Challenge Magazine by Tiffin University

Challenge The Magazine of Tiffin University Fall / Winter 09

Enrollment Increases 128% In Six Years 3,422

2,705 2,349 1,990 1,634

1,658

1,500

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Fall Semester Enrollment

2008

2009

CHALLENGE

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EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Alumni and Friends of Tiffin University: Welcome to the Fall/Winter issue of Challenge Magazine 2009. A lot has happened. Throughout this magazine, you will find stories about faculty accomplishments and campus improvements, an incredible increase in enrollment, motivated students, inspiring alumni, dedicated athletic teams and new countries added to our list of international education. Your story is very important to all of us, so do not hesitate to contact me through our “Tell Us About Yourself” form located at www.tiffin.edu, click “Alumni” (far right), click “stay connected” (last sentence on page) and don’t forget to let us know what is happening in your life! The leaves have fallen and winter is right around the corner, see you in the spring.

this issue

Challenge FALL / WINTER 09 The Magazine of Tiffin University

Equine Business Management p4

> Equine Business Management

> CampusScene

> New International Students

Welcomed Lisa Williams Editor & Photographer Executive Director of Media Relations & Publications

Art p23

Enrollment p28

HOW TO SEND NEWS TO CHALLENGE MAGAZINE… Mail: Print out the Tell Us About Yourself form and mail to: Lisa Williams, 155 Miami Street, Tiffin, Ohio 44883 Call for interview appointment or story idea: Lisa Williams at 419.448.3444 Email: lwilliam@tiffin.edu (send a photo!) Web Site: www.tiffin.edu (Click “Alumni”) Click “Stay Connected”

Homecoming 09 p33

CREDITS Photography: Zeng Lei Contributing Writers: Geoff Schutt, Elaine Ocker Graphic Design: Mary Ann Stearns Alumni Focus p41

Note: We have made every effort to provide names and captions for each photo. Please accept our apologies for those that are incomplete.

> Faculty Accomplishments

> Art

> Music

> Theatre

> Enrollment Exceeds 3,400

> Promoting Student Success

> Homecoming 09

> AlumniScene

> Alumni Focus

> ClassScene

> InMemoriam

> SportsScene

> Athletic Hall of Fame 09

If this issue of Challenge Magazine is addressed to someone in your household who has moved, please notify the Alumni oﬃce by calling 419.448.3323 or email KoehlerS@tiffin.edu. www.tiffin.edu

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

Equine Business Management TU students have the opportunity for a hands-on experience leading to a dynamic and challenging career in the horse industry.

As part of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Equine Business Management concentration, students learn the fundamentals and practices of equine health and operations management. Through the program, they receive real world experience in communicating with veterinarians, horse specialists, and horse owners about the issues related to managing in the industry such as record keeping, veterinary care and facilities maintenance. The managerial skills that students acquire make them more marketable in industries related to horses.

The Equine Business Management concentration began in 2008 in a partnership with Guelph University in Canada. During the 2008-2009 academic year, students took their equine courses online through the Canadian university. However, TU decided in 2009 to move the courses to the Tiffin campus to provide students with a more direct experience, according to Dr. Perry Haan, Dean of the School of Business.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It just seemed to make sense to have the students working with and learning from local people working in the industry,â&#x20AC;? he explains.

www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > Equine

Business Management

EQUESTRIAN BACKGROUND Several years before the formal offering of the Equine Business Management concentration, Tiffin University students, faculty and staff had their first opportunity to work with horses. The equestrian interest at TU began in 2005 with an activity for the Adventure Club – a club on campus that provided students with many opportunities to engage in a variety of activities. The “Horse Experience” took place with 25 people, including students, faculty, and coaches. Students experienced how to groom horses, as well learn how to ride English or Western. Many of the participants were from metropolitan communities and the experience working with large animals was completely new. Due to the success of the “Horse Experience,” Tiffin University decided to start an Equestrian Club. The club was popular immediately, and students were able to ride for two-hour sessions up to three times per week.

EQUESTRIAN TEAM In the fall of 2007, Tiffin University started a varsity equestrian team to compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). This organization has 29 Regions, 9 Zones with more than 300 member colleges

in 45 states and Canada, representing more that 6500 riders in both Hunter Seat Equitation and Western Horsemanship and Reining. Highly praised for its structure of competition, the IHSA allows riders with various degrees of experience in the hunter and western rider disciplines to compete individually or on a team. Competition plays a role, but student enthusiasm and team spirit are the major objectives. Emphasis is on learning, sportsmanship and fun. The Association was founded on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows, regardless of their financial status or riding level. The IHSA attempts to eliminate the expenses of students owning horses and allows more students to compete. Riders are able to qualify for the National Championship Horse Show (Nationals) through a point system. During the year, contestants accumulate points at local shows to qualify for the Regional Finals in their respective divisions. The top three riders in each class of the Regional Finals move forward to the Zone Finals. The top two competitors in each class at Zones qualify for Nationals. Tiffin University’s team competes in one of the largest and most competitive zones in the United States. In TU’s initial year, the team of 12 members

Hunt Equestrian Team – Back Row: Alison Dittman, Travis Roper, Lindsey McKibben, Taylor Wells, Francesca Moody, Felicia Brewster Front Row: Morgan Dart, Kassandra Ringle, Emily Marsh, Lauren Stewart, LaTicia Jeﬀers, Liz Buskey 6

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

veterinarian ever since, in that I will pretty much take care of anything,” Brothers remarks. His special interests include horses, as well as “exotics” like reptiles and ferrets.

ranked fourth in Western and fifth in Hunter seat in a region consisting of 10 teams. The 2008-2009 teams included 22 members and were ranked fourth in both Hunter seat and Western Riding. Two Western riders qualified for Semifinal Championship held in Amarillo, Texas. The 2009-2010 teams consist of 28 members. The competition season begins in October and runs through April.

LOCAL VET TEACHES FIRST LAB ON CAMPUS Dr. Mike Brothers teaches the first two Equine Business Management courses on the TU campus. Originally from Mansfield, Ohio, Brothers earned a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science from the University of Kentucky and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine University. ‘mixed-practice’ Medi Me dici cine ne ffrom rom ro m Th Thee Oh Ohio io SState tate ta te U nive ni vers rsitityy. “I“I’ve I’vve be been en a ‘mi mixe xedd pr prac actitice ce’

Dr. Mike Brothers

The Tiffin vet says he was given a basic outline of what had been previously taught at the Canadian university, and then was able to design the course based on his personal expertise. “The students seem to like the coursework,” he remarks. “It’s exciting to be part of a new program like this, and to have so many truly interested students.”

Freshman Lindsey McKibben, English & Western Teams www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > Equine

Business Management

Ali Dittman’s Internship

Tourism Management with the goal of one day managing a stable of my own. With this major comes the requirement of an internship.

ALISON DITTMAN, JUNIOR WINTER HAVEN, FL

One day, I received an email stating, “Isn’t Hilton Head relatively close to your home?” After a little bit of searching, I was so excited to learn about Lawton Stables, hoping it would be the best place for me to do my internship.

From the age of 7, I have loved horses. My aunt and uncle owned a 200plus acres stable in Kentucky, where they offered trail riding, boarding, and lessons. I would spend my summer and winter breaks helping them with whatever chores needed to be done around the barn. I eventually found a local riding facility where I began working in exchange for lessons. I worked during the 7th grade and all through high school. I have never owned my own horse, but I have had the privilege of riding and gaining experience by showing all different types of horses in different disciplines and levels. When I heard about Tiffin University’s equestrian program, I was astonished that there were schools that competed on an intercollegiate level. With the help of my parents, I was able to visit TU’s campus. With such a new program, we weren’t sure what to expect the first year. Not only did I discover that TU offered an equestrian team, I also had the opportunity to study Equine Business Management and Hospitality and

Dr. Brothers physically exams horse during class 8

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I contacted the owner of the stables who asked me to send her a resume. The head trainer helped me set up all the details for the summer internship, including housing, utilities, salary, and most importantly, an opportunity of a lifetime. I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to see if tourism with horses would be something I would like to do with my life. I moved to Hilton Head during spring 2009 to start my internship and worked through mid-August before returning to TU to continue my education. My internship responsibilities consisted of working 6 days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. My summer was split between two different sections of the barn. The first half of the summer, I worked on the lesson and boarding side, where I would do the early morning feed and rotate all the horses from pastures to stalls for the day. Because Lawton Stables is a tourist attraction, many people would come for one lesson while on vacation. I would help give these lessons, so that the head trainer could focus her attention on established clients and their horses.

Morgan Dart (Novice Class at OSU Hunt Competition)

Also, along with two other assistants, we ran a summer camp, where children from 6 to 17 years of age could come for a week to learn horse skills. The second half of the summer, I worked in the trail barn. This was a very exciting daily job. Every day, we would arrive at the barn before the first trail ride which began at 7:30 a.m. We had 43 trail horses to take care of, and everyone contributed to running a very successful business. On average, we would send out about 80-100 trail riders a day, so all of the horses had to be taken care of so that they could perform at their very best ability. My job was to keep a record of the daily maintenance of the horses, and rotate them through a schedule so that they all earned breaks throughout the day, as well as weekly vacations.

Clydesdale on the property. Throughout the summer, I took care of the barn’s gentle giant, named Harley. Over the course of the summer, I learned how to drive Harley with the carriage and when tourists arrived at Lawton Stables, I would take them out on an hour-long carriage rides through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. At Tiffin University, I have been taking the equine classes to receive a major in Management, with a concentration in Equine Business Management and a minor in Hospitality and Tourism. Originally, the classes were being taught through Guelph University, but after speaking with Dr. Perry Haan, we were able to get the classes offered on the TU campus so that the study could be further enhanced. Our current professor is a local veterinarian, Dr. Mike Brothers. Throughout this new semester, Dr. Brothers has taught us a lot and is very interesting.

I was also a trail guide and would speak to Alison Dittman I have already begun to look at new internships the customers before they would go out for the summer of 2010. After working at on the trail to teach them how to properly Lawton Stables, I learned that I would love to work and teach tourists about ride their horse. I really enjoyed working on the trail barn side of Lawton the life of horses in their natural environment. because it was fast paced and I got to speak with hundreds of people every day. After graduation, I hope to have an opportunity to work in St. Louis with the Clydesdales. This would involve training young Clydesdales, breeding, or The highlight of my summer was learning how to drive a Clydesdale just taking care of them every day, which is a full-time job. Or maybe I will horse. A dream of mine has always been to work with the Anheuser return to one of the great locations where I have worked on my internships. Busch Clydesdales. When I contacted Lawton Stables, I told them about I am excited. this passion of mine, and I was so excited to hear that they actually had a

Tiﬃn University’s Equestrian Team Competitions THIS YEAR In September, the Tiffin University equestrian team participated in its second annual community service project at Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve. Equestrian team members cleared trails using chainsaws, poles, saws and clippers. They also checked the seven mile trail for holes and other hazards. September 26, 2009 marked the grand opening of the dedicated parking lot for horse trailers. The ceremony was celebrated by the first annual Horse Poker Run, with proceeds to benefit Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve Horse trails and the Tiffin University equestrian team.

TU PLACES FOURTH IN FIRST WESTERN COMPETITION

of Wooster, Kent State University, Kenyon University, Denison University and Oberlin College. Tiffin University tied with the University of Akron for fourth place in the afternoon’s competition, and placed fourth overall in the morning competition.

HUNT EQUESTRIAN TEAM PLACES THIRD AND SIXTH IN FALL HUNT COMPETITION Tiffin University’s hunt equestrian team placed well in the fall 2009 Hunt Competition, earning both a third- and a sixth-place finished in the twoday meet. TU competed against Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Akron, Lake Erie College, College of Wooster, Kent State University, Denison University and Oberlin College.

Ten colleges and universities participated in the first Western Competition of the season during the fall of 2009, including Ohio State University, Ohio University, the University of Akron, Lake Erie College, the College

www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > Equine

Business Management

Lawton Stables Owner Didi Summers For the first time, Lawton Stables decided to have an intern for the summer. We get very busy during the summer months and always look for extra help, but this was the first time we were able to provide housing. Out of dozens of applicants, TU student Alison Dittman was chosen to be our first summer intern. Ali’s work ethic stood out on her resume and her persistence got her the job. When she arrived at Lawton, she hadn’t yet found her voice and she spent the first few weeks struggling to juggle her workload and her happiness. She was unclear of what she wanted, unsure how a business worked in reality instead of in theory, and found she was working much more than she had planned, for less money than she needed. We have many people at Lawton, from volunteers to well-paid permanent employees, and it was up to Ali to let us know what she expected and needed. She found her internship had turned into a full-blown summer job. She wanted to please everyone and she quickly learned that this method left it impossible to please herself. We knew from interviewing her that Ali had a love for Clydesdales and expressed an interest in working with our young Clydesdale, Harley. We gave her full reign over Harley, from driving the carriage to cleaning his feathers and exercising him on a regular basis to keep him toned. It was when she began connecting with Harley that she realized her niche at Lawton was to care for the horses.

program, and a riding camp for children, and several other activities. Our goal was to acquaint Ali with every aspect of a working barn, and especially so, by giving her hands-on experience with the business aspect in hopes that she will find her passion within an equine business. An intern’s day is long and begins somewhere around 6 a.m. with barn chores followed quickly with trail rides, horse care, kids’ camp, and finally night chores. Interns take on plenty of responsibility. It’s a big job and it requires someone who lives and breathes the horse world, knows its “ins” and “outs,” and most importantly, is business savvy – because at the end of the day, we are a business. Once Ali found her niche taking care of the horses, the happiness and well being of our 52 horses were in Ali’s hands. This is where we watched her shine. Under her supervision, our horses thrived and she worked with our trail guides, vets, and professional trainers to develop a system of caretaking that has now become standard procedure.

Ali became a fixture at Lawton, working on her days off by tending to injured horses, coming back early from lunch to make sure that everything was being Ali and Harley taken care of. Ali had found her voice here and it was clear and decisive. Though her focus was mainly on the horses, we do believe she saw clearly what it takes to run a business that depends heavily on the tourists that visit the island. We hope that next summer we are fortunate enough At Lawton Stables, we would like our interns to be given the opportunity to find three or four interns just like Ali, and of course we hope she will to experience every aspect of life in a fast-paced work environment. In the return! summer months, we manage over 100 trail rides per day, a vigorous lesson

Ali had full reign over Harley (the Clydesdale) at Lawton Stables including carriage rides.

CHALLENGE

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What’s Happening CampusScene Campus Update OVERSEAS EXPANSION TU has offered its Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Bucharest, Romania for several years and in Timisoara, Romania for the past two years. This fall, the University began delivering both the MBA and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees in Prague, Czech Republic, with 73 students enrolled. Also, TU has received approval to offer the MBA in Taiwan and in two locations in Poland, and student recruitment is underway for those locations.

Dean of TU’s School of Business, and Dr. Laura Mays, Assistant Dean for International Programs, traveled to Prague in October for the opening ceremony for the start of the programs in Prague. All of TU’s programs in business are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs and the European Council for Business Education.”

UNITED WAY This year, Tiffin University employees donated $15,627 for the United Way Campaign.

DENIM DAY TU employees were allowed to wear denim on October 2 if they made a donation to The Women’s Cancer Programs to support the fight against breast cancer.

Wei Peng from Nanjing Normal University Visits TU

President Marion visited Timisoara in June and met with current students, prospective students, and faculty and staff members. Dr. Perry Haan,

VETERAN’S DAY Tiffin University celebrated Veteran’s Day to honor all Tiffin University faculty, staff, students, and local area community members who Captain Elliott Peterson have served in one of the branches of the United States armed forces. The keynote speaker for this year’s celebration was Captain Elliott Peterson, representing the United States Marine Corp. Peterson accepted his commission to the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004 and was deployed to Iraq in 2006 and 2007. He became a selection officer in 2008 and is enrolled in TU’s Master of Criminal Justice degree program. Peterson remembered receiving a TU sweatshirt and said he was impressed with the graduate program. “I decided to go to school here,” he said. Peterson reflected on his overseas duty and said Iraq is full of children who view Americans as an armored version of Santa Claus. “I have so many fond memories of the people in Iraq,” he said. Peterson told a story about a time when a bomb detonated under a Humvee and resulted in death. The scene, he said, was terrible.

Denim Day Participants

President Marion joins MBA Students in Timisoara www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > CampusScene NATURE PRESERVE

GREEN COMMITTEE

An appreciation celebration was held in November in recognition of the handicapped accessibility enhancements at the Tiffin University Nature Preserve. The Nature Preserve is a partnership between TU, Seneca County Park District, Seneca County Commissioners, the Hopewell Township Trustees, the Tiffin Charitable Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the City of Tiffin with the supporting funds from the Clean Ohio Grant Fund.

The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society ety to re-stabilize the earth’s h’s climate. Building on the growing momentum for leadership and d action on climate change, the Presidents Climate Commitment provides a framework and support for America’s colleges and universities to go climate neutral. The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming.

A paved trail and a gazebo highlight the Access to Recreation project. The paved portion extends to a bridge over a creek. “It benefits our students and employees, but also the citizens in our part of the state,” said TU’s President Paul Marion during his remarks. “It’s been a great partnership.” A walking trail loops through a wetland and wooded area, which was part of an earlier project undertaken with Clean Ohio funds. The park is open to the public. During his remarks, Roland Zimmerman, director of the Seneca County Park District, said the nature preserve provides a much-needed park area. “There’s been a great need in this part of the county for passive parks,” he said. “In passive parks you can look out and see nature.” Zimmerman also presented a tactile sign made from recycled material to be placed at the park that is to allow people with visual impairments to find their way. Dr. Mike Grandillo, TU’s vice president for development and public affairs, said the project is the latest in $29 million in improvements made by TU along Miami Street during the past few years. The preserve is next to the Paradiso Athletic Complex. 12

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The college and university presidents and chancellors who have joined the Commitment believe that exerting leadership in addressing climate change will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding, and increase the support of alumni and local communities.

broadcasting all 11 games while also providing an internet stream for fans to listen to abroad. Dragons Radio will be a monthly feature highlighting all Dragons Athletic teams along with their sponsors and supporters, with a total of three broadcasts being live events from local establishments. Voice of the Dragons Frank Barber, entering his 15th year working with Tiffin University, is the host of the show, while a wide variety of coaches, administrators, and players will receive exposure and provide interesting insight into Tiffin University.

On the Move LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY Tiffin University hosted an open house at its new student Living Learning Community in August. The ribbon cutting honored developerphilanthropist Frank Murphy and the community of Tiffin was included in the celebration. The new student apartment complex was once home to the Rosenblatt scrap yard. The apartment buildings and a parking lot, developed for juniors and seniors, will soon face

What has TU done already? ■ Grant/ paper recycling program ■ Two earth day events ■ Going tray-less in food service ■ ITS computer power-down program ■ New building construction (meeting LEED construction standards) ■ Commitment of administrative offices to go “paperless” as much as possible.

DRAGON RADIO ANNOUNCED

Paul Marion, Frank Murphy and Mike Grandillo at Living-Learning Open House Celebration

Tiffin University is proud to announce the debut of Dragon Radio Live, a monthly radio program that will also feature live broadcasts throughout the year hosted by area restaurants. The show is part of a continuing partnership between Tiffin University and WMJK 100.9 FM and provides insight into Dragons Athletics as well as highlights the continuing development of the program and institution through the construction of the new Recreation Center and other initiatives. Alumni and Friends of the University are invited to join in the fun of a “live” show. Doors open at 5 p.m. WMJK is the home of Dragons football,

Frank Murphy and President Marion open LivingLearning Community

a new recreation center that will be constructed on the north side of Miami Street. Each building has 12 units and each unit has with five single bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Also included are two multipurpose rooms in the community which serve as classrooms. The project restored 4.15 acres of contaminated property.

Living-Learning Community

Remediation on the north side of Miami Street has already begun and will be followed by construction of the recreation center. The LivingLearning Community and recreation center will help increase enrollment, which in turn, means more dollars spent at local businesses. Two additional apartment buildings are currently under construction on the south side of Miami Street. When completed, approximately $25 million will have been invested in the construction of the recreation center and the four apartment buildings.

MIAMI STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT The federally-funded Miami Street Improvement Project is near completion. The TU campus and area around Jackson and Miami streets will include decorative lighting, trees, improved sidewalks and a landscaped median.

From Police Chief to Teaching At first glance, his professional experience may seem at odds with his new post at Tiffin University. Yet, it was the influences from a long line of teachers that propelled Kevin Cashen from police chief to teaching undergraduates in criminal justice and homeland security studies. A police chief in Norwalk, Ohio for seven years, second in command for 10 years before that, a sergeant for two years and a patrol officer for six. An Ohio State University graduate, Kevin originally hails from Oregon, Ohio. “I came from a long background in education and teaching,’’ he explained. “My grandfather was a teacher and principal, my grandmother was a teacher, my mother and two aunts were teachers.” When Kevin was in high school, he wanted to do something different. “I wanted to do something more exciting,” he said with a grin. “So, to my family’s chagrin, I had to go into law enforcement.” Kevin now feels that he has come full circle in his professional life. “I’m probably where my family would have liked me to be in the first place,” he added. “I like being back on campus, I like working with students to prepare them for a professional career in criminal justice or homeland security,” he said. “It’s a pleasant change from working with the other part of society.” He believes that he is helping to create a better world by shifting to education. “I’m in a better position to help build a better society through education opposed to a career in protecting society through law enforcement,” he said. This isn’t Kevin’s first stint in higher education; in the 1990’s, he was an adjunct professor at Ashland University. “I enjoyed the experience, but a family obligation made me give up teaching,” he recalled. “After earning my first master’s degree, I started teaching online courses at the University of Maryland, and I enjoyed that experience. Helping his son research colleges, Kevin saw a job opening posted on Tiffin University’s website. “I thought, ‘What the heck...I had not anticipated the speed of how things work. I got the job offer, and I decided to retire and return to education.” During the fall semester, Kevin taught a number of classes, such as Law Enforcement Supervision, Intelligence and Covert Action and the Constitutional Rights of Prisoners. He especially enjoys the classroom discussions, which have allowed him to bring out information from his background and expertise to share with students. “I try to couple what they are learning in class with real life experience,” he said. “I share either some of my experience with them, or from the careers of others that I have associated with in the last 25 years. I bring with me a commitment to lifelong learning that I hope to pass along to my students,” he said. “With today’s job market, if you are not committed to lifelong learning, you can find yourself left behind as the market changes.” He is excited to be part of TU as it grows in both facilities and student enrollment. “It’s exciting to be a part of that growth,” he said. “I know that I have a strong desire to see young people succeed,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed raising my children (three still at home). I have three boys that play basketball, so I’ve coached basketball--we are busy as a family, which is quite enjoyable.” “I have learned that I enjoy teaching and coaching, and whether you are teaching on-line or face to face,” Kevin added, “I have a desire to see all students succeed. I believe it is important for our students to be challenged.”

Miami Street Project

www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > CampusScene

Events AUTHOR SPEAKS AT FRESHMEN CONVOCATION Best-selling author Shoran Reid was the guest speaker during Tiffin University’s annual Freshman Convocation, held in August at Ebenezer United Methodist Church.

New International Students Welcomed President Paul Marion officially welcomed new students from, China, Russia, Cameroon, Canada, Brazil, Central African Republic, and Nigeria during the University’s annual International Flag Ceremony in October. International students new to Tiffin University presented their countries’ flags to President Marion and returning international students celebrated their reunion. The Tiffin University Choir presented a special performance during the ceremony.

Exchange Scholars from Beijing Normal University

Author Shoran Reid

Reid’s book, Waking the Sleeping Demon: 26 Hours of Terror in Atlanta (Rella Publishing Trade Paperback), was required reading for the new TU students. The book follows the infamous Atlanta Courthouse shootings by Brian Nichols, but is told from the unique perspective of the victims. In March 2005, Nichols, who was to appear in court for the rape and kidnapping of his exgirlfriend, was able to break free of his captors and go on a killing spree, which included a judge and a prosecutor. Both in her book and in her talk to the TU students, Reid remarked that she wanted to change people’s way of thinking “in a way that would make us all stop and ask what kind of society we live in if we continually dismiss peoples’ bone-searing pain, yet relish in stories of ‘why’ their tormentors committed such atrocities.” Reid was a successful civil trial attorney in Atlanta for nearly a decade before turning her attention to writing.

BLACK SWAMP COLLEGE FAIR In October, TU invited high school students, family and friends to the Black Swamp Area College Fair held on campus. The event allowed prospective students to meet with multiple college representatives. Students received printed materials about many schools and talked with admissions representatives. More than 50 colleges and universities participated. 14

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Freshman Leonid Vladimirov from Russia

Ryan Miller, Director of International Student Services

Community COMMUNITY TRICK OR TREAT Tiffin-area children were invited to “Get Your Spook On” at Tiffin University’s annual community trick or treat event in October. Some of the festivities included pumpkin decorating, s’mores in the courtyard, and games. TU’s Greek Life hosted a Haunted House and residence life members passed out candy at several residence halls and campus houses.

DRAGON STUDENT DAY Tiffin University hosted Dragon Student Day at the first home football game in September. All local elementary, middle, and high school students who wore a jersey or Tiffin T-shirt were admitted free of charge. Those who attended made a tunnel for the Dragons to run through when they entered the field.

Dragon Student Day Fan, Nathanial Harple

Mengdi Chen, Hang Zhou, China TU Junior Majoring in Finance www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > CampusScene

Faculty Accomplishments OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE Michael Herdlick, Instructor of Mathematics at Tiffin University, was honored by the Ohio Water Environment Association’s Annual Meeting, held in Cincinnati this summer. He was honored with the Crystal Crucible (C2) Award for outstanding performance, professionalism, and significant contributions to the water/wastewater quality analysis profession. The C2 award is given to those professionals who have been active in teaching, education, or research in the water and/or wastewater fields. The Ohio Water Environment Association is an organization that works with wastewater treatment facilities in hopes to curb pollution and help industries regulate waste.

SOCIAL NETWORKING Professor of Communication and Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Jan Samoriski emphasized caution on the implications of social networking before participants at a conference on social media in Suffolk, Virginia. During his briefing to public affairs representatives from different branches of the Department of Defense, Samoriski praised the work that’s being done by the military in communicating their messages through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, but also warned about the social and legal implications of doing so. According to Samoriski, “What we do online in an open environment can have serious consequences.” Samoriski urged caution in how much information is put on social networking sites and the implications for national security. He also emphasized the nature of technological innovation and how volatile the Internet is as a new technology. “We’re dealing with a new generation that can’t imagine life without the Internet and a cell phone,” said Samoriski. “We are inundated with communications technology. At some point we’re going to reach a saturation point,” Samoriski said. “We have to put social networking in perspective.”

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Fall / Winter 09

NATIONAL AND LOCAL SECURITY Professor Michael Lewis participated in the Kennedy School of Executive Leadership in Higher Education Program at Harvard University. Lewis, Chair of Tiffin University’s Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BCJ) Degree Completion Program, took part in the advanced crisis leadership and management strategies sections expanding his knowledge relating to the most current issues in national and local security. “As a result of this experience, I have developed a global perspective on how to manage major critical incidents effectively and decisively while maintaining a focus on leading and motivating teams through a variety of extraordinary circumstances,” Lewis says. He adds that his experience added relevance for TU students in the classroom setting.

GANGS AND EXTREMIST GROUPS U.S. Department of Homeland Security veteran and Tiffin University adjunct faculty member Dr. Charles Williams has written an article examining gangs and extremist groups for the journal, “Policing,” published by the Oxford (England) University Press. Williams, who teaches in Tiffin University’s online Master of Criminal Justice in Homeland Security program, was a supervisory special agent for the Department of Homeland Security before his recent retirement. He remains an outside consultant in Homeland Security. “Policing Gangs and Extremist Groups: A Different Viewpoint” suggests that new, informal, horizontal intelligence-sharing networks should be created and utilized to respond to these organizations. Williams says the groups present a “clear and present danger to local, county, state, federal and international policing cooperation.”

SIXTH EDITION PUBLISHED McGraw-Hill recently published the sixth edition of the popular textbook, “Introduction to Criminal Justice.” Keith Haley, Professor of Criminal Justice and Chair of the MSCJ program, wrote the book with co-author Robert Bohm. According to McGraw-Hill, “Introduction to Criminal Justice is the perfect text for students interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice and for those who simply want to learn more about this important social institution. The authors’ more than 50 years of combined experience in teaching introduction to criminal justice as well as working in the field – Robert Bohm as a correctional officer and Haley as a police officer – come through in their accessible yet comprehensive presentation.” The publisher adds that Bohm and Haley “make it easy for readers to understand that much of what the public ‘knows’ about criminal justice in the United States is myth, and help students to learn the truth about the U.S. criminal justice system.”

GREEN MANAGEMENT

OVERCOMING DEPRESSION

Tiffin University faculty members Laura Ketter and Debra Gatton conducted a special “greening” session at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management in August in Chicago. Ketter is Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Systems and Management and Dr. Gatton is Professor of Management for TU.

Dr. Fang-Mei Law co-authored a new book, Overcoming Depression: Counseling Strategies for Depression. Law, Assistant Professor, School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences, wrote the book with her husband, Dr. Gwo-Jen Guo, Associate Professor at National Changhua University of Education in Taiwan. The book has been published by the Psychological P u b l i s h i n g Company, based in Taipei, Taiwan. The new work is targeted to professionals as a reference to assist in the diagnosis and treatment for their clients who suffer from depression, and ultimately, to help their clients overcome depression and “develop a new perspective on life.”

The program, entitled “Greening the Curriculum: How Do We Infuse Green Management into a Business School Curriculum– More Than Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” fit into the overall theme of the conference, “Green Management Matters.”

Laura Ketter

“Teaching in a business curriculum has many challenges,” Ketter says. “In addition to the discipline-specific content delivered to the students, faculty must also spend time on foundational skills such as critical thinking, communication and argumentation, among others. For most educators, it is a challenge Debra Gatton to fit these requirements into the contact hours available. How, then, do faculty add green awareness and principles without crowding out other content?” She explains that the answer can be found in infusing the current curriculum and course content with green concerns, principles, applications and case studies. During their session, Ketter and Gatton discussed specific ways to weave ‘green’ into classic management constructs and theories.

PROFESSOR RECOGNIZED IN MILITARY JOURNAL NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre has recognized TU Professor R. James Orr for his leadership during a military training exercise in May 2009. Orr, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Security Studies, is featured in the military journal, “Three Swords,” published by the Stavanger, Norway-based NATO training center. Dr. Orr served as the United Nations Political/Legal Advisor of the “Grey Cell” for the Steadfast Juncture 09 Exercise. Orr worked with the exercise control group.

Law, a highly respected researcher in the field of depression, was a presenter at the 117th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, held in August in Toronto, Canada. Her presentation was entitled, “Cross-Cultural Impact on Anger-Expression, Depression, and Anxiety of College Students.”

NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION Dr. Colleen Vallo, Assistant Professor of Communication, recently attended three days of workshops on nonviolent communication. The workshops focused on creating safe communities and Speaking Peace: Foundations of Compassionate Nonviolent Communication. Nonviolent communication gives people a concrete set of skills to live more peacefully. These skills apply to thoughts, language, and using our power in a way that honors everyone’s needs. It is a learnable process for transforming conflict, creating harmony in relationships, and building a world where everyone’s needs are honored through compassionate giving, without the use of coercion or violence. Nonviolent communication involves expressing ourselves honestly, listening with empathy, and developing a more compassionate inner relationship. Nonviolent communication was created by clinical psychologist and international peacemaker Dr. Marshall Rosenberg. He has taught the process in more than 35 countries and his work is supported and promoted by the Global Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC).

According to the article in “Three Swords,” the exercise highlighted the role of the military in a modern peace operation and with humanitarian assistance. Emphasis was placed on the challenges of interdependence of civilian and military organizations in complex emergencies. Prior to joining the TU faculty, Orr served for 24 years as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate, retiring with the rank of Commander. During his last assignment, he served as the Deputy Legal Advisor for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT).

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what’s happening > CampusScene PROFESSOR PRESENTS AT ANNUAL CONVENTION Matt Bereza, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Tiffin University, has been selected to present his data at the upcoming Ohio Psychological Association’s annual convention in Columbus. Dr. Bereza’s presentation, ‘Psychology, Nutrition, and Barriers to Growth,’ will cover his current line of research. “My areas of expertise are cross-cultural psychology, Spanish speaking populations, health psychology, biological basis for behavior and cognition, and gay and lesbian issues in psychology. I primarily conduct research in the areas of nutrition and how psychology intersects,” said Bereza.

PROFESSOR PUBLISHES ARTICLE Dr. Sherry Truffin, Associate Professor of English, has published an article in Reading Chuck Palahniuk: American Monsters and Literary Mayhem. Truffin’s article is titled, “This is What Passes For Free Will: Chuck Palahniuk’s Postmodern Gothic.” In her article, Dr. Truffin notes that the popular Fight Club author has a penchant for writing about freakish characters, such as a refugee from a suicide cult in love with a barren psychic who hires herself out as a surrogate mother (Survivor, 1999), a disfigured former model who hides beneath a veil and plots revenge against those who have wronged her (Invisible Monsters, 1999), and a reporter who faces down strange supernatural forces in a quest for redemption after inadvertently killing his wife and their child with a poem (Lullaby, 2002). Dr. Truffin argues that Palahniuk uses freakish characters to update the Gothic tradition for a postmodern age that seeks perfection in miracle “makeovers” of all kinds. In Survivor, Invisible Monsters, and Lullaby, a character confronts traumatic experiences from the past while feeling trapped in a conformist, image-oriented, mass-media-saturated culture. In the course of each novel, the character becomes paranoid and monstrous, ultimately transgressing the bounds of law, reason, and good taste in an effort to gain a sense of freedom and control in his or her life. Ultimately, such gestures turn out to be violent, destructive, partial, and compromised. For Dr. Truffin, Palahniuk’s fiction suggests a bleak view of contemporary America as an incarcerating place in which the only possible expressions of free choice are destructive to self and others. Dr. Truffin’s view is that Gothic works always express the underlying fears and anxieties of a culture. Chuck Palahniuk’s very popular books suggest that there is a dark side to our “selfhelp” culture.

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

DANGEROUS LIVES Dr. James Rovira presented “The Dangerous Lives of Unbound Pages in Chris Fuhrman and William Blake” at the American Literature Association’s Fiction Symposium in Savannah, Georgia in October. Dr. Rovira argues that Chris Fuhrman’s The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys and William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1793) present post-Enlightenment conceptions of reason —embodied in the academic institutions that legitimate and perpetuate them and the books these institutions produce — as tyrannical forces that blind people from initially painful but ultimately liberating truths excluded from the Enlightenment tradition. In both authors, the post-Enlightenment era book—the physically bound book as opposed to the unbound pages of a manuscript or a comic book—comes to symbolize the oppressive practices of Britain’s church/state complex (in Blake) and the Catholic school institution (in Furhman). Blake’s Medieval-style illuminated books represent to Fuhrman’s characters visionary emancipation from these structures and inspire them to engage in similar resistance through the production of comic books.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING Dr. Allen Smith, School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences, taught 28 Ohio Military Reserve Officers the ICS 300-400 series at the Annual Training at Camp Perry. The training was designed to satisfy significant training requirements for the new mission as the 6th Brigade of the Ohio National Guard. Dr. Smith is working in the Brigade Training Academy to develop courses in incident command and related issues. The primary responsibilities as an organization will be providing support services to the guard for ESF’s 6 & 7 of the National Response Framework that relates to the National Response Plans for disasters. The organization will deal with mass casualties and volunteer organizations responding to declared emergencies. Warrant Officer 2 “Boats” West and Dr. Smith have the required certification from FEMA to conduct this training.

EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS

New Academic Programs

The Ohio Academy of Science has appointed three Tiffin University faculty members to a science and mathematics education standards review team. Dr. Sushmita Ghosh, Associate Professor of Science, Mike Herdlick, Instructor of Mathematics, and Dr. Vicki Ingalls, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, were selected from 38 colleges and universities across the state to join the elite task force. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Teacher Advisory Committee (STEM-TAC) will review current educational standards, as well as advise the Academy of Science on evidence-based educational policy for the Ohio School Funding Advisory Council. STEM-TAC’s mission has several mandates, including: ■ to examine how well the draft science education standards address scientific inquiry and technological design, the central focus of the standards; ■ to assess the scientific accuracy of the PreK-8 content statements; ■ to consider how the draft standards will help prepare high school students for college introductory science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes; ■ and, to determine how effective the mathematics standards will be to help teachers teach science at the pre-college and college level.

Dr. Sushmita Ghosh

New academic programs offered by TU include the Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies, an undergraduate major in General Science, a minor in Sports and Recreation Management, and concentrations in Healthcare Administration within the MBA, BBA, and ABA degree programs. Also, the University now offers graduate certificates in 11 academic disciplines and a new undergraduate major in Cyber-Defense and Information Security. The Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies degree is designed for students who have already earned an associate’s degree in a technical or professional field who wish to continue their education with a bachelor’s degree that is designed around their curriculum. The new major is taught through the accelerated degree completion program in both a seated and online format. The program is completed during four semesters with the courses offered in a modular sequence.

Mike Herdlick

Dr. Vicki Ingalls

Tiffin University has partnered with the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center for Human Capital Development (ATIC) to offer the Cyber-Defense and Information Security degree program. The new major is housed within the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences and is focused on the specific threat of cyber-terrorism and cyber-based crimes. The major is designed to provide a strong foundation in the technical aspects of computer systems and cyber-defense. Graduates of the program are qualified to manage and support operations of federal environments, network environments, and enclave environments in accordance with Department of Defense mandates and guidelines for information, computer, and network security.

www.tiffin.edu

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening > CampusScene

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

What’s New for Students AUDIO ENGINEERING TEAM Tiffin University’s new Audio Engineering Team (AET) provides live sound support and recording services for concerts and other events on campus and around the community. Students on the AET team serve as audio engineers for live performances, serve as recording, mixing and mastering engineers in the recording studio, and provide equipment maintenance and repair services. AET members get a variety of experience working with sound reinforcement equipment, recording studio equipment, and portable recording workstations, attend regular training sessions, and work with both campus bands and organizations and with groups from the greater community. The AET is open to students majoring in Arts Administration, Business, Communication, and other related fields.

CONCERT PRODUCTION TEAM The Concert Production Team (CPT) at Tiffin University provides students the opportunity to develop leadership and professional skills and increase their own skill and understanding of the music industry through planning and coordinating concerts, festivals and other events. Members of the CPT can be involved in booking artists, providing backline support in the areas of sound, lighting and logistics, promoting events, and handling business, financial and legal affairs. The CPT is open to students majoring in Arts Administration, Business, Communication, and other related fields. The Mission of the CPT is to bring Tiffin University and its surrounding community together through the arts while also positively enhancing the level of activity on campus.

‘HOW TO START AND SURVIVE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR’ Tiffin University Trustee Dr. Terry Collins, founder of the Papa Murphy’s pizza chain, was the featured guest speaker during the “Cool Solutions” Community Business Forum in November. A cooperative project of the Tiffin University School of Business, Heidelberg University and the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce, “Cool Solutions” is sponsored by Fifth-Third Bank.

Dr. Terry Collins

During Terry Collins’ presentation, “participants were delighted by the wit and humor of a practical genius who made innovative strides to capture a huge share of the pizza marketplace,” according to Dr. Bonnie Tiell, Chair of TU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. “Dr. Collins proved how imagination and perseverance can lead to business prosperity.” Papa Murphy’s is the fifth largest pizza chain in the United States, with more than 1,000 locations in 30 states. It also has multiple locations in Canada. The chain is the world’s largest “take-and-bake” pizza company and pioneered the concept. In 2003, Papa Murphy’s was voted “Best Pizza Chain in America” by Restaurants and Institutions Magazine, and has won the honor every year since. In 2006, it won the Platinum Award for Consumer’s First Choice in Pizza Chains. In 1995, Comurphyco and Papa Aldo’s International merged into a single entity named Papa Murphy’s International, Inc., a privately held corporation based in Vancouver, Washington. Dr. Collins was elected to Tiffin University’s Board of Trustees in January. The 2009-2010 series will culminate with the Tiffin University Business Expo in April with the theme, “Business 2010: Adapting to the Economy.” “Our ‘business’ is to get the students to think and dream about their ‘business,’” Tiell adds. “The new club is a stepping stone to creating a unified business-minded culture, which springboards into smaller breakouts according to the student’s major. Goals of the club include facilitating a greater level of communication, providing greater access to faculty outside of the classroom, inspiring students to spend the necessary time developing their self-marketing materials, and prospecting for the best-suited graduate school or a career avenue.

BUSINESS CLUB A new Business Club has been created on campus designed to give students a head start on developing their future career success. The club will hold monthly meetings and feature specific themes, along with guest speakers – all experts in their fields. As a result, students will have opportunities to develop networking and leadership skills, find job leads, and even take part in a self-marketing makeover. Dr. Bonnie Tiell

“The Tiffin University Business Club provides the means to impact the culture of our business students so that they become accustomed to a dynamic, yet structured, environment with continuity in its focus towards career preparation,” remarks Dr. Bonnie Tiell, Chair of TU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. The guest speaker in November was TU Trustee Terry Collins, founder of the Papa Murphy’s pizza chain. Dr. Collins discussed “Making the Most of Opportunities.” www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > CampusScene DRAGON DELI

HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION TO VISIT TU

Tiffin University now offers more food in a new place on campus. The grand opening of The Dragon Deli located in Franks Hall took place in October.

Tiffin University will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit in March by a team representing The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Tiffin University has been accredited by the Commission since 1983. The Higher Learning Commission is committed to developing and maintaining high standards of excellence and is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Institutional accreditation evaluates an entire institution and accredits it as a whole. Other agencies provide accreditation for specific programs. Accreditation is voluntary. Accreditation by the Commission and by other nationally recognized agencies provides assurance to the public, in particular to prospective students, that an institution meets the agency’s clearly stated requirements and criteria and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that it will continue to meet them.

According to Tracey Kardotzke, Director of Operations of AVI Food Systems, Inc., “A made-to-order deli section and a grab-and-go case full of pre-made, non-traditional items are now available to students, faculty, and staff.” Also included are multiple flavors of coffee and cappuccino, specialty muffins, freshly made granola bars, chips, and many other snack items are also available for sale. Tiffin University and AVI Food Systems, Inc. began a tray less dining operation last year. The substantial savings and reciprocal funds as a result of the tray less effort, aided in creating such a great deli.

The Commission concludes that an institution meets its requirements only after a peer evaluation is conducted. For Tiffin University, the process of accreditation provides an opportunity for critical self-analysis leading to improvement in quality and for consultation and advice from persons from other institutions. The Commission last visited Tiffin University in 2000. For the past two years, Tiffin University has been engaged in a process of self study, addressing the Commission’s requirements and criteria for accreditation. The evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the University. Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action. The public is invited to submit comments regarding the University to: Public Comment on Tiffin University, The Higher Learning Commission, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602 Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Written, signed comments must be received by February 15, 2010. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after the due date will be considered. Comments should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person who is providing the comments. Comments will not be treated as confidential.

“We are currently reducing up to 300 lbs of solid waste per day,” said Kardotzke, “and over 300 gallons of water usage, not to mention the food waste and consumption as well as the chemical and labor reduction for AVI and TU. We have focused on healthy life choices and sustainability in the deli, by utilizing local vendors (i.e. Ballreich chips and Smith Foods located in Tiffin, Tiny Tortes and Treats in Clyde) as well as Green Mountain Coffee. We are using recycled goods (napkins, cups, cup holders, etc.) and make fresh to order products daily. We are excited to partner with TU in this venture and are pleased with the success so far.”

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

Note: Individuals with a specific dispute or grievance with an institution should request separate Policy on Complaints document from the Commission office. The Higher Learning Commission cannot settle disputes between institutions and individuals. Complaints will not be considered third party comment.

Diane Kidd Gallery SCRAPS & FRAGMENTS The Diane Kidd Gallery featured John Emery’s “Scraps and Fragments” as the opening exhibition of the new 2009-2010 season.

Artist John Emery

“My fascination with the scraps and fragments of how things record memories started when I was a child. I spent hours exploring my grandparents’ long forgotten trunks,” Emery says. “Old notebooks, faded papers, postcards and bits of string attracted me. But it was always the undefined fragment of an object or the battered leather cover of a journal that fired my imagination.” The artist remarks that he continues to be drawn to the visual power of journals, maps, and the typography of recording a time and place. Emery is a Midwest native, though for the past 20 years, he and his wife, Kathy, have split their time between Ohio and New Zealand, where they recently establish a second home and studio.

Arts & Angles “A SINGLE WOMAN” “A Single Woman” was the topic of the first program in the 2009-2010 Tiffin University Arts & Angles series. Professor Patrick McLeod presented the inaugural program in the new season. “The movie introduced the audience

FIGURE, FANTASY, FAUNA: MOSAICS AND PRINTS TU’s Diane Kidd Gallery featured the works of Beth Holyoke and Sherraid Scott with an exhibition entitled “Figure, Fantasy, Fauna: Mosaics and Prints” in October.

Patrick McLeod

to one of the forgotten heroes of U.S. history,” he says. “A Single Woman” is about a woman, who along with Elizabeth Stanton and Margaret Sanger, helped revise the view of women’s role in American society.

‘A WEDNESDAY’

Eyes by Sherraid Scott

“Yellow Springs, Ohio, artists and longtime family friends Beth Holyoke and Sherraid Scott are literally and figuratively sharing their mutual interest in both Pink Man by Beth Holyoke fantasy and realistic settings with their new show,” remarks Marsha Pippenger, Diane Kidd Gallery Director. “Holyoke’s mixed media clay tiles place human figures among imaginative settings enhanced with glass and other found objects. Scott allows her printmaking tools to lead her hand as she creates her sometimes realistic, sometimes abstract – and sometimes both – relief prints, intaglios and lithographs. The artists draw inspiration from past experience and present surroundings, and both enjoy and respect the power of color, shape and line.”

COLUMBIAN HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL EXHIBITION The Diane Kidd Gallery hosted the annual Columbian High School Student Artists Exhibition in December. The new exhibition featured the works of fourth-year art students taught by Bob Johnston. “The students are in a fully independent course call Senior Portfolio. They focus their efforts on thematic usage in art,” Johnston remarks. “Many of the students use creative and inventive themes called formalism. Painting, drawing, printmaking and computer design are my students’ favorite media areas.”

Dr. Sushmita Ghosh screened the film “A Wednesday” during TU’s Arts & Angles program in November. “The film is about terrorism and what effect it can have on the common man,” Dr. Ghosh explains. “This is an Indian movie based in Mumbai, India and is an hour long. The story portrays certain events that Sushmita Ghosh unfold between 2 and 6 p.m. on a particular Wednesday – events that deeply affect the lives of those involved. The movie is in Hindi and English with English subtitles.”

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what’s happening > CampusScene

Music STUDENTS PERFORM WITH ROCK STAR Nelly Arnett, a Tiffin University senior from Toledo, and Shanna Litton, a freshman from Lima, performed as background vocalists with rock singersongwriter Ben Folds in his concert with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Arnett and Litton, both Arts Administration majors at TU, joined with six other Ohio singers for a day of rehearsal with Folds and the orchestra, and then performed a concert of his music to a sold-out crowd Nelly Arnett and Shanna Litton of screaming fans at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The appearance was among the final concerts of a nine-stop, six-week tour that also included gigs with the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., the Dallas Symphony and the Boston Pops Orchestra.

MARCHING BANDS UNITE The Second Annual Tiffin Columbian-Tiffin University Marching Band Festival was held in October. The festival, hosted by TU and Columbian High School also featured bands from Calvert, Hopewell-Loudon, Clyde, and Bucyrus schools. The festival was a non-competitive event designed to showcase each band at their best.

HOLIDAY CONCERT

TU’s Concert Band

“It was so exciting to walk onto that stage with a full orchestra and all those lights and that huge crowd,” said Litton. “I never dreamed I’d have an opportunity like this, and it’s really got me excited about pursuing a career in music.” “The music chosen was really interesting,” said Arnett. “Before this gig, I wasn’t that familiar with Ben Folds’ music, and I had to do a bit of listening to get to know his style. What makes Folds’ music so cool is that it works both in the pop-rock world and with classical musicians. Even his solo rock piano stuff sounds really orchestral a lot of the time.” Arnett and Litton are both members of Tiffin University’s award-winning a cappella group Up in the Air, which is produced and directed by Brad Rees. “The experience they have with Up in the Air really helped them excel in a situation like the Ben Folds show,” said Rees. “In one tune they were asked to mimic Ben’s rock vocals, in another to sound like an old warbly traditional choir, and in another to imitate a Dixieland band style. The diversity of styles the girls get to sing at TU made them much more effective on this gig than most students would be.” This experience was exactly what Arnett needed, as she plans to pursue background singer opportunities in Nashville after graduation. “Who knows what might become of this,” said Arnett. “Ben Folds is based out of Nashville, as is the conductor of the Columbus Symphony (Albert-George Schram). You never know where these connections might lead.” “It was so much fun,” said Litton. “If I had not chosen to pursue music at Tiffin University, I never would have had this kind of opportunity so quickly. I can’t wait to see what the next four years bring.”

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

TU’s Concert Choir

The Tiffin University Musical Arts Program presented its fourth annual Holiday Concert at The Ritz Theatre in December. The concert was free and the public was invited. TU’s Concert Choir, Gospel Choir and Concert Band was joined by the instrumental touring combo Front Street, the a cappella groups Up in the Air and Higher Ground, two new groups to TU, the vocal group ENP and the jazz combo Grey Sunday. All proceeds from the concert were donated to Tiffin’s First Call for Help, and Charity: Water, a global nonprofit organization that brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

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what’s happening > CampusScene

Theatre ... and the Band Played On!

AN EVENING OF CULTURE’

A hammer pounds to finish the set, the phone rings, the cast and crew are not sure of their cues and a dog keeps barking offstage. So begins “An Evening of Culture,” the fall production of the Dragon’s Den Players at Tiffin University. “Though we usually choose something more serious for the fall production, we felt that comedy would be welcomed during these hard economic times,” remarks Dr. Mary Grennen, Assistant Professor of English and Director of Theatre Arts. Written by Mark Landon Smith, the comedy revolves around a community theater Shakespeare production. The actors and director assemble for opening night of “Romeo and Juliet.” The stage is set with a Dr. Mary Grennen lovely castle scene, complete with a central arch, columns and turrets, but the audience soon learns the show is far from ready for prime time. But, as the saying goes, “The show must go on.” Some of the cast members have dual roles as a thespian and a play character; their personal lives spill over into the scenes of the play, turning the tragic story into a farce. Adding to the fray are technical problems, such as microphones that work too well, missed light cues, “wardrobe malfunctions,” remarks and word plays that are not part of the script, and set pieces that do not work properly. When a door does not open, Juliet makes her first entrance by bursting through a flat and a tree that was not placed before the lights come up scoots onto the stage during the opening scene.

Evening of Culture Set

The TU Marching Band performed the National Anthem at 5/3 Field in Toledo. The Mud Hens hosted the Indianapolis Indians. 26

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

In addition to backstage yelling and barking, the audience was treated to onstage antics. Ruthann can’t get a word in edgewise as she tries to introduce the show. Luther adjusts a “wedgie” and later bangs his head on the archway. Delbert fixes the steps in the middle of the famous balcony scene. Mrs. Capulet tries to sell cosmetics as she discusses Juliet’s engagement.

During intermission, a crew member tapes the damaged flat for the start of Act II. Before the play resumes, Faye recites an emotional poem about being dumped by her boyfriend. A trumpet fanfare blurts into the second act prologue that begins with five actors. One by one, they leave the stage, leaving only Mildred to finish the speech.

Good Morning World THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO TEAM BUILDING Larry Siegfried, member of the 1960 Ohio State national championship basketball team and five-time NBA Boston Celtics champion, presented “The Biggest Obstacle to Team Building,” during Tiffin University’s first Good Morning World breakfast lecture of the season. Larry Siegfried was born and raised in Shelby, Ohio, where most of his youth was spent farming and playing basketball. As a high school senior, he was honored as an All-Ohio and All-American basketball player. After high school graduation, Larry continued his basketball career at The Ohio State University where he was able to achieve All Big-Ten and All-American status. In 1960, the Ohio State won the National Championship. Upon graduation from Ohio State, his basketball journey took him to the Boston Celtics, where he was a key player in five world championships. After an exciting career in basketball, his greatest achievement and satisfaction came from spending many years teaching faith-based classes in prisons. Today, most of his time is spent helping others through and from the life experiences that have shaped my life.

Back left to right - Devin Weaver, Coty Rexford Front left to right - Jenna Trillet, Chelsea Garza, Lynne Wagner (Photo courtesy of The A-T)

CROSSING THE GOAL LINE TO SUCCESS Dick Schafrath, former all-pro player for the Cleveland Browns and former Ohio State Senator, presented “Crossing the Goal Line to Success” during November’s breakfast lecture. Dick Schafrath was born and raised on an Ohio dairy farm. In high school, he lettered in four sports. He captained The Ohio State University football team and played professional football for 13 years and was an All-Pro offensive tackle. Dick was an assistant coach with the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns. He owned a recreational business for 27 years. An extremely humorous motivational speaker, Schafrath’s presentation focused on four talking points: association, attitude, teamwork, and finish. His speech was titled “Crossing the Goal Line to Success,” and he offered four ways to score a touchdown. The first was association. People must take everything they learn in life and share it with someone, he said. He said children grow up in the electronic age, and the technology was not available until the 1980’s. He said they are not learning the values, principles and work ethic of life as much as he thinks they could.

Actor Chelsea Garza

During the death scene, Juliet is interrupted by a phone call from home. When she resumes, she must prompt the lighting person when she is finally dead. Enter Romeo, who can’t remember his lines. When he finally stabs himself, he must move a tombstone so he can collapse. The (real) sound crew stays on its toes to keep the dog barking and the music playing at the right (and wrong) times during the action. This article appeared, in part, in The AdvertiserTribune

The second way to score a touchdown is by having an idea about respect. Schafrath said his idea of respect came from his parents. “They lived on the honor system,” he said. The third way to score six points is by having a sense of teamwork. Schafrath recalled Hayes saying, “Show me a crowd that doesn’t care who gets credit, and I’ll show you a winner.” “I believe through the huddle system or the team system, that’s how you win,” Schafrath said. When he addressed the fourth way to score the touchdown, he spoke about other people helping him in college. He recalled living like a player when current coach Jim Tressel let him serve as a part-time coach. He went in the dressing room and ran out onto the field with the team. Schafrath now works in Fremont and coached Sandusky High School’s football team. He said everything he did was in Ohio. He grew up, operated a business, played for the Browns, served as a senator and lives in Ohio. “I love this state,” he said. www.tiffin.edu

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

Enrollment Exceeds 3,400 Tiffin University’s total enrollment for the 2009 fall semester is 3,422 students, which represents a one-year increase of 27% over the total of 2,705 enrolled last fall and a six-year increase of 128% over the 1,500 enrolled in the fall of 2003. According to Tiffin University President Paul Marion, “The fact that enrollment has more than doubled in six years reflects the positive reputation that TU has achieved for providing a high quality educational experience.” The student body includes 1,053 graduate students and 2,369 undergraduates. There are 974 students from 47 states other than Ohio and 240 students from 27 foreign countries. This fall’s entering class of 493 new undergraduates on the Tiffin campus is 16% higher than the total of 426 new undergraduates who enrolled on the Tiffin campus last fall.

www.tiffin.edu

Promoting Student Success The issue of “student retention” is a hot topic among colleges and universities across the country. As Annette Staunton, Tiffin University’s Chief Retention Officer, explains, “Everyone recognizes that they could be doing more to ensure student success.” However, student success – leading to graduation, a career, or a postgraduate degree – isn’t all about what happens in the classroom. Other potential roadblocks to ultimate success include social affiliations, the cost of a college education, and overall satisfaction with the collegiate experience. “We act as advocates for students,” Staunton explains. “We have developed a systematic approach to reach out to our students at three different levels to improve student retention. These include issues addressing the needs of the individual student, issues meeting the needs of special student populations,

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and issues that can have a broad impact on most of our student population.” Staunton is responsible for coordinating retention strategies for traditional Tiffin campus students. She also serves as the Executive Director of Enrollment Services, overseeing the Registration and Records Office, Financial Aid Office, the Director of the Adult Student Services, the Director of Student Retention Services, Success Coaches and the MINIYA Program. “Regular personal interactions with students are necessary to identify and resolve the student’s challenges,” she says. “With frequent communication, students are more likely to remain in school and obtain their degree. We communicate with students through direct contact, including one-on-one support, phone calling, emails and postcards.”

THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER “The Student Success Center helps students become more effective and efficient learners. It provides access to in-person and online academic support. In this way, it serves the University’s goal to retain students by helping them be successful in their academic work,” comments Dr. Gene Crutsinger, Director of the Student Success Center and Associate Professor of English. Located in Friedley Hall, Crutsinger says the Student Success Center provides its assistance in different ways. “One is through individual and small group tutoring. Students visit the Center to get personal help on academic papers or quantitative assignments – such as math, accounting, or computer science. Another form of help comes through the English workshops held in the Center,” he adds. Tutors and professors lead these workshops on subjects like grammar, documentation formats, and how to prepare for midterm and final exams. Students also have monitored study time. “Students from athletic teams, campus organizations, and other academic support programs are required to spend specific amounts of time studying in the Center,” Crutsinger says. “All of these services focus on helping students succeed in their academic work.”

www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > Student

Success

SUCCESS COACH PROGRAM

FRE 150 COURSE

Tiffin University introduced an innovative success coach program beginning in the fall of 2007 for incoming freshmen placed on academic probation. In spring 2008, TU added continuing students placed on probation.

Incoming freshmen who are admitted on academic probation enroll in the FRE 150 course, which provides an introduction to college life, study skills, time management, and “life lessons.” The “life lessons” component of the course focuses on making positive choices, understanding the consequences of one’s behavior, making ethical decisions, preparing for a career after graduation, and the importance of overall wellness.

The primary responsibility of a success coach is to meet one-on-one with at-risk students to help prevent them from dropping out, and ultimately, mentoring the students and providing them with the tools they need in order to graduate.

FINANCIAL AID Success coaches, who are part-time employees, help students learn about college, assist in locating materials, places, and people on campus, and perhaps most important – offer support, encouragement, and positive reinforcement. Students meet with their assigned success coach one hour each week, and the success coach provides guidance, helps the student set goals and address challenges. Success coaches also offer assistance and guidance to students in preparing required University paperwork – from financial aid to drop/add class forms, to change of major forms. “Coaching sessions are focused on providing personal development, and assistance with planning and organization,” Staunton says. “Success coaches also provide a variety of methods to enhance study skills.” Should a student do poorly on quizzes or writing papers, the coaches will help create improvement plans and then monitor the student’s academic success, utilizing progress reports, and midterm reports. Success coaches also help students develop better time management skills and strategies, identify strategies to make social connections with peers, and instill a healthy lifestyle in regards to diet, nutrition, rest, exercise, and leisure time. “Our success coaches are here to guide students through problem resolution and match students with appropriate support services on campus,” Staunton remarks. “They connect the dots and find the right services on campus to help students.”

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Another important role of TU’s Student Retention Office is to work with students to help handle financial costs of attending college, including the following: ■ Serving as a liaison between the student, the Financial Aid Office and the Bursar’s Office on matters relating to student accounts. TU has established a “Save the Student Campaign,” which works closely with both of these offices. “We evaluate each individual student situation, and help to implement a workable solution,” Staunton says. ■ Helping students and families resolve financial aid challenges and concerns. ■ Monitoring progress of new and current students with submitting missing documents to the Financial Aid Office. ■ Assisting with TU-sponsored events that require financial aid representation. This includes orientations, open houses and campus visits for new students. ■ Updating and maintaining email communication plans for financial aid and retention purposes for students.

FROM ENROLLMENT TO GRADUATION, ONE-ON-ONE STUDENT INTERACTION The retention process begins the moment the student enrolls at Tiffin University, and continues through graduation. “We provide the help needed to transition from high school to college,” Staunton says. “In addition, we provide information, awareness, and exposure to University services and activities to help enable students to make reasoned and well-informed choices. We want to create an atmosphere that minimizes anxiety, promotes positive attitudes and stimulates learning. We also work to improve motivation and effectiveness so students stay at Tiffin University and meet and exceed their personal goals.”

Homecoming 09 www.tiffin.edu

what’s happening > Homecoming

2009

Homecoming 2009 Tiffin University’s Homecoming took place October on 9-11. The 2009 Hall of Fame honorees were: Greg Gaskin, 1998; Wesley Russell, 1999; Coach Bonnie Tiell, 1988 to 2005; Gary DuPlessis 1998 and 1999; and Dave Rosen, 1950. On Saturday, the Alumnae Softball Game took place at the Paradiso Athletic Complex and the Alumnae Volleyball Game took place The Gillmor Student Center. The Dragon football game against Saginaw Valley State was played at Frost Kalnow Stadium. Prior to the football game on Saturday, a tailgate party and children’s games and crafts took place. Additionally, TU introduced the Homecoming Court and recognized the Athletic Hall of Fame members. After the football game, festivities continued at the Madison Street Tavern in downtown Tiffin. A class reunion also took place on Saturday evening. On Sunday, the Alumni Baseball Golf Scramble and Lunch took place at Seneca Hills Golf Club.

From left to right, bottom row: Lauren Williams ‘08, Melissa Bowie ‘07. Back row: Monica Gerace ‘07, Kristen Barbernitz ‘07, Christen Wilhelm ‘04, Shannon Neumann ‘06 and ‘08, Stephanie Turvene ‘08, Katie Rorick ‘07 and Camille Mazzei ‘04 34

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www.tiffin.edu

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening > Homecoming

CHALLENGE

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2009

www.tiffin.edu

Update AlumniScene

Calling ALL SIGS!

Athletic Hall of Fame

Alumni members of Sigma Omega Sigma have contacted the Alumni & Development Office to express their concern about the discontinued status of their fraternity on the TU campus. Many have asked that the fraternity be re-instated and have offered their assistance in helping our current undergraduate men organize under the Sigma Omega Sigma fraternity banner. Due to this interest, TU has committed to developing a plan to provide a pathway for the re-colonization of Sigma Omega Sigma on campus.

The TIFFIN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME was instituted to honor former TU coaches, stand-out athletes, distinguished administrators, and significant contributors to the University’s mission and the mission of the athletic department. The Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes persons from all sports in which TU competed as a recognized intercollegiate athletic event throughout its history. Eligibility for induction is open to both living and deceased members of the TU community.

If the Sig fraternity brothers take seriously this charge to reinstate their fraternity at TU, we feel it could lead to a renewed Sig presence on campus and an even stronger Tiffin University. More information will follow to Sig alumni with valid mail or e-mail addresses. To update your alumni record or to assist with this endeavor, please contact Celinda Scherger, Director of Alumni Relations, at 419-4483313 or schergercm@tiffin.edu

Nominations can be offered by anyone except the person being nominated. The Selection Committee will discuss each nominee, making sure he/she meets the criteria established for induction. Those nominated and receiving the approval of the selection committee will be inducted, subject to administrative approval. The committee uses the following criteria to make its selection each year: ■ Outstanding athletic achievement as an undergraduate; ■ Outstanding contribution to their community and profession representing the values and tradition of Tiffin University Athletics; ■ As an alumnus, significant evidence demonstrating the use of their time, talents and treasures to advance TU and its athletic program. While only a select few are chosen for the Hall of Fame, all nominations are considered at the time they are submitted and remain active for five (5) years. Please use the form on page 39 to submit your nomination for the TU Athletic Hall of Fame. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 30. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Celinda Scherger, Director of Alumni Relations at 419-448-3313 or schergercm@tiffin.edu.

TU On The Road If you are an Ohio resident, you can show pride in Tiffin University through the Collegiate License Plate Program sponsored by the State of Ohio. The cost to participate in the program (in addition to any normal renewal fees) is $35 annually. Of this $35 fee, $25 is directed to Tiffin University in the form of a charitable donation to the General Scholarship Fund in your name. Due to a change in the Drivers Privacy Protection Act, Ohio Revised Code 4501.27, the release of personal information will not be provided without written consent by the individual. Therefore, you must provide proof of your participation in the collegiate license plate program in order for Tiffin University to recognize your contribution to the TU General Scholarship Fund. If you have questions regarding the Collegiate Plate Program, contact TU’s Alumni Relations Office at 419-448-3282 or your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles. 38

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Athletic Hall of Fame Nomination Form Name Address City

State

Zip

Year of Graduation

Major

Advanced Degree

Year

College

Field

Advanced Degree

Year

College

Field

Sports Played

Year(s)

Letters Received

College Athletic Record and Highlights:

Athletic Achievements after College (include coaching and service to athletics):

College Extracurricular Activities (other than athletics)

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING NOMINATIONS IS APRIL 30, 2010 Nomination forms should be mailed to: Shane O’Donnell, Sports Information Director – Tiffin University, 155 Miami Street, Tiffin, OH 44883

TIFFIN UNIVERSITY www.tiffin.edu

update > AlumniScene

Homecoming 2009 40

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

Alumni Focus

Alum Justin Setty Credits TU For His Success as Peace Corps Volunteer

Tiffin University alumnus Justin Setty could have easily utilized his criminal justice degree upon graduation and immediately started a long and distinguished career. Instead, the May 2009 forensic psychology major decided first to give back to his country by joining the Peace Corps.

His assignment led him to Ineu, Romania – a small town of approximately 9,000 residents near the Hungarian Border. His job is to teach English at an industrial high school. Justin says his experience as a tutor in TU’s Learning Center (recently renamed the Student Success Center) helped him secure the teaching role with the Peace Corps.

When I first applied, I wondered what I could do, since my criminal justice education didn’t directly relate to the Peace Corps programs,” he says. “But I really loved tutoring, and I was placed in the education sector.” He explains, “There are aspects of the forensic psychology program that have helped me in particular. I believe the psychology courses helped a lot in navigating my new role as a teacher. My experience here has led me to conclude that psychology is an extremely important tool to be used in teaching.” Justin says that the emphasis placed on research by his professors in the TU School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences is another aspect of his education that helped him to prepare for his service. “Research trains you to take an idea and work with it over a very long span of time to reach a final result,” he remarks. “While I may not be working in criminal justice here, the long road of language acquisition, cultural integration, and working towards becoming an effective teacher honestly felt very similar.” Interestingly, Justin also credits his TU athletic career in preparing him for his Peace Corps assignment. “Being a Dragon taught me a lot about overcoming challenges to gain results,” he explains.

IT’S THE HARDEST JOB YOU’LL EVER LOVE’ by Justin Setty October 28, 2009 – As fall comes to my home in the States, it also comes to Romania. It’s comforting to experience my favorite season, but in a different way. Instead of spiced apple cider, it’s spiced red wine. Instead of easy-to-make food from a box, it’s figuring out what really goes in all those foods. Instead of crosscountry meets on golf courses in crisp autumn air, it is Tuesday afternoon soccer games with my co-workers before the early sunset. The members of Peace Corps Group 26 have been at their respective sites for about two and a half months. The previous groups that came to Romania before us have entered their second or third year of service. I’ve learned a great deal since arriving in Ineu, but the need to learn much more is still there and will be there until “close-of-service.” On the language side of things, I feel pretty confident in saying that my skill with the Romanian language has improved since I arrived in Ineu. It is very hard to measure what constitutes “improvement” though. Sometimes I can maintain prolonged interaction using Romanian and then sometimes it is a challenge to simply say, “No, thank you.” I tend to study Romanian alone in a lot of my free time. Not having a TV connection has led to more studying, a lot of book reading, and more time spent in the kitchen. I try to meet with a tutor for about an hour a week to clarify grammar and verb usage. In addition to the obvious need to gain fluency within the community, there is the need to gain fluency within my classroom (where Romanian is needed to lead into English). As I write these words, it is currently the seventh week of the fall Semester. The complete and utter confusion from the first two weeks has cleared and revealed that the biggest challenge is before me. The highs of teaching students who want to learn have been mixed with the lows of attempting to teach the students who do not. Discipline issues and disruptive social dynamics are present in every school whether it is in America or Romania, including mine. At this point in my service, the biggest question is this: “How do I address the unique discipline issues of my school in such a way as to create a positive learning environment for each student?” Having the ability to take half of each class to my own classroom has been a strong piece to this puzzle. Unfortunately, it has turned out to be a smaller piece than I originally thought. Now is the time to dig deeper, gain better insight into how my school operates, and review our training. They did say, “It’s the hardest job you’ll ever love.” www.tiffin.edu

update > AlumniScene

Upcoming event

EVENTS Summary

CEDAR POINT DAY

Cruise – 12-Day South America Passage Proposed for February 2011

The Office of Alumni Relations hosted the 12th annual Tiffin University Day at Cedar Point in July. As always, discounts were made available to Tiffin University employees, their families and the community of Tiffin.

Ports of Call: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Pt. Stanley, Falkland Islands; Scenic cruising Cape Horn; Ushuaia, Argentina; Cockburn and Beagle Channels; Punta Arenas, Chile; Strait of Magellan; Amalia Glacier Canal Sarmiento; Darwin Channel Chilean Fjords; Puerto Montt, Chile; Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile Departure Port: Buenos Aires, Argentina *Exact dates and prices will be furnished when they become available.

Point.click. Give. With our secure server, investing in Tiffin University has never been easier. Just point and click, and your gift – whatever its size – helps TU provide access and opportunity for individuals, and facilitates their preparation for successful careers and for productive and satisfying lives. We invite our friends and supporters to join us at www.tiffin.edu where Real Connections yield Real Results.

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

SHARE your pride

How many of you have your diploma hanging in your office? Do you wear Tiffin University apparel when you are traveling or on vacation? Do you have a TU license place on your car? Does a TU Alumni license plate holder display your license plate? Participating in small activities like these helps promote your alma mater. Who knows when the next prospective student (or parent) will notice that you graduated from Tiffin University?

COLUMBUS ZOO DAY Tiffin University Day at the Columbus Zoo took place in July. The Alumni and Development Office offered a special TU Zoo package which included admission to the Columbus Zoo, Columbus Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay Water Park, and a picnic lunch.

1920’s

Tell Us About Yourself ClassScene

Paul Seitz, Class of 1929, Ft. Pierce, Florida, celebrated his 100th birthday in June. A great friend and long-time member of Tiffin Universit y ’s President’s Club, Paul is a native of Republic, Ohio. Seitz Hall, on TU’s campus, is named for Paul Seitz.

1960’s Alan Smith, Class of 1967, Heath, Ohio, wrote, “After graduating in 1967, I took a job with Ohio Highway Department and became Treasure Manager of their Credit Union in 1968. After three years, I went to work at the Ohio Credit Union League in Columbus for twelve years in various positions and in 1983 moved to Hopewell FCU as President/CEO and will retire from there next year.” Alan and his wife Janice, have five children and fifteen grandchildren.

1970’s Arlene Tjaden Garvin, Class of 1978, Pemberville, Ohio, is a Receptionist for Wood Haven Health Care in Bowling Green.

1980’s

Carol Brickner, Class of 1986, Tiffin, Ohio, recently celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband John. She works as the Assistant Manager of the McDonald’s in Tiffin. John is a QMRP at the Tiffin Developmental Center. They have three sons. Ted Link, Class of 1986, Kettering, Ohio, is employed at Liberty Savings Bank as a Bank Manager in Fairborn. Gary Gruss, Class of 1987, Tiffin, Ohio, celebrated 20 years of tax preparations services this year. Twenty years ago, he began his business, CF Professional, as a one-person office that worked on computer programming and tax preparation in Tiffin. “Today, we don’t do any computer work at all,” said Gruss. “We’ve added financial planning and life insurance.”

1990’s Mustafa Mehmet Eser, Class of 1990, Mersin, Turkey, works in Exports for Marsan in Adana, Turkey. Aaron Hetrick, Class of 1990, Tiffin, Ohio, was hired as the Corporate Manager of Ballreich Bros. Inc. in Tiffin.

Linda Stine, Class of 1996, Tiffin, Ohio, was named first runner-up in the Mrs. Ohio pageant in May. Additionally, she was announced the “Mrs. Face of Arbonne.” Linda is an assistant professor, teaching accounting and business administration, at Heidelberg University. She also operates her own business as a certified public accountant. Renae Meggitt, Class of 1997, is the new pastor at North Lima Calvary United Methodist Church. She attended Ashland Seminary, then Methodist Theological School of Ohio, where she received her Master of Divinity degree in 2009. Pastor Meggitt is a member of Protestant Committee for Boy Scouts and is the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award in Scouting, the highest honor for volunteers. She also served as an oncall chaplain at Med-Central Hospital. Corey Dauber, Class of 1998, Toledo, Ohio, is a Quality Assurance Specialist for Quality Care Product in Holland, Ohio. He played football for TU under the leadership of Bob Wolfe. Cory Baker, Class of 1999, recently re-opened a popular family landmark, Johnny AppleCheese. His father, Mark, opened the produce, deli, and bakery in 1977 when Cory was just learning to walk. Cory said, “It’s an honor to make this a great positive comeback.” The business sprang from the Sunnyslope Orchard founded outside Navarre in 1929 by Cory’s greatgrandfather.

Mary Rosengarten Shaffer, Class of 1990, Tiffin, Ohio, is a Systems/Database Analyst at Heidelberg University in Tiffin. Bob Spies, Class of 1995, Lakewood, Ohio, is the Vice President of Sales for Prostar Marketing in Bay Village, Ohio.

www.tiffin.edu

tell us about yourself > ClassScene Richard Geyer, MBA 1999, Fremont, Ohio, was recently conferred with a Doctorate in Business Administration degree, with a specialty in marketing, from Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In recognition of high scholastic achievement, he was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society in Business, Management, and Administration. Geyer is currently employed as Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Amy Baker, Class of 2002, has joined Ohio American Water as Senior Human Resource Generalist. She is responsible for supporting and helping drive business change and providing human resource services throughout the company’s districts in Ohio. Amy has more than nine years of related experience.

David Little, MBA 1999, Marion, Ohio, President of Ohio American Water, was elected President of the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC), Ohio Chapter in May. He is an active member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Marion Can-Do, which promotes economic growth in Marion, and Ohio GATE. David is also an instructor of the Operators Training Committee of Ohio (OTCO).

Phillip Epstein, Class of 2002, Solon, Ohio, writes, “It’s been a great year. I completed my MBA in Business Administration from Cleveland State University in May. I started a new job at Advanced Network Services and my wife and I visited Italy for two weeks.” His son, Michael, graduated from Ithaca College in New York and accepted the position of Receivers Coach for the SUNY Brockport (NY) football team. Phillip’s daughter Alyssa is attending Kent State University, majoring in Bio-Chemistry.

Lewie Montgomery, Class of 2000, Roswell, New Mexico and his wife Emily, welcomed a son, Samuel Lewis, in January. He writes, “Thankfully he gets most of his DNA from his mother, but has his dad’s ordinary grin.” Josh Martin, Class of 2001, East Liverpool, Ohio, is the County Administrator for Columbiana County Board of DD. Shawn Stoll Newton, Class of 2001, Ashland, Ohio, and her husband Don, became the proud parents of daughter, Ella, in February. Rebecca Rowe, Class of 2001, Cheektowaga, New York, recently graduated with her MBA and was named one of the Business First Top 40 Under 40 in Western New York. She is the Director of Program Operations for Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo. Connie Hannah-Willis, Class of 2001, Euclid, Ohio, has joined the administration of Alcorn State University as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. Prior to joining Alcorn, she was the Director of Title III, HBCU and HBGI at Clark Atlanta University.

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Jared Shank, MBA 2003, Tiffin, Ohio, is the Senior Buyer for Webster Industries in Tiffin. Aaron Wood, Class of 2003 and Amy Bumb Wood, Class of 2003, Carey, Ohio, welcomed a daughter, Grace, born in June.

Kip Huntsberger, Class of 2002 and his wife, Erica, Sylvania, Ohio, welcomed a daughter, Cayla, in June.

2000’s

Michael Crum, MCJ 2002, was inducted into the 2009 Midview Athletic Hall of Fame at its ninth annual banquet in October.

Andy Faber, Class of 2003 and Andrea Howse Faber, Class of 2004, Tiffin, Ohio, welcomed a daughter, Savannah, in October.

Fall / Winter 09

Stacia TravisTate, Class of 2002, Euclid, Ohio, is the Financial Accountant for Hickok Incorporated in Cleveland. She wrote, “I recently got married in May in Euclid and I also earned a Master’s Degree in Accounting & Financial Management in 2008. I look forward to life with my hubby and advancing my career in the Accounting field.” Jeremy Crall, Class of 2003, Cape Coral, Florida, is employed by Regions Bank. His wife, Elizabeth, is a Registered Nurse for Lee Memorial Health System. They have a son, Brett, age 3. Zach King, Class of 2003, Vail, Arizona, and his wife, Lisa, welcomed a daughter, Lilly, in June.

Brian Bott, Class of 2004, Amherst, Ohio, is a Business Banker for First Merit. Matthew Coleman, MBA 2004 and Jamie Long Coleman, Class of 2003, Tiffin, Ohio, welcomed a son, Tucker, in July. Emily Gillock Green, Class of 2004, Columbus, Ohio, writes, “Troy and I were married in October. We had a beautiful wedding in North Ridgeville and then honeymooned in the Grand Cayman Islands. Troy is a small business owner and operates an asphalt business doing commercial work. I was recently promoted to supervisor at Franklin County Children Services, supervising child welfare caseworkers. We are truly blessed and are excited about starting our life together.”

Matt Kalnicki, Class of 2004, Parma, Ohio, is the Lead Financial Analyst for Key Bank. Miranda Conley Lafary, Class of 2004, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, is a Supervisor/Dispatch for Champaign Countywide 911 Communication Center in Urbana. Her husband, Roy, works as a Welder for the CSX Railroad. They welcomed their first child, Crew Eben, this year. Todochi Wells, Class of 2004, Lima, Ohio, is the Marketing Territory Manager for Marathon Petroleum Company in Findlay. He wrote, “I recently accepted a Commercial Account’s TM position. My previous position as a Commercial Real Estate Representative was located in Indianapolis, IN. I plan to take over the recruiting efforts for Marathon at TU this Fall for interns, coops and 2010 new hires.” LaShan Renee Carter, Class of 2005, Oviedo, Florida, is working as a Forensic Investigator for District V Medical Examiner’s Office in Leesburg, Florida. Chris Chase, MBA 2005, Tiffin, Ohio, is the new owner of MST Pub & Grub (former Madison Street Tavern) in downtown Tiffin. Anthony Hunter, Class of 2005, Tampa, Florida, is the Accounting Services Supervisor for Pinellas County of Florida. David Moody, Class of 2005, Circleville, Ohio, married his wife, Allison, in May. He wrote, “While I was at TU, I was active on the football team and head resident/ r e s i d e n t assistant for residence life, as well as a Nightwatch member.” David is the Assistant Vice President for Citizens Bank of Ashville.

Mandi Balduf, MBA 2006, Suffolk, Virginia, is the Head Softball Coach for Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. She wrote, “I am currently heading into my third season. Last season, the Hawks softball program won the NCAA South Region and I was named the Coach of the Year. We finished with a 30-23 record, the first thirty win season in school history. I recently was named Director of NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills for Chowan University. I am excited to get this program up and running for the student athletes of Chowan.” Mark Kalnicki, Class of 2006, was accepted into the University of Akron School of Law. A m a n d a Williams Clarke, Class of 2007, Daytona Beach, Florida, married Michael Clarke in a doublering ceremony in Jamaica. She works the front desk at Ocean East Resort and Michael is a self-employed construction worker. Andrea Guthrie, Class of 2007, Tiffin, Ohio, opened the Tiffin Nutritional Center in April. While attending TU, she worked at General Nutrition Center in the Tiffin Mall and decided to pursue her passion for helping people become healthier by finding the right vitamins and supplements for them. She said, “I thought it would be more fun to own my business rather than work for a big business because I can make it a lot more personal.”

Jessica Ruby Schult Phillips, Class of 2007, Cbeyond, Atlanta, was married to Christopher Delyn Phillips in June. She is employed as a Senior Sales Consultant. Her husband is attending chiropractic school at Life University in Marietta, Georgia. James Sosinski, MCJ 2007, and Brandi Wright Sosinski, Class of 2005, Alexandria, VA, were married in August. James has been working for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) since June 2008. Brandi works at Grant Thornton in McLean. Trent M. Shoemaker, Class of 2007, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Nancy Valenti, MCJ 2007, Louden, New Hampshire, recently started a full-time job as the Training Development Manager with the New Hampshire Department of Justice/Office of the Attorney General. She is working under a threeyear ARRA/Byrne grant. Kevin Hehmeyer, Class of 2009, graduated from boot camp and is currently at Naval Service Training Command in Chicago, Illinois. He wrote, “If I get the chance to stop by the campus before I leave the Midwest, I definitely will. I miss Tiffin a lot.”

Rhyan Pegues, MBA 2007, Youngstown, Ohio, recently graduated from Basic Training for the United States Army.

www.tiffin.edu

our deepest sympathies > InMemoriam

Trustee

Faculty

1940’s

C l a u d e Young, who served as a Tiffin University Trustee from 1995 to 2009, died in November. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Solze) Young.

Dr. John “Jack” Collins, 72, former dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Tiffin U n i v e r s i t y, passed away in November, after a short illness. Dr. Collins had a long and distinguished record of leadership in law enforcement and strong academic credentials in his field.

Marjorie Shook, Class of 1941, Bloomville, Ohio, passed away in September. She was a secretary and bookkeeper for Lloyd Dellinger, and also a bookkeeper for Bliss Memorial Library. Mrs. Shook was a member of the Bloomville United Church of Christ and the Women’s Guild, taught Sunday school for 60 years, was a former treasurer for the church, and was very active in church activities.

Claude graduated from Green Springs High School in 1950 and attended Baldwin-Wallace College. He worked at Clyde Porcelain Steel and at Whirlpool Corporation, before becoming a partner and, later, the sole owner of Progress Plastic Products. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean conflict. Also during that time, he sang on the “Ed Sullivan Radio Show” with the Navy quartet. Claude deeply loved his family and treasured his many friends. He enjoyed hunting and had a great interest in local history. Claude enjoyed his church family, singing in the choir and serving on the council for many years.

He joined TU’s faculty in the fall of 1999. Prior to coming to Tiffin University, Dr. Collins worked in the public sector as Police Chief for the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and as director of court services. He served as a police officer for the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, for more than 20 years as well as chief probation officer for the Hamilton County and the Municipal Common Pleas Courts also in Cincinnati. Dr. Collins was widely published on a variety of criminal justice and law enforcement issues, and was a member of a number of national professional organizations, including the Academy of Criminal Justice Science and the Fraternal Order of Police.

1950’s Paul Phillips, Class of 1958, Marion, Ohio, passed away in May. He graduated from Rising Sun High School, where he met the love of his life, Fairie M. “Peggy” Putman. Paul worked as an accountant for Northern Ohio Telephone Company until he was transferred to GTE in 1976. He and his wife raised four children. Paul was an avid fisherman, enjoyed woodworking and gardening, and adored spending time with his ten grandchildren.

1980’s Pamela Shaw, Class of 1987, passed away in November. In addition to Tiffin University, Pamela was a graduate of Tiffin Columbian High School. She was the treasurer’s assistant for Hopewell-Loudon Schools for the last 10 years. For 10 years prior to that, she had worked in the Human Resources department at Mercy Tiffin Hospital. She was a member of Moose Lodge No. 846. She loved spending time with her family, camping and mushroom and arrowhead hunting.

Tell Us about Yourself

www.tiffin.edu

CHALLENGE

Fall / Winter 09

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Sports at TU SportsScene Fall Reviews VOLLEYBALL Tiffin University’s volleyball team ended the season with a victory, beating Davis & Elkins in their final match of the year, but wins were few and far between in 2009. The season ended with 4-29 (0-16 GLIAC) record. However, with only one senior on the roster, the Dragons will look to build on the experience the young team gained this year. Brooke Bernabei led the Dragons offensively with 306 kills, earning AllGLIAC honors in the process, while Brittany Teaford chipped in with 287 and Margaret Betz added 231. Jessica Adams handed out 942 assists for TU. Bernabei’s 26 serving aces were good for a team high.

WOMEN’S SOCCER The Dragons women’s soccer season ended after a loss in the GLIAC Semifinals, but TU turned in an 11-7-2 (8-4-2 GLIAC) season while allowing the young players to develop. Freshman Ashley Davis was the lone Dragons player that earned All-GLIAC honors, landing a Second Team citation. Davis scored 11 goals this season while also contributing 10 assists. Danielle Eaken and Alexandra Sevastakis each added four goals for Tiffin, while Eaken added nine assists. Shelly Rogers and Lauren Turkington each recorded five assists. Lindsay Gallagher and Emily Demorest both spent time in goal for the Dragons. Gallagher (10-4) allowed 16 goals while making 63 saves. She also recorded three shutouts.

Amanda Marquardt had a solid season on the defensive side of the net. The junior registered 378 digs for a 3.20 average per set. The Dragons also got a solid contribution on digs from Bernabei (316) and Lindsay Heller (290). Teaford recorded 34 of the Dragons’ 55 blocks.

TU’s Ashley Davis was named All-GLIAC in her freshman season. She led the team with 11 goals and 10 assists.

Brooke Bernabei was another All-GLIAC selection for TU in 2009, as she led the Dragons volleyball squad in kills with 306.

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FOOTBALL Tiffin University’s football team ended the season with a 0-11 (0-10 GLIAC) record. However, with a schedule filled with ranked opponents, the young Dragons now know what needs to be done in the off season. Freshmen Nate Scully took most of the snaps for the Dragons at quarterback. He completed 52.5 percent of his passes for 1,197 yards and 12 touchdowns. His two favorite targets were All-GLIAC selection junior Trey Williams and senior Greg Raspberry. Williams hauled in 40 passes for 365 yards and one touchdown while Raspberry caught 39 for 470 yards and one touchdown. Junior David Singleton caught 23 passes on the year, five of which were touchdowns. Alvin McKnight did a lot of the Dragons’ work on the ground. The senior rushed for 311 yards and a touchdown. Senior Chris Ivory’s season ended after an injury in week five. His 44.6 yards per game was good enough to lead the Dragons. Freshman Brett Koepp scored two rushing touchdowns while picking up 128 yards in his rookie year.

Tiffin University’s men’s soccer team won the GLIAC Tournament Championship for the second consecutive year. In addition, Rhys Cannella was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year and Tony Iyayi was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Senior Arthur Allen fueled the Dragons’ defense, making 71 total tackles, six for loss. He also picked off two passes. Jackson Davis made 66 tackles while picking off a pass and recovering a fumble. David Pickeral made 64 tackles while David Rumley collected 56, two of them being sacks of the opposing quarterbacks.

MEN’S SOCCER For the second year in a row Tiffin University won the GLIAC Men’s Soccer Tournament Championship, but missed out on the NCAA National Tournament. The Dragons defeated top-seeded Ashland in a dramatic 3-2 victory, but just missed selection by the committee overseeing the national tourney. Despite not making Nationals, the Dragons turned in a solid 15-4-1 (5-2-1 GLIAC) season and picked up many postseason honors in the process. Rhys Cannella was the 2009 GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, following Ashton Campbell’s similar honor in 2008, while Tony Iyayi earned the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Cannella scored team high 15 goals while adding six assists. Iyayi also helped on the offensive end, scoring five goals while contributing two assists. Michael O’Neill (three goals, 9 assists) and Ashton Campbell (11 goals, 6 assists) were also honored by landing on the GLIAC First Team. The Dragons also landed two players on the Second Team. Defender Roger Kummer and goalkeeper Jeff Frisch earned the second team honors. Kummer scored 2 goals and added 2 assists on offense. Frisch (15-4-1) made 80 saves while allowing 14 goals. He also recorded nine shutouts.

Trey Williams was an All-GLIAC selection in 2009, leading the Dragons in receptions and finishing second in all-purpose yardage.

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sports at TU > SportsScene WOMEN’S TENNIS Tiffin University’s women’s tennis team wrapped up their fall season at 0-13. The Dragons will now prepare for the spring season.

Winter Preview MEN’S BASKETBALL

In singles action, Taylor Cooper won two matches for the Dragons. Teauana Long also won a singles match for TU. Cooper and Jessie Stefanov went 3-7 in doubles action. Long and Beth Clark also added a win in their 1-1 record and Long also picked up a victory with teammate Renee Mattson.

CROSS COUNTRY Tiffin University Cross Country finished their season with a 14th place finish in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships. Junior Mike Eblin was the first Dragon to cross the finish line in the meet. He finished in 42nd place in a race that hosted 128 runners. Atlantis Troutman (53), Dominique O’Neal (77), and Brock Lloyd (89) all also finished in the top 100. The meet wrapped up a season that consisted of six races. Previously in the GLIAC meet, the Dragons finished eighth out of 11 teams. Eblin finished 42nd again while Nick Thomas finished 55th.

The Tiffin University Men’s Basketball team looks to take things in a new direction with a new head coach and many new faces as the team enters its second season in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. John Hill takes over the program, returning to Tiffin as Head Coach following a 26 year career as Head Coach at Heidelberg College. Hill won 357 games with Heidelberg and looks to bring the same level of success and competitiveness to the Dragons. “This year our emphasis is on having a new look and a new attitude,” Hill noted. “This is a chance for the program to head in a new direction and get a fresh start with a new year.”

The Tiffin University Women’s Cross Country season ended with a 17th place finish in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships. Freshmen Carly Reese led the way for the Dragons, finishing 34th out of 134. The Dragons also got top 100 finishes from Rebecca Miller (61) and Heidi Kiesel (90). The Lady Dragons finished 10th of 12 in the GLIAC Championships. Miller led the way for TU finishing in 28th place while Reese (30), Kiesel (61), Maria Shaw (66), and Tichelle Brant (70) rounded out the scorers for the Dragons.

TU’s Rafael Cuellar is a captain for the Dragons in 2009-10 and is one of three returning players. Cuellar averaged 10.4 ppg and led the team in rebounding last season.

Three returnees bring experience to the floor this season. The returnees are led by guard Brian Scott (8.2 ppg), post players Rafael Cuellar (10.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Mohammed Fall (5.1 ppg, 4.2 ppg). But for the Dragons to succeed this season, they will need contributions from many of the new faces brought in by Coach Hill and his staff. Leading the new standouts for TU are Brandon Harris, DeAngelo Jordan, Keenan Barlow, and Austin Smith. Harris (6-10, 245 lb. post) attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh as a red shirt freshman. His sophomore year he transferred to Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana where he played in 20 of 31 games. Jordan (6-6, perimeter) last attended Owens Community College in Toledo. He has a strong perimeter shooting game and was team MVP for Owens last season, earning All-Conference honors and the team Captain’s Award. He averaged 14 ppg and 9 rpg for the Express. Barlow (6-5, 220 lb. post) is a sophomore transfer from Indiana State. After red shirting in his first season, Barlow played in 16 games for the Sycamores last year. As a high school standout, Barlow was First 50

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Team All City and All-State Honorable Mention, averaging 12 ppg with 8 rpg. Smith (6-5, 185 lb. perimeter) gives the Dragons needed depth on the wing. A left-handed shooter, Smith tallied 18.5 ppg and 7 rpg as a Special Mention All-Ohio player for Colonel Crawford. He also earned Player of the Year honors in District VI. Also looking to make significant contributions this season are 6-4 guard Ryan Cosgray, 6-1 guard Mike Hammonds, 6-2 guard Brandon Amann, and 6-5 forward Ryan Davis.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL One year in the GLIAC is all it took for the Tiffin women’s basketball team to realize what it takes to be a contender in the NCAA Division II ranks. Coming off a 7-20 record, with many of those losses by 10 points or less, the Dragons know that not only does it take prime physical conditioning but also complete mental focus to get to the top. Now with the knowledge of what to expect in the GLIAC, Head Coach Pam Oswald has set the bar very high but with very reachable goals in mind. This year’s Tiffin squad is very young, returning 2 seniors and 2 juniors while adding 5 freshmen to the mix. Two returning starters anchor the Dragon attack in junior guard/forward Holly Focke and sophomore guard Mandy Jaeb. Senior center Katrina Clark looks to rebound from only 13 games a year ago and provide a physical presence in the paint. Junior guard Samantha McCall and sophomore guard Jennifer Johnston look to provide their threat from the 3 point line and knowledge of the system to spark the Dragons. After a season ending injury last year, red shirt freshman center Jessica Harris looks to put what she learned last year to use on the court. Rounding out the squad is freshmen guards Karli Mast, Melissa Gilliland, Stephanie Kelly, Jordan Jenkins and center Jonette McQueen. This year’s strength again lies in the backcourt. The 2009-2010 backcourts are young with only one upperclassman. It is comprised of 1 junior, 2

sophomores, and 4 freshmen. Although young, Mandy Jaeb started almost every game last season and is the leading returner in scoring. Jennifer Johnston was one of the first players off the bench from a year ago and Samantha McCall brings with her 2 years of experience in Coach Oswald’s system. Although 4 freshmen added to the backcourt seems like a lot of inexperience, each player comes from an elite high school program and has had plenty of success at the state level. Sophomore point guard Mandy Jaeb is looking to build upon last year’s season. As the returning leading scorer with 10.5 ppg, Jaeb is also looking to fill the assist column as the floor general. Jaeb’s definite strength is her quickness on defense, compiling 44 steals just a year ago. Jaeb has worked hard in the off season on taking the ball to the hoop and drawing contact to get to the foul line. Opponents will want to keep her off the line after shooting a team high 86% from the charity stripe. Junior forward Holly Focke provides a versatility that can prove to be very difficult for opponents. Averaging nearly 7 ppg, Focke was also second on the team in rebounding at 6 rpg, third on the team in steals with 34, and second on the team in assists with 75 and blocked 11 shots. Focke not only possesses the quickness in the post to take opponents off the dribble, the strength to get points with her back to the basket, but also can hit the trey, shooting 38% from behind the arc. Senior center Katrina Clark is entering her second season with the Dragons. Only playing in 13 games a year ago with 10 starts, Clark is looking to use her aggressive style of play to anchor the post. Having a year in the Tiffin system will help Clark establish herself more on the court and in the battles down low. Jessica Harris is entering her second year with the Dragons. After a season ending injury early in the year, Harris is looking to bounce back and use that year of experience watching and coaching her teammates on the court. The only newcomer to the frontcourt is freshman center Jonette McQueen, who looks to make her 6 foot 3 inch presence felt down low.

Conley Named Tennis Coach

Mandy Jaeb is the top returning player for the Lady Dragons basketball team, as she leads a team of young players in GLIAC competition in 2009-10. Jaeb averaged 10.5 ppg in her freshman season.

Philip Conley enters his first year as Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis coach at Tiffin University. Phil is a graduate of Tiffin University. While at Tiffin University, Conley played #1 singles. He was All AMC three years in a row for singles, finishing fourth in the Midwest Regional NAIA ITA tournament his Junior year. In 2007, Conley’s junior year, the team finished # 26 in the nation in NAIA and finished second in the conference. Conley taught tennis at Baywind Athletic Club under former Head Coach Pat Ortner. While at Baywind he helped with the junior program.

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Head Football Coach Dave Walkosky

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AthleticHall of Fame 09 Tiffin University enjoyed another Homecoming Weekend in 2009, as five more individuals were honored for their contributions to TU’s athletic history with induction to the Athletic Hall of Fame. Nearly 250 in attendance enjoyed the inductions in October. The event marked the 15th year that the Hall of Fame has been in existence, and the night was as enjoyable as ever as former inductees, alumni, staff, faculty, and students came together to celebrate TU’s history. DAVE ROSEN Dave Rosen played during a different era for Tiffin University. “There was no pressing allowed at that time,” Rosen recalled. “We had a young team and tried to fast break a lot. I passed a lot as a center. We had very little compared to today’s players, but we did a lot with what we had.” Rosen’s trip to Tiffin was also not the norm for most of TU’s basketball players from that period. “I was from New York and had been looking at different schools,” Rosen recalled. “(Dragons Coach) Dick Routh was there watching a NCAA game and he approached me about playing at Tiffin. He sold me on the school, and so I went there.” Rosen came to TU in 1950, starting a collegiate career that few basketball players achieve. He was an NAIA All-American men’s basketball player who helped lead Tiffin University to its first appearance in a national tournament in 1951. Dave was the leading scorer and Most Valuable Player for a Dragons squad that won the Tri-State Championship. Dave also earned All-Division All-Ohio selection in 1951. Dave is a three-time All-Conference player who finished with 2051 career points.

BONNIE TIELL Bonnie Tiell coached for Tiffin University from 1988-2005, the longest coaching tenure for a female coach in school history. She started in volleyball, then coached softball before finishing her coaching career as a women’s tennis coach. She found success in all three arenas.

Tiell amassed 425 collegiate victories in those three sports and is the volleyball coach with the most wins in school history. She led the softball team to the 1993 NAIA National Tournament, Bi-District 15 title, and also won the MOC Championship in 1991. She took a women’s tennis team that was low in numbers and hard-pressed to find victories and built them into a regional NAIA power that also reached the NAIA National Tournament shortly after her departure. Beyond her coaching acumen, Tiell left her mark as an administrator, serving as Assistant Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator, and Hall of Fame Coordinator. Spearheading gender equity initiatives during her time in the athletic department, she still serves as Faculty Athletic Representative. In recent years, Tiell has been a national leader fronting the Women’s Leadership Symposium, and working with various NCAA institutions on gender related issues.

GARY DUPLESSIS Gary DuPlessis continues the long line of standout men’s soccer players at Tiffin University. No athletic program has more All-Americans than men’s soccer, and DuPlessis shared in those achievements. He was a two-time NAIA All-American from 1995-97. He also garnered three All-Region, District, and Mid-Ohio Conference citations during that period. Helping to lead the Dragons to the 1995 MOC Championship was the start of DuPlessis’s career. He finished his career 9th in overall scoring. www.tiffin.edu

sports at TU > SportsScene “Soccer is a team sport so not only do you have to have great players to be competitive but you also need great teammates and we had that at Tiffin,” DuPlessis said. “All training sessions were extremely competitive and everyone on the team gave their best on match day. Coach Ian Day made sure we stayed very sharp on the field.” With the passage of time, DuPlessis appreciates more each year the special times he enjoyed at Tiffin University. “The experience at TU was challenging but very rewarding,” DuPlessis said. “TU provided me with the confidence to enter into and win in an ever changing business environment. Since graduation, I have built a career selling software to Fortune 500 companies. This industry is dynamic and challenging, but the rewards support my family with a comfortable life style.”

GREG GASKIN Greg Gaskin manned the post for Tiffin University from 1994-98, helping to lead the Dragons to successful campaigns over that span. In Gaskin’s freshman season, the Dragons won 9 games. Over Gaskin’s final two seasons, the Dragons won 36 games, including 19 games in his senior season. While numerous players contributed to the turnaround, it was Gaskin who was the heart and soul of those teams. Gaskin earned NAIA All-American honors while also garnering four All-MidOhio Conference citations during his career. He is eighth in scoring with 1444 points and is fifth in career rebounds. He factors in the top 10 of seven different categories. Gaskin has also taken his TU experience and shared it with others in his community. “I would sum up my TU experience as fantastic,” he said. “Since graduation, I always continue to tell people about TU and what a great education you can get. I also take my experiences and teach youth basketball clinics and coach youth leagues at a YMCA in Cleveland.”

WESLEY RUSSELL Wesley Russell started his Tiffin University football career the year after the Dragons reached the NAIA Elite Eight. While the teams he played on never reached those heights, it wasn’t due to the performance of Russell. Russell is one of the best defensive backs in TU history. Russell holds the career interceptions record with 15 from 1995-98. He also ranks fifth in career tackles and holds the career record in blocked kicks. He is second in career pass deflections. Russell, who ranks in the top five in four different defensive categories, was 54

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a Second Team Football Gazette All-American. He also earned four All-MidStates Football Association honors during his playing career. “One of my favorite moments at TU was when we played Walsh at home and I intercepted a pass to set up the game winning field goal,” Russell recalled. “There were many great players and friends on those teams. One of my greatest associations was with Fred Parker, along with Tony Ferkel. Parker motivated me during and before games, while Ferkel was a great friend and helped me gets used to the City of Tiffin.” Russell learned much from his Tiffin University experience. It taught him life lessons apart from the playing field. “My TU experience helped me become a well rounded individual and look outside the box,” said Russell. “It also helped me gain independence. Since leaving Tiffin, it affected me in a positive way to continue to stay close with friends far and near.”

Voice of the Dragons Frank Barber has been the Voice of the Dragons for 15 seasons. He first became recognized on Dragons football and men’s and women’s basketball broadcasts in 1995 working for AM 1600 WTTF. While at WTTF, he was instrumental in expanding coverage of local colleges, eventually resulting in all college football games being broadcast both on air and over the internet. Barber continued to grow in his relationship with TU, working closely with the Sports Information Department on projects such as First and 10, a weekly Dragons football on-line coaches interview show; Monday Night Sports Talk, an area sports talk show on WTTF that regularly featured Dragons coaches and players; and is a regular fixture at the annual Hall of Fame inductions, interviewing the inductees for on air and online promotions. After leaving WTTF, he continued to work with Tiffin University, hitting the road to cover all 11 football games on www.tiffin.edu when the university webcast their games exclusively online in 2008. Most recently, Barber has been the host of Dragon Radio LIVE, a partnership between TU and WMJK 100.9 FM that produces a monthly TU-centered sports talk show. Numerous broadcasts of the show are done live from area restaurants. Barber, who is now retired from active broadcasting, continues to assist the athletic department with a variety of sports broadcasts, including the video webcasts of all home football and basketball games on the B2 Network.

and Earn Income Help TU Students As a nation of generous people and friends of Tiffin University, we all understand the importance of charitable endeavors in our society. As a result, many people support our goals and our academic programs. However, our natural instincts also tell us that we must first be concerned with our personal and family security before we consider being of financial assistance to Tiffin University.

because the annuity payments are guaranteed until your death. Many TU alumni and friends are using this attractive program because it allows you to make a significant gift to the University and still get the equivalent of the income from the money as long as you or your spouse survive. The Charitable Gift Annuity at Tiffin University is highly flexible and very personalized to your needs.

The Charitable Gift Annuity makes it possible for you to satisfy this dual objective of personal and family security and financial support of Tiffin University. Our Charitable Gift Annuity allows you to make an immediate gift to us without loss of income. In many instances, the gift annuity can actually increase your spendable income.

Please call Michael A. Grandillo, Vice President for Development and Public Affairs at 419.448.3282 or email mgrandil@tiffin.edu.

In exchange for your gift of money, real property or securities, Tiffin University will pay you a certain specified annuity for life. The annual amount of annuity is fixed at the time of the gift, usually more than typical dividends or interest and remains stable throughout your life. It will not fluctuate with the economy, so you will know exactly how much income you will receive. What’s more, you have no investment worries

A Tiffin University Charitable Gift Annuity can: Increase your spendable income ■ Provide joint and survivor annuities and deferred gift annuities ■ Ease capital gain taxes ■

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Women Cross Country Team Celebrates Clash Day During the week of October 5-9, Tiﬃn University students celebrate “Spirit Week”. Activities include Hat Day, Clash Day, Twin Day, Involvement Day and Go Green Day.