Ripon Magazine Summer 2017

Summer 2016

VOLUME49,ISSUENo.2

RIPON COLLEGE SOCIALNETWORKS

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RiponMagazine(ISSN1058-1855)ispublishedtwiceannuallybyRiponCollege,300W.SewardSt., Ripon,WI54971-0248.PostagepaidatRipon,Wisconsin.Copyright©2016RiponCollege

POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoRiponMagazine,POBox248,Ripon,WI54971-0248

Editor: JayeAlderson,email:AldersonJ@ripon.edu,phone:920-748-8364

EditorialAssistants: MelissaAnderson,RicDammandMikeWestemeier

StudentAssistants: TessaDillenbeck’17, LaurenHince’18,MraThan’17andMeganSohr’18

Design: AliKlunick

Photography: RicDamm,JimKoepnick,KhunMaung’19,BeckyBajt’19

OfficeofConstituentEngagementandCareerServices: 920-748-8126

RiponCollegepreparesstudents ofdiverseinterestsforlivesof productive,sociallyresponsible citizenship.Ourliberalarts andsciencescurriculumand residentialcampuscreatean intimatelearningcommunityin whichstudentsexperiencea richlypersonalizededucation.

4

Catalyst:ANewCurriculum

RiponCollege’sliberalartsandscienceseducationhasalwaysprovided itsgraduateswithabroadbaseofknowledgeandexperiencetotakeinto theworld.Now,arevampedcurriculumwillprovideevenmoreofwhat employersarelookingfornow—flexibilityandadaptableskills.

6

Commencement2016

Withlaughter,tearsandachargetoapproachtheirliveswithpassion, Ripon’snewestgraduatesreceivedtheirdiplomasMay15.

10

Alumniprofiles

Aliberalartsandscienceseducationpromoteslifelonglearningand theabilitytouseskillsinavarietyofsettingsandcareeropportunities. ReadhowthreeRiponCollegealumnihavesucceededinuniqueways.

16

Whatwasyourfavoritemeal?

No,collegefoodwasn’tbadatRipon.Infact,thememoriesofmealson campusarequitefondandnostalgic.Riponalumniofallerassharetheir favoritefoodsthatsustainedthem—bodyandsoul—throughtheirtime oncampus.

20

Inspiringdemocracyinhishomeland

ThroughwritingsandeditorialspublishedinhisnativelandofBurkina Faso,AssociateProfessorofEducationalStudiesTouorizouHervéSomé helpsinspireanewdemocracyandhiscountry’sfirstfreeelection.

PHOTO: Ared-headedwoodpeckerinthewoodsnearScottHallon theRiponCollegecampus.PhotobyKhunMaung’19ofYangon,Myanmar.

CoverillustrationbyTaylorNaslund

Gettingoutofourcomfortzone

languageclassthat hopefully taughtmystudents muchmorethanjusthowtopronouncethemenucorrectly.

Riponwillofferanewcurriculumnextfall.Andyou shouldtakenotice.Anewcurriculumcomesalongonce, orpossiblytwice,agenerationandisatthecenterofour institutionalmission.

Ourfacultybuckleddownlastfallformarathonmeetings, retreatsandvisitstoothercollegecampusesanddevised anewrequiredsetofcoursesthatalreadyisbeinglooked uponasinnovativeamongnationalliberalartscolleges.The resultisthenewCatalystcurriculumthatwilldebutfor incoming first-yearstudentsinAugust2016.

WhenI firstgotmyPh.D.,allIwantedtodowasteach internationalrelations.Butinmy firstjobasaprofessor, Iwasaskedtodoalotmorethanjustteachinmyarea ofexpertise.Somesemestersitwasintroductorypolitical sciencecourses,andinothers,IofferedAmericanpolitics primersorastateandlocalgovernmentclass.Butinmy thirdyearasaprofessor,Igotaveryunusualrequest.

Theprovostcalledmeintohisofficenotlongbeforethe beginningofthesemesterwithaspecialplea:“Theperson wehadhiredtoteachintroductoryItalianwillnotbeable tobeherethisyear.Wouldyoubeabletodoit?” Myreply, “Iamapoliticalscienceprofessor.I’venevertaughtItalian before.” “Yeah,Iknowthat,” saidtheprovost.“Butyou speakItalian,don’tyou?” “Ido,” Ireplied.“ButIdon’tknow howtoteachItalian.” “Well,” hesaid,“Whydon’tyouteach Italianasifyouwereapoliticalscienceprofessor?”

AndIdid.Inadditiontolearningnumbers(“Uno!Due! Tre!”)andorderinginarestaurant(“Unapizza,perfavore. Grazie!”),theclassalsoreadnewspaperarticlesaboutItaly’s thenDonaldTrump-likePrimeMinisterSilvioBerlusconi, watched filmsbythegreatdirectorNanniMorettiwith overtlypoliticalthemes,anddiscussedItaly’sroleinWorld WarII.Theresultwasaverydifferentkindofintroductory

TheCatalystprogramcreatesa five-coursesetofclasses thatwillhelpdeliveressentialskills(writing,quantitative reasoning,interculturalcompetence,interdisciplinary inquiryandproblem-solving)toourstudents.Thenewcore classeswillcomplementourmoretraditionalcomprehensive liberalartsandsciencesmajorsandminors.Facultyfrom alldisciplineswillteachthenewcourses.Andstudentswill takeoneCatalystcourseineachoftheir first fivesemesters atRipon.

Whatthismeansisthatphilosophy(oryounamethe major)professorsmayoccasionallybeteachingcoursesthat don’tjustcovermaterialintheirdisciplinebutmightalso emphasizequantitativereasoning.Historyprofswillstill covermedievalandRenaissancestudies,buttheirCatalyst seminarnowwillbeinfusedwithcollaborativeproblemsolvingskills.Inotherwords,thepoliticalscienceprofessor mightbeteachingItalian,andthepotentialforinnovationin theclassroomisstrong.

Ourfacultyhastakenupthechallengesbydevelopingnew coursesandexperimentingwitholdones.Somewillbetrying outpioneeringteachingmethodsinordertocontinuallypush themselvesaswellasourstudentstoliveuptoourmission toprepareourgraduatesfor“livesofproductive,socially responsiblecitizenship” inthe21st century.

ZachP.Messitte,President

Renovation project is offand running

ShovelshitthegroundinaceremonialgroundbreakingApril21forthemulti-milliondollarprojectto renovateandexpandtheJ.M.Storzerathletic,healthandwellnessfacilities.Thetargetcompletiondatefor theprojectisthefallof2017,withacostofabout$20million.

“Ourstudentsandcommunitysoonwillbeabletoenjoythisstate-of-the-artcenter,” saidZachMessitte, presidentofRiponCollege.“Ripon theCollegeandcommunity iscommittedtohealthyliving, exerciseandthespiritofcompetition,andwiththisbuildingwewillsoonhaveoneofthepremier facilitiesinthestate.”

PreparationworkofficiallybeganMay23.ConstructionbeganJune27andisbeingcompletedinphases:

• Fieldhouseconstruction: May2016toJuly2017

• TartanGymrenovation: May2016toNov.2016

• NorthAtriumexpansion: May2016toDec.2016

• Remodelsconstruction: March2017toAug.2017

Theprojectisbeing financedusingamixofpublicandprivateloansandphilanthropy. Revitalize: TheCampaignforHealthandWellnessatRiponCollegeiscontinuingtosecuregifts towardthe financing.

Formoreinformationandwaysyoucancontribute,contacttheOfficeofAdvancement at920-748-8351oradvancement@ripon.edu;orvisit ripon.edu/revitalize

CATALYST

Newcore curriculum debutsthisfall

Catalyst,thenewcorecurriculum recentlyadoptedbyRiponCollege, beginsrollingouttothefirst-yearclass inthefallsemesterof2016.

Thetraditionalliberalartsandsciences approachtoeducationprepares studentsforlifelonglearningand maintainsthatexposuretoabreadthof disciplinesgeneratesskillsnecessaryfor successinanyendeavor.

Buttheneedsofemployersare changing.Recentsurveysofemployers consistentlysuggestthatgraduates cannotcompetentlytransferliberalarts skillstoprofessionaltasks,andfamilies increasinglyquestionwhetherliberal educationprovidesvaluecommensurate tothecost.

Employersmostvalueflexibilityand adaptableskills,saysEdWingenbach, vicepresidentanddeanoffaculty.

“Collaborationandcommunicationare highlyvaluedandessential,”hesays.

“Learning outcomesthatatleastfourin fiveemployersrateasveryimportant are:oralcommunication;working effectivelywithothersinteams;written communication;critical/analytical thinking;andapplyingknowledge/skills totherealworld.”

Hesays95percentofemployers prioritizeskillsthatwillhelpemployees contributetoinnovationinthe workplace,and95percentprefer candidateswithdemonstrated interculturalskills.

Studentsneedtolearnflexibilityand transferrableskills,Wingenbachsays. “Today’saveragegraduatewillhave eightto10careersinhisorherlifetime, andthe10fastestgrowingcareersin 2015didn’tevenexistin2005.”

ThenewCatalystcurriculumaddresses theseconcernswhileallowingRipon Collegetomaintainourstrengthin thehumanitiesandfinearts.Inthe firstfoursemestersatRiponCollege, studentswillcompletefourdifferent Catalystcourses,buildingskillsin writtencommunication,quantitative reasoning,interculturalcompetenceand interdisciplinaryintegration.

Thefifthsemesterwillculminatewiththe AppliedInnovationSeminar.Students willcollaboratewithinteamstodevelop andpresentsolutionstocomplex, multifaceted,open-ended,andsocially relevantproblems,usingtheliberalarts skillsdevelopedthroughoutCatalyst.

“Thereisanexplicitfocusonhighly valuedskillsandtheabilitytotransfer skillstonewcontexts,”Wingenbach says.“Studentswilldevelopskillsthat theyneedtobesuccessfulwhenthey

leaveRipon.Thepromiseoftheliberal artsisthatyoudevelopskillsforlife.”

HesaysCatalystwillprovidethe skillsforgraduatestobecomegood citizensandemployees;tobeeffective problem-solversandcollaborators; tosolverealproblemsinamentored environment;andtoallowstudentsto graduatewiththeirdesiredmajorsand minors.Everystudentwhocompletes theCatalystrequirementswillearna concentrationinappliedinnovation.

“Thisconcentrationwillprovidestudents withtheabilitytosolvecomplex problems,workinteams,communicate clearly,thinkcritically/analytically,work withandunderstanddata,andapply theirknowledgetoreal-worldcontexts,” Wingenbachsays.

HesaystheCatalystapproachislargely uniqueinaliberalartscontext.Parents havelikedtheideaoftransferrable skillsandtheabilityforstudentsto demonstratethattheyhaveobtained

Facultyteam receives FaCEgrant

Aproject led byfourfaculty members from Ripon College has received fundingthrough a FaCE GrantAward fromAssociated Colleges ofthe Midwest (ACM).

theseskills.Studentslikethefreedom thenewcurriculumoffersthem.

“TheCatalystdistinctionsaremeantto provideextensivefreedomforstudents tocrafttheirownprogram,whilealso givingthemtheabilitytocomplete multiplemajors,minors,studyabroad programsandinternships,allwithinfour years,”Wingenbachsays.

“Catalystwillmaximizestudent freedomandopportunity;simplifythe requirementsandpathtograduation; rigorouslydevelop21st-centuryskills; ensurehighqualityinstructionin generaleducationandclearvalue inrequirements;andcreateamore student-centerededucation,learning whattheyneedtoimpacttheworld;and translatetheliberalartspromiseinto assessablereality,”Wingenbachsays.

“Using Cognitive Scienceto Build a Problem-Solving Core Curriculum at Ripon College” is being developed byKristine Kovack-Lesh, associate professorofpsychologyand chair ofthe department;Travis Nygard, assistant professorofart, chair ofthe department, and registrar ofthe CollegeArt Collection; Steve Martin, associate professor ofcommunication and chairof the department; and Mark Kainz, associate professorofbiology.

Cognitive science research suggests students have difficultyusing skills developedwithin a disciplineto address problems in a different context (“transfer”). S tudies also showthattransferis improvedwhen students explicitlylink learning expectations across courses and intentionallyapplyskillsto openended problems.

The project leaderswill buildtheir expertise in using cognitive science-based strategies andthen help facultycolleagues develop seminars forthe Catalyst core curriculumthat effectivelyincrease students’ skilltransfer.

Megan Gannon, assistant professor of English, will teach “FairyTales and Contemporary Retellings.”

CLASS OF 2016

Newgraduatesdirectedtofocuson passion,teamwork

Inthegameofsoccerandinthegameoflife,sayslegendary women’ssoccercoachPiaSundhage,passionandteamwork areimportantforachievingthebest.

Sundhage,wholedtheU.S.women’snationalsoccerteam totwoOlympicgoldmedalsandnowcoachesthewomen’s nationalsoccerteaminhernativeSweden,spoketothe2016 graduatesofRiponCollegeastheCommencementspeaker andearlierinthedayattheSeniorBrunchandForum.

ThethemeforRipon’s150thCommencementwas“Women, AthletesandCoaches:AHalf-CenturyofProgress” and highlightedthechangesinwomen’ssportssincethe introductionin1972ofTitleIX,thefederalcivilrightslaw thatprohibitssexdiscriminationineducation.

“Iwon’tgiveyouanyadvice,” Sundhagetoldthegraduates. “Youhaveto figureoutyourselfhowto findwhatyou’re lookingforoutintheworld.Youhaveabigchancetoreach yourgoalsifyouhavepassion.”

Sheadded:“Socceristeamwork;lifeisteamwork.Different peopleworkwelltogether.Diversityisimportant.Beingalone,

JusttheStats

CLASS OF 2016: 151

DOUBLE MAJORS: 42

MOST POPULAR MAJORS:

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, BIOLOGY, EXERCISE

SCIENCE, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, HISTORY,

ENGLISH, PSYCHOLOGY

SENIOR CLASS GIFT: $1,964

CLASS PARTICIPATION: 70 PERCENT

I’mprettymuchuseless.Workingtogetherwithothercoaches, Icouldbethebest.(Iaskmyplayers),‘Whenyoulookinthe mirror,whatdoyousee?Whatdoyouwanttosee?’ ”

“Ibelieveinpeople.Myglassishalf-full.Iputonmy positiveglasses,andI’malwayssearchingforgoodthings. Myphilosophyofleadershipistotrytolivetolearnand learnfromliving.Iwantedtobekind;Iwantedtobe humble;Iwantedtobepositive;andIhadtopracticethat.”

ElaineCollwasthesecondhonorarydegreerecipient.She foundedthemodern-daywomen’sintercollegiateathletic programatRiponCollegein1973.Sheorganizedand coachedwomen’svolleyball,basketballandtrackand field untilherretirementin1993.

“Women’ssportswerenotonmostradarsin1972,” shesaid, untilTitleIXusheredinwomen’sintercollegiateathletics. “Coachingwasalwaysadreamofmine.Therewereno womencoaches,soitwasafar-off dream.Teachingphysical educationwastheclosestawomancouldcometosports andthefeelofmovement.(WithTitleIX),somethingthat wasnotpossiblewasallofasuddenreality.

“Therewerenovarsitywomen’ssportsuntil1973. Itwas sofun.Itwasallnew.Thewomenjustwantedtobethere andplay.”

SeniorClassSpeakerYessraSankari’16ofOshkosh, Wisconsin,offeredafewwordsofwisdomfromherfaith’s Koran,translatedto:“Foreveryhardshiptherecomesease.”

“Therewillbestruggles(forus),butwithdedicationand commitment,wewillgetthroughit,” shesaid.“Wehave becomestrong,morerefinedandmoreintelligentversions ofourselves. Wemust fightandliveandnevergiveup onthevalueswehavelearnedhere.Takethisdegreeanddo somethingrelevantandpositivewithit.Yourdreamswill guideyouonyourpath.”

CLASS OF 2016

Anending… andabeginning

OnacoolandsunnyMayafternoon, 151 newgraduatesofRiponCollege werepresentedtotheworld.Joyandpride aboundedasthegraduates,theirfamilies andfriends,andfacultyandstaffofRipon Collegeallcelebratedtogether.

FormoreCommencementphotos, visit ripon.edu/commencement

1. FamilyandfriendsgatherforRipon’s150th Commencement 2. Amortarboardmessage

3. SaraDriebelofNewBerlin,Wisconsin,graduated magnacumlaudewithamajorinhistoryandaminor ineducationalstudies 4. Takingalookatbrand-new diplomas 5. Anaanou“Leandre”SoméofRipon, Wisconsin,majoredinglobalstudies,withminors inbusinessmanagementandFrench 6. Likefather likeson:AndrewPiersonofNeenah,Wisconsin, whomajoredinbiologyandminoredinhistory;and MichaelPierson’88 7. James-MarkOoko-Ombaka, whomajoredinsociologyandminoredinpoliticsand government,celebrateswithhisjoyousfamily,who traveledtoRiponfromNairobi,Kenya 8. Capturing preciousmemories 9. MyatThinzarAungofYangon, Myanmar,majoredinarthistoryandaddedaselfdesignedmajorinclassicalstudies. 10. Junior marshalsAllisonAnnReinhardtofNelson,Wisconsin; JordanT.StiedeofPulaski,Wisconsin;LincolnWurtz ofRipon,Wisconsin;andNicoleZemanofSussex, Wisconsin,leadinthesoon-to-begraduates.

Lt.Col.JamesMegellasreceives newhonorattheageof99

HighlydecoratedandhonoredLt.Col. James“Maggie”Megellas’42continues toreceivenewrecognitionsof distinction.ThepostoffiinFonddu Lac,Wisconsin,Megellas’hometown just20milesfromRiponCollege, hasbeenrenamedTheLt.Col.James “Maggie”MegellasPostOffic

U.S.Sen.RonJohnson(R-Wis.) introducedthelegislationtorename thepostofficandPresidentBarack Obamasignedthelegislationintolaw inMarch.The99-year-oldMegellas, whonowlivesinColleyville,Texas, attendedtherenamingceremonyJune 14.Aplaquedesignatingthenewname isdisplayedinthepostofficslobby.

Megellasisthemostdecoratedoffic inthehistoryoftheArmy’s82nd AirborneDivision.DuringWorld WarII,hefoughtcourageouslyinthe landingatAnzio,inOperationMarket Garden,andintheBattleoftheBulge; hecarriedawoundedmantosafety duringoneofhisnightpatrols;andled hisplatooninasuccessfulattackon enemyforcesinBelgium.

Hehasreceivednumerousawards, includingthemilitary’ssecond-highest decoration,theDistinguishedService Cross,andmultipleseachoftheSilver Star,BronzeStarandPurpleHeart. Manyarestillactivelycampaigningfor himtoreceivetheCongressionalMedal ofHonor.

Lastfall,Megellasacceptedonbehalf ofthe82ndAirborneDivisionthe MilitaryOrderofWilliam,theDutch equivalentoftheUnitedStates’

CongressionalMedalofHonor.“This hasgreatmeaningtotheDutchpeople whovaluetheirfreedom,”hesaid.

Among his numerous international honors, Megellas said the renaming of the post offi is particularly humbling. “None of it matches the feeling I have right now, being born in this town,” he said. “I came from this environment. I was born here in Fond du Lac. I grew up here. I am a product of a small town that supports our veterans. It gives me a feeling of humility that’s very hard to express. I’ll never forget this moment.”

Hesaidthatwhenhegraduatedfrom RiponCollege,inonehandhewas givenadiploma“recognizingmeas ascholar.Intheotherhandwasa commissionassecondlieutenantin theUnitedStatesArmycallingmean officandagentleman.

“We always felt when we entered service, we were serving a cause greater than ourselves to deny the spread of Nazism and the protection of freedom everywhere.”

James“Maggie”Megellas’42

GinnyMcGehee’77 liveontheairfor36years

GinnyMcGehee(Condon)’77of Colchester,Vermont,wasinducted inDecember2015intotheVermont AssociationofBroadcastersHallof Fame.Sheisthelongest-serving full-timefemaleradiopersonalityin Vermonthistoryandthefirstwoman broadcastertowinthishonor.

“Myawardwasfortime,”McGehee says.“Ihavedonebroadcastingfor 36straightyears.”

AnativeofPhiladelphia,McGehee beganherbroadcastingcareerat WNBZ-AMinSaranacLake,NewYork, in1980,whereshehostedadailyshow andbroadcastlocalhighschoolhockey

andfootballplay-by-play.Whileat RiponCollege,shebecamethefirst womantoplaygoalieforthemen’s lacrosseteam,ateamthatbeatDivision OnerivalNorthwestern.

In1983,shejoinedWJOYin Burlington,Vermont.Shewasan afternoondiscjockeyforasister stationandhassincespentmostofher timeatWJOY.Sheandacohostbegan hostingtheweekday“BreakfastTable” programin1993,andMcGeheehas hostedtheshowbyherselfforthepast 15years.

“Iplayaformatthatisgearedtopeople whoare50yearsandolder,”McGehee says.“IplaymusicsuchastheBeatles toSinatratoBuble.It’sahappystartto theday.

“I’vegotthebestlisteners.Theyhave beenwithmethroughmywedding, throughmybaby.Theywriteme letters.Theyareverysharp.”

Shealsodoesanhour-longgardening showonceaweekwherelistenerscall intoaskquestions.

Shesayssheremainsloyalto RiponCollege.“Riponwasagreat institution,”McGeheesays.“Imaynot havebeenthebeststudent,butIlove Ripon.I’vealwayshadaRiponsticker onthebackofmycar.I’vegotfriends forlifefromRipon.”

GinnyMcGehee’77

Alumna’senvironmental workimpactingtheworld

Partnership,andshewilltakeupa permanentpositionatUniversity MelbourneGeographylaterthisyear.

HercurrentprojectsarewiththeGreater MekongProgramforCGIARResearch ProgramonWater,LandandEcosystems (WLE).Thefirstproject,forwhich sheistheleadprojectinvestigator,isa basin-widestudyof“governance”ofthe SalweenRiverwhichflowsthroughparts ofChina,MyanmarandThailandin SoutheastAsia.

“Whatwemeantoaccomplishwiththis projectistoassessthepoliciesrelated totheriverandhowtheyarebeing implemented—ornot—andwhat thatmeanstopeoplewholiveinthe basinandrelyontheriverasasourceof livelihoodandfood,”shesays.

Environmental issues in Southeast Asia are the focus of postdoctoral researcher Vanessa Lamb ’03 of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Lamb first traveled to Thailand after graduation and stayed for six months.

“Professor(George‘Skip’)Wittlerat RiponCollegefirstconnectedmewith aninternshipinBangkok,Thailand, attheendofmydegree,”shesays.“I hadworkedinEastAfricaonissuesof biodiversityandconservationpreviously inmyundergradstudies,andIwas interestedinbetterunderstanding howpeopleandorganizationsoutside theUnitedStateswereaddressing environmentalproblems.Butthiswas

myfirstconnectiontoThailandand SoutheastAsia.”

Lamb majored in environmental studies at Ripon College and received a master’s degree in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the University of WisconsinMadison. In 2014, she received her Ph.D. in geography, focusing on environmental politics, natural resources and development geographies, from York University, Toronto, Canada.

Shecurrentlyworksforthe UniversityofTorontoontheUrban ClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsia

Hersecondprojectincludesanother WLEgranttosupport12research fellowsfocusingontheSalween basinandbuildingtheSalween UniversityNetwork.“Thisincludes naturalscientists,socialscientistsand practitionerswhowilltakearangeof approachestounderstandingriverine ecologyandwatergovernanceofthe SalweeninSoutheastAsia,”Lambsays.

TheSalweenRiverprojecthasinspired Lambtocontinueimprovingthebasin andthelivesofthepeoplewhose livelihoodsdependuponthisriver.Itisa sustainedefforthatalreadyhasinspired furtherinitiativesinotherregions.

MraThan’17

NewYork,NewYork

VanessaLamb’03

Buildinganaestheticreputation aroundtheworld

Rugodescribesdesigningeach buildingasanintuitiveart.Each designisablendofwhattheclients want,withthegivenresourcesin mind.“It’sanemotionalresponse tofactualinformationwhilepaying sensetothecost,”Rugoexplains.Each buildingdevelopsitsownlife.

“Really,Ithinkofitallasa comprehensiveevent,”hesays.“What willitrepresentordo,what’sitssense ofplace,itsgoal?Itallcomestogether, it’sitsownentity,ithasitsown personality,notaninanimateobject.It becomesitself.”

Hesayshislargestchallengeiscoming totermswithourculturalworldandthe needforinstantgratification.“Wecan inventthingsdigitallyinminutes,”Rugo says.“Thehardestthingiswedon’tsee theresultofourworkforyears.”

“Idon’tfeellikeI’vehadajobsince Iwas26;IjustamwhatIam,”says SteveRugo’75,principalof Rugo/Raff Ltd.ArchitectsinChicago,Illinois.“I alwaysknewwhatIwantedtodo.”

Rugohasdesignedmanyrestaurants intheChicagoarea,includingall oftheaward-winningchefGrant Achatz’srestaurants.OneofAchatz’s restaurants,Alinea,isoneofonly14 restaurantsintheentireUnitedStates tobeawardedthreeMichelinstars.

ButRugo’sinfluencereachesfarbeyond Chicago.Hecurrentlyislicensed andinvolvedinprojectsinIllinois, Florida,Hawaii,Michigan,Iowa andSouthCarolina.Hehasworked

onmasterplansforprivateclubsin Illinois,FloridaandSouthCarolina, andprivateresidencesin18states, aswellasAsiaandtheCaribbean.In 2010,Rugowasnamedtheheadof theHousingCommitteeforthecityof Guri,inSouthKorea.

Evenaftermorethan30yearsinthe business,Rugosaysheneverruns outofideas.Travelingaroundthe worldkeepshimconstantlyinspired. Eachplaceheseeshasanewblend ofcultureandpeoplethathecould notfindanywhereelse.“Everywhere hasitsownkindofsense,”hesays.“It becomespartofyoursoulandmakes anemotionalresponse,andthat’swhat helpsmecomeupwithnewideas.”

OneaspectofhisworkthatRugo especiallyenjoysisthevarietyofthe work.“Youcanbesomanydiffeent peopleordosomanydiffeentroles,” hesays.“You’reanengineer,financial advisor,aninventor.Youwearalotof diffeenthats.”

Everydayisanewadventure,hesays. “Everythingisnewandhasasense ofwonder.Yougoonwithasense oftrustinthenew,afascination.It doesn’tgetstaleaslongasyoukeep thatfreshnessinyourmindwithout preconceivednotions.”

MeganSohr’18

Oshkosh,Wisconsin

Toseemoreof Rugo/Raff ’swork, visitr ugoraff.com.

SteveRugo’75

DiningMemories

RiponCollegeisaresidentialcampus,somealshavealwaysbeen animportantaspectoflifehere.Thecommonstereotypeofcampus foodisthatit’sbadandeveryonehatesit.Butthat’snottrueatRipon College!Weaskedforyourmostmemorablemealorfooditeminthe dininghallorcommons.Wereceivedsomeprettyfondandtastyreplies —alongwithvividmemories.

EasilymymostmemorablemealattheCommonswasinthespringof1971.Iwas thestudentheadwaiterfortheSagaFoodServicebothmyjuniorandsenioryears, andthiswasinmysenioryear.Somehow,thewordhadgoneoutaroundcampus, longbeforethedaysofTwitter,etc.,thattherewasgoingtobeafood fightatthe eveningmeal.Forsomestrangereason,noonetoldmeaboutit(until)myfriend, PeteKolakowski’71,whowasinchargeoftheoutsideareathatevening,cameback tomeinthedishroomarea,andsaid,“Greg,Ithinkwehaveaproblem.Itlooksas ifthereisgoingtobeafood fighttonight.” Iknewrightthenthatwehadaproblem becauseonthemenuthatnightwasnotonlyspaghettiasthemaincourse,butalso creampuffsandJell-Ofordessert!BothoftheSagamanagerswereoff thatnight,so Iwasincharge.Atthattime,thestudentheadwaiterworearedsportscoat,shirtand tie,sothatwaswhatIwasdressedinwhenIwentoutintothedininghallto findthat manyofthestudentshadcomedressedinraincoatsand/orplasticponchos.WhenI firstwentoutthere,somewereeating,butmostwerenot.Itwasmostlyquiet like thecalmbeforethestorm aspeopleseemedtobewaitingforthe firstpersonto throwthe firstcreampuff/whatever.Thatquietlastedforabout fiveminutes,during whichtimeIaskedthemtopleasejusteattheirmealsandheadonout.Mostjust snickeredandsmiled,andthen,beforeyouknewit,the firstcreampuff went flying, andthatwasallshewrote!Withinseconds,theairintheCommonswas filledwith food,andmyniceredsportscoatwasnotquiteasniceandpureredasithadbeen secondsbefore.Cleanuptookseveralhours,butIwouldaddthatanumberofthe studentswhoparticipatedinthefood fightstayedtohelpthestudentstaff cleanup thedininghall.Itmadeforagreatmemory,butIdon’tthinkIevergottoreallyeat anyofthedeliciouscreampuffsthatnight!

Greg Mercier’71

WehadfamilymealsinGreatHall;in myopinionaverymuchbetterway. Studentwaiterswouldcomewith trays,andtheservingdisheswouldbe passedaroundthetable.Riponisso muchlikefamilybutwasmuchmore so,perhaps.

George E. Despotes ’66 Cambridge, Massachusetts

Newbury Park, California Myfavoritemealwasbreadbarinthe

Hollie BeckerMealy’10 New Berlin, Wisconsin

I’ddragmyselfoutofbedeverymorningwithmyroommatesowecould getMary’sover-easyeggsonthe fluffywhitebread.Madethebestbrainfood.

Christina Mooney’13

Chicago,

Illinois

IalwayslovedLarry’sBananasFoster fordessert.Soyummy!I’vehaditat high-endrestaurantsanditwasn’t asgoodasLarry’swas.Andchicken nuggetdaywasalwaysafavorite!

Michelle CalderReppert ’06 Appleton, Wisconsin

Sodexo Bananas Foster

• Butter solids, ½ cup

Light brown sugar, ½ cup

• Bananas, 1½ pounds (3-4 bananas), peeled and sliced ¼ inch

• Orange liqueur, 5 liquid ounces

Vanilla ice cream, 1¼ pounds (5 quarts)

1. Note: If available, use triple sec in place of the orange liqueur

2. In a saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar until sugar dissolves slightly

3. Add banana. Cook until lightly browned

4. Stir in liqueur

5. Place one scoop ice cream in each serving bowl. Top with ¾ cup banana mixture. Serve immediately.

The firstyearforPickard Commonswasmy senioryear.Mymost memorablemealthere hasnothingtodowith thefood.Onedayin thespringof1963, Iwaseatinglunch, andJoanMaryEngh arrivedinthedining room.Iwas abletogetareally goodviewofher. Shewasrecruiting fortheMissWisconsin1963pageant. JoanMaryEnghwasMissWisconsin 1962.ShehadbeentoAtlanticCity whereshewas firstrunner-uptoMiss America1963.Shewasthemost beautifulwomanIhadeverseenin reallifeuptothatpointandisonthe shortlistforthemostbeautifulwoman Ihaveeverseeninreallifeanytime.It wasverymemorableforme.

George Hill ’63

Cincinnati, Ohio

Wellnow.Ihavetwomemoriesofthe Commons.Oneisoftheoccasional ghtwhichwasusuallystarted bysomeonewhodisappearedquickly andwasaneventcertainlynotenjoyed byanyone.Yet,theydidhappen,and theycouldgetratherenthusiastic (violentisjustabittoostrong).The othermemoryistheupper-classmen whowouldstationthemselvesatthe windowbenchonthestairs’ first landing.Thiswaswherethefreshman classladieswouldgetscrutinized. Certainlyinappropriate,butamemory nonetheless.

LarryMahoney’67

Thebaneofallcollegestudentsinthe’60swastheSaturdaymorningchemlab.I wouldusuallyrunintoAlJarreau’62intheUnionRotunda,where“TheHawk” hadsetoutglazedpastries,thefavoriteofwhichwasthecinnamonroll.(“The Hawk” wasMrs.LucilleHawkinson,thefoodservicehead.)

JimThorsen ’65

Idaho Falls, Idaho

White Bear, Minnesota

Foradditional alumni food memories,visit ripon.edu/ memoriesS16

LarryWessels

“The Hawk”

VeltaLatsons,thebaker,madesticky buns.Duringmyfreshmanyear, 1972-73,IworkedintheCommons andoftenworkedbreakfasts. Therefore,onluckydays,Iarrivedjust asthestickybunswerecomingoutof theoven.Perfection!Ihaveyettofind (ormake)anyasgoodashers. Theywerethebest—foodforthe gods(andmeremortals).

Michele Baran Wittler’76 Ripon, Wisconsin

Unfortunately,Icouldnotfindthe recipeformymother’s(VeltaLatsons) stickybuns.Iguessshedidnotbreak itdownsoitcouldbemadeina smallerquantity.Mybestmemoriesare theThursdaynightdress-updinners. Formalsettingandgourmetfood. Onlythingmissingwasaglassofwine.

Mara Latsons Warren ’61 Morrison, Colorado

DefinitelytheSaturdaysteaknights.I wasluckyenoughtobethe“ticket”gal toensureonesteakperperson.Second inlinewerethehomemadeglazed doughnuts!Icanhonestlysaythatwe neverwenthungry,andtherewasn’ta badthingonthemenu.The staff was alsophenomenal.

MaryWyman-Goenner’86

Clear Lake, Minnesota

Myfreshmanyear,Iworkedinthe kitchenonSaturdaynightswithJim, thecook.Hewasanex-sailorwitha saltytongueandusedtobeariotto workfor,alwaysinterestedtoknow howthingsweregoingwithmy girlfriend,MicheleBaranWittler’76. (Yes,thatMBW!).Afterhe’dgrillafew hundredsteaksandmeabouther,it wasmyjobtocleanthegrill.Bythe timeIgottoeatmysteak,Iwasso tireditwasallIcoulddotopickup theforkandknife.I’llneverforget steaknight.

MikeVerkuilen

Elgin, Illinois

IrememberSaturdaynightsteaknight. TheCommonsservedachoiceofsteak orchickenKiev.Ididn’tknowwhat chickenKievwasuntilItriedit!On anyothernight,youcouldgetasmuch ofthemaindishasyouwanted.But wecouldonlyhaveonesteakorone chicken!(Ithinkthefootballplayers gottwoservings.)Weweresoanxious forSaturdaynightsteaknightthatwe wouldgetthereasearlyaswecould fora5:00dinner.Itwasreallygood.

Robin Cellars Kupernik ’87 Arvada, Colorado

Nocontestatall!ItwasThursday night(dress-up)whentheyserved hand-carved“steamshiproundofbeef” withallthetrimmings!Awesome!That meal(pluslotsofbeeratTheSpot)put 20poundsonme!ButIdidn’tmind theweightgainatallsinceIstarted freshmanyearat5’7”and95pounds!

MaryLeFevre Chavez ’68 Charlevoix, Michigan

Thefirstmealwhichcomestomind istheshishkebabservedonSaturday nights.Also,themilkwasquite good—Iprobablydranksixglasses aday.Breakfastafteranall-nighter wasalwaysatreat.Andwhofrommy eracanforgetMartha,whoruledthe secondstablewithanironfist?

Dave “Beaver” Bunten ’73 Lake Zurich, Illinois

Spaghetti,withoutadoubt.Always servedonWednesdaynights.Asa freshmanin1964,Iworkedasawaiter, andsinceIwasalwayslatewouldgetthe worsttable—eitherPhiDeltaThetaor MerrimanHouse.I’dbringoutaplatter meanttoserveanentiretableof16 students,anditwouldbeemptyafter thefirstfourhadservedthemselves. I’dhavetoheadbacktowaitinlinefor anotherplatter.After30minutes,waiters whoservedasororitytablenotonlyhad enjoyedthescenerybutwereontheir waytoTheSpotwhileIwasservingthe fourthplatteramidstjocksclamoring formoresecondsandextradesserts. SophomoreyearIwisedup,servedthe sororities,metaniceItaliangirl(Carolyn Calandra’69),beenmarriedfor48years, andweonlyarguewhensheserves spaghettionWednesdaynights.

Tom Selsor’68 Stoughton, Wisconsin

’76

Velta Latsons

Mike Mihalyleaves scrumptious memories

MikeMihalybeganhisnearly30-yearfoodservice managementcontractwithRiponCollegein1975with hiscompany,HospitalityUnlimitedInc.Originallyfrom Transylvania(currentlyeasternRomania),Mihalywasa FreedomFighterintheHungarianRevolutionandescaped toAustriain1956.HeemigratedtoBritishColumbia, Canada,andworkedinagoldminetoearnmoneytogo backtoschool.

HeattendedSanFranciscoCityCollegetocultivatehis culinaryinterestandtransferredtoCornellUniversity wherehegraduatedwithadegreeinbusinessandhotel administration.HewentontoworkforSagaFoodService, managedarestaurantinOshkoshfor2½years,andthen createdhisownHospitalityUnlimitedInc.RiponCollege washisfirstcontract.

Mihaly’smanyfondmemoriesofhistimeatRiponinclude workingwithhisdedicated staff andbeinginvitedtothe 25threunionfortheClassof1978.Hisfavoritemealto prepareforstudentswasbabybackribs,andheremembers thattheSaturdaynightSteakNightwasalwaysahugehit. Mihalyisgratefulforthewayheandhiswife,Penny,were includedintheRiponCollegecommunityandforthemany friendstheymade.

“Onthelighterside,onedayasmallpackagearrivedatthe Commonswithanoteofapology,sentanonymouslyby someonewhoseconscienceapparentlygotthebetterofhim orherforliftingtheenclosedspoonfromthePresidents DiningRoomsomeyearsearlier!”hesays.

Inthefallof1970,wehadanewmanageroffoodservice, MikeMihaly,attheCommons.Ingeneral,Ifeltthefoodwas prettygood,includingthingslikesteakandshishkebabs everySaturdaynight.(Theworstluncheswerewhena cheesegreasywasthebestoption.)

TheCommonsoffeedspecialmealsforsportsteamsbefore gamesormeets.Thefoodmanagermadeaproposaltothe teams.Hewouldtreatthefirstsportteamtowinconference toameal.Theswimteammanagedtowinconferencethat winter.And,boy,didhekeephispromise!Afterbeing seatedinthePresident’sRoom,welookeddownatthe gold-rimmedplatesandquestionedifwewerestillinthe Commons.Themealstartedwithshrimpcocktailand progressedupwardfromthere.Needlesstosay,wewere quiteimpressed.

JustabouteverymealatRiponCollegewasexcellentduring MikeMihaly’stenureasfoodservicedirector.However,the creampufffromthebakerydepartmentweretheverybest. Myfuturemother-in-law,MargaretNaparalla,wasoneof thoseterrificbakersduringthattime.Metherdaughter,Sue, whowasastudentatUW-Oshkosh,andtherestishistory.

Jack Bennett ’71

Plover, Wisconsin

MybestmemorywaswhenIwasamerefacultybrat.(Father wasRobertYoung,formerdeanofstudentsandprofessorof psychology.)Iwouldroller-skateallovercampuswithmy bestfriendandstopintoThePubforasoft-serveswirlice creamcone.Later,asastudent,IlovedeverysoupthatMike Mihalyevermade.ThatwasmyfirststopintheCommonsat luncheachday.

MindyYoung ’91

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Three memories come to mymind:

•Steaknight–Saturdaynightandwemadespecialsauce withketchupandmayonnaiseforthesteakfries.

•MikeMihalyusedtofeaturerecipesfromhome—thefood itemwouldbemade,recipeswouldbeprovidedbyparents, andanotewouldbemadeforthatfooditemnamingthe studentandtheparentthatprovidedtherecipe.

•Onspecialoccasions,themostamazingicesculptures weremade.

Barb Williams Clay’83 Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Mike Mihaly

Facultymemberleadsarevolution fromacrosstheworld

Hervé Somé’s opinion pieces, “General Diendere’s game is up!” published on Sept. 18, 2015, and “Amnesty or amnesia for the coup plotters: what an insult to the intelligence of the people!”

on Sept. 24, 2015, both appeared in Lefaso.net, and on Netafrique.net, a West African online journal.

EvenwhilelivingintheUnitedStates, TouorizouHervéSoméisstillaleader ofapoliticalrevolutionthat hasbroughtdemocracytohishome countryofBurkinaFasoinAfrica. HefrequentlywritesforLeFaso.net, anaward-winninginformationportal whoseitemsoftenarerepublished bymainstreamnewssitessuchas RFI,France24andJeuneAfrique.An editorialonLefaso.netcitedSoméas “theheroofthepopularuprising.” (http://goo.gl/172poR)

Soméhasbeenanassociateprofessor ofeducationalstudiesatRiponCollege forsixyears.Mostofhisclassesfocus onthephilosophyandsociologyof education.Buthealsodrawsfromhis politicalexperiencestoleadhisclasses inexamininghoweducationisbeing transformedbyglobalization.

Hervé Somé

TensionshadbuiltupinBurkinaFaso, Somésays,asthepresidenttherehad beenrulingthecountryfor27years.

“When(thepresident)cametopower,he saidhewantedtobringdemocracytothe country,butinsteadhesetupstructures thatlookedlikedemocraticstructures butactuallyweren’t,”Somésays.“When heranastheonlycandidate,hegot20 percent,andstillwon.”

Thatpresidentrepeatedlychanged theconstitutioninordertostayin power.“Theconstitutionisnotlikea bazar,”Somésays.“Itisnotaplaceto goandnegotiate.Theangerstartedto runhighinthecountry,butwewere notorganizedenoughtofaceupto thesituation.”

Soméwishedtoexposethecorruption withintheregime,buthehadtobe careful:“In1988,therewasajournalist whowasverysharp.Hewasfighting fordemocracybutwaskilledfor exposingcorruption.”Soatfirst,Somé remainedundergroundwhenhewrote articlesarguingfordemocracy.

“The people in the country needed some kind of vanguard, but I was not the only person,” he says. “There

were many people all over the country who contributed.”

Fordecades,Soméwroteaboutpolitics andthegovernmentbecausepeople wereencouraginghimtokeepwriting. “Writingisnotahugethinginour country;it’saculturalthing.But (people)likereading,”hesays.

In2014,Soméwentpublicwithhis article“MediationbetweenPower andOpposition.”Hereceivedsome anonymousthreats.“NowthatIhave gonepublic,Ihavetobecareful,”he says.“Naivetyisnolongerallowed.”

By2015,thepresident’sterm,basedon thelatestconstitutionalchanges,was finished.ThepeopleofBurkinaFaso refusedtolethimremaininpower, Somésays.BurkinaFasohaditsfirst freeelectionearlierthisyear.

“Ithinkthatthefutureisbright,butit doesn’tmeanthatwewillwinsitting onalawnchair,”Somésays.“People’s eyeshavebeenopened.Peoplearenow readytodieforwhattheyholddearest: democracyandfreedom.”

Somé came to the United States on a Fulbright scholarship and returned

full time in 2002. He worked in Maine and for eight years in Buffal, New York, before coming to Ripon. He says political activism is important.

“Politicsimpactsallofourlives,” Somésays.“Citizenshipisnotjusta pieceofpaper.Activismistheonly thingthatcansaveusfromdictatorsor fromwhatwedon’twant.Ateacheris apoliticalanimal.”

Thisfall,Soméwillbeonsabbatical fromRiponCollege,doingresearch “aboutAfricainthehighschool curriculum,usingtheAmericanhigh schoolsocialstudiestextbooksasa focalpoint,”hesays.“Iaminterested inminorityeducationandinculturally responsivepedagogythatisabout incorporatingtheexperiencesofall studentsintheteaching—experiences basedonrace,ethnicity,gender,sexual orientation,nationalorigin,family fundsofknowledgeandothermarkers ofidentity.”

LaurenHince’18

Blaine,Minnesota

“Ithinkthatthefuture is bright, but it doesn’t meanthatwewillwin sitting on a lawn chair. People’s eyes have been opened. People are nowreadyto dieforwhatthey hold dearest: democracyandfreedom.”

EmmaMcDonald’18,No.20

EmmaMcDonaldwasborntobea basketballplayer.Herfatherwasa coach.Herfather’sfatherwasacoach. Sheattendedherfirstgamewhenshe waslessthanonemonthold. AnativeofOnalaska,Wisconsin, McDonaldnowisenteringherjunior yearwithRipon’swomen’steamwhere shehasstartedall47gamesinherfirst twoseasons,alreadyrankingseventh inschoolhistoryinblockedshots(46) and11thin3-pointers(61).Evenwith thatearlysuccess,McDonaldknows shewouldn’tbewheresheiswithout herupbringing.

“Growingupinabasketballfamily wassuchaspecialexperienceforme becauseIbasicallygrewupinthe gym,”McDonaldsays.“Myparentsand grandparentshavebeenmybiggest supportersandhavetraveledthrough nearlyeverycityinWisconsintowatch mecompeteandgrowasanathlete andasanindividual.”

Withthetypeofcoachingbloodlines thatMcDonaldhas,shedidn’thave tolookfartogainknowledgeof andappreciationforthegameof basketball.Hergrandfather,Burt,was headcoachatUW-LaCrossefor20 years,whileherfather,Troy,coached atthehighschoollevelandservedas Burt’sassistantforeightyears.During theirtenureatUW-LaCrosse,they coachedPaulSabin.Sabin’sson,Ty,is nowaseniorforRipon’smen’steam, andjust110pointsshyoftheschool’s scoringrecord.

“Iamveryluckytohavebeencoached bysomeofthebestbasketballcoachesin thestateduringmycareer,twoofwhom sharemyDNA,”McDonaldsays.“Ifthere’s anythingI’velearnedfromlisteningto thestoriesthatmydadandgrandpahave told,it’sthatthebestwaytogetbetteristo putintheextraworkbyyourselfinagym withemptybleachers.”

Improvementhasbeenathemeof McDonald’sRiponcareerthusfar, bothindividuallyandasateam. Herfreshmanyear,theRedHawks went2-21,butthroughhardworkand determination,McDonaldplayedakey roleintheteam’sdramaticturnaround thispastseason,going14-10with theprogram’sfirstMWCTournament appearanceinsixyears.That12-game improvementisthelargesttheMWC hasseeninadecade.

“Thepastseasonwassomething specialforeveryoneassociatedwiththe Riponwomen’sbasketballprogram,” McDonaldsays.“Weworkedveryhard inthe off-season,anditfeltgreatto seeoureffortpay off.Ourprogram tookahugestepforwardandproved thatanythingcanhappenifwework hardtogether.Reachingtheconference tournamentwasabigstepforour team,butwe’renotdoneyet.Weare goingtocontinuetosetgoalsand, hopefully,wecanwinaconference championshipinthenearfuture.”

Asimportantasbasketballis toMcDonald’slife,so,too,are academics.Abiologymajor,she holdsacumulativegradepoint averageof4.0.Heracademicprowess wasrecognizedatthe2016MWC Tournamentwhenshereceivedthe prestigiousElite20Award,giventothe student-athletewiththehighestGPA participatinginhisorherrespective sport’sculminatingchampionshipor tournamentevent.

“IwashonoredtoreceivetheElite20 award,anditwasveryunexpected,”she says.“Iamproudtobepartofaschool thatstressesacademicperformancejust asmuchasathleticperformance.The student-athletesatRiponunderstand howimportanttheirworkinthe classroomtrulyis.Unfortunately,I knowthattheballisgoingtostop bouncingeventually,butIwillthen

havetheopportunitytocreatemyown careerandfuture,whichallbegins intheclassroombycreatingasolid foundationtobuildupon.”

McDonaldhopestousethatfoundation toattendgraduateschoolforphysical therapy.Regardlessofwhichcareershe chooses,RiponCollegehasputheron therightpath.

“Ripon has helped me challenge myself to improve every aspect of my life,” McDonald says. “My coaches have pushed me to be a leader on and off the court, and my professors are always there to help me. Ripon has helped me develop into a wellrounded individual.”

MikeWestemeier SportsInformationDirector

1. AndreaYoungwins state DistinguishedTeachingAward

AndreaYoung,assistantprofessorofmathematicalsciences, wontheWisconsinMathematicalAssociationofAmerica’s 2016 Distinguished Teaching Award. Young is the 20th recipientinthe25-yearhistoryoftheaward,andthefirst everfromRiponCollege.

Along with McKenzie Lamb, associate professor of mathematical sciences, Young also was part of a team of authorsforthetextbook Knots,MoleculesandtheUniverse:An IntroductiontoTopology recentlypublishedbytheAmerican MathematicalSociety.

Shealsoisworkinginanongoingresearchprojectinthe scholarshipofteachingandlearningofmathematicswith KathrynBruhns’16.Theypublishedthearticle“Chalkitup toExperience:Usingchalkboardpainttocreatemathematical manipulatives”inDecemberinthe InternationalJournalof MathematicsEducationinScienceandTechnology.

2.

selected to participate in special seminar

SarahMahlerKraaz,professorofmusicandCollegeorganist, is one of a select group of faculty members nationwide chosenbytheCouncilofIndependentCollegestoparticipate inaweeklongseminaronTeachingPre-ModernEuropean ArtinContext.“SightandSoundinRenaissanceandBaroque Europe(c.1300–1700)”washostedbytheHighMuseum ofArtinAtlanta,Georgia,June20–24.

3. Alumnus/facultypublication advances zebrafish colonies

Ray Allen ’15 of Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, Assistant Professor of Biology Barbara Sisson and Professor of Biology Bob Wallace co-wrote a paper focusing on zebrafish, something Allen studied at Ripon as part of the McNair Scholar’s Program. The program encourages underrepresentedstudentstoattendgraduateschool.Allen isenrolledinabiologyPh.D.programatDukeUniversity inNorthCarolina.

Allen’s research looked for cost-effectie ways to raise zebrafish,aleadingsourceforstudiesinbiology.Thepaper is available online at http://goo.gl/vMIo3m; and will be published in theAugust2016issueofthejournal Zebrafish

4. Formerfaculty, students earn Congressional Gold Medal

The Rev. Jerry Thompson, a former professor of religion and chaplain of Ripon College, and three alumni were amongthoserecentlyawardedacollectiveCongressional Gold Medal the nation’s highest civilian award, along withthePresidentialMedalofFreedom—inrecognition oftheirparticipationintheSelma-to-MontgomeryVoting RightsMarchinthespringof1965.

Thompson, who died in 2010, led a student delegation comprisingNoelCarota’67,RichardM.Grimsrud’65and GaryG.Yerkey’66toSelmatotakepartinthemarch,led byDr.MartinLutherKingJr.

Sarah MahlerKraaz

5. Ripon students earn national forensics honors

ThreeRiponCollegeforensicsstudentscompetedatthePi KappaDeltaNationalComprehensiveTournament,heldat the University of Kentucky March 17-20. They are Katie Warczak’16ofOshkosh,Wisconsin,RyanEdquist’17of Ripon,Wisconsin,andMeganRingo’18ofCrete,Illinois.

Warczak earned an Outstanding Legislator Award and PeerRespectedLegislatorAwardinCongressionalDebate; andQuarterfinalistawardsinExtemporaneousSpeaking, CommunicationAnalysisandEditorialImpromptu.

Edquist earned an Outstanding Legislator Award inCongressionalDebate.

6. Work on dam in Panama is completed!

Aftersevenyearsandnumerousservice-learningtrips,the damthatmanyRiponCollegestudentsandarearesidents have been working on in Panama finally was completed duringatripinJanuary.Thetripsandvolunteerworkhave beeninsupportofRiponnativeFatherWallyKasuboski. Kasuboski,fondlycalled“PadrePablo” bythelocals,arrived in the back country of Panama in 1988. He has helped build churches, schools and bridges. A major problem was the lack of safe drinking water and finding water at allduringthedryseasons.ThisinspiredthePadrePablo DamandReservoirproject.

7. Art facultymemberexhibits work,writes articles

RafaelFranciscoSalas,associateprofessorofart,participated in two group exhibitions: “Super Natural” at the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on view until Sept. 11, 2016; and “Luck of The Draw” on the Bubbler Gallery, Madison Public Library, from Jan. 8 throughFeb.26,2016.

He had four reviews published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaperduringthespringsemester;wrotethe coverarticleforthemostrecentissueof WisconsinPeople and Ideas, the magazine of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters; and was elected to the board ofdirectorsoftheMuseumofWisconsinArt.

8. AlJarreau ’62 part of White House jazz gala

AlJarreau’62wasamongahostofprominentjazzmusicians toperformrecentlyattheInternationalJazzDayAll-Star GlobalConcert(http://goo.gl/2S7j2S)ontheSouthLawn oftheWhiteHouse.

The April 29 gala jazz concert was just the third such eventattheWhiteHouse.TheotherswereunderJimmy Carter in 1978 and Bill Clinton in 1993. In his opening remarks,PresidentObamadescribedjazzas“drivenbyan unmistakablyAmericanspirit.”

9.

Students, professor collaborate on e-book about Frank Lloyd Wright

A student-written non-linear e-book about the life and work of Wisconsin-born architect Frank Lloyd Wright canbeaccessedathttp://goo.gl/W2BQA5.

Thefall2015class“FrankLloydWright:MasterArchitect, ArtistandThinker” wastaughtbyTravisNygard,assistant professor of art, chair of the department and registrar of theCollegeartcollection.

Hedevelopedthee-bookwithMyatAung’16ofYangon, Myanmar;AndieWinters’18ofLodi,Wisconsin;andHaley Anderson’19ofPineRiver,Wisconsin.

(Photo: Ryan Edquist ’17, left, Katie Warczak ’16 and MeganRingo’18)

AROUND THE CLOCKTOWER

10. Facultyartist showswork in South Carolina

Mollie Oblinger, associate professor of art, had a solo exhibit of mixed media artwork at Furman University, Greenville,SouthCarolina,whichranfromJan.11through Feb.10,2016.

11. Matzke introduces new course on public history

Rebecca Matzke, associate professor of history, taught a class on “Public History” (HIS340) for the first time in the fall of 2015. The class considered the various ways history is produced for public (non-expert) audiences, including in children’s fiction, documentary and feature films,museumsandnationalparks.Theytook fieldtripsto theRiponHistoricalSocietyandOshkoshPublicMuseum andtalkedwithexpertsthereabouttheirwork.Students alsodidmanyhands-onpublichistoryprojects.

12. President Fred Pinkham, 96, revisits Ripon College campus

FredPinkham,’96,RiponCollege’seighthpresident,visited campusJune17.HemetwithcurrentPresidentZachMessitte; Robert“Spud” Hannaford,professorofphilosophyemeritus; Wayne Larson, professor of mathematics and computer scienceemeritus;andothercampusstaff

Pinkham served as Ripon College president from 1955 to 1965.Heoversawthebuildingofseveralfacilities,including Farr Hall, S.N. Pickard Commons and Kemper Computer Center,whichwas firstbuiltasamedicalfacility.Hegrew theenrollment,grewtheendowment,substantiallyraised facultysalaries,andhelpedfoundtheAssociatedCollegesof theMidwest(ACM).HealsomadeplansfortheJ.M.Storzer AthleticCenter,currentlyunderrenovationandexpansion. “Ifeelgoodhere,” Pinkhamsaid.“Thisisfunputtingitall back together. I have a lot of roots here. It’s a good place. Ienjoyedit.”

13. Theatre professorpresents at regional conference

RobertAmsden,professoroftheatre,chairofthedepartment, and the Doreen L. ’73 and David I. Chemerow Chair in Theatre, presented an actor workshop at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Region 3) in Milwaukee Jan. 7, 2016. The two-hour class focused on developing characterization through sound-movement presentationsbasedonspeechesfromShakespeare’splays.

AveryKrahn,asenior chemistrymajorfrom MenomoneeFalls, Wisconsin,andAssistant ProfessorofChemistry

PatrickWilloughbyprepare amoleculesampleforstudy usingthedepartment’snew digitalpolarimeter.

Grantprovidesforpurchase ofchemistryinstrument

AdigitalpolarimeterwaspurchasedbytheRiponCollege DepartmentofChemistrythisyearwitha$10,000 PittsburghConferenceMemorialNationalCollegeGrant. Usingthisinstrument,upto150studentseachyearwill performlabexperimentsinvolvingthestudyofmixturesof opticallyactivemolecules.

“Thenewpolarimeterwillallowstudentsinavariety ofchemistryclassestostudyopticallyactiveorchiral molecules,” saysPatrickWilloughby,assistantprofessor ofchemistry.“Thisisexcitingbecauseopticallyactive moleculesarefundamentaltomanyorganic,organometallic andbiologicalmolecules.Thepolarimetryexperimentsalso willprovideinsightintothemirrorimagesymmetryofthe moleculesbeingstudied.”

Withoutthistechnology,theCollegehashadtopaytohave samplesanalyzedoffsite,creatingamissedopportunityfor studentstocharacterizetheirnewlypreparedmolecules.

“Adeepunderstandingofchiralcompoundswith respecttotheirpreparation,chemicalreactivity,andphysical

propertiesisnecessaryforrecentlygraduatedchemistry majorstomakemeaningfulcontributionsingraduate schoolorthechemicalindustry,” saysTerriFredenbergHolzman,directorofFoundationandGovernment Relations.“Withthisinmindandwiththeacquisition ofthenewpolarimeter,theDepartmentofChemistry atRiponCollegeisworkingtoincreasethenumberof opportunitiesforstudentstostudystereochemistry.

“RiponCollegehasalongstandingcommitmenttothe educationandtrainingoffuturescientificresearchers. RiponCollegeisknownforthesuperioropportunities availabletostudentswhohaveaninterestinbeingapartof faculty-mentoredresearch.Thestate-of-the-artpolarimeter supportsthismissionbyimprovingthecapacitytoprovide modernlaboratoryinstructionwhilesimultaneously enhancingundergraduateresearchexperiences.”

Warheroearned CongressionalMedalofHonor

FrankLaFayetteAnders1906receivedtheCongressionalMedalofHonorin1906forheroicactionson May13,1899,duringthePhilippineInsurrection.Thepracticethenwastoreceivethemedalthroughthe mailandnotfromthecurrentpresident;but57yearslater,Andersagainwashonoredatareceptionheld byPresidentJohnandJacquelineKennedyonMay2,1963.

AndersgraduatedfromRiponCollegein1906withadegreeinengineering;andwasthefirstpersonawarded ascholarshipbytheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison,wherehestudiedcivilengineering.Heservedaschief engineerwithUtahSmeltingCorp.,ascityengineerwiththecityofFargo,generalmanageroftheLuckyStrike CoalCo.,andconsultingengineerandsecretaryoftheNorthDakotaStateCapitolCommission.

HealsoservedintheSpanish-AmericanWarandasacaptainintheCorpsofEngineersduringWorldWarI.

HeisburiedinRipon,Wisconsin.

ChooseYourPayday.

A Charitable Gift Annuity is a great wayto support Ripon College and establish an income for life foryourself at the same time.

A Charitable Gift Annuity is funded by transferring cash, stocks or other assets to Ripon College. We will create a stream of fixed-income payments to you and/or a loved one for life. You can begin receiving payments right away oryou can defer payments until retirement or another future date and still take a charitable deduction foryour gift this year.

After all payments have been made, Ripon College will receive the remaining value ofyour gift.

Yourgiftwill help Ripon Collegewhile offeringyoutax benefits andthe securityof fixed payments foryourlifetime. Nowisthe time to lock in a rate based onyourage.

To find out more, contact:

MichelleLippart lippartm@ripon.edu

920-748-8817

ripongiftplanning.org

300 West Seward Street

Ripon, WI 54971

ripon.edu

Change Service Requested

Flash BACK 1900-09

WhenIngallsFieldwasafield:JohnG.Ingalls,Classof1876,donatedthelandwhichbecameIngallsField in1876.ItisnexttoSt.WenceslasChurchonEastFondduLacStreet.ItnowisusedforbothRiponHigh SchoolandRiponCollegestudentathleticevents,particularlyfootballandtrackcompetitions.

In1930,AthenianHallwasmovedtoIngallsFieldtobeusedasafieldhouse.Itwasrazedupon refurbishingofIngallsFieldinJanuary1983.From1983to2007,IngallsFieldreceivedanewpressbox, fieldlights,concessionstandandticketbooth,thankstonearly300volunteerswhopitchedintomake theimprovementshappen.Theyalsorewiredthefieldandre-builtthevisitor’ssidebleachers.Today, IngallsFieldisoneofafewfieldsinthestatewithamodernfieldturf.Anewtrackwasinstalledin2014.

In1939,theCollegesoldIngallsFieldtotheCityofRiponwiththeunderstandingthattheCollegewould stillhavetherighttouseitforathleticcompetitions.