RECORD THE
Fall 2019
FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY
THE
BIG
Big Questions, Big Surprises, Big Impact
“ . . . AND IT WAS VERY GOOD”
WHEN WE WEREN’T LOOKING
ISSUE
ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY
ONSTAGE AT CARNEGIE HALL 1
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{ FROM THE PRESIDENT }
BIG, BEYOND IMAGINATION Only in God’s economy can five loaves and two fish feed 5,000, and oil from a single jar fill all the containers a widow can borrow from neighbors. Only by His resource management do seeds multiply into great harvest, and tithes multiply into abundant blessings. When I bring my loaves and fish to Him, my jar of oil, my seeds and tithe, I can’t imagine what’s to come. Nor can others, like George Barber . . . George’s first basketball camp in 1999 attracted ten kids. He returned their money and cancelled camp. The following year, 45 campers signed up. Panther Basketball Academy has grown every year since. This summer, 325 boys and girls sharpened their hoop skills and learned about Jesus at the same time.
THE RECORD (USPS 2292-2000) is published three times a year for alumni and friends of Greenville University by the Office of Advancement, Greenville University, 315 E. College Ave., Greenville, IL 62246. Phone: (618) 664-6500. Nonprofit class postage paid at Greenville, IL 62246. Vol. 110, No. 3. Greenville University online: www.greenville.edu Email: therecord@greenville.edu Send address corrections, correspondence and alumni updates to the Office of Advancement, 315 E. College Ave., Greenville, IL 62246; or call 618-6646500; or email alumni@greenville.edu. Vice President for Advancement Scott Giffen ’99 Assistant Vice President for Advancement Heather Fairbanks
Two years ago, a team of student researchers collected and tested samples of well water for local homeowners. Today, students have expanded their reach into five counties. They now advertise their services through newspapers and radio, and work with health departments to ensure safe drinking water throughout the region.
Director of Major Gifts Brett Brannon ’97
More than 30 years ago, then Professor of Religion James Reinhard and the students enrolled in his creative evangelism class brought their version of loaves and fish to the Lord: some ideas and willingness to engage local youth in a rented room downtown. The ministry endured. This summer, dedication of the newly constructed Simple Room Youth Development Center ushered in a new era of service with extensive programming and generous space for after-school tutoring, a recreation area, a kitchen and offices.
Campaign Manager Jennifer Wilson
We don’t always know where a project might lead or what may come from a conversation. We can’t tell what detail may capture the interest of a public figure or move the heart of a private funder. We do know that in the mystery of how God chooses to work, prayer is important. We also know that while God can do much, He often chooses to wait until His people ask Him. Thank you for prayerfully “asking” on behalf of Greenville University. Thank you for requesting God’s favor on our students, faculty, staff and administration. Thank you especially for lifting me up as I lead. Blessings,
Director of Alumni & Church Relations Dewayne Neeley ’98 Manager of Alumni & Church Relations Cyndi Oglesby ’85
Senior Campaign Advisor & Planned Giving Officer Linda Myette ’73 Senior Development Specialist Heather Edwards Manager of Advancement Services Matthew Young Advancement Services Coordinator Lindi Hegger Grant Writer and Corporate/Foundation Relations Coordinator Beth Dodson Development Officer Pat Bond ’62 Managing Editor & Writer Carla Morris ’77 Contributing Editor & Writer Rachel Heston-Davis ’06 Graphic Designer Scott Brown Photography Anna Brannon ’17, Lauren Joseph ’15, Russell Lamb ’20, Abby Modaff ’19
Ivan L. Filby President
Pictogram credits page 9: job by Adrien Coquet from the Noun Project, nounproject.com. Our mission: Greenville University empowers students for lives of character and service through a transforming Christcentered education in the liberal arts, sciences and professional studies. Views and opinions expressed by individuals in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Greenville University.
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{ IN THIS ISSUE }
BIG ENCOUNTERS “. . . AND IT WAS VERY GOOD” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 GU conference looks at the science of God’s creation through the eyes of faith. QUANTUM OPTICS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AND ME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Knowing God and studying physics are one and the same. WHEN WE WEREN’T LOOKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A knock on GU’s door, a surprise partnership and big win for area children. IMPACT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Nonprofit GU adds surprising value to local and state economies. “ONLINE” TO “ONSTAGE” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 How a Youtube video took three GU Choir alumni to Carnegie Hall. ENGAGING CULTURE FOR CHRIST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 President Filby becomes a Colson Fellow.
MORE Homecoming 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Campus News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Alumni News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 In Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go . . .” – Joshua 1:9 LEARN MORE AT: greenville.edu
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“...And It Was Very Good” By Rachel Heston-Davis
GU conference looks at the science of God’s creation through the eyes of faith. Can we reconcile the theory of evolution with faith in God? Do extraterrestrials exist? Do medical advances like gene editing violate belief in God’s authority over human life? Christians wrestle mightily with these and other uncomfortable questions. Often, our questions remain unspoken, creating isolation and uncertainty. We are not alone in the struggle to reconcile faith and science. Scholars and students face the same challenge, particularly as science becomes ever more central to shaping the worldview of up and coming generations. Clearly, believers need a collective space in which to wrestle with troubling topics. This November, GU’s Science Through the Eyes of Faith (STEF) conference will create that space. The conference invites students, educators, pastors and the general public to hear scientists and philosophers unpack some of the biggest scientific questions of our age from a Christian perspective. “[Attendees] will learn how these speakers have reconciled their scientific disciplines and their own faith and how they are still seeking to understand some of the hard issues,” says Hyung Choi, chair of GU’s Department of Physics and Engineering. The conference beckons a wide audience—students from middle school GU Core Value: Integrated Learning
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through college, parents, educators, those who work in science-related professions, pastors and the general public. Conference organizers stress that presenters will give their talks in clear, “understandable” language, making the conference accessible to all.
Today, STEM majors study under professors who see their disciplines as intimately connected to the pursuit of Christ. All traditional students encounter questions of science and faith through a general education course that urges them to engage these topics deeply.
Speakers include a Nobel laureate, an astrophysicist, the executive director of the Au Sable Institute and researchers and educators in various branches of science, philosophy, ethics and religion. Participating GU faculty include professors of physics and engineering, biology, chemistry, theology and JewishChristian studies.
What better venue to seek God and discover scientific knowledge, say organizers of this conference, than a university of believers who acknowledge the One who set the universe in motion?
Teresa Holden, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at GU, says the conference is “a natural outgrowth” of decades of faithful scholarship at the University. Science professors like Ralph Miller, Hugh Siefken and Harry Tomaschke built a strong culture of student research at GU a generation ago, while urging students to prioritize Christ in everything. They passed this torch of faithful scientific discovery to faculty like Darrell Iler, chemistry professor emeritus, who led the Greenville Religion and Science Society discussion group and taught courses on science and faith for many years.
JOIN US Support from a generous donor allows GU to offer this conference free of charge.
Advance registration is strongly recommended online at stef2019.com, or contact Alisa Gunter at 618664-6525 or alisa.gunter@ greenville.edu.
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FEATURED SPEAKERS Science Through the Eyes of Faith Conference Nov. 8-10 For a complete schedule, registration and information about hotel accommodations visit www. stef2019.com online. • Dr. Bill Phillips, NIST, Nobel Laureate: “Time, Einstein, and the Coolest Stuff in the Universe” & “Ordinary Faith, Ordinary Science” • Dr. Jeff Schloss, Westmont College: “Cosmos or Chaos?: Evolution, Theism, and the Question of a Good Creation”
• Rev. Leonard Vander Zee, Faith Alive Christian Resources: “From Stardust to the New Jerusalem: Preaching the Gospel in an Evolving Universe” • Dr. Kent Dunnington, Biola University: “Intellectual Humility and Incentivized Belief”
• Dr. Paul Stroble ’79, Webster University: “Seeing God in the Galapagos”
• Dr. Eleonore Stump, St. Louis University: “The Problem of Suffering: A Thomistic Approach” • Dr. Howard Smith, HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics: “Alone in the Universe? Religious Insights from Modern Astronomy, from the Big Bang to Exoplanets”
• Dr. Hyung S. Choi, Greenville University: “Science as a Spiritual Quest” • Dr. David Barnes ’60, Roberts Wesleyan College: “Science and Christian Faith: The Questions of Origins”
• Dr. Craig Boyd ’85, St. Louis University: “Science and Christian Ethics”
Conference sponsors: Paul Twichell Foundation, Greenville Religion and Science Society, Ralph Miller Lectures, Charles and M.R. Shapiro Foundation
EXPLORING THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION In the 17th century, discovery moved astronomer Johannes Kepler to break out in song and give glory to God. Student researcher Brenna Wiens ’20 may not have filled the lab with singing over her discoveries about copper corrosion this summer, but she has new appreciation for the humbling aspect of exploration and discovery. For every question answered, unanswered questions emerged. “During our trial using different pHs, we found that solutions with a boric acid buffer corroded the pipes at drastically lower levels than solutions with different buffers at the same pH,” she said. She looks forward to further exploration. Brenna is a grateful recipient of the donor-funded McAllaster Honors Scholarship. Thank you for giving.
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Quantum Optics, the Light of the World and Me
Throughout his youth in South Korea, Hyung Choi expected to follow his evangelist grandfather to the mission field. Choi’s brothers took this path, preaching the gospel in China and Tanzania. Choi, however, found himself on a “mission field” defined not by location, but by academic discipline. Today, he chairs the engineering and physics department at Greenville University. 4
GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE.EDU
www.maryphilmlee.com
By Rachel Heston-Davis
“God has called me to be a ‘missionary’ as a scientist and an educator, being specifically called to prepare the minds of new generations for God,” Choi explains. Drawn to the study of physics, Choi embarked on a science-oriented career that would also inform his spiritual journey. He earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics and specialized in quantum optics—the nature of light—because of the prominent role light plays in scripture as a metaphor for God. He also earned a master of divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary, and forged a career in research and as a university professor. “To me, knowing God and studying physics have never been two separate things,” Choi says. He calls Christ-following scientists “perpetual seeker[s] of truth” and compares their journeys to the faith journeys of biblical figures like Abraham and Moses. Like these biblical figures, God’s call invites a response. Choi followed the call to GU in 2013 to chair the engineering and physics
department and mentor the next generation of Christian researchers. He launched the University’s engineering degree program in 2018 and initiated GU’s upcoming Science Through the Eyes of Faith (STEF) Conference. This conference offers middle school, high school and university students the chance to learn about faith and science from acclaimed scientists, including speakers from the Au Sable Institute, the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics and many more. “I have been teaching young people about science and faith, Christian worldview and the spiritual journey as Christians for more than 30 years,” Choi says. He tells students that “what we presently know is so minute compared to the vast riches of God’s wisdom.” As Choi reflects on decades in the mission field of scientific study, and looks ahead to future opportunities, he anticipates the sense of fulfillment expressed by astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler in the seventeenth century. Kepler, who discovered the planetary laws, penned these words: “I give you thanks, Creator and God, that you have given me this joy in your creation, and I rejoice in the work of your hands. See, I have now completed the work to which I was called. In it I have used all the talents you have lent to my spirit…I have demonstrated the glory of your works.”
MALARIA AND ME How does learning through research differ from classroom learning? “There is no answer key,” said Ethan Clements ’20. “You venture into new territory and have to figure it out yourself.” Ethan, a biology and chemistry major and veteran of GU’s 2019 Summer Research Experience studied P.falciparum, a parasite that causes malaria. He and his team
GU Core Value: Character
worked with data they gleaned from a supercomputing cluster available online. The resource draws heavy traffic from researchers all over. “Wait times during business hours can be very, very long,” says Ethan. “We started working on the weekend and at night
To me, knowing God and studying physics have never been two separate things.
to speed up the process.” Instructor Lindsey Mao, Ethan’s research supervisor, believes existing datasets contain keys to many mysteries: “We just need the researchers to keep asking the questions.” Ethan is the grateful recipient of donor-funded scholarships through The Greenville University Fund. Thank you for giving.
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When We Weren’t Looking By Carla Morris
A knock on GU’s door brings a surprise partnership and creates a big win for area children.
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“This is ideal in so many ways,” she says.
Headlines tell a disheartening story: “Three Out of Four Illinois Kids Aren’t Ready for Kindergarten,” “Not Enough Kids Have Access to Pre-K,” “More Needs to be Done to Get Illinois’ Kids Kindergarten-Ready.”
That ideal began last year when Bond County Community Unit 2 School District received increased funding from a state grant designated for kindergarten readiness. The grant covered salaries for certified teachers, curriculum materials, supplies, furnishings and even rent—everything a winning program needed, except a building. Superintendent Wes Olson approached GU, hoping a partnership could produce a solution.
But not headlines in Greenville . . . there, the local school district has partnered with Greenville University to produce news that heralds triumph for preschoolers. GU recently acquired a building near its athletic complex that will provide space for kindergarten readiness classrooms and serve as a “lab” for GU’s aspiring preschool teachers. Though modest on the outside, the generous space offers a powerhouse of discovery on its fully refurbished inside where children enjoy play-based learning centers and Montessorilike activities in light-filled rooms. Lisa (Kettelkamp ’99) Amundson, dean of GU’s School of Education, sees the building as evidence of God’s hand drawing people together. It shows divine orchestration of resources, talent, creativity and imagination. Best of all, it facilitates free preschool for about 60 children, including special education students.
THROUGH A CHILD’S EYES GU’s newest property acquisition, a building near John Strahl Athletic Complex, is now home to the Kindergarten Readiness Program. Guided by seasoned instructors and teachers-in-training, children play and learn. Here’s a brief tour from a “user’s” perspective: • I feel safe. A front entrance separates my play and learning spaces from the big world outside. A friendly receptionist says hello when we walk in; a campus security officer checks on us every day.
• I play outside in a fenced-in yard and take my “wheels” for a spin around a track. When it rains, I run and play in a big, big, really big room. We call it inside recess.
• I use the bright and shiny bathroom right by my classroom; I can even reach the sink without help.
each swing of the hammer and cut of the saw, they cleared a way for more young children in Bond County to access top quality learning experiences. The new center opened this August. Community collaboration is not new for GU, but this joint venture is special. “Partnering with our school district is our heart; it’s our future,” says Amundson. “This is our community.”
His request came at a fortuitous time; university students majoring in early childhood education needed field experiences, observation hours and opportunities to practice teaching. Working alongside seasoned teachers would add valuable experience to their resumes. A pre-school on or near campus would be perfect.
Join us at Homecoming!
Wheels started turning when a building near GU’s athletic complex came up for sale. It boasted a solid structure, geothermal heating and cooling, a great layout and a good price.
1106 S Elm St. Greenville, IL
GU purchased the building in June. Members of the University’s facilities team worked their magic to give it a thorough makeover. With
Ribbon cutting and dedication of GU’s early childhood learning lab. Sat., Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.
GU Core Value: Innovation
• Some of my friends come to school with wheelchairs and special tools that help them with exercises called therapy. They have lots of room. Kids with disabilities can go anywhere in the building that I can go. • I sing along as pictures and letters appear on a whiteboard. I love when the “Z-for-zoo” picture zooms toward me and then flies away when I go “Zzzzzzzzzzz.” • I dig and plant bright flowers in a garden. Teacher says the garden reminds us of teachers she knew who loved kids like me.
• I love to play. Sometimes I’m the cook at a kid-sized stove. Sometimes I make things with blocks and magnet tiles. Sometimes I paint and model and cut and glue and build up and tear down and build up again. • After all that I rest on a mat. Sometimes I think about what I’ll do next.
THE TENDER PUSH Meet early childhood education major Anastasia Baird ’23 who recalls the moment she decided to pursue teaching. Observing in a classroom, she noticed a little girl’s increasing frustration that her hands wouldn’t cooperate with her head. Learning to write is hard. Anastasia offered to help, and the pair connected. “I was so happy that I could ease her frustrations and push her to achieve more than she thought she could,” says Anastasia, recipient of the donor-funded Dean’s and Marching Band Scholarships. Thank you for giving.
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Impact! Nonprofit GU adds surprising value to local and state economies
Daily operations – As a large employer, GU procures goods and services through local, regional and state resources. It applies about 60 percent of its $23M operating budget to wages and benefits for its 223 employees, consumers who also purchase local goods and services. Capital investments – From FY2016 to FY2018, GU invested $6.5M in structural improvements that supported jobs for local laborers and created demand for goods and services.
Ancillary spending – Students and visitors spend locally on food and entertainment. Guests attending events like Homecoming and Commencement also secure local or regional overnight accommodations. Wage premium – College graduates earn more and potentially spend more than non-college graduates. Approximately half of GU’s more than 13,000 alumni live in Illinois, including 700 in Bond County.
GU Core Value: Community
“We are a quaint little town, but now we are going to be a quaint viable little downtown . . . I’m excited for the future.” - Randy Alderman, Greenville Chamber of Commerce president, on the growing collaboration between the City of Greenville and Greenville University.
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SURPRISING STATS About 700 of GU’s more than 13,000 alumni live in Bond County. Among the alumni who call Greenville home is Jes Adam ’08, who heads tourism for the City of Greenville. The former executive director of GU’s Factory Theatre and a longtime Greenville business owner, Jes speaks from the heart about the University and community. Lately, this includes what he calls “ag-grow” enterprises like The Milk House and Marcoot Jersey Creamery. Both have ties to GU students, faculty and alumni. Last year, more than 30,000 visitors toured the creamery alone — “A remarkable number for a town our size,” says Jes.
Panther football veteran and current NFL Oakland Raider Nicholas Morrow ‘17
A Little Help From Friends A Little Help From my Friends The economic impact study also A study released in June details GU’s impact on reports on the volunteer work local, regional and state economies and re-ports that GU students, faculty and staff oncommunity. the volunteer work students, faculty and staff deliver to the greater deliverinclude to the greater community. Some of the Some of the beneficiaries beneficiaries Afterinclude local churches, the Pocahontas local churches, the Pocahontas Program, the Big Brothers/Big School Program, theAfter-School Big Brothers/ program, Big Sisters program,Sisters Habitat for Habitat for Humanity, Cardinal Facility, Christian Activi-ties Center, Humanity, CardinalHill HillCare Care Crossroads, Mt. Sinai Family Life Center and the Facility, Christian Activities Center, Simple Room. Crossroads, Mt. Sinai Family LifeEach year, universi-ty students host, coach and cheer Center and the Simple Room. Eachon special-needs athletes at GU’s Adapted Sports Olympics in Crum Recreation year, university students host, coach Center and help local school children kick off the and cheer on special-needs athletes new school year by outfit-ting them with new at GU’s Adapted Sports Olympics in Crum Recreationschool Centershoes. and help local school children kick off the new school year by outfitting them with new school shoes.
leant his star power to the Kicks4Kids school shoe distribution in August. He and Panther athletes helped ease back-to-school expenses for 100 local school children by supplying them with new shoes.
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HOMECOMING
OCTOBER 17-20, 2019
FOUR DAYS OF EXCITEMENT INCLUDING A PARADE, PANTHER 5K, TAILGATE LUNCH AND MORE
DEDICATION OF GU’S NEW PRESCHOOL BUILDING, GU AND KRP CONNECT
Visit greenville.edu/homecoming to register online or to view the complete weekend schedule. Call 618-664-7119 or email alumni@greenville.edu with questions.
Join us Saturday, October 19 at 10 a.m. for a ribbon cutting at 1106 S. Elm St., Greenville. This beautifully renovated facility, home to kindergarten readiness programming for area children, also serves as a learning lab for GU’s early childhood education majors. The event includes the dedication of the Deb Noyes and Joyce Keillor Memorial Garden.
THE PANTHER 5K RETURNS! • • • • • •
Saturday, October 19, 2019, Hogue Lawn Check-in and onsite registration for all races - 7 a.m. Early bird registration rate ends October 8 Children’s Fun Run (ages 7 and younger) - 8 a.m. College Avenue Dash (ages 8-12) - 8:15 a.m. Panther 5K - 8:30 a.m.
SPECIAL REUNION GROUPS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 • • • •
Track & Cross Country - After the Panther 5K Colorado Semester Reunion Breakfast - 9:30 a.m. Israel Interterm Trip Reunion - 3:30 p.m. Wilson T. Hogue Society - 3:30 p.m.
LEARN MORE: greenville.edu/homecoming
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
Football JV vs. Alumni - 3:30 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. Eureka - 5 p.m. Baseball vs. Alumni - 6 p.m. Women’s Volleyball vs. Eureka - 7 p.m. Women’s Soccer vs. Eureka - 7 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball JV vs. Alumni - 9 a.m. Mixed Doubles Tennis vs. Alumni - 9 a.m. Women’s Soccer vs. Alumni - 10 a.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Alumni - 11 a.m. Men’s Soccer vs. Alumni - 11 a.m. Football vs. Saint Scholastica - 1 p.m. Alumni Basketball - 7 p.m.
SPORTS EVENTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2019 ALUMNI AWARDEES The Greenville University Alumni Association is pleased to announce its 2019 Alumni Awardees. Come honor these recipients during Homecoming Chapel, October 18, 9:30 a.m. in Whitlock Music Center. Selection for alumni awards is based on a formal nomination and review process. For information about nominating alumni for the 2020 awards, contact the alumni office at 618-664-7119 or alumni@greenville.edu
Distinguished Alumna
Dr. Gene A. Kamp Loyalty Award
Outstanding Young Alumnus
Carol Wilson ’81
Tony Smarrella ‘88
Aaron D. Cobb ’01
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“ONLINE” TO “ONSTAGE” By Rachel Heston-Davis
How a Youtube video took three GU Choir alumni to Carnegie Hall Jaron Davis ’06 usually sings alone. Tucked into a basement room lined with foam acoustic panels, Jaron records vocal tracks to mix into songs for his Youtube channel. The channel covers beloved pop culture tunes reimagined as acapella compositions. Jaron’s most popular videos can garner upward of 50,000 views, but the actual singing happens in solitude. That changed this April when those solitary recording sessions rocketed Jaron and two other GU alumni to the stage at Carnegie Hall, with a choir directed by choral composer/conductor Eric Whitacre. It began as just another Youtube video. Instilled with a love for all things choral from his GU Choir days, and stirred by memories of a hauntingly beautiful Whitacre song on his senior year choir tour, Jaron determined to cover a Whitacre composition. He chose Whitacre’s song “Alleluia” and collaborated with fellow GU Choir alumni Lydia (Borah ’10) Rice, Lisa Gines ’11 and Lloyd Nix ’14 to sing parts for the video. Lydia shared the completed video to an Eric Whitacre social media account. Whitacre took notice and re-shared it online. “We were blown away,” Jaron remembers— even more so when, upon meeting Whitacre
at a concert months later, Whitacre suggested Jaron use his video to apply for the Distinguished Concerts International New York [DCINY] program. DCINY partners with Whitacre every year to host a show at Carnegie Hall composed of singers from around the country who audition via video. Whitacre himself conducts the show, utilizing many of his own choral pieces. Three members of the quartet—Jaron, Lydia and Lisa— applied. Each made the cut and received one of just 40 spots in the DCINY 2019 Choir. Apart from a choir reunion at GU Homecoming, Jaron hadn’t sung with more than two or three people at a time since 2006. Now, he and his friends found themselves onstage with vocalists who had auditioned from far and wide.
GU Core Value: Thriving
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“It was exciting to rehearse with and get to know other choir enthusiasts from around the world while working on some of our favorite songs,” Lydia says. “Whitacre says that working with any choir is like working with a new car,” Jaron says. “You have to feel out the dynamics of the gas and brakes, then figure out how to best work with the car to get the maximum amount of performance. Every choir is different.” Whitacre practiced with his “new car” for two days, helping the group fine-tune its collective sound. Performance day added the dynamic of an audience almost 5,000 strong. “The energy [in the concert hall] was palpable,” Jaron says, resulting in a performance that surpassed even their excellent dress rehearsal. “You couldn’t help but give it your all.”
o ot ph
9 is ‘0 Dav lly o :H dit cre
THE DELICATE BALANCE Gifted musician and frequent piano accompanist Nick Watterson ’20 has come to understand the challenge of leading an ensemble: “The hours I spend alone in a practice room are only a small piece of the puzzle. Everything changes when even one new person enters the equation. The director and accompanist have to be attentive to these nuances. It is imperative that I approach the piano and the conductor’s stand with fresh eyes and ears every single time.” Each year, student-musicians benefit from scholarships like the Marching Band and Choral Scholarships, the GU Summer Touring Award and endowed scholarships. Thank you for giving. THE RECORD | FALL 2019
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Engaging Culture for Christ By Carla Morris
President Filby becomes a Colson Fellow Greenville University President Ivan Filby was recently named a Colson Fellow following his completion of the Colson Fellows program. The ten-month study from the Colson Center for Christian Worldview equips professionals to effectively engage their culture for Christ. “The whole experience is designed to help you cultivate a robust Christian worldview and understand people from God’s perspective,” said Filby. “For example, what does ‘made in God’s image’ mean when we practice racism and sexism? What happens when we treat humans as less than God intended?” Established by Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson, the Fellows program helps
participants apply scripture to current issues. It connects them with renowned practitioners, authors, scholars and thought leaders. Program requirements include reading 20 select books, attending 20 webinars, completing writing assignments, attending weekend retreats, participating in discipleship activities and working with a mentor. “In the academy, you might possess a Ph.D., but you can still have wooly thinking about how scripture applies to today’s hot issues,” said Filby. “This helped me develop a compelling Christian worldview and defend a biblical view on topics like human sexuality, abortion and end of life issues.”
Chuck Colson, the first member of President Richard Nixon’s administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges, later founded Prison Fellowship, the world’s largest Christian nonprofit organization for prisoners and their families. He understood Christ’s power to accomplish great things through imperfect people. The Colson Fellows program guides believers to “read the best books, listen to the best teachers and speakers and develop their own personal plan for serving the Lord in unique ministries in their communities.” A version of this article first appeared on greenville.edu. Visit greenville.edu for more stories and news.
President Ivan and First Lady Kathie Filby delivered God’s word to congregations in Illinois, Ireland and Hong Kong this summer. In one three-week period they preached on three continents, in four countries and in seven different churches. “Together or apart,” said Kathie, “it’s a joy to be able to minister wherever and whenever.” Kathie is an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church. Ivan holds a master’s in evangelism studies from Cliff College in the U.K.
GU Core Value: Christ-centered Wesleyan
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{CAMPUS NEWS} FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF GREENVILLE SMART FROM YOUR HOME
GU TO HOST NCCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS The National Christian College Athletic Association recently announced that Greenville University will host the Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years. “[These] events add value to our community,” said GU President Ivan Filby. “We look forward to extending Greenville’s motto ‘arms wide open’ to NCCAA competitors.” Participating athletes for the NCCAA championships include men and women from around the country. Typically, the three-day competition includes 22 events and a service project that engages participating athletes and coaches.
Renovations to the SMART Center have moved full steam ahead all summer thanks to carpenters, plumbers, steamfitters, electricians, shovel operators, brick masons and more. You can track the progress firsthand via one-minute video tours posted to Greenville SMART’s Facebook page. Breck Nelson, executive director of Greenville SMART, takes viewers inside the historic three-story structure on Greenville’s square to see the transformation. The Greenville SMART Center will serve as the hub to activities associated with Greenville SMART initiatives. The enterprise joins university and community resources to cultivate business and economic growth and provide students with learning opportunities, networking and internships. “The University is doing fantastic work in helping to shape the downtown,” says Bill Walker, economic development coordinator for Greenville. Have a minute? Take a tour with Breck at facebook.com/GreenvilleSMART.
Greenville
SMART
A Community Initiative of Greenville University
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{CAMPUS NEWS}
FACTORY THEATRE LAUNCHES NEW SEASON WITH 39 STEPS Alex Freeman, managing director of the Factory Theatre, gives local alumni and theater-goers plenty of reasons to enjoy GU’s first play of the season, The 39 Steps. “It doesn’t take itself seriously in the least,” he says. The spy thriller integrates mystery, romance and jokes about its own genre along the way. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone,” he says. The production also involves four actors playing a total of 150 characters. Freeman anticipates helping them create unique physicality for each character. “We’ll spend a lot of time in rehearsal thinking through things like centers of gravity, vocal inflections and ultimately what’s going to get the best laugh.” Performances are scheduled for October 23-26. For more information, email alex.freeman@greenville.edu, or call 636-364-8286.
GU SINGER-SONGWRITERS SHINE AT ST. LOUIS SOUND Students and alumni represented Greenville University well at the 2019 St. Louis Sound music competition on June 26. Of 11 finalists, three acts hailed from the GU community. Clayton Jones ’13 (at left) emerged the winner with his song “Ringleader.” Mikayla Hoult ’21 performed her song “Small Things,” and Noah Schlosser ’20 and Austin Simmons ’19 performed their song “Scream.” Jones received an expenses-paid trip to Nashville, Tennessee, including opportunities to meet music industry professionals and record a demo with up to six band members. “We’re thrilled that so many Greenville University musicians made the cut,” said Assistant Professor of Music Business Danara Moore. “We encourage our students to bring topnotch skills and enthusiastic persistence to their work, whether that’s music, music business or any other discipline.”
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FROM COPPER CORROSION TO CRYPTOGRAPHY, SUMMER RESEARCHERS COVER WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS
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Research experience on a resume helps students gain entrance into graduate school. Some student researchers participating in GU’s 2019 Summer Research Experience built on the work of previous students; some will continue their research this fall. Areas of exploration this summer included well-water contamination, quantum cryptography, genomics, kava as a potential relief for depression and ADD, corrosion in copper piping and a study of agricultural versus natural habitats. This summer, McAllaster Honors Scholar Kristin Frailey ’21 researched copper corrosion, thanks to research sponsor Enertech Global and donors to GU’s Catalyst and Greenville University Funds. Thank you for giving.
SELFLESS: LADY PANTHERS SCORE UNEXPECTED REWARDS IN COSTA RICA When GU’s Lady Panthers basketball team traveled to Costa Rica in May, Coach Roy Mulholland ’86 had a very specific goal in mind. “This trip was not about us; it was about those we were going to serve,” he said. Plans for the partnership with SCORE International Ministries called for the players to hold basketball clinics for children in various cities and meet Christian clergy ministering in local neighborhoods replete with poverty, domestic violence and sexual exploitation. Coaches and players personally pooled $1K to put toward food for families in Alajuelita. The players added shoes and sweatshirts for distribution to those in need. “God really began to challenge us collectively in terms of needs and wants,” said Mulholland. “I hope it is a lesson that will fundamentally change who we are and how we see others.”
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ALUMNI NEWS 1960s 1 Bill Jack ’67 has published a book, Perseverance: An Alaskan’s 2,000 Mile Journey on the Appalachian Trail (Publishing Consultants, 2019). Jack embarked on the journey to celebrate his seventieth birthday, “not knowing I had picked one of the most difficult hikes in the world!” Readers discover the hardships of the trail and its appeal to the many adventurers who choose to hike it each year. Jack moved to Alaska shortly after college and enjoyed a 30-year career as a schoolteacher and coach for high school basketball and cross country. He and his wife Penny also raised and raced sled dogs, once placing 20th out of 70 teams competing in the 1,049-mile Iditarod. For more information about Perseverance, email billjack.AT@gmail.com.
’79 REUNION YEAR October 17-20, 2019
Brian and Julie Ann (Crawford ’81) Smith now reside at 356 Genesis Circle, Apartment #8, Black Mountain, North Carolina, 28711.
John ’03 and Amanda (Bristol ’04) Swanson, a daughter, Claire Anne Bristol Swanson, born February 15, 2019, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Donald Tanner ’90 recently moved to Buffalo, Oklahoma, where he enjoys a Depression/Dust Bowl-era “tiny house.” “I am blessed to have two lots,” he writes, “a nice insulated storage building and an empty railroad car.” 220 SW 2nd St, Buffalo, OK 73843. donaldftanner@ gmail.com. ’94 REUNION YEAR October 17-20, 2019
David ’70 and Linda (Sayre ’70) Marcy currently live at 1018 East Scott Avenue, Gilbert, Arizona, 85234. dmarcy25@ gmail.com.
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graduate students as student speaker at Edgewood’s commencement exercises, May 19, 2019. She currently serves at College of Menominee Nation. kchelberg@gmail.com.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Submit your information online at greenville.edu/alumni.
Curt Simpkins ’77 recently celebrated 40 years of service with Independent Financial. 2506 Danbury Dr, Longmont, CO 80503. curt.simpkins@ibtx.com.
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What’s New With You?
Kelli (Keasling ’94) Chelberg recently received her doctorate in educational leadership from Edgewood College (Madison, Wisconsin). She represented
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Jermaine ’06 and Shayla Williams, a daughter, Emma James, born June 1, 2019. Jermaine is assistant athletic director-facilities and game operations with University of South Alabama. jw.gamemngt@gmail.com. T.J. ’07, MS ’12 and Emily (Hillmer ’08) Gaylord, a son, Lawson Scott Hillmer, born January 16, 2019. T.J. is a video producer and director with Switzerfilm. ’09 REUNION YEAR October 17-20, 2019
Rachel Payne ’09 now serves as a certified veterinary technician with ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. gcrach05@gmail.com.
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2010s Elizabeth (Lock ’10) Klauzer is entering her tenth year as a music teacher. “I am blessed to work in a small rural district, where, among other things, I teach general music and direct the choirs,” she says. “I also head up the spring musical.” Klauzer, who incorporates the Feierabend approach in her work, holds a master’s in music education from Illinois State University. Rebecca (Washburn ’10) Oehlert is a global mobility specialist with Boeing. She previously served as a corporate communications specialist with Crocs. In August, Dustin Swarm ’10, ’18 presented research on ray tracing at a conference of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. His research surrounds Arcus, a free-flying spacecraft that features a high-resolution X-ray spectrometer. Swarm studies high energy astrophysics at the University of Iowa where he also serves as graduate research assistant with the DeRoo Research Group. His research interests include performance optimization of ray tracing code, highperformance cluster computing and compact objects. 2
WANTED: STUDENT INTERN, HIGH EXPECTATIONS Connections create win-win David Ray ’05 opened doors of opportunity for student Brian Wells ’21, who double-majors in worship arts and music industry studies. Ray, associate director of worship at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas, turned to GU Assistant Professor of Worship Arts Paul Sunderland for help filling a summer internship. Sunderland encouraged Brian to apply. “I had high expectations for a current GU worship arts student,” Ray said, given the caliber of students he’d met when reconnecting with the music department as an alumnus. Brian did not disappoint. Ray cites Brian’s critical thinking, openness to learning, musical preparation, leadership experience and diligent work ethic as a testament to the culture at GU that Sunderland and others create. The internship offered Brian a better experience than other internships he had considered. He received one-on-one mentoring from Ray, plus an opportunity to meet music industry professionals in Nashville, Tennessee. The combination of worship leadership and music business know-how prepared him for work in either field. “I am incredibly grateful to be attending Greenville University where these amazing opportunities are made possible,” said Brian, who also receives the donor-funded McAllaster Honors Scholarship. Thank you for giving.
John ’11 and Carrie (Griffin ’11) Haley, a daughter, Sophia Lynn Haley, born April 7, 2019.
Anna Weyers ’12 works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Benjamin and Meagan (Gunn ’13) Hanley were married June 7, 2019. Meagan is office manager in Student Financial Aid at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Benjamin is an applications developer for Boeing. Meghan (Girdner ’13) Weber is a clinical/ translational research coordinator at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her work involves medications awaiting FDA approval. Recent studies include medications for teen depression, “especially teenagers with suicidal ideation,” she says. Another study focuses on sleep behavior associated with Fragile-X Syndrome, a genetic disorder. A third focuses on Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome—a diagnosis that often precedes psychotic episodes. ’14 REUNION YEAR October 17-20, 2019 4 Isaac Barber ’14 is director of residence life at Park University (Parkville, Missouri). He manages Park’s residential buildings and ensures that the residential experience for students aligns with the university’s vision and mission. He is also charged with developing and administering high-impact programs and services for residential students. Barber previously served as area
coordinator of freshman curriculum at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. Barber holds a master of divinity degree in leadership from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia). On May 10, 2019, Suzanne Ford ’15 graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ford will complete a specialty internship in equine medicine and surgery, also at University of Illinois. U of I’s College of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 30 veterinary schools in the United States. Ford and her classmates spent 15 weeks during the first two years of study practicing clinical skills in a learning center equipped with models and simulations. Erik Reed ’15 works for the Kountry Kitchen in Central City, Illinois. 1109 N. Lincoln Blvd, Centralia, IL 62801. titanicchristian89@gmail.com. THE RECORD | FALL 2019
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ALUMNI NEWS
Jenna (Marcotte ’11) Wolff coordinates research for the National Jewish Health Center. She manages a host of persons, schedules, departments, conferences, tests, data, documents and more. Recent studies address lung injuries incurred during military deployment, and new ways to detect injury or disease in the small airways of the lung. 3
IN MEMORY Roberta (Rearick ’48) Hanna passed away May 27, 2019. A high school English teacher, she and her husband Dan served in the Urbana (Illinois) Free Methodist Church. The couple later moved to Seattle, where she continued to teach until retirement. Thomas Perry ’48, age 96, of Cheshire, Connecticut, passed away June 17, 2019. A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, he served in education and later as an accountant and project manager in construction. He also conducted research for B24.net, a website that supplies information to families about the military service of loved ones.
ALUMNI IN MEMORY
Rev. David Pease ’54, of Janesville, Wisconsin, died May 13, 2019. He served six parishes before following God’s call to minister through retirement communities. Friends and family remember Pease as a beloved and skilled visionary whose many hats including administrator, chaplain and CEO. Ruth (Pieper) Brown, age 91, of Battle Creek, Michigan, died June 27, 2019. She and her husband ran a residential construction business. She frequently played organ and piano for church services, cantatas, weddings and funerals. Her greatest joy was homemaking. Betty (Krantz ’58) Garrett of Peotone, Illinois, passed away May 23, 2019. She taught school for 32 years in Illinois and for two years in Germany. She filled various roles in the Harvey-Monee Free Methodist Church over many years, including member of the church board and pastor’s cabinet. Betty (Delamarter ’60) Morgan, age 81, of Greenville, passed away July 29, 2019. She taught school until her retirement in 1994 and later supervised student teachers from Greenville College. She also directed children’s ministries at the Greenville Free Methodist Church. Betty lived out her calling to seek God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength and to love her neighbor as herself. She and husband Tom ’60, a treasured couple in the GU community, enjoyed more than 58 years together. Barbara (Lehr ’61) Deffley, age 89, of Silver Spring, Maryland, died May 20, 20
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2019. An elementary schoolteacher, she also team-taught adult Sunday school and Bible study courses with her husband, Rev. Harry Deffley ’57. Harry said she often functioned as an unpaid co-pastor throughout their 68year marriage.
Merita (Sorrells ’84) Claussen, age 61, passed away April 26, 2019, in Costa Mesa, California. A longtime accountant for Marriott International in Orlando, she most recently worked as branch office administrator for Edward Jones.
John Hartley ’61 passed away August 6, 2019. A prolific writer, scholar, and professor emeritus at Azusa Pacific University, he supported Jewish Christian studies at GU. APU posted a tribute to Hartley that summed up his impact: “Some call him a legend, some a mentor, others the most challenging teacher they have ever encountered, but nearly all of his students throughout the past 46 years call him friend.”
Allyson Brandy Grabowski ’20, age 21, of Nashville, Illinois, died July 15, 2019, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She played 99 volleyball matches as a Lady Panther and earned a place on the SLIAC academic all-conference team twice. She played for two SLIAC regular season championship teams and three SLIAC tournament championship teams. Grabowski held a 3.99 GPA, majoring in biology and chemistry. She was a member of the TriBeta and McAllaster Honor Societies.
Wendel Krober ’63, age 77, of Westfield, Indiana, passed away July 9, 2019. His 41 years of service in public education included presiding over the Wayne Township Classroom Teachers Association and serving as a founding member of the Indiana Professional Educators. Krober used his construction skills on nine mission trips. He enjoyed woodworking, stained glass, landscaping and most of all, his family and grandchildren. His wife Kay (Willis ’63) survives. Shirley (Senn ’66) Davis, age 92, of Redding, California, passed away June 1, 2019. After her marriage during WWII to Navy man Earl Davis, the couple moved to San Diego where she became a street car driver. They later returned to Greenville. Davis received her master’s in education from Southern Illinois University and taught elementary school for more than 25 years, followed by 20 years of volunteer work with various organizations. Shirley (Wolcott ’71) Killinger, age 71, of Peoria, Illinois, passed away February 18, 2019. An elementary schoolteacher, Shirley was a member of The P.E.O. Sisterhood and sang in the Ecukeys singing group. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Peoria. Husband Paul ’69 survives. Gary King ’73, age 70, of Mt. Morris, Michigan, passed away July 16, 2019. He taught music in Mt. Morris public schools for 30 years and enjoyed classical music, literature, biographies and the theater, where he acted, directed and often served as piano accompanist.
Former First Lady of Greenville University Mary Richardson, age 100, passed away May 20, 2019, in Columbia, Missouri. Mary helped advance the vision of “a modern campus” in Greenville when her husband Glenn assumed full presidency in 1962. Years later, Greenville University President Emeritus W. Richard Stephens recalled the couple’s sacrificial giving: “We all are in great debt to Glenn and Mary and the family for their many contributions to Christian education made primarily through Greenville, but also through other colleges.” Longtime employee of Greenville University Hilda Kemp, of Greenville, died June 7, 2019. She held various positions at the University during 27 years of employment. Wilma Wilson, age 87, of Greenville, passed away June 2, 2019. She held a bachelor’s and a master’s in music education from Indiana University. In 1957, she and husband Jim joined the Greenville University family when Jim accepted a position with GU’s music faculty. Wilma taught elementary school music until her retirement in 1993. The couple served 25 years in music ministry with the Greenville Free Methodist Church. Former GU art professor Paul Wolber, age 83, of Lansing, Michigan, passed away June 13, 2019. Wolber harbored a lifelong passion for art and world travel. Paul taught at Greenville University from 1965 to 1976; he taught at Spring Arbor University from 1976 to 2003. He also taught at various universities in China from 1998 to 2003. His paintings appear in exhibitions, museums and private collections worldwide.
WE WANT YOU IN THE CIRCLE The Ivy Circle, that is. Together, we ensure a strong future for Christ-centered learning at GU. Join us today by including Greenville University in your will or other estate planning Contact Linda Myette at linda.myette@greenville.edu for more information.
GU Vision: We offer a transformational Christ-centered educational experience that empowers, enriches and endures.
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Aubrey delivers a lesson in the Judean Wilderness, the region of Jesus’ temptation and backdrop to the parable of the Good Samaritan.
COME SEE THE LAND OF THE BIBLE WITH ME! Join GU students and me in Israel for Interterm, January 5-27, 2020. Our partner, critically-acclaimed and biblically-based Jerusalem University College, helps us “read the land, see the text and live the book!” - GU Assistant Professor of Theology Aubrey McClain. To learn more, contact Aubrey.McClain@greenville.edu.
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