T H E
C ARTHAGINIAN
2018
A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF CARTHAGE COLLEGE
SPRING 2018
Mutually Invested
Gifts from appreciative alumni promise dividends for future classes
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Fearless Pianist Space Wedge
CARTHAGE GIVING DAY : APRIL 5, 2018
On April 5, make your gift to Carthage and help unlock a
$250,000
Which possibility will you ignite? Here are some ideas! For the full list of mini-challenges, visit the Giving Day website on April 5!
challenge gift to the College!
Music Department Multicultural Experiential Learning
When you make a gift, you make a difference. Be a part of the movement by giving to one of 12 mini-challenges this year!
Men’s and Women’s Basketball
Learn more at:
Alumni Association Scholarship
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IN THIS ISSUE Feature Articles
impact report 14
Launched That One! Nate Lee ’18 toggles between two distinct passions: aerospace research and golf.
cover story:
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Impact Report Thankful for their own Carthage experiences, donors ensure even brighter days to come.
On the Cover: Digital Illustration of Carthage campus by Becca Krahn ’16
carthage.edu
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Fearless Pianist Unhindered by physical challenges, Professor Wael Farouk thrives on musical ones.
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IN THIS ISSUE Departments
THE CARTHAGINIAN Volume 97, Number 2
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Carthage College combines an environment of reflection and self-discovery with a culture of high expectation so our students uncover and ignite their true potential. A four-year, private liberal arts college with roots in the Lutheran tradition, Carthage has a prime location in Kenosha. The campus, an 80-acre arboretum on the shore of Lake Michigan, is home to 150 scholars, 2,600 full-time students, and 400 part-time students.
On Campus
The inauguration of President John Swallow will take place during Spring Family Weekend, with events April 19-22.
Faculty/Staff Notes
A newly acquired device lets psychology students research eye movements — both conscious and unconscious.
Carthaginian Editorial Team Interim Vice President for Communications
Class Notes
Elizabeth Young
Alumni share milestones in their careers and families.
Managing Editor
Page From the Past
Mike Moore
On the fast track to space when he received an honorary Carthage doctorate, Deke Slayton instead became a model for perseverance.
Design & Art Direction
Photographers Luke Bajda ’18 Mike Gryniewicz Steve Janiak Sam Payton ’20
Contributing Writers Steve Janiak Kim King ’06 Rebecca Krahn ’16
Production
Jason Bennett William Kurtz Karen Anne Mahoney Mike Moore Danelle Orange Traci Parker
Dana Moore
11 Reflections from Pastor Kara 39 Notes from the Alumni Director
Chairman of the Board of Trustees David A. Straz Jr.
President John R. Swallow Vice President for Institutional Advancement Thomas Kline
CMYK
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Transparent PMS
For More Information The Carthaginian Office of Communications 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha, WI 53140 262-551-6021 • editor@carthage.edu
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Career prep: At the corner of strong and distinctive
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n the last issue of The Carthaginian, I wrote that I was reading and listening, learning more about Carthage and Carthaginians. That joyful project has certainly not ceased, as I meet more and more alumni, students, faculty, and staff, all with their own perspectives and backgrounds. The essential story, however, remains remarkably consistent. Carthaginians are people who seek to understand the world’s needs and meet those needs. Carthaginians roll up their sleeves, apply themselves to the tasks at hand, and achieve the results that good work brings. Carthaginians, I see across the decades, come to Carthage with that spirit and leave with that spirit ever brighter. In the last several months, my colleagues have joined me in reading and listening, and we have focused our efforts on a timely subject: career and professional development. This sort of initiative would be appropriate for Carthage at virtually any moment in its history, because its mission, for more than 100 years, has remained focused on preparing students for the futures before them. But it is especially appropriate now, given the regional and national conversation on workforce preparedness, and given Jan Tarble’s $15 million gift toward that end. Many colleges, faced with the demographic challenges ahead, are attempting this sort of thinking with trepidation, and with little experience in doing so. Not so at Carthage, however; this thinking has long been part of the College’s wheelhouse. This moment, in fact, is Carthage’s to grasp.
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In thinking about career and professional development, no information is more useful than what we hear directly from students and alumni. We recently surveyed hundreds of students and alumni, and we have learned a great deal. Some of it resonated with what we know about Carthaginians. Carthage alumni are, by and large, fully engaged with meeting the world’s needs. More than 90 percent are employed full-time, and roughly three-quarters are working in their preferred fields. Carthage students, for their part, are highly focused on what they will do after they graduate. Almost 82 percent began considering their post-graduation plans in their first couple years of college or earlier. And there is widespread agreement on the most important capacities to develop for the workplace, whether that workplace is a business, a nonprofit, or a government agency. Critical thinking, oral and written communication, professionalism, and teamwork lead the list, and these are the same capacities that Carthage students believe they are developing the most fully. At the same time, we have learned that we can, and must, do more. Students and alumni wish their oral communication skills were stronger. They wish for greater knowledge about career management. And they wish for additional hands-on experience, such as internships, to prepare them for the workforce. These recommendations align extremely well with what we have heard when surveying employers from Snap-on Inc. to Uline to local nonprofits and agencies. They report high levels of satisfaction with our interns and graduates,
particularly in comparison to students from larger schools, whether public or private. But they also recognize that our students could hit the ground running still faster, and even more competitively, with more focused preparation during their four years at Carthage. All of this suggests that we can and should develop our program in career and professional development, not only toward even greater excellence, but toward unusual distinction, so that in the years ahead when there will be fewer Midwestern high school students graduating and seeking a college education, we can continue to recruit as many, if not even more, students who will benefit from a Carthage education. This effort, large and focused as it is, is only one part of the extraordinary work, past, present, and future, that we do at Carthage. Like the Carthaginians I have come to know, we will continually ask what the world needs and how we can meet those needs. Those questions are ones we pose to our alumni and friends, whose gifts are vital to the continuation and expansion of our work. Those questions are also, however, ones that our alumni and friends pose to us as they seek to share their resources with institutions that have great impact in the world. They are the right questions, and we should never stop asking them. In gratitude and friendship,
John R. Swallow
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A TH
G E C OL L EG E
Join us for inauguration weekend
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A glimpse of what’s happening in the Carthage community
CA
ON CAMPUS
The inauguration ceremony for President John Swallow on Saturday, April 21, will celebrate Carthage’s storied past and provide a glimpse of the promising road ahead. Held during Spring Family Weekend, the event serves as the formal installation for the 23rd president of Carthage. President Swallow took office in July with more than two decades of teaching and leadership experience at small, private liberal arts colleges. Other inaugural activities planned that weekend include a reception and a special worship service. These events are open to anyone, and no registration is required. Distinguished guests will include: John M. McCardell Jr. Since 2010, John M. McCardell Jr. has been vice chancellor at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where President Swallow served as a board member (20072011) and a faculty member and senior administrator (2011-2017). In addition, Mr. McCardell is president emeritus of Middlebury College and a past chair of the board at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. A prolific writer, he’s a distinguished scholar of the American South.
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John Kuykendall President emeritus of Davidson (North Carolina) College, John Kuykendall’s service overlapped with President Swallow’s for several years. Carthage’s new leader taught mathematics and humanities there from 1994 to 2011. Mr. Kuykendall previously served as campus pastor at Princeton and Auburn universities, earning a teaching award as a professor of religion at Auburn. Tim Chartier Tim Chartier is a professor of mathematics and computer science at Davidson College. Specializing in data analytics, he has consulted for pro sports leagues, NASCAR teams, fantasy sports sites, and ESPN. He and his wife, Tanya, give performances that merge applied math with their skills as trained mimes. In 2014, the Mathematical Association of America chose Prof. Chartier as its first math ambassador.
inauguration events THURSDAY, APRIL 19 7:30 p.m. Presentation: ‘Mime-matics’ by Timothy and Tanya Chartier TARC Field House FRIDAY, APRIL 20 1:30 p.m. Book discussion: ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ with President Swallow and Adam Ross Campbell Student Union Auditorium SATURDAY, APRIL 21 2 p.m. Reception Hedberg Library 4 p.m. Inauguration ceremony A. F. Siebert Chapel SUNDAY, APRIL 22
Adam Ross Adam Ross is an author whose debut novel, “Mr. Peanut,” earned recognition as a top book of the year from the New York Times and several other publications. Mr. Ross also is editor of the Sewanee Review, the nation’s oldest continuously published quarterly literary journal. The publication is housed at The University of the South.
10 a.m. Worship service A. F. Siebert Chapel Several athletic, fine arts, and charitable events also are planned during Spring Family Weekend. See the inauguration website for a full schedule or to submit a congratulatory message to President Swallow.
carthage.edu/inauguration
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Hospitality served fresh Welcome Home Tour initiates Cameron Swallow to local hotspots Cameron Swallow had been in Kenosha less than a month when she and her two children decided to brave an open mic night. They sang in front of a small audience at Fusion, an intimate downtown venue run by the Kenosha Performing Arts Association. They never let on that they were the family of new Carthage president John Swallow, but Mrs. Swallow did tell the crowd they had recently relocated to Kenosha from Tennessee. After their song, a man from the audience came up to say hello. “He came up and said, ‘I’d like to welcome you home,’” Mrs. Swallow recalls. “And that’s what it feels like: a welcome home.” With that, she embarked on a yearlong Welcome Home Tour. Mrs. Swallow asked Carthaginians to show her their favorite things in Kenosha, and they responded. They introduced her to popular restaurants, Kingfish baseball, the local arts scene, and local landmarks. She writes about her adventures in a blog on the Carthage website.
Here’s an excerpt from Mrs. Swallow’s report on her first Wisconsin fish fry, an outing to Gateway Café in January with Joe Hansen ’19 and some of his friends: Does it count as a fish fry if you’re the only one at the table who orders fish? The girls got breakfast for dinner, and Joe got chicken, so I was lonely but happy with my fried filets and cole slaw. Our waitress kept asking if I wanted more fish, since the offer was “all you can eat,” but I remembered my HuHot excesses with my last group of student guides and refrained. I learned more about J-Term classes and structure, how these sophomores were dreaming and planning for the trip abroad they wanted to take during junior or senior year. This January they are exploring interests related to but not required by their majors: art, music, English, Spanish. Most of the evening’s conversation was devoted to the saga they titled “Our Freshman Year Experience.” It contained several gripping chapters
“Does it count as a fish fry if you’re the only one at the table who orders fish?”
carthage.edu
such as The Adventure of the Paint Chip, The Case of the Ill-Placed Television, The Dreaded Spanish Packet, and The Evil Screen. Each story bore a lesson about either practical skills (hammers, glue) or human relations (roommate conflicts, course miscommunication). They delivered their stories with humor and optimism, confident that they had overcome the challenges and were better equipped to face the future. It was a beautiful example of the process of growing up, the lessons learned along the way, and the friendships made and strengthened in the learning of those lessons. Follow all of Cameron Swallow’s local travels at: www.carthage.edu/welcome-home
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Ivette Martin ’20, Arizona
J-Term 2018 Amelia Zietlow ’20, Costa Rica
Latching on to the adventurous spirit that pushed Carthage to No. 5 nationally in short-term study abroad participation, students fanned out on 17 different faculty-led study tours in January. New offerings focused on creativity in Costa Rica and the ramifications of Brexit in London.
Sidney Burke ’19, Parkroyal on Pickering hotel in Singapore
Jane Thurow ’20, Red Fort in Delhi, India
6 ’18, Tower Bridge in London Kaitlyn Yarka
Leah Gawel ’19, St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, Hungary
Laura Smith ’19, Piran, Slovenia
Jamie Kleid ’20, Honduras
Elanta Slowek ’18, Hout Bay in Cape Town, South Africa
Maria Isely ’19, Machu Picchu in Peru
Patricia Baker ’20, Helix Bridge in Singapore
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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Updates on faculty and staff achievements
Cynthia Allen, assistant professor of exercise
Lara Christoun and Jun Wang,
Jennifer Madden, assistant professor of
and sport science, completed a second edition of her textbook, “Introduction to Health Education: A Ready Reference.”
assistant professors of education, co-wrote a chapter for “Optimizing Elementary Education for English Language Learners,” an edited book that was published in January. Their chapter discusses “Misconceptions About ELLs: Culturally Responsive Practices for General Education Teachers.”
management and marketing, wrote a chapter titled, “It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times: The Doctoral Journey of a Female, African American Management PhD,” for the 2017 book “Specialists: Passions and Careers.” Her article on affordable housing made the Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, and the Procter & Gamble Fund awarded Prof. Madden a $9,750 grant to support a J-Term study tour she co-leads to South Africa.
Shannon Brennan, assistant professor of English, wrote the article “The Queer Feeling We All Know: Queer Objects and Orientations in Edith Wharton’s (Haunted) Houses,” which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Legacy.
Angela Dassow, assistant professor of biology, began a joint research project with the University of Mississippi that examines gestures of captive lowland gorillas. Using data the university’s anthropology students collected at the Memphis Zoo, Prof. Dassow and her students are coding 30 known gorilla behaviors and describing novel behaviors. They hope to offer recommendations for zoo staff to optimize the gorillas’ activities and care. Rebekah Johnson, assistant professor of exercise and sport science, presented two sessions at the annual convention of the Wisconsin Health and Physical Education in October: “What You Really Need to Know About edTPA” and “Archery: It’s Fun and Safe for PE.”
Thomas Long, assistant professor of religion, Kevin Morris, Klingenmeyer distinguished professor of chemistry, and two collaborators won a $379,000 National Science Foundation grant for a project that will use computer modeling and experimental techniques to study how drugs interact with large macromolecules. Understanding these interactions may help researchers in the pharmaceutical industry to develop better ways to separate drug molecules.
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retired in December after 17 years of teaching at Carthage. Also retired from ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church, he served various congregations in Wisconsin. His special interests are in the fields of interreligious dialogue and the doctrine of the atonement.
Debbie Minsky-Kelly, clinical assistant
Maribel Morales, assistant professor of modern languages, presented a paper in November at the Midwestern Modern Language Association Conference in Cincinnati. Titled “Defining Feminism in Emilia Pardo Bazán’s ‘Memorias de un solterón,’” it continues her scholarship on recovering Spain’s feminist traditions in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicholas Pilarski, assistant professor of communication and digital media, joined the faculty in January. His most recent film collaboration, “I, Destini,” was nominated in the Documentary Short category of the Cine Awards, and Filmmaker Magazine profiled him in its “25 New Faces of Cinema” series. Prof. Pilarski also has performed in Blue Man Group and other theatrical productions, accompanied Grammy-nominated artists, and served as a consultant for the Mayor’s Office of Technology and Neighborhood Innovation in New York.
professor of social work and director of field education, joined the faculty in January. She brings more than 20 years of clinical experience with child welfare, homeless health care, and hospital mental health. Her active research interests have included the health care system’s response to intimate partner violence.
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KARA BAYLOR
Inspiring Service: Living out our mission Amareshwar Singh, associate professor of biology, and his research students submitted several articles on their cancer biology and nanotechnology studies that were published in various journals under the umbrella of the International Institute of Anticancer Research, as well as the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2017 and 2018. Prof. Singh’s co-authors were Claire Pfeffer ’18, Elizabeth Wenzel ’18, and Benjamin Ho ’18.
Tian Tian, assistant professor of social work, and two co-authors contributed a chapter titled, “Emerging Adults Who Have Flourished Through a Physical Health Challenge,” to a book that was published in April. The volume is part of a series examining people’s development from age 18 to 30. Mimi Yang, professor of modern languages, published “Crossing between the Great Wall of China and the ‘Great’ Trump Wall” in the October edition of Palgrave Communications, a cultural studies journal. In November, she gave an invited presentation on a similar topic at the University of Costa Rica. A second peer-reviewed article by Prof. Yang, “The Trump Wall: A Cultural Wall and a Cultural War,” appeared in the Winter 2017 issue of Lateral, a journal of the largest national network of cultural scholars.
carthage.edu
What are the highest-attended events at the Center for Faith and Spirituality? Service projects. In September, we had the highest number of donors for our biannual blood drive. An October event brought out more than 40 volunteers to decorate socks for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. And on December’s trip to Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit in the northern Chicago suburbs, close to 50 participants came to pack dry meal kits for malnourished children. It’s clear that the Lutheran credo “faith active in love” is important to the students at Carthage. Actions speak louder than words, so J-Term 2018 was all about speaking loudly with our hearts and hands. The CFS student staff again hosted Chapel Night Live each Wednesday, and this year’s theme was service. Each weekly service project benefited a different organization that assists people struggling with homelessness, mental health, addiction, and other issues that keep them on the edge of society. We partnered with three nonprofits in nearby Racine. We made several fleece tie blankets for the Hope Center. When I dropped them off, the executive director assured me those two layers of fleece will keep someone warm on spring nights when temperatures linger in the 40s. The supply ran out last year, so hopefully our donation will sustain it a bit longer this year. Another night, we made plarn (yarn out of plastic bags) for HALO, the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization. They will be crocheted into sleeping mats for those who, for whatever reason, cannot stay in the shelter.
For the Hospitality Center, we sorted through donations of clothes — bags and bags of clothes. What we did for one organization, we did for all three. They work together, support one another, and share resources when needed. One Wednesday, a HALO board member came to talk with the students who volunteered at the Chapel Night Live event. That gave us time to learn more about the complexity of situations people face when they are without shelter. J-Term is for service, and not just at the chapel. Emily Norman, a member of Carthage’s residence life team, continued our work to build a better Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event by connecting us to the Shalom Center and Grace Lutheran Church in Kenosha. Across the world, the students on study tours were learning and serving at the same time. At Carthage, service is part of our mission statement: Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service — Together. It’s simply part of who we are. We are called to serve those in need. Each opportunity students get to learn and serve offers them a chance to discover more deeply how they can use their gifts in the world. I’m hopeful that, through these J-Term service experiences, they can discern where God is leading them to serve. Peace,
Rev. Kara Baylor Campus Pastor
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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
This tech tracks our gaze Awarded a National Science Foundation grant worth nearly $40,000, two Carthage professors have purchased eye-tracking equipment that psychology student researchers can use to detect people’s eye movements in real time. “We are going to have some of the best technology that’s being used at top-line research universities,” said Anthony Barnhart, assistant professor of psychological science, who collaborated with department chair Leslie Cameron on the grant proposal. This spring, the two faculty members will begin to integrate the research tool into their courses. In addition, the tracker will be a staple in the ongoing cognition and perception experiments their students conduct for senior theses, independent study, or the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience. The EyeLink Core Duo system sends a
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near-infrared LED beam to the subject’s eye, and a high-speed camera captures the reflection. Using the device and software, a researcher can track where the subject looks on a computer screen. Because people make most of their eye movements unconsciously, the two professors say the eye tracker provides more accurate results. Otherwise, experiments must rely on subjects to report what they see. Prof. Barnhart is eager to employ the device for research examining reading habits. For example, his students could study which words people tend to skip or how music and ambient noise influences the way they read. It also holds promise for Prof. Barnhart’s line of inquiry into inattentional blindness, determining which of the competing stimuli capture people’s attention. That’s a concept central to his side profession as a magician, but the potentially more impactful applications include airplane cockpit design. Likewise, the eye tracker is a potential
game-changer for Prof. Cameron’s ongoing study of perception across the visual field. A more complete understanding of that process could lead to improvements in computer displays. They envision this as an interdisciplinary tool. Eventually, faculty in graphic design, biology, or other areas could incorporate it into their own courses. Although it’s housed at the Psychological Science Department’s laboratory in Lentz Hall, the eye-tracking equipment is portable. That’s purposeful, allowing professors and students to hold outreach events in the community.
Spring Carthaginian 2018
Catch your
RED MEN & LADY REDS at your desk, at home, or on the go! Follow all the action at
gocarthage.com
No matter where you are in the world, stay connected with Carthage Athletics. Watch dozens of free, live video streaming events all year on your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
ATHLETICS
He really launched that one! The late Alan Shepard would’ve understood the dilemma that has faced Nate Lee ’18 throughout his time at Carthage: space or golf? Of course, the Apollo 14 moonwalker had the luxury of choosing both. The pair of balls he struck with a crude 6-iron he snuck on board in 1971 undoubtedly still lie in their lunar bunkers. At Carthage, Nate often has had to pick one or the other. “It’s a trade-off between two things you love,” he admits. At first, no choice was required. After qualifying for the Illinois state meet all four years in high school, Nate joined the Red Men with the mindset of “full-steam golf.” Sure, he picked Carthage for a balanced education. But, with few other extracurriculars going as a freshman, practice could consume the bulk of his time outside of class. Then he stumbled onto a new passion that gave golf a run for its money. Bitten by the research bug during a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, the physics major dove into some of the space science projects available at Carthage. From that point on, the choices grew more complicated. Sometimes his sport would win out, like the time a critical tournament forced Nate to miss the culminating launch of a rocket his Lake Michigan Launchers team had built. More often, as he dove deeper into the NASA-funded research, payloads took priority over putting. “My performance (in golf) has suffered from
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that,” says Nate, who, over the course of his junior season, slid from No. 2 on the Red Men to the fringe of competitiveness. Then he was accepted into a semester-long internship program at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. That meant his teammates would swing through the entire fall schedule of their 2017-18 season without him, but who could say no to NASA? Someone else got the job he actually requested, but all of the relevant experience on Nate’s application caught the eye of an engineer in another area of the research center. From August to December, Nate helped to program a tool that schedules data transfers from satellites and other ongoing space missions. While similar software can be licensed from private vendors, the space agency is looking to cut expenses by building in-house. The valuable project rendered his lab a busywork-free zone. “There are a lot of people across NASA who are depending on this tool for future missions,” Nate says. The intern clicked with his mentor at the Glenn Research Center, who struck an important balance. “He was terrific,” Nate says. “He let me come up with the solutions, but he was always there if I had questions.” Unsolicited, Nate launches into an endorsement of Carthage’s physics program, insisting it has prepared him more fully than any other college could have. Still, the work at NASA gave his mind a thorough workout. “It challenged my ability to think through problems and whittle down to one solution that I thought was best,” says Nate, whose senior thesis will expand upon the work. Working full 40-hour weeks, he earned 12 credits for his first professional internship, staying on track to graduate in four years this May. While his heart tugs him toward entrepreneurship, the experience affirmed aerospace engineering as another good career option. Back on campus, the senior remains on the Carthage Microgravity Team
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but otherwise has retreated to an advisory role in the space science projects. With one last semester, Nate is rededicating himself to the friendships and activities that temporarily took a back seat. “I’ve gone pretty fast for the last couple of years,” he says. One renewed focus is the Asian Pacific American Coalition of Carthage, of which he’s president. The organization has grown to a dozen or so core members since Nate founded it as a freshman. Golf, too, has his attention again. Nate maintains an ironclad passion for the game, and teammates voted him a co-captain. Head coach Dave Roehl believes the other players respect the senior’s focus most of all. “His daily schedule is loaded from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. studying, tutoring, developing, innovating, et cetera, and all for the good of the whole,” Coach Roehl says. After missing all five varsity fall tournaments, Nate is grateful for a chance to reclaim a spot in the Red Men rotation. Extending that opportunity was an easy call for his coach. “Nate Lee’s educational future and love for Carthage outweighed trying to deliver consequences to someone who is so dedicated to learning,” Coach Roehl says. “Nate has been a productive part of our team on the course and has proven himself as one of our top guys the past three years.” Though a bit rusty in terms of NCAA Division III competition, he’s not coming in completely cold. Until the Lake Erie wind turned icy, Nate carved out time to practice two or three times a week during his internship. Even as sports science goes mainstream, you won’t find this golfer applying physics principles to his swing. “I try to keep science out of my game as much as possible,” Nate jokes. “When I get too mechanical, things go wrong.” As a true student-athlete, he credits his professors and coaches for weathering the pendulum swings over his four years at Carthage. He’s learned that kind of support is par for this course.
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ATHLETICS
THE SPRING BREAK
SCATTERING
Even though the competition doesn’t stop for spring break, the student-athletes on nine Carthage teams with spring seasons still got a chance to travel. See where the Red Men and Lady Reds went in early March for a competitive tune-up and team bonding:
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women’s golf Phoenix
Mesa, Ariz.
men’s golf
men’s lacrosse baseball
Tucson, Ariz.
softball
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Men’s Volleyball
Carthage to host Final Four A national champion will be crowned on our campus this spring. Carthage was selected to host the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship on April 27-28. The final four teams will compete in Tarble Arena. Semifinal matches are scheduled for 4 and 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 27. The championship match will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 28. General admission tickets will be available at the door. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students with college IDs, or children ages 6-12. Kids 5 and younger receive free admission.
men’s volleyball
New London, Conn.
water polo
New York/New Jersey
Danville, Ky. Sewanee, Tenn.
women’s lacrosse
Atlanta
Clermont, Fla.
carthage.edu
Orlando, Fla. tennis
Women’s Volleyball
Stretch run to NCAAs Thanks to a late-season surge, the Lady Reds qualified for the NCAA Division III championship for the 10th time in the last 14 years. Carthage won 12 straight matches, including its first two in the national tournament, until a regional final loss to Calvin College ended the team’s season in November. Along the way, the Lady Reds (279) rolled to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title. The American Volleyball Coaches Association selected outside hitter Megan Behrendt ’20 for its Division III All-Midwest Regional team. Megan ranked second in the CCIW with 3.45 kills per set.
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impact report Giving yields
Magical Dividends O
ne of the joys of working in institutional advancement is when we successfully match the philanthropic interests of our alumni and friends with institutional priorities. This section of The Carthaginian, called the Impact Report, is dedicated to these stories — what I refer to as highlighting “the magic” in our work. In the following pages, you will read about the multigenerational commitment one family has made to Carthage students. Their support takes several avenues, including scholarships to help those with sudden financial challenges persist to graduation — an incredibly noble cause that has affected dozens of lives. You will discover how philanthropy can help solve real-world problems, such as creating a global approach for
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GIVING SUMMARY
FISCAL YEAR 2017 GIFTS July 1, 2016-June 30 2017:
$19,246,074 7,115 total gifts DESIGNATED AREAS
$3,329,166
Annual Operations nursing students to implement a public health improvement program in our local community. You will meet some of the first master’s degree candidates in our new business design and innovation program, which is thriving thanks to the hundreds of contributions to our annual fund. And you will read about some of the people and memories that inspire Carthaginians to give, such as the English professor whose life lessons had 50plus years of staying power. Or the transformative residential experience that prompted an alumnus and his Delta Upsilon fraternity brothers to back our newest residence hall, “the Tower.” Yet another example of philanthropic collaboration occurred this past fall. During our crowdfunding campaign, 134 individuals donated nearly $20,000 in support of six special projects. Because of this support, we are able to provide weight room equipment for Carthage’s student-athletes, create a display that celebrates the College’s historic commitment to diversity and equity, bring an award-winning actor to campus to work with students, send a group of freshmen and sophomores on a leadership retreat, and provide funding for students pursuing internships and study abroad.
These heartwarming stories represent only a fraction of the ones we could tell. I would be grateful to hear the stories of why you give to Carthage and what your giving means to you. Please share them with me at tkline@carthage.edu. My fellow Carthaginians, it is not hyperbole to state that your philanthropy enables the College to continue to provide a world-class and life-changing education to our students. It is a privilege to celebrate the stories of our successes and work with you to ensure the upward trajectory of this incredible institution. I hope you enjoy reading about the magic happening at Carthage.
$6,312,594 Endowment
$9,501,046
Capital Facilities • • •
ENDOWMENT $106.97 million
up from $85.64 million
24.9% increase over FY 2016
At the end of FY17, endowed funds generated
$4,152,325 of spendable revenue to fund scholarships, professorships, and programs.
• • •
LEADERS IN PHILANTHROPY 273 families contributed $1,000 or more
With sincere gratitude,
in FY17 to become members of the Leadership Circle
259 families reached the $100,000 Thomas A. Kline Vice President for Institutional Advancement
lifetime giving milestone
345 families are in The Denhart Society with planned giving provisions for Carthage.
carthage.edu
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21 and counting why we give We received so much from our Carthage experiences, it is important to make the same possible for others. And now giving is a Semler legacy.
(Left to right) John Felton ’86, Loren H. Semler Jr. ’65, and Katherine (Semler) Felton ’88
In gratitude for three generations of growth, Semlers nurture Carthage’s budding professionals
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ith every successive generation, the leaves on the Semler family tree turn a deeper shade of Carthage red. Between the main branches and their sinewy offshoots, a quick count turns up 21 members of the extended family who have attended the College. Several met their spouses here, which further spreads the tree’s reach. But the Semlers haven’t just absorbed the benefits of Carthage. They’ve been active stewards, nurturing their alma mater even as it blossomed. “We’ve had such good outcomes, how can you not?” says the patriarch in that family
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of Carthaginians, Loren H. Semler Jr. ’65. “The roots of the family run deep at the school, with the quality of education and the friendships we’ve all made.”
••• Three generations of Carthaginians can be traced back to a tiny seed planted by a trusted outsider. Loren, the first in his family to attend a residential college, went to Carthage on a recommendation from the minister of his home church in Chicago. He and his wife, the late Vickie (Myers) Semler ’67, arrived at a momentous time in the College’s then-precarious existence. Their Carthage experience straddled the Illinois and Wisconsin campuses, which Loren views in hindsight as a blessing rather than an inconvenience. In fact, the couple shared what’s believed to be the final kiss at Kissing Rock’s former home in 1964. Loren and his Beta Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers then helped coordinate and carry out the granite
boulder’s 310-mile move to Kenosha. Concluding 28 consecutive years of service on the Carthage Board of Trustees this spring, Loren can barely recognize the sparse expanse of converted parkland the couple once strolled as undergraduates. “The development of the school since we’ve been there is just phenomenal,” he says. Of course, that growth has gone hand in hand with the Semlers’ legacy of support. One family priority has been the Bridge Scholarship. Loren and Vickie endowed that fund to increase the aid packages of students whose changing financial circumstances threaten to disrupt their education. Loren keeps all of the recipients’ thank-you letters. The first one, a heartfelt note from a student whose father was stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), arrived shortly after Vickie was diagnosed with the same disease. “That hits home,” says Loren, who, by coincidence, eventually met the student’s father.
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On campus, the partnership is perhaps most visible in the Semler Health and Fitness Center. Concerned about the long-term health risks of obesity, the couple’s naming gift paved the way for a facility in the N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center that serves all members of the Carthage community. They’ve also supported health screenings and other related programs. During one of Loren’s visits, a student came up to thank him, saying a screening had detected elevated cholesterol and sugar levels in her blood. With a family history of heart disease, she had been prescribed medication to correct those imbalances. “An experience like that reinforces the positive things that can come out of working with the school,” Loren says. “They do listen. They care about these things. There’s a continual quest for improvement.”
••• By mutual agreement, Vickie took care of the family while Loren became the breadwinner. He put his academic and interpersonal lessons to work at Semler Industries, the manufacturing company his father rescued from the Depression thanks to products like Presto staplers. When it came time for the couple’s three children to launch their own college searches, Loren gave them only two basic parameters: It had to be a private liberal arts college, and it had to be within 500 miles of home. (By then, he was an experienced pilot with a private plane.) “They were far enough away from home to feel like they were on their own,” he says, “but a quick flight away if they needed some help.” With minimal prodding, two of the three chose Carthage. Now they’re the ones propelling the family business forward. Based in Franklin Park, Illinois, Semler
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Industries has morphed into a leader in the industrial filtration and liquid handling industries. Though he remains chairman of the board, Loren more than a decade ago ceded day-to-day duties to his son, Loren W. Semler ’96, and older daughter Katherine (Semler) Felton ’88. At times, alumni of the College have composed up to one-third of the company’s workforce. “We’re small, so sometimes job positions require skills over several disciplines, and those with liberal arts backgrounds seem to acclimate well,” says Katherine, the senior vice president. In lieu of Christmas gifts, her parents encouraged the family to direct those dollars to other causes — like Carthage. Even the one child who “got away,” Drake University graduate Christine (Semler) D’Amico, became a supporter. She enjoys sharing an unforgettable visit from the Carthage Choir. During a performance tour, Professor Eduardo Garcia-Novelli brought the singers to the ice cream parlor that Christine owns in the Des Moines suburb of Pleasant Hill, Iowa. Moved to song by muse or waffle cones, the choir gave an impromptu show that lured in customers from the drivethrough lane.
••• By marrying into the Felton clan, Katherine tapped into another reservoir of red. She got to know her husband, John ’86, through intramural volleyball with the “Turtles” of Tau Sigma Chi — a fraternity chapter co-founded by her father-in-law, Maurice Felton ’57. She also had a hand in introducing her brother-in-law, Dan Felton ’89, to Jeanne (Jolly) Felton ’91. Applying the same two conditions as her father, Katherine watched her daughters’ college searches gravitate toward a familiar
place on Lake Michigan. Rachael Felton ’18, a top-flight bowler, even passed up athletic scholarships elsewhere to become that 21st Carthage relative. “Both of my kids wanted a more personal college experience,” Katherine says, "and Carthage is exactly the kind of environment that allowed them to thrive.” From internships to J-Term travel — Rachael has taken study tours to Africa and Peru — the depth of options available to today’s students impresses Katherine. Now, as she recalls single-mindedly powering through her own studies in 3½ years, there’s a tinge of regret. “That’s really when I fell in love with Carthage again, as a parent,” she says. “I’d like to see that come true for other families’ children.” Adopting a pay-it-forward mindset, Katherine has served on the President’s Leadership Council for the past four years and feels called philanthropically as well. The Feltons give to many of the same areas — scholarships, athletics, etc. — that lighted their own path to prosperity. While older daughter Kaylene (Felton) Eschbach ’16 chose teaching, Rachael has accepted a full-time auditor position at the Chicago office of accounting firm Plante Moran. She’s on track to graduate in May, right around the time her grandfather transitions to trustee emeritus status. Someday, perhaps, the family’s alumni contingent will grow to the point it warrants a separate room at Homecoming. Loren’s son and daughter-in-law, Karen (Vesely) Semler ’96, are busy raising potential Carthaginians 22 through 24. Still, the proud grandfather knows it isn’t the quantity of connections that forged this bond between the family and the College. It’s the quality. “Vickie and I led a very blessed life,” he says, “and the touchstone in that life has been Carthage.”
To inquire about how you can help support students persist to graduation through Bridge grants, contact Tom Kline at 262-551-6036 or tkline@carthage.edu
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Local health, viewed through a global lens
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2017-18 Smeds nursing fellows Emma Dresen ’19 and Tony Allen ’19 aim to help more than mannequins.
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aturally for a retired businessman who devoted 33 years to Kraft Foods, Ed Smeds ’57 strongly encourages practical experience. The Smeds Executive Internship Program, which he and his wife, Alice (Lawler) Smeds ’57, established at Carthage more than 20 years ago, has provided stipends to more than 400 interns. After watching the College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program take flight, Mr. Smeds approached program director Frank Hicks about similarly supporting prospective nurses. Together, they developed the new Smeds Fellowship in Population Health, which empowers nursing students to address community-wide health challenges through broader global knowledge. “We like investing our philanthropic dollars in ways that directly impact students’ ability to secure jobs after graduation,” says Mr. Smeds, a trustee emeritus of the College. “This adds to nursing students’ clinical experiences, cultivating cultural awareness and preparing them to think in terms of the broader health needs of Kenosha.” Carthage designed the fellowship in part to support students pursuing a career in population health. That segment of nursing focuses on a group with a high incidence of a particular disease or a high risk of developing it. “By designing population-based interventions, students will be able to address these needs on a much broader level
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STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
than they would with individuals alone,” says Prof. Hicks. The fellowship also has an international component. Recipients will participate in a J-Term study tour of their choice and then implement a health-related project when they return. “Viewing health care in a different setting lets students compare systems and outcomes of care,” says Prof. Hicks, pointing out that other countries statistically have better outcomes in many categories.
The fellowship also provides her with the resources to stage a 5-kilometer run supporting diabetes prevention. Growing up with a friend who has diabetes, the effects of the disease weren’t outwardly apparent to Emma. Studying nursing has opened her eyes. “As my knowledge of diabetes has increased, so has my understanding of just how difficult of a diagnosis it is to live with,” she says. “I am no longer blind to the issues my friend faces.” Although his career interest leans toward
why we give Because we want to invest our philanthropic dollars in ways that will transform the lives of others and generate outcomes such as careers and community impact.
Inaugural nursing fellows Tony Allen ’19 and Emma Dresen ’19 have committed to this summer’s Nicaragua study tour, a biannual course that incorporates medical and water quality service projects. Emma doubts she could have afforded to cover travel expenses on her own. “If I picked up more hours between both of my jobs, I may have been able to save enough to attend my senior year, but it would have been incredibly difficult,” she says. “This relieves that burden and allows me to focus more time on preparing this project, developing my (senior) thesis, and working in the field.”
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pediatric oncology, Tony’s more immediate focus is childhood obesity. A libero for the Red Men, he’s lining up fellow volleyball players to conduct health and exercise classes for area kids. “When I was younger, I was considered obese and had to go to a nutritionist as well as make numerous diet changes, so the topic hits home personally,” says Tony, who’s from Minooka, Illinois. “I turned to sports and activity to help drive my passion to make a change.”
384 studied abroad 15 nursing students received white coats
67 students
paired with alumni mentors
400+ students and alumni engaged in career networking events
94% increase in students placed in internships from 2014 to 2017
They’re among 15 juniors in the program’s initial cohort who recently transitioned to the clinical phase of their education. Launched in 2015, nursing has become one of the College’s fastest-growing majors, with 73 students entering in fall 2017. Over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Smeds’ investment in the College has taken several avenues. Their gifts also have supported financial aid (by establishing an endowed scholarship), facilities (including the Smeds Tennis Center), and program development. Ultimately, this latest initiative could have an even bigger beneficiary: the public. The nursing fellowship is part of Carthage’s renewed commitment to help the surrounding community by channeling students’ energy and expertise. “The Smeds’ gift supports all that makes a Carthage education what it is,” said President John Swallow. “Our students develop their personal, intellectual, and practical skills in concert with our faculty and staff and apply those new skills, even before graduation, as they set out on a lifelong commitment to meet the world’s needs.”
To inquire about how you can support the nursing program and other careers in health care, contact Bridget Haggerty at 262-551-6572 or bhaggerty1@carthage.edu
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Residential N lifeblood
yles A. Jackson ’03 credits his time living on campus, and the quality of his residential experience at Carthage, for helping him to grow into the person he is today. So, when the opportunity arose to play an important role in fundraising for a new residence hall, he was excited to take it. While at Carthage, Mr. Jackson lived in both Madrigrano Family (then known as South) and Joseph Johnson residence halls — the buildings the
eight-story structure nicknamed “the Tower” will bridge when it opens this fall. He was a resident assistant at Johnson, later an assistant hall director at Swenson Residence Hall, and an active member of Delta Upsilon fraternity. Those experiences played large roles in Mr. Jackson’s growth and development as a globally minded person. “When I lived there, there were still a lot of common spaces in the
Nyles A. Jackson ’03 in front of the Tower residence hall, scheduled to open this fall
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why i give I want future Carthage residential students to share the experiences I found so meaningful. dorms, places where we could collaborate and spend time together,” he said. “I came from a suburban, largely African American high school, and it would have been easy to get stuck within myself. “Being in DU helped teach me the importance of acting in a responsible way,” he continued, “and the opportunity to meet and spend time in those shared spaces with people from so many other backgrounds helped me grow into a well-rounded individual.” Since Mr. Jackson’s time on campus, enrollment growth has required the College to convert many of those community spaces to rooms. The Tower is designed to fill that void. Besides suite-style housing for up to 126 residents, it devotes two floors to shared spaces where students will be able to socialize, collaborate, and cook meals. In conjunction, Carthage launched the Tower Initiative, a campaign to support the new hall financially. Wanting future Carthage residential students (including his future DU brothers) to share the experiences he found so meaningful, Mr. Jackson assumed a leadership role. As part of the fundraising committee, he’s working with contacts inside and outside the fraternity to fund study lounges. By the end of January, about 30 of Mr.
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Jackson’s DU brothers already had given. Mr. Jackson works as a full-time therapist at Oakwood Clinical Associates in Kenosha and an adjunct social work instructor at Carthage. He’s chairman of the Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency board of directors and a contributing member to the Mahone Fund’s annual Harbor Park Jazz Festival, which raises college scholarship funds for Kenosha-area students. If those weren’t enough responsibilities, he’s also a doctoral candidate at George Williams College of Aurora University, a program he hopes to complete by 2021. Finding time to volunteer isn’t always easy, but he ensures it receives the proper attention. “Sometimes it’s schedules aligning by happenstance or crafty juggling, while at other times it takes sacrifice and
impact Meeting and spending time with people from so many other backgrounds helped me to grow into a well-rounded person.
prioritization,” he said. “When it’s said and done, I hope that I have served with passion and integrity.” As the Tower nears completion, Mr. Jackson is excited to watch a new generation of Carthage students benefit from it. “It’s great to be a part of new, positive growth and change on campus,” he said, “and I’m very excited to see how this new opportunity will shape many students’ experiences of living on campus.”
To add your support to the Tower Initiative, contact Jane Spencer ’80 at 262-551-5766 or jspencer@carthage.edu
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Masters of disruption BDI graduate program stimulates ideas for each rung in career ladder
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hen Devin Sutherland and his wife moved from Topeka, Kansas, to southeastern Wisconsin with a 6-month-old daughter in 2003, the move was meant to be a stepping stone in their overall journey. Instead, they loved the area and decided to make it their home. As executive director of the Downtown Racine Corporation for 14 years, Mr. Sutherland coordinated the multifaceted effort to develop and revitalize the city’s downtown area.
Faced with the prospect of another relocation to advance in his field, Mr. Sutherland instead started a consulting business, Neighborhood Management Solutions, and began to explore advanced degree options. Carthage’s new Master of Science program in business design and innovation (BDI) appealed to him, and Mr. Sutherland enrolled with the first cohort last August. “The Carthage BDI was a perfect fit for me, as an educational experience grounded in independent and critical thinking, creative
Professor Jennifer Madden, bottom right, and the first cohort in the BDI program
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problem solving, and experiential learning,” he says. “What was most appealing about this program was the ability to complete my master’s degree in 10 months.” Contributions to the Carthage Fund helped the program take flight. Last year alone, more than 1,800 donors made unrestricted gifts ranging from $10 to $50,000 to this important fund, which offers the most flexibility for the College to create and update programs that meet the needs of a changing world. The two evening classes per week allow Mr. Sutherland, who’s 48, to grow his business, study, and be more available to his family. Students take a mix of foundational business courses and more specialized design and innovation courses. Each month, students participate in an intensive weekend course or workshop. Many are led by visiting scholars and other relevant experts with practical knowledge gleaned from years at places like Google and SC Johnson. “We have worked to deliver the most innovative programming, taught by worldclass practitioners and scholars,” says BDI director Jennifer Madden, an assistant professor of management and marketing. In the cohort format, the entire class remains together throughout the program. The 2017-18 cohort brought together students at various stages of their careers and with diverse cultural backgrounds.
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Most did their undergraduate studies at Carthage, but the rest didn’t stay outsiders for long. “Unique to these weekends is the common sense of purpose and shared commitment that has developed within the cohort,” Mr. Sutherland says. “I truly feel that we not only have a shared commitment to the work, but to each other.” Emotional intelligence, the capacity to detect and adjust to people’s emotions and manage relationships, serves as a cornerstone of the BDI curriculum. Most employers now say they value EI more than IQ. Prof. Madden said graduates will leave equipped to apply the strategies to just about any field in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. “Our goal is to prepare students to enter an ever-changing work world focused on designing sustainable solutions as tomorrow’s leaders and managers,” she explains. After graduating with a degree in religion last spring, Lia Francetic ’17 decided to expand her skillset. “The BDI program is interesting, interactive, and fast-paced, and I am receiving an amazing education in a short time frame,” she says. “Dr. Madden is very hands-on and invested in every member of the cohort.” Ms. Francetic envisions developing a consulting business for church youth ministries.
collective impact • $3.3 million raised for the Carthage Fund • Gifts of $100 or less totaled $201,627 • 1,873 donors on Giving Day • 59 donors made recurring credit card or bank withdrawal gifts totaling $26,395
“The average youth director will stay in their career for roughly three years,” she says. “This revolving door leaves youth ministries oscillating from almost successful to almost nonexistent. My business would act as a consulting firm for churches, aiding them in establishing a sustainable youth ministry.” In January, participants began internships or career pathway projects that allow them to implement their newly acquired knowledge. The group will travel to Barcelona, Spain, later this spring to complete a capstone project before completing the program in May.
To support innovations in programming and academic offerings through the Carthage Fund, contact Susan Jones at 262-551-6396 or sjones5@carthage.edu
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Professor’s life lessons inspire scholarship why we give To honor the professor who inspired us and encourage others to do the same.
Liz (Dean) Foster ’65 and Hugh Foster ’66
impact The Willem J. Oudegeest endowed scholarship will generate about $4,500 in scholarship support in the 2018-19 academic year and will continue to support generations to come.
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M
ore than a quarter-century after his death, a Carthage professor continues to mold young lives. Hugh Foster ’66 and his wife, Liz (Dean) Foster ’65, donated $100,000 to establish a scholarship honoring Willem Oudegeest, an associate professor of English at the College from 1960 to 1974. The Willem J. Oudegeest Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an English student at Carthage each year. The late faculty member “changed my life,” says Mr. Foster. Who was this scholarship’s namesake? Before immigrating to the United States, Prof. Oudegeest was active in the underground resistance to the Nazis in his native Netherlands during World War II, although he didn’t talk about it much. “I’d been under the impression he was
some kind of lower-level aristocrat,” Mr. Foster says. “Apparently he was a high school teacher.” That helped to explain the professor’s demeanor, which commanded respect and exuded high expectations. Mr. Foster explains that, since only “kids with exceptional academic promise” attended Dutch high schools at the time, teachers were highly respected. Mr. Foster grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, and started working at age 12. After graduating from high school, he began working full time at a factory in North Chicago, Illinois, “and would have been very happy to have stayed there forever” but for the influence of his mentor. “I was a smart kid — things always came easily to me — but I was also a very lazy kid,” Mr. Foster says. “Dr. Oudegeest taught me how to work.” The late faculty member’s example inspired Mr. Foster toward a 34-year career as a high school English teacher in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. “He taught me how to be who I am today, not just by his teaching, but by how he lived,”
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Mr. Foster says, adding that in his own life, “we did work hard and I’m sure the work was more intellectually stimulating than staying at Ammco Tools might have been. If that stimulation got passed on to my students, so much the better.” Not coincidentally, the two families also placed a priority on service to others. “Service is the most important thing we can do,” he says. “We do it in our ways and works — and, when the checkbook allows, we do it that way as well.” Mr. Foster came to Carthage when the Kenosha campus opened, and he met his future wife in a contemporary literature class that started at 7:30 a.m. It was one of the few English classes Mr. Foster took with someone other than Prof. Oudegeest, who served as the best man at the couple’s 1966 Kenosha wedding. As a second-semester sophomore, Mr. Foster recalls, he had not yet settled on a major. “Dr. Oudegeest said to me one day after class, ‘You would do as an English major, but, if you declare, I will work your (butt) off’— if not in those exact words. And he did. He had expectations. I know he was there when I needed him.” While Mr. Foster was teaching, Mrs. Foster worked as a librarian for about 15 years, then returned to college to study accounting at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc. She worked as an accountant for about two decades at several firms in or near Manitowoc. So how was the couple, who have two grown daughters, able to make the gift to Carthage? “We always lived within our means, which many people don’t,” Mr. Foster says.
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Budgeting carefully, they put a little away at a time. Mrs. Foster was able to buy stock at one of her employers, Oshkosh Truck, and, after he received an inheritance about 15 years ago, Mr. Foster joined her in the market. But he stresses that “I’m a lucky investor, not a skillful investor.” As fortune smiled on him in retirement, Mr. Foster concluded that “what we’ve done, most of us, is not that interesting,” but that Prof. Oudegeest (who died in 1991) led a life that deserves to be remembered. Mr. Foster urges fellow alumni to “think back to your college years. There was a professor at Carthage College who dramatically changed your life, who made you what you are today. Honor him or her with a scholarship in his or her name. “Be imaginative, be generous. You and those professors deserve it.”
To make a lasting gift in honor or memory of someone who inspired you, contact Sarah Harris ’87 at 262-551-5749 or sharris@carthage.edu
PLANNED GIVING
Estate plans represent more than
$50 million
in future gifts to the College.
245
named endowed funds have been established, including:
7 professorships 39 programs 199 scholarships
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FE AT U RE S TO RY
How a boy with short fingers became a world-class pianist unafraid to attack the toughest works
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ael Farouk was born with hands that had difficulty with the simplest of tasks, but those hands unwrapped a gift that otherwise may have gone undiscovered.
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“I was born with unusually short ligaments which caused small hands, and my fingers were unusually small for my age and size,” explains Carthage’s assistant professor of music, a native of Egypt. This genetic condition caused Prof. Farouk to struggle as a child with everyday things the rest of us take for granted, like grasping a door handle or holding a spoon properly. Seeking therapy, his parents were told he should exercise the tendons in his hands, trying anything from throwing balls to squeezing objects — or even playing the piano. Little did anyone know what that suggestion would mean for his future. It started with a toy piano he received for his third birthday. “It was really a providential way of being directed to the piano,” says Prof. Farouk. “I didn’t really even know what the piano was. Through that little toy piano, my parents realized that I had a very musical ear, because I was able to play songs that I heard on television and the radio. It really caught their attention.” Then his gift began to attract wider attention. A Coptic Christian raised in a predominantly Muslim country, the young pianist started playing in churches all over Cairo. He soon applied to the Cairo Conservatory, where the size of his hands made the faculty skeptical of his ability. Still, they gave the boy a chance to prove himself. He won them over, and, at the young age of 7, his musical education began. Prof. Farouk commuted 90 minutes each way to the conservatory six days a week to learn from mainly Russian music instructors. “The Russian classical music system of education is one of the greatest in the world,” says Prof. Farouk. “It was my good fortune to study with some of them, because they are truly some of the greatest teachers in the world and definitely the best teachers I ever had.” He remained at the conservatory for 14 years, studying general education subjects in addition to his intense music curriculum. At the end of each day, he returned home to do schoolwork and practice the piano for another eight to 10 hours.
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Upcoming Events Hear Professor Wael Farouk perform at any of these upcoming concerts (all held in A. F. Siebert Chapel):
The Brahms Project Highlighting the complete solo and chamber works of Johannes Brahms, Carthage’s two-year Brahms Project will conclude this spring. The final performance, marking the 185th anniversary of the composer’s birth, features acclaimed violinist Ilya Kaler and the Carthage Faculty Trio (Prof. Farouk, Allegra Montanari, and Andrew Williams). April 22, 4 p.m. – Piano solo May 7, 7:30 p.m. – Carthage Faculty Trio with Ilya Kaler Cost: Free but ticket required “My childhood was not normal, but in a good way,” he says. “It was unusual in that I didn’t really get to play with other kids, yet I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.” Continuing those intense studies, Prof. Farouk was determined not to let his condition dictate his path. “Whether you have large hands or small hands, there are still five fingers, so there is no real trick to it,” he says. “Each hand has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s all about how you cultivate your hands. If you build a strong technical foundation, the size doesn’t matter.” With encouragement from a visiting American scholar, Prof. Farouk applied for and won a 2002-03 Fulbright fellowship to study in the United States. He went on to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts from Rutgers University in New Jersey. His extensive performance resume spans five continents, at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall and with prominent orchestras and conductors from around the globe. Reviewers have called Prof. Farouk a “formidable and magnificent pianist” whose “technical virtuosity and expression are unequaled.” Perhaps his most notable feat was performing the entire solo piano catalog of the late Sergei Rachmaninoff in five recitals, becoming potentially the first American to fit it into a single season. Ironically, the Russian composer was known for his extralarge hands. Here at Carthage, Prof. Farouk has undertaken similarly ambitious initiatives — like the Brahms Project, a 13-concert series that encompasses all solo and chamber works by 19th century German composer Johannes Brahms. In the series, he has performed both as a soloist and as part of the Carthage Faculty Trio. Additionally, Prof. Farouk is preparing for a rare musical ultramarathon in which he will perform all five of Ludwig van Beethoven’s concertos with help from a prominent suburban
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Beethoven: Five Piano Concertos, One Pianist Prof. Farouk will play all five of Ludwig van Beethoven’s concertos. New Philharmonic, an award-winning orchestra from DuPage, Illinois, and conductor Kirk Muspratt will join him. April 6, 7 p.m. Cost: $20 (adults), $15 (seniors 55 and older), or $10 (students) For tickets to any of these concerts, visit www.carthage.edu/tickets or call the Fine Arts Box Office at 262-551-6661.
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Chicago orchestra. And they’ll do it three nights in a row, with the first concert at Carthage. Professor Corinne Ness, dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities, calls Prof. Farouk the perfect combination of highly technical and supremely artistic.
interesting if you’ve heard him play his very powerful pieces on the piano,” says Prof. Ness. “He’s just so commanding on the instrument.” Joining the Carthage faculty in 2016, Prof. Farouk brought more than a decade of collegelevel teaching experience — most recently at
“ The option of being able to help a young, talented, dedicated person cultivate their wings so they may get to the next level and pass it along to their own students someday is an indescribable feeling.” “It’s rare to have both of those things in one player,” she says. “When you have both of those things in one player, you have a really world-class performer, so we feel very lucky that we can say we have that world-class performer here at Carthage.” Colleagues see an obvious contrast between the man and the performer. “He’s soft-spoken, he’s thoughtful, he listens, so that gentle part of his personality is sort of
Roosevelt University in Chicago. He finds the dual careers of teacher and performer extremely satisfying. “The option of being able to help a young, talented, dedicated person cultivate their wings so they may get to the next level and pass it along to their own students someday is an indescribable feeling,” he says. Prof. Farouk finds outside opportunities for
music students to perform and develop, and he’s even hosted Thanksgiving dinner for international students who stay on campus over the break. “He’s really creating community, and that’s what the students say is important to them,” says Prof. Ness. “They knew they would get good teaching here, but they’re really glad to be a part of the community he is building.” Access to this skilled mentor isn’t limited to collegians. Prof. Farouk also directs the Carthage Arts Academy, which provides affordable lessons to musicians of all ages and skill levels. In both teaching and performing, Prof. Farouk feels a sense of responsibility to students and audiences. “There is always a responsibility,” he says. “Music is always greater than you can play it, and, at the end of the day, talent is not the only ingredient for success. You never say you are done learning or done practicing. It’s a lifelong conquest.”
Thank you, donors! With gratitude, we acknowledge and honor Carthage’s most committed donors for supporting Carthage through philanthropic contributions. Your partnership powers every aspect of education at the College, from financial aid and internships to faculty and program support. Every gift makes a difference, and every donor is unique. Find the society that matches your philanthropic goals. You can be a member of one, two, or all three societies. We also give special thanks to those who support the College through volunteer engagement, including the Board of Trustees, President’s Leadership Council, alumni board and club leaders, career mentors, and other entities such as the Tower Initiative and Reunion committees.
Leadership Circle members gave $1,000 or more to the College in the most recent or current fiscal year. Tiers within the society recognize higher levels of giving, and graduated giving levels are available for recent alumni. Membership is renewable annually. Members of the Enduring Gift Society have cumulative lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more (exclusive of estate commitments). Tiers within the society recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is lifetime.
Members of the Denhart Society have included Carthage in their estate plans. Membership is lifetime.
See honor rolls and learn more about all levels of giving at www.carthage.edu/give/recognition 32
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The Carthage Fund
Athletics
1/3 of students compete as varsity athletes on NCAA Division III teams.
Financial Aid
90% of students receive financial aid, and many would not be able to attend Carthage any other way.
Student Organizations
J-Term
Performing Arts
Undergraduate Research
120+ student organizations impact Carthage, the community, and the world.
Students collaborate with internationally renowned playwrights, musicians, and artists through programs such as the New Play Initiative and the Chamber Music Series.
Make your gift
carthage.edu/givenow
Carthage is a national leader for short-term study abroad, a transformative experience.
50+ students every summer conduct original research with their professors through the SURE program.
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Spring Carthaginian 2018
carthage.edu
5
CLASS NOTES
1949
1975
Rev. Robert Ove – Aurora,
Rev. Timothy Diemer –
Colorado, published a book, “In the Shadow of Everest,” that documents his missionary experiences while in Nepal as a seminary professor.
Elkhart, Indiana, announced the birth of his first grandchild, Alexandra Rose.
1955
1981
1977
Ronald Glossop – Jennings, Missouri, was recognized for lifetime achievement twice in 2017. The Universal Esperanto Association awarded him a diploma for Outstanding Activity at its annual event in Seoul, South Korea, in July. He has taught Esperanto, a constructed international language, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and at local elementary schools. In October, the nonprofit Citizens for Global Solutions recognized him at its national convention in St. Louis. A former vice president of the World Federalist Association, one of the organization’s forerunners, Mr. Glossop served with former U.S. presidential candidate John Anderson.
international refugee crisis, featuring stories of local refugees’ journeys. Ms. Van Tuyl has been a painter and public artist for 25 years.
Jody A. Smith – Flower Mound, Texas, received a surprise honor in October when officials announced the council chamber in Flower Mound’s future town hall will be named for her. Ms. Smith’s civic service includes three terms as former mayor of the town.
Terry Owens – Waukesha, Wisconsin, has retired after a 34-year career in athletic administration to spend more time with his wife, sons, twin grandchildren, and other family members. Terry, whose career included 25 years as a sports information director at the collegiate level, “enjoys watching sports like a normal fan without worrying about doing statistics or writing pregame notes and postgame stories.”
1980
1983
1979
Rev. Michael J. Konow –
A group of Carthage alumnae gathered in mid-October in South Carolina. They reported having “a wonderful time catching up with one another.” Those attending were (left to right): Ellie (Engen) Holmquist ’66, Sharon (Klug) Nyman ’66, Dottie (Kamphausen) Bobzin ’66, Connie (Schlueter) Goggin ’66, Diane (Brown) Mikkelson ’66, Rose (Poletto) Clancy ’66, and Ginna (Langbehn) Laken ’68.
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Houston, married Philip Boyd in a candlelight service, with Steven Jensen ’79 among the musical contributors. Rev. Konow has retired as minister of education and ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America after serving in two southern Michigan synods. He also served as executive director of AIDS Interfaith Network in Dallas. The couple planned to move to Tucson, Arizona.
Brian Peccarelli – Plano, Texas, received the Tech Titans Corporate CEO Award at a gala Aug. 25. The awards recognize individuals and organizations transforming the high-tech industry in North Texas. Mr. Peccarelli is president of the tax and accounting business at Thomson Reuters.
David Contorno – Elgin, Illinois, became engaged to Barbara Hamilton ’82 while in Sedona, Arizona. They plan to marry this year. Sandra (Ball) Van Tuyl – Kansas City, Missouri, curated an art show titled, “1,000 Footsteps Tell the Story,” from Feb. 2 through March 8 at the Carter Art Center in Kansas City. The exhibition focuses on the
Tom Vignieri – Devon, England, wrote an orchestral piece called “Sonus Lux” for the 100th anniversary of the Boston-area Melrose Symphony Orchestra that premiered in November. Mr. Vignieri also produced video recordings of the two movements in “To Sing: A Carthage Hymn of Celebration,” a piece he wrote to honor retiring president F. Gregory Campbell and his wife, Barbara, in 2012. Recorded at Boston’s Symphony Hall, the videos can be viewed on YouTube.
Spring Carthaginian 2018
Equity and Inclusion
Fund match honors first African American grads In one of his first steps as part of a new alumni task force to increase support for students of color at Carthage, Alan Mills ’79 issued a challenge. Mr. Mills, a partner at the Barnes & Thornburg law firm in Indianapolis, has committed $20,000 toward a fundraising challenge that will honor Lorraine Wiggan ’46 and Alonzo Kenniebrew ’54, the first African American woman and man to graduate from Carthage. The initiative will launch April 5, the College’s third annual Giving Day. The challenge consists of two parts, both supporting multicultural students at Carthage. Mr. Mills pledged to match gifts to the WigganKenniebrew Experiential Learning Fund dollar-fordollar, up to $5,000, on Giving Day. He also made an ongoing pledge to match each $2,500 gift to the Wiggan-Kenniebrew Fellows Fund, up to a maximum of $15,000.
The task force Mr. Mills formed with fellow alumni Hoyt Harper II ’77 and Cynthia Walker ’78 has established multiple goals. Besides raising funds, the group will seek to engage volunteer mentors and speakers and connect students from diverse populations to internships or jobs. The number of Carthage students identifying as black more than doubled over the past six years, from 77 in fall 2011 to 174 in fall 2017. Overall, the racial diversity of the student body rose from 10 percent to 23 percent in that same span. Mr. Mills noted “the space in which Carthage has grown: the recruitment and graduation of more African Americans, the commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, and the ability to thrive after criticism in those areas.
“I wanted to support that,” he continued. “I wanted to take a chance on that.”
Alan Mills ’79
Know a Carthaginian whose efforts deserve to be recognized? The Alumni Council is accepting nominations for its 2019 awards. three categories are available: The Carthage Beacon Award honors each recipient for a specific accomplishment, act of service, professional or personal achievement, event, or program that took place after Nov. 30, 2016.
The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award may be presented to a Carthage graduate who has achieved and maintained an extremely high professional station over the course of his or her career.
The Distinguished Alumni Service Award may be presented to a Carthage graduate who has made valuable contributions that advance the College or significantly benefit society over his or her lifetime.
Nomination deadline is Nov. 30, 2018. Detailed criteria and nomination forms are available at:
www.carthage.edu/alumni/awards-recognition
carthage.edu
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CLASS NOTES
1987
Julie (Ciskoski) Reuter – Elgin, Illinois, received a master’s degree in education (curriculum and instruction) last May from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Julie teaches second grade at Coleman Elementary School in Elgin.
1999
David J. Hoeppner – Hartford, Wisconsin, was promoted to head wrestling coach at South Milwaukee High School. While he coached the middle school team, the Rockets won a conference title, qualified 11 wrestlers for state, and earned two Schoolboy All-America honors. Mr. Hoeppner also remains a defensive line coach for the school’s varsity football team. He has been a police officer for the city for the past 19 years as a member of the SWAT team, motor unit, and investigations bureau, as well as a defensive tactics instructor and field training officer.
2000
Tammylynne (Johnson) Jonas – Germantown, Wisconsin,
Six Carthage alumni participated in the men’s invitational tournament June 22 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota: (left to right) David Ruegg ’91, John Thompson ’93, Louie Maiorano ’95, Steve Felder ’92, Chad Black ’92, and Scott Muschewske ’92.
2001
Erik Zavacke ’01 and Heidi (Kunkel) Zavacke ’03 –
2006
Burlington, Wisconsin, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Aricka Lillian, on May 12.
2004 Emily (Van Eynde) Gilbert – Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and her husband, Geoffrey, welcomed daughter Alexandra in March 2017.
Kenten Dernbach – Plover, Wisconsin, took over as interim men’s basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in October.
was hired as chief information officer for Holiday Station Stores, a Minnesota-based company with more than 500 locations. She relocated to Minnesota in December with her husband, Ben, and their three children: Benjamin, 9, Molly, 5, and Emily, 3.
Amanda (Kirsch) Greenwood – Morton Grove, Illinois, married Matt Greenwood on Aug. 12 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Lisa (Zajaczkowski) Hogren ’05 was a bridesmaid, and Amy Coughlin ’07 handled the floral arrangements.
Rachel (Sterrett) Gunawardena – New Baden,
2008
Illinois, married Navindra Gunawardena on Oct. 6 in Portland, Oregon.
1992
Christine (Buntrock) Selby – Naperville, Illinois, published her second book. Titled “The Body Size and Health Debate,” it examines how the dogged efforts to eradicate obesity may be doing more harm than good and explores alternative ways to measure and encourage health.
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John Russo – Huntley, Illinois, became regional manager for member experience at Consumers Credit Union, overseeing the development of service center managers its six northern locations.
Emily (Wright) Gaston – St. Louis, married Tommy Gaston on Sept. 2 in Delavan, Wisconsin. The wedding party included Carthage alumni Danielle (Sass) Hilbrich ’08, Leane Snyder ’08, and Nathan Wright ’10. Lee Anne (Kingsley) Wright ’80 and Jeb Wright ’82 are the parents of the bride. Spring Carthaginian 2018
EILEEN BALDWIN
Hats off to four seasons of beauty
Erin Spottswood – Kenosha, received a 2017 John Eliot Allen Teaching Award for her work in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Portland State University in Oregon, where she is a professor of communications and technology. Erin previously received a Master of Arts from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. from Cornell University.
2009
Willis Jensen III – Madison, Wisconsin, married Heidi Voelker on June 10 in Green Lake, Wisconsin.
Rob Miller – Mount Prospect, Illinois, recently accepted a position as the associate director of orientation with the University of Illinois at Chicago. Rob returns to the Midwest after seven years away, eager “to assist new students in their transition to college life.”
During my time at Carthage, I have enjoyed exploring the campus. Each season brings a new appreciation. I interviewed for this position in spring, so I think that time of year will always have a special place in my heart. However, wrapping up my first winter at Carthage, I have been completely enthralled with the natural beauty that surrounds me. I am a native Wisconsinite, so the cold doesn’t bother me. Everyone warned me about winter on the lake, but I have found that being prepared with a good winter coat, mittens, and a hat — foreshadowing alert! — was adequate for my walks from one end of campus to the other. Also, winter doesn’t seem to deter activity on campus! Alumni attended events, students were very active during J-Term, and the Office of Admissions saw plenty of prospective families and students on Saturdays for scholarship interviews and tours. I have decided that the lake is even more beautiful in the winter. I found myself mesmerized by the waves, and by the way the sky and water seemed to blend together. The Office of Communications recently held a photo contest on campus after a large snowfall. Of course, the photo I submitted (see below) included the lake. I was pleased to learn that I was one of the winners. My prize? A Carthage hat! (As I said, necessary for winters on campus )
Despite the chill, I continued to do some exploring around campus. For those who don’t know, my office is in Lentz Hall at the north end of campus. With the Tower construction going on, I cherish the times I can get to the south end of campus to see the building progress for myself. This building is a very exciting addition to the campus, and I am grateful to those who have made it possible. The Carthage community has pulled together to support this project, and the students will benefit greatly. I hope you find yourself on campus soon, enjoying the view. The spring thaw, the return of outdoor athletic events, and green buds on the trees are sure to draw more people out. If you aren’t able to get to campus easily, please connect with us on social media and through the website to see photos of campus life. And next year, at this time, you can find me working from one of the east-facing lounges in the Tower. I’m going to bet that will be the best place to see the lake. Warmly,
Eileen Baldwin Director of Alumni and Parent Relations ebaldwin@carthage.edu
Learn more about staying connected, upcoming events, and ways to give back at carthage.edu/alumni. carthage.edu
SHOW YOUR
PRIDE!
Barnes & Noble at Carthage is the official campus bookstore. Find Carthage apparel and souvenirs, reading or textbooks, and an assortment of gifts and gift cards, in addition to all of your supply needs!
Visit us in the Campbell Student Union or online at
carthage.bncollege.com 262-551-5778 • 800-551-6202 • 2001 Alford Park Drive • Kenosha, WI 53140
CLASS NOTES Gates Foundation grant
Eric Stibbe – Beloit, Wisconsin, married Dolly Phillips on Oct. 7 in an outdoor ceremony. Zach Wolf ’09 served as the best man, and Mark Bracken ’11 provided DJ services for the reception.
2010
Bryce Davis – Phoenix, received a Master of Science degree in leadership with an emphasis in disaster preparedness and executive fire leadership from Grand Canyon University, with a 4.0 GPA. Bryce is exploring a variety of Ph.D. programs. Laura (Kaeppeler) Fleiss – Hanalei, Hawaii, was added to the Miss America Organization’s board of directors in January. Ms. Fleiss, Miss America 2012, previously oversaw the Miss Kenosha Scholarship Pageant.
Through one of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s funding initiatives, Carthage alumna Zawadi Mageni-Mboma ’11 won a $100,000 grant to improve access to medical supplies in her home country of Tanzania. A research scientist with Ifakara Health Institute, she was awarded a
Bryce Ulmer – South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his wife, Ashley, welcomed baby girl Arlo on Nov. 19.
2011
Christina Konecki – Barrington, Illinois, graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in December with a doctorate in polymer science and engineering.
Grand Challenges Explorations grant in November. IHI colleague and fellow Carthage graduate Samson Kiware ’07 is among the co-investigators on the project. While crumbling roads impede deliveries to remote community health centers, Ms. Mageni-Mboma noticed that shopkeepers replenish their kiosks regularly. Under the 18-month grant, the team of five will train some of those shopkeepers to safely transport medicine and other critical supplies. To cap off a memorable month, Ms. Mageni-Mboma got married Nov. 25, with several other alumni attending.
Kevin Plagge ’12 and Kelsey Blumer ’13 – Lindenhurst, Illinois, married June 17 in South Beloit, Illinois. The wedding party included Carthage alumni Amanda Stanis ’13, Brea Beelow ’13, Andrea (Winbigler) Eiter ’13, Samantha (Halwix) Nelson ’13, Kelsey (Frey) Tummillo ’13, Al Smith ’12, Dylan Wells ’14, Camden Harrison ’10, and Nathan Gerowitz ’12.
Katie (Duke) Sebens – Minneapolis, and her husband, Justin, welcomed daughter Kelsey Rose on Nov. 8.
2012
Audrey (Henning) Torcaso – Kenosha, graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a doctoral degree in biomedical science. She defended her dissertation in September and, by unanimous vote, received the rare honor of a Ph.D. with distinction.
James Neylan ’12 and Morgan (Boelkes) Neylan ’16 – Boise, Idaho, married Oct. 14.
carthage.edu
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SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 29-30 IS O N I L L I G N I R E B REMEM
I O N N U E R CAMPUS UR COLLEGE. O Y . TEAM R U O ASS. Y L C R U YOUR FRIENDS. YO
AT CARTHAGE COLLEGE Join your classmates June 29-30, 2018, for the Carthage Reunion Weekend. Renew relationships with other alumni to remember the campus and enjoy a beautiful weekend on our campus in Kenosha. Watch your mailbox for the invitation!
IN MEMORIAM 1935 Virginia (Mueller) Huston
1952 Robert Mueller
Quincy, Ill., Dec. 18, 2017
Northbrook, Ill., Sept. 2, 2017
1941 Miriam (Spielman) Cotanch
Walter ‘Hunk’ Rufus Jr.
Petosky, Mich., July 12, 2017
1944 Ira Wilson Roanoke, Va., Jan. 19, 2017
1948 Stratewula ‘Sug’ (Kehias) Wulfkuhle Whitewater, Wis. March 10, 2017
Ralph Ohde Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 8, 2018
James Ufkes Carthage, Ill., Sept. 23, 2017
Springfield, Ill., Dec. 21, 2017
1953 Donald Reap
1967 Daniel Koby Woodstock, Ill., Dec. 10, 2017
1969 James Hermann Racine, Wis., Nov. 7, 2017
Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Oct. 12, 2017
1957 James Swinburne
1970 Deborah (Molentin) Plutko Elmhurst, Ill., Dec. 26, 2017
Springfield, Ill., Oct. 10, 2017
1949 Connie (Haase) Franke Cedar Rapids, Iowa Dec. 25, 2017
1959 Mary Ann (Baer) Wiberg
1971 Rosalie (Morris) Kipp Allen, Texas, Nov. 8, 2017
Marshalltown, Iowa, Oct. 7, 2017
1950 Delores Prellberg
1962 Dorothy Maaske
Bella Vista, Ark., Oct. 4, 2017
Lena, Ill., Oct. 7, 2017
1951 James Trecker
1966 Fay Niedermeyer
Park Ridge, Ill., Sept. 13, 2017
Union Grove, Wis., Nov. 8, 2017
friends of carthage
Racine, Wis., Nov. 4, 2017
Bettendorf, Iowa, Nov. 11, 2017
1976 Margaret Miller
Sylvia Cooling Janet Kintzler Racine, Wis., Dec. 27, 2017
LaGrange, Ill., April 6, 2017
Indianapolis, Aug. 28, 2017
1955 Janet (Kennedy) Alvin
1974 Albert Clasen
1972 James Spence Sr.
Doris Kurth 1977 Ralph Wilcox
Middlebury, Ind., Nov. 16, 2017
Vacaville, Calif., April 4, 2017
David Love
1979 Paul A. Krueger
Brenda Topper
Philadelphia, Aug. 9, 2017
Kenosha, Jan. 12, 2018
Kenosha, Aug. 11, 2017
1983 James Straulin Johnsburg, Ill., Oct. 18, 2017
1985 Charles Portilia Kenosha, Sept. 8, 2017
Calumet, Mich., Dec. 27, 2017
1973 John Eilers
1997 Heather (Lincoln) Gorres East Troy, Wis., Jan. 15, 2018
Racine, Wis., Dec. 3, 2017
Bernice Ihlenfeld
Jewel Marks
Bernice “Bea” (Hightower) Ihlenfeld ’34, the first woman inducted into the Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame, passed away at age 104 on Oct. 26 in Fargo, North Dakota. Varsity sports as we know them today weren’t offered for women in that era, but the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference did sponsor women’s tennis in the 1930s. Ms. Ihlenfeld won league titles in 1933 and 1934. She met her husband, the late Rev. Fred W. Ihlenfeld, at Carthage, and they moved to Fargo. Ms. Ihlenfeld worked in the school system as a physical education teacher, guidance counselor, and assistant principal. Her induction came in 1986, shortly after the College established the Hall of Fame. Still an active swimmer as she approached her 100th birthday, she was featured in the local media series “Beautiful Women” in 2012.
Longtime Carthage supporter Jewel (Beres) Marks ’46 passed away Nov. 25 in Racine, Wisconsin. She was 94. Determined to enroll at the Illinois campus but lacking the means or family support to do so, she worked tirelessly to save the necessary funds. After graduating, she became a teacher and worked alongside her husband, the Rev. Fred Marks ’48, to develop critical programs in their Lutheran congregations. For years, the couple has supported Carthage students through an endowed scholarship, impressing upon the recipients a duty to serve others. Their gift annuities also helped to fund the construction of Hedberg Library and The Oaks Residential Village.
See full obituaries at carthage.edu/alumni/inmemoriam/
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2013
2015
2017
Elise (Johnson) Martinez – Beach Park, Illinois, gave birth to
Joseph Kiser and Madison Chestnut – Kenosha, married June
Kyle Huss ’17 – Kenosha,
her first daughter. She and her husband, Luis, welcomed Amelia Rose on Sept. 11. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and measured 21 inches.
17 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The wedding party included Carthage graduates Natasha Urbanowitz ’17, Elizabeth Cook ’15, Alycia Stidmon ’15, Padraic “Paddy” Ronney ’15, Cody Houzenga ’15, and Luke Houberg ’15. For their honeymoon, the couple took a Mediterranean cruise. Ms. Chestnut is employed at Snap-on Inc. in Kenosha. Mr. Kiser works at Alight Solutions in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
2014
2016
Pleasant, Wisconsin, earned a Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame Law School and served as the executive development editor for the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy. Andrew is excited to begin his local law practice at Knuteson, Kinkston & Quinn, S.C. in Racine, Wisconsin.
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Taylor Sanders – Lombard, Illinois, earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Cincinnati in April 2017. Taylor works at a community mental health agency for children in Cincinnati.
Staff members from Carthage’s Office of Institutional Advancement participated in an escape room adventure. The winning team included four alumni: Jim Unglaube ’63, Mardell Fisher ’17, Elaine Walton ’79 and Jane (Anderson) Spencer ’80.
Alumni Council Election These candidates have been nominated for the Carthage Alumni Council: • Nathan Giebel ’12 • Julie (Sexton) Justice ’07 • Karissa Rothkopf ’96
Erica Richards – Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, announced her engagement to Gregory Carpenter. Erica is employed by 21st Century Preparatory School in Racine, Wisconsin. Andrew Rosenberg – Mount
announced his engagement to Emily Swanson ’18. Emily is scheduled to graduate in May, and they have planned a wedding for Aug. 10.
• Karl Schmitt ’89 • Jason Wendt ’08
The Alumni Council meets three times a year, and its four subcommittees focus on special initiatives related to the alumni office’s strategic plan. Elected members can serve up to four, three-year terms. To cast your vote for up to five nominees, contact the alumni office at alumnioffice@carthage.edu or call 800-551-1518.
Spring Carthaginian 2018
live vicariously
through Carthage students.
Follow @mycarthage on Instagram to tag along on the adventures of Carthage students, both on and off campus.
Class Notes Submission Form Deadline for the next issue is April 15, 2018
Name (first/maiden/current last name)
Professional Title
Spouse’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)
Class Year
Employer
Class Year
SPRE ADING THE WORD
Street Address
City
Home Phone
State ZIP
Business Phone
News
(attach additional sheets as necessary)
Marriage Announcement
Photos are welcome! (Please send non-returnable photos) 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 Mother’s Name (first/maiden/current last name)
Class Year
Father’s Name (first/last)
Class Year
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/current 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
Tear off this form along the perforated edge and mail back to: Carthage College, Alumni Relations, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha WI 53140 Class notes and photos also may be submitted online: carthage.edu/alumni/class-notes
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Spring Carthaginian 2018
save the date
September 28-30 homecoming 2018 reunions Gold Plus • Class of 1968 Beta Phi Epsilon
alumni events Regional chapter outings Admissions events Networking with students and fellow alumni
volunteer opportunities Join the Student-Alumni Mentor Program Post a job/internship with Career Services Host an event
@carthage.alumni
@CarthageAlumni
Interested in a personalized Carthage newsletter? Please contact us at alumnioffice@carthage.edu
alumnioffice@carthage.edu | 800-551-1518 | carthage.edu/alumni
PAGE FROM THE PAST
A slice of Carthage history from the Staubitz Archives
That’s Dr. Deke, to you When Carthage awarded Donald K. “Deke” Slayton an honorary doctorate in fall 1960, the U.S. space program was brand new. Originally from Sparta, Wisconsin, the 36-year-old Air Force test pilot had just been chosen for the inaugural class of astronauts. When the Mercury Seven weren’t training for a series of manned space missions, they did their part to promote the program. That brought Mr. Slayton, then in his mid-30s, to the College’s Carthage, Illinois, campus. “We wish to honor you as a representative of the men who will become the heroic symbols of our conquest of outer space,” Carthage’s president, Harold H. Lentz, said in conferring the Doctor of Science degree. As the space race escalated in the 1950s, NASA began to recruit military test pilots for its Mercury space missions. Mr. Slayton, who had flown more than 60 bombing missions during World War II, matched the rigorous criteria. Assigned to a 1962 mission that would’ve
made him the second American in Earth orbit, Mr. Slayton was relegated to land duties after doctors discovered an arrhythmia. His turn would come, but not until the other six astronauts had successfully retired the Mercury program and moon landings had become old news. He found other ways to contribute. As director of flight crew operations, Mr. Slayton chose the crew of every space mission in that era — including the Apollo team. While grounded, he did everything he could to regain eligibility for spaceflight by continuing to train, quitting smoking, and reducing his alcohol intake. According to the NASA history office, when doctors finally cleared him in 1970, Mr. Slayton took out a jet trainer and celebrated with an hour of acrobatic maneuvers. At 50, he became the oldest “rookie” to enter space, as a docking module pilot on the ApolloSoyuz Test Project in 1975. The first of many joint missions with Russia, it laid the groundwork for the International Space Station. Mr. Slayton visited Carthage again — this time in Kenosha — in 1977. He donated a display of NASA mementoes, including a small American flag he had brought aboard the Apollo craft. Speaking that day, he disappointed Trekkies by throwing cold water on the scientific credibility of space movies but was predictably bullish on the future of real human space exploration. “There must be countless secrets on our planet and in the universe now that we haven’t been able to unlock,” the Kenosha News quoted him. “… There’s no doubt in my mind that man will be an interplanetary space traveler in the near future. He will unravel space mysteries which will be absolutely astounding.”
DEGREES OF FAME Over the past 100 years, Carthage has awarded honorary degrees to many distinguished spiritual, political, academic, and business leaders. Like Deke Slayton in 1960, the College also has honored some mainstream celebrities: 1972 Frank Capra, Oscar-winning filmmaker 1978 Studs Terkel, Pulitzer-winning author 1991 Rev. Robert A. K. Runcie, head of the Church of England 1993 Jim Palmer, Hall of Fame pitcher 1994 Gen. John Vessey Jr., chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Bob Love, NBA All-Star 1998 Dan Jansen, Olympic gold-medal speedskater 2000 Daniel J. Travanti, Emmy-winning actor 2001 Dr. Michael DeBakey, innovative surgeon Julie McCarthy, NPR foreign correspondent 2003 Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, Navy officer 2004 Paul Volcker, Fed chairman
Explore the rich history of Carthage at carthage.edu/library/archives
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Spring Carthaginian 2018
the tower
Paver Program
Pave the way for new memories at Carthage. A granite walkway lined with commemorative pavers will welcome students to the College’s next residence hall, the Tower. Celebrate the Carthage spirit with future generations by having your name etched in granite, or leave an enduring tribute to a loved one or mentor who shaped you. mark your place in carthage history. purchase your personal or recognition paver online at
carthage.edu/paver
carthage.edu 800-551-1518
Upcoming Events
2018 Athletic Camps
April 5
April 27-28
June 25
Carthage Giving Day
NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship
Red Men/Lady Reds Open Golf Benefit
April 19-22 Presidential Inauguration Spring Family Weekend
May 27
June 29-30
Commencement
Illinois Campus Reunion
June 9 Alumni Event: Six Flags Great America
Carthage offers a variety of athletic camps for kids: Soccer Volleyball Swimming Baseball
Cross Country Track and Field Football
gocarthage.com/camps