Spring 2021
A VISION FOR STEM EDUCATION FACULTY EARN NSF GRANT
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE What a joy to see students on campus again as spring arrives in Naperville! We’re all thrilled to have them here, making the most of those things that have always made the North Central experience special—challenging scholarship, student camaraderie, impromptu conversations on the walkway, and so much more.
I applaud the North Central community’s herculean efforts, which have made it possible to continue delivering inspired instruction throughout the pandemic.”
Although we’re not yet free from concerns about COVID-19 we’re making great progress thanks to everyone’s commitment to the #TogetherNC pledge. As we look toward the day when COVID vaccines substantially improve our collective lives, I applaud the North Central community’s herculean efforts, which have made it possible to continue delivering inspired instruction throughout the pandemic. For a moving example of faculty perseverance through these challenging times, turn to page 12. We celebrated student achievement with a virtual Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Honors Convocation, and we’re looking forward to ending this challenging year with four in-person Commencement ceremonies in May! It takes a lot of collaboration and teamwork to make these plans a reality. I’m thinking a lot about one particular member of our team who’s dedicated much of his life turning this College’s plans into reality. Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rick Spencer— an integral part of the North Central
College community for 40 years—will retire this summer after decades spent recruiting new students, visiting alumni and friends and attending Homecoming games and Presidents Club dinners. You can learn more about Rick’s legacy on page 2. As one of the last initiatives under Rick’s leadership, the College has launched a new Chaplaincy Fund. Part of the Brilliant Future Campaign, this fund will ensure that students can continue to access the resources required to put their faith into action, no matter what that faith may be. Turn to page 8 to learn more. It’s hard to comprehend the changes we’ve experienced over the past year as an institution of higher learning. But as Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest ... that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” I hope you share my excitement and optimism as we continue to adapt, respond and thrive into the future.
Troy D. Hammond, Ph.D. President Professor of Physics
Check out the 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.
18
Campus advocate earns Newman Civic Fellowship
FEATURE STORIES 02
06
Cue the Highlight Reel: Rick Spencer looks back at 40 years Minding the Gap: Grant funding addresses broad need for STEM teachers
08
Keeping the Faith: New endowment campaign builds on 60 years of ministry and chaplaincy
12
Searching for Words: A creative adjustment to life after COVID
14
Aiming high and flying in formation
CONTENTS 16
Campus News
22
Sports News
24
Alumni News
32
Alumni Updates
ABOUT THE COVER Photo credit: Meagan Lindsay An education-science faculty partnership gained National Science Foundation funding for preparing STEM teachers. Pictured (from left) are professors Chandreyee Mitra (biology), Susan Kempinger (physics), Alicia Okpareke (education) and Lindsay Wexler (education). Story on page 6.
Spring 2021
Editorial Director
Laura Zahn Pohl Graphic Design
Mary Bass M ’21 Brooke Belair Katie McGraw ’22 Contributing Writers/Production
Valla Coffman ’02 Aguilar Jeremy Borling ’02 Lauren Ford Jacob Imm Kamari Jordan Kara Kots ’18 Katie McNeela ’14 Kelly Murphy Mary Reynolds Drew Sauer ’11/M ’14 Clark Teuscher Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Rick Spencer Assistant Vice President for External Affairs; Special Assistant to the President
Jim Godo ’93 Executive Director of Development and Alumni Affairs
Adrian Aldrich ’02 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
All photography taken for this issue followed a set of COVID-19 protocols that ensured everyone’s safety during the photography session.
northcentralcollege.edu northcentralcardinals.com northcentralcollege.edu/ brilliantfuture
Cue the Highlight Reel RICK SPENCER LOOKS BACK AT 40 YEARS
“Behind every gift to this institution—every name on a building, endowed chair, or scholarship—is a story, and more often than not Rick is the narrator.” President Troy Hammond
With the end of his 40-year career at North Central College in sight, Rick Spencer has more than a few stories to share about the people, events and gifts that made his time here so extraordinary. The College’s vice president for institutional advancement will retire in June. You might know him as the ambitious young director of admission who changed the culture of recruiting at the College; the confident fundraiser who could ask for multi-million dollar gifts; a concerned benefactor who found support for international students; the proud father of two successful alums—one coaching at the College; and the generous philanthropist who named a classroom in the Myron Wentz Science Center for the Spencer family’s ties to North Central, including his parents, Wes ’43 and Marian (Mickey) Stahl ’43 Spencer, and sons
2
Bradley ’04 and Tyke ’06, and daughters-inlaw Nikki Michelson ’17 Spencer and Kalah Thorngren ’07 Spencer (pictured, p. 4).
A CAREER LAUNCHED IN ADMISSION
Underlying his talents is a focus and dedication to the success of North Central College that transcends a 40-hour work week—as well as a love for Cardinal athletics, especially football.
After graduating from Augustana College in 1974, Spencer began his career in the admission office there. He learned lessons that would later transform North Central’s admission operation, where he took over as director of admissions and financial aid in 1981.
For Spencer, the high point of his career highlight reel was the 2019 NCAA Division III National Football Championship. It was the culmination of all things important to his life and career. “Being with my family and watching Brad coach, seeing alumni I recruited and friends of our boys, raising money for buses to take our students to the game; that game is probably my happiest moment,” Spencer said. He still aches for daughter-in-law Kalah, who had to stay in Illinois to care for her flustricken daughter Emmy.
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
“(1981) was the hardest year of my life,” he said. “Our son Brad was born, we were living with my parents and my mother was ill. And (in the admission office) I was trying to implement evening calls, home visits, Presidential Scholarships and more campus visit days. “But by fall 1983, we had our largest first-year class ever—286. That was a big number for a school of our size at that time.” (Continued)
Colleagues, friends and alums share their memories... Rick invited my parents and I to the admissions office one evening. My mom had to convince my dad to go and he was not happy. We walk in and Rick was Rick. He talked about everything North Central had to offer. I am sure he could tell my father's displeasure so Rick turned and worked on him. What happened in the next 30 minutes was amazing—he took my stubborn father from saying I needed to go to the University of Denver to walking out telling me that North Central is where I needed to be. Thank you Rick for helping bring me to North Central College! Go Cards! DAVID ELLIOTT ’92
Rick Spencer was the best boss I ever had! Rick was smart, strategic, hard-working, able to delegate, and possessed an amazing energy as well as a great (and sometimes sorely-tested) sense of humor. His leadership helped raise the “funds and friends” that are, to this day, transforming the College, ensuring its students leave their mark on an ever-changing world. MARY-CLAIRE USELDING North Central Director of Public Information, 1994-2006
Since Rick Spencer became vice president for institutional advancement, the College: • Secured nearly $296 million in financial gifts, pledges, and will commitments to date, including $120 million toward the Brilliant Future Campaign; • Completed renovations of Old Main, Kiekhofer Hall and Koten Chapel, and Meiley-Swallow Hall; • Constructed the Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center, the Wentz Science Center, Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, Zimmerman Stadium, Shanower Family Field, the Residence Hall/Recreation Center, Schneller Hall, and the Rolland Center Boilerhouse Café; • Obtained the A.A. Smith House;
Rick Spencer’s dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of North Central College have been an inspiration to me for nearly 25 years. He’s been a spark plug who shows our community how empathy and humane leadership foster loyalty and trust. He also graciously facilitated the introduction and made the endowed chair process feel like a meaningful, personal connection to John ’59 and Norma Bramsen. Thank you for your humor and your great love for this institution. You made us better. JENNIFER JACKSON Associate Professor of English; Svend and Elizabeth Bramsen Professor in the Humanities
Rick helped recruit me as a student, then I worked for him for five-plus years following graduation. Although I have been gone for over 20 years, Rick has always made me feel like a part of the family. I have cherished our friendship through the years. MIKE KOON ’93
• Endowed 13 faculty chairs.
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine
3
Spencer was named vice president for admission and financial aid in 1983. More than 4,250 students enrolled and graduated during his tenure in admission. And many of the staff he mentored went on to accept leadership roles at North Central and other institutions. In December 1992, Spencer was tapped by President Emeritus Harold Wilde to become vice president for institutional advancement. The College was in dire need of financial resources and upgraded facilities—a challenge Wilde and Spencer embraced. “My first major gift came from Gus and Connie Schoenherr who gave us their farmland in Plainfield,” Spencer said. “That’s when I realized the joy and understood the impact of a major gift. That gift also showed me the importance of growing up in Naperville.” His family ties often opened doors for prospective donors. Another impactful memory for Spencer involves the late John Tworoger ’65, a trustee whose daughter was considering attending North Central. Before he flew out to San Diego to meet father and daughter, Wilde suggested that Spencer ask Tworoger for a $1 million gift. “I was sweating,” Spencer recalled. “I finally made my ask and John gets up and leaves the restaurant. I was mortified. But then he comes back with a smile on his face. He said, ‘I’m not ready to do that
4
right now, but the fact that you asked makes me confident you’re the right person for this job.’ That was an important moment … I knew it would take guts and perseverance to be a fundraiser.”
it was the beginning of a friendship that Spencer will always treasure. Wentz did visit campus and learned the campus needed a fine arts facility and science building. At Homecoming that
“Being with my family and watching Brad coach, seeing alumni I recruited and friends of our boys, raising money for buses to take our students to the game; that game is probably my happiest moment.” RICK SPENCER
Building a relationship with Dr. Myron Wentz ’63 (H) ’11 and wife Prudence Conley was life-changing for Spencer and the College. Spencer had dinner with the couple in San Diego in 2003. Late into the evening, Wentz stood up in the restaurant to sing the College’s “Alma Mater.”
year, Wentz announced a multi-million dollar gift toward the Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center. “When the Chicago Symphony Orchestra played the night of the dedication, Myron kept hitting my leg and saying ‘We did it, the CSO is at North Central!’”
“Prudence promised me he’d come to campus,” Spencer said, feeling confident that a major gift was indeed possible. And like with many donors over the years,
When Spencer and President Troy Hammond approached Wentz in 2015 for a naming gift for the Wentz Science
Pictured from left: Stagg Bowl victory; at an event as the director of admissions; with President Troy Hammond; the Spencer family in 2021, from left Tyke, Emersyn, Kalah, Hudson Pat, Rick, Weston, Nikki and Brad; with President Emeritus Harold Wilde; with former vice president Paul Loscheider during Old Main renovation in 1996; with coach Al Carius (H )’16; watching Cardinal Football in 2004.
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
We’re very fortunate Rick came to North Central when he did. I think North Central became a distinctive, unique institution because of having people like Rick create the foundation of values and virtues and characteristics to help us be distinctive. COACH AL CARIUS (H) ’16 Assistant men’s cross country/track & field coach
Center, they had just 20 minutes to present their case. “Myron said to us, ‘I appreciate both of you so much for your commitment to my school. I know how hard this is.’ He gave us both a hug. It’s one of my cherished moments.” Spencer and Hammond learned later that Wentz would indeed pledge a naming gift. There were many, many others donors who brought joy to Spencer’s fundraising role, like the late Judy Stevenson, who “stepped up any time we needed anything” and named Meiley-Swallow Hall for her family. Others he worked with included Jane Koten ’55 and the late John Koten ’51, Mimi ’55 Flickinger Rolland and her late husband Ian Rolland, and Bartley and Maricela ’99 Madden. The generosity of alumni, trustees, parents and friends has propelled North Central to the place of strength it is today. “When a donor decides to contribute, they make the College great,” he said. “And I’m lucky to be the person who interacted with all our donors. “I’m grateful to everyone who had a role to play in getting us where we are today, including my family. The support I’ve received from my wife, Pat, who led the charge of raising two great boys, each becoming a part of North Central, allowed what I do here to become integrated into our family. That’s how you can succeed at a long career.”
The day I got admitted to North Central was the most exciting day of my life. When I was introduced to Mr. S. he offered me a helping hand, and assured me that I would be able to graduate so long as I put in the required effort (and) I would not have to worry about not being able to attend class because I can’t afford it. My life changed that day, Mr S. gave me a voice and a chance at higher education and I will always be grateful for that. ASTRID RUTAYISIRE ’18
One year we caroled for the CEO of Girl Scouts of America and were all stoked to walk out with a couple boxes of thin mints each! Then Rick stopped to give his cookies and a money handshake to a man with a ‘homeless veteran’ sign. He gave them away so quickly, so assuredly, when he saw an opportunity for kindness. I’ll never forget how thankful that man looked, nor how Rick told him it was nothing and wished him a Merry Christmas. I continue to be in awe of his ability to find opportunities for giving and human connection. ANDREA LARSON ’10 MOST
“I cannot think of a time going back to the 1980s when Rick Spencer was not around. It has been a privilege to meet him over the years in Illinois, Florida, Cape Cod and other geographic destinations. He is the ultimate outstanding fundraiser for buildings, endowment and important North Central College venues. (We shared) a few remarkable lunch sessions at La Casita Restaurant in Little Havana in Miami and evening delights with stone crabs at Joe’s in Miami Beach. Saludos afectuosos, RUBEN A. ROCA ’62
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine
5
Minding t h e G a p : Grant funding addresses broad need for STEM teachers 6
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
Alicia Okpareke
Susan Kempinger
Chandreyee Mitra
A grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to North Central College represents several important firsts and lays the groundwork for significant additional grant support in the future.
She pointed out that the student population of the United States is the most diverse it’s ever been but “we tend to recruit and retain teachers from the majority status.”
The $75,000 grant supports the initial phases of a plan to prepare more high school teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. It represents the College’s first grant in nearly 30 years from the NSF, which accepted the College’s application on its first attempt—a rarity in grant submissions to the foundation.
The grant resulted from a collaboration among Okpareke and Lindsay Wexler, assistant professor of education, with Chandreyee Mitra, assistant professor of biology, and Susan Kempinger, assistant professor of physics. All serve as co-PIs on the grant proposal and worked together during summer 2020 to develop the proposal.
The funds will be used to build capacity and partnerships, with the goal of preparing STEM teachers who are equityminded and willing to teach in high-need schools. Equity-minded educators are committed to successful outcomes for students of all racial and socio-economic backgrounds.
“Diversity in STEM is incredibly important for both students and the scientific field,” said Mitra. “A diverse scientific community is not only important for reasons of fair access to learning and social equity, but also because a more diverse community always results in a greater variety of perspectives, ideas and values, which in turn results in better science.”
“There’s a shortage of STEM teachers nationwide and in Illinois,” said Alicia Okpareke, associate professor of education and principal investigator (PI). “We’re also seeking to increase teachers’ capacity to work with diverse student populations as well as improve the achievement in STEM subjects of K-12 students.”
“
The first phase of the project includes building partnerships and pathways for students in science disciplines to become teachers—and succeed in their careers after graduation.
Diversity in STEM is incredibly important for both students and the scientific field.”
Illustrations by Katie McGraw ’22
Lindsay Wexler
THE IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDES: • Providing anti-racism training to field supervisors; • Developing more accessible pathways for students double majoring in education and science—particularly chemistry and physics; • Expanding pathways in science education for diverse students transferring from community colleges; • Collaborating with high-need schools to recruit high school students to North Central and, later, to serve as sites for clinical placements of education candidates; • Building connections with national laboratories and other organizations to provide new teachers with contacts in the STEM community; • Training candidates in use of equitable instructional strategies; • Supporting students and teachers through mentorship, using components of the North Central Teach First and Cardinal First model “We know that by supporting new teachers through their first three years they are more likely to persist,” said Okpareke. “Mentors can provide a sounding board for questions, planning and support.” By fall 2022, the team can submit the results of this preparation work and request an additional $1.2 million from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program for students from under-represented groups. “Recruiting and retaining underrepresented groups into the STEM education field is really important work, and this grant gives us a chance to invest time and resources into creating pathways and systems of support,” added Wexler.
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine
7
Keeping the Faith NEW ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN BUILDS ON 60 YEARS OF MINISTRY AND CHAPLAINCY
While I valued the classroom education at North Central College, it was the chaplains—George St. Angelo ’41 and Larry Bouldin—who helped put what I learned into a larger worldview.” REV. DON SCHULTZ ’69
Generations of North Central College alumni treasure the impact that campus ministry and chaplaincy had on their campus lives as students and their adult lives today. Now more than ever, placing a value on those experiences and memories is critical for supporting a new $3 million fund that will endow the College’s chaplaincy and Office of Faith and Action. Strengthened by the Wesleyan tradition of uniting “knowledge and vital piety,” North Central has expanded its mission well beyond the words of its first president, A.A. Smith, who said the College was “to be a moral lighthouse sending out a clear and steady light upon all subjects that pertain to the well-being of mankind.” (sic)
8
The position of campus chaplain was first created in 1955 when President Harvey Geiger appointed the Rev. George St. Angelo ’41 to the role. He was responsible for the leadership of campus religious activities and had an extraordinary vision for campus ministry. St. Angelo developed the campus church community; European travel opportunities; convocation programs with speakers such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer and Henry Kissinger; a student trip to Selma, Ala., to support voting rights; and service opportunities in Chicago. North Central chaplains’ ministries have encompassed worship, study, pastoral counseling, spiritual development and prophetic voice. Each chaplain addressed these responsibilities according to their
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
strengths, ministering in ways that were consistent with their own gifts and graces. For example: • Rev. Barbara Isaacs created New Visions, New Visions Summer Company, New Beginnings, and Growing Edge, all of which involved students traveling throughout the Midwest to provide programming and worship for congregations and camps. United Methodist Church (UMC) grants strengthened multicultural awareness/diversity and feminist empowerment. • Rev. Dr. Lynn Pries ’67 directed social justice trips so students could participate in the Appalachian Service Project and Habitat for Humanity, and he organized a
FACES OF MINISTRY
Rev. George St. Angelo ’41 1955 - 1966
Rev. Lawrence Bouldin 1966 - 1969
Rev. David Durham 1969 - 1972
Rev. Bart Beavin 1972 - 1976
Rev. Mike Moser ’70 1977 - 1982
Rev. Carol Findon 1981 - 1983
Rev. Dr. Barbara Isaacs 1983 - 1990
Rev. Carol Cory 1990 - 1994
Rev. Dr. Lynn Pries ’67 1994 - 2014
Rev. Eric Doolittle 2014 - present
summer program for United Methodist high school students to explore vocation. • “The highlights of my ministry have included empowering all students to engage their faith to find their identity and passion,” said Rev. Eric Doolittle, who helped establish the Muslim Student Association (see page 10), the 12:5 worship program, and advocacy for inclusion of all members of the community. As represented in the College’s current strategic plan and mission statement, the chaplaincy is designed to reach all students and members of the campus community regardless of their faith. Today, the spirituality of all students is supported through broader activities of the Office of Faith & Action, directed by Brian Rainville. Groups like Catholic Cardinals, weekly Bible studies, and
Focus, a student-led Christian worship service, provide opportunities for fellowship and faith. Programs like these and the position of chaplain will gain financial security through a new endowment fund. “The time is right to launch this important initiative,” said Michael Moser ’70, a major gift officer with the College. “Since the early 1980s the Northern Illinois Conference has provided significant support as part of its historic commitment to North Central, but we’re seeing a reduction in their funding of all collegiate ministries.” He added that generations of faith-filled leaders and students have instilled their values into the fabric of North Central— and their commitment to these values continues. “This is the right time to stake our claim as to who we are.”
Alumni and friends are invited to show their support for these important components of student life by helping build the $3 million endowment, a part of the Brilliant Future Campaign. The goal is to raise the funds in gifts, pledges and planned gifts over the next three to five years. More detailed campaign information will be made available in coming months. (Continued)
To make a gift or to learn more about this lifechanging ministry, visit northcentralcollege.edu/ brilliantfuture/keeping-faith. Questions? Contact Michael Moser at mpmoser@noctrl.edu or 262-949-6475 for more information.
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine
9
Words of Praise
Alumni share their favorite memories
Rev. Larry Goebel ’65 One of the most beautiful gifts is to have your eyes opened. Rev. George St. Angelo did that for me. He opened my eyes to racial injustice. He opened my eyes to the possibilities of actually doing something about it. His sermons were on a personal level that offered an insight to other seekers’ struggles and their solutions. Seeing possibilities introduced me to hope and a new vision. Thank you, George St. Angelo, for taking a moment and helping me see God’s world. Marilyn Rinehart ’70 In what other setting would I have been able to tutor kids in a Chicago grade school, teach a Sunday School class in a girl’s reform school and picket a Southside grocery store? Weekend retreats, the Ecumenical Institute, (and) work projects in Kentucky and New Mexico … put me in settings where I looked at the world in new ways. Chaplain Larry Bouldin’s support for … campus ministry included attention to our personal growth and our development of leadership skills. His door was always open; he pushed us to face challenges along the way.
Lisa Horton ’94 Pettaway M ’00 I have so many great memories of the chaplain position and campus ministry programs over the past 30 years …from (Rev. Dr.) Barbara Isaacs and Friday Night Live to hanging out in the office of (Rev.) Carol Cory …(to) working with (Rev. Dr.) Lynn Pries ’67 on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and Black History Month programs … to most recently, with (Rev. Eric Doolittle), launching the 12:5 worship service that brings us together as a campus community for worship and fellowship. I cannot imagine North Central without this important, impactful role on campus. This role is so important … it’s part of who we are as an institution and it really matters to me! Rev. Rob Hamilton ’04 My time at North Central College helped me discern my calling to be a United Methodist pastor. Our chaplain, Rev. Dr. Lynn Pries ’67, was instrumental in my discernment
“This chaplain is essential to all college campuses in a day when we are talking about social justice, grit and resilience, gender identity, and many critical social issues.” ODELL ZEIGLER IV ’16
1 0 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
process and participating in campus ministry programming helped to confirm that divine call. Together, the experience helped form and shape me for ministry in the local church and in my community. Youssef Mekawy ’17/M ’20 Throughout my years at North Central—as an undergraduate student, a graduate student and a graduate assistant—the support I got from the Chaplain’s office was endless. As a Muslim student and an undocumented immigrant, (the) office was a source of strength, a connection point and a great resource. Rev. Eric Doolittle’s support is a major reason that the Muslim population continues to grow at North Central. In 2015, I got the support I needed to start the Muslim Student Association (MSA) … to serve the Muslim student population and connect … the local Muslim community and the Islamic center with North Central. The biggest event we organized was the MSA Community Dinner in 2017, with more than 200 students, staff, faculty, and a big portion of the Naperville community, too. The Chaplain’s office helped to organize transportation services for the weekly Friday prayer (for the Muslim students and visiting students from religious studies classes). From establishing the prayer room to the smallest conversations here and there, the chaplain made me and the Muslim population on campus feel welcomed, supported, included and cared for.
From Passion to Planning THE IMPACT OF ESTATE GIVING Odell Zeigler IV ’16 The chaplain is essential to all college campuses in a day when we are talking about social justice, grit and resilience, gender identity, and many critical social issues, human issues—all of which impact students on the campus. The chaplain addresses challenging questions about faith, leads prayer sessions, helps guide students to valuable resources, and provides religious services and support as requested. During my time at North Central College (2014-2016) … there were many times I stopped by the chaplain’s office, where I received prayer, encouragement, and even resources that guided me in my studies. I have been fortunate to remain connected to my alma mater by participating in the Gospel Extravaganza and other campus events because of the chaplain’s dedication to keeping a connection with former students. Mikel Mays ’22 Time after time Rev. Eric (Doolittle) continues to push the mission and vision of the College for the betterment of the community and students. He has navigated the Office of Faith & Action and the College through many hard topics, such as racial inequality and injustice. Most importantly, Rev. Eric supports the students that he encounters. For example, I had the vision to restart the gospel choir, Voices of Praise. There was never a doubt in his mind. Now, many lives have been brought to Christ, and are impacted by the glory of God through praise and worship.
The College has added a new resource to its website that shows donors how they can “dream bigger” by making an impact through estate planning. “It can be very easy to include the College in your estate, but you might not know where to start,” said Adrian Aldrich ’02, executive director of development and alumni affairs. “The new resource demonstrates the benefits of planned giving to donors and their families, and shows how it can be a great giving option beyond annual cash gifts. Will commitments and other estate planning options are not just for the wealthy. In fact, for generations, planned gifts of all sizes have been a powerful philanthropic tool that our alumni and friends have used to help move the College forward.” Since the early 1970s, North Central has received nearly $65 million in estate gifts, and to date, donors have committed $19 million in will commitments to the $150 million Brilliant Future Campaign. “We are inspired and so very grateful to all of our donors who have let us know about their plans to include the College in their wills,” said Aldrich. “These estate gifts create scholarships, faculty chairs and other endowments, and they provide amazing resources for generations to come.” The new site—northcentralcollege. edu/plannedgiving—is designed to educate donors who want to include the College in their will or make other types of estate gifts. It offers tools and resources, donor stories, and information about how to include
a simple bequest that names the College in a will. You can also learn how to list North Central as a beneficiary to an IRA or insurance policy. The site even includes a few surprises. “Donors have shared that they found information they hadn’t considered before, like how to further save during retirement and updates on tax benefits,” said Lane O’Shea, North Central’s leadership and principal gift officer. “With planned gifts, a donor can continue living comfortably and enjoying life while preparing for the future,” said O’Shea. “With simple planning, their family is taken care of, and their estate gift will make a big difference to the College and our students. Planned giving is a win-win situation.” She notes that this kind of approach often puts unexpected possibilities within reach—the ability to establish a scholarship, for example, without dipping into resources that a family might need now or in the future. “Estate gifts can help donors dream bigger while retaining their assets,” she explains. For more information about donating a gift to the College, visit northcentralcollege.edu/ brilliantfuture or contact Adrian Aldrich at 630.637.5201 (amaldrich@ noctrl.edu) or Lane O’Shea at 630.637.5205 (loshea@noctrl. edu). Always consult an attorney or financial advisor when establishing estate plans.
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine
11
S E A RC H I N G F O R WO R D S :
A C R E AT I V E A D J U S T M E N T TO L I F E A F T E R C O V I D
Two years ago, there was cause for celebration in the world of poet Rebecca Hazelton Stafford, also an associate professor of English at North Central. The New York Times Book Review included her book of poetry, “Gloss,” in its New and Notable column among other newly published poetry collections. The Feb. 26, 2019 excerpt said:
GLOSS by Rebecca Hazelton. (University of Wisconsin, paper, $14.95.) Hazelton’s poems cast a teasing light over the surface sheen of social norms, the playacting in every relationship: “Let’s pretend to be with other people,” one ends, “until we’re with other people.” But beneath their own witty surfaces, the poems also brim with loss and serious moral inquiry.
1 2 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
It was the latest in a growing list of accolades for Stafford. Her poems have been widely published in literary journals and national magazines, such as Poetry, The New Yorker, The Nation and Boston Review. Her work can be found in the Pushcart Prize anthology and Best American Poetry.
This year, moments of celebration take different forms in Stafford’s life: the victory of a short walk down the block, the energy of her students discussing her reading assignments, and the realization that new forms of creativity are in her future. Stafford’s life has changed drastically in the past year as she recovers from a bout with COVID-19 in April 2020. In the new language of the pandemic, she’s considered a “long-hauler,” characterized by lingering symptoms and the need for continued medical care.
“Thankfully I’ve been able to teach and do my job because we’ve been able to work remotely,” she said. “I’ve been improving steadily but it’s been incredibly slow.” Stafford will never know where she contracted the virus but she thinks it might’ve happened while grocery shopping for her family. Soon she couldn’t walk up the stairs of her home without becoming breathless and she was diagnosed with pneumonia. (A COVID test was negative but she later was found to have COVID antibodies). She had daily visits or phone calls with her doctor. She needed a wheelchair to get inside the clinic, and she couldn’t type on a keyboard or form words as simple as “table” in conversation.
“I’ve never been so sick.” She spent the summer months watching television and her doctor eventually prescribed steroids (she’s now had eight rounds), which gave her the side-effect energy to prepare for fall classes—and to stay up nights painting her kitchen and bathroom. The adjustments to her writing have been both surprising and gratifying. Stafford found that making extensive revisions to her young adult novel was best accomplished with dictation—a new form of “writing” for her.
“The second draft was better than the first,” she said. “By dictating, I was able to get into the voice of the speaker.” Stafford is now focused on writing a series of essays that respond to misogyny and the #MeToo movement on Twitter. She’s reflecting on what she’s witnessed and the incidents when she’s “looked the other way. I realized that I, too, was complicit. I’m using my own voice in these essays.” Her students bring her renewed energy as she’s become accustomed to remotely advising the literary magazine 30North and teaching her courses. Her eight-week seminar for students in the North Central College Honors Program explored fictional responses to Anthropocene/climate change.
“One day, I joined the class and they were already discussing a reading,” she said. “I listened in for seven minutes without saying a word. They are fantastic students. “Seeing them ‘think the big think’ and witnessing their incredible passion—it’s been very rejuvenating.”
R E A DING LIST Here are the works of fiction Stafford assigned her students on climate change: “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler “The History of Bees” by Maja Lunde “The Stone Gods” by Jeanette Winterson “Annihilation” by Jeff Vanderveer
Sean ’21
AIMING HIGH AND FLYING IN FORMATION Twins Sean ’21 and Andrew Bird ’22 share a sense of purpose while exceeding their personal bests in separate fields Twins Andrew ’22 and Sean Bird ’21 aren’t your typical feuding brothers. After growing up in Schaumburg, Ill., they decided to attend college together at North Central. They have similar interests—both grew up playing soccer and they’re both inclined toward the sciences. Andrew is a physics major and Sean, a biology major. They’re even roommates. They will graduate from the College apart as Sean moves on to medical school in the fall and Andrew stays at North Central to finish his degree. But they don’t plan to be separated for long, as both want to serve in the United States Air Force—Andrew as a pilot and Sean as a doctor. Andrew admits their relationship can be hard at times. “As a twin, you get paired up with your other half your entire life,” he said. “If I do something, Sean automatically gets associated with it. So in that way, you don’t have your own identity.” The brothers don’t really mind; in fact, they looked at it as an advantage when they were headed for college. “We’d been together all our lives and having a close friend (right away) in college is always a plus,” said Sean. Andrew added, “There are some days we don’t even see each other, but it’s still (great) knowing … I can go to him, I can rely on him.”
Athletics drew the brothers to consider North Central, which they did independent of one another, according to Andrew. “We didn’t really plan to go to the same college, but I think for both of us, it was soccer.” They were recruited together from the Schaumburg High School boys’ team. Their parents were instrumental in their choice, reminding them to find a school that provided them with other options in case soccer didn’t work out. Sean recalls taking that advice to heart and looking hard at everything the College had to offer. “I think I was the first one to decide to go to North Central,” he said. “I liked the location; I liked that it was right next to downtown Naperville. And I liked the small class sizes. You’ve got that interaction with professors that you might not get at (other) schools.” As it turned out, their parents’ advice was invaluable. Both Andrew and Sean struggled with injuries at North Central. After Andrew suffered a concussion and Sean had complications from previous injuries to his knee and hips, the brothers decided it was time to try something else. Andrew was in a tough place when his athletic career ended abruptly. “After soccer, it was hard for me to work out,” he recalled. “I could (feel) myself giving up. I knew I needed a purpose.”
1 4 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
Andrew ’22
“
There are some days we don’t even see each other, but it’s still great knowing I can go to him, I can rely on him.” He found that purpose joining the Air Force ROTC program. Andrew says the brothers didn’t grow up in a military family, but “I was always drawn to having the opportunity to serve my country,” and ROTC was his chance to find new purpose.
Central’s early acceptance program in partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), which allowed him to enroll in medical school while still working on his bachelor’s degree. He will start at LECOM’s Florida campus in the fall.
“Being part of something greater than just myself gave me the opportunity.”
The brothers credit much of their success to personal attention from faculty as well as a shared sense of commitment with fellow students. “North Central students are here to get an education. To see other motivated students only motivates you more. That helps a ton.”
He threw himself into his cadet training, and it paid off. “I did my absolute best in the program and tried to keep as many doors open as possible, and one of those doors was being a pilot,” he said, even though that hadn’t been a lifelong dream, either. “So far, I haven’t closed that door—no one’s told me ‘No’ yet.” Sean’s new beginning came from seeds planted in high school. “My senior year … I took anatomy and physiology, and my teacher was blown away by how well I did,” Sean said. “He took me aside and said, ‘I think you have what it takes. You should try to go to med school.’” He got similar reinforcement at North Central from Professor of Chemistry Jeffrey Jankowski. While he initially thought he might be a physical therapist, Sean pivoted to medicine after consulting with Marguerite Degenhardt, the College’s pre-professional health program coordinator. She guided him to North
Andrew’s search for his drive has “evolved and been strengthened from the past experiences. First it was soccer … then it was ROTC, then it was finding a scholarship to pay for college, then it was working … to try to compete for a pilot slot.” They are tremendously grateful to their nation and their family. For both brothers, it always comes back to that. “(There’s) no greater purpose than serving your country,” said Andrew. “It’s a way to … show gratitude for the opportunities that we have.” “Our parents and our family have been awesome to us,” added Sean. “They’ve been our rock. To get to a day when we’ll be able to repay them in some way, I think that’s really a motivating factor.”
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 1 5
Neuroscience scholars collect prestigious honors Fulbright Research Award expands on lab experiences
Future clinical psychologist earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Jacob Greenberg ’22 has earned a Fulbright Research Award to conduct research at the University of Alberta this summer, investigating the effects of cannabis on sleep and respiration in rats. “I’ll be responsible for data acquisition and analysis and interpretation of the results,” said Greenberg, a molecular neuroscience major. “By learning to read the [electrical activity in the brains and muscles] of the rats during experimentation and anesthetization, I’ll gain an understanding of the brain mechanisms that control breathing and affect its function during sleep.” Greenberg’s hands-on experiences in the lab with Associate Professor of Neuroscience Margaret Gill and Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Michael Stefanik made him stand out. “A professor who interviewed me said he was impressed that I understood so much of what I did in the lab. I’ve been able to conduct some important research that has applications in the real world.”
JACOB GREENBERG ’22
In Stefanik’s lab, Greenberg has investigated changes in the brain following prescription opioid use and how going off opioids can lead to enhanced drug craving and relapse. In the lab, Stefanik and Greenberg train rats to self-administer oxycodone and then test their drug-seeking behavior after being deprived of the drug for various periods of time. Greenberg added that the opportunity to major in neuroscience was a key factor in his decision to attend North Central, and he plans to pursue a doctorate in neuroscience after graduation.
1 6 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
Triathlon student-athlete Naomi Hill ’21 was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, one of only 42 fall athletes so honored across all divisions. The scholarship awards academic achievement and will financially support Hill’s future career in clinical psychology with a focus on body image and eating disorders. Hill is double-majoring in psychology and behavioral neuroscience. Prior to the pandemic, Hill was slated to use a Richter Grant to study body image by comparing college-age women in Morocco and the United States. Hill pivoted to a survey of 115 female studentathletes at North Central and a literature review of the neurobiology behind eating disorders and negative body image in athletes and non-athletes. Neurobiology is the study of nervous system cells and their organization into circuits that process information and mediate behavior.
Campus-based podcasts for every Cardinal In the current media landscape, the popularity of podcasts has grown, offering listeners an efficient yet intimate way to consume content. Through podcasts, North Central College’s mentors, researchers and innovators take listeners behind the scenes to learn about exciting announcements, discoveries and initiatives. From athletics to education, there are North Central College-based podcasts for listeners with many interests. Career Development
The Office of Faith and Action
During the semester break, Career Development launched the Cardinal Careers Podcast. With a mission of keeping students engaged and informed, topics include networking, graduate school and building a strong resume. Episodes feature conversations with the Career Development team, Career Peer Advisors and special guests ranging from outside employers to North Central College faculty and staff. To listen to the Cardinal Career Podcast, visit Career Development’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC3ARGtYgKh7g1Rr6mqDd36Q).
Recording since 2018, the Office of Faith and Action’s Podcast shares speakers’ words from 12:5, the Office’s bi-weekly worship service. The 20-minute service invites the College campus and community to participate in prayer, reflection and music. As guest speakers on the podcast, students, faculty, staff and alumni encourage listeners to cultivate an ethical worldview and act purposefully. Visit the Office of Faith and Action’s Spotify to listen (https://open.spotify.com/ show/1TxGcYzLSLeDUyzr7Ips3F).
The Politics Lab Sharing the same profession and passion for political science, William “Bill” Muck, professor of political science at North Central College, and Phil Barker, associate professor of political science at Keene State College, created The Politics Lab. A weekly podcast designed to help listeners make sense of the political world, Muck and Barker dissect and connect current events with political science research. To listen, visit https://www.thepoliticslab. com/episodes. WONC Sports WONC Sports, the radio voice of North Central College Athletics, debuted its first episode of The Cardinal Podcast during winter semester. Hosts Ryan Sartori ’21 and Lucas Burris ’22 conduct interviews with special guests and provide recaps of North Central College athletics every week. To tune into The Cardinal Podcast, visit https://anchor.fm/the-cardinalpodcast.
Future physician-scientist bests national competition for top honor
NAOMI HILL ’21
“As a member of the triathlon team, I’m interested if … family, peers, the media and coaches influenced the body image of female athletes at the NCAA Division III level,” Hill said. Stefanik and Professor of Psychology Leila Azarbad advised Hill’s senior thesis. “My senior honors thesis serves as the culmination of not only my academic journey at North Central, but also my personal journey as a student-athlete,” Hill said. “I would like clinical practice to be a part of my career so that I can work with individuals with eating disorders on their path to recovery and a more fulfilling life.”
Molecular neuroscience major Jordan Nowlin ’21 earned top recognition from Nu Rho Psi, the national honor society for neuroscience. Nowlin studied the role of astrocytes—a type of support cell for neurons—in intensifying drugseeking behavior during oxycodone withdrawal. The project was first funded by a Richter Grant and then was awarded one of six $1,000 research grants from a national pool of applicants. Then Nowlin was selected for the Andrew Mickley Award for having the best research project in the nation after competing with neuroscience majors from schools including John Hopkins University, UCLA and Boston College. Nowlin also earned an invitation to present at a national conference in summer 2021.
JORDAN NOWLIN ’21
independent project have made me stand out to leading laboratories. Several highly respected researchers said they are very impressed with what I’ve accomplished at North Central.” Nowlin plans to work in a laboratory at either the National Institutes of Health or Harvard University before attending an M.D.-Ph.D. program to become a physician scientist.
“The opportunities to get involved in research since my first year, write grant proposals, and conduct an intensive
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 1 7
CAMPUS ADVOCATE EARNS NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOWSHIP
Social entrepreneurship major Haven Denson ’22 has earned a coveted Newman Civic Fellowship for 2021-2022. Denson was one of 212 students from 39 states to be selected for the honor.
We all have our own place when it comes to advocating for others. I want to help people find that place.” HAVEN DENSON ’22
The yearlong fellowship supports changemakers and problem-solvers with recognized potential for public leadership. It is sponsored by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities. “Social change and activism are important to me, not just in terms of my career goals but in life in general,” said Denson. “I’m excited to be part of this community, to be connected with people from all over the country who are interested in similar things. It’s great to have a group of allies like that, to know that I’m not alone in fighting for change.” Fellows receive access to learning, networking and other resources throughout the year. The pandemic has forced the program’s in-person activities to move to virtual platforms, but Denson says the 2021-2022 cohort has already started connecting online. A virtual conference of workshops is slated for later in the year. Denson’s commitment to activism has had a profound impact on the North
1 8 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
Central community, most recently through The Hub’s (North Central’s intranet for students, faculty and staff) online Activism Resource Center (ARC), which she created with Milia Harris ’20/M’22. “There’s lots of activism on campus, and more and more students are wanting to get involved,” said Denson, who serves as a student ambassador for the Center for Social Impact, where Harris is a graduate assistant. “We wanted to create a space for them, wherever they are on their journey. We want to help them get involved as an ally, advocate, or activist.” The ARC provides resources and event information that enable students to be informed, effective, and safe in their activism. It can be found in the Center for Social Impact workspace on The Hub. Denson and Harris’ work has taken on a life of its own. They led a well-attended session about the ARC at the College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Teach-in in January. And in March they led a workshop for the AshokaU Exchange, a global conference for social impact educators, students, and thought leaders. Their session focused on how colleges and universities can best support student activists. “A lot of people want to make a difference, but don’t know where to begin,” said Denson. “Not everyone wants to organize marches; they don’t feel that’s their role. And that’s fine. We all have our own place when it comes to advocating for others. I want to help people find that place.”
A Collaboration among North Central College, Three Other Midwest Institutions, Receives a Total of $10 Million in Grant Funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. A collaboration among North Central College, Valparaiso University, the University of Evansville (UE), and Drake University will benefit from a total of $10 million in grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, Charting the Future of Indiana’s Colleges and Universities. The grants—$5 million to Valparaiso University and $5 million to UE—support the establishment of a shared, cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with a single set of standardized business practices. Valparaiso University and UE are two of 16 Indiana colleges and universities that will be supported by funding in the final phase of Charting the Future, an initiative designed to help colleges and universities in Indiana assess and prioritize the most significant challenges and opportunities they face as higher education institutions and develop strategies to address them. Valparaiso and UE will partner with North Central College and Drake University. Through the collaboration, the four institutions will form an independent, non-profit organization called the College and University Sustainability Project (CUSP) to house the collaborative effort toward providing efficient and effective non-academic services. Once significant progress has been achieved, the intention is to enable additional institutions to join CUSP and achieve similar efficiency and effectiveness. Concepts and initiatives for the grant were established by a steering committee of members from each of the four institutions. In addition to the four presidents, it was comprised of chief financial officers, chief information officers, and other key administrators.
“I am grateful to the Lilly Endowment for its philanthropic vision and for its support of this unique and collaborative initiative,” said Troy D. Hammond, President, North Central College. “This is a remarkable opportunity for North Central College and our partner institutions to incorporate technology innovations toward achieving long-term efficiencies and improved services to the benefit of our students.” “Indiana’s colleges and universities face myriad challenges as they work to fulfill their educational missions while adapting to growing financial pressures, rapid demographic and technological changes, and evolving needs and demands of students,” said Ted Maple, the Endowment’s vice president for education. “We are pleased with the creative and collaborative approaches the colleges and universities are taking to address these challenges and seize opportunities to better serve their students, institutions, communities and the state of Indiana.” Lilly Endowment launched the threephased Charting the Future initiative in 2019 to help leaders of the state’s 38 colleges and universities engage in thoughtful discernment about the future of their institutions and to advance strategic planning and implementation efforts to address key challenges and opportunities. Collaboration was encouraged, especially in the third phase, which was competitive, and several schools proposed collaborative programs and strategies. Through three phases of grantmaking, Lilly Endowment awarded more than $138 million to the schools.
“We are proud to be part of this unique endeavor, which has not been previously pursued or accomplished,” said Hammond. Hammond added that the four institutions will now begin assessing ERP options, and the conversion process from current, independent campus-based ERP systems to a single cloud-based system will take a number of years and significant effort on each of the campuses. Through earlier rounds of the initiative, all 38 schools received planning grants, which were approved in December 2019, and implementation grants approved in June and September 2020. The implementation grants funded strategies to improve efforts to prepare students for successful futures and strengthen the schools’ long-term institutional vitality. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolisbased, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
Follow
North Central College on
Pinterest pinterest.com/northcentralcollege
Campus COVID-19 testing incorporates newest technology North Central College partnered with SHIELD Illinois to deploy an innovative COVID-19 surveillance testing program for the spring 2021 semester. The program uses a highly accurate saliva-based test created by researchers at the University of Illinois. This enabled the College to increase its testing capacity and narrow the window for COVID-19 exposure by more quickly identifying and isolating positive cases. Surveillance testing is conducted among the broader campus community as a strategy to help monitor and contain the spread of the virus. North Central’s testing operations takes place in the College’s new Health Sciences & Engineering building. “The big advantage for the specific technology SHIELD has developed is the
rapid turnaround,” said Marci J. Swede, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences. “We were able to get results from tests in 24 hours.” Starting in early January, the College conducted ongoing COVID-19 testing for student-athletes and athletic staff participating in organized sports activities.
As of mid-March, the College had conducted an average of more than 300 COVID-19 tests per day. The implementation of the SHIELD Illinois surveillance testing is part of the College’s larger #TogetherNC health and safety campaign.
Campus unites behind AAPI community The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Solidarity Week featured an online conversation with Dr. Marie Lo, professor and chair of the department of English at Portland State University (pictured left). The conversation focused on U.S. anti-Asian exclusion polices and antiAsian political rhetoric and how they are connected to violence against the AAPI community. Other AAPI Solidarity Week events included an online vigil of commemoration
2 0 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
and support, a Fireside Chat and a photo campaign. Additional resources were made available via the Office of Multicultural Affairs Instagram account (@ncc_oma). “North Central College stands united in support of the AAPI community, including our own students, faculty, staff and alumni, and we unequivocally denounce all hateful and racially motivated acts of harassment and violence,” said President Troy Hammond in an email to campus.
College purchases property North Central College has acquired the house located at the southwest corner of Benton Avenue and Loomis Street, immediately across the street from the Harold and Eva White Activities Center (WAC) and across the campus walkway from Pfeiffer Hall. After the homeowners move later in the year, the home will be used for office space. The four-car garage on the walkway will be converted to storage for Business Operations. “I am grateful to the current homeowners—who have been great College neighbors for decades—for giving us the opportunity to acquire the house,” said President Troy Hammond.
Future teacher adds first-gen dimension to national panel Education major Yaritza Rodriguez ’21 shared her story as a first-generation student during a national panel discussion called “Creating Mobility for Today’s Students,” hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education. She was selected to speak about the challenges she has experienced, changing majors, dealing with car problems and managing imposter syndrome. Rodriguez acknowledged the support and guidance she has received at North Central from faculty, staff and first-gen programs that helped her navigate these challenges and prepare for her future career. At press time, Rodriguez had been offered a full-time teaching position at Lockport High School.
Glaude enlightens Black History Month During Black History Month, the campus community was enlightened by the words and wisdom of Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University. In 2020, Glaude published “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own,” a close look at Baldwin’s life and work. As an author, Glaude has penned numerous studies of the intersection between race and politics in America. Glaude’s personal stories and his connection with students resulted in an engaging virtual talk, which was sponsored by BMO Harris Bank and Nicor Corporation.
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 2 1
National Champions Only two NCAA schools had a national champion in both men’s and women’s wrestling. One of those schools was @northcentralcol. #FearTheBird -Tweet from Coach Joe Norton Two national champions have elevated the Cardinal wrestling program to new heights for 2021. Yelena Makoyed ’23, wrestling at 170 pounds, finished the season at a perfect 13-0. She becomes the first female wrestler to earn a national championship trophy for North Central’s program. On the men’s team, Cody Baldridge ’22 (197 pounds) entered the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Championships with more than 75 career wins as a Cardinal and as a threetime national qualifier. A native of Morris, Ill., Baldridge finished the current season with a record of 11-2 and became North Central’s first national champion for men's wrestling since Athletic Hall of Famer Ed Jackson ’69 won the NAIA 130-pound title in 1969. “Yelena and Cody did a phenomenal job at nationals,” said head coach Joe Norton ’10/M ’13. “They not only won titles, but they dominated. They were both very cool under pressure and prepared to win. Both are extremely dedicated to the sport and work as hard as any student-athletes I’ve ever coached.” Makoyed has been wrestling since her freshman year of high school in Orangevale, Calif., and says her ultimate goal in athletics is to compete in the Olympics. “My toughest challenge is not wrestling my opponents but wrestling myself … pushing myself to wake up
early, to run a little faster, to take the stairs every day, and ultimately do things I don't want to do, but probably should do to succeed,” Makoyed said. “Trying to be good at a sport, academics and maintaining a job all at once is very challenging but it will mentally prepare me for challenges up ahead. I feel like I can do anything if I set my mind to it. Hard work brings confidence.” Baldridge started his wrestling career 17 years ago and said he’s been working more on his offensive strategies in his matches. “My toughest challenge was getting more on the offensive when I needed to be,” he said. “I am so comfortable with my defense that I don't take as many attempts as I should. And in the future I have my mind set to win another title.”
2 2 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
The women's wrestling team earned sixthplace with six All-Americans at the 2021 National Cliff Keen Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships (NCWWC). The men’s team placed fifth and had seven All-Americans at the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Championships. “Both Cody and Yelena have an incredible work ethic in the practice room that their teammates aspire to emulate,” said Norton. “They both have an unrelenting desire to compete for championships, and consistently persevere through anything that stands in their way. They are as dialed in as anyone in the country when they put their foot on that line to compete.”
Athletic department finding new ways to tackle tough topics A new tool to foster a more diverse, equitable and inclusive atmosphere is helping athletic department coaches, staff and administrators embrace antiracism and allyship training. The department is participating in the 21-Day Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Challenge developed by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). Sue DeNigris ’02 Kane, associate athletic director, first implemented the Challenge with an initial cohort of 10 staff members in November. Kane is also co-leader of North Central's Athletics Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council. “The Challenge started out as a voluntary opportunity to supplement the athletic department's anti-racism and allyship efforts,” Kane said. “The response was so great that we decided to roll it out to the entire department.”
The 21-Day Challenge covers different themes with accompanying resources and discussion questions. Participants begin by talking and reading about history through the lens of race. These discussions are followed by topics like microaggressions, whiteness, implicit bias, and media and competitions. The final section focuses on allyship and action steps. Each section includes resources and discussion questions that staff members can read and engage with at their own pace during the Challenge. This has allowed for deep conversation and provided a wealth of information that coaches and supervisors can take back to their respective teams. Participants say that the Challenge facilitates meaningful discussion and they feel more empowered to engage in difficult conversations.
Head women's basketball coach Maggie McCloskey-Bax said, “This programming is very beneficial; I plan to take what I learned here to educate others and continue to educate myself.” McCloskeyBax has shared some of the content with her team to enable her student-athletes to become leaders on campus around these issues. Assistant baseball coach Joe Heller ’09/M ’11 said he appreciated the opportunity to examine societal issues from varying perspectives and sees the Challenge as a valuable tool to become more educated about those issues. “(It) allows you to come out of your comfort zone and learn more about other people's situations, perspectives and way of life,” he said. For more information visit www.northcentralcardinals.com/dei.
NEW SOFTBALL COACH BRINGS EXTENSIVE RÉSUMÉ Venus Taylor was named the seventh head coach in the history of the North Central College softball program after two seasons at NCAA Division I Charleston Southern University. She led the Buccaneers to a Big South Conference Tournament appearance in 2019. Prior to Charleston Southern, Taylor led Judson University to the NCCAA World Series in three consecutive seasons—2016, 2017 and 2018—while earning Regional Coach of the Year honors in each of her four years there. Adding to her coaching résumé spanning all collegiate divisions, Taylor served as head coach at Bradley University from 2003 to 2005 and led Lake City Community College to a NJCAA National Championship in 2001.
Taylor played collegiately at Western Illinois University (WIU) where she earned Mid-Continent Conference (now The Summit League) Player of the Year in 1997 and was elected into the WIU Hall of Fame in 2009. Taylor was a three-time all-star (19971999) and two-time world champion (1999, 2004) during her nine-year professional softball career, which included a stint with the Chicago Bandits.
Sports Day celebration goes virtual The 35th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) was adapted to a virtual format for 2021, but that didn’t change the passion among female athletes for recognizing the day’s importance. The panel featured former student-athletes (from left) Jackie Errico’11/M’13, who launched her business Jackie Errico Fitness in 2019; Megan Allen’90 Gossett, senior manager of digital strategy and solutions for Epsilon; panel host Dakotah Poitra M ’22, athletics graduate assistant; and Sue DeNigris ‘02 Kane, assistant athletic director.
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 2 3
f o t i u s r u p In : y r o t s i h k c Bl a Jojo Galvan Mora ’19 wants to preserve the voices of Black nurses
When Jojo Galvan Mora ’19 came to North Central College, he discovered the Archives inside Oesterle Library and “fell in love.” He’s using that passion to fuel a career in public history and graduate research. For the past year, he’s held the position of archivist/curator for the Midwest Nursing History Research Center (MNHRC) in Chicago, while also pursuing a master’s degree in museum and exhibition studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago. “Combing through files and records is truly an amazing experience. I’ve started referring to it as the ‘thrill of the hunt,’” said Galvan.
When he started his position before the pandemic, he discovered a small collection of documents and ephemera from the Illinois Training School of Nurses (1880-1929). Included were a collection of deteriorated cassette tapes from a 1980s oral history program of alums. “The the center’s (MNHRC) director and I put together a grant application to digitize and save these oral histories,” he said.
often incredibly racist,” he explains. “I also want to collect and share the oral histories of Black nurses working on the front lines of the pandemic across [Chicago].”
Galvan realized that the voices of Black nurses were not represented in the research center’s archives and he has become focused on “collecting the history of Black nurses who are veterans in their craft—the challenges and adversity they faced carving a path for themselves in a system that is
Galvan envisions a traveling exhibit for the project and making the archival material available to researchers and the general public. “After all, the stories we tell and collect only live beyond the archive’s shelves if we share them,” he said.
2 4 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
To achieve that goal, he’s pursuing funding through a Chicago-based foundation and hopes to collaborate with the Black Metropolis Research Consortium—which oversees various collections across Chicago that tell the city’s Black history.
Galvan’s keen interest in history began after he immigrated to the United States. “Growing up learning English, I’d learn new words and concepts from PBS (Public Broadcast Service) documentaries,” he explained. “I remember them very fondly. Seeing the stories of people paired with artifacts and documents stirred some magic in me unlike anything that I had experienced before.” As a teen, he spent money from his first job at antique stores. “I bought everything I could get my hands on: books, maps, ephemera. My fascination was fed by the understanding that what we saw in the museum salon was only one percent of one percent of the museums’ collections.”
Spelman exchange inspires capstone Galvan brought a spotlight to the College’s 1960s exchange program with a historically Black women’s college, Spelman College in Atlanta, where he traveled for research using a Richter Grant. “For my senior capstone, I wanted to highlight the collections at North Central,” he said. “For me, archival research is a deep look into oneself and the larger human condition. Sometimes what we find is difficult and at times hurtful, but it’s what we make of these stories that can make a difference.” The resulting exhibit was titled “Trading Spaces: The North Central College and Spelman College Exchange Program, 1959-1968.” His paper was titled “’Stretched From End to End: Challenging Notions of Racial Integration in American Higher Education during the 1960s,’” and was selected as the Undergraduate Archives Research Publication in 2019. His graduate thesis builds upon his interests that pair history and race. “It’s centered around the mass removal of (Christopher) Columbus statues that took off this summer in the wake of protests
around the murder of George Floyd. My focus is on a singular case study through the Columbus Monument in Chicago’s Little Italy,” he explained.
Northwestern-bound As for the future, Galvan will spend the next year working on the Black nurses history project and then enter Northwestern University in fall 2022 for his doctorate. “I’ve developed a great interest around urban and public history, monuments, and stories of deindustrialization,” he said. “This came from the influence of great educators like Dr. Ann Keating, Dr. C. Frederick Toenniges Professor of History, and Dr. Will Barnett, associate professor of history, who both had an influential hand in shaping the way I approach my scholarship.” “And whatever [my future] ends up being, I’ve learned not to worry. Dr. Brian Hoffert, associate professor of religious studies and history, showed me that in my heart I’m a ‘wandering taoist.’ To me this means whatever happens will be the right thing.”
The stories we tell and collect only live beyond the archive’s shelves if we share them.”
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 2 5
Meet Ryan Walsh M ’12, co-founder and CEO of Valqari, LLC, a company developing the next generation of drone-operated delivery systems. Ryan Walsh ‘12 brought entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for the future with him to North Central to get his master of business administration (MBA). Today, his company is on the cutting edge of using drone technology as a home delivery system. Valqari (whose logo appears in the background below) was featured on FOX Business in January, when Walsh demonstrated a drone delivery from the company offices in Plainfield, Ill. Valqari also recently announced a partnership with AgEagle Aerial Systems (AgEagle), a leading producer of drone delivery and automation systems. We caught up with Walsh to learn more about his company and ask how his time at North Central impacted him.
In short, what does Valqari do and what is your mission for the company? Valqari provides universal drone delivery infrastructure. Whether it’s our community delivery stations, drone mailboxes, or our upcoming window units, our goal is to automate the logistics of life so people can spend more time doing what they love with the people they care about, and less time running errands.
Where did your idea for a drone delivery system originate and how did it develop? My co-founder, Alex Falesch, and I saw an opportunity when drones started first appearing commercially in 2013. Having seen the rapid advancements in drones while serving in the military, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before the technology was ready for mainstream use.
How has appearing on television with your product affected your company?
What are your goals for Valqari in the next few years?
It’s been amazing to see all the doors that have opened since our first television appearance. It has also brought a new wave of partnerships and investments, so we have been very thankful for the increased media attention.
As the drone market unfolds and evolves, I see Valqari being central to the rapid proliferation. My goal is to have a Valqari mailbox in front of every house and our commercial landing stations in front of every business. I want to get to a point where a Valqari mailbox is as common as an attached garage for the typical home.
You’ve recently partnered with AgEagle Aerial Systems—what makes that partnership important for Valqari?
How did your time at North Central help prepare you for the success you’re enjoying?
Since we create the universal landing stations, it is important for us to work with several drone partners. AgEagle has been one of those phenomenal drone partners that we work with to build fully autonomous point-topoint systems. They saw the value of adding our products into their strategies and jointly developing some incredible use cases that we have started to publicly unveil.
What can you tell us about your new venture with AgEagle into the world of sports? With the efforts and hospitality of the Sun City Country Club in Sun City, Ariz., we showcased how our joint delivery system with AgEagle can be used for contactless beverage service to golfers. We are looking forward to scaling the system over the coming months and hope by the end of this year to have a commercial operation running on several courses. The same technology and system is what we would use for hospital lab sample logistics so the golf course is a fun … first step. It’s all very exciting.
2 6 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
North Central was critical to my success and being where I am today. Without my time at (the College) during my MBA, I don’t think any of this would have been possible and I can’t stress that enough. I wrote the original patent applications for drone landing stations while learning about intellectual property in my Business Law class. I met many of my biggest influences in my professors while in those courses. I wouldn’t know the first thing about managerial accounting, or international business, or finances and fundraising sources, let alone how to start and scale a global technology company had it not been for North Central.
ALUMNI SNAPSHOTS 1. Laarni Yogore Mulvey ’05 2. Rick Franzen ’81 3. Brian Waterman M’04 4. Sarah Brady ’08 5. Janine Arriola ’18/M ’20 6. Cheyanne Daniels ’20 7. Josh Averbeck ’04 8. Jim Owczarski ’02 9. Abigail Van Hook ’15 10. Lewis Clay ’20 11. Ron Selesky ’87 12. Genny Bernardoni ’20 13. Armando Varela III ’19 14. Eva Allen ’15 15. Kathy L. Guy ’98 Guthrie 16. Kirk Overstreet ’00
6
10
14
1
3
7
11
2
4
5
8
9
12
15
13
16
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 2 7
Classnotes 1967 In October, DORCAS FRESHLEY WINDSOR celebrated 45 years as organist and pianist at Westworth United Church of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On December 30, Dorcas and Kirk Windsor celebrated the 50th anniversary of their wedding that took place in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1981 RICK FRANZEN has earned the Doctorate of Commissioner Science Knot Award from the Boy Scouts of America. The award recognizes completion of a multi-year, standardized training program including a thesis or project, the awarding of the doctorate of commissioner science from a college of commissioner science, and the achievement of performance objectives to improve unit service. Franzen can be reached at ntd.rtc@gmail.com.
1986 TIM ANDERSON has been appointed senior vice president and general manager of Kansas and Iowa at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
1987 RON SELESKY was featured in an article in the Cahaba Sun (of Trussville, Ala.) on November 25 about a life in football and the company Selesky founded in 2007, ProFind. The company was originally created to organize and run skills combines for potential arena football players, but has since transitioned to helping overlooked and underrecruited high school players secure opportunities to play college football.
1990 JENNIFER MEHLAN JOHNSON was named executive director at MainStreet Libertyville in May 2020. MainStreet Libertyville is a nationally recognized and accredited volunteer-based, nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting and preserving the character of downtown Libertyville, Ill.
1991 ADAN POPE M ’91/’95 is the chief technology officer (CTO) at InnerWorkings. Pope’s first book, “Respect the Weeds: Digital Transformation Rooted in Principled Leadership, Vision, and Innovation,” was published in 2020. It is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats.
1993 SATYAN DEVADOSS, Fletcher Jones Chair of Applied Mathematics and Professor of Computer Science at the University of San Diego, spoke as part of the Association of Colleges in the Chicago Area (ACCA) Spring 2021 Virtual Mathematics Lecture Series at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. JOHN MALONE was promoted in rank from associate professor to full professor at Lincoln College, effective in fall 2021. This fall will mark Malone’s 17th anniversary at Lincoln College, including teaching, serving as division chair for fine arts and communication, and directing the radio, television and new media baccalaureate program. SALLY TOWNSEND MEAD celebrated 20 years at Oracle with a promotion to sales tool program owner. Mead is responsible for creating engaging training on sales tools and systems for the sales organization.
1997 MIMI COWAN was elected as speaker of the Will County Board in June, filling a vacancy in the role, and was re-elected to the position of speaker for a full two-year term in December. The speaker of the board is the bi-partisan leader of the day-to-day operations of the board elected by board members. Cowan was elected to the Will County Board by the constituents of the Naperville portion of Will County in November 2018 and can be reached at MCowan@WillCountyIllinois.com.
1998 KATHY L. GUY GUTHRIE is the winner of NASPA’s 2020-2021 Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member. Guthrie is an associate professor of higher education in the department of educational leadership and policy studies at Florida State University.
2000 CHRISTINE BURDICK will be attending North Central College to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership leading to a principal’s license. KIRK OVERSTREET has been named the ninth president of John A. Logan College as announced on November 30. Overstreet most recently served as the assistant provost for instruction at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
2002 HOLLY BLASTIC moved to the District Office of Illinois Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) after working as an assistant appellate defender in the First District Office of the State Appellate Defender. Illinois Senate District 21 serves residents of Naperville, Carol Stream, Lisle, Warrenville, Wheaton, Winfield, and West Chicago. As district liaison, Blastic connects constituents with state resources. JIM OWCZARSKI has been named the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s new beat reporter for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. Owczarski had worked the Journal Sentinel’s beat for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers since 2018.
2004 Naper Settlement convened former residents of the Peter E. Kroehler Memorial Residence Hall for a photo in February. The women’s dormitory was built by the College and housed North Central students from 1948 to 1976—including, from left to right, Carolyn Lekovish ’60 Harris, Valerie Uebele ’54 Dudley, Julie Ann Rowles ‘72 Lagodney and Mary Peoples ’70 Babler. The building, which later became part of the Little Friends campus, is scheduled to be razed to make way for a new residential development. photo credit: Naper Settlement
2 8 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
JOSH AVERBECK was awarded the McDonough County Quality of Life Award for Outstanding Volunteerism for starting the #MaskUp campaign encouraging Western Illinois University and the town of Macomb, Ill., to protect against COVID-19. Averbeck is an associate professor of communication at Western Illinois.
AMBER WARRINGTON secured a position in Wheaton Warrenville School District 200 as an English Learner (EL) teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School after teaching fourth- and fifth-grade bilingual education for nearly a decade in Addison School District 4. The position is closer to home, which allows Warrington to spend more time with daughters Isabella, 4, and Aria, 3. BRIAN WATERMAN was named superintendent of Lyons Township High School District 204 effective July 1, 2021. Waterman previously served as principal of Lyons Township High School.
2005 CHRIS BOSWORTH was a featured speaker at the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (ITCCCA) Virtual Clinic on March 19. Bosworth is the head cross country coach at St. Charles East High School. LAARNI YOGORE MULVEY is an author, speaker and power lifter who has released a new book titled, “Standing in Strength.” Mulvey graduated from North Central with a degree in athletic training. More information is available on Mulvey’s website at laarnimulvey.com.
2006 MARISA MARTINEZ COCCARO was promoted to TeamMate coordinator for the Office of Inspector General. Coccaro manages the audit software system for more than 400 users. GUTHRIE HOOD was hired as the content area chair for the physical education/health/ driver’s education department at Champaign Central High School in Champaign, Ill. In addition to teaching, Hood continues to serve as the head coach for girls’ cross country and girls’ track and field.
2007 ANTHONY COCCARO attained membership in the Achievers Club for Trustwave cybersecurity. The club recognizes the top salespeople at the company. RYAN DECKER, assistant professor of economics and director of the Center for Financial Literacy at North Central, wrote a case study with Professor of Accounting David Gray that was accepted into the Journal of Financial Education. The study is called, “Transfer Pricing Case Study: Computing Devices, Inc. Intercompany Loan.” The case is written from Decker’s experiences as a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in its financial transactions transfer pricing department.
KIJUANA JOHNSON ’94 BOULRECE Servant leadership through a passion for youth education The keynote speaker for North Central’s MLK Vision Day 2021 Virtual Luncheon wasKijuana Johnson ’94 Boulrece, a practicing therapist in Naperville who empowers adolescents and adults to overcome adversity. Boulrece learned the importance of serving others on the rural roads of Mississippi, where her grandmother first instilled servant leadership in her. She found the same spirit of servant leadership and community as a student at North Central College where she discovered her passion for youth, education, and advocacy. That call to service would lead her to continue her education and help heal people from depression, anxieties, and traumas. Boulrece has more than 20 years of experience working with marginalized and underprivileged students, helping them navigate systems, giving them hope, and inspiring them to be successful. “We all have stories that shape us and prepare us for the present,” said Boulrece during her talk. “They also acknowledge the people whose shoulders and hands lifted us, that help make sense of life’s purposes.” Her passion for youth education led her to plan and develop a partnership with North Central College for a summer science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics program for students in fourth through sixth grades. Boulrece also advocates for equity as the Education Chairperson of the DuPage NAACP; serves as a teacher in the Life Changers International Church children’s ministry; is an active member of the Oswego School District Parents for Education and Global Success and Diversity and Inclusion Committee; and has been a mentor in for North Central College’s Junior and Senior Scholars Program. In all of her roles, Boulrece aspires to ensure students of color are on a path to success and eliminate racial inequities within the education system. “As a parent and a social justice advocate for education, I have to continue calling out the inequities in our very own educational system,” said Bourlece. “Because it is the educational system that has a profound influence in shaping the minds and mindsets of our future, our children.”
Her commitment to youth education is inspired by the work of Martin Luther King Jr. She highlights the servant leadership woven throughout King’s legacy and how that legacy can inspire us today. “How can we individually and collectively move forward?” she asked. “The work of transformation, it is possible. Yet, it will take courage. King stated ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.’ It is love and its embodiment that I have discovered is a powerful tool of transformation in the lives of people and it can be still the emotions of anger.” Boulrece challenged her listeners to step up and be that light in the darkness, especially when facing challenges and at the risk of being controversial. “Martin Luther King Jr. indicated that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands when you are challenged and have to deal with controversy,” said Boulrece. “Where do you stand in the face of racial injustice? So I ask you to imagine a better place for you, your family, your neighbor, the future generation. What will your legacy be? Because we each have a moral obligation and a role to play in social change. Will you be the light to drive out darkness? It is an intentional choice. If so, how brightly will you let your light shine?”
BY KAMARI JORDAN M ’21
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 2 9
JAY VERA SUMMER ’03 interviewed VICTORIA MORAN ’81 for a VegNews article titled “8 Inspiring Vegans Over 50.” Moran is a full-time vegan author and advocate, and her career trajectory began as she studied at North Central. In 1980, Moran won a Richter Grant that took her to the United Kingdom, where veganism was more popular at the time. Her Richter Grant paper became her first book, “Compassion: The Ultimate Ethic: An Exploration of Veganism,” published in 1985. Since then, Moran has written and published a total of 13 books. Currently, she creates a weekly podcast, called “Main Street Vegan,” and runs Main Street Vegan Academy, a program that trains vegan coaches and educators. Summer is a full-time freelance writer and her writing can be found at JayVeraSummer.com.
2008
2015
2019
SARAH BRADY, deputy director of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), was named a 2020 40 Under 40 honoree by the Sacramento Business Journal.
EVA ALLEN spent the summer of 2020 researching electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries through operando X-ray micro tomography. Allen conducted the research through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Energy Storage Internship sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Allen was featured on the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education’s website.
KENNEDY TAYLOR is an eighth-grade English teacher at Horizon Science Academy in McKinley Park, Ill. Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education from North Central. ARMANDO VARELA III was interviewed by the SDVoyager (of San Diego, Calif.) about starting the Bordertown Sports Performance Company. Varela said about the company, “My main focus is to uplift the youth and give them all the tools necessary so they can earn an athletic scholarship and chase their dream while obtaining a degree.”
LAUREN DOWDEN is the director of institutional technology at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, having formerly served there as instructional technology specialist, and will act as the leader in technology for the Mother McAuley administration, faculty, staff and students. Dowden monitors the effective use of school devices, software and applications, and as evaluates needs and implements changes in the institution’s technology.
2009 ERIC KNOX is the chief of the marketing branch at U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii.
2013 GABRIELA ARIZA was featured in CNBC’s Millennial Money series highlighting fiscal responsibility. Ariza has a full-time job as a cybersecurity specialist and a part-time job working in the IT department of a library in Brookfield, Ill. DEREK SANDERSON started a new position in talent management for brand partnerships and business development at SMAC Entertainment in Los Angeles.
2014 VERO BARCUTEAN was featured on the College of DuPage website as one of the Student Stories highlighting its anthropology program. Barcutean received an associate degree at College of DuPage before transferring to North Central and earning a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a minor in French.
DREW FRENCH is a data scientist at ReaderLink. ELAINA HAMPSON M ’19 launched an online literary magazine called Clever Fox in 2020. You can find it online and post submissions for the magazine at cleverfoxlitmag.com. ABIGAIL VAN HOOK of Foley & Lardner LLP in Chicago has been selected for inclusion into the National Black Lawyers - Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers in Illinois. Membership in this organization is by invitation only and is limited to the top 40 attorneys under the age of 40 in each state who have demonstrated excellence and achieved outstanding results in their careers.
2017 MICHAEL KOEHNE is a private equity senior associate at Katalyst Capital.
2018 JANINE ARRIOLA M ’20 started a position with the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veterans Education and Training Section, working with universities, colleges, and apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs primarily in northern Illinois. Arriola is a U.S. Army veteran. ANNE HENNEGHAN joined North Central College as a freshman admission counselor.
3 0 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE northcentralcollege.edu
2020 GENNY BERNARDONI has accepted a position as an account executive with the Chicago Dogs independent professional baseball team in Rosemont, Ill. KYLEE BORDEN is pursuing a master’s degree in museum and exhibition studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. LEWIS CLAY was accepted into the doctor in physical therapy (DPT) program at Des Moines University. CHEYANNE DANIELS is pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at the Northwestern University Medill School and interning at the Washington Post. Daniels was featured in an article by the Illinois Press Association. ARIEL JONES is pursuing a master’s of public health (MPH) at Benedictine University. TYLER JONES has two case studies written with Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship Chetan Chawla that have been published by Sage Publishing. In addition, Jones’ company SLAB Outdoors is in the process of moving the production of their Slab 1.0 cutting board to the United States in Schaumburg, Ill., and releasing another, smaller version of the Slab. BROC RUTTER signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Rutter, winner of the 2019 Gagliardi Trophy, led the Cardinals to the 2019 national football championship.
1
Weddings
In Memoriam
JIMMY BARDUSK ’12 to KELLY ATOR ’11 BARDUSK on May 11 in Long Creek, S.C. 1
DWAINE M. BARGER ’52 on November 17 in Wheaton, Ill.
MATTHEW RANDOLPH ’16 to EMILY MOLIDOR RANDOLPH ’16/M ’18 on December 14, 2019, in Wheaton, Ill. 2
LEE DALRYMPLE ’55 on December 22.
ANTHONY SZYMANEK ’16 to Mackenzie Pickering on October 2 at the Wilder Gardens in Elmhurst, Ill. 3
2
KATHRYN LONG ’15 TOURT to Tyler Tourt on August 8 at St. Patrick’s Parish in Yorkville, Ill., with a reception at Northfork Farm in Oswego, Ill. Also in attendance were ABIGAIL FRANCIS ’16, CLAIRE WOERNER ’15 SEEDORF and CAITLIN SKRBEC ’15. 4
3
JOSEPH TROCKI ’19 to MORGAN MASON ’17/M ’19 TROCKI on September 12 in Bull Valley, Ill. The wedding party included COURTNEY MAXWELL ’14, COURTNEY MEYER ’17, LEXI WILKINSON ’19, HANNAH PAULUS ’19, CHALLEN JACKSON ’20, JARED COLLIER ’19, IVAN BOHORQUEZ ’19. Head women’s track and field coach Kari Kluckhohn also attended. 5
4
Births STEVE ’05 and CHRISTINA NASO ’05 BONNELL, a son, Leo August, on May 7, 2019, weighing 6 lbs., 2 oz., and measuring 20 inches. Leo joins sister Ruby, 5. 6
5
6
KAREN CROOKS ’03 HAMMERLING and Taylor Hammerling, a son, Björn Auryn Sebastian, on September 18, weighing 7 lbs., 11 oz., and measuring 19.5 inches. Björn joins sister Lily Moon, 7, and brothers Kenneth Glen, 6, and Michael Charles, 3. The family resides in McFarland, Wisc. 7
7
MARIE GORSKEY ’59 of Caballo, N.M. MICHAEL E. HAGERMAN ’91 on December 3 in Schenectady, N.Y. GUY HAYES ’63 on January 3. JOHN HOFERT ’57 on September 1 in Atlanta. BARBARA JAGGERS ’66 of Tallmadge, Ohio, on December 22. EUGENE KRELL ’50 of Hyde Park, Ill., on December 6. MARY LAMMERS ’80 MARKWELL of Plainfield, Ill., on January 15. Markwell is survived by husband Kevin Markwell ’78. SANDRA SUE NICKLA ’57 MORRICAL of Sun City, Ariz., on July 17. LORI POTACKI ’07 of Surprise, Ariz., on December 24. LAVONNE PRESLEY ’62 of Schaumburg, Ill., on November 22. JAMES S. RANK ’58 on February 14. NEAL F. SMITH ’68 on April 25, 2018. DOUGLAS W. VANDELL ’79 of Plainfield, Ill., on December 5. VanDell is survived by ex-wife Peggy Hoppenrath ’81 Thompson. LOIS WISTHUFF ’54 of La Grange Park, Ill., on January 11.
SEAN DRISCOLL ’10 and ABIGAIL KELLERMANN ’07, a daughter, Molly, on June 24, weighing 8 lbs., 11 oz., and measuring 21 inches. Molly was welcomed by grandparents POLLY STROSAHL ’75 and JIM KELLERMANN ’73 and uncle KEVIN DRISCOLL ’16. 8 REBEKAH FABER ’07 and MICHAEL PICKETT ’05, a daughter, Madeleine, on August 2, 2019, and a son, William, on October 4. They join sister Isabella, 5. 9 RAMSEY ’16 and KATHERINE KALTENMARK ’16 Pokryfke, a son, Cooper Ramsey, on June 21.
8
9
Correction: In the 2020 Annual Report, Suzanne Eller Oelman should have appeared in the Giving Clubs section of the Class of 1963.
STAY CONNECTED! Got promoted? Got married? Tell us about it! Send us an email at: classnotes@noctrl.edu
Spring 2021 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 3 1
Alumni Calendar APRIL - SEPTEMBER 2021
“What would you like to say to alumni and friends who support the North Central College Fund and Scholarships?”
THAN K YOU
4.8.2021
TO THE NEARLY 2,000 CARDINAL ALUMNI, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO DONATED OVER $400,000 FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL DAY OF GIVING!
“Generous scholarships like these mean so much to students. They also make attending North Central possible and provide enormous relief from the burden that most of us face in trying to pay for school.”
GOLF OUTINGS
VIRTUAL EVENTS:
Football Quarterback Club Golf Outing
In case you missed any of our New Year, New You virtual event series sessions, below is the list of events that can now be viewed at northcentralcollege.edu/alumni-events
August 2 , White Eagle Golf Club
Jordan Nowlin ’21, psychology and neuroscience
Wrestling Craig Fischer Memorial Golf Outing September 11, Tamarack Golf Club
Basketball Tip-Off Club Golf Outing September 20, Aurora Country Club
Baseball Dugout Club Golf Outing October 8, St. Andrews Golf Course
Cross Country/Track & Field Golf Outing “I am beyond thankful for my scholarships. Knowing that I had this support, I was able to focus on being involved within the campus community and work towards my goal of going to graduate school.”
Campus Sustainability Tour with Sustainability Coordinator Kaitlin Ballard ’12
Coffee Lab Tour with Dr. Matthew Krystal and professor Jerry Thalmann
The 33rd Annual Gospel Extravaganza Parenting, E-learning & Letting Go with Dr. Kathleen King and Dr. Mary Beth Ressler
October 10, Top Golf Naperville
Seasons & Synapses: How the brain processes seasonal change
MILWAUKEE ALUMNI CLUB
with Dr. Maggie Gill and Dr. Michael Stefanik
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers
Top 5 Tips for Fitness in the New Year
Saturday, September 18, American Family Field 6:10 p.m. game time. $75/ticket
Managing Your Finances
with professor Marilyn Skarbek with Dr. Ryan Decker ’07
Melanie Garcia ’21 biochemistry
STAY CONNECTED
Alumni, friends and families are invited to attend our engagement events. For more information and to register, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at: 630-637-5200 |
alumni@noctrl.edu
northcentralcollege.edu/alumni-events Gifts to the North Central College Fund provide students with financial aid through a variety of scholarships for STEM disciplines, education, business, fine arts and so much more. MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY!
VISIT US ONLINE northcentralcollege.edu/alumni
ENGAGE WITH US northcentralcollege.edu/college/social-media
northcentralcollege.edu/makeagift 3 2 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
northcentralcollege.edu
@NCALUMNI
CARDINALS CONNECTING
vi rtually
INTERESTED IN THE ALUMNI BOARD?
Danielle Weddington ’95 Alumni Board member MLK VISION DAY LUNCHEON | Kijuana Johnson ’94 Boulrece
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU | Top 5 Tips for Fitness in the New Year with Marilyn Skarbek
“The Alumni Board allows me to impact current students and alumni by creating engaging events and inspiring others to join the alumni board as members. I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with other alums and current students to see what their needs and concerns are. Cardinal for Life!”
For more information, visit northcentralcollege.edu/alumni-board ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Carli Franks ’05, carlimfranks@gmail.com MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR
Carla Kolavo ’06 Muir, clkolavo@gmail.com
CARDINAL COUPLES EVENT | Chad ‘03 (not pictured) & Carla Kolavo ’06 Muir (left), Ken ’82 & Paula Strickland ’82 Helberg (right)
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI & REV. DR. HOWARD MUELLER ’58 ALUMNI BOARD STUDENT INVOLVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Kaitlyn Rossi ’13 Piecuch, kaitlyn.rossi@comcast.net LIAISON CHAIR
Nathan Ronchetti ’08, nronche@gmail.com COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Kimberley Cramer ’08 Malinowski, kimberley.cramer@gmail.com HOLIDAY COOKIE DECORATING
ALUMNI CLUB CONTACTS AFRICAN AMERICAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
William H. Davis ’71, wdavis1803@aol.com CHICAGO ALUMNI CLUB
Kimberley Cramer ’08 Malinowski, kimberley.cramer@gmail.com COLORADO ALUMNI CLUB FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER HOSTS | Ken ’96 & Danielle Smith ’95 Weddington (left), Tim ’82 & Karin Mueggenborg ’82 Peraino (right)
SAVE THE DATE HOMECOMING WEEKEND S E PT E M B E R 24-26 : TO STA Y U P TO DATE VISIT northcentralcollege.edu/homecoming
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 TWIN CITIES ALUMNI CLUB
Valerie Smith ’94, mbak.valerie@gmail.com
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID North Central College
30 N. Brainard Street Naperville, IL 60540
An art installation of vibrant color, engaging textures and cultural storytelling now graces a wall inside the Chicago offices of Facebook. Hale Ekinci, associate professor of art and design, created the 24- by 16-foot fabric mural, which incorporates digital printing on fabric, bedsheets, acrylic paint, embroidery thread, yarn crochet, beads and sequins. A key design element is the use of oya, a narrow lace trimming used as edging on headdresses of women and household textiles in the Middle East. “My artwork explores the complexity of transcultural communication and translation of culture, identity, tradition, and gendered labor,” said Ekinci, who is Turkish. She was invited by Facebook to submit the proposal after creating work for the Chicago Artist Coalition as an artist-in-residence.
UNTIL NEXT TIME...
FSC LOGO
