Spring 2021 - The Talon

Central Methodist University

TALON

THE MAGAZINE FOR EAGLE ALUMNI

Spring 2021

Vaccine Is The Ticket To Normalcy This Fall

I

’ve never been one to shy away from two weeks like clockwork. We quarantined telling a story. So, bear with me as I tell students, delivered meals to dorm rooms, you a couple of stories about what it’s like cancelled events, and focused on nothing but to be a college president during the pandemic. academics. Student life during the pandemic I’ll probably brag a little bit about your alma left a lot to be desired. mater, too.

After the winter You see, over the past break, we were all 14 months, this college hoping for the best as president’s anxiety level might the second semester have been a tick or two higher started. Our students than normal. Some private and faculty and staff colleges are struggling, the diligently wore their virus is still out there, and masks and stayed competition is fiercer than socially distant. It ever. But everywhere I turn wasn’t long before the at Central, we seem to have vaccine arrived, and problem-solvers who are hope grew stronger. focused on making things A few older faculty better. They teach students. and staff members They recruit students. They (and this senior focus on health and safety. citizen president) Dr. Roger Drake, President They overcome obstacles were vaccinated and come up with creative early. More members solutions. They inspire me every day. of our campus community lined up when it I’ll never forget our fall semester. The was their turn. And when it came time for the academic magic performed by our hard- walk-in clinics down at the Rec Center, even working faculty was nothing short of our students started showing up. incredible. They taught in-person, and they I’ve chatted with a few of them about taught on Zoom. And they helped students the vaccine, and the message was very clear. one-on-one, just like they always do. All this They want to return to normal. They want happened while the virus challenged this to experience campus life at CMU this fall. small college like it has never been challenged And most of all, they don’t want to have to before. We were conducting COVID tests every submit to COVID testing every two weeks and

quarantining if they are exposed. The vaccine is their ticket to that normalcy.

We can’t say exactly how we plan to operate in the fall. Time will tell. But I can say we are optimistic, and if enough students, faculty, and staff members are vaccinated, things will be far closer to a normal semester.

Now, the second story. It’s about Homecoming. We haven’t decided on that either, but we’re actively making plans. I remain optimistic.

I had the chance to attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the Howard County Bandstand back in April, and it was a joy to see so many band alums on the square, not only to honor the memory of a great band director, Paul Montemurro, ’58, but to relive some of their own bandstand memories. It was like a mini-Homecoming, organized and executed flawlessly by Central alums. Quite a few people were wearing masks, and I had the chance to hone my skill of detecting smiles in people’s eyes. There were a lot of smiles. There was happiness and optimism.

There would be nothing greater than to be able to see you in Fayette this fall for Homecoming.

Sincerely,

Howard County Public Health Department R.N. Adminstrator Marsha Broaddus gives President Drake his vaccine shot.

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CMU Senior Staff Dr. Roger D. Drake, President Chad Gaines, Vice President for Technology and Planning Dr. Rita Gulstad, Provost

Central Methodist University

TALON Spring 2021 Magazine

Dr. Joe Parisi, Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Bill Sheehan Jr., ’84, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Julee Sherman, Vice President for Finance and Administration Natasha Wilson, Vice President for Student Development and Athletics

Talon Staff Scott Queen, Editor Executive Director for Marketing and Communications 660-248-6238 | squeen@centralmethodist.edu Joe Waner Assistant Director for Marketing and Communications 660-248-6629 | jwaner@centralmethodist.edu Emily Kesel Media Content Specialist 660-248-6684 | ekesel@centralmethodist.edu Rachel Moore Assistant Athletic Director / Director of Athletic Communication 660-248-6358 | rmoore@centralmethodist.edu

Central Hosts Multiple Vaccine Clinics ........................................................ 4 Homecoming 2021..................................................................................... 5 A Look at the Perry Years............................................................................. 6 Commencement....................................................................................... 10 Alumnus Starts ‘Better Man Records’ in Fayette........................................... 14 Central’s Legacy of Art Endures.................................................................. 16 Jail Sale Generates International Attention................................................... 18 Jumpstarting Business in Fayette.................................................................. 18 Faculty Spotlight on Dr. David “Shane” Combs............................................ 19 Central Keeps Making Music ...................................................................... 20 Campus Continues Virtual Connections...................................................... 21 Families Live the CMU Legacy.................................................................... 22 Fleer Lecture............................................................................................. 23 New Hall of Sponsors Scholarships............................................................ 24 CGES Spotlight: Rochelle Bea and Beginning Futures.................................. 26

Deanna Cooper, ’15 Director of Development 660-248-6397 | dcooper@centralmethodist.edu

Alumni News and Notes............................................................................ 28

Stasia Sherman Director of Alumni Engagement 660-248-6239 | ssherman@centralmethodist.edu

Eagle Elite Shooting Team Off to Good Start.............................................. .40

Contributing Writers

$2 Million Renovation of Clingenpeel Nears Finish Line............................... 45

Grace Stumbaugh, ’21; Jim Steele, ’64

Eagles Crown New Hit King....................................................................... 46

On The Cover: Outgoing Chairman of the Board Tad Perry delivers the commencement address last month in the Puckett Fieldhouse.

Cover Photo by Joe Waner

Remembering Braxton Rethwisch............................................................... 32 In Memoriam............................................................................................. 34 Music Fest Continues Virtually.................................................................... 41 50th Anniversary of Howard County Bandstand ........................................ 42

Women’s Soccer Reaches Elite 8................................................................ 48

Our Mission CMU fosters a diverse and caring community, empowering students to become lifelong learners, committed to academic excellence, prepared to engage in a complex world.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 3

‘A Bright Light’ — Central, Fitzgibbon Team Up in Vaccination Effort

By Emily Kesel

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fter a year of cancelled events, Zoom meetings, and social distancing measures becoming the norm, life has begun to look a little more like it did before the COVID-19 pandemic.

There’s still a long way to go, but on the campus of Central Methodist University and in Fayette and the surrounding area, the effort to vaccinate as many people as possible has already had quite an impact.

In early April, Fitzgibbon Hospital President and CEO Angy Littrell, ‘90, estimated that her hospital had already provided more than 12,000 vaccine shots, and a significant portion of those were administered right in the heart of Fayette on the CMU campus.

“When we became a vaccinator, we started reaching out knowing that we’d have to do it in a mass-vax kind of area where we could have a lot of people,” said Littrell. “We

reached out to the towns that we wanted to go to, places such as CMU, and I reached out to Dr. Roger Drake and Julee Sherman and said, ‘Hey, we are going to have the vaccine and we want to take care of the community.

Could we collaborate?’”

And, of course, CMU was happy to oblige. With the university already using the Phillips-Robb Recreation Center to perform mass testing of its students every other week, administrators knew they had the space and the personnel needed to host the vaccination clinics. And, as a bonus, it would be a convenient spot for the Central community to get vaccinated.

“We were just so pleased that they asked us to do this, because we can help make our campus and our students safer,” said Sherman, vice president for finance and administration. “It’s a great opportunity for our employees and our students to get

vaccinated at a very convenient place, and we have a great facility that can host it. It’s just worked out well for all of us.”

While Central provided the facility and a few volunteers to set up and greet, Fitzgibbon personnel made up the whole workforce within the clinic itself. Littrell applauded her staff’s “fortitude and endurance” throughout the process, noting that everyone working at the clinics still had their regular jobs to do back at the hospital.

But even under a “grueling” schedule of 3-4 clinics per week at multiple locations, she and the hospital staff remained excited to do the work of vaccinating the community.

“It’s really been a bright light for us after all the months we’ve been dealing with COVID in the hospital,” said Littrell. “We did lots of testing, and we’ve treated lots of COVID patients, so it was really kind of uplifting for everyone and there was lots of excitement about being part of something way more positive in terms of the pandemic.”

With three counties to cover, Fitzgibbon has been able to spread its positive impact fairly widely. The hospital has medical clinics in Saline, Sheridan, and Howard Counties and has been distributing vaccines in each.

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Fitzgibbon Hospital staff and CMU past students (from left) Nicole Campbell, Sarah Wansing, ‘07, Angy Littrell, ‘90, and Susan Frost take time to pose together at the Central vaccination clinic.

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But the impact has stretched even farther, thanks to the convenience and ease provided by the Central location. Both Littrell and Sherman noted that people from as much as two or three hours away had made the journey to Fayette to take advantage of the clinics. One such person was Liza Lafolette, who cited the simple process, short waiting period, and proximity to her family in Fayette as perks that made the eight hours of driving (back and forth from Kansas City on two occasions) worth it.

“In Kansas City it’s been really hard to know where and how

New Central Hall of Honor Highlights Homecoming Plans

A Nikole Walker receives her vaccine shot.

“It’s really been a bright light for us after all the months we’ve been dealing with COVID in the hospital” to sign up, and there are limited resources there,” she said. “But I got word that there were extras here. It was available, it was convenient, my job’s flexible, and as a bonus I get to come see my family for a few minutes on the way back.”

Lafolette, whose mother is CMU Board of Trustees member Janet Jacobs, ‘77, is just one of many who have expressed gratitude to Central and Fitzgibbon. Sherman says the clinics have been “wellreceived” by the community, and Littrell echoed the sentiment.

“The community response has been the most fulfilling part of this. There’s so much gratitude,” she said. “They have been thankful. For some people, this is the first time they walked out of their house in over a year.”

With the semester winding down and the state opening vaccine eligibility to all adults, CMU began encouraging students to receive their shots at the beginning of April. The administration hopes that the promise of no longer having to be tested or needing to quarantine when the fall semester starts will be enticing incentives for more students to get vaccinated over the summer break.

And, in the meantime, Central plans to keep holding vaccination clinics on campus as long as there is a demand by the community and a supply with Fitzgibbon.

“We’re very supportive of this effort, and we hope more people get the vaccine,” Sherman concluded.

s if a 75th anniversary celebration for the members of Alpha Phi Gamma, the Mokers, and the members of Delta Pi Omega wasn’t enough, a prestigious new awards ceremony called the Central Hall of Honor will make its debut this fall. Entering the Hall of Honor will be considered the highest recognition bestowed upon alumni from CMU. “We are beyond excited to introduce this new and very significant honor,” said Dr. Bill Sheehan Jr., ’84, vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “We’re pulling out all the stops to make this a memorable event.”

The Central Hall of Honor ceremony will be held Friday, October 29 on the fourth floor of the Inman Student Center. A bust of all honorees will be placed in the Central Hall of Honor Gallery on the lower level of the student center. The honorees will be recognized in the Homecoming Parade and at various events throughout the weekend.

Another large event being planned for Homecoming Weekend is the Alumni Awards luncheon. Due to the cancellation of Homecoming last year, there will be two years of Distinguished Alumni being recognized – nine awardees total. Admission is $20.

While there will be many more events as planning continues, following is a tentative list for your calendar:

Friday, October 29 4:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

Hall of Sponsors presentation / Assembly Hall Alumni Social / Stedman Plaza Central Hall of Honor / Student Center

Saturday, October 30 8 a.m.

Alumni breakfast / Student Center

10 a.m.

Parade

10:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

Lunch until 2 p.m. / Student Center Class photos (various locations)

TBA Football vs. Missouri Valley Sunday, October 31 10:30 a.m. Church service / Linn Memorial 11:30 a.m.

Alumni Awards brunch / 4th floor student center (Distinguished Alumni, 1854 Society, Heritage Society)

Spring 2021 | The Talon 5

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Tad Perry, Nancy Peacock, and Bruce Addison

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Above, Tad and Carolyn, ’66, Perry with C. Fred Bergsten, ’61, (standing) and his wife, Jenny, ’59, (seated). At right, Central’s board of trustees.

“I moved to Fayette when I was six months defining campaign priorities, stewardship as a old and grew up on the campus,” Perry said. board, and willingness to make calls with us.”

“It became a fundamental part of who I was.”

With the campaign going well, it wasn’t Central never left Perry, and he never long before construction was under way for really left Central. the beautiful Thogmorton Center for Allied “Becoming a member of the board gave me Health, a new home for the nursing program a role I could never have imagined,” he said. and health sciences. Then came a much-needed “And it allowed me to reconnect in a way I makeover and modernization of 1960s-era truly appreciated. It seemed pretty natural.”

Stedman Hall. Perry said the selection of the Perry was already serving on the Central right projects was key.

Board of Trustees when he took over as “These buildings represent a whole lot of chairman in late 2014. He started his tenure people and a whole lot of history,” Perry said. with a new president and a monumental “Stedman was opened when I was on campus. fundraising goal. He is ending his time as It had been the last ‘new’ academic building. chairman this summer after what some might But we needed to bring our sciences physically say has been the most successful period in into the current century. We gave the students Central’s 167-year history. the academic experience they needed in “I had the Stedman and with benefit of working “Becoming a member of the T h o g m o r t o n . with three was terribly board gave me a role I could This outstanding board important.” chairs before I had never have imagined ... it allowed Perry is quick the assignment— me to reconnect in a way I truly to point out Bob Courtney, Bob that impactful Shaner, and Glenn appreciated. It seemed pretty c o n s t r u c t i o n — Ta d Pe r r y on campus goes Cox,” he said. natural.”

Not long after beyond the becoming chairman, Perry and his board Campaign for the Heart of Central. launched a $20-million fundraising effort— “I take a lot of pride in what has happened the Campaign for the Heart of Central. The over the past two decades,” he said. “The massive campaign seemed like a tall order Inman Center (2005) is pure quality and is for a small country college, but not to Perry quite impressive. And Classic Hall (2012) and Central’s leadership. The campaign was was boarded up. Getting that renovated was completed in record time thanks to a generous critically important.” alumni base and wonderful friends.

Perry said Classic Hall was “right at our “The consultants told us they weren’t front door,” and the reopening of a beautiful, sure if we could do it even in 10 years,” said modern facility provided a warm entrance to President Roger Drake. “And we did it in just campus. He said it was not only needed for 3 1/2, due in large part to Tad’s work.” space, but for energy.

Drake said that Perry was a leader “not “It symbolized energy and momentum only with his own sacrificial giving, but also and sent a message to the alums and the

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community,” Perry said. “A very positive message.”

A more recent and equally bold board initiative was more about academic technology.

Central launched Digital U in 2018, a $7 million investment in helping students “learn the way they live” by putting an iPad into the hands of all the Fayette campus students.

Academically, Perry played a pivotal role in helping Drake with a dramatic turnaround in Central’s student retention and student completion rates, as well as the institution’s increased enrollment the last three years.

He also mentioned some important work years ago launching the College of Graduate and Extended Studies. “It has been critically important to the university’s ability to make progress.”

But Perry is humble about those initiatives and credits his entire board and President Drake for the accomplishments.

If you visit with him and the topic of legacy comes up, be prepared for an eloquent and thoughtful discussion. Perry loves Central. His father was a legendary professor at Central. His wife attended Central. And he met his mentors at Central.

President Drake presents Perry with an honorary doctorate at the Spring 2021 Commencement ceremony

Those mentors helped shape not only his career choice but how he taught and how he mentored his own students. The mentors were • Dr. Harold Sunoo, who challenged Perry intellectually and forever impressed upon him the importance of research.

• Gil Fleer, ’55, “never said a negative thing about another human and was true a role model.” Perry tried to live by that standard.

• Professor Bob Jacobs “got me interested in political science as a freshman” and handed Perry 10 books to read one summer and told him an exam would come at the end of the summer. “He taught me to work independently.”

• The legendary Dean T. (James Thogmorton, ’43) “was always there, always encouraging. He was so positive and a great role model for me.”

Perry to this day believes in recognizing great faculty members, like his mentors, and honoring their work and their legacy. In fact, he and his wife funded and launched

the Carolyn and Tad Perry Fellow Award, an annual stipend that goes to the faculty member who has demonstrated a genuine commitment to student experiences, growth, and achievement, beyond the normal teaching and mentoring. The university creates a video about those individuals each year.

But that is just one example of Perry’s generosity. There are many more.

Some might say Perry saved his best work for last. When the global pandemic found its way to Fayette in March 2020 and Central students quickly moved to online studies, Perry appointed a Pandemic Response Committee to help.

He brought together the top medical minds on the Board of Trustees, along with former trustees and industry leaders. Perry attended every meeting, and soon, Central’s COVID-19 testing protocols were developed.

And the board produced the cash necessary to purchase equipment and technology for the on-campus effort to battle COVID-19.

“We were far better prepared to deal with the pandemic than other colleges,” Perry said.

“And it was because of Digital U. We really just pivoted to an online environment. Many

other colleges struggled.”

Perry is quick to note that while Digital U positioned Central to continue the academic part of the institution’s mission, the first priority of the Pandemic Response Committee was student health.

“We as a board always understood that we had to deal with academics and the student experience, but you can’t get there without keeping students healthy,” he said. “The Mike Miserocchis, the Nancy Peacocks, the Bruce Addisons, the Jacque Richmonds, the JB Waggoners, they gave their time on a weekly basis and helped us develop a strategy for a healthy environment for students, faculty, and staff. I can’t say enough about their work.”

At the start of school in the fall of 2020, Central was the only college in Missouri with comprehensive COVID-19 testing for all its students. And as the ’20-’21 academic year wound down, active cases on campus dwindled to just a few.

Similarly, Perry’s days as chairman are dwindling. Only a few remain. He is handing the reins to Dr. Nancy Peacock, ’82.

“My job now is to make sure she has the tools and the information she needs to lead,” Perry said. “I need to hand her the gavel and get out of the way.”

He may get out of the way, but he’ll never leave. Central never left him.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 9

Rachel Halupa stands while being recognized for graduating with honors in the major of marine biology.

Spring 2021

Commencement A pair of commencement ceremonies brought friends and family of Central Methodist University graduates to Fayette on Saturday, May 8. Nearly 200 graduates walked across the stage in Puckett Fieldhouse to receive their master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s degrees.

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Prof. Skip Vandelicht, ’77

Prof. John Flanders

A highlight of the ceremonies was the commencement speech by outgoing Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Robert “Tad” Perry, ’65. Perry, who received an honorary doctorate on the occasion as well, compiled some of his favorite advice from “some of the great commencement speeches” and added plenty of wisdom of his own.

One of the main components of Perry’s speech was breaking down the letters CMU into specific advice for the graduates to remember. The letter C, he said, stands for “caring about relationships,” M is for “managing the change that confronts you,” and U is for “understanding the privileges and responsibilities you have.” Perry also encouraged the graduates to heed the words of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church: “Do all the good you can do, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, so long as ever you can.”

Continued on page 12

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Following Perry’s address, those graduating with honors and receiving awards were recognized. As usual, three students were highlighted as the top award-winners based on the opinions of the CMU community.

Central’s most prestigious award, the Selecman Award, this year went to Shannon Peters of Waverly, Mo. The award was established in 1957 by Bishop Charles C. Selecman, a former student at Central Methodist University and a bishop in the United Methodist Church. He requested that the award be presented to the student who has displayed the following characteristics to an extraordinary degree: good citizenship on the campus, scholarship, religious leadership, moral and spiritual qualities, and outstanding achievement.

Peters, a past president of the Student Government Association, certainly fit the requirements of the award. In addition to her service to SGA, she was a member of the volleyball team and a Heart Conference Freshman of the Year player, recruitment chair for Theta Chi Epsilon, and member of the Heart of America Student Association and Champions of Character. A dean’s list member every semester, she graduated with a degree

Colton Skyles, Joshua Carden, and John Tyler Polk with Coach David Calloway

in biology and a 4.0 grade point average.

The Victoria Award, given each year in memory of Victoria Beecroft Cutter to a graduating student who best demonstrated dedication to the principles of Central Methodist University, went to Martina Florido of Kansas City, Mo. Florido majored in political science and comparative religion and philosophy. She was the founder and president of the Philosophy Club, treasurer of the African American Student Union, and a founding member and team captain of the Mock Trial team.

This year’s Human Relations Award winner was Nehemiah Colyer of St. Louis, Mo. The award is given annually to the student “showing the most promise in human relations and human adjustment,” who “attempts to develop the ability to get along with others and work with others.” Colyer, who was unable to attend commencement due to competing with the CMU track and field team on the day, majored in interdisciplinary studies and physical therapy assistance. He was a track and field captain, an All-American, and a National Champion of Character.

Martina Florido, Winner of the Victoria Award

Shannon Peters, Selecman Award Winner

File photo; Nehemiah Colyer, Human Relations Award winner

Brandon Swanson

Achievement Awards Spring 2021 Business:

Estill Entrepreneurship Award – Cole Hortsmann Banking and Finance Excellence Award – Harry Porritt Outstanding Senior in Business Award – Abby Littrell Noble Emmett Baskett Scholarship in Business Award – Madeline Wiseman Gentry Estill Award for Total Business Excellence – Cody Briscoe Susan Estill Award for Total Business Excellence – Ingrid Coll I Kuhle Excellence in Management Award – Bryanna Cribb Business Administration (General Business) Award – Nelida Martinez Hernandez Marketing and Advertising Excellence Award – Felixhy Domingues Nava International Business Award – Rachel Smith Sport Management Award – Lucas Gray Outstanding Senior in Accounting Award – Hannah Adams Lisa Powell Goessling Merit Scholarship – Rachel Smith Shallenburger Accounting Principles Excellence Award – Ashlee Godier

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Accounting Excellence Award – Zach Severns Outstanding Leadership Award – Taylor Dial Outstanding in Healthcare Administration – Anika Kallash

English:

Inscape Art Award – Will DiStefano Inscape Fiction Award – Keagan O’Riley Inscape Poetry Award – Gabriel Walker Inscape Nonfiction Award – Toni Randle

Fine Arts:

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Collegiate Honor Award – Alec Fields Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Scholastic Award – Alex Autry Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Honor Award – Amanda Lewis Sigma Alpha Iota Scholastic Award – Audrey Brandon Hickman Award for Music – Kelly Briggs Music Teachers National Association Student Achievement Award – Addylyn Gabriel American Choral Directors Association National Student Choral Musician Award – Elizabeth Cueni-Smith Dane Nelson Memorial Award – Alec Fields Luther T. Spayde Award – Michael Watts

W.D. Settle Award – Madalyn Bartholomew Martin C. Harrall Award – Austin Schaedler Missouri Federation of Music Clubs Sheryl Crow Vocal Award – Rob Brown R. Paul Drummond Memorial Award – Ezechiel Daos Helen Puckett Thogmorton Award for Excellence in Music – Connor Rich Nancy Thompson Jones Gem Award – Hailey Sage Prof. Paul A. Montemurro Award – Crystal Kimmi Herman C. Byrd Award – Nick Vick Swinney Conservatory Outstanding Freshman Award – Josh Derendinger and Dalton Myler Swinney Conservatory Outstanding Musician Award – Audrey Brandon and Kylie VanGundy Swinney Conservatory Super Hero Award – Jack Fender and Mikayla Kinkead Keith House Band Fellow – Audrey Brandon Band Manager – Madalyn Bartholomew Chorale Fellow – Ezechiel Daos Opera Fellow – Hailey Sage Music Festival Fellows – Austin Bristow and Austin Schaedler Drum Major Award – Alec Fields

Trey Gaedke fist bumps Jeff Sherman, ’86

Left to right; Thomas Oge, Lauren Payne, Weida Ybarra, Paige Barnum, Madison Pragman, Erika Whitaker, Britton Tucker

Nikole Walker

Desirae Martin

Outstanding Color Guard Members – Grace Hartford, Taylor Pennington, Quibillah Harvey, Alexis McClure S. Frederick Rhoads Outstanding Newcomer Award – Cole Nowlin The Phoenix Award – Kayla Wainscott Shop Superstar – Poppy Garner Backstage Magician – Kara McQuerrey Best Assistant Director/Stage Manager – Poppy Garner, Harley Dohrman Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Cole Nowlin Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Kona Asi Best Male Actor in a Leading Role – Rob Brown Best Female Actor in a Leading Role – Catherine Barnard Most Versatile Player – Rob Brown

Nursing:

Missouri League for Nursing Award – Madeline Duren American Nurses Association Award – Karen Butkievich Outstanding Clinician Award – Delsha Sledge Outstanding Scholar Award – Madeline Duren Community Student Nurses Association Award – Melissa Etwaroo Erwin and Hazel Widel Award – Zaria Jones

Prof. Pam Gordy hugs Jacob Moore

Parker Johnson, ’17 and Emma Johnson, ’18

National Student Nurses Association Honor Cords – Karen Butkievich, Emily Hall, Zaria Jones, Melissa Etwaroo, Madeline Duren, Abigail Porter Sigma Theta Tau inductees – Catherine Barnard, Madeline Duren, Emily Hall

Sciences:

Beta Beta Beta Biology Award – Daniel Yarbrough and Amanda Kolbe AED Excellence in Physiology Award – Tate Hanners AED Excellence in Anatomy Award – Lillian Patterson AED Harold Momberg Award – Katie Caudle Dr. Ferris H. and Leona Wood Award – Whitney Pasco CMU Biology Alumni Award – Nathan Overbay GSA Excellence Award in General Chemistry – Katie Weber GSA Excellence Award in Organic Chemistry – Grace McIntosh Dr. Niels C. Nielsen Outstanding Chemistry Student Award – Bailey Stevens and Janie Leathers Chester E. Hanson Outstanding Senior Computer Science Award – Bryce Malan Clyde and Hazel Blattner Mathematics Award – Jessica Justice

Dr. Richard T. Bond Mathematics Award – Jensen Lake Kappa Mu Epsilon Award – Tate Hanners Dr. Jerry Priddy Excellent in Mathematics – Kylie Avery Dr. Glenn R. Joyce Memorial Award for Excellence in Science – Jensen Lake and Jacob Ediger Dr. Larry J. Peery Award for Excellence in Physics – Jacob Sanders Jeff Wilcox “Raising the Bar” Award – Jessica Justice Sarah Rutherford Prize – Matt Klusmeyer Glen C. Riegel Student Award – Alexander Cribb Glen C. Riegel Faculty Award – Ania Slusarz

Religion/Philosophy:

George P. Vogt/O.A. “Berre” Robinson Prize – Martina Florido T. Cecil Swackhamer/Kenneth L. Burres Award – Macy Block Alpha Theta Iota (Theta Alpha Kappa) inductees – Hunter Melugin, Wesley Spargo, Elyse Travis

Spring 2021 | The Talon 13

A Better Man Is Living His Dream, Making an Impact

When you think of record labels and music studios, your mind probably skips right past little ol’ Fayette, Mo., and heads to Nashville, Tenn., or Los Angeles. However, one small recording studio is hoping to put Fayette on the music map.

Tucked away on the Square between a boutique and an insurance office is Better Man Records. It is owned and operated by the Preston Ary Band, which was founded

by Central Methodist University alumnus Preston Ary, ’17. P.A.B. consists entirely of CMU alumni. Their dream for Better Man Records is to create music sensations throughout mid-Missouri and beyond.

Before Better Man Records was even a thought for Ary, he was focused on playing football at CMU and getting his degree in wildlife ecology to maybe someday work for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

One might think he would be preoccupied on the field and in the weight room, but he still made sure to dedicate plenty of hours to what would ultimately prove to be his true passion: music.

He was a part of a cover band called Southern Edge, which would travel on

14 The Talon | Spring 2021

weekends to perform in small bars and venues across Missouri. Meanwhile, Ary was meeting fellow student-musicians who shared his love of music–Kevin Helmerichs, ’17, Brendan Weisehan, ’19, and Andy Wooldridge, ’19.

All were familiar faces on campus, playing guitar for CMU’s chapel band. At the time, Ary was simply enjoying having a couple of guys to play with and wasn’t necessarily looking to create a band. However, before he knew it, a band was beginning to form.

When graduation arrived, the dream of a career in anything other than music was fading. “[Music] seemed to be more fun,” he said. “It seemed to be working out better for me.”

So, with the Preston Ary Band up and coming, Ary headed where up and comers go to chase their dreams—Nashville.

Ary made some valuable connections there. He was able to collaborate with local artists who helped him write and record songs. However, he quickly realized how financially straining it is to live there.

“I had a great time down there,” he said.

By GRACE STUMBAUGH

“It’s just so expensive. I spent more time working than actually playing.”

After getting a feel for studios and record labels in the songwriting capital of the world, Ary was inspired to try his own hand at recording and producing. Fayette offered more than reasonable rent and a central location near friends and family. So that’s where he headed next.

Luckily, Ary kept ties with his bandmates from P.A.B. Most of them lived in or near Fayette. Soon, they had rented a building on the Square, and Better Man Records was born.

Better Man Records is named after a song Ary wrote called “Better Man.” He performed it for his wife Elizabeth at their wedding.

“We were trying to think of names to call the studio, and we didn’t know what we were going to call it,” he said. “Andy, the bass player, said, ‘Let’s go with Better Man Records,’ so we did.”

One of the things that has garnered the most success for the studio is their artist development program.

“Let’s say you want to try your hand at

Josiah Kee, ’19, works under Ary’s watchful eye.

Brendan Wiesehan, ’19, Ary, David Adkisson, and Kee.

singing and songwriting,” Ary said. “You would sign a contract with us, and we would help you write, record, and produce four songs. We’d make you a music video and we’d put it all on streaming platforms.”

It didn’t take long for this program to help boost a nearby artist from Carrolton, Mo. Bryan Andrews signed with Better Man Records and produced a couple of songs, one of which immediately gained popularity across social media and music streaming platforms.

“Liquor and Pills” has more than 650,000 streams on Spotify and about 1.3 million streams overall. Better Man Records earns commission on each stream.

P.A.B. and Better Man Records have not been immune to the effects of COVID-19. In the spring of 2020, P.A.B. was set to open for popstar Bryce Vine’s much-anticipated concert on the CMU campus. However, the pandemic canceled the concert and P.A.B. lost out on an opportunity.

Since then, they haven’t been able to perform much, due to the capacity rules in bars and venues.

“We were supposed to headline The Blue Note in Columbia in December, but they had to cancel that one,” Ary said.

The Blue Note is one of the largest music venues in mid-Missouri. It just reopened, and P.A.B. is working its way into the schedule.

Luckily, Ary is now able to put more energy into Better Man Records, since recording and producing doesn’t involve being around many people. He has some big plans for the studio, and he’d like to involve the Fayette community. One way he is doing this is through drum lessons offered by the lead drummer of P.A.B. As far as his alma mater is concerned, he hopes to one day offer a way for marketing or music students to complete their capstone projects by being an intern in the studio.

And he is searching for a possible intern.

Making music is what Preston Ary loves best, whether it is doing it himself or helping others. He’d like to get P.A.B. back on the road, but he’s really in no rush. As long as he can keep running Better Man Records and practicing with his bandmates, he’s content.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 15

The Enduring Legacy of Art at Central

By EMILY KESEL

T

he Winter Wonders exhibit at the AshbyHodge Gallery of American Art may have only lasted a few months, but the works that made up most of the show from January to April are some of the most special pieces in the permanent collection.

It was neither a show of the most wellknown American artists or a dedicated exhibit to a collection of expensive artwork. Rather, the show was devoted to Central Methodist University’s finest homegrown artistic talent.

The paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures on display were part of a show dedicated to Central’s rich history of alumni artists.

“We’re always trying to use as much of our permanent collection as we can,” said Dr. Joe Geist, registrar of the Gallery. “We wanted to find a new way of showing off some of the collection.”

And what better way to show off a collection of art at Central than with a show of Central artists?

The first time the Gallery did an alumni show was for Homecoming 2001, when 43 artists’ work was on display, dating back all the way to 1892. Unlike that show, which borrowed works from numerous private collections, this spring’s exhibit concentrated on 24 CMU graduates, with all the works

16 The Talon | Spring 2021

in the show coming from the Gallery’s next level, and the rest was history. He took a permanent collection. drawing class as an elective in his sophomore “The hardest part was deciding which year and did well, inspiring him to take more Edna Schenk works we wanted in the show, art classes and eventually major in art. From which Tom Yancey we wanted in the show,” there, he went on to graduate school, earning said Geist. “We tried to show as much variety a master’s degree in drawing and later in as we could.” sculpture. Five years after graduating from And it wasn’t just the most well-known and Central, Potter moved to Macomb, Ill. to prolific Central artists like Schenk, ‘35, and begin teaching sculpture at Western Illinois Yancey, ‘54, that were prominently featured University, where he helped others realize this time around. There were also the likes of their dreams in art the way his alma mater Virginia Monroe, ’70, Eugene Weathers, ’58, helped him. and Frank Steinman, ’36.

“Everyone has a God-given ability,” said Then there’s George Potter, a 1963 graduate Potter. “It’s just about finding out what that is who first came to Central to major in math and going after it. Then you’re following your before entering the Air Force but instead embraced his natural talent as an artist and became an art teacher.

“I never really took it seriously,” Potter said of his artistic skill that he began honing as a child.

“I’d always just been good at doing visual things with my hands and making things.”

When he got to Central, Left to right: Penny (Jones) Selle, ’78, Dr. Joe Geist, and though, Potter had the Nancy (Morrison) Nesvik, ’78, during Homecoming 2018. opportunity to take his Photo by Bob McNeill, ’77. skills and love of art to the

Top left: “Untitled” by Margie McMillan, ’69, watercolor. Top right: “Kaleidoscope Reader” by Eugene Weathers, ’58, photograph. Bottom left: “T Berry Smith Hall” by Ellery Johnson, ’55, pen and ink.

dream, and that can carry you through some pretty difficult times.”

Another Central alum featured in the Winter Wonders show would likely agree with Potter’s statement. Nancy (Morrison) Nesvik, ’78, followed her dream of being an artist and was able to use her gift to help others find beauty in the wake of a disaster. Following Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Nesvik, who lives in Pensacola, Fla., designed a custom Christmas card featuring Santa Claus flying over homes covered with blue tarps, emblematic of the area’s struggles following the storm. The card became so popular and successful in the area that it led her to establish a freelance business, which along with her coastal-themed Christmas cards provided designs for logos, murals, and other art.

But Nesvik, like Potter, didn’t come to Central with a plan to be an artist. Originally, she only intended to stay for a few years

before entering a health program in St. Louis, but she says she “liked the campus and art classes so much that I did a complete turn and decided I’d aim for art education.”

Nesvik’s classmate Penny (Jones) Selle tells a similar story. She came to Central with pre-med intentions, but after a fateful interaction with professor Pat Stapleton in the honors program, she was encouraged to pursue her love of drawing and eventually graduated as a double-major in biology and art. Now an art teacher herself, Selle remembers fondly her time in Stapleton’s classes, such as art history, in which the professor would show slides of art from all around the world on a carousel projector.

“She would just transport us to places all over the world, to ancient Greece or someplace in Rome or to Paris, where they were painting,” Selle said. “It was a very idyllic kind of experience.”

Part of the Central experience that appealed to both Nesvik and Selle then and still stays with them now is the personal connection between students and professors. As two of only around five students in any given art class, they had both the attention and the space they needed to be successful.

“What was so lovely about that for someone my age at the time was the luxury of having the teachers’ attention and not having to carve out a little, niche corner and protect all my art supplies,” Selle said. “That was a

tremendous luxury, but of course at the time, I didn’t recognize it for what it was.”

Nesvik also recalls experiencing the connection with professors even after graduating. She has a fond memory of returning to Fayette with her husband for her 20-year class reunion, when the AshbyHodge Gallery was relatively new. When she and some friends entered the Gallery and were greeted personally by professors Geist and Yancey, Nesvik’s husband who graduated from a much larger institution was “blown away” that the teachers knew who their former students were even after so much time.

“All of us looked at him like, ‘Well, of course they would, why wouldn’t they?’” Nesvik recalled. “That was striking to me, that not only did I feel like I carried their influence with me, but I felt that we left our influence with them also.”

The influence of former students undoubtedly lives on in the hearts of CMU faculty and others still on campus, but it briefly took on a tangible form while the Gallery had so many of their works on display, something that the artists did not take for granted.

“It’s quite an honor [to be featured],” said Potter. “I hope the people that see the work enjoy it.”

“One of the things I value is the connection that I’ve been able to maintain with Central through my friendships and keeping up with professors,” Nesvik added. “And to know that I [was] in an art show makes me feel like I’m still there somehow.”

Spring 2021 | The Talon 17

Fayette House/Jail Sells; Alum Gets 15 Minutes Of Fame

By SCOTT QUEEN

bedrooms and two baths. The jail went back to 1875 and has nine cells and a booking room.

He handled the preparations for the listing routinely, just like hundreds of other listings. But there was nothing routine about what was soon to transpire.

“I got a call from TMZ on Saturday,” Radel recalled. “I Jeff Radel, ’86, stands outside the old Howard County Jail. could hardly hear the guy, but we got fter nearly 35 years in real estate and through an interview.

1,600 transactions, the days and the He must have put a story on the internet deals often seem repetitive for Jeff pretty quick.”

Radel, ’86. But there was nothing familiar Radel’s crazy ride started Monday about selling “the jail” in late 2020. morning.

Radel got a listing last year for a house in “I got about a hundred calls,” he said.

Fayette, a house attached to the old Howard “Maybe 65 of them were from people County Jail. The completely remodeled interested in the property, and 10 were from house was nearly 2,500 square feet with two people who acted disgusted and thought it

A

was ridiculous. The other 25 were all from radio and TV people and other media.”

Radel got more than his 15 minutes of fame. After dozens of interviews and too many inquiries to count, the property sold in a week.

The listing on Zillow, he said, had 1.4 million hits. He said he thinks it was the most viewed property in Zillow history.

But as quickly as the house sold, the deal fell through. And the media machine started up again.

“I’ve been doing this for more than 34 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “It’s been absolutely crazy. It completely exploded with interest.”

The house and jail were sold in late 2020.

And Radel thought he was headed back to his routine, predictable world of real estate. But he was wrong.

“I guess I’m the agent for weird, crazy property,” he said. “Now I am listing an 1870 house outside of Fayette that was the Poor Farm, back before there was any assistance for low-income families.”

Unfortunately, TMZ hasn’t called this time.

Groups want to Spruce Up Square, Jumpstart Business in Fayette

T

he winds of positive change are blowing in Fayette. Three different groups are collaborating on how to improve downtown Fayette and the Square.

The groups have a common denominator, Central Methodist University, and a common goal, creating traffic and visual appeal.

First, there’s Fayette Main Street, a community improvement organization (full of CMU employees and alumni) focused on economic development and historic preservation. Fayette Main Street has just awarded its first grant under a new façade improvement grant program on the square.

Next is the city’s new Community Improvement District (CID) board. A CID taxing district was approved by voters in Fayette, and sales tax revenue recently started flowing into the CID coffers to fund improvements downtown. The CID board has five members that include three CMU alumni and President Roger Drake. The CID

18 The Talon | Spring 2021

could generate up to $180,000 a year.

In addition, the Central Board of Trustees has a vision committee, led by Frank Wallis, ’66, that is developing a set of goals and objectives. The group plans to collaborate with Fayette Main Street and the CID Board.

“We’ve had a (board) committee like this before,” Wallis said. “But things are quite different now. There’s momentum with Fayette Main Street and the CID.” Walls said one of his main concerns is the visual message the town sends to visitors, particularly prospective students and their parents.

“We want to see some beautification and branding,” Wallis said. “And we’d love to see the empty spaces filled with businesses generating traffic.”

Wallis said he hopes that Central Methodist can play a role in helping Fayette move forward, not necessarily buying up property, but perhaps filling vacant storefronts with

artwork or window displays. He also liked the idea of considering CMU offices or alumni activities in the area to have an impact on the “energy of the Square.”

Mike Dimond, ’85, recently moved back to Fayette after a long career with the Boy Scouts. He was hired as executive director for Fayette Main Street, and he and the board have been very active the past several months. Dimond, who is also one of the members of the CID board, is optimistic.

“Our objective is to invest CID funds in the district and help property owners and business owners enhance this community,” Dimond said.

Dimond agreed with Wallis on the need for beautification.

“It plays a huge role,” he said. “The whole idea is to give people a good feeling about Fayette when they come here to work or to shop. And maybe they’ll buy a home here.

There’s a domino effect.”

FAC U LT Y S P O T L I G H T

Dr. Shane Combs answers a student’s question during class.

Helping Students Find Their Voice Combs’ Classes Are Not Short On Fun

By GRACE STUMBAUGH

I

f you ever find yourself on the fourth Combs wasn’t always set on becoming an floor of T-Berry Smith Hall on a English professor. He actually had a bitter Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, you’ll attitude towards writing until he took an probably hear laughter English course at his local and lively discussion community college. trickling from one of the The English professor classrooms. Inside is Dr. there encouraged him to David “Shane” Combs and use his unique “voice” his Imagination, Joy, and while writing, which Harry Potter class. It’s his was something Combs favorite to teach. had never heard from an “I feel like a lot of the English teacher before. All students are responding of a sudden, writing became and getting something out something that Combs was of the class for themselves,” passionate about, and it all Combs said. changed from there.

Before starting at Now, he works to help Central Methodist CMU students discover University in 2019, Combs Dr. David “Shane” Combs their voice in the same was getting his PhD in manner that his English English studies at Illinois State University. professor helped him. He believes that CMU He excelled there, earning numerous is the perfect environment to do so. awards like the Writing Program “[My classroom] is a place where you Appreciation Award and the Outstanding just try things on,” he said. “You try on all Teaching Award in the Graduate Student the ‘outfits’—and you might put it aside Teaching category. when the semester is over and never pick

it up. Or, you might find something that fits you better idea-wise than anything you’ve seen—but just try things on and see how it fits you inside the class and outside the class.”

Combs is currently taking positive psychology classes with a colleague. They know that many students at CMU are first generation and might not have confidence in their writing, so Combs is trying to help build a composition program where students learn about their strengths and values.

“I really like the concept of teaching students to think critically, to understand the world and themselves, and to be creative—but also that they can use any content to get there,” he said.

Combs’ favorite thing about working at CMU is the wide variety of classes he’s been able to teach. Other universities limit English professors to only teaching classes specifically pertaining to their PhDs, but Combs is grateful for the opportunity to branch out at CMU. “Here, I’ve taught composition, literature, and creative writing,” he said.

“We’re not territorial with our classes.”

In his free time, Combs records a sports podcast with his friend and enjoys writing whenever he can. He also loves to spend time outdoors.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 19

Nathan Wren, sophomore music major

Making Music in the Midst of COVID-19

By GRACE STUMBAUGH

P

erhaps one of the best things about being on Central Methodist University’s campus is walking past the Conservatory and hearing the melodious sound of instruments or voices floating from its windows. Mix that with sunshine beaming through the trees and a gust of warm air, and it’s reminiscent of a movie scene.

However, a peek behind the walls of the Conservatory would show that the Music Department has had to make some serious changes to how its members rehearse during a pandemic. Right away, singing and playing instruments were categorized as higher-risk activities for spreading COVID-19.

CMU choirs were especially struggling, as it was extremely hard to hear each other in Linn Memorial during rehearsals because of the required 16 feet distance and the reverberance in the Conservatory.

“Being 16 feet apart was a nightmare,” Chorale Director Dr. Patrick Dill said.

However, Dill found out that rehearsing

20 The Talon | Spring 2021

outdoors meant the distance between singers could shrink from 16 feet to 8 feet, so he tasked the choir to go outside and scout the campus for a new rehearsal spot.

Within minutes, a couple of students returned with the perfect location: beneath the main entrance bridge walking into Stedman Hall.

Now, if the weather is 52 degrees and above, Chorale and the Conservatory Singers can be found rehearsing in that little spot and brightening the day of those walking in and out of Stedman Hall. It might seem like a small change, but for Dill, it was transformational. The members could finally hear themselves singing.

“That was the first moment we felt like a real choir again,” he said.

The CMU band has run into many of the same problems as the choirs. They must wear masks while playing and be six feet apart.

And the booming nature of Linn Memorial has had a negative impact on rehearsals. Like Dill,

Band Director Skip Vandelicht, ’77, has had his group practicing outside when possible.

Chorale also wasn’t the only singing group that had to get creative with its rehearsals. Dr. Kristin Newbegin, who teaches voice lessons, had to make a big change to how lessons were conducted.

“My studio space is not quite big enough corner to corner to safely have the students sing unmasked,” Newbegin said. “Not being able to sing unmasked—especially with what I do—makes it really hard to see what needs to be fixed. I can only use my ears so much.”

But Newbegin had a solution. She set up a microphone in a practice room across the hall that’s connected to an amp in her office. This way, she and the student are distanced but she can still hear them singing.

She also has a microphone in her office that’s connected to an amp in the practice room so she can give instruction. Newbegin and the student will join a muted Zoom call, allowing her to see mouths move in sync with audio.

“I’m using Zoom for the visual, and using the amp and microphone as the audio setup,” she said.

Science Competition day a Virtual Hit Winners Move on to Next Levels

C

entral Methodist University’s Science previous years, but that the quality of the Department played host to two dozen presentations was outstanding. Subjects Missouri high school and ranged from studying the efficiency middle school students over Zoom of propeller designs to using on March 9 for virtual versions artificial intelligence to predict of the annual Missouri Junior cancer aggressiveness. Overall, nine Academy of Science (MJAS) students in the MJAS competition and International Science and were chosen to move on to the state Engineering Fair competitions. level in April.

In previous iterations of the Many of these same students contests, students from all over earned recognition for their projects the region have come to campus in the International Science and with their teachers to present their Engineering Fair, which was also Dr. James findings from a research project “Tiger” Gordon a success despite the challenges of completed over as long as several going remote this year. Normally, months. This year, the projects the event would look much more like took the same amount of work and a typical science fair, with students creativity, but the presentations presenting their findings on posters happened over Zoom. and answering questions by the “They did really, really well,” judges. But this year, CMU students said Dr. James “Tiger” Gordon, and outside scientists were given the CMU professor of chemistry. “The students’ papers and then a Zoom teachers do a phenomenal job of presentation to judge based on a preparing, mentoring, and coaching rubric. them and practicing with them. It’s a All in all, the presentations and Prof. Greg huge time commitment, not only for participation were enjoyable for Thurmon, ’77 everyone involved. students but also for the teachers.”

Gordon, who oversees the MJAS portion “These are kids who love science,” said Greg of the day’s events, said that attendance Thurmon, ’77, associate professor of biology. was predictably lower than it has been in “Since there were only 26, I’d say [the ones that

participated] were even more motivated and wanted to do it no matter what.”

Thurmon and Gordon both praised the work of CMU students and faculty for helping to facilitate the competitions and acting as judges, guides, and mentors for the students.

The Central Methodist Technology Services Department was also crucial in making sure everyone had a sufficient connection over Zoom, Thurmon added.

And while the hope is to hold the competitions in person again next year, Gordon believes the competition serves as evidence that remote participation is possible if necessary.

“We could see in the future for some school districts that may not have the money to provide transportation and a day off for teachers, this could still be a viable option for them, for their kids to participate at a distance,” he said.

No matter the format, these science competitions will continue to be important for the students involved and enjoyable for the CMU faculty and students as well.

“I’m always really impressed with the amount of work that the high school and middle school students and their teachers do,” said Gordon.

Virtual Event Helps Alumna Connect

J

ean Thompson graduated in the past year, the event was from Central College in 1948 moved to an online format. The after having completed Swinney Conservatory of Music her studies as an organ major. and the Office of Advancement She played in the band and the and Alumni Relations took this orchestra and sang in the choir. She as an opportunity to expand the met her husband, Larry Thompson, reach of the annual event and ’50, while at Central. And in 2021, invite music alumni from across she was able to reconnect with the country to attend the virtual the institution that gave her a event. professional start – all because of a The event, titled “Looking pandemic.

Back, Looking Forward,” was held Jean Thompson, ’48 Each January, Dean of the January 30 and garnered more Swinney Conservatory of Music Dr. Dori than 50 virtual participants, spanning across Waggoner, ’92, and others from the Music decades of Central alumni. During the gathering, Department at Central Methodist University Waggoner introduced the newest music faculty gather with music educators and alumni from members and provided insight on the current across the state to participate in the Missouri state of musical performance at Central. Other Music Educators Association Conference. speakers included CMU President Roger Drake, However, as was the case with many events Vice President for Enrollment Management Joe

Parisi, Murphy Tetley, ’71, and Major Randy Bartel, ’92, commander of the U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus in Germany.

For Thompson, the ability to gather with other Central music alumni in a virtual setting provided a way for her to reconnect with Central. Navigating through a pandemic as a musician and teacher has required the 92-yearold to adapt to a changing environment. She hopes to use her newly acquired computer skills to stream upcoming music performances from current Central students.

“Having music and students in my life has helped me get through this pandemic,” Thompson wrote.

Whether they graduated in 1948 or graduated in 1992 or 2020, the stories of Central graduates prove to be much the same: lifetimes and careers full of passion and purpose begin at Central.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 21

Families Live the CMU Legacy The Alexander family gathered for a photo at Fayette High School when V.C. committed to the Eagles.

By DR. JOE PARISI

W

e talk a lot about caring, family, and traditions at Central Methodist University. And by the time CMU alumni have children and those children are college-aged, there are a lot of traditions. They are most often tied to birthdays and holidays, beginnings and endings. The traditions provide a comfortable framework for children’s lives, and they have played a significant role in family memories.

They are traditions that, when one or more are away at college, sometimes are strengthened, sometimes redefined. One tradition near and dear to our hearts is legacy recruitment.

The Enrollment Management team has put a significant amount of time into locating and courting our legacy students. This past year, 49 currently enrolled students were awarded the prestigious Legacy Scholarship. Just as important, 26 legacy students have completed applications for fall admission.

The CMU Legacy Scholarship is awarded

22 The Talon | Spring 2021

to an entering full-time student who is a family member of a CMU alumnus. Recipients of this award complete an extensive application process, which provides a student’s complete application and resume, including academic achievements, extracurricular activities, work, and volunteer activities. Nothing gives admissions counselors more joy than to speak with legacy students.

That said, legacy is just as closely tied with a school’s spirit and community as it is with its recognition. It is the families with three generations of CMU alumni who show up for football games, pose for pictures in front of the Eagle statue with their children, and refer students to express their gratitude for a Central education, and ultimately hope to send their own kids after them.

Recently, Virginia Claire Alexander accepted a top scholarships to attend CMU in the fall.

“It is extremely special to me that I chose Central Methodist University, a place where so many of my family members have attended,” she said. “By experiencing some of the same

situations and memories, I believe I am able to connect with some of the family members I never met and create a deeper bond with those that I have.”

Virginia Claire hails from a long line of CMU graduates.

“My time at Central Methodist University helped shape me into the person that I am today,” said Virginia Claire’s mother, Shelby Alexander, ‘97. “I cannot wait to see how our daughter takes the same experiences and grows with them.”

Virginia Claire’s father, Rick Alexander, is also a CMU alumnus.

“It gives me a real sense of pride that our daughter chose Central Methodist University without any pressure from anyone,” Rick said.

“She could have picked any college in the world, and she chose Central.”

As we continue to identify new prospective students to attend CMU, we would love your nomination of a friend or family member to carry on our valued institution and traditions.

Fleer Lecture Addresses Climate Crisis

T

he 2021 Fleer Lecture at Central Methodist University, was held virtually April 15, featured a harrowing but important discussion of the global climate crisis, led by speaker Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies of Oklahoma City University.

Davies’s lecture, entitled “Where Do We Go from Here: Climate Chaos or Ecological Community?”, borrows its name from a later and lesser-read work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the 1967 book “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?”

King reflects on how far the civil rights movement has come and how far there is still to go to reach the “world house” vision of a global community living in peace with each other.

As King does in the book, Davies presented his lecture by first addressing the question of “Where are we?” in relation to the crisis. And unfortunately, the answer to the question in both cases reveals a “disappointing lack of progress.”

Davies Connects Situation to Civil Rights Movement

“This is a difficult question to address, because where we are is not a good place to be,” he said. “We have not accomplished what we needed to have accomplished before now to put us in a better situation.”

With the situation in a severe state, Davies says, there is a danger of falling into despair, which could lead to inaction. Rather than despair, he suggests, we should look to adopt King’s “meliorism” and accept that things will only get better if we work very hard together to make them better.

As climate change indicators all reflect “the fierce urgency of now,” to borrow from another King idea, action to fight its disastrous effects must be systemic. Individual efforts to reduce emissions are important, but only change on a systemic scale can make the difference needed.

“The only way to address the challenge of the global climate crisis is through systemic transformation of our economic, political, and cultural systems toward a more just, participatory, inclusive, and sustainable

world,” said Davies. “We simply cannot continue on as we are, just making peripheral changes.”

Citing works by Naomi Klein and Elizabeth Kolbert, Davies continued to stress the need for systemic transformation before it is too late. In the last decade actions were taken to begin to address the situation, but setbacks over the last four years have “really hampered progress,” he said.

The climate crisis isn’t one that can be separated from economics, politics, or cultural processes, according to Davies. In order to make the profound changes necessary to slow the effects of climate change, “we have to move away from unregulated capitalism” and “get money and corporate power out of politics as much as we possibly can.”

Davies concluded his lecture by emphasizing the need for a personsin-ecological-community approach to understanding our systems.

“We have to overcome an overly individualistic understanding of ourselves as persons without losing the value of our individuality,” he said. “The flourishing of the human community is dependent on the flourishing of the ecological community.”

The Fleer Lecture series on values-based education is generously funded by Dr. Gilbert Fleer, ‘55 and his wife, Ruth, ‘58. Fleer was an assistant professor of religion at CMU from 1959 to 1965. He went on to serve as a United Methodist counselor for many years counselling young adults. The Fleers’ strong support of leadership training led them to fund the Gil and Ruth Fleer Fund for Excellence in Values-Based Education at CMU.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 23

Four Estates Create New Hall of Sponsors Scholarships

T

he Central Methodist University legacy can be defined in many ways, and each category stands on its own in a rich history and reputation.

While known for its academic excellence, personal learning environment, deep traditions, and world-class athletic teams, Central is also known for its charitable support of the institution.

Alumni and friends have a long history of giving and making a difference in the lives of others. This winter, Central was honored to receive several generous estate gifts, many of which put emphasis on student scholarships. One might take for granted the impact of an estate gift or see it as a mere moment in time. However, in three scholarships alone, 10 students each year will benefit for generations to come.

The Hall of Sponsors endowed scholarships utilize four percent of the interest earned each year to provide annual distributions to help deserving students attend CMU. Enjoy reading about four of the latest Hall of Sponsors scholarships, created through estate planning.

24 The Talon | Spring 2021

Dr. Donald, ’44, and Emily Sheets Estate A gift from the Sheets estate endowed a Hall of Sponsors scholarship in honor of Lloyd Dean Olson, ’41, and Walter Roy Newcomb, ’40, two of Donald’s classmates at Central who died in World War II. The Walter Roy Newcomb and Lloyd Dean Hall of Sponsors Scholarship was endowed and will be awarded to four recipients each year.

Dr. Donald and Emily Sheets spent a lifetime in education. It was clearly a passion for them.

Emily enjoyed a full career as an elementary school teacher. Donald was an instructor in the Navy V-12 program at Central and began his career in chemistry with Monsanto Chemical Company.

Dr. Sheets received his master’s degree and PhD. from the University of Michigan, where he was a research fellow from 1945 to 1949. He was a visiting lecturer in chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., during the summers of 1962 and 1963.

While classes were not in session at the Naval Academy, he performed research for the Navy at the David W. Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center. The Taylor Laboratories were conveniently located across the Severn River from the Naval Academy, where Dr. Sheets subsequently led a respected, 21-year career as a physics professor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., before retiring in 1983.

Articles by Dr. Sheets were published in U.S. government publications and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. For a short time during retirement, he was a consultant with Trident Engineering Associated, Inc., on chemistry-related issues. Dr. Sheets was a member of Sigma Xi, Alpha Chi Sigma, Phi Lambda Upsilon, and American Chemical Society, Division of Education.

Barbara J., ’49, and Wilson S. Bryan The Barbara J. and Wilson S. Bryan Estate provided a gift funding the Barbara J. and Wilson S. Bryan First

Generation Opportunity Trustee Scholarship.

Five first-generation students will be awarded annually.

Barbara J. and Wilson “Salty” S. Bryan of Platte City, Mo., were strong advocates for education and the opportunities it provides.

Barbara was a homemaker, and Wilson was a long-time business owner in Platte City.

James L. Byrd, III, ’52 A gift from the James L. Byrd, III estate funded the James L. Byrd, III Presidential Hall of Sponsors Scholarship.

The scholarship will be annually awarded to a music major who is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity.

Born June 22, 1930, in Cairo, Ill., son of the late James Lanier Byrd, Jr., and Lucille Frisby Byrd, he was a lifelong resident of Charleston, Mo. Jim attended Charleston Public Schools through his second year of high school and then completed high school at the Shattuck Military Academy in Faribault, Minn. After high school, Jim attended Central Methodist University in Fayette, where he was a member of the band and graduated with a degree in

business administration.

Jim was a landowner and the owner of South Missouri Broadcasting Company (KCHR), which he founded in 1954 and operated until his retirement. Jim served with the Missouri National Guard for 16 years and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Charleston.

Jim loved trains, especially steam engines, Packard automobiles, and radio broadcasting, and he was an expert on each of these subjects.

Jim was also known for his generosity in donating pipe organs to the United Methodist Church of Charleston and the First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Elbert “Gabby” Haenssler, ’56 The “Gabby” Haenssler Estate funded the Elbert “Gabby” Haenssler Presidential Hall of Sponsors Scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a physical education major.

Gabby graduated from Central College, now Central Methodist University. He then graduated from the University of Missouri

with a master’s in education. At Central, he worked with the basketball and football teams and played baseball. He was the sports editor of the college newspaper and yearbook. At Central, Gabby began to officiate sports and did radio interviews for a Boonville radio station. While in Columbia, he was integral in developing youth sports teams.

Following college and getting married, he served in the United States Army, then as physical director of the Saint Louis Downtown YMCA. He went on to teaching and coaching – work he enjoyed for 40 years. During his coaching career, Gabby obtained much success and was blessed with the top players.

Highlights include two straight MSHSAA tennis championship teams in 1968 and 1969 and many undefeated freshman wrestling teams as head coach.

He enjoyed serving as a football, basketball, wrestling, and baseball official for 46 years.

He had 36 years with the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, and the NFL. Gabby worked many NFL scrimmage games but never an NFL season game as an on-field official.

During his lifetime, Gabby also enjoyed farming, fishing, garden work, golf, hunting, lawn work, and being a Sunday School teacher.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 25

CGES SPOTLIGHT

Students at St. Louis’s Beginning Futures Learning Center are getting a strong foundation in STEAM learning, thanks to Central alumna Rochelle Bea, ‘14.

Central Has Strong Role In Beginning Futures

By EMILY KESEL

T

he story of Beginning Futures “North of Delmar has been left for shreds; Learning Center starts with two it’s horrible,” said Bea, explaining the photos. simple satellite photos. Director “Imagine trash, overgrown vegetation, broken Rochelle Bea, ’14, keeps them handy on her doors, everything.” phone for interviews about her center to She says that 70 percent of each block in illustrate just how important the community is derelict. It it is. is an impoverished area, and The first of the two while both neighborhoods overhead shots of St. Louis have schools, children who neighborhoods is the grow up north of Delmar community south of Delmar have historically had to Boulevard. It’s a typical play catch-up with their screenshot of a satellite education upon entering map, showing the tops of elementary school. buildings amidst streets and But Bea – along with her trees. At the top of the photo sister, Shirla Lomax, and the is a larger group of buildings teachers at Beginning Futures making up a school. The – is trying to change that. second photo, of an area And it might not have been north of Delmar, is similar, possible without Central Director Rochelle Bea, ’14 also showing a smattering Methodist University. of buildings laid out within the grid of streets Bea first recognized the need for an early and a school among them. childhood education center when her own But there is one very noticeable difference child was having trouble retaining what she between these two photos – in the second, was learning in first grade. She went “on a north of Delmar, more than half the buildings journey” to learn how to help educate her have been traced with pink lines on the map, child better and in doing so “fell in love with indicating that they have been condemned by education.” She noticed that her child wasn’t the city. In the first photo, there are no pink alone in her struggles and that there were lines at all. no quality educational programs for young

26 The Talon | Spring 2021

children in her part of town.

When she began looking into opening a facility of her own, she realized an early childhood center could be the answer and started the process of applying for grants. Her proposal was eventually approved for a grant from the Missouri Department of Education, but there was a stipulation attached. Bea needed a certified early childhood education teacher. She had a degree at the time, but it was in psychology and not sufficient to fulfill the grant requirements. She knew she had to go back to school.

That’s when she found CMU. Through the College of Graduate and Extended Studies (CGES), Bea was able to accelerate the process of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in child development.

“That was a process that really saved our grant funding, because it was an expedited process. [Central] had a very good team that sat down and worked with me to knock out as much as I could,” she said. “CMU did whatever was needed to get me in the necessary classes so that we could secure the funding.”

Bea took classes through CGES at St. Louis Community College and CMU’s Florissant campus, earned her new degree, and opened Beginning Futures, providing a strong early childhood program to her neighborhood

for the first time. And for several years, it has worked just as she hoped. The learning center provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning to the children of a community in need.

But over the years Bea has continued to expand the learning center, and with each expansion, more requirements are put in place by the state and the grant programs. And each time one of her employees has required a specific certification, Central has been “the school of choice, ”not only for the “economical” eightweek courses but also because of the personal experience provided by staff like Regional Coordinator Natalie Morris.

“Without us having officially enrolled in the program, she took four teachers’ transcripts, evaluated them, and gave us the best course to accomplish what we needed to accomplish,” Bea said of Morris’s efforts. “She held our hands as it related to how we would go about taking the state board tests and everything.”

Through the years, five of the staff members at Beginning Futures have earned degrees or certifications from Central, including Bea and Lomax, but the director says she knows of about 20 individuals in the early childhood education business that have similar experience with CMU. The personal touch Bea finds unique to Central has played a role over the past year as well, as the director had been hard at work securing funding for the next academic year.

Despite many other institutions being closed or otherwise unresponsive due to the pandemic, Bea says CMU staff never even gave her delayed responses when she had questions.

Because of Central’s economical programs and personal experience, Beginning Futures has been able to provide a strong foundation in STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) to a community that needed it, especially during the pandemic. Though the center’s enrollment fell during the past year, Bea hopes that she can get back to her original numbers soon and continue to help more children enter school “on a level playing field.”

And with CMU’s ongoing support, the learning center will continue to do just that.

“We secured the grant for the 2020 academic year, we’ve thrived, we’ve shined,” Bea said proudly. “And we have already locked into our 2021-2022 funding to support our community with free educational services during the core curriculum hours for children from the age of three to five years old.”

Ways to support Beginning Futures can be found on their website: https://www. beginningfutures.org/support-us

Spring 2021 | The Talon 27

Alumni News & Notes Looking Forward to Reuniting with Central Family Gosh, I’ve missed you all so much! I’ve missed seeing old friends, getting hugs, raising a glass, and simply being able to visit the campus. The good news is things are changing, slowly but surely. But things are changing. We still need to be careful and take precautions, but we are beginning to see the light. I was almost giddy when I went to get my vaccine, because I knew it would be life-changing. I am looking forward to the day when we can all be together again.

The Alumni Relations team is busy working on some of the annual events we missed last year, such as Alumni Band, the Athletic Auction, Luetjen Golf Tournament, and Homecoming, just to name a few. I’m especially excited about Homecoming this year. You all know how much I love Homecoming, but this year it will be extra special. We are planning on honoring our 2020 and 2021 Distinguished and Young Alumni at a special brunch on Sunday.

I can’t wait!

Are you making plans to attend any of these events? How have you been keeping in contact with your friends from Central? I’ve been so fortunate to connect via a weekly Zoom happy hour with some of my closest friends. I’ve also gotten to see my Alumni Board colleagues on our Zoom meetings. Life has changed so much for all of us over the last 14 months. Our time together and our relationships are so important to living our best lives. Let’s make the most of each opportunity when we can all be together again. Cherish those times!

In the immortal words of that ’70s classic by Peaches and Herb, “Reunited and it feels so good…” I look forward to being reunited with my Central family.

Central Forever,

President, Alumni Association Board of Directors

CORRECTIONS

The Braxton Rethwisch Hall of Sponsors Scholarship (correction to recipient) was established in 2016 by fellow Mokers and long-time personal friends of Braxton Rethwisch. Braxton was a fixture of Central, arriving in the fall of 1960 and becoming a Moker in 1960-61. When he graduated in 1964, he joined the staff at Central, which became his only employer for 51 years. His interaction with fellow Mokers and students of Central for 51 years provided him 55 years of Moker connection with the organization.

Braxton’s time with the Mokers served 71% of the years of the Moker existence! Over the years, Braxton was a constant source of keeping many of the Moker brothers connected to their alma mater, including at the annual Cardinal game each fall. Braxton was also responsible for bringing generations of students to Central. Over the years, his name became synonymous with Central and Central recruitment. Generations of alumni

28 The Talon | Spring 2021

Alan Strickler, ’60, and Joy (Ownbey) Strickler, ’72, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on January 29, 2021.

Brenda (Fountain) Bruce, ’64, was named Professional of the Year for 2021 by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the music education field.

1980s

Marilyn (Bremer) Atkinson, ’81, retired after 28 years with Addison Biological Laboratory, Inc. Timothy Jackman, ’81, was named the president and CEO of Previsor Insurance Company in Columbia, Mo. Jacqueline (Allred) Cheary, ’82, received the 2020 Midwest Regional Welk Resort Presidential Circle of Excellence Award.

Dr. Beth Whitaker, ’82, was announced as the winner of the University of Missouri 2021 Outstanding Teaching Award.

Clarence Smith, ’84, is the coordinator of music at Metropolitan Community CollegePenn Valley, where he teaches Jazz history, music appreciation, and percussion.

Laura Blair, Class of 1986

We feel it is important to note a couple of corrections to our scholarship column in the Fall 2020 Talon, and in doing so share a little history.

1960s

credit Braxton for their recruitment. Braxton passed away November 29, 2020. The ’20‘21 recipient of the Braxton Rethwisch Hall of Sponsors Scholarship was freshman criminal justice and psychology major Matt Barker from Holden, Mo. The Mitchell Jacobs Turnage Hall of Sponsors Scholarship Est. 1997 (corrected spelling Jacobs) was established in loving memory of Mitchell Jacobs Turnage by his parents, Wallace Jacobs Turnage, Jr., ’65, and Edwina Kent Wagner Turnage, ’65, and by the family of L.W. Jacobs III, ’52. Mitchell was the grandson of James H. and Ramah Kent, ’32, Wagner and Wallace J. (Jake), ’39, and Ann Turnage.

Mitchell Jacobs Turnage tragically passed away in May 1997 as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident.

He was 23. Mitchell attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. The ’20 -‘21 recipient of the Mitchell Jacobs Turnage Hall of Sponsors Scholarship was sophomore accounting major Zachary Severns of Lewistown, Ill.

Kenny Wyatt, ’84, head boys basketball coach at Salisbury R-IV High School, was named the Lewis and Clark Conference Boys Coach of the Year.

Scott Garcia, ’87, founder and president of Premier Estate and Income Planning LLC based in St. Louis, introduced a new program called the 90-90-90 Estate Plan.

1990s

Kevin Bucher, ’90, announced his resignation as the State Fair Community College Lady Roadrunners head basketball coach.

Leslie (Peters) Reardon, ’91, principal at Hannah Cole Primary School in Boonville, Mo., is retiring after 30 years.

J.B. Waggoner, ’91, was named board chairman for the Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation.

Tim Edwards, ’92, principal at Boonville High School in Boonville, Mo., is retiring after 29 years.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Johnson, ’72, Helps Find Comfort During Hard Times A book written by Central alumnus Earl Johnson, ’72, could very well apply to those who are enduring difficulty during the global pandemic. Finding Comfort During Hard Times: A Guide to Healing After Disaster, Violence, and Other Community Trauma lays out guidelines for offering solace and support to victims and caretakers alike following a disaster. Johnson is a veteran at offering assistance as one of the founders of the Spiritual Care function in the American Red Cross. He has comforted survivors of September 11 first responders, survivors of the Pulse Nightclub attack in Orlando, and many more. Finding Comfort During Hard Times has been named one of the top 10 health and wellness books of 2021. It is available at independent bookstores or on Amazon.com.

Kerri (Jackson) Greenwell, ’93, was named Wes March, ’06, received the MoDNR’s this year’s Missouri Association of Secondary Directors Award. He was chosen for this School Principals’ Principal of the Year. award due to his hard work and dedication in his role as the project manager for the Kimberlee (Shelden) Jones, ’93, was one of National Geospatial Intelligence agency. the St. Louis area educators who received the Emerson Excellence in Teaching award.

Christina (Thompson) Shutt, ’08, was named the director of the Abraham Lincoln Angie (Conrow) Rogers, ’97, will be the new Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, principal for Laura Speed Elliott Middle School Ill. in Boonville, Mo., for the 2021-2022 school year.

David Stallo, ’08, will be the new principal at Midway Heights Elementary School in Dustin Fanning, ’98, was selected to be the Columbia, Mo., for the 2021-2022 school year. next superintendent for the Moberly Public School District in Moberly, Mo. Debi Bayless, ’10, retired after 24 years at Annalynn Dietzel, ’99, is a CT (Computed Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo. Tomography) Scan technologist with the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital Chris Baumgartner, ’10, is the project in Columbia, Mo. manager with the Alliance Systems firm in St. Louis, Mo.

2010s

2000s

Jacob Heppner, ’12, is the owner of GRIT Daren Dean, ’01, will have his novel The Vale of Performance, a global multifaceted fitness Tears published at the end of 2021 by CJ Press. company in Indianola, Iowa, and a five-time CrossFit Games veteran with three top-10 Jeff Levy, ’02, is the new chief financial officer finishes and a best of sixth place in the 2019 with the Lincoln County R-III School District Crossfit Games. in Troy, Mo. Adam Morton, ’12, finished his second and Laura Bopp, ’03, was one of the St. Louis final term as Mayor of Knob Noster, Mo., on area educators who received the Emerson’s April 20, 2021.

Excellence in Teaching Award.

Aaron Shockley, ’12, is the new director of Julie Parrish-McAnelly, ’05, was promoted esports for Columbia College in Columbia, to vice president at Commercial Trust Mo. Continued on page 32 Company.

The Boys and Girls Club of Columbia has named Tim Jackman, ‘81, its 2020 Board Member of the Year. Jackman, president and CEO of Previsor Insurance, serves on the Central Methodist University Board of Trustees. His award was presented at the club’s first in-person board meeting since last summer. It was inscribed with “Thank you for being the light that guided us safely through the storm.”

The organization specifically pointed out Jackman’s exceptional leadership and safety knowledge while it continued to serve youth during COVID-19.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 29

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Packard This 1941 Packard 110 Deluxe was in Fayette’s annual Christmas parade around the square last December. Representing the CMU Alumni Association, it had been decorated in battery lights by Director of Alumni Engagement Stasia Sherman and alumni board member Parker Johnson, ’17, and driven by owner Jim Steele, ’64, accompanied by Larry Anderson, ’67.

Continued from page 31

Kelly Asbury, ’14, was recognized for several of her accomplishments by the MU Extension Business Development Program at its annual celebration of performance of statewide staff and teams in January.

Matthew Denton, ’15, was named to the National Recreation and Park Association’s inaugural 30 under 30 list for his exceptional work in the parks and recreation field.

Levi Gerke, ’16, received his Doctor of Music in Piano Performance (Collaborative Piano) from Florida State University College of Music on December 11, 2020.

Kelly Neudecker, ’16, band director with Fulton Public Schools, received the Education Award from the Callaway County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association.

Danielle (Jackson) Njeri, ’16, completed research work that helped DOORWAYS, a non-profit organization in St. Louis, land a three-year $1.4 million grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health.

Tyler Hudlow, ’17, is the new head coach for the Chillicothe Mudcats college-level summer baseball team in Chillicothe, Mo.

Long-time friends Sam Guenther, ’51, and Dexter Slagle, ’52, pose together in their CMU masks after being vaccinated this spring. The two met at then Central College and have been friends for more than 70 years.

Parker Johnson, ’17, and his wife, Emma Wyble Johnson, ’18, are moving this summer for Parker to begin the MFA program in recording arts and technologies at Middle Tennessee State University. Parker, who has served as CMU’s webmaster for nearly two years, has been blessed to earn a graduate assistant position in the MTSU campus IT office. His expected graduation date for the three-year program is May 2024.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Limback Continues Her Winning Ways

Kylie Limback, ’18, is no stranger to winning awards.

During her time at Central Methodist University as a biology major, she received the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Excellence Award in General Chemistry back-to-back—once during the 2016-2017 academic year and again during the 2017-2018 year.

Her award winning has not stopped since graduating from CMU. After graduation, Limback headed to Kansas City University

30 The Talon | Spring 2021

with plans of becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. As a second-year medical student, Limback was awarded an Anatomy Fellowship, making her the first CMU alumna to receive such an honor.

At KCU, Anatomy Fellowships are granted to students who show outstanding performance during their training. Fellows have the opportunity to “expand [their] anatomy training by assisting in teaching and lab management, as well as completing a research project for publication.”

Limback says this fellowship will help her increase her knowledge and understanding of human anatomy, gain more knowledge of the research process, and help her lead her own research team in the future.

“KCU is an amazing university, and I am

beyond blessed to attend the College of Medicine program and receive my medical degree there,” Limback said.

Limback is sure that CMU played an integral role in where she is today. During her sophomore year, she was accepted early to KCU through CMU’s and KCU’s Partners Program.” She is thankful for Dr. Tiger Gordon’s help during that process.

“Without the partnership between CMU and KCU, there’s no telling which medical school I would have ended up at,” she said.

“Dr. Gordon helped me figure out the Partners Program application process.”

She is also grateful for Professor Greg Thurmon’s enthusiastic teaching of biology and anatomy. His passion is what piqued her interest in biological science, and she says that his classes are among the few she’s ever enjoyed studying for.

Charlotte Jane Sherman The CMU family welcomes Charlotte Jane Sherman, daughter of Matt, ’10, and Stasia Sherman, and granddaughter of Jeff, ’83, and Julee Sherman. Charlotte was born April 26.

Melissa Jordan, ’17, recently joined EBO MD of Fredericktown as a nurse practitioner.

Preston Ary, ’18, and David Adkisson opened Better Man Records, a professional music studio located in Fayette, Mo. Luke, ’19, and Brooke (Striegel) Knoble, ’19, are directing the CMU Navigators ministry on the CMU campus in Fayette, Mo.

2020s

Connie Hester, ’20, has been promoted to Upward Bound academic advisor.

Dane Korenak, ’20, has moved into the role of Upward Bound academic advisor.

Doug Schaffer, ’20, band director at Mark Twain High School, was named one of Yamaha’s inaugural 40 under 40 top leaders.

Brock Vaughn, ’20, is an assistant coach with the Ferrum College’s men’s soccer team, in Ferrum, Va. Danielle (Benton) Wood, ’20, is the new seventh grade reading

teacher at California Middle School in California, Mo.

Births, Marriages, Engagements

Noel Rilea of Ritenour High School won the $3,000 Overland, Mo. Rotary Club Scholarship and will be attending Central Methodist University. Noel will be studying history. This is the first scholarship of its kind for the Overland Rotary Club. Robert Courtney, an Overland rotarian, is a longtime member of the Central Methodist Board of Trustees and was an integral part in launching the club’s scholarship program.

2010s

Rebecca (Moser) Jeske, ’11, and husband Matt announce birth of daughters Kodi Christine and Kamryn Lea Ann, born December 30, 2020.

Richard Strand, ’10, and wife Lauren (Darby), ’12, announce birth of daughter Lyla, born February 15, 2021.

Levi Gerke, ’16, and Sammy El Ghadab were married on December 12, 2020.

Charles Sudduth, ’16, and wife, Jacquelyn (Hoffman), ’16, announce birth of daughter Kennedy Ann, born January 8, 2021.

Luke Knoble, ’19, and Brooke Striegel, ’19, were married on September 5, 2020.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 31

Remembering

Braxton Rethwisch O A Legacy of Building and Nourishing Relationships

n November 29, the Central community was struck with the news of the death of Braxton P. Rethwisch, ’64, legendary admissions counselor and former senior regional director of admissions. Rethwisch passed away in his home at the age of 78, surrounded by his family, including his wife Judy (Engel) Rethwisch, ’65.

Born and raised in Fayette, Rethwisch graduated from Fayette High School in 1960 before attending Central Methodist College. At Central, he was heavily involved in the Alpha Phi Gamma (Mokers) fraternity and served as the business manager of the Ragout yearbook before graduating with a bachelor’s degree. On the heels of his graduation, Rethwisch began working at his alma mater as an assistant to thenPresident Ralph Woodward. Two years later, he started his tenure in the Admissions Office, and the rest is history.

Rethwisch had a reputation for being an “old-school” admissions counselor who really got to know the students and families he worked to recruit preceded him. His work was fruitful, bringing in an average of more than 50 new freshmen each year and as many as 70 during the great years.

A scholarship in his name is awarded annually to five students through the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling, and a Hall of Sponsors fund bearing his name was established by the Mokers in 2015.

Braxton Rethwisch’s legacy at Central Methodist University is warmth, enthusiasm, commitment, hard work, and loyalty. He remained committed through the years in many ways. He and his wife, Judy, loved this campus and loved the people of Central. He helped hundreds of young people get started with their education.

He inspired them, encouraged them, and happily reunited with them when they joined him as proud alumni.

After an amazing letter from Marian Olson Rusk, ’63, the Talon asked for some of the people close to Braxton to submit memories.

The contributions were heartfelt and articulate. Because of space limitations, we picked the best and even had to edit those quite a bit.

Thanks to all for helping us remember and honor Braxton’s legacy.

Marian Olson Rusk (1963) To all of us who knew him, neither Fayette nor Central Methodist will ever seem the same without Braxton Rethwisch Braxton exemplified Moker enthusiasm, charm, leadership, and school spirit.

He will live in the memories of the countless students he introduced to the possibilities Central offered them for their college careers.

William Michael Reid (1962) I remember several conversations with Braxton that demonstrated his love of Central and what a strategic mind he had. Once, Braxton asked my opinion about several of his ideas, specifically to offer health-related programs off campus at remote sites and via distance education. He believed some major innovations would be necessary to keep Central safely afloat. Braxton took his ideas and initiated the creation of several programs that I believe are now essential to Central’s identity and well-being.

32 The Talon | Summer Spring 2021 2021

Parker Johnson (2017) I will never be able to repay the debt that I owe Braxton Rethwisch. If it were not for him, I likely would never have attended CMU. If it were not for Braxton, I would never have gotten to enjoy the boundless grace, mercy, and limitless blessings that I was given while an undergraduate. If it were not for Braxton, I would never be able to proudly say that I am an alum from the greatest school in the world.

Tad Perry (1965) Loyalty is the one-word description of Braxton’s life. He was loyal to his family, to CMU, and to his friends. He built and nourished relationships. Attesting to this was the deep circle of friends who came to Fayette for the “Thanks Braxton” evening held several years ago and honored him with a CMU Hall of Sponsors Scholarship in 2015.

Dave Bandy (1966) Braxton loved his career in Admissions, representing Central for 55 years, promoting the university to prospective college students who were searching for a path to earn a degree which would serve them for a lifetime. He took a great deal of pride in his work, always taking it seriously, but never himself. He loved to tell stories and jokes with his dry sense of humor. He was always having fun with friends.

Braxton was a man of many dimensions.

He loved his family, his work, and his many friends. His was a life well lived. He is missed by all of us who were fortunate to have shared it with him.

E.C. Walker (1966) I was not surprised when Braxton went to work for Central, just as I was not surprised at how successful he became at recruiting students for the school. In later years, both before and after his stroke, my wife and I were able to attend several of the “Cardinals Nights” he arranged at Busch Stadium. It was, I suppose, just another example of the outreach he used to support Central; it also served as a good way for many of us from an earlier era, Braxton’s era, to keep in touch.

Jack Rubey (1965) Braxton, and his very good friend Tad Perry were among the first to welcome me to Central in the fall of ’61. They made me feel welcome and immediately started introducing me around to others that they knew. This was very helpful to me in getting acquainted with others at Central.

Braxton loved comedy. He had a great record collection of comedians. I think he must have memorized most of the better routines, because sometimes when a few friends would get together for refreshments he would provide the entertainment. He was so good at telling stories and so funny. I loved his jokes but could never retell one as good as him.

Melissa (Missy Ward) Knight (2002) Mr. Braxton was always one of my biggest fans through school! He loved working with me on recruiting days and Scholarship Days.

He would also insist I recruit in the small town of Charleston, Mo., that I called my second home. I loved his smile, jokes, humor, class, mentoring, but above all his faith. He had faith in me that I could not see at times.

Mr. Braxton was always in my corner to do great things, and when he was on campus we would pick up where we left off with the love, confidence, and mentoring that he continued until he saw me walk across the stage in 2002.

He will always be in my corner as I continue to walk in faith!

Jerry Benner (1966) Braxton and Judy rented a cozy clubhouse on the Meramec River just south of St. Louis. It needed a fireplace in order to spend a cozy winter weekend. One could buy a firebox – ready to go, but not Braxton. Fortunately, Braxton had a lot of friends to haul a bunch of large limestone stones and help construct a fireplace from scratch – one that Braxton, after careful study, designed. It was such a wonderful fireplace that the landlord who completely refurbished the clubhouse in the 2000s kept the fireplace. Fortunately, they did not keep the old bathroom, which at one time needed complete plumbing and an actual door – one so small that an individual’s weight could be a concern. The cost of a visit to the clubhouse usually came with a project to be completed – a visit of good times and some beer.

Wallace Turnage Jr. (1965) I always knew Braxton as a self-starter and a take-charge person. He also had a great sense of humor and a good wit. He was always there if you needed anything. As an example, late in life, when visiting in St. Louis I had an episode with my back, which resulted in excruciating pain, and had no way to get to the Barnes Hospital emergency room. However, after one telephone call Braxton was there and rushed to my aid. It exemplifies the saying that “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

In top photo, Braxton in the early years.

Next, Braxton shares a moment with his 50 year reunion class from CMU. Third, President Drake speaks about Braxton at his Hall of Sponsors dedication in 2016.

Last, Board of Trustees chairman Tad Perry bestows an honorary doctorate.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 33

Martha Rogers Holman, ’47, Passes Away

M

artha Rogers Holman, 95, passed away peacefully January 5, 2021, at the longtime Rogers family home on Church Street in bucolic Fayette. She was born Martha Leola Rogers in Jefferson City, Mo., on June 6, 1925, and spent most of her life in Fayette.

Central basketball games were a favorite pastime for Martha and her husband, Bill.

They were locally famous for passing out lollipops to players at the conclusion of games. Bill died December 12, 2009.

Martha was the daughter of the late Daniel Carle “DC” and Emma (Dixon) Rogers. DC Rogers was an attorney, cattle rancher, and former mayor of Fayette. DC and Emma Rogers raised five children in Fayette: Dixon, Sarah, Martha, Dan, and Clyde. All five children went on to earn advanced college degrees.

Dixon and Dan were West Point graduates.

The Rogers household was a collection of formidable intellects, and Martha was no exception. She was especially proficient in music, math, and foreign languages.

Martha graduated from Central Methodist College in 1947. During her college years, she was homecoming queen, an honor student, and drum majorette of the marching band.

After a 1947 post-graduation tour of Europe, she married Robert J. “Bob” Bricker in Glendale, Calif. Bob was attending Occidental College, where he played football.

Throughout their marriage, Martha and Bob lived in Glendale; St. Joseph, Mo.; Port Isabel, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and Lake of the Forest, Kan. They had four children: John, Kathryn, Patricia, and Karl.

Martha and Bob divorced in 1970, and Martha began a new chapter in her life.

She moved to Lawrence, Kan., home of the University of Kansas, where she became house mother for the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

During her time in Lawrence, Martha earned a master’s degree in mathematics at KU. Martha became reacquainted with Lt. Colonel William “Bill” Holman in 1985. Bill and she had been friends many years ago when they were both students at Central

34 The Talon | Spring 2021

in Fayette. They were married November 1, 1986. Bill and Martha made Fayette their home and traveled the world together.

Martha became stepmother to Bill’s four children: David Holman, John Michael Holman, Steve Holman, and Carol Chafee.

Martha and Bill were very active in the Fayette community. Central always held a special place in their hearts as they funded three different Hall of Sponsors Scholarships.

As a couple, they took part in the American Legion, FAHA, Main Street, and FayetteArmstrong Community Betterment, and served as docents for CMU’s Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art. As recently as 2017, the Bill and Martha Holman Collection was on display in the gallery, featuring 68 works from 17 different artists. Upon Martha’s death, the collection has been donated to the Gallery and portions are now on display in the current exhibit.

Survivors include her four children: Karl

(Debbie) Bricker of Lenexa, Kan., John Bricker of Southport, Conn., Patricia Bricker of Kansas City, Mo., and Kathryn (Frank) D’Angelo of Zephyr Cove, Nev.; four stepchildren: David Holman, John Michael (Cynthia) Holman, Steve Holman, and Carol Chafee, all of Fayette; and numerous grandchildren, step grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with nieces and nephews.

The family wants to give special thanks to Martha’s niece, Becky York, for the love and support she provided Martha.

A celebration of Martha’s life is planned in Fayette on June 6, 2021, her 96th birthday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the William S. and Martha Rogers Holman Scholarship at Central Methodist University. Memorials may be sent to 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, MO 65248. Final arrangements are under the direction of Friemonth-Freese Funeral Service of Fayette.

In Memoriam 1940s

Lois A. Williams Vanatta, ’42, of Palm Bay, Fla., died March 25, 2021.

Wanda Groce Theriac, ’47, of Chesterfield, Mo., died Feb. 5, 2021.

Eva L. Hensley Steger, ’47, of Urbana, Ill., died Oct. 27, 2020.

John Richard Johnson, ’48, of Brookfield, Mo., died Oct. 30, 2020.

Patricia N. Sasse Kirby, ’48, of Columbia, Mo., died Oct. 15, 2020.

Helen L. Johnson Matkins, ’48, of Meadville, Mo., died Oct. 30, 2020.

J. Bryan Weston, ’48, of Quincy, Ill., died Jan. 28, 2021.

Barbara J. Gunn Bryan, ’49, of Platte City, Mo., died Jan. 30, 2021.

Louis M. Guerrieri, ’49, of San Carlos, Calif., died Nov. 12, 2020.

1950s

CMU Loses Professor Jackie Anson Beloved Researcher, Teacher of Psychology

D

r. Jacqueline Anson, a beloved new ideas led her to receiving master’s and member of the doctoral degrees in social Central Methodist psychology from the University faculty, passed University of Colorado and away suddenly at her home the University of Rochester, on November 22. Anson was respectively.

57 years old.

Upon earning her Anson, who joined the doctorate, Anson accepted CMU faculty in August of a position at Central, where 2012, was a committed and she would come to be passionate teacher who had a known and appreciated for positive impact on countless her honesty and openness students. As an associate in the classroom. She was professor of psychology, she also working to form a new worked tirelessly to help psychology research lab for each of her students reach students who shared her their full potential. love of conducting research.

Dr. Jaqueline Anson “Those who knew Jackie Anson is survived by her will remember her as a force of nature. Her husband of 31 years, Ned Anson; daughter authenticity and intellectual curiosity made Alison (Benjamin) Gregory of Boulder, Colo.; her a favorite in the classroom, as well as an her parents, Joseph and Janice (DeWerff) amazing friend. She will be deeply missed Fellin of Waterloo, Ill.; sister, Jody Garstang of by family, co-workers, friends, and former Waterloo, Ill.; and nephew, Logan Garstang of students,” said Carrie Strodtman, Anson’s Waterloo, Ill. close friend and the CMU director of digital A memorial service honoring the life of Dr. learning.

Jackie Anson will be held at a later date.

Jacqueline Marie Anson was born January The family requests that memorial 12, 1963, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Joseph and contributions to be sent to Dr. Jacqueline M. Janice Fellin. She attended middle school in Anson Psychology Research Lab at CMU, in Fayette before graduating from high school in care of Friemonth-Freese Funeral Service, 174 Illinois. Her love for learning and exploring Hwy. 5 & 240 N., Fayette, MO 65248.

Doris Torode Moulder, ’50, of Kansas City, Mo., died Dec. 13, 2020.

Robert L. Sears, ’50, of Fennville, Mich., died Oct. 18, 2020.

Carolyn N. Rhodes Chaney, ’51, of Florissant, Mo., died Dec. 16, 2020.

Doris L. Hurst Franklin, ’51, of Saint Joseph, Mo., died Dec. 8, 2020.

James Lanier Byrd III, ’52, of Charleston, Mo., died Oct. 9, 2020.

James George Marcantonio, ’52, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Feb. 27, 2021.

Patricia Owen Snowden, ’52, of Overland Park, Kan., died Nov. 28, 2020.

Doris Wilkerson Viertel, ’52, of Boonville, Mo., died Oct. 31, 2020.

Sammie F. Blakely, ’53, of Fayette, Mo., died Jan. 15, 2021.

Cleo Robert Colville, ’53, of Amazonia, Mo., died Oct. 11, 2020.

Peggy Gardner Daniels, ’53, of Mendon, Mo., died Jan. 11, 2021.

Helen Virginia Held Griese, ’54, of Saint Charles, Mo., died Dec. 4, 2020.

Jane Ash Belew, ’56, of Chesterfield, Mo., died March 4, 2021.

William Eugene Borchardt, ’56, of North Mankato, Minn., died Jan. 3, 2021.

Albert Owen Griese, ’56, of Saint Charles, Mo., died Nov. 26, 2020.

Donald R. Sipes, ’56, of Green Bay, Wis., died Oct. 17, 2020.

James L. Beckett, ’57, of Columbia, Mo., died Feb. 17, 2021.

Charles M. Miller, ’57, of Greer, S.C., died Dec. 3, 2020.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 35

Wayne C. Kidwell, ’58, of Saint Louis, Mo., died Nov. 2, 2020.

Larry W. Sonner, ’58, of Johnston, Iowa, died Nov. 27, 2020.

William F. Crigler, ’59, of Raton, N.M., died Dec. 26, 2020.

Gale L. Lane, ’59, of Douglas, Wyo., died Jan. 21, 2021.

David Mack Stewart, ’59, of Marble Hill, Mo., died Oct. 12, 2020.

Jerry W. Watson, ’59, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Jan. 18, 2021.

1960s

Daniel Woods Deiter, ’62, of Columbia, Mo., died Nov. 17, 2020.

Barbara Ann Shafer Michalski, ’63, of Bel Aire, Kan., died Nov. 23, 2020.

Judith Lynn Hawkins Burge, ’64, of Sikeston, Mo., died Mar. 30, 2021.

Leslie Ray Grimes, ’65, of O’Fallon, Mo., died Oct. 10, 2020.

E. Christine Godfrey Keefer, ’66, of Saint Louis, Mo., died Dec. 23, 2020.

Linda Davis Clark, ’68, of Jonesboro, Ark., died Dec. 12, 2020.

Thomas Leo Fuemmeler, ’68, of Camdenton, Mo., died March 9, 2021.

Jimmy Wayne Newsom, ’68, of Dalton, Mo., died Jan. 25, 2021.

1970s

Thomas W. Kimberlin, ’70, of Saint Louis, Mo., died Oct. 5, 2020.

Jerry Trump, ’71, of Saint Charles, Mo., died Feb. 4, 2021.

Levern Gaskins Jr., ’72, of Bridgeport, Conn., died Oct. 19, 2020.

David L. Lohmeyer, ’73, of Covington, La., died Mar. 14, 2021.

Steven L. Roedner, ’73, of Saint Louis, Mo., died Jan. 22, 2021.

Steven L. Dunnegan, ’75, of Fenton, Mo., died Jan. 9, 2021.

D. Thomas Arnold, ’79, of Columbia, Mo., died Nov. 5, 2020.

David B. Goodwin, ’79, of Chillicothe, Mo., died Feb. 3, 2021.

Michael J. Partise, ’79, of Glasgow, Mo., died Feb. 27, 2021.

1980s

Kathryn L. Frala Martin, ’80, of Columbia, Mo., died Feb. 21, 2021.

Velda L. Davidson, ’81, of Moberly, Mo., died Nov. 30, 2020.

Bernard King, ’82, of Columbia, Mo., died Dec. 23, 2020.

Everett D. Johnson, ’86, of Saint Louis, Mo., died Oct. 30, 2020.

36 The Talon | Spring 2021

Dr. Joseph Swisher, ’56

J

oseph Vincent Swisher, 88, of Brighton, Mich., died April 18, 2020. He was born January 12, 1932, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Joe Kenneth and Dorothy DeFonds Swisher. He graduated from Fredericktown, Mo. High School and Central Methodist College. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Missouri and was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at Purdue University before becoming a professor of chemistry at the University of Detroit-Mercy, a position he held until retirement.

He married Mary Redfield and they had three children. The couple later divorced, and in 1983, he married Judith Muenze and moved to Brighton.

Survivors include his daughter, Catherine Victor, a son, William Swisher, five granddaughters, and a step-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith; a daughter, Margaret Dawson; and a brother, Carl Swisher.

Graveside services were private.

Earl W. Salmons Jr., ’87, of Columbia, Mo., died March 3, 2021.

Catherine Irene Tolson, ’87, of Moberly, Mo., died March 1, 2021.

Shannon Lea Hanks Platero, ’89, of Columbia, Mo., died Nov. 4, 2020.

1990s

Anton J. Gerke, ’92, of Brunswick, Mo., died Oct. 17, 2020.

Jean Marie Taylor, ’95, of Washington, Mo., died Feb. 20, 2021.

Michael Dale Newman, ’99, of Fayette, Mo., died Nov. 17, 2020.

Ellen Anne Ralston Sherwood, ’92, of Higbee, Mo., died Nov. 7, 2020.

2010s

Glen Nelson Thurman, ’10, of Columbia, Mo., died Jan. 24, 2021.

CMU Friends, Former Faculty, Staff

Jerry Eugene Brown of Grantville, Kan., died Jan. 25, 2021.

Richard Copeland of Glasgow, Mo., died Dec. 16, 2020.

C. Bryon Gilbreath of Raymore, Mo., died Jan. 29, 2021.

Treva S. Hall of Springfield, Mo., died Dec. 17, 2020.

Major D. Hammett of Independence, Mo., died March 29, 2021.

Renee Bertha Johnmeyer of Fayette, Mo., died Feb. 20, 2021.

Merlin Kreutzer of Fayette, Mo., died Nov. 20, 2020.

Julia M. Lay of Fayette, Mo., died Jan. 27, 2021.

John R. Lewis of Lee’s Summit, Mo., died Oct. 17, 2020.

Elizabeth Marchbank of Saint Louis, Mo., died Feb. 5, 2021.

Dona M. Marlow of Pekin, Ill., died Nov. 19, 2020.

Bonnie J. Moser of Franklin, Mo., died Nov. 4, 2020.

Mary Pannier of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died Oct. 7, 2020.

Valerie J. Penn of Chico, Calif., died March 27, 2021.

James L. Smith of Independence, Mo., died Feb. 2, 2021.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 37

New Employees Join CMU Team Adam Bordoni - Housekeeping Supervisor The newest housekeeping supervisor in plant operations at Central Methodist University is Adam Bordoni, a Fayette resident with years of experience as a maintenance technician and coordinator.

Originally from Eolia, Mo., Bordoni graduated from Clopton High School before attending Westminster College in Fulton. After college, he worked various jobs in Columbia while living there, including his most recent postings at Missouri Employers Mutual and Missouri United Methodist Church.

Now living in Fayette with his family, Bordoni says he is excited to be supervising the custodial department and will bring a lot from his past experience.

In his free time, he says he enjoys “all outdoor activities no matter the weather,” as well as a good book and a game of chess.

Dakota Melkersman - Admissions Counselor Dakota Melkersman, ’13, is back for an encore at his alma mater.

Melkersman was employed as an admissions counselor at Central for about three years from 2015 to 2018, but is now the new assistant director of admissions and transfer services, a role he is eager to have the opportunity to fill.

“I think the thing I’m most excited about is that recruiting is not only getting more challenging each year but the fact that we’re in the middle of a pandemic is making things a little bit tougher, which I see as an exciting challenge,” he said. “I’m super excited about finding unique and creative ways to go about showing people all that CMU has to offer.”

Outside of work, the Boonville resident says his hobbies include keeping his house clean and spending time with the two little boys he is in the process of adopting into his family.

38 The Talon | Spring 2021

Chloe Cole - Admissions Counselor The beginning of the 202021 academic year didn’t start out quite the way Chloe Cole expected.

She returned to campus in August and tested positive for COVID-19. Although she showed no symptoms, she continued to test positive in the following weeks and was not allowed back on campus. Now COVIDfree, Cole is back on campus, but in another capacity: as an employee. She serves as an admissions counselor.

“I’m excited to be back here and to help students get to have the experience that I had as a student, because it’s an awesome place,” said Cole.

As a former student ambassador, Cole has had prior involvement with the Admissions Department and is no stranger to campus tours. And as a member of Kappa Beta Gamma, she can also attest to Central’s student life experience, making her an ideal spokesperson for CMU’s recruiting efforts.

Aside from school and work, Cole says she enjoys spending time outside “adventuring” and hanging out with her family.

Jake Goslin - Admissions Counselor Jake Goslin joined Central Methodist University’s admissions staff as a counselor in November.

After graduating from the University of Missouri, he returned to his high school alma mater, Lutheran St. Charles, and taught English and physical education and coached the wrestling team. After four years, he left to join an educational technology startup company, where his passion for helping students was further cultivated. There, he helped students find their best opportunity after high school.

“What I’m really excited about is being back in a role where I’m working with students again and helping them find a way

to pursue their opportunities, and hopefully doing it in a way that’s cost effective and efficient for them,” he said.

Aside from his role as an admissions counselor, Goslin works with the Eagle men’s wrestling team as a volunteer coach alongside Head Coach Terrel Wilbourn. Outside his educational and coaching work, he runs a pair of small businesses and spends most of his downtime with his wife and two dogs.

Benjamin Batten - Technology Services Central Methodist University’s newest employee in the Technology Services office is Benjamin Batten, a selftaught computer support specialist who says he’s excited to begin his new job.

Since graduating from Linn High School in 2016, Batten has been working in various information technology roles, including as a security specialist for IBM. After that, he landed a role as the onsite IT coordinator for the Fayette School District.

Batten’s job at Central is similar to that experience, helping faculty, staff, and students with hardware and software problems as they come up.

“Working for any university is usually pretty exciting,” Batten said, adding that Central itself appears to be a working environment with a “homey” atmosphere, rather than a high-stress situation that IT positions can sometimes be.

Aside from his work life, Batten says he spends his time studying other sciences, including meteorology and physics, as well as engineering. He also describes himself as “kind of a foodie” and enjoys cooking in his spare time.

Destiny Stallo - CGES Academic Specialist Central Methodist University alumna Destiny Stallo, ’18, has been busy earning a master’s degree in forensic psychology from Liberty University and starting on

her doctoral work in philosophy and criminal justice, which she plans to complete by the summer of 2023.

But in the meantime, Stallo has returned to her alma mater to become the newest employee in the Registrar’s Office, taking over the role of CGES academic specialist.

“I’ve always loved CMU. It’s always been my second home,” said the former Pi Lambda Alpha president, who started her new job on December 7. “Being back is nice, because people already know you and you know that you’re going to love being on campus.”

In her new position, Stallo is responsible for the coordination of billing processes, monitoring student accounts, and providing backup to others in the office.

A Salisbury native, Stallo likes to spend her free time outdoors hunting, fishing, and playing with her four dogs on the family farm.

Central, Bedsaul worked at a marketing agency in Columbia, Mo., where she created digital advertisements and print designs while customizing logos and branding for businesses. She previously worked for the Jefferson City News Tribune.

Bedsaul is excited to dig in to her new role at CMU. “I’m used to 400 projects going on at once,” she said. “I was constantly doing stuff—juggling everything at once. With social media, you have all of these different platforms, and you have to keep track of everything and follow a schedule, so I think I’m well-prepared for this,” she said.

As for her home life, she lives in Columbia with her boyfriend. The two of them love spending time outdoors “doing anything and everything.” She also enjoys spending time outside with her two “big, hairy dogs.”

Alex Westhues - Assistant Coordinator of Student Life Central Methodist University’s Office of Student Development had a new assistant coordinator of student life this semester, Liberty, Mo., native Alex Westhues.

Westhues, who began his new job at Central on January 4, came in ready and raring to get started with planning the best possible events for CMU students. With experience in scheduling and coordinating events for Moberly Parks and Recreation and with the Student Activities Council as a student at Northwest Missouri State University, he certainly has the skills and the passion necessary for the job.

As CMU students prepared to return to campus for the spring semester, Westhues said he was looking forward to planning events for them and, though they were limited under COVID-19 protocols, getting intramural sports up and running.

Aside from his work life, Westhues says he enjoys being active and spending time with his family in the area, including his fiancé.

Brandon Pierce -­­ Bowling Coach Central Methodist University introduced its new men’s and women’s bowling coach in January, Brandon Pierce.

Memory Lanes in Moberly will be CMU bowling’s new home when the program launches in the fall.

Pierce, of Moberly, is no stranger to Memory Lanes. He has been bowling there for more than 20 years.

“I’m on Cloud Nine,” Pierce said. “I’m very excited to be the CMU bowling coach. It’s a big challenge to start up a new program, and I’m up for it.”

Pierce has an extensive bowling resume and hits about 30 tournaments per year. Forty times in his career, he’s notched perfect 300 games. He also holds house records at Memory Lanes and at Glasgow Lanes.

“We are delighted to have Brandon join our team,” said Dr. Joe Parisi, vice president for enrollment management at CMU. “Not only does Brandon have the bowling skill and leadership abilities to run our program, but he’s got a ton of passion and will be a dynamite recruiter for our team.”

Katie Bedsaul - Marketing Social Media Specialist Central Methodist University welcomed Katie Bedsaul to the Marketing Department as the institution’s social media specialist.

Prior to coming to

Tevin Riddle ­­- Assistant Track Coach The Central Eagles track and field team welcomed a new assistant coach this spring, former NCAA Division II national qualifier Tevin Riddle.

Riddle, who competed

in sprints and jumps while attending Saint Joseph’s College and Malone University, joined the team on April 1 and got right to work helping the teams throughout the season.

Prior to joining the CMU coaching staff, Riddle worked as the graduate assistant coach at Olivet Nazarene University. There, he received a master’s degree in organizational leadership and coached numerous allconference athletes, conference champions, and national qualifiers.

“I want to pass on the knowledge that I have learned to the athletes, so that their passion grows just as mine has, leading them to be successful,” said Riddle. “I’m looking forward to helping athletes reach their full potential, helping them grow not only as athletes but as people.”

Kasey Fleming - Academic Advisor, Center for Learning and Teaching Eureka native Kasey Fleming joined the Central Methodist University Center for Learning and Teaching in April as the new academic advisor for incoming students.

After completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri, Fleming worked at the university as a transfer admissions coordinator, but prior to that work she spent time in the Academic Advising Office. There, she developed a passion for advising and realized she could make a career of it.

“I’ve known I wanted to be an advisor since my junior year of undergrad,” Fleming said.

“I’m a people person, I like to talk to people, and that’s kind of what led me to wanting to do advising.”

In her new role, Fleming is already hard at work assisting students in registering for their fall classes, but down the road she is looking forward to getting more involved with welcoming the new class of freshmen to CMU. “I’m excited to be their first professional advisor here and to get to meet with students and learn more about them and make sure that they feel comfortable and at home here,” she said.

Outside of work, Fleming lives in Columbia with her boyfriend and their two cats, Martha and Sully. She enjoys playing board games and video games, as well as watching TV and movies.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 39

Pi Lambda Alpha President Katelyn Streeter (foreground) and Mikayla Strum (background)

Taylor Williams kneels while aiming at a target.

Captain Tristan Riggs, John Schell, and professor Marco Tapia

CMU Eagle Elite Shooting Team Begins Competition

C

entral Methodist’s new shooting team is proud of the fact that it overcame a pandemic to open its inaugural season.

Under the direction of Professor Marco Tapia, a former law enforcement officer, the Pi Lambda Alpha criminal justice fraternity at CMU has already participated in two shooting competitions. But it took some time to get to this point.

Tapia remembers the moment just over a year ago when he took the wishes of Central’s criminal justice students to the president – asking to create the shooting team. He and President Roger Drake had a spirited conversation and, “I must have answered all of his concerns because at the end of the meeting, he agreed to move forward,” Tapia said.

Five days later, campus shut down because of the pandemic and classes were online.

“We had some obstacles,” Tapia said.

“But the support from the administration has been incredible. Dr. Drake and Dr. Rita Gulstad, our provost, have been so supportive.

“Tristan Riggs (team captain) and I spent our time in lockdown getting the proper instructor certifications and safety

40 The Talon | Spring 2021

certifications,” Tapia said. “But the real program building didn’t start until August.”

Tapia’s teaching partner in criminal justice, Teri Haack, said students had actually sought permission for a shooting team in the past, “but it just wasn’t the right time. Now is the perfect time.”

The Eagle Elite shooters made history in March with their first competition, Support the Badge. CMU competed at their range at D.C. Rogers Lake against area law enforcement officers. Police from Boonville, Fayette, Howard County, and even the Missouri Highway Patrol were involved.

CMU’s John Schnell was the top marksman in the professional (highest) division. He attended the Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETI) this spring under a special agreement that allows CMU criminal justice majors to earn college credit while attending the academy certifying to become law enforcement officers.

Just a few weeks later, Pi Lambda and the Eagle Elite shooters represented Central at the 2021 American Criminal Justice Association Region 3 virtual conference, participating in academics, agility, crime scene investigation, and firearms competitions.

CMU students earned awards in the following divisions of the competition: Criminal Law Lower Division – Rachel Rodawald (second place) and Katelyn Streeter (third place) Criminal Law Upper Division – Taylor Williams (third place) Crime Scene Competition Lower Division – Katarina Morris, Cole Brugger, and McCallister Jurgensmeyer (third place) Crime Scene Competition Upper Division – Mikayla Sturm, Katelyn Streeter, and Johnathan Kirmse (third place) Physical Agility, Female 25 and Under – Madison Marks (first place) Firearms, Individual Lower Division – Cole Brugger (first place) Firearms, Teams Lower Division – McCallister Jurgensmeyer, Katelyn Streeter, and Katarina Morris (first place) Firearms, Teams Upper Division – Tristan Riggs, Jobe Edwards, and Mikayla Sturm (third place) Firearms, Teams Professional Division – Marco Tapia, John Schell, and Cole Brugger (third place)

Fayette High School performs during Music Fest 2018.

Music Fest Continues — Virtually

O

ne of the busiest days on the Central Methodist University campus each spring is the annual Music Fest competition. In a typical year, as many as 3,000 students from dozens of middle schools and high schools across the state gather in Fayette to showcase their musical talent. Every available room and space on campus turns into a music classroom, where Central professors and other judges give feedback to all the young musicians and vocalists.

Of course, not much has been typical about the 2020-21 academic year. But Music Fest still went on – just without bringing those thousands of students to Fayette.

“There’s no way we can bring kids to campus for a variety of reasons,” said Dr. Dori Waggoner ‘92, chair of the Fine Arts Division at Central. “But what we’re seeing from our colleagues at middle schools and high schools is that their [jobs of teaching music in the pandemic] are harder than ours.”

Waggoner said that at that point in the school year, music teachers and band directors were all “looking for a goal” for their students. Schools had been holding virtual concerts, recording performances for family and friends to watch on their own time in lieu of packing gyms and

auditoriums with spectators. But in between the winter and spring concert seasons, those students usually have a competition like Music Fest to focus on.

Luckily, the Music Department at Central was ready to step up to the task.

Along with Music Fest fellows Austin Bristow and Austin Schaedler and Music Department Administrative Assistant Lynette Beeler, the faculty came up with a virtual solution to continue the tradition.

Middle school and high school students were hard at work learning their music pieces for the event, and sometime before March 5 their director or instructor recorded their final performances and uploaded the videos privately to YouTube.

On March 5, CMU music classes were canceled for the day, giving faculty members the full day to judge the recorded performances and give feedback to the young musicians and vocalists.

“The response was pretty strong. Not as big as a normal Music Fest, but it is more than the faculty can judge on our own in a day,” said Waggoner, adding that several former adjuncts and retired professors had been called upon to pitch in on the judging effort.

Waggoner said she missed getting to see all the students and directors in person this

year, as well as the “positive energy” of having so many on campus excited about music-making, but even in a virtual setting the event had a positive impact.

Historically, Music Fest has been held with three main objectives for the university in mind: fundraising, recruiting, and service to the music profession. And while fundraising and recruiting was still a part of this year’s event, just on a more limited basis, the real focus was mainly the latter goal.

“This year, service to the profession is our focus,” Waggoner said. “These are our future CMU students, so we still need to do that outreach. We’re seeing our colleagues at the middle schools and high schools working so hard to keep school and music a positive and wonderful experience for kids, and if this is a little thing we can do to make their jobs easier, then that’s great for everyone.”

More than 30 schools participated in the virtual event.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from directors,” said Waggoner. “They’re really glad we did this, and they’re excited the kids have something to work toward.

And it’s been fun for us as well.”

Spring 2021 | The Talon 41

Quite a crowd gathered at the Howard County Bandstand for a 50th anniversary celebration.

Alumni Gather To Honor Montemurro, Celebrate Bandstand’s 50th Anniversary

By JIM STEELE, ’64

A

s a college community, Fayette enjoys more than its share of outof-town visitors. Newcomers no doubt come away with a variety of memories, but it’s safe to say the most iconic image many observers recall is the circa 1888 courthouse, and particularly its adjacent bandstand.

Built in 1971, the structure is situated on the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn and officially is known as the Howard County Memorial Bandstand. Central Methodist University band alumni gathered there in mid-April to celebrate the bandstand’s 50th anniversary, and to honor longtime Band Director Paul A. Montemurro, ’58.

Nearly 300 people attended the event, held on a brisk Saturday afternoon. Two of Montemurro’s former students, John Cheary, ’70, of Branson, Mo., and Rev. David Wendleton, ’71, of Seattle, Wa., presented tributes in honor of their beloved professor.

One of the planners of the 50th anniversary ceremony, Gene Rauscher, ’74, of St. Louis, was recognized by Phi Mu

Alpha Sinfonia students with the Orpheus Award, the fraternity’s highest honor. Also recognized were Murphy Tetley, ’71, of Hot Springs Village, Ark., and Robert McNeill, ’77, of Foristell, Mo., who helped organize the event.

The picturesque bandstand has deeper roots than many might imagine. While a 50-year-old landmark may not seem that old by historic measures, this particular bandstand has lineage dating back more than 130 years.

Keep in mind that in days gone by virtually every city — large or small — had some kind of community band, with summer outdoor concerts featuring march music (think John Phillip Sousa) and familiar tunes being particular favorites. Folks old and young flocked to such events well into the 20th century. (Electronic forms of entertainment were still decades in the future and even radio didn’t come along until the 1920s.)

Fayette’s original bandstand was nearly identical in appearance to the current

bandstand and was located on the square’s southwest corner where the present bandstand is situated. It was built between May 1887 and October 1888 for use by what was described as “one of the best bands in the state.” Known as the Fayette Star Cornet Band, the group was organized in the late 1870s and in April 1879 was composed of 12 members.

In 1898, Dr. Ernest M. Blakey graduated from the Kansas City Dental College.

Formerly a student at Central College, he returned to Fayette and established an office.

A public-spirited citizen, Blakey served for more than 30 years as director of the Star Cornet Band and was widely known as a composer and arranger of band music. It was through his efforts and interest that Fayette for so many years was fortunate to have such a fine musical organization.

For much of his career, Blakey occupied office space in the Commercial Trust Building, practicing in the same rooms currently utilized by Dr. Jessica Quint, ‘97.

Continued on next page

42 The Talon | Spring 2021

Continued from page 42

Local residents from various walks of life were among those who performed regularly from the bandstand as part of the Fayette Star Cornet Band. Practice nights were Tuesdays and Thursdays, with weekly summer concerts on Friday evenings.

But hard times of the Great Depression and the World War II years no doubt were also contributing factors spelling the end of regularly-scheduled band performances.

Now fast-forward to 1969. While viewing some photos of Fayette’s bygone days, Gary Hawkins, ’70, a member of the Central Methodist men’s professional music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Beta Mu Chapter), came across a picture of the long-gone courthouse bandstand. He brought this to the attention of fellow Sinfonians, and before long a dream had taken hold.

In short, the group concluded that if Fayette had a bandstand in days past, why not today?

Fraternity members talked up the idea, and before long townspeople, fellow students,

alumni, and others had come on board to ensure a new bandstand, like the legendary Phoenix, would rise again.

Photos and drawings of the original bandstand were studied, and plans for the new structure eventually took shape with some modifications. It also was decided to locate it on the courthouse lawn’s southwest corner where the original bandstand had been situated.

By September 1969, the bandstand project was under way. Under the leadership of bandstand committee chairmen Murphy Tetley and Robert Bray, ’70, and others in the fraternity, concrete plans were developed and efforts began to raise the necessary funds.

Ground was broken for the bandstand on Independence Day, July 4, 1971.

So on a chilly Sunday, Nov. 21, 1971, county and city dignitaries — joined by college officials, members of the fraternity, and friends — gathered on the bandstand for formal dedication ceremonies. Keynote speaker for the event was then-Missouri First

Lady Betty (Mrs. Warren E.) Hearnes, who herself had been a music educator.

The structure initially was dedicated in honor of Central’s first two faculty band directors, K.K. Anderson, who served from 1925 to 1951, and Dr. Thomas E. Birch IV, who served from 1951 until his death during the band’s spring home concert on May 1, 1964. Brass and marble plaques adjacent to the bandstand steps ultimately were placed to commemorate their legacy. Later, other memorial plaques were added to include band directors Ken and Nancy Seward (1964-66) and Keith House, who served from 1972 to 1995. This year, the much-loved Montemurro has been added.

Jim Steele is president of the Boonslick Historical Society and is the retired editor/publisher of the Fayette Advertiser & Democrat-Leader (20002011). In 2016, he served as editor of Howard County’s bicentennial book, From Prairie Land to Promised Land—A Remembrance Across Two Centuries.

Theatre Students Help Elementary Kids Handle Bullying

By GRACE STUMBAUGH

I

n a regular year, Central Methodist University’s InterActive theater class puts on in-person skits for various audiences that center on forming healthy relationships. However, due to COVID-19, they have had to get a little creative with how they perform these skits.

Part of this creativity recently involved performing a skit virtually via Zoom for the fifth graders at Benton Elementary school in Columbia, Mo. The skit was loosely based on the children’s book, “Dare!” by Erin Frankel.

It is written from the point of view of a child who witnesses another child being bullied.

“We’ve been wanting to do something on bullying for a while,” said Dr. Mark Kelty, faculty director of InterActive.

The group performed seven actions, and most of the dialogue was improvised. In the actions, the InterActive theater actors played elementary school-aged students. One of them portrayed a bully who repeatedly dared his classmates to pull mischievous pranks on other classmates.

As the actors performed each act, the students on Zoom were able to “freeze” the scenes, ask questions, give the actors directions, and even request a scene be redone in slow-motion.

At the end, the fifth-graders were asked to come up with different, alternate endings that the actors would perform. Each ending resulted in the bully being shut down and the classmates sticking up for themselves.

“I warned [the actors] that when we got to the end, we were going to be doing whatever those students wanted us to do to try to solve the problem,” Kelty said.

The CMU students who participate in the InterActive theater use their skits to educate their audiences on sensitive topics, so they usually receive training from True North of Columbia to help them better understand what they are acting out. True North is a domestic violence victim service program.

This year, True North has not been available for that training, so the group is being advised

by CMU’s counselor, Katie Wooldridge.

The InterActive theater students who participated in the skit are Loni Watts, Samantha Cox, Dominique Jordan, Cole Nowlin, and Rob Brown.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 43

President Drake Elected to Lead ICUM

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entral Methodist University President Roger D. Drake was elected unanimously by his peers to serve as president of Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri, the statewide association that proudly represents Missouri’s nonprofit independent sector.

Drake fills the unexpired term of Greg Gunderson, Ph.D., who assumed the role of president emeritus of Park University in November. Gunderson was elected in June to a one-year term as ICUM president. He succeeded Drake, who had served in the role since 2015.

“I am pleased to once again serve as president of ICUM,” Drake said. “Our independent institutions produce amazing educational outcomes for Missouri students at a very low cost to our taxpayers. I’m proud to be among those to tell the stories of how we change lives for our students.”

ICUM’s role is to support and advance the mission of independent institutions while increasing understanding and

appreciation for the value and importance of the sector’s impact on higher education, the public, and the state at large. ICUM represents a diverse array of four-year independent colleges and universities, educating an equally diverse group of students.

“Dr. Drake brings a deep understanding of private higher education and the collective impact that the high-quality education provided by our sector has on students and our state’s economy,” ICUM Executive Director William Gamble, ’74, said. “We are fortunate that he will be able to hit the ground running and build upon the work of Dr. Gunderson to assist private institutions during this unprecedented time in our country and beyond.”

Drake is CMU’s 26th president. Prior to joining CMU on July 1, 2013, he was vice president of administration and finance at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., for nine years. Drake also held the position of vice president for business affairs at Lees College in Jackson, Ky. In addition, Drake served the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in many roles.

Howard County Earns Work Ready Status Parson Celebrates with Community at Central

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he 57th governor of the state of Missouri, Mike Parson, paid a visit to Fayette and to Central Methodist University on May 11 to celebrate Howard County’s new certification as an ACT Work Ready Community.

Along with Missouri Director of Workforce Development Dr. Mardy Leathers, Parson congratulated the members of the Howard County community on hand who worked hard over several years to complete the requirements. As a Work Ready Community, Howard County’s businesses and workforce will benefit from the nationally recognized credential. The Work Ready initiative is an effort to align workforce and education to meet the economic needs of the state and local communities.

“You guys will be the model for a lot of other small counties across the state,” Gov. Parson said to the community members in attendance, “for how it can be done if you put

44 The Talon | Spring 2021

all your resources together.”

The governor stated that his desire is to leave office with every Missouri county certified for Work Ready, as part of his ongoing push in the areas of workforce development and infrastructure.

Amber Overfelt, assistant manager of Howard Electric Cooperative and chairman of the Howard County Economic Development Council, thanked CMU and everyone in attendance for their work in completing the project of becoming a Work Ready Community.

“These [private and public] entities understood that what is good for one part

of Howard County is good for all of Howard County,” she said. “This is one more tool that will allow potential businesses looking for a place to locate or expand to see that we have a ready and capable workforce here waiting for them.”

Construction crews work on updating the interior of Clingenpeel Hall, preparing the new wrestling facility for next season.

Clingenpeel Renovation in Full Swing Completion Expected by Fall Semester

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ith two history-making seasons under their belts already, the Central Methodist University wrestling teams are getting a $2 million upgrade.

Men’s and women’s wrestling, along with the CMU community as a whole, have been patiently awaiting the renovation of Clingenpeel Hall since 2019, when the new sport arrived at Central. And now the end is in sight, says Derry Wiswall, director of plant operations.

“The plan is to be finished by August before school starts back up,” he said in early March as the weather grew warmer, allowing construction to really start moving.

The renovation has already come a long way from when work began around two years ago. The first step was addressing moisture infiltration and other issues on the outside of the building, which has been closed since 2017, according to Wiswall. Crews installed new windows and performed crucial waterproofing work before attention shifted inside. With all

the plans in place and the freezing weather from February finally over, the real work on the interior has begun.

There’s not much to look at inside right now, but when the work crews are finished, the former home to a gym, classrooms, archery and rifle range, handball courts, and a plethora of other uses will look much different from any past iteration of Clingenpeel Hall. The majority of the main floor will be taken up by the wrestling practice area, with multiple mats down and ready for use. A partial upper floor will house the wrestling coaches’ offices. Wiswall reported that the coaches will have openings from which to look out over the practice area from above. On the basement level, brandnew locker room facilities will be built for the men’s and women’s teams. Additionally, the Central football coaches will be given new offices across the hall.

But the wrestling coaches and athletes are by far the ones most looking forward to the renovations being finished, after having to make do with offices and practices

wherever they could get them for the first two seasons.

“It’s been two years in the making where we’ve been practicing in the rec center or in Puckett [Fieldhouse],” said Men’s Wrestling Coach Terrel Wilbourn.

“So, we’re looking for a little structure.

That’s the thing I’m looking forward to the most going into year three.”

Wilbourn and women’s coach Brieana Delgado each referred to the new facility as a future home for their teams. Delgado also likened it to getting a “shiny new toy.”

“Having our own space will be really nice,” she said. “We’ll be able to ramp up [our practices] and create a new home for the girls, and it’s exciting that we continue to grow as a school and as a program.”

The wrestling teams will continue to hold their home matches in Puckett Fieldhouse next season, with hopefully more fans allowed to be in attendance. But all those involved are excited to finally have a practice facility, offices, and locker rooms to call their own.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 45

Eagles

F Crown

A NEW

By RACHEL MOORE

irst basemen Logan Haring has rewritten the history books in his four seasons as a member of the Central Methodist University baseball program.

The Dekalb, Ill., native excels on the field, earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors as a sophomore and becoming a three-time Heart of America all-conference selection. Haring will leave Central as the program’s all-time leader in home runs, RBI, doubles, atbats, and hits.

Perhaps the most coveted record on the books in the CMU baseball program is the all-time hits record, held for 15 years by none other than current head coach Nate Breland, ’07. Breland reached 241 career hits when he completed his collegiate playing days in 2006.

And along came Haring, who actually appeared destined to break the record in 2020, but Central managed only 21 games before the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season short.

At the time of the stoppage, Haring was only 39 hits shy of tying the record. When the NAIA granted spring sports another year of eligibility, Haring accepted the option and returned to the Eagles for a final run as a graduate student.

The record was ultimately broken April 3 at Missouri Valley College. It was a windy day, about 70 degrees, and partly cloudy.

Haring’s mom and dad, Michelle and Klent Haring, were in the stands. And they led the celebration when Logan secured the all-time hit record with a double to left field in the fifth inning.

Hit King

46 The Talon | Spring 2021

“It was pretty cool to have my parents there,” said Haring. “It really was a special weekend. The only way it could have been better was if I’d have done it at home.”

When asked on his thoughts on Haring as a hitter and how the two might compare, Breland said, “Logan is the perfect offensive player who hits for power and average. He is the hitter I wish could have been during my time as an Eagle. Logan is the most decorated player in the history of the program, and he has broken records that will stand for a very long time.”

Breland and Haring have a special bond.

“We are family,” Breland said. “I love him and will always love him for what he has done for CMU baseball, but even more importantly for what he has taught me as a coach and a father.”

It was well worth the effort for Haring and his senior teammates who chose to return for the final run at a championship. Central cruised through non-conference play, including signature wins over No. 2 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, No. 11 Indiana Southeast, and No. 12 Indiana Tech. The Eagles then rolled into conference play, finishing 26-3 and claiming CMU’s first conference title since 2018.

For their efforts, the Eagles received national recognition and climbed as high as No. 4 in the national polls--the highest ranking in program history.

As the Talon went to press, Haring hit a long home run at Car Shield Field in O’Fallon, Mo. to propel the Eagles past William Carey for the regional championship, making CMU the first Heart of America team to make it to the NAIA world series since 1999.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 47

E AG L E AT H L E T I C S W R A P - U P

Elite 8: Women’s Soccer Team Has Historic Season

By RACHEL MOORE

The Central Methodist women’s soccer program has battled through one of the most challenging – and successful -- athletic seasons in program history, finishing the year 20-4-1 and etching the names of these young women into the CMU history books.

Despite multiple stoppages and restarts in an extended season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Central cruised to its second straight regularseason conference championship last November.

The season culminated with a magical postseason run in the spring. Beginning with the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament in early April, CMU earned the No. 1 overall seed, picking up victories over Grand View and Benedictine and punching their ticket to the title match versus rival Missouri Valley College.

In a thrilling championship match, both sides remained scoreless through the first 85 minutes.

With less than four minutes remaining, senior defender Sara Cobollo sent a cross into the box, finding fellow senior Anika Kallash for the gamewinning header to the back of the net. CMU won its second straight conference tournament title and its third in the last four seasons with the 1-0 victory over the Vikings.

CMU continued its postseason run with two wins in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, first a 2-0 win over College of Idaho and then a 2-0 shutout victory over Indiana Wesleyan to advance to the Final Site in Foley, Ala. In the game of the year, Central squared off against No. 9 John Brown (Ark.) at the Final Site first round on April 27. The teams remained

even at 1-1 through regulation and two overtime periods. The game was then decided on penalty kicks. CMU went on to win the shoot-out 4-2, advancing to its first national quarterfinals appearance in program history.

“If you really look at it, this is the best season we’ve ever had,” said coach Dan Schmidlin.

“We’d never made it to a quarterfinal game. And that John Brown game – we went down in 2019 on penalty kicks – so it was fitting to win it that way this time around.”

Schmidlin, whose team suffered several injuries at key points during the season, said the Eagles’ Elite Eight run was very special, even with a loss to No. 1 seed William Carey to end the year.

“I’m so proud of this group for handling

everything thrown at them this season,” he said.

In addition to the quarterfinal appearance marking the deepest postseason run of any CMU women’s soccer team, Schmidlin noted another first – freshman Sandra Jakobsen, from Denmark, earned a spot on the NAIA all-tournament team.

“Sandra’s contributions this year have been a pleasant surprise,” he said. “We knew she was going to be big time.”

Schmidlin also complemented defensive player of the year Laura Riesenbeck, from Germany, and of course top scorer, senior Anika Kallash.

All-American awards had not been announced by the time Talon went to press, but Schmidlin said he was hopeful that four Eagles would receive the accolades.

Men’s Wrestling Notches First Dual Win

Right, Brenden Shelton First CMU wrestler to qualify for the NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championships

48 The Talon | Spring 2021

Central Methodist men’s wrestling recorded several notable achievements this past winter. The Eagles earned their first ever NAIA win in program history with a 28-11 dual win against Oklahoma Wesleyan on Jan. 25. During the Heart Championships, sophomore Brenden Shelton posted a 4-1 record, en route to a third-place finish in the 285-pound weight class. With the top-3 finish, Shelton became the first wrestler in program history to qualify for the NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championships. He finished the year with a 16-4 record.

Women’s Wrestling Hosts First Conference Tournament In its second season, the Central Methodist women’s program earned two dual wins, over Waldorf and conference foe William Penn. The Eagles also hosted the inaugural Heart of America Athletic Conference Women’s Wrestling Championships on Feb. 20 inside Puckett Fieldhouse.

Sophomore Giovanna Loza earned a third-place finish in the 123-pound weight class, posting a 1-1 record in the bracket and becoming the first Eagle in program history to land on the podium at a conference championship event. As a team, Central finished in sixth place.

Track And Field Makes Great Strides As Winter Programs Wrap Up Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Kenny Anderson made an indelible mark on the program in his first season at the helm, as he was named the Heart Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year. The Eagles concluded the Heart indoor championships in third place on the men’s side while the women placed second.

The Eagles had numerous athletes earn all-conference honors, highlighted by freshman Kailey Johnson. She won the 60m hurdles, placed second in the 60m dash, second in the 200, fourth in the long jump, and was the lead off in the 4x400m relay team that placed second.

For her efforts, she was named the women’s co-athlete of the meet.

Senior thrower Taylor Bottomley was tabbed as the Heart Indoor Male Athlete of the Meet. He secured first-place victories in both the weight throw and shot put. He set a new school record and PR in the weight throw at 19.03 meters, ranking No. 3 in the country and earning a trip to the national meet. He also claimed victory in the shot put with a final toss of 16.81 meters, well over a full meter over national qualification standard.

The Eagles qualified seven athletes for the indoor national championships in Yankton, S.D. Following up an impressive semifinal heat, the 4x400m relay team of Mohammed Nyaoga, Jacob Fritz, Curtis Johns, and Nehemiah Colyer ran a final time of 3:19.08, good enough for fourth place and all-America honors. The four are only the second relay team in the last 20 years to earn all-America honors for the Eagles.

three Basketball players All-conference CMU men’s basketball finished the 2020-21 campaign 11-13, with an 8-11 mark in conference action. Three members of the Eagles earned all-conference honors, including Johnathan Brown, Fode Camara, and Chandler Bevans.

Brown, a midseason transfer, was a welcome addition to the CMU lineup, appearing in 10 games and averaging a team-leading 13.4 points per game. Camara, a senior forward from Queens, N.Y., finished third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.6 points per game. He also led the Eagles and was third in the Heart in rebounding with 9.4 rebounds per game. Bevans rounded out the honorable mention honors for CMU, as the junior transfer from Kahoka, Mo. finished the year with 305 points, averaging 12.7 points per game.

Women’s Basketball Finishes Strong The Central Methodist women’s basketball program overcame a slow start to finish the year in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

Central concluded 2020-21 with a 13-6 record, including an 8-2 mark over the final 10 games in January and February. The Eagles garnered three all-conference honorees, including Leah Johnson, Leianya Massenat, and Daryna Bachkarova. Massenat was the Heart Freshman of the Year and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American selection. She is just the second freshman in the history of the program to earn All-American honors, averaging 19.7 points per game and shooting 38.1-percent from the field.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 49

E AG L E AT H L E T I C S W R A P - U P

CMU Cheer team wins NCA National Championship The CMU cheer team made history this spring, becoming NCA National Champions for the first time. Led by head coach Terin Fuemmeler, the team captured the championship in the Advanced Small Coed NAIA division at the NCA Collegiate Cheer and Dance National Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Eagles tallied a preliminary score of 89.8167 before concluding the two-day event with a final score of 91.1333. Their final marks received no deductions, propelling them to a first-place finish and a national title in their division.

Men’s Soccer Falls Short of Three-PeaT Central Methodist University’s men’s soccer team has been on an incredible three-year run, highlighted by some overpowering wins and an impressive 40-game NAIA win streak.

Focused for an entire year on winning their third consecutive NAIA national championship, the Eagles were denied the chance for a threepeat, shell-shocked in the national semifinals by none other than eventual champ Missouri Valley College.

After falling behind 3-0, the Eagles fell 4-2 at the NAIA championship site in Columbus, Ga., and finished the year 22-2. They were in the unfamiliar position of being spectators for the national title game.

“We have had an incredible year,” said Coach Alex Nichols. “But it did hurt. These guys worked so hard, and they fell just a little short. Still a pretty special accomplishment when you consider we had basically a brand new team with 15 freshmen.”

Central won its second consecutive Heart tournament championship and third regular season conference title, and began the pandemic’s “spring season” with three victories over three NCAA Division I teams-Creighton, University of Missouri Kansas City, and Western Illinois. Central also won a double overtime thriller over No. 2 Oklahoma Wesleyan

50 The Talon | Spring 2021

From left, Tom Irion, Alessandro Salvadego, Mark Csongradi, and Clayton Duarte in Bartlesville back on March 20.

CMU then cruised in the Heart tournament, highlighted by wins over Mount Mercy, William Penn, and rival Missouri Valley College in the championship match. The Eagles clinched a spot in the NAIA opening round as the No. 1 seed in the Santa Barbara bracket in Santa Barbara, Calif. Central posted a 2-0 win over UC Merced and a 3-1 victory over Corban to punch their ticket to the final site on May 6.

After edging Cumberlands, 1-0, CMU fell to Missouri Valley College.

“It’s hard to beat a talented team three times,” said Nichols.

The Eagles landed four NAIA All-Americans, including Tom Irion, Stefano Camerlengo, Marcos German, and Carlos Scheckermann.

In addition, Camerlengo was named to the alltournament team for his efforts in goal.

Cassandra Contreras with CMU golf coach, Stephen Main, ’19

Freshman Contreras Shines for CMU Golf Program The CMU golf program is back – and turning heads with impressive performances.

After a four-year hiatus, the Central Methodist men’s and women’s golf programs have made an impression in the Heart of America Conference. And no golfer impressed more than freshman Cassandra Contreras from Goodyear, Ariz. Contreras was the first women’s golfer in history to earn Heart Player of the Year honors.

“She is not only an impressive golfer, but an impressive young lady,” said first-year coach Stephen Main, ’19. “She excels academically, and she is just a wonderful person to be around.”

Contreras was a conference champion, earned all-conference honors, and qualified for the NAIA national tournament, which was beginning as the Talon went to press. She saved her best for last in the regular season, winning the conference tournament on the final day.

She won the three-round tournament with a score of 243, after entering the final 18 holes in fourth place. She trailed the leader by four strokes, but shot one over par to become the women’s individual medalist.

Contreras also won the individual title in March at the Evangel Spring Invitational and a fall tournament at Culver Stockton.

Spring 2021 | The Talon 51

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