23 minute read
Athletics News
The Nurse at the Net
Given her first name, it makes sense that senior Justice Wingate was drawn to join the ranks of superheroes.
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It’s just that this daughter of a lawyer and court reporter (hence the name) has always thought nurses were real superheroes. That’s why she chose a nursing degree at Rockhurst, where she also has played as middle hitter on the Hawks women’s volleyball team.
“It’s the only job I’ve ever wanted to do,” she said. “I have this piece of paper from fifth grade where I said I wanted to be a nurse, because it seemed like nurses are always saving lives.”
That said, it was actually volleyball that brought the Toledo, Ohio, native here in the first place.
“I had a tournament here and Tracy Rietzke (former head coach) said, ‘We like you, you should play here,’ and I said OK,” Wingate said. “I’ve never been in a new place without a team, so when I came to KC I didn’t know anyone.”
Now, Wingate said her teammates are some of her closest friends — experiencing the ups and downs of the season together will do that — making the end of the season bittersweet. She and the other upperclassmen have had to step up as leaders, helping younger students navigate the realities of life as a college athlete in a pandemic. It’s made the team a more cohesive unit, something Wingate stresses when talking about being named to the D2CCA (Conference Commissioner’s Association) All-Midwest Region Second Team at the end of this season.
“As a middle, you have to be a good pass and a good set,” she said. “So I’m really proud of these awards, but it really shows how good my teammates are.”
Justice Wingate, senior
Wingate said she has a particular bond with setter Gabbie Inman, a fellow nursing student. Having someone who was going through the same rigorous curriculum and clinicals in addition to the team’s schedule made it all a little easier. Together, the pair also helped in a monumental way a year ago, volunteering to deliver some of the first COVID-19 vaccines in the area. Wingate said she jumped at the opportunity to be part of history and do some good.
“It was the first shot I ever gave a human and I was so nervous,” she said, laughing. “I’m a pro now, but it’s definitely one I’ll never forget.”
“As a middle, you have to be a good pass and a good set. So I’m really proud of these awards, but it really shows how good my teammates are.” —Justice Wingate, senior
Experienced Dancer Returns to Alma Mater to Lead Spirit Squad
Melanie Dailey, ’93 Melanie Dailey has comfortably stepped into her role as the head coach of the Rockhurst Spirit Squad. The 1993 graduate of Rockhurst University brings 30 years of experience in dancing, teaching, choreographing and staging productions.
Dailey, who was the captain of the Rockhurst Rockettes dance team, taught dance workshops and clinics across the country for Dancz America. She has enjoyed commercial dance success, but her first love has always been dance team. She has choreographed award-winning routines for state and national contests with Larkspur Dance and Choreography.
The Rockhurst Spirit Squad had the unique opportunity to participate in a collaborative video project with Grammy-winning country music recording artist Jamie O’Neal and 20 college and high school spirit teams across the country. The project was spearheaded by Dailey, who was inspired by O’Neal’s song “The World Goes On.”
“It was at the height of the pandemic when so much had been canceled and everyone was feeling very isolated,” Dailey said. “I was really inspired by Jamie’s song that was released at that time that communicated a message of hope.”
The idea was formulated and most of the planning had been done before Dailey became head coach of the RU Spirit Squad. “Having so many fantastic teams participate was more than I ever hoped for or expected,” she said. “And then being able to include my team from Rockhurst made the project even more special.” Dailey says she’s excited to be back at Rockhurst and is looking forward to building the cheer and dance programs at her alma mater. Her husband, Craig Dailey, is also a Rockhurst graduate, and they have two college-aged children.
Hawks receive academic accolade for 11th straight year.
Hawks Score Big Once More in Academic Honors
If you follow news about Rockhurst University student-athletes, you are not surprised to know they excel in the classroom as well as during competition. This marks the 11th consecutive year the University has received the NCAA Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence for achieving four-year Academic Success Rates of 90% or higher.
Forty-three Division II member schools are recipients of the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. Rockhurst is one of 10 schools to have earned the recognition every year since the award was started in 2011.
Rockhurst finished with a 95% ASR in 2020-21, which ranks in a tie for ninth among NCAA Division II institutions. Rockhurst led the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and all Division II schools in Missouri and Kansas.
“We’re immensely proud of the academic accomplishments of our Hawks,” said Kristy Bayer, director of athletics. “This honor demonstrates they are able to successfully set priorities and excel despite the many competing demands on their time.”
The 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame class includes (From left) Kim Martin Noegaard, ’98; Cindy Cernech Hamilton, ’94; Coach Tracy Rietzke; Kecia Jennings, ’05; Diego Gutierrez, D.B.A., ’04, ’14 EMBA; and Aaron Hill, ’08, ’10 MBA.
The 2022 Rockhurst Athletics Hall of Fame class was formally inducted Feb. 12, with Carolina Cruz, ’16, news anchor at KCTV-5, as master of ceremonies.
Tracy Rietzke (Volleyball and women’s basketball coach) is the fourth winningest women’s volleyball coach in all NCAA levels with 1,277 victories. Rietzke guided the Hawks to 18 national volleyball tournament appearances in 32 years.
Al Payne (Men’s basketball) helped the Hawks capture the NAIA national championship in 1964 and holds the school record for rebounds in a season (414).
Kim Martin Noergaard (Women’s basketball) was an NAIA All-American forward and was named the Midwest Region Independent Player of the Year in 1998.
The 1973 Men’s Soccer Team, under the guidance of legendary head coach Tony Tocco, posted a 10-3-2 record and was the national runner-up in the NAIA national tournament. (See page 27 for photo.)
Kecia Jennings (Volleyball and women’s basketball) was an All-American in 2005 and was honored as the 2004 Heartland Conference Player of the Year.
Aaron Hill (Men’s basketball) was a two-time All-American guard who played on two NCAA Tournament teams. He was named the 2008-09 Player of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Cindy Cernech-Hamilton (Women’s basketball) led Rockhurst to a 24-7 record in her senior year while earning NAIA AllAmerican honors in 1994-95.
Diego Gutierrez (Men’s soccer) was a two-time NAIA All-American in 1994 and ’95. He helped lead the Hawks to a 44-9-1 record in his two seasons.
A Legacy of Leadership
THE REV. THOMAS B. CURRAN, S.J.
After 16 years as president of Rockhurst University, the imprint of the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., can be felt, seen and heard nearly everywhere. The physical geography of campus simply would not be the same without his leadership. His way of proceeding, steeped in Ignatian spirituality, has inspired countless numbers of students, faculty, staff and alumni. His influence and personality are evident in the stories shared by those who say he’s touched their lives through the sometimes small gestures. Call it a scrapbook, a retrospective, a tribute — here are just a few of the highlights from a tenure to be remembered.
2006
The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S., becomes the 14th president of the University and is formally inaugurated Oct. 27. By the following year, he begins to lead the institution through a strategic planning process that will set the tone for the next decade.
2010
Rockhurst celebrates the centennial anniversary of its charter with the theme “Learn, Lead, Serve, Celebrate!” A series of events culminates in an evening dinner under a large tent on Kinerk Commons followed by fireworks.
12,586 DIPLOMAS SIGNED
You might assume those signatures on your diploma are printed by a computer. But if you’ve graduated at any point in the last 16 years, you can be sure it’s the real deal. Not only does Fr. Curran take care in personally signing every single diploma, he also says a prayer for every single recipient.
11,700 THANK YOU CARDS WRITTEN AND HAND-SIGNED TO DONORS
If you’ve supported Rockhurst’s mission with a gift, you might have received a handwritten and signed card from Fr. Curran.
2013
Rockhurst University opens the Prosperity Center for Financial Opportunity, a facility in the North Parking Garage offering free employment and financial coaching and access to income support to the Kansas City area. It would be the first of several University initiatives focused on serving the community.
60+ WEDDINGS CELEBRATED
A testament to the impact that Fr. Curran has had on so many alumni is that he has regularly been asked to officiate one of the most important days of their lives (other than graduation, of course). And in some cases, he also performs the baptisms of the babies that follow!
2015
In May, Fr. Curran professes his final vows with the Society of Jesus, capping a yearslong process of study and discernment. In the summer, the man already known for walking takes on a long one — the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage through Spain, France and Portugal ending at the site where the remains of St. James the apostle are said to be buried.
100+ PANCAKES FLIPPED
At the end of the fall semester, Student Senate hosts the midnight breakfast to provide brain food for students studying for finals. Administrators often grab the spatulas to serve food, including Fr. Curran staffing the pancake station. Now, how many of those ended up on the floor, who’s to say?
2018
The University announces its five-year “Go Forth” strategic plan, focusing on Jesuit identity, sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The “For the Greater” fundraising campaign begins. The University announces the launch of the Companions in Chillicothe program, providing educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals and staff at the Chillicothe Correctional Center, a women’s prison. Fr. Curran has taught one of the courses.
$120 MILLION IN GIFTS SECURED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS
The Rockhurst University campus simply would not look the same without Fr. Curran’s tenure. Under his leadership, the University built a new central academic building— Arrupe Hall, the North Parking Garage and retail space, the Rock Row housing on the south side of campus, the MAC fitness center, and renovated or added to a number of other spaces, including the current $23 million renovation of Sedgwick Hall.
2019
The University welcomes its first chief inclusion officer to lead the newly created Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a direct result of the 2018 campus climate survey. On July 31, the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, Rockhurst University announces that Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences will become part of the University, allowing Rockhurst to greatly increase its capacity to meet the region’s need for skilled and compassionate health care providers.
5 SOLIDARITY-IMMERSION TRIPS ATTENDED
Fr. Curran will always be known for how he accompanied students, from joining them at lunch to attending studentled events to taking part in five different solidarity-immersion trips both domestic and abroad. He also taught countless students in his Catholic social teaching course.
2021
In his final year, Fr. Curran announces one last goal — the establishment of the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice, a building on the campus’s south side that will house many of the University’s faith-justice related efforts, including a chapel, mission and ministry programs, and space for convening community. He announces the project as he is being honored by the Jewish Community Relations Bureau in November with its Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award.
Walking With
FR. CURRAN
Whether he is heading to a destination, getting some exercise or just enjoying the day, one of the most common sights in midtown Kansas City since 2006 has been Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., walking or running. Near the end of 2021, we joined Fr. Curran on a walk through campus and the neighborhood to reflect on the many changes that have taken place since he became president.
Q. Why do you like walking so much and what’s your rule?
A. If it’s two miles (to a meeting or gathering) or less I walk. That’s the rule. I enjoy walking but I also find that the time I walk is my time. I get to reflect, pray, prepare for the meeting, process, come up with ideas. It’s also an issue of reducing our carbon footprint — two miles, I can build that into the schedule.
Q. How do you feel when you walk past the Jesuit seal on the side of the Magis Activity Center?
A. I think of it as an invitation to us who are entering to be mindful of the work we’re about, whether it’s working out or convening with others. These aren’t markers on a building to dedicate it but an invitation to be very intentional about who you are and what you’re about.
Q. The statue of Mary has been such a central part of our campus quadrangle for so long, what impact do you think it will have to move her so that she’s facing outward?
A. There’s a little story behind that. She was on a plank and many referred to her as “diving board Mary.” When one of our benefactors, Rosemary Kilker, gave the money to build a grotto, I was concerned that to take the space — which is a very popular place for people to sit — and build a grotto behind it to be a place for intentional prayer, would compete. I really saw it as a chance to reimagine. So, I asked, “What if Mary faces out, so she’s welcoming?” I believe people will be invited to come and pray. It is structured so that it’s not just a grotto, but it’s a curved arm in a way, an embrace, it’s a gesture that says “come, come sit a while, reflect and be at home.”
Q. Making a home for all has been a focus of your presidency. Why is that important to you and how does it reflect our mission?
A. We’ve made progress and there’s lots more we can do. It’s consistent with the vision of Ignatius when he started his group and he called it un Compañia de Jesús, the Company of Jesus (Jesuits), and he was thinking that God was calling him to be engaged with others in companionship. So, who are those who are not feeling like companions, who are marginalized, who do not feel like they have a place at the table? We need to keep asking ourselves that question, not just “Who is here and do they feel welcome, and if not, why?” But, “Who is not here and who has not been attending because they don’t feel welcome?” I think that’s consistent with Ignatius’ call that we move in this company, that we move as companions to the end for which we’ve all been created.
Q. We’ve acquired the statue of St. Ignatius since you’ve been here. Sometimes students rub his head for good luck. Is that disrespectful?
A. No, I encourage it. That statue is St. Ignatius sitting by the Cardoner River. After he’s struck by the cannonball, he goes off to this little town called Manresa, but first lays his sword before Mary at Montserrat. He then spends the next 10 or 11 months in Manresa in seclusion, as a beggar, writing the Spiritual Exercises. Along the Cardoner River he gets clarity about what it is that God wants him to do. And the clarity is that he sees his own reflection. Our statue was put there in 2010, the hundredth anniversary of Rockhurst. It was gift from the Jesuit community, who wanted it to be Ignatius in his moment of clarity. So, yes, I strongly encourage faculty, staff and students, go rub the head and say that prayer that you’ll receive clarity about what it is you’re about, the decisions you’re making and what it is you’re facing at this time.
Q. One of our most significant projects is the reimagining of Sedgwick Hall. What does that mean for Rockhurst’s past and its future?
A. This building definitely is the link. It was the Jesuit residence, there were students living there, it was the high school, it was the college, close to 50 percent of classes took place there, a gym was added, the gym became a theater, so many accretions and additions, which is why it was uneven. So why is it significant now? We literally took it back to what was about 90 percent of the original building. It will be the new home of Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, it will be high tech. But I think the greatest thing about this, is that this building built over 100 years ago has had its place here and all the things around it grew up with it. The trees in the front on Troost were not getting the moisture they needed, so they started competing with the building and affecting the structure of it. By doing this project, we’ve actually created greater harmony as a result of the work. The trees now are thriving and the building is secure. I think it’s really an example of how we don’t just build, we need to build in harmony with our natural environment. So, for me, it’s in harmony with our past, it’s in harmony with the place it occupies, it’s united with the Earth that we all have a responsibility for.
Q. Where are you going next after you leave Rockhurst?
A. I will miss Rockhurst and I will miss Kansas City. It has been my home. I would like to stay, but I don’t think it’s fair for me to stay. The best way I can assist the new president is to move on. I’ll take a little sabbatical (Via Franicigena – walking from Swiss Alps to Rome) and then prepare for my next work. I will be moving on to work full time with prison education. We started our program Companions in Chillicothe with the women and correctional officers there and we’re very proud that they’ve now completed 34 college credit hours and are on their way to earning an associate degree. It’s our intent to have a similar program in all six schools of this Jesuit province and then ultimately in all 27 of the Jesuit schools in the U.S. I’ve been asked to work with the existing programs and ultimately have one in all of the schools. I’m excited about that and I think it will be a great opportunity for me to be in accompaniment. To me that’s one of the greatest injustices, that we have 5% of the world’s population but 25% of the world’s incarcerated. I don’t think our rehabilitation is working, it’s more punitive. I think a better model is one of conversion, conversion to humanity, and a component of that is educating and forming students to be active and engaged members of their communities.
To view a video of our walk-and-talk with Fr. Curran, visit rockhurst.edu/magazine
True Story!
WITH FR. CURRAN
If you’ve attended Mass celebrated by Fr. Curran, you know what’s coming after it ends – a “true story.” You also know it will be anything but. The tradition begins with that left hand going up and is followed by a laugh — or sometimes a playful groan — from the congregation in the wake of an always very “punny” joke. In gratitude for all your stories, Fr. Curran, here are a few totally true stories of our own.
ISY PEREZ, ’13
In college, Fr. Curran came to our house to enjoy dinner and break bread. We had a great conversation about how our fraternity could better serve Rockhurst.
As an alumnus, he gave my wife and me a tour of Arrupe Hall. Then, while he was running out of time to get to Mass, he stopped and blessed my wife’s pregnancy. I awkwardly told him he was basically Dumbledore.
Of course, every Hopkins Skip and Run, I could always count on Fr. Curran to pass me up.
BOB GARAGIOLA, ’71
When I was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2018, one of the first friends I heard from was Fr. Curran. He sent me the Peace Prayer of St. Francis de Sales (“Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow …”). I was unfamiliar with this particular prayer but was struck by its message. It gave me a perspective and a comfort to face my cancer. I said this prayer every day during my chemotherapy and hospitalizations and continue to do so, with a few exceptions.
I have benefited from many prayers from family, classmates and friends in dealing with my lymphoma. But it was Fr. Curran’s that provided the “unfailing strength to bear it.” Thank you, Fr. Curran.
JORDAN WRIGHT, ’21, ’22 MOT
Fr. Curran has always made sure everyone he encounters feels seen and valued. I will never forget when I attended Retreat on the Rock my freshman year. I had been in a very difficult mental health spot and had just begun therapy for the first time in my life. At breakfast that Saturday morning on retreat, Fr. Curran asked me how I was doing. I was honest with him and told him I was going through a tough spot. He, knowing nothing about the specificities of my struggle or how I was transitioning into therapy, says, “Jordan, are you familiar with the Stations of the Cross?” I tell him that yes, I would like to believe so. He responds, “Do you know what Jesus said when Simon of Cyrene helped him carry his cross?” No, I racked my brain and couldn’t recall. “That’s because he didn’t say anything. He allowed himself to be helped.”
Years have gone by, struggles have ebbed and flowed, but I have never forgotten these words. If Our Lord allowed himself to be helped, who am I to refuse such a service? Thank you, Fr. Curran, for these words and your constant prayer and devotion. RU will certainly not be the same without you.
HELEN HILL, ’15
Fr. Curran presided over my wedding. There could have been no one better! He gave a beautiful homily of personal facts and stories of my life and of my husband, whom he had only met in wedding prep. I asked Fr. Curran to be the one to celebrate our wedding and lead us in preparation because he is so personable and caring. When I talk to him, I feel like he is truly invested in our conversation and that he cares. He has great wisdom and understanding as well. Thank you, Fr. Curran, for making a lasting impact on my life, from my time at Rockhurst to the years beyond.
CHANDRA CLARK, ’11
Father Curran is an inspiration to me for many reasons. I specifically recall a time that I expressed struggling with my faith in a season of suffering. He looked me in the eye and spoke words of wisdom to remind me that there is always a higher purpose. I distinctly remember feeling touched deep within my heart as if I had experienced an encounter with God himself. Father Curran is a man that spreads love and light to all. He has truly blessed many and modeled by example.
CASEY, ’00, AND RACHEL, ’00, ’02 MPT, MCGRAW
As alumni and newlyweds, my husband and I would use RU’s workout facilities in the early morning hours. There were days when a very nice gentleman would join us on the treadmills. Unbeknownst to us at the time, this was the new president of RU. He would come in and turn on a variety of news channels to stay informed. I told my husband, whoever this guy was, I appreciated his interest in staying informed and his speed on the treadmill. We even raced each other, although Fr. Curran didn’t know.
In those early morning hours, we developed a friendship with Fr. Curran. He brought us a lovely housewarming gift over for dinner one night that hangs in our entryway to this day. He has blessed us with good wishes and deeds through the birth of our two children. We feel so grateful to have him in our life and will truly miss his presence in the Kansas City area and on RU’s campus. Fr. Curran pushed me to believe in myself enough to join the RU faculty as an adjunct. He has made us better, better people, a better faculty member and a better runner.
I served as the director of human resources at Rockhurst University from 2004 to 2013. Naturally, Fr. Curran worked through some very difficult situations during my tenure. Certainly, some of those situations are memorable. But what I remember and appreciate most is the fact that he took time from his busy schedule to attend my choir concerts. I sang in the Festival Singers, and he encouraged me to let him know when they were taking place. Much to my delight and surprise, he often attended. He clearly supported my way of “cura personalis.”
Eight years after I left Rockhurst, he learned that my husband was ill. The very week that he found out, he sent a prayer of comfort that helped us both through the health crisis. I will always be grateful for my time at Rockhurst and I will always be thankful for the times that he has supported me.
