A heartwarming story of hope and love

Transcription

1 Catalyst Think. Act. Change your world. NEWS FROM RC AND BEYOND OCTOBER 2010 A heartwarming story of hope and love By Bern Sundstedt 77, Director of Alumni & Development I ve been at the development business now for nearly 16 years and never have I been so hauntingly affected by one phone call as I was this spring. I can t stop thinking about it. I simply can t. I hope you won t either. On the other end of the line was the father of a young woman named Julieanne Kriens. It s important to note that Julieanne never attended Rockford College. She had been accepted to RC in 2007 on a presidential scholarship (our highest) and was killed in her car along a congested stretch of Route 173, just west of Antioch, while driving to campus for a work study interview. With this particular call, Julieanne s father, Gerhard, was establishing on behalf of the Kriens family an annual $1,000 scholarship in Julieanne s name a scholarship to honor the bright prospect of what might have been, in the hopes of assisting promising students completely unknown to them. Julieanne s prospects were boundless. A young volunteer, this freshly minted honors graduate of the College of Lake County wanted to maximize everything that Rockford College had to offer. She looked to participate in our Alan Hutchcroft alternative spring breaks. She had set her course on a semester abroad to study international business. At the end was surely her bachelor s and then onto her Rockford College MBA with sights on becoming a CPA. On July 9, 2007, Julieanne was lost to RC before she even set foot in our classrooms. And yet, because of her generous family, her legacy will live on through the Julieanne Kriens Memorial Scholarship. The family states, It is through this scholarship that we honor Julieanne s achievements and support the efforts of those with similar values. Please remember that it is for students like Julieanne that we all contribute; it is for students like Julieanne that we dream; it is in students like Julieanne that we see ourselves reflected, and through them that we continue to see our dreams become reality. Our thanks go out to the Kriens family for turning their own personal tragedy into such a positive force. I hope you use their generous example as inspiration, and that no matter why you contribute to RC or any other college, or even if you never have, I urge you to think about Julieanne and the currently enrolled students she represents; students who want the same thing that Julieanne did to transform their lives. Julieanne Kriens Family works to help others The Kriens family (see accompanying story at left) has worked to prevent such tragedies that befell them from happening again. They have waged a letter-writing campaign to the Illinois Department of Transportation concerning the stretch of Route 173 where their daughter s fatal accident occurred to lower the speed limit, install better signage, and create turn lanes to accommodate traffic where there are multiple truck entrances into sand gravel businesses. Their efforts have paid off. The speed limit in the area was reduced from 55 to 45 mph, the state has added several stop signs, one with a flashing light to warn of truck traffic, and IDOT has placed several intersecting roads on the state s road improvement list. Catalyst / Page 1

2 We re off to a great start this academic year at Rockford College A message from Dr. Robert L. Head, President Photo by Clabough Photography I welcome you to another year of Catalyst and trust you will find it informative and interesting. The academic year is off to an outstanding start and we expect it will be a banner year in many respects. First, our enrollment has exceeded our expectations due to the fine President Robert L. Head work of our admission office and other departments across campus, and the referrals from alumni and friends like you. Total undergraduate enrollment is 6 percent higher than last year and represents the largest such increase in more than eight years. Graduate credit hours, meanwhile, are up 9.8 percent in the master of arts in teaching program and 5.8 percent in the MBA program. We trust this will be an ongoing trend moving forward. I need not tell you that enrollment impacts our financial picture in significant ways, so this is good news. This is also a year to celebrate several milestone events in our history that have a meaningful place in our future: the 150th birthday of our illustrious alumna, social reformer Jane Addams; the 50th year of our presence on this campus following 113 years at our downtown location; and the 25th anniversary of The Music Academy of Rockford College. Each of these events is important not only because they mark a place in time, but because they help define who we are as a around the RC Don t miss out on events going on at the college. Check your inbox for Around the Corner at RC, a biweekly events calendar designed to keep you up-to-date. If you have not received it and would like to, please update your address through our website at college. Each serves as a reminder about our mission as a college that is grounded in, and committed to, the liberal arts. In 1889, Jane Addams (1881 valedictorian) and Ellen Gates Starr, who also attended Rockford College, opened the doors of Hull-House, Chicago s first settlement house for new immigrants whose living conditions were desperate. In the belief that nourishing the spirit and executing the mind were essential to a rich and fulfilling life, they began classes in literature, math and history, augmented by concerts, art exhibits and philosophical discussions. Today, we are inspired by the work of Jane Addams in our common work striving for academic excellence in the liberal arts and our commitment to civic engagement. The 50th anniversary of our presence on this campus is another milestone. While this campus saw its first buildings begin to rise from the ground in 1960, a vision for an eastside campus was planned as early as That year, Blanche Walker Burpee (a graduate of the class of 1895) along with her son-in-law, Loren Whitehead, secured options for 400 acres along East State Street and Alpine Road for development. She then arranged for a syndicate of 30 or 40 individuals to buy shares for the purchase price of $187,000. In the following years, the shareowners either gave or willed their shares to the college and it became a majority owner of the land in 1957, when the remaining shares were acquired outright. At the same time, enrollment was rising at the college. A men s college had been established in 1955, and we went fully co-ed in Space was an issue and becoming an even bigger concern. Plans for the $20 million East State Street campus had been revived and the first campus buildings were built in Last but not least, this is the 25th anniversary of The Music Academy of Rockford College. The academy was founded and still purposely follows the model established at Hull-House, so eloquently phrased by Jane Addams back in the late 19th century, to give thorough musical instruction to those children showing the greatest aptitude, and to foster in a much larger group the cultural aspects of a musical education. In a sense we have come full circle. It was Jane Addams who introduced arts and culture to those without easy access, and began the first music academy in the U.S. With growing enrollment numbers and milestone anniversaries to celebrate, we are indeed off to a great start. As always, thank you for your ongoing support of Rockford College! Page 2 / Catalyst

3 Alumni call for important service to RC The purpose of this message is to solicit recommendations for an alumna or alumnus to serve as the alumni representative on the Rockford College Board of Trustees. Names of candidates reviewed by the alumni association board will be presented for consideration at the May 2011 board of trustees meeting. The term will start in October 2011 and is three years in length. Any alumna or alumnus who has demonstrated a commitment to Rockford College through volunteerism and/or philanthropy shall be eligible for nomination as a candidate with the following exceptions: A nominee cannot be the spouse or partner of or a member of the faculty or staff of the college, the board of trustees, or the alumni association s nominating committee. An officer of the alumni association may be nominated provided he/she agrees to resign his or her office if selected. Serving on the board of trustees requires a strong commitment to stewardship and volunteerism, two qualities that are integral to the college s mission and vision. The responsibilities are demanding but rewarding. See below for more detail about trustee responsibilities. If you want to take a more active part in the future and direction of Rockford College and would like to nominate a candidate or self-nominate (or if you have more questions), contact the alumni office at or us at alumni@rockford.edu. The deadline for submission is December 31, General responsibilities of the alumni trustee To become familiar with and committed to the major responsibilities of the governing board To carefully prepare for, regularly attend and actively participate in board meetings and committee assignments, as well as attend important campus events To accept and abide by the legal and fiscal responsibilities of the board as specified by the Rockford College Charter and bylaws and state statutes and regulations To support Rockford College fundraising efforts through personal giving and the solicitation of others To make judgments always on the basis of what is best for Rockford College as a whole and for the advancement of higher education Epperson named state s top police executive As Rockford s police chief for the past twoand-a-half years, Chet Epperson 91/ 98, has had his share of Chet Epperson trials and tribulations. 91/ 98 It comes with the job. But due to his vision for community policing and his willingness to try new policing techniques, he was recently named Illinois Law Enforcement Executive of the Year by the Illinois Association of Law Enforcement Executives. For his part, Epperson credits his department for their hard work and dedication to public safety. I am grateful for having been recognized by my peers, he said. We have a good police department and are supported strongly by the community for our initiatives to provide professional policing to all. For Epperson, a 2006 winner of the alumni association award of distinction, the path has been challenging but rewarding. Not too late to register for Reunion, October Reunion Weekend is right around the corner, but it is not too late to sign up. Photo by Jim Orlando Photography Re-establish connections, visit with old friends, and see fellow alumni receive recognition for service above and beyond. Enjoy the fun and camaraderie that Reunion symbolizes. Go to edu/?reunionhomepage and register for Reunion today, or call Your valuable link to Rockford College starts at Reunion! Catalyst / Page 3

4 Fall athletic seasons off and running with an eye to improved records As the leaves turn from green to various shades of orange and yellow, the Rockford College athletics teams embark on another season of purple pride on the fields and courts of competition. Teams have been hard at work since mid-august in preparation for the 2010 fall campaigns. The Rockford College football team celebrates its 10th anniversary season with a new head coach, new offense and renewed hope. Former University of Illinois and Stillman Valley standout Patrick Bucky Babcock took over the program in July and has made several changes in hopes of erasing the taste of last season s 1 9 record. The Regents look forward to a very special game on October 16, when they will welcome back the inaugural Rockford College football team as part of Reunion Weekend. roster, but the four returners will provide some continuity as the program continues to grow. The men s team, led by head coach Ben Shaw, returns two seniors who will provide leadership to a club with 12 new faces for the 2010 season. Former tennis coach Bob Hayes also returns to the Barnes Tennis Courts to lead the women s tennis program. For all of the latest Regents athletics information, please visit Two years removed from an NAC Championship, the Regents men s and women s cross country teams look to continue their improvement under first-year coach and RC alumnus Chad Zeman 07. Zeman and fellow alumnus Tony Hardin 08 have been hard at work assembling teams that will compete for the conference s top prize. Volleyball Coach Wil Christiansen returns six players from last year s squad that finished That experience should help the Regents overall improvement and a possible postseason tournament berth. The Regents soccer teams have turned to a youth movement in an effort to restore the fabled programs. Women s interim coach Heather Scherrer-Tolan has 10 first-year players on the Members of the fall 2010 cross country team (left to right): Tim Caudle, Eric Woelbling, Randy Ebert, Victor Reyes, Tyler Mendenhall, Bobby Tassone and Lukas Arenz. Photo by David Olson Photography Inaugural Regents Ball We are Center Stage is magnificent Nearly 150 people enjoyed cocktails, dinner, a live auction and dancing at the first annual Regents Ball gala September 11 in Regents Hall. Theme for this year s event was We are Center Stage, with proceeds benefitting the college s performing arts department. In subsequent years, other programs will be beneficiaries. Photo by Clabough Photography Chairwoman of the event, Sheryl Head, called the event magnificent. For a gallery of photos from the event, see Attendees at Regents Ball included, from left, Ronald Foran, Martha Dahlberg, President Head, Helen Hill 70 and Tom Hill 68. Page 4 / Catalyst

5 Photo by Bonnie Johnson Fiber-optics comes to Rockford College A significant enhancement to the college s information technology infrastructure took place recently, but don t expect to see it on your next trip to campus. It s buried. The college has connected to a fiber-optic network already in place to serve the city of Rockford, Northern Illinois University, hospitals, and other institutions in need of lightning-fast broadband Internet. Bonnie Johnson, director of information technology, said the need to bring the college s new facility at 5100 E. State St. into the college s network provided an opportune time to escalate our long-term goal to connect RC with a fiber-optic backbone to the Internet. The fiber connection Fiber-optic cable being buried at the entrance to Rockford College. brings a faster, more stable source of Internet service strengthening our technological infrastructure while increasing our capability to connect with a global community. As a measure of scale, in January 2007 the college increased its Internet service from 3 megabytes to 18 megabytes (a megabyte is a measure of bandwidth). With the implementation of fiberoptics to the campus, the bandwidth is increased to an amazing 30 megabytes. The expansion allows for growth into the next decade and beyond. Other features of the new fiber-optic network: New capabilities will include the potential to stream video events in the future. Forum Series speakers, for instance, may soon be streamed live on the college website. Combined with the earlier implementation of a new instructional portal, we increase the capability for faculty to easily link course home pages to primary resources such as the Library of Congress and other multimedia. Setting up this new system eliminates technological barriers for faculty and provides the perfect opportunity to look at what kinds of tools are available for teaching to rethink methodology. The opportunity to blend face-to-face and online teaching is created. Technology, while often hidden from view, is making some very visible changes in the way teaching and learning takes place at the college. Events on tap this fall Events at RC this fall will delight the senses and feed the mind. Music on the Midway Step back in time for a celebration of American musical heritage at the Midway Village Museum by students from The Music Academy of Rockford College. Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m. 5 p.m. Call the Music Academy at for information and tickets. Art exhibit, Sara Schneckloth Reception: Friday, Oct. 8, 5:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Exhibition dates: Oct. 8 Nov. 7 Our Mothers War, with Emily Yellin, journalist and author Oct. 14, 4 p.m., Maddox Theatre. Yellin will discuss her book, Our Mothers War, which chronicles the lives of American women at home and at the front during WWII. Musical comedy, The Robber Bridegroom October 7 10, Maddox Theatre. Call the box office at for tickets. Art exhibit, Melissa Jay Craig Reception: Friday, Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Exhibition dates: Nov. 12 Dec. 12 Drama, Uncommon Women and Others Nov , Cheek Theatre. Call the box office at for tickets. Where Am I Wearing? with Kelsey Timmerman Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre. Author of Where Am I Wearing? A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories and People That Make Our Clothes. Flying Solo: The Remarkable Bessica Raiche Dec. 5, 2 p.m., Fisher Chapel. An original one-woman play that tells the story of Rockford native Bessica Medlar Raiche, who became the first woman in America to fly an airplane solo on September 16, Written by Jessica McDonald and featuring local actress Lydia Berger. Catalyst / Page 5

6 Summer stock students discover the play s the thing over summer When students from our performing arts program left for the summer in May, they didn t just let their skills rest they put them to work in a variety of summer stock productions from Showboat to Annie in locations around the Midwest. One student actor, Brian Duncan, was in two shows: Plain and Fancy and 42nd Street at the Round Barn Theatre in Nappanee, Ind. He says the work is challenging but also validates if you re cut out to be an actor. If you do summer stock, you ll know if this is what you want to do, says the senior theatre major from Lee s Summit, Mo. But it s a tremendous opportunity to grow personally. I know now this is for me. Duncan, like most college students in search of acting gigs, participates in mass auditions where as many as 400 theatre companies come to find their talent. For the Midwest auditions at Webster University in St. Louis, where Duncan and other RC students tried out, the audition was short and the competition fierce. You essentially have 90 seconds to do a song and a monologue where you can show off your talents, he says. That s where you find out how good you really are. He adds that students find out about auditions on the Internet and through word-of-mouth. Ramaad Morris, also of Lee s Summit, spent the summer at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Ill., performing in Showboat, Smokey Joes, Annie and children s theatre productions. The days are grueling, he says, often with two shows in one day, plus a rehearsal for a third. You have to have an extreme level of dedication because 12-hour days are not unusual, he says. It s a lot of work with little sleep and you work harder than an in-house theatre like we re used to. Adds Andrew Harth of Belton, Mo., who is pursuing a BFA in acting: You begin to ask, can I do this? but I think our preparation at Rockford College definitely helped. We re definitely up there. We ve got a solid foundation thanks to our professors who know what they re talking about. Sometimes, we even end up teaching students from other colleges. For Cayla Solsberg, summer stock is a chance to meet a lot of people and make connections in the industry. And in the case of her summer production at the Round Barn Theatre, it also expanded her dancing skills. I was in 42nd Street and the dance numbers were really intense, says the native of Bates City, Mo. Students do get paid for their work in summer stock, but the bigger reward is earning their way into Actor s Equity status through credits each time they perform. Altogether, there were a dozen or so RC students and alumni performing this summer at Round Barn Theatre, Little Theatre on the Square and Timberlake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll, Ill. Student Andrew Harth, second from right, in a scene from Curtains at the Timberlake Playhouse. Photo from Andrew Harth I think the best thing about summer stock is that it makes theatre seem less intimidating, says Harth. You realize you can work in theatre. You can make a living at this and do it for the rest of your life. Five join Rockford College s faculty ranks this fall When school started August 25, several new faculty took their place in front of the class. New members of the college faculty include: (pictured, from left) Jan Figa, director of the Colman Library; James Marshall, biology; Nola Addante, nursing; Gary Green, economics/business/ accounting; and Marcia Blascoe, director of the early childhood education program. To see more detailed profiles of our newest faculty, visit Photos by Clabough Photography Page 6 / Catalyst

7 Make a note of these upcoming alumni events Oct. 10, Pre-show reception and performance of The Robber Bridegroom, 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Join alumni and friends for cookies and cocoa in the recently rejuvenated Clark Arts courtyard. Afterwards, enjoy a performance of The Robber Bridegroom by RC s talented theater students. Cost is $10 per person and includes the reception and a ticket to the play. Bring family and friends. Reservation required at edu/event/robberbridegroomreception, or by contacting Coordinator of Alumni Affairs Michelle Borgialli 10 at MBorgialli@rockford.edu or Oct , Reunion 2010 It s not too late. Reservations will be accepted for Friday s awards banquet through October 11. For details and registration go to edu/?reunionregform or call the alumni office at Nov. 29, Annual Rockford College Wassail All alumni are invited to attend the annual tradition of wassail and caroling in Forrest Cool Lounge, Burpee Center, at 4 p.m. Please let us know if you are attending at alumni@rockford.edu or by calling Dec. 2, Career Day Alumni volunteer opportunity Rockford College is hosting its annual Career Day for local high school students. Last year, 43 alumni and friends came to RC and met with 250 local high school students to introduce them to specific areas of business and positions within businesses. Career Day will be held December 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch will be provided). Volunteers rotate tables, talking to approximately eight students at a time for just about 10 minutes at each table. If you are interested in volunteering for Career Day, please contact Michelle Borgialli 10 at or MBorgialli@rockford.edu. Dec. 5, Chicago shopping trip, 9 a.m. 8 p.m. Join us for our most popular event of the year! Up to four charter buses will leave Parking Lot A at 9 a.m. to take Rockford College alumni, parents and friends to downtown Chicago. We will be dropped off at the corner of Superior and Rush at approximately 11 a.m., and the buses will return to pick us up at the same place at 6:30 p.m. to bring us back to Parking Lot A by 8 p.m. Cost is $30 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Register online at or call June 11 17, 2011, Music Academy trip to the Grand Canyon Journey to the Grand Canyon, the Hopi Nation, Flagstaff and Sedona. Students of The Music Academy of Rockford College will perform on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, at Northern Arizona University, and in a cultural exchange and concert on the Second Mesa of the Hopi Nation. RC alumni are strongly encouraged to attend. Reservations can be made by contacting Martha Frantz, director of the music academy, at or MFrantz@rockford.edu. A $250 deposit is required to reserve a space on this trip. Details at Photo by Deb Dietz It s out! 3 RC profs publish book about women in WWII After three years of painstaking research and drafts, a book by three of our professors is hot off the press. We Are a College at War: Women Working for Victory in World War II by professors Catherine Forslund, history; Mary Weaks-Baxter, English; and emerita professor Christine Bruun, psychology, was released on August 15 by Southern Illinois University Press and is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com. In a fitting tie-in, the three professors will take part in a panel discussion with author Emily Yellin and WWIIera Rockford College alumnae October 14, 7:30 p.m. as part of this year s Reunion. A book-signing is also slated as part of the event. For more alumni events, see Catalyst / Page 7

8 Rissa Spangler 01/ 03: An advocate for all children in Rockford schools By Gail Baruch Photo by Amy J. Correnti/Rockford Register Star/ Copyrighted/Used with permission. Rissa Spangler knows what it s like to be discouraged. She knows what it s like to be labeled a special-education student, having had problems reading in third grade. The teachers kind of wrote me off, she recalls. When she asked one high school teacher for a letter of recommendation for college, she was told, You ll never make it. But she didn t let that stop her. She went on to be president of her senior class at Rockford College, eventually earning a master s degree. For the past two years, she s taught at Rockford s Eisenhower Middle School. Last spring, she won the school district s Those Who Excel teacher of the year award, voted on by her peers. She ll compete for the state title in November. Rissa Spangler 01/ 03 Spangler, 31, is unpretentious and sincere and could pass for a college student in her T-shirt and jeans. She was born in Chicago, the oldest of three kids. The family moved to Belvidere when she was 14. Her parents stressed the importance of education and always believed in her, she says. After college, she worked as a caseworker for kids on parole before teaching in Richmond for three years. She moved to the Rockford School District two years ago, where she tutors kids throughout the district, from first grade through high school, special ed to gifted. Working evenings, weekends and even holidays, she logged about 100 hours last spring alone. Last summer, she taught severe and profoundly handicapped students at Carlson Elementary. Her day job finds her teaching a special-education class at Eisenhower. Last year, 12 of her 14 kids came from low-income backgrounds. They re not my students, they re my kids, she says. They are amazing. Every student has ability. The teacher needs to find a way to bring it out. She starts with the parents, phoning each of them at the beginning of the year, to introduce herself and give them her cell phone number. You need to have mutual respect, she says. You ve got to have the parents on your side. She and her two paraprofessionals establish an environment where no one is bullied. When you re in my classroom, you re protected, she says. Whatever problems may be at home, we always say we hang it up at the door. The past two years have produced some victories. She cites one student with Down syndrome who didn t talk, but now holds conversations. Another 14-year-old was able to finally plan a play date with a friend. One 13-year-old girl learned to read last year. Spangler smiles remembering one of her students struggling to read a passage. What s this word? the student asked her, holding her finger over the word. I don t know, Spangler said, craning to see around her finger. Well, sound it out, the student advised. Spangler s days can be unpredictable. Once she had to crawl under a bathroom stall to free a boy who couldn t unlock the door. She s taught herself Braille and has resorted to playing Monopoly to help reach students. Spangler also interacts with other students at Eisenhower. She plans the school dances, runs the Renaissance program and helps at the homework club after school. She invites the rest of the school into her special education classroom. Last year, her kids hosted a science fair and presented a holiday program, highlighting customs from around the world. Next year, she plans to invite the bilingual classes to take part in that project. My kids felt important, she says. They felt they had something to offer. Her kids help run the school s recycling program and are in charge of the school store. Spangler tries to teach them life skills. Even if they don t go on to college, she says, they still can lead productive lives. Everyone s job has meaning, she says. You can make a difference, even if you work at McDonald s. Spangler says she s glad to be working for the Rockford School District. Her mother recently followed in her footsteps, teaching autistic students at Thompson Elementary. Rockford is a great place to teach, Spangler says. There are a lot of unsung heroes the secretaries and the janitors, the security guards and the librarians, the paraprofessionals that don t get recognized. Every child can learn, she says. They just need an advocate. I believe in the kids. Spangler credits district leaders, including Amy Croxford, special education administrator, and Eisenhower principal Jill Davis, for their support. Ultimately, however, it s up to the teachers to make a difference in students lives. Story by Gail Baruch/Rockford Register Star/Copyrighted/Used with permission. Page 8 / Catalyst

9 Photo by Clabough Photography New enrollment chief on board Q & A with Barrett Bell, vice president of enrollment management Barrett Bell Barrett Bell, RC s new enrollment vice president, is accustomed to challenges. Formerly executive director of financial services at Houston Baptist University with 24 years in enrollment management, Bell knows how to round up new students. He holds a B.S. in accounting from Oklahoma State University, a B.S. in biblical studies from Emmaus Bible College and an MBA from the University of Dubuque. Catalyst sat down with Bell recently to get to know him and his approach to the job. Catalyst: You have 24 years of experience in different phases of higher education. How will you put that experience to work here? Bell: The beauty of my previous work elsewhere is taking successful strategies and using them at Rockford College where they fit. Catalyst: What attributes does Rockford College have that would appeal to a prospective student? Bell: We offer personal attention, small class sizes, many outstanding academic programs and excellent faculty, many who are leaders in their field. Catalyst: Higher education is a very competitive arena. How would you differentiate RC from other options? Bell: I think our key assets are the strength of our academic programs along with the personal attention students receive. Catalyst: You ve been on the job for about five months. What are your impressions of the college so far? Bell: It is in a healthy and positive growth mode with changes in many areas. Catalyst: Our enrollment has shown some positive signs this fall. Is this a trend that you think will continue? Bell: Most definitely. I believe RC is embracing a new era and is progressively moving forward. Catalyst: How can alumni and other friends of the college help in the recruiting process? Bell: Five things direct students to us; support us financially even a minimal contribution can have a big impact; come to events on campus; stay connected and informed as we grow; wear purple! Obama names RC trustee to panel President Obama has appointed Sunil Puri 82, a Rockford College trustee, to the three-member President s Council on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a body to help these groups get increased access to and participation in federal programs. Sunil Puri 82 Puri is the president and sole owner of First Rockford Group, Inc., a real estate development firm he founded in In addition to serving on the RC board, he sits on the board of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and the Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority. Alumni in memoriam Katherine Patrick Mattison 31, June 30, 2010 Barbara Sandehn Spongberg 33, Nov. 11, 2008 Helen Peers Ray 35, Aug. 3, 2010 Barbara Lutts Smith 36, Aug. 12, 2010 Lucille Brenner Unger 37, June 3, 2010 Ruth McClellan Swanson 38, June 10, 2010 Mary Keller Bishop 41, July 21, 2009 Marion Van Lone Davis 41, Sept. 14, 2009 Ann Finnell Bates 43, May 30, 2008 Jane Egeland Johnson 47, June 15, 2010 Margaret McCall Johnson 48, March 5, 2009 Mary Daane Mohr 48, April 25, 2010 Karen Gessner 50, Sept. 11, 2009 Barbara Hamilton Drake 53, Jan. 11, 2009 Sylvia Russell Gehres 53, July 22, 2010 Donna Barber Cook 57, Oct. 17, 2009 Daniel Hippman Sr. 59, July 30, 2010 Jeams LaRose 60, Oct. 10, 2009 Gary Stahl 61, June 11, 2010 Elizabeth Peterson Perkins Miller 62, May 27, 2010 Marvin S. Cutler 65, May 6, 2010 Sharon Harrington Winters 65, April 24, 2009 Betsey Nelson Pino 65, Dec. 8, 2009 Jeffrey Lind 70, Nov. 13, 2008 Lou Ann Lucke Jessen 72, June 2, 2010 Candice Kencke Anderson 76, June 13, 2010 Jean Hazlewood 79, Aug. 17, 2010 Michael Condon 85, June 5, 2010 Diane Klapperich Laney 96, Aug. 7, 2010 Inez Cerda Lopez 08, May 31, 2010 Catalyst / Page 9

10 Class notes Alumni news is continuously updated on the website at s Jody Sorensen 49 reports that her husband Lloyd Sorensen passed away on July 10, Our condolences go out to her and her family. 1950s Mimi Stephens Moore 50 remembers meeting Betsy Liddell Cane 50 when she first came to RC standing with tears in their eyes as they listened to Helen Moore Hood 50 singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. After RC, Mimi and Betsy raised their children in Sudbury, Mass., and performed Girl Scout work together. Helen became Mimi s sister-in-law and friend. Our strong bond shall ne er be broken. Dick Bonaguro 50 became a very proud great-grandpa in January Dick spends his time at home, or with family, close friends or, of course, doctors. Genevieve Petronis Sandona 50 volunteers at the Ethnic Heritage Museum and takes day bus trips with the Golden Agers and the Center for Learning in Retirement. She also visits her daughters, sons-in-law and soccerplaying grandson in California annually. Mary McClellan Tanton 50 stays involved with a few church and community-related activities. She enjoys visits with her children and grandchildren when they have time and are in the area. Mary is looking forward to attending her 60th reunion October JoAnne Saltzman Autenreith 50 and husband Earl, an attorney, are active in a lot of different glass clubs and wrote a book on a local glass company in They have four children and five grandchildren which they visit in Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania. Ann Miller Voss 50 writes to say she really enjoys receiving letters from her RC classmates. She notes that her husband Wendall Voss is Page 10 / Catalyst a ceramic engineer and they both have an interest in glass, much like Joanne Saltzman Autenreith 50 who happened to live across the hall from Ann at Rockford College. 1970s Pictured at left, Dan Bergstrom 79 proudly displays his Rockford College tote bag. He was part of a four-adult contingent accompanying 11 teenagers from his church on a 10-day Youth Pilgrimage trip. This picture was taken at the ruins of Ephesus near Izmir, Turkey. Dan s photo is posted in the Look Where We ve Been photo collection online. (We encourage you to submit photos of yourself, holding or wearing RC gear, to alumni@rockford.edu.) Several collections of photos that feature alumni events and projects are on the Alumni Photo Gallery page: edu/?alumniphotolibrary. 1990s Rockford Park District Executive Director Tim Dimke 90 has been appointed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to serve on the non-partisan Mississippi River Coordinating Council, one of six at-large members representing local communities with tributaries (Rock River). Charles Timothy Behme was born June 24 to Todd and Joan O Connell Behme 91 of suburban Chicago. Charlie, who came in at 8 pounds and 20 inches, is their fifth child and first son, joining sisters Katie, Anna, Theresa and Julie. Lynnette DeSchepper 91 and her husband live in Denver, Colo., and are expecting a baby in the fall. Lynnette is the director of education at a conservation center. The center manages 10,000 acres of short grass prairie and all the flora and fauna that go along with it. They even have a small herd of about 40 bison. Lynnette is happy doing what she loves and being part of a bigger world issue, conservation. Jamie Mershon 92 has joined Larson & Darby Group (a full-service architectural firm with offices in Rockford, St. Charles and Peoria) as senior accountant. She is a certified public accountant and adjunct professor of accounting at RC. Marjorie Veitch 92, an environmental specialist with Fehr-Graham and Associates, a regional engineering and science firm, is running for Winnebago County Forest Preserve Board. Marci Jumisko 92, director of administrative services for Illinois Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, has been appointed to the Phase II Education Design Committee for the National Center for State Courts ( Institute for Court Management (ICM). This committee, comprised of court leaders from around the country, has been charged with reviewing the curriculum for the three-week in-residence portion of ICM s Court Executive Development Program (CEDP). Paul Hartzog 93/ 03 and Emily Kicklighter Hartzog 99/ 01 are proud to announce the birth of their son Patton Arthur Hartzog on May 16 at SwedishAmerican Hospital, 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and 20.5 inches long. Part of a strong family tradition at RC. Father Paul, mother Emily, uncle Colin Kicklighter 03, grandmother Marie Hartzog 89, grandfather Ira Hartzog 92, and uncle Doug Jankowski 09 are all RC grads. C a t a l y s t Catalyst is a quarterly publication of Rockford College. For submissions or address changes, contact the Alumni Office at , or alumni@ rockford.edu, or 5050 E. State St., Rockford, IL

11 Tim Kaffenbarger 94 has been promoted from senior analytical chemist to supervisor of chemistry programs at Exelon s Byron Generating Station in Byron, Ill. The Inn at Stonecliffe Manor on Mackinac Island, Mich., was the site of nuptials between Charles Perry 99 and Amy DeLamoreaux on July 23, pictured above. Shelly Nelson 97 was in attendance and provided the accompanying photo of Charlie and herself. This photo is posted in the Look Where We ve Been photo collection online. (We encourage you to submit photos of yourself, holding or wearing RC gear, to alumni@ rockford.edu.) Several collections of photos that feature alumni events and projects are on the Alumni Photo Gallery page edu/?alumniphotolibrary. Charlie s wedding was the culminating event on a 10-day trip for Shelly that began in Las Vegas, where she met up with Darlene Richard 97. After Vegas, Shelly set off for her trip throughout the state of Michigan, with notable stops at Frank Lloyd Wright s Meyer May House and Meijer Gardens, and Sculpture Park, both in Grand Rapids. Several alumni from the classes of 96 through 98 gathered in the Lion s Den over Memorial Day weekend for a mini reunion to reconnect with Dawn Lufkin Andrick 97 and Alegria Mateus 96/ 01 who were visiting Rockford. Dawn came from Maine and Alegria came from Ecuador; Alegria was in the country to witness her sister, Veronica Mateus 10, graduate from RC s MBA program. All in all, the event Dawn Lufkin Andrick 97, Alegria Mateus 96/ 01 and her children, and Shelly Nelson 97. brought together Shelly Nelson 97, Traci and Tim Krzyzanowski 97, Jenn and Shanin Solt 98, Jake Manning 97, Pamela Scott-McDonald 97, and Bharat Puri 96. The reunion then went on the road for the remainder of the weekend with stops to see Tom 97 and Michele Perri-Massari 97, Daniel 98 and Sabrina Masal Chapetta 00, Mary Jane Papandria Worsley 97 and Suzanne Siekierski Moser 98, who were all unable to attend the event on campus. The annual Potter Whifflefest, a day of Whiffleball competition, the brainchild of Aaron Potter 98/ 09, was held this year at Little Cubs Field in Freeport, Ill. In the picture are (from left) Chris Bowser 97, Scott Dimke 97, Aaron Westlund 97, Greg Allen 98, Larry Dopke 97 and Aaron Potter. Greg Allen won the home run contest. Katie Lenell Squires 96 is one of only two speech and language pathologists receiving full funding in a new, multidisciplinary doctoral program in language and literacy at Utah State University in Logan. This Ph.D. track in speech and language pathology is part of the Disability Disciplines Doctoral Program through the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. 2000s Delane Boelcke 00 is currently the assistant manager of the centralized admission area at Elmhurst Hospital, also serving as the patient flow coordinator and clinical resource nurse. In her spare time, she has advanced her running career. In April she participated in the Labor of Love race in Las Vegas and placed 3rd overall and 1st for women for the 10K. Other races include the Chicago Half Marathon (9/12) and the Wisconsin Dells Marathon (10/24). Delane s other adventures have included skydiving and winemaking. Calling all alumni We want to hear from you. To send us information about your activities or those of your classmates or to learn more about your alumni association programs and events call , alumni@ rockford.edu or send information to the Alumni Office, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, IL We hope to hear from you soon. To be included in the next issue, information must be received by Fri., Nov. 12, Michael St. Angel 00 was appointed the new deputy commercial/industrial property appraiser for Belvidere Township. The township has the largest property assessment jurisdiction in Boone County. He will be responsible for dayto-day technical administration and for placing property values on more than 11,500 industrial/commercial parcels. He has been in the appraisal business for more than 10 years, and has managed his own office since Bradley Argyle 06 was recently featured in the Rockford Register Star for his work teaching children at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Ill. David Gargone 06 has been appointed as an assistant professor of business at Misericordia University of Pennsylvania. Catalyst / Page 11

12 Alumni Office 5050 E. State St. Rockford, IL phone: fax: Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Rockford, IL Permit No. 389 College comes out to celebrate Jane Addams 150th birthday If Jane Addams were around today, she would no doubt be proud and a little humbled by the celebrations surrounding her 150th birthday in September, all to honor this remarkable social reformer and 1881 RC alumna. Festivities kicked off with a noontime party at the Daley Plaza in Chicago September 8, sponsored by the Jane Adams Hull- House Museum and the Jane Adams Hull House Association, in which RC president Robert L. Head spoke along with Hull-House director Lisa Yun Lee and Hull House Association president Clarence Wood, among others. The event was followed by a giant People s Block Party at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Back in Rockford, our students held a birthday party for Jane complete with cake and favors that same week in the Lion s Den. The culminating event was a party at the Belvidere oasis on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway September 14 sponsored by the college and the Hull House Association. The oasis was a party atmosphere with a birthday cake donated by the college s food service vendor, Sodexo, singing of happy birthday led by the Vocal Collective, a skit by Jane Addams re-enactor Amy Nyman, and informational displays on Jane. For a gallery of photos for all Jane Addams birthday celebrations, see Jane Addams 150th birthday party in the Lion s Den. Photo by Scott Morgan/ Rockford Register Star/Copyrighted/Used with permission Catalyst / Page Catalyst1_FY11