Findlay Mag Fall 2014 by Irene Gust Martin

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2013-2014 Annual Report in this issue

DOWN ON THE FARM UF Partners with Hancock Historical Museum to Preserve Agricultural Heritage

LIVING BETTER LIVES

HOW YOU GONNA’ KEEP ’EM DOWN ON THE FARM?

12 MAKING WAVES

FRO M TH E PR ES IDENT We’re Paying it Forward $36,862,030. Construction activity generated in the past five years has exceeded $25 million, which included the new, energy-efficient Davis Street Building science addition. Striving to shop locally, we spent $8,865,290 in Hancock County last year. The spending generated by UF students and their visitors supports a variety of local industries including housing, restaurants, hotels, retail and entertainment. The University of Findlay is paying its way.

The University of Findlay is here today, thanks to residents of the City of Findlay. When the Churches of God expressed an interest in starting a college in the early 1880s, three area gentlemen stepped forward and donated land worth $10,000 (a princely sum in those days!) Organizing one of the area’s early fundraisers, the citizens of Findlay contributed another $20,000 toward the construction of Old Main. We don’t forget a favor. With a fall 2014 enrollment of 4,000 students and a workforce that exceeds 600, The University of Findlay has become a community resource and, we hope, a good neighbor and friend. From a financial perspective, the University’s local payroll taxes in FY 2013-2014 were more than $500,000, based on a total payroll of

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But paying your way is not the same as paying it forward. We want to use our good fortune to enhance the quality of life in our community and even beyond. Our students carry out this mission for us on a daily basis. They are our ambassadors of goodwill and our builders of a good life. We instill a responsibility to the community during students’ first weekend with us. During their Oiler Experience this past August, more than 550 new students participated in a single day of service, completing 59 projects for local non-profits and contributing more than 2,000 volunteer hours. From May 2013 to February 2014, representatives of the UF Campus Compact Center visited area organizations such as The Kan Du Studio, City Mission and Cancer Patient Services in Findlay; Good Samaritan Society in Arlington and Teaching Mentoring Communities in Fremont, to identify needs and brainstorm about partnerships.

Our students, faculty and staff like feeding the hungry. In November 2013, in a whirlwind 12-hour food collection marathon, our University family collected 55,000 pounds of food for Findlay’s Chopin Hall. In the previous month, 32 UF students sponsored a mobile food pantry, delivering 10,000 pounds of groceries to 269 local families. Faculty members in our College of Pharmacy and the College of Health Professions have incorporated service into their students’ assignments. In a program called “My First Patient,” third- and fifth-year pharmacy students partner to provide health screenings in the community. Students in the Occupational Therapy Program are currently working with residents of the Hancock County jail to help them prepare for changes that will occur when they are released. Paying it forward gives our students an opportunity to use their knowledge and skills for the betterment of our community. As The University of Findlay continues to emphasize learning opportunities outside the classroom, we will also continue to emphasize service to others. It’s another way we live our mission. . . to prepare students for meaningful lives and productive careers.

Katherine Fell, Ph.D., President

Vol. 101, No. 1, Fall 2014 FindlayMag is published by The University of Findlay. It is mailed free of charge to alumni, parents and friends of the University twice a year. President Katherine Fell, Ph.D.

How You Gonna’ Keep ’Em Down On The Farm? - Page 8

Editor Charlene J. Hankinson (M ’09) Managing Editor Irene Martin Photographers Anne Risser Lee Amy DePuy

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Contributing Writers Barbara Lockard (M ’02) Joy Shaw Director, The Wolfe Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends Dee Dee Spraw (’00, M ’07)

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LIVING BETTER LIVES BY JOY SHAW

8 | HOW YOU GONNA’ KEEP ’EM DOWN ON THE FARM? BY BARBARA LOCKARD (M ’02) 12 | MAKING WAVES BY JOY SHAW

Making Waves - Page 12

• Mazza Mail – a monthly update on all the exciting programs and events for fans of the Mazza Museum • Inside the Arch – an insider’s look at campus for parents, with special tips and advice To register for the online newsletters, go to findlay.edu, Keyword: Newsletters.

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Living Better Lives Occupational Therapy Program is a Community Asset by Joy Shaw

photos by Anne Risser Lee

ive years ago, Miranda Tippie began to gather wilted flowers that a Findlay florist was discarding. Every Tuesday, with permission, she would collect the colorful blooms that didn’t meet the shopkeeper’s exacting sale standards, and deliver them to the home of her client who was suffering from a delusional disorder that was anything but beautiful. “She really wanted to work in a flower shop,” but her illness prevented that, said Tippie who, at that time, was completing her graduate fieldwork for The University of Findlay’s master of occupational therapy program. And so Tippie brought the flowers to her client, who would then carefully arrange and display them throughout her house. “She had some pretty negative behaviors from time-to-time. This gave her something positive and meaningful to do,” Tippie explained. Accolades

The University’s Occupational Therapy Program, since its inception in 1995, also has blossomed into a successful and celebrated entity, particularly because of its outreach. It offers a five and one-half year course of study that includes weekend and traditional structures that cater to fulltime students and working professionals. In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked The University of Findlay’s Master of Occupational Therapy Program 58 out of 151 nationwide. On Oct. 24, four faculty members, including Mary Beth Dillon, O.T.D.; Thomas Dillon,

Ed.D.; Rosalie King, D.H.S.; and Tippie, now the program’s clinical coordinator for community-based practice, received the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association’s Model Practice Award in Education for outstanding community collaboration that offers students opportunities to practice occupational therapy within local settings and provide research opportunities. “Every single (program) faculty member has a role in the community,” said Mary Beth Dillon, O.T.D., associate program chair, who also noted that faculty and students have contributed to the effort to bring occupational therapy

to the community. Program leaders in 2002 began working with the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services, The Community Foundation, Century Health and the Ohio Department of Mental Health to form community partnerships. The goal was to provide students with more hands-on learning while simultaneously meeting local residents’ needs that reached beyond the scope of other types of services already being offered to them. Century Health clients were the first to benefit, and more from elsewhere have followed. Fa ll 2014

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Defining the Discipline

The effort mirrors the vision of the American Occupational Therapy Association, which aims, in part, to provide occupational therapy services to more diverse populations and practice areas. Dillon noted it has taken years to form partnerships outside traditional settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. Educating people about occupational therapy’s purpose was tantamount. Occupational therapists seek to fill gaps so that clients ranging from premature infants to the elderly can live more fulfilling lives. They “help individuals with mentally, physically, developmentally or emotionally disabling conditions to develop, recover or maintain daily living and work skills,” University literature explains. They may, for instance, help a child learn effective homework skills, or help an individual with a physical impairment find alternative ways to cook. The job requires flexibility and creativity, as exemplified by Tippie’s approach to assisting her client who found meaning in arranging flowers. As part of the curriculum, students have to complete several fieldwork experiences. The program sends students to sites all over the country, such as the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, for fieldwork. However, Findlay students also have opportunities to provide occupational therapy services in local facilities, including Century Health, the Hancock County Department of Job and Family

Miranda Tippie (right) and a fieldwork student work with a child at Century Health.

Services, the Family Resource Center, the Hancock County Probation Office, and the Hancock County Justice Center. At the Family Resource Center and at Century Health, University students work with pediatric and adult clients who have behavioral or mental health issues. Each student manages a caseload of 15 or more clients who have difficulty with occupational performance. They work with children who may have sensory processing deficits, verbal delays and other challenges, and develop treatments for them. Children with vestibular problems that contribute to constant movement, and sensory deprivation issues, both of which can consequently affect their concentration and learning,

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are taught ways to improve their focus. Family dynamics are taken into account. Documentation requirements are stringent and effective time management is imperative.

Benefits Behind Bars

The same holds true for those working with adults, but problems such as substance abuse and unhealthy relationships are also addressed. That is particularly the case for occupational therapy students working at the Hancock County Justice Center and with those who receive services at the probation office. Outreach in those areas began two years ago and has been welcomed by jail staff, who say they’ve seen positive effects with the inmates. Initial data is being analyzed to determine if the program’s work has had any effect on the participants’ ability to successfully reintegrate into the community. Tippie said the occupational therapy students at the jail conduct group sessions to improve inmates’ social skills and to better prepare them for societal readjustment when they are released. Inmates are provided with methods for interacting more positively with others,

with job interviewing tips and with money management skills. They’re also instructed in how to locate and use the myriad social and health-related resources that are available to them throughout the region so that they don’t fall back into old, destructive lifestyles and thought patterns. “The financial lessons really do help (the incarcerated),” said Tippie. “A lot of times they have no idea how to make money for a living in ways that aren’t illegal. They wonder how they’re going to make ends meet with a legal job that pays far less than what they were earning.” Many understand in theory how best to spend and save money from a paycheck, but “just don’t know how to apply that knowledge,” said Ryan Kidwell, jail administrator. Some occupational therapy interventions for inmates involve teaching concepts that may appear oversimplified to many, but which help clients make lasting and meaningful connections. For instance, Tippie said one jail inmate told the occupational therapy student assigned to him that if she had not encouraged and taught him how to play a board game, he would’ve never taken the initiative to teach himself, let alone think to play in

such a manner with his children. Kidwell said the jail’s occupational therapy component is now coupled with case management, a peer support service and a family peer support program to help inmates at all stages of their incarceration and discharge. The peer support service recruits former jail inmates and others with previous problems, such as substance abuse, who have overcome their dilemmas and want to help others do the same. Laura Kelly, an occupational therapy graduate student who has been completing a fieldwork experience at the justice center, said she thought she made a positive difference with a woman interested in becoming a peer support mentor. “In order for her to apply for that position she had to write out her story and explain how she is working on beating her addiction,” Kelly said. “So, during one session, we began to write her story together. Halfway through, she looked at me and said that she has never told anyone this much information about herself and her addiction because she is so ashamed of her past.” “I’m very impressed with the (jail) program,” and some former inmates evidently have been as well, said Kidwell.

A session at the Hancock County jail helps inmates talk about behaviors and their impact.

After being released, one man who lived two counties away made it a priority to find a ride back to the Crawford Street jail to retrieve his occupational therapy program completion certificates, Kidwell explained. Others have requested that a post-jail program be implemented to further assist those during their first transition weeks and months, when transitioning can be the most difficult. “I think it’s a big step for us. OT has done a fantastic job and we’re very pleased with the (University) students and staff,” Kidwell said.

In Demand

The University’s program touts a 100 percent job placement rate upon graduation, which reflects the increasing national demand. According to 2012 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for occupational therapists is projected to grow 29 percent through 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. The average median pay in 2012 was $75,400 annually.

Students lead the Picky Eaters Club at the Family Resource Center weekly to help kids overcome food aversions.

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HOW YOU GONNA’ KEEP ’EM DOWN ON THE FARM? by Barbara Lockard (M ’02) photos by Amy DePuy

UF Partners with Hancock Historical Museum to Preserve Agricultural Heritage ark Metzger’s Alvada, Ohio, farm has been in his family since 1832. The retired dairy farmer now uses his 1898 barn for family gatherings and has preserved its authenticity down to the last detail. His life is a testimony to the knowledge and dedication of Hancock County, Ohio, farmers. 8

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There are several farms in the Findlay area that share a rich history, not only of agriculture, but also of original owners that immigrated to the U.S. from Europe and handed down precious land to the next generation. This was the start of northwest Ohio’s Century Farms. Thanks to a partnership between The University of Findlay and the Hancock Historical Museum, this history will be kept alive through the voices of the farmers themselves.

An Offer Extended

In late summer 2013, UF’s grants administrator, Tricia Valasek, received an invitation from the Ohio Humanities Council to a meeting in Ft. Meigs, Ohio. She invited Julie McIntosh, Ed.D., dean of the College of Education, and Nikki Diederich, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts, to accompany her. “The Council was interested in funding humanities-related projects in northwest Ohio,” said Valasek. “They were offering mini-grants in the amount of a few thousand dollars.” McIntosh and Diederich contacted their instructors and program chairs to ascertain if there was an interest in pursuing a grant. Christine Denecker, Ph.D., associate professor of English, Gwynne Rife, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Raker, Ph.D., professors in the College of Education, responded. Sarah Sisser, executive director of the Hancock Historical Museum, was invited to the first brainstorming meeting. The Museum had just conducted its inaugural Historic Barn Tour and more than 700 people had participated in the self-guided exploration of six, century-old barns in Hancock County. Sisser felt there was a growing interest in Ohio farms and suggested a project focused on agricultural heritage. Denecker, who has experience in collecting digital narratives, thought an oral history of area farms, expressed by the farmers themselves, would be a valuable archive. “I’m from Hancock County and generations of my family were farmers,” said Denecker, “Since farming is in my 10

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blood, I couldn’t turn down a chance to record these histories.”

Now the Real Work Begins

Valasek got to work writing the grant proposal, establishing the timeline as Feb. 1, 2014, through Oct. 31, 2014. Denecker and Sisser proposed a focus on six area farms, including two that had been designated “Certified Century Farms.” From February through March 2014, Denecker and Sisser, along with UF students, developed interview questions and conducted non-recorded meetings with the six farm owners. From April 1 to May 15, 2014, they conducted oneto-two-hour interviews with the purpose of creating dialogue to record stories of life on these farms. To comply with Ohio Humanities Council requirements, student workers began work in August to transcribe the audio portion of all interviews. They are expected to work through the fall semester, if not longer.

Denecker, who has provided support to The Ohio State University on the Digital Archives Literacy Narrative (DALN), said that the history of Hancock County farms is really a history of the entire community. “I think I can honestly say that this project is one of the most gratifying experiences I’ve had in my career,” she added. The Ohio Humanities Council, UF and the Museum all agreed that the farm histories had great educational value and should be shared initially with students and members of the community. With assistance from the College of Education and UF’s office of Marketing and Communication, the two project leaders developed a storyboard on each farm, and one describing the project. The storyboards were displayed in the Farm Bureau tent at the Hancock County Fair in September 2014, making them accessible to more than 80,000 people

who attended the fair during its five-day run. The boards were also featured at the Museum’s 2014 Historic Barn Tour. They are now permanently housed at the Museum. “This ties in so well with the Museum’s educational focus on our agricultural roots,” said Sisser. “We currently have an agriculture traveling trunk program, and feature an agriculture station in our ‘Hands on History’ program that’s presented to nearly all Hancock County fifth graders.” The project culminated in a twohour public presentation by Denecker and Sisser held at the University’s Alumni Memorial Union. Well attended by community residents, the farm families interviewed, and students, the presentation was also a dialogue about the value of preserving stories and anecdotes

about rural life in northwest Ohio. Both Denecker and Sisser expect the project could further expand with more funding. A documentary could even grow out of the hours of video they’ve collected. “We will eventually go outside of Hancock County,” said Denecker. “We may start with only Century Farms, and once we’ve gathered the stories of Hancock County, may move out into other regions of Ohio in order to preserve the great agricultural history of our state.” When asked what she thought about partnering with another community organization on a project like this, Dr. Katherine Fell, UF president, replied, “To our knowledge, no one else is doing this. It gives the University the opportunity to share the area’s heritage with our students and ties in beautifully with our heartland values.”

Ohio Farm History Project Digital narratives from the owners of the following Hancock County farms were presented in the Alumni Memorial Union in September as part of a grantfunded partnership project between UF and The Hancock Historical Museum.

hand. Marquart also remembers German POW’s working on the farm, blocking sugar beets, and migrant workers helping his family harvest the family tomato crop. He still manages the 300-acre farm.

Johnson Farm

A Certified Century Farm, the Spahr farm is more than 700 acres and one of only four operating dairy farms in Hancock County. Situated just outside of Findlay, Ohio, near the Hancock County reservoir, the farm includes two historic, timber-framed barns built in the late 1870s and updated in the 1930s.

Jacquelynn Johnson has owned this Forest, Ohio, farm since 1978, receiving it from her father, James R. Schey. Johnson’s great-grandfather, Lawrence H. Plotts and his wife, Mary E. (Montague), acquired the property before 1875. The barn on the Johnson farm is entirely hand-hewn and dates to pre-Civil War times.

Marquart Farm

Wayne Marquart remembers watching the barn being built on his farm just north of Jenera, Ohio, in 1942. All the timbers were sawed and notched by

Spahr Dairy Farm

Metzger Farm

Mark Metzger has owned this Certified Century Farm in Alvada, Ohio, since 1956. Now retired from his large dairy operation, Metzger is a wonderful steward of this historic property,

displaying vintage machinery and artifacts of early life on the farm.

Wilson Farm

Gary and Mary Wilson own and operate this farm that has been in their family since 1883. Their daughter, Jennifer Wilson, moved back to the farm this year and is the eighth generation of the Wilson family to live on the property. The 40’ x 70’ barn was built in 1905.

vonStein Farm

Dennis vonStein and his brother, Dean, operate this extensive crop-farming business on several hundred acres in Rawson, Ohio. Three generations of the vonStein family are actively involved in farming. Dennis and his wife, Monica, also operate Pure Country Greenhouses on the property. Fa ll 2014

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by Joy Shaw

photos by Anne Risser Lee

MAKING WAVES The University of Findlay science students clean, monitor pollutants and enjoy regional waterways.

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The Blanchard River, long a source of community division physically and philosophically, has become a source of collaboration and also serves as a learning lab, as evidenced by The University of Findlay’s Biology Program and Wilderness Club activities. Polluted places, such as Grand Lake Saint Marys, have brought students from the University and elsewhere, regional organizations and government entities together. Aquatic problems within the region also are presenting opportunities for service and educational opportunities. Dr. Bethany Henderson-Dean, associate professor of biology and chair

of the Natural Sciences Department, and many of her students, are more intimately familiar with the Blanchard River, and have spent more time in and near it, than most. They’ve waded in it, collected its sediment samples, kayaked on it and camped near it. They’ve enjoyed the shade and fall colors of the trees overhanging the 103-mile tributary of the Auglaize

River, and taken note of the birds, bats, frogs and fish that it attracts and sustains. The University of Findlay’s Wilderness Club, one of the largest on campus, “adopted” a two-mile stretch of the river, which it cleans of debris at least twice each year. Henderson-Dean said during one such cleanup, the group, which consists of science majors and

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other outdoor lovers, “pulled out 150 tires in just one afternoon.” In 2009, the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership, which addresses problems and concerns that affect the Blanchard River watershed, presented the Wilderness Club with an award for its cleanup efforts. But along with enjoying the river and trying to improve its health, those from the University have also been monitoring its environmental decline at the microbial level. “The Maumee watershed, of which the Blanchard River is a part, is the number one polluter of Lake Erie,” said Henderson-Dean. Because the vast majority of the land that the Blanchard River meanders through in Hardin, Hancock and Putnam counties is farmed, rain washes, or “leaches,” manure and synthetic fertilizers into the river and carries them downstream through Findlay and Ottawa. The Blanchard flows into the Auglaize River, which joins the Maumee River, and then empties into Lake Erie. “The farmers are more educated (about fertilizer runoff) than they ever have been,” said Henderson-Dean. These days, they are more apt to use synthetic products that are designed to be slow releasing. “They’ve altered their fertilizer use so that it doesn’t leach into the river as easily. They’re going to more natural ways

of production”, she said. But the Blanchard River’s notorious flooding propensity doesn’t help matters. “The problem is, when it rains a lot and when it floods, it doesn’t matter what they (farmers) do” with fertilizer application, said Henderson-Dean. In addition, the contents from old, corroded septic tanks in rural areas also seep into waterways, creating too much nutrient buildup. So why should anyone care about the presence of fertilizer and sewage in rivers, creeks and lakes? Those in Toledo and around Grand Lake Saint Marys can easily answer that question. In August, residents of Ohio’s fourth largest city were ordered not to touch or drink the city’s tap water for several days. In recent years, fishing and swimming bans have been issued for Grand Lake Saint Marys. The culprit? Algal blooms caused by phosphorous from fertilizers and fecal matter. Blue-green algae can reproduce at such a rapid rate that it can choke reservoir intake valves and make water too toxic to swim in or otherwise use. Phosphorous is necessary for plant life, but too much of it presents complex problems that people are still trying to combat. According to the watershed partnership, treated water from the Blanchard River is consumed by up to 80 percent of people within the watershed.

Sarah Tegtmeier and Chelsea Berning in the lab assisting Dr. Bethany Henderson-Dean, associate professor of biology.

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Given that it also contains blue-green algae, University students are keen on monitoring its presence. About two years ago, biology students from The University of Findlay partnered with students in Coldwater (Ohio) High School’s horticulture program to create and monitor a floating wetland in Grand Lake Saint Marys. Floating wetlands clean water by simultaneously absorbing nutrient pollution and adding oxygen. Consequently, they also help to decrease algal blooms, said Henderson-Dean. “At the high school, we trained them in how to monitor nutrient levels,” Henderson-Dean explained. Participating university and high school students have presented their findings at conferences. Although the grant-funded partnership with the high school ceased, the equipment and plants were left for the younger students to continue monitoring. Henderson-Dean said this fall semester her students are studying microcystin, the toxin that the algae produces. Microbial samples of it will be collected from different sites and tested. Henderson-Dean’s microbial pathogenics class also will be looking at Salmonella levels in the river. Salmonella is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. Feces transport it, and humans contract it through contaminated food and water consumption. Additionally, the University’s biology students have found evidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the Blanchard River. Samples have included E. coli that are resistant to tetracycline, an antibiotic used to treat infections such as pneumonia. “Antibiotic resistance has been an increasingly detrimental issue over the past few decades,” Henderson-Dean and students explained in their research. “The overall accumulation of antibioticresistant microbes stems from a variety of factors and causes much more harm than specific contributors alone.” They noted, “One of the greatest sources of antibiotic-resistant microbes is found in the environment, a factor that many people overlook when addressing

this issue. Specifically, agricultural runoff is a major cause leading to the increase of antibiotic-resistant genes through the leaching of agricultural waste.” Much University-related testing and research has been made possible through grants from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Ohio Environmental Education Fund, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Sea Grant

College Program sponsored by The Ohio State University. In turn, The University of Findlay’s future environmental scientists and current outdoor lovers are benefiting the community, local wildlife and the environment with their various activities. Henderson-Dean said their river-cleaning efforts alone have resulted in collaborations with entities such as

Marathon Petroleum Corp. and the Boy Scouts of America. For years to come, the Blanchard River will continue to be a source for recreation, educational reference and service learning for students at The University of Findlay.

In recent years, fishing and swimming bans have been issued for Grand Lake Saint Marys. The culprit? Algal blooms caused by phosphorous from fertilizers and fecal matter. Blue-green algae can reproduce at such a rapid rate that it can choke reservoir intake valves and make water too toxic to swim in or otherwise use.

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ON CAMPUS UF Awarded $1.2 Million Noyce Grant The University of Findlay has received a $1.2 million grant to groom math and science teachers for work in schools that serve many low-income students. The National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is competitive. The University was one of 142 in the nation that submitted proposals, and is one of approximately 45 receiving Foundation funding. The University’s program, called Acquiring Teaching Opportunities in Mathematics and Science (ATOMS), will be a five-year endeavor that launched this semester. Stellar science and math undergraduates, along with working professionals, are being recruited with scholarships and teaching opportunities. In return, they are required to commit for at least two years, depending upon their scholarship status, to teach students in grades seven through 12 attending “high-needs” schools with identifiable criteria relating to the percentage of students from families that live below the federal poverty line, teacher vacancies and turnover rates, and low academic performance. The University, through its ATOMS program, has pledged to recruit 24 undergraduate juniors majoring in biology or math to concurrently pursue a teaching degree; and eight so-called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) professionals to pursue math and science teaching careers. All undergraduates will receive three years of scholarships and stipends totaling $37,500, while the STEM professionals will receive one year of scholarship funding totaling $14,000.

The post-baccalaureate adolescent/ young adult licensure teacher education program in which ATOMS scholars will enroll is based on the University’s successful one-year accelerated Building Excellent Science Teachers project that had been funded for three years by a renewable Ohio Department of Education grant. For hands-on experience, ATOMS participants will be paired with teachers in Findlay, Hancock County and Lima city schools, and with others in the region, such as Toledo, that the state has identified as high-need. The University’s program is also serving as a pilot project for the National Science Foundation, which is seeking to identify best pedagogical methods. “The NSF is eyeing technology and research projects like this because they want to learn what works and what doesn’t in the field of education,” said Tricia Valasek, the University’s grant coordinator. “So they’re asking us to evaluate and show best practices. They do expect participating schools to disseminate their findings with others, at conferences, and in journals,” she said. “We should be broadly training our teachers in all areas of biology and the sciences,” not just content mandated by Common Core state curriculum standards, said Pamela Warton, Ph.D., professor and chair of mathematics. “We have to show our future teachers that they cannot just teach a single concept in isolation,” she said, “but that they need to guide their students to make connections by looking at realworld problems.”

Dana Scholar for 2014 Debra J. Ward was selected as a Dana Scholar for 2014 and benefitted from the mentorship of Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, who served as the 2014 Dana Chair. Ward’s name was inadvertently omitted from the list of Dana Scholars in the previous magazine. We regret the error.

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UF Pioneers Transparency Practices that Show the Real Cost of a Four-year Degree The University of Findlay believes that the true cost of college shouldn’t be a secret or too complicated to determine. That’s why it has developed and is using the country’s first four-year degree cost calculator and other methods that are helping students and their families make more informed choices. Its Total Degree Cost Calculator is trademarked. “As a consumer, you don’t buy something without knowing the total cost of the product. You shouldn’t invest in college without knowing the total cost either,” said Ed Recker, director of financial aid. “We want our students to understand what their entire degree will cost, not just their first year.” In early 2014, a four-year calculator was launched and made available on the University’s website. Its intuitive design allows any student (first-time freshman, transfer or graduate student), to enter information similar to what is entered on the FAFSA, select the academic program they are interested in and get a year-byyear total of what the cost of their degree will be. The University also simplified students’ financial aid award letters and created a series of how-to videos to explain the elements of the letter. Students and their parents also are encouraged to meet with an expert in the Financial Aid Office to help advise them. The Business Office developed a guide to explain payment options and deadlines, which is emailed and on the website.

ON CAMPUS

Gregg Edelman Guest Artist for Donnell Broadway Concert Series

“The start of the fall semester this year went much smoother than it has in the past,” said Recker. “The number of phones calls and stop-ins from confused students and parents was significantly less than in years past. And the students and families we did talk with came to us better informed and already had an understanding of what their cost was going to be.” The Total Degree Cost Calculator, found at findlay.edu/totalcostcalculator, has had nearly 8,000 hits since being launched in March. Overall traffic to the Financial Aid web pages has increased 26 percent over last year and the Business Office web pages have seen a 10 percent hike. The University is also enjoying its fourth consecutive semester of enrollment increases, with an 8.5 percent increase this fall. At the same time, the average student loan indebtedness per graduate at UF has decreased by 24 percent in the last three years, from $33,507 in 2012 to $25,584 in 2014. “This type of innovation, total transparency, and consultancy approach to working with families positions The University of Findlay as a leader and moves UF beyond compliance to providing value, not only in academic programs, but in how we serve our families and students – with care and complete transparency,” said Rebecca Butler, vice president for enrollment management.

“An Evening with Gregg Edelman, Featuring Phil Reno,” was held as a part of the Donnell Broadway Concert Series on Sunday, Sept. 14, in Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Edelman is a four-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk award-winning star of “Into the Woods,” “1776,” “Anna Karenina” and “City of Angels.” A few of his selections for the evening included “If Ever I Would Leave You” from Lerner and Loewe’s “Camelot;” “The Music of the Night” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera”; George and Ira Gershwin’s “Our Love is Here to Stay”; and several Stephen Sondheim songs, among which were “Send in the Clowns” and “Everybody Says Don’t.” Edelman said that one of his favorite things to do is to tell stories through

Broadway veterans Gregg Edelmann and Phil Reno perform at the Donnell Broadway Concert in September.

music, which he called “a wonderful art form.” Edelman was accompanied on piano by Phil Reno, a Grammy-nominated Broadway conductor, who is a native of Tiffin, Ohio. In addition, Edelman conducted a master class the following day for students studying music theater and coached them on what to expect at Broadway auditions. He also worked with students individually to show them how to improve their performances. The series is supported by the Thomas and Kathleen Donnell Broadway Concert Series Endowment Fund, the James H. Brannigan Musical Theatre Guest Artist Endowment Fund and the Mary Snyder Kirk Musical Theatre Guest Artist Chair Endowment Fund.

Benefactors Thomas and Kathleen Donnell, were among the audience, enjoying the Edelman and Reno performance.

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ON CAMPUS

New Deans Named

Jeffrey Frye, Ph.D., was named dean of the College of Sciences.

Ronald Tulley, Ph.D., was chosen to head the College of Liberal Arts.

The University of Findlay recently appointed three new college deans. Jeffrey Frye, Ph.D., was named dean of the College of Sciences in May after serving as interim dean since 2012. Ronald Tulley, Ph.D., was chosen to head the College of Liberal Arts, effective July 15. Debra L. Parker, RPh, Pharm.D., was named interim dean of the College of Pharmacy for the 2014-15 academic year, beginning Aug. 1. Frye has held several posts at the University since he arrived in 1991 as an assistant professor of chemistry. He has continued to teach chemistry and has served as an area director of chemistry, physics, geology and natural science and as chair of the Department of Physical Sciences. He helped develop the curriculum for the University’s bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Prior to joining the staff at Findlay, Frye served in a post-doctoral position at the former Medical College of Ohio (the University of Toledo Medical Center). Frye is a founding advisory board member of a statewide Project Kaleidoscope initiative for STEM(M) education, and he is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the American Chemical Society – Division of Biological Chemistry; the National Science Teachers Association – Society of College Science

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Debra L. Parker, RPh, Pharm.D., was named interim dean of the College of Pharmacy.

Teachers; the Ohio Academy of Science and Sigma Xi. Frye has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Miami University and a B.S. in biochemistry from Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Tulley has held several teaching and administrative positions at the University since 2002 when he was hired as a composition and literature instructor in the Department of English. Most recently, Tulley was an associate professor of English since 2010 and the interim director for online learning since 2013. Other leadership positions Tulley has held include chair of the English Department; academic coordinator for online delivery; director of the writing center; and co-director of the technical communication area. Prior to accepting a position at The University of Findlay, Tulley taught at Case Western Reserve University, Bowling Green State University, Pierce College (Lakewood, Washington), Highline Community College (Des Moines, Washington), Joliet Junior College (Joliet, Illinois), South Suburban College (South Holland, Illinois) and East-West University (Chicago). Tulley is a recipient of the Harriette Smith Ritz Award for Service to the University (2013), the Richard E. Wilkin Faculty Chair in the College of

Liberal Arts (2012-2013) and others. He is a member of many academic and professional organizations. Parker has served as associate professor of pharmacy practice at UF since 2006 and as chair of the Pharmacy Practice Department since 2009. Parker also has maintained a clinical practice with St. Rita’s Health Management Group in Lima since 2012, where she works collaboratively with a group of health professionals to provide patients with medication therapy management services. She held a similar role at Blanchard Valley Medical Associates in Findlay, Ohio, from 20062012, and is the former director of clinical pharmacy services at Physicians Inc., in Lima. She is past president of the Ohio Pharmacists Association and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, among others. She has authored a chapter in the 4th edition of “A Guide for Pharmacists,” as well as journal articles in U.S. Pharmacist and Formulary. Parker has been named Preceptor of the Year at Ohio Northern University and Teacher of the Year in the UF College of Pharmacy and has received the National Community Pharmacists Association Pharmacy Leadership Award, the Ohio Pharmacists Association’s McKesson President’s Award and the Elan Pharmaceutical Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award. Parker holds a doctor of pharmacy from Ohio Northern University. She is a certified anticoagulation provider, a certified diabetes educator, a clinical lipid specialist and is a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist.

ON CAMPUS

New Nursing Program Launched The University of Findlay accepted its first class of students into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program this fall after receiving approval from the Higher Learning Commission, the Ohio Board of Nursing and the Ohio Board of Regents Findlay’s nursing program will admit 30 students each year in the fall. Graduates will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a Registered Professional Nurse (RN). The University began actively working toward establishing the BSN program after a feasibility study which supported the launch of the program was completed and presented to the Board of Trustees at its Oct. 5, 2012, meeting.

According to Darin Fields, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs for the University, UF’s high-quality health professions programs and strengths in clinical education in the health professions provide a strong basis for the new nursing program. “The University has built a strong reputation for highquality health professions programs, and we are excited to now offer a bachelor of science in nursing to the region,” stated Fields. The nursing curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, professional leadership, emerging trends in health care, health and human functioning, professional ethics diversity and health care management. Students will develop competent nursing care in skills lab, simulation and a variety

of acute care hospital, community and public facilities. Clinical practice begins in the sophomore year and continues five semesters. Students will have 865 hours of clinical practice by the time they complete the program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.2 million job openings for registered nurses are predicted in the next eight years, accompanied by an expected shortage of registered nurses by the year 2020. To meet the projected need, an additional 30,000 nurses are needed to graduate from nursing schools annually, an expansion of 30 percent over the number graduating currently. To learn more about the program, go to findlay.edu/nursing.

UF Introduces New Sonography Program The University of Findlay has received approval to offer associate and bachelor’s degrees in sonography, with the first classes beginning in January 2015. The program will be located at the Diagnostic Service Department Building at 401 Trenton Ave. Sonography is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound), via a small device called a transducer, to produce dynamic visual images of organs, tissues or blood flow inside the body for physician interpretation. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and Ohio Board of Regents, the program will offer three areas of study to choose from, including diagnostic medical sonography, which studies the abdomen, male and female pelvis, obstetrics and superficial structures; vascular sonography, which studies the arteries and veins; and echocardiography, which studies the adult heart for function and pathology. Those earning associate degrees through the program can do so in three

semesters. The academically aggressive first semester will include spending 30 to 40 hours per week in the classroom and laboratory settings. In addition to scanning in the laboratories, students will have the opportunity to use the University’s cadaver lab to evaluate documented pathology, which will better prepare them for real-life experiences. Upon completion of the academic semester, which includes normal anatomy and pathology, students will attend clinical education for 40 hours per week at one of the University’s designated clinical education centers. Clinical education is 35 weeks in length and totals 1,400 hours. Those earning four-year bachelor’s degrees through the program will also take general education courses that the University requires of all such students. The programs were developed through a collaboration between Andrea Koepke, D.N.S., dean of the College of Health Professions; Richard States, D.H.Sc., Diagnostic Services chair; Susan Perry, Med, RDMS; and Heather

Duval-Foote, BAS, RDMS. “This impressive amount of clinical education ensures that our graduates have attributes that employers are looking for,” said Perry. “Along with the unique, threesemester design of the programs, students will complete their degrees faster and begin their professional careers sooner.” The sonography addition further enhances the College of Health Profession’s diagnostic study offerings, which range from nuclear medicine technology to medical laboratory science and positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) technology. To learn more about the program, go to findlay.edu/healthprofessions/sonography.

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ON CAMPUS

Japanese Governor Hosted on Campus The Honorable Kiyoshi Ueda, governor of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, was hosted by The University of Findlay on Saturday, Sept. 6, for a day of presentations and discussions on international education. He presented “Wings to the World: Developing Global Human Resources in Saitama Prefecture” in Ritz Auditorium, followed by a panel discussion with The University of Findlay students Sara Hipple, Dallas Smith and Ingrid Godfrey. Hipple is a senior Japanese major who was a teaching intern in 2013-14 at Chiba Institute of Science in Japan and is a Japanese government scholarship recipient for 2014-15. Smith is a fourthyear pharmacy student, who is one of

the founders of Oilers Serving Abroad, an organization formed to provide service opportunities for students in the Dominican Republic. Godfrey, a senior biology and animal science/pre-veterinary medicine major, is president of the UF chapter of Habitat for Humanity and has participated in Habitat projects in Nicaragua in 2013 and Costa Rica in 2014. Gov. Ueda also was part of a discussion on “International Education: Japan and Hancock County” that included participants of the 201415 Fulbright/Jennings/Community Foundation Japan Project. Twelve teachers from Findlay City, Riverdale, Van Buren and Cory-Rawson schools and pre-service

teachers from The University of Findlay served as panelists. During the summer of 2014, these educators visited Japan, where they met Gov. Ueda and also attended lectures coordinated by Saitama prefectural government staff. The University of Findlay has supported the Ohio Saitama University Scholarship program since 1995, and annually hosts three students from Saitama Prefecture by collaborating with Nissin Brake Ohio in Findlay. When representatives of the city of Findlay and Hancock County participated in economic mission trips to Japan in 2012 and 2013, Gov. Ueda hosted the group.

Gov. Ueda joined Dr. Fell for a campus tour.

Gov. Ueda and the student discussion panel.

Tree planting with the Findlay mayor.

Gov. Ueda met with Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5th District), who helped arrange the visit, and Dr. Fell.

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ON CAMPUS

Teachers Return from Japan with Global Perspective

Lisa Schadel has learned to better relate to her international students. Jon Hayfield now feels an obligation to promote cultural understanding to help achieve world peace. India Wirt was impressed by the “moral education” emphasized in Japanese schools. Schadel, a second grade teacher at Findlay’s Whittier Primary School;

Hayfield, Riverdale High School world history teacher, and Wirt, an early childhood education major at The University of Findlay, spent four weeks in Japan this past summer. The goal: to return with lesson plans for “international education” in Hancock County and Findlay City Schools. In all, nine teachers and three preservice teachers from UF visited Japan through grant funding provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Fulbright-Hays Group and the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. In June 2014, Hiroaki Kawamura, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Language and Culture, received $80,000 to finance the trip. The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation also awarded $3,000 to Findlay City Schools and the Hancock County Educational Service Center to support the project.

The group had hopes of returning with ideas for transforming area K-12 students into “global citizens.” “My students are learning that there’s more to the world than Rawson and Hancock County,” said Lindsay Alexander, a second-grade teacher for Cory-Rawson Local Schools. Steven Gehret, a UF senior who plans to teach social studies, was impressed with the environmental concerns he witnessed. “They treated recycling as essential,” added Gehret. “As educators, we can share this with our students as well.” Kawamura is pleased with the trip’s outcome. “My focus was to give the teachers opportunities to experience Japan first-hand, which would change their worldview. When teachers’ perception changes, cultural teaching will take place everywhere – in and out of classrooms.”

Downtown Mural Celebrated A gathering on Aug. 21, 2014, in downtown Findlay celebrated the new mural painted on the side of the First Federal Bank building at 301 S. Main St. The mural depicts The University of Findlay and its ongoing partnership with the community. Artist Oscar Velasquez was commissioned by The University of Findlay to paint the mural. The Redcoat Ambassadors from the Chamber of Commerce were present for the ribbon cutting, and the UF cheerleaders and mascot Derrick the Oiler brought spirit to the celebration. President Katherine Fell thanked First Federal Bank and the law firm of Drake, Phillips, Kuenzli & Clark for their support and Oscar for his talent. She noted that the Churches of God and the citizens of Findlay partnered to found the institution in 1882. “The University is sustained even today by both entities,

where students’ lives are transformed daily, and we are grateful,” she said. Greg Allen, president of the First Federal Bank Southern Market Area, and Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik (’02) gave remarks and Velasquez signed prints of the mural for guests. The mural is cosponsored by The University of Findlay, First Federal Bank, Drake, Phillips, Kuenzli & Clark law firm, Assured Title Agency and the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Findlay – programs of the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance.

Above: Ribbon cutting at the Mural Reception. Below: Artist Oscar Velasquez

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ON CAMPUS

UF Earns High Rankings The University of Findlay has earned top rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey of “America’s Best Colleges.” This is the ninth consecutive year that UF has been listed in the top tier of regional universities in the Midwest. The survey also ranked UF 19th in the Midwest among regional universities in the Best Colleges for Veterans category and 164th in the nation for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.

The University of Findlay also is ranked as one of the best colleges in the Midwest according to The Princeton Review. The education services company recommends the school as one of 159 institutions in 12 Midwestern states that it names to its “Best in the Midwest” list for 2015. In addition, Findlay, Ohio, has been included among affordable college towns in a new listing compiled by Great Value

Enrollment Up for Fall 2014 The academic year got off to a great start at The University of Findlay. The University announced an 8.5 percent increase in enrollment for the fall semester, compared to last fall. This is the fourth consecutive semester enrollment has increased at UF. The first-time, full-time student retention rate also increased by 4 percent – 83 percent, compared to 79 percent last year. “In 2012, the campus came together to make real a new vision and strategic plan for the University,” said Katherine Fell, Ph.D., president of The University of Findlay. “The increases in our enrollment and freshmen retention rate are the results of tremendous team effort. I commend our faculty and staff for their collaboration and commitment.” The 8.5 percent enrollment increase includes a 6.5 percent increase in firsttime, full-time students, a 20 percent increase in graduate students and a 46 percent increase in international students. “We are delighted with the enrollment increases,” said Rebecca Butler, vice president of enrollment management at UF. “The University of Findlay is distinctive. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing quality, meaningful academic programs, significant undergraduate research

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opportunities and individualized career consultation to our students throughout their time at the University. The value of a Findlay education is evident by the enrollment and retention increases we are experiencing.” Highlights from the fall 2014 eighth day enrollment report include: • Total traditional student enrollment (not including dualenrolled high school students) of 3,956, compared to 3,645 in 2013 • 4.2 percent increase in total undergraduate enrollment – 2,790 compared to 2,678 • First-time, full-time student population of 619, compared to 581 in 2013 • Graduate student population of 1,166, compared to 967 in 2013 • International student population of 535, compared to 365 in 2013 • Additional 937 early-entry high school students The University of Findlay is one of the largest private colleges in Northwest Ohio.

Colleges. The educational website detailed a cross-section of 50 American college towns, ranking them according to cost-ofliving index scores. Findlay, with a score of 94.3, is considered to have affordable housing, transportation, groceries, utilities and health care.

Freed Lecture Series Walter Brueggeman One of the foremost authorities on the Old Testament, Walter Brueggeman, Ph.D., spoke on “Fidelity Amid the Seduction of Certitude” on Oct. 17 as part of the Dr. and Mrs. DeBow Freed Contemporary Christian Lecture Series. A prolific author of more than 100 books and articles, he is currently the William Marcellus McPheeters professor emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. He discussed the Old Testament as being multi-layered, multi-voiced, profoundly complex and deeply conflicted. “The Bible is a wonder and a vexation,” he asserted. He addressed certitude as leading to violence and the “mystery of fidelity” in a God who is relational. The Freed Contemporary Christian Lecture Series is sponsored by The University of Findlay, Winebrenner Theological Seminary and the Churches of God, General Conference.

Cummings’ Fulbright Experience Louann Cummings, D.M., CPA, professor of business at The University of Findlay, spent spring semester 2014 as a Fulbright Scholar, working in Hanoi, Vietnam, in the International School of Management and Economics at the National Economics University (NEU). While at NEU, she taught accounting and finance courses, and arranged for students to experience an online class by working with staff members at UF using Blackboard Collaborate. She also was able to share her expertise in academic portfolio review and assessment with her Vietnam colleagues. Fulbright Scholars are expected to serve as cultural ambassadors for the United States while experiencing a full cultural immersion experience. Cummings applied for the Fulbright Scholar program after visiting Vietnam in 2011 through the UF-USSH Faculty Exchange Scholar program. Cummings and her husband, Paul, were in Vietnam for five months. Paul taught English at a start-up organization that trains the visually impaired to be masseurs, while Louann connected her students in a philanthropic accounting club with this organization as a venue for handson service learning. Club members learned to prepare financial statements, break-even analysis and other financial reports.

Cummings said that since returning, she has used every opportunity to weave her experiences into her classes, in which she challenges her students to “think beyond Hancock County, Ohio and the United States.” For example, she used a video of Vietnamese street vendors in her merchandising class to depict a form of entrepreneurship, although it exists in a communist country. Cummings, who also is serving as the Gupta Faculty Chair for the College of Business for 2014-15, said that she is passionate about wanting to set up internship and travel experiences of three to four weeks for students to go to Vietnam. Although it is difficult to get there and the conditions can be challenging, Vietnam is “an up and coming player in world economics. The Asian economy is significant to us. It is important for business students to see that view of another culture,” Cummings asserted. “The Vietnamese people are the kindest, most gracious, wonderful folks,” she said, “who are so resilient and resourceful.” She noted with emotion that they “opened their homes and opened their arms” to her. “I really can’t wait to get back,” she said.

Louann Cummings, D.M., CPA, professor of business at The University of Findlay, with her husband, Paul, in Vietnam, where she served as a Fulbright Scholar during spring semester 2014.

Heminger Business Ethics Speaker

Keith T. Darcy, president of Darcy Partners Inc., a consulting firm that works with boards and top executives on a wide variety of ethics, compliance, regulatory and reputation risk challenges, was the fourth speaker for the Edwin L. Heminger Memorial Business Ethics Lectureship. He gave an overview of economic history over the past 25 years, noting historic bankruptcies and scandals, the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation that brought more accountability, and Wall Street and banking fraud that led to the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression. “Capitalism almost died,” Darcy said of the 2008 economic collapse, calling it the “most stunningly frightening time in my life.” He also noted that technology has created an environment in which “there are no secrets, there’s no place to hide,” making misbehavior easier to detect and prosecute. Darcy has spent more than 40 years as a leader in the financial services industry and as an educator, where he has focused on business ethics. He served from 20052013 as the executive director of the Ethics & Compliance Officer Association, the largest association of ethics and compliance executives with more than 1,300 members across six continents. Karl and Kurt Heminger established the Edwin L. Heminger Memorial Lectureship in Business Ethics Endowment Fund in memory of their father.

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ADVANC EM EN TS A Message from University Advancement

Whether you are 25 or 85, everyone should have a will, but creating or updating a will is not something that people think about often. “For the Love of Findlay” is an initiative that encourages you to make a simple provision to include The University of Findlay in your estate plan. You can name a specific amount or indicate a percentage of your estate to go to the University. We understand that while life circumstances may prevent many from contributing substantially to The University of Findlay during their lifetimes, almost everyone can leave a bequest. Just as you provide for your loved ones in your will, we hope that you will remember your love for Findlay College/ The University of Findlay as well. Estate gifts strengthen the University by helping to grow the endowment, which in turn assists in providing scholarship aid to students, supplements programs for greater enrichment and helps faculty to stay at the top of their fields. For example, we were surprised and pleased to receive $7,000 from the estate of Homer Rader. Homer’s son, Marvin, graduated from Findlay College in 1960, where he was a member of the football team from 1956-60. Sadly, Marvin passed

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away in 1972, but his father continued to remember the impact that Findlay College made on his son’s life. Although they lived modest, middleclass lifestyles as a teacher and a farmer, two sisters, Marjorie (’37) and Mildred (’41) McGranahan, recently bequeathed more than $1.56 million for scholarship aid to The University of Findlay. They wanted to add to a scholarship endowment that Mildred had started more than 25 years ago. Anyone. Any amount. Every gift makes a difference. We are launching the “For the Love of Findlay” bequest initiative in hope that alumni, parents, faculty, staff and community members will consider giving to The University of Findlay through their estates and establish a legacy that will provide long-term benefits for generations of students. Anyone who notifies us that they have included The University of Findlay in their will or estate plan will be enrolled in the C.T. Fox Legacy Society. Providing an estate gift to The University of Findlay is a way of ensuring your commitment to Findlay and our students lasts forever. In the coming months, you will receive information about how you can join your fellow alumni and friends in showing your appreciation for the University by leaving a legacy through your estate plan. To make us aware of your estate plans, or to find out more about how you can show your love for Findlay, contact Jaclyn Schalk, assistant vice president for development and director of gift planning, at schalk@ findlay.edu or 419-434-4794.

Marcia S. Latta, Ed.D. Vice President for University Advancement

Your Generosity to Date $50 million $40 million $35 million $30 million $25 million $20 million $15 million $10 million $5 million

Stay in touch with UF! You can keep up with the news at The University of Findlay on a monthly basis by subscribing to our e-newsletters. • ArchLink – a general newsletter about the latest campus happenings and academic programs, with special updates on alumni events • Mazza Mail – a monthly update on all the exciting programs and events for fans of the Mazza Museum • Inside the Arch – an insider’s look at campus for parents, with special tips and advice To register for the online newsletters, go to findlay.edu, Keyword: Newsletters.

ADVANCEMENTS

President’s Leadership Society Dinner Guests at the President’s Leadership Society Dinner on Friday, Oct. 24, viewed student research projects and plans for a new College of Business/student life center during the pre-dinner reception catered by students in the hospitality management program. The dinner honored the generosity of alumni, parents and friends, with more than 200 in attendance. A first-time Loyalty Trendsetter Award was given to Jeanine Gault. The award recognizes

graduates from the past decade who have supported their alma mater for at least five consecutive years. Honoring individuals and organizations who have given for at least 40 consecutive years, the Lifetime Loyalty Award was given to the Churches of God, General Conference, represented by Robert Stephenson; Thomas and Kathleen Donnell; James and Mira Houdeshell; Richard and Sharon Kern; the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, represented by Cindi Marshall; William and Donna Ruse; Jack and Jeanne Wasbro; and Richard and Barbara Wilkin. Following the dinner, guests were treated to a concert by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra in Winebrenner Theological Seminary, which featured Karina Canellakis as guest conductor and violinist. The symphony performed the U.S. premier of “Lonely Angel” by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks.

Welcome Home

It was like a family reunion when retired faculty and staff members returned to campus for the Welcome Home event on Sept. 4 at the Carrothers Home for the President. More than 62 people were welcomed by President Katherine Fell and Marcia Sloan Latta, Ed.D., vice president for university advancement. Sarah Totedo ’15, a political science major from Cleveland, shared her campus experiences. A scholarship recipient, Totedo is serving as the senior class president and is heading the senior class gift committee.

Donors Treated to an Evening with the Budweiser Clydesdales Nearly 220 people attended a picnic supper at the western farm on Sept. 16 and had an opportunity to see the famous Budweiser Clydesdales stabled at The University of Findlay’s Animal Science Center on State Route 68. Donors who live in Hancock and contiguous counties and who have given at least $250 in the past year were invited. The family event included bobbing for apples for the kids. President Katherine Fell was on hand to greet and thank donors. The evening was a special one for her because it was her birthday, as well, and Steve Brown, director of the western riding program, assisted her in riding one of the University’s horses in the arena as a birthday treat. She also made friends with the Dalmatian dog that always accompanies the Clydesdales. Mollie Burwinkel, a senior biology and animal science/pre-veterinary medicine major, shared her experiences. “I

chose Findlay because no other university had a pre-vet program that could even compare. I toured 11 colleges during a week-long road trip, including Vanderbilt, St. Louis, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Rigorous? Yes. Prestigious? Yes. But Findlay had cows. And everything else I was looking for such as small classes, exceptional advising and a homey feel,” she said. Burwinkel acknowledged that it is impossible to portray what it is like to be a pre-vet student at Findlay, but illustrated it through her experiences: “when the veterinarian I am shadowing is treating sick calves and a list of differential diagnoses is running through my head because Dr. Kerns lectured on it last semester; seeing the impressed expression on my father’s face when I am able to discuss with him the nutrition of our family dairy herd; being able to help the veterinarian draw up and give injections

because we gave dozens of shots during my animal handling courses.” She thanked donors, including the benefactors of the Edward and Mary Crosby Endowed Scholarship and the Shafer-Van Dorn-McGranahan Scholarship. “This dream could not have ben possible without your support,” she said. The University of Findlay’s Animal Science Center recently provided accommodations for the Budweiser Clydesdales for a week. The team of horses and their handlers were in the area for several events.

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ADVANCEMENTS

Local Students Backed by Businesses Strong support from the local business community has meant more scholarship assistance for students through the Business Affiliates Scholarship Program. Sixty businesses provided $28,900 in scholarship funds that were awarded to 10 Hancock County students for 2014-15. The annual Business Affiliates Breakfast, held Oct. 9, was well attended with 72 people present. The guest speaker, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith French, shared her background and the role that scholarships played in helping her to achieve her education and career goals. She described her benefactors and mentors as “a series of outstretched hands” that reached out to help her along the way. Alissa Simpson Preston (’01), representing the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, spoke on her experience as a student at The University of Findlay and as a Business Affiliates Scholarship recipient. She noted how the connections she made through the program helped her to find a job, and she now participates on the University Colleagues Advisory Board that oversees the Business Affiliates program. Three student scholarship recipients spoke as a part of the program: Zachary Brown, a forensic science and biology major; Emilee Reed, an English education major; and Leslie Stennett, a Spanish and marketing major. All mentioned that the financial support allowed them to focus more on their studies by

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Alissa Simpson Preston (’01), representing the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, is a former Business Affiliates scholarship recipient.

reducing the need to work to pay for their schooling. In his remarks, Brown thanked the business representatives. “Your contributions are appreciated by all 10 of us,” he said. The mission of the Business Affiliates Scholarship Program is to provide scholarship dollars to students at The University of Findlay who either graduate from a Hancock County high school and/ or are currently employed by a Hancock County business. The funding for these operational scholarships is made possible through the generous contributions of Hancock County businesses and supporters. Over the past decade, the Business Affiliates Scholarship Program has raised more than $230,000, providing financial assistance to 166 students in Hancock County.

Alumnae Honored by Regional Fundraising Professionals Mariah Hohman (’13) was honored on Nov. 13 by the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals at an awards luncheon at the Pinnacle in Maumee, Ohio. She was named the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy for ages 18-23 for the region. Barbara (Eakin ’63) Meyers was also recognized as the Outstanding Volunteer at The University of Findlay. In February of 2011, Mariah Hohman brought the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign to The University of Findlay to educate individuals about the detrimental effects of the derogatory use of the word “retarded.” The 12-hour event attracted 187 people from The University of Findlay and the Findlay community to pledge to end the use of the “r-word.” Hohman wanted to continue to create an environment that fosters understanding and acceptance for individuals with disabilities. She developed a new service-based student organization at UF, Students Teaching Respect for Individuals with Disabilities Everyday (STRIDE). In October of 2011, an organizational committee decided that the primary focus of STRIDE would be to provide service to local agencies that serve individuals with special needs. STRIDE officially began in January 2012 with 10 members and now has more than 40 active student members. Members have recorded more than 2,000 volunteer hours in the surrounding area at non-profit organizations such as Gliding Stars of Findlay (ice skating for children with disabilities), Special Kids Therapy, the Hancock County Special Olympics, The Down Syndrome Association of Western Ohio, and the Parent2Parent

ADVANCEMENTS

Knowledge Bar Aids with Technology and Research Requests

Support Group. Hohman currently is working with the STRIDE president and faculty adviser to develop plans for the future of STRIDE. She hopes to demonstrate to other college students that while they may not be able to donate money, the gift of time is invaluable. Barbara (Eakin ’63) Meyers was recognized for her lifetime of service to The University of Findlay and the community. She served on the Alumni Association Board of Governors and is a past president. She also is involved with the Mazza Museum, where she served two terms as chair of the Mazza Enthusiasts and was a docent trainer for 11 years. Meyers was named a Distinguished Alumna in 1992 and a Distinguished Associate in 2002 by The University of Findlay for her accomplishments, service and support. She was a founding member of the local Theta Tau Chapter of Delta Zeta and has been involved with the sorority at the national level. She also is a long-time member and volunteer with Town & Campus and the Hancock Historical Museum and is an active member of the College First Church of God, where she has served as the vice chair of the Churches of God Historical Society and Archive/Museum Committee since 1998. A retired teacher, Meyers taught third and fourth grades for more than 30 years in the Findlay City Schools, and she was a regional coordinator for teacher licensure for the Ohio Department of Education for 14 years. In 1991, she was honored with the Golden Apple Award from the Findlay Rotary Club.

The library will always be a repository of knowledge, but how information is accessed has changed dramatically with the advent of technology. Courtesy of funds provided by the Parent Executive Council, the “Knowledge Bar” has been installed on the main floor of the library. Located inside the lobby, the intent of the Knowledge Bar is to create a walkin service for students, faculty and staff where they can receive help with information technology and library research, according to Andrew Whitis, director of Shafer Library. Previously, the reference desk was in the library and information technology help was located across campus in The Haven on Frazer Street. Now, they are conveniently located in the same place. The funds from the Parent Executive Council were used to purchase cabinetry, countertops, chairs and lighting to create the physical space for the Knowledge Bar. The cabinets hold electronic devices and provide storage space for training materials and brochures, as well as create a spot for professional staff to interact with students, faculty and staff. Helpers use mobile devices and

tablets, rather than the fixed technology of computer stations used in the past, Whitis explained. The Knowledge Bar is “built to accommodate five people being helped at one time,” he said. There are also workstations designed to be wheelchair-accessible. Typical technology requests include seeking help with software, connecting to the wireless system to set up a computer to print, or figuring out how to create an Excel spreadsheet and move it into a PowerPoint presentation, among other questions, Whitis explained. He also pointed out that students are arriving with more technology than in the past, averaging three to four devices each, including laptop computers, tablets and cell phones. Librarians aid students in locating online resources for journal articles and various databases for research projects. Usage of online journals and databases has increased every year, he said. Sometimes requests are quite complex and require setting up a time to meet with another library professional who can provide the appropriate assistance. “There is always someone here, and they can call in more help if needed,” Whitis noted.

Members of the Parent Executive Council with President Katherine Fell, Ph.D. include (from left): Randy Gardner, Sandy Gardner, Tracy Tweed, Chris Ridge (’88), Robin Ridge (’86), Mike Dager and Lisa Dager. The Knowledge Bar was funded by this council.

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AL UM N I EV E NT S Alumni Association Honorees Recognized at Homecoming Partners International Inc. in Addison, Texas. She directs the development of business strategies and relationships with employers, brokers and thirdparty companies to increase use of USPI facilities. She previously held positions with Strategic Health Care in Washington, D.C., Federal Health Policy, and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in Washington, D.C. In 2003, Lowe received the Old Main Award from The University of Findlay Alumni Association, which honors alumni under the age of 36 for their accomplishments.

The University of Findlay Alumni Association Board of Governors has named the following as Distinguished Alumni for 2014: Peter B. Daub (’70), Marian Lowe (’97), Michael Murphy (’72), Joji “George” Suzuki (M ’99) and Billy Watterson (’96). Audrey Stoffel (’06, M ’07) received the Old Main Award for outstanding achievement before the age of 36; the late Geraldine Finn (’90), Ph.D., was honored posthumously with the Gold Medallion Award for outstanding service and accomplishments; and Dr. C. Richard Beckett, past chairman of the UF Board of Trustees, received the Arch Award, given for more than 25 years of service by a person who is not an alum of the institution. Awards were presented at the Alumni Association Annual Breakfast at Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 27. Peter Daub (’70) has had a distinguished career as a tennis player and coach. Daub earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Findlay College. He was captain of the men’s team his senior year and was inducted into The University of Findlay Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. He played on international world circuits from 1972-1975, winning titles in Australia and New Zealand. From 1991-1993, he coached at Wimbledon,

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the U.S. Open, the Australian Open and tournaments in South America, Holland and Austria. At the World University Games in Japan in 1995, Daub served as the United States coach, where the U.S. team won a gold medal. He also coached tennis at Temple University, the University of Redlands in California and the University of Georgia. In 1993, he joined The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he has been the head men’s tennis coach for 21 years. Daub has received Coach of the Year awards from several athletic associations. Marian Lowe (’97) graduated from The University of Findlay with degrees in biology and pre-veterinary medicine, but she has spent her career working in health care policy. She is a national health care thought leader sought out by the country’s largest health care systems to improve financial performance and business strategies. Lowe has a reputation for building coalitions among competitors to pursue common goals and build more profitable health systems. She is a frequent speaker and media consultant. Since 2013, she has served as senior vice president for payer and employer strategies for United Surgical

Michael Murphy (’72) received his bachelor’s degree from Findlay College and a master’s degree from Xavier University, both in elementary education. He taught sixth grade at Ashton Middle School in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, for 26 years, where he was named the 1996 Outstanding Teacher of the Year. He was a part-time elementary school reading and math specialist for nine years before fully retiring in 2010. Murphy was named Volunteer of the Year in 2012 with Lifeline of Ohio and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2011 by Fore Hope, a group that works with disabled golfers. He also volunteers with Donate Life campaigns with high school baseball teams and Coaches Against Multiple Myeloma baseball tournaments. He coordinates a golf tournament in memory of his son that funds the Jason Murphy Memorial Scholarship at Reynoldsburg High School, and he also is funding a Jason Murphy Memorial Scholarship endowment at The University of Findlay. A member of the Alumni Association Board of Governors since 2006, Murphy has served as a representative to the UF Board of Trustees and as a member of the Columbus Regional Alumni Group. Joji “George” Suzuki (M ’99) is the president of GS Eletech Inc. of

ALUMNI EVENTS

Japan, a position he has held since 2013. After graduating from Aichi Gakuin University with a bachelor of arts degree in commercial science in 1984, he began work with Shinsei Harness, where he established a new factory in 1986 in Komono, Japan. In 1987, he began GS Wiring Systems Inc. in California, before moving to Findlay in 1989 to start GSW Manufacturing Inc., which produces automobile electrical and hose assemblies. He served as president of GSW Manufacturing from 1994-1999 and 2002-2008, returning to Japan each time. He was named a managing director of GS Eletech in Japan in 2001. He earned a Master of Business Administration from The University of Findlay in 1999. Suzuki helped found the Friends of Findlay in 1993, a consortium of 14 Japan-based companies in northwest Ohio and supported an annual Japan Study Tour for Findlay educators and community leaders. Billy Watterson (’96) received his bachelor’s degree in environmental and hazardous materials management and went on to found 16 companies in the past 18 years. He currently owns and operates 13 companies with annual revenues exceeding $25 million. His most recent venture is a recycling company he co-founded in May 2014, called Knightshade™, which extracts nicotine from unsaleable, expired and returned smoking cessation products. In 2008, he founded g2 revolution® LLC. He has submitted multiple patent applications and created more than 20 recycling innovations. Watterson co-founded Martha’s Vineyard Furniture Company in 2007, which manufactures “green” furniture. The company includes Martha’s Vineyard Interior Design and a retail store, Bespoke Abode. Watterson is the chief financial officer for the firms. He also co-founded the Watterson Environmental Group LLC in 2001, a nationwide environmental consulting firm providing emergency and disaster response services, as well

as services dealing with asbestos, lead, indoor air quality and mold. Audrey Stoffel (’06, M ’07) is the recipient of the Old Main Award. Since 2008, she has taught kindergarten at Jefferson Primary School in Findlay. Stoffel uses innovative activities to aid learning objectives and is adept at developing a differentiated curriculum through incorporating Common Core standards. She has served as a differentiation coach for Findlay City Schools since 2009. Her principal cited Stoffel as being an exceptional first-year teacher, and she was recognized for her excellence in teaching as a semifinalist for the Golden Apple Award in 2013. Earning her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 2006, Stoffel completed a master’s degree in education in 2007, both from The University of Findlay. In addition, she began teaching as an adjunct for UF’s College of Education in fall 2013. Stoffel organized the Clothe-A-Child program at Jefferson Primary, providing needy children from Jefferson with a new sense of self-confidence. Also, Stoffel volunteered as a board member for Cancer Patient Services, and has served as a Lighthouse team member for “Leader in Me.” The late Geraldine Finn (’90), Ph.D., is the recipient of the Gold Medallion Award. Finn retired as assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies in the College of Liberal Arts in the summer of 2012, before passing away on Feb. 7, 2013. She was a faculty member at The University of Findlay since 1992, teaching in education, history, gender studies, gerontology, humanities and the social sciences, as well as in diverse settings on campus, online and in UF’s prison program in Lima, Ohio. Finn also managed the government documents collection in Shafer Library for many years, chaired the library committee and promoted information literacy. She received a bachelor’s degree in history from The University of Findlay in

1990, a master’s degree in history from Cleveland State University in 1991, and a Ph.D. in history and ethnic studies from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1998. Finn established an endowed scholarship in memory of her son, Michael W. Murphy, a UF English and education major, who died in a construction accident on Dec. 30, 1991. Dr. C. Richard Beckett, a member of The University of Findlay Board of Trustees since 1985, is the recipient of the Arch Award. Dr. Beckett graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and served in the United States Army Veterinary Corps from 1960-64. After his discharge, he opened a veterinary practice in Findlay, Ohio. He founded Animal Care Centers of America (ACCOA), and in 2002, his Findlay Animal Hospital was named the Hospital of the Year by Veterinary Economics magazine. He helped establish the equestrian studies program at Findlay College in 1976, the pre-veterinary medicine program in 1982, and the English riding program in 1992, as well as University Equine Veterinary Services, Inc. in 1997. The Dr. C. Richard Beckett Animal Science Building, which opened in 2009, was named in honor of his service and leadership. As a member of the UF board, he has served on the Executive Committee since 1994 and was chairman of the board from 2001-2014. Dr. Beckett was named a Distinguished Associate in 1994 and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Entrepreneurial Business Development in 1996.

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HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND 2014

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“Memories of the Past… Dreams for the Future” Balmy weather provided the perfect backdrop for Homecoming and Family Weekend 2014 on Sept. 26-28. A concert featuring Will Champlin, sponsored by Campus Program Board, kicked off the weekend at Koehler Complex on Friday evening. Meanwhile on Friday evening, both equestrian farms hosted open houses

sponsored by the Parent Executive Council. Reunions for the Classes of 1964 and 1974 were held at the Findlay Inn & Conference Center; an equestrian reunion, a reunion for the Class of 1989 and an all-Greek reunion were located at Alexandria’s; a reception was held for Bob Minto (’69) in the Lea Gallery which featured an exhibit of his imaginative

pottery; and the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity gathered to reminisce at Drury Inn. While a team of UF employees and students participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Findlay on Saturday morning, the Alumni Association hosted the annual awards breakfast in the Alumni Memorial Union,

ALUMNI EVENTS

with 266 in attendance. Following, an alumni softball game was played, and the Theta Tau Chapter of Delta Zeta dedicated a bell and a solar light at the Sensory Garden located on North Cory Street next to Howard Run, among other sorority events during the weekend. The Colleges of Business, Education, Health Professions, Liberal Arts, Pharmacy and Sciences held open houses from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., attracting parents, students and alumni. The colleges

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demonstrated robots, SimMan速, a reading resource center and more. At Donnell Stadium in the afternoon, the Marching Band and Oiler Brass held their seventh annual reunion before playing for halftime. More than 200 people attended a pre-Homecoming tailgate that entertained little Oilers with games, pony rides and face painting, and Outback provided food. Although the Oilers lost to Ashland University, Oiler fans maintained their spirit. The

Homecoming Court was announced, with Dallas Smith and Miranda Roehler crowned King and Queen. On Saturday evening, Koehler Complex was the scene for the gala celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of becoming The University of Findlay. More than 540 people came out in their finest to dine and dance the night away. Food stations offered a variety of options from the shrimp bar to the delectable desserts framed by an ice

ALUMNI EVENTS

sculpture of the Griffith Memorial Arch. Spirited bidding ensued during the gala auction, conducted by Wayne Farthing, which ended with Vicki Dutcher (’75) winning the Sun Valley, Idaho, vacation home for seven days, which was donated by Jane (Conner ’69) Taylor, and UF Trustee Melissa Duflock

(’00) made the top bid for President for a Day. Altogether, nearly $10,000 was raised for The Findlay Fund Scholarship. The night concluded with fireworks and more dancing to The Indoorfins band. Sunday capped the weekend festivities with the Mazza Museum’s Funday Sunday celebration, “Happy Birthday UF!”

Class Reunions Held at Homecoming The Classes of 1964 and 1974 celebrated their 50th and 40th anniversary reunions, respectively, at the Findlay Inn and Conference Center on Friday, Sept. 26, during Homecoming 2014. The reunions were organized due to the work of class volunteers. The Class of 1964 reunion committee was chaired by Ron Cable and committee members included Don Badertscher, Barbara (Meyers) Binkley, Jake Froning, Les Miller, Mike Mumma and Larry Orwick. The class members elected to establish an endowed scholarship as their 50th anniversary class gift to The University of Findlay. Twelve class members attended the reunion, where there were plenty of memories shared. Debbie Layport Newman chaired the Class of 1974 reunion committee. Committee members included Diane (Now) Jones, David Kay, Bob Pritts, Steve Trout and Russ Wallace. Twenty-five class members gathered for the reunion dinner and to renew friendships. Thanks to all the class reunion committee members for their efforts in making the Homecoming gatherings a success.

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Save the Date Winter College 2015 The University of Findlay’s second annual Winter College in Florida will be held Feb. 18, 2015. Congressman Michael Oxley (H ’89) (retired), who is a UF trustee, will be a featured speaker and will discuss financial issues impacting our country. Thanks to host “deans” Don and Karen Manley, our campus will again be the Pelican Yacht Club in Naples. The day will begin with coffee and conversation and also will include sessions with Lydia (Carpenter) Mihalik (’02), mayor, City of Findlay and Jill Paxton, director of equestrian studies and equine management. Please join us!

UF Trustee and Congressman Michael Oxley (H ’89) (OH-4th District, retired) and Mrs. Patricia Oxley hosted a very special reception for alumni, parents and friends at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2014. Immediately following the reception, an in-depth tour of the U.S. Capitol was given by former Congressman Oxley and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5th District). Both of their fathers attended then-Findlay College.

The seventh annual Oiler Golf Scramble took place June 2, 2104, at York Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio. First place went to Brant Rhoad (’00), Curtis Sybert, Cory Miller (’02), and Derek Kesig; and second place to: Al Baker (’73), Kevin Stechschulte (’03), Tom Leddy and John Zitkovic. Save the date for next year: Monday, June 1, 2015.

2014-15 Upcoming Events

The Alumni Association Board of Governors hosted an evening of jazz by the Jack Taylor Jazz Quartet on Friday, April 25, at Fins Seafood & Grille in Findlay.

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Nov. 28 - Dec. 6 Dec. 5-7 Dec. 9 Jan. TBA Feb. 5 Feb. 6 Feb. 16-20 Feb. 18 Feb. 21 March 27

Classic Christmas Markets Travel UF Weekend at Kalahari, Sandusky, Ohio Pharmacy Reception – Anaheim, California California & Arizona Alumni & Friends Receptions Physical Therapy Conference Reception, Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis Alumni & Friends Reception, Indianapolis, Indiana Florida Alumni & Friends Receptions Winter College, Naples, Florida Veterinary Conference Reception, Columbus, Ohio OHSAA Boys’ Basketball Brunch, Columbus, Ohio

C L A SS N OT E S In Memory Judge Robert D. Walker (’49) of Findlay passed away Aug. 10, 2014. After earning his juris doctorate degree from Ohio Northern University, he went on to a career as an attorney and judge. He was a Findlay Municipal Court judge until he was elected in 1976 as a judge of the Hancock County Court of Common Pleas, retiring in 1988. He served in the U.S. Army and the Ohio National Guard for a total of 36 years, retiring as a colonel. He also was a member of College First Church of God. Surviving are his wife, Mary (’48); sons, Steven of Lakeview, Ohio, and David of Fairview, N.C.; daughters, Elizabeth A. Walker and A. Sarah Hunt, both of Findlay; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Paul F. Kovach (’57) of Lakeville, Minn., passed away Aug. 13, 2014. He was employed by Green Giant Co. for 28 years, retiring in 1988. He is survived by four sons: Paul of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Steve of Lakeville, Minn., Mike of Waconia, Minn. and Mark of Rosemount, Minn. Kaye L. Claphan (’62) died Sept. 30, 2014 in Arlington, Ohio. She was a retired teacher at Arlington Local Schools where she taught English and history. She is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Freed, Lisa Cornell of Clearwater, Fla., and Lora Rettig (’01) of Arlington; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Marvin K. Ricketts (’63) died May 27, 2014 in Findlay. He was a former teacher at various Hancock County schools and last worked at Ball Metal Corp. He is survived by his wife Patricia; his daughter Trisha Schulz of Lebanon, Ohio; and two grandchildren.

Gary K. Shaneck (’65) of Sylvania, Ohio, passed away May 19, 2014. He was the owneroperator of Spuyten Duyval Golf Club since 1974. He taught social studies and physical education at Jones Junior High School from 1965-74. Surviving are his wife, Sue; daughter, Sarai Shaneck; and a grandson. Margaret L. “Marge” (Taylor ’68) Wise passed away Aug. 7, 2014, in Caledonia, Ohio. She worked at the welfare office in Bucyrus, Heartland of Bucyrus and District 5 Area Agency on Aging, from which she retired in 2012. She is survived by her children: David Wise of Bucyrus and Andrea Grile of Columbus, Ohio; and six grandchildren. M. Dean Butler (’69) died May 27, 2014, in Findlay. He taught at Van Buren High School and Liberty-Benton High School, retiring in 1999. He was the athletic director for LibertyBenton from 1979-2011, and he was the commissioner of the Blanchard Valley Conference. He was inducted into the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He is survived by his wife, Vickie (’70); his mother, Marietta Butler of Findlay, a son, Andrew Butler of Columbus, Ohio; three daughters: Heather Rose of Maumee, Ohio, and Jana Butler and Katie Butler, both of Columbus, Ohio; and three grandchildren. Carol A. (Roher ’73) Yoder of Ontelaunee Twp., Pa., passed away July 12, 2014. She was a waitress for 25 years for the Berkshire Country Club and was a member of St. John’s Church, Ontelaunee Twp. She is survived by her husband, David G. Yoder (’73). Jon R. Smith (’75) died Oct. 5, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from Findlay

College, where he played varsity baseball for two years, he taught and coached baseball, basketball and football in his hometown of Crestline, Ohio. He was inducted into the Crestline Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He retired from teaching and coaching at Crestline High School in 2006. He is survived by his wife, Linda K. Welker, and his parents, Aley C. and Nedra C. Smith of Crestline, Ohio. In addition, he is survived by his daughter, Jana Immel, Sugarcreek, Ohio; his son, Brett Smith, Worthington, Ohio; and three granddaughters. Janice J. Johnston (’80) of Findlay died June 25, 2014. She pursued a career in journalism in Ohio and Texas cities, and recently enjoyed substitute teaching and teaching English as a second language. She is survived by her sisters, Naomi A. Chaney and Pauline Milligan, and a brother, Eldon R. Johnston. Tamela J. (Stepp ’80) Kuhlman of Findlay passed away suddenly June 27, 2014. She was a preschool teacher at Around the Clock Pre-School in Findlay. She is survived by her mother, Jeaneen Stepp of Findlay; children: Jennifer Zehender of Findlay, Ashley Leahy of Lewis Center, Ohio, and Jacob Kuhlman of Findlay; two grandchildren and a step-grandson. Beverly J. Risser (A ’86) of Findlay passed away June 3, 2014. She retired from Marathon Oil Co. as an executive legal secretary. She was a docent with the Mazza Museum and was active in the First Presbyterian Church, Findlay. She is survived by a sister, Anita Lee Aungst of Texas, and a brother, Michael P. Risser (’64) of Findlay. Ann E. (Shutz, M ’92) Newcomer died March 21, 2014,

Abbreviations Key: A – Associate Degree B – Bachelor’s Degree M – Master’s Degree D – Doctoral Degree H – Honorary Degree Class years are assumed to be bachelor’s degrees unless noted with the codes listed above.

in Findlay. She taught in Wooster, Ohio, and Findlay City Schools. Surviving are her husband Richard; children, Michelle Murphy of Campbellsville, Ky., Jennifer Hanak of Hebron, Ky., and Michael Newcomer of Findlay; and six grandchildren. Joyce K. Josephsen Brewer (H ’95) passed away June 17, 2014, in Findlay. She was the wife of Edward Brewer (H ’84), who served as the chairman of the board of Findlay College from 1969-1983. It was her original idea that Findlay should establish an equestrian program in conjunction with the legendary horseman, Dale Wilkinson, whose horse-training farm was on C.R. 40. Through the efforts of her and her husband, and others, the western equestrian studies program began in fall 1976. She was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters in 1995 by The University of Findlay. She and her late husband contributed to the Edward and Joyce Brewer Center for Health Sciences, which was constructed in 1997 and supports the University’s health professions programs. She also was involved with 4-H and the Humane Society of Hancock County, which she helped found and served as president from 1977-83. Surviving are five children, 12 grandchildren and 11 greatgrandchildren.

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Benjamin D. Lewicki (’09) died in his sleep on Sept. 22, 2014 in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Toledo in 2003 with a dual degree in athletic training and health education and earned a second degree in physician assistant from The University of Findlay in 2009. He specialized in orthopedics. He is survived by his parents, Bob and Kate Lewicki of Westerville, Ohio; and a sister, Ann Mehl.

professor of chemistry at Mount Marty College in Yankton, S.D., for 14 years and was an associate professor of business at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S.D. and The University of Findlay. He is survived by his wife, Theresa; his children: Anne Carlson, Johnston, Iowa, Mary Mills, Anchorage, Alaska, and Peter, Nashville, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.

Kohei Suzuki (H ’14), founder of G.S.W. Manufacturing Inc. in 1989 in Findlay and G.S. Electech in Toyota City, Japan, passed away on Aug. 2, 2014, in Japan. He held positions of president, CEO and chairman of the board for Kakubun Inc., Shinsei Harness Inc./G.S. Electech Inc., Daitokosan Inc., Orijin Corp., ElectFlex Inc., Denso Trim Inc. and Anthill Toyota Inc., among others. G.S. Electech, a manufacturer of wiring harnesses for the automotive industry, includes 17 operations in eight countries. G.S.W. Manufacturing employs 1,600 people in North America, with more than 200 in Findlay. Chairman Suzuki welcomed the economic delegation from Findlay in 1985, which included President Kenneth E. Zirkle, beginning a long friendship with The University of Findlay. Chairman Suzuki was awarded an honorary doctor of business administration by The University of Findlay on May 8, 2014, during G.S.W. Manufacturing’s 25th anniversary celebration.

1940s

Friends Peter Maldonado, Ph.D., passed away Aug. 27, 2014 in Urbandale, Wis. A native of Puerto Rico, he and his family moved to New York City in 1944. He earned B.S., M.S., MBA, and Ph.D. degrees and also earned his CPA designation. He was an associate 36

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Class Notes

Retired Rear Admiral Edward L. “Whitey” Feightner (’41) was honored at the annual Cleveland National Air Show over Labor Day weekend by the Blue Angels, of which Feightner was a member in the early 1950s, and he was treated to a chance to again fly (at age 94) the L39 Albatross with Major General Joseph Anderson USMC (retired). Rear Adm. Feightner also was able to visit The University of Findlay on Oct. 28, where he toured the campus, the Child Equestrian Complex and the Animal Sciences Center. He also had a chance to meet with President Katherine Fell. A World War II flying ace, he went on to a military career as a test pilot, aviation innovator and a Navy commander. He resides in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

1950s

Morris (’50) and Doris (George) Now celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9, 2014. They were married in the chapel of Old Main in 1949. In 1991, Morris was named a Distinguished Alumnus of The University of Findlay. They

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have six children, including, Candace (’75) and Michael, who attended Findlay College in 1983; 18 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. They live in Celina, Ohio.

1960s

Keith R. Eipper (’61) has been retired since 2002, after service as a United Methodist pastor for 43 years. He and his wife, Marlene, live in Parker, Colo. Jan Lee (Fry ’63) Hullhorst and her husband, Jim (’77), are both retired and live in Venice, Fla. They vacation in Delaware, Ohio, during the summer to be close to their daughter, Amy Wilson, son-in-law and four grandchildren. Jan was a teacher for 35 years, and Jim worked as an engineering manager at Whirlpool Corporation before retiring. Jim is active with RC Airplanes in Venice, Fla., and Delaware, Ohio, and is a member of the Sarasota barbershop chorus. The couple has also trained and licensed a British yellow lab as a therapy dog. Larry G. McDougle, Ph.D., (’63) received the 2014 Career Achievement Alumni Award from the College of Social Justice and Human Service at The University of Toledo. The award was presented on Oct. 24, 2014, at UT’s Alumni Awards Gala, where a video highlighting his life and achievements was shown. The award is given to alumni who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service throughout their professional career. He also participated in the annual homecoming parade, was feted at a private luncheon, was honored at the tailgate party and was hosted at the Glass Bowl Press Box during the football game, all as part of the awards weekend. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus of The University of Findlay in 2009, and he was awarded an honorary doctor of

educational leadership in 1998. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Napoleon, Ohio. Raymond L. Rossman, (’64), Ph.D., is retired as band director for New Horizon’s Band of Siouxland in Sioux City, Iowa. He and his wife, Bonnie live in Sioux City. Sharon E. (Skelley ’65) Tosi is retired. She has three grown children, Danielle Lasota, Nathaniel Tosi and Marshall Tosi. Julie Ross (’69) has a new position as a sales associate at Talbots in the Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tenn. She lives in Nashville.

1970s

Vicki (Miller ’71) and Bruce (’72) Stefanik are both employed by the Salvation Army as minister corps officers. They were transferred to St. Lucie County, Fla., in June. They expect to retire next year. The couple has two grown daughters, Lynn Bagley and Michelle Simmons. The couple resides in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Marsha J. Tarr (’71) is an itinerant band teacher at Fairfax County Public Schools in Falls Church, Va. She graduated with her master’s degree from Shenandoah University. She lives in Herndon, Va. Debbie (Kraitz ’73) Simmons is in her 14th year of teaching at Green Hills School in Greendell, N.J. She is teaching fourth grade and working toward a master of education in reading at Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J. She and her husband, Dennis, live in Blairstown, N.J. Robin (Lynch ’73) Weidman is a senior claims adjuster working as a virtual office in Georgia for MetLife Auto & Home in Charlotte, N.C. She has worked at MetLife handling injury claims

CLASS NOTES

ALUMNI PROFILE Stanley L. Swartz, Ph.D. (’70)

Stanley L. Swartz, Ph.D., (’70), an expert on literacy and helping children learn who have disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, visited campus as a Visiting Educator on Oct. 23. He attended classes in the College of Education, talking about his work and interacting with students and faculty members. Swartz is a professor of education at California State University, San Bernardino, in the Department of Special Education and the Department of Educational Leadership and Curriculum. He also is the director of the Autism Research Group and the Foundation for Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning (CELL). His research interests include learning for low-achieving students and children with disabilities. He noted that his work focuses on literacy and training teachers in literacy learning. He speculated that learning disabilities are over-identified by more than double, and he suggested that the real need is to change the type of instruction to a method that is more effective in helping those children to learn. He called it an issue between real disability vs. inappropriate instruction. He also addressed the importance of family support for young students,

remarking that it takes more than complaining about the inadequacy of parental involvement. He has initiated family literacy workshops, consisting of 10 sessions once a month with take-home activities. Swartz also is the founder and president of Redlands School located in Mexico City, which has implemented his methods and serves as a demonstration site for his research in literacy learning, bilingual education and inclusion. He noted that his family support program has been very successful in Mexico City, where it has increased the accountability of parents. The Redlands School also integrates children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, disabilities and emotional disturbances into classes that average 16 students. He observed that children with autism have the most difficulty finding a school that will accept them because they can be aggressive, non-compliant and are unable to read social cues to modify their behavior. Teachers need training to understand the disorder, he said, and parents need training to maintain an effective environment at home as well as at school. At Redlands, the school even sends specialists into the homes to provide guidance for parents. Instruction at the Redlands School is in

English, providing an immersion experience. Students are scoring well on English tests, he reported. “I am very happy about the progress of that school,” he said. While on the Findlay campus, he also met with Lexa Kessler, who is the recipient of the Janet Maule Swartz Scholarship for education majors. Swartz established the scholarship in honor of his wife, a 1970 Findlay graduate, who also is an educator. Swartz has been in the teaching profession for 45 years, with 25 years in California. He also is the author of a number of books that focus on teacher training. “It is rewarding work,” he stated. “The profession is a spiritual calling.” For more information, go to www.stanswartz.com.

for more than 15 years. She is the president of the Atlanta Claims Association in Atlanta, Ga., and has two grown daughters, Janelle and Autumn Weidman. She resides in Conyers, Ga.

Candace R. (Now ’75) Brelsford is a retired elementary teacher. She has three grown children: Jeffrey, James and Jana Brelsford Sander. She resides in Valparaiso, Ind.

Middleburg Heights, Ohio. He has three grown children: Andrew, Elizabeth and Christopher.

Darren J. Ressler (’74) is retired as a health and physical education teacher in SaddleBrook, N.J. His wife, Marsha L. (Priesman ’75) Ressler, is a retired supervisor with Bergen Regional Blood Center in Paramus, N.J. They have two grown sons, Bryan, and Brett, and a daughter, Jill (’03), who gave birth to a son, Kyle, on Sept. 30, 2014, who joins a brother, Cole, 2.

Tom Fitzpatrick (’77) is retired and living in Findlay. He and his wife, Cynthia, have three grown children: a daughter, Kris, and sons, William and Andrew. Susan L. (Durst ’78) Burwell is a fiscal officer with Loudonville Public Library. She and her husband, Byron, live in Loudonville, Ohio, and have two daughters, Ashley and Sheena.

Holly (Harshman ’83) Goodenow has a new position as a support service administrator with The Steritech Group, in Charlotte, N.C. She and her husband, John, reside in Charlotte.

Gary R. Shirley (’74) is retired and living in New Cumberland, Pa.

James D. Howell (A ’79) is an assistant workforce analyst for MeriMark Direct LLC in

Cari L. (Dauterman ’85) Knoezer is a property manager for Premier Management Inc. in

1980s

Denise E. (Brown ’83) Buergel is an intervention specialist for Hilliard City Schools. She and her husband, Larry, live in Hilliard, Ohio, and have three sons: Nathan, Dan and Josh.

Aberdeen, Ohio. She has three adult children: a son, Chuck, and two daughters, Andrea Pollock and Kimberly Breyman. She was widowed in 2003 and lives in Aberdeen. Shelley H. Zimmerman (’86) has a new position as adjunct professor of veterinary technology at the Institute of Technical Arts in Casselberry, Fla. Shelley graduated with a master’s degree in agricultural education and equine reproduction from The Ohio State University in 1989. She lives in Casselberry. Amie (Amy) E. Bello (’88) has joined Bottle Tree Productions in Kingston, Ontario, as an acting instructor. She previously performed and directed many

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Bottle Tree local theatre and musical theatre companies, and performed on stage as Mama Rose in Gypsy and Mme. Thenardier in Les Miserables. In addition to her UF degree in theatre performance, she earned a bachelor of education in the artist in community education track from Queen’s University. She is an administrative assistant at Queen’s University School of Computing, in Kingston, Ontario. She resides in Kingston. Theresa A. (Kroner ’88) Kaiser is a logistics management analyst for Northrop Gruman Technical Services. She and her husband, William, have two children, Andrew, 19, and Megan, 16. The family lives in Belleville, Ill.

1990s

Todd D. Norris (’91) is the director of interpretation for the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. He resides in Indianapolis, Ind. Michele A. (Homan ’91) Tucker is a bilingual-English as a second language (ESL)/GrapeSEED teacher with Berrien Springs Public Schools. She is the first teacher in the U.S. to use the GrapeSEED program for teaching ESL, which is in use across Asia and Europe. After teaching for two years, she received the Touchstone Teacher Award as the best GrapeSEED teacher in the world. She and her husband, David, have a grown daughter, Hailey, and a son, Cody. Rebecca A. Gorski (A ’93, ’98) is a deputy court administrator for Hennepin County, in Minneapolis, Minn. She reports spending three years in Japan after graduation as an assistant English language instructor, and five years ago, she purchased 25 acres and is currently building a horse training, boarding and breeding facility, hoping to open soon. She and her son, Drew Lyford, 9, live

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in Stacy, Minn. Jennia I. (Jenkins ’94) Knestrick is a senior litigation specialist with Progressive Insurance in Perrysburg, Ohio. Her husband, Greg Knestrick (’90), has a marketing position with Peterman & Associates, Findlay. They have a son, Tyler, 12, and a daughter, Rylee, 9. The family lives in Findlay. Julie L. (Molnar ’95) Harley has two daughters, Zoe Joyce, 11, and Ruby Sarah, 9. They reside in Toledo, Ohio. Clifford Morton (M ’95) has a new position as environmental specialist with Alaska DEC in Anchorage. He lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and has an adult son, Clifford. Jamie L. (Barker ’95) Van Wagner was assigned as a detective at the City of Mason (Ohio) Police Department after working as a police officer since 1997. She and her husband, Curt, have two children, Raina, 10, and Cooper, 8. The family lives in Maineville, Ohio. Rachel M. (Harris ’96) Cammuse accepted a new position in social service at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Loudonville, Ohio. She and her husband, Daryl, live in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Suzzette R. (Stewart ’97) Boyd joined Hancock Federal Credit Union in Findlay as senior vice president of operations in 2012. She and her husband, Neal, have two sons, Kyle, 22, and Connor, 10. The family lives in Findlay. Matt (’97, M ’01) Harp has a new position as assistant middle school principal at Upper Sandusky Schools in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Matt and his wife, Jennifer (Beall ’98), have two children, Katie, 13, and

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Connor, 9. The family lives in Findlay. Kristin E. (Decker ’97) Reed is a social worker with Mercy Health. She and her husband, Keith, have a new daughter, Addison Elizabeth, born Dec. 4, 2013, who joins a sister, Olivia Maryann, 3. Troy W. Spikes (’97, M ’07) has a new position as logistic center operations manager at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He is responsible for transitioning to centralized logistics and moving services for the entire campus. He and his wife, Rebekah, live in Findlay and have four sons, Andrew, Troy, Emanuel and Marcus. Carolyn S. (George ’98) Jordan has a new position as supervisor of revenue accounting for Devon Energy in Oklahoma City, Okla. She and her husband, Gary, have three sons, Noah, 19, Ethan, 13, and Connor, 11. The family lives in Oklahoma City. Eddie L. Squire (A ’98) is employed by Dawn Enterprises and lives in Maple Heights Ohio. He has four children: Eddie L. Jr., 13, Ebony L., 13, Emoni L., 11, and Elysse L. Stacy E. (Rhodes ’99) Cobb is a substitute educational aide with Renhill in Fostoria, Ohio. She and her husband, Brian, have two sons, Tyler, 12, and Wyatt, 10, and a daughter, Winnie, 5. The family lives in Fostoria. Jennifer D. (Troyer ’99) Hudson and her husband, Joe, welcomed a baby son, Jace Brian, born June 19, 2014. He joined his sisters, Rheanna, 16, and Grace, 4. Jennifer is a graphic designer at Buehler Food Markets in Wooster, Ohio. The family resides in Wooster. Amanda L. (Evy ’99) McGannon has a new position

as senior account executive for Summit Financial Group in Leesburg, Va. She has two sons, Eoin, and Finn. They live in Brunswick, Md. Mackenzie M. (Bolander ’99, M ’01) Miccichi is deputy clerk at the Hancock County Juvenile Court in Findlay. She and her husband, Brian, have a son, Lucca Robert, 1. The family lives in Findlay. Jenn (Snyder ’99) Stillings has a new job as a fifth-grade science teacher at Liberty-Benton School. She and her husband, Ryan, welcomed a new daughter, Raegan, on March 31, 2013. They also have four sons. The family lives in Findlay. Kristie (Webb ’99, B ’07) Wetherill was promoted to advanced IT systems integrator at Marathon Petroleum Corp., Findlay. Her husband, Cory Wetherill (’99) is a software QA test analyst with Six Disciplines in Findlay. They have a daughter, Claire, 3, and a son, Lincoln, 1. The family resides in Findlay. Allen B. Winemiller (’99) has a new position as the vice president of human resources business partner at JP Morgan Chase in Columbus, Ohio. He and his wife, Kendra, have a son, Toby Allen, 4, and two daughters, Bethany Elise, 2, and Naomi Louise, 1. They reside in Delaware, Ohio.

2000s

Michelle L. (Beagle ’00, M ’03) Courtad has a new position with Marathon Petroleum Corp. as a benefits analyst. She and her husband, Nathan, have a son, Derek, 8, and a daughter, Paige, 6. The family lives in Forest, Ohio. Crystal Ellerbrock (A ’00, ’13) received a 2014 “20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award” on Sept. 30, 2014. The awards

CLASS NOTES

recognize young, dynamic leaders in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan under the age of 40. She was nominated by Robert W. LaClair, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio), and selected from a field of 115 candidates. She is a private banking relationship manager for Fifth Third Bank in Findlay, and resides in Bluffton, Ohio. Sara Kapp (’00) is an academic adviser for Ohio Dominican University. She resides in Columbus, Ohio. Meghan K. McKinney (’00) has a new position as reading interventionist at Findlay City Schools. She resides in Findlay. Brian (’00) and Andrea (Jensen ’00) Meinardi reside in Canal Winchester, Ohio, with their two daughters, Peyton, 4, and Morgan, 1. Brian is a senior accountant at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio. Andrea is senior manager at Crowe Horwath in Columbus, Ohio. Erin L. (Bindel ’00, M ’02) and Charles C. Osting (’02) have three sons: Kalin, 6, and twins, Micah and Evan, 4. They reside in Bluffton, Ohio. Paula R. Rosencrans (M ’00) retired July 1, 2014, as the library media specialist after 35 years at Arcadia Local School. She and her husband, James, have a grown daughter, Ann Beckers. The couple resides in Findlay. Amber J. (Brenmen ’00, M ’04) Thiel is self-employed as the CEO of The Healthy Edge, a provider

of dietary and lifestyle education. Amber, her husband, Brian, and her sister, April (Brenamen ’01) Willer, created the program. The Thiels live in Tacoma, Wash. Kacy R. Leiner (’01) is a teacher for Mad River Local Schools in Riverside, Ohio. She lives in Kettering, Ohio. Brianne (Warnecke ’01) Minter and her husband, Paul, welcomed a baby daughter, Livianne Gertrude, on April 7, 2014, who joined her sister, Annemarie, 7, and brother, Andrew, 4. Brianne is a second grade teacher at Shawnee Schools. The family lives in Dola, Ohio. Natalie M. (Soto ’02) Burke was named world language department chair for 2014-15 at Elyria Catholic High School, where she is a Spanish teacher. Her husband, Michael J. Burke (A ’06, ’08), is head girls track coach and varsity football coach at Open Door Christian School and also serves as medical operations officer for the Army Ohio National Guard. They have two sons: Michael-Francis Curtis, 11, and Julian-Peter, 3, and three daughters, Pearletha NatalyaSelenia, 10, Jayda Jania-Cielo, 7, and Natalia Elouisa-LaShay, 5. The family lives in Elyria, Ohio. Shelly Coonrod (’02) is a library assistant for the Findlay-Hancock County Library. She lives in Findlay. Roseann M. Jagla-Halliday (M ’02) started working as a parttime adjunct faculty in fall 2014 at The University of Findlay in the Intensive English Language

Calling all members of the Classes of 1965, 1975, 1990 and 2005. Please update your contact information at www.findlay.edu, Keyword: What’s New With You. Be watching for information on your upcoming class reunions at Homecoming 2015. Save the date for Oct. 16 & 17!

Program. She is also an eighthgrade intervention specialist at Glenwood Middle School in Findlay. She and her husband, Scott Woodward, have two sons, Jordan Halliday, 15, and Jaden Halliday, 11, and two daughters, Jamison Halliday, 13, and Jaci Woodward, 2. The family resides in Findlay. Margot E. (Mason ’02) and David S. Heizman (’01) announce the birth of their daughter, Ahnika Kay, born Sept. 5, 2014. They also have two older daughters, Vaeda Grace, 10, and Gretchen Noelle, 7. They live in Findlay. John V. Battles (’03) celebrated 20 years as director of information technologies in June 2014 at Range Kleen Manufacturing Inc. in Lima, Ohio. He and his wife, Lisa, have a daughter, Bailey, 17. The family lives in Lima. Sweta Bharech (M ’03, D ’14) is a pharmacy resident with Osborn Drugs in Miami, Okla., through the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. She makes her home with her husband, Dennis, in Findlay. Heather M. (Oehlers ’03) Button and her husband, Jason, announce the birth of a baby daughter, Breah Katherine, born July 1, 2014. Heather is the brand and communication specialist at Comau in Southfield Mich. The family resides in Wixom, Mich. Mark Evans (M ’03) has joined Neal Communities as vice president of land development for the builder’s Southwest Florida Division. He will work with the homebuilder to acquire property and develop communities. He previously was with Pulte Group in Orlando, Fla. Brianna (Martin ’03, M ’07) Patterson has a new position as business integrity and compliance

representative at Marathon Petroleum Corp. in Findlay. She and her husband, Ben, have two children, Elias and Eva. The family lives in rural Findlay. Robin D. (Kollarik ’03) Stone is a fleet coordinator for Marathon Petroleum Co. LLP. She and her husband, Daniel, have two sons: Hunter, 12, and Carson, 4. The family resides in Findlay. Kyle E. Weisenburger (’03) has a new position as a sixthand seventh-grade intervention specialist at Riverdale Local Schools, where his wife, Kari L. (Warren ’05) Weisenburger, also is a mathematics teacher. They have a daughter, Karlee Lynn, 4. The family lives in Ottawa, Ohio. Stephen (’04) and Emily (Loy ’05 M ’09) Clark welcomed their third son, Andrew Kenneth, born Oct. 23, 2014. He joins brothers Nicholas, 4, and Christopher, 2. They reside near Jenera, Ohio. Steve W. Yarnell (’03, M ’05) and his wife, Kelly (Pohlman ’05) are the proud parents of a baby son, Brady John, born June 4, 2014, who joins sister, Gracie, 8, and brother, Toby, 5. Kelly has a new position as kindergarten teacher at Bluffton Local Schools in Bluffton, Ohio. Steve is the head volleyball coach and assistant professor at Bluffton University. The family resides in Bluffton. Jessica Gilmore (’04) is the management specialist for Arlington County government. She and her husband, Timothy, have a daughter, Victoria Kathleen, 1. They reside in Arlington, Va. Nicole L. Grindley ’04 and Neil J. Wrasman were married June 7, 2014. They live in Fort Jennings, Ohio. Rachel Haas (M ’06) received the Bruce B. Hill Award at

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CLASS NOTES

the Findlay City Schools annual convocation. The award is given to an outstanding educator who exhibits compassion, professionalism and personal integrity, as well as a commitment to teaching and the Findlay City Schools. A 17-year veteran as an English teacher at Findlay High School, she is both a master teacher and national board certified. The award is sponsored by the Hancock Federal Credit Union and includes a $1,000 grant for use in her classroom. She and her husband, Daniel Haas, live in Mt. Blanchard, Ohio. Allison M. (Welly ’04, M ’06) Kuhnle is a physical therapist, working as a certified work capacity evaluator for the FisherTitus Medical Center in Norwalk, Ohio. Her husband, Mark A. Kuhnle (’02) has a new position as a Spanish teacher with the Vermilion City Schools. They reside in Vermilion, Ohio. Kathryn G. (Foor ’04) MacConnell and her husband, Jason, welcomed a new baby son, Whitman Timothy, on Dec. 4, 2013. The family lives in Bolingbrook, Ill. Lauren H. (Lambrecht ’04) Mosher and her husband, Joseph, are the proud parents of a

Send Us Your News! We will publish information about births, deaths, marriages, new jobs, recent promotions and educational or professional accomplishments. If you send a birth announcement, the Wolfe Center will send your new little Oiler a T-shirt. Submit your news at findlay. edu, Keyword: Alumni, “What’s New with You?” or mail to The University of Findlay, 1000 N. Main St., Findlay, OH 45840.

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daughter, Katherine Philomena, born March 16, 2014. She joins two brothers, Benjamin, 7, and Ralph Joseph (RJ), and sister, Helena, 4. She is the service and support administrator at Seneca County Opportunity Center in Fostoria, Ohio. The family resides in McComb, Ohio. Amanda K. (Kahle ’04) Wilt is a preschool instructor for Shelby County Board of DD. She and her husband, Joshua, have two daughters: Kayley, 4, and Jordyn, 1. The family resides in Anna, Ohio. Allison Boesel (’05) has a new position with the American Cancer Society as the Relay For Life specialist. She is the representative working with The University of Findlay’s chapter of Colleges Against Cancer to help plan the campus Relay For Life event held in the spring. She lives in Toledo, Ohio. Katie (Stolte ’05) Carroll and husband, Jason, welcomed a baby daughter, Paityn, born June 23, 2014. The family lives in Westerville, Ohio. Kara M. (Fent ’05) Frazier is a registered nurse at UC West Chester Hospital in West Chester, Ohio. She and her husband, Rob, have a son, Lance Andrew, 1. The family lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kelly Hancock (’05) was promoted to public relations supervisor at Hart Associates in Maumee, Ohio. She lives in Toledo, Ohio. Sydney (Knell ’05) Leavitt and her husband, Douglas, are the proud parents of a baby daughter, Caroline Lillian, born Sept. 10, 2014. The couple has another daughter, Charlotte Irene, 1. They live in Boise, Idaho. Stephanie Smith (’05, M ’09) and Timothy Wiegand were married on April 19,

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2014. Stephanie is a preschool intervention specialist at Findlay City Schools. The couple resides in Findlay. Kathryn E. (Wolfinger ’05) Patterson is the director of youth ministry at College First Church of God, Findlay. She and her husband, Reed, have two daughters, Adelaide Michelle, 2, and Emma Rose, 1. They reside in North Baltimore, Ohio. Jeffrey Bensch (’06) and his wife, Suzanne, welcomed a son, Tyler Martin, on Oct. 10, 2014. They live in Chicago, Ill. Christy L. Hill (’06) and Tony Shackelford were married July 18, 2014. She is a nuclear medicine technologist at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Erica L. (Goodwin M ’06) Holland is an account manager with the American Red Cross in Toledo, Ohio. She and her husband, Steve, have a daughter, Grace, and a son, Ben. The family resides in Whitehouse, Ohio. Katie J. Klosterman (’06) and Jeff Paulus were married Sept. 10, 2014, at Valley of Fire state park in Las Vegas, Nev. Katie has a new position as a call center associate at Safelite. Jeff is now the promotion producer for 10TV. The couple resides in Westerville, Ohio. Michael J. LaRocco (M ’06) has a new position as the athletics coordinator at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. He resides in Tallahassee. Ashley (Schroeder ’06) and Sam (’06) Riggle announce the birth of their son, Maddox Ray, born July 30, 2014. Ashley has a new position as the assistant director of care management at NYAP. They live in Galloway, Ohio. Natalie L. (Terry ’07) Lewis has a new position as global

sales manager for La Quinta Management in Irving, Texas. Her husband, Dustin E. Lewis (’07), works for Best Buy in quality assurance. They live in Carrollton, Texas. Megan L. (Yates ’07) Maturkanich is taking classes at Franklin University to earn a bachelor’s degree in web development and hopes to combine her two degrees – broadcast telecommunication and web development – to find a new career after working for WBNS 10TV as a camera operator for five years. She and her husband, Chris, live in Baltimore, Ohio. Carleton McGrady (’07, M ’10) and Elizabeth Levin were married on June 14, 2014. Carleton is a supervisor at Harry and David in Hebron, Ohio, and also serves as the inside-linebacker coach at St. Charles Preparatory School and the shot put/discuss coach at Bexley High School. He and his wife and stepdaughter, Brianna, 8, live in Rushville, Ohio. Jennifer (Fulks ’07) Miller and her husband, Andre, are parents of a baby girl, Allie Mae, born Oct. 23, 2014. She joins a sister, Laney, 1. The family resides in Findlay, Ohio. Emily L. (Tillack ’07) Terzis is a senior specialist – corporate marketing and event management for CME Group in Chicago, Ill. She and her husband, Michael live in Chicago. L. Ralynn (Atterholt ’08) and Jeremy (’08) Brown have new positions as fanatical support managers for Rackspace Hosting in Windcrest, Texas. The couple lives in Cibolo, Texas. Emily E. Geiser (’08, M ’11) is a project controls specialist for Marathon Petroleum Corp. She resides in Findlay.

CLASS NOTES

Caitlyn (Yoder ’08) Konko is an associate editor for McGraw-Hill Education in Columbus, Ohio. She and her husband, Lex, live in Westerville, Ohio. Kurri Lewis (’08) is serving as the head men’s soccer coach for Edison High School in addition to continuing as the curator for the Merry Go Round Museum in Sandusky, Ohio. He and his wife, Chantel, have a son, Valo, 2. They reside in Port Clinton, Ohio. Jeanine C. Scheidler (’08) and Matthew Gault were married June 21, 2014. She is a recruitment specialist with ADP RPO, Columbus, Ohio. They reside in Columbus. Jamie C. Thomson (’08) and Brian Thomas were married May 10, 2014. She has a new career as lead financial aid adviser at University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wis. The couple resides in Franklin, Wis. Gavin M. Acton (’09) participates in a texting group for current UF football players. He sends out inspirational texts on Friday nights and Saturday mornings and allows players to ask him questions. He has been employed as branch manager at Advocate Construction for three years in Grand Rapids, Mich. He and his wife, Courtney, live in Grand Rapids. JJ Bilimek (’09) and his wife, Katelyn welcomed their first child, Andrew James, born Jan. 23, 2014. JJ is process safety manager at Capital Resin Corporation in Columbus, Ohio. The family resides in Hilliard, Ohio. Sharon E. Carroll (’09) is the human resources assistant at Grob Systems Inc. She and her husband, Mark, have a daughter, Brittany, 22, and a son, Tyler, 20. The family resides in Bluffton, Ohio.

Ashley R. (Dutridge ’09) Evearitt is matched with Illinois State University Student Counseling Services to complete her internship residency as a doctoral intern in Normal, Ill. She anticipates graduating with a doctorate in clinical psychology from Spalding University in 2015. She and her husband, Chad, live in Bloomington, Ill. Karen A. Hunter (’09) has a new baby daughter, Eliana Susanne Holsinger, born June 2, 2014. They live in Davenport, Iowa. Jessica M. (Warth ’09) Norton and her husband, Francis, announce the birth of a son, Jayden David, born Aug. 3, 2014. He joins a sister, Harlow Victoria. Jessica is a nuclear medicine technologist with Texas Health Huguley in Fort Worth, Texas. The family lives in Fort Worth. Anthony Panciera (’09) and Amanda Smidt were married June 21, 2014. Anthony is senior manager of talent development at City Year in Boston, Mass. The couple recently relocated to Milwaukee, Wis. Lisa M. Perry (’09) and Jon D. Chaney were married on Oct. 11, 2014, in Brunswick, Ohio. She is a veterinarian with Broadview Animal and Bird Hospital in Seven Hills, Ohio. They reside in Cleveland, Ohio. Stephen R. Reichley (’09) is a clinical instructor at Mississippi State University. He lives in Starkville, Miss. Valerie M. (Kidd ’09, B ’10, M ’11) and Justin W. Shannon (’10) have a son, Cohen Michael, 8, and a daughter, Mailey Marie, 1. Valerie is an account manager and graphic designer for Anderson Robertson Marketing and Justin is a high school math teacher at Cory-Rawson School. The family resides in Findlay.

Jeremy S. (’09) and Sarah (Arnold ’09, M ’12) Sickmiller are the proud parents of a son, Levi Kenneth, born June 29, 2014. Jeremy is quality engineer at Nissin Brake in Findlay. The family lives in Alvada, Ohio. Meghan R. Sullivan (’09) is the new owner of Chapter Three Farms, a hunter/jumper operation near Saxonburg, Pa. She resides in Pittsburgh, Pa. Bryant M. Weyrick (’09, M ’10) has a new position as implementation manager at Hospital Corporation of America in Casselberry, Fla. He resides in Tampa, Fla.

2010s

Megan R. Hall (’10) has a new position as an upper education teacher and a painting, drawing and sculpture instructor for the Center for Autism and Dyslexia and Awakening Minds Art. She lives in Findlay. Kari E. Jesse (’10) was promoted to sales manager at Aarons Inc. in Norwalk, Ohio. She lives in Monroeville, Ohio. Rebecca M. Lauer (’10) received her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from The Ohio State University. She has a new job as regional conservation field ecology assistant at The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, Ohio. She resides in Lakewood, Ohio. Katy E. LeVon (’10) received her doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from Iowa State. She has a new job as veterinarian at Moore Lane Veterinary Hospital in Billings, Mont. She lives in Billings. Jae Ann Murphy (M ’10) and Edward S. Sutherland were married Aug. 30, 2014. She also has a new position as a civil engineer with USDA-NRCS in

Binghamton, N.Y. They live in Binghamton. Jeanette E. (Warren ’10) Smith and her husband, Josh, have taken new positions as teachers with Quality Schools International in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. They have a son, Tristan, 2. Their home is in Mark Center, Ohio. Katie M. (Wentling ’10) Thiel has a new position as secretary for Wyandot Memorial Hospital in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. She and her husband, Brad, have a son, Braxton, and a daughter, Emery, and live in Carey, Ohio. Hillary K. (Risser ’11) Beach and her husband, Austin M. Beach (’06), welcomed a baby son, Russell Wayne, born June 24, 2014, who joins his brother Nolan, 1. Hillary is a stay-athome mother. Austin is a recruiter at Kalmbach Feeds in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The family lives in Findlay, Ohio. Leslie K. (Brien M ’11) Bradley is a life science teacher for Triad Local Schools in North Lewisburg, Ohio. She and her husband, Kurt, reside in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Austyn Erickson (A ’13, ’13) is an admissions counselor at The University of Findlay. She resides in Findlay. Lindsay B. McFadden (’11) and Elliott J. Shaffer (’12) were married on June 21, 2014. Elliott has a new position at Whirlpool in Findlay as a supplier quality technician. Lindsay is the copy editor for The Courier. They live in Fostoria, Ohio. Kendra Paulus (’11, M ’12) is an occupational therapist with Shelby Hills Early Childhood Center. She resides in Russia, Ohio. Stephen P. Piwowar (’11) and his wife, Jourdan, were

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married on Feb. 1, 2014. Stephen has a new position as a front office supervisor at Twin Tier Hospitality in North Olmsted, Ohio. They reside in Elyria, Ohio. Samantha J. (Alt M ’11) Traucht has a new job as preprocurement and reclamation analyst at Wipro Technologies in Findlay. She and her husband, Lucas, live in Findlay. Kimberly Hooven (’12) and Ray DeMay were married Sept. 27, 2014. Melissa (Lyden ’12) Lust is the lead teacher at Children’s Castle Educare in Hilliard, Ohio. She and her husband, Andrew, live in Galloway, Ohio. Stephine M. Sedlak (’12) and Abe I. Woods were married Sept. 20, 2014. She is a safety adviser for BP Oil in Oregon, Ohio. The couple lives in Perrysburg, Ohio. Stephanie L. (Sparrow ’12) Sturgeon and her husband, Anthony, welcomed a baby daughter, Kendall Lynn, born July 29, 2014. Stephanie also has a new position as a preschool teacher at Northeastern Local School District. They reside in Springfield, Ohio. Brittani D. Benavides (’13) has a new job as a Title I paraprofessional aide at Patrick Henry Local Schools in Deshler, Ohio. She resides in Hamler, Ohio. Matt Brooks (’13) is an applications analyst with Pilkington North America in Toledo, Ohio. He resides in Walbridge, Ohio. Jennifer L. Butler (M ’13) is the program coordinator for International Admissions and Services at The University of Findlay. She and her husband,

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Aaron, have a daughter, Jillian, 3. They live in Findlay. Abigail L. Clark (D ’13) is a pediatric oncology pharmacy resident at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, N.Y. Her residence is in Springfield, Ohio. Ashley E. (Davies ’13) Ferguson has a new position as a financial representative with Western & Southern Life in Findlay. She and her husband, Aaron, have a son, Benjamin, 5, and live in Cygnet, Ohio. Lisa J. Geise (’13, M ’14) married Jeremy E. Dick on Aug. 2, 2014. She is an IT systems integrator at Marathon Petroleum Co. Jeremy is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental safety and health management at The University of Findlay. The couple resides in Findlay. Mandi M. Honnold (’13) and Jimmy Miller were married April 5, 2014. She is a physical therapist assistant with Champion Fitness Physical Therapy in Tuscola, Ill. They live in Arthur, Ill. Tim Ulf Georg Andersson Lind (’13) is a swimming instructor at Stockholms Stad, in Stockholm, Sweden. He has studied at the Boson Folk School of Sports and is pursuing a career in coaching. Luis Velasco (’13) has a new position as a teller supervisor with Huntington National Bank in Findlay. He also is working on an MBA degree. He resides in Findlay.

Tracey L. Archibald (D ’14) is a pharmacist with Rite Aid, and lives in Jacksonville, N.C. Lauren K. Brassfield (’14) is enrolled in The University of Findlay’s master of arts in education, and she is a graduate assistant for international education. Her home is in Springfield, Ohio. Raeceen L. Daugherty (’14) is housekeeping supervisor at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa in Hilton Head Island, S.C. She lives in Lexington, Ohio. Brianna F. Doyle (’14) is enrolled in The University of Findlay’s master of arts in rhetoric and writing and is working as a cashier at Meijer. She lives in Findlay. Kyle G. Dresbach (D ’14) graduated from Commissioned Officer Training in September and started his U.S. Air Force career as a pharmacy officer in charge at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas. His wife, Katie D. (Wilburn ’11, M ’12) Dresbach, is a pediatric occupational therapist with Haysville Local Schools. They live in Andover, Kan. Sarah V. Foltz (’14) is the new event director for The Arts Partnership in Findlay. She lives in Findlay.

Emily A. Warnimont (’13) is an embryologist at Trans Ova Genetics, Sioux Center, Iowa. She resides in Rock Valley, Iowa.

Nancy J. Haines (M ’14) has a new position as regional dietitian at Extendicare. She and her husband, Robert Haines (’91, M ’96), have four children: Noah, 16, Alyssa, 15, Riley, 13, and Grace, 12. Robert is assistant director of immigration at The University of Findlay. The family lives in Findlay.

Dorinda Anin (D ’14) has a new position as a pharmacist in Augusta, Ga., where she lives.

Ying-Chu Liu (D ’14) is a pharmacist with GLC Healthcare/ CVS Caremark in Solon, Ohio,

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and lives in Sagamore Hills, Ohio. Jason Loutsenhizer (D ’14) is a pharmacist with CVS/Health in Pennsylvania. He lives in Murrysville, Pa. Scott A. Sawyer (’14) is a nuclear medicine technologist at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. He lives in Caro, Mich. Laura Schiele (A ’14, B ’14) has a new position as a search analyst at Curve Trends Marketing in South Burlington, Vt. She lives in Jaffrey, N.H. Kimberly L. Scott (D ’14) is a pharmacist with Rite Aid in Toledo, Ohio. Pending potential travel warnings, she is traveling in November as the pharmacist with doctors, nurses and a minister, a total of 15 people, on a medical mission trip to Tanzania. She resides in Toledo. Kristen A. Shupe (’14) has a new job as rider/instructor with Potomac Horse Center in North Potomac, Md. She lives in North Potomac. Kaylene S. Slayon (’14) has a new position as an educational aide with Bucyrus City Schools. She lives in Bucyrus. Sarah M. Steinbrunner (’14) has a new job as accountant at Marathon Petroleum Corp. in Findlay. She resides in Findlay. Hannah E. Urig (’14) has a new position as a veterinary assistant/ receptionist for Norton Road Veterinary Hospital, Galloway, Ohio. She resides in Columbus, Ohio. Information for this issue was received by Oct 28, 2014

EN D N O TE S Dear Alumni: What a fantastic Homecoming and Family Weekend we had on campus. This was a special weekend as we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the University. The gala was a huge success, and we appreciate being able to see so many alumni come back to campus. New this year, the deans of the six colleges hosted open houses, which we hope to continue as a Homecoming tradition. The Alumni Association Board of Governors was pleased to honor several people, including Audrey Stoffel (’06, M ’07) Old Main Award; Geri Finn (’90) Gold Medallion Award; Distinguished Alumni Peter Daub (’70), Mike Murphy (’70), Joji Suzuki (M ’99), Billy Watterson (’96), Marian Lowe (’97); and Dr. C. Richard Beckett for the Arch Award. The Board will continue to work on Homecoming 2015 and toward our three goals. The first goal for 2013-15 is to link alumni with current students for internships and mentoring. Our second goal is an alumni board giving challenge. We challenge you – as alumni, to give back and pay it forward. Our percentage of giving as an alumni association is low compared to other private institutions. As alum, you may not think a small gift of $25 will do much, but in terms of percentage of giving, this small gift will make a huge difference. When The University of Findlay applies for grants, the percentage of alumni giving is reported. Please consider giving back to the University in any way that you can. The third goal is to continue to support events on campus. To find out about these events, visit our website at www.findlay.edu and click on the alumni link. If you are interested in helping the University in any way, please call or e-mail the Wolfe Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends at 419-434-4516, 1-800-472-9502 extension 4516, or alumni@findlay.edu. We will be happy to hear from you. With Oiler Pride,

Dr. Julie McIntosh ’90, President Alumni Association Board of Governors

We Need Your Help!

In today’s changing environment, it is not always easy to stay in touch with our alumni, parents and friends of The University of Findlay. As people marry, move, change phone numbers and get new jobs, it is easy to lose touch. Please help us by going to findlay.edu, Keyword: Connect, to fill out a form with your basic contact information. THANKS!

There are many ways to stay connected!

Alumni Association Board of Governors Officers: President: Julie (Dean) McIntosh ’90 Vice President: Susan Hite ’87 Past President: Scott Zahler ’99 Elected Representatives (3-year terms): Ronald Cable ’64 Mark Cosiano ’07 Peter Dalpiaz ’08 Liz (Ditto) Gross ’81 Jennia (Jenkins) Knestrick ’94 Michael Murphy ’72 Philip Riegle ’00 Kim (Heaster) Rozelle ’88 Kayla Shannon ’10 Ryan Smith ’00, M ’07 James Taylor ’72 Kevin Wolfe ’94 Appointed Representatives (2-year terms): Marcy Banner ’93 Kelly (Zink) Ernst ’03 Matthew Maglicic ’92 Richard Malcolm ’55 Lucas Opperman ’14 Alumni Trustee: Bob Fry Representatives to Trustee Committees: Academic Affairs: Jennia (Jenkins) Knestrick ’94 Alumni Trustee: Jennia (Jenkins) Knestrick ’94 Business Affairs: Ronald Cable ’64 Enrollment Management: Susan Hite ’87 Student Affairs: Kelly (Zink) Ernst ’03 University Advancement: Mark Cosiano ’07

You also can go to the UF website at findlay.edu, where you will find the latest news, photos, videos, blogs and social media outlets, such as UF’s Facebook page.

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UF Campus “Sparkles” According to America in Bloom Report For the second year in a row, America in Bloom has given The University of Findlay’s campus a “4 Bloom” rating, a high score in the world of competitive horticulture. The UF campus also received a judges’ Special Mention for its floral displays. “The campus sparkled,” said judges Barbara Vincentsen and Katy Moss Warner, who visited Findlay in June. They added that the 4 Bloom rating is a “significant level of achievement as it represents commitment in each of the America in Bloom criteria.” America in Bloom is a national awards program that provides a framework for improving overall quality of life. The 2014 ratings and awards were announced at the organization’s Annual Symposium held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oct. 2-4.

The only university campus competing this year, The University of Findlay was placed in the 3,501-4,500-population category. Judges evaluated participants on six criteria: floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation and overall impression. “The floral displays at The University of Findlay are extraordinary,” the judges added. “Maintenance of the flowers was of the highest standard. This is a campus that believes in beauty.” Operated by Oiler Enterprises with support from the Findlay Green Campus Initiative, the “Hoop House,” received accolades from the judges for “recognizing the importance of locally grown food in a studentrun business.” After erecting a Hoop House

on West Foulke Avenue, the business has sold produce to UF faculty, students and staff and created a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Having read the news about the University’s loss of grass earlier in the summer, the judges were particularly impressed with the restoration that had taken place in less than two months. “(We) came expecting to see extensive lawns damaged by an unfortunate accident in pest management. Not so. Emerald green sod beautifully laid and outfitted with temporary irrigation was a sight to behold. Bravo to all who made this transformation happen so quickly and so beautifully.”