 1996, Capt. Bauernschmidt has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours as a helicopter pilot and instructor. Totaling seven deployments, she has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and several other commendations.

On shore, Capt. Bauernschmidt served as senior military adviser to the Office of Global Women’s Issues, an arm of the Secretary of State that works to enhance peace and security for women worldwide. In addition to completing the rigorous Nuclear Power School, she has a Master of Arts from the Naval War College and a Bachelor of Science from the Naval Academy.

Recently nominated for a promotion to rear admiral, lower half, Capt. Bauernschmidt awaited confirmation from the U.S. Senate as of press time.

distinguished alumni award

Cherie Matthaidess Robinson

Cherie Matthaidess Robinson ’01 received the Distinguished Alumni Award. She is vice president of human resources for Amazon’s international stores, which employ more than 150,000 workers in over 40 countries.

With a passion to lead through others, Ms. Robinson has progressively taken on more responsibility since joining Amazon in 2012. Company leaders describe her as “mission-oriented” and “able to rally others.”

A three-generation Carthage family legacy began with her grandfather, Edwin Matthaidess, who taught languages from 1949 to 1976. Extremely active on campus, Ms. Robinson won a senior leadership award, and the 87 career doubles victories she compiled with Kelly (Carstensen) Johnson ’01 still stand as a women’s tennis program record.

After completing her undergraduate studies in psychology and business administration, Ms. Robinson went on to earn an MBA from Marquette University. Before moving west, Ms. Robinson worked for more than a decade in HR at SC Johnson in Racine, Wisconsin. She resides in Seattle with her husband, George, and their four children.

Cherie Matthaidess Robinson (left), who received the Distinguished Alumni Award, is shown with President John Swallow and Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt (right), who received an honorary degree.

Graduate Spotlight

Where’s the Class of 2023 headed next? Here’s a glimpse of the “first destinations” for a few of Carthage’s newest graduates:

Claire Bevec Communication events

intern

Children’s Wisconsin Foundation

One special guest stood out in the entourage Claire Bevec ’23 brought to the Commencement procession in May: Jeff Albrecht, who once donated a kidney to save her life.

Mr. Albrecht drove in from Lafayette, Indiana, to join in the milestone celebration. Born with a rare genetic disease, Ms. Bevec needed a transplant at age 9 — and got one, thanks to the selfless family friend with three daughters of his own.

With a degree from Carthage in hand, Ms. Bevec can devote more time to the event planning internship she’s held since August 2022. She also interviews young transplant recipients for an ongoing video series, “Conversations with Claire,” that Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin publishes.

Noah Jensen Data Science/Mathematics corporate analytics specialist Uline Victoria Olvera Studio Art/Art Education art teacher

Zion (Illinois) Elementary School District 6

“Being able to work and thrive in numerous areas of theatre the past four years made me a more well-rounded applicant.”

Gabrielle Tifft Theatre — Technical Direction technician Upstaging Inc.

Tanner Mickiewicz

Nursing

resident – Surgical/ Transplant Unit Vanderbilt Medical Center

Marc Arias Marketing/Management account representative

CDW

Olivia Wolf

Neuroscience/Biology

graduate student –Bioethics/Medical Humanities

Case Western Reserve

Alex McNall

Exercise and Sport Science

physical education teacher

Clara Barton School (Milwaukee)

Siobhan Haggerty Mathematics

actuarial consulting analyst

Deloitte

Luisa Nava

Criminal Justice/Sociology

intern — criminal investigation division

Environmental Protection Agency

graduate student – Homeland

Security/Emergency Management

Grand Canyon University

Peter Themis Georgitsis Accounting

fso tax staff associate EY

Alexis Menendez

Biology/Environmental Science

biomedical research intern

Veterinary Medicine –UW-Madison

Liam Carls Physics

graduate student – Applied Phsyics

University of Oregon

Jayme Fischer

Social Work

forensic case manager

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan

Allison Herkey

Environmental Science

interpretive park ranger

San Juan Island National

Historical Park

“Every professor from the start of my college career to the end has been nothing short of caring, motivating, and prepared.”

liam carls ʼ23 Distinguished Senior

jacqueline bussie Baccalaureate Speaker

judge cynthia thomas walker ’78 Multicultural Celebration Speaker Carthage Trustee

“Whatever you do, don’t sit idly by. Leave this world to future generations in a better state than it is. Make every day above ground a better day.”

nina weisling Faculty Speaker

A total of 620 students celebrated the culmination of their Carthage journey during Commencement weekend May 26-28. After the formal degree conferral on Friday, students and guests enjoyed a procession and stage walk at assigned times Saturday and Sunday. Earlier in the month, the College held a Pinning Ceremony for nursing graduates and a Multicultural Celebration for underrepresented graduates.

class of 2023

1958

DeVon Anderson – Ripon, Wisconsin, has retired after a long career as an instrumental and choral director for schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. He was also a piano technician for 50 years. Married for 65 years, Mr. Anderson has seven great-grandchildren.

1962

Judith (DeLapp) Andrews –Gardnerville, Nevada, did plenty of traveling in 2022 with highlights such as the Lake Michigan Circle Tour and Cape Cod. Leading her agenda for 2023 is a four-island tour of Hawaii.

1977

Lee Zimmerman – Fort Collins, Colorado, was reappointed director of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Human Resources Directorate on Nov. 1. The position carries a two-year term.

1980

Lori (Egloff) Wilke – Mequon, Wisconsin, wrote “Grace for a Greater Life: There’s Something More!” The newly published book uses anecdotes and biblical examples to illustrate attitudes and choices that God desires for his children. She and her husband, Tom, are the senior pastors of Spirit Life Church in Milwaukee.

ALUMNI MESSAGE

Our turn to share the light within us

Did you know there are more than 750,000 miles of fiber optic cable on the ocean floor connecting our world?

I recently made a career transition to work with some of the world’s leading information technology companies. That pivot has had me reflecting on the engineering breakthroughs that underpin the internet and our daily lives.

From video streaming to artificial intelligence, fiber optic cable is an often unsung hero. Quite literally, no artist or musician is performing timeless ballads extolling the great virtues of fiber. But they absolutely should.

At a basic level, fiber optic cable transmits information as light that travels from a source to a dark, remote location. It is equal parts philosophy and science: Light functions as knowledge within fiber optic networks, just as in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave.”

Likewise, light captures the personal enlightenment that takes place over four years on campus. At Commencement, we take that light with us.

In “The Road,” Cormac McCarthy more ruggedly refers to this as “carrying the fire” — bearing the goodness, knowledge, and humanity we have cultivated at Carthage to a wider, more uncertain world. On the journey, some Firebirds attain such success and repute in their career field that they are eventually referred to as “luminaries” — of, relating to, or characterized by light.

During my tenure as Alumni Council president, I have taken heart in our remarkable community here. We have visionary and capable leadership, a world-class faculty, a bright and ambitious student body, and more than 25,000 committed and accomplished alumni worldwide.

For the past three years, the council has worked steadfastly to strengthen the ties of our community. We helped Carthage weather the COVID-19 pandemic. We added diverse and talented alumni to our ranks from across the country. We implemented a new committeedriven model to expand our impact on issues ranging from student recruitment and retention to alumni engagement and fundraising. And we strove to put equity and inclusion at the heart of our work together.

I want to thank outgoing vice president Ann Gundlach ’14 and chaplain Shebaniah

Muhammad ’98 for their enthusiasm and thoughtful partnership. The progress we made would not have been possible without their dedication and willingness to serve.

Recently, as our terms ended, the Alumni Council chose a new Executive Committee (see pullout box). Each of them possesses a deep passion and commitment for Carthage, so I am thrilled to watch the council’s continued growth under their leadership.

As Carthaginians, the next chapter of our work begins this summer with the launch of a $100 million comprehensive campaign. With our support, Carthage can ensure continued excellence while launching innovative new programs and transforming the lives of future Firebirds through scholarships, financial aid, and funded internship opportunities.

Whether you set foot on campus every day, or if this magazine is your closest link to Carthage, know that you are a part of this community. The next 176 years of our institution — and its vast contributions to our world — rely upon your meaningful engagement and support.

As Carthage once shone upon you, the opportunity is now yours to be a Light That Travels.

Aaron Tinjum ’09 is the outgoing president of the Carthage Alumni Council. He remains eager to connect with Carthage alumni and can be reached at atinjum@carthage.edu.

alumni council elections

In May, the Alumni Council selected its next executive committee:

• Jamin McGinnis ’06 (president),

• Nathan Giebel ’12 (vice president)

• Jaime Fluker ’03 (chaplain)

Other new members are:

• Rachael (Felton) Durie ’18

• Kaela (Munster) Oramas ’10

• Kalen (Kalfahs) Theusch ’79

• Matthew Thome ’17

Council members represent the Alumni Association, which helps alumni stay connected to the College and provides opportunities to give back to Carthage in a variety of ways.

1981

Lena (Steele) Williams – St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, retired after a 33-year career in telecommunications engineering. She attributes her success to the liberal arts education she received at Carthage and the technical foundation from Georgia Tech. Ms. Williams devotes her time to playing tennis and conducting hands-on engineering workshops for children through the nonprofit she founded, Engineers for Tomorrow Outreach.

1982

Dr. Brice Arndt – Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, has been elected chairman of the Pennsylvania Board of Dentistry, which is tasked with governing the dental profession in the commonwealth while protecting the public. He was first appointed to the board in 2019.

1984

Jill (Brehm) George –Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, was honored as 2021-22 Principal of the Year for the South Wisconsin District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Ms. George is the principal at St. Paul’s Lutheran School.

1987

Todd Casell – Plymouth, Minnesota, earned his second master’s degree (a Master of Arts) in 2022, graduating from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Casell teaches students with visual impairments in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

1988

David Maack – Racine, Wisconsin, won third place in the Local Column category of the 2022 Better Newspaper Contest for “Grandpa Time,” which he writes for The Journal Times. The Wisconsin Newspaper Association honored award recipients at a March 24 banquet in Madison.

1992

Christine (Buntrock) Selby – Westfield, Massachusetts, joined the faculty at Springfield College last fall and, in January, became director of the school’s graduate program in athletic counseling. She’s also midway through a three-year term as the Society for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (Division 47) Council representative to the American Psychological Association.

1995

IN MEMORIAM

Rev. Kara Baylor

The Rev. Kara Baylor, Carthage’s campus pastor for the past nine years, passed away May 25 at age 52 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

Joining us in 2014 as campus pastor and later adding the title director of congregational relations, she drew students in with warmth and honesty.

Pastor Baylor embodied ELCA institutions’ commitment to be “Rooted and Open,” strengthening Carthage’s Lutheran roots while developing a full slate of interfaith programs.

“We may not believe in the same things,” she would say, “but we all believe in something.”

From the outset, she also took an active part in the College’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The nationwide racial reckoning in 2020 awakened her anger over lingering injustice, stirring Pastor Baylor to come off the sidelines and more fully “claim my Blackness.”

Before accepting the call to Carthage, Pastor Baylor spent more than 20 years in youth ministry for congregations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and here in southeastern Wisconsin.

Kate Colbert – Kenosha, co-authored “Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education” with industry expert and podcaster Joe Sallustio. Published in November, the book derives insights and recommendations from interviews with more than 100 college and university presidents. A review in Forbes called it “the indispensable touchpoint for what’s being said in, about and around higher education right now.”

Remembered as a consummate Carthaginian, Irma (Niekamp) Anderson ’48 of Racine, Wisconsin, died Jan. 15. She was 96.

Together with her husband, former Carthage president Alan Anderson ’50, she helped the College navigate two critical points: the move to Kenosha and the ramp-up to unprecedented growth. Her Carthage giving spanned 42 consecutive years. The couple established a scholarship for children of alumni, and another fund was named in Mrs. Anderson’s honor.

A true ambassador, she was the last surviving member of the “Legacy Ladies” who attended every groundbreaking ceremony on the current campus. Mrs. Anderson received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1999.

All of her children — former trustee Ross Anderson ’75, Jolene (Anderson) Morris ’77, and longtime staff member Jane Anderson Spencer ’80 — are Carthage graduates. The extended family totals 19 alumni.

Irma Anderson

IN MEMORIAM

1950

Dr. Bob Schnell Arlington Heights, Ill.

Jan. 26, 2023

Dr. Bob Smick Paddock Lake, Wis. Dec. 18, 2022

1951

Dottie (Frank) Anderson Rice Lake, Wis. Dec. 2, 2022

Jay Baysinger Sandoval, Ill. Nov. 22, 2022

Winnie Holden Chicago Oct. 25, 2022

1954

Shirley (Taylor) Shular Arlington, Wash. Oct. 18, 2022

1955

Betty O’Grady East Dundee, Ill. March 11, 202

1956

Maurice Kalb Milton, Wis. Dec. 17, 2022

1957

Duane Dixon Rockford, Ill. May 1, 2023

1958

Carol Hillyer Minocqua, Wis.

Jan. 12, 2023

Gene Wensel Downers Grove, Ill.

March 16, 2023

1960

Carol Reinholtz Washington, Ill.

Dec. 18, 2022

1961

Chuck Carlin Northfield, Minn.

Jan. 2, 2023

1962

Phil Voegele Travelers Rest, S.C.

Nov. 4, 2022

1963

Carol (Buss) Farley Souderton, Pa. Oct. 15, 2022

1964

Marian Alford-Steinlein McHenry, Ill. Dec. 19, 2022

1966

Paul Voss Elkhorn, Wis. Nov. 1, 2022

1968

Annelise Hinnenthal Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Dec. 17, 2022

Ken Kramer Quincy, Ill. Dec. 15, 2022

1970

Alice “Beth” Godwin Goose Creek, S.C. Dec. 22, 2022

Craig Kaney Wittenberg, Wis. Jan. 15, 2023

Morry Raymond Beaver Dam, Wis. Feb. 11, 2023

Beverley (Weyres) Reidenbach Kenosha March 28, 2023

Marge Richter Kenosha Dec. 30, 2022

1971

Joanne (Ludwig) Greathouse Murphysboro, Ill. March 12, 2023

Mufti Mangan Chicago Dec. 26, 2022

1973

Georgia (Henningsen) Heffel Racine, Wis. April 21, 2023

Rick Holden Lake Zurich, Ill. March 31, 2023

Jeanne (Desing) Kamlager Beloit, Wis. Dec. 1, 2022

Kay Opeka Avondale, Ariz. March 18, 2023

Bernie Williams

Lake Geneva, Wis.

Jan. 16, 2023

1974

Connie (Monkman) Rivers Racine, Wis. April 21, 2023

1975

Willard Westra

Kenosha

Nov. 3, 2022

1976

Steve Hetico

League City, Texas

Feb. 27, 2023

Bill Taft

Winthrop Harbor, Ill. Dec. 14, 2022

1977

Earlene Girman

Kenosha

March 26, 2023

Mary Swift

Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

June 5, 2023

1978

Gary Congdon

New York

Dec. 21, 2022

Ellie Thoemke (M.Ed.)

Ottawa, Wis.

Jan. 1, 2023

1980

Frank Sus Jr. Merrill, Wis. April 15, 2023

1982

Mary Arredondo

Kenosha

Nov. 4, 2022

1984

Stephen Strecker

Omaha, Neb.

Oct. 26, 2022

1985

Karen (Kiessling) Stock

Knoxville, Tenn.

April 12, 2023

1992

Terry Dutton Evans Racine, Wis.

Dec. 13, 2022

1994

Patty DeLancey

Kenosha

March 24, 2023

2009

Carole Schmidt (M.Ed.)

Kenosha

Dec. 26, 2022

Molly Zerjal Mascoutah, Ill. Feb. 24, 2023

FRIENDS OF CARTHAGE

Donna Baum Racine, Wis. Feb. 26, 2023

Tim Melevin

Deerfield, Ill. March 12, 2023

David Schimian

Kenosha

May 22, 2023

Fred Smiley San Francisco

Dec. 26, 2022

Kimberly Valenzuela

Kenosha

Jan. 10, 2023

Ken Wagner

Prairie du Sac, Wis. March 9, 2023

Rev. George A. Williams

Bethlehem, Pa. April 25, 2023

Please consider giving to Carthage as a lasting tribute to a mentor or classmate. You may establish a named scholarship or contribute to an existing fund in their memory: carthage.edu/give-today

2001

Ryan Banta – Chesterfield, Missouri, won the 2022 statewide Coach of the Year Award in girls’ track and field after guiding Parkway Central High School to the Class 4 state title. The Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association previously inducted him into its Hall of Fame, and his book “Sprinter’s Compendium” has been sold in 45 countries.

2002

Joe Willhite – Riverside, Illinois, has been promoted to Central region president at WSP USA, a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy. Based in the Chicago office, Mr. Willhite has held several leadership positions since joining the firm in 2013.

2003

Jorge Nieto – Zion, Illinois, was hired as associate vice president for assessment and student success for the College of DuPage.

Hannah (Stoltzfus) Stolze – Waco, Texas, will join the Baylor University faculty this fall as the inaugural William E. Crenshaw Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Management. She holds administrative and teaching roles at both Lipscomb University in Tennessee and Wheaton College in Illinois.

2004

Andy Fekete – Algonquin, Illinois, recently earned the Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) credential. The certification program identifies “those who have mastered the framework skills and knowledge needed to bring 21st century skills to schools.”

2007

Courtney (Landem) Ulrich –Chicago, and husband John welcomed their first child, John “J.J.” Michael Ulrich III, on Sept. 25. He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce at birth. The couple celebrated their one-year anniversary on Sept. 12.

2010

Amber (Callender) McCall –Palatine, Illinois, published her first book, “Sand Dollars and Swiss Cheese.” The memoir describes a life riddled with two rare diseases and the hope that comes from a faithful God who heals. In the book, she recounts her time at Carthage with fondness.

2011

Miranda (Szcepanski) Dahlke – Washington Island, Wisconsin, won a $1,000 STEM research kit from the Society for Science. Ms. Dahlke, who teaches STEM classes in grades 7-12, was one of 52 educators selected.

2012

Nick DeBaker, M.Ed. ’12 – Port Washington, Wisconsin, took over as principal of Thomas Jefferson Middle School on July 1. He was previously the executive director of leadership development for the Racine Unified School District.

Kelly (Munger) Hinck – Loves Park, Illinois, earned an MBA from National Louis University.

2013

IN MEMORIAM

Professor Yuri Maltsev, who defected from the Soviet Union in the waning days of the Cold War, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 25 at age 72.

Raised and educated in Russia, he developed a growing disdain for the communist system. Even as he served on a senior economic team that developed Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika reforms, Prof. Maltsev remained openly critical of the Soviet regime’s sluggish pace.

During a diplomatic trip to Finland in 1989, he sensed that danger awaited him back in Moscow and made an impromptu decision not to return. An ally secretly arranged for a “James Bond-ish” journey that took the grateful economist through Sweden and, ultimately, to the United States. Prof. Maltsev joined the Carthage faculty two years later.

An economic thought leader with a dry sense of humor, Prof. Maltsev drew frequent invitations to lecture worldwide. Media outlets such as CNN, Fox News, C-SPAN, and PBS sought him out as a guest expert.

Established in his honor, the Yuri Maltsev Distinguished Scholars in World Business and Free Enterprise fund provides scholarships for returning Carthage students.

Mary Katherine Kent-Rohan

Mary Katherine Kent-Rohan, professor emerita of foreign language, passed away at 98 on Nov. 13.

While teaching German courses at Carthage from 1969 to 1989, Prof. Kent-Rohan continually looked for creative ways to help students master the language and — as her retirement announcement noted — introduced them to “the rich world of German literature.” She directed German House, an immersive summer program that brought native and novice speakers together in the College’s residence and dining halls.

Students and colleagues appreciated her unique blend of sophistication, fastidiousness, and professionalism. Earlier in her life, Prof. Kent-Rohan took vows as a nun in the Roman Catholic order Sisters of Mercy.

In her name, Peggy Hedberg ’81 established a Carthage scholarship that supports study abroad.

Yuri Maltsev

Rev. Tom Long

On April 8, the Rev. Tom Long died after a short bout with cancer. The retired religion professor was 76.

Ordained in 1979, Rev. Long served as a United Methodist pastor for 35 years in churches across Wisconsin. He was called to ministry during the civil rights era, while volunteering to transport students and teachers safely to day care and preschool in the segregated South.

Gentle and approachable, Rev. Long bonded easily with students in 17 years on the Carthage faculty. He walked seminarybound students through deep theological concepts and poured his passion for justice into courses exploring the intersection of religion and public policy.

After retiring from higher education in 2017, Rev. Long relocated to Palm Desert, California, with his wife, Carol.

2016

Susan Jensen – Kenosha, was hired as office manager at the Lumen Christi Institute in Chicago. The nonprofit organization promotes the Catholic intellectual tradition at the University of Chicago and in the broader community.

2017

2019

Indi Conover – Oakdale, Minnesota, is a behavioral neuroscientist who works with primates. Ms. Conover contributed to two new publications in the multidisciplinary science journal regarding rhesus macaque behavior. She plans to step away from the lab to attend a doctorate program in neuroscience this fall.

Monica Masini – Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, took on a full-time family law caseload as an associate attorney at Cooper Trachtenberg Law Group, based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. She joined the firm as an intern in 2018 and then continued as a clerk while completing law school at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Educator and philanthropist Hugh Foster ’66 passed away Feb. 2. He was 78.

Mr. Foster maintained a lifelong dedication to both hard work and service. Surviving relatives include his wife, Liz (Dean) Foster ’65.

Mr. Foster taught high school English classes in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, for 34 years. He reached students with dry humor and a passion for language.

The couple’s membership in the Enduring Gift Society signifies lifetime donations to their shared alma mater totaling over $100,000. That includes scholarships honoring two inspirational Carthage figures: the Rev. Dudley Riggle and the late Willem J. Oudegeest.

Rev. Fred Marks

The Rev. Fred Marks ’48, a committed Carthaginian who helped shape the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, died May 21 at age 96.

Ordained in 1951, Pastor Marks served in two Wisconsin parishes before joining the staff at what eventually became the ELCA. He worked alongside his wife, the late Jewel (Beres) Marks ’46, in congregational development.

Giving consistently to the College for more than 40 years, Pastor Marks was a senior member in the Alford Park Loyalty Society. The couple’s charitable gift annuity provided major support for campus buildings and an ongoing scholarship in their names.

He is survived by two sons, including fellow alumnus Joel Marks ’78.

Katrina (Gieser) and Jeff Bell

– Park Ridge, Illinois, married on Aug. 13.

Sara Butler and Austin Borkowski – Milwaukee, celebrated their wedding engagement on Nov. 20. They plan to marry in 2024.

A Carthage Family Legacy

Two currently enrolled students, Matthew Prosser ’26 and Emily Prosser ’24, extend their family’s Carthage legacy to three generations. Their mother, Nancy (Radtke) Prosser ’86; aunt, Margaret Radtke Block ’87; and grandmother, Marlene Bentheier Radtke ’57 all graduated from the College.

Hugh Foster

Name (first/maiden/current last name)

Class Notes Submission Form

Deadline for the next issue is Oct. 15, 2023

Marriage Announcement

Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Spouse’s Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Date of Marriage City and State of Current Residence

Birth/Adoption Announcement

Parent’s Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Parent’s Name (first/maiden/current last name) Class Year

Other News

(attach additional sheets as necessary)

Besides family updates, here are some other examples of news for alumni to share:

• Job changes, promotions, or retirements

• Awards and other milestones (professional or recreational)

• Publications, studio recordings, art exhibitions, etc.

• New service projects, civic appointments, etc.

• Third-generation (or more) Carthage students

Daughter’s Name (first/middle/last) Son’s Name (first/middle/last)

Date of Birth Place of Birth

Death Announcement

Name of Deceased (first/maiden/last name) Class Year

City and State of Residence Date of Death

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name) Relationship Class Year

Survivor (first/maiden/current last name) Relationship Class Year Submit online carthage.edu/classnotes

Or tear off this form along the perforated edge and mail to: Carthage College, Office of Alumni and Family Engagement, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha WI 53140.

Living on the fundraisers’ edge

Since before the College welcomed its first students in Hillsboro, Illinois, Carthaginians have been working to win over hearts, minds, and wallets for a common cause.

As he set out to secure public support for the proposed Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church in the Far West in the 1840s, the Rev. John Jacob Lehmanowsky must have assumed an easy task lay ahead. The well-traveled pastor had always followed his own fervent beliefs without question.

Born into a Jewish family in 1773, he converted to Lutheranism as a young man and then followed the scent of freedom from his occupied Polish homeland to France. Enlisting in the military there, he gained the trust of a young Napoleon Bonaparte and fought alongside him for more than two decades.

When the Battle of Waterloo completed Napoleon’s fall from revolutionary hero to “unloved and unwept” exile in 1815, authorities arrested Lehmanowsky and sentenced him to death. As the Rev. William Sadtler dramatically recounted in the biography “Between Two Captains,” an ally delivered a cake with a hidden file that the condemned officer used to escape the night before he was to face a firing squad.

Years after making his way to the United States and entering the ministry, Pastor Lehmanowsky turned his singular focus toward the future college and seminary in southern Illinois. Surely the faithful

citizens of Iowa, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois would share his vision.

His reports from the field remind us cash isn’t the only way to build a school from the ground up. According to “The Miracle of Carthage,” a definitive history by President Harold H. Lentz, Pastor Lehmanowsky wrote in April 1847 that he had obtained hundreds of books and 300 or so “specimens of minerals and natural curiosities, some very rare in the U.S.”

But his talents proved more effective in battle and preaching than fundraising. Blaming apathy and bias “against a liberal education,” Pastor Lehmanowsky deemed the Midwestern tour a failure, wrote off the school as mortally wounded, and went back to lecturing about Napoleon.

The death knell was premature, of course. Just as the pastor himself had, the young college survived with grit, personal sacrifice, and assistance from like-minded backers — in this case, the Lutheran synods.

Other financial agents followed, with more success. They certainly had incentive to succeed. Initially hired as chair of Christian theology, the Rev. Simeon W. Harkey agreed to delay those teaching duties while he raised the money to endow his own salary.

A pamphlet he created for the task offered a grandiose prediction for the region: “It is situated in the very centre of the great Mississippi Valley, a country that must in a few years be crowded with its teeming millions of immortal souls.”

After moving from Hillsboro to Springfield, the College found some stability — and a permanent name — at its third site in Carthage, Illinois. Yet the need for donations remained, a task that increasingly fell to the president.

The Carthage Collegian newspaper describes a harrowing venture that President J.M. Ruthrauff

made through Missouri in 1897, navigating landslides and nearly impassable terrain with an improvised mix of trains, horses, mules, carriages, wagons, and miles-long walks. After several hard-earned days of bed rest, he reported in understated fashion that he had “secured some money on this trip for the College.”

Over that first century, fundraising messages typically reflected the institution’s fight for survival. A special edition of the Hancock County Journal on Jan. 29, 1923, laments that “the sum of $23,000 stands between the life and death of Carthage College.”

The brilliant decision to move to Kenosha opened the door to a new cast of supporters. Limited means was no deterrent. President Lentz noted a Native American congregation in Montana where “26 contributors from families whose average annual income was less than $1,000 pledged over $2,200.”

Thriving rather than merely surviving in 2023, Carthage is appealing once again to the vast network of supporters who are ready to serve as a Light That Travels.

This daguerreotype shows the Rev. John Jacob Lehmanowsky, one of the College’s first fundraisers. Image courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis

An ally delivered a cake with a hidden file that the condemned officer used to escape the night before he was to face a firing squad.