This is LeTourneau. LeTourneau University means something a little bit different to each of our students, faculty, alumni and friends. Using the QR code or link to the right, you will find a short video exploring some of these words as we seek to show the world the real LeTourneau University from the perspective of those who truly are the heart and soul of LeTourneau. Join us in celebrating the incredible story and lives that make this place one of a kind.
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NOW Magazine | Spring 2016
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Hands-on education sometimes means getting your hands dirty, like in this photo of an engineering student working on a wheelchair durability testing device students designed as part of the Frontier Wheelchairs senior design team. Hands-on education has been a foundational part of LeTourneau University since 1946. This issue of the NOW Magazine celebrates some of the exciting projects and initiatives happening on campus and around the globe. Projects like the one shown here showcase the ingenuity and heart of LETU students and faculty. Read more about these projects, page 8.
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Hands-On Education at LETU
LeTourneau University has a proud history of finding practical ways to enrich the classroom experience with hands-on educational opportunities. It’s in our DNA.
Engineering, pg. 8 Education, pg. 14 Nursing, pg. 16
Business, pg. 18 Aviation, pg. 20
Faculty Feature: Dr. Stan Coppinger
English professor Dr. Stan Coppinger loves teaching writing composition and has been named the director of LETU’s new Writing Lab.
Celebrating 50 Years with Gerrie Forbis
Fifty years of dedicated service from one employee is a milestone that must be celebrated and that many places will never experience.
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Shannon Potter
As an undergraduate biology student at LETU, Shannon had a heart for helping others across the globe.
Athletics Year in Review
The 2015-16 academic year brought some school history-making moments and record achievements among our student-athletes.
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our thousand friends and family assembled May 7, 2016 to honor 404 new graduates of LeTourneau University. It was a sunny East Texas spring day bright with the hopes of well-prepared new professionals ready to embark upon the next stage of their lives. As is always true with LETU faculty and staff: Commencement is a joyful celebration of success and also a bittersweet goodbye to students we have come to know and love.
PUBLISHER
JANET RAGLAND EDITOR IN CHIEF
KATE GRONEWALD WRITER / EDITOR
We celebrate because we know our graduates leave with a relevant education. It’s an exceptional experience that extends well beyond the classroom. Hands-on learning is the hallmark of all our academic programs. It’s a core promise of an LETU education.
TOM BARNARD
Days before commencement I attended presentations of senior design projects by our graduating engineering students. A team of electrical engineering students developed technology to allow drones to become visible to aircraft radar systems, alleviating the risk of mid-air collisions. Another team refined the design of a stove to be used for heating and cooking in extreme conditions. Another hands-on project resulted in the development of a water purification system that could be housed in a shipping contain-er and operated with solar energy only.
NIEMAN PRINTING
Another recent morning, I was able to hear from graduating education majors. They completed research projects while in their roles as student teachers throughout area independent school districts. It was obvious that these future classroom teachers had learned much by their immersion in the public school classroom. They looked into the high-tech role of technology as well as the high-touch power of the teacher-student relationship. I left our time together startled by the challenges ahead for these future teachers and thankful these outstanding men and women had chosen the classroom as their mission field. Included in the May graduating class were our first two Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates from the new LETU School of Nursing. These two outstanding women left LETU with multiple job offers. Even in the first days of this new program, employers see the value of a hands-on LETU nursing education that includes experience with patient simulators in our high-tech laboratory and extensive clinical hours in various health care settings. I could go on with other examples. LeTourneau University is place for those who learn by doing. We are makers, doers, creators. We are small enough to give every student hands-on professional experience and comprehensive enough to assemble outstanding faculty in dozens of academic programs. Join me in watching the success that will come to our 2016 graduating class.
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DALE A. LUNSFORD, PH.D.
NOW Magazine | Spring 2016
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / GRAPHIC DESIGNER
GAIL RITCHEY CLASS NOTES
PRINTING
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JENNIFER BRAY JAMIE DEYOUNG JODIE HILBURN KAREN JACOBS DANNY KAMBEL PAUL LEIFFER JENNA PACE BILL PEEL JANET RAGLAND FRED RITCHEY LAURISSA WHITED
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 a Christ-centered, interdenominational university offering more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a range of academic disciplines and delivery models. Students are enrolled in programs on ground at LETU’s residential campus in Longview, Texas, as well as in hybrid and fully online options at educational centers in Dallas and Houston. 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. NOW is published by LeTourneau University, 2100 South Mobberly, Longview, Texas 75607 w Sent free upon request to Editor, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. w Postmaster: Send address changes to: NOW, P.O. Box 8001, Longview, Texas 75607. w Email us at NOW@letu.edu.
Compiled by Paul Leiffer, Chair of Engineering Photos by Corey Nolen, Stephen Ayers, Allen Hill, Jenna Pace, Janet Ragland, Tim Trotter
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ngineering education at LeTourneau University is hands on. Engineering design and project-based learning weaves throughout our LETU engineering curriculum, culminating in a multi-disciplinary senior design team that works on a year-long capstone project. LETU was the first ABET accredited program in Christian higher education, providing a solid foundation for creative men and women pursuing engineering careers. Using their hands and building things that work help students impact their world. Some of their projects are humanitarian by nature, some are research based for industry and some are for collegiate competition. All 14 of our 2015-16 senior design projects listed here embody our “learn by doing� philosophy.
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HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS
mobility Specialized Mobilization and Rehabilitation Therapy (SMART) is developing a kinematic analysis of the limbs of children with mobility impairment to quantify the effectiveness of physical therapy using therapeutic tricycles. Then, they are developing a multi-axis load-cell system for future kinetic analysis of these mobility-impaired children. The load-cell is designed with a force transducer to measure the forces applied on the therapeutic tricycles by the children, as well as the forces exerted on similar mobility-improvement devices, such as wheelchairs. Faculty director is Dr. Ko Sasaki. Frontier Wheelchairs is developing new wheelchair testing equipment for manufacturers so they can build better, more durable wheelchairs for the developing world. One machine they have designed this year measures wheel rolling resistance. Two other machines expose wheelchairs to bumps and drops to determine durability. These students will travel this summer to build their testing machines for a manufacturer in South Africa. Faculty director is Norman Reese.
water Engineered Water Solutions (EWS) is expanding development of a human-powered pump for irrigating crops in the developing world. The pump will enable subsistence farmers living in poverty in Senegal to grow and harvest more food and elevate their standard of living. The team has developed a prototype drilling system and prototype pump and is working on water utilization and water well completion procedures to improve well efficiency and output. Students will deploy this improved design in Senegal. Faculty director is Dr. Steven Ayers. 10
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disease detection Photonic Biosensor is designing and building a low-cost, portable, user-friendly, point-of-care biosensor that can be used outside of a doctor’s office to detect cancer and other chronic diseases early from a small sample of blood, similar to how a glucometer measures blood sugar from a finger stick. The highly sensitive device must be label-free, meaning that there is no processing of the blood, such as adding reagents, before the pure blood is placed in the biosensor. Faculty director is Dr. Seunghyun Kim. CORPORATE-SPONSORED PROJECTS Sustainable Purification Systems, formerly known as the Vortical Energy Recovery Turbine (VERT) team is designing, building and testing a water purification system for the developing world to pump and filter fresh water, brackish water and salt water using only renewable energy. Water collection in many rural villages can take up to six hours daily. This stand-alone system will filter water using reverse osmosis and a series of purification filters to enable water to be collected faster and locally in rural villages to give people more time to earn a living and educate their children for the future. Faculty director is Dr. Jesse French.
disaster relief Disaster Relief Solutions (DRS) is designing, building and testing a portable, cost effective stove to meet basic human needs, ranging from cooking to heating a room to electricity generation safely, reliably and efficiently. The stove will use wood fuel to generate thermal energy to be converted into electricity. Faculty director is Dr. Scott Anson.
Electronic Access Computer Station (EACS) is designing and building an electronic control system for a local manufacturing company, the CCI Group, to automate a computer station’s vertical door system to provide hands-free access to computers housed inside a wall-mounted computer station. Faculty director is Dr. Joonwan Kim. Versatile ADS-B Communications System (VACS) is designing, building and testing a prototype of a compact, versatile Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) communication card for Rockwell Collins. ADS-B will be a new Federal Aviation Administration standard for communicating from airplane-to-airplane and airplane-to-ground. The communication broadcast will give location, direction and airplane identifier working with GPS and creating its unique code. This type of “always on” communication device is especially important in light of increasing use of drones for industrial purposes. Faculty director is Dr. Joonwan Kim. RESEARCH-BASED PROJECTS Frack Water Reclamation (FWR) is researching options for treating water that gets contaminated by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), a process of oil and gas recovNOW Magazine | Spring 2016
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ery used by the oil and gas industries. The team is also developing a sensor to quickly measure the amount of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations in the contaminated water to ensure proper treatment. Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, colorless and extremely hazardous gas known by its “rotten egg� smell. H2S occurs naturally in crude petroleum and natural gas. Faculty director is Dr. Darryl Low. Additive Manufacturing Solid-State Modeling is modeling, analyzing and optimizing mechanical properties of a functionally gradient transition piece from chromium molybdenum (CrMo) steel to INCONELŽ nickel chromium alloy 625 being created by this solid state team. Such properties include thermal cycling, thermal stresses, thermal expansion and residual stresses. This work will make welding two dissimilar metals much easier by continually changing the composition between the desired dissimilar metals. The applications for this technology include power generation, defense industry and aerospace industry. Faculty director is Dr. Yoni Adonyi. 12
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Additive Manufacturing Fusion Processes is modeling, making and testing a functionally gradient transition piece for joining chromium molybdenum (CrMo) steel to selected nickel-based alloys. The fusion-welded transition piece is needed due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion and the thermal loading that joints can experience in certain applications. Successful completion of this project will lay groundwork for other currently difficult fusion welding of dissimilar metals (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) by depositing a continual change in composition between the metals. Faculty director is Dr. Yoni Adonyi. Structural Composites is designing a new, lightweight, high durability deck system to replace deteriorating concrete and steel decks on short- to medium-span road bridges. Students do extensive materials testing to international standards and to national bridge design codes. Faculty director is Dr. Steve Ayers. Disproportionate Collapse Resistance (DCP) is developing new gravity connections (and enhance-
ments for existing connections) for framing buildings to reduce probability of collapse when a building is subjected to extreme loads, such as a blast or impact. The project’s new connections will increase tensile load capacity to minimize effects of a column loss scenario and prevent disproportionate collapse. Physical testing of halfscale connection assemblies and finite element analysis is part of the students’ hands-on work. The 2015-16 team is testing three new connections and three new enhancements and investigating the contribution of a reinforced concrete slab in resisting the loads. The project is funded by the American Institute of Steel Construction. Research results may influence design and construction practices for buildings of high importance to the safety of our nation and for buildings of high occupancy worldwide. Faculty director is Dr. Gustavo Cortes. COMPETITION LeTourneau Autonomous Robotics Competition (LARC) is designing and building a robot to compete in the 2016 IEEE Region 5 Robotics Competition. Each year the competition has new parameters. This year, the competition challenges the sensing, navigating, computer vision, and control system capabilities of an autonomous robot as it seeks out colored pins spread out over a field. The scoring will emphasize accurately finding and returning multiple colored pins to drop-off in zones mimicking both wilderness and a cityscape. The student-designed and -built robot placed 4th out of 35 teams from throughout the region. Faculty director is Dr. Joonwan Kim. n
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Hands-On Teacher Preparation Written by Jodie Hilburn
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eacher education students begin hands-on interactions their very first year at LeTourneau University, and hands-on learning is incorporated throughout the teacher preparation program. In the spring, freshman students served as mentors for a leadership conference held at a private Christian school in Longview, while juniors assisted in the facilitation of a STEAM educational activity focused on bubbles at a local public school. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Senior students organized the annual Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading conference in January at LETU that was attended by educators from the East Texas area. These students also presented break-out session trainings during the conference. LETU teacher education students get handson teaching practice as they tutor elementary school students and participate in community service activities. They mentor students at the Boys and Girls Club of Gregg County, Thrive 360, and the East Texas Literacy Foundation. Hands-on learning for teacher education students is highlighted in the Little Learning Lab at LETU called “L3.” L3 provides a remarkable opportunity for students to be actively engaged in multiple facets of early childhood education. They plan, prepare and implement developmentally appropriate activities for children. They communicate with families through newsletters, social media and educational apps. The newest hands-on component of the teach-
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er education program is the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) research project implemented during the senior seminar course where student-teachers select a topic to research during the student teaching process. Recently, two students were selected to present their PBL research at The Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE) as a part of the Emergent Scholars component of the annual conference. In the past 20 years, five LeTourneau students have been awarded the Student Teacher of the Year award by the Texas Directors of Field Experiences, and one LETU student was awarded the Outstanding Intern Teacher of the Year by the Texas Alternative Certification Association. LETU online students create multiple classroom appropriate projects. They view and create video productions related to the classroom content and complete field experience hours along with a capstone clinical teaching (student teaching), as well. From their freshman years to their capstone clinical teaching experiences (student teaching) during their senior years, teacher education students are immersed in hands-on learning during each step of their educational journey at LETU. Also in the College of Education, Arts and Sciences, criminal justice students in Dr. Mark Moland’s class participate in emergency management simulations, biology students in Dr. Greg Frederick’s classes become virus hunters and perform actual medical research, and students participating in Karen Rispin’s WHEELS project conduct research that impacts wheelchair use and design globally. n
Nursing Hands-On
N Written by Jennifer Bray, professor of nursing
ursing is a hands-on profession by nature. Through the work of their hands, they bring healing, comfort and Christ-like compassion to those in need. That’s why LeTourneau University nursing students are routinely involved in hands-on experiences, even outside their clinical labs. LeTourneau University nursing students participated in the annual Gregg County Public Health Point of Distribution drill Feb. 17, a collaborative effort among the Texas Department of Health, federal health agencies, Medical Reserve Corps and volunteers. After 9/11, the federal government created the Medical Reserve Corps to channel medical/ health credentialed volunteers to respond to large-scale public health crises where medications could be distributed at selected public buildings. The purpose of this drill was to provide necessary immunizations or medications to all members of the community in a 48hour window during a health related epidemic. A POD is a designated location to dispense these medications in response to such a large scale public health crisis. Our students served as volunteers of the POD to assess, educate, and dispense the medications to roughly 300 “patients” during this mock drill. The drill provided potential scenarios including persons with limited mobility, physical compromise or mental health issues that could arise in high-stress situations. Our nursing students were are able to experience, hands-on, what happens in the event of an epidemic in our community and how members of the health care teams from local to federal levels come together and serve the community in a time of need. This POD exercise was an excellent opportunity for our students to use their emergency management preparedness.
On March 16, our nursing students participated in the Gregg County Disaster Drill to evaluate the emergency response and preparedness of our community, as well as to learn about staging for mass casualty emergencies such as in the event of an airplane crash at the East Texas Regional Airport. This mock drill was a collaborative experience with first responders, the Federal Aviation Administration, East Texas Regional Airport, Texas Department of Health and the airport’s Critical Emergency Response Team. Our students learned how to triage the injured and communicate with police, fire and paramedics, all first responders. A few days later, on March 19, our nursing students conducted a Community Health Fair for the residents of a low-income apartment complex as a public outreach. As part of their Community Public Health Nursing class, the students developed and distributed a survey to the residents to identify their health needs. After evaluating the surveys and identifying the needs of the residents, educational topics were selected, and resources within the community were located to meet those needs. Fun activities for kids, along with lunch, were provided to about 30 families during the event. This spring, LETU is proud to celebrate our first nursing graduates: Hannah Campbell of Ben Wheeler and Abbey May of Winnsboro. Both of these young women have received several offers and both have secured great jobs at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, where Hannah will work in a post-surgical unit and Abbey in a neuro intensive care unit. Our goal at LETU is to prepare competent nurses who show compassion and help families and communities through trying times. They share the gospel, often without a word. n
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Hands-On
Business Written by Karen Jacobs, chair of business
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eTourneau University School of Business students have long been involved in doing handson projects to get them ready for their futures after college. Two of our students recently won a Best Paper Award at the Spring 2016 Academy of Business Research conference in New Orleans for research they conducted during a Business Research and Writing Class. Junior Martha Jeske and senior Curtis Wise wrote a research paper, titled “Interpersonal Conflict-Handling Behavior as Reflections of Leadership Styles.” Their paper was based on data constructed on a Leading Dimensions Profile assessment first collected from 2011 to 2015 by business professor Dr. Bob Wharton, who is a certified facilitator and technical consultant for Leading Dimensions Consulting, LLC. The assessment is designed to measure an individual’s job-related leadership style. The students’ winning paper compared the documented information to new research on conflict-handling behaviors collected by the students during the spring semester. Jeske and Wise participated in planning the research topic, implementing it, and interpreting the results, which were represented in the paper that won a top award. The abstract of the prize-winning paper stated that conflict management has
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an influence on individual’s well-being, group performance and organizational effectiveness. Understanding the relationship between an individual’s job-related leadership style and his or her choice of a variety of interpersonal conflict-handling approaches can help identify that person’s tendency to choose one approach over another, based on five conflict management approaches that include yielding, compromising, avoiding, problem-solving and forcing. The original study by Wharton included data collected from university students, recent graduates and faculty or staff members. The assessments were designed by LETU adjunct business professor Dr. Doug Waldo, who is the managing partner of Leading Dimensions Consulting, a consulting firm that provides assessments, leadership training and workforce development. The company provides consulting from recruitment and selection to team building, all using an extensive body of research reflecting best practices. Leading Dimensions Consulting certified facilitators include Wharton and 13 LETU students and recent alumni. These students achieved certification as part of their team projects in Wharton’s International Management and Communication course last fall. Besides collaborating with their business professors and writing award-winning business research papers, LETU School
of Business students for the past two years have also gained “hands-on” experience by competing in a mini “Shark Tank” style competition in which the winning teams put their business plans to the test the following semester. In the competition style project, students must have an idea and develop a business plan to compete. They then launch their business, which helps them gain practical experience and sensitivity to the realities, stresses and strains of actually running a business. They learn about organizing, managing and dealing with a dynamic variety of personalities, finance and marketing. One team last year discovered that their vendor in China was unable to meet timetables. That kind of experience can happen in real life business situations. Over the years several of LETU’s School of Business projects have included writing a successful $1M grant for revitalization of a Dallas-area neighborhood, human resource policy improvements for the City of Kilgore, Texas, and a new marketing plan for a local East Texas bank. Through all of these kinds of projects, LETU students complete their degree programs with more than just their LETU degree on a piece of paper. They have marketable skills and experiences, and even consulting certifications, to take with them into the marketplace. n
Hands-On
AVIATION Written by Fred Ritchey, dean of College of Aviation and Aeronautical Science
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viation is a hands-on career field. We empower our students to honor God as competent professionals and leaders who demonstrate personal integrity in their aviation careers, whether they become airline, corporate, military or missionary pilots, or whether they become aviation maintenance professionals, air traffic controllers, aircraft dispatchers or work in numerous other aviation careers. Back as far as the 1950s, students worked on airplanes for our university founder, R.G. LeTourneau, who was one of the first executives to use a private airplane to traverse the country for his business and many speaking engagements. A lot has changed in the past 60 years, but one thing has remained constant: LETU equips men and women to excel in aviation careers. Just this spring semester, a team of our aviation students took first place in the Southwest Region, Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) competition. PAMA is the premier aviation maintenance organization for aviation maintenance technicians and fosters continuous improvement in aviation safety. This PAMA competition requires students to complete aircraft maintenance tasks similar to those they would encounter in their careers as Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) technicians. Also this semester, our aviation program took possession of a brand new, Cessna Skyhawk 172 airplane worth $400,000 and bearing our university logo. The airplane is on loan to us as part of Cessna Aircraft’s Top Hawk program. LETU was one of only four universities in the nation to be selected for this honor, which includes use of this new airplane through October of this year. In just a few weeks, we have two teams of female aviation students who will compete in the annual all-female Air Race Classic, covering about 2,400 miles beginning in Arizona and ending in Florida. This year’s race theme is Collegiate Aviation. Our “Sting” Precision Flight Team won first place in National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Region
4 flight competition last October scoring the highest number of points ever scored by a single team. The team is scheduled to compete in NIFA’s national competition May 9-13 hosted by The Ohio State University. Last year’s team placed 8th in a field of more than 30 teams. This year they hope to place in the top five. The partnership agreements we signed last fall with Collin College and McKinney Independent School district enabled us to expand aviation education opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. We are now providing dual-credit courses that will allow high school students to earn up to 15 aviation credit hours, including flight training with LETU, with credits that transfer directly into our Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management. Collin College students are now able to get their flight hours through LETU while taking their core courses toward their associate degrees. This program, the first of its kind in the state, enables students to earn their college degrees in half the time with half the financial investment through this accelerated educational pathway. Our first McKinney-based flight students began their training in January. Interest in our McKinney offerings broke all aviation preview records on February 27 when we had more than 60 high school students from the Frisco, McKinney, Plano and Prosper school districts sign up to attend and learn about aviation careers and take a short ride in one of our LETU airplanes. Representatives from Envoy Airlines as well as a number of LETU graduates came to speak to students about aviation career pathways. Our newest program in Remotely Piloted Aircraft systems (RPAs), which many call drones or Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs), is one of the first in the State of Texas and will provide students with the expertise and certificates they will need to excel in this new and exciting career field. We are proud to serve our industry and our nation by preparing our graduates to honor God as competent professionals and leaders who demonstrate personal integrity in their aviation careers. n NOW Magazine | Spring 2016
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FAC U LTY F EATUR E
Dr. Stan Coppinger Written by Laurissa Whited
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Photo by Janet Ragland
luorescent lights illuminate a room with white-painted walls. A giant white board hangs at the front of the room. Chairs and desks are carefully arranged. A soft hum emanates as an overhead projector powers on. Happy chatter fills the room as students filter in to take their seats. This is exactly where LeTourneau University English professor Dr. Stan Coppinger wants to be – in a college classroom. “I’ve always loved college campuses, but I love college classrooms,” Coppinger says. “I just feel comfortable in a college classroom. I’ve always felt it was a great place to be.” He admits his feelings were influenced by his own experiences as a student. “I went to a Christian college much like LeTourneau,” he says of his alma mater, Biola University in Southern California, where he earned a degree in biblical studies. “I had professors who walked so closely with God, and they touched my life in a profound way. The memory of those teachers, how they loved us as students and how they loved God, and how they put that together in the classroom affected me deeply,” he says. Coppinger had worked successfully in both the restaurant and retail industries for nearly a decade when he found himself reevaluating his career path. He credits his dad, a former pastor and teacher, with giving him the idea to get back into the classroom. “When my dad said ‘Maybe you should teach,’ I began to think I would like to be like the teachers I
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had,” he says. “I’d like to impact lives like they impacted my life.” Coppinger earned his master’s degree at Tarleton State University, then his doctorate at Baylor University, both in English, before coming to LETU in 2001 as an associate professor of English. Coppinger’s interaction with students, the give and take with them, is his favorite part of teaching. “I think of teaching as more than just lecturing,” he says. “It’s engagement, working with them, getting to see their work and their growth. To me, that’s why I teach.”
Battling Cancer
Coppinger is a cancer survivor. “I’m eight years in remission,” he says. “It was a really, really difficult journey for me. The real miracle of my life is my spiritual healing, but God did choose to heal me physically.” When his cancer battle began, he was in an entirely administrative role as LETU’s associate vice president for academic affairs, a role that did not include classroom teaching. “When you face death like that, face-to-face, it really shakes you,” he says. Coppinger’s wife suggested that he missed the classroom, and he knew it to be true. He knew that whatever time he had left, he really wanted to be teaching students. “That was a tough decision, because there were no teaching openings here at LeTourneau,” he says. “They asked me to stay. They didn’t want me to leave.” Coppinger heard from a friend in East Texas Baptist University’s
English department. They had an opening. “I interviewed, and they offered me the position, so I decided to say ‘Yes,’ so I could be teaching,” he says. “That’s the only reason I left.” He says he loved ETBU and emphasized, “They were wonderful to me.” This 2015-16 academic year is Coppinger’s first year back at LETU, where he had invested nine years and where he says he always had hoped he might return. “The students are highly motivated,” he says. “I have dear friends here, friends who walked with me through my cancer journey. It’s family. LeTourneau is a special place to me. It always has been.” And now, besides teaching composition and rhetoric, creative writing and some literature courses in the classroom, Coppinger is working with students as the writing center director for LETU’s new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) titled “Writing for Your Life.” The writing center’s goal is to engage students in collaboration to help them become better writers, a skill they will use throughout their lifetimes. He sees the new writing center as a vibrant place where all students can feel comfortable learning and growing as writers. “We want to help students with all different abilities,” he says. “We want to serve high achieving students as well as students who need help with essential writing skills. We’re not just making better writing, but better writers.” n
Dr. Coppinger’s List of Top Ten Writing Tips:
1. Don’t be afraid of your voice. (Write like you – not someone else.) 2. Be confident. (You have something important to say.) 3. Be unpredictable. (Dare to take chances. Dare to approach a topic in a fresh, new way.) 4. When you compose, stay composed. 5. Trust the process. (Brainstorm. Organize. Draft.) 6. Revise enthusiastically. 7. Proofread relentlessly. 8. Avoid clichés and slang. 9. Before you turn it in, read it out loud. 10. And always remember: Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.
LETU REORGANIZES INTO FOUR COLLEGES LETU has reorganized its academic schools into four colleges to better serve students and the university’s long-term goals by regrouping academic areas with others to provide a synergy for innovation. The College of Aviation and Aeronautical Science is led by Dean Fred Ritchey. The College of Education, Arts & Sciences is led by Dean Dr. Larry Frazier. The College of Engineering, Business and Technology is led by Dean Dr. Ron Delap. These three colleges report to the Associate Provost and Chief Operating Officer for the Residential Campus Dr. Steven Mason. The College of Health Sciences and Professional Studies is led by Dean Dr. Melanie Roudkovski. This college reports to Associate Provost and Chief Operating Officer for the Global Campus Dr. Stephanie Kirschmann. PAYSCALE.COM NAMES LETU AMONG TOP ROI FOR 2016 LETU is ranked 2nd among private universities in Texas and 10th among the top schools in the state for the best return on investment, according to the 2016 College Return On Investment Report by Seattle-based Payscale.com. The PayScale.com website reads, “It’s hard to find a better value for your tuition dollar than at LeTourneau University...” LUNSFORD NAMED TO NAICU BOARD LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford was elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, a nationwide group that provides federal legislators with a unified national voice of private non-
profit higher education institutions. One member president is elected from each of eight election regions from across the nation. Lunsford will represent Region 6 from Feb. 2016 to Feb. 2019. LETU PLACES TWO TEAMS AMONG TOP 10 IN U.S. IN IEEE LETU was the only university in the nation to place two teams among the top 10 in the United States in the 24hour, global IEEE Xtreme 9.0 computer programming competition. In the competition, students compete against each other to solve a set of programming problems. LETU also was the only Texas university in the Top 10. The competition is organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology.
STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE RUBE GOLDBERG INVENTIONS Seven teams of engineering students in Oscar Ortiz’ advanced analog electronics class at LETU demonstrated their creativity and design prowess with new inventions using numerous energy transitions to accomplish a simple task at the annual Rube Goldberg Event March 24. Many of the students had spent the entire night before the event setting up their complex inventions that were required to have at least 20 energy transfers, or steps, to accomplish its designed outcome.
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LETU AVIATION STUDENTS WIN FIRST PLACE AT PAMA LETU aviation students won first place in the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association competition Feb. 27. The competition requires students to complete maintenance tasks similar to those they would encounter in their careers as Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanics. LETU aeronautical science majors competing include seniors Ben Bunn and James Galan, both of Longview, Texas; senior Travis Hancock of Ovilla, Texas; junior Eric Van Oeveren of Jenison, Mich.; junior Timothy Kunkel of Shreveport, La. Student coach was junior Dylan Trochim of Longview. LETU TO PARTNER WITH PSA AIRLINES IN PILOT PROGRAM LETU is partnering with PSA Airlines, the fastest-growing regional airline in the country, as it launches an industry-leading cadet program to help future pilots make a smooth transition from classrooms to cockpit. The new program offers various levels of support as the Cadet’s certifications, training and experience evolves, including up to $16,000 in tuition reimbursement.
AIR RACE CLASSIC TEAMS TO RACE ACROSS U.S. IN ALL-FEMALE COMPETITTION LETU female aviation students will compete this summer in the Air Race Classic, covering about 2,400 miles across the country from Arizona to California June 21-24. This year’s race theme is Collegiate Aviation, and LETU is entering two race teams in the race. Texas Tailwinds Gold team pilot Amanda Scott of Winfield, Ill., and co-pilot flight instructor Lee Foster of Longview and teammate Claire Cassel of Fernandia Beach, Fla., will fly LETU’s new Top Hawk airplane. Texas Tailwinds Blue team pilot Gabriela “Gaby” Soto of El Paso, Texas, and co-pilot flight instructor Rebecca Davidson of McKinney, Texas, will fly one of LETU’s American Champion Aircraft Citabria tailwheel aircraft. Pictured from left are Davidson, Scott, Foster, Soto, Cassel. LETU STUDENT WINS $1,000 AVIONICS SCHOLARSHIP LETU aviation maintenance sophomore Abigail Lopez of Phoenix, Ariz., won a $1,000 Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Avionics Technician Scholarship through the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM). Lopez is an honors student who provided an essay, résumé and recommendation letters from her professors to apply for the scholarship. She is one of only a few women pursuing aviation maintenance, which has historically male-dominated field. She says her dream job is to do avionics for a mission organization. The AEA represents more than 1,300 aviation businesses that repair, maintain and install avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. AEA awarded only one Avionics Technician Scholarship.
LETU STUDENTS DONATE TO FEED HOMELESS LETU students donated their “flex” money from their cafeteria accounts at the end of the Fall 2015 semester to raise more than $5,200 to feed the homeless at Hiway 80 Rescue Mission. LETU student Drew McCoy led the initiative by encouraging students to donate and then teaming up with LETU’s Corner Café food vendor, Bon Appetit, to purchase food at wholesale prices for the mission.
LETU RECEIVES JUNIOR LEAGUE CRYSTAL PINEAPPLE AWARD LeTourneau University President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford received the Crystal Pineapple Award from the Junior League of Longview outgoing president Taylor Clark on May 3 for the university’s dedication to the Longview community and support of the Junior League, which hosted its first Poverty Conference last October in LETU’s Belcher Center.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO LETU’S NEW DISTINGUISHED SENIORS FOR 2016 LETU named five seniors this spring to receive the Distinguished Senior Award recognizing academic excellence, servant leadership, generosity and spiritual growth. Pictured clockwise from left with Dr. and Mrs. Lunsford are recipients Hannah Campbell, Jacob Weeks, Samuel van der Hoeven, Edward Peterson and Andrew Pollard.
FIRST STUDENTS FLY SOLO AT NEW MCKINNEY FACILITY LETU students began flying airplanes in January from LETU‘s new McKinney facility. According to pilot tradition, after a student’s first solo flight, the flight instructor cuts fabric off the back of the student’s T-shirt. LETU also just hosted its largest aviation preview weekend in McKinney, attracting over 100 potential students.
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LAURA LASTER RECOGNIZED AS ‘STAR OVER LONGVIEW’ LETU’s Director of Flight Operations Laura Laster was selected by the Longview Regional Medical Center and the Women’s Advisory Council to be honored during the Stars Over Longview Awards Ceremony Jan. 14. Each year the organizations recognize and cele-
brate 12 women in the community who inspire to make a difference and better the community by influencing the future of Longview and the women who call Longview home. Laster is active in promoting the aviation profession and was awarded the 2015 Women in Aviation Management Award. She is a 2004 LETU flight alumna. STUDENTS SHARE RESEARCH AT LETU ANNUAL CONFERENCE LETU students presented their scholarly research on topics from across the university during the Student Scholarship Conference April 2. They read papers, gave poster presentations and served on panel discussions at the free event, sponsored by the Honors College, School of Arts and Sciences and the English Department. CB&I HONORS TOM LANDON WITH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford and CB&I President and CEO Philip K. Asherman announced the Thomas L. Landon Endowed Scholarship Fund in Materials Joining, established by CB&I. Landon, a 1975 LeTourneau welding engineering graduate, retired after 40 years with CB&I, where he became one of their foremost experts in the field of welding. The scholarship will be awarded to a selected new freshman student with demonstrated financial need and the desire to study materials joining engineering. It can be renewed annually.
LETU PROFESSORS WIN TOP AWARDS IN POETRY, PROSE LETU’s English professors Dr. Randy Compton, left, and Dr. Stan Coppinger, right, both were honored with top awards at the recent Conference of College Teachers of English in San Antonio. Compton won the Creative Writing Award for Poetry for his poem collection titled “Unsought Estates: 10 Poems.” Coppinger won the George Nixon Award for Best Prose for his piece “EDUCASHUN.”
LETU ATHLETES CLEAN UP LONGVIEW LETU student-athletes and coaches volunteered to work with citizens of Longview to clean up litter and beautify Longview as part of the City of Longview Green and Clean project April 19. The City of Longview Green and Clean is a partnership between the City of Longview Recycling Program and Keep Longview Beautiful.
LETU RECEIVES $600,000 GRANT FROM LILLY ENDOWMENT LETU received a $592,299 grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to establish Passage, a year-long experience dedicated to helping high school students explore theological traditions, ask questions about moral dimensions of contemporary issues and examine how their faith calls them to live lives of service. It is part of Lilly Endowment’s High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative. Students will study with LETU theology faculty and current students, do community service projects and engage Scripture and their own theological traditions. The grant funds two weekend retreats for the summers of 2017 to 2020 and mentoring from their home churches. The program was designed for high school freshmen and sophomores in the Ark-La-Tex region.
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LETU STUDENTS HELP CLEAN UP LINDALE AFTER TORNADOS Following two tornados that downed trees and blocked roadways in Lindale, Texas, LETU students volunteered the weekend before finals to help clear debris and assist those who suffered property damage.
LETU NAMES VERNESSA GENTRY DIRECTOR OF ACHIEVEMENT LETU has named Vernessa Gentry, an educator with over 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, as the new Director of Student Achievement. Gentry oversees the Achievement Center, where she assists students with resources to achieve academic success. Gentry holds her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
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SELBY FACULTY AWARD PLAQUE TO MIGRATE AMONG WINNERS The Robert H. Selby Award for Faculty Excellence has a new plaque listing all of the winners since the award was initiated in 1977. In a new tradition, the new plaque will be housed in the college or school of the current recipient each year. Pictured above from left are 2015 Selby Award recipient Dr. Stephen Ayers, Associate Provost and Dean of Faculty Dr. Steven Mason; Provost Dr. Phil Coyle and TFO President Dr. Jimmy Ames. Dr. Robert H. Selby taught history and English at LeTourneau from 1961 to 1971. The award is bestowed at the conclusion of the spring semester each year and exemplifies the highest standards in teaching.
FORMER LETU PRESIDENT HONORED FOR CITIZENSHIP LETU president emeritus Dr. Alvin O. “Bud” Austin was honored by the East Texas Area Council Boy Scouts of America with the Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award. Austin served as president of LeTourneau College, then LeTourneau University, for 21 years, from 1986 until he retired in 2007, as Dr. Dale A. Lunsford became LETU’s sixth president.
AUTO SOCIETY HOSTS 40TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW LETU’s Automotive Society hosted its 40th Annual Car Show March 19 and 20, raising more than $4,000 for charity. This year’s show had a wider variety of vehicles–from classic cars, muscle cars, race cars, sports cars, custom restorations and motorcycles, according to Patrick Mahaffey, this year’s coordinator. The show brings together car enthusiasts who share interests in all things automotive, while raising funds for mission work.
LETU SIGNS AVIATION ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS LETU formalized a new, three-way partnership at McKinney National Airport Nov. 16 to expand aviation education opportunities through Collin College and McKinney Independent School District.
LETU ANNOUNCES FOUR OUTSTANDING PROFESSORS FOR 2016 LeTourneau University has initiated a new Outstanding Professor Award for faculty members nominated and selected by their peers from each of the university’s four colleges. The inaugural awards were presented April 1 to history professor Dr. Daniel Ostendorff, College of Education, Arts and Sciences; engineering professor Dr. Paul Leiffer, College of Engineering, Business & Technology; psychology professor Dr. Vicki Sheafer, College of Health Sciences & Professional Studies; and aviation professor Lauren Bitikofer, College of Aviation and Aeronautical Sciences. The awards are presented to fulltime faculty who exemplify the highest standards of professionalism in each College. Criteria include effectiveness in teaching, dedication to LETU and Christian education; helpfulness to students, spiritual leadership, scholarship and professional development. Sheafer was also awarded the Robert H. Selby Award for Excellence in Teaching during May commencement. NOW Magazine | Spring 2016
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Gerrie Forbis Celebrates 50 Years at LETU LETU Inaugurates New Staff Excellence Award in Her Honor Written by: Janet Ragland
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ifty years ago, in 1966, the United States was embroiled in a war in Vietnam. Lyndon B. Johnson was president of the United States, gasoline cost $0.32 cents a gallon and a first-class postage stamp was a nickel. Young people wore bell-bottomed jeans, and mini-skirts were the fashion rage for women. The top hits on the Billboard music chart included “Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkle and “We Can Work It Out” by the Beatles. That year was also when Gerrie Forbis came to work at LeTourneau, on January 17, as an executive assistant for then-president Richard LeTourneau, son of the school’s founder. LeTourneau College had only been a college for about five years when Gerrie arrived. Before that, it had been a technical school with only male students, mostly returning World War II veterans. The campus
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was a collection of row upon row of about 200 white wooden barracks buildings, connected by wooden covered walkways. Her first office was located in one of those barracks buildings that used to be located near where Heath-Hardwick Hall now stands. It was the administration barracks. She said she got lost on campus several times before she figured out where everything was. She said she got a speeding ticket from campus security on her first week for going over the 20 mph limit. The only current buildings still standing when she started working are the library, Tyler Hall and the Science Building. The cafeteria back then was in an old barracks near where Davis Hall is located today. Students called it “SAGA,” named after the company that provided food service. The campus coffee shop was known as “The Dog House,” before it became the Hive. The story goes that some of the married men students found themselves “in the dog house” with their wives for spending too much time in the coffee shop. The name was changed to Hive to better reflect the school’s YellowJacket mascot theme and because it was like a “beehive of activity.” Gerrie helped students by typing their résumés and cover letters and scheduling tutors for those students needing extra academic help. She typed the manuscript for Mom LeTourneau’s cookbook, “Recipes for Living,” and handled many of the family’s phone calls after Pop died in 1969. Throughout the years, her roles changed as the university grew. She said the 1990s were an exciting time as the school launched its first
working adult program from a Christian perspective. Gerrie’s greatest hurdle came in 2009 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she credits God’s healing and the steadfast messages of hope, strength and cheer, along with all the prayers, from her coworkers for seeing her through. During a special chapel service in her honor in January, Gerrie was acknowledged with a proclamation from the city’s mayor proclaiming “Gerrie Forbis Day” in Longview. She also was presented with a surprise— the first ever staff excellence award, which is named in her honor. “We are so thankful to you for the faithful service you have provided to the university, the students you have helped and mentored in their walk with Christ, the relationships you have built and the example you have been to us all,” said LETU Associate Provost Steve Mason, as he presented her with the “Gerrie Forbis Staff Excellence Award” which will be presented annually from now on to an outstanding staff member. n
“My 50 years at LeTourneau University have enriched my life greatly. Working hand in hand with the LeTourneau family brought lasting memories. Students I interact with continue to bless me—both recent students, as well as those who have since graduated, continue to keep up with me on Facebook. Many former students take time to stop in and visit me. My work with recruiting faculty has enabled me to get to know the newest faculty and watch as they begin teaching and mentoring our students. Each phase of my time at LeTourneau has given me joy, and I cherish each and every memory. As the next years unfold, I want to continue my ministry here. God is not finished with me yet!” —Gerrie Forbis
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Photos by: Jenna Pace
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bout 400 alumni, families and friends came to campus for Homecoming & Family Weekend 2016! The weather couldn’t have been any better, and the proof is in the pictures. We celebrated the Class of 1966, the Welding/ Materials Joining program, and the Flooders. Annual events included the catamelon, the cardboard boat races and the intersociety rope pull, which was won by KZK. Our students outdid themselves once again with
Hootenanny, and the Admissions Office gave previewing students a look at our amazing campus community. We hope everyone all had as much fun as we did! Mark your calendars for Homecoming and Family Weekend 2017, which will be landing March 30-April 1, 2017! We will feature an aviation reunion and a reunion of the Class of 1967. n —Jamie DeYoung, Alumni Director
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he 51st annual Hootenanny, celebrating 70 years of LeTourneau, was held April 22 during Homecoming Weekend. “Hootenanny: Impossible” was this year’s theme, hosted by students Nathan O’Day, Abigail Lopez and Marcus Miller. Hootenanny provided an evening of action, drama and an exhibition of student talent, all wrapped up in the story of an ill-fated movie production crew trying to make a movie called... Hootenanny: Impossible! Complete with a student-produced movie premiere and a red-carpet Oscars-style event called “The Hoo-
tenanny Experience,” some have called this the most ambitious Hootenanny of all time! DVDs, T-shirts and a Digital Pass to the event featuring the show + director’s cut of the movie + a “making-of ” documentary are available now at bit.ly/hootenannyimpossiblestorefront. n
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Written by: Bill Peel, founding executive director, Center for Faith & Work, LeTourneau University
hat will it take for every Christian in the workplace to become a whole-life disciple? What can we do to help lawyers, plumbers, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs - people in every profession - see their work as a holy calling and their workplace as their mission field? How can God use us to replace distorted marketplace values that are driving the decline of western civilization with kingdom values that foster human flourishing? These questions will frame the 2016 Faith@Work Summit in Dallas (October 27-29) as 400 leaders from diverse business sectors, seminaries, universities, churches and workplace ministries gather to learn from each other and identify collaborative solutions to extend Christ’s transforming influence in every workplace in every nation. The inaugural 2014 Faith@Work Summit that
LETU co-sponsored was labeled “the most important gathering to date in the faith and work movement” by the Oikonomia Network’s Greg Forster. Fueled by the Holy Spirit, today’s faith and work movement has made great strides toward spreading a biblical view of work and calling worldwide. Yet amidst encouraging progress, today’s workers are in dire need of mentors and materials to show them what it means to follow Christ in their specific work. Also, whole segments of society remain largely untouched by the truth that they can serve Christ in their daily work. Such concerns have been central to the mission and work of LeTourneau University’s Center for Faith and Work since its inception. The wisdom and experience of every member of the faith and work community is vital as we address these important issues at the 2016 Faith@Work Summit. Learn more and register at the 2016 Summit website.
LeTourneau University’s Center for Faith & Work champions R.G. LeTourneau’s legacy, extending the university’s reach. The Center broadens students’ and faculty’s vision of faith at work by introducing outstanding leaders to campus to speak in chapel. The executive director has made presentations at churches and conferences in Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, New York City, Charleston, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Chicago, New Orleans and a number of Dallas events since last fall and has appeared on Bill Maier Live and has a regular blog on the Patheos Evangelical Mission Work channel. The Center continues to explore ways to reach out to alumni to offer regular encouragement regarding the top challenges Christians face in the workplace.
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October 27-29
Sign up for monthly email encouragement & key articles, events and resources that help you connect Sunday worship with Monday work at the Center for Faith and Work website at http://www.centerforfaithandwork.com. n
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AL U M N I S PO TL IG H T
Dr. Shannon Potter Written by Jenna Pace
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rom Kansas to Congo, this is the story of one LeTourneau alumna who’s healing the world, one woman at a time. When Shannon (Toews) Potter first came to LeTourneau from her native Kansas in 2002 to study biology, she already had an interest in international mission work, but it was during her time as an undergraduate that she decided how she wanted to spend her life. Shannon’s journey began during a trip with LeTourneau to Africa, where she learned about the lack of women’s heath care in the continent’s rural areas. Many medical issues women face in rural African villages are easily corrected, but lack of available treatment and resources can put proper assistance out of reach. In addition to living with symptoms of physical illness, cultural matters adversely affect women as well. Their community can shun them due to their condition; too many eventually commit suicide. “I saw the plight of these women and thought that this is something I really want to help with. If they receive treatment, they go from being ostracized and unable to function in a society, to being a normal woman – able to get married and maybe have children again. For me, working with them is a way of communicating to them that they are valuable in the sight of God,” Shannon said. With her goal of helping disadvantaged women solidified, Shannon diligently continued with her education. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from LETU in 2006, she attended the University of Texas School of Medicine in San Antonio. Shannon then landed a residency at St. Louis University School of Medicine, where she was named Best Teaching Resident. “Passing on knowledge to the next gen-
eration is such a joy to me, and being recognized for my efforts was very special,” she says of the honor. Shortly after completing her residency in 2015, Shannon, her husband Ryan, a LeTourneau engineering alumnus, and their young daughter moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo to practice medicine with Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Mission. She’s currently in the midst of a twoyear commitment and serves as an OB/GYN and Director of Maternity Services. “An average day can include performing surgeries, participating in official teaching meetings and patient rounds with medical students and residents, improving the structure and quality of care in the maternity ward, seeing patients, performing and teaching ultrasound techniques and teaching nurses newborn resuscitation.” It’s been 10 years since she was a student at LeTourneau and although she lives thousands of miles away, Shannon has never left the LETU community. “The people I know from my time at LETU continue to benefit me. For instance, a fellow LETU student connected me with someone in admissions at the medical school I went to. LETU professors and alumni support us financially and prayerfully as we are on the mission field. Some even promised that support over eight years before it happened! A former LETU professor visited us in language school in France and we are even working with LETU alumni here in Congo.” Her commitment with Samaritan’s Purse is for two years, but this is just the beginning of Shannon’s career. “This work changes the lives of women for the better. When you can help with that, it’s just a beautiful thing. I could do this for the rest of my life.” n
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MEMORIALS John Deurwaarder (’52 IS) died Jan. 22, 2016, in Vancouver, Wash. John enjoyed playing tennis, traveling and reading about WWII and airplanes. He is survived by his wife, Alta, and his five children: Dan and his wife, Chrisann; Dean and his wife, Melinda; David and his wife, Penny; Barbara; Julie; and his six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Frederick (Fred) Ritts (’58 ME) died March 5, 2015 in Seneca, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; son Bruce and his wife, Cheryl; daughter Sharon and her husband, Todd; three grandchildren; siblings, cousins and nephews. R. Stephen King (’66 MT) of Sun Valley, Idaho, died Jan. 1, 2016. His greatest joy was his family: daughter, Dakota Rose, who survives him; as well as his brothers, Timothy and Mark. Thomas Grimes (’04 CHPH) of Lubbock, Texas, died Sept. 29, 2015. He will be missed by his parents, Tony and Lynn Grimes, siblings, extended family, co-workers and many friends. Nicole Leman (’13 KES) of Anchorage, Alaska, died Dec. 8, 2015, from a fall while hiking in mountains near Wanaka, New Zealand. She is survived by her parents, Loren and Carolyn Leman; brother, Joseph and his wife, Erica; sister, Rachel Brandt and her husband, Joel; nieces and nephews and extended family.
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 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 www.letu/give. The family will be notified of your generosity when a memoriam is made.
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BIRTHS David “Cam” (’08 CE) and Jincy (Fogle) (’06 MK) Nichols announce the birth of Brinley Rose on Oct. 23, 2015, who joins big sister, Jaiden (2). Cam is a design engineer with Rigado, LLC. They live in Salem, Ore.
Jeff (’97 ME) and Julia Thielman and daughter, Hannah (3), welcomed Lucy into their family Dec. 4, 2015. Jeff’s new job with HP relocated them to Barcelona, Spain, in April. Ben Luckert (’09 ACCT) and wife, Mandy, announce the birth of Nora Elizabeth (Beth) on May 10, 2015, in Aledo, Texas.
WEDDINGS Roland Giddings (’74 MT) and Sharon Wester (’75 MABS) were married Oct. 17, 2015, in Provolt, Ore. Pictured are the bride and groom, along with alumni (l-r) Dave Phillips (’75 ME), Roland, Jim Giddings (’77-‘78), Sharon, Keith Wyckoff (’74 WE), Marsha (Gray) Johnson (’73 ME), and Bob Johnson (‘73ME, since then deceased). They said five of the “Techos” pictured, including the bride, were Auto Society members. Peter Kendall (’09 CSBS) and Meagan Vaughan (’07 ME) were married July 5, 2015, in El Paso, Texas. Meagan received her Ph.D., August 2014, in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and began working as assistant professor of Engineering Education and Leadership at the University of Texas at El Paso. Peter is a software engineer for Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
CLASS NOTES Timothy (’76 EE) and Karen (Anderson) (’76 MABS) Adkins recently moved to Plattsmouth, Neb., where Tim is an embedded systems engineer for a new startup company. Robert Brandt (’78 ET) retired March 29, 2016, after 37 and a half years of teaching in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil. Robert has not been on campus in 38 years. He and his wife, Rosilânia, plan to stop for a brief visit in July. Jeffrey “Jeff” Waldrop (’91 ATFL) was recently appointed library director of the David Allan Hubbard Library at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif. He also serves as an affiliate assistant professor of church history. Jeffrey Piepmeier (’93 EE) is spearheading a NASA Team in collaboration with Ohio State University and NASA’s Jet Propulsions Lab in Pasadena, Calif., to build and launch a new CubeSat mission that will test next generation techniques for alleviating radio frequency interference when observing the Earth. Jeffrey works at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Gabriel (‘96 ATFL) and Angela (Franzen) (’98 BYBS) Morrow recently moved to Clancy, Mont., where Gabriel has been appointed the position of curate at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral. Mathew Mitchell (‘96, BCST) is a database administrator at University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler. He and his wife, Jessica, have been married nearly 18 years and they have two teenagers, Jessica and Mark. Matthew remembers when he was a student eating grilled cheese sandwiches at engineering professor Dr. Bill Graff’s house on Sunday nights while studying the Bible. His blog is www.apolojedi.com. Jason Fowler (’99 HIPL) was promoted to managing partner, triggering a name change for his law firm to Ranalli, Zaniel, Fowler & Moran, LLC. He and his wife, Steph, and children Sonny (12), Abbie (10) and Lena (4) live in Boulder City, Nev. Dr. Juan Lopez (’02 ME) was named a National Science Fellow in 2012 and was promoted to director (program chair) of Graduate Biomedical Engineering, Universidad Popular Autónoma Del Estado de Puebla, A.C. (UPAEP), August 2014. This summer
STAY CONNECTED WEB: www.letu.edu/alumni www.letu.edu E-MAIL: alumni@letu.edu NOW@letu.edu LeTourNews@letu.edu (weekly newsletter) FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/LETUAlumni www.facebook.com/myLETU TWITTER: @LETUAlumni @LeTourneauUniv @LETUnews LINKEDIN: search for “LeTourneau Alumni” search for “LeTourneau University”
INSTAGRAM: letourneauuniversity
YOUTUBE: LeTourneauUniversity LETUBuzzVision
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he will take a group of students to the University of Notre Dame to present an interuniversity course on mathematical modeling to them and Notre Dame students. In returning to Puebla, Mexico, after LETU, he was committed to shine Christ’s light on the overlooked mission field of science and higher education. He believes (and is grateful for) the instruction and living experience he had at LETU was a huge part in preparing him for Christ-like servant leadership and has led to his success. Lacey Ames (’02 ISEL) is teaching pre-K at Riverside International School in Prague, Czech Republic. Lacey’s parents visited this spring. Here she is pictured with her mom, Jean Ames, who works at LETU. Angie Shaw-Tippen (’03 BBA) wanted to express her gratitude to LETU for helping her achieve her dream of becoming a college graduate. It was a dream she had set as her high school valedictorian in 1968. She says she could retire now but plans to keep working as the financial coordinator for research at UT Health Science Center, Tyler, Texas. Angela (Johnson) Malone (’04 PBED) was surprised by being awarded the 2015-2016 Milken Educator Award, along with a check for $25,000, on Feb. 17, 2016. Angela, being a trained singer and actor, used her training in helping her school, Oxon Hill Middle School, Fort Washington, Md., transition from a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to STEAM, which adds the arts. Dr. Greggory “Gregg” Wright (’07 PSYS) has started a new position as the system quality and process improvement specialist/ analyst for the Good Shepherd Health System, Longview, Texas. Douglas “Doug” Glidden (’08 CE) graduated with his Master of Science in Computer Engineering from George Mason University. He and his wife, Amanda, and son Ian (2) live in Woodbridge, Va. Ben Luckert (’09 ACCT) obtained his CPA license, November 2015, and was promoted to senior fund accountant, January 2016, at Oak Hill Advisors, Fort Worth, Texas.
Brian Tuscher (’09 AAAS) is serving on a short term (6-12 month) mission trip in Ukraine. He invites you to visit his blog at: brianandukraine.blogspot.com. Daniel Thiessen (’00 MT/WT) was recently promoted as weld manager for CB&I, F&M Division. He and his wife, Laura, now live in Baton Rouge, La.
Thomas Browning (’03 BBA) graduated from Logsdon Seminary, Hardin-Simmons University, with a Master of Divinity in December 2015. He is serving as senior pastor at Elmdale Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas. Rachel Richards (‘12, HIPL) (pictured with Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds) recently received the Archivist’s Weidman Outstanding Volunteer award for her work digitizing “Heirlooms: an Anthology of White House Furnishings” by Dare McMullin and the Six Companies Hoover Dam photo albums. Ian Willard (’13 CVE) recently received a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree from Iowa State University and started working as an environmental engineer for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. Kristen Halverson (’14 MSL) of Elkader, Iowa, recently published a children’s book: “The Tale of Josephine Rose: A Horse’s Magical Neigh.” The book was inspired by real events with her horses.
By the way, have you updated your alumni contact information? Email us your updates to alumni@letu.edu. 42
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Introducing VineUp LETU’s Exclusive New Career Networking & Mentoring Platform
LeTourneau alumni are invited to connect with other alumni and current students through our exclusive hub for career development. Plug in by mentoring students and sharing life lessons with them, joining affinity groups, finding other alumni in your geographic area, and building lasting friendships through one seamless networking and mentoring tool. We’re looking forward to building our LeTourneau network – We can’t wait to see you there!
Join and find out more at www.letu.edu/vineupalumni
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2015-16
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Written by Danny Kambel, sports information director
ine teams participated in ASC Tournaments in 201516, marking a new LETU school record. The start of the 201516 year began with the LeTourneau University men’s and women’s cross country teams and the women’s soccer team making the tournament; followed by the men’s and women’s basketball teams in the winter; and the baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis teams reaching the tournament in the spring. Participation by the women’s soccer team marked the YellowJackets’ first appearance since 2006. The combined appearance for the men’s and women’s basketball teams in the same year made school history. The men’s and women’s tennis teams, baseball and softball teams, marked the
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third-straight year that all four teams reached the conference tournament. Success in sports was mirrored by success in the classroom. In the Fall 2015 semester, 224 student-athletes earned a 3.35 cumulative grade-point average with 121 student-athletes achieving at least a 3.0 GPA. Of the 121 student-athletes, 42 earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Also in the fall, 33 student-athletes representing men’s and women’s cross country, soccer and volleyball were named to the ASC Academic Honor Roll. Senior baseball player Taylor Empkey of Bedford, Texas, received the R.G. LeTourneau Legacy Award, the highest award a student-athlete can receive. It is presented annually to the student-athlete who portrays Christian leadership in the classroom, on campus, in the community and in his or her athletic sport. Empkey was re-
cently selected by the LeTourneau University School of Theology and Vocation as its Outstanding Student. He served as a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at LeTourneau and most recently was inducted into the Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges. Empkey was named Academic All-ASC in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, he has led LeTourneau in its third-straight appearance for the first time in program history to the ASC Baseball Tournament. Senior cross country runner Luke Funk of Siloam Springs, Ark., was named the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. Funk was named the LETU Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and an ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. Funk has been named twice to the ASC All-Academic Team during his career at LeTourneau. He is one of five members of the men’s cross country team who earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during the Fall 2015 semester. Funk and the LETU men’s cross country team received the ASC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Team Sportsmanship Award in Fall 2015. His 20th-place finish at the 2015 ASC Championships secured a second-place finish for the LETU men’s cross country team, which competed at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional meet for a fifth-straight year. As an Honors College student, Funk works with LETU’S Wheels Project, which has traveled to Kenya to do wheelchair research, and is a supplemental instructor for electric circuits. He is also a member of the LETU chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Gold Key Honor Society and the Engineering Honor Society. Funk recently accepted a full-ride post-graduate scholarship to attend the Harvard–MIT Program of Health Sciences
R.G. LETOURNEAU LEGACY AWARD WINNER The R.G. LeTourneau Legacy Award was presented to baseball player Taylor Empkey. and Technology to pursue a graduate degree in biomedical engineering. LETU’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year was senior Kaitlynn Conway of Damascus, Md., who is on the women’s soccer and golf teams. She has been a threetime Academic All-ASC selection in soccer, recognized as the conference’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in 2014 and win-
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2015-16
ner of the soccer team’s Leadership Award in 2015. She just finished her second year as a member of the LeTourneau University women’s golf team. Conway has worked with the First Tee Program through the Boys and Girls Club of Gregg County, Keep Longview Beautiful, and Soccer Without Borders. She provided campus leadership as a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and serves as vice president of Society for Women Engineers and as co-chairman of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Junior basketball player Jeff Martin of Katy, Texas, and junior cross country runner Taber Miyauchi, of Grand Lake, Colo., were both named Male Athletes of the Year. Martin led LETU to a seven-game win improvement from last year and the best overall record since 2008-09 for LETU men’s basketball, en route to leading the YellowJackets to its fourth ASC Tournament appearance. Martin led LETU in assists and steals and was third in scoring. He was third in Division III in assists per game and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio. Miyauchi led LETU to a runner-up finish at the 2015 ASC Cross Country Championships with a third-place finish. By virtue of his third-place finish, he was named first team All-ASC. He had four top-five finishes on the season, including winning the University of Dallas Invitational. Miyauchi was the team’s top finisher at the NCAA South/ Southwest Regional Cross Country meet with a 60th-place finish, which is the best
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finish ever by an LETU men’s runner. Junior basketball player Crystal Jones of Fort Worth, Texas, was named Female Athlete of the Year. Jones was named to the ASC All-Conference Team, the ASC East Division Newcomer of the Year and First Team all-ASC East Division. Jones made an immediate impact, averaging 30.2 minutes, 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 steals a game. She was in double figures in 26 of 27 games with 10 20-point games, five 30-point games, 15 games with multiple 3-pointers, 13 games with at least three 3-pointers and six games with at least five 3-pointers. Senior men’s tennis player Michael McLaughlin of Horton, Ala., and senior men’s basketball player Giovanny Thompson of Spring City, Texas, were recognized at Academic Chapel by LETU’s School of Education for the successful balance between their academic work and their athletic disciplines. Both McLaughlin and Thompson spent the spring semester serving as student teachers in East Texas, in addition to their participation in tennis and basketball, respectively. Senior men’s soccer player Xavier Scarlett of Abilene, Texas, and senior women’s softball player Rachel Gauspohl of Cedar Park, Texas, were named the ASC Sportsmanship Athletes of the Year in their respective sports. Scarlett joins Daniel Iya in 2008 as the only other honoree in school men’s soccer history to receive the conference sportsmanship award. n
SCHOLAR ATHLETES Men’s Cross Country runner Luke Funk and Women’s Golf and Soccer player Kaitlynn Conway received the Scholar-Athletes Awards.
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR Men’s Basketball player Jeff Martin and Men’s Cross Country runner Taber Miyauchi and Women’s Basketball player Crystal Jones were named Athletes of the Year.
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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 another person in their lives. One of the greatest donations YOU can make to LeTourneau University is to tell others about us. Help us recruit the next generation of LETU students! So before you discard this magazine after reading it, recycle it by sharing it with a friend with high-school-aged students. Or share it with your church youth pastor or local high school counselor. You could even leave it in the waiting room of your doctor’s office on your next visit.
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