Marietta Magazine (Fall 2018)

FALL 2018

THE MAGAZI N E OF M A R I E T TA COL L EG E

CASTING CALL MARIETTA SUMMER THEATRE FESTIVAL TAKES CENTER STAGE IN COMMUNITY

ALSO

College debuts new athletic fields Class of 1968’s lasting impact

TRANSITIONS PHOTOS BY NATE KNOBEL

W ELCOME BAC K

B

efore the alarm clocks and schedules could be set, the campus was treated to a special dinner to allow new and returning students as well as faculty, staff and their families to share their stories of summer break and forge new friendships — a perfect start for the fall semester.

MARIETTA COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

M ESSAGE F RO M T H E PRESIDENT

DR . WI LLI A M N. R U U D

Chair George W. Fenton Vice Chair Matthew B. Weekley ’81

W

henever I meet with prospective students, families or alumni, I always share the Marietta College story. I should actually say that I am sharing STORIES! We have so many remarkable things going on at the College and around the world as our

alumni represent us so well in their communities and their places of work.

Since I don’t personally interact with every one of you, I thought it would be a great idea to share some of the impressive things that are taking place here on our beautiful campus.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the College welcomed nearly 400 new students this fall. It is an impressive group. Their average high school GPA is 3.41, their average ACT is 22.8, and they come from 26 states and five countries. They have also embraced being Pioneers. At the first home football game, more than 150 students created a student section (something no one currently on campus had ever seen) that cheered the Pioneers to a 35-24 victory over Geneva in the season opener.

Another first for Marietta College was the recent recognition as a Great College to Work For by The Chronicle of Higher Education. I am proud of the cultural shift on campus that has made such a positive impact on our talented and dedicated employees.

Through very sound financial planning, an increase in donations and a surge in enrollment over the past two years, we have been fortunate to be able to heavily reinvest in our physical plant, as well as our employees, and in our students.

Over the past six months, we made an important investment — in excess of $3 million — to our campus.

Included in these upgrades have been the highly visible playing surfaces at Don Drumm Stadium and Marietta Field (impacting nearly 300 student-athletes). But it is so much more than this. We have repaired roofs, updated boilers and coolers in residence halls, added new sod to Don Schaly Stadium, added a new patio in front of the Irvine Administration Building, upgraded the Band Hall, and purchased furniture for classrooms and living spaces.

I am also delighted that we were able to provide our employees with across-the-board 3-percent raises, as well as a 2-percent increase to our retirement plan — that is now up to a 7-percent College contribution that matches a 5-percent employee contribution.

This is just a sampling of the great stories that we don’t typically share, but I thought that they are important for each of you to know.

Secretary Mark Miller Treasurer Michele Marra Robert M. (Bob) Brucken ’56 Christopher Cortez ’71 Jan D. Dils ’90 Janice Downey Donoghue ’75 Harry H. (Hap) Esbenshade III Andrew D. Ferguson ’95 Barbara A. Perry Fitzgerald ’73 James B. Fryfogle ’73 Richard A. (Rich) Galen ’68 Susan Cook Hayes ’98 Mary Studders Korn ’82 Daniel Leonard ’85 Michael D. Milone Michael L. Moffitt ’91 Kathleen Mitchell Murphy ’82 Kevin R. O’Neill ’87 Stephanie Esparza Peloquin ’06 Marc R. Ponchione ’96 Jason C. Rebrook ’96 Ronald E. (Ron) Rinard ’72 Leslie Straub Ritter ’85 William N. (Bill) Ruud Michael J. Salvino ’87 Charles W. (Chuck) Sulerzyski Jo Ellen Diehl Yeary ’76 Patricia (Patti) Kral Zecchi ’71 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Stephanie Esparza Peloquin ’06 Vice Chair John E. Hopkins ’65

Please, continue to share the Marietta College story with your friends, family and more importantly, with a high school student and their family in your community. Tell them about your amazing experience and the impact that your professors, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters and teammates had on your life. Together, we can do anything because The Long Blue Line is limitless.

BRING FORTH A PIONEER!

PR E S I D E N T R U U D O N LI N E : twitter.com/President_Ruud instagram.com/presidentruud facebook.com/MariettaCollegePresident 2

FA L L 2 0 1 8

Patty Bain Bachner ’77 Marianne Candido ’85 Melissa Yusko Clawson ’05 Keith Coleman ’77 Jason Gromelski ’98 Susan Hauck-Bell ’85 Michael Joliat ’06 Adam Kopp ’88 Mark Lane ’01, PA’04 Kathy Wilcox Lentner ’97 Rocco Manzo ’59 Gene Neill ’16 Rocky Peck ’88 Ariel Ross ’13 Christine Zernick Suter ’84 Mark Vizza ’98 Travis Wells ’97 James Wilson ’69

CONTENTS

FAL L 2 0 1 8

Inside this issue 12

B U I L D I N G A S T R O N G T H E AT E R CO M MUNIT Y

Summer stock is where developing actors gain valuable experience — and Marietta is fast becoming known in the arts community as a place where actors hone their skills in classical and musical theatre during the summer months.

Features 4 6 16

PROVOST Dr. Janet Bland

JOU RN A L

VP FOR ADVANCEMENT Angela Anderson

P I ON E E R S

New athletic fields Marietta adds eSports program Former Pioneer transitions to pro scout

24

EDITORS Tom Perry and Gi Smith ART DIRECTOR Ryan Zundell PHOTOGRAPHERS Cape Cod Times, Robert Caplin, Jill Linn, Nate Knobel, Phil Mason, David McShaffrey, David F. Morrill/William & Mary Law School, Ohio University, Drew Tanner/Peoples Bank Theatre, Paul Vernon, Rebecca Wheeler CLASS NOTES Tom Perry and Gi Smith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Claire Berlin PRESIDENT Dr. William N. Ruud

MARI E T TA S C E N E

Young entrepreneur

DE VE LO PM E N T S

I S S UE 2 6

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING Kathryn Gloor M A R I E T TA The Magazine of Marietta College is published by the Office of Communication and Brand Management. The magazine serves its readers by providing information about the activities of Marietta College alumni, students, faculty and staff through the publication of accurate and balanced content that informs and stimulates intellectual discussion.

Class of 1968 impact

26

MARI E T TA M O M E N T

Memories of college life

28

T H E LO N G B LU E LI N E

Class notes

COVER PHOTO BY DREW TANNER

Text, photographs and artwork may not be reprinted without written permission of the Vice President of Communication and Brand Management at Marietta.

CO N TAC T U S Send address changes, letters to the editor and class notes to Marietta Magazine, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, OH 45750.

Phone: 740.376.4727 Email: marketing@marietta.edu

M A R I E T TA

3

N E W AN D N OTABL E

NATE KNOBEL

NATE KNOBEL

NATE KNOBEL

PAUL VERNON

MARIETTA SCENE

(Top) Marietta College hosted a town hall debate on October 1st for Ohio gubernatorial candidates Richard Cordray (left) and Mike DeWine.

(Center) Veteran political, media and culture analyst Jeff Greenfield spent two days in October speaking to student, alumni and community groups on campus about the tumultuous activities of 1968.

(Bottom left) Megs Schreck Yunn ’06, founder of Beverly’s Birthdays, returned to Marietta in October to speak to students about her charity and its impact on the lives of homeless children.

(Bottom right) Darrien Fields ’19 and Jo Herd-Middlebrooks ’19 were named Homecoming King and Queen. Fields broke Marietta’s record for career touchdown passes and Herd-Middlebrooks is a forward on Marietta’s first OAC championship women’s basketball team.

4

FA L L 2 0 1 8

LO N G BLUE LIN ES

GI SMI TH, E DI TOR

S

ome of my favorite memories of growing up in a family of six are the special dinners that my parents would make the day before school started. It didn’t matter what was being served, though it was usually presented as “a celebratory back-to-school hamburger” or a “last day of summer meatloaf.” My favorite was the “new school year spaghetti feast,” featuring spaghetti … made special because my parents said it was.

Much like a pre-game pep talk given by a coaching staff, the conversation around the dinner table revolved around recapping what it was going to take to make first, second, third — whatever grades my siblings and I were entering that particular year — challenging, fun and rewarding. These dinners meant a lot because they showed my family’s excitement for our education and the experiences that came with being around friends in a learning environment.

That same sentiment flooded back this year when, in late August, I received an email from Dr. Richard Danford, our Vice President for Student Life, that all students — most of whom had just arrived on campus — faculty, staff and their families were invited to a special campus-wide kickoff dinner the Sunday before fall semester began. But in his email, Dr. Danford included the menu,

RE V IE W

and among the items were pulled pork, pulled chicken and pulled jackfruit, to be served with barbecue sauce on buns.

One might think that the Sunday before classes began would be bad timing for a gathering — this was the exact opposite. Buffet tables set up in Hermann Fine Arts Center featured platters filled with main courses and side dishes such as Caprese salad, broccoli salad and from-scratch macaroni and cheese.

Other tables showcased desserts — turtle brownies and summer berry pie bars.

Droves of students, faculty, staff and family members encircled the tables and then began the hunt for open seats throughout Hermann’s portico and lawn area. A solid line trailed from a flavored shaved ice truck brought to campus for the event, and members of the Student Government Association struggled to keep up as they made s’mores for fellow Pioneers at the fire pit in the Hermann Bowl.

As if the food wasn’t enough, each person in attendance was given a raffle ticket for a chance to win gift cards, T-shirts, tickets to Cedar Point and a flatscreen television.

I don’t recall a raffle being held during my childhood back-to-school celebration, or pulled jackfruit sandwiches (which happen to be delicious!), but I indeed recognized that exciting feeling of starting a new academic year with new and returning students and colleagues. I am sure this year’s inaugural kickoff dinner will become one of those special Marietta memories that alumni decades from now will talk about and cherish.

COMME NTS FROM OUR RE ADER S

Dear Editors: I was thrilled to see that you decided to feature Adrian Roberts on the back page of the latest edition of the Marietta Magazine.

When I was at Marietta, recognition of and support for the LGBTQ community was non-existent — making it even more challenging for those struggling with their sexuality (like me) to come out.

Proudly featuring an openly trans activist alum like Adrian shows how far Marietta has come in recognizing the LGBTQ alumni community.

My hope is that the Administration has also put into place support for current LGBTQ students so that those students are able to thrive and take full advantage of all of the amazing opportunities that exist at Marietta.

All my best, Eric Stern ’97 Former Director of LGBT Outreach for the Democratic National Committee; Former Co-Chair, Obama for America LGBT Leadership Council

M A K E A N I M PA C T By including Marietta College in your estate

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Because Marietta Magazine seeks to present a wide diversity of subject matter and content, some views presented in the publication may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the official policies maintained by Marietta College.

Letters commenting on the material or topics presented in the magazine are encouraged and are available for publication unless the author specifically asks that they do not appear in public print. Published letters may be edited for style, length and clarity.

EMAIL: marketing@marietta.edu MAIL: Editor, Marietta Magazine, Office of Communication & Brand Management, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, OH 45750-4004

planning, you help future generations of Pioneers achieve their dreams. Learn more about planned giving at http://giftplanning.marietta.edu or call 740.376.4446.

M A R I E T TA

5

NATE KNOBEL

JOURNAL

A LUMN I & CA MPUS N EWS

Young entrepreneur Paige Griffith ’16 blends her business sense with her passion for racing.

Shining BRIGHTLY

A

YO UNG ALUMNA C ATER S TO RACING INDUSTRY THROUGH BUS INESS VENTUR E

fter a few hours of spraying bright-colored dry powder on everything from motorcycle frames to patio furniture, Paige Griffith ’16 is ready to head home for the evening.

If not for her safety glasses and a dust mask, she would be completely covered in the powdery substance that she uses to turn old, weathered metal into works of art.

“That’s usually how I walk out every night,” said Paige, who opened IonX Coatings and Fuel in January. “I may be dirty and tired, but I love it.”

The 23-year-old works full time at Oil Haulers in Reno, Ohio, but is also flexing her entrepreneurial muscles with her own powder coating and fuel business that caters to the local 4-wheeler drag racing scene. She’s also expanded — sort of by accident — to also include patio furniture, belt buckles and stainless steel cups.

She spends hours every evening — when she’s not drag racing — at a small building on the edge of her family’s farm in Western Washington County, Ohio, trying to grow her fledgling business.

“It’s about to get really busy,” she says. “Winter is the busy time of the year with motorsports because they are ready to tear everything down and get it worked on or serviced.”

Paige usually works alone, but she does get help from her boyfriend, Garrett Brown.

“Lately, I’ve really enjoyed helping people who are restoring old cars,” she says. “I’ve had an old Ford Bronco and an older Camaro. There’s been a lot of people who find out about the powder coating in general, and then one person brings their motorcycle parts in or their car restore parts in or their patio furniture and their friends see it and they want to know who, what, when, where and how.”

6

FA L L 2 0 1 8

“I never figured I’d open my own business this young and this quick out of school, but it fell into place really well and I’m more than glad that I studied what I did at Marietta

—Paige Griffith ’16

NATE KNOBEL

College.”

Education Professor Dr. Cathy Mowrer, Assistant Professor Dr. Raven Cromwell, Monica Curtis ’19 and Corrie Burkhardt ’19 teamed up during the One Marietta Tacos & Trivia event.

Paige is happy to help.

“I didn’t think there was as big of a need in the area as what I have discovered,” she says. “I figured it would take a lot longer to get my name out there than what it has.

Being in the racing world helps just from word of mouth, though.”

Paige and Garrett completed a weeklong training with SpectraCoat in Tennessee, so they could be certified in applying the dry powder to a metal surface through static electricity and then heating the product to seal in the colorful look.

Ken Keffer of Endorphin Grafix in Parkersburg, West Virginia, is a big fan of Paige and the work she is doing.

“She was effective in helping me market my business in the early days,” he says. “I know she looked at various options, and she landed in powder coating and she serves the racing industry tremendously well.”

With a steady flow of business and new ideas for other companies, Paige says she learned a lot about starting and running a business at Marietta College. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, while minoring in Advertising & Public Relations.

“I never figured I’d open my own business this young and this quick out of school, but it fell into place really well and I’m more than glad that I studied what I did at Marietta College,” she says. “Every bit of what I learned has applied in one way or another.”

ENGAGE. INVOLVE. IMPACT

TOM PERRY

GI SMITH

CO LLEG E LAUN CHES O NE M A RIET TA IN IT IAT IV E

I

t’s hard to connect the dots on how a Tacos & Trivia night relates to a free throw competition in terms of promoting diversity and inclusion on campus. But for Dr. Nkenge Friday, those events plus several others during the week leading up to Homecoming Weekend were perfect examples of how to engage the campus community with a variety of inclusive events — all part of the One Marietta launch.

Friday, who is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, has been working on breathing new life into the College’s approach to diversity and inclusion efforts, which gained steam in late August when about 40 members of the campus community, including with Marietta College President and Professor of Management Dr. William N. Ruud, signed A Declaration on the Rights of Historically-Underserved Students.

During that presentation, Ruud, Friday, Dr. Richard Danford, Vice President of Student Life and Diversity, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg President Dr. Chris Gilmer, founder of the National Institutes for Historically-Underserved Students, discussed approaches to improving inclusivity and understanding on campus and in the community.

“My commitment to you is that we will create processes, structures and systems that will empower students, faculty and staff to lead our College through growth and changes” Ruud says. “Ultimately, we will be a role model for our peers, for our community and even ourselves.”

One Marietta’s launch included events such as Tacos & Trivia, the free throw competition, the President’s Choice Awards talent show, a welcoming meet and greet with alumni arriving to campus for Homecoming, a “Snap and Chat” social, and a Capoeira performance at the Kremer Amphitheatre.

Friday and her office are focused on building up current efforts and also adding opportunities for more involvement by diverse groups. At the start of the semester, the College opened the new Multicultural Center, which is housed in the Arts & Humanities building on Fourth Street. Additionally, her office is working on revitalizing the Charles Sumner Harrison Organization, LGBTQ efforts and activism, Brother 2 Brother, Global Connections, Ambassadors for Inclusive Excellence, and the Council for Inclusive Excellence.

“Our goal is to be highly visible,” Friday says. “Our goal is to make this office a part of what we [as a campus] do.”

M A R I E T TA

7

A LUMN I & CA MPUS N EWS

NATE KNOBEL

JOURNAL

A Measurable Difference

D

uring the spring semester, Professor and Director of Bands Marshall Kimball spent time during every band rehearsal asking the musicians in the room to be patient just a little longer.

“By the end of that semester, a third of our ceiling tiles were gone due to water leaks in the roof,” he says. “There were plastic buckets throughout the room to catch the water and, of course, there were acoustic issues.

Individual students couldn’t practice any time they wanted because the space was also used for classes.”

Kimball, who is the Chair of the Music Department, knew what was coming as soon as the spring weather subsided.

By the first week of classes this fall, Kimball says the band members were astounded.

“One of my students came in and the first thing she said was, ‘It smells so good and so new.’ It is night and day in comparison to how they saw it in the spring,” Kimball says.

This summer, the College accomplished many deferred maintenance projects. Among them was the Band Rehearsal Hall, located at the corner of Third and Butler streets. In addition to a new roof, the interior of the band hall was completely renovated — from new flooring and ceiling to additional practice spaces, a separate new classroom, restrooms and offices. About 80 Symphonic Band musicians and 40-plus Wind Ensemble Band musicians use the space for rehearsal and individual practice. Additionally, it is used for music classes.

As a member of the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir, alto sax player Lauren Eakle ’20 knows having a quality space in which to practice is important. She is a Music Therapy and Psychology double major, so the facility will play an important role in her academics, as well.

8

FA L L 2 0 1 8

BA ND R EHEAR SAL HALL RECEIV ES MAJOR UPGRADE

“I’ve spent countless hours in the practice rooms already this semester,” Eakle says. “The fact that Marietta College would invest their time and money into this space that is used so frequently and by so many proves to me that they are thinking of the future. They are trying to help their students succeed by providing us with a facility that doesn’t limit us, but instead enables us to have the best experience possible when it comes to creating music.”

Beyond repairing and remodeling the structure, the College also invested in upgrading the acoustics, adding Bluetooth speakers, projectors and screens, smart TVs, and recording and playback capabilities. There are four Wenger Sound Loc practice rooms, a storage library, individual instrument storage lockers, a large secure storage area and an ID card reader for 24-hour access to the building.

“Now the band hall is a wonderful space with a fixed roof, state-of-the-art sound system, multiple practice rooms and a classroom,” Eakle says. “The space is functional and looks incredibly professional. I know it has seen increased use after the renovation.”

Kimball, who will retire at the end of the academic year, has spent more than a year preparing the Music Therapy program for accreditation through the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), and the Music Department for re-accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and is excited to check the band hall renovation off his to-do list.

“The Administration wanted this space to become a showcase for our music program — and I’d have to say it’s the most technologically advanced space on the entire campus,” he says. “The students notice everything — the floors, the ceiling, the smell — it is a different space.”

GI SMITH

Historical TREASURES ALU MNU S BUI L DS I MP R E S S I V E PO L I T I C A L C A M PA I G N CO LLECT IO N

NATE KNOBEL

W

alking into Matt Dole’s central Ohio home, it’s abundantly clear he loves his work.

Adorning the walls of the political consultant’s 19th-century house are posters, banners, framed newspaper clippings and other political campaign memorabilia dating as far back as the Civil War — including items supporting prohibition. “I’m not a teetotaler, I just like the pennants,” says Dole ’01.

“I work in politics — part of my job is working on campaigns and you accumulate [campaign items] just working in politics. So, at one point, I said I either need to start to collect or throw it all out. And, so I chose to collect.”

Dole’s collection focuses on his adopted state: Ohio.

“A lot of people in the hobby will focus on one candidate or one type of item. If it’s Ohio, I’ll collect it — down to the township trustee level. I have a Boehner for Township Trustee [sign]. That’s real local. And any type — I have paper, buttons, posters; if it’s Ohio, I’ll collect it.”

Cabinets, shelves and walls in an upstairs office show the breadth of Dole’s collection, including a wall showcasing one of his largest caches — items from the Taft family. From a Gov. Bob Taft bobblehead to a pair of “No Graft for Taft” nylons from the 1948 Howard Taft vs. Harry Truman presidential election, it’s hard for Dole to pass up any Taft-related swag he finds on eBay, at auctions or at political memorabilia shows.

Ohio’s 67th governor, Bob Taft, visited Dole’s home when he was in the area.

“Matt has the best collection of Taft family pieces I have seen anywhere — four generations from President Taft, my great-grandfather, to my grandfather, Sen. Robert A. Taft (Mr. Republican), my father, Sen. Robert Taft Jr., and my own campaigns for Secretary of State and Governor,” Taft says. “He has worked hard at his collection for a number of years and has a detailed knowledge of the candidates and their campaigns and offices held.”

Dole first became interested in politics after a man running for state representative in his home state of Vermont visited his family’s home.

“In 1990, I was 11, and a guy came to our house. We lived right at a T intersection of two major thoroughfares and we had a big second story. He wanted to put a banner out — like a 30-foot banner — on our porch. It interested me that he sort of came and asked us for help. I remember thinking, ‘He needs us to help him?’” Dole says.

The candidate — a Democrat like Dole’s parents — ended up winning, and Dole was hooked, though he aligned himself with the Republican Party. After majoring in History at Marietta, working in local politics and writing a political blog, Dole drew the attention of a communications consulting firm that works with political campaigns.

He began working for the firm full-time at the end of 2007.

“We’ve done U.S. Senate races, Congressional races — Bill Johnson [the Congressman who represents Marietta’s district] is a client so I get to stay involved in Marietta and southeast Ohio politics,” Dole says. “I’ve now worked or volunteered on nearly 200 campaigns, so it doesn’t really get tiring. It’s really the competition for me.

I think I’m really working to help make the world better, but it’s a chess match and it’s a thousand decisions, and you get a final decision, and you move on to the next ones.”

As for his hobby, Dole doesn’t believe his collection will ever be complete.

“I have a list of things that I want, and when I find them I get excited,” Dole says, pointing out a Taft for President poster on his office wall that he had recently added to his collection. “I’ve known of it for about five years and had never seen one before.

Someone actually emailed me and asked, ‘How much is that Taft for President portrait poster worth?’ I was like, ‘You found the right guy because it’s worth a lot more to me than to anyone else.’ It’s nice to add those things as we go.”

Rooms in Matt Dole’s central Ohio home are dedicated showcases for his political campaign collection.

GI SMITH M A R I E T TA

9

JOURNAL

A LUMN I & CA MPUS N EWS

EYES ON development A LUM NI WO RK TO BUILD S T RO N G ER ECO NO M IC FUT URE FOR R EGION

NATE KNOBEL

S

Andy Kuhn ’05 (left) and Bret Allphin ’01 focus on community collaboration to help strengthen Southeast Ohio’s economy and improve the lives of its residents.

triking up a conversation with Andy Kuhn ’05 about the potential of the Mid-Ohio Valley, it’s clear that he’s a man on a mission — and he’s not the only Pioneer on that journey.

Kuhn, who was hired as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority last year, has been busy gathering data about Washington County and the surrounding communities, as well as forging partnerships with other groups that are dedicated to improving life in Southeast Ohio through economic development.

One such ally comes from a background similar to Kuhn’s. Bret Allphin ’01 is the Development Director for Buckeye Hills Regional Council and has collaborated with Kuhn on identifying specific traits of Southeast Ohio that would prove attractive to companies looking for a new place to call home. Buckeye Hills serves eight counties in Southeast Ohio, assisting communities in addressing their needs by making connections to state and federal resources that can improve the overall quality of life for residents.

When Allphin learned there was an opening in the Port Authority office, he contacted Kuhn, who was working for the Wake Board of County Commissioners in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“I reached out to Andy in late 2016 about the opening because I knew what he was doing [for Wake County],” Allphin says.

Kuhn was working with county-wide staff and management, and “well-intentioned commissioners who were really trying to help that community manage its growth effectively and, at the same time, provide the high-level services that people in the area came to expect — from transit to green space/open space parks and bonds to managing school expectations to overall waste management, solid waste management … you name it, they had to do it all.”

When he began his role at the Port Authority, Kuhn began looking at areas that he could apply what he learned in Wake County and could loop in other organizations also dedicated to making impacts in the community. Downtown development projects, incubator programs and special programs such as the Mid-Ohio Valley Entrepreneurship Expo all feed into the underlying goal of economic stability and sustainable growth.

In addition to finding areas that could be improved easily or relatively quickly, Kuhn and Allphin began looking at long-term projects that could lead to economic development.

“Our goal from a Port perspective is to build more shovel-ready sites in our area,” Kuhn says. “We want to have a 30- to 35-acre site where a business can move in and it has all of the utilities in place so all that is needed from them is to construct or, if necessary, to have a building that is retrofitted that would allow a company to inhabit it immediately on a lease, to be able to grow and create 30 to 40 jobs out of it.”

Both alumni agree that Marietta College is one of the aspects that make the region attractive to prospective business. As the College branches into the community with more frequency — such as being a First Fridays host, spearheading entrepreneurship programs and exemplifying strategic growth — community partners and neighbors have taken notice of the many benefits that the College brings to Washington County. Additionally, prospective businesses know that Marietta College’s current students and recent graduates provide a direct link to highly educated young professionals.

“I want to continue to highlight those and help break down any remaining barriers there are so we build a spirit of cooperation and the community sees the true economic benefit and value that the College brings and we use that as an inertia tool to grow our community and bring more attractive businesses into the area because of our talent pool,” Kuhn says.

As their lists of projects continue to develop, Kuhn and Allphin know there is a tight-knit supporting cast — from their offices to the local Chamber of Commerce to groups like Marietta Main Street — ready to help them pursue those goals.

“Obviously, I care about this community, and I know Andy does as well,” Allphin says. “We both know it’s going to take collaboration and attention to our communities and their specific needs to make and keep this region of the state economically strong.”

GI SMITH

10

FA L L 2 0 1 8

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE STUD EN T S T RAVE L TO C E N T RA L A M E R I C A TO S T U DY LEA DERS HIP A ND CO NS ERVAT IO N EFFO RT S

W

ithin days of finishing her first year at Marietta College as an Environmental Science major and Leadership minor, Allison Murphy ’21 was packing her bags in preparation to take what she learned during her first year and apply that knowledge in Central America during a research trip.

Murphy was among nine students and four faculty members representing Marietta College and Christopher Newport University who traveled for three weeks (May 8-29) to Costa Rica and Belize to research leadership in the context of conservation efforts. Participants from the Marietta College community included students Garrett Legraen ’19, Brittany Martin ’21 and Murphy, and faculty members Dr. David Brown, Professor of Biology, Dr. Dave McShaffrey, Professor of Biology, and Dr. Robert McManus, Professor of Leadership Studies. CNU Leadership Professor, Dr. Ben Redekop and six CNU students also participated in the research trip.

“As someone who has not traveled out of the country before, I was very excited not only to explore another culture, but to learn about the conservation efforts in a different country,” Murphy says. “As an Environmental Science major, I am very interested in conservation efforts, and the leadership behind it applied to my leadership minor.”

Marietta students were eligible to receive Study Abroad Office grants to help offset the cost of taking the summer LEAD 350 course.

“Before the trip — and also throughout the trip — we had to read articles and chapters from books about the government of Costa Rica and Belize, as well as their history of their conservation efforts,” Martin says. She is a Geology major who is pursuing minors in Leadership Studies and Petroleum Engineering.

“Each reading was related to what we would be doing or seeing the following day.”

Brown says the students met with leaders of several different types of conservation groups during the trip and collected survey data from people living in the countries they visited. That information was used to write a research paper at the end of the course.

“In general, the survey assesses the population’s opinions on conservation and how well their government is doing addressing the concerns,” Brown says.

By gathering the data in person, students learn another valuable lesson.

“I can tell them in the classroom how important it is to get buy-in from the local community, but it really sinks in when they hear the same thing from every leader we meet with. Those leaders can tell them of experiences they have had and how they have used education, public and private meetings, and public outreach to achieve the goal,” Brown says. “These trips are also great cultural experiences for our students. We oftentimes have students go on these trips that have never been out of the country, or may have never flown on an airplane. It is one thing to learn about a culture in a class and a very different experience to live in the culture for a couple of weeks.”

Additionally, mentoring students during international trips makes the students more comfortable with traveling internationally.

“A number of students from past trips have gone on to study abroad for a semester, or have ended up in careers that require international travel,” Brown says.

For Murphy, the Central America trip and coursework have given her confidence to keep working toward her goal.

“This trip has encouraged me to continue with my goal of working in the field of conservation and has given me examples of how I can do that,” Murphy says.

GI SMITH

(Left) Marietta College and Christopher Newport University students explore a Central American stream.

(Right) Students and faculty spent time in Monteverde, Costa Rica, learning about the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños), one of Costa Rica’s largest private reserve, from one of the founders, Bob Law.

PHOTOS BY DAVID MCSHAFFREY

(Bottom) Marietta College student Garrett Legraen ’19 was among a group of three Marietta College students and three Marietta faculty members who explored Xunantunich, an ancient Mayan ruin in Belize.

M A R I E T TA

11

This little theater town WRITTEN BY GI SMITH | PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHEELER AND DREW TANNER

12

FA L L 2 0 1 8

T

he mugginess of the summer day was not ready to yield as vans and trucks hauling cargo trailers began pulling onto the curb in front of Muskingum Park.

Though the regular workday had wound down, small groups of young adults began unloading sound and lighting equipment, costumes and other props around the park’s gazebo. Within the hour, an entire set was in place and nearly two dozen actors were dressed and ready to entertain the hundreds of people in the audience.

Just as the sun descended behind the trees along the Muskingum River, soft lights began to glow around the stage, focusing the attention of guests to the action beginning on stage — the final outdoor summer performance of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

If the planners of Muskingum Park ever had an inkling of what the green space in downtown Marietta could potentially be, this was it.

“Ten years ago, if you would have said that something like this was going on in downtown Marietta I would have said, ‘No way!’” says Marilyn Nonnenmacher, a Stanleyville resident who brought her adult daughter, Jamie McAfee, to watch the free outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s play. “I love the idea of being outside and watching a play.

The College and [Peoples Bank Theatre] have completely changed the feeling of this city — it’s such a culture-rich place, a treasure.”

Marietta College has been invested in the Marietta Summer Theatre Program’s repertoire for two years. This summer, the College worked with Peoples Bank Theatre, the Hippodrome/Colony Historical Theatre Association and Paskawych Entertainment to present Twelfth Night in Muskingum Park and Guys and Dolls in Peoples Bank Theatre. Marietta College’s Theatre Department plays a crucial role in developing the city’s summer stock — which includes American classics and classical theatre.

Andy Felt, Associate Professor of Theatre at Marietta, Co-Artistic Director of the Marietta Summer Theatre Festival and Director of Twelfth Night, says the festival ties into the breadth of the College’s Theatre offerings during the academic year and in the summer months.

“When I was interviewing for graduate schools, I was looking for ones that specifically had Shakespeare festivals because I’m a Shakespeare guy,” Felt says. “In the academic world, you know who those schools are. So, we are trying to be a college that is tied to a summer festival.”

Drawing seasoned and burgeoning actors from across the country to participate in major productions in Muskingum Park and the Peoples Bank Theatre, the Summer Festival is gaining a lot of buzz within the theatre world. In addition to holding local auditions for Marietta College students and students from nearby universities, the College also held regional auditions to cast a wider net for talented acting students.

“We’ve had actors from as far away as Colorado, and I think our farthest

M A R I E T TA

13

this year is from upstate New York,” says David Makuch, Associate Professor of Theatre at Marietta College. “This is the first year that students who weren’t at the regional audition drove down from places like Kent and Ohio Northern. A couple students in Ohio chose not to go to the regional audition and, instead, drove down for the local audition. It means that the word is spreading, which is our whole reason for doing this.”

Ashley Hungerford ’16 was a Theatre major at Marietta and is currently attending graduate school at West Virginia University to study technical direction for theatre.

She served as the Assistant Stage Manager and Sound Designer for Twelfth Night.

“We’ve been in Marietta for six weeks for rehearsals,” Hungerford says. “After six weeks, we were ready to perform. That’s what I love about theatre — you get to see your art come to life.”

Last year, she served as the stage manager for the Summer Festival’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and also worked on Love’s Labor’s Lost as an undergraduate student in 2014 when it was presented by the Shakespeare by The River troupe prior to the organization of the Summer Theatre Festival.

Not only did the actors and technicians have six weeks to prepare for Twelfth Night, they were simultaneously preparing for a six-show run of Guys and Dolls.

“Earlier today I was one of the Hot Box Girls in Guys and Dolls,” says Sarah Saho, who portrayed Viola and Cesario in Twelfth Night. “This is such an incredible learning experience for me because I get to be a part of classical theatre and an American classic.”

Saho is a sophomore acting major at Ohio University who has also held roles in The Merchant of Venice and Caberet during last year’s Summer Festival.

“I feel really proud to live in Marietta,” Saho says. “This has given me a great opportunity to meet and work with other actors and technicians I may work with in the future. Though the arts seem big, the art world is really an intimate network.”

Theater patrons Theresa and Paul Warren attend as many performances as they can in the region.

“We both enjoy the theater and we do what we can to support the arts in Marietta,” Theresa says. “We saw Annie at Marietta College in April, we go to the Actor’s Guild in Parkersburg and to the Mid-Ohio Valley Players productions. These performances open my eyes to the

14

FA L L 2 0 1 8

Performances of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (top left) and the American classic, Guys and Dolls, drew thousands of audience members to Muskingum Park and Peoples Bank Theatre. The 2018 Marietta Summer Theatre Program is presented

by Marietta College’s Theatre Department, Peoples Bank Theatre, the Hippodrome/Colony Historical Theatre and Paskawych Entertainment.

talent that the youth in this area have and how lucky we are to be able to watch this level of talent in our own community.”

Sarah Gabrick, who was the Production Stage Manager for the 2018 Marietta Summer Theatre season, says Marietta College played an important role in her being able to have this experience.

“This is the first summer that the festival has gotten to bring in a professional stage manager, and that wouldn’t have happened without the College offering additional funding,” Gabrick says. “For a small college to be able to produce such a high-quality production, you know there is definitely an investment being made in the arts.”

Felt says the College is firmly behind building up the Theatre Department, adding that the return of the Musical Theatre major has also signaled another return to campus: Melissa Hill Grande, who is an instructor at Marietta and a costume designer for productions. She previously taught at Marietta for more than a decade.

“Theatre alums know her and many are still close with her,” Felt says.

Beyond adding the new major and faculty, the College also is dedicated to building the Summer Festival, which students in

Marietta’s major can utilize as their required internship.

Cleveland native and Kent State University senior Grace Hunt forged close bonds with the cast and crew of the Summer Theatre Festival, as well as with the city of Marietta. Moments after ending her role as Feste in Twelfth Night, she sat in one of the chairs set up for the audience in Muskingum Park.

“I’ve never been away from home but this community, Marietta College, has really made me feel welcome,” she says. “The College put us up for the summer. I stayed at the Pioneer House, ate in the dining hall and played a lot of games with the cast. I’ve met some of the greatest performers I’ve ever worked with, but they are also like family to me.”

Hunt says Marietta is the perfect setting for students to develop their skills in the theater world.

“The community has so much history and so much to offer,” Hunt says. “I can go on a ghost tour, go kayaking and walk across a train bridge. But I can also work with talented artists, learn the technical aspects of the theater and add an impressive summer stock to my résumé. I will never forget Marietta.”

M A R I E T TA

15

Splash of

COL

16

FA L L 2 0 1 8

OR

NON-TRADITIONAL FIELDS ARE POPULAR WITH CURRENT STUDENT-ATHLETES, RECRUITS

I

PHIL MASON

t was anything but a typical Friday night at Marietta College.

A good 30 minutes before the women’s soccer team was ready to begin a new season, there was a buzz in the air unlike past openers.

A school-record crowd of 1,057 fans packed into and around Marietta Field to see the Pioneers take on St. Vincent — but also to get their first look at the all navy blue field and the first-ever night game.

“The thought of opening night on the field gave me chills for about two weeks prior to the game,” says women’s soccer player Amanda Augustyniak ’20 of Pickerington, Ohio. “I have never played in a game with as big of a crowd that we had. The support was amazing, and it makes the team feel that people are noticing us and our talent. They want to keep building the program as much as we do.”

One day later, the anticipation of seeing the new, two-tone gray field at Don Drumm Stadium translated into one of the best game-day atmospheres in Marietta College football history. The pre-game tailgate, which included a live performance by local band The Bash, and exciting 35-24 victory over Geneva was capped off with a post-game fireworks show for the estimated crowd of 4,163.

“The new field exceeded the hype,” says Caleb Boy ’21 of Carlisle, Ohio. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about a gray field, but I came full circle when we had that first night practice, and we walked out onto the field. We definitely have a home-field advantage, and we have really embraced it.

That first game, under the lights, is something a player dreams about.”

Darrien Fields ’19, Marietta’s quarterback the past three seasons, says the opening game was crazy.

“It was by far the most anticipated game of my tenure at Marietta College,” he says. “There was an eagerness by everyone to come see what the field looked like, and the crowd was ecstatic from start to finish, which is something we have lacked in seasons past. The student section was full and rowdy.”

Marietta College invested more than $1.4 million in the FieldTurf CORE Field for both facilities, as well as a state-of-the-art Musco LED lighting system at Marietta Field. The fields will have a significant impact on varsity athletics — as men’s lacrosse will use Don Drumm, while women’s lacrosse will use Marietta Field, and other programs like baseball and softball will be able to use the fields for practices.

The fields also open up more opportunities for recreational and intramural sports.

“We are excited about the possibilities this creates for us to add additional sports to our recreational offerings,” says Dash McNeal, Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities and Recreation. “We are still working out those details,

M A R I E T TA

17

TOM PERRY

18

FA L L 2 0 1 8

PHIL MASON PHIL MASON

but I envision adding an outdoor soccer tournament or other programming that is a natural fit for these fields.”

Football coach Andy Waddle says the College made the right decision to use the FieldTurf CORE Field because it is the best product on the market right now.

“The two-tone gray color scheme is cool, but to know that you have the best product is exceptional and a commitment to excellence from Marietta College,” says Waddle, who is in his sixth season at Marietta. “The atmosphere here is special and different than other places we go to, and the two-tone turf adds to that atmosphere.

Our uniqueness stands out and is bringing positive attention to the team, our athletic department and Marietta College as a whole.”

Men’s soccer didn’t play a home contest until two weeks later, but the support was just as impressive as 1,247 fans filled the bleachers and lined the sidelines.

“Just witness the 1,200-plus fans we had at our home opener,” Bergin says. “That is more soccer fans than most D1 programs get. The College has always gotten great support from the community, and now we can add the soccer program to that.”

Bergin says he gets a lot of questions about the color choice for the soccer field. But his response is simple.

“You have to put yourself in an 18-year-old’s shoes. Every recruit we show it to loves it and the current players are big fans of it,” says Bergin, who is in his sixth season at Marietta. “To help take us to another level, the College decided to light the field with a state-of-the-art Musco LED lighting system.”

Women’s soccer coach Tracy Blasius is equally excited about Marietta’s new homefield advantage.

“I can’t say enough about the impact this new field is having on our program,” says Blasius, who is in her sixth year with the Pioneers. “Our training environment is outstanding, and we are playing at a higher level because of it. Without a doubt, Marietta College is home to one of the finest training facilities in all of Division III soccer.”

The switch from natural grass to FieldTurf was not an easy one for either coach, but both agree it was in the long-term best interest — especially when you consider women’s lacrosse will also use the field for practice and home games.

“I am a grass guy, but if you had seen it the past couple of years, it was clear it was time to redo it,” Bergin says. “The fact that we can do everything, train and play games, at one location is an added bonus. Also, lost in everything is the fact that we were able to widen and lengthen the field to meet minimum NCAA standards. And, getting the correct dimensions is a must for the way we want to play the game.”

Both lacrosse teams are getting a feel for the fields during fall practices. They open their seasons in February.

“Marietta women’s lacrosse is beyond lucky to have this incredible field for our very first year,” says coach Malory Brunett. “Most women’s lacrosse programs share fields with multiple other sports, and our lines are traditionally painted on with temporary paint that fades easy. Most teams will come out for a practice and barely be able to see lines. The fact that every time we go out to practice, and our lines are permanently on the field, it allows us to practice correctly for games and prepares us the best way possible.”

The student-athletes have also noticed the quality of the playing surfaces — and many of them have heard positive comments from opponents and recruits.

“It’s like a perfect storm for us,” Boy says. “The way the football team is winning, the crowds have been great and the recruits are excited about the field and to consider playing for a winning program. When I go home, I have people who, when they realize I play at Marietta, ask about the gray field. It has put us on the map in a good way.”

Jorden Stuart ’20, a defender on the women’s soccer team, agrees with Boy. “It totally changes the atmosphere,” she says. “We’re really excited to get the opportunity to have such an amazing field.”

Men’s soccer player Andy Rolfes ’19 is proud to be part of a new era at Marietta College.

“I am just happy, as a senior, to see where this program has come in terms of success and facilities,” says the Cincinnati native. “We have come a long way from practicing down the street across from Long John Silver’s. We appreciate everything the College has done for us, and I can’t wait to come back and see how the program takes advantage of what the school has done.”

NATE KNOBEL

M A R I E T TA

19

SCOREBOOK

PION E E R ATH L ET I C S

BUILDING ENDURANCE

ROBERT CAPLIN

M A RIETTA’ S AD MIS S ION COU N S E LO R/DIS TANC E COAC H COMMIT T ED TO SAVING L IV ES T H RO UGH ED UCAT I O N

20

FA L L 2 0 1 8

A

2016 Olympian and 2017 Jeux de la Francophonie goldwinning marathoner Makorobondo “Dee” Salukombo was a teenager when he and his family fled his village of Kirotshe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near the Rwandan border for a refugee camp in neighboring Uganda — barely escaping the civil war tearing apart his homeland.

“I started running in Uganda,” says Salukombo, who is the Diversity and Inclusion Counselor for the Office of Admission and an Assistant Coach for Cross Country and Track & Field. “We were in PE class and our teacher said, ‘If you can walk, you can run.’ And that is when I realized that running was something I was good at and really wanted to do.”

For three years, his family remained in limbo as refugees in Kampala, Uganda until, when he was nearly 16, his family was sponsored by the Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland and brought to the northern Ohio city.

“When we came to Cleveland, it was a dream that came true,” he says. “My mindset was that I wanted to thank my parents by being the best student I could be, but I knew I was far behind the other students. To understand computers and the language, I had the mindset that I had to work harder than everyone else. For six months straight I read a book every day.”

His hard work academically and athletically paid off in high school, during his undergraduate years at Denison University and in his distance running. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and competing in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Salukombo joined Marietta College’s Admission and coaching staffs.

“Dee works very well with our athletes. He relates with them very well, and they seem to really love him,” says Jason Davis, men’s and women’s Cross Country and Track & Field coach. “His advice to them is always on point and motivational. I hope we have Dee around for a long time.”

Though he is training for another shot at the Olympics, Salukombo is more likely to talk about his charity, Project Kirotshe, a youth running program in DR Congo that focuses on helping children gain access to an education. In addition to providing running guidance and training, the organization helps raise money for tuition and plans to purchase goats for families, who can earn money by selling milk or breeding the goats. This money pays for children to remain in school.

“I came here as a tiny refugee kid, and people took me under their wings and changed my life,” he says. “I have 110 kids in Congo that my organization has been supporting since 2012. There are a million other kids who are still going through what I went through in that camp. They have no concept of long-term planning because war does not let you plan ahead.”

Salukombo proudly talks about his young runners working hard to train for regional and national distance competitions, including a girl who ran a 5K in 17:31 or the girl’s younger sister who is competing in the 2018 World Youth Olympics in Argentina. On average, the organization helps keep 70 children in school — and most recently celebrated two students who completed nursing school.

“Today, the runners in my village are respected,” he says. “They are viewed as leaders, as teammates, as hard workers. For some, it takes a one-hour walk down a mountain to reach where we train, and then they run 8 to 10 miles. It takes them an hour and a half to walk back up the mountain. They do this two to four times per week. And they are proud to do this. Like me, they are grateful and they take nothing for granted.”

Anticipation high for first season of eSports

S

cott Cressman ’20 is already a varsity letterman as a member of Marietta College’s men’s rowing team.

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, native hopes to add another varsity letter as a member of the College’s first eSports team.

“I have been waiting for the addition of this program since my freshman year at Marietta,” Cressman says. “I have high hopes for our team, and it will be fun to see how we stack up against other new college teams and previously existing ones.”

Of course, Cressman and the 15 other eSports athletes competing among three teams (League of Legends, Overwatch and Counter Strike: Global Offensive) will have to wait and see if the College transitions the club-level program to a varsity sport.

“I definitely want to see the program grow,” says Dr. Matthew Williamson, who is the coach for Marietta’s eSports program. “We are structured like a varsity sport.

We have practices, we have study time and we will compete as a team in tournaments throughout the year.”

Marietta is also a member of the National Association of Collegiate eSports, which is the only association of varsity eSports programs and has more than 80 colleges and universities as part of its membership.

The College recently completed renovations of an eSports competition room in The Gathering Place; however, the gaming computers and chairs don’t arrive until November. The long-term plan is to create an even more dynamic area in a proposed new student center to provide the appropriate atmosphere that will allow the College to recruit nationally ranked gamers.

Cressman has a platinum ranking in League of Legends, which places him in the top 7 percent in the world. Marietta has two other players with impressive rankings — Brandon Larsen ’20 is diamond rated (top 1 percent) and Lucas Danford ’20 is platinum.

“Each member of our team has a ranking,” Cressman says. “The average rank for most players is silver, so it’s hard to find others who are above that. But the key for us is to play as a team. Brandon is the team shot caller.”

Cressman says people who haven’t played these types of video games — many of which are first-person shooter games — don’t understand the long hours and strategy that are needed to be successful.

“I have enjoyed a lot of support from my teammates on crew,” Cressman says.

“I’ve also been amazed at the investment and support we have gotten from the College and President Ruud. I went to speak with him when I was a freshman about this, and I still can’t believe this has come together like this.”

TOM PERRY

W H AT I S eS P O RTS eSports is the world of competitive, organized video gaming. Competitors from different leagues or teams face off in games such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Madden NFL. Gamers can be watched and followed by fans all over the world, who attend live events or tune in on TV or online.

GI SMITH M A R I E T TA

21

SCOREBOOK

PION E E R ATH L ET I C S

SCOUT’S LIFE FO R M E R PI O N EER P ITCHER HO P IN G TO M A KE T HE CUT AS A P RO FES S IO NAL SCOUT

S

cott Oberhelman ’18 has become accustomed to the puzzled expressions and second looks from colleagues.

As a 22-year-old professional baseball scout, the more grizzled veterans aren’t sure what to make of this youngster tracking some of the best amateur players in the Cape Cod League — a collegiate summer baseball league in Massachusetts.

“It doesn’t help that I look a little younger than the rest of the crowd,” says Scott, who has spent the past two summers as a scouting intern for the Oakland A’s. “I may not have played professionally, but I played college ball for a well-respected program. I was shocked how many of the older scouts that I’ve met how quickly their tone changed when I said I played at Marietta College.”

The former honorable mention All-Ohio Athletic Conference pitcher is looking for more permanent employment as a scout. He believes his chances are good.

“The hard part for me is that I’m so young. I’m trying to get respect, and it’s hard for me because I haven’t done this for very long,” he says. “But a lot of people with the A’s have told me I’m advanced for my age.”

Scott also believes he has made an impression on the coaches and players he has interacted with the past two summers.

“If you talk the lingo, they respect you,” says Scott, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management. “One of my buddies who didn’t play college ball couldn’t talk the lingo and (coaches and players) pick up on it.”

Marietta baseball coach Brian Brewer ’93 is not surprised that Scott is looking to have a career in baseball.

“Scotty is a true student of the game. He can identify talent, strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, etc.,” Brewer says. “As a player, Scott had arm talent but truly complemented this with his ‘baseball smarts.’ Additionally, Scott is very personable and likable. Given all of this, I could not think of a better profession for Scotty.”

Scott took the mound for some of Marietta College’s biggest baseball games the past two seasons. He finished his career in the pinstripes with a 12-5 record, 3.53 earned run average and 104 strikeouts in 165.2 innings.

“Coach Brewer doesn’t take any crap, and that has helped with the real world,” Scott says. “As a scout, you have to get your work done and get it done on time. A lot of the core values from Marietta baseball have translated over to the real world.”

He hopes to become an area scout and eventually become a national cross-checker for a Major League team.

“I like that I’m at the field every single day,” Scott says. “There’s a lot of people who think it can be lonely, but I don’t mind being by myself. Scouting is about relationships, and you find yourself talking to a lot of people.”

CAPE COD TIMES

TOM PERRY

22

FA L L 2 0 1 8

BORN TO COACH BRIA N H AI N E S ’0 5 E N J OY I N G PE R F EC T B L EN D O F FA M ILY, FO OT BA LL

OHIO UNIVERSITY

T

odd Glaser knew Brian Haines ’05 would make a great football coach.

“He was a senior our first year at Marietta and all of the coaches noticed his leadership skills,” says Glaser, who coached Marietta College football from 2003-05. “He always worked hard. He was always striving to know more about the game. That’s what caught our eye, and we always thought he’d be a great recruiter and a great coach.”

Brian wasn’t sure what he was going to do when his time at Marietta was done, but he wanted to give coaching a try. Needing one more semester to graduate, Brian served as a student-assistant for Glaser during the 2004 season.

That experience turned into a career and now Brian is in his 11th season as an assistant coach at Ohio University under legendary coach Frank Solich.

The Bobcats were preseason favorites to win the Mid-American Conference — something they haven’t done since 1968.

“I knew that football was what I wanted to do when I was playing for Coach (Gene) Epley. He was a hard-nosed tough guy, and I felt like I got it,” says Brian, who has been the special teams coordinator for the past five seasons. “If I had to describe our program, it’s toughness. But the relationships with the kids are very important and they have to know you love them and appreciate them. We both have the same goal in common and that is to win the ball game, to win the conference championship and win bowl games.”

Solich, who has led the Bobcats for 14 seasons, says he relies heavily on Brian.

“Brian is a bright, young coach, and we’ve given him many responsibilities.

He’s our recruiting coordinator, which encompasses a tremendous amount of work and energy. He’s also our special teams coach along with being our tight ends coach, which also requires long hours and hard work,” Solich says. “He’s a guy that you can give multiple duties to and know that they’re going to be performed really well. He’s not a jump up and down, hollering kind of guy. I think he’s the kind of coach that I think players enjoy playing for. He’s able to get the most out of his players.”

Like most successful coaches, Brian says it is the support of his wife — Mary Yanity Haines ’05 — that allows him to work the crazy hours of a NCAA Division I football coach.

“I hate to say it, but for 11 months out of the year she’s a single parent. The way recruiting has taken off and traveling, I’m not around as much as I’d like,” says Brian, who also coached as a graduate assistant at West Virginia University.

“She totally gets it. She takes a lot of pressure off of me. She’s got a full-time job and she works her butt off. She makes sure the kids are all lined up. She’s originally from Athens, we have family close, and the whole family loves being part of the Bobcat family.”

The Haines’ have two daughters, Blair, 9, and Quinn, 8. Mary teaches in Ohio University’s College of Business.

“We enjoy every part of it. We absolutely love seeing him succeed and the team succeed,” Mary says. “Brian’s schedule is crazy. He’s gone from Sunday at noon until Wednesday night. So, we will bring dinner to him at his office. … The girls really love it. The girls run the hill in the end zone at Peden Stadium. All of their friends hang out there, so game day is play day for them.”

“Brian is a bright, young coach, and we’ve given him many responsibilities. He’s our recruiting coordinator, which encompasses a tremendous amount of work and energy.”

— Frank Solich, Head Coach, Ohio University

TOM PERRY

M A R I E T TA

23

DEVELOPMENTS

A DVA N C EM EN T N EWS

1968 I

T H E I M PACT O F PHOTOS BY NATE KNOBEL

A YEA R T HAT S HA P ED A M ERICA A N D CREATED PIONEER S

Marietta College honored the newest group of Golden Pioneers during the 2018 Homecoming Weekend. Since joining The Long Blue Line, the Class of 1968 has made a tremendous impact on the College.

Contact Marietta’s Office of Advancement at 740.376.4711 or visit www.marietta.edu/give for more information on how you can contribute to today’s Pioneers.

24

FA L L 2 0 1 8

t is often referred to as “The Year That Changed America Forever,” and indeed, 1968 was a year full of unforgettable events and changes that still impact the U.S. today.

This fall, members of the Class of 1968 returned home to Marietta College for their 50th reunion. Those who took part in the Golden Reunion were invited to attend a multitude of Homecoming activities and events.

Homecoming 2018 saw a new record for registration with more than 800 people registering for the events. At the MCAA Awards, one of the signature Homecoming events, Marietta honored our outstanding Pioneers and learned more about their accomplishments. Alumni and friends enjoyed reuniting with one another at the Pioneer Tailgate and cheering the Pioneers to victory against Wilmington College, marking a historic 6-0 start to the season for the team. Later that evening, the Class of 1968 presented a reunion check to President William N. Ruud for $239,058.78, the largest in recently recorded years.

“Since the Class of 1968 joined The Long Blue Line, they have shown their commitment to the future of Marietta College by giving their time, talent and treasure to provide opportunities and resources for students at Marietta College,” says Angela Anderson, Vice President of Advancement. “Their thoughtfulness in creating new and improved campus buildings, naming scholarships, contributing to The Marietta Fund and creating a lasting legacy through planned giving will help fund student and faculty support and other campus initiatives.”

Classmates and friends Robert R. Dyson ’68 and Laura Baudo Sillerman ’68 — both of whom were inducted into the MCAA’s Hall of Honor this year — wanted their peers to be able to reflect on the monumental year of their graduation and the historical impacts of the 1960s by bringing Jeff Greenfield, a veteran political, media and culture reporter, to campus for a special presentation.

“What affected the country affected Marietta College too,” Greenfield says.

“One of the most striking things is that you lived through it. When you talk of the 1960s there are two parts: the early ’60s and the late ’60s.”

Speaking to the audience in the McDonough Auditorium, Greenfield discussed how the turmoil of some of the events that swept through college campuses in 1968 impacted their generation.

“Those first years in the 1960s were kind of idyllic, and the last years were so turbulent,” says Jean Anderson Jory ’68.

The Class of 1968 began their Marietta College journey in the aftermath of the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Throughout their college years, the Civil Rights movement achieved significant legislative acts; meanwhile, the Vietnam War escalated, and by 1968, more than 500,000 U.S. troops were in Southeast Asia. A mere four years later, their graduation year would be filled with a near constant news cycle of surprise and shock.

“Greenfield’s presentation was fantastic,” says Aaron Handleman ’68.

“During the time period that I was going to college here and after graduation, he was someone that I would watch on TV. He was three or four years older than us, but the perspective that he brought was real-time life experience, all tied in with 1968 being the seminal year of all these historic things that happened in the world, and he tied it in with today’s political environment.”

During the 1960s, Marietta College had a number of notable and prominent speakers visit campus. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to a crowd of 3,000 at Ban Johnson Field House on March 2, 1967. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader visited on February 9, 1968, and attorney and author F. Lee Bailey spoke on October 13, 1967, to name a few.

In the spring of 1968, Jan Matthews Cohen ’68 was on the editorial staff of The Marcolian when she and co-editors Dave Herd ’68 and Tim Maroney ’68 made the difficult decision to publish an editorial about the Vietnam War. “We came out against the war because it was becoming increasingly apparent that we just couldn’t live in the bubble of Marietta College and so that is what we decided to do,” Cohen says. “William Sheppard, who was our esteemed and wonderful advisor for The Marcolian, told us to ‘Do it, but do it with facts.’ So, we did.”

More than 50 years later, the Class of 1968 looked back on their time at Marietta College and reflected on how the campus has changed over the decades. These days, The Christy Mall is busy with foot traffic instead of vehicle traffic. The student handbook no longer lists the evening curfew for female students to be in their dorms. Although some of the Greek organizations have changed, Greek Life remains a strong aspect of campus life.

Certain buildings are gone, and new ones stand in their place, but Erwin Hall, the oldest building on campus, and others remain steadfast.

“We had probably one of the largest graduating classes and there were lots of historic changes going on during that time,” says Emeritus Trustee

Grant Callery ’68. “I think all those events created a very strong bond among those in our class. We also knew that we were a really good class and that we had people that would go on and change the world.”

Cohen recounted how she and her friends were involved in a variety of extracurricular activities outside of their major.

“When we were here, we could do so many different things that were not within our major and it gave us personal and up-close attention from professors,” Cohen says.

Cohen also had a shift on the college radio station and worked in the theatre department. When Willard Friederich, a faculty member in the Speech and Theatre Department, asked about her plans after graduation, she confided in him that she couldn’t afford graduate school and was planning to look for a job. Friederich made a call to a colleague at the University of Wisconsin inquiring about a fellowship opportunity. She applied and was awarded a fellowship in theatre management, which combined her undergraduate English degree with her love for theatre.

Other members of the Class of 1968 met husbands or wives at Marietta.

Jory met her husband Steve Jory ’66 during her freshman year and they started dating that November.

“My husband and I find that this is a very special place,” Jory says. “I think Marietta College is just a gem and I want to see it continue to grow and become stronger.”

While the Class of 1968 graduated in one of the most tumultuous years of history, they took that experience and went on to become Pioneers in their own right. Today, members of their class have served on the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors, volunteered their time and have graciously donated to the College to support the next generation of Pioneers.

CLAIRE BERLIN M A R I E T TA

25

JILL LINN

MARIETTA MOMENT

26

FA L L 2 0 1 8

D EF I N I N G M EM ORI ES OF COL L EG E L I F E

A DIFFERENT MARIETTA

I

SUCCESS STORY

barely scraped by the first three years, but in that time, I joined the Lambda Chi fraternity. I was elected President of the house in my junior/sophomore year (chronologically I was a junior, scholastically a sophomore). Our house financial advisor was Professor Mary Steers. She was also my personal advisor since I was an Accounting major. When I took over the house, it was in a financial mess — owed lots of money to the food supply company, was late on utilities, and a physical mess. I had no idea what to do.

Professor Steers said, “You have to get the place in order.” I got that and proceeded to call in overdue house fees, delinquent membership dues and late food payments from members eating at the house. I became a dictator of the house, a realization that, at times, it was essential to take control. It was a great learning experience for me. I also flunked out of Marietta the next semester. I joined the Army. That was October of 1965. Yes, the prime time for Vietnam.

I survived my Army experience and realized that I had to come back to Marietta to finish my degree. This is where Professor Steers was my ANGEL. She coached me through what courses I needed to take to get my grade point average up; she found a way to bring me back under a configuration of criteria that let me graduate with the minimum of courses. And, she got me a job at her bar to help me pay what the GI Bill did not. She was a blessing. Anyone in Accounting knew that she was very caring.

After I graduated, I got a job with the U.S. Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB doing financial analysis. But my experience with the Lambda Chi house and Mary Steers showed me that looking for financial waste was key to making things work well. I became the internal “whistleblower” for wasteful spending. That led to a big promotion to help the entire Laboratory manage change to more effective methods. That led to a shift from finance to organizational development … and a new job.

I left the Air Force and joined Cummins Engine Company in 1977, and quickly rose to be in charge of Organizational Effectiveness, as we attempted to install the Toyota Production system — the first Fortune 500 Company to attempt that. I learned a lot; and when the senior management backed off, I left. A habit I seemed to have become accustomed to doing. I ended up with the Kaizen Institute of America and consulted to senior management in the U.S. car industry. In that role, I remembered those lessons from Marietta and Mary Steers. Make the house work better!

I wrote three books and had a wonderful career, but a little outside the norm. Much of this goes back to the support I had from Professor Steers. She believed in me, supported me, gave me help and found ways to help me succeed. What more can you ask from a college advisor? I will always be indebted to her.

TOM LANE ’66/’71 Tom lives a quiet and simple life in Columbus, Indiana, where he moved to 40 years ago. He has been retired for 16 years, but still follows his passion for writing. He has a blog — https://wakeuptl.wordpress.com — with more than 900 essays on the nature of human consciousness/awareness. That was the key to his success in his professional career.

Do you have a defining Marietta Moment you would like to share?

Send us a description of your experience. Email: marketing@marietta.edu MAIL: Editor, Marietta Magazine, Office of Communication and Brand Management, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, OH 45750

M A R I E T TA

27

CURRENT STUDENTS SHARE THEIR MARIETTA COLLEGE JOURNEY AS ALUMNI AMBASSADORS

T

he summer heading into his senior year at Marietta, Melvin Shuler ’19 had a lot of things on his mind. As a Marketing major who has minors in Advertising & Public Relations and Entrepreneurship, a basketball player, member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and a student ambassador for the Office of Admission, Melvin knew his time would be limited, but there was one more experience he wanted to have before crossing the stage at Commencement.

He heard about a new program through the Office of Advancement that allowed students to share their stories throughout the year with alumni and donors through video blogs. The new Alumni Ambassadors program features five students, including Melvin, who discuss campus life, classes and their extracurricular activities.

“I love this place,” he says. “When I first came in, it was a culture shock to me and I didn’t know if I would fit in outside of basketball. But the experiences that I’ve had and the relationships I’ve made have been unbelievable.

Anything I can do to bolster the improvement of the campus, I’m willing to help. And when I graduate, I know I want to give back.”

Also representing this program are Music Therapy major Sadie Johnson ’21, Music, Mathematics and Economics major Coco Shao ’19, International Leadership and Psychology major Emily Toppin ’19, and Caleb Riggleman

28

FA L L 2 0 1 8

’19, who is a Petroleum Engineering major and member of the football team.

“Talking to a screen with no one around is an odd feeling but I am excited to get my story out to those who came before me,” Riggleman says.

The Marietta Fund helps the College’s nearly 1,200 students achieve their dreams by supporting student aid, student life activities, academics, cultural programs and athletics. Donor generosity helps today’s students receive a distinctive Marietta College education and enhances their campus experience. This year, The Marietta Fund alumni giving participation rate goal is 18 percent — which means 380 additional donors are needed to reach this goal.

“We often hear that alumni and donors would like to know more about the current Pioneer student experience on campus,” says Director of Annual Giving Kathryn Gloor. “We developed our Alumni Ambassadors program to showcase the lives of today’s Pioneers.”

Learn more about each Ambassador at www.marietta.edu/alumni/ student-ambassadors.

To learn more about The Marietta Fund and other ways to support today’s Pioneers, visit www.marietta.edu/give.

His novel, “The slant hug o’ time” (Kitsune Books), was published in 2012, and he was co-translator and editor of Sophie Rachmuhl’s “A Higher Firm of Politics: The Rise of a Poetry Scene, Los Angeles, 19501990” (Otis Books: Seismicity Editions, 2015), based on her doctoral dissertation at a Paris university.

He was associate publisher for more than 35 years of The Argonaut, a weekly newspaper serving Los Angeles area coastal cities. He divides his time between Los Angeles and Amsterdam, where his husband, Leston Chandler Buell, has a translation and language instruction agency.

Art Havey ’62 and Virginia “Ginny” Abbiati Havey ’63, Dick Fuller ’63 and Marilyn Fuller, Life Associate Trustee Elliott Thrasher ’62 and Antra Thrasher, John Curtin and Emeritus Trustee Pat Curtin ’69, Emeritus Trustee Dave Ferguson ’64 and Kathy Ferguson, Emeritus Trustee Dale Wartluft ’63 and Judy Prager Wartluft ’64, and Life Associate Trustee Bob Monter ’62 and Apryle Monter all enjoyed a wonderful reunion weekend in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, and Brewster, Massachusetts, in mid-September.

Peter Mandell ’74 had a nice lunch visit with Bill Neyman ’76 and his wife, Debra, at Pier 23 Café in San Francisco this past May. He says it was nice to catch up after more than 40 years.

In June 2018, the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System elected Nancy Cable ’75 as chancellor of UNC Asheville. Dr. Cable, who been the president of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, started her new role on August 15th.

Dr. Steve Moore ’78, of West Chester, was installed as past president of the Ohio Dental Association on September 14 during the ODA’s 152nd Annual Session in Columbus.

In his role as immediate past president, Moore will serve on the ODA’s Executive

his accomplishments in teaching, research, scholarship and service, and this spring was promoted to the rank of Professor at Ithaca College (New York), where he just finished his 12th year as the Director of the Athletic Training degree program. Now an official empty nester, Paul and his wife, Susan, look forward to meeting and reconnecting with members of The Long Blue Line who wander into the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York.

Bob Jensen ’68 (Lambda Chi Alpha) and his wife, Laura, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this summer with an expedition cruise on the Lindblad/National Geographic “Explorer” to the Canadian high arctic and western Greenland. Highlights included numerous icebergs, hikes on Baffin, Devon, Beechey (Franklin expedition grave sites) and Ellesmere Islands. “We got as far north as 79 degrees/15 minutes and walked on the arctic sea ice between Ellesmere and Greenland. We also climbed onto the Greenland ice sheet and visited some Inuit villages in Greenland.

Wildlife sightings included polar bears, musk ox, walrus, seals and several marine mammal/whale species (blue, humpback, beluga, narwhal and orcas). This was our fifth trip on the Explorer, having previously traveled to Antarctica, Falklands/South Georgia, Chilean Patagonia/Cape Horn and Arctic Norway/Svalbard. Looking forward to the 50th class reunion coming up in October!”

Committee overseeing the management of the association throughout the next year. Moore is a general dentist in private practice in West Chester. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Marietta College and his DDS degree from The Ohio State University. He is a current member of the ODASC Board of Directors and ODPAC Board of Directors. He is a past president of the Keely Dental Society and past chair of the ODA’s Council on Dental Care Programs and Dental Practice and Finance Committee. He is a fellow of the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Paul R. Geisler ’87 was recently awarded a college-wide Faculty Excellence Award for

Brent Aikman ’90 and Rachel Elliott were married on June 16, 2018, at The Bridge Club in Raleigh, North Carolina. Aikman works for the law firm of Ellis & Winters LLP as the Marketing Coordinator. Brent and Rachel reside in Raleigh and enjoy adventuring to the coast and into the mountains of North Carolina to paddle kayaks, hike, camp and explore.

CLASS NOTES

In November, George Drury Smith ’53 will participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of Beyond Baroque Literary/ Arts Center in Venice, California, which he founded in 1968. The celebration will open with the premier showing of the documentary film “Beyond Mr. Smith” (produced by Fitzfilm), concerning his life and the beginnings of Beyond Baroque Foundation.

Steve Neitz ’80 joined Creosote Affects, a national branding and marketing agency specializing in education, as the company’s new head of research. Neitz will lead research activities for Creosote Affects’ clients, with emphasis on comprehensive brand studies as well as demographic and consumer trends impacting the education industry.

Elizabeth Wanner Ford ’90 became the executive director of The Arc of the MidOhio Valley in Parkersburg, West Virginia, in August. Since 1955, The Arc of the MidOhio Valley has advocated for children and adults with intellectual, cognitive and related developmental disabilities.

Amanda Cross Clark ’97 received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Kent State University in May 2018. Her dissertation, “Framing strategies and social movement coalitions: assessing tactical diffusion in the fight against human trafficking from M A R I E T TA

29

CLASS NOTES

2008-2014,” examined the specific tactics of the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking and provided insight into how organizational learning across nonprofits aided in their success.

Dr. Mark Lane ’01, PA’04 recently joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Missouri as an Adult Joint Reconstruction Fellow. This appointment comes after five years as a chief resident at Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. Joining him in Missouri are his wife, Tia Knowlton Lane ’98, MALL’02, and their children, Ethan, Emma and Evan. Following the year-long fellowship in Missouri, he will be returning to Marietta to join First Settlement Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in September of 2019. Dr. Lane is also a new member of the MCAA Board.

Rick Meekes ’04 started a new job as a vendor fund manager for Acme Markets, Inc., in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Prior to that, Rick was an on-site marketing manager for Ivie.

In March 2018, Chi Omega sisters Danielle Cisler ’05, Rebecca Gehring ’05 and her husband, Jonathan Brown, and Ashlyn Heider ’06, met in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a lively weekend of Spring Training baseball.

Lindsay Shuba Donnelly ’05 and husband, Kevin, welcomed their daughter, Avery Catherine, on July 21. Lindsay was also recently named to DCA Lives 2018 Rising Stars of Advocacy and Public Affairs. The Donnellys live in Silver Spring, Maryland.

James Nice ’05 has worked in McDonald’s marketing department since 2008 and he was recently promoted to Field Marketing Officer. In this role, he helps create and deploy strategic marketing initiatives that are designed to increase customer counts, sales and franchisee cash flow for more than 1,300 restaurants.

Eric Finn ’06 recently moved to Gillette, Wyoming, and is teaching third grade at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School.

Jordan Herrick ’06 (Delta Tau Delta) was made a partner at the law firm of Bailey & Wyant, PLLC, in Charleston, West Virginia.

Ellen Doolittle Oost ’07 recently joined Louisville (Kentucky) Public Media as its Director of Development, after three-plus years in the same role with The Parklands of Floyds Fork.

Rebecca Gehring ’05 and Jonathan Brown were married by Mara Andersson (Drayer) ’05 on May 7, 2016, at the Toledo Zoo. Marietta friends in attendance were Seth Avery ’05, Anna Bock Mullins ’04, Ashlyn Heider ’06 and Jennifer DeGain McManus ’06.

30

FA L L 2 0 1 8

Erin Carlin ’08 was promoted to public relations specialist at P3R in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICK’s Sports Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, P3R is a nonprofit organization that is passionate about promoting the love of running and enhancing community access to health & fitness education and activities.

Amber Davis Christopher ’11 was named senior brand specialist with Swagelok in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, after working for akhia communications for the past seven years in a variety of roles.

Chi Omegas gathered in Washington, D.C., for a Dr. Seuss-themed baby shower for Leanne McCullough Langhorne ’09 in March 2018.

Pictured are Erin Carlin ’08, Jenna Mondora ’08, Ginny Hynes ’11, Leanne Langhorne ’09, Kim Page ’08, Diana Hackenburg ’09 and Tessa McKenzie. Leanne and her husband, Kemp, welcomed a son, Henry, on April 12, 2018.

Amanda Hardt ’13 joined PNC Bank as a marketing specialist senior within its Business Banking, Merchant Services division in June, following almost three years at Schneider Downs in Pittsburgh.

Joe Mahoney ’13 shared a photo of an unofficial Marietta College Class of 2013 five-year reunion held at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, in July. The photo includes Bill Hamilton, Breanna Goethel, Sean Pottmeyer, Tyler Haskin, Andrew Brown, Jen Braun, David Hughey, Cameron Tope, Lauren Franko, Ellie McSwain, Andrew Wimmer, Zack Kaegi, Kelly Robinson Sommers, Joe Mahoney and Joe Pavicic.

Kathryn Anderson ’14 was promoted to Training and Implementation Specialist with EF English First in Shanghai City, China. She now designs training materials for teachers after previously teaching children and adults in Beijing, China.

Lindsey Kudaroski ’14 is now the Assistant Director of Communications at West Virginia University’s College of Education and Human Services. She joined WVU as a Communications Specialist in April 2017.

Lauren Louloudis ’14 recently joined BCPS as a Licensed Psychological Associate in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Kelsey Kallenborn ’16 and Andrew Knizer ’16 were married on May 5, 2018, during a ceremony at the Muskingum Park Gazebo. They hosted a reception at the Marietta Country Club. Alumni in attendance included Eric Young ’16, Brianna Finck ’17, Breyanne Mays ’17, Casey Bloise ’16, Taylor Walker ’17, Levi Hagerdon ’16, Chas Miller ’17, Gage Shinn ’17, Ben Biondolillo ’16, Blair Wilson ’16, Charlie Shen ’16, Brian Raiff ’17, Makenzie Wilson ’16, Joel Anderson ’16, Erin Shade ’16, Devon Butler ’17, Levito Wulur ’18 and Frank Biondolillo ’18. The couple lives in Doylestown, Ohio. Kelsey works for Dominion Energy and Andrew works for the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Rita Bockholt Rose PA’11, PA-C, a certified physician assistant, was recently awarded a specialty credential called a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Rose received the CAQ in Psychiatry, a distinction earned by meeting licensure, education and experience requirements and then passing a national exam in the specialty.

She works at Life Management Center of Northwest Florida in Panama City where she has worked for one year.

“I decided to pursue a CAQ early in my practice of psychiatry because I wanted to officially obtain recognition of the specialty knowledge I have gained,” Rose says. “I feel like I have demonstrated proficiency in a specialty area while maintaining general medical knowledge, which is the foundation of the PA profession.”

CAQs are offered to certified PAs in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, orthopedic surgery, nephrology, pediatrics and psychiatry. Certified PAs who earn the CAQ demonstrate a strong commitment to lifelong learning and attention to evolving medical advancements in their area of practice, says Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D, PA-C, president and CEO of NCCPA.

With their many friends and family, Corey Schilling ’16 and Emily Tornes ’17 were married on July 1, 2017, at Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church in Beverly, Ohio. The couple currently reside in Lowell, Ohio. Corey earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering and currently works at Eclipse Resources as a production engineer.

Emily earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and currently works at Salem-Liberty Elementary School as a fourth-grade teacher. The bridal party had several Marietta College graduates and future students, including Emily’s sisters, Abbey Tornes ’18, Megan Tornes ’22 and future Pioneer Chloe Tornes; and Mariah Rossiter ’17, friend of the bride. Eddy Grenert ’16, Karl Klein ’16 and Zane Scott ’16 were among the groomsmen.

Other alumni in attendance included Casey Bloise ’16, Kaitlin Pottmeyer ’16, Allison Hesson ’17, Adam Lang ’17, Chas Miller ’17, Chelsie Tewanger ’17, Karl Klein ’16, Lori Hart ’20, Ashleigh Pottmeyer ’08, Taylor Walker ’17, Rachel Thompson ’17, Megan Hesson ’20, Kirsten Fleming ’17, Sam Kelley ’17, Trinity Schlabach ’16, Jayla Graves ’16, Alex McCutcheon ’17, Linda Snider Hart ’93, Caroline Sigmon ’17, Clayton Cowgill ’16, Zane Scott ’16, Chloe Janson ’16, Mary Ervin ’16, Mike Engle ’78, Morgan Liedtke ’16 and Nick Thompson ’16.

CLASS NOTES

Alumna earns certification

Ashley Thomas ’14 recently completed her Master of Education degree at Cleveland State University, and started a new job as the System of Care Coordinator at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland.

Ashley was also elected to be a Committee Precinct Member in Cuyahoga County.

Hannah Tumolo ’14 is still in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area and she is now working as a land administrator with EQT Corp.

Payton Blair ’15 has been living in Cincinnati and working at Fidelity Investments for the past two years. He recently passed the Series 7 and Series 63 licensing exams and is working as a Health Savings Account Specialist.

M A R I E T TA

31

Brittany Curry ’15 was promoted to Chief of Public Affairs for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in California.

Cameron Smith ’15, who joined SmithBucklin in Chicago in 2016, was recently promoted to Senior Accountant.

Paul Bieniek ’17 joined Literacy Pittsburgh, which is part of Compass AmeriCorps, as an ESL and HSE/GED instructor this fall.

Emily Gummere ’17 was promoted to marketing coordinator at Woda Cooper Companies, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio.

Soon after graduating from Marietta, Evan Hensel ’18 was named offshore production engineer at Anardarko Petroleum Corporation on the Marco Polo production platform. He is living in New Orleans.

Baffour “Paapa” Nkrumah-Ababio ’18 has returned to Marietta College for the 2018-19 academic year to serve as a graduate intern in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the Office of Education Abroad. At the conclusion of his internship, Paapa plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in international comparative education.

Over the summer, Tom Feaster ’69 sent in an update about joining forces once again with Michael Cipollone ’71 to compete for the U.S. Rowing’s Masters 8 in the World Rowing Masters Regatta this September in Sarasota, Florida. “It will be a fun race and a pleasure to row with U.S. Rowing Masters Crew. The line-up consists of some former National team members and Olympians. When you look at the ages, there is no doubt that Chip and I will help with the handicap. Chip and I have not raced together since 1969. Attached is a picture of that 69 crew. We haven’t changed a bit.”

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES AT MARKETING@MARIETTA.EDU

IN MEMORIAM 1940s Bonnie J. Smith Barrett ’45 (Chi Omega) of Tucson, Arizona (5/27/18).

Willis I. Ewing ’45 of Denver, Colorado (7/14/18).

James B. Lauffer ’55 (Alpha Tau Omega) of Paintsville, Kentucky (8/25/18).

Gloria J. Bonvechio Keister ’45 (Chi Omega) of Noti, Oregon (6/23/18).

Walter L. Tucker ’56 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Byesville, Ohio (8/16/18).

Margaret E. Janssen Billingslea ’48 (Chi Omega) of Winfield, Kansas (7/28/18).

Richard D. Adam ’57 (Delta Upsilon) of Alton, Illinois (6/13/18).

Arthur B. Gleichert ’61 (Alpha Tau Omega) of Ann Arbor, Michigan (8/29/18).

John H. Porter ’61 (Alpha Sigma Phi) of Wilton, Connecticut (6/11/18).

Jeannette L. Keller Frazier ’62 (Chi Omega) of Panama City Beach, Florida (6/13/18).

Nolan H. Sherry ’72 of Winter Park, Florida (3/28/18).

Patricia A. Gianfrancesco Wiley ’73 of Metuchen, New Jersey (8/22/18).

Roger E. Dixon ’76 of Victoria, Texas (7/4/18).

Dean B. Poole ’76 of Williamstown, West Virginia (6/9/18).

Ronald A. Zywotko ’63 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee (9/10/18).

Nancy A. McGinnis Handlan ’77 (Chi Omega) of Wilmington, North Carolina (8/17/18).

Mary C. Shutts ’57 of Parkersburg, West Virginia (4/3/18).

Barbara C. Collins Crumbley ’65 (Alpha Gamma Delta) of Rohnert Park, California (5/4/18).

Martha M. Kushner ’78 of Derby, Kansas (2/1/18). Survivors include a stepdaughter, Kristine A. Currie ’80.

Patricia A. Walworth Wood ’57 (Sigma Kappa) of Indianapolis, Indiana (7/13/18).

Ellen W. Carney Kelley ’65 (Alpha Sigma Tau) of Leesburg, Florida (12/23/17).

1980s

John F. Deem ’53 (Alpha Sigma Phi) of Vienna, West Virginia (10/10/18).

Roger E. Rolston ’58 of Leesburg, Florida (9/30/18).

Nancy A. Brodeen Schwindinger ’53 (Alpha Xi Delta) of Conway, South Carolina (12/6/17).

Thomas E. Schmidt ’59 (Delta Upsilon) of Oscoda, Michigan (9/18/18).

Survivors include a niece, Linda Schmidt Nolan ’73, and a nephew, Steve J. Schmidt ’77.

Jean H. Gallt Fisher ’67 (Sigma Kappa) of Kingston, New Hampshire (6/6/18).

Survivors include her husband, George C. Fisher ’65.

1950s Mildred R. Jones Dew ’50 of Ada, Oklahoma (6/25/18).

Donald O. Best ’51 (Alpha Tau Omega) of Waterville, Ohio (9/3/18). Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Hudson Best ’53.

Thomas M. Schwindinger ’53 (Alpha Tau Omega) of Conway, South Carolina (2/3/18).

Charles P. Roberts ’54 (Alpha Tau Omega) of Mount Laurel, New Jersey (5/26/18). Survivors include a daughter, Moira L. Roberts ’91, and a brother, James R. Roberts ’57.

32

Richard D. Stone ’54 (Delta Upsilon) of Flushing, Michigan (9/3/18).

FA L L 2 0 1 8

James S. McClure ’57 of Antioch, Illinois (10/1/18). Survivors include his wife, Iris Stacy McClure ’49.

1960s Joel E. Brucken ’60 (Alpha Tau Omega) of Lakeside, Ohio (5/15/18). Survivors include a son, Brian A. Brucken ’94, brothers, John P. Brucken ’62 and Robert M. Brucken ’56, and a niece, Nancy Brucken ’83.

Jeffrey E. Watterson ’69 (Alpha Sigma Phi) of Cincinnati, Ohio (8/2/18).

1970s Lewis M. Fenton ’71 of Columbus, Ohio (7/9/18). Survivors include a sister-inlaw, Patricia Bailey Fenton ’63.

Gail I. Welling Planas ’72 (Sigma Sigma Sigma) of Saint Marys, Georgia (9/27/18). Survivors include her husband, Francis J. Planas ’72.

Jeffrey A. Jackson ’80 of Copley, Ohio (7/3/18).

Robert W. Mackenzie ’82 of Richmond, Virginia (7/18/18).

PHOTOS BY NATE KNOBEL

First-year enrollment numbers surpass goal

S

teady streams of first-year students and their parents flowed through the lobby of the Hermann Fine Arts Center before making their way up Butler Street.

Waiting at the entrances of the College’s first-year housing were groups of volunteers ready to help unpack cars and carry items to the rooms of Marietta’s newest Pioneers.

“I think they’re more excited than I am,” says Alexis Roberts ’22 about her parents, Kenneth and Michelle, who made the short trip from their Marietta home to move their daughter into Russell Hall.

Watching their daughter work her way through the registration process and learn about the various offices and support systems on campus, the parents could not look more proud.

“I have a good feeling about this,” Michelle says. “I think she’s going to do well here.”

This fall, Marietta experienced a tremendous growth in enrollment numbers, after having several down years. This fall, the College welcomed 397 first-time and transfer students to campus. The students represent 26 states and five countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Japan and the United Kingdom. The class is 60 percent male and 40 percent female.

In comparison, last fall the College welcomed 315 new students.

“We initially set a target of 350 new students for this year’s class, but our team really worked hard and realized that goal by May 2,” says Kelli Barnette, Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management. “We knew we could achieve more — and we did.”

Barnette’s team has plans to move their goal marker even further to help rebound the College’s total enrollment numbers.

“We are already working hard to recruit the next class of Pioneers, as well as developing strategies to retain more of our current students,” Barnette says. “We are working to bring 425 new students to campus next fall, and it is going to take the entire Marietta College community — staff, faculty, students and alumni — to reach that goal.”

GI SMITH

It took plenty of volunteers to make August’s Move-In Day a success. This year, Marietta welcomed nearly 400 new Pioneers to campus.

OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT 215 Fifth Street Marietta, OH 45750-4004

Return Service Requested

DAVID F. MORRILL/WILLIAM & MARY LAW SCHOOL

THE PRO GR ESSIVE PIONEER

Maria Stickrath ’17 SECOND-YEAR LAW STUDENT INTERNS AT WILLIAM & MARY LAW SCHOOL’S ADVOCACY CLINIC

“What I really appreciate about my job at the PELE Clinic is that I am gaining real, practical legal experience. I feel less like an intern because I have a lot of responsibility and have the opportunity to take the lead on projects. I also appreciate that I have had the opportunity to improve many of the skills essential to being a lawyer, such as public speaking, legal writing and client interactions. Law school certainly is not fun, but working for the PELE Clinic and having real legal responsibility has renewed my faith in my decision to become a lawyer. However, the most gratifying part of this experience is having the opportunity to help families in the area. Lawyers often get a bad reputation, but in this job, I have been able to work closely with families and their children to help ensure they receive the education they are legally entitled to get. It is extremely rewarding to know that you play an integral part in assisting families who typically would not be able to afford legal services and to ensure the rights of special needs children in the community.”

B I O G R A PH Y: Maria Stickrath ’17 majored in Political Science and History, and mi-

nored in Leadership Studies at Marietta, graduating Summa Cum Laude and with Phi Beta Kappa honors. The summer following her first year at William & Mary Law School, she worked as a Student Advocate at the Parents Engaged for Learning Equality (PELE) Special Education Advocacy Clinic at William & Mary. The clinic provides legal services to families of children with disabilities to help them with eligibility or Individualized Education Program meetings, discipline matters, mediation and administrative hearings at no cost to the families.