LeTourneau University NOW! Spring 2020 by LeTourneau University

LETOURNEAU NOW

FULL FRAME

Aircraft Stand Ready for Flight The aircraft at the Abbott Aviation Center in Longview have remained grounded since all courses were moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon enough, students will be back in the cockpits and flying high! PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BRIDGMAN

SPRING 2020

CONTRIBUTORS

THE MAGAZINE OF LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY

DALE A. LUNSFORD, PH.D. Publisher

DONALD K. EGLE Executive Editor

LEAH GORMAN Managing Editor

JEREMIAH SHEPHERD Creative Director / Photographer

JANET RAGLAND Editor & Senior Contributing Writer

KATE GRONEWALD MARK ROEDEL NATHAN O’DAY GRANT BRIDGMAN Copy Editors

GAIL RITCHEY Class Notes

NIEMAN PRINTING Printing

NOW EDITORIAL CONTACT INFORMATION: WEB: www.letu.edu Email: NOW@letu.edu ADMISSIONS OFFICE PHONE: 800-759-8811 ALUMNI OFFICE PHONE: 800-259-5388 DEVELOPMENT OFFICE PHONE: 800-259-LETU LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university in the nation offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a wide range of disciplines online and at LETU’s 196-acre residential campus in Longview, Texas, located 120 miles east of Dallas and 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. Academic majors include aviation, business, communication, computer science, criminal justice, education, engineering, health care administration, human services, kinesiology, the liberal arts, nursing, psychology, the sciences and theology. LeTourneau NOW is published by LeTourneau University, 2100 South Mobberly, Longview, Texas 75602. Sent free upon request to Editor, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. Postmaster: Send address changes to LeTourneau NOW, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. Email us at NOW@letu.edu.

LETOURNEAU NOW

Grant Bridgman Grant Bridgman is the Assistant Director for Enrollment Marketing at LeTourneau University. He is an LETU double alum having received his Bachelor of Arts in Christian ministry through the residential program and an MBA through the online program. He began his career with LeTourneau in 2011 and he truly believes in quality Christian higher education and is honored to work at an institution that pursues excellence within that field. Daniel Ostendorff, D.Phil Dr. Daniel Ostendorff is the Alumni Relations Officer for LeTourneau University. Prior to joining the Alumni Office, he served as a full-time faculty member for the last six years. Daniel has spearheaded numerous events on the LETU campus, as well as helped lead student study abroad trips to Germany, Poland, Greece and Israel. He is passionate about connecting with LeTourneau University alumni and connecting them back to their alma mater. Janet Ragland Janet Ragland is an award-winning writer, magazine editor, professional photographer and public relations professional who has served LeTourneau University as the Director of University Relations since 2002. A former newspaper journalist, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication/journalism/photography from SFASU and an MBA in marketing from LETU. Leah Gorman Leah Gorman joined LeTourneau in 2018 as the Senior Director for Communications. She is a LETU alum, having received her MBA in 2007 and is excited to be a small part of what happens at LeTourneau.

CONTENTS

12 16 34

Lullaby Legacy Engineering students honor the memory of a young inventor through a senior design project.

On Wings & Prayers ‘Doing the right thing’ leads LETU aviation alumnus into success in entrepreneurship.

Giving God Free Reign Equestrian impacts her community with business and horse sense.

“Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of our salvation” - 2 Cor. 6:2

12 34

Nate West - Winning On and Off The Court LETU’s first ever National Player of the Year reflects on his winning season.

8 26 38 42 44 51

Making an Impact on the Future

Our God is Bigger

Distinguished Seniors Cy Security Snapshots: Aviation Teachers of the Year: Where Are They Now? LeTourneau Spring Graduates

In Every Issue 6 From the President 22 News & Notes

Class Notes

SPRING 2020

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

THE MAGAZINE OF LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES – BILL ANDERSON PAT BERTSCHE PHIL BURKS TOM BURT DOUG DOUGLAS DAVID DYKES, D. MIN. KIMBERLY FISH GENE FROST, ED. D. ROGER KIEFFER LOREN LEMAN JULIE LIVESAY JIM MAULDIN, M.D. LARRY MERCER, D. MIN. KEN MOORE JAMES NOLT ROGERS POPE, JR. JIM SCHREDER MIKE SCHUTT JOHN SOLHEIM WAYNE STEEGE MERLE STOLTZFUS WAYNE TRULL WENDY TURNER BOB WALKER DEAN WASKOWIAK TRUSTEES EMERITUS – BILLY J. HARRIS BUD MCGUIRE

NOW EDITORIAL CONTACT INFORMATION: WEB: www.letu.edu Email: NOW@letu.edu ADMISSIONS OFFICE PHONE: 800-759-8811 ALUMNI OFFICE PHONE: 800-259-5388

These unprecedented times require unprecedented faith. James 1:5-6 has bolstered me: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” Godly wisdom and divine commitment are required to respond to the far-reaching impact of COVID-19. When the new year of 2020 began, none of us would have ever imagined that all in-person classes would soon shift to online instruction and students would move out of their residence halls to return home following spring break. We were all heartbroken for our students, especially our graduating seniors. Although difficult, this decision was correct to protect the health of our university family and the broader community. With a good dose of LeTourneau ingenuity, we have finished the semester with online courses, chapels, and even online Hootenanny. Now our attention is turning to the fall semester. LeTourneau University is committed to returning to in-person learning and on-campus living this fall. Aphased reopening of Texas is in progress and a campus team of dozens are at work defining how we can return on campus together and do so smartly and safely. The Christian polytechnic university will continue to serve. Learn more about our return to campus this fall by watching this video: letu.edu/fall2020. Many around the world are suffering from health and economic concerns. Certainly, this includes many of you. Please know that we are praying for each of you. I pray the wisdom of James 1 will guide you. The LeTourneau University family is in this together. May this be a time that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is honored and glorified in every home, in every workplace, and in every nation.

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE PHONE: 800-259-LETU LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university in the nation offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a wide range of disciplines online and at LETU’s 196-acre residential campus in Longview, Texas, located 120 miles east of Dallas and 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. Academic majors include aviation, business, communication, computer science, criminal justice, education, engineering, health care administration, human services, kinesiology, the liberal arts, nursing, psychology, the sciences and theology. LeTourneau NOW is published by LeTourneau University, 2100 South Mobberly, Longview, Texas 75602. Sent free upon request to Editor, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. Postmaster: Send address changes to LeTourneau NOW, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. Email us at NOW@letu.edu.

LETOURNEAU NOW

Dale A. Lunsford President, LeTourneau University

Congratulations to the LETU menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team on a great season! PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMIAH SHEPHERD

SPRING 2020

Making an Impact on the

Future by Leah Gorman

MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE FUTURE

eachers are some the most important people in our country. They teach, shape and mold the minds of our future and the School of Education at LeTourneau University prides itself in graduating teachers not only ready for the classroom but also excelling by state standards. “LETU’s School of Education is a ‘hands-on’ educational experience,” said Dr. Julie Teel-Borders, the coordinator of field experiences and professor of teacher education. “Here theory and practice are melded together in real-life applications. Our students work with Early Childhood–12 students beginning their freshman year until they graduate,” said Teel-Borders. Not surprisingly, the technology-based teaching simulations available to students in Education set the program apart. “It is a virtual-reality environment where beginning professionals practice and master complex interpersonal skills necessary to be effective in a high-stress profession,” Teel-Borders explained. “The simulation experience is a valuable technological tool that has improved LETU’s faculty’s ability to prepare our clinical teacher for real-world classroom teaching, professional debriefing, reflection and growth. It allows participants to target specific skill, issues, content in a realistic classroom environment,” she said. During the simulations, the clinical teachers are given school situations that may be challenging in a school setting that they will likely encounter during their careers. Parent-teacher conferences with irate parents, developing rapport with unruly students while introducing class content, bullying issues and job interviews are some of the scenarios clinical teachers work through during the simulations. “As the Christian Polytechnic University, the use of this technology certainly fits into our core purpose. This specific software is phenomenal for a wide range of disciplines,” Teel-Borders said. Students in the School of Education are well prepared not only for classroom experiences, but also have excellent pass rates for teacher certification. LETU Director of Educator Certification Beth Nelms said LETU student pass rate for content exams is high. “The pass rate for the professional and Pedagogical exam was 88% and 86% for content exams for the combined students in the traditional and online School of Education,” she said. Also, students in Education know that faculty are “all-in” for their personal, professional and spiritual growth. “Our current students often tell prospective students, ‘Our professors truly care about us…and they will be up in your business to take care of your business,’” said Teel-Borders. The faculty in the School of Education could be professors at any University across the nation, but they intentionally choose to be at LeTourneau University. “The quality of LETU students who are studying to become teachers, missionaries, coaches, principals is why our first-rate faculty choose to be here,” Teel-Borders said. The students witness the way their faculty find the most innovative ways

“LETU student teachers are unique because they are motivated by their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They are grounded in their growing and evolving relationship with Him.” —Dr. Julie Teel-Borders to teach and they take that with them when they enter classrooms. “The love and care our students take into and model in local public and private schools is exceptionally inspiring,” Teel-Borders said. One source of pride is several student teachers in the School of Education have been named Student Teacher of the Year. Dr. TeelBorders said, “LETU student teachers are unique because they are motivated by their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They are grounded in their growing and evolving relationship with Him.” The student teachers in LETU’s School of Education grow and mature professionally during their time in the program through coursework, interpersonal relationships, research and field experience. “Colossians 3:23 is the scripture imprinted on the School of Education’s t-shirts. It reads, ‘Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, not for men,’ and our faculty and student teachers take this verse seriously,” she said. Graduates of the School of Education are highly sought-after classroom teachers and most have positions waiting on them after they graduate. “Local principals regularly contact our teacher ed faculty hoping to employ our graduates. They recognize our teacher candidates are the kind of teachers they want in their districts,” Teel-Borders said. SPRING 2020

Teachers in today’s classrooms face challenges that teachers of even five years ago never thought of; teacher evaluation and teacher retention are topics that are of concern. “The state of Texas has adopted a relatively new evaluation system for its teachers, Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS). It is a tremendous tool that engages our preservice teachers in rigorous professional development throughout our educator preparation program,” she said. According to the Texas Education Agency, initial teacher certifications have declined by 14% in the last decade, while the number of students enrolled has increased by 14% in the same time frame. However, according to Shelby Ware, adjunct School of Education faculty and Estes Library Director, there is some good news. “Our state government is actually addressing the teacher shortage. House Bill 3, described as a ‘sweeping and historic finance bill’ was passed in August 2019 increasing funds for teacher salaries and classroom resources,” she said. LeTourneau University and its students, faculty and staff, like most Americans, have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and all courses were transitioned to online instruction for the remainder of the academic year. For student teachers in LETU’s School of Education, this transition presented problems, but also opportunities to use the creativity and ingenuity they have been taught at LETU. “Overall, our students and faculty are managing exceptionally well,” Teel-Borders said. “As usual, LETU’s ingenuity and commitment to excellence means we continue to engage and are going strong. It has truly been inspiring to see the quality of dedication our LETU student teachers have continued to exhibit.” Kalynn Hudman has been clinical/student teaching in Kindergarten at Spring Hill Primary with her cooperating teacher, Brittany Sipes. She has participated in a drive-through parade in her students’ neighborhoods and has engaged her students during a ZOOM call. She has also remained connected to her students by mailing crafts and letters to them. “I wrote them a letter and told them how much I missed them and encouraged them to write back to me,” Hudman said. She has also recorded videos of herself reading stories to her students and is excited to be able to continue to be a part of their learning. While remaining connected to students in their classes has been challenging, they have also found that fun can be had in this type of environment. Morgan Taylor has been clinical teaching at Pine Tree High School in Forensics and Biology with her cooperating teacher, Judy Dobler. “I will be creating Murder Mystery riddles for our forensics classes,” Taylor said. The riddle is posted on a discussion board and the students are to solve the riddle by discussing it with each other. So far it has been a lot of fun. The guesses are more creative than I would think possible,” Taylor said. Teel-Borders cannot emphasize enough how each member of the faculty of LETU’s School of Education plays a valuable and important role in their students’ successes. “Our education preparation director of certification, Beth Nelms, is an expert at coordinating all of the information that the Texas Education Agency mandates for our educator preparation program. Our academic assistant, Stacey 10

LETOURNEAU NOW

Hudman, has established a student lounge that contains a welcoming space for our students to relax. Our CEAS Assistant to the Dean, Karen Austin, generously pours her love into each of our faculty while also loving and caring for all the faculty in the many departments within CEAS. We are a blessed School of Education,” she said. The School of Education’s mission is an important one that they all take seriously. “Our faculty take servant leadership seriously in our call to honor Christ,” said Teel-Borders. “We realize we are image bearers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Equipping our students with spiritual and professional tools is our priority.”

Wherever you are in your life’s story,

there’s an LETU degree for you.

Continue building your story at the Christian Polytechnic University. With over 120 programs—on campus, online or a combination of both—there’s an LETU degree that will help you invest in your life’s calling.

Degree programs available: Certificate Associate Bachelor Graduate

(no GMAT or GRE required)

“My LETU education has allowed me to take on more of an effective leadership role in my workplace and to transition into a more strategic role at a new company. After 16 years at Dell in various roles, my degrees helped me transition into an information technology role—Business Risk and Internal Controls Senior Staff.” –Nichole Williams, ‘19 “The value of my LETU education has been priceless. I strongly feel that my LETU education provided me the platform needed to elevate myself. This, in turn, has improved my life 100%. I’ve taken my skills and moved forward in serving professionally in the workplace and in the community.” –Katina White, ‘10 “My life has improved by lasting friendships, limitless resources, and community.” – Shan Bauer,’18 “I couldn’t have chosen a better university to attend for gaining knowledge in my desired field, as well as my Christian faith.” `–Shamir Davis, ‘19

Explore your options today. Talk to an enrollment officer at 903-833-3012 or enroll@letu.edu.

SPRING 2020

Lullaby Legacy by Janet Ragland

arry Thomas Sr. of Copperas Cove, Texas, knows right where he was when he first heard about an inventive idea from his 17-year-old son.

“We were sitting out in the garage playing dominoes with family, and Larry Jr. asked me, what about a pacifier that plays music,” said Larry Sr. “I told him to Google it on his phone, and when he didn’t find one that existed, a bell went off in my head. It sounded to me like a good idea.” The father called his sister, LaToya, the next day, and the family began research to pursue a patent and find a way to make it a reality. Three months later, on November 9, 2017, Larry Jr. suffered a single gunshot wound to the head in a drive-by shooting near his home.

SPRING 2020

“He died just a week before his 18th birthday,” LaToya Thomas said. “He had taken his tests and had plans to join the Army after he turned 18. He was excited about that.” The Thomas family was devastated. “He was a smart kid—athletic, played football, boxed, and loved to fish,” Larry Sr. said. He described his son as an adventurous child—the youngest of four siblings—who learned to ride a bike without training wheels at the age of 3. “Larry Jr. was outgoing. He made people

“He was a smart kid— athletic, played football, boxed, and loved to fish.” laugh. He loved to have fun and crack jokes. He was good with his hands and with tools. I have a small remodeling company, and he used to love to go to work with me on weekends. He grew up to be six-foot-two with a good head on his shoulders. He wanted to be an engineer someday and own his own business.” After his son’s death, Larry Sr. struggled with depression. “I went into a shell,” he said. “I stayed home every day. I didn’t do anything.” Four people were eventually arrested for the crime. One is serving a 23-year prison sentence.

LETOURNEAU NOW

“When Larry Jr. died, his project died, too,” LaToya said. Six months later, she talked to her brother about not letting that happen, so the two began working together and were granted a provisional patent, launching Lullaby Pacifier, LLC in her nephew’s memory. LETU alumnus Stephen Casey (’05) introduced Larry Sr. and LaToya to LETU Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Hoo Kim. When the professor heard the story of the family’s tragedy, he was moved to make it a senior design project for his students. Senior design projects like this one embody the learn-by-doing philosophy for which LETU is known. Hands-on, projectbased learning is integral throughout the entire LETU engineering curriculum, enabling students to participate in capstone projects as part of multi-disciplinary teams. Students gain valuable, real-world experience in teamwork, collaboration and cooperation. They learn to work with others

in mechanical, civil, electrical, materials joining/welding, computer, environmental and biomedical engineering—all among the degree concentrations LETU offers. “I could see value behind the story of the lullaby pacifier,” Dr. Kim said. “I asked God to use us to help the family heal and recover.” Kim said God brought to his mind Psalm 30:11 that reads, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing . . . .” Once Kim shared the project with biomedical engineering senior Aiden Hagemann from San Antonio, Texas, Hagemann was all in and agreed to be the team lead. “We call it LELP for LeTourneau Engineering Lullaby Pacifier,” Hagemann said. “Originally the idea was a pacifier that just played music, but now, the product idea has expanded.” With a team including students from mechanical, electrical, computer and biomedical engineering concentrations, the LELP senior design team began last fall to research, design and prototype the smart pacifier. Their prototype does play music, but it also takes a baby’s temperature readings, vibrates to soothe a teething baby’s gums, turns itself off when not in use to save battery life, and provides parents with status information and controllability through either an Android app. Technical solutions the team developed to create the Lullaby Pacifier included a 3D-printed housing for the electronics to integrate with a pre-existing, replaceable nipple; a low-energy Bluetooth integrated microcomputer; a thermistor (thermal

LULLABY LEGACY resistor), micro speakers, LED lights and vibration motor; and the Android apps. By February, the team had their proof of concept prototype. Their plan was to present the final prototype during the senior design seminar in April, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and all classes moving online, the senior design presentation was provided virtually online. A team of LETU School of Business students directed by Dr. Laura Neal developed professional collateral materials for the Lullaby Pacifier including a marketing plan and pitch deck the Thomas family can modify to attract investors. Larry and LaToya Thomas appreciate all the work the students have done.

“The students at LETU are an amazing group of kids....They blew life into Larry’s project.” —Larry Sr. “The students at LETU are an amazing group of kids,” Larry Sr. said. “I respect them. Their parents should be proud. They are diligent, hardworking and committed. They blew life into Larry’s project.” Hagemann said the Lullaby Pacifier was well worth the effort the students put into it. “The idea behind this project was to not only get a grade and finally graduate as seniors, but to make this sad story for this family into something great.”

Aiden Hagemann Team Lead Biomedical Engineering Senior San Antonio, Texas

Nicholas Rowan

Computer Science and Engineering Senior The Colony, Texas

Nate Berlandier

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Mission Viejo, California

Hannah Lynch

Mechanical Engineering Senior Tucson, Arizona

Austin Sewatsky

Electrical Engineering Senior Greenville, Texas

Joey Herguth

Electrical Engineering Junior Orangevale, California

Christian Lane

Computer Engineering Junior Henderson, Texas

SPRING 2020

& prayers

By Daniel Ostendorff, d.Phil

SPRING 2020

he yellow 1975 Cessna 188 touches down on the pavement. The plane slows and the tailwheel drops to the ground. The plane pulls up in the green field, across from the hangar, parking next to a half dozen Air Tractor turbo prop agricultural airplanes. The pilot, David Eby, a 1971 LeTourneau University graduate and the Owner/Founder of Agriflite, climbs out of the cockpit and down the side of the plane. The name of the company David and his wife, Denise, founded in 1973 and have owned and operated for nearly 50 years is emblazoned on the side of the hangar. While the tailwheel Cessna 188 is a legacy of David’s time in LeTourneau’s aviation program, Agriflite’s fleet of planes, and the technology on board each plane, is a testimony to an ingenuity that has transformed the agricultural aviation industry. From hardware to software, from

LETOURNEAU NOW

engineering to flight, from love of God to love of neighbor, this is a #LeTourneauBuilt story. With his hopes set on becoming a commercial pilot, David found himself looking for a college with an engineering and flight program. In December of 1969, he married his sweetheart, Denise, and the very next month, the newlyweds moved from Indiana to Texas for David to attend LeTourneau

College. While a student, David worked as a Flight Instructor and discovered a love for introducing others to flight. Eventually, this would include all three children, each one a licensed pilot. Unfortunately, David’s dream of becoming a commercial pilot was dashed when, in 1971, his senior year, an energy crisis led to oil prices doubling, there were more pilots than there were jobs, and an industry

ON WINGS AND PRAYERS regulation stated commercial pilots must have unaided 20/20 vision. What now? After graduation, the Ebys returned to Wakarusa, Indiana where David had grown up on the family farm. Unable to fly commercially, David took a job in Indiana’s RV business as a design engineer. Days in the office behind a design desk left David longing to be back in a cockpit. One day, he found himself watching an agricultural pilot flying over the local farmer’s fields. That moment began what has since become a now almost 50-year journey working in and revolutionizing the agricultural aviation industry. Believing God was calling David to fly and serve the local community, David and Denise borrowed the money needed to purchase their first plane—a 1973 Cessna 188. He took on his first agricultural clients and learned the business as he went. Although they barely made ends meet that first year, they survived. Agriflite was born.

Each year brought new opportunities, new challenges, and new growth. Three years later, they purchased their second plane—a brand new Air Tractor 301, built in Texas,. As the business and opportunities grew, David became very aware of the challenges agricultural flight faced. “I was always looking for ways to improve what we were doing.” One of the biggest challenges facing agricultural aviation was a problem with the valves used to release the insecticide or fungicide over the field. The way the valves were built, they were prone to getting stuck open by debris and leaking. David tells of an unscheduled visit by an FAA inspector where the inspector found several valves leaking onto the runway. David came out of that meeting with a commitment, “We have got to change this.” In 1996, David designed, engineered, and sold the first AeroFlow Systems (AFS) check valve. The new valve eliminated the leaks and overspray caused by the faulty valves that were the prior standard in the industry by adding a conical self-cleaning screen in front of the internal diaphragm. This first foray into product design and production was not smooth sailing. Some of the material used in the first batch was unreliable. With that discovery, and thousands of units sold, David and Denise had a decision to make. They could walk away from AeroFlow Systems and the new check valve, or they could do what was right for those who had bought the first line of valves. In order to understand the decision David and Denise ultimately made, you have to first understand the commitments that had guided their business for nearly twenty-five years. From the beginning of Agriflite, with that single plane in 1973, the Eby’s decided that they were there to serve their community and to “do the right thing”. Sticking to this commitment has come at a price. However, it is the drive that has not only guided their business decisions, but inspired innovation that has transformed the industry.

David and Denise decided to produce a second batch of valves, having learned from the mistakes of the first, and replaced every single valve free of charge that they had sold. The result was a decrease in unwanted leaks, more accurate application, and a better product for their customers, the farmers whose field they would treat, and the communities they served. The Eby’s bottom line took a hit, but they had done the right thing. Nearly 25 years later, that very same AFS check valve that they could have walked away from is now the industry standard across the nation and around the world. David’s ingenuity had solved one problem. Significant developments in both agricultural and technology in the first years of the 21st century were the inspirations for the next two revolutionary innovations. In the early 2000s, a new corn fungicide became available that led to healthier crops and more productive harvests for the farmers. As demand for ethanol and corn-based products rose, the demand for agricultural planes to apply the new fungicide skyrocketed. Agriflite needed a way to manage the rapid increase in demand for their services. At that time, each flight required the use of a printed platbook to figure out the exact location of the farm and the specific field. It was a process that was prone to error and time consuming. At the same time, a young, five-year old Google Inc. launched their online mapping program, Google Maps, and its companion downloadable program with satellite imaging, Google Earth. A feature of Google Earth was the ability to add custom layers over the satellite and mapping data. What if a farmer, who knew his land better than anyone and had a vested interest in making sure the pilot got the right field, could draw a box indicating which field to apply the agricultural product? That was the transformative possibility David saw in the new technology, and, with that initial idea, AgSync was born. Instead of relying on problematic printed plat maps, a farmer logged on to

SPRING 2020

a website, indicated the field to be treated, and submitted his order to Agriflite. Order accuracy improved, as did time to delivery. Farmers were happy, and so were David and his team. AgSync was a success. With happy customers and the right tools, demand continued to grow. Reflecting on that busy season, David shares, “We went from 100,000 acres a year to 500,000 acres a year by 2006.” Eventually, AgSync was made available for other agricultural aviation companies across the country. According to the National Agricultural Aviation Association, Agriflite is one of over 1,500 such companies treating 127 million acres of cropland each year. Today, AgSync is used in five countries and by over 10,000 paid users. AgSync simplified the ordering process and provided better data for pilots and companies. There was one significant challenge that remained to be tackled. Yet again, it was made possible by technological advances in other areas of industry. While the AgSync system provided better data from the customer, how could David demonstrate to the farmer, his customer, that the job was done right? Agriflite needed a

LETOURNEAU NOW

way to show the customer where the pilot had flown and exactly where, what, and how much had been applied to their field. The 1990s and early 2000s brought remarkable developments in the use of global positioning satellites (GPS) for military and commercial purposes. By 2005, personal GPS units were becoming widely available for use in vehicles. Could a GPS system track a flight and create a report of the exact flight path a pilot had taken? Working with his eldest son, who was working in the geospatial technology

industry, the Ebys developed a custom system that gathered GPS data, flight information, and, eventually, utilized cell towers for real-time order and data transmission. Known as Verifly, this customdesigned software and hardware solution provided the flight data David needed and his customers were asking for. Today, using Verifly and AgSync, David, his pilots, the team at Agriflite, and his customers can see, in real-time, the work being done across six states—Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and

“Looking back, LeTourneau Wisconsin. Customers are billed for exactly what is applied and have historic data to track the impact on their harvest. The result is that farmers pay for exactly what they get and David knows exactly what work his pilots have completed. “We deliver a product that people really need,” says David, “It’s about helping the customer be successful.” In 2015, David received Delta Airline’s “Puffer Award” for the AFS check valve and Agriflite systems that have revolutionized the industry. The Puffer Award is given to an individual each year who has made an outstanding contribution to the design of agricultural aircraft and/or related equipment. With his unique combination of engineering and aviation, and a conviction to do the right thing, David Eby’s ingenuity and innovation has brought the agricultural aviation industry into the 21st century and drastically improved the lives of farmers, agricultural pilots, and the companies they fly for. Building on his earliest work with the AFS check valve, David is looking at ways to improve the lifespan of equipment unique to agricultural planes. He’s currently developing a new boom - the part of the plane that

University was a big influence on my life. It gave me confidence to go out and design new products, to be creative, and to get it done. Without LeTourneau, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

takes the fluid from the tank to the valves— that would last five to six times as long as the current tubing, at a fraction of the cost. In addition, he’s collaborating with a research project into the use of remotely piloted drones in the application of pheromones. David is optimistic for how drones will decrease the personal risk faced by agricultural pilots from nearby trees, power lines, and buildings, while recognizing that these are the very challenges that the use of drones in agricultural aviation must address. Even though David and Denise may be moving on from running Agriflite fulltime, David says he plans to stay busy, “I get bored too easily.” What remains, regardless of what opportunity David is seeking an answer to, is that foundational commitment to serve the community and “do the right thing” for their customer. “Looking back,” shares David, “LeTourneau University was a big influence on my life. It gave me confidence to go out and design new products, to be creative, and to get it done. Without LeTourneau, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Among the many things that point to David’s time at LeTourneau is the 1975 Cessna 188, the lone non-Air Tractor plane in

the Agriflite fleet. As a student in LeTourneau’s aviation program, David learned to fly on a tailwheel plane owned by LeTourneau University. To this day, the School of Aviation and Aeronautical Science is one of the few aviation programs in the country that still starts out training students on a tailwheel aircraft before moving on to larger and newer aircraft. Echoing the voices of our faculty, David Eby believes learning to fly on a tailwheel plane is key to becoming a great pilot: “As a flight instructor, I think everyone should start out in a tailwheel airplane. They simply make better pilots.” To this day, the Agriflite fleet maintains that 1975 Cessna 188. Thinking back on all that has happened since their move to LeTourneau in the winter of 1969, David says, “When you look back over my life, I give all the credit to the Lord for what he’s done in my life.” A big part of that was his experience at LeTourneau University, the training and the confidence it provided him to meet a challenge head on, and the ability to seize the opportunities God brought his way.

SPRING 2020

LETU Faculty, Students Study Russia at Inaugural Guild Retreat

eTourneau University’s Liberal Arts Guild hosted an inaugural retreat March 6-7 at Caplin Ranch in Athens, Texas, for an immersive study of 19th century Russia and the great Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov.” The Guild unites faculty and students in a community interested in reading the great books and engaging with life’s big questions. Besides literature and history, Guild students studied Russian orthodoxy and icons and ate foods like beef stroganoff, caviar and borscht. Guild scholars are students who choose more rigorous courses, similar to but separate from the LETU Honors Program, which is by invitation only. The inaugural retreat was jointly sponsored by the Honors Program and the Humanities Department at LeTourneau University.

LETU Students Serve With Mission Organizations During 2020 Spring Break March 9-13

bout 100 LeTourneau University students served in a variety of ministries across the U.S. and in Mexico during the 2020 Spring Break March 9-13, participating in the Great Commission to go into the world and encourage others to pray for salvation as they plant seeds of faith. Groups served locally in Longview, Texas, as well as in South Padre Island, Texas; Camp Blessing, Texas; Colorado, Ohio, Indiana, Utah and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

LETOURNEAU NOW

LETU Aviation College Takes Delivery On New Flight Training Simulators

wo new Frasca RTD flight simulators were added to LETU’s College of Aviation and Aeronautical Science for training students studying to become professional pilots. Flight simulators enable flight students to safely learn to fly before flying in the cockpit. The new simulators are configurable as different models of aircraft, including the Cessna 172 Skyhawks and Piper Seminoles that students fly in the LETU aviation professional flight program.

NEWS & NOTES

LETU Freshman Wins Contest for Business Incubator Idea at Local Landmark

eTourneau University freshman business management major Micah Snyder of Longview won a $250 first place prize in a contest to develop a plan to use the building formerly occupied by the renowned Johnny Cace’s Seafood and Steak House property. Snyder’s winning entry was to transition the 13,000-square-foot building, located at 1501 E. Marshall Avenue in Longview, into a business incubator. His target market is to lease space to budding entrepreneurs, start-up businesses and freelance professionals needing an office space and meeting spaces.

LETU Maintains Four Years of 100% NCLEX Pass Rates

eTourneau University School of Nursing has maintained a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) for the past four years—2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019—according to LETU Dean of Nursing Dr. Kimberly Quiett. NCLEX pass rates, which are made public each fall, are monitored by the Texas State Board of Nursing and are viewed as a measure of how well nurses are prepared to provide safe, quality care for health care consumers. LETU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year residential program where students work side-by-side with faculty and professional nurses to learn and maximize clinical experience. Students benefit from small class sizes and faculty-led clinical groups with individualized attention, with more than 900 clinical hours, most spent in health care environments with actual patients.

LETU Announces Spring 2020 Enrollment

eTourneau University’s Spring 2020 enrollment was 3,066, featuring a record 145 international students, up 75% from last spring. The spring incoming class was the largest in over two decades. May graduation would have marked the first class of dual-enrollment students graduating with an associate degree before earning their high school diploma.

Fine Arts Director Conducts 25th Anniversary For Choir He Founded in Florida

n January 25, LeTourneau University Director of Fine Arts Dr. Jim Taylor celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Honors Choir Festival for the Jacksonville (Florida) Children’s Chorus, the children’s community chorus he founded in 1995. The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus grew from its first year with only 16 singers to a chorus today that comprises 350 singers in five choirs and encompasses many other children through outreach programs. The Choir has since performed in Italy, Ireland, Greece, Canada, Eastern Europe, and is the official children’s chorus of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

LETU Adjunct Professors Return From Mongolia Due to Pandemic

ongtime LETU adjunct professors Stan and Kathryn Baker traveled in December to teach at Ider University in UlanBaatar, Mongolia for the Spring 2020 semester, but plans were cut short when they returned home in mid-March due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Baker was teaching business courses and Kathryn was teaching English and communication courses as part of a cultural exchange program between the two universities.

SPRING 2020

LETU Computer Engineering Students Win 2nd Place in IEEE Regional Programming Competition

eTourneau University engineering students Jacob Kelsey, Robert Zebe and Ethan McMichael, competing as team #notFALSE, won 2nd place in IEEE’s South Central Region in the 24-hour IEEEXtreme 13.0 programming competition. The region encompasses Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and parts of Wyoming, South Dakota, New Mexico and Illinois. The students competed from across the region, nation, and globe to solve a set of programming problems, placing 24th nationally (of 202 teams) and 112th worldwide (of 2,745 teams). The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology, organized the annual competition.

LETU Welcomes OMF President, Alumnus To Speak at ‘Go Week’

MF International President and 2001 LETU engineering alumnus James Dougherty was the featured speaker during LETU’s GO Week January 27-31. GO Week, formerly known as Missions Emphasis Week, provides LETU students opportunities to talk to missionaries from more than 30 missionary organizations around the world to discuss internships and career missions opportunities. OMF (formerly known as Overseas Missionary Fellowship) serves the church to bring the gospel to many countries in East Asia. OMF missionaries have continued their 150-yearold legacy throughout the region to reach the unreached, including refugees, immigrants, professionals, and international students.

LETOURNEAU NOW

LETU Wins $300,000 Reasearch Grant From Sandia National Labs

eTourneau University has been awarded a $300,000 grant by Sandia National Laboratories for students to research robust navigation techniques to determine accurate locations in areas where GPS operations have been compromised, whether accidentally or by adversaries. The three-year study, known as the LEGRange senior design project, will identify ways to exploit these adversarial signals of opportunity in a GPS-challenged environment. The grant provides for funding two graduate students and for radios, computers and advanced laboratory equipment that will be used in several undergraduate and graduate engineering courses, benefitting the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology for years to come. LETU professor of practice Dr. Nathan Green is the principal investigator on the research project.

LETU Political Science Student Selected For Religious Liberty Seminar In D.C.

ETU political science freshman Bethany Fox of Denton, Texas, was one of only 30 college students nationwide selected to attend the “Statesmanship and Religious Freedom Seminar” in Washington, D.C. Jan. 15-17. Sponsored by the Religious Freedom Institute, the event was held at the Museum of the Bible. It featured founding director of the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom Thomas Farr, a former diplomat who has spent two decades advocating for religious liberty globally. The event emphasized the importance of religious liberty for all religions across the world and taught students how it protects human dignity and promotes stable communities. The conference included students from differing backgrounds, perspectives and institutions.

NEWS & NOTES

LETU Engineering Student Paper Wins First Place at IEEE Regionals

eTourneau University electrical engineering dual-enrolled graduate student James Allen Morrison won first place in the student paper competition at the 2020 IEEE Region 5 Annual Business Meeting and Student Activities Conference. He presented his research analyzing fluids by using electromagnetic waves virtually using Zoom, after travel to the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

LETU Education Chair Dr. Darla Baggett Honored as 2020 “Star Over Longview”

LETU Engineering Couple 3D Print Wedding Bouquet

ETU engineering lab technicians Gabe and Amber Johnson recently used the skills they learned in the LETU engineering program to 3D print their own wedding flowers, including the bride’s bouquet, bridesmaid’s bouquets, groom’s and groomsmen’s boutonnières among other flowers for their special day. Amber said they also used some real flowers and fresh greenery.

ETU education chair Dr. Darla Baggett was honored Jan. 9 as one of the 2020 “Stars Over Longview,” an honor bestowed on women who have invested in the Longview community. She was escorted at the event by Casey Robertson, CEO of Longview Regional Hospital, which sponsors the annual award. Nearly 1200 people attended the luncheon honoring Baggett and 11 others. Guest speaker was New York-based fashion designer Maxwell Brandon, a native of Longview.

LETU Computer Science Professor Teaches Technology In Bhutan

Audio Book Production Underway On R.G. LeTourneau Autobiography

over of Men and Mountains,” the autobiography of LETU founder R.G. LeTourneau, is being produced as an audiobook, featuring the voice of LETU communications professor and Vice President of Quality Assurance Dr. Karl Payton. The production is being professionally produced and directed by LETU Assistant Director for Digital Marketing Nathan O’Day, along with several student workers.

eTourneau University computer science professor Dr. Brent Bass and his wife, Kathy, recently returned from a 10-month sabbatical in Bhutan, where Brent taught technology classes under a Fulbright teaching scholarship. They also served as cultural ambassadors to those they met in the small, mountainous country nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, landlocked with China on the north and India on the south. Bhutan is nearly three-fourths Buddhist, while one-fourth practice Hinduism, yet Brent and Kathy felt free to talk of their Christian faith.

SPRING 2020

DISTINGUISHED SENIORS

mahents

Ravelomanantsoa

Computer Science and Engineering

What piece of advice would you give to an incoming freshman? Do not let fear prevent you from trying new things and from saying yes to opportunities to grow! As an international student who is from a non-English speaking country, I was super scared to even approach anyone when I first came, but once I decided that it’s okay even if I embarrass myself, so many doors opened for me—and I did not embarrass myself. I know you can achieve whatever you are scared of too! Also, do not compare yourself to others and do not be discouraged by those students who look like they already know everything. I did not know what I was doing but kept pressing on. It started making sense in the process, and somehow I became a distinguished senior!

kathryn beveryly baker Biology

How would you describe your time at LeTourneau? My time at LeTourneau has been marked by rich transformation. The opportunities I have had to be involved in leadership, exciting biology research, and spring break mission trips have stretched me from an insecure, shy individual to a confident disciple of Jesus. Through the challenges of academics and service, I have learned to rest in the sufficiency of Christ and repeatedly confess to the Lord my need of Him. I have also been surrounded by the encouragement and exhortation of professors, classmates, and the girls on my floor, who have made the past four years such a sweet season of life.

SPRING 2020

hannah penney

Business Management

What is one thing you’ll take away from your time at LeTourneau? The importance of investing in people is a lesson I learned at LeTourneau that I will be taking with me into life beyond college. I have had so many people invest in my life here—faculty, staff, and many other students. I have seen these relationships positively and directly affect my personal growth and spiritual maturity. I want to do the same and pour into others. I believe that God calls each of us to pour into other people’s lives. I was incredibly blessed to go to a school where the people who surrounded me modeled Christ.

ryan rosen Civil Engineering

What piece of advice would you give to an incoming freshman? Don’t procrastinate your work. If you plan ahead and start homework early, you will have time to do the fun things that college has to offer. Don’t let deadlines determine when you work on something. Work ahead so you can keep your homework under control instead of letting it control you. I always give people the following advice, in the style of John F. Kennedy: “Ask not when this homework is due, but when can I do this homework.”

LETOURNEAU NOW

DISTINGUISHED SENIORS

collin patterson Biomedical Engineering

What does your LeTourneau education mean to you? When I think about what a LeTourneau education means to me, I stand amazed at truly how much God has taken care of me. An education here confirms that you will stand amongst the highest-ranked professionals within your career. The hands-on experience that we receive here is truly unlike any other. However, our professors know that none of that matters if you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to attribute all your knowledge and success to God alone. In and out of the classroom, the faculty and staff at LeTourneau continually ingrain the knowledge and love of God within studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hearts. From leading life groups to daily devotionals in class and other things, our professors are determined to ensure our spiritual growth and well-being amongst all else. Walking away with a LeTourneau degree ensures that I will be successful within my field and be able to lay all of it down at the foot of the cross.

These students are chosen based on demonstrated excellence in academic achievement, sacrificial servant leadership on campus and beyond, generosity of time and resources, spiritual growth that was evidenced by a maturing faith in Jesus Christ, and the potential to be an effective ambassador for Christ in every workplace and in every nation.

SPRING 2020

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMIAH SHEPHERD

SPRING 2020

ate West has become a familiar name around the LeTourneau campus over the last four years, and rightfully so. The senior accounting major from Houston has broken multiple school records and helped lead his team to the NCAA tournament this season. But he is quick to say that it is not about him. “Playing basketball isn’t about me, it’s playing for each other and being 100% for the team,” West said. This sentiment is echoed by the YellowJackets men’s basketball coach, Dan Miller. “For all the awards and recognition, Nate practices great humility and lives by James 4:10 – ‘Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up,’” said Miller. Nate’s leadership and selfishness also resonated with his YellowJacket teammates, “Nate was overall a great captain/leader. He always faulted himself for any mistake that happened on the court because that’s

LETOURNEAU NOW

what great leaders do,” said Justin Moore, Houston junior. Andrew Eberhardt, Pearland sophomore, said, “What makes Nate a good teammate was his belief in me. If I ever had a bad game, he would always tell me to keep shooting, or that was a good shot and the next one is going in.” YellowJacket teammate and Houston freshman, John Argue said, “One of Nate’s biggest strengths was his composure. No matter what the game time situation was, Nate never got uncomfortable and just locked in on the game plan while leading us on the court.” West’s senior year on the court was a dream season for any player. West was LeTourneau University’s first-ever National Player of the Year as named by D3hoops. com, National Association of Basketball Coaches, and DIII News, along with multiple other All-America and American Southwest Conference awards. Most recently, he was one of 14 players selected as a finalist for Small College Basketball’s 2020 Bevo Francis Award. “It’s a great feeling to be recognized for this. I have had an amazing career at LETU, and I’m glad I could make LETU and everyone who supports me proud,” West said. LETU Athletic Director Terri Deike said, “Nate West is the epitome of what a great studentathlete should be. He is passionate about the game, works tireless hours outside of practice to improve his skills, is a trusted teammate and leader, and is humble when the work pays off and accolades come his way. As a former basketball coach, I know how rare it is to find his combination of talent, commitment and personality in one person.” Nate said his love of basketball began when he was in the 3rd grade, and he started playing on a team at the YMCA. “Basketball brings everyone together. You

become close to people who are different than you,” West said. He has also made basketball fans out of many people on campus. “It’s great to see students on campus who tell me I had a great game. Even my professors have come to games and been supporters,” Nate said. Coach Miller has known West a long time. “I have known Nate since he was a sophomore in high school,” Miller said. “I knew he was going to be a great player, but he exceeded all our expectations.” “The difference with Nate and so many other athletes is his true love for his sport. Nate loves basketball so much and puts countless hours in every day to become such a great player. It is cool that he felt a true connection here and felt wanted,” said Coach Miller. West said what drew him to play for and attend LeTourneau was the family environment on campus and the fact that he would be close to his grandmother who lives in Nacogdoches.

“I want to thank everyone at LeTourneau for the best time of my life,” West said. “It has been the most special experience I have ever had. Everything about the school is great, and most special of all is my team. Coach Miller teaching me and allowing me to do the things I did every game was a blessing. He taught me so much about basketball on the court and even life lessons off the court.”

SPRING 2020

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BRIDGMAN

SPRING 2020

he smell of dirt mixed with manure may cause some to cover their noses, but LETU Senior Business student Alicia Griscom would likely tell them to get off their high horse—as she mounts her actual horse and sails over a cross rail jump. No stranger to hard work, family values, or the variety of smells that come with horses, Alicia’s time in college has been a “game-changer” in many areas of her life. After training horses most of her life, Alicia believed her decision to study at LeTourneau meant that she would need to rein in her love for horses. To her surprise, as she looked during her junior year for an internship for her business degree, she discovered Triple Creek Ranch and decided to start volunteering at this equine training facility in nearby Hallsville, Texas. “I provide a variety of training to horses that need ‘tuneups’, advanced training, or have not been worked with at all and need to be started from scratch.” She immediately loved being back in the saddle and also enjoyed “making connections in the community and using my passions to help fulfill a need at this ranch.”

LETOURNEAU NOW

Alicia and her brother (Chandler Griscom, LETU Computer Science Engineering Graduate 2016) grew up Coatsville, Pennsylvania, where she was around horses from an early age. Raised in the homeschooling community, her family was a part of Generation Home Scholars and Echo Christian Academy, where Alicia developed a true enjoyment of family-focused community partnered with her education, and the close relationships that followed. Alicia felt that same community closeness at LeTourneau University when she came on her first visit to spend time with her brother (who was a current student at that time) during her junior year of high school. “When I came to visit him, I fell in love with the community here. I also met some of the business professors on that visit, and I have since become great friends with many of them during my time here.” Her choice of major had unexpected benefits in her work with the horses at Triple Creek Ranch, as she found connections in her work with what she had learned in her business leadership courses. “My leadership courses have actually been a game-changer. I’ve learned to have a certain approach to manage or motivate people, and I’ve found that I need to have a similar approach with horses, to seek to understand them more as I attempt to evaluate them.” The journey to better “understand” the horses she works with is not easy, and on occasion, she came close to tasting the dirt in the training ring, even with Gorgeous, an ‘off the track’ Thoroughbred who Alicia describes as her favorite with lots of potential. She remembers a time when, “I was riding and Gorgeous almost did a somersault with me on her. Thankfully she popped back up, and we made it. She is very smart, and she picks up on things very fast.”

Value the friendships you have and make time for them, even when life gets crazy. No doubt her work with horses requires both mental awareness and understanding of each horse, and clearly this work calls for physical strength as well, which makes Alicia thankful for her LeTourneau athletics experiences. “My time in LETU Track and Field and also my experience over the past few years with powerlifting, has helped build my overall physical strength in ways I didn’t expect and is very helpful when riding.” Spring 2020 is Alicia’s last semester as a LeTourneau student. Although she was unable to finish out the semester on campus due to the global pandemic, she is grateful for three distinct lessons learned. “1) Value the friendships you have and make time for them, even when life gets crazy. 2) Horses are a major part of who I am, and I want to continue in the equine world. 3) God’s plan is greater than mine, even if I can’t see it.” 2 Corinthians 2:15 says that the body of Christ is a pleasing aroma to the world. While the smells associated with horses may not be pleasing to all people, these lessons learned by senior business student Alicia Griscom serve as pleasant reminders that our global community is united through God’s divine plans— and that even horses have bad days every once in a while. No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, if we learn from Alicia, we’ll find the strength in Christ to get back up on the horse.

SPRING 2020

security A journey of humble beginnings to Entrepreneur of the Year. by Daniel Ostendorff, d.phil

It’s 1981. The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the World Series, facing off against their longtime rival, the New York Yankees. At the same time, a young Cy Oatridge, who grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles and loved playing baseball, had already headed off to college. Maybe it was growing up near Los Angeles in those years, or the pickup baseball games in the neighborhood; either way, baseball was in Cy’s DNA. Growing up in Southern California, Cy attended Narbonne High School, in the Los Angeles Unified School District, surfed every

chance he could, and played baseball for his school and with friends. At home, the high school years strained the relationship between Cy and his parents. Looking for a chance to move away, Cy headed to South Carolina to live with extended family, go to college, and hopefully play baseball for Clemson University. When that didn’t work out, Cy found himself trying to figure out what to do next. Learning about Cy’s love for baseball and interest in aviation, a classmate encouraged him to check out LeTourneau College. Flying Metro Airlines into Gregg County airport, Cy recalls, “I remember flying in and wondering ‘What the heck have I done to myself ?’ It’s rural as rural can be and I don’t know a soul.” Cy jumped into the aviation engineering program, played infield positions for the baseball team, and spent his first two years living in the Downtowner. He earned his private pilot’s license but rather than confirmation of his calling, it gave him pause. Looking around at his classmates, he realized they loved flying. He didn’t. It was a major his parents were encouraging him to pursue

so he could become a naval aviator. Looking to other options, Cy considered switching his major to business. And “after burning my face welding, I knew switching to business was the right choice.” Also, he was finding the schedule challenging to keep up with flying, classes and baseball. By changing to a business major, he was able to continue to play baseball and graduate on time. Back in Los Angeles, Cy’s mom established her own tax business and his dad began his own construction company in order to help make college possible for their kids. “One of the benefits of going away to college,” shares Cy, “was how it helped me appreciate my parents more and the sacrifices they had made.” After graduation in Spring of 1986, Cy returned to Los Angeles where he began working in the family construction business. He married, and moved to his wife’s childhood home of Gig Harbor, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. A newcomer in town, Cy applied for every opening he could find in the local classified ads. He finally got an interview with one of the most nondescript jobs he had applied for. It was far from the perfect interview. Cy went in without any idea of who the company was or what they did. There was no way to know that interview would change the rest of his life and begin the journey toward establishing an industry-leading company in the Pacific Northwest. This began his 30-year career in the security services industry. In his role, Cy worked with and managed security service contracts throughout Washington and Alaska for Fortune 500 companies, including Weyerhaeuser and Boeing. During the next 10 years, the company grew by a factor of eight. By the end of the 1990’s, they were doing so well that others looked to purchase the company. In 2002, a firm from Sweden, Securitas, did just that. When budget cuts followed the next

SPRING 2020

I can’t believe I’m a guy from letourneau, who grew up in a suburb in los angeles, got to be here, meeting these people and having these conversations. year, Cy lost his job. “I was in shock,” Cy recalled. “I thought it was a practical joke. It took my boss a good 20 minutes to convince me they were letting me go.” But with the encouragement from his former supervisor to “go out and kick our tail,” Cy founded his own security company, the Oatridge Security Group (OSG) in 2003. Those first years offered little indication of the industry leader that OSG was to become. The company started in a small, 250square-foot office, where Cy and two other office staff worked for the next nine years. Cy invested half of his retirement into founding OSG, foregoing a paycheck for the first six months. That first year was especially difficult. When asked what helped keep him going, Cy recalled a key lesson from his time playing baseball at LeTourneau, “You persevere. You just keep pushing forward. You don’t give up.” Six months in, OSG had landed a few local marine contracts and done some work with the Customs and Border Patrol along the US-Canada border. Within three years, things

LETOURNEAU NOW

were humming along, and then the 2008 recession hit. By 2009, OSG had 35 employees, but fewer and fewer contracts. Cy knew that the security business is a “people business.” As described on the company website, it is about providing “the best personnel fit for clients and the best client fit for security officers.” When clients stopped calling and employees needed work, it became difficult to find new clients and retain employees. “There we were in 20032008, just cruising along, and all of a sudden the markets crash, real estate markets crash, things start changing,” shares Cy, “We needed to pivot. We had to shift. I had to shift.” The need to pursue new opportunities led to greater involvement with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and their 8(a) program. The 8(a) program works with small minorityowned businesses to help them establish connections in their

region and pursue both local and government contracts. Rather than the nosedive that 20082010 was for most companies, it marked a turning point for OSG. The Oatridge Security Group secured several government contracts in the Pacific Northwest and around the country. They provided security for the eight-year Seattle Tunnel project—a double-decker, two-mile tunnel that runs under downtown Seattle. They provided security as both Oregon and Washington fought large wildfires in the region and provide security for regional hydroelectric dams. Coming out of their work with the SBA, OSG had also acquired important military contracts. Recalling one particular meeting with high ranking military officials in

CY SECURITY a secure location, Cy found himself thinking, “I can’t believe a guy from LeTourneau, who grew up in a suburb in Los Angeles, got to be here, meeting these people and having these conversations.” Today, OSG has contracts in Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Colorado, California, as well as Washington and Oregon. Over the last 17 years, OSG has been blessed to see growth almost every year. They have never taken a loan for the business. Such practices are rare in any business, let alone an organization working with bidder contracts. OSG provides best in industry service for their region. They have a 95% retention rate with clients, a full 15% higher than their main competitor. For Cy and his team, which now includes his wife, Elissa, his brother, Jeff and two of his three children, daughter, Alex, and son, Colby, the challenge is to continue to pivot and to persevere, always looking for new opportunities and new threats. The Oatridge Security Group has grown significantly and has been recognized as “best in class” for the past 17 years. It is the leading security organization in the Pacific Northwest. OSG now provides specialized protective service programs that include armed and unarmed security officers, executive protection security systems and consulting services. In their continuing efforts to pivot towards new threats and new opportunities, they have recently added drone defense as a new service. This mobile system detects, and then deters and protects events against drone-based attacks. The company has submitted proposals to deploy the system at such events as the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Orange Bowl games. Cy is in awe of how God has blessed OSG, from that uncertain first year until today. Behind OSG’s success in their industry is that foundational belief that they are in the people business before they are in the security business. For Cy, it is about his family, his clients, and his employees. Every client receives Cy’s personal cell phone number and is invited to OSG’s all-employee gatherings throughout the year. All OSG employees receive a generous benefits package that includes one paid day of leave a year to volunteer at a non-profit or charity of their choosing. Charitable giving is important to

Cy and to the company. As a company, OSG provides security, free of charge, for a local non-profit “Salmon for Soldiers” event that hosts disabled veterans and their families for a day of fishing together. Cy’s son, Colby, shared his dad’s commitment to being involved in the community and charitable giving. “We don’t want to just worry about our own business but share with our community and those who have helped us along the way,” Colby said. “We’ve been successful and blessed and we want to give back.” In addition to his work with OSG, Cy is involved with ASIS, an international security organization of 35,000 members working in 143 countries. First introduced to ASIS in the 1990s, Cy has held local, regional, and international leadership positions within the organization. Cy has been a Trustee on the ASIS Foundation Board, a part of the organization that supports professional development among its members through funding research, grants, and scholarships from 2013-2019 and served as President in 2019. This has led to opportunities to speak at their global meetings. Cy was recipient of their Individual Philanthropy Award in 2017 and was honored in 2018 with the Meritorious Service Award, one of the organization’s highest honors. In January of this year, Cy was appointed a member of the Global Board

of Directors for ASIS International. What excites Cy the most these days in his work with ASIS is the speaking opportunities that have come from that. It’s his chance “to focus on mentoring and sharing whatever pearls of wisdom I may have.” For his leadership in establishing the Oatridge Security Group as a regional leader in the security industry, Cy was recently recognized an Entrepreneur of the Year for the Pacific Northwest. He is one of the top 10 finalists for the national award to be announced later this year. The award is representative of Cy’s perseverance, hard work, sacrifice, leadership, and commitment to putting people first. Over the last 17 years, OSG’s work on job sites, in workplaces, with military installations, and in their community has increased the safety of all those they have served. Over the years, Cy has never lost his love for sports, though today you’re more likely to find him playing a round of golf than playing shortstop in a baseball game. From his earliest days growing up in a suburb of Los Angeles to the unanticipated journey to LeTourneau to the company he leads today, Cy relies on the ingenuity at the heart of a LeTourneau graduate, and an athlete’s determination to just keep going and never give up.

SPRING 2020

snapshots

aviation

LETU’s College of Aviation and Aeronautical Science has a long tradition of excellence. Faculty are academically qualified and have world-class industry experience, including airline, corporate, missions, manufacturing, and military aviation. Our faculty have “been there and done that.” Their experience provides a unique richness to the classroom and laboratory. The dean, associate dean, department and program chairs each share what excites them about their academic field and advice they share with students. To learn more visit: letu.edu/snapshots

fredritchey

m.a.s. Dean, College of Aviation & Aeronautical Science | Professor, Aeronautical Science

“Take full advantage of your time as a student. What a blessing you have to be able to spend time with faculty who have spent years developing expertise in their field. Learn all you can from them.” Fred Ritchey is an LETU alum, having graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Missions with an Aviation Option and a Master of Science in Technology from UT Tyler. He began his career at LeTourneau in January of 1985 to teach and assist at the newly opened hangar. “I have loved aircraft and spacecraft for as long as I can remember. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, I witnessed the dawn of the jet age and the space race to land on the moon. I’m sure others may disagree, but I believe the Apollo 11 Moon Landing was the defining moment of the 20th century. What a thrill it was to watch it happen live. Even though there were no pilots in my immediate family, by high school I knew I wanted to be an aviator. I love the excellence and precision that the field of aviation demands. It is very rewarding to see an airplane that I have inspected and repaired return to dependable service for the pilots who will fly it.”

LETOURNEAU NOW

seanfortier

m.s.

Associate Dean, college of Aviation & Aeronautical Science | Chair, Department of Applied Aviation Sciences | Professor, Applied Aviation Sciences “The sun never sets on LETU’s College of Aviation because we have people around the globe serving Him in both and the corporate and commercial world. It’s exciting to have a part in that.” Sean Fortier holds a Bachelor of Science in Missionary Aviation Technology from Moody Bible Institute and a Master of Science in Systems Science from Louisiana State University. He has been a LeTourneau faculty member since the Spring of 1994. “There is much more to the education of the person than just academics. We strive to educate the whole person—the spiritual aspect of the person, the emotional aspect of the person, as well as the academic aspect of the person. It is a blessing to teach and interact with these students.”

brucechase

m.s. Chair, Department of Flight Science | Professor, Flight Science

“Aviation is fun and rewarding, but it also demands self-discipline and accuracy. The journey to pilot certificates will have difficult moments. Persevere.” Bruce Chase is an alum of LeTourneau, holding a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology. He received a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He began his career at LETU in 1992. “Airplanes make me excited about my academic field. I still look up when I hear one. I encourage students to pursue excellence in their lives, especially in the area of aviation.”

ruedischubarth

m.a.s.

Program Coordinator, Unmanned Aircraft Systems | Assistant Professor, Aeronautical Science

“Expect nothing, anticipate everything. In other words, your career will bring you to opportunities you may not have ever expected. If you expect a certain situation to occur, you’ll ignore opportunities at the expense of your expectations. However, if you anticipate the hand of God in your life and acknowledge that circumstances can and will change, you’ll be much more useful in the present moment.” Ruedi Schubarth graduated from LeTourneau with a Bachelor of Science in Flight Science and also holds a Master of Science in Aeronautics with a UAS concentration from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University. He began his career at LETU in 2014. “I am most excited about showing students how far we have come with programming computers to react in a predictable way to the unpredictable nature of God’s creation. Electronic systems can automatically navigate an aircraft and land it safely, and I really enjoy learning how that process works and passing that knowledge on to students.”

SPRING 2020

Teachers Year of the

Where Are They Now? LeTourneau University prides itself on graduating teachers not only ready for the classroom but also excelling by state standards. Many graduates of the School of Education have been recognized for their hard work and love for students by earning Student Teacher/Intern of the Year awards from the Texas Directors of Field Experience (TDFE) in the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE). Some of the former winners share stories of their time at LeTourneau University. LETU teacher education students have won this distinguished Student Teacher of the Year honor seven timesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;five times in the past decadeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which is an achievement unmatched by any other teacher education program in the state.

2017 CSOTTE Student Teacher of the Year

Courtney Matulis McCasland Algebra 1 - Gilmer High School, Gilmer ISD

I attended LeTourneau University from 2013-2017. When I began my college search, LeTourneau was a highly ranked academic university specifically the education department. I knew I wanted to attend a school that would provide me with the proper preparation for my future career as a teacher, and I wanted the opportunity to be a collegiate athlete. I knew I could continue my softball and academic career together at LETU while growing my spiritual life, too. LeTourneau was one of the few universities that combined these three things harmoniously. The education program at LETU gives its students the unique opportunity to see real classrooms and spend time in them during Field Experience. This hands-on approach so early in my college course work allowed me to determine what content area, grade level and type of school where I would like to teach in the future. Being able to make those decisions early helped me focus my attention on my goals of becoming the best high school math teacher I could be. Winning Student Teacher of the Year was an amazing experience. During the application process, I was able to implement forwardthinking ideas into my video lesson and share my own take on what high school math classrooms should look like. After finding out I was a recipient of the award, I gained a platform to speak about my college research on student-centered classrooms. Those opportunities were incredible to have so early in my teaching career. I use research-based practices daily in my classroom that I learned about during my time at LETU. We studied concepts like collaborative group work, student-centered activities and specialized grouping of students to achieve different goals in the classroom. I also learned how to love each student regardless of circumstances, and I am able to show my faith through my actions as a teacher. If someone is considering LeTourneau for their future university, they should understand that they will be attending one of the top schools in the state of Texas for preparing students to become teachers. The education, preparation, guidance and love they will gain from this university is unmatched. The content and curriculum at LETU are specifically designed to make students the best teachers they can be when they leave. If their desire is to excel in the field of teaching, LeTourneau is the place to achieve that goal. 44

LETOURNEAU NOW

TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

2013 CSOTTE Student Teacher of the Year

Cristian Driver

Geometry/Math Models & Athletics, Manvel High School, Alvin ISD I attended LeTourneau from 2008-2013, and I received a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with focuses in Mathematics, Education and Kinesiology. I heard about LeTourneau from the basketball coaches who were recruiting me, I came to visit and fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere of the school. I loved that it was a small school and the classes would be smaller so that I would get more individualized attention. It was also very important to me that I could be in an environment that would allow me to further my walk with Christ. The School of Education professors had a huge impact on my life and the way I approach teaching. Dr. Teel Borders, Dr. Ames and Dr. Stephens all pushed me in ways that got me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to discover my abilities that I do not believe I could have discovered on my own. Each one of those professors were tough on me, but took the time to have real, meaningful conversations with me about my potential and my direction. I learned from them how important it is to build relationships with students so they can see how much you care about them. Winning the Student Teacher of the Year was very surreal at the time. When I was doing my student teaching, I felt as if I had no idea what I was doing! Dr. Teel Borders was constantly telling me how great I was doing and was instilling confidence in me every time she came to observe me. Finally, she (lovingly) forced me into shooting a video entry for the competition. When we sent off the video, I did not have any expectations of winning, I was just glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something new. I have tried to apply everything I learned in the LeTourneau Teacher Education program, and it has shaped my teaching as a whole. Differentiating instruction is one thing that I always have in the back of my mind from my LETU coursework. I do my best to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and interests of each of my students so that I can maximize their learning potential. The most important skill I put into practice every day is relationship building. I make a great effort to let every student know that I am invested in not only their education, but in their lives as well. The more that the students feel a genuine connection with me, the more likely they are giving their highest level of effort in the classroom. I would encourage any student who is considering the Education program at LeTourneau to jump in and give it a shot. The program is rigorous but rewarding. I tell people constantly that I left college fully prepared to become a successful teacher because of the engaging and immersive Teacher Education program at LeTourneau. I would not be where I am today without my experience at LETU.

2018 CSOTTE Student Teacher of the Year

Nicole Mosley Warren First Grade - Elliot Elementary, Frisco ISD

I attended LeTourneau from 2014-2018 and received a degree in Early Childhood Education, EC6th with a minor in Reading. I originally chose LeTourneau for its amazing engineering program and volleyball team. Then, in the middle of my freshman year, I realized that I did not love engineering and my true calling was for teaching. During my time at LETU I was most impacted by the people. LeTourneau has wonderful professors, especially in the education department, who constantly work to make sure their students achieve their full potential. Winning the Student Teacher of the Year award helped give me the confidence to go into my first year of teaching. It gave me a confidence that I was a great teacher and could do great things for my students. The biggest thing I apply in my classroom that I learned at LETU is classroom management. It continues to be one of the most important factors in the classroom and without it, students will get little done. If someone is considering majoring in Education at LeTourneau, I will tell them that it will be challenging, but more importantly, they will have a lot of fun and meet amazing friends. SPRING 2020

A LU M N I N E WS & U P DAT E S

Nick Wetzel (’62 MES) has been retired for 10 years now with his wife, Bonnie, and says, “Life is great in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.”

Dale Hill (’69 WE) recently moved with his wife, Becky, to Seneca, South Carolina. Dale is the founder of Proterra Inc. His company designs and manufactures electric transit buses and electric charging systems.

Bill Anderson (’71 BI/MI) and his wife, Nanette “Nan” (’71 MI), will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, August 15, 2020. They met at LeTourneau in 1969, have three married children and eight grandchildren. Bill is now retired after 38 years in executive leadership in Christian book selling, which includes 24 years as president of the Christian Booksellers Association Int’l. He founded Bill Anderson Leadership Consulting, Inc., in 2009 and continues to be an executive mentor/advisor to CEO’s and board of directors. The couple lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Ralph Borthwick (’72 EE) returned to Ecuador for the winter 2019 to help in Christian radio, church work, and MK schools.

Terry Sampson (’73 ATBS/MT) in his retirement has taken on the position of chaplain for the Tulsa Fire Department. He and his wife, Vivian, live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and now have nine grandchildren!

Tom Pierce (’75 MABS/PE) is now retired. He and his wife, Ruth (Maxwell) Pierce (’76 MABS/CHBS) live in McLouth, Kansas.

Mark Friesen (’76 ATBS) has changed his occupation from aviation to missions. He now works in discipleship, counseling, and equipping

LETOURNEAU NOW

believers in proclaiming the Gospel in a foreign country.

Bradley “Brad” Erickstad (’81 ME) announces his retirement. He and his wife, Julie, live in Corpus Christi, Texas.

David Verwey (’84 MI) and his wife, Sue, are missionaries with Japan Mission. David has written a book, “Meeting the Challenge in Japan,” and it is available for free download at: japanmission. org. The book includes many testimonies and the fruit of the Japan Mission work over the years.

Tim Livengood (’86 WT) is a welding engineer at Boeing, and he and his wife, Valerie (Herrin) Livengood (’84 CS/HI) live in Carriere, Mississippi.

Eric Swartwout (’87 EE) has taken a position as adjunct professor for State University of New York/Jamestown Community College, Olene, New York, along with his job as senior control engineer at Eaton. He and his wife, Lynne, live in Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania.

Brian McIntyre (’89 WT) was recently promoted to Corporal with the City of Edmonds Police Department, Edmonds, Washington.

Paul Engelke (’90 BI/EN) has taken a position at OhioHealth as an RN. He and his wife, Carrie, live in Mansfield, Ohio.

Paul Wilson (’91 BUBS/ATBS) returned to Papua New Guinea to serve with New Tribes Mission, in partnership with Ethnos360 Aviation, March 2019. He does maintenance for their fleet of three Kodiak airplanes and one Bell LongRanger helicopter. He is there with his wife, Andrea, and children Phoebe (8) and Joshua (6).

Steve Straw (’93 ATBS) has returned to Gabon, Africa as part of his international mission work. He and his wife, Alace, are based at the Bongolo Hospital where they are helping to prepare for the impact of the pandemic. He said prayers would be appreciated.

Daniel Snow (’95 ATFL) is working at JAARS, Waxhaw, North Carolina, in maintaining the training aircraft used there for training missionaries that support JAARS aviation programs and Wycliffe Bible translation programs worldwide. He and his wife, Jen, and children Bethany (14), Ezra (11) and Annalise (9) live in Waxhaw, North Carolina.

Henry Soderlund (’96 ATBU) has been promoted to chief air safety investigator for Textron Aviation, Wichita, Kansas. He has been an aircraft accident investigator for Cessna/Textron since 1998.

Andrew “Andy” Spade (’96 HIPL) was elected to the Office of Prothonotary for Lancaster County,Pennsylvania, November 2019. He was sworn in for a four-year term on January 6, 2020. He and his wife, Kendra, and children Jacob and Carly live in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Rob Vernon (’96 ATBU) is the lead pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Vincent, Ohio. He is there with is wife, Emily, and children, Kayla (17), Reagan (16), Daisy (12), Lily (11), and Jocelyn (10).

Salem James (’99 ENE1) recently started a new job with Houston ISD as an English 3 Teacher.

Davis Merrell (’00 BBM) is now the public safety chair at Del Mar College. He and his wife, Glenda, live in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Murray “Eddie” Greer (’01 BBA) was named a fellow with the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and is President/CEO of Eddie Greer & Associates, Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

Tywon “Ty” Guy (’01 MBA) recently graduated from Walden University with a Doctor of Business Administration, finance concentration. He is now a professor of business in Fort Worth, Texas.

Michael Webber (’01) received a promotion to business process manager at J-W Power Company. He and his wife, Rebecca, and their children, Cheyenne (20), Michael (19), Joseph (12), Bentley (9) and Parker (5), live in Longview, Texas.

Leif Wickland (’01 CSBS) was recently honored for extraordinary contributions to his work and was named a “Rubi Fellow,” which is both an award and a title presented by The Rubicon Project, a Los Angeles-based company pioneering technology to impact the advertising industry. The Rubi Award is an inaugural award recognizing a lifetime achievement of innovation and drive that goes beyond the company to impact the entire industry and even the internet, at large. The Rubi

Fellow is the highest level of achievement and stature in the company’s technical ranks. Leif works on machine learning and intelligence as the heart of the company’s platforms. The large part of their data science work that makes it into their core platforms and production systems is due to Leif’s work, according to Rubicon Project Chief Technology Officer Tom Kershaw. “Leif is the glue that binds our science work to our core platforms; our dreams of how to make things better to the reality of what it takes to process hundreds of billions of transactions daily. In short, Leif is truly ‘an engineer’s engineer,’” Kershaw said. Leif represents the company’s engineering center in Bozeman, Montana, where he, his wife, Elizabeth (Bitikofer) Wickland (’01 EN) and daughter, Eliana, live.

Andy Seals (’02 ME) has recently been promoted to senior welding engineer and project manager at Acute Technological Services, Houston, Texas. He and his wife, Kristin, and girls Allie (10) and Aven (7) live in Whitehouse, Texas.

Tabatha Roper-Mitchell (’03 BBA) is now retired and lives in Pearland,

Texas.

Joel Carlson (’06 ASMS) has taken a position in aircraft maintenance at Above & Beyond Aviation/Hilcorp, Anchorage, Alaska.

Sherry Davis (’06 BBA) has taken a job at Iron Mountain as a mortgage solution specialist II. She now lives in Euless, Texas.

Jonathan Ridenour (’07 MJT) is now working for Axis Pipeline Construction Group, LLC, in the position of Engineering Group Manager. He lives in Kingwood, Texas.

Gordon Cooper (’08 ET) was recently promoted to Reliability

Electrical Engineer at Westlake Chemical, Longview,Texas.

Bob Ssekyanzi (’10 MBA) is the founder, owner, president & executive partner of Braf Business Consultants & Traders, Houston, Texas.

Marc Gravelle (’11 AFFS) recently took a pilot position with Alaska Airlines. Marc and his wife, Anisa, live in Seattle, Washington.

Leah Pinto (’11 BIS) was selected as one of the Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons for 2020 from the Space Foundation. Selection is based on teacher’s active promotion of space, science, and STEM education in the classroom and they can participate in the foundation’s virtual distance delivery education programs. Public recognition of the recipients was to be held March 30-April 2, 2020, at the Space Foundation’s 36 Space Symposium, Colorado Springs, CO. She teaches 7th grade Science and STEM at Gilmer ISD.

Joseph “Joey” Ramos (’11 ISBS) started his own business, CrossFit Artillery, four years ago in Tomball, Texas. He and his wife, Gayla, and children Brady (8) and Bailey (2) live in Hockley, Texas.

Jenny Adams (’12 PSYC) has taken a job as history teacher at Arrow Christian Academy. She and her husband, Joe, and boys Isaac (14), Aaron (12) and identical twins, Max and Zach (4) live in Lantana, Texas.

Clifford “Stephen” Johnson (’12 T4-8 TEACH) was promoted to

SPRING 2020

A LU M N I N E WS & U P DAT E S

social studies teacher and girls cross country/ soccer coach at Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Fort Worth, Texas.

Isaac Naatz (’12 BSMK) has been promoted to senior account manager for UPS, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He and his wife, Emily, live in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.

Jonathan Olson (’12 MT) recently won a 2019 Rental Magazine Editor’s Choice Award for Billy Goat Industries on a Billy Goat ARG1300H SelfPropelled Auger project he was part of. He says that without the training and skills he received at LETU, it would not have been possible. His excitement for working on new projects gives him the opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ in his workplace. He wanted students to be encouraged that its not what you get to create, but the projects are steppingstones to connect with people and what matters for the Kingdom! He and his wife, Madison (Pointer) Olson (’13 BSB), live in Kansas City, Missouri.

Shannon Lee (’16 LCDT-MA) was recently employed by Gateway Foundations-Dallas County, Lancaster, Texas, as a clinical supervisor.

John “Damon” Wooten (’16 BBA) has been promoted to area director, at Caregiver, Inc., New Braunfels, Texas. He and his wife, Sylvia, and children Bryson (7), Brooke (7), and Braden (5), live in Boerne, Texas.

Christopher Foreman (’19 MBA/MSL) is now the owner and operator of a franchise, Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services of The Woodlands-Spring, Texas. His wife, Anita Foreman (’14 Teach 4-8), is his managing partner, handling administrative duties and community outreach. The couple also owns Love Ink Engagements and Printing. The company manages printing for engagements,

LETOURNEAU NOW

manufactures original books, does custom printing, and designs and makes t-shirts. Chris and Anita live in Spring, Texas with their children Destini (19) and Christopher Lynn II (15).

Cassaundra Kenny (’19 MCI-MEd) and her husband, Kyle, purchased their first house together. She was also hired for her dream job as a K-2 literacy coach at Harford County Public Schools, Edgewood, Maryland.

BIRTHS

Michael Fine (’06 MGHR) and wife, Shaynee, welcomed their son, Aiden, weighing 7 lbs., and 20 ½” long, born on December 16, 2019 in Tomball, Texas. He joins his big sister, Elise (4). Michael is Director of Online Technologies at Lone Star College, Houston, Texas.

Jonathan (’07 ME) and Alyssa (Bates) Wolff (’08 ISBS) announce the birth of their daughter, Jane, July 18, 2019, 6 lbs. 5 oz. and 19 inches. Jane joins her siblings Natalie (11), Hadassah (9), Judah (6) and Caleb (3) at their home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Aaron Bearden (’08 DW) and wife, Emily, announce the birth of their first child, Keene, born October 19, 2019. Aaron is the Supervising Producer for the

Golf Channel, and they live in Winter Park, Florida.

Nathaniel Horton (’08 MJE) and wife, Kristen, welcomed Oliver James, March 28, 2020. Kristen was promoted April 1 to Major, USAF, and Nathaniel was selected for promotion to Captain June 17, 2020, Maryland Air National Guard.

Tyler Kaminski (’10 ME) and wife, Julie, announce the birth of Lillian Frances, born May 9, 2019. She joins siblings, Isaac (6), Wesley (4), and Stuart (2). Tyler is a Senior Engineer at Viking Engineering and they live in Tomball, Texas.

Ken Misiak (’11 AFMI) and wife, Jessica, announce the arrival of Chloe Skyler Lynn, born Dec. 29, 2019, weighing 7 lbs. and 20” long. She joins older brother, Henry. Ken has recently worked at Alaska Seaplanes, Juneau, Alaska, and with his experience from there, has passed the JAARS technical evaluation for AIM Air. They are currently attending the prefield orientation for AIM-Air at JAARS with hopes to move to Kenya in August/ September as missionaries despite the COVID-19 delay.

WEDDINGS

Ian Thompson (’19 MJE) and Bridey Davis (’19 KES) were married on Dec. 21, 2019. Ian is a welding engineer for ALS Maverick Testing Laboratories, Deer Park, Texas, and Bridey is a graduate student in Occupational Therapy at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. The couple lives in League City, Texas.

MEMORIALS

Albert “Marvin” Vogel (’57 IE) died on December 11, 2019, in Orange City, Iowa, at the age of 81. He is survived by his children, Douglas Vogel and wife, Jennifer; Mark Vogel and wife, Patricia; Lisa Vogel; Vangie (Vogel) Salminen and husband, Jason; five grandchildren, and siblings.

spanning over 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Janice; children Christy and husband, Greg; Tim and wife, Kristi; Mandy and husband, Jeremy; nine grandchildren, many relatives and numerous friends.

Kenneth “Ken” McKinley (’65 EN) died April 11, 2020 in Lindale, Texas. He loved teaching and mentoring and loved to mold young minds just as his father, the late Dr. Kenneth McKinley, longtime LETU Bible professor. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Deb; daughter Kristi Boer and husband, Jason; son Joshua; and two grandchildren.

Albert “Doug” Sanders (’75 BI) of Dunedin, Florida, died January 13, 2020 at the age of 93 and preceded his wife, Margaret, by five days when she died on January 18, 2020, at the age of 91. They were married for 72 years and are survived by five children and spouses; Rebecca & Jim Schwitters, Thomas & Nancy Sanders, John & Cindy Sanders, Melinda and Tom Banker and Mary and Don Wolfram, 12 grandchildren and their spouses, and 32 great-grandchildren.

James Brock (’61 BT) died March 23, 2020 in Seymour, Indiana. He was owner of Seymour Sheet Metal, a partner in a small construction company, formed Cinderfella Chimney Sweeps with a career

James “Jim” Tolson (’76 ET) of Hilliard, Oklahoma, died March

20, 2020. Jim was a proud Navy veteran, worked for 35 years in public service in Oklahoma where he held several positions. He is survived by his wife, Karla Ann; and grown children Laura Zsom; Jonathan and wife, Lisa; five grandchildren; other family members, and many dear friends.

Anthony “Tony” Zappasodi (’03 MABS) died Jan. 1, 2020. He

faithfully served LETU as Director of Housing and Business Operations where he touched the lives of thousands of students and colleagues. He is survived by his wife, Katie (Smiley) Zappasodi (’05 KES); three children; his parents; siblings and numerous other family members and friends.

Sam “Igloo” Lloyd (’05 ASFS) died, January 22, 2020, in Wasilla, Alaska after a 10-month battle with cancer. Sam participated in many activities at LETU but was most known for NIFA, playing all intermural sports, and enforcing the “open door” policy on his Dorm 41 floor and his home in Alaska. He was employed by Dominion Propeller, Anchorage, Alaska and remodeling homes was his passion. Another passion was his high school sweetheart/ wife, Danae; and his 4 boys adopted from Hungary, Ernö, Dáni, Gábi and KZ, by whom he is survived. They request your stories, photos or videos of Sam’s 37 years be sent to: PO Box 871425 Wasilla, Alaska or

SPRING 2020

A LU M N I N E WS & U P DAT E S

samanddanae@gmail.com. Sam also had a YouTube channel: Lloyd Family Productions for viewing and some final words: https://youtu. be/BAG49_fKuSI. He lived his favorite scripture during his last days, Luke 6:20-49, and wanted to share it.

Raymond “Ray” Morris (’05 BBA) died March 20, 2020, after a nine-year battle with cancer, in Springtown, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Deana; daughter, Brandy Goodman and husband, Chris; son, Paul; stepdaughter, Lindsey Brittain; stepson, Jared Brittain and wife, Paige; five grandchildren; his mother, Evelyn Ann Leggett; siblings and additional extended family.

Please share your Class Notes & Photos with us on the Alumni Association web page, letu.edu/classnotes or by emailing Gail Ritchey at gailritchey@letu.edu .

The loss of a loved one, friend or colleague often inspires us to ensure that their memory lives on. Many people find that supporting LETU is an ideal way to honor someone who has passed away. Gifts made “in memoriam” offer a lasting honor to a loved one while providing family and friends with the satisfaction of knowing they have helped others. If you would like to give a memoriam to LETU, please call 1-800-259-5388 or donate online at letu.edu/give. The family will be notified of your generosity when a memoriam is made.

LETOURNEAU NOW

SPRING 2020

COVID-19

In the midst of a global pandemic faith in Christ empowers the LeTourneau Community to be leaders in every workplace and every nation.

By Janet Ragland, Leah Gorman and Dainel Ostendorff, D. Phil

handshakes and face touching and cleaning work surfaces—all to help he first case of coronavirus on U.S. soil stop the spread of the virus. Daily cleaning and maintenance efforts on was confirmed in Washington State on campus expanded—especially in shared spaces and high traffic areas on January 21—a man recently returned campus. from China. The world watched as Committed to prayer, Lunsford and other LETU leaders sought the pandemic mushroomed globally God’s guidance, not in fear but with confidence to make difficult through the month of February. decisions to protect the safety of students, faculty and staff. By Monday, Person-to-person contact allowed March 16, all LETU employees were told to work remotely from the contagion to grow as many, who home. As the virus continued to spread, LETU extended Spring Break had been exposed to the virus but did for students into a second week, made the difficult decision for students not yet show symptoms, unknowingly to not return to campus and to close residence halls by Sunday, March infected others. Pandemic growth models alarmed politicians and the 22, while adhering to social distancing protocols. public, leading to strict “social distancing” guidelines. “This national emergency is an extraordinary opportunity to February 29 marked the first coronavirus death in the United States. love God and love others,” Lunsford said in his March 17 update. As the crisis grew, LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford and other “I am seeing your love for God and for our LETU leaders kept a keen eye on the community in your energy and your ingenuity situation, meeting frequently to assess how as we address unprecedented challenges. Thank the growing threat could impact university you for your patience as each day brings new operations and the safety of students, faculty government guidelines and the need to change and staff. the way we are operating as a university.” Lunsford’s first coronavirus message Faculty worked quickly to prepare for to campus March 4 established a tone of all classes to go online on Monday, March confidence that the university was closely 23. LETU suspended in-person flight and monitoring the situation and that, while maintenance operations at the Abbott Aviation no existing cases had been reported in Center and McKinney campus and field East Texas, health-related plans to serve experiences in other disciplines. the campus were already being discussed. “We will provide our 3,000 students an He shared the official coronavirus websites - dale lunsford exceptional higher education, but we will need for the Center for Disease Control, Texas to work very differently in these days to accomplish this,” Lunsford Department of State Health Services and World Health Organization said. “The most loving thing we can do now is to remain with only and told anyone feeling ill to stay home. He encouraged prayer for the online course delivery this term. We will not return to in-person sick and for medical professionals responding to those in need. classes this spring. We will close our residence halls and postpone or The novel coronavirus, named COVID-19, gained significant global and national attention while LETU students and faculty were on Spring cancel all significant events planned, including Homecoming and Commencement.” Break March 9-16. Normally after Spring Break, LETU classes would Before Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide directive for resume on campus. That would not happen. all Texans to shelter-in-place, LETU’s Critical Incident Response Team The City of Longview reported its first case of coronavirus by the (CIRT) had already been preparing for that possibility and advised time Lunsford’s March 11 coronavirus update announced LETU employees to retrieve any critical work materials from their offices canceled all gatherings of 100 people or more, including all LETU before the deadline. chapel services and Belcher Center performances. Campus Pastor Dr. “We recognize the impact these unprecedented circumstances have Pat Mays later informed students that while Spiritual Formation Credits on our work and personal lives,” Lunsford said. “Thank you for your for the Spring 2020 semester were suspended, the university remained continued commitment to the University mission, the incredible level committed to student spiritual growth. of flexibility and agility, the focus on delivering a great LeTourneau University travel was canceled—especially to countries labeled education and for the support and love that you are providing others. by the CDC as Level 2 (Japan) or Level 3 (China, Iran, Italy, South We will navigate these circumstances together and continue to pray that Korea) hot spots of virus spread. A 14-day self-isolation was imposed God will help and protect those in need and that He will be glorified in on all travelers returning home, including over a dozen LETU students our response and service to others.” returning from a Spring Break trip to Mexico. Students and faculty Communicating the myriad details each daily decision required was sponsors self-isolated on campus in Penn Hall—which they quickly no small feat but was imperative to university leaders who provided renamed “Penndemic Hall” for the isolation period. clear and frequent—often daily—email messages that also were posted Communicating clearly and often, Lunsford shared CDC guidelines to the university’s coronavirus webpage. Along with Lunsford, LETU about frequent handwashing, using hand sanitizers, avoiding

“This national emergency is an extraordinary opportunity to love God and love others”

SPRING 2020

Provost Dr. Steve Mason and Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Kristy Morgan also provided timely and detailed updates. In President Lunsford’s April 2 COVID-19 update, he acknowledged April would be a difficult month. “Yet April is a month, with God’s grace, that we continue our work at LETU to give students an exceptional Christian polytechnic higher education,” he said. “Campus is quiet, but our faculty and staff are very busy and focused on serving students. I am very impressed and very grateful for these professionals.” The LETU Board of Trustees hosted its annual April board meeting virtually from across five time zones to help Lunsford navigate the

university safely through this significant time. Lunsford said the board discussed contingency plans for a variety of scenarios for the academic year to come. Messages of gratitude came to Lunsford from parents and students for how the university was handling the crisis. “They know you are working hard for them,” Lunsford said. “Thank you for the grace you are giving to each other as we learn to work and teach in new ways. And thank you for living out Matthew 6:33, seeking God as we trust Him to meet our needs.”

FACULTY and student demonstrate FLEXIBILITY IN PANDEMIC

Making the transition to the online course structure presented its own set of challenges. How to handle lab components for some courses? How to continue to engage with students virtually? How will testing and grading be accomplished? With true LeTourneau ingenuity, however, all courses were successfully transitioned to online learning and classes were able to resume.Dr. Scott Anson, LETU engineering department chair and professor of mechanical engineering, said the faculty in his department had been thinking about transitioning to online before Spring Break.“We hoped it was unlikely and did not expect it to last the rest of the semester, but quickly bought into the decision,” he said.Victoria Davies, Mechanical Engineering junior, said that the COVID-19 season has both challenged her and made her grow, “If someone asked me if I wanted to go through this season I would have said, ‘no way’. But then, that is how God often works. Allowing me to walk through a time that I would never have chosen or asked dr. Scott anson for because He knows it will mature me.” Dr. Jessie Wheatly, associate professor of nursing, said the nursing department was already using some online components.“Our nursing courses already used a lot of electronic submissions, online discussions, online assignments and online testing via Canvas,” she said. “I feel blessed that we had the opportunity to walk the students through their own technological hurdles earlier in the semester. There are challenges regarding how toget the clinical aspects of what we do online. Without the face-to-face interactions the challenge requires us all to think outside the box.”The transition to online learning has not been

LETOURNEAU NOW

Dr. Jessie wheatly

without its challenges.“The most difficult thing regarding changing was the short time frame that we had to get ready,” said Lois Knouse, department chair and associate professor for mathematics. “I made videos of lectures for my students; it is very interesting lecturing to an empty classroom. However, it works well.”Anson said there have been some frustrating moments.“I can’t see all of my students to assess their well-being and topic comprehension,” he said. “It seems that we are all working harder and longer, while getting less done.”Even through the frustrations, students are still able to “see” their instructors and interact with them using several video conferencing platforms. This time has also presented the opportunity to think about teaching and learning in a diferent way.“I have received emails that students like my videos, and this experience has given me thoughts about Fall 2020,” Knouse said. “I am thinking about trying some part-residential, part-online hybrid courses.”Davies said that being forced to communicate at a distance has made her realize how important communication is. “After many sessions of online class, phone calls with friends, FaceTime meetings and chats with neighbors from six feet away, I have realized that absolutely nothing can replace face to face communication,” she said.Anson said this type of learning environment has allowed him to meet students’

OUR GOD IS BIGGER needs when dealing with the changes they have faced.“This has really helped us to focus students’ eforts on core topics in core classes, so we could scale back the work to accommodate what we call increased ‘life load’ such as relocating, health concerns, internet limits, etc.,” he said. In an uncertain time, flexibility, faith and collaboration are a few words that resoundwith many. “God has been very faithful, and my colleagues are incredible—they encourage me, help me see more sides of any issue we are facing and point each other to Christ’s unwavering faithfulness,” Anson said.“I have spent a lot of time reflecting on how God brings His good and perfect will out of every situation.” Dr. Lois Knouse Davies said. “I realized that all I really need is my faith and my family. My family is so precious to me and I know I can weather anything with them by my side,” she said. One inspiration that can be taken from this time is that the learning at LeTourneau University does not just happen in a classroom or lab

Dr. Byron Lichtenberg & Dr. Gitogo Churu with students

within four walls. The ChristianPolytechnic University is anywhere our students are taking part and interacting with faculty.“Faculty continue to connect with students to speak hope and life in Jesus Christ,” Anson said.“This is a temporary season. Students, faculty and staf will return to campus, learning will take place, praising and thanking God for all the lessons learned will happen. LeTourneau University will persevere and continue its mission of every workplace, every nation.”

ALUMNI SHINE IN ‘EVERY WORKPLACE, EVERY NATION’ DESPITE PANDEMIC A 1989 computer science and technology alumnus Paul Norton in LETU alumni in workplaces around the world have continued to find opportunities to serve and love others during the global coronavirus the Seattle area also shared in mid-March that his community is nearly shut down. pandemic. “Restaurants are closing,” he said. “The zoo and aquarium have One 1971 mechanical engineering alumnus Randall Matthewson closed, and Seattle is eerily quiet. . . So much uncertainty really has and his wife, Alice, who live north of Seattle both tested positive for people shaken. They need us to be the salt and light we are called to be COVID-19 early on, and both have since recovered. . . . even if we do it over the phone.” 1996 mechanical engineering alumnus Matt LeTourneau University alumni continue to Knighton, who lives near them and works for “We hold the make an impact for Christ, whether near the Boeing said in mid-March that his mother and campus in Longview, or across the globe in hardher best friend also tested positive. His dad is livelihoods of hit Italy, where 2004 English major Bethan Bassett recovering from open heart surgery and three of 70,000 Washington- and her husband live in Milan, where they run their church members have also tested positive. Bassett Biomechanics, a biomechanics training “We are in step 10 of a 12-step protocol area workers in and support business. that could see the borders of the state shut this As life in Italy began to shut down, and the week,” he said. “All non-emergency travel outside our hands,” he government encouraged people to stay home, the home could be curtailed for weeks, if not said. “May God many continued their normal activities. She months.” reported that as things continued to get worse in The pandemic is having its effect on Boeing, grant us wisdom, Italy, she developed a fever and difficulty breathing where he serves in a leadership role. on March 18. because no one is “We hold the livelihoods of 70,000 “We’ve been following every single rule that the Washington-area workers in our hands,” he said. prepared for this.” government has issued, but when I reviewed my “May God grant us wisdom, because no one is prepared for this.” - matt knighton movements over the 14 days before my symptoms SPRING 2020

began, my heart sank,” she said. “I’d been to the grocery store and the mall and the dentist and my daughter’s orthodontist. We’d had a total of eleven people over to our house.” “I potentially came into contact with hundreds of people,” she said. “And yes, I washed my hands frequently and tried not to touch my face, but I picked up a bug from someone, and I potentially passed that bug on to others, possibly to others whose symptoms could be lifethreatening.” While she rebounded, she reflected on the impact that COVID-19 had on the community around her and what she would have done differently. “I wish we had made the choice to self-quarantine before we were required to,” she said. “I wish I had taken this situation more seriously even when I felt completely healthy. Now, Italian officials are unanimous: Stay at home! But three weeks ago, some were still encouraging people to go out and support local businesses or to try to go about life as normally as possible. In hindsight, I wish I had erred on the side of caution. “I also want to add my voice to a growing chorus of people all over the world who have COVID-19 symptoms but haven’t been tested,” she said. “The true number of cases is probably much higher than we know.” Indeed, while the numbers of known infected is now over 2 million, experts agree the actual number is much higher. A LeTourneau engineering alumnus is using his ingenuity and skill to support frontline healthcare providers around the world by meeting the growing needs for personal protection equipment (PPE). When the pandemic began, LETU alumnus Jonathan Palmer, a 2007 mechanical engineering graduate, reached out to a local hospital near his company’s global headquarters outside Sacramento. He spearheaded an initiative to replicate a face shield the hospital was

already using and delivered 700 face shields and 1,000 eye shields to the hospital within days. Palmer is president of Autometrix, a manufacturer of cutting solutions for rolled goods—from fabric to carbon fiber. Founded 40 years ago by Palmer’s father, John, the company is committed to family, passion and innovation, using the latest in digital technology and automation to make products for use around the world with distribution centers in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. To enable other manufacturers to make N95 masks, face shields, disposable gowns, Autometrix made the design files and resources available free on its website at [www.autometrix.com/ppe](http://www. autometrix.com/ppe). LETU alumni working around the world rely on these kinds of personal protective equipment every day. Rachelle (Warfel) Davis, a 2015 health sciences alumna, is one of many LETU alumni who are serving in the medical field on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. She said the last two weeks of March were quieter than normal at the hospital where she works as people rescheduled elective surgeries and shelter-in-place orders were implemented. However, by early April, she saw patient numbers increase. “Half of my patients in the last two shifts were respiratory patients,” she said on April 2. “This makes it more challenging to get work done quickly as we have to go through the tedious process of gowning up and then removing everything before seeing our other patients.” The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges on many fronts, cancelled events, changed how students learn but one truth remains constant; God is in control and will see everyone through the difficult times.

For more information on how LeTourneau is following God’s lead during the COVID-19 pandemic visit letu.edu/coronavirus

LETOURNEAU NOW

SPRING 2020 Candidates for Graduation FOR ASSOCIATE, BACCALAUREATE, AND MASTER’S DEGREES

THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Bachelor of Science

Stanley K. Coppinger, Ph.D., Dean

Associate of Science Associate of Science in Criminal Justice, A.S. William Jeffery Bragg ^ Jacksonville, Texas

Bachelor of Arts English Language and Literature, B.A. Colin Reed Holbrook **

Naples, Texas

History and Political Science, B.A. And English Language and Literature, B.A. Micaela René Crowhurst - ** Flower Mound, Texas

Biology, B.S. Kathryn Beverly Baker - *** Riley Ann Blok ** Connor Scott DeJager *** Christian Tracy Farris ** Nicholas Ross Leonard, II *** Annabelle Elizabeth Malinowski - ** Megan Sue Perez - *** Payton Nicole Pierce Mikayla Jean Thomas Chemistry, B.S. Taylor Rose Zimmermann Leddy De Lieve Ansanay

Apex, North Carolina Kyle, Texas San Jose, California Lucas, Texas Kilgore, Texas Mansfield, Texas Flower Mound, Texas Sulphur Springs, Texas Kilgore, Texas

Anaheim Hills, California Kilgore, Texas

Chemistry - Biological Concentration, B.S. Sion Wyn Gowing Longview, Texas Tyler James Wernli Montgomery, Texas SPRING 2020

Communication â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Integrated Media Management B.S., and Christian Ministry, B.A. Jessica Anna Cleveland *** Longview, Texas

Kinesiology, B.S. Lizeth Alvarado Jaila Olivia Marie Leaven

Computer Information Systems, B.S. Brandon Lee Deaton * + Richard Henry Haymaker *** Joshua Paul Powell

Kinesiology, B.S. And Theological Studies, B.S. Luke Michael Ludwig Spring, Texas

ONGRATULATIONS

Computer Science, B.S. Stephanie Nicole Brooks Ian Christopher Eggleston Lisa Anne Helbig ** Joshua Philip Osterhus Cecilia Maria Pichard * Johnathan Joshua Schemenaur *** Nolan Marshall Stidham

Hallsville, Texas Hennessey, Oklahoma Madison, Maine

Haltom City, Texas Houston, Texas Sicklerville, New Jersey Marysville, Washington Fairfield, California Fort Worth, Texas Star, Idaho

Computer Science - Game Development Concentration, B.S. Nathan Tyler Berlandier * San Clemente, California Daniel Ruben Castro Longview, Texas Stephen Nathaniel Mills + Longview, Texas Jacob Paul Porter - Rockport, Texas Nicholas James Sharrett - *** Mint Hill, North Carolina Computer Science - Network Security Concentration, B.S. Nicholas Gerard Faul Waynesville, Ohio Computer Science and Engineering, B.S. Harilanja Mahenintsoa Ravelomanantsoa - ** Antananarivo, Madagascar Nicholas Gage Rowan ** The Colony, Texas Konnor Donn Timmons - * Longview, Texas Computer Science and Engineering Technology, B.S. Christopher R. Carrillo Celina, Texas Scott C. Stoltzfus Longview, Texas Criminal Justice, B.S. Samantha R. Akers Randolph Teddy Bogba Joshua Ryan Buck Lauren Havins Angelia L. Johnson Robyn Dianne Littleton Gustavo Martinez * Shawn D. Young

Manor, Texas Indianapolis, Indiana Hereford, Texas Holliday, Texas Tyler, Texas Gilmer, Texas Princeton, Texas Sugarland, Texas

Cyber Security, B.S Ian Jeffrey Myers

Media, Pennsylvania

LETOURNEAU NOW

Longview, Texas Sour Lake, Texas

Kinesiology - Exercise Science Concentration, B.S. Levi Louis Crook ** Reno, Nevada Olivia Ifeyinwa Eweni * Tyler, Texas Amber Beth Fillbrandt *** Humble, Texas Kinesiology - Sports Management Concentration, B.S. QuocAnh Nguyen * Hanoi, Vietnam Curtis William Wells Linden, Texas Mari Elizabeth Zeitlow ** Longview, Texas Mathematics, B.S. Chad Nathan Driscoll - ** Elizabeth Marie Lick - ***

Tokorozawa, Japan Murrieta, California

Political Science - National Security Concentration, B.S. Maria Katharine Waldthausen Longview, Texas

Bachelor of Criminal Justice Criminal Justice, CRIJ Jayden Dwaine Banks Kyle Douglas Barnes Sidney Nicole Mudd Gabrielle Reed Maria C. Simoneaux Maycie Walton

Spring, Texas Anahuac, Texas McKinney, Texas Mesquite, Texas Tyler, Texas Conroe, Texas

Criminal Justice- Human Trafficking Concentration and Homeland Security Concentration, B.S. Maddison Lee Brackenreg Melbourne, Australia

Bachelor of Human Services Bachelor of Human Services, BHS Mackenzie Shea Barnard Casandra Davis Baylee Michelle Dunn Breanna Evans * Caryn Jackson Oglevie Adrienne Nichole Jimmerson Christina Monique Jones Ashley Nicole Rowland Samantha Lynn Short

Burnet, Texas Diana, Texas Port Arthur, Texas Andrews, Texas Athens, Texas Lindale, Texas Houston, Texas Tyler, Texas Grand Prairie, Texas

Sabrina R’e Meek Westfall Georgia Plashette Winston

Nacogdoches, Texas Houston, Texas

THE SCHOOL OF AVIATION AND AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE Fred L. Ritchey, M.S., Dean

McKinney, Texas Baton Rouge, Louisiana Kansas City, Missouri

Mission Aviation - Flight Science Concentration, B.S. Andrew Garrett Maupin Euless, Texas Terrence Benjamin Merry *** Le Mars, Iowa Mission Aviation - Maintenance Concentration, B.S. Brittany Louise Rhodes York Springs, Pennsylvania William Donald White *** Scottsville, Kentucky

Bachelor of Science Aviation Maintenance Science, B.S. Daniel Robert Allen + Patrick Michael Millsap + Jonathan David O’Donnell

Margie Morgan Ngoc Duy Nguyen + Chedel LaTrese Townsend

Marshall, Texas Corona, California Bradenton, Florida

Mission Aviation - Maintenance Concentration, B.S. And Theological Studies, B.S. Colton John Gehman, * Hot Springs, South Dakota

Aviation Maintenance Science - Electrical Technology Concentration, B.S. Isaac Allan Burkhart *** Flowery Branch, Georgia

Professional Flight - Aviation Maintenance Concentration, B.S. Jeremy Tyler Bailey ** Baytown, Texas Matthew D. Dietz Fairview, Texas Armon Nicholas Khaleghi Mukilteo, Washington Andrew Whitney Moore * Parker, Texas Austin Bryce Turner Modesto, California Benjamin Milam White *** Tyler, Texas Yoshitaka Yoshiyasu Houston, Texas

Aviation Maintenance Science - Maintenance Management Concentration, B.S. Christian Taylor Whitney * Hawkins, Texas Aviation Management - Aircraft Dispatch Concentration, B.S. Jose Rafael Matos Cypress, Texas Aviation Management, B.S. Jesus R. Cuellar, Jr. * Steven Robert Jennings Mason Phillip McGinty Jake Nazzaro Victoria Anne Tiesenga ** Henry Eugene Barrentin Wooten +

Mission, Texas Eagan, Minnesota Wheaton, Illinois Avenel, New Jersey Kansas City, Missouri Grapeland, Texas

Aviation Management - Professional Pilot Concentration, B.S. Nathan James Biles ** New Caney, Texas Joshua Taylor Clemons Keller, Texas Paul-Eric Hollis Hansen * Hamilton, Missouri Joshua Chauncey Hollin *** Celina, Texas Joshua Michael Kelly Richardson, Texas Reed Allen McGregor The Woodlands, Texas Claire Elizabeth Rhine Grover Beach, California Romeo Edmundo Serpas Houston, Texas Erica Marguerite Swenson Rockford, Illinois Aviation Studies, B.S. Shaeban Hicks

Alexandria, Virginia

Professional Flight, B.S. Nicholas Daniel Caine Alice Joy Huseland - Donavon G. Taves

Houston, Texas Spokane, Washington Monroe, Louisiana

Remotely Piloted Aircraft – Technician Concentration, B.S James Marshall Chase * Longview, Texas Juaquin Lazaro Salazar Red Oak, Texas Samuel William Worcester * Ione, California

THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS R. Van Graham, J.D., Dean

Bachelor of Science General Business - Human Resources Concentration, B.S. Michael Stephen Crawford ** Longview, Texas Health Care Management, B.S. Gabrielle Flinn ** Brandie Graves Mamie Lynn Handy **

Diana, Texas Longview, Texas Longview, Texas

SPRING 2020

Kassidy Alexandria Laird Andrea Elyce Paramore Anitria Michelle Stigers Clayton L. Westmoreland Twameeka Williams

Pearland, Texas Longview, Texas Houston, Texas Lancaster, Texas Lancaster, Texas

Bachelor of Business Administration

ONGRATULATIONS

Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting Major, BBA Michael Anthony Butz * + Longview, Texas Gina Andrea Joule De La Garza *** McAllen, Texas Taylor Michelle Hopkins *** Harleton, Texas Joel Matthew Montgomery Garland, Texas Nathaniel West Houston, Texas Shelby Delynn Youngblood Jefferson, Texas Bachelor of Business Administration, BBA Walter Clinton Bayerle *** Houston, Texas Lorri Lynn Goddard ** Renton, Washington Julissa H. Grayless * Cypress, Texas Jennifer Ann Jordan North Richland Hills, Texas Casi Lynne Lide-McCoy Canton, Texas LaTonya Monique McQuillon Houston, Texas Glynis Miller * San Antonio, Texas Kelli Catherine Sonnier Lake Charles, Louisiana Bachelor of Business Administration - General Business, BBA - Finance Undram Munkhbat Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Andrew Steven Reid Granbury, Texas Austin Michael Smith ** North Richland Hills, Texas Idertsogt Sukhbold Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Bachelor of Business Administration - General Business, BBA Christopher Byrnes II Center, Texas Wilson Sheperd Day Tomball, Texas Matthew Carl Lowery Frisco, Texas Bachelor of Business Administration - Human Resource Management, BBA Genesis V. Perez ** Kingwood, Texas LaQueda Ricks ** Gonzales, Louisiana Kelli Billings Snider Tomball, Texas Nila Williams Pearland, Texas Bachelor of Business Administration - Management Concentration, BBA

LETOURNEAU NOW

Adetoyese David Ademola Alicia Sophia Griscom ** Amerti Mesay Oli ** Greta Denise Parrish ** Hannah Marie Penney *** Nathan Cole Roberts ** Lauren Wood Chandler Scott Young ***

Katy, Texas Coatesville, Pennsylvania Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Missouri City, Texas Whitney, Texas Longview, Texas Brownsboro, Texas Tatum, Texas

Bachelor of Business Administration - Non-Profit Concentration, BBA Bonnie Cooper Garland, Texas Ray Eugene Newman ** Tyler, Texas Sandy Valeska Vautherot *** + ^ Lantana, Texas

Bachelor of Business Management Bachelor of Business Management, BBM Tiffany Black Dallas, Texas Aliecia Margay Callison ** Longview, Texas Matthew Roland Chavez *** Houston, Texas Annjeanetta Coleman Forney, Texas Janet Lynn Daniels Hagerstown, Maryland Carrie Lynn Deramus ** Diana, Texas Cory James Duhon * Spring, Texas Eric Ferguson *** Hurst, Texas Daniel C. Flinn III *** Diana, Texas Richard Lee Haynes, II + Marshall, Texas Amy Higginbotham Ore City, Texas John Dietrich Hollrah + Longview, Texas Carla Ibanez Jimenez Katy, Texas Thomas Joe McKeand, III Tyler, Texas Robert R. McKenzie + Burnet, Texas Garrett L. Page St. Augustine, Florida Joe Charles Parnell Quitman, Texas Edwin Rodriguez Benbrook, Texas Alexis Zhanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;e Walter Dallas, Texas

THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Stanley K. Coppinger, Ph.D., Dean

Associate of Education Associate of Education, AEDU Samantha Kaye Thomas

Dallas, Texas

Associate of Interdisciplinary Studies Associate of Interdisciplinary Studies, AIS Audrey Fenton Bjerke Oak Leaf, Texas Ella Etter Midlothian, Texas Mya Janae Freeman Desoto, Texas Tanya Michelle Hickman Lufkin, Texas Jordan Kiefer Ovilla, Texas Mark A. Nicholas Oak Leaf, Texas Jaden Elizabeth Parker Tatum, Texas Rachel A. Quintana Glenn Heights, Texas Tangela Reagor Dallas, Texas Nicholas F. Rodgers Duncanville, Texas Ashley Small Melissa, Texas Bachelor of Science Interdisciplinary Studies, B.S. Rachel Iyanu Alexander * Rebekah Marie Anderson Taylor Morgann Brent Montrika Myesha Brown * Belinda Connally *** Sheena DeAnn Crosson *** Kennedi Elizabeth Dillow Jacob Christopher Faubion Darcie Mignon Fletcher *** ^ Junia Matsuda French *** Alexia Funk *** Audrey Nicole Galindo * Patsy Rene Garner * Guadalupe Gonzalez Jami Nicole Hammond * Stephanie Nicole Hearnsberger * Kalynn Janaye Hudman *** Chaz Jackson Bonnie Jones Samuel Thomas Kriebel * Casey Lee Angel Deion Lewis Sandra Christina Maldonado ** Carlo Michael Marino III Michelle Vivian Moncada ** Kourtney Money Tiffany L. Moore Caroline Ashley Pop *** Corey D. Puckett Amy Gayle Richardson ** Shanelle Perez Elizabeth D. Rabago ** Fairy J. Simon

Longview, Texas Sandpoint, Idaho Pasadena, Texas Wake Village, Texas Georgetown, Texas Haskell, Texas Pasadena, Texas McKinney, Texas Henderson, Texas Longview, Texas Lake Jackson, Texas Humble, Texas Tyler, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Lufkin, Texas Gladewater, Texas Longview, Texas New Waverly, Texas Katy, Texas Brookston, Indiana Tatum, Texas Houston, Texas Killeen, Texas Sunnyvale, Texas Sugar Land, Texas Gilmer, Texas Killeen, Texas Rockwall, Texas Longview, Texas Longview, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Humble, Texas Mount Enterprise, Texas

Kristen Sims Cindia Sylva * Cameron Rae Taylor *** Morgan Lee Taylor *** Nancy Garcia Villegas *** Virginia Walker Paula Warrick *** Natasha Nikole Wright - Carlette Laverne Yett Maycee Elizabeth Zeitlow **

Clyde, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Huffman, Texas Huffman, Texas Sugar Land, Texas Richmond, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Decatur, Texas Longview, Texas Longview, Texas

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, BIS Merissa Marie Cabrera ** Houston, Texas Miranda Keen Gilmer, Texas Jennifer Kellee Jedlick *** + ^ Hughes Springs, Texas Alicen Renee King Cypress, Texas

THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Steven K. Starrett, Ph.D., Dean

Bachelor of Science Engineering - Biomedical Concentration, B.S. Natalie Michelle Dottle - ** Ambato, Ecuador Aidan Matthew Hagemann ** San Antonio, Texas Ali Macal Hawkins Omaha, Texas Jacob L. Landreth - ** Yucaipa, California Daniel Jacob Marino * Sunnyvale, Texas Collin Joseph McManus * Ennis, Texas Drew Wayne Miles Driftwood, Texas Collin James Patterson Kaufman, Texas Karley Nicole Patterson Edinburg, Texas Andrew Spencer * Commercial Point, Ohio Engineering - Civil Concentration, B.S. Benjamin Glenn Cappella Castle Rock, Colorado Callie Grace Clark * Longview, Texas Matthew Cross *** Grass Valley, California James David Harling ** Perkasie, Pennsylvania Jimmie Vaughn Henson Jr. ** Sunnyvale, Texas Andrew Jesse Scott Larson Show Low, Arizona Christian Kyle Mijangos Guatemala City, Guatemala Austin Daniel Nikkel Vermillion, South Dakota

SPRING 2020

Miles Cordell Pearson Ryan Christopher Rosen *** Haden Wayne Simmons

Diana, Texas Fullerton, California Elysian Fields, Texas

Engineering - Computer Concentration, B.S. Byron Henry Coffin, V *** Irmo, South Carolina Mark Daniel Hegreberg Crystal Lake, Illinois Jacob Daniel Kelsey Lincoln, Nebraska

ONGRATULATIONS

Engineering - Electrical Concentration, B.S. Dillon Craig Carroll Duncanville, Texas Cade Michael Herrington * Friendswood, Texas Daniel Joel Lopez Bishop, Texas Austin Trent Sawatsky ** Greenville, Texas Mark Daniel Zakula San Antonio, Texas Engineering - Materials Joining Concentration, B.S. Hayley Alexis Anguiano Tomball, Texas Matthew Marshall Barber Houston, Texas Joel Isaac Beckham Rochester Hills, Michigan Daniel Myron Beggs Hawkins, Texas William Isaac Bradshaw Longview, Texas Kaleb Daniel Gabbert ** Flower Mound, Texas Shane Garrett Goslin * Bakersfield, California Engineering Technology - Aeronautical Mechanical Concentration, B.S. Dalton Beiler Stoltzfus Weyers Cave, Virginia Rebecca Ruth Vaughn Georgetown, Texas Engineering Technology - Electrical Concentration, B.S. Brett Anthony Corbett Whitehouse, Texas Malik Tyrell Nelson Longview, Texas Engineering Technology - Material Joining Concentration, B.S. James Taylor Johnson - ** Pewaukee, Wisconsin Melanie Marie Shempert * Austin, Texas William Richard Thomas III + Henderson, Texas Engineering Technology - Mechanical Concentration, B.S. Noah James Mahoney Austin, Texas Daniel Patrick Larner Flower Mound, Texas Hans Krystian Mortensen Sugar Land, Texas Jonathan Charles Sanders *** Lyndonville, Vermont Engineering Technology - Mechanical Concentration, B.S. And Engineering Technology - Electrical Concentration, B.S. David Stanley Tixier *** Longview, Texas

LETOURNEAU NOW

Mechanical Engineering, B.S. Taylor Hudson Adamek Quincy James Adams * Hannah Lauren Bergh - ** Weston Royce Caley ** Ancel Henning Carson * Daniel Westphal Channon Mason Howard Chapman Starr Brianne D’Auria - *** Jephthah Robert Eernisse * Zachary Alan Falkenberg *** Jared Fick *** Joseph Lee Fields, IV Joseph Donald Galetka Emily Anne Gibbons ** Brandon Michael Grant ** Ruth Elise Holland - Lee Stanley Hosie Daniel L. Jones - *** Joshua David Kessler *** Carter Alistair Chase Krumal Rebekah Ellen Leahey * Joshua Matthew LeBlanc Phillip Stephen Lively ** Hannah Faith Lynch * Ethan Douglas McMichael *** Aaron James Meyer Stephen Reagan Moreno Titus Mowry Thai Quoc Quach Breanna Rice *** Steven Charles Roberts * Brian Thomas Robinson * Saul Yah’ya Rooker *** Christopher Ryan Schaetz *** John Peery Sloan ** Stephen Neal Sorensen Dylan Ray Stanley Rebekah Lee Stevenson Grant Abram Storm Quintin Scott Tanis *** Benjamin Ean Tham Seth Carter Tupaj ** Jonathan Michael Vecseri - *** William Frederick Verdoorn - ** Jonathan David Vishanoff Matthew James Wert Robert Allen Zebe ***

Fabens, Texas Newton, Texas Vancouver, Washington Morgantown, Pennsylvania Tyler, Texas Nampa, Idaho Huntsville, Texas Thousand Oaks, California Houston, Texas Uniontown, Ohio Sugar Land, Texas Mineral Wells, Texas Ennis, Texas San Antonio, Texas Scottsdale, Arizona Hawkins, Texas Hawkins, Texas Joshua, Texas Denver, Pennsylvania Granite Bay, California Frisco, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Hideaway, Texas Tucson, Arizona Quincy, Illinois Sandy, Oregon Victoria, Texas Sherwood, Michigan Longview, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Abilene, Texas Parkesburg, Pennsylvania Longview, Texas Longview, Texas Gilmer Texas Houston, Texas Diana, Texas Conroe, Texas Houston, Texas Ripon, California Elk Grove, California Wildomar, California Houston, Texas Des Moines, Iowa Norman, Oklahoma Centennial, Colorado Plano, Texas

THE SCHOOL OF NURSING

Simona Celiwe Jacobson

Carrollton, Texas

Kimberly J. Quiett, Ph.D., Dean

THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND VOCATION

Bachelor of Science Nursing, B.S. Marissa Renee Alderson * Claudia Michelle Butron Cassie Lynn Copeland ** Meagan Cufr * Morgan Elizabeth Green AndrÃ© Martin Huegel Denise Martinez * Katelyn Lee McMillin * Annette Susan Naude Nmachi JeriAnn Okoro Amani Andronez Prince Yetunde Elizabeth Thomas Madison Taylor Whitfield *

Kelly D. Liebengood, Ph.D., Dean Gladewater, Texas Longview, Texas Henderson, Texas Huntley, Illinois Frisco, Texas San Luis Potosi, Mexico Longview, Texas Carrollton, Texas Tomball, Texas Desoto, Texas Kilgore, Texas Longview, Texas Mount Vernon, Texas

THE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING Vicki L. Sheafer, Ph.D., Dean

Bachelor of Science Counseling Psychology, B.S. Kassey Marie Pennello Zachary David Tesser * NeesaRenee Lupita Velez **

Longview, Texas Longview, Texas Houston, Texas

Counseling Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy, B.S. Terin Murray Iowa Park, Texas Psychology, B.S. Corie C. Baisden *** ^ Elinor Elizabeth Fulcher * Magali Garcia ** Stephanie Glover Jessica Nicole Laird *** Tamara Jean Mahoney *** Julie Ann Smith Megan Stypick *** Brittany Anne Taylor Charles Terry, Jr Mayra Jeanette Villarreal Bachelor of Psychology, BPSY

Bachelor of Arts Christian Ministry, B.A. Christopher Eldon Warren

Old Town, Maine

Bachelor of Science Christian Ministry, B.S. Rachel Lyn Rooker *** Scripture and Theology, B.S. Staton Ty Craig + Timothy Hoff + Justin Mejia

Longview, Texas

Price, Texas Rockdale, Texas Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Scripture Theology, B.A. and English Language and Literature, B.A. Brendon Allen Moore *** Rockwall, Texas Theological Studies, B.S. Catherine Fohl Dori Jane Reno * Darcel E. Williams

Haughton, Louisiana West Des Moines, Iowa Arlington, Texas

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS R. Van Graham, J.D., Dean

Carthage, Texas Indian Springs Village, Alabama San Antonio, Texas Lindale, Texas Round Rock, Texas Spring, Texas Troup, Texas Tennessee Colony, Texas Schertz, Texas Plano, Texas Pasadena, Texas

Master of Business Administration Master of Business Administration, MBA Rebecca Lynn Alsup Waller, Texas Patrick Joeseph Barba, III McKinney, Texas Stephanie Castleberry Longview, Texas Madison Kady Cross Ore City, Texas LaTasha Michelle Cavanaugh Shreveport, Louisiana DeMarcus Driver-Smith Houston, Texas Rachel Faul Longview, Texas Courtney S. Green Glendora, California Amelia Hall Berry White Settlement, Texas

SPRING 2020

Brenda Hamilton Shae Jolivette Charlotte Delphine Manning Ashlin Roach Esther Rachel Hannah Skeete Chasity Dashaun Taylor Bryce Franklin Tomlin Paisley Grace Zimmerman

Marshall, Texas Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Hughes Springs, Texas Bronx, New York Texas City, Texas Gilmer, Texas Greenville, Texas

ONGRATULATIONS

Master of Business Administration – Human Resources Specialization, MBA Joni Soares Goodwin Marshall, Texas Angela Yvette Hawkins-Cooks Tyler, Texas Master of Business Administration - Information Systems Management Specialization, MBA Othmane Hachimi Alaoui Katy, Texas LaTasha Michelle Cavanaugh Shreveport, Louisiana Trenton Hall Spring Branch, Texas Khang Duchuy Ma San Antonio, Texas Master of Business Administration, MBA, Management Specialization David McMurray Lindale, Texas Zachariah Christopher Steven Smith Pineville, Louisiana Maxiel Tovar + Mount Vernon, Texas Master of Engineering Management, Program Management Specialization, MEMP Chis Wayne Chapman Gladewater, Texas Master of Engineering Management, Software Engineering Specialization, MEMS Manohar M. Taware Longview, Texas Master of Science Master of Science in Health Care Administration, MS Allison L. Baumgardner Katy, Texas Marilyn S. Bobbitt Baytown, Texas Shelli Danielle Brooks Garrison, Texas Kristina Cole Oak Point, Texas Christina Cravey Longview, Texas Terence Darnell Dixon Longview, Texas Shawnie Dotson Tyler, Texas Melynda J. Homann Houston, Texas Shenequee Necole Kennedy Tyler, Texas Shanteria Lumpkin-Sols Houston, Texas Austin Odom Chester, Texas Latasha Rochelle Raven Scottsville, Texas

LETOURNEAU NOW

Master of Strategic Leadership Master of Strategic Leadership, MSL Chelsea Cohen Bullard, Texas Carlin Johnson Daingerfield, Texas Nathan O’Day Longview, Texas Tami Polanco Gravois Mills, Missouri Claudia Ramirez Corpus Christi, Texas Pauletta Robertson Gilmer, Texas Kelsie Stephenson Forney, Texas Kirk Loren Weindorff Gilmer, Texas Hamlin M. Williams, Jr. Rosharon, Texas

THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Stanley K. Coppinger, Ph.D., Dean

Master of Education Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction Specialization, M.Ed. Leticia Marquez Dabdub Magnolia, Texas Jennifer Lain Spring Hill, Tennessee Elizabeth Sanchez Houston, Texas Aledwina Townsend Houston, Texas Master of Education - Educational Administration Specialization, M.Ed. Jeremy K. Carter Tomball, Texas Brenda E. Daniels Longview, Texas Courtney Rachelle Robertson Springtown, Texas Darian Mechelle Skipper Daingerfield, Texas Master of Education - Teacher Leadership Specialization, M.Ed. Gregory Bernard Davis Conroe, Texas Stephanie Russell Frederick Denton, Texas Deirdre Lynn Johnson Houston, Texas Savanna Elise Stutts Heath, Texas Janet Christine Wiemken Houston, Texas Master of Education - Teaching and Learning Specialization, M.Ed. Z’Ann Nicole Allison Amarillo, Texas LaKeshia Neal-Bolden Hughes Springs, Texas

THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Steven K. Starrett, Ph.D., Dean Master of Science in Engineering Master of Science in Engineering - Electrical Specialization, M.S. Jeremy Kirk Goossen Omaha, Nebraska

THE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING Vicki L. Sheafer, Ph.D., Dean

Master of Arts Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. Kimberly M. Essler Athens, Texas April Lavette Lyons Killeen, Texas Master of Arts in Counseling - Professional Counselor, M.A. Bonnie Pulliam Blakey Athens, Texas Janice Marie Collier Dallas, Texas Kimberly Ann Harris Lindale, Texas Sharon Howard-Harris Shreveport, Louisiana Candice Michele Hutchings Oak Point, Texas Shlonda Evette Johnson Longview, Texas Lauren Elizabeth Jones Stonewall, Louisiana Deborah LaRive Temple, Texas Shauna Nicole McClain Nash, Texas Susan Jenice McLean Tyler, Texas Emily Murphy Austin, Texas Lark Pokladnik Dallas, Texas Stephanie Rawlins Harker Heights, Texas Donna Marie Rogers Rusk, Texas Eboney Sharna Roney Mount Pleasant, Texas Lacresha Sonyet Stephens Arlington, Texas Athena Todd Ore City, Texas Kimberly Van Sickel Whitehouse, Texas Master of Arts in Counseling - Professional Counselor, M.A. And Master of Arts in Counseling - Marriage and Family, M.A. Scott Hamilton Catchot Palestine, Texas Kimberly R. Dillon Raleigh, North Carolina Nikis Erica Ellis Katy, Texas Kacey Lynne Holley Kilgore, Texas Jonathan W. McLoughlin Amarillo, Texas

Trevor Middleton Tracy Valentine Patton Master of Arts in Psychology, M.A. Karen Allen Jonathan Reid Becker Amber Bonham LaErica Williams Brown Nateisha Deshun Parish Choice Shelley Diane Espinoza Jeannifer M. Gerty + Latrice Shonta Gilmore Nina Linette Hines Steve Mitchell Ibarra Alexandria B. Johnson Angelica T. Matthews Marcietta Ylice Moore Theresa Rae Pisano Cortnie Renata Travers

Longview, Texas Southlake, Texas

Tyler, Texas Kerrville, Texas Tyler, Texas Shreveport, Louisiana Dallas, Texas Bryan, Texas Lufkin, Texas Houston, Texas Lufkin, Texas Houston, Texas Longview, Texas Azle, Texas Bay City, Texas Longview, Texas Little Elm, Texas

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, M.A. Jason Michael Allen Denton, Texas

Definition of Symbols after Graduate names: Honors College Graduate - Completed necessary Honors College Courses * 3.4 to 3.6 GPA Cum Laude Graduate ** 3.6 to 3.8 GPA Magna Cum Laude Graduate *** 3.8 to 4.0 GPA Summa Cum Laude Graduate + Military Graduates ^ Alpha Sigma Lambda

For more information and content related to LeTourneau Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Graduation visit letu.edu/graduation

SPRING 2020

It begins with a Plan! The LeTourneau University Foundation wants to be a resource to you—and it begins with you and your unique needs and wishes! We can assist you in arriving at your ideal estate and legacy plan. As we work alongside your advisors, we can help you assure that the stewardship you have sought to consistently demonstrate throughout your life is reflected in your estate planning. The design of your giving solutions can then be one that first serves you. That purpose fulfilled, those giving solutions can then become a means to paving the way to obedience on the part of future generations. The LeTourneau University Foundation is the arm of the university charged with assisting our many alumni and friends with more complex forms of advantageous giving as we grow the university’s endowment. With more than 20 years of experience in estate and succession planning on our team, the LeTourneau University Foundation can help you in these all-important areas. Do you have a comprehensive plan in place? Do you have questions about the most tax-efficient ways to give? We would love to be of service to you in this most strategic way. For assistance or questions, please reach out to our Executive Director Tom Bevan and the team he has supporting him at (903) 233-3833 or via email at leavealegacy@letufoundation.org. NOTE: While the LeTourneau University Foundation can be relied upon for its accuracy, always consult your tax advisor for the actual tax benefits that apply to your unique situation.

LETOURNEAU NOW

How can we help? •

Providing seasoned guidance for what estate and legacy planning looks like—unique to your situation.

•

Identifying the “building blocks” to any effective and intentional estate plan.

•

Considering special situations, such as minor or special needs children, succeeding your business, selling real estate tax-efficiently, and giving to multiple ministries.

•

Assuring that your unique story finds expression in your estate and legacy plan—passing on “wisdom before wealth”; assuring that what God has done in your life becomes a powerful motivation to those who will follow you.

•

Supporting intentional tax-efficient giving from within your plan that inspires and paves the way to obedience and faith in future lifetimes.

•

Identifying what the most tax-efficient means to giving might be (allowing us to compete with the IRS’s share of your estate).

What makes our due diligence so advantageous to do right now? Consider just some of what the current tax code allows for … •

An unprecedented Federal Estate Tax threshold: $11.4 million level for individuals, doubled for married couples! That can be as much as a 40% savings on your estate’s valuation!

•

Giving from appreciated assets: Non-cash assets like stocks, mutual fund shares, or real estate can now qualify for a tax deduction at their full fair-market value and an elimination of the capital gains taxes on their appreciation! This can save at least 20% in unnecessary tax!

•

“Two-Way” Interest Gift Designs: Gift designs such as Charitable Remainder Unitrusts, an alternative to a Donor Advised Fund, can provide supplemental or spousal income, with full control over the giving you want to accomplish once that income period ends!

•

Giving from IRA’s: Beginning at age 70 1/2, giving from your IRA can qualify against your Required Minimum Distribution, starting at age 72, at up to $100,000 per individual, per year, and be considered a “non-event.”

•

Higher Deduction Limits for Public Charities: In the recently passed CARES Act, limits for charitable contributions to public charities (such as LETU) are lifted from 60% to 100% of your 2020 Adjusted Gross Income. The law also now allows for an above-the-line deduction of cash gifts of up to $300, even if you don’t itemize based on the new standard deduction limits.

For additional information, visit letufoundation.org/cares-act.

SPRING 2020

LeTourneau NOW P.O. Box 8001 Longview, TX 75607

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER Almost every LeTourneau University student learns about LETU through a relationship with one of our alumni, a friend, a family member, a youth pastor or other person in their lives. One of the greatest donations YOU can make to LeTourneau University is to tell others about us. Recycle this magazine by sharing it with others.

We are blessed to have you in our LETU family! letu.edu/LeTourneauBuilt t h e

C H R I S T I A N

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMIAH SHEPHERD

P O LY T E C H N I C

U N I V E R S I T Y