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Athletics News
Emma Hughes, junior
Six From Women’s Golf Named All-American Scholars
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Six members of the Rockhurst women’s golf team were named All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.
Emma Hughes, junior; Caroline Lynch, sophomore; Emma Mullendore, sophomore; Caroline Setter, sophomore; Katie Gerschke, sophomore; and Carly Krause, freshman, received All-American Scholar honors with a 3.50 or higher grade point average.
The six golfers helped Rockhurst succeed both on and off the course under head coach Richard Konzem. In the classroom, the Hawks posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.707. On the course, they finished first at the KC Cup last fall.
Hughes earned her third selection as a WGCA All-American Scholar. Mullendore, Lynch and Setter earned their second academic honors from the WGCA.
In total, 1,432 collegiate golfers from all three division programs were recognized. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics.
Global Signings Highlight 2021-22 Hoops Team
When the Hawks men’s basketball team tips off their season Nov. 6, it will be with a newfound international flair.
Head coach Drew Diener has restocked his roster for the 2021-22 season with a number of players, including three international signings — Mikal Gjerde of Haugesund, Norway; Maxim Romanov of Hahariya, Israel; and Davit Kakushadze of Tbilisi, Georgia. Gjerde, a 6-foot-7-inch forward, played the past two seasons at the University of San Diego after attending Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, Connecticut. Gjerde averaged 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game in the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championships (Division B) while playing for Norway. Romanov is a 6-foot-8-inch guard who has played the past two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana University. He combined for 110 points and rebounds in 45 games for the Lions. Forward Kakushadze spent last season with Brewster Academy in Connecticut. He averaged 6.1 points per game for Georgia in the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championships (Division B).
Mikal Gjerde, junior, transferred to Rockhurst from the University of San Diego.
They join other recent signings guard Rron Thaci and guard Damari Nixon (both of Chicago, Illinois) and forward Connor Renard (Lincoln, Nebraska).
Kristy Bayer joined Rockhurst University as the new director of athletics in July. Bayer previously served at Emporia State University, where she was deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator. Bayer is the first female director of athletics at Rockhurst and the third active female director of athletics in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. “We welcome Kristy’s experience in every aspect of Division II athletics, including studentathlete development and support, strategic planning and fundraising,” said the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., Rockhurst president. “More importantly, her demonstrated commitment to community service, diversity, equity and inclusion, and relationship building will make her a Kristy Bayer great companion in expressing Rockhurst University’s mission and core values.”
Prior to her time at ESU, Bayer spent 14 years at Arkansas Tech University as the associate athletic director/senior woman administrator and head volleyball coach. She was an All-American volleyball player at Grand Valley State University (Michigan) and is now in the university’s Hall of Fame.
“Rockhurst University has a strong tradition of academics, athletics, and community engagement,” Bayer said. “I am honored to have been chosen as Rockhurst University’s next athletic director. From the moment I stepped on campus, I have been graciously welcomed by the Rockhurst community. I truly love being a Hawk!”
Bayer holds a Master of Education in higher education from GVSU and is pursuing a Doctor of Education from the University of Memphis.
Gary Burns previously served as Rockhurst’s director of athletics (2011-2021). He will now focus on his role as head baseball coach and assist RU’s advancement division with relationship building and fundraising.
Nearly 50 RU Student-Athletes Post 4.0 GPAs
Forty-nine Rockhurst student-athletes were recognized for earning a 4.0 GPA in 2020-21 When it comes to performance in the classroom, Rockhurst University student-athletes are running up the score.
Rockhurst finished the 2020-21 academic year with 49 of its studentathletes earning the Brother James Gaffney, FSC, Distinguished Scholar Award from the Great Lakes Valley Conference in which Rockhurst plays, a recognition given to competitors who post a 4.0 GPA.
The volleyball team led Rockhurst with 12 representatives, followed by women’s lacrosse and baseball with seven recipients. Women’s cross country had four members. Men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer had three members, respectively. Though he said he regularly checks in with players about their classroom work, the success is more a reflection of the players’ mentality toward their schoolwork, said Trent Jones, head volleyball coach.
“When it comes down to it, the student-athletes are self-motivated, driven, and are as competitive in the classroom as they are on the court,” he said. “I would like to say I had something to do with their success, but it is all them and how they attack being a successful student-athlete here at Rockhurst.”
BRINGING It All Together
Service immersion trips, such as this one to the Dominican Republic in 2018, allow students to learn from those they work alongside.
At Rockhurst University, Catholic Intellectual Tradition underpins our intellectual inquiry. Even if you haven’t heard this term, if you’ve taken a class at Rockhurst, you’ve likely benefited from its wisdom. Faculty members from four disciplines share what it means for their students.
What is Catholic Intellectual Tradition?
St. Augustine of Hippo famously wrote that “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You (God).” Throughout human history, this restlessness has fueled the search for ever deeper knowledge of reality, a search for greater understanding of the truth that permeates all. At Rockhurst, a Catholic institution of higher education, this search is uniquely evidenced in the intellectual inquiry at the heart of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.
Spanning over two millennia, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition honors the reality that everything — all of creation, all disciplines, theories, experiences — has the capacity to reveal to us something more about God, a subject we can never fully exhaust. It is rooted in the premise that faith and the intellectual life are compatible. As St. John Paul II noted, “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”
Through such searching and contemplation, we are continuously invited to engage the insights we uncover. We are called ever more to fully participate in God’s vision for the world, drawn to collaborate with God and with one another in using our knowledge for the construction of a more just world. Cindy Schmersal Vice president for mission and ministry
In Communication Sciences and Disorders
The Catholic Intellectual Tradition offers two underlying convictions, 1) that as humans we desire to discover truth and 2) the belief that the universe is intelligible. As a professor at Rockhurst in communication sciences and disorders (CSD), I strive to create a learning environment in which students seek understanding that leads to wisdom and a greater connection to the world around them, including nature, each other, the divine and themselves. I encourage students to consider that the work they do, inside and outside the classroom, whether conducting research for their capstones, seeing clients, doing homework, or contributing to discussions in the classroom based off their studying exemplifies working toward unity of knowledge.
I challenge students to dig deep and have a willingness to answer the hard questions. CSD students (and professionals) are called to accompany people with compromised ability to communicate due to various diseases and health conditions as they are some of the most vulnerable among us. I ask students to sit with the discomfort of not having immediate answers, yet be willing to journey into concepts arising from other disciplines to inform their understanding and ultimately serve their clients. I have an expectation in our learning community that each of us are lifelong learners and that the ability to be in this learning space, at this time, together, is a gift given to us by something greater than ourselves to be used in service to others.
Most importantly, I ask students to consider who they are as CSD students, future SLPs, and humans in this beautifully flawed world. In doing this, I am really asking them to consider their own beliefs, biases, strengths and opportunities for growth so they can continue to journey toward truth and understanding, which ultimately leads to wisdom. Shatonda Jones, Ph.D. Associate professor of communication sciences and disorders
Shatonda Jones, Ph.D.
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In Business Education
The Catholic Intellectual Tradition provides a framework for examining big, important questions and determining our way of proceeding. This great gift animates my approach to teaching and helps learners become leaders who foster ethical organizational cultures and shape the future of business for the better. One of my favorite courses, Business Leadership and Social Issues, explores perspectives on topics like corporate social responsibility, employee loyalty, leaders’ values in action, meaningful work and the good life. I urge students to take each topic personally — to grapple with the issues, think critically and propose solutions. Classic texts and current events along with the practice of contemplation in action support our learning. For example, Aristotle, Kant and Mill offer approaches to determining ethical obligations and inform discussions about dignity, respect, justice and freedom. Meanwhile, parables and poems, images of tragic heroes, Wall Street Journal articles and TED Talks by modern leaders deepen our understanding of human yearning, actions and consequences. Vignettes based on workplace dilemmas challenge student teams to consider context, facts, assumptions, priorities and implications, and then to make and defend decisions aligned with their values. Peers must practice listening to others’ perspectives, questioning, discerning truth and meaning, and being open to the possibility of changing their views. Throughout the course, I am encouraged as students (Above, left) Jennifer Rinella, Ed.D., CNP identify their values, pursue vocations, and reflect on (Below, right) Kelly M. Meiners, PT, MPT, Ph.D., ATC, CSCS what living well means for them. I’m inspired by the ways they integrate faith, knowledge and reason in their search for understanding…and I trust that as they go forth, their leadership will be a force for good. Jennifer Rinella, Ed.D., CNP Associate professor of management and nonprofit leadership In Physical Therapy
Through Ignatian spirituality we believe that “God can be discovered, through faith, in all natural and human events.” One of the first challenging courses in the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is EvidenceBased Practice. Students learn principles of scientific inquiry and research methodology as it relates to patient care. Course content is interwoven with the most critical skills of physical therapy: communication, listening, empathy and using sound judgment. Though research may dictate the best practice intervention for a specific patient population, each patient’s individual needs must
be evaluated when determining appropriate intervention. Excellent physical therapists have both the wisdom to appreciate the balance of evidence-based content knowledge and exemplary communication skills to provide the best care. Beyond individual patient care, physical therapy students are challenged to apply scientific research to the social determinants of health. Student are charged with the responsibility to educate patients as well as the public to make a positive, impactful change in their communities. Through advocacy efforts that focus on health (instead of the traditional U.S. disease model), physical therapists have an opportunity to make a broader impact on public health. They can truly make “God’s good world better.” Kelly M. Meiners, PT, MPT, Ph.D., ATC, CSCS Associate professor physical therapy In Philosophy
The Catholic Intellectual Tradition is first and foremost about our commitment to the discovery of the truth, both through the life of faith and through the life of reason and inquiry. That commitment to truth unites all intellectual inquiries or disciplines, and each discipline has an integral role in discovering the truth about the world and human life and revealing thereby the design of creation in ever greater depth.
While the Catholic Intellectual Tradition believes that all intellectual disciplines eventually lead us to the ultimate questions of the meaning and purpose of human life in the cosmos, philosophy makes those questions central to its work, exploring in a rational and not a religious way the connections between what we consider a good or happy life and what it means to be a moral or just person. Each person is naturally part of many relationships, as members of families, communities and societies, and we quickly realize that each person’s well-being and fulfillment is connected to that of everyone else’s. With this realization, we see that being a good person and working toward a just society for all persons is a fundamental requirement for one’s own well-being and fulfillment. My role as an instructor of philosophy is to help students to examine their own beliefs about these crucial questions and ideas and to arrive at their own well-reasoned conclusions about them. Robert Vigliotti, Ph.D. Associate professor of philosophy
(Above) Catholic Intellectual Tradition tells us that all of creation can reveal something of God to us. (Below) Robert Vigliotti, Ph.D.
Look at Our
CAMPUS MAKEOVER(S)!
BY KATHERINE FROHOFF, ’09 EMBA
If you haven’t been to the Rockhurst University campus for a while, you may find things look a bit different than you remember. If you’re not able to visit quite yet, there will soon be more new sights to see. Either way, we’ve got you covered. Consider this your insider guide to the many recent campus improvements, large and small, and those coming soon.
SEDGWICK HALL
Sometimes called the “Grand Dame of Rockhurst,” Sedgwick Hall has graced the Rockhurst campus since 1914. This historic structure, the centerpiece of the “For the Greater” comprehensive campaign, is more than halfway through reconstruction as it becomes the new home of the Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Its façade has been preserved and looks much the same from the Troost Avenue side, while the side facing the Kinerk Commons will acquire a great deal of glass, opening and lightening the structure.
GREENLEASE LIBRARY ENTRANCE
The concrete platform leading a half-century’s worth of patrons into the Greenlease Library was in need of repair and summer 2021 was the perfect time to do it. Construction next door at Sedgwick meant materials and workers were readily available. With the opportunity to make the entrance more accessible and inviting, the area was replaced with ramps and steps, including a center section that can serve as seating for students who want to relax in front of this midcenturymodern icon.
THOMAS MORE DINING ROOM
Known fondly among students as TMDR or “the caf,” the Thomas More Dining Room has been getting more crowded in recent years. Looking ahead to when students from Saint Luke’s College will be on campus full time, work to expand the facility began right after the spring semester ended. More importantly, this complete makeover expands dining options and features, elevating the experience for all diners. One of the most noticeable changes for regulars at the facility is the removal of the wall between the TMDR and the famous “Fishbowl,” resulting in a larger contiguous dining area. It’s the most significant upgrade to the space since 2014.
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THE BIRD HOUSE
As the result of a partnership between the student-activities-fee budgeting committee, who supplied the vision and the funding, and physical plant staff, who supplied the ingenuity and elbow grease, an outdoor living room of sorts was constructed on Lower Bourke Field on the former handball courts site. Soft seating, tables and chairs, media screens, large grills and a fire pit make a cozy spot for studying, events or just hanging out in what has been christened the “Bird House.”
ANGELS UNAWARES
Inspired by the scripture Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” — Timothy P. Schmalz interprets the belief that the sacred may be encountered in the stranger in his bronze sculpture titled “Angels Unawares.” In spring 2022, the piece will be installed near the entrance to Arrupe Hall. The work depicts migrants and refugees from all cultural and racial backgrounds and from all historic periods of time together — shoulder to shoulder. A plaque nearby will provide an opportunity for members of the Rockhurst community to honor the names of angels in their midst.
MARY STATUE
One of the most recognizable features on campus is the statue of Mary, located beneath a canopy of evergreens on the northeastern portion of the Kinerk Commons. Thanks to a gift from Rosemary Kilker, Mary will be moved to a new home nearby and placed in a partially enclosed stone grotto, creating a place of peace and prayer. The grotto will contain built-in lights and spaces for candles, kneelers and seats to invite prayer, along with a displayed prayer for the city, with Mary positioned looking out from the hill between Conway and Massman halls onto Rockhurst Road.
SEVERAL NEW GRAPHICS have brightened walls around campus, including this tree of life design (Left) in the biology department and this design in the remodeled Thomas More Dining Room that combines notable elements from Rockhurst and Kansas City.
Tu Legado Late Alumna’s Memory Lives on in Scholarship
BY TIM LINN
Sylvia Raya in cap and gown attending Rockhurst University’s commencement ceremony in December 2002. Dec. 14, 2002, was a joyous day for Sylvia Raya and her family. Her oldest daughter, Olivia, earned her degree from Rockhurst University. The family would host a huge party, surrounded by friends and family, to celebrate. A week later, by contrast, would be one of the family’s darkest days, when Olivia and her boyfriend were murdered in his apartment on Dec. 21, 2002. Sylvia and her family were crushed. A beautiful young life was lost and, for a long time, there were no answers on who or why. Moving on was difficult, she said. “My friends, they told me I should do something,” Sylvia said. “But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to do anything until an arrest was made.” That day wouldn’t come until 2006, but soon after, Sylvia and her closest friends made good on the promise to pursue something in Olivia’s memory, launching what was initially a grassroots effort to secure funds for a scholarship at Rockhurst. Sylvia remembers her daughter as outgoing and compassionate, thinking about others in need both in the Kansas City community and around the world, a perspective gained in part through her volunteer work with Catholic Charities helping refugee children. Olivia was, Sylvia notes, very happy to call herself a Rockhurst University student and graduate, keenly aware of how much it meant to her parents.
—Sylvia Raya, mother to Olivia Raya,‘02
“She did that for her dad,” Sylvia said of her daughter’s decision to come to Rockhurst. “But I know it meant a lot to her to earn a degree and she was very proud of it.”
All of the parts of Olivia’s personality are embodied in the Olivia Raya Memorial Scholarship, which each year awards $4,000 to a Latina student living in the Kansas City area demonstrating financial need. That amount can be a difference-maker in being able to afford college. With 15 recipients so far and no end in sight, that’s a lot of doors opened.
Sabrina Diaz, a junior biochemistry major, said she had been working nights at a medical lab and going to school full time during the day, a schedule that often left her exhausted.
“I was going on three hours of sleep a lot of nights,” she said. “And it just made everything more difficult.”
With the scholarship, Diaz said she’s been able to go part time at work and focus more on school. It has also given her an opportunity to connect with the campus community in new ways.
“Before, I wasn’t even considering undergraduate research or being part of the ACS (American Chemical Society) chapter here. But now I have the chance to do those things.”
For Wendy Alvarez Barrios, ’12, who came to the U.S. from Mexico at age 15 with her family and struggled to find financial aid in the time before the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the scholarship — and the opportunity to attend Rockhurst — would also prove pivotal.
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Rockhurst junior Sabrina Diaz during a physics lab.
Wendy Alvarez Barrios, ’12, in the University of Notre Dame COVID surveillance lab. Continued from page 19
“At Rockhurst, I took a cell biology class where we talked about cancer cells,” she said. “That just really opened my eyes, I was so fascinated with those types of cells.”
After Rockhurst, Alvarez Barrios spent a year as a volunteer at a University of Kansas Medical Center research lab before pursuing her doctorate at Notre Dame, where she took part in potentially groundbreaking research into the ways breast cancer cells spread throughout the body. She has also helped keep the Notre Dame campus safe as a member of the university’s COVID surveillance lab.
Claire (Garcia) Phillips, ’11, echoed the sense that the scholarship was a game-changer. As an analyst for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, she oversees processes that support the adjudication of immigration benefits. She said the seeds for that career were planted as a student, particularly during her three service immersion trips.
“Being able to immerse yourself in these people’s lives, even for a moment, can only give you a snapshot,” she said. “That really motivated me to do more to serve people no matter where they were from.”
In addition to gratitude for the opportunities it gave them, several recipients said the story behind the scholarship, and the family who picked up the pieces from immeasurable tragedy to make it happen, have stuck with them. Megan Sneed, ’13, who was a nontraditional student and the first in her family to go to college when she enrolled at Rockhurst, said the significance of the Raya scholarship as a gesture of love has only increased with time, and not only because of what it meant for her professional career, which has taken her from finance to Kansas City startup C2FO.
“Now I have my own daughter, and so I think about them even more now,” she said. “Just to be who they are after what they experienced… they are incredibly gracious and incredibly humble.”
Megan Sneed, ’13, (Far right) poses on her graduation day.
Before retiring, Sylvia and her husband, Lou, owned and operated Sylvia’s Deli on Kansas City’s Westside. For years, it was tradition for recipients of the scholarship to connect with the couple at the restaurant, often bringing family or loved ones. Sylvia said that, and the annual fiesta that helped secure the scholarship’s endowed status, helped create a familial sense of community that extends well beyond the financial help provided.
The scholarship can never replace the life of her daughter that was cut short. But while scars remain, that newfound community has imbued the somber moments with a sense of hope.
“Thanksgiving and Christmas are hard,” Sylvia said. “Christmas was her favorite holiday, and mine too. So there are always tears — tears of sadness, but also tears of happiness. When I hear these young women say they are Raya scholars, that makes me so proud. That consoles me.”
—Claire (Garcia) Phillips, ’11
