Spring 2020
CARDINAL COMMUNITY
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I hope this finds you and your loved ones healthy and strong. This has been an extraordinary time for the College, as it has been for the country and the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it, transforming how we live, work and play. This issue of the alumni magazine was nearly complete when we transitioned to remote campus operations in order to safeguard the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. We moved forward with publication remotely after revising our editorial plan, because the magazine serves as a powerful way to stay connected as a community, which is more important now than ever before.
Staying connected as a community is more important than ever before.”
In the pages that follow, you’ll learn how we’re coming together to support each other through what may be the greatest public health crisis of our time … but you’ll also find stories unrelated to the coronavirus. We want to be sure that we continue to recognize and celebrate the positive moments that make our lives rich and interesting. These days are unsettling, to be sure. But they also bring moments of pure kindness and beauty. I’m grateful to the many alumni and friends who have asked how they can help struggling students through funds like Cardinal Operation Hope and Help. Their compassion and understanding are hallmarks of the North Central family and explain how this College has weathered everything from the Civil War to the 1918 flu epidemic to
the terrorist attacks of September 11. Through each crisis, the College family has pulled together, often at great personal sacrifice, to fulfill our mission. I empathize with our students, who are heartbroken to miss so much time on campus not only as scholars but as artists and researchers, roommates and athletes. But I am also inspired by their flexibility and their commitment to making the most of the opportunities this new period of time presents. Likewise, I’m inspired by our faculty and staff, who face their own personal challenges but continue to offer so much to our students, to each other, and to the greater community. (On page 3 you’ll learn that we’re helping local first responders isolate effectively by offering them space in our otherwise empty Geiger Hall.) And I’m inspired by the kindness and generosity of our alumni and friends, who continue to serve as anchors in these challenging seas. Together we are rising to this challenge, and I look forward to the day when I can thank you in person for your support. Stay well.
Troy D. Hammond, Ph.D. President Professor of Physics
Check out the new online edition of the North Central College magazine by accessing it on Issuu. Go to northcentralcollege.edu/magazine or download the Issuu app and then search for North Central College. The magazine content is fully searchable and back issues will be added in the future.
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Spring 2020
FEATURE STORIES
Editorial Director
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Graphic Design
Laura Zahn Pohl
COVID-19: response, decisions, actions
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Health science programs expand
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College memories become permanent
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Championship pride
CONTENTS 14
Campus News
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Sports News
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Alumni News
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Alumni Calendar
Valla Coffman ’02 Aguilar Amanda Barkley Jeremy Borling ’02 Lauren Ford Jacob Imm Arielle Jones ’20 Katie McNeela ’14 Kelly Murphy Mary Reynolds Drew Sauer ’11/M ’14 Clark Teuscher
Rick Spencer Assistant Vice President for External Affairs; Special Assistant to the President
Jim Godo ’93
In recent weeks, North Central students, faculty and staff adapted to remote learning, meetings, celebrations and support services to maintain a close-knit Cardinal community.
Cover design: Brooke Belair
Contributing Writers/Production
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
ABOUT THE COVER
CARDINAL COMMUNITY
Mary Bass Brooke Belair
Executive Director of Development and Alumni Affairs
Adrian Aldrich ’02 Director of Alumni Engagement
Jared Bogan M ’10 Please direct all correspondence to:
Editorial Director North Central College 30 N. Brainard Street Naperville, IL 60540 email: omc@noctrl.edu phone: 630-637-5300 or 1-800-611-1861 Visit us online at
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CORONAVIRUS response, decisions and actions Since late January, the College has closely monitored global developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, focusing on the safety and well-being of the members of our campus community, near and far. Key to the College’s proactive response was the creation in February of a COVID-19 Institutional Response Team, chaired by Kimberly Sluis ’99, vice president for student affairs and strategic initiatives. The cross-functional team has monitored guidance from health agencies and established contingency and communication plans and actions. When the domestic outbreak accelerated rapidly in March, the College ensured students could continue their academic progress via remote instruction and the institution could function via remote work. The campus received frequent updates from President Troy Hammond and others.
JANUARY 28 The campus receives the first message regarding the coronavirus, including notification of the first confirmed case in Chicago.
FEBRUARY 26 First meeting of COVID-19 Institutional Response Team is held.
MARCH 2 The College launches a website that provides coronavirus resources and updates and answers frequently asked questions. MARCH 3 A CDC Level 3 travel warning includes Italy, where four North Central students are studying abroad. The College communicates with the students, strongly recommending they return home.
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MARCH 12 The College announces the suspension of in-person undergraduate classes effective March 16 through the end of the spring semester. On March 16 and 17, faculty finalize preparations for
The tradition continues: College houses the heroes of a new age When the College announced a partnership with the City of Naperville to allow first-responders to self-quarantine in Geiger Hall, it wasn’t the first time the College offered its facilities in support of our nation’s heroes. “Our history shows us that when called to action, the College responds,” said President Troy Hammond. During the 1918 flu pandemic, which struck during World War I, the College responded by transforming a darkroom in Goldspohn Hall into a hospital space with calcimined walls to care for the “the boys of the Student Army Training Corps.” A March 1919 issue of the College Chronicle describes a memorial service for students who died of the flu while in military service. Non-military students were also afflicted. “The College’s personals columns at the time identified students suffering from the flu,” noted Ann Keating, Dr. C. Frederick Toenniges Professor of History. “In one case, a mother came to care for her sick student; in others, students went home. It also seems to have affected the football team, with several games played without key team members.” During World War II, North Central was the site of an Army Specialized Training Program. Old Main’s Smith Hall became a classroom, and Merner Field House and two residence halls served as barracks from 1942 to 1944.
remote instruction beginning March 18. All students studying abroad in Europe return to their home countries. • ITS provides 45 laptops for faculty and staff and purchases additional webcams and headsets/microphones to facilitate remote needs; classes are moved online to Blackboard (see p. 4) • The NCAA cancels all remaining winter and spring championships, cutting short what was shaping up to be one of the best years for athletics in Cardinal history. (See p. 22 for more on athletics.) MARCH 13 The office of admission extends the Early Deposit Incentive from March 15 to June 1.
Student Army Training Corps In the 2020 chapter of this history, Naperville police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians can reside in Geiger rooms that are well-suited for single occupancy. They will be apart from the few people who remain on campus, and all necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the building is safe for occupancy when it returns to College use. “We are extremely grateful to North Central College for working with us to provide a safe and comfortable location for our City employees to self-isolate or self-quarantine if they have been exposed [to COVID-19],” said Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico. “This helps us protect our first responders and their families, to further prevent the spread of the virus and to continue providing essential emergency services to the community during this pandemic.”
MARCH 16 Illinois Governor Pritzker announces the closing of all K-12 schools and asks organizations to allow people to work from home, prompting additional changes to campus operations. The College asks students to move out of residence halls no later than March 18 and offers oncampus housing for students requiring exceptions. Dining service continues in Kaufman Dining Hall. MARCH 18 Remote instruction and learning begin, with 1,352 students attending classes synchronously (at the same time).
MARCH 27 The Academic Programs and Policies Committee, with the overwhelming support of faculty who participated in a remote meeting, endorses giving students the option of a Pass/No Pass grade for spring semester. MARCH 30 President Hammond and the Cabinet agree on a video-based Commencement ceremony to ensure that the College can celebrate the Class of 2020 on May 3.
• The operations team prepares New Hall to house students who are unable to move off campus. Other residence halls are readied to house City of Naperville first responders. (See sidebar)
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INSPIRED INSTRUCTION during remote learning
A virtual exhibit showcased the artistic talents of senior art majors. Global studies students participated in robust discussions about international issues as they relate to a global pandemic.
FACULTY EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE In the course of a few days the College’s entire academic class schedule—900 sections—was readied for remote instruction. In addition, more than 130 faculty and staff needed training to transition their teaching to a platform called Blackboard Collaborate, the College’s tool for virtual classroom learning and web conferencing. “The effort was inspiring, as we rapidly moved to emergency remote instruction,” said Jennifer Keys, assistant provost for teaching and learning and director of CAFÉ. “Faculty demonstrated an innovative and collaborative spirit by embracing new forms of educational technology—with the help of Information Technology Services. They also fostered the meaningful connections we have with our students.” Assisting with the transition were CAFÉ instructional designers Staylor AnamuahMensah and Scott Sandifur. “An essential part of our process was addressing faculty questions and concerns through virtual workshops and one-on-one consultations,” said Anamuah-Mensah. Their challenges included showing faculty “how to replicate some if not all of their
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face-to-face activities with online activities,” he said. “And we worked with ITS to ensure faculty had equipment like web cameras for class meetings. We quickly developed tutorials and other resources for guidance.”
LOOKING FOR SILVER LININGS Faculty quickly adapted their curricula for remote settings. For some science courses, computer research replaced labs, such as explorations related to the pandemic. Biology 201 students led by Jonathan Visick, professor of biology, used bioinformatics to research the SARS-COV-2 virus, Students in the Infectious Disease course taught by Greg Ruthig, associate professor of biology, modeled historic epidemics. Chemistry professors made videos of lab assignments. “Students collected the data for graphs and other formats,” said Paul Brandt, professor of chemistry. “The lab instructors could answer students’ questions during lab hours on Blackboard Collaborate.” In the art and design department, “we adapted the assignments so students can work on projects at home (like sculpture for their yards/homes) though they might not be using the same materials as in the studio,” said Christine Rabenold,
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associate professor of art and design. She added that senior art majors held a virtual art exhibit in place of an annual gallery event on campus. Bill Muck, professor of political science, said that his Global Studies capstone seminar “has gotten better since we’ve gone online,” with students participating from a variety of states and Japan. “I am able to share my presentation remotely with the students and we have class very much like we do in the classroom.” “This seminar class is a great one to be paired up with a global pandemic because we’ve analyzed and reflected on the nature of power and travel patterns throughout the world,” said global studies and political science major Ella Omi ’21. “But I miss physically being in the presence of those who think the way I do.” And faculty miss their students, too, like Carly Drake, assistant professor of marketing. “I started hosting little online parties and a career Q&A session to get my students connected to each other,” she said.
CONNECTIONS ARE KEY Faculty were also challenged to respond to the changing financial needs of their students away from campus. Tammy Wynard, associate professor of
Adjusting to student life ONE LAST SUPPER IN MILAN Warner Hellyer ’21, majoring in small business management and entrepreneurship, spent one month in Milan, Italy, before returning home on March 2. She had always dreamed of going to Italy and was also planning on visiting Scotland, Budapest and Greece. “At the end of the third week, we got word (via the U.S. Embassy in Rome) of an outbreak of 14 confirmed cases in a city south of Milan. By the following Sunday, our first week of semester courses was cancelled and we were shocked. We started hearing of other universities pulling their students back home.
Chemistry lab experiments were replicated for videos that students viewed and analyzed.
health science, applied her expertise to understanding how to address students’ ability to learn in less than ideal circumstances. “We have students whose capacity to learn has changed because they’re in survival mode,” she said. “They may have lost their jobs or they have to work more to help support their families—it's hard for them to thrive academically. Some needed laptops and access to the Internet.” She said she was glad faculty advocated for a pass/no pass grading system for this semester. Wynard explained that research into student learning shows that when faculty see students struggling, it’s important to build on established relationships. “Connecting with students has been critical.” Wynard is team-teaching the course Human Sexuality with John Zenchak, professor of biology, and they’ve asked for input from students about how they wanted content delivered. “We asked our students to have patience with us, to have forgiveness,” she said. “But this is still a college-level course and we expected them to participate like any course. Pivoting and flexibility—it works both ways, for them and for us.”
“I left for Switzerland for the weekend. An email sent on that Saturday night said that North Central was ‘highly recommending’ students come home. On Sunday, I took a six-hour bus ride back to Milan, bought my plane ticket for 6:20 a.m. the following morning, and went out to enjoy a ‘Last Supper’ in Milan (pun intended). I was in Chicago by Monday afternoon.” AN INTERMISSION FOR HER CAREER PLANS Miranda Keating ’20, a musical theatre and theatre major, put her career plans on hold. “I had a teaching job lined up for the summer at the Dream Big Performing Arts Workshop. However, that experience has been frozen for the time being. As for the Disney College Program I have not been told anything concerning my program, which would be starting in late August (I will be a performing character). By then, they may need me to work. However, it is all up in the air at this point. All the Disney Parks are closed.” ENACTUS GOES VIRTUAL Justin Simbol ’20, economics and finance major, prepares for online competition. “This year the Enactus National Expo will be held online and without in-person audiences. Planning our presentation hasn’t been easy because of the countless Zoom meetings, the files needed to be shared and the lack of in-person collaboration. We will need to do a 12-minute presentation, project report and annual report. We will also be doing voiceovers for the presentation, which have to be submitted by the end of April.” LEARNING AND LIVING REMOTELY Jack Plewa ’21, biology major, explains the good parts and the missing pieces. “There are many positives to meeting online. I can go through lecture videos and take notes at my own pace. This is much less stressful than scribbling notes as fast as I can during class. But there are lots of things that I miss: walking down the hallways in the Wentz Science Center and talking to professors and friends along the way; eating lunch and dinner with my friends; having in-class discussions; and being an on-campus student journalist. I miss the hustle and bustle of the newsroom.”
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Compassion, communication and care: Realizing new directions with Physician Assistant program
Physician assistants are an essential component to the delivery of quality care with good outcomes, meeting critical shortages of primary care providers in both rural and urban environments. North Central’s health sciences offerings are expanding again, with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program slated to begin with a cohort of 30 students in August 2021 (provided accreditation-provisional is earned). The program received preliminary approval from the Higher Learning Commission in March and the student application process opened April 30. Notification of accreditation status will occur in March 2021. “North Central’s PA program is one of the few community-based programs where a small class of 30 is nurtured in a relationship-based model,” said Marci J. Swede, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences and professor of
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health sciences. “A graduate from North Central will be a compassionate healer, communicative leader, lifelong learner, and passionate advocate for their patients and their profession.”
WHY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS? The MSPAS program gives students the opportunity to prepare for a satisfying career while responding to significant demand in the health care field. Employment for physician assistants is estimated to grow by 37 percent in the next 10 years, an increase of 39,600 jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That compares very favorably with the expected growth of other healthcare careers in the next decade.
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The program requires two years to complete as opposed to as many as seven years for other medical degrees. “The leadership at North Central recognized an opportunity to build programs that provide healthcare solutions to societal problems,” Swede said. “This was an opportunity to grow an advanced clinical healthcare program that is in high demand.” Physician assistants work closely with doctors in both inpatient and outpatient settings. They are trained and called on to examine patients, order and interpret diagnostic studies, diagnose disease and provide evidence-based, safe pharmacologic, medical and surgical treatment.
HANDS-ON LEARNING The MSPAS program is designed to take 24 months, with a year of didactic instruction and another year of clinical work averaging 40 hours per week.
“North Central’s PA program is one of the few communitybased programs where a small class of 30 is nurtured in a relationship-based model.” Marci J. Swede dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences and professor of health sciences
Mary Groll, M.D. program director, master of science in physician assistant studies
North Central hopes to exceed accreditation standards in designing the curriculum for the MSPAS program, which will be administered by both expert faculty and experienced clinicians, and supported by a robust medical library. The program is a competency-based model, an educational pedagogy that ensures the development of skilled medical professionals. Students and faculty will complete many competency assessments and self-assessments during the program to ensure the level of knowledge and skill required to practice medicine safely.
Construction is underway on a new home for health sciences at North Central College. A four-story facility, similar in architectural design to the Wentz Concert Hall & Fine Arts Center, will open in time for the arrival of the first cohort of MSPAS students in the fall of 2021. The new building, which will be located on Chicago Avenue, adjacent to Patterson Hall, will include cutting-edge features and unique spaces. Inside will be simulation spaces for recreating intensive care units and hospital environments, and a skills classroom with a 3D dissection table projecting onto a 16-foot television monitor, allowing for a detailed look at physical specimens (pictured below, top). It will also have space for interprofessional education.
“Students will have opportunities throughout the program to develop skills for successful communication and teamwork.”
“One of the unique aspects of North Central’s MSPAS program has been our ability to build it from the ground up using accreditation standards to prepare graduates to be competent and compassionate leaders in their field as part of a broader healthcare team,” said Mary Groll, M.D., North Central’s program director. “Students will have opportunities throughout the program to develop skills for successful communication and teamwork.”
NEW PROGRAM TO BREAK NEW GROUND IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
During the first year, students will engage in numerous hands-on experiences beyond classroom instruction, using the resources of the new academic and health sciences facility (see sidebar).
The facility will have classrooms, laboratory spaces and offices for the physician assistant program, occupational therapy program and a future program. Students will have access to group study areas in just about every corridor of the building.
“The building will have rooms for problembased learning; a dedicated lab to practice technical skills from starting IVs to placing advanced airways; high fidelity and low fidelity simulation mannequins in a space that mimics the hospital setting; and fully functional outpatient examination rooms,” said Swede.
In addition, space has been incorporated for an engineering manufacturing process lab with lasers and mills for cutting heavy supplies and even space for a crane for moving large materials (pictured below, bottom).
In year two, students will move out of the classroom and participate in six-week core-clinical rotations with community medical partners in general surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, behavioral health, pediatrics, women’s health, family practice, primary care or a surgical elective.
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CARDINAL PRIDE more than skin deep
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FOR THESE MEMBERS OF THE NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE COMMUNITY, TATTOOS ARE MEANINGFUL AND PERMANENT REMINDERS OF THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE An Instagram post in late 2019 generated a real buzz around campus. The photo taken by a local tattoo shop showed a perfectly executed likeness of Old Main, with shading so intricate that the representation looked more like a photo than a tattoo. The proud owner of the striking tattoo is Kurt Anderson ’16 of Naperville, who spent nine hours imprinting his forearm with the iconic symbol of North Central College and Naperville. The tattoo began with several hour-long planning meetings at UpRise Tattoo in Warrenville. The artist recommended
a detailed depiction rather than something simplistic—hence the nine-hour process. For Anderson, this tattoo and others recently added to his arm represent special memories of North Central, his hometown, his family and international travel. Notably, Anderson only attended North Central for four terms (prior to semesters) before graduating. He now works at Verizon as a supervisor of deployment services. “I spent four years at NIU (Northern Illinois University) and then I transferred here to be with my family when my mom got sick,” he explains. “I grew up about a mile away
and probably biked through campus about a thousand times when I was young.” A thorough follow-up phone call from a transfer admission counselor convinced Anderson that North Central was where he would finish his business management degree. Before his mother became too debilitated to travel due to early-onset dementia, he and his family took a memorable two-week trip to London and Paris. Images of those passport stamps are now on his arm, along with a map of Europe. He still travels every year with his father and sister, most recently to Iceland. “Coming here to school changed my life, and the trip with my mom was so important to me,” he explained. “The image of Old Main anchors my family and love of travel just as it now anchors all the designs on my arm.”
STUDY ABROAD MEMORIES FASHIONED BY PIERCINGS When Kacie Warren ’21 went to Canterbury, England, for a North Central College study abroad program, her piercing tool went along with her. During her travels she added five tiny studs to her ear to represent the countries she visited. “I wanted to get piercings rather than buying things or taking photos,” explained Warren, a K-12 art education major. Her first day in England, she asked a new friend to pierce her ear, and she reciprocated. During a 10-day visit to Iceland, Warren asked someone on a tour
with her to help hold the piercing tool— her fellow tourist was squeamish about performing the task. In a pub in Dublin, a companion added to her piercings. “We were listening to music on this cute little couch and I said, ‘It’s time!’” Belgium and Italy are also represented with tiny studs and special stories. During a second study abroad experience in Athens, Greece, Warren pierced her nose at a local shop. “With each one, I connected with someone to make a special memory,” she explained. “Each represents a story that I’ll talk about for years.” Spring 2020 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine
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A REMINDER OF REALIZING HER DIRECTION A pair of gingko leaves represent the importance of a life-changing college internship and ultimate career direction for North Central College Box Office Manager Kirsten Kleman ’17/M ’20. Her internship at the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Home and Studio in Oak Park affirmed her ambition for a career in non-profit management and her decision to pursue a master’s degree at North Central. “On the Frank Lloyd Wright property, there was an enormous gingko tree,” she said. “I’d never seen a Gingko in person before … but then I learned there are 20 on our campus.” After her internship, Kleman decided to tattoo gingko leaves on her upper leg as a reminder of how much she valued that experience in affirming her life choices—as well as plant life and sustainability. “I am a first-generation college student, and I didn’t always receive a ton of support for pursuing an art history degree at a private college,” Kleman explained. “I come from a family of laborers and miners, so this wasn’t a traditional career path.” On graduation day from North Central, her brother-in-law added a tattoo on her arm saying “think of good things” in her grandfather’s handwriting from a letter he’d sent her. The letter is now framed above her desk in the Fine Arts Center. “It reminds me to keep my head up and continue working hard and being positive,” she said. “All my tattoos represent my commitment to and respect for sustainability, my family ties, and my career ambitions.”
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INSPIRING WORDS INSPIRE PERMANENT INK People who love words often become so passionate they want permanent reminders of those that move them. Megan Paustian, associate professor of English, was inspired by “Angels in America,” a play about the AIDS crisis in New York. She read the play as a teaching assistant at Rutgers University and was extremely moved by the blessing at the end: “And I bless you: More Life.” “I’m not at all spontaneous about tattoos,” she said. “So I drew the words ‘more life’ on my arm with a marker for a long time before finally committing.” Paustian had her father’s initials tattooed on her left wrist after he died. “I’m happy to talk with students and colleagues about my inspiration,” she said. “They often get both stories … my arms include reminders of death and life.” As a professor, Paustian has witnessed students in her literature courses become so attached to certain quotes that they consider tattoos as a way to capture that passion. Meghan Pfister M ’19 read 96 books last year even while finishing her master of arts in liberal studies. “I knew I wanted to get at least one literary tattoo to express my love of reading and to pay homage to some of my favorite authors like Kurt Vonnegut,” said Pfister, an academic advisor at North Central. “I decided to get the saying ‘So It goes’ from his book ‘Slaughterhouse-Five.’ The way that I interpret ‘So it goes’ is that things will happen in life—not always good things—but life goes on.” Her other literary tattoo is the Tree of Gondor from “The Lord of the Rings,” an important book series to her growing up. “I believe that these tattoos represent a strong connection with the arts—Tolkien and Vonnegut were ahead of their time and their literary works represent more than just words on a page.
“I think that tattoos are a fantastic way to express yourself and I love that I have these meaningful symbols and quotes on my body forever.”
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PAYING HOMAGE TO THE STRIPES AND CELEBRATING SPECIAL BONDS Matt Sinnott ’03 chose to “pay homage” to the many wearers of cross country stripes by adding a tattoo depicting a silhouette of a cross country runner wearing stripes and running through the woods. He added the image in 2012.
Do you have a tattoo that was inspired by your time at North Central College? Please share a photo and your story at omc@noctrl.edu for potential inclusion in a social media gallery and/or followup story in this magazine.
“Hundreds of alumni have worn this uniform since 1986 and I wanted to emphasize that the uniform has no name, but is identifiable to spectators, coaches and teammates,” said Sinnott, physics and chemistry lab instructor and assistant cross country and track and field coach at North Central. “And the ambiguous face represents all runners in the program … it doesn’t matter whose face it is.” Friends and teammates Guthrie Hood ’06 and Todd Fonck ’06 got matching tattoos
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of the iconic Cardinal head during their junior year. The images were placed just below their racing shorts. “We wanted something to represent the brotherhood of North Central running,” said Hood. Added Fonck: “One of the best aspects of the program is tradition and being connected through generations of alumni. I feel the tattoo is one of those important traditions.” The tradition of tattooing the block NC logo to represent All-American status or a national championship most likely began in 2009, said Kyle Brady ’10. “All of us in the class of 2010 said that if we won (DIII) nationals we were going to get tattoos,” he said. “Three of us got them and it continued on for a lot of guys. It’s a way to signify how much the program
means to us, practicing twice a day, six days a week. This showcases not only our success, but the brotherhood and how much we do for each other.” Zach Plank ’16 represents one of many Cardinals who followed in the footsteps of the Class of 2010 when he got a tattoo after placing fourth at the 2015 cross country nationals. “The tattoo felt like a permanent reminder of where I’d come from and what effect I could have on the program... “It’s been a constant reminder of how we reach back and pull teammates forward … and of the legacy that North Central continues to uphold. Clearly, the tattoos don’t define that legacy, but for a lot of us it’s great re-enforcement of the values we learned.” Hidden beneath his North Central uniform is a tattoo that reminds Matt Osmulski ’20 of the effort he’s put into his success in cross country. Each of three detailed cardinals represent 5,000 miles of training since high school. “North Central has done a lot for me and opened doors in ways I didn’t think were possible so I wanted something that shows that.” Osmulski, a math major, was so committed to the cardinal design that he researched tattoo artists in Chicago who specialized in birds. After finishing 11th and 40th respectively at the 2019 national championships, Osmulski and teammate Nick Licori ’20 got their NC block logo tattoos, continuing the tradition among yet another generation of runners.
The block NC tattoo has come to represent All-America status for dozens of runners since 2009, like these examples from (left) Zach Plank ’16 and Matt Osmulski ’20. Spring 2020 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 1 3
WONC ROCKS INTO A NE W ER A WITH DIGITAL BROADCAS T EQUIPMENT WONC-FM 89.1 achieved another important milestone in its history with the addition of a new Wheatstone LXE digital console for use in its studio at Oliver Hall.
General Manager Zach DeWitz ’05 explained that the console provides students working at the station the opportunity to work on equipment comparable to what they’d find at a professional radio station just about anywhere in the nation. He gave Entercom, America’s second-largest radio company, as an example of a major Wheatstone user. “Our engineering staff did a great job making this look like a commercial radio station,” DeWitz said. “There are a lot of major market stations—Chicago stations—that don’t have anything close to this.” The Wheatstone LXE is a fully programmable digital system, meaning that WONC students are for the first time going from a digital database through which they program their shows to a digital automation system to make those shows happen. With minimal effort, they can pre-set broadcasts, make microphone adjustments, adjust the sound dynamics of what’s playing,
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“There are a lot of major market stations—Chicago stations—that don’t have anything close to this.” communicate with colleagues on location and queue up phone calls. The previous console was an analog device, so now all the equipment speaks the same language. DeWitz explained that the transition to the new system was smooth, thanks to the similarities in configuration between the old and new consoles. “There wasn’t much of a learning curve,” he said. “Students can say, ‘I used it before and everything’s really the same—it just looks really different and it’s much higher quality.’” The addition of the new equipment was made possible thanks to the support of the College as well as generous donations from WONC alumni, who consistently support the station and its growth.
“It’s not every day that you get to work with such high-tech (equipment),” said Emily Vickers ’22, a DJ at the station majoring in psychology. “I’m doing this for the fun factor and the community, but being able to get this kind of experience will help me in the future. I’ve become immensely more confident and I can speak in public much more easily.” While having the new technology helps WONC students explore new kinds of shows and approaches like sports talk shows, DeWitz promised the station is staying true to its roots. “We’re sticking with the pure rock format,” he said. “It’s been that way for decades and it’s not going to change.” For information on how you can support WONC, go to the station’s web page at www. WONC.org to find the donation button, and keep listening every day on the radio at 89.1 FM and online at www.iheart.com/live/wonc891-fm-pure-6201/.
New branding campaign debuts throughout Chicagoland Drivers on major Chicago area expressways and Metra train passengers were target audiences for a comprehensive “out-of-home” advertising campaign that began in January using new branding graphics. Billboards along four expressways were strategically selected for their visibility and maximum exposure to potential audiences. Distinctive overhead ads appeared in Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station in downtown Chicago and also inside Metra train cars. The goal is to extend awareness of North Central College within the Chicagoland area.
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The 2020 Sankofa Experience over spring break took students on an engaging journey that focused on the Great Migration. Highlights of the trip included visits to: • Sumner, Miss., to visit the Emmett Till Interpretive Center and courthouse where the murder trial took place. The group met the mayor of Sumner and other members of the community (pictured, left). • The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated (pictured above, left). • The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn. • The Griot Museum of Black History in St. Louis, Mo. • Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center in St. Louis, a source of archival materials about the period of the Great Migration. Students viewed materials for their own research (above, right).
Concert Choir debuts at Symphony Center A musical collaboration in January brought together North Central’s Concert Choir with the Chicago Sinfonietta and Roosevelt University’s Conservatory Chorus to perform Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 2” (“Resurrection Symphony”) on the stage of Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center. The culminating piece of the MLK Tribute Concert, Mahler’s “Symphony No. 2” is often cited as one of the top 10 symphonies of all time, said Ramona M. Wis, Mimi Rolland Professor in the Fine Arts and professor of music. “Performing this glorious, moving symphonic work was the culmination of our study not only of the music, but also the historical and cultural understanding and the professional experience of collaborating with a major orchestra and other university level singers,” she said. “It was a musical ‘high impact experience’ in an incredible venue.”
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Trustee Dr. Herman White, retired Fermilab physicist, honored at Museum of Science and Industry North Central College trustee and adjunct professor Dr. Herman White was featured in a “Chicago Proud” segment on ABC 7 Chicago for his work as a groundbreaking physicist. His work conducting particle physics experiments at Fermilab was displayed at the museum as part of the 50th anniversary of the Black Creativity Exhibit. As a result of his work on neutrino particles, he has a scientific equation that bears his name—the Stefanski and White formula—the first African-American in history to be so honored. White retired from Fermilab in December 2019 after an illustrious 45-year career. His life story in a video oral history—assembled by the History Makers organization—was accepted as part of the Library of Congress permanent repository in 2014. He continues to advise several governmental agencies on physics. On the international front, White has twice served as the U.S. delegate to the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics International Conference on Women in Physics. He continues his role as an advisor to the African School of Fundamental Physics (now in its 10th year). White also served as keynote speaker for the College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast in January. He shared his personal story of seeing Martin Luther King Jr. speak in his hometown of Tuskegee, Ala.
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HAMPION
“THE ENTIRE ALUMNI BASE IS SUPER PROUD!”
Nick Zec ‘81, Ricky Schwartz ‘80, Tim Peraino ‘82
Carlos Barba ‘90 and Luke Johnson ‘99
THE NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE AND NAPERVILLE COMMUNITIES UNITED TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE A LONG-AWAITED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN NCAA DIVISION III FOOTBALL. TROPHY NUMBER 40 CAPPED OFF A YEAR THAT RESULTED IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS NUMBER 38 ( INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD) AND 39 ( WOMEN’S TRIATHLON ). For generations of Cardinal football alumni, a trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to play for the Division III National Championship was something that could only be imagined. That long journey made the 2019 season all the more memorable, said Nick Zec ’81. “As we watched the semifinals, we were waiting anxiously to book our tickets to Houston from Tampa,” said Zec. “Ricky (Scwartz ’80) and Pat (Calhoon ’78) were on board and we were going not only for ourselves but for all of our football brethren and alumni who could not be at this historic event. [It was a] very proud moment in our lives.” He added that the game experience embodied the immense pride of the “football family that gave us lifelong memories, lifelong friends and a brotherhood.” Al Martineck ’88 and his football buddies—Mark Browning ’88, Ricky Rodriguez ‘88 and Tim Peck ’86—first talked of going to a national championship game in 2013 when North Central lost in the semifinals to Mount Union. “We said then if the team made it, we’d go,” said Martineck, and the former teammates made good on their promise. For Martineck, the high points were reconnecting with fellow players and witnessing the excitement of people like Rick Spencer, vice president for institutional advancement, and Jim Miller ’86, athletic director. “It was fun to see a big smile on his face.” Carlos Barba ’90 said this was the dream of every player in the program and described his feelings with one word: pride. “I never realized how touched I could be, being there with guys I played with, great players who came before me and even better players after me. This will forever be a lifetime highlight!” Kam Kniss ’07 recalls when making the playoffs his junior and senior years were huge accomplishments. “Just to get there was a big step,” said Kniss, an Athletic Hall of Fame inductee who was recruited by former head coach John Thorne. Flash forward to 2019. Kniss remembers well the excitement of watching the Cardinals claw back into the Mount Union game in the third quarter. “There was a point where we said, ‘This is happening!’” Peter Mann ’14, Alex Mann ‘14 and their father John booked tickets as soon as the Cardinals won the semifinal game. “(As a player) I bought into the program and learned everything I could,” said Peter Mann. “We were always in the top 10 but we couldn’t break into that next tier. It was so awesome to see John and Jeff Thorne and the many alumni who are older, younger and my age, supporting the team.” Spring 2020 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 1 9
HOW BEHIND-THE-SCENES PLANNING HELPED THE CARDINALS GAIN AN EDGE IN TEXAS As athletic director, Jim Miller ‘86 wears many hats. For the playoff games and Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, he assumed the role of chief logistics officer and travel coordinator. “I couldn’t ask the coaches to do the logistics and put the itinerary together,” he said. “I wanted the coaches to focus on coaching.” Miller coordinated meals, transportation and hotel accommodations for 59 student-athletes and 13 staff members traveling to Texas via air charter. That included inputting names and birthdates for the plane tickets; calculating the weight of the travelers and equipment to ensure the aircraft could handle it all; arranging ground transportation; and, with the assistance of team chaplain
Gary Ireland, planning meals for some very hungry individuals. It didn’t all go perfectly to plan, like the time the fast food caterer forgot to include chicken sandwiches as part of the team’s chicken sandwich boxed lunches. Plus, Miller had to contend with the fact that the NCAA reimburses Division III football programs for a maximum of 68 people (rostered players and coaching staff) at a rate of $95 per day. All costs beyond that were the responsibility of North Central. “Each institution can decide how they want to do it and we wanted to do it right,” said Miller. “Most importantly, we had support from the College leadership.”
GENEROUS DONORS COME TO THE RESCUE Several senior non-roster players missed traveling to the semifinal game due to financial limitations. The College didn’t want that to happen for the Stagg Bowl. North Central decided to aim high. Not only would it send the remaining seniors to the Stagg Bowl, it would also send the marching band, student fans, cheer and dance teams, and WONC-FM broadcasters—creating a home field advantage miles away from home. To do this, the College would need to cover additional airfares and book three charter buses at $11,000 each. After the semifinal game, an email fundraising campaign later that weekend asked alumni and other friends for $50,000 to cover the cost of transporting, feeding and lodging students and chaperones. By kickoff on Friday, members of the Quarterback Club and hundreds of other alumni and friends had exceeded that ambitious goal by pledging $85,000. “The campaign succeeded far beyond our dreams because so many people gave whatever they could,” said Adrian Aldrich ‘02, executive director of development and alumni affairs. “In many cases, those donors had already given to the North Central Fund or the Quarterback Club. They went above and beyond because they believe in our students and the experience the College gives them.”
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Tim Janecek ’11
Eric Stuedemann ’06
Nick Shepkowski ’08 of WSCR-AM 670 The Score lives like a fan again Radio producer and host combines work with loyalty to alma mater like never before When Nick Shepkowski ’08 first came to North Central College, football championship dreams were restricted to the NFL season. “I was a freshman in the fall of (2004) when beating Augustana late in the year was a huge deal; it felt like winning a Super Bowl,” Shepkowski recalled.
Shane Dierking ’14/M ’16
Brad Spencer ’04
ALUMNI COACHES BRING LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE TO LONG-AWAITED CHAMPIONSHIP For the assistant coaches, the victory was not only a historic win but a personal one. That’s because the Cardinals’ full-time assistant coaches are all alumni of the program: Brad Spencer ’04, assistant head coach/ offensive coordinator; Shane Dierking ’14/M ’16, defensive coordinator; Eric Stuedemann ’06, offensive line coach/assistant director of strength and conditioning; and Tim Janecek ’11, defensive line coach. “It’s hard to put into words the feeling of winning a national championship,” said Stuedemann, declaring the 2019 season the most exciting year of coaching in his life. “I immediately felt joy for our players. It’s hard to put into words the time and sacrifice that goes into it. I then thought of all the players who came before to help this 2019 team reach the pinnacle.” Spencer, who joined the Cardinals’ staff soon after graduation, practically grew up at the College, as did his brother Tyke Spencer ’06. When deciding to return to his alma mater as a coach, Brad Spencer said that coach Jeff Thorne was his reason for taking the job. “He really got me more interested in the strategy of the game and the leadership aspect,” said Spencer. After repeated playoff appearances over the years, the realization that the Cardinals would come home victorious was unforgettable. “For a year we get to have confidence that we were the best team in the country,” said Spencer.
The Cardinals’ first nine-win season and Division III playoff appearance occurred during Shepkowski’s sophomore year, followed by a playoff victory a season later. Working toward his calling in sports radio, Shepkowski reported on the team’s improvement while on staff at WONC-FM 89.1. His desire to follow the team’s success continued past graduation as he interned and found full-time work at The Score. While his penchant for living and dying with every play waned, Shepkowski’s loyalty never did. “North Central going on their run was a dream being realized,” Shepkowski said. “To see how far the program has come in that time ... I loved it.” As the hype built, Shepkowski could sense something special was coming—and he played a part in expanding the story’s national reach. The playoff run came at an opportune time for North Central, as other area football teams were wrapping up sub-par seasons—giving North Central a chance to grab the Chicago area football spotlight. “Had the Bears been a 12-win team and getting ready for the playoffs, it would have been different,” he said. “That said, North Central was still a great story.” Shepkowski has covered spring training baseball, Stanley Cup finals, NFL playoffs and even the World Series, but nothing he’s worked on for The Score has had quite the personal connection of this championship win. “The domination was unreal.”
Anne Banks ’22
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SPRING 2020:
ATHLETICS DISSOLVE FROM DREAMS TO HARSH REALITIES
“I have told each of them that they can use this to affect them positively moving forward. They’ll have such a unique perspective on what we tell our athletes all the time—tomorrow is not guaranteed.”
A week, a season and an academic year to remember were called to a halt with stunning finality at 3:17 p.m. on March 12 when the NCAA made the unprecedented announcement that it would cancel all remaining winter and spring championships in response to the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.
With little option but to prepare for the 2020-2021 academic year, many coaches have turned to online video conferencing and other virtual means to provide support to current student-athletes and persist with recruitment. “They’re communicating and engaging with recruits in ways that we’ve never been able to before,” Miller said. “So far, the results have been really encouraging.”
The North Central athletic department, which had prepared for multiple championship events several times in response to changing news and announcements as the scale of the pandemic grew, shifted its focus to the next academic year and is embracing new strategies to communicate with teams and engage with prospective studentathletes. After hosting first- and second-round games in the Division III Men’s Basketball Championship, the College had been preparing to play Washington University in St. Louis in the tournament’s round of 16 while also sending student-athletes to the Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships and Wrestling Championships. “Everyone was getting ready to go on that Monday (March 9),” said athletic director Jim Miller ’86. “We had our normal preparations with site representatives and visiting teams. It was business as usual.” On March 10, the College had planned to proceed with additional sanitation and
disinfecting protocols to minimize risk to spectators and team and institutional representatives. The following day, the NCAA announced that championship events were to be conducted with only essential staff and a limited number of family members in attendance. “We were supposed to receive forms to list the spectators who would be allowed to come to the game, and we never got it, so we had an inkling that another announcement was coming,” Miller said. “Our team went through its normal practice on Thursday, and then WashU arrived and we got everything they needed to start their practice at 3 p.m. “Then at 3:17 the announcement came, and literally 10 minutes later WashU went to their bus to drive back to St. Louis after traveling more than five hours to get here. And the season’s over. It was devastating for everybody.” At the same time, the track and field and wrestling championship events were halted as teams received the news from site representatives. “We were less than 16 hours from weighins when we found out,” said head men’s and women’s wrestling coach Joe Norton ‘10/M ’12, whose team had qualified a program-record five individuals for the men’s championship. “Telling our guys the news was the hardest thing I’ve had to do as a head coach. Understandably, they did not take it well.
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The NCAA’s announcement–followed a day later by the CCIW Council of Presidents canceling all remaining conference events for the academic year—put the brakes on a promising spring season. The baseball team was ranked in the top 10 nationally in two Division III polls and had opened the season with seven straight wins. Early results for softball (a 7-1 record), women’s lacrosse (5-0) and men’s lacrosse (4-1) gave cause for excitement as well. “We were looking at possibly the absolute most successful athletic year in the school’s history,” Miller said. “There’s no question. To have everything shut down for everyone is disappointing, but we’re all grown ups and we understand that people are dying and that is more important. It gives you a little perspective on what you have. There’s a lot of life lessons to be learned through athletics…and we had no choice.”
CONNOR RARIDON ’20
Winter and spring athletes deserve accolades, acknowledgements, awards, applause Following a 2019 fall season that included national championship victories in women’s triathlon and football as well as a runner-up finish in men’s cross country, the North Central College athletic department enjoyed a winter campaign that saw an array of conference, regional and national accolades from several programs.
MARC FLEENOR ’20
AMANDA MARTINEZ ’21
The Cardinals won College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) team championships in men’s basketball (the program’s first regular-season title since 2012) and men’s and women’s indoor track and field. The track and field programs combined to achieve a total of 10 individual conference championships, while the men’s wrestling team claimed five individual CCIW crowns. The men’s basketball program hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship for the second consecutive year, defeating Adrian College (Michigan), 69-54, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 84-82 in overtime, to advance to the tournament’s round of 16 for the third time. Connor Raridon ’20 received All-America honors from D3hoops.com and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), becoming the first player in the program’s history to earn All-America awards in two straight seasons. North Central qualified a record five entrants in the Division III Men’s Wrestling Championship, and all five qualifiers– Cody Baldridge ’22, Marc Fleenor ’20, Ian Mullen ’20, Robbie Precin ’23 and Anthony Rink ’20—were awarded All-America
TAIAH GALLISATH ’20
honors by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. In its first season of competition, the Cardinals’ women’s wrestling team traveled to Adrian College for the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling (NCWW) Championships, placing sixth in a 19-team field. Angelina Kirkpatrick ’23, Yelena Makoyed ’23, Amanda Martinez ’21, Asia Nguyen-Smith ’23 and Malea Palahniuk ’23 achieved All-America status at the championship. The men’s track and field program qualified nine entries for the Division III Indoor Championship. Michael Stanley ’21, Maceo Findlay ’20, Gavin Cernek ’20 and Erik Musgrave ’20 made the field in the 4-by400-meter relay and Stanley also teamed with Nick Licari ’21, Brendon Sebastian ’21 and Gabe Pommier ’21 to qualify in the distance medley relay. Stanley also qualified individually in the 400-meter dash, as did Sebastian in the mile run and Nick Janca ’21 in the high jump, while Licari and Pommier were joined by Braden Nicholson ’23 and Matt Osmulski ’20 in the field for the 5,000-meter run. The women’s track and field program achieved six qualifying marks for the indoor championship, including Katie Bonney ’21 (400-meter dash), Alexandra Draves ’22 (20-pound weight throw), Taiah Gallisath ’20 (high jump), Milia Harris ’20 (60-meter hurdles), Kelsey McLaurin ’21 (triple jump) and Kathy Myrda ’21 (pole vault).
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FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TURNS HEALTH EDUCATOR FACEBOOK LIVE S U R G E R Y AT T R A C T S THOUSANDS OF VIEWERS Jenna Schardt ’16 went from future healthcare provider to patient during a five-minute conversation in class with her professor. When she learned she would need to be awake for a high-risk brain surgery, Schardt was determined to use her experience to educate and comfort future patients. While pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Brenau University (Gainesville, Ga.), Schardt was working at an outpatient clinic with patients with brain injuries, set to finish her last semester of fieldwork. One day when her professor asked her a question, her answer was incomprehensible. She became frustrated and tried to write her answer, but could not articulate it on paper, either. After five minutes, she was able to speak normally, but would soon be challenged with another, similar episode. After Schardt was rushed to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, doctors discovered a brain tumor: a golf ball-sized mass on the left side of her parietal lobe. The mass, called a cavernous malformation, was pushing on her parietal lobe, the part of her brain responsible for speech and motor functions. The mass was slowly bleeding, causing seizures and aphasia. Since the bleeding was slow, doctors thought they could manage her symptoms with medication until she graduated from the program. But the seizures did not subside and Schardt was scheduled to undergo surgery on October 29, 2019. Knowing her history working with patients with symptoms like her own, Drs. Randall Graham and Bartley Mitchell believed Schardt would be the perfect candidate to livestream a portion of her four-hour procedure. The hospital was interested in educating students and future patients
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“
Although these last few months have been the hardest of my life, they have also been the most rewarding because I got to help and inspire so many people and grow so much as a future occupational therapist.”
and proposed the plan to Schardt. Using Facebook Watch to stream 45 minutes of the procedure. Hospital officials noted that more than 10,000 people tuned in. Many have thanked Schardt for sharing her story, which would go on to make national and international news. After the surgery, Schardt completed a six-week rehabilitation program alongside the patients she is being trained to treat. Schardt is thankful for this opportunity to educate others and has taken away invaluable perspective from recovery. Her insight into the patient experience will be crucial in helping her provide comprehensive care to others in her shoes. “As occupational therapists, we sometimes only see our patients for an hour a few times a week,” Schardt said. “I got to see the day-in and day-out of what life is really like as a neuro patient. Although these last few months have been the hardest of my life, they have also been the most rewarding because I got to help and inspire so many people and grow so much as a future occupational therapist.” Schardt attributes her success in graduate school and her professional career to her education at North Central College. Completing a psychology major and numerous group projects taught her to help people from all walks of life. She is grateful for Leila Azarbad, associate professor of psychology and Ruge Fellow, and Marguerite Degenhardt, pre-professional health program coordinator, who helped her realize her direction and pursue graduate school.
INSPIRED INSTRUCTION
INSPIRES ALUM INSTRUCTOR
Going from student to professional colleague: Meghan Steinbeiss ’13 describes the experience as “surreal.” She formally crossed that bridge when she started teaching Introduction to the American Political System at North Central for spring semester. As an adjunct instructor of political science, Steinbeiss reached a goal she set as a student and mentee of Suzanne Chod, associate professor of political science. “Dr. Chod was a new professor and I was a new student during the same timeframe,” she said. “She quickly became my mentor and we learned together.” When Steinbeiss expressed an interest in a career in academics, Chod helped her apply to and obtain a teaching assistant position at the University of Kentucky. While studying for her master’s degree there, Steinbeiss had the freedom to develop her own syllabi and readings for courses like American Government, Political Theory and Women in Politics. That experience has proved to be invaluable, she said, after Chod reached out to her to fill a vacancy at North Central. Steinbeiss also works as a senior support advisor for students studying online through Washington State University (her actual employer is Pearson, with offices in Elk Grove Village). “All the political science faculty have always encouraged me to keep going and pursue my dreams,” she added.
Arielle Jones ’20
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ALUMNI SNAPSHOTS 1. George Glenn ’61 2. Kristy Clifton Regan ’99 3. Gina Gianni ’18 4. Daniel Meza-Cuadra ’94 5. Tracie Morris ’02 6. Peter Medlin ’18 7. David Connon ’86
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Classnotes 1955 SYLVIA EBINGER RILEY and KEN LEWIS, coclass representatives, are planning the 65th reunion for the Class of 1955 on Saturday, October 10, 2020. There will be a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in Smith Hall (Old Main).
MARIA WYNNE is the chief executive officer of Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) and founding Daniel Burnham Fellow. LGC runs the Daniel Burnham Fellowship, a civil leadership program designed to help those new to Chicago or new to their positions to gain the skills they need to succeed in Chicago businesses.
1961
1978
GEORGE GLENN collaborated with Richard L. Poole to revise “The Opera Houses of Iowa.” The book was originally released in 1993.
REV. DR. WAYNE REYNOLDS was awarded the 2019 Service Award by the Nebraska Track and Field Officials Association. While at North Central, Reynolds was a CCIW Conference Champion and NCAA All-American in track and field. He has been a NSAA Track and Field Official since 1990 and Nebraska Track and Field Official since 2006. An avid athlete, Reynolds still competes in throwing events despite two knee replacement surgeries. Reynolds is also the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Crete, Neb. He continues to serve his community as a member of the Civil Service Commission, Crete Housing Authority, Saline County Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition, and the Board of Directors for Epworth Village in York, Neb.
1964 PAUL JORGENSEN is working on the fifth edition of his book entitled “Software Testing—A Craftsman’s Approach.” Jorgensen earned a master of arts in mathematics from the University of Illinois in 1965. In 1985, he earned a doctorate in computer science with an emphasis in computer engineering from Arizona State University.
1967 MARTI HEALY has released her eighth published book, entitled “Breathings—Tiny Stories for the Thin Places of Your Heart.” It is a collection of 61 of her popular newspaper and magazine columns and is available from a variety of retail stores, Amazon.com, and the website: www.martihealybooks.com. She is also regularly engaged in speaking about her books and her career in writing.
1981
1970
CAROL DURAVA was promoted to payroll coordinator at North Central College. She has been a full-time employee of the College since 2014, when she worked as a student registration assistant.
MICHAEL MOSER came out of retirement to return to the College as a major gift officer.
1971 ROBERT TALLITSCH was recognized for being a faculty member of the biology department at Augustana College for 43 years. A learning space in the newly dedicated expansion of the Hanson Hall of Science was dedicated in his name by the college and former students.
1972 J. MICHAEL HENDERSON published an article through the World Union of Deists. In the article he discusses the effect his religious upbringing had on his stance as a deist. Henderson resides in San Diego, Calif.
1977 K. JOSHUA CHRISTIANSEN published his first book, entitled “The Gift of Barzillai: The Importance of Walking in Covenant,” on December 30, 2019.
RUSS WHITAKER is the senior pastor of Hinckley Evangelical Free Church of Hinckley, Minn. He had previously served as the pastor of Mission Evangelical Free Church of Wilton, N.D.
1983
JACKIE JANSEN PAJOR and her kindergarten students at Highlands Elementary completed a project to commemorate the football team’s historic win at the Stagg Bowl on December 20, 2019. Pajor’s husband Patrick Pajor ’81 played on the team from 1977 to 1981. JOHN PCOLINSKI ran for for the Republican nomination for Circuit Judge in DuPage County. JOSEPH M. PUTHENPURAKAL published a book, entitled “Daily Dose of Wisdom,” that was released in February 2020. The book aims to share the quotes that inspired him to realize his direction in his personal and professional lives. Puthenpurakal holds bachelor’s degrees in computer science and business administration from the College and has attended four different universities, earning his doctorate in business administration from Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in 2004. He is the president and CEO of Alert IT Solutions, Inc.
1984 JAMES W. SCHLUSEMANN M ’93 was installed as treasurer for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
1985 FREDRIC JANZEN has been named director at the Michigan State University (MSU) Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), effective June 1, 2020. He is a professor in the department of ecology, evolution and organismal biology and chaired Iowa State University’s interdepartmental genetics graduate program.
1986 DAVID CONNON published “Iowa Confederates in the Civil War” through Fonthill Media. His blog is “Confederates from Iowa: Not to Defend, but to Understand.” He is listed on the Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau. He may be reached at davidconnon523@gmail.com.
1987 SARAH SHILLINGTON is chief client officer of TigerConnect and is relocating to Santa Monica, Calif. She was previously the senior vice president of client success. BRUCE THOMAS was selected as the new Poland field leader for WorldVenture. He and his wife have been ESL teachers and missionaries in Poland for 10 years.
1988 MITA PATEL HAVLICK was named executive director of the Dallas Education Foundation, the development partner of the Dallas School District.
1990 LEANNE FANNING PANKUCH won first place for Science Fiction/Fantasy in the Story Monsters 2019 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards for her debut novel, “Dragon’s Truth.”
1993 MICHAEL KOON has joined the Visit Champaign County team as director of sports, events and film. He is the radio play-by-play voice for University of Illinois women’s basketball and the public address announcer for Illini volleyball and softball games as well as some men’s basketball contests. He is also completing his first year as a member of the City Council for the City of Monticello, Ill. REV. RYAN SUTTON was appointed to the First United Methodist Church of Princeton in Princeton, Ill. in July 2019.
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National Science Foundation and a certificate signed by the President. This is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to kindergarten through 12th grade teachers. Regan is a sixth grade math teacher at Hazelgreen Elementary School in Alsip, Ill.
2001 MICHELLE COVARRUBIAS EVANS was recently appointed as the hospital administrator for Elgin Mental Health Center, a state forensic psychiatric hospital. She holds a doctorate in social work from Aurora University.
ALEXANDRIA RIOS ’07 TAYLOR (not pictured), dean of students at Glenbard West High School, co-authored “Today’s Inspired Young Latina: Dreams and Aspirations for the Next Generation” with Jacqueline S. Ruiz, creator of the internationally acclaimed series “Today’s Inspired Latina.” This series shares the stories of young Latina women succeeding in the face of adversity. Latina students MARIA CLARA OSPINA ’21 (third from left), ERICA FRANCO RIVERA ’20 (fourth from left), and ARIANA URRUTIA ’20 (fifth from left) have contributed chapters to the book with 10 other authors. Franco spoke about education and immigration. Urrutia shared her family’s experience with drug abuse. Ospina discussed the importance of young Latina women in theatre. Their chapters in the book were inspired by speeches they delivered as part of the Young Latina Talks organized by Jelena Sánchez, assistant professor of Spanish. The book was released in December 2019. Young Latina Talks can be found on the Today’s Inspired Latina YouTube channel. “Today’s Inspired Young Latina” is available on Amazon.n
1994 DANIEL IVERSON M ’02 coached the Naperville North High School girls’ cross country team to the 2019 Girls 3A IHSA State Cross Country Championship. He is a history and government teacher. DANIEL MEZA-CUADRA owns and operates the DMC Boxing Academy in Dayton, Ohio. The story of his history with boxing was featured in an article in the Dayton Daily News. The article can be found at: daytondailynews. com/sports/archdeacon-finding-joy-andmaking-life-boxing/j7j1pj9KLH7ZiwbbOeJ6DP/ JEFF TENNANT is the president of OSG USA Inc., a major tool manufacturing corporation based in Irving, Texas. He has worked at OSG USA Inc. since 1988, starting as a sales representative. In his 32-year career at OSG, Tennant has held numerous leadership positions including CFO, during which he was named “CFO of the Year” by the Daily Herald Business Ledger.
1996 LAURA CLEMMONS accepted a position as a student registration assistant at North Central College. JEANNETTE COLLAZO M ’97 presented a talk at North Central College, titled “The Importance of Relational Excellence,” on February 22, 2020. The talk was sponsored by Fusión Española and the Spanish program.
JASON GERWIG has been named deputy chief of staff for the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus and serves as the spokesman for the Illinois Senate Republican leader. JOHN WEIGEL M ’04 was inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame for his performance in track and field on March 28, 2020, at the Peoria Civic Center. At North Central, Weigel was a three-time All-American in the 5,000 meter indoor and 5,000 and 10,000 meter outdoor. He was also part of North Central’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2004.
1997 BRAD WEISS, known professionally as Brad Carson, was selected as the No. 1 Sports Radio Program Director for 2019 according to Barrett Sports Media and a panel of more than 40 radio professionals.
1999 DR. RICHARD BESEL is director of the School of Communications at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. He previously assumed numerous roles at California Polytechnic University, most recently serving as the department chair for the communication department. KRISTY CLIFTON REGAN was one of four teachers in Illinois to win a 2019 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which included a trip to Washington, D.C., a $10,000 award from the
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2002 TRACIE MORRIS, chief human resources officer of BMO U.S., was recognized as a 2020 Notable Leader in HR by Crain’s Chicago Business. She was also recently selected for the Daniel Burnham Fellowship, a civil leadership program run by Leadership Greater Chicago. (Maria Wynne ’77 is CEO of the organization, see classnote on p. 27). In addition, Morris is now a trustee of North Central College. LORI NITA NOVAK is the panel moderator for the fifth annual Global Small Business Forum held in April. Novak is the vice president of foreign exchange in capital markets for Associated Bank.
2003 LISA BARTHELME GRUBLESKY became a national board-certified teacher in December. In the state of Illinois, only 176 teachers received this honor in 2019. Grublesky is an elementary music teacher and choir director in Western Springs School District 101.
2004 KAREN SHANAHAN is a physical therapist and athletic trainer for Athletico and the facility manager at the Lake in the Hills, Ill., location. She was a guest on WSCR 670-AM The Score’s Sports Medicine Weekly podcast.
2006 ASHLEY BERMAN KINNEY wrote an article that was published in DAME Magazine. Her article can be found at: damemagazine. com/2019/10/03/will-america-ever-be-acountry-for-women/ CHRISTOPHER BOSWORTH M ’20 coaches the St. Charles East High School boys’ cross country team. Under his leadership, his team won the 2019 Boys 3A IHSA State Cross Country Championships. RONALD FERRIAS, owner of Elite PT, partnered with Chiropractic Associates of Kankakee in Bradley, Ill., to provide comprehensive patient care. Elite PT offers physical therapy and personal training to teach patients how to care for their bodies and prevent the need for continuous chiropractic care.
2007 ANGELA GROSKO accepted a position as associate director of quality assurance for Envision Unlimited. CHRISTOPHER ISIT is senior content marketing manager at Power Equipment Direct in Bolingbrook, Ill. He is pursuing a master of science in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. ANDREW MOE has been promoted to director of marketing services by Plews & Edelmann in Dixon, Ill. Plews & Edelmann is a leading manufacturer and marketer of auto parts and tools.
2008 DANIELLE KLEEHAMMER HJELM earned a master’s degree in radiation health physics from Oregon State University. Hjelm is a health physicist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. WHITNEY ROBERTS M ’13 founded For the Good, LLC, a social impact consulting agency in Madison, Wis., that helps organizations and entrepreneurs align their work and values. She was previously the director of civic engagement and social innovation in the College’s Center for Social Impact.
2010 JAKE AUFDERHEIDE M ’17 accepted a position as a software engineer for Microsoft. He worked as a software engineer for Airline Choice while pursuing his master’s degree in computer science from North Central College. JILL BUSHMAN M ’15 ZAPATA was selected to serve as a critical friend for the 2020 Illinois Teach to Lead Summit. The Illinois Teach to Lead Summit annually brings teams of teacher leaders and administrators together to lead positive changes within their schools. Critical friends act as facilitators for each team and generate multiple perspectives that allow the teams to analyze issues, recognize multiple evidence-based solutions, and develop action plans that advance learning for all students.
CLINTON HUNTER is the boys’ basketball coach at Basalt High School in Basalt, Colo. He was previously a health educator at Naperville North High School.
2015
KELLY RIVARD STANZE accepted a new position leading e-commerce operations for the Missouri-based fashion start-up Nickel & Suede.
BRETT BUSH was hired at LogicGate, a Chicagobased startup providing organizations a SaaS platform to operationalize regulatory risk and compliance programs. Bush develops and optimizes tests for the LogicGate platform’s API and other services.
2013
MADELINE KENNEDY earned a master’s degree in American studies from the University of Alabama.
GABRIELA ARIZA was featured on CNBC’s “Millennial Money” webpage as a high-earning millennial with a stable income and financial plan. She completed her education at North Central in two years and earned a master’s degree in information systems from DePaul University. She is increasing her earning power with three part-time jobs, homeownership and renting out her house and car. JACLYN KEENEY earned her doctorate of philosophy in clinical health psychology from Rosalind Franklin University. Keeney is an adjunct assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at North Central College and works as a clinical psychologist at True North Clinical Associates. MICHAEL KOEHNE is a senior associate at FGMK, LLC in Chicago. He was previously an accountant for Waud Capital Partners in Chicago.
STEPHANIE SNYDER M ’17 is a content creator and account manager for Maclyn in Des Moines, Iowa. Snyder is also a freelance photographer and storyteller.
2016 MEGAN COSTANZO is a transfer admission counselor at North Central College. EDUARDO SANCHEZ, a producer and video editor at Verizon Media, interviewed Sarah Michelle Gellar about her baking subscription service “Foodstirs.”
2018 JACK BILLINGS ran across the Grand Canyon and back in one run along with Neil Nicholson, associate professor of mathematics.
JAMES MACARTHUR “MAC” WILLAERT is an accompanist and ensemble director for Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale. He also works as an accompanist for Oswego High School.
GINA GIANNI was featured on Fox 40 for turning her Jeep into the “Mystery Machine” from “Scooby Doo” and participates in the College of DuPage’s Food Truck Rally and Sunset 5K.
2014
JORGE GUZMAN, assistant to Dominican operations for the Kansas City Royals, witnessed the Dominican Royals win their firstever Dominican Summer League Championship. The team played a grueling five-game championship series and won their decisive game on the road.
WARREN DAILEY received a Chicago/ Midwest Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Interactivity from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his work on the show “Adventures of Em.”
SEAN CARLSON M ’13 was a featured speaker at the 2020 Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Clinic on January 10 in Lombard, Ill. Carlson is the head men’s cross country coach and assistant men’s track coach at the University of Notre Dame.
2012 KAITLIN BALLARD is the College’s new sustainability coordinator. She spent four and a half years working as assistant director of conference services and camps at North Central. Prior to that role, she worked in residential life at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Molex is a top local employer of North Central College alumni and the company was well represented at the dedication of the Molex Advanced Electronics Lab in the Dr. Myron Wentz Science Center. Pictured (from left): BRAD BIELEMA ’96, manager, Global Sales Training; Keith Kennel, senior engineer, test; MARTY HIRSCH ’91, manager, Marketing Communications; ANDREW VEACH, ’09, senior manager, Corporate Communications; ASHLEY TAYLOR ’10, CMS marketing manager; PETE OTTO ’90, senior engineer, test. n
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KATHERINE HALEY accepted a position as an editorial assistant for the scientific journal Nature in New York.
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ALEX KOHLMEIER is a freshman admission counselor at North Central College and is pursuing his master’s degree. KARA KOTS is a social media specialist in the College’s Office of Marketing and Communication. PETER MEDLIN joined WNIJ as an education reporter and host of the WNIJ Teachers’ Lounge podcast. At North Central, he was the news editor of “NCCLinked” and was a host for WONC. NICOLE VRABEC is a transfer admission counselor at the College.
2019 ERICA ACERET M ’19 is a dean at Oswego High School. EVAN ALLEN is a web applications programmer at North Central College. He graduated in December 2019 with a bachelor of arts degree in computer science. JAMES FROMM M ’19 accepted a position as dean of students at Yorkville High School. CHANEL KEYVAN M ’19 is the assistant principal of Bednarcik Junior High School in Aurora. CORINNE LAM accepted a position as Elgin Academy’s assistant cross country coach. Lam graduated in December 2019 with a bachelor of science in psychology and a minor in wellness.
Marriages REBECCA BARNHART ’16 to STEVEN KARNOSCAK ’16 on September 28, 2019, in Naperville. In the wedding party were ADAM CHELLBERG ’15, JOSH RODEWALD ’15, SHELBY FISCHER ’15 SCHULLO, MARIE BUTNARIU ’16 and NATALIE ZANNELLI ’16. The couple resides in Bolingbrook, Ill. 1 JUSTIN BUEHLER ’05 to Alejandra Amaya on October 19, 2019, in a civil ceremony in Mundelein, Ill. The couple will travel to Medellin, Colombia for a church wedding on July 19. The couple resides in Mundelein. COLIN DALY ’05 to Miles Willems on October 12, 2019, in Lake Geneva, Wis. EMILY SELCK ’05 served as the officiant and MATT WHALEN ’05 served as a groomsman. 2
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CHRIS GALLOWAY M ’14 to Shelley Tuntland on July 5, 2019, in Ottawa, Ill. The couple resides in Chicago. ERIN HINCKLEY ’12 to Dominique Wheeler on October 19, 2019, in Pocahontas, Ill. In the wedding party was KATE OSCARSON ’11. The couple resides in O’Fallon, Ill. ELENA HRISTOVSKA ’18 to ANDREW CIGLER ’17 on October 4, 2019, in Downers Grove, Ill. The couple resides in Westmont, Ill. 3 KATHERINE LIMBACH ’15 to SARAH SCHOONHOVEN ’15 on September 21, 2019, in Austin, Texas. In the wedding party were BIANCHA SHIVES ’75 SCHOONHOVEN, NANCY GUZMAN ’14/M ’19, CAITLIN FARMER ’16, ELLA MACK ’17 and SAM PEREZ ’17. 4
EMILY MOLIDOR ’16/M ’18 to MATTHEW RANDOLPH ’16 on December 14, 2019, in Wheaton, Ill. In the wedding party were ALEX BRIGGS ’16 O’CONNOR and CARLY RANDOLPH ’18. The couple resides in Lisle, Ill. 5 ALEXANDRIA RAMAS ’16 to JEFFERY FAKHOURY ’19 on September 7, 2019, in Harvard, Ill. Joining the celebration were KAYLA KOENIG ’16 and MADDIE SNYDER ’16. 6 APRIL VRTIS ’12/M’14 to Brian Curran on September 21, 2019, in Geneva, Ill. The couple resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. 7
Births NICHOLAS ’12 and ARIEL SIEVERS ’13 CAPRISTO, a daughter, Charlotte Jean, on November 20, 2019, weighing 8 lbs., 8 oz., and measuring 20 inches. 8 LUCAS ’11/M ’18 and KRISTEN KLECKA ’11 MITZEL, a daughter, Madolyn Sophie, on October 10, 2019, weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz., and measuring 20.5 inches. She joins big brother Matthew, 3. She was welcomed by grandfather SCOTT MITZEL ’89. 9 TRENT ’12 and JESSICA TATAR ’12 SCHALK, a son, Theodore James, on September 4, 2019, weighing 8 lbs., 9 oz., and measuring 20.5 inches. He was welcomed by grandfather JAMES SCHALK ’82 and grandmother SHERRY HARD ’88 TATAR. 10
In Memoriam Corrections: The Office of Alumni Engagement learned that DEAN HUDNUTT S ’72 and ROY LANDSTROM S ’72 were incorrectly included in the In Memoriam section in the 2019 Annual Report. We apologize for the errors. AMI ADLER S ’96 of Decherd, Tenn., on August 23, 2019. LEON ARNESON ’55 of Naperville, on December 14, 2019. He is survived by his sister-in-law Ruby Bohm ’52 Allen and wife Eleanor Bohm ’56 Arneson. WILLIAM BAZANT ’52 of Palatine, Ill., on April 30, 2019. KENNETH BIERMA ’51 of Telford, Tenn., on June 3, 2019. NANCY KEATING ’60 BLAKENEY of Littleton, Colo., on November 4, 2019. ADELHEID (HEIDI) LANG ’64 BREWER of Wheaton, Ill., on December 16, 2019. She is survived by her brothers Dr. Martin Lang ’59 and Theodor Lang ’71.
SHIRLEY CLEMENT ’62 of Brentwood, Tenn., on December 28, 2019. She is survived by her niece Diana Clement ’83 Franzen and great nephew Richard Franzen ’18. PHYLLIS STUMP ’46 CONROY of Oregon, Ill., on October 9, 2019.
SAMUEL RUSSELL ’42 of Atlanta, Ga., on November 26, 2019. ROBERT SCHIEDLER ’60 of Charlestown, R.I., on February 1.
CHARLOTTE RICKERT ’51 FENNER of Birmingham, Ala., on June 18, 2019.
REV. WILLIAM SEITH ’52 of Coshocton, Ohio, on September 21, 2019. He is survived by his sisterin-law Lois Henning ’54 Seith and brother Jack Seith ’61.
THOMAS GLASS ’06 of Naperville, on February 20.
RONALD SMITH ’75 of Mokena, Ill., on January 11.
ANN HALBERT S ’71 of Mesa, Ariz., on January 22, 2019.
DAVID SPIEGLER ’48 of Naperville, on November 1, 2019. He is survived by his wife Genevieve Scheffner ’49 Spiegler.
RICHARD HARRER ’50 of Scottsdale, Ariz., on January 12. He is survived by his sister Judith Harrer ’52 Parrish Glick and cousin Leila Harrer ’53 Heinrich. IRIS BORSACK ’48 HARVEY of Lebanon, Ohio, on March 6, 2019. She is survived by her brother John Borsack ’51, sister Marie Borsack ’54 Chezem, daughter Cheryl Harvey ’69 Castillo, nephew Gary Chezem ’91 and great niece Cecelia Chezem ’19. REV. REINHOLD HEINRICH ’52 of Peotone, Ill., on September 23, 2019. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Cosman ’52 Heinrich, son-in-law Jerry Engelhardt ’70, daughter Anne Heinrich ’72 Engelhardt, son Reinhold (Tim) Heinrich ’77, granddaughter Rachel Engelhardt ’98 and grandson Reinhold Heinrich ’05. ROBERT HOFFMAN ’50 of Naperville, on February 14, 2019. He is survived by his cousin Marietta Hoffman ’46 Lambrecht and brother Jack Hoffman ’51.
DR. ROGER STRESSMAN ’44 of Tempe, Ariz., on October 27, 2019. DONALD SULLIVAN ’49 of Zieglerville, Pa., on February 25. CARL SWANSON ’83 of Baileys Harbor, Wis., on February 7. THELMA ROBERTSON ’52 WESTROM of West Chicago, on January 24, 2019. JIM WITTE ’98 of Crown Point, Ind., on October 30, 2019. He is survived by his wife Cathy Kandron ’95 Witte. REV. WILMERT WOLF ’56 of Pittston, Pa., on October 21, 2019. He is survived by his sister Sarah Wolf ’58 Shoemaker, brother-in-law Rev. Robin Heim ’64, brother Paul Wolf ’64, sister Priscilla Wolf ’65 Heim and cousin Jennifer Ince ’69 Manoukian.
RALPH HOUGH S ’66 of Mount Carroll, Ill., on November 25, 2019.
REV. CARL ZAGER ’50 of Sterling, Ill., on October 14, 2019. He is survived by his son Tim Zager ’76, son David Zager ’77 and daughter Marla Zager ’80 Boynton.
MARGARET JOHNSON-STEVENSON ’74 of Spring Hill, Fla., on December 27, 2019.
WARREN ZEISS ’50 of Enola, Pa., on October 7, 2019.
ELMER LAMBRECHT ’55 of Oconomowoc, Wis., on May 3, 2019. He is survived by his sister-in-law Virginia Frank ’57 Lambrecht and brother Richard Lambrecht ’59. JAMES LANNIN S ’71 of The Villages, Fla., on December 5, 2019. WILLIAM LIVERNASH ’52 of Naperville, on November 23, 2019. He is survived by his wife Violet Pal ’53 Livernash. REV. DONALD MIELKE ’51 of Sartell, Minn., on July 21, 2019. JOHN PELLING ’48 of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., on May 3, 2019. WILLIAM RUDOLPH ’44 of Matteson, Ill., on March 1, 2019.
JOHN BRITTAN ’50 of Schoolcraft, Mich., on February 28, 2019. DORIS EGGLESTON ’51 BROHMAN of Berrien Springs, Mich., on February 19, 2019. She is survived by her husband Ernest Brohman ’51.
STAY CONNECTED!
ALBERT BRONS ’52 of Hopkins, Minn., on December 7, 2019.
Got promoted? Got married? Tell us about it! Send us an email at: classnotes@noctrl.edu
Spring 2020 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 3 1
STAY CONNECTED
CHICAGOLAND EVENTS
GOLF OUTINGS
Alumni, friends and families are invited to attend our engagement events. For more information and to register, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at:
Annual Cubs Game Alumni Event vs. Boston
Craig E. Fischer Wrestling Golf Outing
Saturday, June 20, Wrigley Field Meet at the Cubby Bear at 5:30 p.m. Game time 7:15 p.m. Cost is $75
Saturday, June 27, Tamarack Golf Club, 111th Street and Route 59, Naperville 7:30 a.m. check-in, 8 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $150
630-637-5200 alumni@noctrl.edu]
Naperville Summer Ale Fest
Quarterback Club Golf Outing
northcentralcollege.edu/alumni-events Visit us online @ northcentralcollege.edu/alumni Engage with us @ northcentralcollege.edu/ college/social-media #WEARENC
Saturday, July 11, noon - 5 p.m. Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St. Online registration now open!
NY Yankees @ White Sox Saturday, August 15, Guaranteed Rate Field Game time 6:10 p.m.
CAMPUS EVENTS Cross Country and Track & Field Alumni Picnic
22nd Annual Cross Country and Track & Field Alumni and Friends Golf Outing
Saturday, August 1, 11 a.m. Lawn between Merner and Res/Rec Saturday, August 29, 4 p.m. Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium Social to follow
Thanks to the incredible
Sunday, September 27, Tamarack Golf Club, 24032 Royal Worlington Dr, Naperville 8 a.m. check in, 9 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $150
Baseball Golf Outing Friday, October 2, St. Andrews, 2241 Illinois Rt 59, West Chicago, IL 11:30 a.m. check-in and buffet lunch, 1 p.m. shotgun start. Cost is $150
FOOTBALL FALL 2020
WE WANT TO SEND OUR MOST HEARTFELT WISHES OF LOVE, LAUGHTER AND HEALTH TO YOU AND YOURS DURING THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES. SOME DAYS AREN’T AS GREAT AS OTHERS,
BUTgenerosity EVERY DAY IS Adonors GREAT of ##### DAYforTOraising BE A$$$$$$! CARDINAL!
Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Club Golf Outing Monday, September 21, Aurora Country Club, 1548 Prairie St, Aurora, IL Noon check-in, 1 p.m. shotgun start. Cost is $125
Men’s Soccer Alumni Game & Social
FROM ALL OF US IN THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT,
Monday, August 10, White Eagle Golf Club, 3400 Club Drive, Naperville 11 a.m. check-in, noon shotgun start, 5 p.m. dinner. Cost is $175
VS. Christopher Newport University Saturday, September 5, 1 p.m., Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
VS. Wheaton College Saturday, September 19, Time TBA, Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
DUE TO T HE ONG OING C OV ID-19 PA NDEMIC, V IS I T N O R T H C E N T R A L C O L L E G E . E D U/A L U M N I - E V E N T S F O R U P -T O - D AT E I N F O R M AT I O N R E G A R D I N G A L U M N I E N G A G E M E N T E V E N T S .
SAVE THE DATE OCTOBER 9-11, 2020
2020 REUNION YEARS: 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 Class years ending in 5 and 0 will be celebrating reunions, but all classes are welcome home! Visit northcentralcollege.edu/Homecoming for more Homecoming events and up-to-date schedules.
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INTERESTED IN THE ALUMNI BOARD?
Students and alumni enjoyed their time together with Dr. Ramona Wis, Mimi Rolland Professor in the Fine Arts, at the annual Illinois Music Education Association (IMEA) conference.
The past and present of the North Central men’s volleyball team faced off at the inaugural alumni match.
Kim Cramer ’08 Malinowski Alumni Board Communication Specialist
“Through the Alumni Board, I share my Cardinal Pride and strengthen my leadership skills. It offers me an opportunity to engage with current and prospective students and connect with fellow alumni. Go Cards!”
For more information, visit northcentralcollege.edu/alumni-board
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Jared Bogan M ’10 jbogan@noctrl.edu | 630-637-5267 Alicia Torimoto ’13 McLeod (left), Grace Phillippe ’19 (middle), and Mary Kate Rohn ’14/M’16 (right) were among industry leaders who came back to campus to speak to students about their careers in sports at the 14th annual sports business conference, put on by the student organization, Sport X NC.
ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Carli Franks ’05, carlimfranks@gmail.com MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR
Carla Kolavo ’06 Muir, clkolavo@gmail.com OUTSTANDING ALUMNI & REV. DR. HOWARD MUELLER ‘58 ALUMNI BOARD STUDENT INVOLVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Kaitlyn Rossi ’13, kaitlyn.rossi@comcast.net SHIMER LIAISON Chippy visited Jackie Jansen ’83 Pajor’s kindergarten class at Highlands Elementary School to check out the students’ cardinal-inspired art work to congratulate the National Champion football team.
Nancy Zeumer ’67 Kranpitz, Rebecca and Russell Stratton ’87, Vicki and Nick Zec ’81, and James Kranpitz soak in the sun and a Cardinal baseball victory at the pre-game BBQ in Port Charlotte, FL.
Steve Zolno S ’71, stevezolno12@yahoo.com ALUMNI CLUB CONTACTS AFRICAN AMERICAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
William H. Davis ’71, wdavis1803@aol.com CHICAGO ALUMNI CLUB
Kim Cramer ’08 Malinowski, kimberley.cramer@gmail.com COLORADO ALUMNI CLUB
Carli Franks ’05, carlimfranks@gmail.com FLORIDA ALUMNI CLUB
Nick Zec ’81, nickzecir@gmail.com GEORGIA ALUMNI CLUB
Jen Dufore M ’09, jendufore@hotmail.com JAPAN ALUMNI CLUB
Jun Okada ’07, jokada77@ezweb.ne.jp Yusuke Ichimura ’08, ichimura@milepost.co.jp SAN DIEGO ALUMNI CLUB
Kathy Huffman ’82, nccalumsandiego@gmail.com TWIN CITIES ALUMNI CLUB More than 65 Cardinal Couples and Love Birds shared their love for North Central and danced into the night at the couples’ event in downtown Naperville. This event raised more than $3,000 for the Rev. Dr. Howard Mueller ’58 Alumni Board Student Involvement Scholarship.
Valerie Smith ’94, mbak.valerie@gmail.com
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID North Central College
30 N. Brainard Street Naperville, IL 60540
UNTIL NEXT TIME... Commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 proceeded on May 3 despite COVID-19. More than 600 degree candidates participated in the webcast, which was pre-recorded by all the speakers—including President Troy Hammond.
