Bradley Hilltopics magazine, Fall 2010

Bradley University Fall 2010

bradley.edu/hilltopics

INSIDE: Starring as Shrek

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Study abroad with a twist

p. 16

p. 24

p r esiden t ’ s p r el u de

duane zehr

this has been quite a summer on the Hilltop. As you will read in this edition of Bradley Hilltopics, we have been putting the finishing touches on our fabulous new 4,200-seat arena. It is spectacular, a fitting successor to our beloved Robertson Memorial Field House that stood on the same site for six decades.

The arena will host commencements and convocations, concerts and job fairs, and serve as home to our women’s basketball and volleyball teams. The adjoining practice facility for our basketball teams, and accompanying academic rooms, physical therapy areas and workout space, will rival any in the nation. We will dedicate the arena at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 15, during our Homecoming President Joanne Glasser celebrated the start of the school year with celebration and follow that ceremony with tours. One highlight of Homecoming students at the annual block party on August 21. Held in the evening will be a performance by comedian and television superstar Jay Leno on Saturday after students move into residence halls, the party is the first in a in the arena. We are delighted that Jay will add his special brand of comedy to series of Welcome Week events.

Homecoming. I invite you to return to the Hilltop to take part in all of the other wonderful festivities we have planned. I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming.

The arena project isn’t the only construction activity on campus. The superstructure of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center has been erected adjoining Bradley Hall. The Alumni Center will be a fabulous addition to campus, and I can’t wait until it is completed next year so we can begin work on creating a beautiful Alumni Quad alongside it. In July, the faculty and staff of our College of Education and Health Sciences relocated from Westlake Hall to Campustown Shopping Center to make way for the renovation and expansion of Westlake. This long-awaited and much-needed project will provide state-of-the-art laboratory and classroom facilities for students preparing to be teachers and health care professionals.

Our construction efforts have helped attract a large and highly qualified freshman class. More than 1,130 incoming freshmen and their parents attended our valuable three-day orientation sessions this summer. At each session, I personally welcomed our incoming students and their families to the Bradley Experience, and I am impressed with the quality of these students and their passion for joining the Bradley community. Their energy and enthusiasm is infectious.

Orientation was just one activity on the Hilltop this summer. More than 1,000 of our own students enrolled in summer classes. Hundreds more high school and grade school students attended camps involving sports, music, engineering, gifted education … the list goes on and on. These are the Bradley Braves of the future, and I am so happy we can host them. With all of the activity, the Hilltop has become a 12-months-a-year, 24/7 campus.

I continue to reach out to our loyal alumni and friends. In particular, I want to thank PHIL WILMINGTON ’79 and CALVIN BUTLER ’91 for hosting alumni events at suburban Chicago golf clubs in June. (Photos on page 39.) I also joined 170 other Bradley alums and supporters at the annual Braves Club golf outing at WeaverRidge Golf Club in Peoria. It is wonderful to see so many who have stayed connected with their alma mater and are dedicated to helping Bradley become a university of national distinction. We have realized our tremendous success with the aid of our network of great alumni. Thank you for all you have done and all you will do in the future. As always, I am honored and humbled to serve this wonderful institution.

Warm regards,

Fall 2010

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Volume 16 Issue 4

New provost ‘at home’ on campus

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A noted forensic anthropologist and college dean, Dr. David Glassman became Bradley’s chief academic officer on July 1.

Going green: Shrek the Musical tours America

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ERIC PETERSEN ’03 has made the big time. He’s traveling coast

to coast and taking the stage as everybody’s favorite ogre.

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The rise of the arena

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After 2+ years of construction, the beautiful new arena has just opened to rave reviews. A special 8-page photo tour offers highlights of the 165,000-square-foot facility.

joan marcus

From Vienna to the mighty Mississippi

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Come along on a Study Abroad trip where students from Bradley and the University of Vienna become part of each other’s culture.

mark ballogg / psa-dewberry

Departments

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ViewPoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

InMemory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

NoteBook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

AlumniNews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

SportScene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

CampusView. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

ClassNotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

InAppreciation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Staff

Administration

Karen Crowley Metzinger, MA ’97 editor

Joanne K. Glasser president

Gayle Erwin mcdowell ’77 associate editor

shelley epstein associate vice president for university communications

ERIN WOOD miller ’09 assistant editor sarah dukes art director

Kathy Fuller assistant vice president for university relations

Duane Zehr university photographer

Staff Assistants Abby Wilson ’10 ana samoylova, mfa ’11, photographer

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Cert no. SCS-COC-00648

On the cover: The volleyball team opened the arena before a record-breaking crowd of 1,752 fans.

Bradley’s new campus arena can accommodate 4,200 spectators, and is part of the structure that opened in August. See pages 16–23 for more about the $50 million facility. Photo by Duane Zehr.

ViewPoint Send your letters & e-mail

Remembering Dr. Abegg Having just learned about the recent passing of MARTIN “JERRY” ABEGG ’47 HON ’93, I am saddened even though it has been close to 35 years since I last was in his presence.

As a student from 1971–75, and student body president in 1974–75, I had the great opportunity to get to know Dr. Abegg from a student’s perspective. The open-door policy in his office, the friendly smile on campus, and the quiet confidence and steadfast belief that engaging students on a level with himself — although we were clearly not at his level — were the true touches of a mentor, teacher, and leader who made a lifelong impression on me. I have tried to emulate in my adult life the lessons taught by Dr. Abegg.

I remember when deciding if a tuition increase should be set for the 1974–75 school year, Dr. Abegg and the head of finance came to my apartment to discuss the pros and cons and the timing. With a calmness and Everyman way about him, he and JOE MELE, MA ’68 agreed that the following year would be the year for the increase. Now, I am sure that they had already decided that, but he took the time and energy to come to our apartment to make us feel that we mattered enough to have that discussion in our setting.

The steady hand in turbulence is worth everything. Many of today’s loud leaders could take

a huge cue from the life and leadership of Jerry Abegg. Thank you for the memories of Bradley University from this alum.

PHIL PRITZKER ’75

Arlington Heights, Ill. During the winter of 1962–63, I was trying to decide which university was right for me. As a high school senior, I had received an invitation to attend a Bradley University “recruiting” function at the Oak Park Arms Hotel. Jerry Abegg, then dean of the College of Engineering, was the principal speaker.

Here was a man whom I had never met, but who quickly convinced me that Bradley was right for me.

What Jerry said was very well prepared and delivered, but so were all of the talks at the recruiting functions of the schools I was considering.

What was different here, and what made my decision to attend Bradley so easy, was Jerry’s warmth, conviction, and command of the moment.

I was not only looking for a good engineering school, but also for a school where I would not be simply a number, where faculty and even the dean of the engineering school would be accessible.

A few years after graduation, I had the opportunity to move my family back to Peoria. I witnessed Dean Abegg become President Abegg, all the while remaining the same warm and accessible guy I first met nearly 50 years ago. I will miss him.

DAVID MUCHOW ’68

My experience at Bradley with Jerry Abegg parallels that of DR. MAX WESSLER ’52, whose comments were in the last issue of Bradley Hilltopics. I, along with Max, was a student in his freshman surveying class.

It was a favorite class of mine. Jerry was an ideal type of teacher — very clear and precise in his presentations. It was quite obvious he knew his stuff and also that he knew how to teach others.

There is no doubt, as Max said, that Dr. Abegg epitomized the best in the Bradley family.

M.R. BOTTORFF ’52

Newbury Park, Calif.

Divers delighted Thank you for the nice job you did featuring DON CHRISTIAN ’76 and me in “Destined to dive” in the summer issue. My experiences at Bradley and the education I received have shaped my life in many, many ways. It is an honor to be published in Bradley Hilltopics magazine.

PAUL BREZINSKI ’74

Arlington Heights, Ill. You did a very nice job with the “Destined to dive” article. Thanks for helping spread the good word about diving. We are booked on a trip to Little Cayman in October with the Brezinskis.

DON CHRISTIAN ’76

Morristown, N.J.

Peoria, Ill.

From the editor Dear Friends of Bradley Hilltopics magazine, We appreciate the time you set aside to read your Bradley Hilltopics. Our hope is that each issue brings you closer to your alma mater and reminds you of your own Bradley Experience.

This fall, about 1,500 of you will be randomly selected and mailed a 10-minute readership survey. Thank you for giving us your opinion and returning it promptly. We are listening to you in an effort to continually improve Bradley Hilltopics for our more than 60,000 readers. One critical

question, for example, concerns whether you would like to continue receiving a printed magazine or would prefer only the electronic edition.

In the meantime, please visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/ survey to take our five-minute online readership survey to tell us how we are doing.

Thank you for your loyal support of our University and Bradley Hilltopics.

KAREN CROWLEY METZINGER, MA ’97

Director of Alumni Publications

© Bradley University 2010 Bradley Hilltopics is published in winter, spring, summer, and fall by Bradley University for alumni, faculty, staff, parents of students, and other friends of the University. Send letters and address changes to: Hilltopics, Bradley University, 1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625. 309-677-2249 fax 309-677-4055 e-mail: hilltopics@bradley.edu Web site: bradley.edu/hilltopics campus information: 309-676-7611 Bradley University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities for all persons regardless of age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

The University also is committed to compliance with all applicable laws regarding non-discrimination, harassment, and affirmative action. Bradley Hilltopics reserves the right to edit all letters to the editor based on length and content.

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NoteBook BU news, views & updates

Requesting your feedback

BY erin wood miller ’09

one of the nation’s most

respected forensic anthropologists, Dr. David Glassman has helped identify the remains of more than 300 people and has provided reports to law enforcement agencies, medical examiners’ offices, and prosecutors. In 2001, in what was perhaps his most well-known case, he helped police solve the murders of American Atheists founder Madalyn Murray O’Hair, her son, and her granddaughter, whose bodies were found buried on a Texas ranch.

As Bradley’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs, Glassman said his unique background is beneficial in his new position. “Being a forensic anthropologist and being involved in human identification analyses has allowed me to develop skills in a multidisciplinary environment that includes experience in the natural and social sciences, the legal system, management and leadership, and public relations. I believe this broadbased background provides me with a more holistic understanding of the educational system of a comprehensive university like Bradley.”

In his new role as Bradley’s provost, Glassman is the University’s chief academic officer and the second-ranking administrative officer. “One of my first priorities is to assist the University to a successful NCA reaccreditation in November,” he said. “Another top priority is to develop a complete understanding of the academic environment of the University as quickly as possible in order to provide assistance and leadership in continuing the excellence of our undergraduate and graduate programs. I have been incredibly impressed with our outstanding and dedicated faculty and staff. I share with them the commitment to provide the very best educational experience for our students.”

During his first address at the University Conference on August 17, Glassman outlined four major initiatives for the upcoming academic year. They are: develop a strategic plan for the Library to increase its excellence as an effective

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new provost ‘ at home’ on campus learning center; work with the College of Engineering and Technology and the Foster College of Business Administration to develop their model for educational convergence and cross-college scholarship; initiate a major review and evaluation of Graduate School operations and graduate programs; and begin to develop a new strategic plan for the University.

For the past six years, Glassman was dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, where he supervised 113 full-time and more than 100 part-time faculty members, 10 academic departments, and administered an annual operating budget of $11.5 million.

Earlier, Glassman served as associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Texas State University in San Marcos, chairman of the Department of Anthropology, and in teaching positions. He also taught at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and served as a postdoctoral Fellow in the Behavioral Medicine Laboratory at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio.

“I spent a large part of my career in the classroom and appreciate the hard work and dedication that faculty engage in every day to provide students with the knowledge and skill sets for lifelong learning and economic, social, and civic success,” he said.

Glassman earned his doctorate and master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota.

“It’s an honor to have been selected to lead the excellent faculty and staff that drive the Bradley academic community,” he said. “I am excited to work with President Glasser and assist her in moving Bradley forward to greater national distinction.”

In his spare time, Glassman enjoys traveling and collecting Latin American art. His son Michaels is studying chemistry at the University of Texas.

Bradley University will undergo a site visit for Continued Accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools from November 15–17, 2010. The Higher Learning Commission is one of six regional accrediting agencies in the United States that provides institutional accreditation. Bradley has been accredited by the Commission since 1913.

As a part of the accreditation review, the public is invited to submit comments regarding Bradley to The Higher Learning Commission by sending them to the website at ncahlc.org, or the address listed below

by October 14: Public Comment on Bradley University The Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604-1413 Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of Bradley or its instructional programs. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after the due date will be considered. Comments must be in writing and signed and cannot be treated as confidential.

Join us at the arena on November 15 from 5–6 p.m. for an open meeting with the NCA Commission.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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NoteBook In the news

rankings are in: Bradley among the best

al Inaugura aren shows!

Left, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer with LOST’s Hurley (played by Jorge Garcia), namesake of the latest Weezer album.

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selectivity, retention rate, class size, financial resources, and alumni giving. Bradley had an 88 percent freshman-tosophomore retention rate, and nearly half its classes have fewer than 20 students.

Visit colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/ best-colleges for more information.

The Princeton Review has placed Bradley in its annual publication, The Best 373 Colleges, for the 12th consecutive year. The Review cited Bradley’s small class size, student-faculty relationships, job placement rate, and facilities, as well as programs such as interactive media, sports communication, physical therapy, nursing, and entrepreneurship. Bradley was also selected as one of The Princeton Review’s 152 best institutions in the 12-state Midwest region.

“Bradley provides students with everything they need to know about the ‘real world,’ while making them feel at home,” the publication reported. It also lauded President Joanne Glasser for her commitment to students and for being an exemplary role model.

The rankings are based on students’ responses to surveys, campus visits, and feedback from parents and college counselors.

For more information, visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/ princeton2011.

rocking the new arena: weezer and leno spinner.com

Late night television superstar Jay Leno helps dedicate new arena during Homecoming.

See page 38.

U.S.News & World Report has once again ranked Bradley among the nation’s best colleges. Since 2007, the publication has ranked Bradley sixth among comprehensive universities in the Midwest that offer master’s degrees. Bradley also was named one of the top five “Great Schools at Great Prices” in the Midwest.

“The U.S.News & World Report’s ranking is another independent confirmation that Bradley is providing one of the nation’s best educational environments for our students,” President Joanne Glasser said. “Bradley continues to offer an outstanding academic experience that prepares our students for success. The U.S.News ranking is further evidence that Bradley is becoming an institution of national distinction.”

Bradley also was recognized for its College of Engineering and Technology, which ranked among the best in the country.

The University also earned recognition for its internship program.

“I am pleased U.S.News recognized that our students get fascinating and interesting internships across the country, positions that prepare them to follow their dreams after they graduate, and that our College of Engineering is one of the best in America,” Glasser said. “Thanks to our Renaissance Campaign, Bradley also is building a campus for the future, adding the highest quality educational and recreational facilities to serve the diverse needs of our faculty and students.”

The U.S.News and World Report rankings are based on a number of factors, including faculty resources, student

The Grammy award-winning alternative rock band Weezer will perform the inaugural concert in the new campus arena on September 25 at 8 p.m. Known for hits like “Buddy Holly” and “Say it Ain’t So,” Weezer recently contributed “I’m a Believer” to the Shrek Forever After soundtrack.

The band has been recording since 1994, and released its latest album, Hurley, this month. Weezer has released a new album every year since 2007.

“This arena was built largely for women’s basketball and volleyball, but it was designed with concerts in

mind,” said Dain Gotto, assistant director of student activities. “There will not be a bad seat in the house. It doesn’t matter where you are, you’re going to enjoy the concert,” he added.

Gotto and students from the Activities Council of Bradley University (ACBU) began working on the concert in February, when they surveyed student music preferences. Weezer fit the bill.

“ACBU played a significant role in choosing Weezer and doing everything from helping write a press release to making an ad plan,” said Gotto. “It wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Tickets sales began on August 30 for students. Approximately 3,700 seats are available. Call the arena box office at (309) 677-2625 or visit ticketmaster.com for ticket availability.

renaissance campaign update

Navigate the redesigned bradley.edu

BY JACQUELINE R. KOCH ’07

Seven years may not seem like a long time to some people, but it represents a lifetime in the technology world.

So after about seven years of little change, the Bradley website has been completely overhauled.

“I think the general consensus was that the old site was well past its prime,” said JIM CRONE ’02, Bradley’s director of Web marketing/communications.

The resulting upgrade, which debuted in April, includes a fresh look and feel for Bradley’s site. A new content management system (CMS) allows the pages to be updated as needed. The CMS also maintains a consistent theme so viewers recognize pages as being within the Bradley site.

“They instantly know they are interfacing with Bradley,” Crone said. “The design is cleaner and is easier for users to find what they are looking for.”

The upgrade also makes it easier to incorporate multimedia within the site. Photos are now larger.

Videos are more easily incorporated and more prevalently featured. The entire site is more attractive and useful to prospective and current students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Crone and assistant director OME CANO LOPEZ ’08 were responsible for the upgrade, but received help from all departments.

“It takes the cooperation of a whole university to do this,” he said.

Crone said he plans to have updated the Web pages for all departments, colleges, and centers within Bradley’s site to reflect the new theme by next year.

Response to the site has been overwhelmingly positive, Crone said.

“It’s been unanimously supported, be it within the University community or outside it.”

Faculty and staff kick off new school year Fall classes began on August 25, but the annual University Conference welcomed many faculty and staff members back to campus a week earlier. The conference featured speeches

by President Joanne Glasser and Dr. David Glassman, Bradley provost. Personnel hired during the past year were introduced, and several awards were presented: William Rainey Harper award The Center for Orientation and Advisement was honored for its commitment to excellence and an ever-improving level of performance. Gary Will, assistant professor of art/graphic design, was recognized as the 2010 outstanding adviser, an award he received last spring.

First year faculty award DR. KELLY REICHERT SCHWEND ’82, assistant professor of nursing, was lauded for bringing the real world of nursing to students. She holds a master’s degree in public health nursing from the University of Illinois and a doctorate from Illinois State.

Caterpillar professors Dr. Kyle Dzapo is the newest of seven Caterpillar professors at Bradley. A Caterpillar professor of music, she performs internationally as a flutist and is an expert on composer Joachim Anderson. She plays

in the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and is a pre-concert lecturer for the Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. Dr. Dzapo holds a doctorate from Northwestern.

The Caterpillar professorship is among Bradley’s highest faculty honors and comes with an annual stipend. Three other faculty members have had their Caterpillar professorships renewed, a process that occurs every five years. Dr. Robert Fuller and Dr. Kevin Stein have been Caterpillar professors since 2000. Dr. Allen Huffcutt earned the distinction in 2005. Fuller is a professor of religious studies; Stein is an English professor, and poet laureate of Illinois; and Huffcutt is a professor of psychology.

President’s awards Special awards recognizing extraordinary service to BU were given in 2008 and were again presented by President Glasser on August 17.

Recipients include Dr. Nina Collins, chair of Family and Consumer Sciences; KIM GREEN ’96, planning supervisor responsible for the construction of the Markin Center and the new arena; and Mike Keup, executive director of campus recreation and athletics facilities.

Reaching $139.5 million

by September 1, 2010, the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance is moving closer to its goal of $150 million. With 61,537 alumni sharing the bond of the Bradley Experience, the time is right to lend your support to the campaign and the construction of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center, the new campus home for alumni.

In 2011, the center will welcome alumni back to the Hilltop and forever change the Bradley alumni experience. University traditions, memories, and memorabilia will be on display to honor our heritage and inspire our bright future. Visit campaign.bradley.edu to learn more about the state-of-the-art facility adjoining the west side of historic Bradley Hall.

renaissance campaign status $150 million $139.5 million

goal

RAISED

as of SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

For an in-depth look at construction resulting from the Campaign, read a Journal Star article at bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/ newcampuslook.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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NoteBook On campus

wind project has real world twist by gayle erwin mcdowell ’77

ADRIENNE BRASCHE ’11 and NICK SHANE ’11 were friendly

duane zehr

competitors last spring as they worked to design and build scale models of a wind turbine — the kind that are now part of the landscape along highways in Illinois, as well as Texas, Iowa, and many other states.

With wind energy in the headlines, Dr. Scott Post thought the subject was well suited for his mechanical engineering course, Thermodynamics of Fluid Flows. The 32 students, mostly juniors, were divided into groups of four. Their assignment was to design models of propellers to be tested in Bradley’s subsonic wind tunnel. With four-inch blades, their models were 1/300th the length of the giant blades found on commercial turbines. Students chose the materials for their scale models, as well as the geometry of their designs. Materials ranged from wood to plexiglas to ABS plastic to aluminum.

“The goal was efficiency,” Brasche explained. “It was a really good experience. It was a mini design project that should prepare us for our senior design project. Luckily, we got started early and weren’t rushed at the end.”

As across-the-hall neighbors, Brasche and Shane enjoyed

Mechanical engineering major ADRIENNE BRASCHE ’11 prepares to test the efficiency of her group’s wind turbine model. The efficiency is the percentage of the wind’s kinetic energy that is converted into electrical power.

tradition returns in new venue Freshman Convocation, a tradition in the ’90s, was conducted on August 24, the night before classes began. In addition to welcoming words from Bradley President Joanne Glasser, Provost Dr. David Glassman, Student Body President NICK SWIATKOWSKI ’12, and keynote speaker Dr. Robert Fuller, students were treated to their first glimpse of the new 4,200-seat campus arena. Attendees also watched videos about Bradley’s past and future, sang Hail, Red and White, and enjoyed refreshments. Previous convocations were held at Olin Quad, the Field House, and the Student Center.

Watch the videos and read more at bradley.edu/hilltopics/ go/freshman2010.

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showing their projects to each other as they progressed.

“I spent hours and hours on the computer,” Shane reports.

“I did a three-dimensional CAD drawing of exactly what I wanted the computerized numeric control (CNC) milling machine to cut out.” Brasche used a rapid prototype machine — a type of 3-D printer — to cut out her group’s propeller. Other group members researched and wrote 20-page online papers about the guiding principles Visit bradley. for designing the turbines and the edu/hilltopics/ go/energystars economics of wind power. to read Energy According to Post, the most Stars, the story successful groups followed the of alumnae who direct energy principle of twisting the wind programs. turbine blades so they followed an inverse tangent profile. The respective models were tested at speeds ranging from 15 to 60 mph. At 60 mph some groups achieved rotation rates of 10,000 rpm, a speed that surprised even the professor. But at that top speed, the small turbines would provide only enough power to run a single fluorescent light bulb.

Attempting to make ME 308 as “real world” as possible, for past projects Post has given each group $200 in “Bradley bucks.” They had to spend the play money on materials and to pay for the use of equipment such as the CNC machine, the wind tunnel, and to consult with the professor.

Previous ME 308 classes have built rockets that must land in a target area, and have constructed glider planes they have flown at the Markin Center. Post has a different plan this fall for the Fluids Lab, which is used to test air and water projects. Students will use the 20-foot water table to study the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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From left, TREVOR McGRATH ’11, JESSICA PALMER ’10, ALYSSA SHYKEN ’11, and ERIC STEINHARDT ’11 discuss their grant proposal with Lindsay Hart Rodriguez of March of Dimes.

how to:

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write a grant By melissa vogrin ’10

MELISSA HOFFMAN ’10, a public relations major whose group wrote a grant for AFA, says that finding a business that offered a grant that their not-for-profit could apply for was the biggest challenge. “Like scholarships for college students, there are many stipulations and criteria the organization has to meet in order to apply.”

Nationally, grant proposals usually generate a 10- to 15online To read students’ percent return. Newton explains accounts of their that if a proposal generates a 30grant writing, to 35-percent return, the students visit bradley.edu/ hilltopics/go/ are doing very well. Especially grants. in light of the tough economy, “students must submit great grant proposals, because not-for-profits live and die by funding,” he says.

However, there are certain useful tricks of the trade, such as knowing when to request specific items instead of money and to specify that the organization accepts partial funding. MEGAN BOWEN ’10, a dietetics major whose group wrote a grant to Lowe’s for PARC, thought that deciding which items to ask for was the hardest part of the project, because “asking for too much could be a turnoff for them, and asking for too little might not really benefit PARC. We settled on requesting smaller items of importance.”

Not all the students’ grants are approved, but Newton says that “most students enjoy the experience, and they find that the knowledge they gain is relevant to any field.” JOSH RICKARD ’10, an actuarial science-business major whose group worked with HOF, agrees.

“Certain fields are going to require grant writing more often than others, but simply learning to write in a persuasive manner is an important skill in any field of study,” he says.

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Professor LEE NEWTON ’94 teaches grant writing as part of English 306: Business Communications. Newton believes grant writing is a useful skill for all students, regardless of their majors or career goals.

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For the past six years, LEE NEWTON ’94, associate professor of English, has taught a section of business writing that is mutually beneficial to Bradley students and the community.

Instead of focusing on drafting hypothetical business memos, letters, and e-mails, his students put their writing skills to use in the professional world as they spend four weeks researching and developing a grant proposal for a local not-for-profit organization.

When teaching the grant-writing process, Newton starts with the basics. The students learn how to write funding proposals, select a not-for-profit, research the organization, research potential donors, present the final grant proposal to the organization, and submit the proposal to their chosen funding sources.

As grant writers, students learn to be brief, concise, and direct while presenting information in a persuasive manner that both emphasizes the benefits and attracts readers’ attention. LISA FITCH ’11 was part of a group that worked with the Center for the Prevention of Abuse. “Writing this grant has definitely tested my writing skills,” she says. “As an English major, I typically write with a completely different style, and it took a while to adapt to a more business-like approach.”

Students are accustomed to relying on secondary sources such as the Internet and books for background information, but this project involves primary research that is mainly conducted by interacting with local not-for-profits. “Students have to be in direct contact with their chosen organization, because the organization tells them exactly what they’d like to request,” Newton says.

Last semester’s students also worked with March of Dimes, People Advocating for Respect and Consideration of individuals with developmental disabilities (PARC), Advocates for Access (AFA), and Hooked on Fishing (HOF). “Bigger not-for-profits can hire their own grant writers, but many of the organizations in Peoria are smaller and can’t afford a large budget,” Newton says. Many students write funding proposals to local or regional corporations such as Busey Bank, CEFCU, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Caterpillar.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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NoteBook BU news, views & updates

preston jackson: artist in residence by erin wood miller ’09

Preston Jackson, Bradley’s artist in residence, welds a steel sculpture that is part of a series about migration. Several of Jackson’s paintings and sculptures were exhibited at the Contemporary Art Center over the summer.

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p

reston jackson’s two- and threedimensional work is displayed in venues throughout the world. His murals can be seen on the exteriors of Peoria buildings, and his sculptures are along the riverfront.

Now the nationally known artist is sharing his expertise with Bradley students. Jackson became the University’s artist in residence in January and will spend three more semesters teaching and critiquing. He will continue teaching one class

as emeritus professor at the Art Institute in Chicago, as he has for the past two decades, but Jackson said he is happy to be on the Hilltop.

“I’m kind of a romantic. I miss what a real campus is like — the greenery, the community feeling, and all of the other subjects that you can cross into,” he said.

“I miss that. You can’t find that at a city school.”

Through the Inland Visual Studies Center, a program dedicated to studying Midwestern influences on visual art, culture, and music, Jackson said he plans to spend two or three days in Bradley classrooms to help students not only learn about art, but also about life.

“We learn principles and life lessons through art making,” Jackson said. “My job is to point things out and show students how to get there, like a compass.”

Jackson mentors students and also works alongside them.

“I use metals, foundry, casting, drawing, and painting. I was able to work in all of those areas at the Art Institute, so that’s what I can bring to Bradley.”

Jackson, who holds a BFA from Southern Illinois University and an MFA from the University of Illinois, said he would also like to take advantage of Bradley’s strong art department and use his two-year residency as a chance to hone his own skills.

“Oscar Gillespie (professor of art) is a good friend of mine, so I think this will give me a chance to improve my printmaking skills,” he said.

Probably best known for his work with bronze castings, Jackson has received numerous public art commissions in Illinois, including a bronze of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable in Peoria and one of Chicago newsman Irv Kupcinet, located on Wacker Drive in Chicago.

Jackson owns the Raven Gallery, home to the Contemporary Art Center on Water Street in Peoria, which he founded, and he also has a studio in Chicago. He and his wife Melba have two daughters, and they split their time between Peoria and Chicago.

Bishop’s journal A journal kept by the founder of Jubilee College, a former seminary and preparatory school, was donated recently to Special Collections in the Cullom-Davis Library at Bradley. The small volume was carried by Philander Chase as he traveled the Episcopal Diocese of Illinois as its first bishop. It records ordinations, baptisms, marriages, and other religious events from 1835 until Chase’s death in 1852.

Dr. Philander Chase, professor emeritus at the University of Virginia, wanted the book to “come back home” to a place where it could be preserved. Bradley is one of the two largest repositories of Chase material.

Librarian Charles Frey said the journal helps continue the University’s commitment to preserving the history of central Illinois.

sending postcards from home Dr. Bob Jacobs uses a simple formula for producing his award-winning television series Postcards from Home: find people doing good things and tell their stories.

Jacobs produces the three-minute Postcards series for Peoria’s WEEK-TV that recently won two international Telly Awards. The award honors the best local, regional, and cable commercials, programs, and video and film productions.

More than 13,000 entries were submitted to the international contest, which is judged by television producers and directors from across the country.

“I’m blessed with natural curiosity,” Jacobs says. “I ride my motorcycle everywhere and I just open my eyes and look around and talk to a lot of people.” During the summer, Jacobs travels around the country and produces Postcards from the Road.

One of the winning postcards, entitled “The Blue Knight,” showcased a former police officer from Belleville, who was shot in the face while on duty. The officer, an avid motorcycle rider, lost his vision and could no longer ride. But local members of the Blue Knights, a national law enforcement motorcycle club, bought their brother officer a new three-wheeled motorcycle for him to ride on while either his wife or a member of the Blue Knights drives.

The other winning segment was about a man who won a motorcycle race in Daytona in 1959 and returned to the track 50 years later to race on the same bike.

duane zehr

by jacqueline r. koch ’07

Jacobs also captured a Telly in 2009 and won an Emmy in 2000 for Postcards. He has been producing the series in the Peoria area for 18 years, including the past 11 at WEEK. He began Postcards in Bangor, Maine, in 1987 for the NBC affiliate there.

Postcards airs on WEEK the second and fourth Friday of every month on the 6 p.m. news and re-airs the following Monday at noon.

Dr. Bob Jacobs has been teaching communications at Bradley since 1992.

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NoteBook BU news, views & updates

Season tickets are now available for soccer, volleyball, and the men’s and women’s basketball seasons at the new arena ticket office on Main Street (309-677-2625) or from BradleyBraves.com.

check it out! bradleyscout.com

greg gibson

sea son tickets

promoting bipartisanship BY jacqueline r. koch ’09

Brad McMillan learned so much about bipartisan leadership as chief of staff for then-U.S. Rep. RAY LaHOOD ’71 that he wants to continue dialogue across party lines.

“It became clear to me that so much more good can happen if people work together instead of fighting,” said the executive director of Bradley’s Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service.

To that end, the institute cosponsored a bipartisan luncheon in June for new members of Congress. U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK ’02 helped promote the event among his colleagues, who attended the event in Washington, D.C. McMillan said it is especially important to reach out to new legislators. “Obviously things aren’t very bipartisan in Congress right now,” he said. “We asked the freshman members to come because they’re new to their jobs and haven’t been entrenched in their ways.”

Legislators from Hawaii to New York attended the luncheon, which also was sponsored by the Dirksen

above, Former Republican leader BOB MICHEL ’48 HON ’81, former

Democratic leader Dick Gephardt, and David Conover, senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center, urged younger members of Congress toward bipartisanship at a Washington, D.C., luncheon in June.

Congressional Center in Pekin and the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Former House minority leader Rep. BOB MICHEL ’48 HON ’81 and former House majority leader Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri challenged legislators to come up with compromises in the best interest of the country.

McMillan said he plans to create more bipartisan opportunities in the nation’s capital so Republicans and Democrats can work together more often. “It gives Bradley some national exposure in the area of promoting bipartisan leadership,” he said. “We’re excited to be a part of it. This is the first step of many that will be taken.”

bringing the ‘campus’ to campustown

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As an expansion of Westlake Hall is being constructed on campus, the College of Education and Health Sciences has relocated to Campustown Shopping Center, just east of University Street. The space occupied by Save-a-Lot supermarket (formerly Sullivan’s and Thompson’s) was remodeled to house five classroom/labs and office space for about 40 personnel from two departments: Teacher Education and Educational Leadership and Human Development.

According to EHS dean Dr. Joan Sattler, whose office is in the new facility, the faculty and staff are pleased with their new quarters, its ample parking, and security measures. The College will move back to the heart of campus when Westlake Hall construction is completed in 2012. bradley.edu/hilltopics

2010-2011

basketball schedules MEN

11/16 NORTHERN ILLINOIS..................................... 7:05 p.m.

11/17 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT................................. 7:05 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament 11/20 Southern California (Springfield, Mass.)...................TBA 11/21 U. Mass/New Mexico State (Springfield, Mass.).......TBA 11/24 EASTERN ILLINOIS........................................ 7:05 p.m.

11/30 at Western Carolina.............................................. 6 p.m.

12/4 UTAH.............................................................. 7:05 p.m.

12/8 at Duke............................................................ 8:05 p.m.

12/20 JACKSON STATE............................................ 7:05 p.m.

12/22 DETROIT......................................................... 7:05 p.m.

12/29 *at Indiana State............................................. 6:05 p.m.

1/1 *WICHITA STATE.................................................... TBA 1/4 *southern illinois................................... 7:05 p.m.

1/7 *at Drake......................................................... 7:05 p.m.

1/9 *at Northern Iowa........................................... 6:05 p.m.

1/12 *indiana State........................................... 7:05 p.m.

1/16 *missouri State......................................... 7:05 p.m.

1/19 *at Creighton................................................... 7:05 p.m.

1/23 *at Evansville.................................................. 1:05 p.m.

1/26 *illinois state........................................... 7:05 p.m.

1/29 *at Wichita State............................................. 1:05 p.m.

2/1 *creighton................................................. 7:05 p.m.

2/5 *at Southern Illinois........................................ 2:05 p.m.

2/9 *at Missouri State........................................... 7:05 p.m.

2/12 *evansville................................................ 7:05 p.m.

2/15 *northern iowa........................................ 7:05 p.m.

2/18-20 at 2011 BracketBusters............................................TBA 2/22 *at Illinois State.............................................. 7:05 p.m.

2/26 *drake................................................................... TBA 3/3-6 State Farm MVC Tournament, St. Louis, Mo..............TBA * Denotes Missouri Valley Conference game.

Home games listed in white.

Dates and times are subject to TV scheduling.

Visit bradleybraves.com for updated information.

WOMEN

11/1 11/6 11/13 11/16 11/19 11/22

quincy (exhibition).................................. 7:05 p.m. washington (exhibition)....................... 2:05 p.m. butler...................................................... 2:05 p.m. at Iowa................................................................TBA illinois.................................................... 7:05 p.m. at Eastern Illinois...............................................noon

Caribbean Challenge 11/26 William & Mary (Cancun, Mexico).................... 4 p.m.

11/27 Arizona (Cancun, Mexico). ............................ 6:15 p.m.

12/1 12/4 12/7 12/18 12/21 12/30 1/1 1/6 1/8 1/13 1/15 1/21 1/23 1/29 2/4 2/6 2/10 2/12 2/17 2/19 2/27 3/3 3/5 3/10-13

at Wisconsin-Milwaukee................................. 7:05 p.m. saint louis............................................. 2:05 p.m. at Western Illinois........................................... 7:05 p.m. northern illinois................................ 7:05 p.m. at Illinois-Chicago........................................... 7:05 p.m. *at Illinois State............................................. 7:05 p.m. *at Indiana State............................................ 1:05 p.m. *wichita state...................................... 7:05 p.m. *missouri state.................................... 7:05 p.m. *at Drake................................................................. TBA *at Creighton..................................................2:05 p.m. *southern illinois.............................. 7:05 p.m. *evansville.................................................... TBA *at Northern Iowa................................................... TBA *at Missouri State..........................................7:05 p.m. *at Wichita State............................................2:05 p.m. *drake..................................................... 7:05 p.m. *creighton............................................ 2:05 p.m. *at Evansville..................................................7:05 p.m. *at Southern Illinois................................................ TBA *northern iowa................................... 2:05 p.m. *Illinois state...................................... 7:05 p.m. *indiana state...................................... 7:05 p.m.

State Farm MVC Tournament, St. Charles, Mo..... TBA

Season-Opening practice Celebrate Homecoming at the arena with the men’s and women’s “Midnight” Madness practice at 9 p.m. on October 15. The event is open to the public.

Visit bradleybraves.com for more information.

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SportScene What is the Braves Club?

•

•

• • • •

hosting Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA postseason tournaments since 1990 providing academic recognition for studentathletes (38 All-American and national Scholar Athlete awards; best graduation rate in the MVC for nine of the last 10 years) supporting the building of the new campus arena funding for Bradley’s pep band and cheerleading supporting sports broadcasts, and providing student fan support through tickets and bus trips.

Formerly known as the Chiefs Club, the Braves Club also plays a major role in supporting the BU B.L.A.S.T. life skills program, which is designed to help studentathletes from orientation to graduation. Funds are raised through annual membership dues and events such as the Braves Club golf outing, Bids for the Braves dinner and auction, and Game Day luncheons. Out-of-area members are eligible for special benefits. For information on joining the Braves Club and a list of upcoming events, visit bradleybraves.com or contact the Braves Club office at 309-677-2667.

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reserve your seat By abby wilson ’10

duane zehr

Established in 1969, the Braves Club is the athletic fundraising organization for Bradley University. Monies raised provide for a sound recruiting budget, improved facilities, and academic services for student-athletes.

Funds are earmarked for:

Want a guaranteed seat for any event at the new campus arena for a year? A Personal Seat Option plan (PSO) gives patrons the opportunity to annually reserve a seat for every event in the new arena (except commencement).

The plan includes season tickets for women’s basketball and volleyball games, along with the right to purchase the same seat for other events, such as men’s basketball games, high school games, concerts, and comedians. PSO holders also receive reserved parking in the Main Street parking deck.

A maximum of 500 PSO seats are available in two levels: PSO Gold for $1,000, which includes a courtside leather seat, and standard PSO for $500, which purchases a seat in the arena’s main seating bowl.

“Personal Seat Option holders will be among a very limited group of individuals who will know they are

From left, Dr. Michael Cross, director of athletics; Paula Buscher, head women’s basketball coach; and Sean Burdette, head women’s volleyball coach, encourage fans to become PSO holders.

guaranteed a seat in our beautiful on-campus arena for any event they choose for one year,” said Dr. Michael Cross, director of athletics.

PSOs can be purchased at any time, as long as seats are available. Seat selection began in early August. For more information or to purchase a PSO, contact the Bradley Ticket Office at 309-677-2625, or at bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/ pso. View the arena seating chart at bradley.edu/ hilltopics/go/arenaseats.pdf.

Showing spirit Bradley souvenirs and spirit wear are now stocked in a new store next to the ticket office in the campus arena on Main Street. Apparel for each of BU’s 14 intercollegiate sports is available, along with souvenir items like balls, online key chains, stuffed bears, and See the new team store and mugs. The store is open during learn more about ticket office hours (primarily 9 tickets and the a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays) personal seat option (PSO) and during athletic events in at bradley.edu/ the arena. Call 309-677-2625 hilltopics/go/ teamstore. for information.

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joan marcus

Though ERIC PETERSEN ’03 is green, envy has nothing to do with it...

By ERIN WOOD MILLER ’09

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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uite the opposite.

In just a week’s time, the 29-year-old made his debut as the title character in the national tour of Shrek the Musical, sang the national anthem at Wrigley Field, and welcomed his first child, Sophia.

“I feel like the luckiest man on earth,” he said.

reen all ogre

Visit shrekthemusical.com for the complete tour schedule.

Tickets for Shrek the Musical range from $25 to $90 and are available through Ticketmaster.

Visit ericpetersenonline.com to learn more about Eric Petersen.

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While stepping into the role of first-time dad is no easy task, becoming Shrek is also a commitment — one that requires Petersen to be at the theater two hours before the curtain rises.

First there’s the makeup, which takes about one hour and 45 minutes to apply. A green headpiece creates Petersen’s shoulders, neck, and distinct Shrek ears, and prosthetic pieces attached with special adhesive give him a larger chin and nose. Only the areas around Petersen’s mouth and eyes are painted green.

After makeup comes what Petersen calls his “fat suit” — 45 pounds of foam and other stuffing that round him out. Add that to threeinch-high, five-pound shoes, and Petersen stands over 6 feet tall and 250 pounds. Big, huge, and fat are words Petersen used to describe how he feels after his transformation — not to mention completely Shrek-like.

“The amazing makeup and costume design do a lot of the characterization work for me.

They really help make Shrek real and palpable

to the audience,” Petersen said. “The process is long and the costume is heavy, but it’s so worth it.”

Petersen removes the fat suit during intermission, but he remains all ogre from the shoulders up. On two-performance days, the intricate makeup is applied beginning around noon and isn’t removed until the end of the second show (about nine hours later). The de-greening process takes about 40 minutes, followed by a facial that removes the adhesive.

he ogre within

While the fat suit and the grease paint help make Shrek more than a two-dimensional animation, it’s Petersen’s acting and singing that bring the lovable ogre to life.

“What’s great about the musical is it shows a lot more of the character’s layers,” Petersen said.

Erica McKeehen / TIme Out Chicago

After playing ensemble parts and understudying the lead in Shrek the Musical on Broadway, Eric Petersen ’03 landed the title role in the hit Dreamworks musical that will travel to more than 25 cities over the next year. The show, based on the blockbuster animated movie, kicked off July 13 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, just two days before Petersen’s wife, Lisa Marie Morabito, gave birth to their daughter.

His new lifestyle is a bit overwhelming, Petersen admitted. “It’s definitely a balancing act,” he said. “When I’m at home, I try to be the best dad I can be. When I’m on stage, I try to be the best Shrek I can be.”

ourney to the top

Petersen’s love of theater sprouted in high school.

At 5 feet 2 inches and 95 pounds at the time, trying out for the school musical was a better fit than playing football. After landing several leading roles at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, Petersen decided to pursue theater at the collegiate level. After visiting Bradley’s campus and seeing The Kentucky Cycle at the Hartmann Center, Petersen knew the Hilltop would be his home.

“Bradley may not be known as a theater powerhouse, but almost everything I’ve learned, I learned at Bradley,” Petersen said. “I learned everything from how to carry a show, to how to be professional, to how to do a newspaper interview. I got a lot of hands-on, personal attention, and my professors saw something in me that gave me the confidence to go for it.”

Petersen, who joined Sigma Nu at Bradley, said a few favorite roles he played at the Hartmann Center include Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Gene Glimmer in Side Man. He also got his first paid acting gig as a sophomore.

“The Phantom of the Opera was at the Peoria Civic Center, and I was paid $100 to dress up as the phantom and walk around a pre-party for an hour saying ‘I’m the phantom of the opera.’”

During his senior year, Petersen attended the Midwest Theatre Auditions in St. Louis and got a job performing at the Barn Theatre in Michigan following graduation. That’s where he met his wife, and they later moved to New York City together.

Petersen got his big break in 2007 when he landed the role of William Barfee in the first national tour of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In July 2009, he joined the Broadway cast of Shrek the Musical.

“After this tour, I would love to do more work on Broadway and on TV, and maybe even in movies,” Petersen said. “I want to do it all.”

His advice for Bradley students hoping to make it big? “Always say yes. You have to start somewhere, so if someone asks you to do something, do it.”

joan marcus

The musical opens with Papa Ogre and Mama Ogre — characters that were created for the stage production — kicking Shrek out of the house at age seven. Later in the first act, the audience also sees Princess Fiona’s banishment at a young age.

“You see their childhoods and why they became who they are,” Petersen said. “I think it’s exciting to shed more light on the characters with a slightly different story line and obviously a lot more songs.”

Petersen, thinking back to the days when he was seen as the goofy guy in school, said he tries to make Shrek more than an ugly swamp creature.

“What I try to do is show that everyone has something in common with Shrek. Just like him, we all get pigeonholed at some point, and people have certain expectations of us. Shrek is not just a mean, ugly ogre. He is so much more than that, and I think that’s something we all have in common.”

ERIC PETERSEN ’03 as Shrek considers confessing his feelings to Princess Fiona while Donkey sings “Make a Move.”

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online Watch Eric Petersen ’03 sing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field on July 19 at bradley.edu/hilltopics/ go/wrigley.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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By karen crowley metzinger, ma ’97 and gayle erwin mcdowell ’77 photography by duane zehr

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bradley.edu/hilltopics

Bradley’s sparkling new campus arena on Main Street has opened its doors. Its gently curved roofline is a nod to Robertson Memorial Field House, which stood in its place for almost 60 years. Under construction for 27 months, the $50 million facility has something for everyone — volleyball and basketball games for up to 4,200 fans, concerts, student events, a museum and hall of fame, store, and ticket office.

To see how easy and convenient attending events at the new campus arena is, scan the QR code at left with your smartphone app or visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/ go/quicktour.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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To view a video of the atrium, scan the QR code at left with your smartphone app or visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/ go/atrium.

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mark ballogg / PSA-Dewberry

past meets present Enter the arena from Main Street and you’ll be reminded of earlier Bradley athletics. Original letters spelling out F-I-E-L-DH-O-U-S-E are high above the Burklund Family Heritage Hall.

An inlay of Field House flooring, fold-down seats, the organ, and a roof truss also commemorate the previous structure.

Eye-catching displays entertain visitors with glimpses of the past, and the 500+ men and women inducted into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame are honored in a special area.

Above, the building’s spectacular Nick and Nancy Owens Atrium is named for NICK OWENS ’67 and his wife, charter members of the Renaissance Circle Society, which honors commitments of $1 million or more to the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance. The BU ticket office and an athletic merchandise store are located off the atrium.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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To watch the dedication, scan the QR code at left with your smartphone app or visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/ anderson.

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Proud practices With more than 12,500 square feet, the practice floor boasts 10 hoops, allowing players to make the most of practice sessions. A contribution from Michael Heisley, owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, allowed for naming the court in honor of Bradley great MITCHELL “JJ” ANDERSON ’82.

The only four-time MVP in Bradley history, Anderson has worked for the Grizzlies for the past decade.

Above, two academic study rooms are designed as comfortable, quiet quarters with space for approximately 30 student-athletes in each. Tutoring areas, wireless Internet, computers, and additional resources are provided. RAISA TAYLOR ’11 and basketball academic coordinator Heather Moles plan for the fall semester.

Overlooking the arena to the left and the basketball facility to the right, the Braves Club room provides a great view of the action and the 11 graphic display boards and two 194-square-foot video boards in the arena.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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Above, an underwater window allows athletic trainers to evaluate athletes.

For reactions to the new arena from volleyball players and head coach Sean Burdette, scan the QR code at left with your smartphone app or visit bradley. edu/hilltopics/go/vballarena.

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Bringing out the best Three hydrotherapy pools are available to address different athletic needs. Associate athletic trainer Jessica Hanson and basketball player HANNA MUEGGE ’12 demonstrate how the pool with the treadmill — one of the few in the nation — helps athletes return to activity before they are ready to run, jump, etc., on the ground.

The warm whirlpool is for preparation before activity.

The cold whirlpool helps with recovery after hard activity, or helps to decrease swelling in muscles and joints.

Above, volleyball players study their playbooks and watch a game tape in the lounge area leading to their locker room.

Twelve locker rooms with plenty of space for belongings (including charging stations for iPods and cell phones) are part of the 165,000-square-foot structure.

A theater setting allows coaches and players to view tapes of games and practices together. Other Bradley teams have similar viewing areas. Shown are BROOKE BISPING ’13 and assistant women’s basketball coach NcKell Copeland.

The building also houses all athletics offices and facilities for conditioning and training.

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By Abby Wilson ’10

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Every summer

thousands of tourists travel along the Mississippi River visiting places like Graceland and Mark Twain’s Hannibal, Missouri. But this summer, one group traveled with a cross-cultural purpose. Twenty-one students and professors from Bradley, the University of Vienna in Austria, and the University of Saarland in Germany drove from Dubuque, Iowa, to New Orleans, then back to Peoria as they explored the cultures of the Mississippi River Valley.

They were part of Bradley’s Vienna Study

Abroad program, a collaboration between Bradley and the University of Vienna.

This Mississippi River trip isn’t the first collaboration between the two universities.

Bradley students travel annually to Vienna for May interim. A similar Mississippi River trip took place in 2001, and another class traveled along U.S. Route 66 in 2003.

The relationship between the two universities started almost 20 years ago, when Dr. Tim Conley, associate professor of English at Bradley, went to Vienna as a Fulbright

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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professor in 1991. He returned for a second Fulbright appointment in 1995 and began collaborating with the late Professor Kurt Mayer from the University of Vienna. They came up with “Easy Riders,” a website including contributions from students and faculty from both universities exploring literature, music, and movies about roads.

Study Abroad stateside This summer, Conley taught “Live(s) on the Mississippi 2010: The Mississippi Valley as a Transregional Space” with professors Klaus Heissenberger from the University of Vienna, and Astrid Fellner from the University of Saarland.

Although the trip only spanned three weeks — July 24 to August 14 — the European students took a preparatory online course, “Rafting Web 2.0 with Huck Finn.” The Bradley students completed the same reading list as the European students, but didn’t participate in the online portion.

“I learned a lot about cultural differences in our classroom,” said Katharina Wiedlack, a doctoral student from the University of Vienna.

“We not only learned a lot of historical details about the Mississippi, its culture, and history, but also about ourselves. We talked a lot about the construction of national identity and how it is interrelated with the categories of race, class, gender, and even sexuality.”

As the group studied the sites in communities along the river, like Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, the French Quarter and Hurricane Rebirth Tour in New Orleans, and the National Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, Iowa, Conley says they became a community themselves. “The shared experiences provide a way to investigate differences in cultural

mississippi river trip photography by kaylyn kuzniar, ma ’11

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background,” he said. “By the end of the course, the group acquired an identity that both questions and transcends these differences.”

Heissenberger, who was on the Mississippi trip as a student in 2001, said that those cultural differences are what motivated him to help plan this trip. “When I was a student, I was stunned by the variety and depth of things that I could experience and learn,” he said. “I really wanted to make this blend of interpersonal learning available to other students again.”

Across the pond In Vienna, Bradley students are immersed in the Viennese culture and walk away more familiarized with that culture than most short-term Study Abroad experiences would allow.

When students study abroad for two or three weeks, they only have time to tour the city and do class work. This program, however, allows students from both universities to interact. Bradley students meet during the spring semester for the Vienna Seminar, which includes online exchanges with students at the University of Vienna. Bradley and Vienna students then work together on a final presentation project in Vienna, exploring firsthand the differences and similarities between American and Viennese cultures.

“My favorite part of the collaboration wasn’t the time we spent together in class, but the moments we shared exploring Vienna,” said Andrea Stoifl.

“It kind of made me feel like a tourist in my own city, which I enjoyed a lot.”

“Once in Vienna, I fell in love,” said DAVE JONES ’10, who was there in May 2009. “The people are so nice and many of them speak English. They are always very friendly and always ask questions about America. It made me feel proud of my country.”

Dr. Christine Blouch, associate professor of English and director of international programs at Bradley, said, “The Vienna program has stretched the boundaries. They are the best-prepared students that we send abroad.”

The program even has the attention of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. The embassy invited Conley, Fellner, and Heissenberger to present a workshop in October 2009 for Study Abroad administrators called “New Media in International Educational Exchange.”

Teaching in Vienna The program that began with two instructors has grown to nine, teaching multiple disciplines both in Vienna and in the United States. Seven of those professors are from Bradley. Every year, they teach four of six courses in Vienna: travel writing, Viennese fiction, speech, music appreciation, human resource management, or business management and administration.

Each course allows Bradley students to connect with students from the University of Vienna. “For those of us who teach English in Vienna, we have the incredible chance to bring our students together with University of Vienna students and to explore our cultural and political differences,” said Dr. Robert Prescott, associate professor of English.

“From my perspective,” adds Dr. Kevin Swafford, associate professor of English, who teaches travel writing in Vienna, “it is precisely the interactions between these students that allow for a sustained, and progressively more profound, critical inquiry into important aspects of writing and culture,” he said.

Students taking a speech course from B.J. Lawrence, associate dean of the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts, spend their time

exploring the city and its museums, learning the transportation system, and attending cultural events, all with students from Vienna. The students’ three oral presentations are based on their experiences.

Music and management The city is “one of the world’s great musical centers,” according to Dr. Kyle Dzapo, Caterpillar professor of music at Bradley. The music appreciation course she teaches allows students to explore the city of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Mahler, and Schoenberg, as well as the Musikverein, considered by many to be one of the best concert halls in the world. One music student even had the opportunity to take a flute lesson with the principal flutist of the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera. “For both music majors and students who are participating in an introductory-level music appreciation class, I can’t imagine a better experience for getting to know the art of music,” she said.

Dr. Valerie Pape teaches a human resource management course in Vienna. Pape contacted Viennese businesses and arranged for students from both universities to visit, allowing them to experience global and European business firsthand.

Dr. Charles Stoner, professor of business administration, teaches business management in Vienna. “Study Abroad, particularly in a country where English is not the primary language, allows students to experience the cultural richness and contributions of other areas of the world,” he said.

“For many students, this is their first significant travel experience. They emerge with assurance, insight, and perspective that far exceeds the few days spent in Vienna.”

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ClassNotes

CLASS OF

1960

connect, network & remember

Golden Reunion October 13-16

’45

JOHN TREFZGER ’45 retired

recently at the age of 86. He was a minister at the First Christian Church in Bloomington. John was on the track team while at Bradley and served for more than 25 years as the chaplain of the Bradley men’s B-Club.

He and his wife MARILYN WILSON TREFZGER ’46 (pictured) have three sons and live in Bloomington.* JOHN TREFZGER ’45

ARNOLD VAN ETTEN ’52 was honored by the Iowa State Bar Association for being a 50-year member. Arnie is an attorney with Kintzinger Law Firm. He and his

’52

wife Anne have three children and live in Dubuque.

NORMAN KELLY ’58 published his eighth book, Genesis: the Park Murders. Norm and his wife GLORIA KEITH KELLY ’64 live in Peoria.

’58

CALVIN MARTIN ’64 lives in Comendador in the Elias Pina province of Dominican Republic, where he volunteers with the Catholic church along the border of Dominican Republic and Haiti. He is in charge of construction projects.

’64

escape to america: Fleeing the holocaust

’67

JOE RIDER ’67 is an instant

’68

KEN BALL ’68 coauthored

replay official for the Atlantic Coast Conference of college football and previously was a referee for 20 years. He has officiated in 17 bowl games. The MVP for the Bradley football team in 1963, Joe is a member of the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame and was also recently inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Joe and his wife Vicki have three children and live in Fort Myers, Fla.

Surviving the Baby Boomer

Finland Norway

BY gayle erwin mcdowell ’77

ic

Sea

Next July, a vacation for the ED VOVSI ’59 family will be more Sweden Estonia than a pleasure cruise across the Baltic Sea. Departing from Oslo, Russia Norway, their second port will be Riga, Latvia, where Ed lived until age seven. He has not been back.

Riga latvia His parents arranged to leave Latvia in 1940 just weeks before t l Lithuania Ba all Jews were required to move to the Riga ghetto. With the safety of his wife and son in mind, Ed’s father, a law professor and successful journalist for the London Times, made intricate plans Belarus Poland to emigrate to America. Ed tells their story in The Refugee: A Story Germany of the Holocaust, which was released in May. Ed hopes the family home is still standing in Riga. It was an impressive place with enough space for a cook, a maid, and Ed’s governess, Lisa. Part One of the 254-page book details the family’s suspenseful and hasty departure from Latvia.

“The first part of the book is totally different than the second part,” Ed says. For example, Ed renames himself Edmund Kaufmanis. “I tried in the beginning to write in the first person, but I found that I couldn’t. I could look at it from the outside as if I wasn’t involved in it personally. It’s the way I had to do it.”

The second half of The Refugee focuses on Ed’s growing-up years in America. Upon landing in New York, the living arrangements for the family of three changed drastically. Unable to find work in New York, Ed’s father accepted a job stocking shelves in Peoria — a job arranged by an agency that helped European Jews resettle. At times, the family lived in a rooming house. A later, more spacious residence was a duplex on University Street where Ed and his teenaged friends enjoyed having Constance Hall, a women’s dormitory at the time, practically in the backyard.

Later, Ed enrolled at Bradley, served in the Air Force, and then returned to Bradley where he majored in journalism.

He considers emeritus professor Paul Snider a close friend.

“Paul Snider is a great man. I can flatly say that if it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have made it through Bradley,” Ed remarks. “I met him when I was back from the service.”

Another life-changing meeting was in the Field House at rehearsal for a homecoming stunt show. Ed noticed his wife of almost 53 years, MARY JANE WILMSEN VOVSI ’57, as she was painting scenery. Now their family includes three children and two granddaughters. All have grown up with Ed’s stories of escaping Latvia and coming to America. “I’ve passed it on to them so nobody forgets,” he notes.

Ed and Mary Jane moved from Springfield to Las Vegas in 1996, after Ed retired as the executive vice president of the Illinois affiliate of the American Heart Association. Mary Jane continues to enjoy painting. One of her watercolors recently placed in a juried show and is hanging in Las Vegas City Hall.

ED VOVSI ’59 is honored that a copy of his memoir is in the library of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. The Refugee is available from PublishAmerica and amazon.com.

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bradley.edu/hilltopics

crisis communicator BY erin wood miller ’09 MICHAEL FINEMAN ’70 might be a familiar name to those who

followed the recent Toyota recall or BP oil spill.

A public relations expert and owner of Fineman PR in San Francisco, media personalities often turn to Michael, a trusted crisis communicator, for his opinion on PR slip-ups.

His “Top Ten PR Blunders” list released online annually since 1995 has been profiled by Visit finemanpr.

The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The com for more Washington Post, and Time Magazine. It information. has pointed out recent oops such as AIG’s all-expense-paid retreat just days after receiving an $85 billion government bailout and Kanye West’s snubbing of Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Michael’s 11-person company has won nearly 100 awards since its founding in 1988, most recently two gold, best-in-nation Bulldog Awards and a Gold Effie Award for Best Company Positioning and Branding for Foster Farms’ “Say No to Plumping: Redefining Natural and Exposing Cheap Chicken” campaign, aimed at exposing fresh chicken “plumped” with saltwater at a higher economic and health cost to consumers though labeled as “natural.”

The company has helped many food and consumer packaged goods companies become nationally known. Michael’s “brand PR” approach helped promote Fresh Express Farms, Republic of Tea, Fantastic Foods, Schlage Lock Company, and Clif Bar. Michael has also worked with clients in health care, building and construction, wineries, and movies.

The agency’s crisis communications practice has helped in labor actions, product recalls, natural disasters, and workplace health and safety issues, among others. In 2005, Fineman PR began offering multicultural communications, with emphasis on the Latino community. The new division, Mosaico, has worked in consumer products, foundations and causes, women’s health, real estate, finance, and food and beverage.

“Effective communications is about understanding the impact of language on a variety of audiences. For organizations, it’s about helping people understand what need the company fills and why anyone should care,” Michael says. “Business is difficult, and businesses often get a bad rap. In many cases it is because they have failed to help the public understand their contributions.”

Armed with an English degree, the Philadelphia native began his career teaching high school in Oregon. Quickly learning he needed more career satisfaction, Michael began working at a PR firm in San Francisco before eventually opening his own.

Michael shares his story and expertise with Bradley students in Dr. Ron Koperski’s public relations classes through videoconferences and internships. Michael says his most influential professor has become a close friend. “Ron helped boost my confidence in my own abilities and skills. He had a lot of great ideas and is still very inspiring.”

Michael lives in Foster City, Calif., with his wife Lori. They have two college-aged sons.

Exodus: Capturing Knowledge for Gen X and Gen Y Employees, published by Course Technology.

Ken works for TechProse, a San Francisco-based consulting firm.

He and his wife Sharon have two daughters, including STEFANIE BALL ’01, and live in Oakland, Calif.

JOYCE KIDD ’69 MS ’71 hosts a weekend show and is a substitute announcer for WCPE, a classical radio station based in Wake Forest, N.C. She was a speechlanguage pathologist for 39 years before retiring to Wake Forest.

’69

’71

JAN HOYT FRAZIER ’71

wrote Destination Disaster, the fourth novel in her series The Adventures of J.C. van Winkler, published by Sterling House Publishers. Destination Disaster won both the Illinois Women’s Press Association contest and the national WPA contest.

Jan teaches full time in Bradley’s communications department. She and her husband Carl have two daughters and live in Pekin.

CINDY BERGSTRAND SAMPLE ’71 recently had her first book, Dying for a Date, released by L&L Dreamspell.

Cindy writes the column “Hot Flash” for Gold River Community Newspaper.

flickr.com / trodel

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Before beginning her career in writing, Cindy was the CEO of a nationwide mortgage company. She has two children and lives in El Dorado Hills, Calif.

MARY ANN FOSCO ’72 recently published three books in her series Putting the Pieces Together. She has also recorded six CDs. Mary Ann is a counselor and has been in private practice for 23 years. She holds a master’s degree from National Lewis University. She lives in Downers Grove.

GWENDOLYN KIRKLAND ’72 was ordained as a minister in the United Church of Christ in March. She is now

’72

GWENDOLYN KIRKLAND ’72 * see photo

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

29

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

the associate pastor of stewardship at Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Ill. She also owns a financial planning practice, Kirkland, Turnbo & Associates. Gwendolyn lives in Matteson.*

’73

MICHAEL RABBITT ’86

HAL CORLEY ’73 recently

had three plays produced by Samuel French Inc., which he donated to Bradley’s Special Collections. Hal’s play Brush the Summer By premiered in July at the Adirondack Theatre Festival in Glen Falls, N.Y. Hal has won five Emmy awards and two Writers Guild of America awards for his writing work in daytime TV. Hal and his wife DIANE FRITZ CORLEY ’73 have one son and live in Summit, N.J. LYNN PEREZ-HEWITT ’74 is executive director of the Friends of Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson, Ariz. She holds a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. She and her husband James live in Oracle, Ariz.

’74

TIM RIORDAN ’86

’75

CHRISTIAN BRATHWAITE ’89

CHARLOTTE TAYLOR ’92

LISA KLEEBERG STEIN ’76 won

the Atlantic Cape Foundation Teaching Excellence Award in May. She is an assistant professor of early childhood education at Atlantic Cape Community College. She holds a master’s degree from George Washington University. Lisa and her husband Mark have two children and live in Linwood, N.J.

’79

SUSAN HEDRICH WALLACE ’79

was appointed vice president for finance and operations at Erikson Institute, a graduate school in child

30

bradley.edu/hilltopics

’82

KAREN LeDONNE MISURA ’82

’83

DEBRA TUCKER PETERSON ’83

’84

THERESA BROWN ’84 heads

is a human resources information systems analyst at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) in Aurora. She and her husband David have three sons, including KEVIN MISURA ’12. They live in Batavia.

THOMAS CORUM ’86 is the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Champaign.

He had served as the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Salem since 2007. He and his wife Stephanie have two children.

ERIC JUDD ’86 and TAMMIE BONNETTE JUDD ’86 recently acquired their second Curves for Women franchise in Bloomington. All four of their locations have achieved Shining Star status. Eric and Tammie also own Judd Property Management. They have five children and live near Tremont.

MICHAEL RABBITT ’86 received the St. Katharine Drexel Racial Justice Award from Cardinal Frances George of the Archdiocese of Chicago at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service in April. Michael is a member of the Archdiocese’s anti-racism team and Catholics United for Racial Justice. He is an IT director at CNA Insurance and lives in Chicago with his wife Sarah and their two children.* TIM RIORDAN ’86 was named vice president of engineering services

’86

recently became the associate dean of undergraduate nursing at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, where she is also an associate professor. She and her husband Randy have two children and live in Plainfield.

STEVEN STANLEY ’83 is a performance manager for vAuto, after spending 26 years in the retail auto business. He and his wife Joan live in Carpentersville. Their two sons ROBERT STANLEY ’11 and JOHN STANLEY ’13 are marketing majors at Bradley.

STEVEN SATTERTHWAITE ’75

is manager of standards and infrastructure for technical publications and the dealer technical assistance center at Deere & Co. World Headquarters in Moline. Steve and his wife LEANNE KORSMEYER SATTERTHWAITE ’76 have two children and live in Coal City.

’76

Conan O’Brien, and Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane. Theresa divides her time between New York City and Washington, D.C., where she lives with her husband Chris Gracey.

development. Previously, Susan was vice president and CFO at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has four children and lives in Oak Park.

the Lecture and Personal Appearance Department for William Morris Endeavor. The talent agency’s clients include Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift,

vision 2020 JAN MICHELSEN ’77 was selected as

one of two national delegates from Indiana to participate in Vision 2020, a decade-long project organized by the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine. She was also recently chosen as a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America. Jan is a lawyer for Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart. She focuses on counseling and defending management in labor and employment law.

Jan holds an MBA and a juris doctorate from Indiana University. She lives in Fishers, Ind.

for American Electric Power. Tim has spent his entire career at AEP and was most recently director of mechanical engineering and design. Tim and his wife TRISH ANN REEVES RIORDAN ’86 have three sons and live in Pickerington, Ohio.*

’89

CHRISTIAN BRATHWAITE ’89

’91

ARI GLASS ’91 is senior vice

’92

CHARLOTTE TAYLOR ’92 is

’94

AMY BOHRNELL LAPINSKIE ’94

’95

CHRISTINE ALLISON ’95 was

is the vice president of corporate communications for Sears Holding Corp. He has one son and lives in Winfield.*

president at Zeller Realty Group. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Ari and his wife Melissa have three children and live in Chicago.

the new assistant dean for student services at Touro Law Center in Central Islip, N.Y. Previously, Charlotte was assistant dean for multicultural affairs and student support services at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, where she earned her juris doctorate. She lives in Babylon, N.Y.*

and her husband Colin announce the birth of Colin Alexander on March 25. They live in Hoffman Estates.

promoted to director of treasury management and banking at Anheuser-Busch InBev. She has worked at Anheuser-Busch for 10 years and previously worked for Boeing.

Christine holds an MBA from Saint Louis University. She lives in St. Louis.

AMY BENECKE McLAREN ’95 received the 2009 Emerging Leaders Award from the Society of Women Engineers.

She is a chief design engineer for the Peoria County Highway Department.

Her husband MICHAEL McLAREN ’96 is a structural engineer at PSA-Dewberry.

They live in Dunlap with their two sons.*

let’s talk turkey

By Gayle Erwin McDowell ’77

Unsure about thawing your turkey? Confused about brining? You might want to call the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. Ten thousand cooks did last year — on Thanksgiving Day alone. Two of the experts who dispense answers and helpful advice are Bradley alumnae SUE GREEN MATIYA ’74 and SUSAN CLAYTON SMITH ’94. They know turkey.

“We go to training sessions at Butterball University [also known as BU!] every October for three days and work in the test kitchens. We cook turkey different ways. It’s amazing the information they teach you,” says Matiya, a family and consumer sciences teacher for 33 years. She retired from Andrew High School in Tinley Park in 2007, and began working the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line that fall. Calls are taken from November 1 until Christmas Day. The lines are also open in early October, Matiya explains, to help Canadian callers with their Thanksgiving meals (the second Monday of the month).

Not only do the 53 talk-line experts study new recipes that appear in magazines and on The Food Channel and Food Network, they actually prepare some at home. “Then if callers ask about them, we know exactly what they’re SUE GREEN MATIYA ’74 and SUE CLAYTON SMITH ’94 are two of the 53 talking about,” says Matiya. experts who savor working for Butterball’s Turkey Talk-Line, based in “We also get a lot of questions Naperville. Last fall, the hotline handled more than 100,000 calls. This about food safety. Some callers suspect year marks the 30th anniversary of the company’s Turkey Talk-Line. that something isn’t exactly right, so they call to double-check,” says Matiya.

“The callers are very appreciative that we are here. I’m amazed each year how nice the people are who call Butterball.”

She remembers many of her calls. Last year, for instance, a caller was preparing turkey for coworkers on an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. Another was in Japan, making Thanksgiving dinner for buddies in the service.

Smith, an 11-year veteran of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, recalls a soft-spoken caller who revealed she was phoning from inside a closet at her son’s house. She feared her daughter-in-law wasn’t preparing the turkey correctly. Smith was able to reassure her that the turkey would be fine.

A registered dietitian, Smith also works for the American Dietetic Association as manager of education programs. She has a page on Butterball’s website and online is also a media contact for the company. On Thanksgiving Day, she often provides Visit bradley. last-minute preparation tips, prepares turkey recipes, and shows Chicagoans edu/hilltopics/ go/turkey for how to carve a turkey on WLS-TV. a recent TV What Smith enjoys most, however, is talking to the callers. “We get all segment. different ages, from newlyweds who are preparing their first Thanksgiving dinner to seasoned cooks who want to try a new cooking method.”

Few people would disagree when Smith says, “It’s one of the most important meals of the year.”

She resides in Glen Ellyn with her husband Chuck and their infant daughter. Matiya and her husband Jim live in Homer Glen and in Estero, Florida. They are the parents of two children.

{

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

31

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

aMY BENECKE McLAREN ’95

MELANIE NAPOLEON WELCH ’95 was selected as one of the Fellows in the Aspen Institute Catto Fellowship Program, which brings together 20 environmental leaders for seminars over the next two years. Melanie is the senior director of Shedd Aquarium’s Great Lakes Conservation.

Melanie and her husband Michael Welch live with their daughter in Chicago. Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/ go/welch for an earlier article.*

’96

MELANIE NAPOLEON WELCH ’95

JACQUELINE NIEUKIRK ’96

PAUL WINIECKI ’97 and KELLEY SEMKUS WINIECKI ’98

announce the birth of their third child, Kyra Margaret, on June 22. Paul is national sales manager for IDT Inc. Kelley is a stay-at-home mom and runs an in-home tutoring service. They live in Long Grove.

’98

ELIZABETH BARNIER SPIREK ’98

and her husband Larry welcomed Andrew Joseph on December 16, 2009. They live in Indianapolis with their four children.

DAVID KELLER ’01

32

’99

PEGGY KORTZ BUSH ’99

received her master’s in nursing and clinical nurse specialist degree from Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in May. She is an advanced practice nurse for Midwest Vein Treatment Centers.

Peggy and her husband Ronald were married on February 12 and live in Cincinnati. bradley.edu/hilltopics

DEREK GLENZINSKI ’91 is sales director for

ConAgra’s store brands, managing the company’s central and western regions from Naperville. He develops private-label offerings for grocery stores such as Costco and SuperValu. Derek joined ConAgra in 2006 and previously worked at General Mills. He is the team lead for ConAgra’s recruitment at Bradley and for the past two years, he has been part of the Bradley Employer Advisory Board for the Smith Career Center. Derek also works with the sales program in Bradley’s Foster College of Business. Derek and his wife Shelley live in Downers Grove with their son.

JASON BROOKS ’96 and TERRY STEINBERG BROOKS ’98

welcomed Ashley Taylor on July 25, 2009. Terry is director of education at the Goddard School. Jason is a consultant for Slalom Consulting. The Brooks live in Lindenhurst with their four children.

JACQUELINE NIEUKIRK ’96 is the principal at the new Jones-Farrar Magnet School in Freeport. Jacqueline most recently served as assistant principal of Roosevelt Magnet School in Peoria. She holds a master’s degree from Illinois State University. She and her husband Larry live in Freeport.*

’97

super recruiter

MATT HOFFMAN ’99 was a cast member on CBS’s Big Brother 12 during the summer. He is a Web designer and lives in Elgin with his wife Stacy.

MARK WOODRING ’99 and his wife Kari welcomed Ashlyn Joy on December 21, 2009. Mark is the administrator at Truman Medical Center. They live in Lee’s Summit, Mo. CHRISTINA KAMM ’00 was named 2009 Teacher of the Year at Metamora Township High School. She is a special education teacher and recently helped one of her students train for a marathon.

She lives in Metamora.

’00

’01

HILLARY LaMONTAGNE BRADY ’01 and her husband Martin

announce the birth of Reid Martin on March 18. Hillary is a mental health therapist for Memorial Health System.

They live in Springfield.

DAVID KELLER ’01 is a financial representative for Country Financial in Grayslake. He lives in Crystal Lake.* TRISHA SEIDELMAN KNAUB ’01 and PETER KNAUB ’02 welcomed Laura Elizabeth on December 21, 2009.

Trisha is a senior actuarial systems analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield

of Illinois. Peter is a logistics manager for Caterpillar. They live in Oswego.

KERRA WHITTINGTON McCOSKEY ’01 and her husband Tim announce the birth of their son Jonah Speer on March 11. Kerra is a second grade teacher at Churchill Elementary School in Oswego. They live in Montgomery.

ALI ASHWORTH STEWART ’01 is a child life specialist at HealthBridge Children’s Hospital. Previously, she was a special education teacher for eight years. Ali’s husband JEFF STEWART ’01 is a sales specialist for Republic National Distributing Co. They have one son and live in Houston.

’02

TABITHA SEGAL REID ’02 MBA ’04 and Garrick Reid

announce the birth of Bennett Scott on March 27. Tabitha is a case manager for Liberty Mutual Insurance.

They live in Peoria.

’03

CRYSTAL LUDWIG BOHM ’03

and her husband Josh announce the birth of their second son, Owen James, on March 23.

Crystal is operations manager at Envision Insurance Group. They live in Galesburg.

BETSY PERRY PATTON ’03 and Jack Patton announce the birth of Ira John

on March 24. Betsy is communications manager for the Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

They live in Fort Wayne, Ind. ASHLEY SIMPER ’03 was named the 2010 Young Dietitian of the Year by the Illinois Dietetic Association. Ashley is a community/outpatient dietitian at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and has been a part-time faculty member at Bradley. She holds a master’s degree from Illinois State University.

She lives in Peoria.

BRIENNE KAFKA ’04 accepted a position with RR Donnelley as an account manager for the Ace Hardware account in Oak Brook. She lives in Naperville.

BRIAN MEISCHNER ’04 MBA ’07 was promoted to operations manager for PepsiCo Inc. He is responsible for all Gatorade and Tropicana sales in Sam’s Club stores in nine states. He previously was a customer development manager. Brian lives in Dallas.

MATTHEW WROBLEWSKI ’04 MBA ’08 is working as an information technology project assistant at Arvato Services in Herzebrock, Germany.

’04

KELLY KOLTON ’05 recently accepted a position as coordinator of marketing, recreation, and leisure for the Peoria Park District.

’05

She is vice president of the Bradley University Communication Alumni Network and the service chair of the Central Illinois Bradley Alumni Chapter.

Kelly lives in Peoria.

CHARLIE ROY, MA ’05 received Bradley’s Educational Leadership and Human Development innovative practices award in April. He has been principal at Peoria Notre Dame High School for three years and previously was principal at St. Mark School for two years. He and his wife Aimee live in West Peoria with their twin sons.

’06

TIMOTHY SEDABRES ’06

was promoted to strategic planning consultant on Associated Bank’s corporate strategic planning team. He lives in Belleville.

’07

LAUREN SCHONE MILLER ’07

and her husband Coleman announce the birth of Lewis Coleman on June 8. Lauren is an industrial engineer and organization expert.

She owns Space Made Simple, a professional organizing service.

They live in North Muskegon, Mich.

JULIE SIEBERT, MA ’07 received Bradley’s Educational Leadership and Human Development service award in April. She is the program development specialist at the Children’s Home in Peoria, where she oversees grant

writing. Julie also teaches a grantwriting class at Bradley. She was named one of the 25 Women in Leadership by WEEK last year. Julie and her husband Bryon live in East Peoria with their two children.

HEATHER ANDREWS ’08 is a group event contact person for Disney’s sales lead management in Orlando. She had two six-month internships with Disney and most recently worked as an admissions rep for Bradley.

WHITNEY LAWSON ’08 earned her master’s degree in social work from Washington University in May. She lives in Peoria.

’08

’09

TARA METZINGER ’09 is a retail

’10

D.J. PIEHOWSKI ’10 is an

SARAH SCHULER HEWITT ’97 and

Chris Hewitt were married on November 7, 2009. Sarah is an assistant principal at Rhodes School in River Grove. They live in Chicago.

sales rep at ConAgra Foods, working on the Walmart team in Nevada and Arizona. She previously worked for DOT Foods Inc. in St. Louis.

Tara lives in Las Vegas. assistant editor at Golfweek, where he covers the top junior and amateur golfers in the country. D.J. was a communications intern at Bradley. He lives in Orlando.

RYAN DILLINGER ’99 and MELISSA DUNTON DILLINGER ’02 were

married on November 7, 2009.

Ryan is a software engineer at Caterpillar. Melissa is a communications specialist at Caterpillar. They live in Peoria.

Weddings continued on page 34

murrow award winner MILES COOKSY ’07 was awarded an Edward R. Murrow award from the Radio-Television Digital News Association for his photojournalism work on “Twisted Family Tree,” a story of a Manitowoc, Wis., family with a history of abuse and assault. The story won top honors in the video reporting/hard news category. Miles is a photojournalist for Fox6 in Milwaukee. The award will be presented to Miles’ team at the RTDNA awards dinner in New York on October 11. Miles and his wife ANGELA TAYLOR COOKSY ’07 live in Kenosha.

while you’re on LISA MULLENHOLZ FUKSHANSKY ’99

Share the latest Bradley Hilltopics Take our survey facebook.com/bradleyhilltopics

and Igor Fukshansky were married on September 12, 2009.

Lisa is an image specialist with McGraw-Hill School Education Group. They live in Des Plaines.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

33

ClassNotes connect, network & remember

Send Us Your ClassNotes ...we want to share your news!

Full Name_____________________________Maiden___________________ Class Year_____________Degree_ __________________________________ Advanced Degree(s)______________________________________________ Institution(s)_ __________________________________________________ Street Address__________________________________________________ City__________________________________________________________ State_________________________________Zip code_ _________________ E-mail________________________________________________________

KRISTINE RIEHN KUECK ’01 and Matthew Kueck were married on October 3, 2009. Kristine is a customer service agent at Riehn Insurance. They live in Chicago.

Phone: Home _ _________________________Work_____________________

JOELLYN ROLLYSON NAUMAN ’03

and Brett Nauman were married on April 16. Joellyn is a communications analyst for Country Financial. They live in Bloomington.

Current Job Title(s)_______________________________________________ Employer’s Name________________________________________________ Spouse name___________________________Maiden___________________ Is spouse a BU alum?_________If yes, spouse’s class year_ _________________ If BU alum, degree_______________________________________________ Advanced Degree(s)______________________________________________ Institution_____________________________________________________ Current Job Title(s)_______________________________________________ Employer’s Name________________________________________________ My news: (Please provide month/day/year for weddings and births.)_______________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

KIM HEINTZ CHOU ’04 and Phanna Chou were married on November 21, 2009. Kim is an advisory learning specialist for SPSS. She received her master’s degree in training and development from Roosevelt University in May. They live in Tinley Park.

NICK LANGE ’06 and STEPHANIE SHEPHERD LANGE ’07 were

married on October 24, 2009.

Nick is a project manager for Walsh Construction, and Stephanie is an RN at Riley Children’s Hospital. They live in Plainfield, Ind.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Please note: ClassNotes are published in the order they are received. Please send wedding and birth announcements within one year of the event. mail to: Bradley Hilltopics, Bradley University, 1501 W. Bradley Ave., Peoria, IL 61625 fax 309-677-4055 e-mail hilltopics@bradley.edu Photo submissions: Please include photographer’s written permission to

reproduce copyrighted photos.

Photos may be submitted online by attaching the photo to an e-mail addressed to hilltopics@bradley.edu, or by using the ClassNotes submission form at bradley.edu/hilltopics. Prints may be mailed to Bradley Hilltopics, 1501 W. Bradley Ave., Peoria, IL 61625.

Bradley Hilltopics reserves the right to make the final selection of all photography based upon available space, subject matter, and photo quality.

34

bradley.edu/hilltopics

you moved? send address changes to:

pthomas@bradley.edu OR Alumni Records c/o Paula Thomas Bradley University 1501 W. Bradley Ave. Peoria, IL 61625

MARY ADAMI SUNDERLAND ’06

and Nathan Sunderland were married on September 5, 2009.

They live in New Berlin.

InMemory 1930s

EDWARDINE SPERLING ’33, July 23, Peoria.

Employed by School District 150 for 41 years, she was Peoria County’s teacher of the year in 1974.

Edwardine was chairman of the English/speech department at Woodruff High School for seven years. She was an active volunteer and a member of Pi Beta Phi and PEO. MARGARET EWAN RILEY ’34, March 10, New York City. She taught home economics and English in Eureka until 1945. From 1960 to 1970 she was the dietitian at Eureka Hospital. A member of the school board and the library board, she was also active in her church. Her son and two grandchildren survive.

CONRAD IBER ’35, June 3, Peoria. He and his brothers operated C. Iber & Sons, a construction company that built schools, hospitals, and other large structures. Later, he ran Tousley-Iber Co. and ConIber. Con also founded a state bank and was a developer of subdivisions and industrial properties.

Active in the community, he served on the board of the Children’s Home. Two children, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild survive.

GEAN DENTINO ’37, April 29, Pekin. She taught physical education at Roosevelt Junior High and Peoria High School for 39 years, retiring in 1981.

Gean and her sister operated dance studios in Peoria and Pekin from 1932 to 1976. Later she taught at the Miller Senior Center for many years, and was honored for being a role model for other seniors. Gean enjoyed square dancing and was a member of the River Valley Cloggers until 2004.

More than 100 nieces and nephews survive.

ROBERTA WILEY SMITH ’37, June 19, Tucson, Ariz.

She and her late husband founded Home Comfort Products Co., which was later sold to ALCOA. They helped found Youth Farm near Peoria. After relocating in 1972, the Smiths were involved with the University of Arizona, where they received a lifetime achievement award. Bobbie is survived by her daughter and grandson.

SHIRLEY ARENDS SCHLINK ’39, July 21, Peoria.

She retired in 1979 after a long teaching career in School District 150. Shirley was a member of Sigma Kappa at Bradley. Her daughter, three granddaughters, and three great-granddaughters survive.

1940s

PAUL GANGLOFF ’40, May 28, Eureka. He owned Gangloff Jewelers and China Closet for almost 20 years, retiring in 1984. Earlier, he operated Gangloff Jewelers in St. Petersburg, Fla., for 11 years. A World War II Army veteran, he was active in the Eureka community. Paul was a member of Rotary and

Knights of Columbus. Two daughters survive, along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

NADENE GRAHAM McINTYRE ’40, May 18, Hanover.

Nadene retired as a state investigator for the Department of Professional Services in 1982.

Active in Republican Women for 25 years, she served as county chairwoman for eight years. She was a member of the DAR and the Eastern Star.

Two daughters, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren survive.

FLOYD WHITE ’40, May 20, Galena. A World War II Army veteran, Floyd earned an MBA and CPA from Northwestern. He was executive vice president and treasurer of G.S. Blakeslee & Co. in Chicago.

Surviving are his wife Sybil, four children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

MERABELLO “MEL” PELINI ’41, May 5, Chillicothe.

He was postmaster from 1965 to 1978. Mel also was an alderman and served as president of Rotary, the local sanitary district, and United Way. He was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran. His wife Elenora, one son, his brother MARIO PELINI ’40, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive.

BETTIE STABLETON RIGG ’43, July 4, Peoria. She was active in several volunteer organizations, and enjoyed golf and bridge. Surviving are her son, two grandchildren, and her companion Steve Ferri.

ROBERT HESSION ’47, June 22, Sierra Madre, Calif.

A World War II Army veteran, he was a real estate agent in Pasadena for 40 years. Survivors include his wife ANNA MARY CHIOTTE HESSION ’44, four children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

ETHEL STAKER ’49, April 19, Morton. She was a teacher from 1934 to 1978, primarily in the Pekin public schools. She held a master’s degree from Illinois State University.

JACK TENDERING ’49, June 7, Palatine. He was a territory manager for Campbell Soup Co. for almost 20 years and then worked as a district sales manager for The Wall Street Journal. Jack received two Purple Hearts for his Army service during World War II and the Korean War. Surviving are his wife Janice, five children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

ROBAH WYCOFF VALLEZ ’49, May 29, Naples, Fla. She was an artist, specializing in wooden maps and seaside art. She and her husband JERRY VALLEZ ’50 enjoyed boating. He survives, along with their two daughters.

1950s

DONALD BYBEE ’50, April 20, Canton. He was a regional manager of the Illinois Employment and

Unemployment Services until retiring in 1987. Don also taught economics at Spoon River College. He held a master’s degree from Western Illinois University. His son and three grandchildren survive.

PETER PAOLUCCI ’50, July 13, Lacon. He was 10th Circuit Court judge from 1974 to 1987. He returned to practicing law from 1989 to 2010. Earlier, he had been Marshall County state’s attorney and then an associate judge. A World War II Army Air Forces veteran, he earned his law degree from Saint Louis University. Surviving are his wife Germaine, two daughters, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

ROBERT ZOBEL ’50, Jan. 26, Bloomington, Minn.

Bob was a regional sales manager for RJR Archer Inc. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Bob was president of Theta Xi at Bradley. He was involved in Masonic work. Surviving are his wife Carolyn, three children, his brother HERBERT ZOBEL ’50, 11 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

JACOB FRANTZ ’51, Feb. 14, Rushville, Ind. Jake and his wife Phyllis operated JM Frantz Jewelers for 51 years. She survives, along with two sons and two grandsons.

ROBERT W. JOHNSON ’52, April 24, Naples, Fla. He was marketing manager of the Midland Industrial Paint Co. Bob and his wife Marilyn moved to Florida and Williams Bay, Wis., after retiring. He was active in Rotary and his church. Bob was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha at Bradley. His wife survives, along with three children, 13 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

DONALD SCHNAKE ’52, June 17, Huntley. He retired in 1987 after 18 years as head football coach at Elk Grove High School. Earlier, he taught and coached at high schools in Vandalia, Aledo, and Charleston. He received an award from the Illinois State Historical Society for a book he wrote about his former coach. A Marine veteran, Don was a member of the 1949–50 championship BU basketball team. Survivors include his wife Marilyn, four children, and eight grandchildren.

JERRY SELIG ’52, July 7, Phoenix. He operated Selig Leasing Co. in Milwaukee for many years. Jerry served in the Air Force Reserve and was an avid horseman. Survivors include his wife Marcia, two daughters, five grandchildren, and his brother Bud Selig, commissioner of Major League Baseball.

FRANK STEAR ’52, July 13, Hanna City. He was a field engineer for Caterpillar in Decatur. Frank was a volunteer firefighter and served on the village board. Surviving are his wife Ruth, four children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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InMemory THOMAS “T.J.” FOLEY ’53, July 15, Peoria. He was a stockbroker for SmithBarney for more than 50 years. T.J. was a member of Sigma Chi and Knights of Columbus. An avid golfer, he was a Korean War Army veteran. Survivors include his wife Julie, four children, and 12 grandchildren.

JANE MEAD FARNAN-DWYER ’54, May 15, Peoria.

She was a speech-language pathologist, retiring from Pekin District 108 in 1995. Jane was a member of Pi Beta Phi at Bradley. She was active in the Peoria-area Panhellenic and the AMVETS women’s auxiliary. Her two sons and grandson survive.

ROBERT O’FARRELL ’54, Jan. 29, Grayslake. He was a member of Theta Chi. Survivors include his wife Lois, two children, four grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

CLARENCE “JOE” BEARDSLEY ’55, May 15, Melbourne, Fla. He served in the Air Force for 22 years, earning Silver and Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. Later he was an engineer for ACF Industries and Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Survivors include his wife Sylvia, two daughters, four grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

W. SUMNER BORIN ’55, May 23, Peoria. He taught for many years in School District 150 and at Bergan High School. He was an Army veteran. Surviving are two children, five grandchildren, and sisters MARION BORIN CLARK, MA ’65 and SONDRA BORIN HUGHES ’57.

ANN BOYD McCUMBER ’55, April 26, Peoria. She was a substitute teacher and taught at Kingman Grade School during the 1966 school year. Ann enjoyed needlework. Two children including NICHOLAS McCUMBER ’93, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren survive.

HENRY SCHULER ’55, June 7, Metropolis. He retired from Pennsylvania Millers Mutual Insurance. Henry was instrumental in providing water to thousands of rural homes in Marion County. He was an Army veteran. Surviving are his wife Eva Eulene, a daughter, and a granddaughter.

STEPHEN LUCAS ’56, June 28, East Peoria. He was an accountant at Caterpillar for 36 years.

An avid golfer, Stephen was an Army veteran. His wife Jenette, two children, and four grandchildren survive.

“In Memory” Guidelines: In Memory is written from newspaper clippings, as well as published obituaries supplied by friends and family. Bradley Hilltopics attempts to identify spouses, parents, children, and siblings who are also Bradley alumni. Submit an obituary by mailing a newspaper clipping or memory card from the funeral home to Bradley Hilltopics, 1501 W. Bradley Ave., Peoria, IL 61625.

36 bradley.edu/hilltopics

ROBERT WEBB ’56, April 20, Lansing. He worked in management for U.S. Steel-Gary Works for 30 years.

He then spent 13 years as a commercial real estate broker. Bob was active in his church. He was an Air Force veteran. His wife Edna, two daughters, and seven grandchildren survive.

BERT “LEE” UTT ’57, May 30, Overland Park, Kan. He was a civil engineer with the FAA, retiring in 2002. Lee was captain of championship basketball and baseball teams at Bradley, and won the Watonga Award. He was a member of the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame and the Greater Peoria Hall of Fame for both sports. Lee played baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Survivors include his wife RUTHE CHAPMAN UTT ’61, three children, six grandchildren, and his sister SHARON UTT WHITE ’63.

WILLIAM T. FOWLER ’59, May 26, 2009, Bella Vista, Ark. He was a member of Theta Chi at Bradley. His wife Karin survives.

ROBERT HASTERT ’59, June 30, Lemont. Bob owned White Fence Farm restaurant in Romeoville and its carryout locations in suburban Chicago.

He was a Bradley Centurion and Distinguished Alumnus. A Navy veteran, Bob enjoyed boating on Lake Michigan and collecting vintage automobiles.

He was active in Rotary. Survivors include two daughters and three grandchildren. Read a 2006 article about Bob and White Fence Farm at bradley.edu/hilltopics/06spring/profiles.

JOHN VICARY ’59, July 6, Brentwood, Tenn. He worked for Keystone Steel & Wire Co. for 40 years.

A Korean War Navy veteran, Jack was involved with his church, the county library system, and the Nashville Rescue Mission. Survivors include his wife Marilyn, four children, 10 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

1960s

SHIRLEY MOOS ’60, June 4, Peoria. She retired in 1990 after teaching for many years at the Adult Education Center in School District 150. She was honored in 1974 as the Illinois Adult Education Teacher of the Year. Her husband HOWARD RAY MOOS ’47 MS ’52, two children, three grandchildren, and a great-grandson survive.

MICHAEL SULEIMAN ’60, May 12, Manhattan, Kan. A distinguished professor of political science at Kansas State University, he helped start the department in 1965. The Suleiman Chair in Arab and Arab-American Studies was established in 2005 at Kansas State. With more than 70 publications to his credit, he was considered the foremost scholar of Arab-American issues in the nation. Four times

he studied the Arab world with a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship. He held master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin. Survivors include his wife Penelope, two children, and four grandchildren.

GARY SWEETNAM ’60, July 2, West Peoria. He owned and operated Sweetnam Hardware and Model Trains Co. in Peoria. Gary was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

JACK WORMS ’60, July 4, Morton. After a 30-year career at Caterpillar, Jack retired in 1985 as a price analyst. A Korean War Army veteran, he was active in Masonic work. Jack enjoyed fishing and square dancing. Surviving are two children including DOUGLAS WORMS ’92 and two grandchildren.

His wife Barbara died last September.

SOLIE MYERS ’61 MA ’68, July 21, Pekin. He served five terms as regional superintendent of schools for Tazewell County. Later, he was director of Mid-Illini Education Cooperative. Solie enjoyed fishing.

Surviving are his wife MARY WURMNEST MYERS ’67, four children including DOUG WURMNEST ’85, and nine grandchildren.

JOHN C. STONE ’64, June 25, Springfield. He invented an industrial finishing machine and owned RotaTory & Rack Co. and Do-All Finishing Co. Inc. John had served as president of the Chicago Industrial Council and as a regional officer in Sigma Nu. He enjoyed restoring antique cars. Surviving are his wife DORIS “SUNNY” NIELSEN-STONE ’63, two daughters including HEATHER STONE GRIEVES ’92, and six grandchildren. His twin, LINDA STONE ANDERSON ’74, also survives.

LEVERN TART ’64, June 22, Island Park, N.Y. Voted the most valuable player of the NIT tournament in 1964, Levern went on to play with the Oakland Oaks in the new American Basketball Association (ABA) where he was nicknamed “Jelly.” He later played for the New York Nets, as well as teams in Houston and Denver. He scored 5,316 points in 274 games in the ABA. Levern was site manager of a senior care center and also worked as recreation coordinator of a juvenile detention center. His son and two grandchildren survive.

WILLIAM TUNIS ’64, May 17, Pekin. He served on the board of Pekin Insurance from 1978 to 2006.

After working at Herget Bank for 21 years, Bill joined Pekin Insurance in 1985. Active in the community and his church, Bill had been chairman of the Pekin Hospital board. He was a member of Theta Xi and served on the board of Bradley’s alumni association. Surviving are his wife Ann, two children, and six grandchildren.

Faculty and Staff RICHARD APPLEGATE ’66, July 16, Peoria. He was a music teacher and choral director in several schools, and retired from School District 150 in 2005. Dick was a founding member of the band Applegate and Company. He played five-string banjo and taught private lessons. He was choir director of Universalist Unitarian Church for 26 years. Dick was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. Survivors include his wife Paula, two sisters, and a brother.

RONALD KAEHLERT ’66, May 16, Bloomington.

He served in the Air Force for 20 years, retiring as a major. He then worked for Harris Corp. in Florida and New Mexico until 2004. Ron held a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University. Surviving are his wife Karen, one son, and three grandchildren.

JOHN M. SCHILLING, MA ’66, June 12, Neenah, Wis. He retired from teaching at Menasha High School in 1987. Earlier, he taught at Richwoods High School in Peoria and Rock Valley College in Rockford.

John was a World War II Navy veteran and an avid conservationist. Survivors include his daughter and two grandsons.

MITCHEL CONNER ’68, April 29, Avon, Ind. A Navy veteran, he had been president of Havens Erectors Inc. Surviving are his wife Nancy, two sons including MATTHEW CONNER ’95 MSCE ’97, three grandchildren, and his parents.

SARGE HOLTZMAN ’69, Oct. 9, 2009, San Francisco.

He was an attorney. Sarge was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi at Bradley. His wife Lili and his sister survive.

1970s

NICHOLAS PIERCE ’70, July 8, Peoria. He attended Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary in Wisconsin and became a priest in 1945. He was the rector of churches in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Pekin until retiring in 1968. He later worked at many churches in central Illinois. Active in Optimist Clubs, he was president of the Peoria evening group and lieutenant governor of the Illinois district. He enjoyed hiking and golfing. Survivors include his wife LOUISE “LUCY” PIERCE, MA ’83, eight children, 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

WILLIE T. COX, MA ’71, April 10, 2009, Richmond, Va. He worked in education for 30 years. In Peoria, he taught at Loucks School, was principal at Blaine-Sumner, and assistant principal at Tyng School. His wife Eva and one son survive.

ROSELYN JENSEN, MA ’71, June 28, Mount Sterling.

She taught fourth grade for 36 years at Grundy School in Morton. Roselyn worked to preserve and maintain Jensen Woods Church Camp. She enjoyed traveling and gardening.

ELSIE STUTTS ’71, March 3, Lakeland, Fla. She was a middle school teacher in Polk County. She also taught Sunday school and enjoyed bridge.

Two sons and two grandsons survive.

ROBERT EASON, MEA ’72, July 8, Hopedale. He worked at Caterpillar and owned Eason Engineering. Survivors include his wife Doris, five children, 11 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

KURT MILLER ’78, July 7, Prospect Heights. Kurt was a sales manager for ABC Printing in Chicago.

He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Bradley.

His brother survives.

HALLIE COHEN ’79, June 26, 2009, Beachwood, Ohio. She taught in the Solon city schools. Hallie served on Student Senate at Bradley. Her mother, brother, and sister survive.

1980s

DAVID LEE TUCKER ’81, Dec. 4, 2009, La Follette, Tenn. A Navy veteran, he worked in industrial technology at Bradley, Southern Illinois University’s Belleville Research Center, and abroad. Two children, a granddaughter, and his companion Donna Hollenbaugh survive.

WILLIAM K. SCHNEIDER ’84, May 2, St. Clair, Mich.

He was an Air Force veteran. Survivors include his wife Mary Ellen, two children, his parents, and two granddaughters.

SIMON IZAGUIRRE ’85, April 27, Brownsville, Texas.

He was an engineer, working most recently for Ideal-Tridon Inc. of Matamoros, Mexico. Simon loved merengue and salsa music. His wife Elizabeth and three daughters survive.

1990s

SANG PHAN ’92, May 19, Peoria. At Caterpillar, he was services marketing manager of North American commercial division parts and services.

A soccer player at Bradley, he won several awards in taekwondo. His wife JANELLE MIXELL PHAN ’92, two daughters, and his parents survive.

2000s

DEREK PETERSON ’00, Oct. 5, Winter Garden, Fla. He began his career with Walt Disney World in 1999 as a Bradley intern. In 2004 he received the Partners in Excellence Award, Disney’s most prestigious lifetime achievement award. Derek helped launch a Disney facility in Hong Kong. His most recent position was event manager of special events marketing. Derek was a member of Delta Tau Delta at Bradley. He is survived by his parents and brother.

KATHERINE KOCELKO SWOBODA ’08, May 18, Palatine. Katie was a member of Alpha Chi Omega.

DR. sam fan, associate professor of biology, died on July 23 in Peoria. He began teaching microbiology at Bradley in 1992. A member of the University Senate for 15 years, he served as its president for two years. Dr. Fan also was a clinical assistant professor in pathology at the University of Illinois School of Medicine, Peoria. He held a doctoral degree in immunology from the University of Illinois, and did postdoctoral research at Duke University for seven years.

He played the cello in symphony orchestras in Peoria and Durham, N.C. Active in Rotary, twice he was named a Paul Harris Fellow.

Surviving are his wife LORI WINTERS FAN ’80, executive director of alumni relations at Bradley; his father; and two sisters.

DR. warren dwyer, English professor emeritus, died on July 16 in Peoria.

He taught at Bradley for more than 40 years, retiring in 1994. The 1980 recipient of the Putnam Award for Teaching Excellence, he held a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois. Survivors include his wife, Bradley economics professor Dr. Jannett Highfill, and one son.

DR. charles e.p. simmons, chairman of Bradley’s history department from 1967 to 1970, died on August 4, 2009.

He served as president of Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, from 1977 to 1984.

From 1985 to 1997, he taught American history and government at Midland College in Texas. His wife Peggy, seven children, and nine grandchildren survive. james lewis, former manager of Robertson Memorial Field House, died on July 31 in Peoria. Survivors include his wife JOCELYN METZGER LEWIS ’05, office manager of Bradley’s police department, and two daughters.

Survivors include her husband Sean, her parents, and three brothers.

PAUL EVERTS ’09, July 13, Naples, Fla. He was the tennis coordinator at the Naples Beach Hotel & Resort. Paul also enjoyed fishing and kayaking.

Surviving are his mother and father ROBERT EVERTS ’82, and two sisters including RAEANNE EVERTS ’03.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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AlumniNews people & events

Alumni Events September 19 D.C. Area/Virginia/Maryland Virginia Wine Festival, Centreville, Va., 11 a.m.

September 25 Indianapolis Harvest Wine, Art & Food Festival, Chateau Thomas Winery, Plainfield, Ind., 2 p.m., door prizes at 4 p.m., $10 September 25 Milwaukee Milwaukee Brewers game and Avanti’s tailgate party, $18 includes game ticket and party, tailgate 4 p.m., game 6:10 p.m.

September 28 Washington, D.C. An Evening with the President, Capitol Hill Club, 6–8 p.m., heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar October 5 Minneapolis An Evening with the President, Grand Hotel Minneapolis, 6–8 p.m., heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar October 12 Atlanta An Evening with the President; Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead; 6–8 p.m., heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar October 23 Kansas City KC Wizards MLS soccer game and tailgate party, 6 p.m., $28; game only, 7:30, $20 November 13 Chicago All Greek Alumni Reunion, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard, 6:30–10:30 p.m.

November 18 New York City An Evening with the President, time to be determined

Here’s jay: homecoming headliner Late night television superstar Jay Leno will be the headline entertainer at Bradley University’s Homecoming on Saturday, October 16, in the newly dedicated campus arena. Leno replaced the iconic Johnny Carson in 1992 as the host of NBC’s Tonight Show. He also has appeared in films, has written several books, and continues to perform live more than 150 nights a year. A 2009 Harris Poll named the Emmy Award-winning comedian America’s Favorite TV Personality.

For alumni ticket information visit bualum.org.

Rediscover YOUR Bradley Friday, Oct. 15 Founder’s Day • Dedication and tours of campus arena & basketball practice facility • Graffiti Jam Homecoming BBQ on the Quad featuring ELLIOTT FROM ’90 (see below) • 50 Plus Club reception • “Midnight” Madness men’s and women’s basketball

Saturday, Oct. 16 Gary R. Tippett Memorial 5K Run/Walk • Campus tours • Conversation with the President • Athletic panel discussion • Class of 1960 Golden Reunion • Tailgate party, food tent & beer garden • Soccer vs. Central Arkansas • & more!

Visit bualum.org/homecoming for details and a list of events

November 20–21 Springfield, Mass. Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament For more information, visit bualum.org or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 309-677-2240 or 800-952-8258.

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bradley.edu/hilltopics

Speed painter to perform Speed painter ELLIOTT FROM ’90, left, will bring his talent to the Quad at noon on Friday, October 15. He choreographs his paintings — which are completed in five to 10 minutes — to music, using his hands and a few brushes to create a work of art on a 4-by-5-foot black canvas. Elliott performed for Budweiser at the 2010 Winter Olympics. More recently, he painted a large mural on the windows of WGN Radio on Michigan Avenue to celebrate the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup victory. For more information and videos on Elliott, visit artbeatlive.com.

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1 Chicago More than 80 alumni and friends met with Shrek, ERIC PETERSEN ’03, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre on August 15. Pictured with Eric are Jeff Huberman, dean of the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts; President Joanne Glasser; George Brown, chairman of Bradley’s Theatre Department; and the alumni group. 2 Chicago The Bradley University Communication Alumni Network (BUCAN) hosted its first event outside Peoria at Manny’s Deli in Chicago on June 24. More than 50 alumni attended the reception and a networking presentation by LISA HINKLEY ’00 (center). Also pictured are communications professor Dr. Paul Gullifor and MICHELLE SANNER DeSANTIS ’89. 3 St. Charles About 80 alumni and several members of Bradley’s athletics staff attended a golf outing hosted by Bradley Trustee PHIL WILMINGTON ’79 (second from right) at the Royal Fox Country Club on June 28.

Also pictured are Bradley head soccer coach Jim DeRose, JOE ZGONINA ’65, and Bradley athletic director Dr. Michael Cross. 4 Indianapolis Alumni and friends enjoyed gondolas and an Indianapolis Indians baseball game on July 24. 5 Naperville CALVIN BUTLER ’91 (left) hosted a reception for nearly 40 alumni at White Eagle Golf Club on June 17. Also pictured are Jennifer Dougherty, GLENN DOUGHERTY SR. ’83, President Glasser, YVETTE STEWART GRAHAM ’83, and BRIAN GRAHAM ’84. 6 St. Louis The St. Louis Area Bradley Alumni Chapter hosted its 21st annual student send-off picnic on August 8 in Stacy Park.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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CampusView

Did you know? duane zehr

MATT STEIN ’11 doesn’t just give tours to families of prospective students. Alumni, faculty, and parents can sign up for campus tours with one of the 70 tour guides working for the Admissions office.

campus tours: backward walking, forward thinking

By Sarah Hallstein ’12 and Abby Wilson ’10

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online Visit admissions. bradley.edu for more information.

bradley.edu/hilltopics

On any given day at Bradley, you might come across a group of prospective students and parents being led around campus by someone walking backward. This engaging, backward-trekking individual would be one of 70 Bradley STARs (Student Admissions Reps and tour guides).

The Admissions office has worked hard to revamp the campus tour experience, and the success of those revisions has depended largely on the STARs. Admissions thought it was doing a good job with campus visits when two consultants took a tour in 2007. The consultants’ report, however, made Admissions realize it wasn’t giving visitors the best experience Bradley had to offer. Cory Craig, assistant director of Admissions, said that there were details being overlooked, like the tour route taking families past dumpsters and through smoking areas.

In addition to adjusting the route, a student now comes in at 8:30 a.m. and walks the tour route with a clipboard to report anything that would put Bradley in a negative light, such as trash or something inappropriate written on the sidewalk. The report is called in, and the problem is addressed.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Craig, “and because we are taking so much pride in doing this now, even students who aren’t doing ‘the walk’ will call me if they see something during the day.”

Admissions also began paying more attention to matching STARs with family interests during the tour. While tour guides used to be determined by the tour’s scheduled time, they are now chosen by major, so a communications major would give a tour to a student interested in that field. “I think, honestly, that’s why we see an increase in our numbers,” said Craig.

“We’ve improved the experience to make [Bradley] a perfect fit for them. It makes a difference.”

It does make a difference, as evidenced by the size of this year’s incoming freshman class: more than 1,130, and last year’s freshman class: 1,106. The STARs are able to see the results of their hard work, too. Finance major MATT STEIN ’11 says, “I’ll run into [students] and they’ll say, ‘Hey! You’re the reason I chose Bradley.’” “[The STARs] are all very dedicated to this job,” said Craig. “We search for these kids because we want them to be really excited about Bradley. And they are definitely the biggest cheerleaders for this institution.”

InAppreciation

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Peplows’ $1.25 million commitment avilion benefits alumni center eplow P P y d Ju nd As the president of the Bradley University Alumni Association in 1996–1997, GARY PEPLOW ’62 remembers talking with many involved alums and “wishing and hoping” a new alumni center could be built in the near future. Little did he know that 13 years later, he and his wife Judy would play a part in making that wish come true.

The University announced in fall 2008 that JERRY HAYDEN ’59 and MARILYN KELLER HAYDEN ’61 and BOB CLARK ’67 and his wife Kathleen had donated a total of $5 million toward the construction of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. The 34,700-square-foot facility is now well underway on the west side of Bradley Hall. The “home” for Bradley alumni will house a terrace and a ballroom accommodating 300 guests, an alumni library and hall of pride, conference rooms, the offices of Alumni Relations, and more.

“The generosity of the Haydens and Clarks started the ball rolling for us,” said Peplow. “Bradley has always been a part of our estate plan, but when this opportunity for the new alumni center arose we decided that this was the time.

We wanted to have the pleasure of watching the building develop as opposed to waiting until we’re gone.”

The Peplows’ support will name the ballroom and the terrace overlooking the athletics facilities and the new West Quad. The Gary and Judy Peplow Pavilion, located on the top floor of the Alumni Center, will provide a facility for formal entertaining on a level not currently found on campus. With expansive windows that open to a lovely terrace that also bears the couple’s names, it will be the upscale setting for alumni reunions, meetings, luncheons, Greek formals, and events that are now held in the Michel Student Center ballroom or off campus.

Married for 36 years, the Peplows are Peoria natives.

Judy grew up in West Peoria near Bradley’s campus. Although she did not attend Bradley, one of her fondest memories is traveling to Europe one summer with the Bradley Chorale.

“She still talks about the trip and how much she enjoyed it,” added Peplow. “That is her connection.”

Honored as a Bradley Centurion in 2008, Peplow has been connected to the University in a variety of leadership positions. During college, he was an officer in Sigma Phi Epsilon, chaired the campus carnival, served on the Homecoming steering committee, and more. Since room and board were more prohibitive than tuition, Peplow and his sister BEVERLY PEPLOW ARBIZZANI ’58 lived at home while attending Bradley. “I was so involved on campus that I only slept at home,” Peplow recalled. “I consider my fraternity experience almost equal to my general college experience.

I’ve been on the Sig Ep alumni board for a number of years, I’ve served as chapter counselor, and I’ve really enjoyed working with the young people.”

Gary a

Peplow acknowledges his fraternity faculty adviser, Dr. Perry Davis, assistant professor of education, for encouraging him to consider law school, an unplanned career move.

“I credit Bradley for my law degree. I was one of three students in the first graduating class in the School of International Studies, and, of course, in 1962, the global economy had not yet kicked in.

Dr. Davis told me that he hoped I didn’t mind, but he had taken the liberty of looking at my grades and test scores. He and my fraternity brother, [fellow Centurion] BILL TRIBLER ’55, encouraged me to take the law aptitude test and to enroll at the University of Illinois.”

A legacy of progress

duane zehr

By karen crowley metzinger, ma ’97

Following the U of I, Peplow served in the Peoria Air National Guard as a procurement specialist and later as a legal officer. Although he was still interested in working in an international field, Peplow joined Heyl Royster Voelker and Allen in 1967 as a defense trial attorney. In 1970, he managed the firm’s first branch in Springfield. In 1985, he returned to Peoria to supervise litigation for the entire firm.

Peplow became managing partner in 1987. He served as outside trial counsel for Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and lectured on loss prevention for the Illinois State Medical Society.

“I was the ninth attorney in the firm in 1967, but when I retired as managing partner, we had 95 attorneys in five cities. The largest firm in Illinois not in Chicago grew dramatically… I could not have asked for a more exciting legal career because I was able to just do the gamut of everything.”

This past summer, the avid skier climbed to the top of Bradley Hall and peered into the construction site of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. “It was amazing … much bigger than I thought it was going to be. When you are on campus and see all the development, it becomes apparent that Bradley has never stood still. My association through the alumni board now spans three BU presidents. You see progression. Judy and I are so eager to see the finished product. Since we have no children, the Gary and Judy Peplow Pavilion and Terrace, while allowing us to provide a personal gift to Bradley, will be a reminder that we walked the face of the earth.”

Retired attorney Gary Peplow ’62 and his wife Judy are naming the third floor ballroom and terrace of the new Hayden-Clark Alumni Center with a $1.25 million commitment.

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online Visit bradley. edu/webcams/ alumnicenter for a live view of the construction progress.

Bradley Hilltopics Fall 2010

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Bradley Hilltopics 1501 West Bradley Avenue Peoria, Illinois 61625 Change Service Requested

Visit bradley.edu/hilltopics/go/arenatour or scan this QR code with your smartphone app for a video tour of the new arena hosted by DAVE SNELL ’76. Sixty companies contributed to the overall construction project.

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