Winter 2010 by Simpson College

Winter 2010

The Magazine

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| president’s message

Commitment to service s we celebrate Simpson College’s 150th year, we are bursting with pride over important national accolades: Newsweek Magazine’s naming Simpson among the nation’s “Top 25 Schools for Do-Gooders” and Washington Monthly’s recognizing us as one of the top serviceminded colleges in the country. Among nearly 800 liberal arts institutions, Simpson rated near the top in our students’ commitment to public service, our faculty’s commitment to weaving service into the curriculum and the overall dedication of our entire Simpson community to serve the common good. At Simpson, we have always been gratified by the selflessness developed by our students. It is equal measures of Midwestern civility and an ethic of service to others instilled in every class, every extracurricular activity and every faculty member at Simpson College. It is not enough for students to learn and grow academically, to prepare for a career. That is a baseline expectation. A greater measure of our success as mentors and educators is to inspire students to become engaged citizens, steeped in the ethic of giving back to others. In this issue of the Simpson magazine, we salute Simpson Professor Carolyn Dallinger, named Iowa Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Professor Dallinger’s rich career as a social worker, lawyer and citizen of the world sets a shining example to her students. Her sociology students apply their classroom instruction to improve the lives of others in Des Moines’ east and south sides. We recognize the student members of the Religious Life Community, who every week travel to Des Moines by the vanload to serve in shelters, churches and soup kitchens. We appreciate Jim Hayes’ weekly counsel of homeless men in Des Moines’ Door of Faith mission. He sets a personal example for serving the least among us. As he is fond of saying, “If I am not giving back then I am not leading my life as well as I could.” And we thank every member of our campus community who each year dedicate an entire day to service, a Simpson tradition for the past 121 years. In Simpson College’s history, we can draw a straight line of great contributors to humanity – from Methodist minister Matthew Simpson to George Washington Carver to 1953 graduate and emeritus professor Ev Laning to the members of today’s millennial generation that Newsweek so aptly calls “Do-Gooders.” We all anticipate the ways large and small they will contribute to the greater good. At Simpson College, service to humanity is our greatest calling. I thank all of the Simpson alumni who have sustained that tradition for a full century and a half.

President

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contents

The Magazine Simpson College President John Byrd Editor Bonnie Harris Art Director Leslie Byars Diehl ’03 Sports Editor Bryan Geelan ’07

Web Architect Missy DeYoung Digital Content Specialist Greg Votava Photographer David Peterson Graphic Designer Amanda Leichty ’10

Assistant Editor Mary Fortune Copy Center Manager Jenifer Mertes Touring the Years Editor Sara Thompson Contributing Writers Leslie Midget Held ’86 Zach Jevne ’10 Kelsey Knutson ’11 Jane Murphy Greg Votava Fritz Wehrenberg Office of Alumni Relations Leslie Midget Held ’86 Director 515-961-1544 Office of College Advancement Bob Lane ’81 Vice President 515-961-1549

demonstrate the fundamental ideals of Simpson College in the world of family, work, service or scholarship

6 Investing in Simpson

Bonnie Harris Director of Communication

The generous support of alumni and friends defines the Simpson Experience

8 Faculty Pursuits - The Service Guru

- Where Are They Now? - Faculty Accomplishments

12 A SIMPSON SPACE

The Simpson magazine is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations. Letters to the Editor and story ideas are welcomed. Send correspondence to Bonnie Harris at themagazine@ simpson.edu.

4 This is Simpson Inspiring stories about people who

21 CHAPLAIN’S CORNER 22 ATHLETICS 26 EXTRA!

- 150th and Homecoming - A Great Cause - Pride in Service

29 UPCOMING EVENTS 30 TOURING THE YEARS

Unforgettable campus places

14 Cover story

Serving the Common Good

ON THE COVER: Front (L to R): Bobby Nalean, Nadia Ali, Kelsey Johnson, Rachel Pellinen, Megan Culbertson. Middle: Mary Houangsavanh, Stephanie Neve, Jim Hayes, Stefon Brown. Back: Fritz Wehrenberg. Photo by David Peterson.

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| this is simpson

A PLACE OF

HOPE

right, multicolored walls greet visitors at Youth Emergency Services and Shelter (YESS) in Des Moines. Each hallway leads to something just for kids: a gymnasium, a recreation area with foosball and video games, a nursery full of toys and books. Volunteers and staff members chitchat and float in and out of rooms. Children in the classroom learning their daily school lessons smile and tease each other as Sara Warrick Swansen ’92 stops in for a brief visit. Despite the varying life crises that bring children to YESS, it’s a place of contentment, comfort and most of all, hope. Swansen is a large part of the reason children at YESS have a chance to heal and hope. She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and is a licensed psychologist of 12 years. She was hired in 2009 as the first clinical services director at YESS and supervises eight counselors and other residential staff who serve the children there. “Every child who comes here affects you,” Swansen said. Founded in 1973, YESS is housed in a former elementary school on Des Moines’ southeast side. It is the largest emergency shelter for youth in Iowa, serving 1,100 children each year ages birth to 17. Many of the children are dealing with homelessness, depression and other severe mental health issues. Some are runaways or victims of abuse or neglect. “It’s survival mode for these children and their families,” Swansen said. Although the shelter is licensed for 60 beds, currently 35 are funded. The Iowa Department of Human Services

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contracts with YESS to use 18 of the beds. The remaining 17 are funded by private donations and grants. All residential support is free to the children and their families. In addition to counseling and medical services, children who stay at the shelter are either bused to Des Moines schools or receive education on site from Heartland Area Education Agency instructors. “She’s an expert in the industry,” Executive Director Steve Quirk said of Swansen. “A lot of these kids have been from place-to-place, which has a tremendous effect on them, and she understands that.” Swansen said her best days at work are when she’s witnessing the reunification of a family after a child is discharged. She describes other rewarding aspects of her job as: “seeing a smile on a child’s face who hasn’t smiled in a long time; hearing laughter from the nursery, from little ones who haven’t been able to laugh like that at home; and building confidence in our counselors so they can continue to be successful.” Conversely, sometimes children are discharged and their parents don’t come to pick them up. “Those are the hardest days,” she said. Still, Swansen maintains her job is centered in hope. “In my eyes, kids are so resilient that it just takes one person to make a difference,” she said. “If I can be that one person in their life, to give them that hope message, it’s worth it. They have the rest of their lives to live.” Swansen won’t say she felt a profound calling to sacrifice a higher income to work for a nonprofit that serves youth in some of the worst crisis situations imaginable. It’s more of a matter of fact for her: “You develop the necessary skills, and you can change an entire life at a young age.” ■

Swansen â&#x20AC;&#x2122;92 is the clinical services director at Youth Emergency Services and Shelter in Des Moines.

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| investing in simpson

the kent CAMPUS center tudent centers, or student unions, are often the heart of college campuses - or at least the main attractions. Simpson leaders identified a new student center as a compelling need during the campus-wide master planning process in 2001.

Richard Willis ’74

Gage Kent

“In thinking about the campus as a 24-7 home for students, there was a lack of a central hangout space,” said Jim Thorius, vice president for planning and student development. Initially the plan was to add on to Pfeiffer Dining Hall at a cost of $21 million, but after review, the board of trustees decided the best course of action would be to move ahead with a completely new building.” “There’s excitement behind this project,” Trustee Richard Willis ’74 said of the plan for a state-of-the art facility. The board voted unanimously in October to move forward with the project now estimated at $14 million.

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“The time is right,” said Willis, CEO of Willis Auto Campus in Des Moines and leader of the fundraising campaign for the new building. “There will be more students, faculty, administration, guests and potential students in that facility than any other. It’ll be the nucleus.” Vice President for College Advancement Bob Lane said the campus center fundraising campaign has brought in $10.5 million so far. “The response has been 100 percent supportive,” Willis said. “The positive feeling we have experienced on each call has been overwhelming.” One family was particularly crucial to the building campaign’s success. Gage Kent, president and CEO of Muscatine Foods Corp. and trustee since 1993, committed $4 million to the project, on behalf of his family and their corporate foundation. It’s the largest outright gift in Simpson’s history. “Our family’s had an almost 80-year history with the college spanning a number of generations,” Kent said. “This

particular project struck us as being very necessary in terms of campus life and the future for Simpson students. It will serve as recognition of Jim and Irene Kent’s longtime love of and commitment to Simpson and the fine beginning in life it gives its students.”

President and CEO of Muscatine Foods Corp. Gage Kent pledged the gift on behalf of the Kent Family to President John Byrd on the last day of Simpson’s 149th year. Above, Byrd announces the donation — Simpson’s largest single outright gift in its history — at the college’s Sesquicentennial celebration Sept. 24, 2010.

The Kent Campus Center is estimated to open in fall 2012. Two architectural firms, WTW of Pittsburgh and SVPA of West Des Moines, have been hard at work with the design concept. The central hub, as it’s already being called, will house a coffee shop, alternative eating options, space for concerts, banquets, meetings and additional office space for campus departments, including the Center for Vocation and Integrative Learning. “We ought to reflect the values of the institution in terms of what’s housed in there,” Thorius noted. Added Willis: “It will have so much utility and bring the true meaning of community to Simpson like it has never had.” The trustees will review construction plans at their February 2011 meeting. ■

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| faculty pursuits

Carolyn Dallinger

Assistant Professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice Education: • B.A., Simpson College, 1979 • M.S.W., University of Washington, 1983 • J.D., Southern University, 1989

the SERVICE GURU ften referred to as a “service guru,” Carolyn Dallinger ‘79 has consistently integrated service learning into her courses since she started teaching at Simpson seven years ago. “I’ve been out in the world,” said Dallinger, a former social worker and lawyer. “It made sense to me to get students out in the world as much as possible too.” For the last four years, Dallinger has taken her Juvenile and Family Law classes to Des Moines middle schools every other week to help seventh graders understand and manage bullying. Her college students research Iowa’s anti-bullying law, then pair up with the younger students to talk about issues that come up in school. Of her students’ impact on the middle school students, Dallinger said: “They just blossom. They shine. No one would want to go back to junior high.” Dallinger also coordinates schedules for her Introduction to Sociology students to allow them to work with Englishlanguage learners in Des Moines’ Garton Elementary School. It’s a mentoring program centered on cultural differences during which students interact, read and play games with the kids.

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“It’s like a living laboratory for them,” she said. “The oneon-one interaction with people will help break barriers more than anything.” Dallinger also requires her Social Welfare and Politics students to serve three meals at any shelter they choose. They often ride on the Religious Life Community vans that go to Des Moines every week for that purpose. Even in her history-based course, Dallinger is able to give her students a bold taste of reality. After researching and studying the forced removal of the Cherokee Indians by the U.S. government in the 1800s, Dallinger took her first-year colloquium students on a Fall Break trip from Georgia to Oklahoma by way of the Cherokee Indians’ Trail of Tears, a National Historical Trail. “I’m a product of Simpson,” Dallinger said proudly. “I’m drawn to any social injustice. I blame Simpson for that.” ■ Carolyn Dallinger has been named Iowa Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The U.S. Professors of the Year program, created in 1981, salutes the most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the country and is the only national initiative specifically designed to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring. Dallinger was selected from more than 300 top professors in the United States.

where are they now? B y L eslie midget held ’ 8 6

ecently, we caught up with emeritus professor of sociology and alumnus of the Class of 1953, Ev Laning, who gives new meaning to the word “retirement.” We’ve heard that you are busier now than when you were teaching.True or false? I suppose that may be true. Since retiring in 1996, my wife Ruth and I have been involved in mission work with various organizations local, domestic and international. Shortly after my retirement, a group formed and later organized the Warren County Habitat for Humanity affiliate. I served as its volunteer Executive Director and grant writer for seven years. When the floods of 2008 hit, we led flood recovery trips to Cedar Rapids and Palo, Iowa. Nearly every home in Palo had flood damage. Our crew became known for our finishing skills so we were often the ones to make sure everything was operational before the family moved back in. For five years, Ruth and I served on annual international mission trips to the Caribbean or Central America for two weeks each year. The first Saturday of November will find me working with the Iowa-Nigeria Partnership driving a truck from Cherokee, Iowa to Des Moines loaded with school kits, “Personal Energy Transportation” devices (hand powered tricycles), teaching materials, tools and other items for Methodist mission work in Nigeria. Similar items from four other sites are delivered to Des Moines for loading into shipping containers before making their way to Nigeria. I’m also involved with an organization made up by three congregations called “Just Partners.” This group addresses various unmet housing needs of members of Des Moines’ inner city churches, often immigrants. In addition, I serve as the Volunteer in Mission coordinator for the Central District of the United Methodist Church.

We understand you spend a bit of time in the woodworking shop at The Village in Indianola where you and Ruth live. True again. In my spare time, I help out with various projects including helping an organization called Precious Angels which provides urns and caskets to families who have lost an infant. We also have occasional projects that benefit various community organizations or programs. You taught at Simpson for 32 years. What made you stay? Simpson helped me to appreciate that faculty not only have a role in the classroom, but in nurturing the whole person as well. I was able to reach out to students and build lasting relationships. It is thrilling to see our students lead successful and fulfilling lives and to come back and share those successes with us. ■

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faculty accomplishments Simpson College is pleased to announce that Department Chair of Education Jackie Crawford has been named the Fred W. Weitz Chair in Education. The Fred W. Weitz Chair is the newest endowed chair at Simpson. Professor of Education Steve Rose was elected secretary of the Indianola Ministerial Association effective May of 2011. He will represent Crossroads United Church of Christ. Eduardo Magalhaes III attended

the Annual Meeting of the North Central Council of Latin Americanists at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Eduardo was elected program chair, and chaired a panel entitled “Between Revolution and Reform: The Left and Other Concepts of Nation,” and chaired and presented on a panel discussing the upcoming Brazilian presidential elections. David Wolf, chair and professor of the

department of English, was featured in the dsm Magazine article, “A Passion for Poetry.” The article focused on men in Iowa who have “thoroughly embraced poetry in all its modern forms.” The article sheds light not only onWolf ’s professional life, but also his personal timeline in getting to where he is today – teaching at Simpson College. Wolf ’s poem, “So,” is also featured in the article.

Assistant Professor of Religion Jan Everhart’s article, “Jezebel: Framed by

Eunuchs?” appeared in the October 2010 issue of Catholic Biblical Quarterly, a scholarly journal.

Dave Camwell’s article, “Altissimo Register Demystified” was published in the Nov./Dec. issue of the Saxophone Journal. The article was an in-depth piece on the altissimo register and can be seen online by visiting www.davecamwell.com. Camwell also finished recording the music to his new CD, Bach-Centric, which is available on the Teal Creek Music label, as well as iTunes, Amazon, etc.

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Instructor of Music Jamie Poulsen recently received another ASCAPlus award from the American Society of Composers and Publishers for 2010. The award is given in recognition of the performance of original works in the concert music genre. It is the second straight year for Poulsen to receive this award from ASCAP, headquartered in New York City. Professor of Chemistry Cliff Meints recently participated in three discussion sections and the business session of the 2010 Midwestern Association of Chemistry Teachers in Liberal Arts Colleges meeting at Luther College. This is an affiliation of chemistry teachers in liberal arts colleges in the upper Midwest. He received a certificate of emeritus membership at the business session.

Angela Glover, visiting assistant

professor of English, recently presented a paper at the Western Literature Association conference in Prescott, Ariz. The theme of the conference was Performance in Western Literature. The personal-academic paper that was titled, “[Re] Settling the West: Growing Up in the Suburbs of the Great Plains,” explores how place informs both authentic and performed identity.

John Benoit judged the Senior Brass

division of the solo competition sponsored by the Iowa Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association. The competition was held at Central College in Pella. ■

Tracy Dinesen, assistant professor of

Spanish, has been elected vice president of the Iowa World Language Association. The IWLA is devoted to advancing the mission of education and world languages, literature and culture by promoting the study of world languages and cultures, promoting language curricula, from primary to post-secondary levels, to enable students to become proficient in the target language and opening the doors for multi-lingual interaction with other cultures. As vice president, Dr. Dinesen will be in charge of outreach and will be coordinating faculty development for language teachers across the state. Dinesen also joined Marzia CorniBenson, instructor of Spanish, to give a presentation titled, “Teaching Without a Textbook” at the Iowa World Language Association Annual Conference in Des Moines. The presentation was designed to help teachers of all levels cope with dwindling budgets and aging materials while still providing their students with a cutting edge language education that meets national standards.

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Rosemary J. Link co-authored a book with Chathapuram S. Ramanathan titled “Human Behavior in a Just World: Reaching for Common Ground,” published by Rowman & Littlefield. The book is based on the authors’ research and experience teaching social workers and human service professionals in the U.S., India, Europe and Mexico. The book includes a number of case studies of effective social and economic development focusing on the concept of the “common human condition” and using the framework of various global policy instruments generated by the United Nations.

evening, weekend & graduate programs |

leadership speaker series n order to provide an opportunity for community engagement, Simpson College’s Evening Weekend & Graduate Programs this semester launched the “Insights on Leadership Speaker Series.” The event drew alumni and friends, faculty and staff to Simpson’s West Des Moines campus on three different evenings to network with business leaders: Martha Willits, president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership; Tom Urban, former Des Moines mayor and retired CEO of Pioneer Hi-Bred; and Laura Hollingsworth and Carolyn Washburn with the Des Moines Register. More speakers series events are planned for the spring.

Some time with Tom Urban “Change in any organization takes time and focus,” said Tom Urban, speaking to a group of students, faculty and community members at Simpson’s West Des Moines campus. Urban is a retired CEO of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., which became a global corporation with sales of more than $1 billion under his leadership.

Tom Urban at Simpson’s West Des Moines campus.

Urban’s speech, titled “The Others,” focused on a leadership style centered in mutual respect “from top-to-bottom and bottomto-top.” Urban said “the others” are subordinates whose buyin is important to working toward a common goal within an organization. What a leader does is not as important as how he or she does it, he said. “Do ‘the others’ feel challenged, yet secure? Do they have confidence in the leadership that has been built on their participation?” Urban said these questions are essential to starting conversations and developing trust relationships between leaders and subordinates, making long-term success more viable. Urban’s take on the many new technology tools available to leaders today is two-fold: “Efficiency is enormous,” he said. “I can sit in my office and manage my relationships all over the world.” But, he added: “There are no secrets, so if I make a mistake, I have 100,000 people mad at me.” Reflecting on his tenure as a leader of an international giant with thousands of employees around the world, a former Des Moines mayor (elected in 1968) and a Harvard University lecturer, Urban said: “I should’ve been a better listener. Listening is an extraordinary art. You have to practice it.” ■

Simpson staff attend Speaker Series: (from left) Rosemary Link, Liz Glodek, Jennifer del Pino and Cyd Dyer.

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| a simpson space

SMITH MEMORIAL college hall B y E mily S chettler ’ 1 0 CHAPEL BY KELSEY KNUTSON ’11

aster craftsmanship and distinct symbolism fill the Smith Memorial Chapel as it quietly sits on the southeast corner of Simpson’s campus, welcoming students and the community from Iowa and beyond. Caught in the windowpane above the chapel doors, a dove flies as a representation of hope, peace and the Holy Spirit. Drs. Alida and David O. Smith, brother and sister, constructed Smith Memorial Chapel in honor of their parents, Henry Gardiner and Annie Catherine Smith. Hailing from Washington, D.C., both attended Simpson College before going to the University of Michigan and receiving a Master of Arts in Classics degree and Doctor of Medicine degree, respectively. Even though Simpson has a historic relationship with the United Methodist Church, all forms of worship are welcomed in the chapel. All of the original architecture in Smith Memorial Chapel is still visible today. Many generations of students and members of the Simpson family have worshiped in the same pews as their predecessors. Arland A. Dirlam of Boston, Mass., who was a distinguished church and collegiate architect, completed the project in 1967 on behalf of the Smiths and Simpson College. The Main Sanctuary, also referred to as the Nave, has a seating capacity of 460, which also includes the 50 spaces in the balcony. Religions of the World Window (North Chancel window): This window was placed to welcome students to Simpson from all around the world, or from any of the major religious traditions. The Religions of the World Window recognizes many other faiths besides Judaism and Christianity. From the top of the window down, there is a Star and Crescent of Islam; the Lotus of Hinduism and Buddhism; the Yin and Yang of Taoism and Confucianism; the Torii Gate of Shintoism; and a totem animal of primitive religions. 12

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Reuter Organ: This main instrument has been in Smith Memorial Chapel since its inception in 1967. It was manufactured in Lawrence, Kan. to the specifications of Simpson’s Music Department. The organ includes 51 ranks, and is located to the right front of the chapel. The console is movable and may be repositioned in the Chancel, which is a rare feature for organs across the country.

Smith Chapel offers a visual and symbolic reminder of the centrality of religion and spiritual experience to the human condition at Simpson College.

Antique Dolls: Hailing from a Philadelphia auction house, 100 antique Italian crèche figures now call Simpson their home. The figures range from six to 32 inches and include traditional figures such as Jesus, Mary and Joseph, but also other ecclesiastical figures, townspeople, nobles and peasants. They were purchased by Mrs. Theo Blank in 1966 and were presented as a gift to the college. The antiques on display in the chapel are made of terra cotta, clay, wax, fiber and wood.

The Carillon: The Martha Matilda Harper Carillon was given to the college through a bequest from the estate of Robert A. MacBain, a 1910 graduate, to memorialize his late wife. The Masse-Rowe carillon is one of the finest instruments of its kind in the nation. Over time, it fell into disrepair and was silenced for a period. However, with support of the Simpson Guild and other funds, it was restored in time for the kick off of the Sesquicentennial celebration in September of this year and resumed with the ringing of the college’s alma mater, The Red & Gold. ■

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Syimpson r g n makes P hu Co e h t d e resident’ m e f m s t u n n i e t y s d S u t e s r v R i C c o L e l l R H for 4th ye ar in a roonor w | cover stor y

Athletes Celebrating service give back : I N M U CVIL N AL

O l e S S P R M I E S E T numerou N U L O V service-o OP T service p riente

H T I A F

Serving the commo

culture of service is so widespread within the Simpson community - contagious, really – that it’s simply rooted in the overall Simpson experience. It’s key to the college’s mission, an element that has increasingly captured national attention. This year, Simpson College was recognized in Newsweek’s 2010 College Rankings as “One of the Top 25 Schools For Do-Gooders,” and in The Washington Monthly for its “contribution to the public good.” Indeed, Simpson is making its mark – not just in the media, but all over Des Moines, across the country and even around the world. “I’m extremely proud of that,” said Jim Thorius, vice president for planning and student development. “To be on that top 25 list . . . it really validates what we’re trying to do to change the culture here. There are first-rate schools on that list.” The indomitable growth in Simpson’s service engagement (see box) is due in large part to the development of the Center for Vocation and Integrated Learning (CVIL), formerly known as the Lilly Initiative for Vocational Exploration (L.I.V.E.). The center is a result of the $2 million Lilly Endowment grant awarded to Simpson in 2002.

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“We took it in a broader sense in terms of ‘What are you called to do with your life?’” Thorius said. “One way people learn what they’re called to do is by engaging in service.” CVIL is essentially a hub set up to coordinate and track the college’s service activities initiated by various groups on campus, like the Religious Life Community, Greek houses, Residence Life groups and athletic teams. It also monitors individual service commitments by staff and students. Moreover, CVIL helps students connect their service experiences to education, leadership skills and career opportunities. With eight staff members, the department also manages various service-related internships and scholarships. One of the newest scholarship programs at Simpson is the United Methodist Service to the Community Grant. Six students at Simpson are recipients of the scholarship, which pays up to $15,000 per year in exchange for eight hours of community service each week. Recipients of the grant demonstrated a proven track record of service engagement. “This is about lifestyle and forming character,” said Jim Hayes, associate dean and director of CVIL.

Stude nt ser b v e e c i i g v c r i e e s n n s o p s p r oject y l Sim l a n o i t a n d e E The President’s Higher Education Community recogniz C I V R E Service Honor Roll S Y L D R O W Professor builds Arts VWashington illagMonthly homes for the needy The e re2010siLiberal College Rankings den (launched nationally in 2006) For commitment to and achievement in community service General Community Service: Four-time honoree Two times with distinction (2008 and 2009)

Simpson stu ts, form bond dents (based on contribution to the public good)

eads us projects

Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students) Research (producing cutting-edge scholarships and Ph.D.s) Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).

Simpson fa Newsweek’s 2010 College Rankings donate to culty inner-city

on good

“The 25 Best Schools for Do-Gooders” also called “The 25 Most Service-Minded Schools” recognizes the most service-minded students, faculty and policies; 510 colleges and universities were evaluated for the award.

CEStudents

SERVI

CVIL is directly tied to Simpson’s newly developed Engaged Citizenship curriculum in that it helps infuse service learning into courses by offering faculty training across all academic disciplines. Hayes said faculty members are trained to figure out how to get students out into the world to address issues and problems while still maintaining a solid connection to their course curriculum. “Service is a way for students to get engaged in education and stay and graduate,” Thorius said. “It changes the definition of the classroom.” First-year students are clued-in to the college’s service culture right from the start: Part of orientation includes jumping on buses with 300-some other first-years and participating in a community service project. “It sends a message that your experience at Simpson is more than just about you, and that service is not an option – it’s an obligation,” Thorius said. Both Hayes and Thorius maintain the reflection piece that’s tied to community service at Simpson is crucial to the overall success of the growing culture. Through meetings and journals, students reflect on questions like, “What do you learn from the people you’re serving?”

volunteer

One of these many reflection groups is led by student Megan Coubertson, the undergraduate assistant to the chaplain and a Wesley Service Scholar. She said the meetings help students realize how service relates to life and career goals. “It gives service more of a meaning,” she said. “It helps you figure out things that happened that you don’t always consciously realize when you’re doing the service.” Stephanie Neve, the new assistant chaplain and service coordinator at Simpson, asks students to explore questions like: “Do positive emotions always have to be a part of service, or can you just do it out of a sense of duty?” Not surprisingly, she gets different answers. But those answers help students realize what motivates them, an important piece in the broader question: What should I do with my life?

In the pages that follow, you’ll read about Simpson

students, alumni, faculty and staff who exemplify this cultural expansion. Said Hayes: “It really is a communion of saints.”

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Jim Hayes prays weekly with residents at the Door of Faith in Des Moines.

CVIL’s Growth From 2004-05 to 2009-10

Wesley Service Scholars: 40 participants to 120 participants; 3,200 service hours to 9,194 service hours Service-learning Courses: 8 to 26 Faculty, Staff, Student General Volunteering – Total Hours: 18,158 to 42, 870 Dollar Value of Service Hours to Local Community: $242,591 to $715,500

Door of Faith im Hayes welcomes a group of once-homeless men to the regular Friday morning prayer service at the Door of Faith, a residential and rehabilitation facility for men on Des Moines’ south side. He leads with a prayer: “Our health comes from you, our hope comes from you, our life comes from you.” Some men read along; some have eyes intently on Hayes as he reads the Gospel. He closes his Bible and knocks on the podium. “Bump, bump, bump,” he says. “Things that go bump in the night. Speed bumps in life. The road is a bumpy one, but it’s not all that scary.” Hayes, associate dean and director of Simpson’s Center for Vocation and Integrated Learning (CVIL), continues by relating the Gospel reading to the men’s experiences on the streets and during their recovery here. A man in a Hawaiian-print shirt sits in the back row, crossing his legs and following along. “I’m done with my required service attendance,” the man declares. “But I keep coming back ‘cause he’s so good. He never misses a beat. He’s right on point.” 16

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Resident Jeff McCulley said: “Jim is a priceless resource. He offers the gentlemen of the Door of Faith a look at Scripture not only in depth of meaning, but in context and application as well.” As part of his initial undertaking as director of CVIL, Hayes surveyed the nonprofit scene in the Des Moines area looking for partnership opportunities for Simpson. In addition to building up these partnerships and growing Simpson’s service base, Hayes found outlets for his own desire to give back — through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hope Ministries (Door of Faith) and Hospice of Central Iowa. He also preaches at a variety of Christian-based churches on weekends. For Hayes, a former priest of 14 years, it’s not so much about “doing” for others as it is “engaging” with others. “It’s very refreshing to come here,” Hayes said at the conclusion of his service at the Door of Faith. “It allows me to be part of the community of Des Moines. There are a lot of people with fractured lives. There are a lot of colorful stories.”

E D C A R L S O N P H OTO G R A P H Y

P H OTO by murphy waggoner

Giving back over Fall Break

This year Simpson’s Religious Life Community (RLC) sponsored two fall break trips: “Twin Cities Immersion Experience” — where students had a chance to socialize with inner-city youth and listen to local experts discuss cultural diversity — and “Fighting Poverty in Omaha” — where students served dinner in a homeless shelter and soup kitchen. “We’re no longer just looking at the books and learning about this. Instead we’re being placed in this area, and we see the bigger picture and the real life connections,” said Luke Weber, a junior who served on the Minneapolis mission trip.

GLOBAL HUMANITY t started in 1994 for Murphy Waggoner, professor of mathematics. She was asked by students to accompany them on their spring break trip to Houston, Texas, to build a house for Habitat for Humanity, a national organization that builds homes all over the world for families in need. “I was basically just along for the ride,” she said. “I was inspired by the idea of Habitat and that students were willing to give up their spring break to do this work.” Since that first trip, Waggoner stayed involved with Habitat for Humanity, leading four global trips to Fiji and Hungary and 10 domestic spring break trips. She served as the faculty advisor to Simpson’s Habitat group from 1995 to 2002. “The culture of service at Simpson allowed me to get started and showed me the ropes,” she said. “These students asking me to participate got me over the hurdles of getting started.” Waggoner is a past president of the Warren County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and has been a member for eight years. She helped set up the accounting for the chapter and is currently on the family selection committee, which looks for qualifying families who can’t afford to own a home with a conventional mortgage. “My mother always told me to leave the world a better place than when I got here, so it’s about making the world better,” she said. “I grew up in poverty, so knowing I can provide a mechanism for people to step up and help other people – it makes the world a better place. I’m always amazed at what people can do when they get together for a common cause. I’ve seen it over and over again.”

In addition to volunteering, students on both mission trips had the opportunity to visit multicultural neighborhoods, markets and restaurants. “These experiences help us to think about service in a way that’s different than what we might usually be thinking because the needs of particular communities vary,” said Stephanie Neve, RLC service coordinator and assistant chaplain, who also chaperoned on the Minneapolis mission trip. “When you travel, you get to figure out how those needs vary in different communities.” Twenty students participated in RLC’s fall break service trips and they hope to have sixty students participate in the alternative spring break mission trips next semester. “We definitely promote a culture of service at Simpson, and as a human being you have a responsibility to do your part to help other human beings in the world,” Neve said. THE MAGA ZINE | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

Seamless connection

Student Sarah Morgan leads Simpson’s Up ’til Dawn event for St. Jude’s.

or Sarah Morgan, there is a seamless connection between studying at Simpson and engaging in community service. “It’s definitely one of the reasons I came here,” she said. “There are so many opportunities. There’s something for everyone.” After high school, Morgan said she wasn’t feeling a call to attend college. Instead, she raised enough money to join a group with Adventures in Mission (a Christian organization that coordinates short-term mission trips), and traveled to Nicaragua with 16 other Americans and Canadians. She spent nine months living in a barrio, cooking and serving meals and picking up trash, which ultimately led to the paving of the street. “The idea of trash there is so much different than here,” she said. After her mission trip, she returned home to Marion, Iowa, and helped with the 2008 flood cleanup efforts in nearby Cedar Rapids, gutting what was left of the houses along the river. Now a sophomore at Simpson, Morgan is majoring in Spanish and international relations and keeps community service central to her daily life. As the philanthropy chair of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, Morgan coordinated writing letters to troops overseas. She’s been involved with Meals from the Heartland and regularly hops on Simpson’s Religious Life van to Des Moines to feed the homeless or serve meals and visit residents at the Catholic Worker House. For her demonstrated commitment to service, Morgan obtained a United Methodist Service to the Community Grant. She’s required to do eight hours of community service per week in exchange for up to $15,000 of aid per year. In addition to her regular service hours, Morgan is the student leader of Simpson’s Up ‘til Dawn event, which raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She uses entertainment like games and bounce houses to draw about 150 students to Hopper Gym to sign fundraising letters that are mailed to their friends and family. Students raised $20,000 last year; Simpson has participated in the event since 2006, raising more than $120,000 since. Last summer, Morgan was invited to attend St. Jude’s hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for the Collegiate Leadership Seminar, which brings together more than 800 student leaders from 250 colleges and universities to help them plan Up ‘til Dawn events on their campuses. “It was so motivating,” she said. “I fell in love with their cause and their purpose.” 18

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I fell in love with their cause and their purpose.

Hamilton reads with Jhamae at an after-school program called Whiz Kidz.

I discerned that my call was to help people.

Something greater ayla Hamilton admits she was focused solely on academics when she arrived on campus three years ago as a first-year student from Fort Madison. She wasn’t looking to get involved with anything. “My focus was on school and to get out of here,” she said. “I wasn’t looking to change my worldview.” Now a senior majoring in international management, German and religion, she said: “I discerned that my call was to help people.” A three-time Wesley Service Scholar, Hamilton credits CVIL for helping her reflect on her community service and tie it to vocational exploration, specifically what she wants to do after college. As part of the scholarship, she performed 80 hours of community service each of her first three years at Simpson in exchange for $1,500 toward her education. Last year she was also awarded an additional $1,000 from the Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps program for doing 300 hours of community service and recruiting 10 volunteers. Hamilton dedicated her time to flood relief, Religious Life Community’s spring and fall break trips and went on Simpson’s annual May Term trip to Denver, Colo. She witnessed homelessness and poverty and decided she was

“called to do something greater.” Hamilton said her friends, advisors and involvement in RLC were all instrumental in helping her make service a core value in her life. “It’s here that I learned to live out my faith,” she said. “I was given a community of people to show me how.” Her commitment is evident in her work with Freedom for Youth Ministries, a nonprofit, Christian-based organization in Des Moines that helps inner-city youth ages six to 17. Many are children of refugees. She spends every Monday and Wednesday evening tutoring children in English and math as part of an after-school program called Whiz Kidz. Jhamae, one of the students in the program, said Hamilton is her favorite volunteer. “She lets me play any game I want,” she said. “She draws me flowers and teaches me how to write.” Hamilton says progress comes in small steps. She often works one-on-one with an elementary student named Bryan who hasn’t learned to recognize letters yet. “I’ve been really invested with him,” she said. “He sees that I care. I think it’s done something for his heart, as well.” THE MAGA ZINE | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

Lives changed t was a school bus painted green and barely running, but it took them on an eye-opening journey to what one said was like “another universe.” It was January 1969.

“The Grasshopper” in 1969.

Thirteen Simpson students took off in The Grasshopper, as it was called, which was outfitted with bunk beds, an old gas stove, jars of peanut butter and cans of pickles. It wasn’t a spring break trip. These students headed for the south and western parts of the country on a mission. And that school bus became a vehicle for social change. The trip was called Vocations for Social Change and arguably the catalyst for many other student-led trips sponsored by Simpson College. John Schuler ’72 was a student from El Paso, Ill., who organized the trip when Simpson operated on a 4-1-4 curriculum calendar which featured a January or “J-term.” Schuler found a list of organizations dedicated to social change, working to resolve society’s inequalities during those divisive times of the Vietnam War Era. “At its core, the movement was about helping shift our country to be more conscientious and more soulful versus capitalistic,” Schuler said. About 20 organizations made up the three-week itinerary. The goal was to learn more about their work and possible post-graduation employment opportunities. Schuler wrote a letter to Dr. John, Simpson’s president at the time, asking for permission to count the trip as college credit. The first 11 to sign up got to go on the journey. And so it began: a trip that would forever change the lives of 13 Midwestern students, many of who started out as strangers, some more naïve than others. “There wasn’t a day when we weren’t experiencing things I had never imagined I would see and smell and breathe my way through,” Sarah Wilce ‘71 said. “We lived an experience of internal and interpersonal change even as we studied external social change.”

“That was perhaps when I really got it – that challenging lives and experiences that I read about in the newspaper every day in fact do happen to real people,” Wilce said. “That hit me hard. It grabbed me by the guts and has really never let go.” Despite mechanical trouble, getting lost, run-ins with police and almost getting beat up by townspeople in Winslow, Ariz., “who didn’t take too kindly to a bunch of long-haired hippies,” the nearly month-long journey came full circle and ended back at Simpson. “We slid back into Indianola with only an emergency break to stop us,” Gammack remembered. “It was as if time stood still on campus while we had visited another universe.

“I was up for the road trip aspect of it,” said Julie Gammack ’72. “Along the way, I got swept up in the magic.”

Nobody knows where the bus ultimately ended up. But that vehicle for change lives on in those who boarded it all those years ago. The group is continuing their dedication to impact others by forming an endowed fund at Simpson to foster involvement and social change.

The bus stopped at places that encompassed the highest level of social activism of the time. “We saw things so disturbing - the injustices in our world,” Schuler said.

“We are now changing the world socially, each of us in our own way,” Bob Lidgett said. “And we’re all still students studying the continuing change.” ■

One of the most impressionable experiences, the group agrees, was sitting around a campfire with Caesar Chavez and working alongside the United Farm Workers.

To see a list of the 1969 social change trip, please go to www.simpsonmagazine.com/

For others, it magnified what they already knew.

Simpson alums (from left to right) reunited this fall at Wesley Woods: John Schuler, Julie Gammack, Robyn Klingbeil, Paul Dingman, Barbara Leeming and Kathy Moore.

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chaplain’s corner |

THE DO-GOODERS BY FRITZ WEHRENBERG | CHAPLAIN

Hmmmm. n interesting title for this issue of the magazine, celebrating service and the recognition of Simpson College as a lively, committed community of service. Yes, this is important; it is part of who we are, part of the Simpson Experience. John Wesley identifies faithful life by serving those in need, doing good. This is the way faith expresses itself, the fruits of the Spirit. As we mature and are accountable there will be a greater, more intentional sharing of these fruits in God’s world. As we observe the 150th year of our Methodist heritage, it is fitting that we are growing in our service to the world. I would like to make three observations about this issue. The first has to do with the nature of God’s activity. At best we are partnering with the restorative, reconciling activity of God that is already present in the world. God’s passion for healing our broken planet and people extends far beyond us. As a people of faith, we are sent into the world to discover where God is already active and collaborate. This involves discernment, dedication and community. Second, the good that is shared is never dependent upon faith or the faith community. There are all sorts of people with all sorts of perspectives involved in this service. We have manifold places within our hearts out of which we care for the lost, last, least and lonely in our world; dogooders come from all points on the compass. Third, let us not assume that whatever service ranking or recognition we are celebrating represents all that we do. There are many within our community who offer themselves and do so without any recognition. Many of us seek to do good simply and quietly, as the Bible admonished in numerous places. It surely is not for notice that we seek to share what we are privileged to have. Let us take our lead from those who are gathered and welcomed into the realm of God’s grace in Matthew 25: Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom… for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry… thirsty… a stranger … naked… sick or in prison? And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” May we continue to grow up in our vocational sharing of the fruits of the Spirit. May the Simpson Experience continue to overflow with service! ■ THE MAGA ZINE | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

| athletics

Young Fellas Once a year, on one special day,The Village retirement community in Indianola is as much a place for young men as it is for retirees.This is when Simpson’s football players spend a day during their bye-week – a week during the season with no scheduled game – visiting and bonding with residents at the center. his fall, it was a day that brought plenty of smiles as the group played a version of the CBS Television Network show, “The Amazing Race.” Football players joined with retirees to form teams that competed in a variety of games like horseshoes and shuffleboard. After each activity, the teams earned clues for the next competition in the race. “We’re havin’ all kinds of fun,” said resident Donna Miller. “It’s about camaraderie,” said Head Football Coach Jim Glogowski. “The biggest thing is to spend time with them and get to know them a little better. Some (residents) went to Simpson and like to talk about what’s happening on campus and how it has changed.” Paul Hoskins, who recently moved in to one of The Village townhomes to better care for his wife, simply said: “I like associating with young fellas.” The players don’t seem to view their time at The Village as doing a good deed. “It’s nice to have a day to be with the community and see it in a different light out of the realm of football,” junior Sam Elsner said.

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Glogowski said it also helps give his players new perspective, like when they hear war veterans talk about their lives. “They’ve never experienced those kinds of sacrifices,” he said. On Campus Day each year, the football team also helps clean up at Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center in Indianola to help the 344-acre site get camp-ready for kids after the long winter. Campus Day is an annual spring tradition for which classes are canceled, allowing students and staff to engage in community service projects. “You can really see the difference in how it looks once we’re done,” Glogowski said. He added that the national recognition Simpson has received for community service speaks volumes of the students, athletes included. “You can get caught up in being a student and being a football player, so it’s great to have this opportunity to give back a little bit,” Glogowski said. ■

Simpson football players Jake Harre and Jim Stessman enjoy a game of shuffleboard at The Village with resident Rev. Raymond Moore â&#x20AC;&#x2122;50.

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CLEAN-UP CREW B Y Z ach J evne ’ 1 0

ou can call them the Clean-up Crew. The Simpson wrestling team adopted a two-mile stretch of Highway 65/69 North, starting at Watters Autoland, and has committed to keeping it clean for the next two years. The team will pick up litter and garbage along the highway twice a year. “Community service can be one of the pillars of success for any program,” head coach Clint Manny said. “Our guys travel that highway frequently and it gives them a sense of ownership.” Manny got the idea after attending a young coaches academy this summer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “Basing an athletic program on service benefits the team members involved and provides great feedback from the community,” Manny said. “I thought we would put their muscle to work a little more than just serving food somewhere,” Manny said. While most teams have a simple introductory meeting at the start of the year, picking up trash alongside the road provided a different type of team-building exercise.

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“It really brought the team together quickly and allowed everyone to get to know each other better early in the semester,” freshman Spencer Lueders said. “It’s a good feeling knowing you’re benefiting the community. Plus, it was better than working out.” The well-traveled road means plenty of garbage to pick up. The team went out over Labor Day and gathered roughly 30 bags of trash, including two barrels and two bumpers. The Adopt-a-Highway program requires clean up twice a year. The team plans on returning to clean up next spring, as the upcoming winter and ensuing thaw will provide plenty of garbage to pick up. The team is recognized with a sign along the highway that lets drivers know the Simpson wrestling program has adopted that portion of road. “It’s a way to get more people aware of our program,” Manny said. “And at the very least, hopefully it’s taught our guys not to litter.” ■

P H OTO by M ike Rolands

HALL OF FAME on Peterson, former head wrestling coach at Simpson, became the latest member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Oct. 30. The winningest coach in Simpson history, Peterson compiled a record of 196-107-2 from 1995-2008. In his 13 years at the helm, Peterson led Simpson to three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Division III Championship, coached 18 All-Americans and watched two wrestlers – Cory Christensen and Nick Ackerman – win national championships. The Iowa High School Coaches and Officials Association nominated Peterson for the Iowa Chapter of the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award. The honor is given in recognition of years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of wrestling. “It’s a great honor to be recognized by your peers for the work you have done,” Peterson said. Peterson joins former Simpson wrestling coach and current women’s golf coach, Bob Darrah, a 1994 inductee. Bob Dyer, a long-time high school coach at Glenwood and current assistant coach at Simpson, is also a Lifetime Service to Wrestling honoree. Current Simpson coach, Clint Manny, was a three-time All-American under Peterson and helped the Storm to a third-place finish at the National Dual Meet Championships in 2004. “I think his expectation and his energy got us to the point where nobody wanted to fail,” Manny said. “Every single guy just wanted to perform at an acceptable level, and (Peterson’s) acceptable level was nothing but your extreme best.” Peterson currently serves Martensdale-St. Mary’s Community School District as the athletic director after spending 28 years as a wrestling coach. Prior to Simpson, he coached at the prep level for Clarksville High School and Cedar Rapids Prairie. ■

Simpson Launches New Athletic Website The new destination for Simpson athletics on the Web is www. simpsonathletics.com. Simpson now partners with Presto Sports to bring all of the scores, news and information on the Storm. The new site provides increased interactivity, more content and a user-friendly interface. “We are very excited to launch our new website,” Athletics Director John Sirianni said. “This site will be a great resource for alumni, parents, fans and prospective student-athletes. It offers a fresh look for the program that sets us apart from our competitors while continuing to provide the most comprehensive coverage of Storm athletics.” The new site offers more multimedia options, including a video player, photo galleries, an enhanced live stats interface, and social media applications. There is also a scrolling scoreboard that can be viewed throughout the site, which gives visitors the ability to catch the final score as soon as the buzzer sounds. Simpsonathletics.com also provides the live stats and live video options the department introduced in the fall of 2010. “Offering different avenues through which our fans can follow live events is important to us,” Sirianni said. “The ability of our followers to keep up with their favorite teams in real-time is a great feature we are proud to offer.” ■

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| extra!

Our SESQUICENTENNIAL and Homecoming 2010 BY LESLIE MIDGET HELD ’86

The 150th anniversary of the founding of the Indianola Male and Female Seminary, now known as Simpson College, proved extraordinary. The maples, showing their first bloom of fall colors, were a perfect backdrop as the newly repaired carillon in Smith Chapel beckoned students and guests to gather at the center of campus. As the numbers swelled to more than 1300, many attired in red and gold, Simpson treated guests to a complimentary picnic. Live music by Simpson’s pep band, as well as the Sonny Humbucker Band comprised of Simpson faculty and alumni, was highlighted by a foot-tapping version of the Beatle’s song, Birthday. A time capsule, containing articles gathered by the student body, was buried in front of the college gates and marked by a beautiful seal replicating the Sesquicentennial logo. One more surprise was in store as President John Byrd and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Fred Hubbell announced: “No great birthday is complete without a great gift… Remarkably… on the last day of our 149th year, I received a commitment for a $4 million dollar gift to support construction of our new campus center.” The festivities continued throughout the next week as Homecoming and Family Weekend were combined for the first time. Tailgates, bounce houses, football and reunions helped students and alumni kick off what is certain to be a historic year. ■ To view a slideshow of the 150th birthday party, visit www.simpson.edu/slideshows/150kickoff/

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Walker works with students from Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines.

a GREAT CAUSE or students at Simpson, there are endless opportunities to get involved. Junior history and philosophy major Allie Walker is making the most of her time at Simpson as an undergraduate assistant for the Iowa History Center at Simpson College. “My position includes everything from organizing events for the Iowa History Center to writing and mailing invitations,” Walker said. “No two days are ever the same!” One of Allie’s most recent projects consisted of organizing a field trip to The Des Moines Historical Society for 375 junior high school students. For two days, the Iowa History Center sent students from Stilwell Junior High in West Des Moines to “Thursday’s Children,” a program inspired by the events of the 1965 black armband protest. This protest led to the landmark civil rights case of Tinker v. the Des Moines Independent Community School District. The Iowa History Center is using a gift donated in 2007 by alumnus Chuck Brodersen ’57 to help local school districts expand student interest in Iowa history by providing funds for field trips to explore the state’s past. Walker worked with Maureen Korte, director of special projects and programming in the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, as a partnership between the Iowa History Center at Simpson, the West Des Moines School District and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. “This partnership with the Iowa History Center means a lot,” Korte said. “These young people from Stillwell have had their tuition waived for this event, but busing is very expensive. So that scholarship money meant 375 kids could come who otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity.” The “Thursday’s Children” program involved several different workshops including a mock-trial, dancing, acting and tie-dying shirts along with a musical production.

Iowa History Center The Iowa History Center at Simpson College was founded in 2006 to preserve and promote the state’s history and encourage a public conversation about the story of Iowa. Its mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of Iowa history among our state’s students, scholars, and the general public. Iowa History Center Programs: • The Iowa History Speaker Series offers Iowa history lectures and presentations in central Iowa. Events are free and open to the public. • Internships for Simpson students at various public history venues. • Iowa history-oriented field trips for kindergarten through 12th grade students. • Iowa Oral History Project records and preserves the oral histories of prominent Iowans. • Prize for the Best Master’s Thesis in Iowa History recognizes and rewards outstanding graduate work in Iowa History.

“My favorite part of working for the Iowa History Center is the involvement,” Walker said. “It’s a really good feeling to know that you helped put together a great event with a great cause.” ■ THE MAGA ZINE | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

pride in service

Two of the first four Culver Fellows, Dustin Peters and Anne Olson, meet with Senator Culver at the official opening this fall.

Culver Center opens at simpson ast month, Simpson College announced the official opening of the John C. Culver Public Policy Center. “Simpson really is the appropriate place for the Culver Center,” Senator John C. Culver said at the event, which drew a crowd of supporters. “The history here, instilled in a commitment to service, is exciting and important. We are comfortable here.” The announcement was the highlight of the first official meeting for the Center’s advisory board members, who spent the day exploring initiatives to promote public service, civic education and engagement among students and within the community. Four Culver Fellows – current Simpson College students who have been awarded scholarships for their passion for public service – were also in attendance. “A democracy depends on an engaged citizenship,” said John Epperson, professor of political science and director of the new Culver Center. “Democracies fail when the citizenship is not engaged. This Center, and centers like it, is crucial to helping us solve that problem.” The Culver Center was established to honor the service of John C. Culver and to continue his legacy of service to the people of Iowa for 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. He said Simpson was selected as the venue for the Culver Center in part because of its longstanding relationship to the family of Henry A. Wallace and Wallace’s friend and colleague, George Washington Carver, who studied at Simpson. Wallace, an Iowa native, served as Secretary of Agriculture, Vice President and Secretary of Commerce from 1933-1946. Senator Culver is the co-author of a widely praised biography of Henry A. Wallace, American Dreamer.

ike any one of the thousands of men and women called to service with the Iowa Air National Guard, First Lieutenant Ryan Hildreth ’05 had a long list of things to do before he was deployed in September with the 185th Air Refeuling Wing out of Sioux City. The unit was to fly combat missions as part of Operation New Dawn over Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. Though chaotic, the Simpson alumnus had one more thing to do in the three days before he left: he sent a quick email to the alumni office asking for a Simpson College flag to take with him on the KC135R Stratotanker. As a student at Simpson, Hildreth was enlisted throughout his academic career. He was fresh out of high school and in his initial training at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi on Sept. 11, 2001. He was called up the following January for full time duty with the 133rd Test Squadron in Fort Dodge. Entering Simpson in the Fall of 2002 with 15 credit hours under his belt, Hildreth was able to finish his degree in three years by taking an overload of courses his last year. He pulled a few weeks of duty every semester, but still served as president of his freshman class, a student ambassador and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. When asked why he chooses to serve his country, Hildreth said: “Serving in the military is something I had always aspired to do. There is a level of pride in service, as well as a responsibility to give back. It’s all about the mission, the people and giving back to something that is much greater than any of us are alone.” On behalf of all of us at Simpson, welcome home Ryan. ■

“This college and this campus have a lot of associations that, for me, are very meaningful and significant in terms of the values I most respect in public service,” Culver said at the event. “I look most forward to working with the students in the months and years ahead, and having closer associations with all of you.” Said President John Byrd: “This is a center aligned with our mission. It’s one of the most significant and important initiatives for Simpson College, and I’m thrilled about the opportunities ahead for our students.” ■ To see more photographs from the opening event, go to www.simpsonmagazine.com 28

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Hildreth ’05 stands with the flag and plane he flew during combat missions in the Middle East.

upcoming events |

On Our Calendar DECEMBER 4 Mary Poppins, Des Moines Civic Center at 2 p.m. Tickets to show required. Reception after performance in West Balcony Lounge. 4-5

Madrigal Dinner, Great Hall at 6:30 p.m. Advance reservations required. For general information, call (515) 961-1637.

Sorority Alumnae Holiday Cookie Exchange, Matthew Simpson Room of College Hall at 7:15 p.m. For more information, call (515) 961-1547 or email leslie.held@simpson.edu.

6-10

Ten Thousand Villages. Dec. 6-9 from 9-3 p.m. in Dirlam Lounge, Smith Chapel and Dec. 10 from 9-3 p.m. in the Gallery in Brenton Student Center.

Simpson College Symphonic Band, Great Hall at 7 p.m.

10-11

Holiday Tour of Homes & Taste of Indianola sponsored by the Simpson Guild and Indianola Chamber of Commerce. Advance tickets available at local businesses or at Presbyterian Church during tour hours. Friday tour and artist showcase hours 5-9 p.m. and Saturday 9-3 p.m. Taste of Indianola Friday 8-10 p.m. and luncheon Saturday 11-1 p.m. at the church. $12 in advance or $15 at door.

SHELTER FROM THE STORM Simpson College & Warren County F R O M T H E Habitat for Humanity are teaming up in April to provide shelter from the storm. If you are interested in more information regarding how to volunteer for a day during Simpson’s April building blitz, email leslie.held@simpson.edu or call (515) 961-1547.

STORM

Organized by the Simpson College Student Alumni Association & the Alumni Association Board of Directors. FEBRUARY 18-20 Spring Opera: Benjamin Britten’s Victorian era comedy, Albert Herring. Lekberg Hall in the Amy Robertson Music Building at 7:30 p.m. on Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations accepted beginning January 28, call (515) 961-1637. 26

South Padre Island Alumni & Friends Gathering. Noon luncheon at the home of Jim Weinman ’49 & Maxine Smith Weinman ’49. To RSVP, alumni.office@simpson.edu or (800) 610-6369.

Lessons & Carols (see box below).

Winter Commencement, Smith Chapel at 2 p.m.

MARCH 12-19 Spring break

Last day for 2010 Simpson Fund tax credit.

25-27

Simpson Theatre presents Eurydice. Pote Theatre in Blank Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday-Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations may be made online at http://simpson.tix.com or call (515) 961-1601.

All College Sing, Great Hall at 8:15 p.m.

JANUARY 22 Nostalgia Dance, Great Hall at 7 p.m. featuring Simpson College Jazz Ensemble. For reservations call (515)961-1341 after January 10.

APRIL 7

LESSONS & CAROLS

Dec. 12 with services at 2 & 5 p.m. Smith Chapel A traditional English Christmas celebration, Lessons & Carols was named a favorite Iowa Christmas tradition by The Iowan magazine. In celebration of our Sesquicentennial, a President’s Reception will be held from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in Hubbell Atrium of Carver Science Hall. The service and reception are open to the public. ■

Campus Day. To volunteer, contact leslie. held@simpson.edu or call (515) 961-1544. Junior Visit Day. For more information: admiss@simpson.edu or call (515) 961-1624 or (800) 362-2454.

For details and a complete schedule of events, go to www.simpson.edu or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 515-961-1544 or 800-610-6369. THE MAGA ZINE | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

| touring the years CLASS NOTES Peter Doeringer ’63 is retired and lives with his wife, Gretchen, in Costa Mesa, Calif. Barb McEldowney Carroll ’66 has moved back to Richmond, Va., where she resides in a retirement/assisted living home. Barb is enjoying Richmond and all its culture and history and invites classmates and friends to visit. John “Skip” Laitner ’69 is the director of economic and social analysis for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in Washington, D.C. He previously served 10 years as a senior economist for technology policy for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Author of more than 250 reports, journal articles and book chapters, Skip has 40 years of involvement in the environmental and energy policy arenas. Kathy Schuler ’72 lives in Wabasha, Minn., where she serves as a pastor for the Minnesota Conference of the United Methodist Church. Stan Weeber ’74 is an associate professor at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. He attended the Oxford Roundtable on Social Justice at Oxford University in July, where he was a discussant and presented a paper. Vince Johnson ’76 and wife, Susan, reside in Germantown, Tenn., where he is a human resources consultant. Fred “Buck” Laughlin ’76 is in his 35th year in public education and 24th year in the Red Oak Community School District. Buck was recently elected as the elementary principal representative to serve on the Executive Committee for School Administrators of Iowa. William Heineman ’78 resides in Poinciana, Fla., and is retired from his job at Walt Disney Co. as masterprinter/scene painter.

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Leila Blackburn ’83 and husband, Jeff Leden, reside in Irwin, where she serves as pastor for the United Methodist Church.

Roberto Mancusi ’94 is an assistant professor in the department of music at the University of Tennessee at Martin in Martin, Tenn.

Denise Ganfield Knaack ’83’s saxophone quartet, “Making Widgets,” premiered at the Iowa Composer’s Forum Fall Festival of New Music in October. The piece was performed at Iowa State University in the MarthaEllen Tye Recital Hall as the opening piece for the festival.

Carey Strawman Seger ’94 is senior human resources business partner at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

Marie Anderson-Pautler ’84 recently completed her master’s degree in music education at West Chester University in West Chester, Pa. Kent Hunold ’86 is supply chain group manager for FritoLay, Inc., in Plano, Texas. Kent has worked for Frito-Lay for 23 years. Melinda Hardin ’87 teaches high school English for the Lynnville-Sully Consolidated School District. In March, 2010, Peter Galanis ’88 was named president/CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Canada. He and his wife, Ann Roan Galanis ’85, along with their children, Mary, George and Stella, have relocated from Chicago to Toronto. Joyce Cannon Bain ’89 was recently named the program manager-SAP financial projects at Bell Helicopter Textron in Hurst, Texas. She resides in Haslet, Texas, with her husband, Bruce. Nancy Pulver Halferty ’90 is a supervisor at Online Business Systems in Louisville, Colo., where she resides with her husband, Carlos Guana. Crystal Buechler Mannes ’92 completed her K-12 reading specialist license and master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn., in June. She is an elementary literacy coach at Lake Nokomis Wenonah School in the Minneapolis Public School District. Crystal lives in Eden Prairie with her husband, Todd, and children, Cara and Andrew.

Brian Steffen ’94 became a shareholder/owner of Linn County Physical Therapy, a Cedar Rapids based private physical therapy practice. Brian has been with the practice 10 years. Michael Gipple ’95 and Denyse Galvin Gipple ’95 live in New Sharon. Mike works for Musco Lighting in Oskaloosa as a community coordinator. Denyse is a regional epidemiologist for the Iowa Department of Public Health, Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology in Des Moines. Tauri Goeppinger Phillips ’95 is an applications analyst for Iowa Health Systems in Des Moines. Tauri and husband, James, live in West Des Moines. Ryan Shriver ’95 is the director of religious education at First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester, Minn., managing the Sunday School curriculum and activities programming for the congregation’s children and youth.

Carrie Schroeder Steffen ’95 was named to the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor Business Journal’s 2010 Forty Under 40 list, which recognizes professionals who have made significant contributions to their profession as well as their communities early in their careers. Carrie is a founding shareholder of the Whetstone Group, a Marion based business development consulting firm. The firm celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Carrie was also recently elected to the Board of Directors for the National Association for Accounting Marketing. Sandra Trca-Black ’95 was voted “Techie of the Year” at the AssistU Community Recognition Awards held recently in Reston, Va. This was her third consecutive year of receiving a top honor in the organization. Sandra had nearly ten years of administrative experience before founding Alloy Virtual Assistance in 2005. Nick Andersen ’99 is associate vice president of underwriting for Nationwide Insurance’s south central regional office located in Nashville, Tenn. Nick and wife, Elizabeth Ehlers Andersen ’99, reside in Franklin, Tenn. Paul Hengesteg ’99 left Washington, D.C., to accept a new position at the University of Delaware as the program coordinator in the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Alumni Weekend June 24-25, 2011 Alumni College Classes, Des Moines Metro Opera, Alumni Awards, The Simpson Cup, Presidents’ Picnic, All Alumni Breakfast, Sorority Luncheons, Campus Tours, President’s Home Open House Reunions celebrating the Classes of 1941, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1970-71-72 and the Golden Reunion of the Class of 1961. Brochures will be mailed in April and information will be available online at www.simpson.edu/alumni

Tastes of Tradition cookbook Jerad Lally ’00 recently received his MBA from the University of Iowa Tippie School of Management and works at CDS Global in Des Moines as business operations manager. Amanda Clark ’01 is in her 10th year of teaching at the Downtown School in Des Moines where she is a literacy leader/classroom teacher. Chris Menke ’01 is web and marketing communications manager at ASSA ABLOY Door Group in Mason City, where he lives with wife, Danika. Travis Rychnovsky ’01 recently completed his MBA at the University of Iowa and is leader, client services/IT/operations, for Foster Group, Inc. in Des Moines. Shannon Haas Nelson ’02 is a consumer loan underwriter at Wells Fargo in West Des Moines. Shannon and husband, Jesse Nelson ’02, live in Ankeny with their children, Andrew and Avery. Brett Lester Schulte ’02 is a lab/environmental compliance manager at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy. David Baker ’03 received his BSN from Denver School of Nursing and is employed as a registered nurse at Denver Health Hospital. Tiffany Colgan Baker ’03 received her Master of Divinity from Iliff School of theology in June. David and Tiffany live in Denver with their son, Milo. Matt DeWolf ’03 was awarded the Marilyn Simpson Ford Award by the Fraternity Communications Association (FCA) at its 2010 annual conference. The award is given to an individual who represents an FCA-member organization and has distinguished himself or herself through outstanding service to FCA. Matt has served Alpha Tau Omega National Headquarters since his time as an undergraduate, most recently as director of marketing.

Jessica McDonald Gesellchen ’04 was promoted to director of admissions at Rasmussen College in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Jeff Gingerich ’04 is a deputy sheriff for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and resides in Iowa City with his wife, Myrissa, and children, Saylee and Caeson. Melissa Hake Gress ’04 received her master’s degree in the spring of 2009 from Drake University in effective teaching—curriculum leadership along with three other endorsements. She presently teaches for West Des Moines Community Schools, where she resides with husband, Michael, and son, Spencer. Tessa Murphy ’05 is land projects associate for Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in Des Moines.

Just in time for the holidays, Simpson Guild proudly presents Tastes of Tradition, Celebrating 150 Years of favorite of recipes and memories from Simpson College. This unique collection of over 400 recipes includes favorites from Simpson’s first ladies, Presented by Simpson Guild trustees, housemothers, Celebrating 150 yea and memories fromrs of favorite recipes fraternity/sorority Simpson College cooks, alumni and friends. A delightful collection, it makes a great gift. To download an order form, go to www.simpson.edu/guild or contact the alumni office at (515) 961-1547. Cookbooks are also available at the following Indianola businesses: Taylor Floral & Gifts, The Corner Sundry, Kerry’s Flowers & Creative Touches, and Peoples Bank. Cookbooks sell for $20 each (please add $5 for shipping and handling). All proceeds help fund student scholarships & campus projects.

Tastes Tradition

Jon Bailey ’06 and Mara LeHew Bailey ’06 completed their Master of Divinity degrees in May and were both commissioned as provisional elders in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in June. Jon is currently serving as the associate pastor at Centenary United Methodist Church in Beatrice, Neb., and Mara is serving as the university minister at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. Jon and Mara reside in Beatrice.

Katherine Wall Boss ’07 received her master’s degree in education in school counseling from Point Loma Nazarene University.

in March. They will be serving as community environmental development promoters and are absolutely thrilled with their placement.

Michelle Boyd ’07 is an inhome counselor for Children and Families of Iowa in Fort Dodge.

Abby Janssen Darrington ’06 is an accountant for Jacobson Companies in Des Moines, where she and husband, Cory Darrington ’05, reside.

Amanda Mulholland DeGroote ’07 lives in Norwalk with her husband, Andrew. Amanda teaches 8th grade Spanish for the Waukee Community School District.

Martha Davis ’08 received her master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Northern Colorado.

Kari Koehler ’06 is a database editor for the American Cancer Society in Mendota Heights, Minn., and was featured in an exhibit of portraits at the Minneapolis Photo Center. Kari resides in Minneapolis. Erica Spiller ’06 is composition program chair at Kaplan University in Urbandale. Erica has written a play, “Again and Again, and Eventually,” that will be debuting at Tallgrass Theatre Company this winter. She has also published an article in the MP Journal.

Eric Bruce ’08 received his master’s degree in arts and cultural management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and is the manager of visitor and member services at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis. Jason Burkhiser Reynolds ’08 and Kayla Burkhiser Reynolds ’08 will be working with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic beginning

Megan Mash ’08 received her master’s degree of sacred music from Southern Methodist University – Perkins School of Theology. She is music minister at Sebastian United Methodist Church in Sebastian, Fla., where she resides. Zachary Rus ’08 just finished his second year on staff for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity in Evanston, Ill., as director of educational programs. Jennifer Acheson ’09 is a financial accountant at Principal in Des Moines.

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ELEMENTS OF CAMPUS Created by Luke Behaunek, director of residence life, this collage encompasses several elements of the Simpson campus. Prints are available for purchase by contacting behaunekphoto@gmail.com, and unframed prints can be shipped to any location. Other custom work can be seen at www.behaunekphoto.com. Letter locations: S - candle holder in Smith Chapel I - gate by College Hall M - chair back in Matthew Simpson room P - front window of the Chapel

Heather Fosburch Bardole ’09 is working on her Master of Divinity degree at Columbia Theological Seminary. Heather and her husband, Alex Bardole ’09, live in Decatur, Ga. Emily Beckmann ’09 is director of marketing and communication at Children’s Cancer Connection in Des Moines. Travis Benning ’09 is a consultant in process management for Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines. Meghan Berryman ’09 is attending law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law School. Marcus Bowman ’09 is a quality assurance analyst for Wells Fargo and is working on his MBA. Lori Card ’09 is an academic advisor for Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. Jayson Crawford ’09 and Lynnette Snyder Crawford ’10 live in Knoxville. Jayson is teaching at Albia Community Schools and Lynnette is substitute teaching at surrounding schools while applying to graduate schools.

S - chandelier in Matthew Simpson room O - seal by College Hall N - entrance to Hillman

Michelle Rhea Purvis ’09 is pursuing her BSN and then focusing on her ARNP (nurse practitioner license) at Mercy College of Health Sciences. Michelle is a patient service representative for Southglen Family Practice in Des Moines.

Allison Haack ’10 is library assistant, circulation/evening, at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport.

Adam Reutzel ’09 is working at Aim Healthcare in Cedar Rapids.

Leslie Hanson ’10 works in administration at Wells Fargo Financial in Des Moines.

Lucas Stover ’09 is an account manager for eShipping in Parkville, Mo.

Jacquelyn Hoffman ’10 is an operational risk consultant at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Des Moines.

Aaron White ’09 and Dana Dunn White ’09 live in Thermopolis, Wyo., where Aaron is a fifth grade teacher at Hot Springs County School #1. Melissa Berry ’10 is working at Allied Insurance in Des Moines. Chelsea Bruening ’10 is studying at Des Moines University to become a physician’s assistant. Christopher Carr ’10 is working on his Master of Music degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Amanda Carson ’10 is a first grade teacher at College Community Schools in Prairie Crest.

Joseph Cummings ’09 is a research associate at Pioneer HiBred in Johnston.

Amy Gookin ’10 is a research assistant at Pioneer Hi-Bred in Johnston.

Caitlin McLaren ’09 is a certified compounding technician for BalanceRX Integrative Pharmacy in Pleasant Hill.

Kelly Grow ’10 is a home mortgage consultant at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Des Moines.

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Alicia Hagerty ’10 is marketing coordinator at Southard Implement in Marshalltown.

Lauren Katch ’10 is teaching second and third grade at the Downtown School for the Des Moines Public Schools. Jared Kemper ’10 is a management trainee at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Fountain Valley, Calif. Rita Kenney ’10 is a category manager for Sauer-Danfoss in Ames. Amanda Leichty ’10 is a graphic designer at Simpson College. Courtney Lezanic ’10 is a case manager at Employment Action Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Steve Lovitt ’10 is an account executive for the Iowa Energy Basketball Team in Des Moines. Jenny Ludemann ’10 is an administrative assistant in the Iowa State Treasurer’s Office in Des Moines. Ray Olsen ’10 is employed at Jake’s Lawn and Landscaping in Indianola.

Lesley Olson ’10 is a staff accountant at Kiesling and Associates in West Des Moines. Melinda Oswald ’10 is an adjunct faculty member at Southwestern Community College, Buena Vista University, in Creston. Brynn Phillips ’10 is teaching preschool in Knoxville. Corey Pinks ’10 is a remedial service counselor for Families First, Inc. in Des Moines. Jamie Eddy Porter ’10 is teaching kindergarten in the Clarke Community School District. Whitney Rasmussen ’10 is working at Meredith Corporation in Des Moines as a new media producer. Taylor Reis ’10 is an English professor at Excellent Global in Rio Claro, Brazil. Drew Riebhoff ’10 is working part-time as director of communications and analytics for Adstringo Consulting in Windsor Heights. Emily Schettler ’10 is a reporter for the Iowa City PressCitizen. Maggie Schuttler ’10 is a marketing coordinator for Northwest Communications in Havelock.

Heather Scott ’10 is teaching math at Lincoln South in Des Moines. Paige Shelton ’10 is LINKS coach for Crossroads of Western Iowa in Missouri Valley and is working on her master’s degree in social work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kristin Simpson ’10 is pursuing her master’s degree in international affairs at Texas A&M – The George Bush School of Government and Public Service in College Station, Texas. Tyler Swenson ’10 is a wireless consultant for Spring Valley Wireless in Indianola. Roger Van Donselaar ’10 teaches fifth through twelfth grade band at Corning High School.

Co. in Coralville and is working on his degree in secondary math education at the University of Iowa. Matthew Winegard ’10 is studying physical therapy at the University of Iowa.

MARRIAGES Amanda Clark ’01 and Aaron Hohl, May 29, 2010, West Des Moines. Travis Rychnovsky ’01 and Jenise Colby, May 22, 2010, Des Moines. Jessica McDonald ’04 and Mike Gesellchen, May 22, 2010, Waverly.

Brett Heltne ’06 and Lindsay Wood ’06, July 31, 2010, Edina, Minn. Katherine Wall ’07 and David Boss, June 12, 2010, Overland Park, Kan.

Lea Nabi McCulley, August 5, 2010, to Daniel R. McCulley ’95 and Jina McCulley, Omaha, Neb. Brooklyn Macy Ediger, September 10, 2010, to Dawn Soloth Ediger ’96 and Luke Ediger, Omaha, Neb., joins Haylie (6) and Noah (3).

Christopher Vestal ’10 is a mail handler for the U.S. Postal Service and is pursuing his M.A.T. degree at Simpson. Ashley Voboril ’10 works at Wells Fargo Card Services in West Des Moines as dispute resolution analyst team leader. Andi Werger ’10 is teaching math at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs. Kelcy Whitaker ’10 is an appellate secretary for the Iowa Court of Appeals in Des Moines. Nick White ’10 is a yardman/ driver at Gilcrest-Jewett Lumber

Homecoming & Family Weekend October 7-9, 2011 Reunion celebrating the Class of 1986 and a Young Alumni Reunion for the Classes of 1991-2011. Brochures will be mailed in August and information will be available online at www.simpson.edu/alumni

Emily Bisbee ’08 and Matt Deutsch, July 17, 2010, Rock Rapids. Cory Darrington ’05 and Abby Janssen ’06, April 17, 2010, Des Moines. Pictured with Simpson College president Reverend Kevin LaGree who performed the ceremony at the First United Methodist Church where he is called. Lindsey Ingles ’05 and Aaron Guetter, October 16, 2010, St. Paul, Minn. Katie Pfeiffer ’05 and Michael Dunkin, September 25, 2010, West Des Moines. Andrew Bergman ’06 and Ashley Noe ‘08, August 21, 2010, West Des Moines. Cole Christensen ’06 and Jeana Muhlbauer ‘08, September 18, 2010, Bondurant.

Jayson Crawford ’09 and Lynnette Snyder ’10, June 1, 2010, Riverside.

Audri Megan Willeman, August 17, 2010, to Christopher C. Willeman ’96 and Juli Holmes Willeman ’96, Ballwin, Mo.

BIRTHS Ozzie Harlen Duncan, June 27, 2010, to Michael J. Duncan ’85 and Lori Sue Duncan, Bettendorf. Alexa Joy DeWitt, June 13, 2010, to Theresa Cannon DeWitt ’94 and Dr. Dan DeWitt, Council Bluffs, joins Olivia (3 1/2). Sophia Marie Mancusi, March 29, 2010, to Roberto A. Mancusi, Jr. ’94 and Staci Peiffer Mancusi ’96, Martin, Tenn., joins Matthew, Daniel and Isabella.

Elizabeth Zura Poole, March 11, 2010, to Dr. James B. Poole ’97 and Meredith Jennings Poole ’00, Urbandale, joins Sam and Kate.

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Bryer Wayne Fitz, July 21, 2010, to Brandon G. Fitz ’01 and Casey Schevers Fitz ’01, Iowa City, joins Brady (3). Greyson David Harskamp, July 11, 2010, to Mindy Michel Harskamp ’02 and Tim Harskamp, Earlham, joins Kenna (2).

Quinton David and Walker Lee Vogel, July 28, 2010, to Todd C. Vogel ’97 and Erin Schevers Vogel ’98, Parker, Colo., join Ella (5) and Sydney (2).

Hayden William Hutt, August 19, 2009, to Robert W. Hutt ’02 and Alicia Stoaks Hutt ’02, Truro. Lincoln Glen Russell, August 23, 2010, to Joshua A. Russell ’02 and Cheryl Long Russell ’03, Baxter, joins Regan (5) and Camryn (3).

Spencer Edward Gress, July 26, 2010, to Melissa Hake Gress ’04 and Andy Gress, West Des Moines. Lydia Renee Harris, March 20, 2010, to Sarah Risius Harris ’04 and Jeremy Harris, Avon, Ind.

Seth Daniel Willrich, May 10, 2010, to Heather Stevens Willrich ’97 and Daniel C. Willrich, Dallas Center, joins Levi (6) and Benjamin (2). Lydia Maeve Winright, August 3, 2010, to Elizabeth Pollpeter Winright ’99 and Dr. Tobias Winright, St. Louis, Mo., joins Clare (5 1/2).

Kacie Beth Schulte, June 15, 2010, to Tylor E. Schulte ’02 and Brett Lester Schulte ’02, Denison, joins Cody (3).

Audrey Mae and Violet Grace Bandow, April 30, 2010, to Ashley Hanson Bandow ’05 and Benjamin Bandow, Omaha, Neb.

Caeson Gingerich, October 12, 2009, to Jeffrey M. Gingerich ’04 and Myrissa Gingerich, Iowa City, joins Saylee (2).

Adelynn Renee Zoske, July 8, 2010, to Trisha Heiden Zoske ’00 and Matthew Zoske, Conrad, joins Calvin (4) and Daniel (2).

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DEATHS

Nora Rhoads Crumb ’41, August 1, 2010, Des Moines.

Leighton Elizabeth Maas, May 1, 2010, to Danny J. Maas ’03 and Sonya Hall Maas ’05, Williamsburg.

Chase Michael Ivancic, March 22, 2010, to Stephanie Millsap Ivancic ’00 and Michael Ivancic, Boulder, Colo.

Remy Gwen Sturtz, June 17, 2010, to Emily Schroder ’07 and Lane Sturtz, New Virginia.

B. Christine James Donelson ’35, September 12, 2010, Ames.

Milo Stephen Baker, July 21, 2010, to David M. Baker ’03 and Tiffany Colgan Baker ’03, Denver, Colo.

Elizabeth Jane Crawford, July 16, 2010, to Tammy Forret Crawford ’04 and Chad Crawford, Cheyenne, Wy., joins twins Andrew and Ariana (2).

Cayden Joseph Gezel, December 7, 2009, to Mitzi Gezel ’07, Indianola.

Charles W. Flesher ’41, July 6, 2010, West Des Moines. Murray B. Elmore ’50, October 25, 2010, Bettendorf. Sawyer Haynes Brooks, September 13, 2010, to Melissa Ansley Brooks ’05 and Justin Brooks, Richmond, Va. Liam Andrew Oliver Whitsitt, April 8, 2010, to Sarah Bascom Whitsitt ’05 and Murphy Whitsitt, West Des Moines.

Beverly Copple Brace ’52, April 20, 2009, Davenport. Ronald M. Liittjohann ’52, July 11, 2010, Fort Morgan, Colo. Marvin E. Smith ’52, May 14, 2010, Ankeny. S. Imogene Reinier Warren ’52, August 23, 2010, Weldon. Helen Morain Lee ’53, July 27, 2010, West Des Moines.

Myron D. Perkins ’55, September 20, 2010, Knoxville.

Mary Lee Paris Moe ’71, May 2010, Minnestrista, Minn.

IN REMEMBERANCE…

Karin Quick Beardsley ’56, September 7, 2010, West Des Moines.

Denise Hummel Christman ’77, December 14, 2009, Jensen Beach, Fla.

John Estes Jr. Honorary Trustee

Darlene Miller Lindsey ’57, January 31, 2010, Macon, Ga.

Mark R. Grable ’78, September 3, 2009, Dolan Springs, Ariz.

Dr. Richard “Mick” W. Myers ’57, June 19, 2010, Knoxville.

Laurie Jolliffe ’79, August 11, 2010, Englewood, Colo.

Jerry D. Oliver ’66, October 9, 2010, Melcher.

Teresa Bennett Schock ’81, July 23, 2010, Des Moines.

James W. Rambow ’66, June 17, 2010, Indianola.

Judy Holmes Shaw ’95, March 21, 2010, Indianola.

Frank Cassman, Jr. ’68, July 3, 2009, Midlothian, Ill.

CAREER PATHS Student Support Services Simpson’s Career Services Office has created a new network for students and alumni to search for jobs and reach out to potential employers. CareerPaths has successfully taken the place of the former interface, JoBulletin, to assist the Simpson community with job searches. Through the network, current students and alumni have the ability to create folders and documents to store cover letters, resumes and letters of recommendation. The easy-to-use portal allows users to access job postings and contact information for employers. Current students were automatically signed up to use CareerPaths by the Career Services Office. Simpson alumni who are interested in gaining access to the new network can visit the website and fill out a brief profile. The database keeps all personal and professional information private. Career Services’ interactive techniques go much further than creating an interface for employers and students. The career coaches are taking a more active role this year in helping students find those beneficial internships, perfect their interview skills and properly compile a professional portfolio. For more information on CareerPaths for alumni, go to www.simpson.edu/career/jobulletin.

John Estes Jr., who was elected to the Simpson College Board of Trustees in 1972 and later granted honorary lifetime status, passed away on August 12 at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines at the age of 82. Estes attended West High School (now North High School) and was a standout athlete who went on to play football at the University of Iowa. After his sophomore season, he suffered a life threatening spinal cord injury. He joined his father as a funeral director for Estes and Sons before retiring in 1997. Estes was respected in the Des Moines area for his ability to calm waters in times of racial unrest, particularly in the 1960’s. As an adult he continued to participate in civic affairs as president of the Des Moines Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, member of the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce,Young Republicans, board member of United Way of Central Iowa, president of the board of the Polk County Mental Health (now Eyerly Ball), mayoral appointment to the Des Moines Housing Board and founding coach for the Des Moines Little League. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Graham Estes. Anna Jean (A.J.) Breuklander Former Staff Member A.J. Breuklander, who was a secretary with Simpson in 1962 until her retirement in 1996, passed away on September 29 at the age of 82. A.J. was a graduate of Indianola High School and a lifelong Indianola resident. A.J. may best be remembered as the secretary of Simpson’s athletic office. She is survived by her sons: Paul (Arlys) of Indianola and Gary of Evansville, Ind., and daughters Lee Ann Peck of Corydon and Lisa Pulis (Ed) of Webster City. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dutch. Paul is a member of the Simpson College Class of 1972 and Lisa is a member of the Class of 1987. Kristi Ellingson Staff Member Kristi Ellingson, interlibrary loan manager, passed away on October 28 from ovarian cancer at the age of 53. Kristi was a graduate of Decorah High School and the University of Northern Iowa. She began her career at Simpson in 1989. She is survived by her husband, Keith, and daughters Jessica, Catie and Bailey. Jessica is a member of the Simpson College Class of 2008 and Catie is currently a student.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Des Moines, IA Permit No. 5740

701 North C Street Indianola, Iowa 50125 800.610.6369 l www.simpson.edu

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Building on our traditions This beautiful hardback book makes a perfect gift this holiday season. Commemorating 150 years of Simpson College history, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s filled with fascinating pictures and intriguing stories.Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll feel as if you are strolling through time with the turn of every page. To order, contact the Office of College Advancement at 515-961-1549. Copies are $45 with $5 for shipping, if necessary.

Building on our

Tr adiTions