York College Heritage Magazine No. 33

HISTORY Brought to Life Anita Hofsommer ’78

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Beyond 125

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Museum Grand Opening

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Performing Arts Center

Summer 2011 Vol.13, No.2 p

Alumni Awards

York College has been greatly blessed this year with the construction of new facilities and success both financially and academically. However, those things are just reflections of our mission and not its core of transforming lives.

Students come to us with varying degrees of spiritual development--and some with none at all. York College has accepted the challenge of transforming lives, but the spiritual portion of that transformation does not always start in a Bible class or study. Sometimes it comes through an emphasis on character development which leads to an understanding of the importance of God and Christ in your life.

The mission of York College is to transform lives through Christ-centered education and to equip students for lifelong service to God, family and society.

I witnessed this in action at a women’s basketball game a couple weeks ago.

We hosted a tournament on our campus and the first team we played came from a small, struggling college. The team had seven players suited up for the game. One of the players got injured during the first quarter and was unavailable for the rest of the game. Coach Madole platooned his squad (substituted five new players at a time) so everyone got to play, but no matter who was in, we appeared to dominate the game.

I went in the training room to check on the injured player, a delightful young lady who loved the game and was upset she couldn’t play. When I emerged from the training room, I noticed something was different. There was a group of 20 students behind the opposing bench cheering on the visitors. At first I thought they must have arrived after the game started. Upon a closer look, I realized they were all York College students. Then several students on our side of the court began cheering on the visitors as well. There was some confusion as some students couldn’t make up their mind who to support, and cheered for both teams.

Tim McNeese and his grandson Ethan Dickinson take a tour through the Clayton Museum of Ancient History on opening day.

On The Cover: Legion Six Vitrix, living historians from Los Angeles, participated in the grand opening of the Clayton Museum of Ancient History.

The historians displayed clothing, weaponry and accessories authentic to Roman soldiers. pg 12

I know Christ was in that crowd as well. He may not have been on the lips, or even in the minds of the students, but they will always remember the positive feelings their participation in a Christ honoring action generated.

The women on the opposing team surely appreciated the support, but it probably did not have the life-shaping impact on them that it did on our students.

It is great to work at a place where athletics is more than winning or losing.

A place where Christian values permeate our life and actions. A place where God is honored and His word makes a difference every day.

Steve Eckman President

(above) Students playing the game Bigger or Better during orientation served a family by hauling away a kitchen sink and broken freezer.

Profile Excellence in

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ach year, North Dakota welcomes hundreds of refugees from around the world. In Fargo, the unemployment rate is low and the social service infrastructure is solid, making it an attractive location for displaced people looking for a fresh start. About 300 refugees relocate to the city each year.

Despite the benefits, the long, harsh winters make Fargo a very challenging place for these new residents to find community and feel at home. Many of the refugees come from a rural or agrarian background, so living in an apartment in a city is an added barrier. Many of the refugees also struggle to make ends meet and food insecurity is a real problem.

LaRee Eckman gives a bouquet of roses to an elated Nicole Gates at the homecoming crowning ceremony while Nolan Henningson looks on in kingly fashion.

In this issue: 3 Anita Hofsommer - Profile in Excellence 6 Campus News 8 Alumni Awards 10 Beyond 125 12 History in the Making 14 Dream Come True 18 Athletic Hall of Fame 20 Alumni News and Notes 22 Milestones 23 Future Minded 24 Panther Athletics 26 Tribute to Dr. Mark Moore 27 Campus View 29 Revolutionary Spies 31 Around the Corner

Anita (Hendrickson ’78) Hofsommer is working to address these challenges, using her twin gifts: accounting and gardening. She is a core volunteer with Growing Together Community Garden Ministry. The effort provides land, tools, and education so that refugees can grow their own food. In the process of working the land together, relationships grow, too.

In the 2015 growing season, Growing Together provided 47,000 pounds of produce to more than 150 families through a network of six community gardens.

“Working in the garden provides a safe and healing environment.” ...continued next page

(left) The volunteer bucket brigade is happy to be on the job.

(above) The first snow mixes with the beautiful fall foliage on campus framing Hulitt Hall like a portrait.

Heritage is a semi-annual publication for alumni and friends of York College. The magazine is available online at www.york.edu/alumni.

Heritage Editor Vol. 19, No. 1 Chrystal Houston ’03 Director of Alumni and Communication 402-363-5607 chrystal.houston@york.edu Assistant Editor/Design Steddon Sikes ’84 Director of Publications Heritage Contributors Bob DeHart ’95 Eric Eckert '03 Sam Garner Lee Harrington Eryn Jacobson ’16

Terry Kite Christi Lones Tim McNeese ’73 Ron Pearl Cassidy Wilson ’19

“Many of the volunteers come from refugee camps in war torn places,” says Hofsommer. Some have PTSD or other emotional disturbances from the trauma they’ve escaped. Working in the garden

provides a safe and healing environment.

the names in their language. It’s fun.”

It’s hard work, but it’s a labor of love for Hofsommer. “All of the volunteers work equally and we all share equally,” she

Many times the food that is grown at the garden returns to the garden—prepared in a dish from the workers’ homeland.

Volunteers gather at the table to share the fruit of their labors regularly. It’s at the table where relationships are born and hearts are shared.

“Everyone is eager to give back. We are all partners in this work.” says. “Everyone is eager to give back.

We are all partners in this work.” Many of the core volunteers (those that do the planning and coordinating) also have gardens at home. “If we have extra produce from our gardens at home, we bring that to share, too.”

As much as the food provided nourishes the volunteers, the community they grow feeds them even more. “There’s a huge social component to what we do,” said Hofsommer. “It has helped integrate various ethnic groups that are here. We’ve got many Iraquis, Bhutanese, different African tribes, South Americans…we all work and play together.” The gardens provide a place to practice conversational English, as well.

“I tell them the names of the different vegetables in English, and they tell me

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The garden is a ministry, but the evangelism is not overt, says Hofsommer.

You don’t have to attend a particular church or participate in a Bible study to garden with them.

Instead, the evangelism grows naturally out of relationships within the community. “They know that we are people of faith, but we don’t exclude anyone on the basis of faith. We have people from all walks of life that garden with us, including Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists.”

“Our focus is to build

community. We want to emphasize our similarities, not focus on our differences,” said Hofsommer.

The benefits of the garden program can be seen in the lives of the volunteers such as Simeon and Immaculate, a couple who relocated to Fargo after spending time in a refugee camp in Congo. Hofsommer got to know them at the garden, but their friendship goes beyond planting, weeding, and harvesting. Their families have become close and they often spend time together.

After several years in the U.S., Simeon and Immaculate have become citizens.

They have good jobs and their three grown children are building their lives and careers in Fargo as well. Recently Simeon asked Hofsommer and her husband for help with a new challenge: buying their first home.

“There are so many cultural things that you take for granted that can be confusing for them,” says Hofsommer.

In Simeon’s home country, the average person doesn’t own their home or land.

The Hofsommers helped their friends navigate the home purchase process and today Simeon and Immaculate are homeowners--with a garden in the backyard, naturally.

“Our focus is to build community. We want to emphasize our similarities, not focus on our differences.”

(top left) The largest group of the project, the Gather Garden, is mostly Bhutanese and African volunteers. (lower left) Equal portions of the produce are gathered and laid out for the volunteers. (above) Anita and the project's founder, Nola Storm, pose with some of the smaller workers: Hashim, Aya, and Khadim. (left) A Bhutanese refugee hoes the cucumber patch.

Simeon has become one of the lead volunteers with the community garden.

“They are very productive citizens in our community,” Hofsommer said. “They are just really good people.”

Hofsommer retired from a career in accounting a few years ago to have more time to pursue her other passions, including gardening. Her work with the community garden has been the perfect fit for her gifts and passions, as part of her work with the ministry has been to build a database and track the number of volunteers, families served, and pounds of produce grown. Organizing this information has been important for the garden ministry as they continue to expand their operation.

Thanks in part to Hofsommer’s work, the Growing Together Community Garden Ministry was recently recognized with the 2015 Martin Luther King Award, presented by the mayor of Fargo.

In the end, Hofsommer knows that her work is about far more than how many pounds of vegetables she and the other volunteers can grow. It’s about something far more difficult to measure. In this garden grows something you can’t weigh with a scale: love.

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CAMPUS NEWS YORK COLLEGE HIGHLY RANKED IN STATE AND NATION

HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTS 23 The York College chapter of Alpha Chi, the collegiate national honor society, inducted 23 new members at a ceremony in the Prayer Chapel on Wednesday, October 28.

According to several recent studies and rankings, York College is recognized as one of the best and most financially sustainable colleges in the state and region based on a variety of metrics.

These rankings show that York College has made progress in several key areas in the past decade.

U.S. News and World Report released their annual college rankings earlier this fall. For the first time in recent years, York College appears in the top tier rankings for best colleges in the Midwest and on the list of best colleges for veterans. ​ onsulting firm Bain & Company has conducted a study of​​​ C financial sustainability in colleges and universities. The study ​​ corrects for size of institution to determine comparative financial​ strength. York College appears in the study listed among​ the most financially sustainable colleges and universities​i​n Nebraska. York College ​also ​lands in the top 13​percent of ​the nation's 1,700 ​tuition-dependent colleges and universities​, public and private,​for ​financial stability.

Financial stability is determined in this study by comparing year​​ over year ​​​increase in revenues versus ​increase ​in expense​s,​​ ​​as​ well as growth in assets and endowment per full time student.

It also takes into consideration the size of endowment relative to number of full time students. In the reporting period, York College demonstrated a -34 percent expense to revenue ratio and 15 percent growth in assets ratio, with an endowment of $21,102 per full time student.

The induction ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Crystal Ratliff, who was inducted into the group in 2014 and tragically passed away a few months later.

Alpha Chi is an academic honor society that recognizes and promotes excellence in scholarship among college and university students of good character. Classified as a general honor society, meaning that it accepts members from all academic fields, Alpha Chi inducts no more than the top 10 percent of junior, senior, and graduate students at member institutions.

Members receive recognition as distinguished students and members of one of the largest college honor societies in the world.

President Steve Eckman, responding to the study said, “This report reflects what we already knew about the increasing financial stability and strength of York College. The most important beneficiaries are our students. Our strengthened position allows us to improve our enrollment, student retention and graduation rates—all creating a better student experience and a more valuable degree.”

Finally, the New York based financial technology company SmartAsset has ranked colleges in the nation based on financial considerations including average scholarships and grants, average starting salary after graduation, tuition, student living cost, and retention. York College is near the top among Nebraska colleges for average starting salary after graduation. SmartAsset also ranks York College fifth in the state in the category Best Value, which incorporates all five categories into a “value index.”

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2015 Alpha Chi Induction: (1st row) Jaimee Stutz, Chloe Pittman, Halie Ewing, Danielle Berry, Eryn Jacobson, Ashlee Ivey, Ana Osborne, Sarah Trembly, Natalie Ostrander - Alpha Chi president, Dr. Louise Bailey; (back rows) Dr. Terence Kite, Zanoria Echols - Alpha Chi vice president, Josiah Ahart, Kaylee Becker, Courtney Lovelace, Angela Case, Matthew Gastineau, Bethany Ford, P.J. Matha, Alyssa Didier, Derek Drews, Bryce Hinton, Kylie Wroot, Tim McNeese - honorary faculty member – not pictured Melanie Baxa, Nicole Gates, Tyler Helms, Sarah Shafer

FA C U LT Y / S TA F F T R A N S I T I O N S Mallette to head York College Online Dr. Kirk Mallette has been named the dean of York College Online. Mallette joined the faculty in 2013 as an associate professor of education and in 2014 took on the role of chair of the department.

Mallette has served in both teaching and administration roles for multiple school districts since 1989. His experience includes the writing and implementation of new policies and curriculum.

He has a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an Ed.D in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Eckert joins faculty Lindsey (Gusaas ’03) Eckert joined the faculty this fall as an assistant professor of psychology. Previously, Eckert taught at YC as an adjunct instructor, for both on-campus and online courses. Eckert has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from York College and a master’s degree in counseling from Doane College. She has career experience serving and counseling troubled teens and families at Epworth Village. Eckert lives in York with her husband, Eric '03, and their two daughters, Hadley (9) and Zoey (7).

Garner named director of spiritual development Dr. Samuel Garner joined the YC community this fall, serving in the newly created position of director of spiritual development. Previously, Garner served as the preaching minister at Lee's Acres Church of Christ in Tupelo, Miss. Prior to that, he spent six years in Windsor, Conn., as the preaching minister at the Connecticut Valley Church of Christ.

While serving in Connecticut, Garner also helped to found the New England Church Growth Conference.

Garner and his wife, Rachel, are passionate about spreading the gospel and have led numerous short-term mission trips overseas in addition to their domestic ministry efforts.

Garner earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical languages and preaching from Harding University and a master’s and doctoral degree in ministry from Abilene Christian University. While a student, he worked with churches in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi. His doctoral dissertation focused on equipping church leaders and members of a congregation for ministry.

Freeman serves as head coach Erin Freeman joined the coaching staff this fall as head coach of the volleyball team. Previously, Freeman coached at Denver Christian High School and Front Range Volleyball Club. Coach Freeman competed at John Brown University where she was an outside hitter for the Golden Eagles. In her four seasons at JBU she recorded over 1,400 kills, averaging 3.12/game. She completed her education at John Brown University with a bachelor's degree in sports medicine. Erin and her husband Thomas, who serves as an assistant coach on the men’s soccer team, live in York.

Student Development adds three recent grads Student Development has seen several new additions this semester. Emily Lutz ’14 has taken over the role of director of student activities. Previously she worked for York College in the advancement office as an advancement associate. She also has several years experience working for the city of York with Parks and Recreation, where she coordinated youth and adult programs. Lutz has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from York College. In her current position she manages the campus coffee shop and organizes community enhancing events and activities for students.

Collin Tucker ’15 is now serving as the residence hall manager for McCloud Hall. As a student, he served as a resident assistant and eventually the assistant hall manager. He also has experience in youth ministry. In addition to his work in the residence halls, he is also working with the IT department.

Tucker holds a degree in psychology and sports management from York College.

Meghan Shruck ’11 returned to YC this fall as the residence hall manager in Thomas Hall. She also serves Student Development in an administrative capacity. While a student at YC, she was a resident assistant for three years and served as the assistant hall manager her senior year. After earning a degree in biology at YC, Shruck worked for several years in health care in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

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ALUMNI AWARDS

Alumni of the Year: Dickie ’64 & Onita (Touchton ’65) Hill

Young Alumnus of the Year: Brad Reischl ’99

Dickie and Onita met at York College and married before transferring to Abilene Christian College. Dickie earned his undergraduate degree there and went on to earn a master’s of physical education and a PhD in health education. He has taught PE and health and coached for 48 years. He has taught in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at Abilene Christian University since 1977.

Brad Reischl of Harlan, Iowa, attended York College from 19951999. Before coming to York, he worked at the family roofing business, R.L. Craft Co., doing everything from sweeping the warehouse floors to eventually running a crew. After graduating from York College with a Business Management Degree he went back to work in the family business full time. In 2002 he bought the company. In 2007 he brought on a partner in the business, Nick Bieker ’03 and later added Curt De Boer (parent of YC student) as a business partner.

Onita attained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from ACU after their three children had graduated from college. She worked as a real estate broker for ten years, then went to work for ACU as the learning enhancement coordinator. She served in that capacity for 15 years and recently retired.

Dickie and Onita were the founding members of the Lettermen’s Association at York College and the Athletic Hall of Fame. Dickie led the organization for the first three years as president. They also initiated a scholarship at York College to honor Onita’s parents, Catherine and Ellis Touchton.

The couple is active at University Church of Christ in Abilene where they work with the Young At Heart ministry and Onita teaches children’s Bible classes. The couple has three grown children and four grandchildren.

(above) Pictured with Dickie and Onita are their children Karmen, Cory, and Kristen along with their spouses. (above right) Brad and Tina Reischl with their children: Macy (10), Emercyn (7), and Brinkley (3).

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Since that time the business has continued to grow, expanding from 25 to 55 employees and increasing the company footprint from western Iowa to all of Iowa and Nebraska. Part of their strategy for success has been to give back—they have provided a number of roofs at YC over the years, including those on Sack Hall, Mackey Center, Levitt Library, Middlebrook Hall, Freemen Center and Bartholomew Performing Arts Center.

Brad is married to Tina and they have three beautiful daughters.

They are very active in their church in Harlan, where Brad is a member of the leadership team. Brad is also a member of the York College Lettermen’s Association and President’s Council.

Heritage Alumni of the Year: Gordon Fillman '51 and Don and Ramona (Burgett) Ellison ’55

(above) Don, Ramona, and Gordon were York College's guests of honor during September's annual Yorkfest parade.

The awards were presented at a banquet on August 5 during a reunion of alumni who attended York College before 1954.

After leaving York College in 1954, Don and Ramona Ellison finished their education at WestMar College and UNL. Ramona taught for several years and Don served in the Army. The couple have lived in Rising City since 1960. Don worked in banking and insurance for many years before p ​ ursuing entrepreneurial interests.

Fillman has been a pillar of the York community for more than half a century. He graduated from York High School in 1947 then attended York College, earning a pre-law degree in 1949.

He finished law school at UNL, then served his country in the Navy. He returned to York in 1958 and established Fillman Law Offices. He still works as an attorney specializing in real estate, probate, and trusts.

The couple has invested themselves in their community and made a significant impact on Boy and Girl Scouts in their area through their active volunteer efforts over the last 50 years.

Ramona has been a church musician for the past five decades and Don served many years on School and Education Service Unit boards. The Ellisons have been instrumental at York College for organizing regular reunions for their classmates since the 90s.

“Mr. Fillman has been a wonderful representative for York College in the community for many years,” said President Eckman. “We appreciate alumni who choose to put down roots in York and work to improve this place that we call home.”

“Mr. Fillman and the Ellisons exemplify what we desire for our graduates,” said President Eckman. “We are very proud of these alumni and the contributions they have made to their community and their college.”

York College recently recognized three alumni with the Heritage Alumni of the Year distinction: York native Gordon Fillman and Don and Ramona Ellison of Rising City, Neb.

“Maybe the greatest lesson I learned here—it is possible to make horrible mistakes in judgment and still be saveable... that being the greatest blessing that York gave me. There's no shortage of people willing to come to your rescue.”

Dave hawley '72 Homecoming Chapel WINTER 2015 |

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HISTORY IN THE MAKING CROWDS, ROMANS TURN OUT FOR MUSEUM OPENING

by Chrystal Houston '03

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t was an exciting day on Saturday, September 12, as approximately 400 guests turned out for the community opening of the Clayton Museum of Ancient History featuring the Stanback collection on the York College campus.

Special guests at the event included members of Legion Six Victrix, a group of “living historians” based in Los Angeles, Calif. The legion, dressed in Roman military garb, set up a garrison camp with authentic tools and weapons on the field outside of the Mackey Center. They gave demonstrations and talked to museum visitors about life and times of Roman soldiers in AD 122-138, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.

Also participating in the opening day events were John Clayton, for whom the museum is named, and Mr. Stanback, who provided the collection and the funds for the museum, as well as their families.

The historians also participated in the Yorkfest parade, marching with military precision while wearing authentic body armor and carrying swords, spears, and heavy shields. They were an impressive sight, parading with characteristic Roman gravitas through the streets of York.

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Guests to the museum were excited to be among the first to witness York’s newest attraction. The Clayton Museum of Ancient History features a variety of artifacts, including coins, rings, tools, statues, and weaponry, as well as leaves of bibles from the 16th century and a cuneiform tablet containing a portion of the epic of Gilgamesh. The core of the collection is focused on the Roman soldier and includes a fullsize onager (similar to a catapult).

The museum also includes a replica of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Museum patrons can write prayers to put into the cracks of the wall, just as religious pilgrims do at the real site.

Legion Six Vitrix, living historians from Los Angeles, participated in the grand opening of the Clayton Museum of Ancient History and marched in the downtown Yorkfest parade. The historians displayed clothing, weaponry and accessories authentic to Roman soldiers.

York College wishes to thank all of the donors who have given of their time, talent, and treasure to make this museum a reality. The museum is a fantastic addition to the college and the community. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum features a space for a temporary exhibit. Currently on display are images from cultural heritage sites that have been damaged by nearby conflict. Related to that concept, the entryway to the museum depicts part of the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra in modern day Syria. The significant historical site is now under threat from ISIS. The museum is now open Tuesday through Friday and some Saturdays. Hours will be adjusted to need and demand. There is no cost for admission. See www.Claytonmuseumofancienthistory.org for hours and additional information.

(left) Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: (l-r) Legion Six Vitrix, Sally Ruben, Randy Obermier, Ramon Diaz, Foster Stanback, John Clayton, Amber Soderholm, Katie Dibbern, Bob Sautter, Frank Wheeler, and Steve Eckman (right from top down) Katie Dibbern visits with her parents about a display she helped create.

First day visitors go through the exhibit depicting the emperors who ruled the Roman Empire.

The replica onager (similar to a catapult) donated by Mr. Stanback had to be disassembled and rebuilt in order for it to fit in the museum.

YC faculty and staff get a preview of the Western Wall exhibit the day before the ribbon cutting.

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Dream come true Curtain rises on long awaited performing arts center

A new day has dawned for the music and theatre programs with the completion of the Bartholomew Performing Arts Center. Hundreds gathered to see the ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the beautiful new facility during Homecoming. It was a moving experience to hear the choir's first performance in their new home.

tradition of excellence in the performing arts,” said President Steve Eckman. “Reaching out to our community has been a hallmark of our programs and a new performing arts center will help us do this better than before. Our arts patrons will enjoy the additional space and comfort while our students enjoy more opportunities to learn and grow.”

The building is named for former York College president Gary Bartholomew '67 and his wife Gwen (Sims '67) Bartholomew, who were lead donors on the project.

A multi-form (black box) theater seating up to 350 patrons is the centerpiece of the Bartholomew Performing Arts Center. This 5,000 square-foot feature will allow for various stage arrangements, extensive sets and improved seating and accessibility for patrons. It will also create opportunities for workshops and camps for YC students and area youth interested in the performing arts.

The center will elevate the potential and professionalism for the music and theatre departments. It will be a teaching facility, focusing on the day-to-day needs of students in these programs as well as providing a quality venue for productions and concerts.

“This new facility is the perfect next step for a growing

Other features of the building include an atrium, the Moody Choral Rehearsal Hall, Jim Brock Green Room, dressing rooms, costume room, and practice rooms for music majors. ...continued on next page

(left) Ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the new Bartholomew Performing Arts Center: (l-r) YC Chairman of the Board H. Jarrell Gibbs; Choir President Delaney Woods, Professor of Music and Endowed Chair for the Performing Arts Dr. Clark Roush, lead donors Gwen and Gary Bartholomew, Associate Professor of Communication John I. Baker III, Drama Club President Danielle Berry, and YC President Steve Eckman

(below, l-r) Gary Bartholomew has a heartfelt conversation with Keith Arterburn, York College Trustee Emeriti from McCook, Nebraska. It was a joyous time as Ruth and Dr. Robert Lawrence, along with Stacy Sikes '68, have a laugh together after the dedication ceremony. The choral rehearsal hall, named after Wayne and Eunice Moody, former trustee and long-time supporters of the college, was a popular place to tour.

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Dr. Clark Roush, Endowed Chair for the Performing Arts and professor of music, is excited about what’s next for his department with the addition of the new building. “We have such a fine reputation for what we produce musically. It will be great to have a facility that represents the caliber of our arts program," he said. He sees the immediate benefit of the new facility being a boost for recruitment of music majors.

The new building will benefit all YC students, but especially the 25 percent of the student body from all majors who

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participate in arts at York College, including the Concert Choir, Celebration Singers, and theatre productions such as main stage performances, student-directed productions, and the Traveling Children’s Theatre.

The facility will benefit the York community as well, as it will offer more comfortable seating and all-abilities access, making on-campus theatre and music performances, such as the annual holiday show Cocoa and Carols, available to a wider audience.

(left) Dr. Clark Roush directs the Concert Choir in its inaugural performance in the black box theatre. (inset) John I Baker III addresses the audience before leading a closing prayer of gratitude and dedication. (right) Lola (Huber '78) Maxwell takes a picture of the plaque on a practice room named in honor of her parents and in-laws. In the background is John Baker giving a tour of his soon-to-be office. (below) The Bartholomew Performing Arts Center with McGehee and Middlebrook Hall in the background, adds a tremendous view to the north side of campus.

John Baker, associate professor of communication, sees immediate benefit to a new facility for his theater students as well as patrons. “The new theater will provide students with a professional setting in which to learn the art of theater. For years our audiences have been subjected to folding chairs, poor sight lines to the stage and a hot auditorium. Now they will be able to enjoy a comfortable viewing environment that will match the quality of performance on stage,” he said.

The Concert Choir and Traveling Children’s Theatre groups both tour extensively in the state and across the U.S., providing free performances for schools and churches. The new building will enable them to better prepare their craft, which touches thousands of audience members each year.

Fund raising for the Bartholomew Performing Arts Center began in 2013 with hundreds of donors contributing since that time. In preparation for the first theatrical production in the multi-form theater during the spring 2016 semester, more than 175 seats have been sponsored. Opportunities to sponsor a seat are still available with a goal to secure 350 seats for this new facility. Donor recognition plaques located throughout the building are temporary versions.

Permanent lists will be mounted after conclusion of the Beyond 125 Campaign.

Seats and audience risers are all that remain to get the multi-form theater audience ready. Take a seat for $100, a row for $1,000 or a whole section for $10,000 and help us open the doors of the Bartholomew Performing Arts Center for a whole new generation of YC students.

Hall of Famers New members of YC's Athletic Hall of Fame An induction ceremony honoring Paul Touchton, the 1990 national championship soccer team, and Tyrone Grady was held on October 23rd during Homecoming weekend.

Paul Touchton ’61 Paul Touchton was an important part of Panther Athletics for more than a decade, first as a student athlete and then as a beloved coach and mentor.

Touchton was recruited to play basketball for Coach Colis Campbell. During his sophomore year, the team went 11-7 for the season.

Touchton was involved in many other campus activities beyond the court, including choral ensembles and other clubs.

He served as president of the Student Association, Kyodai social club and the chorus. For the 1960-61 school year, he was named both Mr. YC and Sophomore Favorite.

After his student years, Touchton returned to York College in 1964, where he taught English and physical education, worked as a residence hall manager, and coached. He was assistant coach for the basketball team, working alongside his mentor, Coach Campbell. In 1965 he was asked to start a baseball program and a year later, a soccer program, as well.

“Coach Touchton has blessed the lives of a legion of young men and women in his role as coach, faculty member and mentor,” says Gary Bartholomew ’67 who played on Touchton’s baseball team.

“He is a significant figure in the lives of those of us who were privileged to play baseball or basketball, participate in his gym classes, or live in Middlebrook Hall."

His legacy as the inaugural coach for two sports extends to today, as these programs are among the most established and successful on campus.

Touchton serves on the college board of trustees, is a lifetime member of the Lettermen’s Association and a longtime supporter of Panther athletics.

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Tyrone Grady ’02

1990 Men's Soccer Team

Tyrone Grady was a standout on the court during one of the York College’s most successful runs in men’s basketball.

He became the program’s career scoring leader with 1,531 points. He also had 615 assists and 189 steals.

The 1990 men’s soccer team was the first team to bring a national championship title to York College. Head Coach Brad Fisher led the team to the Small College Athletic Association’s National Championship where they beat Northland College 5-4 in the championship game.

Grady came to York from Newport, Ark., and was a four-year starter on the basketball team, earning MCAC Freshman of the Year honors his first season. His junior year he was named to the MCAC All-Conference team and received honorable mention honors his senior year on the NAIA Div. II Men's Basketball All-American team.

By his senior year, Grady was 12th in the nation in free throw percentage, hitting 86 percent from the line. He also recorded 6.3 assists per game, 13th best in the nation and averaged over 14 points/game.

“Tyrone was an exceptional player and really put our men’s basketball program in the spotlight of the NAIA shortly after we became members,” said Jared Stark, vice president for athletics and enrollment.

Athletic prowess alone is not what made Grady great. A former teammate remembers him this way: “While he was a fierce competitor, he was also the ultimate team player.

Tyrone fought through injury throughout most of his career. He didn't want his teammates to feel that he let them down. Tyrone was and is a great representative for both YC and the men's basketball program.”

Today Grady is passing on his love of the game as a coach for the Wichita West High women’s basketball program.

The Panthers closed out the tournament with team and individual honors as Mike Cleveland, Bobby Morrow, Mike Delaney and Adam Basic were named to the All-Tournament team. Cleveland was also named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Over the course of the season, the team battled to a 14-5 record. Adam Basic led the team in scoring with 21 goals and 12 assists. Mike Flaherty followed with 13 goals and one assist. Kris Vaudrey allowed only 26 goals on the year as he led the defense with a 1.52 GAA. Coach Fisher said the team was “the most individually talented team I’ve had the privilege of coaching. We had guys from all over come together for one purpose-and they were able to obtain that end goal. I couldn’t have been more proud of these guys.”

The Panthers also had three players named to the All-American squad: Adam Basic, Dale Phillips, and Kris Vaudrey.

The 1990 national champions are the first Team of Distinction to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The members of the team include: David Arledge, Adam Basic, Jeffrey Chapell, Mike Cleveland, David Crump, Mike Delaney, Chad Duvall, Mike Flaherty, Daniel Greene, Jeff Hamm, Matthew Helm, Vance Hollister, Chris Luther, Seth Mohorn, Bobby Morrow, David Odom, Dale Phillips, Adrian Rankin, Adam Reiser, Jeffrey Ross, John Seaman, Chris Stott, Kris Vaudrey, and Coach Brad Fisher.

(top) 1990 men's soccer team (l-r) Seth Mohorn, John Seaman, Matt Helm, David Crump, David Odom, Mike Cleveland, Brad Fisher, Mike Flaherty, Chris Luther, David Arledge, Bobby Morrow, Jeff Ross, and Daniel Greene. (middle left) Tyrone Grady with former coaches and teammates: (l-r) Brett McDaniel, Brad Barrows, Tyrone Grady, DeVoderick Ridley, Trey Colle, Brad Reischl, Brian Gilchriest, and Kamau Turner. (middle right) Paul Touchton receiving his plaque from President Eckman at the induction ceremony.

(lower left) Kenny Kaaiohelo '65, who played basketball and baseball under Coach Touchton, told some great stories about his mentor. (lower right) President Eckman addresses the crowd at the 4th annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction.

Nominations for the 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame induction are now open. Look for information about the Lettermen's Association and the Hall of Fame at www.ycpanthers.com.

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YC Homecoming 2015

1950 Leon Macy passed away on January 29, 2015 at the age of 86.

Leon was an avid outdoorsman, but his great love in life was his family.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Catherine, their two children Randy and Betty, and their families.

1952 Laura (Taylor) Koontz passed away in Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 25, 2015 at the age of 88.

She is survived by her husband Fred, two children and their families including 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

1964 DeLos and Sherry (Hottle ‘65) Sparks shook things up in 2014!

DeLos retired after nearly 30 years with Walmart. Sherry retired from the Norfolk Public Schools, where she served as an interpreter for students with hearing loss. After 46 years of living in Norfolk, they’ve moved to Elkhorn to be closer to their children. In May of this year, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! 3404 N 207th Terrace, Elkhorn, NE 68022 sherryterpdeaf@ yahoo.com Janie (Stiggins) Colle passed away on May 26, 2015 at her home in Hutchinson, Kansas. She and her husband Tony were married 39 years. Their two sons, Trey '01 and Trent '03, currently reside in York with their families.

1965 Dan Bennett wants to let his classmates know that he had hoped to be at Homecoming for the reunion, but that he was unable to attend.

He and his wife Joyce are retired and have recently moved: 277 Bush Creek Rd, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464 djbenn1967@yahoo.com 1966 Dan and Joneen Copeland are retired educators who had the wonderful experience of teaching in international schools in Korea and

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China for 13 years. They were also able to do a lot of missionary work with local people during that time.

Since retirement, Dan has purchased and remodeled a couple of older homes. “The LORD has been very gracious to us and richly blessed us. Time at York has some pleasant memories for me.” dan.arbors@ gmail.com Don Swafford peacefully passed away in his sleep at his home in Lubbock, Texas, on Oct. 29, 2014. Don served three combat tours in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969 and was honorably discharged on Jan. 31, 1970. As a combat veteran, D.L. , or Tex as his Marine comrades called him, was awarded many citations including the National Defense Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with four clusters, and was also honored with the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation.

Upon his return home from Vietnam, he became an avid runner, finishing many marathons, and pursued his interest in writing.

1967 Mike and Karen (Broyles) Higgins are both retired. Mike’s career was in heavy equipment as an owner/operator and Karen held a variety of positions in banking.

They have two sons Kyle and Greg.

Their firstborn, Douglas (YC ‘89), passed away in 2001. 2605 Ridge Rd Lubbock, TX 79403 tmgkhigg@ yahoo.com 1968 James Smith passed away on July 21, 2015 at the age of 66.

Jim, as he was affectionately known by his family, farmed in the Friend, Neb., area. He enjoyed everything motorcycles, including putting them together from scratch to riding in many events and especially his trips to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

1975 Dennis Knight has updated his contact info: 518 Waltons Ford Ct, Grovetown, GA 30813 uaknights@ yahoo.com Margarett "Maggie" Orr is a finance manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. 1319 Brendon Trails Dr, Spring, TX 77379 morr@entouch.net

1975 Class Reunion

1980 Class Reunion 1980 Dan Lewis is a police lieutenant.

He has a daughter, Bethany Ann (4).

1777 W Orange Grove Rd #3201, Tucson, AZ 85704 dabbylew@hotmail.com

1981 Juan and Pamela (Manley) Martinez had a great time joining the class of 1980’s homecoming reunion.

"The warmth and welcoming was a shot in the arm for the both of us.

May our Lord bless you all for your kindness." Juan is an adult protection worker and Pamela is a stay-at-home mom with their two sons Chevy (6) and Ace (3). 7348 Jorgensen Ave S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016 JuanNPamM@comcast.net 1982 Carla (Schaldecker) DeVries is a trainer at Taco Bueno and her husband Dennis is a mechanic with American Airlines. The couple has two daughters, Amanda and Bethany. PO Box 1961, Owasso, OK 74055 rsubacktoschool@yahoo.com 1988 Garry Rush passed away on Jan. 3, 2015, at the age of 49. Garry was a loving father to his daughters

Kelisa and Brienna. He is survived by his brothers Michael and Chad, his mother Barbara, and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Garry loved sharing his beautiful voice, his kind heart, and his faith whenever he could. Garry never met a stranger and was immediately loved by those he met.

1990 Beth (Tomasson) and Brett Crummer are excited to announce their son’s recent achievement: “Hayden achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on July 1, 2015. So proud of his persistence and hard work in accomplishing this goal!” bbhccrummer@hotmail.com 1995 Clifton Lee Garde works for Chugach Alaska Corporation. His wife, Amanda, is an RN. They have four children: Hailey, Avery, Braxton, and Brynley. 9710 Deer Trail Dr, Edmond, OK 73025 Brandi (Frisch) Naragon has three sons: David (11), Alexander (10), and Marcus (8). Brandi teaches 5th grade and coaches basketball and robotics. PO Box 311, Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629 kadiatu2012@gmail.com

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1996 Jerald Bennett reports: In February I quit the grocery business after almost 20 years (12 of them at Grand Central Foods). I am now an Environmental Services Aide at York General Hospital. It was a much needed change for me. 1325 Burlington Ave, York, NE 68467 eljeraldo71@gmail.com 1998 Sarah Jo (Peebles) Benton is a financial advisor and has two children, TeAnna and Beau. 3306 2nd Ave N, Great Falls, MT 59401 sjobenton@yahoo.com

2000 Jeffrey Schipper and his wife Debbie are celebrating 15 years of ministry with the Norfolk church of Christ, where Jeffrey serves as the preacher. 1224 Koenigstein Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701 jschippercoc@ yahoo.com 2001 Zach Ahrens was named president and publisher of the Topeka Capital-Journal by Morris Publishing Group. See Milestones pg. 22 Adrianne “Annie” (Keesee) and Jared Johnson welcomed a new baby, Jemma Elizabeth, on Sept.

9, 2015. Jemma joins big sibs Lilly and Will. Annie is a stay-at-home mom and Jared is a physician. 2424 N Bellwood St, Wichita, KS 67205 johnson_anniem@yahoo.com

photo courtesy York News-Times

2002 Benj Clark and Susan Minichiello welcomed a son, Otis Minichiello Clark, on July 9, 2015.

Benj is the managing curator of Boys Town Hall of History. 3212 Myrtle Ave, Omaha, NE 68131 benjaminlclark@gmail.com Summer (McNeese) Dickinson teaches at Mid-Plains Community College and is finishing her PhD. She will soon be presenting her research. Her husband Mark ‘03 is a special education teacher.

They have four sons: Ethan, Finn, Beckett, and Atticus. 1909 W Koenig, Grand Island, NE 68803 dickinsons@mpcc.edu

2003 Eric Eckert broke the world record for the largest hand-drawn maze. See Milestones pg. 22

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2004 Doug Gunselman has been named the principal at the middle school in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Doug and his wife Dixie (Miller) have three children: Ethan, Owen, and Kathryn.

Alicia (White) and David Kumer are celebrating the birth of Abigail Faith, on July 8, 2015. Abigail joins big sister Kaia (3). Alicia works part time for KPRD Praise Radio, and David is the station manager. 1133 B Centennial Blvd Hays, KS 67601 akumer20@gmail.com 2005 Bethany (Bise) and Jonathan Kuenne welcomed a daughter, Loma Rae, on February 28, 2015. Bethany is an enrolled agent at 20/20 Tax Resolution.

Jonathan is a senior motion graphics designer for the World Fishing Network. 1694 S Wolff St, Denver, CO, 80219 bethanykuenne@gmail. com Joseph and Paige Mann tied the knot on August 29, 2015. Joe is a web manager at Augsburg College in Minneapolis and a graduate student

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2007 Damon and Michelle (Prather ‘05) Grimes welcomed a daughter, Gracyn Michelle, on March 4. She joins big brother Paxton (4). 16257 Mormon St, Bennington, NE 68007 Michellejgrimes@me.com Michelle Green-Ihde welcomed a son, Henry, on March 3. Henry joins big sister Paige (7). 755 A St, Utica, NE 68456

2008 Megan (Munsell) and Mark Blinde had a baby girl, Brianna Lynn, on Oct. 28, 2015. She joins older sister Adelyn (4). Megan is an accountant at Kopsa Otte and Mark is a network engineer at Cornerstone Bank. 809 N Iowa, York, NE 68467 meganblinde@gmail.com Mary Reynolds is a secondary English teacher at Colegio Maya, the American International School of Guatemala. maryreynolds85@ gmail.com 2009 Jake Owens is the director of youth ministries at West Hills Church in Omaha. His wife Elise (Hart) is a realtor for CBS Home.

at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. Paige is a clinical social worker for Ramsey County in St. Paul, where the couple lives. jmann.us@gmail.com Spencer and Kimmie (Beitler ’03) Vogt ‘05 have moved. Spencer is a professor of education at Peru State College, and Kimmie is a technology teacher at Plattsmouth Middle School. Their daughter, Marie, is a year old. 616 3rd Street/ PO Box 348, Peru, NE 68421 spencervogt@yahoo.com vogtteacher226@gmail.com 2006 Katie Tenny was appointed as Penn State’s bystander intervention coordinator. See Milestones pg. 22

2010 Mason and Kelci (Scott ‘11) Lee have moved to New Jersey so that Mason can begin his doctoral work at Princeton Theological Seminary. 101 Loestcher Place #116, Princeton, NJ 08540 Caleb and Aubrey (Sanchez ‘11) Rush are both law students at Faulkner University’s Jones School of Law. In April, Caleb won the

Faulkner Law First-Year Moot Court Competition. In August, Aubrey and her law partner won the 12th Annual J. Greg Allen Mock Trial Competition for third year law students.

a new address: 4640 W Vassar Ave, Denver, CO 80219. Mark is the cofounder of Denver’s Purple Door Coffee, a coffee shop staffed entirely by homeless teens and young adults in need of job training.

2012 Casey Kinnison and Courtney Baker were married on July 19, 2015. Casey is an accountant at Kopsa Otte and Courtney is the administrative assistant for the registrar and education department at YC. 820 Rd J, York, NE 68467 courtneyandcasey15@gmail.com Logan Siddall has moved: 1121 Mazant St, New Orleans, LA 70117

2013 Ben Elsass is now a game warden with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Send him a note of congratulation at his new address: 1423 Oak St, Atchison, KS 66002.

2014 Jessie Griffith married Dustin Campbell ‘13 on July 4, 2015.

Jessie is a teacher at Mission Valley Elementary and Dustin works for Advisors Excel, an insurance marketing company. 13546 SW K4 Hwy, Topeka, KS 66610 jgriffith@york.edu Lauren Post is serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Grand Island, working on programs to aid foster youth in becoming independent adults. She was sworn into the AmeriCorps on June 12.

1020 N Elm, Grand Island, NE 68801 laurengpost@gmail.com Brenna (Johnson) Price has updated her address info: 1838 Old Hardin Rd, Billings, MT 59101 spart3n515@gmail.com Tiffany Shimp has updated her address info: 3016 Hardy Dr, Edmond, OK 73013

Stay Connected with YC

Latest news and updates on facebook.com/YorkCollegeNeb YC Connect e-newsletter

@YorkCollegeNeb Subscribe at newsletter@york.edu

2003 Eric Eckert broke the world record for the largest hand-drawn maze, spanning over 450 square feet. The maze was sketched on 18 pieces of various sized material in Eckert’s basement, transported to Lincoln, and assembled onto a skateboard half-pipe where it was exhibited as part of a skateboarding competition. Eckert is the digital director for the York News-Times. His wife Lindsey (Gusaas) is an assistant professor of psychology at the college. They have two daughters: Hadley (9) and Zoey (7).

2006 Katie Tenny, who has been leading Penn State’s bystander intervention efforts for the past two years including the introduction of a university-wide program, has been appointed to fill the new position of bystander intervention coordinator. As part of the University’s efforts to combat sexual assault and harassment, the Bystander Intervention Initiative is initially focused on providing students, faculty and staff with the training and tools needed to help stop sexual and relationship violence.

Participants learn practical techniques for stepping in and diffusing potentially problematic situations when appropriate, and seeking help when needed to prevent situations from escalating. “It is because of Katie’s leadership that the initiative is where it is today — an integral part of the University’s efforts to create a community of individuals who demonstrate care for one another’s physical and emotional well-being,” said Barry Bram, special assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs. Tenny earned a bachelor’s with a double major in psychology and secondary education and a minor in religious studies from York College, and a dual-title master’s in counselor education and comparative and international education from Penn State. 649 Marjorie Mae St, State College, PA 16803 katie.tenny@gmail.com

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Alumni, will you Raise Your Paw? Panther alumni are loyal, generous and proud. Without them, York College would not be succeeding as it is today. Since the Beyond 125 campaign began, nearly 20 percent of our amazing alumni have participated with a gift to bless our students. The goal is to end the campaign with a much higher number.

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Seven alumni have stepped forward to help in this effort and are serving as alumni campaign co-chairs: Don Ellison '55 and Ramona (Burgett '55) Ellison, Paul Touchton '61, Mike Westerfield '72, Janet (Reno '83) Rush, Richard James '97 and Aaron Fletcher '02. You'll be hearing from these folks as they reach out on behalf of our college.

Beyond 125 is already the largest funding effort in York College history. Can YC alumni also make it the campaign that enjoyed the greatest participation by former students?

Our goal is a national championship. That may make you think of athletics—but we’re talking about something completely different.

We’re looking at a title that is obtainable because of who we are – the relationships and memories that tie alumni together.

Every year, schools compare the level of alumni participation in their giving programs. The measure is based completely on participation percentages – not the amount of the gifts given. photo by Patrick Mansell

photo by Bob DeHart '95

2001 Zach Ahrens, the new president and publisher at The Topeka CapitalJournal, has been busy meeting with community leaders and connecting with readers since his arrival in Topeka, Kans., on October 19. For the last two years Ahrens was the publisher of the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway, Arkansas. Derek May, executive vice-president of Morris Publishing Group, said, “Zach is a strong leader; he is innovative and dedicated to the community. He will be a great addition to the outstanding Topeka-Capital Journal staff.”

Ahrens said he wants to foster an "open-door policy" when it comes to interacting with the community and is looking at ways to encourage interaction with readers and educated exchanges of ideas in print and online. Zach and Heidi (Roker) have three children: Carter, Conner, and Camerynn. 6308 SW 47th Ct,Topeka, KS 66610 z_ahrens@hotmail.com

photo by Emily Deshazer

PANTHER MILESTONES

Would you help us claim the title National Champions of Alumni Giving?

The push for a championship starts today and we will have two separate school years to attempt it. The competition among schools is fierce. To claim the title will take about 60 percent of former students to join together and give – small gifts and large.

So Panther alumni, will you Raise Your Paw and make a gift of any size to the Beyond 125 campaign? Gifts for scholarships are our greatest need, but we encourage you to give as your heart leads you, wherever on campus that may be. Challenge your friends to do the same.

Thank you for doing your part to make York College great!

Memorial correction - a gift was made in memory of Mrs. Wylene Baker by Mrs. Bartine Dickerson that was not recognized in our previous issue. We apologize for our oversight.

FUTURE MINDED CULTIVATE EVENT HELD FOR AREA FFA

YC EXPLORES AGRI-EDUCATION

Campus was awash in blue corduroy in early November as 91 FFA students from seven Nebraska schools met at the first annual Cultivate: LSE Experience, hosted by York College.

Surrounded by miles of corn and cattle farmland, York, Nebraska is located in the midst of American agriculture. One thing that’s lacking in the area is a robust labor force to meet the demands of agribusiness. “Seed companies, local banks, the Chamber of Commerce have all told us an ongoing challenge is that they cannot attract and retain enough qualified people,” said Dr. Shane Mountjoy, provost.

This educational event gave these agriculturally minded high school students a chance to practice their Leadership Skills Events ahead of district competitions, which begin in December. Leadership Skills Events include categories such as parliamentary procedure, creed speaking, agricultural demonstration, job interview and public speaking, among others.

The York College Cultivate event provided participants an opportunity to polish their skills with feedback from faculty, staff, and college students. After the practice and learning rounds, participants repeated their event in a judged round that included critiques from industry professionals.

“We are pleased with the turnout and feedback we received from participants, sponsors, and judges,” said Dr. Shane Mountjoy, provost. “We are hopeful this experience will help prepare these FFA students for upcoming competition.”

Upcoming FFA events to be held on the York College campus will allow participants to complete Career Development Events (CDE) over agricultural topics. Students who score high enough on these exams will have the opportunity to earn college credit through YC.

Mountjoy

York College is working to come alongside the community to address this labor force deficit in a number of ways. The college has recently partnered with the Agronomy Academy, a collaboration of several area high schools and seed companies, which gives young people a base in agribusiness and agronomy. Participating students have access to York College labs and classrooms and can earn college credit for their demonstrated knowledge.

More offerings for young people interested in agriculture may soon be on the way. York College recently received a grant to conduct research into the feasibility of adding degrees in agribusiness, agricultural technology, and other agricultural related fields.

“We’ve had growth in professional programs in the past few years, especially criminal justice and sports management,” said Mountjoy. “We are looking at potential ag-related programs to see if there are opportunities for us to help prepare individuals for successful careers in agribusiness, ag-technology, and other fields related to agriculture. Because of our location, we are ideally situated for this kind of program.”

(above) High school students like these from Ainsworth Community Schools in Ainsworth, Neb., were able practice their parliamentary procedure skills during the first annual York College Cultivate hosted on campus November 4.

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York College

Athletics

Cassidy Wilson (foreground) takes a team selfie in a convenience store after the final road win. In the middle of the huddle is Coach Freeman.

Volleyball has breakout season

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t was a breakout season for Panther volleyball as the team under first-year coach Erin Freeman doubled their wins from 2014, improving to 18-21 on the year, with 13 road wins. The ladies turned up the heat in the final half of the season winning 11 out of their final 15 games. The team was ranked nationally in three categories out of the 217 NAIA Div. II schools: #21 in total digs (2,214), #34 in total assists (1,408), and #37 in total kills (1,538).

Individually, the team was led by its seniors Melanie Baxa and Nicole Gates, each holding program records in assists and kills, respectively. Baxa recorded 1,181 assists in the 2015 season and notched 3,401 in her YC career. Nicole Gates became the first in Panther history to accumulate 1,000 kills as she recorded 352 on the year, 1,044 as a Panther. Kelsey Taylor led the team in digs as a freshman with an impressive 653.

Both Baxa and Gates were named Second Team A.I.I. All-Conference, while Taylor, Alyssa Didier, and Kylie Wroot were named Honorable Mention.

Baxa

(left) In a home match against Haskell University, Melanie Baxa sets Nicole Gates for one of her 13 kills on the night.

Gates

photo by Terence Kite

This fall the men's cross country team ran home with the victory at the Bethel College Invite as all four of the Panther runners finished in the top five. Brennan Jarvis, a 24-year-old senior business management major from Colorado Springs, Colo., led all the participants with his first place finish time of 27:33 over the 8k course. Matthew Gastineau (SR/Hershey, Neb.), who was battling a cold all week, finished in second place just 14 seconds behind his teammate. Caleb Magner (SO/York, Neb.) raced to a fourth place finish and Mason Held (FR/West Fork, Ark.) completed the Panthers dominance coming through for the fifth place finish.

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photo by Sam Garner

Staying the course

Coach Justin Carver was pleased with his team's results.

"The guys battled. We were missing Alejandro Espinoza (FR/Oklahoma City, Okla.), our normal number three runner, and Matt was sick all week. The guys stepped up and just dominated the field.

I'm really proud of these guys and the effort they put in."

(left) Matt Gastineau and Brennan Jarvis were consistently running 1 & 2 for YC this year.

Jarvis

photo by Bob DeHart '95

Soccer back on top Shutout secures winning season

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photo by Lee Harrington

he men's soccer team under fourth-year head coach Jon Ireland defeated Grace University 4-0 on the road in the regular season finale and secured their first winning season since 2002. York finished the regular season with a 9-7 record and were eligible for post-season play.

As the college completes its transition to the KCAC in 2016, this season men's soccer was part of the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) consisting of 14 teams with the conference tournament hosted in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Coach Ireland said, "I'm really happy for the guys. This was a goal the team made during preseason and it wasn't easy to get here."

The Panthers earned the sixth seed and played the opening

round against host the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies on November 11. Despite the hardfought loss to the Grizzlies, Ireland tweeted the same day, "So proud of these guys!

Ended our season at 9-8. First time in 13 years YC soccer has winning record."

The Panthers defense recorded five shutouts on the year with junior goalie Ighor Tavares notching 60 saves. The offense led an impressive campaign of teamwork with 37 goals on the season. Five players shared top honors: Eric Runions (5), Job Yapp (5), Tyree Goolsby (5), Ben Sullivan (4), and Juan Flores (4).

Sullivan was named Second Team AllConference as a defender and Nathan Upton was Honorable Mention. Upton was also named to the A.I.I. All-Tournament team.

Sullivan

Upton

(above) Tyler Wilt, a senior defender from Aurora, Colo., puts some intensity into clearing the ball against the University of St. Mary player in York's 4-0 shutout victory. (left) Johnny Gress is one of 10 freshmen on this year's squad, holding a lot of promise for the future of Panther soccer.

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FITTING TRIBUTE MOORE LEAVES INSPIRATIONAL LEGACY Though Dr. Mark Moore’s time at York College has been brief, his impact has been great. Moore, holder of the Roger Collins Endowed Chair of Business, passed away in November after a battle with cancer. He is remembered for his kindness, his ready smile, and his love of people, especially his students.

Moore joined the business faculty in 2011, teaching courses in marketing and business management. He had an active role in mentoring students and working to gain further accreditation for the business department through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.

In recognition of his life of service and excellence in academia and in industry, the students of Phi Beta Lambda joined with the York Area Chamber of Commerce to create an award that will continue his legacy. The D. Mark Moore Entrepreneurial Spirit award will be presented annually to a York area business person from among chamber member businesses who has demonstrated one or more of the core characteristics of the entrepreneurial spirit: innovation, courage, commitment, and service. This award will seek to honor women and men of the York community that lead with vision, serve the needs of the community, provide unique and innovative products and services, and are committed to making York County a vibrant place of business enterprise.

This honor will be awarded at the annual chamber banquet in January. The officers of PBL, working with executive members of the Chamber, will select the recipient each year. Members of PBL will present the award and tell the story of Dr. Moore, creating a lasting legacy for the faculty member who impacted so many lives.

When announcing the new award prior to Moore's passing, PBL chapter vice president Brittany Eckerberg had this to say about the honor: “Entrepreneurial spirit is a mindset. It's an attitude and approach to thinking that actively seeks out change, rather than waiting to adapt to change. It's a mindset that embraces critical questioning, innovation, service and continuous improvement…From passion and positivity to leadership and ambition, those who have it do not fear risk in the face of greater reward. Dr. Moore has lived his life that way. His passion for professional challenge and excellence has taken him all over the world from Zambia to China. He is not afraid to take chances and encourages his students to adopt that same philosophy in business and life.”

PBL rebuilds at YC Revitalized after several years, the York College chapter of Phi Beta Lambda is once again active.

PBL is a national organization for college students studying business that allows them to gain professional experience through competitions, community service and meetings with business people.

The York College chapter inducted 30 new members and installed officers in a ceremony in October. The group is student-organized and benefits from the guidance of faculty sponsor Tim Lewis, assistant professor of business.

Lewis The new members and officers are excited about renewing the organization on the campus and enhancing the business education offerings at York College.

"Our Phi Beta Lambda chapter is excited to pick up where the previous chapter left off,” said Kaylee Becker, chapter reporter.

According to Becker, the organization is working to become a recognized chapter on both the state and national levels; build a strong chapter on campus to build a legacy; and help build professional relationships and connections in the business world.

Dr. Moore's story can be found at searcymceuenfuneralhome.com/obituaries

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(left) Dr. Moore takes time out of his schedule to visit with a prospective student about the business program at YC. (above) Santiago Castano receives his PBL membership pin from Eryn Jacobson while Robert Ozuna and Jeff Albers look on.

A Campus View – Molly Reyes “I had offers from other schools, but once I got here and saw how friendly everyone was, I knew this is where I was meant to be,” said Reyes. She attended a large, urban high school, so York’s small size and rural setting was attractive to her. “I love how close-knit our campus is.”

The opportunity to play softball was a major draw for Reyes, who has been a part of the sport since the age of six. Reyes was looking for a place where she could continue her love of the game and also have it finance part of her education.

She is an outfielder on the YC softball team.

Reyes has enjoyed her time with the team, but it has had its challenges including a coaching change after her freshman year and a conference change after her sophomore year.

Despite the changes, the team is improving and looking forward to a great season this year, she says. They went 3 and 1 in the preseason, defeating teams that they lost to last year. “We are hoping the new conference opponents will help us grow. It’s great how strong the team played in the fall. I am hoping that continues in the spring,” she says.

Now in her junior year, Reyes is an accounting major. She is putting her business acumen to good use as an employee in the campus coffee shop The Spot. She also just began working for the York Community Center. She is

very engaged on campus as well: she is the chairwoman of the Student Activity Board, serves on the Student Experience Task Force, and is a member of Delta Chi Alpha women’s social club. “Freshman year, I mostly kept to myself. But then I slowly realized, it’s not just about school and softball here,” says Reyes. “I started to branch out and meet more people.

Getting involved really helps your YC experience.”

"She has grown and changed so much. She has become a leader and is helping to rejuvenate our campus culture."

Reyes appreciates the spiritual environment of campus, especially Friday praise chapel. “I go to as many devos and Sunday night services as I can,” she says. “Some students feel overwhelmed by the Christian message here, but I like it.”

Emily Lutz is the director of student activities and works with Reyes. She says Reyes is a great example of the mission of York College—a transformed life.

“She came here just for softball, but she’s become engaged in so many parts of campus, from student activities to Presidential Leadership Institute. She has grown and changed so much.

She has become a leader and is helping to rejuvenate our campus culture. She’s been pushed beyond her comfort zone here. That’s what YC is all about.”

(above) Molly, back row - second from the right, poses with other members of Delta during Club Week. (left) One of York College's most avid junior Panther fans, Calleigh Lones, has grown attached to Molly.

photo by Christi Lones

(right) Molly's 36 hits last season was third on the team while her 8 doubles tied for a team high.

photo by Ron Pearl

Though she’s far from her family in California, Molly Reyes says that she felt right at home at YC from her first campus visit.

In 1974, the York College Theatre Department presented Woody Allen's "Don't Drink the Water" in the newly converted Gurganus Hall. The comedy was the first of more than 80 productions to be held in the former church building that has been home to the theatre department for more than 40 years. It was fitting that the classic play would be Gurg's last Homecoming production before the theatre department moves to its new location in the Bartholomew Performing Arts Center.

(2015 cast pictured above) Walter Hollander ...................... Eric Massey Father Drobney ................... Grady Johnson Marion Hollander ................... Danielle Berry (1974 cast: l-r) Susan Hollander .... Sharon (Burch) Thomsen Marion Hollander .......... Latricia (Key) Olson Axel Magee ............................. Mike McKee Walter Hollander ..................... Dave Magner

Wharton was nominated by York College faculty and selected by the NMEA to be one of the small number of students to participate in the conducting class, which is not offered every year.

FOLLOW MY LEAD WHARTON SELECTED FOR MUSIC EDUCATORS PROGRAM Senior vocal music performance and education major Tisa Wharton was selected to participate in a conducting master class during the Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA) annual conference and clinic.

28 | Heritage | WINTER 2015

For the class, Wharton was sent music to learn ahead of the November conference. At the conference she rehearsed the music with a live choir in front of an audience, including two conductor clinicians. These experienced educators, Dr. Rhonda Fuelberth and Dr. Marge Simons-Bester, critiqued Wharton’s style and methods, providing valuable professional feedback.

Wharton is the second student from the York College music department to participate in this program. The first was Sara Firm ’10, who is now the director of the choral music program for a school district in Arma, Kansas.

Wharton’s future plans include graduating from York College in the spring of 2016 and applying to the graduate program in conducting at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

five men and one female, whose name we still do not know for certain. The shadowy female spy is still known today only as Agent 355.”

McNeese explains that the project represented a wonderful opportunity for him to flesh out the story of spying during the Revolution for a general audience.

“The publisher wanted a streetlevel, highly readable book that would be well-illustrated,” says McNeese. “It is a Barnes & Noble exclusive, which makes the project that much more exciting for me.” This means the book will only be available through Barnes & Noble, not Amazon, B&N’s main competitor.

McNeese

Revolutionary War spying is a popular topic, says McNeese, noting the AMC television series, Turn, which ran its second season this past summer. The series focuses on the Secret Six, the New York City group of spies known at the time as the Culper Ring.

“They are taking a lot of liberties on the television series about the Secret Six,” says McNeese, “so it is important that people get an accurate version of what really happened and of who these people were who risked their lives for the cause of the American Revolution.”

THE UNTOLD STORY TIM MCNEESE '72 BRINGS REVOLUTIONARY SPIES TO LIGHT YC History Professor Tim McNeese’s new book, Revolutionary Spies: Intelligence and Espionage in America’s First War, has just been released

by Barnes & Noble. The publisher is Fall River Press, an imprint of Sterling Publishing, Barnes & Noble’s publishing house.

Sterling approached McNeese in the spring of 2014 to write a 100,000-word manuscript on the history of American and British spies and spy rings during the Revolutionary War. The text focuses on spycraft as practiced during the 18th Century, tactics that included elaborate codes, dead drops, invisible ink, and secret identities, as well as the personal stories of spies and secret agents, including George Washington, who served as a spymaster.

“I suspect that most people know little about spying during the American Revolution,” notes McNeese, “with the exception of Nathan Hale, the famed American spy who was caught and hanged by the British.” McNeese says that Hale was, in fact, not a particularly skilled spy and accomplished very little. Hale is generally remembered for the deathless phrase he allegedly said before he was hanged: “I only regret that I have but one life to give to my country.”

“Because of Hale’s failures, General Washington decided to create a covert spy ring that operated out of New York City,” says McNeese. “It involved

The story of spies during the Revolutionary War is much more involved than most people think, says McNeese. Not only did Washington’s Secret Six operate out of New York, there were other agents, as well, including Paul Revere in Boston, who ran a spy ring called the Mechanics prior to the outbreak of the war in 1775. The infamous traitor Benedict Arnold’s story is one involving spies, including a British handler, Major John Andre, whose capture tipped off Patriots that Arnold has passed off the plans to West Point to the British in exchange for several thousand pounds.

"It really is an involved story of secrets, cloak-anddagger missions, coded messages, and the like; the kinds of things that we associate with spies and spying,” says McNeese. “And it’s interesting how many of the techniques used by Revolutionary War-era spies are still utilized by spies today. What’s changed largely is the element of technology.”

Professor McNeese wrote his manuscript last fall, so seeing the book now in print is exciting, he says.

“You never know exactly what your work is going to actually look like before it’s published and the finished product is done,” he notes. “I had seen galleys, of course, but it’s never the same as getting the book in hand, seeing how it looks and feels. I’m very pleased with what Fall River has produced.”

WINTER 2015 |

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Admissions Office: 800-950-YORK • www.york.edu/PD 30 | Heritage | WINTER 2015

Songfest photos by Bob DeHart '95

Join us for Spring Panther Days and York College's premier showcase event, the 39th annual production of Songfest. Mark your calendars and join us this spring for a great weekend on campus.

...just around the

Concert Choir Winter Tour, January 3-8

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he York College Concert Choir will be touring five states during the winter break, January 3-8. Dr. Clark Roush and the choir invite you to attend this enjoyable and uplifting experience. January 3 at 6:00 p.m. Cheyenne CofC—Cheyenne, WY / January 4 University CofC—Denver, CO / January 5 Garden City CofC—Garden City, KS / January 6 Adams Blvd CofC—Bartlesville, OK / January 7 Fordland CofC—Fordland, MO / January 8 Centralia CofC—Centralia, MO. Concerts will be each evening at 7:00 p.m. except where noted.

Spring Panther Days/Songfest, March 31-April 2

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his is a great time to see many aspects of YC: stay in a residence hall, eat in the caf, visit classes and attend the academic fair. Parents of current and prospective students are invited to a free brunch on Saturday. The weekend will include performances by the Concert Choir, Traveling Children’s Theatre, and of course the 39th Annual Songfest! Tickets for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Songfest performances are $10—but all the other activities this weekend are FREE!

RoundUp, May 22-28

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oundUp is a little bit Bible camp, a little bit college, and a whole lot of fun! It’s a week-long retreat for “Golden Agers” hosted on the York College campus. The theme of RoundUp 2016 will be centered around the 1960s and will feature lectures by Dr. Robert Scott. For registration information, contact Gayle Good at gagood@york.edu or (402) 363-5621.

Soul Quest, June 12-18

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ork College will be hosting the 36th annual Soul Quest, June 12-18. Our summer camp is for 6th-12th grade campers and features incredible worship times, exciting classes and activities, and awesome friendships with teens from across the country. As we near spring, visit our camp website at www.york. edu/events/soulquest to get more details.

Presidential Leadership Institute, July 10-16

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ork College and Strata Leadership will once again partner to offer an innovative program for high potential students, grades 10-12. The Presidential Leadership Institute will provide students from across the United States the opportunity to interact with nationally recognized leaders while participating in an in-depth team building and problem solving experience with their classmates.

Alumni and Friends Work Days, July 21-23

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ooking for a fun way to help out YC? Join us for York College Alumni and Friends Workdays, July 21-23, where volunteers pitch in to improve the campus prior to the start of a new school year. Contact Scott and Lisa Eckman (YC ‘79) at s.eckman@juno.com for more details or to register.

Homecoming and Panther Days, October 21-23

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omecoming and Fall Panther Days will be two weeks later than the traditional weekend. Mark your calendars now for October 21-23 for a campus visit. The weekend promises to bring together some of the best experiences that YC has to offer.

1125 E 8th Street York, NE 68467

Looking for a new direction? YC offers online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Learn more at online.york.edu.

COMING EVENTS December 10-13 Cocoa and Carols 14-16 Final Examinations January 3-9 11

Concert Choir Winter Tour Classes Begin

February 25-28 Spring Play March 5-13

Spring Break

April 1-2 25 30

Ighor Tavares, the men's soccer team's goalie from Brazil, enjoys the beautiful fall weather while riding his bike across campus.

Spring Panther Days (Songfest : March 31 - April 2, 7:00 p.m.)

Concert Choir Spring Works Commencement

May 22-28

RoundUp

June 12-18

Soul Quest

July 10-16 21-23

Presidential Leadership Institute York College Work Days

August 20-23 24

New Student Orientation Classes Begin

October 21-23

Homecoming & Fall Panther Days