Spring 2022
Going Cardinal
Environmental Studies:
Preparing students to tackle the biggest challenges on campus ... and in the world Pg. 2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE When I arrived at North Central College in 2013, my experience in energy efficiency and solar technology development influenced one of my key priorities for leadership: implementing sustainability initiatives on campus that would lead to energy savings and set an example among our peers in higher education. The College’s Strategic Plan includes a goal stating that sustainability measures are a defining and differentiating characteristic in building a culture of excellence on campus. At the same time, our efforts to install solar panels and LED lighting, reduce landfill waste and enhance our campus tree population models leadership (see p. 10) that prepares our students to tackle the energy challenges they will encounter in their careers. Whether they are majoring in environmental studies or any other discipline, they can all learn from witnessing and engaging with a responsible approach to sustainability. I’m struck by how fortunate we are to have such an active, involved student body at North Central. Our students take full advantage of cocurricular activities in sustainability, the fine and performing arts, social action, academics and athletics. In fact we’re celebrating
Editorial Director
Laura Zahn Pohl Graphic Design
Mary Bass M ’21 Steve Evanson Evanson Design Contributing Writers/Production
All photography taken for this issue followed a set of COVID-19 protocols that ensured everyone’s safety during the photography sessions.
Valla Coffman ’02 Aguilar Jeremy Borling ’02 Kimberly Egan ’23 Lauren Ford Jacob Imm Nancy Jensen Kara Kots ’18 Kelly Murphy Nick Osterloo ’19 / M ’21 Mary Reynolds Clark Teuscher
the 100th anniversary of North Central College women in sports and our growth in supporting 14 teams (see p. 20). By participating in these kinds of activities, our students develop their leadership abilities, boost their self-confidence, build their communication and teamwork skills, and discover new ways of thinking about the world. That’s one reason I’m so pleased to be serving as chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council this year. I look forward to helping increase studentathlete representation and supporting the organization’s increased emphasis on physical and mental health, diversity, inclusion and gender equity—all issues that are close to my heart. These are all important examples of the ways we model lifelong learning and leadership at North Central, and I look forward to the additional opportunities that result for our College and our students.
Troy D. Hammond, Ph.D. President Professor of Physics
Vice President for Communication and Strategic Initiatives; Special Assistant to the President
Jim Godo ’93 Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement
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
northcentralcollege.edu northcentralcardinals.com northcentralcollege.edu/ brilliantfuture
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Spring 2022
Students had the opportunity to have professional portraits taken at the inaugural Cardinal First Alumni Academy.
FEATURE STORIES
CONTENTS
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Environmental Studies: Preparing students to tackle challenges on campus ... and in the world
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Campus News
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Sports News
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Alumni Academy brings energy and expertise together
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Alumni News
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Alumni Updates
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THANK YOU! Day of Giving breaks College records
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Celebrating 100 years of women in sports
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.
EDITOR’S FAREWELL After 19 years at North Central College, I’ll soon step away to begin a new phase of my life. Since 2007, I’ve had the privilege of writing and overseeing this magazine—more than 50 issues. It’s never been work, thanks to dozens of alumni, faculty, staff and students who’ve shared their stories with me—always the favorite part of my job. The visual appeal of this publication over those 15 years has been inspired by Director of Creative Services Mary Bass M ’21 and freelance designer Steve Evanson. Their professionalism, patience and sense of humor have helped me bring order out of chaos in every single issue. Whether you count yourself among the alumni family or not, I hope you’ve experienced some Cardinal pride from our efforts. Laura Zahn Pohl April 2022
It’s been my honor and pleasure watching Laura Pohl make magic with each issue of the North Central College magazine for 15 years. Her zest for a great story about our students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and donors is unmatched. She authored each story, sidebar, headline, photo caption, and classnote with care and enthusiasm for those involved and with a keen eye for keeping you, our readers, informed. In this journey she quickly became a “Cardinal” and will continue to be a valued reader in retirement. I wish Laura, her husband Pete, their children, and grandchildren all the best and offer my deep appreciation for all that Laura has done as the passionate caretaker of this extraordinary publication. Jim Godo ’93 Vice President for Communication and Strategic Initiatives; Special Assistant to the President
CARDINAL GREEN
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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: Preparing students to tackle the biggest challenges on campus … and in the world. IN THE COURSE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 470, students are building skillsets to respond to environmental issues both near and far. They’re researching the feasibility of beehives on campus and organizing a garage sale to reduce waste; partnering with the City of Naperville on sustainable procurement; examining environmental justice in Chicago neighborhoods; and helping create a virtual arboretum for rare plants in the Virgin Islands. “Our environmental studies students are working to change the world, from campus to planet,” said Reed Perkins, professor of environmental studies. “They are highly motivated and don’t want to just learn new things ... they want to make an impact.”
Reed Perkins (left), professor of environmental studies, has mentored Chris Grady ’22 in his quest to pursue a career in water quality. Grady has found that the knowledge and experience he’s attained at North Central is helping him succeed while interning at a Naperville engineering firm.
One of the College’s fastest-growing majors is preparing students to become leaders in addressing real-world problems, whether they’re seeking careers in education, corporate work or not-for-profits. They can specialize in one of three tracks, depending on whether they want to focus on science, business sustainability or society and the environment. “We’re adapting to the changing needs of our community,” added Perkins, who also envisions creating an advisory board of community stakeholders in the future.
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The environmental studies program began humbly in 2017-2018 with one student and is growing rapidly. The Class of 2022 will graduate 12 environmental studies majors, while the Class of 2023 will graduate 20 majors. Students are combining their academics, internships and campus experiences to prepare for careers in water quality/treatment (Chris Grady ’22), environmental education (Meghan Mattson ’22) and green construction and biophilic design— connecting building occupants to the natural environment through the use of green spaces (Alyson Walz ’22).
neighborhood walkability study that Perkins will lead this summer. The interdisciplinary nature of the major means students address environmental issues in ways that are ethical, effective and sustainable. In the Environmental Justice course taught by Daniela Barberis, assistant professor, Shimer Great Books, students explore both domestic and international topics that range from prisons, Black Lives Matter, indigenous peoples, climate change, food justice and the water crisis in Flint, Mich. Students
“Our students want to make an impact on the environment, and not in small ways. In BIG ways.” REED PERKINS professor of environmental studies
A NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAM BEGINNING IN FALL 2022 combines environmental studies with secondary education to fill a growing need for high school teachers. The new degree resulted from a National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship planning grant awarded to North Central College in 2021 in support of STEM education initiatives.
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Aly Crum ’21 is working at a firm devoted to building affordable housing and renewable energy in St. Louis, and she helps with online monitoring of the company’s solar power projects. WHAT DIFFERENTIATES NORTH CENTRAL’S PROGRAM FROM OTHERS? “First, students can tailor their studies to match their specific career goals, like focusing on sustainability in business,” said Perkins. “This is unique in the environmental studies field and gives our students a differentiating opportunity.” Second, North Central College requires a course for all majors called The Science of Climate Change (see sidebar). Third, undergraduates have the opportunity to engage with faculty who are conducting real-world research, such as a Naperville
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read sociologists, philosophers, urban planners and grassroot activists. In their ENVI 470 course, they’re developing solutions, implementation plans and ways to build in continuity— all valuable traits for entering a world that needs their creativity, vision and optimism. The students grow from mentors like Kaitlin Ballard, the College’s sustainability coordinator, who is helping guide the beehive and campus garage sale projects and advised other capstone projects related to campus composting and a peace garden installation. “We are emphasizing how to develop connections with the world around us,” said Perkins. "We’re working with the students who will lead us forward, and they have confidence they will make a difference.”
Paul Bloom, associate professor of physics, has become well-versed in climate change science.
ENVI 105: The Science of Climate Change The popular Science of Climate Change course evolved from a need to build an understanding of a critical sciencebased issue as part of the environmental studies program, according to Paul Bloom, associate professor of physics. “Ten years ago, it occurred to me that climate change was THE scientific problem of our time, in terms of impact on human civilization.” Bloom began learning more about adaptation, mitigation and geoengineering—all responses to climate change. “The bulk of what I learned is the
core science—the evidence of climate change, how it works and evidence that humans are changing the climate. That’s what I had to learn and then learn to teach.” He channeled his growing knowledge into a new course called Scientific Topics in Environmental Studies. “Over several offerings, the climate change unit became wildly popular, and we decided we needed a stand-alone course with a science component. We developed ENVI 105 for the new semester catalog as both a science gen-ed course in the Sustaining
the World iCon and a gateway course to the environmental studies major.” It attracts enough students to fill four sections a year. Students explore the evidence of climate change, the mechanisms that cause change, and the impacts and options for the future. The last topic “helps students understand that there are ways to avoid the worst outcomes,” added Bloom. “(When I teach the course) I like to talk about energy technologies that could eliminate our carbon emissions.”
Expand your knowledge of environmental issues: Daniela Barberis, assistant professor in the Shimer Great Books School, suggests these Frontline documentaries, available at www.pbs.org: • “The Storm,” examines the failures of every level of government after Hurricane Katrina. • “Katrina, 10 Years Later,” covers the storm’s lingering aftermath and lessons learned.
• “Flint’s Deadly Water,” summarizes a two-year investigation tracing how a public health disaster known for the lead poisoning of thousands of children also spawned an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.
ENVI 105 Readings: The primary textbook is “Introduction to Modern Climate Change” by Dr. Andrew Dessler (of Texas A&M, an atmospheric chemist and climatologist). Faculty fill in with supplementary readings or class notes depending on what they want to cover.
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Environmental science with a big impact ... on a microscopic level Chemistry research looks at using discarded coffee grounds for water filtration
CONSIDER THIS: Americans drink an estimated 146 billion cups of coffee per year according to urbanbean.com. And the coffee grounds generated by this caffeine habit usually end up in landfills or compost piles, at best. Could this refuse be re-used in water treatment to filter out dangerous metals?
From left: Sam Saldana ’23, Becky Sanders, Lauren Casper ’23 That’s the premise behind a chemistry research project conducted by a team of student researchers and Becky Sanders, assistant professor of chemistry. “I wanted to incorporate the College’s Coffee Lab into experiential learning opportunities for STEM students,” said Sanders. “There’s an opportunity to expand on the knowledge in the field about how spent coffee grounds can treat contaminated water.” The team started working in summer 2021 to develop testing processes from the “ground” up. “We had to figure out how to prepare the coffee grounds by grinding them, washing them, and sieving them into different particle size ranges,” explained Sanders, adding that the group found smaller particles exhibit faster rates of absorption. Once the students generated their samples, they learned
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how to use the new atomic absorption spectrometer in the Dr. Myron Wentz Science Center to determine which contaminants remained in the water. They have tested for copper, zinc and nickel ions, while future inquiry will look at cadmium and lead ions, which are more toxic pollutants.
The summer research team—Saldana, Lauren Casper ’23, Victor Coll Sijercic ’22 and Liz Gora ’23—also assisted Sanders with a literature review. They’ve converted their findings into posters for the College’s Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
“We've found that the particle size of spent coffee grounds matters when it comes to treating contaminated water,” said Sanders. “During my upcoming sabbatical, we will work to scale up these experiments to test how these materials could be used in real-world applications."
“As an environmental studies major, it’s important for me to see things (being) re-used, and by working with Dr. Sanders, I was able to learn about how water treatment works,” said Casper. “Plus, Dr. Sanders has become a great mentor to me and is a role model for women in STEM.”
The environmental implications of the project intrigued Sam Saldana ’23, a chemistry major. “I was given the opportunity to help solve an issue with something that is considered waste.”
Added Saldana: “I saw this summer research as a new door (to) not just discovering something new but discovering what I want to do with my life. It was likely the most important eight weeks of my academic career.”
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Biology professor earns prestigious grant from National Science Foundation Early Career Grant funding totals $714,000
A MULTIFACETED GRANT PROPOSAL to support faculty-student research and prepare students for careers in botany and similar fields garnered major funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Joanna Weremijewicz, assistant professor of biology, was awarded an NSF Early Career Grant of $714,000 to fund three large-scale research experiments over the next five years. Primarily, she will investigate how below ground networks of fungi that interconnect plant roots affect the invasion of Canada Thistle, considered to be the worst weed in the United States, in native tall grass prairies. The grant will support faculty-student research and prepare students for careers in botany and similar fields. Early Career Grants are designed for faculty who have not yet earned tenure, often teaching at research institutions. “This grant asks you to be a teacherscholar,” said Weremijewicz. “One of my main goals is to transform the curriculum to be more plant science-based.” She contends that the public in general suffers from “plant blindness,” which means they are largely oblivious to the benefits of plants to themselves and the environment. There’s also a shortage of botanists, experts in the scientific study of plants. Some of the research funded by the grant will take place at North Central, in a prairie restoration area near the DuPage River. Other research sites include the Schulenberg Prairie at the Morton Arboretum and the University of North
Carolina, where Weremijewicz will study bioinformatics and Next Generation DNA Sequencing during her sabbatical. The funding includes support for new equipment, a full-time lab technician for six months each year, student summer research stipends of $6,000, and housing for four North Central students. One high school student each summer will also conduct research and receive a stipend. Weremijewicz also collaborated with North Central’s department of education to include a proposal for professional development for high school teachers. Jon Mueller, professor of psychology, assisted with developing learning outcomes. On a larger scale, scores of North Central students will benefit from high-impact practice as they are immersed in handson experiences with plant science research. Representatives of the NSF were so impressed with the proposal that it was accepted on the first submission—a rarity. “That speaks volumes to the quality of work and the proposal Joanna was able to submit; it’s a great accomplishment,” said Shelly Galasso ’05, director of the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs. “We hope Joanna is leading the pack and this is the first of many (NSF research grants) to come.”
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Green Careers: Alumni making strides in the world of sustainability After a successful career helping nonprofits raise awareness and support, Debra Behrens ’93 discovered a new calling as a passionate advocate for prairie preservation and restoration.
Debra Behrens ’93 MAJOR: English CURRENT POSITION: Executive director, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Viroqua, Wis.
Chris Grady ’22 MAJOR: environmental studies CURRENT POSITION: Intern, Baxter Woodman, Naperville
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“In 2019 my husband and I became fulltime residents of Viroqua, Wis. In summer 2020 The Prairie Enthusiasts posted for an executive director and my heart skipped a beat. This was a mission that I had already devoted my life to pursuing as my personal passion. And they were located in Viroqua–the magical place I had just made my home.” The Prairie Enthusiasts were ready to grow, she said, and needed a leader who could help build a thriving organization to support their long-term vision. “With less
than 1 percent of original prairie remaining in the Upper Midwest, we are working with some of the rarest ecosystems on Earth. They are under continuing threat from development and need our protection and care. We are rebuilding the deep connections that human beings have the potential to feel for the land. “When people question the value of a liberal arts education, I am mystified. My time at North Central College helped me discover my potential. It taught me how to learn and adapt to change, to be curious, to reason, and to communicate effectively. It also taught me how to live fully, appreciate beauty, engage as a citizen, and find happiness in my journey.”
Chris Grady ’22 found a passion for water quality issues while in high school—and that focus has resulted in a budding career. After graduation, Grady will transition from working as an intern to a full-time position at Baxter Woodman Consulting Group, a civil engineering firm with offices in Naperville. The firm is overseeing a major project in Joliet to replace environmentally unfriendly lead water pipes.
place because we developed a phone app to inform users if their water was toxic,” he said.
“I’m generating work orders—setting up my full-time work for this summer,” he said. “Working in water quality with a civil engineering firm is my dream job.”
He landed an internship in his hometown with the City of Montgomery performing water testing during summer 2021. His search for another internship landed him at Baxter Woodman. He credits a long list of faculty and staff for his successes. “I’m not here due to what I’ve done … I’m here due to the people I’ve met whove supported me,” he said. “All the people at North Central who’ve poured into me … I’m very thankful.”
As a high school student, Grady participated in a competition at the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) that focused on the challenges of lead water pipes in the environment—an issue heavily publicized at the time by water problems in Flint, Mich. “At IMSA our team won first
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Grady first majored in mechanical engineering at North Central but later found that environmental studies was a better fit for his interests. Along the way, he competed nationally in track and field and forensics, was president of The Union and involved with NCC Lead, Cardinal First and Black Student Association.
“My time at North Central College helped me discover my potential. It taught me how to learn and adapt to change, to be curious, to reason, and to communicate effectively.” DEBRA BEHRENS ’93 executive director, The Prairie Enthusiasts
Jenny Kintzele ’01 Orsburn MAJOR: biology CURRENT POSITION: Program manager, Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program, Chesterton, Ind.
Jenny Kintzele ’01 Orsburn remembers exactly when she decided to take the career path toward environmental science instead of healthcare. “It was during the time I participated in the desert ecology course offered by professors Terrence Marsh and David Horner [both Harold and Eva White Distinguished Professors in the Liberal Arts emeritus.] Desert ecology was a transformational experience for me. To this day I can recall the backcountry hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon … My North Central education gave me the confidence to accept a position with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources offered immediately after graduation. From day one I was tasked with creating our competitve grants program.”
As program manager, she oversees the coastal environment program for the State of Indiana, providing technical assistance, coordination of State resources, grant funding, education and outreach on water quality, habitat protection and restoration, coastal community resiliency planning and cultural/historical resource protection. “In 20 years, we’ve invested more than $22 million in federal funding. We’ve restored 2,761 acres of coastal habitat, protected 671 acres of high-quality coastal habitat and created or impoved 47 public recreational sites. It’s a record we’re all proud of.”
MORE ALUMNI MAKING AN IMPACT:
Kaylee Allensworth ’20
Anna Halvorson ’20 Michaels
Aly Crum ’21
MAJOR: biology CURRENT POSITION: Staff biologist II with Forde Biological Consultants, Los Angeles County, Calif.
MAJOR: environmental studies CURRENT POSITION: Corporate responsibility assistant at ALDI, Batavia, Ill.
MAJOR: environmental studies CURRENT POSITION: Executive assistant, Gardner Capital, St. Louis
Michaels focuses on sustainability in the company’s supply chain. She supports the monitoring program that upholds social standards in the supply chain and the sustainable sourcing of products.
Crum supports company leadership while also working in the solar area of the company, monitoring systems, publishing press releases and writing project descriptions for new solar projects.
In her work with a biological consulting firm, Allensworth assesses, protects and mitigates sensitive vegetation, birds and animals during construction projects.
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Setting an example: Sustainability on campus
MAKING SMART CHOICES AND THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENTS—these have been the guiding principles intended to limit the impact of North Central College operations on environmental systems. The College’s Strategic Plan identifies sustainability measures as a defining and differentiating characteristic in building a culture of excellence on campus.
Here are examples of this important work, as outlined in the Sustainability Report 2020. The report summarizes success stories that have reduced the College’s Energy Use Intensity (EUI) by 22 percent from 2009-2020.
LED LIGHTING MAKES AN IMPACT A significant investment in LED lighting across campus has helped reduce energy consumption. With an ultimate goal to save a million KWH annually, the College has already saved 681,000 KWH by replacing lighting in Merner Fieldhouse and other campus buildings. More recent projects have included retrofitting the lighting in Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, and new installations will soon be underway in Oesterle Library and performing arts spaces.
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS: A HIDDEN POWER SOURCE
LANDFILL WASTE POSES CONTINUED CHALLENGES
Rooftop solar panels have been installed on the Residence Hall/Recreation Center, Wentz Science Center and 999 E. Chicago maintenance facility. These three solar photovoltaic (PV) systems generated more than 760,000 kWh in FY2020, which equated to more than 2 percent of campus energy.
North Central College is continually working toward reducing the waste sent to landfills. The “diversion rate” is affected by various recycling, compost programs and the sale or donation of surplus equipment. Recently, 90 percent of furniture removed from Oesterle Library as part of its renovation was donated to two Chicago area organizations; older furniture in Kaufman Dining Hall was either donated (30 percent) or repurposed to refresh other spaces like The Cage.
“2022 PRINCETON REVIEW GUIDE TO GREEN COLLEGES” North Central College was ranked 420 out of 835 Colleges profiled on the list of Green Colleges, adding to the designations earned in 2015 and 2019.
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“We feel that our actions should enhance the North Central experience for current and future generations of students, while also preparing them for sound sustainable decision-making.” KAITLIN BALLARD sustainability coordinator
For more information about the College’s sustainability work, visit: northcentralcollege.edu/sustainability
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVES RUNOFF AND SUPPORTS NATIVE PLANT GROWTH More than 67,000 square feet of added stormwater infrastructure includes the rain gardens near Wentz Science Center, New Hall, Seager Hall and Kaufman Dining Hall; permeable pavers in walkways, parking lots and patio spaces; and the prairie restoration project at the DuPage River. Rain gardens are shallow depressions with deep-rooted native plants and grasses. They allow rainwater runoff to be absorbed back into the water table, and create beautiful habitats for birds and beneficial insects. Permeable pavers allow water to infiltrate impermeable ground, reduce runoff from flowing into storm drains and filter pollutants such as oil, salt and other contaminants.
CAMPUS FOREST A SOURCE OF PRIDE
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT BRINGS BENEFITS TO CAMPUS
The College achieved Level 2 arboretum status in January 2020 through ArbNet, an interactive, collaborative and international community of arboreta sponsored and coordinated by the Morton Arboretum. Importantly, the wide variety of campus tree species provide student engagement opportunities, for both academic and cocurricular learning opportunities. And new tree plantings annually continue to enhance the campus forest. Twelve new trees were added in fall 2021 and an additional 20 will be donated by the Morton Arboretum in fall 2022.
Opportunities for students to get involved with sustainability efforts include joining the campus-wide Sustainability Committee, the College’s Tree Committee, the student organization Green Scene and working in sustainability as student employees. Grace Nelles ’22 has boosted the social media presence of campus sustainability with Instagram posts on “Black Environmentalists You Should Know.” She’s also started a TikTok and is creating tours of campus sustainable features. Follow her work on these channels:
nccsustainable @nccsustainable
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Ivan Bohorquez ’19 and Samantha Sotelo ’18 present “How to maximize your business degree from North Central” during the evening’s events.
ALUMNI ACADEMY BRINGS ENERGY AND EXPERTISE TOGETHER Cardinal First continues to further its reputation for innovation, networking and support for first generation students by holding a first-ever Alumni Academy on campus in March. The professional conference brought together 50 firstgeneration North Central alumni who served as presenters, panelists and mentors for the 115 first-generation students in attendance. The event resulted from a $100,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF). Students participated in seminars on a variety of subjects related to navigating the professional realm, received etiquette training at a networking dinner, met with alumni for question-and-answer sessions, and concluded the evening practicing their professional interaction with the alumni over dessert. Dean Devert ’86, chief of staff for the Illinois Auditor General's Office, gave the keynote address.
“I hope the first-gen students found inspiration, information and reassurance from the network of first-gen alumni who are living examples of first-gen Cardinal success.” Julie Carballo assistant dean for first-generation, transfer and veteran initiatives The event was delayed three times due to COVID-19 and the initial plan was for approximately 20 North Central firstgeneration alumni to facilitate workshops and presentations related to their career fields. More than twice that many attended. “Our current first-gen students benefit from networking with, and learning from, first-gen alumni because they are following in their footsteps—navigating the same journey to a college degree,” said Julie Carballo, assistant dean for first-generation, transfer and veteran initiatives. “The alumni know the possible
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roadblocks or detours and how to keep moving toward the goal of earning a college degree; they also can share their lived experience as first-gen professionals and can leverage their own networks to benefit our current students.” Students learned about soft skills for engineers, working in intercollegiate athletics, counseling careers for psychology majors, pathways to law school, and many others. Professional guests represented high schools and colleges from throughout the region, governmental and non-profit organizations, and well-known companies
Cardinal First asked students and alumni who participated in the Alumni Academy to share their feedback on the event, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Here is a sample: Dean Devert ’86, chief of staff, Illinois Auditor General's Office (keynote speaker)
During the dessert hour, tables were set with specific discussion topics to promote networking between alumni and students.
such as Travelers Insurance, Northern Trust, Kraft Heinz Co., Automatic Data Processing, and Baxter International. In August 2020, North Central College earned the AVDF grant to fund a series of first-generation initiatives, including expanded leadership development for Cardinal First Ambassadors (student leaders in the program); outreach to future first-generation college students at 10 Illinois high schools; educational webinars designed for parents; further development of first-gen students by faculty in discipline-specific groups; and the Cardinal First Alumni Academy. Cardinal First will be holding a series of virtual versions of the Alumni Academy this spring, and Carballo hopes to host another Alumni Academy event in person in 2024. You can contact her at jmcarballo@noctrl.edu for more information. “I hope the first-gen students found inspiration, information and reassurance from the network of first-gen alumni who are living examples of first-gen (Cardinal) success,” said Carballo.
“The Alumni Academy event was a great opportunity to connect graduates with undergraduates to help them navigate the world once they graduate. The first-generation students were informed, inquisitive, and excited about the future. The event served as a way to support their confidence to go and make a positive contribution to society.”
Veronica Wagner ’19, cytotechnologist, NorthShore University Health Systems “I have had many students approach me with questions related to STEM careers. In many cases, they needed words to confirm that they do belong. Since the event, I believe many students have gained the confidence and direction for the ‘What now?’ question that they’ve been avoiding … once graduation approaches.”
Hattie Holland ’16, psychotherapist, CFC Therapy Group “Events like the Cardinal First Alumni Academy are exactly what firstgeneration college students need to feel prepared, supported, and
celebrated during their undergraduate years. These types of events are going to be integral to the students' success and confidence in navigating college and beyond. It was an honor to be a part of this event, and I can't wait to do it again.”
Lauren Edmunds ’17, associate attorney, Meyers & Flowers “As a presenter, I highly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with current and former first-gen students and to share my law school experience with them. The students were very receptive and it was clear that my presentation offered the first-gen students new insights into the legal field. I know what it feels like to want to get somewhere but have no parents or family to ask for help.”
TaCoya S. Harris ’22, computer science major and philosophy & religious studies minor “I was able to connect with an alumna, working in the STEM field, and she reassured me of the concerns I had about starting my career. We also connected on LinkedIn. Overall, it was both an insightful and enjoyable event.”
If you are a first-generation college student who graduated from North Central prior to 2015, you can visit northcentralcollege.edu/first-genalumni-network to add your name to the First-Gen Alumni database. Spring 2022 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 1 3
RAISED
DONORS
DAY OF GIVING BREAKS COLLEGE RECORDS More than 2,500 people contributed more than half a million dollars to support the North Central Fund, scholarships, athletic teams, and more. “It was an amazing day. I was glued to my computer for 16 hours, barely stepping away from the monitor all day and into the night. What a great day to be a Cardinal!” That was Jared Bogan M ’10, major gifts officer, speaking about the College’s seventh annual Day of Giving, the most successful ever. “I can’t thank everyone enough,” he said. “So many alumni, faculty and staff, students and parents
and friends came through to support our students and the College. The North Central family is amazing.” The final numbers are still being tallied, but donors have already exceeded the College’s goals. “On days like this it’s so clear that every dollar really does count,” said Bogan. “Lots of our gifts were for $5 or $10, and the average gift was around $200. It all adds up.”
North Central’s Day of Giving has come a long way since it debuted in 2016. Back then, staff didn’t set a dollar goal, because the College had never done anything like this before. “We just wanted people to participate,” Bogan recalled. “We aimed for 861 donors—the theme ‘Be 1 of 861’ played off the 1861 founding of the College—and we crossed our fingers.” Donors came though, with 894 people contributing more than $94,000.
The Day of Giving Committee would like to thank everyone who participated in this amazing event. Please direct any questions to committee members Jared Bogan M ’10, major gifts officer (jbogan@noctrl.edu); Dana O’Donoghue, associate director of development for parent and leadership annual giving (dodonoghue@noctrl.edu); and Connor Bangs ’19, assistant director of alumni and parent engagement (cmbangs@noctrl.edu).
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A few highlights from the 2022 Day of Giving: Rev. Dr. Howard Mueller ’58 Alumni Board Student Involvement Scholarship Together, more than 85 donors raised about $10,000 for the Rev. Dr. Howard Mueller ’58 Alumni Board Student Involvement Scholarship, awarded to students exhibiting leadership abilities through involvement with the campus community. Thanks to the generosity of these donors, the scholarship fund is $10,000 closer to the $150,000 required to endow it and ensure that it will support students for generations to come.
Writing Center North Central’s Writing Center raised $745. Much of this success stemmed from the efforts of Jennifer Jackson, Svend and Elizabeth Bramsen Professor in the Humanities, who posted a giving link to her personal Facebook page and invited former Writing Center workers to donate just $5. An alum created the hashtag #AnythingforDrJackson, which saw tremendous engagement. “It was thrilling to see the numbers rise as the day went on—all a testament to the good will of Writing Center alumni,” said Jackson.
North Central Fund The North Central Fund received a tremendous boost with more than $100,000 raised for scholarships, faculty support, capital improvements and more.
Athletics Athletic teams also saw great success, with women’s soccer, football and men’s lacrosse teams taking the top spots among teams in terms of dollars raised. These results were largely due to several coaches going above and beyond to organize appeals, solicit gifts and engage students … and to students setting up their own personalized giving pages to get the word out to family and friends. Kily Egan ’23, a member of the women’s soccer team, said, “It was a reminder of the incredible support we have at North Central College,” she said. “People are always willing to lend a hand to our programs and we are so blessed to be able to do all the things we do, like travel with our entire team.”
Welcome, parents! Alumni office gets a new name The Office of Alumni Engagement is now known as the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement. “We’re very excited about the change,” said Mary Reynolds, director of the newly expanded office. “Parents are such an important part of the North Central family.” Reynolds is quick to point out that her office has always welcomed parents to events. But the new office structure positions Reynolds and her staff to connect with parents on a regular basis and explore ways for them to contribute to the life of the College. In related news, a number of staff members who are familiar to the
College’s alumni have taken on new responsibilities: • Lisa Pettaway ’94/M ’00 has been promoted to director of leadership annual giving • Maria Caselli ’01/M ’08 has been promoted to director of the North Central College Fund • Dana O’Donoghue has been promoted to associate director of development for parent and leadership annual giving • Dean Bacon has been promoted to director of major giving
• Udo Agomo M ’21 has been promoted to advancement officer for major giving • Mary Reynolds has been promoted to director of alumni and parent engagement • Connor Bangs ’19 has been promoted to assistant director of alumni and parent engagement • Sarah Morton ’13 has been promoted to assistant manager of advancement services/matching gift coordinator
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OESTERLE LIBRARY: A STRATEGIC VISION FOR LIBRARY SPACE INSPIRES NEW LEARNING COMMONS
Oesterle Library is undergoing a major renovation that represents far more than cosmetic changes and new furnishings. Much of the facility is transforming into a learning commons designed to bring together campus functions that support student success. The commons project reflects a trend in academic library space to reconfigure former quiet study areas and book storage into lively, engaging and flexible spaces for social engagement, collaborative learning and services that support students.
The goal behind reconfiguring the facility is to create an appealing and functional destination for students to access important resources, gain help from support staff and meet with their peers. They will find contemporary and fun furnishings, colorful branding, a “smart café” for refreshments, and information desks. “This redesigned space reflects our vision to create an academic hub on campus to help improve student success,” said Kristin Geraty, dean of engaged learning and honors programs. “And by reconfiguring offices that promote student learning, we are creating opportunities for community collaboration and engagement. These collaborations can break down boundaries and act as catalysts for learning.”
Engaging and flexible spaces rendering
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South entrance rendering
Traditional library services and stacks will be relocated to the lower level, freeing up space on the main level for the commons—a visible and convenient “one-stop-shop.” Students will easily access resources they might need, like success coaches and retention specialists in the Office of Student Success along with testing services and disability services; the Center for Career and Professional Development; the Writing and Speaking Centers; and the Office of Engaged Learning, which includes the College Scholars Honors Program and support for student research, community engaged learning, domestic study away programs and prestigious fellowships. The space will continue to house the Center for Advancement of Faculty Excellence
Learning Commons rendering
A musical travel ministry Members of the Voices of Praise Gospel Choir embarked on a travel ministry in January, visiting Los Angeles and San Bernardino, Calif. Student members and advisors partnered with churches in these communities to perform, host worship nights and donate community service hours. The choir also performed as part of the College’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. and hosted the 34th annual Gospel Extravaganza February 19 at Wentz Concert Hall. Follow Voices of Praise on Instagram @nccvop.
(CAFÉ), including a new experimental classroom for faculty to explore innovative teaching techniques. “To support the College’s mission, we can work collaboratively to provide students with the assistance they need to not only persist to graduation, but to take advantage of everything the College offers beyond the classroom,” said Geraty. “This includes preparing each student for opportunities after graduation, challenging their perspectives and immersing them in diverse experiences.” Students who are tutors, facilitators and peer advisors in these offices will also benefit from collaborating in their work. The Oesterle Library and North Central College Learning Commons will also gain new exterior walkways and a patio at the south entry. Interior construction began in December, and the anticipated completion date is August 2022. The library is closed until construction is complete but the campus community has access to library services in Larrance Academic Center.
Gaining pediatric fieldwork experience from campus The Occupational Therapy program has been conducting virtual handwriting “camps” for children ages 5 to 7, so students like Sami Thompson M ’23 (pictured, above) and Rohit Burra ’19/M ’23 could gain pediatric fieldwork experience. “I enjoyed the enthusiasm and energy that both myself, Sami, and everyone else who participated felt from these children,” said Burra. “We all had some great laughs and made some good progress with them in their handwriting. And using digital tools made the experience even more fun and interesting, and required more creative thinking on how to make it the most engaging for each child.” The camp led to a research study by Lauren Stone Kelly, assistant professor of occupational therapy, to compare the group sizes and format. “The virtual setting was used initially due to COVID-19 as a level I pediatrics fieldwork placement and it was successful,” said Stone. “So I started a research study on virtual handwriting camp, which ran last summer as a large group session with undergraduate and graduate student support.” In March, Stone presented the study as a poster presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association conference in San Antonio.
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“I strive to spread mental health awareness in the first responder community.” LAURYN STOFFREGEN ’22
“TEAM FIRE” LOOKS TO EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH IN FIREFIGHTERS Psychology and general business major Lauryn Stoffregen ’22 (pictured, second from left) devoted her honors thesis project to studying the perception of requests for mental health assistance from firefighters. She was assisted by psychology major Faith Bicking ’24 (pictured, far right) and neurobiology major Amber Kulpinski ’24 (pictured, far left) and advised by Karl Kelley, professor of psychology (pictured, second from right). The group calls itself “Team Fire.” Their goal was to figure out how best to educate the public on the mental and emotional challenges faced by firefighters based on those expectations. “Firefighters are exposed to a great deal of trauma and due to the (perceived)
‘macho man’ culture of this occupation, many compartmentalize these experiences,” Stoffregen explained. “As a result, we see a series of mental health issues emerge, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, among others.” Stoffregen presented a case study virtually to upper-level North Central students and they answered questions gauging their opinions on a time-off request, their perceptions of the firefighter’s personality, and what they think would happen to the firefighter in the future. “The public has coined (firefighters) as heroes walking around in a metaphorical cape,” said Stoffregen. “The belief in firefighters as tougher or more than
human, while intended to be respectful, is potentially dangerous because it minimizes the awareness and cultivation of mental health resources. “Even if a department member recognizes that a colleague is struggling, there is the issue of not knowing what actions could help that individual,” Stoffregen said. She found inspiration from her father, a volunteer member of the fire department in Genoa-Kingston, Ill. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and sees her honors thesis as the first step. “I strive to spread mental health awareness in the first responder community and work with these individuals to help them cope with their traumas. I don’t want my efforts to stop after this project is over. I want to continue making a difference.”
Spencer Paysinger shares his own poignant story Keynote speaker for Black History Month was Spencer Paysinger, a Super Bowl champion linebacker who is now a Hollywood writer/producer. Appearing in the Wentz Concert Hall, he shared his poignant story of living in South Central Los Angeles and playing football at the elite Beverly Hills High School. He attained a scholarship to the University of Oregon and began his NFL career with the New York Giants. He’s now devoted to leveraging his success to create opportunities for young people.
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Character Education program goes global As K-12 educators work to rebuild their schools’ cultures after the pandemic shutdown, North Central College’s Character Education Certificate has proved to be a vital tool. The certificate was launched in spring 2021 after a pilot program in fall 2020. Students returning to classrooms after time at home have struggled with how to engage with one another in a positive way. “Teachers and school leaders have been challenged to support students’ anxiety, frustrations and mental health challenges,” said Julie Nagashima, visiting assistant professor of Ethical Leadership and coordinator of the Character Education Certificate Program.
leadership in our current world is very real and very urgent,” said Tom Cavenagh, Schneller Sisters Professor of Leadership, Ethics, and Values. While the grant framework never anticipated a pandemic, the online delivery is meeting a need for principals, other school leaders and teachers to deal with changes in school culture.
“Teachers and school leaders have been challenged to support students’ anxiety, frustrations and mental health challenges.”
North Central College was awarded a $3.2 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation to develop principals and teachers who foster “cultures of character” in their schools. When the grant was announced in December 2018, the certificate was described as a way to enable educators to “become scholars of character development and education.” “This certificate is an exciting extension of the Leadership, Ethics & Values program’s commitment to developing leaders who are deeply committed to principle; the need for ethical
JULIE NAGASHIMA, VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATOR OF THE CHARACTER EDUCATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM The certificate encompasses three modules, progressing outward from self-reflection to the classroom environment to the school culture. To date, seven cohorts totaling 93 educators have enrolled. Most participants have come from Illinois— until the spring 2022 cohort composed of an international group of educators working in Seoul, South Korea.
Participants have experienced new ways to view their schools—and themselves. “I felt that the progression of this class helped me slowly, but deliberately, reflect on the incorporation of character education into my life,” said Danielle Salvatore M ’20, who teaches English at Plainfield South High School in Plainfield, Ill. “I was able to consider how these values can be utilized in the entire school to benefit everyone.”
AMA team returns to competition In March, the American Marketing Association (AMA) North Central College Chapter traveled to Chicago to attend the International College Conference. To prepare for competition, the Case Team during fall semester created an integrated marketing communications plan for Amazon Prime Student. After the team was named a finalist, five members worked to create a presentation for the national competition. Kily Egan ’23, Katie McGraw ’22, Enrica Uhlen ’22, Jordan Miller ’22, and Sydney Sawyer ’22 presented in front of Prime Student leaders and others in the marketing industry. North Central’s Case Team took home third place. In addition, AMA members Hikaru Fukuda ’22, Morgan Red ‘24 and Jamie Hoeck ’24 attended the conference and competed in the “perfect pitch” competition. Hoeck was named a finalist in that event. From left: Morgan Red, Hikaru Fukuda, Sydney Sawyer, Katie McGraw, Enrica Uhlen, Kily Egan, Jordan Miller, Jamie Hoeck, Donnavieve Smith
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A century of women’s athletics means rich opportunities for today’s student-athletes It’s been 100 years since the debut of women’s tennis in 1921 as the first women’s intercollegiate sport on campus. Fittingly, the women’s tennis team in fall 2021 finished one of its more successful seasons ever, concluding with a perfect 14-0 record and a conference championship. Today, North Central College offers 14 different team sports for women and draws student-athletes from across the country.
TENNIS PAVES THE WAY Before 1921, passionate female athletes at North Central College had to compete on an intramural basis or only play
recreationally. The Women’s Athletic Association administered events to allow women to play. However, this all changed when women’s tennis became the first female varsity sport on the North Central campus in 1921. Coach Cleo Tanner took the reins as head coach of the women’s tennis team in 1930, beginning her 40year run leading the team and serving as a pioneer and leader in women’s athletics. In Tanner’s later years she led the team to 10 consecutive tournament victories before retiring in 1970. After her death in 1971, North Central College introduced a Cleo Tanner Memorial Invitational Tennis Tournament in her honor. Tanner was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 for her dedication to the program
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and women’s sports. In 2006, the Cleo Tanner Award was created to honor the contributions of an individual who has positively influenced women’s athletics.
CONTINUING A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE The recent success of the Cardinal tennis program dates back to 2005 when coach Don Moravec ’69 took over the team. Moravec held his position for 10 years and became the all-time leader in coaching wins with 102. The continued excellence of female tennis players has led to new records and undefeated seasons in the last decade and a half. In 2021, the team claimed the CCIW title by defeating Wheaton College with a 5-0 sweep and ended their fall season with a 14-0 record.
INTRODUCTION OF WOMEN’S ATHLETIC TEAMS 1961 BASKETBALL 1921 TENNIS
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WOMEN’S FIRST TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP The women’s basketball team made history at North Central College in 1983 when they brought home the NCAA Division III National Championship. Playing in a national television broadcast on ESPN, the Cardinals defeated Elizabethtown College in Worcester, Mass., by a final score of 83-71. North Central College became the only college basketball team in the nation to have four 1,000-point career scorers in the starting lineup when Bonnie Hansen ’83 Jagiella joined the club on January 25 against Wheaton College. Kim Wallner ’84 and Brenda Sanders ’83 still rank 1-2 in program history for career scoring with 2,421 and 1,986 points, respectively. The team was led by Dr. Wayne Morgan, who won 75 percent of his games as a basketball coach. Hansen, Wallner and Sanders are now all members of the Athletic Hall of Fame.
FIRST INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPION Ophelia Johnson ’90 became the first female individual national champion in North Central College history in 1989
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1978 TRACK & FIELD, SWIMMING & DIVING, CROSS COUNTRY
when she crossed the finish line first in the 100-meter hurdles. Johnson finished her career as one of the most decorated athletes in program history, earning All-American honors 14 times and becoming one of the first four-time CCIW champions in school history. Not only did she find success individually, she also helped lead her team to winning the 1989 and 1990 CCIW championships. Johnson was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY VIRTUAL EVENT The 36th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 2, 2022, marked the celebration of 100 years of female
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athletics. This is the second year where a virtual format was adopted to recognize the importance and passion of athletic women. North Central’s 2022 panel discussion was moderated by Dakotah Poitra M ’22, athletic administration graduate assistant at North Central. To discuss the state of female studentathletes today, she was joined by Jessica Brown, vice president for Student Affairs and Athletics; Rebecca Gordon, assistant vice president for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and chief diversity officer; and Sue Kane-Hammond ’02, associate athletic director. To view the event, visit northcentralcardinals.com/NGWSD2022.
WOMEN’S SPORTS LEGACY: NEXT CHAPTER North Central College has launched a campaign to honor the success of women’s athletics over 100 years and to support future athletes. For more information, visit
northcentralcollege.edu/womens-sports-legacy.
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UNDER THE LIGHTS Installation of new LED lighting is underway at Zimmerman Stadium (pictured) and Shanower Family Field. Without lighting, North Central College has not be able to host post-season conference and NCAA competition in baseball and softball. In addition, the lighting at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium was converted to more efficient LED fixtures, an improvement that will result in significant utility savings and an enhanced practice and competition environment for the nine athletic teams that use the facility.
NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Brad Spencer ’04 was promoted to head football coach, replacing Jeff Thorne who is joining the coaching staff of Western Michigan University. A member of the North Central coaching staff since his graduation, Spencer has served as the team’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator since 2015, playing a key role in the program’s rise to national prominence in NCAA Division III. “Brad possesses all the important leadership and visionary qualities needed to carry on and elevate the traditions of Cardinal football,” said Athletic Director Jim Miller. “He’s been integral to establishing a winning culture and setting a high standard of excellence in academics as well as athletics.
want to recognize and thank him for his leadership and role in elevating the program to a place of national respect.” Spencer began his new position in January. The rest of the full-time coaching staff returns to prepare for a third straight Stagg Bowl in 2022. “I’m honored and humbled to be following in the footsteps of John Thorne and Jeff Thorne,” said Spencer, who was a junior on the first North Central team coached by John Thorne. “They’ve been great coaching mentors for me and have built the program into what it is today. Our mission will continue to be the development of our young men, while giving them a first-class experience on and off the field.”
“Our football program will benefit from Coach Thorne’s time here for many years to come,” Miller added. “We all
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Julia Babinec ’22
Jamauri Spivery ’22
National performers highlight indoor track and field
Robert Precin ’23
Cody Baldridge ’22
WRESTLING TEAMS ACHIEVE NEW FIRSTS The North Central College women’s wrestling team finished fourth and captured its first-ever team trophy at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in Adrian, Mich. Yelena Makoyed ’22 took home her second straight national title at 170 pounds. Setting a program record, the Cardinals came out of the event with 12 All-Americans. Makoyed and Asia Nguyen Smith ’23 were named All-Americans for the third consecutive season while Mateah Roehl ’24 won her second All-America award. Riley Aamold ’25, Niya Teresita Gaines ’25, Angelina Graff ’23, Tiera Jimerson ’25, Amani Jones ’25, Kim Nunez ’23, Sydney Petzinger ’25, Kendra Ryan ’25, and Sara Sulejmani ’25 are all first-time All-Americans. In addition, head coach Joe Norton ’10/M ’13 was named National Coach of the Tournament while being selected as the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Northwest Regional Coach of the Year following the Cardinals’ second-place finish at regionals. At the national championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the men’s wrestling team took home a first-ever trophy in a tie for third place. This marks the first time in program history that the Cardinals placed at the national tournament and is the first time since 2013 that a CCIW team finished in the top four. Robert Precin ’23 capped off a perfect 38-0 season with his first individual national title, thanks to a 6-4 decision in the 133-pound championship match. Cody Baldridge ’22 defended his national title from a season ago by taking down his opponent via a 3-2 decision to claim his second individual national championship. Precin and Baldridge each earned their third All-America award while Robby Bates ’24 and Alex Villar ’24 each captured their first All-America recognition. The Cardinals won their 34th consecutive CCIW dual match on their way to another perfect 8-0 conference season. At the NCAA Division III Lower Midwest Regional Championships, North Central sent five wrestlers to the national championships on their way to a fourth-place finish at regionals. Head coach Joe Norton and his staff were honored as the Co-Regional Coaching Staff of the Year at the event.
Julia Babinec ’22 of the women’s track and field team won a dramatic 60-meter hurdle final at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships with a time of 8.607 seconds, besting the second-place finisher by .003 of a second. She is the program’s 17th track and field national champion across indoor and outdoor seasons. Also earning All-American honors was Alexandra Draves ’22, who took eighth place in the 20-pound weight throw with a distance of 57 feet, 3.50 inches (17.46 meters) to earn All-America honors for the second time in her career. On the men’s side, Jamauri Spivery ’22 earned All-American honors at the indoor national championships by running a 6.83 in the 60-yard dash to claim fifth place in the event. Spivery’s time broke his own program record set earlier this season and he is the first Cardinal to be an All-American in the 60-yard dash event. Both the men’s and women’s programs took first place at the CCIW Indoor Championships.
MORE SUCCESSES THIS SPRING As we go to press, several Cardinal athletic teams are on the road to stellar seasons. • Starting their season a perfect 10-0, the men’s volleyball team was ranked fourth in the country by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, a program-best. • The men’s tennis team is ranked for the first time in program history at No. 37 in the first installment of the rankings for spring 2022. • After winning the CCIW title in fall 2021, the women’s tennis team broke a program record for most wins in a single season with 17.
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Chase Rebecca ’19 discovers his career in animation
ANIMATION IS EVERYWHERE: multiple motion pictures from all the major studios; streaming service content; YouTube and social media platforms; and sophisticated stories in video games, which often play out like interactive animated movies. There was a time, though, when animation was restricted to one particular time and place: Saturday morning cartoons. Chase Rebecca ’19 is just barely old enough to remember this time, as he grew up more in the waning days of cartoons airing weekday afternoons on cable TV. That era made a big impression on him, inspiring his own ideas to add to the wacky, fantastic stories he saw on television. Since he graduated from North Central, he’s made that goal happen.
Rebecca is a character set up artist for NewScape Studios, an emerging company in the growing world of animated content. As is common in animation, Rebecca has already worked in several places even in a young career. His biggest break was with Bento Box Entertainment, developing the Netflix series “Saturday Morning All-Star Hits” or SMASH. SMASH is the brainchild of Saturday Night Live writer and cast member Kyle Mooney, who created and also stars in the series. A live action story that satirizes the height
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of Saturday morning children’s television, SMASH includes animated clips that parody the cartoons kids loved in the ’80s and ’90s. That’s where Rebecca came in. His work on SMASH, which primarily involved hand-drawn animation, helped Rebecca get onboard with NewScape and into his preferred role doing set up art for digital animation. If animation is about bringing the impression of life to static images, Rebecca’s job is to compose those images as lifelike as possible.
Chase Rebecca working on an image from Netflix’s SMASH.
“Character set up artists create models of characters for use in cartoons and video games,” he said. “It's sort of like building a digital puppet. My workday is spent taking artwork from designers and figuring out how to break it up into moveable, poseable parts.” Creating “puppets” that can be manipulated to resemble movement relates closely to Rebecca’s beginnings in animation. “Growing up I would make stop-motion videos on the family camera, starring Play-Doh people and LEGO figures,” Rebecca said. He cultivated his interest at summer camps which taught digital and stop-motion animation. He decided to study film at North Central and settled on interactive media studies as his major with a concentration in interactive technology. Rebecca studied animation in a way that opened the door to making his hobby into his vocation. “(Associate Professor of Art and Design Kevin) Valentine's animation classes were always the highlight of my day,” Rebecca said. “In his classes I learned just how enthusiastic about animation I really was.”
Animation is a competitive and challenging field. Those who succeed often create their own opportunities, as Rebecca did when he researched NewScape and reached out to see if there was a place for him at the upstart company. Those opportunities have been even tougher to generate in the few years since Rebecca graduated, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced him and many other animators to make their homes into their studios. “My professional career so far has been completely remote,” he said. The one surefire key to success in the animation industry is constantly working to improve so you can stand out when you pursue jobs. Animation companies don’t impress easily. “There are many different jobs in the animation industry that require many different skills,” said Rebecca. “To find success as a professional animator you need to have an impressive portfolio that not only shows that you enjoy creating art, but that you also possess the skills to do so.”
Thankfully, Rebecca has no shortage of sources to go to for inspiration. His love for ’90s cartoon staples from the Cartoon Network like “Dexter’s Laboratory,” “The Powerpuff Girls,” “Grim & Evil,” and his favorite, “Ed, Edd, ‘n’ Eddy,” made him a great fit for working on a show full of loving homages like SMASH. He also thoroughly enjoys more modern classics geared toward older audiences. How does he keep coming up with ideas? Rebecca says the key for him is to seek to be different. “Many animated shows have their own unique style, like the yellow coloring in ‘The Simpsons’ or the scribblyness of ‘Rick & Morty,’” he said. “A lot of times when I'm trying to come up with new characters, I'll try thinking of a unique stylistic choice that I can apply to many different-looking characters.”
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ALUMNI SNAPSHOTS 1. John Ruskamp ’09 2. Carrie DeLange ’07 3. Stephen M. Draminski ’98 4. Matt Wagner ’20
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5. Jessica Goerke ’10 6. Steven D. Mroczkowski ’07
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7. Cris Chacon ’16 8. Adrian Aldrich ’02 9. Wonhee Anne Joh ’89 10. John Benischek ’74 11. Mike Koon ’93 12. Angel Rivera ’21
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STAY CONNECTED! Got promoted? Got married? Tell us about it! Send us an email at: classnotes@noctrl.edu
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CL ASSNOTES 1955 KEN LEWIS continues to share his 43 years of fundraising experience as a volunteer, helping charities and churches from Peoria, Ill., to Cape Cod, Mass., discover effective ways to communicate their mission and expand their support. His activities in May included teaching four fundraising classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University.
1967 MARTI HEALY has released a novel titled “Blinding the Moon.” This is her ninth book and third novel. Healy’s novel is set in the 1970s and expresses themes of betrayal, jailtime and folk music. It is structured around the highly fictionalized yet real-life experiences of two of her longtime friends: Chad Mitchell, former folk singer with The Chad Mitchell Trio, and Dale Wickum, photojournalist/former rail-rider. To find more information about Marti Healy, visit www.martihealybooks.com.
1974 JOHN BENISCHEK wrote his first musical, “November 22nd,” which will be produced by the Westmont Performing Arts Theatre. Six world premiere performances will be held in November at Westview Hills Middle School in Willowbrook, Ill. After his many years of performing on stage as a singer, songwriter, and actor, Benischek will be behind the scenes directing his musical.
WILLIAM NAUMANN was recognized by “Super Lawyers” magazine as an honoree for the 10th year. “Super Lawyers” recognizes the top 5 percent of attorneys in California for a particular practice area. Naumann is the owner of The Naumann Law Firm in San Diego, Calif.
1989 WONHEE ANNE JOH has been appointed to the Harry R. Kendall Endowed Chair in Christian Theology and Postcolonial Studies at Garrett-Evangelical. Joh represents the first Korean American female full professor in systematic theology in the United States and is the director of the seminary’s doctor of philosophy program. Joh has completed research and written numerous articles about post/decolonialism, critical ethnic/ race and Asian American studies, feminist, queer and affect theories, and constructive theology.
1992 JENNIFER DAILEY DEMAR is the president of the 501(c)(3) charitable organization called Guatemala Service Projects. Demar spent two months in Guatemala with her husband JOHN DEMAR ’92 in communities served by the nonprofit organization. Their mission is to improve health and education in Guatemala. This year, 2022, marks the sixth year of the organization which has completed a potable water project, addressed needs for efficient stoves and assisted with a health clinic. According to the website guatsp.org, Guatemala Service Projects, Inc., “exists to bring these scarce resources to communities eager for improved outcomes for current and future generations. Our board members and trusted intermediaries in Guatemala
communicate directly with the village committees, educators and organizations who specify the priority of their needs and identify the resources we can provide. School facility improvements, vitamin programs, libraries, education sponsorships and community gardens are just a few examples of programs we have underway.”
1993 MIKE KOON was inducted into the Monticello (Ill.) High School Hall of Fame. Koon has announced for the Illini Sports Network and WDWS radio since 1998. Majoring in speech communication at North Central, Koon was involved with WONC-FM 89.1 during his time as a Cardinal. Currently, he works as the director of sports, events, and film for Visit Champaign County in Monticello, Ill.
1994 ROB HARVEY was inducted into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Harvey is the head coach of girls track & field and girls cross country at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School where he has been coaching athletes since 1999. LISA HORTON PETTAWAY M ’00 has been promoted to director of leadership annual giving at North Central. Pettaway leads a team of development professionals responsible for growing the College’s unrestricted giving. She leads the campus connection with INROADS, a premier resource for the development of underserved youth leadership preparation, and received the INROADS Outstanding University Partner Award in 2013.
Some proud alumni went to Canton, Ohio, to cheer on the Cardinal football team competing in the NCAA Division III National Championship. Pictured (from left): Tom Winters ’81, John Krutzler ’81, Tom Errico ’81, Pat Pajor ’81, Mike Jakovich ’80. Photo by Pat Calhoun ’78.
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STEPHEN M. DRAMINSKI and his wife Samantha are starting their application to be a foster family in Illinois. The Draminskis are hoping to give love, care, and support to kids that need help.
PAIGE SPANGLER RONCHETTI has joined the real estate brokerage @Properties. Ronchetti will use her interior design background to make the home buying and selling processes easier for clients in Naperville and the western suburbs. She is also a member of the Steve McEwen Group serving all of Chicagoland.
SARAH MORTON has been promoted to assistant manager of advancement services/ matching gift coordinator at North Central.
2001 MARIA CASELLI M ’08 has been promoted to director of the North Central College Fund. Caselli studied organizational communications for her undergraduate program before obtaining her masters from North Central. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Naperville. DEB ZEITLIN has accepted a position as an assistant professor at Lincoln Memorial University in Knoxville, Tenn. Zeitlin previously worked as an adjunct instructor in psychology at North Central.
2002 ADRIAN ALDRICH is chair-elect for the board of directors of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. Aldrich is assistant vice president for institutional advancement and development at North Central.
2007 CARRIE DELANGE is among 28 new attorney partners at Faegre Drinker. The law firm provides transactional litigation and regulatory services to organizations ranging from emerging enterprises to multinational companies. DeLange will work in business litigation and has been selected for her talent and collaborative spirit. STEVEN D. MROCZKOWSKI has been elected a member at the national law firm Dykema working as an attorney in the Financial Services Litigation practice group. Mroczkowski is a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, and is the current chairperson of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Construction Law Section Council. He also has been recognized as a Rising Star by “Illinois Super Lawyers” in Construction Litigation the past two years. ERIC STUEDEMANN M ’08 has been promoted to assistant football coach, assistant strength and conditioning coach and recruiting coordinator at North Central.
2009 ALLISON BECKHAM DAVILA has matched into a congenital cardiac surgery fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital where she will be training for the next two years. This will be her final step to becoming a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon. Davila graduated from Northwestern medical school in 2013 and has completed training in general surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center, surgery research at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and cardiothoracic surgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. MALLORY PARYPINSKI DAHLQUIST is a school social worker in Glenview (Ill.) School District 34. Dahlquist completed supervision hours and passed the exam granting her a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure. JOHN RUSKAMP discovered and donated a fossil to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Ruskamp’s specimen will be part of a Yale University study on Mazon Creek Fan Worms. The significance of the specimen is that Lingula is considered by some to be a living fossil. “The Field Museum already had fossils on loan to Yale, and what I donated pertained to the study they were on loan for. Knowing that it would be a part of a study was part of the reason I donated it to the Field instead of the Smithsonian.”
2010 MICHELLE CORLESS has been promoted to digital newscast producer at WLS-TV and ABC 7 Chicago. Corless produces a daily newscast for this new digital platform which includes writing content and booking guest segments. Corless graduated with a major in broadcast communication. JESSICA GOERKE has been promoted to deputy athletic director at University of California Santa Barbara. Goerke is also the senior woman administrator. Since joining USCB in 2017, Goerke’s oversight has led to a year-to-year consistent improvement in student athletes’ grades, achieving a record GPA of 3.321 in winter 2020.
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2014 KATIE MCNEELA has been promoted to director of enrollment marketing at North Central.
2016 CRIS CHACON started his own tutoring business. He and three other tutors are helping students maximize their SAT scores, learn physics and math concepts, and develop executive functioning through homework help. Chacon also works for Golden View Classical Academy & Flatirons Tutoring as a physics and math teacher in Golden, Colo. MICHELLE HASKELL has accepted a job as a school social worker at a northwest suburban special education organization, the Timber Ridge Therapeutic School. LUKE LANGLOIS has been promoted to building network specialist at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Ill. Langlois will supervise the entire technology team as well as keep up with technical advances at the school. CLAIRE NORFLEET WEBER M ’18 has accepted the position of executive assistant to the Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation at Northwestern University.
2017 SUZANNAH WENZEL graduated from Aurora University with a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. Wenzel studied psychology at North Central and works as a board-certified behavior analyst for Stepping Stones Kids Therapy.
2018 CARA HOWELL has been promoted to senior digital specialist at North Central.
2019 CONNOR BANGS has been promoted to assistant director of alumni and parent engagement at North Central. VINCE OLEJNICZAK is touring the country with his fiddle playing quartet. The group is called Banjo Jones and Coyote Bones.
2020 MATT WAGNER has been promoted to first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Wagner has also worked as a battalion communications officer, public affairs representative, and headquarters detachment commander. Wagner returned from the Middle East where he served a majority of his time in Kuwait and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2021 JASMIN GAONA has accepted a job with Amita Health, an interfaith health system operating several hospitals and hundreds of medical offices. Gaona graduated with a degree in psychology from North Central. COURTNEY KURHAYEZ is marketing coordinator at Lightswitch Video, a video production company in Chicago. She manages and creates content for the company’s social media accounts and promotes a grant for young Chicago filmmakers. Previously, she worked there as an intern during the summer. Kurhayez is also the founder and performer of a band called Double Identity, which will release a five-song EP in 2022. Kurhayez performs with her twin sister ARDEN KURHAYEZ ’21. Visit doubleidentityband.com/home to listen to their music and view their tour schedule. FRANCISCO MARTINEZ has accepted a fulltime position with Navistar after graduating from North Central with a degree in mechanical engineering and working as an intern. He represents the first student to graduate from North Central’s engineering program. ANGEL RIVERA is a crime victims advocate within the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Working with victims of violent crime, Rivera assists them in receiving financial compensation for expenses they incurred. He investigates information and prepares final reports. Rivera was a member of Cardinal First and Criminal Justice Association at North Central. DAVID PARKER has accepted a new position as an audit associate for RSM US LLP in Chicago. Parker takes on the role of financial services auditor upon completion of his accounting CPA.
PANDEMIC TRAVEL BAN EXPANDS ALUM’S HORIZONS In December 2019, after graduating with a degree in economics and German, Emily Adams ’19 was ready to pursue the next steps of her life in Germany, as the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and traveling was halted, so Adams found a new opportunity in her hometown of Wausau, Wis. She decided to teach math to high school students at a Title-1 public charter school while implementing valuable financial literacy activities she learned from Ryan Decker ’07/M ’09, assistant professor of economics and director of the Center for Financial Literacy at North Central. “I felt like the students needed a more realistic and comprehensive approach to financial literacy that would have an immediate impact,” stated Adams. Adams continued using Decker’s financial literacy activities when she oversaw a summer program with Menominee Nation College and the Sustainable Development Institute. The goal was to fulfill objectives in the U.S. Dept. of Education Grant, “Preparing Native Youth for the Future.” Again, she found that Decker’s financial literacy activities not only met the grant objectives but also filled a need for her pupils, who were very receptive to the lessons. “The financial literacy discussions were some of the students’ favorites … I think because they also realized how important they are,” said Adams. In August 2021, Adams was finally able to pursue her original plans, and is now a Fulbright Scholar and Transatlantic American Fellow in Chemnitz, Germany. There, she is an English teaching assistant at a school for blind and visually impaired students. “Most of the students and staff have never met an American before,” she said.
“I approach conversations with creativity and inclusion for students and staff with visual disabilities.” She adds that she’s grateful for her prior teaching experience, which allowed her to have a greater impact. “In retrospect, the pandemic altered my post-graduation plans for the better,” she said. “I have been able to meet so many students that have brought out my passion for teaching and it has allowed me to personally encounter the need for educating students about financial literacy.” In the future, Adams plans to return to the United States and pursue graduate studies in public policy. BY KIMBERLY EGAN ’23
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ATHLETIC TRAINERS FIND SUCCESS IN PRO HOCKEY, FOOTBALL Women are breaking down barriers in professional sports, including two athletic training graduates: Kedryn Orrison ’15 Pilgrim (professional hockey) and Karen Ocwieja ’09 (professional football). KEDRYN ORRISON ’15 PILGRIM is an assistant athletic trainer for the Rochester Americans, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. She recently served as an athletic trainer for the Sabres during a National Hockey League (NHL) game, making her just the third female athletic trainer to work an NHL game. In her first year working in hockey, she has developed a passion for the sport— and the players. “Their personalities, work ethic, and all-out mentality for the team is a positive and contagious atmosphere to be around,” she said. “It’s never a dull day and the wide variety of injuries keeps me on my toes. The best compliment I’ve received from an NHL player is that he had never had a female in the locker room … but he loved how it subtly changes the dynamic and how beneficial my perspective as a female is.”
KAREN OCWIEJA ’09 was hired by the Carolina Panthers (of the National Football League) as an assistant athletic trainer. Ocwieja described her current job as busy and said that every day is different. Her focus is to reduce injury and risk to help football players get back on the field as quickly and safely as possible. “It goes back to the heart of athletic training, using medicine and using the best information we have to help an athlete maximize their potential,” she said. Ocwieja said she enjoys the small interactions, “like the players being excited to see you after a while or thanking you at the end of the season for all that you’ve done. It’s the small recognition that what you did matters. It’s the personal connection.”
STAY CONNECTED! Got promoted? Got married? Tell us about it! Send us an email at: classnotes@noctrl.edu
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WEDDINGS
IN MEMORIAM
GRACE BLACKFORD ’17 to RICARDO MORALES VIVERO ’17 on October 3, 2021 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oak Park, Ill. 1
(Note due to space limitations, only alumni relatives that were provided to us are listed)
JOSEPH PIZZO ’54 of Williams Bay, Wis., on January 28, 2021.
CAROL ANN SEDIVEC ’61 ABRAMSON of Prophetstown, Ill., on November, 29, 2020.
DAVID RABUCK ’63 of Takoma Park, Md., on April 13, 2021.
NEOMIA SENGELAUB ’45 BUBERT of Lombard, Ill., on January 17, 2022.
GORDON RASMUSSEN ’54 of DeKalb, Ill., on March 19, 2021.
THOMAS COOPER ’50 of Green Bay, Wis., on January 15, 2022.
VIRGINIA KOLZE ’56 RASMUSSEN of DeKalb, Ill., on February 6, 2021.
DANIEL CORRETORE JR. ’51 of Webster, N.Y., on December 18, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Rein ’54 Corretore and was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Robert Corretore ’53.
MURIEL FRANK ’50 RAYSON of Ottawa, Kan., on November 11, 2021.
ARIEL CIASTO ’08 to Rick Zablocki on August 7, 2021 at St. Thomas The Apostle Church in Crystal Lake, Ill. 2 GEOFFREY CLARK ’11 to Audrey Heiberger on November 13, 2021 in Elmhurst, Ill. Also in the wedding party were RYAN PIERS ’11, JUSTIN ZIPSER ’11, LUCAS MITZEL ’11/M’18, BRETT HULETT ’11 and BRIAN EVANS ’11. 3 GINA FISHER ’16 to VINCENT KMIEC ’15 on September 4, 2021. Also in the wedding party were AARON TIKNIS ’14, SAM MAMPE ’15, PATRICK ROURKE ’15, JACK BURCHETT ’15 and CONNOR RARIDON ’19. 4 ELIZABETH HALBMAIER ’14 to Peter Conrad on October 2, 2021 at Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park, Ill. The bridal party included SARAH KURFMAN ’14, JAMIE SOLUS ’13 and DAN MURRAY ’14. Also in attendance were MICHELLE HENNEBERRY ’16, COURTNEY DOYLE ’14, BLAKE SABATKE ’13, MONIQUE MARTINEZ ’14 WILLIAMS, LAURA AVILA ’14 PETERSON and REILEY REARDON ’14. 5 CLAIRE NORFLEET ’16/M ’18 to ZACK WEBER ’14 on April 10, 2021 in Geneva, Ill. The wedding party included KAILEY ROBBINS ’16 and JORDYN MCFARLANE ’17. Other alumni in attendance were: GINA FISHER ’16, BECCA JAMES ’16, CLAIRE WEBER ’16/M’18, BIANCA PERRY ’16, JORDYN MCFARLANE ’17, KAILEY ROBBINS ’16 and current North Central head coach DANIELLE SZMAJDA ’13. 6
BIRTHS KELLY ATOR ’11 BARDUSK and JAMES BARDUSK ’12, a son, Canyon James, on May 5, 2021. 7 DR. SARAH E. BRADY ’08 and Nathan Ahlberg, a daughter, Penelope, in January 2022, weighing 8 lbs., 3 oz., and measuring 20.5 inches. 8 KIMBERLEY CRAMER ’08 MALINOWSKI and Matthew Malinowski, twin daughters, Hadley Ann and Monroe Evelyn, on October 26, 2021, weighing 4 lbs., 3 oz. and 4 lbs., 8 oz. The twins join Easton, 2. AMANDA ZEMKE ’16 SOTIROS and DANIEL SOTIROS ’16, a son, Luke Andrew, on January 25, 2022, weighing 8 lbs., 4 oz., and measuring 20 inches. Alumni relatives include: MATT ZEMKE ’14 (uncle), NICHOLAS SOTIROS ’16 (uncle) and SARAH ESPOSITO ’18 SOTIROS (aunt). 9 REBECCA ARMIJO ’13 STONE and Daniel Stone, a daughter, Ruthie, on July 29, 2021. She joins brother Will, 20 months. 10 TRISTAN THEISSING ’09 and Robert Cure, a son, Michael, on April 26, 2021, weighing 7 lbs., 7 oz., and measuring 20 inches. He joins sister Anastasia, 3.
WILLIAM C. SEISER ’49 of Wausau, Wis., on January 8, 2022. ALEX JOHN SOLEY ’89 of Joliet, Ill., on January 11, 2022.
EMILY BELDING ’63 CURTIS on December 14, 2021.
HEATHER GRIBBINS ’93 STECKLING of Bessemer, Mich., on March 19, 2022.
JANET DAILY S ’95 on April 6, 2021. JOYCE FISCHER S ’51 of Onekama, Mich., on December 10, 2021. ROBERT H. GRAY S ’70 of Chicago, Ill., on December 6, 2021
JANET TERNER S ’58 of Virginia on April 17, 2021. *Corrected IN MEMORIAM listing from the Fall 2021 magazine
DOROTHY WHITE ’45 GRIFFITHS on December 5, 2021. ROBERT HARRIS ’63 of Riverside, Ill., on February 21, 2020. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Lekovish ’59 Harris and a brother, Richard Harris ’56.* SHIRLEY HOFMANN ’48 of Bella Vista, Ark., on December 7, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband James Ferch ’49. WALTER JELINEK ’52 of Wheaton, Ill., on July 21, 2021. MICHAEL JOHANNSEN ’82 of Evanston, Ill., on November 29, 2021. KEN KELLOGG ’63 of Champaign, Ill., on June 15, 2021. DON KOTEN ’51 of Syracuse, N.Y., on October 9, 2021. MARIE C. BOWERS ’82 KRUEGER of Palm Harbor, Fla., on October 7, 2021. MARIETTA HOFFMAN ’46 LAMBRECHT of Appleton, Wis., on December 19, 2021. DENNIS MICHALAK ’74 of Joliet, Ill., on January 15, 2022. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Vanderwalker ’74 Michalak and his son Kip Michalak ’06. BRUCE NITSCHE ’64 of Osprey, Fla., on February 28, 2021. KENYON PATTERSON ’50 of Dunedin, Fla., on October 4, 2021. His wife, Sally Maier ’49 preceded him. CARL PINNOW ’69 of Naperville, Ill., on January 18, 2022. He is survived by his wife Roxanna Hunsberger ’68 Pinnow and daughter Kim Pinnow ’00 Zeitler. RUSSELL H. PITCH ’69 of Paxton, Ill., on January 9, 2022. He is survived by his wife Phyllis Wojcicki ’70 Pitch.
NANCY CLAIRE BOULDIN ’60 CHAPMAN, 83, passed away March 15, 2022, in Flower Mound, Texas. She was married to Dallas Chapman for 29 years and spent the last 22 years in Texas with family. She became an English professor at her alma mater, teaching from 1990 to 2000 and retiring as associate professor of English emerita. Her legacy includes launching the campus Writing Center and importantly, building a vibrant culture in the center that ultimately benefited countless other students with informed writing advice. Her work mentoring Writing Center student-tutors led to their commitment to writing and honoring the liberal arts through their careers as teachers, writers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, journalists, theologians—among many other professions. She is survived by her daughter Andrea and her husband, Ken Johnson; son Matt; two grandsons; her sister Marie, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. A memorial Service was held April 2 in Koten Chapel.
Spring 2022 northcentralcollege.edu/magazine 3 1
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REMEMBERING DENNY Cardinal fan extraordinaire, Denny Michalak ’74, passed unexpectedly January 15, 2022, at age 70. Retirement allowed Denny to deepen his loyalty to the school that he loved. One of his retirement dreams was to be at every football game— he even made two trips to Europe with the team! At the end of each game he sang the “Alma Mater” and then headed onto the field with parents to congratulate the players and coaches. Denny was usually the last person to leave the stadium. Another retirement dream of Denny’s was to serve on the Alumni Board. He was always wearing Cardinal red and taking the opportunity to promote North Central to potential students.
Tributes from the Alumni Board: At Alumni Board meetings, he “Whether Denny was buying up “Denny was one of the most would come with a box of new new items at the Campus Store, dedicated and enthusiastic items (from the Campus Store) planning when he could bring his members of the Alumni Board. and encourage us to make a visit. granddaughter Allison to see When I met Denny and his wife His enthusiasm was contagious!” Chippy or singing the Alma Mater Carol prior to a marriage proudly after each football renewal ceremony at Koten LINDA EDDY ’65 ALLISON game, Denny was a loyal Cardinal Chapel, I was very impressed to his last day. A generous with their love and commitment Alumni Board member, donor and to keep their relationship alumnus and an amazing and strong.” supportive husband, father, and REV. DR. LYNN PRIES ’67 grandfather, it was an honor to know Denny and call him a mentor For additional event information “Denny’s undeniable joy and friend. Whenever you see a surrounding North Central and to register, contact the Cardinal, think of Denny and College was contagious and smile. He always reminded me Office of Alumni Engagement. inspiring. He had so much that it was a GREAT day to be 630-637-5200 gratitude for what the school a Cardinal!” had provided him, and was a alumni@noctrl.edu JARED BOGAN M’10 constant reminder to make the northcentralcollege.edu/alumni most of every opportunity.”
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CHRISTINA RICHARDSON ’14 ROUNDS
ALUMNI BACK IN ACTION Alumni Calendar MAY 2022 - OCTOBER 2022 Baseball Alumni Day Sunday, May 1 North Central College, Naperville
Commencement Weekend Friday - Sunday, May 6 - 8
Denver Alumni Social WOMEN’S ALUMNI SOCCER MATCH
ALUMNI AND COACHES CATCH UP IN PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA.
Friday, May 20 Number 38, Denver
Craig E. Fischer Wrestling Golf Outing Saturday, June 18 Tamarack Golf Club, Naperville
Cubs v. Braves Saturday, June 18 Cubby Bear 11:30 a.m. pregame; Wrigley Field 1:20 p.m. game; Chicago
Summer Ale Fest Saturday, July 9 Naper Settlement, Naperville
Golf Team Alumni Golf Outing LYNN PRIES ’67 RE-ENACTS WEDDING CEREMONY HE OFFICIATED FOR BROCK ’05 AND JENA RUTTER ’05 MCKINNON
DREW O’NEILL ’19, HAILEY DAMMEIER ’19, MICHAEL BROWER ’19 & LAUREN WEIL ’19
Monday, July 25 Naperville Country Club, Naperville
Cross Country and Track & Field Picnic Saturday, August 6 North Central College, Naperville
Quarterback Club Golf Outing Monday, August 8 White Eagle Golf Club, Naperville
Women’s Bowling Fundraiser Saturday, August 13 Bowlero, Naperville
Cubs at Brewers CARDINAL COUPLES DATE NITE IN NAPERVILLE
S a ve th e da te ! NOR TH
REUNION YEARS: 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017
NTRAL C
22
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Men’s Alumni Soccer Game
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WINTER ALE FEST IN NAPERVILLE
Saturday, August 27 American Family Field 6:10 game Milwaukee, Wis.
HOMECOMING SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 2
CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
northcentralcollege.edu/homecoming
Saturday, August 27 North Central College, Naperville
Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Club Golf Outing Monday, September 19 Aurora Country Club, Aurora
Alumni Volleyball Reception Friday, September 30 North Central College, Naperville
Baseball Golf Outing Friday, October 7 St. Andrews Golf and Country Club, West Chicago
Annual Cross Country/ Track & Field Alumni and Friends Golf Outing Sunday, October 9 Top Golf, Naperville
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID North Central College
30 N. Brainard Street Naperville, IL 60540
A first-ever White Coat Ceremony at North Central College marked an official rite of passage for 32 students who started their master’s in physician assistant studies in January. The traditional ceremony emphasized the importance of compassionate patient care and reaffirmed the students’ commitment to their studies. In addition to reciting the Physician Assistant Oath, students were “cloaked” before family and friends in the white coat that signifies their status as healthcare professionals.
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