RU: Winter 2017

WINTER 2017

THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY

TRENDY KANSAS CITY Rockhurst’s home is making headlines

LEADING THE WAY

“You need to find people who believe that if they do what’s best for the organization, they will be rewarded.”

MARK LAMPING, ’80 President of the Jacksonville Jaguars

WINTER 2017

THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS LEADING THE WAY Mark Lamping, ‘80

ROCK REPORT Faculty Profile

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Faculty Kudos

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Athletics News

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FOR ALUMNI Class Notes

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Alumni Q&A

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Career Center

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From the Chapters

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Alumni Awards

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In Memoriam

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A NEW LEASE ON LIFE

IN REMEMBRANCE

If you’ve never noticed Student Life, the large mural hanging in Greenlease Library, now’s the time to take an up-close look.

Rockhurst University says goodbye to two Jesuit leaders — the Rev. James Wheeler, S.J., and the Rev. Robert Weiss, S.J.

IN CLOSING Shatonda S. Jones, Ph.D.

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TIME AND PLACE Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016

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page On the Cover Kansas City, including the downtown and Crossroads areas, is building a reputation for arts, tech-friendly commerce and desirable living spaces. Photo by Jonathan Tasler.

KANSAS CITY COOL The word is out about Rockhurst’s hometown. Learn why the heart of the U.S. is raking in the accolades.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Jesuit Concept of Home INSPIRES INCLUSIVITY

BY REV. THOMAS B. CURRAN, S.J. PRESIDENT, ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY

“The whole world as our home...”

These words come from Jerónimo Nadal, S.J., one of the original companions of Ignatius Loyola. The expression captures how Jesuits and their companions are to be comfortable everywhere and anywhere as contemplatives in action. By extension, all who partner with us in our Jesuit enterprise of higher education should feel at home.

Today, I believe the description invites us to be intentional about inclusivity and diversity.

Recently, much has been said and heard on college campuses, in our workplaces, neighborhoods and throughout our nation, where many do not feel at home. Whether it’s because of one’s religion, place of origin, race, orientation, political persuasion, marital status, language or other reasons, we hear repeated stories of exclusion and alienation.

Here at Rockhurst, we are in the midst of conversations and town hall sessions to determine how we can be more inclusive. Last year, we began a series of conversations and events about racism, alienation and exclusion. Why did we initiate these activities? Neither because it’s the politically correct thing to do nor because we feared that we’re one flashpoint away from campus unrest. We pursued it because it’s rooted in the gospel message and in our corresponding mission as a Jesuit university. If I were to rephrase Nadal’s comment from five centuries ago, I would characterize it as this: no one is home until we are all at home.

And how can that occur? I contend that the best way to accomplish this is through the process of incorporation.

This requires reverence for another’s way of proceeding.

It begins with a willingness to hear another’s story. Hearing that story invites us to learn from that person’s history, experience and culture. This will help us move toward inclusivity.

This is distinct from assimilation, in which there is a level of sensitivity. This way of proceeding can result in greater diversity of numbers. However, assimilation requires others

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to live as we do. There is the expectation of a certain level of behavior and performance. If they comply, then others are allowed to feel welcome in our home.

Incorporation, however, requires greater efforts — the Magis, as it were. This means an intentionality and purposefulness in making others feel welcome. Mi casa es su casa, so to speak. Here at Rockhurst University, we are not thinking of a program, exercise or project for a period of time.

Rather, I am suggesting that our Ignatian way of proceeding be purposefully and intentionally focused upon incorporation. The efforts must never end for no one is home until we are all home.

How will we know we are making progress in our efforts?

It begins with a determination of our existing conditions and experiences. One might call this identifying our baseline.

Recently, we received a grant to study our efforts of inclusivity and incorporation. Some of these funds will be used to conduct an institutional climate assessment. This will provide us with data and information to inform and direct our next strategic plan (2017-2022). Other resources from the grant will be used to help schedule speakers, provide programs and design an Office for Inclusivity and Diversity. This office will complement the work of our Office of Mission and Ministry. The mission office here, and on other Jesuit campuses, was established for the express purpose of being more intentional about our Ignatian- Jesuit identity as the number of Jesuits on campus continued to diminish.

The mission office serves as the chief animator for being intentional about our Jesuit identity. Similarly, the Office for Inclusivity and Diversity, anticipated in 2018, will lead the efforts to fulfill Nadal’s description of the world as our home.

I promise to keep you apprised of our efforts and progress.

In the meantime, I ask for your support and prayers so that all who come to Rockhurst to study, work or visit experience “the whole world as our home.”

ROCK REPORT

WINTER 2017

THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY

TRENDY KANSAS CITY Rockhurst’s home is making headlines

Rockhurst, Helzberg Programs Earn Acclaim in U.S. News Rankings

THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY WINTER 2017 RU, the magazine of Rockhurst University, is published by the Office of Public Relations and Marketing.

Staff Sharon Alexander, ’11 Jeremiah Barber, ’16 EMBA Alicia Douglas Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA Estuardo Garcia Jennifer Knobel Tim Linn Michelle Smith Melissa Thompson Angela Verhulst Editor Katherine Frohoff Design JJB Creative Design Contributing Writers Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J.; Estuardo Garcia; Shatonda S. Jones, Ph.D.; Tim Linn; Michelle Smith Photography Katherine Blanner, sophomore; Brent Blazek; Ferris State University; Estuardo Garcia; Mark McDonald; Earl Richardson; University of NebraskaLincoln; Visit KC; Deanna Westhoff Send letters to: Katherine Frohoff Rockhurst University 1100 Rockhurst Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2561 or katherine.frohoff@rockhurst.edu Printed on recycled paper.

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nce again, Rockhurst University and the Helzberg School of Management were listed among the top institutions in the region in U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best Colleges List.

Rockhurst University improved its ranking on U.S. News’ list of best regional universities, coming in at No. 15 on the 2017 list, compared to No. 18 the previous year.

Two Helzberg School of Management undergraduate programs also earned acclaim: the management program was ranked 11th nationally, while the undergraduate quantitative analysis curriculum was ranked No. 7 in the nation, alongside programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University and New York University.

“Everyone, from our faculty and staff to our students and alumni, should feel gratified for these rankings,” said Doug Dunham, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs. “It is a recognition of the collective commitment to our Jesuit, liberal arts mission and to the ongoing work of preparing students to be lifelong learners and leaders.”

HEARD ON CAMPUS “For Mother Teresa, the greatest poverty is being unloved, unwanted and un-cared for.”

— Tom Gallagher, attorney, business executive and contributor to National Catholic Reporter, at a Visiting Scholar Lecture on “Contemplation in Action in the Life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.”

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Rockhurst University Leadership Series Welcomes Astronaut Scott Kelly

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he Rockhurst University Leaders Council will welcome astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly as the guest of the fifth Rockhurst University Leadership Series luncheon, scheduled for Tuesday, April 4, in the Muehlebach Tower at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

In his presentation, “The Sky Is Not the Limit: Leadership Lessons from a Year in Space,” Kelly will share a selection of photos of the cosmos taken from space and talk about insights into teamwork and leadership gained on his yearlong NASA mission, shared with his millions of followers in real time on social media. The mission, aboard the International Space Station, was part of a study of how the human body adapts to the conditions of extended space travel.

A limited number of individual tickets to the event will be made available in early 2017.

For more information, visit rockhurst.edu/leadershipseries.

Professor Deepens Students’ Compassion Through Theater

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usan Proctor, Ph.D., professor of theater, has been sharing her passion for theatrical arts at Rockhurst for 11 years. If there is one thing she hopes theater will teach students, it is to open their hearts and minds.

career. She loves the moment in theater when an actor identifies what a character is thinking, and realizes that it is something they themselves have never thought before.

“The arts are about communicating in a different way,” said Proctor. “For example, music is nonverbal, it’s raw emotion. And with theater, you are wearing someone else’s thoughts.”

One of the aspects of teaching at Rockhurst that Proctor said she enjoys the most is how students treat each other.

Early in her career, Proctor took to working as a stage manager and director over acting, not wanting to be the one on whom all audience eyes are focused.

“It may come as a surprise, but theater people are painfully shy,” said Proctor.

Witnessing a student “open up” is what Proctor finds most fulfilling about her

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“It makes you more understanding, more inclusive,” Proctor said.

“They are more kind to one another than any other group of students I’ve known,” she said. “Very thoughtful, careful and kind.”

While some of her students have gone on to become theater professionals, many have followed in her footsteps as educators of the art form. Devon Whitton, ’15, now teaches at Bishop

Susan Proctor, Ph.D., professor of theater

Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

“She believed in me and made me the director and actress that I am today with her contagious love of theatrical arts,” said Whitton, whose former student at Bishop Ward is now studying theater at RU under Proctor.

ROCK REPORT

MBA Students Help VFW Reach Out to Younger Vets

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The percent, as of 2016, of the total U.S. veteran population that served during the post-9/11 era, the largest such group of veterans.

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ince its founding in 1899, the Veterans of Foreign Wars has served veterans of U.S. conflicts.

But even with the services the group provides, it can be difficult to reach veterans of every generation, especially those of the post-9/11 era.

Enter a group of MBA students from the Helzberg School of Management, who for their capstone project in the spring 2016 semester worked with the Kansas Citybased organization on a plan to improve the way it reaches out to those younger vets.

The students — Scott McMeekin, Stephen Hoerr, Drew Higgins, Jayson Williamson, Gage Krieger, Jessie Yeagle, and Ken Stowell, all 2016 MBA graduates — first surveyed veterans for insight into how they felt about the VFW, regardless of whether they were members themselves.

The results revealed that even when young veterans are familiar with the good work the VFW does, they don’t always feel connected to the organization. The group came up with a full plan of measures VFW leaders could take, from strengthening outreach through social media to crafting messages that highlight “advocacy, camaraderie and community.” The plan not only led to a meeting with the organization’s top officials in May; it also earned a mention from the group’s incoming National Commander Brian Duffy as he accepted his new position.

From Reality TV To The Rock – Enrollment VP Recalls His 15 Minutes

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hen opportunity knocks, you answer. Even — or maybe especially — if there’s a rock star on the other side.

That’s how it began for Matt Ellis, associate vice president for enrollment. He was a student at the University of NebraskaLincoln when he was approached by the producers of a new show about being roommates with a celebrity who had enrolled at the university. But he didn’t know who until opening his door to see Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee. “I immediately was like ‘Oh no, this is crazy,’” Ellis said.

(From left) Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, student tutor Natalie Riedmann and roommate Matt Ellis, then and now, as RU associate vice president for enrollment

For six weeks, nearly every moment of Ellis’ and Lee’s lives were filmed for the 2005 reality show Tommy Lee Goes to College on NBC, chronicling the drummer’s quest for a university degree.

Ellis said Lee was perhaps more known for his hedonism than the humanities. But behind the scenes, the man Ellis said he lived and still stays in touch with was thoughtful, approachable and always made sure his college roommate ate healthy food.

“For as different as we were, we got along great,” Ellis said.

“He’s really a great guy. He’s down to earth and will just give you the shirt off his back.”

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In Life-threatening Illness, Student Finds Renewal of Purpose

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ot many high school students face the kind of odds that Rockhurst University sophomore Kori Hines did. And even fewer might have thought to make as much of the ensuing opportunity.

In January 2011, the English major was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a blood Kori Hines, sophomore cancer rare for children, which at the time came with a 30 percent chance of survival.

Through rounds of chemotherapy, radiation treatment and a cord blood bone marrow transplant that saved her life, Hines said her parents and family were always at her side, and she saw the toll it took on their lives and health.

“The care was centered on me as the patient, and I was taken care of very well,” Hines said. “But parents are so focused on

their kids that they don’t get to leave or don’t want to leave to help maintain themselves.”

While still a student at Olathe South High School in 2013, Hines established the Kori Cares Foundation, a nonprofit that provides care packages to parents and caregivers who spend so much of their time at the hospital with their children.

Hines has continued her work with Kori Cares and has taken on additional opportunities to give back, with leadership opportunities as a Finucane Scholar, service and giving chair for her sorority, and with the Relay for Life organized by students at Rockhurst and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, to name a few. Now, pursuing a career as a civil rights attorney, Hines credits her experience fighting cancer as a motivator for her life in service to others.

“I tried to stay positive, and since I’ve been better, that mindset has stayed with me. I promised myself and my parents that I was going to make life for myself and everyone around me better,” she said.

Faculty Kudos Margaret Bjelica, Ph.D., assistant professor at Research College of Nursing, presented at the Midwest Nurse Research Society conference on “Effects of Implementing an Educational Program about Hmong Healthcare Values, Beliefs, and Customs on Hospice Nurses’ Cultural Competency.” Additionally, Bjelica received a doctor of nursing practice from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Mandi Sonnenberg, Ed.D., associate professor of education, was interviewed by WDAF-TV (Fox4 News) about an industrial design session held at Shick Solutions for children taking part in the STEAM Studio, which Sonnenberg directs.

Sonnenberg also served as a panel member for a discussion following the screening of Most Likely to Succeed at Rockhurst High School presented by STEAM Studio, Gould Evans and Rockhurst High School.

For more faculty news, visit rockhurst.edu/facultykudos.

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(From left) Marium Choudhry, ’16; Risa Stein, Ph.D.; and Thomas Murray Jr., ’16

Risa Stein, Ph.D., professor of psychology, co-authored a paper with two students, Marium Choudhry and Thomas Murray Jr., titled “Dietary Weight Loss in U.S. Health Magazines and its Relation to Ancestral Diet,” which was published in the Journal of Evolution and Health.

Tony Tocco, Ph.D., professor of accounting in the Helzberg School of Management, was interviewed by KMBC-TV about a campaign to halt the sale of AMC Theaters to China’s Wanda Group.

ROCK REPORT

Occupational therapy students supported classmate Ruthie Reid-Mathewson (Front row, center) through her recovery from cancer.

Students Shower Classmate With Support

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t was nearing the end of the spring 2016 semester and Ruthie Reid-Mathewson wasn’t feeling well. She was experiencing some pain and other symptoms, but didn’t want to focus too much on them as she prepared for her finals to finish her second of three years in the occupational therapy program.

After passing her classes, she thought it was time to see the doctor. At the age of 33, Reid-Mathewson, a student, a mother, a wife, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“It’s not common for someone my age to have it,” Reid-Mathewson said.

“My oncologist told me it wasn’t genetic. It was just bad luck.”

Just before Memorial Day she underwent surgery and began cancer treatment, but there was another problem. Soon summer classes would start and nothing was going to stop her from finishing her degree.

“The end of my program was in sight,” she said. “I had been working on it for almost three years and I didn’t want to delay my completion. Plus, I preferred going to school and keeping busy. It took my mind off of what was going on.”

Inspired by her strength, Marissa Schuett, social chair of the Student Occupational Therapy Association, decided to secretly raise funds to help Reid-Mathewson and her family through donations from faculty, staff and other OT students, as well as through the sale of custom shirts inspired by Reid-Mathewson. In September, the group surprised Reid-Mathewson with a check for $1,200, a free stay at the Great Wolf Lodge Resort for her family and other small gifts. In total, the group had raised more than $1,500.

“I think she’s a superwoman,” Schuett said. “She has not missed a day. She always comes to school with a smile on her face. I couldn’t imagine having to deal with chemo, school and raising a family, but she’s hitting it out of the ballpark and keeps such a positive attitude.”

“I think she’s a superwoman.

She has not missed a day. She always comes to school with a smile on her face. I couldn’t imagine having to deal with chemo, school and raising a family, but she’s hitting it out of the ballpark and keeps such a positive attitude.”

– Marissa Schuett

Reid-Mathewson is expected to graduate with her OT degree in May.

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Hawk 7-Footer Says Academics, Athletics Drew Him To Rockhurst G

rowing up in Stony Brook, New York, Rockhurst junior Gabe Brown played a variety of sports — from football to wrestling.

Over the course of his ninth grade year, the exercise science major grew about a full foot, shooting up from 5’11” to about his current height, 7 feet.

That solidified Brown’s path, to a certain extent. After high school, Brown attended American University in Washington, D.C., for two years, playing mostly in a reserve role for the Eagles. Looking at his final two years, Brown said he wanted to find something different.

“About halfway through the summer, I wasn’t sure where I was going to go,” he said. “I was looking for a school with a good mix of academics, athletics, and location.”

After talking with men’s head basketball coach Drew Diener, Brown said he visited Rockhurst and that the school felt right.

As a center for a Hawks team filling the departures of some key seniors, Brown said there is a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie. And though fans might view 7 feet as an intimidating height, Brown said to his teammates and his opponents, it’s just a number.

Gabe Brown, junior

“Once you get to this level, everybody’s played against tall guys before,” he said. “Everybody who’s out there can play, no matter how tall you are.”

Pep Band Ready to Energize Basketball Fans

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awks, we’re putting the band back together.

At the beginning of the basketball season, 13 students, under the supervision of Tim McDonald, Ph.D., professor of music, got together to bring back the Rockhurst University Pep Band.

McDonald said the band, which hasn’t played on campus since the late 1980s, has tried to come back a couple of times over the last three decades, but it never worked out.

“We would try to start the band, but we could never get enough student interest,” McDonald said.

This year was different. McDonald and Gary Burns, director of athletics, who has also been spearheading the band’s comeback, gauged student interest in the band and

Timothy McDonald, Ph.D., professor of music, leads pep band practice.

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ROCK REPORT

Cross Country Mother-Daughter Duo Share Love of Running and More at Rockhurst

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fter coaching cross country at Hayden Catholic High School for 28 years, Kathy Strecker, assistant director of athletics and head coach of women’s cross country, decided it was time for something new.

Now in her fourth season, Strecker has impacted the lives of 66 Rockhurst cross country athletes, including that of her daughter, Shannon, a senior at Rockhurst studying prephysical therapy, exercise and sports science and physics of medicine.

“She’s not just a coach, she’s a role model,” Shannon said of her mother and coach. “She’s a good motivator, not just in cross country, but in all aspects of life, for the whole team.”

Shannon Strecker, senior, and Kathy Strecker, cross country coach

Coaching her daughter required no adjustment for Strecker as she launched the cross country program at Rockhurst in 2013. Rearing four athletic children gave her plenty of opportunities to play the coaching role in her kids’ lives.

But the mutual interests go farther than trophies and state titles for the Streckers. Jesuit values played a large part in their individual decisions to come to Rockhurst and be leaders in athletics.

“I’ve always coached Shannon,” said Strecker. “I get to see her more often because of it. Just having this commonality makes us closer.”

For Strecker, the NCAA Division II mantra “Life in the Balance” fits seamlessly into her coaching style, which emphasizes the Jesuit values “cura personalis,” meaning “care for the whole person,” and “magis,” meaning “more.”

Their familial relationship transcends to their athletic relationship through shared victories, and shared values.

The duo won a high school state championship at Hayden in 2012 with Strecker coaching and Shannon running.

“It’s great to be around people with the same values,” Shannon said of her teammates, the Rockhurst community and her mom.

“There, I was blessed to coach some really great kids, as I am here,” said Strecker.

The student-directed band has acquired 10 commitments. By the fall of 2016 they had 13 students committed to been meeting Thursday afternoons for practice. It started off with a the band. few flute and clarinet players, some “We wanted to make the basketball saxophones, a trumpet, a tuba, a games more of a social experience and French horn, an electric bass and a not just an athletic one,” Burns said. keyboard. McDonald and Burns hope “That means we had to find a way to to get more instruments and more enhance school spirit. Ultimately, any commitment from student musicians good spirit is going to be studentinspired and student-driven and it’s good once the band plays its first game.

The group is also looking for alumni to fill the ranks.

The Rockhurst Alumni Office has reached out to previous pep band members and invited them to dust off their instruments and come and play with the band for Alumni Night at the Ball Game, Feb. 2.

Any alumni interested in playing with the band can reach out to the office via email at alumni@rockhurst.edu.

to see the interest that they’ve given it.”

“We wanted to make the basketball games more of Burns, a social experience and not just an athletic one.”– Gary director of athletics ROCKHURST.EDU

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Men’s Soccer Nets Another GLVC Title, Final Four Appearance

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t might not have had the Hollywood ending, but the Rockhurst University men’s soccer team’s 2016 season nevertheless had plenty of dramatic moments and triumphs in its own right, including a sixth conference title and a second straight NCAA Division II Final Four appearance.

Opening the season ranked atop the Great Lakes Valley Conference and third among all teams in the NCAA Division II by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the Hawks played 12 games before taking a loss. By late September, the Hawks’ performance had earned them a program first — a No. 1 ranking in the weekly NSCAA poll. In November, the team captured a sixth GLVC tournament title for the program.

(Above) Junior midfielder Connor Mullen vies for a header against a University of Charleston player in the semifinal match of the NCAA Division II men’s soccer tournament Dec. 1. (Below) Senior forward Mitch Moncada and junior defender Filippo Santandrea visited Crossroads Academy of Kansas City during an NCAA community engagement event before the Dec. 1 semifinal match.

The team clinched the Midwest Regional title in Hays, Kansas, in a penalty kick shootout against Drury, then knocked Fort Hays State University out in the tournament’s quarterfinal round, punching their ticket to the semifinals at Kansas City’s Swope Park Soccer Village. Though the Final Four was not new for many of the players, competing in the semifinals as the hometown favorites made for a unique experience. Junior goalkeeper Logan Feldmann said whether it was working with local middle-school age students at Crossroads Academy during an NCAA community engagement event the day before the semifinals or taking the field at Swope Park to stands full of fellow RU students and alumni, this tournament felt like a homecoming.

“It’s really special to be able to be here,” he said. “Kansas City is a really supportive community and has done a lot for us, so it’s great to be able to return that a little bit.”

Though they would go up 1-0 before the end of the first half on a goal by senior forward Mitch Moncada, their opponent, University of Charleston of West Virginia, would strike back quickly, scoring two goals within the first 10 minutes of the second half to clinch the win.

“It came down to six minutes,” said senior defender Evan Craig. “We had a defensive breakdown in that span, but both of their goals were off good balls.”

The result left the team’s head coach of 46 years, Tony Tocco, still looking for his first national title with the program.

“It’s really special to be able to be here. Kansas City is a really supportive community and has done a lot for us, so it’s great to be able to return that a little bit.” – Logan Feldmann 10

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ROCK REPORT

(Above) Rockhurst University students and alumni filled the stands for the semifinal match of the NCAA Division II soccer tournament. (Below) Senior defender Evan Craig fends off a challenge during the semifinal game.

Senior outside hitter Morgan Rietzke.

Volleyball Continues Success With Another NCAA Bid

T But he said following the game that he was proud of how his team played.

wo starters and a libero returned this season from a squad that the previous year made the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II tournament and counted the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year and three AVCA All-Americans on its roster. Despite falling in the regional round of the NCAA Division II tournament this year, head coach Tracy Rietzke said he was proud of how 2016 — with its 13-match winning streak, 27-7 record, Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division title, and NCAA tournament bid — stacks up to 2015’s highlights.

“The kids gave it everything they had,” he said.

“It was great to win the West Division, and anytime you’re invited to the NCAA tournament, I consider that a success,” he said.

During and after the end of their season, a number of Hawks earned special recognition — Moncada was named to the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team, junior forward Kaleb Jackson was named a Third Team All-American by the NSCAA, senior midfielder Gianluca Bottoni was selected to the first team of the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American Men’s Soccer team, and five players were selected for the all-region teams by both the Division II Conference Commissioners Association and the NSCAA.

In addition, Rietzke said a number of players earned individual accolades over the course of the season — Alyssa Woodman was recognized as Freshman of the Year by the GLVC, senior Morgan Rietzke was named to AVCA’s All-America Second Team and All-Region First Team, and a number of players, including Morgan, senior Mattie Gray, junior Anne Hellwege and freshman Mary Rolf, earned spots on the GLVC’s All-Conference teams.

Looking forward, Rietzke said he hopes to continue the multi-year run of success for the team, even without veteran contributors like Morgan, his daughter, who will graduate in May. “It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “When your daughters play for you, that always gives you a shot of adrenaline. But I think we’ve got a strong nucleus returning, it’s just a matter of figuring out how it all fits together.”

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Life

A NEW LEASE ON

BY TIM LINN

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or generations, a trip to the Greenlease Library on the Rockhurst University campus has meant studying beneath the gaze of Eric Bransby’s 1969 Student Life mural.

Student Life features irregular-shaped patterns girding expressive figures that evoke the pillars of academic and student life at Rockhurst, all rendered in steely tones on a six-panel frame echoing the geometry of St. Francis Xavier Church’s steeple, seen from across the street.

The mural can be striking, if you’re looking for it. For many years, it has also been a constant in the library — something that for decades, many students might have seen but never taken in the details, noticing the piece as the background rather than the star of the show.

That’s OK, said Bransby, the 100-year-old muralist whose works pepper the Kansas City area.

“It needs to live,” he said of his chosen medium. “I love that people see this every day. An effective mural’s got to be meaningful and it has to perform a function.”

The six-panel mural, painted on Masonite with a wooden base, was commissioned for Rockhurst and donated in 1969 by Rockhurst University Library Guild member Helen Biersmith and her son, Ed Biersmith, ’63. Through the years, Student Life has been the backdrop for thousands of study sessions, group meetings and library events. It had seen a lot of traffic, in other words, and in certain spots, it showed. Several places revealed the wear and tear that is to be expected for such a public piece of art.

Functionality belies the fact that Bransby’s art has been the subject of a recent reappraisal. A graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, Bransby — like many of his murals — is a link to history, having studied under both American artist Thomas Hart Benton, known for painting murals celebrating history and humanity, and Josef Albers, a German artist known for his association with the Bauhaus’ austere geometry. He became a mural artist after joining the military, painting what would become the first of many pieces at Fort Leavenworth, but Bransby’s murals are also found at the University of MissouriKansas City, Park University, Liberty City Hall and the Sedalia Municipal Center.

Continued on page 14

“It really is filled with a lot of the symbolism of not only the Jesuits, but of Catholic and college life of the time it was painted. The mural tells the story of Rockhurst University in a very striking and very historical way.”

—Rev. William Oulvey, S.J., ’74

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FEATURES

(Above) Filmmaker Jay Kriss interviews artist Eric Bransby at Rockhurst University in fall 2015. Kriss died in October 2016 when his documentary on Bransby was in production.

(Left) Student Life is moved from Greenlease Library to Arrupe Hall in summer 2016 for restoration work.

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Continued from page 12

“I see a wall and it just throws me,” he said. “I think to myself ‘I have to have that wall.’”

Bransby’s own work often combines elements of both Benton and Albers with the symbolism associated with the mural tradition. In Student Life, that symbolism includes allusions to Thomas More, the University’s patron saint, and the Jesuit motto “ad majorem dei gloriam,” which means “for the greater glory of God”; the spiritual and intellectual underpinnings of a Jesuit education; and even an image of a priest in the middle of Mass, facing away from the viewer as was customary before the Second Vatican Council.

“It really is filled with a lot of the symbolism of not only the Jesuits, but of Catholic and college life of the time it was painted,” said the Rev. William Oulvey, S.J., ’74, the former rector of the Rockhurst Jesuit community. “The mural tells the story of Rockhurst University in a very striking and very historical way.”

Even among such a body of work, Bransby himself said Student Life has a special place among his works, and coming back to see it after all these years only confirmed that.

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(Right) Student Life is carefully removed from the west wall of the Greenlease Library in preparation for restoration work.

(Below, from left) Art restorers Donna Bachmann and Andrea Rinkel discuss their plans with Anne Pearce, MFA, associate professor of art and director of the Greenlease Gallery.

FEATURES

“It needs to live. I love that people see this every day. An effective mural’s got to be meaningful and it has to perform a function.”

—Artist Eric Bransby “There were six different elements and I didn’t see it all put together until it was hung,” he said. “But even today, it’s pretty high on the list of all the murals I’ve done.”

After a visit in fall 2015 by the late filmmaker Jay Kriss, who at the time was completing A Last Mural about Bransby’s body of work, University officials and alumni, too, recognized the significance of Bransby’s work both to art and to University history. Shortly after Kriss stopped at campus to film an interview with Bransby for A Last Mural, an effort to restore the painting began, made possible by donations from the Biersmith family and the Rockhurst University Library Guild.

In June 2016, a team of art restoration experts removed Student Life from its longtime home and moved each panel to one of the University’s art classrooms. Donna Bachmann and Andrea Rinkel, both former students of Bransby’s who had worked alongside him on several of his murals across the region, worked to first carefully dust and clean the panels. They then repaired a damaged corner before carefully matching the pigments using the methods and techniques of their mentor.

“You get a totally different perspective when you’re this close,” Bachmann said. “It’s very intimate. And we worked alongside him for so long that we had a good idea of the way he approached his work.”

They also went straight to the source, when needed.

Despite hitting the century mark in October 2016, Bransby was more than willing to give the pair feedback on their process over Skype from his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Once those touch-ups were completed, Bachmann and Rinkel applied a new lacquer coat, which restored the piece’s original luster.

“I think it’s made 100 percent difference in this painting,” Rinkel said. “This looks completely new again.”

The crew also had to address some structural issues that were causing the mural’s panels to warp slightly. Web Thomas, owner of Kansas City’s Frame Gallery, designed a new aluminum frame for the panels, which will prevent future warping.

All of which give Student Life a new life, ensuring that Bransby’s mural remains a part of study sessions, meetups and quiet time on the Rockhurst University campus for years to come.

A panel from Student Life is moved to Arrupe Hall in summer 2016 for restoration work.

At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, join Rockhurst University in a celebration of the Student Life mural and its restoration, made possible by the Biersmith family and the Rockhurst University Library Guild.

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In Remembrance REV. ROBERT WEISS, S.J., AND

REV. JAMES WHEELER, S.J.

BY ESTUARDO GARCIA

R

ockhurst University lost two important

figures in its history during summer 2016.

On June 9, the Rev. Robert Weiss, S.J., 91, died in St. Louis. On July 27, the Rev. James Wheeler, S.J., 93, died in Kansas City.

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FEATURES

FR. WHEELER Fr. Wheeler loved to teach. No one knows that better than chemistry department faculty member Philip Colombo Jr., Ph.D. During the 50th anniversary celebration for Fr. Wheeler in 2006, Colombo, who was at the time associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of chemistry, told the audience what kind of role model Fr. Wheeler had been to him as he began his teaching career.

(Above left) Fr. Wheeler began his 50th year of teaching at the University in August of 2005. (Above right) Fr. Wheeler circa 1970s.

(Above middle) Fr. Weiss presents Fr. Wheeler a plaque commemorating his 25th anniversary at Rockhurst. (Below) Fr. Wheeler got to know his students and even celebrated weddings for some of them, including Stephen Ziller, ’61, and his wife Mary.

“Although many of us at Rockhurst talk about wanting to prepare students who can teach themselves and solve problems on their own, I know of no faculty member more committed to this goal,” he said. “His insistence that students not memorize chemical facts, but learn how to solve problems is what defines him as a teacher.”

His friends and colleagues remember Fr. Wheeler for his strong commitment to education and for all his quirks.

Joseph Cirincione, Ph.D., mission and ministry office assistant, remembers what it was like to greet him.

Continued on page 18

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“Although many of us at Rockhurst talk about wanting to prepare students who can teach themselves and solve problems on their own, I know of no faculty member more committed to this goal.

His insistence that students not memorize chemical facts, but learn how to solve problems is what defines him as a teacher.”

—Philip Colombo Jr., Ph.D. Continued from page 17

“If you ever asked him how he was doing, he would always say, ‘terrible,’” Cirincione said.

Colombo, a 1991 graduate who was also a student of Fr. Wheeler, recalls the daily quickie quizzes and how when asked by students what they needed to know on tests, he would reply with, “everything.”

Wheeler officially retired from teaching in 2011.

Throughout his tenure he had served under six presidents, chaired the chemistry department and more importantly, he had taught chemistry to thousands of students.

The Rockhurst community celebrated Fr. Wheeler’s retirement in 2011.

He was famous for putting out a biannual newsletter from the chemistry department that was described as a “no-frills publication written in a stream-of-consciousness style that defies editing” and alumni loved it.

“Every time you got the newsletter, you would always open it quickly to see who was featured.” Colombo said. “I know his former students would stop by his office to say hello hoping they would make it into the newsletter.”

FR. WEISS

(Right) Fr. Weiss was a decorated soldier during WWII. (Below) Fr. Weiss speaks with Edward Eddy, dean of students.

By the time Fr. Weiss was installed as the University’s 10th president he had already lived a very full life where he learned the importance of a Jesuit education early.

He graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1942 before serving as a first sergeant in the 42nd Rainbow Division in the U.S. Army during World War II. For his service in Europe during the war, he was awarded a bronze star and other medals.

After the war, Fr. Weiss entered the Society of Jesus and earned his degree from Saint Louis University. He taught at Rockhurst High School and in 1964 served as assistant dean at what was then Rockhurst College.

Fr. Weiss left Rockhurst to lead SLUH from 1973-77 before returning to lead Rockhurst into the future.

Tony Tocco, Ph.D., professor of accounting, remembers being hired by Fr. Weiss to be both a teacher and soccer coach.

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FEATURES

(Left) Fr. Weiss was given an Energizer Bunny as a gift on his 90th birthday. (Below top) Fr. Weiss shares a few slices of pizza with the incoming freshman class in 1985. (Below middle) George Wendt, ’71, better known as Norm from the television series Cheers stopped by Fr. Weiss’ office in 1985.

(Below bottom) Fr. Weiss celebrates his 90th birthday in 2014 with help from Rick Heinrichs, ’83.

“Fr. Weiss was a great administrator who paid attention to detail,” Tocco said. “He had a great tutor in Fr. (Maurice) Van Ackeren, who taught him everything he needed to know to become a good president.”

During his tenure, Rockhurst partnered with Research College of Nursing to offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing and also added a school of management and a physical therapy department.

Ellen Spake, Ph.D., assistant to the president for mission and ministry, remembers how much faith Fr. Weiss had in her to start a physical therapy program from scratch and how he was able to accomplish everything while staying fiscally responsible.

“He had a great love for Rockhurst and part of the way that he demonstrated that love was with careful stewardship of its finances,” she said.

The ability to successfully steward money became one of Fr. Weiss’ greatest assets. After his time at Rockhurst, he became the treasurer of the central and southern Jesuits as well as the provincial assistant for higher education. His financial wisdom was also sought by various nonprofits in the St. Louis area.

In 2014, the University honored Fr. Weiss with the Magis Award, which recognized the impact his work made and the legacy he left for the Rockhurst and St. Louis communities.

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Kansas City Cool

Keeps Grads Close to Campus

BY MICHELLE SMITH

Kansas City receives national accolades for its vibrant culture and welcoming atmosphere for entrepreneurs.

ROCKHURST HAS CALLED KANSAS CITY HOME FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. BUT WHAT MAKES RU ALUMNI WANT TO STICK AROUND AFTER GRADUATION?

K

ansas City is hot. Or, make that cool — the coolest city in America, according to a 2014 Huffington Post article. And that’s just one of the accolades to steadily come rolling in over the past few years. The rest of the country is now discovering what we’ve known all along. Kansas City is a great place to live, work and, of course, attend college.

In fact, Kansas City is home to 60 percent of the Rockhurst University alumni base, whether or not they originally hail from here.

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FEATURES

(Clockwise, from left) Maria Butz, ’09, launched a branch of the family business in Kansas City following graduation. The Kansas City Royals energized the city with their 2015 World Series championship. Joe Krienert, ’08, says the Kansas City workforce is civic minded.

The entrepreneurial business scene, growing innovation in technology and vibrant culture all contribute to the appeal of laying down roots in this mid-sized Midwestern city.

According to founder and CEO of The Roasterie Café, Danny O’Neill, ’93 EMBA, it’s the people that make Kansas City a great place to do business.

For years, companies such as JE Dunn, Sprint, Hallmark, Garmin, H&R Block and Cerner have been driving business and economic success in Kansas City, shifting perceptions from cow town to bustling business hotspot. Kansas City’s diverse industries help to keep the local economy stable, making it an attractive location for entrepreneurs to start — and grow — businesses.

“They have great work ethics, and those wonderful Midwest values,” said O’Neill, who is originally from Iowa.

“They display their humility in the services they provide to and for others.”

Originally from St. Louis, Maria Butz, ’09, decided to launch a Kansas City branch of her family’s insurance agency, Crawford-Butz Insurance, after graduating from Rockhurst.

“They take initiative to positively impact KC through their work,” said Krienert.

“The Kansas City community is an incredibly supportive and enabling place for a female entrepreneur. There are wonderful resources available to small business owners and endless opportunities to get connected to various networks, organizations and individuals across the city,” said Butz.

Joe Krienert, ’08, financial analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, takes pride in the community engagement he sees in the Kansas City workforce.

The success of the major founding companies laid the groundwork for technological innovation. Kansas City became the first city to launch Google Fiber in 2011, sending lightning fast internet throughout the city.

Technology startups came running. With the low cost Continued on page 22

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(Clockwise, from left) Joe Reardon, ’90, heads the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Kansas City festivals, such as Boulevardia, draw crowds during the summer. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts was designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie.

“Kansas City will develop as an example of a midsize city that innovates in transportation with a multi-modal system that leverages technology to move people through the region in new ways.”

— Joe Reardon, ’90

Continued from page 21

of living, the fastest internet in the country and long list of business resources, technology companies discovered Kansas City to be the perfect place to incubate, giving it the nickname, “Silicon Prairie.” The business community embraced the innovation with organizations such as Think Big Partners and KC Startup Village.

Innovation is going beyond the business scene, infiltrating the infrastructure of the city. Kansas City is partnering with entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations to start a “Living Lab” initiative that uses new technologies to improve quality of life for citizens. The KC Streetcar, which opened May 6, 2016, was the catalyst for the 50 blocks of free public Wi-Fi, 125 smart streetlights and 25 interactive kiosks along the twomile route from the River Market to Union Station. With the help of hometown businesses like Sprint, along with other technology-focused organizations, Kansas City is quickly becoming one of America’s “smartest” cities.

There’s reason to believe this momentum will be sustained says Joe Reardon, ’90, CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, who sees continued growth in entrepreneurship and transportation.

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“I believe KC will solidify its reputation as a great place for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Further growth will occur in the

FEATURES

Night life, the arts, fountains and iconic architecture contribute to Kansas City’s growing popularity.

health tech and analytics space as Cerner continues to grow and other companies enter into the space,” Reardon said.

“Kansas City will develop as an example of a midsize city that innovates in transportation with a multi-modal system that leverages technology to move people through the region in new ways. Finally, we will have a world class airport that attracts international flights direct to KC.” Kansas City isn’t just a place to work, it’s a place to play, too. World-famous barbecue, renowned museums, a rich arts and music scene, and competitive professional sports teams are all reasons Rockhurst alumni can’t seem to stay away, even if they try.

KC Kudos In 2014, Kansas City was named the

“Coolest City in America”

by the Huffington Post.

Travel + Leisure ranks Kansas City

No. 3 in the nation among “America’s Favorite Places” based on surveys on culture, shopping, quality of life, people, nightlife, food and more, No. 2 for passionate sports fans and No. 24 for arts scene.

“I have traveled everywhere, but everything I value most is here in Kansas City,” said O’Neill. “I love the genuineness of Kansas City. Its entrepreneurial spirit, the art, and how approachable the people are.”

Kansas City was a

For many Kansas Citians, it’s the small town feel in a big city that keeps them rooted.

grant offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The application serves as a blueprint for future smart city innovations.

“In one day we could be swimming in a lake, fishing, seeing a Broadway performance, and having a picnic dinner in a park,” said Bridget Wengert, ’07.

While some might call Kansas City “fly-over” country, we call it home.

finalist for the “Smart City Challenge”

For more Kansas City accolades, visit news.visitkc.com/news.

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FOR ALUMNI ’66

’87

Tom Aziere was inducted into the Green Bay, Wisconsin, Officials Association (GBOA) Hall of Fame on Sept. 10, 2016, in recognition of his 42 years of officiating high school football and his involvement in the community. He joined the GBOA in 1972 and began his football officiating career. In 1975, Aziere formed his own crew where he served as crew chief and referee before retiring from officiating in 2014.

Jacqueline M. Miller, D.D.S., M.S., an orthodontist with offices in Washington, Gerald and Sullivan, Missouri, is the recipient of the 2016 Humanitarian Award, presented by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) at its 116th annual session in Orlando, Florida.

The AAO Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to improve the quality of human life that extends beyond the usual scope of private orthodontic practice, academic functions or organized dentistry.

’79, ’83 MBA Deborah (Barnett) Shouse has written the book Connecting in the Land of Dementia: Creative Activities to Explore Together.

’80 Philip M. Hess was elected chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, by the members of that court. His one-year term started July 1, 2016.

In addition to various administrative duties, Judge Hess will chair the Nonpartisan Judicial Commissions for the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis County Circuit courts. The Nonpartisan Judicial Commissions interview applicants for circuit and associate circuit judgeships. The commission selects three applicants to submit to the governor for final selection.

Stay Connected You’re part of the Rockhurst University community.

That means you belong to an organization that’s changing the world one leader at a time.

Don’t miss out on news meant for you. Go to rockhurst.edu/update and update your information today. Be sure to share your email address to receive the latest University and alumni news.

’96, ’99 M.O.T.

’01, ’15 MBA

Michelle C. Reynolds was reappointed a member of the President’s Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities.

Luke Norris has been named to the Citizens of the World Charter School board. Norris is head of local government solutions at PayIt, a Kansas City-based government technology company.

’97 B.A. Lauraleen A. Boatright graduated with a Juris Doctorate in May 2016 from Washburn University.

She passed the Uniform Bar Examination in Kansas in July 2016 with a score that will allow for transfer/ licensure in Missouri.

Boatwright was sworn in as an attorney in Topeka, Kansas, on Sept. 30, 2016, and anticipates being dually admitted in both Kansas and Missouri by spring 2017.

’06 MBA Janelle Hersperger was admitted to the KC Chamber’s 2018 New Centurions Leadership Class of 2018.

’07 M.ED.

’98 D.P.T., ’00 M.O.T. Tiffany Tibbets Bohm has been named dean of allied health and nursing at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Cherié Burgett was honored as the 2016 Missouri Journalism Teacher of the Year. She teaches journalism grades 9-12 at Staley High School and has done so since the school opened in 2008.

’08 M.ED. Ryan Nichols has been named head boys basketball coach at Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Connect with Rockhurst University through your favorite social networks.

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Submit a Class Note

We’d love to hear from you. Submit a class note online at rockhurst.edu/classnotes.

’09 Sarah (Ford) LeRoy and husband Joseph LeRoy welcomed a son, Xavier Thomas LeRoy, on Sept. 11, 2015.

Chris Shaver was honored as the Brother Frank Klapp Senior Teacher of the Year, awarded by Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a member of the mathematics and theology departments.

Carmen Titus, former RU golfer, was profiled in a July 28, 2016, Kansas City Star article about her participation in the Kansas City Championship at Staley Farms.

’09, ’10 MBA Frank Allen was admitted to the KC Chamber’s 2018 New Centurions Leadership Class of 2018.

’09, ’12 MBA Katelyn Clark traveled to Peru to volunteer with Programa Colibri Cusco Pnp, a group that works with underprivileged children in the Cusco, Peru, area.

’10 Alexandra “Sasha” Bashkiroff and her husband, Nathan Dunn, welcomed the birth of their first born, Anne Halcombe Dunn, on March 17, 2016.

Nick Wingbermuehle married Chrissy Sarcone, ’12, on June 25, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa, the bride’s hometown. They met at Rockhurst University where Nick played baseball and Chrissy played basketball.

’11 M.ED. Chandra Clark received the Athena Young Professionals Leadership Award from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Clark is the external relationships manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City.

’12 Corinne Van Osdel is studying dentistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Jennifer Lynn Williams graduated in spring 2016 from the arts politics M.A. program at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. Her work was included in the Performancy Forum at Panoply Laboratory in Brooklyn and her performance installation piece was on view at Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU.

Faculty Memory “Dr. Laura Fitzpatrick’s classes engaged students with a degree of intensity like no other. I always felt like discussions in her classes took us outside the walls of RU and into the streets of the world where the topics were most relevant.”

—Mary Schletzbaum, ’13

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FOR ALUMNI

Q&A

WITH ANDRE SMITH, ’94, OWNER OF WATTS UP LIGHTING

THIS FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS IS BRIGHTENING THE KANSAS CITY AREA IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. Q: What made you want to own a lighting business?

Jennifer Rodemann Smith, ’97, and Andre Smith, ’94, with their children (From left) Max, Ava and Sydney

“It was the people and the investment in our collective story that provided the greatest influence.”

—Andre Smith, ’94

A: The technical evolution happening in the lighting industry, which requires a more consultative retail experience that the big-box retailers are challenged to provide. I had been a customer of Watts Up since 2002. Impressed with the customer service and business model, my wife, Jennifer Rodemann Smith, ’97, and I decided to purchase the company in early 2015.

Q: What is the day-to-day of a lighting retailer like?

A: Each day presents unique customer opportunities that make for an amazing ride.

These opportunities range from an electrician needing a large quantity of lamps to a restaurant requesting lighting consultation to a retail customer in need of lightbulbs for a vintage lamp. Regardless of the situation, Watts Up employees treat our customers how they want to be treated when searching for an expert solution to a lighting problem.

Q: What are the most exciting and fulfilling aspects of your job?

A: Learning a new industry. I wouldn’t have imagined a few years ago that I would be able to articulate the attributes of the more than 5,000 unique lightbulbs we stock. I owe it to my team, whose passion for lighting is contagious. I’m also finding a lot of fulfillment in “business 101” discussions with my children surrounding “our little bulb factory,” as we like to call it.

Q: What is something about the lighting industry that you found surprising?

A: Once I learned a few basics about lighting, I started noticing things that I never noticed before. Now, when I walk into a room, it’s like entering The Matrix where the walls and lights are filled with readings of lumens, kelvin temperature, foot candles and wattages.

Q: How were you influenced by your experience at Rockhurst?

A: The biggest influence was driven by interactions with the good people who surrounded me. My close friends and fraternity brothers, Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick’s negotiation lessons on the streets of Moscow, learning about leadership and stewardship from my mentor, Fr. Thom Savage – all these played a part.

It was the people and the investment in our collective story that provided the greatest influence.

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’15

’15

Matthew McInerny graduated from the St. Louis Police Academy June 30, 2016. At the graduation ceremony he was honored as the “Best Overall Officer,” the highest honor achievement award of his class. As a new officer with the St. Louis Metro Police Department, he was interviewed by KTVI-TV about his motivation for becoming a police officer.

Marissa Murphy has been named recruiting coordinator for Tesla Motors, located in the San Francisco Bay area.

’16 Carolina Cruz covered the summer Rio Olympics for KSDK-TV in St. Louis.

Emma Priesendorf is an individual giving specialist at the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

She is responsible for coordinating the events and activities affiliated with the museum’s membership program, Walk of Honor Program, annual fund, bench programs and other development and fundraising initiatives.

HAWK HANGOUT

Charlie Tholl, ’03, and his group captured the title of lowest individual team score at the 2015 Rockhurst Cup.

READY YOUR SWING

for the 2017 Rockhurst Cup Mark your calendar for the Fr. Joseph M. Freeman, S.J., Rockhurst Cup benefiting the R Club and Rockhurst University student-athletes. The annual two-day event will feature a Par-Tee on Sunday, June 25, and golf at the Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate on Monday, June 26.

Alumni, parents and supporters are all invited to participate.

In July, young alumni from Rockhurst University joined millions of other people of the Catholic faith from around the world for the five-day World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland. Among those who made the trip were Colleen Smyth, ’14, and Sr. Trinity (Anna) Hall, ’12.

Send your Hawk Hangout pictures to alumni@rockhurst.edu and you may see one in a future issue.

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WINTER 2017

Visit rockhurst.edu/rockhurstcup2017 for information on tickets and sponsorships.

Connect with Rockhurst University through your favorite social networks.

5

FOR ALUMNI

CAREER CENTER

TIPS

for Selling Your House

FROM ALLISON RANK, ’08

1 BE REALISTIC It’s best to price your home according to the market. An accurate price will attract

qualified buyers who are willing to make an appropriate offer. Ask your realtor for a Comprehensive Market Analysis, also known as a CMA.

2 DE-PERSONALIZE Take down all family photos and personal items. This helps potential buyers imagine themselves living in the home. Your signed Eric Hosmer jersey may be the focal point of your game room, but a Cardinals fan attending your open house may leave with bad memories.

3 DE-CLUTTER Less is more when it comes to showing your home. You want to showcase the amount of space available in each room. Get rid of those knickknacks and consider removing nonessential pieces of furniture. Some sellers rent a storage unit to stash extra stuff offsite.

4 CLEAN SELLS Scrub your house from top to bottom, and inside to outside. You only get one chance for a first impression, so make sure it shines.

5 LISTEN TO YOUR REALTOR They are out in the field every day and have seen countless

homes. But most importantly, they know the current market conditions, and they want to help you get the most for your home. Be prepared to live with a bit of inconvenience in the short term to help your chances for a better outcome in the long term.

MEET THE EXPERT

Allison Rank graduated from Rockhurst in 2008, became a licensed realtor in 2010 and is consistently ranked as a top agent in her company, Reece & Nichols Realtors. She was featured on the cover of Top Agent Magazine in June 2015, and was recently named one of the Best Agents in KC by the Pitch. She is a member of the Village West Rotary, and recently appointed to the board for the Land Planning Commission of Wyandotte County, Kansas.

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FROM THE CHAPTERS

After you leave the Rockhurst University campus, you remain a Hawk for life. Connect with Hawks in your hometown by checking the calendar at rockhurst.edu/alumni. Looking to organize a Rockhurst gathering where you live? Contact Mary Mooney Burns, ’93, at mary.burns@rockhurst.edu.

Sporting Kansas City in Denver In July, Denver-area Hawks alumni and families were invited to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to watch as Major League Soccer’s Denver Rapids took on Sporting Kansas City.

Starlight Theatre (From left) Susie Bissonette, ’14, Robyn Everist, ’14, ’15 M.O.T., and Julie Kramper, ’14, ’15 M.O.T., were among the alumni who joined Rockhurst University in July for a performance of the Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Kansas City’s Starlight Theatre.

Kansas City Irish Fest Thousands turned out to Crown Center to celebrate the annual Kansas City Irish Fest, including Bettina Evans, ’08 MBA, who enjoyed the festivities from the Rockhurst alumni tent.

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Cardinals vs. Royals in St. Louis In June, Rockhurst University welcomed alumni to St. Louis’ historic Failoni’s Restaurant and Bar to watch the St. Louis Cardinals take on the cross-state rival Kansas City Royals. (From left) Ben Norris, ’13, Nate Kulla, ’13, ’14 MBA, and Dan Schaller, ’13, ’14 MBA.

FOR ALUMNI

UPCOMING

SIX

EVENTS

From

FEB. 2 Alumni Night at the Ballgame Join fellow Hawks for dinner and enjoy women’s and men’s basketball vs. Wisconsin-Parkside.

’66

APR. 4 Rockhurst University Leadership Series Astronaut Scott Kelly will present “The Sky Is Not the Limit: Leadership Lessons From a Year in Space.”

APR. 11 Business Leadership and Ethics Day Business leaders present to Helzberg School of Management classes throughout the day.

Six members of the class of 1966 gathered on graduation day in front of the house they shared on Tracy Avenue. They reunited in September 2016 for their 50-year Golden Hawks reunion and posed in the same order near the Rockhurst University bell tower.

(From left in both photos) Don Batliner, D.D.S., Phil Stambaugh, Gary Rottman, Ralph Schweickart, Tim Glover and Chris Sprehe.

APR. 28 St. Louis Leadership Series Jesuit universities across the country come together annually to discuss ethical leadership in today’s culture.

For more information, visit alumni.rockhurst.edu.

RETRO 1971 ROCKHURST Two years after officially becoming co-ed, Rockhurst College continued to make strides in inclusivity. In this 1971 photograph, a new generation of Hawks participate in a biology laboratory experiment.

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Awards Honor Outstanding Achievements of Alumni

A

s part of the 2016 Family and Alumni Weekend celebration, Rockhurst University honored three exemplary alumni for their contributions to the community and their successes in their fields.

32

Bridget McCandless, M.D., ’07 MBA

Gerard “Jerry” Meiners, ’59

Chadwick Andrews, ’11

This year’s Xavier Medal of Honor winner was Bridget McCandless, M.D., ’07 MBA, the president and CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City. The organization that McCandless leads has invested more than $200 million in a six-county area that includes Kansas City in an effort to advocate for and improve the physical and mental health of uninsured and underserved residents.

Gerard “Jerry” Meiners, ’59, received this year’s St. Ignatius Award for excellence in one’s field. Meiners embarked on a career as a CPA following a stint in the U.S. Army.

Over the course of 44 years, Meiners and his partners grew their public accounting practice, serving clients in Prairie Village, Kansas, and the Country Club Plaza area of Kansas City with more than 80 employees when the firm was merged with McGladrey and Pullen (now RSM) in 2000. Since retiring as an accountant, Meiners has assisted his sons and daughters in a variety of family businesses, including a chain of convenience stores and a hotel.

The Faber Young Alumni Medal went to Chadwick Andrews, ’11, senior account manager at Kansas City advertising and marketing agency VML. As a member of the VML team, Andrews has led national marketing efforts for many of the agency’s top client partners, including Gatorade and Southwest Airlines.

Out of the office, he has focused his creative drive and professional skills into a number of community-based efforts, such as the establishment of Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City.

WINTER 2017

FOR ALUMNI

In Memoriam Cmdr. Joseph E. McManus, ’39 — June 27, 2016

Michael J. Fern, ’64 — May 27, 2016

Franklin H. O’Leary, ’43 — June 8, 2016

Joseph C. Vagner, ’64 — Sept. 7, 2016

William E. Clarkson, ’49 — Sept. 23, 2016

Anthony J. Conforti Jr., ’65 — Aug. 20, 2016

Daniel A. Breen Jr., ’50 — June 27, 2016

Charles R. Cashman, ’66 — April 25, 2016

Henry J. Schepers, ’50 — May 25, 2016

Glenn E. Crabtree, ’66 — Sept. 20, 2016

Norbert J. Schmidt, ’50 — Aug. 11, 2016

Robert H. Dixon, ’69 — April 27, 2016

Dr. Leo V. Heiman, ’51 — Sept 19, 2016

David L. Setter, ’69 — April 27, 2016

Paul F. Monteil Jr., ’51 — June 29, 2016

Stephen E. Wagner, ’71 — May 17, 2016

Joseph E. Donohue, ’52 — May 30, 2016

Roy B. Schimmelpfenning, ’72 — July 4, 2016

John I. Moran, ’53 — Oct. 3, 2016

Sonya R. (El) Baston, ’73 — May 26, 2016

Paul M. Smith Sr., ’54 — Aug. 25, 2016

John Parkinson Jr., ’73 — Aug. 15, 2016

Michael J. Finnerty Jr., ’55 — May 10, 2016

Lawrence Borusheski, ’74 — Sept. 6, 2016

C. Royce Fugate, ’57 — July 22, 2016

Arthur W. McNaughton, ’75 — July 25, 2016

Dr. Thomas P. Rooney, ’57 — Aug. 22, 2016

Frank A. Robinson, ’75 — May 6, 2016

W. Ray Carter, ’59 — Aug. 31, 2016

David K. Smith, ’75 — Aug. 6, 2016

Thomas O. Myers, ’59 — June 15, 2016

Woodrow Louden, ’76 — June 19, 2016

Dr. Robert P. Sherman, ’59 — Aug. 3, 2016

Emma J. Selectman, ’79 — Sept. 15, 2016

Albert J. Underwood, ’59 — June 23, 2016

Joseph G. Forlenza, ’82 — May 29, 2016

John E. Looney Jr., ’60 — April 30, 2016

Michael T. Renard, ’88 — July 3, 2016

Francis J. Lickteig, ’62 — Aug. 28, 2016

Samantha Wender, ’04 — June 16, 2016

Anthony W. Bartels Jr., ’63 — June 7, 2016

Lee A. Haworth, ’05 — May 17, 2016

Rolland T. Gepford, ’63 — June 24, 2016

Dr. Timothy Howard, ’06 — April 26, 2016

John D. Davis, ’64 — Sept. 16, 2016

Delilah Whitley, ’14 — Oct. 5, 2016

ROCKHURST.EDU

33

WHERE

?

ARE THEY NOW Catching Up With Former Athletes

B

oth on the field and in the classroom, Arielle Byrnes, ’12, ’13 MBA, learned a lesson that has carried into her young career — teamwork.

The former Hawks golfer said professors such as Acey Lampe, Ph.D., executive assistant professor of management, and former women’s head golf coach Carl Capra taught her a lot about how interpersonal bonds can become collective strengths.

“Coach Capra’s a great people connector. My teammates and I are great friends to this day, and coach played a big part in that bond.” Byrnes said. “At Rockhurst, I learned a lot about working with other people in team settings on class projects, and in the workplace, teamwork is highly valued.”

In 2012, she and a team of other students researched the potential benefits and possibilities of Google’s then-nascent plan to install high-speed fiber throughout Kansas City, Missouri, for an MBA capstone project. That turned into an opportunity for Byrnes to join the Google Fiber Kansas City team as a brand ambassador.

Arielle Byrnes, ‘12, ‘13 MBA

Now based in Austin, Texas, Byrnes is the events and programming manager for Google Fiber. She manages a team of production coordinators and a high-tech production venue in the heart of downtown. The events produced in the venue help community partners and nonprofit organizations that

“I’m excited to come to work every day for a company that creates products like Google Fiber, which through access to high-speed internet opens so many doors of opportunity for others, and gives back to the community by enhancing the priorities of community partners through the event spaces.”

highlight STEM, education, digital literacy, efforts to bridge the digital divide and engage the community. Byrnes also helps produce events during SXSW Interactive, Film and Music festival.

“At Rockhurst, I learned a lot about working with other people in team settings on class projects, and in the workplace, teamwork is highly valued.”

HIRE A HAWK rockhurst.edu/hireahawk

Looking for the perfect addition to your team? Contact Rockhurst University’s Career Services to connect with RU alumni and students looking to start their careers and secure internships.

34

WINTER 2017

FOR ALUMNI

EVERYDAY Religious Order Guides LEADERS Leadership Values for Former Professor

R

ockhurst philosophy professor.

Midwest Bioethics Center board chairwoman. Civil rights marcher in Selma, Alabama. Sister Rosemary Flanigan, C.S.J., Ph.D., has made her mark as a leader in many settings over many years.

At 90 years old, the gregarious nun said she was able to have such a blessed life because of her decision to join the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

“One of the wonderful things about a religious community of men or women is that you spend your lifetime with people who share your values and your ideals,” she said. “That becomes a seedbed of friendship and moral leadership.”

She recalls days after the events of 1965’s “Bloody Sunday” in which hundreds of demonstrators marching to the Alabama capital in protest of African-American voter suppression were attacked by state troopers.

“There was a knock at my door,” Sister Flanigan said. “Sister Roberta Schmidt had received a call that there was a delegation of St. Louisans traveling to Selma the next day to show solidarity with the people. Our provincial superior (Sister Joan Marie Gleason) had a telegram from the bishop of Alabama asking religious communities around the country not to come to Selma so they could solve the problem on their own. Sister Roberta asked if we could go and Sister Joan Marie said yes despite the telegram.

That’s what I call moral leadership.”

Sister Rosemary Flanigan, C.S.J., Ph.D.

Sister Flanigan said there are five important things to remember when trying to lead during difficult times.

First, she said it’s important to have and to know your moral center.

Second, lead for others and not for your own self-aggrandizement. Third, be kind to everyone from the very top to the bottom. Fourth, reflect on your path and your actions to see if they still follow your moral compass. Fifth, be open and willing to change if you find that you’ve strayed from that path.

Sister Flanigan says she tries to keep active with the C.S.J and their schools, Avila University and St. Teresa’s Academy. And when she’s not busy, she’s always looking for a good book to read.

“One of the wonderful things about a religious community of men or women is that you spend your lifetime with people who share your values and your ideals.”

To view an interview with Sister Flanigan, visit rockhurst.edu/sisterflanigan ROCKHURST.EDU

35

IN CLOSING

Share

Your Story

BY SHATONDA S. JONES, PH.D., CCC-SLP

T

wenty-two years ago, I became intimately acquainted with stroke. My father, Jesse Jones, had his life cut short at age 36 by stroke. It was an ordinary Friday afternoon in April. I was 13 years old and my mother, sister, and I were heading out to my seventh grade jazz band performance. My dad came home from work early that day because he had a headache. We left around 6 p.m. for the concert. This would be the last time I would see my father alive. I remember the last words I said to him, “See you later, Buddy.”

Today, my life’s work is centered on stroke. I am an advocate, a clinician and a researcher.

Have you ever met someone who shares a story about their life and you find that through their story you are changed? This is what I experience every time I meet someone who is a survivor of stroke. The Centers for Disease Control estimates 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year. A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted either due to blockage or hemorrhage. Many people survive having a stroke, but often they are left to cope with a multitude of difficulties, including speech, language, cognitive, swallowing and mobility impairments.

I have worked as a speech language pathologist for more than a decade, and most of that time has

been spent with stroke survivors and their families.

I find myself curious about these individuals’ experiences and how what they learned could shape what society knows and how it responds to stroke.

So, as any good scholar would do, I designed a project to collect this information. My research examines the narratives of both stroke survivors and caregivers for stroke survivors. I essentially ask them to “tell me your stroke story.” I listen to the stories and look for themes that can inform society about the lived experience of stroke survivors.

I never imagined that through my work with stroke survivors that I would become empowered to share my stroke story. I had grown to regard what happened to my dad as a tragedy with nothing to be gained. However, I found that my stroke story has had a profound influence on the work I do today. I also found healing by joining a community of individuals whose lives have been touched by stroke.

I encourage everyone to share their story, because as life coach Iyanla Vanzant once said, “When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and our story will heal somebody else.”

Shatonda S. Jones, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, has taught at Rockhurst for six years. She has worked as a speech language pathologist for more than 10 years, with a clinical focus on adult neurogenic speech, language, swallowing and cognitive communication disorders.

36

WINTER 2017

TIME AND PLACE

TUESDAY, OCT. 11, 2016

e for d and Lily Buehler prepar Freshmen Nicole Floista iversity.

Un t urs ckh Ro , ss rehearsal Three One-Act Plays dre

1100 Rockhurst Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2561

Kansas City, M0.

Permit No. 782

PAID

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage